Chapter 42

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It didn't take long for Jungkook to start missing Taehyung. Especially since they had lived in such close proximity. He'd been there all the time, always by Jungkook's side, or at least only a room away... but now he was just gone. It happened more than once that Jungkook actually went looking for Taehyung in the bathroom before realizing that the siren wasn't there anymore.

Tuna gave him a little comfort. The cat started sleeping next to him, as if to fill the empty space Taehyung had left behind, and at least Jungkook had someone to absentmindedly talk to when the quiet just got too much.

Probably in compensation for his apartment being empty, Jungkook finally started spending more time with Eunji again. He spent a good two weeks mostly out of the apartment, only returning in the late evenings that he usually used to play with Tuna. When he wasn't at Eunji's or somewhere with some friends he almost always had the TV running. It helped with the complete silence.

By week three he picked up a habit that was a little useless now that Taehyung was gone. He went back to the beach to sit by the rocks for a few hours maybe once or twice a week. He had really started to miss the peace and quiet a little.

And it did help a little. He could actually focus on his school work out there. The only downside was that it had gotten really cold and even started snowing every once in a while. They had maybe another two weeks left until Christmas and part of Jungkook was a little sad that he couldn't show Taehyung all the Christmas and holiday traditions they had. Snowmen, the way people would decorate everything and the food... it really was quite sad.

About four weeks after Taehyung had left Jungkook got a message from Jimin.

Jimin
Look who's here

Jimin

Jimin
He came to visit us for a bit

Jungkook
How is he doing?

Jimin
He's glowing

Jimin
I remember when I first came on land for a long period of time it drained me so much

Jimin
And I was already used to being on land a lot

Jimin
It's pretty obvious this is good for him

Jimin
Also I'm glad you told him to come back

Jimin
Even with everything that happened between you two

Jimin
And you made him talk

Jimin
Impressive impressive

Jungkook
Seriously happy to hear he's doing well

Jungkook
I hope he really gets to relax and go back to full energy again

Jimin
I'm sure he will!

Jungkook ended up getting another few pictures of his former roommate, most seemingly having been taken when he hadn't been looking and some clearly against his will, but Jungkook couldn't help feeling happy. He was glad Taehyung was doing well... unlike him. Jungkook really just didn't know what to do with all the free time he had now. He'd been bored before Taehyung had shown up and now he was even more bored, since the time with the siren had been anything but boring.

By week five he started missing Minji. It was harmless, really. It was just that, since Taehyung was no longer there and Jungkook didn't have anything to do, there was nothing to distract him from it. They had broken up maybe two weeks before Taehyung had shown up and the wound had still been relatively fresh.

Now Jungkook was back to missing having someone to hold and talk to when he needed it. Of course, he had Eunji, but she still had a life of her own and simply wasn't the most... touchy person. Also she really couldn't help when Jungkook was craving affection.

It got a little better during Christmas. He stayed at his parents' for a couple of days and his mum was, as usual, quite overprotective and affectionate, so for a few days he actually felt quite happy. She would cook for him and overly take care of him, making sure there wasn't a single thing he needed but didn't have, but even then when Jungkook got back to his place, it was still an empty apartment, apart from the cat that was rubbing against his leg.

Three months after Taehyung had left, Jungkook was grasping at straws. He was so bored and, as dumb as it was, horny. He had given up avoiding his apartment and being alone because really... it didn't make too much of a difference. He could only go to the coffee shop near campus or the arcade so many times before his parents would start asking questions about where he was wasting all that money. And Jungkook really didn't have a good excuse aside from trying to do anything but lie at home watching TV.

But he couldn't run forever.

"What should we watch today?" He flipped onto his stomach, staring at the cat that was looking up at him from the bottom of the sofa. "What do you think, Tuna? How about our fiftieth rewatch of Queen of the Ring?"

Tuna meowed and Jungkook nodded. "Yeah, I think so too... what should I watch then?"

He started at the screen, scrolling through Netflix for a few seconds before rolling onto his back, groaning. "I don't see anything I like... I don't even wanna watch TV." He stared up at the ceiling above his head, weighing his options. Maybe he should have just gone to the gym when his friend had asked him, but he had worked out yesterday and his muscles were sore. It probably still would have been a better choice than this.

"Hey, Tuna... do you miss your dad?"

He glanced at Tuna, who was still sitting there and expectantly looking at him. She was probably waiting for food. Well, if Taehyung had been here he could have fed her, but with Jungkook she was going to have to wait until he decided he had the energy to get up again.

So maybe, in a way, she missed Taehyung too.

He grabbed the remote again, once again aimlessly going over series after series in hopes of finding anything that sounded even remotely interesting. It was moments like this that he actually missed Taehyung's presence the most. For one, watching anything together was always funnier than alone and if Taehyung had been here Jungkook probably would have suggested for them to do stuff like go to the zoo, just like he had been planning before he'd left.

Instead he felt the urge to just go to sleep and wait for something more interesting to happen. But just when he contemplated whether he should actually go to sleep to avoid just being on his phone and wasting time that way or stay on his sofa and well... waste his time when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He'd pretty much muted all the group chats he was in so there was a good chance that it was Eunji, coming to his rescue and asking him to do something. At this point Jungkook really would have been cool with Eunji asking him to move the furniture around her apartment. Anything was better than the bored moping he was doing.

And he wasn't even moping, really. Occasionally he thought about Minji and would feel a mix of anger and sadness, but that was the furthest the moping went. Jungkook was honestly just bored out of his mind.

But the message seemed like a promise of at least some distraction... even if it wasn't Eunji asking him to help her rearrange her apartment.

Sohye
Hey we haven't talked in a while

Sohye
Wanna hang out?

A/N

This will hurt ya'll... but I'm gonna pull through with it even with how impatient I am😖

I will only post one chapter a week during the time Taehyung is gone so ya'll can suffer a little with jk and rlly miss him💜😂

Trust me it's as hard for me as it is for you😬

BUT THE PAYOFF WILL BE WORTH IT AND THERES A GOOD CHANCE I WILL START POSTING TWICE A WEEK AFTER 👀💜

Also by the time I post the next chapter... I will practically be done with my finals😭💜

Wish me luck ya'll!