20

The room crackled with tension, guns pointed and words sharp as knives. Jungkook’s hands shook, his grip on the gun wavering as he stared at his brother, Jimin. The anger in Jimin’s eyes was matched only by the cold determination in his voice.

“This ends now, Jungkook,” Jimin hissed, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Before either could react further, a sharp, resounding slap echoed through the room. Hana stood between them, her hand raised, eyes blazing with fury.

“Have you both lost your minds?” she shouted, glaring at the two boys. “Guns are not toys! Have you forgotten how Gumeun lost her life?”

Jimin’s cheek stung from the slap, but his expression remained cynical as he looked at Jungkook.

“You should learn to be stronger, Jungkook. Or else, you won’t survive.”, With those parting words, Jimin turned and walked away, leaving Jungkook standing there, devastated and confused.

[PRESENT]

Hoseok’s voice was heavy with emotion as he recounted the story to Y/n over the phone. Y/n listened in stunned silence, her heart breaking with each word.

“The two kids, who were inseparable, bound by love, lost their connection all because a woman couldn't let go of her whorish tendencies and wanted to grab Mr. Jeon,” Hoseok said bitterly.

“And second, because that same woman made his brother Jimin heartless.”

Tears streamed down Y/n’s face. “I had no idea, Hoseok. How could this happen?”

Hoseok sighed deeply. “Jimin continued manipulating Jungkook, making him believe that he was the reason Gumeun died. He repeated it so many times that Jungkook couldn’t think otherwise. The poor boy started self-loathing, even self-harming. That’s when Mr. Jeon put Jungkook in my care.”

Y/n wiped her tears, her voice trembling. “And Jimin? How did he turn out this way?”

“Jimin’s heartless and cold nature is a direct result of Hana’s influence,” Hoseok explained.

“Jungkook sees the characteristics of Hana in Jimin and hates him for it, but he also cries, wanting his brother to become sensitive again. Jimin, on the other hand, sees Gumeun in Jungkook and despises him, thinking he is weak and deserves to die.”

Y/n’s breath hitched. “So, they both see their mothers in each other and hate that aspect?”

Hoseok nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Yes. But the thread that ties them together and allows them to cooperate at Jenesis Corps is the coldness and power Jungkook has cruelly built around himself, mirroring Jimin. Somewhere, their brotherhood still exists between them, despite everything.”

“Hana’s influence is so strong on Jimin,” Hoseok continued, “that he ended up shaping Jungkook into the cold, hard-hearted person he is today. Jimin now hates and dismisses the weak, and Jungkook’s transformation into someone unfeeling was largely driven by Jimin and his cruel antics.”

Y/n wiped away her tears, her voice shaking as she asked, “Hoseok, you mentioned something about Jungkook’s suicidal tendencies. What happened with that?”

Hoseok sighed deeply, the weight of the past heavy in his voice. “After the gunpoint confrontation, Jungkook spiraled into a deep depression. The constant manipulation by Jimin, coupled with the guilt and self-loathing, drove him to the brink.”

Y/n’s heart ached at the thought. “He blamed himself for being weak?”

“Yes,” Hoseok replied. “Jungkook saw himself as the cause of all the pain around him. He believed that if he had been stronger, things might have been different. He blamed Hana for Gumeun's death and despised being her biological son. He hated the Jeon name and wanted to escape it all.”

Y/n’s voice was barely a whisper. “What about Jimin? How did Jungkook feel about him?”

“Despite everything, Jungkook loved Jimin,” Hoseok explained. “Jimin was the last connection to Gumeun that he had. No matter how brutal Jimin became, Jungkook’s love for his brother never wavered. He saw Jimin’s cruelty as a response to the loss and pain they both endured.”

Hoseok paused, gathering his thoughts. “Jungkook rationalized that Jimin had no one else, that Gumeun’s loss had made him the way he was. He felt it was his responsibility to ensure Jimin lived on his own terms, even if it meant enduring his brother’s hatred and cruelty.”

Y/n was silent, tears streaming down her face. “So Jungkook let Jimin do whatever he wanted, thinking it was his duty?”

