Jimin walked around the park, eyes searching for a familiar person, he sat on a bench near a tree watching several kids running and playing around the park, laughing, giggling, having fun with each other while his sister was at home probably watching the same movie again with Jungkook.

He spotted the girl, his sister's age, coming into the park with her father, Jimin stood up walking up to them with a smile.

"Hey Jisoo" He greeted, "Hello Mr Choi."

"Jimin, hello" The man smiled back, shaking his hand, "How's everything going? Work and home?"

"Work is fine, just Aera's health is a bit off." He said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh is that why she's not attending school?" Jisoo asked.

"Yeah" Jimin nodded, "actually I wanted to ask you something Jisoo."

"Mm-hmm" The girl nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"Do you know anyone who might've said something to Aera? Some boys or anyone else?"

Jisoo thought for a moment before shaking her head as a no. Jimin sighed, pulling his phone out and opening the gallery, showing a picture to the girl after zooming in a bit.

"Do you know who these boys are?"

Jisoo nodded instantly, gasping as if she had just remembered something, she pointed at a group of boys at a distance, surprisingly it was the same boys whom he saw the first day when he took Aera from the park, "Its them," she said, "Jeff, Leo, Sungyun and Jaemin. They tell her bad stuff and she gets sad sometimes but I told her not to pay attention to them. They're very bad oppa, Aera doesn't like them at all."

"What kind of bad stuff?" Jimin asked.

"Like, they say she doesn't have friends and nobody wants to stay with her. She doesn't deserve anyone and... and she's a disappointment, and nobody cares for her." She said, feeling bad just by saying it from her mouth, "They're just so- so bad, they even bring up her mom and dad, and say that it's a good thing they died earlier because now they would be so disappointed in her..."

Don't leave me oppa

I don't deserve anyone

I won't disappoint you oppa

Jimin felt his organs churning inside him, remember all the times Aera cried holding him in the whole period of five days, and how she couldn't even manage to speak, how she thought she was a disappointment, how the bright smile had left her face, how she had lost her lively giggles and playful tactics, all because of those boys who didn't even think twice before telling all that shit to someone, especially a kid.

He blinked away his tears, nodding his head keeping his phone inside, "Can you tell their names again?"

"Jeff, Leo, Sungyun and Jaemin"

"Thank you" he said, before walking away.

_____

Henry Jeff, 06:05 pm_

He sighed, getting up from the couch and heading upstairs to his room, after getting a notice from his parents telling him to get ready and they will be leaving to visit someone in a few minutes.

Lee Sunghyun, 06:07 pm_

"Songhyun, get ready, we've got to go somewhere." He heard his mother's voice from outside his room.

"Where?" He asked.

"Just get ready without wasting a minute."

"Fine," He sighed.

Kang Leo, 06:08 pm_

Sighing out in frustration, he stared at her father who stood in front of him blocking the TV screen, as he motioned his hand towards the bathroom, gesturing him to get dressed within a minute.

Song Jaemin, 06:08 pm_

"But I don't wanna go!" He groaned.

"Shut up and get ready," The mother instructed, "We'll be waiting downstairs. Your friends are coming too, don't worry."

"What?" He was confused by his mother's words.

_____

Jeon Mansion, 06:35 pm_

The boys exchanged nervous glances, staring at the nameplate with stunned expressions, while their parents seemed pretty much fine, probably finding the alarming silence before the storm calm.

A middle aged man walked up to them, bowing as he gestured his hand for them to follow in. They wouldn't lie right now, even after the profuse sweating and almost dead condition, their eyes wandered towards the garden area and the mini fountain near the front, gaping at their surroundings in awe. This was the dream life.

Aera's sure a brat

Leo nudged his friend, eyeing towards the freeform pool that was partially visible from where they were.

"Man! This is so cool" Jeff whispered.

"I know right," Sunghyun nodded, "this girl is so damn lucky."

"Yeah, I wish I was her." Jaemin said.

They headed inside, entering a big living space from where the man left after telling them to take a seat. The four sat together, praying for, whatever it is, to end soon and they could go home out of this beautiful yet dangerous place.

Their eyes averted towards the stairs as a pair of footsteps faintly made their way down, making the boys gulp in fear. Jimin smiled at the parents who stood up to greet him, and gestured his hands to stay seated.

"I assume you know me, but for your sons, I must introduce myself," He said, "I'm Jeon Jimin, Aera's eldest brother."

"H-Hello" the boys said, blinking a few times as the older boy sat across them.

"You all know Aera right?" He asked.

"Yeah, she's... she's our friend." Leo said.

"Oh great" Jimin looked amused, "Then I'm sure you know what you're here for."

"Sorry?" Sunghyun's father smiled awkwardly, not understanding what Jimin was saying.

"I'll tell you everything.Jungkook," he called.

