Moving Forward

9. In Jimin's Room: Annyeong

They agreed to come at 7 PM and stay for an hour only, so as not to inconvenience Jimin's family. Hobi was the first to arrive. He was led to Jimin's room by his dad.

"Abeoji, how is he? How's Jimin?" Hobi was preparing himself.

"He's alright, all things considered. He receives round-the-clock care. If you stay long enough, you might see him responding. Sometimes I feel he's half awake," Jimin's dad replied, smiling to Hobi as they walked through a wide hallway.

"Are you sure it's okay for us to be here?" He was concerned that it might not be good for Jimin's health.

"We gave it some thought and asked his doctors. They think it will be good for Jimin, actually, to hear familiar voices." They had reached the door to his room, which was always left open. Jimin's dad smiled and left him to make his first hellos after a long absence.

Hobi stood by the doorway and took in the scene. Jimin had a very spacious room. On his right were sets of comfortable couches in front of a stone fireplace. To each side were wide windows that overlooked their flowering garden. There were windows all around and cctv cameras. Behind the door was Jimin's bed. He was surprised to see that it wasn't a hospital bed. It was very large and Jimin looked like a sleeping prince in the middle of it.

Hobi moved closer and sat beside Jimin. There were tubes connected to him but he was breathing on his own. A monitor beeped his heart rate. Jimin's hair had returned to its natural deep brown and was softly framing his face. He didn't look pale or sick at all. He just couldn't wake up.

Hobi carefully stroked his arm. "Jimin-ah, it's Hobi. Annyeong." He kissed his forehead gently. "I'm sorry it took us a while, but we're here now," he whispered. He looked at Jimin's eyes for a response but they remained closed.

"Hobi," Namjoon whispered from behind him. He had arrived with Jin and Suga. Jungkook and Taehyung came in soon after. Everyone gathered around Jimin.

"Jimin-ah, how're you doing, bro?" Namjoon sat on the other side of the bed and placed his hand gently on Jimin's leg. He could feel warmth through the covers.

"You look like a baby, Hyung," Jungkook said.

Yoongi agreed. "How can you look like this, Jimin-ah? We've aged ten years while you've been sleeping like a baby." He settled down on the foot of the bed. "Jimin-ah, we asked your mom and dad if we can hang around here every week. We need to figure some things out and we'd like you to be a part of it."

"Hey, Park Jimin!" Jin called out from behind them. "Why are you still sleeping? Sure, we had very little sleep back then but this is too much. Wake up already!"

Taehyung stood at the foot of the bed beside Yoongi and looked at his friend. He was comforted by his steady breathing. "Jimin, we're planning a comeback. We'll brainstorm here, okay? Tell us what you think." Everyone laughed.

"Wow, that would be something." Namjoon smiled at the thought, but then he remembered how things ended and shook his head.

"Anyway, Jimin-ie, we promise not to bother your parents too much. But we hope you'll get up soon and join us," Hobi hoped he could really hear him.

"Yeah, it's rude to stay sleeping when you have company, Jimin!" Jin teased. At that moment, Jimin's hand moved and Jin saw it. "Did you see that?" he asked the others. They did.

"His dad said that it happens," Hobi told them. "You can hear us, Jimin?"

Taehyung moved closer and held Jimin's hand. It was warm and soft. Jungkook also moved closer and touched his feet through the covers. They all decided to sit on the bed and have their talk there.

"Where do we start?" Namjoon asked.

"I think we should let Jimin know what happened," Suga replied.

"Who'll tell him?" Hobi asked. Everyone pointed at Namjoon.

Namjoon shook his head again, then he thought of where to begin.

On their first night in Jimin's room Namjoon told him what happened that night of the concert when they fell, and the events that took place afterwards. Everyone was silent except Namjoon, who talked to Jimin as though he was awake. He told him that they disbanded, that they had different careers now, and the hardest of all, that they lost one ARMY member that night.

"She was only 15, Jimin. She had a weak heart but really wanted to go to our concert. She finally got permission, provided she would agree to have a wheelchair close by in case she felt too tired. I saw her that night, you know. I remember smiling at her because she was holding this glittering sign that said 'Marry me, RM!' She was right in front of the stage." RM started crying through the words. "She was with her sister but they were separated in the stampede. I never thought that would ever happen to us, not to our ARMY. I keep asking myself why it happened."

"It was because ARMY cared for us." Jin reflected. "It was their natural instinct to rush to our aid."

"We went to her grave months after," Namjoon continued. "But the press found out and it looked like a photo shoot when we got there. We never came back together. I just go whenever I'm in New York. Sometimes I bring her flowers and plushies. One time I brought chocolates 'coz it was Valentine's."

"I think she got her wish," Jungkook thought out loud.

"Yeah, she became your girlfriend, Namjoon." Suga piped in.

"Why wasn't I with you?" Taehyung asked.

"You were still in the hospital, Taetae." Hobi remembered that Taehyung had already regained consciousness at that time but was still very weak.

"ARMY is gone, Jimin." Namjoon hated hearing the words, but he wanted to tell Jimin everything. "We did a lot of things wrong. I don't know how we can make it right, or if that's even possible at this point. I never thought it would happen, but we've lost ARMY and BTS."

They all fell silent. The room suddenly felt cold. Outside the night had deepened and it was past the one hour that they had set for this time. But no one stood up from Jimin's bed, afraid of feeling more lost. No one wanted to leave.