Chapter 2:-BUSINESS

..."Grab that tie. The black one," Seokjin said lightly....

...Jungkook had bloodshot eyes, his head spinning. Jin was sitting on the edge of the bed holding a black suit in his hands. His face was somber and his eyes were unfocused. Jungkook did as he was told and brought back the black tie to his brother. Funeral clothes never seemed to be easy to pick, but this was the first time Jungkook was wearing one for a family funeral so it made that task one million times worse....

...Their father had passed away....

...Hate was not that good of a word to define how he felt towards that man. When he was a kid, he used to look up to him and think highly of the man he once called father. After Jimin left, everything slowly began to change. The praise slowly turned into disdain and hatred, and now Jungkook despised that old man more than anything. He was not too keen on Seokjin either, but he was more tolerable because he had seen what his older brother had endured from his father. He would do anything to hide the purple and green bruises on his body. Father never hit where people could see, that was too much of a humiliation for him. Until the day Seokjin made a big mistake and his father cut his face with a letter opener. On that day, Jungkook declared war against that man....

...He was not a kid anymore and he had grown into a man that was very different from the highschool student Jungkook from a few years ago. He was now 23 and on his way to graduate from university. When Kook finished highschool, the old man made sure he was going to a good university to graduate in something that would be good for a career in their business. Weirdly enough, Jungkook was not really aware of what the Kim family business was. He did not want to go into accounting or anything like that. He wanted to major in arts or cinema, but his father did not give him an option. **** he hated that man. But still he went to university and was learning something for the business....

...He knew that they worked with trades and would have their hands on every single kind of business available, from apartment complexes to restaurants. It was almost like a mafia, but he knew better. His father was not that kind of man and Seokjin was definitely not someone who would get mixed up with anything of the sort. He was too much of a gentleman for that....

...He grew up shielded from the world with a total of zero friends, which was not weird since the kids in his school all feared his psychopath brother. He did not blame Jin for his lack of friends, he was thankful he did not have to deal with those fake people. One day they would bow to someone and the next day to another. It was all so fake, Jungkook hated it. So for this reason, he was not lonely. He was relieved....

...Seokjin would now inherit the business, Jungkook would finish his degree and go work alongside his brother in the family business. That would be their life from now on, but he did not want that at all. He wanted to get away, leave Busan behind and go live somewhere else. Somewhere he wasn't a part of the Kim family and he could just be Jeon Jungkook. He shook his head and focused on the task of putting on his black suit for his father's funeral. His brother was already dressed and everyone was just waiting for Jungkook....

..."Is Jimin coming?"...

..."I called him, but I do not know if he will come. Don't worry about that now."...

..."Did you actually call him? You heard his voice?"...

..."Jungkook, please focus," Jin sighed....

...They were already late and he knew his brother was losing the last bit of patience he had. Jungkook needed to put on his clothes fast and join the rest of the members in the memorial service. Jin stood up and left his room, the clothes carefully laid on his bed. Jungkook started crying as soon as the door closed....

...Everyone came to pay their respects, people from all over Busan and from neighboring cities. Jungkook did not know who those people were and why they all felt extremely suspicious, but he bowed and thanked all of them....

..." Aigoo , little Jungkookie is all grown up! Don't hesitate to call the family if you need something. Anything!"...

...Thank you....

..."My condolences, the family is extremely sad for you loss Jungkook-ssi."...

...Thank you....

..."Only your father could make all these grown men cry. Ruthless even in death. The family sends their condolences."...

...Thank you....

...At some point it had all become mechanical, so Jungkook just stopped listening. He was confused. Ruthless? Family? What the **** was going on? His father was just a businessman and somehow made people cry and think he was ruthless. He indeed was a brute and cold man, this was nothing new. Still, ruthless was not something Jungkook would use to describe that man...

...Jin looked at his young brother and could see the chaos in his head, he put his hands on Jungkook's shoulder and shook him out of his misery. Kook looked at Jin with fog in his eyes and saw his brother was worried....

..."Why don't you go eat something? I will deal with the rest of the service and then join you, ok?" he said in a soft voice....

...Jungkook nodded and proceeded to leave the room, walking to the dining hall. The smell of flowers was unbearable and it was making him dizzy. Jungkook hated flowers, one in particular, lilies. That obnoxious flower always seemed to find a way into his life and he would always throw it away or burn those smelly petals out of existence. There were no lilies at the memorial, but seeing all those flowers and smelling them made him think about it....

