How I regretted leaving him alone, I felt the tiniest man alive.

.

A while ago, in the dance institute

.

ME : (-in panic-) What is wrong, Ji hoo-ya? What was so urgent?

JI HOO : I am sorry, I had to call you like this. The truth is, I overheard Aria and Song Gi's conversation earlier when I came here.

I was least interested to know anything related to them so, I was leaving without saying anything to him.

JI HOO : (-stopping me-) Listen! I know, you are trying to move on her. But, just hear me out for once.

ME : Ji hoo, I sent Kookie all alone to the agency. Better make it worth.

JI HOO : (-nods-) I know, I am sorry. But, I couldn't just let things happen wrong. Aria and Song Gi are cousins!

My eyes instantly reflexed big at him to confirm if the words my ears percieved were actually true.

JI HOO : They have been best of buddies since childhood and used to visit each other almost every year. So, they are so close. Dude, all you had about them was a misunderstanding.

I just couldn't figure out what to say or how to feel then.

JI HOO : And the best part is, she happens to like you too.

ME : What?

JI HOO : Yeah man. But, she said with a sad tone that if she is unable to tell her feelings to you before her audition which is tomorrow, she will never contact you again. She will just take it as a sign that you two were not meant to be each other's.

His words were hard to believe yet the seriousness in his voice said otherwise. I was unable to comprehend that she reciprocated my feelings all these time.

JI HOO : One thing I don't understand is these weird instincts girls have. I mean where do they get these signs from?

ME : (-laughs-) I am supposed to look serious, why are you making me laugh?!

And before we conversed further, Aria came into the practice room with Song Gi.

I hardly controlled my laughter and looked at her with a straight face. She almost had a crying face seeing me.

We both shared a moment's intense stare when Song Gi made up an excuse to leave us alone.

SONG GI : Uh-... I need some water. I will go get it. (-leaves-)

JI HOO : I guess, he will need my help. Good luck bro! (-rushes out-)

I almost laughed at his lameness but I controlled myself and looked at her again.

I was feeling so glad seeing her after a week. It felt like eternity. I missed her.

ME : How are you?

ARIA : Sunbae-nim*.

ME : Yes?

ARIA : (-comes closer and starts crying-) When were you going to tell me about you...?

ME : (-shocked-) Onh? How do yo-..

"Gosh, I hate you Ji hoo!"

ME : (-stammering-) Ar-Aria.. Aria-ssi.

ARIA : (-hitting me lightly-) Do you know how hard it is? Do you know how hard it is to let go? (-sheds tears-)

I stopped her hands from hitting me and pulled her into a hug.

ARIA : (-crying lightly-) Why did you stop coming to the classes? I was so scared that you would never come back.

ME : (-caressing her head-) I am sorry~

ARIA : (-tightening the hug-) I almost lost you.

ME : I am sorry.

Few moments later, as we pulled back there formed the most awkward situation I have ever been in.

We realized, we never had a proper conversation before and the first time we talked was this.

She wiped her tears and looked away while I, not able to meet her eyes, scratched my neck.

ME & ARIA : (-unison-) So-

ME : You go first.

ARIA : I am sorry for that outburst. I didn't mean to overwhelm you.

ME : It's alright. (-trying to change the topic-) You have your audition tomorrow, right? All the best! I am sure you will ace it.

ARIA : (-nods-) Deh, thank you. So, can we say~

ME : Say?

ARIA : (-blushing-) Can we say, today is our first day(as a couple)?

ME : (-chuckles-) I didn't ask you out tho-

Before I completed, we heard Ji hoo's voice from the outside.

JI HOO : Jimin, don't be a bitch!

ME : You rascal, run from here before I kill you!! (-looking back at her-) I am sorry, I meant that I want our first day to be special. I am in a little hurry today, wait till I ask you out officially. (-whispers in her ear-) And forgive me for doing this.

I pecked her soft crimson red cheeks which I found unable to resist in that moment. I ran past her and turned around to greet but I ended up chuckling at her. She just squealed like a baby and got embarrassed instantly seeing me as she turned around too.

ME : Be careful with the jumps and take care. (-smiles-)

With that I ran out of the room leaving her blushing.

I was in the seventh sky but I had some undone jobs. I found Ji hoo already in a run seeing me come out of the room.

I chased him till he came under my catch. I gave him an arm choke.

ME : When will you stop eavesdropping on people, huh?

