⊱┊ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ༊*·˚

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A/N: this chapter is not beta read, thx to Lucilia for helping me with this chapter. It would have taken longer.

I'm so sorry, it's been so long that I've updated. My motivation is currently for all my books really low :( also because I have barely someone I can brainstorm with for certain books.
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Later in the evening, Jugkook lies in the garden on a sunlounger, patting the neighbour's cat when a voice suddenly sounds from a few metres away. 

"Jungkook, tell me what makes you happy these days?" Jungkook snaps his head up to the terrasse door and sees his grandma walking towards him. He's sure she must have been standing there for a little while as she grins like a Cheshire cat. She's been in a better mood recently. Jungkook watches as she takes a seat on the sunlounger next to him, lays down and looks back at him. "Is it... a person? A special someone?"

Jungkook furrows his eyebrows and looks down at the cat on his chest. Has he been so obvious? It's no secret to himself that Jimin and Minjun are the people he's been in a better mood. He hasn't felt lonely and found himself smiling more in the presence of them.

"Why do you say this?"

"You changed," his grandma says and looks back at the door which is still closed before her gaze sets on the cat. "In a good way. You often had a serious facial expression around the house, especially with Yongsun in the near or same room. But ever since the police were at our house things changed slowly until you once came back with a small smile. I don't have any idea what the reason might be or what you got as a sentence, but I know it made you happier. Maybe one day you'll tell me what you did or what makes you happy."

"I committed pickpocketing," Jungkook suddenly blurts out, biting his lip nervously. No idea how his grandmother will react. It was a stupid thing to do. Jungkook can say he only regrets part of it. Because the other part can't be happier that Jimin and Minjun met through this. 

He takes a deep breath as he keeps his eyes on the cat, unable to look at his grandmother. "It was stupid and I don't know why I did it. I was supposed to do community service at the kindergarten."

"Children? Is that why you're so happy? I didn't know you liked kids so much."

"Not quite. There's one boy who's very reserved, and somehow ... we've formed a relationship that I don't have with any of the other children. I've been secretly teaching him to play the piano so we can surprise his father."

"Ah, so that's how it is. I see you like the child's father?"

"I don't know," Jungkook says shyly, playing nervously with his fingers. Can he admit it? Will she look at him suspiciously that he likes a man? He has already admitted what he did wrong and that he has to do community service. "I didn't know him when I started giving him piano lessons."

"What's the boy's name?" his grandmother asks instead, and Jungkook can't be more grateful to her.

"Minjun."

"Minjun," his grandmother murmurs with a sweet smile on her lips. "The name is cute. And the way you speak of him shows how much you like him."

"Yes, I do. I didn't think I would ever get so close to a child and have him grow on me. But aren't you disappointed?"

"Disappointed? Why?"

"Because I committed pickpocketing..."

"Hmm, do you regret it?" His grandmother looks at him with a serious look, to which Jungkook nods his head. "Yes, but not one hundred percent, if I'm honest. At least not as much as I should. Because if I'm honest, I got the chance to meet Minjun." ...and Jimin.

"Hmm, I see. That means you're happy at the moment?"

"Very..."

"Thank you for confiding in me. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you. Well, I can't deny that I'm surprised by it and already a little disappointed but who doesn't get up to nonsense in their younger years?" his grandmother chuckles, reminded of her youth. She was not innocent in her youth, but has few regrets. After all, you only live once. "Also about that child, try to keep contact with the parent if it means so much to you, if they allow it. You still have some community service hours left, no?"

He does... but not for long and he no longer goes to kindergarten. This makes him wonder what will happen to Jimin when he stops coming. Courage in finding to tell him he won't come to kindergarten requires a lot of confidence as it also requires to tell him the real reason for it. He's a mess when he's honest. Will he lose them if he's honest? Confiding in his grandmother was easier, she belongs to the family whereas Jimin has become his friend and he's a parent of a small child. 

Parents tend to get protective of their small ones and Jungkook would probably be the same but the thought of Jimin breaking contact because of that squeezes his heart in an uncomfortable way. 

"I do have some hours left in the kindergarten, but I haven't told anyone... It makes me kind of sad to think about it."

His grandma sighs and corrects her posture in the sunlounger. "I do get what you mean. You've bonded with the people there, you build relationships. I think maybe you should tell the people you think are important to you that you won't be there any longer. Always be honest and you'll be granted something."

"...or you get your ass kicked." Jungkook adds and grins. He definitely needs to overcome this fear before it's too late. But in the end will Jimin even accept him even though he's a high school student? So many what if's and but then swirl around his head to make it possible to think clearly.

