Work Text
07:30; Jungkook is heading to his work place in downtown Busan , the few leaves left on the trees are falling, winter is around the corner. The cold wind is somehow soothing to him, but he knows that he soon won't be able to keep going to work on his bicycle. Winters here are really cold, and biking in the area he lives in is quite dangerous; in fact, that's what his mom says to him every year even though he's now a 23 years old adult. It's just him and his mom at home, and Blue, their 12 years old labrador. Jungkook doesn't mind though. He never does. It takes him 15 minutes to get in front of the building. He makes the most of those calm and lonely rides everyday, since the rest of the day in the company is always chaotic. He's the boss personal assistant and to be honest it's pretty hectic. If it was only about taking notes during meetings, bringing him coffee from time to time and remembering with exactitude his daily schedules, it would be easy. But it's actually the opposite. He never met anyone like his boss before, he's too young to be managing this business and it shows. They recently accepted a huge project, which requires buying an entire building in the most posh district of the city and if it wasn't for Jungkook handling almost everything, they sure would be declaring bankruptcy. He likes it anyway, since he's always too busy to be thinking about anything else, time goes by really quickly. “Jungkook sweetheart you're finally here ! M. Kim has been asking for you for the last 10 minutes, it sounds important !”, Holly, the secretary informs him as he reaches the first hall. “Thank you, I'm on my way!” he replies heading to the elevator but wondering to himself what it is that his boss did this time. Once in front of the door, he knocks two times before entering the spacious office. “Here you are, my savior !” M. Kim declares, “I need you to go to the building in Haeundae. I'm losing patience. There's some sort of contract with their tenants and they can't evict them until they find another place to stay. The problem is one of them refuses to move out… Maybe if you negociate with them directly we'll find a way to make them leave...” “Maybe if we offer them a financial compensation...” Jungkook replies, dumbfounded that his boss didn’t think of it ahead of this conversation. “Perfect! I'm willing to give them twice the value of their apartment if they accept to finally leave. I'm losing money everyday it can't go on!” Jungkook agrees with a nod of his head, well aware of the fact that some major investors started doubting the project and leaving them. - The building they're targeting is quite far from the company so Jungkook has to take the bus. He doesn't drive unless he has no choice but to do so, driving is one of the things that gives him anxiety so he'd rather stay away from the wheel. Fortunately he lives in a big city and it's easy to travel by public transport. As he gets off the bus he sees a little grandma on the crosswalk, having trouble carrying bags. “She must have gone grocery shopping on her own”, he thinks to himself. Jungkook then rushes to help her, he picks two enormous plastic bags away from her hands with a smile. “I was doing just fine by myself young man!” the old lady exclaims, smiling back at him, eyes sparkling. “I don't doubt it for a second. Where are you headed to ?” “I live there, in this big ugly building !” she replies with a chuckle, pointing across the road with her little finger. Jungkook glances towards the said building and instantly stops walking. It doesn't take long for him to figure out that the person he travelled the city for, is, in fact, this witty granny. And he starts to understand why nobody has managed to convince her to leave her apartment yet. She seems carefree and mischievous, but not in a bad way. He's now lost in his thoughts, searching for a way to handle the situation, when he realises the grandma has stopped walking as well and is now looking at him like he's the most amusing thing she's ever seen. “Are you going to wait for the traffic light to turn red little one ?” Jungkook trots back to her with a grin, shaking his head. He knows he has to tell her what he just realised, but the woman is too endearing. He hates to make anyone sad. So he just starts walking next to her again without a word. They get to the apartment block in silence. Jungkook starts handing the bags back to the old lady and opening his mouth to say his goodbyes but the later seems to have other plans. She pulls him by the sleeve into the hall, her expression daring Jungkook to say something. “Come inside I'll make some tea, you can have a cup before going back to what you were doing before. That's the least I can do to thank you !” she declares, still dragging him by the arm. The young male may not have met this woman since a long time, but, there's one thing he's positive about, and that's that she won't take no for an answer. They both enter the building and the old woman starts leading the way. Jungkook is taking in his surroundings, as he visits for the first time the place his company is supposed to be buying. The neighbourhood may be modern, but inside this building, it's a whole other story… It looks kind of old and worn out. He wonders if his boss knows about the actual state of the building, because it doesn't seem like him to acquire this kind of property. He has to keep in mind to talk about it with him later today. “I know right… The place looks really creepy now that everybody left… But It used to be a very lively apartment complex believe me !” The woman sighs, her tone softer then before, noticing his expression. “Sadly, they want to kick me out as well, I've lived here since decades and I'm being asked to leave because some company decided they wanted to make this place a hotel or something I'm apparently 'too old to understand'”. It instantly breaks Jungkook's heart, because in some way, he's also the reason of the frown he sees on the old lady's face. And he wishes he wasn't. Because no one should be forced out of a place they love and call home. He really can't imagine the look on his mother's face if they were asked to leave their own house, a home holds