Jeon's family is a happy family, despite having only one son named Jeon Jungkook. They were content with their biological son, who was a good boy and respected both of his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Jeon knew their son was lonely at home and needed frien...
It had been almost a month since Jimin began his chemotherapy treatments. The first few rounds involved standard chemotherapy drugs, but recently, he had joined a clinical trial. During the weeks of treatment, he felt relatively okay thanks to the medication provided by the nurses. However, the following week was a different story—he’d be hit hard with side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Jimin had learned to endure it, but it was far from easy.
Lately, he had been feeling increasingly unwell. Every time he ate, a wave of nausea would wash over him, and anything tight around his stomach made him uncomfortable. Despite this, his mother insisted that he come home for dinner. His relationship with his parents had improved over time. His mother called him regularly, and even his father had started reaching out again, trying to mend their relationship. But with Jungkook, things were still strained. Jungkook occasionally sent texts to check in, but Jimin never replied. He wasn’t ready to face him yet.
"Ready?" Mingyu’s voice cut through Jimin’s thoughts as they pulled up to the Jeon family home.
Jimin had hesitated about coming, not wanting his family to see the toll the treatment had taken on him. He knew there was a good chance he’d run into Jungkook, and that was something he had been avoiding for months. But his mother’s plea for him to attend the family dinner had tugged at his heartstrings. She missed him, and so, Jimin asked Mingyu to accompany him.
"Can we go back home?" Jimin asked quietly, a flicker of anxiety in his voice.
"We’re already here, and I know you miss your family. Right, Cutie?" Mingyu responded, giving Jimin a warm, reassuring smile.
Jimin sighed. Mingyu was right—he did miss his family. Reluctantly, he nodded. Mingyu got out of the car first and walked around to help Jimin out. As soon as Jimin stepped out, Mingyu extended his hand, and Jimin laughed softly before clinging to his arm.
"That’s my Cutie. You should laugh more—you look even cuter when you do," Mingyu teased.
"I was born with an overdose of cute genes," Jimin winked playfully, making Mingyu laugh.
They walked toward the tents set up outside the house, where the family was preparing a barbecue dinner in the front yard.
"My mochi is here!" Jimin’s mother exclaimed joyfully when she spotted her son. As Jimin and Jungkook’s eyes met, Jimin quickly looked away, trying to avoid his brother’s gaze. But Jungkook couldn’t help but notice how Jimin clung to Mingyu's arm, his heart tightening at the sight.
Jimin’s mother rushed forward, pulling him into a tight hug and planting a kiss on his cheek. "I missed you, sweetheart."
"I missed you too, Mom," Jimin replied, holding her close as if he didn’t want to let go.
"I missed you more. Come on, everyone’s waiting to eat," she said, leading him toward the table.
Mingyu pulled out a chair for Jimin before sitting next to him. Jimin gave Mingyu a grateful smile in return.
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"What would you like to eat?" Mingyu asked, glancing over the spread of food. He hesitated, knowing most of the dishes weren’t suitable for Jimin, especially given his condition. Raw or undercooked food was out of the question, and heavy, solid foods were difficult for him to digest.
"Umm..." Jimin scanned the table. Everything looked delicious, but he knew his body wouldn’t tolerate much.
"Chicken stew?" Jimin asked, hoping for his favorite comfort food. But his mother hadn’t made it tonight; all the food had been prepared by Yumi, their family friend.
"Sorry, Mochi," his mother said, "I didn’t make chicken stew today. But I did make sushi for you! That’s one of your favorites too, right?"
"Yeah, I love sushi. Thanks, Mom," Jimin smiled weakly, pulling up his sleeve as he reached for some sushi to place on his plate.
"You know you shouldn’t eat that," Mingyu whispered, leaning closer. He was concerned, knowing raw fish wasn’t safe for Jimin’s weakened immune system.
"It’s okay, hyung. Just one or two pieces. Don’t worry," Jimin whispered back, giving him a small smile to reassure him.
Across the table, Yumi glanced at them and smiled. "You two look good together," she said, addressing Mingyu and Jimin.
"Of course we do. He’s my Cutie," Mingyu grinned, ruffling Jimin’s hair playfully, knowing how much it always made him whine.
"Hyung, stop it! My hair..." Jimin pouted, pushing Mingyu lightly.
"Awww, my Mochi is so cute," Mrs. Jeon chimed in, squealing at the sight of her son’s pout. She adored her son more than anything, and to her, Jimin would always be the cutest person in the world.
"Mom..." Jimin groaned, embarrassed but unable to hide the small smile creeping onto his face.
Mr. Jeon, sitting quietly, suddenly spoke up. He had noticed something concerning about Jimin’s arm.
"What happened to your hand, son?"
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Jimin’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly glanced down at his hands, realizing that his father had seen the bruises and rashes left from the chemotherapy. His skin bruised easily now, even from the slightest bump.
"Ah, n-nothing, Dad. Just an allergic reaction," Jimin said quickly, pulling his sleeve down to cover the marks, hoping no one else would notice.
"You’ve never been allergic to anything,"
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Jungkook suddenly spoke for the first time that evening. His voice was soft, but there was a weight to his words. He had seen the bruises too, and though he hadn’t said much, it was clear he was worried. But, just like Jimin, he couldn’t bring himself to fully confront the situation. It was still too hard for him to face.
