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Note :- The parents are not dead (here).

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83.4

That was the number Aera despised, staring at the same eight, three and four on her school academic report of this semester, making the images of every other thing smudging in her mind as she remembered how Jimin had stayed up at nights with her to teach and accompany her while she struggled with the books, and how her father bought her very first and personal phone as she promised on doing good in school.

It was the last day of school - the day they were supposed to get their reports, and now that she finally got hers, it was making her question everything she ever did. All the certificates, trophies, medals and praises in different fields, seemed worthless before her eyes.

She flinched suddenly, feeling a hand on her shoulder, "Aera, it's fine. Your score is still a lot better than mine." June said, smiling at the girl who was on the verge of crying.

"It's not," Aera mumbled, "you don't understand, my brothers always got above ninety-five, mom will scold me for being a brat and not studying properly."

"You're not them, are you?" June asked, crossing her arms on her chest, making Aera frown at her words, slowly shaking her head. "Then you don't have to worry, everybody's different."

Aera sighed, standing up lazily as the bell rang and walked out with her friend who was busy reciting a funny incident about how she once stepped on her pet dog's poop and didn't even notice until her mother scolded her for making a mess around the house. Although her story did not have much effect on Aera to make her smile, but it did divert her attention for a while.

"You're stupid." She said, scrunching her face at June who grinned shrugging her shoulders.

"Is your brother coming to get you?"

"Yeah, but I don't wanna go home," Aera sighed, "at least right now."

"Come with me." June suggested, earning a small smile from Aera, however she shook her head denying the offer.

"Thanks, but I have to go home..."

"Aw don't worry, you look weird when you're upset and sad." June said, poking her friend's puffy cheeks, making Aera groan and pull her head back. They laughed at each other, finally stopping on hearing a honk right in front of them.

"Bye," Aera said, realizing it was Jungkook's car and stepped forward, opening the door.

"Bye, Aera." She heard June, waving at her and also gesturing for her to smile.

Jungkook chuckled glancing at his sister before driving off, "How was your day?" He asked, keeping his eyes fixed on the street in the front.

"Good," Aera nodded, looking outside the window sighing, as she slowly turned to look at him, "Oppa?"

"Hmm?"

"Can we... Can we go somewhere instead of home for a while?"

Jungkook glanced at her, nodding his head as he handed her his phone, "Text hyung we'll be late." Aera smiled at him thankfully for not questioning about her sudden wish, and texted on Jimin's number as Jungkook had told her to.

"Where should we go?" He asked.

"Uh animal café?" Aera said.

"Sure," Jungkook smiled, ruffling her hair while keeping the other hand on the steering wheel. He heard Aera giggle and hold his hand, giving him a challenging look that said I won't let go.

"I'm driving right now, you have to leave my hand." He said, "Or else, you come and drive."

"Daddy and oppa will scold you." Aera laughed.

"Ah right, then leave my hand. Well unless you really wanna see me getting scolded?"

Aera shook her head, letting go of his hand, making him chuckle while she took to something else to keep herself entertained. Jungkook pulled in front of the anima café that belonged to one of his friends.

"You don't have to take your bag, Ri." He laughed lightly, patting her back and gestured her to leave it in the car. Aera held onto his hand, walking towards the entrance of the café and instantly being greeted by cute dogs near the door.

"Aw hello," She smiled, crouching down and petting all them as Jungkook did the same, playing with a brown poodle and a corgi beside him.

"Hey Jungkook!" A guy came up, Jungkook stood in his place, letting go of the dogs and smile at his friend, "It's been a long time man! Where have you been?"

"Ah just really busy with the studio y'know." Jungkook shrugged, shaking his hand.

"Hey, Aera's here too?" Daniel cooed, making the girl look up and smile at him, "How are you?"

"Hello, I'm good. How are you? Did you miss me?" She grinned.

"Oh of course I did, you're the only real friend I have." He said, giving her a high-five. "Come, have a seat, I'll get your orders, the regular ones?"

