My Mate Is Too Shy {Jiminxreader}

19) Of First Steps

Date: ‪October 30th‬
Time: ‪5:12pm‬
Location: Work
Mood: Does anyone even read these?
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"H-how come-" she halted herself before going any further, realizing too late that asking him about his trip to the therapist was just as rude as Hyuna telling her she needed one. "Sorry." Instead she flushed and went to playing with her fingers.

"It's ok." he said softly. A part of him was happy that she was curious to know, but the other was wary to talk about it, no matter who she was to him.

I won't push this one. But if you open up to her, she might reciprocate.

His wolf was right. Of course he was. It was his 'thing' to be right all the time. Besides that, he wanted to talk to his mate about important things. It had been years since his mom's passing. Thinking of her no longer brought on depression. The absence was what did that. Not that it wasn't an emotional subject because it was, but now he could talk about it without breaking down. That was thanks to years of support, friends and his own therapy sessions. His main concern now was if Y/n would be receptive to talking about something more personal. Taking it slow was essential, but he liked to think he had gotten somewhere with her.

"I did therapy after my mom died. Then later on had family therapy with my dad because he was still having a hard time with it."

She didn't say she was sorry or offer condolences. Both of them knew the words were pointless in the face of loss. Sorry was a word spoken more out of a loss of what to say, rather than to express genuine sorrow. And pity? That was just unwelcome.

Rather than offer the same words he'd probably heard countless times, she asked tentatively, "what was sh-she like? Your mom."

Unseen by his mate, the ghost of a smile crossed his face. "Mom was...fierce. Fearless. She didn't take anything lying down. If you needed it she wouldn't hesitate to put you in your place. But to me, she never said no. I could get away with anything. If I ate sweets before supper she would pretend she didn't notice. When I got a bad grade in school she would say that education was important, but being happy was more important. When I got emotional she told me it was ok, and to never hold anything inside. She," he paused to gulp and push any incoming tears away before finishing, "she made the best acorn jelly. But I can't eat it anymore. It never tastes right."

The low hum of the cooler was the only sound to permeate the silence that followed. It wasn't an uncomfortable one. But it was one a busy one. Both of them wondering what to say next and where to take the conversation from there. The two in a silent agreement for the lack of condolences, yet Y/n wondered if Jimin might need to hear it anyway. That unexplained feeling when it came to him told her no. Listening to it felt like an instinct so she followed along, hoping it was right. It was that same connection that urged her to open up. To nudge the door open, maybe just a centimeter.

"I...m-my dad...left."

Never. Never had those words come out. Ever. They seemed like a dirty secret that should be kept hidden from the rest of the world. A sin that was reflective on her worth. It should have broken her more to utter them out loud for the first time. Bizarrely, giving words to that monster in her heart and saying it for what it was, was somehow freeing. Now that they were out, that darkness was weakened.

It still hurt like hell. She was still broken on the inside. That piece of her heart that he had taken when he left was still gone. But she said it. If that wasn't a first step, she didn't know what was.

Taking a shaking breath, she stared at her hands and wondered why they were trembling. There was no fear present. In fact she felt relieved.

"Left...where?" Jimin was confused by the wording. Left as in left, or as in left like his mom had left?