The Bulletproof Friendship (Book 1) || #LOVEYOURSELFAWARDS

Chapter 4 - Fragment of Memory

"Beat that jerk! That loser that ruin everyone's lives!" Those words kept on replaying in his head. It hurts because he said that he ruins everyone's lives. But then it hurts even more since it was said by Taehyung. He was hiding inside the storage room and he locked the door so that no one could enter. It's been 3 minutes since he was in there. He should be strong and shrug that statement off but he couldn't. Why did it affect him so much? But then for some reason, he was familiar with that word; jerk.

"Hey guys, look at him. He is so quiet. Where is your mommy and daddy? Did they leave you alone?" A guy said bullying little Jungkook. He wasn't saying anything. He was just playing on the swing when mean kids came. "It's our space so move out." One of the kids said demanded. Jungkook shook his head defending his place. Unexpectedly, he got pushed off the swing and hit the ground. His elbow got a severe wounded from the rocky ground. Tears started falling out because of the pain. The other kids were just laughing at him until...

"Hey! What are you doing?" A kid came along. They faced the other kid while Jungkook just watched and listened on what was happening from afar. He still couldn't stand up because he fell on his back too but he thinks that there are no wounds. "Who are you to stand up to some weak stranger?" One of the kids asked. "I just met you and I find you extremely obnoxious." He said which the other kids did not understand. "I do not know what you said nor do I care. I do not know who you are but this is my territory, nerd." He argued. "If you are saying this is your territory, then your father or your mother must be from the government and this should be named to your family. What are your parents jobs?" He asks but the other one does not reply since he was completely puzzled on what he was saying. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have the power to report you to your parents and if you would not want that, please leave." The other kids were flustered about his statement but they left anyways but before leaving, one of them went back and grabbed the shirt of Jungkook and uttered out, "You jerk." He lets go of him and leaves. Jungkook was left speechless. "Hey there. If you are wandering, my dad is a police and that's how I got all my vocabs from." He said. "By the way I'm Kim..."

"Kim, Kim who?" Jungkook asked himself. This was a fragment of his memory that he remembered. He has forgotten some memories from his childhood for some reason and he had no idea how. But that Kim guy, he stood up for him. He wishes to meet him once again but the chances are low since he doesn't even remember who he was. He checked the time and it's been 5 minutes. He decides to go out since it was almost break time. He feels a bit better now. His parents will be back in a while and he needs to ask them about some stuff. Especially on why he has forgotten some of his memories.

"Jin, you were amazing!" Namjoon congratulated as he pats the back of his friend. Seokjin faked a smile but his friends could tell that something was wrong. "Is there something wrong?" Yoongi asked. "Nothing much." He replied. "Come on hyung we need to know. You won first right? Aren't you happy?" Jimin asked. Seokjin didn't really know what to say but, he tried to speak. "It's not that. It's just, did you see the face of Jungkook." Seokjin finally said. "He seemed to be bummed about losing." Hoseok replied. "That jerk is just selfish." Taehyung uttered out.

"Taehyung, I know that you've met Jungkook when you were kids but, it doesn't seem that he was bummed out about losing. I think he seemed down after what you said." Taehyung suddenly turned speechless. "Well to be honest, yes. That line made me motivated to win but seeing Jungkook like this. I think it's too much since you said 'that loser who ruins everyone's lives'."

"But he was always a jerk. I think it's because he lost." Yoongi said, siding with Taehyung. "Yes but don't you remember before during first year, he raced against you but he lost and he was completely fine with it. In my point of view, I think he still remembers that. I think he is still the Jungkook who we used to know." Seokjin stated.

