SCARRED AFFECTIONS

Chapter 6

It was 7 in the morning when the doorbell rang at the Jeon residence. Mr. Jeon, still in his robe, shuffled to the door, expecting a neighbor or perhaps a delivery. Instead, his breath caught in his throat as he saw his son standing there, disheveled and broken.

Jungkook's face was pale, tear-streaked, his eyes swollen and red. His usually bright expression had been replaced by a hollow, devastated look that sent a chill through his father. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair a mess, and it seemed like he hadn't slept in days. Without a word, Jungkook stepped inside, his steps heavy and slow as he made his way to the couch, collapsing into it as if the weight of the world had been resting on his shoulders.

"Bun... what happened?" Mr. Jeon asked softly, his heart aching at the sight of his son so broken.

Jungkook didn't answer immediately, his body slumping further into the couch, burying his face in his hands. The silence was louder than any words he could have spoken.

Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Jeon hurried down the stairs, her face creased with concern. The moment she saw her son, her heart shattered. She rushed to his side, sitting down beside him, her hand gently stroking his back. "Kookie, what's wrong baby? Tell eomma what happened?" she whispered, her voice soft but filled with worry.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of Jungkook's quiet, shaky breaths. He lifted his head slowly, his lip trembling as he looked at his mother. "I... I broke up with Taehyung," he finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Mrs. Jeon's heart sank, and she pulled her son into her arms, holding him tightly. "Oh, my baby," she murmured, kissing the top of his head. "What happened? Why?"

Jungkook's body shook as he tried to hold back his tears, but it was no use. The floodgates opened, and he sobbed into his mother's arms. "I tried, eomma. I really did. But I can't do it anymore...I can't live in that darkness."

His mother's arms tightened around him, her heart breaking for her son. She had seen how much Jungkook loved Taehyung, how deeply he had cared for him. "I know, sweetie. I know how hard this must be for you," she whispered, rubbing soothing circles on his back. "But you have to take care of yourself too."

Jungkook's body trembled, unable to stop the tears from falling. His voice broke as he spoke, barely audible, "I tried so hard, eomma. I thought if I loved him enough, he'd leave that life behind for me... but he didn't."

Mrs. Jeon's eyes softened, her heart aching for her son. She gently pulled him closer, stroking his hair. "Kookie, the life Taehyung leads... it's not something he can just walk away from. The mafia work didn't start with him. It's been in his family for generations, passed down from his grandparents. His whole family has been involved in it for years. He's his family's heir, their legacy. How could you even think he'd leave it all behind?"

Jungkook's tears fell harder, the harsh truth settling in deeper than before. "I thought... I thought maybe, for us... for our future, he would."

Mrs. Jeon sighed softly, wiping the tears from his face. "You shouldn't have been with him in the first place, Kookie. I know your heart was in it, but that kind of life? It's too dangerous, too consuming. But now, whatever has happened, you don't deserve to live with that kind of pain. I'm proud of you for choosing yourself, for being brave enough to walk away."

Jungkook sobbed again, feeling the weight of her words, but also relief. "It hurts so much, eomma."

"I know, sweetheart," she whispered, holding him tighter. "

"But I'm here, and in time, you'll realize you did what's best for you. You'll heal, Kookie. You're stronger than you think." She added

Mr. Jeon sat down on the other side of Jungkook, his large hand resting on his son's knee, offering silent support. "It takes a lot of strength to walk away, Jungkook. I know it hurts now, but you did what you had to do. We're proud of you, son."

Jungkook nodded weakly, but the pain in his chest felt unbearable. He had loved Taehyung with everything he had, and now, it felt like he was leaving a piece of himself behind.

---

**Meanwhile, at Taehyung's Office**

Across the city, Taehyung sat at his desk, staring blankly at the walls in front of him. His office was usually a place of focus and precision, but today, his mind was miles away. The image of Jungkook's tear-filled eyes haunted him, replaying over and over like a broken record. He hadn't slept at all the previous night, his thoughts consumed by the breakup.

Hyunjin, Taehyung's younger brother and right-hand man, had been watching him all day, concern etched across his face. Taehyung wasn't one to show weakness, especially not in front of others. He was always composed, always in control. But today, something was different.

"Hyung," Hyunjin finally said, stepping into the office and closing the door behind him. "You've been out of it all day. What's going on?"

Taehyung didn't respond right away, his hands trembling slightly as he ran them through his hair. His chest felt tight, like he couldn't breathe, and before he could stop himself, tears filled his eyes. Hyunjin froze in place, his eyes wide in shock. He had never seen his brother cry before. Taehyung was always the strong one, the leader. Seeing him like this was almost terrifying.

"Hyung..." Hyunjin's voice was soft now, unsure of what to say.

Taehyung pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to stop the tears, but they came anyway. His breath hitched, and for the first time in years, he let himself break. "Jungkook... he left me," Taehyung choked out, his voice filled with a raw, desperate pain.

Hyunjin's heart clenched at the sight of his brother's pain. "What? Why? I thought you two were..."

"He couldn't handle it anymore. My life...what I do...it was too much for him. And now he's gone, and I don't know what to do," Taehyung's voice cracked, and he buried his face in his hands, shaking with quiet sobs.

Hyunjin sat down beside him, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Hyung... I'm so sorry. I know how much he meant to you."

Taehyung shook his head, his chest heaving with sobs. "I can't lose him, Hyunjin. He's... he's my everything."

The room was heavy with silence as Hyunjin sat there, unsure of how to comfort his brother. "We're supposed to leave the country for a mission day after tomorrow," Hyunjin said quietly, trying to bring Taehyung back to reality. "You need to focus, hyung. We can't afford distractions right now."

Taehyung wiped at his eyes, trying to pull himself together. "I know," he muttered, his voice hollow. "But before we go... I have to see him one last time. I have to try."

That night, Taehyung drove to Jungkook's apartment, his heart pounding in his chest. He needed to see him, to talk to him, to make things right. But when he arrived, the apartment was empty. No lights, no sign of life. He stood there for a moment, staring at the door, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach.

"He's probably at his parents' house", Taehyung thought bitterly, his heart heavy with disappointment. He wanted so badly to go there, to beg for Jungkook's forgiveness, beg him to come back to him, but the thought of facing his parents was too much. After all, he was the reason their son was in pain.

With a heavy heart, Taehyung turned and walked back to his car, his mind racing. He couldn't leave the country without seeing Jungkook, but the thought of his rivals finding out about his vulnerability was terrifying. What if something happened while he was away? What if he never saw Jungkook again?

The thought made his chest tighten painfully, but he couldn't do anything. Not tonight.

**The Next Day**

The following day, Taehyung and Hyunjin left Korea for their mission. As the plane ascended into the sky, Taehyung stared out of the window, his heart aching with regret. The image of Jungkook's tear-streaked face refused to leave his mind.

He was leaving behind the one person who meant everything to him, and he couldn't shake the fear that when he returned, it might be too late to fix things.

to be continued....