Still with you

Chapter 8 : 134340

Jungkook's story : Still with you.

Chapter 8 : 134340.

We're halfway through our time in Los Angeles. A new challenge looms and it's not going to be a fun game. Our mission is to earn money to rent a small room to have a concert here in Los Angeles. So we have to work. Nam Joon and Yoongi will be employed in a hotel, Hoseok, Jin and Tae at the Marina and Jimin and I, on an airfield. We are here for ungrateful and poorly paid jobs. What's the purpose ? I don't really understand.

But, we're on it. Besides, I'm going to spend the whole day alone with Jimin again, so I am happy. I mean, that's what I thought. When we get to the airfield, we don't see anyone at first, so we go on the tarmac to look at the small planes there. We're super excited right now. We think maybe we could fly today. We could brag to our friends !

But, the owner arrives and tells us not to stay mear the planes and, above all, not to touch. He is not friendly. He leads us into a big shed and tells us to clean the floor. Then he leaves. We look at each other with Jimin, quite puzzled by this welcome. Jimin starts sweeping while I look for a trash can... which I can't find, so I take a bag at random. After a long time, the man comes back. Jimin is nervous, he knocks over a can and the man gets angry. He lectures us, insisting that we must work seriously, if we want some money. We bend our backs, smiling as we nod to soften him, but he is not very receptive.

Then, he leads us outside and orders us to clean a small plane that belongs to one of his clients. I take the front and Jimin, the back. We work hard. It is so hot. It's hard. The owner will be satisfied. Suddenly, a boy about 14 years old comes to see us. He doesn't say anything, but he's watching us with his arms folded. We smile at him, but he's not. Then he comes up to me and talks to me, waving. I understand that he is telling me that I am doing well. I raise my eyebrows in surprise. He's easily two years younger than me, what's wrong with him ? In Korea, respect for seniors is very important. A younger boy would never dare to comment on the work of an elder. Since I don't speak English, I don't answer and just smile. Must be the boss's son, with his little chef looks. He goes to see Jimin and I resume my work.

After a few minutes, I join Jimin. He looks upset. Jimin is a really nice guy, but when he's angry, he's scary. Fortunately, he rarely is. He tells me that the young boy made negative remarks about his work, insisting that he had to work better or he would earn nothing. I'm shocked. I'm looking around to find this guy. What am I going to do ? I want to slap him, but when I look at Jimin, I try to calm down. I have to calm him down too or something bad will happen.

I tell him it's going to be okay, but I've barely finished my sentence as the young boy is back, this time with his father. They inspected the aircraft and found grime in one of the rear flaps. The man puts his dirty finger under Jimin's nose, who clenches his teeth and supports his gaze. Then he tries to smile but the boss thinks he's making fun of him. He then crushes his dirty finger on Jimin's cheek, leaving a dark trace. I'm gasping for breath. Jimin looks down. I see his jaw contract like never before. The boss decides to punish us both and places us on chairs, back to back in the hangar. Then he and his son leave. What an humiliation ! Jimin lets his anger pop. I clench my fists with frustration. Eventually Jimin gets up and heads to the bathroom. I'm afraid the man will come back and get more angry, but I do not say anything. Jimin needs to expel his anger. However, he does not come back. I start to worry.

I get up and go to the toilet silently. I knock at the door, no answer. I enter a small room. There are a sink and two doors. I push the first one but there is noone. I knock on the second and call Jimin. After a few seconds, he opens and I go in with him. His beautiful cheeks are all red. He rubbed hard to remove the dirt, but he also cried, I know that.