"The Kim Dynasty: Secrets of the Heart"

15

Chapter 15: A Night by the River and the Chaotic Club Visit

The night air was cool, with a gentle breeze blowing through the trees, causing the surface of the river beside them to shimmer under the moonlight. Taehyung and Jungkook stood side by side, gazing at the calm river, the stillness of the night contrasting with the storm of emotions they carried inside. Memories from their past, dark and haunting, resurfaced, as if the river's silence allowed them to speak the unspoken thoughts that had been buried deep within their hearts for so long.

Jungkook, leaning against the railing by the riverbank, broke the silence. His voice was heavy with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. “You know, Taehyung, I still thank Namjoon-hyung every day for the choice he made back then. I don’t know how he carries the weight of that decision, but without him, I don’t think we’d be standing here today, as a family, as brothers.”

Taehyung, who had been deep in thought, nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the water. “You’re right. That day, I saw Namjoon-hyung like I’d never seen him before. He was so strong, like a wall standing firm in the middle of a storm. I don’t know how he endured it… how he still does. But he did, for us, for our family.”

Jungkook sighed, his fingers drumming against the cold metal of the railing. “Yeah. Sometimes I wonder how things would have turned out if he hadn’t been that strong, if he hadn’t made that decision. We owe him everything.”

The two brothers fell silent once again, both lost in their thoughts, their minds replaying the traumatic moments of their past. The decision Namjoon made, the one that altered the course of their lives forever, was a secret only the brothers shared, a burden that weighed heavily on their hearts.

As they stood by the river, reflecting on their past, a voice suddenly interrupted their somber moment. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Startled, Taehyung and Jungkook turned around to see a small figure approaching them in the dim light. It was Jimin, holding the leash of his tiny puppy, looking worried and upset. He assumed the worst, seeing two people standing beside the river late at night. “Are you two… are you thinking about jumping? Are you idiots? Don’t you know how precious life is?”

Taehyung and Jungkook, caught off guard by the sudden accusation, blinked in surprise. “What? No!” Jungkook exclaimed. “We’re not—what are you talking about?”

Jimin, still fuming and not entirely convinced, crossed his arms. “Then what are you doing here so late, standing by the river like that?”

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, amused by Jimin’s fiery reaction. “We’re just talking, okay? We weren’t planning anything dramatic.” He glanced at Jungkook, who was barely holding back a smirk.

Jimin sighed in relief, then realized who he was talking to. His eyes widened. “Wait… You two! I know you! Taehyung, Jungkook… What are you doing here?”

Jungkook chuckled. “We should be asking you that. What are you doing here, shorty?”

Jimin gestured to the leash in his hand, which was now suspiciously light. “I was just taking my puppy for a walk.”

Taehyung looked around, his playful grin returning. “Puppy? I don’t see any puppy.”

Jimin froze, panic flashing across his face. He spun around, searching for the small dog he had been walking just moments ago. “Oh no… Where’s my puppy? Oh my God, where did he go?”

Taehyung and Jungkook exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. “How does someone lose a puppy on a leash? You actually are not shorty but a short disappointment ” Taehyung teased, barely able to contain his laughter.

Jimin, now on the verge of tears, frantically started searching the park, calling out for his lost pet. “Don’t just stand there laughing! Help me find him!”

Seeing Jimin’s distress, Taehyung and Jungkook decided to put aside their teasing and help him. The three of them spread out across the park, searching every nook and cranny for the missing puppy. As the minutes ticked by with no sign of the small dog, Jimin grew more and more anxious.

“Where could he be?” Jimin muttered, wiping a tear from his eye. “I should never have let go of the leash...”

Taehyung, noticing how upset Jimin was, tried to lighten the mood. “Hey, don’t worry. We’ll find him. He’s probably just having an adventure of his own. Puppies love to explore.”

Jungkook nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he couldn’t have gone far. We’ll keep looking.”

After what felt like hours of searching, Jungkook glanced at his watch. It was getting late, and their plan to head to the club was slipping away. He turned to Jimin. “Hey, we were about to head to a club nearby. How about you join us? We can keep looking for your puppy afterward.”

Jimin hesitated. He had never been to a club before and didn’t really know what to expect. But he also needed a distraction from the worry gnawing at his heart. “I… I don’t know. I’ve never been to a club before.”

Taehyung’s eyes lit up. “Perfect! Then it’s time for you to experience it. It’ll be fun, trust me.”

Jimin, feeling overwhelmed but curious, finally nodded. “Okay, I guess. But we still need to find my puppy afterward!”

The three of them headed to the club, a lively place filled with thumping music, flashing lights, and an atmosphere thick with excitement. As soon as they entered, Jimin’s eyes went wide. He had never seen anything like it. People were dancing, laughing, and losing themselves in the music.

Taehyung and Jungkook, being regulars, navigated the club with ease. “Come on, Jimin! Let’s hit the dance floor!” Taehyung shouted over the music.

Jimin, completely out of his element, stood frozen for a moment before being pulled into the crowd by Jungkook. The beat of the music was infectious, and despite his initial hesitation, Jimin soon found himself enjoying the experience.

As the night went on, they danced, laughed, and shared drinks. Jimin, though overwhelmed at first, began to let loose, his worries about his lost puppy temporarily forgotten. Taehyung and Jungkook kept an eye on him, making sure he was having a good time.

But as the night wore on, Jimin suddenly remembered his puppy and tugged on Taehyung’s sleeve. “Hey… we still haven’t found my puppy.”

Taehyung, slightly tipsy, waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, Jimin. We’ll find him after this. He’s probably just exploring the park, waiting for you to come back.”

Just as Jimin was about to argue, the club’s door swung open, and to everyone’s surprise, Jimin’s puppy trotted in, tail wagging happily. The little dog had apparently followed them to the club and somehow managed to sneak inside.

Jimin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How… how did he get here?”

Jungkook and Taehyung burst into laughter. “Looks like your puppy is more adventurous than you thought!”

With his puppy safe and sound, Jimin finally relaxed, laughing along with Taehyung and Jungkook as they continued their night of fun. Though the evening had been chaotic and unexpected, it was one Jimin would never forget.