Chapter Text
EVICTION NOTICE.
The red stamp on the envelope wasn’t exactly subtle. In fact, Jungkook had thought that the red stamp was just a trope, and in real life a letter informing him that he’s to vacate his apartment is rather more discreet. Something like “important, private information enclosed” but no, now his mailman and the apartment concierge know that he’s being kicked out. Where does it end?
After opening the letter and reading all the gumpf about how he hasn’t paid his rent in months, Jungkook slams the paper on the small dining table in the kitchen, knocking off a precariously placed vase with flowers from the force of his anger. He had got the vase from a thrift store and flowers from a park, to try and brighten up his almost empty apartment, so the irony of the last scrap of joy shattering wasn’t lost on him.
Jungkook notices it begin to rain outside, heavily, angry storm clouds shrouding the city, perfectly enunciating his mood. With a heavy sigh, he takes a last proper look out of his seventh floor apartment window, admiring this particular view one more time. Even in the rain, the city is perfect. The neon lights from buildings and billboards look aesthetic, like they’re exactly the right shades of pinks and blues, and none of them are tacky.
Jungkook has always lived in this city, in fact he’s never even considered moving anywhere else, why would he? It’s got everything he needs, it’s pretty, and his best friend in the world lives here.
With that thought, Jungkook pulls his sleek flip phone from his pocket, to text Taehyung the news.
Been evicted because I can’t make rent, I don’t know what to do, there’s no jobs anywhere. Can I stay at yours for a couple of days?
He pressed send, and got an immediate read receipt from Taehyung who quickly typed back.
Of course, do you want me to come and help you with your things?
Jungkook’s heart warmed, amongst the absolute crap of the situation.
No it’s okay, I don’t have much at this point.
He put his phone away in his pocket and began packing what little worldly items he had left, figuring he may as well leave the last bits of furniture and nicknacks that he hasn’t sold since he’ll have nowhere to put them anyway.
Though the eviction notice gave him 30 days, he knew he couldn’t just sit alone in the apartment that whole time, it would be too depressing. Besides, home is where Taehyung is. Or at least that’s what he longed for.
Even if he did find a job tomorrow, he would never catch up on the months of rent missed, so this was a way out of the lease. Jungkook knew deep down he had to hit rock bottom to scramble back up.
With a heavy heart and one last goodbye to his apartment, which was once a beautifully decorated space, with modern-retro furnishings and an impressive VHS collection which he has since sold, Jungkook shuts the front door behind him and wheels his suitcase down this corridor for the last time.
The city is cold and damp, but still vibrant nonetheless. Jungkook admires it as the bus takes him to Taehyung’s much larger apartment, of which Jungkook cannot figure out how Taehyung can afford. They’ve been best friends since their early teenage years, yet Jungkook still can’t figure out his enigma of a best friend.
“I’ve got a job with the city.” Taehyung had said matter-of-factly, the day after his interview a year ago. “Basically a building inspector. I’m very perceptive, you know, it’s why I was hired for the job”.
Though Jungkook was incredibly happy for his best friend’s new adventure in the working world, he couldn’t for the life of him figure out how Taehyung had bought such a nice apartment only 3 months after starting the job. Does the city pay that much for building inspectors? Jungkook wouldn’t know, they didn’t respond to any of his job enquiries, and Taehyung always had some reason or another why they weren’t currently hiring.
Jungkook presses the button on the bus to alert the driver that his stop is next, and begins to get up and grab his suitcase while the bus is approaching the stop, trying not to fall over. Once at a complete halt, Jungkook departs the bus, thanking the driver with a small bow of the head on the way out. The doors close behind him and he heads straight into Taehyung’s apartment block, of which the bus stop was right outside so he didn’t have to lug his suitcase around in the rain.
Taehyung is waiting in the apartment lobby, sitting on one of those round sofas that wrap around a palm tree planter. The lobby was beautiful, adorned with classy neon signs and modern water features.
