Ch.56
The first year boys were ready to hang out together. They invited you to join in on the fun which was going to happen at Jungkook's house. How exciting is that? You were happy to spend time with the boys and get invited into their homes, but you weren't looking forward to possibly seeing Ms. Jeon again. She left a bitter taste in your mouth from your last encounter with her. Of course, the maknae never confirmed it was his mother but it was a given. All the boys didn't seem to have good bonds with their parents. The only lucky one was Namjoon and even so, it's only his Mom he cares about. Then Taehyung unfortunately lost both of his parents. Jungkook hasn't told you the story with her or with his life and you doubt he ever will. He's not one to talk about his home life or personal feelings.
Maybe one day he might though. Taehyung and Jimin were walking in front of you to Jungkook's house. All of you had switched out of your uniforms first before meeting up at the maknae's house. Jimin was clearly nervous to bump into any parents. He told you not to talk to them no matter what. Taehyung grinned and said he'd handle it. Hopefully the three of you can just avoid seeing his parents. Especially Jungkook's mother. You're tired of hearing people call you a slut. At this point, you're ready to throw your shoe at someone. Students at school don't care anymore, but if you ever annoy anyone at school they don't hesitate to pull out that word.
Taehyung ran up to the front door with a lot of excitement. Jimin stood behind with you right next to him. Please let it be Jungkook who opens the door. Crossing your arms, you tried not to get too nervous when Taehyung knocked his knuckles on the door. He did it with confidence and gave Jimin and you a smile. That's when the door opened to reveal someone with a shorter height than Jungkook. Jimin let out a small sigh of annoyance to see the woman you had a grudge against. She stood there, eyeing the boys before her eyes landed on you. Her glare lasted longer on you than on your friends.
"What are you here for?" She asked.
"Hi! We're here to hangout with your roommate, Jungkook." Taehyung smiled as Jimin let out a chuckle. Your eyes widened to hear that. Was Taehyung telling the truth about that or was he just joking? The woman dug her nails in her skin to hear that come out from the silver haired boy. "He told us he'd be here."
"Roommate?" She scoffed. "Is that what he's been telling everyone?"
"He actually describes his relation to you differently, but eh. Same thing." Jimin shrugged to your surprise. The amount of sass that came from him.
"Wellâ" She was ready to kick us out until Jungkook came to save the day.
"My friends! Come on in and ignore the maid." Jungkook waved you guys over. Taehyung ran past the older woman and Jimin squeezed past too. You awkwardly made your way inside, trying your best to avoid connecting eyes with the woman.
"Maid!? Are you kidding me, Jeon Jungkook?" The woman screeched.
"We don't know each other. Sorry," Jungkook replied back as everyone went inside his room.
Jungkook shut the room to his bedroom right away after that. Anymore screeches from her would be muffled from now on. Taehyung was sitting in Jungkook's gaming chair, whistling at how impressed he was with the woman's craziness. Jimin sat next to you on Jungkook's bed, breathless with what had just happened. You were a mixture of shock and confusion. She's most likely his mother, right? You were being nosey again. It made you want to ask but Jungkook shot you down last time you asked. Was it appropriate to ask Jimin or Taehyung if she was? It's not that private of a question. It's hard to tell anymore. Curiosity was getting to you to know what her deal was.
"Is she a human parrot?" Taehyung laughed to get Jungkook grinning too.
"Honestly, she looks like one too," Jungkook commented. Jimin shook his head but was smiling wide. They all found what just happened funny.
"Is she always like that?" You asked.
"Tiring, isn't it?" Jungkook sighed as he turned on his videogame console.
It seemed like Jimin and Taehyung knew fully well on how the woman typically behaved. They acted exhausted from that small encounter. It didn't take long for the mood to lighten up and for the topic to change. All of you were handed a controller to play the latest game Jungkook bought. He had been going on about it all throughout lunch today. The first years grew curious about it and you did too. The last time Jungkook and you played a game together, it was really fun. You were happy to be back and this time you were playing with others too. This caued a lot of chaos to go down in the game. The screen was split into four. You could tell what the others were doing, but Taehyung was on your team. Jungkook and Jimin were on the opposite team. Since they both wanted to be your partner, Taehyung happily joined your team instead of them.
