Double Update! Enjoy!!!!

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The meeting room was heavy with an oppressive silence. Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, and Jimin sat in a semi-circle, their expressions tight with worry and unease. Hoseok leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes sharp, while Jungkook sat at the head of the table, his posture radiating authority, though his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil. Even though Jungkook was going to go to Taehyung, the inner circle came asking some time for them saying it's important. The events of the day lingered in everyone’s mind; Aisha’s attack on Taehyung, his breakdown, and the overwhelming grief that had spilled out of him like a wound torn open.

Namjoon finally broke the silence, his voice calm yet resolute. “Jungkook, we need to talk. We can’t keep pretending everything’s fine when it clearly isn’t. You owe us an explanation.”

Jungkook’s jaw tightened, his gaze locking onto Namjoon. The leader of the inner circle rarely spoke with such insistence, but tonight was different. Everyone could feel it, the unspoken tension, the weight of unshared truths.

Jin leaned forward, his voice softer but no less determined. “We’ve followed you through hell and back, Jungkook. We’ve fought, bled, and nearly died for Blue Den. We’ve earned your trust, haven’t we?”

Jungkook’s gaze flickered to Hoseok, who gave a barely perceptible nod. With a sharp exhale, Jungkook leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand down his face. “You’re right. You’ve earned my trust. But there are things… things I can’t fully share yet. I can tell you enough to understand, but you’ll have to accept that some parts of this story will stay buried for now.”

The inner circle exchanged glances but nodded in agreement. The tension in the room seemed to thrum louder as Jungkook began to speak.

“It happened ten years ago,” he began, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of anguish. “Taehyung and I were kids. Our families… they were very close. They weren’t part of the underworld, but they had powerful enemies. That summer, we all decided to spend a few weeks at a villa in a secluded area. It was supposed to be safe, a place where we could escape the city and just be together as families.”

His voice faltered for a moment, and he glanced away, his jaw clenching as he wrestled with the memories clawing at the surface.

“It started in the middle of the night,” he continued, his tone colder now. “Men broke in, masked, armed, ruthless. They killed the guards first, then moved inside. It was a massacre. By the time I woke up, the screams had started. I ran to find my family, but when I got to the main hall…” His voice cracked, and he stopped, swallowing hard.

Jimin shifted in his seat, his expression pained. “You don’t have to--”

“No,” Jungkook interrupted, his voice firm. “You need to hear this.”

He took a deep breath, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests of his chair. “When I got to the hall, they were already gone. My parents. Taehyung’s parents. All of them, lying there in pools of their own blood. They didn’t even have a chance to fight back.”

Yoongi looked away, his fingers drumming on the armrest in a rare show of discomfort. Jin’s hand tightened on the edge of the table, while Namjoon’s calm facade cracked just enough to reveal the storm brewing beneath.

“What about Taehyung?” Jimin asked softly, his voice trembling.

Jungkook’s eyes darkened further. “He was there. He saw it all, watched them die right in front of him. He hid under the dining table, too scared to move, while those monsters laughed and set the place on fire. When they left, the whole villa was already engulfed in flames.”

He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I don’t remember much of what happened after that. One of them had hit me over the head when I came to the living room, and I was unconscious. But Taehyung… he didn’t leave me behind. He dragged me out of that hell, through the fire and the smoke, even though he was just a eleven years old kid himself.”

The room was deathly silent, the weight of the story pressing down on everyone.

“What about Heejin and Hoseok?” Yoongi asked quietly, his voice rough.

“They weren’t there,” Jungkook said, his tone softer now. “They’d gone on a private trip with their friends. When they came back and found out what had happened…” He glanced at Hoseok, who stepped forward, his face unreadable.

“We blamed ourselves,” Hoseok said, his voice steady but laced with pain. “We weren’t there to protect them. To protect her.”

Namjoon’s eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of her. “Who’s ‘her’?”

Jungkook’s expression closed off instantly, the vulnerability replaced by a steely resolve. “That’s not something I’m ready to talk about,” he said firmly.

Namjoon hesitated but nodded, understanding that pressing further wouldn’t yield answers.

