Chapter Text
“Is this our apartment?” Jungkook asked, turning to Taehyung with a look of genuine surprise.
“Mm… yeah,” Taehyung answered, his voice sounding uncharacteristically awkward.
Jungkook stepped inside as Taehyung slowly pushed the door open. His eyes wandered around the space with quiet curiosity, as if he were searching for something hidden between the walls—something familiar that remained just out of reach.
His fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the table before he turned back around.
Taehyung was still hovering near the doorway, clutching a large bag. He looked uncomfortable. Almost nervous. Like he wanted to bolt from the room entirely.
“What are you doing, Taehyung-hyung?” Jungkook asked softly. “Why are you still standing there? Come inside and put the bags down.”
Taehyung didn’t answer.
Instead, he abruptly dropped the bag onto the floor and stepped back into the hallway.
“I’ll be back in five minutes,” he said in a rush, his eyes darting away. “Something urgent came up.”
Before Jungkook could utter another word, Taehyung disappeared.
Jungkook frowned, a small crease forming between his brows.
“What’s wrong with him…?Maybe he just forgot something."
Murmuring quietly to himself, Jungkook turned back toward the apartment and continued exploring.
***
Meanwhile, Taehyung rushed down the stairs, skipping the elevator entirely. His breathing was ragged by the time he reached the ground floor and spotted the person he had been searching for.
Jimin.
“Ji… Jimina…” he breathed out heavily before immediately pulling him into a tight, grounding hug. “I… I can’t do this. I don’t think I can.”
His words died in his throat when he realized Jimin was already crying against his shoulder.
Taehyung tightened his grip, his heart breaking at the sound of those silent sobs.
“I’m sorry, Jimina…”
Jimin’s quiet tears quickly gave way to painful, trembling cries. Taehyung gently rubbed his back, whispering softly,
“Jimina… don’t cry. You can do this. No… we can do this together.”
Jimin wiped his eyes with trembling hands before looking up at him with a shattered expression.
“Please take care of my Jungkook for me.”
Taehyung pulled him into another hug as Jimin broke down once more.
It still felt impossible to believe.
Out of everyone in Jungkook’s life—
He had forgotten Jimin.
Only Jimin.
***
The memory of the hospital still haunted them both.
Jimin had looked at Taehyung pleadingly that day.
“I’ll come back within an hour after doing the laundry and cleaning the house,” he had said softly. “Just look after my Jungkook for me.”
Taehyung had nodded without hesitation.
“Take your time. I’ll stay here with him. Trust me.”
With one last lingering glance at the bed, Jimin had stepped out of the hospital room with a heavy heart.
He didn’t want to leave.
But he had no choice.
A few minutes later, Taehyung sat beside the bed, absentmindedly scrolling through Instagram reels to drown out the silence.
The room was too quiet.
Eventually, he set his phone down and stared at Jungkook’s sleeping face.
A flicker of disbelief crossed his expression.
“Is this really the same person I fight with all the time?” he muttered under his breath. “Please wake up already, Jungkook… so I can see Jimin smiling again.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“You stole that smile from him.”
Taehyung stared at Jungkook almost as if the younger man had committed a crime.
Then suddenly—
Jungkook’s fingers twitched.
Slowly, his eyes fluttered open and immediately met Taehyung’s.
For several seconds, they simply stared at each other in silence.
Then Taehyung jumped from his seat in shock.
“You’re awake?!”
He scrambled for his phone before realizing it was still lying on the table.
But just as he reached for it—
A weak voice stopped him.
“Tae… Taehyung-hyung…?”
Taehyung froze.
His eyes widened slowly as he turned back toward the bed.
“…What did you just call me?”
The honorific felt like a warning bell ringing inside his head.
Jungkook looked around the room with total confusion, weak and disoriented. As he tried to sit up, Taehyung hurried to stop him.
“No—don’t get up. I’ll call the doctor.”
Taehyung’s mind was spinning.
Something about the way Jungkook was looking at him felt strange.
Very strange.
And suddenly—
An uneasy chill settled deep inside his chest.
***
“Don’t you know me?” Jin asked carefully, disbelief written plainly across his face.
Jungkook shook his head slightly.
“How would I know you? You’re a doctor… I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
Jin nodded slowly, as if confirming a terrible theory in his mind.
“Yeah,” he murmured quietly. “I was just asking.”
He finished checking Jungkook before turning toward Taehyung, who still looked frozen in the corner.
“Did you call Jimin?”
“Yeah,” Taehyung answered guardedly. “I told him Jungkook woke up. He should be here soon.”
Jungkook’s brow furrowed.
“Taehyung-hyung… who’s Jimin?”
Taehyung felt like screaming.
But instead, he forced himself to stay calm.
“…Don’t call me Taehyung-hyung,” he muttered weakly.
Jin immediately shot him a sharp warning glare before turning back toward Jungkook.
“You don’t know Jimin?” he asked carefully. “But you know Taehyung?”
Jin had already realized the truth.
Jungkook didn’t remember anyone from his past.
In a way, Jin could understand why Jungkook had forgotten him. He was only a friend—someone who may not have held a deeply emotional place in Jungkook’s memories.
But Jimin?
That was impossible.
Jungkook had forgotten the person he loved most.
The person who had stayed beside him through everything.
Why was Taehyung the only one he remembered?
What kind of cruel memory kept a friend but erased a soulmate?
The questions piled heavily inside Jin’s mind, but he forced himself to stay calm.
For Jimin’s sake.
Jungkook nodded without hesitation.
“Yeah. Taehyung-hyung is my best friend. But I don’t know the person you mentioned.”
The room became suffocatingly quiet.
Then—
The door suddenly burst open.
Jimin rushed inside, his hair messy, his pale face swollen from crying.
The moment he saw Jungkook awake, he ran toward the bed and tried to pull him into a hug.