"I told you the last time that I won't tolerate your shit and behaviour anymore. I've had enough of this!" Suddenly sounds from the inside of their house, catching Jungkook's and his grandma's attention. Both their heads turn with an alarmed body posture towards the terrace door, eyes meeting in a rush which has them only guessing what's going on. Jungkook is the first to get up and hurry towards where the noises are coming from.

"Get your shit together. I told you to either get a job or I'll kick you out and yet you're still lingering around like you give a shit about everything. It's not what I promised your parents when I took you in! I promised them I'd help you with whatever is necessary for you to find a job after high school. You don't want to go to college, you don't want to work, but you don't get to lay around her and you don't get to let me clean up your shit after you." 

Neither seem to notice Jungkook standing in the entrance of the terrace door. 

"You can't just kick me out. Even though I don't know where my parents are, I'm sure my parents pay you money and that's why you can't just kick me out!" Yongsun yells and balls his hand into fists, feeling a tightness spreading through his chest. He gulps hard as a memory of his parents flashes through his mind. He has enough of not knowing where they are. All he wants is to go back to living with them. Everywhere it's better than it's here. "I bet without the money, you couldn't even pay for Jungkook's school. But I guess that doesn't even matter does it? Jungkook isn't even thankful and commits crimes. Maybe you should talk to him instead."

Jungkook is shocked by the accusations. Somewhat feeling ashamed, he lets his gaze fall on the ground, focusing on his feet with guilt building in his chest, as if they were the most interesting thing in this room. Is it true what Yongsun just said? His head snaps up when he hears his mother's voice. 

"Jungkook is a wonderful son and everyone makes mistakes and has problems. However, people deal with it differently. He promised me not to repeat it after his trial and I believe him." Jungkook's mother breathes out deeply. "You, however, choose to ignore my warnings, repeatedly. It's not about the money but the respect you should have when living with others. I feed you, I wash your clothes, you can sleep in a bed and have a roof above your head. I repeat. It's not what I signed up for when I promised my brother to take you in. The least you can do is make it easier for everyone living here, by following house rules—"

"He's your son. Of course you protect him." Yongsun throws his head back and laughs with irony, not having noticed Jungkook still standing at the door frame. He finds everyone so unfair. Constantly everyone is on Jungkook's side. It has already been this way when they were children which fueled him with even more jealousy.

Jungkook has to blink his tears away as he sees tears gathering in his mother's eyes. She doesn't deserve this and it hurts him to see how much she struggles with Yongsun. She also looks so exhausted with rings under her eyes. "Do you even hear yourself? This has absolutely nothing to do with this. I told you this is about showing respect and honestly? You are above eighteen. I can kick you out since you don't even consider going to college. I really had enough of this. You have time until the end of the month to find at least a job, or I'll not only speak words."

"You can't do—"

"I can't do that? Sorry to disappoint you. It's my house and here we have rules and if you don't follow them it's our right to say, we can kick you out. Also one more thing, I wanted to let you know when our relationship improves but because I doubt it will happen I will tell you and you can make out of it whatever you want. Your parents are planning to come back, most likely at the end of the year." 

Jungkook watches his mother turn her back on them and leave the living room tensely. Jungkook feels more than guilty and feels the urge to run after her and take her in his arms. She often didn't have it easy with him, but with Yongsun... he doesn't want to know what burden is on her shoulders. He would like to take some of it off her shoulders, but where can he start?

Jungkook's gaze is still fixed to the door frame through which his mother disappeared, but is snapped out of his stupor by a message tone from his phone. This seems to bring the other out of his stupor as well and he looks around disgruntled, his gaze stopping on Jungkook.

"What are you staring at me for? Are you happy now?" Jungkook scoffs but walks past him without a comment. He doesn't need another argument like this morning. In the kitchen, he leans against the counter with the dish towel thrown over his shoulder and glances at the message he got. His gloomy face morphs into a smile.

Jimin (baby daddy) 💫🎹

Gguk🥺

Is something wrong?

No, why?

It's just-

Nevermind

Jungkook assumed something must have happened since Jimin texted him first. Hold on..., he furrows his eyebrows and thinks. This is the first time Jimin has texted him first if he isn't wrong. Warmth settles around his heart. This could actually mean something- or well more like show how far they've developed a friendship.

What are you doing today?

Minjun has Taekwondo in an hour but I was wondering if you wanted to come pick him up with me. Maybe we could do something afterwards?

Sure:)

Can you send me the address?

[address attached] 

Jungkook doesn't know in what direction their friendship develops but he kind of likes where it is headed currently. Whenever he's with Jimin he feels warm and safe. Sometimes there's even this tingly feeling in his stomach. He wants to explore those feelings more but fear holds him back; the uncertainty of the future and his feelings and a secret that he carries and has yet to tell the other.

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