➵ jimin
i stared out of the car window, watching the trees and buildings zoom by. i'd always been thankful that I grew up in busan. i loved the beautiful scenery. i almost never wanted to leave.
"what are you looking at, hyung?" jungkook chirped, glancing over at me for a second as he drove.
"nothing, really. just thinking."
he frowned. "you've been really upset lately, what's going on? and don't lie to me, i can see right through you."
he then pulled into a parking lot, and my spirits lifted a bit when i saw we were at my favourite restaurant in busan. it was a popular place for lunch and dinner, and their meat was known to be among the best.
"come on. good food will take your mind off things." jungkook climbed out of the car, winking at me. this was why he was my best friend; he knew when not to bug me about certain things, and he always kept a positive attitude even when i was completely miserable. we balanced each other out.
"table for two, please," jungkook politely requested. the host, who was extremely handsome, nodded and picked up two menus, beckoning us to follow. he seated us at a small table off in the corner, away from the loud chatter of the other patrons.
"your server will be right with you," he said with a quick smile before walking away.
"he was totally checking you out." jungkook gasped quietly as soon as the man was out of earshot.
"he was not!" i protested, but i had to hold myself back from laughing. jungkook had been desperately looking for a guy for me ever since i told him i'd never dated anyone. but his search had turned up few results, and i'd had enough awkward blind dates to last me a lifetime. i'd told him to call it quits, but that didn't stop him from occasionally pointing out options, like the cute host.
we focused on the menus for a few minutes, although i already knew what i was having; i got the same thing every time i came here.
"hi and welcome. what can I get you two today? anything to drink other than water?" a cheerful woman approached us, notepad in hand.
"i'll just have water, please," i asked. she nodded, writing it down.
"and for you, sir?"
jungkook pursed his lips, thinking. after a moment, he sat back. "i'll have water as well, please." nodding, the waitress swiftly walked away to get our drinks, and jungkook crossed his arms, looking right at me. "so. are you going to tell me what's actually going on? i know it's really bothering you, hyung. you're barely talking. it's quite unlike you."
"i..." i rested my chin in my hands, sighing. "it's nothing. i'm just overreacting," i reassured him.
jungkook gave me an unimpressed look. "i told you in the car, don't lie to me."
i met my best friend's gaze. realizing it was pointless to try to avoid talking about it, i rubbed my hands over my face. "fine. my um, my parents have been fighting."
jungkook smiled gently. "oh, jimin hyung don't blame yourself for that! it happens all the time. you know my parents argue freq–"
"about me." i bit out, a bit harsher than intended.
his face softened. "oh." he reached across the table, taking my hand in his and gently rubbing it. "i'm sorry, hyung. you know i'm here for you, right? always and forever?" i attempted a small smile.
"always and forever." i repeated the phrase we'd said since we were kids.
"i'm sorry, am i interrupting?" the waitress said, having suddenly appeared at our table with our drinks.
"no, it's alright." i told her, pulling back and sending her a polite smile.
"great. are we ready to order?" she inquired as she sat down our drinks as well as a couple straws.
jungkook nodded, handing her our menus. "i'll have kimchi ramen, and he'll have the stew kimchi jjigae, please."
"right on it. shouldn't be too long!" the waitress excused herself and hustled away to attend to another table.
i decided to try to steer the conversation away from my slowly crumbling family life. "so, how's the job going?"
jungkook rolled his eyes. "honestly, i hate it, but i need the money. like, my boss is so demanding and rude, he always makes comments about how..."
i tuned him out as he rambled on about his new job, my mind drifting to my parents.
i was brought out of my reverie when my phone buzzed against my thigh. i took it out of my pocket, unlocking it to see a text from my brother.
jihyun 👦🏻: can you come get me? im scared
immediately, my heart beat quickened as i rushed out a reply.
me: what's wrong??? where are you?
jihyun👦🏻: at home. please hurry. they're breaking things.
"kook, i have to go, in so sorry. my brother is at home and m-my parents are getting violent. i have to go get him like, right now. can i take your car?" i stood quickly, shooting an apologetic glance towards my best friend.
"go get him and bring him here. i'll wait, okay?" jungkook smiled sweetly at me, although his eyes showed the genuine concern he was trying to hide for my sake.
"okay. i'll be back. thank you." he passed me the keys and i started backing away, toward the front door of the restaurant.
"be safe, hyung." jungkook called after me as i rushed out the door towards his car. i slammed the keys into the ignition and started it up, clicking my seatbelt on.
i drove out of the parking lot and quickly merged with the traffic, although i planned to take quieter roads to ensure that i got to my brother faster.
"oh, for fucks's sake!" i slammed my hand against the steering wheel when a car cut me off, nearly hitting me in the front.
it didn't take me long to reach home; by taking the quieter roads i avoided the traffic lights and busy intersections. when i pulled up to my house, i sent jihyun a text.
me: im here, go out the back door when it's safe.
jihyun👦🏻: ok be right there
a few moments later i heard a crash that sounded a lot like glass breaking and a loud yell that sounded a lot like my dad. i felt like crying, but i knew i had to be strong for my brother when nobody else was.
soon i saw him running across the lawn in sweats and one of my old t-shirts, visibly crying. he yanked open the passenger door and climbed in. "go, please! get as far away as we can, please hyung." my brother cried, voice hoarse.
i sped away from the house-turned-hell, driving back towards town. "we're gonna go back and see jungkookie, okay? he's waiting at the restaurant." i spoke in a gentle voice as I drove.
when jihyun didn't respond and i only heard sniffles, i sighed before pulling over. i unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned over, wrapping my arms around my brother and holding him tight to my chest. i could feel his sobs as he tightened his grip on my arms. "our f-family is falling a-apart, jimin hyung."
i closed my eyes as i realized how right he was: our family was falling apart, and i didn't think i could be the glue any longer.
no glue was strong enough to fix this.
