Chapter 17

Jungkook sat on the bench with his banana milk. He sipped it while gazing at the peaceful surroundings.

“Mianhae,” he whispered softly, his eyes red and glistening with tears.

“Sorry for everything, b-but it’s not enough, right?” Jungkook murmured, chuckling sadly.

He took a deep breath, trying to push away the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. He bit his lip, his expression a mix of frustration and sadness.

“Why am I even living?” he asked himself, before laughing loudly-a laugh that seemed to echo with despair rather than joy.

Was the laughter from happiness or sadness?

“It’s okay, Jungkook-ah. Let it be…” he muttered to himself before standing up. He rode his bike back to the mansion.

—

He entered the mansion to find Jin sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

Jungkook sighed, walking past Jin without sparing him a glance. However, he stopped when Jin called out, “Kookie.”

“Here we go again,” Jungkook mumbled under his breath, already annoyed.

He turned around, meeting Jin’s gaze. Jin’s face was cheerful, a warm smile greeting him.

“Did you eat lunch?” Jin asked softly. Jungkook gave a tiny nod in response.

“Umm… can we talk?” Jin asked, his tone hopeful.

“Later, I’m tired,” Jungkook said curtly.

“N-nae, go and rest,” Jin replied, forcing a smile. Jungkook nodded and walked away.

Jin sighed, sinking back into the sofa. His face reflected his inner turmoil, sadness etched into his features. “Let’s talk to him later,” he whispered to himself with a heavy heart.

—

Jungkook entered his room and collapsed onto the bed, feeling exhausted. “Ahhh, waeeeee,” he whined, rubbing his temples as his head throbbed.

He closed his eyes, desperate for rest.

A faint voice started echoing in his head, he already knew what was coming, he closed his ears trying to make the voices go away, but the voices only got louders.

“You betrayed me, Kookie.”

“Are you selfish, huh?”

“You killed him, Kim Jungkook.”

“You don’t deserve to be called my son. You’re a useless idiot, just a curse to everyone’s life.”

“Go and die.”

The cruel words echoed in his mind, growing louder and more unbearable. Jungkook clenched his eyes shut, trying to block them out. “Pl-please… ahh,” he whimpered, gripping his head as the pain intensified.

His hands trembled as he reached for a pillbox on the table. With great effort, he managed to take two pills from the bottle.

They were Benzodiazepines, prescribed by his doctor for severe anxiety and insomnia. The doctor had strictly warned Jungkook to use them sparingly-only in extreme cases. But Jungkook had been taking them without the doctor’s approval, fully aware of their harsh side effects.

The pills often caused debilitating headaches, extreme fatigue, nausea, and, at times, high fevers. Despite knowing the risks, Jungkook used them as an escape from the voices in his head, from the relentless anxiety that consumed him.

After taking the pills, Jungkook lay back on his bed, clutching his head. “Pl-please… go away,” he whispered, his voice weak and broken. A tear slipped from his reddened eyes as the pain and voices slowly subsided.

His eyelids grew heavy under the drug’s effects, and soon he drifted into an uneasy sleep.

—

Meanwhile, downstairs with Jin and Taehyung.

Jin was still in the living room, lost in his thoughts. His brooding was interrupted by a sleepy whine from Taehyung.

“Hyungggggg,” Tae mumbled as he stumbled down the stairs, fresh from his nap.

Jin smiled fondly at Taehyung. His messy hair and sleepy, puffy face made him look like a child. Tae rubbed his eyes cutely before walking straight to Jin and plopping down on the couch, resting his head on Jin’s lap.

“Slept well?” Jin asked, gently caressing Taehyung’s hair. Tae nodded sleepily.

Jin chuckled softly. “What time is it, hyung?” Tae asked in a slurred, drowsy voice.

“It’s almost 8 PM,” Jin replied. Tae nodded again, slowly waking up.

“What about Kookie? Did he come back?” Tae asked, his concern for their youngest evident.

“Nae, he came back about an hour ago. He’s in his room,” Jin replied with a small smile.

Tae smiled in relief but then asked, “Did you talk to him?”

“A-ani… He said he was tired. Let’s talk to him later, hmm?” Jin said, forcing a smile.

Tae sighed, though he agreed. “Mmm… Let’s talk to him later, hyungie,” Tae said softly. Jin chuckled and nodded.

Ruffling Taehyung’s hair, Jin asked, “What do you want for dinner, bear?”

“Are you cooking?” Tae asked with a happy smile.

“Nae. What do you want to eat?” Jin asked, his fondness for the younger evident in his tone.

“Umm… anything you cook,” Tae said, grinning.

Jin chuckled and nodded. “As you wish, my prince,” he teased. Tae laughed softly.

