It was tragic. It felt like hell.

One's home was supposed to be their safe haven, their comfort, their place of safety. But Jungkook dreaded every second he spent in that house.

As he stood before his mother whose eyes were about setting him on fire and his elder brother, who stood away, not to close to be burnt and not to far to not feel the heat, Jungkook felt like a stranger.

His heart stabbed against his chest.

"Answer me," She demanded.

Her voice, still calm, collected. Jungkook knew it was only a matter of seconds before she burst into an atomic bomb.

He had replayed this scene. When he got home and she asked why she hadn't seen him early in the morning, he would answer, "I went to school early. I had an assignment to submit before school starts."

But in his scene, his mother hadn't called the principal. He had failed to give his mother that credit. She was that thoughtful. Very smart. He was a fool for not having reasoned that far.

"I'm waiting."

Jungkook clenched and unclenched his fists. He knew her patience was running. He knew he had to improvise. But what do he say?

Saying he was at school was totally out of the question. He was already busted for that one. Where had he been?

Where have you been, Jungkook? He asked himself, hoping for his subconscious to geniusly give him an answer.

He eyed her hands that were intertwined atop her right knee which was crossed over her left leg. She was sitting out, ready to pounce.

Jungkook was aware she was yet to respond to his confession the previous night and if he didn't start talking, that anger might trigger her into killing him. She was capable of it. She had threatened he and Namjoon times without number.

".. And I will beat you to death, Namjoon!" She had said, pointing harshly at the scared teenager, standing in the corner, almost melting into the wall. "And the police can do nothing about it you know why? Because I gave birth to you. I gave you life and I can take is whenever I please. Try me, Namjoon. Just try me!" She had laughed hysterically, humorlessly. Namjoon's face had held the horror of someone face to face with a demon.

She was that scary, and Jungkook's legs shook.

She cleared her throat. Smiled up at the boy. Her eyes fluttered softly. Daringly. That smile- Jungkook knew what it meant. Her patience level was just waving up to her neck.

"I was at a friend's place," He blurted.

Her gaze fixated, unmoving.

Jungkook went on, "I couldn't go to school because I knew they would make fun of me. So, I went to my friend's place."

She tilted her head. "Make fun of you? Why?"

Jungkook gulped. He looked down. He pulled at the hem of his trouser pocket. He dreaded speaking of his ordeal. Reminding her.

"Why would your school mates make fun of you?" She repeated.

He chewed on his bottom lip, curling and uncurling his toes in his shoes.

"Jungkook."

He blinked up at her. His face held fear, visible tension.

His eyes watered. He wasn't yet running out of tears, shockingly. His eyes filled fast and in an instant, hot tears rolled down his cheeks. And his eyes filled up again, blurring his vision.

"Do they know?"

He hesitated. Then, "Y-yes."

He wasn't looking at her. His eyes were glued to the floor. He wanted to transform into a mist or fog and vanish into thin air.

"Your principal didn't mention this to me. Have you been getting bullied?"

He shook his head.

"No?"

"No." His voice shook.

"But now...?"

He nodded. Countless text messages had flooded in when he had turned on his phone. He had caught a glimpse of the messages and his heart had broken. The words were cruel. He couldn't imagine those words being said to his face.

He would die.

"Whose fault is it?" She asked. "I don't know what you want me to do. First, this idiot you call your brother. Now, you. What do you want me to do?" She repeated. "I don't think I have ever done anything wrong as a parent. So, how did this happen? Is it your school? Do they teach you how to like the same sex? I just don't understand."

Jungkook didn't lift his head.

"You were my only hope. Now that hope is shattered. I have nothing. No one!" She complained bitterly. "And this is all your- your-" She shook her head, shutting her eyes. "It's all his fault."

Heavy breathings filled the air from his mother. Jungkook could hear his heart beat in his throat.

She slapped her hands on her legs, placing her two legs on the ground. "Jungkook, I'm extremely disappointed in you." She watched him for a moment, then a sigh escaped and she shrugged in defeat.

