song for this chapter: Astronomy by Conan Gray
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JUNGKOOK - 12 YEARS THIRD PERSON

The car ride home was unbelievably uncomfortable. Jungkook shifted in his seat over twenty times, trying to decide if looking straight or looking out his window would be the best decision.

Grandma had stayed behind at the party, apologizing on behalf of Jungkook and Grandpa, but mainly the twelve-year-old, still shifting in his. seat.

If grandpa's emotions could be outwardly shown, he would definitely be omitting steam from his ears and nose, like those characters in Jungkook's animated shows.

They got home after thirty or so minutes. Jungkook stayed buckled in his seat, waiting for his grandpa to come and open the door for him. And he did. Without forgetting to twist his grandson's ear, he dragged Jungkook by the wrist into his bedroom, Whiskers sitting in the little boy's arms, oblivious to the fact that he was the reason for all of this (of course Jungkook probably should not have brought him in the first place).

Grandpa's grip on Jungkook's arm and the way he threw Jungkook's bedroom door open was evidence of his anger. Jungkook stood there awkwardly with the troublemaker sleeping in his hands.

"You were not taught to behave this way, young man." Grandpa pointed his finger straight at Jungkook. Without Grandpa yelling, Jungkook knew from the sternness of his grandpa's voice and the red on his face that he was very mad at his grandson.

Jungkook hesitated before he set Whiskers into his cage and closed the gate, then sat on his own bed once again, being towered upon by his much larger grandpa. He was tall, probably over six feet.

"Do you know how embarrassing that was, Jungkook? It was very disgraceful. Do you understand that your behavior will have some effect on the reputation of your grandmother and me?"

Jungkook frowned and peered away. Twiddling his thumbs, he cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak. Quickly he was cut off.

"Listen, Jungkook, and listen well." Grandpa knelt down and held Jungkook's chin firmly, ensuring that the little boy was listening very clear. "Your parents brought you here in hopes of bringing you up in the manner that they were. I promised to teach you the same way I've taught your father, which means I will discipline you the same way, as well."

Jungkook's eyes widened, and he looked frightened. "No, grandpa, don't do it!"

"I will, boy. I will do it." Grandpa took hold of Whiskers' cage and held it close to his chest.

Whiskers crept up to the bars of the cage, sticking out his nose and sniffing for his real owner.

"Grandpa, Whiskers is—"

"A path to the actions of undisciplined children, young sir. Until you can write an apology letter to each family that was disturbed tonight, Whiskers will be with the animals in the barn. Miles will take care of him."

"But Miles is a farmer he won't know!—"

"Miles is fully capable of watching after a rabbit if he can watch over horses and pigs and cows." Grandpa waved his hand around as he listed the animals, causing the cage in his hand to slightly shake.

Jungkook held out his arms as if the cage would suddenly fall from his grandpa's arms.

Grandpa swat the boy's hands away. "To bed. Now." Then he shut Jungkook's door with a slam.

Jungkook stood still in his bent position on his floor.

First of all, Whiskers was not a rabbit, he was a cute bunny. Also, it wasn't his fault. Jungkook knew he wasn't supposed to bring the bunny, but Whiskers would be lonely with his owner at home with him.

Jungkook was always home, and so was Whiskers. So the two could never be apart, Whiskers (or Jungkook, more so) would be too afraid to be without the other.

However, he was glad he decided to bring his bunny, or he wouldn't have met Ezra.

Jungkook wondered what must have happened to her. She took the blame after all, at least when grandpa came to talk to us. If her parents were anything like Jungkook's grandparents, she probably wouldn't be allowed to a social gathering in a while.

Suddenly, the door opened once again and Grandpa walked in. Silently, he stomped to Jungkook's desk and slammed pieces of paper and a pen on it.

He turned to Jungkook. "For the letters. I expect them to be done by tomorrow afternoon."

Jungkook frowned but quickly smiled when he thought of who the first letter would be addressed to.

He sat on his chair at the desk, clicking the pen to activate it, and started on the first letter.

Dear Ezra...

***

JUNGKOOK — PRESENT TIME
THIRD-PERSON

Sitting by a round table in a more reserved café, Jungkook stared at the glass rather than the scenery outside. The glass helped him think clearly as ironic as it may have seemed. It made boundless and fast-paced motions of time seem still.

He sighed before checking his watch for the time. Jungkook didn't know whether he was five minutes too early, or too late. After all, this was his first group study since being enrolled in the academy. Out of the many group assignments Mr.Min has assigned for his classes, Jungkook has always done the work but never showed up.

He did his part and saved everyone else if they didn't do theirs. It was easier that way for him to not provoke anyone while getting work done. Then again, that's where he set himself up. Other students would know about Jungkook's kindness and use it to their own advantage.

He reported a student who tried to overwork him and was never invited for group meetings since then. Until now.

"Excuse me,"

He looked up toward the person in front of him.

"Are you Jungkook? From Professor Min's class?" Kind. That was the first thing he thought of when the male student approached him with a warm smile that could warm you up even with the bustling winds outside.

"It's Jung Hoseok from the Animal and Wild Life Center."

