Ch-29

Jungkook felt a small hand tug on the hem of his cloth, causing him to cast a glance down. Junho, his expression downcast, met his gaze. "What's the matter, Jun?" His voice softened with concern. "You hungry?" He asked, picking Junho in his arms.

Junho, with a pout on his face, protested, "I am not a kid! Put me down!" Despite his protests, Jungkook chuckled and scooped him up in his arms. "Sure, you are," he teased, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. Junho kept pouting, glaring at Jungkook.

Jungkook couldn't help but chuckle as he saw Junho pouting at him with playful annoyance. "You can pout all you want, but it won't change the fact that you're small and cute like a kid," he teased, poking his finger on Junho's puffed-up cheeks. "I said I am hungry, I didn't ask to pamper me" Junho said with his arms folded and then looked away.

Jungkook couldn't help but smile at Junho's stubbornness. "And who said I was pampering you?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. "I'm just carrying you because you're tiny and cute."

Junho huffed in response, holding onto his pout, not wanting to look up. "I'm not cute," he muttered, his voice betraying a hint of embarrassment. Jungkook giggled, "okay, okay I will keep you down" When he was about to, Junho held his shirt. "What now? You want to stay like this?" Jungkook teased him.

Junho, still holding onto Jungkook's shirt, pouted at him with a conflicted expression. "No, that's not it," he mumbled, his face reddening slightly.

Jungkook couldn't help but smirk at the sight. "Then what is it, Jun?" he asked, enjoying the playful banter. "You can't have it both ways, you know. You can't complain about being carried like a kid and then hold onto me like one."

"It feels good" Junho said in a low tone while looking down. "Mom used to carry me like this" Jungkook saw the vulnerability in Junho's eyes as he mentioned his mother carrying him. It softened his expression, and he couldn't help but smile warmly. "Alright, then," he agreed gently.

As he continued carrying Junho, Jungkook noticed the way Junho leaned into him, seeking that sense of comfort and closeness. "Is this better?" he asked quietly, holding Junho a little closer. Junho kept looking down, holding his shirt, nodded.

Jungkook could feel the way Junho's small fingers clutched onto his shirt, holding tighter as he nodded. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about how comfortable Junho felt being carried by him.

Jungkook walked silently for a moment, enjoying the closeness between them. "You know," he said softly, "you can always lean on me when you need to. I'm here for you, kid." Junho smiled slightly at his words.

Jungkook noticed the small smile tugging at the corners of Junho's lips and chuckled fondly. "There's that smile," he said gently, poking Junho's cheek again.

"You should smile more often," he continued, carrying him with a warm expression. "You look cuter when you do." Junho didn't fight when he again called me cute and instead just giggled.

Jungkook chuckled when Junho giggled in response, amused by the fact that he hadn't fought back against the comment. "Ah, you're finally accepting the fact that you're cute, huh?" he teased gently, a playful smirk on his face.

He shifted his grip on Junho, holding him a little tighter. "I knew I could eventually break you down." Junho pouted. "I will call your girlfriend here, don't tease me" Jungkook's jaw dropped, "h-h-how do you know her??" He stuttered, his face getting red.

Junho smirked, clearly reveling in the attention he had suddenly grabbed. "Well, I have my ways of knowing things," he teased, his voice filled with amusement.

Jungkook's eyes widened in disbelief, his face turning redder by the second. "Y-you're talking nonsense," he protested, hoping to deflect the conversation.

"You were blushing yesterday in the balcony, I saw you" Junho teased, Jungkook's face turned an even deeper shade of red as Junho revealed that he had witnessed his blushing moment with Daisy. He could feel his heart racing, flustered at being caught in such an embarrassing situation.

"I-I was not blushing," he protested weakly, trying to salvage some of his dignity. "You must have seen things wrong." Junho giggled, "it's okay.. I can share some secrets about your brother's romance too" He whispered. Jungkook raised an eyebrow at Junho's comment, intrigued by the mention of his brothers and their romantic escapades.

"What secrets? Are you seriously blackmailing me right now?" he asked, a mixture of annoyance and curiosity in his tone. Junho shook his head, "I am telling you some secrets so you could blackmail them" Jungkook's eyes widened in surprise as he processed Junho's words. "You want me to blackmail my own brothers? Are you serious?"

