|Fun And Games Has Its End|

It was going so good.

Everything was in place, in order, and yet Taehyung found himself cradling Jungkook in his arms as they waited outside the hospital.
"How are you holding up?" He whispers, voice cracking ever so slightly.

"I'm the one who should be asking you that," Jungkook sighs. "Go to your mother and sister. They need you the most right now," The younger says wistfully and gets out of Taehyung's grasp.

"Butㅡ"

"I'll go to the hospital's garden for a bit yeah? Now go," Jungkook says then caressed his cheek before leaving.

The older huffs dejectedly and did what he was told. His mother was inside the room, attending to his father. In the meantime, Jimin and Seokjin were distracting his younger sister outside of the room.Namjoon, Yoongi and Hoseok were in charge of the media, making sure no outrageous rumors would spread.

"O-oppa, are you going inside?" Taehee asked timidly as she watched her brother grab for the door handle. Taehyung crouched down to her height to give her a soft kiss on the forehead. "Mhm, do you want me to send Appa a message from you?" He offered, emitting a smile from the princess.

The blonde gasps when the little one suddenly hugged him real tight. "T-tell him to get well soon okay? He can't go yet," She mumbles and clutched on his shirt tighter.

"I will. Be a good girl okay?" Taehyung says, ignoring the painful clench in his chest.

He then opened the door and saw his mother holding onto his father's hand. "Hey Eomma, is he doing fine?" Taehyung mutters softly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Listen Taehyung, t-the cancer cells in your father worsened be-because he...h-he was poi-poisoined.."

Taehyung blinks and stares after the sudden information. "Poisoned?" He whispers quietly.

The queen nods, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"You mean to tell me that someone poisoned Appa during the party?" Taehyung grunts as he felt the adrenaline rush. "I'm going to fucking kill that bastard and send him to hell!" Taehyung was purely seething as he fists and jaw clenched tight.

His mother looks up to him with worried eyes. "I'm sorry this had to happen on your...y-your..." She trails off.

On your birthday

He knew that's what she wanted to say but it really didn't help lift the weight and guilt on his chest. Such events happend on his birthday which caused him to subconsciously blame himself for everything. What did you expect?

"I know."

The king shifts slightly on the bed and he momentarily forgets why was he so mad. "Taehyung-ah, don't get yourself worked up. Rest for a bit okay?" She reminds.

"Eomma, I have to go check up on Jungkook. I'll also check with the security about the cctv footages."

Taehyung moves toward the bed and rests his hand on top of his father's. "Taehee said to get well. You're still fighting for us right Appa? I'll put those shits into jail, or even worse, the Ozriquim," He smiles sadly then exits the room.

----

On the other hand, Jungkook has been sighing for what seemed like the millionth time he today.

"Argh! Why am I being such a wuss?" He cries in humiliation. It's been so long since he'd broken down in front of a fairly good amount of people. That was embarrassing as hell. Although, he was reassured that it's okay since he was with Bangtan; his second home.

Then here comes the train of thoughts all pertaining to the box given to him. It was if the crack in his memory was finally filled with things he's been trying to forget. He remembers coming out of his room to hear loud thuds and screaming. Then he creeps down the stairs to find his father kicking his mother who was already lying on the living room floor.

His older brother was at school that time so he had no one to run to. Before he knew it, he was rushing to throw a broken beer bottle at his his father's head before he could cause any more damage to his mother.

Jungkook shudders at the memory. He still doesn't understand why his mother didn't run away with him when they had a chance. He vaguely remembers how they were both beaten (and nearly stabbed to death) just because of that.

Jungkook learned not to interfere after.

BANG BANG BANG~!

Jungkook then only realized that he has been spacing out when he heard his ringtone blasting from his phone. He fished out his phone from his back pocket then swiped right to answer.

"Hello?"

"Jungkook-ah,"

"Oh. Hey dad," he replies blandly as he swings his feet back and forth while sitting on the bench. "Don't 'hey' me. I'm here to talk about business. It's not good," his father says on the other line.

When have we not talked about business though?

The young boy frowns and answers, "and why would that concern me right now?"

"Y-your father has escaped. We don't know how or when but he wasn't in his cell. He is currently the potential suspect accused for poisoning Kim. He's coming for you Jungkook! With you as the king of a bigger kingdom, no doubt he'll find you first."

Once again, those words felt like ice being poured down onto his whole being. It made him go white as a sheet and he swore that he began to shake.

"That's n-not true.." The young king whispers, the denial sinking in fast.

"Son, you've seen what the contents of the box were right? I have no power over the throne nowㅡonly a mere predecessor. Taehyung is cleary unstable right now and he has no idea who Saejun is and what he can do. You said it yourself right? You can rule. Kook-ah, you have to take full control of the kingdom. Make sure every single corner of this environment has been checked and secured. I don't care how you'll do itㅡabandon Taehyung for all I care but promise me that you'll protect our family."

Jungkook was taking none of this shit right now. He was scared, angry, confused and so fucking sad. He can feel all the words bubbling and with one more word from his father, he was ready to burst.

"You are going to do it right?"

Well that's it.

"Shut. The. Fuck. Up."

He spat those words into the phone with such venom that he felt the fidget in his father's tone saying, "excuse me?"

"With all due fucking respect, I've had enough. My childhood has been crushed and destroyed ever since my excuse of a father started gambling all our money away. My mother is continuously having breakdowns as she was clearly traumatized. My brother flew to the other side of the world to marry someone I don't even know without saying goodbye. And now my step-father is turning me into some puppet of the throne to put my biological father into some sort of asylum. Do you know how crazy that sounds?" Jungkook begins as he stood up from the bench he was sitting on with great force. The line on the other side was silent.

"Just when I find that string of hope and happiness to hold onto, you're all trying to take it away from me! Have you ever thought of how I felt about being king? Or getting engaged to someone I barely knew at first?

Do you know how many times I've broken down in my room while I find it hard to breathe? Not once did it cross your mind that I find breathing to be such a pain or that I don't even have the energy to get up from my bed every single day.

Taking full control over the kingdom? You make it sound so easy. Taehyung may be sillly but he's not dumb. Should I go all 'my biological dad poisoned your father. Sorry'? That's insane! I love him dad. Why can't you understand? This whole plan was bound to hurt him from the beginning and the guilt is eating me alive."

All those memoriesㅡgood and badㅡwere coming back to him. His heart yelps in happiness and in pain. It was all too much that he found himself gasping for breath. Jungkook's head felt light and the hot tears on his cheeks felt too warm.

"Jungkook-ah,"

"I-is af-affection and love too muㅡmuch to... ask?" Jungkook sobs loudly, using the back of his hand to wipe the tears that were pouring down fast.

A loud crash from somewhere near the entrance to the garden caught his attention. He freezes when he sees two boxes of banana milk on the floor and a very shocked blonde standing there.

Shit. No this can't be happening.

"T-taehyung, let me explain. P-please."

And yet, before he could take another step, the older was already running out the door.

Fun and games do have their ends.

-🍓-
Okay so I finally dropped a bomb. I had fun and difficulties while writing this. I feel that I could've done better but this works as well.

Thank you all so so sooooo much for 2K+ reads! I  didn't expect such stats while writing this book for over five months. I appreciate ever single one of you, may you be a silent reader or not.

Belated happy birthday to the man who never fails to wreck my bias list; Min Yoongi!

I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter! Take note that Royal Rebels is nearing it's end so please comment your suggestions and reactions. Constructive criticism is appreciated!

Love you all~