Chapter 80

3 Days later

It was the sixth day of Jungkook’s hospital stay. And it was getting harder for everyone to cope up with the poor boy’s condition. Jungkook would often wake up in the middle of the night, crying so hard from the pain in his chest and head. Then, he’d fall asleep again, only after crying himself to exhaustion.

He cried for Hyesuk, calling out for her repeatedly. But Suho and Haein had hardened their hearts, pretending and saying she was fine. They knew the truth would shatter him, and though the lie tore them each time they said it, they had no choice, for now.

Right now, Suho was sitting beside Jungkook, gently feeding him the soup with a spoon. Jungkook looked really exhausted. His eyes were drowsy and dull from fatigue and fever. On the couch, Haein was reviewing his latest medical reports. Eunwoo sat beside her, leaning gently against her side, peeking at the documents with tired eyes.

“koo koo-ya, are you still feeling pain?” Suho asked softly, brushing Jungkook’s hair back.

Jungkook gave a tiny nod.

“On a scale of…?” Suho asked gently, worried for the younger “Five,” Jungkook mumbled, barely audible.

“Okay. After you eat, get some sleep, hmm? You’ll feel better,” Suho said and offered another spoonful of porridge. Jungkook didn’t say anything just ate.

“After this, I’ll buy your favorite banana milk,” Haein added with a soft smile.

Jungkook gave the faintest nod, clearly exhausted. Suho fed him another bite, but Jungkook shook his head, whispering, “Enough.”

“Come on, Kook… you’ve only eaten a few bites… please, baby,” Suho said gently but Jungkook shook his head again, eyes dull and tired.

Suho sighed, brushing back the hair from Jungkook’s forehead. “Okay… but you have to finish your milk, alright?”

Jungkook shook his head softly, then murmured with a weak voice, “T…take me to e…eomma…”

It was the same question he asked every single day. Suho swallowed hard, his heart aching. “A…after you recover… w-we can go, baby,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Jungkook turned to look at Haein. She was already watching him with nervous eyes, hands trembling slightly.

“Noona… please… I want to see her,” he said, tears slowly forming in his eyes.

Haein didn’t say anything at first. Her throat tightened, but after a beat, she forced herself to speak. “W-we’ll take you a-after you recover, Koo—”

She stopped mid-sentence as Jungkook looked between them and suddenly asked, “Are you guys lying to me?”

Haein and Suho froze. Guilt all over their faces, and Eunwoo gasped lightly from the corner of the room already worried for his bestfriend.

Jungkook turned his head toward his best friend. “Eunwoo… at least you tell me the truth… please… I want to see her…” his eyes teared up, his voice trembling.

He saw the tears already welling in Eunwoo’s eyes as he lowered his gaze in silence.

That was it. Jungkook knew something was really, really wrong.

“Please tell me, na… I want my eomma. I know you’re all lying. Please…” he pleaded, his big tear-filled eyes scanning each of their faces.

But instead of the truth, he only heard more gentle reassurances.

Haein stepped forward and held his hand tightly. Suho pulled him gently into his chest, wrapping both arms around the boy.

Jungkook leaned against Suho, sobbing like a baby. “Eo…eomma… Hyungie… Noona… please take me… Or ask her to come. Why isn’t she coming?” he cried, desperation laced in every word.

Haein’s eyes shimmered with tears. She reached out and stroked his hair gently.

“Rest for now, hmm? We’ll talk later. Please… you’re straining yourself, baby,” she whispered, wiping his tears.

“A…aniyo… Tell me, please… I want my eomma…” Jungkook cried harder, pain and exhaustion crashing over him like a wave.

They panicked at his worsening state, his sobs were getting heavier, and his breathing was starting to hitch. Suho rubbed his chest, trying to soothe him, but Jungkook wouldn’t stop crying.

Haein quickly rushed to call the doctor. It wasn’t Dr. Hwang, it was his assistant today.

“He’s exhausted,” the doctor said quickly, preparing a sedative. “I’ll give him an injection. He needs rest immediately.”

Suho kept whispering soft, broken words near Jungkook’s ear, holding the boy close as he whimpered through the storm of his pain and longing for his mom.

Suddenly, through his sobs, Jungkook choked out, “A…appa… Ap…appa…”

Suho’s jaw clenched at those words. Something stirred deep inside his chest, a memory, a fear, a sharp stab of guilt, and anger…. So much anger… But why?

