Chapter 97

“Yes…..” Haein murmured, barely above a whisper.

It was enough for Jin’s heart to beat violently in his chest. She knows about him.

For the first time in so long, a faint spark of hope flickered in his heart. If Haein knew him… then maybe…. Just maybe…. Jin could reach him through her.

Jin drew a shaky breath. “H-How do you know him? Where is he now? Do you know what he’s doing? Anything…. just tell me… please” The calmness he always carried slipped from his voice, leaving behind only raw desperation.

Haein’s eyes lifted to meet his. She hesitated. “Should I tell him? Not now… If he hears the truth now, it will crush him. He’s already carrying too much. This isn’t the moment. Not yet.”

“Haein-ah…” Jin’s voice trembled.

“I… I met him,” she said softly. “We worked together. He was my senior… in the mafia.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth, weighted with guilt she had never admitted aloud.

Jin latched onto her confession with trembling hope. “Then…. do you know where he is now?”

Haein’s gaze fell to the ground. Her shoulders quivered. Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t know,” she whispered. Tears gathered in her eyes, threatening to spill.

Jin’s fragile hope slowly buckled under the weight of her silence “At least… at least his number? Or something?” he asked, voice cracking with desperation.

Harin only shook her head again. Something inside Jin collapsed completely.

He straightened his back, forcing himself into a composed posture as if that alone could hold him together. He sat quietly, trying to steady the storm in his chest. For a long moment, there was only the sound of him breathing through the ache.

“H… how does Kook know him?” he asked softly once he gathered enough steadiness to speak.

Harin swallowed, summoning the courage she needed “H-He met him in the mafia too. They… they were the best duo. I think Jungkook must have mistaken you for Suho oppa,” she explained, guilt and hesitation lacing every word.

Jin didn’t respond. His silence was heavier.

After a minute, he asked again, barely audible, “T… then Jungkook would know where Suho hyung is… right?”

“Ani. He doesn’t,” Harin said quickly. “Kim sent Suho oppa somewhere. No one knows where.”

Jin nodded slowly, accepting the answer even though it stabbed him.

“Do you… know any of his friends? Or anyone who might?” he asked, still desperate to know about his hyung.

Haein looked up at him, and the sight nearly broke her, jin struggling so hard not to cry, biting back everything he felt.

“I don’t know… I’m so sorry,” she whispered. Jin didn’t say anything. He just sat there, lost.

“I know it’s difficult… but I’m really sorry, Jin,” Haein said gently. “Ani… it’s fine,” Jin replied with a forced smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“I know about you and oppa,” Harin said softly. “Yoongi and samchoon told me.”

Jin blinked, confused, then sighed lightly. “Ahhh… those two. Don’t mind them.” He pushed himself up, trying to stay calm. “Anyway, today’s my treat day. Let’s go. They’re probably waiting.”

Harin nodded, concern still shadowing her face. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly.

Jin gave her another small smile, and nodded before walking out.

“I’m sorry, Jin…” she murmured under her breath as she watched him leave.

Outside, Jin stopped. He leaned against the wall, the weight of everything crushing down all at once.

His hand slipped to his next taking out the necklace. The same one Jungkook now carried. The one they both had same.

“Hyung… where are you?” he whispered, a single tear slipping down his cheek.

He stayed there, unmoving, holding the necklace like it was the last piece of his brother left in the world

Later that night

Jungkook stepped into the house and was immediately greeted by silence. No voices. No footsteps. Just the hollow stillness of empty rooms.

He walked into the kitchen. The maids bowed respectfully, but he didn’t even glance at them. He opened the fridge, grabbed a can of Coke, and asked flatly, “Are the hyungs home?”

“They haven’t returned yet, sir,” a maid replied.

Jungkook nodded. His face didn’t change, “Should I arrange the dinner for you, sir?” she added gently.

“No need,” he said, already turning away.

He dropped onto the couch, flicking on the TV. The screen filled with light and noise, but his mind drifted far from it. Kim’s voice echoed in the back of his thoughts, still sharp, cruel, unforgettable. He couldn’t shake the feeling twisting in his chest.

Was it really his fault?

Why would his own father ask him to kill someone?

Nothing about it felt fair, but fairness was something he had never been allowed.

His phone rang, dragging him out of his thoughts. It was Taehyung. Jungkook hesitated before picking up.

“Hey, Kook…” Tae’s voice came out warm and gentle. “Nae?” Jungkook replied, tone calm but distant.

“I’ll be a little late today. I’ll come with hyungie, maybe in an hour. So eat and sleep, okay?” Tae said voice warm, “Nae.” Jungkook siad flatly.

