First Snow

Chapter 11- When The Clock Is Ticking

He took three steps at a time, hurrying up the stairs to the apartment.
He was breathing heavy and sweat covered his forehead. Not all of it was because of running.
He stormed through the door.
The first thing he saw was Namjoon on the kitchen. And then his mother on the sofa, a cup of coffee in her hands waving to him happily.
"Son, there you are! Surprise!"
Jungkook stared at her. Then turned to Namjoon.
"Where is Jimin?"
Namjoon glanced at his mother worridly, then shook his head.
"Oh, he left for his performance, my dear." his mother answered.
"He did seem in a hurry. It seems he is as clumsy as he used to be, forgetting his dance shoes at the day of his performance."
Jungkook felt his heart sink.
This couldn't be happening.
"But honey, what do you look so distressed? Aren't you happy I'm here?"
He took her in properly for the first time. His mother was always neat. Hair done, make up done, clothes in matching colors.
His anger rose again.
"Why didn't you call?"
She looked at him with big eyes.
"Why? Because I wanted to surprise you, of course. And meet all of your new friends."
Only now he realized the others.
They were sitting on the other side of the sofa- the one they never used cause they usually sat together in the floor.
They shot him worried glances and he knew they were more aware of the situation than he thought.
He ignored them and turned to his mother.
"Next time, give me a call. We got to go to Jimin's performance."
None of the others offered for her to come along.
He was glad for it.
"Well..." his mother stared, looking a bit sour.
"Surley it won't take all night. And you got work tomorrow. You shouldn't stay up late anyway."
Jungkook decided to screw it.
"I quit."
They all looked at him in shock his mother most of all.
"You... Did what?"
He took a deep breath. Enough was enough.
"I quit, Ma. I never wanted to become a marketing expert. I never wanted to sit on a desk and look into a screen all day, analyzing data. I never wanted to go to America either."
His voice had risen, so that he was almost shouting it at the end.
His mother stared at him open mouthed. Her lower lip was trembling and her eyes were starting to water.
He felt terrible.
" I just wanted what's best for you. "
She sounded sad and hurt and defencive.
Jungkook shoulders dropped, and his hands, which had balled into fists, relaxed defeated.
"I know, Ma." he said quietly.
"But I know what's best for me now. And I need to make my own decicions."
His mother shook her head, as if to clear her head. He saw her compose herself and knew that what was going to follow wouldn't be easy.
"The fact that you so irrationally quit your job without any plans shows me that you aren't old enough yet to make own decicions. Trust me son, I know what's best for you. Just give it one more try. Tell them you changed your mind. Tell them you just got a bit stressed. I'm sure with your achievements they will take you back in a heartbeat."
" I don't tell lies, Ma. You thought me that."
She stared at him as if she no longer knew who he was.
" Really? You don't tell lies? "
He turned around to Namjoon, who still stood in the kitchen.
His eyes were sad as he looked at  Jungkook.
Right, he thought to himself, there was the problem of Lisa.
And everybody thought he had told his mother she was his girlfriend.
" Son. " his mother intervened, and for once he wasn't unhappy about it.
"Why don't we go have a drink and we can talk..." she looked at the full house of boys. Almost full, Jungkook reminded himself.
"... privetly."
He shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Ma. Another time. There is something I gotta do first."
He left his mother and the others at the apartment without another word and headed to the studio.

It was an hour till the performance. There was traffic, and the bus stood more than it rolled. He cursed loudly, not caring if anyone heard. He should have take the bike, like the boys were planning. They would maybe even arrive sooner, if they had managed to deal with his mother.
But he couldn't worry about that.
He tried calling Jimin several times. He didn't pick up.
He wrote him that he needed to talk to him urgently. That it was all a misunderstanding.
There was no reply.
He cursed again and put his phone away.
On more stop.
45 minutes to the performance.
The moment the bus opened it's doors, Jungkook sprinted.
He had been only once, to meet up with Jimin after practice, but it was easy to find.
The building loomed up and he could already see people lining up to get inside.
He felt like punching something.
With excuses he pushed his way to the front, hearing angry comments that he ignored.
The man at the entrance stopped him.
"Skipping the line because you want better seats isn't cool, man."
"It's not like that." he defended himself. And then he did something he so rarely did. He lied.
"My friend is performing tonight. He is one of the dancers and forgot.." his mind was racing for an answer. An idea shot through his head.
"He forgot his contacts. Can't dance whe you don't see where your going, right? ", he said, pulling up the little satchel with extra small camera lenses from his backpack.
The bouncer looked at him sceptical, then shrugged and waved him through. He let out a relieved sigh.
Half an hour to the performance.
He had never been inside.
He asked around the best next person where he could find the rehearsal room, but even with direction, this place was a maze. Finally--finally he found the right door.
He didn't even care that there was a sign saying 'dancers only'.
There were a bunch of boys in various position of stretching. They all wore tight short black pants and long flowy white shirts.
He saw Jimin immediately, at the very back, his entire upper body resting on his legs.
He was so flexible.
Jungkook gulped and his thoughts left him for a minute.
"Hey! Sorry, but you can't be in here."
There was a tall guy standing in front of Jungkook, blocking his way, but all Jungkook could see was Jimin, coming up from his position and locking eyes with him.
There was surprise on his face, and then hurt, open and vurburable. It was like a punch to his stomach and he had to take a step back.
He did that.
He hurt him.
He remembered how Lisa said that honesty is the most important part of a relationship.
She was right.
"Hey, are you deaf? I said you can't be here. Concert hall is on the other side."
He finnaly looked at the guy, muscles from head to toe.
"I.. I just need to talk to Jimin real quick."
The guy looked back at Jimin, who just sat there, looking so tiny.
And then he shook his head ever so slightly.
"Guess he doesn't want to talk to you right now."
And with that he shoved Jungkook out.