JI HOO : (-struggling to speak-) If I didn't, you two would have forever lived without confessing your hearts.

I released him pitying his struggle to get off my choke.

JI HOO : (-coughs-) You should thank me dude.

While grinning to his remark, my eyes suddenly fell on the wall clock in the lobby where we were standing.

ME : Consider yourself lucky that I have to go today. (-leaves-)

JI HOO : (-caressing his neck-) You better not forget your debt.

Hearing him say this from behind I turned around while walking backwards.

ME : See ya!

He waved at me like he was sending me off to my service—the military enlistment—with a hint of emotional touch to his expressions.

Exiting the institute, I took a cab to the agency. I was feeling anxious for some reason.

Reaching there, I went in and ran into my manager at the lobby.

MANAGER : Jimin! Where were you?

ME : Oh, I am sorry. Something came up.

MANAGER : Anyways, how's Jungkook?

ME : I don't know. I hope Pd-nim didn't meet him yet. (-going to the elevator-)

MANAGER : Where are you going? Pd-nim already talked to him and gave him a hearing.

ME : (-concerned-) What?! Where is he now?

MANAGER : I don't know that either. He just left the agency a while before you arrived. He looked quite disturbed.

ME : Pd-nim must have said harsh things to him. (-worried-)

MANAGER : His manager and I were standing outside while Pd-nim was pouring out on him. We wanted to step in but he warned us from butting in.

ME : (-runs his fingers through his hair in frustration-) He was enough depressed himself. Why did he... (-unable to speak-)

MANAGER : His manager wanted to drop him off to the dorms. But, he straight denied. He said he wanted to be alone and that he is going to you.

ME : What?! Where would he have found me?

MANAGER : Don't worry, he must have gone to the dorm. Better you go there before it's late.

ME : Yes, thanks hyung! (-runs out of the building-)

While waiting for a cab, I dailed Kookie's number just to know if he was okay.

The line was busy.

"Well, at least he is talking to someone."

Little did I know that he was actually trying to reach me at the same time.

I quickly hailed a taxi and was on my way to the dorm. It was just an instinct that was scaring me. I don't know why but I was having a bad feeling about everything.

As soon as I reached the dorm, my phone beeped with a message. I took out my phone and went inside the dorm calling out his name. I put my phone back distracted by his search and went upstairs to his room. Not finding him there, I called out for him a few more times while checking the possible places he could be at.

By the time I knew he was not here, I went out of the dorm. Seeing our car in the garage, I went back inside and got the keys now that I knew I had to go out again to find him.

Getting in the driver's seat, I checked my phone just with another instinct that maybe there was something from Kookie.

And I was correct. It was a voice note from him. I was confused at first but I played it quickly without a further delay.

*over the voice note*

JK : Do I deserve to be a part of BTS anymore?

I could feel the pain in his cracking voice. I clenched the steering wheel with each word he said.

JK : ...but the fact that they were hurt because of me is killing me with passing time...

"Jungkook-ah it's not like that..."

JK : So today, I am going to~...

"Hajima~ Don't do this Kookie~"

JUNGKOOK : Leave this world...

My heart dropped for a moment hearing his words. I went deaf, squinted my eyes and everything seemed dark. All my senses returned suddenly as his words next reached my ear drums.

JK : Hyung. I didn't intend to send this note to you but I felt atleast you should know since you were there for me in the dorms when you could've left too. (-crying-) But, I am sorry hyung. I couldn't take it anymore. Please forgive me one last time. Goodbye hyung~ (-voice note ends-)

ME : NO! KOOKIE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

I dailed him with trembling hands trying to get in touch with him.

ME : (-murmuring-) Please... Kookie. Please pick up the phone. Let me know where you are. Please...

He received none of my calls. My mind was not working with the worry that he might have done something stupid.

With those same trembling hands I dialed Namjoon hyung as I couldn't figure out what to do next.

*over the call*
(the moment he received)

ME : (-stuttering-) H-H-Hyu- Hyung! We are in a big trouble!

NJ : . . .

______________

Is RM going to be a help or will he get worked up?

Perhaps how did Jimin find Jungkook as we saw in the video?

*Sunbae-nim/ Sunbae- Both are to address 'senior' with the former one more formalized than the latter. It is used between Seniors and juniors(Hubae) from the same field which in this case is Music&Arts.

A/N : Well, I am sincerely sorry for being late. There's a lot of story behind the delay. Hope you didn't wait for too long. Really sorry again.🙏

~MeherJin