Chapter Text
Park Jimin keeps his phone in hand, waiting for any kind of texts and calls. He fiddles with the thin material while his eyes wander around the crowded area. He’s been sitting for too long that his body has begun to feel uncomfortable. Under the table, his heels won't stop stomping the poor floor due to the frustration building up inside him. He's getting nervous for unknown reasons.
It only stopped when he heard a familiar voice coming from the television stuck on the wall.
"Another bank in Seoul had been robbed this Thursday, 3 o'clock in the morning." The voice came from a short-haired news anchor, Do Anha. Jimin could never forget her name– they were classmates in high school. They were chasing the same dream. Suddenly, his heart recoils, being eaten up with envy because it’s obvious which between the two succeeded. "Two bodyguards were killed this time. Though the robbers had left signage by painting the numbers 337 on the walls which were also done in the previous banks, the police are still yet to confirm if it was done by the same anonymous group. The meaning of the numbers remains unknown. This is Do Anha, reporting."
Good for her, Jimin thinks. Anha is undeniably pretty on the television screen. Her jet black hair suits her a lot, unlike Jimin's boring dark brown hair. The brunette wanted to dye his hair for a change, only to change his mind once he realized it was useless. He’s just a small newspaper journalist anyway– always behind the cameras.
Ah.
To be a news anchor too.
Jimin doesn't know what went wrong. He studied as well as Anha in college. He has a fair share of school awards too, and he was always surrounded by good students and classmates, away from bad influence. (He did skip a class or three with Taehyung but the aftermath shouldn't be this dramatic.) And look, everyone is successful (even Taehyung who has his own business now), except for him.
Him, Park Jimin, who failed to reach his dream. Him who is yet to have his own apartment because of his low income.
He should have tried harder.
Jimin sighs.
He then checks his watch, distracting himself from the fact that he’s an unsuccessful human being. The time makes his head itch. He’s been sitting pretty for about an hour already. The waiters are starting to look at him weirdly, and with the look at their eyes, there is a pity. Just a little bit more, then he’ll snap and tell them that his boyfriend is a turtle. That's all. There's no way he’s being stood up.
No way.
They can keep that pity to themselves, thank you very much.
"Jimin."
Speaking of the devil that made him wait – who is also the love of his life, and his first love – Jimin's mood lifted after hearing the voice he was really waiting for.
"Ah. There you are." The frown on his face is immediately replaced with a sweet smile. His shoulders slumped down in relief as he looks at the guy fondly. The sight of his boyfriend dressed in police uniform never fails to amaze him, always there to increase the pace of his heartbeat. He’s probably the most blessed man on the planet. "You're late, Yoongi." He pouts, but the glee in his eyes doesn't falter. It's Yoongi’s first time to be late in their date anyway. There must be a reason, but he would rather ask him later. "I'm hungry, let's order now."
Jimin turns to look for a waiter (they took the menu from him earlier since he wasn't ordering). It didn't take too long for a waiter to approach him and do his request.
Jimin opens the book. "What do you want to eat–"
"I'm not staying here for too long."
His gaze lifted immediately after hearing his boyfriend's voice. He blinks, accessing what's going on.
"Why?" Somehow, he regrets asking because he’s afraid to know the answer deep inside.
"God, Jimin." He lets out an exasperated groan, glancing sideways. "When will you learn to take a hint?"
Yoongi looks distressed, like something is bothering him and Jimin can't pinpoint what it is– and that's what distressing him out. Maybe dining out today is not enough, considering the importance of this date. Yoongi should have told him beforehand, before he goes being grumpy like this. But one should know how to adjust in a relationship for it to work.
Maybe today it should be Jimin.
"I see." He smiled, genuinely. "Where do you want to–"
"You should have gone home, Jimin. Why would you wait for me– God– it's been an hour–" Yoongi cuts himself as he closed his eyes. He huffs a sigh.
With that, Jimin is stunned. Yoongi’s behavior confuses the boy even more. He wants to ask him many questions. Why is he acting like this? Why is he frustrated? Is he mad at him? What did he do? But it's all caught up in his throat. He doesn't know how to act, afraid he'll frustrate him more.
Then Yoongi’s eyes fluttered open. It's not as beautiful and loving as it was yesterday.
"I'm sick of this, Jimin."
