"t-thank you, namjoon hyung."

the older smiled in response then looked at jungkook.

"let's go to the hospital, kiddo. let's make sure your bruises are treated, alright?"

jungkook nodded and they walked out of the mall together.

meanwhile...

"ugh, kimchi fried rice and japchae again?! can't we have any other food?" jeonghwa whined and yeonhwa nodded.

"JIN!" their mom shouted.

jin hurriedly entered the dining room, wiping his sweat with his arm.

"yes?"

"don't you know how to cook anything else?"

jin looked at her, "uh, i'm sorry i'm not familiar with cooking anything else-"

"ugh, does this mean we have to eat these," jeonghwa pointed at the plates of food that jin cooked, "every single day?"

jin rolled his eyes. "just be grateful for the food, man."

"let's stop complaining and eat first, alright?!" yeonhwa eyed her mother and jeonghwa then looked at jin, "you can leave now."

jin nodded and left the room.

this went on everyday, the same usual routine that jin was tired of.

he thought of jungkook as his motivation, he had to work harder and longer to earn enough money.

jin was semi-thankful that the choi family wasn't as bad as he anticipated, although they were still mean and lazy.

one year later...

jin wiped the sweat on his forehead with his arm. he continued mopping the floor, making sure that he reached every space.

the woman, who he learned that her name was choi sohwa, walked in the room, her heels clacking loudly against the floor.

"here's your paycheck for the month." mrs. choi handed an envelope to jin, which he gladly accepted.

jin bowed as a sign of being grateful.

he was almost there.

"just a few more months, jin. and you'll be there."