Dr.Ban : Jimin-ssi? Can you hear me?

Jimin tried to simmer down his turbulance of emotions and sound his presence.

JM : Yes, please keep talking.

Dr.Ban : All right. Let's talk a little about your sleep pattern. Was there any discomfort in that area lately? Are you sleeping well?

JM : Yes... I think so. But, I feel tired the moment I wake up.

Within a second of silence, Jimin experienced another wave of break down.

JM : I- I want to give the best to our comeback. (-voice hitches-) But, I feel-...I am lacking in so many areas. Our fans, our Armys are waiting-...

Dr.Ban, like always, lent him the space for as long as he needed to vent out.

JM : They will be so disappointed in me. What do I-... This comeback could be the worst, only because of me. I feel so sorry to the members-

Jimin covered his eyes, trying to muffle his cries. The psychiatrist held his silence over the line. Not at the best favor being unable to see him.
His ears were the only judgment, he could rely on then.

Dr.Ban, grabbing the next stable graph, spoke out the needed words very clamly.

Dr.Ban : It is commendable that you are consciously trying to give your best by pushing all ends from your side. But, it is also important to note, that genuine admirers will always appreciate your efforts and fakers will criticize even your best performance.

Jimin at a credulous and gullible state absorbed his words easier than it would've been otherwise. Maybe he simply needed an assurance. A light pat that it was all fine.

Dr.Ban : I do understand your fear. We are always scared to fail reaching the levels of expectations set for us. But fear can inturn hinder your ability to give out the best. Instead of focusing on what you are unable to do, focus more on what you should do. Eye on your goal, not the obstacles.

The singer did not counter his discourse, knowing that they make all the more sense to him with time. And when the clock ticked at that hour, he would eventually overcome his trials with these little advices.

Dr.Ban : Making this an exception, I will send out a digital prescription. Advising you to a higher dose of your medication for the time being, so that you can rest well primarily.

Dr.Ban waited each time, to know he was receiving him well.

JM : Okay...

Dr.Ban : And by the look of it, Chamomile might not have worked great for you these days too.

JM : Ye, I drank it a while ago. And I felt fine initially like other times, but...

The doctor did not require him to form out complete sentences to understand him now.

Dr.Ban : Ye, I see. To its alternative, I recommend you to receive a hug from anyone, for uninterrupted one minute. Preferably from someone close.

JM : A hug? And for a minute?

Getting distracted by the words he didn't expect to hear from Dr.Ban, Jimin's tears were pacified. He sniffed frequently and listened to the doctor more attentively.

Dr.Ban : Yes. Well, your current distress factor has significantly increased. So much so that artificial mild calming aids, like Chamomile, has no effect now.

With his easy explanation tonight, Jimin could understand him without much efforts. Just how he appreciated it.

Dr.Ban : Hence, the relievants has to be naturally produced in your body to be absorbed better and  ease your nerves. Even in medical science, a human embrace is one of the finest tools for a quick relief of anxiety. The least is a hug.

JM : Ah, ye.

Dr.Ban : And make sure to hold on as long as you can. Apart from that, you can ring me back anytime of the night if the anxiety persists. You might need to be shot a tranquilizer in that case.

JM : (-sniffs-) Yeh. Thank you, Doc. And sorry to have disturbed you this late.

Dr.Ban : Don't mention it. As your physician and your well wisher, I believe in you. Like the millions of your fans do. The best is already you being Park Jimin. Don't be too hard on yourself. I am sure the fans will agree with me here.

JM : Thank you for saying that, Dr.Ban. It truly means alot. (-sniffs-) I will hang up now.

After the call, Jimin rose up from the seat and turned the shower off. Shoving his phone into his pockets, he walked over to wash his face in the sink.

Some good splash later, Jimin exited the washroom, feeling fresh and a little more calm than before. Just the release of his compressed feelings out to someone, he felt alleviated.

With not much thought, Jimin was aimed towards Taehyung's room. But finding the latter fast asleep, he quietly closed the door back.

And before looking for anyone else, he walked down to the kitchen. To aid his dehydration after the emotional crisis.

