UNMASKED || JIKOOK ✅

23.

When we arrived at the Busan Rest Home on Christmas Day, my brother was waiting outside.

He was wearing the same suit with the oversized shoulder
pads he'd been wearing the
last time I saw him.

He had enough confidence to
pull the shoulder pads off but
it was good to remind myself that he had things he felt the need to overcompensate.

His eyes rested on Jimin
as we got out of the car.

I had warned him I was
bringing a guy but I had
also apologized and rambled
a lot too, so I wasn't sure if
he remembered.

Jimin wrapped his arm around my shoulders and we walked across the parking lot together.

It was nice to have the
comfort of his warmth
while Jiwoo stood there,
silently assessing us.

He didn't seem sure how
to react to us.

Maybe he thought the
difference in our ages was
too much or maybe he was wondering what a hot guy
like Jimin was doing with someone like me.

For a moment, I panicked.

What was Jimin doing with
me?

What would he think when
he realized that my mom
wasn't ever getting better?

It was one thing to tell him
my mom had early onset Alzheimer's but quite another
for him to see it firsthand.

Then I remembered that he loved me, That still seemed
too good to be true.

Jiwoo held out his hand to
Jimin.

"It's good to meet you."

"I'm Jiwoo, Guk's brother."

Jimin's gaze darted back and forth between jiwoo and me.

"It's good to meet you too."

"You'll have to forgive me."

"I'm used to calling him
Jungkook."

That wasn't technically true.

He usually called me "baby" or "sweetheart and my prince,"
and I hoped he never stopped.

His pet names made me
feel all glowy inside.

Jiwoo chuckled.

"It no problem." He turned around and headed for the
front door.

We all stepped inside the
lobby, Polly wasn't there
this time.

Maybe she was taking time
off to be with her family.

In her place was a skinny
guy in a Santa hat.

"Good evening, Go ahead
and sign your name on this form."

Jiwoo wrote his name then
gave the pen to me.

I hovered over the page for
a moment before writing
Jeon Jungkook.

I handed the pen to Jimin
who signed his name next
then we walked slowly down
the hall.

"I can be kai's
friend." Jiwoo said.

"Okay."

"Do you want us to use your name or..."

We probably should have
figured this out over the phone.

"Yeah, Same profession
and everything too."

"I'm just your friend, that's
all."

I wished I could make this
easier for him.