A Fractured Mind | 민윤기

Twenty-five

30 July 2018

    Jimin was very conflicted.

Hoseok was his friend, but after what he did to Victoria, the younger wanted nothing to do with him. And then she became friends with him. That led to a very angry Yoongi and a small Jimin stuck in the middle. He loved Yoongi, but Victoria was just friends with Hoseok now, so everything would be fine, he thought.

Even after she spent almost an entire month trying to convince them that he was better now, the older males mood still soured at the mere mention of the dancer. Then Victoria came to them and announced that Hoseok was having another party and they all had to go.

Jimin watched for the familiar twitch of Yoongi's eye and his balled-up fists. But they never came. "Have fun," the older muttered, eyes fixated on the TV.

Oh. Yoongi was in one of those moods.

The youngest saw Victoria's cheeks turn a deep shade of red, clearly embarrassed at the way he dismissed her. It was as if she didn't know how to respond and if Jimin didn't feel caught in the middle before, he definitely did now. He crept over to the older, his leg still sore but not causing a limp anymore.

"Hyung," he whispered once he was close enough. "If we don't go, then Tori-noona will—"

"Just because I'm not going doesn't mean you have to stay home, Jimin." Yoongi's voice was harsh to match his cold gaze that fell upon the younger. "We aren't attached at the hip like you clearly think we are."

Jimin recoiled as if he'd just slapped him across the face because, well, it certainly felt like it. He'd pined over this man for how many years? He'd sacrificed his entire social life all through high school and college for him for what reason? He loved that man more than he could comprehend and that was the thanks he got? That was the thanks he always got.

He stood and passed Victoria to get to the door. "Fine. I'm going to the party. Don't wait up."

"Won't," was all he said in response.

She only gazed at him with immense disappointment. "Is this your way of trying to make up for it now?" she asked quietly.

Yoongi's chest tightened at her words, but when he finally tore his attention away from the screen, she was gone. And so was Jimin.

-

"He didn't mean it, Minnie," Victoria said soothingly as they sat in her car. They were parked down the street from Hoseok's house after getting ready at her apartment, which Jimin had sulked the entire time. She was running her fingers through his hair while he leaned over the gear to rest his head on her shoulder. "Talk to me."

Jimin sucked in a breath. "He's always been like this. No matter how much I do for him, it's never enough. I always get stepped on in the end." He pursed his lips as tears welled in his eyes. "I hate it."

"As much as I would like to sit here and talk this out with you and find a solution right now, there is a very large and expensive house filled with a bunch of drunk people calling to us. We're here to have fun. Can you put Yoongi out of your mind for just a few hours?"

He nodded, and for a moment Jimin thought he could actually do it. But even when they were inside and the younger had a few drinks in him, all he could think about was his best friend. His best friend who, despite his cold exterior, really did care for him.

He tried to feel included as the party bustled around him. Luckily, Victoria didn't leave his side but instead dragged him around to various people to talk. She did most of the talking, however. As the night wore on, Hoseok joined them. He kept apologizing to Jimin, stating that he never intended to hurt anyone.