I run a hand through my thick hair as I walk down the compact stairs. Rin had a bad dream again; guess his mom still haunts him. Earlier this morning, he was screaming in his sleep, I had to grab Rin to wake him up, and it kinda scared me too. Those nightmares from his past must be horrifying. But now Rin's awake and ready to come get eggs and breakfast.
"Morning, Yoongs, Joon, Jin Jin." I yawn and stretch, taking note of who's downstairs.
"Morning, love! Eggs and toast are ready!" Seokjin calls from the kitchen, and I'm there in a flash.
"Hey, Astro!" Namjoon walks towards me for a hug, with his long bear arms open, but he's all sweaty, so I back away, laughing at the crestfallen look on his face.
"Hi, Joon. Did you go to the gym?"
He grins and nods, then runs at me. I dodge with a laugh.
"Dude!"
"Hey, it was an open invitation!"
"Astro? Here are your eggs!"
Seokjin hands me a steaming plate, and I accept, digging into the eggs while still standing up in the kitchen as Namjoon leans over towards Jin for a kiss, frowning once again as he's rejected for being sweaty and stinky after his morning exercise.
"Hey, guys."
Orrin appears in the doorway, and im at a loss for words.
He's got horrific dark circles under his bloodshot eyes, and his currently purple hair is mussed and greasy. Tear stains dot his shirt, and he gives a halfhearted smile in my direction.
"Holy shit. Rin, are you okay?"
"Well, I—"
"Oh, morning, sugar, morning— OH MY GOD ORRIN ARE YOU OKAY JESUS CHRIST!"
Jimin drops his bag and runs up to Orrin, pulling him into a long hug.
"Did you have the dream again?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, it's okay. It's okay." Jimin strokes Rin's hair, and he calms down, bit by bit.
"Listen, blueberry. I know that your mother did horrible things to you, but things have changed, okay? You have BTS. You have me. You have Astro. We're all here for you, no matter what."
Rin nods into Jimin's shoulder, and he peeks out of his hyung's hold. "Sorry I'm making this awkward, guys."
Seokjin, Yoongi, Namjoon and I burst into giggles. "Why would it be awkward? Gosh, Rin, lay off yourself!"
He nods again, but with a smile, and runs a hand through his messy hair. "Oh my god, I could fuel an oil lantern. I gotta take a shower." With that, he walks back up the stairs, throwing a little smile behind his back.
Jimin leans against the counter and sighs. "Guys, I really do worry about him. I don't know what there is to be done."
"ChimChim, there isn't anything to be done," I say. "Promise me, Rin is the happiest he's ever been here; I just don't believe his memories will ever go away, to be honest."
Yoongi nods. "And you may be right, 'Stro. But for now we just have to keep his mind off it."
"Let's see what happens later today, and we'll make the best of it. Maybe we can see a movie or something," Namjoon says, and we nod.
"Okay, I'ma go find Hoseok-oppa. Holler if Rin has any troubles, okay?" I ask.
They agree, and i slip out the back door of the house, dialing Hoseok's number along the way.
"Annyeong, this is Jung Hoseok speaking."
"Sup, hoe?"
"Did you eat all the eggs?"
"Of course I did. You weren't home so I thought I'd make the best of it. Anyways, where are you?"
"Had to pick up flour for Seokjin. Something sweet rice flavored? I'll be home soon, though."
"Okay. Love you, oppa."
"Love you, sweetcake."
I hang up and radiate happiness. Hoseok can make anyone feel happy. Maybe he can cheer up Orrin when he gets home.
It's sad to me how these dreams really drive deep for my Rin. He's always really sad in the mornings, and he's never gotten a complete night of sleep, not without any interruptions. The hyungs and I do our best to make sure he's okay, which he usually is around us. It's only the mornings and the late nights that get him.
Jimin's gotten a bit hit by it too. I've noticed Jimin just sitting, silently, lost in thought. He's usually hit the hardest, too; Rin's his adopted brother. Literally, Park Orrin.
But thoughts aside, Rin's been doing pretty well here.
I look up, and realize my feet have taken me all the way downtown. Shit. I pull on my surgery mask thingy and sunglasses and continue walking.
My phone vibrates. Hoseok, probably. I turn and open my phone to a message from Jungkook.
From kookie⛵️:
Why are you downtown
I immediately look up and scan the scene in front of me, searching for the tall, sunglasses and surgery mask clad figure.
To kookie⛵️:
tf? where you at?
From kookie⛵️:
Window shopping, I brought the car so i can take you home
To kookie⛵️:
ok
I decide to follow his example, and i duck into a pet store. Shelves are lined top to bottom with dog stuff, and it makes me miss my old dog. I hope she's doing okay. Maybe she got rescued. Hopefully.
I eye a stylish anchor patterned collar and think about dogs. Maybe the hyungs would let Rin and I get dogs. That would be fun. What breed would i get? Don't know, I'm tired. I might find Kookie.
"Hey, honey," and a squeeze to the ribs answers my call.
"Damn it Jungkook, I thought I told you not to call me that in public!" I play-push him and walk to the treat section.
"Do you think the hyungs would let me and Rin get dogs? I mean, I'm sure the maknae line would be okay with it, and Hobi and Yoongi, but it's really Eomma Jin and Appa Namjoon's decision."
"Hell no. Nine people in a house is already quite enough. I mean, I'm sure we can later in life, if we buy a bigger house, but—"
"No, I get it. Rin and my room is barely big enough for the two of us, much less two big slobbery dogs."
He laughs. "Yeah, that's kind of what happens. Again, maybe later, but for now, we just have each other."
"Yeah. That's just how I like it, anyways."
His ringtone fills the store, and he answers it quickly.
"Hello?—Yes, I've got her—Of course he can come on down!—Hoseok's stuck?—Oh. Wishing him luck.—K. Bye."
"Who was that?" I ask.
"Just Yoongs checking in and sending Orrin our way. Heard he wasn't in the best condition this morning. Plus, Hobi's caught in a load of traffic. He said he wanted to see a clothes collection, so we'll stop by Pacsun, yeah? And afterwards, you and Rin can go somewhere."
I turn back to browsing treats, and have my eyes locked on a peanut butter chew toy when a hand touches my back.
"Hey, 'Stro fro."
"Hey. Feeling any better?"
"By a lot. Sorry I brought down the mood."
It pains me when Rin apologizes - he doesn't need to. It's not his fault his mom abused him constantly; still not seeing why he has to apologize.
"Hey. Rin. Don't fucking apologize. Kay? Just don't. You're not a burden on us, you're not a downer, and most importantly, you're my best fucking friend. Remember that."
annyeong is used in Korean meaning hello,bye,hi
