𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐔𝐒 [𝐓𝐊]

Chapter 20

Annus Novus

New Year

When the next day arrived, December 31, Jungkook hadn't slept the slightest. Yet, when his mother came to his room to wake him up, he was full of energy. As quickly as it came, all his symptoms of sickness left; as if all he needed had been to clear things up with his angel.

He was smiling as he took a warm shower, remembering his angel's words of the night before. But they never really spoke of the magic Jungkook had performed with very little to no knowledge about how to do it. If they spoke of it, they only spoke of how his body had felt light and his voice sounded distant when his angel never felt that way. Other than that, it was mostly his angel confessing.

- I have a question. - Jungkook spoke up as they took breakfast at the dining table. His parents stopped laughing at something his father had said and looked up at him. - If... I have a friend who compares himself with me so much and belittles himself constantly... what should I do? -

His father frowned.

- Why are you only bringing it up now? -

His mother lowered her fork.

- Your friend told you that? Why? -

Jungkook blinked, not sure this was the kind of reaction he was looking for.

- He wasn't planning on telling me. This was on the last day before break and it left me thinking. Because it's not my fault he feels like I'm better than him, but it's also not his fault. He's constantly surrounded by people who tell him he's too different to compare him to those around him. Like... I feel like he's like me in the fact that he's different, but he feels he should be like I am in my "different". Do you get it? -

- I do. - His father nodded, thoughtfully. His mother, on the other hand, was still looking confused. - Well, son, what did you say when you talked to him about it? -

Jungkook lowered his gaze down to his plate of sausages and eggs. In truth, he regretted his reaction. That was the reason why he was asking his parents for advice.

- I told him he was being very stupid. And dumb. And blind. And that I couldn't believe my most amazing friend was an idiot. -

There was a beat of absolute silence. And then it was broken by his father's laugh.

His mother and he ended up laughing as well because of this reaction, but Jungkook quieted when his father shook his head, his laugh dying down.

- Oh, son. How did he react? - He laughed a little, still.

Jungkook shrugged, grimacing slightly.

- He laughed. -

- Why the face then? - His mother asked. - That's a good reaction, isn't it? -

- Of course, it isn't. - Jungkook argued back, frowning. - That meant he wasn't taking me seriously. And I truly want to help him stop thinking that way because he's only hurting himself and I don't like it. Dad, you told me many classmates used to compare themselves with you as well, what did you do back then? -

- Nothing, really. - His father said, apologetically. - There was nothing I could do, you see? I could only tell them not to do that or how we had very different skills, but, at the end of the day, they were the ones hurting themselves so they were the only ones who could stop it. -

- But... - Jungkook pressed his lips. But he asked, in the end. - Wouldn't you have tried to help even though you couldn't do anything? -

His father remained silent, simply looking down at him. And he smiled very gently.