Just because pt.2
A/n: if you haven’t read my update, here it is. So this is part 2, yeah hope you enjoy! The next part, things will get heated, but I know some people do not want to read those kinds of things, so I will make two types, one that is family friendly, and the other rated PG 13. But this is it for now! I will work on Work of Art next!
Cha Eun Woo fluff, College AU, friends with benefits
Word count: 3,173
“Eun woo? Where have I heard that name before?” You extend your hand and shook it. “Y/n.” You were smiling through your anger and progressively squeezed his hand harder and harder. Eun woo yanked his hand away and shook it in pain.
“Strong grip.” His eyes moved from his hand to your mischievous smirk, “Thanks, I try!” You said mockingly and scowled at both of them. Eun Woo raised his hands up surrendering and feeling threatened by your actions, “Okay, I get it. You’re mad that we-”
“We? No it was all you bro.” The other guy interrupted. Eun woo slapped him hard on the stomach that he fell on his knees. “Okay- it was my fault too.” He said in a tone of pain. You turned your face away from them and snorted a little. You caught Eun woo’s attention and he gave out a little chuckle as well.
“I guess I should introduce him as well. This is Minhyuk, but we call him Rocky.” He pointed at him on the floor and Minhyuk waved his hand as he was still in great pain. You raised your eyebrow wondering why that was his nickname, “Rocky?”
“Well, it’s because… you know.” the boy pointed down to his crotch. You nodded and cringed when you got the idea, “Ahh, great to know.” You suddenly felt a grab on your wrist and you got yanked away. It was Kayla, “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
“What do you mean?” you furrowed your eyebrows not knowing what she was going on about, “That’s Cha Eun Woo!” you looked at her confused, “You know, the one I was talking about! With Astro?” The light bulb in your brain immediately turned on, “Ohh I knew I heard that name before.” She grabbed you by the arm and walked away from them, “They are the most popular frat in this whole school. Remember the food chain! You’re going to get eaten by every girl. Everyone has their eye on Eun Woo, no correction, on Astro. You mess with one, you mess with all.” There was silence, “I just don’t want to find you in a deep hole. It’s happened before.” You chuckled, “You’re too dramatic. Anyways, what happened with that senior?” you said to change the topic.
“Oh him? Well, we exchanged numbers. We hit it off pretty fast.” You nudged her in the arm. “Okay! So when are you going to meet again?” She shrugged, “Not sure, maybe tonight.”
“Tonight?! Wow, you sure move fast.” You looked at your phone, it was time for your next lecture. You said your goodbyes and left to go to the room. It was the slowest class you ever had. You didn’t even know why you took this course. You replayed the moments in your head with Eun Woo. You get why so many girls chase after him. He’s tall, he has great cheekbones, the way those eyes twinkle. Wait! Snap out of it! I can’t go for him, I don’t want to end up in a ditch. She could just be exaggerating, but girls can do crazy shit sometimes.
You learned nothing from that lecture besides how to kill time without using your phone. Once you exited the hall, you whipped out your phone and looked at all your notifications. You got a text from Kayla, “Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I have a lecture after yours so I got lunch without you. Don’t hate me too much, see ya later!” You groaned and searched up where to eat. A couple of steps later, you bumped into someone.
“Sorry! I wasn’t look-” You looked up and saw a familiar face.
“Ahh, y/n was it? Remember me?” Eun woo. How could you not? He was just on your mind the whole lecture. You knew you had to get away from him before anyone could see you with him.
“Umm yeah. Okay nice to see you again got to go bye!” you said hurriedly. He grabbed you by the wrist and turned you towards him, “wanna grab lunch together?”
“Uhh, no it’s okay! I don’t have money anyways. Okay bye!” You try to walk away again, but he just pulled you right back.
“Wait!” He looked closer at your face, “You seem nervous.” You turned your face away and he laughed, “It’s okay, I’ll pay.” He dragged you through the halls, ran through the field and across the street to a quaint little cafe. He sat you down and took a seat in the chair across from you. You were still catching your breath.
“Did… we… really… have to… RUN!” You started to fan yourself when you felt beads of sweat forming on your forehead. He let out a soft chuckle and looked at your tomato colored face, “So, what do you want? My treat.”
“For making me run?! Yes you do owe me!” you rolled your eyes. He chuckled making you smile ever so faintly. “Surprise me, as long as you get me something cold to drink.” He looked at the menu and got up, “Okay wait here.”
“It’s not like I have the energy to go anywhere!” You yelled at him. He gave you a thumbs up as he walked up to the counter. A few minutes later, he came back with two blt bagels and one glass of nestea with ice.
“Here you go.” He set down a bagel and the glass in front of you and sat down. His mouth was drooling as he picked up his bagel and took a big bite stuffing his cheeks with food.
“Thanks. Did you not get a drink yourself?” He pointed at the one glass. He shoved his food in his cheeks so he could speak.
“I have one right here.” He continued to chew and take multiple bites from his bagel.
“What? Isn’t this mine?”
“Who said we can’t share? Sharing is caring you know.” He took another bite filling his mouth even more.
“Don’t talk while you chew you pig or else you’ll-” Eun woo started coughing violently, “choke.” He grabbed the glass and chugged down almost a half of the whole drink. You snorted as you saw him struggle, “That’s what you get.” You took a bite out of your bagel as he was still recovering. After a few seconds he stopped coughing and caught his breath.
“So when’s your next lecture?” He asked. You swallowed your food and spoke, “5:00.” He raised up his eyebrow liking the sound of what he heard, “I guess we have some time to get to know each other.” You scoffed and leaned closer to him, “Who said I’ll stay with you until then.” He paused thinking for a moment, “I’ll buy you ice cream.”
“Deal, so…” He laughed at how easy it was to convince you. It was surprisingly fun hanging out with him. You found out a lot about him, and he found out a lot about you. You talked about each others’ childhood, your elementary and high school days, how he never kissed a girl before.
“What? You’ve never kissed a girl before?” He shook his head chuckled, “Nope. Surprising huh? I never told anyone that besides Astro.” You leaned back in your chair and crossed you arms, “Interesting. One of the most popular guys in school never kissed a girl before.”
“Unless you count a kiss in grade 2 from this random girl in my class.” he shrugged. You shook your head, “No, doesn’t count.” You opened your phone to check the time. It was 4:50, “Well, this was fun, but I better get going.” You get up and tuck in your chair.
“Wait, let me get your number, so we hang out again.” You thought for a moment. You don’t even know this guy, and according to Kayla, he’s bad news. But he seems harmless to you, might as well do it, “Umm, sure.” You two exchange numbers. You saw him with a big smile on his face as you typed your number in his phone.
“I’ll see you later!” he exclaimed. You waved good bye and walk to your lecture. You couldn’t help but smile the whole time.
Your class went by in an instant and got back to the dorms. You opened the door and it was empty, no sign of Kayla anywhere. However, you saw a yellow sticky note on your bed and picked it up.
Hey, I’m not going to be coming back tonight. I’ll be with the hot senior guy. Don’t worry! I won’t do anything foolish, and I hope you didn’t either with Eun Woo. Don’t think I didn’t see you. We’ll talk about it later.
Kayla X
You rolled your eyes and threw the paper in the garbage. You rolled your suitcase to your bed and set it. You unpacked everything and it took you a good 2 hours. You then heard your phone vibrate.
It was Eun Woo. You jumped on your bed and opened your phone.
You: Nothing, just unpacking. I’m done though
Eun Woo: Oh really? Do you mind if I call you?
You: Why do you wanna call me?
Eun Woo: I just feel like it
You: Why don’t you just hang with your frat boy friends?
Eun Woo: They’re out
You: Why aren’t you with them?
Eun Woo: They didn’t wake me up and went without me
You: aww boohoo ;P
Eun Woo: I’m actually going to call you
You: Go ahead
Eun Woo: Really??
You got a phone call from him, but you let it ring and didn’t answer.
Eun Woo: Wow, what a tease -_-
You: I said you can call, I never said I was going to answer ;D
Eun Woo: Fine! I don’t want to talk to you anymore, good night.
You: Now it is :p
You set down your phone on your stomach and counted to three. When you go to three, your phone vibrated again. You let out a soft giggle and looked at your screen.
You: Fine, since I’m such a nice person, I’ll let you.
You instantly got a call from him and you picked it up.
“So what do you want?”
“Wow, no hello? No how are you doing?”
“Oh I’m sorry, hi. Now what do you want?”
“Can I not call you?”
“Considering we just met, yeah it’s kind of weird.”
“Are we not friends? I mean, you know almost everything about me and I know everything about you.”
“Okay you have a point.”
“Exactly.”
“But seriously, we could’ve just texted, I have minutes.”
“It takes so much effort to text!”
“Please, I actually have minutes!”
“Fine.” He hung up and texted you. You two texted the whole night. There were times where you said to stop at a certain time, but you just exceeded it and kept going. You knew you messed up when your alarm went off. “No, it can’t be 7 already!” It was indeed.
You: WE TEXTED ALL NIGHT!
Eun Woo: What? It’s already morning?? No way
You: Check your clock idiot, I have to get ready! I have my lecture in 10 minutes!!
Eun Woo: Why did you set your alarm that late then?
