The journey starts here.

Silver grey eyes staring blankly into the starry night with no emotions in them as if he was physically present but mentally he was lost. Despite surrounded by the soft glow of moonlight, there was a hollowness in his chest that even the breathtaking view couldn't fill.

The world was hushed, as if it had been put to sleep by the silent lullaby of the gentle night but nothing can calm the storm going in his heart not even the soft, silver glow and the twinkling of stars like tiny diamonds.

And when the cool, crisp air of december starts piercing his heart instead of providing a sense of tranquility he grabbed the window and closed it with a jerk. The curtains dropped down preventing the moonlight from coming inside. The shadows which were softened by the luminous touch now appears dark and foreboding.

He stood in that large illuminated room, alone. With a deep exhale of air those silver eyes fluttered close. Few minutes passed as he kept standing in that lavish apartment as if battling with his own self until a knock on the door forced him to come out of his reverie.

He permitted and sat on the chair, eyes now fixated on the file in his hand. Sound of footsteps resonated in the deathly quiet room until they stopped and instead a gruff voice called out to him.

"Jungkook! Bro, why do you even have a phone when you don't answer the calls? And here I thought something happened to you?"

The person said, sitting down on one of the lavish chair.

There was no response shown towards his words, not even a blink happened. The male sighed seeing him calmly flipping the pages of file. After a minute of silence which the boy passed in observing the male sitting ahead, he spoke, looking around.

"Tonight our old college mates are planning to meet up, if you don't have any schedule how about you jo-"

"No! I have few things to deal with." Jungkook cut the male off, his voice uninterested. As the male tries to persist Jungkook lifted his head and look at the male with a blank face.

Something about the empty eyes of his friend tugged the male's heart. He turned his face away to calm the inner turmoil of his heart before he drifted his gaze back to Jungkook whose attention was back on the file in his hand.

"I can't even force you, can I? Leave it. Tell me your thoughts about the art exhibition? Would you like to tag along?"

"Okay!"

"Oh c'mon young man you need to-wait did you just said yes?" The pleading look on his face replaced with shock as he stared at his friend wide-eyed.

"I think I heard wrong. Would you like to repeat? Don't get me wrong but you agreeing to things at once sounds-" The male was blabbering not acknowledging how the man sitting ahead is getting annoyed.

"Park Jimin!" His mouth clamped shut hearing a commanding voice making him finally believe what he heard wasn't his illusion.

With the new found realisation Jimin slumped down on the chair and heaved out a sigh of relief. "Praise to the great Almighty." He whispered dramatically.

Standing up from the chair Jungkook walked to the coffee machine settled in a corner. With silence spread around the room Jungkook starts preparing two cup of coffee.

Soon,the rich, warm and nutty smell of brewing coffee engulfed the room.

"How many cups you had before?" Jimin's soft voice resonated.

"Four!" Jungkook presented a straight answer.

"Jungkookie, you seriously need to cut down on caffeine. Too much caffeine consumption is not good for you." Jimin expressed his concern but it seems Jungkook is numb to everything around him.

He silently walked up to the table and placed the cup of hot, steaming coffee in front of Jimin and let out two words in response. "I can't."

Jimin rolled his eyes at the younger's nonchalant reply. "Bloodless human."

"Leave it. Tell me,when are you returning back to-"

"I have an online meeting in an hour." Jungkook exclaimed interrupting Jimin once again.

"It would be convenient for me if you leave me alone. I don't want any interruption." He added not looking at Jimin once. There was no room for conversation in his voice, no hint of interest or apology.

Just a flat declaration.

A silence settled between them, thick and suffocating.

"How long are you planning to live like this, Jungkook?" He asked softly though he couldn't hide the slight crack in his voice.

Even if Jungkook pushed him away with silence and cold words, leaving wasn't an option. Not when his friend was silently drowning in plain sight.

"I am serious, Jungkook. This is not right." He stepped closer, his voice now firm. "You don't talk to anyone. You don't pick up calls. You work all day, bury yourself in meetings, files and business like it's your only purpose."

Still no response.

"You've turned into a complete stranger. "

"Do you even know what's happening outside these four walls? Your mother calls me crying every other day. Taehyung, Namjoon hyung, we all have been trying to reach you. Do we not matter anymore?" His voice wavered with restrained emotions.

"You don't care about us? Fine. But what about yourself, Jungkook? You're not living, you're just surviving." His fists clenched at his sides when the younger didn't spared him a single glance.

Not a single twitch.

Though he wasn't focused on the file anymore but his gaze remained empty. And the sight was enough to sank Jimin's heart.

He stepped closer, eyes softening as he looked at the man infront of him. The boy who was once full of life but now sat like a shadow of himself. Hollow-eyed and distant.

As if all the colors had been drained from his world and left behind nothing but greys.

But isn't it the truth?

