Chapter 119

“You don’t know anything, Kim Seokjin,” Kim said. His voice came out low and controlled but the anger underneath it was unmistakable.

“What should I know?” Jin asked. “That you are pathetic? That you are pitiful? That you are fucking weak?”

Kim pressed the gun harder against his forehead.

Then before anything else could happen someone yanked kim’s hand and shoved kim. It was Hyunwoo.

He grabbed the gun from Kim with his hand in one sharp, decisive motion yanking it free and throwing it to the floor with a force that made it skid across the corridor tiles.

“Have you lost your mind, hyung?” Hyunwoo turned on Kim, voice cracking with barely controlled fury. “What are you doing? What is fucking WRONG with you?” He yelled at him.

Kim said nothing. His jaw was tight. His eyes were still fixed somewhere past Hyunwoo past all of it.

Then he turned. And walked away. Fast, furious steps down the corridor, his guards falling into formation behind him without a word.

“Just wait,” Jin called after him voice shaking with everything he was still holding. “Just wait, Kim Yoonseong. I will burn everything you built to the ground. Every single piece of it. I fucking swear!.”

Kim heard it.He didn’t stop. Didn’t turn around. Just kept walking shoulders rigid, steps hard against the floor until he disappeared around the corner.

The corridor went quiet.

Hyunwoo turned to Jin. “Yahh!!” He stepped close, voice dropping but losing none of its intensity. “Are you insane? Do you have any idea what could have just happ—–“

“What did you expect me to do?” Jin turned on him eyes bloodshot, chest still heaving, every word coming out raw and jagged. “Sit back and watch? Like everyone else has been doing for years? Like you did for years?!”

Hyunwoo sighed and spoke “Jin, that is not what I—” he stopped when Jin walked past him. Straight back through the door into Jungkook’s room.

He stopped just inside.

Jungkook was on the bed lying on his side, blanket pulled close, still trembling. His fingers were twisted into the bedsheet and his eyes were open but unseeing, staring at nothing. The shaking hadn’t stopped. Probably hadn’t stopped since Kim walked in.

Jin took one step forward. Then a hand closed around his arm.

Hyunwoo. Standing in the doorway behind him, having followed him in silently. He didn’t pull just held. Firm and still.

Jin looked at him. Confused. Questioning. Hyunwoo tilted his head toward the corridor.

Jin looked at Jungkook one more time at his trembling shoulders, at the white-knuckled grip on the bedsheet and then let Hyunwoo pull him back out.

The door closed softly behind them. Hyunwoo shook his head. “He is scared right now,” he said quietly. Just above a whisper.

Jin exhaled. “I want to speak with him.” He took a step toward the door. “Jin….” Another step. “I said you can’t go in there right now!” Hyunwoo’s voice came out sharper than before not loud, but firm enough to stop him.

Jin turned. “What do you mean I can’t? He is my brother. You don’t get to tell me I can’t see him—-” he was cut off when hyunwoo said sharply “He is scared of you.” The words landed without warning.

Jin stared at him. Confused. Hyunwoo held his gaze  not unkindly, but without flinching from it either. “He is scared of everyone right now. He is not in the state to process anything. He can barely…..” he stopped, exhaled. “He is not okay, Jin.”

“Why…….?” Jin’s voice came out slightly unsteady. “Why would he be scared of me? I would never….”

“When Tae held his hand earlier he panicked and pulled away. When you touched his shoulder he screamed.” Hyunwoo said it carefully, each word placed down like something fragile. “He panicked. He was on the verge of fainting. He isn’t speaking to anyone barely even to me. Just a few words here and there.” He paused. “He is shutting himself down again. Just like before.”

Jin looked at him. Something was moving through his expression confusion first, then something slower and more painful underneath it.

“A-ani….” His voice cracked slightly. “Why? Why would he be scared of me specifically? I haven’t…..”

“He is traumatised, Jin.” Hyunwoo’s voice was quieter now. The sharpness gone, replaced with something that carried its own weight of exhaustion and grief. “I don’t have a clean explanation for why. His mind is just….” he shook his head. “It’s not about you. It’s not about anything you did. He just panics. His body reacts before his mind can catch up.” A pause. “He needs time. That’s all. Just time.”

Jin stood there. He looked at the closed door for a long moment. Then he turned away from it.

His jaw was tight. His eyes were wet and he noticed, and wiped them immediately with the back of his hand. A sharp, quick motion. Like he was angry at himself for it. They just stood they for few minutes.  No one spoke.

Jin spoke “fine….” he signed and spoke again. “Where is Tae?” he asked, voice calm.  Hi His voice had gone quiet again. Controlled. Tired. “He went out with Jimin,” Hyunwoo said.

Jin nodded. Said nothing. “Jungkook….” he started. Stopped. Tried again. “H-has he eaten anything?” Hyunwoo shook his head slowly. “Not yet. I’ll get him something soon.”

Jin nodded again. Another exhale long and slow, like he was trying to physically push the weight of the last hour out of his body.

Then the dizziness hit.