“Yes,” Hoseok confirmed. “Jungkook thought that by allowing Jimin to act out, he was somehow making amends for the past. It was his way of protecting the last piece of Gumeun he had left, even if it meant sacrificing his own well-being.”

[FLASHBACKS]

As the confrontation subsided, Hana restored back to her room and Jimin scoffed at Jungkook saying that he should really learn to become stronger.

Jungkook collapsed on the couch, finding no strength in his body.

He pulled out a dusty photo album, its worn leather cover whispering of happier times. 

There she was, Gumeun, her smile as radiant as the sunshine, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she held a younger Jimin aloft, both of them radiating pure, unadulterated joy.

Tears blurred his vision as he traced Jimin’s chubby face in the picture. Back then, Jimin had been a whirlwind of laughter and boundless energy.

Now, his eyes held a darkness that mirrored the abyss Jungkook felt opening within himself.

A sob wracked his body, raw and guttural. "I’m so sorry, eomma," he choked out, the words thick with despair.

"I promised… I promised I’d keep him safe, keep him good. But I’m failing you, failing him, again and again."

His voice cracked.  "If you were here… if you were alive, Jimin would still be… he’d still be…"  The words wouldn't come, the image of his happy, carefree childhood Jimin too painful to conjure.

He was born of the same blood that had stained their hands, the same blood that had taken Gumeun away from them. 

Hana's blood.

Disgust welled up inside him, a bitter cocktail of self-loathing and despair.

"Look at him, eomma," he rasped, gesturing at the picture of a younger Jimin.

"Look at how happy he used to be. All that joy, all that light... it's gone now, Mom. Because of me."

He slammed his fist against the coffee table, a sob escaping his lips. The sound echoed hollowly in the silent apartment, a stark contrast to the joyous laughter that used to fill the space. 

"He lost everything, didn't he? His childhood, his innocence... it's all gone. And it's all my fault."

Guilt, a venomous snake, coiled itself around his heart, squeezing tighter with every self-deprecating word.

"I'm a curse, Mom. A bad omen. Everywhere I go, darkness follows. It took you from us, and now it's twisting Jimin. If I had never been born, none of this would have happened. You'd still be here, and Jimin..." he choked back another sob, "Jimin would still be that happy little boy in the picture."

He sank to the floor, burying his face in his hands. Self-loathing, bitter and potent, filled his mouth. He didn't deserve a mother's love, not after what he had done. Not after he had failed her so miserably.

"I deserve the worst, Mom," he whispered into the silence. "All the pain, all the suffering... it should be mine. Not Jimin. Not anyone but me."

"But you know what, Mom?" he whispered, his voice hoarse but laced with a newfound resolve. "Jimin, he… he doesn't hate you.  Not even close."

A flicker of a sad smile touched his lips as he traced the outline of her smiling face in the picture. 

"He still loves you. Deep down, I know he does. He… he kept your name, Mom. Refused to take Dad's after everything. It was his way of holding onto you, a shred of light in the darkness."

He was Park Jimin after all.

Not Jeon Jimin.

His voice turned bitter as he thought of his father. "But the darkness, it was too strong, Mom.  He lost you, then got tossed into the gutter along with me, the unwanted sons of a ruthless man. On top of that, Hana… her influence, her manipulations… they all played a part in twisting him."

He clenched his fists, anger momentarily burning through the fog of guilt. "But it's not all their fault, is it? I… I was weak, Mom. Didn't fight hard enough for him, for either of us."

Shame clawed at his throat, a bitter echo of his past failings. 

"But no more," he vowed, his voice hardening with newfound determination. 

"No more self-pity, no more wallowing in the past.  You deserve better, Mom. Jimin deserves better.  I'm going to fix this, even if it kills me."

[Next day; the Shooting area]

The sterile scent of gunpowder hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the usual warmth of the Jeon household.  Jungkook navigated his way to the dedicated shooting area, the place where Jimin usually dwelt.

Jenesis Corps' was known for its weapons manufacturing.

Park Jimin was the new technology prodigy who was credited with building of such hi-tech guns and rifles that the militaries around the world were after Jenesis Corps' to purchase their weapons.

