"Unraveled Hearts"

chapter - 4

Jungkook stepped out of the taxi and onto the familiar driveway of his family's home. It was late in the afternoon, and the golden light of the setting sun bathed the house in a warm glow. His mother, as usual, had been nagging him relentlessly over the phone for months to return home, complaining that it had been too long since she'd seen him. What she didn't know was that he was about to surprise her, something he had looked forward to since landing in Seoul.

He walked up to the door, taking a deep breath before ringing the bell. Inside, he could already hear his parents bickering, their voices a mix of irritation and affection—nothing new. His father's deep baritone was responding to his mother's sharp but loving tone.

"Why do you always leave your shoes in the hallway? I've told you a hundred times, it's dangerous! You'll trip and break your neck one of these days!" she huffed.

"I'm not a child, honey," his father retorted, though it was clear he was used to these scoldings. "Besides, I never trip!"

Jungkook chuckled quietly to himself. Some things never changed.

The door swung open, and his mother stood there, mid-rant, her eyes wide with surprise as she saw him standing there with his suitcase in hand. Her hand flew to her mouth, and a wave of emotions washed over her face.

"Jungkook?" she gasped, her voice a mixture of disbelief and excitement. "You're really here?"

"Surprise, Eomma!" Jungkook grinned, stepping forward to wrap her in a warm hug.

His father appeared in the doorway behind her, his eyes widening when he saw his son standing there. "Jungkook! Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" he asked, his stern expression softening as he embraced his son. His father's strong arms wrapped around him, a rare but cherished display of affection.

"I wanted to surprise you both," Jungkook said, stepping back to take them both in. "I've missed you."

His mother wiped away a few happy tears. "We missed you too! You've been gone for too long, I was about to fly out to the U.S. myself if you didn't come home soon."

They spent the next hour catching up, sharing emotional moments, and laughing over dinner. His mother asked him a thousand questions about his life in the States, while his father tried to appear less interested, though Jungkook knew he was just as curious. It felt good to be home, even with the constant stream of questions and the familiar chaos of his parents' banter.

After dinner, Jungkook excused himself to get ready for the club. Standing in front of the mirror in his room, he checked his reflection. The sleek, all-black outfit he chose fit him perfectly, accentuating his lean muscles and sharp features. His tattoos peeked out from the sleeve of his shirt, his eyebrow and lip piercings and his dark hair was styled just right, giving him that effortlessly handsome look that turned heads everywhere he went.

Satisfied, Jungkook grabbed his leather jacket and made his way out. "I'll be back late, don't wait up," he called to his parents, who waved him off with fond smiles. His mother shook her head, muttering about how handsome he looked while his father just chuckled.

When Jungkook arrived at the club, Namjoon and Yoongi were already seated in a private booth, drinks in hand, the music pulsing through the space around them. Yoongi's club was one of the most popular spots in Seoul, known for its exclusive atmosphere and incredible music. As Jungkook approached, Namjoon grinned and raised his glass in greeting.

"There he is!" Namjoon called out, his voice cutting through the loud music. "The prodigal son returns."

Yoongi, ever the man of few words, simply nodded in acknowledgment, but his small smile was enough to show how glad he was to see Jungkook back.