Jungkook leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over the room. “What you need to know is this: that night didn’t just take our families. It took pieces of us we’ll never get back. Taehyung has lived with those scars every day since. And that necklace…” His voice softened, his eyes distant. “It was hers. A gift she gave all of us before everything fell apart. It’s the last memory we have of her.”

Jin exhaled shakily, his hand covering his mouth. Yoongi’s usually sharp eyes were clouded with something close to regret. Jimin wiped at his face, his emotions harder to mask than usual.

Namjoon leaned back, his expression heavy. “We understand now,” he said quietly. “We won’t push further. But if there’s anything we can do to help…”

Jungkook stood, his commanding presence filling the room. “Protect Taehyung. That’s all I ask. If anything happens to him, if he’s hurt again because of someone’s carelessness, there will be consequences.”

The inner circle nodded, their resolve solidifying. They had always trusted Jungkook’s judgment, but now, they understood the depth of his pain, and the fragility of the boy he loved.

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The soft hum of the air conditioner was the only sound in Jungkook’s private office as Hoseok closed the door behind him, the lock clicking softly into place. Jungkook sat at his desk, a glass of whiskey in hand, swirling the amber liquid with a quiet intensity. His eyes, though seemingly calm, carried a storm; an amalgamation of anger, guilt, and exhaustion.

Hoseok leaned against the edge of the desk, his arms crossed, staring down at his younger friend. “Why did you lie?”

Jungkook didn’t look up. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice deceptively neutral.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Hoseok said sharply. “That story you told the inner circle? It wasn’t the truth, at least not the full truth, anyway. You made it sound like our families were innocent bystanders, like we were collateral damage in someone else’s war. But we weren’t, Jungkook. We were mafias. Powerful ones. You and Taehyung came from families who ruled half of South Korea’s underworld. And you know damn well that what happened wasn’t just a random attack, it was a massacre, planned down to the last detail.”

Jungkook’s jaw clenched, his grip on the glass tightening until it seemed like it might shatter. “I told them what they needed to know,” he said coldly. “Nothing more.”

“Why?” Hoseok demanded. “Why hide the truth? They’re your inner circle. They deserve to know the weight of what they’re protecting. If they don’t understand the full danger—”

“They don’t need to understand,” Jungkook interrupted, his voice rising. He slammed the glass down onto the desk, the sound reverberating through the room. “Their job is to follow my orders, not to question the past. Telling them everything won’t bring anyone back, Hyung. It won’t make any of this easier.”

Hoseok sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not about bringing anyone back, Jungkook. It’s about being honest, about letting them know the stakes. They think this is just about protecting Taehyung because he’s fragile. But this is bigger than that. The people who destroyed our families… they could come back. They could come for him. They need to be prepared.”

Jungkook stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. He turned to face the window, his broad shoulders taut with tension. “Do you think I don’t know that?” he said, his voice low but filled with barely contained fury. “Do you think I don’t wake up every night, wondering if they’ll come back? If they’ll finish what they started? Taehyung doesn’t need to relive those horrors, Hobi hyung. He’s been through enough.”

Hoseok softened at the mention of Taehyung, his usual fiery demeanor giving way to a quiet understanding. “I know you want to protect him, Jungkook,” he said gently. “But shielding everyone from the truth won’t change what happened. And it won’t make the danger go away.”

Jungkook didn’t respond immediately. He stood there, staring out at the mansion lights, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. Finally, he turned back, his expression steely. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe. Even if that means carrying the burden of the truth alone.”

Hoseok nodded slowly, recognizing the finality in Jungkook’s tone. “Just remember, you don’t have to carry it alone,” he said before turning to leave. “You’ve got us, them, whether you like it or not.”

As the door closed behind Hoseok, Jungkook let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his dark hair. He downed the remainder of his whiskey in one gulp, the burn doing little to dull the ache in his chest.

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The hallway leading to thier rooms was eerily quiet, the dim lighting casting long shadows along the walls. Jungkook’s footsteps were soft against the wooden floor as he approached their door, his heart sinking when he saw the small figure sitting cross-legged in front of their room looking at the door across them .