The four of you played for hours. Eventually Jungkook started talking about the game he wants to create. Everyone stopped playing the game to listen to him describe the world he wanted to build. He had all these ideas written down in a spiral notebook. Jimin thought the game sounded so interesting. You believed who ever played it would automatically feel like they're in that world and out from the real one. Taehyung was flipping through the sketchbook that Jungkook owned. Not only did he have the designs of the characters, but he also had background images. They were in complete detail which left everyone with their jaws dropped. How did he have the patience to complete this? The world looked like a medieval fantasy world, but with bright colors. Jungkook blushed a dark shade of red when you told him that you would support him to the end. He became embarrassed so you hugged him.
Jimin had no bad feelings. He told Jungkook that he was excited to play the game if it's ever created. Taehyung didn't say anything during this time and only smiled softly at everyone. Jungkook thanked you guys before telling you his plans. He's been looking up colleges to go to so he can learn how exactly to create games. You clapped your hands to know he was making efforts on his own to complete his dream. This is what he wanted and you're so proud of him! Jimin stared at that maknae in awe. The brunette wasn't afraid of failure and wanted to give his best shot at being a video game creator. That's when Jungkook revealed something about himself. He spoke softly, telling everyone that he knows what it's like to be clueless about your future and having no dreams. Now he wants to pursue this with all his might.
"My future was being decided for me, but now it isn't. I have a dream now...a passion that I can't stop." Jungkook grinned. "I'm going to go all the way with this and try my hardest."
"You can do it!" You squealed.
"That's so cool, Jungkookie," Jimin stated. "Now you gotta show me everytime you draw more designs!"
"Sounds like a plan." Jungkook laughed, unable to control the grin on his face. He looked like such a happy little bunny. It was so cute that you wanted to give him a tight hug. The moment changed when Taehyung stood up onto his feet all of a sudden.
"I think we should start heading home, Kookie." Taehyung sighed. "It's getting late and (F/n) should get home."
"Hm, that's true..." Jungkook nodded, disappointed to see his friends packing up to leave now. "Thanks for coming, Hyungs. You too, (F/n)."
"We had a lot of fun!" Jimin smiled and you agreed right away.
The maknae followed all of you out to the front door in case the woman came to bother you guys. Luckily, she wasn't around. Jungkook waved goodbye to all you of enthusiastically. You couldn't help but giggle and return his waves. The blonde did the same as you while the silver haired boy only gave one weak wave. Something is bothering Taehyung and Jimin picked up on that too. The moment Jungkook shut the front door, Jimin and you gave each other a worried gaze. You had a feeling on what it could be. When Jungkook was talking about going to college, it implied him leaving the gang to do his own thing in the future. Namjoon and Yoongi were working on accepting members leaving, but Taehyung hasn't done that so far. He only ignores the idea and hopes people will stay.
It's probably starting to get to him. No one can control if a member decides to leave or not. Taehyung had his hands shoved in his pockets and wasn't talking to anyone. His head was hanging down which made your heart ache. Jimin and you had to talk to him before he goes home. At least to help him cope if some of his friends do leave the gang that aren't the third years who have no choice. They'll still be friends and family no matter what. Taehyung wasn't focusing on where he was going and almost bumped into a pole because of that. Jimin pulled the boy away from the pole and took the chance to talk to him.
"Don't walk aimlessly." Jimin sighed.
"What?" Taehyung furrowed his brows.
"Everything okay, Tae?" You asked to see the corners of his lips sinking lower. He sighed and kicked the air in frustration.
"I'm a bad friend..." Taehyung closed his eyes tightly. Jimin quickly grabbed a hold of his friend's shoulders.
"No you're not. Why would you think that?" Jimin questioned. He didn't like seeing his best friend beating himself up. "You're such a great friend. You got our hyung's the warehouse when you didn't have to, introduced Jungkook and I to the greatest gang in the world, and help us smile everday no matter what."
"I just...I don't want Jungkookie to leave the gang. No, Jungkook has to stay!" Taehyung stomped his foot. "Hoseok hyung too! I don't want him to leave! Then Seokjin hyung needs to stay too."
"Taehyung, you know you can't decide that for them." You felt bad for the boy. He wasn't handling this maturely like Namjoon and Yoongi. "And I thought you were okay with Seokjin leaving."