That was Park Jimin — the merchant of Death.

The man who did not make just weapons, but traded them as if they were kids' toys.

There, bathed in the harsh fluorescent light, stood Jimin. He wore noise-canceling headphones, a pistol held steady in his hand, his posture radiating a practiced calm that sent a shiver down Jungkook's spine.

In his leisure time, Mr. Park could usually be found with grain dummies in the shooting area of Jeon household, practicing his shooting skills and testing out the guns he manufactures.

He said it was his hobby — to build lethal guns and play with them.

Jungkook could only be grateful that Jimin didn't demand for real humans to become his Target for his new guns and accepted using dummies.

With a deep breath, Jungkook cleared his throat, the sound sharp in the otherwise silent room. 

Jimin flinched, his head snapping up in surprise.  He ripped off the headphones, a sardonic smile twisting his lips.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, his voice laced with a bitter amusement. "Look who finally decided to stop crying for his milk and grace us with his presence."

Jungkook gritted his teeth, forcing down a surge of anger. He knew Jimin was trying to get a rise out of him, to hide behind a wall of bravado. But this time, Jungkook wouldn't play his game.

"Can we cut the act, Jimin?" he said, his voice low and steady. "We need to talk."

Jimin's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his features before he slammed the magazine back into the pistol with a practiced flourish.

"Talk about what, Kookie?" he scoffed, using the childhood nickname with an edge that cut deep.

"How you finally decided to grow a pair and face me like a man?"

He raised the gun, aiming it at a distant target – a humanoid dummy placed far outside the effective range of the pistol. 

"See, this is an old gun," he began, his voice regaining its mocking lilt. "Not the fancy, high-precision stuff you're used to. But you know what they say, right? It's not about the weapon, it's about the one wielding it."

He paused, a glint of manic energy in his eyes. "And when you have a heart of steel and the eyes of an eagle, even a rusty old thing like this can get the job done."

With a dramatic flourish, Jimin squeezed the trigger. The sharp crack of the gunshot echoed in the enclosed space, but the impact wasn't on the torso of the dummy as Jungkook had expected. 

Instead, a puff of dust erupted from the dummy's leg, well below the intended target.

Jimin, however, didn't seem fazed. A triumphant grin stretched across his face as he turned towards Jungkook, the gun still smoking in his hand.

"See that, Kookie?" he said, his voice dripping with a chilling satisfaction. "Even with a crappy gun, I can still hit my mark."

Jungkook, however, remained unfazed.

He met Jimin's manic grin with a steely glint in his own eyes, a mask of pain barely concealing the churning emotions within him.

Without a word, he reached out and took the gun from Jimin's grasp. The older man sputtered, surprised by the suddenness of the action. 

But Jungkook ignored him, his focus solely on the weapon in his hand.

He didn't bother putting on the headphones, nor did he waste time aiming at the distant target. 

Instead, he turned slightly, his back still to the dummy, his posture a picture of casual confidence bordering on arrogance.

"Really, Jimin?" he drawled, his voice laced with a sardonic amusement that mirrored Jimin's own but held an edge far sharper.

"Did you miss on purpose, or is your aim truly that bad?"

A stunned silence filled the room.  Jimin stared, his mouth agape, as Jungkook, without even looking, squeezed the trigger. 

The deafening crack of the gunshot seemed to explode in the confined space.

For a heartbeat, time seemed to stand still.  Then, as the dust settled, a single, dark hole materialized on the dummy's chest, right where the heart should be. 

A perfect shot, delivered with a nonchalance that sent shivers down Jimin's spine.

Jungkook slowly turned, the gun still smoking in his hand. His gaze met Jimin's, his eyes cold and emotionless.

"Don't mistake my advocacy for peace as weakness, Jimin," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Just because I haven't been trained with fancy weapons doesn't mean I don't know how to use them." 

He paused, a hint of a challenge flickering in his eyes. "Perhaps even better than a 'trained personnel' like yourself."

He lowered the gun, his eyes locking with Jimin's. There was no triumph in his gaze, only a deep well of pain and regret.