Tae sat up suddenly. “Okay, I’ll go and clean my workroom,” Tae said, attempting to flee.

“You still haven’t done it?” Jin asked, exasperated.

“Ani…” Tae admitted, scratching his head sheepishly.

“Yah! I told you-” Jin began, but Tae quickly ran off, calling, “I’ll clean it soon!”

Jin shook his head, chuckling. “This boy…” he muttered before heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
___

The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. The dim lighting of the BTS Agency headquarters barely illuminated the faces of its key members.

Files, laptops, and photographs cluttered the large oak table in the middle of the room. Yoongi sat at the head, his expression dark and brooding as he scanned the reports.

“Hyung, here’s the information you asked for.” Hoseok placed a thick folder on the table, his tone unusually serious. His usual bright demeanor had been replaced with grim determination.

Yoongi opened the folder and started flipping through its pages. His eyes narrowed at the photographs of drug shipments, coded messages, and autopsy reports.

“These documents confirm it, Hyung,” Namjoon said, his voice low but heavy with anger. “Mr. Kim is flooding the international market with a new drug. It’s lethal. Last year alone, over seventy confirmed deaths. And that’s just the official number. Many more are still suffering.”

Yoongi’s fingers gripped the edge of the file so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioning.

“How the hell did we miss this?” Yoongi growled, slamming the file shut and throwing it across the table. “We’ve been tailing him for years, and this was happening right under our noses. Damn it!” He stood abruptly, raking his hands through his hair in frustration.

Hoseok and Namjoon exchanged glances, their leader’s uncharacteristic outburst making the gravity of the situation even clearer.

“There’s more,” Hoseok said cautiously, clearing his throat.

“Rumors are circulating. They say… they say Mr. Kim is involved in more than just drug trafficking. Murders, Hyung. Executions. People are disappearing.”

Yoongi’s sharp gaze snapped to Hoseok. His jaw tightened. “Rumors don’t mean anything without proof. I want details-names, dates, connections. Everything.”

“I’m on it,” Hoseok replied.

“Namjoon,” Yoongi said, his tone commanding, “dig deeper into his supply chains. Follow every lead, no matter how small. We need to know how he’s operating globally and who’s helping him.”

Namjoon nodded, flipping open his own laptop. “Understood. And what about the Shadow Network?”

The mention of the Shadow Network brought a chilling silence. It was an elusive group of highly skilled operatives, rumored to be Mr. Kim’s enemy. This is the same group who is looking for jungkook.

Their existence was shrouded in secrecy, their movements almost impossible to trace.

“We can’t ignore them anymore,” Yoongi muttered, his voice laced with bitterness. “If they’re real, they’re a key part of his operations. Find out who they are and where they’re based.”

Hoseok and Namjoon exchanged another glance, their determination solidifying.

“And Hyung,” Hoseok ventured, “should I call Jin hyung now?” Hobi asked. “Don’t need, let’s speak with him tmr. And yeah let’s get ready for some raps from him” yoongi said already scared what Jin is going to do.

“Let’s get ready for the battle ; with our own family” yoongi said. He chuckled bitterly at last words.

The room fell silent again as the weight of their mission settled on their shoulders. The fight against Mr. Kim wasn’t just a battle against a criminal empire-it was a battle for their family, their redemption, and their lives.

“Let’s move,” Yoongi said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “Let’s move him step by step. No mistakes this time.”

As Hoseok and Namjoon set to work, Yoongi stood by the window, staring out into the dark city skyline. His mind raced with strategies, plans, and the haunting memories of what Mr. Kim had already taken from them.

“I won’t forgive you Kim, for what you have done with my hyungie“

This wasn’t just about justice anymore. It was personal.

What happened? What is happening? What will happen?

The depths of wonder often hide the shadows of pain, yet a smile graces the surface, masking the untold battles within.

—

“I’ll go and bring Kookie,” Jin said. Tae nodded with a smile while taking a bite of a strawberry.

Jin went to Jungkook’s room. He knocked on the door. “Kookie,” he called, but there was no response. He noticed the door wasn’t locked, which was unusual m

“I’m coming in,” Jin said, still receiving no response. He opened the door and saw Jungkook sleeping, still wearing his shoes and jacket.

“He slept so early,” Jin smiled, looking at Jungkook’s cute sleeping face.

Jin walked closer and gently removed Jungkook’s shoes and socks without disturbing his sleep.

Then, Jin adjusted Jungkook’s position so he could sleep more comfortably. He noticed sweat all over Jungkook’s face and gently wiped it away.

“Why is sweating a lot?” Jin chuckled to himself

However, he also noticed tear stains. Jin shrugged it off, assuming they were from the sweat.

