Me, Myself, and Jikook (Jikook Oneshots)

Saving Face Pt. 2: Set Me Free

Jimin was over it.  All of it.  He was done.  All the comments and hateful messages he'd seen.  2020 had been hard, but here he was in 2021 wishing he'd never auditioned for BigHit at all.  Wishing he'd never met Jungkook in the first place.

It had been a month without him and he'd been in pure hell.  Each time he had to see him for work.  Each time he saw him take comfort in Taehyung or Hobi or one of the other members or the staff.  It ate a hole through his heart he couldn't bear to carry.

But he needed to stay strong.  He needed to do this.  He needed to get through this part.  Namjoon had been right when he'd given him advice in the soop.  When they'd had the 'family meeting' where they'd suggested that it wasn't good to be so wrapped up in your relationship that you lose yourself.  They'd been right and he knew it.  Jungkook couldn't see it yet through his hurt.  Jungkook had said some things Jimin wasn't sure he could let him ever take back that first night, but Jimin knew this was right.  That he needed to do this.

He reread his therapist's texts again. 

Set yourself free, Jimin.  Set yourself free of all these burdens.  Of all this pain.  You lean on Jungkook so much because you're afraid without him you won't be strong enough to handle this alone.  If you keep leaning on him, then you'll be right.  You have to become strong in yourself.

He remembered every word of that session.

The reason you're here isn't because of Jungkook.  It's not even about you.  You came to me about other people.  You came to me because you know what others say about you.  You know what they will say about you if they discover the truth.  You came to me because you're shackled to the opinions of people who you don't know and who don't know you.  What will you do now?  Let them win?

Jimin texted her again.

JM: I feel like I'm going insane to stay sane, here doc.

                                                                               Doc: Will you give up?

JM: No.

                                                                            Doc: Even if they mock you?

Jimin hesitated to respond at that.

Doc: That's your answer.  Don't hate any version of you in the past just because others have.  And don't give up your future just because others have a perception of you that isn't true.  Hateful people will always exist.  There will always be opposition.  The question is, will you let that stop you?

Jimin drew in a deep breath as he considered his therapist's words.  Even though he's hated himself all along, it never stopped him from doing what he loved.  Maybe he actually was stronger than he thought as his therapist and Jungkook had continued to suggest.

The thought of Jungkook had his heart clenching painfully in his chest again.

JM: What do I do then, doc?

                    Doc: I agree with your friend, Taehyung.  Write it out.  Bring it next session.

Jimin gripped at the pad of paper he'd been writing out his feelings in ever since that first night Taehyung had tossed it onto his counter before leaving him.  He nodded and sat down to write out another song to give himself the strength to tell his haters to fuck off.

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***

(542 words)

A/N: I decided to make this four parts instead.

Edited because I messed up the dates.  If you read 2022 before...ignore it.  I meant 2021.