Chapter 23

“Yahhh, are you fucking mad or something?” It was Eunwoo. Jungkook just kept holding his head.

“Yahhh, I’m speaking to you!” Eunwoo yelled. “Shut your fucking mouth,” Jungkook yelled back. Jungkook released a deep breath, and finally, the dizziness went away.

He looked at Eunwoo, whose eyebrows were furrowed, and he was panting slightly. “What?” Jungkook asked.

“What, what? Huh, the truck was about to hit you!” Eunwoo yelled.

Jungkook scoffed, “Why did you save me? You should have let me be. I would have died by n—” Jungkook was cut off when Eunwoo grabbed his collar in anger. “Stop this nonsense, Jungkook,” he said and left him with a jerk.

Jungkook coughed and said, “Why don’t you just kill me, huh? That’s your wish, right?” Jungkook said. Eunwoo lost it. He raised his hand to punch but stopped when he was pulled away by Chaeyoung.

“Yahhh, are you mad? Why are you guys fighting on the road?” Chaeyoung said.

“Teach him, not me,” Jungkook said and left from there.

“You’re such a pain in the ass. I’ll never forgive you. You’re are fucking selfish,” Eunwoo shouted in Italian, and of course, Jungkook heard it. He just walked to the park.

“Are you mad, Eun?” Chaeyoung asked. “I’m not. He’s the one,” Eunwoo said and left furiously. Chaeyoung gave them a confused face.

On one hand, Jungkook was walking furiously, and on the other hand, Eunwoo was storming off.

“Are they both mad or something, or am I the mad one here? Ahhhh, they’ll make me mad someday,” she said and went in the direction of Eunwoo.

Meanwhile, Jungkook went to the park and saw Jin, Tae, and Jimin there. They smiled upon seeing Jungkook. “How was your day, Kookie?” Jin asked with a smile. “Good,” Jungkook said and got in the car, waiting for no one.

The trio looked at each other with confused eyes. “Let’s go, come on,” Jin said. Tae and Jimin nodded and got in the car. Jimin was sitting in the front, and Tae was in the back with Jungkook.

“Kook, wanna go somewhere?” Jin asked. “No, just go home,” Jungkook said. “Nae,” Jin said. “Did you eat lunch, Kook?” Tae asked. Jungkook gave a slight nod. “What about your medicines? Are you taking them on time?” Jin asked. “Nae,” Jungkook lied again.

How pitiful. You think you’re doing the right things in the present, but without knowing the consequences that are going to happen in the future. No one can guess the future, but we can be aware of it. Every action has an equal or opposite reaction. So, do the right thing after thinking a thousand times, not just once.

Jin parked the car in front of Jimin’s house. “Chim, don’t forget to eat, hmm? Yoongi will be a little late today, so eat and sleep. No games, okay?” Jin said.

Jimin lazily nodded his head. “Nae, Hyungie, I will. And tell that grandpa to stay there itself. He doesn’t need to come home,” Jimin said, pouting. Of course, he was angry at his hyung because Yoongi always comes home late.

“Don’t be angry, Jimin-ah,” Tae said, laughing. Jimin glared at him. “Okay, okay, go in. Don’t forget to eat, Chim,” Jin said and started the car. “Nae, bye,” Jimin said lazily. Jin started the car and drove off.

Jin drove the car to their house. He parked the car, and Tae and Jungkook got out. Jungkook immediately went inside. Jin and Tae looked at each other. “Hyung, are you going to talk to him today?” Tae asked.

“Nae, I should. Don’t worry, Tae,” Jin said, wrapping an arm around Tae’s shoulder. “Tell me, how was my bear’s day?” Jin asked, lifting the mood.

Tae smiled and started recounting the things that happened during his day. Jin listened with a smile. “Always be happy, Tae. I’m here for you always. I will always protect you and Kook from that monster. I won’t let anything happen to you or Kook,” Jin thought.

“Okay, now go and freshen up, and while coming down, ask Jungkook to come down too,” Jin said. Tae nodded and went to his room to freshen up.

Jin smiled and went to freshen up as well.

He came out with his wet hair, drying it with a towel. He went to the kitchen. “You can leave. I’ll manage today,” Jin said. The maidsf bowed and left. Jin started preparing milk for Tae and Jungkook and coffee for himself. He also prepared some snacks.

Meanwhile, Jungkook entered the room and collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted. He felt so weak. His eyes burned like fire, and his head felt like a mountain was crushing it. Staring at the ceiling, a voice echoed in his mind:

“You are a fucking selfish.”
“I’ll never forgive you.”

Jungkook chuckled bitterly at the words.

