39

Jin's eyes widen in surprise and confusion as he looks at Joon, shocked. His gaze shifts to Jimin, who stands next to Joon. Suddenly, Jimin slaps Jin.

Jin held his cheek, "Joon, he... he slapped me."

Jin tries to grab Jimin, but Joon grabs Jin's hand and pushes him away. Jin stands, trying to comprehend what just happened. The guests turn, shock and curiosity on their faces. Jin stands frozen, his cheek stinging.

"How shameless can you be, Seokjin?"

Jin's face burns with a mix of pain and embarrassment. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. The weight of the guests' stares presses down on him.

"How dare you slap me, Namjoon?", Jin seethed in anger.

"Slap you? Be grateful I didn't do worse for the things you did."

Jin grabbed Joon's collar, "What did I do? Tell me, what did I do?"

Joon chuckles and nods to the side. Jin's eyes dart to where Joon is looking. Jackson approaches with a few files in his hand, followed by Jae with her head low.

Jin ran towards his mother, whispering, "Eomma, what happened? Did you tell the cops?"

"She didn't need to." Joon spoke up. Jin looks at Joon, confused. Joon walks towards him, eyes blazing.

"What's going on?" Jin asks again.

"Enough with the lies and drama, Seokjin. Just confess." Joon said wanting to give Jin one last chance. He was on his boiling point.

"What drama? I'm being honest, Joon. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Again....one last chance, Seokjin."

Jin, however, was defiant, "Or what? Throw me out? Fine. I'm leaving. What else is new? Even my parents threw me out. And now you... You, whom I love the most... Whom I almost gave up my life for?"

Joon began laughing maniacally, "For me? You almost gave up your life for me? Like the suicide attempt you faked?"

Jin's face falls but he didn't say anything.

"Then what happened, Seokjin? You had an epiphany that you called the reporters to the hospital?"

Jin averted his gaze, "Committing suicide is a crime, Joon."

"So is faking it."

"Fake it? Joon, you of all people accuse me?"

"No, that's what the doctor's report says. You took just enough pills to get a mild overdose. Here's the medical report." Joon throws the file at Jin, who backs away in shock.

"Cutting your wrist in front of me? Intentional too. Coz, you knew I'd be there to save you." Joon continued, "Oh...and here's the photos of CY café where Mrs. Jung is exchanging the will with you to frame Jimin."

Jin gulps, his mind racking with some kind of answer. "But... I did that to gain your love, Joon. I want you. I need you." Jin clutches Joon's hand, pulling him closer.

Joon pulled away, "My love? No. I am just a pawn to make your brother look like a loser. And I would never stand and watch getting Hobi hurt like that. That's why I did this drama to see how low you can go to hurt your brother. The Seokjin I loved is long dead. And now the one standing before me is the arrogant, selfish Seokjin who I hate."

"Fine", Jin pushed Joon, his anger now glaring and bursting as he yelled, "Fine, go to stupid Hoseok who is neither arrogant, selfish or beautiful like me".

"Beautiful? You call yourself beautiful Seokjin?", Joon began laughing like a maniac as his laughter turned into anger. He grabbed Seokjin's shoulder. Seokjin tried to pull himself away but Joon was too strong. "Take a good look at yourself in the mirror, Seokjin. It was made you so delusional. Just look into your conscience. You will find a very ugly man inside. You call yourself beautiful."

"You ran away from our wedding. You couldn't be a good boyfriend or a good human being, you call yourself beautiful." 

"You disgraced your parents for the sake of your own selfishness, you tried to poison your own father, you couldn't be a good son, you call yourself beautiful".

"The brother who loves you so much and who sheltered you in his home, you turned against him and let him leave out of his house. You couldn't be a good brother, you call yourself beautiful."

"You cannot keep anyone happy, Seokjin, you know why, coz you only love yourself. You are a disgrace Seokjin." Joon pushed Jin who kept his head below.

"Beauty is not what you see in the mirror Seokjin, its what's inside. And I have seen that beauty in Hoseok. I love him...I love him with all my heart."

"Hobah?" Joon called and everyone saw Hoseok walk towards Joon. Jin looked at Hoseok in surprise.

"Yes, Seokjin. Hoseok knows everything. I told Hoseok to leave the Kim Mansion so that I can show everyone your true face. It was part of "MY" plan."

