1999

Jungkook's eyes widened with joy as he saw the colorful birthday cake, with a glowing candle which was saying 4.

“Happy birthday to you,” His parents sing. Making Jungkook smile he hugged his parents.

“Come on, make a wish, cut the cake,” His mother said.

Jungkook closed his eyes and quickly made a wish before blowing the candle. “I have the gift for you,” his father said.

Jungkook was shocked to see the roller skates, the gift he had been eagerly waiting for. “Thank you dad!” He hugged his father.

Her initial smile faded, replaced by a furrowed brow.

Jungkook watched his mother leave and his father followed her. He was confused but he turned his focus to the cake. Tasting the cake with his finger.

He waited for his parents, but then he decided to check what was happening, so he went near the door.

"Roller skates? Are you kidding me?" she exclaimed, her tone a mix of frustration and disbelief. " Why you bought her the expensive ones”

Jungkook's father, caught off guard, said, "I just wanted him to have a happy birthday. I thought it would make him so happy."

His mother was upset, "Happy birthday won't pay the bills, and we're struggling as it is. We can't be spending money on things we don't need."

Jungkook's innocent excitement turned to confusion, watching his parents. He decided to leave and go back to the living room. He stared at the roller skates and he was upset.

His mother just doesn't want to see him happy.

They continue to argue, “Why are you being mad over such a small thing?”

“It's not small, he was happy,”

“He gets happy even over small things, and if you really want happiness you should stop drinking so much. You spend so much money on drinks,” she said. “You have no control over how you spend,”

The bell rang, “Must be, Myeong.” He exclaimed.

“Why did you invite her?” Jungkook's mother, Haeun asked.

“Because she knows doesn't ruin important moments like you do.” he replied.
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“Mom, I don't want to eat this.” Taehyung pouted.

His mother shook his head. “You should eat your veggies,”

“Exactly, we all should eat our veggies, shouldn't we?” His father said, Eunsook looked at her plate.

“I eat them, not peas. Peas are weird. They are round, they can choke me.” She replied. Making her husband smile a little.

“I know, maybe dividing them in half will help.” He said and took his chopsticks to turn them into halves, he picked one from his chopsticks and brought it near her mouth. “Now, you will not choke.”

She hesitated but ate it, she nodded her head. “You were right,”

“Taehyung, eat them. It's good to eat veggies for breakfast.” His father said to him, only Taehyung to pout.

“Good morning everyone,” Hyeon-jun, who is Taehyung's uncle, said and sat down for breakfast.

Taehyung was still playing with his food, so his mother took the chopsticks from him. “Just let me, you will be late for school.”

Taehyung's father left as he was done with his breakfast.

Hyeon-jun leaned in, and whispered, “You are looking beautiful, today.”

“Oh, I would have said the same if you weren't smelling this horrible.” she replied, his perfume gives her a headache.

She stood up and hold his hand, “Come Taehyung,”
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Eunsook carefully adjusted the collar of her husband's suit, her focused attention evident in her gentle movements. He just admires her; he adores when she pays attention to him like this.

As she helped him prepare for work.

Out of the blue, Eunsook confessed to her husband, "I don't like him."

“Who?” Yeesung asked.

“Your brother,” she told him .

Her husband raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why not, love? He's family."

Eunsook hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "His perfume is too strong. It bothers me."

His whole aura bothers her.

Her husband chuckled, realizing this wasn't an isolated issue. "Eunsook, you have a problem with everyone's perfume."

She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Perfume preference can reveal a person's nature. It's like a signature. His is just too... overpowering for my liking."

Her husband grinned, "Well, I'll be more mindful of it. But remember, not everyone's essence can be captured in a scent."

Eunsook continued adjusting his suit, offering a warm smile. "I know. But sometimes, it's the little things that help us understand each other better.”

“I understand, I changed the perfume I use but I can't tell everyone to change it right?” He caressed her cheek and kissed her forehead. “See you after work.”

She nodded her head.
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Jungkook's mother sat in the living room, the silence broke as the front door.

Her husband stumbled in, the scent of alcohol clinging to him. She couldn't ignore the obvious signs of his intoxication.

Jungkook was in his room, his mother told him to sleep when he heard his father he got excited and wanted to see his father but he was afraid of getting scolded by his mother so he just stood near the door. As he peeked through the door.

"Honey, where have you been?" she asked.

He replied "Just work, you know how it is."

Haeun's gaze remained steady. "Don't lie to me. I know you were kicked out of work because of your drinking."

His eyes flickered, "It's not like that. They just don't appreciate my hard work."

Haeun sighed, her frustration evident. "Your 'hard work' is tearing our family apart. You need to face the truth. You can't keep hiding behind lies."

“Okay now what? You gonna shame me for that? I will find a new job,”, he replied.

“Yes you should be ashamed!” She yelled.

Jungkook felt worried too, why is his mother so rude to his father?

“Shush, don't yell, Jungkook will wake up.” He exclaimed and held her hand and brought her to the room.

“I don't care, what's this?” she asked, showing him a bra.

“We both know what this.” he replied.

“Who does it belong to? Because it's clearly not mine.” She said.

“Not mine either,” he chuckled.

“This is not funny!” She exclaimed “Are you cheating on me?” She asked, and she started crying.

Suddenly, he got a little sober. “You care? Oh my god why are you crying? You actually care if I cheated on you?”