"Yeah, that's me." Jungkook hated his voice sometimes, recorded or not, he felt as if he sounded boring; sounded as if white paint was drying on a really giant wall. It wasn't his fault though.

If you ruined both your best friendships you wouldn't sound so peachy-keen.

Jungkook's nights have been spent in utter silence and solemn. His own consciousness reformed itself into guilt and deep loneliness that reminded him of his grandfather.

Yeah, that's what it was. His grandfather. Breaching his mind again and stripping him away from childhood and self-esteem.

Jungkook tried to sound as humanly alive as possible, "Thanks for the invite. We should be getting paid for going to classes in this type of weather." It sounded more like a forced joke but he got a chuckle from the latter.

"You're telling me? I'm surprised I even made it outside with my doorknob being frozen." Hoseok said before sitting down.

"I didn't order anything yet but you're more than welcome to. I'm basically immune to caffeine."

"Yeah same for me but for crack cocaine."

....huh?

Hoseok burst with laughter, throwing himself to the side and letting out a satisfied sigh at the end. "Man, I'm just fucking with you. Do you really think I'd still be in this place if I did?"

Jungkook faked a chuckle to hide the fact he was really scared that this guy could (practically a stranger) be a crackhead.

"Y-Yeah you're right.—"

"I do angle dust instead."

"Uh—" Hoseok's body swayed as he laughed harder this time. Jungkook gave him an awkward glare, his pupils looking him up and down, really questioning if this guy was on some serious drugs.

"Loosen up," Hoseok said after wiping the tears from his eyes. "I was here a couple of minutes earlier in my car and we basically got here the same time." Jungkook felt himself actually listening to what he had to say. Normally he would have spaced out by now.

"I watched you for a bit, not in that type of way, but I watched and you seemed..." He paused for a bit, looking for the right word to use.

"Lonely."

Jungkook stayed silent. He just met this man three minutes ago yet still, he's reading him like an open book. A part of him was mad, wanted to politely say goodbye and leave but Hoseok continued.

"I know you have a reputation of being on your own, being independent. But you don't have to infect your feelings with independence." Hoseok shrugged and plopped down on the single couch across from Jungkook.

Pulling out a candy cane and sucking on the top of it, the stranger leaned forward. "So, what's going on?"

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know I was attending therapy."

"Well, seeing as I was late to this sesh, and no one else is here yet, we'll probably be the only ones tonight." Hoseok shrugged, crunching on a piece of peppermint he chewed off his candy cane.

He was right. It was Thursday night and barely anyone chose Friday classes, meaning Thursday nights were just another Friday night.

Jungkook sighed and murmured to himself, "I can't believe I'm doing this." He looked up at Hoseok. "Look, I have absolutely no one right now so that's why I'm confiding in you. I don't want you to take me for some rando who expresses his innermost deepest feelings to just anyone."

Hoseok smiled. "If it gets boring, I'm leaving for the frat swap."

Great; Jungkook was ranting to a frat boy.

"I think you know Namjoon."

"Oh yeah, his friend Klaus is in Kappa Sigma."

Jungkook stared.

"It's my fraternity," Hoseok said, frowning in disappointment at Jungkook's ignorance towards his frat house.

"Anyway," Jungkook continued, "He's dating this girl—"

"Joy," Hoseok finished.

Jungkook blinked, then leaned forward, whispering, "Are you stalking me?"

"Dude, this school isn't that huge. News flies around like paper in a hurricane."

"Okay, yes, Joy. So lately, things between her and me have been... uh, different."

"Intriguing."

Jungkook frowned. "Not intriguing, but immoral."

"Don't tell me she had sex with you."

"God, no! Nothing that immoral."

"You went to church growing up, didn't you?"

Jungkook continued to frown in annoyance. "I'm not saying sex is immoral, I meant if she had sex with me that'd be cheating, and that's immoral."

Hoseok nodded.

"Okay, let me get to the point. The point is that we've been getting close, and I'm pretty sure that's kind of the reason why they've been fighting a lot." Jungkook sighed, scratching the nape of his neck. "I really don't want to be the reason for their fighting, but I- I think, well, I don't think I'm—"

"You like her, duh." Hoseok sat back, crossing his arms.

"Uh, yes," Jungkook said, slowly.

"Hmm," Hoseok held his candy cane in his mouth, "I think she's fair game."

"What?" Jungkook outburst. "That's my best friend's girlfriend."

"Is there a ring on her finger?"

"No."

"Did she specifically say she belonged to him?

"No, but—"

Hoseok stood up with his backpack, candy cane somehow gone now, and he walked over and pat Jungkook on the shoulder.

"Nice talk, when they break up definitely go for it."

"What?!"

"Let me know how it goes!" He smiled wide.

"But the project!—"

"It's in good hands." Hoseok handed Jungkook a candy cane. "Have a great Christmas."

Jungkook stood in shock as Hoseok walked away.

What the hell just happened?

___________

we know it's been a month
BUT CO-AUTHOR JEONSHESUS SAW SPIDERMAN NO WAY HOME SO WE ALL GOOD YK 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
anyway sorry, truly 🤗🤍🤍😀😀