8| Friends and Trust

Taehyung's POV

It's almost bedtime. I decided to go to sleep early as I have school tomorrow. I wish I had my phone right now so I can ask Jungkook if he would be turning up. I'm also low-key afraid of going to school since I would be undoubtedly exposed to evil werewolves. Not even my classmates could be trusted now. Turns out they're more than just bullies.

"Tae baby, I'm going out to have a chat with our neighbour. I'll be back soon, okay?" I heard mum from the hall before hearing the front door close shut. Who's she speaking to? I silently prayed it isn't Hwang or anyone evil who would try to—

That's it. I'm going with her. I scurried out of my room quickly and approached the front door only to be face to face with someone I never expected when I swung it open.

"Jungkook?" I beamed but before I could throw my arms around him, I heard a cough and I looked down to see no other than Jimin. "Jimin!" I hugged them both together making them giggle.

"I'm glad you're safe," Jimin stated.

"Yeah and I'm sorry.... for causing all that trouble," Jungkook gulped, scratching the back of his neck.

"It's alright, Kook, I'm glad you made the right decision finally. And... I'm glad I'm safe too. I lost my phone last night and I need to get a new one soon. Now come in you both—"

We heard someone clear their throat making us look towards the source. It was the same old man across from Hwang's, who was looking at us while chewing on something aggressively. Mum was beside him looking at us, emotionless.

"Taehyung, you never mentioned there's going to be guests... at this hour of the night?" Mum frowned, crossing her arms. "Jimin? It's nice to see you here."

"Hey, are you... Jeon's son?" The old man pointed at Jungkook.

"Yes, Sir. Nice to meet you," Jungkook responded, bowing down and extending his hand.

I saw mum's face go pale immediately as she stared at Jungkook before she started moving towards Jimin and I swiftly. "Stay away from my son!" She stood in front of Jimin and I, facing Jungkook.

"Mum! What are you doing? He's my friend!" I belted, trying to get in-between her and Jungkook only to be pulled back harshly.

"You don't know him, Taehyung. Stay away from him," Mum demanded.

Jungkook stood here with his mouth still agape supposedly from not knowing what to do. He finally decided to say, "ma'am-"

"Leave!" Mum bellowed. "Now!"

Jungkook looked at Jimin and I one last time, his expression becoming soft and pained before turning around and walking down the metal stairs making the old man chuckle.

"You both go in right now," Mum hissed, pushing Jimin and I in and closing the door behind us. "Just when I thought you could be safe for just a few minutes and this happens."

"Mum—"

"You need to tell me who you invite over from hereon," she walked over to the kitchen and started filling a glass with water. "And who you hang around with."

"But mum—"

"Let me guess," she took a sip of her water. "He's the one who invited you to lunch yesterday?" She walked over to join Jimin and I on the couch.

Before I could attempt to speak again, I waited if she had anything else to say and then began. "First of all—"

"Oh and Jimin! Why are you here all by yourself? Where's you mum and dad?" She moved closer to Jimin and wrapped her arms around his shoulders making me groan.

"I was worried about Taehyung when he didn't reply to my texts so I came over without asking my parents," Jimin faked a sniffle. "They wouldn't let me if I had asked." Mum nodded comprehensively.

"Mum, would you listen to me for once?" I hissed

"I'm always listening," she frowned looking up at me.

I rolled my eyes and continued. "Yes, Jungkook was the one who invited me for lunch—"

"Ha!"

"—but it was someone else who held me hostage."

"Well it wouldn't have happened if you didn't accept his invitation!" Mum said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Jimin looked at me worried before continuing to stare at his shoes.

"Oh you can't say that when the culprit and I share the same science class," I remarked at which Jimin raised his concerned gaze at me. "And when he's also our neighbour."

"Shut up!" Mum stood up with eyes closed tight, covering her ears with her hands. "Shut. Up." Seconds later she looked over at Jimin and I who was staring back at her in confuse. "I mean... if what you're saying is true...," she started pacing back and forth, avoiding eye contact with the both of us. "... it can't be true. You just guessed it, right? Maybe, maybe it's an assumption." She held both her index fingers up, looking at me for an answer.

"I wish it was," I sighed making her drop her hands to her sides. "But I can try and defend myself, mum. Jungkook was going to help me with it in the future. That was the plan and you chased him away. He's my... Fort."

"You consider him an object?" Jimin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, not like that but... he was going to help me with defending myself."

"Same thing," Jimin and mum said in unison.

♤♤♤

Jungkook's POV

I pulled into my driveway at almost midnight. I'm supposed to be asleep my now. Just a few hours and I'll be at school. I can't help but wonder if Taehyung will want to talk to me tomorrow. Above all, I wonder what his mother thinks of me. I wonder what she told him and Jimin. I'm not a bad person and I know it. Taehyung did try to defend me in the beginning but after a while he... gave up? He must've believed his mum after all.

I sighed, feeling hollow sensation in my chest. It's been a while since I felt this way. It's like my parents abandoning me all over again. Not to mention being the only kid to be rejected by all foster parents who visited the orphanage. I unlocked the door to my discreet, simple house and entered in, shutting it beside me and throwing the car keys on the kitchen counter. Maria was not to be seen and it was a good sign. Granted my day wasn't so bad after all.

"Jungk, I missed you!" Came the squeal behind me. I have to take back what I just thought. "Your birthday is next week and I've already invited my whole family over! It's gonna be lit!" I felt her hand on my shoulder starting to gently massage.

My birthday is next week? "Too bad I'm not gonna have a party. You've gotta call your family and call it off." I moved away from her and opened the fridge before grabbing a G-fuel.

"Are you sure about that? You're turning eighteen! You might meet your mate!" She squealed. She was right. I might or might not meet my mate for the first time. "Of course my family has to be there to see it. I'm going to be wearing that purple dress which you adore and be pretty for you, my Jungk."

I choked on my sip of G-fuel. "What dress? Don't even think about it."

"Oh, come on, babe, don't be an—"

"What did you call me?" I walked backwards from her, eyeing her curiously nonetheless I found the situation funny. "You're my maid. You work for me. Have some respect and please be appropriate." I chugged the last few sips from the can before walking towards my room and closing the door behind me.

♤♤♤

With having sleep-paralysis steal most my sleep, I rushed about in the morning, getting ready for school. It was 5:30am and I had to be in school at 6:30am. I'm the student president and I don't want to let my title down. Jungkook isn't Jungkook if he's not ten minutes late though. I drove to the nearest Starbucks, grateful that they open in the wee hours of the morning. Legends say they never close.

I ordered a random tiktok drink before driving to Namjoon's to pick him up. I kept blaring the horn outside his house for 15 minutes straight until it was 6:30am when he finally showed up wearing wrinkled clothes and mouthful of his breakfast.

"Sorry, just woke up," he replied with mouthful. His usual excuse everyday. The drive to school was ten minutes and that's how the student president, Jeon Jungkook, was always ten minutes late.

We parked at the school parking lot and just as we were about to step out, a Mercedes G-Wagon pulled up and Hyunjin stepped out of the passenger seat mid-drive. He looked rather angry as he walked towards the school gates.