He paused for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of the situation. "You'd better have good dirt on them," he warned, his expression cautiously interested. Junho whispered, "prince Jimin and prince Taehyung are having girlfriends"

As Junho whispered the revelation to him, Jungkook's eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Jimin and Taehyung have girlfriends? Are you serious?"

He paused, trying to process the information. "How do you know this? Did they tell you?" Junho shook his head and giggled, "I saw them, I was just playing around" Jungkook raised an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and disbelief on his face. "Playing around, huh? You're pretty nosy, you know that?"

He couldn't help but chuckle at Junho's mischievous grin. "So, you saw them with these girlfriends, huh? Any idea who they are?" Junho shrugged, "I don't know their names but one of them often wanders around. Does any princess live here?" Jungkook raised an eyebrow and thought for a second, "well Jin hyung's fiancé lives here with her sister"

As Junho mentioned the presence of a princess in the vicinity, Jungkook's thoughts immediately went to Jin's fiancée and her sister.

"You're saying it could be one of Jin's fiancée or her sister?" he repeated, his expression contemplative. Junho shook his head, "his fiancé just fights with him and seeing his face, he clearly is annoyed by her" Jungkook chuckled along with Junho's observation about Jin and his fiancée's relationship. "Yeah, those two definitely don't get along well," he admitted. 

"I think her sister is with prince Jimin" He then considered Junho's theory about Jimin and Luna. "You think Jimin is seeing the sister of Jin's fiancée?" he asked, a trace of skepticism in his voice. Junho nodded. "So Jimin hyung is seeing princess luna" Jungkook asked again.

Junho nodded in agreement. "Yes, he's seeing Princess Luna," Junho confirmed. Jungkook's eyes widened at the revelation. "Princess Luna? Really? How did that even happen?" Junho shrugged, "can I tell you a secret?" He asked in a low tone.

Jungkook raised an eyebrow at Junho's change in tone, sensing the serious atmosphere. "Sure, what's the secret?" he replied curiously. Junho whispered in a low tone, "I think.... I have powers"

Jungkook nodded, understanding what Junho meant. "Ah, you're talking about powers like the Princes and Princesses have." He paused for a moment, his mind processing this information. "You think you have powers too?" he inquired, his tone now filled with interest and a touch of disbelief.

Junho shrugged, "I think... When I was three, I picked up a very large rock" Jungkook's eyes widened in surprise as Junho revealed that he had once picked up a large rock at just three years old. "A large rock? At that age?" he asked, a mix of amazement and curiosity in his voice.

"And some say that my face matches with a king of some other country.. Well, that's just a saying.. I have never really seen my father.. My mother never told me and well.. Before telling she just" Junho stopped, looking down. Junho's words trailed off, and his gaze dropped to the ground. It was clear that talking about his mother was a sensitive subject for him.

Jungkook noticed the shift in Junho's mood and immediately softened his expression. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," he reassured gently. "Do you believe me?" Junho asked innocently. Jungkook looked down at Junho, who gazed up at him with innocent eyes. He could feel his heart melting at the sight.

"Of course, I believe you," he replied sincerely, his voice filled with gentle reassurance. "You have no reason to lie about these things, right?" Junho gave out a cute smile. Seeing the adorable smile on Junho's face brought a warm feeling to Jungkook's heart. He couldn't help but return the smile with a fond one of his own.

"There's that cute smile again," he teased lightly, poking Junho's puffed-up cheeks. Junho's stomach let out a loud growl, causing him to blush in embarrassment. "Guess someone's hungry," Jungkook teased, a smirk on his face. "Seems like I better find you something to eat, huh?"

"Can I have tteokbokki?" Junho asked, his eyes sparkling for positive response. Jungkook chuckled at Junho's hopeful request for tteokbokki. The sight of his sparkling eyes tugged at his heart strings.

"Of course, you can have tteokbokki," he agreed with a smile. "I wouldn't deny you your favorite food, now, would I?" Junho smiled in happiness. Seeing his happy smile warmed Jungkook's heart. He chuckled softly at how adorable the young boy looked.

"You really love tteokbokki, don't you?" he teased gently. "Your eyes light up just by mentioning it."

