boy in the bubble tk

Got a figure like a pin-up, got a figure like a doll

It was 2 am and Jungkook's stomach was growling. His mother wasn't back home from her night shift at the hospital, and the food in the fridge could barely be called food. His mom sometimes forgot that she lived with a hormonal teenager who loved eating crap more than anything.

Jungkook stuffed the manga he was reading into his backpack and left for the backdoor. There was a convenience store not too far from his home, and the thought of ramen made his stomach lurch forward; as if to pull Jungkook with it.

The night sky was clear, and the air was humid. His bright shirt and baby blue sweats were not the best combinations, but he figured no one he knew would be roaming around the convenience store, and if so, they wouldn't be dressed for the Oscars either.

His limp had gotten better. His ankle was still a bit swollen, but it didn't hurt like a bitch any longer. The blue and purple around his eye were still visible, but at least the world around him wasn't that blurry no more. If he was lucky, his wounds would be completely healed when he'd wake up tomorrow morning. If he was an alpha, like the rest of his family (he grumbled), he'd be healed for a day already.

The bright artificial lighting of the store could be seen from two streets away. On top of the store stood a big neon sign that lured passersby's in. On the front of the store hung old posters displaying ramen discounts and old Ben & Jerry flavors that didn't exist anymore.

Walking inside, he took a sharp right turn and went for the ramen aisle. The place was almost empty except for the chubby Mr. Kim standing behind the counter, and his daughter stocking the freezer. The second Jungkook rounded the corner, eager to grab his favorite package of ramen, he bumped head first into someone.

As their two heads bumped together, Jungkook could vaguely see a mop of pink hair. The other person groaned and muttered: "What the hell." His deep voice alarming Jungkook.

"I'm so sorry," the boy quickly bowed and turned around, not wanting another small talk session.

"Hey, wait!"

Jungkook froze.

"Aren't you the guy from the manga store?"

Sheepishly, Jungkook turned back around, coming face to face with the pink haired guy from before. His glasses were down to his nose, probably from bumping into him, and he wore a beanie instead of a cap this time. 'Yes, I am. Sorry for bumping into you.'

"It's okay-" the guy's words disappeared into the air, his eyes widening, "Oh fuck, are you okay? I didn't do that, right?"

He pointed at Jungkook's colored eye, obviously worried even though they barely knew each other. "I didn't think my head was that tough."

"It's fine," Jungkook chuckled awkwardly, "This isn't your fault. It's something from before."

"Oh", this didn't seem to lessen the other's worry, but he seemed to let it slide, "What brings you here?"

"Ramen."

"Hey, me too! Seems we share more interests than we thought."

'Yeah.' Jungkook thought those were pretty common interests, they probably shared with a quarter of the world population.

"Can I buy you a cup? I was planning on eating here."

No, I don't want to. "Uh sure."

Jungkook wasn't sure how it happened, but there he was, sitting in the convenience store with a stranger, sharing small talk. And he still hadn't figured out what the hell this guy's deal was. He had to be an alpha.

"My name is Kim Taehyung, by the way," he said as he started prodding his noodles. The smell of shrimp wafted over to Jungkook. He himself had chosen spicy chicken ramen because he liked the pain.

"I'm Jeon Jungkook."

"Do you come here often?"

"Not at night."

"Ah, that explains it. I often spend my time here, but I've never seen you here before. Or not that I noticed", the guy smiled, before slurping his noodles, "I'm almost always here for a bite."

Jungkook wasn't sure what that implicated, but he was sure he didn't want to ask.

"I've started reading Red Revenge," he continued, "It's pretty good so far. Though I think it's more violent than it first let on."

In a small voice, as he chewed on his spicy noodles, he commented: "I like it."

Taehyung side eyed him. Jungkook was sure his one word conclusion of him after this five minute talk was: "weirdo".

"I'm hoping it doesn't become too romantic. I already know the gym owner will fall for the main character, I mean I get it but still, I hope it won't turn into a sappy story that will make me rip my eyes out," Taehyung rambled on, apparently not weirded out by Jungkook. He then turned to him, "Oh, sorry if I talk too much. I noticed it's a thing that often annoys people, but I just like to talk when I'm given the chance, and with quiet people I'm given the chance too often."

"It's okay." Because honestly, what else could he say? And besides, Taehyung's voice was quite pleasant to listen to. "It's not too sappy yet in volume 2, if that means anything."

"Oh great! I at least hope that if they get together, it won't be too happy all the time. I mean, no relationship is like that, right? Storytellers often like to do that: "and they lived happily ever after". It's such bullshit, happiness isn't a constant state of emotion. A person can make you happy, yes, but I'm sure they can annoy the heck out of you as well. Do you have a person like that? I don't, because I'm assured that I'd annoy the heck out of someone if they had to live with me forever."

Jungkook chuckled silently, and leaned his cheek on the palm of his hand. 

"But even if I'm annoying, I hope they still love me, because hey, you signed up for this. I mean, even if it isn't 'happily' ever after, it's still ever after so they aren't getting rid of me!"

He spent the night like that, listening to Taehyung's unending rambling as his spicy chicken ramen burned his mouth. It wasn't the worst night in the world. And not the worst person to spend it with. He'd realize that sooner or later.