“And don’t forget your meds. Sleep well, hmm? Good night” Jungkook hummed in response and ended the call.

He went back to staring at the TV. Minutes slipped by. Fifteen, maybe more. Then he heard the door open.

It was Kim.

Jungkook didn’t get up. He didn’t greet him. He didn’t even look. He just sat there, eyes fixed on the screen, body frozen, face numb.

Kim glanced at him, jaw tightening in irritation. Then he turned to the maids. “You may all leave,” he said with a polite, deceptive smile.

The maids bowed and hurried out. Kim’s expression dropped instantl, cold, sharp.

“Be in my room. Now.” His voice held no room for disobedience.

Then he walked away. Jungkook didn’t move for a moment. He sat there, still and empty, like a body with no emotions left to feel.

Jungkook let out a sigh and shut off the TV. For a moment, he closed his eyes, breathing in, breathing out, forcing himself to be calm.

Then, without hesitation, he walked toward Kim’s room. He knocked once before entering.

Kim stood by the massive window, cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling around him like a ghost. He didn’t turn around.

“So you came,” Kim said, voice chilled with sarcasm.

Jungkook didn’t answer. He simply stood there, expression blank, numb. After a lingering silence, Kim finally turned. He crushed the cigarette against the ashtray with slow, irritated movements.

“Do you recognize your mistake?” Kim asked, voice cold

Jungkook met his father’s eyes, his voice as icy as Kim’s. “What mistake?”

Kim scoffed. “You’ve got some shitty nerves. Your mistake was saying no to the mission.” “Ani.” Jungkook’s voice cut through the room, calm but sharp. “That’s not a mistake. Maybe you think it is. But I know I made the right decision.”

He paused, bitterness rising in his throat. His next words were cold….. cold in a way that mirrored his father but carried a deeper wound. “It’s not a mistake that I refused to become a monster like you.”

Kim’s jaw tightened instantly. His teeth gritting, fury simmering beneath his skin, but he said nothing.

Instead, he walked to the side table, grabbed a bottle of alcohol, and poured himself a glass.

He drank slowly, each swallow deliberate, as if taming his anger. Jungkook stood still the whole time, watching him. Not frightened. Not moved. Not anything.

When Kim finally placed the empty glass down, he let out a breath that sounded almost amused.

“Time for the consequences of your mistakes,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jungkook remained frozen, unblinking, fearless despite everything. Emotionless to the point of breaking.

Kim began removing his Rolex, the diamond-encrusted watch gleaming under the dim lights. Then he slid off his rings, unbuttoned his coat, and tossed it aside. He rolled up his sleeves slowly, almost lyk it was his routine.

Then he turned toward Jungkook. “You really got some shits inside you, right?” Kim asked, his voice dangerously cold as he took slow steps toward Jungkook.

“Indeed. I am your son,” Jungkook replied, meeting Kim’s eyes.

That was it, A sharp slap echoed across the room. Jungkook gritted his teeth, a shaky breath escaping from him.

No one was here to save him today.
Not again.

Kim grabbed Jungkook’s hair, yanking it harshly, “Ahhhh” Jungkook yelped in pain.

“Yes, you are my son. My son should never be a coward. He should be the bravest. But you…. scared like a coward for killing a fucking soul. Don’t you feel shame, huh?” Kim snarled, pulling harder.

Jungkook yelped, trying to take away  Kim’s hand off. Through gritted teeth, still looking straight into Kim’s eyes, he whispered,

“Nae…. I-I feel ashamed…. to be your son——- ahhhhhh”

His sentence broke when Kim shoved him with brutal force. Jungkook crashed into the closet and fell, barely managing to shield his head. His breathing turned heavy and uneven.

“Oh, you feel shame for being my son, huh? You’re going to regret saying that now,” Kim said before kicking Jungkook in the stomach.

“Ahh…. ahh….. ahhhhhhh aghhh” Jungkook choked out, curling in pain.
He didn’t fight back. He just endured it.

“You are a fucking shit. You ruined my life. You ruined everything. I regret you. I regret your birth, your existence, everything. You shouldn’t have been born. You ruined my whole life. You are a fucking curse,” Kim spat, continuing to kick the poor boy with a brutal force.

Hearing those words, so sharp, so cruel, so harsh something inside Jungkook cracked again. A tear slipped down his cheek.

After kicking him mercilessly, Kim finally stopped for a moment after a hell of minutes. Jungkook clutched his stomach, struggling to breathe properly.