She shook her head, getting to her feet. Her eyes lingered on her last son for a minute before she trudged upstairs.

Namjoon scampered out of the way as she walked past.

The room fell silent. Namjoon stared at Jungkook from across the room, who stood with his head hanging low, crying.

Jungkook didn't expect Namjoon to comfort him, so when he heard his footsteps on the wooden steps, his sobs got loud.

He clamped his hand over his mouth to hide his sobs. He didn't want to aggravate the issue. On one hand, he felt lucky that his mother didn't press the issue further.

But on the other, if she had pressed the issue, scolded and hit him, then called him back and comforted him, Jungkook knew he would have felt better. He would have felt a decent amount of loving, but there he was, sorrowing alone. Alone, just like Taehyung had said.

If his family didn't want him, why then would anyone else do?

When Jungkook was back in his room, he shrugged off his school uniform and climbed into his bed in his underwear.

Every memory he had with Jin the previous night and just a few hours ago had disappeared from his head, and he was thrown into his dungeon of misery and helplessness.

He knew it was all his fault. Whomever had put up that post about him was trying to show him just how ruthless he was, depriving his lovers of what they should be given freely.

The attention he sought from Taehyung was now more than he bargained for. He now had the attention of everyone at school and he knew quite well, he would be the centre of gossip for a long time.

Interesting events rarely happened, so whenever stuff like that arises, the students held unto the pleasure of enjoying the drama for a while longer.

Jungkook drew the duvet over his head as he cried silently. All he needed was a shoulder to cry on. Someone to wipe his tears, and maybe his memories.

This wasn't the teenage life he had asked for. Definitely not what he had imagined.

The teenage life he had dreamed of involved; getting drunk, going to parties, having numerous guys falling at his feet, having that one particular guy that drives him crazy, going for concerts, skipping classes, sitting on the rooftop under a starry night talking and making out, driving around town in a convertible, buying loads of sneakers, rapping to Kanye West or Lil Pump's songs. Being wild and crazy. Young and stupid.

Now, the life he was living was full of; boyfriends demanding sex, an annoying elder brother, a mother who misunderstood him, the whole school finding out he was gay, everyone mocking him because he wasn't a slut, a crush who lived an hour away, misguided generation, cheating boyfriends who quickly switch to other people a day after their break up, aching heart, sleepless nights.

How come some people have it easy for them without trying, while he who did everything to please everyone had it worse? It was screwed up. Unfair.

Jungkook cried until his head ached him. He didn't leave his bed to get any pain reliever. Neither did he stop crying.

And soon, he drifted to sleep with tears rolling down his cheeks.

It was by 7 that Jungkook woke up.

Someone was at his door. Knocking.

He threw the duvet off and leapt at the door, unlocking it and flinging the door open.

Namjoon stood outside the door. His eyes held pity.

"Are you crying?"

Jungkook slapped his face, feeling for tears. "No, I'm not." He wiped his eyes and cheeks. "I'm not crying."

Namjoon rubbed the back of his neck.

"Uh, mum left for work. I was going to order Pizza."

Jungkook gulped. His eyes begged for Namjoon to be a compassionate big brother and comfort him. He blinked, then shook his head.

"I'm not hungry."

"Mum said you have to eat. She said to make sure you ate a lot. I'll order a large."

Without saying another word, he swiveled and walked off, towards the stairs.

Jungkook shut the door, leaning his forehead against it. He had wished for Namjoon to be there for him.

But then again; If wishes were horses, even beggars would ride on them.

His phone was still in his backpack, under his clothes. He had no intention of taking it out soon. No intention of further hurting himself.

He went to his drawers and pulled out the first locker. He grabbed the first shirt he saw and fetched the pajamas bottom next to it.

Before changing into his clothes, Jungkook had a quick bath. He washed his hair, seeing his mother had gotten him a new shampoo and body wash. No more getting into trouble with Namjoon.

