Seokjin presses his lips together and looks down into his bowl. His emotions war between indignation on Jungkook's behalf and the old guilt that comes from being punished for similar mistakes. How many times had he wished he'd just said the right thing rather than attempted to answer back or even explain himself? There's a dissonance he can't shake, knowing in his heart that Jungkook categorically should not have ended up with bruises over something so minor and feeling as if he'd deserved all such punishment himself?

"You talked back and he hurt you so badly you had to stay home from school," he summarizes, knowing that if their positions were reversed, Jungkook would be appalled.