"Bound by Love: The Seven Kims". (Jk Centric)

**Chapter 5: The Hidden Scars**

The night was quiet, the silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves outside the Kim household. Inside, all seemed peaceful, but behind the closed door of Jungkook's room, a storm was brewing.

Jungkook sat on the edge of his bed, his hands trembling as he stared at the small blade in his hand. His breathing was shallow, his chest tight with the weight of emotions he couldn't understand, let alone control. The bullying had started off small-just a few harsh words here and there -but it had quickly escalated. Every day, he faced the taunts, the shoves, the cruel laughter. And every day, he buried it deeper inside, afraid to tell his brothers, afraid of being a burden.

Jungkook had always been the strong one, the one who smiled no matter what. But lately, that smile had become harder to maintain. The pressure to be perfect, to meet his brothers' expectations, was crushing him. And the worst part was, he felt like he couldn't tell anyone. They all had so much on their plates-Jin with his job at the hospital, Yoongi running the family business, Hoseok and Namjoon busy with the college, Jimin and Taehyung trying to prove themselves in their internships. They didn't need his problems added to the mix.

So, Jungkook had turned to the one thing that seemed to give him some control, some relief from the overwhelming pain inside.

He pressed the blade to his skin, just below the sleeve of his t-shirt, where the scars would be hidden from view. His breath hitched as he dragged it across, feeling the sharp sting as it cut into his flesh. For a brief moment, the emotional pain was drowned out by the physical, a twisted sense of relief washing over him. It was the only time he felt in control, the only time he could make the pain stop.

As the blood welled up, Jungkook quickly grabbed a tissue from the nightstand, pressing it against the wound. He felt a wave of guilt crash over him, mingling with the relief. He hated himself for resorting to this, but he didn't know how else to cope. He was trapped, suffocating under the weight of his secrets, and this was the only way he knew to let out the pressure.

He wiped away the blood and tossed the tissue into the trash, carefully rolling down his sleeve to cover the fresh cut. His heart pounded in his chest as he glanced at the door, half-expecting one of his brothers to walk in and catch him. But the house was quiet, everyone already in their rooms, oblivious to the turmoil he was going through.

Jungkook stood up and crossed the room to the mirror. He stared at his reflection, his eyes hollow and empty. He barely recognized himself anymore. The cheerful, innocent boy his brothers loved was gone, replaced by someone he didn't even know. He wanted to cry out for help, to tell them what was happening, but the words were stuck in his throat. How could he tell them that their baby brother was falling apart?

He clenched his fists, trying to steady his breathing. "You can't let them see," he whispered to himself, his voice shaky. "You can't let them worry.

Jungkook turned away from the mirror and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. He curled up into a ball, his mind racing. He wished he could go back to a time when everything was simpler, when his biggest worry was whether he'd pass his exams or make his hyungs proud. But those days were gone, and he was left alone with his thoughts, with the fear that this darkness inside him would never go awav.

He lay there in the darkness, the pain in his arm slowly fading, replaced by a numbness that seeped into his bones. It was easier this way, he told himself. If he didn't feel anything, he couldn't be hurt. But even as he tried to convince himself, he knew deep down that this wasn't the solution. It was just a temporary escape from a problem that was eating him alive.

The next morning, Jungkook woke up to the sound of his alarm blaring. He groaned, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over him. He hadn't slept much, his mind too restless to find peace. But he forced himself out of bed, going through the motions of his morning routine like a robot.

In the kitchen, Jin was already up, cooking breakfast with his usual efficiency. "Morning, Kookie," he greeted with a smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, hyung," Jungkook lied, forcing a smile onto his face. "Just tied from studying."

Jin nodded, not noticing the shadow in Jungkook's eyes. "Make sure you eat well, then. You need your energy for school."

Jungkook sat down at the table, picking at his food. The smell of Jin's cooking usually brought him comfort, but today, it just made his stomach churn. He ate slowly, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

As the other brothers trickled into the kitchen, the usual morning banter filled the air. Hoseok teased Taehyung about his bedhead, Jimin and Yoongi bickered good-naturedly over the last piece of toast, and Namjoon reminded everyone about their schedules for the day. It was a scene of normalcy, one that should have made Jungkook feel safe. But all he felt was a growing sense of isolation.

"You okay, Kookie?" Hoseok asked, his voice cutting through Jungkook's thoughts.

Jungkook looked up, startled. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, Hobi hyung. Just tired."

Hoseok studied him for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "You sure? You look a little pale."

Jungkook nodded quickly, forcing another smile. "I'm fine, really. Just didn't sleep well."

"Alright," Hoseok said, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "Make sure you get some rest tonight, okay? You've been working really hard lately."

"I will, hyung," Jungkook promised, his heart pounding in his chest.

The conversation moved on, but Jungkook could feel the weight of Hoseok's gaze on him, lingering with concern. He hated lying to his hyungs, but he didn't know what else to do. The last thing he wanted was for them to worry about him, to see how broken he really was.

As the day went on, Jungkook went through the motions of school, barely able to focus on his classes. The bullying continued, the cruel words and shoves leaving invisible bruises on his already fragile psyche. By the time he got home, he was completely drained, the weight of the day pressing down on him like a heavy blanket.

That night, as he lay in bed, the urge to hurt himself returned, stronger than ever. He fought against it, trying to distract himself, but the need for release was too powerful. He reached for the blade, the familiar cold metal pressing against his skin. His hand shook as he made the first cut, a small gasp escaping his lips at the sharp sting. The physical pain was a relief, a distraction from the overwhelming sadness that threatened to swallow him whole.

But as he lay there, his arm bleeding, Jungkook felt a deep sense of shame wash over him. He was hurting himself, and he didn't know how to stop. He was spiraling, and he was too afraid to reach out for help.

He cried silently into his pillow, the tears soaking through the fabric. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up, how much longer he could pretend everything was okay. But for now, he had no choice. He had to keep it hidden, had to keep his hyungs from finding out. They were his world, and he couldn't bear the thought of disappointing them.

But deep down, Jungkook knew that this secret wouldn't stay hidden forever. And when the truth finally came out, it would shatter everything.

----

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