"Mom always made it on my birthday because it was my favorite" Junho said, smiling and giggling.

As Junho mentioned how his mother made tteokbokki for his birthday because it was his favorite, Jungkook listened intently, his expression gentle.

"That's a sweet tradition," he said softly, a tender smile on his lips. "Family recipes and traditions are the best, aren't they?" Junho nodded. Jungkook picked him in his arms and took him to eat.

As they walked towards the kitchen, Jungkook carried Junho in his arms with ease. He could feel the young boy's excitement and anticipation for his favorite food.

"You're really excited for that tteokbokki, huh?" he commented, chuckling. "I promise we'll get you some in no time." As the food was made, Junho eagerly dug into the plate of tteokbokki, Jungkook chuckled at his carefree enthusiasm.

"Hey, hey, slow down," he teased, gently ruffling Junho's hair. "You're going to choke yourself if you eat that fast."

"Woah that's a nice smell, what are you guys eating?" Hoseok asked, gently ruffling Junho's hair. Jungkook looked up from watching Junho devour his tteokbokki and smiled. "Hey hyung," he greeted before replying, "just treating Junho to some tteokbokki because he was hungry."

Junho glanced up at Hoseok and smiled with a mouth full of food. Hoseok smiled at him. "You look so cute" Pinches his cheeks. "Ah hyung" Jungkook watched as Hoseok playfully pinched Junho's cheeks, and Junho protested with a whine.

"Hey, leave him alone," Jungkook chided, but with a hint of amusement in his tone. "You'll make him grumpy if you keep pinching him like that." Hoseok chuckled. As other brothers joined them and sat around the table, Jungkook sensed something off about Jin and Yoongi's expressions. They both had grumpy expressions on their faces.

"Why do you guys look so grumpy?" he inquired, his tone laced with curiosity and concern. "Amelia is irritating" Jin said, annoyed, others giggled. Hearing Jin's complaint about Amelia causing irritation, the others at the table couldn't help but giggle. "What did she do this time?" Jungkook asked, trying to suppress a grin. "The usual tantrums?"

"She is hell bent in making me annoyed. I can't believe my father fixed my marriage with her" Jin said, his head falling on the table. Jungkook chuckled and looked at Yoongi, "what happened to you hyung?" Yoongi stared blankly at his brothers. "My marriage got fixed"

As Yoongi made the unexpected announcement that his marriage had been arranged, the others froze in surprise, their eyes widening. Jin automatically offered his congratulations, but Yoongi retorted with a glare.

Meanwhile, Jungkook couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the situation unfolding before him. "Whoa, hold on a minute," he interjected. "Yoongi hyung, you got your marriage... arranged?"

"So, what do you think?" Yoongi gritted his teeth, "and guess what, it's again father's friend's daughter" Jungkook could feel the tension in the air as Yoongi spoke through gritted teeth about his arranged marriage. The revelation that it was yet another friend's daughter added more fuel to his annoyance.

"Man, that sounds like a headache," Jungkook commented, sympathizing with Yoongi's situation. "You're not exactly thrilled about it, are you?" Yoongi didn't reply and just stared down.

"Well at least someone will give me company" Jin said, going to high five with Yoongi who kept his hand away. "Well, I guess you are angrier than me" Jin said, others sighed. "I think princess amelia has irritated the shit out of your brain, hyung" Namjoon's comment about Princess Amelia irritating Jin's brain made everyone chuckle, which seemed to lift the tension a bit. Then, Jimin raised a valid question, "How will you handle it for the rest of your lives?"

Jin let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I have no idea," he admitted honestly. "But it's not like I have much of a choice, do I?" Hoseok spoke out, "When it comes on father, we have no choice" Everyone nodded in agreement, knowing that they had to abide by their father's decisions, no matter how much they may disagree with them.

"That's true," Jungkook chimed in, his tone reflecting a hint of resignation. "Father's word is law, whether we like it or not." Junho, who had completed his food, was listening to them. "Is marrying a burden?" The brothers exchanged glances amongst themselves as Junho asked if marrying was a burden, his wide-eyed innocent look tugging at their heartstrings. It was a question that left them speechless for a moment.

