In Front Of You - Jikook

-thirty-seven/finale-

(Epilogue pt.2)

(Flashback continued)

After a night-long of calling Jin, he finally understood the surprising news. There was no denying that every detail hurt him, but he understood and just ended the call when he got the answers he needed.

When he left the country, Jimin never bothered or even entertained the idea of dating anyone. He was motivated to welcome Jungkook when he comes home and he stuck to the idea of him. However, when Jungkook didn't come home last month, Jimin felt hopeless and lost, he waited for this long and the other didn't come home after 2 years as promised. There was a girl that asked him out for a few dates, met her at the movies and they started getting closer over time.

"He still misses you, you know?" Jin stated and yawned on the other side of the screen. It was early morning there. "But he couldn't just wait forever for you. She's a nice girl too, keeps him occupied outside of work. Don't be too mad at him for trying to cope."

Those words haunted him all night, keeping him restless and...regretful.

He hated himself that he didn't go home when 2 years was finished. He was selfish to want to stay in New York and leaving Jimin clueless. It was selfish for him to even be jealous and mad, so he refrained himself from doing so. All this time, he's been selfish in taking everything that he wanted and expected the one he loves to adjust for him. Jungkook thought that he was cruel towards Jimin, even before he left.

Making a decision that night, a flight wasn't booked. He decided to reside in his apartment, become a freelancer for some projects and a few companies as he waited, and waited and waited. He watched Jimin as he progressively gets comfortable with the spoken girl, then after a few months, he heard that they ended things and he was seeing another one after another few months.

Jin was keeping him updated with everything going on as he kills time. Debating once whether to completely just stay there or not, he knew all those years that his heart will always stay in Busan as his home. He wants to go home. No, he had to go home.

He did see a few people, tried going on a few dates but none of them worked out. Or more obviously, none of them made him feel the way Jimin did. All the love was still lingering and despite dulling the idea of it for him, it was still real.

So on the night of New Years, he didn't bother going to Times Square for the countdown. He felt satisfied watching it on TV alone in the comfort of his own home. As he cleans up his dinner, his phone started ringing. Wiping his hands, he checked and saw Jin calling him.

"Hey Jungkook, Happy New Year." His bubbly voice could be heard from the other side, the faded noise of people talking made Jungkook feel lonely.

'At least he has someone to celebrate it.'

"Hyung, Happy New Year!" He replied, placing the phone in his ear and moved to his bedroom. The silence around him deepened the loneliness. Maybe he should have gone to Times Square after all.

"How's it going there? Are you home?" Jin shouted through the music

"Yes hyung, it sounds fun there. You should be having fun." Closed his eyes and sighed.

"Well, I just want to check up on you and know what you did for New Years." He said, then chuckled at something else, "Sorry if it's too loud, I'll move outside."

"Well actually, I've just been alone in my apartment the whole time. What's happening there?"

"Alone? Jungkook, don't you have anyone to spend it with? It's lonely spending New Years just by yourself."