Poem of Tears

3

"Please leave me alone. I'm willing to do anything for you; it's what I want. Let's do something, baby." The boy grinned mischievously and beckoned the crying boy towards him. "My baby, I like your tears." The fifteen-year-old pushed the seventeen-year-old, exclaiming, "You, bitch!" and received a slap in return.

Jungkook opened his eyes from sleep, his heart heavy. "No, please," he murmured. He immediately reached for his phone to type a resignation letter. However, doubts filled his mind. Where could he find a job with a salary like this, especially without any qualifications? Tears welled up in his eyes as he thought about his responsibility to take care of his brothers. He sat there, clutching a pillow and cried.

The entire office was ready to welcome their new boss, except for Jungkook, who quietly settled in a corner, unsure of what to do next. He overheard someone calling everyone to welcome the boss. The manager stood in front of Jungkook, whispering, "It's best if you don't come. I don't know how to introduce you to him. Just stay here."

After a couple of hours, employees returned to their seats. The man was undeniably handsome, and others couldn't help but comment on it. Jungkook, however, paid no attention.

"Jungkook, have you finished that work?" the manager asked.

"No, ma'am, just a second..."

"Stupid! Everyone else is working hard, and you're just sitting and eating without doing anything. You're so careless," she scolded. Jungkook lowered his head, feeling the weight of her disappointment.

"Jeon, the boss is asking for you," someone informed him. "Please, God, behave properly with him," the manager pleaded, remembering him. Jungkook nodded in response.

He approached Taehyung's cabin with slow, deliberate steps, his heart heavy with tension. After a hesitant knock, he cautiously entered the room.

"Sit," a cold voice commanded, sending shivers down his spine.

Without meeting the man's gaze, Jungkook obediently took a seat.

"How are you?" the man asked, trying to break the oppressive silence.

Jungkook remained silent, wrestling with his emotions.

"I asked you something, Jungkook," the man pressed. "How are you?"

"Good," Jungkook whispered, and an uncomfortable silence hung in the air. Jungkook finally glanced at the man, whose eyes were fixed on him.

"It's been 9 years since we last met," Taehyung remarked.

"Hmm," Jungkook responded noncommittally.

"Are you still angry with me? Do you still hate me?" Taehyung's voice quivered with guilt.

"I don't want to reopen that chapter," Jungkook pleaded, his voice filled with pain. "Please, just leave me alone."

"Jungkook, I need your help," Taehyung implored.

Jungkook finally looked at him, his curiosity piqued. "What?"

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

Jungkook nervously clenched his fists as he sat in a hotel room. Taehyung occupied a few chairs away, and Jimin was also present. Jungkook called out to Jimin softly, "Tell me, Jeon. What's the purpose of you calling me here?"

"How are you?" Jungkook inquired.

"I'm good," Jimin replied with a nonchalant shrug.

As a waiter lady brought their orders, she accidentally spilled some juice on the table. Apologetic, she offered to clean it, but Jimin lost his temper. "How dare you, damn bitch?" he shouted at the lady, pouring the juice on her face.

Jungkook was shocked and turned his gaze to his 10-year-old son, who resembled an angry ball of fury, and the harsh language he used towards the elder woman. "Jimin," Jungkook called out in disbelief.

"What?" Jimin retorted angrily. "Do you want to say something to me, Jeon?" With that, he tossed a card at the lady and stormed out of the room.

********

"I don't want Jimin to be the reason for someone else's tears. I've tried everything-advice, scolding, and I even slapped him, but..." Taehyung, filled with concern, gently said, "I think a mother is capable of changing the child."

"Mother? I'm not good enough for that word..." Jungkook's voice trembled with regret. Memories of a three-year-old boy crying for his mother, attempting to reach her with wobbly steps only to fall, flashed before him. His mother had walked away without looking back, leaving her son in tears, and tears welled up in Jungkook's eyes.

"I don't know what to do, Jungkook," Taehyung confessed. "He's getting more arrogant day by day. Just a month ago, he beat up one of his classmates, and that boy lost vision in one eye. My mom keeps saying, 'Like father, like son,' but I don't want him to be like me. Please help me...help him...otherwise, our child..." Taehyung's voice trailed off, his desperation evident.

Jungkook sighed deeply, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation. "I can't even help myself, Taehyung, and it's not me behind his character. Do something... Your presence still scares me. Just leave me alone. As Jungkook's hand trembled with emotion, it accidentally brushed against Taehyung's ring finger, where an old ring bore the engraved name: "Kim Jungkook."