"Did he answer?"

Jin sighed, shaking his head subtly while his eyes landed on Yoongi, who was fuming in anger, pacing back and forth in the limited space near the coffee table. Ever since he came back from the studio after getting the news of Jungkook leaving the dorm and not not responding to their calls and texts.

"He must be fine hyung," Hoseok said, "He's not a kid anymore."

"But he is an idol for god's sake!" Yoongi yelled, "Who talked to him the last?"

"I did," Taehyung muttered.

"That explains pretty much everything."

Taehyung eyes darted towards the owner of the voice, sending a sharp glare despite the fact of the latter being older and the leader on top of that. He stood up, not commenting on anything and straightened his shirt.

"I'll be out for a wh–"

"You too?" Namjoon voiced again, "Isn't it really enough that our maknae is gone and we have no idea where?"

"Are you blaming it on me?" Taehyung frowned, facing the leader who just chuckled dryly. "No fine, yeah I'm the reason he's gone! Apparently just because he can't take the goddamn truth!"

"Shut it Tae," The elder scoffed, "From the day all of this is happening, I've told you enough times to let him take his time. But you have a habit of nagging him non-stop. We get it you're hurt and stuff, but that doesn't give you the right to go and hurt others too. If you don't wanna talk, shut up and sit aside, don't make it a living hell for others who are still hoping."

"Namjoon," Yoongi warned, "do not cross the line."

"And what are you two doing?" The leader asked, sounding firm just as firm, "Jungkook never said anything to you, he was minding his own business because he knew there will be conflicts. Taehyung kept pushing him off and provoking him with words which were directly or indirectly related to Jimin. And when he started speaking and gave you the taste of your medicine, you can't seem to handle it."

"And suddenly you have an urge to take a stand and be the great person?" Taehyung gritted with a mocking smile, "You never did when Jungkook was here. If I remember correctly, you were with us the day Jimin said he's leaving. You signed the papers too and left after us. At least Jungkook's being loyal to one person, unlike you Namjoon-ssi."

"Kim Taehyung!" Namjoon raised his voice, glaring at the younger who remained indifferent to his rage.

"Guys, let's not fight please. There's already enough things going on." Hoseok said, pulling the leader back and also pushed Taehyung away, making sure they're not throwing hands at each other.

"He texted!" Jin's voice stole all the attention from the boys. " Jungkook... he texted me."

Taehyung walked past the elders, grabbing Jin's phone and opened the message.

Sorry for not answering earlier. I'm okay,
you don't have to worry

I'm with some of my friends rn
we'll be here for a while, they're insisting
for a drink

I'll come home tomorrow

Okay, where are you tho?

At my friend's apartment
we all are here.

And I wanted to say that

Taehyung sighed deeply, staring at the screen, knowing that Jungkook wouldn't be texting if he knew it was Taehyung replying from Jin's phone.

Yes?

Uh nvm

You can say it yk

uh yeah
actually, I'm sorry for behaving like
that earlier.

Jungkookie went Offline

Taehyung took a deep breath, nodding to himself as he handed the phone back to it's original owner. He turned around, making a brief eye contact with Namjoon, before lowering his gaze and jogged upstairs to his room.

____

"This is where you live?" Jungkook asked, following the elder towards the porch of a moderately large house, looking new in structure and form. The plants in the front were fresh, some blooming flowers and some about to break buds.

"Yeah, come in." Jimin said, taking a deep breath as he was about to let out a huge secret that could potentially change their dynamics within an instant.

"I'm back," Jimin voiced, earning a confused look from Jungkook.

"Don't you live alone?"

"No," Jimin said, smiling a little as he heard the sound of squeaky shoes nearing and a feminine voice following after it.

Jungkook stared at the elder, almost going to ask if this was the right house. His head turned to the front again, staring at the baby who waddled her way towards them, stopping only when she reached near Jimin, hugging his legs and blabbering something continuously.

"...h-hyung, what is– I... I'm so confused."

"I'll tell you everything, come in first." Jimin said, "Nia, you can go it's already late."

The babysitter bowed to him and then at Jungkook, quietly taking her leave after waving at the baby who squealed looking at her, letting her know that she was bidding goodbye too.

