Initium novum

New beginning

Sunday, 8th of September 2019, 6:00 AM

House in Bradford.

Stretching an arm to his nightstand, Jungkook turned off the alarm on his phone and folded his arms over his chest again, looking into the empty spaces of his bookshelf.

He was trying to find the excitement he should be feeling.

Waking up numb after a night of great distress wasn't unusual but he hoped it would stop before going to breakfast.

Knowing his parents would be waiting for him downstairs, he pushed off the blankets and covers and stood to get to the bathroom.

This was the day he was leaving to go to the University of Evanthe. He had been seventeen when he told his parents what he wanted to study over dinner, and now, after graduating from school with honors and two years of academic qualifications with perfect results, it's the day he'll go to the campus where he'll start his life as a twenty-one years old adult along with his two best friends.

He knew something in all this was the reason for last night's panic, but he couldn't remember.

Slowly, his feelings started making themselves present. Yet the first thing he felt was disappointment. He had been hoping to feel the excitement he remembered in his sibling's faces when they left for Evanthe, but instead, he fell asleep in terror. It was frustrating to think he was moving out of his parent's house into a beautiful place he'll share with his two best friends to study something he chose and have one of the biggest libraries in the world just around the corner, and not feel happy about it.

He wanted to feel victorious, overjoyed, free. Instead, he could barely look at the tired expression reflected in the mirror.

Mechanically, he brushed his teeth and cleaned his face.

Evanthe hadn't always been his dream university, but only because he didn't have a dream before meeting the place. Thinking about his future didn't always come easily for him, and talking about his future rarely ignited a civil or serious conversation with his family. However, the surprise hadn't come from the choice of University, instead, it was the major that ignited confusion.

Unlike his siblings, who chose predictable paths and had always talked of Evanthe as if there could be no other, Jungkook chose an academic path instead of an artistic one. His parents, who believed had been nurturing his talent for it to be more than a mere hobby, were quite displeased with his choice and, more so, the lack of explanation.

But, as much courage as he could muster, he couldn't tell them why he chose philosophy any more than why he chose Evanthe. Better to leave them to believe he wanted to be a scholar and go to that university for the academic and professional benefits instead.

In reality, it would be quite unlikely for him to ever forgive Evanthe, no matter how beautiful it is. His parents used to neglect him as a child in their quest to work in Evanthe. His siblings rarely spend time with him in their own quest to study there. And, when he was twelve and the university hired his parents, he was forced to leave behind his only two best friends.

But regardless of whether he felt attachment or loathing to this university, it seemed his fate was set in stone long before he had his dream. But there's no reason to dwell on it right now.

Letting the warm water run down his body, he closed his eyes and tried to ease away the tension on his shoulders by remembering his great reason for wishing to be in Evanthe.

He was sixteen the first time he saw the University in person. They were going to his sister's graduation and the sun was just setting when the majestic university came into view.

By the east of the road, there was nothing but grass, by the west there were woods, at the far north there was another big city, and far to the northwest, there were mountains brightened by the light of the sun. It was way before these mountains started where Evanthe sat, and before it flowed a river that came from the mountains and split right in the middle for one side to continue south and the other to go east. The car had been crossing a flat, stone bridge when Jungkook had begun to notice the flowers for what the university was also known for. And, once he got closer, he had nothing to say.

He was speechless before its beauty. And he would sooner die than not live in it.

Even now he could feel the pull in the middle of his torso, urging him to go. But tell his father any of this and he would surely get kicked in the gut.

The little smile on his face at the beautiful memory slowly disappeared.

He turned off the shower and grabbed a towel.

The reason why he chose his major would surely also get him a scolding. The deciding factor in his decision hadn't been the pamphlet he read when he visited the university with his school. It had been one of the philosophy professors. They had talked for hours on end as they strolled thru the gardens. He wanted to speak to him again. That's why he wanted to learn how.

From his walk-in closet beside the bathroom, he took underwear, socks, a dark blue t-shirt, blue jeans, and black boots. Then with his bag of toiletries in hand, he walked into his room and looked around once more.

At last, there were feelings.

He had a love-hate relationship with this room. He hated when others locked him up in it but then felt safe when he was the one locking himself. This room had seen more than he could even remember, from tears and screams to laughter with his friends when they visited. This had been his room since he was twelve, and now, he was leaving. It would still be his just like his siblings' are theirs, but he will be expected to find his own place once he left Evanthe. And he will do it, expectations or not.

