BEHIND THE SCENES

chapter 94: everything hurts

<OST: Orbit - Hwasa>

Bang!

Seokjin woke up to a loud sound the next morning. He took exactly three seconds to realise where he was, three more seconds to look around him and realise where the source of noise was coming from, and three more seconds to leap up from the couch.

"Ya!" Seokjin raced to the kitchen, looking frantic. "Cut it out-"

Jungkook reached for the beer in the fridge.

"Cut it out! Ya!" Seokjin ripped the bottle from Jungkook's hands and wrestled him to the ground. "You were drinking all day yesterday and the first thing you do when you wake up this morning is drink again? Are you even in the right mind right now, Jeon Jungkook?"

Jungkook stared at Seokjin for a few seconds, before grabbing the bottle and shoving Seokjin to one side. "Leave me alone."

But of course, Seokjin wouldn't. He gripped the bottle hard and yanked it from Jungkook's grasp once more, scrambling to his feet at once. "You have a CF shoot tomorrow. You're always extra meticulous in the way you maintain your body, aren't you? You should know you shouldn't be drinking so heavily today."

Jungkook hesitated as he slumped against the kitchen counter, staring blankly at the ground. "I don't care anymore... Nothing matters anymore..."

Seokjin put down the bottle on the counter top and slowly crouched to the ground, gently placing a comforting hand on Jungkook's shoulder. It pained him to see Jungkook like that. Seokjin had been with him for five whole years and was already used to seeing him moody and grumpy all the time, but seeing in the state that he was right now... really did make his past self pale in comparison.

"JK, can you tell me?" Seokjin tried. "Can you tell me what's wrong...?"

Jungkook swallowed hard, fighting back tears as he stared at the fridge, avoiding eye contact with Seokjin.

Seokjin took a seat on the ground next to Jungkook, gently stroking his back. "I vaguely heard you saying something about a liar and not trusting someone ever again yesterday, when you were completely wasted. But I want to know the full story."

Jungkook stared ahead, refusing to answer.

"You need to tell me so that I can help you."

Jungkook turned to look at Seokjin with tears in his eyes, his voice cracking as he finally spoke. "You can't help me in any way, hyung."

"I can," Seokjin assured him. "I know that in the past, I have failed to help you with your sleep, failed to speak up for your rights in front of Yang sajang-nim, failed to protect you from fans and I have failed you many times before. But we've known each other for this long now... I'm sure you know that everyday, I try to live up to my best self. I try my best to take care of you, make sure you make it on time to your schedules, make sure you're... happy. And in the aspect of comforting someone, I'm way better than you think I am."

Jungkook remained silent.

"Just tell hyung," Seokjin coaxed, as he patted Jungkook gently on the back. "I've got you covered, JK. Don't worry."

"Hyung."

"Hm?"

"I..." Jungkook glanced at Seokjin once more, this time the tears threatening to fall. "I just-"

"It's okay..." Seokjin's voice quivered. "You can cry. You don't have to hold it in all the time. Let it out, you'll feel much better."

And Jungkook wept.