After the strange meeting at the local community park, a lot of coincidences between the two occurred each and every day.
First, she didn't even know that he lived in the same neighborhood.
Second, she didn't even know that he went to the same school.
Third, she didn't even know that he was in the same classroom.
Lastly, she didn't even know that his seat was a few desks away from hers.
Most of all, she didn't know how special she was to that timid, socially awkward, and mysterious boy.
Every day, she would hang out with him outside and inside of school.
Every day, she would chat with him with a large smile on her face.
Every day, she would assist him with homework.
As time passes,
He didn't feel deserted anymore.
He didn't feel avoided.
He didn't feel left out.
He felt cheerful for the first time in his life... but he also felt incredibly remorseful...
He saw how her friends gradually started to abandon her.
He saw how his tormentors would attack her at the back of the school every day.
He saw how unsociable and distant she came to be as days pass by.
He saw how miserable she was whenever she would go to class.
And all of this happened was...
Because of him.
And he despised how she would constantly say that everything was alright.
When it actually isn't.
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"... I hate it... so much..."
Jungkook gingerly wrapped his arms around her quivering body but never responded back. (Y/N) got stunned by the unexpected movement. Who wouldn't be? She didn't know how to react, she didn't know what to say or do.
Eventually, her arms encircled around his back, clutching onto his raven hoodie as she cried her heart out onto his chest.
Although it was a quiet hug, it was quite soothing.
Jungkook really wanted to say something to her but he didn't know if it would be the appropriate thing to do at this time. He wanted to confess that it wasn't her fault and that it was his choice to help him. But at the end of the day, he knew that she would blame herself.
He bit his lip as he tugged her in closer, his muscular arms around her tightened.
"I'm sorry..." He meekly mumbled out as his body began to tremble like hers. A tear cheekily came out from the corner of his eye, cascading it's way down his cheek.
"I'm so sorry..."
.
The walk to Jimin's apartment was nerve-wracking and uncomfortable. Even though the tears had entirely stopped coming out, her eyes were nonetheless noticeably red and swollen. She hoped that Jimin wouldn't question it but she knew that he wouldn't actually care. Right?
Her anxiety worsened as the digits on every individual door came close to his apartment number, 1013. Her heart rate wouldn't stop racing, the palms of her hands started to sweat profusely, and her walking speed proceeded to slow down.
'Should I go back home?'
She thought to herself as she paused in her tracks. Her (E/C) eyes were eyeing directly at the familiar numbers, 1013. If she just took a couple of extra steps, she and Jimin would just be a couple of meters apart.
'No... I can't back down now...'
Sucking in a deep breath, she stepped towards the door as her anxiety levels kept rising up. Shaping her hand into a fist, she held it up to knock but as she was doing so, she hesitated midway. Flashbacks of her recent visit surged through her mind as she remembered the toxic remarks her friend made towards her.
"For fuck's sake (Y/N)! Leave me the fuck alone!"
"You're getting so fucking irritating these days!"
"Just stop talking, you're giving me a fucking headache."
"I wish we never met each other..."
The fight kept reciting in her head like some kind of kid's play. Only that final sentence alone would make her entire week feel awful. She memorized how furious he was, how stressed out he looked, and the loud shouting that would bounce off the walls. If she had listened to his orders, she wouldn't be in this sort of circumstance right now. She wouldn't be feeling uneasy and tense to come to her friend's apartment.
Her childhood friend for God's sake.
She didn't acknowledge how much time had passed just standing outside of his door and she honestly really didn't care. Perhaps about a couple of minutes of struggling to forget about last week. Luckily, no one was wandering through the hallway because it would've looked like she was some sort of intruder or stalker.
There was one question that she wanted an answer to. A straightforward explanation from his own mouth.
What happened 7 months ago?
Taking in a deep breath, she mentally prepared herself as her fist came into contact with the wooden door. The noise chimed throughout the empty corridor.
The silver doorknob began to twirl, making the door erupt a clicking sound. As if her heartbeat wasn't fast enough then it already is, it began to accelerate more at an abnormal rate.