There came no sadness for leaving like it did when he left his friends behind in London, instead, he was ok. There was, however, the feeling of leaving a great deal of... something behind. But he couldn't put a name to it.

Walking slowly to the door, he thought of all the times Emily and Leo were staying for a week and they just laid in there for hours talking about things that made no sense and fighting with pillows about things that didn't matter, eating pizza while watching a movie and laughing at the screams Leo would let out when he saw blood in the scene and then laughing at how he was supposed to become a criminal lawyer if he was a scary cat.

He reminded himself that the three of them will be living together in the dorms, and, finally, felt the corners of his mouth lifting again.

Grabbing his phone from his nightstand, he put it in his pocket along with the house keys that he'll store somewhere and replace with his room keys. Taking his black backpack from the floor and his favorite black coat from on top of it, he put the little bag of toiletries inside, zipped it up, and put the strap over his shoulder to look around at his bedroom for the last time.

Then, he left, closing the door behind him.

The floor he was on was barely used by someone other than him. It had three other rooms and a main balcony beside the spiral staircase; study rooms for his parents and each of his siblings, a mockery of their absence.

He walked down to the second floor, a mirror of the third with four white doors and a balcony larger than the previous one. One for his parents, one for each of his siblings, and the last one was a movie room.

Without lifting his head, he kept going down until he arrived at the first floor.

Passing by the living room with the grand wooden bookshelves against the walls, he arrived at the dining room. His parents were already seated at the table, his father Yungsoo at the head, wearing a classic suit fit, and his mother Miranda by his right, wearing a button-up blouse and a pencil skirt. Both were reading their newspapers with wrapped attention. He could only see his father's expression and seemed concerned.

- Morning. - He greeted in an undertone.

His mother flicked her wrist, folding the newspaper inside out to close it, and gave him a gentle smile. He neared her and bent down to kiss her on the cheek while his father closed his newspaper, and then went to him to shake his hand.

There was still worry on his father's forehead, but he was afraid the subject would sour a day that was supposed to be for celebrations, so he said nothing about it.

Taking his bag off his shoulder, he sat down and left it by his feet. He was seated at his father's left, a seat that had been Junior's since they arrived at the house. On the rare occasion the whole family ate together, his seat was the one on the left, in front of his sister's.

With a sharp deep breath, his father took his fork.

- Good morning, son. - He finally replied in a confident tone, taking a piece of his fruit. However, his smile was not as bright as the one he gave Junior when he left for Evanthe.

Jungkook chose to believe the newspaper to be at fault.

- Did you sleep well? - His mother asked him with a smile, beginning to cut her pancakes, and leaving her fruit for last.

Focusing on the fact that they made the cook prepare his favorite breakfast, he kept himself composed.

- Yeah. - He lied as he pierced a piece of red apple with his fork. - I couldn't wait till morning. -

So the nightmare could be over.

But it was also true that he wanted to get there already and be with his friends. The excitement of this thought, however, did something wrong in his stomach, changing it to something like stage-fright.

He kept eating.

- I bet you were all excited, weren't you? - His father grinned at him. - Well, at least you stayed on your bed, Amy couldn't stop looking through her boxes to see if she was missing anything and Junior was revising all his papers all night. As if the first thing they would do when you arrived was to take you a test. - He huffed. - You get there to organize your room first. You'll have plenty of time to study later. - With a laugh, he put his fork with the last of his fruit into his mouth and chewed silently.

- I didn't know that one. - Jungkook muttered. And then realized, - Is that why you were so keen on sending my boxes with my stuff before I arrived? - He frowned a little, finishing his fruit and continuing with his pancakes. He realized then that he was eating faster than usual and forced himself to calm down altogether.

- That's one of the reasons. - His mother replied. - We thought it would be better if you had your stuff already there, then you can unpack quicker; hopefully, before your roommate arrived so the place didn't turn into a mess. You need it perfect by the end of the day for the start of classes tomorrow. -

- Yeah, I'd like to do that. – He murmured again before drinking some coffee, trying to busy his mind with thoughts of how he'll organize his room to see if the burning in his stomach could ease at last.

- We thought you would sneak out like you like to do. – His father chuckled as he cut his sausages. As if it was a joke.

Jungkook stopped drinking his coffee. Trying to breathe calmly, he slowly put his cup down.

But this was simply unfair. That the day he should be happiest, he's, instead, ridiculed. It seems he's been climbing down his window onto a tree or walking down the stairs silently for seven years simply to amuse them. Not a single worry came from them either then or now.

