Two-Sided Coin

Chapter 13

The next few days were dull and uneventful. Jungkook rightfully kept me almost under lock and key to make sure I didn't cause trouble. He forced me to eat in the morning and at night. He let me rest in my room without going to school or work. Although guilt ate at me constantly, I had to admit that it was nice to relax for once.

On the fifth day however, something was different.

"Hurry, hyung. Come on, get up. Up, up, up!"

"Hmm... Five more minutes..."

"No, hyung. You're going to school today."

That got me up.

"What? Why?" I asked, eyeing Jungkook through half-lidded eyes. He gave me a stern look, his hands placed on his hips.

"You've had a long enough vacation. You're going to school. That's final," he ordered, then walked out, shouting over his shoulder, "Be at breakfast in three minutes!"

"Fine, mom," I muttered under my breath, throwing my legs over the side of my bed and rubbing my eyes. It took a few moments of my sitting still, staring off into space, to fully wake up. I stood and stretched with a satisfied groan, then started off towards the kitchen. Jungkook was sitting on the couch, already half-done with his bowl of ramen and grinning.

"What's got you so chipper?" I mumbled, scratching the back of my neck.

"I got eggs," he explained happily, gesturing towards my bowl with his chopsticks. On top of my pile of noodles, a single egg lay. My eyes widened and I almost ran towards it, grabbing the bowl and chopsticks and poking at it.

"Oh my god, it's real. When did you get it?" I mused, taking a ginger bite. My eyes rolled back into my head slightly at the rare taste and I hummed in pleasure.

"I got it yesterday night at the market," he chirped, then pointed at a fridge standing in the corner of our kitchen. "We've still got ten left."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Since when have we had a fridge?"

He rolled his eyes and playfully hit my arm.

"Just because we haven't used it since we moved in doesn't mean it doesn't exist, hyung," he scolded, then continued slurping his ramen. I shrugged and continued eating.

We finished rather quickly; the food went down a lot easier with the treat of egg. I set my dishes in the sink, then took a deep breath and stepped into the bathroom. I still had a hard time looking at my own reflection so Jungkook draped a cloth over the mirror, but I'd have to remove it to get ready. My heart beat slightly faster as I grasped the edge and slowly slid it off. My breath hitched in my throat as I studied myself, but then relaxed after I got acquainted with the image. I definitely looked a lot better than I had a few days ago, but some things take time to fade. My eyes were brighter, my skin was less pale, my dark circles were a bit lighter and that almost made up for the rest of my flaws.

I even managed a small smile as I picked up my makeup bag and began dabbing various creams onto my skin. The result, after about twenty minutes of painting my face and styling my hair, was possibly passable. I went to my room and put on my uniform (which Jungkook somehow had time and money to replace). It hung off of my frame, but at least it was clean and new.

"Hyung! Time to go!"

"Coming!"

I brushed down the front of my shirt once more, then grabbed my backpack and rushed downstairs to join Jungkook by the door.

"Ready?" he asked, a pleasant glint in his eyes. Seeing that look in him, the one that was seemingly lost forever, made me eternally grateful for him and Amber. The realization that we survived hit me hard and, even though I was sure this was not the last time by far, I was proud of us.

"Ready," I confirmed, grinning my signature smile that had begun to feel foreign on my lips. It seemed to have sparked something in Jungkook, because the boy almost cooed and hugged me tight, holding me for a second too long, then pulled away and walked out. I was still for a moment, processing what just happened, then giggled and followed him, a bounce in my step.

...

Once the school building came into view, my heart fell. I didn't feel ready. Fear crept up in my chest and Jungkook noticed this, taking my hand and squeezing it. I was thankful of that.

"Don't worry," he told me warmly. "If anything happens, text me and I'll get you."

I nodded silently, swallowing, and reluctantly let go of his hold. He waved as we separated, each of us going to our class.

People gave me weird looks in the hall and I heard whispers fill the cramped space. I kept my eyes on the ground and my hands folded in front of me as I walked through the school and as I entered my room. All eyes were on me and a tense silence fell as I made my way to my desk. I desperately tried to ignore it, but it was getting increasingly difficult. I've never wanted for class to start so badly.

"Kim Taehyung."

When I thought it couldn't get worse.

"Jung Hoseok," I replied through gritted teeth.

"So it speaks," he teased, taking a seat next to me and leaning over to see my face. I turned my head, but he just yanked at my hair to force our gazes to meet. My throat tightened and my heart lept up to my throat.

"Where've you been, pretty boy?" he hissed, searching my eyes. I didn't reply, just bit the inside of my cheek. He pulled my hair a bit harder, his nose wrinkling.

"I said, where've you been?" he repeated.

"Why should I tell you?"

This visibly surprised him. Have I really never spoken out? Was this such a new occurrence?

"Have you still not learned your lesson?" he asked in a nasty tone, quickly regaining composure. I frowned slightly. What lesson? Did something happened that I can't remember. I suppose this is when I'd usually black out and V would deal with it, right? But why wasn't that happening?

I yelped as he tightened his grip on my hair and pulled back sharply. He smirked at my reaction and did it again, this time shaking my head back and forth.

"Let go," I said sharply, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I don't want to," he replied, his tone reminding me somewhat of a spoiled toddler who's getting their favorite toy taken away. I suppose I kind of was their toy. They did whatever they wanted and, apparently, I've never protested. I was just a plaything.

"Let go," I insisted again, bringing my hands up to pry his grip away from my hair. But instead, it seemed to have spurred him on.

"Don't wan-"

"Let go of him, Jung Hoseok."

The painful hold on my hair sprung away at the cold, deep voice of our teacher. Hoseok mumbled an apology and moved back to his seat, though not without a harsh glare at me.

"That behavior will not be tolerated, Hoseok. Detention," Mr. Choi told him coolly, then began the lesson.

Hoseok took his seat behind me and almost immediately began kicking the back of my legs. This was going to be a long lesson.