Cold [NAMJIN]

04 • aиραnмaи

Namjoon repeatedly pounded his fist against the table after hearing Jackson, his eyes almost disappearing as he continued to laugh.

The only noisy ones in their table is him and his friend Jackson Wang, a member of the school's basketball team and an expert at telling jokes.

Jimin who is trying to strike a conversation with the depressed Jeongguk finally gave up after minutes of still not getting a response from the guy, sighing loudly which caught the noisy Namjoon's attention. The elder's laughter instantly died.

"What's with him?" Namjoon asked, eyes on Jeongguk who have his face glued on the table.

Jimin frowned and made a broken heart symbol with his hands, making the older raise one eyebrow in confusion.

"He got dumped?" Namjoon asked, voice filled with disbelief. Jimin thought for a second. Jeongguk didn't exactly get dumped.

Hmmm.

Jimin slowly nodded, not sure.

"Why?" Namjoon continued. Jimin sighed before shaking his head.

"The person likes someone else." He explained.

"O-Oh." Namjoon said, now turning quiet. "Hey Kook, cheer up. You'll find someone else soon enough."

Jeongguk just dismissively waved one hand at the older before wallowing in self-pity and misery once again.

Namjoon chanced a glance at the clock hanging on one corner of the cafeteria and was just about to send another message to the unusually late Seokjin when he saw something that made his movements freeze.

Namjoon could see Seokjin standing outside the cafeteria through the glass walls of the room and judging from the crestfallen posture of the older, Namjoon would bet his life that something bad just happened to the guy.

Without warning, he stood up, surprising Jackson.

"Namjoon?" His teammate asked, mouth full of food. Not even bothering to respond, Namjoon started to briskly walk to where Jin is, ignoring Jackson's voice of protests behind him.

He pushed the doors open, his narrowed eyes automatically scanning Seokjin's form for injuries. Upon seeing no sign of injuries, Namjoon enveloped the older in his arms.

"Hey." Namjoon softly whispered. "It's okay. I'm here."

And that was all it took for Jin to crumble down.

The warmth of the younger's tight embrace made Seokjin unable to stop his tears from coming out. He quietly sobbed against the younger's chest as he clung to Namjoon's shirt for dear life.

The younger's ability to immediately make him take his guard down and just let it all out surprises even Jin himself. No one else except Namjoon could make him as vulnerable as he is right now.

And as Jin felt Namjoon's hold on him get tighter, a thought came into his mind. Without the younger, he probably would've never been able to survive this trip they call life. Without Namjoon, he had probably long been dead. Without Namjoon—God, he doesn't even want to imagine what life would be without Namjoon.

"Joonie..." Seokjin choked.

"Hmmm..." Namjoon responded.

"Joonie..."

"I'm here..."

"Joonie..."

"Don't worry, I'm here. I'll always be here."

And as the two of them continued to live and enjoy their own happy bubble, another person's heart got shattered.

Taehyung, who unfortunately got asked by a teacher to run an errand for her while he was tailing Jin, stopped in his tracks upon seeing the sight in front of him.

The way the older clings on Namjoon as if he doesn't wanna let go made his heart clench in pain, almost knocking the air out of him.

With a bittersweet smile, Taehyung stepped back and turned around to leave, giving the two some space.

Jimin who silently watched the whole event, could only sigh in sympathy. Directing his gaze back to his currently crying brother, he forced himself to stay in his seat, thinking that it would be better to let Namjoon calm the older down, knowing full well that he himself would not be able to do it.

Jimin felt a pang of jealousy hit his chest upon realizing that not even once has his older brother ever showed him his weakness. Whenever they're together, Seokjin would always be the protective and affectionate hyung, always taking care of Jimin.

The younger has always wished for his older brother to rely on him but knowing that they've only known each other for five years, makes him somehow understand the reason why his brother still has his walls up around him.

When their parents remarried each other five years ago, Jin has been nothing but a sweetheart. The older never hesitated to welcome Jimin and his Dad into his heart, immediately treating them like family without second thoughts.

But no matter how affectionate the older is to Jimin, the younger still can't help but feel jealous towards Namjoon. Seokjin's love for him as his brother could never compete against Jin's love and trust for Namjoon. And though it hurts not being able to be there for his brother when he's in pain, he has to somehow endure it, knowing that for now, he's still powerless compared to Namjoon.

"Yah!" Jimin suddenly said, surprising the quiet Jeongguk and making the guy straighten up.

"What?" He asked, eyes wide in alarm. "Is something wrong?" He continued while glancing around, noticing Jackson's absence.

"Go after him." Jimin said.

"Huh?" Jeongguk's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Jimin sighed.

"I said, go after him. Taehyung needs you right now." He explained.

Upon hearing the guy's name, the pain Jeongguk has shortly forgotten, returned.

"W-What do you mean..."

Jimin, now frustrated, briefly motioned his fingers towards the cafeteria's entrance where Jin and Namjoon stood, talking. One of Namjoon's hands is protectively wrapped around the older's waist, his other hand wiping something in Jin's face.

Putting two and two together, Jeongguk somehow got an idea about what had happened. Taehyung most probably saw the intimate moment happening between the two and got hurt.

However, upon noticing Seokjin's puffy eyes and red nose even from the distance, worry filled him. The older's been crying.

"Did something happen?" Jeongguk asked in worry.

"I'll tell you later. Now go. Tae needs his Anpanman right now." Jimin offered the younger an encouraging smile before pointing towards the direction where Taehyung went.

The younger contemplated for a second before finally deciding to follow Jimin's words and go, a mission to find and comfort Taehyung in mind.

Now left alone, Jimin decided to leave as well. Just as he stood up, he noticed two familiar faces in one of the noisy and crowded tables inside the cafeteria. Chanyeol talked and laughed with a few of his jackass friends while Kyungsoo ate quietly in one corner, a phone in hand.

Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth upon the sudden realization.

I knew it.

Remembering how his brother looked just a moment ago almost made him charge towards the clueless idiots right there and then. But a thought stopped him.

Grabbing his phone from one of his pockets, he dialed a number, the person on the other line immediately accepting the call.

[Jimin?]

"Sorry, I don't think I'll be able to come over tonight."

[Did something happen? Want me to come?]

"No no, I'm fine. I'll make it up to you next time. For now, can you ask your guys to do something for me?"

[Of course. Anything for you.]

"I want them to beat up a couple of bastards. And I don't want them just beaten, I want them broken."