"Dadadada..." Evie mumbled as Jimin carried her.

"Sit," Jimin said, gesturing towards the couch as he sat down. "You're the first person I brought here Jungkook, obviously if you don't count Nia."

"Yeah but what is happening? And who is she? And who is.... this- this baby?"

"Meet Evie, my daughter." Jimin said softly, holding his daughter on his lip, "Park Evie."

"Your... daughter? Like as in your blood and genes are in her and like that? That daughter?"

"Yes, that daughter."

Jungkook stared at him and then at the baby who was staring back at him with an equally confused face. The boy soon broke into a smile, shifting closer to the father-daughter duo and held his hand out in front of the baby.

"Hey, I'm Jeon Jungkook..." He whispered softly, looking mesmerized by his hyung's daughter. "You're so beautiful baby."

Jimin smiled in relief, letting out the breath he had been holding in all this while. Jungkook looked at him, "How and when did all this..."

"I know, and before you ask more, I'll start myself." Jimin said, "She's 18 and a half months old. And no I'm not married." He sighed.

"Then her mom?"

"I was in a relationship two years ago with a girl named Yoonha. We had an amazing bond in the beginning, like we loved each other a lot and everyday was like a dream. Honestly those were some good days I had in my life. Then we had our tour scheduled around that summer, and Yoonha was upset because we won't be able to meet then.

"So I planned a date for us before going on the tour. It was beautiful, flowers, candles, a fancy dinner, and then were together at her place because her roommate was out of town. Everything about that night was amazing. She had agreed that it's okay and the tour would over soon and I'd be back again. With that in mind, I went with you guys.

"After a few weeks in Europe, she called me one day saying that she's pregnant. I was so shocked, but also happy because we had talked about getting married earlier. We decided to keep the baby and I used to call her everyday and told her to take care of herself and the baby.

"But unfortunately with each day passing that I wasn't there with her, I think her interested was dying. Her calls got fewer and she wouldn't answer my calls either. By the last month of our tour, she finally told me that she's tired of waiting and is seeing another guy who doesn't need  my child, so I should come and take my baby when the nine months are over..."

Jungkook looked at Jimin, lifting his eyes up from the floor for the first time, "hyung, you- you don't have to, if you're not comfo–"

"No, it's alright." Jimin smiled a little, "I have to tell you everything from the beginning, and this is how it goes. So it's okay."

"At first I thought maybe it was because of the child that she broke up with me, but after thinking and understanding everything I realised it wasn't the child. She needed someone to keep her entertained and satisfied, so I didn't go after her.  A month after our tour was over, she gave birth to my daughter. That was the day I met Evie for the first time and I had no idea what fathers were supposed to do.

"I was freaking out, thinking what if she starts crying or what if she's hungry, what will I do? Yoonha left us as soon as she was allowed to go home ater the delivery. I called my parents first and told them everything... I was expecting that they'd understand my situation and probably help me or something. But they just got mad at me and told me how careless I am, and that they didn't need a son like me...

"Evie used to cry and I didn't know what to do to make her stop crying. Some part of me hurted too on hearing her crying, I was scared that she might be sick because of my poor parenting and all. Then one day my sister called and asked about the matter, she had heard from mom and dad. She was the first person who understood me and supported me.

"Noona came here and started living here to take care of Evie teach me what I should be doing when I'm a parent. She had a good experience for her first child died at the age of three due to an abnormal heart condition. Her relationship with her husband wasn't that nice either after their son's death. They used to argue over the phone and she used to cry then. I told her that it was okay and she should leave him instead of suffering in an abusive marriage.

"But before she did sign the papers and anything, the matter was so bad that she said it was no use. Our parents never supported her, her husband never loved her, her child too couldn't survive. She had had enough, and I still remember the last day I went home, Evie was there playing alone and noona was in her room. I thought she was sleeping, but she had swallowed a handful of pills... My sister left that day... maybe it would've been different if mom and dad helped her.

