Chapter Text
"You can sit down Jungkook, I'm not going to eat you."
Namjoon's voice is strong and stable, and everything Jungkook is not. The younger nods meekly and sits a calculated distance from his hyung. Jin follows suit, cautiously sitting on the other side of the maknae. Jungkook feels sandwiched between the two elders, and the way they're exchanging looks over his head makes him feel like he's trapped, like they're waiting for him to try and run.
"You're twenty years old, Jungkook-ah. You're a man now." Namjoon rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably.
He's got his 'Leader Mon' voice on, but with every word, Jungkook's shrinking further and further into the cushions of the too crowded couch, and he feels his tone softening by the second. Jungkook just merely nods, head bowed and fingers drilling into his thighs. He wants Namjoon to yell at him, wants him to belittle him and pronounce on him some kind of punishment, but this-this seems to be heading elsewhere and Jungkook's throat is dry as he eliminates the potential things Namjoon would want to discuss with him privately like this.
He pales when he thinks of one possible reason. They're kicking him out of Bangtan.
"I.. We're not going to tiptoe around you. You're not a child." Jin casts a dark glare at his leader, his hyung instincts kicking in, because Jungkook looks absolutely terrified, and he's not a child but he's their maknae, and the urge to care for him is so strong Jin has to fold his hands in his lap to restrain himself. Jungkook's too far gone in his fear to notice.
This is it. They're kicking him out of Bangtan. He's gone too far this time. And there's no one else to blame. He stopped taking care of himself. He screwed up. He couldn't handle it. Not Jimin, not Hoseok, not anyone. Just him. He expired all of his strikes. He had too many chances, burned through them too quickly. Jungkook doesn't dare look up, hides behind his fringe and lets his thoughts consume him. That's it. It's over.
Jungkook can feel his chest closing up, eyes prickling.
"Are you listening, Jungkook?" Namjoon's voice cuts through his buzzing thoughts, and he mumbles a choked 'yes, hyung'. "This is out of control. I don't know what else we can do."
Being an idol is Jungkook's dream. He debuted at fifteen, he doesn't know what he'll do if they kick him out of Bangtan. Bangtan is his life. His hyungs are his family, his world. And now they're kicking him out, they can't, they can't-
Namjoon's eyes widen in alarm as tears start streaming down the younger's reddened face. His shocked gaze met Jin's matching one.
He tries to continue. "I just.. We don't think you should perform for a while."
"No hyung, please I-I can handle it-"
"Yah, Jungkook-ah don't speak when your hyung is speaking." Namjoon says instinctively, and Jungkook's head drops even lower. "You won't be performing with us at the awards on Sunday. Do you understand?"
Jungkook pauses.
"You need rest. Some time to..I don't know, sort yourself out. We're scheduling appointments to see Dr. Kang, starting from tomorrow morning. Your health comes first."
That's it? They're..not kicking him out? Jungkook wipes his chin, finally looking up at his elder.
Namjoon's gone off on some sort of speech now. "It's because you don't talk to us, Jungkook. Are we so bad that you don't want to confide in your hyungs? We care about you, don't you know? If you feel like you're deteriorating, you need to tell us. If it's too much, you need to tell us. If you feel bad, you need to tell us. We want to help you, but you have to tell us. Communication is so vital if this is going to work Jungkook. You're so important to this group, but if you're not healthy, you're not doing your job. Your duty isn't to be skinny. Your duty is to be healthy and well, and a good idol for your fans, as well as an attribute to the group. Imagine if tonight had been the show. Imagine the panic-"
He's really going off now, passionate words spewing as his eyes widen with every word. But Jungkook's too caught up in waves of relief to feel ashamed. They're not kicking him out. He's here, it's okay. He has one more chance. The tension in his muscles disperse, and he's astonished by how badly his chest hurt from the mere thought of losing his place in Bangtan. Yes, Jungkook wants to skinny. But Jungkook wants his family here in Seoul triple times more. He needs this. It's going to count this time, Jungkook swears it.
"One month. Do you hear your hyung?" Jungkook snaps his attention back to the leader, who's no doubt proud of whatever speech he's just delivered. "One month. If I don't see improvement in one month.. If I don't see you trying, I'm pulling the plug and you're going home to your parents."
