Bubble games

sixteen

Jimin has fallen asleep somehow, but one can tell by his clenched fists and his frowning eyebrows that he is still furious. Against Yoongi, for never coming. Against himself, for always forgiving him.

The orange-haired student distantly hears his window open and manages to open his eyes, turning in the direction of the creaking sound. A small silhouette is noiselessly sneaking into his room. For a split second, Jimin feels scared, but he quickly makes out Yoongi's features and relaxes a little.

"You're late," he whispers, though he is not able to sound as irritated as he wants. Yoongi does not answer and looks for Jimin's sleepy eyes, faintly smiling in the darkness. "Why didn't you come through the door?"

"I didn't want to wake your mother up."

Jimin does not let him say anything else and throws himself at him. He has hesitated between slapping him and kissing him, but he ends up wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him onto the bed. Yoongi responds to his embrace, holding the younger one close to his chest. "I've been waiting for you all night, hyung."

"I'm sorry, sunshine. I was busy."

"You're always busy, lately," Jimin pouts, annoyed. "It's like you keep running away from me. It's like you don't love me anymore." Yoongi stays quiet. "Are you getting tired of me?"

"Of course not, you bubblehead. How could I?" He ruffles the boy's hair and continues, "I just think you need to see more of your friends, and maybe less of me."

"W–Why?" Jimin stutters. He does not like the turn their conversation has just taken.

"Because it's selfish of me to keep you all to myself. And because they're better for you than I am."

"It's not true. You're good for me. You're the best for me."

"No, I'm... I'm bad, Jimin." Yoongi sighs and pushes his friend back a little. Jimin looks up at him and frowns, puzzled. "I shouldn't be there, clinging onto you. I shouldn't keep on weighing on you. It's not fair."

"But I want you by my side. I want you with me."

"You shouldn't. I'm not right for you. You're miserable, just because of me. And the worst is that you don't even see it."

"It's not true!" Jimin repeats, raising his voice a little. "I like you very much. I'm only miserable when you're not with me." Jimin hesitates. Should he tell Yoongi? Should he just admit he is in love with him? "You promised to stay with me forever."

There is a silence. To Jimin, this silence seems to last eternally. It is a heavy one. He is not touching Yoongi anymore–his best friend is sitting on the side of the bed, facing the open window. "Jimin-ah," he finally says. "Do you remember when I said I'd be there as long as you needed me?" He does not wait for an answer. "Well. I think this time has come. I think you don't need me anymore." He turns around and whispers, "My work here is done."

Jimin's heart misses a beat. He is not sure he has heard his friend well. He is not sure to understand. What work? And what does he mean, he does not need him anymore? Of course he needs him. He'll be needing him forever.

Jimin wants to say something–anything, so Yoongi stops talking–but he cannot. His lips are sealed. His eyes alone are wide open, ready to let tears gush out and wet his soft cheeks. He sniffles and slightly shakes his head, as Yoongi sadly smiles in front of him, raising his head to touch his chin.

"You've got wonderful friends. You're opening up a bit more to them every day. They take such good care of you, and I'm so grateful they do."

Why would he talk about Jimin's friends? Why do they even matter? Jimin does not care about them right now. He cares about nothing, provided that Yoongi just stops talking. But he just cannot make him stop.