But Jungkook’s hand immediately stopped him.
“Who are you?” Jungkook asked in confusion. “Why are you hugging me?”
Everything inside Jimin shattered.
His body went rigid.
His breathing stopped.
For one terrifying second, it felt like his heart had simply stopped beating.
He couldn’t move.
Couldn’t think.
Couldn’t even breathe properly.
Jin gently touched his shoulder.
“I need to talk to you,” he said softly.
“But… I…” Jimin stumbled helplessly over his words.
Jungkook looked between them before pointing weakly toward Jimin.
“Is he Jimin? The person you mentioned earlier?”
“Yeah,” Jin answered slowly. “He’s Jimin, and he’s—”
“Ahh—!”
Suddenly, Jungkook let out a loud groan.
His hands flew to his head as pain exploded through his skull.
Everything inside Jimin shattered even further.
But for Jungkook—
It was worse.
The moment he looked at Jimin’s face, his heart began pounding violently against his ribs. It wasn’t a romantic flutter.
It was agony.
Pure agony.
It felt as though his heart was desperately trying to force a memory through a locked door, and the pressure was tearing him apart from the inside.
Every time his eyes landed on Jimin’s swollen, tear-filled face, the pain inside his chest doubled.
A terrifying fear crashed over him.
He was suddenly certain that if this man stayed near him any longer—
His heart would stop completely.
“Get him out of my sight!” Jungkook shouted, his voice trembling with pain and fear. “He’s going to kill me… I don’t want to see him.”
Jimin stopped crying the moment he heard Jungkook’s words. He couldn’t accept them; each syllable felt like a knife pushing deeper into his chest until even breathing became painful. In that moment, all he wanted was to disappear.
His legs nearly gave out, but Taehyung caught him immediately, wrapping a steady arm around his shoulders before he could collapse. Following Jin’s silent gesture, Taehyung carefully guided the shattered Jimin out of the room.
Behind them, Jungkook watched with a weak, suspicious frown.
“Who was that person? Did I know him?”
Jin closed his eyes briefly before forcing himself to answer.
“He… he’s Taehyung’s friend,” he lied quietly. “He came to bring him some clothes.”
It was cruel, but they had no other choice.
Jungkook’s confusion deepened.
“But why did he hug me? And why was he crying?”
“He was worried about you,” Jin explained carefully. “He’s very close to Taehyung, and seeing Taehyung upset made him emotional. He just lost control for a moment.”
Jungkook stayed silent for a while, his eyes fixed on Jin’s face.
“Then why did Taehyung-hyung react differently?” he asked softly. “That man looked happier to see me wake up. Taehyung-hyung only looked shocked.”
“Because,” Jin sighed quietly, “maybe Taehyung wasn’t ready for you to wake up yet. But Jimin was.”
“And why didn’t I like him?” Jungkook frowned slightly. “That man… Jimin. Were we rivals or something?”
Jin’s chest tightened painfully.
“Yeah,” he answered after a long pause. “You two didn’t get along well before. You fought a lot.”
“Yeah…” Jungkook murmured slowly, leaning back against the pillow. “I thought so. I could feel it somehow. He doesn’t seem like a good person in my life.”
Before Jungkook could continue, Jin interrupted gently.
“You need rest right now,” he said, patting Jungkook’s head softly. “Sleep first. You can ask questions later.”
As Jin prepared the injection, Jungkook quietly watched him.
Why did I forget this handsome doctor?
Jin was undeniably attractive—the kind of doctor everyone trusted immediately. Tall, calm, and handsome enough to make half the nurses secretly fall for him. But despite all that, Jin had stayed single for years, dedicating most of his life to his work and the small circle of friends he had grown up with.
As the sedative slowly pulled him toward sleep, Jungkook stared at the unfamiliar hospital room around him.
The reality was finally beginning to sink in.
He couldn’t remember anything.
Every face that entered the room felt unfamiliar. Every memory from his past was gone like it had never existed.
Everyone except Taehyung.
As his eyes slowly closed, one final thought crossed his mind.
Please… don’t let me forget Taehyung too.
***
Outside, Jimin sat silently in front of Jin’s office like a lifeless doll.
He didn’t cry.
Didn’t speak.
Didn’t even move.
Taehyung sighed heavily before holding another bottle of water toward him.
“Jimina… please say something,” he whispered tiredly. “Curse at me. Hit me. Anything. Just don’t sit here like this.”
His own eyes were slightly red from exhaustion.
Taehyung hated seeing Jimin like this.
Park Jimin was supposed to be the loud one—the person who laughed too much at his own jokes and smiled so brightly that other people ended up smiling too. Taehyung had known him since their teenage years, long before Jungkook entered their lives.
Back then, Jimin had actually been afraid of Jungkook.
Jungkook looked intimidating—tattoos, muscles, anger issues, and a habit of ending arguments with his fists. Almost everyone avoided him.
No matter how angry Jungkook became, Jimin was always the only person capable of calming him down. Maybe that was why Jungkook spent an entire year following Jimin around everywhere before Jimin finally agreed to date him.
And now, Jungkook couldn’t even remember his face.
***
When the sedative finally wore off, Jimin slowly opened his eyes beneath the harsh hospital lights.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at the white hospital ceiling like a lost child.
“Oh, you’re awake?”
Jin looked relieved as he walked closer.
“I thought you needed rest, so I gave you something to help you sleep. Taehyung was really worried about you.”
“How is Jungkook?” he asked weakly. “What exactly happened to him?”
Jin sat across from him with a heavy expression.
“He can’t remember anything before the accident,” he explained quietly. “And for some reason… Taehyung is the only person he remembers.”
Jimin lowered his head slowly.
“And me?”
Jin hesitated.
“He thinks you’re someone he hated.”
A bitter laugh escaped Jimin’s lips.