The gratitude he felt towards this breakfast and their unusual company turned into displeasure.

- I didn't even think about it. - Jungkook answered with his eyes locked on his food. - I just stayed in my bed wanting to fall asleep as soon as possible so the morning would come quicker. - He shrugged. - I wanted to be well-rested to have more energy today, I knew I needed it to organize my room perfectly for classes tomorrow. – He finished, taking another bite of pancakes.

- Very good. - His mother praised him, just like he knew she would. And then she went on giving him advice about how to organize his room, just like he knew she would.

It had always been easy for him to be the person always wanted him to be, But it was a nuisance.

- I still thought you would sneak out. - His father said stubbornly, buttering his toast, and his mother stopped talking to laugh with him.

It was a shame he didn't get the joke.

All he had wished for since he was thirteen was a pleasant, family meal. But those only happen once every couple of years.

Once breakfast was over, his parents went to brush their teeth and Jungkook went to the kitchen to say goodbye to some of the staff (and to get some medicine). He gave the cook his thanks for the tasty breakfast, waved the gardener goodbye for smiling at him every time he saw him, and went straight to one maid, ignoring the rest and the butlers.

To Gloria, he gave a brief but real hug. She was the one and only maid they took with them from Gerrards Cross and the one that had seen him and his siblings grow. As well as the only staff member who didn't pretend he didn't exist until told otherwise.

She gave him the kind of hug he should be having with his parents and nearly started crying on his shoulder. She was a head shorter than him, but the look of age and gentleness in her eyes made him want to bow before her.

Leaning away, she looked at him with watery eyes.

- Be free, Jungkook. – She smiled and squeezed him on the shoulders.

His chest tightened at the words. It was one of those moments where Jungkook wasn't sure if he had seen the pain in her eyes or not.

- I will. – He promised with uncertainty.

After taking medicine for his stomach and a cold water bottle, he left the kitchen and went to the bathroom closest to the front door.

She would be the only part that he'd surely miss when he went to live on his own. He'll miss her cookies, the gentler way in which she would call on him to get down for dinner, the unusual days in which he would go down to the kitchens to see her helping the cook and her telling him how the dish was made. She had been the only speck of love he was sure to get in this place. Almost like a mother. But, aside from the moments listed above, she would rarely allow herself to be seen, leaving him alone like everyone else.

After brushing his teeth, he looked at himself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and started.

"I am a University student from Evanthe, I will be surrounded by beauty, I will live happily with my best friends on campus. This is the best day of my life".

Three times, he repeated this to himself. But it did little to make the smile on his face feel real.

He reunited with his parents in front of the car. It was exactly 7:15 am, he did just as they wanted. And the three of them made their way toward the University of Evanthe.

For two of them, it was a day like any other. But for Jungkook, this was his new beginning.

Jungkook sat behind the driver's seat with his knuckles against his lips. The journey would be thirty minutes long and he had mistakenly pocketed his earphones in one of the boxes.

Forced to listen to the news on the radio and his parents' take on them, all he could do was try to focus on the view. By the sound of their tones, something wrong must be going on. But for the life of him, he couldn't bring himself to care. Whatever was happening, it was in London, three hours away. Leo and Emily were already in Evanthe, he had no one he cared about over there.

Jungkook sighed and leaned his forehead against the window. If he would've had any say in it, he would've arrived with them four days ago, but because his siblings had both chosen to stay home until the last possible day, he had to do the same. His mother hadn't even asked, it just happened.

The light coming from his window changed and he leaned away, noticing the woods getting thinner and the trees turning fewer.

Softly, he smiled.

It was still a long way away but he could see it in the distance. The wide expanse of Evanthe, beautifully positioned on the land between river and woods. He might never get bored of this sight. It was the sight of beauty. A palace of life with nature enveloping it; a monument of wealth with its Renaissance architecture shining as if new.

It was as if time had frozen on this patch of land once this castle had been constructed.

But it hasn't. The people he will encounter are the same kind he'd been fighting with at school.

His eyes widened and he tried to make himself forget what he just thought, but it was no use. The previous burning in his stomach returned. Just the thought of meeting new people made him want to hide. He wasn't good at making friends and, quite frankly, he didn't want to try. Only bad things happen when he opens up to people. He wanted it to go well and be happy; for the fighting to be left behind and his skin to be free of scratches. But something is making him wonder whether he will be able to.

His breathing quickened and his hands tightened their hold around his coat, resting on his lap.