Jungkook feels the weight of the situation settle on his entire body. One month. He has one month to show his hyungs that he belongs here. His fingers close around the hem of his shirt nervously. Can he get his shit together in a month? He wants it, goddamn, he wants it. But his demons are so strong, so present, so eager. He's tried before, what makes this any different? He feels himself deflate with discouragement. One month. Jungkook gets a flashback of when everything started, of Namjoon wiping wares and giving him a diet plan, of himself promising he'll only use it for a month, and Jungkook cringes at the memory. One month.
Jungkook nods and Jin stands, satisfied. "It's late. We have a busy day tomorrow, come on. Off to bed." He walks out the door, and Jungkook stands and starts towards the door, but an arm pulls him back, spins him into a tight squeeze.
"You scared me tonight." Namjoon whispers into Jungkook's hair softly, and Jungkook feels pain in his chest.
"I'm sorry." He mumbles back into the elder's shoulder.
"If you're really sorry, you'll make this work. You'll..talk to us, goddammit. Let us help you."
"I'll do it, hyung. I can do it." Jungkook thinks he's trying to convince himself the most.
"Prove it then. Show me."
Jungkook fights the urge to fall into depression. Desperately.
He watches their performance at the awards show from the studio the next day. They are flawless and Jimin and Jin take turns filling in his parts exceptionally, but it's clear Jungkook is missing. However, he still wants to cry, wants to wish it hadn't gone so well, because it just shows that they can succeed without him. But that night Jungkook makes a decision with himself. This is his dream, his family, his life. And he's not going to throw it away for shit.
So he develops a routine of waking up and moving. He refuses to let himself sit still for a minute, never wants to be alone with his thoughts. He runs, he practices, he finds new places to eat so meals are more exciting, he takes his hyungs to those places, he eats with his hyungs, he practises with his hyungs, he practices by himself, he runs with his hyungs, he works his ass off. They have two more live performances in the month, but he isn't allowed to partake. The fans are restless, but after a short, vague but satisfying explanation in a broadcast, they wait anxiously for his healthy return. Each performance he watches from the studio, dancing along fluidly like he's right there on stage with them. He works, he works, he works. He attends every therapy session, and he's early to every doctor's appointment. He wants this. It's frustrating at times, but he keeps himself full. Never slows down long enough to think about it. Just does.
And he talks. Tells his hyungs everything he can, from how he's feeling, to what colour hair G-Dragon should get next. He talks so much, his hyungs have to tell him to shut up some times. But they never really mean it, and he never really does. He forces himself to go, go, go. All the time, keep moving. Keep busy, keep alive. Stop thinking so much. And it works for some time. It really does. When he looks in the mirror, there's enough colour in his cheeks to distract him from the size on his thighs.
But Jungkook can only keep going for so long. And then he finds himself with his fingers grasped tightly around the bathroom door knob in an empty dorm, heart thumping and sweat inching down his neck. He had lunch with Jimin about fifteen minutes ago, a hearty stew and three fried sides. His stomach is twisting with rejection because did he really just eat three fried sides? And expect to be okay?
"..Agh!" He slams a hand against the door, sends it shaking against the frame.
He should call someone, he should call someone. Don't, don't, don't-
Do.
Stop! Jungkook's exhausting himself with the internal battle, fighting both sides and losing.
One time won't matter.
But it will. Because one time can turn into three times, can turn into all the time, can turn into the end.
Jungkook groans out in frustration, rips himself back from the door, and runs.
He runs and runs and runs, with no direction in particular. Runs down the stairs, through the doors, down the hallways, he just runs. His feet hit the ground with an uneven rhythm but he refuses to slow down. He doesn't know how long he runs for, but then there he is, standing in front the studio door, heart hammering in his ears and lungs crying out. He sees Hoseok's figure in the glass window on the door and kicks it open dramatically.
"Can I practice with you?" Jungkook asks breathlessly.
Hoseok turns, startled, wipes his brow as the younger shuts the door behind him, seeming to lean on it for support. The maknae looks awful.
"Jungkook-?"
"Can I practice with you? Please." Jungkook repeats, more desperately this time.
Hoseok's puzzled face is almost comical, but Jungkook can't find it him to laugh. "I..I mean, of course but I'm running some of the-"
"I don't care. I just want to practice with you, hyung." Jungkook doesn't even wait for a response before shrugging off his jacket and taking his rightful position on the floor.