“Wa…want appa…” Jungkook cried weakly.

The doctor gestured at Suho to hold Jungkook firmly. Suho gently tightened his hold, and Jungkook immediately clutched Suho’s shirt in small fists, burying himself in his chest like a frightened child. He snuggled close, still crying, still shaking.

Suho cradled him gently, patting his back and softly brushing his head, like he was nothing but a glass that might break at any moment.

The doctor gently rolled up Jungkook’s sleeves. With steady hands, he injected the sedative into his arms. Jungkook flinched a little but didn’t say a word. He just kept crying, softly, brokenly, his body trembling in Suho’s embrace.

Suho kept whispering soothing words into Jungkook’s ear, rubbing gentle circles on his back, patting his trembling frame. Across the room, Haein held Eunwoo in her arms, trying to calm the boy who was crying silently, burying his face into her shoulder.

Gradually, the sound of Jungkook’s sobs softened. Suho felt it, his breaths were becoming heavier, more labored. Concerned, he slowly broke the hug and looked at the boy in his arms.

His heart shattered.

Jungkook’s face was tear-streaked, flushed, and exhausted. His damp hair clung to his forehead, his lips were reddened, and his nose glowed slightly red from all the crying. His eyelids, swollen and heavyy, were still wet with fresh tears.

Suho gently laid him down on the hospital bed, like he was setting down the most fragile thing in the world.

He carefully wiped Jungkook’s tears and sweat with trembling fingers, his heart aching. He kept brushing Jungkook’s hair back, caressing his head tenderly, his hand never leaving the boy’s face. He just sat there, quiet, broken, letting his own tears fall freely now.

He couldn’t hold them back anymore. He had held strong for days, for Jungkook, for Eunwoo, for Haein. But now, seeing Jungkook this shattered, this lost, made him crumble inside.

How was he supposed to manage this? How were they going to explain to this sweet, fragile boy that he couldn’t feel his mother’s warmth ever again? How could they make him understand that Hyesuk… his eomma…. will never come back??

How could they console him? Would he ever smile again? Would he ever stop asking for her?

Suho looked down at Jungkook again, brushing the back of his hand over the boy’s cheek.

“I’m so sorry, baby…” he whispered brokenly, voice cracking. “I wish we could protect you from this pain… forever.”

But they couldn’t…

Time skips…

Jungkook was still sleeping.

The room was silent, except for the soft sound of his breathing and the gentle breeze flowing through the slightly open window. The curtain danced faintly, brushing against the edge of the wall, like a whisper.

Haein sat on the couch beside Eunwoo, who had fallen asleep with his head resting against her shoulder. Haein’s eye  never left Jungkook.

Suho had went out to pick up Kim Yoonseong, who was arriving today. Until then, it was just them.

Suddenly, she heard a soft groan.  Her eyes widened as she saw Jungkook’s fingers twitch slightly, his brows furrowing. A low, strained whimper escaped his lips as he tried to wake. Haein immediately stood up and rushed to him after making euwnoo sleep in comfortable position, heart beating so loud she could hear it in her ears.

“Kookie… baby,” she whispered, placing a calming hand on his chest. She rubbed gently, trying to coax him back to rest.

But Jungkook’s tired eyes fluttered open. Red. Wet. Glossy with exhaustion.

He looked around the room, panicked searching. Then his eyes locked onto Haein.

“Noona…” he rasped, voice broken and hoarse, cracking under the weight of his emotion.

“Baby… don’t cry. Please don’t cry,” she said softly, brushing his damp hair away from his face. “Just rest, hmm? I’m here. I won’t leave you.”

But Jungkook’s tears had already started falling.

He shifted weakly, trying to sit up, and Haein immediately supported him. As soon as he was upright, he collapsed into her arms, hugging her so tightly, like he might disappear if he let go. Haein wrapped her arms around him just as tightly, her hand rubbing soothingly over his back.

“Kookie…” she murmured, feeling the trembhle in his little body.

“Don’t cry, please… it’s not good for your health, baby,” she whispered against his hair. “I’m here. I promise. I won’t leave you. You’re not alone.”

But Jungkook only cried harder, his voice cracking like glass.

“E…eo… eomma… w-want eomma…” he sobbed, hiccupping as his fingers clutched at her shirt.

Haein felt her heart shattered again.

How many more times could she lie? How long could they keep this up?