“What do you mean? Of course I care.” She exclaimed.

“You still love me?” He asked.

“What do you mean by that?” She asked.

“You sound disappointed in me all the time, I thought you stopped loving me. You scolded me all the time.” He exclaimed.

“I did, because I care about you, about us, about Jungkook.” She said, “Tell me are you cheating on me or not?”

He hugged her, “Stop crying please. For months you were being cold to me, so I thought you stop loving me,”

“Just because I was cold you started cheating on me except for asking me how I am doing?” she said.

He kissed her forehead, “Sorry, I just felt bad. You left your family and everything for me, and I continue to disappoint you.”

“Then why don't you change? Why are you becoming worse?” She asked.

“I promise I will be a better person.”

“You made a promise last time too.” She said,

“I know, this time I will really change, just trust me.”

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Eunsook's fingers danced gracefully over the piano keys, she really loves to play piano.

Hyeon-jun leaned on the door as he stared at her, he found himself admiring her more than the music. “Beautiful melody, I truly think you change the whole environment around you,”

She turned to him, “No, my surroundings are as usual,” she replied.

Hyeon-jun walked closer as he place his finger over the keys and brushed his hand against her, she panicked and pull her hand away and rubbed it. She dislikes being touched by anyone other than her husband and Taehyung.

“Can you teach me how to play?" he asked.

“I don't like teaching others,” She replied.

“Oh so you like to keep the talent to yourself?” He asked. She shook her head.

“No, I learnt it by myself, because I love it. You can too.” She replied.

“Hmm, I do want to play with what I love too.” He said. Making her confused.

She heard the car and she looked at the time. She was excited as her husband came home, she left the piano room.

Taehyung's father entered the house and she ran to hug him. “Welcome home, I missed you.”

He smiled and hugged her back, he always feels excited to come home to get greeted by her. “I missed you, “ he pulled back and then kissed her lips.

He was her comfort place, she didn't trust many people but she trusted Yee sung, thinking he would never hurt her.

“Really, now I feel so jealous.” Hyeon-jun said from behind, They break the kiss but he keeps his arm around her. “Your wife is so sweet, I want a wife like her too.”

“Hyung, are you serious? Noona is sweet too.” Yeesung said.

“You find her sweet? Then exchange wives. I want my wife to run to me too when I come from work. I will keep Eunsook.” Hyeon-jun does have a wife, she works in the business with him. But he is not really a fan of workaholic women.

He prefers Eunsook, who just stays home, focuses on her hobbies, does her thing and gives her husband time when he comes back after a tiring day at work.

“No, no I love mine.” Yeesung thinks his brother is just joking, so he didn't think much about it. Or take it seriously.
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Jungkook's mother set the table for dinner, a soft smile playing on her face.

Jungkook, just back from school, entered the room with a backpack slung over his shoulder.

"Hey, Mom! Smells amazing here. What's for dinner?" He exclaimed excitedly

"Your favorite – homemade bulgogi. I thought we'd celebrate a good day." She replied.

Jungkook grinned, taking a seat at the table. Jungkook's father joined them, he hasn't been drinking nowadays, because of which she felt relieved and happy.

“Dad, I got a part in the school play!” Jungkook told him excitedly.

“That is great!” His father said.

“For that I have to buy a costume, will I be able to buy it?”Jungkook asked with doe eyes hoping is not asking for too much.

“Yes, tell me what you are becoming and after lunch we will buy materials for it. To make it at home.” She said,

After lunch she asked her husband to come. “Oh something come up you and Jungkook can go I will stay home.” He exclaimed.

She tried to convince him but he said he will stay home. “Okay just don't drink okay?”

“Yeah I will not.” He replied.
___

Eunsook sat quietly, her gaze distant, lost in her thoughts. Her husband approached with concern.

"Eunsook, what's on your mind? You seem a bit off." He asked.

Eunsook hesitated before voicing her worry, "Your brother said he'll keep me. I'm scared."

Her husband, surprised, chuckled at what he thought was a joke.

"Oh, Eunsook, he was just kidding. Don't take it seriously."

Eunsook looked at him with wide eyes. "But I take jokes seriously. Why would he say that if he didn't mean it?"

Her husband's laughter faded as he realized the depth of her concern. He gently reassured her.

"I understand, Eunsook. It was just a joke. I'll talk to him and make sure he knows not to say things like that. You're safe with me."

Eunsook, comforted by his words, nodded. She hugged him.
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“You gonna stitch the custome yourself? But other kids will wear store bought ones. Theirs will be better than mine one “ Jungkook exclaimed.

“You don't trust me? I will make a really good one. It will be special because your mom will make it for you.” She replied, Jungkook was holding her hand, while walking home.

“Oh mom, you said we will eat a corn dog,” Jungkook asked.

“I forget, We are already near home,” she exclaimed. Jungkook pouted. “Sorry, I will ask your appa, he will take you out for a walk. And you can eat that.”

They reached the house, she opened the door and entered. She was surprised of what she saw, her head sinked. He said he will not do this again.

She turned to Jungkook, blocking him to see anything. She hold his hand and took him outside the house and closed the door. She started trembling she wanted to cry.

“What happened, mom? Let's go inside .”Jungkook asked, worried.

“Nothing. You wanted corn dog let's go and eat them.” She said.

“Yay! Let's go!” Jungkook jumped happily.

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