TRAPPED | BTS

14 | busan

Okay, so yeah. I was contemplating on whether I'd be publishing this chapter today but ended up publishing anyway haha 😂

Happy reading! Vote 💓 Kamsaranghae

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Johnnie seems to be a great cousin to Jungkook. If I haven't known them both, I could easily mistake them as brothers.

It took us hours the whole freaking ride to laugh at both of them. Yeah, that's right. After getting multiple shots of the place, Johnnie actually hopped in with us in Jungkook's car. Johnnie's mom was left at the restaurant. Johnnie is in the passenger's seat. I was at the back seat checking the photos in his camera and I gotta say, Johnnie is the epitome of a great photographer! I don't have to direct him that much.

Today, I just found out that Jungkook really likes japchae. A Korean noodle recipe that seemed to be drenched in seasoned sauce topped with seafood.

I can't blame him though, aside from the stir fried pork and a couple of side dishes, the noodles probably is the main dish there. It's delicious and I could devour a whole pan of it the whole day.

What amazes me most is that, his Aunt Liz actually is the one who made it herself. I had a one-on-one interview with her

"I don't know why he likes it that much." I remember her chuckle and her rosy cheeks stand out despite her pale skin. "He always order the same thing whenever he drops by here. This is the first time since he went for Seoul that he actually dined here again and I was really happy. How that kid loves his work is still a mystery to me."

It turns out. This restaurant was Jungkook's gift to Aunt Liz. According to his aunt, Jungkook was the type of kid that prefers to stay at their home back then rather than his own house that's why she treats him like his own child. Well, I guess Jungkook feels the same way around her. Maybe it's his way of expressing how much he loves both of his aunt and cousin.

I was able to ask him the same question before we left for the road but he just replies, "He's my second mom after all."

There is bitterness in his voice as I hear him say the next terms,"That's why I keep asking why she isn't my real mom. Things would be easier that way."

Now that I scanned our picture together in front of the restaurant, I can see Jungkook's left hands around Aunt Liz. Johnnie next to his mom and me beside Jungkook. We were all smiling so widely like a group of people who got reunited after a long time. Ha, I guess I was a prop to the picture. I laugh at myself internally.

"Why are you smiling?" I hear Jungkook ask and I can see his eyes over the mirror.

"Nothing. I just thought that your Aunt is really something." I chuckle as I hear Johnnie's snore over by the passenger's seat. He must've been really tired by the long work at his restaurant.

I hear Jungkook snicker by the driver's seat. "Yeah. I was waiting all year long to hug her. Thank you by the way."

"Don't mention it. It's a win-win for both of us."

It was already past 6 pm when we arrived at a two storey house at a local neighborhood. Johnnie sprung to life once the car parked its way under a tree.

"We're here." Jungkook smiled. "God, I miss this place." He took off his seat belt and moved out of the car eager to breathe the air of his old neighborhood. Johnnie just laughed at his cousin who was busy twirling around. I laughed too.

"You can't blame him. That guy must really miss home." I hear Johnnie say as he's taking his seatbelt off. "Come on, let's go outside."

I got out of the car just to see the beauty of lights by the sidewalks complimenting the trees that seemed to be rooted there for a long time.

"For a city, this place is really awesome." I say and Johnnie just smiled beside me.

"What can I say Alex, welcome to Busan."

Jungkook came over us practically pulling us towards the house. I let myself be pulled out as I hear Johnnie squirming away from his cousin's tight grip.

We went inside to be greeted by a homey wooden scent and a light by the door. We took off our shoes and placed it neatly beside the umbrellas by the corner and slipped on an inside flip-flops.

The house looks elegant and homey at the same time. The way the well polished wooden floor feel against my feet to the way the house was designed to resonate a practically Asian style is really something. It's a kind of a get away home from stress and I get why Jungkook took me here. Him opening up about his life must really mean so much to him in a way that he took me to his childhood place.

We are the only persons inside the house.

"I'm going to prepare for our dinner." Johnnie say leaving us at the living room taking the food supplies which I assume was the things inside the basket which his mom gave before we left.

I started looking around and I see the same miniature version of Jungkook and his half brothers with their mom on a smaller photo frame beside the flat screen television. It's the only picture of them together. I also see a couple of his baby pictures beside that. I can see him wearing a big smile over a couple of teenagers which I assume are his classmates from high school.

"Hey Alex."

"Yeah?"

"You must be really curious now."

I turned to look at him and turns out, he's eyeing the photo with his brothers. I couldn't find my voice to speak as I see nostalgia in his eyes.

"Don't worry, you'll find out eventually." He added.

We walked inside the house from the living room to the kitchen where Johnnie is skillfully chopping onions. He just smiled at us and say, "You guys better prepare and look for your beds. Jungkook, do you still remember where you used to sleep?" Johnnie kidded and Jungkook playfully tossed him an onion which he skillfully caught with his left hand.

"Of course I do."

We went upstairs and instead of videogames, I came in contact with racks of books. I looked at him hysterically and he just shrugged whilst scratching the back of his head which he always do whenever he's on a disadvantage.

"What? I used to like reading."

"I read a lot myself, don't get me wrong. But this? This is a lot. Since when have you collected all these?"

"Well, I haven't really collected them all. See that?" He pointed at a small portion of their library with a total of 15 books. "Those are my books. They're mangas from my favorite anime show back in highschool. Those right there aren't mine."

He pointed at remaining books which could be between the range of 60-90 books. I laughed at him and probably guessed that it belongs to his cousin.

"What?" He questions my reaction.

"Never mind."

We continued walking along the hallway. There about four rooms there. We stopped by the room with a hangul writing that probably belongs to him because he didn't hesitate on opening.

"This is my room." He almost whispered.

To be honest, it's really organized. There is a computer by his bed and a couple of head phones over his drawer. There is a big window on the side of his bed that completely view the front of the house. He turned to my side.

"Opposite mine will be your room."

When I opened mine, I was more than pleased. It has its own bathroom. He left me to see the room myself and I guess he just stayed at his room to probably do the same.

A sudden thought crawls in my mind.

Where is his mom?

Come to think of it, I never saw any of his dad's picture.