Only to find Yoongi there, making himself a cup of coffee. They didn't converse and minded their business quietly, to avoid making much noise in the late hour.

Jimin rested the water bottle back in the refrigerator and noticed Yoongi picking his cup to leave the kitchen. The nervous instant made him exclaim out unconsciously.

JM : Hyung!

YG : Onh?

Yoongi halted by the counter, innocently looked at him for a follow up.

Jimin didn't voice his intentions, knowing that he might get rejected. Therefore, before Yoongi registered it, Jimin was already wrapped around his figure.

YG : Yah, yah yah. Why? Don't do it!

While the older resisted and gently attempted to push Jimin's body away, the latter only tightened his grip.

JM : Please, Hyung. I really need it.

As if his soft and muffled voice fell on Yoongi's ears like a spell, his resilience instantly stopped.

However, he remained still with his free hand rested normally and the other holding his cup. He did not hug him back.

Quiet magically the seconds lapsed and it was past a minute, the boys frozen into a warm embrace. Jimin, about to draw out, felt two arms wrap around his back.

The younger firmed his hold again, burring his face on his shoulders and a small tear escaped his eyes. He audibly sniffed them without any words.

Yoongi, in his shoes, empathized with the little one. As if he was already acquainted with the unaddressed reason behind Jimin's tears. Nothing else mattered more than to stroke the younger's back, as he comforted from his Hyung's embrace.

The generous release of oxytocin, a hormone that is also known to cause a domino effect in the human body. Starting from one, it gradually covered all the agitated nerves and relaxed them. Consequently, dopamine and serotonin, functioned like a harmonious team to shower the petals of relief, potions of gaiety and a fragrance of content after the repairs of oxytocin.

Even to their surprise, another minute had lapsed before they pulled apart. Both feeling serene and peaceful at the noteable work of their hormones.

Next to avoid the awkward moment that would cramp in, Yoongi immediately picked up the cup he rested on the counter earlier. And rushed straight to his studio, without waiting for any small talk.

Jimin wiped his eyes, sniffling and had another gulp of water. Turning the kitchen lights off, he walked to his room quietly.

In a hush, Jimin tucked himself well in his bed. Now, significantly relaxed and further vulnerable. He clasped a pillow against his chest, crawling to a side.

Sometimes, all one needs is a hug : the cup of warm tea embraced in a heavy rain.

The instant he closed his eyes, his cell phone vibrated at a notification inside his pockets.
He would've ignored anything, but noticing it addressed from 'Yoongi Hyung', Jimin couldn't let it be.

He opened the chat and heard Yoongi speak the words in his head.

"Jimin-ah, even if you don't show it. Hyung can see a lot. I know, you and everyone else have been working really hard. And I feel like I don't say alot to appreciate that. So...
Thanks, Jimin-ah, for your hardwork. Hyungie supports you. Always. And you don't have to try to be the best, because you already are. To us. To Armys. I really hope you know that.

Oh, and, Hyungie loves you.
(Just read, don't reply to this text. I warned you. Don't.)"

Jimin couldn't help a wide smile at his heartfelt message, that was always a rare coming from him. How he spoke the words obliviously but right to the point, reassured the younger a lot more than the Hyung would realize.

He was teased to a silent grin being left on 'seen' by Yoongi. Jimin next wished him a goodnight and set his phone on the bedside table, not expecting any replies.

He closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep. Minutes later, he was alarmed by a weight denting his mattress. Before he could bring himself to look at the source, a figure muffled by his back and rested their right arm over Jimin's abdomen.

The characteristic scent and simply the touch was enough to prompt Jimin of who the midnight intruder was. Jimin tapped on his hand gently as he whispered, not to wake Hoseok sleeping a few meters away.

JM : TaeTae, did you have a bad dream?

Taehyung whispered back with a rasp in his voice as he snuggled more.

TH : No, I missed you. Lemme sleep here.

Jimin smiled, carefully getting Taehyung's half asleep figure under the duvets. And got comfortable in his position.
Just when he needed the warmth, one of the members unknowingly came to his rescue. Or shall the count be—two. A smile could be seen on his face. A smile of relief it was.

