Jimin Protectors ' Book 1 '

Chapter 72 '✅'

Jin's POV :

For a whole month now, every single night has been the same nightmare. I sit alone in my dark room, my hands shaking as I stare at the small razor blade. The pain inside my chest feels like it's eating me alive from the inside out.

My fingers tremble as I make tiny cuts on my wrist. But the cuts don't help anymore. The terrible hurt in my heart just gets stronger and stronger, like a monster demanding more. My eyes fill with tears as I move the blade to my inner thighs, then to my calves. Each cut burns, but not as much as the guilt burning in my soul.

The smell of my own blood hits my nose, and suddenly I'm back there again - that horrible day when I killed him. I can still see his eyes going empty, still feel the iron wand in my hand as life drains away of hid body. My whole body shakes with sobs.

"I'm a murderer," I whisper to the empty room, my voice cracking. "I have blood on my hands."

Namjoon keeps telling me I don't deserve to punish myself like this. But I can't stop. Each night I keep scrub my hands until they're raw and my skin swollen , but I swear I can still smell the blood from that day. It never goes away..

I curl up on my bed, pulling my knees to my chest. My mind is like a prison, and every day the guilt gets heavier and heavier. The memories follow me everywhere - when I'm awake, when I try to sleep, when I look in the mirror.

flashback..

Jin's adoptive mother: Eun

Jin's adoptive father: Choi

The cold water hits Jin's face like a slap. He gasps and sits up fast, water dripping from his hair down his neck. His heart pounds as he tries to figure out where he is.

Eun: "Baby Jinoo, wake up! It's already late."

She stands next to his bed holding an empty bucket, and there's this scary smile on her face that makes Jin's stomach twist with fear. She looks happy, but her eyes are cold .

Eun: "It's already 6 am. You need to get up, baby, or do you want to force your poor mother, who was once the kindest human being, to take you out of that hell you were in and make me do the chores?"

Her voice is sweet like honey, but Jin knows it's fake. He learned to read the danger in her smile. His body automatically tenses up, ready for whatever punishment is coming.

Eun never misses a chance to hurt him. Sometimes she hits him until he bleeds, then afterward she'll hug him tight and wipe his tears. It makes Jin's head spin with confusion. She'll whisper sweet words in his ear while her fingers dig into his bruises.

She's like a snake - she listens to everything Jin says when he's scared and lonely, then uses his secrets to hurt him even more. When Jin first came to this house, he was so desperate for love that he told her everything. He thought her warm smile meant she cared about him.

Those first few days felt like heaven. She was kind and gentle, and Jin thought he finally found a real mother. Those good memories are what keep him trapped here now - always hoping she'll be nice again, always waiting for the mother who doesn't exist anymore.

His father Choi is just as bad - maybe worse. He's like a copy of Eun, mean and crazy and dangerous.

Jin looks down at his wet clothes and feels his heart breaking all over again.

Jin (whispering to himself, his voice barely audible): "Why, Mother? What did I do to deserve this? I just wanted a family, a place to call home... Why do you hurt me like this?"

His shoulders shake as he tries not to cry. His hands clenched into fists so tight his nails cut into his palms.

Eun (mocking, her voice getting higher and more cruel): "Oh, poor Jinoo, always playing the victim. Don't you see? This is your punishment for existing, for being a burden in my perfect life. You should be grateful I even took you in."

Each word hits Jin like a punch to the stomach. He doubles over slightly, wrapping his arms around himself. Her words echo in his head over and over until he wants to scream.

Jin's heart feels like it's being ripped apart. All he ever wanted was someone to love him, someone to tell him he was worth something. Instead, he's trapped with people who seem to enjoy watching him suffer.

But deep down, in a tiny corner of his heart, Jin holds onto hope. His hands shake as he imagines a different life - one where he saves his brothers from families like this one. Where they build something real together, something safe and warm.

He dreams of a family where people don't hurt each other, where love doesn't come with bruises and fear. Jin doesn't know how hard his journey will be, or how much it will cost him. But he's determined to find that family, even if it kills him.

In his small, cold room, Jin picks up the razor blade for the first time. The cuts help him feel something other than the emptiness inside. At least the physical pain is real - at least it proves he's still alive.

End of Flashback

***

Namjoon's POV : 

It's way past midnight, but I can't put this book down. My eyes burn from reading, but my mind won't stop racing. I rub my tired eyes and stretch my sore neck.

"I need to sleep or I'm going to look like a zombie at tomorrow morning's meeting with the staff," I mutter to myself.

I close the book with a heavy sigh and walk out of my office, my bare feet silent on the cold floor. But I can't go to bed yet - I never can. Every night, I have to check on my brothers first. It's like a need burning in my chest.

They look like angels when they sleep, so peaceful and innocent. It's the only time I let myself show how much I love them. During the day, I don't like being touched or hugging. But at night, when they can't see me being soft, I allow myself these small moments of tenderness.

I tiptoed into Jungkook's room first. The door creaks softly as I open it. Kook is sprawled across the bed like a starfish, his covers tangled around his legs and half on the floor. One arm hangs off the side of the bed.

My face softens into a gentle smile. I carefully lift Jungkook's arm back onto the bed and untangle the covers, tucking them around him properly so his back won't hurt in the morning. Then I lean down and press a feather-light kiss to Jungkook's forehead.

"Sleep well, little brother," I whisper.

Next is Taehyung's room. I push the door open and have to hold back a laugh. Taehyung is sleeping with his eyes slightly open, which always looks creepy but somehow adorable at the same time.

During the day, Taehyung acts tough and arrogant, putting up walls to keep everyone out. But I can see through the act. I know he's just a hurt soul trying to protect himself.

I sit on the edge of the bed and gently run my fingers through Taehyung's hair. It's soft and messy from sleep. I planted a soft kiss on Taehyung's hair, my heart full of love for this lost soul. I wish one day he would let me in , And let me help ...

Finally, I head to Jin hyung's room. My steps slow down as I get closer to the door. We haven't had a real heart-to-heart talk in too long. Jin hasn't been looking good these days - there are dark circles under his eyes, and he's been too quiet, too distant.

"I need to talk to him," I think. "Something's wrong."

I take a deep breath and slowly open Jin hyung's door, expecting to see my oldest brother sleeping peacefully.

Instead, the sight that greets me makes my heart stop.

Namjoon: "HYUNG..."

The word rips from my throat like a scream of pure terror.

Author's Note

Hey everyone! I hope this story doesn't upset anyone too much. I put a warning at the beginning, so I didn't repeat it here. 🙏