Aera groans faintly, turning around in the bed, hand reaching up to her head where a deep, throbbing pain kept rising at a nearly suffocating rate. Her eyes flutter open, squinting a bit at first to adjust to the bright surrounding, giving her time and energy to gain the realization that she is not in Jake's apartment but at home; in her room; in her bed. How?
She gasps, covering her mouth as her mind replayed the chronological series of all the moments from last night. Dave... Jake, Clay... Jimin oppa...
Her body jolts up with a sudden burst of fear and a feeling of wanting to run away to some other galaxy, eyes look around hastily, trying to locate her phone, however stopping as the door opens, almost giving her a heart attack.
"Ri, you're up," Jimin says, smiling softly at her and walks over to the side of the bed, "How are you feeling?"
"Yeah uhm I'm good- ...fine yeah." She nods quickly and adjusts her hair and clothes, seemingly not wanting her brother to see to see the misery. "I- I'll go take a shower..."
Jimin sighs on seeing her still struggling against the wish to let him know how bad she's hurting. He sits himself on edge of the bed, taking her hands in his, earning a glance from the girl as she stared at his hands and then at his face.
"Why are you doing this, Aera?" He says, "Are you not comfortable sharing your problems with me? Am I not giving enough time to you? I know I don't live here now, but Jungkook does, at least talk to him kiddo. It hurts us too to see you like this."
Aera breathes in sharply, flinching as the brother cups her face. She looks at him just to have him staring back, triggering thousands of emotions all over again, brimming in her eyes.
"I'm sorry..." She lets out a breathy whisper along with a single tear drop that is followed by a stream of more tears the very next second. "I'm really sorry oppa... I don't know, I just- I didn't want you or Jungkook oppa to- to be worried because of me, and Dave... he's so bad he wouldn't have hesitated hurting you or Haewon unnie as well. Also you both have a baby coming soon, how could I tell you about all this and bother you? I didn't want that to happen, so I kept to it myself."
Jimin stares at her with soft eyes, "My child, come here" He sighs, opening his arms and pulling her into a hug, "Even if we have a baby on the way doesn't mean I'm going to let my first kid suffer alone. You matter to me as much as the baby does, Aera, not more and not less, you're both equal for me."
His hand slowly pats Aera's back while she sobs silently against his chest, feeling the warmth and calmness from him and his heart as he always used to say, Heartbeat is beautiful, and it helps you calm down. She focuses on the faintly prominent rhythm, sounding almost like a sweet melody for a storming soul.
"You don't have to worry okay? That boy cannot do anything bad." Jimin says, "I'm here and Jungkook's here, we won't let him hurt you anymore."
Aera nods her head slowly, wiping her tears as she pulls away after a while and asks, "Koo knows?"
"I told him." Jimin nods, "Now get ready and come downstairs, you must be hungry."
Aera looks at him standing up with a small smile at her, as he pats her head before leaving the room. She sighs slipping out of her bed and heading to the bathroom, not glancing anywhere and stepping straight into the shower.
Hands running over her body, rubbing with the skin with all she has, wanting to get away from Dave's toxic touch that only kept her hurting and holding back. She opens her eyes for the first time in the last twenty minutes, finally turning off the cold water that kept running down her body till now.
She walks back into the room, closing the closet door as she's dressed now and lays on the bed again, feeling too exhausted just by her morning routine. Her eyes close, ready to fall asleep again if she actually lets herself sleep ignoring the pounding pain inside her skull.
"Aera? Are you done?" Jimin calls from downstairs, making her groan and shut her eyes, rolling on the bed in frustration.
"Five minutes..." She mumbles with all the energy she has and buries her face in the pillow, laying on her stomach, finding a nice spot after wiggling for a bit, "Ah finally, this is comfortable."
Fifteen Minutes Later...
Jungkook opens the door, almost calling out for his sister, but stopping as soon as he sees her laying on the bed, seemingly sleeping. He stares at her with a soft gaze and shakes her lightly.
"Ri, aren't you hungry?"
Aera grumbles into the pillow, shaking her head a subtly as she holds her hand up, showing five to the brother, making him chuckle softly. He sits on the bed and leans forward, hugging Aera from behind and kisses her shoulder.
