FORGOTTEN

Chapter 16

Ji-hoon was fired. Not that it came as a surprise to anyone. As well-intended as his plan was, the results had nearly been tragic.

Jimin had taken it the hardest of all, though he wouldn't let the members know how he felt. He felt sad about everything that had happened with Ji-hoon. He also felt stupid because he thought Ji-hoon might have actually liked him. As much as the others tried to include him, it just wasn't the same. Jimin wanted to feel loved, not just platonically but romantically as well. 

He'd moved back in with the other six shortly after he'd been released from the hospital. Their friendships were slowly healing, and Jimin would speak up if he were feeling seriously neglected. The life of an idol wasn't always easy, but he'd chosen it. Sometimes though, he wished they had one more member, or he was part of another group so he might have a chance at romance. 

"Hyung, what are you doing?" JK asked one Saturday morning six months after Jimin had come back to the Bangtan house.

"Writing a letter," Jimin pointed at the stationary on his desk.

"To who?"  JK asked.

"A girl my mom introduced me to last year." Jimin shrugged.

"Like a penpal?" JK asked uncomfortably.

"More like a long-distance girlfriend," Jimin responded with a sigh. 

"A long-distance... Why?" JK's eyes grew wide in panic. 

"Uh," Jimin frowned at JK's reactions. "So I won't be alone when this ends."

"When what ends, hyung?"

"BTS, the idol life, all of this. You can't think this will go on forever, do you?" Jimin smiled sadly. "One day, it will end, and you guys will get married and start families. Don't get me wrong, I'll be happy for all of you, but where will that leave me?" he sighed. "At least this way, there will be someone to spend time with." 

"Do you love her, hyung?" Jimin blinked at him.

"What does that have to do with anything? We have a lot in common, and we've actually become great friends." He finished off the letter and folded the pages. "She understands and is okay with the arrangement. We will marry a year after BTS disbands, and we will start trying to have kids the year after that."

"How romantic," JK scoffed.

"I agree it is not the ideal or even the most conventional situation, but what choice do I have? I don't get to meet many people." JK shook his head and stormed out of Jimin's room. He had to tell Hobi and Suga. They were not going to like it any more than he did.

-----

Jimin put a stamp on his letter and went down to put it in the mailbox. Seelie was a nice enough girl. Socially awkward and rather plain-looking by most people's standards. Jimin didn't mind, though. He would never be in love with her, and she understood it. She was in no hurry to fall in love either. She'd been hurt too many times before. They'd make it work somehow.

-----

"A long-distance what?" Suga gasped. 

"That was my reaction too, hyung!" JK nodded wide-eyed. "What are you going to do about it, hyung?"

"I-" Suga sighed and looked at Hobi. "I don't know if we can do anything." 

"Suga, baby," Hobi grasped his boyfriend's hand tightly. "Please, we have to try at least."

"What's happening?" Joon hurried in with Tae and Jin hot on his heels.

"Jimin hyung has a long-distance girlfriend." JK scrunched his nose in disgust.