“I’m selfish, right? Such a selfish psycho, huh? A curse. An unlucky bastard. That’s what I am,” he muttered. “I’m the cause of everything. Because of me, Eomma died. I killed Hyungie too. I’ve made Noona’s and Eunwoo’s lives hell. Everything happened because of me. I’m a curse.”

He laughed sarcastically, tears welling up in his eyes.

“As he said, I don’t deserve anyone in my life. All I deserve is punishment. And I’m getting punished every day. I’m happy with that. I’m a fucking moron. A useless idiot. A curse. I was born to kill everyone. I’m a disappointment. Why was I even born? I hate myself,” Jungkook whispered, cursing himself over and over again.

He whimpered when a sharp pain shot through his chest. “Ahhh, now this chest pain too? Are you joining the chart of things that want to kill me?” he muttered in frustration, clutching his chest.

Sighing, he sat up and decided to take a bath. He soaked himself in hot water, hoping it would ease his pain. Afterward, he changed into a t-shirt and a simple jacket, then lay back on the bed, closing his burning eyes.

His rest was disturbed by a knock at the door. Jungkook sighed and got up, but a wave of dizziness hit him again.

“This fucking dizziness,” he cursed, holding his head until it subsided.

He sighed and heard a voice from outside. “Kook?”

“N-nae, coming,” Jungkook responded weakly and walked to the door. He opened it to see Taehyung standing there with a smile.

“Come downstairs,” Tae said.

“Why?” Jungkook asked.

“Hyungie called you,” Tae replied.

Jungkook sighed but followed him downstairs. There, he saw Jin arranging snacks and drinks on the table.

“Oh, you both came. Come, sit,” Jin said with a warm smile.

“You did all this?” Tae asked.

“Nae,” Jin replied.

Tae jumped in joy and plopped down on the couch, happily munching on snacks while sipping milk. Jungkook also sat down, but he wasn’t paying attention to anything.

“Here, Kook. Take this and eat,” Jin said, sitting beside him.

“I don’t want it,” Jungkook said nonchalantly.

Jin sighed and leaned forward slightly. “Kook, don’t skip meals all the time. Ever since you came here, you’ve been skipping dinner and breakfast regularly. If you keep doing this, how will you stay healthy, huh? From now on, no skipping meals, okay?” Jin said gently.

“Why do you even care?” Jungkook asked, still looking away.

“Why shouldn’t I care? You’re my brother, and I have every right to care about you,” Jin said firmly.

“But I don’t need anyone’s care,” Jungkook replied, still avoiding Jin’s gaze.

“Why are you saying this? Everyone needs someone to rely on. We’re family, Kook. It’s our responsibility to take care of you,” Jin said softly.

Jungkook just hummed in response.

“So tell me, were you like this in Italy too? Skipping meals?” Jin asked, trying to understand.

Jungkook looked at Jin, his expression unreadable. “Yes, I was like this. No one was there to cook for me. No one cared about me. No one asked if I’d eaten or not. They just left me to starve. I barely ate once a day,” he thought bitterly.

“Yes, I was like this… but only sometimes,” Jungkook finally said.

Jin sighed deeply. “Listen, Kook. However you were in Italy, I don’t care. But here, we care about you. You’re our precious gem, and after years, you’re back with us. We can’t lose you. We can’t watch you in pain or see you fall sick. Look at yourself—your face is so pale. Remember, we’re always here for you. We’ll always take care of you,” Jin said, his voice filled with love and sincerity.

Jungkook looked into Jin’s eyes, searching for any trace of fake but finding none. Jin’s eyes held nothing but pure love and care.

Taehyung chimed in, “Yes, Kookie! Me and Jin-hyungie are always here for you. We’ll always care about you.”

Jungkook was about to respond when his eyes suddenly twitched in pain. A sharp, stabbing sensation shot through his head.

“Ahhhh!” he whimpered, clutching his head as the pain grew unbearable, like someone was stabbing him repeatedly in the skull.

Jin and Tae’s eyes widened in shock. Jin quickly rushed to Jungkook, panic and fear written all over his face.

“Hey, hey, Kookie, what happened?” Jin asked worriedly.

“Ahhh,” Jungkook whimpered in pain, his body trembling. That’s when Jin noticed how warm Jungkook’s body was.

“Kookie, what happened? Is your head hurting?” Jin asked softly. Jungkook slowly nodded his head, still whimpering in pain.

“Tae, bring water!” Jin said urgently. Tae nodded and quickly ran to get a glass of water.

Fragments of voices and memories began flashing through Jungkook’s mind:

“I am there with you, Kookie. Always. I won’t leave you.”
“Your TaeTae and Jinie Hyungie are always there for you.”
“I love my hyungies a lot.”
“Yoona, ask them to leave me… hahahaha.”

