'Why?Why?'. Chapter 3



Yoongi was driving like a maniac, violeting every traffic code in the book to reach the hospital in time, since Kookie was still unconscious and Jimin was howling, blaming himself for his brother's state. Kook was lying on Jimin's lap and the second was running his fingers through his hair, hoping his baby brother could feel his presence, sense he's not alone.

When Yoongi slammed the brakes and stopped outside the Kim General Hospital, Namjoon and Seokjin were waiting at the emergency entrance.



" What happened to your brother Jimin?" Jin called out with worry in his handsome face, checking his son's condition. Seeing his baby covered in blood, clothes torn , bruises and scratches on his body, his mind thought of the worst possible scenario."Who did this to him? Where were you?" Jin continued yelling at his son, who had his head hang low, afraid and embarrassed to face his papa's rage.

They placed Kook on a stretcher, running inside to the ER. Jin and Namjoon to the left and right, Yoongi and Jimin behind them.

" Jin! Calm down!" Namjoon advised his husband." I'm sure Jimin has a logical explanation." He glanced at the nurse behind the counter." Call Dr.Lee and Dr. Young." 

The nurse complied immediately and picked up the phone.

Jin was constantly holding Kookie's hand.

"Hang in there baby... Papa is here... you'll be fine..." he promised, sharply breathing.

" I'm...sorry papa... I'm so...sorry...I couldn't...protect our bun..." Jimin apologised, crying his heart out. Yoongi was by his side, gripping his trembling hand for support.

" After we treat your brother, you've got a lot of explaining to do Kim Jimin!" the man stated in frenzy.

" Jin get a hold of yourself! It's not the time to point fingers or accuse our Jimin ! Stop yelling at him!" Namjoon patted his son's back and kissed his forehead. 

Jin nodded and followed his husband, leaving the two young boys in the waiting room. Jimin was pacing from pillar to post , crying, mumbling to himself. Occasionally, nibbling his nails, shaking his head.

" It's all my fault. Yoongi I should have never left him... I should have known better.... those jerks... I'll kill them if anything happens to Kook." 

Yoongi hugged him tight and Jimin rested his head on his chest, seeking comfort at his boyfriend's secure embrace.

" We're both to blame, baby. We should have guessed those assholes would hurt him given the chance. Keeping quiet about his bullies, allowing Tae to terrorise him...is unforgivable... we are as guilty as they are..." 

" I want them punished. I want them to suffer. " He gnashed his teeth. His eyes held so much hate and resentment.

" They will. Maybe not now but they'll get what's coming for them. Promise." 

Jimin cropped up his head." Are you ok with..." 

Yoongi flicked his jaw." Tae is dead to me. I warned him so many times but he chose to ignore me. Chose to trust them not his hyung. My childhood friend, the bubbly ,cute boy who used to follow me around like a puppy,is long gone. This Tae...I don't recognise or like him." His voice was steady yet held disappointment and sorrow.

Jimin knew how much it cost him to turn his back on his friend but he was right. The old Tae was dead and buried. No need crying over spilled milk! Tae was consciously destroying himself. Ruining his future. Shaming his family's name and reputation. Losing the people who loved him. Walking into a dangerous path.

The seconds turned to minutes, minutes to hours and the waiting was torturing them. Three hours later, the Kims came out of the ER and  approached them. Their eyes depleted and weary. 

" How is he? Is he ok?" Jimin asked and Yoongi added.

" Is he out of danger?" 

They removed their masks and Namjoon replied, rubbing his temples " He is stable. Recovering. We transferred him to a room and he's sleeping." 

" What's wrong with him? Did they...harm him?" Yoongi 's voice sounded like a squeak. Dead worried and fizzling in ire ,the usual stoic Yoongi transformed to savage.

Namjoon got the hint." Oh God no!Besides some insignificant external injuries, bruises, scratches, he had a panic attack... The wounds in his mouth due to the forceful pulling of his braces caused several of his teeth extracted. It will require a long , painful process to recover. He must endure teeth surgeries to restore the damage. Remain silent and feed out of serum for a few weeks. Once  it's completed, we'll just keep here for further observation." he expounded calmly.

" But...he will recover..." Jimin was terrified of the answer, still having those horrible images in his head.

" His body will heal. His soul is another matter. This dramatic experience is bound to leave scars." Namjoon wasn't accustomed in beating around the bush. His worst fear was Kook's mental health. Going through this kind of ordeal could cause depression, anxiety, eating disorders but what scared him more was the possibility of self harming.

" Care to explain how Kook ended up in the hospital? I demand the truth from both of you!" Jin staggered them with his intimidating eyes.

They sat down , facing eachother. Jimin, next to his  boyfriend ,was fidgeting, his head low, scared to look at his parents.

" I'm waiting." Jin bellowed, folding his arms across his chest, tapping his foot on the floor.

Jimin glanced at his boyfriend for reassurance ,who nodded ,giving him courage to begin." We had exams today... and the professor wouldn't allow us to leave early. Yoongi handed in his papers before me and left... professor was furious... anyway I followed him a bit later and when I entered Kookie's building I overheard students talking about someone shouting from the showers." He kept telling them in every detail what happened .The whole truth regarding Kookie's bullying but left out the 'Tae' part.

His parents were boiling mad, chuffed, devastated but mostly repleted with so much guilt, it was gushing out.

" How could he hide it from us? Face the bullying all alone? Our baby suffered and we were totally heedless." Jin had tears in his eyes." We failed Nam...we failed as parents... He didn't trust us enough to confide us about his condition. Where did we go wrong?" 

Namjoon embraced his sobbing husband, searching for a logical explanation. Nothing was coming out of his throat.

