Try-Hard, Sin Harder

20. No Place Like Home

"Where exactly do you want these?" 

 "Over there," I answered, pointing at the small round table in the center of the living room. "Could you put them on the table for me?" 

 "Sure thing," Jaehee chirped. She placed the box down, and sighed. Stretching her arms above her head, she let out a deep sigh before turning on her heels and re-entering the kitchen. "So," she said. "explain to me again why you had to move?" 

 "My apartment was broken into," I told her, clamping my fingers around the box cutter in my hand. "I didn't feel safe living there any more." 

 Although I wasn't lying to her about what had happened almost two weeks before, I still felt awful that I couldn't tell her the whole truth. Jaehee was the only female friend I had made since moving back to Korea, and the last thing I ever wanted to do was lie to her. She was immensely kind, and extroverted. In a way, she reminded me of Hoseok. Amongst a group of people, they would always be the sun; the happy pill. It was my favourite thing about her, and I felt like a thief trying to steal the truth from her. Perhaps it was for the best that we had decided to keep what happened between the few of us who had been there to witness it. As much as I would like to have said I was fine, I knew I was still recovering. It would be a while before I would feel safe on my own again. 

 "Are you alright, Eonni?" Jaehee's soft voice asked. "You seem upset." 

 "I'm just a little shocked, that's all," I replied. "And I'm greatful nothing important was stolen." 

 She nodded her head, and squeezed my arm. "Always look at the bright side, right?" Jaehee turned, leaning back on the counter to survey the apartment. "So, how did you find out about this place?" 

 "A couple of my friends live here, on this floor actually. One of their neighbours moved out around a month or so ago, and the landlord was ecstatic to finally have someone wanting to move in. With a little persuasion from my friends, this place was a good as mine," I said. 

 "Your friends must be miracle workers, this place is a steal," Jaehee joked, punching me lightly on the shoulder. I flinched as her knuckles landed near my scars, but she didn't seem to notice. "So, who are these friends you've been talking about? Are they the same people you stayed with while you were sick for so long?" 

 "Yep," said a voice from somewhere in my apartment. "That would be us." 

 We stepped out of the kitchen to see Jin, Jungkook, Taehyung and Hoseok enter my front door. Hoseok smiled at us, before continuing, "Nice to meet you, Miss. I'm Jung Hoseok, and this is Kim Seokjin, Jeon Jungkook, and Kim Taehyung." 

 He pointed to each respected member, and Jaehee's jaw dropped in recognition. She gripped my arm, shaking me as she bounced up and down. "Keira, these are the guys from the café! Why didn't you tell me you knew them sooner?" she asked excitedly. 

 "I didn't know them very well at the time," I explained. "Calm down, will you? Sometimes I swear you're part Chihuahua." I turned to the boys. "Was there something you guys wanted?" 

 Jungkook nodded. "Would you like some help moving into your apartment?" 

 "If you don't mind, we could really use some," I said, smiling brightly at them. 

 "Just tell us what to take and where, and we'll do all the heavy lifting for you," Jin told us. 

 Jaehee and I sorted the four boys into different rooms, ordering them to bring the heavy boxes with them as they went. What could I say? They came to help, so I planned on making them work. As Jaehee helped Jungkook and Hoseok set the furniture in my living room, I slipped into the bedroom where Jin and Taehyung were placing the matress on my bed frame. "Where are the others?" I asked, handing each one of them a plastic water bottle.