“So I really don’t have a chance now…”
“Hey,” Jin scolded softly. “Don’t talk like that. You need to stay strong if you want to help him recover.”
But the truth terrified all of them.
If Jungkook was forced to remember too quickly, the stress could seriously damage his condition again.
“How am I supposed to act normal?” Jimin whispered brokenly. “My boyfriend forgot five years of us like it meant nothing.”
His voice cracked.
“And now he thinks I hurt him…”
Tears finally spilled down his face again as he grabbed Jin’s shirt tightly.
“You know he’s all I have,” he cried. “So why me? Why did he only forget me?”
Jin quietly knelt beside him and rubbed his back gently.
“We’re still here, Jimina,” he whispered. “So don’t break down completely.”
If they told Jungkook that Jimin was his boyfriend, his condition could become even worse.
The pain alone was already making him collapse.
Jin was afraid that forcing those memories onto Jungkook too quickly might completely break him again.
Maybe even push him back into a coma.
So for now, they decided to hide the truth and wait patiently for his memories to return naturally.
At least, that was what Jin hoped for.
After a long silence, Jin finally spoke again.
“Jungkook needs someone beside him right now. Should we call his mother?”
Jimin immediately shook his head.
“No. She’s already suffered enough after his sister died. Their relationship was never the same after that.”
“Then who?” Jin sighed tiredly. “There’s nobody else.”
“Taehyung,” Jimin answered instantly.
Jin looked genuinely shocked.
“Taehyung? Seriously? Those two fight every time they breathe near each other.”
Jimin looked down at his trembling hands before answering softly.
“I’ll talk to him.”
Then he slowly looked back up.
“He’ll listen to me.”
***
“What?!” Taehyung almost shouted in disbelief. “I can’t do this, Jimina. Why me?”
He dragged a frustrated hand through his hair before letting out a long sigh. “We literally fight over every single thing, and now you want us to live together? That’s impossible.”
But the moment he noticed Jimin’s eyes slowly filling with tears again, his entire expression softened almost instantly.
“…Okay,” he muttered quietly. “I’ll do it.”
Then he pointed a finger at Jimin warningly. “But don’t cry again. Seriously, it makes me anxious.”
Jimin immediately pulled Taehyung into a tight hug. “Thank you so much,” he whispered weakly. “Please take care of my Jungkook.”
Taehyung slowly closed his eyes before hugging him back. “I’ll try.”
For Jimin, Taehyung had always been more than just a friend. He was family. The kind of person Jimin could tell everything to without feeling embarrassed or afraid of being judged. Taehyung had known him since their teenage years, long before Jungkook entered his life, and maybe that was why he understood Jimin so well.
Taehyung was always loud, dramatic, and painfully clingy when it came to Jimin. Every time Jimin smiled with his eyes, Taehyung would dramatically clutch his chest and pretend to collapse somewhere nearby.
“I’m seriously falling for your eye smile,” he would complain dramatically while Jimin laughed at him.
And honestly, Taehyung lived for that laugh.
That was why this situation hurt so much.
Because despite how deeply Jimin loved Jungkook, Taehyung still held a huge place in his heart too.
Jimin always dreamed about Taehyung and Jungkook becoming close someday. He loved watching them bicker over stupid things even if they could barely survive five minutes without fighting. Their arguments were exhausting sometimes, but strangely funny too. Jungkook would glare, Taehyung would mock him right back, and Jimin would sit in the middle trying not to laugh while stopping them from killing each other.
But Jimin never imagined things would become like this.
Never like this.
Now Taehyung was the one staying beside Jungkook in Jimin’s place.
And Jimin hated the reason behind it.
Still, he had no other choice.
Because if there was one person Jimin trusted to protect Jungkook while he stayed away, it was Taehyung.
And deep down, Jimin knew Taehyung only agreed because it was him asking.
Not because of Jungkook.
***
“Pack away everything that reminds Jungkook of Jimin.”
Yoongi spoke the moment he entered the apartment. “Pictures, clothes, slippers, perfumes… even toothbrushes.”
Hoseok slowly looked around the apartment before sighing tiredly. “This is going to take forever.”
Because the apartment was full of Jimin.
Everywhere.
Tiny decorations neatly placed around the living room. Skincare products crowded beside the sink. Hoodies hanging carelessly over chairs.
And photos.
So many photos.
Most of them were just Jimin.
Jimin smiling with his eyes closed.
Jimin pouting dramatically at the camera.
Jimin eating ramen at midnight with flushed cheeks and swollen lips from the heat.
Jimin dancing around the living room while Jungkook secretly took pictures of him.
There were couple photos too. Jimin kissing Jungkook’s cheek while Jungkook smiled shyly. Jungkook leaning against Jimin’s shoulder at the beach. Both of them pressing their faces together while winking at the camera.
The entire apartment looked less like a shared home and more like a place built entirely around loving Park Jimin.
Hoseok suddenly stopped near the shelf beside the couch.
“…Hyung.”
Yoongi looked up from the box in his hands. “What?”
Without answering immediately, Hoseok slowly picked up Jungkook’s camera from the table.
“It’s Jungkook’s favorite camera,” he murmured quietly.
Yoongi frowned. “Then leave it there.”
But Hoseok turned it on anyway.
And the entire room instantly fell silent.
Photo after photo appeared on the small screen.
Jimin sleeping on the couch.
Jimin laughing so hard his whole body bent forward.
Jimin standing under the rain wearing Jungkook’s oversized hoodie.
Jimin.
Only Jimin.
Hoseok slowly lowered the camera, disbelief written all over his face.
“…Does this guy even take pictures of anything else?”
Even Yoongi couldn’t answer.
Because there were hundreds of photos.
No landscapes.
No buildings.
No artistic photography.
Just Park Jimin.
Like Jungkook had spent years trying to memorize every expression on his face before he could lose it forever.