But Seokjin's anger hasn't subsided. He looked at Hoseok. What does Hoseok have that he doesn't? He is 10000x better than Hoseok. He lunged at Hoseok like a mad man and grabbed him by his throat. "You think you are better than me?"Hoseok chocked as he tried to pull himself away. Joon tried to pull Jin away from Hoseok but Jin's grasp was quite strong.

"You think you're better than me? You think you've won by taking Joon from me? You think Joon loves you?" Hoseok chokes as he tries to speak, "No hy...hyung" while trying to pull away.

"Then what makes you so special?", Jin pushed Hoseok as he releases the hold on Hoseok.

Jin slumped into tears, his voice desperate, "Why couldn't I be like you, Hobi?" Joon pulls Hoseok into his arms as Jimin gets Hoseok a glass of water. Hoseok composes himself and walks towards Jin.

"Hyung, you don't have to be like me. Just be yourself. You are beautiful, hyung. And I love you."

Jin chuckled. How can Hoseok love him even after him being so cruel to him? "You are just saying that Hobi. Joon was right. I am the most ugliest person ever."

"No hyung. You are not ugly. We just live in a judgmental society that is bound by beauty standards. I know your heart is as beautiful as your face. And I will always love you no matter what, hyung."

Jin's sobs wracked his body, each tear a release of the immense burden he'd carried for so long. He was tired, his soul felt tired..he had done everything to make Joon his but he failed. His heart felt weary and broken and he finally surrendered to the overwhelming guilt and sorrow. For the first time in his life, he failed. As he uttered the words, "Please forgive me," it felt as though a colossal weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Years of deception, bitterness, and self-inflicted pain dissipated in that moment of raw vulnerability. The facade of arrogance and pride crumbled, revealing a man desperate for redemption and aching for the acceptance he'd long sought but had always sabotaged. For the first time, Jin felt the glimmer of hope that perhaps, just perhaps, he could find peace and start anew. "I am so sorry Hobi". He crumpled upon the weight of his feelings.

"No hyung. Please don't apologise." Hoseok hugged his brother tightly. Joon's and Jimin's eyes welled up in tears.

Jin sniffled as he looked at Joon. "I am sorry Joon. I really am. I don't know at this point if you believe me or not, but I am truly sorry." Jin cried and cried some more. Hoseok couldn't bear his brother in this state. "Joon, please". Hoseok said.

"Seokjin, I forgive you. We all do."

"Appa", Jin said as his eyes went wide as a realization hit him. "Oh my god, appa. I did something terrible to appa. I want to see appa." Jin began panicking but Hoseok calmed him down. "Hyung...hyung....relax, listen to me. He is fine. His medication is changed and he will recover soon. Dr. Song and Min-ho confessed to everything."

"But Hobi, I...I did something terrible with my own hands...how could I even think of doing that to appa....to my parents?" Jin ran towards his mother. "Eomma, I am so sorry. You gave me nothing but love and this is what I put you in. I am sorry Eomma." Jin fell on her feet. Jae bent down and hugged her son. "It's okay Jin. Its not your fault. Its my fault. Its my ignorance that made you like this." Jae called out Hoseok who walked near them. "I am sorry Hobi. Don't blame Jin for this. Your appa is right. Its because of me Jin became arrogant and selfish. Everyone please forgive me."

The Jung family hugged each other tightly, something they hadn't done in a long time. Joon looked at Jimin and pulled him into a tight hug. No matter what life threw at them, the brothers always stayed together, now and forever.

**************************

A year later:

It was Joon and Hobi's wedding anniversary which they were celebrating in Jeju Island. A year had passed since they got married. Hobi was standing on the balcony, watching the view, when Joon snuggled up behind him.

"I love you, Hobah..."Hoseok smiled. "That's the eleventh time you've said that today."

"And I'll never get tired of saying it again," Joon replied. "I love you, Hobah. Thank you for trusting me with this marriage, with my life, and my heart."

"Always," Hoseok said, boldly kissing Joon's lips. "Hmm, my Hobah is getting bolder. I love it."

Suddenly, they heard someone ooing. Joon rolled his eyes. "This is our anniversary. Why did you invite them?" He glared at Jimin and Jackson, who had taken the suite next to them, coincidentally on the same side so they could watch Joon and Hobi.

"Why do you let him do that?", Joon asked Jackson who joined Jimin.

"Hey, I let him do many things to me, so he can let me do some things too," Jimin declared proudly.

"Oh God, TMI!", Joon screamed, while Hoseok laughed at his friend's antics.

"Sorry, guys, you continue whatever you were doing," Jackson said as he threw a squealing Jimin over his shoulders and went back to their suite.

