Before leaving for home, Jungkook had taken a photo of the man so they could take it to the police later. Surely he would also want to assault others sexually, and it's a step to making the world a better place.

As soon as the front door falls into the lock, and they've taken off their jackets and shoes, Jeongguk speaks up angrily, "Jimin, where did he touch you?"

Jungkook lets his gaze wander up and down on Jimin, impatiently waiting to hear the answer to his question. He wants to erase those terrible pictures in his mind; how the man touched him and how Jimin tried to push him away but couldn't because of the stranger's strength.

Jungkook hates it.

"It's fine. It's over."

On the other hand, Jimin is over it, or at least he is trying to get over it. If it weren't for Jungkook, he would still be there. He saved him in time, and that's what counts for Jimin.

"Jungkook, where are you going?" Jimin calls after the other anxiously, but it falls on deaf ears. He sits unsteadily on the sofa, unsure what to expect when the other returns. Hearing Jungkook turn on the tap water, he furrows his brows, deepening when Jungkook returns with a wet paper towel in his hand. The other takes a seat, leaving only a few inches between them.

"What are you planning to do?" Jimin asks, confused and eyes him warily. What does he want with the wet paper towel? "You're acting weird."

"I hate that he touched you. Tell me where he touched you with his filthy mouth," Jungkook asks, eyes sparkling with determination, and then it clicks. Jimin sighs and points to the side of his throat.

"Just the throat?" Jimin nods, trying to hold back a giggle. There's absolutely nothing funny about this, nor what he went through earlier, but seeing Jungkook scrunch his nose in disgust and eyes, the part on which Jimin's finger showed just a few seconds ago, makes him want to giggle. There's a chance that Jungkook could be jealous, but of course, Jimin could be totally wrong. There's no reason to be jealous.

Jimin's smile vanishes when Jungkook lifts the paper towel and wipes it carefully over the spot, causing Jimin to flinch in the process.

"You're overprotective, you know that?"

Silence.

"What are you talking about? M-me and o-overprotective?"

Jimin giggles at his stutter.

"Yeah, I mean... I could've just showered." Jungkook hums and stops for a moment, their eyes meeting.

"You could have... but you weren't going." He smirks and goes on while scratching his head, "Anyway, can we start like... um... start talking in school? It gets really lonely there. I don't even know why I had this stupid idea in the first place."

"O-Of course, only if you want to," Jungkook adds.

"I'd love to!" Jimin jumps up, pulling Jungkook in a hug. At that very moment, the front door opens, and their parents appear in the doorframe, lips curling into smiles.

"Are we interrupting a brother moment?" Jimin's mother cooes and leans against Jungkook's father with her head.

Caught red-handed, Jimin and Jungkook freeze, eyes widening when they turn around. They can see their parents standing mere metres away from them, chuckling to themselves.

"Don't worry. We won't disturb you anymore," Jimin's mum says before both parents exit the living room, leaving the boys in an awkward silence.

It's a faint whisper, but Jimin is sure she said how cute they are and it causes his heart to speed up at the thought they could be more than stepbrothers and friends, blushing at the thought. Do they really look cute to outsiders, or did she mean it in a brotherly way?

♡♡♡

"Guys, wake up!" The shrill voice of Jimin's mother sounds through the house and makes him groan. There's no way it's already morning.

"Ughh!" Jimin shrieks from the bed and goes to the bathroom, getting ready for another Monday morning in the hellhole, but no, it should be fine, he keeps assuring himself. He finally has someone he can talk to.

Returning to his room, he quickly changes into a white jumper and some black pants and then heads down.

Jungkook sits already dressed at the table, smiling at Jimin when he sees him. Jimin pauses on the stairs before he reciprocates it and heads down to the kitchen. Jungkook smiling at him is definitely something he has to get used to.

"Morning, sweetie," his mum says with an exciting undertone. His gaze flickers to her, observing her for a minute. Jimin finds it strange how someone can be that happy when they have to get up so early, especially for school. Maybe it's just the age...

Jimin shrugs it off and sits down.

"So... originally, I wanted to prepare breakfast for you, but when you went to the bathroom, Jungkook came downstairs and pleaded to let him make  breakfast." A smile tugs on her lips as her gaze wanders to Jimin, anticipating his reaction. If she only had a clue of how bad Jungkook's and his relationship was.

"Oh..." Jimin is shocked. Jungkook can cook? Jungkook hasn't mentioned it before. Are there more talents he has and doesn't know of?

"A... good 'oh' or a bad 'oh'?" Jungkook asks hesitantly and swallows heavily. He is afraid that Jimin doesn't like it. He is used to Jimin's mum cooking, but he wanted to surprise him and to put a smile on his face; now he's not so sure anymore...

Jimin feels guilt bping through his body upon hearing the uncertainty in Jungkook's voice. It wasn't his intention.

"No." that's not it. He wants to say, but his voice just has to crack right at this moment.

Jungkooks brows furrow as if he's trying to figure out what he's saying just by focusing on Jimin's face. "I am confused."

The latter takes a deep breath. "No... As in I didn't know you could cook and I was simply taken aback. I will definitely try it!"

As his mom puts a pancake on the plate, she leans near his ear. "See, I told you to give him some time. I am so happy you two became good friends. Enjoy your breakfast~"

She kisses him on his head before she finally leaves the kitchen. Jimin doesn't wait to stuff the pancake in his mouth while Jungkook looks at him—no stares at him, making him nervously slide back and forth on the chair.

"Bhaf are you sharing at?" Jimin has his mouth full of pancakes, making him look like a hamster with round cheeks.

Jungkook breaks eye contact and looks down at the table, grinning.

"Bhaf?" He asks again.

He can clearly see Jungkook chuckling before he breaks into laughter. "You look adorable... like a hamster."

Jimin widens his eyes at the comment and then tries as fast as possible to swallow the pancake.

"N-Not t-true." He blushes and hides his face behind his tiny hands. Did he just compliment him?

"Okay, okay. What do you think of the pancakes?"

Jimin peeks through his fingers, too shy to face Jungkook fully. Swallowing, he answers, "Th-they are delicious."

"I am happy you like them."

The younger takes his phone from the table and checks the time; a groan escapes his lips. "We have to go otherwise we will be late."

A few minutes later, both get up from the table, put their dirty plates away and hurry to the door.

"Let me help you."

Jimin's eyes widen and his mouth slightly agape, not believing what he's seeing. There, in front of him, is Jungkook on his knees, taking the shoelaces of Jimin's shoes in his hand and tying them into a bow.

What has gotten into him?

His eyes travel from his brown hair down to his shoulders, over his arms and eventually land on his hands, moving softly over the material, tying one bow to a double bow and then moving to the other shoe.

His hands look virile and veins minimally popping can be seen on the back of his hand. He wonders what-

"Let's go?"

Jimin snaps back into reality as he looks at Jungkook, who's looking at him, waiting and only inches away from him.

His body moves on its own and he takes a step back, turnung around, not knowing the consequence—walking directly into the door.

"Ow!" He rubs his forehead shortly and then opens the door; please don't, please don't—

"Are you alright?"

Jimin can hear Jungkook snickering behind his back but doesn't comment on it; it's embarrassing enough.

"Let's go."