"Let's go have breakfast first." He says, Aera shakes her head, turning around and hugging him, snuggling against his chest with her eyes closed. "I'm not here to sleep, kiddo." He smiles.
She looks up, seeing his smile and smiles back, "I missed your smile Koo..." She whispered softly, "Please cuddle for five minutes?"
Jungkook glances down at her and sighs, nodding his head, knowing he won't win against this, "I missed your smile more." He says, leaning down and kissing her forehead.
"I did smile though," Aera frowns at him, earning a sad smile back.
"I missed your real smile," Jungkook says, "the one you had when you won after cheating, the one when you tried to get away from the tickle monster, the one after you eat ice cream, and many other times. I miss that smile of yours, Aera. I wish you could've told me earlier about everything, I'd make sure that you're not suffering alone..."
"I'm sorry oppa, I didn't want to-"
"Hurt me," He says, "I know that, but my baby sister who is like my daughter not sharing her problems with me and kept hurting alone, hurts me more. Y'know ever since hyung moved out, I can feel it that I've grown more closer to you kiddo. Now it's like, I understand how Jimin or Yoongi hyung feel around you."
"Like a father?"
Jungkook chuckles and nods slowly, "Like a father, and it's beautiful."
Aera giggles, looking up st him, making him break into a chuckle as well. He pats her back, pulling her into a warm hug and kisses the top of her head.
"Enough talking now, let's go before Jiminie comes here, yeah?"
"Okay" She says, getting up behind Jungkook and following him downstairs to the kitchen, seeing Jimin talking on his phone probably to Haewon as he just said about returning home later.
"Hyung, you can go if there's some work, I'll take care of things here." Jungkook says.
"Yeah," Aera nodded, "I'm okay, you can go."
Jimin smiles at her in assurance, letting her know that it's fine and he'll stay. She takes a seat beside him, pouring water in her cup while Jungkook sits across them. She gulps a big sip down, sighing deeply after and keeping the cup down.
"I feel so tired" She says, cracking her neck slowly and winces touching the skin.
Jimin looks over, suddenly remembering about the bruise, and stands up, bringing an cold pack and giving it to Aera, "It'll help you," He says, "so you were with Dave yesterday?"
Aera nods hesitantly, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left the house without letting you know, but I- I promise I had no intention of meeting him there... It was supposed to be just me, Jake and Clay, having fun and that's all. We didn't know Dave would be there too... but oppa I swear I didn't go with him anywhere and nothing much happened, he was with his friends too."
"I know that, Aera, I'm not asking for any justification or explanation from you. I know you won't do anything wrong." Jimin says, "I just wanna know about that guy so we can get a hold of him. Will you tell us?"
"Okay" She mumbles, glancing at the two.
"That's good, let's eat first, then we can talk alright?"
"Hmm"
_____
"That's him," Jake mutters and Jungkook nods, fixing his eyes on the guy who dared to hurt his sister. With the two boys following behind him, he pushes the café door open, walking inside, straight to the table on the right corner and taps the table top, making the guy look up at him.
"Yes?" He says.
"Dave Mc'korni," Jungkook speaks, eyeing the guy, sitting on the chair wearing a lose black t-shirt and ruggy olive pants, looking not so appealing right now, "we gotta talk, come outside."
"Excuse me? Do I know you?" Dave says.
"You will," Jungkook says, "just do as I say and come out."
"Boy, don't make him mad, he's good at boxing and also a black belt in Taekwondo." Jake smirks, "And I, my friend, can do pretty well with Jiu Jitsu, you know that."
Dave squints his eyes at the boy, letting out a mocking chuckle, "Yeah? You think you can scare me with that? By the way, where did you leave my girlfriend? Had fun and left her? great that's exactly what she deserves for going against me. You know you can just keep her, who wants a used slu-"
The café fills with gasps, everybody stopping at their places and staring at Jungkook punching the boy. The other two laugh a little, while Jungkook drags Dave out of the café, leaving the the people in peace to have their drinks.
Dave stumbles on the ground, hand holding his jaw and groaning in pain. Jungkook steps ahead, slamming his body against the wall as he pushes him into an alley, Jake and Clay following behind him. Eyes emitting a dangerous glare, boring right into the guy for hurting his sister, he punches the wall right next to his face, making the boy flinch, shutting his eyes tightly.