You: SHUT UP! GOTTA GO
You flung yourself up and rushed to your closet. You took out a giant sweater and your sweats. You grabbed your bag and ran out the door. You went as fast as you can to the hall. Luckily, you made it. Once you sat down and the professor started to talk, you suddenly felt how tired you were. Your eyes were heavy and your head fell on your desk at some point making some of the people around you concerned.
You walked out of that lecture hall all slouched trying not to pass out. You had your hood on and looked down on the floor while you walked through the campus. You then felt a hand on your shoulder. It took so much energy just to turn your body to the person. It took some time to process who it was and what it wanted. Your first focus was the cup of coffee. You snatched it out of the person’s hand and chugged it. A millisecond later you coughed feeling the heat on your tongue and down your throat.
“Not even a thank you?” It was a familiar voice. You looked up, it was Eun Woo. Of course he was here. You stopped feeling the pain and responded, “Thanks.” you said in a monotone.Eun Woo scanned you from head to toe, “You look like a mess.”
“Again, THANKS!” You were grumpy and didn’t want anything to do with him right now.
“I have a lecture in a few minutes. Catch up with you later.” He smiled and patted your head. You groaned and took another sip of your coffee. You kept walking until you jutted forward almost falling. The person took your hood off and turned to face him/her, “What do you think you’re doing (y/n)? Trying to hide?” it was your roommate.
“Oh hi Kayla.” you sounded dead, maybe because you were, dead tired.
“You look like shit, BUT WE HAVE MANY MATTERS TO DISCUSS!” She grabbed you by your bag and walked fast down the hall. Your legs couldn’t keep up that you fell and she was dragging you down the hall. You just enjoyed the ride and sipped on your coffee while everyone just looked at you. You got outside and she dragged you on the cement to the grass and finally stopped. She was panting while you just sat there finishing your cup of joe.
“Did you finally find the treasure?” You snorted.
“Ah, I see you got some energy, but no joking around right now! We are alone and I can talk to you, AND SMACK SOME SENSE INTO YOU!” You turn to face her still sitting on the floor.
“What did I do?” you threw your hands up in the air and she just glared at you, “YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING!”
“Is this about Eun Woo?”
“No… it’s about Santa, OF COURSE IT’S ABOUT EUN WOO!” she sat down next to you. You patted her thigh trying to calm her down, “Maybe you want to lower your voice, there are eun woo fangirls everywhere.” You could see her get red and try not to strangle you at that moment. She took a deep breath in and out.
“Okay, I’m calm. I wouldn’t be bringing this up over and over again if it wasn’t serious. Girls got injured, there are so many crazy fans. It’s not like they’re real life celebrities, but they are the celebrities of our school. We need to keep the food chain. If the ones at the bottom try to climb up, they will be knocked down by the people in the middle.”
“First of all, Eun Woo and I are just friends! That’s all we are! And second, I don’t give a shit about the crazy girls. If they hurt me, then they will. Just trust me, I will stay safe. I know you’re just looking out for me, and I appreciate that, but I’m an adult now. I can take care of myself okay?” You put your hands on her shoulder and looked her in the eyes.
“Okay, I trust you. But remember, I will be here if something happens and to say I told you so.” She laughed and gave you a hug. Both of you fell on the grass and looked at the clouds.
“How was yesterday with the guy?”
“Let’s just say, we’re seeing each other again tonight.”
“Oh? You do move fast.” both of you chuckle and she nudged your side.
“Nothing happened… yet.” both of you break into laughter as you playfully hit her in the stomach.
An hour past when you got another text.
“Who’s that?” she looked at you. You rolled you eyes, “Eun Woo.” you said annoyed.
“What does he want?”
“To meet up in the library.” you sit yourself up and put your phone in your pocket. Kayla sits up as well and smiles, “Go have fun. I have a class anyways right now.” You look at her in awe, “You’re actually not going to hold me back?”
“You’re an adult, and I trust your decisions.” Both of you sat up and hugged each other goodbye.
“Call me or text me the details later.” she yells at you as you walk away.
“I will, have fun with you man tonight.” Both of you part ways. You text him back and meet up with him there. He said to go to the history section and go all the way in the back. You were suspicious about the spot, but when you saw him, he was just on his phone with his bag. He looked up and gestured you to come. You walk down the row and sat next to him.
“Tell me why you chose this spot?” you whispered.
“So no one sees us.” he grinned and winked at you. You pretended to gag and sat down next to him, “Why don’t you want anyone to see us?”
“You want a bunch of girls to bother us?”
“Good point.” You took off your bag and took out your notebook and pencil. But you wondered, “why specifically the history section?”
“You really think anyone would search for history books?”
“Okay true. Let’s work!”
You take out your books while Eun Woo just stayed on his phone, “Are you not going to work?” He looked at you confused, “Umm, no.”
“Then why’d you even bring me to the library?”
“Because it’s a quiet place for me to sleep.” You shook your head.
“And I know you need to get your work done. You probably got no notes down for your lecture.” He rummaged through his back and took out a few sheets of paper with writing on it. You looked at every side of each paper, “What’s this?”
“The notes from that class. Go ahead and copy it.” he gestured to the paper. You turned to face him almost beaming with joy, “How’d you get it?”
“I’m one of the most popular guys in this school, everyone knows me and they give me anything I ask. Especially the girls.” you rolled your eyes and put the papers next to you, “You disgust me.”
“My disgusting self got you these notes. Do you want them or not?” he reached for the pile, but you stopped him, “No, I’ll take them. Thank you.” You took out some lined paper and immediately started to copy it. Even if you were focused on your work, you can still see Eun Woo in your peripheral vision. He was looking at you. You turned your head to him and he moved his attention back to his phone. You ignored it and continued to write. You felt his presence again staring at you.
“You have anymore lectures?”
“No why?”
“Wanna go to the frat house?”
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All of You | 06
pairing ↠ ceo!jimin x reader
genre ↠ friends to lovers | arranged marriage AU (fluff, angst, smut)
word count ↠ 12,608
18+ | warnings ↠ so much ANGST, a little bit of jealousy, insecurities, mentions of classism and prejudiced opinions, non-descriptive sexual content, mentions of a stroke, swearing, drinking.
summary ↠ Park Jimin is your definition of perfect. He’s talented, handsome, and dedicated to everything he does, making him the man of your dreams. But what happens when you both wake up one day and realise that’s all you had together… a short dream?
series masterlist
Silence follows that last statement, with Pil-woo needing a few moments to understand what his father means. This whole evening he’s been belittling you, making you feel worthless, and now he’s admitting that you are, in fact, smart.
That’s something Pil-woo has known all along of course; he’d hoped it would be enough (amongst many other wonderful qualities) for his father to like you, and hopefully one day, love you just as Jimin wants, but now he realises what his dad means…
Pil-woo has many words to describe his father, and while he’d like to say they’re mostly good, the only one he can think of right now is manipulative.
“Are you being serious?” Pil-woo stares at his father incredulously. “You knew from the start didn’t you?”
Deok-su doesn’t look at Pil-woo despite the tone his son speaks to him in; he knows he’s been unfair in his treatment of you and of course Pil-woo would be angry. It’s the same reason he tried to keep calm with Jimin. He knows he’s not asking for something small but this is important to him.
“What? That she’s smart or that she’s going to be the one to break your son's heart?”
At the ease with which his father says it, Pil-woo fails to come up with a response, taken aback by his nonchalance.
“Because if you mean the former,” Deok-su continues, “I knew that from the start, and regardless of what Jimin or you or Eun-ae may think, I have respect for Y/N and it’s clear to me that she’s a bright young woman who will undoubtedly go far.”
“W-what? What d’you mean…? What does mom think?” Pil-woo asks, so bewildered by his dad’s ability to be unkind that he fails to process the compliment he just gave you (despite being meaningless in the situation).
He pauses, somewhat stiffening. “Nothing. But as for the latter,” he continues, “I figured that out this evening. Her decision to stay for dinner told me that much. I could see she was uncomfortable and not just because of Bong-cha, but with everything.”
“You did it on purpose,” Pil-woo says, exasperated. “You’ve been using her and Jimin, like pawns!”
“This isn’t a game to me,” Deok-su answers sharply, turning to him. “You’re mistaken if you think that.”
“Then what is it?” Pil-woo snaps loudly, and this time he doesn’t care that he’s talking to his father. He feels as though he’s been too complicit today, idly standing by and watching as his father made a fool of you for whatever reason. Deok-su has always prided himself on being a man of respect, but his actions today have been far from respectful and Pil-woo knows that.
Following his question, Deok-su turns away and silence ensues, and then Pil-woo begins to realise…
Taking a step closer, his voice is quieter as he asks, “This isn’t about Jimin, or Y/N, is it?”
His father meets his gaze, staring at him rather emptily. “I’ve told you this before,” he says, his tone no longer emotionless, but somber. “Love isn’t what it’s made out to be. I’m saving Jimin from learning that the hard way.”
At his father’s words, Pil-woo feels some of his anger dissipate.
“Maybe not to everyone,” Pil-woo responds quietly. “But you’re forgetting one thing… my son isn’t you.”
The journey back to your apartment is mostly silent. Both Jimin and you have thoughts weighing heavy on your mind and hearts.
You’re feeling thoroughly humiliated but equally guilty because of the thoughts that are filling your head, and it makes you feel selfish:
For years you’ve been subjected to this kind of humiliation by peers and others who thought of you foolish for trying to aim so high with your education and career; you proved them all wrong and succeeded, becoming as successful as your two siblings who went through the same thing. So this isn’t unfamiliar to you, but it’s not welcome. Not when you’re tired of it, and know you deserve more.
