Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jeongguk smiled faintly, shaking his head as the heartfelt giggles resonated throughout his penthouse. The interviewer having said something that regaled Jimin immensely. Honestly, Jeongguk wasn’t paying attention to the woman at all. He ran a hand through his dark hair, looking back at Park Jimin’s hunched frame once before getting up to his walk in closet.

Jimin answered a few more questions that comprised of giving a little insight into his upcoming projects, revealing his morning routine and his favorite holiday destination. Jeongguk fixed his cufflinks, the ghost of a smile adorning his lips as he lazily brushed his hand along the never ending queue of dress jackets and coats before deciding on a dark blue. The material soft and velvety under the pad of his fingers. Jimin’s airy laughter making him a little dizzy.

“Now the burning question! Is Park Jimin seeing someone!”

Jeongguk looked back straight ahead, his gaze traversing through his spacious bedroom and locking at the gigantic screen. And he could easily gauge the change in Jimin’s demeanor. The stiffness of his shoulders, how he visibly relaxed his facial muscles and breathed in. Jeongguk chewed on the inside of his cheek, head tilted a tad to the side as he watched Jimin heave a deep, exasperated sigh, trying to maintain the comportment expected of him.

“Is that the burning question?”  Jimin asked in a flat voice.

“Of course! Everyone wants to know everything about the Nation’s sweetheart! There’s a long line of suitors and—”

“It’s been what—three? four years? since it was declared publicly that I’m a carrier?” Jimin leaned back in the loveseat, crossing his legs and running a hand through his newly dyed pink hair. His gaze cold and unwavering, boring into the interviewer, head held high. Jeongguk chuckled darkly, walking a few steps and then reclining on the large, black leather couch and fixing the wide screen with a smouldering gaze.

“Four years and yet you guys still manage to pop a question or two in.”

The woman’s succeeding fake laugh blanch and panicked. She cleared her throat awkwardly, sputtering as her eyes glanced around before asking the next question.

“Jimin-ssi, the last question,”  She smiled sweetly, “A lot of people look up to you, they take inspiration from you. Many of them want to know how the transition has been for you. Since you were supposed to take on the family business, but now you’re one of the talented, rising dancers of the country. It was quite unexpected—”

“It was quite easy.” Jimin spoke without missing a beat. A finality to his words. A well rehearsed facade.

“That’s...” The woman trailed off, clearly confused. “...relieving to hear, Jimin-ssi, given you were supposed to take on the family business but then you couldn’t and now your younger brother has taken the path.” The woman continued, clearly having ignored her cue to shut her mouth for the desire to dig a little deeper.

“I was supposed to take on the family business, yes. But I was born to be on the stage.” Jimin replied in a monotone voice, the spark having vanished from his eyes. They always wanted to know more, their sickening desire to unveil all the details about Jimin were concerning. Since he was now a carrier. Jeongguk couldn’t fathom how these people didn’t fear derision.

“I never really saw myself in the office so I was happy—given the society’s rules and norms, but really, carrier or not I would still be performing and doing what I really love to do. I’m happy, my family’s happy, business’s secure as Jihyun is ambitious about it.” Jimin said, voice flat and words spoken with practiced ease, straightening up then. The woman scrambling to get on her feet as the pink haired man stood gracefully, smiling sweetly at the camera before biding the viewers a farewell.

“I bet she lost her job.”

Jeongguk turned off the tv, humming as Namjoon handed him a mug of coffee.

“It’s baffling that they never learn though. Jimin-ssi blacklists the people who ask him such questions, they ought to know this by now.” Namjoon continued as he scanned through Jeongguk’s schedule.

“That’s why they keep trying.” Jeongguk spoke, taking a sip of the coffee. “To see if he crumbles under the constant pressure.”

“It must be really hard for him, being idolised and being a carrier.” The other frowned, shaking his head.

“There aren’t many, are there? Carriers who sought such professions,” Jeongguk leaned back, letting his eyes fall shut momentarily, “—and then there’s this other facet that he was the supposed successor of Park Enterprises for which he took up the business studies, only dropping out of it when he was screened. It sticks out like a sore thumb.” The tone of his voice conversational yet perturbing. Namjoon nodded his head stiltedly. “Anyway, run me through the schedule.”

“Yeah, so we have the meeting with Kang group in two hours. The land for the malls has been secured, you are required to sign the papers today. I preposed the lunch with Lee and cleared all your schedules for tomorrow. After lunch the board meeting will be held and from there we are to visit the construction site.”

“Good.” Jeongguk rose, fixing his tie and putting on his dress jacket. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand before picking up the mug and leaving the room.

“Hyeji?” Jeongguk called as he descended down the staircase, following the woman’s voice to the kitchen. “Don’t cook for me today, and—” He said distractedly while going through his mails, “—yeah, tomorrow as well.”

“Jeongguk.” Hyejin sighed.

Jeongguk pocketed his phone then, looking down at the woman and smiling gently at her, holding her shoulders. “Don’t worry. Eat well, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

Hyejin smiled warmly at that. “Is it tomorrow? The performance?”

“Yes.” Jeongguk replied, his demeanor visibly morphing into something more calm.

“Has he ever missed a single,” Namjoon provided from the side, clearing his throat after.

....

“Jiminie! In five minutes!”

Jimin parted his lips, letting the woman apply some more gloss to them. They never seemed to be content with it, always bopping his face a little more, fixing his costumes a little more, always trying to make him a little more desirable. He let her work silently, another woman coming up to fix the imaginary stray strands of his hair. Jimin stood still, clutching onto the huge red velvety curtains, gazing out through the gap into the cheerful audience. His eyes searching.

“He looks ethereal, ladies. Thank you for your hard work.” Hoseok smiled wide, rushing up to him. “Are you ready to go up, Jiminie?”

“Just a bit more, hyung.” Jimin spoke softly. Eyes never straying from the people rushing to their seats.

“Okay—whenever you’re ready,” Hoseok smiled, splaying a gentle hand over his back before rushing back to make sure everything was alright. The staff continued fussing around him, their hurried steps and hushed voices all a blur.

Jimin let out a shuddering breath, clutching onto the curtains harder before stepping away and signaling to Hoseok that he was ready. His head a little fuzzy as he closed his eyes. And all he could remember was Jeongguk’s smile as he held out a huge bouquet of flowers to his assistant.

Being excited was an understatement. Jeongguk couldn’t stop checking his watch every other minute, his leg bouncing anxiously, sitting on the edge of his seat. It had been a while. Jimin’s last stage performance was almost four months ago and Jeongguk felt parched. Namjoon teased him every now and then from his side about this whole change in his demeanour but Jeongguk couldn’t feel bothered. Not when the lights dimmed out and Jimin was standing right in front of him, sparkling, pulling heartfelt cheers and screams out of his audience. Jeongguk’s heart stuttered inside his chest.

Jimin looked like a god taken down from his pedestal and put among his worshippers.

The way he was standing still, wrapped in glimmering chains that dazzled under the stage lights, nothing but a living embodiment of grace and vitality. Jeongguk feared that his chest might cave in. He watched with a bated breath as Jimin slowly lost himself to the music, his angelic voice causing goosebumps to erupt all over Jeongguk’s skin.

Jimin moved gracefully, gliding across the stage with poise, every move calculated and doused in finesse. The essence of it taking over Jimin’s body and he sang his heart out, his song about the joys of a serendipitous love. And everything faded away. Jeongguk couldn’t be more in love.

“He looks happy.” Namjoon murmured in awe from his side and Jeongguk exhaled the breath he had been holding in for too long, nodding his head and standing up, clapping enthusiastically as Jimin took a bow.

....

“You’re barely eating, Jiminie.”

Jimin blinked the haze away, looking around the table at all the faces staring at him questioningly. He smiled tightly, almost a grimace, as he ladled some soup into his bowl. Hoseok tutted reprehensibly, watching him intently till Jimin finally took the first spoonful of his food.

“Are you not hungry?” Taehyung asked, lips downturned into a pout.

Jimin made a dismissive sound at the back of his throat, pointedly not making an eye contact.

“I’m just tired.” He said, shrugging. “It had been a while since our last performance, you know, so I was really worried.”

Taehyung smiled gleefully at that. “Park Jimin and worried don’t sound nice in the same sentence. You were amazing today!”

“Jiminie, the shows sell out like wild fire!” Hoseok hollered. “People can’t seem to get enough of you. Have you seen the articles? They literally worship you.”

“Hyung,” Jimin whined while Taehyung nudged him on the side. A teasing lilt to his voice as he singsonged. “I heard he was there.” He grinned, raising his eyebrows playfully.

“Who?” Jimin bit his cheek, looking down at his food with hurried, utmost attention.

“Mister Jeon.” Taehyung grinned from ear to ear, wiggling his eyebrows. “I heard he bought you yet another bouquet. Does he not get tired? Seriously though, that man really is head over heels for you.”

Jimin ceased. Instead of hitting his best friend back and whining like usual, he grew quiet. His mind running miles, not meeting his friends’ eyes.

Concerned, Taehyung put a hand over his shoulder, shaking him out of his reveries. “What’s wrong, Jiminie?”

Jimin looked up at his friends then, spanning their worried faces before slumping back.

“Father is planning to get me married.”

“What?” Both Taehyung and Hoseok gasped out in unison. Jimin heaved a shuddering breath, hugging his shoulders.

“He has been talking to people. He... He wants to get rid of me for good this time."

“What the—That’s unacceptable!” Hoseok whisper-yelled, planting both his hands on the table in frustration. “Why won’t he just let you live for once?!”

“He’s so volatile these days, hyung. He’s so angry all the time.” Jimin heaved, pushing his plate away. “I think I shouldn’t have accepted the modeling offer. And probably shouldn’t have dyed my hair pink. He—He keeps saying how I’m a disgrace to the family all the time.”

“He’d always find faults with whatever you do, Jiminie.” Hoseok winced, sharing worried glances with Taehyung. “You did nothing wrong. You’re finally moving forwards with your career for god’s sake!”

“Did he find anyone?” Taehyung croaked.

“I-I don’t know.” Jimin said, voice hoarse and feeble. “Jihyunie said he has been talking to people in positions, you know, rich men, men with a status, with power.” Jimin swallowed thickly, turning his head away. “Much, much older men.” He choked out the last part, eyes burning with the urge to cry.

“Jiminie...” Taehyung instantly dived to hug the pink haired man to his chest. “I wish he wasn’t so power hungry. And emotionless. You’re so good to him, you’ve always been so good, Jiminie.”

“He’s gonna ruin my life, Tae.” Jimin breathed harshly, looking up at Taehyung brokenly.

“No ones going to ruin your life, Jimin.” Taehyung murmured, holding him tight till his lungs didn’t seem to be collapsing on themselves.

....

Jeongguk scoffed out loud. Namjoon wincing as he briefed him about his mother’s unanticipated and supposedly inflexible arrangements.

“And from the family get together you are supposed to take Chaeyoung-ssi to dinner as already booked by—”

“She’s so stubborn.” Jeongguk groaned, rubbing at his temples as claws of an impending headache dug deeper. “Which part of ‘Chae will always only be a friend’ is too hard to understand?”

Namjoon stood silent, aware of Jeongguk’s volatile mood in such situations. The office room felt stifling and cut off from everything outside moving way too fast and bustling with employees rushing through their work.

Jeongguk leaned back in his chair, loosening his tie and undoing his cufflinks.

“You should go home, rest up. There’s not much to do today anyway. With all the meetings scheduled tomorrow, I don’t think you can squeeze time out for that dinner.” Namjoon spoke after a few drawn out moments. Jeongguk grunted, his eyes shut closed as he nodded his head. The exhaustion finally getting to him. He had to talk to his father.

Just when he was about to call it a day, the phone beeped, his secretary’s jumbled words rushing in.

“S-Sir, y-you have someone—I mean, there’s someone—you have to meet right now—”

Jeongguk exhaled. “Not today. I’m going home.”

“S-Sir!” Shinhye cried, frantic. “You can’t—Mr. Park is waiting—”

“Shinhye.” Jeongguk said sternly, hand already reaching out to dismiss the call when suddenly his ears began to ring at the woman’s next words.

“It’s Park J-Jimin, Sir. Jimin-ssi wants to see you.”

Everything was a mess of blur and frantic movements. Jeongguk rushed to the waiting room, hands trying to salvage whatever they could of his disheveled shape whilst. Jimin hadn’t elaborated the purpose of his visit. Shinhye was well aware, well, everyone seemed to be so she had readily asked Jimin to wait till she got Jeongguk to meet him.

All the exhaustion and frustration seemed to precipitate out of his skin and evaporate off him. He could see Jimin from the clear door.

His pink hair looking utterly soft, framing his features so ardently. Jimin was wearing a coat too big for his stature, his leg bouncing constantly as he looked around nervously. Jeongguk’s heart clenched inside his chest. Jimin had sought him out. And was currently sitting in Jeongguk’s office, waiting for him.

With a bated breath, Jeongguk finally pushed through the door.

Jimin stood up instantly upon watching him enter. His cheeks flushed, eyes wide and lips bitten red. Looking immensely anxious and small.

“Please have a seat, Jimin-ssi.” Jeongguk finally found his voice, gesturing towards the leather couch. “Would you like something to drink?” He asked courteously despite his heart almost heaving out of his chest. And before Jimin could even say anything he’d already called Shinhye and asked her to bring coffee.

Jeongguk undid his coat as he took the seat in front of Jimin. The latter fidgeted with his hands, blinking a few times and trying to gain control of his breathing. Jeongguk chewed on the inside of his cheek, eyes boring into the other’s hunched frame before clearing his throat.

“Jimin-ssi. How may I help you?” He urged softly.

When Jimin did look up at him, it was with eyes full of something that made Jeongguk’s heart ache. Jimin took in a shaky breath, swallowing before finally speaking.

“I... I know this is so sudden and you were probably—definitely busy but—” Jimin averted his gaze, jerking his head gently to clear strands of pink hair away from his eyes. Jeongguk let him gather himself, unbelieving that Jimin had sought him out in the first place.

“I have been thinking...” Jimin squeaked breathily, and then came to a halt as Shinhye knocked at the door, smiling nervously as she placed the mugs of coffee in front of the two. Jimin mumbling out a “thank you” before going back to look down at his lap.

Jeongguk was at a loss for words. He had never seen Jimin in such a state. His eyes closely scrutinised Jimin’s every move, trying to fathom anything, but then he realised that that was probably what was making Jimin so uneasy. So instead he gave the other a faint smile, words mellow as he tried to make Jimin comfortable.

“It’s okay, take your time.” Jeongguk smiled, “Or we could go someplace else if the office is making you—”

“No, I... It’s fine.” Jimin urged, closing his eyes momentarily before speaking again. “You had proposed to me a year ago.” He said firmly then, looking Jeongguk in the eyes. “I wanted to know if it’s still, if you still—”

“Yes.” Jeongguk replied in a heartbeat. Jimin’s voice barely perceptible given the ringing in his ears.

“I came here to say yes.” Jimin said then, gaze unwavering. “I’m ready to marry you.”

Chapter Text

Jimin clearly remembered the awe with which all the students used to look at Jeongguk.

Jeon Jeongguk, the merit student of his batch, the golden boy who raised swoons wherever he went. He’d achieved tremendously already, his father’s legacy—The Jeon Empire, had skyrocketed. Jeon Jeongguk was an enigma.

He was the cherished student of the most prestigious university of Seoul, Jeongguk had become the epitome of success, a textbook case for all the aspiring students. And the university was besotted with him. They’d request him to grace the newly admitted batch with his presence, Jeongguk would be there honoring every valedictory speech.

Jimin resented Jeongguk.

It was with the hopes of Jimin turning out at least a fraction as golden as Jeongguk that his father enlisted him in the same university. Jimin hoped that at least Jeongguk turned out to be an asshole, that at least he’d be full of shit, so that Jimin wouldn’t feel the guilt spattering his heart whenever he looked at Jeongguk with indignation every single time his dreams were trampled upon.

But Jeongguk was kind. God, he was kind and pleasant; cocky but he had a right to. He had earned the right to that with his meticulous hard work. As if Jimin’s predicament wasn’t worse in itself, Jeongguk seemed to have eyes for him. Jimin was quite distressed that time, hurting endlessly as he had to bury his dreams and enlist in a business school. His father wouldn’t support him at all, he’d disown him the moment he as much mentioned his desire to dance. Jimin was a good student but that didn’t help him prevail, he was stressed and sad, and everything began to crumble down to nothingness.

He remembered how he was called in the office one day, his hands shaking terribly, fearing that that was it, that his falling grades had at last caused his eviction. Instead, he found himself face to face with Jeon Jeongguk. Somehow the latter had gathered information about his passion for dance, about all the competitions he had won, that Jimin had excelled in Modern dance and  Contemporary in his school. Jeongguk had been gentle, telling him that he should listen to his heart. Jimin kept silent all through, tongue lodged in his tight throat. He couldn’t tell Jeongguk that his father was aiming for him, that if it weren’t for Jeongguk he wouldn’t be taking business classes in the first place.

Jimin stayed silent. And Jeongguk had at last heaved a deep sigh, looking at him reticently with an intensity that wouldn’t let Jimin look up at all.

And now.

And now Jimin tried to inure his shaky breaths as he refused to break the eye contact with Jeongguk. The silence that suddenly ensheathed them making his chest cave in.

Jeongguk was staring at him with such an unrestricted gaze that made him want to cower. This was such an oddity. Jimin was a performer. The stage was his life. He had always been in love with the prospect of people watching him perform. Yet he still couldn’t get used to the sheer fervour with which Jeongguk looked his way.

The moment stretched longer and the tiny hope inside Jimin’s heart was starting to dwindle. Now that he thought about it, all this seemed really off; him suddenly approaching Jeongguk and accepting his marriage proposal, that is. Maybe it was a really bad idea, maybe he should have talked to Hoseok or Taehyung before—

Jeongguk smiled.

Jimin swallowed thickly, sucking in a sharp breath,  his lungs burning, watching how the man’s features morphed into one of euphoria. A delirious shine blossoming in his eyes.

Jeongguk was looking at him with a fondness and it scared Jimin. God, it scared him shitless. He clutched onto his coat, suddenly aware that he was alone in a confined space with Jeon Jeongguk.

“I’m honored.” Jeongguk finally replied. His voice deep and mellow, the timbre doused in sheer contentment.

Jimin at least remembered to grace him with a stiff nod, having lost his voice to the depth in Jeongguk’s eyes. It was getting so stifling under the other’s scorching gaze but Jimin had come here with a resolution. He straightened his back, running a hand through his hair and trying not to register how Jeongguk’s eyes ate the motion up. He recuperated his strength, face stoic as he spoke.

“I have a condition.”

“Anything you want.”

Jimin stilled. Every single word that escaped Jeongguk’s lips only sending his own reeling away into the abyss. Jimin wanted to scream, so lost.

Jimin spoke out breathlessly then. “You will never interfere with my career.” He squared his shoulders, feeble voice getting firmer with each word. “All the decisions regarding my career will be mine. I will never compromise with my passion, I will never stop performing. You will never do anything to even remotely jeopardise my career.”

He rose then, adjusting the coat around his body. His ears were ringing now, he would vehemently deny any deviation from the condition he put forward, even though he knew Jeongguk liked to watch him dance. Hell, he never missed a single performance. But Jimin would be damned if he trusted him blindly.

Jeongguk didn’t say anything, watching Jimin for a long moment before finally standing up. Jimin couldn’t help the shiver that ran down his spine as the other closed the distance between them, towering above Jimin, reminding him that Jeongguk was taller. That he was much, much broader. And older to Jimin by eight long years.

“Let me drop you at the studio, Jimin-ssi.”

Jimin pointedly stared out the window, his mind fuzzy. Asking himself if this was what he wanted with his life; whether he was taking the right decision. But then there was never any such thing like a right decision. It was his escape route from all what his father’s decisions would entail for him. At least he was now sure of one thing that Jeongguk would never ask him to stop dancing.

Jimin leaned his head against the glass and closed his eyes. It was calm and quiet inside the car, the occasional soft thumping of Jeongguk’s fingers against the leather of the steering wheel somehow soothing his nerves. His heart felt heavy with the images of Jeongguk’s employees looking at him in awe, with happiness, as the two of them left the building. He felt respected, and it made him want to cry. The chronic turbulence at the back of his head somehow beginning to settle.

Jimin blinked his eyes open at the soft click, his motions a tad slow as he looked up at Jeongguk holding the car door at his side open for him.

Jimin smiled hesitantly at the gesture, stepping out. He watched as Jeongguk opened and closed his mouth a couple times, seemingly unsure of what to say. It placated him even more. Jeongguk was as human as him.

“You need to ask my father for my hand in marriage.” Jimin decided to succour him then. He didn’t have much time to suffice.

Hoseok’s affronted face welcomed Jimin as he entered through the door. Jimin exhaled heavily, taking his coat out and putting it away.

“What the hell, Jiminie?” Hoseok frowned deeply, grasping Jimin’s forearm when the latter didn’t turn to look at him.

“Jeon? What was he doing dropping you off?” The older hissed incredulously.

“Hyung...” Jimin pleaded, looking up at the other helplessly.

“What the hell are you about, Park Jimin? Since when are you friends with him? Does Tae know about it? What does—”

“I’m marrying him, Hobi hyung.” Jimin said brokenly, his breath getting caught in his throat. Somehow speaking about it now made it seem more real.

“I-I said yes to him, hyung—I went to his office—I accepted—”

Jimin breathed harshly as Hoseok engulfed him in a tight hug. His hands sought purchase in the older’s shirt, burying his wet face in the latter’s neck, realising at he was crying pretty bad.

“Shh. Calm down, Jiminie.” Hoseok soothed, rubbing his back. “I’m so sorry, please don’t cry.”

Jimin only cried harder, pitiful sobs emanating from his raw throat. Hoseok kissed his hair, rubbing his back affectionately.

“Where’s your car?” He murmured into the younger’s hair when his sobs had quietened down marginally.

“P-Parked at his office...” Jimin sniffled, eyes puffy and rimmed red as he looked up at Hoseok. “I couldn’t—couldn’t tell him that he needn’t to drop me off.”

“It’s okay.” Hoseok smiled lovingly, thumbing away the stray tears from Jimin’s face. “I’ll send someone.”

Jimin let Hoseok pacify him. Sniffling occasionally, and then wordlessly letting the other walk him to his room.

“So you basically gambled on finding happiness with Jeon.” Taehyung tutted making Jimin wince.

When Jimin calmed down considerably, Hoseok had immediately called Taehyung. Both his friends sitting across from him now, looking at him with eyes full of questions.

“I’m not looking for a happy marriage with him.” Jimin replied feebly, voice barely above a whisper, hiding his fingers in the sleeves of his oversized white shirt. “I just thought it’s better to marry him rather than a stranger my father chooses who I don’t trust.”

“And you trust Jeongguk.” Hoseok said in a flat voice.

“Hyung, he hasn’t missed a single performance. He always shows up no matter how busy he is, always brings huge bouquets to all my shows.”

Hoseok looked at him impassively, making Jimin sigh in exasperation.

“Hyung, he wants me to dance.” Jimin murmured hopefully. “He won’t pose a threat to my career. Unlike whoever father choses. I cannot take any risk.”

“I understand what you’re coming from,” Taehyung started then, the timbre of his voice gentle and reassuring, “but Jiminie we can’t be so sure about him as well. Yes, he has been inclined to you for years, I accept, he has turned down so many proposals in hopes that you’d accept some day, but he is a businessman after all. An authoritative man in an extremely high position at that. You can’t be so sure he won’t want to keep you to himself after you marry him. Most men have a tendency to cripple your wings and put you in a cage once they get a hold of you.”

“I’ll leave him then.” Jimin replied after a long moment. “Once I’m married, father won’t have any claims over me. He won’t have any say in my life. And if Jeongguk turns out to be slightly as controlling I’ll straightaway file for a divorce.”

Jimin turned to look out the window.

“He is an authoritative man in an extremely high position. He wouldn’t let me drag such an issue to the court and risk tainting his family name.”

His friends’ groans and arguments faded away into a white noise. Jimin closed his eyes, steeling himself for this huge leap of faith.

....

“Hyeji!” Jeongguk called out, scanning through the living area and then the kitchen. A bounce in his long steps as he strode up the staircase.

His heart was thundering against his chest, buzzing excitement rushing up and down his spine making his fingers tingle pleasantly.

The woman’s muffled reply took him to his personal gym. He had told her time and time again not to fuss around the gym equipments, always scared that she’d end up hurting herself. But Jeongguk didn’t find it in himself to reprimand her this time around. His face broke into a wide grin, rushing to the woman and instantly picking her up in his arms, causing her to drop off her cleaning supplies as he twirled her around.

“Put me down, you manchild!” Hyejin shrieked, holding onto his shoulders desperately. “Jeonggukie, I’m going to fall!”

“Would never let you fall!” Jeongguk laughed, his eyes crinkling. He twirled her some more before finally letting her on her feet and instantly hugging her. Hyejin smiled warmly, brushing her fingers through the long strands of his hair. “What’s the good news, hmm? Secured some big deal?” Hyejin enquired, trying to coax something out of Jeongguk.

“You guess.” Jeongguk laughed merrily as he looked down at the woman.

Hyejin whined but Jeongguk only laughed harder, throwing his head back. And then her eyes widened comically.

“No way!” She screamed, bringing Jeongguk into a tight embrace. “Oh my god, are you serious?” She cried, her motions frantic as she held the latter’s face in her hands.

“I promise.” Jeongguk murmured, thumbing away the tears beginning to pool at the corner of the woman’s eyes.

Hyejin let out a wet sob, bringing Jeongguk’s face down to kiss his forehead. “When—What did he say?”

Jeongguk guided her to the nearby couch with an arm around her shoulders. He squatted in front of her, taking her small, wrinkled hands in his own. He tried to reign his own ragged breaths in. Jimin had said yes. Jimin had said yes.

“He came to the office today. And said he was ready to marry me.” Jeongguk said, kissing the woman’s veiny hands. “Hyeji. He looked so beautiful. God, he’s so beautiful.” He murmured, his heart heavy with all the adoration he’s kept locked for years.

“He’s... He’s... So gentle, and kind... Hyeji, he was so nervous, I wanted to give him the world.”

Hyejin smiled through her tears, watching Jeongguk babble with nothing but adoration in his eyes. So enamoured of Jimin.

“I’m s-so happy for you, Jeonggukie.” Hyejin brushed her fingers through Jeongguk’s hair, her voice thick, laced with emotions. “I knew he would say yes. See I always told you he would say yes.”

....

“Fifteen minute break! Gear up y’all, gotta perfect this piece today!”

Hoseok hollered enthusiastically, clapping his hands twice as the crew dispersed, sipping through their energy drinks and catching a breath. Jimin pushed his sweaty hair back, jerking his head and popping the joints as he settled down.

He had barely held the phone in his hand when it started to buzz. Jimin leaned his head back against the wall, answering the call.

“Jiminie?” Jihyung’s rushed voice came in, “Hyung? Where’re you?”

“Practicing, Jihyunie.” Jimin replied back breathlessly. “Is everything alright?”

“Jiminie, please get back home.”

Jimin frowned. “I will after—”

“No hyung. Right now.”

“What’s wrong? What—”

“Please don’t freak out, okay? Dad... He...accepted a marriage proposal for you. Please, just, just come back home.”

Jimin’s heart sank. His eyes burning with the sudden intense urge to cry. He almost ran out the room, ready to fall apart when Jihyun’s voice rang through his ears.

“Jeon Jeongguk wants to marry you. He came to the office and dad instantly said yes, without even consulting you once. I don’t understand—hyung? Jiminie? Are you there—”

“It’s okay, Hyunie.” Jimin said shakily, falling back against the wall. “It’s okay.”

....

Jimin chewed on his lip, eyes downcast as he sat at the table. He’d often return back home past the dinner time, always trying to avoid eating with his father and thus his wounding words. But it was different today. His father had demanded he came back right away.

Jimin shakily ladled some broth into his bowl, his stomach twisting at the sight of food.

“A good proposal knocked at our door today.” Park Hyunbin said nonchalantly in a gruff voice as he continued eating. “For him.” He motioned towards Jimin’s hunched frame with his chopsticks. “I accepted.”

Jimin could feel Jihyun stiffen besides him. He gingerly placed a hand over his brother’s bouncing knee, squeezing reassuringly despite himself.

Minseo, Jimin’s mother, bit down on her lip in thought, glancing towards Jimin.

“What are you looking at him for?” Hyunbin sneered, dropping his chopsticks onto the table noisily, making her flinch. “Jeon Jeongguk wants to marry him. The Jeon Jeongguk. For the first time in his unworthy life he has brought me a reason to be content." Hyunbin scoffed bitterly. "I don’t know what Jeongguk even sees in him but I hope he keeps seeing that until after the marriage.”

Jimin felt his throat clog up. His vision blurring with the onslaught of tears. Jihyung grasped his hand tightly, rubbing soothing circles into his skin.

“I’m not taking any chances knowing what a lost cause this boy is. I’ve finalised the engagement date.” Hyunbin jeered. He looked at Jimin then, his gaze unforgiving.

“Look at me, Jimin.” Hyunbin said, face threateningly stoic as he placed his elbows on the table and leaned in. Jimin looked at him hesitantly, body breaking out into trembles with the intense urge to bolt.

“If you do anything to even minutely displease Jeongguk, I’ll break both your knees. We’ll see how much more pathetic you’d look dancing then.”

Chapter Text

you:

Clear my schedule for the rest of the day. And set the meeting with Woo tomorrow morning.

02:06 PM

shinhye:

Yes Sir. Shall I order lunch for you?

02:06 PM

you:

No, I'm out for lunch. I'm taking the rest of the day off.

02:07 PM

shinhye:

Very well, Sir. Have a nice day.

02:07 PM

Jeongguk pocketed his phone back, nodding at the manager who was waiting patiently on the side before he could himself pour him a glass of water.

"May I get you the menu, Sir?"

"I'd like to wait a little longer. My company must be here soon." Jeongguk smiled politely as the man bowed, skittering back with his body still facing Jeongguk. He was in one of the private dining areas, in one of the luxurious hotels his father owned.

Jeongguk breathed out, getting up to his feet then, as Jaesung was showed inside.

"Dad." Jeongguk smiled, accepting the warm embrace from his father.

"How have you been, Jeongguk?" Jaesung asked, taking a seat opposite to him. "Haven't seen you in a minute."

"I've been good. Just a little busy is all."

"I guess it's quite important then." Jaesung mused, accepting the menu with a curt nod. "This sudden meeting you called."

Jeongguk nodded, "It is. I've decided to get married."

After being coaxed by his mother for years to settle down and get married, after being talked to by even his father a couple times, Jeongguk assumed his incessant refusal might have turned the whole ordeal lustureless, that it might have gotten dull. But the way his father's eyes crinkled with unadulterated joy spoke differently.

"Park Jimin?" Jaesung raised one sharp brow, laughing merrily when Jeongguk huffed. "Honestly I always wondered what's taking you so long." Jaesung mused. "You've liked him for quite some time now." He said, his eyes darting towards the managers followered by the flock of waiters as they politely filtered in bringing their order.

"He wasn't ready." Jeongguk replied, smiling amiably at the gittery staff. "He's quite young."

"Ah, I know. I ran a check on him a while ago." Jaesung said simply. "Turns out the kid is a nice person. He comes from Busan and he keeps donating a lot to help the aspiring students there."

Jeongguk smiled widely, the silverware forgotten in his hands. "He is. Doesn't let anyone know about it. He has a heart of gold. And he's so talented, works so hard. Dad, he's one of the best dancers of our country. He's still so humble, so polite— Why...are you looking at me like that?"

Jaesung chuckled, leaning back in his chair.

"When you were a kid, Jeongguk, and I was busy building an empire, I strived hard to give you an easy childhood. The one in which you'd never want for anything. I made it possible that my kid owned things that others could only ever dream of. Because I believed that way I would win your little heart." Jaesung murmured the last bit, his eyes gleaming with reminiscence. "I would pile up mountains of presents in your room for each of your birthday. Then when you were about to be ten I was at a loss. Because no matter what I bought you, your eyes wouldn't shine as much. So I sat you in my lap one evening and asked you what you wanted for your birthday. And you said you wanted a trip to mountains, just you and me."

Jeongguk remembered the first of their many trips. That very trip made him idiolize his father. The way his father was good at everything. Be it setting up a camp, or lighting campfire, or fishing. Jeongguk wanted to be like Jaesung.

"I still remember the way your little face lit up in utter joy when I took you to the mountains. That week was the best week of my entire life." Jaesung laughed. He looked at Jeongguk then, straightening his posture. "I know Jimin deserves you. Because every time you talk about him, I see the merry face of my ten year old boy."

....

The boisterous slam reverberated thunderously in the penthouse.

Jeongguk tutted, disapproval coiling around his gut as he momentarily shut his eyes. He clenched his jaw, aware of the inevitable drama and the undermentioned headache already settling into the back of his head. On his side, he could gauge Hyejin's queasiness, the woman having abandoned her chopsticks. Jeongguk hummed reassuringly as he went back to having his dinner.

"Jeongguk!" The shrill voice ringed then, heels clacking angrily against the marble as his mother treaded the living area, rage contorting her face. Hyejin instantly stood up, her chair dragging back a bit with a screach as she took a few steps back from the dining table.

"What the hell is this maddness?!" Sooyeon screamed. Painted lips pulled back in a sneer. Her usually perfectly styled hair in a disarray. Jeongguk chewed on the inside of his cheek, letting out a deep sigh. He placed his chopsticks neatly on the napkin, his mother watching him with hardened eyes.

"I'm talking to you!" Sooyeon yelled.

"I can hear you." Jeongguk spoke, looking up into her eyes.

"You're marrying that boy?!" Sooyeon hissed, taking a few steps forwards. "What is this maddness, Jeongguk? What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Getting married." Jeongguk said back as he rose from the chair, standing tall in front of the seething woman.

"To that boy?" Sooyeon scowled, grasping Jeongguk's arm and turning him back towards herself, disgust marring her features. "For heaven's sake! Is this some kind of a joke!" Jeongguk looked at her with unimpressed eyes, his frown deepening as his eyes zeroed down at where his mother was holding him. Jeongguk's gaze burning into the woman's skin. Sooyeon's fingers twitched nervously before she reluctantly retracted her hand back.

"His name is Jimin." Jeongguk replied.

"Jeonggukie," Sooyeon pleaded frantically. "You can't do that. He is no match for you." She bleated, pushing the hair away from her face. "A dancer. A carrier." She gritted out in avulsion. "You can't take such decisions like this—"

"This's my life." Jeongguk spat, frowning down at his mother. "And I'm going to marry Jimin. You have no say in this regard."

"I am your mother!" Sooyeon cried out, hurt shining in her eyes. "You are my only son, Jeongguk! Did you even think about me before deciding on such a vile thing! Our image, what everyone's going to say, did you—"

"Why would I think about you?!" Jeongguk roared back. Sooyeon gasped, words dying on her lips. "Did you ever think about me? Your only son?" He scoffed bitterly, chuckling darkly when his mother averted her gaze. Jeongguk took a step forward, closing the distance between them and grasping the woman's shoulders. "Oh no, you look at me, mom." Jeongguk gritted out. "You just handed me over, didn't you? And now you come here demanding to know why I didn't think about you?"

"Jeongguk, please, I was—I did everything for your sake—" Sooyeon whimpered, squirming in Jeongguk's grip.

"For my sake? You abandoned me for my sake?" Jeongguk scoffed incredulously. "You've never been a mother to me, so you have no rights." He breathed out, voice laden with venom, as he let her go. His eyes abandoning her.

Sooyeon choked on a sob, gathering her bearings as she cupped her son's face with both hands. "Jeonggukie, please listen to me. This's just an infatuation, I'm telling you," she started desperately, "He's pretty, I get that, but his profession keeps him in people's eyes. Trust me you wouldn't want that sort of attention. And his family, they are no match to us. You're a Jeon, the only heir, sweetheart, his father has programmed him quite well to lure you in." Sooyeon pleaded.

"You sure know quite a lot about Jimin for someone who refuses to acknowledge his name even." Jeongguk spat, the glint in her eyes making him recoil in disgust.

Sooyeon breathed out, not letting her son move back.
"No, please, I'm your mother, I understand the attraction but honey he's a carrier." She uttered vehemently, only spurred on by the confusion gathering on Jeongguk's face. "Carriers have such a hard time conceiving."

"Oh, stop it." Jeongguk groaned, trying to turn away. Sooyeon only scurrying to keep her hold on him.

"I promise, Jeongguk, this infatuation, this–this attraction will vane in a couple years and then you'll come complaining to me how he cannot give you children."

"Mom." Jeongguk inhaled, voice gruff, somehow forcing himself to stand still in front of the woman. "Stop it. I'm not marrying him for the sake of having children. That's not the purpose of it."

"But it is, come on, Jeonggukie, you're in your late twenties, you have to procreate and this's not something I have to make you understand! Sugarcoat it however you want but marriages mean children! A-And given how he's a dancer, trust me he wouldn't even want one in the first place!"

Jeongguk looked at her then, eyes dark as he squinted at her. "You'd know about it, wouldn't you?" He breathed, tone condescending. "Like you didn't have another baby after me." Jeongguk wanted to laugh when Sooyeon's eyes widened comically. Staggered by Jeongguk's bitter words, she just stared back, unnerved, before she found another alternative.

"How're you even going to explain this to Chae?"

"Excuse me?" Jeongguk frowned, looking at his mother.

"You can't do this to her! She has waited all her life for you! You can't ruin her life!"

"I never entertained anyone's fantasies. Neither her nor yours." Jeongguk shrugged. "This's the mess you tried to create, this's what you wanted so you are going to tell her."

"Jeongguk you can't—"

"This's the end of our conversation." Jeongguk said, dully, settling back into his chair. "You wish to attend the marriage without causing any sort of trouble, you're welcome. Otherwise I'm sure you'll find some high profile gathering to keep yourself busy in."

Sooyeon watched her son with wide eyes, unbelieving, feeling small in front of her own son. And then her gaze traversed to Hyejin. The woman's head ducked down. Sooyeon let the tears fall before scrambling to wipe them off her face.

Jeongguk had insulted her in front of this maid? This maid who she had brought home. To take care of Jeongguk. Sooyeon felt her gut churn.

"This's all happening because of you." She hissed, raising an accusatory finger at Hyejin who cowered under her piercing gaze. "Sitting next to my son and having meals with him," she scoffed, bitterness edging her voice. "You fed all this to him. You've brainwashed him into—"

"Cease the theatrics." Jeongguk growled, pushing his unfinished plate back. "You can leave."

"Jeongguk—"

"You can leave." Jeongguk repeated, louder.

Sooyeon flinched, inhaling sharply as she looked between her son and the maid. "You are not my son." She sniffled, taking a few steps back before rushing out.

"I have never been." Jeongguk gritted out.

Growing up, Hyejin was all Jeongguk had. Someone who took care of him, who fed him and bathed him, who entertained him endlessly. His parents were always busy. His father busy building an empire and his mother always seen at charities and high profile parties and endorsements and whatnot, building a name for herself. And it all came at a price. At a price of Jeongguk's entire childhood. It had taken a great toil on Hyejin's part that Jeongguk finally learnt to address Sooyeon as his mother and not Hyejin. But still, anything motherly and Jeongguk would only associate it with Hyejin. It was kind of bittersweet how Hyejin entered his life in the first place.

Her husband had started to work for Jeongguk's father after countless failed attempts to establish something of his own. Jeongguk's father, Jeon Jaesung, had graciously helped him, letting him borrow a loan but before he could pay it off he'd met with an accident. And Hyejin found herself swimming in the debt that she could not pay off. But before Jaesung could free her from the obligation by excusing the debt, Sooyeon had already took the matters into her own hands.

And it hurt Jeongguk endlessly when he learnt about the ordeal. Sooyeon had asked Hyejin to become Jeongguk's caretaker and with a promise that Hyejin would not remarry or have her own kids. Hyejin had accepted wordlessly, giving up all her dreams and raising a kid that wasn't even hers.

Jeongguk clenched his fists tightly upon hearing Hyejin sniff softly as she slowly walked away from the dining area. He immediately sprung up, walking up to the woman.

"Hyeji," He murmured, watching her rub the moisture off her eyes with her sleeve. Hyejin let out a broken noise, smiling it off in the next moment. "I'll heat up the dinner, Jeongguk, give me a moment."

"Hyeji." Jeongguk called softly, ceasing all her attempts. "Look at me, please."

Hyejin did. And it set his aching heart ablaze. Her eyes doused in love and tears. Jeongguk gripped her shoulders, touch as firm as his feelings for the woman. He guided her slowly into the chair he was having dinner in. Hyejin sat down wordlessly, watching silently as Jeongguk kneeled in front of her, and then rested his head in her lap.

"You're my world." Jeongguk murmured softly, wraping his hands around hers and bringing them to his head, coaxing Hyejin into caressing his hair.

"You're mine, Jeonggukie." Hyejin whispered, almost choking on her own words. "I have nothing left, no one—"

"I know." Jeongguk squeezed her hands, looking up to find her eyes. "I'm your son, Hyeji. I'll always be your son."

....

Jimin paced his room restlessly. He ran his hands frantically through his hair. Perched on his bed, Jihyun watched him keenly with an amused smile. Jimin stopped every now and then, casting an irritated glance at his brother, scowling at him and resuming pacing.

"Relax, hyung." Jihyun chuckled, sitting up straight. "It's just dinner."

Jimin groaned, stamping a foot on the ground before crashing on the bed with a thump! and faceplanting. "Just dinner?!" He whined. "Father invited Jeongguk to dinner and I'm only getting to know about it now when there's less than an hour left!"

"Should've checked your phone." Jihyun coughed, earning another disgruntled glare. "I suggest you better get dressed, Jiminie."

"What am I even supposed to say?" Jimin murmured, eyes downcast.

Jihyun's eyes softened. "Just be there. He's probably invited to fix the date." He leaned closer, threading fingers through his brother's hair when he heard him gasp softly. "I'll be there with you the whole time."

Jimin's parents were gittery. While Hyunbin tried to keep the conversation alive somehow, Jimin's mother, Minseo busied herself with setting dinner on the table.

Jeongguk couldn't help but take in his surroundings astutely. This was where Jimin grew up. The house was cozy, lived in. His eyes lingering on the picture frames hanging on the far wall. Family photos, trips and vacations, Jimin and Jihyun's childhood pictures, Jihyun and Hyunbin's recent pictures. Nothing of Jimin's performances.

"Jeongguk-ssi," Hyunbin cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm glad you could make time out of your busy schedule. I hope it wasn't—"

Jeongguk waved him off. "I guess it was time."

"Of course—Yes," Hyunbin tried. And then gestured something to his wife who instantly disappeared up the stairs.

And a moment later, Jimin was descending down the stairs. Jeongguk got up, feet urging him to walk up to Jimin. Hyunbin's voice, however, rooted his attention back.

"Please, Jeongguk-ssi," Hyunbin gestured towards his chair, the man having gotten up too.

Jeongguk sat down slowly, watching as Jimin made his way to the dining table. He was clad in an oversized blue sweater, hair soft and pink. Almost barefaced. Jeongguk couldn't be more in love.

As Jimin took a seat opposite to him, Hyunbin tutted under his breath, almost making Jimin flinch. Jeongguk furrowed his eyebrows as Jimin uttered an apology.

"I'm sorry for making you wait." Jimin said politely, finally looking up at Jeongguk.

"It's totally fine." Jeongguk smiled, "You look lovely, Jimin."

