𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 || 𝑱𝒊𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌

𝟏𝟗. 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

The media displayed in this chapter belongs to me.

TW: Mentions of beheading.

Sia 💜

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It is not him. It was definitely not like him, thinking about Jungkook as he laid on his bed with his palm cradling the back of his head while he shuffled the hour glass with his free hand.

The moment they entered the mansion, Taemin disappeared into his room. He only came down an hour later to eat dinner, but he was not the same. The red eyes and crimson painted cheeks with the continues sniffles to resist the tears was as clear as day.

Even when the boys tried to talk to him, he asked them for a respite and retired to his room.

Jimin knew that Taemin needed some breathing space. Therefore, he decided not to disturb him for today but leaving him to cry alone is not sitting well with him.

He just did not understand the reason Taemin liked Jungkook so much that he invested all the time he had on surprising or making the latter happy.

Is it because he can make the younger smile just by the bare mention of his name? Or is it because he could understand the boy more than them? Or is it because the younger could actually relate himself about the loss of his brother? Or is it because of his warm aura that he strongly radiated? Or is it because he was as seraphic as the younger?

He could go on and on about the positive characteristics Jungkook had all night but failed all these days to discern that he was actually describing the way he saw Jungkook.

It was very much easy to read him, Jungkook was an open book.

Only this time, he was slow to cotton onto the fact that they have endowed all the materialistic assets the younger wished for except for their time and affection.

Taemin was sensitive—not only for himself but for others too. A simple injury or illness to the boys could spring up tears in his eyes. He still remembered the day Taemin became surprisingly stubborn and refused to move from his bedside when he was running a temperature. The way he slept at the foot of the bed—despite being extremely uncomfortable—and woke up with a sore back made him realize the amount of love and concern Taemin had for him.

Unsuccessful. He realized belatedly that they failed at keeping the younger happy.

He thought it was them who are keeping the boy happy by providing him with materialistic possessions but so far, Taemin was the one who searched for his happiness in those even though he always craved for a family time.

As he was halfway in mindful fathoming, he realized the reason Taemin was so much pegged down to Jungkook.

Love. Although Jungkook could not meet the expense of Taemin's desired assets, he won over with his warm smile and selfless love. He had showered the younger with everything the boys lacked.

He was the perfect brother.

He showed concern when he saved the boy from the bullies. He talked to him, the normal conversation Taemin always wished for. He—even though being oblivious—taught the boy how to deal with the departure of his elder brother. He hugged him with all the love he had to show his affection. He frolicked with him till his heart's content. Most important of all, he made the boy happy every single second he accompanied them.

Except for the day he managed to bring out the completely different side of Taemin—the first day in the mansion.

Jimin was always skeptical about how Jungkook had a phobia for guns and blood without encountering any underground activities. But however, after he caught the point everyone missed on the day he ranted, Jimin was intrigued.