A Muse

12: Jungkook

Note to my readers:

I know this is a shorter chapter, but I just finished finals week; hang in there! We are getting into some good stuff soon, so I hope you all will enjoy it!

- Kae

***

   "Are you sure about this?" Jimin asks me for the nearly fiftieth time as we wait for my mom to pick us up from his apartment. We are sitting side by side, and Yoongi is pacing a bit away from us, talking on the phone while making aggressive gestures.

   I look over at him, and his eyes are shaded due to the oversized hat he is wearing to hide his face a bit: "I'm more than certain. My mom already knows, and she won't ask you any questions that might make you feel uncomfortable."

   He is looking at the laces of his converse as he nods along. He doesn't say anything, but he is twisting his fingers in the cloth of his shirt. I wonder if he realizes that he is doing it.

   "So..." I start gently, "why haven't you said anything about this to your friends?"

   He doesn't look at me, but he lets out a puff of a laugh, "I thought you said no uncomfortable questions."

   "I said my mom, not me," I say blatantly, offering him a smile, "I'm serious though. Why? Who does this to you?"

   I know I shouldn't be asking so many questions, but I can't stop. To finally meet the boy whose image has followed me through two years of struggles, to finally meet him and see him so physically hurt and beaten—it breaks my heart. I can only imagine what is going on in his head.

   He turns to look at me, "Yoongi knew that something was going on because he found me once before. I don't tell the others because they will worry, and they already do so much. And the who?" He stops there, pushing out a large breath from between his lips, "The who is not important."

   I want to speak. I want to ask more, to prod for answers, to help and protect him, but I stay silent. Instead, I comfort him like I would my brother. I scoot over to sit closer to him, and I wrap my arm around his shoulders, pulling him close to me. He pauses, but he responds by leaning his temple against my shoulder. I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding, and we sit there together.

   "Do you think he is calling all the guys?" Jimin says after a stretch of silence, and his eyes are focused on Yoongi who has been off and on the phone the whole time we have been outside.

   "Maybe, but I don't know him very well. I do think maybe they should know. You are friends with them all, but it is your business. I won't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, but I'll be here for you."

   I want him to know that I am here because it is the least I can do. He has helped me without knowing it after all; just the photo and the memory of him was an escape for me because it allowed me to dream of him, to hope.

   I give his shoulder a small squeeze when I see my mom's sedan pull around the corner. I raise my other hand and wave at her. She parks the car along the sidewalk, and she races toward Jimin and I. She doesn't ask any questions, but she crouches in front of us and pulls the both of us in a hug. I notice that she is trying to be gentle, and I love her more for it.

   "Mom," I say, "This is Park Jimin."

Jimin is hiding his face, but my mom touches his chin softly. He flicks his eyes to her, and she gives him a teary-eyed smile.

   "It's nice to meet you, and you are welcome with us whenever," she tells him.

   Jimin's bottom lip starts to wobble, but he bites it between his teeth. He opens his arms slowly, and he returns her hug as best as he can. I don't know what made my mom do it, but it must have been her motherly instincts to care and protect.

   Yoongi is standing a bit away, the phone to his ear, but he is watching us. He puts a hand in his pocket, and he dips his head toward me, his body curving slightly; at first I thought it was a nod, but it seems more like a small bow. You think you're a hero? You think you can save him? Do you think you deserve Yoongi's respect?  I push my hands into my pockets, trying to ignore the perspiration that is pooling in my palms.

   I have to close my eyes to will the thoughts away before I nod back at Yoongi. He hangs up his call and puts his phone back into his pocket as he walks over to where the three of us are: mom and Jimin are talking quietly to each other after their hug.

   We all stand together when Jimin notices Yoongi approaching, and my mom walks right up to Yoongi and pulls him into a hug. His eyes go as wide as mine. He gives a smile before returning my mom's hug, and she says something to him though I can't hear it. I am in shock because the Yoongi I know as intimidating is being so soft with my mom. She pulls away and reaches up to cup his face between her hands, and I can tell she is smiling at him. My mother is so bright and kind, I think to myself.

   Yoongi and her walk back to us side by side, and Yoongi puts a hand on Jimin's head, "Jimin-ah, don't worry about needing help sometimes. Even Mrs. Jeon told me that you will be taken care of."

   Jimin nods, and he hugs Yoongi, "Thank you for trying so hard, hyung. It'll get better."

   Yoongi doesn't reply, but he returns Jimin's hug before stepping away, "I'm only a phone call away," he says, and he looks at me as well.

   I bow my head to Yoongi, "I will do all I can, Yoongi hyung."

   Yoongi nods and turns to my mom, "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jeon Kyung Mi. Thank you."

   He fists his hands at his sides, and he bows low at the waist, eyes on the ground. My mom reaches out, and she touches his shoulder. He looks up, and she gives him a smile.

   "He will be safe with us," she says to him.

   He gives her a small smile before straightening, and he waves to all of us as he makes his way back to his motorcycle. We watch him as he goes, and my mom turns to smile at Jimin and I.

   "Who wants pizza? I think we can all use the comfort of some carbs," she says to us, and she ushers us to the car. I smile at the way my mom tries to lighten the mood, probably so Jimin doesn't feel unwelcome. Jimin actually smiles, but he winces because of the split in his lip.

"Pizza sounds good, Mrs. Jeon, thank you," he says to her as he slides into the backseat. Instead of taking the front seat, I sit next to Jimin in the back. He gives me a look, but I brush it off. I just can't bring myself to let him be alone right now.

   "We have to bring the pizza home though, mom," I say to her, and she starts the car. She gives me a look through the rear-view mirror that has both Jimin and I chuckling. Jimin sucks in a breath that makes his laugh seem choppy, and I know he is hurting.

   "We'll have a movie night at home with the pizza," she says, and she throws me another mom look that says I'm-Not-A-Fool before she puts the car in gear, and we drive away from Jimin's apartment complex.