Skype | Jinkook

seventeen

"I miss him."

"Don't worry, Kookie. He's just super busy with his job."

"I know," Jungkook pouts, "but I want to talk to him. He's only been on Skype twice since we arranged to meet up, and that was weeks ago!"

"Don't worry—"

"And when I text him, his replies are always really short," continues Jungkook, as if there had been no interruption. "He hates me, Tae. I totally messed up."

"He doesn't hate you, Kookie," Taehyung says, running his fingers through the younger's hair. "He's just busy."

Jungkook rests his head on Taehyung's shoulder. "I shouldn't have chickened out that day."

"Well, we can't change the past." Taehyung exhales quietly and the two sit in silence for a while before he says, "We should call him."

Jungkook glances at the elder, bewildered. "What?"

"We should call Seokjin hyung. He'll have to talk."

"He's not going to pick up," Jungkook mumbles, shoulders slumping.

"Don't be so negative," Taehyung says sternly. "Just try calling him."

Jungkook reluctantly pulls out his phone, and, as expected, Seokjin doesn't answer. "I told you."

Taehyung calls him again. "If he doesn't pick up this time," he instructs, putting the call on speaker, "leave a message."

"A message?" Jungkook asks, voice expressing panic. "I can't leave a message! I- I don't know what to say!"

"Just..." Taehyung momentarily pauses, thinking. "Just apologize. Tell him the real reason you bailed. He'll understand."

"I don't know, Tae..."

"Just do it, it'll be fine."

"...the number you have called is currently unavailable. Please call again and leave a message at the tone." A beep sounds, and Jungkook stares at Taehyung wildly, who merely pats his shoulder and points to the cell phone. Leave a message, he mouths.

"U-Uh, hi Seokjin hyung, this is Jungkook," the boy stammers, cringing at how nervous his voice sounds. "I just wanted to call to talk, because we haven't talked in a while." He swallows, wiping his clammy palms against his jeans. "I, um— Remember when we decided to meet up, and I said I couldn't come at the last minute because something came up? Well—" Jungkook clears his throat. "— nothing came up. It was just me. I was really nervous, and I couldn't do it. I'm really sorry, hyung. I hope you'll forgive me, because I want to talk to you again. Please call me back, bye, hyung!" With shaky fingers, he ends the call and exhales loudly, laying down flat on the floor. "God, that was horrible."

Taehyung shrugs. "Eh." With a sudden gasp, he points to the phone. "Jungkook, look! Seokjin hyung is calling back!"

Jungkook bolts up and stares at his phone, heart sinking as he glares at Taehyung, who is clutching his stomach and giggling profusely. "Shut up!" he cries. "This isn't funny, Tae!"

"Okay, okay, sorry." Taehyung stifles his laughter with his hand.

They listen to seconds tick by for almost a full minute before Jungkook's cell phone begins ringing. "Oh, man," the younger boy mutters, eyes wide. "Holy shit."

"Answer it!" Taehyung hisses. When Jungkook merely continues to stare at the device, Taehyung swipes his finger across the screen, answering the call.