ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME 88 VOTES ON THE LAST CHAPTER SKSHSKHSKSHS AM I DREAMING? 😭😭😭😭 Y'ALL ARE AWESOME ILYSMMMM <33333 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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"where's kook?" hoseok asks softly, getting a disheartened sigh from the eldest as he shakes his head, pointing upstairs to the boy's room, "is he drinking?"

"what else does he do?" jin asks with concern, putting the down the spatula while hoseok nods subtly, too used to seeing jungkook all restless ever since the morning they came to know aera ran away. they approached the police, hoseok himself went with yoongi and namjoon, to hear the uniform clad men and women promising them that they'll find aera in no time and they need not worry too much.

it's the fifth day about to end.

jungkook has been getting annoyed at every little thing, arguing with the police officers who always assured him that they're looking for the girl and will surely inform them as soon as they find anything. by the third day, jungkook felt like the efforts were getting wasted, for all he knew the police was the one who could actually find his sister now and him fighting them wouldn't do any good.

but that didn't mean he was thinking all straight. he was still mad at the hyungs, especially jimin and the two eldest ones, not speaking to them at any cost, ignoring their voices of concern when they saw jungkook skipping meals and only surviving on alcohol which apparently provided him some relief from the harsh reality for he believed that it was his hyungs responsible for everything that happened.

taehyung was the one to have any power over the boy, whom jungkook would talk to without getting mad. taehyung did try to feed him once in a while, sit with him and try not to leave the younger alone, using the excuse of his wounded arm to stay by him when he needed. jungkook almost gave up eveything, and only had his phone always on full ring, hoping that the police officer would call and say that they found his sister and she's fine.

unlike jungkook, jimin didn't shut himself down despite the guilt always weighing him down, he made sure to stay in touch with everything— the hyungs, police, aera's school and pausing the office work for a while, leaving it under his manager, namjoon and yoongi's trusted hands.

"jin hyung," jimin calls in a groggy voice, walking downstairs, his eyes moving from the window to jin's face, "my head..."

"what happened?" the eldest asks, handing the spatula to hoseok, nodding for him to see that the food doesn't burn.

"it hurts," jimin lets out.

"of course, it will," jin sighs, "you haven't slept in the last few days. i'll give you a pain killer for now, and please take a sleeping pill tonight. this is getting too bad for you, jimin. you need some rest,"

"no," jimin shakes his head, "what if they— the police, i mean, calls and i'm sleeping? i'm not taking any pills, hyung,"

"don't be lik—"

a few footsteps muffle jin's voice, drawing attention from them and find jungkook heading out of his room, down to the kitchen, probably to get some ice or maybe more alcohol. the boy ignores the elders without any difficulty, advancing past hoseok to the fridge and takes out some ice cubes in a bowl.

"jungkook-ah," hoseok tries, "please, stop drinking. it's not gonna being aera back. you're hurting yourself like this,"

"better than anyone else hurting me," jungkook mutters, "don't speak to me unless i do,"

hoseok stares at the youngest with worried eyes, "you're mad at us, fine. be it. but don't do this to yourself at least,"

jungkook clicks his tongue, turning to face the elder and tilts his head, "did you find my sister?" he asks, "did your brothers find my aera? no, right? then don't try to act like you care,"

jimin glances at jin who shakes his head, gesturing him to not say anything to jungkook right now for the boy is probably more under the influence of alcohol than his own senses. so jimin sighs, quietly entering the kitchen and takes a glass of water for himself.

jungkook's about to leave when yoongi and namjoon return home and soon taehyung is there too, "jungkook?" namjoon frowns at the youngest, "gosh! please stop this, kook. do you really think alcohol is gonna help you?"

now jungkook clenches his jaw, glaring at the elders and taehyung notices, stepping in between before he gets out of hand, "leave them, it's okay," he says in a low voice to jungkook, "go to your room, kook,"

"no," jungkook grits, "just enough of them—"