She closed her eyes, pressing her lips to Jungkook’s forehead. Her hands trembled against his back as she whispered, “sleep baby… Please, don’t cry”

Jungkook didn’t reply. He just cried and Haein held him.

Before she could say anything further, the door opened.

Haein turned, her breath catching as she saw Kim Yoonseong step inside, with Suho behind him.

“Jungkook-ah!” Kim’s voice rang out, urgent, worried, almost shaking. There was panic in it. His eyes immediately scanned the room until they landed on his son.

Jungkook peeked out from Haein’s embrace, his eyes red and heavy.
“A-Appa…” he called out, voice cracking, trembling with pain and longing.

Kim didn’t waste a second. He rushed to him, sitting beside jungkook. Without hesitation, he took Jungkook into his arms.

Jungkook instantly melted into his father’s embrace, burying his face into Kim’s chest. He clutched his shirt tightly, sobbing loudly.

Kim gently caressed his son’s back and head, his touch surprisingly tender for a man the world only knew as stone-hearted.

“What happened, baby?” he whispered. “Is something hurting? Are you feeling pain, hmm?”

“E…eo…eomma…” Jungkook whimpered. “Appa, w-want eomma… bring her, please… I…I want to see her… please…”

Kim paused. Eunwoo, who had been asleep, stirred awake at the voices. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, his expression quickly crumbling into worry again when he saw Jungkook crying.

Kim looked up at Suho and then at Haein, his jaw tightening.

“You guys didn’t tell him?” he asked, voice low, but sharp. There was no anger in his tone, just cold.

Haein looked down, guilt washing over her face as she shook her head helplessly. She didn’t need to explain, only Kim could handle Jungkook now. Only his father’s arms seemed to soothe him right now.

Because for real… Jungkook loves his Appa the most.

No matter how many times Kim beat him, cursed him, or broke him, Jungkook never hated him. He only loved him more.

He craved his father’s love every day, every minute and breath he takes.

What they didn’t understand… what they didn’t know… was that Kim Yoonseong’s rare, fragile softness, the side of him that only came out in whispers and rare nights, was the very thing Jungkook lived for.

Every bruise, every slap, every broken moment, Jungkook would take it all, endure it all, and still beg for his father’s arms.

He believed deep in his heart that if Appa hit him, it must have been his fault. He believed he just needed to be better. He believed that if he tried hard enough, his Appa would love him like other dads. And that belief… That hope… It made him never call for anyone else. Not Noona…..Not Hyung….Not even Eomma… Only Appa.

Because in his little heart, bruised but brave, his Appa was still his whole world.

(Guys don’t get confused, it’s past not the present)

“Shhh… Baby… I’m here. Appa is here, don’t cry, come on… You’ll make your condition worse… Please. If you calm down, I’ll tell you about Hyesuk,” Kim said gently, trying to soothe the sobbing boy in his arms.

Jungkook kept crying, body trembling. Kim slowly broke the hug and gently wiped the tears from his son’s cheeks. He rubbed Jungkook’s chest softly, trying to ease his breathing. Then, he looked at Haein and subtly gestured for her to hold Jungkkook. She stepped forward without hesitation and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

Kim picked up the glass of water from the bedside table and brought it to Jungkook’s lips. “Drinmk some water, baby,” he said. Jungkook obediently drank, though his lips trembled, and he was still sniffling.

Haein continued whispering soothing words to him, rubbing his back in small circles as he leaned against her, completely exhausted.

Suho and Haein both sighed in silent relief seeing Jungkook a bit more calm, though his tears still lingered. Even Eunwoo let out a shaky breath, his eyes still puffy but showing a flicker of comfort.

“Listen to Appa, hmm?” Kim said softly, kneeling in front of Jungkook now, his voice calm yet deep, like he was holding back a storm. “Don’t cry, baby. Just listen to me carefully, okay?”

Jungkook blinked at him through heavy, tear-glazed eyes, confused, afraid.

He glanced over at Haein, her eyes were filled with tears, no longer hidden. Then Suho. And Eunwoo. All of them… the same look. Eyes that had cried. Eyes that were still crying.

“W…wae?” Jungkook stammered, voice cracking. “W..what h..happened?”

Kim swallowed thickly, his heart breaking, but he didn’t look away.

“H…Hyesuk couldn’t make it, baby,” he said softly, calmly, as if speaking any louder would shatter Jungkook completely.

