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" i really hope there's a kid my age. mom, do you think there'll be a kid my age? i'm not even asking for a boy anymore, just any kid? this neighborhood is so quiet, there's nobody here my age. do you think the kid will be my age? if there is a kid. or do you think.."
jungkook's mother smiled, as she stroked seven-year-old jungkook's hair, listening to him ramble on. she had just told him that a new family would be moving into the house across from theirs. they lived in a comparitively quiet neighborhood, one where she had grown up in, so she could understand jungkook's excitement. they were sitting by the window, jungkook on her lap, as they watched the moving trucks pull into the garage. a smiling man, who looked young enough, was talking to the truck driver. mrs. jeon suspected that jungkook's wishes may just have been granted.
sure enough, out of a small red car that arrived a few minutes later, a boy jumped out, full of energy. mrs. jeon smiled as she heard jungkook's tiny gasp, his eyes fixed on the boy.
"it's a boy", he whispered.
jungkook didn't think his mother noticed the way his eyes absolutely lit up with elation. but she did.
--
"mom, this is taehyung."
mrs. jeon looked up from her newspaper and smiled. standing in front of her was jungkook, beaming, and a boy who looked slightly older, but carefree nonetheless. the boy, taehyung, flashed a nervous smile at her.
"he's nine", jungkook boasted proudly.
"hello, mrs. jeon. it's nice to meet you", he bowed.
"hello, taehyung. welcome to the neighborhood. have you had a good first week?"
"yes, thank you, jungkook is very nice." jungkook beamed yet again.
"okay, mom, we're gonna go up to my room now"
jungkook grabbed taehyung's hand, who let out a giggle, and raced upstairs.
jungkook didn't think his mother noticed. but she did.
--
tuesdays were dance class days.
mrs. jeon took in the sight of the two boys walking out of the studio, drenched in sweat, one slightly taller than the other, laughing and talking animatedly about god knows what. jungkook was ten and taehyung was twelve when they both decided they needed to be as amazing at dance as g-dragon, so both sets of parents agreed to enroll their children in the local dance school. since then, every tuesday has been sacred for them, and they looked forward to the days with a passion. since taehyung was older than jungkook, as the years went by, they spent less time with each other, what with homework, friends, parties. however, they never planned anything for tuesdays, and no matter how much work one of them had for the next day, they would always push it off and go for dance class instead. neither would admit it, but it may have been more to hang out with each other rather than the actual dance class itself.
now, as jungkook was thirteen and taehyung was just turning fifteen, mrs. jeon smiled as she entered her car along with the two overexcited boys, ready to take them home.
as she drove, she could hear bits and pieces of their conversation.
"hey did you listen to that new big bang song", taehyung started
jungkook scoffed, "obviously. i live for big bang comebacks. g-dragon is-"
"-your love, your life, and your legacy. i know. you tell me literally every other day", taehyung laughed.
"not every other day. for that i'd have to see you every other day, which doesn't seem to be happening anymore.", jungkook finished with a grumpy frown.
"ah, jungkook, please, i told you i'm sorry. freshman year sucks, you know i have shit ton of homework and i have school friends too.", taehyung sighed, running a hand through his hair.
jungkook stayed silent for a while and then uttered out an "i know"
mrs. jeon knew that the younger was taking the age difference with a much heavier heart than the younger. it is always easier when you are older to forget about younger friends, but when you are younger, an older friend is a sort of role model, and no one wants a role model to stop talking to him or hanging out with him. mrs. jeon sighed softly. she knew it was tough for her son, but she also knew both boys, and they always somehow knew how to make their friendship work around even the hardest corners.
