The Bulletproof Friendship (Book 1) || #LOVEYOURSELFAWARDS

Chapter 12 - Forgiveness and Truth

Jimin and the others felt guilty after hearing Jungkook's story of why he never made it to Jimin's birthday and why he became like that. "Jungkook, we are sorry." Seokjin spoke softly. Jimin and Taehyung bursted out in tears since they were the ones mostly affected. Namjoon, Seokjin, Hoseok and Yoongi did cry but Jimin and Taehyung were the closest ones to Jungkook and the ones who had the most grudges against him, well, Taehyung started having a lot of grudges against him after what Namjoon said but he still had a lot of grudges. Jimin stood up and ran to Jungkook. He hugged him tightly, burying his face on his shoulders. "I'm sorry Jungkook! I'm sorry for being mean to you! I'm sorry for everything I've done to you!" He cried out. The others came and hugged Jungkook again crying along. "We are sorry. It's our fault." Taehyung said. "It's not anyone's fault! You never knew about the accident! Don't blame yourselves. None of you ever knew I was in an accident." He said, comforting his hyungs. They had their own group hug.

It was their moment; a moment of them being together. When they're finally complete. No hate, anger, rage, anything; just happiness. A time when, Jungkook is back to his old self. The self when, he was good and innocent. A time when the other boys aren't against him. It was their moment of forgiveness.

"Is Jeon Jungkook alright?" Handong, who was the medical team head, threw the door open. The boys broke away from the hug looking at Handong. Jungkook hung his head low. "It seems that you're alright." She says crossing her arms. Jungkook slightly nodded. Chulmin then went in too, seeming furious. "May I please talk to Taehyung and Jungkook?" He asked furiously. They nod. "Alone" He added. The others went out of the shack leaving Chulmin, Taehyung, and Jungkook alone. Taehyung gulped since he knows that seniors are scary but to Jungkook, he seems used to it.

"Why did you run into the woods? What if you die? What if the both of you die? Bad things could happen when you're not careful! Just like what happened yesterday!" He said angrily. "Do you want to die right now?" He asked Jungkook. He just shook his head. He then turned to Taehyung who felt scared, "How about you? Do you want to die too?" Taehyung shook his head too. Chulmin sighed. "I don't know what to do with the two of you. But this will be the first warning. The both of you are lucky that you're not with Somin cause if you were, she would let you sleep outside for the rest of the camp and let you do enervating exercises and if she's mad, hell is gonna happen despite her being the most affectionate one." He said. "For the next activity, Handong probably elucidated the next activity to your other friends but, did you bring your swimwears?" He asks, finally calming down. The both of them nod.

"For the next activity, we will be doing swimming!" Chulmin announced to everyone. They were already at the swimming site, already wearing their swimwears under their clothes. "Okay so this will just be a fun and relaxing activity. This lake is big but not very deep so don't worry if you can't swim. Just have fun because the next activity that we will be doing will be tiring so just enjoy!" The others then jumped on the lake except for the boys and Jinseong. Jinseong was already in her swimsuit but the water was cold. She touched the water with her toe then pulled it out quickly. It indeed was cold. She slowly walked into the water but then she started shivering. "Jinseong! Come on!" Sanha called out. She smiled at him then swam to her new friends.

"At least Jinseong knows how to swim." Yoongi said. "Haven't you ever had swimming lessons? Every year we have swimming class and you still don't know how to swim?" Seokjin asks in disbelief. "Its that I never joined swimming classes. I would always have a fever on the swimming day itself." They all stared at Yoongi with widened eyes. "Ah this kid really." Seokjin said, being the eldest. "Anyways, let's go swim!" Taehyung said playfully. He then jumped into the lake. "I'm next hyung!" Jungkook followed him and jumped in too. He didn't have the bandage anymore because his wound was already healed. Once he was in, the two of them were splashing water at each other. "We have two more kids in the water." Namjoon said. Hoseok followed by jumping in front of Jungkook and Taehyung. Once his head was out of the water, the two of them attacked him with of course, water. Namjoon and Yoongi too swam unlike how Jungkook, Taehyung and Hoseok did it. Seokjin was about to jump in too but he then realized that Jimin wasn't with them. He turned around to see Jimin who was staring at the ground. "Come on Jimin-ah, Let's go! Forget what your dad said and have fun for now! This only happens once! Let's have fun!" He said smiling. Jimin smiled back and Seokjin jumped in. He came closer to the water and stared at it. Once he stepped in, he remembered something.