Hearing those words from Yoongi shatters his heart, despite not being able to fully understand the meaning of it.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sick of us."
Just like that, Jimin feels like he had drunk a full bottle of liquefied pain, too much, that it could pour out from his eyes anytime soon. "Us?" He's not stupid, he knows the meaning of those words, but there has to be another context.
Even with the heavy tension in the air, Jimin is hoping.
He’s hoping that this is all a joke. A bad prank Yoongi is trying to pull out, that suddenly there's a group of musicians that would appear to sing him a romantic song. That Yoongi would give him kisses as a sorry, then maybe– maybe he’ll propose.
But then Jimin remembers.
Jimin is the one who booked a reservation in this diner.
"Yeah." Yoongi answers. "I'm sick of us."
Jimin doesn't need to ask why out loud. It's obvious to his face that he’s aggravated and he wants explanations. One is not enough.
Yoongi laps his bottom lip as he leaned deeper against the seat. Yoongi looks at his soon-to-be ex-boyfriend with an unreadable face. Jimin has no idea what's going on inside his head. All Jimin knows is everything about Yoongi is no longer warm unlike yesterday, as if Yoongi didn't call him last night just to tell him he loves him so much.
Yoongi crossed his arms. "I don't find this relationship fun anymore. It's boring now– I find you boring now. It just happened." He shrugs, uncaring about the latter's feelings. "Plus, you distract me from my work. You always take my time, like now. You're not helping me, but you're just making everything worse."
"Are you being serious right now?"
"Mhm." Yoongi hums and Jimin scoffs.
Jimin’s hand found its way to the cup of tea he had ordered fifteen minutes ago because Yoongi was taking too long to arrive (now it’s funny how Jimin wishes that Yoongi had never shown up).
Jimin tightened his grip on the ceramic material, ignoring the fact that it can break and harm him anytime. Yoongi didn't miss that, but he made no effort to stop the brunette. Soon, Jimin could feel it. The tears he keeps hiding are now wanting to escape.
This can't be real, no, this can't be real. Jimin chants mentally like it's a mantra. It's like nanoseconds ago, he was overly excited and happy to spend time with Yoongi, but now all he feels is pain. Jimin never imagined this. They should be eating their favorite dish, talking about their day, telling how much they love each other– it's too surreal, he couldn't grasp it. What on earth happened?
The brunette wants to cry, to pour out the pain that is bottling up inside him. Yoongi didn't give him a good explanation. Jimin feels betrayed.
But he laughs instead.
Jimin believes that he would appear stronger if he laughs.
"That's good then, thank God!" Jimin laughs out loud, uncaring about the attention he has brought to their table. Then he took a sip from the drink in his hand. "I was planning to break up with you too. You know, you're no different from me, you're boring and a distraction too."
Yoongi stares at him, unwavering.
"You're terrible, to be honest." Jimin sneered, "You're overprotective, always nagging me about stampede and stuff– news report! It's a part of my job!" He took another sip. "You're so annoying– you're– I can't stand you anymore." As much as Jimin wants to hurt him back, he couldn't do it. He couldn't say any bad things about him, because there wasn't. Yoongi was a sweet guy, maybe it's his fault not recognizing what had changed–
No, maybe this is Yoongi from the start. Maybe Jimin was just blind.
Blind in love.
Jimin laughs again.
"For your information, mr Min Yoongi, I am the one who is breaking up with you. Happy Valentine's day–" Yoongi's gaze followed him as he stood. The swell inside his chest is getting too much. Jimin can't handle any of this anymore. It's too much. He wants– needs to go. "– and happy first and last anniversary to us." Jimin bid the latter a bitter smile, snatching his clutch from the table almost immediately and turns his heels. Jimin could feel Yoongi’s gaze burn his back.
But Jimin refuses to look back and meet Yoongi’s eyes again because Jimin would certainly break down if he does.
Even though his footsteps are getting heavier in every move he takes – even though he wanted to cry his eyes out – Jimin held his chin high up, not minding the stares of the crowd.
Park Jimin might suck in both his career and love life, but he still has pride.
He’s strong.
He got to be strong.
It's neither too sunny, nor cloudy. It's a perfect day to celebrate Valentine's day– to celebrate one's anniversary.
But obviously, Jimin would never agree. This day is beyond hideously imperfect. If only he has the power to remove this date – to skip this day every year – then he would love to do it.