Jimin bit on his lower lip nervously, eyes hesitant, but then finally graced Jeongguk with a darling smile. "Thank you."

"But when doesn't Jiminie look beautiful." Jimin's brother smiled, reaching out a hand for Jeongguk to shake. "Park Jihyun. How're you doing, Jeongguk-ssi?"

"Nice to meet you, Jihyun-ssi. I'm doing fine." Jeongguk said.

"Just Jihyun is fine." Jihyun smiled, taking a seat besides Jimin.

And they had dinner. Hyunbin and Minseo kept fussing about Jeongguk's plate. If the food was fine, or he needed anything, and that he wasn't eating enough. Jeongguk could have given them a single look and they would stop hovering around him instantly, but he found himself just gazing at Jimin. Jimin at home was different.

It wasn't just the lack of accessories, his bare ears and fingers, it was his whole demeanour. This Jimin was quite and strung out. On his side, Jihyun kept murmuring something to him and Jimin would smile a little in return.
Jeongguk chewed on the inside of his cheek.

"How was the day at the studio, Jimin-ssi?" Jeongguk asked after a while.

Jimin almost choked on his food. He coughed into the napkin, trying to be elegant throughout. He was trying so bad, had been trying the whole evening and it perturbed Jeongguk immensely.

"It was good." Jimin replied after regaining control of his bearings. "How was your day?"

"I can say it ended divinely." Jeongguk smiled.

On his side, Jihyun pinched his thigh. Jimin could feel the blood rushing to his face.

"I know it's confidential but I'd really love to know about your next performance." Jeongguk drawled, "Waiting for the dates to be disclosed is quite harrowing for an impatient man like myself."

Jimin chuckled, averting his gaze. The way Jeongguk could disarm him anywhere was daunting, yet Jimin wanted to know the extent. "I think you'll have to wait, Jeongguk-ssi."

"You wound me, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk laughed.

Jimin then suddenly noticed the eery silence that had befallen the whole room. He had almost forgotten where he was sitting, indulging Jeongguk because he loved Jimin's passion for dancing. Before he could however, tinker with the situation, Jeongguk had already shifted his face towards his father.

"You must be so proud of your son." Jeongguk spoke almost too sweetly, watching Hyunbin with narrowed eyes. "Jimin is the rising star of the country. The world is almost at his feet and yet he is so humble."

Jimin felt his heart squeeze inside his chest.

Hyunbin laughed uncouthly. Muttering out an awkward "Of course." Minseo had gone hauntingly still.

"'Course you are." Jeongguk simpered.

Jimin heaved. Jeongguk knew.

They were almost done eating when Hyunbin finally spoke.

"Jeongguk-ssi, I would like if the engagement takes place in the coming days. Actually it's our family tradition, we don't wait for long once we find the match. I hope it's not a problem."

Jeongguk moved his plate aside, folding the napkin. "I'd love to make Jimin mine as soon as possible." He said, watching raptly as Jimin nervously fiddled with the sleeves of his sweater. "But I want to make sure that Jimin is fine with getting engaged so soon."

"Ah, of course he is!" Hyunbin laughed. "About the—"

"I didn't ask you, Mr. Park." Jeongguk said monotonously, effectively shutting him down. "So, Jimin-ssi, I'll wait if you need more time."

Jimin visibly paled. He breathed out through his nose, sparing a glance at his father and then focusing back at Jeongguk. "I'm ready for the engagement."

Hyunbin lifted his head up arrogantly, sitting up straight. "I would really like if I could meet your father, Jeongguk-ssi. All the arrangements need to be talked out—"

"My father," Jeongguk turned to look at Hyunbin, "is a very busy man, Mr. Park."

Hyunbin sputtered, frantically trying to mend his words.

"You'll have the pleasure of meeting Jeon Jaesung at the engagement."

The night air travelled his skin, evoking goosebumps wherever it touched. Jimin sniffed in the coolness, his heart stuck in a strange limbo, restlessly pounding against it's confines. Silently he walked Jeongguk out to his car even though Jeongguk had insisted that he did not have to.

"Thank you for inviting me." Jeongguk said in a gruff voice as he leaned back against the car door.

Jeongguk looked good. The sleeves of his black turtleneck rolled up, exposing his forearms. Jimin wanted to trace a finger down the enticing veins. Jimin instantly shuddered at the thought. Jeongguk looked like a promise. Of nirvana or purgatory, Jimin had yet to decide.

Jimin smiled back nervously. "It was pleasant having you over, Jeongguk-ssi."

"Jeongguk."

Jimin looked up into Jeongguk's eyes, shining brighter than the starry night.

"Call me Jeongguk."

As Jimin watched on, soaking up the soft grunge of Jeongguk's voice, Jimin thought back about the dinner and how Jeongguk had displayed precisely the comportment that Jimin expected of him. The way Jeongguk didn't humour his father, the way he insisted on acknowledging Jimin's presence and choice, made him feel respected in his own house for the first time.

"Jeongguk." Jimin murmured. And the way Jeongguk's starry eyes were trained on his lips forming his name didn't help his restless heart at all.

"What time tomorrow should I pick you up from the studio?" Jeongguk drawled.

"Huh?" Jimin felt stupified.

"Can't get engaged without getting the rings, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk smiled, reaching out to softly tuck a stray strand of hair behind Jimin's ear.

"You don't have to, Jeongguk. As soon as the rehearsal finishes, I'll drive–"

"I insist." Jeongguk murmured. "I would like to take you on a date afterwards, if you allow me."

Chapter Text

Again.
Jimin levelled his breathing, inhaling deep. Releve. And Saute. Eyes scrutinizing as he dissected the whole segment. The first and second violins blaring through the speakers, making his hair sit up.

"Listen to the music, Jimin." His ballet teacher's voice played at the back of his head. "Feel it first. Think what you want to do with it." Ms Lee said solmnly. He could feel her circling him, correcting his arms, pushing a hand sharply against his lower back.

Jimin exhaled slowly through his nose. Extending an arm in front of his face, keeping his hand limp and then elongating his index finger, slightly, followed by the little finger.

"A ballet dancer's hands and wrists should always appear relaxed and neutral." Ms Lee tutted, her hardened eyes searching vehemently for a single flaw.

Jimin let the music consume him, letting the sadness of the strings agonize his heart. Longing. Despair. Grief. Loss. Letting it all consume his soul.

Again.

"I didn't ask you, Mr. Park. So, Jimin-ssi, I'll wait if you need more time."

Jimin screwed his eyes shut, trying hard to free his mind yet Jeongguk's words burned bright behind his eyes. His voice kept ringing in his ears, pouring down on him in torrents. Jimin was going to drown. He could see himself drowning. His father standing at the bank, watching him being sucked to the bottom, watching him go to a watery grave. Watching him with venomous eyes.

Jimin clenched his jaw, standing back straight, feet aligned neatly in fifth position, slowly extending an arm and repeating the whole move. Again.

"I'd love to make Jimin mine as soon as possible. But I want to make sure that Jimin is fine with getting engaged so soon."

Jimin shook his head, whiling the voices away. He must focus. He opened his eyes, watching himself in the fogged up mirror like a hawk. Arms back. Chest out. Shoulders squared.

"Can't get engaged without getting the rings, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk smiled. Laughed. Jeongguk tilted his head to the side and extended an arm towards him. Jimin swallowed thickly. It was a lovely bouquet. Vibrant. Marigolds. Jeongguk knew his birth flower.

Jimin whimpered as he transitioning into an Arabesque. Ms Lee's calculating gaze piercing through his skin. She knew his weaknesses like the back of her hand. He could not disappoint her. She was the only one who believed in him. Working leg and foot turned out. Twirl. Twirl.

"You look lovely, Jimin."

"You wound me, Jimin-ssi."

"Can't get engaged without getting the rings, Jimin-ssi."

Twirl.

"What a disgrace." His father's leering gaze made his gut churn in disgust. There was Jimin, sitting at the far end of the dining table, crying into the sleeves of his white hoodie because the reports said that he had a womb. That he could definitely carry a baby. That he was a carrier. His body shook violently as his father laid a slap across his mother's face.

"This's what you gave me? This's supposed to be my first born?" His father gritted out. "I was hoping I'd get him married to a beautiful girl, all those cocky bastards, those business tycoons were licking my boots wanting to get their daughters married to him but now, now I have to keep an eye on him? Make sure he keeps his legs closed? What a shame!"

Jimin extended his arms back above his head as he leapt like a firebird. The music thumming in the background. His father's words did not define him. It was untrue. It was cruel of his father. Jimin was not a liability.

And yet he could not free himself from all the shackles. As long as he carried this womb he would always be held down, noosed forever.

Again. He repeated the whole segment again. His feet numb. The tips of his toes burning in agonizing pain.

"Look at me, Jimin.
If you do anything to even minutely displease Jeongguk, I’ll break both your knees. We’ll see how much more pathetic you’d look dancing then."

"You must be so proud of your son."

Jimin heaved. Knee straight. Keeping the toes pointed.

"Your supporting leg should not be weak, Jimin." Ms Lee growled, pushing his working thigh higher.

"Jimin-ssi."

Jimin extended a hand to take the bouquet, only for it to hide nocuous snakes. Jimin dropped the bouquet, watching the snakes slither at his feet. He let out a choked sob.

"Weak." Ms. Lee hissed. He could hear her cane swoosh, his body breaking into goosebumps, the ghost of the strike stinging his skin.

"Again!" Ms Lee snarled, cane whipping.

Again.

"Jimin-ssi."

"You look lovely, Jimin."

"How was the day at the studio, Jimin-ssi?"

He knows. He knows. What if he is playing with me. What does he want? Jimin gasped for each breath, lungs burning as much as his whole body was. Jeongguk's eyes refusing to leave him be. His voice ringing in his ears, his words like a mantra. What if Jimin was just going in circles? Never ending circles.

"Jeon Jeongguk wants to marry him. Jeon Jeongguk. For the first time in his unworthy life he has brought me a reason to be content. I don’t know what he sees in him but I hope he keeps seeing that until after the marriage."

"You look lovely, Jimin."

"Keep dancing. Until you break."

"If you do anything to even minutely displease Jeongguk, I’ll break both your knees."

"Feel it first. Think what you want to do with it.
Dance in your imagination first, your body will follow then."

"You look lovely, Jimin."

"Listen to the music, Jimin. I said listen to it!"

"Jimin!"

Jimin felt himself lose balance, his pupils blown wide, ankle almost about to twist painfully on itself. But before he could, he felt himself being embraced tightly. Jimin shuddered, legs trembling, heart hammering wildly against his chest, choking on every single breath.

"I got you." Taehyung murmured into his ear, caging him tightly in his arms. "I got you." Jimin nodded into Taehyung's neck. Slowly feeling the life creep back into his numb fingers, he clutched tightly onto Taehyung's shirt.

"You're drenched, Jiminie, and it's not even six in the morning yet. How long have you been here practicing?" Taehyung asked softly, rubbing soothing circles into Jimin's back.

Jimin choked out a sob. "M-Midnight." Jimin croaked out. And then he started bawling. Crying into Taehyung's neck, holding onto him for dear life. Taehyung let him. And then he gently urshered him to the nearest bench without breaking the embrace. When his cries finally dwindled to soft sniffles, Taehyung fetched his water bottle and towel, urging him to drink up.

"You weren't answering your phone." Taehyung said, drying off Jimin's damp hair. "Finish it." He smiled, wraping his own hand around the bottle when Jimin tried to put it down.

Jimin breathed in, eyes focusing on Taehyung as he walked to the mini fridge, preparing a cold compress.

Jimin swallowed thickly, voice feeble as he spoke. "J-Jeongguk...he...Father invited him to dinner last night."

Taehyung hummed, squatting in front of him, smiling up at him reassuringly as he took off his flats. Jimin hissed as Taehyung started icing his toes. "I know. Jihyun told me." He said, free hand rubbing his shin soothingly. "Why didn't you call me, Jimin-ah? I was waiting for your call."

"Am I making a mistake, Tae?" Jimin whispered.

"Did Jeongguk say anything?" Taehyung frowned. "But Jihyunie told me that Jeongguk—"

"No he—he was too good to me. But I'm scared, Tae. I'm scared because I believed all his words. I cannot—what if—"

"Shh..." Taehyung murmured, sitting up on the bench, wrapping an arm around Jimin's shoulders. "I know you're scared. I really wish that I could take you out of this, take you away and keep you safe." He sighed, kissing the top of Jimin's head. "But I won't let anyone harm you. Neither your father nor Jeon."

Hoseok didn't let Jimin practice the whole day. And Jimin knew better than to throw a fit. He silently watched the rehearsal unfurl, sulking in a corner, icing his legs. Next to him Taehyung was busy replying to work mails. Jimin sighed.

"It's your own fault you know that." Taehyung said, eyes never leaving his laptop screen.

"I know." Jimin grumbled. He still had about three hours till Jeongguk came to pick him up. Jihyun had already sent his clothes to the studio. His sweet brother, always looking out for him.

Jimin heaved a deep sigh.

"What was that for now?" Taehyung asked.

"I'm sorry, Tae." Jimin whispered. "You had to rush here so early in the morning and now you're stuck working from here."

Taehyung gazed at him through his big, round glasses. "Is that a problem?" He quirked an eyebrow, asking in a comically deep voice.

Jimin scoffed. "I'm seriously feeling sorry."

"I know that." Taehyung grinned. "You know that I'm totally fine working online from here. And besides, I'd rather spend all my time with you. And I was gonna get here anyway." He shrugged.

Jimin frowned at that. "Why?"

"'cos," Taehyung singsonged. "You'd be a hot mess without me."

Jimin threw the ice pack on Taehyung's laptop.

jeongguk:

Almost there.

06:17 PM

Jimin pressed his lips together, looking up at Hoseok and Taehyung who were already staring at him expectantly.

Jimin sighed, pocketing his phone before strutting to the floor to ceiling mirror, checking himself one last time.

"What did he say?" Hoseok asked, wiggling his brows exaggeratedly.

"Said he's almost here." Jimin huffed.

"Next time for sure." Taehyung sompered. Jimin rolled his eyes at them through the mirror.

Jeongguk stepped out of his car, fixing the lapels of his coat. He smiled to himself, shaking his head and then he dithered in his track. His heart skipped a beat, watching in awe as Jimin made his way towards him. The contrast between his all black attire and bright pink hair making him look so otherwordly. Jeongguk took a moment to appreciate his looks as he strutted out of the building in skinny jeans paired with a cardigan and chelsea boots. The golden chain of his bag glittering as it slinged down his chest. Jeongguk felt a bit dizzy at the way his pink bangs were styled flowing out of the black barrett, falling over his eyes, tinted glasses perked on his tiny nose. Jeongguk frowned at the black face mask though.

"Good evening." Jimin said as soon as he was face to face with Jeongguk. He didn't miss the way Jimin's eyes wandered over his frame too. "Thank you for coming to pick me up."

Jeongguk smiled, reaching back to the rear seat and taking the bouquet out.

"Of course." Jeongguk said, stepping closer to Jimin who seemed to be lost into the pretty assortment of pink and white roses in his hands. "These are for you, Jimin-ssi. Though thier beauty has considerably waned away in front of you."

Jimin sucked in a sharp breath, reaching out and holding the bouquet tenderly. He looked up at Jeongguk through his lashes, eyes far away for a moment before focusing back on Jeongguk.

"They're pretty." Jimin murmured. "Thank you, Jeongguk."

But Jeongguk kept staring at him. Jimin felt his throat run dry, averting his gaze when Jeongguk took a step forward, towering over him. Jimin couldn't find the courage to look back up, eyes trained on Jeongguk's bottle green coat and the soft white shirt he was wearing underneath.

"May I?" Jeongguk's deep voice rang in his ears. Jimin looked up slowly, Jeongguk's hand almost touching his mask. Jimin nodded jerkily after a while and watched as Jeongguk pulled his mask down reverently, gently.

"So beautiful." Jeongguk drawled, finding Jimin's gaze.

Jimin just looked up into Jeongguk's eyes. And he could feel Jeongguk staring right into his soul. It felt dangerous. The thought that Jeongguk could possibly read him, could reach his heart just like that and learn all the secrets buried inside. Jimin felt his throat tighten. He averted his gaze. His attention zeroing in on Jeongguk when the latter cleared his throat.

"Please, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk said softly, holding the door open for Jimin.

Jimin thanked him politely, getting into the passenger seat.

Jimin learnt how difficult it was to impress Jeongguk. It was just now crashing on to Jimin that he was getting engaged to chaebol Jeongguk. The only heir to Jeon empire.

Jimin was used to spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on just his clothes, his fame, his passion earned him handsome money. But this. This was insane.

The owners of those lavish, upscale jewelry stores floundered at Jeongguk's feet, frantically rushing about and trying to impress him with whatever they had. But each time they presented something to them, even when it didn't ignite any spark in Jeongguk's eyes, he would still always ask Jimin if he liked the design.

Jimin suggested customizing their rings then. Jeongguk agreed in a heartbeat. The next moment they were sharing their ideas with each other while having some coffee. Jimin felt himself quite ill prepared compared to Jeongguk. It seemed like Jeongguk had pondered on it quite a bit.

"I think we should get a matching pair for the engagement." Jimin found himself speaking. Having a conversation with Jeongguk seemed easy now. Jeongguk made it easy.

Jeongguk smiled brightly at him. "Sure, Jimin-ssi. Anything you want."

They ended up sketching out their designs. Jimin liked Jeongguk's idea of simple yet elegant. Simple an understatement with how their platinum bands were studded with diamonds. And that was it. Jeongguk stood up elegantly, extending a hand for Jimin. Their rings would be ready in four days. Nothing about the payment was discussed.

Jimin chewed on the inside of his cheek, looking out through the window at the setting sun.

"Is your leg hurting, Jimin?" Jeongguk asked, almost too quietly.

Jimin turned to look at him with confused eyes. Watching Jeongguk drive with furrowed brows. Jimin then remembered his ballet practice.

"It's nothing." Jimin smiled hesitantly. "Just practice."

Jeongguk hummed, gazing at him before fixing his eyes back on the road. Jimin watched him tilt his head, probably in a thought, before he suddenly changed the route.

Jeongguk took him to Myungwolgwan. The best freaking Korean barbeque place in Seoul. The only Korean barbeque house run by a luxury hotel. The painted hanok with a view of the mountains, an insanely large beautiful garden and serving luxury variations of barbeque. And it seemed that they were the only guests for the evening.

"I hope barbeque is alright." Jeongguk said as he held the door to Jimin's side open.

"Barbeque is more than alright." Jimin replied, his gaze filtering over the place. Jeongguk smiled, leading him inside. The marble and hardwood interior of the restaurant blended perfectly with the background of mountains. A beautiful blend of traditional architecture and modern design. They were politely lead through the sliding door to the lavish private dining area.

"You can sit however you like, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk said, gesturing towards the dining area. Jimin nodded, getting his shoes off and stepping on the raised platform, taking a seat on the cushion, crossing his legs and instantly feeling as if he had ascended to heaven. He couldn't help but lean back on the frame supporting his back, almost melting into it.

Jeongguk chuckled, taking a seat opposite to Jimin.

Instantaneously, the servers filtered in slowly, starting the burners at their low table; others bringing in different arrays of dishes. And a soft melody started playing in the room.

"Thank you." Jeongguk nodded at the servers. "I'll take it from here."

And Jeongguk started grilling the meat. Jimin didn't know what to do with himself. Should he help Jeongguk or just wait patiently for the meat to cook?

"It's okay, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk spoke, flipping the sizzling meat strips, as if having read his mind.

"Just Jimin is fine."

"Jimin." Jeongguk smiled, "You can stretch out your legs if you want. Is it still hurting?"

Jimin tilted his head.

"Your leg." Jeongguk explained when Jimin just looked at him.

Jimin felt his heart flutter inside his chest.

"Thank you." Jimin mumbled, finally stretching out his legs, a groan almost slipping out his throat. Jeongguk just smiled, getting the meat and vegetables ready.

Jeongguk was good at grilling. His posture straight, kneel–sitting the whole time. Everything about Jeongguk screamed perfection. Even the way he held his chopsticks. Jimin gnawned on his lip, realizing that this was Jimin's first official date, and on top of that Jeongguk was somehow so attentive of him, so pleasant.

Jeongguk apparently liked feeding him. Preparing the wraps for Jimin and watching him with a proud smile. Asking him if his meat was cooked enough; if he needed more kimchi; if the ssamjang was the right amount. Was it an age thing? Jimin doted over Jihyun a lot, and so did Jimin's hyungs for him. But Jeongguk...Jeongguk had already started taking care of him. They just had half a bottle of soju, and the way Jeongguk poured him the glass made him nervous. Jimin made sure to face the other way while tossing it down his throat.

Jeongguk did not talk much. He liked listening to Jimin. Unwinded by the bit of alcohol and the pleasant atmosphere, Jimin started making conversation with Jeongguk. He learnt that Jeongguk didn't live with his parents, that he lived alone in his own house, and that he was raised by Hyeji.

"She's like a mother to me." Jeongguk said with crinkling eyes, moving the cooked meat to Jimin's side. "She'd really love to meet you."

Jimin felt the warmth pool in his belly. "I'd love to meet her too. Sooner than later."

They took a stroll in the garden after they were done with their meal. The backdrop of mountains, the blooming flowers, the evening sky, and Jeongguk's delightful company. Jeongguk didn't mention Jimin's parents once. Neither did he try to pry about their starined relationship.

Jimin looked down, watching their feet as they took steps together, wondering if Jeongguk really had ulterior motives, but then Jeongguk hadn't even touched him once throughout the whole time.

....

Jeongguk booked The Shilla for the engagement. Though Hyunbin was disgruntled that Jeongguk demanded a private engagement ceremony and that Hyunbin could not show off, yet he couldn't hide the greed twinkling in his eyes. Jeongguk booked the whole of their resort too so that Jimin and his friends would enjoy a little stacation whilst.

"How does it look?" Jimin worried at his bottom lip, twirling a little to have a complete look at his tailored suit. It was a black cropped officer tailcoat decorated with beaded embroidery at the plastron and trims, a white silk blouse underneath and paired with fitted black trousers with embroidered cuffs. And a black pleat cummerbund to accentuate his tiny waist.

"Holy—" Hoseok gasped. "Wow, you're looking like a king."

"I think you're looking like a god." Jihyun spoke, instantly getting on his feet to have a closer look. "Wow, Jiminie, I don't even wanna know how much it cost."

"Well, he's getting engaged. He has a right to spend outrageous amount of money." Hoseok huffed, inspecting the handmade suit.

"The stylists and make-up artists are on their way—Shit—"

Jihyun and Hoseok laughed at Taehyung's astounded face.

"I hope they deliver my jewelry on time." Jimin pouted, turning to take one more look at himself.

....

The moments rushed past him in a blur. Taehyung held his shaking hand throughout the particular juncture, when he was getting ready for the engagement.

"You look so gorgeous." Taehyung murmured, rubbing his back soothingly.

"Tae." Jimin croaked out, eyes suddenly hazy. "Am I making a mistake?"

Taehyung's eyes softened. "No, darling. Jeongguk seems really in love with you. I think he's honest." Taehyung smiled reassuringly, giving Jimin's hand a comforting squeeze. Taehyung and Hoseok had met with Jeongguk outside of Jimin's knowledge, to call out any pretence while they had time, only to witness Jeongguk's steadfast devotion.

"Jiminie." Jihyun smiled wide. "It's time."

Jeongguk was looking gorgeous. Black suit with gold buttons and gold cufflinks, gold fastened into the collar of his shirt. Jeongguk oozed rich from head to toe.

Jimin kept his breathing levelled, feeling as if any moment his chest might cave in. He did not register the people cheering for them in the lavishly decorated hall, feeling as if he was underwater, watching himself from another dimension as Jeongguk slipped the beautiful ring on his finger.

"You're looking so beautiful, Jimin-ssi, my heart might stop." Jeongguk said so softly to him, looking at Jimin with such adoration. Like he was moments away from plucking out a chunk of the moon and throwing it at Jimin's feet.

"Here, Jimin." Jeongguk placed a gentle hand on the small of Jimin's back. Jimin smiled up at him, putting away his flute. Jeongguk chuckled, and then gestured towards a woman smiling brightly at Jimin.

"This's Jimin," Jeongguk smiled wide. "And Jimin this's—"

"Hyeji!" Jimin broke out into a smile, instantly moving forward and embracing the woman.

"My goodness," Hyejin giggled, wraping her arms tightly around Jimin. "Your descriptions didn't do him justice at all!" She said to Jeongguk over Jimin's shoulder, making him squeak happily. "Where did you find this prince?"

Jeongguk stood and stared. God, Jimin was so perfect. Jeongguk stared as Jimin and Hyejin talked, as if they had always known each other. Jimin welcoming her into his life with open arms and warm smiles. If only there was still some place left in Jeongguk's heart for Jimin to grow; Jimin warmed his veins, beating in every pulse.

Sooyeon didn't show up. Jeongguk couldn't care less.

"Do I get to call you hyung now?" Jihyun asked Jeongguk.

"Of course." Jeongguk smiled. Jeongguk had purposefully ignored Hyunbin and Minseo throughout the evening.

"I'll call you Jeongguk though." Taehyung giggled, making Jeongguk huff.

"Me too." Hoseok smiled, face already red after having consumed half of his flute. Jeongguk believed that it was in fact just one sip.

"So what did you call me before?" Jeongguk raised a brow.

"Mr. Jeon." They deadpanned together. All four of them bursting out laughing.

"Jimin, someone wants to meet you." Jeongguk said, looking down at Jimin's rosy cheeks. "I'll have to steal my fiancé for a moment." Jeongguk smiled warmly at Hyejin.

Jimin looked up at Jeongguk with dazzling eyes. "I love Hyeji."

Jeongguk smiled wide, leading Jimin towards someone.

"This is Jimin." Jeongguk said as he introduced them. Jimin looked up at the older man, politely taking a bow. "And Jimin, this's my dad."

Jimin suddenly felt like a deer caught in headlights. The man standing in front of him was Jeon Jaesung. Something coiled around his gut, somehow he expected worse. What if Jeongguk's father didn't like him? Jimin didn't know where he stood in Jaesung's eyes. What if he had the same views about Jimin as his own father.

Jimin felt his breath hitch, heart hammering against his chest as Jaesung took a step towards him. Feeling him tremble, Jeongguk started rubbing Jimin's lower back soothingly. God, Jimin would cry if Jeongguk's father said anything cruel to him.

And then. Jaesung placed a tender hand on top of Jimin's head. The gesture fatherly. "Welcome to the family, son."

"Shh." Jeongguk murmured into Jimin's ear, gently leading him through the majestic garden to the central gazebo.

Jimin let out a choked sob, eyes welling up with tears. He didn't understand why he couldn't stop crying.

"It's okay, sweetheart." Jeongguk cooed, wiping off the tears before they could fall. Jeongguk smiled softly at him, touching his face so reverently as if afraid that he might accidently break him.

"I'm sorry." Jimin sniffled.

Jeongguk did not say anything. He simply held Jimin wordlessly, caressing his face till Jimin felt considerably better. As the moments passed by, he took in his surroundings. The fountain, the sophisticated floral beds, the picturesque view, the music flowing in the air, finding it's way to them. And then they were slowly moving to it.

"I'm the luckiest man in the world." Jeongguk drawled, finally placing his hands on Jimin's waist.

"Why is that?" Jimin looked up at him, his hands hesitantly staying at Jeongguk's shoulders.

"I'm having this dance with you." Jeongguk murmured.

They danced under the moonlight, away from the chatter. Jeongguk never looked away from his face, his eyes doused in unbound fondness.

Jeongguk then reached out a hand, softly grazing the back of his knuckles across Jimin's cheek. Jimin leaned into the touch, steadily looking at Jeongguk's face, committing his features to memory. Jeongguk's nimble fingers tracing the slope of his cheek, the touch almost driving him insane.

"Jimin." Jeongguk whispered and Jimin could hear his own heart beating in his ears. "I'm going to kiss you now." Jeongguk said, almost a breath. "May I?"

Jimin nodded slowly, closing his eyes as he felt Jeongguk's lips on his cheek. Jimin exhaled a shuddering breath, clutching onto Jeongguk's shoulders as Jeongguk laid constellations of kisses down Jimin's cheekbone to the angle of his lips.

And then Jeongguk pressed his lips to Jimin's.

Chapter Text

"Do you not like it?" Jeongguk asked worriedly as Jimin continued fiddling with his ceasar salad.

"No, I like the food." Jimin tried to smile reassuringly.

"You've barely eaten anything." Jeongguk furrowed his brows. "You haven't even touched the steak."

It was his day off. With the tremendous pressure regarding his upcoming performance in festival of Korean dance, the rehearsals had been especially strenuous. Jeongguk insisted that Jimin should take rest, but it had been quite a while since they last met and Jimin...Jimin wanted to get to know Jeongguk.

Jimin sighed, looking over the legde of the rooftop restaurant. More vans.

"You were right." Jimin murmured. "They are here for us."

"It's alright. My security personnels are right in the building. They'll escort you to the car safely." Jeongguk said gently.

Jimin looked at him, frowning. "Someone definitely leaked the information about our engagement to the press." He chewed on his bottom lip. "You wanted to keep it private."

Jeongguk smiled then. "Yes, Jimin. I did want to keep it from the media. Because I didn't want anyone bother you. They've been waiting all these years for this and I wanted to keep you away from stress as longer as I could."

Jimin felt his heart squeeze inside his chest. The gentle breeze ruffled Jeongguk's dark hair, it looked so soft, just like everything about Jeongguk. Soft and caring.

"That's so thoughtful." Jimin smiled. "Thank you."

"I'd like it very much if you finished your lunch, Jimin-ssi. Don't worry about them. I'll find out who passed the information to the media." He said reassuringly. "I won't let anyone pester you with anything."

As soon as they exited the building, the press went berzerk. But Jeongguk's security was all around them, not letting a single person through to them. The chaos was beyond Jimin's comprehension. He had been mobbed countless times, by fans, by reporters. But this was insane.

And so the world knew. Axiety washed over Jimin's heart in torrents thinking about the reaction his fans would give to the sudden news.

"They are surprisingly quite supportive." Hoseok said, filtering through the news feed on his phone.

"I think it's because it is Jeongguk." Taehyung whispered on his side, his wide eyes stuck to Hoseok's phone screen. "Your fans are happy for you, Jiminie. There are a few of those comments but I think they're the thirsty bastards who live in dreamland."

Jimin looked at them from where he was lounging on his bed. He had been so perturbed that he called them up as soon as Jeongguk dropped him back home.

"I think it was dad." Jihyun grumbled, throwing himself on the couch. "He has been gloating on the phone about how Jeongguk came to ask for your hand in marriage for hours since morning."

Of course. Jimin groaned, cursing into his pillow. "What if Jeongguk comes to know about it?" He hissed.

"It was expected of him." Taehyung groused. "He wants to show off and earn gains in business. That's his sole purpose behind marrying you to Jeongguk after all."

Jimin hummed, gazing at his engagement ring; remembering the way Jeongguk kept stealing glances at his finger and the subtle smile ghosting on his lips each time he did. Jimin tossed, looking up at the ceiling.
Could it all be a pretense?

"Jiminie?"

Jimin blinked, looking at his brother who was already staring worriedly at him. He had been zoning out again.

"I just–" Jimin frowned, sitting up. "I don't think Jeongguk will turn out like father."

Jihyun looked at him for a long moment, his gaze soft, before settling down besides him. "No hyung, he genuinely likes you."

"And it's not like I had a choice." Jimin mumbled, fumbling with his shirt. "If I didn't say yes to him, father would have married me off to some wrinkled lowlife." He sighed, looking down at his lap. "If–If he still becomes a control freak I'll divorce him and–and then I'm free. From him, from father."

Taehyung sat next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "And then we can stay together. We will always be there for you, Jiminie. But I don't think Jeongguk would ever do anything to even minutely displease you."

....

"And when are you leaving?" Jimin asked as he fumbled with his comforter.

"Next week." Jeongguk's voice percolated through the speaker.

"And when would you be back?"

"I think it'll take a week. I've been putting off this business trip for a while now." Jeongguk's airy voice ricocheted into his room. He sounded weary, his voice gruff.

"You sound tired." Jimin said, putting the phone off the speaker and to his ear as he settled in the bed for the night. "Is everything alright?" Jimin chewed on his lower lip when Jeongguk didn't talk for a moment.

"There's nothing to worry about, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk drawled then. Jimin sighed, shifting the side and putting the phone to the other ear.

"You keep calling me that." Jimin chuckled. "Jimin-ssi. You keep calling me that."

"I like calling you Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk laughed. "I hope it doesn't bother you."

"I don't think it bothers me that much." Jimin mused, suddenly feeling all fuzzy. He heard Jeongguk shuffle around, probably getting ready to sleep too. It was quite late, a little past midnight.

"Jimin." Jeongguk said gently. "Are you happy with this?"

Jimin just ceased. Suddenly at a loss for words.

"You can be honest with me." Jeongguk murmured.

"I think–I..." Jimin exhaled. Why was it so difficult? He could say anything he liked, but Jeongguk had only ever been honest with him. Jimin didn't like lying to him at all.

Jimin pursed his lips. "I think it's the best for me, Jeongguk."

"I respect your decision." Jeongguk said solemnly. "But you've just turned twenty-one. We're engaged now, we could wait a little longer."

"Jeongguk, I–I know but." Jimin heaved a deep sigh. He wasn't prepared to have this conversation with Jeongguk. And what would he even say? He sat up a little, running a hand through his hair in utter frustration. "My father–you talked to him."

"I'm asking about you, Jimin. What do you want?"

"I don't like having this conversation over phone." Jimin spoke breathily, shutting his eyes close. He grimaced then, somehow dread settling into his gut that he had ruined the conversation. But Jeongguk just let out an endearing noise.

"I apologize. Let's talk about it some other time if you like."

Jimin stayed stunned.

"I want to invite you to lunch, Jimin." Jeongguk chuckled when Jimin didn't reply back.

"Yeah–Yes, sure." Jimin replied, resting back against the bed frame.

"At my place. A family lunch with Hyeji. Lately she's been missing you a lot. Is this weeknd alright? I'll come pick you up."

"I have a little work at the studio in the morning. So you can pick me up from there." Jimin smiled.

....

Jimin panted, chest heaving with the effort of filling up his lungs, as he skittered and turned off the speakers. Sure enough there was some chatter in the vicinity. Jimin frowned, trying to focus on the noise, before his eyes widened. Oh no. Jeongguk was coming to pick him up and he had forgotten about it all. He came to the studio for some paperwork regarding his performance and then the mere thought of the upcoming performance had him immersed into running the segment he dreaded. And now. Jimin cursed, scurrying out of the room.

The sight that greeted him made his head pound. All of their dancers encircling Jeongguk. Jimin winced, looking around helplessly. Some of them were asking for autographs, some were swooning, while others were asking if the news was true. Of course it was. Jeongguk was there, standing in the building, having come to pick Jimin up for their lunch date.

"Fuck." Jimin cursed, legs moving without preamble, dizzy with the sudden spike of adrenaline. God, where was Hoseok? Jimin darted through the crowd, finally reaching up to Jeongguk who didn't seem much bothered. "I'm so sorry." Jimin mouthed apologetically before turning to glare at the dancers. All of them grew quite in an instant.

"Did anyone of you take any pictures?" Jimin gritted out. "If you did, delete it now. This is a warning."

He felt so pissed, even as the others started apologizing instantaneously. How could he be so stupid? Jimin felt mortified and he certainly did not want to keep Jeongguk standing there. So without a thought, he reached out and grabbed Jeongguk's hand, taking him to the room he was practicing in before.

"I'm so sorry for what happened. I got caught up in the practice and I just didn't realise that you'd already be here." Jimin babbled as he rushed them away. He turned around to face Jeongguk, another apology ready to tumble down his lips but halted at the look Jeongguk was giving him. His eyebrows knitted together, worrisome eyes stuck to Jimin's drenched sweatshirt. There was Jimin, barefaced, hair ruffled in numerous directions, sweat clinging to his shirt, still panting when he should have been ready to leave with Jeongguk.

"Jimin. You look tired. We can reschedule." Jeongguk said, apparently disquieted.

"No, I just need a minute." Jimin pressed his lips together, trying to smile reassuringly. But Jeongguk only stared at him, his eyes tracking the droplet of sweat clinging to a tuft of hair before it ran down Jimin's forehead. Jeongguk stepped closer and raised a hand, wiping the drop of sweat away with gentle fingers.

"You've been working so hard. I should've been considerate and not asking of you to make time out of your busy schedule."

There was distraught in Jeongguk's voice that could not have been just Jimin's imagination.

"Jeongguk." Jimin murmured, finding his eyes. "This is how it's going to be. Dancing will always be first for me." Jimin swallowed, vehemently trying to find the words so he could conduit his emotions. "I'm making time for you because I want to. Because I want to get to know you better but–" He sighed, looking away. "If I'm not honest with my passion I'll cease to be myself."

Jeongguk looked at him for a long moment. Jimin felt cornered, waves of anxiety washing over him. The heaviness of the situation making him so uncomfortable. God, why was it so difficult? Jimin exhaled, looking up into Jeongguk's eyes. "This will probably be our last date before the event. You're leaving next week and right after I have to leave for the performance. I just–" Jimin halted then as Jeongguk gave him a small smile.

"We will make it quick then, hmm? So that you get to have proper rest later?"

Jimin found himself nodding wordlessly. Jeongguk just kept looking at him and then, with an amused smile on his lips, he looked down at their hands. Jimin only then realised that he had literally just grabbed Jeongguk's wrist and carried him away, and was still very much holding onto it.

Jimin let go of Jeongguk's wrist jerkily, looking away in embarrassment. "Uh–I'll go change quickly." He rambled, daring a look back at Jeongguk only to find him tilting his head coyly, smiling even more. Jimin cleared his throat, gesturing towards the couch near the far wall. "Please, I'll be quick."

Jeongguk shook his head, watching Jimin disappear into the shower. He looked around in astonishment. This was the place where Jimin practiced, where he gave his all; his blood, sweat and tears, this place had seen him toil and toil and toil endlessly. Jeongguk looked around in awe, at the scratch marks etched into the floor–the skid marks from Jimin's dance shoes, to the fogged up mirror covering a whole wall.

Jimin looked worn out and exhausted. Did he always practice this hard before every performance? Jeongguk felt his chest tighten. He remembered the day Hoseok and Taehyung had come to meet him, how utterly concerned they were. And then how after engagement, Taehyung had made Jeongguk promise that he would always look after Jimin, that he would not let him burn himself out. Just one look at Jimin's practice room and Jeongguk understood Taehyung's concern.

"You're–You're standing there still."

Jeongguk turned around and smiled at Jimin. And instantly it settled Jimin's frown, smoothing it out and paving way for that little ghost of a smile. How could Jeongguk ever not give Jimin anything but smiles? Jimin deserved all the smiles the world could ever offer.

Jeongguk's house was the hill suite.

Jimin looked up at the lone tall building as they entered through the impregnable vast security area. It didn't even look like he was still in Seoul. Jeongguk's estate was cut off from the hustle and bustle of the city. The extensive amount of square footage decorated with countless flowering trees; Jeongguk owned a golf course and heavens knew what. Jimin stared out the window, flabbergasted as Jeongguk drove to his house.

"You said you lived in a house." Jimin spoke as Jeongguk opened the car door for him. "This is a freaking full fledged building."

Jeongguk threw his head back and laughed. Jimin felt his breath get caught in his throat because Jeongguk was laughing and Jimin liked the sound. He felt the nerves seep out of his body, suddenly calmed down as Jeongguk chuckled, reaching out for the bouquet Jimin had bought for Hyejin before he forgot it in the car, and led him inside.

The hill suite was a twenty-floored, lavishly built structure, facing the twinkling city on one side and the chain of mountains on the other. Jeongguk lived in the top three floors, which were homey and elegant. The other floors right below his penthouse consisted of his personal gym, a swimming pool, a golf range, his own theatre, a spa and a ballroom. And of course, two helipads. The lower floors housed Jeongguk's staff, security personnels and housekeeping.

Jeongguk simply smiled at him as they rode his personal elevator to the penthouse.

"Welcome, sweetheart!" Hyejin smiled merrily, welcoming Jimin with a warm embrace. Jimin felt warm, his eyes shining bright as Hyejin accepted his bouquet.

They sat to have lunch. Jimin tried not to feel intimidated by all the luxury around him. Jeongguk sat at the host seat, behind him lavish artwork covered the full wall. Jimin and Hyejin sat on the guest seats right next to him, facing each other. The sumptuous chandeliers hung over the whole table.

As they were being served, Jimin fumbled with his shirt.

"Is everything alright?" Jeongguk asked softly, leaning towards him.

Jimin looked at him, frowning. "Who snitched?"

And Jeongguk just smiled bright, revealing his teeth. Jimin couldn't believe that Jeongguk would pry it out of his friends, or probably Jihyun, because all the dishes being served were the ones Jimin was fond of.

"He didn't even let me help him in the kitchen." Hyejin chuckled, breaking Jimin's attention from Jeongguk's teeth.

Jimin looked at Jeongguk with wide eyes. "You cooked?"

Jeongguk smiled lazily. "I really hope you enjoy the food, Jimin-ssi."

As the clock ticked by, Jimin felt more and more serene. The daunting feeling slithered away the more he interacted with Hyejin and Jeongguk. The lunch was pleasant and Jeongguk was incredibly good at cooking. Jimin still couldn't wrap his head around the facts he was learning about Jeongguk. He was nothing like those cold bastards, those businessmen who believed they could have Jimin simply because they wanted to. Jeongguk was different.

Jeongguk excused himself as they settled in the living area after a while. And so Jimin found himself deeply immersed in conversation with Hyejin.

"Jimin, I can't tell you how glad I am that you accepted Jeongguk's proposal." Hyejin smiled, holding Jimin's hands. "Jeonggukie really adores you a lot. I have never seen him like this before." Hyejin caressed his hands so lovingly. "He didn't love anyone before you and he never loved anyone else after seeing you."

Jimin felt his heart race at Hyejin's words. He squeezed her hands affectionately. He didn't know what else to do.

"You must have doubts." Hyejin murmured, "About Jeonggukie, about the marriage. You have all the rights to be doubtful. But, he loves you, Jiminie. I promise he will always keep you happy."

Jimin felt awful. What would he even say to Hyejin? That Jimin just wanted to break free from the shackles his own father had put on him? That Jimin just accepted Jeongguk's marriage proposal to safeguard his own future? Jimin felt his throat clog with emotions. And Hyejin easily let him cling to her.

"I'm scared." Jimin hiccuped, willing the tears away. "My mother–we aren't so close but I need her so much right now."

Jimin wasn't anticipating the onslaught of these emotions. Minseo never paid attention to him. Growing up Jimin believed that it was because of his father. And then when he got examined and was declared a carrier, Minseo stopped acknowledging his presence altogether. Jimin wanted to believe that it was because she was afraid of her husband. And now. He needed his mother so badly. Jimin was so scared of the future, he was getting married and needed his mother's advice. He had fears. He needed to be calmed down.

Hyejin held him tightly against her body, shushing him with caring hands and loving words. "I understand, my child. I'm as much a mother to you now as I'm to Jeongguk." She cooed, holding his face with both hands, thumbing the tears away. "You can talk to me, all the doubts and fears you have, the advices you need," she smiled, "whether it's shopping for the wedding, or anything else, I'm always here for you."

