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There have been many embarrassing points in jungkook’s life, like the time he ripped his trousers in the middle of school while trying to show off his new cartwheeling skills and spent the rest of the day trying to hide the rip or like the first time he went on a date and spilt banana milk all over his date because he was so nervous. So yes, many embarrassing moments he never wished to have to relive but this, right now, takes the cake.
Sitting alone in a Mcdonald’s at 3 in the morning is not how jungkook thought the night would go. Add in the fact that he is soaking wet from the rain and only had enough money for a small bag of chips he doesn’t feel the best. He imaged the night would go a little something like this: he would go to pick up his girlfriend of 6 months and take her out on a nice dinner date at a restaurant she has been wanting to go for a while, maybe they would end up at his place for some after dinner cuddles and after that whatever happens, happens. Life, however, had other plans, which is why he finds himself here alone, hungry and broken-hearted.
With a pained sigh, he reached over for another chip. Quietly munching on it, he sulked and tried to find where it went wrong. Things had been going very well between them. They went on a date once every week and tried to spend as much time together as possible without smothering each other. His friends liked her, and hers liked him. Arguments were rare between them, but when they did argue, he always made sure to apologise and talked it out to make sure things were okay. His parents seemed to like her, and the few times he met her, they were friendly and kind to him. So what went wrong?
Huffing, he slid lower down in his seat to rest his chin onto the table. His clothes were dripping onto the floor, making little puddles around his chair. The water from his hair was dripping into his eyes and onto the table, some drops feel on the chips, making them a little soggy. Too tired to care about the mess he was making jungkook closed his eyes going through each text, call, meeting they had trying to find what he did wrong.
Was I not good enough? Did I do something to upset her? To drive her away? Did I not try enough?
Slowly a tear fell, followed by another and then another until jungkook was softly crying. Moving so he could put his forehead onto the table instead, jungkook didn't try to stop the tears. He was tired and hurting. So he sat there for a while silently crying, trying not to alert anyone working or anyone walking in as to what was happening.
Too wrapped up in trying to stay quiet jungkook didn’t notice someone approaching him. The stranger cleared their throat to get his attention but too embarrassed to look up jungkook closed his eyes tighter and turned his head away from the figure. Trying again, the stranger cleared their throat louder. Realising that the person won’t leave jungkook drew his shoulder closer to his ears, making himself smaller.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you. I’ll be quieter.” jungkook said softly hoping the stranger would leave after his apology.
Instead of walking away, the stranger sighed and took the seat opposite jungkook. Stunned jungkook turned his head a little in the direction of the other man and slowly opened his eyes. It was a man wearing the McDonald's uniform with the cap pulled low over his eyes. From his position, jungkook could see the small pouty mouth and button nose of the stranger. His skin looked soft but a little pale, tired. A hint of what jungkook thought were dark circles could be seen under the man's eyes. He must be tired. He must be tired, and here you are making his job harder.
Hastily jungkook sat up straight wiping the tears on his cheeks and eyes trying to make himself look more presentable and less like a mess. The man looked up from under his cap and silently studied jungkook’s face. Knowing he probably had red eyes and blotchy cheeks jungkook shrunk back in on himself with heat travelling up to his cheeks in embarrassment. After another moment of silence, the man across from him sat up straighter and pulled his cap off. Ruffling his hair, he looked around, checking for anyone who may have walked or maybe feeling just as awkward as jungkook. Jungkook studied the man; his hair was a dark black colour looking like it has seen better days. Feeling eyes on him, the stranger turned back to face jungkook.
An awkward silence embraced them. Nervously shifting jungkook tried to think of something to say. The man didn’t look angry or annoyed at his crying, but he didn’t look impressed either. Finally, the man let out another quiet sigh and leaned in closer.
“Are you okay kid?” He asked in a quiet voice. Jungkook hesitated for a moment. Was he okay? No. Did he want to talk about it to this stranger? He supposed it didn't matter, the man doesn’t know him and will probably never see him again so what’s the harm.
Slowly jungkook shook his head, hesitant and unsure in his movement. The man looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to elaborate. Looking down at his hands jungkook drew in a small breath, “My girlfriend dumped me.” The man let out an ‘aah’. Shuffling, he sat back and crossed his arms, looking more comfortable now that jungkook was talking.
“Were the two of you serious?” he asked. Jungkook shrugged. Looking up at the man, he sat up straighter and mimicked his position.
“I guess. We dated for like 6 months,” he replied quietly.
“6 months, huh? Must have been pretty serious for you to be crying.” jungkook knew that the man didn't mean it in a mean way, or at least he hoped, but the sting of the words still made embarrassment rush through his body. Feeling his cheeks heat up once again, jungkook slid lower into his seat, hoping that if he slid down enough, he could disappear.
Noticing the boys embarrassment the man leaned over the table again, “Hey, no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you or hurt you.” The man said softly. Slowly looking up at the man jungkook saw that the man genuinely meant it.
“It’s fine.” jungkook shrugged. Squinting the man observed the boy. He still looked upset but didn't look like he was going to cry again. Trying again the man leaned in a little closer.
“Look, I know I'm just a stranger and you don’t have to tell me anything but if you wanna talk about it I'm all ears, okay? If not then I’ll drop it.” softly the man tried to coax jungkook into feeling more comfortable.
A few silent moments passed. Jungkook really didn't know what he wanted. Maybe talking to a stranger would make him feel better but then again jungkook struggled to talk to his own friends, talking to a stranger about something so intimate doesn't feel right. Thinking it over jungkook came to a conclusion.
“I really appreciate the offer, but I don't think I want to talk about it…” shyly jungkook looked up to gauge the man's reaction. The man simply nodded and leaned back into his seat. He grabbed his discarded cap from the table and fixed it into place back onto him. A small tingle of disappointment rippled through jungkook. Sure he didn't want to talk about what happened nor did he know the man but the company was nice. Biting his lower lip in hopes of hiding his disappointment, jungkook lowered his head.
A soft knock against the table made jungkook look back at the man. Now standing up, the man looked down with a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. “D’ya want something to drink? You’ve been shivering the whole time we talked.” surprised jungkook blinked up at the man. Slowly he shook his head,
“I don't have any more money.”
“Don't worry, it will be on the house.” the man's smile grew a little. Still stunned, jungkook just stared at the man again. Softly promoting jungkook, the man raised an eyebrow. “Well?”
“Oh, can I have a hot chocolate, please?” jungkook replies quietly, still shy. Giving a curt nod, the man walked off, leaving a stunned jungkook behind.
After 10 or so minutes, a different man walked up to jungkook with a large hot chocolate. Thanking the man softly jungkook took the cup and looked back at the till searching the black haired man. Unable to spot him, jungkook sighed and looked back at his cup. A small smile crept onto his face as the warmth from the drink slowly started to warm up his hands. Picking the cup to drink jungkook saw something written on the other side of the cup. Turning it towards him, he found a note left that said: if you ever do want to talk about it to a stranger here’s my number xxxxxxxxxxx. Also, my name is Yoongi :)
Ducking his head jungkook allowed a smile to grow on his face.
Maybe sitting alone at McDonald's at 3 am isn’t the worst thing that could happen.