“Sit down and have breakfast with us, Jin,” Anthony Jeon said, holding a mug of steaming coffee in his hand, his eyes trained on Jin who was standing by the door.

He had come into the mansion to call on Jungkook, so they could go to school, and found the family of three having breakfast. The madam was whispering something to her assistant. Jungkook stared down at his untouched plate with a frown on his face, while Chairman Anthony Jeon focused on his breakfast of toast with scrambled egg.

“Thank you, Sir, but I don’t usually take breakfast.”

“You will this morning,” Anthony insisted then gestured to a maid. “Please, get him a glass of tea or coffee, whichever he prefers.”

The maid turned to Jin for his choice of beverage. Reluctantly, he said, “Coffee. Black. Thank you,” before settling on the chair next to Jungkook. He turned to look at Jungkook, but Jungkook refused to meet his gaze.

Was he still angry about Jin’s reaction to him investing in Namjoon’s business?

“I hear your final exams begin today?” Anthony asked, taking a clean bite from his toast. He placed the toast back on the plate with such delicateness then grabbed a napkin and dabbed his mouth with, before also dropping that and picking up his cup.

“Yes, Sir,” Jin said.

“I still remember your first day. You had your shoulders squared and jaws set, ready for action. But in your eyes was this tiny glint of nervousness. The madam said to me, ‘He’s a baby. How can a baby look after our baby?’” He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the side. “But here you are, that baby, about to take your final exams.”

Jin smiled. “It seems like a long time ago, Sir,” he said.

“It does, but that’s life for you. The moments go by so fast.” He snapped his fingers. “But you have to learn to enjoy them before they do. You know, a lot of the times, we pay too much attention on the future that we forget to live in the present, and before you know it, today becomes yesterday and this moment becomes a memory.”

It was a little weird to hear a business man talk that way. Their world revolved around the future—making investments and planning for the future. To be bigger and better than they are today. Business men didn’t stop to enjoy the moment, they worked to create a better tomorrow for themselves.

Chairman Jeon was the leading business tycoon in Korea, but it was refreshing to hear him talk about things that people were starting to forget— not enjoying the moment. Fighting for a future they might not live to see.

When Jin had told Hoseok he wasn’t going to bother himself about what could happen in the future until it happened, he’d meant it. He wasn’t going to risk his current happiness and peace of mind because he was supposed to be afraid of how Jungkook’s parents would take it later on. It was inevitable. They were going to find out, but until then, Jin was going to enjoy the moment with Jungkook.

“I like to think that way, too, Sir,” Jin said, his gaze briefly shifting to Jungkook.

“Very good,” the man said, just as the maid returned with a cup of coffee and placed in front of Jin. “Thank you,” Anthony said to her before returning his attention to Jin. “After your school, I believe you intend to go to the university. Do you have any in mind?”

“I was thinking of taking a year off and just focus on protecting Jungkook, and when he graduates we could go to the university together.”

 “I think that’s a wonderful idea, Jin,” Madam Jeon inputted, nodding her head in approval. She waved her secretary off then proceeded to clasp her slender, manicured fingers on the table.

Anthony hummed in response, his gaze narrowed in curiosity. “Have you thought this through, Jin? You’re under no obligation to put your life on hold for Jungkook.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, honey. Jin is obligated to look after Jungkook. He isn’t putting his life on hold, he’s doing his job. Even Jin understands that, why don’t you?” She asked then turned to Jin. “That’s a wonderful decision. And when Jungkook graduates, you’ll attend the most prestigious University in America together.”

“Don’t put ideas into his head. Don’t make any big decision about your life right now, Jin. I stand by what I said, you are under no obligation to remain here looking after Jungkook. As a matter of fact, after your graduation, you are free to quit. Your college tuition, accommodation, everything will still be taken care of.”

“Honey!”

“My love,” Anthony called back to his wife.

“I have thought it through, Sir. Like you said, we have to live in the moment. I’d rather not rush my future and just enjoy this moments as they come and go. It’s just one year. I’m not giving up on my education. I’m just taking a little break.”

He could feel Jungkook’s stare on him. Curious? Confused?

“He’s a smart boy,” the madam said with a satisfied grin. “That’s the best decision, Jin. Take a little break and look after your little brother.”

Ew.

Jin cringed. He wouldn’t blame her. She was a mother. Her priority was the safety of her son and she believed Jin being around Jungkook was the safest option.

After breakfast, Jin excused himself and headed to the car to wait for Jungkook. The sky was grey and it had started to drizzle. He let out a slow breath and shut his eyes. He could feel his chest tighten like he was about to suffocate but he had to push away that feeling. He had to fight it.

So, he did a breathing exercise. Taking in each breath slowly and holding it in for a couple of seconds, before exhaling in the same manner. He had done it five times when the passenger side door opened and Jungkook climbed in, shutting the door behind him. He shook his hair, drops of water flying around.