"Yeah." Jungkook nodded, taking a seat near the window from where they could see sheeps outside in the farm. Aera sat beside him, tugging on his sleeve as she showed him a puppy.

"Where'd you get that?" He asked with a smile, petting the little Labrador in her arms.

"He was sitting near the chair," she said, "cute right?"

"Yeah."

There drinks arrived in a moment and a pastry for Aera as Jungkook sat quietly scrolling through his phone, waiting for Aera to finish eating. He kept his phone aside, glancing at her and noticing that she's spacing out.

"Aera?" He called, "You good?"

"Hm? Yeah." She nodded, sipping her milkshake casually.

"Are you sure? We can talk about it."

Aera nodded slowly, "Let"s go out," she said, "in the garden?"

"Okay" Jungkook stood up, giving his hand out for her to hold, making her smile and walk out with him.

They sat down on the grass, staring at the baby geese following their mother into the small pond near by. Aera glanced at her brother, slowly shifting towards him and leaned on his side.

Jungkook looked down at her, smiling softly and wrapped his arm around her smaller body, "I have something to tell you, oppa." She said, fiddling with her fingers.

"I'm listening,"

"I got my result today and it's not good..."

"And?"

"No, that's it. I got my result and it's not good." Aera said, looking up at him just to find him chuckling at her.

"That's why you've been so stressed and acting like the world is about to end?" He joked, making he laugh a little and shake her head.

"I thought everyone will be mad at me, I got eighty-three percente, and... I don't know, mom will scold me."

"It's not that bad, but yeah you've done better. Is there anything wrong though? Like you've been spacing out a lot recently. See, Aera, we love you and it hurts us too when we see you suffering. So please don't keep it to yourself, talking things out is always a better option." He said, caressing her head as Aera nodded.

"I don't know, there's nothing wrong." She said, "Mom always says I'm-"

"Just a second," Jungkook said, hearing his phone interrupting there conversation and saw it was Jimin's call. He answered telling him they'll be coming home in a while and not to worry.

Aera sighed deeply, standing up and pulling Jungkook's hand to make him get up as well, as they headed towards the car, knowing that she'll have to face their mother once she goes home.

Jungkook drove back home, frequently noticing her tensed state with each second as the distance to their house decreased. To his dismay, it wasn't the first time he had seen her like that. The thought of going home only excited his sister when they were told that their parents are going out for a business trip, all thanks to their mother, who was a firm perfectionist just for Aera.

He sighed, mentally promising himself to talk to their mother as this needs to stop. No child should ever be scared of going home, especially because of their own parent.

The car stopped in the driveway of the house and Jungkook unbuckled his seat belt, seeing Aera zoning out again.

"Aera? It's okay kiddo, relax." He said. She turned to him after quickly removing the straps of her seat belt, staring at him with moist eyes.

"Oppa, can you promise me something?" She asked softly, earning a nod from Jungkook as he cupped her face;

"Yes, baby," he said, "You don't have to be scared, I'll talk to mom. You can tell me if she says anything to you, okay?"

Aera nodded, "Just promise me, you won't let me go even if I ask you to..."

Jungkook stayed silent for a second, realizing the depth of her request, "Never, princess. I won't leave you, why are you talking like that?"

Aera shook her head slowly, getting out of the car and motioning her hand for him to come with her as well. Jungkook's jaw clenched in anger at the thought of their own mother doing this to her only daughter.

It wasn't until a year back when Jungkook actually started seeing things clearly and more rationally, and came to know how their mother practiced favouritism in the house. The first priority was always Jimin, no matter what the situation was, if there's anything good, it should go to him. Then the second was Jungkook and third and last was left to be Aera.

The only reason Jungkook ended up at the second position was his recent stands that he took for his sister, often getting into arguments with their mother and telling her to stop treating Aera as if she wasn't her daughter.

Like any other day, she was sitting in the living room reading the same fashion magazine with her glass of wine placed on the table. Aera gulped looking up at Jungkook who nodded assuringly and gestured her to go to her room.

"Oh you're back?"

Aera stopped in her track, "Yeah," Jungkook replied.

