"Oppa" Aera called softly knocking on the door. She was hugging her blue and green turtle plushie with one arm and holding Jin's hand with the other. She glanced up at Jin who gave her a small smile, gesturing her to knock again.

"Aera? You should be sleeping right now. What are you doing here? And hyung you too?" Jimin said.

"I woke up" The girl said, letting go of Jin's hand and taking Jimin's instead. She went inside and Jin left the room.

"Let's sleep quickly, its almost midnight." The brother said and laid on the bed next to the six year old. She looked up at him and hugged him making Jimin chuckle.

"What happened?" He asked patting her back.

"Why is everybody sad?" She asked, "I don't like Oppa sad."

"I'm... I'm not sad princess. I'm good."

Aera shook her head and added, "You are sad. Did I do something Oppa? Are you angry with me? I'm sorry Oppa."

"No baby, you don't have to say sorry. I'm not mad at you." Jimin said, "Its just you know, Mamma and Daddy they won't come back now... It was their funeral yesterday right? That's why, I was just little worried that's all. I'm not mad at you."

"Oh I thought I did something to make you angry." She giggled. Jimin sighed and forced a smile. She was still young to acknowledge that being dead is permanent. He adjusted his position, but frowned on seeing Aera getting up.

"Where are you going?"

"Koo must be worried" she said, "Let's go and tell him that its okay. We can talk to Mamma on the phone. What if he's crying because he miss them?"

Jimin looked down and nodded slowly, "You go to Kookie, he'll be very happy to see you. Tell him that its okay and we will manage everything. And also that Jimin Oppa will try his best to keep you and Kookie happy, okay?" He said.

Aera stopped and stared at him. So much for her to remember, "Please say it again..." She said, trying to remember the whole thing. Jimin chuckled and patted her head.

"Just go to Kookie and give him a hug. A real tight one alright?"

"Okay!" Aera cheered, "but you are not coming...?"

"No, you can go. He'll like it more if you go to him."

"Oh okay" Aera nodded and jumped down from the bed. She opened the door and ran towards Jungkook's room wearing a wide smile with her ice cream themed t shirt and shorts. She knocked on the door and waited for a response.

She pushed the door open when he didn't say 'come in' and saw Jungkook laying on the bed. Aera climbed next to him and peeked in front of his face, trying to have a look if he was sleeping or awake. The boy moved a little, sweat forming on his forehead, making Aera stumble and fall forward on him.

Jungkook grumbled in his sleep and opened his eyes after a dreadful dream, "Aera?" He whispered.

"What are you doing?"

"I was seeing." She replied.

"Uh what? Anyways, thank you for waking me up." He said and pulled her to lay down beside him.

"I came to give you a hug"

"A hug? This late at night?"

Aera nodded, "Oppa said they are worried because Mamma is not coming back. I thought you must be worried too, so I will give you a hug and Koo will be happy." She said with a smile.

"Ye- Yeah, I... Yeah I will be happy." He said and pulled his little sister closer, hugging her fondly.

"Don't be worried okay? We will call Daddy and talk to them." She said, "Oh and Jiminie Oppa will make everything fine."

Jungkook pulled away and looked at Aera's face that showed a smile and her eyes sparkling in the dim light. Sincerity and pure innocence, was all Jungkook found in them. He could see the trust in her eyes and sense the faith in her words. His eyes watered, hearing all that from his six year-old sister.

Jiminie Oppa will make everything fine.

"Of course he will. I know." He whispered softly, stroking her head as he stared at the wall although his vision was getting blurry now.

"Koo" Aera mumbled seeing a tear slip down Jungkook's eye. She touched it and wiped it away. With a concerned face she sat in her place and looked at Jungkook.

"Riri" Jungkook said in a hushed voice, scared that he might it break if he spoke any louder. The girl hummed and leaned forward thinking he wanted to whisper something. Although he didn't say anything further.

She stared at him with confused eyes, he was chewing on his lower lip as he frequently blinked his eyes and dropped pearly tears down near his locks as he stared up at the ceiling. Aera pouted and laid on top of him, before pecking his lips.

"Don't cry Oppa" she said, remembering what Jimin told her, "Jimine Oppa said he wants Riri and Kookie to be happy."

Jungkook sobbed silently on hearing that. He knew how hard all this was for his hyung, and yet he wasn't able to do anything to help him. He turned to his side, pushing Aera away for a while as he cried to himself. The girl looked at him not understanding anything, but worried because her Oppa -her strong Koo, was crying. She hugged him from behind quietly, pretty much unable to process words for the situation. But only scared because she could feel Jungkook trembling against her.

The boy shut his eyes and fists clenching hard against the sheets. For the first time since the news about the plane crash, Jungkook was crying now. Crying his heart out, because he didn't know any other way out. Because he had been holding himself for enough now. Because he had seen his brother struggling alone enough now. Because his sister still thought that they could make a phone call to their parents. And because he loved his parents even he never said it.

Jungkook's hand moved up cupping his mouth, so he could prevent any sobbing sound. Pressing his head back against pillow with his eyes closed, "Why?" He sobbed out failing at his attempts to be quiet.

