Ok guys, this is going to be a long ass chapter........
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Jungkook's POV
I stepped away from Taehyung, clutching the phone tightly. My heart was already beating fast, but the moment I heard my eomma's trembling voice, it dropped into my stomach.
"Eomma?" I said, concern leaking into my voice.
Her voice came out shaky, barely holding it together. "Jungkook... it's appa. He suddenly collapsed. He was clutching his chest... I-I think it's a heart attack."
My breath hitched. "W-What?!"
"The ambulance just left with him. They're taking him to Seoul General Hospital. I'm going there now. Come quickly, Jungkook-ah."
"I—yes, yes, I'm coming. Eomma, please stay strong. I-I'll be there."
I ended the call with trembling fingers, my entire body suddenly cold and stiff. I turned back to Taehyung, my voice breaking.
"Tae! It's... it's eomma. She said appa had a h-heart attack."
Tears pricked the corner of my eyes as I struggled to stay calm. "They're taking him to the hospital. I... I have to go."
Taehyung's expression instantly changed—his exhaustion pushed aside by concern. "Oh my god, Kook," he said, already reaching for his coat, "I'll accompany you."
I quickly shook my head, swallowing the panic that threatened to spill over.
"No... no Taehyung, you stay home. Jimin is alone. He's even sick. He might need you. I-I can handle this."
"Jungkook, but staying with you is more important than—" Taehyung tried to argue, stepping forward.
But I cut him off, my voice firm despite the shakiness. "No, Taehyung. Jimin needs you more than I need you right now. Just stay close to him. Please."
Taehyung stood there, stunned for a second, then slowly nodded, watching my retreating figure as I rushed out the door—my heart racing, my mind spiraling, praying I wouldn't be too late.
End of Jungkook's pov
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Author's POV
The night grew heavier, cloaked in silence. After Jungkook left, Taehyung quietly went to his room. His steps were slow, weighed down by the emotions of the evening. He washed up, changed into his nightwear, and sat on the edge of his bed for a while, staring at the darkened room. Thoughts of Jungkook's trembling voice and Jimin's pale face danced in his mind.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with him. He lay down, pulling the blanket over himself, but even as his eyes closed, peace didn't follow.
Sleep crept in—and with it came the memories.
---
It was Jimin's 10th birthday night.
The office was filled with laughter, balloons, and soft music. Jimin had insisted he wanted a party with his "taetae hyungie" and their eomma and appa—not in a park or restaurant, but right where his parents worked. Taehyung had suggested it, knowing their parents had been so busy lately, and he wanted everyone in one place, happy, even if it meant doing it in their company office.
Jimin had worn a little blue suit, grinning from ear to ear as he cut his cake. Frosting was smeared on his cheeks, thanks to Taehyung, who'd teased him all evening. Mr. Kim and Mrs. Kim laughed, watching their boys—one a playful teen, the other a bubbly child—fill the room with joy.
Later, near midnight, the celebration wound down. Streamers clung to walls, gift wrappers lay scattered, and half-eaten cake remained on plates. Jimin had dozed off on Taehyung's shoulder, clutching a soft bear plush tightly to his chest—the gift Taehyung had given him just an hour earlier.
"I'll name him Mr. Bear," Jimin had whispered before drifting off, his tiny fingers curled around the toy's arm. He looked peaceful, his cheek resting against Taehyung's arm.
Mr. and Mrs. Kim exchanged a look of pure love as they stood watching their sons—two sleeping babies, as they'd always call them. Jimin was small enough to carry, so Mr. Kim gently lifted him in his arms while Mrs. Kim collected their belongings. But Taehyung, now 19, was too big to carry, and so, they gently shook his shoulder, whispering:
"Tae, sweetheart, wake up... Let's go home."
But what they didn't notice... was that Jimin had accidentally dropped his newly gifted stuffed toy—Mr. Bear—on the office couch before they left.
The ride back home was quiet and calm. The city lights blinked lazily through the car window as Mr. Kim drove, Mrs. Kim humming softly to herself while gently brushing Jimin's hair from his forehead. Taehyung leaned against the window, still half-asleep, headphones in his ears, not fully awake but alert enough to sense the peace around him.
Once home, Mr. Kim carried Jimin to his room. Mrs. Kim helped change the little boy out of his party clothes into a soft pajama set. As they were laying him down on the bed, Jimin's eyes fluttered open.
"Taetae hyungie...?" he mumbled groggily, still half-dreaming.
"Shhh, he's here, sweetheart," Mrs. Kim whispered gently, brushing his forehead.
But Jimin sat up suddenly, rubbing his eyes. He looked around, confused. "Where's Mr. Bear?" he asked in a small voice, his eyes scanning the bed.
Taehyung, now wide awake, stepped in through the doorway, having changed into his own clothes. He heard the words and paused.
Jimin's lower lip began to tremble as he sat up straighter, his tiny hands tugging at the blanket. "Taetae hyungie... I-I'm sorry. I think I lost Mr. Bear," he whispered, voice breaking as tears welled in his eyes.
"Hey, hey... it's okay," Taehyung knelt beside the bed, holding Jimin's shoulders gently. "We'll find him, okay? Don't cry, Minnie."
But Jimin had already started sniffling, wiping his tears with the back of his sleeve. "You gave it to me... and I lost it... I'm sorry, Taetae... I didn't mean to..."