Staying with Jimin (if that’s even a choice for him,) will only mean further taunts and reminders that you’re not good enough for him, and you’re not sure if you can go through that again. Not when you’ll also be constantly questioning whether Jimin will ever regret his decision to disobey his granddad’s dying wish.
You can already see how much he’s struggling now; you’re certain that regardless of his love for you, he’ll always feel disappointed he couldn’t please his grandpa. You’ve seen how much he cared for him over the years, and you know this isn’t easy for him.
When he came back into the lounge to ask you if you wanted to leave, you said yes because you had enough of the pitiful smiles from Eun-ae. But you could also see that Jimin himself wanted to leave.
Even now, as he drives, he frequently tightens his fingers around the wheel and bounces his leg anxiously at every light.
When your apartment complex comes into sight, you feel relieved, wanting only to return to the safety of your own home, your own space.
Jimin parks his car in the spot he’d hired out so many months ago now, and he still rushes over to open the car door for you.
It’s something he’s done countless times — including when he slips his fingers between yours and leads you up to your apartment — and it still warms your heart, and now more so than ever given the silent tension that lingers between you.
Jimin never fails to make sure he shows his love for you. It reminds you of the first weekend you spent at his apartment, after you were filled with doubts when his dad showed up — Jimin was so hopeful then too, so certain that the both of you could make this work, simply because he loves you.
How foolish you’d been. Even when he kissed you in his office, all it took was those words: you’re my lucky star, remember? It was the romance of it all that had you falling right back into his arms, the romance of a perfect love story between you and him, meant to be.
But even then, deep down, you knew something like this would happen, although the reality is so much worse.
You hadn’t expected Jimin’s granddad to have his life slipping past like an hourglass, and at the end of it comes the end of your relationship. But reality is often harsh — you learnt that many times growing up.
You can’t always get what you want, and sometimes you can, you just have to try and fight for it. Your mom told you that many times growing up and you remember what she said to you that day at Gi’s. She promised that if you both loved each other then it would work…
But this is your reality now — Jimin and you both tried and it doesn’t seem to be enough.
Unlocking your door, you step into your apartment with Jimin close behind you. The sound of your heels echo across the wide hall and you come to a slow stop, turning to face Jimin, his features clear to you even in the dim evening light.
He’s looking at you with the same love as he always does, but this time there’s more — he’s thinking the same as you… you can see it in his expression.
A moment passes with you both standing silently, the events of the past few hours playing in your head, and it kills Jimin when he thinks about the last conversation he had with his grandpa, the one you don’t even know about yet. He can’t tell you, he won’t, because he knows that’ll be the final straw for you.
But it’s as though you’re already thinking that, because you look away to the floor, fiddling with the purse you’re holding. Jimin thinks back to when you chose it just a few hours ago — how worried you were about making the wrong style choices because you so badly wanted to impress his grandparents. He reassured you it would be okay, but right now everything feels far from okay…
Wordlessly, Jimin steps forward and wraps his arms around you. He holds you tighter when you return the hug, and you can hear a voice telling you that this is it, you know what you want to say to him and he knows it too.
But he’s tired, you can feel it. He’s holding onto you as though you’re his lifeline and it makes it so much harder when then the voice in your head gets louder with every moment that passes.
Your eyes press shut as you will your tears away, making sure they don’t stain the crisp material of Jimin’s shirt. You don’t want to cry because you know it’ll only make Jimin feel worse and it won’t help either of you. But neither does standing here in each other’s arms.
“Jimin,” you murmur, trying to move back but Jimin doesn’t let you, and instead he moves his hand to your head to keep you close.
“Please don’t say anything,” he croaks, sighing into your shoulder. “Just let me hold you.”
The sentiment tears your heart apart, especially knowing JImin is barely keeping it together himself. Even without telling you about those final words Deok-su said to him, it already feels like the end of something between you.
“Jimin,” you mutter, forcing yourself back with a firm hand. “We have to.” Your eyes meet his and he shakes his head, already trying to pull you back in.
“It’s fine, just give me some time and I’ll work it all out, okay?” He’s pulling you gently by the arm but you close your hand around his arm to stop him.
A few months ago you would’ve easily fallen back into his arms, reassured by his promise to make things work. You have fallen back into his arms just like that many times before, but now…
You swallow, shaking your head as you speak in a quiet voice, afraid to hurt him. “Jimin, you don’t have time.”
Jimin stills, the words settling into his mind for the first time. He kept ignoring it before, pushing it away and hoping things would work out. Today was supposed to be that day, the day where his grandpa would meet you and realise he was wrong. But it wasn’t. If anything, it made things worse.
Grip loosening on your arm, Jimin lets his hand drop and now he avoids your gaze. Turning away, he walks into the kitchen and pours himself a drink. Your words repeat themselves over in his head and he racks his brain for options, and each time he comes up short.
He stays silent as he drains the glass, and then pours another.
You’ve since followed him into the kitchen and you stand on the other side of the counter. But when he pours the second glass, your concern heightens.
“Jimin…?” you say his name, walking tentatively around the island, but making sure to keep some distance between you because you’re far from immune to Jimin’s touch and right now you need a clear head.
He doesn’t respond when you say his name, instead he tilts his head back and drains the glass again.
“Jimin,” you say more firmly this time.
He puts the glass down and doesn’t refill it, but rests his palms against the counter and exhales quietly, eyes closing.
You know he’s struggling and you wish you could take away all of his problems for him, and you can take away at least some of them. It’s what you’ve been thinking all evening, and you know it’ll be hard for you but you’d do anything to make things easier for Jimin, even if they might not seem like it right now, but it will be.
It takes you a few moments to collect yourself, to figure out what you need to say, and when you do, you make sure to look away from Jimin.
“I really appreciate how you looked after me today,” you say quietly. Jimin stays still, but you know he’s listening. “I know it wasn’t easy for you, none of this has been—”
“It hasn’t been easy for you either,” he interrupts, still looking down at the bottle in front of him.
“No, it hasn’t, but it’s been harder for you. It’s not my…” you pause, choosing not to finish that sentence because Jimin is well aware that it’s not your grandpa who’s dying. Besides, you know he knows what you were going to say. In fact, you know he knows everything you’re going to say, so you don’t beat around the bush, and instead cut to the chase.
“It’s unfair that he’s not giving you much of a choice, and I know you don’t want to say no to him… but he’s not entirely wrong.” From the corner of your eye, you see Jimin lift his head and look at you, but you know you have to say everything so you keep talking.
“That day you tried to pull me off the deal with Tobias, Geun-woo came into my office and asked me what happened between us, and I told him. I didn’t know then, obviously, that we would get together, but I saw things differently then. It was easier to see things from a different perspective when I didn’t have you like I do now,” you admit, steeling yourself to finish what you need to say. “Your grandparents want what’s best for you, Jimin, and they don’t think I’m—”
“Y/N, stop,” Jimin mutters, taking a step towards you but you quickly take one back, still avoiding his gaze, and he stops.
“They’ve raised you to be the amazing man you are today, and they clearly did a good job with that, but they still want more for you. And right now, that’s you getting married to Bong-cha and I have no right to come in and change what they’ve always wanted for you—”
“What about me?” Jimin exclaims. “What about what I want?”
Only now do you look up at him, your heart splitting at the sound of his voice and it shatters when you see the hurt in his expression, no doubt from everything you’re saying. But there’s a part of him that knows there’s truth in it. He knows it as well as you do.
Biting back your tears forcefully, you let yourself voice the fears that settled in from the moment you pulled up in the drive of Jimin’s family home.“You might want this now but what if you realise they’re right, Jimin? What if I can’t be who you want me to be?”
“Y/N, what are you talking about?” Jimin says, much softer this time. “You’re you and that’s perfect for me, you’re perfect to me!”
“No, I mean everything I saw today — the big house, the maids, the butlers, the expensive tea that probably costs an average person’s weekly wage!— that’s your life.”
“What?” Jimin murmurs, confused.
“Your grandpa’s right. I won’t understand how to be a part of all that.”
“Babe, what are you talking about?”
“Look at the house you grew up in, it’s probably fifty times the size of the house I lived in!”
“That means nothing, Y/N.”
“It means everything,” you sigh, feeling your resolve weaken the longer you stand here convincing Jimin. “You’ve grown up with these customs and traditions, everyone in your family has. And I don’t get them. All this time we were together but I only met your mom for the first time today because you’ve kept these two sides of your life separate, because we’re different.”
Jimin hesitates, and you know now that he gets it.
“How are we supposed to have a life together when I don’t understand such a big part of yours?” you ask, your voice breaking off at the end.
Jimin shakes his head. “I don’t care. I’m choosing you, Y/N. I’m choosing you over everything else. I’ve told you before I'll resign as CEO if I have to, I don’t care.”
“You’re not choosing me over your family.”
“I am,” Jimin insists, approaching you.
“You can’t, it’s not as simple as that, Jimin, you—”
“I love you, what’s more simple than that?”
“Choosing Bong-cha.”
Jimin halts, the tenderness in his expression slowly disappearing. He doesn’t say anything and the moment that passes in silence is unbearable for you, the guilt of those last two words settling in.
“You really think that’s easier than this?” he asks, his voice thick with emotions which he doesn’t try to hide. Not from you.