Jimin waited for Jeongguk demurely. And then when he came back to the living area, Hyejin hugged Jimin, bidding goodbye and asking him to take good care of himself. She let the pair be alone to talk afterwards, disappearing down the stairs.

"I had a lovely day." Jimin beamed, getting up. "Thank you."

"I'm glad you came over." Jeongguk breathed, smiling from ear to ear.

Jimin felt fidgety. "So... You're leaving."

"Day after tomorrow." Jeongguk nodded, never breaking the eye contact.

"Yeah." Jimin bit down on his lower lip, watching how Jeongguk's eyes ate up the motion. "For a week. I'll–I'll see you then."

"Yeah." Jeongguk drawled. "It's getting late, I should drop you back home."

Jimin just kept looking at Jeongguk's smile, enraptured by the way his eyes crinkled in the corners, the subtle scrunch of his nose. And then he walked closer, heart hammering inside his chest, remembering how Jeongguk's lips felt like against his own. The only kiss they ever shared when they got engaged, Jimin wanted to feel ecstatic again.

Jimin leaned up on his tiptoes, slowly, feeling Jeongguk's breath against his cheek, knowing that Jeongguk was watching him raptly. He closed his eyes and kissed Jeongguk. Softly. Just a peck on the lips. Zephyr-like.

Jimin looked at Jeongguk then, barely having gotten back on the heels of his feet before Jeongguk leaned down and captured his lips in a lazy kiss. Jimin gasped, Jeongguk's hands securing him tightly against his body, as he tipped his head to one side and deepened the kiss. He sucked on Jimin's lips, his mouth moving reverently and then greedily, stealing air from Jimin's lungs. Jimin only held on to him tighter, feeling warmth spread throughout his body, his belly clenching in need as he kissed back just as passionately. God, he did not want to fret. He just wanted this. He wanted happiness so badly.

Jeongguk laid soft kisses across his cheeks, painting his skin with the colours of passion, unable to stray away from his lips and finding his way back to them. Jimin let him. He craved Jeongguk's kisses.

"I will win your heart, Jimin." Jeongguk whispered, aligning his forehead with that of Jimin's. "I promise."

Chapter Text

"You didn't have to bring me breakfast, Jeongguk. But thank you." Jimin smiled gratefully, accepting the coffee and croissants. Jeongguk nodded, taking a seat next to him.

It was still quite early when Jimin arrived at the studio. Jeongguk wanted to meet before his flight to Singapore, so they found themselves in Jimin's rehearsal room, having breakfast together.

"I wasn't sure what you liked for breakfast." Jeongguk said, sipping on his coffee. "I hope this is fine."

"This's perfect." Jimin twinkled. He reached out for the box of croissants and then faltered as Jeongguk wrapped his hand around Jimin's. Jimin only stared with a bated breath as Jeongguk held his hand reverently and then brought it up to his lips to kiss whilst looking at Jimin.

"I'm missing you already." Jeongguk murmured against the back of Jimin's hand. The feather soft touch of his lips electrifying Jimin's skin, leaving him expectant for more. And Jimin...Jimin would be lying through his teeth if he said he didn't feel sad about not being able to see Jeongguk for a week. He sucked in his cheeks, musing, before placing the coffee down on the table and turning to face Jeongguk. The angle was uncomfortable, their knees brushing against each other, but it didn't matter when Jimin cupped Jeongguk's face and brought him down for a kiss.

Jimin closed his eyes as he kept his lips pressed tight against Jeongguk's for a long moment, feeling the tension leeching out of his body. Jeongguk stayed still dutifully, letting Jimin's hands cup his face while his own hovered over them.

Jimin broke the contact after a while, lips parted, their breaths mingling. His hands stayed cupping Jeongguk's face as he slowly opened his eyes and at once found those doe eyes looking right at him. And then Jeongguk smiled, just a little, his upper lip stretching out slowly so the front two teeth peeked out captivatingly. Jimin stared shamelessly, entranced by that pouty upper lip, wanting to trace it so badly.

This time when Jimin dived back in, Jeongguk was prepared.

Jeongguk slid his hands in Jimin's hair, angling his face just perfect. And their lips met in a passionate kiss. Jimin traced Jeongguk's upper lip with his tongue, closing his mouth around it and sucking it in. And Jeongguk suckled on his plump bottom lip. Running out of air to fill their burning lungs, hands frantic as they memorized new territories, it didn't seem enough. Jimin just could not decipher how kissing felt so heavenly. Maybe it was because it was Jeongguk. Because Jimin could feel the passion oozing out of Jeongguk in wild waves. And Jimin just felt so eager to let them crash on him. And it weren't just Jimin's lips that Jeongguk loved painting in ardent desire. The way his mouth worshipped Jimin's whole face, the way his lips lingered at the angle of his jaw, breathing him in, nuzzling the heated skin, Jimin felt his heart race beacuse such gestures that he never deemed to be so intimate did make his body sing.

They got a hold of their bearings after a while. Still panting, hands jittery, and just a breath apart, Jimin stared at Jeongguk's mussed up hair. He smiled coyly, glad that he wasn't the only one left with reddened cheeks.

"Have a safe flight." Jimin whispered against Jeongguk's lips, pecking them again, feeling them stretch into a smile.

....

"There's a woman outside."

Jimin looked up at Hoseok from where he was stretching on the floor. His muscles had been cramping pretty bad lately. Jimin frowned, looking up at Hoseok in question.

"She says she wants to meet you." Hoseok said, there was an edge to his voice and Jimin instantaneously got up on his feet.

"I wasn't meeting anyone today, hyung." Jimin said, cudgeling his brain, trying to remember any interview.

"She says she's Jeongguk's friend."

The moment those words tumbled down Hoseok's lips, dread settled in the pit of Jimin's stomach. After Jeongguk left for Singapore they talked regularly on the phone for a couple days. And then Jeongguk got busy with the meetings and Jimin stayed coped up in the studio the whole day. He hadn't heard from Jeongguk for a couple days now. Was he alright? Jimin looked up at Hoseok in alarm, the latter nodded at him. "I'll let her in."

And a few moments after Hoseok left Jimin's rehearsal room, a woman entered. She looked older, maybe around Jeongguk's age or perhaps older than him, dressed in a tan suit, hair tied up and away from her face. She looked utterly bored.

"Hello." Jimin said politely, gesturing towards the couch on the far wall.

"Hello." The woman echoed back, taking a seat. "My name is Chaeyoung. Lee Chaeyoung." She spoke urgently and then let out an exaggerated sigh when Jimin only looked at her impassively.

"I'm Jeongguk's best friend. He might have told you about me."

"No. He hasn't." Jimin quirked an eyebrow. He did not like this woman a bit.

"Of course he has." Chaeyoung gritted out. "I'm here to settle this. How much do you want?"

"Excuse me?"

"Tell me your price. I'm a very busy person–" Chaeyoung hissed, her hardened eyes lingering on Jimin's frame. "Unlike you."

Jimin crossed his legs lazily then, falling into that headspace just as easily. The walls he built years ago straightening at once. He cocked an eyebrow at the woman, chuckling.

"Show yourself to the door." Jimin said monotonously. "I don't have time for people like you."

Chaeyoung blinked, taken aback before visibly fuming with rage. "I know your tricks boy, get away from Jeongguk. I'm making you an offer so you don't have to waste Jeongguk's time." She spat out and then faltered as Jimin just threw a smirk her way. She clenched her jaw, her face contorting in anger. "He was supposed to marry me. I'm his childhood friend. Jeongguk has–"

Jimin threw his head back and laughed. Chaeyoung stared at him with eyes blown wide.

Jimin looked down at his left hand then, admiring his engagement ring with faux attention. "I wonder why this pretty thing is not on your finger then?" He purred.

Chaeyoung stood up. "Enough of this bullshit! It is not, because you think you can win his heart with your body." She hissed. Her eyes wandered across Jimin's body, staying for a moment too long at his small waist and then his hips. Chaeyoung looked back up at Jimin's face when the latter chuckled mockingly.

"You might be young and attractive, you might know how to strut around him but he does not love you, Park Jimin. This is just lust and when Jeongguk gets what he wants he will cast you out of his life."

Jimin smiled coyly, ruffling a hand through his hair. "As much as I like being entertained by some jealous clown, I actually have a very tight schedule." He said cheekily, gesturing towards the door. "I think you'd like your little contrived image intact."

Hoseok chewed on his lip, pacing from one far wall to the another.

"How dare she?!" He growled, stopping to look incredulously at Jimin. "She won't be allowed to meet you, I made sure of that. Did–Has Jeongguk mentioned her to you?"

"I didn't know a Chaeyoung even existed." Jimin scoffed.

"She's probably just salty. If she were that important then Jeongguk would have mentioned her at least once."

"Or maybe he didn't on purpose." Jimin murmured, frowning into the distance.

"Jimin, I think you need to talk to Jeongguk about whatever happened." Hoseok sighed, walking up to Jimin and taking a seat besides him on the couch.

"He's busy, I guess." Jimin heaved a deep sigh. "Besides I can't talk about something like this to him on the phone."

"Okay." Hoseok tried to smile. "She's a nobody. Don't think about it."

"Of course, hyung." Jimin said, averting his gaze. "I should get back to practice."

....

Hyunbin slammed the glass down on the table, chuckling as Minseo poured him more alcohol. He grinned, ear to ear, shaking his head.

"I can't believe the power I'm suddenly handed over. Now everyone knows who Park Hyunbin is!" He laughed, downing down another shot of soju.

"I'm happy to hear that so many people want to make deals with you." Minseo smiled cheekily as Hyunbin poured her a glass too. His loud crackle ringing in the whole house.

"You should have seen how desperate they sounded. Ah, to be called Jeon Jeongguk's father-in-law." Hyunbin hissed. "If only I knew what treasures I'll get to have. How foolishly I tried to marry Jimin off to that widow. She can't even compete with Jeongguk's assistant."

"I always told you whatever happens is for the best." Minseo giggled, rubbing a hand over Hyunbin's arm. "That time was so difficult for us." She heaved a deep sigh. "We were so heartbroken and now because of Jimin being a carrier Jeongguk wants to marry him."

"You're right." Hyunbin leaned back on the couch, running a hand down his face. "Jimin is beautiful." He murmured, gaze finding that of his wife. "Anyone will fall for him. I wish he was a bit clever."

Minseo just fluttered her lashes, smiling meekly at him. "He will learn. Jeongguk will teach him, he'll show him his purpose."

Hyunbin chuckled darkly, reaching out and holding Minseo's hand. "Let him dance and be pretty. The day's not far when Jeongguk will demand for him to carry his children and he will have to retire from this madness."

Jimin felt the life creep out of his legs. He shivered bodily, somehow making it to his room without collapsing or making any sound. He bolted the door shut behind him, slidding down to the floor.

Jeongguk wouldn't do that to him. Jeongguk could never. He would never reduce Jimin to a fucking broodmare.

Jimin heaved, helplessly looking around. And then his mind ran over Chaeyoung's words which were just concomitant to his father's. And she said she was Jeongguk's childhood friend. If all Jeongguk wanted was a baby then he could have simply married Chaeyoung. Why Jimin? Why did he propose to Jimin when everyone knew that carriers had high-risk pregnancies? Could it be just lust? Was it Jimin's body that he wanted? Could it all really be a pretence just to get his hands on Jimin?

Jimin shook his head vehemently, shutting his eyes close. He tangled his hands in his hair, tugging at it painfully.

No. Jeongguk never crossed the line with Jimin. All their dates, all the times he came to pick Jimin up, all the times Jimin was with him in his car, Jimin felt nothing but safe.

Jimin got up on his feet, pacing around restively. Jeongguk always asked. But...Would he always ask? What after marriage? Would Jeongguk ask then? Wouldn't he feel entitled to having Jimin's body however he pleased? Wouldn't he force Jimin to conceive? Would Jimin's consent even matter then?

No. Jimin stilled. He turned to the large mirror at his dressing table, staring at his reflection with piercing eyes. Jimin had already considered such a possibility. Of Jeongguk turning out to be as vile as his father. He would promptly leave Jeongguk if he even minutely tried to sabotage his career. Jeongguk wouldn't try to make him stay. He wouldn't want a stain on his name.

Jimin, however, did not understand the pang of guilt he felt as soon as this thought crossed his mind. All the sweet gestures, all the smiles, Jeongguk couldn't pretend all of it. But what if Jeongguk was trying to get him like this? What if he already figured out Jimin's weakness and was exploiting him so impeccably?

Jimin ran both hands through his hair, watching himself through the mirror. He has always had trouble trusting people. He couldn’t even rely on his own parents and now he was trusting Jeongguk presumably with his whole life. What if whatever Hyunbin and Chaeyoung were saying was true? Jeongguk could very well be just infatuated. What if promising Jimin all the freedom to practice his career was just a facade?

Jimin groaned in frustration, staring away for a long moment before finally making up the resolve. He had to see what Jeongguk really wanted from him. Would his infatuation dwindle and his sweetness tarnish after he had had Jimin? Jimin looked at himself in the mirror again, eyes focused in determination. He really had to gauge his state of affairs before he found himself being caught in a snare.

....

Jeongguk hated screw ups. He hated it even more when people tried to cover their mess up instead of letting higher management know. And it had to happen when Jeongguk was out of the country for a business deal. He didn't get much sleep in last couple of days, running at a short temper, all he wanted was to get back home and sleep it off. What he did not expect was to be met with Jimin's face as soon as he got to his penthouse. Jeongguk looked fixedly in his direction for a moment and then he had arms full of Jimin.

"Welcome back." Jimin mumbled into his shoulder. And Jeongguk couldn't get enough of him. God, had he missed his heavenly face. Jeongguk hugged him back just as tightly, nose buried in his peachy hair.

"If only I knew what awaits me." Jeongguk smiled, kissing the top of Jimin's head. "How have you been?"

"I'm okay." Jimin sighed, his arms looped around Jeongguk's neck. And Jimin then looked up, tilting his head and demanding to be kissed. Jeongguk would contentedly spend every moment of his life kissing Jimin and cherishing him.

Jeongguk brushed his thumb against those plump lips, watching raptly as they easily opened for him, before leaning down and covering them with his own.

Jeongguk let the warm water rain down his body, washing away the tiredness. He stepped out of the shower, patting down his skin with a towel and then dressing up in a white shirt and some washed out jeans. It was almost midnight and Jimin was still there. Jeongguk chewed on his lip, worry enrooted at the back of his head. Hyejin didn't look anxious, instead she joyfully told Jeongguk how Jimin had been waiting for him to get back home.

As Jeongguk walked back to the living area, Jimin seemed to be deep in thought.

"Hey," Jeongguk smiled, taking a seat next to him.

"Aren't you hungry?" Jimin asked softly, eyes faraway.

"I ate in the flight." Jeongguk murmured, reaching out to hold Jimin's hand. "It's quite late, Jimin. Let me drop you back home."

Jeongguk watched as multitude of thoughts crossed Jimin's mind, all evident on his face. Deep in thought, Jimin just let out a shaky exhale, before setting his glazed over pupils at Jeongguk.

"Take me to your room. Please."

One moment Jeongguk led Jimin to his room, and the other, Jimin was kissing him frantically. Jeongguk groaned, mind racing as a frenzy burned through his veins. Jimin was clinging to him, clutching onto him for dear life.

"Jimin–" Jeongguk tried, only to be kissed back into silence. He groaned, cupping Jimin's face and returning the passion enormously. Jimin went pliant in his hands, lips parted, eyes hooded.

"We don't have to." Jeongguk kissed his forehead. "What's wrong? You can tell me, sweetheart."

"Please." Jimin just said brokenly. His voice too tight, eyes brimmed with the shame of asking Jeongguk like this. Jeongguk ached. Mind afloat with the cognizance that he had Jimin in his arms like this; all those years of longing and now being given the chance to have Jimin like this felt dreamlike. And Jeongguk felt the deliration creep up his spine. All the while Jimin had been laying desperate kisses down the slope of his neck. Jimin urged him to hold him, taking his hands in his own and placing them on his hips. And then Jimin was grabing the hem of his own t-shirt and pulling it up and off his head.

Jeongguk stared in awe. There was Jimin, standing right in front of him, bare chested. Jeongguk could not think anymore. He crashed their lips, his hands spanning Jimin's hips up his ribcage. God, Jeongguk was going to lose his mind. He inhaled sharply, groaning into Jimin's mouth when his hand brushed Jimin's pierced nipple. The next moments rushed past him in a blur and he found himself pressing Jimin softly into his mattress.

Jimin was merciless. He had somehow unbuttoned half of Jeongguk's shirt by now. Jeongguk let out a growl, attaching his lips to Jimin's sculptured neck, letting his hands roam Jimin's lithe frame. Jimin whined, the sound raising goosebumps all over Jeongguk's skin. He couldn't breathe, his mind succumbing to the realisation of what was actually happening.

"Jimin–" Jeongguk breathed into Jimin's neck, groaning when Jimin's legs just fell open easily. Jeongguk cursed under his breath, taking in big lungfuls of air, dizzy with Jimin's exquisite scent.

"Just don't–don't stop." Jimin heaved, throwing his head back when Jeongguk stilled his hip with a firm grip. "I want this." Jimin whimpered, hands fisting Jeongguk's undone shirt.

Jeongguk raised his head then, bracing his weight on his elbow. And he looked right at Jimin. His cheeks flushed a pretty shade, plush lips bitten red and so captivating, his hair ruffled and his chest heaving with an effort to satiate his burning lungs. Jimin, however, didn't look him in the eye.

So Jeongguk sat up, watching how Jimin's hands fell limply on the mattress. Kneeling between the latter's legs, Jeongguk really took in his beautiful body. Jeongguk had seen Jimin dance countless times. He knew his frame like the back of his hand. He knew about the pretty tattoo adorning Jimin's ribcage. But seeing it all like this made him week at the knees. Befuddled, Jeongguk reached out and placed a palm at Jimin's navel, feeling the hard muscle beneath the smooth skin, feeling Jimin quiver beneath his palm. Jeongguk's hand traversed his abdomen, awestruck, till it brushed over one pierced dusky nipple. His eyes watching hungrily as it hardened instantly and then promptly shifted to Jimin's face when he let out a broken moan. Jeongguk loved the sound, so he leaned down and kissed the nub softly.

Jimin tipped his head back, his breath hitching, undulating waves of need crashing on his body as Jeongguk closed his mouth around the nipple. Suckling softly, while his hand wandered along Jimin's arm and intertwined their fingers.

"Jeongguk, please," Jimin cried out, hips restless as they seeked contact. Jeongguk hummed, giving his hand a squeeze before continuing his ministrations on the other nipple. His tongue licked around the pretty hoop, revelling in the way Jimin was so sensitive in that area. Jeongguk only felt famished for more, his lips trailing kisses down his chest to the letters inked into his skin.

Jimin was a mess underneath him. Lost to the insurmountable amount of pleasure Jeongguk was giving him. He just became more and more desperate, whining for Jeongguk to give him what he wanted.

Jeongguk sat back up, fixing Jimin with his smouldering gaze before getting rid of his shirt. He watched raptly as Jimin's eyes took him in. He didn't miss the shiver that broke out in his body. Or the slight moisture in his eyes.

Jeongguk moved Jimin up the bed with ease. Jimin wordlessly let him, closing his eyes when Jeongguk kissed his lips.

"Have you done this before?" Jeongguk asked, pecking his earlobe.

"I–I." Jimin choked out. “It’s been a while.”

"It’s beena while for me too.” Jeongguk breathed heavily, his hands frantic as they roamed over Jimin’s body. “I haven’t really done it since the day I laid my eyes on you.”

Jimin choked on air. His body was feeling electrified and unbearably hot.

”Are you sure you want to do this? Right now?" Jeongguk asked, voice husky and gruff.

Jimin nodded his head. Eyes still closed shut. He reached down, unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans with shaking hands, almost pushing them down his hips but Jeongguk enveloped his hands with his own, nuzzling against his cheek.

"Words, sweetheart." Jeongguk whispered. "Do you want it?"

Jimin let out a choked sob. "Please, I want it." He cried, tears finally springing up in his eyes, falling down the sides of his face.

"I got you." Jeongguk kissed the tears away, cupping his face gently before kissing his forehead.

Jimin stayed limp as Jeongguk got up and off the bed. He braced himself, fingers clutching onto the duvet, apprehension coiling at the pit of his stomach. He did come for this though, Jimin told himself. He closed his eyes, waiting. Jeongguk probably went to fetch condoms and lube. Jimin pressed his lips together, trying to calm himself down.

But when Jimin felt the bed dip, he opened his eyes to Jeongguk holding a glass of water for him. Jimin stared silently for a moment and then he felt his throat clog up. Jimin just turned to his side, facing away, curling on himself as embarrassment washed over him in torrents. And then he was crying.

"Please, look at me." Jeongguk murmured, rubbing his arm gently and coaxing him to turn back towards him.

"Please don't cry." Jeongguk pleaded. "It's breaking my heart, Jimin."

And it made Jimin cry even harder. He hiccuped, covering his face with his hands. But Jeongguk wasn't having any of it. He pulled him up gently and hugged him to his chest.

Jeongguk kept murmuring sweet nothings into Jimin's ear. "You don't have to do anything you aren't ready for, Jimin." He laid kisses on the top of his head, caressing his back. "I'm so sorry." Jeongguk whispered.

"It's just... It's been a while." Jimin mumbled against Jeongguk's chest, burying his face in it.

After Jimin had calmed down considerably, his sobs now quiet sniffles, he looked lost. His eyes scanned Jeongguk's room hesitantly, cowering in his state of partial undress.

"Let me get you some clothes." Jeongguk smiled, taking Jimin's hands in his own and kissing his knuckles. Jimin looked so shaken up, Jeongguk couldn't let him be on his own. "It's too late, stay. Please."

Jimin just nodded, eyes downcast. He accepted the glass of water and then dressed into the sleepwear Jeongguk gave him. His mind was too numb, feelings muddled and he just wanted to go to sleep.

And Jimin couldn't remember the last time he slept so peacefully as he did cuddled up in Jeongguk's arms.

Chapter Text

Jimin slowly brushed his hand against his forehead, stroking it sleepily to alleviate the headache. Having been slipping in and out of slumber for a while now, Jimin tried to bury his face into the pillow in a futile attempt to sleep some more before it suddenly dawned on him that he wasn't in his room. And then the events of the last night rushed past him in a blur. When he finally opened his eyes, he found Jeongguk silently working away, laptop perched on his lap as he sat at the black leather couch. Jimin had never seen him wearing prescription glasses before.

The moment Jeongguk's eyes found him awake, his face visibly relaxed. The furrow between his brows melting away and his face breaking out into a warm smile, Jeongguk put his laptop and glasses away, already on his feet. "Good morning, Jimin-ssi."

"Good morning." Jimin muttered, as newfound shame washed over him in torrents. He settled against the cushioned headboard, unable to bear the intensity with which Jeongguk was looking at him. Jeongguk moved gracefully and sat on the edge of the bed right in front of him. And Jimin just couldn’t look up.

Heat prickled at his scruff. Jimin inhaled shakily before finally breaking the silence. "How long have you been working there?"

"A couple hours, I think.” Jeongguk murmured. Voice so deep it reverberated through Jimin’s bones. “You were fast asleep so I tried not to disturb you." Jeongguk smiled, eyes fixed on Jimin. "How're you feeling? Did you sleep well?"

Jimin averted his gaze, nodding as he slowly sat straighter. He remembered how he clung to Jeongguk when they settled down to sleep; how it didn't feel awkward or strange at all. Jeongguk just held him tight, whispering sweet nothings into his ear that had effectively lulled him to sleep within no time.

"I'm okay." Jimin murmured, smiling back weakly at Jeongguk. And now he felt horrible about what transpired the previous night, now caught in a dilemma whether his actions were rash.

A harrowing feeling lodged itself in his heart as it occured to him how awfully last night could have ended. It had taken him a lot of courage to walk up to Jeongguk and coax him into getting intimate, despite the painful memories of the past. Jimin was so blinded by the rage he felt towards his parents, he was so blinded by the desire to fathom Jeongguk’s real intentions that he didn’t think into the future at all. How would Jeongguk look at him after this? Jimin had maintained a persona throughout the years, he had held himself high and unreachable. How would Jeongguk perceive him now that Jimin had begged for something which at that point must seem unnecessary to Jeongguk, and rightfully so. They were going to get married anyway, after all.

But Jeongguk did not take the advantage.  Jimin was right under his fingertips, handing himself over and Jeongguk could have simply took it. But he didn't.

Jimin felt his throat clog up. Must he feel happiness now that Jeongguk passed his test? Or did Jimin just deserve to feel like shit for putting Jeongguk through such a test, based on the testament of his parents who had never held Jimin in good regard and the testament of some seething woman who Jimin had met for the first time?

"Let me make you breakfast." Jeongguk then said softly, reaching out to tuck the velvety pink locks behind Jimin's ear.

"Thank you." Jimin breathed, closing his eyes as Jeongguk leaned in to lay a kiss on his forehead.

And as Jeongguk left the room, Jimin's eyes stayed glued to him. A rivulet of relief washed over him and he felt somewhat mollified. The raging blizzard inside his head finally beginning to settle. His father was wrong. His mother was wrong. The whole lot of them were wrong. Jeongguk wasn't just lusting over his body. Jeongguk didn't see him as a possession. In his heart somewhere he had hope and it felt vindicated now. Jeongguk didn't defile his trust.

Jimin shook his head, feeling heady. He looked around, now registering Jeongguk's gorgeous bedroom, before getting up to wash the tiredness away.

When Jimin went to the kitchen area, he was met with Jeongguk humming away to the faint music playing as he flipped the pancake. Jimin bit down on his lip, still wearing Jeongguk's clothes that dwarfed his frame, and took a seat at the eating area set in the gigantic kitchen.

"I hope pancakes are fine." Jeongguk spoke after a while and Jimin couldn't help the colour spreading in his cheeks. Jeongguk seemed to be so attuned to Jimin, always aware of his presence.

"I love pancakes." Jimin ducked his head meekly, fumbling with the hem of the silky gray nightshirt.

“How would you like them?” Jeongguk asked then, turning to look at Jimin, one sharp eyebrow raised in question.

Jimin pressed his lips together, feeling the warmth spread to the tips of his fingers. He tilted his head coyly. "Do you have chocolate syrup?"

Jeongguk hummed, smile stretching his lips wide. He then reached for a cabinet, retrieving the said syrup before plating the pancakes and making his way to Jimin, placing the food in front of him. And then he wordlessly leaned in, cupping Jimin's face and planting a kiss square on his lips. "Anything you want, Jimin-ssi." He breathed.

Jimin felt his heart gallop inside his chest, his breath hitching. He held Jeongguk's hands, craning his neck and then he kissed Jeongguk back. Their lips moving against each other passionately, their breaths mingling in hushed symphonies of desire. Jimin sighed as Jeongguk traced his cheek with the tip of his nose, nuzzling affectionately, before reattaching his lips to Jimin's.

Jimin hoped that his prior actions didn't make Jeongguk see him in a different light now. When they broke the kiss, Jeongguk rested his forehead against Jimin's, eyes closed and hands still cupping his face. Jimin felt his throat tighten, he just held onto Jeongguk, coaxing him to take a seat.

"I want to talk to you." Jimin breathed.

Jeongguk looked at him, his eyes gentle as he nodded. "After breakfast?"

"No, right now." Jimin took a deep breath. "I need to talk first. Otherwise I won't be able to proceed with anything."

"Of course." Jeongguk said reassuringly, turning to him bodily.

Jimin pressed his lips together. "About last night, I wasn't–I..." Jimin frowned. What was he going to say? That he wanted to see for himself, that he wanted to know how Jeongguk would handle him? That he wanted to gauge Jeongguk's intentions with that decision? God, Jimin felt awful.

"Jimin." Jeongguk spoke out gently, leaning in to take Jimin's hands in his own with the latter refused to look at him.

"It's been a while." Jimin said softly, looking up into Jeongguk's eyes. "I haven't dated before but–but I'm not a—." He whispered out, leaving the last part unsaid. "I just...I thought that we should do it because...because..." He trailed off.

"It's completely okay. I’m not a virgin either. Jeongguk provided helpfully. “Let’s be real, who is amongst our peers? And even if one is, that’s a personal choice. So either is okay whether you have experience or not." Jeongguk murmured, unwilling to let go of Jimin's hands. "Jimin, I just want you to feel comfortable with me. And for you to understand that you don't have to make choices that you don't want to."

Jimin looked at him for a long moment. At a loss of words. And when Jimin didn't speak for a long time, Jeongguk only smiled at him, closing his eyes momentarily.

"I'm in love with you, Jimin." He breathed. "I have loved you for a long time. I haven’t been with anyone ever since I saw you and fell for you. And all I've ever wanted is to make you happy." Jeongguk said with a faraway look in his eyes. "I want this marriage to be a happy part of your life. Of our lives. When I make my vowes, I want you to believe me. That I will always cherish you. And I really hope that you trust me enough to tell me what's bothering you."

Jimin let out a ragged breath. "Why do you love me, Jeongguk? I don't–I have never done anything for you. Rather I made you wait a whole year before saying yes." Jimin said, desperation lacing his words. "You always came to see my performance, every one of them. Just...Why? Why do you love me?"

"I don't need a reason to love you, Jimin." Jeongguk replied, cupping his face with both hands. "The first time I saw you in the college, I couldn't get your face out of my head for days. I tried to forget you, I tried to tell myself that you're too young, that it's nothing. But as the time passed and I saw you again and again, I knew I felt something that I have never felt before." Jeongguk smiled, caressing Jimin's cheekbones reverently with his thumbs. "And then you started performing and I knew I had fallen for you."

Jimin couldn't help the moisture that started gathering in his eyes. And the way Jeongguk's face fell at the mere sight of his tearful eyes, only made him want to cry hard. He felt so shitty. God, he felt awful. Guilt squeezed his heart painfully; the guilt of putting Jeongguk to test like that when the man only ever looked at him with eyes doused in love.

Jimin leaned in and circled his arms about Jeongguk's shoulders, burying his face into the curve of his neck. "I'm sorry." He whispered shakily, closing his eyes as Jeongguk held him tightly in his arms.

"You don't have to apologize, love." Jeongguk said as he laid a kiss against his temple. "I know it must be frightening. You might have a lot of doubts, about this marriage. About me. About our age difference, and rightfully so." He soothed, rubbing comforting shapes into the small of Jimin's back. "That our opinions might inevitably differ. But I give you my word, Jimin. I'll always listen to you and we will make all the decisions together."

Jeongguk drew a hand through Jimin's hair. The latter gazed up as Jeongguk looked down into his eyes. "You'll never find yourself alone in this marriage."

....

"He's waiting still." Hoseok said to Jimin, an apologetic look in his eyes.

"Did he eat something at least?" Jimin pressed his lips together. "I told him that today's really busy."

"Maybe he misses you, Jiminie." Hoseok smiled then. "And yeah, I told him you ordered the food. He said thank you." He said, leaning against the dressing table as the stylist silently worked away on Jimin's hair. "And I must admit Jeongguk really is something else."

"What surprises me is that he's made everyone here so comfortable. Nobody's fretting that a chaebol heir, one of the most powerful names in all of country, is casually sitting in the studio."

"Only because you barred him from coming into your practice room." Hoseok rolled his eyes.

"Because he can't see me practicing! He'd know all about my performance before the event!" Jimin whined.

"So you wanna surprise him?" The elder teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

Jimin looked down at his lap then, suddenly shy. "Yeah."

And Jimin did love to surprise Jeongguk. The moment he stepped out of his rehearsal room, Jeongguk instantly got up to his feet. His lips stayed parted, doe eyes wide and twinkling as he took in Jimin's now blonde hair. And then he crossed the distance between them in a heartbeat.

....

Jeongguk vividly remembered the day Jimin's first concert was announced. Having collaborated with Jung Hoseok–the country's most talented and sought out choreographer, they started something no one had ever contemplated. Their team consisted of eleven members– Hoseok, Jimin, Taemin, Sungwoon, Hwasa, Solar, Chungha, Hyuna, Sunmi, Mina and Kai. Some of them were Soloists, some had been in different companies before. What brought them together was their shared passion for dancing. So they did what no one ever dreamt of, they built their own company and prepared stages. The fans found themselves in absolute delight. And needless to say, their concerts sold out like wildfire.

The team meticulously shaped their performances. Each one of them had solo segments, besides the group performance and the sub-units they formed. Every artist brought up something different to the table, chorepgraphing their own genres and styles whilst also starting a dance academy. And Jimin. Jimin was the youngest in the team and the only member who excelled in almost all the genres. The only male performer with a background in ballet. And he was loved by everyone.

Jeongguk remembered how excited he was for Jimin's first solo performance. And how he was sitting on the edge of his chair, breath caught in his throat, plams sweaty as he scrunched the material of his dress pants with anxiety. Because Jimin danced wearing a blindfold for the major segment of his performance.

And now. Jeongguk felt the same restlessness, same trepidation rush through his body. People around him rushed here and there, readying the outfits, checking the microphones, fiddling with makeup and hair supplies, constantly giving updates to each other. Backstage was a blur of fast movements and Jeongguk just stood there staring as the events unfolded before his eyes.

A long moment later, the door to the changing room bursted open and Jimin walked out, looking like a god stepping down his pedestrial. He was dressed gorgeously in white, wearing a loose button-down and slacs that flowed gracefully with his movements. His blonde hair styled down, falling softly into his smouldering eyes. Jeongguk let out a shaky breath.

As soon as Jimin's eyes found him, he instantly reached out, leaning up to peck Jeongguk's lips.

"You look gorgeous, Jimin." Jeongguk breathed, mindful of touching Jimin's hair or makeup.

"Thank you." Jimin smiled coyly. A staff member adjusting his in-ear while the make-up artist rushed quickly to add another layer of sparkling gloss to his lips.

And Jeongguk watched him perform. Just this time he wasn't sitting in the audience, but watching Jimin from behind the curtains. He watched as blue lights glimmered down on Jimin as he gracefully made his way towards the centre of the stage whilst holding a long white sheet as his prop. The soft music started playing then and Jimin filled up the entire stage just by himself. Enraptured by the performance, Jeongguk just stood staring in awe, eyes drinking in Jimin's beautiful body lines, the fluidity of his transitions, the raw passion on his face.

And then when Jimin took a bow, admist all the loud cheers, Jimin found Jeongguk waiting, holding out a large bouquet of red roses. Jimin smiled bright, running into Jeongguk's arms.

....

Jimin stretched out his limbs, feeling drowsy even though he had just woken up an hour or so ago. He wasn't really paying any attention to the series running on the television. He had this whole week to himself to rest now that the performance went really well. And he had decided to spend the weeknd at Jeongguk's after Minseo started tutting disapprovingly at him when he went back home. Jimin didn't want to let his parents try to dispirit him and ruin his mood and besides Jeongguk was beyond elated to have him over at his house. Still Jimin had hesitated, pondering about Hyejin and what she'd think about Jimin spending the night over, but found himself placated by her warm hugs. Nobody minded at all, as if Jimin was rightfully supposed to be there.

Jimin sighed softly, enjoying the morning sun, it's warm rays cascading down on him. Jeongguk had woken up quite early and was currently working in his study. Jimin pouted, needing Jeongguk's attention and yet mindful of not disturbing him. Grumpily he just hiked the soft throw blanket up his body, the one he had taken from Jeongguk's room when he got up. The distant sound of Hyejin preparing breakfast lulling him back to sleep.

He had almost drifted into slumber when the sudden banging sound alarmed him. Jimin sat up instantly, heart galloping fast, bleary-eyed and utterly confused, turning his head to the door just in time for a woman to rush in. And the woman abruptly stopped in her tracks when her eyes landed on him.

"Wow!" The woman barked out an incredulous laugh, looking at him in disbelief. "Look at you whoring yourself out before marriage."

Jimin clenched his jaw, anger bubbling inside him as he shot up to his feet. "Mind your bloody tongue, woman. Who the hell are you?"

"I'm not surprised at all." The woman seethed instead, taking a menacing step towards Jimin. "Given how awfully you treated Chae the other day."

Oh. Chaeyoung. Jimin scoffed bitterly, connecting the dots in his head. This woman must be related to that Chaeyoung.

"She deserved it." Jimin shrugged, deeming it useless to be standing for someone related to Chaeyoung. So he settled back on the couch, fixing the woman with a bored gaze. "But you should definitely mind your language. It doesn't suit your age." He said, appraising the much older woman.

"Now you will tell me what to do?" The woman screeched, her shrill voice piercing through Jimin's ears, making him hiss. "Barely been engaged to Jeongguk, not even married and here you are dressed in his clothes, leeching into his house like a parasite. Chae was so right about you."

"Enough!" Jimin yelled. "I was being mindful of my words, trying to respect your age. Hell, I don't even know you! But you're as disgustingly vile as that imbecile Chaeyoung or whatever, if not more."

And then the woman was dashing towards him. "Get the fuck out of Jeongguk's life!" She screamed, her hands balled up into tight fists. Jimin stayed put, readying himself for whatever might happen. But before the woman could lay her hands on him, Jeongguk's loud voice ricocheted in the entire floor.

"Mom?" Jeongguk growled. "What are you doing?"

And Jimin felt the breath escape his lungs. He looked up at Jeongguk with wide blown eyes as he descended down the stairs before fixing his gaze back at the woman. Oh, fuck. This was Jeongguk's mother. Jeon Sooyeon.

"Did you see how he just misbehaved with me?" Sooyeon complained, raising an accusatory finger towards Jimin. "He's already showing his real colours. Jeongguk wake up, please!"

"I don't want to hear a single word from you." Jeongguk warned, standing between Jimin and Sooyeon. He then looked back at Jimin's shaken form, reaching out a hand and gently holding his arm. "Please go to my room."

It was not in the way Jeongguk held his arm or the way he spoke to Jimin. He actions only oozed calmness, his words soft spoken. Jeongguk's anger was all in his dark eyes. And Jimin trembled as he gazed into them.

"I will never accept this relationship! Does this boy even care that I didn't attend the engagement?!" Sooyeon hissed from behind Jeongguk, looking at Jimin threateningly. "You'll never get what you want. You'll never be happy–"

"Hyeji!" Jeongguk shouted then. The woman already on her heels, rushing towards them. "Take Jimin to my room." He said urgently. "Now."

And Jimin silently walked away. Hyejin holding his hand tightly, ushering him up the stairs. Jimin silently curled up on the leather couch in Jeongguk's room, his mind numb, picking up the faint, distant sound of Jeongguk's voice. Moments passed excruciatingly slow. Jimin nibbled restlessly on his lip, anxiety making his heart sink like a rock.

After several long minutes Jeongguk finally pushed through the bedroom door. Jimin instantly shot up, words ready to tumble down his lips but faltered at the look on Jeongguk's face. Jimin stared wordlessly as Jeongguk approached him.

"I'm sorry." Jeongguk said and Jimin could perceive the shame evident in his eyes. Jeongguk heaved a deep sigh, running hands through his wild hair.

"I'm sorry for everything she said to you. I'm really ashamed, Jimin."

Jimin found himself reaching out. And he realised that he didn't want to see Jeongguk like this at all, with eyes downcast and voice full of contrition. "I didn't know she's your mother." Jimin whispered out.

"It doesn't matter that she's related to me." Jeongguk said in a gruff voice, his jaw set tight. "She misbehaved with you and that's unacceptable."

Jimin gnawed on his bottom lip, trying to decipher how to voice his thoughts. He silently held Jeongguk's hand, urging him to take a seat. "Your mother doesn't–She's not happy with this marriage." He said softly.

Jeonggguk chuckled bitterly, closing his eyes momentarily before turning his body towards Jimin. "I should have mentioned this earlier."

"Jeongguk–"

"Why didn't you tell me about Chaeyoung?" Jeongguk asked instead, a deep pinch settling between his brows. "When did that happen? What did she tell you?"

Jeongguk kept his eyes on Jimin's face. And watched how Jimin's expression morphed into one of indifference. His eyes suddenly cold and distant. And Jeongguk knew that Chaeyoung must have done something awfully terrible to garner this reaction from Jimin. The reaction that Jimin had weaved carefully and mastered perfectly over the years. This headspace that was so impermeable; that was meant to keep everyone locked out.

Jeongguk's heart ached thinking about all the tall walls Jimin had to build around himself. Brick by brick. He slowly cupped Jimin's face, making his distant eyes refocus back on him.

"She is a nobody to me." Jimin spoke monotonously. "I couldn't care less about whatever she said."

Jimin sat unmoving and unfazed, watching as Jeongguk inhaled deeply. He watched as a torrent of uncognizable emotions passed over his face before he nodded solemnly.

"My mother and I aren't close." Jeongguk said, fixing his gaze with Jimin's. "She didn't have time for me. She didn't have time to have me and then she didn't have time to raise me. Even before I was born she was looking for a caretaker for me. And she found Hyeji and tied her to me so ruthlessly."

Jimin felt his breath get lodged in his throat as he watched Jeongguk speak with a clenched jaw and burning eyes. He stayed rooted at his place, shocked and dumbfounded. This was not what he had expected to hear.

"Hyeji's husband owed money to dad. Unfortunately he passed away, leaving Hyeji swimming in a debt she could not pay. As soon as my mother came to know about it, she brought her into a cruel contract. Hyeji was supposed to give up her life, never remarry or have her own kids. And raise me instead."

The sheer anguish in Jeongguk's voice squeezed his chest painfully. "I'm sorry." Jimin whispered. And then he shut his eyes as Jeongguk simply seeked to hug him. Jimin promptly welcomed him in his arms, letting Jeongguk bury his face in his neck. "That's...That's–"

"That's horrible." Jeongguk whispered out. "Dad still cannot look Hyeji in the eyes after all these years. He silently let it happen because he was always busy in work and he knew his wife was incapable of taking care of a child." Jeongguk said, holding Jimin tightly.

Jimin couldn't do anything but feel utterly awful. Unknowing of the burdens Jeongguk might be carrying, that may be Jeongguk was as human as himself. Jeongguk strived to make him happy, giving him nothing but warm smiles. And Jimin did nothing but doubt him.

"Jimin, I'm sorry that I'm bringing this up like this but you deserve to know the truth. So that you understand that her opinions and wishes don't matter to me."

"I understand." Jimin soothed, running comforting hand through Jeongguk's hair. He then closed his eyes, not thinking of the words falling from his lips. "Like I don't care about the opinions of my parents."

Silence enshrouded them. Jimin held his breath as Jeongguk slowly broke the embrace. "No one's opinions matter." Jeongguk breathed, cupping Jimin's face. "Neither theirs, nor mine or anyone else's." He said as he laid a kiss on Jimin's lips.

Jimin let Jeongguk steal a million more kisses. Mind drifting and then it came to him that he had all but forgotten about Chaeyoung, he got so worked up about his performance that it flew out of his mind. "Chaeyoung said that you were supposed to marry her." Jimin murmured after a while, deeming it right to clear it up.

Jeongguk let out a dry laugh. "No, I wasn't. She's a pathological liar when it comes to getting her way."

"Who is she?" Jimin frowned.

"They're childhood friends, Chaeyoung's mother and mine. So my mother believed she and I should be friends too." Jeongguk said, inhaling deeply. "And then one day mom unceremoniously says that I should marry Chae. She invites her over for dinner and casually lets it out without even talking to me prior." He scoffed at the memory. "I rejected the idea the moment it was brought up. And it hurt Chae's ego." He retorted, shaking his head. "She didn't want me because she loved me. She wanted me because she couldn't handle the rejection. And as the years passed she just became even more obsessed."

