"Jungkook!"

The little boy turned around from drawing on the dirt to face the angry woman, her face taut, probably because of her tightly done hair bun.

"I told you to keep yourself clean, didn't I? Can't you just listen for once?!"

The woman was red in the face and Jungkook shuddered. He knew what was coming.

"Get inside now!"

Jungkook trudged on the dirt path towards the big mansion where thousands (maybe less than that, but for a six year-old, it seemed more) of other children played, slept and studied.

Today was supposed to be the day Jungkook might get picked to be one of the lucky ones to get adopted, but honestly, Jungkook liked it here.

Although Madam Lim was harsh and often hit the kids, Jungkook rarely gets the punishment. They said it was because he was small and cute.

Truthfully, Madam Lim liked it when he'd throw one or two compliments along her way. He was a little shy, but he knew what needed to be done to survive.

"Go and change your clothes now. They might be here soon."

"Yes, Madam Lim." Jungkook sighed and dragged his feet towards where he and thirteen other boys slept in and changed, stopping by at the bathroom for a quick wash.

When he went downstairs again, Jungkook heard a car parked in front of the house. Thinking it could be his new parents, Jungkook innocently crept quietly into the small room next to the office.

The caretakers didn't know this but there was a small hole on the wall (probably made by the predecessors) where one can peek into the office.

Jungkook waited until they came into the big fancy squared room.

"Madam Lim."

He heard a booming voice called out. This could be his new dad, but he couldn't see his face. In fact, he couldn't see anything yet.

"Officer."

Officer? His new dad might be a cop? Jungkook was a little excited.

The small boy tried to peek again. This time, he saw a big burly man, with his uniform on.

"We got him from a rough house. He barely got out alive."

Jungkook saw Madam Lim nodding. He turned back to look at the officer but instead, his eyes met another set of eyes - eyes so deep with stories that , belonging to a boy, slightly older than Jungkook.

As quick as lightning, Jungkook turned away from the hole, hoping the boy wouldn't rat him out.

He didn't.

"He's got a smart mouth but I'm sure he'll get along well the others."

Jungkook heard the officer said.

"That's good. How old are you, boy?"

"Ten. OW!"

Jungkook heard a smack right before the boy shouted out of pain.

"Language, boy. Make sure you use formal language with me and the other caretakers."

Jungkook peeped through the hole again. He saw the boy rubbing the back of his head as he glared at Madam Lim.

He must have a death wish for doing that.

"You'll do your part around the house. You're old enough to do the bigger chores. You're already too old. People might not adopt you so make sure you get along with everyone here."

Jungkook watched as the boy rolled his eyes and glanced at him. Instead of looking away, this time Jungkook kept his eye contact.

"What's your name, boy?"

"You're holding onto my file, lady. I'm pretty sure you can read."

Madam Lim was about to hit him again but the officer held up his hand to stop her.

"It's been a rough day for him." The booming voice said.

The old and prim lady sighed.

"Let me ask you again." She came closer to face him, she was only a little bit taller than him but her presence in the room was bigger than anybody else's. "What's your name?"

"Yoongi. Min Yoongi."

----

"Fuck!"

Jungkook gasped as he heard the older cursed when he stepped outside to say hello.

The older boy turned around when he heard him and he rolled his eyes. "What d'you want?"

"To say hello."

"You've said it. Now get lost."

Jungkook sighed out loud.

"What is it?" The boy asked, not even looking at Jungkook. Instead he kept on kicking his worn shoes on the dirt. Small clouds of dust formed at the end of his shoes.

"I just wanted to know what's it like to have parents." Jungkook quietly asked.

The boy turned to face Jungkook and scoffed. "Wrong person to ask, kid. Cause mine ain't really parents of the year."

"What do you mean?"

"It means they're motherfuckers."

Jungkook gasped again.

This time the older boy sighed and apologized. "Sorry. I meant bad people."

They both watched as a car pulled into the parking space in front of the mansion.

"Who's that?" The boy who was kicking dirt asked.

Jungkook shrugged. "Could be my new parents."

"You're getting adopted?"

Nodding, Jungkook sighed.

"You don't sound enthusiastic."

"What's that?"

"Very excited."

"Well, I kinda like it here. And I don't know. I don't feel good about this." Jungkook frowned. "Yeah. I'm not really ensuthatic about it."

The older boy chuckled. "It's enthusiastic, dumbass."

Jungkook scowled. "Yeah yeah, whatever." He turned when he heard his name called. "I gotta go."

"Hey."

Jungkook paused his walking to turn to the other boy.

"If they ever lay their hands on you, grab the first chance you get to get the hell out of the house."

That was the first time Jungkook saw the boy with such adamant look ever since this morning.

He didn't really understand what that boy meant but he nodded, and ran towards the office where his future awaited.

Jungkook never really did see the boy again.

----

"This is incredible."

Jungkook looked up to see a student admiring his work. Probably a senior.

He had just been crowned the winner for the drawing competition and of course as expected, his foster parents were nowhere to be seen. Thank goodness.

"You like it?" Jungkook asked as he gathered all his things and shoved them into his backpack.

"I love it!"

"Take it. It's yours then." Jungkook paused from organizing his tubes of paint and shoved the piece of paper towards the student.

"Wait. I can't take that! You need to show it to your family. You just won a trophy!" The other boy raised his hands so Jungkook would keep it.

Instead, Jungkook simply left the paper on his seat and pulled the strap of his backpack over his shoulder. "Fuck no."

The older boy gasped. "Language!"

Jungkook sighed and apologized. "They can't see all this." He held up his paint box towards the student. "They don't even know I work part time to buy this. If they found out I'll be dead."

"Are they more the 'my son needs to be an office worker' type?"

Jungkook laughed cynically. "No, they're more the 'nobody wants you, it was a mistake to adopt you, no dinner for you and go get the belt' type."

He sighed when he watched the older student's expression, one that showed fear and pity. "Don't worry. I'm used to it. Worst thing that could happen is me ending up dead."

"Hey." The student stood closer. "Do you want out?"

"What?"

"Do you want out of the house?"

"If they ever lay their hands on you, grab the first chance you get to get the hell out of the house."

"Yes."

"Great. My dad can help."

The older student extended his hand towards Jungkook. "I'm Hoseok by the way. Jung Hoseok."

Jungkook smiled. "I'm Jeon Jungkook."