Jungkook stared at him. The words didn’t hit at once. They floated around his ears, bouncing off the haze in his mind. He blinked.

He sat there, unmoving, while his breathing grew shallower.

Couldn’t make it? What did that even mean? She’s fine, right? She’s just in another room. Right? She promised him she’d come. She said she wouldn’t leave. Then why was Appa saying this? Why?What happened? What is happening?

“H-Huh?” Jungkook was so confused. Haein immediately hugged the boy tightly. Jungkook didn’t say anything when Haein held him close.

“N-Noona, what is Appa saying? Eo… Eomma is fine, right?” he asked, still holding onto hope, desperate to hear his mom’s voice.

“S… Sorry, Kook…” Haein broke down.
Jungkook froze.

The tears that had been threatening to fall finally slipped from his eyes.

He had no expression. No words. Eunwoo broke down and sobbed hard in Suho’s embrace.

“I’m sorry, baby… Eomma… left us… S-She couldn’t m-make it to see you. I-I’m sorry…” Haein cried, holding him.

Still, Jungkook said nothing. There was only silence.

And then…. A loud cry. So loud it shattered the room. “Eomma… EOMMA…!” Jungkook cried out, his voice broken, raw, trembling.

He was devastated. He couldn’t bring himself to believe his mother was no more. He was scared… Too scared of a world without his mom.

Jungkook cried too hard, too painfully. His shut eyes squeezed out more and more tears with every second.

He wasn’t in his senses anymore, all he kept doing was mumbling the same word. “Eomma…Eomma…”

Kim pulled him into a hug. Everyone except Kim was crying now.

Jungkook kept crying while breathing heavily. His body suddenly felt heavy, limp in Kim’s arms.

And then… He collapsed. His eyes shut. His lips turned blue. His face, red. His body, ice cold. They all panicked.

“Suho! Call the fucking doctor right now!” Kim yelled, patting Jungkook’s face in horror. Suho rushed out of the room, yelling for the doctor.

That day… Jungkook was admitted to the ICU again due to a severe panic attack. And everyone was left behind, worried, terrified, and praying he would make it.

They could say that month was the worst for all of them..

Flashback ends.

Haein continued, her voice cracking with each word. “We didn’t know that a normal day would become something unforgettable for our whole life. Kim made Jungkook calm that day. If he wasn’t there, Jungkook’s condition would’ve worsened a lot. To tell the truth, even though Kim scolds him, drags him into the mafia… Jungkook really loves his dad a lot.” She paused taking a breath before continuing.

“And Kim does the same… He loves Jungkook deeply, but also somehow… he loves to see him suffer in the mafia. After Jungkook was admitted to the ICU, we were really scared. Eunwoo wasn’t in his senses, he collapsed, making us even more worried. Jungkook got a little stable, but he was kept under observation for two full days. His heart wasn’t able to take all that pain… After he stabilized and recovered a little, we brought him home. I insisted…no, I literally fought with Kim and brought Jungkook with me. To say the truth… Kim is really protective over Jungkook. Jungkook cried every day for Eomma… and… and he even blamed himself for her death. For like three months, Jungkook didn’t smile or talk to anyone properly. He was just living in his own world.” Her voice cracked while saying everything.

“After that, Kim took him with him, saying he wanted Jungkook to live with him. I tried. I really tried my best to keep Jungkook with me. But Jungkook… he also said he wanted to live with Kim. So, I let him go. To be honest, those three months were the worst part of his life. He was in pain. He cried every day. He broke down every day. If it wasn’t for Eunwoo, he wouldn’t have opened up. Eunwoo always tried to cheer him up, fighting with him, being chaotic, trying everything just to bring even a small smile. And sometimes… it worked. Even though Eunwoo was in pain himself, he tried his best to make Jungkook smile again. Jungkook is really precious to both me and Eunwoo…”

Haein finished, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

She told them everything….. everything except for mentioning Suho’s name.

How their bond was, how much Jungkook loved them, how Jungkook was separated by Kim at the age of 11, and what happened after that, Haein said everything. What happened on that day when they found that Kim beated Jungkook at some times…

She told them all that had happened after and before Hyesuk’s death, leaving all the brothers in shock and in tears. How Jungkook got to know about Yoona and them…

Their maknae had suffered a lot… and they weren’t there for him when he needed them the most.

Hearing how Jungkook was admitted into the hospital, how serious his condition was, and how no one informed them, it made them feel like they had never been there for Jungkook at all.

