As days turned into months, Jungkook's bratty, carefree nature slowly faded away. The once-playful boy who demanded Taehyung marry him at every chance now seemed to understand the weight of his words. He no longer made those childish pleas, realizing that life was more complicated than he’d imagined.He was still a brat at heart but only in front of Taehyung. With everyone else, he’d grown more serious, especially as the reality of his family's financial troubles became clearer. It was nearly time for Jungkook to leave for Seoul, and with that looming departure, he found himself worrying more about the home his mother had loved so dearly.
The large house, filled with memories and the essence of his late mother, was in danger of being sold to pay off debts he knows existed. It was the home she had designed with her own hands, a place where she had laughed, loved, and eventually taken her last breath. Jungkook couldn’t bear the thought of losing it.
Determined to help, he began working for Taehyung at his restaurant as an accountant, diligently managing the finances and saving every bit he could. For Jungkook, this was no longer a game—it was a fight to preserve the one tangible piece of his mother’s legacy. He believed with all his heart that his dadda was poor, unaware that his father was hiding the truth to teach him the value of hard work.
Mr. and Mrs. Kim were heartbroken seeing their precious baby boy overworking himself. They had gone to great lengths to stop him, insisting that he was born to be spoiled and protected. For Mrs. Kim, Jungkook was the living piece of her best friend, a gift she vowed to cherish. She couldn’t stand the sight of him laboring, her heart aching every time she saw his tired eyes. She tried everything to get him to stop, from bribes of his favorite foods to emotional pleas, but Jungkook was adamant.
Even Taehyung had tried to dissuade him. He couldn’t bear seeing Jungkook’s once bright and carefree spirit dimmed by the burdens he had taken on. “Koo, you don’t have to do this. You’re still a kid; let us take care of things,” Taehyung would say, his voice soft but firm.
But Jungkook just shook his head. “I’m not a kid anymore, hyungie. I want to help. I have to help.”
And so, Jungkook's days became a blur of numbers and receipts.
Jungkook’s life took on a new rhythm. Every evening after his shift at the restaurant, he’d head over to the convenience store to pick up extra hours. It was there that he met Lisa—a bubbly, kind-hearted girl who quickly became his new friend.
Their friendship blossomed effortlessly. The first night they walked home together, the air was filled with easy laughter and shared stories. They'd chat about their favorite snacks, movies, and dreams under the moonlit sky, their friendship deepening with each passing day. For Jungkook, Lisa became someone he could confide in, someone who made his burdens feel lighter.
But for Taehyung, it was a different story.
He tried to ignore the way his heart sank whenever he heard Jungkook excitedly recounting stories about Lisa to Mrs. Kim. “Mumma, Lisa said the funniest thing today…,” Jungkook would say, his eyes sparkling with joy. It was a look Taehyung hadn’t seen directed at him in what felt like ages.
At first, Taehyung told himself it was nothing—just a phase, just Jungkook making a new friend. But as the weeks went by, he couldn’t deny the tightness in his chest whenever he saw them walking home together, their laughter echoing down the street. Lisa was everything Taehyung wasn’t—graceful, feminine, and always smiling. The thought that she might capture Jungkook’s heart made Taehyung’s stomach twist in ways he didn’t understand.
He would watch from the restaurant window as they walked off together, his eyes following their retreating figures until they turned the corner. And every time Jungkook came back late, with a glowing smile and a story about his new friend, Taehyung felt a strange, burning sensation in his chest that he couldn't quite name.
One evening, Taehyung tried to distract himself by spending extra hours at the restaurant, focusing on chopping vegetables with more force than necessary. But when Jungkook came bouncing in, his eyes alight with excitement, Taehyung’s heart sank.
“Hyungie, guess what? Lisa got us tickets to the circus! I’ve never been to one before!” Jungkook’s voice was filled with pure joy, the kind Taehyung used to hear when Jungkook would ask him to marry him. But those days seemed so far away now.
Taehyung forced a smile, though his hands shook ever so slightly. “That’s... great, Koo. Have fun,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. But as he turned back to the cutting board, his hand slipped, nearly slicing his finger. He laughed it off awkwardly, pretending it was nothing, but inside, he was unraveling.
That night, Taehyung lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Jungkook’s bright smile and heard him say Lisa’s name. It twisted something inside him. Why did it hurt so much to hear her name?
The realization hit him one rainy evening as he watched Jungkook and Lisa walk together under an umbrella, their heads nearly touching. When Jungkook rested his head on Lisa’s shoulder, Taehyung felt an unfamiliar pain shoot through his chest.
“Why does it hurt so much?” he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rain.
Then it hit him. This wasn’t just jealousy; it was something deeper. He wasn’t just afraid of losing a friend.. He didn’t know when it happened, but Jungkook had claimed a space in his heart, a space that would always belong to him.
At the same time , Jungkook was facing his own storm.
At the circus that evening, the bright lights and laughter around them felt like a cruel contrast to the heaviness in Jungkook’s heart. As he and Lisa sat on a bench under the neon lights, the younger boy couldn't hold it in anymore.
With his head resting on her shoulder, Jungkook's voice was barely a whisper. “Lisa, I... I feel so useless. No matter what I do, I feel like I’m not enough for him. Taehyungie hyung has done so much for me, and I’ve been nothing but a spoiled brat,” he confessed, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “How could someone like me ever deserve someone like him?”
Lisa’s eyes softened, and she placed a comforting hand on his, squeezing gently. “Jungkook, you’re amazing. You’ve worked so hard, changed so much... Taehyung would be lucky to have you,” she said, her voice gentle yet firm. “You don’t have to be perfect to be loved, you know. And honestly, if Taehyung can’t see how wonderful you are... well, he’s the one missing out.”
Jungkook sniffled, his voice breaking. “But... he’s been so distant lately. I think he’s finally tired of me. Maybe... maybe he’s realized I’m just a burden.”
“Don’t say that,” Lisa frowned. “You’ve got a heart of gold, Jungkook. Anyone can see how much you care for him. If Taehyung can’t see that, then maybe he’s the one who’s blind.”
Jungkook smiled weakly.
Meanwhile, Taehyung was sitting in the empty restaurant, staring at the untouched plate of food before him. He felt lost, his thoughts consumed by memories of Jungkook's laughter, his silly proposals, the way he used to cling to him. How had he been so blind?
All this time, he had brushed off Jungkook’s affections as childish jokes, never realizing that he had grown to cherish every bit of attention the younger gave him. He missed the bratty Jungkook who used to annoy him just to get a reaction, the boy who had once asked him to marry him every other day. Now, that same boy was walking away.
Taehyung buried his face in his hands, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “I’m such an idiot,” he muttered. “All this time... all this time I’ve been torturing him . I miss him ."
But instead of saying anything, he kept his distance, too afraid to ruin the fragile connection they still had. He found himself longing for the bratty, stubborn boy who used to follow him around like a lost puppy, begging him to get married.
And it was in those moments of longing that Taehyung finally understood—he didn’t just want Jungkook to stay by his side; he wanted him in a way that was more than just friendship. He wanted the boy’s laughter, his smiles, his love—all for himself.
And finally the day came , yes jungkook was going.
****
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My love from the countryside ✅
Fanfic"An arrogant brat is so spoiled that his father had to send him to the countryside, to his friend's home, to teach him a lesson in respecting others. A calm, disciplined, and responsible son is tasked with teaching the spoiled brat some valuable lif...