Kill Our Way to Heaven (Jikook) ✔

Chapter 34

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 34
"ᴍʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏɴᴇʟʏ"

His back was aching and his tremors were shooting through his arms frequently. As he put down the large carton box, Jungkook let out a sigh. Pushing his hands into his back to straighten out his joints, he glared back at the letters 'university supplies' that seemed to stare back at him tauntingly. The handwriting was messy but Jungkook knew it still would look more composed than him at that moment. 

He had thought the worst was behind them when they finally were done with all the furniture, but the boxes weren't much better. Of course fighting with screws, bolts and different pieces of wood and plastic wasn't fun, but it was better than endlessly carrying cartons, every single one seemingly heavier than the last. It wasn't long before his muscles had started to give out. But they had no choice, they had to get all the stuff inside the apartment at least.

Jin wasn't doing much better either. The dark circles under his eyes and the hint of red in them made Jungkook worry. Even more so when he had noticed the same red in Namjoon's eyes that morning but said nothing about it. His roommate didn't cry often, he was more the kind to bottle everything up until it became too much to bear. It was obvious Jin and Namjoon fell out. That's why Jungkook doubted that much more that his roommate actually had an obligatory lecture that day and couldn't possibly help with Jin moving out.

Of course, Jungkook couldn't possibly decline after that. There was no one else left. After what had happened at the party, many people were scared to go near Jin. The fight had been under police investigation for a while but came up empty. They just assumed it was a drug deal gone wrong seeing as there were people smoking and taking all kinds of things that evening. Establishments were made and the day after everyone made the connection between Jin and drug violence. One more day and everyone kept away from him; in class, in the study rooms, during lunchtime, everywhere. Eyes followed him in the hallways, some filled with fear, others with disgust. They were nothing like Namjoon's eyes who followed the elder around with sympathy instead, and maybe something else he hadn't been able to decipher for a long time.

With those thoughts in mind, Jungkook offered to help. He had been carrying boxes and pieces of furniture all day. At first, it was awkward, talking to Jin outside of work. They hardly ever crossed paths with the elder working in the kitchen and Jungkook mainly walking around as a waiter. The only words they'd exchange were complaints by costumers—of which there were hardly any—or if it was a very quiet day.  Even at those moments Jin and Jungkook hardly spoke. They were more inclined to listen to all the stories Lisa had to share rather than make up their own. That's what Jungkook assumed at least, but he knew Jin was tired, he could see it in his eyes and fatigued body. Either way, they didn't communicate much.

So at first they were both just working quietly. Jin's new apartment was only one room, but it was better than nothing. He didn't have much of a choice in the middle of the year. All the apartments that were left were the ones of students that had given up and moved back home and those that weren't rented out to begin with. At least he had a roof above his head again and a place he could call home for however long.

Jungkook could see he was also very much relieved he could finally leave their apartment. At first, it was because Jin felt guilty about staying with them. He was taking up space and even though he was helping to pay for water and electricity, it didn't feel like enough to him. He felt like a liability rather than a human just living his life, so he was glad that he had his freedom back. Now it had also turned into something much more personal. So personal in fact, that Jungkook was too scared to ask about it. But the slightest of it was visible in the way Jin carried himself, even if he didn't mean to show it.