"no," taehyung states, staring at the boy with a serious gaze, "it's gonna get bad, kook. i'm saying it for you. don't argue with them,"

jungkook scoffs at them, but listens to taehyung, "tell them not to speak to me,"

taehyung's eyes wander to the elder boys with hesitation, still manages to nod for jungkook, giving him a pat on his shoulder. although before he says anything, yoongi takes a step forward, grabbing the youngest male by his t-shirt aggressively, "for fuck's sake jeon jungkook stop behaving like this! why can't you just fucking see that we all are struggling too! jimin is worried for aera as much as you are! stop blaming him for what happened—"

jungkook pulls himself back, glaring at elder who raises his arm in the air and jungkook prepares himself to either be hit or grab the hand in time only to anger yoongi more. however neither of the two happen, making jungkook frown as he looks to his side, seeing jimin standing there, stopping yoongi with a subtle tug. jimin shakes his head, tears blurring his eyes as though pleading the elder to calm down, "don't..." he hushes out, "he's just stressed, i'm not mad at anyone,"

yoongi heaves out a deep breath, turning to jungkook and pushes the boy aside, making him face jimin, "look at him," yoongi grits, "after eveything you said and did, jungkook, he still cares for you. you kept blaming him for aera leaving the house when you know that he loves aera more than his life, he's always treated her like his own child, fought everybody for her... and you too... and this is what you give him in return?"

"should i worship him now?" jungkook scoffs, looking away and yoongi's grip on the boy tightens.

"the only reason i'm still being nice to you and not actually handling you my way, which i should've done way earlier, is your brother. i don't want him to be hurt while i deal your disgraceful ass, jeon jungkook. so consider yourself lucky that you have jimin as brother who still takes your side despite everything you've done,"

"hyung, please," jimin calls, "leave him. go to your room, kook. nobody's saying anything to you,"

"yeah," taehyung nods quickly, taking jungkook's arm and starts dragging him towards the stares while the boy looks lost, probably replaying yoongi's words in his head.

jimin sighs deeply, turning to yoongi, "why would you do that?" he says, massaging his temples, taking a seat on one of the bar stools, "aera's already left me because she thinks i don't love her... even kook is mad at me for all this. i don't wanna push him any farther from me, hyung. he's still my younger brother and i love him more than he knows whether he believes it or not... i don't wanna lose him too, hyung..."

"you're not losing anybody," yoongi assures, patting jimin's back, "jungkook needed this, trust me. and aera will be back home very soon, then everything will be fine,"

"i don't know..." jimin hushes out, looking down at his lap, "did you talk to the police? did they find anything?"

the elder falls silent, having a hard time denying since the first day. jimin just shakes his head, understanding the heavy quietness that took over the elders. "i feel like dying, hyung. just think of aera, where she would be and if she's even fine or not... she barely does anything by herself, hyung. how is she staying away from me— it's been five days. my child... god, i just want my aera back that's all," a tear drops from his eyes, nibbling on his lower lip.

"she'll be okay," namjoon assures with a heavy heart, getting slow nods from the rest.

•••

"is this okay, mr. baek?" aera asks, picking up a berry from the ground and answers herself, "it looks fine to me," the old man glances over, squinting his weak eyes at the fruit and nods, making the girl smile proudly.

"and this one?" she plucks out one from the bush, putting it in her basket once she recieves a nod of approval.

"you didn't me tell me much about your family, aera," mr. baek says while he bends down a bit more than his already arched spine, giving some of the berries to the dog to eat, "how long are you gonna stay here like this? your parents must be worried,"

"no, i told you they don't live here," she turns away, hiding her uncomfortable face as she lies through her teeth, nibbling on the inside of her cheeks, "my daddy lives far away and it's just me here, that's all,"

mr baek sighs, shaking his head with sympathetic eyes and pats aera's head, "i don't know why people don't understand the worth of their loved ones," he says in his calm voice, handing over a berry to aera, gesturing her to eat it as they head back home, "your parents are going to regret treating you like this at some point of their lives,"

aera glances at the old man, nodding her head slowly, thinking how it's meant to be her brother not the parents who aren't even alive. she takes a bite of the blueberry after wiping it on her shirt and hissing as it's still sour and quickly takes it out of her mouth. she spits it out and glances at the half berry in her hand, which probably is tasty for the dog because when she throws it, he eats it right away, munching his jaw as though he enjoyed the taste.

