In the middle vmk

THIRTY FIVE

Jungkook's tummy was filled with hot chocolate milk and a slice of sweet carrot cake. His cheeks had heated up when his order came, his boyfriends calling them their little bun for ordering something like carrot cake. He had glared at them with what he thought was a menacing look, but the males had just chuckled and ruffled his hair.

Now they were on their way to Jimin's place, Jungkook walking in the middle of his boyfriends. His one hand was tightly clasped by Taehyung who looked a bit nervous for some reason. The purple head didn't seem to realize that Jungkook had figured out the little things he did when he got nervous and so he wasn't aware of the odd look he was getting from the younger.

Jungkook's other hand was occupied by Jimin, whose pinky was hooked around his. The hand much smaller than Jungkook's which he found very cute.

Taehyung suddenly halted in the middle of the sidewalk, making all three of them stop.

"What is wrong hyung?", Jungkook asked, a frown etched onto his face and worry evident in his voice. Taehyung didn't answer but began pulling both of them into a direction that wasn't the one towards Jimin's flat.

"Where are we going?", Jungkook tried to ask again and shot a worried glance towards Jimin who didn't look as fazed as he hoped he would be. He frowned even more at that. Did he miss something? Did Jimin know something?

Jungkook had only been one time in the part of town they were walking towards. It was a darker, more dangerous part that had old apartment blocks and narrow streets where the air always seemed to smell like weed.

Taehyung stopped in front of an apartment block and got out his keys, making Jungkook's eyes widen in realization. He opened the front door and walked into the building, not even glancing back at Jimin or Jungkook.

The two males glanced at each other and followed their boyfriend who had started to ascend the stairs. The youngest knew where they were heading, he remembered standing in the hallway of this building, listening to his two friends fight. They made it three stories up until Taehyung stopped by a door again and unlocked it. Before opening the door he turned to his boyfriends, got the envelope out of his pocket and shoved it into Jungkook's hands.

He then shoved the door open, walking inside with embarrassment already flooding his system.

He could hear the gasps and could practically feel the shock radiating from the other two males making their way into his apartment.

"Taehyung", Jungkook began, looking at the trashy apartment before glancing at the letter in his hands, "What- Understand I don't-"

His mind was trying to work through the fact that Taehyung had been living in a dump and now couldn't even afford that anymore. He also couldn't wrap his head around the fact that someone like Taehyung lived here.

Glass bottles were lined up on the kitchen counter, every one of them had once contained a hard liquor. The trash bags were overflowing with unhealthy food wrappers and some even were spread across the flat, making him wonder if Taehyung ever ate something decent.

And then there was the evident hint of weed, the scent lingering in the apartment's walls and furniture, unable to leave because the windows were boarded up.

"How long have you been living here?", Jungkook heard Jimin ask, his face showing less surprise than him. Jungkook looked down at the letter again, reading how Taehyung had neglected to pay his water and electricity bill for four months.

"A few years", Taehyung mumbled, his figure gloomy and deflated as it leant against the kitchen table.

Jungkook looked up from the letter, "Why didn't you pay bill? Don't have the money?"

"Not always no", Taehyung said, feeling guilty when he noticed Jungkook stare at the numerous liquor bottles.

"But you can buy expensive drinks", he heard the youngest say in a cold tone which surprised both of the other two males. Jimin neared Jungkook and laid a hand on his shoulder, "We can't judge him like that Jungkookie. We don't know what he went through".

"You smell it too right Jimin hyung?", Jungkook asked, gritting his teeth, "Drugs aren't cheap either".

Taehyung casted his gaze away from his boyfriends, biting back the tears that were threatening to fall. Jungkook was right, of course he was. He could have paid his bills if he hadn't been so addicted to all these things, he maybe could have saved some money and moved somewhere else if it wasn't for his nonexistent self-control.

Jungkook was angry. He knew it had taken Taehyung a lot of courage to show them his place, but he couldn't help but feel anger built up inside of him. Taehyung had been neglecting himself, hadn't been able to take care of himself, and that was something that made him mad.

"I never mentioned it", Jimin suddenly spoke up, his hand falling off Jugnkook's shoulder, "But I know about your criminal record".

Jungkook gasped and Taehyung went pale. Taehyung should have realized Jimin wanted to speak about it sooner or later. Be he'd rather have much later than now.

"We normally don't hire anyone with a criminal record", Jimin began, referring back to when Taehyung came into the clothing store to ask for a job, "But I really wanted you to start working with me so I didn't hand it in with my boss".

"What?", Taehyung asked in shock, his mouth falling open. So that's why he was hired. He had been wondering why the hell someone suddenly wanted to hire him when no other shop had wanted to.

"I never asked about it", Jimin continued, "But I guess since we're here, and you already have some explaining to do, you can include it as well".

Jungkook's eyes were watering. The hyung he looked up to so much, had hidden so much of himself away from them. He stared at Taehyung, wanting him to explain, wanting him to become the hyung he looks up to again.

Taehyung caught the look Jungkook gave him and swallowed harshly. Once again casting his gaze to the side he started talking.

I'LL TRY TO WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AMIGOS