"are you doing homework at my place, as usual?", jungkook asked taehyung.
taehyung scratched his neck and sighed deeply, "actually, jungkook, i'm going to my friend's birthday party, do you remember seulgi, the girl i was talking about? she's turning fifteen."
a look of hurt and disappointment flashed across jungkook's face for a split second, but he quickly covered it up with a cheeky grin, "oh i remember seulgi all right, the girl you talked about over and over, with her amazing hair, and amazing legs, and amazing smile, and amazing-"
"shut up, i have never said any off those things", taehyung laughed and punched jungkook's shoulder lightly. his hand landed on jungkook's, not exactly holding it, but skinship nonetheless. neither boys acknowledged this, and went on with their conversation.
maybe taehyung didn't think mrs. jeon noticed. but she did.
--
the doorbell rang.
"jungkook-ah, get the door sweetie"
after a minute of silence, mrs. jeon sighed, assuming jungkook was locked up in his room, probably blaring that new shinee song, and got up to answer the door. it was taehyung.
"mrs. jeon, is jungkook here?''
mrs. jeon smiled and invited taehyung in. taehyung was violently shaking with excitement and she was extremely curious as to why the boy had come over. after all, taehyung's schedule was so packed that he barely had time for bonding with his own family, the now 16-year-old was captain of his basketball team, trying to keep up his exceptional grades, all the while having a small but firm group of friends. taehyung bounded up the stairs, tripping a little, and knocked furiously at jungkook's door. mrs. jeon couldn't help but smile.
jungkook opened the door, with faint sounds of, sure enough, shinee's new song playing in the background. jungkook looked angry at first at being disturbed, and had his mouth open, probably to retort something to his mother, but visibly calmed down and graced a smile on his face when he saw taehyung. he shot his mom a look, dragged taehyung in, and closed the door.
mrs. jeon next heard some activity only when the front door was being opened again. she walked towards the side of the kitchen and peeked her head out towards the corridor so that she could eavesdrop, she was a curious woman, wouldn't we all be? taehyung's smile had dimmed a fraction since he came in, but that familiar box was still present. and as for jungkook, mrs. jeon knew that face. that face was reserved for times when he got socks for christmas from his aunt and when he had to appear presentable in front of his least favorite cousin. she knew that smile was entirely fake, and she could hear the change in his voice. she didn't know if taehyung could recognise the change or not.
"i'm happy for you taehyung, really, i am", jungkook insisted, fake smile shining as brightly as it could, "you deserve her, she's great. tell me how it goes okay?"
taehyung grinned, "of course, jungkookie. okay bye now, see you later!"
jungkook kept the mask up for about five seconds, eyes trained on taehyung's retreating figure, hand raised in a wave, before it escaped completely and a look of pure disappointment overcame it.
this was too much. she had to know.
"what happened to tae?'', mrs. jeon asked
"oh nothing", mrs. jeon saw jungkook sigh and bite his tongue, "tae got a girlfriend. remember that girl seulgi he was talking about? her."
mrs. jeon understood. maybe it was the realization of the fact that now taehyung really wouldn't have any time for jungkook, or maybe it was the fact that he got a girlfriend in general, but now the fake smile made sense. she sensed the boy was more upset about the news than he should be so she spoke up.
"do you want to order pizza tonight?", she offered a smile
jungkook nodded, and returned the smile, and trudged upstairs, letting out a shaky breath.
he might not have thought his mother noticed. but she did.
--
actually, all she wanted to do was give jungkook some coffee. it was the day before his chemistry finals.
but as she walked to the door of his room, her hand faltered as she heard angry screaming. after initial confusion, she realized jungkook was on the phone. she was just about to leave when she heard
"taehyung can you stop? i don't care. you can do whatever you want, why should i be watching over whatever you do?"
taehyung? this was interesting. mrs. jeon wasn't going to leave now.
"in fact, i have a girlfriend too. her name is joy and she is great"
mrs. jeon knew for a fact that jungkook was not dating joy as he had just vigorously complained about her being so annoying in his homeroom class a few hours earlier.
"taehyung, you don't get it. i-"
silence.
"whatever tae, we never have time for each other, and it's fine. you're going to be a senior next year, you think you'll have time for a low-lying sophomore like me?"
obviously taehyung was denying it on the other line.
