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ɪꜰᴇꜱᴘᴀɴ: 1.2k

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ(ꜱ): 13+, self-harm

ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴄᴀꜱᴛ: y/n, i.n

ꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴛ: skz

ʟɪꜰᴇ: label mates

ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ: love yourself series

"Jeongin, you need to increase your diet time. You run out of breath fast these days and work out more" Reprimanded their manager, eyeing the mentioned idol with a glare. Jeongin didn't cheat his diet routine, nor did he skip working out. The reason he fell back was that he did both; he was exhausted and nobody knew. "Rest for a bit," Bang Chan said, patting the maknae's stiff shoulders and walking off with the others.

Before Jeongin knew, the practice room was only occupied by him. Rolling his eyes, he sat on the floor and looked at himself in the mirror. "You idiot... You won't even talk out loud. Say out your troubles coward, Say that you're sick of it" He murmured, glaring at his reflection. Jeongin's eyes began to feel wet with tears and he hastily blinked, trying to stop himself. Holding back and pretending to be okay was not easy for him, but he tried to do so.

"Crying it out is better you know," A familiar voice said, making Jeongin turn around on the floor. At the entrance of the practice room, stood Y/n; the youngest solo artist of JYP. Jeongin however faced the mirror again, making you sigh at his actions.

Placing down the duffle bag, you waddled over to him, smiling slightly as you sat down next to Jeongin. "I heard the manager, he's being an asshole" You began, side-eyeing the exhausted boy.

Jeongin slightly chuckled, finally looking at you. "He only wants to do his job," He said, laying down on the floor and staring up at the ceiling. "Exactly, he doesn't look into you, how you guys are doing, what are you guys feeling, he only wants to complete his job, go home and rest. While you guys believe whatever wrong he points out about you guys are true" You angrily expressed, frowning.

Jeongin felt a different atmosphere in your words, genuine hate. But he was sure his manager wasn't that much of an ass, then why was y/n sounding pissed off?

"I... I can't do anything about it... This might be our dream, but for him, it is to gain money and live, he needs to keep us on the check" Jeongin said, eyes slightly looking at your irritated face. "Oh please- he doesn't even know what checking on your means! I've seen you work out every day! We both eat the same diet!" You exclaimed, waving your hand around.

Jeongin laughed, sitting up from the floor and turning you to face him. "Ok ok- stop complaining, we shouldn't talk about someone behind their back" He scolded, though he was smirking inside, Jeongin held it back pretty adequately. "Then I'll talk to his face, like he did a minute ago" You stated, getting ready to go out. "Whoa! No no! Listen!"

Again seated back on the floor, Jeongin had held you down by holding your hands, careful not to let you lose. "You always said to think from the other's side too, and you're doing this now?" He asked, squinting his eyes at you. "That doesn't mean he can say mean things about you!"

A smile formed on Jeongin's lips, sighing as he looked down at you. "It's okay now, I'm okay"

"No, you're fucking not! You promised you'd talk to me if anything is bothering you, and all you do now is scold yourself in the mirror" You said, angry at the singer. He was silent, looking back in the mirror. A good one minute passed like that before he spoke up again.

"I don't- I don't know what's wrong. I can't find myself to say I'm not okay, that- that I'm doing my things correctly... I'm exhausted of all this- I'm... All these stuff, practice, performance, dieting, clearing off scandals- I'm so sick of it" Admitted Jeongin, eyes again filling up with tears.

But this time, before he could blink them away, you pulled him in for a hug, your small figure and large coat giving him warmth. "It's okay to feel sick of it... Everyone gets sick of the things they do to achieve their dreams. But when you have an aim, you'll get used to the process"

Jeongin silently listened, holding you close. "Think about STAYs, they love it when you smile, don't do these things for satisfying people who don't appreciate it. Do these for those who understand what you've been through to get there"

Breaking the hug, but still sitting close, you stared at him. "You're doing great, it might not be perfect, but many like what you're doing. They like when you smile... I like it when you smile" You said, biting your lips to hold back tears in your own eyes. A stray tear rolled down Jeongin's eye before he pulled in for another hug.

"I don't know what to..." He began, trailing off as he began to cry, shaking as he let out warm tears. Though your back hurt for leaning back in the air, it felt nice to be a shoulder for Jeongin to cry. "It's okay... You did well, don't let others tell you any different" He nodded, hardly trying to hold back his tears anymore.

The seven others were quietly watching the scene unfold before them. Feeling guilty that they didn't notice what's happening with their maknae, they stood there in silence. BangChan was the saddest, with himself, with Jeongin, and with you. "Thank you Y/n," Jeongin said, wiping off his tears and leaning back. You only nodded, standing up from the floor, followed by Jeongin. Letting out a final tear, he wiped it off and grinned at you.

"Meh. I just did what people should do, I'll get going now. Hope to see you soon" You smiled back at him, both of you turning around to see the other members, sadly staring at the two. Not even saying anything, Hyunjin was the first to run inside and hug Jeongin.

While they were busy drowning Jeongin in hugs and apologies, you walked out of there, placing down a softly wrapped gift box next to Jeongin's bag.

"It's okay guys- thanks" The group let of the youngest, smiling at each other. "Wait- Where's y/n?" Jisung asked out loud, looking around the room. "It's time for her flight," BangChan said, earning the attention of the group. "Her flight? Where's she going?" Hyunjin asked, clueless to the situation like the other seven. Chan hesitated, looking at Jeongin.

"She's leaving JYP, the statement will be released tomorrow" The group shared a look of shock and dismay. "She- She was cutting herself, her manager was an ass to her, stress and pressure... she was sick of it" BangChan added.

Jeongin stood there, in utter shock. His eyes soon landed on the gift box, wrapped in chubby skzoo drawings. Walking over, he read a small note on it. 'No matter how hard it gets, hold on tight, I'll be there for you, Luv u innie!' The guys watched as Jeongin unwrapped the gift box. Opening the lid, he peered inside.

Inbetween hundreds of candies, a framed photo was placed. Jeongin was smiling in the photo, his hands wrapped around a much more smiley y/n, the year 2013 written on the left bottom. Gripping the photo frame, a tear fell on the glass, flowing down to the floor.

"ꜱᴇʟꜰʟᴇꜱꜱɴᴇꜱꜱ, ɪᴛ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀꜱɪꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ. ɪꜰ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ᴄᴀʀᴇꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴛʜᴇʏ'ʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴜʀᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴇᴇʟ, ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ꜰᴇᴇʟ"