"Look, Jimin," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "About yesterday…" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "I shouldn't have pulled that gun on you.  It was… stupid and reckless."

A flicker of surprise crossed Jimin's face, quickly replaced by a hardened expression. He remained silent, waiting for Jungkook to continue.

Taking a deep breath, Jungkook pressed on. "I know you're angry, Jimin. You have every right to be.", he paused, his voice cracking slightly.

"But listen to me. I don't want to lose you. You're the only family I have left, the only person I truly care about."

A raw vulnerability hung in the air, a stark contrast to the Jimin that Jungkook had grown accustomed to.

"So," Jungkook continued, his voice gaining a new resolve.

"Tell me what you want me to become. Strong like Hana? Powerful? I'll do it, Jimin. If becoming that monster you see is what it takes to get my brother back, then I'll become the damn devil himself."

The raw desperation in Jungkook's voice pierced through Jimin's carefully constructed walls. A humorless laugh escaped his lips.

"Becoming strong… it's not just for me, Kookie," he said, his voice tinged with a bitter amusement.

"Believe me, it'd be for your own good too. This world we live in… it doesn't reward weakness. But that won't be enough for me, Jungkook."

Jungkook raised a brow at that. "What else do you want, brother?"

Brother.

Jimin stilled at that, human-like emotions erupting in his heart again, but he stopped himself.

"I want you to swear your loyalty to me. I want you to give me your word that you will never defy me, my orders, or any task I give you. I fear that if you ever have a change of heart, you will become weak again. You will again become like Gumeun and won't survive. If you are giving me hope of havingy Jungkookie back, I want you to swear that you will always follow me and never become weak ever again."

Jimin's cynicism knew no bounds. He wanted to keep Jungkook to himself, but not weak.

He wanted him strong. And thus, he demanded.

[A/n : Reference to Jungkook in present in Russia speaking to Gumeun's photo frame saying that this is the first time he defied Jimin's order and chased his heart for 4 days — to be with Y/n and cherish the feelings of love one last time which Jimin killed within Jungkook.]

After a long silence, he reached out, his hand hovering over Jimin's. Hesitantly, Jimin mirrored the gesture. Their hands met, a tentative contact that spoke volumes.

"Alright, Jimin," Jungkook said, his voice low and firm. "If you want that, I can do this much for my brother."

[FLASHBACKS END]

[PRESENT]

Hoseok continued explaining to Y/n over the phone, his voice heavy with the burden of memories.

"Y/n, the price Jungkook had to pay to keep any semblance of tranquility between him and Jimin was immense. To maintain some form of peace, Jungkook became the monster that Jimin wanted him to be. He started taking an active part in Jenesis Corps, diving deep into the dark world of weapons production alongside his brother."

Y/n listened intently, her heart breaking for Jungkook. "But Jimin was already deeply involved in the weapons production, right?"

"Yes," Hoseok confirmed.

"Jimin was ruthless and carried himself with a hard-core, unforgiving attitude. He thrived in that environment. But Jungkook… his conscience always gnawed at him. He would cry in front of Gumeun's picture, tormented by the conflict between his values and his actions."

Hoseok paused, his voice trembling with emotion. "Jungkook would often speak to her photo, saying how conflicted he felt. Gumeun taught them to be good, to uphold golden values of kindness and peace. Yet, to keep his brother by his side, he found himself doing the exact opposite. He was taught to be peaceful and kind, but now he had become ruthless and unforgiving."

Y/n's eyes welled up with tears. "How did he cope with that?"

"He didn't, really," Hoseok replied. "The clash between the values he learned from Gumeun and what he was doing with Jimin spiraled him into a deep, dark place. He would break down in front of her picture, pleading for forgiveness, saying that he was betraying everything she stood for. Jimin, meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware of his brother's internal turmoil."

Hoseok sighed, a long, weary exhale. "If you remember from that party, Mr. Jeon handed the university over to Jungkook. That decision was made in hopes of maintaining Jungkook's sanity. He had forced himself so deeply into the weapons department that he became numb, detached from his true self."