"Where were you two? Her school got over, like four hours ago."

"Yeah, we went out. I texted hyung though." He said, casually sitting on the couch. "What are you doing?"

"Oh nothing important, I was about to ring you that it's getting late." The mother chuckled, "Go and change, I'll cook something, you must be hungry."

"No, I'm good, we just ate in my friend's café."

"Oh great, and you Aera?" She asked.

"Hmm, I'm full." Aera nodded.

"I've told you so many times not to bother him so much, he already has a lot of work in his studio." The mother said, "Anyways, go and get changed, then do your homework."

"Okay," Aera smiled, happy that she didn't get scolded and ran upstairs, making Jungkook sigh as he straightened himself and stood up.

"Stop running!" The mother hissed.

"Her vacation is starting from tomorrow, please don't make it a hell for her." Jungkook said.

"Why do you always see me as the bad one? I'm her mother too, Jungkook, I know what's good for her and what's not. Kids need a strict environment while they grow up, or they spoiled." She said.

"I don't think me and hyung are 'spoiled', as you're calling it. Just because she doesn't say anything doesn't mean you're right. She respects you and loves, don't take that for granted."

"I- forget it. Let's not ruin our mood because of her." She smiled at her son, earning a not-so-pleasant look from him.

"She's not ruining anybody's mood. Make sure I never hear that again." He said and headed upstairs, stopping in the way as he saw the door to Jimin's room. Heaving out a deep sigh, he knocked once earning a hum from inside, indicating for him to enter.

"Hey hyung," He smiled a little.

"Hey?" Jimin looked at him, "I took an off from work to relax. What do you want?"

Jungkook chuckled at his words and came in, sitting on the bed where the elder brother was laying with his favourite web series playing on the Television in front of him.

"What is it?" Jimin asked, noticing Jungkook's concerned expression.

"Mom," Jungkook breathed out, falling back on the bed and staring at the ceiling.

"Relax Jungkook, she's our mom." Jimin chuckled, ruffling the younger's hair.

"Exactly," Jungkook said, "and that's why she shouldn't be doing this. I don't understand what's wrong with her."

Jimin sighed, shaking his head and turned on the volume of the TV again, throwing his legs on his brother earning a groan from him, which soon ended up in a laugh from the two. Jungkook rolled to his side, laying properly and watching the show with the elder brother.

They heard another knock in a while and saw Aera coming in with a paper in her hand, "Hey princess." Jimin smiled at her while Jungkook changed the show to something more nice. "Close the door." He said and nodded for her to come and join them.

"What are you doing?" She asked, sitting on his lap.

"Nothing much," Jimin said, "what is that?"

"Oh this is my academic report, I got it today." Aera said, giving it to him while Jungkook smiled at her assuringly.

After studying the sheet of paper carefully, Jimin nodded slowly, shifting his eyes towards Aera and then towards Jungkook, but before he said anything, the girl did, "I'm sorry oppa, I'll work harder next time and get good marks, I promise. I- I tried this time too, but I don't know how I couldn't score..."

"It's okay, relax." Jimin said, "Marks aren't always great, what matters is that we should not stop giving our best, and I know our Aera is doing her best, isn't it?"

Aera nodded hesitantly, staring at him with a pout, making him chuckle, "Yes you are. We've studied everything together Riri, why are you doubting yourself?"

"I- no, it's not like that... uh you're not mad at me?" She asked.

"No, baby, I'll never be mad at my princess." He said, kissing the tip of her nose, making her smile and hug him tightly.

"Thank you oppa. I'll try very hard next time, and I promise I'll make you both proud." She said, smiling at the two.

"Yes, that's my girl!" Jungkook cheered, giving her a high-five as he sighed in relief, seeing her smiling.

"Did you show it to mom and dad?" Jimin asked, making Aera shake her head, "It's okay, we'll be there when you talk to them."

"Thank you." She said, getting up as they turned off the TV and headed downstairs, hearing their mother's voice from the kitchen as she saw them.

"Jimin do you want coffee?" She asked.

