so far away | yoonkook

night : 21

jimin gets quiet during their travel. yoongi notices a limp to his walk that he wasn't aware of before.

it makes him even more anxious wondering how jimin even got it, if it involved anything with his work or not.

"say, yoongi-ssi." jimin maintains his usual silent tone. he's walking behind yoongi. a few inches distance separates them.

all yoongi could rely on knowing if he was still in the right direction was the fact that jimin hadn't told him to stop or turn which other way. the bright haired guy's feet hitting the ground was more of the obvious indication that there were still a few steps to go.

"what do you think about this avenue?"

yoongi shrugs. "kind of flashy." he knows jimin is looking. his stare makes the back of yoongi's neck prickle.

yoongi would admit that his remark was a bit of an understatement. along this stretch, it was quieter but the words contained on the signboards and posters they passed were loud enough for yoongi.

the muffled music behind closed doors and the abundance of blinding neon lights bothered him. the lack of smoke being emitted by food stalls or small restaurants made him miss the smog.

yoongi especially felt uncomfortable about the idea that he's basically passing call-girls. some of them even gave him suggestive looks. though he noticed that none had taken an interest in acknowledging jimin—none had called over at him—even though yoongi felt that jimin was more eye-catching than him.

and it's alarming how in the eyes of these stationing belles, yoongi saw the same intensity he once met in the dark haired kid's eyes.

yoongi clenches his jaw.

"are we taking a shortcut, jimin-ah?"

no reply.

"are we in the right place even?"

jimin smashes a small rock with his heel.

"where do you work, exactly?"

"just around the corner."

after that, jimin hooks an arm around yoongi's shoulder. he's thankful that they're almost the same height.

when jimin hits the side of yoongi's body with his own, it's not so hard to earn him a shove from yoongi. because on a different day, yoongi swears he would freely shove him away. even if the impact wasn't too great. he's only gotten used to jungkook earning his touch and he knows well enough that it's the same for jungkook too.

but yoongi doesn't say anything. they walk farther through the avenue, misty purple and pink peppering their faces with lenient rays of neon.

"where are we even going?" yoongi probes, leaning his head away from jimin when he begins tipping to his direction, jimin's limp causing yoongi to bob his head towards jimin's side.

their heights weren't that far from each other but it doesn't change the fact that jimin's still a couple of inches shorter.

"I told you, I work just around the corner." jimin says, gripping the side of yoongi's arm firmly.

"you better not be fooling me."

"c'mon, yoongi-ah, don't you think I'm serious?"

yoongi looks over at him as if he's stupid. your hair's orange.

"I'd like to believe that this isn't a prank."

jimin tuts with a little shake to his head. "daegu folks are always so doubtful." he states matter-of-factly as they pass a large container van.

the walk was longer than yoongi expected.

when jimin said he worked around the corner he wasn't lying at all. they stop in front of a coral blue brick building situated at the end of the avenue where a tall separation closed the street off.

the place seems old and washed down and it reminds yoongi of one of those westernized saloons. there are grills on the windows, black lines stretching up from one end of the rectangular frame to the other. glass stood behind these iron bars and yoongi could see white curtains dropping down to seal the activities inside from the rest of the world.

the doors are white, not too bright or large but just the right size to complement the small structure itself. it's a three story building with a flat roof and one of those famous fire-escapes on the side that really gives off that vintage feel.

unlike the earlier shops that they passed, this one looks so much more kinder which makes it seem so out of place.

some pots were set against the walls under the windowsills and it always calms yoongi to see green complimenting concrete or brick. although a few plants contained in the earthenware were wilting, the mood didn't falter, not a bit. dead vines and leaves added a more classic effect.

when jimin releases yoongi from his hold, yoongi steps around a bit only to see a small, almost illegible signboard plastered near one of the windows.

"what is this?"

what really grips him is the fact that despite all the attempt of making the place seem inviting and innocent, it was in fact a house filled with courtesans.

yoongi's stomach begins to lurch, his throat tightens, his lungs clog up with unreleased air.

"you want to see jungkook, don't you?"

"you're kidding." yoongi retorts. "don't fuck with me."

jimin rakes a hand through his hair and a deep sigh escapes him. "jungkookie's probably out back. he usually stays there to tend the garden or fix the shed. do you want to see him or not?"

suddenly, the back of yoongi's eyes begin to sting. but something prevents him from allowing the tears to fall—a feeling so strong that it overpowers all else.
he doesn't do much to refuse it. he doesn't release the emotion that begs to burst from the cage it sits in.

and even though his fingers are shaking and the back of his eyes hurt from the piercing hot water that fail to cascade and prove his devastation, yoongi doesn't give in.

this feeling is tied around his neck like a noose and if he lets go of it, he knows it'll cost him so much more than just pulling it back.

it's the pride that wins him over and causes his feet to turn the other way, back to the point where he stood.

"I don't." he croaks; his reply bitter.

yoongi doesn't want to see jungkook.

not here.

yoongi just wants to go home.

now.