Let's continue with the weird cramps

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Twenty minutes later I came outside the restroom. I felt uncomfortable facing Jungkook, knowing that my hair was stuck to my forehead and the fact that he knew what I'd just done. Of course it is a human thing to do, nevertheless it's just gross. Wobbling, with my arms crossed over my belly, I went towards him. I'd spot him leaning against the wall next to the restroom, tapping on his phone.
  
  
   
"Sorry for ruining your night." I let my head drop in guilt.
   
   
  
He put his phone in his back pocket and eyed me. I looked acerbic, sometimes gritting my teeth as I felt another wave of pain hit my stomach. "Are you feeling better already?" He sounded worried.
  
   
  
"A little bit", I replied. "Though I am afraid I have to cancel our movie night." I looked at the clock that hung above the counter, the pointer at the ten. "Or from what's left."
  
  
    
Reluctantly I took my backpack from Jungkook who handed it to me. Hanging out with the boy was fun and I felt genuinely sorry for him, and for myself, that I'd spoiled our movie night. "Thanks for tonight, I had fun," I said, giving him a weak smile. Afterwards I turned my back to the boy and walked away.
 
  
  
I had already reached the exit when I heard him call my name. "Brooke! Wait." He rushed down the stairs and looked at me carefully. "You won't be able to walk home like this. Especially not at this late hour."
  
  
  
He was right. Even though I wouldn't get lost this time, because my phone was charged, I was not able to walk all the way to the apartment. Every time I set a few steps it felt like someone punched me in my abdomen. The bus stop was not near the cinema either and I was afraid of taking a taxi, although Jungkook didn't know that.
  
  
   
"Let me take you to the dorm, that is the least I can do. It is nearby and it's not good if you make that journey home in this state."
  
  
  
I thought about his offer. It sounded like my best option—so I nodded. I trusted Jungkook and the members. As I did some research about them I ended up watching a lot of bangtan bombs and all seven looked lovely and nice to me. Some had their savageness though. It was not as if I was a fan, at least not yet, but it was exciting to go to an idol's dorm—though I didn't think about it for too long, my attention was elsewhere.
  
 
  
We then excited the cinema, that smelled like popcorn and sweetness, and a breeze greeted us outside. The second after a jacket was draped over my shoulders. "You should stay warm," Jungkook mumbled.
  
  
   
The heavy leather material felt protecting on my shoulders. I tightened the jacket around my body and answered him. "Thanks."

|

Jungkook wasn't kidding when he said the dorm was close. After five minutes we reached their apartment building and took the elevator to their floor.
  
  
  
"Yes, she is coming with me.... She isn't feeling well... No hyung, you don't have to make chicken soup, I got this."
  
   
  
Jungkook was calling with one of his hyungs while I tried to control my breath.
  
    
  
"고마워요 형 [Thank you hyung]. " He finished the phone call and turned towards me. "How are you feeling?"
  
  
  
"Not anything better than a few minutes ago to be honest."
  
  
  
"I asked Jin hyung if he could make you a cup of tea. He wanted to help."
   
  
  
Then the elevator stopped and it opened. Jungkook led the way and I followed close behind. When he entered the door a neat living room appeared in my vision. The walls were painted white and awards, that were on display, decorated them. There were two couches in the living room, one a dark blue colour and the other plain white. A huge flatscreen tv stood against the wall as well. The white tiles on the floor were polished and reflected the light of the lamps. From the living room you could look into the kitchen. I spotted a man with blonde hair and broad shoulders. That must be Jin oppa.  
  
   
  
The man turned around as he heard the door falling shut. He put the kitchenware down and walked towards the two of us. "김 석진 [Kim seokjin]," he said while giving me a hand.
   
  
   
I shook it weakly. "렀 브룩 입니다 [I'm Ross Brooke]."
  
  
 
Jungkook then took my wrist and guided me to the couch where he gestured me to lay down. So I put a pillow underneath my head and put my legs on the couch as well as I groaned. Automatically I closed my eyes.
  
  
  
A few moments later I felt the couch sink. I opened my eyes to find Jin sitting beside my knees. "Here's some hurbal tea I made for you. Jungkook told me you didn't feel well and this tea will calm you stomach down," he said in a soft voice.
 
  
   
I nodded and thanked him, not being able to start a conversation.
    
  
  
"How much do you know about us?" Jin suddenly asked.
  
   
   
I shifted my body to a more comfortable position. "Not much actually," I answered honestly. "What made you ask?"
   
    
    
He shrugged his shoulders. "I was curious how much you knew about k-pop, because you are American."
    
     
    
"I knew about the existance of k-pop, but I never listened to it. I used to listen to a lot of hip hop and DJs." My mind wandered off to high school. In eleventh grade I used to listen to a lot of hip hop alongside my friends at parties. Pictures of red cups, loud music, laughter and dizziness fill my head, but also a feeling of discomfort. "After I knew I would be going to Korea for one year I started to discover some k-songs, and added them in my playlist. One of them was Spring day".
    