"I don't know. They all keep finding their own things in life and I don't know what to do." Taehyung rested his head against Jimin's shoulder. Taehyung stared at the floor so he wouldn't have to make eye contact with anyone. Jimin bit his lip nervously and it looked like something was eating him inside all of a sudden.
"I don't like seeing you like this, Taehyung," Jimin stated as his friend quietly began to cry. "It's one thing to have you sad about the members leaving and it's another to not want them completing their dreams."
"What?" Taehyung took a step away. He was in complete shock to be hearing this. You half expected Jimin to be more sympathetic. To hold his friend's hand and comfort him before making him realize that it's okay if the gang doesn't last. Instead, Jimin was scolding his friend for his behavior as if he were a child. "Jimin, what are you saying?"
"You know Jungkook had nothing but sports shoved down his throat until now. He's finally found something that makes him happy and he's confident enough to share it with us! The same goes for Seokjin! He hated school and always acted lost without the gang." Jimin gritted his teeth. "Then Hoseok joined the gang just to be a good friend. Maybe leaving the gang is better for everyone. Not everyone has to runaway from their past like you."
"I'm not running away from my past." Taehyung wiped his last tear. "Don't lie about that!"
"Taehyung the orphan?" Jimin laughed to make his friend tighten his fists.
"This is about the gang! Not about me!" Taehyung huffed as you took a step in between them.
"Breathe! I don't know what you boys are going on about now, but I can tell you that it's not going to get solved if you fight. The two of you are close friends." You glared at both of them. "Start over."
"...I don't want our gang to end. Is that so much to ask for, Jiminie?" Taehyung looked the blonde in the eyes.
"Tae..." Jimin sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at you to remind himself to not start another fight. Graduation will be happening very soon for the third years. It's best to end everything on a happy note. "The gang means a lot to everyone. To me too, but just because some of us want to do our own things that doesn't mean we're throwing everything away."
"But it feels like it. You say it like it's so hard for Jungkook, Seokjin, and Hoseok to decide whether they want to leave the gang or not." Taehyung groaned in frustration. "This sucks! I feel like they can't wait to leave even though that's probably not true!"
"Fighting with yourself internally?" You said as Taehyung let his fingers get lost in his hair. He breathed, nodding slowly at your words.
"Why can't we be a gang for one more year? It's just going to be Namjoon and me as the members next year if everyone decides to leave for their dreams." Taehyung sat down in the middle of the road.
"And Jimin?" You tilted your head to see Taehyung shake his head.
"No...he's defending the others this strongly because he wants to leave." Taehyung played with the rings on his fingers. You turned to face Jimin who crouched down. He placed his hand on the first year's back to comfort him.
"...Jam Entertainment has interest in me again, but I don't know if I want to take it," Jimin admitted.
"You don't know?" Taehyung turned his head in shock.
He believed his friend would jump at the chance to dance again. Especially if it was Jam Entertainment wanting him back. Last time left Jimin with a lot of hurt. He couldn't go to a callback because of the gang. He didn't blame anyone for it except for you and fate. Not the gang. But eventually, Jimin found peace and settled for dancing just for fun. He still loved it with a powerful passion. You could see it anytime he danced, but you knew he'd be afraid to take another chance. All his past attempts have ended poorly. He doesn't want his heart to be broken again by dance. Jimin pursed his lips and looked down as he spoke.
"I don't know if I want to take anymore chances. I'm happy where I am." Jimin smiled lightly.
You frowned to hear that coming from him. He was still afraid, but you didn't want to ruin the moment happening between the two. You needed Taehyung to be the supportive friend and take your place. Taehyung saw a contrast in Jimin's expression. He had a smile but his eyes didn't look as bright when he mentioned not taking the opportunity. He was settingly for what he had because it was safe. That's the only reason. That's why he admired Jungkook back there who was prepared to bump into failure along his path to become a video game creator. Jimin gave Taehyung's shoulder a squeeze.
"You're not happy." Taehyung sighed. "I'm trying to become okay with others leaving. It's just hard...but seeing you giving up on your dreams for no reason hurts me. Imagine how it will hurt the other members."
"But Taeâ" Jimin's eyed widened.
"I want the gang to stay together. Simple as that," Taehyung said, "But I also want my friends to be happy."
"...are you ready to let go?" Jimin asked.
