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

**Chapter 6: The Cracks Begin to Show**

The days passed in a blur for Jungkook, each one blending into the next. The bullying didn’t stop, and neither did the pressure to keep up appearances. He was crumbling on the inside, but he did everything in his power to hide it. His brothers were busy with their own lives, and he was determined not to be a burden.

But despite his efforts, the cracks in his facade were beginning to show.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and the Kim brothers were gathered in the living room. Jin had decided that they all needed some quality time together, away from work and school. He’d prepared a variety of snacks, and they were supposed to be watching a movie, but Jungkook couldn’t focus. His mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with dark thoughts he couldn’t escape from.

As the movie played, Jungkook found himself absentmindedly scratching at the fresh wound on his arm, hidden beneath his long sleeves. The pain was a strange comfort, something to focus on that wasn’t the endless noise in his head.

“Hey, Kookie,” Taehyung’s voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. “You’re awfully quiet today. Everything okay?”

Jungkook quickly pulled his hand away from his arm, forcing a smile. “Yeah, Taetae hyung. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

Taehyung’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t press the issue. “Alright. Just making sure.”

But Jungkook could feel Taehyung’s gaze on him for the rest of the afternoon, and it made him even more anxious. He knew his brothers were starting to notice that something was off, and it terrified him. The last thing he wanted was for them to see how messed up he really was.

As the movie ended and the credits rolled, Jin got up to clear the empty snack plates. “I’m glad we did this,” he said with a smile. “It’s nice to have some time together.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while since we all just relaxed,” Namjoon agreed, stretching his arms above his head.

Yoongi, who had been quiet throughout the movie, gave a small nod. “It was nice. We should do it more often.”

Jimin noticed Jungkook’s silence and nudged him gently. “What do you think, Kookie? Did you have fun?”

Jungkook nodded, his smile strained. “Yeah, it was nice, Chim hyung.”

But the smile didn’t reach his eyes, and Jimin felt a pang of concern. He’d been keeping a close watch on Jungkook since his conversation with Namjoon, and the more he observed, the more worried he became. Something was definitely wrong, but Jungkook was still refusing to open up.

“Jungkook, are you sure you’re alright?” Jin asked, his voice full of brotherly concern. “You’ve been looking a bit pale lately.”

“I’m fine, hyung,” Jungkook insisted, standing up from the couch. “Just tired, like I said.”

“Maybe you should take it easy tomorrow,” Jin suggested, his brow furrowing. “You don’t have to push yourself so hard, Kookie.”

Jungkook nodded again, though he wasn’t really listening. He just wanted to get away, to be alone where he didn’t have to pretend anymore.

“I’m going to head to bed,” Jungkook said, avoiding eye contact. “I’m really tired.”

The other brothers exchanged glances, each of them noticing Jungkook’s strange behavior. But before they could say anything, Jungkook was already walking out of the room, leaving them in an uneasy silence.

As Jungkook reached the stairs, he heard the soft murmur of his brothers talking behind him, their voices laced with concern. He hated that he was making them worry, but he couldn’t stop himself. Everything felt like it was slipping out of his control.