Family
• a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit.

synonyms: household, ménage; nuclear family; informal: brood

"growing up in the bosom of one's family"

Jungkook

I hear the front door slam open and closed and the familiar sound of my mother's shoes against the wood. However, another feature of her presence causes me to cringe and sink into my bed even further.

Alcohol.

Another set of feet scurries around the hallway, accompanied by a low voice most likely belonging to a man she has hooked up with at a nightclub. I hear them run upstairs and lock the door of my mum's room, giggling.

I feel sick to the stomach, wanting to be anywhere but here.

My mother used to be an amazing parent, always looking after me and making sure I was okay. She used to cook the most amazing dishes and always made enough to have seconds. She would wear her hair up in a messy bun and wear beautiful pastel dresses. They had matching ribbons that she tied around her wrists and she would always let me play with them when I was a toddler whilst she cradled me in her arms.

Then my dad left. Things changed. She lost it. She never wore beautiful dresses. No longer wore ribbons. She stopped caring.

I cover my ears with my pillow to drown out the banging and shouting, a tear trailing down my cheek and landing on the bedsheets. I close my eyes and think of anything; anything to distract me from this living hell.

-x-

Light streams through my curtains, glowing onto my face and warming it with a welcoming touch. I sit up in my bed and look around.

Everything looks normal. My window remains slightly open so I feel the soft breeze and hear the chirping of birds in the morning. The glow-in-the-dark stars I stuck on my ceiling when I was younger look down at me with drawn on smiley faces of sharpie. My desk holds many stacks of homework and school papers as well as a few Ironman action figures dotted around on the wood. It's all as it should be.

Footsteps snap me out of my train of thought, the sound getting closer and closer. I see my door swing open, my haikyuu poster disappearing against the wall. On the other side is a tall man with brown hair and dark eyes, dressed in a formal suit. His eyes grow wide as he sees me sat up in bed, glaring at him fiercely.

"Sorry, I was looking for the bathroom..." He laughs nervously, leaning against the doorframe casually.

"Next door on the left" I grumble, sorting out my hair which looks like I've been living in a hedge.

He nods but doesn't move. Instead, he examines the collection of Ironman figures dotted around my room with a small smile. He leaves the doorframe and enters my room without my approval and picks one up, chuckling.

"I used to love Ironman. Sorry about last night. We were both a bit drunk--"

"Get out my room"

He whips his head round and stares, then looks down at his feet in dismay. Slowly, he places the figure back onto my desk.

"I'm extremely sorry--"

"I said get out!" I shout, throwing my pillow across the room at him. He catches it with one hand, frowning. He simply nods and throws my pillow back, gently, then leaves.

I groan with frustration, hitting the pillow with my fists repeatedly to let out my anger.

Why was such a smart man hooking up with my mum? Why was he trying to be nice?

I groan and roll onto my side, reaching for my phone on the side.

8:06 am

I guess he's an early bird too.

Releasing a sigh, I begin texting Jimin and tell him everything that has happened. That's the great thing about him. He always listens. Unlike some people.

•
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•
•
•

Three weeks later...

•

"Jungkook-ah! Dinner's ready!"

I put my phone down and enter the kitchen, surprised at the sight.

Juwon, my mum's new boyfriend, is sat at the table reading a newspaper. However, what is most surprising, is the fact that my mum is cooking proper food. The familiar aroma of her cooking as a child fills my sinuses and I smile, sitting opposite Juwon.

He lowers the newspaper to look at me.
"Hello, Jungkook! How are you?"

"Fine" I reply bluntly, sipping on the glass of coke that is on the table. He sighs and places the newspaper on the floor and leans closer.

"How was your day?" He asks, clearly trying to make an effort to be friendly.

"Okay"

"Jungkook, be polite" my mother tuts and slides a dish of dak galbi in front of me. The smell makes my mouth water and I tuck in, not bothering to say sorry.

The taste bursts into my mouth in a flurry of flavours, the succulent meat melting in my mouth. It's perfect. Just like when I was younger.

Juwon watches as I shovel food into my mouth, chuckling.
"I have a son who eats exactly like you, not even stopping for a breath!"

My mum sits down at the table and giggles. "Teenage boys have big appetites"

"I'll have to bring my Taehyung round one day, introduce him to you"

I stop chewing and swallow my mouthful, staring up at him with curiosity. I can't picture him with a family, somehow.

"He's a little older than you, couple of years I think. Very kind and sweet. He's also rather good-looking, obviously got my genes" Juwon nudges my mum and she chuckles, slapping his arm.

Somehow the food doesn't seem so appetizing anymore.

"Jungkookie, eat up! I made lots more" Soojin, my mother, says as she points her chopsticks at me. Sighing in defeat, I eat it anyway, even though my appetite has completely disappeared.

"Jungkook, you have autumn break now, right?" Juwon queries, offering a smile that I don't return. I hum in response, earning an elbow in the side from my mum.

"Yes, I do" I add, shooting Soojin an irritable glance. She nods with satisfaction.

"So is Taehyung. I reckon you two will get along well. How about I bring him round tomorrow?" He asks, more to Soojin rather than me. She looks at me and I shrug, finishing the last drop of my drink.

"Yes, that's a good idea! I'm sure Jungkook will love that" she speaks for me, a bright grin on her face. I haven't seen her smile in years.

"Alright, it's settled--"

A loud ringing noise erupts throughout the kitchen, making me jump in my chair. Juwon fishes for his phone and retrieves it from his pocket, eyebrows scrunched together.

"Business call. I'll be back in a minute" he darts out the room and into the lounge, bringing the phone to his ear and greeting the person on the other end before shutting the door with a thud.

My mother looks me up and down, smiling as she places a hand on my cheek.

"I'm sorry if I haven't been paying you much attention, Kook. Look I know you don't like Juwon but please just try to be nice. I really want this to work..."

I notice water has begun brimming in the corner of her beautiful eyes, causing them to shimmer. I close my eyes and exhale deeply, opening them to see her stroking back a lock of her hair that has fallen from her messy bun. Just like how it used to be.

"Okay mum, I'm sorry...I'll try harder"

I watch as her face lights up, any sign of her tearing up now gone. She kisses me on the cheek and claps her hands together.

That's when I see them.

Her wrist is decorated with two strands of crimson; ribbons.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I have no life lmao

This book is gonna be hella smutty so if you don't like that kind of thing then this book is not for you :)))))

You have been warned~

To be continued...