...His mother had left a lily on top of the basket in which he was found, he knew that was the reason he despised that flower just as he despised his mother for abandoning him. The funny thing was, a few years back he had tattooed the damn flower on his back. The drawing took up most of his back skin and there were only a few places where people could still see the skin. The tattoo artist asked if he liked lillies that much and Kook explained that there was nothing he hated more than that flower. He laughed at that man's confused face....

...He sat down on one of the tables that were empty with one of the trays of food, his legs crossed. He pulled on his tie making it loose and breathable, this thing was fucking annoying. As he swallowed the scary amount of food in front of him, he felt someone sit in the empty seat in front of him. He lifted his head and was about to tell that person to **** off to some other table, when he realized who it was....

...Jungkook choked on the food, making the other man laugh. He had not seen or heard that laugh in almost four years....

..."I see you haven't changed a bit, Kookie."...

..." Cough ...Ji... cough ...min"...

..."Yes, yes. I am back. For good, I swear." He raised his pinky to Jungkook's face....

...He was frozen in place and could only stare, Jimin was as handsome as ever. His face was thinner, his jawline could cut a curious finger and his hair was blonde. Damn, he was a pretty sight . He had always been extremely handsome and would make girls look at him twice before looking away. Hell, even men did that. It was hard to compete with such beauty, so Jungkook just accepted the fact that he was never going to look as good as his brother. But now, oh now this was just unfair. Jimin was seriously aiming for god-like beauty and Jungkook was a mere mortal....

..."You are back? Where the **** were you? You know how much shit I had to endure after you left? You know what the **** happened the day you left? Do you know…" Jungkook was breathless....

...He had spoken so fast and so intensely that the air in his lungs disappeared, making him stop mid sentence. Jimin found it extremely amusing and propped his head on his hand while staring back at his younger brother. This was weird, but still it smelled like home....

..."How have you been, Kookie?"...

..."Fucking awesome! You see, let me tell you my life story. My beloved brother abandoned me in a house with my psychopath brother and absent father when I was a highschool student. I almost went crazy, but I was not allowed to because if I did, I would get hit either by the psycho or by the absent dad that would only show up to make me suffer. Then I went to college and tried to get rid of the abusive relationship I had with my family, but guess what? They are leeches and did not let me go. So yeah, I have been living under semi house arrest for the past 4 years. How about you dear brother?" he said in a weirdly calm manner....

...Those words had been stuck in Jungkook's throat for a long time and now that his father was dead, he had no reason to swallow it back down. The asshole was dead and Seokjin would inherit the business, which meant he would not see him so often and he would be finally free from his abusers. It was the only thing that made him survive all those years. The death of his father and the distancing from his eldest brother. Jimin's face showed pain and Jungkook knew his brother was suffering too, still he was not going to forgive him that easily....

...If there was one thing Jungkook had learned well was how to make people suffer with words and simple gestures. So why not make use of his ability and make his brother feel a bit of the pain he had to endure for the past four years while he was away? Life was certainly easy for Jimin, he had the looks for that. But what about Jungkook, his little Kookie? Did he deserve any of what had happened to him? **** no. Still, he endured....

..."You probably think life was awesome for me, don't you?"...

..."I cannot say you look like someone who has suffered a lot..."...

..."Oh Jungkookie, you are still so blind to what is in front of you."...

..."You are talking about the fox? Yeah, the psychopath is a fox alright. But so are you.”...

...Jimin was taken aback by Jungkook's words, indeed he had learned from the best. He was going to have his fun and Jimin was a good target for his dagger-like words. He could see that the man was pained but still remained calm. Jungkook had lost his appetite and pushed the food to the side of the table. He calmly put down his chopsticks and stared back at his brother, a sly smile on his face. He knew he had struck Jimin and he wasn't finished. This is only round one, my dear brother....

..."Oh Jiminie hyung , you might still think I'm the stupid kid that was blinded by his love for his brothers, but I have changed. Quite a bit actually. I now know I cannot trust anyone, especially those who are cowards and leave."...

..."Oh you take me for a coward, Jeon Jungkook? I'm not our father."...

..."He fucked your mom, not mine. He is nothing of mine," he said leaning closer....

...Jimin was hurt, deeply hurt. Jungkook always knew his mother was not a subject he could touch, but now he was speaking ill of her and Jimin let his annoyance show. He stared back at Jungkook trying hard not to show him anything, but Kook could see. Jimin was pained and it showed all over, his smile turning bigger....

