Fragments of fragile heart

The room was heavy with the weight of unspoken words as everyone gathered in the living room. Taehyung had invited Eunwoo over, needing answers about Jungkook's past and his parents' treatment of him. Eunwoo had been one of the few people who knew about Jungkook's struggles, and Taehyung felt that it was time to finally understand the depth of what jungkook had gone through.

Everyone was present-Jimin, Jin, Yoongi, Namjoon, Hobi, and even Taehyung's parents-but Jungkook was still resting in his room, asleep after taking his medicine. The stillness in the house was a stark contrast to the storm raging inside Taehyung. His heart hurt just thinking about what Jungkook had endured, and the more he learned, the more the ache grew.

Eunwoo sat across from Taehyung, his face solemn. The others watched intently, as if waiting for something that would finally give them a sense of clarity.

"Eunwoo," Taehyung started, his voice steady but his eyes betraying the turmoil inside him, "i
need to know everything. Everything that Kookie went through—what his parents did, how Junghwon manipulated him. I need to understand.”

Eunwoo hesitated for a moment before nodding. He had known Jungkook for a long time, and he could feel the weight of Taehyung's request. He'd seen the pain in his best friend's eyes countless times, and now Taehyung was asking him to shed light on the darkest parts of Jungkook's life. Eunwoo had always been there for Jungkook, but he had never imagined having to reveal the full extent of the hurt Jungkook had suffered.

Eunwoo glanced at the worried faces around him and sighed. “I didn’t want to overstep, but…I think it’s time you all know what Jungkook shared with me. A month ago, we had a long talk. He was struggling, and I think he needed someone to listen.”

Eunwoo’s voice trembled slightly as he started. “Jungkook never had the childhood he deserved. His parents... they were never parents to him. They pressured him endlessly, blamed him for things he couldn’t control, and withheld their love. When he didn’t meet their impossible expectations, they...” Eunwoo paused, swallowing hard, “...they punished him in ways no child should endure.

Mrs. Kim’s hand flew to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. “How could they do that to him?” she whispered

The room was silent as everyone processed Eunwoo's words. Taehyung's hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening. It hurt him to hear that Jungkook had been treated like this by the very people who should have loved and protected him.

Eunwoo continued, his tone growing heavier. “Jungkook told me how lonely he’s felt all his life. How he thought he was a disappointment to his family, how he felt he was nothing more than a burden. That’s why he started working at the café—he wanted to prove his worth, even if it meant enduring harsh words from his boss. He thought maybe then, his parents would see him differently.

A gasp of disbelief escaped from Jin, and Namjoon's face darkened with anger.

“There was one time,” Eunwoo continued, his voice quieter now, “when Jungkook’s parents locked him outside in the middle of winter. He had been accused of something he didn’t even do. He spent the entire night in the garden, freezing, crying, hoping someone would let him in.I didn't know about it at the time... I found out later from Jungkook himself. He was so broken when he told me.

Jin clenched his fists, tears brimming in his eyes. “How could anyone do that to their own child?”

Yoongi, typically calm, looked away, his expression unreadable but his fists tight against his knees.

Taehyung's heart twisted painfully as he imagined Jungkook out there alone in the cold, abandoned by the people who should have cared for him.
Tears pricked Taehyung's eyes, but he held them back. He clenched his fists tighter, the anger and heartbreak overwhelming him. He had been there for Jungkook, but he hadn't known about the extent of the pain his jungkook had been hiding.