Once she finished with Jin, Jinsol excused herself as she had to go back to school. She had missed two classes already, but she could still attend the rest if she left quickly.

“Thank you,” Taehyung said, avoiding her gaze. He hated asking her for help, because now, he owed her for the shirt and for Jin. She knew way too much, and it worried him.

“It’s a secret again, right?” Jinsol asked, as if she had read his mind. Much to his disagreement, he nodded, quite embarrassed. “It’s fine. I won’t say anything. That’s not up to me anyway.” He smiled, not too convinced. He guessed he could trust her, since Jin, and also the rest of his brothers, seemed to trust her too.

Walking through those streets honestly scared her. She hoped Taehyung would offer to walk her, but he didn’t. And she knew it was for the best because Jin needed some company more than she did.

It’ll be fine, she told herself.

She made her best effort to be cautious and to look around her all the time. Whether she was being paranoid or just too careful, she didn’t care. Those streets looked terrible and she feared for her life; and it didn’t help that, during half of the time, she felt like someone was watching her back.

She sighed in relief when she found herself out of that place. She ran all the way to her next class and by the end of the day, it was all normal again.

From: Unknown number

This is Tae. Jin says thank you.

(10:55)

To: Tae

Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to visit tomorrow too.

I’ll help him with the wounds and I’ll see if I can

take some food with me!

(11:10)

From: Tae

Geez. Jin is smiling like crazy.

(11:11)

Jinsol bit her lip at the message. Hopefully, Taehyung was just kidding. She didn’t know how she would reject Jin yet. She honestly hoped he wouldn’t bring it up again, but judging from today, she could see it coming.

She put her phone down and began to focus on studying, reminding herself that getting into a good college was her main priority for now.

“Tae?” Jin called. Taehyung was getting the food ready in the “kitchen”, which was not really a kitchen, but there was an old stove, and he had brought a pot from their kitchen, which was enough to heat some instant noodles.  

“Coming!” he replied from the kitchen. He was carrying four bowls of ramen and two cups of tea. He was struggling to open the door, but he made it just fine. “You were hungry?”

Jin smiled and nodded, as he took the chopsticks and put some food inside his mouth. It was melting there; it was so delicious, and hot, and spicy. He felt in heaven. He stuffed his mouth with more and more. There weren’t side dishes, but he didn’t care at all.

“Here, have some of this one. It has shrimp!” Jin said happily. His cheeks were full of food, and he made sure he gave some of the delicious shrimp to Tae. The youngest stuffed his mouth with food too, enjoying absolutely every second of it. He missed Jin so much, and he was incredibly happy to have him right in front of him. Even if they were in a disgusting place, and even if they were eating crappy food, he was happy just because Jin was there.

When they finished eating and Taehyung took care of the dirty plates, he hurried up to the room. He didn’t want Jin to be alone, not even for a second.

“So…” Jin started, and Taehyung looked at him a bit nervous.

“How are the kids?” Taehyung guessed. Jin chuckled, but his smile faded away quickly.

“So… “ Jin repeated, “How are you?” he asked.

Taehyung thought about the answer, and it all flashed as a movie in front of him.

He was so scared, and when he noticed he was breathing heavily, he knew it was over. He held back the tears, feeling a tight sensation inside his chest. There it was. The question that he had been waiting for. Everything in Jin’s voice screamed warmth. His tone, his facial expression, the worry in his look… Taehyung felt the unshed tears forming and he turned around, trying to hide them quickly, but Jin’s face softened and hurried up to comfort him.

“It’s okay, Tae,” he assured him, patting his back, “I’m here now.”

“I know,” Taehyung whimpered as he nodded understandingly. When Jin pulled him into a hug, it all fell. Jin was physically hurt to the point where breathing caused him pain, but there he was, pulling him into a hug as if nothing hurt at all. And suddenly the strength, the courage; it was all gone.

“Hyung, I’m really sorry,” he tried to suppress a sob on Jin’s shoulder