Beautiful Mistakes.

15.

It's been a week since the guys started staying at Hoseok's place, and now they've decided it's time to head back home since Hosu will be returning soon. Even though Hoseok wishes they could stay longer, he knows they have to leave.

"Guys, can you please stay just one more day?" Hoseok pleaded, nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

"Hobi, we promise we'll come back to see you," Jin said, playfully messing up the younger's hair.

"And we have work to do, plus we need to get these kids ready for school," Namjoon added.

"Don't forget, you have your classes to attend too," Yoongi chimed in.

"Hobi hyung, can I ask you something?" Jimin inquired.

"Of course, Jiminie," Hoseok replied with a warm smile.

"I wanted to ask this from the beginning, but Jin hyung told me not to," Jimin admitted.

"You can ask me anything," Hoseok encouraged gently.

"What happened to you that caused such trauma?" Jimin asked, nervously biting his lip.

"No....," everyone murmured, realizing that was a tough question.

"Um... well," Hoseok began, recounting the whole incident.

His hands trembled, but he managed to keep it together. Even though the memories haunted him, he focused on staying calm. Yoongi sat next to him, holding his hand for support.

"It's okay, Hobi," Yoongi reassured him, gently rubbing his back.
Jimin stood frozen, completely stunned. His mind was a blank slate. The voice of that unsettling man echoed in his ears. He glanced around, breathing heavily, and felt like he was seeing that man everywhere, even in the reflections of his friends. Tears began to stream down his face.

"N-no, s-stay AWAY!" he shouted, covering his ears.

"Jimin!" Taehyung and the others rushed over to help him.

Hoseok suddenly stood up and bolted out of the room, struggling to breathe. He clutched his chest and covered his mouth.

"I'm s-sorry," he repeated over and over.

Just then, the door swung open, and Hosu entered. His smile faded when he noticed his hyung in distress. He rushed to Hoseok and wrapped him in a comforting hug.

"Hyung, it's okay."

"Don't worry, I'm here for you."

"It wasn't your fault."

"Take a deep breath, hyung," Hosu said, trying to soothe the older man.

But then, Hoseok's body slipped from Hosu's grasp. He fainted, overwhelmed by a sharp pain in his head. Yoongi rushed out of the room, panicking, and lifted Hoseok to take him to the car. Hosu followed, not caring how Yoongi had gotten there. Yoongi sped off while the others took Jimin in Jin's car.

Time skip.

Jimin and Hoseok lay on separate beds, while the other boys tried to comfort Hosu, who had been crying for half an hour.

"Yoongi, take him outside for some fresh air," Namjoon suggested, and Yoongi agreed.

"Don't cry, Tofu. He'll be fine," Yoongi said, gently patting Hosu's back.

"I swear, if you mispronounce my name again, I'll throw you off a cliff," Hosu said, wiping his tears and managing a chuckle.

"Your name is tougher than a math equation," Yoongi replied.

"I know you do it on purpose," Hosu shot back.

"So when did you guys get back home?" Hosu asked.

"The day you left," Yoongi answered, resting an arm on the younger boy's shoulder.

"Who's that white-haired guy next to Hobi hyung?" Hosu inquired.

"That's Jimin; he has the same issue as Hoseok," Yoongi said, feeling sympathy for both boys.

Hosu blushed a little and said, "It's sad, but he's really cute."

Yoongi chuckled, "You noticed him in such a hurry, huh?"

"He caught my eye," Hosu replied.

Before long, Jimin woke up and asked the guys to step out so he could talk to Hoseok.

Jimin tried to gently wake Hoseok, but he didn’t budge at all.

"Hyung, help me," the kid pleaded.

"HYUNG, DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE!" he shouted.

"Hyung."

"Hyung."

"Hyung."

"Hobi hyung."

Hoseok suddenly opened his eyes and sat up quickly, breathing heavily. He looked around and saw Jimin calling for him. It took a moment for him to realize it was just a dream.

"J-Jimin?" Hoseok stammered, taking the white-haired guy's hand.

"Hyung, are you okay?"

"Yeah, but what just happened?"

"Just the... usual stuff."

"Hmm..." Hoseok hummed, unsure of what to say.

Jimin took a deep breath, ready to share something important.

"Hyung, that kid was me," Jimin said, looking directly into Hoseok's eyes.

"Huh?" Hoseok replied, confused.

"The kid who got caught by that old killer was..." he paused.

"Me," Jimin finished.

"H-how? I mean, w-what?" Hoseok stuttered, trying to process this revelation.

Jimin nodded, giving a sad smile. Hoseok felt an overwhelming guilt for leaving that kid in danger, and here he was, still smiling and calling him 'hyung.' He dropped to his knees, hands together in a begging position.

"I'm so sorry, Jimin."

"Hyung's sorry. Please forgive me, Jimin, please," Hoseok cried.

Jimin quickly took Hoseok's hands and pulled him into a hug.

"Hyung, it’s okay."

"It’s not okay, Jimin. I did you so wrong."

"Hyung, I managed to escape and save myself. I think about that incident every day, every minute. I used to think that if I saw you again, I’d want to lock you up, but as I grew up, I realized that if I were in your place, I would have done the same."

"I would have run away without helping you. I would have saved myself," Jimin said, patting Hoseok's back.

Hoseok didn't said anything and just cried. He cried his heart out till he felt out of breath.

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So much is happening here...