Chapter Text
"Jungkook!....... Kook!
Yaah, Earth to Jeon Jungkook ..."
Jungkook started and looked up as Jin nudged him gently. "Hey, you okay?" Jin whispered.
"Me? Yeah. Of course. I...I'm fine." Jungkook straightened up and pushed his hair out of his eyes.
Jin nodded but the frown remained on his face. Jungkook knew that Jin wasn't fooled. His friend aka hyung could see that he was in turmoil.
"Talk to you later," Jin said and gave him a hip bump since his hands were full. Jungkook watched Jin carry the laden tray to the back of the cafe and turned back to the table. No doubt Jin had noticed him standing at the same spot and moving the fabric up and down on a spotless table with a dazed expression on his face.
Taking a deep breath, Jungkook turned and saw a few of the other coworkers watching him and whispering among themselves. They quickly averted their eyes and pretended to be busy with their chores when he approached the counter.
But Jungkook couldn't be bothered about what they were thinking and saying about him. Those people always found someone to gossip about. It was as if they had nothing better to do with their lives and their time. Talking about other people seemed to be what they did best.
Jungkook didn't have the time or energy to indulge in mindless gossip and small talk.
There was already too much on his mind and his plate.
As he was about to grab the coffee pot, Jin appeared at his side and pulled him away. "Leave it," Jin hissed. "Let the other people do this work, they can refill the coffee pot. You are in no state to handle hot coffee in a fragile glass pot."
"What?" Jungkook huffed, highly offended. "I..."
Jin shook Jungkook 's shoulders gently. "What is it?" he asked softly. "You're not here, Kookie. Your body reported for work this morning, but your mind is somewhere else. What's going on, Kookie ?"
Jungkook closed his eyes and took a painful breath. He wanted to tell his Jin hyung everything. Instead, he only managed a single word. "Hyungie."
Jin's grip tightened on his shoulders as he muttered incoherently. Jin was the only one at work who knew about Hoseok's condition. Jungkook just couldn't bring himself to tell anyone else about his brother's illness. He didn't want to be fodder for gossip.
"But...you told me that Hobi responded well to the chemotherapy," Jin said, squeezing his arm. "Hobi getting better, right? Where is he now? Is he..."
Jungkook bit his lip and met his friend's worried gaze. "Hyungie is at home. He's okay."
Jin nodded but said nothing. They both knew the truth. Hoseok was not okay.
His Hyungie had cancer.
Hoseok was only twenty-four years old and he should be out having fun and living his dream like every other twenty-four-year-old.
Instead, he was battling an insidious, internal enemy. The enemy was lying low for now. But Jungkook knew too well that cancer could rear its ugly head at any time and strike his brave, handsome hungie down without warning.
Jungkook knew that the odds were against them. He kept his hopes and spirits up for his hyungie's sake, but he knew this would be very risky. he'd spoken to the doctors, the families of other cancer patients, and he'd done his research. And he saw what cancer did to his lovely hyungie.
Before Hoseok got sick, he was so active, vibrant, and strong. He was still strong. God, no one was stronger than Hoseok. The boy was so brave, and he remained cheerful and independent even though he was sick. He refused to stay in bed the whole day and insisted on helping out around the house.
Jungkook remembered the first time he had gotten home after work and realized that Hoseok had been doing some light chores around the house. He had washed the dishes, swept the floor, and done some laundry. A blazing row had erupted between the brothers, and Jungkook had screamed himself hoarse.
"What do you expect me to do, just lie in bed and wait to die?" Hoseok had tried to reason with him.
"Yes! No! Just...don't do anything! What if you fall? What if you feel giddy all of a sudden or..."
"What if, what if, what if! This isn't life, Kookie! I'm not living the life I want, but I am still living. I am not dead. I've slept so many hours already, and I'll sleep when I'm dead.
But I. Am. Not. Dead!" Hoseok had screamed back. "I am still alive! Or have you forgotten that?"
Jungkook had broken down and crumpled into a heap. He didn't even know what he was doing anymore. It was Hoseok who put his arms around his and assured him that everything would be all right. Hoseok was the strong one, not him. He can't see his hyungie like this. He felt so pathetic.
Hoseok was the big brother, yet he couldn't even take care of his baby brother. He was so devastated by seeing his baby brother suffering and he can't do anything to help his little one. So he was doing one thing he could do for his baby, to be strong enough to fight against the odds.
Jungkook wanted to wrap Hoseok up in cotton wool and protect him from all the pain and suffering in the world. But the pain was a part of life. So was cancer and death. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair!
Hoseok couldn't leave the house, but he didn't want to be a burden to anyone. He didn't want anyone putting their lives on hold to stay by his side. Besides, they needed the money. "Go to work, Kookie. You can't stay at home with me all day. I'll be fine, really," Hoseok had insisted.
So when Jungkook was at work, a neighbor would check in on Hoseok every few hours. And Hoseok diligently texted Jungkook throughout the day to assure him not to worry about anything and his Hyungie was fine at home.
"Kookie....." Jin's voice broke into his thoughts. "Talk to me."
Jungkook took a moment to focus on his friend. He kept seeing his hyungie face and hearing the voice of Dr. Shin in his mind.