Taehyung saw Jungkook every day. He always watches from the window in the morning although Taehyung hoped he would stop after the other day.

And Taehyung met Jungkook few times at the local diner too. Seems like the boy is a permanent staff there. Taehyung went there without knowing that in the first day but he wasn't sure why he went there the next day. Or the day after that.

Since this is a small village, there isn't much options for dining out but Taehyung could certainly find another place. Specially since he wanted to ignore Jungkook as much as possible. But Taehyung found himself at the same diner, day after day, for lunch definitely and sometimes even for dinner.

Jungkook never came to speak with him again but the boy was always glancing at Taehyung. And he always seem sad. He looks at Taehyung with hope and looks away in sadness. Over and over again.

Jungkook isn't sure whether he's happy or sad to see Taehyung everyday. He couldn't muster the courage to talk to the man but at least he gets to see Taehyung daily, no matter how heartbroken he gets afterwards.

Jungkook comes home with drained energy every day and wakes up even more exhausted. It didn't went unnoticed by Jin. One day, after being fed up of seeing his brother looking so out of it for the whole day, Jin decided to talk to him.

"Kookie?" Jin called softly as he went to Jungkook's room.

"Yes hyung?"

"Baby, are you ok?"

Jungkook thought for a while. He didn't want to worry his brother but at the same time, he couldn't take this anymore and wanted the comfort of his brother's arms.

"N-no." Jungkook finally replied as a tear slipped from his eye.

Jin sat on the bed and pulled the younger's head on to his lap.

"This is about the man next door right? What's his name?" Jin asked as he stroked his brother's hair gently.

Jungkook was not surprised. There isn't much that goes pass his brother and he was grateful for that.

"Taehyung. I really l-like him hyung. But I t-think he h-hates me." Jungkook whispered.

"Baby why would he hate you? He barely knows you. No one in their right mind will hate you anyway baby. You are an angel." Jin said with a sigh.

Jungkook didn't answer. It's the question that he himself asked for many times. Why would Taehyung hate him? There's no logical reason.

"I'll tell you what." Jin suddenly says excitedly. "I'll make some food for him, you know, as a welcome and you can give it to him. Once he taste my food, he will immediately warm up to you."

Jungkook couldn't suppress a smile. Yes, no one can resist Jin's cooking.

Once Jin saw the smile on his brother's face, he felt a little happy. He would do anything to keep that smile there. Even if he had to cook every meal for this Taehyung.

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Taehyung was going to cook ramen when he heard the knock on his door. Normally he gets diner also before returning home but when he realized what Jungkook's off days are, he comes home early.

He turned the stove off before going to open the door. He had hoped to see a particular person and just as he hoped, it was Jungkook that was standing in front of his door.

"H-hi." Jungkook stuttered as he looked at Taehyung.

"M-my brother asked m-me to give this food t-to you." Jungkook was almost shaking from being anxious.

Taehyung looked at the stuttering boy in front of him. Even though he knows he should be consistent in pushing Jungkook out of his life, he just couldn't do it right now.

The boy looked so fragile and breakable that even the smallest push might shatter him to pieces. And Taehyung just couldn't bring himself to do that.

Taehyung held out his hand and Jungkook looked at it in surprise.

"You can give that to me." Taehyung said as the boy didn't seems to understand the gesture.

"Oh. O-ok." Jungkook replied as a small smile of relief came over to his face and gave the food basket to Taehyung.

"Yeah, please say thank you to your brother for me." Taehyung couldn't help but give a small smile at the cuteness of boy. "Now go home."

"Ok." For the first time, Jungkook said something without stuttering and left with a smile.

Taehyung waited till he saw Jungkook going inside before closing the door. He knew he would regret it later but the innocent smile on the boy's face was worth it.

He opened the basket and saw sticky rice with many side dishes. He can't even remember the last time he had a home cooked meal. He ate it all, forgetting all his worries for a while.

After cleaning up, he went to sleep but it was not like a peaceful one that he wished for. Taehyung woke up in the middle of the night, clothes drenched in sweat, accelerated heartbeat and every part of his body shaking.

It has been a while he had that nightmare. The one where the person he loved, lost her life right in his arms. Where he watched as the light slowly slipped away from her eyes and there wasn't a single thing he could do, except for running like a coward.

But the thing is, it's not a nightmare. It was the reality.

He haven't had that nightmare in a while, but he knows what triggered it again. He was on his way to do the mistake of making another person important to him, important enough to be tortured and killed if his past caught up with him.

He can't let that happen, no matter how much he liked to see that smile on Jungkook's face.

Better to be broken than killed.

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April 21st

Jungkook came with food today. It was damn delicious Yoona. Just like the ones we used to have at your friend's place. I hope she's doing well. She was a good friend to us. Apparently, Jungkook's brother has made it. After a long time, I was happy to eat. I must have scared him so much that he was stuttering to get the words out. But he gave me this sweetest smile when I took the food basket from him. Like that littlest thing made him so happy. Is it so bad that I want to keep that smile on his face? Can I dare to hope at least that much? I wonder. For the first time, I feel like I want to fulfil the promise I made you Yoona.