Jungkook's POV.

"There's no set way to deal with these situations. Alters are just as unpredictable as any other human. You just have to be more attentive than usual."

"Yeah."

"Will you be alright?"

"No, yeah. I'm fine."

Seokjin sighs on the other line, silence settling between us for a moment. "I see your reports are getting better."

"Yeah." I chuckle softly. "Hajoon's been making sure of that."

"That's good." Seokjin says. "Listen, Jungkook. I know I warned you about the level of difficulty you'd be facing by taking this position but if it's ever too much you can tell me. The second you feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable. You matter too."

"I'm fine, hyung." I say forcing a short laugh. "I'm attached now."

"Really?" He asks.

"Yeah. I...I think maybe I'm too attached to them sometimes." I sigh, looking into the living room where Taehyung was waiting for me.

"What do you mean?" Seokjin asks.

"I don't know." I say, knowing he'll read too far into my words. "I just think they need me."

"Okay. Well, I won't keep you any longer." He says ending our conversation. "You take care, Jungkook. And send me updates every now and then when you can."

"Yeah. Definitely." I say pushing myself up from where I'm leaning on the wall. "Bye, hyung."

"Bye, bye." He says ending the call.

I grab the popcorn from the kitchen before meeting Taehyung in the living room.

"What'd he say?" He asks as I sit next to him on the couch, placing the bowl between us.

"He said that there's nothing you can really do other than being attentive." I say grabbing the remote to pick a movie.

Taehyung sighs softly. "How can I be attentive if I don't even know his triggers. Or his name for that matter."

"I'll be here. So whatever happens you won't be alone." I promise, smiling softly at him. "Cheer up, Tae. Tonight's supposed to be about making you feel better."

"I know. I know." He huffs, crossing his legs and pulling his hood up. "Let's watch something then."

"Here, you pick." I say handing him the remote.

"No." He pouts softly, pushing the remote away. "Pick something you want to watch."

"Why? It's your night~"

"I always get switchy when I try to watch a movie so there's no point in me picking." He says. "Go ahead and pick one. It's fine."

"Fine." I say sitting crisscrossed facing the tv. "We'll watch something funny."

"Okay." He says eating some of the popcorn. "Can I ask you something, Jungkook?"

"Um, yeah. Sure. What is it?" I ask looking over at him.

"I was just wondering about you and your personal life. You know, your family and friends and whatever." He says looking at his hands. "I never hear you talk about your family."

"Oh. Well, I don't really speak to my mom or my step dad regularly. And I don't have any siblings so...I guess there's really nothing to talk about." I shrug. "My dad died when I was a third year and my mom remarried to a guy that doesn't really like me so. I don't really keep in touch."

Taehyung nods. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't worry about it." I say laughing humorlessly.

"You don't have any friends?" He asks, his eyes still focused on his hands. "Or, like, a girlfriend or anything?"

"No. I'm not into girls." I say, smiling a little. "Why do you ask?"

He looks up at me like I just spoke a foreign language. "Hm? Oh, no reason really. I just...I was curious about your personal life. That's all."

"Have you ever had a girlfriend?" I ask, his expression is priceless.

"What? No. We could never. That'd never work." He says shaking his head.

"Why? Because you're gay?"

"W~ No that's now why. We all have varying sexualities but even so that's not the reason."

I can't help but laugh at his reaction, his face flushing a deep red.

"Pick a movie and forget I said anything." He says covering his face with his hood. "And stop laughing at me."

"Alright, alright." I say as I recover from laughing. "You're just hilarious, I'm sorry."

He crosses his arms, a pout on his lips. "I was just asking. It wasn't an open invitation to assume my sexuality."

"You're right. I'm sorry." I chuckle. "Let's watch something now. Stop pouting."

"I'm not pouting." He pouts. "Just go on and pick."

I pick a movie that I've probably seen a million times, I don't want to pick something I've never seen before just incase there are triggering scenes in the movie.

As the movie plays out Taehyung chuckles every now and then when something funny happens but an hour or so into the film he starts to fall asleep.

    "Tae?" I say pausing the movie.

    "Hm?" He hums, his eyes still shut.

    "Let's go upstairs." I chuckle softly. "You're falling asleep."

    "No, it's fine. I'm watching." He says sitting up straighter and opening his eyes. "I'm watching, go ahead."

    "Alright." I say pressing play on the movie.

I feel myself start to get drowsy towards the end of the film, watching the last few minutes in a bit of a daze as I force myself to stay awake until the end.

I stop the movie when the end credits start to show, stretching my arms over my head before turning to Taehyung who's been fast asleep for the past thirty minutes.

I place the popcorn bowl on the coffee table before standing up.

    "Taehyung?" I say shaking him gently until he stirs. "Do you want to go upstairs?"

He shakes his head, mumbling something incoherent as his eyes fall shut again.

I smile a little as I grab the throw from the back of the couch, draping it over him before standing up.

I take the popcorn bowl to the kitchen where I mark Taehyung's portion of the log, leaving myself a reminder to call the club and tell them why Minseok couldn't make it for the past week.

I make myself comfortable on the couch opposite Taehyung, I didn't want to leave him alone.

The purpose of tonight was to try and cheer Taehyung up, I had been trying to cheer everyone up whenever they fronted.

I watched an old classic with Hajoon, even though it was in black and white, I danced around with Minseok, even though I couldn't dance if my like depended on it, I ate spicy noodles with Jongun, even though I hate spicy food, and I tried to do something Taehyung enjoyed but he insisted on me choosing our activity for tonight.

Chaehyeon and V haven't fronted so far but when they do I'll make sure they have fun too, or I'll try at least.

They needed a break from all the heavy discussions and all the aftermath of their attempt, even if the break was short lived.

They deserved it.

🔒🔒🔒