Behind the entrance uncovered the individual she desperately wanted to see. As she peeked up to glimpse at his complexion, she didn't expect him to look so defeated and helpless. She certainly believed that he would appear disturbed at the commotion since it was pretty late in the evening. Was he looking like that because of Jungkook?
"Hey."
Her voice shuddered. His horrifying presence began to overshadow her small and tense figure.
"(Y/N)? W-What are you doing here?"
Jimin stammered, shocked to see her after minutes of his encounter with Jungkook.
Lowering her head to the floor, she proceeded to speak. "I...I just wanted to come to check up on you..." She mumbled, selecting her phrases carefully, "You know, on what's happening recently..."
Jimin intensely glared at her. He felt bad at how miserable she looked and sounded when attempting to explain her reasoning. But the way she struggled so damn hard on trying to not make eye contact with him made him feel a bit sad. Typically, she would stare at him in the eye with a look of confidence but nowadays, she looked intimidated and afraid.
He couldn't determine if it was about last week's encounter or just him in general.
"(Y/N), how many times do I have to tell you?" He uttered out as he rubbed his temples in frustration. "Stop trying to get yourself involved in my business."
"I'm just trying to help you-"
"Trying to help me? I don't need any of your fucking help." He scoffed out loud. "I could handle this myself! I'm not a kid anymore."
"Jimin, you always say that you will handle things by yourself but you don't! I don't see any apologies, statements, or anything coming from you! The company doesn't have to defend you all the time when you get caught up into trouble again." Her breathing felt heavy.
What she told was true. In every scandal that Jimin gets himself involved in, the company had to always send out an announcement or an apology on Jimin's behalf. She could see how much the business was struggling because of the backlash and complaints made against them. But she was more flabbergasted at herself for shouting at him like that. Where did she even get the confidence to counter back at him? She was just frightened by him a couple of seconds ago.
"I never wanted the company to put out those shitty statements for me! And I never asked them to be a part of my issues as well!"
'She sure is acting like Jungkook.' He thought to himself as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned against the door frame.
"Of course the company would get involved! They wouldn't want someone, especially one of their idols to be treated that way from the media!"
"(Y/N)! Why are you even speaking about the company if you," He pointed his index finger towards her, resulting in the girl to back up away from him. "Don't even work under their name? If you're just here to complain to me about my wrongdoings then just leave. I don't know why I'm having this pointless conversation with you, you're just wasting my time." He spun around, his back facing her.
(Y/N)'s entire body stiffened up and was in complete surprise, making her heart skip a beat. Her (E/C) eyes were battling to contain the tears from falling out.
'Don't cry you freaking crybaby' She thought to herself as she shook her head to get the feeling of stress and agonizing pain away from her. 'You'll just look weak in front of him.' She didn't want the same problem to occur again as last week.
"Park Jimin!" His name rolled off her tongue as she yelled out in desperation, the volume of her voice repeated throughout the hallway.
"What the fuck (Y/N)?!" He grumbled, tightly grasping her by the arm and hastily yanking her inside his flat. Slamming the door behind him, he let go and took in a deep breath.
"Are you trying to get my fucking identity out?!"
"No... I was just-"
She didn't mean to scream so loud like that. The girl just didn't want him to push her away again but she didn't know her voice could even achieve that high of a pitch.
She felt awfully horrible.
"Just what? You know what, nevermind... Now I have to be stuck with you for a while, the neighbors are probably investigating and wondering who the fuck was screaming."
"You were screaming too..." She whispered under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing..." She yelped, shifting her feet around uncomfortably.
Jimin clicked his tongue in annoyance as he proceeded to stroll towards the couch. (Y/N) stood quiet in her spot, not knowing what to do. She never predicted the situation to take a turn like this, she thought that he would bang the door in front of her face like last time. I guess you can kind of call it an improvement?
He watched her standing still in her spot from the corner of his eye.
'Is she just going to stand there?' He thought to himself as he laid back against the couch.
Seconds passed but she never moved, which started to frustrate him.
As he proceeded to open his mouth to talk, (Y/N) cut him off by asking him a question.
"We're friends right?" She mumbled out. It was barely audible but he understood what she asked.
