NEVER LET GO [Discontinued]

23 - Family drama

Kim Mansion at Night

The mansion was unusually quiet, the usual hustle reduced to soft whispers of the wind. Mr. Kim had just returned from his trip to Thailand, and as soon as he stepped inside, he felt the calm that usually greeted him.

Without much thought, he made his way to Taehyung’s room. Opening the door softly, he saw Taehyung sleeping, his face serene despite the chaos in their lives. A small smile tugged at Mr. Kim’s lips. After all these years, he still looked as peaceful as he did when he was a child.

As he walked back through the hallway, Mr. Kim noticed a faint flicker of a lighter. There, just around the corner, was Jungkook, about to light a cigarette.

Kim: "Still smoking around Taehyung?"
His voice was low, but it startled Jungkook enough to jerk his hand back.

Jungkook: "No... no, I was just... going to throw it away."

He awkwardly shoved the lighter back into his pocket. Mr. Kim took a long look at Jungkook, as if searching for words he hadn’t yet found. The silence was heavy, but instead of saying what he wanted to, Mr. Kim simply nodded and turned away. Old habits, after all, were hard to break. He wasn’t great at breaking the ice—not even with his sons or jungkook, as he reached the corner, he spoke again, his tone firmer this time.

"You should stop. It’s not just you anymore."

Jungkook stiffened, the indirect warning clear.

------

Making his way downstairs, Mr. Kim heard the door creak open and saw Jimin stepping inside, halting the moment their eyes met.

Jimin: "Dad, when did you get back?"
He smiled, though it was tinged with surprise.

Kim: "An hour ago. I guess my kids aren’t home even at midnight anymore." His tone was light, though the subtle hint of reproach didn’t go unnoticed.

Jimin: "How was the trip?"
He asked, keeping the conversation flowing.

Kim: "Fine, though... there’s something strange happening at the port these days." The shift in his tone made Jimin’s smile falter.

Jimin: "What do you mean?"

Kim: "I don’t know yet if the incidents here are connected, but something feels off. I’ll have to look into it more."

Jimin: "What will we do if it is connected?" His voice held a slight edge of concern.

Kim: "We’ll deal with it. For now, don’t let Jungkook and Taehyung know about this." Jimin nodded, understanding the weight of the unspoken threats that always loomed over their family.

Just then, the front door swung open, and in stumbled Jackson, a bit drunk, his steps heavier than usual. He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes locking with Mr. Kim’s.

Jackson (muttering): "Fuck... Dad, when did you get back?"

Kim: "Almost 65 years ago." The sarcasm was evident, and Jackson rolled his eyes, knowing his father was mocking him.

Kim: "At your age, I was starting a family, Jackson." The words cut through the air with a father’s expectation.

Jackson (growling): "What do you want me to do? It’s not my fault I haven’t found anyone to settle down with."

Kim: "Aren’t you embarrassed? Your youngest brother..." His sentence trailed, leaving the comparison unspoken but clear.

Jackson (interrupting): "Yeah, yeah, Tae settled down, and I think that’s enough. At least he's going to continue the bloodline." His words were sharp, bitterness evident in his voice.