Jin smiled softly while caressing Jungkook’s hair. “You’re so cute, my Kookie,” Jin said, adoring him.

Jin was about to leave but stopped when he heard Jungkook whispering. He turned back and saw the distress on Jungkook’s face, which made him frown.

He went closer to hear what jungkook was whispering.

“A-ap-appa, a-ani. P-pl-please. Appa, a-appa, please do-don’t,” Jungkook mumbled in his sleep. Jin panicked at those words.

He gently held Jungkook’s hands. “Ko-Kookie,” Jin whispered, his voice trembling.

After sometime Jungkook stopped mumbling, but those words left Jin scared and made him feel uneasy.

Jin pulled the blanket over Jungkook, who snuggled into it. Jin stared at Jungkook’s face. “Are you really fine, Kookie? But it doesn’t seem like you’re fine,” Jin whispered.

“I hope it’s not what I think,” he murmured, his heart heavy. Jin stood up and left the room, confusion clouding his mind.

With a heavy heart, Jin went downstairs. He saw Tae sitting there with a bright smile. Jin forced a smile and approached him.

“Kookie slept early. Let’s not disturb him,” Jin said.

“Woah, he slept so early?” Tae exclaimed.

“Hmm, okay common let’s go and eat yummy yummy food” Jin said trying to be casual.

“Nae” tae said warmly and went to dinner.

—

Jin and Taehyung moved to the dining table, the warmth of the home cooking Jin had prepared earlier filling the air.

Tae sat down, still munching on strawberries, as Jin began to set the table.

“Hyung, this looks amazing as always!” Taehyung grinned, his boxy smile lighting up his face.

Jin gave a small smile in return, trying to hide the storm of thoughts brewing in his mind. “Eat up, Tae.” Jin said with smile.

As they began to eat, Taehyung noticed something unusual about Jin. Normally, Jin would chatter endlessly about his day or tease Taehyung about his quirks, but tonight he was quiet, his focus more on the plate in front of him than the conversation.

“Hyung, is something wrong?” Taehyung asked suddenly, his sharp eyes catching the tension in Jin’s expression.

Jin looked up, startled by the question, but quickly shook his head. “No, no. Nothing’s wrong. Just tired, that’s all,” he replied, forcing a smile.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. “Hyung, you can’t lie to me. Your face is like an open book, you know?” he teased gently. “You’ve been acting weird since you came downstairs. Did something happen?”

Jin hesitated, his chopsticks hovering over his bowl. He didn’t want to burden Taehyung, especially when he himself wasn’t sure what Jungkook’s whispered words meant. He needed to process it first, figure out if it was even worth worrying about.

“No, Tae. Really, I’m fine,” Jin said, a little firmer this time. “Maybe I just need some sleep.” He took another bite of his food, avoiding Taehyung’s gaze.

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, studying Jin’s face carefully. There was no mistaking the distress behind his eyes, the faint worry lines on his forehead. “If something’s bothering you, hyung, you know you can tell me,” he said softly. “We’re brothers. You don’t have to carry it alone.”

Jin’s heart softened at Taehyung’s words, but he forced himself to maintain his composure.

“I know, Tae. Thank you. But really, I’m okay. Let’s just eat and talk about something fun, huh?” He plastered on a cheerful smile, but Taehyung could see it didn’t reach his eyes.

Though unconvinced, Taehyung decided not to press further. “Alright, but I’ll hold you to that,” he said, his tone light yet firm. “You’ll tell me when you’re ready?”

Jin nodded quickly. “Of course, I promise.”

The two continued their dinner, shifting the conversation to lighter topics-upcoming schedules, funny moments from their day, and even their favorite memes.

But no matter how much they laughed, Taehyung couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply troubling Jin.

Later that night, as Taehyung lay in bed, he replayed the evening in his mind. What’s bothering you, hyung? he wondered. And why are you hiding it?

Jin, meanwhile, sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was still replaying Jungkook’s distressed whispers. “Appa… please don’t.” Jin clenched his fists, a sense of foreboding settling over him.

He took his phone and opened a picture of Jungkook, it was the pic that tae took when jk was sleeping on couch.

“What aren’t you telling us, Jungkook?” He asked to himself being confused.

“But if something miserable has happened to you, I won’t spare the person. I will protect you always kookie. I know I wasn’t with you for years, but believe me. Hyugie had always thought about you. If something is bothering you please do tell me”

____

Hey guys, how was the chapter.

I am really sorry if I have disappointed you guys.

So I gave a hint to Jin about jungkook’s condition. Do you think Jin will figure the things before the things get worse??

If you have any ideas to tell please do tell.

Anyway bye,