And Jimin listened on with a heavy heart. Jeongguk's eyes stayed on him the whole time.

"They won't try to bother you again. My mother and Chaeyoung." Jeongguk stated with a finality to his words. "I'll make sure of that."

Jimin nodded curtly. "Chaeyoung's been blacklisted by my managers and staff. She's won't be allowed anywhere near our company."

"She will pay, Jimin." Jeongguk said with a dark glint to his eyes. Jimin shivered, breath caught in his throat. When Jeongguk brought him in for another hug, Jimin let his eyes fall shut, feeling mollified and yet on edge.

Jimin was diving into the obscure waters headfirst and what frightened him was that he didn't fear that he couldn't see how deep he'd get sucked in.

Chapter Text

"So before we take the next call, I'd like to inform our callers that Jimin-ssi isn't alone here today! After all, the Nation's sweetheart did get engaged! Congratulations!"

Jimin giggled, casting a glance towards Jeongguk briefly. "Thank you."

"I think you guys might have guessed already! Today, Jimin-ssi is accompanied by his fiancé, Jeon Jeongguk!"

They were currently in the middle of a radio interview, basically a podcast sort of thing where Jimin talked to his fans and answered their questions. Jimin had wanted to interact with his fans so earnestly. After all, they had been nothing but supportive of him and Jimin couldn't be more grateful for them.

Jimin had fretted a lot, worrying about his fans' reactions about his sudden engagement. But they had welcomed the news so nicely, congratulating Jimin and sending him flowers and good wishes. It was perhaps also because his fans were already aware about Jeongguk. They had seen him countless times attending Jimin's concerts and over time they really appreciated his dedication.

Most of the calls had been his fans crying on the phone, telling Jimin how happy they were for him. And after the interviewer announced that Jeongguk was there with him, the next calls were fans asking Jeongguk to take good care of Jimin.

Jimin felt the onslaught of tears threatening to fall unbound from his eyes. Sensing his emotional state, Jeongguk silently held his hand from under the table, squeezing it reassuringly.

"If you don't mind me asking, have you perhaps decided anything about the marriage date?" The interviewer asked, an apologetic smile on his face.

"Nothing yet." Jimin smiled back. "But as soon as we decide on something, we'll announce it publically."

"Thank you for coming with me." Jimin murmured when they got into Jeongguk's car.

"Of course." Jeongguk smiled, kissing Jimin's palm.

Jimin looked at him coyly, his eyes lingering on Jeongguk's clothes. He was wearing a white button down and faded jeans and Jimin felt his heart skip a dozen beats throughout the whole interview. Jeongguk always looked really handsome but today he looked younger and so charming. Noticing the way Jimin was blatantly checking him out, Jeongguk raised a brow teasingly at him.

"I'm not used to seeing you in jeans!" Jimin whined, laying a soft hit on Jeongguk's arm who only threw his head back and laughed.

Jimin bit down on his lip, his face splitting into a wide smile. Jeongguk's pleasant cackle causing a fluttery feeling in his stomach and making him dizzy.

They had decided to go out for lunch and then go to the movies. When Jimin proposed going to the cinema, Jeongguk looked a little lost. Only then did Jimin realise that Jeongguk probably didn't find any time to go out and have fun. He had a full fledged movie theatre at the hill suite in the first place. As they were about to head for lunch, Jeongguk's phone rang.

It was Namjoon, reluctantly asking if Jeongguk could come to the office for an hour or so. Apparently a sudden meeting was called, Jeongguk tried to stall but Jimin assured him that he could wait for an hour. Jeongguk didn't look like he wanted to make Jimin wait, but Jimin stood firm, telling him that it was perfectly fine.

Jeongguk's exuberant office building didn't intimidate Jimin anymore. As they walked in, he was enthusiastically greeted. Namjoon and Shinhye instantly asking him if he'd like to have anything. Jimin declined politely, watching as Jeongguk slipped back into that authoritative role. A stark contrast from how he was all giggles and laughes with him mere minutes ago. It dawned on Jimin that those smiles were reserved for him. Just him.

As the meeting stretched over a long hour, Jimin deemed it right to order food from his favourite place instead. Jeongguk was upset that they couldn't go out for the lunch but Jimin loved it nonetheless. And Jimin had a pleasant lunch with Jeongguk, Namjoon and Shinhye.

....

"I see that your lousy habit of sneaking into the house at ungodly hours is still intact."

Jimin felt his heart plummet down to the ground. He turned around slowly, meeting eyes with his father's narrowing ones.

"You're getting married into a respectable family, mustn't you mend your substandard ways?" Hyunbin raised a brow questioningly, arms crossed on his chest as he slowly approached Jimin.

Jimin stayed glued to the door, his palms sweaty as he fumbled with the hem of his shirt. And he stopped breathing altogether when Hyunbin stood impossibly close to him, leering down at him.

"You've changed your hair colour." Hyunbin drawled, raising a hand to push the blonde strands away from Jimin's forehead. Jimin flinched bodily, tipping his head to the other side, making Hyunbin chuckle darkly. "What have you done to your hair, hmm? It used to be so black and shiny and healthy."

"I-I need to go to my room." Jimin whispered out, desperation lacing his words, the feeling of being caged and cornered like an animal making him nauseous.

Hyunbin gritted his teeth, gripping Jimin's jaw and forcing him to look at him. "Eyes on me, Jimin. Where are your manners?"

"You're hurting me, father." Jimin choked out, shaking hands frantically trying to loose Hyunbin's grip.

"What about me, Jiminie? Haven't you hurt me all your life?" Hyunbin seethed, eyes boring into Jimin's face, his blunt nails digging painfully into Jimin's cheek. "I'm so sick of you acting like a brat." He glowered at Jimin, callously watching him try to break away, before finally relenting. "I don't think I can tolerate it any longer."

Jimin heaved, his back plastered to the door, nursing his jaw which was burning with the ghost of Hyunbin's maligning touch.

"It's time I send you off to your husband's home."

Jimin insistently tried to keep the tears from oozing out of his eyes. His fingers clutched onto Taehyung's pajama shirt as the latter silently tended to his jaw.

"I'm so sick of him." Jimin choked out, anger bubbling in the pit of his stomach and regurgitating out of his throat, leaving a sick feeling in it's wake. "I don't want to go back to that damned house."

"Then don't." Taehyung murmured, applying a soothing ointment to the broken skin. Jimin just kept quiet for a long moment, eyes denuded of their light as he then whispered. "You know I can't."

Jimin had tried a year or so ago. His income had substantially increased with the surge of his fame, he could easily buy a lavish apartment and so he did, only to give it up when his father threatened him after learning that Jimin intented to move out. Hyunbin had browbeaten him, warning him that Jimin would have to cut ties with Jihyun and that Hyunbin would publically taint his image. And the reasoning Hyunbin had given was that he couldn't let Jimin adrift and fuck around behind his back and tarnish their family name.

"So what are you gonna do then?" Taehyung asked after a long minute as he settled on the couch besides Jimin.

"I'm going to talk to Jeongguk."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow at that. "About what?"

"About bringing forward the marriage date."

"Jimin." Taehyung sighed. "Don't get influenced by your father's actions."

"I was marrying Jeongguk in the first place because of my father." Jimin retorted, getting up as he started pacing. "It's gonna happen one day! So be it sooner."

"But Jimin–"

"I can't deal with his shit anymore, Tae!" Jimin cried out. "I'm sick and tired and I can't–I can't emotionally or physically–"

"Hey, hey." Taehyung got up in an instant, hugging Jimin to his chest. "Okay. Talk to Jeongguk. See what he says, hmm?"

Jimin just nodded wordlessly. "I'm just...I keep thinking that I started off on the wrong foot with Jeongguk's mom."

Taehyung smiled at him reassuringly. "Shouldn't she be afraid of the same? After all you're her future son-in-law."

....

Jimin was sixteen when he first started noticing that something was strange. It was so abstruse as to be difficult to fathom and analyse. It started with a weird feeling in his lower abdomen, not necessarily hurting but bringing him slight discomfort. And over the span of months, it only intensified. Some days it would render him nauseous, making him miss classes. Worried that something was gravely wrong, Jimin reached out to his mother, Minseo. But he soon found himself in a terrible state of affairs. Instead of consoling Jimin and seeking medical help, Hyunbin believed that Jimin was feeding them lies. He had been forcing Jimin to take up business studies for the past months which the latter did, and thought that Jimin was purposefully skipping college and letting his grades drop. So Jimin stopped mentioning about the debilitating pain to them.

But as the time passed, his condition became worse. Now worried that perhaps his first born was indeed defective, Hyunbin sought out ways to mitigate the situation. Jimin had barely turned seventeen when Hyunbin started doing business with a wealthy woman who showed strange interest in Jimin. And Hyunbin wanted to reap the benefits.

And then one day Minseo sat Jimin down and informed him of Hyunbin's decision of marrying Jimin off to his current business partner. The woman, who after becoming a widow married two powerful men only to divorce them later and attain their fortune in settlement.

Jimin just stared at Minseo with empty eyes. He was seventeen and they were planning on marrying him off to a woman who was more than two decades older than him. As if they were sealing a business deal. As if Jimin was nothing but a transaction.

And then a month later, Jimin fainted while going back home from university. He was admitted to the hospital, his parents were called in, tests were run. And Jimin learnt that he was a carrier.

Jimin wasn't even sure what it meant, and what it entailed for him. That night, while yet to be discharged from the hospital, Jimin sat up all night with Taehyung, browsing and trying to decipher his new fate.

Carriers were rare. Less than eight percent of the total population of South Korea. These were the males who carried a functioning womb by birth and were capable of definitely conceiving and give birth to children. But it wasn't as simple. Their stories differed from person to person, their experiences diverging from that of each other—some had a hard time falling pregnant; some faced frequent miscarriages; some developed complications. And all of them needed a strict medical supervision and had to undergo surgical procedures to bring the child into the world. Thus carrier pregnancies were always deemed to be high-risk.

Jimin didn't know any carrier. He could actually count the number of times he had heard about them in passing on his fingers. So he had to base his symptoms and experiences on his internet searches and whatever he could get from the doctors. Now he was aware that the pain in his lower abdomen was from his womb having started to become mature. The new hormones that spiked in it's wake caused him to be nauseous. And well, his body couldn't handle too much stress and Jimin had been under considerable amount of stress for last couple of years.

And now as Jimin engrossed himself into the discovery, he learnt of the stigma associated with carriers. How they were shunned because they were high maintenance and that they ran a high risk of complications and possible miscarriages. How most of the carriers prefered to marry a woman instead so that they won't have to bother with spending shit ton of money on themselves. And then how they still were casted out because apparently carrier seed was a little less potent to impregnate a woman.

But then there was another facet. As time passed, carriers were associated with owning fortune and bragging ones status. Wealthy men liked to be with a carrier so as to flaunt their affluence, that they could easily afford the expenses that came with taking care of a carrier. And other men liked to be with carriers to flaunt their sexual prowess, that they could impregnate even a man. And so carriers were fetishized. And thus many of them hid their identities, preferring to live their lives as normally and inconspicuously as they possibly could.

Jimin wasn't so fortunate. As soon as Hyunbin learnt of him being a carrier, he knew that he'd hit a jackpot. Though his business partner was more than eager now to marry Jimin, Hyunbin vehemently declined. He knew that Jimin was now worth far more than that.

....

Jimin stayed at Taehyung's appartment for the night. Sleep didn't come at all, he found himself watching the clock tick by whilst brief transitory periods of helplessness ceased his heart throughout the night. And as soon as the dawn broke, Jimin was getting ready, slathering on makeup to hide the marks left on his cheek by his father.

It was almost six in the morning when Jimin softly knocked against Jeongguk's study, hearing the soft clicking sounds break off.

"Hyeji? Come in."

Jimin inhaled deeply, stepping out of his daze and pushing through the door.

"Hey." Jimin smiled weakly and the next moment Jeongguk was wrapping his arms around his waist.

"Is everything alright?" Jeongguk asked, worry lacing each syllable, and a deep furrow settled between his brows. "Are you alright?"

Jimin nodded into Jeongguk's chest. Relief washed over him just by being in Jeongguk's close proximity. Jimin squeezed his arms around Jeongguk's neck, shivering when Jeongguk only tightened his grip in response.

"I missed you." Jimin let himself be honest, closing his eyes shut when he felt Jeongguk let out a shaky breath.

"I missed you more." Jeongguk murmured, laying a kiss against his temple. "Why are you up so early, love?"

"I need to talk to you." Jimin said then, looking up at Jeongguk's face.

"Yeah." Jeongguk replied instantly, cupping Jimin's cold face with both hands. "Yeah. Please have a seat." He led Jimin to the loveseat and then retrieved the remote to turn on the fireplace. Only then did Jimin realise that he was really cold. He watched silently as Jeongguk rushed through the door to his bedroom and fetched a blanket, bundling Jimin up.

Jimin took in deep breaths to prevent his throat clogging up. "I want to get married, Jeongguk." He said in a heartbeat, watching how Jeongguk just ceased in front of him. His hands stilling where he was still arranging an end of the blanket around Jimin's feet. "If you don't have any objections, I'd like to get married to you as soon as possible."

"Jimin." Jeongguk spoke softly then, taking a seat besides him. "Did anything happen?"

"Do you not... Do you..." When Jimin trailed off and averted his gaze, Jeongguk added promptly.

"I'd love to marry you as soon as possible, Jimin. Nothing in the world could make me any happier than when I make you mine." Jeongguk reached out, finding one of Jimin's hands from over the blanket. "But why this sudden decision? I told you I'd wait as long as you want me to."

"I don't want to wait. Please." Jimin turned to look at him with pleading eyes. "Please, I–I..."

Jeongguk let Jimin hide his face in his neck. Jimin stayed there, in the warm cocoon of Jeongguk's arms, swaddled to his chest as Jeongguk called Namjoon an hour later and cancelled his whole schedule for the day.

....

Jimin was on tenderhooks for the following day. He was still cooped up in Taehyung's appartment, fretting and apprehensive till Jeongguk finally called him.

The evening of the same day Jimin found himself tethering on the edge of sheer anxiety as he sat next to Jeon Jaesung in the dining area of The Hill Suite. Jeongguk's father had politely urged to invite Jimin over for dinner. Jimin had forebodings about the request, fearing that maybe Jaesung wanted to express disapproval over the aspect of arranging for an earlier marriage.

Jeongguk sat from across Jimin, silently reassuring him with the slow flutter of his eyes.

"I was told that you and Jeongguk want to tie the knot sooner." Jaesung said to him. "And I also learnt of Jeongguk's mother's misconduct."

Jimin chewed on his lip anxiously, casting a glance towards Jeongguk who was already looking at him with unblinking eyes.

"So I wanted to apologize to you, Jimin, on Sooyeon's behalf. It's really unfortunate that it happened."

Jimin whipped his head back towards Jaesung, unbelieving of what he was hearing.

"I will not try to excuse her impropriety. She is ashamed of her actions and expresses regret and I know that nothing of the sort will happen in the future."

Jimin exhaled shakily. "You don't have to apologize to me, Mr. Jeon."

"I will not condone any disrespect towards you, Jimin." Jaesung frowned and Jimin could easily see the similarities between his and Jeongguk's features. "I have responsibilities towards you now that I'm officially going to be your father-in-law." Jaesung finally smiled.

Jimin clutched tightly onto his dress pants to stop his hands from shaking.

"Do you forgive, son?"

"Please, I have forgiven and forgotten." Jimin choked out. "There are no hard feelings in my heart, Mr. Jeon."

Jaesung smiled warmly at him, his eyes visibly softening. And Jimin had to bite back a cry as he placed a loving hand on Jimin's head. The utter contrast between Jaesung's touch and his own father's, digging holes into Jimin's chest.

"If that is so then you'll call me dad from now onwards."

Jimin stayed the night. He let the water run down his body, standing in Jeongguk's gigantic shower, surrounded by glass and dark granite. His heart felt full.

Jimin got dressed up in the lapeled silk pajamas, which fit him perfectly. Jimin realised, as he looked at himself in the tall mirror, that Jeongguk had bought him clothes to sleep in whenever he wanted to stay.

"You look beautiful, Jimin." Jeongguk smiled at him as soon as he walked out of the en suite.

"I just got out of shower." Jimin said coyly, ruffling his damp hair.

Jeongguk laughed, easily welcoming Jimin in his arms. "Because you're always beautiful. You don't need makeup or anything."

Jimin let his head fall on Jeongguk's shoulder. Jeongguk didn't seem to mind that his hair was still a bit damp and would get his clothes wet.

"Thank you." Jimin murmured, mulling over it for a moment before finally reaching out and intertwining their fingers. "For everything."

"Thank you for trusting me, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk drawled, planting a kiss on his forehead.

If this was how his life would be after marrying Jeongguk, then Jimin didn't want to torment himself any longer. And as he kept staring at their hands, the stark difference between the size of them, and how Jeongguk kept drawing gentle circles with his thumb on the back of his hand, he realised that he wanted this.
He wanted this with Jeongguk.

"Kiss me." Jimin whispered, looking up at Jeongguk with eyes half-lidded and parted lips. He let his lids fall shut when Jeongguk dived right in.

Jeongguk kissed him like he had been stranded for a long time and Jimin was his oasis. Drinking up passion from Jimin's lips, losing himself in the gasps and pants ricocheting in the room.

Jimin let himself get lost in the feeling. He let Jeongguk suck on his lips all he wanted, he let his warm hands hold his waist and pull him tighter against himself. Jimin responded back just as passionately, his fingertips roaming Jeongguk's strong arms, feeling the goosebumps and the desperate need.

Jimin let Jeongguk's name fall from his lips, unbound and careless. His chest heaved with the effort to breathe more of Jeongguk in. All the while Jeongguk buried his head in his neck, kissing him in earnest.

"God, I love you." Jeongguk groaned, desperately seeking Jimin's lips. "I can't live without you."

They ended up being sprawled on the bed, their fingers laced together. Jeongguk's free hand kept caressing Jimin's hair. And then when Jeongguk was sure that Jimin had fallen asleep, he tried to gently take his arm out from under Jimin's head and move to the guest bedroom like he did every night Jimin stayed over.

"Stay." Jimin breathed, blearily opening his eyes. "Don't go."

Jeongguk's heart ached. He settled back in the bed, letting Jimin nuzzle against his chest.

"Are you free tomorrow?" Jeongguk asked softly, covering them with the duvet.

"Mmhmm." Jimin mumbled. "You're so nice, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk smiled down at the blonde mop of hair. "Not nearly as nice as you, darling."

"I don't want to go out though." Jimin pouted. "Want to stay here and spend time with you."

"Sure, love." Jeongguk murmured. He gently cleared the blonde bangs off of Jimin's forehead, tucking them prettily behind his ear. God, he already missed his sweet face. Jeongguk watched in awe as Jimin nuzzled against his hand, rubbing his cheek against Jeongguk's fingers.

But then the longer he looked, the more anxious Jeongguk grew. He brushed his finger against the faint mark on Jimin's cheek which he had no recollection of having seen there before. And then he felt Jimin grow eerily still in his arms.

"How did you get this?" He asked, leaning down to have a closer look at the mark. The skin was broken there and was clearly surrounded by a faint greenish-yellow tinge. Undoubtedly a bruise.

Jimin flinched, reaching a hand to softly brush Jeongguk's fingers away. "It's nothing." Jimin smiled, strained. "I don't even remember how I got it in the first place."

"Are you sure? Because I see another right near your jaw."

"I-I think I sleepily scratched my face the other night." Jimin said after a long moment, his eyes stayed averted. "You know I like my nails long." He laughed off. "It happens quite a lot."

Jeongguk kept staring at him through his insistent efforts. Jimin never looked him in the eye. Jimin was lying. And Jeongguk probably knew what or who had caused those marks. Anger coursed through his veins at the mere thought of someone causing Jimin even slight discomfort. But seeing how the topic made Jimin so uncomfortable, he let it slide.

"Be careful, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk smiled then, drawing Jimin back close, satisfied when the coils of tension left Jimin's body.

"Or I might have to take some serious actions against those nails."

Jimin huffed out a laugh, curling up against him and mumbling something about Jeongguk worrying too much.

Jeongguk just stared ahead with narrowed eyes, wrapping his arms around Jimin, wanting to create a safe cocoon for him, while a bitter feeling churned his gut.

Chapter Text

"Yes. That would be the site I want." Jeongguk said into the phone, clicking his pen against the top of his desk. "Yes, Mr. Kang. Thank you." As soon as he dropped the call, Namjoon entered through the door after softly knocking once.

"Park Hyunbin is here." Namjoon said as he placed the manila folder in front of Jeongguk that the latter had asked for.

Jeongguk chuckled, leaning back into his chair. "Is he now?"

"He says it's urgent." Namjoon provided.

Jeongguk hummed, putting the pen away. "Clearly not as urgent as my break." He looked up at Namjoon, cocking his head to the side. "You're getting busy. I want every single detail about him." Jeongguk gritted out, gesturing towards Hyunbin. "Everything. I know he's a dirty man. I want to know exactly the extent to which his hands are submerged in filth."

Namjoon nodded curtly.

"And about him wanting to meet me," Jeongguk added, running a hand through his hair. "You know what to do."

"Sure, Jeongguk. Will that be all, Sir?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Jeongguk then turned his chair towards the waiting room. Folding one leg over another, he reached out into one of the drawers to retrieve a remote. With a click, the curtains on the far wall flew open. And now he could see Hyunbin. Just a glass separated them which was see through from Jeongguk's side and a plain mirror on Hyunbin's.

Jeongguk clenched his jaw indignantly, watching the sickening twinkle in Hyunbin's eyes as he ogled at the sheer luxury around him. He observed silently as Hyunbin kept fixing his clothes again and again, scanning the area as far as his sphere of vision would allow.

Namjoon walked up to Hyunbin after a long while, and the way Hyunbin's face fell made Jeongguk snigger darkly.

Jeongguk picked up his phone then, feeling giddy as he dialed the number and that lovely voice filtered in.

"Jeongguk?" Jimin spoke cheerfully.

"Hi, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk bit down on his lip, smiling from ear to ear.

"I'm angry, you know." Jimin huffed on the other side.

Jeongguk smiled wide, tilting his head back against the chair. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll be home in a couple of hours." Jeongguk said, warmth oozing into his being at his choice of words. He couldn't help but daydream about when he'd really be married to Jimin, and Jimin would complain about him not being there at home with him.

"Did you have lunch?" Jeongguk murmured.

"Yeah. Did you?"

"I'll have in a minute. What are you doing, love? Did I tell you I miss you terribly?"

Jimin chuckled. "Then come back sooner. I miss your kisses."

"I'll get them to you." Jeongguk said in a gruff voice, feeling dizzy at the apparent pout in Jimin's voice. "As many as you want." He promised, heart skipping several beats.

"I think Hyeji and I will go shopping later." Jimin replied, before adding. "I'm looking at all the magazines. Wow."

"Did Hyeji get those to you?" Jeongguk laughed. Hyejin had lovingly collected all the high end magazines Jeongguk agreed to be the cover of throughout all these years.

"Mmm yeah. You could make all the models jobless, you know?"

Jeongguk grinned, crossing his legs over the table. His eyes bored in Hyunbin's anxious frame. Jeongguk tilted his head to the side. "Speaking of which, the top magazines want to do a cover with the both of us. They have been bugging Shinhye for months now."

He could hear Jimin fumbling on the other side and then his relaxed sigh. "I think we could announce the date like that. I've been approached a lot too, for a photoshoot with you."

Jimin probably was laying down on the bed now. Jeongguk closed his eyes, reminiscing about the previous night, about the divine feeling of having Jimin in his arms, Jimin's embraces and his kisses.

They talked for over an hour then and all the while Jeongguk kept his eyes locked on Jimin's father. The way Hyunbin pathetically looked at Jeongguk's employees, pitiful eyes full of plee, made Jeongguk only want to keep him stranded for longer. But then Jimin was waiting for him at home. And there was nowhere in the world he'd rather be.

Hyunbin scrambled to get up on his feet as soon as Jeongguk exited his office room. And then his face fell, humiliation painting his features as Jeongguk ignored him and kept walking.

"Jeongguk-ssi!" Hyunbin called after him, rushing with a brisk pace, only to be blocked by Namjoon.

"Why are you still here, Mr. Park?" Namjoon asked, tone clinical and bored.

Hyunbin spluttered, gesturing wildly. "You told me that Jeongguk was busy–"

Namjoon raised a brow threateningly at him. Hyunbin grimaced, biting his tongue.

"T-That Jeongguk-ssi was busy in a meeting and–and that it'd take him a couple hours–"

"I don't have any recollection of telling you to wait." Namjoon rolled his eyes. "Sir is a very busy man, Mr. Park. And right now Jimin-ssi wants to meet him." He said, before throwing a smirk Hyunbin's way while adding. "And Sir will not make him wait."

Namjoon watched as a flash of anger simmered in Hyunbin's eyes. The way he was visibly trying to keep his temper in check was really amusing. "That's what I was here for. I wanted to fix the marriage date with Jeongguk-ssi."

"That won't be necessary." Namjoon beamed. "Do you not know Jimin-ssi and Sir have already fixed the date?"

....

Jimin went back to the hill suite with Hyejin. And as they entered through the large gates, Jimin noticed a plethora of people working in the large lawns. Jimin had suggested in the morning that they have the wedding here. Jeongguk's house was located in such an exquisite place, like it was almost in a cradle of mountains, overlooking Han on one side and the beautiful city lights on the other. And now that he was back there in the evening, Jeongguk had already arranged for it.

After placing the shopping bags in the walk-in closet that Jeongguk had reserved for him, Jimin rushed back down, entranced by the gorgeous canopies being set in the garden, just like Jimin had wanted. He found Jeongguk there, talking to a group of people.

"Hey." Jimin smiled. Jeongguk instantaneously welcomed him in his arms.

"How was the shopping?" He asked lovingly.

"It went well."

Jeongguk smiled, and then gestured to the flock of people standing patiently in front of them. "Jimin, they will be planning the wedding and setting up the venue."

"Hello." Jimin smiled politely. "Nice to meet you."

The wedding planners greeted him back, congratulating him for the wedding.

"If you want any changes or you've any ideas, they'd love to hear from you." Jeongguk told him whilst rubbing a hand against his side.

They took a stroll around. All the while Jeongguk's hand stayed at the small of Jimin's back.

"Jeongguk, I want to talk to you." Jimin said then.

"Yeah." Jeongguk smiled, leading them to the central gazebo.

They settled in the chairs opposite to each other. And Jimin pressed his lips together, reminding himself that this needed to be said.

"It's that I'm running out of time, the wedding's in one week and I can't help but have this talk." Jimin started.

"Yes, please. Go ahead." Jeongguk replied reassuringly.

Jimin took a deep breath before blurting out. "I can't take contraceptives."

Jeongguk seemed to be at a loss of words, looking at him with a slight frown.

"It's not good for me." Jimin cleared. "It'll mess up my body. You know I need to be in shape for my career, but taking contraceptives will ruin that for me."

Jimin needed to get everything off his chest. He needed to make sure that Jeongguk gathers the seriousness of it all.

"I know you'd want children but we have to wait for that. I can't take any breaks or be out of shape when I'm just building my career."

"Jimin." Jeongguk finally said. "I will only want to have children when you'll want them too. Besides, you're quite young for that and it's not even on my mind." He said while leaning forwards and keeping a steady eye contact with Jimin. "And you don't have to take any contraceptives. This marriage concerns both you and me. So it's not fair that only you'd be entitled to take the precautions." Jeongguk murmured, eyes full of wonder. "I can. I will use, uh, condoms."

"Thank you." Jimin said and he really meant it.

Jeongguk smiled, shaking his head. "I'm glad you brought this up."

Jimin heaved a sigh of relief. He chewed on his lip in thought, readying himself for his next words.

"I have had sex twice before." Jimin let out in a gruff voice, wringing his hands nervously. "With Taehyung."

He looked at Jeongguk, searching his face, trying to fathom where this part of his life would put him with Jeongguk. He didn't owe Jeongguk any explanation for what he's done in his life, yet something as crucial as this could possibly have a catastrophic effect because Taehyung was still his best friend. Besides, Jeongguk had been honest with him about his mother and Chaeyoung, so it was only fair.

"I was about to turn seventeen and I was very confused about myself. So...So he helped me. But we didn't want a romantic relationship and that was it."

Jimin remembered vividly how traumatized he was when Minseo broke the news to him, that Hyunbin was planning on getting him married to that woman. Jimin wasn't sure if he even was into women in the first place. Over the span of the next week he broke down multiple times in front of Taehyung, having fled his home and seeked refuge in the latter's then one bedroom appartment. And then one day it happened. He wanted to be sure about his own sexuality and Taehyung wanted him to find the peace of mind. The both of them had cried the whole time.

Jimin jerked back into realtity, life rushing back into his numb hands and now registering that Jeongguk had moved his chair so he was right in front of him, just a breath away. Jeongguk's hands squeezed his own in an effort to bring him back. And he looked nothing but worried.

"I-I just felt like you should know." Jimin spoke, voice gravely.

Jeongguk just leaned in and cradled his face between his hands. His thumbs smoothing out the pinch between his brows. "It was your decision and I'm not in a place to give an opinion about it. But I appreciate you telling me that you've only had sex twice. That's important to me so that I take good care of you, Jimin."

Jimin opened his mouth to speak but his voice failed him. Suddenly he felt the weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It was eating away at him for months now, constantly making him paranoid that Jeongguk would want him to cut ties with Taehyung because he had been intimate with him. It didn't matter that it happened just two times or that it was four years back in the past.

Jimin slowly lifted his hands and wrapped them around Jeongguk's wrists, letting his eyes fall shut. "I'm a carrier, Jeongguk. An insurmountable thought process is involved when it comes to getting married to a carrier." He then opened his eyes and held Jeongguk's gaze. "Are you sure that you want this?"

"I wouldn't change a single thing about this." Jeongguk replied promptly. "I want all of you, Jimin. And I believe I'm prepared to take good care of you in every aspect. It'll be an honour to ponder about you and make sure that you're alright."

"I'm putting a lot of trust in you." Jimin whispered then, unable to keep his fears at bay.

"I promise you that you'll never regret trusting me, Jimin." Jeongguk smiled, running his thumbs across Jimin's cheeks.

Jimin let out a watery laugh before closing the distance between them. He kept his lips pressed against Jeongguk's for a long moment, while relief coursed through his body.

"There's one last thing." Jimin said after breaking the kiss. "I don't know jackshit about cooking or other household work."

And Jeongguk stared at him with a dazed expression. The corner of his eyes slowly crinkled up and then he was throwing his head back and chuckling in amusement. Jeongguk then leaned back in and kissed him fiercely, again, and again.

"You cuss a lot, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk laughed, shaking his  head and making Jimin giggle uncontrollably. "What am I gonna do with you."

....

Jimin didn't go back home. He didn't answer his parents' calls. Jihyun feigned ignorance too, telling Hyunbin that he didn't know Jimin's whereabouts. A couple days later Hyunbin seeked Taehyung out who simply walked away. And Hoseok informed Jimin that Hyunbin had tried to get into their building, only to be made to walk away by the security.

Jimin was leaving all of this behind. The years upon years of abuse, of heartbreak and helplessness and exploitation. He was leaving it all behind.

It all hit him so suddenly and out of the blue that he succumbed to tears. Like a dam broken. Like a chain reaction.

"Jiminie. Your eyes are swelling up." His makeup artist said softly, dabbing at the onshed of tears. And Jimin just wailed, sitting at the dressing table, looking at himself in the mirror.

A moment later Taehyung and Hwasa walked in. Jeongguk had cleared an entire floor for Jimin in the hill suite, filling the space with furniture and cozying it up, even though Jimin was going use it for just one day.

Taehyung's face fell immediately at the sight of his tears. He rushed to Jimin's side, looking over him anxiously. "What happened?" He asked, urgency lacing his words.

"I think he's overwhelmed." Jimin's makeup artist said, rubbing Jimin's shoulder.

Taehyung smiled sadly. He knelt down in front of Jimin and took his hands in his own. "No more tears now." Taehyung murmured. "You're finally free, Jiminie. No one's going to hurt you anymore."

And Jimin just catapulted himself into Taehyung's arms, hiccuping helplessly.

"You've gone through a lot, baby. You survived all of that and now only happiness will come your way."

After being coddled and coaxed for about half an hour, Jimin finally pacified.

"If you try to even minutely ruin your makeup again, I'll positively have an aneurysm." Hwasa huffed, helping speed up the process. "And I have something for you." She smiled wide, reaching behind her and retrieving the velvet box she had put on the table. She opened it cautiously and Jimin stared up at her with wide eyes.

Inside, were enchanting pieces of earrings and a couple necklaces. Studded with diamonds and precious stones.

"This's from Jeongguk."

....

And it was a picture right out of fairytale. Jimin stared in awe at the entryway, a gigantic arch made of an assortment of Jimin and Jeongguk's birth flowers, stood tall and gorgeous, leading to the lavishly decorated lawn. The setting sun casted enchanting shadows, the sky illuminated with the reds and pinks and yellows.

Tall and spacious canopy housed numerous chairs, the chandeliers and hanging floral garlands stealing breaths here and there. The guests were seated in two large columns, the aisle leading to the alter decorated with countless potted flowers and exquisite altar runners entwined with fairy lights. Flower petals embellished the already gorgeous path leading to the altar. The altar itself looked so magnificent, located under even more enthralling canopy, the arbor decorated with flowers and vines and lights.

And there was Jeongguk, standing tall with a blinding smile on his face. Waiting so patiently for Jimin.

"I wasn't even informed about the venue!"

Jimin blinked, turning around only to be met with the seething face of his father. "Is this a joke to you?! Where were you for an entire week?"

Jimin stared at Hyunbin with dead eyes. His lips stayed sealed shut. Hyunbin didn't deserve to hear anything from him.

"Your father is asking you something." Minseo spitted out as soon as she walked up to them. Her makeup in a slight disarray, evidently they had rushed to the hill suite.

"Look at this ungrateful mutt." Hyunbin clenched his jaw, throwing a dirty look towards Jimin. "I hope Jeongguk doesn't look past this pretty exterior until you've said your vows. He'd know how vile and selfish you are."

Hyunbin then took a step towards Jimin, his arm already folding, elbow jutting out for Jimin to take. Jimin stared down at the arm with a raised brow.

"Don't make Jeongguk wait too long." Hyunbin growled.

"He won't." Taehyung said cheekily, standing next to Jimin and holding his waist protectively. "Ready, Jiminie?" He looked at the blonde, eyes doused in warmth. Jimin looked up at Taehyung then, taking his arm. "Yeah." He smiled.

Both Taehyung and Jihyun walked Jimin down the aisle. Jimin didn't let himself cry any more tears. He smiled wide instead, eyes fixated on Jeongguk looking so handsome, so beautiful in the black suit studded with diamonds and precious stones. The exact same design that Jimin was wearing. Jimin had decided that they would match their suits, going for black instead of white. Because his marriage was different. He was different.

When he was finally at the altar, Jihyun softly gave his hand into Jeongguk's. "Please take care of him." Jihyun choked out, Taehyung instantly coddling him.

"You look so lovely, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk said, kissing Jimin's palm softly.

Jeongguk kept rubbing reverent circles on the back of Jimin's hands whilst the officiant addressed them, taking this moment to emphasize the significance of the vows they were about to exchange. Reminding them of their duties towards each other and their roles in marriage.

And Jeongguk promised him love and happiness. That Jimin would never want for care and support. That he would cherish him with his whole being, that he would cherish all his sunshines and rains, and would only bring more colour to his skies.

And then they were wed. They exhanged rings with jittery hands. Jeongguk made sure to first kiss the finger he was about to put the ring on.

The blessings and cheers ricochetted around them. Flower petals raining down on them. And Jeongguk kissed Jimin for the first time as his husband.

....

Jimin rested his head on Jeongguk's shoulder, his arms locked around his scruff, while Jeongguk's hands drew him close, locked at the small of his back. They moved slowly to the music, a peaceful interlude having fallen upon them. Jimin kept his eyes closed, relishing the way tranquility washed over his heart. Here, away from the bustling after party, from all the paparazzi that had attended the wedding, from his parents' scornful glances.

Here, in the central gazebo, in Jeongguk's strong arms, moving unhurriedly to the rhythm, only parting to look up at the beautiful fireworks.

They danced and kissed, uncaring of the guests, uncaring of the time ticking by. Between holding Jimin reverently and breathing hushed I love yous into his skin, Jeongguk made sure to feed Jimin cake, asking him time and again if he was hungry.

When they finally descended down and back into the after party, Hyejin hugged them so lovingly. Showering them with blessings and good wishes and asking Jeongguk to take good care of Jimin. After a while, Jaesung and Sooyeon approached them. Sooyeon looked sullen but maintained her pretence nonetheless while congratulating the newly weds. While as Jaesung hugged both Jimin and Jeongguk to his chest. Jimin found himself relaxing in Jaesung's loving embrace.

Jimin's friends and group members congratulated them then. And when Jihyun walked up to them, he promptly hugged Jeongguk first.

"Please, hyung. Promise me you'll take good care of my brother." Jihyun sobbed. Watching his brother cry like this, Jimin couldn't help but break down. Taehyung instantly gathered him in his arms.

"I promise, Jihyun." Jeongguk rubbed Jihyun's back reassuringly. "I'll do anything to make him happy."

Jeongguk watched as Jimin clung to Taehyung, crying in his neck, while the latter whispered lowly in his ear, trying to calm Jimin down. Jeongguk smiled when Taehyung led Jimin back into his arms.

"I'm in no place to thank you for having taken such good care of Jimin." Jeongguk said to Taehyung. "But I still feel indebted to you. Thank you for always having Jimin's back."

Taehyung smiled at Jeongguk at that, casting a gentle glance towards a sobbing Jimin. "The only way you can pay it off is by making sure Jimin is always happy." Taehyung croaked out. "He's selfless to a fault. Please take care of his heart."

Jeongguk nodded dutifully and then cupped Jimin's face with both hands. "Hey. Shh, darling." Jeongguk murmured, kissing Jimin's tears away. "It's okay, baby."

As they were making their way to the house, Minseo and Hyunbin rushed to congratulate them too. Jimin instantly stepped a bit behind Jeongguk, looking away.

"Congratulations!" Hyunbin laughed nervously when Jeongguk only looked at him impassively.

"I  hope Jimin makes you happy, Jeongguk-ssi." Hyunbin said with a sickening glint in his eyes. "Jimin is my most prized possession. I know he'll strive hard to–"

"Jimin is no one's possession." Jeongguk growled out, taking a menancing step towards Hyunbin. "Jimin is his own person and now he's my husband too." He gritted out, warning Hyunbin to say otherwise.

"O-Of course! I didn't mean it like that!" Hyunbin tried to smile, only grimacing in the end.

"I hope you have cherished Jimin enough, Hyunbin." Jeongguk glowered in Hyunbin's face, threat evident in his words. "Because now Jimin's life starts anew. And I don't see you anywhere near his status."

....

Jeongguk gently led Jimin into the house. Jimin felt his heart hammer against his chest all the while. He stepped into the elevator, looking anywhere but at Jeongguk. The latter punched in the floor and then they were ascending up to the penthouse. Jimin's mouth had run dry, his throat parched with nerves and anticipation likewise. And at one point he dared to look in Jeongguk's direction.

Jeongguk's eyes were set on him, boring into his soul. The sheer intensity of them making heat slither up Jimin's spine, all the way to his face. Jimin swallowed thickly, taking a small step back. Jeongguk followed as if in a trance. The raw desire in his eyes making Jimin want to cower. And then Jimin averted his gaze. He didn't have to look up to know that Jeongguk was still staring.

After a long while, the door to the elevator dinged open. Jimin felt as if his heart was lodged in his throat. Jeongguk was quick, pulling Jimin gently forwards and settling behind him. And the next moment, he had his eyes covered with his hand.

"Jeongguk?" Jimin spoke nervously.

"It's a surprise." Jeongguk murmured near his ear. Jimin could picture his smile. "Trust me." Jeongguk said, rubbing a comforting hand down Jimin's spine.

And Jimin walked ahead blindly, taking small, unsure steps as Jeongguk led him forwards.

When Jeongguk finally removed his hands from Jimin's eyes after long excruciating moments, the first thing Jimin noticed was that it wasn't the penthouse. It was a floor he'd never been to before. And that he was standing in front of a tall white door. Jimin looked back at Jeongguk over his shoulder and the latter only nodded reassuringly at him.

Jimin took in a deep breath and then reached out and opened the door. And then the time stopped.

"Your wedding gift." Jeongguk kissed the side of his face, his hands settled on Jimin's waist.

Jeongguk had gifted him a mini studio.

Jimin walked in with shaky legs, having held his breath. His vision bluring ever so slightly as he took in the spacious off-white practice room. The gigantic speakers fixed on one far end; the mirror covering two entire walls; and the blue velvet sectional couches with white and apricot throw pillows and a large glass table on the other end. The room lead to a changing room and a bathroom on the side where the speakers were; and the other side were the sitting area was, lead to another room, an office with desk and cupboards and computers. But what really made Jimin tear up were the pictures of him that Jeongguk had hung up on the walls. He was dancing in some, caught in frame so artistically, his body suspended mid-air, in others he was smilling brightly at his fans, and then there were the ones where he was accepting the awards for his talent and hardwork.

Jimin turned around and threw himself into Jeongguk's arms. He let out a watery laugh, clutching onto Jeongguk's jacket for dear life. Jimin would have fallen to the floor, his legs seemingly about to give up, if not for the way Jeongguk was holding him.

Jeongguk then wordlessly picked him up in his arms, securing one arm undeneath his knees and the other around his waist. Jimin looped his own arms around Jeongguk's neck.

Jeongguk didn't take the elevator. Instead he walked to the staircase and started climbing up towards the penthouse. All the while he kept his eyes locked with Jimin's. And Jimin couldn't look away.

Time and again Jeongguk only proved to him that he wouldn't break Jimin's trust. That he just... He just loved Jimin. That he just wanted him. And Jimin felt like Icarus, blinded by the burning light and yet wanting to spread his wings more and break out of those chains that have been weighing him down his whole life.

"Hyeji made you all your favourite dishes." Jeongguk said softly as they finally reached the penthouse. He still refused to let Jimin down on his feet. "Jimin-ssi, are you hungry.?"

Jimin shook his head no. He slowly dragged the fingers of one hand up along the column of Jeongguk's neck, feeling light headed when Jeongguk held him a little tighter. "I want my husband to make love to me."

Jeongguk kicked off his shoes impatiently and walked into the bedroom. Jimin looked around in awe, the space lit up with gorgeous candles that filled the whole area with an intoxicating scent; and the soft golden glow from the chandeliers casting shadows around them. The bed having been decorated with rose petals, made into gigantic red heart. And now there also was an exotic canopy of orchid with shiny white drapes around the bed.

Jeongguk softly put Jimin down on the bed where the drapes were parted. Jimin watched with a bated breath as Jeongguk knelt down in front of him and then took his shoes and socks off for him and put them away. Jimin bit down on his lip, nervous fingers finding purchase in the soft bedcovers.

Jeongguk looked up at him from where he was still kneeling. He smiled at Jimin with warmth then. "Are you sure?" He asked again.