"Sure," He responded, "we're in the living room."

"Alright," She said, "Aera, come take his cup."

"Okay!" Aera said, handing her result to Jungkook and jogging to the kitchen, "Can I take some milk too?" She asked.

"Not now Aera, it's almost time for dinner. Just give this your dad and brothers." She said, handing the daughter a tray in which three big mugs were kept, all filled with hot coffee, smelling nice. Aera smiled inhaling deeply as she made her way to the living room being carful not to drop it.

"Hey, give it to me." Jungkook said, seeing her carrying the hot drinks. She shook her head, wanting to do it herself and leaned forward to place it on the table, however ended up spilling it on herself and the floor as she stumbled on her feet.

"Oh god!" Jungkook and their father gasped. He instantly sprung into action, pulling her back from where the coffee spilled.

"What happened?" The mother asked, walking into the room on hearing Aera crying, and saw the mess created. "My goodness, you can't even do one thing right, can you? Stop crying and clean all this, I won't take any excus-"

"For god's sake shut up." Jungkook glared at her, "Can't you see she's hurt?"

"I'm sure it's nothing serious-"

"Please!" He said, while Jimin took her to the kitchen, placing Aera's hand under the running water to ease the burn.

Jungkook glanced at their dad, following him to kitchen and seeing Aera quietly sitting on a chair with Jimin who was applying a gel on her arm where the skin appeared red. She looked at her hands and then at Jimin who, smiled at her assuringly.

"It'll be fine, don't worry." He said, patting her head.

"Yeah, my baby is a strong girl." Their father said, leaning down to kiss her head, making her smile.

"I know, but I'm sorry about the coffee." She said and looked at her mom, "Sorry mom, I didn't mean to spill it, it was an accident."

"Yeah of course, I know." The mother said sarcastically, crossing her arms on her chest. "You were supposed to get your result today right? Where's it?"

Aera nodded slowly, "Where's it?" She asked Jungkook, who sighed and went back to the living room to get the paper, handing it to their father.

"I'm sorry daddy." Aera said, "I'll do better next time."

"I know princess, it's okay, just don't give up on your hard work and don't get upset with little things like these, right?" He smiled, patting her head. The siblings smiled as they knew how their father always loved and treated Aera like a princess, however their mother's actions made them doubt it sometimes.

"Show me."

Now this was a problem, Aera gulped as her father passed her result to her mother, before going out of the room to attend an urgent call, leaving the four alone in the tensed atmosphere. The mother put the paper aside, fixing her eyes on Aera.

"Eighty-three percent? That's all you could get with all the privileges and luxuries you're getting? I told you focus on your studies, but no! Why would you listen to me? I'm your enemy right? I want all the bad things in the world to happen to you!" She said sarcastically, taunting the thirteen-year-old.

"Your brothers are so much better than you, they've always made us proud with everything they do. And then there's you, nothing more than a worthless brat who just knows how to waste money and time. God! I never wanted a third child! Why are you even here, you shou"

Aera looked down, feeling the tears burning in her throat. Even when Jimin tried to stop the lady, he only got hushed instead, that's when they heard a loud voice making Aera flinch and drop a few tears. Jungkook.

"Enough!" He shouted at the mother, "Don't you dare say anymore shit about her. What kind of mother talks like that about her daughter? You think you're raising her right like this?!"

"Jungkook," She warned, "I'm your mother."

"I don't care! I won't tolerate anyone talking like that about my sister." He said and turned to face Jimin while his hand pointing at the their mother, "This woman can never be happy with whatever Aera does. A few days back Aera came home after winning the debate competition in school, and wanted to show the certificate to her. But she got scolded instead, just because she was happy with her accomplishment.

"She fucking compares the kid to me and you, makes her feel like shit, scolds her for things she didn't even do! And hell she calls Aera a mistake! Just because I don't always say anything doesn't mean I am not listening, Mrs Jeon. I know every single thing that you tell her, and I really feel ashamed that you have the audacity to even think of all that especially about your own kids, your own daughter." He gritted out, glaring at the mother.

