FORGOTTEN

CHAPTER 8

'The minutes dragged on for what seemed like hours before Bang P.D. exited the room. 

"How is he?" Joon rushed forward to look in the room. Bang P.D. pulled him away from the door and let it close. Joon frowned at the elder but said nothing. 

"He is weak, very weak but better. He ah," the man sighed. "He said you are welcome to go in and see him if you like but not to feel obligated. He doesn't expect anything from you." The words hit the six like a knife to the heart. 

"I'm going in," Tae stood. "I'm going to make this up to him. He's my soulmate, and I broke his heart."

"Not just you, Tae," Jin shook his head. "We all did. Come on. I'll go with you." Jin took Tae's hand, but Joon stood in their way.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Jin-hyung," Joon put a hand on the elder's shoulder. "You walking in with your boyfriend might not be ideal."

"Oh," Jin blinked back tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't think-"

"I'll go with him," JK stepped up and smiled at Jin. "We are the maknae line, you know."

"Just let him know we are all here for him," Jin murmured with unshed tears in his eyes. JK nodded and followed Tae into Jimin's room. 

Ji-hoon bit his lip and walked away from the group. This was their time. He was only a manager; they were family and deserved a chance to make things right between them all. 

-----

Jimin lay still in the hospital bed. Tae's heart clenched at the sight of the oldest maknae. Jimin's face was so thin, pale, and sad. The smile that made his eyes disappear into beautiful crescents was not there, and it was their fault. 

"Chim?" Tae whispered. "Are you awake?" Jimin's eyes fluttered, and he looked toward the two members standing in the doorway. 

"Oh," Jimin's lips parted in surprise. "Hello. I'd like to thank you for bringing me to the hospital. The doctors told me you might have saved my life by doing it." Tae choked and turned to bury his face in JK's chest. Jimin's eyes were dull and empty. His voice was not that of the Jimin they all knew and loved. He was stiff, formal as if he were speaking to strangers.

"Jiminie-hyung," JK started timidly. "We'd like to apologize for treating you poorly." His voice broke as the tears began to flow.

"I'm so sorry," Tae wailed before throwing himself across Jimin's body. The two younger members wept bitterly. Jimin, however, was too tired to react in kind. He was done crying. He didn't think he could cry even if he wanted to. He simply ran his fingers through Tae's hair. 

They sat in relative silence, Jimin not having anything to say to the younger and the younger having so much to say to Jimin but not capable of speech without sobbing. 

"Hyung, please say something. Please, even if you say you hate us, say something." JK sniffled. 

"I don't know what to say," Jimin murmured. "I don't feel like I really know you guys anymore." he sighed. 

"We're still your..." Tae trailed off as Jimin scoffed bitterly.

"Friends? Family?" Jimin snorted. "I'm sorry, but the most I can grant you is bandmates, and even that is questionable."

"Chim," Tae protested.

"Please, please don't call me that." Jimin interrupted.

"But we've always called you Chim!" JK almost yelled. 

"What's going on in here?" RM came in when heard the raised voices. 

"He's being unreasonable," Tae pouted, and JK nodded in agreement. "He won't talk to us or accept our apology."

"Am I obligated to accept an apology?" Jimin asked.

"Yes!" JK and Tae exclaimed at the same time.

"Of course not!" RM shook his head and glared at the younger members. "There is no obligation whatsoever. JK, Tae, why don't you give me a minute here." 

"But-" JK began.

"Now," RM ordered. The younger men flinched and hurried from the room. RM sighed and looked at Jimin. "First of all, I'm sorry about that, and no, I don't expect you to just accept my apology off hand. We honestly don't deserve that."

"I appreciate that Namjoon-ssi," Jimin murmured softly. The use of his full name instead of hearing Joonie-hyung hurt RM's heart, but he wasn't going to push Jimin. This was all on them.

"I would like to make a request."

"I'm listening," Jimin nodded politely.

"I'd like for you to give us a second chance to show you how much we love you." Jimin fiddled with his fingers nervously. "Now, I'm not talking about you moving back to the house when you are released. We lost that right." Jimin nodded. 

"You are very understanding." 

"No," RM shook his head. "If I were very understanding, we wouldn't be in this situation. Unfortunately, I can't turn back time; I can only work to be a better person from here on out. What I'd like is to be able to take you out with us when we go on group dates."

"I'm not sure about that," Jimin interrupted. "I'm the odd man out, and I understand why."

"What? Why do you think that?" RM took a seat next to Jimin's hospital bed and gave the younger his undivided attention. 

"Well, all of you are so amazing. You are beyond smart. Jin is Mr. WorldWide Handsome himself. Suga is an amazing rapper and lyricist. There is pretty much nothing he can't do. Hobi dances better than anyone in our group. Tae is beyond beautiful; I mean, he doesn't even look real! Then there is JK. He is good at everything. He really is the golden maknae. You guys are all so freaking amazing, and I'm not." RM stared at the younger in disbelief. Had they really damaged him that much?

"Jimin, that just isn't true," RM shook his head. "But I'm not going to tell you. I want to show you if you just give me a chance. Tae and JK are also wanting to show you they are just impatient. Jin, Hobi, and Suga are all wrecked about how we treated you. Will you give us a chance?"

"I'll have to think about it. I'm not sure I can take getting hurt again." Jimin's eyes looked lifeless, and RM hated himself for causing it. 

"Take your time. But is your invitation to visit you here and at home still an option?" Jimin nodded. 

"Yes, I'd just like for you to call or text before coming over."

"Of course," RM nodded.

"I'm tired now," Jimin sighed.

"Can I give you a hug?" RM asked hopefully. Jimin thought about it for a moment before nodding shyly. RM Rose from the chair and wrapped his arms around the younger and pulled him close. 

Jimin closed his eyes and took in the warmth, and inhaled RM's scent. It felt amazing to have that contact.

"I love you, Jimin, and I'm going to prove it to you," he placed a kiss on the crown of Jimin's head before releasing him. "I'll be back tomorrow morning." Jimin nodded and blushed at RM's words and actions.