Taehyung was hunched over, his back to Jungkook, staring blankly at the ornate door. His delicate hands rested limply in his lap, the book he’d been reading earlier forgotten beside him. The sight made Jungkook’s chest tighten, Taehyung looked so small, so lost.

“Taehyung-ah,” Jungkook called softly, his voice laced with concern.

Taehyung didn’t respond, didn’t even flinch. Jungkook crouched down beside him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. The contact seemed to pull Taehyung out of his trance, and he turned to look at Jungkook, his doe eyes wide and glassy.

“Ggukie,” he whispered, his voice trembling.

Jungkook’s heart shattered at the sight of tears brimming in Taehyung’s eyes. “Why are you out here, baby?” he asked softly, brushing a strand of hair away from Taehyung’s face.

Taehyung’s gaze drifted back to the door. “I just… I just wanted to be close to her,” he murmured.

Jungkook felt a lump form in his throat. He sat down beside Taehyung, pulling him into his arms. Taehyung curled against him, his small frame trembling as he clung to Jungkook’s shirt.

“She wouldn’t want you to be sad like this,” Jungkook said gently, stroking Taehyung’s hair.

“I miss her,” Taehyung choked out, his voice breaking. “I miss her so much, hyung. Everything feels so empty without her. Without all of them.”

Jungkook tightened his hold on Taehyung, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I know, love. I miss her too. Every single day.”

For a long moment, they sat there in silence, the memories of their shared loss hanging heavily between them. Jungkook’s mind wandered back to that night, the screams, the flames, the unbearable smell of burning flesh. He could still see her face in his mind, her smile, her laughter, the way she used to dote on all of them like they were her world. Well, they were her world. And same goes for them too.

“Do you remember what she used to say?” Jungkook asked quietly.

Taehyung nodded, his voice barely audible. “She said we were her stars. That no matter how dark things got, we would always shine for each other.”

Jungkook smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “She wouldn’t want us to lose that light, Taehyung. She’d want us to keep shining for her, for everything she believed in.”

Taehyung looked up at Jungkook, his eyes searching. “But how, Ggukie? How do we keep shining when it hurts so much?”

Jungkook cupped Taehyung’s face, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “We do it together. You’re not alone, Taehyung-ah. You have me, Heejin noona, Hoseok hyung… even the inner circle. We’re all here for you.”

Taehyung’s lip quivered, and he buried his face in Jungkook’s chest, fresh tears soaking into his shirt. Jungkook held him tightly, his own eyes stinging with unshed tears.

After a while, Taehyung’s breathing evened out, and he fell into a fitful sleep against Jungkook. Carefully, Jungkook stood, lifting Taehyung into his arms. He carried him back to their room, laying him gently on the bed.

As Jungkook pulled the blanket over Taehyung, he paused, his gaze lingering on the necklace around Taehyung’s neck, the one they all shared. Taehyung has tied it with a thread so it remains on his neck even though there wasn't the panda t that used to be hanging for a long time. His fingers brushed over the broken chain, and his jaw tightened.

“She was our light,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “And I swear, I’ll protect her stars. No matter what.”

But what he forgot was Jungkook was one of her stars too.

With a deep breath, Jungkook turned off the light and slid into bed beside Taehyung, pulling him close. Even in sleep, Taehyung’s fingers clutched the necklace tightly, as if holding onto the last piece of her he had left.

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The warm glow of the bedside lamp cast a soft light over the room, highlighting the subtle patterns on the beige walls of Namjoon and Seokjin’s bedroom. The room, usually a haven of calm and comfort, felt heavy tonight. Namjoon sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers threading through his hair in silent frustration. Seokjin stood by the window, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, staring out into the night as if the answers to their questions lay somewhere in the dark sky.

In the corner, Jimin sat curled up on a plush armchair, his knees pulled to his chest as he tried, and failed to contain his quiet sobs. Yoongi was beside him, kneeling on the carpet, one arm wrapped around Jimin's shoulders in an uncharacteristically soft display of comfort. He murmured soothing words, his free hand gently patting Jimin’s knee in a steady rhythm.