Hoseok blinks, staring at the maknae's strange behaviour for a moment before turning and pressing play. The familiar beat fills the room and Hoseok throws a dubious glance in the younger's direction. Jungkook's in complete concentration mode. His moves are sharp, dynamic and all sorts of aggressive. Hoseok jumps in effortlessly, sliding into formation with ease. Their steps are identical, perfect, flawless as they glide across the polished floors in synchronization. But Hoseok can't keep his eyes off the younger. His agile steps are angry and powerful, full of a force that's more than just eagerness. And his eyes, Jungkook's eyes are so dark and determined, Hoseok almost falters when their gazes meet. Jungkook's throwing his all into this, and Hoseok can't tear himself away.
But this is what Jungkook needs. His intense energy fills the room as he dances, fluid and strong. Hoseok does a good job of matching his aura, but the younger doesn't even notice. He just lets his mind blank, lets all his thoughts drown in the melody wrapping around his frame. Slowly, his choppy, angular movements begin to smooth, and he looks over at his hyung, who was totally not staring entranced by the maknae for the last nine minutes or so.
"Try and keep up, hyung!" He sends a flushed grin over his shoulder before fluently transitioning into the next formation.
Hoseok almost laughs as he twists into his new position, the tension disintegrating into the hip hop beat. "Yah, hush up and keep your line!"
They go through choreography for hours and hours. Hoseok breaks, but Jungkook keeps going. Hours and hours, Jungkook lets the music fuel him, lets the beat carry him as he lands one move after another. And the elder doesn't try to stop him, sees that Jungkook really does need this right now. So he sits by, calls constructive criticism every now and then. He doesn't know how much Jungkook appreciates it, appreciates him in that moment. Yoongi makes a worried appearance from the studio around the fifth hour that they're there, but contentedly goes back inside when he sees Jungkook's beaming face and Hoseok's fond gaze. They dance until the playlist runs out, and then the room is still. And it's like Jungkook really was feeding off of the music, because as soon as it ceases, Jungkook's on his knees, head whirling.
"I was wondering when you'd burn out." Hoseok's voice is light and cheerful, and Jungkook opens his eyes to see his hyung crouching next to him with a bottle of water and a rag.
Jungkook greedily accepts the beverage, gulping it down hungrily as he struggles to let both water and air into his body all at once. Hoseok flops onto the floor next to him, observing.
"Slow down, Jungkook-ah, you'll get pains." The older male scolds him, but Jungkook pays little attention, downing almost the entire bottle before falling back to rest his head on his hyung's thigh, chest heaving.
He can feel his heart's even thudding against his frame. It's loud in his ears, but Jungkook finds comfort in it. That's him. That's his heart. He's breathing, he's alive, he's there. He did it. He beat it. He won. He's safe.
Hoseok watches him as he stares up at the studio's ceiling, lips parted, forehead slick with sweat and eyes shining as bright as they used to, brighter even, before all of this happened. His chest fills with affection in a place that's been vacant for too long and when the maknae's eyes droop closed, he doesn't even try to protest.
After about ten minutes or so, Jungkook opens his eyes again, blinking into his vision. He finds an upside down Hoseok, scrolling through something on his phone, a content expression on his face.
"Hyung?" Hoseok's eyes find him, and he gives the younger a toothy smile before returning to his screen.
"Ah, you're up."
"I wasn't sleeping.." Jungkook sits up, ruffles his hair a bit as he tries to clear his haze, and Hoseok jumps to his feet.
"Sure, tell that to your snoring." Jungkook scoffs at his hyung's words.
"I was not! I don't snore, hyung." Hoseok's gathering his things now as Jungkook stretches his sore limbs. The burn in his bones is painful but thrilling. It's a good burn. He feels refreshed.
"Oh please. I was just about to wake you up. So much noise." The smiley elder covers his ears with a jeering grin for good measure. Jungkook pouts, only encouraging Hoseok, as the younger bends to tie his laces.
"Besides, I was not about to carry your fat butt all the way to the-"
Hoseok slaps a hand over his mouth, eyes blown.
Jungkook's fingers are mid loop when the words process. Both boys are tense, and Hoseok's holding his breath, cursing himself over and over and over because why did he just say that? And Jungkook's trying to stumble with the mixed feelings overwhelming him, because he can't tell if he's hurting or not.
A beat passes. The silence stretches.
"Yah," Jungkook slowly rises to his proper height and Hoseok's frozen, "but this fat butt can still beat you to the dorms." And when he turns, there's a cocky smirk on his face.
Hoseok blinks. Oh.
Oh.
