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"Kookie? Bun are you okay? Why are you crying?" Yoongi asks, concerned seeing the little wailing boy at his door.
"Yoo... Yoongi Hyung..." Jungkook sobs.
"Yes, Baby? What's wrong? Did Hoseok do something again?" Yoongi asks, pulling the wailing boy in a tight hug, kissing the top of his head.
"I hate him. I hate hyung. I don't... I don't wanna go back home" he cries.
"Oh, bunny. Come here. Sit. I'll get you some water" Yoongi says taking Jungkook to the kitchen.
"Tell me now, what happened?" he asks after Jungkook calms down a little.
"I didn't want to eat that. I... I miss eomma. I don't like black food. But... But he... I hate him. He says I am trouble. I give him a headache all the time he said. I don't wanna see him" the boy complaints, on the verge of tears again.
"Kookie Baby... You know your Hyung loves you more than anything right? He really does baby. It's just... He's stressed. I think he misses your eomma too. Don't mind him" Yoongi tries.
"Am I really a trouble hyungie? Is that... Is that why she's not home. Is that why you don't visit anymore?" Jungkook asks, fresh tears streaming down his face.
"No... No bunny. Never. Please don't say that Kookie. Eomma will be back home soon. Hobi... Hobi never meant that. You are the best thing that has happened to him. To all of us. He wanted to name you Joy. Did you know that?" Yoongi says, pulling the boy in a tight embrace.
Jungkook nods in response, wiping his tears.
"Now, what did your Eomma tell you before she left for Seoul?" Yoongi asks, wiping Jungkook's face with his hand.
"She said... She told me to take care of Hyungie. She said I am a big boy" Jungkook answers.
"That's right my bunny. You are a big boy. And look you are here crying. What about Hoseokie? Don't you think he needs you right now bub?"
"Hyung must be crying. He was... I should go back, right? Come with me hyung" Jungkook flops down from the chair and takes Yoongi's hand pulling him along.
"B... But Kookie, I don't... I can't sweety" Yoongi tries, pulling away.
"Please come hyung. Hobi hyung always smiled when you came. He doesn't smile a lot. He's always", Jungkook says and pinches his face trying to show Yoongi what a distressed Hoseok looked like.
Yoongi lets out a small laugh and pulls Jungkook's chubby cheeks, "I know what he looks like when he's upset. Now c'mon let's go before he totally loses his mind".
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"Hyungie?"
"Kookie, baby please forgive me. I am so so sorry. I shouldn't have screamed at you like that. I don't know what took over me. Please forgive me bub" Hoseok comes running and fells down on his knees, pulling his little brother in the tightest hug.
"Ouch hyung, can't breathe", Jungkook winces, trying to pull away from his brother.
"Wait, what's that... Why do you smell like... Like" Hoseok starts.
"Me?"
"Yoon... Yoongi? What are you?" Hoseok asks, his eyes wide and voice confused.
"He came running to my place after I don't know what. Although I believe he should have gone to the fire station considering the condition of this place", Yoongi replies scrunching his nose looking at the burnt food and the smoke from the pot on the stove.
Hoseok quickly gets up and opens all the windows to let some fresh air in, something he should have done as soon as the first batch of the burnt pancakes.
"You might want to take that off the stove too. It's cooked... more than enough I think", Yoongi says pointing at the said pot of smoke. "What are you making anyway?" He asks.
"B... Burnt Garlic Rice. Jungkook likes it. Isn't it bun?"
Jungkook gives a small nod, too scared to say anything else that might upset his hyung again.
"It's not burnt Garlic Rice. It's just burnt rice. And if you scolded this poor baby for not eating this, I don't know what to say" Yoongi replies shaking his head.
Hoseok lets out a sigh and then falls back on one of the kitchen chairs, cradling his head in his hands. "We... We ran out of frozen Kimchi yesterday and... and I can't keep feeding him ramen all the time. So I thought..."
Yoongi stays quiet for a moment and then walks towards the counter taking out a knife and picks up some fruit from the counter.
"You... You don't have to do this Yoongi. Not anymore. We can... We can manage. It's..." Hoseok says trying to take the knife from the Omega.
"It's none of my concern. We are not together anymore. I have no right... I know everything. I have everything memorized Hoseok. But just because we aren't together anymore doesn't mean I am gonna leave two idiots who I love more than my life to poison themselves. Now leave my hand or I will chop you along with these" he threatens.