"taehyung, you'll forget about me, and it's fine. i have come to terms about that", everything about jungkook's voice said otherwise.
"have fun with seulgi. bye", jungkook finally spat out with a bite.
mrs. jeon took in a breath. she understood she understood she understood. that last line confirmed everything. in fact, she had been having suspicions for a while now, but she had decided to give jungkook the benefit of the doubt. she just hoped she could let jungkook know that his mother was there for him if he ever needed to talk about anything. jungkook was such a fragile and shy boy, however strong he may seem to be, and his feelings always got the best of him. high school was taking a toll on his grades, and although his friends were oh so kind-hearted, mrs. jeon could tell that her son was not at home with any of them.
the door barged open, interrupting mrs. jeon's thoughts, catching her like a deer in the headlights, almost startling the mug out of her hand. jungkook looked confused to see his mother so close to the door.
she offered a sheepish smile, "coffee?"
jungkook didn't think his mother knew anything. but she did.
--
it was new year's eve and mrs. jeon was planning on spending the night at home with her husband. they had a bottle of wine and two hamburgers so it was safe to say they were content. they had offered to jungkook to take him out to his favorite mexican restaurant but he had grumpily declined and slammed the door in their face. maybe it was just teenager blues or maybe it was something bigger, but mrs. jeon had learnt that if jungkook wanted any advice or help he would voluntarily go straight to her, so she hadn't bothered. curling up on the sofa, she and mr. jeon were planning on watching that drama all night.
11:38 and the doorbell rang.
there was taehyung, in all his box-smile glory, armed with coke and jungkook's favorite tacos from his favorite mexican restaurant, dressed in spongebob pajamas. mrs. jeon stifled a giggle. seventeen years old and he still wore spongebob pajamas. unbelievable. the kid was seventeen years old and still wore cartoon pajamas.
"hello, mrs. jeon, is jungkook here?"
mrs. jeon nodded and opened her mouth to call out his name when she heard a little gasp. there at the top of the stairs was her son (very maturely dressed in iron man pajamas himself) mouth open and gaping at taehyung, almost as if he couldn't believe he was there, and mrs. jeon smiled.
"come on, kookie, we're going stargazing. on your lawn. if that's okay with you, mrs. jeon", he hastily added.
mrs. jeon nodded vigorously with a shit-eating grin on her face, while jungkook walked down the stairs, same disbelieving look but a soft smile played at his lips. taehyung grabbed his hand and flew out the door after screaming a "happy new year mr. and mrs. jeon!"
mrs. jeon walked back to her couch, wanting to continue watching descendants of the sun with her husband curled up but returned to find his sleeping. at 11:45. sleeping. mrs. jeon sighed and tucked him further in and went to the kitchen to make herself some coffee. dragging a chair to the window overlooking the lawn, she opened the curtains a little bit and peeked out, sipping the coffee.
she saw both boys sprawled out on blankets with yet more blankets around them, legs tangled in the middle, empty coke bottles and taco wrappers around them.
she watched taehyung guide her son's hand to show him constellations with a smile on his face, and she saw on jungkook an equally bright smile, a look of content she hadn't seen on him in a long time.
she watched as at exactly 12:00, taehyung wrapped his arm around jungkook and whispered 'happy new year' in his ear, and jungkook, with the faintest blush nodding and repeating the phrase.
she watched them both drift off into sleep, blankets tucking them in, taehyung's arm around jungkook's shoulder, and jungkook's face buried in taehyung's neck.
they didn't think mrs. jeon noticed the soft smiles on their faces. but she did.
--
"mom, i need to tell you something"
mrs. jeon looked up from her book to see her son shaking and close to tears. she threw her book aside and grabbed her son and sat him on her lap, stroking his hair and whispering in his ear, things she knew calmed him down when he was about to cry. jungkook visibly calmed and took a breath.