Kim went to his table again, took the alcohol, and drank another glass.
He heard Jungkook’s shaky voicd, broken, miserable.

“T…then why did you a….agree to have me? You could have k… k…killed me on the day I… I was born, right?…” Jungkook asked bitterly, before he broke into heavy coughing. Every cough made him whimper in pain.

Kim froze. And suddenly, voices began echoing in his head.

“The baby is born, kim-ssi… but he’s not in a stable condition.”

“Please… just please save him, please, I beg you!” Kim’s cries echoed.

“I’m sorry, Kim… there is only a one-percent chance for him to survive… h-he could leave you,” the doctor’s hesitant voice wavered.

“Honey… where is my baby?” Yoona’s broken whisper.

“He is going to be fine, Yoona-ya. He will be fine! I promise,” Kim’s gentle assurance.

“Kim… your son made it!” the doctor’s relieved, happy voice.

“You made it, Kook-ah… you’re in your appa’s embrace. You’ll never be apart from me, appa is going to protect you always,  You are not going to suffer even for a minute in your life. Appa is going to be with you always,” Kim said, holding his son for the first time and placing a kiss on his tiny forehead.

“Tell me… why didn’t you fucking kill me that day? Why did you save me? If… if you wanted me dead, why the fuck didn’t you let me take my own life that day!?” Jungkook yelled.

Hearing that, Kim’s fury only grew.
He came back, removing his belt. Jungkook, still lying there, took the first strike.

“Ahhhh!” he yelped, curling up and covering his head as much as he could. Yet his own father beat him mercilessly.

Kim didn’t answer Jungkook’s question, he just kept belting him. The room filled with Jungkook’s painful groans and whimpers.

“Why I agreed to have you??” Kim spat bitterly, giving another hard strike that ripped another groan from Jungkook.

“That day…. when you were born, I didn’t know that you, my own so, would be the reason for my loss. Because of you, I lost my life. My love. My Yoona! You killed her! She shouldn’t have died….. but you…” Kim choked out.

Jungkook could tell, it was the first time he had ever heard Kim say these words. But he couldn’t respond. He couldn’t ask anything. He just lay there… taking every single strike.

“You’ll never say no to me or raise your voice at me again, from here on! Seems like I gave you too much fucking liberty, you fucking little shit!” Kim yelled, striking even harder.

“Ahhhhhhh!” Jungkook groaned, tears spilling from the pain. Those thirty minutes felt like hell. Finally, Kim threw the belt aside. He crouched down in front of Jungkook.

“Your hyungs are giving me a lot of stress. Why should they interfere, huh? Your Jin hyung is soooo protective over you… not knowing his own brother killed someone,” Kim said bitterly.

Jungkook looked at him with teary, doe-like eyes, eyes full of nothing but pain and hurt.

“Trust me, Kook… they’ll all regret showing you love and care. They’ll abandon you, they’ll throw you out. They’ll fell ashamed for showing their love and care for you. Trust me on that,” Kim said standing up.

Jungkook lay there, breathing heavily.
His face had no marks except faint fingerprints, damp with sweat and tears. But his whole body throbbed with pain, burning like hell.

“You ruined my life… and just like that, you’ll ruin others’ lives too. I regret holding you,” Kim spat, giving him another kick.

“Ahhhhh…” Jungkook whimpered again.

“Get out. Don’t show those fucking tears to your hyungs or to me,” Kim said, turning toward the large window.

Jungkook tried to sit up, but his body refused to follow. “Ahhh…” he yelped, clutching his stomach. The pain was unbearable. He squeezed his eyes shut, tears sliding down his face.

Everything hurted, his body, his ribs, his skin… but most of all, his heart.
That pain was the sharpest. The deepest. It felt like it was shattering inside him, over and over again, without a single moment to breathe.

He stayed on the floor for a minute, forcing himself to sit up. His limbs trembled. Slowly, painfully, he got to his feet, stumbling more than once, one arm wrapped around his stomach as if holding himself together.

Each step burned. He dragged himself through the hallway, using the walls, the furniture, anything he could reach just to stay upright. When he finally reached his room, he locked the door with shaking fingers.

He pulled off his leather jacket and threw it aside weakly.Then he staggered into the restroom.

With trembling hands, he took off his shirt. And when he looked into the mirror, he froze.

The reflection staring back at him didn’t even look human, Bruises spread like ugly shadows across his chest, arms, sides. Purple, red, some cracked enough to bleed. His face was the only part untouched, but even that looked ruined, eyes swollen with tears, lips pale, expression hollow.

No emotion. No anger. No fear. Just….. numbness.