Y/n's voice was soft, filled with sorrow. "So, Mr. Jeon gave him the university to pull him out of that darkness?"

"Yes," Hoseok confirmed. "It was an attempt to give Jungkook a semblance of normalcy, a chance to hold on to some part of his humanity."

[FLASHBACKS : 6 months ago, before Jungkook became the Director of Jenesis University]

The neon lights of the bar flickered ominously as Mr. Jeon stepped inside, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of his son.

The air was thick with smoke and the sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and pulsating music.

It didn’t take long for Mr. Jeon to spot Jungkook in a secluded corner, surrounded by several women. His heart sank at the sight.

Jungkook was laughing, his arm draped around a woman's shoulders, his hand resting provocatively on another’s thigh.

Mr. Jeon’s stomach churned as he watched his son flirt and touch the women with a practiced ease that spoke of regular indulgence.

He inquired discreetly from the bartender, who confirmed his worst fears.

"Yeah, he comes here often," the bartender said, cleaning a glass. "Books women on a regular basis. It's like a routine for him."

Mr. Jeon’s heart grew heavier with each word. He turned his attention back to Jungkook just in time to see him leading one of the women towards a private room.

The reality of the situation hit Mr. Jeon hard. Jungkook was using sex as a means to thrill himself, to find a momentary escape from the overwhelming guilt and pain that his work in Jenesis Corps and his relationship with Jimin brought him.

Mr. Jeon stood there, feeling a mix of sorrow and anger. He remembered how Jungkook had once nurtured Gumeun's values—kindness, peace, integrity.

Now, he was moving towards a path of reckless self-destruction, much like his mother, Hana.

He spoke to himself, a deep sadness lacing his words. "Both my boys... They hate Hana, but Jimin took her cruelty and now Jungkook is taking her coping mechanism of sex. This isn't good. This can't go on."

The noises from the room intensified, and Mr. Jeon clenched his fists. He had to do something. This was not the life he wanted for Jungkook.

The decision came to him in that moment, clear and resolute. He needed to pull Jungkook away from this path, to give him a chance at a different future.

That's why he planned on moving Jungkook to become the director of Jenesis University.

It was a desperate attempt to save his son from the abyss he was spiraling into, to provide him with a responsibility that could anchor him to a more stable and meaningful life.

[FLASHBACKS OVER]

Y/n listened to Hoseok's recounting of these events, her heart aching for Jungkook. "So that's why Mr. Jeon made him the director," she murmured, piecing together the puzzle.

Hoseok nodded on the other end of the line. "Yes, Mr. Jeon hoped that by giving Jungkook the responsibility of running the university, it would help him find a purpose beyond the brutality of the weapons industry and the destructive coping mechanisms he had adopted."

Y/n's voice trembled with emotion. "Did it help?"

Hoseok sighed. "It did, to an extent. I am assuming that his last 2 months were the best, owing to your presence in his life. I noticed changes in him. He stopped meddling in Jimin's business and both brothers stayed at tranquility and even Jungkook's sex drive lowered. His guilt was slowly seeping away and he was finally able to detach himself from Jimin and look for a bigger purpose — You."

"Me?", Y/n whispered, shocked beyond her wits.

"Assuming from how much Jungkook talked about you, it makes sense to me that you occupied his head enough to keep him away from the dark guilt loop he was a part of.", Hoseok sighed.

"But I'm not sure that your effect on him lasted long," Hoseok said, his voice tinged with regret. "He was so eager to have you always but also afraid, knowing how the dynamics of a student and teacher ought to be. But at the same time, I think Jimin again roped him in his own matters."

Y/n's mind raced, this was too much information for once.

"I heard that Jimin became the director of the University, and Jungkook is again thrown into a weapon mission. God knows what he is doing in Russia marrying that God-forsaken ugly trash Catherine,"

Hoseok continued, his frustration evident. "I'm telling you, Jimin has a role in this, and I know, having a session with him recently confirmed that he has succumbed to a deeper degree of suicidal tendency."

Hoseok's words painted a picture of a man on the brink, struggling with more than just external pressures.

