who am i?

Chapitre 6

The living room was filled with laughter, and I couldn't help but feel the warmth that had settled in over these past months. We'd been playing some ridiculous party game Jin had insisted on, and seeing everyone so carefree was refreshing. Namjoon's hearty laugh, J-Hope's contagious snickers, and even Taehyung's mischievous grin—it was easy to forget the rumors and hardships each of them seemed to carry.

Jungkook's competitive streak was on full display as he tried to outwit Jin, but as soon as Jin caught him cheating, the room exploded with laughter. I took a moment to soak it all in, realizing how strange yet wonderful it was to be here, to be... part of this.

For someone who'd always felt like an outsider, it was something I'd never imagined.

"Thank you," I said quietly, looking around at each of them. "For letting me be a part of this... family."

The room stilled for a moment, but the warmth on their faces stayed. Jimin gave me a shy smile, his eyes softening. "Hyung... you're not the only one who feels that way. Honestly, I never thought I'd have a family like this, either."

"Same for me," Jungkook added, nodding. "I've always been grateful that they took me in."

I tilted my head, caught off guard. "What do you mean?" I asked, confused. "Aren't you... part of the family?"

The lighthearted atmosphere dimmed as everyone shared a look of understanding. There was a seriousness in the room that hadn't been there before.

Jimin looked down, as if gathering his thoughts. "We... weren't born into this family, Yoongs," he said softly. "We were... brought in, for different reasons."

I glanced between Jimin and Jungkook, stunned. "What do you mean?"

Jungkook's gaze was steady, a hint of old pain lurking there. "My father—he wasn't a good man. He had debts, a lot of them. And when he couldn't pay... he offered me instead. Namjoon hyung didn't owe him anything, but he took me in and treated me like family."

My heart clenched at the thought of it. The kid who'd become like a little brother to me had been abandoned, sold. And yet, here he was, safe in a family that truly cared about him.

Jimin exhaled, meeting my gaze with a sad smile. "And me... I was found by J-Hope hyung. I'd been abandoned in a mansion belonging to someone who hated the Kims. I don't know what would've happened if he hadn't found me."

Namjoon, who'd been watching us quietly, stepped forward, his tone soft yet certain. "Family isn't always about blood, Yoongi. It's about choice, and in our case, about survival."

A mix of gratitude and sorrow filled me, hearing their stories. These were my friends, my brothers, and knowing what they'd been through only deepened the bond I felt with them.

Namjoon continued, glancing at Jungkook, as if to brace him. "Honestly, we'd been preparing for another member in our family, someone from the Min family." His gaze settled on me for a moment before turning distant. "But they refused at the last moment, so we lost that chance."

There was a heaviness in the air, the thought of an eighth member who might have been here. Somehow, it left me feeling even more like I belonged.

But, looking around at them, I knew that no matter how they'd come together, no matter how different our pasts were, this was my place. And I wasn't going anywhere.

As the night wore on, the warmth of our conversation still lingered. Suddenly, Tae sat up, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright, it's decided," he announced with a grin. "Everyone's having a sleepover in my room tonight. No exceptions."

Jungkook's face lit up, and Jimin nodded eagerly, already pushing off the couch to gather his things. I laughed, feeling a bit like we were kids planning a secret campout. Taehyung's room was massive, more like a lounge than a bedroom, and the thought of all of us crammed into one bed was ridiculous—but strangely comforting.

Taehyung bounded up, pulling out blankets and pillows from a nearby closet and tossing them onto the bed in a heap. Jungkook didn't waste any time diving into the pile, claiming his spot right in the middle. Jimin climbed in next to him, nestling into the covers. I found a spot near the edge, feeling their warmth all around me. This—this closeness, this feeling of being accepted—was unlike anything I'd ever known.

Taehyung lay down beside us, pulling the covers over us as if we were his younger brothers. "Now, sleep tight," he whispered playfully, stifling a laugh. "No nightmares allowed."

I couldn't help but smile, and in that moment, all the tension and worry I'd been carrying seemed to melt away. Maybe, just for tonight, everything would be alright.

As the last of our whispers trailed off and soft breaths filled the room, I barely noticed Namjoon, Jin, and J-Hope quietly slipping away. Before leaving, they exchanged a meaningful look, as if silently agreeing on something, then closed the door behind them and headed down the hall toward Namjoon's office. Whatever they were planning, I didn't know—but for now, I let sleep take over, feeling safe among these people who had become my family.