..."Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot the Kim, Park, Jeon family has a lot of mommy issues. My bad."...

..."You talk like someone who has nothing to lose, Kookie. Don't think that because the old man is dead, that you are off the hook."...

..." Aigoo hyung , if I didn't know you, I'd say you are threatening me with your empty words," he said with the biggest smile possible....

...Both were staring at each other, murderous intent filled the room. The sparks were flying everywhere and Jungkook had no intention to stop, he was having too much fun. He knew Jimin was not stupid, he had never been, but Jungkook's words had taken him aback and Kook was just enjoying the taste of blood. Just another psychopath for the family....

..."Well Jimin hyung, I have no intention to waste any more of your precious time. Feel free to go pay your respects to your father, God knows how much he missed his little bastard."...

..."Jungkook, don't act so high and mighty. You are just a kid that was abandoned on the doorstep, you are no better than him. Jimin, come with me." Jin had appeared out of nowhere and had now ended the fun Jungkook was having in the worst way possible, humiliating him....

...Jin was staring down at both of his brothers, disdain written all over his face. He despised Jimin and he had no more patience for Jungkook's attitude. He had finally become the head of the family and would now, finally, discipline those two the way he saw fitting. First step, humiliation. Seokjin was a master at that. Take someone's soft spot and step on it until it bleeds, once you see the blood, continue stepping on it. But Jungkook was not done with him either. Let's go to round two, dear brother....

..."And here we have him, the head of the Kim family. How are you feeling now that you are no longer going to get hit by daddy? Did you know that, Jimin hyung ? A 28 year old that still gets beaten by his dad when he messes up. Well you can rest now dear brother, the dead can't hurt you."...

..."Jungkook, that's enough. You are pushing your limits." This time the warning came from Jimin....

...Jungkook wouldn't have it, he was not finished with either of them. He was bubbling with rage and those two self-centered motherfuckers were going to listen to him for once in their life. Going to listen to all he had to say and he would not be interrupted....

..."Why would I stop? Did you guys stop trying to kill each other when I begged both of you and received all the blows from father? Did Seokjin stop or did he continue to push my finger back until it broke? Did you stop when I begged you to not say those words against Seokjin? Did father stop..." He was breathless again....

...This time it was not the air in his lungs that had ended, a hand was holding his throat and interrupting the air circulation. First, he thought the hand was Jin's, it would make more sense. But when Jungkook looked again, the hand on his neck was pale and small. Jimin. He was strongly holding Jungkook's neck and he had a small smile on his face. Kook was gasping for air as the hand held tighter, still he did not try to make Jimin stop. Death was more pleasant than what his life was at the moment....

..."My baby brother, your voice has become annoying. This is not how the Kim family does business. We are all going back home to talk and you will remain silent until you are allowed to speak again. Understood?" Jimin said in a calm voice....

...Jin left and Jimin followed, Jungkook remained seated for a while before he could rise and follow his brothers back to the house. He walked up to the front of the building and could see Seokjin sitting in a black car in front of the entrance. He walked past the doors and entered the car, sitting quietly beside his brother....

..."Go," Seokjin told his driver....

...The house was empty as always, but for some reason it felt like it was even more lonely inside that big white mansion. When Jungkook and Seokjin entered the house, they could see another set of shoes on the doorway, Gucci. Jimin had already arrived. The living room was filled with the smell of flowers from all the bouquets that had been sent because of their father's passing and Jimin was sitting on a chair in the middle of the bouquets. Jungkook got dizzy with the smell. Fucking flowers....

..."You have arrived. Great. Jungkook darling, remember to stay quiet. Can you do that for your hyungs?" Jimin asked in a sarcastic tone....

...Jungkook did not dignify him with an answer, instead he walked across the room towards the small bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey. If he was having this conversation, he would not have it sober. **** those two....

..."It would be polite to pour some for your brothers too."...

..."Pour your own shit, I'm not your bartender," he said while he sat down on the chair....

...Seokjin sighed while he poured the whiskey into two crystal cups, one rock of ice for each. He took the drink and placed it into Jimin's tiny hand, not bothering to look at him. He then sat down and let out a deep sigh while he stared at both of his brothers....

..."No reason for politeness with any of you, you are not worth it. I will talk, after I finish Jimin can talk and at the end we will decide if you get to talk too, Jungkook. You are fucking annoying and I don't have the patience to listen to your crap right now."...