“Are you okay?” He asked Jungkook who busied himself with his seatbelt.

“Yes.” He folded his hands on his laps and looked straight ahead. So, he was still angry.

Jin started the car and drove out of the compound. “I’m sorry about what I said at Hoseok’s party. I truly am.”

“Okay.”

“Just okay?” Jin asked. “I need more than that. I need you to engage with me, look at me, say more than one word to me.”

“Okay, Jin.”

“Okay, Jin?” Jin let out a sigh. “I didn’t mean to undermine your action. I was just saying you didn’t have to do anything just because of me.”

“But you can decide to toy with your future because of me?”

So, he was mad about that, too. Great. “A lot of people take gap years, baby. It’s really not a big deal.”

“Of course, it’s a big deal. I don’t want you to make any life changing decisions because of me. You were always bent on studying and passing your tests and getting good grades and all of a sudden, you want a break from that?”

“Yes. I want a break from constantly worrying about one test or the other, or passing this class and not failing that class. I need a break from all that and I want to spend that break with you. Why are you mad at that?”

“I’m mad because I don’t want you doing that for me! I don’t want you making such a big decision on my account when this relationship could possibly go nowhere!”

It was like a blow. Jungkook’s words hit Jin like a sucker punch to his chest. His breathing hitched and it took him a moment to recollect himself. “Why would you say that?”

“It’s the truth. We’re just winging it, Jin. But we have to be real that the chance of this relationship surviving is pretty damn low. My parents would never approve of this. Did you hear my mother in there? She’s using you, Jin. She doesn’t give a shit about you. She just needs you glued to my side so she can be sure I’m not alone and so she could have someone to hold accountable if anything happens to me. She would never accept us as a couple.”

“I really don’t care what your mother thinks.”

“Maybe you should. Maybe you should start thinking about what she going to think.”

“I said don’t, Jungkook!” Jin snapped at him. Irritation bubbled within him, plus it had started to rain. Why the hell was it raining?! He felt so angry and anxious, he had to swerve the car and park by the side of the road. He jabbed against the buckle of the seatbelt and undid it, spinning to face Jungkook. “What is this? I apologized for how I acted on Saturday. And I gave you a good reason why I want to take a gap year, but you want to pick a fight, nonetheless. What is this about?”

Jungkook wouldn’t meet his gaze. He stared down at his hands. He was picking his fingernails nervously. Jin groaned, looking out the window at the rain slashing through the air and hitting the glass.

"Are you okay?" Jungkook asked, looking at him worriedly. "Does the rain still bother you so much?"

“I'm fine. Answer me. Please.”

“I heard Hoseok,” Jungkook said, his voice low and mellow.

“Heard what?” Jin asked.

“I heard Hoseok warn you to break up with me.”

Jesus Christ. What the actual fuck was this?! Jin dug his fingers through his hair, shutting his eyes. He shook his head. “Jungkook, listen-”

“He’s right.”

“He’s not.”

“Trust me, he is,” Jungkook said. “I told you from the start that when my parents find out, it’s not going to be funny. My mother will not take it lightly.”

“I’m not afraid of your mother.” Jin had always seen her as a good mother, as someone who only had her son’s best interest in mind, as a mother figure… but for a while now, he had seen just how wrong he’d been. Madam Jeon was manipulative. She didn’t care about Jin, all she cared about was that Jin was in the right state to look after her son.

And he was so over the big brother and little brother bullshit she always spewed. It was all part of her manipulative scheme to make it seem like she took Jin as her son. She didn’t.

“You should be.”

“I’m not. In case you haven't noticed yet, I don’t scare easy. By the way, there is absolutely no need to be afraid. We promised to be careful from the start until you’re ready to tell your parents about us, and we have been careful. Listen, I’ll tell you what I told Hoseok,” Jin said. “I’m not breaking up with you on account of anyone. I love you, Jungkook. I love what we have and I’m not giving that up easily.”

“I wish I could be as enthusiastic as you are.”

“I understand what you feel, and it’s okay, but just do me a favor and have a little faith in us. Can you do that for me?”

Jungkook’s hesitation sent a clear message. He was afraid. He didn’t believe that their relationship could go smoothly, and he was right. If no one else bathed an eye, Madam Jeon would. She was Jungkook’s worry and Jin wished he had other words to reassure Jungkook concerning his worries about his mother but he couldn’t. “Okay," Jungkook answered in a low, faraway tone.

When the time came, it would be up to Jungkook, his choice of words and his action that would determine the course of their relationship, no one could make his parents understand Jungkook’s feelings other than Jungkook himself, and Jin just hoped Jungkook would have the strength and wisdom to do it right.