Jimin had been in this room countless times before. He had cuddled Jeongguk to sleep in the very same bed innumerable times until now. He had been vulnerable and prone, he had been under Jeongguk too before while he relished his fevered kisses. But this was different now. This was going to be their marriage bed. They would consummate the marriage at one point or the other, so be it now. Right from the moment Jimin said yes, he had been at the receiving end. Jeongguk simply fulfilled all his wishes, he agreed to all the conditions Jimin put forth to safeguard his own interests. This, now, Jimin couldn't take away from Jeongguk.

So Jimin just smiled back despite all the jitters and all the willies, despite the fear his own father had implanted so deep in his head when it came to being with someone. But here, Jimin felt safe. Here, he felt protected. So he welcomed Jeongguk into his arms and let himself be loved.

He felt Jeongguk's hands at his hips, gently moving him up the bed. Their lips stayed connected, kissing each other so deep and wet and slow. Jeongguk settled on the bed unhurriedly, whilst suckling on Jimin's tongue and stealing all the air from his lungs.

They parted shortly after, gasping for air. Jeongguk got rid of his jacket but never touched Jimin's. Jeongguk wasn't trying to get him out of his clothes, he wanted Jimin to do it himself. And Jimin did. He put his own jacket and belt away, and undid his shirt with trembling fingers while Jeongguk undid his shirt. And then their lips met again, unable to stay away from each other for long. The moments rushed past them in a haze. Jimin just wanted to feel more of Jeongguk. So he readily went when Jeongguk pulled him into his lap.

And then they were kissing frantically. Jimin gasped against Jeongguk's mouth, his belly clenching in need when Jeongguk brushed his thumb against his nipple, drawing intentional, firm circles over it again and again, making the nub hard and sensitive.

"Jeongguk." Jimin moaned breathily, burying his fingers in Jeongguk's hair.

Jeongguk groaned before attaching his lips to the nipple and sucking greedily. Jimin threw his head back, his hips twitched restlessly, seeking friction.

In the thick of hungry kisses and desperate touches, the haze consuming their core, Jimin found himself thirsting for more. He mewled unbound when he felt the thickness right underneath his ass. Impetuously, he began moving his hips, trying to pursue relief.

Moments rushed past him in a blur and then he was under Jeongguk, being ravaged and kissed all over. His cock was so hard already that it hurt. Despite Jimin's wanton cries, Jeongguk took his time to worship every inch of skin. His hands mapping Jimin's body, memorizing every single detail.

Jimin reached down his naked torso and undid his slacks with shaking fingers. High on adrenaline and Jeongguk's scent, Jimin tried to level his fast breathing. His hands trembled as he pushed his slacks and underwear down as far as he could.

Jeongguk cursed and it went staright to Jimin's groin.

"Fuck." Jeongguk growled, digging his fingers into Jimin's hips to still their movement. "What are you so pretty for, baby?"

Jimin let out a broken moan, his hands trying to loosen Jeongguk's unforgiving grip. "For you, Jeongguk. Tonight, just for you."

Jeongguk wordlessly nuzzled down this stomach and then Jimin felt his lips on the tip of his cock.

Jimin threw his head back, a staccato of moans escaping his lips when Jeongguk starting sucking him off. Jimin thrashed underneath him, his fingers grabbing fistfuls of Jeongguk's hair as Jeongguk kept laving all over his length.

"Please, fuck Jeongguk." Jimin choked out. "You're gonna make me come like this."

"Please do." Jeongguk looked up at him with hooded eyes, his hand never stopped stroking Jimin. "I know you'd look so pretty coming down my throat."

As soon as the wet heat enveloped Jimin's cock again, he was coming into Jeongguk's mouth. His eyes stared blankly up at the chandelier through the soft filter of canopy, his body gowing lax as Jeongguk sucked him dry.

"God, you're so beautiful." Jeongguk groaned throatily, traveling up Jimin's body and kissing Jimin's parted lips. It felt so surreal, watching Jimin come undone, giving him pleasure. "My beautiful husband." Jeongguk murmured, laying constellations of kisses on Jimin's cheeks. "I can't believe you're mine, Jimin."

"Make me yours." Jimin panted, weakly trying to kick off his slacks.

Jeongguk concurred with his request. Jimin closed his eyes shut when Jeongguk ran his hands down Jimin's thighs, laying wet kisses all over them before gently helping spread them. Jimin's breathing laboured, his nails digging into the bed covers. Somewhere at the back of his mind he felt bad for the lovely rose petals, all ruined now, but then Jeongguk's lips were on his hole and he couldn't breathe. His nails almost ripped through the velvety bedspread when Jeongguk started sucking on his rim.

"J-Jeongguk...pl–please." Jimin sobbed as his mind reeled in ecstacy.

"Fuck baby, you're so pretty." Jeongguk whispered lowly, the sultry tone of his voice raising goodebumps all over Jimin's skin.

Jeongguk kept licking and kissing and sucking at his hole, his thumb massaging the tight muscle till the feeling of being empty gnawned at Jimin's insides. Jeongguk finally relented then, laying a soft kiss on Jimin's navel before reaching out to the bedside table and retrieving a bottle of lube.

Jimin let out a sigh of relief when Jeongguk settled back between his legs. Jimin watched silently as Jeongguk poured some lube over his fingers before leading them back to Jimin's hole. All the while Jeongguk kept devouring Jimin with his eyes. He started massaging the rim again until slowly he was stroking just inside of Jimin's heat with careful fingers. He stretched Jimin slowly, his eyes never straying too long from Jimin's face whilst kissing any patch of skin his mouth could reach.

"Relax, Jimin." Jeongguk soothed. There was an apparent edge to his voice; strained and breathy, a clear sign of how much he was being patient and gentle with Jimin.

The frenzied tingles rushed through Jimin's veins as Jeongguk loosened him up, giving them another finger and then another, praising Jimin all the while. Feeling exceedingly electric, Jimin couldn't help but want more of it.

When Jeongguk's fingers slipped back again inside, he started rubbing lustfully with the pad of his fingers, facing them down and moving them before to backwards. He felt around a bit, panting harshly as he angled his fingers again and again till he finally felt the soft grooves beneath them. Jimin’s reaction was instantaneous, the blonde arched his back and threw his head back, moaning wantonly, his voice breaking with each cry.

"Need you–please, please, please–" Jimin sobbed, his legs trembling, his hips stuttering, trying to feel more of the pleasure Jeongguk was giving him.

Jeongguk couldn't help but lean down, his mouth meeting Jimin's quivering hole in a vicious kiss. Jimin cried out, blindly grasping Jeongguk's hair and forcing him back up. Jimin kissed Jeongguk earnstly, moaning into his mouth. His hips moving on their own accord, fucking himself desperately on Jeongguk's fingers.

"Want you now." Jimin demanded petulantly.

Jeongguk halted his actions. He grew very still, staring down at Jimin while supporting his weight on one propped up elbow. Jimin watched with a bated breath as Jeongguk's eyes roved from his eyes down to his parted lips and then his bared throat. He then silently sat up between Jimin's legs.

Jimin's breath hitched, throat parching at the sight of Jeongguk, his sturdy, muscular built. The way his biceps bulged enticingly when he unbuttoned his trousers and pushed the zip down. Jimin fisted the sheets, dreading that Jeongguk would simply start fucking him without a condom but Jeongguk ceased after unzipping his pants. He then nuzzled up Jimin's leg, laving at his inner thigh, dipping his tongue in his navel and trailing a path of kisses up Jimin's chest till he met his lips. Jeongguk pecked him once on the lips and then on the forehead before reaching a hand back into the drawer of the bedside table.

Jimin couldn't help but cast his eyes down towards Jeongguk's waist. He groaned at the sight of faint trail of hair, his eyes following the bewitching line, tying to see past down the undid trousers.

"How do you want to do it?" Jeongguk drawled near his ear, running the tip of his nose along the shell.

Jimin shivered bodily, bitting down hard on his bottom lip. "Like this. I want to be able to see you."

Jeongguk planted one more kiss against Jimin's temple before getting up and discarding his pants. Jimin kept steadily looking up at the tall ceiling, fear and anticipation boiling in his belly. When Jeongguk was back in the bed, instead of tending to his own desire, he started fingering Jimin again. The deep, sensual strokes making Jimin want nothing but to be had by Jeongguk.

"J-Jeongguk–" Jimin let out a broken moan.

"I got you, baby." Jeongguk pressed his lips to Jimin's hipbone in a tender osculation before finally ripping the packet with his teeth.

Jimin moved up the bed a bit, eyes raptly drinking in the sight of Jeongguk rolling the condom on his cock. God, Jimin was so fucked. Jeongguk was so hard, his length intimidatingly thick and long. The cockhead bulbuous and angry red. Jeongguk must have been hurting all this time, ignoring his own throbbing dick by choice and loving Jimin instead.

When Jeongguk lubbed up his ensheathed cock, he let out a guttural groan. His hips kicking into his hand, so ready to fuck.

"If you want me to stop, please tell me." Jeongguk murmured, settling on top of Jimin, keeping himself propped up on one forearm while his other hand guided himself to Jimin's heat.

"Okay." Jimin whispered. His hands grasped Jeongguk's shoulders, nervousness wafting off him in waves.

"I love you so much, Jimin." Jeongguk said quietly, the soft grunge of his voice making Jimin's heart beat faster.

And then he was slowly pushing the blunt tip in. Jimin stopped breathing altogether, his lips parted in a silent cry as Jeongguk tried to breach the muscle.

"So fucking tight." Jeongguk hissed, sucking on Jimin's chin. Jimin moaned, drawn out and high, his nails digging painfully into Jeongguk's shoulders. The stretch knocking all the air out of his lungs.

"Shit. Shit." Jeongguk gritted out. He was shaking on top of Jimin with the effort to not just blindly push in. His eyes constantly searching Jimin's face as he kept burying his length into Jimin, inch by excruciating inch.

"Do you want me to–"

"K-Keep g-going." Jimin sobbed.

Jeongguk kissed him through it, coaxing him to relax as much as he could. When he had fed his whole cock into the quivering hole, he stilled, his hand coming up to cradle Jimin's cheek lovingly.

Jeongguk let out a harsh breath, burying his face in Jimin's neck as he finally bottomed out. His mind buzzing with ecstacy, at the delicious heat clinging so tightly to his cock. All he felt was warm and wet and pulsing, luring him to take and take and take.

"Baby." Jeongguk called after having calmed himself down marginally. He searched Jimin's face for signs of hurt and discomfort. Jeongguk reverently brushed his thumb along Jimin's cheekbone, his eyes lingering on the frown between the latter's brows, those parted lips bitten raw and the way his pulse was so visible along the column of his long, sculptured neck.

"Jimin, am I hurting you?" Jeongguk asked with urgency, taking Jimin's pinched expression for one of pain. Jimin just breathed harshly, his eyes screwed shut. So Jeongguk deemed it best to just pull out slowly. He didn't want to hurt Jimin any more than he already had. But as he started withdrawing his length, Jimin threw his head back, his nails unclamping from Jeongguk's shoulders and digging into the pillow. Jimin moaned with abandon, his body shaking like a leaf as he shot out warm cum between their bodies.

Jeongguk stilled, eyes dark and pupils blown wide, watching Jimin orgasm. He watched in awe as unadultered pleasure took over his lithe body, by just Jeongguk being inside him.

"Such a good boy." Jeongguk growled, pushing his cock all the way back home. Jimin clung to him, sobbing into his ear, his teeth biting into Jeongguk's neck.

"What a good boy you are, Jiminie." Jeongguk hurled, now starting to fuck Jimin with long and deep thrusts. "So pretty. My beautiful husband."

Jimin was keening unbound at this point, his body moving with Jeongguk's thrusts. His cock starting to harden again against Jeongguk's stomach. Jeongguk kept fucking him deep, fucking lewd moans out of his throat, his hands roaming Jimin's body, his lips never tiring of showering Jimin with passionate kisses.

Jeongguk kept angling his hips up, placing a soft pillow underneath Jimin's ass, his hands massaging the plump asscheeks. The tingles inundated Jimin's pelvis, overwhelming him entirely as his walls pulsed instinctually around Jeongguk's cock.

"F-Fuck...J-Jeongguk fuck..." Jimin cried out. His hands finding purchase on Jeongguk's biceps, holding him tight as he unravelled.

Jeongguk gritted his teeth, fucking Jimin's fevered hole through his orgasm, prolonging his euphoria. The way Jimin so deliciously throbbed around him pushing him to the edge.

Jimin let his hands fall to the bed besides his head. His mind floating in utter bliss. He opened his eyes to Jeongguk desperately fucking him. His jaw set tight, his strong eyebrows furrowed, the raw hunger in his eyes making Jimin leak some more cum, making Jimin want to hide himself.

Somewhere in the dark crevice of his mind he quailed with fear, expecting Jeongguk to verbally abuse him as he grew closer to his own climax, to shame him or gloat about how he was going to breed Jimin, how he would knock him up so good.

But Jeongguk held his gaze and intertwined their fingers. "I don't deserve this." He panted, his hips stuttering every once in a while. "I don't deserve having you like this." Jeongguk wheezed, pecking Jimin's lips in desperation, before hiding his face in Jimin's neck.

"But I love you so much." Jeongguk choked out as he kicked his hips, once, twice before stilling abruptly, filling the rubber with his cum.

Jimin felt his eyes burn, his chin wobbling with the urge to cry. He slowly wound his arms about Jeongguk's shoulders, clamping his legs tightly around his hips and drawing him closer to his body. He carded a hand through Jeongguk's mussed hair, clearing it off his forehead. Jimin stared at his face then, dazedly looking at Jeongguk's relaxed features and his pretty lips forming Jimin's name as he kept coming.

"No one deserves it more than you do." Jimin whispered out, smiling softly as he thumbed away Jeongguk's frown. His heart stuttering with pure warmth for this man. He nuzzled lovingly against Jeongguk's hairline before laying a soft kiss against it.

Chapter Text

Jimin woke up to kisses being ingrained gently into his neck. He exhaled deeply, loving the concurrent soft caress along his arm. The alluring, crisp aroma of Jeongguk's freshly washed hair enlivening him.

"Good morning, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk murmured, laying feather-soft kisses along the column of his neck.

"Good morning, you." Jimin sighed as he turned around, meeting eyes with Jeongguk.

Jeongguk smiled brightly at him, leaning in and embracing him to his chest. Jimin let his eyes fall shut, feeling tranquil and at peace.

"How're you feeling, baby?" Jeongguk asked while running a hand through his hair. "Hurting?"

Jimin bit down on his lip, his cheeks heating up. "Not much." He mumbled as he remembered how Jeongguk took such good care of him. After finishing, Jeongguk had cleaned him thoroughly while Jimin laid breathless and stupefied. He had dutifully applied some salve around and just inside his hole, praising and soothing him all the while. Jimin had fallen asleep rightaway, not having any recollection of anything after.

"What time is it?" Jimin asked groggily then.

"Almost noon."

"Really?" Jimin blinked. "I slept in till noon?"

"I didn't have the heart to wake you up, baby." Jeongguk smiled against his cheek. "Are you hungry?"

Jimin couldn't help but let his eyes traverse the entirety of Jeongguk's exposed chest as the latter sat up. "Y-Yeah." Jimin said through a parched throat. He now registeted the silk robe he was wearing, Jeongguk must have put that on him when he dozzed off. His heart galloped at the sight of bites and nail marks littered throughout the expense of Jeongguk's neck, shoulders and chest. Fuck, Jimin did that.

Jimin felt the heat pool into his groin, divulging into the memory, the way he had clung to Jeongguk and wanted to be debauched. And now, Jeongguk was watching him with hungry eyes, aware of the way Jimin was eyeing all those marks. So Jeongguk had decided to be shirtless knowingly; complacently wearing the love bites that Jimin gave him.

"Want to take a shower with me?" Jeongguk asked in a deep voice, inching closer. Always inching closer.

Jimin held his gaze, wanting to tease Jeongguk. "I thought you already showered though?"

Jeongguk grinned, tilting his head to the side. "I don't think taking another shower will hurt me."

Jimin walked into the en suite. The silky robe Jeongguk had put on him, falling off one shoulder. His eyes promptly fell on the large frameless wall mirror and he couldn't help but look. God. Jimin looked like he was fucked good.

Jeongguk didn't bite him once, but he left purples and reds all over his skin. Jimin walked closer to the vanity mirror, as if in a trance. His eyes drinking in the sight as he let the robe fall down. Jeongguk had sucked onto his neck and chest with unbound passion, finger bruises covered his hips and thighs. The bruises shaped just like Jeongguk's lips. Jimin groaned, heat rushed through his veins, pulsing and roaring.

He didn't turn around when Jeongguk made his way to the bathroom. Instead decided to watch his reflection on the mirror. Jeongguk instantly stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes racking over his whole frame. Jimin bit down on his lip when Jeongguk's eyes lingered on his ass for a long moment.

"Are you checking me out?" Jimin asked coquettishly.

"I'm allowed to." Jeongguk said gruffly, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat, and sweeping Jimin off his feet. Jimin giggled, all coy and flirtatious, as Jeongguk walked them to the shower.

And then as Jimin stood there in the large space, surrounded by glass, he watched Jeongguk turn the shower on mindlessly, not bothering to take off his jeans.

Jimin stared with hooded eyes as the water cascaded down Jeongguk's robust body. The way Jeongguk craned his neck and closed his eyes, letting the water slip down in rivulets down his pecs and past his waistband, wetting his jeans. Jimin imbibed the scene with a bated breath. He could feel himself harden a little more at the way Jeongguk pushed his hair back from his forehead, the way his muscles bulged with every move. Jeongguk was hot and he knew what he was doing.

When Jeongguk finally opened his eyes and looked at him, Jimin was already beyond aroused. Jeongguk smirked, purposely taking slower steps towards him. The soaked jeans hanging low on his hips. The distint V, those sharp muscular curves running diagonally down reminding Jimin of what lied past that waistband. Jimin could easily perceive the distinguishable buldge and it made his throat parch.

"Are you checking me out?" Jeongguk teased, raising an eyebrow. The deep grunge of his voice making Jimin want to kiss him silly and rip those jeans off him.

"I'm allowed to." Jimin breathed heavily. Jimin then brushed the locks of hair away that had fallen into Jeongguk's eyes. Jeongguk's eyes fluttered close, his strong eyebrows slowly drawing together. Jimin drew his hand through the wet hair and then down the slope of his neck and then over the bite marks. He watched raptly as he pressed over the teeth indent there. Precum drooled out of his cock at the almost inconspicuous hiss that escaped Jeongguk's lips.

"You like what you did to me?" Jeongguk asked in a husky, erotic whisper. Jimin let out a soft moan as Jeongguk caged him against the glass, placing his hands on both sides of his head and confining him tightly against his own body.

"I can't get enough of you." Jeongguk groaned then. He plastered his hips to Jimin's, letting the latter feel how achingly hard he was for him.

Jimin shuddered bodily. He let his hands roam up Jeongguk's arms and around his shoulders, over the hard muscles, over all the ridges and prominences. Jimin parted his lips then, craning his neck and noticing how Jeongguk's eyes were fixed on his mouth. He skimmed his lips teasingly over those of Jeongguk's. Their desperate breaths mingling in fervid want.

"Then take what's yours." Jimin whispered. The sweet ache between his legs reminding him of Jeongguk's unparalleled passion.

Jeongguk kissed him desperately. Jimin let out whimpers of impassioned pleas, clinging onto Jeongguk. Their lips glided against each other earnestly, strings of saliva bridging them still when their chests ached with the dire need to breathe. They kissed and kissed, soaked to the bone, water pouring over them in pleasant currents yet their bodies were alight with passion. The glass fogging up readily from their body heat and harsh breathing.

Jeongguk effortlessly grabbed Jimin's thighs, hiking him up and forcing his hips in between Jimin's parted legs. Jimin threw his head back against the glass, letting out a broken moan when Jeongguk's clothed erection rubbed deliciously against his naked one. Jeongguk only mauled his neck, sucking over the blooming reds, feeling the vibration of Jimin's moans even before they escaped his lips.

Jeongguk laid a surfeit of open mouthed kisses across Jimin's cheeks and down his neck. His hands keeping Jimin's thighs spread, while their hips grinded against each other in slow, undulating circles.

"J-Jeongguk–" Jimin whined, burying his fingers in Jeongguk's hair. "I need you—ah please—need you so much."

"I got you, baby." Jeongguk soothed, holding him tighter, closer, harder against the glass, grinding into him with abandon.

Uncaring of the time passing them by, they kept making out till their lips were too sore and swollen red to be sucked on anymore. Till the whole en suite was filled with their pleasured gasps and moans. Their fingertips pruned, yet their hips moving with a feverish haste.

They kept their lips locked, hissing and gasping into one another's mouths. Haze consumed them wholly, pushing them over the edge. Cum leeked out of Jimin's cock in abundance. He momentarily thrashed in Jeongguk's unforgiving hold, his lips parted in a silent cry. Jeongguk kept rutting against him through it all until he abruptly ceased, his hips kicking jerkily against Jimin's spent cock, soiling his soaking wet jeans.

....

"Yeah, I'm fine, Jihyunie." Jimin said cheerfully into the phone, putting on a loose white cotton shirt. "We'll have lunch now."

"I was really worried, you know." Jihyun sighed on the other end. Jimin felt a pang of guilt squeeze his chest. He had missed multiple calls from Jihyun.

"Sorry, baby. I woke up late and my phone was on silent." Jimin replied softly.

"It's okay, Jiminie. I'm happy that you're alright. Now go have lunch. Hyung must be waiting for you."

"Okay. Love you." Jimin smiled before disconnecting the call. He looked back at the bed, at the sheets still in disarray and the petals covering the floor. Jeongguk didn't call housekeeping because Jimin slept well into the afternoon. Jimin couldn't help the warm, fuzzy feeling bubbling in his core. When he finally made his way to the dining area, Jeongguk was busy plating the food. Clad in some shorts and a black t-shirt, hair styled back, Jeongguk looked good.

"Is it already here?" Jimin asked, shaking his head, bewildered at the rapid delivery service. He had told Jeongguk to order black bean noodles and fried chicken when the latter asked him what he wanted to have for lunch. Jimin didn't miss the way Jeongguk's eyes traveled down to his bare thighs as he walked to the dining table. Jimin was wearing a tiny pair of shorts underneath the large shirt.

Jeongguk smiled at him, placing Jimin's bowl in front of him as the latter took a seat. "Yeah. It doesn't take them much time to deliver the food here."

"It usually takes around thirty minutes at my home." Jimin said conversationally and then trailed off and ceased.

No. This was his home now. With Jeongguk. He could no longer associate the feeling of being home to his father's house.

Jimin looked up at Jeongguk then who was listening to him earnestly. "At my previous home." Jimin smiled.

Jeongguk smiled back at him, eyes gentle and full of warmth. "I ordered dumplings and Carbonara too."

"Thank you." Jimin said cheerfully. He looked around then, frowning slightly. "Where's Hyeji?"

Jeongguk's features morphed into one of panic at his words. "Are you–Do you want to speak to her? Are you hurting?"

Jimin's eyes softened. "I'm fine, Jeongguk." He smiled reassuringly. "I just haven't seen her since we left the after party."

Jeongguk visibly relaxed. "Her apartment is on the tenth floor. Do I call her?"

"No, come here." Jimin soothed, grabbing Jeongguk's forearm and coaxing him into taking a seat. "I'm good. You took good care of me."

"Yeah?" Jeongguk asked breathlessly. And Jimin felt his heart flutter in excitement. He pecked Jeongguk a few times on the lips till his stomach really rumbled with hunger. And then he almost squealed with joy when he finally took the first bite.

Jeongguk gazed at Jimin, mesmerized, as Jimin reminisced about a funny incident involving a fight over dumplings with Taehyung and how Jihyun tried to de-escalate by stealing the said dumplings and how Jimin and Taehyung assembled together in seconds against him.

Jimin squeaked, his eyes disappearing into endearing crescents. Jeongguk smiled wide, shaking his head lovingly at the way Jimin sat cross legged on the chair. Jimin kept propping a knee up from time to time, his eyes scanning his plate while he chewed away. Warmth bubbled up inside Jeongguk's heart. He was so in love with Jimin's mannerisms that he couldn't think straight.

"Why...are you looking at me like that?" Jimin asked after surcease.

"Like what?" Jeongguk grinned.

"Stop!" Jimin laughed. "You keep looking at me with those eyes!"

Jeongguk threw his head back, chuckling unbound. "What do you mean, Jimin-ssi?"

Jimin rolled his eyes playfully, picking his chopsticks back. "You keep looking at me with that love-sick expression. Your eyes twinkle and get bigger."

"Can you blame me?" Jeongguk said, leaning in and holding Jimin's hand. God, he was so smitten, so besotted, like any minute his heart might stop if he looked at Jimin for too long.

Jimin trifled with his phone while Jeongguk put away the dishes. He answered some texts and checked his mails. Nothing from his mother, she didn't even ask him once if he was alright. Jimin sighed, reminding himself that this was his mother's real character. These were those distinctive qualities, not the insincere tears or false show of regret.

Jimin almost jumped out of his skin when he felt the soft touch of lips on his propped up knee. Jimin whipped his head to the side urgently, almost giving himself a whiplash, only to be met with those shining doe eyes peering up at him.

Jeongguk only laid another kiss on the same spot. And then another. And then he was kissing Jimin's exposed thigh. Jimin groaned, clutching onto the hem of his shirt, feeling the tingles wherever Jeongguk's lips touched his electified skin.

Jimin let out a shaky breath when Jeongguk wordlessly turned him bodily towards himself. Jimin let his leg down from the chair and watched breathlessly as Jeongguk got down on his knees in front of him.

"Jeongguk..." Jimin murmured.

Jeongguk hummed, brushing his hands reverently up and down the expense of Jimin's legs. He squeezed his calves deliciously as he leaned in and mouthed at them, galvanizing the tension between the two of them.

Jimin leaned heavily against the backrest of the chair, moaning softly and spreading his thighs invitingly as Jeongguk laved and suckled everywhere. Invigorated by Jimin's pleased sighs, Jeongguk traveled higher and higher, his hands massaging the blonde's toned thighs whilst, till his lips met Jimin's in a messy kiss.

Jimin lost himself in the heated caress of their lips. Jeongguk's fervid touchs already entrenched in his mind. Jeongguk secured his legs around his hips, one of his hands grasping his thigh and the other squeezing his asscheek as he got back up on his feet. Never breaking the kiss, Jeongguk carried Jimin to the living area. Jimin gasped when Jeongguk gently deposited him on one of the couches and he moaned throatily when Jeongguk settled between his parted legs.

Jimin welcomed him promptly. His legs open and lips parted invitingly. Jeongguk didn't disappoint as he keenly took the plunge.

....

Jeongguk blinked the sleep away at the sudden outburst of giggles. He was lazily lounging on the bed, hands tucked under his head as Jimin looked through the photobook he had discovered in one of the drawers. Jimin was currently looking at Jeongguk's college time pictures, teasing and cooing concomitantly.

"Look at those cheeks!" Jimin giggled. "Your face looks so chubby here, like a baby's."

Jeongguk craned his neck and peered down at the picture. He huffed when he caught the sight of it and rested his head back down. "I'm far from being called a baby." Jeongguk smiled, shaking his head. "It was taken a couple days after I got two of my wisdom teeth pulled. That's why my cheeks are so swollen in that picture."

Jeongguk felt his heart melt at the flash of guilt crossing Jimin's face. "It must have hurt a lot."

Jeongguk reached a hand out and rubbed Jimin's thigh affectionatly. "It did. But I was happy because I got to eat tons of ice-cream."

Jimin snorted, saying something about Jeongguk being a big baby under his breath. And then he raised an eyebrow as Jeongguk's hand kept travelling higher on his bare thigh. So Jimin smiled cheekily, batting his lashes prettily, deciding that two could play that game.

"Did anyone kiss it better though?" Jimin asked, feigning innocence.

Jeongguk smirked devilishly, easily unscrambling the venture. He frowned, putting on the best sad face he could possibly make. "Not really, Jimin-ssi. But would you—" Jeongguk trailed off, tilting his head coyly when Jimin looked at him challengingly. "I mean would you have kissed it better?"

"Maybe." Jimin teased, bitting down at his plush bottom lip, shrugging carelessly and letting the white shirt fall off one shoulder.

"I think it still hurts." Jeongguk said gruffly, eyes spanning the smooth skin of Jimin's exposed shoulder and up his sculptured neck.

Jimin rolled his eyes, putting the photobook away. He then slowly straddled Jeongguk's waist, the latter's hands instantaneously falling on his thighs. "Well, that's too damn bad, Jeongguk-ssi."

"Why? You won't help me feel better, baby?"

"I would if you didn't say that you're far from being called a baby." Jimin grinned, leaning in and resting his arms on Jeongguk's chest, looking up at him through blonde bangs. "Now that you've grown up so well, I think you can handle a little pain." He pouted and felt satisfied at the way Jeongguk's eyes were locked at his full lips.

"I can be your baby." Jeongguk whispered.

Jimin threw his head back and laughed. His body shaking and topling over with the intensity of his laughter. "Okay." Jimin squeaked, shaking his head fondly. "Tell me where it hurts."

Jeongguk smiled as he pointed to his right cheek. And then he closed his eyes when those plump lips made contact with his skin. It was addicting, Jimin's kisses, Jeongguk could always get high off of them. Not wanting for the heavenly sensation to end, Jeongguk pointed to his other cheek too. "It hurts here too."

And Jimin readily went with the flow. All the while Jeongguk's hands kept teasing at his thighs, thumbing teasingly at the hem of his tiny, fitted shorts before finally reaching his ass. Jimin trembled on top of him, breath catching in his throat as Jeongguk squeezed the erogenous flesh.

Jeongguk kept asking for kisses and Jimin went along with it. Jeongguk loved the pure want on his face, the way arousal made Jimin so sensitive, so ready. He loved when Jimin's face scrunched up in desperation, the way he was currently rubbing his hard cock all over Jeongguk's stomach. It felt surreal.

"Pretty baby." Jeongguk cooed, as he dipped a hand in Jimin's shorts. Jimin cried out, breathing heavily against Jeongguk's neck.

When the stimulation became too much, Jimin threw his shirt up and off his chest. He shimmied out of the shorts while Jeongguk got rid of his own.

"Come here." Jeongguk breathed, helping Jimin back on top. "I want to watch you riding me tonight."

Jimin groaned, steadying himself on one hand as he scissored himself open with the other. Jeongguk kept kissing him through it all, his own fingers joining that of Jimin's, helping him speed up the process.

Jimin watched impatiently as Jeongguk put on a condom, and then sinked down slowly on his cock, releasing a guttural groan. Jeongguk hissed, wanting to fuck up into the delicious heat, his mind clouded with the way Jimin's walls clung so tightly to him. But he reined himself in, letting Jimin adjust and move at his own pace.

Jeongguk encouraged him, leaning up occasionally to kiss him stupid, caressing him constantly. Jimin fucked himself over and over again on his cock, sobbing out Jeongguk's name, his chest heaving with the effort to breathe.

"You look so beautiful like this." Jeongguk rumbled lowly, Jimin's sultry moans raising goosebumps all over his skin. Jimin sobbed brokenly at his words, his unfocused eyes trying to make contact with his while Jeongguk's cock fucked him deeper.

Jeongguk impulsively reached a hand and brushed his thumb over Jimin's piercings, his nipples hard and pert, looking so pretty. Everything about Jimin was so pretty. So pretty that Jeongguk would die a happy man.

Jimin moved his hips in tight circles, getting his walls rubbed by Jeongguk's cockhead, trying to find that one spot. His body trembled with the sheer pleasure and pain, with the desperation to feel that high again.

"Fuck, baby." Jeongguk growled, hands resting on Jimin's hipbones, helping him move while he admired Jimin's lithe body. "Fuck, you look so pretty like this. Throwing these beautiful hips back at me."

"Ah please!" Jimin sobbed wantonly, throwing his head back. He almost fell back, his belly and thighs quivering uncontrollably as he came all over Jeongguk's stomach.

"What a pretty boy." Jungkook soothed, never easing his grip on Jimin's hips, helping the blonde move still and cum a little more. Jimin thrashed in pleasure, falling down over Jeongguk's chest, letting him catch his lips in a heated kiss.

"You like that, don't you?" Jeongguk rasped, flipping them over and rubbing his cock all over Jimin's throbbing rim. "You like being told how well you're doing? Like being praised, baby?"

Jimin only cried out, pulling Jeongguk down. His hips chasing Jeongguk's cock, urging him to push it back in.

Jeongguk soothed him lovingly. He pushed back into Jimin's tight body, relishing in the blonde's sighs of unadulterated pleasure. And then he fucked Jimin, nice and slow and deep and fast and hard. Jeongguk fucked him till Jimin was reduced to a slobbering mess, till Jimin's wrecked state pushed him over the edge.

Jeongguk kept fucking against Jimin's prostate, his hips kicking in relentlessly while he grabbed handfuls of Jimin's beautiful ass.

"I want to keep making love to you for the rest of my life." Jeongguk breathed as he collapsed on top of Jimin. The condom full of his seed. Jimin laughed weakly, runing a hand through his sweaty hair.

"I need a drink, Jeongguk-ssi." Jimin murmured coquettishly, eyes still closed.

Jeongguk sucked onto his bottom lip, pulling at it and caressing Jimin's tongue with his own.

"Champagne?" He asked.

Jimin's eyes fluttered open then, his face breaking into an enticing smile. All seductive.

"I think we're gonna get along."

....

Sooyeon took in a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. But to no avail. She tried knocking too, repeatedly rapping the door. Fear churned her guts and then with trembling hands she turned the knob only for the door to click open.

Sooyeon walked into the darkness with a bated breath, anxiously awaiting the doom to befall her.

"Chae?" Sooyeon called shakily while navigating through the pitch darkness enshrouding Chaeyoung's whole apartment. "Chae, are you home? Chae—"

Sooyeon ceased as she stepped on something, the sickening crack making her nauseous. She blindly rushed to the wall, desperately searching for the switch board. A cry almost ripped through her throat when she finally found one and switched the lights on.

"Oh my God!" Sooyeon gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth in utter shock as her eyes scanned through the absolute chaos around her. Glass vases shattered all around, the paintings ripped off the walls and broken to pieces, clothes lying around in shreds, the coffee table overturned. And there was Chaeyoung, seated on the couch, looking at her with dead eyes.

"Oh, Chae!" Sooyeon shrieked, rushing towards her with careful steps. "Oh heavens! What have you done?" She cried out, inspecting the woman for any injuries. Chaeyoung had makeup smudged all across her face, her eyelids swollen. "Are–Are you hurt?"

Chaeyoung let out a bloodcurdling cry then, thrashing in Sooyeon's hold. "I am hurt! I hurt so fucking bad! You did this to me!"

"W-What?" Sooyeon swallowed thickly, taken aback by the sudden rage.

"How could you let my Jeongguk marry someone else?! You promised me! You promised me that Jeongguk was mine!"

Sooyeon winced. "Baby please, I tried everything! No one deserves to marry Jeonggukie more than you!"

"Then why did you attend the marriage?!" Chaeyoung screamed, digging nails into her own arms. "How could you—"

"Because Jaesung threatened me! He told me that I could go back to Busan if I don't attend the marriage!" Sooyeon yelled back. She closed her eyes momentarily, willing the venomous thoughts away. Sooyeon then cupped Chaeyoung's face, thumbing away the tears. "You deserve to be my daughter-in-law."

Chaeyoung sobbed openly into Sooyeon's hands. "How could he do this to me? I waited all these years for him. Here I am, wasting away my youth, and he's with that—that lowlife—that greedy slut."

"He has brainwashed my son into believing that he's in love with him." Sooyeon said with gritted teeth. "Everything was fine before he showed up. Jeongguk is my son. He would have listened to me if it wasn't for Jimin."

Chaeyoung got up then. She brushed her knuckles against her wet cheeks, her jaw set tight. "He can't have him." Chaeyoung said then, looking down at Sooyeon. "Jimin cannot have Jeongguk." She seethed, narrowing her eyes. "Jeongguk is mine. Jimin cannot have what's mine."

Chapter Text

Jimin inhaled deeply, his eyes shut closed, his posture relaxed. He let the quietude of the moment benumb his mind as he tipped his head back and exhaled. Eyes closed, lips sealed shut. Jimin just breathed in and then out of his nose, feeling his chest rise and fall, feeling his muscles uncoil and his heart beat at a steady rhythm. His head moved rather vaguely from side to side, demurely, as if reticent about revealing his intentions. Jimin just stood there, eyes closed, posture relaxed, breathing. Just breathing as he let his head fall back down.

And as the soft piano started playing, Jimin opened his eyes. Hooded and hungry, as he looked at himself in the mirror.

"What are you, Jimin?" Ms Lee's voice ricocheted at the back of his mind.

"A vessel." Jimin replied back.

"And what is the purpose of a vessel?" Ms Lee asked, daunting.

"To hold and conduit." Jimin said, gaze never faltering from his reflection.

"And what is it that you want to hold and conduit?"

Jimin breathed. "My passion."

Ms Lee tutted. Jimin could feel the ghost of her cane, being dragged around him in territorial circles. "Just your passion?" She asked, fastening her grip on the cane.

"And pain." Jimin breathed.

Jimin felt his vision get blurry as he kept on focusing on his frame in the tall mirror. His mind roving through the memories of him being broken to the bone, of being unable to breathe from the sheer exhaustion, of pushing himself to the brink of crumbling into nothingness only to be reborn, like a pheonix that rose from the ashes of it's own funeral pyre, exuding renewed verve. Having yet mastered another trick up his sleeve.

"And hardwork." Jimin breathed.

"No distractions, Jimin." Ms Lee said in a hushed whisper. "Just feel what I want you to feel. Feel only that which ignites your flame. Nothing else. Nothing else matters."

Jimin let his eyes fall shut again. He breathed in deeply, relaxing his arms, engaging his abdomimal muscles and pulling his shoulders back.

"Open your chest to your audience." Ms Lee spoke.

Jimin did so, correcting his alignment into that plumb line. His mind reminding him how his ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles must be in a straight line from the sideways.

"Show me. Now." Ms Lee roared and Jimin opened his eyes sharply. The music transitioned to the violins, blaring from the speakers. And Jimin moved.

Imagining countless eyes boring into his frame, the feeling of the stage lights being focused on him, Jimin leapt through the air. The contact area turning into holy ground as soon as he landed on his toes.

Jimin just moved. His arms swirling beautifully, sensually, before he drew his working leg up to the knee of his supporting leg and then extended it to an open position. He kept watching himself in the mirrors covering the two whole walls, his senses heightened, his skin electrified.
Clad in black clothing, the loose silk shirt ruffling, moving gracefully with his body, and the footed tights enunciating his long legs so divinely. Just like Jimin wanted to be seen. Just like Jimin wanted to be envisioned.

Jimin felt free.

....

Jeongguk turned to the other side. His hand instinctually reaching out and seeking that warm body. He grunted, frowning when instead his hand skidded over the cold sheets.

"Jimin?" Jeongguk rasped, slowly blinking the sleep away. His vision slowly fixating on Jimin's side of the bed, only finding it cold and empty. Jeongguk sat up groggily, a glance at the clock letting him know that it was almost five in the morning.

"Baby?" Jeongguk called again, to no avail. And so he got up hastily, putting on some sweatpants and making his way downstairs.

The whole penthouse was enshrouded in darkness. Jeongguk switched the lights on, walking to the living room, and yet there was no trace of Jimin. Trepidation started building up in his gut and he broke out into a cold sweat but then he heard it... The faint sound of music playing. Jeongguk exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face as he advanced towards Jimin's mini studio.

The music kept getting louder as Jeongguk descended down to the sixteenth floor. He walked with a bated breath, his heart skipping several beats as he slowly pushed the door open. Jeongguk exhaled shakily, goosebumps raising at the sight that greeted him.

There was his Jimin, lost to the music, gliding across the floor with such poise that Jeongguk feared that his heart might just stop. Jeongguk leaned heavily against the doorframe, eyes doused in love, watching Jimin dance.

But as the time passed him by, Jeongguk found himself caught in a dilemma. Jimin's harsh breathing rang in his ears, the way Jimin's legs started trembling ever so slightly every time he landed on his toes made Jeongguk bite down harshly on his lip. And yet Jimin only danced even more rigorously. Fear crept up Jeongguk's spine at every pained sigh that left Jimin's lips and then he couldn't bear it anymore.

Jeongguk strode towards Jimin, catching him in time as the latter's ankle almost twisted on itself. Jimin let out a cry, drenched in sweat from head to toe as Jeongguk hugged him to his chest.

Jimin heaved harshly, his body shaking defiantly. He looked up at the lights illuminating the gigantic room, still unable to assimilate anything. And then when a slight hiss escaped his lips as he tried to shift his weight on his right foot, Jeongguk instantly picked him up.

"Are you hurt?" Jeongguk asked and there was a clear edge to his voice. Jimin swallowed thickly, finally clutching onto Jeongguk, his face still buried in his chest.

"I-I don't know." Jimin breathed.

"Can I take you to our room?" Jeongguk asked then gently and Jimin nodded slowly into his chest.

Jimin couldn't breathe as dread slowly frizzled his nerves. He felt the strange disquiet, a sense of foreboding as Jeongguk wordlessly took him back to the bedroom. Jimin was slowly preparing himself for the worst, for Jeongguk to show his displeasure at having seen Jimin dance like that. The moment Jeongguk deposited him on the bed, Jimin couldn't help but clench the sheets with white knuckles, fearing the words that were about to tumble down Jeongguk's lips.

"Can I please take off your tights?"

Jimin blinked, looking up at Jeongguk with wide eyes.

"I need to have a look at your ankle. Please." Jeongguk pleaded and Jimin dumbfoundedly looked down at his feet, covered by the footed tights he was wearing. He then looked back up at Jeongguk and nodded slowly.

The whole time Jeongguk helped him out of the tights, Jimin kept looking at his face. At his focused eyes and pinched brows. Jimin was now sitting at the edge of the bed, his feet dangling, clad in the wet silk shirt and some underwear, as Jeongguk stayed kneeling in front of him, inspecting his feet and ankles.

Jimin bit down on his lip as Jeongguk gently touched his swollen toes. "Is it hurting?" He asked urgently.

"I need to ice them." Jimin replied quietly. "This is normal." He added quickly as a precautionary measure.

"Just–Just ice them?" Jeongguk asked, voice dipped in desperation. The apparent conflict on his face ceased Jimin's heart in fear.

"Yes." Jimin said hastily. He wanted to smile reassuringly at Jeongguk but couldn't. Not when he feared that Jeongguk would ask him to curtail the dancing.

Jimin sat there with his heart lodged in his throat as Jeongguk fumbled around and into the kitchen. And then he sat there, trying to keep his chin from wobbling as Jeongguk sat on the floor in front of him and gently took his feet into his lap, tending to them.

"Did I wake you up?" Jimin said through a hiss as Jeongguk gently iced his feet.

Jeongguk shook his head, looking up at him. Jimin felt his throat clog with emotions when Jeongguk finally smiled at him. "No, baby." He soothed. "I tried to cuddle you in sleep. That's how I woke up."

A strained smile surfaced on Jimin's face then. And Jeongguk understood without Jimin having to ask. He kneeled, holding Jimin's face in his big hands, and kissed him lovingly.

Jimin choked on a breath, his hands immediately reaching out to hold Jeongguk.

"I'm sorry, Jimin. I know nothing about ballet." Jeongguk whispered against his lips then whilst brushing his thumbs against Jimin's cheeks. "I just know that it's beautiful. That you look so beautiful while dancing. I didn't know that–that–"

"That it's not so pretty when you're trying to perfect it." Jimin finished for him. But Jeongguk just shook his head and held Jimin's hands.

