~Thud!

You quickly opened your eyes, startled by the sudden sound in the room. With the support of your arms, you tried to sit straight but a small groan escaped from your lips as soon as you felt a stinging pain in your left hand.

'First that burn and now this cut.'
You sighed loudly and sat straight while looking at the source of the sound where Jungkook was standing while ruffling his wet hair.

He just took a cold shower and was wearing a black robe that fully covered his body. He then proceeded to walk to the closet and slide open the door giving you a chance to look at the piled up clothes.
Honestly, it was a mess.

You sat there just observing his each and every move, the way he was aggressively rummaging to find the clothes that he has in his mind to wear today. Although, his back was facing you but you could sense how irritated he was getting because of the messy closet by hearing him cursing under his breath in every second.

"Fuck!"
Atlast he groaned loudly and slammed shut the closet door making you flinch.
He was breathing heavily with his chest moving up and down.

When you moved your eyes away from his figure to the door, your stomach crunched in nervousness after catching a pair of glaring eyes in the mirror of the door thrown towards you by Jungkook.

You quickly looked away and stood up on your leg instantly hissing at your sore foot which still hasn't healed yet. You didn't even remembered how you were able to walk to the Holy Ground, maybe you were too occupied by thoughts about the ritual that you couldn't feel the pain in your foot.

Gritting your teeth to suppress the tears that were threatening to fall out because of the intense pain in your foot, you slowly walked towards the bathroom making sure to ignore the dark presence beside you when you walked past by him, finally entering inside.

Taking the support of the black marble wall, you pushed yourself towards a sitting place in front of the large oval shaped mirror attached to the wall above the square sink.

You exhaled deeply as you looked down at your right foot which was bleeding from the ankle area. It was wounded when you stepped on a hard rock which was pointed from the tip that pierced your skin when you were running from Jungkook in the forest at time of your escape.
Your left foot was fine but had some scratches and a sprained ankle that happened when Jungkook was roughly dragging you out of the forest.

Your whole body has been so much injured within these few days as you wonder what more has to come.

'Trust me, things will become a lot more easier for you.'

Taehyung's words revolved around your head making you sigh. You still wanted to know what he meant by that.
You are sure that he meant something. The look he gave you when he spoke those words, it was anything but normal.

Shaking your head to stop your mind to drain your energy from thinking all this in the early morning, you decided to have a really good bath.

***

"You should have told Jungkook before to call me."

Yuna raised concern while treating your foot as you laid on the bed clutching the pillow tightly at the burning pain while she applied the ointment.

You didn't replied and slowly eyed Mother who sat on the couch looking at your figure with no emotion.

"Did you had sex with Jungkook?"

Your eyes widened at her blunt question. Even Yuna stopped for a second before continuing again.

You remained silent feeling so awkward and nervous, hoping that Mother would get it that you did not do anything with that man but she was still waiting for your answer.

"N-no."

"Why?" You took a sharp breath at her next question.

"H-He...W-we were tired."
You replied.

"I don't think so you were tierd. All day you were just resting in your room until the night came. You could have seduced him to boost his strength."

You just looked down after hearing her absurd words. Seduce him? The fuck?

"See Y/n, I want Jungkook's son within next year anyhow. We can't delay this too aswell."
She announced and got up from the couch before walking out of the room leaving you baffled.

"This is so crazy."
You muttered under your breath but Yuna heard you making her chuckle as she bandaged your feet.

"It's not crazy but the rules in the tradition. After the Binding Ritual happens, the couple should be physical with each other on the same night to have a son⁰ till the next year. Only after that, the next brother would be able to look for his chosen one."

You turned to look at her who smiled a little. A thought came in your mind and you decided to speak it.

"When did you married Taehyung?"
She smiled widely and looked up at you with bright eyes.

"It has been 3 years."
Her eyes beamed in happiness. You could clearly see she is really in love with Taehyung.

"Then...according to the tradition, where is your child? Because after that only, Jungkook got the chance to marry."

You furrowed your eyebrows when she blinked her eyes and lowered her head. She looked taken aback after hearing your question. Did you...said something wrong?

"Hey....Yuna-"

"I should go now. I'll come back with the lunch after few hours."
She suddenly lifted up her head and smiled a little, as she finished bandaging your foot and kept back the things in first-aid box.

She then picked up the empty plate of breakfast before walking out of the room, closing the door gently.

"Why did she behaved like that?"
You whispered while eyeing your foot.
There was a reason that you were thinking in your mind but weren't sure about it.

'Not only Taehyung's but Jimin's too. Where is Jimin's child? Only after that Taehyung's chance came. And where is his child? Because after him, Jungkook's chance came.'

This was really confusing to you. They say this is how the rituals happens in the tradition, then why can't you see kids of the two?

'And also what's with Mother and Yuna talking about son only? No girl?'
You thought.

***

"How was it?"
Mother asked Taehyung who just entered the mansion after a hectic work. It was already past afternoon.

"Here." Yuna handed her husband a glass of water as he mumbled a small thank you and sat on the couch to Mother's right before drinking it down his throat.

"It went good. Though, it took a lot of effort to convince Mr. Lee but he finally agreed to share the prices with our company."

Mother sighed in relief at the good news and smiled proudly at the man.

"Very good, Taehyung. I knew you would convince that bastard. This is the reason why I let you to take control of our company. You are intelligent."

Taehyung smiled at the Mother's words and thanked her genuinely before glancing at Jungkook who just now entered the mansion.

"Good evening, Mother." He greeted her with a slight bow before making his way to the right side of the corridor across the living room.

