✪2✪

"Jin, shut the bloody curtains right now!" I screeched as searing light blinded my half open eyes.

"Hm?" he asked tantalisingly, pulling it open a few more inches.

"Eres un calcetín viscoso y apestoso! Si no lo cierras ahora mismo, lo haré-" I stopped halfway and dived under my blanket as Jin pulled away the drapes completely and threw the window wide open with the flourish of a magician.

"I'm going to kill you," I mumbled half-heartedly under the confines of my faithful bedsheet. I felt the bed dip as he placed himself on it.

"Come on, it's eight a.m., get up already," he cajoled, shaking my shoulders lightly. "You're going to miss the exam you sat up so late for." He tried to pluck the covers off me.

"No, no, no! Five more minutes, please!" I moaned, yanking the sheets back and snuggling my head deep into his lap. I grinned in contentment as Jin relented. "Five minutes on-"

"Shush," I wrapped my arms around his waist and his voice died out. "Let me sleep."

I could hear the buzz of Jin's faint humming as he admired himself in the mirror while absentmindedly playing with my jet black hair. His hands gently pulled my ear lobe and the onyx hoops on them before deftly moving on to rub circles on my collarbone with his little finger. "You ever speak to your mother?"

I sighed and got up slowly, my hair spilling out from the bun fully to adorn the sides of my long face. Jin quietly tucked the strands behind my ear.

"No," I said finally. I saw him frown slightly in response, a crease appearing in between his eyebrows.

"Joan, stop cutting out your family."

I raised my eyebrows at that. He was one to talk. "You are my family."

"As flattering as that is-"

"Jin," I said firmly. "I don't want to talk about this."

"When do you ever?"

"I don't want to and I probably won't want to ever, so please just drop it before it gets ugly," I muttered, dragging myself into the bathroom and slamming the door behind me.
I splashed water on my face. Stupid, caring boy. I doused my head in the chilly water again. He needed to stop with the bloody questions. I didn't want to talk to her and it was my decision.

I glared at my startling ashy eyes, the long eyelashes sticking to the skin below.

"Joan."

I turned around at the sound of Jin knocking. "Yes?" I tried to not sound like I was just drowning my worries in tap water.

"I'm sorry. I was just... I am worried for you. You are barely sixteen and it is unhealthy for you to be living alone-"

I opened the door and hugged him gently on seeing his frantic expression. "I know you want me to open up but some topics are off-limits for me, so please understand that."

He tapped his fingers, tracing my spine. "I know that. I just don't like leaving you alone every time."

"I'm fine, Jin."

"You can't cook!"

"We don't know that. I have never tried. For all I know, I could be a five-star chef under wraps." I rubbed my face affectionately on his sweater.

"Did you just wipe your face on my clothes?"

I batted my eyelashes innocently. "Did I now? Oops."

"Just get ready, you grey-eyed donkey! I'm dropping you to school."

***

"What do you call a factory that sells passable products?"

"A satisfactory," I answered, unimpressed.

"Wrong, a satisfactory! Wait what?"

"Your joke just backfired."

Jin pouted at me. "I have a dozen more."

"Pray, tell. Or wait, don't, I'd like to not drown myself in a bathtub."

"How does Moses make his coffee?"

"Hebrews it."

"Wrong! Hebre- Wait, not again! How are you doing this?" Jin demanded as he felt around in my pockets for a non-existent dad-joke-dictionary.

"I'm just legendary," I smirked at him. "Resume walking, pretty boy."

Jin grumbled a bit about how I was being a rude old goat and I rolled my eyes at his usual immature attitude.

"I also found one," I said suddenly.

"You have been researching? Is that how you knew all of my jokes beforehand?"

"What?" I asked perplexed.

"My jokes! You've been searching for them on Pinterest haven't you! That's what you found."

I raised my hand and grabbed his nose. "I meant I found one of us. The way you found three kids, you cheesy rat."

His face brightened in realisation. "Oh," he muttered sheepishly "Who?"

"Guy in my class. Jungkook."

"What can he do?"

"Eat."

"Eat what? Worms? Toilet paper? Jin?"

"No. Food." He stopped and stared at me. "You do know normal humans eat food, right?" he asked worriedly, feeling my temperature. I swatted his hand away.

"He can eat any amount of food. Keep walking."

"So if I handed him a sack of rice, he'd be able to chew the whole thing in one go without puking?" asked Jin interestedly.

"Undoubtedly."

"Cool," Jin grinned. "How'd you meet him?"

"I date him."

I glanced at Jin to see a strange expression cloud his handsome features. "Dated him? Like an ex-boyfriend?"

I stopped. "No. Like present boyfriend."

"Oh. You go out with people?"

"I'm assuming that the word 'date' means 'go out with someone' universally. And yes, I go out with people."

"Oh."

"You're acting like no one would be even semi-interested in being with me. I'm not that bad, you know," I playfully nudged his arm.

"That's not what I meant! I was just surp- is that your phone?"

"Yeah. I think it's Jungkook. Speak of the devil, hello?

"Joan!" Jungkook gushed on the line. "I was supposed to take you to school but you were not at home."

"Shit!" I cursed on line. "I didn't realise. My friend came home last night so...um... sorry."

His cute chuckle reverberated over the line. "Ah, it's okay. Would you like me to drive you the remainder of the way? I am close-by. I think. Where's that phone of mine?"

I grinned. "You are using it to talk to me, you doofus. And no, never mind. I'm nearly at the gates. But thank you."

He hummed in response. "Should I even bother saying best of luck for the exam? I know you're literally going to puke out the contents of the book."

"He knows?" Jin whisper-yelled from beside me. I nodded at him before replying. "Rude! I need just as much of luck as others. Sorry, can we talk in class? My friend is getting antsy."

"I'm not getting antsy!" Jin protested.

"Oh yeah? Tell that to your tap-dancing feet and your unable-to-shut-up-mouth."

Jungkook laughed once more. "Okay. See you later, Joan." I stowed the phone in my bag.

"He hasn't told anyone, has he?" Jin frowned.

"He's not dumb," I tutted. "He knows what will happen if he even accidently let it slip." Jin just shrugged.

"Well, bye", he awkwardly muttered.
I sighed at his weirdness and put out my arms obstinately. Whatever was bothering Jin had to wait, because there was no way I was leaving without hugging him.

So even though girls and other jobless people were whispering about Jin and I, I turned and hugged him. "Stay safe," I mumbled into his left ear.

He smiled shyly.

"You too, Joan. You too."

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A/N

"Eres un calcetín viscoso y apestoso! Si no lo cierras ahora mismo, lo haré-"

Translation:

"You are a slimy, stinky sock! If you don't close it right now, I will-"

Guess who changed her mind and decided to update today after all?
Yup.
Me.

Please vote and comment y'all🌚