"mom, what if i told you i wasn't, um, interested in girls, uh, the way i'm supposed to?"
here it was. mrs. jeon knew it was coming, she just didn't know when. she had practiced for this moment and she put on the gentlest smile she could and faced jungkook.
"i would tell you that i knew all along", jungkook looked startled and was about to speak when she cut him off, "honey, you're still my son either way, you know that, right? whether you like girls or boys doesn't matter to me, as long as you're happy, and i will still love you all the same.", she brushed off a lock of hair from jungkook's forehead.
at this, jungkook finally started crying, hugging his mother tightly, trembling from the release of pent up fear and emotion.
"i love you, mom"
mrs. jeon wiped the tears off jungkook's face, and he got up to go back to his room. a few steps away, and he abruptly turned on his heel, facing his mother.
"by the way", he started, "in case you were wondering, tae broke up with seulgi. something about his sexuality."
maybe jungkook didn't think his mom noticed the small sparkle in his eyes just the. but she did.
--
mrs. jeon doesn't know when it exactly happened. all she knows is that there were days when it became all too obvious.
days when jungkook would come home drunk on happy, lips swollen and hair tousled.
days when taehyung would come over to pick up jungkook for a movie.
days when taehyung and jungkook's laughter could be heard from his room throughout the entire house even though the door was locked. small silences between the laughter.
days when jungkook was sick and taehyung would pay a visit with chicken soup and tacos.
days when taehyung was in college and jungkook missed him so much he would actually have tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
oh she noticed. she did.
--
jungkook was excitedly bouncing up and down in his seat as if he was seven and not almost eighteen. taehyung had promised to meet him at the front of seoul national university, as the older had already spent a year there and could guide him around. mrs. jeon smiled as she saw the her son was so excited in the car, minutes away from reaching and although jungkook claimed that 'he couldn't wait to see his dorm', everyone knew he was dying to see taehyung.
they finally slowed to a stop in the parking lot and jungkook could already see taehyung, with his obnoxious orange hair walking towards them. jungkook shot out of the car in seconds and engulfed taehyung in a hug, staying like that for a while. the short peck given to him by taehyung did not go unnoticed by mrs. jeon.
as she got out of the car she heard a faint 'i missed you so much' and a 'me too' and she smiled even wider. which mother doesn't want to see her son be the happiest he could be?
taehyung, one arm still wrapped around jungkook, smiled at her, "don't worry mrs. jeon, i can take it from here. we'll take his bags. we'll be fine."
mrs. jeon pulled out jungkook's two bags from the back and gave one final hug to jungkook as she got back in the car. she would miss him.
she saw the two boys retreating, bags in one hand each, and the other hands clasped together. she saw jungkook kiss taehyung, something she knew he had been dying to do for a long time. it gave her so much happiness just to see her son so content. taehyung was a good boy.
she noticed everything about them.
--
eight years later, and there she was, sitting on the uncomfortable church bench. but comfort could wait.
she saw her son, dressed immaculately in white, walk down with her husband. she shot a wink at her husband and gave a proud smile to jungkook. jungkook looked like he had never been so sure about anything his whole life.
she saw taehyung, in a black tuxedo similar to jungkook's, at the front of the church, turning around with the hugest box-smile she had ever seen. a single tear slipped down his face, but he never looked happier.
jungkook was having a similar plight. as he read his vows and taehyung read his, the tears were freely flowing down his face and his eyes never left taehyung's. and that precious moment when they were proclaimed partners for life, taehyung kissed jungkook with all the love he could give. mrs. jeon stood up, clapping, along with the rest of the church, friends and family. the tears were falling from her face as well. she was so glad her son had found someone he loved, regardless of the gender.
she saw jungkook mouth an 'i love you', and taehyung return an 'i love you too', going unnoticed by everyone else, but not mrs. jeon.
there were so many things that may have just gone by mrs. jeon without her noticing.
but she was a curious woman.
they probably didn't think she noticed any of it. but she did.
she noticed it all.