~~chapter 12~~

The atmosphere hung heavy with sorrow as the doctor stepped out of the ICU. The stark, sterile lighting of the hospital felt overwhelmingly cold against the warmth of the friendships shared just hours before.

Jungkook's heart raced as he approached the doctor, hope flickering in his eyes. **"How are my parents? They’re okay, right?"** he stammered, tears streaming down his cheeks.

The doctor’s face, wrought with sympathy, brought a chilling sense of dread. **"We are sorry, Mr. Jungkook. We couldn't save your father, but your mother... she has about an hour to live. You can meet her now."**

Time seemed to freeze. Jungkook stumbled back, his legs giving way beneath him, crumbling to the floor as his world shattered. Sobs tore from his throat, raw and desperate.

Taehyung and Jimin stood frozen for a heartbeat, their hearts breaking for their friend’s anguish. As Jungkook wept, they rushed to his side, wrapping their arms around him, unable to contain their own tears.

**"Kook, we’re here for you,"** Taehyung whispered, his voice cracked with emotion.

**"You’re not alone,"** Jimin added, his hand resting on Jungkook’s back, trying to provide any solace possible in the face of overwhelming grief.

After a moment, Jungkook wiped his tears and composed himself. **"Can I see my mother?"** he requested, voice thick with despair.

The doctor nodded gently, gesturing for Jungkook to follow. Taehyung and Jimin exchanged worried glances but remained close, ready to support their friend in his time of need.

As Jungkook entered the room, he found his mother looking frail, the flickering hospital lights illuminating the careworn lines on her face. But despite the pain etched on her features, she managed to offer him a reassuring smile.

**"Jungkook-ah, don’t cry,"** she said softly, her voice fragile yet filled with warmth.

He rushed to her side, grasping her hand tightly, the tears flowing freely again. **"Why are you both leaving me alone?"** he choked out, the pain coursing through his veins like poison.

His mother’s eyes glistened with tears as well. **"Jungkook, will you do one thing for me?"** She asked, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

**"I will do anything for you, Eomma,"** he replied, trembling but determined.

Jungkook's heart raced as his mother’s words hung in the air, laden with a gravity he hadn’t fully grasped. The thought of living away from his family felt foreign—he had always been there to protect them.

**"Will you live at my friend's daughter's house?"** she asked, her voice tremulous but hopeful, pleading with his eyes.

He stared at her, lost in a storm of emotions. **"No... I will not live there,"** he replied stubbornly, tears streaming down his cheeks. The mention of leaving her side felt like an unearthly threat.

His mother sat up slightly, her frail fingers grasping his hand tighter. **"Please, Jungkook-ah. Do this for me."** The urgency in her voice compelled him to listen. **"Trust me. I want you to be safe, to have the support you will need. She will watch over you."**

**"Who? Who is she?"** Jungkook's brow furrowed in confusion and hurt. His mind raced as the pieces of the puzzle eluded him, trying desperately to understand what his mother was asking.

His mother knew that this decision would ultimately protect him, placing him in the care of someone and is y/n his elder sister who loved him deeply, even if they had never met.

**"my friend's daughter?"** mother echoed, disbelief clouding his face. **"But I... I don’t know her."**

**"You will. And she will know you,"** his mother assured, her voice steadying. **"It’s complicated, but I trust her with your life. I promise she will take care of you."**

**"Why didn’t you tell me before? Why send me away now?"** Jungkook questioned, grappling with the swirl of emotions within him—hurt, confusion, and a profound sense of loss.

His mother’s gaze softened, knowing how difficult this was for him. **"But now... now that it’s this way, you have to trust me. This is what I need from you."**

The desperation in her voice melted the wall of resistance he had put up. **"Jungkook, I want you to thrive. You must go where you’ll be safe. And now, that is her 's"**

Tears brimmed in Jungkook's eyes. **"I don’t want to lose you,"** he confessed, the weight of their reality pressing hard upon him.

**"You won’t lose me,"** she replied softly. **"I will always be with you, in your heart. Please promise me you will give her a chance."**

He inhaled deeply, weighing her words with the seriousness they deserved. Jungkook's heart was heavy with loss, but the thought of having a sister—a guardian in this troubled world—resonated with a flicker of hope.

**"Fine... I promise, Eomma. I’ll go to her,"** he said finally, his voice trembling yet determined.

A relieved smile broke through his mother's tear-streaked face. **"Thank you, Jungkook. You are so brave... I love you."**

Jungkook leaned in, hugging her tightly, not knowing if this would be the last time he could hold her.

As he pulled away, the gravity of his promise settled in his chest. He would face the unknown, but this time, he would not face it alone. There was still a glimmer of kinship waiting for him on the other side.

*At the Mansion*

Back at Y/N’s house, she felt a slight tug in her heart, as if sensing the shift in Jungkook's world. Despite the distance, their connection was intertwined; she could feel the nuances of their stories converging, ready to unfold.

The warmth of family and friendships they had created would bolster Jungkook through his ordeal. She was ready to welcome him into her life and share the love that had blossomed in their absences

to be continued

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