"The only reason I'm still having some respect for you, is her." Jungkook said, gesturing towards Aera who was crying silently with her head hanging low, guilty of the fact that all of this was happening because of her. "I'm not bringing up all the crap you say because my sister is still young to hear all that, so don't think it's oka-"

"Oppa stop, please..." He went silent, looking down at Aera, crying as she hugged his waist, shaking her head for him to not say anything. "I'm sorry, I didn't wanted to create any problem, please don't be mad oppa..."

"Shh, don't cry, I'm right here, nothing wrong will happen." He said softly and wiped her tears. "And you didn't create any problem, nothing is your fault."

Aera looked back, feeling a hand grabbing her wrist and realized it was her mother's, "Come in, you really need a good lesson." The mother said, pulling her away from Jungkook, making his jaw clench in anger as he held Aera's other hand, stopping her from leaving.

"She's not going anywhere." Jungkook said.

"Tell your brother to leave you." She said, glaring at Aera for making a fuss in the house. Today Jungkook talked like that to her and disrespected her for the first time, all because of Aera.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I won't do like this again, please..." The girl cried, trying to remove her mother's hand, which became successful when Jungkook helped her and brought her closer to himself, rubbing her back.

"Come with me Aera, I'm telling you for the last time."

Jungkook glanced down at his sister, who gulped thickly, letting go of him and walking to their mother, making him frown as he held her hand, "You don't have to go." He said assuringly.

"Tell him to leave you." The mother instructed.

"...leave me" Aera said almost like a whisper, while her teary eyes locked with Jungkook's, as if begging him the opposite of her words.

Promise me you won't let me go, even if I ask you to...

"No," Jungkook said, feeling tears in his eyes as well, looking at his sister like that. He turned to his hyung, who stood there silently all this time, "Hyung, just look at her, then do what you think is right." He said, pointing the thirteen-year-old's scared face.

"Leave her." Jimin sighed, making the mother frown, as Jimin was the last one she'd expect to turn against her. "Did you really forget she's your daughter? She's our sister and a member of our family too?"

"Jimin, honey you're not understanding-"

"Really?" They heard their father's voice erupting as he walked in, glaring at his wife, making her look down instantly, letting go of Aera's hand. The girl quickly ran towards Jungkook, hugging him tightly.

"You really make me question my sanity sometimes." The father said, gesturing his wife to move aside as he went near Jungkook and Aera. "I'm so sorry princess for everything your mom said to you. You're not a mistake, you're my princess and my little girl Aera. Daddy loves you a lot, remember that."

Aera hugged him quickly, sobbing silently as she glanced back at Jungkook who smiled softly, nodding in assurance.

"I'm sorry dad and hyung, I said a lot today, but trust me, I don't regret any of it." Jungkook said, "It's been too much now, I don't want Aera experience something like this anymore. So I've decided, she's not living here with this woman."

Aera looked at him, confused by his words, "Oppa I'm sorry, please don't send me away, I'll be a good girl and do everything you say. Please don't send me away, I wanna stay with you all..."

"I'm not sending you away, princess. I'll go with you, your mom is not someone we'd want to see. You liked my apartment I bought a few months back, right? We'll live there. You don't have to worry about anything, oppa will make take care of you." He said softly, wiping Aera's tears.

"But daddy and Jiminie oppa, I wanna stay with them, please don't be mad oppa."

"I'm not mad, kiddo, I'm just really disappointed. You don't deserve to be treated like that and I'm not going to let anybody hurt you. You trust your oppa right?"

Aera nodded, hugging him feeling his warmth as the father smiled sadly, "I think that'll be better for both of you, especially Aera. You can go, call me or your hyung in case you need some help."

"Thanks." Jungkook said, patting Aera's head as he leaned down kissing the top of her head and held her hand, walking upstairs.

Jungkook pulled out a suitcase, stuffing it with his and Aera's clothes while she sat on the bed looking at him, her mind playing all the things Jungkook said and did for her. She stood up, standing near her brother and hugged him from behind, making him stop as he smiled, glancing down at her arms wrapped around his waist.

