3rd Year | Jeon Jungkook

2 • Say Less

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"Are you finding your way around the area ok?" Yoongi asked.

Dahlia followed him to the kitchen with the rest of her grocery bags, and her bad experience at the market made her cringe before answering. "Yeah. Google helps. I'm never going to that store again, though. Everyone was so rude. That's never happened to me before."

Yoongi looked at the logo on the bag and scoffed. "I bet they were."

"So it wasn't just me?" Dahlia asked. "I thought it was my outfit or something."

Taehyung and Yoongi exchanged a look before turning back to her. "It's not your clothes that they have a problem with," Taehyung said.

"What is it then?" Dahlia asked.

Taehyung's lips pressed into a line as he pointed to his golden folded ears peeking through his jet black hair. "We're hybrids," he explained. "They don't like hybrids over in Stockton."

"They don't like hybrids anywhere," Yoongi said, chuckling sardonically.

Dahlia paused, looking at Taehyung and Yoongi in turn as she processed their words.  "Not where I'm from," she said. "Everybody gets along just fine. Why don't people like hybrids here?"

Yoongi shrugged as if the reason were insignificant. "Ignorance? They think that just because we aren't completely human that we aren't people either. Like we're wild ass animals or something."

"They treated me like that because my DNA is different?" Dahlia asked, her voice lifting. "I can't control that. None of us can. That's stupid!"

"That's life."

It was the first words the dictator had spoken since she'd arrived home. From across the room, Dahlia glared at him. Instead of returning her stare, he kept his eyes fixed on his phone.

"That's not life where I'm from," she challenged.

"You're not wherever you're from anymore," Jungkook said.

"Georgia," Dahlia snapped.

His laugh was just a rush of air exhaled through his nose. "This damn sure isn't Georgia."

Taehyung held up a hand to silence his friend. "What his bitter ass meant to say is that things are a lot different here. But," he continued when her face began to sadden, "you have me to help you out. I'll catch you up on what's what out here and make sure you stay safe. I promise New York isn't completely bad."

Dahlia's smile grew in appreciation. "Thank you, Taehyung."

"I'm here too," Yoongi said. "If you ever need help or aren't sure about a place you want to go, just call me."

Her sweet smile widened. "Thank you, Yoongi. You two are very kind."

The emphasis she put on 'you two' was heard loud and clear, and another airy chuckle rushed through Jungkook's nose.

After putting his contact into her phone, Taehyung rose from his seat at the kitchen island. He then headed toward their mostly silent fourth wheel that was seated on the sofa and knocked his phone out of his grip. Hands still frozen in midair despite his missing phone, Jungkook looked up at his senior in irritation.

"Thanks," Jungkook said flatly. "Now all the crewmates know I'm the imposter."

"Step into my office, man," Taehyung said, heading to Jungkook's room.