Magic Shop

Part 10 - The Seven Friends

"Well?" Hoseok stood up as Jungkook reappeared from the double doors. "Did it work?" After the patient had nodded, he broke out into a wide smile. "I knew it! The Magic Shop always knows what to do."

"What happened in there?" Jimin asked excitedly, also standing to greet Jungkook. "What was on the table?"

"A photo frame and a paper bag."

"Huh?"

"Stop stalling!" Seokjin scoffed. "What was inside them?"

"A picture of us," Jungkook grinned, feeling happier than he had in years. "All of us."

"Oh my gosh!" Jimin squealed. "You mean your remedy is being here with us?!"

"Yeah, I guess so!"

"You already knew about this, didn't you?" Taehyung glared pointedly at Hoseok, who giggled sheepishly.

"I bet that was his remedy, too," Yoongi grumbled, still lying on the couch.

"That's right!" Seokjin gasped. "He never told us what he got!"

"Yes I did!" Hoseok faked an offended expression.

"Yeah, only about those dumb speakers that you got as the side-gift," Yoongi pointed out.

"I bought them for a good price!"

"They were second hand."

"They were in great condition, Seokjin!"

Jungkook and Jimin exchanged yet another bewildered glance.

"I feel a headache coming on," Namjoon groaned.

"Alright, alright," Hoseok sighed in defeat. "Yes, my remedy was depicted by the exact same photo. I recognised Jungkook as soon as he came in."

"Why did you make him dance, then?" Yoongi piped up, wrinkling his nose.

"I needed a dancing partner!" Hoseok sulked.

"I always dance with you!" whined Taehyung with a pout.

"Calm down, guys," Namjoon begged. The other bickering doctors fell silent. "Right. Jungkook, are you certain that your remedy is to stay with us? You don't want to be regretting anything." Jungkook paused for a moment to think, then decided. He knew what he wanted now, and that was to be with these six lovable idiots forever.

"Yes."

"Hurray!" the others erupted into cheers; even Yoongi sat up with a huge beam on his face! the youngest couldn't help but smile with them. But then he remembered something. He was thrilled to stay here, but what about the people he would leave behind in his old world? No, he told himself firmly. Don't ruin their moment. You can think about them later.

The seven friends talked all evening, playing board games and listening to records which Jimin had retrieved from his desk, taking funny photos with Taehyung's camera, annoying Yoongi while he tried to sleep. Jungkook forgot all about his hometown – he felt complete here, in The Magic Shop, with six wonderful people who cared for each other immensely. Getting tired, they collapsed into seats and onto the carpet and decided to wake Yoongi up and take a nice, calm group photo. Taehyung connected the clicker and squeezed between Yoongi and Jimin on the couch.

"Okay," the doctor chirped. "Say 'remedy'!"

"Remedy!"

"What a lively photo!" Hoseok grinned after it had been taken and Taehyung had displayed it on the camera screen.

"Let me guess," Yoongi sniffed sleepily. "You and Kook have already seen it before."

"Correct."