"it was a sour berry, you silly," aera laughs at the dog, earning a chuckle from the old man.

"did you think of a name for your dog?"

"uhm yeah," she nods, grinning at mr baek and then at the dog, who's way clener than when she first met him. his fur is light brown and dark eyes, with two white spots on his body— one at the end of his tail and one circling his left eye. aera pets his head and giggles, "i'll call you candy,"

"candy?" mr baek smiles, "that's adorable,"

"i know, it's because he's a cute doggy. i found him, and i'm cute too! my oppa said—" aera stops in the middle, shaking her head and gulps down her saliva, "i mean, i'll call him candy because he's cute,"

"you have a brother?" mr. baek asks.

"no," aera mumbles, "i don't have a brother. i used to like having brothers... but i think it's not that great..."

mr. baek nods at her words, "i wouldn't know. i didn't have any siblings," he admits, "but i do understand how you might feel lonely sometimes,"

of course he did. aera came to know something new about mr. baek everyday ever since she's started living with him. he's a nice man, believes in doing his own work and being independent. he likes farming, which explains the garden of tomatoes, egg plants, pumpkins, watermelons and a few more of his favourite vegetables in the backyard, a tree of oranges and one of mangoes, herbs and shrubs.

he wasn't always alone. his son and wife used to live with him in the very house he resides by himself now until the day twenty years back his wife had a brain stroke and passed away, leaving mr. baek to struggle alone to raise an eight-year-old son. he handled it quite well and worked hard for his son's life to be perfect, the boy grew up and went to study abroad, then even got a job there— in london. now the son promises to visit home soon and take his father with him. the only problem being that his promises are growing old with time and so is the father.

mr. baek didn't expect his son to come back now, considering that he didn't come even when mr. baek had a sever pneumonia two years ago and couldn't manage the expenses for his treatment.

aera feels bad for him, and it forces her brain to think how weird the human race is. people chase work and money all their life, ignoring and overlooking their loved ones, then cry on why they're all alone. she sighs at the man at least four times her own age, picking up one sweet-looking berry from her basket and offers it to him, knowing that fruits, flowers and anything natural, decent makes him happy. even aera's innocent face, her genuine smiles and child tactics made him happy.

as they approach mr. baek's house, aera frowns at the two cars parked near by. those are police cars. she gasps, stopping on her track and breathes deeply, "mr. baek..." her voice quivers, "why's there police?"

"maybe they're searching around for something?" he says, glancing back at her and holds out his arm, nodding for her to come, "c'mon, don't worry. they won't bother us,"

aera gulps thickly, nodding her head and follows him quietly, trying to hide beside him so that the police officers won't see her. she prays they're not here looking for her. tears blur her eyes as the possibility of her being taken back home erupts in her head, reminding her of all the words jimin said, the fights he had with jungkook and how the elders would end up getting involved as well. all because of her.

she opens the door, running inside without a word and settles herself in a corner in the small room where she's staying. breaking into a sob, aera curls into a bll against the wall, "oppa..." her voice mumbles subconsciously, and she whines, not wanting to cry for jimin.

she rubs her eyes harshly, flinching at the voices that she hears from outside— right outside the window where a policeman is talking to mr. baek. he's asking mr. baek if he has seen a girl, around thirteen years old, anywhere in this area for they suspect her to be somewhere around here. aera covers her mouth, holding in her cries as mr baek. stays quiet, probably too stunned to speak. the policeman doesn't pressurise him and leaves without much questioning after that.