Hearing how Jungkook was dragged into the mafia forcefully… how he cried that day… how Haein and Hyesuk tried their best to help him… how Jungkook still loved Kim even after he forcefully took him away from his eomma…

How Jungkook reacted after finding out that he had hyungs… that Hyesuk was not his biological mother… that Yoona was his real mom, those revelations completely broke them.

When Haein was talking about Jungkook’s condition, everyone broke down.

Everyone except Jin. He just sat there, listening to it all, with no expression, no words.

But even in his silence, they could see it,
Jin was breaking, piece by piece, with every word spoken.

After a long silence in the room, Jin finally spoke.

“Who the fuck told you not to tell us any of this? Was it that fucking Kim?” Jin asked, voice was too dangerously cold, gritting his teeth.

Haein remained silent, and that silence was enough of an answer.

“I won’t leave him this time…” Jin muttered under his breath.

How the hell could their dad drag Jungkook into the mafia while Jin had been doing everything to protect the two younger ones from that toxic world? How could he throw his world, his baby brother iinto that hell at just 11 years old?

And why the fuck did he hide all of this from him?

All this time, Jin believed Jungkook was living a happy, peaceful life with their father. He never questioned it, never thought to dig deeper. But now, hearing this truth, it shattered him.

His brother wasn’t living peacefully, he was living in hell. A hell no one dared to speak about.

Even though Haein told Jin everything she knew, some of her words wasn’t right. And she herself didn’t knew it was lie not the truth.

Kim loves Jungkook?

Jungkook willingly chose to go with Kim instead of staying with his noona and best friend?

It may have been true that Jungkook used to love Kim the most back then, but now?

The mere mention of Kim Yoonseong was enough to make Jungkook shiver in fear, to make his blood boil with rage.

Because his own father did the unthinkable. His own father, who was supposed to protect and cherish him, was the one who betrayed him the most. Who hurt him completely. Who tore all his happiness apart. Who ripped that pretty smile off his face for years.

Kim “took care” of Jungkook?

What a fucking joke.

The man who claimed to be taking care of Jungkook was the one who beat that poor boy every damn day.

Sure, sometimes Kim was soft, sometimes, almost gentle. But those moments were rare… and unpredictable.

Because other times? He became the most cruel, heartless person in the world. And Jungkook? He endured it all. In silence. Not letting anyone to know about his pain.

Would Jungkook ever truly love that fucking person who made his life a living hell? Who made him feel like his entire existence was shit? Can he even live peacefully without the fear his dad carved into him with every hit, every scream, every betrayal?

Does Kim even deserve the word “appa“?

“Then… isn’t he speaking with you these days?” Yoongi asked.

Haein stayed silent for a long moment. Her lips trembled, and when she finally spoke, her voice cracked.

“H-He… he himself distanced from us. Said he didn’t want us anymore. So… I-I also… d-didn’t push him,” she stuttered, trying her best not to break down mid-sentence.

Jin looked at her, and that moment hit hard. He saw the tears she had been holding back, now slowly trailing down her face. He saw how much pain she buried, how much she sacrificed for his brother. She raised Jungkook like her own brother… and yet now, hearing that Jungkook said he didn’t want her anymore, it was unbelievable. There was something more behind that.

Something that made Haein’s voice tremble. Something that made her eyes silently scream.

And Jin knew. There was a reason. A deep reason behind Jungkook’s distance. Behind the way Haein broke while saying those words.

He could have pushed her. Could have asked more. But one look at her shattered state, and Jin knew…. She was already carrying enough. So, for now, he let it go.

He came out of his thoughts when he heard a soft cough… It was Jungkook

Hey guys!! How was it?

Was it good? I know the content is short but the words are lot.. literally 4k plus. As I promised i updated on 8th July.

Thanks alot for supporting me by your comments….

And in this chapter did you all felt like I was telling the story??? Cuz I literally wrote this chapter with all my emotions… I didn’t know why was I too expressive in this chapter.

Anyway how was it? What will happen in next chapter? And guess what a new character is going to join in the upcoming chapters… The character has a good bond with yoongi in this story…. Any guesses??

Any requests for next chapter?

What mad eyou feel really sad or tear up? Mine is when Jungkook crieed and asked to them about hyesuk… Ahhh poor baby

I will be happy if I get 50+ comments in this chapter….