masquerade//pjm

thirty-two

"You okay, honey?" Jimin looked up from his dinner. "You're picking at your food."

"I'm fine," he sighed, continuing to pick at his mashed potatoes anyway.

"Are you not feeling well?" His other aunt reached over to press a palm to his forehead. "You aren't burning up?"

"I'm fine, guys--  just not that hungry." Both aunts pouted and Jimin pushed his plate away. He pulled it back suddenly.

"Can I eat in my room?"

"You cannot." He slumped in his seat. "How will your appetite magically return if the food is in your room?" He gave them both a grin.

"Due to the addition of my video game console. I told Jeon I'd play a few rounds of this game he just got."

"You can play after dinner." Jimin sighed and picked up his utensils again. Both aunts shared a smile. "Are you nervous about the dance tomorrow, honey?"

Jimin looked up and frowned. "Nervous? Not really-- it's just y/n and I."

"You aren't worried about another boy coming to ask her to dance?" Jimin laughed out loud. Not that it wouldn't happen-- he'd witnessed plenty of boys asking you out and to dance at dances growing up. He didn't give a shit about that; it was bound to happen anyway. You were gorgeous.

"She likes me too much," he said with a smirk. "And besides, I don't really care."

"No?"

"Nah." He shovelled some food into his mouth. "She can dance with who she wants." Lina paused while cutting up some meat on her plate.

"You know, y/n used to talk an awful lot about Yoongi-- to Jung. While working." 

Jimin looked up. "Did she?"

"Yeah-- now that I think about it, isn't Yoongi your friend? He's the boy on crutches. The one who you had over all the time when you were living at your old place?"

"Yep, Min."

"Then...?" Jimin smiled and shrugged.

"Really, aunt Lina-- it'll be fine." Jimin grinned. "It isn't like Yoongi likes her-- I'm positive of that."

Both aunts hummed and Jimin ate for a moment in silence. He let the words hang in there for a moment before he felt his stomach churn. He pushed his food away.

What was going on with him?

"Jiminie?" He looked up. "You okay, honey?" they asked in sync.

"Um, yeah-- fine."

"I didn't mean to worry you about Yoongi and y/n," Lina said quickly. "I'm sure it's nothing and she looks pretty smitten with you-- with everything she said at your hearing and all."

"Yeah, no-- I-- I know." He swallowed as he repeated his statement from earlier-- the one that made him feel guiltier than ever. "He doesn't like her; I'm positive of it."

"Then what's on your mind?"

Jimin stood and pushed out his chair. "I think I'm full." They both looked up and sighed. "I don't want to bring it to my room-- I'm just full."

"Alright-- come down to do the dishes in a little while." He smiled a little and nodded. Imagine liking being forced to do chores.

Only him.

He headed up to his room and pulled his phone out. His stomach churned with guilt once again as the picture he'd taken of you brushing your teeth at his house stared back at him through his lock screen.