Chapter 32

“K-Kookie, don’t cry, please… calm down,” Haein tried to soothe him.

Jungkook kept crying silently while Haein continued to comfort him with gentle words. Eunwoo’s eyes were teary; he was also crying silently. Suho noticed and gently pulled Eunwoo into his embrace, consoling him.

Haein broke the hug and gently wiped the tears from Jungkook’s eyes. “Don’t cry, hmm? I’ll ask your appa to be here,” she said softly.

Jungkook sniffled and nodded.

Even though Kim abused Jungkook, he never truly hated him. He always believed Kim was doing it for his sake, that every punishment was because of his own mistakes. Not a single day passed without Jungkook hoping for his father’s love and care.

Haein gently helped Jungkook lie down on the bed. Jungkook looked up at her with his big, bambi-like eyes.

“Is your head hurting?” Haein asked softly, caressing his hair.

Jungkook shook his head in denial—though it was a lie.

“Come on, Kook, I won’t say anything. Tell the truth. Is your head hurting?” Haein asked again.

Jungkook hesitated before nodding.

“On a scale of 10?” Haein asked.

Jungkook gulped and raised six fingers.

Haein sighed. “You’ll be fine, hmm? After eating and taking medicine, the pain will go away,” she assured him.

Jungkook just nodded.

“See? He’s fine. Go talk to him,” Suho said as he wiped Eunwoo’s tears.

Eunwoo nodded and looked at Jungkook, who was already looking at him. Eunwoo slowly walked toward Haein. Haein smiled sadly and hugged Eunwoo.

“He’s fine now. Do you want to speak to him?” she asked softly.

Eunwoo nodded and peeked out from Haein’s embrace, though he still held onto her.

Jungkook put on a fake smile and spoke. “I-I’m fine, Eun,” he said, though he wasn’t fine at all.

“Really?” Eunwoo asked softly.

Jungkook nodded, smiling brightly—of course, a fake smile.

Eunwoo nodded, but his eyes landed on Jungkook’s hand, where the IV was inserted. His heart clenched. He broke the hug and carefully sat beside Jungkook. He took Jungkook’s IV hand in his own, observing it with teary eyes.

“Is it hurting a lot?” Eunwoo asked.

Jungkook shook his head. “A-Ani, it’s not. I’m all fine,” he said with a fake smile, trying to assure Eunwoo.

Eunwoo nodded and stayed by Jungkook’s side.

Haein sighed in relief. She looked toward the door and saw Hyesuk entering the room. Haein look at her, and Haein knew Hyesuk had been crying.

Haein walked up to her and patted her shoulder reassuringly.

Hyesuk looked at her and asked, “Is he fine?”

“Nae, eomma, he is. He just has a headache, that’s all. The nurse said he’ll have it for some time, but after that, he’ll be fine,” Haein assured her.

Hyesuk nodded and walked toward Jungkook.

“Eomma,” Jungkook called out.

Hyesuk smiled and hugged him lightly. “Are you feeling better now, my bun?” she asked softly.

“Nae, I’m all fine,” Jungkook answered, once again forcing a bright smile.

Hyesuk’s heart clenched at the sight of Jungkook’s fake smile.

“Is this how you’ve always been smiling at us, Kook?” she thought sadly.

She sighed and just hugged Jungkook, also caressing Eunwoo’s head.

Jungkook and Eunwoo finally got the comfort they needed the most.

Meanwhile, outside the room, Haein turned to Suho.

“Can you call your busy boss and ask him to be here?” she said sarcastically.

“Nae, sure,” Suho replied, pulling out his phone to call Kim.

The line connected.

“Sir,” Suho spoke.

“Yeah? How is Jungkook?” Kim asked. His voice was neutral—there was no worry for his son.

“He’s fine now, sir,” Suho informed him.

“Hmm,” Kim hummed.

“Sir, Jungkook wants to meet you,” Suho said.

“Me? Why?” Kim asked, sounding indifferent.

Suho mentally cursed Kim.

“Sir, he’s calling for you. He was so scared earlier. He needs your warmth,” Suho explained.

Kim scoffed. “I don’t have fucking time for him. Ask his mom to be with him.”