so many memories. "Can I call you grandma?" Jungkook blurts out without thinking. It takes him less than two seconds to realize what he just asked the woman and he instantly hide the blush on his cheeks with his hands. "O-oh sorry... That's not what I meant... I- I really should think before talking..." He's now stuttering like a kid. The old lady, on the other hand, is beaming and her smile reassures Jungkook, she pats his head with a little chuckle. "Of course you can little one!" she replies but can't stop giggling. "I never had children but I now get to have another boy calling me his grand mother! This is really funny!" Jungkook wants to know the reason why she doesn't have any children and wonders how it is possible for someone to have grand children without having children in the first place. But, this time, he actually thinks before talking and feels like it might be too personal to ask someone you've just met. So, he chooses not to say anything and opts for a shy smile. “You're really cute ! Just like my grandson ! He hates it when I call him cute though… Boys will be boys.” - Jungkook is seated in front of a flower covered cup of tea, chatting with the grandma he now calls Grandma Sookja; she pressed him to do so for almost 10 minutes and once again, she just wouldn't let it go. “So tell me, Jungkook, do you study? Do you work ?” Jungkook knows he has to tell her the truth now but a loud knock and the sound of a door opening prevents him to say anything. “Grandma I'm home ! Are you ready to… Wait? Grandma !!! What are all those bags in the doorway ? I told you to wait for me to go grocery shopping ! You shouldn't be carrying all of this by yourself !” Sookja just smiles shaking her head in silence. They hear shuffling sounds of a coat and shoes being removed and put aside and Jungkook clears his throat, clearly not at ease with the situation. The boy Jungkook is hearing seems angry and he doesn't know if discovering a stranger having tea with his grandmother in his living room isn't going to make him angrier. He's getting nervous, he hates to annoy people… And he knows it'll only get worse. Sookja seems to notice his anxiety because she nudges him and whispers : “Don't worry little pumpkin, he's a puppy, barks a lot but never bites.” “I hope you weren't talking about me just now ? ” The said puppy asks, eyebrows raised, smirking. Jungkook finally looks up, and he's met with a man he thinks might be around his age, really tiny looking. He can't find anything scary about him as he eyes him up and down, surprise written all over his face. His big doe eyes turn even bigger when the puppy boy looks at him directly and Jungkook changes his mind right away, the boy's stare is scary. “Who is this grandma ?” His eyes don't leave Jungkook's ones. “This is Jungkook, the boy who helped me with the shopping bags you were complaining about just now… Stop what you're doing Jimin-ah you’re scaring him...” Sookja declares, chuckling. Jimin's eyes are still on Jungkook, scanning him. Jungkook just nods his head, confirming what the grandmother just said and Jimin's stare softens a little but Jungkook can still see doubt in it. And he understands, he'd have the same reaction if it was the other way around and he was walking on a stranger having tea with his grandma. The tense atmosphere dissipates a bit and Jimin takes a seat in a big old armchair; Jungkook can't help but notice he's still glaring at him, since he's staring at him as well. Sookja then starts laughing loudly and both the boys look at her. “This is not a staring contest ! You look like kids !” Jungkook lowers his head, it's right, they're both being borderline childish when they're adults. Jimin just shrugs his shoulders in disbelief as his grandmother starts telling him briefly about her day to change subjects. “...This little pumpkin here saw me having trouble so he came running to help me ! I adopted him as my other grandson, look at him !” She makes cooing sounds looking at Jungkook. “So don't worry I did not hurt my back this time Jimin-ah.” Jimin nods before looking at the taller boy in front of him. “And what do you do for a living Jungkook-si.. Wait, how old are you ?” “23” Jungkook is still too shy to make full sentences. “Oh.. So you should call me hyung ! I'm 25 !” Jimin looks happy with the news but tries not to show it. Jungkook bows once before mumbling his next words. “R-right… Jimin H-hyung it is then. I'm working for the company that's buying this building.” The last bits of the sentence are said at a ridiculously high speed but Jungkook couldn't keep it anymore. They had the right to know, and even if he fears the disappointed reaction of Sookja and the angry one of her grandson, he can't lie. He never does. The silence following his announcement is heavy, and he doesn't dare to look anywhere else but his thighs. When he finally does, his eyes meet a very confused Jimin, who opens and closes his mouth multiple times, seemingly not knowing what to say. And a rather calm looking Sookja, which doesn't really surprise him. Jimin is the first one to talk. “Do you mind explaining how the fuck-” “Jimin, language.” “I don't care right now !” He's angry. “Did you use sympathy to get to my grandmother ? Don't you think you're making this already sufficiently difficult with the tens of letters we're receiving, the calls, the threats from our landlord ? You're now putting up an act to get to her this way… I can't believe it !” Jimin shouts, throwing his hands in the air. Jungkook doesn't know what to reply. He's overwhelmed with this whole situation and it's making him breathless. The older boy's words hurt him a lot and he can't really blame him. The truth is, he himself didn't know about the threats and everything Jimin mentioned before, knowing his boss, he might not be aware of it either. He just shakes his head. “Please get out...” “Jimin-ah let him explain first will you ?” The old lady never fails to amaze Jungkook, even in this moment. “To hear what ? Lies ? Please grandma… Don't you think you've had enough of all of this bullshit by now ??” The older boy now looks more hurt and tired than angry, Jungkook can even hear it in his voice. “Language. I'll