I sigh as I drag my feet up the steps to Jimin's house and ring the bell. Not long after, Hilda opens the door and smiles.

" Ms. Kim.. you don't have to ring the bell! You're welcome here any time. "
I give her a smile and bow before stepping in and walking to my room with tired, sloppy steps.

I fling open the door only to be met by Jimin sitting on my bed.
" Hey.. " I mumble and make my way to the bathroom.
" Where were you? " Jimin asks, his eyes now fixed on me.
" Let me change first. " I say and he nods.

* Time skip *

I step out of the bathroom with my onesie and see Jimin laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

I lay down next to him and he turns on his side, propping himself up with his elbow and resting his head on his palm.

" So.. how have things been going? "
I ask.
" Well.. I think about him more often than usual. " He says with a tinge of sadness in his voice.

Immediately, I sit up when I remember what I wanted to talk to him about.
" Jimin, I know how to help you.. "
" Help me? I don't need- "
" Please, Jimin I don't want you to go to a point of no return! Hear me out.."

His gaze redirects to the ceiling as he plops back down and sighs.
" Ok.. "
" So.. today, I remembered Eomma's discharging date. "
" Holy shit, I completely forgot! " Jimin says, looking at me with wide eyes.

" It's ok, she was at home.. I was so happy when I saw her. At first, she looked so depressed, but when she opened up about my father, I could see how a radiating glow made its way back to her face.. I haven't seen her like that in a long time. "

" What did she say about your dad? " Jimin asks with furrowed eyebrows.
" She told me that she's letting him go.. "
An unreadable expression surfaced on Jimin's face and he said,
" I see where this is going. "

A/N P.O.V :

" Well, it's the only way, Jimin! Y-you've been so depressed over him and it's- "
" Of course I would be! You would never understand what we had! It was a bond that was unlike any other, Y/N.. you expect me to just throw all that away? "

" Well, what's the point? What's the point of you sulking in your room, destroying yourself day by day for a man who's already dead? Where's your bond now? "
There was silence from Jimin as he now sat up straight, his eyes fixed on his fidgeting fingers.

Y/N inches closer to him and places her hand on his back,

" Jimin, listen... I'm only trying to help you.. I don't want to watch you destroy yourself like how I watched my father. I've let it happen once in my life, and I don't want to witness it again. "

He glances at her and takes a deep breath. 

" I-i just miss him.. I miss his presence.. i just wish there was something i could do to prevent what happened.. " He says, as memories of that day played like a movie in his mind.

" I know.. i know, I felt the same way. But soon enough, I realized it was impossible because my father's heart was stone hard and to the point where no matter how much I tried, he would either shun me away or threaten to beat me up... which he eventually did. You have to reason it all out in your head.. if your uncle was alive, would he be happy seeing you like this? "

" But he isn't. " Jimin says stubbornly, but on the inside, he felt the walls he had built to block out the world slowly begin to crumble. 

" Exactly my point. Do you remember his words before the incident? " 

Jimin frowns as his mind takes him back to the moment in the stables.

" You have talent Jimin, and I want you to use it. "

" Jimin, the world is cruel but you have to push through it all. "

" I'm happy you're here, because I'm sure by seeing your face in the stands, I'm gonna win this race. "

Even after so many years, that memory stayed engraved in his mind. He never wanted to let go of it. Most of the time, Jimin feared that one day, the memory of his uncle would fade and disappear like ashes in the wind.

The wheels in his head began to turn as he thought,

What.. what am I doing? This pain never leaves me.. It never leaves me because he's always in my mind. Everything I do reminds me of him, I would do anything just to hear his voice once more, to be in his embrace one last time.. 

But... it's affecting my body and performance in the stables. Uncle said that his dream was to see me win the way he trained me.. What would he say if he saw me now?

 I feel like I'm caught in a lie that I can't be freed from, I can't find me who was innocent, please.. give me back my laughter and happiness because I know my days are coming to an end if this continues.

Pathetic.. that's what I am.. 

Jimin felt his hands begin to shake as a feeling of sadness washed over him, taking over his thoughts and movements. The tears that were cried beneath what the rest of the world could see began to surface and no matter how hard he tried to hold them in, they refused to be silenced again. 

Y/N was taken aback. She had never seen him in such a broken state and without any hesitation, she took him into her embrace with his head gently laid on her chest and her fingers buried in his brown locks as he sobbed. 

The sobs were stifled at first as he attempted to hide his grief, then overcome by the wave of his emotions he broke break down entirely, all his defenses washed away in those salty tears.

It was more than crying, it was the kind of desolate sobbing that comes from a person drained of all hope. After months of containing his emotions, it was overwhelming when he let everything out all at once. The pain that flowed from him felt like a million stabs to Y/N's heart and soon enough she found herself struggling to keep her tears silent. 

His tears dripped down her neck,  his breathing was ragged, gasping and the strength left his legs. All his weight was now on Y/N as he sobbed uncontrollably but Y/N held him like there was no tomorrow. Each new wave was a hot trail of agony as his body shook in each rake of emotion that racked through his frame. 

As Y/N held his shaking body, she felt a part of herself breaking too. That's what happens when you love someone, right? Their happiness and pain is a part of your own. Now, the man with the calm exterior was no more as the broken 12 year old boy was now on display. 

Soon, the tears slowed down and his ragged breathing had calmed down. At that moment, Jimin felt something warm tug at his heart as he inhaled Y/N's vanilla and cinnamon scent. His skin tingled where she touched him and his heart beat erratically in his chest so hard that he thought it might fly out. There were butterflies - no, lions - in his chest, but it felt good. 

His eyes widened in disbelief as he thought,

Could it be? Or is this one of my heart's cruel tricks? But this... it feels different.. it feels amazing. I feel loved.. 

As he was buried in her embrace, the old feelings of his past emerged in his heart, but this time he didn't shove them away or douse out its flames. Instead, he let the overwhelming feeling of warmth and desire fill him and he felt love flow through every vein in his body. 

Finally, he realized what he was supposed to all along. 

I can stand alone and take care of everything I need to... but all I need from this is a sense of mutual love and nurture. I want someone with me when the sun gives way to the stars and when it returns to reignite the colors of the daytime. All I want is your kisses, your hugs and that smile I see in your eyes. I'm sorry that I've hurt you and pushed you away, but I'm thankful that you never gave up on me. You stood by my side and now, I am healed... I am healed by your love.

A/N :   T^T you know, I almost cried writing this chapter. Hope you guys liked it!

1K READSSSS!!!!!! i wuv every single one of you, whether your a ghost reader or a vocal one, I thank you for stickin around and reading my story because it means the world to me. 1K, done. Now let's make it 2 !! See ya later babiesss!

Lots n lots n lots n lots n LOTS of love,

Kim 💖😘