"What the hell?", Hoseok screamed as he saw two familiar faces walking on the beach.

"What?", Joon asked when Hoseok pointed.

"Oh my God... Jackson, Jimin...", Joon called out. They came running to the balcony, Jimin in just his underwear while Jackson was fully dressed.

"What happened?", Jimin asked. "Look," Hoseok pointed out.

"When did this happen?", Jimin's mouth fell open.

"I don't know. He never told me and he certainly didn't," Hoseok confessed.

"We need to talk to them," Jimin suggested.

"No, we shouldn't, since they didn't tell us", Hoseok said sadly.

"We are their best friends, it's our right to know...Now come on", Jimin said firmly.

"But its their personal life", Joon said.

"That's right and we are their best friends so we must know and if you are not coming with me, I am going alone to talk to them", Jimin said.

"NO", the rest shouted and looked at each other.

On the beach, a pair was sitting, watching the sunset. The short one had mint-colored hair, while the older one had golden highlights.

Both the pair walked and stood in front of the new pair, who looked up in shock. "Care to explain?"

"No." "Yes."

The "No" came from Yoongi (or Mint Yoongi), while the "Yes" came from Seokjin.

"I'm your best friend and your younger brother," Hoseok reprimanded them.

"Go away," Yoongi said, closing his eyes and resting his head on Jin's lap. Jin blushed, feeling embarrassed.

"No, we demand an explanation," Jimin insisted.

"Okay, okay... Yoongi, get up," Jin said, pushing Yoongi's head off and standing up. "Look, this is something new. We didn't want to tell anyone because we're not sure about it."

"You are the one who is not sure. I am definitely sure," Yoongi said, but Jin rolled his eyes.

"Shut up, Yoongs." Jin nudged Yoongi slightly.

"Guys," Joon asked, "the truth."

"Okay, Mr. Shoulders here is right. We didn't want anyone to know coz it's new...we just like each other's company and wanna see where it goes. I mean, we're not even sure if we will end up together or not.....so right now we just want to enjoy this moment."

"Aww, that's the first time Yoongi has spoken so much," Hoseok quipped while Jimin and Jackson chuckled.

"Hyung, I am so happy for you and you too, Yoongs," Hoseok said, hugging Jin and Yoongi tightly while Yoongi made a face.

"Alright, let's give the new couple some time alone and head back to our suites for some alone time as well," Jimin said, looking suggestively at Jackson.

"Seriously, how shameless can you be?", Joon said flatly.

"Ask Jackson, he knows how shameless I can be, right baby?", Jimin smirked while the others groaned, "So cringe, Oh my God, TMI," at Jimin's bold declaration.

Jimin pulled Jackson and began dragging him away, while yelling over his shoulder, "Oh by the way, Hobi confessed that Joon hyung is much more shameless than me. Guess we Kim brothers are equally shameless", Hoseok looked at Joon, who was staring back in shock. Before Joon could ask, Hoseok began running away with Joon chasing after him.

As both pairs left, Yoongi looked at Jin. "So, where were we?" He pulled Jin towards him and plonked him on the beach so he could rest his head on Jin's lap again.

Who knows where this new couple might end up?

**************

THE END....NAH...NEW BEGINNINGS....!!!!

The purpose of writing this book is to just express how society judges a man or a woman and is not afraid to give us titles —

Fat

thin

tall

short

dark

fair

sexy

slut

marriage material

not marriage material

divorced

barren

old

young

What people don't realize is these judgments and bullying can deeply affect and shake a person's confidence. When society focuses on these superficial traits, it overlooks the real person inside....the real beauty, the soul of a person. Sometimes I wish we could see souls rather than faces.

I encourage every reader to embrace our true selves rather than conforming to society's unrealistic standards. Being real means accepting our bodies and identities as they are, without pretending to be someone we're not. Confidence comes from being comfortable in our own skin, knowing that we are valuable and worthy just as we are. It's about celebrating our uniqueness and not letting others define our worth based on appearance alone. True confidence comes from within, from embracing our authenticity and living our lives authentically.

That said, go and give yourself a big hug. The pain, the scars, the joy, the tears...you have overcome it all. You are a warrior. Be happy, be real. Don't let society ever ever define who you are...!!!

A shoutout to all my lovely readers...a million thank you. I am truly grateful to you guys for your patience, kind words, comments, pointing out the mistakes that I made while writing. Thank you thank you thank you.

See you soon.