He brought his hand up to his temple, pressing against it blinking hard against the sudden spike of it, the throb behind his eyes that reminded him his own body had been through something last night too.

Hyunwoo watched him. “Jin. You need to rest.” “I’m fine.” Jin said with a sigh. “You fainted last night. You ripped your IV out less than an hour ago. You are not–” “I said I’m fine.” Jin lowered his hand. “I’ll go check on Tae.”

He turned and walked toward the corridor exit. “SeokJin-ah!!!” Hyunwoo called after him. Jin didn’t stop.

His footsteps faded down the corridor steady, even, giving nothing away until the sound of them disappeared entirely.

Hyunwoo stood outside Jungkook’s door alone. He looked at the ceiling for a moment. Then he exhaled slow and heavy and turned back toward the room.

Haein looked at him, worry clouding her face. “I’ll go with him. Don’t worry,” Harin said softly. Hyunwoo nodded.

Haein followed Jin. He walked toward the stairs and stopped there, frozen for a moment like his body had moved, but his mind hadn’t caught up yet.  Everything that had happened in a single day pressed down on him all at once.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. It didn’t work.

His hands trembled uncontrollably. His body felt drained, almost hollow, but his mind his mind was loud, burning, screaming with anger he couldn’t release.

Suddenly, he felt a gentle hand wrap around his. He turned. Haein. “Let’s go to the room,” she said softly. Jin shook his head. “I’m fine,” he muttered.

“You’re not,” she replied firmly. He slipped his hand out of hers and walked past her, repeating under his breath, “I’m fine.”

Haein watched from behind, letting out a quiet sigh. Jin took a few steps forward but the world tilted. A sharp wave of dizziness hit him. His vision blurred, his steps faltered And before he could fall, Haein caught him.

He didn’t collapse completely, but his weight leaned heavily against her, his head falling onto her shoulder. “Hey!” Haein called out, panic rising in her voice. “I… I’m f-fine…” Jin whispered, barely conscious, his words slurring into each other.

“You are not fine!” Harin snapped, fear lacing her voice now. Just then, Namjoon stepped out of the lift. Haein immediately gestured for help.

He rushed over without a second thought, quickly supporting Jin and pulling him into his arms. “Hyung! Why the hell are you walking around like this?” he scolded, his voice sharp but trembling with worry.

“Joon-ah… I… I’m fine…” Jin mumbled weakly, his head lolling slightly. Namjoon shook his head, jaw tightening, and carried him carefully to the room.

Haein followed closely, helping adjust the bed as Namjoon laid him down. Even then, Jin kept murmuring the same words. “I’m fine… I’m fine…”

Until his voice faded… and he slipped into a quiet, exhausted sleep.

Namjoon gently pulled the blanket over him, adjusting it with careful hands that didn’t match the anger in his eyes.

“What happened?” he asked quietly. Haein told him everything.

Silence filled the room after.

“He really had the audacity to come here… to meet him?” Namjoon muttered, running a hand through his hair, frustration spilling through every word.

He looked back at Jin, his expression softening. “He always says he’s fine… even when he’s at his worst.” Haein stared at Jin’s sleeping face, her eyes heavy with worry. “I just hope Jungkook gets better soon,” she whispered.

.

.

.

Meanwhile. With Jungkook.

“Come on just a few bites please….” Hyunwoo held the bowl of soup out, voice gentle and unhurried. “Just a little, Kook-ah.”

Jungkook shook his head. Looking away. “Please,” Hyunwoo tried again, softer. “Just a little.”

Another small shake of the head.

Hyunwoo sighed quietly and set the bowl down. He didn’t push. He just sat there for a moment, and then tried once more not pleading, not pressuring. Just asking.

“I know it’s hard right now. I know. But your body needs it, baby. Just a little.” He looked at him carefully “please….” Jungkook finally looked at him. Said nothing.

Then slowly barely perceptiblyhe leaned back. Just slightly. Just enough. A silent yes.

Hyunwoo smiled. Small and warm and genuinely relieved. He picked up the spoon, blew on it carefully until it cooled, and brought it to Jungkook’s lips. Jungkook ate quietly no expression, no acknowledgement just opening his mouth and taking each spoonful as it came.

Halfway through the bowl he turned his head away slightly.

Hyunwoo put the spoon down without a word. He set the bowl aside and reached for the juice instead. “Here…. drink however much you can, hmm? No pressure.”

Jungkook nodded faintly and drank Hyunwoo holding the cup steady for him. Halfway through, Hyunwoo reached into his pocket and took three small tablets one his usual daily medication, two new ones from Dr. Hwang.

He held them out without explanation.

Jungkook looked at them for a moment. Then he opened his palm, took them, and swallowed them down with the rest of the juice. Quiet and obedient and completely without protest.

Hyunwoo took the cup away and set everything aside. “Is there anything you need?” he asked.

Jungkook shook his head. His eyes were already growing heavy the medication and the exhaustion pulling at him from both directions at once.

