Chapter Text
“Hyung, let’s go back.”
Jungkook was shocked at the sudden statement.
“WHAT!” he said louder than intended.
“Yes Hyung, let’s go back.”
“Why?”
“No hyung it not because of you. It’s just there is no reason of staying her anymore. Grandma is gone. I am not use to living here without her. Ever corner of the house has her memories. It just makes it more painful for me to live here. If I am gone it will be easy for me to recover. A corner of my heart will still think that she is alive and okay.” Taehyung answered with a voice heavy with emotions.
Jungkook thought it was because of him. But hearing Taehyung, Jungkook felt a pang in his heart. Taehyung full of life, hardworking, gentleman. Jungkook thought that Taehyung has recovered somehow but for his surprise Taehyung is just acting ok.
“OK.”
“Then, we will tomorrow early.” Taehyung said.
“Hyung?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever travelled through train?” Taehyung asked.
“No.” Jungkook simply answered not knowing the purpose.
“Then congratulation for your first train ride.” He said with his boxy smile.
“What?”
“I mean we going by train tomorrow.”
Jungkook didn’t say anything. He was ok with this experience. He had many beautiful new experience with Taehyung. He want this one too. He want to spend a very long time with Taehyung.
Next morning as it was planned they, after waking up both went to the train station. But the start of the experience was not at all what he experience.
The moment they stepped into the crowded train station, Jungkook's entire body tensed. His eyes darted around in mild panic as people pushed past him in every direction.
"Taehyung," he whispered, gripping his younger’s sleeve. "Is this… safe?"
Taehyung grinned. "Hyung, it's a train station, not a battlefield."
Jungkook wasn’t convinced. The mix of shouting vendors, hurried passengers, and loud announcements made his head spin. "Where are the VIP lounges? The private waiting areas?"
Taehyung laughed. "You're standing in it."
Jungkook's jaw dropped as he eyed the wooden benches occupied by snoring old men, a woman feeding her baby, and a guy eating ramyeon with a level of concentration Jungkook admired.
Before Jungkook could complain, Taehyung grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward their platform.
"Come on, Hyung! The train won't wait!"
"But what if it leaves while we're still getting on?" Jungkook asked, suddenly panicked. "Or what if I trip? Or—"
Before he could list another scenario, the train arrived with a loud screech, making Jungkook jump. People rushed toward the open doors, pushing their way inside.
Jungkook took one step forward, then immediately took two steps back. "Nope. Not doing this."
Taehyung sighed before wrapping an arm around Jungkook’s waist and—
"HYUNG, LET'S GO!"
And just like that, Jungkook found himself being dragged onto the train like an oversized suitcase. He yelped, nearly losing his balance as they squeezed past the crowd.
Once inside, Jungkook blinked at the sight before him. People were sitting, standing, hanging onto poles, chatting, laughing, and—wait, was that guy sleeping 1while standing up?!
"Taehyung," Jungkook whispered urgently. "Where are the seats?"
Taehyung grinned, pointing to an empty space on the long, shared bench. "There."
Jungkook frowned. "That’s a wooden bench."
"Yes, Hyung. You have great observation skills."
Jungkook sighed dramatically but sat down, adjusting his coat like he was a prince forced to mingle with commoners. Just as he was about to relax, a vendor walked past, shouting, "Hot kimbap! Fresh boiled eggs!"
Jungkook’s nose wrinkled. "Why is he yelling? Doesn't he know online orders exist?"
Taehyung shook his head, laughing. "Hyung, this is the ordering system."
“Taehyung is it safe to travel without seatbelt and there is no safety instructi—"
Before Jungkook could finish, a loud voice boomed through the speakers, announcing the next stop. The train suddenly jerked forward, and Jungkook—who wasn’t expecting it—let out a very undignified squawk as he slid straight into an old lady's lap.
"Oops, sorry, ma’am!" Taehyung quickly pulled Jungkook up, but the old lady just chuckled.
"Your boyfriend is quite a lively one!" she said, winking at Taehyung.
Taehyung’s face reddened. "Just new."
Jungkook groaned, hiding his face red from embarrassment. "I want to go home."
But his suffering wasn’t over yet.
Taehyung bought some boiled eggs as they didn’t had a proper breakfast and also the journey was long.
“Hyung will you have some. Journey is quite long.” He asked and Jungkook nodded.
Taehyung was about to crack open it for him.
“I can do it.” He said confidently as it not hard to open a boiled egg, right? Taehyung just handed him one.
Just as he raised the egg to crack it—
The train jerked forward.
Jungkook lunged forward from the sudden movement,. Unfortunately, the egg was still in his hand, and his face was on a direct collision course with—
SMACK!
The egg exploded against a metal pole.
For a second, there was complete silence.
Then, Jungkook blinked, feeling something wet slowly dripping down his forehead, nose, and cheeks.
It was not boiled.
Taehyung knees almost touching floor, clutching his stomach, wheezing. "H-Hyung—oh my God—I can't breathe—"
Jungkook, frozen in pure horror, slowly wiped the egg yolk from his face. His mouth opened, then closed, as he processed what had just happened.
The old lady sitting nearby patted his arm laughing. "Next time, dear, check before cracking."
Jungkook turned to Taehyung, glaring. "You knew it wasn’t boiled, didn’t you?"
Taehyung, still laughing, wiped a tear from his eye with one hand and with other trying wipe Jungkook’s face. "No, Hyung! I swear I thought it was!"
Jungkook groaned, wiping his face with his sleeve. "I hate trains.”
Later, as Jungkook sulked, Taehyung leaned his head on his shoulder.
“Hyung, look outside.”
Jungkook blinked but turned to window. The train was speeding past golden fields, the sun casting warm light over the countryside. The sight was unexpectedly beautiful.
For the first time since boarding Jungkook smiled.
“Wow,” he murmured.
“Good, isn’t it?” Taehyung asked.
“Amazing.” Still mesmerized by the view.
By the time they arrived in Seoul, Jungkook had experienced three more near-falls, two accidental elbow jabs from strangers, and one deep existential crisis about public transportation.
As they stepped off the train, Jungkook took a deep breath. "I survived."
Taehyung wrapped an arm around him. "You did, Hyung! And now you're officially a train-riding citizen!"
Jungkook scowled but let Taehyung lead him away. "Never again."
Taehyung just grinned. "We'll see."