✓BunBun Mine // taekook

Chapter 07

Suzy bearing the mild pain on her body burst into a hearty laugh. Her laughter was soon joined by Jimin. “Slaps have also love in them?” Isn't that phrase quite ironic? Almost ridiculous. The fear on Jungkook’s face seemed to shrink. How could they humiliate him like this? Since the days when they went to school learn the alphabet, Suzy, Yeonjun, and Jimin had all witnessed Jungkook being slapped out of nowhere, enduring such moments as he grew. Years after years, his soft chubby cheeks turned red from the sudden slaps. He endured it with small pursed lips, pressing them tightly together. Occasionally, he buried his face in his mother's lap, crying his heart out.

Lisa would console him, saying, "I'll scold Taehyung for you, sweetie. But if you cry, won't your dad see? Later, he will scold Taehyung. Do you want that?"

Trying to control his tears, with his little voice shaking from crying, Jungkook would say, "No, mom. If dad finds out, I won’t be able to go to uncle's house. Just scold Taetae hyung yourself, but don’t tell dada."

While Taehyung made Jungkook shrink in fear, seeing Yeounjun filled him with joy. Yeounjun never hit him, never scolded him. In fact, he had even saved him from Taehyung's wrath a few times. If Yeounjun were here, Jungkook wouldn’t have been subjected to such humiliation today. How cruel they all were!

Jungkook stood up. He couldn’t stay here anymore. It would be better to go to Jin in the kitchen than to endure their laughter. Glancing at Taehyung through the corner of his eyes, tired and standing still, Jungkook took a step, only to hear Taehyung’s commanding voice from behind, “Bring me a coffee and be back in five minutes.”

Jungkook turned his head to look at Taehyung who had also stood up. Walking towards his room, he added, “Bring it to my room.”

Jungkook, puzzled, softly muttered, “Me?”

Taehyung stopped in his tracks, a few creases forming on his forehead. With a dry, rigid voice, he said, “Who else? Stop acting like a guest at our house and start doing some work. You tremble all day because you’ve got nothing to do. Won’t you end up getting slapped by your husband all day after you get married? Learn how to work beforehand.”

Jungkook found it hard to swallow Taehyung’s bitter words. Taehyung left. What was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he stand the sight of Jungkook? With a heavy heart, Jungkook went to the kitchen and stood beside Jin, quietly saying, “I need to make coffee, auntie.”

“Did Taehyung ask you to?” Jin asked.

Jungkook admitted without hesitation, “Yes, he said I had to make it.”

“Do you even know how to make it?” Jin's question startled Jungkook. He didn’t know how to make coffee. He had never even liked the taste of it. What should he do now? In a timid voice, he replied, “No.”

Jin smiled softly, his tone gentle and affectionate. “I’ll make it for you.”

Jungkook quickly raised his voice slightly, “If you make it, Tae hyung will know! He’ll hit me later.”

“Are you still scared of his smacks, even though you’re about to go to college?”

“I’ve been afraid since I was little.”

“And because you’re scared, he keeps scaring you.”

“Your son hasn’t come home for almost three years. Why did he come back now? Didn’t he leave after getting mad at uncle?”