why me?

II

Jungkook hadn't been able to sleep at all that night, Baekhyun's words ringing in his head like an alarm. The poor boy knew that it would be okay, that Baekhyun wasn't like his hyungs, that he wasn't going to be rejected again. Or so he hoped.

The sound of the door opening made him shriek, flinching slightly and trying to make himself as small as possible. He heard a soft coo and felt another weight leaning onto the bed. ''It's okay Kook, it's just me'', Baekhyun's voice filled the room as Jungkook felt a hand on his back. He slowly looked up, his heartbeat going down a bit as he relaxed.

''Sorry... I'm just... Nervous'', he pouted, earning a giggle from Baekhyun. ''That's fine Kook. But, can you tell me why you called? Why were you outside that late? Where are your hyungs?''

All the questions made Jungkook feel overwhelmed, unable to answer. ''I.. I'', he stuttered as he looked down.

''Give the poor boy a break'', D.O chuckled, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. ''Let's make him some breakfast first, we can talk once he is ready'', he smiled and led them to the kitchen. Jungkook silently thanked him, relaxing a bit again as he sat down on a chair. A white mug filled with hot coffee was placed in front of him, and he happily accepted the hot beverage.

''Do you want some toast or eggs?'', Suho smiled as he turned around from where he stood in front of the stove, a pink apron tied around his middle and a plate filled with pancakes in his hands. However, before Jungkook could answer someone shot past him, almost falling of the chair as they jumped up and down. ''Pancakes pancakes pancakes!'', Xiumin cheered with a big smile. ''Oh, hi Jungkook!''

Jungkook couldn't help but laugh a bit and Suho reprimanded him with a huff.

Chanyeol laughed as he saw the scene and sat down next to Jungkook. ''Well, welcome to EXO's dorm, a place where no one has ever heard of silence and peace'', he joked, earning a 'Yah!' from Suho.

Jungkook smiled as Suho smiled at him. ''So, eggs or pancakes?''

''Eggs are fine, thank you'', Jungkook smiled, feeling more at ease now that some of the other members were there to lift the mood. Suho happily got to work and soon there was a plate filled with toast and eggs in front of Jungkook. ''Dig in!''

The boy happily ate and hummed at the delicious taste. ''This is even better than JIn hyung's cooking! But don't tell him I said that'', Jungkook said, making everyone in the room laugh.

The relaxing sound of chatter filled the room once everyone settled down, greeting Jungkook with a smile and a pat on the shoulder. However, once everyone was finished Jungkook started to get nervous again.

''Wanna tell me why you called me at 3 am?'', Baekhyun asked softly, rubbing Jungkook's back in an attempt to comfort the boy. Jungkook stared at his slightly trembling hands. ''I uh... Have you guys ever heard of little space?'', He softly asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The room was silent for a bit before Chanyeol nodded. "Yeah, one of my childhood friends is a caregiver. Why? Are you a little Kook?'', He said softly, making the boy tense. Baekhyun quickly caught on what was happening and pulled Jungkook closer.

''Oh sweetie, it's okay! We don't judge people in our household, so you can be yourself. Did something happen back home?''

Jungkook couldn't handle it anymore and started crying softly, hiding his face as he clung onto Baekhyun. ''Appa and e-eomma be meanies to Kookie! A-An hyungies be nice but tawk bad about Kookie behind Kookie's back! Make Kookie weawwy weawwy sad...'', he sobbed, his voice slightly muffled.

Suho sighed softly and moved closer to the crying boy. ''It's okay Kookie, it's okay. They were big meanies huh? How about I have a little talk with your manager about it, hm? Suho hyung will fix it for you baby, I promise'', Suho smiled softly, taking the boy from Baekhyun and walking around the room with him in his arms as he tried to calm the poor baby down.

Jungkook calmed down a bit, sniffling sadly as he nodded. ''Yes pweash... Kookie jus' wan hyungies to wub Kookie'', he pouted, making the members of EXO coo softly.

''Hmm, I think Kookie deserves a movie night and a cuddle pile! Who's in?'', Baekhyun jumped up, a chorus of "Me!'' filling the room. Jungkook smiled and wiped his tears away, giggling happily as the others got to work.

That night he fell asleep halfway through the 3rd disney movie, cuddled up in between Xiumin and Chanyeol with a smile on his face.

Namjoon frowned as he hung up, putting his phone away. Seokjin frowned. ''Any news?'', he sighed softly, tiredly running a frustrated hand through his hair. Namjoon nodded, making Seokjin's eyes widen.

''Really?! Where is he? I swear to god, that brat-'', he started, though they all knew he only sounded angry because he was worried.

Namjoon rubbed his eyes for a moment. ''Mananger Sejin wants us to come to the office. It's about Jungkook and it's urgent'', he sighed. ''I hope he's okay...''

Seokjin nodded and went to get the others, dragging a half-asleep Jimin with Taehyung clinging onto him like a koala towards the van. Hoseok carried Yoongi to the car, noticing Namjoon's worried look and deciding to to ask too many questions.

The ride to the company was filled with a lot of questions coming from Taehyung and Jimin, and Yoongi wondering why his appa looked so stressed. Sejin was already waiting for them in his office, his face blank . This only added to Namjoon's stress about the situation. What in the world was going on?

''Hello boys. I'll get straight to the point. I got a call from someone yesterday. The leader of EXO, the be exact. And you know what he told me?'', Sejin started, his voice calm and his eyes glaring at them, boring holes into their heads.

Namjoon had the urge to look down, but forced himself to take responsibility and kept looking at Sejin.

''He told me, that Jungkook called one of his members at 3 am, from a busstop while it was nearly freezing outside. He wasn't wearing his coat, a hat or gloves, or even a mask to hide his face. He was crying and in great distress. Do you have any idea what caused that?''

He got no answer.

''I said, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT CAUSED THAT?!'', Sejin's voice boomed through the air.

Yoongi flinched at the loud noise, a soft whimper escaping him. Namjoon frowned. ''Is Jungkook okay? We were worried sick!'', he frowned.

''That is not the point, Namjoon'', Sejin hissed. ''The point is, that one of your members ran away, he could've been kidnapped, he could've gotten into an accident. He could have died, Namjoon!''

Namjoon flinched and stared at his feet.

''Now, I want to know what caused him to run away. So tell me'', Sejin said calmly again.

''H-He told us he is a little, like Yoongi. That's all what happened'', Hoseok looked genuinely confused as he looked around at the other members.

''Oh yeah Hoseok? I don't think so, because Suho told me that you rejected him. That you talked behind his back, causing him to panic as he had already been traumatised.''

Seokjin was the one who answered this time. ''Traumatised? What do you mean-''

''His own fucking parents rejected him, Seokjin! They disowned him, threw him out of their house the same night they found out! The poor kid is terrified of rejection, and now you guys fucked up severely.''

The members gulped softly, sad looks on their faces. ''We didn't know-''

Sejin sighed. ''I don't care, save you self-pity for later. Fix this mess Namjoon, and do it quickly before he won't give you another chance'', the heavy meaning of his words made the air in the room feel suffocatingly thick.

''I am deeply disappointed in you all.''