"How dare you?!" Jungkook growls, "How dare you touch my sister? How the fuck did you get the nerve to think you can hurt her? She loved you and you return it by hurting her for life, you bloody rascal?!"
Dave looks away as Jungkook throws a punch on his face, making his head jerk to the side, mouth bleeding a little, "I'll make sure you know how much she's suffering because of your brainless ass. And by the time I'm done with you, you'll be regretting every single thing you ever said and did to Aera."
Dave scoffs subtly, trying push the older's hands away, making Jungkook chuckle dryly with smirk lining his lips in amusement. Jungkook steps back, leaving his collar and raises his hand on his sides, "Wanna fight huh? Let's see if you can last more ten seconds in front of me."
Dave glares at him, pouncing forward with his fists clenched, swinging in a forth motion. Jungkook dodges his head, making all the energy the boy used go in vain. He shakes his head at the poor technique and grabs his hand, twisting it on his side and punching right on his nose making it bleed.
Jungkook hovers on Dave, as he falls on the ground, punching continuously with eyes throwing daggers at him and each hit being stronger and harder than the previous one, for the only thought ever crossing Jungkook's mind of was of his sister looking so vulnerable when Jimin brought her home.
"Hyung," Clay's voice along with a phone's ringtone interrupts Jungkook, placing his hand on the elder's shoulder as he tries to pull him back, "leave him hyung, he'll die."
"He won't." Jungkook says, confident enough to make them believe that the guy won't die for sure.
He stops finally, glaring at Dave half passed out and bleeding through his mouth, nose and forehead. He stands up, panting for air and wipes the sweat trickling down from his side locks. Jake glances at him, stepping forward as he hands him his phone showing Jimin's call.
"Yes hyung?" Jungkook breathes out, wiping off the blood from his knuckles after hitting so much, "Ah yeah, no I just came out for a... bit of run?"
Jake gives a thumbs up, snickering silently. Jungkook nods and laughing nervously on the phone, "the time... yeah, I wanted to come in the afternoon today. I read somewhere it helps with our workout, and y'know vitamin D..."
"No, I'm not lying, why would I lie?" Jungkook says, "Yeah, I'm coming in ten minutes."
He sighs deeply, glancing at Jake who's laughing loudly and Clay looking a bit embarrassed. Jungkook rolls his eyes at the two and turns to Dave, motioning his hand for him to get up, "Let's go, we're not done yet."
Dave frowns at him, gulping in fear as he shakes his head slowly, "Don't waste my time and just come." Jungkook says and tosses the keys of his car towards Jake, "get the car."
Clay helps him off the ground smirking a little at his state and walks behind Jungkook who was opening the door of the car. Jake drives off, frequently glancing back at the bleeding guy, being internally satisfied with the beating he got from Jungkook.
He pulls in front of the house, earning a confused look from Dave, almost as if he was about to have a heart attack. Jungkook pulls him out of the car, dragging by his collar to the front door and pushes the door open, letting himself inside first.
Making their way further inside, he could hear Aera's voice getting clearer, her giggles and laughter sounding softer and happier than before.
"Oppa you're back, wh-" She stops, glancing at his messy state and bleeding hands along with the guy he was dragging behind him. Aera gasps, getting up from the couch and rushes towards Jungkook.
He lifts his hand in the air, motioning her to stay where she is while he glances back at the boy still grunting faintly, and pushes him forward, making him fall on his knees in front of Aera. She takes a step back, shaking her head, hugging Jimin tightly as he stood next to her looking perplexed by what his brother has done.
"Jungkook..." Jimin stares at the boys.
"Sorry, I wasn't out for a run." Jungkook shrugs, kicking Dave slightly from the back, glaring at him, "I didn't bring you here to just stare at her, apologize." He says sternly.
Dave opens his mouth, looking up at Aera who wasn't even sparing a glance at him, "Aera... I- I'm sorry..." He lets out a breathy whisper.
"Louder!" Jungkook yells, making him and the others flinch all along.
A tear slips down Aera's cheek as she shakes her head, mumbling a soft no, holding onto the older brother tightly, "Go away please..." She whimpers.
"You deserve his apology, princess." Jimin says, "For what he did to you, he should be here like this and he should apologize to you. Forgiving him or not is totally up to you."