You’re flooded with even more guilt, already distraught from the situation you’re in. “You liked her at one point,” you say weakly, looking away. “You could feel something again—”
“No,” Jimin shakes his head, looking at you in desperation. “I won’t, I fucking love you, Y/N, not her, never her.”
“You say that now but—”
“But what?” Jimin cries. “You really think I can just leave all of this, leave you, and go to her?”
“I don’t want you to,” you reason just as desperately as him, “but what if it’s better?”
“How?! How is it better? In what way will anyone be happy?!”
“Your grandpa already hates me Jimin!” you exclaim, struggling to battle the tension that's arisen between you both now. It feels unfamiliar and you hate it, but you still have more to say.
“He doesn’t hate you, I… I know how he’s treated you, babe, but I promise he doesn’t hate you—”
“Well he loves Bong-cha,” you interrupt, desperate to get to the point. “And she gets your lifestyle, she’s a part of the life you grew up with. Jimin, I completely understand your grandparents, she’s the obvious choice—”
“Fuck, no, Y/N, please stop making things harder for me!”
“I’m not making anything harder, Jimin!” you raise your voice to match his, but you’re not angry, neither of you are. “This is what it is, it’s the truth. I can’t be the one for you and it feels like the whole universe is trying to tell us that we won’t ever work!”
Jimin looks more hurt than you’ve ever seen him before, and the tears that now spill from eyes are like small daggers to your heart made worse by the lengthy silence that follows with the truth ringing in the air, until…
“Please don’t say that,” he whispers.
Your lip quivers and you find it harder to fight back your own emotions, especially when you know everything you’re saying is hurting Jimin, and you would always do anything to remind him how much he means to you. “I still love you,” you manage to get out through the lump in your throat. “More than anything else in the world.”
“Then please don’t leave me,” Jimin whispers again, and this time his words are like a blow to the head because he knows that’s what you were thinking.
Hearing his words in that broken voice, the last of your walls crumble and Jimin is at your side within a second, taking you into his arms and holding onto you like you’re the most fragile thing in this world.
There’s no thinking behind the way your body fits against his, your arms curling around him like completing a piece of a puzzle, and Jimin buries his face in your neck, drawing out heavy breaths as he also tries not to cry, as he tries to be the strong one because he knows you’ve been putting up a front the whole day. And although he hates to see you cry, especially when he knows it’s because of him, if you’re going to fall into anyone’s arms for comfort, he wants it to be him.
He’ll do anything to fix this.
Slowly moving back, he still doesn’t leave much distance between you, forehead resting on yours and his lips only a hairsbreadth from yours as he pleads—
“I know you, baby, I know you wanna do what seems right but we can do this, and I know this isn’t what you deserve but please don’t give up on me.”
You’re barely stifling your sobs and Jimin raises his hands to hold your cheeks, delicately wiping away your tears as he carries on, voice thick. “He just wants me to marry someone, I’ll marry you.”
“Jimin,” you mutter, shaking your head and brushing off the absurd statement as Jimin’s emotions, but he pulls you back, keeping a tender hand on your face and one tight around your frame.
When you meet his gaze, you see nothing but sincerity.
“I’ll marry you,” he repeats desperately. “Y/N, I’ll spend the rest of my life with you, we’ll grow old together, please, we can do it, I’ll do it, I want to, baby, please.”
His voice breaks off at the end, his face crumpling as he drops his forehead to your shoulder, the dampness from his face soaking through the material of your dress, as he croaks out his last words, “Please don’t leave me, Y/N, I love you more than anything.”
And just like that, you’re left feeling even more hopelessly in love with him.
It’s not just the fact that he’s asking you to marry him, or the fact that he loves you so much he would do it… it’s the fact that he’s practically pleading with you for it — he’s standing with you in his arms and tears falling from his eyes as he pleads with you to marry him.
And you would. In a heartbeat.
There wouldn’t need to be any rhyme or reason behind it — you would do it because you love him as much as he loves you, and the proof is in the way he’s stifling his sobs into your neck while it feels like the whole world is taunting you for being fools from the start, but you don’t care about the rest of the world, you only care about him.
That’s why you tilt your chin to brush your lips against his cheek and kiss his skin. Then again and again until he tentatively raises his head, eyes wide and teary eyed as he looks at you. There’s tear marks all over his puffy face and you still think he’s the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen.
“I love you too,” you whisper, placing another kiss on his left cheek. “More than you know.” And another on his right cheek, stroking away any falling tears with tender swipes of your thumbs.
Jimin’s hand cradles your cheek and as soon as he locks eyes with you, you’re leaning in to meet his lips in the most bittersweet kiss you’ve ever tasted.
But you’ll take it. You’ll take anything with Jimin, you’ll take all of him — the good, the bad, the happiness and the heartbreak. All the pain, you’ll take it even if it hurts you more, just so you can try to ease his pain. It’s just like you’re doing now, and Jimin does the same.
Nothing makes you feel more loved than being in Jimin’s arms — the way he lovingly caresses your skin while proving just how much he wants you with the insistence of his kisses. They’re passionate and consuming, and right now is the most desperate you’ve ever felt for him.
Maybe because now you’ve accepted the fact that you can’t have him. That he can’t be yours. That very soon, he won’t be yours.
But as long as Jimin has you like this, you can’t say no.
The kiss is messy, with the saltiness of tears reminding you both every second just how you’ve ended up like this — frantic to feel one another, hold one another, to remind yourselves with and without words that you have one another.
Twenty minutes later there’s a trail of discarded clothes from the kitchen to your bedroom, and Jimin is driving his hips into yours as he takes no heed of your swollen lips, rouging his own even more as he refuses to part from you for even a single second.
If he’s not got his lips on yours, then they’re on your cheek, chin, jaw, neck—anywhere and everywhere. He’s determined with you tonight, not being careful in the slightest when he leaves his love littered all over your skin in purple blooms.
He stays close to you, keeping his body pressed against yours in every way, and it’s so perfect this way. Almost too perfect that it hurts — how can something feel so right when you both know the truth that awaits you?
“I love you,” Jimin breathes dazedly, skin sticking to yours as he thrusts upwards into you. “So much, baby.” He thrusts again, teeth tugging at your ear before kissing it and moving to your cheek. “Only want you.” And he kisses you with another deep thrust, moving to your mouth and drowning out the rest of the world in a blissful haze.
It’s only a few hours later when you wake up in the early hours of the morning.
You’re surprisingly still in the same position you fell asleep in, cradled into Jimin’s chest with one hand holding yours and his other arm around your frame. He’s still fast asleep, breathing softly as he’s no doubt exerted from earlier—
You hear it again — the muffled quiet ringtone you recognise to be Jimin’s coming from somewhere which is what woke you up from your sleep.
Slowly shifting, you feel an uncomfortable stickiness between your legs; after what can only be described as the most intense love-making you’ve ever had, you found it hard to suppress the emotions bottled up inside of you and so right after you came down from your high, you cried.
So Jimin held you close, whispering endlessly to remind you that he’ll never leave you, saying anything and all he could to comfort you until you eventually fell asleep in his arms. Neither of you cared to clean up or get dressed after sex, it was the least of your concerns, but now as you feel Jimin’s cum, dried and sticky between your legs, you think it wasn’t the best idea.
Although you move as carefully as you can so as not to wake Jimin, he mumbles within seconds, hand rubbing your arm. “What’s wrong?” He blinks a few times, catching sight of you sitting up in bed and he pushes himself up onto his elbows.
Delicately moving the messy hair from his eyes, you smile softly, and then your heart clenches at the sight as the painful memories from yesterday suddenly return. Removing your hand, you nod towards his pants on the floor. “I think your phone is ringing.”
Jimin frowns. “What time is it?”
You check. “3.31.”
Just as Jimin sits up fully, his phone rings for what must be the third time, and you see the sudden concern that sets into his features, and you realise too — it’s half 3 in the morning and someone is calling him endlessly… something’s wrong.
Jimin gets out of bed and grabs a pair of clean boxers from the drawer you have for him in your room. Pulling them on, he takes his phone out of his pants pocket.
Even in the darkness of the room with just his phone screen illuminating his face, you see the way his face falls when reading the contact, and he answers quickly.
“Yeoboseyo,” he answers. You can already tell his breathing has changed, clearly out of nervousness and fear, and even without knowing who it is, you feel panic brewing in your own chest just by seeing Jimin like this. “Dad, is everything okay?” he says immediately after answering.
And just like that, you know just who it’s about and the panic rises to your throat, even with all the resentment you harbour towards him…
Jimin’s chest rises and falls rapidly, and he puts the phone between his ear and shoulder as he grabs his pants and pulls them on, still talking. “Is he okay now?... Text me the hospital address, I’m coming.”
As soon as the call ends, Jimin takes the phone from his ear and you can see his hands shaking.
“Jimin?” you say quietly, grabbing your robe and slipping into this as Jimin looks your way, and his scared expression has you trembling yourself.
“My granddad,” he chokes out. “He’s had a stroke.”
You don’t have any words to comfort Jimin in this moment, so you quickly move to him, steadying yourself from the slight wobble in your knees from earlier.
But right now that’s not on your mind as you immediately pull Jimin into a hug and he practically leans into you, his arms wound around you tight.
“I’m scared,” he whispers, fingers clenching the silk material of your robe.