Love?
What a joke.
All he has left about that word is resentment. Even the sight of every sweet couple disgusts him. Why do they have to appear everywhere? Do they really need to mock him now? What the hell did he do? Couples are in every nook and cranny. Some of them hold hands and roses, while others have shopping bags and gifts. They are all around, even in the bus he rode in. No one can ever beat the bitterness he’s having.
"Stop, it tickles!"
"But you're so cute! I can't help it."
Jimin rolled his eyes. His blood begins to boil after hearing a young couple being goody giddy behind his seat. He didn't mean to eavesdrop – hell, he never wanted to – but there's nothing he can do when they’re basically only a few inches away from each other.
"And you're the cutest!"
"No, no. You are."
Jimin squeezed his eyes shut, wishing that their lips would close too.
But they don't.
"Do you want me to tickle you again?"
"If you want to–"
"Can you cut it off!" Jimin exclaimed, more like a command than a question. Before it clicks in his mind, he’s already standing facing the two. The bus is still ongoing, hence he grips atop his seat to keep himself from falling. It’s no surprise that he can feel all eyes on him. He gulps.
"What's your problem?" Asked the lad who is probably seven years younger than him, and that probably makes the boy eighteen. His arms are wrapped around his girlfriend’s waist (or fling’s, Jimin is unsure, but who cares?). The younger knitted his eyebrows in mixed confusion and annoyance.
Jimin already has the attention on him, so why would he back away now? Besides, he’s the victim here. "You guys are so loud, so annoying."
"This is public transportation." The younger shoots back. His girlfriend looks down on her lap, fiddling her own fingers to divert her attention, likely feeling as awkward as ever. "We're not in a library, sir."
Sir?
Jimin checks his outfit, finally remembering he's wearing a suit, making him look older. He probably looks like a grumpy professor who would fail you in math class for no reason. But that doesn't matter. He looks back at the younger.
"That's my point, you should not disturb other people by doing PDA. Do you understand what I mean?" Jimin combs his bangs back. It keeps on falling back because the bus is moving too much. "PDA, public display of affection." The only good thing that probably happened today is that he can show someone that he can utter English words without stuttering.
"Sorry not sorry, but I don't care about that today." The younger blurted, "You should mind your own business, sir. You just spoiled our Valentine's day."
Jimin is probably getting out of his mind. He stays unbothered about the people chattering around him, similar to what happened in the restaurant earlier. He glanced at the couple's uniforms. "Shouldn't you guys be in school, instead of flirting in a bus?"
The young lad let out a muffled scoff, looking at the older incredulously before glancing down to his pocket. He pulls out his phone and turns it on. "We still have ten minutes before lunchtime ends." He shows Jimin the phone screen, basically shoving the time in his face.
"Even so, you should be on your way to school now."
"We are."
Jimin poked his tongue against his cheek as embarrassment washes over him.
"Sir, why are you so bitter?" The younger’s lips formed a smirk. "Someone must have dumped you today."
Jimin was taken aback by the young lad's sudden assumption– not that he was incorrect. "Of course not– I–" He lowered his gaze, not being able to finish his words. He doesn't really know what to say anyway.
The couple hid their chuckles by covering their mouths.
Jimin sat back down. He’s defeated by someone who is probably almost a decade younger than him. Such a shame.
You're crazy, what the hell were you thinking? Jimin scolds himself. He averted his gaze from any person's stare, not wanting to create any shaming eye contacts. He resorts to looking out the window.
The thought of finally being in peace didn't last long when the young lad leaned his head towards Jimin. He whispered through the thin gap between the seats. "Brokenhearted or not, not everything would go the way you want. You just simply need to bear with it."
Jimin couldn't believe it. A youngster educated him just now.
Wow.
But the younger is right nevertheless. Maybe Jimin did something overboard, hence it made Yoongi give up on their relationship. Maybe he had strangled him too tight with his so-called love, that he couldn't breathe anymore. Maybe Yoongi only forced himself to love him because that is what Jimin wants. Maybe it's Jimin’s fault for not noticing. Maybe it's his entire fault for loving Yoongi so much.
It was seconds after the bus driver announced the next stop.
"Let's assume this never happened." Jimin told the couple before he stood, hopping out of the bus. Call him self-centered for not apologizing, both of the sides are wrong, and his pride had enough.
