hate you (vkook)

six

"Oh Ggukie!" Jeongguk's mother greets him warmly as she opens the door, immediately pulling her son into a tight hug. It was the first weekend he had come home ever since he went to college

"My boy!"

"Hi, Eomma." Jeongguk chuckles, hugging her back. he familiar scent of home hit him, reminding him of how much he missed it, and his mother. College had been busy, and these first six weeks had flown by so fast he hasn't had the chance to visit.

"Come in, you must be cold," he says, ushering him inside. The house is quiet, and he notices the absence of his dad.

"You're alone?"

His mother nods, "Minji will be joining us for dinner later, and your father had to work unexpectedly. I'm not sure when he'll be home."

"I see," Jeongguk replies with a nod, it doesn't concern him much as his father's busy schedule was nothing new.

His mother heads to the kitchen to grab a pot of tea, and once they're settled, she begins her usual round of questions. "So how is college? How are those new friends of yours? Do you have a girlfriend already?"

"Mom," Jeongguk groans, dropping his backs and flopping onto the couch.

"Im sorry, one question at the time! Do you have a girlfriend?!"

"I don't." Jeongguk replies. Adults ask him this question quite often, and he always gives the same answer. "But I've made some friends. We've got a little group we hang out with."

"Ah I see, with Jimin? How is he doing?"

"Yes with Jimin, he's well." Jeongguk replies, a smile tigging at his lips.

"And your roommate?"

He hesitates, "He's still the same, I mean he's friends with Jimin's friends but we still don't talk that much. I'm not sure if he likes me."

"How could anyone not like you!?" His mother frowned in disbelieve.

Jeongguk laughed it off, his eyes lowering to his lap. If only she knew how much time he spent in the gym or the library, avoiding socializing. How was he going to tell her that probably a lot of people didn't like him? He wasn't exactly living the life of the party student and, truth be told, he didn't even like himself these days. However, his mother didn't have to know that.

"And Taetae? How's he doing?"

The mention of Taehyung's name makes Jeongguk freeze for a moment. "What about him?"

"Well, it must be nice to see him often now that you're both in the same place again."

Except we don't see each other much at all, Jeongguk thinks. The last time they'd spoken was during a painfully awkward dinner - thanks to Jeongguk, and since then he had pretty much avoided Taehyung. Only the thought of confronting whatever was going on between them made his stomach churn.

"He's doing good, I think?"

"You think?" His mother's confusion is evident.

"Yeah." Jeongguk mumbles, standing up to head for the fridge. He can feel her eyes following him, but he tries to ignore the awkward tension. He begs she will change the subject so they don't have to talk about Taehyung any longer.

"Well, that's good to hear. Speaking of Taehyung, I asked if he'd be joining us this weekend, but you didn't reply to my texts."

"Oh.. I must've forgotten."

"Well, since you didn't reply, Mrs. Kim and I decided to invite him and have dinner tonight." She smiles, excited to announce their plan.

Jeongguk's heart instantly drops and he halts in his movements, closing the fridge door as he turns around. "You called Taehyung?"