The Tutor | Jikook

Chapter 10

Taehyung POV

Walking into work this afternoon, I smile to myself and greet my boss who's currently working the front register. I quickly head in back to set my stuff down and grab my apron before heading back out.

Beginning my shift, I pull on my happy face and start helping customers. Thankfully, we're far enough from campus that we don't get much of the college crowd every single time classes let out. However, we do tend to get a decent rush when the nearby high school lets out.

As I casually help around and serve customers, my mind wanders over to Jungkook and Jimin hyung. The two of them honestly would be really cute together. Though, it's interesting to know that they've actually got similar backgrounds. Similar home lives. Well, technically not anymore since Jimin lives with me...

Suddenly, the door opens and a distraught looking Jungkook enters. I frown at the sight, curious of why he seems so out of it and upset. Nodding to my two coworkers who's working the front with me, I head in back to talk with him before Jungkook can come out.

"Kookie?" I call, entering the locker room. He sighs, turning back to look at me and give me a seemingly tired smile.

"Hi, hyung." He responds quietly. I frown, heading over to him.

"Alright, Kookie. Talk. What happened?" I ask softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. He sighs, shaking his head.

"Nothing, Tae. I don't exactly want to talk about it." He mutters softly.

"Jungkook, come on. You know you can talk to me. Especially when it's about Jimin." I tell him, pulling him so that we're sat down on the bench in here together. His brows knit together with a sense of worry and confusion.

"How'd you know it had to do with Jimin hyung?" Kookie asks quietly. I chuckle softly.

"Kookie, you should've come here straight from school. The person your gonna see there is Jimin hyung since he tutors you and you never take a break for lunch." I answer with a small smile. He blushes lightly, shrugging in response.

"So tell me. What happened that's got you all worked up, huh?" I try again. He sighs, frowning as he runs a hand through his hair.

"I just got into a bit of a fight with him is all. It's no big deal, Tae." His voice is barely even a whisper level as he speaks.

Thankfully, it doesn't take a complete genius to know exactly what happened. Jimin had mentioned the other day that he was worried for Jungkook and that he was fairly certain he was being abused.

Oh hell...

"It's about the abuse isn't it?" I ask softly, my expression quickly dropping as I can only hope right now that Jiminie is holding up okay. Jungkook's expression also drops as he looks at me in surprise.

"How..." He mutters, not really being able to finish his sentence.

"Jimin's been suspecting it since he first met you. Ms. Lee even warned him that she thought you were being abused. He talked to me about it just the other day, Jungkook. That's how I know what it was about." I explain with a gentle tone. He groans softly, burying his face in his hands. However, I don't miss the sight of his eyes growing wet with tears.

"Jungkookie, what did you tell Jimin?" I ask quietly after a few minutes. He frowns as he looks up at me in confusion.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kookie snaps weakly. I sigh with a small frown of my own.

"Jungkook, clearly the two of you got into it and it's clear that it didn't go well. I want to know what you said to him though. I've not heard from him all day and he's fairly sensitive." I half lie. In all actuality, Jiminie is a very strong person. And he's not too sensitive to a lot of things. Only when it comes to his past.

"I said he doesn't know shit and that he needed to stop pretending to give a damn..." Jungkook mumbles frustratedly. I groan, putting my head into my hands.

"What?" Kookie asks softly, his voice portraying his confusion and curiosity. Sighing, I look up at him.

"Look, I know you don't know Jimin hyung very well, Kookie. But if there's anyone on this planet who would ever understand your home situation and that would care more than anyone else, I can promise you that it would be Jimin." I inform him quietly, biting my lip with a small frown. However, this only seems to pique his interest.

"What do you mean he would understand best and that he'd care more than anyone else?" Jungkook asks skeptically. Pursing my lips, I'm unsure whether it'd be better for Jimin to tell Jungkook himself.

"You... should try getting to know Jimin hyung a bit better, Kookie. It's his past to tell, not mine. But I can promise you, he's the one person above all else who would understand where you're coming from and who would care more than anyone else possible. There's a reason he and I can look at you in the same day and he can spot the faintest of bruises on your cheeks whilst I miss them. He's no idiot, Jungkook. He knows the exact position you're in right now better than anyone else."