..."Agreed," Jimin said as he took a sip and crossed his legs....

...Such a fucking diva....

...Seokjin stared at both of them as if organizing his own thoughts. He was too tired to be nice and polite to either of them. It had been a long day and his father was actually dead. That was the truth, they hated each other to the bones and their father was dead inside a coffin. That day could not get any worse....

..."I will not apologize to either of you for what I did or didn't do. You both deserved what you got and so did I. I am not in any way responsible for what the **** you do with your lives, but if you want to stay in the family business you will do as you are told. Jimin, if you came here to try to steal my position, I am sorry to inform you that I will have to kill you if you try. Jungkook, it's time you understood the family business and decided if you want to be a part of it or not."...

..."Oh this is so much more interesting than I thought it would be. You actually haven't told him anything? You are indeed a fox, Seokjin!"...

..."I wasn't finished and I will not be interrupted in my own house. We are a family, not by blood but by obligation." He took out a paper from his chest pocket inside his jacket. "You two were too stupid to realize, but you did sign a document."...

...Seokjin handed the document to the amused Jimin and let him have a look at it. Jimin laughed so hard the chair tilted back and he almost fell out of it. He stared at the document and read it through twice. The laughter grew louder every time he read the words....

..."So I am a possession of the family? You OWN me, Kim Seokjin?"...

..."I own both of you. You signed and that's it." Jin said as he folded the paper to put it back in his pocket....

...At this moment, Jungkook could not hold back anymore. What the **** did he mean by owning him? He was just a possession to his father and the family? What family? Everything was confusing and the alcohol was not helping. He opened his mouth to say something, but both his brothers stared at him with a look that told him to stay quiet. He gave up and gulped the last drop of whiskey in his glass. He stood up and poured another glass of whiskey for him, this time he put twice as much....

..."Now that this is out of the way, we can move on. Jungkook, do you have any idea what the family business is?"...

..."You are probably going to tell me we are necks deep in illegal shit, aren't you?"...

..."Yes."...

..."Well, we have a lot of money. We must be big then."...

..."Yes."...

..."So we are the biggest gang in Busan?"...

..."We are not a pathetic little kkangpae . We own Busan and some satellite cities. We are businessmen, but our business has more intricate nuances than the ordinary business. We only answer to the family from Seoul."...

..."Interesting..." Jungkook said while he took another sip of his drink....

...Jimin was thoroughly amused by now, he could see the anger in Seokjin's eyes and the lack of interest in Jungkook's, or so he thought. Jungkook stared at his drink for a while and then looked at both his brothers, expecting to see something. He wanted to know if he could speak his mind. Jin caught up on the unspoken question and then nodded lightly, Jimin understood and nodded too, a bit too intensely....

..."So we are a syndicate and I have to decide if I want to hang out with you criminals or if I want to leave? Wait. I can't leave. The family owns me. So I have no choice other than become a criminal like the both of you? Wow I love this family. So many choices!"...

..."If you are going to continue with this sarcasm, I will shut your mouth myself."...

..."Oh already the drug lord! So intense!" he clapped his hands....

...Jin was not at all amused at the stupidity Jungkook was spilling out of his mouth. In his mind, he was a spoiled little brat that needed to be taught a lesson. Seokjin knew exactly what he was going to do, he had the plan set out in front of him. But Jungkook knew nothing, he was just talking more than he should because he was in pain. He was sad and angry because no one had asked him how he felt, at this moment he finally exploded. Jungkook rose and threw the glass against the wall, breaking it into tiny pieces. Both his brothers flinched and stood on the edge of their seats....

..."Since I am tired of both of you, I will speak. Has anyone in this family ever asked me what I wanted to do? Any of you ever wondered what the **** Jungkook was feeling? Have any of these thoughts ever crossed your thick skulls? I NEVER GET TO CHOOSE! If I chose Jimin, I would disappoint and hurt Seokjin and vice-versa. If I chose to get another major, I would be beaten to death. If I chose to leave, you would hunt me down and bring me back. If I chose to befriend someone, that person would regret it five seconds later because they knew who the **** my family was." he was crying again....

...Neither Jin nor Jimin made a sound, they knew Jungkook was right. Still, no one could choose in that family. They never chose to be born into such a complicated world and they all just accepted their fate. Some people did it better than others. But Jungkook was a kid and he was angry. At that moment he did not think about the sacrifices both his brothers made and was solely focused on his own suffering. At this moment he made a grave mistake, to ignore their suffering and reduce their pain to something small. He would regret it later....