The elder breaks out into a flushed smile, embarrassment mixed with relief gracing his features. "Yeah right!"
And then both boys are sprinting out the door, obnoxious laughter trailing after them, leaving a tired Yoongi peering out the studio in the wind.
Jin's in the middle of devouring strawberry flavoured chicken for his live broadcast when Jungkook walks in. His eyes snap up to meet the younger, who sends him a soft, polite smile before shimmying behind the camera to a corner in the room. He slips his headphones on and busies himself with his phone, so Jin returns his attention to the live stream comments, which are overflowing.
"Who's that you are looking at Jin Oppa?"
"Is it V <333"
"Jin Oppa is so handsome omo!"
"Feed V your chicken Jin!"
Jin sends a handsome smile to his fans through the camera lens, no doubt melting all their hearts. "No, no it's our great maknae, Kookie."
Jungkook spares a glance at his name, before lowering his gaze back to his task.
Jin watches as the comments erupt.
"Let's see Kookie!"
"Feed Kookie Jin omo so cute!"
"Both Jin and Jungkook in one broadcast? Together? I'd be in heaven!!!"
"Same! They're both so handsome <3"
"Oppa let Kookie taste your fruit chicken!"
"Can I pLEASE be the chicken??"
The eldest lets out a nervous chuckle, masking it by stuffing some radish into his mouth. He doesn't want to do anything that will make Jungkook uncomfortable, but he also wants to please his loyal fans. His eyes shift to Jungkook.
"Kookie-yah, come here." he says lightly, offering a warm smile in the maknae's direction.
The younger looks up with big, innocent eyes as he rises, meeting Jin in three long strides. When he's in the frame of the camera, he bows and grins charmingly at the lens, greeting the fans politely. Then he turns back with wide, curious eyes to his elder.
"Yes, hyung?"
The fans are sobbing.
Jin explains each flavour of the chicken in his opinion, shows his dongsaeng the insistent fans begging for "Eomma Jin to feed baby Kookie!"
They banter back and forth a bit for the fans' sake, but Jin's gaze is intense. You don't have to do it if you don't want to.
Jungkook's heart warms with love for his elder, knows that he's willing to take care of him no matter what the case may be. So he shifts into a more comfortable position, resting his head in his palm and dropping his jaw open in a cute manner.
The comments are blowing up.
Jin smiles widely, looks for the smallest piece he can find in the box. When he feeds Jungkook the first bite, he watches his reaction with vigilance, for any signs of panic, any signs of discomfort.
However, when Jungkook's done chewing, his face lights up with a glow Jin almost forgot the maknae could possess. "More, hyung; it's so good!"
The overwhelming amount of support that floods into the stream is unfathomable.
"Yas! My baby is so healthy <3"
"So so so good to see Kookie enjoying his meal! Jin Oppa is so hot!"
"I'm crying guys look how hAPPY Kookie is to eat from his hyung! Bangtan is too much for me T_T"
"Yassss kookie yasss! Love to see my handsome boys eat <3 good to see big hit keeping them healthy!"
"Healthy Jungkook is the best Jungkook <333 ^_^"
-are the only comments Jungkook can pick up from the feed flying past on the screen. His heart swells with affection and strength and hope and love for the ARMYs. He feels truly blessed to have such a supportive fan base, wishes he could do so much more for them, vows internally to work even harder to give them the best, healthiest Jungkook he can give.
Healthy Jungkook is the best Jungkook.
Jungkook feels like crying. He's just so overwhelmed by the immense amount of support and caring being displayed by the viewers. He wants to be better. He will be better. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he thinks he was counting how many pieces of chicken Jin feeds him, but he quickly puts a stop to that with a subtle shake of his head. No. He doesn't need to do that. Because this tastes good. This is good.
And Jin's heart is throbbing with happiness because Jungkook's accepting every piece with a bright smile, eating it all up without a trace of reluctance. He thinks for a second that Jungkook might be binging, read about it online somewhere late one night when Jungkook was sleeping under his watch. But he quickly throws that thought out the door, because Jungkook looks happy. He looks like the cheery, young maknae he used to be. And it's beautiful.
However, Jungkook starts to feel that familiar gnawing in his stomach, feels literally weightier. He swallows the current piece of food before biting his lip, uneasily. Jin pauses his chopsticks, picking up on it immediately and blinking. Enough?