“Sir, he needs you. And his mom wants to meet you, too,” Suho pressed.

Kim sighed in frustration. “Did the doctor say anything beyond the treatment?”

Suho paused and looked at Haein, who was listening in.

“No, sir, he didn’t,” Suho replied.

“Okay. I’ll be there in 20 minutes,” Kim said before hanging up.

Suho looked at Haein, who was still staring at him.

“See? I didn’t tell him anything,” Suho reassured her.

Haein nodded. “Thanks… oppa,” she said before walking back inside.

Suho chuckled to himself and headed to the canteen to buy food.

In the room

Hyesuk was feeding Jungkook, while Haein was feeding Eunwoo, and Suho was watching them.

“Eomma, enough, please,” Jungkook whined.

“Come on, Kook, just a little more,” Hyesuk said and fed him another bite.

Jungkook pouted but ate it. Then, he looked at Suho, confused by the unfamiliar presence.

He gestured for Hyesuk to come closer. She leaned in.

“Who is that?” Jungkook asked.

“He is your appa’s worker. Don’t worry, he’s a good man,” Hyesuk said, caressing Jungkook’s hair.

Jungkook nodded.

Once he finished eating, he took his medicine. But he kept glancing at Suho.

Suho noticed and chuckled before walking over to him.

“Are you feeling better now?” Suho asked.

Jungkook nodded.

Suho smiled. “Okay, I’m Lee Suho. I’m 28 years old. You can call me hyung. I’ve already introduced myself to everyone else,” Suho said, offering a handshake.

Jungkook nodded and shook Suho’s hand. “I’m Kim Jungkook. I’m 15 years old,” Jungkook said.

Suho nodded and ruffled Jungkook’s hair.

Suddenly, they heard the door opening. It was Kim.

Jungkook gulped and sat up straight.

“Jungkook, are you fine now?” Kim asked.

“Nae, Appa. I’m all fine now,” Jungkook said.

“Hmm,” Kim hummed and took a few steps toward him, but stopped when he saw Hyesuk standing in front of him, glaring.

Kim looked at her, confused.

“I want to speak to you,” Hyesuk said coldly.

Kim chuckled bitterly. “Whatever you want to say, say it here,” he replied.

Hyesuk sighed deeply and took Kim outside.

Outside the room

“What the fuck do you want, huh?” Kim asked.

“Why the fuck did you abuse Kook?” Hyesuk demanded, her eyes filled with pure anger.

Kim clicked his tongue and chuckled bitterly.

“I didn’t abuse him. I just corrected him,” he said as if he had done nothing wrong.

Hyesuk shot him a disgusted look.

“Don’t you have even a little shame? You don’t deserve to be called ‘appa’ by Jungkook,” she spat bitterly.

Kim scoffed. “Yeah, yeah, I don’t deserve it. But look who’s talking—a woman who couldn’t even have her own child, now claiming my son as hers.”

Hyesuk flinched at his words but quickly regained her composure.

She sighed and said, “Leave it. He will live with us from now on.”

Kim glared at her. “No way. My son is living with me,” he protested.

Hyesuk glared back. “Don’t fucking call him your son. You don’t deserve him. He will live with me from now on. You want him to be in the mafia, right? Fine. He will. But he will only be with you during mafia sessions. I’m warning you—if you dare lay a hand on him again, I won’t let you off. Enough is enough. From now on, Jungkook will live with me,” she said firmly before turning and walking back inside.

Kim stood there, scoffing bitterly. “Let’s see how long he’ll stay with you,” he muttered before leaving.

Inside the Room

Hyesuk came and sat on the couch.

“Eomma,” Jungkook called her.

Hyesuk looked at him, took a deep breath, and went to his side.

“Nae, Kook?” she asked softly.

“Eomma, what happened? Why do you look sad?” Jungkook asked.

Hyesuk shook her head. “No, Kook, I’m not. I’m just worried, that’s all, hmm?” she said, trying her best not to tear up.

“Really?” Jungkook asked.

Hyesuk nodded.

Jungkook smiled, and seeing his smile was enough to break Hyesuk.

Her tears started flowing, but she immediately looked away, blinking rapidly to avoid crying in front of him. Jungkook noticed something was wrong.

