One Step At a Time [jungkook ff]

Chapter 17: orange lilies

Orange lilies
* a flower symbolizing hatred*

WARNING: This chapter contains sensitive content such as abusive behaviors.Read at your own risk.

Min-ju looked down at her hands and began to sob once again. "H-he tried hitting th-them, h-he... I had to pro-protect them" she gasped for air as she sobbed while attempting to talk.

Jungkook rushed over to the side of the bed she was sitting on. He grabbed her hands, thumb drawing invisible circles. He felt useless, mad that he couldn't get out of his wheelchair and have her in his embrace.

"Protect them from who?.." he asked quietly, his fear of the situation growing bigger and bigger.

"My.. dad.." she let out, barely above a whisper. As if she was afraid of the word.

Jungkook's heart shattered. He had no idea how to respond. He began to feel agitated due to the fact that he didn't know how to respond. It was silent for a while before jungkook spoke up.

"Why don't you and your brothers come stay at my place?.... There's plenty of space.."

Minju remained quiet, staring at her hands.
"It'd make me feel better..." jungkook added softly after the silence.
"Are you sure?.." min-ju asked quietly.

"Absolutely positive" jungkook responded with a soft smile and a sparkle in his eyes.

••••••••••••

Min-ju and her brothers had packed their things and gotten in the car with jungkook and sang-chul. Both the little boys were being very quiet, jungkook found it odd but decided not to ask in front of them. He'd later talk with min-ju when she felt better. He had texted Tae a quick summary of what was going on and Tae immediately started getting the rooms ready for min-ju and the boys.

When everyone arrived Tae helped min-ju with her things while sang-chul helped jungkook get into his wheelchair. Taehyung was about to reach for a colorful box when the boys yelled at him not to grab it. "Don't touch that!!" The boy's ran and carefully picked the box up while slightly frowning at taehyung. Taehyung became lost of words as confusion consumed him.

The boys walked away without saying anything else. The little boys walked inside the house and headed to find min-ju.

••••••••••

Min-ju had put her brothers to sleep, she headed out to the living room to find jungkook and Taehyung seated. Min-ju awkwardly sat down on the couch next to jungkook.

"You wanna talk about it?" Jungkook asked softly. Taehyung worriedly looked at min-ju. She had only been gone for 3 days but she seemed very different. She was skinny and pale, the sparkle that was once visible in her eyes was no longer there.

"I don't know... it wouldn't change anything." Min-ju seemed emotionless. She seemed as if she had cried all her feelings out leaving nothing. She took her slippers off and brought her knees to her chest.

"It may not change the past but it can change the future. If not for you then why not for your brothers?.." Taehyung added in softly. Suddenly all the emotions had rushed back to Min-ju. Her eyes became glossy as the flashbacks from the previous days accepted her mind.

[flashback]

Min-ju had picked up her brothers and headed home. When she walked inside she found soju bottles all over the floor. A horrible sent floating in the air. Sounds of movement could be heard coming from the kitchen.

"Go lock yourself in your room and don't come out until I go get you" min-ju carefully whispered to her brothers. The boys did as told and hurried to their bedroom, not forgetting to lock the door behind them.

Min-ju's father came stumbling out of the kitchen, white T-shirt covered in stains and denim pants falling due to their size.

"Where are they??" The man slurred, stumbling over multiple soju bottles. He continued to walk closer to min-ju.

"They're safe." Min-ju let out, not daring to look the man in the eyes. Suddenly she felt a hard cold hand to her face then a sting.

"You dare talk back to me!!"

" ..i-I was only trying to answer your question-"

Min-ju had been silenced by a flying hand.

"leave her alone!!" A voice yelled from down the hall.

"You." The man said in a sinister tone.

"Seong-mo go lock yourself in your room!" Min-ju yelled as she tried to stop her father from approaching the small boy. "I'll be fine" she added.

Seong-mo listened to his sister, trusting she could handle the situation on her own. The drunk man laughed as he turned to min-ju. He pushed her causing her to hit her head on the wall. He proceeded to hit her causing her to fall to the floor. She tried her best to hold in her screams and whimpers in attempt to keep her younger brother calm. The man she didn't dare to call father kicked her multiple times in the stomach. He stepped back looking at her state.

"This place better be cleaned when I come back" with that the gruesome drunk left the house.

Min-ju took a moment to catch her breathe. She then carefully got up and walked to the room she shared with her brothers. Min-ju immediately started packing their things, hoping never having to return to the place she had once called home.

[end of flashback]

Taehyung and jungkook had come closer to min-ju. She had started crying before she even started telling them what had happened. Taehyung and Jungkook gave each other a look. Something had to be done. They had to make sure it got done.

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