Ironically, the only framed photo of Jungkook in the apartment sat quietly beside their bed.
Jungkook hated displaying pictures of himself around the house. He only liked seeing Jimin everywhere.
That single photo existed because Jimin had taken it himself.
Jimin framed it carefully one day and placed it beside the bed, and Jungkook never complained about it afterward.
Because anything touched by Jimin automatically became precious to him.
The apartment suddenly felt painfully quiet again.
Then Yoongi finally spoke in a low voice.
“…Pack the camera too.”
Hoseok immediately looked up. “But hyung—”
“If Jungkook sees this right now, it’ll only confuse him more.”
Hoseok tightened his grip on the camera for a moment before carefully placing it inside the box with Jimin’s belongings.
Then he lowered his voice quietly.
“What exactly happened to Jungkook…?”
He still couldn’t understand it.
“Out of everyone… he forgot the person he loved and trusted the most.”
Everyone knew how deeply Jungkook loved Jimin.
Sometimes it honestly felt like Jungkook only listened to Jimin in his entire life.
Not even his own mother held that place.
Jimin wasn’t just his boyfriend.
He was home.
Comfort.
Family.
The person Jungkook depended on for almost everything.
Even when buying something simple, Jungkook would ask for Jimin’s opinion first. If Jimin liked it, Jungkook bought it immediately. If Jimin disliked it, Jungkook lost interest too.
That was how much trust existed between them.
And because of that, Jimin always thought carefully before giving opinions. What if Jungkook secretly wanted something but gave it up just because Jimin didn’t like it?
That was how deeply connected they were.
They fought like siblings sometimes. Over pillows. Over snacks. Over melted ice cream. Over absolutely nothing.
But every fight always ended the same way.
Cuddling.
Laughing.
Smiling at each other like nothing else mattered.
Yoongi slowly looked around the apartment one final time.
“…I think we got everything.”
Then he glanced toward Hoseok, who had completely collapsed onto the couch from exhaustion.
“Anything else here that belongs to Jimin?”
Hoseok quietly looked around before shaking his head.
“No.”
But somehow—
The apartment still felt full of him.
***
“You can go home now.”
Jin gently tapped Jungkook’s shoulder after finishing the final check-up.
Jungkook smiled politely.
“Thank you, doctor.”
But the smile slowly faded from his face afterward.
“I still can’t remember anyone except Taehyung-hyung…"
He lowered his eyes slightly.
“But I really want to remember them.”
Jin forced a smile, but something about hearing Jungkook say those words so innocently made his chest ache.
Because Jungkook wasn’t supposed to forget like this.
Not Jimin.
Never Jimin.
***
“Jimina, you’re coming with me for now.”
Namjoon’s voice left no room for argument.
“We’ll stay together until things settle down.”
Jimin immediately shook his head weakly.
“It’s okay, hyung. I’ll just rent a small room somewhere later. I don’t want to trouble you.”
For five years, home had always meant Jungkook. Now, for the first time in years, Jimin realized he had nowhere to go anymore.
All he wanted was to lie down somewhere quiet and cry until his chest stopped hurting.
Namjoon sighed softly before grabbing Jimin’s bags himself, not giving him another chance to refuse.
“We’ll talk about that later,” he said firmly. “Right now, you’re coming with me.”
Jimin quietly followed behind him without another word.
But deep inside, all he wanted was to stay beside Jungkook.
To take care of him.
To bring him home.
To sleep beside him the way he always had for the past five years.
The emptiness already felt unbearable.
“Jungkook will be okay.”
Taehyung’s words suddenly echoed inside Jimin’s head from earlier that day, before he left the apartment lobby.
“Trust me. I can’t replace you…”
For once, Taehyung had looked completely serious.
No dramatic jokes.
No teasing smile.
Just sincerity.
“But I’ll make sure Jungkook feels comfortable,” Taehyung had promised quietly. “I’ll try my best.”
Jimin slowly lowered his eyes.
He trusted Taehyung.
But the thought of someone else staying beside Jungkook in his place still made his chest ache painfully.
***
“Taehyung-hyung… what are you doing?”
Jungkook looked curiously at Taehyung, who had been secretly texting Jimin updates about him for the past few minutes. The moment Taehyung noticed Jungkook staring, he quickly locked his phone and shoved it deep into his pocket.
“Mm… nothing,” he replied awkwardly. “I was just scrolling through my phone. Do you need something?”
Jungkook slowly sat down beside him on the couch. His expression looked strangely innocent, almost like a child trying to solve difficult homework.
“I want to ask you something,” he admitted quietly. “Actually… I have a lot of questions.”
Taehyung already felt a headache coming.
Jungkook lowered his gaze toward his tattooed hands, staring at them carefully like they belonged to someone else entirely.
“I have tattoos everywhere,” he muttered in disbelief. “Even on my palms.”
Then he suddenly looked up at Taehyung.
“Do I really like tattoos that much? Or am I secretly a tattoo artist?”
Taehyung nearly groaned in frustration but somehow forced himself to stay calm. Out of everything Jungkook had forgotten—his dreams, his memories, and even his precious Jimin—he still remembered Taehyung instead.
The thought alone made him feel strangely guilty.
Jungkook needed to recover his memories as quickly as possible.
Jimin wanted that too.
“No,” Taehyung answered quickly. “You just like tattoos. You’re not a tattoo artist.”
Then after a short pause, he added softly,
“You’re a photographer.”
Jungkook blinked in surprise.
“A photographer?”
He stared at his tattooed arms again before letting out a quiet laugh.
“I honestly thought I’d be a tattoo artist instead.”
His eyes slowly wandered around the apartment walls.
“With this many tattoos, I expected at least some photographs around the house,” he murmured softly. “But I only saw that one framed photo of me on the table in the bedroom.”
Taehyung’s expression stiffened slightly.
