Winter In My Heart (Jikook/Kookmin)

24

"Mochi..." Jungkook's voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if testing the waters.

"Hmmm?" Jimin replied, not bothering to turn his attention from the TV.

"How has your life been? Are you... happy?"

Jimin’s eyes, which were focused on the screen, slowly shifted toward his brother. The question was simple but struck deep. Was he happy? He had Seulgi, who always made him smile, and now Mingyu, who had become a part of his life. But still...

"Happy..." Jimin murmured, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips before he shifted his gaze back to the show.

Jungkook, however, wasn’t done. "Why didn’t you continue your studies? You’re still young. Why are you working already?"

"I don’t enjoy studying anymore," Jimin answered flatly, his tone dismissive.

Jungkook tilted his head, finding the answer a little odd. He knew Jimin once had a passion for art, how much he loved drawing and painting. In fact, Jimin had once dreamed of going to art school.

"But you love drawing. You used to say—"

"I’m not the same person I was before," Jimin interrupted, his voice tinged with something Jungkook couldn’t quite place.

Jungkook frowned. "You’ll always be my Mochi, though."

Jimin’s next words were whispered, but Jungkook heard them clearly, and they stung. "The one you broke your promise to."

"I'm sorry..." Jungkook’s voice cracked, barely a whisper.

Jimin quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the past. "Hyung, did you get into college?"

As always, Jimin deflected. It was like talking to a wall at times. He claimed he had changed, that he was no longer Jungkook's Mochi. But to Jungkook, Jimin was still the same in many ways—keeping his feelings bottled up, hiding the hurt behind smiles.

"Mochi..." Jungkook tried again, this time with more sincerity.

"What about photography? Did you pursue it?"

Jungkook forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I did."

Jimin clapped his hands together, his smile genuine for the first time in their conversation. "I knew it! You’re so smart. Of course, you made it."

Jungkook chuckled softly, but Jimin wasn’t done. "My Mochi is smart too. You were always first in class."

Jimin’s smile faded, and he looked down. "I’m not. Mom said I was stupid. That I should’ve worked instead of wasting her money on studying."

Jungkook's eyes widened in disbelief. This revelation was new to him. Just yesterday, Jimin had mentioned how their mother had forced him to work. Now she was calling him stupid? What had really happened in Jimin’s life?

"Jimin," Jungkook said, his tone more serious now, "answer me honestly this time. Are you happy?"

Jungkook moved closer, cupping Jimin’s cheeks in his hands, forcing him to face the question.

Jimin's eyes welled up with tears, his voice barely a whisper. "H-how can I be happy, hyung? Tell me how."

Tears brimmed in Jimin's eyes as he looked into his brother’s face, his defenses breaking down. This was why he avoided his past—he didn’t want to cry anymore. But how could he hold it all in?

"What happened?" Jungkook asked, his heart heavy.

"How can I be happy when you weren’t there? Mom and Dad... everyone I loved left me. And eomma... she never loved me," Jimin confessed, his voice shaking as tears rolled down his cheeks.

He covered his face with his hands, crying softly, trying not to let his sobs break the quiet. Jungkook’s heart ached. The guilt weighed on him, knowing that while he was miles away, Jimin had been suffering alone. He should have come back sooner, but fear held him back—fear of Jimin’s reaction, fear of facing the promise he had broken.

Jungkook gently pulled Jimin’s hands away from his face, shocked at how deeply wounded his younger brother was. "I’m the one who made you cry. I’m the reason for your tears. I broke my promise. I’m sorry, Mochi. Please... forgive me."

Jungkook wiped away Jimin’s tears with his thumbs, then leaned in, placing a soft kiss on Jimin’s forehead. "I promise this time—"

"No, hyung," Jimin interrupted, shaking his head. "I don’t want promises. I don’t like them. Please, don’t."

Jimin collapsed into his brother’s chest, sobbing quietly as Jungkook wrapped his arms around him, holding him tightly. That night, the two brothers finally opened up, sharing the pain and the stories of the twelve long years that had separated them.