“Kook, sleep, hmm?” Haein said, adjusting the bed. She understood the situation.

Jungkook looked at her. “Noona, what happened?” he asked.

Haein shook her head. “Nothing happened, Kook,” she tried her best to reassure him.

“No, something is wrong. Tell me what happened,” Jungkook insisted.

“Eommaa,” Jungkook whined.

“Ani, Kook, everything is fine. W-we’re just worried, nothing else,” Hyesuk said.

“Really?” Jungkook asked.

“Nae, really,” Hyesuk said.

Jungkook nodded, though he was still unsure.

Hyesuk sat beside him and started patting his chest. “Sleep, Kook,” she said.

Jungkook nodded and slowly dozed off. Hyesuk kept looking at him.

“Eunwoo, come and sleep. It’s time,” Haein said.

Eunwoo nodded and went to Haein. She made him lay on her lap, gently patting him until he fell asleep.

Suho was there like a bodyguard, silently helping them. Haein and Hyesuk were deep in thought.

Once Haein noticed that both Eunwoo and Jungkook had fallen asleep, she spoke.

“Eomma… what did he say?” Haein asked.

“I told him Jungkook will live with us from now on,” Hyesuk replied.

“Really? He allowed it?” Haein asked, surprised.

“Even if he doesn’t, Jungkook will live with us from now on,” Hyesuk said with an assuring smile.

Haein nodded. She finally felt relieved.

They both stayed there, watching over the boys. Eventually, Haein fell asleep while lost in thought, and Hyesuk kept an eye on everyone.

She noticed Suho sleeping in an uncomfortable position. She chuckled, walked over, and helped him lay properly on the couch, placing a pillow under his head.

“You seem like you’ve gone through so much,” Hyesuk whispered, noticing the reckless scars on his hands, possibly from past accidents.

The Next Day

Eunwoo went to school after throwing a tantrum, but Haein smacked his back and sent him off.

Meanwhile, Jungkook was sitting and talking with Suho. He didn’t know why, but he felt so comfortable with him.

Was it because Suho looked a little like someone from his fragmented memories?

“Then if you fold this… Tada! Butterfly!” Suho said with a warm smile, showing a butterfly made of paper.

Jungkook, amused by the skill, clapped. “You are so good, hyung!” he said.

Suho smiled and ruffled Jungkook’s hair.

Just then, Hyesuk entered the room and saw Jungkook talking with Suho. Haein was already inside, working on her laptop.

Hyesuk walked up to Jungkook and spoke. “Kook… let’s go home, hmm?”

Jungkook nodded, thinking he was going to hell. Oh, sorry—home.

At Their Home

Jungkook was confused. “Eomma, why did you bring me here? I should be at the mansion, right?” he asked innocently.

“You’ll be living here from now on, Kook,” Haein said.

Jungkook’s eyes widened in shock. “Really??” he asked, confused and amazed.

Hyesuk and Haein nodded.

“B-but why?” Jungkook asked hesitantly. He was hoping for a different answer than the one he feared.

“Just stay here, Kook. How long will you live with your appa? We also miss you,” Hyesuk said, trying to cover up the real reason.

“A-and you guys are hiding something,” Jungkook said, eyeing them suspiciously.

Hyesuk sighed and said calmly, “We want you to live with us, Kook. That’s it. No more discussion about this.”

Jungkook stared at her, confused. “Eommaaa,” he whined.

Hyesuk sighed and looked away.

Haein looked at them, then sighed and went to sit beside Jungkook.

“Kook, don’t overthink. It’s nothing, hmm? Stay here from now on. We will be with you always and protect you,” Haein said softly.

Jungkook became even more confused. “W-what do you mean by ‘you all will be with me’ and ‘protect me’?” he asked, his voice laced with fear.

There was complete silence for a moment. Then Hyesuk spoke.

“We know, Kook.”

Jungkook’s breath hitched. “W-what do you mean by ‘you know’?” he asked, scared.

Hyesuk sighed and sat beside him, gently holding his hands.

“Kook, he doesn’t deserve to be called ‘appa’ by you. He doesn’t deserve that title after everything he has done to you,” Hyesuk said.