Thankfully, Jungkook didn’t notice.
Instead, his attention shifted toward the letters tattooed across his hand.
“…Then what does this mean?”
He traced the letters slowly with his fingers.
“JM.”
Jungkook frowned deeply.
“Why would I tattoo this on myself?”
Taehyung completely froze.
His mind instantly went blank.
Kim Taehyung. Think of something.
Anything.
How was he supposed to say that it stood for Jimin?
“It’s…” he started awkwardly before blurting out the first lie he could think of. “It stands for your name and your mother’s name.”
The moment the lie left his mouth, Taehyung quietly sighed in relief.
Jungkook tilted his head slightly.
“My mom? Mijoo?”
Taehyung’s eyes widened immediately.
“…You remember your mom?”
His voice sounded too quick. Too nervous.
“Does that mean your memories are coming back?”
Taehyung abruptly stood up from the couch, panic flashing across his face.
Jungkook frowned at him in confusion.
“Hyung… why are you acting like this?”
His voice became quieter.
“I wanted to ask you something before too.”
Taehyung stayed silent.
“Why did you behave like that in the hospital?”
Jungkook lowered his eyes slightly before continuing.
“Unlike that other guy… he looked genuinely happy to see me.”
His brows slowly furrowed.
“But you looked shocked. Almost scared.”
Then he looked back at Taehyung with confused eyes.
“Did I do something wrong?”
That question hit Taehyung much harder than expected.
“I’m just confused, okay?” Taehyung answered quickly. “Anyone would be shocked in this situation.”
Then he carefully asked again,
“But seriously… do you remember your mom?”
Jungkook nodded slowly.
“I think so.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“She has eyes like mine… and a really pretty smile.”
His expression softened even more, as if the memory itself brought him comfort.
“I think I remember the people I loved the most.”
Taehyung stared at him silently.
Then bitterly thought to himself—
No, Jungkook.
You remembered the people you never wanted to remember…
And forgot the person you loved the most.
***
“Jiminaaa… what are you doing?”
Namjoon knocked on Jimin’s bedroom door again.
After a few seconds, the door slowly opened.
Jimin stood there with messy hair, swollen eyes, and a tired face from crying too much. It looked like he hadn’t even left the bed all day.
Namjoon frowned immediately.
“Why didn’t you shower yet?” he asked softly. “Come on. Take a shower and eat lunch with me.”
Jimin shook his head weakly.
“I don’t want food. I can’t eat anything.”
Namjoon sighed heavily.
“Jimin, come back to your senses.”
His voice became firmer.
“You’re not a child, so stop acting like this. Do you think ruining yourself will suddenly bring Jungkook’s memories back?”
Jimin lowered his eyes silently.
“Jungkook already ate,” Namjoon continued. “Taehyung texted me earlier. He even went to sleep afterward.”
Then Namjoon looked directly at him.
“But look at you.”
His voice cracked slightly with frustration.
“If you keep going like this, I don’t know how long I can keep supporting you.”
He paused before adding quietly:
“Maybe Taehyung can’t either.”
Namjoon hated seeing Jimin like this.
The bright and energetic Jimin everyone loved had disappeared completely.
Jimin’s eyes immediately filled with tears again.
“I’m trying, hyung…” he whispered shakily. “I really am.”
His breathing became uneven.
“You know how much I love Jungkook… and how much he loved me.”
His voice cracked completely.
“I feel like… without Jungkook, I’m nothing.”
Namjoon’s expression softened instantly.
He quietly pulled Jimin into a warm hug.
“Do you remember what Jungkook told you on your twenty-third birthday?”
Jimin froze slightly.
And suddenly, the memory came rushing back.
***
“Don’t cry so much,” Jungkook whispered while wiping Jimin’s tears carefully with his thumb.
“If I see you crying like this again, I’ll start thinking I died.”
Jimin laughed softly through his tears.
Jungkook stood in front of him holding a small birthday cake with messy candles on top.
“Just blow the candles already,” Yoongi complained from behind them with a smile. “I’m hungry.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
The restaurant felt warm and loud with everyone’s voices mixing together.
“What did you wish for, Jimina?” Taehyung asked curiously while leaning across the table.
Before Jimin could answer, Jungkook interrupted immediately.
“He’s not telling you.”
Taehyung scoffed loudly.
“I wasn’t asking you, jerk. I was talking to my friend.”
Jungkook glared at him instantly.
“And why are you always bothering my boyfriend?”
“See?” Taehyung pointed dramatically. “This is exactly why I can’t stand him.”
“Yeah, yeah, stop fighting,” Jimin sighed tiredly. “Why do you two argue about everything?”
Still glaring at Taehyung, Jungkook wrapped an arm around Jimin’s shoulder possessively.
“Hyung, seriously… out of everyone in the world, how did you become friends with this guy?”
Taehyung looked offended immediately.
“Excuse me? Your boyfriend is the problem here, not me.”
“Jimina, seriously… how did you end up dating someone like him out of all people?”
Taehyung looked Jungkook up and down dramatically before making a fake disgusted face.
“Look at his tattoos. And those piercings everywhere—even on his lips. Ugh.”
He pretended to gag.
“He seriously looks like a thug.”
Then Taehyung pointed at Jungkook confidently.
“No, actually—you ARE a thug.”
Honestly, Taehyung fully believed that.
Jungkook fought with almost everyone, had terrible anger issues, and looked intimidating even when he was quiet.
“Yeah?” Jungkook immediately raised his hand threateningly. “Do you want to die?”
Before Taehyung could answer, Yoongi suddenly interrupted with a serious stare.
“Yeah, you two. What exactly are you doing?”
Both of them immediately went quiet.
“Jimin literally walked out because of you idiots.”
Yoongi crossed his arms.
“Do you think this is making him happy? It’s his birthday today.”
