FORGOTTEN

CHAPTER 3

Morning came, and the boys crept around the house as if they were trying not to trigger hidden boobie traps. It might have been comical if Jimin were actually in his room. Unfortunately, as was always the case, they were so wrapped up in each other that no one noticed. No one even noticed his shoes were not in the bedazzled cubby by the door. No one noticed his favorite throw blanket and pillow were missing from the sofa. No one noticed anything at all. 

"Okay, the van is here," Jungkook softly squealed. "Let's hurry and get going. And don't make too much noise. We don't wanna wake Chimmy up." The men nodded and softly exited the house and hurried to the van. It was going to be a spectacular day. 

"Remember, we text Chim at noon, right?" Namjoon reminded them. 

"Right," they all nodded in agreement. 

Noon came and went, and no one remembered to text Jimin. The couples were having way too much fun to remember they were supposed to be seven. 

"Funnel cakes!" Jin pointed at a food stand late in the afternoon.

"After we have lunch. If you eat that monstrosity first, your stomach will hate you," Joon laughed. 

"Listen to our great leader," Hobi laughed too. "He always watches out for our health and well-being."

-----

Jimin looked at the list on his phone; each item was checked off. A bed, several sheet sets, three comforters, two fluffy pillows, a pile of towels, toiletries, and kitchenware were purchased and delivered to his apartment. Now Jimin had to grab a quick bite, not because he was hungry, but he wasn't about to starve himself. Even if the other six members didn't love or care about him anymore, ARMY still loved him, and he would do anything for them. 

The bed was set up, ready to be made when Jimin made it home. The towels and kitchenware were all where they needed to be. Everything was organized, and after a quick meal of instant noodles, Jimin collapsed on the bed and slept.

Back at the Bangtan house, after midnight, the three couples stumbled in, very drunk. 

"No funny business tonight," Joon slurred authoritatively. "We have vocal training and dance practice tomorrow." The others nodded and headed to their rooms, oblivious that one room remained empty. 

-----

Six members sat down to breakfast Friday morning. The couples laughed and joked, occasionally mentioning plans for the date night they looked forward to three times a week. They all felt closer to each other after this bonding time together. The mood was broken when Joon's phone buzzed.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Where the heck are you guys? Jimin has been here for half an hour already!" Ji-hoon yelled into the phone.

"Sorry hyung, we were out late last night. We're on our way." Joon cut the call. "We must have been tired if we didn't hear Jimin calling to wake us up."

"Shit!" Jin yelped.

"What?" Tae looked at the eldest, startled.

"Did anyone message Chim yesterday when we were out?" Jin gasped. The members all looked at each other, feeling guilty.

"I meant to," Joon muttered.

"We were just having so much fun," J.K. defended. "He wasn't around, but I mean, it's not like he goes out on date nights with us anyhow."

"I was thinking about it before noon, but then we were on the rides, and I forgot too," Tae frowned.

"Guys, we shouldn't worry so much; Chim will understand. That's how he is. He doesn't hold grudges, and he isn't overly sensitive either." Hobi waved it off. "We can treat him to lunch today. That will smooth things over."

"Too much talking! Not enough moving!" Ji-hoon hollered from the doorway, making the six men jump.

"Sorry!" Joon called out, and they all scattered to get dressed.

-----

"Jin, breath support, breath support, breath support," the vocal coach sighed, then smiled at the eldest. "I must say, however, aside from that issue, you have improved so much. I'm very proud of you." 

"Good job!" everyone cheered, making Jin blush deeply. 

They had all agreed on this when they started vocal training years ago. Some of the boys were further along with their vocal skills than others, which made some of them ashamed of the critiques given. Each member was praised for development, no matter how small it was. The idea had been Jimin's. He watched how each member sank a little further into themselves as they were chastised for failing to grasp seemingly simple concepts. It worked. Once they were praised for small accomplishments, the improvements grew each lesson. 

"Namjoon, um," he paused. "Stick to rapping." The others roared with laughter. All but one. Jimin stared at his music and avoided drawing attention to himself.

"Ye-Jun, could I speak to Jimin, please?" Ji-hoon asked. 

"Of course, Jimin is doing excellent. I don't have anything o say to him." The vocal coach fairly beamed at Jimin. 

"Thank you," Ji-hoon smiled and motioned to Jimin to join him in the hall.

"Yes?" Jimin asked as soon as the door closed.

"I'm so sorry," Ji-hoon's eyes filled with tears.s 

"For?" Jimin asked, eyes growing wide in fear. Had something bad happened to a member of his family? His blood ran cold at the prospect. 

"I should have seen what was happening," he shook his head. "Looking back, I did see it. I just never said anything, and for that, I am sorry." So Ji-hoon knew. His face blazed in shame. Now he would be looked on in pity. 

"How did you find out? Did Bang P.D. tell you? P.D. nim promised he wouldn't say anything other than that I'd moved." Jimin cried.

"No, no, no, Jimin, he didn't break your confidence. He just told me you had moved out. I found out why when I overheard the boys at breakfast talking about how they forgot to text you while they were out at the amusement park and how you never joined them on dates. I put two and two together..." he trailed off. "It was my fault for not intervening." Jimin shook his head and smiled sadly at his manager.

"It isn't your job to mediate in matters of the heart and relationships. These things happen. I am just removing myself from the situation in which I've found myself," Jimin shrugged. 

"But they are your family," Jihoon sighed. "You should all be together,"

"Even family grows apart." Jimin shrugged again. "Just because I've moved out doesn't mean I don't love them anymore. I do still love them; I don't think I'll ever stop. I want them to be happy, and they are. The thing is, they don't need me there. I'm essential only on stage and in videos."

"That's not true," Ji-hoon protested. Jimin put a hand on the manager's arm and smiled.

"Hyung, I've been gone for three days. No one has reached out. Like I told P.D.-nim, that means they haven't noticed, or they don't care. Either way, I know where I stand now. I won't be hoping for anything more from them." Jimin looked at his watch. "I have to go now. Dance practice starts in twenty minutes, and I'd like to get a drink." 

"Okay, Jimin. Don't worry. I'll fix this." Ji-hoon offered.

"Please don't!" Jimin's eyes grew wide. "I don't want to force them into caring. That would be too humiliating. I'll be fine with being cordial here at work and playing my part during performances." Jimin turned and hurried away, leaving Ji-hoon feeling heartbroken for the young man. What a pure soul, loving yet feeling unloved. Still putting his bandmate's feelings ahead of his own. 

The group of six noisy men piled out of the meeting room blissfully unaware of Jimin's pain, and for the first time since he'd met the group, he felt burning anger toward them. They didn't deserve him at all.