"That it's so toilsome." Jeongguk said then, intertwining their fingers. "I should have known that something so magnificent will obviously necessitate immense hard work."

Jimin kept staring at Jeongguk in bewilderment. He found himself nonplussed at Jeongguk's words.

"I." Jeongguk started and then looked at Jimin intently, doe eyes big and full of something that made Jimin's heart beat a tad faster. "I'm not in a postion to... I'm a layman when it comes to your art." He said quietly, adjusting Jimin's foot on his lap and gently massaging it. "Just please, a little more cautious, Jimin-ssi. I don't ever want to see you hurt."

When normally he'd have thrown a fit, taking these words as an infringement of his choice to do what he wanted, Jimin now found himself nodding ever so slightly. Because Jeongguk made it so easy to be able to trust him. Jimin let Jeongguk shower him with utmost care. And that was it. Jeongguk took care of him, he made sure that Jimin was walking without hurting. He neither asked him any questions nor tried to berate him. And Jimin ate it up fervidly.

If Jeongguk didn't mind that he was hugging Jimin to his chest when the latter was drenched in sweat, despite Jeongguk having a clear predilection for smelling clean at all times, Jimin didn't mind it either then.

....

"Ah, is there something wrong with the stew?" Hyejin asked, worried eyes peering down at Jimin's abandoned bowl. Jimin smiled at her sheepishly, shaking his head.

"It's wonderful, Hyeji, but I'm about to burst." Jimin whined.

Jeongguk chuckled on his side, feigning indifference then the moment Jimin scowled at him.

"He eats less. I almost got a migraine when I first saw him take such tiny portions." Jeongguk said to Hyejin, the latter letting out an incredulous gasp.

Jimin huffed, pouting down at his unfinished plate.

"Now he'll act cute." Taehyung coughed and Jimin glared at him.

They were having breakfast together. Hyejin was back to the penthouse and Jimin had invited Jihyun, Taehyung and Hoseok over because the newly married couple was leaving for their honeymoon. Their luggages were already packed as they had an afternoon flight. Namjoon was sitting on Jeongguk's other side, eating with them and informing Jeongguk of his schedule.

Jimin bit down on his lip, looking down at his lap as Jeongguk placed a hand on his thigh. He nervously looked up, finding Jeongguk's eyes fixed on him. Jimin looked away, acting nonchalant as he ran his fingertips teasingly over Jeongguk's hand. He almost gasped out loud when Jeongguk gripped his clothed thigh tightly in retaliation. Jimin finally gave in after squirming in his seat for some seconds, intertwining their fingers under the table.

The housekeeping was cleaning their room and Jimin couldn't help his eyes from drifting in that direction. It had been roughly over a week and their passion was encased in the safety of their room. Jimin felt kind of exposed that the cleaning staff were encountering it as they changed sheets and took down all the decorations.

Jimin blinked, focusing his gaze back on Jeongguk when the latter started rubbing soothing circles on the back of his hand. Jimin looked into Jeongguk's eyes and knew that he was aware of what Jimin was thinking about. Jimin ducked his head shyly, blush rising high on his cheeks.

"I'll be back in a few hours." Jeongguk said to Jimin then as they were done with the breakfast. Jimin nodded, smiling at him dazzlingly as Jeongguk got up.

"I'll be waiting." Jimin murmured and found Jeongguk leaning down for a heartfelt kiss.

"You should go, Jeongguk-ssi." Jimin smiled against Jeongguk's lips. He could feel his husband's reluctance and in all honestly Jimin was quite unwilling to let him go even for a few hours.

"Take care, hmm?" Jeongguk whispered, planting a kiss on Jimin's forehead.

....

Jeongguk placed a hand on the small of Jimin's back as they got out of the car. They were travelling with the security personnel and Jimin's managers. Jimin wasn't surprised that the paparazzi were already flooding the entire area, waiting for them at the airport. They walked steadily through the camera flashes and litany of questions, some reporters asking them if they were leaving for their honeymoon and some congratulating them, all the while Jeongguk kept a protective hand around Jimin.

Jimin felt the serenity seep into his bones, his usual air sickness mitigated to a great degree. They had a long fifteen hour flight ahead of them but Jimin didn't find himself fretting this time. He just nuzzled into Jeongguk's neck as they lay down in the cozy first class couple suite.

"This's nice." Jimin said, cuddling closer to Jeongguk.

Jeongguk pressed a tender kiss against Jimin's hairline, humming softly.

Jimin woke up to the apologetic voice of the flight attendant, a penitent expression on her face.

"I'm sorry, Jimin-ssi. I wanted to check in case you were awake. For the breakfast." She sputtered.

"It's alright." Jimin smiled at her, shaking his head. He then casted a glance towards Jeongguk's sleeping face, nestled in his chest. "Please give us twenty minutes."

As the flight attendant rushed out, Jimin carded a gentle hand through Jeongguk's hair, watching him scrunch his nose sleepily. "Jeongguk." Jimin smiled. "Baby, get up."

Jeongguk blinked the sleep away, looking up at Jimin with confused eyes. Jimin giggled, reading Jeongguk's bewildered expression. "No, we aren't there yet." Jimin chuckled. "But I'm hungry. I know you must be too."

And Jimin let Jeongguk nuzzle into his neck a little more as he sat in the latter's lap. They kept stealing sweet kisses from each other's lips whilst having their breakfast.

....

They were in Venice. It had been a fun week and they were going to spend a another week there. Their resort was in a maritime location, overviewing the beautiful city. As soon as they had arrived, Jimin was buzzing with the need to go sight seeing. He had taken a shower hastily, gotten dressed in record time and then continued whining until Jeongguk was ready to go with him.

They had enjoyed multitude of cuddlesome rides on the gondolas, went for wine tour and dined overlooking the mesmerizing city lights. The romantic ambience making Jimin go weak in the knees.

Jimin was so enraptured as they walked around leisurely, feeling like he was cruising through a painting. Here, he didn't have to look over his shoulder every passing second. Their security walked behind them, keeping a much needed distance, and still Jimin felt liberated just wading around whilst holding Jeongguk's hand.

Jimin also learnt that Jeongguk wasn't so eager to roam around on foot. It melted his heart that his husband still agreed to all his whims in a heartbeat just to make him happy. Jeongguk would undoubtedly scale all the tall vintage walls if it meant gratifying Jimin.

Jimin wanted to be so considerate. He made sure that they took several breaks at different restaurants. He even promised Jeongguk that he would make it up to him and reward him for his patience.

Jeongguk had looked at Jimin for a long moment. Jimin tried hard to decipher his mysterious smile, the mischievous glint in his eyes, to no avail.

And now, Jimin found himself convulsing with every single grind, looking up at the ceiling breathlessly. Jeongguk kept groaning into his neck, his hands grabbing handfuls of Jimin's spread thighs. Those thighs that were ardently clad in velvety crimson stockings.

The lace panties had long been discarded somewhere in the room. Jimin couldn't get over how nervously Jeongguk had asked him if he could gift the set to Jimin and then the sheer urgency that broke Jeongguk's calm demeanor when Jimin walked into the bedroom wearing the thigh highs and panties, the garter belt fastened so enticingly.

Jeongguk looked like he could barely breathe. The way he was torn between squeezing Jimin's thighs, grasping the lace and actually fucking Jimin. Jimin could easily feel every single ripple of tremble that travelled through Jeongguk's body, how his muscles were shaking with the utter struggle to keep himself in check.

So Jimin cupped Jeongguk's face with his weak hands, forcing him out of the curve of his throat. Jimin craned his neck, pecking Jeongguk's lax lips.

"Don't hold back." Jimin whined and Jeongguk's rhythm instantly faltered. He looked down at Jimin with misty eyes. "I know you've been holding back all this time." Jimin shivered, pushing the sweaty hair off Jeongguk's forehead. "I can take it, Jeongguk."

"I don't–don't wanna hurt you." Jeongguk heaved.

"You won't." Jimin whispered, trying to coax Jeongguk but the latter didn't seem convinced at all. "I won't break, Jeongguk." Jimin tried and yet Jeongguk stayed unmoving.

So Jimin brushed his fingers down Jeongguk's arms, all the way to his fingers that were currently digging into his thighs. Jimin squeezed his hands and parted his lips invitingly as he leaned up to whisper into Jeongguk's ear. Voice sultry.

"Want to feel it, baby." Jimin purred, nosing the shell of Jeongguk's ear. "Every single time I move tomorrow, want to be reminded that you've been here." He said as he lifted his hips and started moving them shallowly. Jeongguk growled, his hands flying to Jimin's hips instantaneously, his unrelenting grip hindering Jimin to move at all.

"Jimin." Jeongguk warned. But Jimin was way past the point to hearken anything. He wanted Jeongguk to stop restraining himself.

"Please." Jimin tried then, well aware of Jeongguk's inability to say no to him. "I need it so much." He cried, his hips restless.

Jeongguk clenched his jaw, his biceps bulging with the effort to stop Jimin from moving. "Are you sure?" Jeongguk winced, face morphed into a worrisome expression.

"I promise." Jimin soothed. "If it feels too much I'll tell you right away."

Jeongguk seemed lost in thought, cogitating over it deeply. Jimin tried to smile reassuringly, letting his eyes shine. "I promise, baby. I need you so bad, please. I deserve to be fucked the way I want."

Jeongguk chewed on his bottom lip, hesitantly nodding once. Jimin didn't get the time to rejoice though as the next moment he felt all the air escape his lungs as he was flipped. Jimin scrambled to get on his knees, his legs skidding off the silk sheets but Jeongguk uprighted him on his hands and knees in a heartbeat and then he was pushing back inside.

The first hard push made Jimin sob openly into the sheets. Jeongguk parted his legs apart as far as they could go, drapping himself over Jimin's back.

"Is this okay, baby?" Jeongguk growled, fucking Jimin hard and fast.

"Y-Yes–" Jimin cried, hanging his head between his shoulders. His body moving in synergy to Jeongguk's desperate plunges, feeling as if his guts were being rearranged.

Jimin soon found himself being fucked into the mattress. His arms having long given up, his face buried into the sheets to muffle his sobs as Jeongguk ploughed away. Jeongguk kept releasing such animalistic growls and hisses that sent shivers down Jimin's spine, heat pooled into his belly with the way Jeongguk mauled his shoulders.

Jimin dared to chance a look back after a while and he moaned throatily at the way Jeongguk was hungrily looking down at his marked up thighs. It felt like Jeongguk couldn't get enough, like his thrist was far from being quenched.

"You drive me insane." Jeongguk groaned, punctuating his words with harsh thrusts. Jimin just stayed limp, breathing harshly, pain and pleasure mingling so ardently that set his frizzled nerves alight. He could already feel that delicious burn set in, he knew that he wouldn't be able to walk without feeling the ghost of Jeongguk's cock lodged deep inside him.

Jeongguk let out harsh breaths against Jimin's ear and the latter felt so light-headed. And then Jeongguk pulled out abruptly. Jimin sobbed openly, blindly reaching back to lure Jeongguk back into his aching hole, but Jeongguk just settled behind him and spread his asscheeks. And then he was eating Jimin out with abandon.

Jimin puled with pleasure, his body trembling as Jeongguk sucked harshly on his sore rim. Jeongguk's lips meeting his hole in a vicious kiss, his tongue divulging in deep, making Jimin's body sing.

Jimin helplessly took it all, drooling pathetically, his fingers numb with how hard he was clutching onto the bedspread. As the sparks from his imminent orgasm licked at his insides, with the way Jeongguk was fingering him so passionately whilst being tongue-deep inside him, Jimin somehow gathered the strength to pull his body up. He choked on a moan as Jeongguk only followed him eagerly with his mouth but Jimin whined, reaching a hand back to push Jeongguk back.

When Jimin finally splayed down on his back, it was to the sight of Jeongguk having gone very still. His hands hovering awkwardly in mid air, distress contouring his face. Jimin would have cooed at those big doe eyes and pouty lips shining with lube if it weren't for his stupefied brain and the deep breaths he was trying to take to compensate for all the air that Jeongguk had fucked out of his lungs. Jimin just looked at Jeongguk with hooded eyes, licking his lips as his gaze wandered to the latter's painfully hard cock.

"Jeongguk." Jimin called breathlessly, his husband eagerly nodding his head. "Go sit on the couch, please." He murmured, watching as Jeongguk wordlessly took off from the bed and took a seat on the couch. Jimin swallowed through a dry mouth as he stretched his limbs. Instead of sitting up, Jimin decided to make a show of it. Jeongguk had wanted to see him wearing the stockings, he bought them for Jimin to wear so Jimin was going to make sure that Jeongguk enjoyed the view. So, he stretched one leg up, inspecting his stockings.

"You rolled them down." Jimin whined, bitting his lip at the groan he received in reply. Jimin wanted to tease more so he made a show of fixing the stockings back up his thigh, his belly clenching at the sight of all the reds and purples covering the entirety of his thighs.

When he finally got up, his eyes meeting the dazed one's of his husband. Jimin knew he looked like a sin, freshly fucked into oblivion and yet strutting his way to Jeongguk.

When Jimin reached the couch and as he stood in front of Jeongguk, the latter looking up at him with wild eyes, Jimin simply reached for a cushion, throwing it down on the carpeted floor in between Jeongguk's thighs.

"Jimin." Jeongguk stuttered as soon as Jimin kneeled down on the floor in front of him.

Jimin only smiled up at him coquettishly as his hands roamed up Jeongguk's robust thighs. Saliva pooled into Jimin's mouth as he fixed his eyes on Jeongguk's cock.

"It's been so nice to me." Jimin murmured as he slowly rolled the condom off. He then looked up at Jeongguk with half-lidded eyes, his plump lips parted. "I think you've earned this."

Jeongguk threw his head back and let out a strangled groan. The sight in front of him threatening to stop his heart. "Baby." Jeongguk swallowed harshly. "You don't have to."

"I know." Jimin said, looking up at him through his lashes. "But I want to." He pouted, looking awfully petulant for someone who was about to give a blowjob.

Jeongguk leaned in and captured those sinful lips with his own, kissing the pout off them. "You don't have to do this." Jeongguk whispered, reverently brushing a thumb across Jimin's bottom lip, watching how Jimin closed his lips around his thumb, giving it a sweet suckle.

"I want to reward you, baby." Jimin purred.

At the first contact of Jimin's lips on his cock, Jeongguk hissed. The way Jimin suckled on the cockhead, his delicate lashes fluttering as he closed his eyes, his cheeks rosy, Jeongguk felt like he was about to spontaneously combust. Jimin's pretty plush lips, red and slick with drool as they jutted out. Jeongguk lost himself to the haze.

"So beautiful." Jeongguk marvelled, looking at Jimin with eyes full of awe. He traced the outline of Jimin's puckered lips, brushing his fingertips across his cheeks. "So pretty."

Jimin hummed around Jeongguk's throbbing cock, batting his wet lashes as he let go of his length with a wet pop. "Am I doing good?" Jimin asked, voice hoarse.

"Yes, darling." Jeongguk rasped, smearing the drool all over Jimin's lips, his heart stuttering at the sight of Jimin's tearful eyes. "You're doing so well. Always making me feel so good."

Jimin smiled at him dazzlingly at that and Jeongguk couldn't help as precum oozed out of his cock. Jimin instantly chased it with the tip of his tongue, laving up and down the whole length, his hands grabbing what his mouth couldn't reach.

Jimin sucked him off so well, his tongue digging into the slit, letting out those profane mewls around his mouthful. Jeongguk soothed him so lovingly, brushing the hair out of his eyes and tucking the gorgeous blonde locks behind his ear.

"Jiminie." Jeongguk croaked out, voice gruff. "I'm gonna cum."

And Jimin just tipped his head to the side, closing his throat deliciously around Jeongguk's cockhead. A frission of tingling excitement rushed through his body at the aspect of Jeongguk coming down his parched throat.

....

Jimin huffed, trying to apply some glitter to his eyelids as Jeongguk peppered kisses down the slope of his neck. Jimin giggled, trying to push him away.

"You're not letting me get ready!" Jimin whined and then squeaked as Jeongguk snorted against his pulse.

They were visiting Teatro La Fenice tonight, the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre and in the history of opera as a whole. Jimin had always wanted to visit the site of many famous operatic premieres, his heart soaring at the thought of witnessing those glorious ballet sessions with his own eyes.

Jimin buzzed with excitement, trying the long streamlined silk cloth around his neck in a pretty bow. He was about to start whining at Jeongguk again when suddenly his phone started ringing. Jimin retrieved the device, his face lighting up at the caller id.

"Jihyunie!" Jimin said cheerfully. "How're you doing?"

"I'm good, hyung. How're you? How's Jeongguk hyung?"

"We're good too." Jimin smiled, tucking the phone between his ear and raised shoulder whislt finishing his makeup.

"How's it going?" Jihyun asked. "How's Venice?"

"It's so beautiful, so dreamy. We're actually leaving day after tomorrow. We're going to Paris next." Jimin murmured, his eyes falling on Jeongguk's reflection on the mirror, chuckling as the latter fiddled with his bow tie.

"Jiminie." Jihyun called then. "Did dad contact you?"

Jimin frowned, his hand ceasing. "Why?"

"He's been trying to reach out to you and Jeongguk hyung." Jihyun sighed on the other side. "It's about the business."

"What does he want?" Jimin spoke, voice low and cautious. He let the eyeliner down on the dressing table, a deep frown settling between his brows.

"I didn't want to bother you with all this." Jihyun said and he sounded regretful. "I just wanted to alert you in case he does something stupid." He sighed deeply. "The business he started last year... The car dealership on the large scale?"

"Yeah?" Jimin breathed.

"It crashed. He suffered heavy loses, lost tons of customers and basically had to shut it all down to pay the debts."

Jimin inhaled sharply. He could feel the impending headache settle between his ears. Behind him Jeongguk had gone very still.

"He talked about getting a loan from Jeongguk hyung so he's trying to reach out to you." Jihyun goused.

"Are you... Did it affect you?" Jimin asked urgently.

"No, Jiminie. I had nothing to do with that wing of the business. So I'm good. But he's going berserk."

"I'll talk to you about it." Jimin said then. "Just, just don't tell him that you told me about it, okay? We're going out in half an hour and I'll call you when I'm back."

Jimin ended the call, his face stoic as he looked at himself in the mirror. He almost jumped out of his skin when Jeongguk placed his hands on his shoulders.

"You alright?" He asked, voice laced with concern.

"Yeah." Jimin tried but Jeongguk only looked down at him with worried eyes.

"It was Jihyun, right? Is he okay?" Jeongguk asked.

Jimin smiled a little, placing a hand on top of Jeongguk's. "He's fine. It's just, just something. Nothing to worry about."

"We can cancel for tonight, baby." Jeongguk murmured then. "I'll book the seats for tomorrow."

"No, please." Jimin shook his head as he got up and let Jeongguk bring him in in an embrace. "I really wanna go tonight."

Jeongguk kept a comforting hand on the small of Jimin's back as they were politely lead to the grand tier. Jeongguk had booked the entirety of the rows, their security taking seats right behind them.

Jeongguk didn't pester Jimin at all, he didn't want to hover on the worisome phone call when Jimin was clearly distressed about it. He just hoped that the show would at least mitigate some of the tension and that Jimin would be able to enjoy himself.

And Jeongguk breathed a sigh of relief as the distress seemed to momentarily evaporate. The moment the show started, Jimin was looking down at the stage in awe. Jeongguk smiled, looking down at the way Jimin was holding his hand so tightly, enraptured by the scene playing in front of him.

Jeongguk let his eyes flitter all over Jimin's beautiful frame. The way he was sitting so elegantly, his precious features, his gorgeous blonde hair falling down over his eyes in soft curls, cherry red lips parted as he gasped every single time the ballet dancers leapt through the air.

Jeongguk just watched Jimin.

They were supposed to dine out but the moment the show ended, Jimin asked him if they could go back to their resort and order the food instead. Jeongguk had agreed readily. And so they were back to their room.

Jimin had put away his jacket and undone the buttons of his shirt. And Jeongguk was untieing his bow tie when the blonde slowly approached him.

Jeongguk let his hands fall to Jimin's hips, his thumbs drawing soft circles on his waist as Jimin unfastened the tie with nimble fingers.

"My father suffered loses in a sector of his business." Jimin said then, voice devoid of anything as he kept steadily looking at Jeongguk's tie. "Jihyun was telling me that father is trying to reach out to you. He needs a loan apparently."

Jeongguk pressed his lips together in a straight line. His hands never stopping soothing Jimin. "Do you want me to help him?" Jeongguk asked, looking down at Jimin's apathetic face.

"I want you to cut all the ties with my parents." Jimin said simply, letting the undid tie hang on both sides of Jeongguk's neck as he started unbuttoning his shirt instead.

"Jimin–" Jeongguk tried as Jimin looked down. He brought him closer, raising a hand to gently cradle Jimin's face. His heart aching at the sight of tears.

"My father..." Jimin said, voice thick and rough, as he looked up into Jeongguk's eyes. "Is a very horrible man."

Chapter Text

"I always believed that it was my carrier status that instigated his hatred towards me. But then as I started thinking and thinking and as much as I tried to remember, I couldn't recall a single moment when he looked at me with affection or gave me a hug and a simple pat on the back."

Jimin rested heavily against the headboard, eyes vacant as he looked out the window at the night sky. He thought that he had effectively talked himself through it, that he didn't care anymore that Hyunbin's repugnant behaviour towards him costed him his whole childhood. But now that he was talking about it, Jimin discerned how deep and sore the gashes still were. His pain was like the tide on the ebb, retreating as he boxed it away and threw it into the sea and then flowing back, finding it's way back to him.

"As a kid, I had to earn it." Jimin said with a hollow voice, hugging his knees closer to this chest. "I had to earn everything. Affection, hugs, wamth." He breathed and then bitterly chuckled to himself as he felt the telltale burn set at the back of his eyes.

"Kindness. Symathy. Care." Jimin added in a quiet voice. "Father said that he wouldn't lay anything out on a silver platter for me. Whenever Jihyun asked for a toy, father would bring it to him at once. And if I did, I had to earn it." Jimin swallowed thickly, bitting down harshly at his lip. "It might sound silly." He let out hoarsly then and immediately felt his hand being clasped gently.

Jeongguk leaned in, resting his forehead against Jimin's. "It's not silly. Not one bit."

Jimin nodded jerkily, licking his lips as he ruminated on the next words that he uttered. "He used to beat me up so bad." He whispered out gruffly as he closed his eyes shut. "Father always told me that I'll be held accountable. If Jihyun messed up, he would lash at me. He would flail at me whatever was in his vicinity. Mother always told me it's how he is and it's how men are."

Jimin blinked the haze away when Jeongguk cupped his face with both hands. He slowly lifted his head, his gaze filtering over Jeongguk's troubled expression before he locked it at his eyes.

"She said the same about you." Jimin breathed. "They said you'll use me."

Jimin was visibly holding back all his emotions, his jaw clenching with the sheer effort to thwart any impending snivels. Jeongguk kept looking at him steadily, brushing his thumbs against Jimin's cheeks. And then he leaned in slowly, his lips meeting Jimin's in a tender kiss. Jeongguk kept his lips pressed firmly against Jimin's quivering ones, trying to heed all those words still left unspoken. He kept their lips locked, breaking the contact only to plant another kiss.

"I had an inkling that Hyunbin would say something vile like that to you." Jeongguk said then when his husband was again breathing evenly. He rubbed soothing figures into Jimin's face as the latter frowned up at him upon hearing him. "I always knew he was a misfit."

It was disconcerting and quite frightening that Jimin was saying all this to Jeongguk. But it needed to be said now. Jimin had to block Hyunbin's potential advances. And he couldn't do so without laying his past bare. But still... He didn't want Jeongguk to catch the glimpse of the emotional baggage he had inherited from his own family. Jimin let out a shuddering breath. All the times when his father broke him down with his deranged words and his cruel punishments rushed past him in a blur. And those times too when Hyunbin tried to make use of him by auctioning him like that to his potential business partners and profit off his looks or his womb. Jimin pressed his lips into a straight line as he tried to look away.

"No, please." Jeongguk murmured, sitting up closer, hands reverently holding Jimin's face. "Don't look away, Jimin." Jeongguk pleaded, coaxing Jimin to look back at him. "What did he do?" He asked gently, reassuringly. And Jimin felt like his heart was lodged into his throat. Jimin shook his head, eyes filling up with tears.

Jimin watched how the veins popped out in Jeongguk's neck. His eyes darkening with roaring rage. And yet his hands stayed gentle, soothing.

"Look here, baby." Jeongguk said as a deep frown settled between his brows. "You're safe with me. I will never hurt you, Jimin."

Jimin nodded mutely, shutting his eyes and willing the tears away. "I tried so hard." Jimin croaked out in a thick voice laden with bottled up emotions. "I tried and tried and tried, Jeongguk. I tried to appease him, tried to win his heart even when he trampled all over my dreams." He murmured, barely above a whisper.

Jeongguk listened, staying passive and still, letting Jimin unload all the pain.

"I tried and tried and tried, Jeongguk. But he never wanted me in the first place." Jimin gritted out, his eyes spanning the whole suite. "He told me that I couldn't make friends as I was to inherit his business in the future. He said that the friends will take an advantage of me and I listened to him and isolated myself. And then he would shame me for being incapable of making friends." Jimin huffed bitterly, clenching his teeth. "He would beat me up so bad, would insult me in front of everyone, and when I cried he shamed me for being weak and pathetic. And whenever I became defensive, he would shame me for being too sensitive. He would punish me by starving me, he would always belittle me and bully me in front of strangers. And I wanted to believe that he was training me, that he was moulding me into the perfect heir he wanted. He would unleash his frustration on me and my mother and then he would accuse me of ruining the homely atmosphere. Of being a homewrecker." Jimin heaved, clutching onto the material of his slacks in a futile attempt to ground himself.

Jimin was seethed, his temper flaring as he recalled being verbally and physically abused throughout his childhood and adolescence and well into his adulthood. His heart raced with the sheer anguish and the vexation of having allowed Hyunbin to exploit him so ruthlessly.

"He said that I couldn't dance and I agreed. He said that I couldn't make friends and I agreed. He said that I had to go to a business school and I agreed. He said that I had to marry that old woman and I fucking agreed!" Jimin shouted as he got up. He bellowed, breathing heavily as he started pacing. Face scrunched in disgust and annoyance, his insides churning with such repugnance that made him sick. Jimin ran desperate hands through his hair, fuming with rage.

"He fucking brandished me! He made me skip school and stay home so many times and then he would bring his business partners home and act all nonchalant as I was made to show them my fucking face!" Jimin screamed on top of his lungs as he stopped and turn to face Jeongguk who was looking at him with wide blown eyes. "He hated that I danced. He loathed me for wanting to be up on the stage but he flaunted the same dancer son when it meant expanding his business." Jimin let out a choked laugh. "Why would he do that to his own fucking son?! Was I a bastard child?! What was my fault?!"

Jeongguk instantaneously rushed towards him, engulfing his shaking body in his arms. "Hey, hey." Jeongguk shushed him and Jimin shook his head desperately, choking on every single breath he took.

Jeongguk held his face in his hands, wiping his tears away. "Breathe, baby." Jeongguk said, wincing at every choked sob that escaped Jimin's lips. "Shh, don't cry. You didn't do anything wrong. You were never at fault, I promise." Jeongguk calmed him down, trying to soothe him.

Jimin kept looking at him with bloodshot eyes. His nails digging into Jeongguk's arms as he tried to focus on Jeongguk's blurry face. Jimin felt like he was underwater, his limbs numb, Jeongguk's voice so distant. God, Jimin felt like he was going to have a panic attack.

"No, Jimin. Look at me." Jeongguk murmured, nodding at Jimin reassuringly. "That's it, keep looking at me and breathe with me." Jeongguk pleaded, breathing in and out with Jimin till the latter didn't feel like he was on the verge of collapsing. Jimin kept his eyes locked with Jeongguk's, his lips parted as he inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"We don't have to talk about this right now." Jeongguk urged. But Jimin shook his head as he refused to withhold the pain that encumbered him his whole life.

Jimin swallowed thickly. "And all this was before I was even confirmed to be a carrier. I was underage, Jeongguk when he—he wanted to marry me off to that...that woman... She was twenty years older to me." Jimin hiccuped, looking up into his eyes with a broken expression. "I wasn't even into women, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk hugged him tight to his chest and Jimin sobbed openly as he catapulted himself into Jeongguk's arms. He shook violently when Jeongguk wrapped his arms around his frame.

"I-I thought I healed from this." Jimin choked out, burying his face into the crook of Jeongguk's neck, his hands clutching onto Jeongguk's shirt desperately.

"I tried so hard." Jimin cried, shaking his head urgently as he pulled back and looked into Jeongguk's eyes. "I tried s-so hard to be the perfect son he wanted, J-Jeongguk." He heaved, tears oozing out of his eyes in rivulets. His throat closing in with every word that he spewed out, his heart galloping inside his chest. Jeongguk slowly guided him back to the bed and all the while Jimin kept holding on to him for dear life.

As Jeongguk sat him down gently and then when he tried to move and pour Jimin a glass of water, Jimin panicked.

"D-Don't go." Jimin started crying again, dread spreading throughout his body. Fearing that after witnessing him in such a vulnerable state, Jeongguk might have lost some respect for him. But Jeongguk kissed his tears away at once, shushing him.

"I'm just pouring you a glass of water. I'm not going anywhere, baby." Jeongguk smiled softly, pecking Jimin's trembling lips so lovingly, holding him so affectionatly as he tried to dispel all his fears. "You're my whole world, Jimin. Where else am I going to go?"

When Jimin finally agreed, Jeongguk helped him drink some water. He kept praising Jimin all the while, telling him how proud he was of him and how strong Jimin had been.

Jimin sniffled quietly as Jeongguk brushed his blonde bangs back. Jeongguk waited patiently as Jimin gathered his thoughts.

Jeongguk kept a steady hand on Jimin's back as Jimin poured his soul out to him. About the invisibility he ran into at his very own home; the differential treatments his parents flaunted as they fawned over Jihyun and clicked their tongues in disapproval when it came to Jimin. And how deceitful Minseo was.

"She always victimized herself." Jimin sighed. He had calmed down considerably now even though the headache seemed to be splitting his head open. Jimin closed his eyes, resting his head on Jeongguk's shoulder. "She did suffer. After I was screened, my mother faced domestic violence almost invariably in her marriage. Like she was being punished for having given birth to me. Father was so ashamed. Not a single day passed without him lamenting about how he was wronged." Jimin breathed out as he slipped his hand into Jeongguk's and intertwined their fingers.

"I tried to move out so many times and each time he'd threaten me about how he'll taint my image publicly and end my career. He guised his controlling conduct as efforts to keep me from tainting the family name." Jimin scoffed. "He warned me that I'd have to cut off all the ties with Jihyunie. He told me how he'd even harm Tae." Jimin trailed off, a faraway look in his eyes. Jeongguk squeezed his hand hearteningly, trying to channel his support.

"I don't wanna go back to him ever again." Jimin swallowed thickly, vehemently shaking his head. "I don't think I'll be able to–"

"Shh." Jeongguk soothed him. "You're not going back to him ever again, yeah?" He said, bringing Jimin's hands to his lips and kissing them. "You'll stay right with me, baby."

Jimin exhaled shakily, squeezing Jeongguk's hands right back. "He..." Jimin started then in a quiet voice. "He wanted to marry me off to some rich magnate in order to gain profits in business. He started talking to people—" Jimin smiled bitterly. "—like I was an art piece set up for auction."

Jeongguk silently brought Jimin closer. The latter peered up at him with hesitant eyes.

"I haven't been completely honest with you, Jeongguk." Jimin said as he averted his gaze, finally steeling himself. "I-I needed an escape. I... He was going to marry me off to some old perverted man." The blonde swallowed thickly, refusing to meet eyes with Jeongguk. Saying it out loud just made him feel so shitty. Shame encased his whole demeanour. "It wasn't right. And all this time that I spent with you made me feel so awful that I've kept it from you for so long."

"So you accepted my proposal beacuse." Jeongguk started and Jimin nodded promptly. "Jimin, you took an immense gamble."

"I had no choice." Jimin whispered out. "My father is so greedy that he felt accomplished the moment you reached out to him. I'm so sorry, Jeongguk. I had no right to play with your emotions and your life."

Jeongguk shook his head, rubbing his hand up and down Jimin's arm. "I'm not naïve, Jimin." He said as he looked steadily into Jimin's eyes. "Hyunbin has earned quite a bad reputation in my world. Do you think I didn't run a check on his background?" Jeongguk tiled his head, clearing the blonde hair away from Jimin's eyes. "Trust me when I say that I wouldn't have survived a single day in the cruel world that I rule if I was even a bit gullible."

Jimin let out a tiny gasp, chewing at his bottom lip nervously. Jeongguk readily eased it out from the assault of Jimin's teeth, soothing the flesh with his thumb. "The first time I had dinner with you at your old house, I instantly knew that Hyunbin was so full of shit." Jeongguk said with a rough grunge to his voice, almost growling. "However, I didn't anticipate him turning out to be such a sick bastard."

"If you already knew..." Jimin swallowed thickly as he grasped Jeongguk's hand. "Why... You never said anything."

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. It wasn't my place to question you about your family." Jeongguk replied. "I have bad relationship with my own mother, Jimin. What kind of an insensitive man would I be to start questioning you when you accepted my proposal? You took a leap of faith, gambled with your future and you're apologizing to me?"

"I–I didn't want to believe that you'd turn out to be like those sick assholes." Jimin stuttered.

"And what if I had?"

Jimin blinked. He looked up into Jeongguk's eyes, an unfathomable expression marring his face.

"I would have divorced you." Jimin said in a heartbeat and waited with a bated breath. His stomach was in knots as he awaited the words to escape his husband's lips. But Jeongguk just nodded his head.

"You have every right to look out for yourself. And you're entitled to be suspicious, Jimin." Jeongguk murmured as he reached out and tucked some blonde locks behind Jimin's ear. "I can't even put myself in your shoes. I can't even imagine how incredibly difficult it must have been for you to make such life changing decisions at such a young age." Jeongguk frowned, clicking his tongue.

"You..." Jimin exhaled a shuddering breath, fidgeting with the sheer stress. "You're not... angry?"

And Jeongguk looked at him with eyes doused in so much love that Jimin wanted to cry in his arms. "Why would I be angry, baby? God, you had every reason to think of me as another douchebag thirsting over you. And the fact that I approached you and proposed must not have painted me in such a good light." Jeongguk frowned, shaking his head. "I was well aware about all the people wanting so desperatly to marry you."

"But you took a gamble too." Jimin said. "You married me on my terms."

Jeongguk just smiled. "Because I loved you, Jimin. Because I'm in love with you."

Jimin felt his lips tremble and his eyes fill up with tears. He wordlessly brought Jeongguk close and buried his face into his neck.

Sleep didn't take over them that night. They stayed awake, holding each other close. Jeongguk cancelled their flight and the couple stayed cooped up in their resort for the next couple days. And Jimin let Jeongguk pamper him. He let Jeongguk shower him with all the love and care. Jeongguk already doted on him so much but now Jimin didn't feel guilty while basking in Jeongguk's affection.

Jimin stayed passive as Jeongguk lowered him into the hot tub as they took a bath together. He closed his eyes and leaned back as Jeongguk scrubbed his body gently, starting right below Jimin's neck and working his way down to his ankles. All the while Jeongguk kept humming and Jimin felt so at peace, lulled by Jeongguk's sweet voice.

And then Jimin leaned back against Jeongguk's chest, feeling his body relax when Jeongguk turned on the jets. Jimin closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Jeongguk's lips, letting his husband breathe several loving kisses into his skin.

"Thank you." Jimin smiled fondly, his heart stuttering inside his chest as Jeongguk entwined their fingers.

"He won't hurt you ever again." Jeongguk said then as he nuzzled against Jimin's forehead. "You're safe with me, Jimin. You need not worry anymore." He murmured in a husky voice. "If he even dreams of hurting you, he will have to go through me first."

Jimin shivered at the blatant threat lacing Jeongguk's words. He nodded his head, tilting his face up and looking at Jeongguk's lips expectantly. Jeongguk complied in a heartbeat, melding their lips together.

Jimin let his eyes fall shut. His hand reaching up to hold the back of Jeongguk's neck as he lost himself in Jeongguk's kisses.

Jimin felt liberated. He felt like he had finally outrun everything that ever haunted him. Jeongguk still looked at him like his entire world revolved around Jimin.

And Jimin... Jimin could see the dark clouds finally parting and letting the sun shine down on him. Jeongguk's smiles, the timbre of his voice and all his acts of love were like those brightest rainbows that follow the darkest rainstorms. The hues of which tempt even the most jaded eyes. Jeongguk was his bewitching rainbow, shining his hues all around and bringing colour to Jimin's skies.

....

Paris was heavenly.

Jimin had been to Paris dozens of times before but now, on his honeymoon as he wandered in the city of love with his hand clasped with Jeongguk's, Jimin felt like he was experiencing something totally out of the world. Whether while admiring The Louvre, looking in awe at the beauty in it's architecture and the variety of artwork displayed in every nook and corner of the largest museum in the world; or while walking hand in hand in the Luxembourg garden, taking pictures together surrounded by those beautiful statues, fountains and flower beds, Jimin loved every single moment that he spent in Paris with Jeongguk.

The couple stayed in the Four Seasons hotel while they were in Paris. Their room came with private terrace that offered a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower and the whole city. They often found themselves lounging on their terrace, either sharing a romatic meal together or making out passionately against the parapet.

Jimin found himself buzzing with excitement on their shopping sprees and their exploration of the scenic vineyards. And his heart leapt inside his chest when they kissed on top of the Eiffel Tower. The dark night and the beautifully lit tower and the starts above them creating the perfect ambience for the couple to romanticize.

"Wow!" Jimin squealed, grasping on to Jeongguk's sleeve as they saw the wall of 'I Love Yous'.

Jeongguk laughed heartily, holding on to Jimin's waist a tad tighter, drinking in the sight of such mesmerized look on Jimin's face.

"It has 'i love you' written in more than two hundred and fifty languages!" Jimin said with a voice laced with unadulterated awe.

"Really?" Jeongguk mused, smiling from ear to ear as he stood behind Jimin. "I thought love had no language, Jimin-ssi." He teased, planting a wet kiss on Jimin's neck. The latter looked back at him with a raised eyebrow and Jeongguk only laughed, backhugging Jimin and squeezing him lovingly. "But I get the sentiment of proclaiming your love to your special one in so many languages."

And then Jeongguk started to read each one out to Jimin. And Jimin hid his face into Jeongguk's neck, giggling so much that his cheeks hurt.

They went to Seine the following day, sitting on the bank of the famous river while their feet stayed dangling as they exchanged loving pecks. Jimin had heard how dancing at Seine was one of the most engrossing things to do in Paris for a couple. They sat near the steps and admired other couples dancing to the romantic music. Jimin smiled as he witnessed the passionate moves right in front of him and he felt as if he was in a whole another dimension.

"May I?"

Jimin looked up at Jeongguk then as the latter bowed politely and asked him for a dance. Jimin smiled wide, readily taking Jeongguk's hand.

And Jimin found himself enthralled with the way their bodies moved together. Their steps synchronized with the beat as they looked into each other's eyes.

Jimin watched how Jeongguk's gaze wandered from his eyes to his lips and then back to his eyes. Jimin felt his heart beat a tad faster, his eyes fluttered shut when Jeongguk's hand slowly travelled up from his waist. He gasped, tilting his head back. Jeongguk promptly stole a deep kiss from his lips, holding him tight. And Jimin giggled when Jeongguk twirled him so gracefully and then swept him off his feet. Jimin made sure to pose enticingly as he looked at Jeongguk in surprise.

"You never told me that you dance so well." Jimin breathed as their moves transitioned from slow sweeping movements to a mix between rumba and tango. Jimin swallowed thickly as Jeongguk swayed their hips together, the movement so sensual that Jimin couldn't help but feel turned on.

"It would've been such a shame, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk whispered against his ear, raising goosebumps all across Jimin's neck. "You deserve to be indulged the way that pleases you the most."

"God." Jimin groaned as he tip-toed around Jeongguk sexily and took the walking turns. "I should have understood with the way you–" Jimin gasped as he twirled around while Jeongguk took a steady pose.

"The way I?" Jeongguk asked, cocking an eyebrow. Jimin slowly crept up behind him, clasping his hands together at Jeongguk's chest and seductively lifting his knee up and along Jeongguk's leg.

"The way you drive those hips into me." Jimin whispered into Jeongguk's ear as he craned his neck up. Jeongguk groaned, squeezing Jimin's thigh and turning him around in fast paced movements. They danced and danced and Jimin wanted more. There wasn't much that could surprise Jimin in his own field, but god, was Jimin so pleasantly surprised.

The crowd around them bursted out into loud cheers and applauds as they took their final pose. And then they spent the rest of the evening slow dancing and kissing while watching the fireworks.

They spent around three weeks in Paris. And Jimin often found himself lost in Jeongguk. The feeling enshrouded his being so slowly, the desire blossoming like a flower. He found himself nuzzling into Jeongguk's neck a little longer, craving to cuddle him more while already being entangled around each other. And most of all, Jimin craved Jeongguk's kisses. The sweet little pecks and the passionate osculations. The breathy ones that tickled him and made him squeal and the desperate ones that left him gasping for every single breath and made him beg for more.

Jimin found himself enraptured by Jeongguk's lopsided grins and endeared with the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled so wide. It made him want to learn all the jokes and silly pickup lines so that he would make Jeongguk laugh a little longer.

And he often found himself stealing glances at Jeongguk when the latter dressed up, or ate, or slept.

Paris was heavenly. And Jimin couldn't stop himself from falling in love.

Jimin took Jeongguk to the temple of love on their last day in Paris. The structure was erected on a little island made of two branches of a river, in the midst of the ravishing beauty of Versailles field. Jimin felt his heart ache as Jeongguk examined the neo-classical structure, the way his piercing eyes gauged the design and how his eyebrows were pinched together as he focused, made Jimin's heart skip a beat.

"I like this place very much." Jeongguk said distractedly. "I love the peaceful locality. You sure do know a lot about Paris, baby."

But Jimin just stood there under the dome, watching his husband move around with calculated steps and such attention. He didn't tell Jeongguk the significance of the very place. About the famous belief that kissing your loved one at the centre of the temple strengthens your love and relationship.

And so Jimin wordlessly walked up to Jeongguk and took his hands into his own. Jeongguk looked at him in question though he never ceased to smile. And Jimin mirrored his smile right back as he guided them to the centre of the temple.

And Jimin kissed Jeongguk for everything he was worth.

....

Jimin looked out the window in awe, his eyes shining with mirth as he took in the clear azure ocean. The gratifying excitement tingled his senses at the sight of the cluster of islands. Finally, after over fifteen hours of flight they were about to reach their destination.

Maldives was like the garden of Eden. The couple stared in awe as they flew over the wonderful atolls of Maldives with the fascinating blue ocean around them, the islands scattered so enthrallingly. Jimin planned their Paris vacation and Jeongguk had told him that the next destination would be excogitated by him. And Jimin absolutely did not anticipate anything like this.

Jeongguk had made sure that their flight arrangements were made as such that they reached Maldives just after sunrise. They needed to board a seaplane to reach their private island and those didn't take off after sunset. 

“Oh my God!” Jimin vibrated next to Jeongguk, completely enchanted and bewitched. Jeongguk brought his hand to his lips and laid a sweet kiss on his palm.