The sight of the University got nearer and he could see the light reflected off the tiny-looking windows, the colors of the flowers in the massive front garden, and the white statues that adorned it in a line to the massive double doors. With a deep, inaudible sigh, he tried to relax. This was a new place, he will be a new face. He could keep attention away from himself if he so desired.

Or could he?

Jungkook opened his bag and took out the water bottle.

- How are you feeling? - His father asked him.

Jungkook looked up at the rearview mirror and the sight of his father's frown made him want to walk the rest of the way.

With all his might, he tried not to snap at him and say "Congratulations, it only took you the whole trip to remember I was here". He simply looked away and drank a gulp of water.

- I'm fine. - He answered dryly.

He was just about to take another gulp of water when his mother rested a hand on his knee.

- Do you want one of us to go with you? - She sounded so uncertain that Jungkook nearly tugged his knee away. But he knew he didn't have to. Three seconds later and she let go.

Seven was her best.

Why make promises they don't want to keep even if they could?

- Leo and Emily are waiting for me. – He refused without caring for pleasantries and the car fell silent for the first time since they left the house.

Refusing the guilt that was trying to rise in him, Jungkook spoke again, wanting to leave something clear before they arrived at the black-steel gates.

- I want to ask you something. - As he spoke, his eyes looked from the windows to the mirror. And his father glanced at him.

- Yes, what is it? - His mother answered, turning her head to the side though keeping her eyes on the road.

And he went for it.

- I don't want people to know that the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress are my parents, would that be ok? - He had to ask them because he didn't want teachers telling him that he should be a good student to show gratitude towards his parents. He's done with it.

For a moment, he thought their silence meant they took it as an insult. He swallowed dryly without meaning to.

But then his father answered,

- We understand, son. Don't worry. –

And though his voice carried no delight, his words were enough.

As they stopped behind the line of cars heading inside the grounds, Jungkook sat there, not daring to breathe loudly.

It surprised him that they had agreed. But maybe they remembered what he told them seven years ago.

When he was fourteen, he went against five of his classmates and was left the only one standing. His reason for doing so had been brief but understandable: "They were mocking my parents". He told them it had been one too many and the office let him go with only one day of detention while his parents took care of talking to the parents of his classmates. Once he had washed up, his mother hugged him for seven seconds, and then his father gave him a pat on the back. He wasn't pleased, but he didn't say anything either.

It brought him no satisfaction to know one of the few moments he remembers his parents being by his side, happened thanks to a lie. These classmates had indeed taunted him about his parents many times, but they never said any word against them the day Jungkook snapped.

He stared silently at the water bottle in his hands to distract him.

When he heard a window rolling down, he looked up. He realized with a jolt that they had arrived. They were at the entrance to the grounds of the university. Feeling his hands starting to shake a little and an obstruction forming in his throat, he took his phone out to check the last text Emily had sent him saying that they will be waiting at the main door and felt more nervous than ever.

- Identification, please. - Asked the gatekeeper.

Jungkook tilted his head to look at a tall and muscly dark man in uniform who would look downright intimidating if it wasn't for the kind smile on his face.

- Hello, Travis. - His father replied with a smile as he gave Travis all three of their IDs; Jungkook's mother had a copy of his in her wallet.

- Oh... - Exclaimed Travis when he looked at Jungkook's and looked up to catch his eye on the back seat through the driver's window. - It's him? – Travis smiled and looked at Jungkook's parents again.

The whole world turned upside down and Jungkook wanted to drown himself in the river.

This was a nightmare, they had lied to him, everyone already knows him and have made up stories in their heads about how he is. His parents had made him feel guilty for nothing. Oh, how he wanted to rage right now.

- Yes, indeed. – Replied his mother, proudly.

- All three kids in Evanthe. Congratulations Headmaster. - He gave a little vow with the head towards Youngsoo and gave back the IDs.

- Thank you, Travis. Maybe one day your little one will be here too. – He encouraged the guard who chuckled appreciatively.

Jungkook didn't know how to feel about this little interaction. They show more warmth toward a gatekeeper than the child they were supposedly so proud to have in Evanthe.

- Thank you, sir. Have a nice day. - Travis farewelled and stepped back from the car.

They drove on, following the line slowly.

- Why say you wouldn't tell anybody when you already have. - He demanded in an undertone.

His father sighed greatly.

- No student knows. It'll be your fault if you tell them your surname. - He answered, lazily.

Jungkook's jaw tightened. But, once the car turned to the right, Jungkoook had a full view of the front garden from his window on the left seat. and his breathing quickened.

