Blood Brothers

31 | REMNANTS

It was like a flickering of an old bulb- one that you gave up and lost complete hope on. It's shattered and completely broken, but yet it shows signs of function.

That was my hope for Jungkook.

I found a folded up paper swan parched on the bench, the same ones he used to make for me. For a second I thought that he came back for me and I was more startled than I was excited- startled because I wasn't sure of how to handle the situation given that I'm no longer just his.

I stood there in the middle of garden, my dress prancing in the wind as I look around multiple times to look for the person who left it.

"Jungkook?" I call out, hopeful that he'd respond.

Nothing.

I glance down at the delicate swan rested upon my palms and a sudden wave of emotion washes over me as I reminisce the past. I could almost remember the excitement I felt when I'd unexpectedly find one and the look of his precious smile after seeing my reaction.

"I miss you."

"You miss me?"

I turn to find Taehyung with Jungwoo rested on his waist as he carries him to me. The look on the little guy's eyes sparkled at the sight of me, arms reaching out for me to take. I abide by his wishes and take him from Taehyung, crumbling the paper swan in my palms to hide it from his questioning.

"Seokjin?" I ask.

"He managed to leave the country but we're still trying to uncover what happened," he informs me. "If he contacts you, let me know."

"Because he'll try," he says.

Yeah right.

"Auntie, I have a bobo like Uncle," Jungwoo points to his stomach, referring to his scar. It was tragic that he had to experience such a thing, yet a miracle that he survived. His scar was a reminder to us all that we could never let our guard down.

"I love you," I tell him. My aching heart just couldn't bear having him go through what he did. I placed a massive kiss on his cheek. "So much."

"I love you too," he grins, leaving sloppy kisses on mine.

Taehyung's smiling even harder than the both of us, eyes crinkling as he watches Jungwoo engulf me with his drool. "Okay, okay," he takes Jungwoo away from me. "That's my wife there."

"That's my aunt," he pouts.

"I get to kiss her more than you," Taehyung teases.

Jungwoo's lips jerk into a frown and his eyes begin to water as he looks between the both of us. Taehyung is instantly shocked at Jungwoo who is now on the verge of tears, slightly panicking as he shakes his head. "No no no," says Taehyung as he hugs Jungwoo closer to him. "I didn't mean it."

Jungwoo just bursts into tears, crying out loud as he reaches out his arms for me and denying Taehyung's consolation.

"Great," I mock Taehyung as I take Jungwoo from him.

Taehyung looks more upset than Jungwoo as he watches him cry into my shoulder, feeling guilty for being the reason why. I wanted to laugh at him for accidentally making him cry and his failed attempt to comfort him but I couldn't find it in me. Instead I just give him a pat on the shoulder before striding toward the house.

"It's getting colder now that winter's nearing. I'll have our wardrobe rotated to the appropriate attire," he says as we walk into the living room.

"Ah, I'm telling you those fucking-" Hoseok realizes that Jungwoo's present and changes his choice of wording. "Freaking buttholes," he says to Yoongi. "I can't believe they managed to get away again."

"What happened?" Asks Taehyung.

Hoseok places his hands on his hips when he comes to a stop. "Just has a few scammers at the casino," he says. "What's with him?" He nods toward Jungwoo whose sniffling away his tears.

I shake my head in response. "It's nothing."

Hoseok claps his hands to provoke excitement in Jungwoo before taking him from me. "We're going to the shooting range today, you guys wanna join in?"

"Shooting range?" I question. "Isn't that a little too much for him?"

"He insisted," says Hoseok.

Instead of letting his traumatic experience take over his life, Jungwoo managed to overcome his fear and take it head on- just like a true Jung. It was a true blessing to have him in our lives; he was everything our family needed- everything we lacked.

"No, because Ara and I have to go make babies," Taehyung holds my hand.

Hoseok glances to see if Jungwoo was paying attention before covering his ears. "I want nephews not nieces."

"You'll be getting both," he says.

"Don't I get to have a say?" I ask.

"What's there to say?" Asks Taehyung.

"What if I don't want kids?"

Hoseok and Taehyung looks at one another, a little bit startled, before averting their gaze to me.

"Then you wouldn't have let me fuck with no rubber," he says.

Jungwoo lifts his head off Hoseok's shoulders. "Okay, I think it's time for us to go," he quickly says, supporting Jungwoo's head as he takes off before Taehyung could say any more explicit things.

"You don't want my kids?" He asks with full sincerity.

"I was joking," I tell him.

"So you do?"

"I want kids," I say.

"With me?"

"With who else?"

After he's finally content with my answer, he sweeps me off my feet and carries me upstairs. His eyes never leave me as we make our way to the bedroom and he shuts the door with his foot. I felt the cool whiff of air hitting me as I'm hastily dropped onto the bed and Taehyung hovers on top of me, his bangs tickling my forehead as he stares.

"I have something to tell you," he says.

"What?"

"I love you, Ara."