The boys and their parents saw him walking down the stairs, eyes fixed on Jimin as he was the one to call him. He lowered his head towards the elders before sitting next to his brother.

"He's Jeon Jungkook, my younger brother." Jimin said, "He was ten when Aera was born, and I was twelve -turning thirteen. We both had plenty of time with our parents, I remember our dad taking us out for baseball and soccer practices, Jungkook's taekwondo classes and my dance and vocal lessons, everything.

"Our mom used to cook for us, and we often argued about who'd sit next to her during the dinner. She used to come to our school events and try all kinds of stuff together. Now, why am I telling you this?" He smiled softly, glancing at the guests in front of him.

"Aera was very young when they passed away in a plane crash, so young that she didn't know we cannot call dead people when we miss them. I remember exactly when she cried around their funeral, not because her parents died, but because me and Jungkook were sad.

"She used to go to school and look at kids coming and going home with their mom or dad, attending the parents' visiting day, going out for picnics, shopping, playing games together and all the stuff that she couldn't experience with mom and dad. No matter how much anyone tries now, she cannot live those moments. She has me and Jungkook as everything, be it her parents, her brothers, her friends, first teachers, just everything.

"She's comfortable and always happy to spend all her time with us, she feels safe and protected with her brothers like no one else can make her feel. And you know what the four you did? You tried to take all that away from her." Jimin said, eyes staring at the four boys with glistening tears.

"Your mere words, that probably mean nothing to you, did an unrepairable damage in her mind. She thinks we'll leave her too, she cries holding my hand, repeatedly mumbling for me to stay with her. She didn't go to school for a week now, she doesn't smile like before, doesn't play like other kids her age, because you four forced her to believe that she doesn't deserve anyone and should stay alone."

Jungkook nodded subtly, taking a deep breath as he looked at the boys for the first time since Jimin started speaking, "Who gave you the right to tell her she's a disappointment? Who gave you the right to decide what she deserves? You kids have no idea what you've done to Aera, she's not able to sleep properly, smile or play or even speak properly, there's nothing like before... and that's all because of you four.

"Did you forget she's just a child? Just a twelve year old? Even a grown adult gives up at some point, she's still a kid..." Jungkook said, building a reservoir of guilt inside the boys. Their hands were hanging low, staring at their laps, not having any words to say.

"Really Leo?" The lady asked in a disbelieving tone, "Y'all did that?"

The four exchanged glances, before lowering their heads again, earning a few angry sighs from the parents, "Are you out of your mind?!" Jeff's father shouted, "this is what we've taught you all your life?!"

"I'm sorry dad" he whispered, feeling tears pooling his eyes.

"Y- Yes, we didn't know she'd take it so badly or else we'd've stopped..." Sunghyun said, falling silent as soon as he felt his dad's tight slap landing on his cheek.

"Don't utter any nonsense" He threatened, "What you did has no excuse. Y'all freakin' messed with that kid's life and you're expecting her to take it in a positive way? Who are you trying to fool huh? If I tell you the exact same shit you told her, I'm pretty sure you won't like it either. Just because she's younger than you and has a bit of a less understanding about life than you, doesn't mean you can abuse her like that!"

Jaemin's mom stood up, "You're being a disappointment right now, Jaemin." She said before turning to Jimin, "We're really sorry for our children did, I-"

"Oppa..."

Aera's hushed voice erupted between the thick environment sounding soft and fragile, making the heads turn towards the stairs where she stood frowning at the sight of so many people coming at home. Her eyes found the four boys, sending a cold shiver along her body, lowering her gaze she quickly ran up to Jungkook hugging him.

"Tell them to go," she mumbled, not looking at the boys.

"It's okay princess, they're not going to hurt you." He said, rubbing her back.

"no..."

Jeff and his friends stood quietly, hanging their heads low hearing the girl's soft voice and request to send them away. Meanwhile the parents stared at her with sympathetic eyes.

"Shh, relax." Jungkook said, "oppa's here right, nobody's hurting my princess."

Aera sat on his lap, resting her head on his shoulder looking down at her lap where her fingers fiddled with the rings that Jungkook wore.

"Words are not enough to apologize for what our boys have done," Leo's mother said, "I hope she gets well soon. I'm so sorry for everything she had to face because of their stupid actions, and also for everything that you both had to face."

Jimin nodded glancing at his sister, sitting quietly with Jungkook, "I don't know what you're going to do with them and its not at all like I care, but there's one thing I want you all, especially your sons to know that their words hold a deeper meaning than they think and it can be more than enough to break a person. Please, it's my humble request, be mindful of what you say, because once said, you'll be able to do nothing more than regret it all your life."

