Partners in Speed - ver.2 (also Street Racers #2)

27. Taehyung

With Jungkook around, talking about anything and everything, I finish the car I've started working on and, because I'm not in a working mood, I call it quits for today.

I wash up at the sink as much as I can – arms, shoulders, face – before changing into clean clothes, and we leave to get food. After a long discussion while I was making myself look somewhat presentable, we ended up agreeing on Chinese.

There's no parking space for the best Chinese place in the neighborhood, so we leave the cars two streets away and walk.

We're almost there, three buildings away, when I notice my father. It takes me extra few seconds to realize it's him. The last person I wanted or expected to see today. Or any other day since I last stepped my foot on their driveway.

I start slowing down, looking for a way out.

"What?" Jungkook asks.

"My father," I mumble, looking right at him. He hasn't noticed me yet. I can run away. Yet... I'm not.

Jungkook's eyes grow wide, and this motherfucker is holding back a smile. "I waited for this day," he says.

"Don't-" I start, but don't finish. Because why not? "You know what? Have fun. But I'm not speaking to him."

"You don't have to." He grins, looking as satisfied with this situation as one can get. "Not a single word."

We walk another few steps when he notices us. I want to roll my eyes at the way he lights up seeing Jungkook. I prepare myself to hear all the same bullshit. My hands shake, even though it was my choice to stay.

"Who do we got here?" my father says. To me. Pointing at Jungkook, he asks, "Why are you bothering the poor kid?"

I scoff. If you only knew, you asshole-

"Hey," Jungkook says, smiling. "Taehyung's father. Wow."

My father, like I suddenly don't exist, turns to him with the sweetest fucking smile. He reaches his hand out. "Yes, that's me. Hello. Nice to meet you."

Jungkook looks at his hand, locks his arms behind his back, and looks back at him. "I bet it's nice."

Father awkwardly drops his hand, clears his throat. "It's been a while since we've met. It's a pleasure to see you've grown up so well."

Jungkook, for fuck's sake, keeps smiling this stupid grin. "When was it the last time we met?"

My father blinks. "I believe it must have been your high school years."

"I don't think so." Jungkook frowns, clearly pretending to think about it. "I spent a lot of my high school years in jail."

"In- in jail?" my father chokes up, and I have to hold back a laugh.

It is true Jungkook was arrested. Maybe not for long, but I don't think it would have been a difference for my father.

"Yeah." Jungkook sighs. "A lot of wasted time. My grades dropped. I barely passed high school. I mean, it's not like my grades have ever been that great but I was surviving." It's funny how he manages to graze the truth, while also exaggerating it in a realistic way. "Yeah, anyway. I don't think we met in high school. Maybe middle school."

My father never came to my school when we were in middle school. He still says, "Yeah. Very possible."

"I mean, as long as I wasn't getting high somewhere behind the school." Jungkook grins. I can't tell if it's true or not. "Yeah, anyways. At least I grew up into somewhat of a decent guy."

My father looks relieved and like he's about to puke at the same time. Jungkook is crushing his viewpoint with every word. I'm loving it, even if I also feel nauseous.