Chapter Text
“Hi Grandpa, look what I found.”
Kim Jungkook adjusts his spectacles to inspect the picture.
“Oh! Throw it away sweetheart”, he says.
“Why grandpa, who is that. He looks so cute. And who is the other boy with him?”, Kim Sa Rang asks.
“Sa Ranga, I am 80 years old now and seeing this picture still hurts my love. Please throw it away”, Jungkook request.
“Sorry grandpa didn’t mean to hurt you. I will thro,,, actually, can I keep the picture”, Sa Rang asks.
“Why do you want to keep it my love?”
“He looks very cute, I just want to keep the picture of a cute boy in my phone”, she says feeling embarrassed to even entertain the thought.
“Do you want to hear a story? It’s not a funny one. It’s about him.” Jungkook asks.
Sa Rang nods rather too enthusiastically.
Jungkook chuckles. After all these years Kim Seokjin could still bring a smile on his face.
“See Sa Rang, the boy in white t-shirt is Jeon Jungkook and the one in blue is Kim Seokjin”, Jungkook starts.
“And you are Kim Jungkook? What does this mean? I have so many questions”, Sa Rang questions.
Jungkook laughs, Sa Rang was definitely his granddaughter. Patience was not entered into their blood stream.
“Sa Ranga, this is a long story. Patience my dear. You will get all your answers. Now shall I continue?”.
“Yes, please grandpa, sorry”, she laughs.
Flashback
“Which bastard can check my bike today”, Jungkook asks.
Seokjin takes a deep breath and wonders which fool decided to buy this 18-year-old kid Yamaha RX. That bike was built to be worshiped. And this kid used it like a war ship. He wonders which part needs to be replaced this time.
“Please park the bike in the checking bay and fill in the form with the details of issues you are facing”, Seokjin says, trying to remain as professional as possible.
Jungkook however had other plans. Well, there was a reason why his bike needed to be repaired every week. He took it upon himself to break something. He had developed a little crush on the new mechanic in town. And the only way to a mechanic’s heart is the machine.
Jungkook threw the keys at Seokjin’s feet. “Do it yourself.”
“Brat!”, Seokjin mutters, but takes the key anyway. Seeing privileged brats wasn’t new. Facing arrogance wasn’t annoyance anymore. He had learnt to bow his head very early in life. He was the sole breadwinner for his family. His father had passed away when he was 5 and mother when he was 16. He had to quit school to take care of his brother. Everything he did was to protect his brother.
“What’s your name?” Jungkook asks.
“Kim Seokjin sir.”
“Don’t you want me know my name?”
“No sir. I need to check if we have a spare headlight in stock. Give me 5 minutes. I will come back”, saying this Seokjin leaves a shell shocks Jungkook by himself.
Jungkook has no idea how to get Seokjin’s attention. This was the 5th time Jungkook asked for Seokjin’s name and each time he asked if the other wants to know his name, the answer was always “No sir”.
Jungkook in his true colours is a very sweet boy. He has a full sleeve tattoo and blushes like a bride every time anyone complimented the said tattoos. He learnt riding bike only to impress Seokjin, how else to talk to a mechanic. But Seokjin never gave him a minute of his day. Jungkook doesn’t know how to make conversation and his crush has taken permanent residence in my brain cells.
Seokjin returned and informed Jungkook that the spares will be available only next week and to come back for it then.
Jungkook counted every minute, every second of the next 7 days. Time couldn’t move slower for him.
But when he returned to the garage the next week Jungkook was surprised to find his father already there, screaming at Seokjin.
“Why are you taking advantage of that little boy?”, his father asked.
“Sir, I don’t know what you are talking about” Seokjin replied.
“Your company sends us a bill every week. How can Yamaha damage so much? Are you influencing him to become a drag racer? Is it your fault he got those god-awful tattoos?”, his father questions.
“Sir, I can show you the work doc sheets for all the repairs we have performed on the bike. It was really..” before Seokjin could complete his sentence senior Jeon had slapped him hard.
“Don’t talk back. This is a small town and I know everything about everyone. I know how to hurt you. I know about your little puppy. So, if you want food on your plate, you will know when not to talk back”, his father screamed.
Seokjin’s blood was boiling at the mention of his little brother. He hated that he couldn’t say or do anything about how the world treats a child with learning disability.
“Dad, please leave Jin alone. I don’t want the bike. Take it back. Just please leave Jin alone.” Jungkook exclaimed.
Would have been better had he not said anything, ain’t it?
“Jin? You are on first name basis with his bastard?”
“Sir, I am sorry.”, Seokjin bowed his head and started walking back inside the garage.
“Wait bastard. Where do you think you are going? You will leave my child alone do you understand. Otherwise, you don’t want to know what I am capable of. Do you understand?”
“Yes sir”, saying this Seokjin retreated.
Jungkook felt guilty. He wanted to make it up to Jin. But he didn’t know what to do anymore. Coming to the garage was clearly out of question.
Seokjin received a letter a week later with two lines written –
I am sorry Jin Hyung. I won’t cause you any more trouble.
Jeon Jungkook.
True to his word, Jungkook didn’t visit Seokjin anymore.
2 years had passed. Seokjin worked hard and had built his own garage. His brother was going to a good school now. He was content.
On the other side, Jungkook had become a serial dater. He had turned into town’s rogue, and his father couldn’t have been more proud. He hadn’t touched his bike. Thinking of the riding the bike still caused him pain. He couldn’t think of the bike without thinking of Seokjin. Of Jin.
It was a small town – everyone heard about everyone – the town loved Seokjin. They loved how he took care of his brother. They loved how he gave back to the society. They loved how he went out of way to help in anyway he could.
The same town hated Jungkook’s guts. He was disrespectful and took pride in annoying and insulting.
On one fateful night, Jungkook’s car broke down in the middle of the highway. He was shivering like a leaf wondering how he would survive the night when someone knocked his window.
Remember deep down Jungkook is a very sweet boy. The bad boy persona he had adapted was a façade. He kept doing everything wrong to avoid Jin. Or rather take his father’s attention off Jin.
“Jungkook shi, do you need help?”, Seokjin asked.
“Hyung! Yes. I mean, no. I am fine”, Jungkook replied.
Fright, flight, fight. He didn’t know what he was feeling right now. Maybe all 3.
Fright for darkness. Flight away from Jin. Fight, whom? Anyone who hurt Jin.
“Jungkook shi, it’s the middle of the night. It’s not safe on the highway. Please let me help you”.
Jungkook’s internal monologue was having the time of its life.
Jin Hyung knew his name.
Jin Hyung was talking to him.
Jin Hyung was being nice to him.
Jin Hyung, Jin Hyung, Jin Hyung, Jin Hyung, …
“Jungkook shi? Are you okay?”
“Jin Hyung”
“Sir, are you okay?”
“Jin Hyung, please. Call me by name.”
“Jungkook shi, do you need a lift? Shall I drop you home?”
“Jin Hyung, I am younger to you.”
“I am aware of that Jungkook shi.”
“Jin Hyung, I am so sorry.”
“It’s okay sir.”
“Jin Hyung, please”.
Present
“Sa Ranga, shall we continue tomorrow. It’s getting late.”
“Grandpa, no!! What happened next? Were you a good boy or bad boy? You seem nice now, I can’t believe you could ever be a rogue. No. No. No. Please, sleep is for the fuss. I don’t need to sleep. Continue grandpa”, Sa Rang whined.