Jungkook was the first to respond to Junho's question, a soft smile on his face. "No, Junho, marrying isn't necessarily a burden. Sometimes, people marry because they love each other deeply."

"Yeah, like our younger brothers" Hoseok's comment about their younger brothers' romantic entanglements caught the attention of Jungkook, Jimin, and Taehyung, who widened their eyes, clearly caught off guard.

"Hyung, stop talking nonsense," Jungkook protested weakly, trying to deflect the attention away from them. Hoseok and namjoon giggled when they all flinched as Jin banged on the table. Jin's sudden outburst silenced the room and caught everyone's attention. His words carried a mix of frustration and weariness, hinting at his own struggles with love and marriage.

"You guys are all laughing and talking as if it's a joke," Jin continued, his eyes scanning each of his brothers. "But you have no experience of any of this."

"Hyung but don't you sometimes love princess amelia's presence?" Taehyung asked and Jin's face became flushed. It was evident that the mere mention of her name stirred up complex emotions within him.

"That's beside the point!" Jin protested, attempting to remain resolute in his disdain towards her. "Even if I might occasionally appreciate her company, it doesn't change the fact that this arrange marriage is a headache."

The others in the room raised their eyebrows, not believing Jin's response. They muttered in unison, "Liar," sensing a hint of contradiction in his words.

Jin's face reddened even more, and he sputtered in protest. "Hey, what are you guys implying? I'm telling the truth!" he asserted, but his flustered expression betrayed his conflicted feelings. "Hyung" Yoongi said, keeping his hand on his thigh, "you don't feel the same as I do"

Yoongi's hand on Jin's thigh and his firm yet understanding tone caught Jin's attention. There was a depth to Yoongi's words that seemed to hit a tender spot in Jin's heart.

"You're right, I don't feel the same as you," Jin admitted, his tone quieter now. "It's complicated. Sometimes she annoys me to death, and sometimes I can't help but... appreciate her presence."

"Oooohh" escaped from everyone's lips, they began to tease Jin, clearly amused by the revelation he had just shared. In response, Jin shot them all a glare, but there was a hint of embarrassment in his eyes.

"Hey, stop it!" he protested, trying to regain some dignity. "It's not funny. It's complicated, alright?"

"Okay, okay, yah stop laughing you all" Namjoon's intervention to stop the laughter brought a brief pause to the lighthearted banter. Everyone composed themselves, their laughter subsiding for the moment.

Yoongi leaned back and sighed; his tone laced with resignation. "I guess I'll just have to make the most of my freedom while I still can," he commented, accepting his impending marriage with a touch of sarcasm.

"You all" Yoongi looked at all of them, "no more going out anymore" Their jaws dropped. "Wait I need to meet-" Yoongi interrupted, "and no more meeting girls"

Yoongi's statement caught everyone off guard, and the room fell silent as they all gawked at him in disbelief. Jimin protested, "Wait, what do you mean no more meeting girls?"

Yoongi, ever so serious, interrupted immediately, "No more meetings with girls." His tone left no room for argument. "You all meet with girls or princesses every day, so you won't be meeting them until mine and Jin hyung's marriage"

Yoongi's words hit the brothers like a ton of bricks. Their eyes widened, and their protests filled the room. "What?! No more meetings?" Taehyung exclaimed incredulously.

"You can't be serious, hyung," Jungkook implored, his face filled with disappointment. "What are we supposed to do without any interactions with girls?" As the other brothers protested loudly, Jin rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "They're talking as if they're perverts."

Hearing Jin's comment, everyone shot him an indignant look, their brows furrowing in unison. "Hey! We're not perverts," they protested in unison.

As a laugh echoed in the room, everyone turned their attention towards Junho, and their expressions softened upon seeing him laughing innocently.

"Ah, Junho," Taehyung said, a warm smile playing on his lips. "Why are you laughing, little one?" "You all... Are so funny" He giggled. Junho's innocent laughter continued, amused by the brothers' banter. As Jungkook gently ruffled his hair, he posed a question to Junho.

"Do you actually like being here with us, even though we hardly know each other?" he inquired with a soft tone, his eyes studying Junho's reaction closely. Junho stopped laughing and looked at Jungkook and then smiled widely. "Yes"

Junho's simple response, coupled with his wide smile, warmed everyone's hearts. They exchanged glances, a mix of surprise and pleasure at his response.