Without thinking, his hand reached out gently, moving with the same old instinct, brushing over jungkook's hair in a slow, familiar motion.

A soft pat at the crown of his head, like he used to do when Jungkook needed grounding. When words weren't enough.

"Come on, kookie." He used the same nickname like a lifeline, like it might pull the real Jungkook back to the surface.

"Just look at me. Say something. Talk to hyung "

Jungkook blinked slowly, the haze behind his eyes flickering like a faulty signal. His lips parted, but no sound came. Just the rise and fall of shallow breaths.

His insides were screaming at him to let out the things he is holding inside. They clawed at his throat, burning like smoke, but he couldn't seem to breathe them out. Couldn't make them real by saying them out loud.

Jimin saw the silent struggle written all over jungkook's face. The way his eyes darted like he was searching for an escape even as he sat frozen on in place.

He didn't need words to understand. He never really had. Not with Jungkook.

So instead, he leaned in, wrapping his arms around the younger one's shoulders, pulling him close with quiet certainty.

"It's okay. You don't have to say anything right now. I've got you."

He won't force the younger if the slight thought of letting out his emotions pains him so much.

He will wait.

Because that's what big brothers do. They sit beside you when the world feels to heavy, even when you can't say why. They stay.

"Just don't shut us out."

For a moment, jungkook's facade faltered. But then, like a curtain dropping back into place, he pulled away. His face smoothing into that familiar mask of quiet composure.

"I'm fine." Just two words; soft, practiced and hollow and with that he was back into his quiet world as if nothing is wrong with him.

As if he wasn't walking the edge of something dark, toes hovering over the abyss he refused to name.

~

The hallway outside Jungkook's apartment was dimly lit and deathly quiet, save for the soft hum of the elevator at the far end. Jimin stood still just outside the door, the smooth wood closed firmly behind him, separating him from the hollow man who now resided inside.

He inhaled deeply, the air outside feeling a little less suffocating than the thick silence he had just left behind. Still, the weight in his chest didn't lift. If anything, it grew heavier.

Dragging his feet toward the elevator, he pulled his phone out, debating whether to call someone or just scream into the void. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before he dialed a number.

It rang once, twice.

"Taehyung!" His voice thick with emotions and exhaustion.

There was a beat of silence "How is he?" A warm, familiar voice asked.

"Worse than I thought." He muttered, leaning against the cool, metal wall of the elevator.

"He looks... hollow. Like there's no soul left in him. Just a body running on caffeine and obligation."

"Did he talk?"

"Barely," Jimin said. "He's shutting down. Completely. And the worst part? I don't think he even realizes how bad it's getting. Or maybe... maybe he does and just doesn't care anymore."

The elevator doors opened, and Jimin stepped in, pressing the button for the ground floor. His reflection stared back at him in the mirror-paneled walls eyes tired, lips pressed in frustration.

"I tried to convince him to come out tonight. You know, the college meetup. Thought seeing everyone might help. He shot it down immediately. But then, weirdly, he said yes to the art exhibition."

"That's something, isn't it?" Taehyung replied gently.

"Yes! One thing I have noticed is he never missed the art exhibition. No matter how distant he becomes, no matter how much he shuts us out... he always showed up for that."

"Maybe it's because his mother is fond of canvas." Taehyung reasoned, though his voice lacked conviction.

Jimin didn't respond right away. His gaze dropped to the floor, lost in a thread of thought.

"Or it's because-." he began, then stopped mid-sentence.

His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. There was a flicker in his eyes,soft, fleeting, like the quiet spark of recognition after stumbling across a forgotten memory. His brows drew together gently, as if the answer had brushed past him like a ghost.

"Because what?"

"Nothing.

The elevator dinged at the lobby, and Jimin stepped out into the warm, scented air of the high-rise foyer. He walked past the security desk with a polite nod and stepped out into the crisp December evening. The city was alive cars whirring past, people bustling along, wrapped in coats and laughter but he felt like he was dragging a shadow behind him.

"Do you want me to come by?"

"Not tonight. Let's not overwhelm him," Jimin replied. "But maybe... maybe we should talk to Namjoon hyung. He always had a way of reaching him. Maybe he can help."

Taehyung was quiet for a few seconds. "Alright. Let's meet tomorrow. We'll figure out a way. Together."

"Yeah," Jimin nodded, though the wind was already numbing his face. "Tomorrow."

He hung up the call and tucked the phone into his coat pocket, turning his gaze upward. Above the tall buildings, the stars twinkled faintly unbothered by the noise and the pain of the world below. Just like Jungkook's eyes had.

With a sigh, Jimin shoved his hands into his pockets and began walking, his breath curling in the air like a silent promise.

He wasn't going to let his friend fade away, not without a fight.

But his thoughts keep circling back to to one odd thing.

Why Jungkook never misses the art exhibition?

Not once this year.