only ask you one question Jungkook. Did you know who I was when you came to help me on the cross-walk earlier ?” “No.” Jungkook says with difficulties as he looks at her in the eyes. “I swear. I'm sorry...” “That's all I wanted to know.” She declares with a little smile. “Now please get out.” Jimin's voice sounds final, it startles the younger one. Jungkook gets up quickly and stumbles his way to the door, half putting his shoes on before leaving them both alone in their apartment. - Jungkook feels really bad as he makes his way to the bus stop, the lump in his throat doesn't disappear until he gets back to his office. He hates himself for what happened, he should have said the truth to the old lady the second he realized what was going on. This whole situation would have been easier for everybody… He made two persons sad. And he still didn't even face his boss yet, but he thinks he won't be too pleased by this turn of events. Not only did he spent half the day out for nothing, but he also have to announce to Mr Kim that the building seems way more damaged than what they thought. The financial investment is important and the company can't be mistaken on this one, it would only lead to serious complications and nobody wants it to happen. Jungkook wonders if he has to talk about the landlords behaviours with the grandmother and her grandson… He can't put up with harassment and he knows he has to do something about it. Not because he pity them or because he's seeking for forgiveness, but because this is one of the few things he doesn't tolerate at all.For the second time this day he walks up into the building but he doesn't even react to Holly's cheerful comments like he did in the morning. The talk he's going to have with his boss is playing on a loop in his head, his anxiety is taking over as he imagine it all. He keeps trying to find the perfect way to explain himself but his mind is making it harder and harder. He finally decides to knock. Two times. And he inhales deeply before entering the room. “Is everything ok Jungkook ? You look like you've just seen a ghost or something ?” Mr Kim pauses. “Wait… Don't tell me there's a ghost in my office ?” He adds when he gets no reaction from his assistant. “No don't worry It's ok… No ghost…” “Then what is it ? I rarely see you like this. Did the meeting with the tenants went bad ?” he now looks genuinely concerned and Jungkook pales and just nods. “Tell me everything about it, we'll find a way, but take a seat first, you look like you're going to puke and the rug you're stepping on costs a fortune so I'm not letting you ruin it !” If Jungkook wasn't feeling so bad he sure would be smiling at his boss' antics right now. Who cares about an ugly rug when the future of the company is at risk. Apparently, Mr Kim does. The young man reports everything to the older one, from the story of his encounter with Sookja, to the state of the building, and he ends up by telling him about the letters they received and the landlord's doings. Mr Kim listens to the whole thing in silence, which isn't like him, and even takes his time finding the right words to say after Jungkook stops talking. “I'll go there myself tomorrow, please contact our bailiff Mr Lee, he's coming with me to make a report on the building. About the tenants, I'll talk with the landlords but you know I can't do anything about it if I don't have any proofs. Harassment is a serious accusation Jungkook. As much as I hate to say this, we need those proofs so that getting the building will be easier. I still want the old lady and her grandson out. But I want them out legally.” Jungkook is amazed. His boss hardly gets serious about anything but knowing the amount of money that's on the table for this project, of course he'd use everything to get what he wants. But the fact that he wants to use human beings and their hardships to get it, gives Jungkook a stomachache. He understands the most important thing to Mr Kim is the project though, so he doesn't voice his thoughts. “You're going back there tomorrow as well Jungkook.” The younger's eyes widden. “You go talk to the tenants since you’ve already met them, you’ll tell them we're going to take actions if they allow us to have copies of the letters they received, they'll get a compensation from their landlords. And you get to a financial agreement with them so that they finally leave. I'll drop by and introduce myself once I'm done, and everything will be solved.” Mr Kim's voice doesn't waver and the look he gives Jungkook is final, so the later just bows and makes his way out of the office before dialing Mr Lee's number on his phone. - The following night is complicated for Jungkook. He lies in bed wild awake and agitated, tossing and turning for what seems like hours. His body is exhausted but his mind just won't let him rest. The young man is used to this by now, since he's been fighting insomnia for so many years, but it doesn't get easier anyway. He keeps replaying the day in his head, pictures Sookja's face smiling at him, a genuine smile, her wrinkles making her eyes totally disappear. The fact that he was the reason of her sadness today made him feel even more guilty, when she was nothing but kind to him… It seems like he can't stop himself from hurting everyone around him, as if he’s some kind of bad-luck charm.The thoughts inside the boy's head get darker and darker as he's slowly falling into slumber, too tired to fight it any more. The last thing he sees is the cold stare of Sookja's grandson, his almond shaped eyes as dark as Jungkook's feelings.
“Jungkook, the weather is so nice today, is the sky blue?”
Jungkook opens his eyes, a single tear rolling down his cheek as he tries to calm his beating heart. The sentence still ringing in his ears. He glances at his alarm; 03:48; he knows he won't get any more sleep so he reluctantly gets up and makes his way to the bathroom. It's been ten years… ten years and still, there wasn't a night spent without a nightmare. Facing himself in the mirror he wonders, for the umpteenth time, if he's ever going to be ok. “Will it get better Hyung?”, he murmurs to his own reflection, waiting for a reply that never comes. It never does.