'Does she still consider me as a friend?' He thought to himself, 'Even after all the shit I said to her?'
He didn't answer her.
She sighed in defeat. Instead of standing there and doing nothing, she took a decent view of the place and instantly felt grossed out by the amount of garbage and beer bottles dispersed around the floor. Just at that moment, she remembered back to the dream she had when napping during work.
"Do you remember how we first met?" She inquired, clasping onto the hem of her business skirt.
Jimin widened his eyes in surprise. Why would she ask that kind of question in the middle of this situation?
Rather than replying, he nodded his head.
She softly grinned, feeling delighted that he didn't throw a tantrum about it.
"You were sitting down against that tree... I wonder if it's still there." She said out loud, looking down at the wooden floor underneath her. Jimin felt his heart twinge just listening to her speak. However, he didn't like how this conversation was going. Not one bit.
'Why is she even bringing up the past?' He thought to himself.
Suddenly, she chuckled for a second, causing him to gaze at her in confusion.
"You were so silent and shy back then, during school, and when we would walk home together..."
"(Y/N), what are you trying to get at?" He questioned, now fully having his attention at her.
"I just miss the way you were back then..."
He analyzed her facial expression. She was smiling but he knew that she was feeling hurt.
'Did I really change that badly?'
"You know..." After scanning around the room, she decided to comment on the beer and wine bottles. "You should stop drinking, I heard that the group is preparing a new album and the members probably need your help on making it..."
'What. The. Fuck.'
He recalled Jungkook's voice from their argument a while ago, "You seriously need to stop drinking. You're just slowing down the process of our album and the members are not happy about it."
A couple of moments of silence passed before he eventually snapped.
"Get out."
"Huh?"
"I said get out!" He demanded, stomping towards her.
"What's wrong?-"
"You met up with Jungkook didn't you?" His voice turned thick and threatening.
"What do you mean?" She pleaded as she slowly backed away from him.
"Don't act dumb!" He took a step closer to her. "He told you, didn't he?"
"Jimin, what the hell are you talking about?"
He scoffed in amusement, positioning his hands on his hip. "He fucking told you about our fight, huh."
"I think you're misunderstanding-"
"So that's why your here... you're just here to tell me to continue making the album with them. He fucking told you that I didn't want to participate in it anymore."
She widened her eyes in shock, her mouth hanged low as she gasped out loud.
"You don't want to be part of the album?" She questioned as her eyes began to tremble in bewilderment.
Jimin looked at the girl in confusion. Is she trying to act innocent? As he gazed into her eyes, he could tell that she wasn't acting at all. He internally face palmed himself.
'Fuck... she's going to make a big deal out of it, isn't she...'
"Jungkook... didn't tell you?"
"Tell me why you don't want to partake in finishing the album! What's wrong Jimin? After all your hard work with the group, you were able to get to this point now. So why would you suddenly want to quit?"
Jimin stood still in silence.
"Jimin-"
"Get out!"
"But-"
"Fuck..." His voice trailed off. "Just get the fuck out!"
"What happened to you 7 months ago?"
His breath hitched as he stood yet again still in silence.
She was almost about to counter back at him but concluded not to. It looked like he truly needed some time alone to think.
Looking down to the ground, she stepped towards the entrance and left. Not even glancing behind her back.
She just took off.
Jimin squatted down to the floor and grabbed a handful of his hair. There was something he caught a glimpse of about her right when he unlocked the door and when she left. He wanted to comment about it but his bitterness took the best of him and he desperately wished to turn back time to tell her.
But...
He chose to not question how red and puffy her eyes were.
If he never yelled at her from the beginning, she wouldn't be undergoing this much pain all alone. But one concern stuck to his head, what caused her to cry?
'If only I wasn't so insecure and sensitive...' He thought to himself. Gritting his teeth in anger, he stood up from his crouched position and jabbed the solid wall right next to him while unleashing a scream of frustration. This caused some of the pigment to chip off. Drops of blood from his pale, scraped knuckles trickled down to the tips of his fingers and onto the floor. He didn't care if he was injured. He didn't care about the blood smudging the wall or the ground.
He was confused.
Confused at himself.
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