Sanctuary for the Lost and Broken (Skz Fanfiction)

Jeongin (2)

Jeongin had thought he and Chan had been getting along well, but after Chan showed him his song, Chan's behavior changed, leaving Jeongin feeling guilty. He hadn't intended to upset him, but it was clear that whoever was rapping on the song was a sensitive subject for Chan. Jeongin couldn't dwell on the abrupt end to his outing with Chan for too long, though—he was now home and found his older brother there.

"Why are you here?" Jeongin asked his older brother, Yoongi, taken aback by his unexpected presence.

"I'm here just for the day because Mom and Dad have news they want to share," Yoongi replied. "They insisted I come home for dinner, so I drove three hours to be here."

"Is something wrong?" Yoongi asked, noticing Jeongin's surprise. Jeongin couldn't shake off his unease. What could be so important that they summoned his older brother home during the week? Had his mom finally come clean about what she had been doing, and were they going to announce their divorce? The thought made Jeongin tense up immediately.

Without wasting any time, Jeongin headed to the living room where his parents and younger sister were seated.

"Hey, why was Yoongi hyung summoned here? You guys know he's busy, so it must be important," Jeongin cut straight to the chase.

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking," agreed Jeongin's sister, Hanni.

Jeongin's parents exchanged a glance before his mom spoke.

"Why don't we eat first and then we can talk?" she suggested.

This response only deepened Jeongin's suspicions, but he decided to go along with their request. They all gathered around the dining table, sharing a meal that felt like any other family dinner. His brother teased him, and he teased his sister in return. His mom scolded them when their banter got too rowdy, and their dad inquired about their day. Despite the familiarity of the meal, Jeongin couldn't shake off the hurt caused by his mom's betrayal. Although the food was as delicious as always, he couldn't enjoy it, knowing it was prepared by the person who had caused him the most pain.

After dinner, Hanni and their dad went back to the couch, and Jeongin's mom quickly cleared the table. Lost in his thoughts in the hallway, Jeongin was brought back to reality when his brother Yoongi emerged from the bathroom, hands slightly damp from washing them. Yoongi approached and placed a comforting hand on Jeongin's shoulder.

"Dad mentioned you've been a bit out of it lately. If you don't want to talk to our parents, you know you can always come to me about whatever's bothering you," Yoongi offered.

Jeongin's eyes welled up at his brother's concern, but he refused to let the tears fall. Instead, he smiled, as he always did.

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

How could he bring himself to tell Yoongi the truth? It would hurt him just as much as it had hurt himself. At that moment, Hanni interrupted them.

"Mom and Dad said you should come to the living room," she informed him before turning back to head in that direction herself.

As they entered the living room, they found their parents seated next to each other on the L-shaped couch, while they and Hanni sat on the other side. Once they were settled, their dad began to speak.

"I don't know how to deliver this swiftly, so I'm just going to say it," he started, taking a deep breath. Jeongin couldn't miss how his mom immediately reached out to hold his dad's hand.

"I have kidney cancer," his father announced.

Jeongin felt like his heart was about to stop, and his mind went numb. Emotions flooded through him all at once. Not only had he just learned that his dad was diagnosed with a potentially lethal disease, but it also dawned on him: his mom had been cheating on her sick husband. This revelation made everything feel even worse. He couldn't tell his dad now. How could he?

He snapped back to reality when he heard Hanni softly crying, now embracing their dad tightly.

"Don't worry, it's in the early stages," their dad reassured, stroking Hanni's hair gently. "The doctor said I was quite lucky, as the survival rate increases a lot when caught early. I'll start chemotherapy soon."

Jeongin turned to Yoongi, who looked troubled as well. But his brother was someone who knew how to keep his cool, so who knew what he was really feeling at that moment.

"I can move back in," Yoongi stated simply.

Jeongin's father looked over at Yoongi with a gentle smile. "You don't have to do that, Yoongi. We appreciate the thought, but you have your own life and work to worry about."

"It's not a big deal. I can work from home a few days a week, and being here will allow me to help out when you need it," Yoongi insisted, his demeanor calm yet determined.

Jeongin's mom nodded, her eyes moist with gratitude. "We'd be happy to have you back home, Yoongi. Having you around will help us all feel more at ease during this time."

His father continued, "I know this is a lot to take in, but we'll get through this together as a family. I'm going to fight this, and I believe I can come out on top."

Jeongin nodded, trying to muster a supportive expression despite the turmoil inside him. He could see that Hanni was still upset, sniffling quietly beside their dad. Yoongi gave her a reassuring pat on the back.

"Family is what gets us through the toughest times," Yoongi said, his voice strong and confident. "We're here for you, Dad."

Jeongin's mother looked at her husband with a brave face. "We'll face this together. It's important we stay strong and keep faith." Oh, how much Jeongin wished he could believe those words.

Jeongin appreciated his brother's and sister's strength, but he still couldn't shake the feeling of unease about his mother's behavior. It was a burden he would have to carry alone for now. He resolved to focus on supporting his dad through his treatment and providing any comfort he could to his family.

After the family meeting, Yoongi stayed with Jeongin a little longer, offering quiet support before leaving for the evening. Jeongin was left with a whirlwind of emotions and a renewed determination to protect his dad and navigate the complicated family dynamics ahead.