Jungkook’s breathing became heavy as he held his head, trying to fight the pain. Suddenly, he felt something trickling down his nose—it was blood. He was barely conscious and not in his senses. Touching his nose, he saw the blood on his fingers.

“H-Hyungie, p-please…”
“Appa, don’t… please… Appa!”
“Hyungieee!”
“Appa, please… Appa, please leave me. Appa, please…”

“Hey, Kookie, baby, respond to me, please. Kookie, look at me, bun. You’re fine. Here, drink some water,” Jin pleaded, his voice trembling as he tried to snap Jungkook out of it. But Jungkook was completely unresponsive, lost in his own torment.

“H-Hyungie, b-blood,” Tae stuttered, his voice shaking in fear.

“Oh my God, Kookie, are you okay? Baby, blood is coming!” Jin exclaimed in panic. “Tae, tissues!” Jin instructed urgently.

Tae quickly brought tissues and handed them to Jin. Jin started wiping the blood from Jungkook’s nose, his hands trembling as he worked. But Jungkook wasn’t even blinking; he was completely out of it.

“Here, Kookie, drink some water,” Jin said, trying again. But Jungkook pushed the glass away violently, flinching badly. Tae jumped back, startled. Jungkook winced and screamed softly, “Ahhh,” clutching his head tightly.

“Tae, don’t move—just stay there, hmm?” Jin said firmly but gently. Tae nodded, frozen in place.

“Kookie, baby, look at me, please,” Jin begged, his voice laced with fear.

Suddenly, Jungkook stood up unsteadily. The dizziness hit him hard, and he stumbled, nearly collapsing. Thankfully, Jin caught him just in time.

“Hey, Kookie, don’t close your eyes. Please stay with me! Please!” Jin begged desperately.

But Jungkook’s eyes fluttered shut, and he fainted in Jin’s arms. Jin patted his cheek, trying to wake him.

“Kookie, don’t scare me, baby. Wake up, please! Kookie, wake up, bun,” Jin pleaded, his voice breaking.

When there was no response, Jin carefully carried Jungkook to the sofa and laid him down. He turned to Tae, who was frozen with fear, tears brimming in his wide eyes.

“Tae, slowly step aside, hmm? Nothing will happen to Kookie. Come on, slowly now,” Jin said gently. Tae nodded, carefully stepping away from the broken glass scattered on the floor.

“Tae, come help me carry Kookie to my room,” Jin said. Tae nodded again and helped Jin lift Jungkook. As Jin carried him, he noticed just how light Jungkook was.

They gently laid Jungkook on the bed. Jin touched Jungkook’s forehead and gasped at how hot it was.

“Tae, stay here with Kookie, okay? Don’t be scared. I’m here. Nothing will happen to our Kookie,” Jin said, wiping the tears from Tae’s cheeks. Tae nodded and sat beside Jungkook, holding his hand protectively.

Jin left the room and grabbed his phone. With shaky hands, he quickly dialed Hyunwoo’s number.

“Uncle,” Jin said, his voice panicked.

“Nae, Seojin-ah. What happened?” Hyunwoo asked, immediately sensing something was wrong.

“Uncle… Jungkook… he… he fainted,” Jin stammered, struggling to keep his composure.

“What? When?” Hyunwoo asked, his voice filled with concern.

“Just now. We were talking, and suddenly, he held his head in pain. He had a nosebleed, and then he fainted. He’s also running a high fever. What should I do, Uncle? I’m so scared,” Jin said, his voice trembling.

“You’re at the mansion, right?” Hyunwoo asked.

“N-nae,” Jin replied, barely able to speak.

“Don’t worry, hmm? I’ll be there with a doctor in 20 minutes. Just stay with Jungkook and Tae. Tae must be scared, so keep him calm. I’ll be there soon,” Hyunwoo assured him.

“N-nae… please come quickly,” Jin said before hanging up. He sat on the couch, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Please be fine, Kookie,” he whispered, wiping away a stray tear.

He looked at the broken glass on the floor and sighed. Quickly, he cleaned it up, ensuring the area was safe. Once he was done, he returned to his room, where Tae was still sitting beside Jungkook, his tear-filled eyes fixed on him.

Jin walked over and gently hugged Tae. “He’ll be fine, Tae. The doctor is coming soon, so don’t worry, hmm? Our Kookie is a fighter—he’ll be okay,” Jin said, trying to reassure him.

“He’ll be fine, right? He… he even had a n-nosebleed. He was in so much pain, Hyungie,” Tae said, sobbing softly.

“He’ll be fine, Tae. Don’t worry. He’ll be okay,” Jin said firmly, doing his best to comfort him. Tae nodded, wiping his tears.

They sat there in silence, their eyes fixed on Jungkook, watching him closely as they waited for help to arrive.