Yoonmin in Malta

22 - The Walk (I)

"Jimin-ah! I can see that something's bothering you. You can't even get your knees up properly!" Hobi says, his voice laced with concern, as the thudding beat of their music reverberates off the mirrored walls.

The practice room is empty except for the two of them, the rest of their bandmates having gone home for the day. Jimin and Hobi had stayed behind, working on the upcoming choreography together so that they can give the others a demonstration and tips the next day.

Only a few days after their vacation in Malta, the familiar exhaustion is not far away. They've enjoyed some rest, but the tour preparations are consuming them. In less than two weeks they will embark on the grueling 'Love Yourself' world tour, with concert after concert in cities across North America, Europe, and Asia. The thought of all those shows, all those fans, all those expectations hang heavy over them, but they push it aside for now and focus on the task at hand.

"Sorry. It's just ..." Jimin's face contorts as he falls to the polished floor, his limbs unable to keep up with the choreography, causing Hobi to snort in annoyance and reach to turn off the blaring music.

"Hyung," Jimin begins, his voice strained, "you know we're still the only ones sharing a room."

Hobi's expression softens. He crouches down in front of Jimin, taking the younger man's delicate hand in his own. "Yes, I know that. What about it?"

Jimin bites his lip, frustration simmering inside him, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead.

"What happens if one of us wants to start a relationship?" Jimin asks.

Hobi lets out a long, drawn-out sigh, knowing that this is a conversation they've needed to have for a while, and he braces himself to disappoint his friend.

"Jimin-ah," he says softly, "we're not allowed to date as idols, you know that."

"Besides that, hyung," Jimin looks down at his feet, his voice almost a whisper.

"We can't be roommates forever. Look at us, we're in our twenties and we've been living together for almost 8 years. Well, at least some of us have." Hobi corrects himself and continues. "The day will come when we each have our own place, and to be honest, I've been waiting for it for a while." Hobi squeezes the singer's hand tighter and leans forward to make eye contact with him.

"Hey Jimin-ah, it's really fun to live with you, but we have grown up. I want you to know that you can come to me anytime. You don't even need a reason. I like your company, you know that," the elder says, smiling sympathetically at the younger man, trying to cheer him up.

Jimin nods and gives Hobi a conciliatory look. The pair falls into a comfortable silence, the only sound being the soft hum of the air conditioner. They stay there, crouched on the floor, lost in thought, until Jimin eventually stands up and cues the music once again. With that, they turn back to the choreography, moving in perfect unison as they dance across the floor. They are both aware of the difficult conversations that lay ahead, but for now, they are content to focus on the music and the rhythm of their movements.

Jimin can't imagine a life without his roommate. He enjoys Hobi's encouraging presence, his unconditional kindness and, of course, their conversations. But lately, he finds himself wishing that he had a room to himself. Since the trip to Malta, Jimin hasn't spent another night with Yoongi. Sure, he could easily ask Yoongi to invite him over, but the thought of that terrifies him. So instead, Jimin clings to the excuse that Hobi is always around – a constant buffer between him and Yoongi, preventing anything from happening.

At least, Yoongi and Jimin are talking again.

A few days ago, when the band arrived back in Seoul, Jimin immediately spotted Yoongi waiting for them in the arrival hall, surrounded by a throng of screaming fans and relentless paparazzi. It was an unexpected sight – Yoongi was known for avoiding such chaotic situations. Nevertheless, there he was, his face serene and composed, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. It was a warm, loving smile, the kind that embraced Jimin and put him at ease. In that moment, he knew that all his patience had paid off.

But now there is nothing left of his patience.

So far, there has been no opportunity to talk about what happened in Malta and how things will go between them now. Instead, they tiptoe around each other, playing their roles as the friends they were before their vacation. It is even as if the Taipei thing never happened and Jimin is deeply grateful for that.

But beneath the surface, Jimin feels a deep emptiness that he can't shake. Yoongi's daily tangible closeness has become at least bearable, but it's still a constant reminder of what he can't have. Sometimes Jimin catches Yoongi's gaze and he wishes he could just walk over and kiss him right then and there. Even the slightest touch between them – a brush of fingers, a graze of shoulders – feels like sparks that light up his entire being. These fleeting moments keep his desires at bay for the rest of the day. But as soon as night falls and Jimin curls up alone in his bed, the all-consuming pain of uncertainty and longing slowly gnaws at him, causing tears to spill down his cheeks.

---

The band spends the next day rehearsing their choreography. Jimin and Hobi's detailed preparation from the night before pays off as they effortlessly coordinate their steps. The other members follow their lead, their movements becoming more seamless with each passing minute. The resulting confidence and determination fuels the band's motivation to rehearse with focus and precision until the end of the day.

"What are we going to eat tonight?" asks Jungkook to the eldest, who is still lying flat on the floor of the practice room, gasping for breath after finishing dance practice.

"I'm definitely not cooking tonight," Jin wheezes, his chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath. Jungkook pouts, disappointment clear on his face, but before Jin can respond, Yoongi interrupts.

"Actually, Jimin and I have plans, so don't count us in for dinner," he says, his voice low and casual.

Jimin freezes, turning to stare at Yoongi in surprise. His mind races to catch up with the sudden announcement, and a wave of nervous energy rushes through him.

For a moment, Jimin feels like he's on a rollercoaster, the sudden drop catching him off guard. He had been waiting for Yoongi to broach this topic for what felt like forever, but now that it's finally happening, it feels too fast. Does Yoongi finally want to talk to him tonight?

The reality of the situation looms in front of him like a dark cloud, and he swallows nervously, trying to keep his expression neutral. His eyes dart around the room, but all he sees are his bandmates' expectant faces, watching him intently. He feels like a scared rabbit, cornered and alone.

Taehyung is equally caught off guard by Yoongi's announcement, and he senses the tension building in the room. His mind whirls with different ways to help his friend, but before he can intervene, Yoongi has already put his arm around Jimin's shoulders, steering him towards the door.

"Come on, Jimin-ah. We have to go," Yoongi says quietly, his voice soft and comforting. Jimin follows him, still confused, but at the same time grateful to be able to escape the awkward situation so quickly.