Strawberries and Cigarettes | jikook ✓

i

knew this would happen yet i kept myself away from you.

Seokjin eyed his little brother who was just sitting at the kitchen table and staring at the wall disinterested. He shot a look at Namjoon who shrugged, not knowing what was going on with the younger. Seokjin wiped his hands with a towel after washing the dishes and made his way towards Jungkook. The little one was too far gone to even feel his brother taking a seat next to him.

"Kook-ah," Seokjin touched the boy's shoulder gently. Jungkook turned towards Seokjin with almost dead eyes and the older held back a gasp. He shot another look at Namjoon, who put away his laptop and notes and came to the table as well.

"Kook you alright?" Namjoon asked cautiously, gauging the younger's reaction in case of a lack of response. Jungkook turned his head away from the two men and buried it into his hands instead, shaking his head in response.

"Did..." Seokjin paused to think it over, whether it was the right time to ask the younger this question. "Did something happen between you and Jimin?"

As expected the raven haired boy flinched when Jimin's name was uttered. Seokjin felt his heart ache for his little brother. He threw his arms around the younger boy, pulling him into a hug.

"You know," he whispered gently in Jungkook's ear. "Joon and I fought a lot, believe it or not. We even broke up twice when we were dating just because of our petty arguments. But look where we are now." He looked at Namjoon who joined the hug with a soft smile on his face.

"Hyung's telling the truth Kook," Namjoon said. "Love will bring you back to each other no matter what the circumstance. Believe in what you have kiddo."

Jungkook just stayed still for a while, scaring both Seokjin and Namjoon. The two looked at each other not knowing what to do or say when the younger boy stood abruptly.

"Sorry," Jungkook spoke in a low voice, rushing towards his jacket that lay on the couch. He frantically dug through the pockets until he pulled out a white box and a lighter. Seokjin felt his heart stop at the sight. He stood as well, reaching out to hold Jungkook's arm but the boy dodged and rushed towards his room.

"Jungkook no," Seokjin said desperately. "You haven't smoked in months don't relapse now." Seokjin felt his fingers shake as he watched Jungkook's emotionless face. "That's a death stick Jungkook you'll end up killing yourself!" The older boy screamed, chest heaving in worry.

Jungkook stopped and turned around with a small smile. "Killing myself would have been better than hurting my Jimin."

Jungkook slammed the door shut behind him and Seokjin held onto the kitchen counter for support, shutting his eyes as his head hurt. Namjoon walked over and rubbed his arm.

"Don't stress hyung. Everything will be alright. I believe so."

Seokjin shook in his arms. "He's hurting so much Joonie. I- He loves that boy. I don't know what to do."

Namjoon looked pained too as he shushed his boyfriend. "You don't have to do anything. Everything will work out, I promise."

Jungkook leaned against the railing of his balcony, cold breeze blowing his hair away from his eyes. The cold breeze made his face feel numb, just like how the burning stick in his hand made his chest feel numb; that's all Jungkook wanted to feel -- numb. Smoke drifted through his mouth as naturally as ever, mixing in with the breeze and blowing around his face. His chest burned, a sharp tweezing pain, but that wasn't a new feeling. It was killing him, Jimin and Seokjin had been right. And frankly speaking Jungkook wished it would kill him right then and there. He laughed aloud humorlessly as he recalled Jimin's face when the boy had told him to quit smoking. That day had been their first kiss. The day Jungkook had given in to his emotions and started wearing his heart on his sleeve, only for Jimin. Before he realized Jungkook was crying. He felt teardrops leak out of his eyes, trailing his cheekbones as if they were softly kissing him. He cried, not because of the pain he was feeling but for the pain he put Jimin through by walking away from him that day.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook whispered into the air, putting out his cigarette. "I'm sorry." He sank to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest and staring up at the sky, almost lost. "I'm sorry." Hand reached out to wipe his own tears and he closed his eyes, leaning his head against the wall. "I love you."

Jimin was in as bad a condition as Jungkook. He almost broke two cups during his shift and got reprimanded by his manager, though the latter had noticed something was wrong and hence let Jimin take the rest of the day off. It was only half past six in the evening but the sun had already gone down. Jimin made his way out of the cafe, eyes trailed on his worn out sneakers as he walked towards his apartment. The way was haunting at this point, every crossroad reminding him of the times he had spent with Jungkook. If the boy were here he would have taken Jimin on a round on his motorbike, they would have shared stories of the day, watched the stars together, and Jungkook would have dropped him home with a sweet kiss. Jimin slapped his hand to his mouth to prevent the sobs from escaping as he took a detour and decided to take a new road instead, somewhere he had no memories with Jungkook.

"It's cold," Jimin murmured to himself, pulling his coat tighter around himself to keep the warmth in place. He felt a stare on his back and turned to see a man following him, quite a few steps away. "His home's probably somewhere here," the blond boy said to himself to keep his fear away. Jimin took a right at the end of the road. This was a longer road but he knew his way and where to head. Surprisingly the man turned right too, trailing behind Jimin. His heart beat sped up in anxiety and Jimin bit his lip as he quickened his pace. Taehyung would be working now. He couldn't call Taehyung. Jungkook... he couldn't call Jungkook either. Jimin dialed a number from his contacts, praying the person would pick up.

"Hello?" Jimin let out a sigh in relief when he heard the voice. "Jimin? What's up bub?"

"Hyung," Jimin spoke cautiously, looking back over his shoulder every now and then to see if the man had caught up with him. "Someone's following me... I- I don't know who or why. I'm scared hyung."

The line was silent for a few seconds before Jimin heard some shuffling around. "Where are you? Tell me the exact place."

"2nd Hwayong street, the alley opposite Severence Hospital." Jimin noticed the man had quickened his pace and the blond boy started jogging in fear. "Hoseok hyung he- he's still following me. What should I do?"

"I've started from home Jimin I'll be there soon. Enter any store or hospital or anything as soon as you exit the alley. Go somewhere where you can find people. I'm coming."

Jimin contemplated his decision to take a detour as soon as the call ended. Now he was here with some crazy stalker behind him that too in a dimly lit alleyway.

"Park Jimin," the man yelled out laughing. Jimin gasped as he made a beeline but a hand caught his wrist and pulled him back. He opened his mouth to scream for help but a hand covered his mouth in a death grip, not letting him make any sounds. Jimin struggled in the man's hold, kicking him in the leg a few times enough to make said man flinch and hiss but not enough to make him loosen his grip. "Tsk, fiesty. I can see why Jeon has this infatuation with you." Jimin stopped moving and his eyes widened as he wondered how this man knew Jungkook. "I'm Myung Daehoon," the man smiled menacingly. "You can say I'm Jeon's best friend, or worst enemy, since they're one and the same for me." Jimin attempted to scream again but in vain. The man only laughed, harshly tilting Jimin's head and nosing against his neck. "Hm, funny Jeon isn't here with you. What a nice boyfriend, letting his weakness run around in the open to get hunted huh." Jimin shook in fear, thinking up different ways in which he could escape. "It'll be directly proportional wouldn't it? The more I do to you, the more it'll hurt Jeon." He cackled maniacally once again before trailing one of his hands down Jimin's waist. The blond boy smacked the hand away, eyes glaring back with an equal ferocity. Jimin wouldn't let himself be treated like this. If he had to die fighting he would. "Fierce," the man smirked. "This will be fun pretty boy."