𝙐𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 ❤ (𝙹𝚒𝚔𝚘𝚘𝚔 💜)

21) He's Still an Idiot, But...

Jungkook’s pov

He works.

Jimin works a part-time job.

In a café.

I should’ve said something. Anything. A proper response, at least. But the moment those words left his mouth, my brain just… froze.

Because for the past few weeks, I’d built up this version of him in my head. One who was careless. Flighty. Always laughing with friends. Always too carefree to care about consequences.

But that wasn’t real, was it?

He was dragging himself through lectures, barely awake. Stumbling half-dead into class with dark circles under his eyes. Not because he was wasting his nights partying, but because he was working — probably standing on his feet for hours, taking orders, faking smiles, going home with pocket change and tired bones.

And the worst part?

I was too blind to notice. Worse — I judged him for it.

I rubbed the back of my neck, staring at his smaller frame walking beside me. His shoulders were stiff. Still guarded. And I didn’t blame him. Not anymore.

What kind of idiot offers to walk someone to work after making their life hell?

But I had to. I don’t even know why. I just… had to.

Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was this strange ache in my chest every time I see him break a little more — while trying so hard to hold himself together. Maybe it was just the way he looked at me when he said he couldn’t ask his brother for help. Like there was a secret weight he was carrying alone. And for some insane reason, I wanted to carry some of it with him.

I glanced at him again.

He was quiet. Not avoiding me. Just walking. But there was something peaceful about this — walking side by side. Like we were almost normal.

I don’t remember the last time I felt something so… light.

And yet, I couldn’t shake the heavy swirl of emotions inside me — guilt, anger, concern. A touch of something more dangerous I couldn’t name.

I hated seeing him like this. Pale. Tired. Hollow-eyed. Drinking coffee like it was his only lifeline.

He shouldn’t be working this hard. He shouldn’t be starving himself and calling it survival.

He shouldn’t be alone in this.

I should’ve asked more. I should’ve noticed.

I should’ve known.

But now that I do know — there’s no going back.

I’ll fix this.

I don’t know how yet. Or when. But I will.

Even if it means dragging him kicking and screaming into a better life. Even if he hates me for it.

Because somewhere between the fights and the silences, Jimin became something more than just a past I kept trying to run from.

He became the reason I started looking forward to going home.

Even if that home is filled with awkward silences, locked doors, and a shared dinner table we barely speak across.

Still… he’s there.

And maybe — just maybe — I want him to stay.

.

.

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Jimin's pov

I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open as quietly as possible, unsure why I still tried to sneak in like this wasn’t technically my place too now. Maybe because it didn’t feel like it. Not yet.