Hyunwoo noticed immediately. He reached over and lowered the bed slowly, adjusting the angle until Jungkook was lying flat. Then he straightened the blanket tucking it in at the sides, smoothing it across his chest careful and quiet and unhurried.

Jungkook’s eyes were almost closed.

“D-don’t leave….” he mumbled. Barely audible. Soft and small and completely unguarded in the way only half-asleep people allowed themselves to be.

“I won’t,” Hyunwoo said simply.

He settled back into his chair and brought his hand up to Jungkook’s hair moving through it slowly, the same gentle rhythm he had used a hundred times before. And Jungkook drifted. Slowly. Quietly.

With Jin.

Tae entered the room. Jin was sitting up in the bed, speaking quietly with Namjoon. Just the two of them. No chaos, no crisis. The breath that left Tae’s mouth was pure relief.

He crossed the room immediately and wrapped his arms around Jin not saying anything, just holding on. Jin saw it. He smiled sadly. Jin’s hand came up to his back without hesitation, rubbing slow steady circles.

“I’m fine, Tae-ya,” he murmured. “Don’t worry.” “I was scared,” Tae whispered into his shoulder. Snuggling in slightly, the way he had done since he was small. “I was really scared, hyung.”

“I’m fine,” Jin said again. Quieter this time. More certain. Tae held on for another moment. Then he nodded and pulled back, settling onto the edge of the bed.

He was quiet for a second. “You met Kook?” he asked. Jin nodded slowly. “He was scared.” He said it simply. Just the fact of it, placed gently into the space between them.

Tae looked down. “When I touched him earlier he started crying hard. He was so scared.” A tear slipped down quietly. “Because of me.”

Jin reached over and took his hand. “Let’s give him a little time, hmm?” he said softly. “Just a little time.” Tae sniffled. Wiped his face with the back of his free hand and nodded.

“I heard Kim came here?” he asked after a moment. Jin nodded once. Tae clenched his jaw. “Don’t worry about it. He didn’t do anything.” His voice was steady and final in equal measure. “I’ll handle it.”

Tae looked at him for a second reading his face the way only someone who had grown up beside him could and then nodded. He trusted that.

Jin reached up and cupped Tae’s cheek with his hand the one with the IV still neatly bandaged at the back and just held it there for a moment. Warm and steady.

Then the door opened. Yoongi stepped in and the moment his eyes landed on Jin sitting upright and conscious, something visibly released in his expression.

“Oh hyungie! you’re awake!” He crossed the room and pulled Jin into a hug before anything else. Jin laughed softly the first real laugh anyone had heard from him in what felt like a very long time and patted Yoongi’s back.

“Ahhh, jinjja!!” Yoongi’s voice came out muffled against his shoulder. “You literally gave us all a heart attack. All of us. Simultaneously.”

“I’m fine now yoongs,” Jin said. “You better be,” Yoongi muttered.

He pulled back and looked at him  really looked, scanning his face the way he always did when he was checking whether fine actually meant fine and then nodded, apparently satisfied.

“You met Kook?” he asked..Jin nodded quietly. Yoongi nodded back. Didn’t push further.

The door opened again. Haein came in carrying a tray food arranged neatly, the smell of it reaching the room before she did. She set it on the attached table beside the bed with practiced efficiency and looked at Jin.

“Jin can be discharged tomorrow morning.  And Jungkook in evening,” she said. “The doctor confirmed it.” “Really?” Tae sat up immediately, eyes brightening.

Haein smiled and reached over to ruffle his hair once. “Really.”

Jin looked at his younger brother’s face at the way that single piece of news had lifted something in it and felt something loosen in his own chest.

“Jin,” Haein said, turning back to him and gesturing at the tray. “Eat.”

“Ahh, I’m not really hung—-” Haein looked at him. Just looked at him. Jin closed his mouth. Picked up the chopsticks. And began to eat without another word.

From across the room, Tae and Namjoon looked at each other simultaneously. Then both of them chuckled quiet and genuine and warm.

Jin ate slowly, taking his time. After a few bites he looked up. “Have you all eaten?” Everyone nodded.

“Where are Jimin and Hobi?” he asked. “Jimin went home to freshen up,” Tae said. “Hobi has a meeting in the hospital,” Namjoon added.

Jin nodded and took another bite. He looked at Haein. “Eunwoo?” “He’s at home with halmoni,” she said softly. “He’s doing well.”

Jin nodded.

And then the room just settled. Into something quiet and unhurried and warm. No crisis waiting at the door. No phone ringing with bad news. No one rushing anywhere.

Just the soft sounds of chopsticks and quiet voices and people who loved each other sitting together in the same room.

Just family. Resting. For the first time in a long time just that…..

Guys, I am preparing you all for a triple update!

So complete the targets quickly so I can just keep uploading, okay?

And I update late because I was writing the other chapters!

And I swear, guys, I never ever cried like that for any chapters! I really cried! I don’t know if you all will cry, but for me, the next chapter it was the most emotional part of this whole story. I am such a cryyybabyyy, for real!

Fine, I’ll wake at 11 tomorrow. So before that, complete the target! I’ll update soon. 😄

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