He turned away and limped toward the bathtub. Lowering himself into it sent spikes of pain through him, but he forced himself down and turned on the warm water.

Slowly, the water around him turned into slight red. Blood swirling into the warmth, spreading out like smoke.

He leaned back, letting the heat wrap around him, hoping….. desperately hoping…. that it would offer even a little comfort.

He stared at his arms. At the bruises. At the scars. Those reminders of every hit, every word, every night like this.

He kept staring it. Then…. He began rubbing at one of them, rubbing harder and harder. Not in his senses.

“Just go….. go… please…” he whispered, voice cracking like a little child.  “I don’t want these… I don’t want this body… just go…” he whispered, tears falling.

His hands trembled violently as he scrubbed again, too hard, too fast. Hoping for it to go away. Blood rose to the surface, but the bruises stayed.

“JUST GOOOO!” Jungkook screamed, punching the water, splashing it everywhere.  Tears spilled uncontrollably, mixing with the red water.

“Please… GO!” he begged, voice breaking into pieces no one could pick up. His chest heaved with sobs as he clutched his arms, curling into himself.

“Why… why me? WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME?” His voice cracked, rising in raw agony. “Why?! Why is always me?” He cried…. really cried. Cried like a child who had never been comforted, never been held, never been protected. Never felt safe.

But tonight, like every night… No one came. Not his mom. Not his Jin hyung.
Not Tae. Not his cousins, not his samchoon, not Eunwoo or his noona. No one.

He was alone. Again. Always.

“Why do I deserve this? Why? Am I that bad?” His words came out in broken gasps. “But… but I don’t remember doing anything! What did I do? What the fuck is my fault? Why does he always say it’s my fault? What the actual fucking fault of mine?”

His voice cracked again. “Is it my fault I was born? Am I a curse?” He shook his head violently, sobbing harder.

“he wants me to be dead… then why the fuck did he agree to have me? Why did she give birth to a curse? Why didn’t he kill me when I was born, why?!” he cried.

“H…he is blaming me once again… But what I did? Why is he telling me I am a killer? I don’t want to be a killer. I fucking don’t want these? I want it be free. Just once please….”

Every question stabbed deeper because there was no answer.

“I don’t want these marks… I don’t want these scars… I don’t want these pains, nothing! Its paining lyk hell. Everyday it will pain. I can’t hold this pain always…..please leave me” he cried, louder than before, running the scars, it bleed again. Blood covered his whole hands. “Just leave me alone! JUST LEAVE ME!” but it don’t go. It got stuck with like a tattoo. Like a reminder of what he had to endure.

He covered his ears with shaking hands as muffled echoes swirled in his head, his father’s words, every insult, every threat. “I… I can’t…” he whispered weakly.

The tears didn’t stop. They just kept falling. And outside his door, no one heard. No one heard the child inside him crying for help. No one.

What he did to deserve these?

Meanwhile, with Jin and Tae

Jin was driving while Taehyung sat in the front seat, staring blankly out the window. “Why is my bear sad, hmm?” Jin teased gently.

“Ani, I’m not sad,” Tae replied, voice flat. “Then what? Why do you look upset?” Jin pressed softly. “Aniyo… I’m just thinking about appa. Confused, maybe,” Tae murmured.

“Why are you confused?” Jin asked. “Why is he like that…?” Taehyung’s voice dropped. “Before eomma left us, he was never like this. He never even raised his voice at us. He was the best dad. But… what happened to him, hyung? He’s just the opposite now…”

Jin’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. He didn’t know how to answer. His brother’s question sat like a heavy stone between them.

Tae spoke again, quieter this time.
“Is he like this because he lost eomma?” Jin hesitated, choosing every word carefully. “Ummmm… maybe. You know, right? Time changes people. Loss changes people. So maybe… maybe losing her made him like this.”

Taehyung nodded slowly, but his eyes darkened. “Even if he lost eomma… that doesn’t give him the right to force us into the mafia. It doesn’t give him the right to hurt us. And I won’t forgive him for involving Jungkook in that shit.” Tae’s voice wavered, not with fear, but with anger.

Jin let out a breath, listening to every word. “I’ll make sure he regrets his actions, Taehyung-ah… So don’t worry, hmm?” Jin said firmly.

Tae nodded again, but neither of them spoke after that.

Silence filled the car, thick, heavy, and painful. Two brothers, both thinking the same thing:

Why did their father change? And when… did they lose him?

.

.

.

.

They entered the house, and Tae immediately frowned. “Where are the maids?” he asked, noticing the unusual stillness.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Their father appeared, now dressed in casual clothes, his expression unreadable. “I asked them to leave,” Kim said shortly, already heading toward his office.

