A Fractured Mind | 민윤기

Twenty

7 July 2018

After getting the job at Yongin Psychiatric Hospital as a social worker, Victoria decided to help Yoongi get a job of his own. She offered the same to Jimin, but the younger only shrugged and said he didn't want one. That made the older two a bit weary, but they let it go because it was Jimin.

Since his major was composition and she had some connections—Vernon's friend Mingyu's father was in the music business—she thought she would hook him up with an externship that would definitely lead to a higher position with Yoongi's genius brain and talent.

She had just finished a meeting with the man who agreed to let Yoongi in after hearing about him and was walking out of the BigHit Entertainment building when she spotted a very familiar face. A face she did not want to see ever again.

His eyes widened at the sight of her, face lighting up in hope. She turned to walk away down the street with brisk steps, but he followed her.

"Vic," Hoseok said in a rushed manner as he struggled to keep up with her fast pace. "Vic I'm sorry. I know I was an asshole, okay? Can we please just talk for a second?" He grabbed her arm, but she stopped and tore it away violently before facing him.

Her eyes were sharp and cold as she gazed upon him. He was still so handsome, even with the fading bruise around his left eye and the scab on his bottom lip where it had obviously been split, and that sad look in his eye touched her more than it should have, but she was still hurt. "Talk about what? How you led me on and took me out on dates and fed me god damn strawberries and turned out to be fucking multiple other people?"

Hoseok sighed heavily only stared at her as oblivious strangers passed them on either side. "Look, I admit it, okay? I'm a piece of shit and I fucked up—I get that." He took a step closer desperation coming off of him in waves. She could feel it. "Just hear me out. Please."

Victoria crossed her arms and averted her eyes. She didn't want to hear it, but she still had some feelings for the guy. "Make it quick."

"I have fucked a lot of people. A lot." She narrowed her eyes. "But I've never felt with others what I felt with you when we were fucking. It didn't even feel like fucking—it felt like we became one and all of our emotions were connected and I don't want you to think that you were just another fuck because I care about you so much." He paused to sigh as she softened. "I—I might even love you."

She was silent for awhile while she processed his words. Hoseok was a fucked up person, but he did show that he cared about her in the weeks they spent together. "I care about you, too, idiot," she responded quietly, finally meeting his sincere eyes. "But I don't think we can ever be anything but friends. Just friends. You have major commitment issues and I don't want to put myself through that."

"I always loved that about you," he said with a gentle smile. "You're so strong."

"Hoseok..."

"I know, I know." He raised his hands in retraction. "And I don't expect you to want to date me or anything, but I just really...I still want you in my life."

Victoria only smiled. Hoseok hadn't been in her life for very long, but she liked having him around. He was a nice guy aside from his poor choices in his love life. As long as she wasn't involved in that, everything would be fine.

"So, before we become friends," he said quietly, almost a bit apprehensively. "Can I have one last kiss?"

Part of her wanted to punch him in the face, but the other part wanted one, too. There were clearly still feelings there, but she was positive they would fade with time.

So instead of responding, Victoria stepped closer so their bodies were touching and touched his face lightly, bringing his lips down to kiss her. He helped by leaning down as well, hands automatically going to her cheeks, where he held them while firmly pressing his lips against hers while they stood on the crowded city street.

The ambient noise of the city around them faded while they felt each other one last time. His lips massaged hers slowly with intent. As she had already known, Hoseok was an amazing kisser, but something more emotional was behind this one. It left her satisfied as he pulled away and brushed some hair out of her face—because he always did that.

With some reluctance, her hands fell away as his did and they just smiled at each other. She had a chance to get a better look at his face. His nose had a white strip going across it horizontally.

"Yoongi busted you up pretty good," she said with a chuckle. "Is your nose broken?"

He laughed, too. "Yep. Luckily not enough to cause any deformities." Then he shrugged. "I deserved it, though."

"Well, I have to get home—"

"Unblock my number and text me, okay?" he said while backing away.

Victoria laughed and nodded. "I promise!" she called as his lean figure disappeared among the crowds. The hurt she felt had ebbed. It wasn't a good experience, but at least she gained a friend out of the whole thing.

-

Victoria got back to Jimin's place to find Yoongi watching TV with Sunset on his lap. He was stroking her fur absent-mindedly while she purred. The older had warmed up to her after a few days, saying that she was 'kinda cute'.

He turned his attention to her as the door shut. "Hey."

"I got you the job!" she yelled excitedly, not being able to hold back her excitement.

Yoongi shot up, making Sunset fall to the floor and land on her feet with a thump. "You did?"

"Yeah!"

She knew that he had wanted to be in the music business ever since his personalities were integrated. He rushed over and picked her up in his arms. "You're amazing! I could kiss you right now!" he shouted happily with that gummy smile and set her down.

They both quieted at his words. He touched his index finger behind his ear. "I mean...Thanks."

"Where's Jimin?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

"He went to see his parents. They wanted him to go over there."

Victoria faltered. "Oh. I wanted you both to be here when I said what I'm about to say, but..."
"What?"

She stared at him for a moment. "You have to promise you won't get mad."

"Depends on what it is," he said, eyes narrowed.

"Yoongi..."

"Yoongi what?"

"I am not calling you 'oppa'!"

He huffed. "Fine. But seriously, just tell me."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "Hoseok and I are friends now."

"What?" he said, immediately angry. "I told that fucker to stay away from you," he muttered darkly and passed her to reach the door.

Victoria ran over and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Stop! Let me explain." she pressed her left cheek to his back, waiting for him to relax in her embrace. "I ran into him today and he was saying that he didn't mean to hurt me and that he knows he fucked up and he just wants to be friends. That's all."

He was silent for a long time and she refused to let go. She knew he was thinking as he didn't move or even try to free his arms from her grip. It's not like she was particularly strong and she definitely wasn't stronger than him or Jimin.

"I don't like this," he mumbled. "But I can't tell you what to do, I guess."

She sighed in relief and loosened her arms. He turned around to face her seriously. "But if he so much as touches you, I'll beat him much worse than before. Don't try to stop me."

"I won't," she replied with a smile.

Yoongi and Jimin were the ones that really loved her. And that was all that she needed. All that any of them needed. Each other.