- Ready, Kook? - His mother asked with an audible smile.

- Yeah. - He muttered while placing a hand over his stomach.

It was packed with people, with parents, sons, and daughters, with little kids saying goodbye to their older siblings, with a lot of boxes and traveling bags.

He was frightened at the thought of having to go right through the middle of all these families alone and with nothing but a backpack. Leo and Emily were at the end of what seemed to be an entire ocean filled with sharks.

The car stopped right on the corner between turning left to go straight to the open doors or continuing onwards to the east parking lot.

After a moment's silence, his father spoke up once more.

- Jungkook, we have to leave you here. If you get out of the car with us, people will know you're our son. -

Now it just felt like he was using it against him.

- Honey, a kiss before you go. - His mother reminded him, turning her head enough for him to do so.

After taking a very deep breath, he took his backpack, pocketed the water bottle, put on his coat, lunged the bag on his right shoulder, and put his phone in the left pocket of his jeans.

- Goodbye, then. – He gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and shook hands with his dad. - See you both around, I guess. – He murmured.

- I sure hope not. - His father replied, making him stop short. - If we do see you in our office, it'll be because you're in trouble, son. - He joked and they both laughed, completely unable to grasp the idea that Jungkook could go there if he simply wanted to talk.

But after this comment, he might as well not even try.

Jungkook sighed and opened the door, leaving with a snap. But it wasn't until he was out and he heard the car behind them honking that his previous anger turned to fright once more. Rapidly, he ran toward the white path of the garden and tried to breathe while still trying to look like he had everything under control. And, once he believed his legs wouldn't wobble, he started walking while trying to avoid suitcases, boxes, and people talking.

As he walked, he was able to catch some of the conversations.

"Stay a good girl, don't go to any party, be wary of any boy because they can be--"

"Mom, I know, I will be, please stop worrying."

"So, you're going to get on the soccer team right away, got it?"

"Yes sir, as soon as I can."

"That's my boy."

"Are you sure you brought everything?"

"Mom, can you stop asking that, you're making me more anxious. I already checked, I do have everything."

"But I want to stay with you."

"But you can't, little peanut. You're still too young. I'll call you every night, okay?"

"Nooooo, I don't want you to stay here."

"So... goodbye, dad. Goodbye...uncle."

"Goodbye, son."

"Bye."

Jungkook looked up to avoid collision with some suitcases in the way and saw the owners of the last conversation. Two grown men and one guy. But what made him curious was the way they were looking at each other, like they all wanted to do something but couldn't. All three of them had their arms crossed over their chest, they had already said their goodbyes but weren't moving, and when Jungkook walked right behind the two men, he heard the guy whisper.

"I still want to hug you goodbye."

Jungkook's walking stuttered but he forced his feet to keep walking. He was astonished, did that guy just ask to hug his dad? In the middle of a crowded, public place? What if someone else had heard him? He would've gotten in serious trouble. But what's even worse is that his sentence implied that they had hugged before. And it was not allowed!

He couldn't hear the reply but Jungkook looked over his left shoulder and there was, obviously, no hug.

Feeling his heart beating too fast to be ignored, he kept on walking, looking at the floor.

"I still want to hug you goodbye."

A goodbye hug. One last hug. Jungkook could empathize, however problematic this guy's wish had been.

Just a good hug, that's what he wanted. The only hug he had received in a while was from Gloria, and it hadn't even been altogether comfortable. He needed to find Emily.

Looking up, he saw the massive, double doors of the main entrance wide open and closer to him than they were before. So he started to look around for his friends.

His right shoulder was pushed aside painfully and he looked sharply to see who had done it. Then he realized it was the guy from before who had punched his shoulder with his own. First, he asks his father for a hug and now it looks like he doesn't even care if he pushed other people aside or not. It was so familiar that it made him uncomfortable.

- Jungkook! - A girl called his name. He looked ahead and his face blossomed into a huge smile. Emily and Leo, at long last.

- Em! – He called back to the girl running to greet him.

Long, red hair, flowing with the wind, soft pants with a bow at the waist, short, long-sleeved, white shirt, bright blue-gray eyes, and a rosy color on her freckled cheeks. She threw herself to him and he hugged her very tightly, both because he missed her and because he needed it. Swallowing down a lump in his throat and blinking back tears, he looked over her head and saw Leo walking to them. Short, jet-black hair, loose t-shirt failing to cover up his muscles, dark pants, ocean-blue eyes, and a grin on his lips. His true brother.

- Jungkook. – Greeted Leo.