"I hope you have a good time, sweetheart."

Flying in a seaplane turned out to be an extra treat as they got a bird’s eye view of the islands, sandbars, and lagoons. Flying low over the islands, the couple could see the shapes of the reefs and colours of the shallow water around the islands. Round circles of pristine white sand with centres of thick mangroves dotted the horizon for as far as they could see. Sand bars and brilliant streaks of turquoise were stark contrasts to the deep blue of the ocean. They flew over resorts and many islands, getting more and more excited for their first glimpse of their own private island and water villa.

Maldives resorts themselves were adorned with aesthetically enchanting white sand. One of the most distinctive were the long, narrow spits of sand jutting out into the ocean.

And their villa was drenched in luxury. Situated over the shallow, crystal clear water and open on three sides, the beautiful villa had a private double terrace for lounging as one gazed out at the lagoon; and it’s own plunge pool and an open hammock to sleep in. The bungalow had an overwater dining pavilion and a personal butler. The place both intimate enough for a romantic getaway yet big enough to entertain a whole family.

They spent another three weeks in Maldives. They went on a titillating dive admist gazillion reefs and snorkeling. The couple dined at the underwater aquarium restaurant and indulged themselves in the rejuvenating couple massages, though Jimin would always favour Jeongguk's massages more. They went cruising and surfing and enjoyed the helicopter rides.

Jimin especially loved the glowing beach. The gentle night air moved over the water, creating the beautiful dance of waves. And it felt so heavenly to witness the dazzling green-blue glow of this particular beach, owing to the bioluminescent plankton that glowed at night.

Jimin loved staying snuggled with Jeongguk in the soft mattress laid out over the net-beds, functioning as a massive hammock. The moon looked so big and beautiful in the clear sky, surrounded by the dazzling stars. The sound of the gentle ocean right underneath them lulling them to sleep. Jimin just wanted to stay wrapped in Jeongguk's arms.

Jimin stared at himself in the mirror. His hair wet from the shower. He couldn't help the smile that broke out on his face. The whole vacation had been nothing less than a miracle. Every single day he cherished the moments that he spent with Jeongguk. The beautiful backdrop sometimes vanished out of the picture and all he could see was Jeongguk.

Jimin shook his head, the tingling sensation rushing through his body as he walked into the bedroom. But instead of meeting Jeongguk's gaze, Jimin found himself reading out a handwritten note.

Jeongguk had arranged the dinner out on the beach. And was currently waiting for Jimin.

The blonde dressed up quick, blow dying his hair in such a haste and putting on some makeup. And he was rushing out to their private beach with hurried steps.

But as soon as his eyes fell on the arrangements Jeongguk had made, his heart stopped beating altogether.

The whole path right from the stairs down merging with the sand, was illuminated by lights on both sides. The trail was decorated so ardently with rose petals, leading to a beautiful gazebo embellished with sheer flowing curtains and fairy lights. Several gorgeous lanterns with intricate designs lined the perimeter.

And there was Jeongguk, standing near the gazebo and looking at him with eyes doused in love.

Jimin trembled. The way it reminded Jimin instantaneously of their wedding day made him so emotional. It felt like he was about to walk down the aisle again to unite with the man who loved him more than he deserved. Only this time, Jimin didn't have apprehensions about the marriage and about Jeongguk. This time, Jimin was willing to close the distance and proclaim Jeongguk as his.

And so Jimin took the steps with a restless heart. The heart that always yearned for something he couldn't name. But now as he was standing right in front of Jeongguk, he knew that his heart had found it's peace.

"You look so beautiful, Jimin." Jeongguk smiled as soon as Jimin closed the distance between them. And Jimin looked down demurely, suddenly so bashful, so shy.

"I didn't get to propose the way I wanted to." Jeongguk said then and Jimin watched with eyes wide blown as his husband got down on one knee, looking at him so expectantly as he reached into his back pocket and produced a velvet box.

"Jimin." Jeongguk smiled brightly. "I promise that I'll never stop loving you. Would you let me love you forever?"

And Jimin sobbed out a choked 'yes' and he positioned himself right on Jeongguk's lap as he hugged him tight to his chest. Jeongguk embraced Jimin just as passionately, kissing his tears away and adorning Jimin's beautiful hand with another ring.

....

"Welcome back home!" Hyejin rushed to hug Jimin as soon as they stepped into the penthouse.

"Oh my God!" Jimin's whole face lit up as he looked around himself at all the decorations in awe. His friends and Jihyun cheered so happily as they welcomed the couple warmly.

"Jiminie!" Jihyun squeezed him so tight. "Wow! You're glowing!" He giggled.

And then Jimin's eyes found Jaesung. The blonde exclaimed in joy as he walked up to the man with rushed paces.

"Dad! How've you been?" Jimin smiled wide, his eyes shining with unshed tears as he wrapped his arms around Jaesung.

"I'm just fine, son. But I've missed you so much." Jaesung laughed, resting a protective hand on Jimin's head. "Show me that darling smile again."

Jimin whined but did so promptly.

"Not gonna say hello to me?" Jeongguk rolled his eyes as he hugged his father then. And Jimin felt so accomplished, his heart so full and happy that he feared he might jinx it.

They all settled to have dinner later after the couple freshened up. The whole dining area filled with wholesome chatter as they had their meal. It was such a stark contrast to how Jimin used to eat silently in the confinement of his room.

As they collectively cleared the table, Taehyung told Jimin about his new clothing line that he was starting and how he was going to set a fashion show in Los Angeles. Jimin congratulated him so warmly and he instantly agreed when his best friend asked him to be the show stopper.

....

The next morning Jimin got up quite early. He was bouncing on his heels and so desperate to go back to the studio. He kissed Jeongguk a dozen times before leaving the hill suite.

As he got out of his car, Jimin suddenly felt his arm being gripped and then the next moment he was hauled and slammed into his own car. Hyunbin leered down at his face with bloodshot eyes.

"How fucking dare you?!" Hyunbin growled, never easing the grip he had on Jimin's arm. "How fucking dare you ignore my calls. My business is in shambles and there you were enjoying your little honeymoon?"

"Let go of me." Jimin hissed, digging his nails into Hyunbin's wrist and freeing his arm. "Don't touch me ever again."

Hyunbin cocked his head to the side. "What did you say?"

Jimin fumed, steeling himself. "I said don't fucking touch me ever again. If Jeongguk comes to know—"

Hyunbin let out a deafening cackle as he threw his head back. And then he fixed his narrowed eyes back on Jimin's face.

"Jeongguk? What are you going to tell him? That your dad touched you and you got burnt?" Hyunbin tutted in a mocking tone. "Poor Jiminie, so fragile that he can't—"

"You are not my dad." Jimin spitted out. "You were never dad to me, I never called you that because you don't deserve it." He said as he fisted his dress shirt to keep his hands from shaking.

"Stop being such a selfish little wuss." Hyunbin seethed. "Stop flying so high in the sky because if it wasn't for me accepting Jeongguk's proposal for you, you wouldn't be married to him at all."

Jimin exhaled deeply through his nose. "It wasn't because I was the one who accepted Jeongguk's proposal. I made that decision. Not you."

Hyunbin looked at him with such fury that Jimin wished Jeongguk was right there. But he refused to let Hyunbin leach off of his fear anymore.

"What are you saying, Jiminie?" Hyunbin asked threateningly.

"Jeongguk had proposed to me a year earlier before he reached out to you." Jimin spewed out as if in a trance. "It was me who asked Jeongguk to bring the proposal to you. Because I wanted out."

"You fucking piece of—" Hyunbin roared, flinging his hand on Jimin but before it could even collide with his face, Jimin gripped Hyunbin's wrist tightly.

"Don't you fucking dare." Jimin simmered with anger as he pushed Hyunbin away. He watched the man stagger lumberingly, looking at Jimin with a face painted with utter disbelief.

Jimin stepped closer then, his jaw set tight, enraged inconceivably. "I'm someone's husband now and if he comes to know that you tried to lay a hand on me, he'll fucking annihilate you."

Chapter Text

"He has been crying about it the whole day." Jihyun groused, rubbing his temples in an effort to alleviate some headache. "He believes that you cheated him. That you and Jeongguk hyung probably..." He trailed off then. His eyes roving between Jimin's hunched frame and Jeongguk's impassive face, sitting opposite to him.

After witnessing Hyunbin's livid breakdown about having reckoned that Jimin wasn't going to aid him in any way, that he wasn't going to ask Jeongguk for anything, Jihyun prompty left him to his own misery and drove to the hill suite.

Jimin exhaled an exasperated sigh. On his side, Jeongguk's hand never ceased to rub his back soothingly. Aside from his gentle touch though, nothing about Jeongguk was gentle at the moment. His jaw was set tight, he had not spoken except for when he greeted Jihyun. Jihyun felt highly intimidated sitting across from him.

"He thinks that I had an affair with Jeongguk. Is that it?" Jimin scoffed bitterly, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I don't care what he thinks, Jihyunie. He always threatened me that he'd disown me, but now I'm cutting off all the ties with him. He's no one to me. Neither he nor his wife."

"Jihyun." Jeongguk said then and Jihyun instantly sat up straighter.

"Yes, hyung?" He replied promptly.

Jeongguk sucked his cheeks in and then leaned a tad forward, elbows resting on his knees as he fixed his narrowed gaze on Jihyun. Jeongguk cocked his head to the side then, the hint of a cruel smile slowly appearing on his face. "Ask your father to come to my office tomorrow. At noon."

On his side, Jimin shifted impatiently. "Jeongguk?"

Jeongguk turned to look at Jimin then. He brushed his thumb delicately across the blonde's cheek, stroking his face. "Let me handle him my way. Since he's so desperate to meet me."

Jimin looked at him for a long moment before nodding his agreement.

....

The moment Hyunbin laid a foot into his office, Jeongguk saw red. He watched the man fumble and sputter, his eyes repeatedly traversing between Jeongguk's inscrutable expression and Namjoon's blank one. Jeongguk let the man stand pathetically for some minutes before finally allowing him to take a seat.

Jeongguk then casted a glance towards the huge wall clock before fixing it back at Hyunbin. "You have two minutes before I ask you to leave. Fill them with words."

Hyunbin stared at him, mouth hung open and eyes bulging out of the sockets.

"J-Jeongguk-ssi." He stuttered. "I don't know what Jimin has told you but I'll let you know that he's not so innocent—"

Jeongguk banged the table with a clenched fist at once and Hyunbin bit down on his tongue.

"Did I give you the permission to talk about my husband?" Jeongguk asked with an arched brow as he relaxed back into his chair. "I'll let you know that my husband has severed all the ties with you and your wife."

Hyunbin gawked at him, his voice wavering. "T-That can't be... Jeongguk-ssi, relationships don't end like this."

"Then how do they end?" Jeongguk asked as he leaned his elbows on the table, a vicious smile spreading across his face. "By displaying your son ostentatiously to your business partners with the intention to marry him off for gains?" He mused, cocking his head to the side. "Or using the said son's husband's name to secure deals, hmm?"

Hyunbin's breath got lodged in his throat, his vision blurring with light flashes. He felt light headed and utterly humiliated as Namjoon shook his head down at him disapprovingly.

Hyunbin exhaled shakily as he rubbed his sweaty forehead. "I... I had no choice, Jeongguk-ssi." He pleaded. "The fact that I had to do this to my own son heavily implies how bad my situation was. I had to support my family. He's my firstborn, he has some duties—"

Jeongguk laughed. He threw his head back and laughed. Spinning his chair to the side, Jeongguk toyed with the paper weight, twirling it amusedly. For some long excruciating moments, silence enshrouded the whole room, except for the gyrating motion of the paper weight. Hyubin silently let his eyes fall at the rotating antique object and Jeongguk's nimble fingers. And then the moment Jeongguk suddenly stopped, Hyunbin looked up at him with dread spreading throughout his body.

"I grew up dealing with the likes of you, Hyunbin. And I have such repulsion for pity parties." Jeongguk said then boredly as he gestured to Namjoon. The latter nodded once before walking to the far wall and flipping a switch on. Hyunbin watched with wide eyes as the curtains flew open and Namjoon bolted open a door. And the next moment all the air was being squeezed out of his lungs as Choi Sekyung walked in. Hyunbin stared, unbelieving, as the woman waited for Jeongguk's permission to take a seat.

"Turns out the both of you have nothing worth saying." Jeongguk stated.

"Jeongguk-ssi, please." Sekyung pleaded vehemently, shaking her head. "He reached out to me! I didn't even know about Jimin-ssi until he asked me if I wanted to marry him!"

Jeongguk tutted mockingly. "How old was my darling that time?" He turned to Namjoon, feigning contemplating.

"Underage, Sir." Namjoon provided instantly. "Jimin-ssi was sixteen."

"Ah." Jeongguk shook his head. "You're going to rot in a cell for such heinous crime."

"Please!" The older woman cried out, tears oozing out of her eyes steadily. "You've already taken over my entire business, Sir. You've already punished me for my stupid act, please, please have mercy on me!"

"I'm a business man, Sekyung. I don't do mercy. I do business. So unless you have something to offer, why would I even entertain the idea of letting you off?"

The woman took in a sharp breath. The gears turning in her head. Jeongguk wanted to scoff at how pathetic she looked.

"I-I will do anything!" She said. "Anything you want, Jeongguk-ssi! I won't disappoint you ever!"

"Say if I told you to speak up publically about how this shitty man wanted to marry off his sixteen year old son to you."

"I will! I will tell everyone! Whatever you want me to say! Just please forgive me, Jeongguk-ssi." Sekyung hiccuped, shaking her head vehemently. "I'm sorry that I lusted over Jimin-ssi. I promise I won't ever do anything to displease you."

"You can leave." Jeongguk said and his eyes abandoned the woman at once. Sekyung looked devastated, she gaped at Jeongguk before looking up at Namjoon. And then she left promptly as Shinhye escorted her out.

Hyunbin just sat there with the feeling of foreboding having clutched his heart. He gnawed at his lower lip, sweat breaking out on his brow as Jeongguk's hard eyes appraised him.

"You digged your own grave, Hyunbin." Jeongguk said then through clenched teeth. "I could have let you haul your pathetic self away when you used my name to lure investors. I silently took care of it, didn't I? All I had to do was make one call."

"Y-You." Hyunbin wheezed. "You... My losses..."

"Mhmm." Jeongguk sighed. "You don't gain a leverage just because you think you gave me Jimin."

"You've already ruined the company I toiled to build all my life." Hyunbin choked out. "I can't believe this. This's wrong."

"What's wrong is that you tried to abuse my husband last day." Jeongguk growled out. His temper flared as the man in front of him started begging him earnestly. "What's wrong is that you made my innocent Jimin suffer so much. How dare you lay your hands on him?!"

"J-Jeongguk-ssi..." Hyunbin pleaded, shaking bodily as Jeongguk motioned to Namjoon to call in the security.

"If you ever, ever dare to cross paths with Jimin one more time, I'll break your fucking bones one by one." Jeongguk jeered, crossing his legs as he watched Hyunbin being lugged away. "The same way I broke your dealership company and sold it off piece by piece."

....

"He deserved it." Taehyung said as he helped Jimin dish out the food he had bought along. It was still quite early, a lazy sunday morning that the two of them decided to spend together at the hill suite. Jeongguk had woken up early and was currently working out in his gym.

"I can't believe that he had the audacity to use Jeongguk's name so carelessly. He literally told people that Jeongguk was his business partner or something so that they'd invest." Jimin heaved a deep sigh.

"That's a new low." Taehyung tutted as he plated the pancakes. "So Jeongguk is gonna, you know." He trailed off.

Jimin nodded. The breakfast table was all set and his eyes spanned the whole area, making sure everything was fine. "I have no say in this, Tae. Jeongguk is going to deal with him the way he deals with people who try to use his name like that. Besides, Jeongguk knows now that I have parted ways with my parents."

Taehyung took a seat besides Jimin. "I'm glad that you told him everything." He smiled, patting the blonde's thigh reassuringly. "And I just know in my heart that Jeongguk will take care of you. He won't let Hyunbin or anyone harm you."

Jimin smiled then. The past few months, all the time he spent with Jeongguk turned out to be nothing less than a blessing. Jeongguk did take such good care of him. Their honeymoon, Jeongguk's surprises, his thoughtfulness... Jimin felt like he'd worried himself so pointlessly.

"When did that happen though?"

Jimin blinked, looking back at Taehyung owlishly.

"What?"

"That face." Taehyung smiled wide, poking Jimin on the side.

Jimin frowned, looking intently at Taehyung's eager face before it dawned on him. "I don't know what you're saying, Tae." He muttered hurriedly and looked away. Heat rising high on his cheeks as Taehyung laughed merrily.

"Oh my God!" Taehyung hollered. "Is that your i'm-so-in-love face?"

Jimin whined, hitting his best friend on the shoulder. "Don't say it like that!"

"How'd I know how I'm supposed to say it if you don't tell me anything!" Taehyung scoffed, rubbing at his shoulder in mock hurt. "Are you keeping secrets from your best friend now?" He lamented, looking up towards the ceiling dramatically. "Is this what happens after your best friend gets married?" He fake cried.

Jimin relented after Taehyung kept sniffling loudly. He was well aware that the latter wasn't going to back down easily.

"I just. I didn't know how it happened." Jimin finally said then, ignoring the way Taehyung instantly perked up like an excited puppy.

"And you've known since." Taehyung prompted.

"Since Paris." Jimin said, eyes soft and dreamy.

"So you L-word him, huh?" Taehyung smiled, wiggling his brows exaggeratedly.

"Oh my God, Tae!" Jimin whined, hitting Taehyung again in the same spot, this time harder.

And then a soft smile spread across his face as Jimin nodded his agreement. "I love him, Tae. I tried not to but he made it so easy."

Taehyung leaned closer to him, hugging his shoulder. "Did you tell him?" He murmured softly, rubbing a hand up and down Jimin's arm.

Jimin bit down on his lip before shaking his head. "I'm scared, Tae."

"Why?"

Jimin just sighed as he placed his head on Taehyung's shoulder. His eyes glazed over as he stared up at the glimmering chandelier. "You know that I'm not so lucky. I almost lost you too." Jimin whispered out hoarsly. "I can't lose him, Tae. I'm so afraid that he'll be taken away from me."

"Hey." Taehyung frowned, looking down at Jimin's face with worried eyes. "No one's going to take Jeongguk away from you, okay? He's your husband, Jiminie. He freaking loves you."

Jimin tried to agree, he tried to voice his affirmation, but his throat just closed in on his words. Jimin took in a staggering breath, looking up at Taehyung with misty eyes. "I'm so afraid of being so happy. I'm not so lucky, Taehyung."

"You have earned this happiness, baby." Taehyung said gently, cupping Jimin's face with one hand. "And you deserve to be happy. You deserve to be loved and to love. And Jeongguk deserves to know that you love him." A soft smile tugged at his lips as he tried to comfort Jimin. "He has waited a long time for you. He deserves this happiness too, hmm?"

Jimin nodded slowly as he squeezed Taehyung's hand back. "I'll tell him soon." He smiled back.

As they began having breakfast, Jimin couldn't help but ponder.

"How did you know?" Jimin asked, putting his chopsticks down.

"Know what?" Taehyung said mindlessly as he bit into a dumpling.

"About my feelings." Jimin huffed, rolling his eyes.

Taehyung stared at him then as he swallowed the food down. "Seriously. It's written all over your face in bold letters and italics."

Jimin threw his chopsticks at Taehyung.

....

Jeongguk drew a hand through his hair. It was way past midnight and he was still working away in his study. His father had taken care of the entire business while Jeongguk was with Jimin on their honeymoon. But now, after almost three months of not working enough, Jeongguk found himself making up for it diligently. So after clearing the dishes, Jeongguk had told Jimin that he would work a little and that Jimin should go to bed.

But as the door to the study flew open and Jimin barged in with a pouty face, Jeongguk just stared.

His blonde hair was in disarray, clad in Jeongguk's large white shirt, legs unclothed and barefooted, Jimin wordlessly walked up to him. Huffing, the blonde wordlessly straddled his thighs, burying his face into Jeongguk's neck.

"It's almost one a.m." Jimin whined. "I gotta get up early tomorrow, Jeongguk. The rehearsals start at eight sharp."

Jeongguk chuckled as he secured both hands around Jimin's waist. "Shouldn't you be sleeping then, hmm?"

"I should." Jimin scoffed, withdrawing his face from Jeongguk's neck. "It's your fault that I'm not. Take responsibility."

Jeongguk threw his head back and laughed. "How is that my fault, baby?" He shook his head, leaning in to kiss the pout off Jimin's darling face. "I'm ready to take the responsibility, however."

Jimin looped his arms around Jeongguk's neck then. He pecked the latter's lips a couple times, heart fluttering inside his chest. "I can't sleep without you." Jimin whispered. "I'm lonely. So it's your fault, Jeongguk-ssi."

Jeongguk simpered, amused. He slowly rubbed a hand up and down Jimin's spine, pleased at the way Jimin's eyes fluttered closed. "I'm sorry, Jimin-ssi. I kind of lost the track of time."

Jimin let out a tiny gasp as Jeongguk's hand travelled up under the shirt, teasing. "You've such a beautiful husband." Jimin said, looking at Jeongguk through hooded eyes. "And you're spending your time working till late. Making your husband wait."

Jeongguk nuzzled along the column of Jimin's neck, inhaling deeply. Jimin shivered bodily.

"So you punished me by having some fun alone?" Jeongguk rasped, grabbing handfuls of Jimin's naked ass.

"I'm impatient." Jimin keened and Jeongguk kissed him so passionately. He accepted each kiss wholeheartedly, licking deep into Jeongguk's hot mouth. Jimin let his eyes fall shut as he clinged onto his husband and he silently obliged when Jeongguk's hands gripped his hips and helped him grind slowly against his stomach.

Jimin sighed against Jeongguk's mouth. He moved his hips nice and slow, seeking that sweet friction. He then threw his head back, releasing a throaty moan when Jeongguk rubbed against his soaking rim.

"So beautiful." Jeongguk marvelled, laying a wet kiss on the blonde's collarbone, right on top of that perfect mole.

"Need you." Jimin whined, voice feeble and breathy. "Need you, Jeonggukie."

Jeongguk groaned, gripping Jimin's thighs as he tried to get up and take them to the bedroom. But Jimin griped impatiently. "Need you now."

"Baby, let me take you to our room—"

Jimin sobbed.

Jeongguk bit down on his lip worriedly and then he frowned when Jimin reached back to find his hand and handed him something. The blonde hid his face into Jeongguk's neck, hips still restless as he hiccuped a soft 'need you'.

Jeongguk swallowed as he looked down at the packet of condom in his hand. He groaned, ripping it open with jittery hands.

"Jeongguk."

"Shh. I got you." He soothed as he raised his hips and lowered the sweatpants down a bit, giving his cock a few tugs and then putting on the condom with practiced hands. He held Jimin tightly by his thigh as his eyes roved around before settling on a drawer. Jeongguk mulled for a second and then instantly retrieved the vitamin-e oil the moment Jimin cried out.

"Okay, baby." Jeongguk let out hoarsly, using the oil to lube up his ensheathed length. "Did you open yourself up properly?" He asked and then went on to push three fingers inside Jimin, making sure that he was adequately prepped.

"Yes, put it in now, yes please." Jimin whimpered. And then let out a shuddering breath as Jeongguk slowly breached his rim. Jimin dug his nails into the latter's sweatshirt as he was slowly lowered down on cock.

"So impatient." Jeongguk heaved. "So demanding, baby."

Jimin gave him a curt nod, head tipped back and face scrunched up in unadulterated bliss. His insides clenching achingly around Jeongguk's hard cock, clinging onto him so ardently.

"Is this okay?" Jeongguk asked, moving his hips lazily as he drew a hand through Jimin's mussed hair and then planted a kiss on his forehead. Jimin nodded jerkily, rubbing his forehead against Jeongguk's lips as he started moving his hips.

Jeongguk helped him set a steady rhythm, his hands soothing him, helping him fuck himself deeper. The moment Jimin tried to increase the pace, Jeongguk chided him gently, reminding him that he had to practice the whole next day and that Jeongguk didn't want him to hurt.

Jimin wanted to cry. He wanted to cry in Jeongguk's warm embrace. God, he was so afraid. He was so afraid that his heart ached continuously.

Jimin choked out Jeongguk's name, kissing him fervently. Wrought up, he cupped Jeongguk's face with trembling hands, trying to shower him with all the love. Jimin had waited all his life. He felt like his soul had been waiting all this time to meet Jeongguk's. And now that they were finally united, Jimin didn't want to ever lose him.

How would he live without Jeongguk when he couldn't even fall asleep without him? Jimin didn't understand how he had lived his life without being wrapped in Jeongguk's arms.

"Jeongguk," Jimin hiccuped.

"Yes, darling." Jeongguk replied back. His eyes glazed over, his hips kicking up into Jimin's warm body in little jerks.

"Do you love me?" Jimin sighed, leaning as far back as he could. Jeongguk followed him readily, pushing all the manila folders and paperworks away as he cleared the desk. Jeongguk didn't care that everything clattered to the floor. He guided Jimin gently, watching with hungry eyes as Jimin rested his back on the wooden surface.

"I love you, Jimin." Jeongguk moaned as he tightened Jimin's legs around his waist and leaned over the blonde's body. He thrusted in and out slowly, relishing in Jimin's breathy mewls.

Jimin hugged Jeongguk closer. He blinked up at the ceiling, his vision blurring with the sudden onslaught of tears. He let the tears escape the corner of his eyes as Jeongguk made sweet love to him, as he kissed Jimin's neck in abundance and completed him on an instinctual and most visceral aspect.

He tossed his head back, wails of pleasure falling from his lips unabashed as he released between their bodies.

Somewhere between being so high on love and lust and being one with Jeongguk like this, Jimin couldn't help when his mind wandered. The moment Jeongguk let out those guttural groans, his hips jerking spasmodically as he filled the condom, Jimin wondered what it'd feel like being filled by Jeongguk.

Jimin heaved, moving his hips sensually and feeling Jeongguk shudder so helplessly on top of him. Jeongguk kept letting out those animalistic growls, pinning Jimin to the desk as he gripped the edges tightly.

Jimin moaned, his mind drifting as he imagined being marked up on the inside, feeling Jeongguk's warm cum sloshing into him. Without the barrier of the rubber. Cinching that primal bond between them. Jimin shook these thoughts away just as quickly as they came. He just tightened his weak legs around Jeongguk's waist. His heart hammered inside his chest.

What was he even thinking?

....

Jimin practiced relentlessly for the upcoming concerts. Given that he was away for almost three whole months, he had to catch up fast. The concert dates had been announced, a total number of ten shows in various cities in the country. And then the international concerts would commence after a month long break.

Jimin often found himself worked to the bone. He swallowed down food sleepily, most of the times Jeongguk fed him the dinner as Jimin almost dozed off whilst sitting in the chair. Jeongguk would lovingly poke at his lips and Jimin took another mouthful of his meals.

On his days off, Jimin spent the entirety of his time in his mini studio at home, perfecting his choreography. Jeongguk would check up on him hesitantly, not wanting to disturb him but making sure that Jimin wasn't overworking himself.

Jeongguk came to pick him up from the studio every day after work. He would find Jimin splayed across the floor, drenched in sweat as his physiotherapist massaged away at his sore muscles. Jeongguk learnt slowly that Jimin often ached so bad, that he had to live with the pain as long as he continued to dance. But the chronic pain never deterred him in the least. So Jeongguk watched diligently how the therapist worked. He talked to him about Jimin's condition, he gathered as much information as he possibly could.

Jeongguk made sure that Jimin sat in the right posture. Often times when they ate together, Jeongguk would lovingly push a hand against Jimin's upper back and breathe kisses on the side of his face concurrently. Hyejin always smiled from ear to ear, looking over them with pleased eyes.

"Hey, baby." Jeongguk called lovingly, carding a gentle hand through Jimin's sweat-slicked hair. Jimin murmured sleepily, eyes barely opening. 

So Jeongguk slowly started massaging Jimin's aching calves, doing exactly what the therapist had taught him over the span of weeks. Jimin let out a pleased sigh instantaneously, curling in on himself as Jeongguk kept kneading his sore muscles. And then after the pain subsided substantially, Jimin found himself being picked up and cradled to Jeongguk's chest as the latter took him back home.

....

Everything was a blur of fast movements and flashing lights. The backstage was nothing but a whir of giving directions to every single staff member. All the while Jeongguk stayed by Jimin's side.

He calmed down Jimin's frizzled nerves, helped him through the many costume changes, made sure that he was hydrated. Yet Jimin ached and when he did, Jeongguk wanted to set the whole world on fire.

After every segment as Jimin walked back to the changing room, he often collapsed down to the floor, breathing heavily as the managers fanned his heated face. Jeongguk picked him up gently, depositing him in the chair and squatting down in front of him; massaging him and encouraging him with heartfelt words. And each time Jimin only kissed him harder.

Jimin kissed him and told him how grateful he was for Jeongguk's support. Jimin kissed him and told him how he was going to dedicate his last performance of the night to Jeongguk.

And Jeongguk watched with his heart having gotten lodged in his throat, flabbergasted, as Jimin delived yet another astonishing performance. The way he glided through the stage, glimmering under the harsh focused lights, with nothing but glee lighting up his face. Jeongguk felt his heart leap inside his chest with every single twirl and jump. His throat parched, hands sweaty, watching Jimin with a bated breath, and exhaling deeply every time Jimin landed on his feet perfectly.

He now knew how immensely dedicated Jimin was to his art. The way he pushed his own pain to the back burner and never let it interfere with the quality of his performance, made Jeongguk respect him even more and yet be afraid at the same time. Because now Jeongguk knew how much his Jimin was hurting, despite all the cheerful smiles he gave to his audience.

"I'm so happy." Jimin giggled into the microphone as the team gathered on the stage to take the last bow. The crowd roared, cheering enthusiastically.

Everyone looked at Jimin with eyes full of awe. And Jimin only looked at Jeongguk. And it made Jeongguk's heart ache. It made Jeongguk want to lay his life down for Jimin's sake.

....

The shows were a success. Everyone performed so well without being injured. As the number of concerts dwindled down, the team found themselves ecstatic and overjoyed.

It was Namjoon's birthday and they decided to celebrate together. They booked the high end club, the place bustling with energy as Jimin's team partied wholeheartedly. Namjoon was a bit flustered but Jeongguk reassured him.

Jimin loved winding down with some alcohol in his system and that's where Jeongguk found him after making sure Namjoon and Shinhye were socializing comfortably with Jimin's friends and staff members.

"Hey, beautiful." Jeongguk smiled, nuzzling against the back of Jimin's head. "What are you having?"

Jimin turned around with a cheeky smile adorning his face as he lifted his glass to Jeongguk's lips.

They drank a little and danced together for hours. Jimin looped his arms around Jeongguk's neck, the latter's hands resting on the swell of his ass as they moved together to the music.

"Do you see that?" Jimin smiled, jerking his head to the side.

Jeongguk frowned a bit as he focused his eyes in the general direction to which Jimin had pointed. "Ah." He huffed as his eyes landed on Namjoon and Taehyung sitting at a table, away from the peering eyes. They kept stealing shy glances at each other, talking to each other coyly.

"Tae thinks he's sneaky." Jimin rolled his eyes. "They've been flirting the whole time."

Jeongguk laughed, shaking his head. "I can't believe that finally I've been given the opportunity to tease Joon in front of Hyeji."

They kept dancing till Jimin became impatient with the way Jeongguk kept teasing him. Jimin hissed at the slow grind of their hips, the music blaring through the speakers. Admist all the laughter and neon lights, Jeongguk kept murmuring filthy promises into Jimin's ear.

No one questioned them when they left after another hour.

Jimin wasn't necessarily drunk. A bit tipsy though as he pushed Jeongguk down on the bed and straddled his thighs. Jimin giggled, intertwining their fingers and fixing Jeongguk with a smouldering gaze.

"Come on." Jimin hiccuped, almost toppling over. "Prep me real fast. I mean real, real fast."

Jeongguk laughed, flipping them over. He spent the next couple minutes wrestling the tight black jeans off Jimin's legs. The blonde didn't offer him any help. He just wiggled his hips occasionally and laughed breathily at Jeongguk's grumpy expression.

They made love passionately that night. The taxing routines had left Jimin too tired to even relieve himself in the shower. So the pressure had been building up unremittingly all this time.

It was their second round when Jimin decided to get properly drunk. He fetched a bottle of champagne, drinking directly from it as he sat back down on Jeongguk's cock.

Jeongguk hissed, gripping Jimin's hipbones, his eyes hungrily traversing Jimin's perfect body.

Blonde hair mussed, cheeks flushed and lips bitten red and swollen. Jimin's body was indeed a work of art, his lithe frame, those perky pierced nipples and that stunning tattoo across his ribs. No matter how many times Jeongguk worshipped Jimin's beautiful body, it still felt so unreal.

Jimin giggled then, champagne running down his lips and down his throat. Jeongguk's eyes followed the little stream as it ran down Jimin's chest.

"You're giving me heart palpitations, darling." Jeongguk groaned, fucking up into Jimin's fluttering hole.

"Am I now?" Jimin asked coquettishly, tilting his head to the side. He slowly rubbed his hand down his chest, following the trail of alcohol, all the way to his spent cock. Jimin smiled slyly, shaking the hair out of his eyes as he rubbed the same hand over the pool of cum drying up on Jeongguk's stomach.

"You give me heart palpitations too, Mister Jeon."

Jeongguk threw his head back and moaned.

"How do you have such a perfect dick?" Jimin slurred then, pouting down at Jeongguk. He looked awfully petulant for someone riding cock.

"Jimin, fuck." Jeongguk growled, thrusting up and fucking high pitched moans out of Jimin. "You'll be the death of me."

"You can't be allowed—hicc—to carry such a perfect dick around—" Jimin squealed as Jeongguk flipped them over and shushed him with his lips.

....

Jeongguk left for his business trip to Macau a couple days later. Jimin bit down on his lip in an effort to keep himself from crying as Jeongguk hugged him for long minutes. Jimin was seeing him off and he didn't want to make Jeongguk worry or feel bad.

"Be good, okay?" Jeongguk kissed his lips repeatedly, looking into his eyes intently.

"You too." Jimin croaked out, clutching onto Jeongguk's jacket. "And come back sooner."

Jeongguk hugged him tight for another minute then, telling Jimin over and over again that it was just a matter of a mere week.

But Jimin missed him so much. He tried keeping himself engrossed in his mini studio. He went to many shopping sprees with Hyejin. He tried everything to kill time when he couldn't video call Jeongguk. But he missed Jeongguk so much that his days felt so bland and so empty. The bed was too big and too lonely and he felt so cold without being able to snuggle deep against Jeongguk's warm body.

"You're so quiet today, sweetheart." Hyejin said as she looked up at Jimin with worried eyes. They were currently watching some drama in the living room. Jimin had insisted that he massaged Hyejin's hair, telling her how much he loved her inky dark tresses. And Hyejin didn't have the heart to decline his request. So they made a deal that she'd too give Jimin's hair a massage right after.

"I don't know, Hyeji." Jimin sighed, rubbing the fragrant lavender oil into the roots of Hyejin's hair.

Hyejin hummed. "Jeonggukie will be back in three days, Jiminie."

Jimin bit down on his lip. His hands ceasing as the intense urge to cry overwhelmed him suddenly.

"Oh no, sweetheart." Hyejin cooed as she brought him in into a warm embrace. "I didn't mean to make you sad."

Jimin shook his head vehemently as he hugged her tight. "I miss him. I don't know why, Hyeji. It was just a week but..."

"I understand." Hyejin murmured while rubbing a soothing hand down Jimin's back. "If I feel sad whenever he's away on business trips, I can't even imagine how hard it must be for you."

After being coddled and coaxed for a while and having calmed down considerably, Jimin sniffled occasionally, still holding onto Hyejin's hands.

"How often does he go to the business trips?" Jimin asked.

"The overseas trips aren't so frequent." Hyejin said. "That's why those take him a couple weeks. The ones where he travels to other states within country are frequent but last just a couple days."

Jimin nodded and then slowly rested his head in the woman's lap, letting her pet his hair. "Can I sleep with you?" He whispered out, closing his eyes. "I feel so lonely without Jeongguk."

"Of course, sweetheart." Hyejin cooed, carding a gentle hand through his hair.

Jimin exhaled a shuddering breath. "I'm being so patient, Hyeji. But I miss Jeongguk so much."

....

Hyunbin fixed his hardened eyes at the tv screen as he sat in the dark. He had been running low on sleep for weeks now, staying cooped up in his room and trying to dodge all the calls from all those people he owed money to. He knew it was a matter of time till they broke down the door of his house.

Hyunbin hissed as the bitter alcohol burned down his throat. He fumed with rage, eyes never leaving Jimin's face on the screen.

It was some interview, Hyunbin didn't remember. All he knew was that Jimin was fucking giggling away, leaning against Jeongguk while they recalled some funny event from their honeymoon.

Hyunbin emptied the glass in a long swing and then jeered, fixing the screen with a gaze full of scorn.

Here he was, bankrupt, his company having gone completely insolvent, and there was his son, giggling away with his husband. His husband who had ruined Hyunbin.

He threw the empty glass across the floor, shattering it to pieces.

"No, Jiminie." Hyunbin hissed out, eyes never leaving the sceen. "You planned this, didn't you? Planned your own father's downfall." He seethed. Eyes red and disgust marring his face. "I won't let you be happy. You're going to pay, Jimin. You will pay."

Chapter Text

“Today's schedule isn’t so cramped.”

Jimin pressed his lips together as Jeongguk’s gruff voice channelled through the phone. Jeongguk sounded quite fuddled, like he didn’t get to rest properly. Like his head was too befogged by the lack of sleep.

“I’ll have lunch with the parties and finalize the deal. Positively the hotel chain will be working by the end of the year.” Jeongguk heaved a deep sigh before asking in a quiet whisper. “Did you have breakfast, baby?”

Jimin bit down at his lower lip. “Hyeji wouldn’t let me leave the house until I finished my plate. She wakes up early to prepare lunchbox for me.”

Jimin felt his heart flutter at the ardent chuckle he received. Jeongguk sounded so pleased, so reassured to know that Jimin was being taken care of well whilst he was away.

Jimin had already reached his work place around half an hour ago but was still sitting inside his car in the parking lot, talking to Jeongguk on the phone. It had been two days that they didn’t get to have a proper conversation. Jeongguk’s trip had gotten unexpectedly extended and Jeongguk must have been toiling so hard to finish up the work and return back home. The weariness in his voice suggested as much.

“You sound tired.” Jimin murmured softly, thrumming his thumb against the steering wheel. “Seems like you haven’t slept properly. Jeongguk, are you overworking yourself?”

“Baby.” Jeongguk said then and Jimin could picture him changing sides as the sounds of shuffling became increasingly audible. Jeongguk exhaled deeply then, voice thick. “I want to be with you, Jimin.”

“I want you to come back home sooner.” Jimin choked out then. Blinking the tears away as he looked down at his lap. “I miss you so much, Jeonggukie.” He murmured, shifting and pulling his legs up on the seat so that he could hug his knees for comfort. “But I don’t want you to overwork yourself just so you can come home sooner. Jeongguk.” Jimin exhaled shakily. “I need you to take proper care of yourself too.”

Jimin closed his eyes as the silence befell them. And all he focused on was the way Jeongguk breathed. It settled something in Jimin. It palacated him somehow, propitiated his frizzled nerves, just hearing Jeongguk breathe on the other side of the phone.

“Are you worried about me, Jimin-ssi?” Jeongguk whispered out then. A feeble sound, full of yearning.

“I am.” Jimin replied. “I’m so worried about you, Jeongguk. I-I can’t focus on anything else.”

Jimin didn’t mention though how his mind was always preoccupied by Jeongguk. How his days became mundane the moment Jeongguk boarded that plane. How whenever he sat down to eat, he wondered whether Jeongguk had eaten anything. How he found himself walking into Jeongguk’s closet so often, trying to soothe his aching heart by being surrounded by Jeongguk’s belongings.

“Jimin.” Jeongguk called. “I’ll give you all the love when I come back.”

Jimin’s lips trembled. “I want lots of neck kisses.”

“I’ll give them to you.” Jeongguk promised promptly. “All my kisses are for you. My heart is yours, Jimin.” He said, voice ladden with something that made Jimin’s heart ache. “Tell me baby, what do I get for you? What do you want, Jiminie?”

Jimin closed his eyes shut, letting a stray tear fall.

You. God, Jimin wanted to say. I want you, Jeongguk. I want to love you. I want to be loved by you.

“I-I… I want you to take good care of yourself.” Jimin swallowed around a parched throat. “You’ll take good care of yourself, Jeongguk. You’ll sleep well and eat properly. And you’ll talk to me no matter how packed up your schedule is. You need to make time for me.” He added breezily to dissipate some tension. Jimin bit down on his lip, his hand fisting the steering wheel anxiously as he uttered the next words. “Because you’re mine, right? You have to take care of yourself for me.”

They talked for another ten minutes or so before Jeongguk reminded Jimin gently about his rehearsals. So Jimin bid him goodbye, promising him that he’ll take good care of himself too. And then as he grounded his emotions and stepped out of the car and made his way towards the building, he ceased in his path.

Jimin’s eyes hardened as soon as they fell on Chaeyoung.

He stood frozen there for a moment. And he seethed, remembering their last encounter. Jimin clenched his jaw tight, nails digging into his palms as he decided to stride past the woman.

But as he was about to tread straight to the office building, Chaeyoung stepped right in front of him, effectively blocking his way.

“Jimin-ssi.” The woman said then. “How are you doing?”

Jimin just stared at her with eerily blank eyes.

“I-I apologize that I’m showing up here like this.” Chaeyoung stuttered, eyes hesitant. “But I don’t know of any other way I could reach out to you. I’m not allowed anywhere near your building. But I really need to talk to you.” The woman heaved a sigh, tucking some strands of hair behind her ear. “I realized that I haven’t apologized properly to you.”

“What do you want?” Jimin cut her off. His voice rushed and uninterested.

Chaeyoung pressed her lips together. “I want to mend this…” She gestured vaguely between them. “I tried reaching out to you after marriage but you—were out of the country.”

Jimin didn’t miss the way her jaw clenched while adding the last bit.

“You see, Jimin-ssi, I have learnt where I was wrong. Jeongguk wanted me to ponder and understand. I have always assumed that I naturally understood him just because I’m a couple years older than him. I should have tried to understand the wager.”

Jimin knew rightaway what the woman was insinuating. But he stood listening on just to see how low she would stoop this time.

“I mean, I have heard things, Jimin-ssi. And if I know Jeongguk, I know that he has a heart of gold. And I’m hurting so bad that I couldn’t appreciate his act of kindness and symapthy.” Chaeyoung smiled, her red painted lips stretching wide. “And really, I’m happy for you. You needed that in your life.” She shook her head in dismayal then. “I just want to let you know that I have reflected on my prior behaviour. Jeongguk… He’s upset with me and rightfully so. I just want to let him know that I’m the same Chae to him, that I’ll never misunderstand him again.”

“Hmm.” Jimin finally let out, face impassive. “So you want me to get you on good terms with Jeongguk?” Jimin knew he hit the nerve when the woman glared at him before carefully schooling her expression back into one of indifference. “But you just solved your own problem just now! You have the solution.” Jimin smiled cheekily.

“W-What do you mean?” Chaeyoung faltered.

