Chapter Text
Spotify Playlist for Unexpected Us
Page One
“You have three months to live.”
It came as horrifying news to Jungkook but for some reason, he wasn’t as shocked as he probably should've been. He simply sat and watched as his father seemed to crumple in the chair beside him.
“I’m sending you home with pills to take every night and a wristband to track your heart rate. From this day forward, no sports or running, if you can avoid it, and try not to do anything else that could put stress on your heart,” the doctor explained, handing the boy a small device about the size of an eraser.
Jungkook nodded, temporarily mute from the news, as he tugged gently on his father’s arm.
“Appa, let’s go now,” he said, softly.
He knew it wasn’t easy for his dad, learning that his only son is on a time limit, but Jungkook couldn’t handle his father crying.
“Doctor…”
The doctor glanced at the crying man in the chair.
“Mr. Jeon?”
“I’ll like to place my son in the hospital for his remaining time,” Jungkook’s dad murmured.
“Ah. Well, that’s not recommended but if you really want to, I’ll have the arrangements made,” the doctor replied, hesitantly.
“Appa, no. I’m okay,” Jungkook pleaded.
“Jungkook, I want you to be comfortable. I don’t want you stressing about life,” his father said, looking up at Jungkook with teary eyes.
“But I want to keep going to school! I want to live my life,” Jungkook retorted.
The doctor smiled sadly at father and son.
“It really is better for him to continue school, Mr. Jeon.”
“What about Namjoon-hyung? I want us to be able to get married before I…I die. We can’t do that from a hospital room,” Jungkook pointed out.
Namjoon was the son of Jungkook’s father’s best friend, a huge company owner. When Jungkook began needing constant medical help, money was short and his dad had agreed to a business marriage between the two boys, simply to help pay the medical bills. Jungkook didn’t mind though. Namjoon, who went to his school, had been Jungkook’s idol, now crush. Now, at the mention of the marriage, Jungkook’s father sighed, looking up at his son, grief written all over his face.
“Okay, Jungkook. I’ll let you stay in school. It’s the least I can do for you,” he finally agreed.
“Thanks, Appa,” Jungkook said, smiling down at his dad.
Flash. Flip.
The sound of paper
Then, suddenly, Jungkook was outside of school. Students crowded the sidewalks, laughing and catching up. Jungkook didn’t know how he had forgotten the ride home from the appointment. In fact, he didn’t remember a single thing about the previous evening. He frowned in concentration, trying to remember.
“Jungkook! I found you!”
The familiar voice made Jungkook spin around and grin at his friend, Hoseok, who was running towards him, crazily waving.
“Hi, Hobi-hyung,” Jungkook greeted him as the older boy fell into step beside him.
“So? How was your appointment on Monday? I haven’t been able to ask all week. Sorry about that,” Hoseok apologized, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, nervously
Hoseok was called Hobi by Jungkook and just about everyone else who knew him. Hobi was a really friendly and outgoing person and that was one of the reasons Jungkook loved to hang out with him. But, because Hobi was a grade above Jungkook, the younger still had to address him as ‘hyung’.
“All week? Hyung, this week has barely started. My appointment was yesterday, you know that, right?” Jungkook explained.
“What are you talking about? Your appointment was three days ago,” Hoseok replied in a baffled tone.
Jungkook felt just as confused as his friend looked.
“What day is it today then?”
“Friday.”
Jungkook stopped walking. Hoseok paused as well and glanced back at Jungkook, smiling.
“I know. This week went by fast, huh? Want to hang out tomorrow? I have two tickets to that new movie,” Hoseok said, temptingly.
Jungkook thought about what he had said, pushing his apparent memory loss away for the time being. Hoseok simply waited for his friend’s answer.
“Actually, I have a family dinner with Joon-hyung,” Jungkook finally replied, smiling shyly when he mentioned his crush and fiancé.
“Okay, Kookie. Fine. I’ll give the extra ticket to someone else,” Hoseok fake sighed.
“Jimin?” Jungkook teased, catching up with Hoseok and nudging him, playfully.
Jimin, someone Jungkook had heard too much about, was the quiet boy in Jungkook’s class who was known for his good looks. He was also Hoseok’s crush.
“Maybe. I don’t know,” Hoseok smiled.
“I’ll wish you good luck on you asking Jimin out but I want you to wish me luck on my dinner date with Joon-hyung,” Jungkook said, pulling on Hoseok’s arm, expectantly.