"But how are you sure about this? So what if he still has a fragment of memory that is trapped deep inside his mind? A memory that cannot escape its prison? He would still probably be the jerk we know right now at this present time. The only way we could tell that Jungkook is still the Jungkook we used to know is if he shows it. If he does something that our old Jungkook knows or does. But there is also a possibility that he might trick us. Next thing you know, he might use us. There is a fifty-fifty percent chance of Jungkook remembering us and his past memories or him still being that complete jerk we know right now. How would you know if it is because of Taehyung shouting that statement made him like that?" Namjoon said.

Seokjin did not know the answer to that question. He rubbed the back of his head. "I think I know why." Taehyung said. They all paid attention to him. Full eyes and full ears on him.

"The first time I met Jungkook is when we were little. He was just sitting on the swing when mean kids came. They bullied Jungkook and even pushed him off which made him have a severe wound on his elbow. I couldn't stand the sight so I decided to help him. I stood up to those kids just to save him. I was able to convince them to leave but one of them grabbed Jungkook's shirt and he said to him, 'You jerk'. During that time, Jungkook was very quiet, very shy, very nervous." He stated.

"That probably was a very traumatic experience for Jungkook." Hoseok said. "But things change, people change, people grow. Some people grow from bad to good, some people grow from good to bad, and some probably just stayed the same. So in my conclusion, Jungkook is a complete despicable jerk." Taehyung grabbed his bag then walked off leaving his friends seated on the bleachers.

"When did Taehyung become that cold?" Seokjin asked while watching Taehyung walk off into the distance. "It was Namjoon hyung's fault." Jimin said pointing at the said person. Seokjin raised an eyebrow then he looked at Namjoon who looked guilty, trying to avoid the gaze of Seokjin. "What did you tell him?" He asked pretty seriously. "Well, about how Jungkook bumped you during the latter of second year." He said like he was unsure with his answer. "How did you know that?" Seokjin questioned again. He was confounded of what Namjoon said. "Well, I skipped class to watch your race." The voice of Namjoon got a bit higher at the end. Seokjin punched him on the arm. Namjoon gaped his mouth because of the pain that was enduring on his arm.

"Why did you skip class? Even for a person with a very high IQ is dumb." Seokjin said straight forward. "You should be focusing on your studies first but then," Seokjin smirked, "thanks for watching me." He pats the back of Namjoon then leaves. "Well, I'm glad that went well." Namjoon sighed while holding the part where Seokjin punched him. "But things are getting a little bit more complicated."

"By the way, I'm Kim Taehyung. Come on, let me help you up." He reaches his arm out to Jungkook. Despite him being shy, he decided to let Taehyung help him. He grabbed Taehyung's hand and he pulls him up. "Ah." Jungkook could still feel the wound on his elbow. He held the part of the wound since it was hurting bad. "That must've hurt pretty bad. Come to my house. My mom used to be a doctor. She will heal you. It's like magic!" Jungkook didn't say a word but nods slightly. Taehyung grabbed Jungkook's wrist then they went to Taehyung's house.

"All done now dear." Mrs. Kim said who finished wrapping the bandage on his arm. "Be careful next time, okay?" Jungkook nods at her. Mrs. Kim then left the room so that Taehyung and Jungkook could talk.

Taehyung sat next to the wounded latter but then he seems fine now. "See! I told you she would heal you! Ain't I right?" Taehyung said patting Jungkook's back. He smiles slightly, still shy. "Tell me, what's your name?" He asks curiously. He then listens carefully to what the latter was supposed to say. "Jeon Jungkook" He muttered shyly. Taehyung smiles at him. "I think we will be great friends." He grins so does Jungkook. "Hey kids, let me take a picture of the two of you." Mrs. Kim said, holding a camera. Taehyung wrapped an arm around Jungkook and the both of them smiled for the camera. "Say cheese." She said. "Cheese!"

Taehyung was in his room, looking at the picture of him and Jungkook when they were kids. The both of them were smiling for the camera. Seeing it makes him smile but not right now. He grabbed the picture frame and faced it down for him not to see the photo. "Jungkook,

I don't know if I should still be your friend."

[EDITED]