Jungkook nods discreetly, smiling sheepishly and rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yah, Jungkook-ah, you're eating all my delicious chicken! Shoo, shoo!" Jin scowls playfully and Jungkook cracks a fond smile before turning to the camera and bowing goodbye. The fans send him off with well wishes and proud praise. He returns to his corner, the fruity taste fresh on his lips. But he doesn't feel repulsed. He feels good. This was good.
As Jin's wishing the ARMYs a good, restful weekend, Jungkook makes his way to the door, having exhausted every level in the game he was previously invested in. When the red light that indicates recording fades, Jin quickly stands, blurting out a, "Kookie wait!"
The younger turns in the doorway, raising an eyebrow. A silence that Jungkook's grown too accustomed to courses between them.
He starts to force a chuckle, realizing afterwards that it isn't all that forced. "You don't have to look at me like that, hyung."
Jin immediately averts his gaze, embarrassed. "Like what?"
Jungkook kicks the carpet with his toe, hands shoved deep in his pockets. "I don't know..Like I'm going to break or something." His cheeks redden slightly.
The elder looks back up at the younger. "I know, I just..Are you..okay?" he asks softly, light words carrying heavy thoughts that float around the two.
Jungkook searches himself for any remorseful guilt eating away at his mind, but surprisingly finds none. He enjoyed the segment. He enjoyed the fans. He enjoyed the food. Because it was good. A stunning, genuine smile spreads from ear to ear and Jin's taken aback by the peculiar yet captivating reaction.
"Yeah hyung...I'm okay."
And Jungkook slips up once or twice.
Has another breakdown in the Bangtan room- with Namjoon this time.
Gets back up again.
Hits an unexpected low and considers purging again.
He tells Taehyung instead who invites him to play video games. Gets back up again.
Spends time on the roof with Hoseok.
Wakes up feeling shitty and skips breakfast one day.
Forces himself out of bed and eats a hearty lunch with Jimin and Jin. Gets back up again.
Plays basketball with Yoongi.
Feels shitty for failing at basketball with Yoongi. Gets back up again.
Spends more time on the roof with Hoseok.
Cooks dinner with Jin. Does not check how much calories are in this stew.
Well, he already knows how much calories, and it's a truck load. Whatever, eats all of it anyway. Gets back up again.
Stumbles upon a hate page in the middle of the night.
Talks to Jimin and ends up spending the rest of the night in the studio, playing around with fun, hardcore choreography with him. Forgets about the comments. Gets back up again.
Yoongi lets him beat his ass once at basketball. Relishes in the moment way too much.
The hate page gets deleted. Hell yeah.
Runs with Taehyung. Doesn't focus on how Taehyung's naturally smaller than he is.
Okay, focuses a little. But gets back up again.
And that's Jungkook's month. It's not perfect, and he hasn't improved miraculously in thirty days, but it's progress. Every time he finishes his meal, every time he commends himself on getting up and getting moving, every time he focuses on the positive, Jungkook feels good. And he feels closer to his hyungs than he's ever been.
When the month is up, Jungkook wakes up with a whirlwind of anxiety in his stomach. He's been counting the days. Has Namjoon?
When he creeps into the kitchen, all the members are there, bright and vibrant and filling the dorm with a blinding aura.
"About time. We have a busy day today. The performance is tonight. It's been a while since our last, and we've been practising hard. I expect 120%." Namjoon says and Jungkook perks up.
"You'll all do well. I'll be watching with full faith. Fighting!" Jungkook makes a fist for good measure before returning to idly organizing the vitamins on the counter, a small pit of disappointment forming in his stomach. He really wants to perform again, but he knows he has to be patient. His time will come.
"Look at this maknae." Yoongi scoffs. "As if he doesn't need to work hard for tonight. So full of it." His tone is playful as he bites down his smile and makes a "tsk"ing sound.
Jungkook eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What?" his eyes shift from each widening grin on his hyungs' faces, settling on Namjoon.
"You need to hurry up and shower, Kookie-yah. We'll be late if you don't." he says simply, nursing his tea calmly, but the hint of his smirk is present behind the stained rim of his mug.
A moment ticks by.
"I'm..yeah?" Jungkook's eyes are wide and full of hope.
"Aish," Jin taps the back of the younger's head, "Didn't you hear the first time?"
Jungkook's smile is luminous. "Yes! Yes okay, thank you hyung! I'll-" and then he's pelting down the hall to the showers, fumbling to strip down on the way.
The elders laugh at their maknae's enthusiasm, fuzzy warmth exploding in each of them.