The silence in the room was almost unbearable, broken only by Jimin’s hiccupping breaths. Finally, Namjoon broke it, his deep voice low but laced with frustration.

“Jungkook didn’t tell us everything,” he said, his eyes fixed on the floor. “That much is obvious.”

Seokjin turned from the window, his expression troubled. “No,” he agreed. “What he told us... it felt incomplete, like he was hiding the worst parts.”

Jimin sniffled, wiping his face with the sleeve of his sweater. “But why?” he asked, his voice cracking. “Why wouldn’t he tell us everything? We’re his inner circle, we’re supposed to have his back, no matter what.”

“Because some truths are too painful to share,” Yoongi said softly, his gaze fixed on the floor. “Whatever happened that night... it wasn’t just tragic. It broke them. You saw how Taehyung reacted earlier and even yesterday. That wasn’t just grief; that was trauma. Deep, unhealed trauma.”

Jimin let out a shaky breath, his tears still falling. “I can’t stop thinking about Taehyung,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “He’s always so sweet, so quiet... but today, when he broke down, it was like a different person came out. It’s like he’s been hiding all this pain behind that innocent smile.”

Namjoon nodded, his jaw tightening. “And Jungkook,” he added. “He might seem calm and in control, but you could see it in his eyes when he told us that story. He’s been carrying this burden for years, shielding Taehyung and--” He paused, glancing at Seokjin. “And us, apparently.”

Seokjin walked over to the bed, sitting down beside Namjoon. He rested his head on Namjoon’s shoulder, his own expression a mixture of concern and determination. “I think Jungkook told us as much as he thought we could handle,” he said. “But it’s clear there’s more to this story. The way he talked about their parents, the fire... it didn’t add up. And why would someone target their families like that if they weren’t involved in something bigger?”

Yoongi sighed, leaning back on his heels. “You saw Hoseok earlier. He wasn’t happy with how Jungkook presented the story. It’s obvious there’s a lot we don’t know, not just about that night, but about who they were before they came here.”

Jimin looked up, his tear-streaked face filled with confusion. “But they were just kids,” he said. “Why would anyone go after them like that? What could they possibly have done to deserve that kind of hatred?”

“They didn’t deserve it,” Yoongi said firmly. “No one deserves to see their family slaughtered in front of them. But this wasn’t about deserving, it was about power. Jungkook and Taehyung didn’t just lose their families that night; they lost their entire world. Whoever did this wasn’t just trying to kill them-- they were trying to erase them.”

A heavy silence fell over the room again as the weight of Yoongi’s words sank in. Namjoon let out a long sigh, leaning back against the headboard. “I hate this,” he admitted. “I hate not knowing the full story. I hate seeing them suffer and not being able to do anything about it.”

Seokjin placed a comforting hand on Namjoon’s arm. “We’ll figure it out babe,” he said. “But for now, we need to focus on being there for them, especially Taehyung. Whatever happened that night, it’s still haunting him. And Jungkook... he’s trying to protect him, but he can’t do it alone.”

Jimin nodded, wiping his eyes. “Taehyung needs us,” he said, his voice steadier now. “We can’t just stand by and let him carry this pain by himself. Even if Jungkook won’t tell us everything, we can still be there for them.”

Yoongi stood, brushing off his knees. “Agreed,” he said. “But we also need to be smart about this. If Jungkook and Taehyung are still in danger, and let’s be honest, they probably are, we need to be ready. Whoever came after them before might come after them again.”

Namjoon frowned, his mind racing with possibilities. “We’ll need to tighten security,” he said. “And we should start digging into their past discreetly. If Jungkook won’t tell us the full story, we’ll have to figure it out ourselves.”

Seokjin hesitated, his expression conflicted. “Are you sure that’s a good idea Joonie?” he asked. “If Jungkook finds out, he might see it as a betrayal.”

Namjoon met Seokjin’s gaze, his expression firm. “This isn’t about betraying him,” he said. “It’s about protecting him and Taehyung. They might not want us to know the truth, but we can’t protect them if we’re blind to the threats they’re facing.”

