FORTY-SIX

     "You have to drink this medicine for the pain, babe." he placed the spoon closer to her mouth, but she shook her head in denial.

    Nari whined, "It tastes funny."

    "No it doesn't." he responded.

     "Then try it." she mumbled to him with a small pout forming on her mouth.

     He furrowed his eyebrows before questioning, "What?"

    "Try it, you're also in pain because of your impromptu boxing session with Hoseok," she explained, "so try it, it might help you too."

    Right, now Jungkook had returned to boxing as a hobby. Mainly, he used it as a getaway ticket to everything that happened in the past week. Whenever he had to leave Nari at her house with her family, he would go to Hoseok's house to do those impromptu training sessions.

It was basically summer when they returned to Busan, so there was no school until the continuing year. Let's face it, Jungkook was scolded by his parents because he left with his friends without telling them. All he did tell them was that it was a trip to celebrate the end of the school year, and they believed it. But he still got scolded, big time.

    "I don't know if that's safe." he chuckled.

"Come on, it's not like it's a prescription," she responded as she got herself more comfortable, "it's over the counter so it's safe."

She slightly pushed the spoon to him, urging him to drink it as well.

He looked at the red liquid questioningly. Should he?

He did. Nari was right, it really does taste bad.

"This tastes horrible." he immediately heard Nari's wonderful laugh and smiled.

Just as she also gulped that horrible medicine, the door to her room creaked open. They both watched in anticipation and found Jay staring at them lovingly.

Both teens stayed silent as his figure startled them. It was also because Jungkook was still outraged by what he had found out this week.

"Hey lovebirds, dinner is ready, your mother cooked for the boys as well," he smiled at them, he looked at Jungkook, "you can invite them if you want." he said before closing the door and walking downstairs.

Nari began standing up so Jungkook helped her. He placed his hand on her waist lightly. She let out a whimper of pain and he sighed.

"Sorry." he told her as they walked downstairs.

They had prepared the table and had sat down to eat.

   Jungkook took out his phone to text the boys in their group chat rapidly.

jk
hey, Nari's fam want
to know if you guys are
up for dinner with them.

rm
heck to the yes.

tata
yeah, be there in a few.

p.s: Eun wants to come too.

jimin-shi
yes!  even though I got grounded I'm still going.

agust d
yess.

hobi
YES 👏🏼

jin
yeah!!

hyuk
I'm bringing Mel with me, so yeah.

jk
okay, see you guys in a few.

  After they all responded, he put his phone down.

   "They all said yes." he announced.

    This would be their first dinner together since the 'trip'.  It could be called their family dinner. After all, they had taken a big part of Jungkook's life so he considers them part of their family.

-

  "I missed having home cooked meals." Namjoon let out as he looked at the food with twinkling eyes.

   Hye smiled at him, "Me too, it's so delicious," she took a bite and swallowed it rapidly, "thank you."

   "You are all very welcome." Nari's mother smiled.

   "This is our way to say thank you for taking care of our daughters." Jay responded.

   Taehyung looked up from his plate, "They have become part of our family." he nodded.

"Still, thank you." Jay smiled.

   It was fairly silent at the dinner table. The atmosphere was filled with tension and awkwardness.

   "The reason that we invited you guys to dinner was because I have something to say." Jay sighed.

   "What?" Ara asked as she drank her water.

    "I have to explain to all of you what really happened." he rearranged his fork in front of him and stared at Jay who spoke to them.

  
-

   "You were really threatened then?" Nari asked, not paying attention to her food anymore after he had explained everything in detail.

   Turns out that he did not lie. He was even threatened to leave his family. He had left for their safety. The boys knew half of the story but not all of it.

   "Yes, I did not want to leave you all." he sighed.

   Nari was staring at him with tears in her eyes.

   She stood up from beside Jungkook and walked up to him.

   "It's okay, dad," she hugged him tightly, "you're here now."

   And maybe, just maybe, in that moment Jungkook felt his eyes tear up as well. Now there were all together, again. All together like a big family that they now were.

-

  Hello you beautiful people! How are you guys? I hope you are well ❤️

   Guess who is still replaying the new album everyday. That's right:

me lol (btw, what's your favorite song off the new album? Mine is between Airplane pt.2 and outro: tear)

   anyways, I hope you guys liked this chapter. It's a bit short and sweet.

   Btw...tHANK YOU FOR 1K+ votes?!?! Ily all soooo much, seriously.

   I hope you guys have a good week/day! See you guys next Friday ❤️

Jen