devil in your eyes | jikook

like a stray dog

"He didn't come today too. Mr. Han said his physical condition is still bad." Jin said at the end of school the next day.

Jimin grew even more concerned now. Jungkook had said he could take care of himself but clearly he couldn't, seeing that he was still so unwell.

As they reached the outside of the school building, Jin turned around to look at his best friend with a sad smile.

"I'm sure he'll be okay soon. And, thanks for yesterday, by the way. I'll hand him today's handout on the way home." He patted onto the shorter boy's shoulder.

Jimin could've nodded and let him do his job as the class president but he knew how stubborn Jungkook was.

The boy was alone. He needed help and if he wouldn't allow his dog to help him, there was no doubt in Jimin's mind that he wouldn't listen to anyone else too.

So he just decided to take the envelope from Jin's hand,     making the taller boy frown at him.

"Um.. I accidentally left the souvenirs Tae brought me from Jeju back at Jungkook's house yesterday... so I'll take this with me when I go get it. Leave it to me."

Jin nodded, "Okay sure. I'll see you later then."

The two friends hugged and parted ways, Jimin following the familiar path he carried on the day before to the sick boy's house.

On the way he made sure to stop by a drugstore and buy some medication in case Jungkook had still been stubborn and not purchased any of it.

He thought so highly of himself that he didn't think he needed medication. But Jungkook was human after all and no matter how tough he tried acting in front of people, he needed someone by his side.

After his little shopping spree, Jimin wasted no more time as he quickly made his way to Jungkook's apartment.

This time he rang the bell with more urgency, feeling fully determined to take care of the stubborn boy.

Unlike the previous day, the door opened quickly, without Jungkook using the biometric system to know who was at the door.

It was almost like he had expected Jimin to be there.

He looked a little better than the previous day. The redness in his eyes was reduced, and so was the redness on his nose but he was still in a pretty bad shape.

When Jungkook frowned at Jimin, the shorter boy just smiled and raised his hand in form of greeting before he pushed past the taller boy into the apartment.

"You can't just barge into my house like a stray dog like that." Jungkook groaned from behind him, which the shorter boy instantly ignore him as he pulled Jungkook's warm arm and led his back to bed.

He slightly pushed Jungkook onto the bed, staring sternly at him, "Keep quiet and lie in bed. If there is anything you want me to do then tell me, otherwise keep quiet. And don't tell me to leave you alone." He scolded.

He quickly removed the medications from the paper bags, keeping everything at the nightstand for easier access as he brought the heat patches over to Jungkook who was staring at him from bed.

"Are you doing all of this to get my gratitude?" Jungkook asked bluntly from his bed.

Jimin said nothing as he walked upto him and slapped the heat patches on either of his cheeks, sticking them and making Jungkook immediately shut up and stare up at him.

He slightly bent down to be on the same eye level as the taller boy sitting in bed, so that he was almost crouching in between his sprawled legs.

"In times like this, is it so hard for you to depend on other people with no strings attached?! You don't need to look so embarrassed or feel uncool about it. There is no need to have some sort of pride when you're sick, just let me take care of you."

Jungkook said nothing, facing down to look away from Jimin, but the shorter could see the clench of his jaw and the way his tongue poked into his inside cheeks.

He was having a hard time to talk about what he wanted, Jimin could see it. So he just kneeled down between his legs, holding his burning face between his small hands as he forced the brooding boy to look at him.

"Just properly accept people's kindness. Otherwise, you will really look ungrateful. It would be good if you let me help you. It might be hard to do so with others... but because I'm your dog, you can rely on me." He said fiercely.

"I didn't force you to be by dog." Jungkook whispered. There was no malice in his voice, no edge. It was just a soft whisper.

Jimin just shook his head.

"But aren't you the one always saying that? Then make use of it when I'm literally letting you."

Jungkook sighed as he faced away from Jimin, lying down on the bed, looking at the plain white walls of the room. For a second Jimin thought he was about to be kicked out yet again, but then he finally spoke softly.

"Soup. Something with a little texture in it. Warm and a little sour." He said closing his eyes and curling under the heavy blanket, "There must be some packets in the first shelf in the kitchen."

Jimin's eyes grew wide that the sick boy had finally agreed to accept his help. He couldn't believe, it would be possible but it happened and now he was going to do his all, to take care of him.

He could've just been more honest from the beginning. Could've just ordered Jimin around to be helpful. What was the point in getting stronger by himself? It was only doing harm to his body.

"Alright! I'll go make some soup for you! You'll eat some soup and then take your medicine and then rest again. Then I'll be right back from the kitchen." He spoke cheerfully as he rushed to the kitchen, leaving the sick boy on the bed who had a small smile playing on his face.