Real Life

⑦Question

 
The first week felt as if it crawled by so excruciatingly for the newcomers, but for Jungkook was even harder. You’re not good enough to be here. These words remained engraved in his head, burdening his heart and squeezing it achingly. He didn’t tell anyone about what Eunhyuk had said, although the others asked him multiple times what happened.

Jungkook changed. He felt like a tidal wave of sorrow and misery poured through his insides and kept raging more and more every day. But he always told the others he was okay.

He wasn’t staying until late to practice. When his classes were over, he went to a small cafeteria beside the company. He drank a cup of coffee alone while he listened to his favorite depressing songs. He was lost in thoughts every single day. Eunhyuk continued to be harsh on him, but he grew so used to it he barely cared anymore.

There wasn’t anything he could say to make him feel worse since Jungkook was already plunged into the deepest part of his wretchedness.

Taehyung didn’t approach him at all. It was as if they were strangers again. He ate his lunch with Youngjae every day, and he was with him almost all day long.

Jungkook felt alone. Although he had friends to talk to. Although he was every day with people around him. He felt the most alone then.

🥀

It only had been a week, and Jungkook truly hated the idea of going to the company. He remembered how excited he was on his first day as he got ready. Then, that rush of eagerness could preponderate everything; his tiredness, the lack of sleep, the morning walk without having his coffee first. But now everything irritated him. And he loathed every single thing — even just waking up in the morning.

His steps were heavy as he headed to the company. Although he didn’t want to go, he didn’t like being late. And if he were late, that would only give Eunhyuk one more reason to scold him.

Upon entering the classroom, his body clenched at the sight of Eunhyuk sitting at his desk. He glanced at the time, and he strove to smother his gasp of surprise. I came... fifty minutes earlier? How the hell did that happen?

Eunhyuk observed his unmoving state, then leaned back into his seat. “Why are you here so early?”

“I don’t know,” Jungkook uttered with a sigh. Instead of waiting for an answer that he knew he wouldn’t get, he put on his earphones and started warming up. Little by little, the classroom filled with people, and he greeted his friends with a forced smile once they walked inside.

Jaebum scuttled towards him and crushed him into his embrace. “Hey.”

“Good morning.” Jungkook, although a bit taken aback by the tight hug, wrapped his arms around him as well.

“You didn’t want to go anywhere the past week. Do you feel like going out today?” Jaebum pulled back and cupped his cheek, smiling.

“Today we finish our classes late. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Come on, that’s just an excuse,” Jaebum chuckled. “You should talk to someone, Jungkook. Not to me if you don’t want to, but to someone at least...”

“I’m fine, Jaebum-ah,” he reassured, but the other didn’t seem to believe him.

“Good morning, everyone.” Eunhyuk’s voice echoed in the classroom, stopping all the whispers. He called their names as usual and then the class started. “Jungkook. Come to the front and show us what we did in our last class.”