“Okay, okay. Good luck. But, Kookie, you know how I feel about Namjoon. He isn’t going to treat you well. He’s one of those guys who are just indifferent and have no feelings whatsoever. He snubs you constantly,” Hoseok complained, clearly worried about Jungkook’s future.
“I don’t think he’s all that bad…” Jungkook trailed off, his words lingering in the air just like he lingered, spotting his future husband arriving just then.
Hoseok sighed, seeing Jungkook’s face light up almost instantaneously.
“Go ahead. Go see your snobbish fiancé who won’t care even if you trip in front of him.”
“You’re the best, Hobi-hyung!”
With that, Jungkook ran to catch up with Namjoon.
“Hi, Namjoon…” he began, gazing up at the older boy whose face was stone cold and just as unfeeling as Hoseok had said.
“You forgot to say hyung. Be respectful at least,” Namjoon snapped in reply.
Jungkook smiled, ignoring his fiancée’s icy tone.
“Dinner tomorrow is at your house, right, hyung?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t. You can count on me, hyung,” Jungkook went on, smiling up at Namjoon.
“I have math class. See you,” Namjoon finally said before abruptly turning the other way.
“Okay! Bye!” Jungkook called after him.
He watched as his crush walked away.
Flash. Flip.
He was sitting in class, the sounds of the classroom filling his ear. Jungkook blinked, looking around wildly. He had no memory of walking to class; his memory loss was slowly becoming unavoidable.
Flash. Flip.
To Jungkook’s horror, he found himself standing in the middle of the street. The light was red, cars were stopped, and Jungkook was simply frozen in shock on the crosswalk. He spun around, eyes wide and brain muddled and bewildered.
Flash. Flip.
“Jungkook. Jungkook?”
Jungkook shot up out of his seat at the dinner table. His father, Namjoon, and Namjoon’s parents all stared at him, surprised at Jungkook’s sudden reaction. His father leaned over, looking mildly annoyed.
“Jungkook, sit down now,” he hissed before smiling, awkwardly at Namjoon and his parents.
Jungkook felt his face burn with embarrassment and he quickly returned to his seat, fixing his gaze on the full plate in front of him.
“As we were saying, Jungkook, we want to change the wedding date to suit your current needs. Do you have any suggestions?” Namjoon’s father asked.
Jungkook shook his head, suddenly too shy to speak. He heard Namjoon sigh, dramatically. The adults simply stared, expectantly. Jungkook cleared his throat, lacing his fingers in an attempt to calm his nerves. He knew he had to say something. He just didn’t know what.
“Ahem. Well. Jungkook, if you have any questions or complaints about you and Namjoon’s wedding, please speak up,” Namjoon’s father finally said, awkwardly.
Namjoon stood up abruptly at the mention of the wedding.
“I’m done. May I be excused?”
Namjoon’s parents shifted uncomfortably but nodded, nevertheless. Namjoon frowned before scooting his chair out and retreating into the living room. The table fell silent except for the clinking of silverware.
Flash. Flip.
It was noon in the cafeteria. Hoseok was sitting beside Jungkook, devouring his lunch. He glanced at Jungkook, rice grains clinging to his cheeks.
“What are you waiting for, Kook? Come on! Eat!” Hoseok exclaimed, nudging Jungkook’s tray closer to the younger boy.
“I…I’m going to go get some of the dried squid. Be right back,” Jungkook muttered before jumping out of his seat and making his way to the food line. Behind the counter stood the mysterious but incredibly good looking cafeteria worker, Seokjin or who the other braver students fondly called, DriedSquidFairy since he was always the one serving the dried squid. Plus the whole female population worshiped him and his looks. He was definitely a dried squid fairy, that’s for sure. But Seokjin was so mysterious. He flirted with everyone who had the guts to flirt with those sharp eyes seeming to stare into their souls but he never showed actual interest in anyone. Nobody knew where Seokjin lived or what else he did to support himself financially. In fact, nobody even knew what he did besides serving dried squid and killing girls with his winks.
“Hey, Jungkook. Here for some more squid?” Seokjin asked when he saw Jungkook.
“Yeah. Sure,” Jungkook sighed.
“You don’t sound okay,” Seokjin remarked, spooning the squid onto a plate.
“I’m not okay,” Jungkook laughed, bitterly as he took his plate. “I’m having delusions, memory loss, and skipping days.”
The look Seokjin gave Jungkook was beyond mysterious, clouded with something Jungkook couldn’t place. He leaned in, beckoning for Jungkook to move closer.
