The Art Teacher | Jikook ✓ | The Next Chapter

Chapter 12: The Brotherly Bond

Jungkook

I puff my cheeks out as I read a message from Jimin saying he won't be at work for a while because of his heat. Since I wasn't really feeling the whole work thing today, it's sad to see that the blond won't be around to keep me company.

Maybe I should take a break.

"Jin," I say into the phone once he picks up, "Jimin is apparently in heat. Could you send him a care package for me? The stuff I get Ki-moon?"

The blond is silent for a while. "Well, Jimin isn't at home."

My eyes widen. "He's in heat and not at home? Is he okay? Is he safe?"

"He's fine. He's with his boyfriend-manfriend-whatever."

I pause. "Oh. Are you at the dorms?" I chew on my thumb, tapping my foot.

"Yeah. Is there something you need from the boys?"

"Well, I heard Ki-moon has been overworking himself and it's making Jung-nam do it too. So tell Moonie that he's taking a break and that I am too. I'll be over to pick him up."

Jin chuckles. "Does he not get a choice?"

"Not this time. Ki-moon isn't a baby, but he's still my responsibility and I care about him. I hate making decisions for him because I don't want him to think I see him as unfit for steering the ship of his own life, but this isn't because I'm someone who sees him as incompetent due to his fertility-class. It's his worried big brother."

"Moonie is passed out with Jung-nam on the floor of the dance practice room. I'll pack up his stuff for him and I'll take care of Jung-nam while Ki-moon is away," Dae-ho says.

I chew on my lip. Ki-moon wouldn't want to seem incapable, but this is Dae-ho. None of the members see Ki-moon as unfit, but Dae-ho has known him the longest. He wouldn't be upset, would he?

"Thank you. Please stand in for Ki-moon during his absence."

"Aye, aye."

-

"Jung-nam needs to take his suppressants and shower before sleeping in his bed," Ki-moon mumbles, half-asleep with puffy eyes. He stumbles to grab his things and I quickly grab him and he scowls.

"The anti-stink supplements. Got it." Yong-gi makes the okay symbol with his hand and Nam-gi cuffs him.

Dae-ho rolls his eyes, a sleeping Jung-nam on his back.

"Oi, respect your elder, shithead." Yong-gi cuffs his younger back.

"You two need to get along."

Nam-gi chuckles. "We get along fine. We've known each other probably just as long as Dae-ho and Ki-moon have. We knew each other before Asp!re."

"Weren't you two rivals?" Jin asks. "Joonie says you competed a lot underground."

Yong-gi adjusts his hat. "We were still friends. Nam-gi was the one who invited me here in the first place. Said something about not joining until there was another competent rapper in the group." He smirks smugly.

Jung-nam's eyes crack open and he plays with Dae-ho's earringless earlobes. "Ki-moon has a really pretty rapping voice. It's like he's sing-rapping. It sounds really nice in Japanese." He rubs his eyes with a tiny fist.

"Ki-moon doesn't count. He's good at everything and doesn't call himself a rapper." Nam-gi explains.

"That's because I'm not a rapper." Ki-moon leans against me for support. "But thank you, Jung-nam."