POV.

When Jungkook pulls away from the hug he's met with Taehyung's soft brown eyes.

Jungkook breaks eye contact. "Sorry. V was upset and~"

"It's okay." The brunette says, quickly wiping the tears from his face. "What happened?"

Jungkook sighs, he didn't know if he should be the one to tell Taehyung about his mother.

"I'm sorry, Taehyung." The younger says looking at him. "It's...it's your mom."

Taehyung's expression changes at The mention of the woman. "What?"

"She...she has cancer and...Baekhyun said she's not doing well." He says hesitantly.

"...Oh." Taehyung says, his gaze drifting. "And...V was out when Baekhyun...?"

"Yes. He didn't take it very well." Jungkook says watching Taehyung's facial expression closely.

"Okay." The brunette nods, turning away from Jungkook and walking into the living room.

"Are you okay?" The younger asks following him.

"...Yeah. I'm fine." Taehyung says sitting down. "I just...I don't know how to feel I guess."

"Do you need some time?" Jungkook asks. "I understand if you need some time."

"No, I need to talk to you about earlier, Jungkook."

"You don't have to do this now~"

"Please, Jungkook. Sit down ."

Jungkook sits down across from him, keeping a space between them.

Taehyung scoots closer, closing the space and taking Jungkook's hand. "Jungkook, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

"Taehyung~"

"No, I overreacted for reasons I really can't explain and that's not your fault. Okay? So, please forgive me for earlier." The older says looking up at him. "I was wrong."

"I forgive you, Taehyung. I was also wrong and I hope you can forgive me." Jungkook says.

"Of course I can." Taehyung says. "I know how Jongun can be and I know you want everyone to enjoy their time in the front."

"I'm sorry." The younger says.

"It's okay." Taehyung says, surprising Jungkook by pulling him into a hug. "You mean so much to the system and you do so much for us. I don't thank you enough."

"You don't have to thank me." Jungkook says hugging him back. "I want to be here."

Taehyung pulls away from the hug first. "I should eat before I trigger Hajoon."

"Should I cook?" The younger asks as they stand together.

"No, you know Hajoon meal preps for the meal plan." The brunette says. "Do you want one? They're a little bland but they actually aren't that bad."

"Sure." Jungkook chuckles, following him to the kitchen. "But, Taehyung?"

"Hm?"

"Are you sure you're okay? After the news you didn't really react and I don't want you to hold it in~"

"I'm alright, Jungkook." Taehyung says walking to the kitchen. "I'm just not ready to react yet. But when I am I'll let you know. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Jungkook says sitting down at the table. "I'll be here."

"I know." The brunette says, keeping his back to Jungkook as he heats the food.

Jungkook sighs softly, he was worried about Taehyung's lack of reaction. He didn't want him to hold it all in until it was too much to handle or cope with.

He didn't want Taehyung to reach a breaking point.

_____

"I wanted to be the one to tell you. I didn't know Baekhyun would~"

"It's okay, father."

Mr. Kim sighs, his features stressed as he sits across from his father in his living room

It was the weekend and Jungkook had decided to go out to meet Namjoon while Taehyung's father came to talk. He didn't want to make the situation harder by being there.

"She asked me to pay her medical bills." Mr. Kim says. "She said she couldn't do it on her own and your step father..."

Though his father continues to talk the mention of his step father causes Taehyung to heavily dissociate for a few moments, his father's voice become far away.

"Do you think you could do that?"

Taehyung blinks a few times as he tunes back in to his father's voice. "I'm sorry?"

"You're her son, Tae. She's very ill and she wants to see you before it's...before it's too late." Mr. Kim repeats. "Do you think you could see her?"

"Oh...um, yes. Sure. I could." The brunette says, he isn't really sure why he agrees but the words are out before he can process them.

"Are you sure?" His father asks. "I understand if it's hard for you~"

"No, it's fine. I'll be fine." Taehyung says. "W-When?"

    "Monday. She can't have any visitors on weekends because of~"

    "Okay. I'll go Monday then." The brunette says, he didn't want to hear about his mother's condition.

    "Okay. Let me know if anything changes." Mr. Kim says standing up.

    "Of course." Taehyung asks, standing as well.

    "How are things around here? I know we barely talked about you since I got here."

    "No, I'm fine."

    "Are you sure?" His father asks in concern. "Your new secretary, is he keeping things up around here?"

