Resurgence ~VKOOK~

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The orphanage had always been a place of harsh realities for Jungkook. It was a stone-cold building that stood at the edge of the city, its paint peeling, and windows drafty. Inside, the corridors echoed with the sounds of crying infants, the constant hum of fluorescent lights, and the occasional barking order from the overworked caretakers.

Life here wasn't meant to be easy. Jungkook had learned that early on. You kept your head down, did your chores, and tried not to draw attention. Being one of the older kids, nearly eighteen, meant his time here was running out. He could feel the countdown in every interaction, every sideways glance from the staff as if they were just waiting for the day they could finally toss him out into the world.

Most of the younger children still had hope-hope of adoption, hope of finding a family. But Jungkook had abandoned that fantasy long ago. The real world outside these walls was waiting for him, and it wasn't going to be kind.

Jungkook had already begun to understand what it meant to struggle. Since he was fourteen, he'd taken on small jobs-sweeping floors in the nearby market, doing deliveries for a local grocery store, and washing dishes at a small café. It was never enough to save much, but it kept him afloat. Barely. His life was a revolving door of early mornings, long shifts, and late nights back at the orphanage, scrubbing the kitchen floors for pocket money.

But it never lasted. Jobs for kids like him were never stable. One mistake, and he'd be tossed out just like that. Which is exactly what had happened.

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The Café Incident

It was an overcast afternoon when Jungkook's last job at the café came to a bitter end.

Jungkook had been working in the back, as usual, his hands raw from scrubbing the stainless-steel counters. The café owner, Mr. Park, was a gruff old man with little patience for mistakes. Jungkook had already been walking on thin ice for weeks after accidentally breaking a few dishes.

The day had started like any other, with Jungkook moving between tables, wiping down surfaces, and rushing back to the kitchen to help with the dishes. But then, a misunderstanding occurred that sealed his fate. One of the customers had complained that her coffee order was wrong-she had asked for a soy latte but received regular milk instead. It wasn't Jungkook's fault; the barista had made the mistake. But Mr. Park didn't care about whose fault it was.

"You! Boy!" Mr. Park's voice rang out across the café, drawing the attention of everyone inside. Jungkook froze, his heart sinking. He already knew what was coming.

"Yes, sir?" Jungkook said, trying to keep his voice even as he walked over, hands clenched at his sides.

"You think you can mess up orders now, huh? You're barely worth the wages I'm paying you!" Mr. Park's face was flushed with anger as he slammed the cup onto the counter. "Get out of my café. You're done."

"But I didn't-"

"I said, out!"

Jungkook didn't have the energy to argue. The shame of the situation, the eyes of the other customers burning into him, was enough to seal his silence. Without another word, he grabbed his worn-out jacket from the back and left.

As he stepped outside into the gray afternoon, Jungkook's breath caught in his throat. The bitter wind whipped against his face as the reality hit him. He had lost his only source of income. He'd been saving what little he could, but now it wasn't enough. The orphanage wouldn't keep him much longer, and without money, he'd have nowhere to go.

---

Back at the orphanage:

Later that evening, Jungkook sat at his usual corner in the orphanage's dimly lit kitchen. The room was mostly silent, the only sound being the slow drip of the faucet and the low hum of the refrigerator. He stared at the few coins in his hand, counting them again, even though he knew it wasn't enough.

What now? he thought. Where do I go from here?

He was losing time. The orphanage didn't allow adults to stay, and his eighteenth birthday was just around the corner. He knew that soon enough, they would give him his things-what little he had-and show him to the door.

The caretaker, Mrs. Leena, entered the kitchen then, her tired eyes softening when she saw Jungkook. She was one of the few who had always been kind to him.

"Jungkook," she said softly, pulling out a chair to sit beside him. "I heard what happened at the café."

He nodded, the frustration and helplessness boiling inside him. "I messed up, Mrs. Lee."

She gave a soft sigh. "You didn't. Sometimes, life's just unfair, Jungkook. You've been dealt a rough hand. But you're smart. You'll find a way."

Her words were comforting, but they didn't change his situation. He didn't know what to say, so he simply stared down at the table.

Mrs. Leena hesitated for a moment before sliding a folded piece of paper across to him.

"I found this in the paper earlier today. It's not much, but... it might be a start."

Jungkook glanced down at the paper. It was an ad, wrinkled and worn from being folded and unfolded, but the words immediately grabbed his attention:

"Housemaid Wanted - Experience Preferred, Room and Board Provided."

His heart raced as he read the ad again. This could be it-his way out. A chance to leave the orphanage, to finally move forward. And more than that, it was a chance to get closer to his real goal.

"Thank you," Jungkook said quietly, his mind already turning over the possibilities.

Mrs. Leena patted his hand. "You've been strong, Jungkook. I know things haven't been easy for you. But keep going. Don't let the past hold you back."

If only she knew how much the past still haunted him. How much it drove him.

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The Plan

Jungkook spent that night restless in bed, staring up at the ceiling of the shared dormitory. The other kids slept peacefully around him, their quiet breaths filling the room. But Jungkook's mind was miles away.

The May family. That name had been burned into his memory for a decade now. -the person who had destroyed his life, who had walked away from the accident unscathed, leaving him alone in the world. Protected by wealth and influence, they had escaped justice, and Jungkook had been left with nothing.

He needed to infiltrate their lives, earn their trust, and eventually, find the evidence that could bring their empire crumbling down. It was time for payback.

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Present Day - The Mansion Gates

As Jungkook stood in front of the imposing gates of the Kim mansion, the weight of scoring the job at any cost pressed down on him immensely.

This was it. It could be his new beginning or the end of it all.

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