Here's My Number

43

"Are you getting abused?"

The moment the sentence leaves your lips, the weight of it crashes down on you. You wouldn't entertain such a thought before, but now that it's been said, you can't stop thinking of all the clues leading to your conclusion.

Jimin blinks, completely taken aback. His eyes widen and his mouth opens, then closes.

"Wh-what?" He asks after a moment of anxious silence.

You look away. "It's nothing. I- lets just watch the movie." So stupid. Why would you ask something like that? Jimin is not getting abused. If he was getting abused by Sharon, he could bring it to the cops and have her arrested. End of story.

"O-okay," Jimin says, his expression still surprised- almost horrified-looking at your question. He picks up a remote and starts the movie.

Don't shove it off. Push it. Do not let your chance slip away.

If you stop now, and the idea is true, Jimin will only put his guard up more. He'll hide everything away and refuse to let you in any further.

You can't stop now.

"The bruises!" You blurt out, turning back to face Jimin, trying to seem as if your worries are valid. Your hands betray your efforts by shaking. Out of embarrassment or fear, you don't know.

"The bruises and the burn and the phone call and the groundings-"

"Wait wait wait," Jimin says. "What phone call?"

Your breath hitches. Oops.

"Um- a while ago, we FaceTimed," you say. "And-and you fell asleep but I didn't hang up until later. But Sharon- she walked in and started yelling at you. She said something about extra of something and I thought maybe you just forgot to do something but that just sounds too fishy and I don't think host parents are supposed to get that mad at their foreign exchange students like that and then you sounded so scared when you spoke and that doesn't sound good to me and I haven't been able to normalize that in my mind. It bothers me still."

Jimin shakes his head, fear donning on his face.

"You mean- what did you hear?" He asks, looking uncertain and worried.

"I can't remember much. She got mad at you because you were late for something and she kept saying 'you get extra' and I don't know what it means but-"

You stop. Jimin looks at his hands, which are clasped together tightly.

"I-I don't remember that," he says, but you're not sure.

"Are-are you getting abused?" You repeat, the adrenaline and your rapid heartbeat making it impossible not to ask again.

Jimin shakes his head vigorously. "N-No. No I'm not. That's-that's a funny thing to ask. Why would I be getting abused?"

Your cheeks begin to heat up and the urge to escape nags at you. You look at the floor.

"I just- I figured that- since there is so much to say otherwise..." You play with your fingers nervously. "I'll-I'll leave it alone if you want. I just couldn't stop thinking about it for the past couple of weeks."

Jimin sighs. "I..." he murmurs. You look at him. His eyes are fixed on the couch, a sad, solemn look in them. His entire posture has changed. He went from sitting straight up, rigid and nervous, to slouching, defeated and weak in seconds. His lips are pulled down by a frown and his shoulders are low and sunk in.

He looks so depressed, and you can't look at him any longer. You don't want to see him like this.

"It's true."