He has to protect his pride.
It's all he has now.
His head is facing the cemented ground, toes kicking pebbles then and there, he doesn't care about the brand new shoes he's wearing at this point. He doesn't have a boyfriend to impress with it anymore. A deep sigh soon escaped his lips.
Jimin is not used to this. Yoongi would likely drive him home safe and sound every time. Sometimes when Jimin goes to work too. Each day would not end without kissing each other goodbye.
But of course, not anymore.
Maybe Yoongi had planned the breakup a long time ago, because he didn't drive Jimin to work this morning– on their anniversary on all of the dates. The thought made him snicker.
He keeps thinking. Whose fault? Did Jimin really do something overboard without him noticing? Or simply, Yoongi is just insensitive and got bored of him–
A weak bark suddenly caught his attention.
The dog is filthy. It is thin. It is starving.
"Go away." Not that Jimin is heartless, but he’s not in the mood, plus he doesn't have any food with him and his suit might get dirty (it’s pretty expensive and his mother would beat the shit out of him if it gets tainted). Jimin wanted to take it home, but his older sister is allergic and he might get scolded by his father because of it. "I said go away."
However, the dog is stubborn enough to stay with him (he wished Yoongi was too).
Jimin sighed for the God knows times as he rolled his eyes. He’s only a hundred meters away from their doorstep, but he halted his footsteps just to face the dog.
"I said go away, okay?"
The dog barked again in response.
Jimin scoffed, not knowing what to do. "I don't have dog food, so go beg from somebody else." He never had a pet before, he couldn't care less about the little animal.
The dog begun to whimper.
It sounds really sad and lonely.
Jimin bit the insides of his cheeks. "Can you stop it!" He exclaimed, more like a command than a question. He talks as if the dog can understand everything his mouth utters. "You think you're the only one who's dying? Me too." He pointed his chest furiously. "I am dying too. It hurts so much like sh—"
He covers his mouth. His legs got weak, so he kneeled. It’s embarrassing to cry in the middle of an alley but he doesn’t care. It feels too heavy to hold it back. The tears he kept inside are now slowly escaping.
Anon, his free hand hits his chest. "It hurts." Jimin muttered between sobs. "I don't even know the real reason why he broke up with me. Am I that stupid?" Stupid he is, laughing when he is drenched with tears.
But his tears stopped falling when he suddenly heard a crunching sound.
Jimin's head whips to his left, then there he saw a well-off-looking guy in office attire standing a few meters from his ground. The said guy is munching, holding a pack of popcorn while his eyes are completely locked on Jimin.
Quickly, Jimin stood and dries his tears, composing himself. He smoothed the wrinkles on his torso that must have appeared after he kneeled, dusting off the invisible dirt on his knuckles.
He wiped his tears again before clearing the lump in his throat. The fact that the guy in front of him was eating popcorn while watching him cry made him feel embarrassed and furious at the same time.
"What?" Jimin glared daggers while sniffing. “Have you never seen a man cry? A man can cry too!” Jimin can't deal with toxic masculinity right now.
The guy was stunned for a second before everything sinks into him. "Nothing— yeah, yeah— you’re right." He hid the pack behind his back. "I— I didn't intend to eat this while you—" The guy gulped. He’s unsure of his words. "I was already eating this beforehand." He decided to finish his sentence as simple as that, scratching his nape in secondhand embarrassment.
"Then where are you looking at?" Jimin continuously shoots the poor guy with his deadly, sharp glare. He asked even though the answer is notable.
"I— I was on my way back to work, but I forgot something—"
"I was just asking where you are looking at, there's no need to tackle everything."
"Right— You’re right, Jimin— ssi." The guy chortled in awkwardness. What kind of situation is this? "My eyes are on the alley, I didn't see nor hear—" He then knitted his eyebrows, thinking of the right words. "—anything I'm not supposed to." He added and continued to walk his way, awkwardly.
Who does Prosecutor Jeon think he is? To think he could get away as easy as that.
This is unbelievable. In all of the people, Prosecutor Jeon is the one who saw him in that state— a guy who lives across their house.
Jimin kept his eyes on Jungkook's back. Jungkook could probably still feel the sharpness of Jimin's eyes, and he shouldn't blame Jimin.
It’s fucking Valentine’s day.