"Really?" Jungkook asked, unable to hide his own smile forming on his lips. "You actually enjoy being with us?" Junho nodded. Yoongi cleared his throat, "see he also likes us, can't you all stay at home for him?" Yoongi's attempt to use Junho's affection as leverage didn't go unnoticed by his younger brothers. Namjoon quickly shot down his strategy, stating firmly, "You can't use him to guilt-trip us into staying home."

The others nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on Yoongi with expressions that said, "Nice try, but no cigar."

"I am serious, I am no mood in joking" Yoongi said. His serious tone made it clear that he wasn't in a joking mood. The others exchanged glances, realizing that he was not about to back down from his demand.

Hoseok spoke up, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Are you for real, hyung? You really want us to stop meeting girls just because of your impending marriage?"

"As if.. Are you even in love with princess Annalise?" Hoseok's face turned red as Yoongi called him out, questioning his feelings for Princess Annalise. He attempted to come up with a response but stumbled, unable to find the right words.

"Wait... That's not called love... It's just..." Hoseok began, but then trailed off, his voice faltering as he struggled to define his connection with the princess. Others sighed. "You should be fast like Jimin" Jin said and the others chimed in, agreeing with Jin's observation. Jimin's face flushed as he heard everyone mention that he was the first one among them to date.

"Yeah, Jimin made the girlfriend first," Jungkook said bluntly, a playful smirk on his face. "Well..." Jimin cleared his throat. "That's because you guys don't accept your inner feelings and i do that" he said confidently.

Jimin defended himself, claiming that he was the one who accepted his inner feelings quickly. The others chuckled at his words, unable to deny the truth in his statement.

"Oh, look at you, so confident," Jungkook teased. "Always listening to your heart, huh?"

"So, what..." Jimin said, looking away. "You really love princess luna, don't you?" Taehyung teased his twin. Jimin's cheeks flushed as Taehyung teased him about his feelings for Princess Luna.

"Of course I love her," Jimin exclaimed, his tone defensive yet filled with affection. "She's the light of my life."

"Well... Aurora is same in my life" As Taehyung expressed his love for Aurora, a dreamy expression crossed his face, his thoughts clearly focused on her.

"You're whipped, man," Hoseok chuckled, teasing him gently. "Completely smitten."

"Wow all my brothers are in love except of me" Jin said, Yoongi kicked him on foot. Jin winced in pain as Yoongi kicked him on the foot, causing him to protest loudly.

"Ow what was that for?" he exclaimed, rubbing his sore foot.

Yoongi rolled his eyes at Jin's comment. "I am not in love," he reiterated, his tone matter of fact.

Namjoon chimed in, echoing his sentiment. "Yeah, me too. Love is just a distraction I don't have time for."

Yoongi and Jin looked at Namjoon, their eyes narrowing in skepticism. It was unusual for the two of them to agree on anything, but they shared a mutual suspicion about Namjoon's statement.

"Don't lie," they echoed in unison, their voices laced with disbelief. "I am not in love!! I am serious about it" Namjoon protested vehemently, insisting that he wasn't in love. His firm declaration left no room for doubt, but the skepticism on Yoongi's and Jin's faces remained evident.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow, studying Namjoon skeptically. "Sure, you keep telling yourself that."

As the brothers engaged in playful banter, arguing about love and relationships, Junho sat quietly in the midst of the chaos. He watched them intently, his gaze moving from one brother to the next.

He observed their facial expressions, listened to their words, and silently noted the dynamics between them. Junho's young mind absorbed the scene unfolding before him as his brothers continued their lighthearted banter. Sitting quietly, he pondered a question in his head.

'Is this what having brothers is like?'

The sound of their bickering and laughter filled the room, yet he found himself watching in fascination rather than joining in.

Junho remembered:

Flashback

"Why don't I have siblings?" 5-year-old Junho asked his mother who smiled warmly at him. "That's not true, my baby" She took him in her lap. "You have siblings as well.. Just that they are not here"

"So where are they, mom?" Junho asked innocently, making his mother quiet.

Flashback ends

'Did mom meant that or she just said that to make me feel good?' Junho thought, her those words wondered in his mind.