"She didn't want any court cases and told me to stop transferring money in her account. Her letter said that she wanted a peaceful death, and no mess. Her husband probably realised the depth of his mistake and apologized later, but what's the use right? She already left..." Jimin said with a sad smile and wiped his tears.

"After noona's suicide, I hired a babysitter after talking to the doctor who performed Yoonha's delivery. The girl you saw earlier, Nia,  she's been a big help in taking care of Evie in the past few months. I decided to quit soon after noona's funeral, because my job was coming in the way of my responsibilities as a father. Evie needed and still needs me more. I missed a lot a of moments with her already and I didn't want to miss out more."

Jimin took a deep breath, smiling a little at his daughter who was trying to stand up on his lap, and grinned cutely once she succeeded with his help. He glanced at Jungkook and said, "I tried to take a good decision Jungkook, and honestly for me, my fifteen-months-old daughter was more important than me being an idol. I'm sorry to hurt you and the others."

The younger shook his head, blinking a few times and wiped the tears that left his eyes on hearing the agony his hyung kept battling alone, "No, don't say sorry hyung. In fact, I'm sorry on behalf of everyone, they don't know what you were going through and kept saying mean things. I'm sorry for that, and you had to face all that alone. I can't even imagine how hard it must've been for you with a baby."

"It was, in the beginning, but it's a lot better now. Since I left the hectic life, me and Evie have gotten so much closer than before." Jimin said, "I wanted to tell you amd boys everything, but our reputation in the industry and the world kept coming in between. Being BTS isn't as many people think, we have to give up on things and many times be too hard on ourselves just to protect our loved ones from the public eye."

Jungkook nodded, agreeing with him and understanding his concern beyond words and beyond what the fans knew. This side of BTS, which was still untouched and remained hidden from the world — how Park Jimin broke a millions of hearts to love and cherish one; how the maknae wasn't in good terms with the elder members; how each day in the dorm felt heavy despite the laughs and smiles they faked in front of cameras. This was yet to be shown, but not to be shown.

"Hyung, now that you told me all this, I wanna help you. What can I do? Cook for you? Or get you groceries and uh baby products? Or maybe babysit Evie some times?" Jungkook blurted, counting more things on his fingers, making Jimin smile.

"Maybe all of that?" The elder shrugged, "but first, make sure you both get along. That'll really mean a lot to me."

Jungkook grinned at him, showing off his bunny smile and turned to the baby, "Okay, so I'll start with the introduction. Hello little baby, I'm Jungkook, as I said earlier, you can call me Koo– wait, can she speak?"

"See for yourself," Jimin said, making her daughter sit on the couch between them and patted her leg, "where's my baby?"

Evie looked at him, smiling widely and pointed at herself, "Baby!"

"Yes, good job!" Jimin smiled, "Kookie's asking if you can speak, will say something?"

"...daddy"

"Woah!" Jungkook gasped, "that's amazing! She understands you!"

Jimin chuckled, surprised too for she actually understood him, "I think this one was a coincidence. Yes she can understand a few things, but I doubt this one. It was more complicated for her."

"Can I ask her something too?"

"Sure,"

"Let's try an easy one first," Jungkook said, "Evie, where's your daddy?"

The baby casually pointed at Jimin and continued minding her own business as she was busy scratching the surface of the couch with her nails, that probably hurt her at some point for she looked at Jimin, holding her hand out and started crying.

"What were you doing?" Jimin sighed, taking her tiny hand in his and blew gently before placing a kiss. "Is it okay now?"

Evie stared at her hand, not crying anymore and rubbed her eyes, getting rid of the tears that blurred her vision.

"You can play with Kookie, be friends with him."

"Yep, I'm staying." The boy grinned, taking Evie in his arms and stood up, "We're best friends starting right now!"

"That's great," Jimin chuckled, "At least my child can have a friend now."

____________

A/N- Merryyyyyy Christmaaassssssssss to everyone from me, Evie and and Jimin!!! 🎅🎅⛄⛄⛄🎄✨❤️❤️✨✨✨🥳🥳🥳🥳

What kind of reaction did u expect from Jungkook?

Anyways, please vote and comment if you liked the chapter. That'll mean a lot to me. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ take care, love you!

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