Chapter Text
Jimin's lethargic eyes peered through the crowd in a hurry. The time zone shift and the jet lag always was heavy on him. On top of that, hearing that Jungkook's family was also traveling through the same airport, he knew he had to avoid him at any cost, even if it cost him his journey.
The dread in his gut spiked and it radiated all over his nerves the moment his eyes caught a beautiful man coming through the security gate. Paralysis was a disorder of losing muscle rigor, and Jimin felt it all too much as he preserved his gaze at the same raven and silky hair, the same fair skin that compelled him to touch Jungkook. The giggles were still innocent and full of life.
Jungkook fixed the pink baby carrier, tucking the little one's hair and hugging her close, his one hand ensuring that his daughter was safe and steady, and one hand dragging the bag. Before he could raise his head and see a petrified past in front of him, his sister, Siu, jumped in front of him. "I'll take her now." She said, the peak of her upper lip trembling.
Jungkook's eyes squinted for a beat and he thought he smelled something. The crowd didn't allow him to stand and inspect as he was pushed ahead, his sister not leaving his side. "It's okay. She's asleep."
Nodding, Siu got behind her brother, making sure he wasn't looking back.
Jungkook's heart started feeling heavy as the family exited the airport. Something about the fragrance.
Their driver had brought the car around. As Jungkook started to load the bags, Siu excused herself. "I'll be back in a minute."
Jungkook grew suspicious as his gaze followed Siu. It wasn't long before he could see she had convinced the security guards to get past the entry gate. "What's wrong?" Ji-Eun asked, looking at her husband with a worried and quizzical look.
"Get in the car and be with Sana. I'll go check on Siu."
Realizing that her sister-in-law was absent, Ji-Eun paced closer to Jungkook. "Is everything okay? Did she lose something?"
"I don't know," Jungkook held Ji-Eun's palm and opened the car door to guide her in.
The woman got in, but her eyes kept searching for an answer. The sudden disappearance of Siu and the shift in her husband's aura was something that called for worrying.
She watched Jungkook rush back in, avoiding the crowd while bolting. Turning to the baby girl who was in a child seat, she picked her up, hugging her close. "Appa will come back." She cooed, playing with Sana's chin, making the one-and-a-half-year-old gag while she tried to speak but ended up splattering her spit all over Ji-Eun's face.
"Ma'am," the driver called, inviting the woman's attention. "I can't stay here for long. We have to move."
"It's okay. I'll call Jungkook." She nodded and the driver started the car to drive around from the busy parking area.
**
Siu ran around, her heart beating knowing that she shouldn't be doing this, but she had to see Jimin for herself. It wasn't difficult because the man had hardly gotten himself very far away from where she had seen him. Behind a pillar on a lonely bench that was facing the restroom corridor, Jimin sat with his face dipping down. His black attire was blending with the monochromatic surroundings, but his body wasn't.
Siu's eyes watered as she realized that the man was crying behind his mask. "Jimin," she called, startling the blonde man to whip his head up. He instantly wiped his tears before he broke down beyond repair. "I am sorry. I should've informed you earlier." Siu told Jimin as she sat beside him.
Gaining the bearings and his semblance, Jimin breathed and shook his head. His voice had deserted him and even if it didn't, he had no words to speak. "Are you going to be okay?" Siu held his palms, needing assurance.
Jimin nodded this time, trying to smile through his crestfallen lips, reddened eyes trying to beam, his flushed skin wafting heat. "I'll text you," Siu stood up slowly. "He'll worry. I have to go now. But I'll text you." Her hands left Jimin's and she hastily started sliding away.
Jimin was watching her little and little before she completely disappeared. He slouched back on the bench and looked up at the blue board with white bold signs. He had to get himself up, but he couldn't feel his legs.
When he sensed someone sitting beside him, he turned to see a beautiful girl, but when her eyes met his, she lurked back, immediately grabbing her bag and running scarily away. Jimin chuckled sourly, thinking he must be looking like a drug addict.
Conveniently enough, he was closer to the restroom than anyone else. As he stood up and started to walk towards it, he heard a voice. "Jimin Hyung."
Everything turned colder than the tundra. The memories came rushing like a snowslide, the times they spent together, promising each other the world, and how Jungkook slipped through his hand inch by inch. He was once aware that he was losing him, but he couldn't do anything to stop him.
"What are you doing here?" Jimin asked, his voice miraculously returned. He hadn't thought he would have the courage to stare down at this man with hatred in his eyes, but he did. After three years, he couldn't be sure what was fitting to say.
"Jimin Hyung," Jimin was a few feet apart. Jungkook had to be gallant. Three steps and he could touch the love of his life again. He wanted to forget every reality for a moment and he did when he padded ahead, only to get wounded by the hate of the older, blonde male when he stepped back defensively. "How are you, Hyung? Please talk to me."
If Jimin had asked Jungkook to go down on his knees and beg for an answer, he would've done it without a hint of humiliation.
"Go away, Jungkook. I don't want to see you again."
"Please, Hyung," Jungkook's voice quivered and his tears weren't a secret anymore. "At least tell me how are you? I've tried so many times to talk to you, but you never gave me a chance. Now that you are here, at least tell me. I need to know how are you doing?"
"As if you don't talk to Siu, Jungkook?" Jimin emitted a sarcastic jibe.
Jungkook couldn't blame Jimin, but he could blame himself, and he has been for the past three years. There once was a time when Jimin couldn't see him crying. He always tended to him, but now, he was staring at him with a hollow and hateful look.
This gave Jungkook something akin to a realization of what Jimin might have been feeling for him for the last three years. What must Jimin have done the night when he was getting married, or what he must've felt on hearing about Sana? He was falsely under the impression that his Hyung could never hate him, that he'd forgive him, but he has been so wrong.
"Every single day," Jungkook crossed his heart, his chin trembling as he attempted to get close again slowly, one step at a time. "I know everything you tell her, but I know you haven't been honest. Please tell me that you are okay, that you have been happy."
"Happy?" Jimin hysterically raised his voice. "I am very happy, Jungkook. Thanks so fucking much for your concern."
"Hyung," Jungkook's voice was loaded with a bolus of longing, his head tilting as he pleaded.
This electrocuted Jimin to the same realization. There once was a time when he couldn't see tears anywhere near Jungkook. His eyes faltered and his heart cinched. "I have to go, Jungkook. Go on now. Your family must be waiting for you." His voice turned tender, not taunting, and not daunting.
"Please promise me you'll talk to me, Hyung," Jungkook pounced and grabbed Jimin's palms, holding them tight. "Please."
Staring down at the entangled nostalgia, Jimin pulled himself away. When someone stops drinking alcohol for a while, even the smallest quantities are enough to make them completely intoxicated. Similarly, Jimin smiled at Jungkook, the smile that could always put the raven-haired male into a frenzy at any time, it made Jungkook want to shatter away at the heartbreaking beauty. "I won't," Jimin shook his head slowly. "Live your life, Jungkook. I am happy." He assured, knowing how badly his one true love was clinging to him for him to admit it.
When they had parted their ways last time, it was Jimin who gathered the courage to walk away first. He had to have that courage again. Turning around, he started striding as far away from Jungkook as he could, indifferent to people fueling their gossip vehicles on his delirious condition.