Broken & Ruined | TAEKOOK

seventeen

Jungkook stares at him, determining if he is just kidding or not. "Was it supposed to be a joke?" He asks, smiling. But when Taehyung faced him, he did not catch any signs that he was just joking. His lips weren't stretching for a grin and his face was still the same, serious, and calm, and his eyes were just looking at him blankly.

Taehyung leaps off the bench and stands in front of him. "I don't think you and I should be friends," he answers.

Jungkook's brows furrow even more. He can't read or predict what's inside Taehyung's head. It's incredible that Taehyung's only 9, but unlike other kids he knows, he's sophisticated and way smarter. He doesn't even remember the things he did when he was 9, even if it was just a few years apart. But Taehyung acts as if he already figured out what he must do in life. As if he already knows his responsibilities and goals. Which in fact, he does.

Jungkook's an only child, so he probably doesn't understand having a sibling, being the eldest, and having a responsibility to take care of someone. He has a good life and a non-abusive father, so he probably wouldn't understand his desire to work so he can save money, help his mom, and so they can leave. Jungkook was given a chance to be a child, act like it, and do whatever he wished to do. But Taehyung's childhood was stolen. And he wishes to be naive and be a child like he is.

"Why shouldn't we be friends?" Jungkook couldn't help but ask.

"I don't like to be friends with you, Jungkook." The way it smoothly ran from Taehyung's lips and called him by his name sent a sting in his chest. Jungkook had felt a kind of disappointment before, but this one was different. Every beat of his heart was heavy, and aching, and he had no control over it no matter how hard he tried to calm himself down.

He felt rejected. It's the first time he used that word to describe what he feels. Is it just him? Is it only him who feels excited to visit and see him? Has Taehyung ever gotten childishly excited to play with his friends? Or is he always like that?: so desperate to grow up.

But he also wondered if anything about the incident had made him so cold.

"I'll bring your robe back. You can wait here," Taehyung told him and turned his back to go back inside. He noticed Joonsun standing from the door, his shoulder was leaning against the side jamb.

Not a while later, Taehyung returns with his graduation robe on his arms and chest. He's hugging it as if it's the most precious thing he'd ever touched. He hands it to him with no other words. So he says, "I don't like to leave like this."

"I am sincerely grateful for the things you and your family have done for me. Thanks for helping. But if I disappointed you, I'm sorry," Taehyung bows, his head is on the level of his waist.

"Taehyung," Jungkook whispers. They heard some footsteps coming closer and when they turned, it was Ms. Jihyun.

Taehyung faces her and bows. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience I caused last time. Don't worry, it will never happen again. And thank you so much for taking care of me," he tells her.

Ms. Jihyun chuckles, "Now that I see you, I'm relieved you are now well." She shuffles her gaze from Jungkook then goes back to Taehyung and asks, "What's with the long faces? Is there something that happened? You argued?" Taehyung shakes his head. "Then why does our Jungkook look like he's about to cry?"

"Stop, Ms. Jihyun. I'm not," Jungkook defends. He looks back at Taehyung who continues to have a straight face as he looks back at him. Then he walks out, heading in the car and his footsteps are heavy.