Jin sat in the driver's side staring ahead at the kids that had taken over the beach and were playing football, laughing and calling out to one another loudly.

They seemed so happy in their little world, like nothing could bother them or upend the happiness they had found in that moment, because all that mattered was the moment they were in.

Moments ago, Jin had been in that state of mind. He'd temporarily forgotten about everything that worried him and made him unhappy. He'd been caught up in the jeju bubble, away from Seoul and away from the heaviness that constantly weighed in his chest.

He had driven them here knowing fully well that they needed the break. He had needed something to take his mind off going back to the vacation home and beating the shit out of Hanuel. He had ached to do it, but the look in Jungkook's eyes plus his plea had deterred him.

Jungkook was hurt and embarrassed—which was understandable, but still absurd—but that didn't give him the right. Jin knew Jungkook disliked him, but that also didn't give him the right. He was a spoiled kid with nothing to lose, but that didn't give him the right as well to play with Jin's emotions like he was a toy with no feelings.

Jin wrapped his fingers around the wheel, shutting his eyes briefly when his phone rang in his pocket. He fetched it and saw Hoseok's name flash across the screen. He let out a deep breath before answering it. "Hyung."

"What's up? Are you still in Jeju?" He asked.

Jin hummed in response.

"Is he okay?" Hoseok asked. "I mean, Jungkook."

"He's fine."

"How about you? Are you okay? Have you had some sleep yet? You left in the middle of the night."

"Not yet," Jin answered. "But I'm fine. We're heading back to Seoul shortly though."

"You're wearing yourself too thin, Jin," Hoseok said, his voice tight. "I don't like it. It's supposed to be your day off today, but you had to rush off to Jeju because he called you when he already has otjer security—"

"Hyung. Please." He paused. "Can we not do this? I know you're speaking out of genuine right now but I'm really not in the mood for another argument."

The line was quiet. Jin could hear the soft noise of electric fan blowing in Hoseok's room. It was his off day, too, and they had planned to spend it together, before what happened had happened.

"Alright, but you're coming back here as soon as you land, is that clear?"

Jin nodded. "Yeah," he said. The passenger side door opened and he looked to find Jungkook climbing in. He never rode in front. "I have to go now. We'll see later."

"Fine. Be safe," Hoseok said, before ending the call.

Jin started the engine, put the gear in drive and headed back on the road to the airport. He switched on the radio, letting a random kpop song play through the speaker to deflate the tension in the air.

He and Jungkook had been in hundreds of car rides but this was the first time it felt like the tension between then could choke the life out of him. It was so uncomfortable because they'd been having such a good time before Jungkook got possessed by the same evil spirit that always led him to push all of Jin's buttons.

Jungkook had the potential to be nice. Jin had witnessed it first hand. He'd seen Jungkook be nice and caring. It had been unusual but not unpleasant. He'd enjoyed it and had felt at ease in that brief moment. It had desolved some assumptions Jin had about him. He had truly started to view Jungkook in a different light.

Why couldn't they just continue like that? They didn't have to act goofy with one another, but they also didn't have to jump at each other's throats like rivals at war. He was ready to call a truce but Jungkook still hated him and a truce seemed impossible between them.

The car ride was quiet and soon they were at the terminal. Liam and Chen were already there, waiting for them. In no time, they all boarded the jet and were headed home to Seoul. Jin sat at the back with his earphones plugged in, his gaze occasionally fleeting over to Jungkook who was engrossed on his laptop the whole time.

By the time they got to the mansion, Lee was standing by the front door, a scowl on his face.  "Young master, your parents would like to see you right away," he said to Jungkook before pulling Jin away.

Jin looked behind his shoulder as he was pulled by the head of securiy, to find Jungkook's confused gaze on him as he made his way into the house.

"Did something happen?" Jin asked, turning his attention back to Lee who had stopped walking.

"What the hell happened in Jeju?" He asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this!" He brought up a tab and faced the screen to Jin. It was a video of Hanuel pressed against Jungkook kissing him, then it cut to the moment Jungkook pushed him off before sending a blow to his face. "Was this why you changed your mind about not going?"

Jin ran his hands over his face. "Fuck. Is it all over social media?" He asked.

"Yes, Jin. Why didn't you tell me about this when you found out?!"

Because Jungkook looked embarrassed when he told Jin about the incident and didn't want anyone finding out, but unfortunately someone had recorded the whole thing and posted it online. "I was going to," he lied. "I wanted to wait until we got back."