Dave stares at her, crying as well and says, "I'm sorry Aera, I lo-"
"No!" She shouts, glaring at him, "Don't you dare say you love me! You never did!"
Grabbing his collar harshly and shaking him as she cried in front of him, "You used me and treated me like shit! You did whatever you wanted and never cared about how I felt, and you say you... you love me? Please stop acting now, I'm done... I'm- I'm so done with this."
"Do you know how much time I've spent thinking if I'm not good enough? Do you know how it feels to be looked over again and again? I didn't even know what I did wrong and yet kept blaming myself and- and believing your words every single time... Dave, you... Why? Was it that fun to see me hurting and breaking everyday?" She trails off, staring at him through glassy eyes, glistening past the tears.
"Feels good isn't it?" Aera says wiping her tears as her gaze hardens again, "You're here, looking like a wreck, you know why? Not just because you hurted me, but because you hurted their sister, you hurted their best friend. And for that, you're lucky they're not killing you right now." Her hand points at her brothers and then at friends while keeping the eye contact maintained with Dave.
She stands up, straightening her clothes and wipes her tears, "I don't wanna see him... take him from here please. I don't care what you do with him, just take him away from me."
Dave groans as Jake pulls him up, dragging him out while Clay steps near Aera, nodding assuringly with a small smile. The girl looks at him with tears brimming her eyes, this time out of love and thankfulness for his friend, as she hugs him tightly.
"You're welcome," Clay chuckles, "but I won't mind you returning the favor with an extra cheese pizza."
"Idiot" Aera mutters, hitting his arm as he pulls away grinning at her.
"Keep smiling okay?"
"Enough" Jungkook voices, eyeing him to back off, making Aera and Jimin laugh a little. Jake jogs back into the room and straight goes for a tight hug towards the girl, however stops on being pulled away by the brother.
"Oh Come on hyung, it's just a hug." Jake exasperates, shrugging his hand off and hugging Aera tightly, lingering slightly longer until Jungkook himself came and pulled him off of his sister.
"Don't forget I just broke his jaw."
"I surrender!" Jake says, taking a step back.
"Don't you wanna go back now? It's almost time for your soccer practice." Aera says, making the two boys gasp, Jake leans closer, kissing her cheek lightly and runs away while Clay just gives her a high-five scared for the fact that her brothers are here.
"Yah! Jake I swear you'll be dead the next time I get my hands on you!" Jungkook shouts, breathing deeply in frustration as he turns to face Aera who just shrugs, "You're not friends with him anymore, they're not allowed here, especially that Jake guy. Get it?"
"Yeah yeah," Aera snickers and hugs him, "Thank you oppa, and I'm sorry you got hurt because of me."
"It's not because of you, Riri. I've gotten so much worse than this, it happens during a fight." He shrugs, "It doesn't even hurt that much."
"Show me," She says taking his hand, wincing on seeing the dried blood on his knuckles as if it were hurting her, "I'm so sorry..."
"You don't have to apologize kiddo, I'm okay." Jungkook says, "but yeah I might feel better if you can, y'know treat my wounds like how Jiminie oppa does?"
Aera smiles up at him and walks towards the kitchen, bringing the first box and sitting across near Jungkook. She starts cleaning off his knuckles gently, flinching every time he winced playfully, making Aera wince as well, for she thought it must be hurting him a lot.
"Oppa, you do it... I think I'm hurting him more..." Aera whines, handing the peice of cotton to the eldest brother. Jimin chuckles at the two, feeling relieved that Aera is okay now.
Jungkook laighs and ruffles her hair, pulling her in a hug, glancing at Jimin with an assuring look, that said, We're okay, don't worry.
"I love you both so much." The eldest sighs, smiling softly at the two. "Haewon is coming over in the evening and we all will go out for dinner, cool?"
"Yes!"
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A/N- Here's another series done! yayyy! I hope y'all enjoyed it. This request was amazing and it was pending for a long time now, finally here we go. Completed! 🥳
Also guys I think I'll be updating ince in a week now, because my school and everything is getting too hectic. I have classes from morning to evening and then the self study and writing time. So that makes it a lot. So I'll be updating once in a week, probably all Fridays or Saturdays.
Tomorrow is friday, should I be updating? Comment a yes or no. A little spoiler: it has small Aera and BTS as idols. 🤭
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Word count: 3.4K