Pastel Palette ㅡ Taekook

fifty-four

TRIGGER WARNING
mentions of self harm
blood

Jimin goes back inside the hospital with swollen eyes and a broken heart, however, before he goes back to his friends, he goes inside the nearest restroom and splashes his face with water as many times as he could remember. He blinks a couple of times, practicing his best to smile and laugh like there's nothing wrong; like he didn't just walk out from a breakup scene with nothing but an empty chest.

He pauses for a while and stares at his reflection in the mirror. Why did he let this happen to himself? He thinks it's ironic because he goes and prances around his friends with a silly smile on his face, making them laugh their hearts out, but he couldn't even make himself happy. Here he is, confining himself inside a hospital's restroom, doing nothing but just bawling his eyes out like there's no tomorrow. He feels so alone and unwanted, but he still tries his best to put on a show ㅡ a mask. Yoongi wasn't the only one good at pretending.

"Park Jimin! Pull yourself together! You have to be strong! Don't let your guard down, you understand? Act touch enough so that the others won't see through you!" He whispers angrily to himself. It was something to persuade himself to be better ㅡ to act better. But, the words came out harsher than he had expected. It was forced, but it's better than to be a weakling in front of everybody.

It's in times like this that Jimin just wants to curl himself into a ball and isolate himself away from the entire world ㅡ from the prying eyes of people. He thinks it's better to suffer the pain all alone, than see someone else look at him with pitiful eyes. He wants to fight his own battles even if it means going alone unprepared.

He tightens his grip on the edge of the sink and he closes his eyes to focus on his breathing. He hears nothing but the sound of his blood rushing through his veins; his heart ㅡ albeit metaphorically dead ㅡ is still beating wildly inside his ribcage like a beast wanting to break free and escape. He doesn't notice that someone else had joined him inside the confines of the room, locking the door behind to give the two of them the privacy they deserve. His eyes instantly open when he feels a warm hand on his nape.

"Taehyung..." Jimin whispers shakily. Kim Taehyung, the root of everything. Jimin wants to be angry at him. He wants to scream and blame him for the broken heart Yoongi gave him. He wants to end their friendship because he was hurting; because Yoongi loves Taehyung more than he loves Jimin. But, the latter knows that it's only the pain that's talking. As much as he wants to find something ㅡ a fault, or just anything against Taehyung ㅡ there isn't one.

Sweet, precious Taehyung whom he already treated as his own brother; the only one who could tame the beast inside of him just like how he does it to Yoongi. Min Yoongi. The name still leaves a bittersweet taste on the tip of his tongue.

"Hey, Chim. You're crying. What's wrong?" He snaps out of it when he feels Taehyung's hand on his cheek, wiping a stray tear away. He looks at him, eyes searching for answers, but Jimin could only engulf the younger into the tightest hug he could possibly give. Taehyung yelps at the sudden action, but not long after, his body starts to relax under Jimin's touch.

"Just let me hug you for a while," Jimin mumbles, voice muffled as he finds Taehyung's chest comfortable enough to bury his own face there and let the warmth crawl into his skin. Taehyung doesn't pry, instead, he waits.

"Me and Yoongi broke up," Jimin starts. Taehyung stays as silent as he could, coming to terms with himself that it's better to react after Jimin could finish whatever he has to say. "He- he wasn't really in love with me. He's in love with someone else. I knew but I endured and stayed by his side in case he'd learn to love me, too. But right now? I really don't know what else to think anymore or who else to blame. I don't even have the heart to confront the person he's been in love with for years because he's clueless about everything!" He hears Taehyung sigh and slowly pulls away from the embrace. He lifts Jimin's chin up so that the two of them could look at each other face to face.