“I know, baby, but hopefully he’ll be okay. I’ll drive you okay?” Your response comes out automatically and surprises yourself because the thoughts that are running through your head are far from reassuring. Seeing Jimin like this, shaking in fear because his granddad is having a stroke — the man who won’t let the two of you be together — tells you just how much Jimin cares about him.
It dawns on you now, just how broken Jimin will be if Deok-su were to pass away being disappointed in him.
Jimin moves back, nodding while taking a few deep breaths. “Thank you,” he says quietly, waiting for you to look at him.
When you do, he momentarily forgets everything else and wonders how he got so damn lucky with you — even when it comes to Deok-su, you’re still willing to help and look after Jimin.
“It’s okay,” you respond even more quietly.
Jimin nods again, and this time he presses a quick kiss to your lips before pulling back so you can both clean yourselves and get ready as quickly as you can to leave.
Both of you barely exchange any words as you leave your apartment, but Jimin holds your hand all the way down to your car, only letting go when you need to get into the driver's seat and he takes the passenger seat.
His knee bounces nervously the whole journey there and every time you think of what to say to comfort him, you come up short.
Luckily the hospital is only a fifteen minute drive from yours, so you’re soon pulling up into the mostly empty parking lot (given how late it is), although you do recognise a few of the cars parked close to the hospital — Jimin’s aunt and uncles who work at the company, as well as Geun-woo’s. You park close to his.
Jimin is peering up at the hospital through the windshield and you decide to wait in the car while he goes in. Jimin is a bit hesitant about that, knowing why you wouldn’t want to go in, but he simply nods and rushes inside.
Time feels slow as you wait outside in the car, the lengthy minutes dragging on, but it gives you the time you need to think, or rather the time you need to convince yourself that you know what’s best for Jimin.
You meant every word you said to him earlier — there is a difference between your lives and you’ve hardly seen a fraction of his life and you’re well aware of the things Jimin has gone through and sacrificed because of the lifestyle his type of family lead. They’re upper class, some of the richest people originating from Busan and a formidable family thanks to the hard work and efforts of Jimin’s granddad.
They have their high society traditions and customs, ones which you've grown up hatng because of the type of people who entertain them. Jimin’s family are those people. And sure, most of his family is lovely but they’re still a part of that life, and in all honesty, you wouldn’t be able to keep up with it. It’s true what you said to Jimin — he’s been living two different lives in the past year — one with you, a more relaxed and enjoyable life, and the other with his family, involving the formal dinners and constant socialising with a bunch of pretentious grown-ups boasting in conversation to show off their wealth and status. Sure, JImin isn’t like that, nor are his parents (from what you know), but as the CEO of Park Motors, future chairman of the company and the eldest grandson, Jimin would be expected to entertain that kind of lifestyle for the rest of his life.
However, even with all that said, your love for Jimin really knows no bounds and you would put up with it if it means you could spend the rest of your life with him, but there’s also the other side of things, the side that you apparently have no control over — Jimin’s grandparents don’t seem to like you. And if they don’t like you, you already know there’ll be judgement coming from many others who they know and are a part of their lives.
That’s why you understand Deok-su’s side of things… Bong-cha grew up with all of that, they respect her already, and she seems like a lovely enough girl. She can entertain all the traditions and customs that come with being upper class because she is herself.
As much as it breaks your heart to even think about it, you know she’ll look after Jimin and he would no doubt look after her, even if he doesn’t love her. Although a part of you believes that they could fall in love if you're out of the picture for long enough; Jimin has told you that he never actually fell in love with Bong-cha but you don’t think it would be impossible, especially if they were to start a life together, a family—
The thought hurts like a bitch… biting your lip to stop from crying, you get out of the car to catch some of the early morning air. The sky is no longer as dark as it was an hour ago, but the sun has yet to rise entirely.
“Y/N?”
You turn to see Geun-woo walking towards you, no doubt having just come out of the hospital. He’s dressed in pajama bottoms and a sweater, and he looks tired but he still manages to smile widely when he sees you.
“Hey,” you smile back, feeling some kind of relief upon seeing a kind, familiar face.
He comes and gives you a hug, pulling back and looking at you carefully. “Did you come with Jimin?”
“Mhm,” you nod, face becoming somber once more as you remember the reason you’re here. “He was with me when his dad called… How is he? Your granddad?”
“He’s okay now,” Geun-woo answers, “but they’re running all kinds of tests on him to figure out what caused the stroke. They suspect it was stress that caused a blood clot.”
You don’t say anything, wondering if you and Jimin are the reason he might’ve gotten so stressed, but you decide you don’t need to make yourself feel any worse than you already do, so you push these thoughts away.
“I hope he gets better soon,” is all you say, looking out towards the hospital and wondering what Jimin is doing now, how worried he must be.
Geun-woo looks at you, his expression becoming soft. “You know, I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t care.”
You give him a look, one that shows you almost agree with what he’s said but you don’t verbalise it because it’s not actually true. “I care because Jimin cares,” you say eventually.
“Yeah but still. My granddad’s been a complete ass to you, Y/N,” Geun-woo says, somewhat apologetically.
“I know,” you admit quietly, looking towards the hospital. “But for some reason I do.”
Geun-woo nods, lowering his head as you both stand in silence for a moment before he speaks again. “Are you going to wait here the whole time?”
“Yeah, I told Jimin I would wait.”
“Right, well I need to quickly go home and get dressed but I’ll be back within half an hour. Want me to get you anything?” he asks, smiling.
“No, I’m good.” You pat this shoulder, looking down at his clothes. “Did you get woken up from your sleep too?”
“Yeah,” Geun-woo’s smile disappears as he remembers. “I think it was half 2 when my dad got the call and he woke us all up. I offered to drive ‘cos he seemed pretty shaken up.”
“Jimin too,” you nod understandingly.
“Yeah, I didn’t get time to get dressed though so dad’s sending me back home.”
“I’m surprised that’s what he’s concerned with at a time like this,” you say, raising your brow.
“Yeah, I know,” Geun-woo sighs. “I said pretty much the same thing but he gave me the usual, “we’ve got to represent the family at all times” lecture.”
Nodding, you purse your lips as you find yet another reason the Park family is different from yours. Geun-woo seems to realise and goes quiet, the events of the past day returning to his mind.
“How are you anyway?” he asks quietly.
“I’m fine,” you lie.
“Seriously?” Geun-woo arches a brow. “I mean you don’t need to tell me of course but you can if you want to.”
“I know,” you smile emptily. “I appreciate it, but I don’t really have much to say.”
As you’re talking, you don’t notice the sleek black Range Rover that pulls into the car park close to the entrance, but when the driver gets out, you almost freeze, mind going into overdrive.
Geun-woo notices as you stare behind him, and when he turns and sees, he looks back awkwardly.
Bong-cha gets out of the car, looking like a million dollars even in loungewear and a bare face with her hair in a messy bun.
Suddenly you feel jealous — something you’ve rarely ever felt in your relationship with Jimin because you’ve always been so sure of his love for you, but this is real. It hits hardest where it hurts the most because the possibility of Bong-cha having Jimin is real, of him having her… maybe loving her.
Fresh tears collect at your waterline but you’re well aware that you’re still standing with Geun-woo so you try your hardest not to let them fall.
Except it doesn’t quite work, and Geun-woo turns back to see you hastily wiping the tears from your cheeks.
“Hey,” he says softly, reaching up to hold your shoulders.
“I’m fine,” you say quickly. “I’ll be fine.”
Geun-woo hesitates, knowing that it’s an obvious lie again. Wordlessly, he pulls you into a brief hug, not wanting to make you feel any worse but he still whispers a gentle, “Things will work out for you somehow, I know they will.”
They won’t, is what you want to say. How can they? — Jimin is inside the hospital right now, fearing for his grandpa despite the man’s blatant dislike of you, and you know for sure that it’ll break Jimin’s heart to go against his granddad. And then there’s Bong-cha, practically a part of their family and Jimin’s high school sweetheart who was always supposed to end up with him.
You can’t help bitter thoughts filling your head as you imagine Jimin seeing her rush into the hospital, with the same concern for his grandpa after having years of memories together. You wonder if he might see her now and begin to change his mind, the threat of his grandpa’s health on the line might be what encourages him to go ahead with marrying her.
On top of all of that, there’s you — an outsider, foreign to everything Jimin has known growing up.
The thoughts spiral and you barely acknowledge Geun-woo anymore as he lets go, promising to be back within half an hour with an early breakfast even though you said you didn’t want it.
It’s only when his car drives off and the tears fall for what feels like the hundredth time, that you retreat back to your car and cry.
But only for a moment because you’re well aware that Jimin could walk out any minute, or even one of the other family members and you don’t need anyone to see you crying.
Especially not Jimin. Because then he’ll ask you what’s wrong and he’ll reassure you for the hundredth time while you’ll hate yourself for what you know you need to do.
It takes all the strength you have to sit patiently for Jimin to return, and Geun-woo returns faster than he said he would with breakfast in tow. He parks next to your car again, opening his trunk for you both to sit and eat together.
You’re grateful for his company because he distracts you from everything and helps lighten the weight you’ve been feeling on your shoulders.
But then you see Jimin walking out of the hospital and the weight returns, except this time it’s ten times worse when you see Bong-cha walking beside him.
Contrary to what you thought Jimin might be thinking, he’s incredibly awkward when he sees Bong-cha rush into the waiting room. It almost pains him to see her, knowing that he could never want her but she’s the one that his grandpa insists on.