"Mom!"

He doesn't remember from where it was. Well, he does live with his dad now since his mom passed away for some unknown reason that he doesn't remember but it was probably just some random thought he made up. He then joined the others.

Jungkook and Taehyung sat on the ground out of the water to have a little break. They watched the other students swimming around. Hoseok was carrying Jimin while Namjoon was carrying Seokjin playing with water guns that Yoongi brought. Meanwhile, the person who brought the water guns was doing the dead man's float.

Taehyung looked at Jungkook who was watching them happily. Smiling so innocently. He smiled widely then looked back at them. He then remembered what happened awhile ago. When Chulmin was mad at them but it just seemed that he was used to it. "Jungkook-ah, can I ask you a question?" Taehyung asked. Jungkook looked at him and nodded. "A while ago, when Chulmin was getting mad at us, I was observing you. You seemed like, you were used to it." He said, facing Jungkook. "Hmm? Used to?" He asks since things weren't clear yet. "Well umm, you know, someone shouting at you, getting mad at you." He clarified. "Oh. I am used to it." He looks down on the ground. Taehyung widened his eyes surprised to know that he was correct. But still concerned about Jungkook. "But-What-Why-How?" He was lost at words. Jungkook just smirked. "I'll tell you."

"After the accident, my mom's sister and her husband took me in. So they're technically not my biological parents but are my parents. So a few days after the accident and getting out of the hospital, they've been shouting at each other for some problems that I do not understand. One day, after detention which was my first, my dad got mad at me so he shouted at me and... never mind that." He then thought that he shouldn't say that word because he doesn't want to make Taehyung worry too much. He then continued explaining. "I was crying since I wasn't used to it. Since now I've been getting a few more cases, I've gotten used to it." He explained. Taehyung was shocked to hear this from his best friend. To hear that things like that happened to him. It was the probable reason why he started acting like a jerk. He then comforted Jungkook, hugging him. His head was almost below Jungkook's. "Thanks, I needed it." Jungkook said smiling at him. Taehyung looked up to him and smiled too. "I would do anything for my best friend." Jungkook hugged Taehyung too. "Oh and Kookie-ya, I will never break a promise ever again." He said, pulling away from the hug, sitting back up again. "Hmm? What do you mean. You've never broken a promise yet." Jungkook said, baffled. "Huh? But about the farmer thing." He spoke confused too. "Hyung, the others persuaded you to be a farmer. It's not your fault if you've probably already forgotten about the promise. It is also good to help your grandparents but, it is your choice. I wouldn't mind if you become a farmer and leave Seoul. You're my friend. I can't force you to do what I want. It is up to you. The only thing is, I would miss you. All of us would miss you. But it's okay. We could visit you at your grandparents' farm. The only promise that we should never break is the promise of being friends forever and that will be the only promise that we should always remember no matter what we are. If I ever become a jerk again, please help me remember. I trust you hyung. I've known you since we were little. If I don't ever believe in you, if ever I become a jerk again-" Jungkook was then interrupted by him. "Don't say that! You will never be a jerk! You were never a jerk!" Taehyung said. "Huh? What do you mean? I've been mean to you." Taehyung shook his head. "You may've been a jerk outside physically. But inside, you are still pure and innocent." Jungkook smiled. "Taehyung-ah,

You're the best."