Jungkook finally understood. He gulped and looked at Hyesuk and Haein.

“Y-you know?” he asked innocently.

They both nodded.

Jungkook just stared at them. Silence filled the room. No one spoke.

Hyesuk gently hugged the emotionless boy.

“I am sorry for leaving you with that monster, Kook. I am really sorry. He abused you all these years, and you didn’t even tell us. You must have been in so much pain. I’m so sorry, Kook. We’ll never leave you again from now on,” Hyesuk said.

Jungkook didn’t respond.

“Say something, Kook,” Haein pleaded.

But no response.

Then suddenly—

A loud cry echoed through the room.

It was Jungkook.

He burst into tears, covering his face with his hands, crying profusely. He was crying so hard.

Hyesuk hugged him even tighter. “I am here with you… Eomma is with you,” she reassured him.

Jungkook kept crying while mumbling, “Sorry…”

“There’s no fault in you, Kook. Don’t say sorry,” Haein said.

“A-ani, I am so sorry… Everything happened because of me. I am sorry,” he sobbed, crying and crying.

Haein and Hyesuk kept consoling him.

Eventually, Jungkook fell asleep from exhaustion.

They both made Jungkook sleep properly.

Hyesuk took a deep breath and gently removed Jungkook’s shirt. The moment she saw the bruises, she gasped. Haein did too. The bruises were few but deep.

Tears welled up in their eyes.

Hyesuk carefully turned Jungkook around, and that’s when she saw the marks—scars from belts and whips.

Though his wounds had been treated properly, and the doctor had given him ointment to reduce the scars (since Jungkook always hated those ugly marks), the scars they were seeing now were new.

Their hearts ached.

The Same Day, Evening Time

Eunwoo was in his room doing his homework, completely unaware of everything. He simply thought that Jungkook was living with them because Kim had allowed it.

Meanwhile, Jungkook was sitting on his bed, eating as Haein fed him.

Once he was done, he took his medicine and finally spoke.

Hyesuk was also in the room.

“Eomma… Noona…” he called them softly.

“Nae, Kookie?” Hyesuk and Haein responded in unison.

Jungkook hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I am sorry.”

Hyesuk frowned. “Why, Kook? There’s no fault in you.” She assured him, trying to comfort him.

“A-ani… I should’ve told you. I lied to you all, na? I’m sorry.” Jungkook’s voice trembled.

“Don’t worry, Kook. It’s alright. But don’t ever hide your problems from us again, hmm?” Hyesuk said gently.

Jungkook nodded. He then looked at Haein.

“Noona… I am sorry.” His voice cracked.

Haein sighed. “It’s okay, leave it… But remember, don’t ever think of hiding your pain from us again, hmm? W-when we saw the scars on your back, we were so worried and guilty. If you had told us earlier, we would have protected you, na? My Kook was in so much pain, and we weren’t even aware of it,” Haein said, tearing up.

Jungkook’s eyes filled with tears as well. “Noona, sorry… don’t cry, please.”

Haein wiped her tears. “No, I won’t cry. But remember, Kook, I am here for you. Eomma is here for you. Eunwoo is here for you. You are our world, Kook. If anything happens to you, it hurts us just as much. So don’t ever hide anything from us again, hmm?”

Jungkook nodded and hugged Haein tightly. Hyesuk smiled and wrapped her arms around both of them.

From that day, Jungkook started living with them. He felt safe, loved, and truly happy.

To officially complete their family, Suho joined them. He became Jungkook and Eunwoo’s crime partner, and the trio was inseparable. Suho was overly protective of them, acting like an elder brother. Haein and Hyesuk also trusted him completely.

Jungkook, Haein, and Eunwoo continued their training, growing stronger. They started going on missions together.

Kim never interfered with Jungkook living with Hyesuk. He only met them during training sessions and focused solely on training. That was it—nothing more, nothing less.

Even Kim noticed the bond between Suho, Eunwoo, Jungkook, and Haein.

Haein, over time, started looking at Suho as if he were her real elder brother. She was truly thankful for him.

The five of them became a family.

Jungkook was finally happy.

Everything was going fine…

Or so they thought.

But fate had something else in store for them.

End of Flashback. (Flashback will be continued)

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