Fall || Jeon Jungkook ||

03

Jungkook wanted to run out, but he was afraid that people would give him looks stranger than the ones he was already getting. 

He did his best to never let gossip and people's opinion drag him down. He was stronger than that. Better than whatever anyone had to say.

But no one had ever said it straight to his face like Byeol had just done. It felt like a little part of Jungkook just broke when he heard those words fall out of her mouth. And for the life of him, he couldn't understand why. Never once since she left him had he let anyone govern the way he felt about himself or anything else. Yet, here he stood, feeling ashamed and embarrassed at the words of a girl he hardly knew.

Jungkook grit his teeth, fumbling to grab the cigarettes and lighter tucked carefully in the inside pocket of his coat.  He brought the cigarette to his lips and breathed in, feeling every bit of the burn down his throat. He exhaled hard, trying to force himself to push out the thoughts that were weighing him down. Yet with every puff, every emotion felt heightened until it was like he was drowning in his own embarrassment and rage.

And Jungkook hated it.

He threw the half-used cigarette on the concrete, smashing it with his foot. "Fricking cigarettes. Can't even do what they're meant to," Jungkook muttered, glowering at the flattened white paper like he expected it to stand up and fight right back.

"Or maybe it's just you."

Jungkook looked up, his eyes meeting Namjoon's. Suddenly all of his anger, his pain drained away, leaving only one sensation.

Shame.

Namjoon tilted his head to the right and sighed, anger seeping through the cracks of the calm facade he wore. "Come on man. What was that? I told you exactly what Byeol means to me... to Sae. And yet, you treat her with the same disrespect you treat the rest of the world. Are you serious?"

Jungkook looked down at his shoes, his eyes suddenly hyper focused on the cracks on the road. "Hyung, I just- she said it. Said someone needed to look after me so I didn't get trashed when I drank." He looked back up, wincing at the crystal clear disappointment painted all over the other's face.

Namjoon huffed, opening his mouth like he wanted to say more, but then he shut it. He sighed, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Jungkook. Look, I get it. It's tough to hear those words when they're directed straight at you. But-" Namjoon faltered. "You guys are both adults. If you didn't like what she said, tell her that. Don't run out like a child and expect to feel better."

That statement caught Jungkook off guard. He expected Namjoon to lash out and yell, giving him the earful he rightfully deserved for being such a jerk. But this?

"Hyung you can yell, you know? Get angry and lash out, like every normal person." Jungkook mumbled absently, bracing himself for the onslaught of words that would leave Namjoon's mouth soon enough.

But no such thing happened.

Instead, Jungkook found himself being pulled under Namjoon's shoulder. "What kind of friend, and more importantly,  brother, would I be if I got mad at the hardships you're going through? I'm gonna be here for you man."

Jungkook craned his neck to look at Namjoon. "Even if it messes up your date night?"

Namjoon rolled his eyes, shoving Jungkook away. "Not if you do it again. This time... I'll let it slide. But never again. Otherwise, I will very seriously make you regret your existence, Jeon."

A laugh escaped Jungkook's lips.

"Alright then. Whatever you say, Hyung."

Namjoon nodded, bumping his shoulder into Jungkook's back. "Now come on loser. We have dates to get back to."