You Never Know [JIKOOK]

41. Relatives?

5:30am

The morning air hung heavy with the scent of pine and dew, a stark contrast to the rising panic in Jimin's chest.

Minju slept soundly in his arms, oblivious to the storm brewing within their family.

Jimin carefully placed Minju in the backseat of his car, the soft rise and fall of his chest a fragile reminder of the innocence he was desperately trying to protect. He tucked a warm blanket around Minju, his touch gentle, almost reverent.

As he settled into the driver's seat, a familiar dread settled in his stomach. The engine sputtered, coughed, and then died. "No, no, please not now," Jimin whispered, his voice cracking with fear. The car, his lifeline, had betrayed him.

"Son, what's wrong?" His mother's voice, laced with concern, pierced the silence.

Ten minutes had passed, and the engine remained stubbornly silent. Jimin, his heart pounding in his ears, slammed his fist against the steering wheel, a frustrated cry escaping his lips.

"Fuck!" He jumped out of the car, his movements jerky, fueled by a desperate need to escape the suffocating silence. He retrieved their luggage from the trunk, each movement a testament to his mounting anxiety. As he gently lifted Minju from the backseat, his hands trembled, his fear a tangible weight in his arms.

"W-what happened?" Mrs. Park's worried eyes met his, her voice barely a whisper.

"The car... it won't start. We'll be late for the flight," Jimin choked out, his voice barely audible above the rising tide of his emotions. He struggled to balance Minju and the suitcase, his body a vessel of raw fear.

Mrs. Park, ever the pillar of strength, quickly gathered their belongings. "What flight? Why suddenly?" Her voice, though calm, held a tremor of unease.

Jimin ignored her question, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, searching for a glimmer of hope. "Later, Mom," he mumbled, his voice a mere shadow of its usual vibrancy. He felt tears stinging his eyes, a familiar ache in his chest.

Mrs. Park sighed, her shoulders slumping with a weight of unspoken worry.

They decided to get out of the gate so they could wait for some taxis.

But suddenly a black car pulled up, its headlights piercing the pre-dawn darkness. Jimin clutched Minju tighter, his heart hammering against his ribs.

The window rolled down, revealing Hoseok's smiling face. "Hi."

"Hoseok?" Jimin's voice was a mix of surprise and relief. He couldn't fathom why Hoseok would be here at this hour. "What are you doing here?"

Hoseok's smile faltered as he noticed the suitcases and the sleeping child in Jimin's arms. "Just came from Seoul Hospital," he said, his voice a soothing balm in the midst of the chaos. "Where are you heading?"

Jimin swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He could ask Hoseok for help, couldn't he? He trusted Hoseok, they had been friends since childhood. "We're going to the airport," he said hesitantly.

Hoseok's brow furrowed with concern. "Why?" He asked, as he proceeded to get out of the driver seat and open the passenger and back seat for them. "Come in," he said, his voice firm yet gentle, sensing Jimin's hesitation. He didn't want to pry, to force Jimin to reveal his secrets.

Jimin and his mother get in the car. Jimin was in the passenger seat while Mrs. Park was on the backseat, carrying the sleeping Minju.

Hoseok starts the engine and starts to ride. Their ride was silent with tension Hoseok didn't know the reason. Jimin was still quiet, he was sitting on the passenger sit with worry and fear on his face.