Singularity: A BTS Universe Story

Chapter Six: Jung-kook

June 13th

"Ma?" Jung-kook pushed his pillow off his head and rolled over. "What's going on?" He winced at the pain in his head. Wow, he really drank too much! He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

His mother was sitting on the edge of his bed in her pajamas, hair uncombed. She looked at him, but her eyes looked through him.

"Jeon Ja-son still isn't home. I think your father will be angry again."

Jung-kook closed his eyes, swallowing the sharp stab of pain at the mention of his brother. In the haze of his hangover he'd almost forgotten that this was his reality now.

"Ma." He touched her hand, and saw the raw, scraped skin on his knuckles. Shit. The words from the night before poured through his brain. What had he done? "Where's Mrs. Yu?"

His mother smiled a blank smile. "I don't know, darling. Do you know where your brother is?"

He breathed deep, but couldn't say it out loud. Instead, he shook his head.

"I'm sure he'll come home soon." She stood. "I'm tired."

"Go rest," he urged, standing and putting his arm around her. He led her back to her room, noting that his father's half of the bed hadn't been slept in. Again.

He tucked her under the covers and she grabbed his hand, nails digging into the raw wounds on his knuckles. He did his best to ignore the pain. Tears slipped down her cheeks. "I didn't forget," she whispered. "I wish I could, but I can't. He's not coming home, is he?"

"No, Ma." He wiped her tears, trying to hold back his own. "He's not."

"Ay!" Mrs. Yu appeared in the doorway, clucking her tongue. She put down the tray she was holding and grabbed tissues, drying his mother's cheeks. "What a state!" She moved him gently to the side to attend to his mother. She gave her pills and encouraged her to swallow them, and then put a cup of tea in her hand. "Drink this now," she chided. "You'll feel better."

When his mother was settled, her expression again blank and far away, Mrs. Yu pulled him toward the door.

"Breakfast is on the table," she told him. "Go on. She's going to eat and rest."

"She's not getting better." He looked at his mother, always a strong figure in his mind; now she was a hollow shell.

"What happened has damaged her badly," Mrs. Yu agreed. She was a no-nonsense woman in her sixties who had cared for his family for as long as he could remember. He trusted her, but he hated her a little just then, too. Couldn't she lie? It would make things easier.

"Time will heal it some," Mrs. Yu assured him with a nod. "I'll take care of her but you must be strong and care for yourself." She motioned to his hand.

He nodded, but couldn't help but look at his mother again. The tea grew cold as she held the cup in her hands, staring at nothing.

"I wish it was me instead of him."

Mrs. Yu smacked his arm hard. "You're a stupid boy! Why would you say something like that?"

He rubbed his arm. "At least then I wouldn't have to stand here and watch this happen to her."

Mrs. Yu hugged him suddenly, her arms strong around him. "No matter what happens, she's your mother and she loves you. Don't add to her misery with your stupidity."

He hugged her back briefly and pulled away. "Okay." He turned to leave, and Mrs. Yu grabbed his arm, her eyes narrow.

"And whatever you've done," she said, nodding at his knuckles, "fix it."