Sympathy and empathy are key parts of being human. Sympathy means feeling sorrow for someone else's struggles, allowing you to recognize their pain from a distance. On the other hand, empathy goes deeper. It pushes you to understand another person's emotions and feel their pain as if it were your own. However, not every situation is the same. Sometimes, these strong feelings can become overwhelming, making it difficult to manage your emotional well-being while trying to help others.
The atmosphere is electric as the crowd buzzes with expectation, an energetic tapestry of voices and laughter filling the air. People rearrange eagerly, their eyes sparkling with excitement as they gather for the upcoming event. Gradually, the crowd begins to flow into the museum, each person lively discussing what they hope to see on the tour.
Amidst this sea of excitement, a dedicated team of volunteers cheerfully fulfills their duties, guiding groups of eager History department students through the museum's grand entrance. They stand ready with warm smiles and informative anecdotes, eager to share their passion for the exhibits.
Yet, in stark contrast to the jubilant group, one solitary figure remains on the edges, their face clouded with displeasure. While everyone around them shares in the thrill of the moment, this person seems weighed down by an invisible burden, their dissatisfaction stark against the backdrop of joy and excitement swirling around them. And the person feeling all this is…
"Jungkook, you need to go to room C2 for your next duty," said a professor from the History department to Jungkook, who was doing this job as punishment from Mr. Bang for his misbehavior. Jungkook, however, was sulking, his demeanor threatening to destroy anyone who dared come near him.
As Jungkook walked toward room C2, he suddenly stopped. His eyes fell on a familiar sight—Jimin. It was the same guy from yesterday, who claimed to be Jungkook's friend, a label Jungkook hardly accepted.
Memories of their earlier conversation returned to him, filled with Jimin's excited face and Jungkook's uninterested replies. Jungkook had walked away, feeling that the connection didn't matter. Now, watching Jimin, Jungkook felt both annoyed and curious but stayed where he was, hesitating to move closer.
"Jimin, haven't I told you to do this before I came? Why isn't it done?" said a guy while Jimin listened silently.
"It's not my responsibility to handle that," Jimin replied, rolling his eyes.
"Wahhh, did you grow some guts or something to talk to me like this?" the guy said with a smirk of disbelief.
Jimin was tired of these guys bullying him. He had had enough, so in an angry voice, he shouted, "I've had enough, Ji Seok Min. I'm not taking this anymore; I'm not your servant."
Seok Min, displeased, decided to teach Jimin a lesson. He moved toward him, grabbed his collar, and said angrily, "You fucker, I'll show you your place." Seok Min raised his hand, but someone stopped him.
"Hey, got a problem with something?"
"Who are you? Let go of my hand."
"Me? I'm Jeon Jungkook. Now tell me, what's your problem?"
"Problem? Yeah, I should ask you this. Now move; I need to teach this bastard a lesson."
"And who are you to teach him this?" Jungkook asked, his expression cold and his eyes blazing with fire.
"None of your damn business."
"Oh, you're right—it's not my business. So let's make it one."
Before Seok Min could react, Jungkook punched him, sending him to the floor. Seok Min, boiling with rage, tried to get up and fight back, but Jungkook kicked him again, forcing him to kiss the floor once more.
"Try harassing someone again and see the price you'll have to pay, you fucking asshole," Jungkook said in a threatening voice.
Jimin stood still, shocked. He couldn't believe that Jungkook, who had overlooked him just yesterday, was now standing up for him. The change was surprising; the same person who had ignored Jimin's struggles was now stepping in to help.
"Don't think too highly of yourself," Jungkook said, his voice sharp. "I only helped you because I'm in charge of the ancient vase in this room. If something had broken, it would have been my responsibility. So remember, I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND."
With that, Jungkook started to walk away, but Mr. Bang entered the room and spoke to him.
"I see you're completing your punishment. But… why is this boy on the floor?" Mr. Bang asked.
Jungkook smiled slyly, knowing he was the reason.
Before he could say anything, Jimin stepped in. "Sir, he tripped over," Jimin said, while Jungkook struggled to hold back his laughter. Seok Min stood up, his face red with embarrassment, and walked away.
Mr. Bang, though confused, let it go and turned to Jungkook. "Your volunteer work is complete for today."
Jungkook was just about to sigh in relief when Mr. Bang added, "But now, you need to study the history and artifacts in the museum."
"But why?" Jungkook exclaimed in frustration.
"Why not?" Mr. Bang replied with a smile.
Jungkook was about to lose his temper when Mr. Bang added, "And take Jimin with you. He'll guide you and explain the exhibits."
Jungkook looked at Mr. Bang and then at Jimin, who was smiling angelically. Jungkook, however, felt nothing but frustration and distress.
"Fuck everything. Why am I even getting involved in all this shit?" Jungkook muttered, pulling his hair as he walked.
"Don't act so dramatic; it isn't that bad," Jimin said, walking alongside him.
"Isn't that bad? Are you fucking kidding me? What's so good about these boring things?"
Jimin smiled sweetly and said, "The beauty of art and love."
Jungkook turned to Jimin, whom he had been ignoring out of anger. He made a disgusted face, rolled his eyes, and said, "Again with that bullshit about love?"
Jimin's smile faded, and he shook his head in disbelief. "When you find love, mark my words—you'll lose yourself to it."
Jungkook rolled his eyes again, muttering under his breath.
"Ayeee, don't act like I said something weird. Look, that statue is a symbol of love," Jimin said, pointing to a statue.
But when Jimin didn't get a response, he turned around and realized Jungkook wasn't there. Confused, he looked around and finally spotted him standing in front of a glass display case filled with preserved war artifacts.
Jimin walked over to him and said, "First, you didn't want to know anything, and now you…"
Jimin stopped mid-sentence when he noticed tears welling up in Jungkook's eyes as he stared at the artifacts. Concerned, he softly asked, "What… happened?"
Jungkook's voice trembled as he replied, "This… letter… where is it from?"
"It's from the Korean War that happened in 1950. But why? What happened?" Jimin asked, puzzled, as he watched the usually cold and aloof Jungkook become overwhelmed with emotion—over an old page whose original owner was long unknown.
"Nothing. Somehow, this person who wrote it feels like me… alone and… lost."
"How…?"
"I don't know," Jungkook murmured, gently touching the glass. "But I can say one thing… you're like me, or maybe… I'm like you."