Jimin shifted in his seat, a hesitant look on his face. “I just... I don’t want them to feel like we’re prying,” he said. “Taehyung especially. He’s so fragile right now. If he finds out we’re digging into his past, it might make things worse.”

“We’ll be careful love,” Yoongi assured him. “This isn’t about digging up their pain, it’s about making sure no one else can hurt them.”

The room fell silent again as each of them mulled over the weight of their decisions. Finally, Seokjin spoke, his voice soft but resolute. “Whatever we do, we have to do it together,” he said. “For them and for us.”

The others nodded in agreement, a newfound determination settling over the group. Though the night had brought them pain and uncertainty, it had also strengthened their resolve. They might not know the full story yet, but they would do whatever it took to protect the family they had built together.

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Hours later, as the mansion grew quiet and everyone retreated to their rooms, the weight of the night still hung heavy in the air. Namjoon lay in bed beside Seokjin, staring up at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of Jungkook, Taehyung, and the unanswered questions that lingered between them.

In the next room, Jimin clung to Yoongi like a lifeline, his soft sniffles the only sound in the otherwise silent house. And in his own private suite, Jungkook sat beside a sleeping Taehyung, his hand resting protectively over the broken necklace around Taehyung’s neck.

As the clock ticked past midnight, one thing was clear: the scars of their past were far from healed. But together, they would face whatever came next, because that’s what family did.

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The soft glow of the bedside lamp in Heejin’s room cast faint shadows across the walls. Her trembling hands clutched the edge of the bed, her head bowed low, tears spilling freely onto her lap. The muffled sounds of her sobs filled the space, breaking the stillness of the night.

Her chest ached as she thought of Taehyung. The image of him sitting alone in front of her locked room, his eyes vacant and his soul seemingly shattered, was etched painfully in her mind. He was just a boy when the fire took everything from them, a boy who should have been laughing and carefree, but instead had been forced to witness horrors no child ever should.

Heejin buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as another wave of grief overwhelmed her. She felt useless, powerless. Taehyung was her baby brother in every way that mattered. She had helped raise him, watched him take his first steps, heard his first words. He had always been the sweetest, most innocent and the naughtiest soul in their tightly-knit circle. Now, seeing him so broken, so consumed by pain, was unbearable. The way he had collapsed earlier, clutching that broken necklace, their necklace like it was the only thing tethering him to the world, to the memories of a life he once had. His face hidden in his knees, his quiet sobs echoing in the silence, it had shattered her. She couldn't even bring herself to speak to him. She felt helpless, like the walls that had once been so strong and protective had crumbled into dust. She had wanted to hold him, comfort him, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she had backed out of the hallway, unable to look at him any longer without breaking down herself. She had left silently and retreated to her own room.

And Jungkook, strong, unyielding Jungkook carrying the weight of their shared trauma like an unrelenting storm cloud. His stoic face betrayed nothing, but she knew better. She knew how deeply he suffered, how much he blamed himself for their loss. And Hoseok, too, had been the silent rock for all of them, keeping them together while his own grief festered quietly beneath the surface.

Heejin pressed her fists against her chest, as if trying to hold herself together. She hadn’t just lost one family that night. She had lost two, hers and theirs. The villa, the laughter, the shared memories of holidays spent together as one big family... all of it had been consumed by fire and blood.

She thought back to those golden days, when everything was simpler. Taehyung had been a bright-eyed child, always running after Jungkook and Hoseok, calling out for them to wait. Jungkook, ever the protective elder brother figure back then, would hoist Taehyung onto his shoulders, while Hoseok teased him mercilessly. Heejin’s thoughts kept circling back to the past, the years she had spent growing up alongside them. They had been inseparable, her, Jungkook, Taehyung, Hoseok, and her. Their families were intertwined, their bonds forged through shared hardships, laughter, and years of trust. There were no secrets between them, not back then. It felt like a lifetime ago when they had all been together, as one, a family. But that had all been ripped away from them in one single, horrific night.

All gone.