Hoseok steps back immediately. He knew he broke Yoongi's heart to pieces that day. The day he told him how he had no time for a relationship when his mother was dying, his father was always away from home with his mother trying everything possible to save his mate, leaving the store and his little nine-year-old brother for Hoseok to take care of. Yoongi never asked for anything. In fact, all he did was make Hoseok's life easier. Being an Alpha, taking care of a very young omega brother, alone, was so hard. Half the time Hoseok couldn't even understand what made Jungkook upset, what is it that he doesnt like? What was he supposed to do with a newly presented Omega? He just didn't know. But Yoongi, he made everything better. No wonder Jungkook was closer to his brother's boyfriend than his dad or hyung. But Hoseok could never do anything for his love, he had no time, no energy and the guilt was eating him alive. Yoongi didn't deserve this. Just because his life sucked, he wasn't gonna make his boyfriend's life hell too. So he did what he thought was right. He let go. Was he happy after that? No. Did it make his life easier? Not one bit. It even didn't take any of that guilt away, because now, not only did he break a perfectly fine relationship, he left Yoongi all alone. Something he promised he never would.
Yoongi's life revolved around two people, His Grandma and Hoseok. Ever since school, Hoseok was a ray of sunshine in his dark, gloomy life. At home, it was just him and Grandma. There weren't a lot of people to talk to. But Hoseok, he talked, talked enough for ten people. He told Yoongi everything, about everyone. Yoongi may not have even seen or met these people but he knew them because Hoseok told him. He would tell things to his grandma as if he was the most popular kid in the school, the kid with the most number of friends. However, he never needed more than one. He had Hoseok.
And then in his first year of college when Grandma suddenly fell sick, Hoseok was there too. He sat holding Yoongi's hands tightly, all night, praying with him. He was there when the doctor said it was all too late and he should just take grandma home, spend her last few hours with her peacefully. He took them both home and then quietly closed the door of the bedroom as Yoongi sat holding Grandma's hands, till her very last. Yoongi had no clue how he got through the funeral, he doesn't even remember a lot of it. Everything was so... So blurry. He felt numb.
A few days later when he sat , cleaning out Grandma's cupboard, sorting out her things as he held them close to his chest, he finally broke down. He was seventeen, and he had no family. Grandma's kitchen, he and Grandma had planned. She even had an outfit decided for the day Yoongi finally opens his cafe. He had everything planned. This was never part of it. How could she...? That night he spent bawling in Hoseok's arms, clutching his shirt tightly, as he stayed keeping the omega close to his chest, a soothing hand running across his back. Yoongi hardly slept that night or that week or perhaps that month, he wasn't sure. But he does remember those nightmares, those horrifying thoughts. He still hates dark places, places that are too quiet, or big empty halls. Hoseok made sure he never had to face any of those ever again, alone. He picked Yoongi up from work for his night shifts, woke up at odd hours to take him back home. He found a small, cozy place for Yoong very nearby and each afternoon Jungkook spent doing his homework at Yoongi's place while Hoseok worked at the store. It's been two years since then and Hoseok had never left Yoongi alone. Sure, he still sleeps at his own place, but Yoongi had carefully picked working the night shifts at the restaurant just to give Hoseok a break. Hoseok stood by him, like a rock. Yoongi was heartbroken for losing his grandma, alone in that big empty house, but there was not a single moment where Hoseok let him feel lonely.
"Kookie, why don't you eat some fruit while Hyung cooks something tasty. You must be starving right?" Yoongi says as he slides a plate of diced mangoes and apples towards the little boy who eagerly accepts it.
"But... But don't you have to be at work? It's about..." Hoseok asks seeing yoongi folding his sleeves, searching for an apron.
"It's Tuesday. I don't work Tuesdays. At least you must know that" Yoongi replies flatly.
"Wait a minute. What? No... No way. It can't be. I thought... I thought it was..." Hoseok stutters.
"You didn't complete the assignment yet, did you?" Yoongi asks turning to the distressed alpha.
How does he always know, Hoseok thinks to himself but then nods sheepishly. "I thought it was Monday today. I am supposed to submit it tomorrow. I haven't... I am so dead."
" Well, you still have the entire evening. If you start now I am pretty sure you can finish it by late night. Here, you too take some of this while I cook something edible", Yoongi says placing a plate of some cut-up fruits in Hoseok's hands.
"You didn't cut it cutely like you did Kookie's", Hoseok pouts making Yoongi smile.
