The news of Jungkook's uncle's death came crashing.
It was the next day when Jungkook and Jimin were back from mountains. Jungkook hugged Jimin to sleep that night and got fever due to exertion and the emotional trauma. Jimin took care of him and next day they came back to Hawaii. Jungkook slept all the way in the flight and Jimin was really worried about him.
When Jimin dropped Jungkook back home, he told him to get rest and he would check up on him later. Just as Jungkook entered the house, he got the call from Yoongi. He did not get chance to unpack even, and immediately took some essentials and left for home.
He was still not past the overwhelming experience of Jimin expressing his feelings and now his world has stopped. It was feeling far greater than hurt. He felt a dark void has made it's way into his life and he was not ready for it.
He could not think of anything except how Hoseok hyung and his aunt will cope with the loss? He could not eat anything all the way to Korea.
When he reached home, he realized that he had not informed office about the mis-happening so he dropped an e-mail to Jimin and Ms. Saina stating his uncle's demise.
**
Hoseok's POV
My father has been struggling with stress and he was already a patient of hypertension and Diabetes. I was still not working full time because I was final year student of Ph.D. I wanted to support my father by doing something since he was not well but he never allowed me to.
He always said that I needed to get good grades so that I get a reputed job and all his money and my hard work would pay off.
Jungkook offered to help at home when he got his first salary but we denied. How could we take his money when he is youngest? We were just so happy and proud of our little boy.
He had not slightest clue that things were tough. Appa's business was facing huge loss over the years and the time came when he finally could not cope.
Business was shut and he was more stressed than ever. I assured him that we can manage in part time work until I get the job but he has always been provider or responsible for family and it did not suit well with him and his heart.
Last night he had an argument over phone with the loan sharks and he instantly felt a pang to his chest. He wanted to scream but could not. It was angina. He only knocked on the door so that someone could hear it from ground floor.
When I heard the knock I ran and found him clutching his chest and in sweat. Before I could carry him he stopped me. "Take care of your mother and Jungkook. I am so proud of you my good son!" He said as his last words and his eyes closed forever.
I tried calling Jungkook but his number was out of reach. I did not know what to do? I had lost my father. I had lost my world. There was never a time in my life when he wasn't part of it. How will I live now knowing he will not be part of me and part of my life anymore?
Mother came and she cried her heart out. Hearing the commotion the neighbors arrived and they helped and took control of things.
After hours of crying I regained sense and started to arrange the funeral. Jungkook's sister and my cousin RiRi and his husband Yoongi were informed. They called Jungkook, who is on his way and we are now ready for last funeral rites.
**
Jungkook arrived and it has been 15 hours since passing. He went to his crying hyung and broke down completely. He lost his father second time. How cruel and unfair a world has to be?
Many visitors cried looking at the mourning family. His aunt was crying as well but she somehow composed herself. Only tears were running incessantly from her red eyes but no voice came out.
"It is time." Yoongi said patting Jungkook and Hoseok's shoulder. They nodded and along with one neighbor, they escorted coffin six feet under.
The visitors paid respect to the dead and bowed to relatives saying condolences before leaving. Yoongi brought them back home from cemetery and the moment they entered house with one member missing, they all broke down, again.
Yoongi was the only one who was acting strong. He had to.
"Baby, you have be strong. We need to comfort them. Look at Jungkook and Hoseok. We can't break down now." He silently wiped his tears and comforted his wife.
"You are right." RiRi nodded as she wiped her tears and went to comfort Jungkook.
"No Kookie. Don't cry. Uncle would not want you to cry my baby. D-don't c-cry." She hugged her baby brother who clung onto her and cried his heart out.
Yoongi comforted Hoseok while Aunt kept looking at the them until she finally spoke. "Why are you crying?" She asked Riri and Jungkook.
They all looked at her cluelessly.
"Yes, you heard me. Why are you crying? If you were that worried, you should have helped with his debt. He squandered all his hard earned money on you ungrateful people and what did he get in return?" She spoke in monotone while tears kept flowing through her cheeks.
"Eomma, no." Hoseok tried to beg her but she raised her hand in warning.
"He spent his life's saving on your tuition and you marriage." She pointed at the Jeon siblings one by one.
"Aunty!" Yoongi uttered in a warning tone. She had lost her world but then everyone did. It was not time for this but she could not control.
"Why did not you help him Jungkook? You were bragging about your big money and job. You could not have helped him? After all what he did for you?" She raised her voice a little.
Hoseok was a crying mess now on the ground and so were RiRi and Jungkook.
"Aunty, I did not know. I offered him money when I first got my salary but he would not accept it. I am so sorry aunty I did n-not know. Please forgive m-me." Jungkook cried and begged.
"That's it. We are out of here." Yoongi declared and helped Jungkook from the ground and then his wife.
"Go get your belongings." He asked them but they did not move. Yoongi understood their state of mind. He dashed inside himself and brought the packed bags which weren't unpacked, to his car.
"Take care of yourself Hoseok and Aunty." Yoongi hugged the boy who cried some more but finally nodded pressing his lips together. "Call me anytime if you need anything. Please don't hesitate." He stroked Hoseok's hair before turning. His heart ached for the younger.
"Come on now." He asked his wife and Jungkook in hushed voice.
Jungkook nodded and asked them to wait by the car. He went to Hoseok and Aunty who was sitting on the chair in living room.
"Hyung, give me call any time you want to talk." Jungkook wiped his hyung's tears who did the same for younger and nodded.
"Take care Kookie." He could only manage this much.
"Take care Aunty. I am sorry." Jungkook went to her fidgeting with his fingers but did not get any response.
He left crying and encountered with three men outside the house gate.
"We are here for our money." One the man said, not reading the room. Yoongi was looking at them from car and when he saw man engage with Jungkook, he immediately walked out of the car. "Baby please wait inside." He told his crying wife.
"I am sorry who are you?" Yoongi asked the men, taking Jungkook's hand in process and pulled him behind.
"Mr. Jung owe us." He replied.
"How much?" Yoongi asked.
The man put a paper towards him which Yoongi snatched off while glaring at them and glided through. He took out phone and was about to transfer the entire amount when Jungkook stopped him.
"Let me." He requested.
"No kook. Go inside the car." Yoongi told him in strict voice.
"Please hyung." Fresh tears hit his eyes. "For him. I can never be able to return what I owe to him. But let me at least do this. I will be at peace knowing I could do even as little as this."
Yoongi understood where he was coming from. He nodded with pride filling his chest.
Jungkook paid the amount exhausting all his savings. He was not slightest bit regretful. Money will always come. Peace to uncle's soul was required.
They then drove back to Yoongi's place. Jungkook did not say anything and went straight to guest room and locked himself. He was facing panic attack. He did not want to worry his sister and hyung when they were already stressed.
"Breathe, breathe Jungkook." He told himself. "Wriggle your hands, breathe by the window. Count to 100 backwards. Yes. Yes. 100, 99, 98.." He started to breathe through the nose and exhaled out from mouth, steadily. Normally it would work but now. He kept counting and nothing seemed to work.
"Jimin." He uttered desperately and took out his phone with trembling hands but then he started shuddering vigorously.
"I need you, Jimin. I am ok. I will be okay. I need you.." He was panicking severely as he could not get the phone unlocked and when he could not control his body, he wobbled to open the door and fell with a thud right outside it.
Yoongi saw and ran to pick him and carried him to the car to rush to hospital.
Jungkook's phone rang and Jimin's name appeared on it but it was left back at home.
************