As much as he wanted to hug Jimin and hold Aera, his mind didn't let him. They'll break if they saw him like this.

Aera sat up again for the n'th time, unaware of what to do to make her brother stop crying. She sat crossed leg after climbing on the other side of Jungkook. She held his hands and shook him lightly. The boy sniffed and wiped his tears trying to get his eyes to cooperate with him as he looked at his sister.

Aera shifted a little and made Jungkook lay his head in her lap, remembering how her brothers make her sit on their lap to comfort her when she's crying. Jungkook stared at the little girl's blurry face. He turned his head to the side and hugged Aera's waist, burying his face in her t-shirt.

Weeping. As if that was helping him lessen the pain in his heart. Tears spilling out, some flowing to his neck and further falling on the bed while some being absorbed in the fabric of Aera'a shirt. She could hear faint sounds of Jungkook murmuring while breathing heavily almost choking in his throat. He groaned quite loud making the six year-old flinch as he held on to her tighter, scared to let go.

"I'm sorry..." He said between sobs, repeatedly.

"Koo..." Aera voiced, scared that maybe he's hurting somewhere. But where?

She leaned closer to him and hugged him, wrapping her one arm behind his neck and the other one on his head. Jungkook held her hand and brought it closer to his face, he rubbed away the tears from his eyes and glanced at her, placing a kiss on her palm.

"Aera, will you- will you promise me something?" He said, his voice sounding hoarse and almost like a whisper now.

The girl nodded and he continued, "Don't ever leave me, I... I don't know what I will do if you- Aera, if you leave me. I'll get you whatever you want, all the chocolates and all the ice creams, jus- just don't leave Oppa okay?" He said staring at his sister with begging eyes.

"I'm not leaving," She said, "I'm here Koo."

Jimin glanced at his side where Jin stood. Shaking his head and unable to speak as he gestured towards his younger brother inside the room, where his sixteen year-old brother was crying himself and his six year-old sister sitting there not knowing what is happening. He could only feel his legs getting weeker. Jin held Jimin's hand as the latter fell on his knees and his right hand on the floor being his support. Jin gave a reassuring squeeze on the boy's shoulder virtually telling him that its going to be okay.

"H-How?" Jimin asked in a shaky voice, "Look at him..."

"He'll be alright, don't worry." The eldest said glancing at Jungkook through the small space created from opening the door just a little.

Aera looked at her brother's puffy eyes now closed and swollen red lips that were now quiet as he fell asleep. She lifted her hand slowly taking it near his face and wiping off the wetness from his cheeks. She looked at her hand before wiping it further on her shirt.

Her eyes moved towards the door on hearing some noise from there. She caught Jin's figure and one more person with him. Jin too glanced at her and stood up when Aera extended her arms towards him. Jin nodded, opening the door after what seemed like saying something to the other person who happened to be Jimin. She saw him following behind Jin and her eyes welled up with warm tears.

Jin carefully shifted Jungkook and helped Aera stand up without disturbing the sleeping boy. Jimin stood near the edge of the bed, he placed his index finger on his lips gesturing the girl to be quiet and not wake Jungkook up. Aera rubbed her eyes and hugged Jimin while standing on the bed.

"Shh, Kookie is sleeping. We don't wanna wake him up, do we?" He whispered and rubbed Aera's back.

Aera glanced at Jungkook one last time before hugging the eldest brother. Jimin carried her out of the room and knelt down in front of her as they reached his room.

"Why are you crying?" Jin asked.

"Koo..." She sobbed louder this time and looked down pointing at her shirt's wet fabric. "Koo was crying, he- he not okay Oppa..."

"He will be fine, don't worry baby." Jimin said and patted her head.

"Yes Aera, Kookie was just... just tired. When he'll wake up in the morning, he'll be fine and play with you." Jin said.

Aera shook her head and kept mumbling Jungkook's name while sobbing in Jimin's shoulder. The boys exchanged glances, they both felt bad for this girl who was crying not because of her parents' death but because her brother was sad.

"Koo... Koo said don't leave me. I- I'm not leaving right? I don't wanna go away Oppa..."

"You're not going anywhere, princess." Jimin said, "Riri will stay here with Oppa. We'll play together and eat a lot of tasty food."

"an- an' car?"

"Yeah we'll go for a drive too." Jimin said laughing a little at her sudden upliftment of mood with her tiny wish. Jin smiled and shook his head.

"Now be a good girl and don't crying." The eldest said, "We'll go for a drive tomorrow okay?"

Aera rubbed her eyes and looked at him showing that she wasn't crying now which made him chuckle. He patted her head and carried her in his arms, kissing her forehead softly.

"We'll take Koo with us."

"Definitely, he'll be happy to go with us right?"

Aera nodded and rested her head on Jin's shoulder slowly closing her eyes as she let out a small yawn.

_____

Next Morning-

Jungkook sighed for the millionth time, sitting on his bed, not knowing if he should actually leave his room or not. After what he did last night, it would be hard to confront Aera. She'd surely ask him why he was crying, and to worsen the situation she would've told the hyungs that 'Koo' was crying.

