"Jungkook! Focus!" Hoseok scolded for the third time.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook mumbled, cheeks burning in embarrassment. He could feel six pairs of eyes on him and all he wanted was for the ground to open up and swallow him.

"What is up with you?" asked Hoseok, frustrated.

"Hobi, calm down," Jin spoke, fixing him with a look and Hoseok immediately shut his mouth, knowing better than to argue with his hyung.

"Jungkook, you look like you haven't slept. Is everything alright?" Jin asked, and Jungkook wished he could just speak the truth. He wished he could just open up and tell his hyung that he wasn't sleeping well, that he had recurrent nightmares, that he—

He suddenly became aware of Jimin's presence right beside him.

He couldn't. It was as though his tongue suddenly became too heavy to lift, to form words.

Jimin was struggling. The older male did not need any additional burden on his shoulders. He needed a pillar.

He needed a strong adult.

Jungkook took in a breath, knowing the words he chose to speak next would only get him an earful from all his hyungs.

"I-I was up watching tik tok reels," he mumbled, which wasn't entirely false.

"You were what?" Namjoon asked, brows furrowing.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook mumbled, eyes focused on his shoes as he blinked a couple of times.

He wouldn't cry.

He wouldn't cry.

Not here.

Not in front of Jimin.

"Jeon Jungkook."

Jungkook shut his eyes and swallowed hard, "I'm sorry, Joonie-hyung."

Hoseok crossed his arms, "no wonder you look like you haven't slept in a while. You know better than this, Jungkook."

Jin sighed, "okay, alright. Jungkook made a mistake and he said he is sorry twice now. So, stop it."

Jungkook felt Jimin's hand on his arms, thumb rubbing his skin soothingly.

No, this was wrong!

Jimin wasn't supposed to be comforting him. It was supposed to be the other way around.

Namjoon nodded, "no more reels when you're supposed to be in bed, JK."

"Yes, hyung. Not again, I promise."

"That's our maknae," Jin said with a comforting smile.

Jimin pressed a soft kiss to Jungkook's cheek before they got back into position.

~~