8.

| 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲. |

Hoseok P.O.V

"Suddenly, I miss Jungkookie." I pulled away from our embrace, a frown on my face.

It hadn't even been five minutes, yet I could see a bit of Jimin's shine returning to his eyes. And I was so happy about that. He deserved all the happiness in the world.

I was here to make sure that he got all that happiness. Even if it means that my happiness may disappear.

"Me too," Jimin sighed, "let's try calling him one last time."

"Do you think he'll talk with us this time?"

"Well, it's worth a try."

Jimin pulled out his phone, ringing up our family landline.

Jimin and I haven't seen any of our five brothers for so many months now, due to us shifting here, to a prestigious dance academy.

Dance was our passion, and it was Jungkook's passion as well, but he was still young when we came here.

He still needed to finish his college studies.

We've spoken with all our brothers back home, via video calls, except for Jungkook.

That stubborn brat was upset because Jimin and I left so abruptly.

But we had no other option, because we knew that if Jungkook knew that we were leaving home to go to a dance academy, he would insist on coming with us, willingly ditching his college.

As his older brothers, the last thing we wanted was for him to drop out of college for such a silly reason.

Now, as revenge, most likely, Jungkook has refused to speak with us; he won't call us, nor will he speak when we call him.

If anyone tried to force him to show his face to us, he would lock himself in the bathroom and refuse to come out.

Jungkook was a very passionate kid, who was affectionate as well.

I missed all the times he would compliment me and my dancing, staring at me with such admiration, as if I was the best dancer in the world.

In fact, Jungkook was the one who pushed me to continue dancing, at a point where I was ready to abandon dancing. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him.

"Hello? Taehyung? Can you hear me?" Jimin covered his other ear to be able to hear him clearly.

"I'm out with Hobi hyung," he said, raising his voice a bit.

The music around us was a tiny bit loud, and that was probably why Taehyungie wasn't able to hear Jiminie.

"Yes, we're both perfectly fine. Don't worry about us, how have everyone been doing, since we last spoke?"

Jimin pointed at his phone, and gave me a reassuring thumbs up, indicating that everyone back home have been doing well.

"What? No, I'm not crying. Why would I be crying?"

Jimin widened his eyes, clearing his throat a bit.

"No, my voice sounds like that because I'm shouting to speak with you, dumbass," Jimin said.

I smiled. These two have always been a tiny bit closer than the rest of us, because they were of the same age, and had many similarities; they would goof around together. Taehyung knows Jimin like the back of his hand, and so does Jimin.

So it wasn't that surprising that Taehyung could make out that Jimin was crying.

"Oh, Hobi hyung, you wanna talk to him? Sure, here you go!" Jimin urgently shoved his phone to my hand.

I shook my head, before greeting Taehyung cheerfully.

We spoke for a bit, not without him asking me if Jimin was lying, and if Jimin was crying or not.

I truthfully told him that he didn't have to worry about it, and that I'm here to look after him.

"I knew he was crying. His voice was sounding different."

"Yes, all-knowing Taehyung, now pass the phone to whoever is at home, please. Don't hog the phone all to yourself."

I laughed when he groaned something about no one wanting to talk with him.

"Dramatic ass!"

I screamed into the phone, laughing. Taehyung was always like that, so I wasn't worried about hurting him.

"Says you." A soft voice scoffed.

I knew the owner of that deep, but soothing voice very well.

"I'm offended, Yoongi hyung!" I smiled widely with joy, despite my feigned indignation.

"You know it's true. You screamed and jumped seven feet into the air when an empty packet of chips brushed by your feet, when we all went to the beach." Yoongi hyung's tone sounded exasperated.

"You can't blame me, okay? The ocean water has all sorts of dangerous creatures. What if it was a crab pinching my feet?!"

"Then you could've just stamp it down into the sand."

"Don't let Namjoonie hear you say that." I laughed at his nonchalantness.

"Yoongi hyung, I heard that! Oh shit, I'm sorry!"

I heard Namjoonie's voice shout angrily before it morphed into an apologetic voice. Yoongi hyung hissed a little.

"What happened? Are you okay, hyung?"

After a little shifting and ruffling, Namjoonie spoke;

"Hobi! How have you been?"

"I've been great Namjoonie, and so has Jiminie. We miss everyone so much."

"When are you both planning to come home for a visit?"

"Not anytime soon, Joonie. We have assignments to submit, and soon after our yearly assessments are gonna begin. It's a bit hectic for a while."

"I would say that I pity you, but it was your choice to go there. So. . . suffer!"

Namjoon's deep voice chuckled, causing me to let out a laugh of my own.

"Yeah, it isn't that bad. We're having loads of fun here."

"And I'm glad you both are,"

I could practically hear his smile, deep dimples making an appearance.

"Wait, Jin hyung's here. I'll pass the phone on to him."