He also feels somewhat irritated that she’s here, making her even more perfect in everyone else’s eyes, reminding them of her close relationship to the family and the love and care she has for Deok-su.
It’s like it’s all taunting him as he watches her from the far, secluded corner of the waiting room — she converses with one of Jimin’s aunts, and then his dad approaches her and also updates her before she grabs the attention of one of the nurses.
Jimin remembers now that she’s a doctor. Of course that elevates her status even more and everyone will be fawning over her if she starts talking in medical terms which most of his family don’t understand but they’ll appreciate anything which might help Deok-su, the head of this family.
He continues to watch as Geun-woo’s dad also approaches her, reminding Jimin again just how well acquainted she is with his family.
But so are you, he reminds himself. You’ve worked with the majority of Jimin’s aunts and uncles, and even though you don’t have years of memories with them, they still like and respect you.
However, Jimin knows it’s not the same to anyone epse, considering your upbringings, but he doesn’t care. He loves you, not Bong-cha.
Just as his irritation begins to grow, Bong-cha excuses herself from the small crowd that’s formed around her and walks down the hall with Jimin’s dad, and as she turns away, she catches Jimin eye for the shortest of seconds, and Jimin is quickly reminded with a pang of guilt that none of this is her fault.
It’s unfair of him to feel any semblance of annoyance towards her when she’s just as innocent in this as you. Although Jimin remembers what Deok-su said to him yesterday, that she agreed to the marriage — it baffles him because Jimin knows that Bong-cha knows about you and him.
With a heavy exhale, Jimin closes his eyes and slumps further into his seat. Only a moment passes until he hears footsteps coming closer and someone takes a seat next to him.
Opening his eyes, he looks to his side to see his dad collapsed into the seat just like him. It upsets Jimin to see his dad this worn out.
Pil-woo exhales heavily, turning to look at Jimin. “You good, son?”
“I’m fine,” Jimin answers. “What about you? D’you need anything?”
Pil-woo shakes his head, looking forward again tiredly. “What a day it’s been, huh?” he says quietly.
“Tell me about it,” Jimin mutters, leaning back again.
Father and son sit together quietly for a few moments until Jimin speaks again.
“What was Bong-cha saying about grandpa?”
“She just wanted to know what tests they were running and she’s requested to see the results herself,” Pil-woo answers, glancing sideways at Jimin. “She’s pretty worried about him.”
“We all are,” Jimin replies plainly. “And of course she would, she kinda grew up with him.”
Pil-woo nods and hums, sitting in silence for a moment until he asks, “Where’s Y/N?”
“She’s outside,” Jimin says, pushing himself up. “I should go back to her actually, she’s waiting for me but she should go home and rest, I can call Beom-soo to drop me off.”
Before Jimin can get up, Pil-woo places a hand on Jimin’s arm. “How is she?” he asks softly.
Jimin pauses, remembering everything that happened only a few hours ago. Even with the memory of making love to you so intensely, he can’t shake the conversation that led to it — the one where he knew what you were thinking the whole time. It breaks his heart to even think about it.
“I think she wants to leave me,” Jimin says, voice already thick with emotions. He turns to his dad. “And I don’t blame her.”
Pil-woo sighs sadly, moving his hand to pat Jimin’s back. “Words can’t tell you how sorry I am, Jimin. Neither of you deserve this.”
Jimin looks at his dad with pleading eyes. “Is there really nothing we can do? You know I’ll do anything to be with her.”
Silently, Pil-woo shakes his head. “I would do anything if it would help you, but with your granddad in hospital now, I highly doubt anything will convince him.”
Jimin’s shoulders drop and he finds it more and more difficult to fight the defeated feeling that takes over him.
“I’m going to Y/N, I‘ll be back in a bit,” Jimin mutters, getting up and walking down the hallway to find his grandma. Jimin knows his grandma is a strong woman, having barely shed a tear since they got to the hospital, but he still wants to check she’s doing okay and make sure she doesn’t need anything before he goes down to you.
She’s two floors up where his granddad’s scans are being done, but just as Jimin expected, she keeps a stiff upper lip and insists there’s nothing she needs while she waits for Deok-su.
“You’re sure?” Jimin asks one last time.
“I’m positive,” she says, squeezing his hand. “I’ll let you know if I need anything, but for now I’m okay.”
“Okay,” Jimin answers, giving her a small smile. He’s about to leave but Eun-ae holds his hand and stops him. Jimin looks at her expecting her to have changed her mind but her next words surprise him.
“How is Y/N?” Jimin can see there’s genuine concern on her face.
“Oh, um… she’s not okay.” Jimin pauses, wondering whether he should go on, and when he sees his grandma's frown deepen, he does in the hopes that her concern for you might help things. “She was pretty embarrassed that grandpa invited Bong-cha, especially when he wouldn’t stop taking digs at her all evening… I’ve never seen her this upset.”
“Yes, that was low for your grandpa,” Eun-ae answers, sighing disappointedly. “I didn’t know he was going to invite Bong-cha.”
Jimin looks at her in surprise. “You didn’t?”
“Of course not. Your grandfather knows how to get what he wants though so I’m not surprised he did it.”
“And if you did?” Jimin asks, hope lacing his tone which has Eun-ae looking at him apologetically.
“Jimin, you know your granddad has always worked hard to get what he wants, and he has big dreams for the future, for you.”
“Those are his dreams,” Jimin exclaims, “I don’t share the same stupid traditions as him but you both know I can still carry the company and the family exactly how you want me to, maybe even better with Y/N at my side!”
Eun-ae sighs, taking Jimin’s hand. “I don’t doubt that, Jimin, but Deok-su is stubborn and wilful in his own ways, and especially because he’s older, you have to learn to respect the fact that he…” Eun-ae pauses, looking away distantly for a moment until she eventually says, “He’s experienced things that you haven’t.”
Jimin frowns, not entirely understanding but he moves on with the point that is on his mind — “Like he learnt to respect Y/N?” It comes out almost sarcastically, as it’s meant to.
Eun-ae meets Jimin’s gaze and for a split second he thinks she’s going to agree, but then a doctor knocks on the door to ask her some questions.
“I’m sorry, Jimin,” is what she says, giving him a final, apologetic look before she leaves. “It’s always been Deok-su’s way.”
Jimin sighs, dropping his head in his hands as he sits for a moment to collect himself before he goes out to you. It’s hard to, with so much having happened in the last twelve hours alone, but he doesn’t want to keep you waiting for too long so he straightens up and makes his way out of the hospital.
Getting into the elevator, Jimin catches a glimpse of his tired appearance but turns away, his mind far more occupied with other things.
The elevator dings for the 5th floor where the rest of his family are, but Jimin has already told his dad he’s gone to speak with you so he plans to keep going down, that is until the doors suddenly open again just when they’re halfway closed.
Jimin looks to see Bong-cha entering the elevator, not yet having noticed Jimin in the corner (because she’s texting on her phone) until the doors are shut.
“Oh,” she says, looking up somewhat startled and clearly very awkward. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were in here, I can get out on the next floor.”
Jimin shakes his head, smiling politely. “Don’t worry about it, there’s no need.”
She nods, looking forward awkwardly and Jimin knows she’s clearly uncomfortable and it feels rude on his part to let her feel like that when she’s done nothing wrong. Also, before his grandfather insisted on Jimin marrying her, Jimin was still friendly with her and it feels wrong to stand here with so much tension between them, although Jimin does wonder whether or not Deok-su was lying when he told him that she agreed to the marriage…
“Thanks for helping today,” Jimin says, glancing at her.
“It’s not a problem,” she responds quietly, barely looking at him.
There‘s another beat of silence and then, “Did my granddad talk to you about anything… you know, about us?” Jimin asks, feeling awkward himself now.
Pressing her lips into a thin line, Bong-cha nods. “Yeah.” She gives him a quick glance as she says, “but don’t worry, I didn’t say yes. I know you’re with Y/N.”
“Ah,” Jimin nods, realising Deok-su did lie about Bong-cha agreeing, because he knows Bong-cha wouldn’t lie. “He told me you did.”
“What?” Bong-cha’s head snaps towards Jimin. “I didn’t, I promise I didn’t—“
“It’s okay, I know,” Jimin smiled reassuringly. “I’ve known you all my life and I know you wouldn’t lie like that anyway.”
“Yeah, definitely,” Bong-cha sighs, seemingly relieved as they exit the elevator together on the ground floor. “You’re happy with Y/N, I would never try to come in between that in any way.”
Jimin nods, and when another momentary silence passes between them, it’s Bong-cha who speaks up.
“How is she by the way? Y/N? Uncle wasn’t exactly his usual self yesterday…”
“Yeah, he wasn’t,” Jimin sighs, choosing not to say too much to Bong-cha because he doesn’t want to expose your feelings to the whole world. “We’ll be okay,” he says quietly, giving Bong-cha a small appreciative smile which she returns.
And it’s just as they’re exiting the building that another question occurs to Jimin and he wonders whether or not he should ask, but he wants to know…
“Hey, um, you said you didn’t say yes to him…” he comes to a stop and so does Bong-cha, turning to look at him. “But did you say no?”