Upon noticing Jungkook, Taehyung stands up and runs to him. Jungkook immediately ditches his suitcase and runs too, meeting him in the middle of the lobby with a warm hug, The pair stay entwined for a solid minute while Taehyung pats Jungkook’s back and tells him it’ll all work out, and he’ll find a job in no time.
“Come on, I’ll get your suitcase,” Taehyung jogs over to the abandoned suitcase and wheels it to the elevator for Jungkook. They descend to Taehyung’s floor, which is only one down from the penthouse, and as they enter the large apartment, golden hour shines through the windows, the rain now completely stopped and cleared. Being with Taehyung always felt like golden hour, and the sky truly reflected that now.
After some light catching up together, Taehyung cooked dinner for them both. He placed a hot plate of grilled pork belly in front of Jungkook who was sitting patiently at the large glass dining table by the window, and swiftly joined him with his own plate and two bottles of soju.
“To better days,” Taehyung toasted, holding his own bottle of soju.
“I sure do hope so,” Jungkook agreed, raising his own bottle, which he clinked with Taehyung’s.
“I promise you, a job will come up soon. The universe works in mysterious ways, you know.”
Jungkook chuckled at his best friend’s optimism, “if you say so. Well first thing tomorrow I’m going to ask if there’s any jobs at the gym. I had an amazing idea on the bus: if I get a job that would potentially let me live there, that would sort out the housing situation. The gym has showers, a cafe, internet, it’s perfect.”
“You could live here…” Taehyung suggested. Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat.
“I-I couldn’t do that to you, I don’t want to be a burden for more than a few nights max,” Jungkook stammered.
Taehyung shook his head, “don’t be silly, you know you’re welcome here as long as you need.”
“I know, but I wouldn’t be able to pay you enough rent to live in such a nice place, and I need to sort my life out anyway,” Jungkook lied. Of course he’d love to live here, but the subtext - that he could never tell Taehyung - is that living here would drive him crazy. Not because they wouldn’t get along, but because Jungkook wouldn’t be able to sleep in the room next to him every night and not be awake all night wishing he was in Taehyung’s bed, cosy and cuddling.
Seeing Taehyung every single morning, hair a mess with that deep morning voice and sleepy smile, it would be too much to see every day and not slip up and kiss him. Taehyung has expressed interest in women many times over the years of their friendship, Jungkook needed to get over Taehyung and living with him would only amplify it.
“Okay well, if that’s what you want, I’m sure the exact right job will come up that can provide that.” Taehyung says assuredly, “it’ll be nice having you here for now, though. It’s like having a sleepover, but as grownups with no bedtime!” Jungkook laughs in agreement, he loves Taehyung’s sense of whimsy and childlike nature, that only seems to come out around him, when he has his guard down.
“It’s not like we stuck to the bedtime rules when we had sleepovers as teenagers,” Jungkook remarked.
“True, but now no one can tell us off. Hey do you remember that time we had a sleepover at yours, I think we were around 13, it was past midnight and I kept making you laugh on purpose because I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay quiet, your Mom went mad at us!” Taehyung remembers fondly, laughing just picturing the scene.
“Of course I remember, we were 14 actually and it was July, a Friday to be specific, my bedroom was so hot I think it was making me extra delirious or something, never been more scared of Mom…” Jungkook shudders but with a laugh at the fond memories that only became fond after the fact.
“How is your Mom anyway?” Taehyung asks.
“Mm, she’s good,” Jungkook hums, knowing full well he needs to do better at contacting his parents.
“It’s been a while since you reached out, huh?” Taehyung quizzes, almost like he read Jungkook’s mind.
Jungkook scoffs, “how did you know?”
“I’m-”
“Perceptive, yeah I know,” Jungkook finishes Taehyung’s sentence.
“Yep, and don’t forget it,” Taehyung replies.