Jin forced his voice to stay steady.
“Did Kook eat?” “Hmmmm. He did.” Kim didn’t spare them a glance as he disappeared behind his office door.

Jin exhaled, shoulders heavy. “I’ll heat the food. Go check on Jungkook, hmm?”

Tae nodded and made his way upstairs. As he reached Jungkook’s door, he paused, the door was locked. He raised his hand and knocked gently.

Inside the room, Jungkook had just stepped out of the shower. His hair dripped down his neck, and he wore only a pair of shorts. He sat on the bed, spreading ointment over the deep bruises and fresh cuts that covered his ribs and back. Every touch made him flinch; every breath felt like a knife. His stomach ached a lot.

When the knock echoed through his room, his entire body tensed.

His heart jumped painfully. His breath stuttered. He could feel panic clawing up his throat.

He scrambled to his feet, too fast, pain shooting through his stomach and ribs. He reached for his hoodie with trembling hands. He needed to hide everything. Every bruise. Every mark. Every piece of evidence.

What if they saw? What if Jin hyung or Tae hyung saw the bruises? What if they asked? What if he broke? What if they left him too? What if they feel disgusted about him?

His fingers shook so badly he almost dropped the hoodie. His skin burned everywhere, every bruise throbbing, but fear drowned the pain.

He pulled the hoodie over his head, wincing as the fabric scraped over the fresh cuts on his shoulders.

Another knock. This time softer, worried.

“Kook? It’s me tae… open the door.”

Jungkook froze, breath caught in his throat, fear and longing crashing together.

He wanted to open it. He wanted his hyung. He wanted someone…. anyone
to hug him, to tell him it wasn’t his fault, he was safe.

But he also didn’t want them to see the truth he carried on his skin.

Jungkook froze when he heard the doorknob rattle. His whole body jerked back in fear. He took steps back. away from the door. His throat felt like it was closing.

But the knob didn’t turn. The door didn’t open.

Jungkook’s breath hitched. Tears clouded his vision. The more he tried to stay quiet, the heavier his breathing became. Panic rolled through him like a wave.

Tae knocked twice more. Silence followed. A heavy, echoing silence. Probably Tae left.

Outside, Tae stood for a moment.
No answer. No sounds. Nothing. “Maybe he slept?” he whispered to himself, and with a small sigh, he walked away.

Inside, Jungkook collapsed. His breaths were broken and uneven, dragging in short gasps. His chest felt like it was being crushed from the inside. His fingers clawed at his hoodie, nails digging into the fabric as he stumbled toward the bed.

He held his chest tightly,it felt too tight, too painful. Every inhale burned. Every exhale trembled.

He yanked open the drawer with trembling hands, grabbed the cover, and held it over his mouth, forcing himself to inhale through it, trying, begging his body to calm down.

But it wasn’t working. His breaths only got faster. His chest ached.
His vision blurred. And then…. He started coughing, harsh, ripping coughs that made every bruise throb like fire.

He squeezed his eyes shut, tears spilling from the corners.

What did I do wrong? Why is the world like this to me? Why me? Why always me?

He had people, his hyungs,  family, people who said they cared. But at this moment? Not a single person was there to sit beside him. No one was there to tell him he was safe. No one was there to say it would be okay.

Not even single soul was there to rub his back, when he was coughing.

At this moment, Jungkook felt like an orphan, Unwanted. Abandoned. Alone.

The four walls around him felt like they were laughing at him. Mocking him with every breath he took. They heard all of his cries, all of his pain, and did nothing.

He stayed like that until the panic settled just a little, ten minutes that felt like a lifetime in hell.

His hands still trembling, Jungkook reached for the small pill bottle. He tapped out two pills and swallowed them with a gulp of water, his throat tight and sore.

He slid down until he was sitting on the floor, leaning against the side of the bed.

He pulled his knees to his chest.
Covered his ears with shaking hands. And shut his eyes as tightly as he could.

The visions softened slightly. The voices faded into a distant hum.
Just a little. Not enough for comfort, just enough for survival.

Hey guys! How was it?

Was it good? Or bad? Was it up to your expectations?

Umm did anyone shed a tear? But I did when Jungkook started crying… Poor boy… I hate Kim..

Anyway tell me your thoughts guys! Always be supportive! Please do comments!

Tell me if you cried! What made you sad?

Secrets are going to revealed very soon! Maybe after a few chapterss! Upcoming chapters are going to be sad!

Stay tuned! Comment a lot guys!