"Get out!" he replies shaking his head as Hoseok turns to his room. "Kookie be a good boy okay," he tells his little brother who nods, his mouth full of fruits.
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"Yoongi hyung, Can you please stay? It's... It's raining... And..." Jungkook says, wrapped in thick blankets, his tiny hands covering his ears.
"My baby can't sleep?" Yoongi asks, as he pulls the little boy close.
"Yes. Please stay, Hoseokie Hyung is still locked up in his room. I don't like the thunder and it's... It's so scary" Jungkook winces as another thunder scares him.
"Oh, Kookie! Hyung is here with you. C'mon, let's snuggle okay? Don't you have school tomorrow?" Yoongi says getting into the bed with the little one.
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He doesnt remeber when he fell asleep in Jungkook's bed but when he came out a few hours later he saw the food untouched on the dining table. He goes up to Hoseoks' room seeing the lights on, "Hoseokah! Aren't you hungry? Are you done?" Yoongi asks.
"Almost. Almost. I came down when the thunder started but you were already putting Kookie to sleep so..."
"Yeah, well, he was out like a light as soon as we snuggled and so did I. I didn't even get my goodnight kiss" Yoongi pouts.
"Anyways, let me not disturb you. The food is on the table. And it's pretty late. I should leave", he says and turns to leave only to be stopped by Hoseok who had his hands wrapped around his waist, "Please forgive me Yoongi. I am so so sorry. I broke my promise" he wails, not even trying to control his tears.
"Hobi! Hey... Hey, look at me. Please" Yoongi tries. He has known Hobi for years, never had a seen him this vulnerable. Hoseok breezed through life, no matter what happened. He stood by his father, strong when his Mom was diagnosed with Terminal disease. Worked multiple shifts in school to save up for his college, worked so hard, and took such good care of everyone, all while smiling. His mother often called him her Vitamin. And now seeing him like this...
"I never wanted to. I... I hate to stay away from you. I can't seem to do anything right. I can't go to Seoul because of college and dad has to do everything alone there. I can't take care of Kookie properly, I feed him either junk or burnt food and I snap at him for every little thing when he needs me the most. I don't know what I am doing at the store anymore and I am probably gonna fail college too. And you, one thing that was absolutely fine in my life I have successfully managed to ruin that too. Fuck!" Hoseok cries.
"Hey, Hoba! I am still here right? Also, I am not stupid. Sure you don't pick me up or drop me off at work, holding my hand or kissing me before you leave but this scent, I can recognize it from miles away. Do you think if you walk few feet away from me each day, I wouldn't know? Idiot! Now c'mon go wash up. I'll heat up the food", he says trying to pull away from the Alpha, or else he will end up crying too.
"Yoonie... Do you... Can you forgive me? What I do to you... I know it's difficult but..." Hoseok manages, wiping his tears.
"What you can do right now is stop crying. You are my rock Hoseokah! I can't see this. Please. I can go through anything but not this, baby. And there's nothing to forgive. I understand. Alphas are dumb. Now leave my hand and come down soon" Yoongi replies, cupping Hoseok's face in his hands.
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"Here is what we are gonna do. I am gonna take care of your meals and Kookie. Till your finals, just focus on college and the store. Once that's done, you can go to Seoul if required and Mr. Jeon can be back home for a bit. If everything goes well, Mrs. Jeon will be home even before we know. Yeah?" Yoongi suggests as he fondly watches Hoseok stuffing his face with food.
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"And what about the other assignments? have you spoken to your teachers? maybe they can allow..." Yoongi stops looking at Hoseok's dazed expression.
"Jeon Hoseok are you even listening to me?" He asks, irritated on getting no answer.
Hoseok stays quiet, staring at him, and says, "You have the most beautiful lips in the world., God, I just wanna keep kissing you, like all the damn time. It's been... 62 days and 12 hours since I last felt them. Come here" he replies, looking dazed, focused on Yoongi's small pouty mouth.
"I'll murder you with my bare hands. I am talking about something serious here. And you..." Yoongi starts.
"Shhh... Let's not ruin the moment" Hoseok interrupts him, shutting his mouth successfully with a kiss, pulling him on his lap.
"Idiot! You have no shame", Yoongi scolds, no actual bite in his tone. He pushes Hoseok down on the couch and lays his head on his chest, nuzzling his nose against the crook of Hoseok's neck inhaling that enticing scent he had been missing for days. "We should sleep," he mumbles, pulling the throw blanket over them.