Playlist for this chapter;
Isa Lang - Arthur Nery
Kingston - Faye Webster

It's a Wednesday morning, and Jungkook is peddling on his cycle to school. Last night's events were too much to take in. The surprise gift and Jimin's sudden departure. He hopes he's alright and shows up to school today.

Zoning out while he's peddling, Jungkook finds a few girls squealing distracting him from his thoughts.

One of the girls joyfully gapes, "Hey, that's Jungkook looking at us." Another girl covers her mouth, her cheeks all pink, "Isn't he always so handsome!" They're walking way closer to the road, kinda puts Jungkook to worry.

He waves at them with a sweet smile and suddenly a big breeze blows them off as flowers erupts around them.

"Watch out for cars! We don't want anyone getting hurt while admiring the view." He shouts, telling them to be careful and strides away unaware of the blood splattering through their nostrils at the sudden attention.

Oh, he was stealing hearts and causing heart attacks early morning of the poor girls.

As Jungkook slows down his peddling in search of Butterscotch his eyes widens with smile as soon as he finds him darting across the street.

He stops and does a little 'psps' and immediately butterscotch pauses and looks behind his shoulders to find Jungkook shaking a small packet of treats he always carries for him.

"Want some?" Jungkook catches Butterscotch's attention and it runs to him and jumps up to reach the snack packet. Jungkook gets off his bicycle and crouches down, outstretches his hand of snacks towards him.

Grinning widely, Jungkook pats his head as he munches on the snacks with his tail wiggling happily. Jungkook strokes his fur gently slowly getting into thoughts, "You know, Butterscotch. I'm a little worried about Jimin." His hair falls on his eyes and Butterscotch meows questionably in response, as if it worries Jungkook sounding so off.

Jungkook chuckles, "He left abruptly for his home yesterday, I wonder what happened." The cat nuzzles against Jungkook's palm as if comforting him and Jungkook's heart suddenly calms because of him.

"Although Jimin can come off pretty rude I know how much of a softie he is inside." Jungkook scratches Butterscotch's ear, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he recalls the invitation Jimin gifted him just for ignoring him when he fell.

He's just shaped oddly, Jungkook thinks and giggles. One moment he's a rude brat and the next second he's an angel who fell from heaven. He can't put his finger on it.

Suddenly remembers he has a school to attend. Startles Butterscotch as he stands up abruptly, apologizes to him as Butterscotch scratches his fur and watches Jungkook scurry to school.

His little meowing towards him asking him to be careful which Jungkook doesn't really understands, rather waves at him and continues on his journey to school.

+++

"You had me worried for a second there," Jungkook ducks his head back, sighs tired, and shuts his eyes. Jimin hands him a banana milk small box. "Here, chill." He's sipping on one himself and Jungkook opens his eyes, whispers him a thanks and accepts it.

"But honestly, why'd you leave early?" He pokes his straw through the box and bends down to sip on the milk. Jimin is leaned back. It's lunchtime and Sora's absent luckily due to some event at her home.

luckily, he worded his thoughts Jungkook notices.

Jimin hums, "Forgot I had a family dinner." And Jungkook sits upright. He wipes his lips. "Did you make it?" He asks, his fingers crossed with the thought that Jimin didn't end up missing.

He shakes his head, is relaxed, "Apparently, Miss Sunmi got some call from work so the plan dropped." He is dazed, speaks in a mumble while sipping.

This behaviour kinda puts Jungkook off, "Your step-mom?"

He receives a small nod.

"I see." He doesn't elaborate further. Jimin's family's a little mess. He lost his mom two years ago and his dad married another woman within a year. He says she's a good person but he wishes not to get too involved. She can never be his mom, and she's just his father's wife, that's all.

Jimin added, this marriage was called for business profits. His dad only thinking of their reputation and money. They're rich. Well off but there's no love. Well, it's how he feels.

His father's too much hell bent on money and respect to look after his son. Only son. Very messy person. Will go to any lengths to keep the family's name. Be it even abusing his own son to bring good grades and get in a medical school and asking him to carry family's lineage.

Jimin tries too hard. Jungkook knows and has seen it with his own eyes. Have seen the dread in his eyes when he couldn't rank one in the midterms previous year. Didn't show up to school for a week.

He assumed he got hit to the point he couldn't walk. But Jimin never confesses what happens. Keeps everything to himself.

Things have gotten good since he started dating Sora. She was a good person and his father was happy about it when he heard about it. Coincidentally she happens to be the daughter of one of the school's donation committee members.

He's got tabs on his son and his whereabouts. If Jungkook were his son he would've abandoned him and have run off far away to some island to find peace.

He gets amazed by Jimin's bravery. Can't even imagine being in his shoes. It was too much.

Sighing, Jungkook fixes Jimin's upturned collar that takes Jimin's attention. "Take care of yourself and don't worry too much." He's tapping on Jimin's shoulder, glances up at him, "I'm always here to listen to you if you need me, yeah?" His brows are aloft and Jimin can't help but be hypothesized.

Jungkook has always been supporting him from his back. Knows he doesn't like eating at his home so always invites him over to eat together after school. Asks his mom to pack more tiffin for Jimin too.

Deeply worries about him whenever he's down due to any reason. Helps him studying because secretly he's a little dumber than Jungkook. Is aware of the fact that Jungkook slacks off on purpose so Jimin can shine and score more than him just so his dad cannot get a chance to scold him or beat him to death.

He could never be able to fulfil what all Jungkook does for him. Knows he's got his back without a doubt.

"Oh it's finished." Jungkook tries to sip the remaining milk and has pissed the box so small just to squeeze it out and it dreads Jimin. "Just throw it, I'll get you another one." The box gets immediately abandons in a bin. "Let's go." And Jungkook's gets up dusts his pants, already starts to walk towards the canteen as Jimin sighs, hands in pockets to remove his wallet, "Aight."

+++

"What? Why not come home with me." Jungkook has stopped midway from cycling. The vegetable vendors around trying to get all women to buy his entire stall. Its loud.

"Let's get to a quieter place." Jimin suggests, cycle peddling, slowly this time. And Jungkook complies, takes a turn to a lane. Puts his feet down. Hands on handles. "Is it your family?" He asks, just to be sure again.

Jimin takes off his helmet, "I told you it's solved." He checks his phone, "The dinner is postponed to today." He shuts his phone, spares him a glance, "And we have to go to the art exhibition, remember?"

Jungkook blinks, "Still few days to go." He says, finds Jimin odd, "Also, what does the exhibition have to do with you not coming home with me?"

Shrugging Jimin wears his helmet back, "I need to be home early, have to ask dad for permission for the day. So, you should go." He's buckling his helmet and Jungkook still can't seem to come up with the right words.

He knows he won't lie to him but there's still a lingering feeling that doesn't settle inside him. "Jimin, if something's up. You should tell me." He wants him to be open and Jimin nods, his eyes not lying. "Nothing to worry, Jungkook."

"Are you sure? You don't look—"

"I'm perfect. It's you who's treating me like a kid now. Stop haha." He is ready to peddle, "Tell your mom sorry for not showing up." And he sets off.

And they part their ways as Jungkook still can't come up to the comforting feeling. Something was up. Definitely.

***

Amxnx