A loud sob escaped her lips before she could stop it, her body curling in on itself as the floodgates broke. She hated this. She hated the helplessness, the aching void that had been left in their hearts. No matter how much time passed, the wound never healed, it only grew deeper, especially now that she was watching Taehyung crumble under its weight.

She collapsed forward, her face buried in her hands, muffling the sounds of her grief. Her body trembled with the weight of the sorrow that gripped her heart.

Why didn’t I protect them? She thought, bitterly. Why didn’t I see this coming?

The door creaked open, and she stiffened, the soft footsteps outside the room was barely audible, but it was enough to pull Heejin from the storm of her emotions. Hoseok’s familiar presence lingered outside, and without much tine, the door opened slowly. She didn’t even bother to look up. She knew it was him. The one person who had always been there for her, even when she had nothing left to give.

Hoseok stepped inside, his footsteps soft against the hardwood floor. When he saw Heejin sitting at the foot of the bed, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs, his heart broke. He had known her for as long as he could remember, had watched her grow from the carefree girl she once was into the strong woman she had become. But tonight, she looked fragile. She looked like the girl who had lost everything.

Without a word, Hoseok sat beside her, pulling her into his arms. She didn’t resist, didn’t push him away. She simply collapsed against him, her sobs escaping in choked gasps. The weight of everything, the pain of watching Taehyung fall apart, the helplessness of seeing Jungkook and Hoseok endure their own silent suffering was too much for her.

“Ray, look at me love, he said quietly.

She shook her head, trying to muster a smile. “I’m fine, Seokie,” she lied, her voice hoarse.

But Hoseok wasn’t fooled. His hands found her shoulders, prying her away from his embrace. “Don’t do that,” he said softly. “Don’t pretend you’re okay when you’re not.”

Her tears started again, flowing uncontrollably as she clung to him. “I can’t do it, Hobi,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I can’t watch him like this. I can’t see Taehyung so... so broken. He was always our little light, and now... now he’s just--” She choked on her words, unable to continue.

Hoseok pulled her into his arms again, holding her tightly as his own eyes grew misty. “I know,” he murmured. “I know, love. It hurts. It hurts so much.”

“I don’t know what to do, Hobi,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I can’t even comfort him. I’m supposed to be strong for them, for all of you, but... I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know how to make things right again.”

Hoseok tightened his hold on her, his hand gently stroking her hair. “You don’t have to fix anything,” he murmured. “You’ve always been there for us, Ray. Even when it feels like everything’s falling apart, you’ve been a constant. Don’t forget that.”

“But look at them,” she said, her voice cracking. “Look at how they’re hurting. How do I help them when I can’t even help myself?” She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-streaked eyes. “I can’t help my bear. He’s so broken, Hoseok. He’s not the same. He’s not the Taehyung I remember. And Jungkook... He’s carrying so much weight, so much pain, and I can’t even get through to him.”

Hoseok swallowed hard, his own emotions threatening to spill over. He had never been one to show his vulnerability, never one to break down easily. But seeing Heejin like this, seeing her struggle with the same pain that had been eating at him for years, it hurt more than he could put into words.

“You’re right,” Hoseok said quietly. “None of this is easy. I’ve seen them both carry their pain in silence for so long. Jungkook... he’s always been the protector. He’s always been the one who takes care of everyone else. But I see it in his eyes, the weight of what he’s holding inside. It’s like he’s drowning in it. And Taehyung...” He paused, looking away as he tried to find the words. “He’s so young, Ray. He’s not even the same age as us, but he’s had to carry so much. I can’t even imagine what he’s been through.”

Heejin closed her eyes, a fresh wave of tears rushing to her eyes as Hoseok’s words sank in. She had always known how strong Jungkook was. She had always known how much he loved and protected everyone, especially Taehyung. But seeing him like this, seeing him so distant and broken, was a reminder of just how much had been taken from them all.

They sat there together, their grief entwining like vines as the memories of their shared past washed over them. Hoseok’s usual composure faltered as he spoke, his voice thick with emotion.

