YN blinked, a tear threatening to fall, but she quickly wiped it away. "How many questions do you have?" she asked, trying to mask the hurt she was feeling.
Jimin's eyes darkened, his hands trembling slightly. "Are you going to leave me?" His voice broke as he asked the question, unable to hide the vulnerability in his tone.
Before YN could respond, Jimin's father's words lingered in the air. YN let out a soft sigh and turned to Jimin. "Before you ask me that question, why didn't you tell me about your mom threatening you? Why didn't you tell me that you're a scribbler?" Her voice wavered, but she held his gaze.
Jimin's expression faltered, his breath catching. "Muffin, she's playing with your family," he said, his voice low and filled with pain. "She can do anything. I thought I could sort it out, first I need to prove to her that there's nothing between us so she won't go after your parents. I want to protect you and your family. I wanted to tell you, but I feel embarrassed about my situation. I couldn't do anything I wanted in my life, and I kept pushing you away. From the beginning, I thought it would be better for you. But when you started ignoring me, I couldn't hold back anymore. That's when I hugged you in the library. I want you, Muffin. I want you in my life."
His voice was trembling, barely holding it together as he reached for her hand, his grip tightening. "Tell me, are you going to leave me?"
YN's eyes filled with tears, and she took a deep breath before answering, her voice breaking. "Yes."
Jimin's eyes widened, the words piercing through him like a blade. He stepped back, his eyes searching hers for any sign of a joke, but when he saw the seriousness in her expression, his breath hitched. "You're joking, right?" His voice cracked, and his eyes welled with tears. "Muffin, no... don't leave me."
YN shook her head, her heart breaking. "No," she whispered, feeling a lump in her throat.
Jimin, in disbelief, took a step closer, his arms wrapping around her tightly as if trying to keep her from slipping away. "Muffin, why do you want to leave? I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I won't hide anything from you anymore."
She pulled away slightly, her heart heavy with pain. "I need to leave, Jimin," she said softly, her words almost too painful to say out loud.
Jimin tightened his grip around her, refusing to let her go. "No, Muffin, I can't live without you," he murmured desperately. "I'll do anything. I won't let you leave. I can't... I can't let you go."
"Why didn't you tell me that you were a scribbler?" she asked, her voice trembling. "When did you know that I was Doll?"
Jimin's face softened with regret. "I knew because of your diary," he said, his voice quiet and filled with sorrow. "I found it, and I wanted to get closer to you. I thought I could use the diary, but when I opened it, I saw that you were talking to me as Doll. I didn't tell you because I wanted you to love Jimin. You used to show pity on Scribbler, you never loved him. You loved me, and you're still in love with me, not him."
YN's eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, "Leave me, Jimin. You know how much I cried? Do you know how vulnerable I felt?"
Jimin cupped her face gently, his eyes filled with understanding and sorrow. "I know, because I was there with you. I came to your home at night. I felt it too, Muffin." His voice was full of pain as he held her face in his hands, brushing away the tears that fell.
"I'm sorry, Muffin," he whispered, his forehead resting against hers. "I'm so sorry for everything. Please don't leave me."
The weight of the moment hung between them, the silence stretching as both of them tried to process their emotions.
YN closed her eyes for a moment, taking in his words, letting the warmth of his embrace sink in. She wanted to believe him, to trust him, but the hurt was still fresh, the confusion still swirling in her mind.
"I'm not sure what to do, Jimin," she said softly, her voice breaking slightly. "I feel so lost right now. Everything's so complicated. My parents... they're still upset with me, and you... you've been hiding so much from me. I don't know how to trust you."
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