“What kind of delusions? Memory loss?” He asked, his voice a whisper.
“Y-yeah…it’s like a page flips, like I can hear the sound of paper and then I’m somewhere completely different in a completely different time. It’s so weird!” Jungkook explained, wondering why the older boy was acting so weird.
As Jungkook finished his explanation, Seokjin’s face paled and he looked like he’d seen a ghost. After a moment, the elder cleared his throat and smiled, weakly at the confused younger.
“It’s probably nothing, Jungkook. Have you been doing a lot of school work?”
Jungkook nodded. “Too much.”
“It’s probably stress then. You’ll be fine,” Seokjin said, reassuringly.
He turned around, his back to Jungkook and the younger took that as his cue to leave. He walked back towards Hoseok who was waving him over. Suddenly, the boy walking past him with his head lowered, stumbled and fell forwards, dragging Jungkook down with him, making him fall flat on the seat of his pants, dried squid raining down on both him and the boy who had tripped. Jungkook pushed himself up with his hands and glanced at the boy beside him who was also trying to get up. Jungkook recognized the messy brunette hair, now sprinkled with Jungkook’s lunch. Two bambi eyes peered out at Jungkook, skeptically. It was Jimin, Hoseok’s crush. Already, Jungkook could see Hoseok hurrying over. The cafeteria had fallen silent. And then, the air changed.
Flip.
It was the same sound Jungkook heard before every time skip but this time, he stayed in the cafeteria, same time, same awkward and rather messy situation. The atmosphere had changed though. Jungkook saw Hoseok push his way through the crowd of students to get to his best friend and his crush. Jungkook tried to get up and move so that his best friend could have the pleasure of helping his crush up but Jungkook couldn’t move. It was like he was stuck in the spot he was in, helplessly watching. Just as Hoseok was about to offer a hand to help Jimin up, another student barreled through the crowd. Yoongi, one of the school’s well known heartthrobs. He took one look at Jimin, who was still on the floor and obviously still in mild shock, and swiftly looped one arm under Jimin’s, helping the younger boy up. Hoseok simply stared, eyes wide with confusion as he watched Yoongi brush the dried squid off Jimin’s clothes and hair. When he was done, Yoongi pressed his hand down on the startled younger’s head and frowned.
“Who did it, Park?” He asked, voice harsh and more menacing than Jungkook had ever heard it be before.
Jimin stared at the older boy. He still hadn’t said a word since the whole incident began but that changed when he lifted a finger and pointed at one of the snobby and unfortunately well known girls in the school.
“Joon-da did it,” Jimin murmured and Jungkook noticed that the younger’s grip on Yoongi’s sleeve tightened; he was obviously frightened, poor boy.
Yoongi pulled his arm away and approached the said girl, the rage in his eyes undeniable as he glared down at Joon-da. She smirked back up at him, filing her perfectly manicured nails, calmly. Yoongi smiled back but the smile was dripping with hatred and sarcasm. He just as calmly stuck out his hand and threw the shocked girl’s food on the floor. The entire cafeteria gasped in horror and anticipation at what was about to go down. Once she had gained her composure, Joo-da flew up from her seat, now just as furious as Yoongi.
“How dare you do that to me, Min Yoongi?! Pick my food up now!” Joon-da demanded.
“And what’ll you do if I don’t?” Yoongi questioned.
“I…I’ll…I…I…” Joon-da stammered, lost for words.
“Exactly.”
Yoongi spun around and stalked away from Joon-da, grabbing Jimin’s wrist and dragging the younger out of the cafeteria.
Snap.
The air crackled then returned to normal. Hoseok remained frozen in his spot however, staring at the cafeteria door as it slammed shut. Jungkook shifted on the floor, finding he could move again. Something made him turn to look at Seokjin, who was standing behind the sink in the kitchen, dishcloth in one hand, plate in the other, looking just as frozen as Hoseok but in fear not anger. Jungkook glanced at Hoseok thought he saw flames dancing in his best friend’s eyes before they faded and Hoseok turned to the younger with a tight smile.
“Are you okay, Kook?” He asked, holding out the hand originally meant for Jimin.
“Yeah, hyung. I’m fine,” Jungkook replied, pulling himself up to his feet and refusing help from Hoseok.
The elder nodded but he seemed to be distracted.
“I know,” Jungkook said, sighing and patting his best friend’s arm.
But, to be honest, Jungkook really didn’t know. He didn’t know what was going on with the world. Something seemed to be changing and he didn’t exactly like it.