He changed into his fresh clothes and went downstairs. All he had to do was eat dinner in silence, then go back to his room and lock himself up until the next day when he had to go to school.

Lucky for him, their mother had gone to work, he didn't have to worry about her deathly glares or a surprise slap. Namjoon was capable of cussing him and making him feel like shit, but he didn't dare hit him.

Namjoon had placed two plates on the coffee table and was sitting on the couch when Jungkook got downstairs. The pizza was yet to arrive.

Jungkook left the living room and went to the kitchen, taking a sit on the dinning table where he had come out as gay the precious night.

The memory of the tension he had felt made his throat dry and he wondered how he had survived the confession.

He placed his head on the table and shut his eyes. He would rather sit there than be in the living room with a thick ass air hovering. He tried not to think about what the next day would bring. When the time came, he would face that bad experience there and then, not face it before it happened as well as when it happened. It was like dying twice.

Jungkook's head still lay atop the polished wooden dinner table as he counted to distract himself, when the Pizza arrived.

Namjoon called for him. "Let's eat before if gets cold."

Jungkook sighed, standing to his feet before he walked back into the living room.

If it were up to him, he would take his food to his room but knowing Namjoon, he would only stop him, so he sat on the twin couch.

Placing three slices on Jungkook's plate, Namjoon passed it to him. "If you need more-"

"It's enough."

Namjoon's mouth hung from unspoken words but when he realised himself, he pursed his lips into a thin line.

"O..kay," He said, nodding then sat on the chair, carrying his own plate of Pizza.

The tension in the room could choke a person, suffocate them.

Jungkook held unto the piece of Pizza, staring at it. If it were before, he would have devoured it in seconds. But the once appetizing meal didn't appeal to him the least bit.

He could feel Namjoon's side eyes on him.

The TV was on. A movie was playing, but the characters didn't excite anyone to look at them.

If only Namjoon would leave him alone. He wasn't helping him. He was, in fact, pushing him down. Why wouldn't he just be on his own inside of torturing him into sitting there and making him feel like an idiot.

Jungkook dropped the Pizza. He couldn't eat in that condition. Namjoon would have to beat him to sit there because he was going to his room.

He shuffled on the couch, sticking his feet into the slippers.

"Where are you-"

"My room." Jungkook got to his feet.

"Sit down and eat here, Jungkook," Namjoon said.

"I don't want to eat here."

Jungkook continued to walk away with his plate.

"Jungkook, I mean it."

Ignoring Namjoon, Jungkook began climbing the stairs.

"Jungkook!" Namjoon called sternly, getting to his feet.

"What?!" He didn't turn back. He walked on.

Namjoon chased after him, then gripped him by the wrist.

"What is it? Leave me alone!" Jungkook wriggled his hand, and tried to pull it away.

"Eat in the living room," Namjoon began pulling him.

"I don't want to!"

"Mum said you have to eat."

"I will. In my room. Leave me alone, Namjoon hyung!" He yelled, pushing Namjoon away.

"Why are you so stubborn!?"

"Why can't you leave me alone!? You never help me out! You never look out for me! You never side me or defend me! Why do I have to listen to you!? Leave me alone! You're a monster! And I don't want to have anything to do with you! I hate you so much! I hate every single thing about you! I wish I never had a brother because you're a self-centered asshole and-"

The words were taken from his mouth when he Namjoon's hand connected with his face.

Jungkook's tears gushed like a river from a rock as he stood, staring at Namjoon in shock.

"Y-you hit me," He stuttered.

Namjoon, himself, looked taken aback by his action. He released Jungkook's hand and his face drowned in guilt.

"J-jungkook, I'm s-"

Jungkook pushed past him and ran to his room, screaming and wailing like a person about to die.

-

I honestly wanted to finish this book this year, but I'm like nowhere close to the ending 😶 So, see you next year on the next chapter ❤😘

Anyways!! 🤓 Happy new year to you all!!!!