Deal With The Pain | Namgi

Chapter 1

Yoongi POV

"Hi, Joonie." I greet lightly with a small smile as I wave at the younger boy who's entered the bakery. He glances up at me from his phone, giving me a curt nod.

"Joon, you know you can't be smoking in here." I frown softly at the sight of the cigarette stuck between his lips. He scoffs at this, rolling his eyes.

"I'm your best friend, Yoongi. I think you can let it slide." Namjoon responds, waving me off before beginning to type away at his phone.

"Namjoon, I'm not letting it slide, regardless of the fact that you're my best friend. If you're going to keep smoking, then go outside and ruin your lungs. I don't want you doing that in here though." I argue gently, my heart aching as I watch the younger, not yet moving to get my customers pastry that they'd ordered. He glares at me from this, clearly disliking my response.

"You know, after everything we've been through, I was never an asshole to you like this. I always accepted you for who you chose to be and the stupid shit you decided to do, unlike the shitty way you're treating me now." Namjoon hisses before stalking off out of the shop.

My heart sinks at all of this, sighing to myself and shaking my head as I move to get the baked good that the woman across the counter from me had ordered. Packaging up like always, I hand it over to her with a small smile.

"For the record, young man, you deserve a lot better than him. You're a fine young gentleman and on of the kindest of your age that I've met. Don't waste your time on people who don't appreciate you." The elder woman says with a nod and a small smile, slipping a few bills into the jar before leaving.

I take a deep breath from her sweet words, wishing it were just that simple. Wishing it weren't my best friend that's been deteriorating himself for whatever reason he's refused to disclose to me. Wishing I weren't in love with the younger boy who no longer treats me as though I walk on water the way he did when we were little.

Rubbing my hands over my face, I shake my head at myself before getting back into the swing of things. Jimin glances over at me with a small smile, patting my shoulder gently as he passes by me with a hand carrying a tray of fresh pastries.

The rest of the evening flies by, Jimin leaving the shop around eight o'clock to go home and get to work on some homework he'd been assigned. I don't close the shop up until eleven thirty like usual, going over to the door and locking it before flipping the sign on the door to show closed to the public.

Going over behind the counter, I begin cleaning up for the night. It's only fifteen minutes after I've begun cleaning that my phone rings from my back pocket, not really surprising me.

"Hi, hyung." I greet my brother in a quiet tone as I wipe the counters down.

"Hey, Yoongi. How's things going over there on the sweet side of the street?" He asks lightly, bringing out a giggle from within me.

"Going okay. Still getting flooded with customers on the daily. How're you and dad?" I respond, biting my lip gently as the question leaves my lips.

"We're actually doing fairly well. I think... I think he might be ready to start looking for a job soon. He wanted me to talk to you about us possibly paying you a visit this weekend. He wanted to talk to you and apologize. He misses you, Yoongi." Geumjae answers gently. I purse my lips at this, motions slowing for a moment as I think about possibly seeing my father this weekend.

It's been so long now...

"I'll see what I can do to get someone to cover me. You guys would finally get to visit the shop. I could probably pull off twenty minutes or so for a break mid afternoon, if you guys can make that." I tell him quietly, my heart feeling somewhat heavy again.

"Thank you, Yoongi. You don't have a clue how much this will mean to him. I'll make sure we're there. Any developments with Namjoon?" He replies, tone soft and gentle, almost delicate with the topic of my father. Though, I'm not surprised. It's generally the tone we both take when talking about him, a very fragile subject for the both of us.

"I had to kick him out earlier. He tried to come in here smoking and then argued that he was my best friend so I shouldn't be so rude. He wasn't particularly kind when leaving either." I recall with a small sigh.

"Honey, I know you love him but I really think it's time for you to try moving on. It's been how long since you fell for him and he's only been treating you worse and worse as the days go on. And you of all people don't have the time nor energy to be wasting towards him." Geumjae counters in such a loving tone that it brings tears to my eyes.

"It's hard, hyung. I love him and he's my best friend. It was hard enough having to kick him out earlier for smoking." I whimper quietly.

"I know, honey. I know."