The boy groaned and locked the door before falling back on his soft bed. He closed his eyes again taking some time to think carefully. That's when he heard a knock on the door. The not-responding trick wasn't going to work in this house, so he did respond.

"Come down and have breakfast." Hoseok's voice said from the other side of the door to which Jungkook replied with an 'okay'. He stood up and ran his hand once through the fringes of his hair.

"Good morning Kook-ah"

"...Good morning"

Jungkook could feel his heart about to jump out of his chest as he came closer to the boys. He kept his eyes fixed down on the tiled floor, quietly walking to which ever stool was empty in front of the kitchen island.

"Pancakes?" Jin asked.

"Uh yeah, anything is fine." He said. A frown formed between his eyebrows, things seemed pretty normal. He lifted his gaze up and looked at the guys, no one was staring at him or giving him sympathetic looks. They were minding their own casual business like any other normal day in the house. Maybe they don't know?

He sighed and took a fork and knife ready to dig into the three layers of pancakes Jin served him.

"Good morning princess"

Namjoon's voice made Jungkook halt for a second. He looked back and saw a sleepy Aera holding Yoongi's hand and walking into the kitchen. It looked like Yoongi had just pulled her out of bed.

"Oh my, is Riri still sleepy?" Hoseok asked, cooing at the girl. Aera nodded slowly and looked around looking for one particular face out of seven.

Jungkook stood up and changed his seat very casually, trying not to be obvious or anything while Aera stood leaning on the stool near Jimin. The sixteen year-old was confused and scared, he didn't really had any answers for Aera about his actions last night. It was hard even for himself to digest that he actually cried his eyes out when he knew he didn't care about their parents' death. Then why? And how?

"Jungkook, what's wrong?" Jimin asked, "Eat up."

"Huh yeah" Jungkook snapped back to his senses, "Yeah I'm eating. Its delicious hyung."

"You didn't even taste it Jungkook" Jin said.

Jungkook looked down, a peice of pancake that was going to be his first bite, was still stuck in his fork while he was spacing out. He shook his head subtly and ate it giving a thumbs up.

"Car!" Aera chimed out of nowhere.

"Oh right, we'll go." Jin said, "But we'll eat first and then get ready."

Aera nodded and turned to Jungkook, "Koo will come with us right?"

"Uh no, I have my school work" Jungkook said.

"Aw why?" The girl whined, "You can do it later..."

"Yeah, he will go with us later. Come and have your breakfast." Jimin said motioning his hand for Aera to sit on her chair.

____

"Aera, let's go get some flowers from there yeah?" Jin asked. The girl nodded vigorously and held his hand going with him to the flower shop across the street.

Jungkook had his head lowered, staring at the small stone near his foot which he was kicking gently and playing with. He looked up on feeling someone's hand on his shoulder. Jimin sighed before deciding to speak, but Jungkook interrupted him.

"I'm okay hyung" he said, "if that's what you wanted to ask."

Jimin stared at him before nodding his head subtly, "Yeah, that and one there's one thing I want you to know."

Jungkook waited for his hyung to continue as he was looking at him for the first time since yesterday, "I've said this a couple times, and even tried showing it through everything I do. I don't know if you noticed or not, but Jungkook you and Aera are everything for me. Even before all this happened, you both mattered to me the most. And it hurts me to see you two suffering. You know it yourself Kook, Aera doesn't understand what's going on right now." Jimin said and took a pause before continuing.

"Trust me, I'm trying my best to hold everything together. And-"

Jimin sighed deeply in relief, giving a halt to his words in between as Jungkook hugged him tightly. Although the boy didn't say anything, but Jimin knew they were fine now. He slowly rested his hand on the younger's back rubbing circles to comfort him.

"I'm sorry hyung"

Jimin shook his head, "You don't need to be sorry Kook. Noyhing is your fault. You just need to know that your hyung is always here when you need him, that's all."

Jungkook smiled and nodded. He lowered his head, taking Jimin's hand up to his head. The older chuckled and petted him, the way he was fond of.

"Oppa!"

They turned around and saw Aera running towards them dragging Jin behind her as she held his hand. The boys laughed amusedly watching Jin jogging right after the kid to keep up.

"There are a lot of flowers, I see." Jimin said.

Aera nodded and showed him the bouquet that Jin bought her. It had different colors similar to a rainbow and probably not the best looking bouquet, but she was happy that Jin bought her the flowers she pointed at and then the shopkeeper did them into a bouquet for her.

"They're pretty" Jungkook said, crouching in front of her and booping her nose, "But our Riri is prettier."

_____

Okay so, many of you must be already aware that I'll be on a break for a while from now. I'll still be on wattpad you can always message me if you wanna talk. Its just that I'll try to read more from here and there and grasp new and better ideas to improve my writing more.

Please wait for me patiently, although I'll be back soon. (Remember when my phone was broke and I had to leave but I came back in just four days? 😂)

Anyways please vote if you like the chapters, it means a lot to me. ❤️

Borahae! 💜