Limbo ||Taekookau||

16. Friend or Foe

Days went by with Jungkook locked in his room or roaming around the house like a ghost when the others were sleeping. He had a few encounters with the other residents, mainly with Yoongi. They would share a drink in silence or say a few words to each other.

He made sure to stay away from Jimin. It was obvious by now that the man didn't like him and Jungkook wanted to avoid any trouble.

He stumbled upon Jin and Hoseok, who both asked him how he was and if he needed anything. He would reassure them he was okay and then he would go back to his room.

He visited Taehyung every two days for the elder to feed. Jungkook would offer his wrist and Taehyung would take it softly and feed slightly. Any attempt he made to talk to the elder was met with nothing but silence and no matter how much Jungkook insisted, Taehyung wouldn't talk to him.

Yoongi had instructed the younger to let Taehyung be for a while but every time Jungkook would think about Taehyung, the pain was unavoidable. He was amongst others but he felt completely alone, and the only person who could put an end to his loneliness denied to talk to him.

Spending his time underground had started to take its toll. No matter how many settings the screens had, it all started to feel the same. Everything felt dark, murky, suffocating..

Jungkook was staring at the ceiling, thinking of the first time he met Taehyung. All sorts of emotions bubbled up in his chest. Excitement, nostalgia, confusion, pain, loneliness..

Out of all of them, loneliness was the one restricting his throat the most. He turned to the side and hugged his pillow when his stomach growled. He buried his face in his pillow and groaned as he forced himself to get out of bed and go to the kitchen. He barely had an appetite, but he knew he had to eat for both his and Taehyung's sake.

As he descended the stairs, he heard noise coming from the kitchen and prayed that it was anyone but Jimin. When he had a better view, he squinted his eyes, trying to make sure he was seeing correctly.

A woman in a long, black, lacy dress was swinging around in the kitchen, humming, as she poured herself a shot of soju.

"Hello," she said cheerfully without turning around, and Jungkook froze, wondering how she saw him.

"Hi," he muttered, his eyes taking in the figure of the woman who still hadn't shown him her face.

It was an awkward situation since he didn't know if he was allowed to ask who she was and what was she doing there.

All he wanted was to get something to eat and then disappear to his room and sulk. And because sulking sounded like exactly what he needed, he didn't care about appearing rude, so he started walking towards the woman who was standing next to the fridge.

As Jungkook got closer, the woman, with a swift move jumped around in a playful way, bringing her face close to his. "BOO!"

Jungkook jumped, taken aback by the woman's behaviour looking at her with wide eyes. Seeing his reaction, she started laughing loudly.

"Ah, you scare easy don't you?" a pair of curious eyes scanned him up and down, and a spark shone in them when they finally landed on his face. "Wow! You are so.. so.." she giggled and hid her face in her hands, peeking at him through the gaps between her fingers.

"Wh- who are you?" Jungkook managed to ask, weirded out by the woman's peculiar behaviour.

"Hmm.. The question is, who are you?" she lowered her palms and crossed her arms above her chest, her eyes serious and her whole demeanour changing completely.

Something between them shifted. Jungkook blinked a couple of times, trying to make sure she was the same person as before.

Initially, he didn't realise, but now that he was looking at her he noticed how pretty she was. Her long brown hair was flowing free, beautiful waves reaching all the way to her waist. Her face was thin with beautifully sculpted cheekbones. Her energy was so light and yet captivating. Beautiful, foxy, green eyes were set on Jungkook's and he felt as if the woman was looking directly into his soul. It didn't feel scary, but it felt.. unique.

It was as if his past, present and future were laid in front of her like a book that she was able to read.

"Huimang, are you here?" Jin walked into the kitchen and stopped once he saw the interaction between Jungkook and the woman called Huimang.

"I'm here, oppa!" Huimang replied cheerfully, looking at Jin.

"Ugh, I've told you a thousand times, don't call me that, it makes me cringe," Jin replied with a disgusted face and shook his shoulders as if shivers run down his spine.

Huimang laughed and drank the shot of soju in one go before she smiles at Jin again. "You want something?"

"Yeah, you've been called. You know.." Jin shot her a look and then he glanced quickly at Jungkook.

"Oh yes, of course!" she shook her head, understanding what Jin implied. She took another shot of soju and then pressed the bottle on Jungkook's chest while she gave him a wink. "You will need that. See ya!" she walked away unbothered, giving Jin, a last smile.

Jungkook was stunned, watching the woman walk away as if she was a spirit.

"She is interesting, huh?" Jin's voice pulled Jungkook out of the woman's spell and the boy shook his head and looked at Jin with big eyes.

"She is definitely something," Jungkook said humorously, the impression the woman left on him still swirling in his head.

"How are you?" Jin passed by Jungkook, going to the fridge and getting some stuff out, laying them on the counter.

"I'm okay.." Jungkook said timidly, his grip around the soju bottle getting tighter.

"Haven't your parents taught you not to lie?" Jin asked absent-mindedly as he was putting together a sandwich.

A bitter chuckle escaped Jungkook as he looked at Jin with sorrow in his eyes. "Not really. I never met them..I'm.. I'm an orphan.."

Jin stopped his movements and turned to Jungkook, eyes clouded with sadness. "I'm sorry Jungkook, I didn't know.."

"It's okay," Jungkook took a deep breath, "I never told you," he shrugged and gave Jin a small smile. "Are you hungry or something?"

"No," Jin put the last pieces together, "this is for you," he shoved the plate in Jungkook's face and the boy grabbed it surprised. "You need to eat Jungkook," Jin scolded him and Jungkook shook his head.

"I do eat.."

"Stop lying kid. Who do you think restocks everything around here? I know you just mop around and drink with Yoongi."

It was true that he barely ate the past few days. He was surviving on water, alcohol and sometimes ramen. It was bad for him, it was bad for Taehyung, but he couldn't bring himself into making a proper meal or eating one. He just wanted to drink his sorrows away.

Jin sighed. "I know you are hurting Jungkook, I understand, but you have to take care of yourself because starving and wallowing is not really the solution to your problems. Don't worry. Our sister is here so I hope that soon things will get better," Jin patted Jungkook's shoulder and gave him a comforting smile.

"Your sister? You mean the woman from before?" Jungkook looked at the elder curiously.

"Huimang?" Jin laughed. "No, no. Huimang is like a sister to us, yes, but we are not related by blood. Taehyung and I have an actual sister. Don't you know?"

That was brand new information. Taehyung and him never had the chance to speak about things like that. Taehyung was always vague when it came to his past. Maybe it was because when they met, Jungkook wasn't aware of the elder's true nature and after he found out everything unfolded quickly, not leaving them time to get to know each other to that extend.

"Judging by your expression, you have no idea what I'm talking about. Am I right?" Jin looked at him amused and Jungkook smiled awkwardly. "It doesn't matter. Eat and go rest. Tomorrow will be a long night. And please don't get wasted with Yoongi tonight. You need to have a clear head tomorrow," Jin eyed the bottle of soju in Jungkook's hand and smiled at him.

"Okay, will do," Jungkook replied sheepishly and went back to his room, dragging his feet. He would eat as much as he could, drink the bottle of soju and go to sleep. He pushed Huimang's and Jin's words to the back of his head and he went back to thinking the one thing that occupied the whole of his existence lately. Taehyung..