FOOLS

Chapter 8

Namjoon thought he was going to pass out. He hadn't breathe since the boy in front of him spoke and claimed to be Namjoon's brother. It was just another one of his twisted jokes, Namjoon reminded himself, this can't be true, his mother only had him. But something in the boy's eyes, his determination and almost blank expression revealed nothing of it being a lie. "I don't have a brother." he managed to say in a whisper. The wind carried it to Jungkook's ear.

He shrugged, "So that bastard didn't tell you about me?" Jungkook asked, pushing his hair back. "I was the kid he had with his mistress. I'm your half brother."

Namjoon didn't say anything. He didn't ask Jungkook to repeat himself because he knew exactly who the mistress Jungkook was talking about. It was the woman from Namjoon's nightmare with her snake arms clinging onto his father and he had pushed Namjoon's mother away. The memory angered him, he clenched his fist, wanting to punch the air. Surprisingly, he didn't want to hurt Jungkook.

"Half brother..." Namjoon repeated. Then it clicked in his brain. Adelfós means brother in Greek. It was right under Namjoon's nose the entire time and he couldn't believe it took him this long to figure out.

"Don't beat yourself up. It's not your fault you didn't know about me."

"Your mother died. I remember my dad talking to someone about it. But I didn't realize she gave birth." Namjoon said softly. Something in him felt pity and guilt for the boy in front of him. Even if it's not his fault, he somehow felt responsible for all the misery. For a split second, he had forgotten all about the dirty deeds Jungkook did.

"Spare me your sentiment." Jungkook rolled his eyes. He didn't know why he did that, he wanted Namjoon to like him, actually. But he was so used to being by himself and be his own protector. "I was put in front of the steps of an orphanage and left to defend for myself. Don't say you're sorry. I don't need it."

"Why are you doing this?" Namjoon asked. "Why are you selling drugs?"

"I've always wondered why it was me that was sent away." Jungkook answered, completely avoiding the question at hand. "I'm just as smart, just as cunning,just as determined. So why?"

"Jungkook, whatever you're doing, you can stop it all and have a better life."

"Bullshit. You would kill me if you had the chance." Jungkook snapped.

Namjoon shook his head slowly. "I don't want to kill you, I never did."

"And that's where we diverge. I would kill you right now, I want to. And then I could take my place as his son and get everything I deserve."

"Is that what you really want?" Namjoon questioned honestly. "Do you really want to be his son?"

"Ah, that's right. He was a monster to us both." Jungkook laughed. "But thanks to him, I got all of this." He raised his arms to his side and tilted his head back, like opening his arms up to the heavens, a place where he belongs. His black suit made him blend into the backdrop of the night. He was part of the shadows while Namjoon stood on the other side.

"Jungkook, you don't have to do this anymore. If it's to prove a point to that man, you don't need to. He doesn't deserve it." Namjoon pleaded. He too had been alone for most of his life, aside from having his mother. But he didn't want to rely too much on her when she already had so much to carry on her weak shoulders. Now that he knows he had a brother, things could change.

"You only want me to stop so you can go back and tell your chief you did it and you're the best." he laughed bitterly.

"That's..." It was only partly true. Namjoon couldn't quite explain it. But ever since he saw the young boy, his heart began tugging and the anger he felt for everything the Black Pandra did was behind him in this moment. Right now, it was just him and his little brother, who was just as broken as he is. He could see the pieces that needed to be picked up. Namjoon took a step closer but then everything that happened next seemed to be in slow motion.

There was a loud gunshot, and Jungkook fell backward. Before he went down, Jungkook's eyes widened, piercing at Namjoon.

But he wasn't fully down. The bullet grazed his arm but the momentum caused him to stumble. Namjoon snapped his head to the direction it came from. The only high opening was from the small mountain range in the back of the temple. The back of his hair stood it, it could only be one person. "Hoseok," Namjoon breathed out. Hoseok never misses, which meant it was a warning and the next shot would be a kill. Without thinking, Namjoon jumped and put his body between his best friend and his little brother. From the mountain, Hoseok's finger hovered over the trigger, but he was furious at why his leader was protecting the enemy. But the second Namjoon moves, he would kill the mafia leader.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know he would be here." Namjoon told Jungkook as he held the boy, who was shaking. Blood poured out of his arm in streams. It wasn't a deep cut but if left unattended for long, it could create a bigger problem.

"You're foolish to think they didn't follow you," Jungkook said through gritted teeth. "Fuck." he clutched his arm tighter and Namjoon felt pain watching it, his own arm throbbing.

"I'll get you out of here."

"How?"

"He won't shoot me."

"Are you sure about that?" Jungkook chuckled. "You might be his leader but I am the bad guy."

"Shut up." Namjoon said sharply. He picked Jungkook up and threw his arm around his waist for support. Jungkook gingerly wrapped his arm around his hyung's shoulder. They quickly but diligently got out of the gate and to Namjoon's car.

"You're driving me?"

"Yeah, what's the problem?" Namjoon answered.

"You could lose your job."

"I could care less about that right now. Let's get you out of here before you die."

Jungkook sank back into the seat and smiled to himself. For lack of a better word, this was what he wanted. Someone to care for him. "I won't die." he scoffed, sitting back and closing his eyes.