"Shhh," Taehyung whispered, pulling the little boy into his arms. "Don't say sorry, it's just a toy. We'll find him."
Mr. Kim peeked in through the doorway, having heard the commotion. "Maybe it fell in the car? Or maybe you left it at the office," he offered gently.
"We'll get it tomorrow morning, Jiminie," Mrs. Kim added softly. "It's very late now."
But Jimin shook his head violently, now sobbing. "No! I want Mr. Bear now!" he cried, clinging tighter to Taehyung. "He'll be scared alone there..."
The room fell silent for a moment. Mr. Kim exchanged a glance with Mrs. Kim. With a tired sigh, he nodded.
"Alright... let's go get Mr. Bear," he said.
"I'll come with you," Taehyung started, but Mrs. Kim gently stopped him.
"No, baby. Stay here with your brother. He needs you more. We'll be back soon," she said with a tired smile, brushing Taehyung's hair.
They tucked Jimin into Taehyung's arms, the boy still hiccuping softly, tear-stained cheeks pressed against his hyung's chest.
Mr. and Mrs. Kim took their coats and quietly left the house. Jimin's eyes followed them from the window, his small hand waving sleepily. Taehyung sat behind him, arms wrapped protectively around his little brother.
Neither of them knew... it would be the last time they saw their parents.
...........
It was quite late when Jimin finally dozed off in Taehyung's warm embrace, his breath soft and steady, his tiny fingers curled into the fabric of Taehyung's shirt. Taehyung leaned back against the headboard, blinking away the sleep that clouded his eyes. He tried to stay awake, just until their parents returned... but eventually, exhaustion took over, and both brothers drifted off—waiting for the door that would never open again.
The first rays of sunlight crept into the room. The peaceful silence was broken by the sudden shrill ring of Taehyung's phone on the nightstand. Groggy and confused, he rubbed his eyes and reached for it.
"Hello... who is this?" he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
The voice on the other end spoke quickly. Urgently. Taehyung's sleepy expression dropped. His eyes widened. A cold chill ran down his spine.
"W-what...?" he whispered. "No... that can't—"
The call ended with heavy words still ringing in his ears.
Within moments, Taehyung was up, shaking Jimin awake gently. The younger stirred with a soft whimper, confused and still half-asleep. Taehyung didn't say a word, just helped him into his jacket, his own hands trembling the entire time.
They reached the hospital soon after. The scene outside was chaotic—flashing lights, a few police officers, company staff members whispering among themselves. Taehyung scanned the faces, hoping—praying—to see his parents among them.
"Hyungie..." Jimin tugged at Taehyung's hand, his eyes wide with confusion. "Why are we here? Where are appa and eomma?"
Taehyung's throat tightened. He couldn't speak. The words wouldn't come out. He crouched down and pulled Jimin into his arms, holding him close. Holding him like he might disappear too.
Just then, a voice caught Taehyung's attention. A news reporter stood a few feet away, speaking directly into the camera, unaware of the fragile hearts listening nearby.
"Last night, there was a huge accident at the Kim Corporation office building. According to sources, a short circuit—caused by an unknown reason—ignited a fire that rapidly spread throughout the building. Unfortunately, the founders of the company were inside the premises during the incident and were unable to escape the blaze. Doctors have stated that it is nearly impossible to save them..."
Taehyung's world froze.
"NO!!" he screamed, his voice tearing through the air, eyes filled with horror. "Please... stop! This can't be true! They can't leave us!"
The cry turned heads. Reporters and bystanders turned to the two boys. The camera turned toward them. Microphones pushed forward. Questions were thrown like daggers—
"Are you the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Kim?"
"How do you feel right now?"
"Did they tell you they were going back to the building?"
Jimin clung to Taehyung, eyes darting in fear and confusion. He didn't understand it all, but he knew something terrible had happened. Taehyung immediately pulled him close, shielding his baby brother from the flashes, the voices, the world that suddenly felt so cruel.
He didn't care what anyone said. He didn't want anyone near Jimin. He didn't want anyone near him.
They were just kids...
Once home, the silence was suffocating. Several staff members were already there—some offering condolences, some quietly crying in the corners of the living room. The home, once warm and full of laughter, now echoed with an unbearable emptiness.
Taehyung stood in the center of the hallway, Jimin still wrapped in his arms. No one dared speak to them. They were broken.
Two boys who had lost their entire world in one night.
Just then, Taehyung heard it—whispers... hushed, cruel whispers from the staff standing just a few feet away.
"If the younger one hadn't asked them to go back to the company... they'd still be alive."
"Yes... it's his fault."
His fault.
His fault.
The words echoed in Taehyung's mind like a curse etched into his soul.
And that was the moment everything changed.
—
"NOO!" Taehyung jolted up from his bed, drenched in sweat, chest heaving, his heart pounding like it was going to explode.
His hand flew to his forehead as he tried to steady his breathing. The nightmare still haunted his eyes even though he was awake now. The same nightmare... the same night... that kept coming back over and over again.
His fists clenched the bedsheet tightly.
It wasn't just a bad dream—it was a memory. A memory that had shaped the walls around his heart. A memory that still whispered blame in the quiet of the night.
He sat still, staring into the dark room.
The silence returned.
But the guilt never really left.