Jungkook detached himself from the hug and smiled at his friend while extending his right hand.

- Leonardo. –

Leo shook his head with a laugh, shaking Jungkook's hand.

- I was prepared to help you with the boxes but... you don't have any? – He asked, looking around them and then at the bag on Jungkook's shoulder.

- We thought you would bring boxes filled with just books. – Emily giggled with a wide smile, holding Jungkook's arm.

- I wanted to bring all of them, but my parents said that it would be very likely I'll be able to find all the books I need in "one of the biggest libraries in the world". – His friends laughed. He was feeling oh so happy now that they were with him. – Thanks for wanting to help... but all my boxes are already in my room. My mom. - He shrugged, tensely.

A cold wind passed through and Emily let go of his arm to hug herself.

Leo looked up at the gray sky with a bitter laugh.

- Of course. While I had to do it all by myself. - He muttered as he lowered his head.

He looked so disappointed, Jungkook thought he even looked angry.

Emily grabbed his hand with a smile and said,

- That's because your parents know you're strong enough –

Leo grinned again and Jungkook refrained from commenting.

- You're right. I guess it's just one of the many perks of being the son of the--

Jungkook jolted.

- Shh! – He shushed him up, alarmed. – Please don't, I don't want anyone to know. – He whispered rapidly while looking around, afraid that anyone had heard them, but everyone seemed to be on their own business, thankfully.

- Oh... ok. – Emily answered, with worry in her eyes.

Worry because he told them the same lie he told his parents. He couldn't tell them the truth even if he wanted to.

- What if some of your old classmates are here too? What if he's here? – Leo asked.

Jungkook gave a tight blink.

- That's impossible. They're not smart enough. – He was still looking around when he heard Leo snort.

If those bastards are here... if he is here... he wouldn't know how to cope with it. He did it at school, he had to leave it behind.

- Ok, ok, let's go, you must check in and get your key and all that... – Emily urged them, shivering with cold.

Jungkook was thinking of maybe reaching out to her when Leo got there first and half hugged her with his left arm while all three of them started walking to the door.

- Was it like this when you arrived? – Jungkook asked both to his right, leaving a little space between him and Emily's left shoulder where Leo's hand was resting.

- Nah. - Replied Leo. - There are more people today, obviously. What with the families coming with them to bid them goodbye and all. Most people that came with us came alone having already farewelled at their airports, like us. –

It was surprising how smooth everything was considering the number of people in the place.

- Can you imagine all the girls that had a whole flight alone to a place they barely knew? The fright they must've felt. – Emily shook her head a bit.

- My parents couldn't even accompany me to the airport, why don't you think of me? – Replied Leo to Jungkook 's amusement.

- Because you're a brave, strong man. Obviously. – Emily rolled her eyes.

- You're right. I need no mommy-coddling. –

Jungkook lost it and laughed with Leo.

- It's not that they need coddling. - Emily pinched his arm, making him hiss. - A girl is defenseless when she's alone. Not like you who are familiar with this kind of stuff. – They started to walk up the white stone stairs to the door. – Like going places without your parents. Like been--

- A proper adult? – Jungkook cut across her, making Leo grin at him over Emily's head.

- Good one, Kook. –

- Agh, so insensitive. – Emily whined a little.

- No, you're just too sensitive. – Leo replied, pointing a finger at her nose from her right side, making her chuckle.

Jungkook was taller than her by half a head and Leo was half a head taller than Jungkook, which made the tiny finger accusation more cute than funny.

- All girls are too sensitive. – Jungkook uttered the old joke mechanically. Yet he chuckled with the rest.

- And boys are heartless. – Emily fired back the foreseen answer and they laughed again as if it was a joke. Because they were taught it was. And they were in public.

In silence, they passed through the gigantic doors, and Jungkook's bitterness left him with a sigh.

He never wanted to get used to it. A smile spread through his face looking around at the paintings on the walls, the red-carpeted floor, the ceiling and walls filled with intricate details, and the crystal chandeliers. Majestic, beautiful, and ethereal. He wanted to draw everything he was looking at.

- Should I then remove the arm that I "heartlessly" put around your shoulders? - Leo asked suddenly. Making them all genuinely laugh.

- I thought we had settled that you weren't a "boy" but a "proper adult man".– She replied. And Leo hugged her tightly.

Jungkook was so grateful for the joke that he couldn't stop smiling as he looked around at every detail the beautiful entrance had to offer.

But then, he was grabbed by the arm and pulled to the side.

________________________________________________________________________________

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