When Truth Hurts

Chapter -15

" I....I am fine." Jungkook said.

“No, you’re not fine, Jungkook. Don’t try to hide it. What’s going on with your ankle?” Yoongi said firmly.

"I'm fine, hyung. It’s nothing," Jungkook muttered, attempting to shrug them off.

Yoongi was having none of it. He stepped forward, grabbing Jungkook’s shoulder and forcing him to sit down on the couch. "Sit. Now," Yoongi ordered, his tone brokering no argument. “We’re not letting you brush this off.”

Jin stepped in then, placing a calming hand on Yoongi’s shoulder. “Yoongi, enough.You are scaring him. Let me handle this.”
Yoongi slowly pulled back, but his eyes stayed narrowed, still not believing him.

Jin gently guided Jungkook to the couch. He kneeling in front of him and carefully lifting his foot to check the ankle. Jungkook winced, but Jin gently ran his hands along the bandage.  "How did this happen?Why didn’t you say anything? How long has this been hurting?" He asked softly but worried.

Jungkook looked away, his face turning red with guilt. “It’s fine, hyung. Really,” he said. He tried to pull his leg back, but Jin held it firmly, not letting him avoid the situation.

“Answer me, Kook,” Jin insisted, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. “How long have you been hiding this?”
Jungkook took a deep breath, knowing there was no getting out of this now. “I hurt it day before yesterday,” He confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. “I told you the books fell, but it was me who tripped. I didn't want to worry you, so I didn't say anything. I just wrapped it up in the nurse's office."

The room fell silent. Taehyung’s face twisted in pain, his hand clutching his chest. “Why didn’t you tell us, Kook?” He whispered, his voice breaking.

Jungkook sat on the couch, avoiding their eyes and staring down at his hands  hoping they could give him a way out.

"Jungkook ?" Namjoon called out.

“I don’t want to take advantage of the love you’ve all given me,” Jungkook said quietly, his voice trembling with emotion. “I... I can handle it. I don’t want to be a burden. You all already do so much for me.”

Jungkook's words made the room went silent. The brothers looked at him with hurt eyes.

Jin’s hand lingered on Jungkook’s ankle, his touch gentle but firm. The hurt in his eyes was palpable, and it seemed as though every word Jungkook spoke was another crack in his heart.

Hoseok's voice cracked as he asked, "Why… why are you saying this?"

Jungkook hesitated, biting his lip. He was nervous, and his heart was beating fast. He finally said the words he had been hiding for a long time, “Because… I need to pay you back for everything you’ve done for me.”He said, looking quickly at his brothers but not looking them in the eye. “All of you… You’ve taken care of me, even though I wasn’t your biological brother. You’ve put up with my tantrums, my mistakes, everything. And every time, you just accepted me, loved me.”

Jungkook’s breath hitched, his hands trembling as he continued. “And seeing how much you all do for me, it feels like I fail you. Like I don’t deserve it. So I thought, if I could just do something to make you proud, to give something back…” He stopped talking because he felt too upset.

Everyone's heart broke as Yoongi clenched his fist, his voice shaking with frustration. "Who made you think this way?" he demanded. Jungkook kept his head down, unable to meet their eyes.

Yoongi turned to Jimin and Taehyung, who were silently crying, their faces full of guilt.

“You guys...!” His voice wavered with anger  and disappointment. “You told him these things, huh?” His eyes were now focused on Jimin and Taehyung, who moved back a little because of his stare.