"Mother, did the two, yesterday?"
Taehyung hesitantly asked Mother when Jungkook was out of their sights.

To reply to his question, Mother simply shook her head and took a sip of her red cherry wine that was in her hand.

He nodded his head and looked at Yuna who was standing beside him with her head down, fumbling with her fingers.

"What happened?" Mother also noticed her nervous behavior but Yuna just shook her head and smiled at Taehyung.

"Shoukd I make something for you?"
She asked.

"No thanks. I'm full."
He lowly replied and stood up taking the permission from Mother to leave which she did.

As he was about to walk upstairs followed by Yuna behind him, Jungkook's voice echoed in his ears, halting him on his steps.

"Taehyung, where is Jimin? I had something urgent to talk with him."
The young man entered the living room.

"What is it?"
Mother asked Jungkook in curiosity and worriedness but he just shook his head.

"It's nothing to worry about Mother, just things I have to inform him that I received from Seo-"

"JUNGKOOKIE UNCLE!!!"

The man was suddenly interrupted by the loud squeal that echoed in the whole mansion making everyone snap their heads towards the main door from where a small human being ran inside the living room.

"Jun?"
Jungkook whispered in surprise and smiled softly before kneeling down on one leg with his arms wide open as the little figure crashed into his arms and hugged him tightly.

"Jungkookie Uncle! I missed you so much." The boy pouted making Jungkook chuckle.

"I missed you too, Jun." He picked up the boy in his arms who giggled and wrapped his small hands around Jungkook's neck.

"I told you not to run, Junwoo."
Jimin entered the mansion with an irritating expression and greeted his mom who widely smiled and looked at the boy.

"Junwoo dear, how was your stay at Uncle Jin's house?" Mother cheerfully asked the boy who nodded his head and showed his little thumb with a smile.

"It was good, Grandma. But, I missed here." He said while hugging Jungkook more tightly who chuckled and bopped his nose.

"I promise we won't send our Jun away from here, anymore. Okay?" Junwoo gasped cutely while covering his mouth with small hands as his big glowing eyes shined brightly.

"Really! Thank you Jungkookie Uncle!"

"Junwoo, shouldn't you greet your grandma first?" Jimin muttered and walked towards Jungkook taking Junwoo from his arms and putting him down on the floor in front of the Mother.

"Good afternoon, Grandma. Sorry for not greeting you first." Junwoo bowed down in apology but the old lady just laughed her heart out and gently held his arm before making him sit on her lap.

"It's fine, my little boy. I am just happy to see your cute baby face again."

She ruffled the little boy's hair making him giggle as he felt tingles all over his body. He laid his head on her chest and softly wrapped his hand around her forefinger.

"You won't send me away from house, okay?" He pushed out his bottom lip and gazed at the Mother with puppy eyes who couldn't resist to just shower all her love to this innocent human.
He is a precious gem to all of them.

She nodded her head and gave a peck on his forehead before announcing.

"I promise. We do not have anymore reasons to send you away. You'll always be with us. Right, Jimin?"

"Yeah." He shortly answered.

"You must be hungry right? Shall we make a lot of food for our prince and fill his empty tummy?" Mother tickled Junwoo's stomach as he giggled and quickly jumped off from Mother's lap still laughing loudly.

The little human's laugh echoed in the whole mansion making everyone smile. His presence has again made their place a lively heaven, ignoring the unfortunate events that happened these few days.

"Why don't you go with Aunt Yuna and tell her what you want to eat, hm?"

Jimin said and looked at Yuna who quickly nodded her head and smiled widely while coming down the stairs, leaving Taehyung who continued his way upstairs back to his room.

"Aunt Yuna, how are you? Did you missed me too?" Junwoo asked when Yuna gently held his hand and the two made their way to the kitchen through one of the hallways.

"Jimin." Jungkook who was smiling just few seconds ago was now peering at his elder brother with seriousness and glaring eyes. Nobody could tell if he was faking his smile all this long just for Junwoo because the crazy duality this man held was totally unbelievable and scary.

And Jimin wouldn't also deny the fact that even though the three brothers have been living together since their childhood under the same roof, the only brother whom he could not understand at all was always his younger brother, Jungkook.

Taehyung also isn't an easy one to understand but thankfully Jimin can sometimes still see through what's going on inside that man's head. The only thing that makes things difficult for Jimin is Taehyung's eyes.

Jimin knows his mesmerizing hazel eyes says a lot more than what he speaks and do things. But, unfortunately Taehyung is very good in fooling someone while faking emotions in his eyes and perfectly hiding his real emotions in them.
He is an expert in them.

No doubt that as they grew up, they have changed a lot. Their personalities have completely changed from what they were before back in the childhood.

Taehyung was not like that at all. Jimin and him were like an unbreakable pair and he knew him like the back of his hand. Their parents used to call them soulmates who always used to stick around in every situation.

But as they aged, their bond started to weakened. Even though they were physically near each other, living under the same roof but it always felt like to Jimin that the two have drifted apart.
It has reached to the point, that he does not know Taehyung anymore.
He sometimes felt like a stranger to him.

And in case of Jungkook, it is complicated.
It has always been since childhood.

"I need to tell you something." Jungkook blankly said and made his way towards the other hallway opposite to the one leading to the kitchen after bowing at Mother taking her permission to leave the room.

"Jimin, if it is worrisome make sure to inform me."

Mother reminded her son in concern already having a feeling that the things Jungkook want to talk about to Jimin is not a good news. Her inner intuition has always been true for years and after the arrival of the new member of their family, it seems like her intuition power towards bad happenings has become more strong than before.

And she didn't liked that fact at all.

~ To Be Continued

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