Hyung (Namkook)

Old and New

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"Oh!! This place has changed so much," Namjoon said while walking through the streets, seeing all the new shops.

"You should have come home sometime instead of staying at that boarding school forever, you know," Tae sassed.

"Hey, I was busy studying, unlike you, idiot."

"Heyy, I study too. Maybe I'm not a nerd like you and Kookie, but I'm doing fine."

"Well, your grade card says otherwise."

"Shut up, geek," they both continued bickering.

Jungkook noticed how Namjoon's character was as extroverted as Tae's. Learning about his high IQ and impressive grade reports, he always imagined him to be a shy and silent guy who just studies all the time. But he was a mix of both worlds, and Jungkook absolutely loved that.

"Oh hey, I love that shirt," Tae pointed at a shop window. "Mom, can I get that?" he asked his mom with big eyes. "Please, please..."

"Ahh, since my Joon is home, yeah, go ahead," she said, smiling and ruffling her eldest's hair.

"Yay," Tae hurried to the shop and dragged Kookie along with him.

"Let's go, baby. You can buy something for school too," Minah guided Namjoon to the store.

——

Inside the store, Tae admired himself in the mirror. "Damn!! I'm so cool. I'm wearing this while I talk to Yoongi tomorrow. Don't I look good, Kookie?"

"Yeah, you do," Jungkook smiled.

"Oh my god! A skull?! Really, Tae? I thought you showed me something else in the window," Minah looked at the colorful t-shirt with a skull and other scary patterns printed on it.

"I know, but I found this inside. It's cool, mom."

She rolled her eyes at him. Namjoon then came carrying a blue sweater. "Are you taking this, Joon?" she asked.

"Yeah, I like this."

"Okay. Kookie, what about you? Didn't you like anything? Should we go to another store?"

"Ahh, no, mom. It's okay. I'm good," he smiled.

"Why?! You can get anything you like. Go ahead."

"No, mom, it's really okay. I have enough clothes," he said, smiling again.

She knew what it was about. Even though he was okay with the new living arrangement, he still struggled to say things he wanted or liked in fear of burdening them, even though Haneyol and Minah had said not to be shy to ask for anything.

"No, all my kids are getting new clothes today," she said sternly. "Joon, why don't you help him select something good? And Kim Taehyung, we are rethinking the skull."

"Ahh, not fair. Dad, look, Mom won't let me have my skull," he whined and ran to his dad to complain.

"Let's go, Kookie," Joon said softly, and he followed him silently. Namjoon started to go through the racks, touching many shirts and sweatshirts.

"What kind of clothes do you like?" he asked while scanning the racks.

"Black."

"Black?" Namjoon looked at him, surprised.

"Yeah, like basic colors. I don't like wearing too many colors or patterns. I like simple things."

Joon nodded. "Ohh, what about this?" He lifted a black sweatshirt that had nothing much on it other than a small white heart printed on a corner and looked at Jungkook, waiting for his approval.