Then he pointed toward the restaurant entrance.
“One of you go outside and bring him back.”
“Sorry, hyung. I’ll go,” Jungkook said immediately while standing up.
But before he could leave—
“No, I’ll go,” Taehyung interrupted with a smirk. “I know Jimin better than you do anyway.”
Jungkook glared at him instantly.
“Taehyung,” Jin warned tiredly. “Sit down. Jungkook will go.”
“…Hyung,” Taehyung whined quietly before sulking back into his chair.
***
Jimin had walked outside with a small smile on his face, but deep inside, his heart still felt heavy.
He hated seeing Jungkook and Taehyung fight constantly.
Even over small things.
Outside the restaurant, Jimin quietly sat on a bench beneath a tree near the river.
The sun had already disappeared.
Only moonlight and tiny stars filled the dark sky now.
The calm sound of the river helped ease his mind slightly.
Jimin stared silently at the water, enjoying the peaceful view.
Then a familiar voice interrupted softly.
“Jimini hyung…”
Jungkook slowly sat beside him.
“Why are you out here?”
But Jimin didn’t answer.
Instead, he quietly moved a little farther away from him.
Jungkook looked genuinely surprised.
“…Are you mad at me?”
Still no answer.
Jungkook slowly scooted closer again.
“Jimina… sorry.”
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“I know you don’t like it when we fight but… that guy just really annoys me.”
The moment Jungkook noticed Jimin glaring at him angrily, he quickly corrected himself.
“…Okay, okay. Sorry. I don’t like his words or his attitude. Don’t get mad.”
Jungkook carefully reached for Jimin’s smaller hand with both of his.
But Jimin immediately pushed his hand away.
“Do you know how excited I was for this birthday?” Jimin asked quietly.
His voice sounded both sad and hurt.
“Because you’re here with me now.”
Jungkook’s expression slowly fell.
“This is my first birthday with you… but you two ruined it.”
Jimin finally turned toward him properly.
“And he’s still your hyung. Why do you always talk to him like that?”
Jungkook suddenly stood up before kneeling down in front of Jimin, who was still sitting on the bench.
“Sorry again,” he said quietly.
“And I know how much you were waiting for this birthday party.”
Jungkook carefully grabbed Jimin’s small hand again.
“So don’t be sad anymore. I promise I won’t fight with him again.”
Then he looked directly into Jimin’s eyes before smiling softly.
“Also… you look really cute today.”
His voice suddenly became playful and softer.
“I really want to kiss you right now.”
Jimin immediately laughed before lightly punching Jungkook’s chest.
“Oh my god… my cute boyfriend finally smiled?”
Jimin laughed harder this time, his eyes completely disappearing from happiness.
“I think my heart is exploding.”
Jungkook stared at him quietly for a few seconds like he was completely mesmerized by Jimin’s smile.
Then he slowly leaned closer toward Jimin’s face.
“Smile like this every day,” he whispered softly.
“So I can live happily.”
And before Jimin could answer, Jungkook gently kissed his forehead.
“Can we go back inside now?”
Jungkook stood up first before offering his hand toward Jimin.
Jimin smiled warmly before taking it.
Then they walked back inside together.
***
Soon, everyone started eating together.
The table was filled with different foods, drinks, and bottles of soju.
The atmosphere became warm and loud again.
Jimin smiled a lot that night because of Jungkook.
Jungkook kept making stupid jokes and dramatic comments nonstop, making almost everyone laugh.
Well—
Almost everyone.
Taehyung still looked annoyed half the time.
Jimin honestly wished Jungkook and Taehyung would stop fighting one day and finally become friends.
But honestly?
That felt impossible.
“Jiminaaa, here.”
Taehyung suddenly handed Jimin a small wrapped gift box.
Jimin’s eyes widened immediately.
“You got me a gift?”
He looked genuinely happy before hugging Taehyung tightly.
“Thank you, Taehyung-ah.”
Taehyung awkwardly patted his back while pretending not to care.
One by one, everyone else also gave their gifts to Jimin.
For the first time that night, Jimin truly looked happy.
Then suddenly—
“Wait,” Taehyung spoke while looking at Jungkook suspiciously.
“Where’s your gift?”
A teasing smirk slowly appeared on his face.
“Did you forget to buy one?”
Jimin immediately turned toward Jungkook curiously.
Jungkook, who was sitting beside him, only smirked confidently.
“Mm… it’s a secret,” he replied casually. “I’ll give it later.”
J-Hope immediately burst into laughter.
“What? Are you planning to kiss him as the gift? Then do it here. We don’t mind.”
“I think he actually forgot,” Taehyung added dramatically. “Now he’s just making excuses.”
“Taehyung-ah,” Jimin whined tiredly. “Can you stay quiet for five minutes?”
“…Okay,” Taehyung mumbled like a sulky child.
Jungkook laughed quietly before looking back at Jimin.
“You don’t even need to give me gifts,” Jimin said softly while smiling at him. “You’re already the best gift I got this year.”
“Ooooh, disgusting,” Hoseok immediately complained while giving a thumbs down. “What a creepy couple.”
Everyone laughed again.
Jungkook only smiled before quietly taking Jimin’s hand under the table.
“I’ll still give you your present later,” he whispered softly.
***
“We’re leaving now. Bye!”
One by one, everyone said goodbye before leaving the restaurant.
Soon, only Jimin and Jungkook remained.
Jimin slowly walked beside Jungkook while he unlocked his car.
“So… what should we do now?” Jimin asked softly. “Do you want to go somewhere else? Or drink more?”
Jungkook only smirked a little before opening the passenger door for him.
“Get inside,” he said simply. “I want to show you something.”
Jimin immediately became curious, but he still got inside without asking questions.
Jungkook took the driver’s seat and started driving.
They slowly left the city behind.
The roads became narrower and darker the farther they went. At some point, the only light around them came from the car headlights cutting through the darkness.
