“I promise,” she whispered, hardly aware of the words that were coming from her. In a minute, once he was further from her, she would chastise herself for giving him such a promise. It meant he would leave, but more importantly, it meant she had to keep it. But at this moment, her hand was tugging in his shirt to pull him closer. She knew it wasn’t her own strength that made him move, but more likely his own free will.
His face was so close to hers, she could feel the warmth of his breath on her lips. Her hand tightened around the fabric of his shirt. Her mind had stopped offering her rational thoughts.
She pulled away, letting go of his shirt abruptly and turning her face away as quickly as she could. Her hand flew to cover her face as she tried desperately to steady her breathing. What was she doing? Certainly she couldn’t be doing that. Not here, not now, not with Jimin.
No, not with Jimin. She couldn’t be so selfish. She couldn’t believe the thought had even crossed her mind, that her body had gone so far. What an asshole her mind was being, telling her to do things, to put hopes in Jimin’s head that she wouldn’t be able to guarantee he could cash in on later. He was worth more to her than that. She refused to use him like that.
“I’m sure,” she found it difficult to swallow. Her mouth was suddenly very dry. She looked resolutely down at her blankets, “that work starts soon. Will you come back afterwards?”
Jimin knew that he was a fool.
The man that raised him had told him frequently. He also told him that if you give someone the opportunity to hurt you; they will. Jimin always disliked the man’s bitter outlook. He didn’t want to believe the world was like that. Maybe for the most part, but not everyone. Surely, not everyone was waiting for an opportunity to damage or destroy. In time he understood that his ‘uncle’ was trying to look out for him, trying to toughen up a tender boy so that maybe the world wouldn’t completely snuff out the light inside him.
Jimin did things his own way. He always had; stubbornly kind, determinedly hopeful. Although he often ended up hurt, he couldn’t really blame the person who had done it. It was nearly always a situation where he’d allowed it to happen. He’d let the person get close, as close as they dared, close enough to wound or maim and he was just holding onto misguided faith that he’d be spared.
He wanted more than anything, to be loved. To belong to someone and have someone belong to him. His uncle had a lot to say about his absurd romantic notions, but Jimin was adamant. He believed in true love, in soulmates, all of it. The first moment he’d laid eyes on the girl in his arms, he’d decided. She’s the one. As she looked up at him now, a shadow of the vibrant young witch he’d first glimpsed, emaciated, tormented; he still believed that.
Jimin’s heart skipped a beat. Relief washed over his features but his expression remained impassioned due to Jieun’s intent attention. The way she was looking at him, her proximity; he could hear her heart racing in time with his. Her delicate hands on his chest, gripping his shirt, tugging him, making him feel like she wanted him too.
He knew this wasn’t real and yet, he was leaning down, so eager to finally kiss her. He was sure once their lips met, she would understand his heart. Just one kiss was all it would take. Just one.
She pulled away, slipping from his grasp like sand in an hourglass. The light in Jimin’s eyes dimmed as he stood there, frozen. Jimin could practically hear his uncle’s words in his head. Why let yourself be hurt like this? Why let her use you? Why?! Jieun seemed flustered but intent on pretending nothing had happened. Maybe that’s what he actually meant to her; nothing.
He recoiled, detaching himself from her swiftly as he took a giant step back, pushing the chair with him. “Umm yeah, I’m already late actually,” he admitted, forcing a smile onto his lips. It didn’t reach his eyes, they were hollow and wouldn’t meet hers. He circled around the bed to get closer to the door, pausing to reach for her shoulder. He gently pulled his jacket away, careful not to touch her. “Don’t worry though, I’ll come by after,” he promised, doing his best to sound cheerful and failing as he tucked his jacket over his arm and turned away from her.
It was only two steps to the door. Two steps until he was free of the turmoil that seemed to be consuming all the oxygen in the room. Two steps until he could get a breath of fresh air and clear his head. He only made it one.
Jimin sighed shakily, looking over his shoulder at her before turning back to face her. He frowned slightly but came back. He would always come back. He leaned down as he slipped his free arm around her, his hand squeezed her shoulder. “You’re okay,” he whispered, pressing his cheek against her forehead, his lips brushing against her skin as he spoke. He wasn’t sure if she knew that. And he couldn’t just leave her there alone all day without making sure she did, whether he was hurt or not.
“We’ll figure things out as we go. And...and you don’t have to force yourself, okay? I’m not going anywhere, so just focus on feeling better and don’t worry about the other stuff,” he encouraged softly, squeezing her shoulder before placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. “I’ll come back after work.” His words were abrupt and slightly choked and he was at the door before she could properly respond. He’d reached his breaking point, finally, and he definitely wasn’t swiping a tear off his cheek the second he stepped into the hall. Well, maybe not definitely.
Jimin took deep breaths as he rode the elevator down to the ground floor and slipped his jacket on as he exited the hospital. It was going to be a very long day. He hadn’t slept, eaten or showered. He was already late. He needed to stop by Jieun’s place and check on Peppo, feed him. And where the hell had he parked his car?
That’s right. He’d come in the ambulance with Jieun. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, tapping the screen. It was dead...much like he was going to be once he did make it into work. “It’s good to have a walk in the morning, Jimin-ah~” he said to himself, hoping somehow a dose of his own sunshine might help him make it through the day.