    
    
"But you didn't know who the artist was?"
    
    
    
"No," I admitted. "I just knew what some k-idols looked like, because I watched some videos on the V-App to freshen up my Korean. That's how I recognized Jungkook." I smiled thinking about how bizarre this whole situation was.
    
   
    
He stood up. "If you need something else, just ask. But I think Jungkook will take good care of you." He smirked as we saw Jungkook speed walk from room to room, clearly looking for something. I laughed too.

   
  
   
Jin went to his own room as Jungkook entered the living room, like they were guarding me and Jungkook took over the watch. I took a sip of my tea and the warm liquid warmed me up from the inside as it flowed through my gullet to my belly, calming the my intestines as well.

||

Me:
어머니, I'm not feeling well.
Is it ok if I stay at a friend's until the AM?

어머니:
Are you alright?

She couldn't pick me up from the dorm, because she had a night shift. It was hard for her to miss a shift, because as a single mom she could use all the money. Plus she had not only one child to take care of now, but two as she decided to let me stay in their household too. My host mom was the sweetest, but right now she could not afford it to pick me up.

Me:
Don't worry
I have unwellness cramps, but it's probably due to my period
It is more painful than ever before though

어머니:
Slow down and take a good rest
I'll be home at 6 AM

Me:
See you then mom

|||

I put my phone away and looked at Jungkook. "What is that?" I pointed at the thing he was holding.
  
  
  
He scratched his neck. "This is a jug, I thought it might be helpful. I already filled it with hot water."
  
  
   
Thereafter he grabbed a chair and sat beside me, handing me the jug in the meantime. I took it and placed it on top of my belly and felt the warmth spread through my entire body, causing me to shiver.
  
   
  
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" he asked.
  
   
  
I shook my head. "Tanks for taking care of me."
  
  
   
He shrugged his shoulders. "That is the least I can do. Does your host family know that you're here, by the way?"
  
  
   
"Yes," I answered. "I told my host mom that I would go home as soon as I would feel better. Because she can't pick me up due to her night shift," I explained. "Is that ok with you guys? I'll be gone early in the morning."
  
   
  
"It's saturday tomorrow so I think they're okay with it, we don't have a schedule. But I'll leave you alone now so you can rest." He stood up and was about to walk off, but as soon as he reached the hallway an uneasy feeling welled up in me. I liked Jungkook presence, because it distracted me from my cramps. Perhaps a selfish thought because the boy might feel tired too. Even though he might've been tired, he didn't show it.
  
  
  
"Jungkook—"
 
  
  
He turned around. "Hm?"
  
  
  
"Please stay."
  
   
  
He walked back without sulking and sat down for the second time. From his seat he looked at me, waiting till I would say something. But I didn't know what to say either, I just didn't want to be alone. After finding the words I was looking for I spoke them out loud: "Talking to you distracts me. I don't care about what, if necessary you can even talk about your obsession with alpacas."
  
  
  
"They are cute though."
  
  
  
I smiled. "Yes, they are."
   
  
  
And like I asked—the boy started talking. Sometimes I would interrupt him to make a comment or ask questions, but I mainly listened to his calming voice. Every now and then he dozed off, thinking about the memories he was talking about—like he re-lived the moment. His doe eyes would get a glassy look every time that happened.
   
   
   
I noticed that he never talked about his youth or his family. Though I could tell that some of those thoughts were about his family, but he never mentioned them. Like he was always protecting them.
    
   
    
Suddenly he asked a question l towards me. "What do you think the cause is of your, uh, current state?"

  
  
  
"Hmm, well." I nibbled on my lip as I had to think about it. "I think there are multiple causes. My body hasn't adjust to a hot meal three times, or more, a day. Especially the kind of food is different compared to the US." I shifted my gaze and eyed him. "And also, I am supposed to get my period tomorrow."
  
  
  
The boy looked flustered.
   
  
  
"Oh come on, baby boy," I teased. "Every woman has it, how else are we supposed to get pregnant? How do you think your mom put you on this earth if she wasn't fertile?" I took a sip of my tea.
  
  
  
"I- I-"
 
   
 
He looked exactly like toddler to me, seeing his cute, flustered, red cheeks. This made me chuckle. "애교, you're so cute," I cooed.
   
  
   
"Noona!"
  
 
   
I grinned. "Next time I'll take care of you. And again... sorry that I'm such a burden."
   
  
   
"Noona, I don't mind," he repeated.
  
 
  
I felt my eyelids grow heavier and tried to suppress a yawn. The pain in my abdomen had decreased. The hurbal tea and the jug did their job and slowly I drifted off to sleep. I managed to place my cup on the coffee table where it wobbly remained. Right before my mind went into sleep mode I vaguely I felt the weight of a blanket draped over my body. The second after I drifted into a deep sleep without dreams.

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