❝If only feelings had an off switch.❞

ACT I—FIFTEEN

TWO MUGS sat on the table in the large dark room.

On one side, Jimin sat staring at the coffee mugs while being wrapped in the blanket on the couch.

On another side, Jin sat staring at his brother who was unwilling to break his silence.

Jin sighed for the nth time. The boy was not going to open his mouth by his own, he understood it. He had to give a push to make him talk and break this muteness of his.

The scent of coffee hit Jimin so closely that when he blinked and returned to the world after the tour to his thoughts, he saw no vapor, no mug on the table. Only then Jimin looked up to find his Hyung's hovering figure with two mugs of coffee, one stretched towards him.

Jimin gulped with his dry throat and took out his hand from under the blanket to accept the mug. He took a sip and simultaneously closed his eyes as the bitter flavor dominated his senses.

Jin drank his own and smiled a little when he heard the small mumble of thank you Hyung.

Jimin was fidgeting, something he often did whenever he wanted to pour out his heart but his mouth will stay shut no matter what. Jin noticed. For a moment, Jimin's fleeting eyes met his that he welcomed with a warm smile.

"Tell me one thing, Jimin. What haven't I seen yet about you? Your right, bad whatever decision it was, I was there to support, to guide you through it. Then why hesitate now? I'm sure it's not that bad like what you did years ago."

Upon mentioning the topic that has been always sensitive for Jimin, he flinched. He would be the meanest person on this earth if he didn't feel grateful for all Jin did for him, disregard of his insensitive emotional decisions.

But this was different. What he felt for her was different. It's frightening him to the point that he had to seek help from his one life line, Jin Hyung.

"I-I tried to not bother you but I just couldn't handle it anymore. I'm sorry, Hyung. I tried. Really," holding the mug with tight grip, Jimin kept his gaze low all while mumbling those out to Jin.

Jin sighed and walked over to him. Jimin was caught off guard when he hugged him. He didn't realize until then that the hug was what he needed at that moment. A calm assurance that his Jin Hyung was there no matter what and how small or difficult the matter was.

Jin pulled away and sat beside him. He noticed Jimin still couldn't look him in the eye.

"Tell me," with a soft voice Jin pushed him to talk, to share whatever was eating him from inside.

Shutting his eyes, Jimin let the memories to flow inside as they spilled as words from his mouth only for the ears of Jin.

From how Aya's distant behavior irked him to how he was all over her without a care of this world－he let those all out. Only for Jin.

Jin sat there listening to each syllable carefully. He had a stoic expression that was fairly unreadable for Jimin.

"So that is why you had the break down? Because you failed to understand why you suddenly acted like that?"

"It's not only that, Hyung. She, her actions, everything is affecting me mentally and I've no idea why. Yes, I care about her but I care about a lot of other people too. And they don't affect me like the way she does. They don't make me curious about them or want to explore more about what they've kept hidden from the eyes of the world. It's just...her. Only her."

Jin laughed－ not the obnoxious kind but elegantly. Jimin looked at him with round eyes.

"Hyung, why would you laugh when I'm petrified and lost here?"

"I'm sorry, Jimin but wow this is new?"

Saying so, Jin laughed again. Jimin was confused. This wasn't how Jin used to address to his problems. Then what made him want to laugh now?

"I don't understand, Hyung. What's wrong?"

Finally he stopped laughing and looked at Jimin with a soft expression.

"Are you that oblivious Jimin? Sure you're mature but not with the matters of heart."

"W-wait what are you trying to say－"

"All I'm trying to say is, your own heart betrayed you. And that is why you're having thoughts only about her."

Jimin listened to him like how he always used to.

"Maybe you're afraid and failed to understand this because you're not familiar with this kind of feeling."

Jin turned fully to Jimin, facing him with a serious expression.

"Jimin, I don't know how to put this in a way to not scare you but there is a high chance that you like Aya."

Nervously chuckling, Jimin decided to speak this time.

"I understand you're trying to help me, Hyung. But you're talking about me and I can't like someone. You know that. This is not possible. Maybe it's just some infatuation－"

"Who are you fooling, Jimin? Both you and I know that you're not the one to get infatuated. Your eyes, they're a tale-tell that deep down you know what you feel and deep down you're scared to admit it. Because you don't want anyone else, not her to get entangled in the mess you created for yourself."

Soft eyes bore into guilty ones. Jimin looked down without any words while Jin felt his heart ache for his brother. Clenching his fist, Jimin looked up. Tearful eyes bore into soft ones.

"I dared to not listen to you once and I'm still paying the price for it. I'm confused and not ready to face it. It's the matter of my heart, Hyung. The only possession of mine that is still left untainted. And I'll not be careless with it. Not at any cost."

Note :

We're all caught up. Next chapter will be a new one. Thank you for being so patience with me :")