Jimin quietly looked outside the window.
He honestly had no idea where Jungkook was taking him.
But strangely—
he trusted him completely.
Even though they had only known each other for six months, Jimin trusted Jungkook more than anyone else in his life.
The car finally stopped near a quiet forest.
There were trees everywhere.
No street lights.
No people.
Only darkness and the sound of the night wind.
Jimin stepped out of the car when Jungkook quietly said—
“Come with me.”
Jimin followed him without hesitation.
Honestly, he should’ve been scared.
Jungkook was literally leading him into a dark forest in the middle of nowhere.
But Jimin wasn’t afraid.
Not when it was Jungkook.
“Why didn’t you ask where we’re going?” Jungkook suddenly asked while walking ahead of him. “Aren’t you scared?”
“I trust you, Jungkook,” Jimin answered softly before holding his hand.
“I’m not scared when I’m with you.”
Jungkook glanced at him quietly for a moment before squeezing his hand gently.
Then they continued climbing higher through the small mountain trail.
After a while, Jimin started struggling badly.
He bent forward slightly, breathing heavily with his hands on his knees.
“Jungkook…” he whined tiredly. “I don’t think I can walk anymore.”
Then he looked up weakly.
“Is it still far?”
Jungkook only laughed softly.
“Just five more minutes.”
Before Jimin could complain again, Jungkook suddenly walked back toward him.
Then, without warning, he easily lifted Jimin into his arms.
Jimin’s eyes widened immediately.
“What are you doing?! Put me down!”
He lightly hit Jungkook’s chest in embarrassment.
“I can walk on my own. And I’m heavy!”
Jungkook only smiled warmly.
“You can barely even breathe properly right now, and you think you can still walk?”
Then he looked at Jimin teasingly.
“You’re not heavy though.”
A small smirk appeared on his lips.
“Maybe you should come to the gym with me.”
“Yah,” Jimin complained while lightly punching his chest again. “Don’t tease me. I already look good without going to the gym.”
Jungkook laughed quietly.
“Yeah, sure.”
Jimin smiled proudly at himself before sighing dramatically.
“Still… thank you. I’m feeling better now.”
Suddenly Jungkook stopped walking.
“Shhh.”
Jimin blinked in confusion.
“What—”
But before he could look ahead, Jungkook quickly covered his eyes gently.
“Don’t look yet,” he whispered near Jimin’s ear.
“Just look at me.”
Jimin instantly obeyed without complaining.
Then Jungkook carefully put him down.
“Now close your eyes.”
Jimin closed them immediately.
Jungkook slowly held his hand again and guided him forward carefully until they finally stopped near the edge of a cliff.
Then Jungkook stepped behind him, placing both hands softly on Jimin’s shoulders.
“You can open them now.”
Jimin slowly opened his eyes.
And completely froze.
Below the cliff, thousands of tiny fireflies glowed beautifully across the dark forest like floating stars.
There were no city lights.
No noise.
Only moonlight, fireflies, and the cold night breeze surrounding them.
The entire place looked unreal.
Jimin’s eyes widened in pure amazement.
“It’s…”
He couldn’t even finish his sentence.
Jimin quickly turned around and hugged Jungkook tightly.
“Thank you,” he whispered emotionally. “It’s so beautiful.”
His voice became smaller.
“I can’t even explain how happy I am right now.”
Jungkook smiled softly before lightly pushing Jimin back just enough to look at his face.
“This isn’t actually your birthday gift.”
Jimin blinked in confusion.
Then Jungkook slowly reached for the necklace around his own neck.
Carefully, he untied it before placing it around Jimin’s neck instead.
Jimin immediately looked shocked.
“Jungkook…”
“This is my real gift for you,” Jungkook said quietly.
“I wanted to give it to you ever since the day I asked you out… but I couldn’t.”
Then he smiled nervously.
“Do you like it?”
The moment Jimin recognized the necklace, his eyes instantly filled with tears.
“This is your sister’s necklace…”
His voice shook badly.
“She gave this to you.”
Jimin quickly tried removing it.
“No, Jungkook. You should keep it. It’s too precious.”
“I only need your love.”
Jungkook immediately stopped him gently before wiping the tears falling down Jimin’s cheeks.
“I already told you,” he whispered softly, “my sister gave this to me before she passed away.”
Then he looked down at the necklace around Jimin’s neck.
“But honestly… I think it suits you more.”
A small emotional smile appeared on his face.
“And I think my sister would love you too.”
Jimin started crying even harder.
Jungkook’s own eyes became wet too, but he held his tears back.
Because he knew—
if he cried, Jimin would completely break down too.
“This place…” Jungkook continued softly while looking around them. “It was me and my sister’s favorite place.”
Then he looked back at Jimin.
“So I wanted to show it to the person I love most too.”
Jimin couldn’t hold himself back anymore.
He slowly stepped closer, stood on his tiptoes, and kissed Jungkook softly but firmly on the lips.
Jungkook immediately pulled him closer by the waist while Jimin wrapped his arms around Jungkook’s neck.
The cold night wind passed around them quietly.
_
“Don’t forget to wear this necklace,” Jungkook whispered later while sitting beside Jimin near the cliff.
Jimin rested comfortably against Jungkook’s shoulder while playing softly with his fingers.
“If you stop wearing it someday…”
Jungkook smiled faintly.
“I’ll think you forgot me.”
***
“Jimina… Jimina…”
Jimin suddenly woke up from his sleep after hearing Namjoon’s voice outside the room.
His breathing felt heavy.
For a few seconds, he just sat there silently, trying to process everything.
Then slowly, Jimin touched the necklace around his neck.
The same necklace.
Still there.
Still warm against his skin.
“I’m coming,” he answered weakly before standing up from the bed.
Jimin walked toward the bathroom mirror slowly.
