~Park Jimin~ "A 22-year-old boy residing in a modest village nestled in Busan, shares his home with his devoted mother, their lives coloured by the stark realities of poverty."
~Min Yoongi~ "In the heart of South Korea, Min Yoongi was not a typical...
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The next day, Yoongi found himself walking down the hallway again when he saw Jimin in the distance. Jimin was talking to Taehyung, laughing about something, looking completely at ease. Normally, Yoongi would just walk past and ignore everything, but today, something pulled him in.
He couldn’t figure out why, but he found himself slowing down, watching Jimin. And when Jimin caught his eye, he waved, that smile of his lighting up his whole face.
Yoongi wasn’t prepared for it. For a moment, he felt his heart skip.
What is this? Yoongi thought, feeling slightly confused by his reaction.
Jimin waved again, clearly expecting him to come over, but Yoongi hesitated. He could feel the pull, the temptation to go talk to him, but his mind screamed at him to walk away. He had made a promise to himself—he wouldn’t get too close, not to Jimin, not to anyone.
Jimin walked over to him, still smiling. “Hey, Yoongi Hyung! How’s it going?”
Yoongi rubbed the back of his neck, trying to act casual. “It’s fine.”
Jimin didn’t seem to mind Yoongi’s cold response. “You know, you should really play the piano more often,” he said, his eyes bright. “You’re really good.”
Yoongi raised an eyebrow, surprised by the compliment. “You just said that yesterday.”
Jimin laughed lightly, his eyes sparkling. “I know, but it’s still true.”
Yoongi found himself smiling without even realizing it. He quickly cleared his throat, trying to hide it. “Yeah, well… maybe I’ll play more often.”
Jimin smiled again. “I hope you do. You’re talented.”
Yoongi nodded, then glanced around, feeling awkward. He didn’t like being this close to someone. “Alright, I’ve got to go,” he said, turning to leave.
“See you later, Yoongi Hyung!” Jimin called after him, still smiling.
Yoongi walked away quickly, trying to push aside the warmth that was spreading through him. He knew he had to keep his distance, but a small part of him didn’t want to. The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. He had always kept to himself, never letting anyone in, and now here he was, talking to Jimin like it was nothing.
But Yoongi knew he couldn’t let things go any further. He wouldn’t let himself get attached. He wouldn’t repeat the mistakes he had made in the past. It was safer this way.
Still, as he walked away, he couldn’t help but feel like he was missing something. Something he wasn’t ready to face.
______
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon when Jimin sat on a bench in a nearby park, his gaze fixed on the children running around and playing with their parents. The sounds of laughter and joy filled the air, and for a moment, Jimin just watched, feeling a little out of place.
Living alone in Seoul wasn’t easy. His mother lived in Busan, and even though she did everything she could to support him, Jimin knew that they both struggled.
His scholarship covered his tuition, but there were still the daily expenses—food, rent, transport—and he didn’t want to rely too much on his mother. She worked hard enough as it was, and Jimin didn’t want to burden her any further.
That’s why he had been thinking about finding a part-time job. He wanted to help out, even if it was just a little. He couldn’t stand the idea of his mother working so hard while he sat idly by. It wasn’t much, but if he could at least contribute to the household, maybe things wouldn’t feel so heavy for her.
He sighed, looking at the kids running happily, their parents cheering them on. Jimin envied their carefree joy. He missed the simpler days when things were easier, before all the worries piled up. He wanted that kind of happiness, but he also knew that it wasn’t something he could have right now.
“Maybe I can start looking for jobs this week,” he thought, pulling his jacket a little tighter around him. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to do whatever it took to make life a little easier for his mother.
Jimin sat quietly on the park bench, his mind heavy with worries about his mother. The park was peaceful, but it was hard for him to shake off the feeling of guilt. He glanced around, lost in his thoughts, when suddenly a kind voice interrupted him.
"Hey, son," an older woman sitting beside him said, looking at him with concern. "What’s on your mind? You look tense. Did something happen?"
Jimin quickly tried to brush it off, not wanting to worry anyone. "Umm, no, Grandma, nothing happened."
But the woman didn’t seem convinced. She smiled gently and leaned in a little closer. "Come on, son, you can tell me. I can see on your face that something’s bothering you. You can tell me anything."
Jimin hesitated, feeling a little embarrassed, but he decided to open up a little. "Umm, Grandma, it’s just... I’m worried about my mother."
The woman raised an eyebrow, concerned. "What happened to her?"
Jimin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Umm, nothing really. It’s just that she’s alone in Busan, and I don’t know how she’ll manage everything without me."
The woman nodded understandingly, her expression softening. "Don’t worry, son. She’ll be alright. Mothers are very strong. They can manage anything."
Jimin gave a small smile, but his worries didn’t go away. "Yeah, I know my mom is strong, but... it’s just that I live here alone in such a big city, and she’s in a small village in Busan. I don’t want to burden her with my expenses. She’s been doing so much already for me."
The older woman placed a hand on Jimin’s shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Oh, so you’re from Busan? It’s such a nice place. I’ve been there once, a long time ago."
Jimin looked up at her, surprised by the sudden shift in the conversation. "Yeah, it’s really a nice place," he said, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he thought about his hometown.
The woman smiled kindly, seeing that Jimin seemed a little more at ease. "Well, don’t worry too much. Your mom sounds like a strong woman, and you’re doing your best. Just remember, no matter where you are, she’s proud of you, son."
Jimin nodded, feeling comforted by her words, even though his worries were far from over. "Thanks, Grandma. You’re kind."
