Jimin scrambled back in fear, the bedsheets tangling around his wrists. "What have I done to deserve this, Namjoon? I thought you loved me!"
"I do," he choked through tears. "And that's exactly why you have to die."
...
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One time when Hoseok was a child, he'd stolen his sister's pet turtle. He'd been watching a nature documentary that morning on animal cruelty in zoos, and his five-year-old mind decided that justice had to be served. So, as any good-hearted Samaritan would, he took Jiwoo's tortoise out of its terrarium and released it. Onto the side of the freeway.
Unfortunately, his parents didn't comprehend his act of selfless charity and rewarded him with a long and grueling lecture. Not knowing how to react to his mother's harsh scolding, he'd simply sat down in front of her bedroom door and sobbed pitifully until she finally let him in and gave him a hug.
Now, he wasn't sure if Jimin would hear out his case, but at least he knew that he had that as a backup plan in case he reused to.
Thankfully, it hadn't come to the weeping-on-the-ground stage just yet. Instead, he stood in front of the villa doors, waiting anxiously on the porch for someone to respond to his knocks.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming," hollered a muffled voice from behind the wood.
The door swung open, revealing a casually dressed Jungkook. His eyebrows were raised, curious to hear what the man in front of him could possibly be so frantic about.
"Um, hello?"
"Hey," Hoseok breathed, scuffing one of his feet on the concrete. "Hey, I don't know if you heard, but-"
Jungkook's expression grew serious, suddenly understanding what he suspected Hoseok came for. "Yeah, I heard." He rubbed at the nape of his neck, looking sympathetic. "I'm so sorry, Hoseok, really... Why don't you come on in?"
He stepped back from the entryway, allowing Hoseok into the airy living room. White sheer curtains fluttered around gently as a sea breeze blew into the sun-flooded room. Jungkook, trying to be hospitable to the clearly shaken man, ushered him to a seat on the blue futon.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"No," Hoseok mouthed soundlessly. He cleared his throat. "No, I'm good, thank you. I actually just came to talk."
"I figured," Jungkook said, taking a seat beside him and folding his hands between his legs. "So... what's up?"
Hoseok rubbed his damp hands on his trousers a few times before responding. "I need to make it up to Namjoon. Or at least explain myself."
Jungkook shrugged. "Okay. So why are you here?"
"Well, I was hoping I could ask Jimin to talk to him for me."
"Sounds like a plan, but I still don't know why you're in my house."
Hoseok laughed nervously, avoiding eye contact. "Actually, funny story, but uh, I was hoping... you would ask Jimin to talk to Namjoon for me?"
He trailed off on an uncertain note, finally looking at Jungkook.
Jungkook looked back, blinking for a moment, before giving a small laugh. "Wow. Okay, first of all, that is so convoluted, dude."
"It made more sense in my head," Hoseok admitted bashfully.
"But second of all, Jimin is already one step ahead of you."
For the first time in the conversation, Hoseok's fidgetting hands froze.
"W-what?"
"I walked in on them this morning to bring Jimin some breakfast," Jungkook explained. "I heard loud voices so I turned to go, but... I couldn't help myself."
He scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I suppose you don't know me very well, but I like to be in the know. It's a bad habit. Taehyung's always telling me off for it, but I sometimes listen to people's conversations. Anyways, you should know that Park Jimin has been pleading with Namjoon all morning to give you your job back."
Hoseok's eyes widened. He shook his head, hoping to clear out some of the dust in his brain. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "What?! But Jimin... he doesn't even know the whole story, he wasn't there!"
Jungkook shrugged. "Didn't seem to stop him. But if you want to tell him the whole story, I can set you two up with a meeting. He is my best friend, after all."
All Hoseok could do was nod weakly. "Yeah," he mumbled. "That would be great."
"By any chance," Hoseok cleared his throat once more, "did you hear what Namjoon was saying about me?"
"Are you sure you want to hear," Jungkook asked with some concern.
Hoseok nodded.
"Well, he said that by company policy he has to fire you. He said he 'didn't see another way'."
Hoseok bit his lip, looking forlorn but not surprised.
"But," Jungkook added hastily, "he also said that if it were up to him he'd take you back in a heartbeat. He said he loves you and it's breaking his heart to see you leave."
Hoseok's head popped up from its sullen position, a spark kindling in his eyes. "So you're saying there's hope?" he proposed hesitantly.
