Hide And Seek

It’s been a week. The present was at its most normal. The summer had ended and school starts the next thing tomorrow. Taehyung hurriedly stuffed his bag with papers he was unsure of. May it be crumpled test papers, random scratch papers filled with nonsense, or actual notes, he just kept on adding compiling these papers without order.
“What’s with the rush?” Jimin asked as he played with the marbles together with Hoseok. They were like kids inside the Kim household (Taehyung’s house). It had everything a child would want. Toy planes, a race car bed, candid colored walls, robots, comic books, and more toys surround the house. It was like a nursery. Seokjin was just lying in bed, reading outdated comic books.
Taehyung ignored the question as he continued to fill his bag up with things unknown. “I’ve always wondered why your house is this adorable.” Hoseok commented as Jimin flicked his marble towards the latter’s. The horse-like boy groaned as he extended his arm to the back to reach his marble. “That was unfair!”
“Life’s unfair.” Namjoon stated with a disappointed face as he entered his friend’s room. Jimin laughed at the older member mockingly which his opponent took as a chance to strike, but he had always kept an eye on the floor of marbles. “Nice try, Hobi. Nice try.”
Taehyung glanced up at Namjoon and offered him some cookies on a tray. Munching a bit till he finally had the chance to loosen his breathing, he started talking. “We’re done.” It was a rough day. Rainy, as it fits his mood. He sneaked out of his part-time job, just to go catch up with what Hyeri’s been up to, just to catch her cheating, making out with some dude outside a university. Disappointed, he was. What followed after was the never ending flow of harsh words from the manager of the café he works for.
“So the cheater just got cheated on.” Hoseok stated playfully as Namjoon gave him a mad glare. He didn’t mean to anger his friend with his words. Actually, he didn’t mean it at all. He thought his friend would just laugh about it, but he was wrong. “I-I I didn’t mean it that way. I was just trying to lighten up the mood. Namjoooooon!” He begged for Namjoon’s forgiveness on all fours, but he continued to glare until a paper plane entered from the bedroom’s window, smashing onto Hoseok’s butt which stopped the serious atmosphere. All of them laughed at their friend, not because it hit him too hard or the tip pricked him, it was because it seemed like a perfect aim. It even made his angered friend laugh.
Namjoon dropped himself on the bed, beside Seokjin. “Had a rough day?” The elder asked. He just replied with a nod. “Would you like to talk about it?” He asked again, but the younger shook his head. “Talking will make you feel better.” Seokjin stated in a motherly way. “Maybe later.”
With Hoseok back on his feet, he grabbed his phone and opened the door. It was as if he was ready to leave. “Where are you off to?” Jimin asked his playmate. “I’m off to babysit.”
“Wouldn’t they prefer Jin hyung to do that?” Taehyung stated bluntly.
“Those kids don’t like hyung.” Hoseok answered.
“They do like me!” Seokjin stated in denial as he threw a pillow at his cousin.
“Oh right. You just didn’t get along.” Jimin scoffed.
“Well, you just got to accept that those kids don’t want a nagging babysitter.” Namjoon commented, but before he could glance at the person beside him, he was pushed off the bed. “Ow!” He winced, but gave a soft laugh afterwards as he saw the older boy’s annoyed face.
“Sorry, Jin hyung, but it’s the truth.” They all said in unison.
“Oh well, I gotta go.” Hoseok bid goodbye as he shut the door on his way out.
It was a rainy day and it was as if all of the skies weight is being poured down. There weren’t much people out on the streets. There weren’t even available taxis and this means walking in the rain. The boy sighed as he ran out of the Kim household. It was good that he was wearing a hoodie, but not good enough for the weather, but lucky was he that their village wasn’t that far away from where he left off. He ran then went for cover every few buildings he’d pass until he got on a taxi.
He stopped by their house, paying the driver as he opened the door. Lucky that no one was home so he wouldn’t be scolded for getting soaked in the rain. He changed into another pair of jeans and a shirt along with a jacket. He then grabbed an umbrella and walked past a few more houses before stopping as he saw a girl standing in front of the Min mansion. It was still raining and pouring hard as the girl stood still. She looked around his age, maybe younger or was she just baby-faced, but no way was she a lot older or younger. Despite the fact that she was soaking wet in the rain, and was probably feeling very cold, she still looked elegant.
Hoseok didn’t think twice and approached the girl, tapping her by the shoulder as he held his umbrella over the both of them. The girl glanced up at him in a surprised expression. It was as if she didn’t know how to respond as she looked a bit confused. “Can you hold this for a second?” He asked as he handed the umbrella to her. She held onto it, but she didn’t give out a verbal response. He took off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders, with the hood hanging on her head. He then grabbed the umbrella again and slung his arm over her shoulders. “We’ll get you dried up, okay?” He stated as he switched directions, heading back to their house.
He led her to his and his cousin’s bedroom. Good thing was that Seokjin always keeps things tidy and neat or else he wouldn’t know where to let the girl get dried up for awhile. He handed her a towel and pajamas that came in one piece as she stepped in the shower. He waited for her as he sat on his bed with his phone in his hands, texting the children’s father.
To: Mr. Kwon
I don’t think I could come over to babysit. Something came up and the weather is too harsh. I hope you don’t mind. I’m sorry.
-Hoseok
After taking a quick shower, she stepped out with the pajamas he lent her and her soaked up dress, neatly folded in her hands.
“Thank you,” she said shyly.
“It’s no big deal.” He assured her with a smile on his face.
“So what were you doing there? It’s bad to stay soaked up in the rain, you know.” He added as he stood up and hung her dress on the bathroom door with an electric fan directed to it.
He then sat back down on the bed as he patted on the side, as if he was telling her to sit beside him. She nodded and sat beside him, but kept her distance. It took her long before she could respond. “I- I was waiting for dad to come back.” She answered, shivering. Hoseok slid closer with his arm extending across her side. “So what’s your name?” He asked her.
“My name’s Joohee.”

Notes