You Don't Own Me | 18+

Chapter 5

Jisoo sits gently down on the edge of the bed Jin is laying. He's not awaken yet and he has oxygen cap on his face and has drip in his wrist.

Her Jinnie is only 17. He does not even know what this cruel world can do. He is still a child who is abandoned by his parents at 15 and has to live with the relative's family for the better future. He thinks his sister doesn't love him and leaves him too.

Jisoo blames herself. She deserves his hatred. She wasn't there when he was bullied. She wasn't aware of it. She thought sending Jin to her aunt's house was good for him. Since living with her who is inadequate and unstable will only effect his school life, Jisoo decided to choose that difficult way.

She was wrong. How stupid she was. Her Jinnie was also suffering but she didn't know any of it. She shouldn't call herself his sister. She was moping around while her Jinnie is needing her.

Jisoo covers her mouth and swallows the cries. She can't keep crying and get emotional. She needs to be strong for Jin. Jin needs her right now and if she's also acting helpless, where will he seek solace in?

"Jisooya, don't blame yourself. You tried your hardest too. You can't control what life has already planned. You can only control how you will handle the consequences." Mrs.Bae holds Jisoo's shoulder.

"She's right, sweety. Seokjin and you may have conflicts and not in good term, you're his only family. You've to be his strength and supporter no matter how many times he tries to push you away. Understand him and his side. We know you do but bear with him a little longer. He will see how much he means to you and realize his wrong beliefs." Mr.Gu adds with teary eyes.

"Now why are you crying?" Mrs.Bae glares at him. He sniffs and looks away.

"It's just the air inside is spicy." He says bashfully and leaves the room.

Mrs.Bae comforts Jisoo before joining Mr.Gu out, giving Jisoo her moment with her brother.

How quiet the room is that you can hear the noises coming from air-condition. Jisoo holds Seokjin's free hand and strokes his hair gently. It's been so long since she gets to see him this close.

"I'm sorry." She whispers. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you and be with you when you must be feeling lonely and scared. You must be helpless and felt like you're alone at that time. Please forgive me. Noona..." Jisoo hiccups. "Noona...was lost. You hate me right? You thought I abandoned you too just like them, right? You should be. I don't deserve your love after all. I don't deserve you."

It's atrocious how the abuser ruined his face. The wounds may heal but the scars will remain.

"I may not usually say this when we're together, but I love you so much. You're my only family. The reason I'm still standing tall. I'll protect you. I'll find whoever did this to you and make them pay for it." Jisoo makes a promise and wipes her tears off.

A moment later, someone enters the room whilst Jisoo sits there unfazed.

"Jisoo" Taehyung calls her gently but she doesn't move or turn; she acknowledges his presence only. "Look, we are not close but I concern about your brother as well as you. He's a child and this happened so it's natural for me to care. I'm not pitying you. I can just ignore you and leave but I'm not that heartless. So if you don't mind, I'll take care of the hospital bill. Actually I already paid it under my name. It is not like I invaded your life and did it without your permission. You're here worried sick so I don't want to pressure you with the bill. I acted on my own and I'm sorry-"

"Is that offer still open?" Jisoo interrupts, her voice and demeanor void of spirit.

Taehyung grimaces as he doesn't get what she meant. And it clicks. She's asking for the offer he has been forcing her.

Straightening his back, he wets his lips with his tongue. "Of course. But you can take time. I mean not long as you know my grandma is nagging me every two seconds but I'm not forcing you-"

"Good." Jisoo nods and slightly tilts her head to look at him. All Taehyung can discern is a broken soul who lacks emotion. He feels really bad for her. "I accept your offer."

Taehyung's eyes widen. "Really? Like you can't take back your words-"

"Really."

It doesn't take a genius to know why she accepts this with no complain this time. She accepted it because she had no choice.

He understands her situation and acquiesces. "Okay. I'll tell you everything you need to know before we launch the plan. For now, you need to have some food to fill your stomach. You've been sitting there for three hours without moving your body. Your body must be sore too. Come on."

Looking wistfully at her sleeping brother, Jisoo heaves a depressed sigh.

She can't act weak, she can't act weak.

Her brother needs her. She has to be full of energy and be there for him. She can't fall now.

*

Taehyung is weirdly thoughtful that she wonders why is he even doing all of this. Like right now, he prepared a full meal for dinner and even bought a decent dress for her to change.

She's paranoid about what his intentions are. Since her parents gone, she relied on herself always that it feels not right when another person is taking care of her. She's not adjusted and think it's not just a simple help.

Whatever his purpose is, she can't bring it up to mull over. Her brother's health is her main concern. She has to find a way to get Jin back on her side. She has to fix that broken relationship.

After having dinner with Mr.Gu, Mrs. Bae, and Taehyung, Jisoo told them she wanted to take a walk at the hospital's yard and strolled around.

She walks and walks, almost bumping into few people on the way as her whole self is absorbed in reveries. The way she has no idea where to walk causes her to laugh.

It looks menacing to the surrounding but she can't help it. All she wants is a life full of smiles and happiness. Where are they? Why are they hiding from her? Is she that bad? Does she not deserve to be happy?

This time she bumps into someone harshly that the force pushes her back.

"Fuck, watch where you're going." The presumptuous guy hisses which she barely hears. She steps aside and continues her mindless journey but her hand is grabbed from behind aggressively.

"Aren't you that shameless girl from that cafe? What are you doing here?" He says disparagingly, squinting his eyes at her up and down to make sure. "Don't tell me you're that desperate and stalking me?"

Jisoo pulls her hand out of his threatening grip but he insists.

"Who are you? If you don't answer honestly you'll face the worst and I'm not joking."

Finally, Jisoo returns to reality and gets her sense back as the result of bone-crashing grip. She knits her eyebrows and glares at him.

"What? Are you deaf? Can't you hear what I said or are you pretending to get my attention? Who the hell do you think you are to play me?" His strident voice worsens her anxiety.

Her lips trembles before she breaks down in the middle of the hallway.