aera peeks out of the window with her teary eyes, and there's mr. baek staring at a card in his hand which the policeman probably gave him. she gulps thickly, lowering against the wall, breaking into a sob for things are going to mess up pretty bad now. what if mr. baek calls the police back and hands her over to them? he won't even understand the reason she ran away from home in the first place! he'll just think that she's like his son who doesn't value family and takes her loved ones for granted!

aera has her reasons and she stays firm on them, never missing a chance to remind her weak heart that jimin doesn't want her and so she shouldn't go back home. jungkook must be tired of fighting his hyungs because of her and always ending up hurt. the rest of the boys must be finding aera annoying and bothersome in their daily life.

aera rubs her eyes with the knuckles, hiccups coming evident along with her sobs that never settle down. she would've left them alone if they told her earlier that she was being a pain— a bother. and since they never said anything, aera wonders if they've been pretending to love her all this while? they fooled her into believing that her brothers loved her and wanted her with them. especially jimin.

"aera?" mr. baek's voice makes aera flinch and she moves back, pressing herself against the hard wall and shakes her head, crying almost in a begging manner, "i'm sorry... i didn't mean to lie to you, i- i just— please don't give me to the police... i don't wanna go back...!"

"you ran away from home?" he asks in a soft voice, putting down his walking stick and winces slightly as he sits in front of her, holding his knee joints with gentle hands, "i kinda knew it," he smiles a little to himself, "—that you don't belong here. you're from a good family, a child who has never seen any hardships in life, especially the ones i live with,"

aera rubs her eyes, containing her sobs and watches mr. baek being so calm and gentle, "i knew it. just wanted to confirm from you. but you never really opened up, kiddo," he says, "so jeon jimin is your brother?"

aera stares at her lap, dropping a few more tears as she nods, "yeah... but- but i can explain— we're not family anymore. he doesn't love me and i left that place—"

"and that doesn't make you a family anymore?" mr. baek asks, "y'know aera, jeesung hasn't returned home in almost six years. not even when i almost died with my lung infection. but i still refer to him as my son, and if he ever thinks of me, he certainly calls me dad still. we're not close anymore as i told you, but nothing's gonna change the fact that he's my son and i'm his father. he is my family and i am his whether we like it or not,"

"same goes for you and your brother, little one. i won't tell you what to do. just letting you know that if you think running away will end your relationship with your brother, then you're wrong. maybe you'll forget him, but what about him? he'll still continue calling you his sister,"

aera pouts at the words, folding up her legs to her chest and sighs, "are you gonna send me back, mr. baek?" she mumbles, glancing at him with her puffy, red eyes, earning a soft smile.

"that would be the right thing to do. you're still very young to be on your own," mr. baek says, stroking the girl's hair, "i'm sure it's just a misunderstanding between you and your brother, and i think you should go to him and talk,"

"no," aera huffs, "i heard him yelling that night. he said he was tired of me... he wanted a break from eveything— from me. he was mad that day, he was going to hit me too..."

mr. baek sighs, not saying anything further about the issue and nods quietly, glancing at outside the window, "go and feed candy. he must be hungry,"

aera looks at mr. baek, nodding her head as she stands up. although, before leaving the room, she kneels down again, giving the old man a hug, "thank you, mr. baek. i promise i'll help you while i live here with you. your son is stupid to not see your love, but don't worry, you can have me as your grandchild. i never saw my grandpa either, but now i think he must've been like you,"

mr. baek smiles at aera's words, patting her back gently as tears glisten his eyes, hearing the words his grown-up son couldn't understand but this little kid did. aera stands up after that, heading outside to feed the dog she's been friends with, leaving mr. baek alone to think about the situation and come to a decision.

•••

"mr. jeon," a knock interrupts the silence of the house, getting a look from jimin and the rest too for they all had grown acquainted to the police officer's voice, praying all the time that it would bring them the news they want to hear the most.

