Finest Jin

Inventory

I had texted Minho my new address. While I was at it, I sent it to Jin as well, just in case. It had been nearly a week since the dinner out. Not a word had come from Jin. Jimin assured me that their crazy practice schedule had them worn out and not leaving much time for anything else. On the Sunday off, Jimin had promised to come visit. He showed up in the early afternoon, the much missed Taehyung in tow. We hadn't even seen him since his return until now. He had sent a driver to pick up his pooch and went from jet lag to comeback rehearsals. 

Atticus barrelled into Tae like a cannonball. 

"You got taller!" Taehyung commented. 

"We missed you so much! Come in! Come in!" I got a hug in passing before the children whisked him into the apartment, giving him the grand tour. Cher came to hug Jimin. I caught her eye and shooed her away.

"How was your week? You looked wiped."

He stretched.

"Just like the old trainee days. 8am to 10pm. Thank goodness for weekends...well, Sundays, at least."

"It's been driving me crazy all week, Jimin. It may be none of my business, but I have to ask; what had Bang Si-Hyuk so angry? He hauled you guys out of there in a hurry."

Jimin stretched, then slouched onto a stool.

"Jin-Hyung."

I sat down, facing him.

"And me?" 

"No, Noona, not at all." I could have cried with relief at this. "It was the Celebrity Blind Date contract. Apparently Divas' family had some involvement in sponsorship of the show. And got far too demanding as far as limitations go on how Jin-Nim was handled on set." He settled his elbows on the table, gesturing with his hands to help explain. "See, we are contracted to BigHit. But, BigHit can sell limited rights to us for certain projects. For example, when we are in America, we are handled by Sony. They determine what we do, how we are promoted, stuff like that." I nodded, so he continued. "Well, the company contracting Jin-Hyung for the tv series allowed restrictions placed that were very limiting and, in our managers' mind; abusive. Jin-Hyungs' phone was taken from him, he was confined to the hotel for most of the time, and when he was brought out for promotions, proper security was not in place. We aren't trainees anymore, and certainly not children. Such constraints are unnecessary. Jin tried to endure it, but when he was able to use a phone call," here Jimin laughed without humour, "Sounds like prison," he mumbled under his breath, "Jin was able to call one of our bodyguards and alert him to the situation, through careful hints. Bang PD-Nim immediately went to retrieve him and the company didn't want to disclose Jin-Hyungs' location. Lawyers were called... The whole thing is a mess. Bottom line is; there will be no side projects for some time. Tae just finished filming. Jungkook was supposed to do a modelling gig in Japan but now it can only be done here in Seoul and with BigHit authorized photographers. He isn't taking any risks with us now." Tae entered the kitchen, flanked by my two littlest ones. Jimin smiled at them. "We have a comeback to focus on anyway." 

My head was reeling. This was a lot to digest. All contact had been cut. Not just to me. I was rewinding in my head, trying to discern if the ice over had occurred at a hint from Jin or from an assumption on my part. I was terrified to consider that it might be the latter. Had I destroyed the best thing that had ever happened to me over miscommunication?

Cher had come to collect Jimin. He stood up, excusing himself. 

"Noona, he wasn't trying to cut you off. He had no phone."

I was deep in thought. 

"What about Diva?"

Jimin shrugged.