Indebted...

Part-2

Jungkook's pov

Later that day, I parked in the lot outside my apartment building and switched off the engine. It wasn't a very well-lit parking area, so I was glad that dusk hadn't yet completely fallen. Slipping out of my car, I locked it with the remote fob and then dug the can of pepper spray out of my car. It was only a short walk to my building, but a person could never be too careful.

I could afford to live in a nicer neighborhood, I just preferred being near my family. Especially my father, Sung-ho.

Inside the building, I took the elevator up to my floor and headed into my apartment. After changing into my sweats, I shuffled into the kitchen and sighed at the sound of raised voices coming from next door.

The walls of my apartment were annoyingly thin, so it was unfortunate that I had neighbors who screamed at each other loud enough to wake the dead. They were actually super nice people. Kim Seok-jin was a hoot and had become a close friend. His boyfriend,Kim Nam-joon, was one big teddy bear who was impossible to dislike. But when they argued, they argued. Jin hyung
would always storm out, and he'd always come knocking on my door to complain about whatever Joon hyung'd done.

This area of the City, might not be glamorous, but it was nicer than most. My building was secure and stable. Although my apartment was small and cramped, it was clean and well-maintained ... unlike the one I'd lived in as a child.

I could still remember the smells of stale air, spoiled food, cigarette smoke, and body odor that greeted me each morning. I could remember the taste of rusty water. Could remember how hot it would get when the air conditioning failed to switch on. Could remember the dirty dishware in the sink, the piles of unwashed laundry, and the rats ... God, the rats.

More, I could remember the burn of a palm slapping my face so hard it felt like my eye exploded. I could remember hands shoving me hard, feet kicking my legs or ribs, and fingertips digging into my jaw as my mother screamed in my face. It would have been a relief that she left if my entire world hadn't then imploded. But I was grateful that I'd been fostered by Mari and Whan-who'd always supported my contact with my father -even if my early years with them hadn't been smooth sailing.

A door banged shut as the arguing cut off abruptly. Moments later, knuckles rapped hard on my front door. I pushed out of my chair, left the tiny kitchen, and crossed the equally small living area. I opened the front door, and Jin hyung marched inside.

"That man thinks he can lie to me and get away with it," fumed hyung, a flush staining his fair skin. "Nu-uh. Not as long as I've got a hole in my ass."

My mouth twitching, I followed him into the kitchen. He looked about to make himself some coffee, but then he spotted the mac and cheese.

"Smells good." He sat at the table. "You done with this?" he asked, helping himself to the food.

I smiled. "I am now." Taking the chair opposite him, I tilted my head. "So, what happened?"

Hyung shoved a forkful of food into his mouth. "I dreamed he cheated on me."

"Okay."

"I told him about it. He said he'd never do that. But he blinked when he said it."

I would have chuckled if he didn't look so serious. "I don't think he'd ever cheat on you hyung. He loves you." The guy worshiped him, and Jin hyung absolutely adored him in return. He might have a harder shell than he did, but he was a softie on the inside.

Hyung sniffed. "Hmm. He liked some bitch's photo on social media. When I confronted him, he accused me of cyber-stalking him. Like I even have time to monitor his lying ass. He shouldn't have a problem with me logging into his account from time to time either. How is that a problem?"