First Snow

Chapter 3- Family

Their apartment in Yosang was hidden in a backstreet, quiet and remote and yet close to all the main streets by foot.
They walked side by side while Jimin talked about the people he was about to meet. Every now and then Jimin accidently bumped into him when he tried to avoid oncoming people and it always send a little jolt through him. He wondered why.
Jungkook got more and more excited as they drew closer.
"Here we are.", Jimin finally said. They had come to a stop in front of a large building trimmed with wooden ridges and large windows. It looked both old and new. Jungkook quickly grabbed his camera and took a few shots. Jimin eyes him curiously.
"I didn't know you liked to take photos."
Junhkook smiled at him and took a few shot of him too. Most people protested when he did that but Jimin just went along, put on some poses and some goofy faces. His heart sped up.
Eventually he stopped and they trotted up the stairs until they reached the top floor. The entry hall was bright and modern, but there was clear evidence that this was the home of 6 young males. Shoes were thrown in a corner, some jackets were just laying beneath others hanging on a too small coat rack. Jimin threw his on top of the others . Jungkook politely ignored the mess and did the same, even though he liked his clothes folded and neat.
Jimin still shot him a knowing smile.
"Jimin hyung, is that you?"
Jungkook's head shot up at the voice. It was coming through the door of what he supposed was the living room.
"Yeah, it's me. I brought a friend too."
There was some rushing, something falling to the floor, followed by some loud swearing. Then they came rushing thought the door.
Five pair of eyes stared at him.
"Is that him?" one boy asked.
"He isn't skinny at all." another exclaimed.
"You should have told us you would invite him."
Jungkook was so shocked at the sudden outburst of them that he just stood there, staring.
"Guys, calm down. He just walked thought the door." Jimin tried to calm them but Jungkook could see their excitment in their eyes.
Jimin sighed.
"Well, here we go. Everybody, this is Jungkook." Jimin made a hand gesture as if he was some sort of movie star.
Jungkook smiled, uncomfortable at suddenly being the center of attention. He had gotten use to being noticed but he still felt weird when so many eyes turned on him alone.
" Hi. ", he said in a polite but small voice.
There was some handshaking and some more hellos forth and back until Jimin pushed them all into the living room. It was spacey and decorated in warm colors but also had the traces of an all male apartment. They sat in a half circle on the floor, drinks already in hand.
"So," Jimin started and turned to Jungkook. They were siting next to each other which Jungkook was glad of.
"Let's start with the introductions. This fellow here, is Hoesok."
Hoesok grinned brightly and waved at Jungkook playfully.
"Yeah I'm Hoesok, Hope Hoesok as everyone likes to call me."
Jungkook didn't need to ask why. He could tell just by looking at him that Hoesok was a positive and friendly person. He liked him immediately.
"Hoesok is actually on the same dance Academy than me, but while I do contemporary dance he is in hip hop and freestyle. He has pretty sick moves." Jimin commented.
"Yeah," Hoesok exclaimed and moved his arms in a wave form. Jungkook laughed.
"That's pretty cool. Jimin and I danced in school together too. I haven't done so much dancing in L.A, but I would really like to try again."
There were some knowing nods and Jungkook frowned at them sharing glances.
"What?".
The one next to Hoesok, a boy with a full mouth and dark hair spoke with a soft tone.
"I'm not sure if there is anything we don't know about you JK, since Jimin is talking about you, like constantly." Jungkook's head snapped to Jimin, who had not only turned red, but couldn't meet his eyes either.
"Really?"
"Well," Jimin stammered, scratching his ear. "Why wouldn't I, we were best friends, right?"
Jungkook swallowed hard at the past tense Jimin had used. Not: we are best friends. But: we were.
"Oh, and I'm Namjoom, by the way." the boy who had spoken earlier said, breaking the tension that had build up in the room all of a sudden.
"I'm doing masters in English and Art here at Seoul University, so you might not be seeing me all that much cause I got a lot of exams coming up."
Jungkook nodded. He didn't know what it was about Namjoom but he immediately singled him out as the unspoken leader of the group. Maybe it was the way the others looked at him with a mix of adoration and respect. Or maybe Namjoon was just smart and they looked up to him for that.
"And I'm Jin. The handsome one of the group as you can tell."
Jungkook saw Jimin roll his eyes.
"May I present: CEO of New Tech industries and self proclaimed most handsome face in the world, Kim Soekjin."
"CEO? Aren't you bit young for that?" Jungkook asked, not sure if Jimins comment had been a joke or if he meant it. NewTech industries was the strongest rival to TLT. And for them to have a CEO this good looking and this young seemed a bit unfair. But to his surprise Jin nodded.
" Yeah, I get that a lot. It's probably because I look really good in a suit." They all laugh even though Jungkook didn't doubt it. Jin really was handsome. Like all of them. For some reason he glanced at Jimin and became a bit annoyed. Why couldn't he live together with less good looking people? Jungkook's eyes wandered to the next person, possibly the most handsome of them all. And something about him was familiar to him too. Like he had seen him before. It took him a second but he suddenly remembered.
"You're Kim Taehyung, aren't you?"
The boy looked at him in surprise.
"You know me? You really know me?"
"Yeah, you were in that drama, right? You played the blind boy. And your a model too right?"
Taehyung nodded a bit shyly.
"I didn't know I was that famous that even someone who lived in America had heard of me. That is so amazing."
Jungkook was wondrous at his humbleness and immediately knew he would get along well with him.
The only person who hadn't spoken yet was the quiet boy to the very left. He had mostly just watched the conversation. When the attention turned on him he righted himself from his half-lying position.
"Ah.. I'm Min Yoongi, but you can call me Suga if you want."
" Is that like a nickname or something?" Jungkook heard himself ask immediately.
"It's my producer name. I do some music."
" He doesn't" Jimin commented and everybody turned to look at him. He smiled as brightly as the sun.
"He makes masterpieces. And for famous people too. Suga is actually very requested."
Jungkook could only stare at them all. They were so accomplished. For some reason he felt down. He had gone away to a country he didn't know, left his friends and family and he hadn't accomplished anything yet... Except for some papers saying he did a great job. Jimin seemed to pick up on Junkooks mood and gently shoved him.
"You see, JK? You fit perfectly into our group"
Jungkook smiled back at him and for the first time in a long while he felt truly at home.