My Brother

Chapter 11: Echoes of Fear

### Chapter 11: Echoes of Fear

The days following the encounter with V's rivals were fraught with tension for Jungkook. Although V's men patrolled their home, providing a semblance of security, Jungkook's anxiety was ever-present. The shadows in his room seemed darker, and the silence of the night was filled with imagined threats.

Jungkook's fears were not confined to their home. At school, the bullying intensified, feeding off his vulnerability. The jeers and taunts seemed louder, more cutting, and his social awkwardness only made him a bigger target.

One particularly rough day, Jungkook was cornered by a group of boys in the school's locker room. They sneered and jeered, their words cutting deep.

"Hey, crybaby! Still scared of the dark?"

"Bet you still sleep with a nightlight, don't you?"

Jungkook tried to ignore them, focusing on changing for gym class. But the leader of the group, a tall, burly boy named Minho, grabbed his shoulder and spun him around.

"Answer us, loser!" Minho snarled, shoving Jungkook against the lockers.

Jungkook's heart raced, fear clawing at his insides. He looked down, avoiding eye contact, and mumbled, "Leave me alone."

Minho laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "What's that? Speak up, you little wimp!"

The other boys joined in, their laughter ringing in Jungkook's ears. He felt tears welling up in his eyes, and he fought to hold them back, knowing that showing weakness would only make things worse.

Suddenly, the door to the locker room burst open, and a familiar figure stormed in. It was V, his expression a mix of anger and protectiveness.

"Back off!" V's voice was a dangerous growl, and the boys immediately stepped away from Jungkook, fear evident in their eyes.

Minho tried to put on a brave face. "We were just having some fun," he said, his voice wavering slightly.

V's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to Minho. "If you ever touch my brother again, you'll regret it," he said in a low, menacing tone. "Understand?"

Minho nodded quickly, his bravado crumbling under V's intense gaze. "Y-yeah, we get it. Come on, guys, let's go."

As the boys hurried out of the locker room, V turned to Jungkook, his expression softening. "Are you okay, Kookie?"

Jungkook nodded, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. "Yeah, hyung. Thanks for... for saving me."

V pulled him into a tight hug. "No one gets to hurt you, Kookie. Not while I'm around."

The rest of the school day passed in a blur, and by the time they got home, Jungkook was emotionally exhausted. He went straight to his room, seeking the comfort of his bed and the stuffed animal that had been his companion during so many sleepless nights.

That evening, as they sat together for dinner, Jungkook couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in his stomach. The world felt like a much scarier place now that he knew the full extent of V's involvement in the mafia.

"Hyung," he began hesitantly, "what if... what if they come after me again?"

V looked up from his plate, his eyes filled with concern. "They won't," he said firmly. "I've made sure of that."

Jungkook bit his lip, his anxiety refusing to be quelled. "But what if they do? What if... what if something happens to you?"

V reached across the table and took Jungkook's hand. "Nothing's going to happen to me, Kookie. I promise."

Despite V's reassurances, Jungkook's fears were not easily dismissed. That night, he lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling as shadows danced around the room. The darkness seemed to close in on him, and he could feel the panic rising in his chest.

He tried to focus on his breathing, taking slow, deep breaths to calm himself down. But the fear was overwhelming, and before he knew it, tears were streaming down his face.

Just as he was about to give in to the panic, his door creaked open, and V stepped inside. He didn't say a word, just crossed the room and sat on the edge of Jungkook's bed.

"It's okay, Kookie," V said softly, pulling Jungkook into his arms. "I'm here."

Jungkook buried his face in V's chest, his sobs muffled by his brother's shirt. V held him tightly, rubbing soothing circles on his back until the tears began to subside.

"I'm sorry, hyung," Jungkook whispered, his voice trembling. "I'm so scared."

V pressed a kiss to the top of Jungkook's head. "You don't have to apologize for being scared," he said gently. "We'll get through this together."

As Jungkook slowly calmed down, he realized that despite the fear and uncertainty, he wasn't alone. V was his anchor, the one constant in his life that he could always rely on.

With V's comforting presence beside him, Jungkook finally managed to fall asleep. The nightmares still lingered at the edges of his mind, but knowing that V was there made them a little easier to bear.

The following days were a mix of school, training, and moments of quiet reflection. Jungkook continued to face his fears, each small victory building his confidence bit by bit. V was always there, offering support and encouragement, never letting him forget that he was not alone.

One evening, as they sat on the rooftop of their house, watching the stars, Jungkook turned to V with a determined look in his eyes.

"I want to be stronger, hyung," he said quietly. "I don't want to be scared all the time."

V looked at him, his expression filled with pride. "You are strong, Kookie," he said. "But if you want to get stronger, I'll help you."

Jungkook nodded, a sense of resolve settling in his heart. He knew that the road ahead would be difficult, filled with challenges and fears to overcome. But with V by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came their way.

As they sat together under the night sky, the bond between them felt unbreakable. No matter the darkness that surrounded them, they would always find their way back to each other. And in that moment, Jungkook knew that they could face anything as long as they stood together.

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