Jungkook nodded, wanting to add a few more words to his brother's advice, "What you did to Aera is bad enough, and let me remind you again, no one deserves this. I hope you never find yourself feeling the way you made my twelve year-old sister feel."

"...don't cry, Koo" Aera said, wiping the thin, lone tear that slipped down Jungkook's left eye, "I'm okay, look I'm smiling" she said, pulling a soft smile for him, which they knew was just a forced one so that her brother smiles.

The parents averted their eyes, feeling the sudden surge of emotions at the sight of the kid looking so vulnerable in her brother's arms, not to mention their sons were responsible for this condition of hers. Jeff's mother gulped down the lump forming in her throat, as she tried to imagine the amount of emotional and mental pain Aera was experiencing, she blinked her eyes, dropping a tear as she stepped forward near the girl.

"I'm Jeff's mom," she started softly.

"Jeff's mom? Why- why did you com- here?"

She chewed on her lower lip, trying not to sob on seeing her stuttering like that, "I came here to apologize, I'm sorry for everything Jeff ever said to you, I'm sorry for not raising him properly, I'm sorry for not teaching him the importance of words, I'm sorry for not telling him how to behave, I'm sorry that you, Aera, had to experience all that because of my son."

Aera glanced at Jeff who had tears streaming down his face just like the other three boys.

"Yes, I'm Leo's mom, and I'm sorry too." Another lady said.

"I'm sorry for what Jaemin did... Really sorry."

"I'm Sunghyun's mom, I'm sorry for everything Aera. I'll make sure Sunghyun never does that to anyone." She said, "Sunghyun, apologize."

The boy sniffed, rubbing his eyes, stepping forward near her and fixing his eyes on Aera, "I'm sorry Aera... I never meant to hurt you this-."

"Go away!" Aera shouted, turning her head towards Jungkook, wrapping her arms around his neck as she hugged him tightly, burying her face in his neck.

The parents had seen her crying, trying her best to stay close to Jungkook for as long as possible, clutching on the fabric of his shirt tightly, mumbling something that they couldn't understand. Sunghyun took a step back, glancing at his friends, who were also staring at Aera, realizing how bad their stupid words hurted her.

"She's scared of you," Jimin said, "surprising? No."

"...Aera, I'm really please liste-"

"Nooo!" She cried, moving her hands in the air, motioning for him to leave her alone. Her cries intensified on seeing him still standing there, making Jimin sigh as he gestured for Sunghyun to move aside from her field of vision.

"O-Oppa..." her voice filled with a shaky voice, breath quivering in an uneven manner. Jungkook turned around, holding Aera in his lap, blocking all the people in the room from her.

"You're okay, kiddo" he said, rubbing her hands, "just focus on me, we're good hmm?"

"go- go away..." She breathed out.

"Yeah, they're gone. Look, it's just me and Jiminie oppa here." Jungkook assured, "open your eyes,"

She did as he said, blinking her eyes open, just to find Jungkook's face smiling softly at her, "oppa"

"yes baby," he responded, nodding his head waiting for her to continue, but instead she just shook her head. He wiped her tears and glanced at the eldest brother who nodded, gesturing his hand for the guests to follow him outside.

Jeff, Leo, Sungyun and Jaemin probably learned something from today's encounter. At least nobody will suffer because of them in future if they take a positive lesson.

"We're very sorry for your sister Jimin, I don't know what to say to reduce your sufferings, please, forgive our children."

"Me? It's Aera who should be doing that if she wants to," he said, "but yeah as her brother, if you ask me, I probably won't forgive anyone who hurts my sister, and I'm sure Jungkook wouldn't either."

With that said, Jimin had his point across, "Leesung, show them the way out." He ordered the middle aged man, who had first led the guests in. The parents looked down, feeling ashamed and guilty of their kids' actions, and quietly followed the man out of the Mansion.

The beautiful property that initially seemed appealing to the boys felt like digging graves inside them now for hurting the girl whose laughs and giggles echoed within them that boys had managed to take away.

It was something more intense at this point that they could imagine Aera's happy self playing and running around the garden area with her brothers, and laughing on being caught, the way they had sometimes seen her playing in the park.

Images of how Aera cried when she fell down that day in the park after stumbling on Jaemin's foot replayed in their heads;

how she had hugged her brother right before leaving the park, looking so scared;

how she screamed today on seeing them;

how her brothers seemed equally in pain as the Aera herself;

They wiped away a smile from a kid's face, a sweet giggle from tinted lips, a galaxy from a beautiful pair of eyes, ability to trust people from a tender soul and a carefree child that lived inside Aera -the twelve year-old they broke.

What did she ever do to you?

Jimin stared at the walking-away figures of the four boys, hoping that they will never forget what they did to his sister for no reason.

"Close the gate," he heard his own voice, "make sure to never let them in."

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A/N- How's the chapter?

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Word count : 2.9K