Chapter:-(VIII)

                                    

                                          
The word "Bangtan" shook Taehyung to his core. He knew all too well how dangerous the Bangtan mafia group was. As he scrolled through the digital pages, his heart pounded in his chest. The shock hit him like a tidal wave when he saw the pictures of Bangtan members. They were his own brothers, every single one of them, except for him. The names, the surname Kim, the ages—everything matched perfectly. Not a single detail was out of place. It was as if the universe had played a cruel joke on him.
Taehyung's mind raced, struggling to process the revelation. He felt a mix of betrayal, confusion, and fear. What was he supposed to do with this information? He quickly saved a copy of the file to his laptop, his hands trembling. He then unhacked the DART computer, ensuring there were no traces left behind. After sending the file to his phone's email account, he shut down the computer, picked it up, and left the cyber cafe.
As he stepped outside, the cold breeze gently brushed his messy hair. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the city. Taehyung watched as friends bickered playfully nearby.
"Come on, you know I won that game fair and square!" one friend exclaimed, a playful grin on his face.
"No way! You totally cheated, and you know it!" the other retorted, crossing his arms with a mock pout.
"Cheated? Me? Never!" the first friend laughed, giving his friend a light shove. "You're just a sore loser."
Their laughter echoed in the air, a stark contrast to Taehyung's heavy heart. He longed for such simple joys, but he was alone. It wasn't that he was shy or silent; he had always been a friendly kid. But fake friends throughout his life had made him believe that having no friends was better than being surrounded by insincerity.
He saw people waiting at the bus stop, eager to return home after a long day of work. As he walked towards the park, he noticed two office workers sharing stories about their day.
"Man, today was rough," one of them said, loosening his tie. "I can't wait to get home and just relax."
"Tell me about it," the other replied, adjusting his glasses. "But hey, at least we got through it. And guess what? My brothers promised we'd go out for dinner tonight. I'm really looking forward to it."
"That sounds great! I wish I had plans like that," the first one said with a sigh. "Maybe I'll just order some takeout and binge-watch a show."
The boys looked like freshers, full of hope and camaraderie. Taehyung felt a pang of longing but continued walking.
At the park, he spotted a teenager sitting on a bench, tears streaming down his face. Taehyung approached him and gently asked what was wrong.
"Hey, are you okay?" Taehyung asked softly, sitting down beside the boy.
The boy sniffled and wiped his eyes. "No, not really. My parents don't love me, and my step-brothers pretend to care, but I know they don't."
As Taehyung listened to the teenager's words, a profound sense of empathy washed over him. The boy's tearful confession struck a chord deep within Taehyung's heart, resonating with his own feelings of abandonment and isolation. The boy's pain was palpable, and Taehyung could see the raw emotion in his eyes, the same emotion he often saw in his own reflection.
The boy's voice trembled as he spoke, "My parents don't love me they just care about money, and my step-brothers pretend to care, but I know they don't. I know they don't" Each word was like a mirror reflecting Taehyung's own struggles. He understood all too well the agony of feeling unloved and unwanted by those who were supposed to care the most. The boy's situation, though different in some ways, was eerily similar to his own.