“Do you remember how Taehyung used to sneak into our rooms at night?” he asked. “He was always afraid of the dark, but he’d never admit it. He’d just crawl into bed with us and fall asleep like it was the most natural thing in the world.”

Heejin let out a shaky laugh through her tears. “And Jungkook would get so annoyed as he always jump on him,” she said. “But he’d always end up letting him stay.”

Hoseok smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “He was so small back then,” he said. “So innocent. And now... now I look at him, and I see someone who’s been through too much. Someone who’s lost too much.”

She wiped her face, trying to control her emotions. “I just wish I could go back, you know?” she said, her voice quiet. “Go back to when everything was simpler. Before the fire, before all the pain. I just want to hold them like I used to. I just want things to be... okay again.”

Hoseok’s expression softened. He could see the pain in her eyes, the same pain that mirrored his own. The pain of watching their lives crumble in front of them, of seeing the people they loved become shadows of who they once were. It was a heavy burden to carry.

“We’ll get through this,” Hoseok said, his voice firm but gentle. “We’ve lost a lot, Heejin. But we’re still here. All of us. We’re still here.”

Heejin pulled back slightly, her hands clutching Hoseok’s arms. “I feel like I’ve failed him,” she confessed. “I should have been there for him more. I should have noticed how much he was hurting. But instead, I just... I stood by, watching him fall apart.”

“You didn’t fail him,” Hoseok said firmly. “None of us did. We’ve all been trying our best to keep going, to keep each other afloat. But the truth is, we’re all drowning in this. We’ve been drowning for years.”

The raw honesty in his voice broke something in her. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her tears soaking into his shirt. “I just want him to be happy again,” she whispered. “I want all of us to be happy again. But it feels impossible.”

Hoseok tightened his grip on her, his own tears finally spilling over. “We’ll get there,” he said, though his voice trembled with uncertainty. “It might not be tomorrow or next week, but we’ll get there. For him. For Jungkook. For all of us.”

Heejin leaned into him, finding solace in his warmth. She knew Hoseok was right. But it didn’t change the fact that the pain, the grief, the loss, it was too much. She could feel the cracks in her heart, the pieces of her old self slipping away, like sand through her fingers.

They stayed like that for a long time, clinging to each other as the weight of their grief pressed down on them. The room was quiet except for the sound of their soft sobs, a stark contrast to the laughter and warmth it had once known.

Eventually, Hoseok pulled back, brushing a strand of hair from Heejin’s tear-streaked face. “We can’t give up,” he said, his voice steadier now. “Taehyung needs us. Jungkook needs us. And whether they admit it or not, they can’t do this alone.”

Heejin nodded, wiping her eyes. “You’re right,” she said, her voice resolute. “We have to keep fighting, for them, and for us.”

Hoseok offered her a small, bittersweet smile. “That’s the girl I fell in love with,” he said. “The one who never gives up, no matter how hard things get.”

She managed a faint smile in return, her heart still heavy but bolstered by his words. Together, they would face whatever came next. Together, they would find a way to heal, no matter how long it took.

The two of them sat in silence for a long while, holding each other as the night stretched on. The weight of the world seemed to press down on them, but for a moment, they allowed themselves to simply be together. To mourn what they had lost. To grieve for the people they had once been.

But even in their sorrow, they knew one thing: they would face tomorrow together. They would face whatever came next, just as they always had. Because no matter how broken they felt, no matter how shattered their world had become, they were still a family. And families didn’t fall apart. They stayed together, no matter the cost.

And as the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, Heejin and Hoseok knew that they would rise again. Together.

For Taehyung, for Jungkook, and for the memory of the family they had lost, they would keep going. Because that’s what family did.

_____________________________________

Hi, Berries!!!

Surprise, it’s a double update for you all! And, officially, this is the longest chapter ever, with a whopping 5752 words—almost 6k!

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here: the past has been revealed, after 11 chapters of suspense. But trust me, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more to their story than meets the eye.

What do you think of these two chapters? How do you feel about their past? I’d love to know your thoughts!

If you enjoyed it, don’t forget to vote, comment, and share!

Happy reading!

✍️ Adona 🖤🍂