"yes?" jimin gestures them to take a seat, "officer lee, anything positive for us?"

the officer exchanges glances with his two junior colleagues and nods for jimin's relief, "we doubt this place we visited today. the old man there was kind of suspicious and the neighbours confirmed that he has a child living with him for the past four-five days,"

"what? where?" jimin stands up, frowning at the uniform clad men, "when did you find out all this?"

"today evening,"

"aera's there? you dound her right?" yoongi joins in, waiting in the silence of the policeman which bothers him a bit, "officer, i'm asking something. you found aera there? where is she now?"

"sir, we didn't have anything against the old man. the neighbours said he lives alone and is a heart patient, we cannot go up to him just like that. we have no real information about your kid being there, it's just a guess," officer lee explains.

"are you fucking kidding me?!" jimin yells in anger, "it's been five days my sister is missing! she's just thirteen, do you understand that?! how can you just leave it at this knowing that there's a chance of aera being there! what if that man hurts my child?! god knows what he—"

"sir, please calm down, we're sorry for not taking an action today. but i assure you we're going there tomorrow too, and i think you should go with us. it'll be good for the child,"

jimin takes a deep breath as jin pats his shoulder, nodding at the officer's words, "officer lee is right, jimin. you should go with them tomorrow and see eveything for yourself,"

"but what about tonight?" jimin breathes out desperately, facing jin and the rest of the boys, "i can never breathe peacefully knowing that my aera could be hurt, and with someone i don't even know. who knows what kind of person that man is... anything could happen and y'all want me to just fucking sit and wait for another night? no... no, hyung, i won't be able to," jimin shakes his head, "i wanna go there right now, i don't give a fuck what time we get there or who faces inconvenience. i just want my aera safe in my arms, that's all i ask for,"

namjoon nibbles on his lip, glancing at the police officer, virtually asking if that would be fine. however, even before the man responded, yoongi speaks up, "get the cars ready. we're going right now," he declares and the housekeeping staff rushes to motion, ordering the drivers to get the cars out.

"but sir—"

"i don't think you'd have any problem if it was your child in place of our aera, would you?" yoongi states firmly, shutting up the man at once.

"i'm sorry, sir," the officer mutters, bowing to yoongi first and the rest of the males with both his colleagues.

"what's kook doing?" jin asks.

"he's sleeping," hoseok answers, "tae's with him. me and joon will wait here as well, so don't worry. you guys go and get riri back, that's it," he smiles, giving jimin a hug, "she'll be fine okay? just hang on a bit more,"

jimin nods slowly, feeling the hope in hoseok's words as he glances at jin and yoongi, nodding as they all head out of the house. jimin jogs up to the car, trying his best to save any extra time that might be wasted on the way to get to aera.

staring out from the passenger seat, nibbling on his lower lip, eveything runs back in his head to the day he lashed out at aera. the moment she looked so scared and ended up thinking he was going to hit her. let alone aera, even the elder boys and jungkook thought he would hurt the child he loved so dearly all his life. it did bug him enough to keep him awake at nights, wondering what he had become— a person aera is scared of? someone because of whom she left home, thinking he didn't love her and that he was pretending all this time?

he couldn't help but find himself making his way to her room several times with tears in his eyes, cursing at himself for losing temper at his siblings, apologizing over and over again to the ghost of his sister and her clothes that smelled of her. the pictures of her smiling all around the house, the cars and video games that used to keep her happy and occupied, the clothes they found scattered in her room, screaming out jimin's carelessness, the empty space in the dining table, and the brothers' arms aching to be wrapped around aera, hug her so tight that she'll believe nothing but their love for her— it all voiced out what jimin didn't have the courage to.

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a/n- what song do you think fits your favourite character in this book? i personally would say,
for aera "how far i'll go" from moana 🤍✨
for jungkook, "home" by bts nd sometimes "no shame" by 5sos 😩✋
for jimin, "a whole new world" from aladdin or "serendipity" by jimin❤️✨

also did u check out jimin's pictures likebskshskshsknshssjs EXCUSE ME SIR??? UHM HELLO???? 😩😩😩😩😩😩

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