"Do you know how much damage your waiting has caused?" He asked, visibly angry. "Jungkook's name is plastered all over social media, everyone of them with their own cooked up narrative. What the hell even happened?"

"Hanuel tried to force himself on Jungkook," Jin replied. "It's exactly how you saw it. That bastard Hanuel deserved to be punched all over again. Is Jungkook in any trouble? He didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't know, but what I know for sure is that the chairman and the madam are not happy at all, Jin," he said, giving Jin one last look before walking away.

Jin clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He made his way into the house where the domestic workers stood about whispering amongst themselves like they suddenly didn't have any chores to do. He hadn't realised there were gossips in the house.

The door to the Madam's private living room swung open and she stepped out angry. Her gaze fell on Jin, instantly. "Why didn't you call us when you found out about the incident? Why did you go to Jeju on your own? What would you have done? What did you do to salvage the situation? Why did you choose to keep quiet?"

He had expected to be scolded, so he stood with his head slightly bowed. "I'm sorry, ma'am. It was late when I found out and I didn't want to worry you or—"

"He's my son!" She yelled, cutting him off. "No time is to late to discuss his welfare! His safety, Jin! You went all the way to Jeju and you couldn't even tell Lee! You're just a baby, what did you think you could do?! Have you seen the stories flying around?! Have you read the blogs?! Have you seen what your decision to not call because it was late has caused?! Why did you tell Liam not to report back to us?! You told Chen to keep quiet as well?! Who gave you the right?!"

Jin swallowed. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, again. "I would never intentionally jeopardise Jungkook's safety or the reputation of this family."

"Mum, he has nothing to do with it," Jungkook's voice came from somewhere. Jin didn't look up to find out where exactly. "I was the one who hit Hanuel. Jin came to Jeju because I asked him to. He didn't say anything because I told him not to. I was embarrassed of the situation and I asked all of them to erase the whole incident from their memory. I had no idea it had already been recorded and broadcasted. I should have known better."

"Jin is supposed to know better! He is your older br—"

"No, mum! It's my life, not Jin's. It's my mistake, not his! I hit Hanuel, not Jin. I told him not to inform you or dad or Lee or anyone, because I didn't want you all knowing a kid had tried to sexually harrass me! So, you can give me a second round of scolding out here, but please, leave Jin out of it."

There was a pause. A heavy silence. "I'm not leaving Jin out of this. The both of you are in trouble. Big trouble!" She said before walking off, angrily.

Once her footsteps faded, Jin turned around and made him way out of the building. He heard Jungkook call him. He heard Jungkook chase after him, but he ignored him and headed towards the large iron gate, so he could disappear.

He was both overwhelmed and exhausted by the whole day. He needed to get away, so he could gather enough strength to come back and face the consequence of his actions.

"Will you just wait a second?!" Jungkook yelled, running ahead of him and standing in his way.

Jin looked up at him, his lips parted, his chest rising and falling heavily. Asshole.

Jungkook said nothing. He just stood there, swallowing and looking everywhere but at Jin, awkwardly. It annoyed Jin. "Why are you in my way?"

Jungkook scratched an itch on his neck. "Where are you going?"

Jin frowned. Small talks? "What do you want?"

Jungkook blinked, chewed his lower lip, rubbed his hands together, then slipped them into his pockets. What the fuck was he so nervous about?

Jungkook's lips opened and closed and he started to speak but stopped. He swallowed some more and looked around the estate. "You were right," he said. "I, uh, I needed you last night." He let out a shaky breath. "When he did what he did, in that moment I thought, if Jin were here, this wouldn't have happened. Look, I'm sorry for what I said today, for everything. I don't know how to explain it but I'm dealing with somethings and it's just easier to push you away most of the time."

"So, why did you help me now if pushing me away is easier? Wouldn't it be better to let me get into trouble, so your parents can fire me?" Jin asked. "It's what you've wanted all along. To get rid of me."

"It would seem that way." Jungkook looked down.

"It doesn't seem that way. It is that way."

"Only, it isn't." Jungkook winced. "It's complicated, Jin."

"Uncomplicate it then. Make your actions make sense."

"I... I, uh... It's just... really..." His gaze shifted to Jin's face. His eyes locked with Jin's. "It's rather hard to explain..."

Jin crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm sure your smart brain can come up with a way to express yourself."

Jungkook clenched his fists, shutting his eyes tightly. "Jin," he mumbled then lunged forward and pressed his lips against Jin's, his fingers diving into Jin's hair, his body pressed into Jin's as he kissed the stability out of Jin.