burn || yoonkook [completed]

37 - reunion

Jungkook's POV

———

I'm absolutely terrified.

I know, it's an engagement party; I should be happy, tipsy on champagne and celebrating with all my friends. I should be congratulating the couple on their spontaneous proposal, and chatting to Jin about wedding decorations and cake flavours.

I definitely shouldn't be stuffing my face with cocktail food and avoiding all conversation in general.

I just didn't want to run into him. At least not yet.

How do you tell a person who means so much to you, why you haven't said a word to them for over a year? Not a call, or text, or even a postcard.

Of course, I feel horribly guilty. But then, he didn't try to contact me either.

I plunge another cracker into some dip, and stuff it into my mouth. Nothing like food to calm the nerves. Not that it was really helping.

"Jungkook? Is that you?" Hoseok's voice echoes across the room, and I almost choke on my cracker. "Where the fuck have you been? It's been ages!"

He walks over with arms wide, and gives me a hug with a chaste pat on the back. His hair has grown longer, a small, side-swept fringe covering his eyes.

"I've been visiting family, in the country. A bit of an escape from everything, you know?"

He nods, and I can tell he does know. He was more sympathetic about my plans, from what I heard. The others didn't quite get it; they thought it was selfish of me to leave and isolate myself.

But I needed it. I was a ticking time bomb before I left, ready to explode at any moment. Too much had happened. Losing my job, Yoongi's mum and his anxiety, the fight, being kicked out. It was a lot.

Not everyone got how much of an emotional toll it had taken on me. But I'm glad Hoseok was more understanding.

"Well, I'm just glad your back." He gives me a knowing nod, and pats my shoulder.

"Yeah. Me too." I smile.

"Have you, uh, seen Yoongi yet?" Hoseok asks in a low whisper.

"No, not yet."

"Oh."

"Yeah." I sigh. I honestly don't know how to face him, not that I'll tell Hoseok that.

"Does he know you're here?"

"No. He doesn't. I know I should go and find him, I just..." There's no excuses left to tell.

"I know last year was hard for you... And Jungkook, I don't want to be rude because I understand why you left. But Yoongi, he... I think he deserves an explanation." Hoseok's words sound sad, I can tell how hard it must have been to watch Yoongi; wondering where I went, waiting for me to come back.

I feel a sudden pang of guilt in my chest. He was right, I had to find Yoongi.

"I know." I sigh, and Hoseok smiles. "And Hoseok?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I didn't talk to you- to anyone- for so long." Hoseok doesn't say anything in return, he just gives my shoulder a squeeze, and pulls me into a hug.

"As long as you're okay... That's all that matters." His words are muffled by the hug, but I smile. I really took for granted how good of a friend he truly is.

We pull apart, and Hoseok mouths a quick, 'Good luck' before walking over to Jimin who's hovering around an overwhelmed looking Namjoon. Jimin looks over at me, and gives me a small smile, and Namjoon rapidly waves me over.