The Boy From The Bridge - Jakehoon

Chapter 80: Homecoming 1/6

Part 2: 28 Days Earlier:

Jungwon ruffled his hair as he looked at his reflection in the stainless steel elevator cabin he was riding. The weather outside was cold and blustery and he had feared that the wind would mess it up. In recent years he had come to straighten his hair, not being satisfied with his natural curls, he had learned that the elements did not approve of his choice and would do everything to revert them to their natural form.

To his relief his hair remained pretty much intact. He wanted to look nice to greet his returning friend Jungkook who was arriving from the United Kingdom after pursuing his ward, Jake... or was it Jaeyun?

Jungwon still didn't know what to call him. When he had met him, Jake had been Jaeyun and at school he was still Jaeyun but when he came to this apartment he was Jake. Regardless of which name was appropriate it would be nice to see him again.

Jake had been a runaway and despite finding sanctuary and refuge with Jungkook, had decided to resolve his situation with his family by running away for a second time to London. This desire was supposedly reversed, Jungwon had learned, by the timely arrival of Sunghoon, who had accompanied Jungkook in his pursuit.

Sunghoon, for all of his conservative and controlled characteristics was completely smitten with Jake, Jungwon had learned this the first time he had encountered them together. Longing eyes and delicate touches had suggested something more than friendship. Sunghoon had openly admitted to loving Jake when Jungwon had come around to Jungkook's Apartment last Wednesday. The mood in the apartment then had been sad and resigned when Jungwon had arrived, neither Jungkook nor Sunghoon had the gumption to try and rescue Jake and it was up to Jungwon and their neighbour Gi to build their resolve.

Jungwon was proud of himself for that, it was the first time he had been able to turn a situation on its head - well, that and the time he started a brawl at a soccer game whilst still in his mascot uniform.

Jungwon anticipated that today's mood inside Jungkook's Apartment would be substantially different. He hoped so.

Gi had arranged for a reception for the returning 'heroes' as she referred to them over text. Jungwon's contribution was hanging in a bag by his left hand side. Swinging inside were several Tupperware containers containing curries and rice. They had been prepared by his grandmother, she always made him curry, indeed, she always made him everything.

Jungwon's parents were always away for work and this didn't change as the Christmas Holiday Period had begun. At home, Jungwon's grandmother acted like the parent for him and his older sister. The limited interaction that Jungwon had with his parents irritated him, he longed for a strong relationship with them but they were rarely present. And even when they were the relationship was strained, they were, Jungwon believed, overly concerned with his scholastic performance - so much so that it was all they ever spoke about with him. Jungwon wondered if they ever considered that he had an identity outside of school?

After knocking three times on Jungkook's door he heard a bark followed by some footsteps coming towards the door. When it opened, Gi, greeted him, she was pretty Jungwon thought, or at least she kept herself well. She was also barged out of the way by Jungkook's dog Artemis who greeted him as an old friend.

"You made it Jungwon!" Gi said in a welcoming voice.

Jungwon was already on one knee, receiving licks on the nose from the large white dog. "Hi Gi, how are things looking?"

"Well the apartment's in pretty good shape..." she begun before being cut off by Jungwon as he followed her inside.

"... WOAH! So that's a feminine touch?" Jungwon remarked out loud at the clean and tidy state of the apartment. The place was spotless, save for some small strands of dog hair - those were basically furniture having a dog which shed as much as Artemis. Jungwon began sniffing, "It smells, nice?"