Bite Me

III

As a child, Jungkook used to make friends easily, being able to just walk up to them and ask if they wanted to play then proceeded to become their best friend by the end of the day. Some wanted to play on the swings, others the jungle gym, most of the girls in his class preferred either the slide or sandbox, but whatever it was that his classmate liked, he would join them happily.

There was one week when he was in the third grade that he couldn't attend due to catching pneumonia, probably from one of the kids that he played spit tag with, which, looking back at it, wasn't the best decision. His mother and father hadn't been very happy, scolding him for hours while he coughed up flem and whined about being too hot. As upset they had been at him, however, it was nothing compared to how angry they were at the school.

Ever since the whole Snowball incident, his parents had turned into, what most would call, helicopter parents. Jungkook was and still is the baby of the family and, prior, had been treated as such, but with the new addition of an allergy, it turned up his whole family's protective meter. His mother always makes sure his food is cool enough that he would never burn his mouth. His father always opened his toys for him if there was a need for scissors so he wouldn't accidentally cut himself. His older brother would always walk him to school, even though he was in middle school and Jungkook in elementary as a way to make sure he got there safely. Absolutely none of it had to do with the allergy and he did find it a little annoying, but figured that it would all calm down eventually.

Oh, how wrong he was.

When his parents had come home from a talk with the principal, his mother went directly to the kitchen, most likely to heat up some soup for him while his father came into the living room where he was laying watching Disney movies. Jungkook pushed himself up against the armrest, blanket sliding down to rest on his lap. His father sat on the very edge of the couch, facing his son with his hands in his lap. He didn't look upset, but the young brunette couldn't help to feel nervous as his father rarely sat down with him like this. Normally, it was either his mother or, on occasions, brother that will come to him and talk over whatever it is they want him to know, but never his father.

"Jungkook," the older male started, voice deep and stern like always, "you're mother and I had a chat with your principle," Jungkook nodded, already knowing that, "and we don't think it's safe for you to go there anymore."

"Wh-" a sudden cough cut him off, his arm coming up quickly to cover his mouth. The force of each wet cough made him jolt roughly from where he was leaning, causing him to lurch forward in an attempt to calm himself down. It, of course, didn't help as the fit continued, each breath in between so short he felt like he was drowning with no relief in sight. He faintly felt a hand rub his back as a way to sooth him, running up and down the top of his spine. It almost felt like when he had the reaction to Snowball minus the rash and cough, rather the tightness in his chest, the fear of not being able to breath.

Eventually, there was more time between each burst, allowing him to take in much needed oxygen and the ability to sit up once again. His vision was blurred with tears, but he could make out the faint line of his father still sitting in the same position with a hand now placed on Jungkook's knee, something that he didn't realize during the whole episode.

A red piece of plastic was pushed into his hand and it only took the child a second to recognize the feel of the inhaler that the doctor had prescribed to him when he was first diagnosed. After shaking it, he brought it to his mouth and pushed on the canister, inhaling the medication. Slowly, the coughing subsided and he was able to breathe fully, leaning his head against the back cushion of the couch in exhaustion. He hated when he got like that, the persistent coughing, the constant constriction of his lungs.