    "Yes. He is. Things are running smoothly." Taehyung nods. "I'm alright. I promise."

    "Okay. I'll be there Monday, I'll be there the whole time." Mr. Kim says hugging his son. "I love you, son. Don't hesitate to call if you need me."

"Okay." The brunette says hugging his father briefly.

"See you Monday."

"Sure."

—

Jungkook laughs at Namjoon's impression of his old English professor.

"No way he sounded like that." He laughs.

"No, his voice was like three octaves higher." Namjoon laughs, eating another scoop of his ice cream.

Jungkook wipes the tears in his eyes. "I can't with you."

"It's way too easy to make you laugh." Namjoon says.

They decided to go to the new ice cream shop in town to hang out, it was a complete switch for Jungkook to see Namjoon outside of the club, especially at an ice cream shop.

"So are we still ignoring the elephant in the room?" Jungkook asks pushing his ice cream around his bowl.

"What elephant?" Namjoon asks, looking around the shop.

"What's going on with you and Hobi?" The younger asks. "Did you guys make up?"

Namjoon sighs, the small smile on his face fading slightly. "Not really."

"What's not really mean?" Jungkook asks tilting his head.

"Well, we hooked up the other day but afterwards he went home and he hasn't spoken to me since." The older says, shrugging like it didn't matter though his eyes said it did. "He's been posting him and his roommate all over his Instagram story too."

"I thought he blocked you." The younger says.

"Oh he did. I made another account." Namjoon says pulling his phone out. "Here I'll show you."

Jungkook leans towards Namjoon to see the screen of his phone. "Wait, that's his roommate?"

"Yeah. And look at this." The older says tapping the screen to show the next story. "'With my favorite person, as usual' are you serious? They're definitely fucking."

Jungkook watches Namjoon tap through the story, Jimin's face showing up in literally all of them.

"What?" Namjoon asks when he notices Jungkook's expression. "You know him?"

"Yeah." The younger says. "I do."

"Really? How?"

"Friend of a friend."

"Hm. Small world I guess."

Jungkook nods, he hadn't spoken to Hoseok enough to even know his living situation, let alone that he was living with Jimin.

"Anyway, enough about that." Namjoon says locking his phone and returning to his ice cream. "What about you? Have you started dating anyone?"

"Me? No. I haven't." Jungkook says shaking his head. "I'm too busy to date."

"Oh come on, Jungkook. You're a college student~"

"I'm an honors student and I have a full time co-op, Namjoon. I don't have time to worry about anything else."

"Alright, alright." Namjoon chuckles. "It could still be nice to have someone by your side along the way. Companionship isn't a necessity but it's good for you. Especially when you find the right person."

"Do you think Hoseok's the right person?" Jungkook asks, he wanted to give Namjoon a chance to talk about his feelings with someone.

"I used to. Now I don't really know." The older sighs.

"If you look past all the negative are things still worth fighting for?" The younger asks.

Namjoon thinks for a second. "There's a lot of negative."

"Look past that." Jungkook says.

"Then yeah. It's worth fighting for."

"Then make it right, Namjoon."

"I didn't do anything wrong."

"Move in with him."

Namjoon falls silent, looking away and shaking his head.

"That's what he wants, isn't it?" Jungkook asks. "And he loves you and I know you love him. Why won't you, Joon?"

"I don't know." The older sighs. "Me and Hoseok have been together for so long. We've seen each other through everything since our freshman year in college and he's perfect. He's perfect, Jungkook. And I'll never forgive myself if I ruined that."

Jungkook nods, Namjoon's words making perfect sense. "Have you told him that?"

"No." He says shaking his head. "I've tried but we're usually arguing when I do."

"Try to tell him. Exactly the way you told me. He'll understand." Jungkook says. "I hate seeing you guys like this when I know you love each other so much."

Namjoon cracks the smallest smile. "Thank you, Jungkook."

"Yeah, of course." The younger nods.

Namjoon's phone buzzes against the table. "Oh, it's my supervisor. He needs me at the clinic."

"Okay." Jungkook says grabbing his phone and keys off the table. "It was nice hanging out, Namjoon."

"Yeah, we'll definitely do it again." Namjoon says as the stand up. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah." The younger chuckles as they hug briefly. "See you later."

Namjoon smiles at him once more before they both go their separate ways.

🔒🔒🔒