he paints with lies ❆ kookmin

9 • 아홉

✭

❁ཻུ۪۪⸙͎.'◦• ⊱›────── January 20th 2020

Jimin sat in an empty off call room, writing down notes for his upcoming class─he would be teaching a cardiology class on the upcoming Monday. He had just went over it for the second time when his phone buzzed in his borrowed doctor's gown. Hoseok's name flashed on the screen, and he started walking towards his room while answering.

Apparently they were done, and Hoseok wanted Jimin to come over for the consultation. Perhaps now, they could both agree on Jungkook being a mythomaniac, and find the underlying condition. It was a strange feeling─being this uncertain. Jimin was used to trusting his own judgement fully.

As Jimin reached the office, he knocked lightly before stepping inside. Jungkook was sitting comfortably in the couch opposite Hoseok, who had his notebook in hand.

"Jungkook, would you mind waiting outside? This shouldn't take too long," Hoseok told him, his smile reassuring as usual.

Jungkook gave him a nod and stood up. He lingered for a second as he passed by Jimin, giving him a quick, small smile. As Jungkook stepped out of the room, Jimin let his own smile fade. He could not help but be affected─one of the reasons why he decided not to practice medicine himself, but teach it. Of course, to teach it you need work experience, but Jimin had only done as much as he had to.

"Jimin-ah..." Hoseok began, shaking his head. Jimin gulped and went to sit where Jungkook had just been seated. He fiddled with his coat sleeves as he felt nervous about Hoseok's observations on Jungkook.

"I don't think I've ever met such an interesting person. How in the world did you find him?" Hoseok said, making Jimin snap his head up to look into Hoseok's sparkling eyes. At least now, he could be sure that he had his help.

"That's Jeon Jungkook, as in, the son of the founders of 토끼아 Holographics," Jimin blushed. "He's not the typical mythomaniac, and I think you noticed, right? I asked him not to lie to you, but you'll never know. He's such a good liar, so aware and able to develope his skills. I couldn't see what underlying condition he has, but I'd guess it's Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or... do you think it's possible that he's a- a psychopath?"

Jimin looked at him─after his ramble─with such sadness in his eyes, that Hoseok walked over to him and hugged him.

"No, Jimin-ah, I don't think he is. From what I've heard, and seen, he isn't. Remember, you told me how he reacted to you finding out he tried to lie. That didn't make it seem like it at all. Besides, I'm more on it being an OCD or a symptom coming with insecurity as a child. He's had it for long though, so, if it's an OCD it's bound to have rooted. I'm surprised that he didn't lie during the session though."

Jimin looked up at Hoseok, eyebrows raised. "You're sure he didn't lie? I mean, he looked sincere when he said he wouldn't lie, but he struggled with it just yesterday."

"Oh, he did struggle alright─quite a few times─but I'm sure what he told me right after was the truth," Hoseok said with a smile, and Jimin could not help but smile back. Relief flooded through him, and his heartbeat slowed down.

They discussed what they both thought after having spoken to Jungkook, and decided that they would have Jungkook be treated if he wanted to. That way, his underlying condition could be fully confirmed.

That Jungkook was a mythomaniac, they were certain of. They also agreed that Jimin would visit his father to prepare a statement to the judge, and possibly solve things with the buyer of Jin's painting, who filed the lawsuit.