Perplexing Simplicities

episode㉙

There was another sniffle from Jungkook as he muttered a quiet, "Thank you Hobi hyung, I'm sorry." Before Hobi quickly hung up and ran back upstairs to his Yoongles.

"Yoongi!" Hobi burst through the door panting and scared Yoongi shitless.

"Jeez what the he-"

"I have to go Yoongles, I'm sorry, can you tell Ateez I have to reschedule and it's an emergency?!"

Yoongi frowned deeply, already getting up. "No Hobi, I can drive you whatever it is-"

Hobi shook his head frantically. "You can't. I'm sorry, I'll hopefully explain later, but for now I just need you to let me go on my own and not worry too much."

Yoongi scowled. "That's not very helpful Hobi, seriously, what's wrong?"

Hoseok smiled at the worried little crease forming on Yoongi's forehead. He couldn't help himself, he gently leaned in and kissed Yoongi's cheek, giving him a cheeky grin. "I really can't tell you, my Yoongles, but I'm fine and it'll be fine, so don't worry."

Yoongi's eyes widened from the sudden kiss and he was caught a little off guard. It made the perfect window for Hoseok to escape.

Hoseok yelled one final "I'll text you!" before closing the door behind him and sprinting for the elevator. He had a scared little Kookie to rescue after all.

It took about 50 minutes by bus to get to Jungkook and by the time Hobi arrived on the absolutely freaking monumental campus he was freaking out a little.

He was able to quickly call Jungkook however, and easily found him on the steps of one of the many libraries. Why were there so many fucking libraries? He was sitting there so small and vulnerable, and when Hobi finally reached him, he looked up with madly tear-stained eyes. It broke his heart.

"Hey Hobi hyung..."

Hoseok whimpered in sympathy and quickly embraced the boy in a tight hug. He wanted nothing more than to take him in his arms and carry him away someplace safe and kind and good where nothing could ever hurt him.

They quietly hugged for several minutes until Hobi forced himself to take a knee in front of the boy and properly question him.

"What happened Kook?"

Jungkook had managed to get his tears under wraps but he couldn't stop sniffling and refused to look Hobi in the face as he firmly whispered. "It's stupid. Don't worry about it."

Hoseok laughed quietly and sat down cross legged in front of the stubborn man. "You can't ask me to come all the way here and say that."

Jungkook bit his lip and finally lifted his head, now looking past Hobi to the campus that lay surprisingly quiet in the middle of the day on a Monday.

Hobi quirked his head. "Are you supposed to be in class?"

Jungkook quietly nodded and then shook his head. He looked so distressed and confused. "I am... but I haven't gone in a week or so... so, I doubt they'll care."

Hoseok's frown deepened. "Why not?! Jungkook what have you been doing all this time?"

The boy sulked and hugged himself. "I can't do it, Hobi..."

Hoseok sighed and rubbed his knee comfortingly. "Why not Kookie? Please help me understand...?" He tilted his head so he could see Jungkook's face. "Huh? Please?"

Jungkook laughed quietly at his cute face and nodded cautiously.

"It's not... My dream Hobi. I never wanted to be a fucking computer science major and I just can't keep... being someone I'm not..."

Hobi nodded slowly, but Jungkook continued. "It's what my parents wanted and I never argued because I was stupid and naïve and I thought... maybe if I could make them happy..." He shook his head and bit his quivering lip. "...Maybe they would n-notice me."

He broke down a little again and buried his head gently in his knees while Hobi quietly stroked his back.

They both sat in silence for a long time until Jungkook recovered a little from his quiet sobs. "A-And now... I feel like the o-only people I ever a-actually c-cared about a-re l-leaving m-m-me too." He sobbed quietly because he couldn't hold it back any more. It all came pouring out and Hobi quietly moved to Jungkook's side so he could pull the boy into his arms. They hugged each other as Jungkook shook quietly against Hobi's chest and everything was quiet for a long time. Just them, together and at peace, for everything it was worth.

"Kook..." Hobi took a deep breath and kissed the boy's head, "What is your dream...?"

He knew he could try to talk to Jimin and Taehyung, and he could meddle and he could yell at Jungkook's parents, but in that moment, he only wanted to focus on Jungkook. Because if you can find happiness in yourself, others' disappointments will lessen, and you won't have to hold the door open in your heart, waiting to see if they choose to come inside.

Jungkook was quiet for a long time, taking long shaky breaths to steady himself. Eventually he wiped his nose on his sleeve and pulled away. Quietly and tentatively facing Hobi as he told him the magic words:

"I wanted to be a dancer."

A small smile broke out over his face as he continued. "Ever since I was seven," he sniffled again, "when my little sister was taking a dance class... I would come along and dance in the corner, and I used to love it... It was everything to me at that time, I didn't play outside or have friends, I danced alone in my room." He chuckled a little and wiped more of his tears away. "I really wanted to dance but my mom didn't think it was a good enough path." He scowled, "But now I'm here and I've wasted my whole stupid life away..."

Hoseok nodded. He'd been listening with a matching smile starting to spread across his face. "So, do you still want to...?"

Jungkook's face fell and he bit his lip. "Of course... That's actually what I was going to ask you this morning... but, I don't know..."

Hobi nodded again and wrapped his arm protectively around Jungkook's shoulder's. "You can. We can do it JK... It's not over, and you can still fulfill those dreams."

Jungkook quickly shook his head, grabbing his bag, and gently pulling away from Hoseok's embrace. "I can't Hobi," He sniffled, "I have to, uh, get back to class. Thank you... for everything."

Hoseok sighed and watched him start to walk away hurriedly.

"We could go right now Jungkook!"

The boy slowed and he turned around ever so slightly in his steps.

"What...?"

Hobi bounced on his heels and pointed to the bus stop. "I don't have a studio, sure, but there's a studio we could still practice at. I have friends, after all."

Jungkook bit his lip and glanced cautiously between the school and his friend.

"It could be day one... of fulfilling that dream of yours. Your life is never a waste, until you give up. It can be anything you dream it to be. But only if you want it..."

Jungkook clenched his fists, he could feel a wind swirling through his heart, wrapping him up and throwing him. It was something like... euphoria.

He kicked himself internally because god, there was no argument in his head that could convince him not too... And before he could get in his own way, he abruptly turned and grabbed Hobi by the arm, dragging him to the bus stop as quickly as he could.

"Let's go I have to back at the café by 4 o'clock."

Nothing could compare to the grin that spread across Hoseok's face. "Good choice."

Hope yall are loving this Hobi Hyung Kookie baby moments as much as I am because they are everything I am living for🥺💜