ՏTᗴᑭ ᗷᖇOTᕼᗴᖇ

Chapter 26

Seokjin's POV

I grab my phone to call Hobi. I needed to tell him, even if he was shocked, he was my best friend and I knew once that wore off he'd be happy for me. I just couldn't keep this to myself anymore.

Hobi panicked voice answers the phone on the last ring. "Jin, is this important or can I ring you back?!"

"Hobi what's wrong?" Hobi never panicked and I had only heard him use that tone a handful of times. He was somewhere loud and busy, I could barely hear him over the background noise.

"I'm at the hospital. Granny hasn't been taking her meds properly, she said she was trying to save money by taking them every other day. She got all light headed and burnt her hand on the stove. Doc said she's going to be fine but he wants to run some tests to see what not taking the meds properly has done. Some bitchy blonde pencil skirt just told me because its her fault for not taking her meds her insurance won't cover it. I'm freaking out Jin. We can't afford this."

Shit. "Hobi I'll get dad to bring me down now."

"Don't. I've got to leave soon anyway to get Tae, her teacher kept her for the senior class session so I could come straight here."

"Do you want me to get him for you?" He needed to let me do something, Hobi has always been crap at letting people help him.

"No I've got to go so I can tell Mina what to do when she covers my class, they're three weeks away from the competition now so I can't let them just skip a practise."

"Hobi is there anything I can do to help? I can just come down and sit with Granny whilst your gone?" I felt useless to him.

"No she won't even let me in there, she says she needs her rest but I'm just going to drop Tae off at Yugeom's and come back anyway. Can you get someone to take you tomorrow? If it's a late night I'm gonna skip. Maybe Namjoon will be feeling charitable again and give you a lift?"

Namjoon. I can't tell him now with everything he has going on.

"Of course Hobi don't worry about me, you just focus on Granny. If Yugeom can't have Tae just drop him here, I'm sure Jungkook would appreciate the company anyway." I wish there was more I could do for him.

"Thanks Jin. Shit, the doc is coming, I'll text you later." He hangs up abruptly.

I can feel my stomach rumbling after missing out on eating at lunch today although I'm now quite nauseous after talking to Hobi, worrying always made me feel physically sick.

I need to eat something in case Tae ends up here tonight. You need energy to keep up with that little firecracker.

I stand in the pantry staring at every shelf. Aera was a nice woman but her snack game needed some serious work. There wasn't a biscuit or bag of chips in sight. No wonder Granny kept working here for so long, she was probably worried Namjoon and Jungkook would starve without her cakes and brownies.

I made a mental note to myself to ask her about what it was like for Namjoon growing up here. My experience of him as a kid was unpleasant to say the least but given what Aera told me about his father I realise now his home life wasn't all roses which would definitely have played a part in his aggression issues.

Looking back he definitely had all the tell tale signs of a kid that was being bullied at home.

I think to how easy things were for me with mum and dad when I was a child. They were so in love and I was the joy that they said completed them. I'd never had to suffer the way Namjoon had at the hands of someone who's supposed to love you.

Mum and Dad barely even argued, I once heard them bickering after mum found Pop Tarts and Oreos hidden in the top kitchen cabinet after dad had promised to start eating healthier but even that ended with them laughing after mum smushed an Oreo in his face.

I looked to the top shelf but it was too high for me to see what was on it. I grabbed a stool and climbed up. Low and behold hidden behind a box of crackers is a bright blue box of strawberry pop tarts. I can't help but smile. Maybe everything hadn't changed that much after all.

*****************

I put the pop tarts into the toaster and stared out the kitchen window as I waited.

Namjoon was standing behind Milo helping him with his aim. Jungkook listened intensely to everything Namjoon said, soaking in every bit of knowledge he could from his older brother.

Jungkook took the ball and put into practise what Namjoon had shown him. He took care to notice his hand position and lined up his shot.

He shoots.

As the ball falls effortlessly through the hoop Jungkook has no time to react before Namjoon grabs him and throws him into the air onto his shoulders and starts running around the back yard with him in celebration.

Jungkook's little face is elated. I've never seen someone look so happy. Namjoon is so proud. I look between the two of them, their bond so evident it causes my chest to tighten. I loved seeing them together, seeing how good Namjoon is with him made me like him even more.

I almost jump out of my skin as the tarts spring from the toaster, one of them making it as far as to land on the counter.

I hear the back door open behind me as I rummage around in the cupboards to find a plate.

"Jin hyung! Did you see me?! I did it! All on my own!" Jungkook's enthusiasm is beyond cute as he shakes slightly whilst jumping trying to keep it all in.

I nod whilst devouring half a pop tart.
Jungkook looks down at the plate on the counter with the other pastry on.

"What's that?"

I look at him confused, please don't tell me this kid has made it this far in life without having tasted this crumbly goodness.

"It's a pop tart, do you want it?" His eyes grow wider than I thought possible as he takes the plate and stares at the white frosting.

He yanks my arm to pull me down to him then surprises me by planting a kiss on my cheek. "Thank you!" He squeals as he runs out into the hall and up to his room.

Namjoon checks he's gone before sauntering over to me. He places his hands on my hips and pushes me back against the counter. He spreads my legs, placing himself between them and pinning me in place. We were now in a vertical replica of the position we had been in whilst in the car.

His right hand travels up my body, gently tickling my arm before finding its way behind my neck.

"Namjoon what are you doing?" I ask suddenly very aware that we are in the middle of the house and anyone could walk in.

He nibbles at his bottom lip as he stares at mine. "I'm taking what I want." He stated huskily.

He lowers his lips to mine, I close my eyes in anticipation of his touch. Just as he is a breath away from me he quickly changes course ploughing his head towards the half eaten Pop Tart in my hand and taking a giant bite out of it.

Oh he's dead.

I open my eyes as he steps away from me laughing through the mouthful of food he had just stolen. I throw myself at him and playfully start slapping against his chest as he continues to laugh.

"That was the last one!" I shout at him but he just shrugs and finishes his mouthful.

"I knew I picked the wrong brother, the other one is so much cuter anyway."

Namjoon smiles at me but his eyes are glowing with animal intent.

He launches at me so quickly I have no chance to stop him. He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder firefighter style. I try to thrash my arms and legs to get myself free but he's too strong. I feel his hand come down on my peachy behind and it sends shock waves throughout my body.

I don't know what he just did but I swear it made me instantly wet. I get distracted as I see the kitchen island next to us and all I can think about is letting him bend me over it.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?!"

I stare up through my dangling hair at the back door and see Aera's furious face.

Oh fuck.