Taste Of Fate|| Yoonmin

||Twenty Five||

A week had passed since the incident at the conference, and the wound was still raw. Jimin had retreated into a shell, his world reduced to the confines of his apartment. The silence was deafening, a constant reminder of the love he had lost, or perhaps, was losing.

Then, one evening, as he was preparing dinner, there was a knock at the door. Heart pounding, he opened it to find Yoongi standing on the doorstep, Chaewon by his side. The sight of them together was a physical blow.

Can we come in?" Yoongi asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Jimin stepped aside, allowing them to enter. Chaewon made herself comfortable on the couch, while Yoongi stood awkwardly by the door.

Jimin's eyes were glued to Yoongi, desperate for any sign, a whisper, anything. "It's nothing between me and Chaewon, Jimin," Jimin wanted to hear but nothing like that happen and Yoongi next words make Jimin heart shattered.

Yoongi's next words were an executioner's blow. "We're new here, Jimin. I was hoping you'd let us stay with you for a while," he suggested, his tone as cold as the winter wind. The 'us' hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the 'we' they once shared. The love that had been their cornerstone was crumbling, brick by brick.

Chaewon was there, a vibrant presence, her smile a stark contrast to the storm raging within Jimin. She was everything Yoongi claimed he wasn't, genuine and bright. In her, Jimin saw the reason for Yoongi's callous detachment, a painful realization that cut deeper than any physical wound.

A lump solidified in Jimin's throat, a foreign object lodged in his chest. He wanted to scream, to fight, to reclaim what was rightfully his. But the words died in his throat, choked by the weight of his powerlessness. He was a king dethroned, replaced by a stranger in his own kingdom.

"Of course," Jimin managed, a forced smile plastered on his face. It was a surrender, a silent acknowledgment of his defeat. Yoongi noticed the trembling in his voice, the mask slipping, but offered no lifeline. He was a conqueror, basking in the aftermath of his victory.

Chaewon's smile widened, a triumphant glint in her eye. "I'm so glad, Jimin. I was worried you might be uncomfortable," she said, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. Jimin forced a laugh, a hollow echo in the room. He had lost everything, and now, he was expected to be the gracious host to the architects of his downfall.

The weight of the world settled on Jimin's shoulders. He was a ghost in his own life, watching as his love story was rewritten with a cruel and indifferent pen.

Jimin's voice, barely a whisper, trailed off as he turned away. "You... you guys can make yourselves at home. Don't worry about me. I'll bring you something to eat," he managed, his back stiff as he fled towards the kitchen.

Yoongi and Chaewon were left alone, their gazes locking in a silent conversation. A flicker of something, a complex interplay of emotions, passed between them, a secret language comprehensible only to the two of them.

Jimin eventually returned, bearing a tray laden with food and steaming mugs of ginger tea. He set the tray down between Yoongi and Chaewon, his gaze flickering between the two of them.

 Unable to tear his eyes away, Jimin sat across from them, his own meal untouched. His eyes, filled with a silent plea, were locked onto Yoongi's, searching for any sign, any acknowledgment.

 But Yoongi, with a cold indifference, seemed determined to ignore the storm brewing in Jimin's eyes.

The awkward silence stretched between the three of them, a tangible tension filling the air. Chaewon, sensing the undercurrent, broke the ice with a forced smile. "So, how did you two meet?" Her question was a tentative step into the unknown, a way to fill the void while subtly probing the dynamics between Yoongi and Jimin.

Jimin's hand tightened around his fork, his eyes darting between Chaewon and Yoongi. He was bracing himself for a response, a confirmation of his worst fears. Yoongi, however, remained impassive, his expression a mask of indifference.

Yoongi's gaze flickered momentarily towards Jimin before settling on Chaewon. A forced smile tugged at his lips as he responded, "It's a long story. We've been friends for years." His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion, as if he were reciting a well-rehearsed script.

Jimin's heart pounded in his chest. The casual 'we've been friends' hung in the air, a stark contrast to the intense connection they once shared. He felt like a ghost, watching his life unfold from a distance.

Chaewon nodded, her smile widening. "Well, you two seem to have a strong bond," she said, her voice laced with a subtle undertone of possessiveness. Jimin's grip on his fork tightened further. He could see the calculation in Chaewon's eyes, a silent challenge thrown down.

I'm interested in your thoughts about this story. Do you think the space between Yoongi and Jimin will increase because of Chaewon, or is there something else going on that you've picked up on?