His eyes looked tired and swollen from crying.
Then his fingers carefully touched the necklace again.
A painful smile appeared on his lips.
“I didn’t forget you,” Jimin whispered quietly to himself.
His eyes slowly filled with tears again.
“But you forgot me.”
***
“Namjoon-hyung… do you need any help?”
Jimin walked into the kitchen after taking a cold shower. His wet hair clung softly to his forehead, and although he was trying to smile, it looked weak and exhausted—like even smiling had become difficult for him now.
Namjoon glanced up from the table while placing down the food he had prepared.
“Oh… what happened to you?” he asked softly, a small smile appearing on his face. “You look a little better now. I think my words from yesterday finally worked.”
“I think they helped a little,” Jimin replied with a faint smile, forcing himself to sound normal. “At least I’m awake now.”
Namjoon gently patted his shoulder before sitting down.
For a few seconds, the apartment became quiet again.
Then Jimin spoke carefully.
“And… hyung, I think I can move out today. I already found a room.”
Namjoon immediately turned toward him in shock.
“Really? Where are you going? Is the apartment near here or far away? Is it safe? Can you live alone? Do you want me to move in with you? Or should I ask Hoseok or Yoongi to stay with you instead?”
The questions came out one after another so quickly that Jimin almost laughed despite everything.
“Hyung… hyung…” Jimin interrupted gently, raising both hands slightly. “Calm down first.”
Namjoon stopped talking immediately, but the worry on his face didn’t disappear.
Jimin quietly looked at him for a moment.
He understood why Namjoon was acting like this.
Everyone was worried about him these days.
“Don’t worry,” Jimin said softly. “I’ll be okay. And honestly… I think living alone will be better for me right now.”
He forced out another small smile.
“I’m not going to do anything bad, so trust me.”
Namjoon sighed quietly before nodding to himself.
“…Okay. Then where are you planning to live?”
His voice became softer this time.
“Where’s the apartment?”
Jimin looked strangely calm for the first time in days.
There was even a little relief in his tired eyes.
“Near our old apartment,” he answered quietly. “The one where Jungkook and Taehyung are staying now.”
Namjoon frowned slightly.
Jimin lowered his eyes before continuing.
“It’s only one door away from Jungkook.”
For a second, Namjoon couldn’t say anything.
Because he immediately understood the real reason behind Jimin’s decision.
Jimin just wanted to stay close to him.
Even if Jungkook no longer remembered him.
***
Later that afternoon, Jimin quietly began packing his belongings.
The apartment slowly filled with silence as he carefully placed picture frames into boxes one by one.
Most of them were photos of him and Jungkook together.
Some were just photos Jungkook had secretly taken of Jimin over the years.
There were so many photos that sometimes it felt like Jungkook had spent years memorizing every tiny expression on Jimin’s face.
Jimin’s fingers gently brushed across the glass frames as a teary smile appeared on his lips.
Then he suddenly found Jungkook’s camera resting near the shelf.
His breathing quietly stopped for a moment.
Slowly, he turned it on.
And there they were again.
More photos.
Fireflies glowing around them near the cliff they once visited together.
Jimin wearing the moon necklace Jungkook had gifted him, smiling softly with his eyes closed.
Hundreds of tiny moments Jungkook had captured so carefully.
As if he had been afraid of forgetting Jimin someday.
That thought alone almost shattered him again.
Jimin quickly turned the camera off and carefully packed it away before continuing to organize the rest of his things.
But then—
He suddenly froze.
His expression changed immediately.
“…Wait.”
Jimin quickly looked around the room again before opening another box.
Then another.
His movements became faster and more anxious.
“No… no, no…”
A few seconds later, he suddenly rushed toward the living room.
“Hyung!”
Namjoon looked up in alarm as Jimin ran toward him while panting heavily.
“What? What happened?” Namjoon asked with wide eyes.
Jimin looked genuinely panicked now.
“I think… I think we’re in trouble.”
Namjoon immediately stood up.
“What happened?”
Jimin swallowed nervously before answering:
“I think they forgot to bring my diary from the apartment.”
Namjoon blinked in confusion.
“Diary?” he repeated. “What diary?”
Jimin looked away awkwardly for a second before quietly answering:
“The one where I wrote about all our memories together… our precious moments… everything.”
And suddenly, for the first time in hours—
Namjoon understood why Jimin looked completely terrified.
Namjoon went silent for a moment, shock clearly visible on his face.
“How did they forget to bring the diary?” he asked in disbelief.
Jimin let out a shaky breath before answering quietly.
“I locked it inside the drawer,” he admitted softly. “Maybe they didn’t think about opening it… or maybe they couldn’t find the key.”
His voice slowly became weaker.
“And yesterday… I completely forgot to tell them about it.”
Jimin lowered his eyes as his trembling hands tightened around his phone.
“I was too emotionally overwhelmed to think properly.”
For a moment, the room became painfully quiet again.
Namjoon immediately stepped closer after noticing how badly Jimin was shaking.
“Hey,” he said softly. “Don’t panic first.”
He gently placed a hand on Jimin’s shoulder.
“The drawer is locked, right? Then it should be fine. Jungkook probably won’t even notice it.”
But instead of calming down, Jimin looked even more anxious.
Because he knew Jungkook too well.
Jungkook was naturally curious about hidden things.
“What if he finds the key?” Jimin whispered nervously.
Namjoon’s expression slowly turned serious.
Then he quickly pulled out his phone.
“Call Taehyung,” he said immediately. “Tell him about the diary.”
Meanwhile, inside the apartment, Jungkook quietly entered the bedroom after wandering around the house alone for a while.
His tired eyes slowly landed on the photo frame beside the bed.
Then something behind the frame caught his attention.
A small silver key.
Jungkook frowned slightly before reaching toward it.
And the moment his fingers touched it—