While one was calm now, miles apart, the other was minutes away from a storm.

From the studio, Dan Hwa was now seen in her bedroom. Seated on the floor before the mini station, with minimal work essentials resting atop of it.

Working on the blueprint, Dan Hwa listened to their comeback song. A copy of which had been sent to her for the tonality to correspond with the sketch of the set.

Careful from last time, to only pay heeds to the melody while designing, the voices eventually imbibed through her senses. Nonetheless.

"I know you hurt too. I will understand you."

Jimin's voice speaking to her ears felt as if he sat right across her.

"So, please can you tell me you.
(Tell me your story~)"

Dan Hwa's frozen hand, clutching on the graphite pencil—she looked ahead in the empty space before her sight. There was nothing, yet she could sense and feel a presence.
The barely open doors of the balcony that sent in a gentle zephyr, the hush of the high altitudes of her apartment, and the voices singing delicately in the quietude—set in just the perfect ambience.

The perfect canvas for the trivial thoughts to crawl and paint in beyond her will. Beyond her power to shackle them down anymore.

"Tell me... your story~"

The song ended and she removed the ear buds, distracted and piqued at herself. Her dominant hand involuntarily tremored for a moment. Dan Hwa stared at it with a face, devoid of any emotion.

She was extremely unpredictable in that instant. The director dropped the pencil on the incomplete blueprint and ran both of her hands through her hair—elbows resting on the table.

Her head hammered in an inexplicable pain, that she didn't let bother her before. But, with the gormless thoughts harrowing and ploughing on her composure and patience, it was hard to ignore.

Dan Hwa's fingers faintly visible off and on amidst the sleeky hair, tighten a fist. She was quiet. Quietly enduring.
The pain had grown so excruciating, that silent tears fused out of her squinted eyes without her conscious.

"Why me?" She softly mumbled. All her umbrage, all her resents she harboured in her heart, were on full burn at that point.

Dan Hwa's tears gained more frequency as the grips on her hair loosened.

"WHY ME!" She screamed out at the top of her lungs, pulling her hair. The quiet was too prolonged. The suppression power was wearing out.

She pushed the mini table aside, no longer trusting herself with its safety. Dan Hwa hugged her folded legs, burying her head on them.
She was breathing heavily, her arms trembling while the toes fidgeted against each other.

Dan Hwa squeezed herself, conscious to occupy as less space as possible. Soon experiencing an anxiety attack.

"You are a curse!"

"How could a grown up daughter do this to her own mother?"

"Is her family even safe with her anymore?"

"Your mother despises you!"

Dan Hwa : No! NO!! Stop!!

Dan Hwa muffled her ears with the palms, shrieking louder to dominate the cue of those malicious comments. That, lived inside her every second that she existed. And tormented her till she came apart at seams.

"You are a curse!"

She slapped her ears, whirring a plea for all those echoes to stop. The tears all over her face, her hair a mess, her breathing rate increased. And before Dan Hwa could see it coming, she was hyperventilating.

She greedily grasped for air, clutching her head that seemed to burst open any moment. With her  screams and howl, one without a direct vision would've mistook it for a cruel assault.

A moment of physical struggle and tussling the purgatory reactions of her body. All alone in the big apartment, she was extremely anxious and scared.

No one came for help. Nor could she ask for one. Her cellphone resting on the mini table, it was still too far for her reach.

And not long before her body grew heavier, causing her to crumple down to her side. The floor seemed gelid and glacial against her seared up figure, as her digits twitched occasionally.
There was no ounce of reserved energy left in her muscles, to even budge from her collapsed position.

Aligned to the side of light breeze coming from the balcony, a few strands of hair were blown away from her resting face. A warm tear slowly paved down from the corner of her eyes, that she couldn't perceive against her numb skin.

The last few seconds of holding on with heavy blinks and bare breathing. Only one thought—a question specifically—crossed her mind, as Dan Hwa's eyes ultimately closed to an unconsciousness.

"Is this the end of me?"

______

🥺
My Babies~