Fragments of fragile heart

Fragments of fragile heart part:13

Jungkook looked down at his paintbrush, gripping it tightly. He wanted to speak up, to tell Junghwon to leave them alone, but the words caught in his throat.

Taehyung sighed. “Alright, just give me a minute.”

Junghwon grinned, as if he’d won, and left the room.

“I’m sorry, Kookie,” Taehyung said, ruffling his hair. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

Jungkook nodded, but he didn’t believe it.

As the door closed behind Taehyung, Jungkook stared at his painting, his heart heavy. No matter how hard he tried, it felt like Junghwon would always find a way to take away the little happiness he had.

---

That night, Jungkook sat in his room, staring at the blank page of his sketchbook. His mind was too clouded to create anything. Taehyung had texted him, apologizing for not making it back to spend time with him, but Jungkook couldn’t bring himself to reply.

The ache in his chest grew stronger, and the voices of doubt filled his mind.

Maybe Junghwon’s right. Maybe I’m just not worth it.

But deep down, a tiny spark of hope remained. No matter how much Junghwon tried to tear him down, Taehyung’s kindness and warmth kept him going.

-------

Jungkook’s fragile heart ached with every passing day, but he had mastered the art of pretending. His bunny smile became his shield, his jokes a way to deflect attention from the cracks forming inside him.

At college, he laughed with his friends, played along with their teasing, and even joined in their silly antics. To anyone watching, he was the same cheerful Jungkook—a ray of sunshine in their group.

“Hyung, you should’ve seen your face!” Jungkook teased Namjoon one afternoon after a particularly clumsy incident involving spilled coffee. He laughed so hard that even Namjoon couldn’t help but grin despite the embarrassment.

“Yah, you’re one to talk!” Namjoon said, attempting to ruffle Jungkook’s hair. Jungkook dodged playfully, his bunny smile lighting up the room.

Everyone laughed, the moment filled with joy. But deep inside, Jungkook felt hollow.

---

The evenings were the hardest. Alone in his room, without the distractions of college or his part-time job, the weight of his thoughts bore down on him.

Junghwon’s mocking words echoed in his mind. “You’re just you. Not enough. Never enough.”

His parents’ harsh voices weren’t far behind. “Why can’t you be better? Why can’t you do more?”

Jungkook sat on his bed, staring at his sketchbook. The page was blank, just like his mind. His art, once his escape, now felt like a reminder of everything he wasn’t.

“Why am I like this?” he whispered to himself.

But then, he remembered Taehyung’s smile, the way his hyung always stood up for him, always believed in him. That memory was enough to make Jungkook pick up his pencil and start sketching, even if the lines felt forced.

---

The next day, Jungkook arrived at college with his usual energy, hiding his exhaustion behind a mask of enthusiasm.

“Jungkookie!” Jimin called out, waving him over. “We’re grabbing lunch. You in?”

“Of course, hyung!” Jungkook replied, his bunny smile in place.

They sat at their usual table, the group chatting and laughing as they ate.

Taehyung, seated beside Jungkook, watched him closely. He noticed the subtle tiredness in Jungkook’s eyes, the way his laugh didn’t reach his heart.

“Kookie,” Taehyung said softly, leaning closer. “Are you okay?”

Jungkook blinked, caught off guard. “Of course, hyung. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Taehyung didn’t look convinced but didn’t push further. Instead, he ruffled Jungkook’s hair. “If you ever need to talk, you know I’m here, right?”

Jungkook’s smile faltered for a moment before he nodded. “I know, hyung. Thanks.”

---

As the day went on, Junghwon continued his games. He interrupted Jungkook’s conversations with Taehyung, made subtle digs at him, and tried to keep the attention on himself.

But Jungkook refused to let it show. He joked back, laughed louder, and pretended it didn’t hurt.

By the time the day ended, Jungkook was emotionally drained. As he walked home, the mask he wore all day began to slip. The ache in his chest returned, sharper than ever.

Yet, even in his pain, Jungkook held onto the small moments of kindness—Taehyung’s concern, Eunwoo’s teasing, the laughter he shared with his friends. Those moments reminded him that not everything in his life was dark.

As he reached his room, he sat down with his sketchbook again. Slowly, he began to draw. This time, the lines flowed more naturally, forming a scene of sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

Jungkook stared at the drawing, his heart heavy but determined.

One day, the light will stay longer, he thought. One day, I’ll truly feel it.

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To be continued 🤧💓🫂