I hummed in content, watching as Jimin stood up, swaying his body with the beat, an adorable smile on his face.

He then began dancing, occasionally sweeping his hair back, and shooting winks and smiles all around.

I smiled; the Jimin I knew was slowly returning.

His charisma was stronger than ever, what with multiple women, and men, staring at him and his dancing in wonder. A lady even got up and went upto him, speaking a few words.

Jimin subtly moved away from her, keeping a respectable distance, while smiling.

Well, okay, maybe he wasn't ready to get out there once again and mingle with people, but he's smiling widely, and that's progress.

"Hoba! My hope! Do you remember me? Do you remember my handsome face?"

I sighed exasperatedly, a smile on my face.

"Jin hyung. Still as dramatic as ever."

"I majored in Drama for a reason, you know?"

His infamous windshield wiper laughter echoed in my ears. It was contagious, and in no time I was laughing along with him.

"I love talking with you all so much. The last time I laughed like this was when a friend of mine performed 'Baby Shark' as a part of her assignment, in front of the whole class. I think I fainted after laughing so much that day."

I chuckled, wiping my eyes.

"That must've been a sight."

"Yeah, someone had taken a recording, it was the talk of our academy for weeks. I'll show it to you when we return."

"You do that. Also, that reminds me, Hobi, have you found someone?"

"What do you mean, hyung?"

"I mean, has anyone there caught your eyes? Anyone worthy of your love?"

"Ah. . . no. Not yet. I don't know."

Being completely honest, I had never even thought of finding my significant other here. I was here, following my passion, dancing, and nothing else really mattered to me.

"You don't know? Well, that makes two of you."

"Elaborate, and stop speaking in riddles."

"Jungkook-ah. I think he's found someone, but he says that she's just his boss, nothing more."

"Oh—?"

I had to remind myself that Jungkook was a full-grown adult now, not our child anymore. He can date, or see whoever he wants to.

But. . . it is a little bizarre.

"I don't know though, it's just that he's been spending extra hours working at the cafe particularly."

"Wait, how many jobs does he even have?"

"Three."

"Three?! Last time I checked, he was only working at the amusement park. . ."

"Yeah, he has been working extra these days. You know, for Yoongi's surge—"

Jin hyung suddenly halted. The line went completely silently for a while.

"What? What happened to Yoongi hyung?" I asked frantically.

"Huh? Oh, no, nothing happened to him. He's just, uh, taken a hiatus from his idol work, and, you know, Jungkook's been working extra to compensate for that. We still divide the rent equally, you know?"

I had a feeling that he was lying. He was speaking slowly, and was using the phrase 'you know', way too much.

"That's good. And yeah, I thought I had seen something about his temporary break." I spoke slowly.

"Shall I try calling Jungkook-ah to come down and speak with you?"

I hummed, and waited, as Jin hyung called Taehyungie to go up and check on Jungkookie.

Jiminie slumped on the chair beside mine, sweat gleaming on his face, but it wasn't brighter than the smile he adorned.

He looked genuinely happy, and my heart swelled at that.

He pointed at the phone, bobbing his head questioningly.

"Taehyungie's gone to check on Jungkookie," I said. Jiminie nodded in understanding, sweeping his hair back, the sweat helping his hair to stay in the same place.

"Hobi, Tae says he's sleeping."

Jin hyung's voice sounded sad; it was an indication that Jungkook was making an excuse to not speak with us.

"It's fine, let him rest. It was fun talking with all of you. Good night Jin hyung."

We both said our goodbyes, before I returned the phone to Jiminie, sighing.

"Let me guess. He doesn't wanna talk to us. Again," Jimin said. I nodded. "Stupid brat."

Jimin looked sad again.

"Hey, hey, no more frowns on your face, definitely not on my watch!" I pushed Jiminie's squishy cheeks, till he was smiling again.

"There. Much better."

"Hobi hyung, I really don't deserve you."

"Shut up, stupid mochi. You deserve all the happiness in the world." I hit his head playfully.

"Not as much as you do."

Jimin's eyes held the very same look as it did every time he stared into his phone, looking at his ex's photos; fondness, and unconditional love.

Except this time, it was directed towards me.

I smiled, wondering what I had done to receive such a gift like him, in the form of a brother.

"Whatever you say, Jiminie; whatever you say."

x x x

A / N

the people who have read my other story 'I'm Fine' will have found many references heh.

Again, like I said, all 7 stories in my BTS series will be interconnected, and will have links with each other. Now, I'm sure this chapter, and this aspect in particular would've made quite a bit of the info I had revealed earlier make sense—? Or at least I'm hoping so sjsjjs

Sorry if this chapter wasn't a good one, I'm still floating in the writer's block hssjdhsjdj

Vote, and comment, because y'all's notifs make my day better <3

Ciao~

-xo-
:]