..."You," he stared at Jimin. "You went away! You left! You could have left all this behind but still you came back. Your greedy *** came back for more. You always wanted what Seokjin had, wanted his toys, his friends, his life and I bet you want his position now. You call others foxes, but you are a sly motherfucking fox yourself, you self-centered annoying ****!"...

...Jimin stared at him, the smile faltered for a second but it came back just as strong. He was amused and wanted to answer right away, but he was so curious to hear what Jungkook had to say about Seokjin. So he let the boy throw his tantrum at him, listening silently....

..."Oh and the almighty Kim Seokjin. YOU FUCKING PSYCHOPATH! You made my life miserable from the moment I set foot in this house. You are always looking down on people like everyone else was beneath you, like you were a god. You are shit! You only knew how to make people sad and break bones, that's all you are. That's all you know how to do. You are as pathetic as him, but at least he doesn't try to hide it like you."...

..."Jimin?" Jin said in a soft tone....

..."Can I go first? You don't mind it, do you?" Jimin answered sarcastically....

...Jin only nodded and Jimin got up. He walked past the youngest and reached the bar behind him. He poured himself another glass of whiskey and walked back to his seat. Jimin took a sip and crossed his legs again, resting the glass on the small coffee table in the center of the rug....

..."Well are you done with your tantrum? Good. You are a spoiled little brat who thinks he knows everything. You know nothing, my dear Kookie. You think I left because I wanted? Our dear beast of a father told me very nicely that he would kill my mother if I did not leave. I came back because I wanted to? I would live my whole life away from this place if I could, but my dear brother reminded me of my obligations and forced me to come back to fulfill them. So I did. Your stupid head is just too simple to understand any of it. So my dear brother, **** you." Jimin said calmly....

...Jungkook was startled by his brother's response, he had no idea. He never wondered what had happened to Jimin after he left, he just thought he was tired and ran away. He labelled him as a coward, as weak and Jimin was none of this. He felt desperate. He felt as if he had betrayed the only person that cared about him. Seokjin had not made a move, but now Kook was very much afraid of what was coming....

..."As Jimin said, you are a spoiled brat and indeed you know nothing about what we had to endure. Your life was hard? Tough shit, so was ours. You don't hear me throw a tantrum whenever things don't go the way I want them to go. There were so many times in my life when I wanted to just snap your pretty little neck, but I decided otherwise. And in all those moments, I was being merciful. You have no idea what our father had planned for you, no idea what I had to take in your place. So you are sad that you took a couple of beatings? Well, I am so sorry that it hurt, but life is like that. It's not pretty. And in the end, I had to kill my own father to save your sorry little ***. So you should at least bow the **** down to me, because I AM a god and I decided to let you live," he said while taking a sip of his glass....

...It was admirable how Seokjin could say the most fucked up things with a straight face and a calm tone. It was almost alluring. Jungkook was breathless and his head was spinning again. He felt as if he was going to throw up. What had he just heard? Seokjin had killed their father because of Jungkook? He had actually done that? The room spun twice and he fell to his knees, puking all over the rug. Jimin roared with laughter and this time he actually fell from his chair....

..."OH MY GOD, HE ACTUALLY THREW UP! Hyung did you see that?" Jimin said while he laughed out loud....

...Seokjin was unamused. He left the room and came back with a white cloth that he had wet on the kitchen sink. He bent his knees, cleaned the vomit on Kook's face and when he was done, he cleaned what was on the floor. It was mostly liquid, alcohol. Jimin stared at his brothers and gave them an intense look. He was intrigued. He stood up and walked towards them, kneeling as well....

...He took his small hand and ran his fingers through his little brother's hair, untying the small knots that had formed. Jungkook was half dead and half alive, not daring to look at any of the men that were kneeling in front of him. He had fucked up, big time. He spoke his mind and his mind was that of a child, clueless. He did not know what Jimin had endured nor did he know what Seokjin had done to protect him....

..."I am so...so...sorry, hyungs ." he finally mumbled, tears falling down his face....

...For the first time in a long time, Jungkook received a hug. Jimin and Jin exchanged looks and gave him what he so badly wanted, a hug. Both hugged him tightly, assuring him it would all be ok at the end of the day. But as of this moment, he was no longer free. He knew too much and he owed them too much. Jungkook had become part of the family he despised for so long. He was a member and he needed to learn fast, make sure he didn't **** it up....

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