Bong-cha’s face tells Jimin the answer, her cheeks going pink and eyes wide as though she’s guilty. “I didn’t say anything,” she says quickly, “I only said I would think about it because he had just told me about his condition and I didn’t want to upset him when he’s already got so much going on—“
“It’s okay,” Jimin quickly interrupts, even though he’s not sure if it’s okay but he also knows how manipulative his granddad has been about this whole situation so he doesn’t exactly blame her. “Forget I asked, it didn’t mean anything.”
Bong-cha nods, now completely avoiding Jimin’s gaze as she hurriedly excuses herself and rushes to her car.
Your body stiffens as you watch both Jimin and Bong-cha come to a stop, with Jimin turning to her and asking something. You can’t make out what he’s saying but only seconds later, Bong-cha is hurrying off to her car and Jimin looks visibly stressed and somewhat… annoyed, maybe, as he walks over to you.
Placing down your coffee cup, you get up from the back of Geun-woo’s trunk (Geun-woo himself pretends to be super interested in the bagel he’s eating so as to give you two some privacy), meeting Jimin’s gaze as he watches you.
You smile, although your lips barely turn up given the events of the past 12 hours. Jimin is pretty much the same, but he still gives you a tight hug, pressing his lips to your cheek when he pulls away.
“Thanks for waiting for me,” he murmurs. You can see the way his shoulders are slouched and he looks incredibly weary, the sight of it aching your heart even more. What’s worse is the silent tension that still exists between you, with the health of Deok-su seeming like it’s hanging by a thread.
“It’s okay,” you respond quietly. “How is he?”
“They’re still running tests and they’re gonna prescribe him some meds to prevent any more blood clots, but I think he’ll be okay.”
“Good,” you nod, looking down at your hands. In all honesty, you wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to Deok-su. You may not like him or respect him, but you would never wish for anything bad to happen to him, especially because he is Jimin’s granddad.
“I was gonna ask if you wanted breakfast but I see Geun-woo already sorted that,” Jimin smiles, looking in Geun-woo’s direction.
“Oh, yeah, he did, d’you want some?” you ask, trying to ignore the voices in your head. “He bought quite a bit.”
“Um, I actually should get back inside,” Jimin mutters.
“Oh, right… yeah,” you nod. “But take some with you anyway.”
“Sure.” Jimin looks at you again, and he doesn’t say anything for a moment, but simply takes in all of your pretty features.
You don’t say anything either because you can tell he’s thinking something, and also you don’t have anything to say right now. What you do need to say, you don’t want to say here in the parking lot of the hospital.
“I don’t know how long I’m gonna be here,” Jimin says after a moment, taking your hand. “So you can go home, get some rest if you like.”
“Sure,” you nod, curling your fingers around his. “You’ll be okay?”
Jimin nods and gives you a small smile. “I can get Beom-soo to pick me up when I’m done.” He leans forward and places a tender kiss on your lips, and you both say a quiet goodbye before he walks back into the hospital.
As he leaves, you can’t ignore the heavy feeling that lingers around you, spurring the voices on and telling you you know what you need to do.
It’s many hours later that Jimin finds himself in the back of his chauffeur-driven car, mentally and physically exhausted from the past 24 hours. The sun has yet to set but it’s close enough to the end of the day, and when the car finally stops, Jimin doesn’t step out into the car park of your apartment complex, but the hill that he took you to a year ago now.
He hasn’t been back here since then himself — it’s like he told you, with you in his life, he hasn’t needed to come back here as much. Except now, with everything that's happening, he needs some time alone and fresh air.
Jimin has been thinking about you and his grandfather all day— to everyone else and each other, you’re two opposite ends of the spectrum, but to Jimin, you’re both two important people in his life, and more similar than you think.
You both started off with nothing and worked incredibly hard to get to where you are. You each know your own worth and aren’t afraid to show it, and you’re also both proud in your own ways. Deok-su is proud to a fault. While you’re proud of who you are and won't let anyone make you feel any less for it.
It’s why Jimin knows you can’t put up with the insults that Deok-su has been throwing at you, and Jimin doesn’t think you should either. Jimin knows by staying with him, there’s no guarantee that Deok-su would ever make you feel welcome, but he’s also well aware that Deok-su isn’t the only problem.
Jimin has grown up surrounded by pretentious, snobby adults, and he knows that the rich world he’s grown up in will find it difficult to accept you as his love. He hates the fact that people look down on you because of your family and how you grew up, even when you’re so accomplished now, more than many of those people themselves. He knows that no matter what he says, they will never accept you and will only continue to make you feel like less than them which isn’t what you deserve.
Jimin would never want that for you, but there's no doubt that it would happen if you stayed in his life. So that’s why Jimin doesn’t blame you for wanting to leave him.
A muffled vibration comes from Jimin’s jacket pocket, and he pulls out his phone to see a text from you.
[10:38pm] Y/N ❤️: hey, I think you should spend some time with your family for the next few days. I’m going to spend the rest of the weekend with Gi so I’ll see you on Monday.
Jimin feels his heart drop to his feet. It’s not only the absence of your usual “love you” at the end of the message, but also the fact that he already feels like you’re distancing yourself from him.
But again, he doesn’t blame you. If you’re choosing to spend the weekend at Gi’s, it’s because you want the time for yourself too, and he won't ask you for anything else. As well as that, he knows he should spend some time with his family; since being in a relationship with you, he’s been seeing his family less and it’s one of the things he felt most guilty about when his granddad told him about his condition.
However that doesn’t mean this sits right with Jimin. He hates the tension that’s been lingering between you both since he told you about Deok-su, and no matter what he’s tried, it doesn’t go away.
Feeling defeated, Jimin sends back a short reply to thank you for today, before getting back into his car and driving away.
But he doesn’t go home. He keeps driving to the other side of town and pulls up in the driveway of Namjoon’s house.
He feels bad coming this late to Namjoon’s, but he really needs to talk to someone that’s not you or his family, and Namjoon has always been a good friend to Jimin. Plus he always knows what to do. He’s always made smart decisions his whole life and a part of the reason Jimin respects him so much is because Namjoon started his own company with only his dad’s help and has established a franchise nearly as successful as Park Motors.
Knocking on the door to his beautiful home, Jimin realises he probably should’ve texted before coming since Namjoon might be busy, especially with Mi-sun and Baek-hyeon getting older.
But a moment later, the door opens and Namjoon stands there in his pajamas with a tea towel over his shoulder, and he looks down at his friend with immediate concern. “Jimin?”
“Hey man,” Jimin sighs. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah, of course.” He steps to the side, letting Jimin in as he lowers his voice. “Just keep the voice down please, I only got Mi-sun to go to sleep ten minutes ago.”
“Sure,” Jimin nods. “Is ___ home?”
“No, she’s got the night shift today. She left a little while ago.” Namjoon still looks Jimin over with concern. “Come, I’ll get you a drink.”
Jimin follows wordlessly, slumping down at the grand dining table while Namjoon gets a drink for them both.
“How is she?” Jimin asks. “And the kids? I’ve missed them,” he says, looking at one of the framed photographs on the mantle.
“They’re good, all of them,” Namjoon nods, smiling before he turns to Jimin again. “But, dude, what’s up with you? I mean, no offence but you look like you’re going through something.”
Jimin sighs, taking a long sip of beer. Then he cuts to the chase: “My granddad’s dying. He’s got cancer and the doctors reckon he’s only got six months left.”
Namjoon’s jaw has dropped, but Jimin doesn’t even give him time to process it before he carries on.
“And he wants me to leave Y/N and get an arranged marriage to Bong-cha. I tried to talk to him and so did dad, and he called Y/N for dinner yesterday so we went and I thought we would be okay but he practically set Y/N up and invited Bong-cha too. It was the worst feeling ever, Namjoon,” Jimin croaks. “Seeing Y/N so helpless like that because of me. Then I begged her to stay because I know she wants to go and I don’t know what’s gonna happen because now granddad’s had a stroke and he’s in hospital and everything is just so fucked up.”
Jimin lets out a heavy exhale, forcing down the lump in his throat with another long sip of beer. Namjoon is quite literally speechless, processing everything that Jimin has just told him.
Jimin looks at him helplessly. “I don’t know what to do.”
Sighing softly, Namjoon gives Jimin an apologetic frown and pats his shoulder. “I’m not gonna lie to you, that’s pretty fucked up… Honestly, I don’t think there’s any situation here where you can win.”
“I know,” Jimin mutters. “I know. I feel like it’s all my fault.”
“How?”
“When I first got with Y/N,” Jimin says, turning the bottle in his hand. “She was apprehensive. She knew something like this would happen but I kept convincing her we would be okay. I promised her,” Jimin cries. “It happened more than once and I just kept promising her it would be okay because I really thought it would be but I didn’t know hal-abeoji would be so rude to her, I didn’t know he could be like that.”
“I bet he’s giving you the whole respectable family thing, huh?” Namjoon asks, shaking his head.
Jimin nods. “He keeps saying he wants what’s best for me, but that’s so fucking stupid. Y/N is what’s best for me and I swear he knows it too, he’s just being stubborn. All he cares about is stupid reputation and respect.”
Namjoon nods, thinking carefully. “What has Y/N said?”
“She says my granddad’s not entirely wrong.”
“You said you begged her to stay… was that before or after the stroke?”
Jimin’s head drops. “Before.”
Namjoon is quiet for a moment, until he asks “Does Bong-cha know?”
