The Boy From The Bridge - Jakehoon

Chapter 113: JUNGKOOK? 1/7

Chirps of bird song chimed from unseen sources in the wood's canopy and the perfumes of freshly budding flowers rolled up from the forest floor. Everything was picturesque in the afternoon as a wash of endorphins flooded through Jimin's body as he greeted Jungkook. 

It had been too long since they had seen each other last. A slew of developments, both probable and unexpected had taken place in his life and he couldn't wait to share them.

This perfect feeling of renewed and concrete friendship was blown away in the quickest of moments as Jimin took in the site of the three boys, the sports car and the dog behind his friend. 

His eyes focused in on each of the characters Jungkook had brought with him, and nothing could distract him from the alarm bells ringing in his head. The boys stood before him, meek and shy under the dappled forest light. They were afraid, bewildered and ill at ease. 

A question was uttered from Jimin's lips but it was done so subconsciously that he didn't realised why he had asked. Jungkook - his friend since early adolescence had arrived at his doorstep bringing not one but three underage or barely legal boys. They had each come from the small blue car that, Jimin presumed, had driven them from his home in Seoul. 

Jungkook had a habit of every so often crossing a line that rendered his life in jeopardy. He had done so long ago with Jimin, and that had threatened both of their well beings and he had done so seemingly again. 

One of the boys, took a step forward. He wore the longest hair of the three of them and, on first glance, was the most medium in height. "Hi" He said. The one word was said in an accent that at first hearing Jimin couldn't place. "I'm Jake and these are my friends Sunghoon and Jungwon." He gestured at the taller boy and then the shorter one, " We've heard..." The boy looked at his taller friend for reassurance, that boy shrugged weakly in response, "... a bit about you. Not too much, Jungkook didn't give us that many details so we're..." the boy rubbed the back of his neck in the habitual way that Jungkook had always done, "... keen to get to know you" 

'Get to know me' Jimin repeated this in his mind. He turned again to Jungkook, feeling his own eyes widen in dismay at his friend. "Who are they Kookie?" 

"Are you going to slap me if I say runaways?" His friend asked in return, with a sly but necessary grin to try and dampen the severity of the situation that was manifesting. 

"Runaways" Jimin repeated the label before turning back to the boys. The two taller boys didn't look like they'd seen a day of hardship in their life - they were well dressed, healthy and looked no more tired than the average high schooler. The third boy however, who was seemingly the youngest of the trio  seemed the most likely to be on the run. He wore a frown that was indicative of being on edge and suffering from stress, compared with the other boys who appeared far more calm despite being earnest and nervous. 

The leading reason behind Jimin's scepticism of the claim that all three boys were runaways was that aesthetically, each boy was blessed. This called into question why they were keeping the company of Jungkook. Jimin turned back to his friend and whispered into his ear, "Kookie - why exactly are they all good looking?" 

Jungkook shrugged, "They got lucky I suppose"

"But why are they with you?"

"That's..." Jungkook scratched is unshaven chin, "a long story"

Jimin fixed the stare that he was giving Jungkook in order to provoke a more satisfactory answer. 

"Fine" Jungkook relented and took a step forward to point at each boy individually. "This is Jake" he said first, pointing at the boy who had introduced himself, "He was running away from his former life, I found him homeless and didn't leave him on the street. I took him in and sent him to school nearby where I live. He met Sunghoon here and they're now a thing"