STOIC [Jikook]

4

Jimin noticed Jungkook. His eyes didn't sparkle much as usual. Something might have happened. He thought that he'd ask Jungkook about it. So, he called Jungkook to a park nearby. He wants to know what's bothering Jungkook.

"Dove, you have to speak. Why do you keep everything to yourself?" Jimin asks, concern lacing his voice. He's used to calling Jungkook 'Dove' and can't just stop.

Jungkook stays silent, his gaze fixed on something distant. The usual sparkle in his eyes is gone, replaced by a cold, hollow look. Jimin's heart aches to see him like this. He knows something is terribly wrong.

"What do you want me to say, Jimin?" Jungkook finally asks, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you want to hear me say something?" He looks straight into Jimin's eyes.

"You don't look happy. Did something happen?"

"Happy? I'm always happy when I'm with you." He sighs, a deep, resigned sound. "Stop asking me weird questions."

"Weird?! I know something is going on. Why won't you say anything to me?!" Jimin cries out, his frustration bubbling over. He's done with feeling helpless. Jungkook is struggling alone, and he won't let anyone in. He bottles up everything. Jimin feels useless. He can't help him. He can't do anything. He knows that Jungkook is hiding something.

"Is it because of your grades?" Jimin asks again. Jungkook scored a bit less on the test this time. But it wasn't too bad.

"No."

"Then what is it? Please tell me. I'm here to listen. We'll try to solve it—"

"Alright," Jungkook cuts him off, his face a mask of emptiness. "Where should I start from?" he lets out a sigh. "My mom... She passed away when I was young. I barely remember her. She never cared about me, so I stopped caring too. And my father? Always busy, always somewhere else. He only talks when he wants to complain about something. I've been alone since I was ten. Can you even imagine that? A ten-year-old kid left to figure it all out on his own. After Mom passed, Dad didn't even check on me. It was just me," he takes a deep breath and continues, "I had to keep telling myself everything would be okay, that someday I'd find someone—someone to share everything with, someone to play with, someone who actually cared. But none of that ever happened. It was just me against the world. And you know what? I got used to it. I didn't need anyone. I've learned to like my own company."

Jungkook's words cut through Jimin like a knife. He's speechless. How long has Jungkook been suffering? Since he was ten? Humans are indeed cruel. Jimin didn't mean to push Jungkook, but he was frustrated too. Frustrated because Jungkook doesn't say anything. He just stays silent. Jimin never thought Jungkook was going through this much pain.

Jungkook adds his voice without any emotion. "What are you going to do now? Bring back my mother who died? Tell my father that I've been alone? Are you going to make everything right? Can you make it right?"

"I'm sorry—" Jimin starts, but his throat tightens, and he can't finish his sentence.

"For what? It's not like you did something," Jungkook mumbles, looking down at his hands.

Jimin reaches out, grabbing Jungkook's hands and caressing them softly. His hands were cold like ice, "Look at me, Dove."

Jungkook slowly lifts his head, meeting Jimin's gaze with tear-filled doe eyes. "Oh, my baby," Jimin whispers, pulling Jungkook into his embrace. He wants to take away all his pain, to shield him from the world. If only he had known, he would have done everything to protect him.

"I'm sorry, Jimin," Jungkook sobs, his body shaking with each word. "I didn't want to be sad, and—"

Jimin stops him, gently placing a finger on his lips. "You did great, my pretty Dove. It wasn't your fault." Jungkook's cries intensify, his anguish pouring out.

"I was all alone," Jungkook hiccups, clutching Jimin closer. "And my father doesn't even look at me. What did I ever do to these people?" Jungkook sniffles, trying to stop crying.

Jimin's heart breaks at Jungkook's pain. He rubs his back, to offer some comfort. "You don't need them. You have me. I'll stay," Jimin vows, his voice firm with determination. He will stay for Jungkook. He will take care of him. He'll make sure Jungkook is never alone, never hurting again. He will be the light in Jungkook's darkness, the one person who never leaves.

********

Jungkook's face is blotchy, his eyes red and puffy from crying, and his nose a bright red. Despite the tears, his lips retain their pretty pink hue, and even in this state, he looks heartbreakingly beautiful. He sits quietly, staring out at the trees and watching the distant figures of people walking by.

"I should go now. You have a flight tomorrow, so you should get enough sleep," Jungkook says, managing a small bunny smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm fine. You're more important—"

"I know, I know. It's okay. Come back soon. I'll be waiting for you," he replies with a light, almost fragile, giggle.

"Aren't you a bit too cute?" Jimin grins, trying to lighten the mood. "When I get back, I'll come to you first."

"Yeah?" Jungkook glances at him with a playful smile that barely masks the sadness in his eyes.

Jimin nods and stands up. "Shall we go?"

"I'll go alone. It's okay," Jungkook assures him. Jimin has a flight tomorrow, and Jungkook doesn't want to be a further burden. He already feels he's shared too much of his sorrow.

"No, I'll drop you—"

"Jimin, I'm not ten. I'll be alright," Jungkook says firmly, though there's a slight tremor in his voice.

Jimin hates the number ten now. Jungkook didn't deserve any of this pain. Reluctantly, he nods.

Jungkook steps closer and envelops Jimin in a hug. Jimin hugs him back tightly, his wide smile contrasting with the sorrow in his heart. When they part, Jungkook looks at Jimin one last time before walking away. Jimin stands there, waving until Jungkook fades into the distance.

"Text me when you get home!" Jimin shouts after him, feeling a bit embarrassed when he notices people looking at him. He waves again, his heart aching with a mix of love and concern.

Jimin knows he has a flight tomorrow. He is going on a trip with his parents for a week, and he's already informed his teachers and principal. He can't wait to return with gifts for Jungkook, and perhaps, finally confess his feelings. He had wanted to do it today, but the timing felt wrong. Jungkook had been through too much already. Jimin sighs deeply, running his fingers through his hair. Sometimes he wishes he had told Jungkook about his feelings sooner, but he knows it's not that simple.

As he turns to head home, he can't shake the image of Jungkook's tear-streaked face from his mind. He needs to rest, but his thoughts are filled with Jungkook and how he can make things better for him.

********

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