"No. No way in hell." Taehyung chuckled as a tear slid down his cheek. "The gang saved my life. Literally. You know that. The thought of it ending still hurts a ton, but I don't see anything else happening and I know Namjoon hyung is probably coming to that conclusion too."
"It's going to be okay." Jimin pulled Taehyung into a tight embrace.
"I don't know what I'm gonna do in my future," Taehyung confessed.
"Well hey, we're in the same boat," You mentioned to see his eyes grow shocked. That wasn't the reaction you thought you would recieve from him.
"Really? But I thought you had your life together..." Taehyung spoke as you shook your head.
"I'm too nosey in other people's lives to get my own together." You sighed, crouching down with the other boys. "Everything okay between you guys?"
"I think so." Jimin loosened his hug on Taehyung.
"I learned from Namjoon to talk until the problem is over and I'm confident to say it is." Taehyung smiled. "Still hurts though."
"I bet." Jimin chuckled lightly.
With that, everyone stood back up to continue walking home. Taehyung was dropped off home first. When he opened the front door, he immediately started scolding his little brother's for still being up on a school night. It's so cute how he takes care of them. It's mainly his hyungs watching over him at the warehouse and then he comes home to take care of others. He probably gets inspiration from his own hyungs. That was even more adorable to think about. Jimin laughed at you for cooing at the idea. He had to push you away from Taehyung's house. Jimin and you kept laughing on the way home. Though things basically turned south at one point tonight, it was all good in the end anyway.
Like any normal person, Taehyung was struggling to handle the idea of something he loved ending. It would a be a huge change in his life. You could understand and you felt bad for the boy. He wasn't prepared to hear Namjoon call the gang over, but he knew it was going to happen. Everyone was accepting that as a fact. You wondered if Namjoon was going to confirm that anytime soon. Hoseok and you talked to him about it. He's definitely thinking about it more seriously. Last time, he was only focusing on keeping the gang alive somehow and that was stressing him out to the edge. Now you hoped that everyone would be ready for the outcome and stay together no matter what.
Jimin brought you back to your apartment first. He wanted to make sure you got home safely. What a gentleman he is! The two of you climbed the narrow stairs together until you reached your front door. Though Jimin stood next to you with a happy smile, you had a strong feeling that unnie was waiting inside to talk to you. That enough made you want to sigh, but you couldn't let that bug you tonight. Something else was going to bother you instead! Jimin never confirmed whether he was going to become a dancer or not. Even when Taehyung was essentially telling Jimin to do it for his happiness and for other's.
"I'll see you at school, (F/n)-ya!" Jimin grinned, his eyes turning to lines.
"Wait, Jimin." You reached to grab his wrist before he could go. "Are you going to become a dancer?"
"Oh..." Jimin looked down. He wanted to avoid answering this question. "I'm still thinking about it."
"I know it's your dream. The whole gang knows that it's still your dream even though you just want to dance for fun," You stated, "I can see it in your eyes every time you dance, Jimin. This is what you're meant to do."
"(F/n)...but I'm scared." Jimin frowned.
"And that's normal! That's perfectly normal and of coure you would be!" You took both of his hands into your own. "Doing anything towards you dream is terrifying because you don't want to screw it up, but Jimin you have to listen to me when I say this. Jam Entertainment wants you. If you accept, you're automatically a trainee. No, this doesn't guarantee that you'll debut but you'll form connections and that's very important in that business."
"That's true..."
"And you know what? You don't even have to become an idol, Jimin. If you want to work as a choreographer for Jam Entertainment, then you go do that!" You insisted as he nibbled on his bottom lip. "Becoming a dancer won't be easy and you know that, but guess what? Jam Entertainment wanting you for the second time is a sign. This is your big break. It doesn't have to be you getting famous or anything like that. Do you understand?"
"I get the picture." Jimin sighed before pulling you into a tight hug. "I'm still afraid though but thank you. For everything. I can never thank you enough, (F/n)."
"You don't have to." You smiled.
"But I do." Jimin held you tighter. "I know you said that we're only friends for now, but I want you to know that I care about you a lot. I'm still hopeful."
"That's okay." You patted his back. Knowing he had feelings for you was still interesting. Maybe once all this drama with the gang ending or not, you'll sort out your feelings with everyone in the gang. All the members have been making your feelings confused, but you never have time to figure anything out. "I care about you too."