reset ; ym

Fifteen days later

Jungkook's call was certainly a surprise.

Ever since he had left for a gap year in the USA about a year ago, Yoongi hadn't heard of him anymore.
Well, that wasn't entirely true; at first, they still had their regular video calls, the whole group, actually, but then, everyone seemed to be too busy to keep that up.
Jungkook had sent them a postcard for Christmas last year, and Seokjin had sent him a package with his favorite Korean sweets in return.

But it seemed as if their friendship wasn't as strong as they thought it was, and after a while, they stopped keeping in touch.
Yoongi had known Jungkook for a long time. He was a lot younger than Yoongi, even younger than Jimin, yet they got along pretty well. Jungkook was someone who didn't take himself and life too seriously, he was funny and nice company, he was like the missing piece in their group of friends.
Yoongi and Jungkook used to be neighbors. They spent their childhood together on the nearby playground, every day, and Yoongi taught Jungkook so many things that they quickly became inseparable.

Then, Jungkook's family moved to the other side of the city. Yoongi and Jungkook didn't see each other very often anymore, but when they were older, they both went to the same school.
This alone should've told Yoongi that even this time, he hadn't lost Jungkook completely. Somehow, the two friends always found back together.

Still, Jungkook's call definitely was a surprise. Yoongi picked it up hesitantly.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Hey, hyung!" Jungkook greeted him excitedly, "It's Jungkook here – do you still remember me?"
Yoongi suppressed a chuckle. "Yes, I know, I do remember you," he said. At least Jungkook sounded happy – so nothing bad could've happened, right?
"Why are you calling?" Yoongi asked and sat down on his couch. Jungkook hummed.
"Well, it's been a while, I would say, and –" he chuckled, "I may or may not have just landed in South Korea."

Yoongi widened his eyes and sat up straight. "You – what?!" he asked. Jungkook laughed. "Yes, you heard me."
Yoongi didn't even know where to start. "You... I thought you were doing a gap year?" he asked. "I did! A year is already over, Yoongi," Jungkook reminded him.
Shit, he was right.
"And what about college over there? Didn't you want to try to get a scholarship? You could've easily done that –"
"Yeah, I know, but I decided against it. The states are nice, but I missed home, and... it's just not the same. I know, I know – this sounds super lame, but it's the truth." Jungkook chuckled again.
"Wow," Yoongi said, "So... you're back in Korea?" Jungkook hummed as a response.
"Why do people keep surprising me by telling me they're coming back?" Yoongi asked. And of course he was thinking of Jimin, goddamn Park Jimin whose sudden drunken phone calls and texts were still confusing Yoongi.

"Sorry," Jungkook apologized, "I'm at my parents place right now, and... how about we meet up today? I don't know, in a bar, maybe, and get some drinks, catch up on everything... does that sound good?"
Yoongi thought for a moment. Yes, it did sound good. It sounded better and more promising than anything he had heard over the past few days.
"Sure," he then agreed, "Why not."

So Jimin left his life, Jungkook came back, and Yoongi was more than confused.

~

Yoongi didn't know what he had expected. In all those years he had known Jungkook, the younger had barely changed. So maybe Yoongi thought he'd simply see a more mature version of Jungkook.
And in a way, that was what he got. But then again, Jungkook looked so different.
He had dyed his hair; it was lighter now. And his clothes were colorful, except for the white shirt, that had stayed, and Yoongi thought it would stay until the end of time.
Jungkook's face was slimmer now. His jawline was sharp, and he was very muscular. Jungkook had always loved sports.

"Wow," Yoongi said as he sat down opposite of Jungkook. The younger grinned at him; his smile hadn't changed at all.
"Jungkook... you look like an adult now," Yoongi joked as he leaned back to get a better view of Jungkook.
"I am an adult now," Jungkook chuckled. His right hand was wrapped around a drink.
"Please tell me there's no alcohol in there," Yoongi gasped and pointed at the glass. Jungkook giggled even more. "Hey, shut up!"
"You're one of the cool kids now, Jungkook," Yoongi finally said and shook his head. Then he grinned.
"Hey, it's good to see you again."
"You too, hyung." Jungkook blushed and smiled.