No matter how packed his schedule was, no matter how shut off he'd become from the world. He always shows up. Silent, alone.

What more weird is he prefers to go alone.

Yet, what nagged at jimin the most was that for all the years they had known each other. Jungkook had never once show interest in the exhibition before this year. Not during the college, not even when they planned to go there.

He always refused.

It wasn't his thing.

So why now? Why the sudden change?

Jungkook wasn't the kind to adopt new habits without a reason, especially not in the hollow, apathetic state he lived in now.

No. He wasn't attending those exhibitions to enjoy the art.

He was looking for something.

But what?

~

The emptiness of the surrounding mirrored the emptiness of his heart. Gripping the mobile phone tight in his hand, he contemplated for few seconds. With heart heavy full of uncertainty, he managed to press on the screen and attached it to his ear. The faint sound of ringing and his ragged breathing broke the silence spread around him.

It's been months since he last talked to his family, his parents, his siblings, his-

No, he can't do that.

A flood of memories and doubts overwhelmed him. How can he be so shameless? Jungkook spiraled into the darkness as once again his past managed to caught him, pulling him back to the cave where he loose his ability to think, his senses in disarray.

It seemed like the harder he tried to escape his old life, the tighter its grip became, pulling him back into the shadows of doubt and regret.

Jungkook gripped the mobile tight as he felt like something heavy is placed on his chest and suddenly an overwhelming sense of dread splashes over him, covering his forehead with tiny droplets of sweat despite the chilly weather. The large decorative frame hanging from the ceiling gradually became a blurry vision and instead of finding the flashy light texture mesmerizing, he felt it poking his eyes.

His breathing grew shallow, erratic as if the air around him itself had thickened. The phone slipped slightly in his grip, his clammy fingers struggling to hold onto it.

Just as he struggled to hold onto himself.

He should hang up.

Let himself breath.

But he was frozen, locked in that fragile moment between wanting connection and fearing it.

The call kept ringing.

With every chime, it was as if his heart skipped a beat. The sharp pull of anxiety crawled up his spine like cold water. Guilt pressed against his ribs, twisting tighter with each passing second.

Images flashed behind his eyes, blurring his vision. His mother's gentle smile. His siblings laughter echoing down the hallway of their home.

A home he hadn't stepped into in what felt like an eternity.

Would they even answer?

Would they want to?

And if they did, what would he even say?

He clenched his jaw, the buzzing in his ears drowning out everything else. The phone felt like it weighed a thousand pounds against his ear. Each second a punishment, each breath a reminder of the walls he'd built.

He should hang up.

He has no right to-

Click.

The call connected.

But no voice followed except silence.

Jungkook's throat went dry. For a moment, he thought maybe no one has picked up.

Just when he thought to remove the mobile phone to check whether the call was connected or not, he heard it.

A soft, cautious voice on the other end. A very familiar, soft voice, he hadn't heard in months.

"Hello!"

Time seemed to halt.

For a second, his breath caught in his throat. Jungkook forgot to breath altogether. That voice.....he was hoping to avoid yet somewhere there was an ache of desperation to hear it.

The weight of that voice alone cracked something in him.

A violent wave of emotions surged in him. The kind that could around your throat and squeezes.

No!

He couldn't do this.

Not now.

Not like this.

His thumb trembled, hovering above the screen. The air around him felt too tight, the silence between them too loud. And before he could stop himself, he pressed the red button

"Jungk-!"

Call ended.

The screen dimmed instantly, taking with it the only flicker of connection he'd allowed himself in months.

His hands dropped to his sides, fingers loosening as if releasing a weight too heavy to bear. The phone slipped from his grasp, falling in a slow, soundless arc like a final thread snapping.

It hit the floor with a dull, lifeless thud. Just like him.

A quiet, meaningless sound in a room drowning in silence. Yet somehow, it echoed louder than any scream.

And as the screen faded to black, so did the last silver of light he hadn't realized he had been holding onto.

~~

Author's Note:

I'll admit, I'm in a bit of a dilemma right now. Was this chapter too much? Did I overdo it?(Do let me know so that I could improve myself)

I've asked myself those questions more than once while writing it.

But sometimes, silence speaks louder than words and that's what I tried to capture through Jungkook's emptiness. If you've made it this far, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope the emotions reached you the way I intended.

The story is only beginning to unfold. The next chapter will slowly peel back the layers of Jungkook's past and the reasons behind the walls he's built. There's still a lot of mystery waiting to be unraveled.

And yes, our female lead will finally make her entrance in the upcoming part. 🎉 Woohoo!

The beginning might feel slow, but I promise it's all building toward something deeper, something meaningful. I truly hope you'll stay with me on this journey.

I'll be eagerly waiting to hear your thoughts. Until then, take care and keep reading.

Be kind to everyone because we don't know what they are holding inside.

Borahae 💜