"Thanks Koo, you're doing so much for me and I'm just making everything more tough, I'm sorry."

"Don't think like that, honey." Jungkook said, bringing her to the front as he sat down and pulled her on his lap, "You're my princess, you're not making anything tough. I'm glad to have you as my sister, and I'm always happy to help you. Maybe this time I'm being a bit harsh, but I promise I'm not wrong. When you grow up a little more then you'll understand why I did what I did today."

"I love you Koo." She smiled, kissing his cheeks.

"I love you more, princess."

"Can I come in?" They heard Jimin's voice, he stood near the door.

"Of course," Jungkook nodded and Jimin entered the room, sighing heavily as he sat beside the boy. Aera smiled at him, reaching out to poke his cheek as she noticed he wasn't smiling.

"You're coming with us right?" Aera asked.

"Not now," Jimin said, "But I will, soon."

Aera frowned, "No, I won't go if you both are not coming together. I wanna stay with both of you oppa."

"I know, baby, I promise I'll come really soon. I just have some work that needs to be finished first."

"But I wa-"

"Please Aera, just this once, then I'll come to you. Oppa doesn't break his promise, you know that right?"

The girl nodded hesitantly, pouting at the thought of Jimin not going with her and Jungkook. She stood up from Jungkook's lap and hugged Jimin, who kissed her forehead, telling her to keep smiling and he'll join them very soon.

__________

A Few Days Later_

Aera giggled running with her Nerf gun, trying to target Jungkook who was the tickle monster and chasing her around for the last fifteen minutes. She shot a few times together, realizing that she was about to run out of her bullets.

"Ahh!" She squealed as Jungkook hoisting her off the ground, laughing victoriously.

"Now enough of playing, let's go and sleep, you have school tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's Saturday."

"Is it? I thought's Friday..."

"You're getting old." Aera snickered, making him huff fakely and lean down biting her cheek making her laugh as he tickled her.

"Okay okay, you're not old!" She cackled, laughing in his arms as he sat on the bed, knowing she wasn't sleepy at all and could probably stay up and play around the whole night.

Aera looked at him, grinning as she got off the bed and ran out of the room, returning after a minute with his laptop which she placed in front of him. Jungkook sighed, taking it and putting on an animated movie about a honey bee that was Aera's favourite recently, while she made herself comfortable under the blankets.

"It's like a baby." She chirped, laughing a little when an older bee flew carrying a little one on it's back.

"And what are you?" Jungkook chuckled.

"Little Kookie" Aera grinned, quieting down soon as the door bell rang, making the two frown, for they didn't expect anyone at this time.

Jungkook stood up, heading out to see who it was, breaking into a surprised smile on finding the eldest brother standing at the door. He greeted him with a quick hug, before stepping aside letting Jimin in.

"You took so long, hyung."

"I know, I'm sorry." Jimin nodded, handing him a file, making Jungkook frown as he opened it and read the papers that were legal documents of Aera's custody.

"Really?" Jungkook blinked a few times, smiling widely as he hugged his brother tightly for doing such an awesome job. "You're the best, hyung."

Jimin chuckled and patted his back, "I talked about it to dad after you left with Aera that day. He said it was a great idea and it'll be better for Aera too since she always wants to stay with us and also we can take care of her. So he agreed and gave me her complete custody."

"This is literally the best thing. Thanks a lot for doing this."

"I understand Jungkook, seeing Aera upset is hard to for me too, and after what mom did, I really felt bad."

"Koo?"

"Yes, come and see who's here." Jungkook responded.

Aera came out in a moment, gasping as she saw Jimin standing in front her. With a big smile playing on her lips, she ran towards him, hugging him tightly and mumbling how she missed her oppa.

"My baby, I missed you more." Jimin smiled, leaned down kissing the tip of her nose as she looked up at him, smiling happily.

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A/N :- Happy Kookie day everyone! I know I'm late *sigh* but still, Happy Kookie Day to all of you. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