The One He Tried To Forget | 18+ |

34

"I met Jin on a cold February night ten years ago," said Hobi before chuckling to himself. "Goodness me. I sound like a character from those horror novels. It was a dark and foggy evening in Whitechapel..."

"Hob-ah... please," Yoon Gi sighed.

Jung Ho Seok was often prone to dramatics when telling stories, which would be funny in any other circumstance because he was actually quite the scaredy-cat, but tonight everyone wanted to know about Jin so Yoon Gi had to make sure that his friend didn't get off track as he was wont to do because who better to shed light on Jin's past than the man who knew him longer than Jung Kook.

When Jin had screamed earlier in the throes of a violent nightmare, causing everyone to run to his room, it was Jung Kook who got him settled. Everyone else had tried from Hobi to Ji Min, even Yoon Gi gave it a go, but it was Jung Kook's scent when he held Jin in his arms that calmed the thrashing and the heartbreaking cries.

Tae Hyung had attempted to wrench Jin from Jung Kook -- all the while repeating what Jin had accused Jung Kook of -- but Ji Min had pushed Tae Hyung away and reminded him that Jin's physical and mental well-being were more important so Tae Hyung's grievance could wait when it was clear whom Jin wanted in his moment of distress.

After Jin had quietened down and fell back to dreamless sleep, Ji Min had ushered everyone out with instructions to eat the meal that Yoon Gi had brought. Both Jung Kook and Tae Hyung had protested, insisting that they be allowed to stay with Jin in case he had another nightmare.

When each realised that the other had made an identical request, tension rose once more as both men exchanged deathly glares. Perhaps feeling quite fed-up with all the animosity that he had seen tonight, Yoon Gi had dragged Jung Kook back to the dining room and forced him to sit at the table. Tae Hyung and Hobi had followed not long after, the latter holding tightly to Tae Hyung's arm as if afraid he might make a run for Jin's room.

Yoon Gi had then quickly made up a plate and heated the food in the microwave before taking it to his husband because Ji Min wanted to watch over Jin and the baby but before Yoon Gi left, he gave strict instructions to Jung Kook and Tae Hyung to stay on their respective side of the dinner table and not start another fight.

Jung Kook had scoffed and rolled his eyes while Tae Hyung merely raised a sardonic eyebrow. Nonetheless, Yoon Gi was pleased that both men listened to him because when he returned, there was no fresh bloodshed and Hobi was tucking enthusiastically into dinner.

After everyone finished their meal, they pitched in to clear up. Because Jung Kook's injury was more severe than Tae Hyung's, Hobi told Jung Kook to wipe down the table while Yoon Gi and Tae Hyung washed the dirty dishes and cutlery. The homeowner then gathered all of the disposed containers and took them downstairs so there would be no lingering odour in his kitchen.

When everything was spick and span again, Yoon Gi had gathered them in the living room. It was time to talk about Jin, and the bombshell that he had dropped. Yoon Gi wanted to make sure that he had all the facts before he dealt with Jung Kook. He was still finding it hard to believe that his cousin was capable of a heinous act like rape but if Jung Kook truly did do it, it was Yoon Gi's duty as his guardian to make sure that justice was served.

"Sorry. I'm just trying to lighten the mood here," Hobi pouted, feeling a little put out that his friend didn't appreciate his humour. "Anyway, it was graduation season and I had just dropped off a couple of high school seniors at a party. I was parked at the end of a side street so I could eat my boxed dinner before I fetched my next client."

Jung Kook sat forward, his eyes never leaving the man who sat in an armchair opposite him. Yoon Gi sat next to Jung Kook on the sofa while Tae Hyung stood by the glass doors of the balcony, hands in his trouser pockets, staring out into the night.