Date: ‪October 30th‬
Time: ‪5:12pm‬
Location: Work
Mood: Does anyone even read these?
<><><>

"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?

A strange blanket of calm wrapped around her shoulders when she caught his expression from his profile. Confused, maybe a little sad. But no sign of disgust or judgment. This wasn't scary, tiny man stalker Jimin anymore. This was familiar Jimin. It hadn't been long but the man she knew now had turned from the type to ask questions to the one who listened quietly.

"He went to get milk." she said quietly while wondering where the hell this courage was coming from. "He-he didn't come back." Like it was a physical wound her chest ached at the reminder. "No explanation. Three m-months later he-he filed for divorce and-" and had no interest in seeing us. That was her limit. Abruptly she shut her mouth and shrunk in on herself, suddenly regretting ever saying anything.

Now he knew and the rejection wouldn't be long coming.

Something like an angry huff of breath came out of his mouth as a hand moved through his hair. She imagined that he was mad over spending time on getting to know her, only to let down by how worthless she was. That was the only logical explanation.

...now go back and—oh, you know what to do.

It was quite clear that he was mad. Both arms at his sides flexed as his hands gripped the edge of the counter behind him. The only thing clenched tighter was his jaw, the muscles close to the joint twitching every so often. His spine was a straight line apart from the slight curve at the top where his shoulders hunched over slightly as he stared at his feet.

"He sounds like," he closed his mouth and swallowed the nastier words that first came to mind, finishing instead with, "not worth a thought."

That was exactly what Seo-Joon would say. While Y/n was sad and her negative thoughts dwelled and stuck, Seo-Joon fought it off with anger. To him the man who had left them was nothing more than a sperm donor and deserved no second thought. Although Y/n knew that he thought on it more than he would say aloud. That's not something that can be wrapped up and pushed under the rug with a few 'fuck yous'. All the 'he isn't worth it', 'he's trash', 'he was the wrong one' had left his mouth for years, and for years, she heard but she'd never listened.

That someone else shared the same thought caused the idea to linger, but it was still a long way from being able to stick.

"That shouldn't have happened to you." If there were any doubts that he was mad before, they were now wiped out at the underlying wrath in his tone. "The same thing happened to my dongsaeng, his name is Jungkook. Except both of his parents," he spit the words out as if tasted wrong in his mouth, "left him."

Before she could think to reply he halfway turned and his sharp, intent gaze on her face made her gulp. Gone was the happy, crescent eyed Jimin and here was the spider-killing tiny man. "I hope you know that wasn't your fault. He did that. He was a grown man with an adult mind and thinking skills. He made that decision all by himself. That was only reflective of one person's worth and it isn't yours."

Just as quickly as this intense Jimin arrived, he left again. Now he was more reminiscent of that sweet guy who once sat on her couch and accepted princess stickers from her baby sister. Eyes softening into twin gentle pools of affection and a second emotion she couldn't identify, they held eye contact for longer than ever managed before.

"I see your light, Y/n. You don't know how vividly you shine, but everyone else does." A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. "You're brighter than the sun. I see you for what you are, and you have a beautiful heart."

There it was again. That weird thing her heart kept doing. Like it was skipping in place and performing an odd tumble here and there.

Except that this time, she knew exactly what it meant.

<><><>

My little sis (from a different country and family entirely ☺️💜) Cieo_D  did some artwork for this story and for cat lady cause she's a beautiful person inside and out. Also, if you like hybrid stories with a good sense of humor and adorably obsessive male leads check out her work. Thank you sis 💜

—
Edited 7/23/22