Always Loved You || Jikook ✅

22.

JIMIN POV

It had been the longest, most stressful, most emotionally draining four days of his life.

Everything since he'd arrived
on Monday morning had been
a blur, with all of his energy
and all of his thoughts
focused on Pop's recovery.

Which, thank goodness, was progressing better than any
one could have anticipated.

If it hadn't been for his age
and an abundance of caution, they probably would have
let Pop go home a day earlier.

As it was, he was already able
to get up and walk for a short time with minimal assistance
and the nurses all said he'd
be back to normal in no time.

Of course, Pop took that to
mean days rather than the
weeks of recovery he still had ahead of him but Jimin wasn't about to rain on his parade.

"I'm ready to get out of
here." Pop said, huffing out
an impatient breath as he glanced over to the clock on
the wall.

"When did they say we could leave?"

"Soon." Jimin said, doing his
best to stifle a smile.

"I promise you that we're
not going to stay here for
even one minute longer
than we have to."

"I'll be happy for all of us to
see some sunshine and get
some fresh air again."

Jimin hadn't left the hospital
at all, instead letting Jungkook bring back food and clean
clothes every day that they stayed there.

Jungkook had been a God-
send, as usual—never complaining, always knowing exactly what Jimin needed, usually before Jimin knew himself.

Once they were finally out of here and things were back to normal, Jimin would have to make sure Jungkook knew
just how much he meant to
both Jimin and Pop.

He hoped Jungkook already
knew but Jimin wanted to
make sure never to take him
for granted.

"I'm sure you'll want to get
back to New York soon." Pop said, pulling Jimin from his thoughts.

"Your boss is probably fit to be tied that you've stayed here
as long as you have already."

He exchanged a look with
Jungkook.

This was a topic none of them had really discussed, although Jimin had made up his
mind some days ago.

He took a deep breath and turned to face Pop again.

Now was probably as good a time as any.

"I'm not going back, Pop."

For a few seconds, there
was no sound.

It was as if all the air had
been completely sucked out
of the room.

Then Pop sucked in a sharp breath.

"What do you mean?"

"You're not going back..."

"Today? Tomorrow?"

Jimin shook his head.

"I'm not going back at all."

"Well, I mean I'll have to go
back to pack my things and
clean out my office and tie up loose ends but I'm not going
to live in New York anymore."

"I've already spoken to my
boss and my landlord."

"This is where I need to be."

"Here with you in Busan."