"He spoke so heavily last time, as if he is about to do something to himself the next moment," Hoseok said, his voice filled with worry.

"I requested him to fly down to Korea so I can do his check-up, but he wouldn't relent. I keep asking him when he will come back, where his returning tickets are, and he has no answer. I asked him about his honeymoon plans, and he has no answer."

Y/n's grip on the phone tightened. Jungkook, the man who meticulously planned every detail of his life, had no plans?

The thought was terrifying.

It is as if after his marriage, he has no plans, and all he says is that he wants to rest now, finally," Hoseok continued.

"Knowing Jungkook, the man who loves to plan his every hour like a professional, it is scary that he has no plans and all he says is that he wants to rest now, finally. I tried talking to him, but I can't do anything sitting here, and I can't fly out to Russia at such short notice."

Hoseok's frustration and helplessness were clear. "I don't know Catherine to ask her to take care of him, and his family is too fucked up to care for him. They are either ways reaching directly on the wedding day, so it speaks they hardly care."

A choked sob wracked Y/n's body, "H-He said..." Y/n stammered, her voice thick with tears.

"He said he only had four days left. That he wanted me for four days. That he was going to die, Dr. Hoseok."

A horrifying realization dawned on Hoseok.

"Die?" he echoed, his voice barely a whisper.  "Did he say how? What was he planning?"

"No!" Y/n cried. "He wouldn't tell me. He just… he kept saying he wanted to die, that he has just 4 days. But I… I was so caught up in my own hurt, Dr. Hoseok. I didn't believe him. I thought he was just… dramatic, you know? Like always." 

Her voice broke, laced with a self-loathing that twisted Hoseok's gut.  "How could I have been so stupid?  He was already carrying this heavy burden, and I…"

"Hey, Y/n, wait," Hoseok interjected gently.  "Don't blame yourself.  Jungkook's a master at hiding his pain.  He wouldn't want you to carry this guilt."

"But it is my fault!" Y/n insisted, her voice rising.  "If I had just listened, if I had trusted him at least on this, maybe… maybe I could have done something!"

Hoseok took a deep breath, trying to project calmness through the phone line. 

"We can't play the 'what if' game, Y/n.  There is still something that you can do now. Right now, we need to focus on Jungkook. Did he say anything? Did he mention anything specific? Or any suspicious activity"

Y/n fell silent for a moment, her ragged breaths the only sound.  "Pheonix" she finally whispered. 

"He had some unusual activity on his laptop regarding this lethal weapon Pheonix which is somewhere here in Russia."

"The Phoenix?" he repeated cautiously.  "What did he know about it?"

"It was insane," Y/n continued, her voice trembling slightly.

"He had this massive database on it – specs, history, everything. And the most disturbing part?  It mentioned a two-kilometer radius.", she choked back a sob.

"A two-kilometer radius," he murmured, piecing together the puzzle.

"Did the database mention where this weapon might be located?"

"I don't know," Y/n admitted.  "I skimmed through it, but it was technical jargon.  But!  I just remembered, I copied the entire database before he left.  Maybe there's something in there that could help."

A flicker of hope ignited in Hoseok's chest.  Information, any information, could be the key to finding Jungkook and stopping whatever he was planning.

"That's good, Y/n," he said, his voice filled with newfound purpose. 

"See if you can find anything in that database about the weapon's location or its intended use.  Anything that might shed light on Jungkook's mission or his state of mind."

Y/n sniffed again, a hint of determination creeping into her voice.

"Okay, I'll get on it right away.  The database is huge, but I'll find something, Dr. Hoseok. I know Jungkook deserves that much."

A wave of gratitude washed over Hoseok.  He had underestimated Y/n's strength and resourcefulness. 

"Thank you," he said sincerely.  "We'll find him, Y/n.  Together."

She ended the call, a newfound urgency propelling him forward. Shee had two leads: the weapon called Phoenix and the classified mission in Russia.

She still didn't know how Jimin could use this weapon in a way that it would cause Jungkook to commit suicide.

What are you upto Jeon Jungkook?.....A/n : Now begins the main climax!

Drop some comments if you liked it ❤️