“I never forget.”
After demolishing dinner, knowing it’s been far too long since the last time he ate that well due to his financial situation, Jungkook got ready for an early night knowing that the best time to go job hunting was first thing before everywhere got busy.
The night passes quickly, Jungkook sleeps the best he has in weeks knowing that Taehyung was nearby. When the morning comes the sun is bright and Jungkook is ready to hit the streets and try his luck.
“We are actually hiring personal trainers right now,” the gym clerk says, pointing to a “hiring” sign posted a bit further down the reception desk. Jungkook takes a glance at it, ‘3 years personal training experience needed’ it says.
“When you say 3 years experience is needed, does that mean I would need to have worked as a personal trainer somewhere else for 3 years?” Jungkook asks, already starting to feel flat about this inquiry.
“Uh, yeah I suppose so,” the clerk replies, as if Jungkook’s question was too obvious and she was doubting her own understanding.
“So how do people get their first personal training job, if they need 3 years personal training to get it?” Jungkook asks, really hoping he sounds curious rather than condescending.
“I don’t know? I just work at the reception,” the clerk replies helplessly with a small shrug. Jungkook nods slowly, choosing not to press the matter anymore. This hasn’t gone to plan at all.
With a quiet “thanks” and a small bow, Jungkook turns around and leaves the gym, deflated already and it’s only 9am.
Jungkook wanders the city streets, checking every window for job advertisements, just hoping and praying he spots one in the window of somewhere that he can feasibly live. He really doesn’t need much, as long as he’s got somewhere to sleep and somewhere to shower, even if just a nearby gym, he’ll be okay. Anything would be better than either being home, or living with the heartache of not waking up next to Taehyung every day. At least when they’re best friends living apart, Jungkook can regulate his feelings better as he only sees Taehyung in a social setting, or at most a late night with a movie.
After 30 minutes of walking aimlessly, Jungkook is about ready to give up before a mysterious person in a black hoodie, hood all the way down over their face, shoves a flyer into Jungkook’s hands and walks past him quickly into the crowds. Jungkook spins around to watch him disappear into the city bustle and can’t work out whether he handed flyers to anyone else, though he could have sworn the person was only holding one.
Jungkook turns back around and looks at the flyer in his hand, brows furrowed.
“Hiring! The Hourglass Library. Live-in caretaker needed, flexible hours. Call this number to enquire.”
What? Taehyung said the universe works in mysterious ways but this was borderline spooky. The Hourglass Library? Jungkook had never heard of such a place, and he had lived here his whole life. Why is it called the Hourglass? Surely it’s not shaped like one.
Jungkook quickly pulled his phone out to dial the number on the flyer, the implication of an hourglass for some reason making him feel rushed, like he would miss this window of opportunity if he didn’t act now. He couldn’t wait to tell Taehyung about this serendipitous turn of events when he gets home later.
“Hello?” a voice on the other end of the phone says.
“Hello. I’m enquiring about a job advertisement flyer that I…found? Uh, is this still-”
“Ah, yes! It’s good to hear from you, thank you for calling. How soon can you get here for an interview?”
“Oh, uh, I can come right now?” Jungkook asks, almost expecting them to stop and check a calendar or a diary, a computer, any schedule, yet somehow isn’t surprised when the stranger on the other end of the phone simply says “perfect!” reels off the address, and then hangs up.
Jungkook’s life just took a very spooky turn, but not for the worst. It doesn’t exactly sound like there’s a ton of candidates for this role, and judging by the way he was thrusted a flyer they must be in dire need for a caretaker, so he’s pretty sure he’s a shoo-in to get this job, whatever this job is because even with the title “caretaker” he’s still not sure what he’s actually walking into. What kind of mess is there in a library that can’t be cleaned up by the workers? They’re not typically busy customer traffic buildings.
With more hope in his heart than he had this morning, Jungkook begins the walk to the Hourglass Library.