𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 ( 𝐀 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬)

•32•

Jin sat beside his younger brother in heavy silence, the sterile lights humming faintly overhead.
Every passing second ticked like a bomb in his head, and every glance at Jungkook only deepened the ache in his chest.

He watched him soaked, silent, shaken.

"You know," Jin began softly, voice low and even, "I'm not asking because I want to interfere."

Jungkook didn't move.

"I'm asking because I'm your brother," Jin continued, his tone edging on desperate now. "And because you look like you're seconds away from falling apart."

Still nothing.

Jin's fingers tapped restlessly against the arm rest. His eyes flicked to the doors.

He turned back to Jungkook, gentler this time. "You don't have to tell me everything. Just give me something. I don't like sitting in the dark while you're drowning."

Jungkook's jaw tightened. His lips parted but no words came. Just a faint shake of the head and eyes locked on the floor.

Jin exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're really going to sit there and hope I back off?"

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, voice strained. "You sent a message, made me worry, dragged me all the way here...and now silence?"

Jungkook closed his eyes, face pained. "Please, hyung..just… wait."

"Wait?" Jin stood abruptly. "Wait for what? Another hour? Another vague look?"

He turned toward the ICU. "No. I'm done waiting."

Jungkook jumped up. "Hyung! Don't."

But Jin was already walking.

Mingyu's eyes widened. "Mr. Kim, wait please! You can't go in!"

Jin didn't stop, his steps were sharp, determined.

Mingyu blocked his way. "Sir, she's under observation. No one's allowed in-"

"Then let the doctors stop me," Jin said coldly, brushing past.

Jungkook followed, panic rising. "Hyung, please! Don't do this."

"Why, Jungkook?" Jin snapped.

"Because you said so? Because I should trust your silence while you fall apart?"

"I'm not-"

"You are!" Jin's voice cracked. "You think I don't see it? You're terrified. And yet you still won't let me in!"

Mingyu stepped between them again, voice almost pleading. "Sir, this isn't the way-"

"Then what is?" Jin growled. "Because all I'm getting is what not to do, while someone lies behind that door and I know nothing."

He looked at the ICU again, chest heaving. "You both treat it like some cursed secret. But I'm done being left in the dark."

He stepped forward.

Jungkook's voice broke. "Hyung, just give me time."

Jin paused, turning to him. "Time won't fix what you refuse to face."

And without another word, he opened the door.

The hallway fell silent.

Jungkook didn't try to stop him again.
He just stood there fists clenched, eyes fixed on the door afraid of what came next.