" Jimin if you knew why keep it a secret? It's  not a trivial matter. On the contrary, it's serious. We would transfer him to another school. Inform the headmaster. Complain and demand punishment. This kind of behaviour is preposterous nowadays...." Namjoon continued but Jin interrupted him. 

" I suspect it's something more to the story than you're telling us. Am I right?" Jin inquired,stirred with fear and anticipation.

Jimin hesitated. Betraying his brother 's trust was heartbreaking but he had no choice." Kookie made us swear not to tell you. He begged us... crying." he finally admitted.

"Tell them Jimin! They deserve to hear the truth. All of it! I'm sick and tired of covering his ass!" Yoongi urged him, rolling his eyes.

The boy nodded and taking a deep breath he began." One of his... bullies... Kim Taehyung...." His mouth tasted bitter mentioning his name." The leader of the gang. A spoilt, pathetic rich boy. Arrogant and selfish , hiding behind his family's name and money..."

" I've heard of the Kims..." Jin frowned as he couldn't find the connection. " The richest most powerful family in Korea...after us of course!" 

" Well... Kook is in love with him...has been for the last four years. If you had known , you'd transfer him. He wanted to be near him...see him...even abide his bullying.... I'm sorry for keeping it from you...I couldn't betray my bun..." Jimin apologised, pouting, shrugging his shoulders, feeling heavy.

Jin scoffed. Words failed him." How can my son love his...bully? I don't understand. How ...is that possible? Logical?" 

Namjoon stirred in his seat." When it comes to love...logic flies out the window." 

" Seriously? That's your response? It's unhealthy to fall in love with your... bully!" Jin threw at him." I find you a bit lenient. I'd imagine you would want to break his bones!" 

" Baby firstly, that's your department. Secondly I hardly think muddling the situation,is what our son needs right now. People interrogation,asking  questions, pressuring him.A constant reminder of his attack. And  what good will come out if I kill them?"

" We're gonna let them get away? Reward their crime and allow them do it to someone else?"

" And what makes you think If we press charges they will be punished? The Kim's son? The other rich brats? I find it highly unlikely. Anyway let's discuss it later. " 

Jin gave him a nod." Fair enough."  he agreed with his husband. They later decided to leave things as they were. The boys wouldn't be punished, they were certain, so the best solution would be to put the past behind them and move on.Sometimes life finds the suitable punishment for people like them.

Yoongi was somehow feeling responsible . Tae was one of his friends. A person he thought shared his values and morals. Inmost he hoped Tae would change. Admit his mistakes. Apologise. Filled with guilt, he stood up and bowed to both men." Hyungs you opened your heart and home to me. Treated me as your son. Trusted me with Jimin and Kook....I failed you. All of you... I couldn't protect him. That jerk was my childhood friend. I cared and loved him but he was proven unworthy of my affection. I cut all ties with him. I hope you can forgive me." He pointed out every word, still bowing, filled with quilt.

" Son don't apologise for your friend's crimes. You've always been and continue to be a son to us." Namjoon made him stand up and hugged him.

"Hyung? " He glanced at Jin , who was awfully quiet.

" Oh please! It's not your fault your friend is an asshole! Probably his parents ' fault, their son turned out to be a monster!" Jin puffed,shaking his head in frustration." He raised his arms towards Jimin, who was bitting his nails.

" Sorry baby for lashing at you! You know me!! Overreacting, assuming, being overprotective... tend to speak before thinking. Give your papa a hug!"

Jimin threw himself in his papa's warm embrace." Thanks papa! I love you!" 

" Love you to , pumpkin! Hell, I love you all!" 

Namjoon clapped his hands." Now that love is in the air, would you like to see Kook?" 

They gladly agreed and moved towards his room. Along the way, Jin blocked Namjoon 's way, stooped over , whispering to his ear.

" Accept the Board's suggestion. Time for a new life." 

Namjoon reluctantly agreed. His decision would affect so many others but Jin's proposal seemed the proper one under the circumstances.

Kookie's recovering process was long and painful. Three major teeth surgeries, forbidden to speak due to the numerous stitches in his cavity, forced to remain quiet, communicate through notes and feed exclusively on serums at first, then on liquid food, he lead an isolated life inside the four walls of his hospital room.

The school belonged to the past and although he was relieved his suffering was over, he found it hard to forget Tae. Forgiveness was not an option. The painful realisation he still had feelings for the person who tormented him, watched his abuse and did absolutely nothing was enough to make him hate the older. 

Love and hate. 

So far away, yet so close.

He wanted revenge but his heart was fighting his mind.

His prince charming turned out to be a beast.

Incapable of feeling,loving.

Forgetting and moving on was all he wanted.

Besides,Tae was never his to begin with. Simply a dream he created, to ease his soul. He molded the perfect illusion. Tae was a fuckboy. His entire existence depended on his bad ass reputation. Fooling around, fucking girls, partying, smoking ,drinking and bullying.

That was his life and Kook had nothing to do with it.

Forgetting his first love would be exigent and wearying but he was positive he'd manage.

Kookie was released from hospital two months later. Homeschooled and confined to the safety of his house, he tried to heal his broken heart and open wounds. He attended therapy but his nightmares remained to remind him how it feels to be irreparably broken down. As much as he refused to admit, putting his love behind was a real rack.

Yoongi and Jimin shifted schools and the first was now leaving with the Kims. He avoided visiting his aunt and uncle in fear of bumping into Tae. He had no wish to see or talk to him because he would end up in jail. And he hated cramped places.

At the end of the school year ,the beginning of summer, they all moved to the Big Apple. New York city.