“Yeah,” Jimin sighs, remembering his conversation at the hospital with her. “I think she would’ve said yes if I wasn’t with Y/N.”
Namjoon looks at Jimin in surprise. “What makes you think that?”
Jimin shrugs. “She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no either. Plus I know how much she cares about her own grandparents and mine. She’s the perfect child to them, I just have a feeling she would do it.”
“It makes sense,” Namjoon nods. “She’s too kind for her own good sometimes.”
“That’s true,” Jimin agrees. “But it doesn’t matter anyway. I’m not saying yes.”
Namjoon gives Jimin a look, and when Jimin sees it, he immediately frowns. “What?” he questions.
Wincing, Namjoon sighs. “Okay, look. You’ve come to me for a third person perspective right?”
Bracing himself for the worst, Jimin nods.
“Okay,” Namjoon nods. “Well, you dated Bong-cha in high school. She’s literally had the same upbringing as you and your grandparents have been best friends for over thirty years, before you were born. So I can imagine that Deok-su has wanted the two of you to get together for years, maybe even since before you could walk, and now that he doesn’t know how long he’s got, he just wants to see it come true because he loves Bong-cha too.” Jimin gives Namjoon an icy glare to which he responds, “You want my perspective, I’m giving it to you.”
Jaw clenched, Jimin looks down at the table as Namjoon continues. “He trusts that she’ll look after you how he wants so that’s actually coming from a caring place—“
“Okay, first of all, Y/N will look after me too, better than Bong-cha because Y/N loves me. Bong-cha doesn’t. Secondly, how’s it coming from a caring place when it’s all what he wants, and not what I want?”
“You’re right,” Namjoon says, “I get your point, but your granddad has looked after you your whole life after your parents, and it’s because of him you are where you are.”
“I know,” Jimin mutters. “But it’s not fair.”
“It’s not,” Namjoon agrees. “He worked hard to give you a good life but it’s a life that comes with all sorts of standards and stupid societal norms. But that is your life, Jimin. It always has been. And let’s not forget Y/N. She isn’t used to most of this besides what she’s seen at work, and that’s not even a quarter of what it’s like with most of the upper class families that your family is close with…” Namjoon sighs. “It’s not exactly fair on her to deal with this now, and if your grandparents don’t agree, you know as well as I do that she’ll be putting up with it for as long as she’s with you.”
“Fuck,” Jimin sighs. “I know.”
“But…” Namjoon says, leaning back in his seat. “With all that said, you love her, and she loves you. So, I think you should let Y/N decide.”
Jimin looks at Namjoon who continues.
“She loves you, there’s no doubt about that. But whatever happens, she’s affected by it. If you choose to stay with her, she’ll struggle, and if you marry Bong-cha, she’ll struggle. I know you’ve already made the decision to stay with her, but you need to remember that it’s not just your decision to make.”
As hard as it is to hear, Jimin knows Namjoon is right.
“Oh my god, babe,” Gi sighs, pulling you into her shoulder as you succumb to your tears after telling her everything that’s happened. “I’m so fucking sorry you’ve had to go through that,” she murmurs, soothingly stroking your hair.
You let yourself cry for a few moments, heart heavy as you feel any and all of your fight running out.
When you finally pull back, Gi takes your hand and gives you a small smile. “You’re so strong, you know?”
“I don’t feel strong,” you sniffle, pulling more tissues from the box. “I can’t do this, Gi,” you croak, face scrunching up as you cry once more.
Gi shushes you gently, her heart aching as she watches you. “And you shouldn’t have to, Y/N. You’re worth so much more than this. Anyone who’s made you feel like this is a fucking idiot and doesn’t deserve your time.”
“But what about Jimin?” you whimper. “He never makes me feel like this.”
Your older sister gives you an apologetic look. “I know, babe, but it’s all the people in his life that will continue to do so. They’re snobby little shits and you’re so much better than them.”
Through teary eyes, you meet Gi’s gaze. “What am I supposed to do then?”
She sighs, rubbing your hand. “Make your own choice. But think with your head, not your heart.”
Just like that, your heart drops in your chest. “I don’t really have much of a choice then.”
Gi nods, understanding what you mean, but before she can respond, the sound of your little nephew crying sounds on the baby monitor.
“Oh, god, he’s probably hungry,” Gi sighs.
“It’s okay,” you smile, wiping your tears away. “Go, don’t worry.”
“Okay,” she nods, giving you a quick peck on the forehead before she gets up. “I won’t be long.”
She rushes upstairs, leaving you alone in the quiet lounge. You hear her on the baby monitor as she enters Ji-seok’s room. Cooing, she shushes him gently, and within a moment, he’s no longer crying and all you can hear is her soft talking as she feeds him.
In the serene quietness, you hear the voice telling you to go now. To do what you know you need to…
This time, you listen.
It’s a little past midnight when you’re knocking on the door to Jimin’s apartment. You have the key, but it feels wrong to use it considering what you’re here to do.
It sits curled up tight in your palm, the metal pressing against your clenched hand in an attempt to ease your nerves.
But it’s useless.
When Jimin opens the door, it takes so much energy to gather the little strength you have left.
“Y/N?” He frowns in confusion but steps aside to let you in anyway. “Why didn’t you use your key?”
You ignore that question and turn to face him. You planned on coming here and just getting right to it, but as you see Jimin’s face, it’s not that easy.
“How’s your grandpa now?” you ask, trying to avoid his gaze.
Jimin nods, giving you a small smile. “He’s recovering well.”
“Good,” you nod, fist still clenched around the key. Do it, you tell yourself. Please do it now. Don’t make this any harder for yourself. “Um, I, uh…” you trail off feeling the lump form in your throat.
“Y/N?” Jimin steps forward, seeing your broken expression but you step back and shake your head quickly.
Then Jimin realises. “Y/N,” he whispers.
“I can’t do this anymore, Jimin.” Your voice breaks as you place the key on the table beside you.
Jimin sees it and his heart drops.
“Y/N, please—“
“No, Jimin please don’t say anything,” you plead, stiffening up. “I can’t let you live the rest of your life, always wondering whether you would’ve made the right choice.”
“There is no choice for me,” Jimin says. “It’s you and that’s it.”
“No,” you mutter. “There’s Bong-cha, and your grandparents, and everyone else in your life.”
Jimin steps forward. “They’re all irrelevant, for me there’s only you.”
“No there isn’t,” you shake your head, fighting back the tears as you look at him. “You care about your grandparents, Jimin. Your whole life is proof of that and you’ll feel so bad if your granddad goes and he wasn’t happy. I know you will and I’m not gonna be the reason for it, I don’t want to be,” you cry. “Especially not if it means I have to live as second best.”
Jimin knows it’s right. It’s exactly what Namjoon told him and he’s right. It’s now that he remembers what else Namjoon said — Jimin has to let you decide. But that doesn’t mean he still won’t fight to keep you.
“You’re not second best to me,” he tells you, his eyes promising the truth.
“I know,” you nod, your heart aching. “But I am to your grandpa, and anyone else who thinks like he does, which is most of the people in your life.”
Jimin pauses, knowing that’s true, and as you see him hesitate, you use the opportunity to continue.
“You have to do it, Jimin, otherwise you’ll regret it,” you say quietly.
Jimin’s head snaps towards you and tears brim in his eyes. “I’ll regret this. Nothing else but this.”
Shaking your head, you give him a weak smile. “You’ve known Bong-cha your whole life, Jimin, and you’ve known me for what, four? It doesn’t really compare.”
Jimin shakes his head as he takes another step and reaches for your hand. “She’s not you! I love you.”
It takes every ounce of willpower for you to pull yourself from his grasp. “We’ve only been dating for a year,” you respond weakly. “You’ll forget about us eventually.”
Jimin’s face falls but is quickly changed to one of furious determination. “I’m not breaking up with you. You know I won’t.” He hears Namjoon’s words echoing in his head, but knowing that this really could be it, that you’re really making the decision to leave him… it hurts more than anything and he will still do everything he can to keep you.
“I know you won’t,” you say with a sad smile, tears falling freely from your eyes now. “But I can’t let you stay with me either.”
Jimin’s eyes search your face desperately. “What?… so you’re just gonna leave me?” he croaks.
There it is. He knows, you think. It doesn’t have to be any harder than this.
Lower lip trembling, you nod.
Jimin’s hand squeezes yours tighter as he pulls you into his arms. “I made a promise, Y/N,” he whispers. “I promised you I wouldn’t let anything come between us.”
“And you kept your promise,” you whisper back through teary eyes. The last of your strength is what it takes to pull back from Jimin’s arms.
When they drop to his side defeatedly, is when your eyes meet, and both of you know this is it.
But Jimin only lets go because he cares. He cares about you so much and he knows you’re right.
However, that doesn’t mean his heart isn’t screaming at him when you pull yourself free from his grasp, slowly stepping back towards the door with the tears streaming from your eyes and the kindest smile on your lips despite the pain he knows you’re feeling.
“You kept it the whole time, Jimin,” you murmur, “and I love you so much for it.”
Jimin can hear his heart beating in his ears, the sound thrumming heavily to every word you’re saying, and Jimin is reminded that the beat is also in time to the clock ticking in the back of his mind — the clock that draws closer to the end of his grandpa’s life.
But it’s when you step forward to kiss his cheek, whispering one last goodbye, that Jimin feels truly, and utterly broken.
Then you’re gone.
A/N: thank you for reading! <3
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