"Yes!!" Jungkook hollers from the showers, shortly followed by a shriek. "Eomma! It's so cold!"
"Two minutes!" The stage manager calls out and Jungkook is shaking.
The stage is dark, and he can only make out the vague outlines of his hyungs standing around him. He's dead centre on the platform and he feels so naked. This is it.
He can hear the audience screaming, even though they can't see him as they're below the actual stage, waiting to be catapulted up into the open, as "A big entrance is everything, don't you boys know that?"
His heart is pounding erratically in his chest, echoing through his frame. He wonders if his hyungs can hear it, but they seem too busy to notice. Stage assistants are buzzing about, adjusting Taehyung's mic, fluffing Jimin's hair, perfecting Yoongi's eyeliner, and so on. No one seems to notice that he's trembling with nerves. He's about to face the world again, live and real. They're going to see him, all of him. It hasn't been that long; still, the nausea creeps its way into his system.
But then he feels a hand on his shoulder, see Hoseok's kind eyes shining in the darkness. "You got this."
"Ten seconds!"
"Count it down with me, Kookie-yah. This is it."
10
Jungkook's mind flashes to the days he and Hoseok spent in the studio, practising tirelessly for this moment. Even when Jungkook was snappy because he couldn't nail a combination, Hoseok was patient. He's ready, he's ready. Hoseok never gave up on him.
9
He turns to his right, sees Jimin getting into complete beast mode. He thinks of Jimin's kind words oozing comfort every time the maknae needed it. Thinks of how Jimin was willing to do anything to make the maknae comfortable, to make sure he was alright. He remembers the tears Jimin shed for him, even after Jungkook had used him. Jimin never gave up on him.
8
He looks at Taehyung next, fondness wrapping around his pounding heart. He thinks of Taehyung's simple, accepting demeanour, no matter what the maknae was going through. Feel like giving up?
"Don't, come cuddle me instead."
Feel like purging?
"Don't, let's play video games instead."
Can't do it today?
"Okay. Let's go back to bed."
And even those nights where he couldn't utter a word through his tears, Taehyung was there, boxy smile and all. Taehyung never gave up on him.
7
Yoongi's behind him, eyes finding the maknae when he turns around, breathless. The elder gives him a comforting squeeze on his shoulder before returning to his pose. Jungkook's immediately reminded of all the nights Yoongi stayed up with him at the table, waiting patiently for him to finish his supper. Hours, but Yoongi stayed right by his side, patient, kind, firm. He thinks of the nights he crawled into the Bangtan room when he couldn't sleep, thinks of Yoongi's soothing voice as he laid his head in his hyung's lap while he composed, neither saying anything, just content to exist with each other. Yoongi never gave up on him.
6
Jin and Namjoon stand furthest, embodying the strength and stability in Bangtan. He turns to see them, both of their gazes trained on him. They each offer their versions of encouragement, Namjoon in the form of dimpled smile, and Jin in the form of a knowing wink. Jungkook can't help but smile back as he turns, recalls the two of them always backing him up, always listening, always caring.
5
Namjoon never gave up on him.
4
Jin never gave up on him
3
He hears the ARMYs screaming.
The cheers are deafening, and Jungkook thinks Namjoon has says something, but all he can hear is "Kookie! Kookie! Kookie! Kookie!" because they know this is his first performance back. And he knows in that moment that he's got a family behind him. A true ARMY. And he couldn't be more grateful.
2
Jungkook suddenly gets hit with a jolt of a memory.
"Did you mean it hyung?"
It's after their special interview; the boys are driving back to the studio to fit in a few more practices before heading home. They're tired, but exuberant as the younger ones bounce like children in their seats.
"Mean what?" Yoongi looks at Jimin questioningly, and the younger continues.
"Friendship. When they said to express Bangtan in one word, you said friendship. Did you mean it?" the others have all perked up now, waiting for the second eldest to answer.
"Yah, of course I meant it." he grumbles, before breaking out into a gummy smile. "We're a family, aren't we? As long as we have each other, we'll always be okay. Our friendship is something I treasure very much. I hope to be together for a long, long time."
The tension in the platform under Jungkook's feet grows and he braces himself. The lively beat echoes around the auditorium and the audience explodes with even louder shrieks and squeals. This is it. He's ready. The pressure beneath them releases and he's flying, the lights bathing him in blinding colours. The crowd erupts.
1