“Since you believe that my marriage with Jeongguk was just an act of symapthy. I suggest you work on that.” Jimin simpered, speaking out airily. “And trust me, my experience with Jeongguk through all the four months of our honeymoon, the symapthy works like heaven.”

Jimin watched the rage rise in the woman’s eyes almost instantaneously. He just brushed a hand through his blonde hair, his gaze piercing into the woman’s face.

“You should work on gaining some symapthy too then. Given that you know Jeongguk so much, you ought to know that earning Jeongguk’s symapthy is the solution to your predicament. But I guess his kindness and symapthy isn’t so easily attainable.”

….

Jeongguk paced restlessly while the elevator ascended up to the penthouse. There was a spring in his steps, his hands so impatient to hold Jimin close. Jeongguk had planned to surprise his husband. He booked the flight back as soon as he was done with finalising all the deals.

And it was evidently a pleasant surprise given that Hyejin almost shrieked with excitement the moment Jeongguk entered through the door. Jeongguk hugged the woman tightly, kissing her forehead.

“God, Jeonggukie.” Hyejin smiled tearily, cupping Jeongguk’s face with both hands. “Jimin missed you so terribly.”

Jeongguk’s eyes softened the moment he walked into the living room.

There was Jimin, curled up on the couch, fast asleep. Jeongguk ached.

He slowly approached him, his eyes roving Jimin's lithe frame covered by a knit blanket, his darling face looking so peaceful and relaxed. Jeongguk slowly sank down to his knees right in front of Jimin, his eyes crinkling in the corners at the sight of the sweater paws Jeongguk’s large sweatshirt had given him.

Jeongguk exhaled, brushing a gentle hand through Jimin’s blonde hair and leaning in to lay a sweet kiss on his temple. And Jeongguk only smiled wide as Jimin’s eyes slowly fluttered open.

Jimin blinked the haze away, his breath hitched the moment realization really hit him that Jeongguk had come back home. He kept looking at Jeongguk steadily, his eyes widening increasingly. But then Jeongguk’s face fell just as quickly as Jimin’s beautiful eyes welled up with tears and he lunged himself into Jeongguk’s arms.

Jimin cried. He wailed so pitifully as he buried his face into Jeongguk’s neck, locking his arms around the latter’s neck so tightly. Jeongguk looked up at Hyejin in alarm, at an utter loss of words. His panic stricken face promptly jerking to find the woman’s eyes. Hyejin looked down at him with a sad smile.

Jeongguk rubbed a soothing hand up and down Jimin’s spine. “Shh. I’m right here, aren’t I?” Jeongguk murmured, hissing when Jimin’s sobs only got louder.

Jeongguk coaxed Jimin out of the crook of his neck. He wiped his tears away lovingly then and kissed Jimin’s trembling lips. “You missed me a lot, didn’t you?” Jeongguk breathed against Jimin’s lips who just looked at him with a broken expression, trying so hard to dredge a smile for Jeongguk whilst nodding his agreement vehemently.

Jeongguk just held Jimin in his arms. His heart beat so erratically, so nervously as Jimin eventually exhausted himself to sleep. Jimin had missed him.

And then Jeongguk talked to Hyejin in hushed whispers whilst Jimin nuzzled instinctually into his chest. And he learnt how lonely Jimin had been without him, how he refused to sleep in their bedroom because Jeongguk wasn’t there to hold him.

It didn’t matter to Jeongguk that he had just reached home after a long agonizing flight. He didn’t care that he was bone-weary and so enervated. Jeongguk just sat there on the couch, cradling Jimin against his chest and holding him so warmly. He kissed reassurances into Jimin’s skin, his chest tightening and throat clogging up as it really dawned upon him. Jimin had missed him.

….

Jimin was warm in the way he hadn’t been in the past couple of weeks. His eyes fluttered open slowly, limbs feeling awfully crumbled as he blearily looking around. And then his breath hitched the moment he realized that Jeongguk was spooning him on the big couch. Jimin turned around hastily despite the pain in his neck and was met with Jeongguk’s sleeping face.

Jeongguk was still clad in the same dress shirt and pants, the belt still clasped snug around his waist. Because he hadn’t changed into the sleepwear at all for the sake of staying by Jimin’s side. Jimin exhaled shakily as he took in the sight. Of sun's rays dancing over Jeongguk’s eyelashes. Of the intermittent nose scrunch. Jeongguk’s parted lips as he breathed in and out puffs of air. Jimin gleamed in joy, his heart was racing. Feeling heady and woozy, Jimin slowly dived in and covered Jeongguk’s lips with his own.

Jimin couldn’t help the giggle building in his throat as Jeongguk innately tried to chew. Jimin laughed, aligning his forehead with Jeongguk’s. The latter made a deep little noise at the back of his throat, he blinked rapidly and looked at Jimin in a state of confusion.

And then Jimin smothered Jeongguk’s face with fervent kisses.

Jeongguk’s strong brows drew together and then his big hands were on Jimin’s waist, bringing him closer and holding him tight. 

“Jimin.” Jeongguk rasped and captured Jimin's lips eagerly. 

“Why didn’t you tell me,” Jimin groused, a petulant pout on his lips. “That you were coming home? I didn’t even welcome you properly.” He whined and then pinched Jeongguk’s nipple in retaliation. “Forget properly, I was asleep!”

Jeongguk laughed, shaking his head as he rubbed a hand over the aforementioned abused nipple. “I wanted to surprise you, baby.” He smiled softly and then flipped them over the next moment. Jimin's breath hitched as he looked up at Jeongguk under his lashes.

“I didn’t know that you'd cry like that.” Jeongguk murmured. He brushed his knuckles reverently against Jimin's warm cheeks, flushed a pretty shade of red.

“I… I just couldn’t hold back.” Jimin admitted, looking away shyly. His heart galloped inside his chest, reminiscing the way Jimin had clung to Jeongguk and had been so vulnerable. He felt like he was pouring out the contents of his heart to Jeongguk, because his heart knew that it was what he should do. Even though he couldn’t bring his own mind to comprehend it.“I missed you, Jeongguk. I felt like a part of me was taken away.”

Jimin swallowed thickly at the way Jeongguk was looking at him. His chest heaved, blood rushed to his face steadily as Jeongguk just looked at him.

“Jimin.” Jeongguk spoke then, voice low and thick. “I didn’t think you'd miss me so much, Jimin.”

“I—” Jimin choked out. Words failed him. Lodged into his throat were those three little words that weighed so heavily on his soul and meant the whole world to him. And Jeongguk just looked at him like he was seconds away from reaching elysium. Like he knew.

So Jimin just craned his neck and claimed those parted lips. And he wished, god he wished that it would conduit his love.

Jeongguk’s hand gradually slithered up under the sweatshirt Jimin was wearing. He moaned prettily when Jeongguk buried his face into Jimin’s neck and started kissing him ravenously.

Right. Jeongguk was giving him those neck kisses Jimin had demanded.

Jimin threw his head back the moment Jeongguk settled between his spread thighs. His hips seeking the contact so urgently, needing to be aligned against Jeongguk’s groin, wanting to feel Jeongguk’s arousal.

“J-Jeongguk…” Jimin whined and Jeongguk laved hard and deep over his throat. “H-Hyeji,” He gasped out while trying to push weakly against Jeongguk’s chest, fear creeping up his spine at the prospect of Hyejin discovering them in such state.

“She’s in her apartment.” Jeongguk breathed into Jimin’s collarbone. “She went back last night. To give us privacy.”

Jimin let out those endearing little cries, completely enmeshed in his own pleasure as Jeongguk laid feverish kisses all over his neck. Jeongguk was tweaking his nipple so good, his hot mouth suckling greedily at Jimin’s electrified skin. Jimin moaned softly, a needy little thing under Jeongguk’s large hands.

“J-Jeongguk,” Jimin whimpered, his hands so unsure, unable to settle at just one place. Jimin needed to touch Jeongguk all over, he needed to have him all to himself.

Jeongguk hummed, massaging Jimin’s hipbones so firmly,  kindling that fire that would set them beautifully alight. Jeongguk groaned when Jimin wrapped his bare legs around his waist, effectively keeping him captive as if Jeongguk would ever want to be anything but Jimin’s prisoner.

They were too wound up, blinded by the need to feel each other intimately after being away for so long, that they didn’t bother with the clothes or anything. The haze enshrouded them wholly and they took the plunge with hearts soaring and lips locked together. 

The sounds of their ragged breaths ricochetted in the entire living area. Jimin whined against Jeongguk’s mouth, accepting all his languid kisses while their spend slowly seeped into their clothes. And then after a little while, Jimin was pushing Jeongguk lovingly, asking him to freshen up so that they could have breakfast together.

Jimin took a hasty shower. He couldn’t veer off the smile splitting his face. Jeongguk was back home. Jimin felt like a withering part of him had revivified.

Jeongguk washed all the tiredness away. The patter of warm water salved his sore muscles. He dressed up swiftly, opting not to blow dry his damp hair in favour of uniting back with Jimin, who, to Jeongguk’s surprise, was cooking breakfast.

Jimin was moving about the kitchen, sporadically checking a little notepad and then checking up on the pot. His plump lips were jutted out into an adorable pout, eyes calculating and eyebrows pinched together in absolute concentration. So much so that Jeongguk wanted to swoop him off his feet and love him.

And so he did. He crept up slowly behind his unsuspecting husband, who was so immersed in cutting kimchi into the exact measured pieces. He didn’t want to frighten Jimin though, given that he was currently handling the knife. So he slowly plastered himself to Jimin’s back and then his hands glided down Jimin’s arms. The blonde stiffened up for a couple seconds and then relaxed and Jeongguk put the knife away and entwined their hands.

“What’s cooking, good looking?” Jeongguk breathed into Jimin’s neck, wanting to tease and perhaps make Jimin cringe a bit and srunch his nose prettily. Jeongguk bit down on his lip, huffing internally whilst rubbing his nose against the supple skin of Jimin’s neck and littering it with kisses.

Jimin nodded jerkily, his head leaning back and exposing more neck for Jeongguk’s easy access. “H-Hyeji… I learnt from her.” It was all he would say, however.

And then Jeongguk peered over his shoulder and gazed down at the dish Jimin was preparing. Pork belly kimchi stew. Jeongguk exhaled shakily. Jimin was cooking his favourite dish.

“Jimin.” Jeongguk murmured softly.

“I was bored, you know.” Jimin rushed to explain, ducking his head. “You weren’t here and I had nothing to do at the weekends so I told Hyeji that I wanted to help her with cooking. A-And we made a lot of this stew the past week so I remember it better.”

Jimin pressed his lips together.

Jimin’s parents had tried to ingrain into his mind how the household work should be his entire universe. That his worth was limited to making his husband happy and doing the chores. There had always been an awkward air of hesitation surrounding this topic, Jimin never learnt to cook purposely, because he always associated it being dehumanized. But then Jeongguk cooked for Jimin every single time he could. Jeongguk made him his favourite dishes, he toiled around the kitchen, did dishes and laundry and it never fazed him. And now, Jimin found himself willing to try and cook for Jeongguk. Not just to return the favour, but because he wanted to. He wanted to feed Jeongguk something he made. But he still fretted for he was breaking his own rules.

Jimin felt like he was stepping into an uncharted territory where he was bare of all those walls he had carefully build all his life, here he was stripped down to his vulnerabilities and yet he was willing because he knew in his heart that Jeongguk would clothe him with his love.

And then Jeongguk turned him around slowly. Jimin looked up into his eyes and all he discovered was love and care. Jeongguk brought Jimin’s hands up to his lips and kissed them reverently.

“Thank you.” Jeongguk smiled, full of warmth and affection. “Let me help you, hmm? I didn’t get to cook there at all.”

Jeongguk said it all so easily, he made it all so uncomplicated that all the victories seemed so facile. That it made Jimin melt, it made him want to love and not be afraid.

Jimin eagerly parted his lips when Jeongguk leaned in. Jeongguk pecked him a dozen times, his thumbs grazing Jimin’s cheekbones, Jeongguk’s tongue slowly slithering in to meet his. Jimin cherished all of it. He had missed Jeongguk’s touch so much, had felt starved and miserable without him.

Jeongguk held him close to his body. Jimin was in his arms, still bare legged, pretty and trembling. The prettiest little universe of plump lips, loveliest eyes and warmest heart. God, Jeongguk wanted to spend every single second of his life worshipping Jimin.

Jeongguk kissed him ruthlessly while Jimin desperately wound his arms around Jeongguk’s broad shoulders.  The blonde whined pitifully into Jeongguk’s mouth and that was all Jeongguk needed to pick him up and lay him out on the countertop. Jimin was writhing under his body, he broke off the kiss and wailed openly, his nails digging into Jeongguk’s shoulders.

“Y-You just–“ Jimin cried out, “You told me you would be back in a week. So I prepared myself for that, Jeongguk.”

“I’m sorry, baby.” Jeongguk rasped as his hand slithered up Jimin’s thigh and gripped the waist band of his boxers. He pulled them off promptly and Jimin panted. His eyes were hooded with need and his delicate hands fisted in Jeongguk’s dark hair when the latter trailed his lips down his body.

Jeongguk suckled his cock, like a famished man. He nuzzled and teased and played. He made Jimin’s body sing, he made Jimin thrust up into his mouth till he was left panting and shuddering and swimming in pleasure.

Jeongguk wanted to give Jimin pleasure. Not just as an offshoot of his own sexual gratification when he was fucking Jimin. He wanted Jimin to know pleasure unassociated with pain too.

Jeongguk sucked him off so good that Jimin was left dazed and a slobbering mess. And then he kissed him just as passionately.

….

A few weeks later when Jeongguk had to go to Tokyo for business, Jimin tagged along. He was adamant, he overworked himself and freed up his schedule so he could accompany Jeongguk.

And Jeongguk made time for Jimin. He fixed the meetings on alternate days so that he got to spend plenty time with him. Some days they stayed cooped up in their hotel room and each other arms and some days they ventured out, roaming the bewitching city. It reminded Jimin of their honeymoon and all the precious memories they made together. He wanted to go back and relive all of them but then he could always weave more beautiful moments with Jeongguk.

So they toured the city to their heart’s content. They dined out and shopped together and went bowling. Jimin was baffled when Jeongguk took him to Disneyland. He laughed so merrily, holding Jeongguk’s hand as they enjoyed the rides. They went clubbing thereafter and then found themselves relaxing in the spa.

Jimin cherished all the moments, he loved when they visited the temples, the shrines, he loved when they marveled together as they took in The Imperial Palace.

The days Jeongguk had meetings, Jimin would be left so exhausted that he slept half the day away. He wouldn’t want to be woken up but then he’d sulk if Jeongguk left without waking him up and kissing him.

It seemed like Jeongguk’s alarm went off in the dead of the night. Jimin whined, hiding his face in Jeongguk’s chest to evade the piercing beeping sound. And then he passed out right away as Jeongguk rubbed an affectionate hand up and down his spine.

Then some time later Jimin’s eyes fluttered open to the sight of Jeongguk putting on the slacks. Jimin blinked, stupified for a brief moment and then he didn’t dare move a muscle as he watched Jeongguk zip up the dress pants and fasten the belt.

Jeongguk’s muscles bulged with every single movement. Jimin’s eyes traced the veiny forearms, those big hands that were always warm. He watched Jeongguk tilting his head in thought as he chose between his shirts. He watched as the shirt hugged his torso so exquisitely, so enticingly. The way Jeongguk buttoned up the shirt and then proceeded on with the tie, his strong eyebrows drawn together, made heat pool into Jimin’s belly.

Jimin thought he was discreet about it but his cheeks flamed up when Jeongguk spoke after a long moment, not even looking at him.

“Are you gonna sleep some more or should I order the breakfast for you, baby?”

Jimin groaned, hiding his face in the pillow as Jeongguk laughed. “You knew I was watching!” Jimin whined, “You could have said something!”

Jeongguk looked at him amusedly and then approached him, the tie hanging on the sides of the collar. “Didn’t knew that it interested you. Watching me dress up, that is.”

“Everything about you interests me.” Jimin huffed and then smiled as he welcomed Jeongguk into his arms. He nuzzled against the column of his husband’s neck, his hands feeling up the vast expense of Jeongguk’s upper back. “Aren’t you gonna have breakfast with me?” Jimin murmured against Jeongguk’s ear. The latter hummed and then sucked on the blonde’s ear lobe.

Jimin peered at Jeongguk as they had breakfast then. He  feasted his eyes on his husband as the latter talked away on the phone whilst taking intermittent bites of the toast. Jeongguk decided that he could take care of some things on the phone as he spent some time with Jimin. Namjoon was on the other side, keeping him updated on matters.

Jeongguk kept glancing at Jimin the whole time. Chastising him when Jimin ceased eating in favour of ogling at Jeongguk. He couldn’t help himself though, Jeongguk looked hot talking all business.

He looked hot taking care of things and directing people, the aura about him that screamed chaebol made Jimin press his thighs together. 

Jimin watched, pleased by the way Jeongguk moved about and handled all the matters at hand.

And it was inevitable that Jeongguk knew what was going on at the back of his head. Because Jeongguk hadn’t looked away either. His eyes stayed trained at Jimin’s delicate frame covered by the flimsy satin robe.

When Jimin finally bid him goodbye, he made Jeongguk promise that he would work in the bedroom more. Because Jimin just loved hearing him talk, he loved watching him minding his business with such precision.

Jeongguk looked at him for a long moment and Jimin panicked a little bit, thinking back to Taehyung’s words and remembering how he’d told Jimin that his confession was written all over his face. Jimin panicked but didn’t get to mull about it too much as Jeongguk swept him off his feet and kissed him.

….

“When does the ceremony commence?”

Jeongguk looked up from his laptop. His eyes fell on his husband who was standing in his boxers and searching through the closet.

“What, baby?” Jeongguk asked as he put the laptop away.

“The award ceremony.” Jimin said mindlessly as he grabbed some suits and laid them on the bed. Jeongguk stared flabbergasted, he didn’t even know that Jimin had brought all those clothes along.

“What’s the dress code? Oh it’ll obviously be a formal attire.” Jimin hummed, hands on his hips as he looked back at Jeongguk with big eyes. “But I haven’t been to any of those so you have to help me with my clothes, Jeonggukie.”

Jeongguk got up and paced towards Jimin. The realization striking him at once. “How did you know about that?”

Jimin smiled. “It’s the most prestigious business award, isn’t it? And you’ve rightfully earned it. I’d be a bad spouse if I didn’t know about it.” He said as he looped his arms around Jeongguk’s neck. “I want to be there and feel proud. I’m always so proud of you, Jeongguk. I want to be a part of it, of every phase of your life.”

….

Jeongguk had won the stevie gold awards a dozen times before. These awards were the world’s premier business awards, staged annually and crowned the businessmen with record breaking accomplishments. Jeongguk had always attended the ceremony briefly and preferred going back to his hotel room as soon as he got the trophy. But this year, it was different.

Jeongguk found himself sauntering into the extravagant venue an hour or so before the award ceremony was to begin. He grinned, posing for all the cameras, his hand resting snug on the small of Jimin’s back who took everyone’s breath away with his smoldering gaze and seraphic aura. His husband looked deific and he very well knew the power he possessed.

Jimin leaned into him throughout the events of the evening. The chatter died down around them instantly, all the eyes peering at them, at Jimin as he brushed a hand through his golden locks and looked into Jeongguk’s eyes with a dazzling smile. All the times Jeongguk had been to this very award show, all the eyes seemed to be stuck on him, but this night, this night Jimin left everyone breathless. And Jeongguk couldn’t help but feel complacent and cocky. Because Jimin was his.

“I’m sorry baby, this is boring.” Jeongguk smiled, resting a hand on Jimin’s thigh who instantly covered his hand with the both of his.

“It’s alright.” Jimin shook his head. “Some interesting faces caught my eye and I can’t say that I’m not entertained to an extent. Especially that those faces are twisted up into scowls.”

Jeongguk quirked an eyebrow at that. “Is that so?” He mused, squeezing the flesh of Jimin’s thigh.

“Mmhmm.” Jimin giggled breathily. He then leaned in, pressing a hand near Jeongguk’s ear and whispering. “You see that man, straight ahead, white suit, seems fifty-ish, bald and pot-belly? He wanted to marry me so bad, Jeonggukie.”

Jeongguk narrowed his eyes and locked them at the man. He did look mad, looking like he was going through crisis and his whole life was in shambles. “That wanted to marry you?” Jeongguk scoffed, turned his head to peer at Jimin. “He doesn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as you.”

Jimin giggled at that, tossing his head back. Jeongguk’s eyes swiftly spanned over his sculptured neck. “You flatter me, Jeongguk-ssi. But I guess you’re right. He didn’t deserve me at all.” Jimin said teasingly, batting his lashes up at Jeongguk.

“I hope I deserve you, Jimin-ssi.” Jeongguk drawled, rubbing his hand up and down Jimin’s thigh.

“Well, you have me here with you, by your side.” Jimin said, tipping his head to the side almost innocently. “I guess that says enough.”

The couple was impervious to all the hushed gibbering. A while later, Namjoon joined them at their table. They dined together, they talked and laughed and then when the award ceremony commenced and Jeongguk won the prestigious gold award yet again, he held his hand out for Jimin to take. Jimin felt his breath hitch and then he accompanied Jeongguk to the stage.

“This year’s award is very special to me.” Jeongguk said into the mic whilst looking down at the trophy in his hand. “This year has been especially so significant and momentous for me.” He smiled then, turning his head and locking his eyes with Jimin. “I married my beautiful husband.”

Jimin felt his throat clog up. Their audience cheered and clapped loudly and yet Jeongguk’s smile outshone all the other things. “I dedicate this award to you, Jimin. You’ve given me so much love and support that I don’t know if I’d ever be able to return even a portion of it.”

Jimin shook his head softly, eagerly leaning in when Jeongguk held his hand out.

“Jimin’s been my steady rock. I have drawn inspiration from him for years. If I’d ever be as devoted, unwavering and loyal to my work as he is to his art, I’d be an accomplished man.”

….

Jimin’s heart thudded furiously in his chest when Jeongguk proposed to steal him for the night. Jimin whispered out his agreement breathlessly, feeling like a teenager eloping away with their lover, as Jeongguk held him close and guided him out.

Jimin’s eyes sparkled bright when Jeongguk drove them to the large edo-style garden. And he loved when they strolled hand in hand through the walkway lined by cherry blossom trees. The photogenic little bridges, pathways and tree houses, the little hills and ponds that shone pink as the cherry blossom petals floated on the waters. The trees were lit, creating a magnificent oasis, the glint of the moonlight reflecting off the water.

Jimin thought back to the award ceremony and Jeongguk’s speech. He felt his throat run dry as he remembered Jeongguk’s words.

All his life, Jimin was made to believe that he wasn’t worthy of love. He was made to be thankful first before he ever was shown mercy. He had been beaten and beaten that simply not harming him would always seem like a reward to him. His father had always been so cruel to him. His mother made him feel like he was a labour she abhored.

But Jeongguk… Jeongguk took his name on the stage. Jeongguk thanked him and dedicated the award to him. Jeongguk praised him. Jeongguk loved him.

Jimin felt his lips quiver, his vision becoming blurry with the onslaught of tears. He could have never imagined that one day he’d accompany his husband to such an event and not feel used. That he would not feel like he was flaunted or his trust brutalized. Jimin could have never imagined even in his wildest dreams that he would one day willingly let a man into his heart, that he would want to cook for him, would want to free his schedule to spend more time with him. That Jimin would feel so incomplete and hollow without him. That just the mere thought of separting from him would bring him to the verge of tears.

Jimin let out a shaky breath. He bit down on his lip, decidedly looking to the side at the beautiful lake instead of Jeongguk. But then Jeongguk stilled him and held his face with both hands.

“Jimin?” Jeongguk looked crestfallen. “Why are you crying? Did I—What’s wrong?”

And Jimin was letting out enormous shuddering sobs in Jeongguk’s arms. He shook his head desperately, clutching onto Jeongguk’s jacket for dear life.

“J-Jeongguk…” Jimin cried, choking on every single syllable. “J-Jeong…”

Jeongguk was trying so hard to soothe him somehow. He looked so lost, so miserable that Jimin wanted to erase himself and become the tranquility of Jeongguk’s heart and the coolness of his eyes.

“J-Jeongguk–“ Jimin wailed, looking into Jeongguk’s eyes pleadingly. “I-I… Jeongguk… I’m in love with you.”

And Jimin let out hoarse cries as he buried his face into Jeongguk’s chest. He was clutching onto Jeongguk’s arms all the harder.

Jeongguk’s hands were shaking when they coaxed Jimin to look back at him. “What?” Jeongguk wheezed, repeating it over and over again when Jimin just nodded pitifully.

“I-I love you. Jeongguk. I do.” Jimin hiccuped. “I don’t wanna live without you ever, Jeongguk. I can’t live without you.”

Jeongguk looked at him, his chest having ceased to move at all like he was afraid of breathing. Like his lungs had simply given out inside his chest. And then his eyes were filling up with tears as he took in a sharp breath.

….
 

Sooyeon detested being on the sidelines. She hated when she wasn’t the center of attention at the events she endorsed. She was accustomed to being spoiled by the people around her. People rushing about and being so ebullient about her. And she absolutely loathed having to compete with somebody about it all. Especially when that somebody intended to steal her thunder.

So she found herself blazing mad and infuriated when Park Hyunbin, uninvited, showed up at her charity event.

It left her with a sour taste in her mouth the way that man sauntered around with a lazy smile on his face, as if he was the one behind all the philanthropic contribution. And she felt helpless because this very man was now related to her and she could not tell him off with all the media coverage and whatnot.

“What are you doing here?” Sooyeon spitted out as soon as they were done posing for the pictures. Hyunbin had led her to the dinner table, acting like he was the host. Sooyeon wanted to laugh in disbelief.

“Business.” Hyunbin said simply as they seated themselves.

“I know this’s the reason you married your son to mine. But let me break the news to you, you are a nobody. You don’t get to reap the benefits from this marriage.”

Hyunbin smiled. “Well, I didn’t.”

Sooyeon narrowed her eyes. They didn’t speak as the dinner was served but they didn’t help themselves to it. Sooyeon just kept looking at the man steadily, trying to decipher the wicked glint in Hyunbin’s eyes.

“You are a clever man, Hyunbin.” Sooyeon said then as she finally picked up her fork with delicate fingers. “Set up your beautiful boy with my son. I mean, people like you would really pounce on any opportunity to step up in life. But then when you luckily have a certain gorgeous face at your disposal, you jump certain steps.” She said as she cut into her stake a tad brutally. “Now what more do you need? You can’t fool me so showing up here turned out to be a foul for your carefully weaved game.”

Hyunbin kept looking at her with an easy smile. And then he leaned forward, tilting his head. “I absolutely love the theory. Too bad that it wasn’t me.”

“What do you mean ‘it wasn’t you’ ”? Sooyeon clicked her tongue sharply.

“It was Jimin.” Hyunbin said. “They already knew each other. Apparently it was your son who came to my son’s shows and proposed to him.”

“Watch your tongue–”

“Oh but I’m only speaking the truth.” Hyunbin smiled cheekily. “I know you already knew about it. About Jeongguk’s infatuation with Jimin. I bet you tried to talk him out of it so bad but he didn’t listen to you.”

Sooyeon seethed. She was breathing heavily, clutching onto the dinner knife with white knuckles. And she felt miserable that she didn’t have a suitable retort to whatever the man was saying. Because it was the truth. She did try to talk Jeongguk out of the madness but he committed it anyway.

Hyunbin smirked at the silence he was met with. “I just recently came to know about it. I wasn’t even aware of the game they were playing with me. Tell me, Sooyeon-ssi, Jeon Jeongguk comes to me out of the blue and says that he wants to marry my son, would I have ever been able to decline his proposal? I don’t want to make enemies with the Jeon family.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” Sooyeon gritted out. “It’s all done. Bottom line is that your son did get to marry Jeongguk. Whether you were aware about the whole ordeal or not, you are reaping the benefits of having our family name associated with yours for life. And there’s nothing that can be done about it.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Hyunbin said with a eerie shadow looming on his features. He leaned back in his chair and fixed the woman with a meaningful gaze. “I know you’re not happy about this marriage. And I know it must be hard to believe but I’m not happy about it either. I’m certainly not your enemy here.”

Sooyeon frowned. She silently regarded the man for a long moment. “So you mean that Jimin,”

“Yes.” Hyunbin growled. “Jimin asked Jeongguk to seek me out and ask for his hand in marriage. He played me and I don’t like being played, Sooyeon-ssi.”

Sooyeon pursed her lips in thought. “I knew that he was desperate, that he charmed his way into Jeongguk’s life, but I could’ve never guessed that he’d stoop so low.” She shook her head.

“I understand your hatred for him. I’m his father and I know him more than anyone in the world. And if I’m so bothered by him I can see where you’re coming from.”

“But I guess it’s too late for this talk.” Sooyeon said dismissively. “We could’ve done something before the marriage. But it’s impossible now.”

Hyunbin cocked an eyebrow at that. “Nothing’s ever impossible.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean.” Hyunbin drawled out. “I know how to mitigate the situation at hand.”

Sooyeon perked up. “How do we do that?”

“You see, I’m a business man, Sooyeon-ssi.” Hyunbin smiled wide then as he crossed his legs. “And everything has a price.”

Chapter Text

Jeongguk gently lowered Jimin on the bed.

Lips kiss swollen, eyes flared and still burning, mind floating. Jeongguk felt his hands tremble as he started undressing Jimin.

He had undressed Jimin countless times before. Numberless and multifarious, he had made love to Jimin. Sweet and passionate, wild and desperate. Jeongguk had relished the pleasure of being inside Jimin and took joy in it. He had wallowed in Jimin's sweet moans and soft sighs; his wanton cries and sinful whines. In all the six months he had been married to Jimin, Jeongguk now was proficient in deciphering what Jimin wanted. He had so raptly watched Jimin's pleasure blossom, that he could close his eyes and still know what expression Jimin was making just by hearing his pretty sounds.

But tonight... Tonight Jeongguk's expert hands trembled. Because Jimin was looking up at him with teary eyes doused in love.

Jeongguk had made love to Jimin countless times before. Jeongguk had given him insurmountable pleasure. He had fucked Jimin however Jimin wanted. Yet every time they were coupled together, somewhere in a barren crevice of his mind, Jeongguk knew that Jimin was having sex with him because they were married and that's what they were supposed to do. Or that Jimin had needs, just like he. Or that making love to each other made them feel happy.

But tonight... Tonight when Jeongguk would be pushing inside Jimin's wondrous heat, he would be coupling with someone who loved him back and really wanted it. And the signs were all so obvious, written all over Jimin's face, pouring out in his gesculation.

He prepared Jimin thoroughly. Breathing kisses into Jimin's quivering thighs, Jeongguk revelled in Jimin's soft sobs.

"Jeongguk–Jeongguk..." Jimin cried, locking his legs around Jeongguk's waist, bringing him closer.

"Please." Jeongguk pleaded, cupping Jimin's face with both hands. "Please, Jimin. Say it again."

Jimin looked up into Jeongguk's hopeful eyes, his hands craddling Jeongguk's face as he nodded. "I love you, Jeongguk. I love you so much."

Jeongguk rewarded him with a heartfelt kiss. Jeongguk kissed him like he deserved to be kissed. "I love you." He panted, sucking on Jimin's petal soft lips. "I love you. I love you, Jimin."

And now Jeongguk's heart fluttered inside his chest. For all the warmth and affection he had been witnessing in Jimin's eyes wasn't merely his wishful thinking. Jimin actually loved him.

Grounding his soaring heart, Jeongguk moved. He rolled on a condom and soothed Jimin with his kisses as he lined up his hard on with the little pucker. But Jimin's choked up cry halted him in his action. Jeongguk searched Jimin's hesitant eyes, the way the latter turned his face to the side made Jeongguk's heart ache.

"Tell me." Jeongguk murmured, abandoning his straining, needy cock and instead craddling Jimin's face in his hands. Jimin shook his head pitifully, his chin trembled but Jeongguk urged him.

"What is it, my love?" Jeongguk pleaded. "What's bothering you, tell me please."

"Jeongguk..." Jimin whispered out, eyes still not meeting those of Jeongguk's. "Pl—Please... Just once."

Jeongguk planted a deep kiss on his lovely lips. "I'll do anything for you. Anything, Jimin. Tell me."

Jimin exhaled a shuddering breath. He swallowed thickly then, visibly dithering. Jeongguk wanted to soothe him, he wanted to ease at once whatever was bothering Jimin. But then his breath got lodged in his throat when he felt Jimin's hand slowly rolling off his condom. Jeongguk didn't dare move. He tried to breathe as Jimin took his naked length in his hand and guided it to his hole.

"Jimin." Jeongguk rasped, enveloping Jimin's small hand with his own.

"Please," Jimin cried, tears welling up steadily in his eyes. Jeongguk kissed the tears away as soon as they fell.

"But what if I... Jimin, it's risky—"

"D-Don't cum inside..." Jimin stammered out, his cheeks flaring up and eyes downcast. He looked so small, so ashamed. He was begging for something no one owned but him. It made Jeongguk's heart ache so much that he wanted to lay his life down for Jimin's sake. Hell, Jeongguk would fulfill all his wishes, he would do anything for Jimin even if it were the one thing that would break him.

But Jimin was young... He was young and in love and Jeongguk didn't want to ruin anything for him. He looked at Jimin for a long moment. Heart leaping out of his chest, hesitant and unsettled. But then Jimin turned his face to the side and wept.

"I-I want you, Jeongguk." He hiccuped miserably. "W-Without any barrier. W-Want to be joined with you properly." He then turned his tear-stained face to Jeongguk. "Please, Jeonggukie."

Jeongguk pressed his lips together and nodded mutely. Jimin's words digging holes in his chest.

The moment he lined his unsheathed cockhead with Jimin's entrance, the both of them trembled bodily. This was an uncharted territory and cheer nervousness grappled their hearts. Jimin was breathing heavily, his hips twitched ever so often and Jeongguk lovingly held onto his hipbone as he started breaching the rim.

Jimin held onto the scruff of Jeongguk's neck, their foreheads joined and eyes locked as Jeongguk oh-so slowly bottomed.

The mind numbing heat kept clenching around Jeongguk's cock and he felt so sensitive, the vise of Jimin's insides squeezing his length so good that Jeongguk couldn't breathe.

"I'm yours." Jeongguk panted, staying still and letting Jimin rejoice in his fulfilled wish. "This's yours, Jimin. I'm all yours, however you want me."

Jimin cried. He hugged Jeongguk so tightly, his legs keeping him prisoner. Their hearts thudding erratically inside their chests.

"I-I saved this for you." Jimin croaked. "I don't know if it even means anything at all—"

Jeongguk kissed him. He shushed Jimin so lovingly, caressed his pretty blonde locks and wiped all his tears away. Jimin had clamped down on his dick so hard as if afraid of letting go. So Jeongguk soothed him in that aspect too. He stayed as still as he could, his straining cock determined to please Jimin. For as long as Jimin wanted.

"I love you." Jimin murmured after having calmed himself down considerably. A darling smile finally broke out on his face, his eyes soft and full of love, the timbre of his voice so gentle as he ran a hand through Jeongguk's mussed hair. He looked so in love, he looked so fond of Jeongguk that Jeongguk wanted to cry.

"Tell me, baby. What else do you want? I'll do anything for you, Jimin." Jeongguk nuzzled against Jimin's soft cheek and hastily pecked the blonde's lips again and again. "I'll do anything to please you."

"I want to give you all my love, Jeongguk." Jimin said demurely as he brought Jeongguk's hand to his lips and planted a heartfelt kiss on his palm. "I want to please you too."

Jeongguk smiled. "I could look at you once and be pleased for a lifetime."

Jeongguk started moving when Jimin pleaded him to. He set a gentle rhythm, doting on Jimin, coddling him when he fell apart in Jeongguk's arms.

Jeongguk hushed Jimin adoringly the moment he pulled out, on the brink of ejaculation. He painted Jimin's belly with his spend, Jimin's name falling off his lips, abundant and unabashed.

They stayed awake well past midnight, till the rays of the sun crept up to them. Jimin was half splayed over Jeongguk's body, his head resting on Jeongguk's arm, while the latter hummed away under his breath.

Jimin was softly tracing Jeongguk's pectorals, nuzzling occasionally into the sturdy chest. He casted a glance at Jeongguk's face. The early morning sun bathing him in it's shine. Jeongguk glowed so enticingly, his lambent aura warming up Jimin's heart. Everything faded away in front of Jeongguk. Jimin could swear that the sun borrowed light from him.

"You never told me about this." Jeongguk murmured after a while.

"Hmm?" Jimin looked up into his eyes, smiling when Jeongguk turned to face him. His left hand coming up to caress Jimin's side.

"Your tattoo." He smiled. Lopsided and sweet. The most endearing smile in the entire universe.

Jimin found himself mirroring the smile. "Got it after I joined Hobi hyung. Right after my first ever concert."

"That I know, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk teased. "The second concert, I had a hard time breathing. I caught a glimpse of the tattoo and my soul escaped my body."

Jimin giggled, gently hitting Jeongguk in the chest. "Stop it." He whined, and then added. "It was a gift to myself, I guess. I had finally freed myself from all the shackles. I started my dance career and I felt so free. I realized that I must not care what people say. They aren't gonna live my life for me."

"So, nevermind." Jeongguk purred, his dazed eyes spanning over the letters written across Jimin's ribcage. He rubbed his fingers gently over the prominence, then slowly reached his fingertips to Jimin's nipple.

"And what about these?" Jeongguk drawled, voice rough and gravely.

Jimin closed his eyes at the way Jeongguk was playing with the dusky nub. "I knew they'd look sexy on me." He smiled cheekily. "Got them pierced on my nineteenth birthday."

"Mmhmm." Jeongguk hummed before finally giving in to the temptation. He shifted bodily, reaching down and capturing a nipple with his mouth. Jimin moaned throatily, his hand grasping Jeongguk's hair, urging him on.

Jeongguk patted Jimin's restless thighs soothingly, working up the blonde steadily. He patted Jimin's pretty flanks, his full ass. Jeongguk could lose himself in the span of Jimin's beautiful long legs; his sweet, sweet thighs; and sculptured neck. He divulged just as much. Making Jimin wet with the plentiful shower of his love.

Jeongguk thursted into Jimin's welcoming body languidly that morning. They made love, wrapped in each other, breathing hushed whispers of i love yous.

Jeongguk kissed Jimin thoroughly after. "Since when?" He urged, wanting to hear again and again.

"Since Paris." Jimin smiled, ruffling Jeongguk's tussled hair. "I was sure of it since Paris."

Jeongguk smiled wide. His eyes crinkled with utter joy as he nuzzled against Jimin's cheek. "So when you took me to the temple of love—"

Jimin's breath hitched. "I didn't... know that you're aware of the significance." He murmured shyly. "So you knew?"

Jeongguk shook his head. "I made myself believe that it was my wishful thinking. When you kissed me under the dome..." Jeongguk trailed off, dreamy eyes gazing into Jimin's. "I thought my heart might stop. Like my heart would sputter out of my body—"

Jimin placed a hand against Jeongguk's lips. "Don't say like this." He chastised Jeongguk. He watched as Jeongguk's eyes softened visibly and then bit down on his lip when the latter kissed his palm.

"How could I not fall in love with you, Jeongguk?" Jimin whispered. "You complete me. I have never felt so sure of myself. You—You made me believe that I'm more than a carrier. You—You've been kind to me, you have loved me without wanting something in return." He said as tears welled up in his eyes.

Jeongguk held onto both his hands. "You accepted me despite all the odds stacked against me. Despite my mother misbehaving with you. Despite Chaeyoung approaching you and spewing all the venom." Jeongguk heaved a deep sigh, rubbing soothing patterns into the back of Jimin's hands. "You had all these blaring alarms scattered all around you. But you accepted me, Jimin."

"So did you." Jimin exhaled. "You witnessed my troubled relationship with my parents firsthand. And I put so many clauses into this marriage that I strongly believed that it would fail one day." Jimin swallowed thickly, a deep furrow forming between his brows. "I became suspicious even... So that day... I tried to prompt you into having sex with me." He said, ashamed.

Jeongguk nodded solemnly and brought Jimin closer to his body. "I wasn't allowed to date, Jimin. Mom put several restrictions on me from the outset. I fooled around though." Jeongguk chuckled wryly, shaking his head. "When I was in college. I had occasional one night stands. I partied once in a while. And mom allowed it. Just she didn't want me to commit or have a real relationship. I let her have that control over me because I understood that she didn't want me to squander my wealth. She wasn't born rich, Jimin. She feared that someone might put me under false pretense of love and exploit me. It all dwindled down after I graduated. I couldn't fool around anymore because all the eyes were on me. And it didn't even make me happy. I felt empty." Jeongguk breathed against Jimin's hairline. He looked steadily into the blonde's eyes. "And then I saw you. And I wanted to build a life with you. I remember the day I told Hyeji about you, she looked at me with such scrutinizing eyes. She sat me down and told me clearly that I should only approach you if I'm sure of myself."

A gentle smile spread across Jimin's face.

"I know the pain of carrying around the burden of broken relationships. I'm familiar with hollow marriages, I have seen one closely. I know what it did to me. I don't ever, ever want anything like that for us, Jimin. I know how small inconveniences and doubts pester you and ultimately poison your bond with your loved ones. It's better to talk it out, whatever bugs you." Jeongguk smiled lovingly, planting a heartfelt kiss on Jimin's forehead. "And if I say I love you, what stops me from empathizing with you? I can't say I love you and then not try to understand your fears. That's not love." He said as he traced Jimin's cheekbones with his thumbs. "You did put those clauses, Jimin. And I put myself in your shoes."

Jimin inhaled shakily as he cupped Jeongguk's face with both hands. "I don't have much... I don't know if I'd be able to return even half of your love. But... I promise you that you have my entire heart, Jeongguk." He let out, voice thick and full of unabashed fervor. "I'll strive to make this work as much as you have. Jeongguk, I have never loved anyone as I love you and I know in my heart that I never will again."

....

When Jihyun finally went back home, after an agonizingly long day of intermingled classes and interviews, it was to the sight of his parents waiting for him. He happened to lock eyes with Hyunbin instantly and then casted a brief glance towards Minseo before deciding to make his way to his room.

"Jihyun." Hyunbin called him, however, effectively ceasing him in his track. Jihyun heaved a deep sigh and screwed his eyes shut. This was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment but he knew quite well how he couldn't circumvent any conversation that his father demanded to have. So he readied himself promptly and then he walked towards the living area to take a seat from across his parents.

"Are you ashamed of me, son?" Was the first thing that Hyunbin said and Jihyun bit down on his tongue. He settled on not answering and let Hyunbin resume but the latter kept looking at him expectantly.

"Dad," Jihyun finally said. "What kind of a question is that?"

"The kind of question no father should ever have to ask." Hyunbin provided. "The kind of question my own children have pushed me into asking."

"Dad, please stop." Jihyun winced. "You shouldn't have gone to Jimin hyung in the first place. You shouldn't have tried to hit him. He's married now—"

"After everything that I've done for him." Hyunbin sneered, his face contorting with rage. "But see, Jihyunie, I didn't rely on him for anything. I saved my company, saved my business on my own."

Jihyun bit on the inside of his cheek. He shifted on the couch, his eyes darting between a seething Hyunbin and an apathetic Minseo.

"What—How did you pay all the debt?"

"I toiled." Hyunbin emphasized. "Just like I have toiled all my life, Jihyun. Just like I did when I left Busan and brought us to Seoul for Jimin's sake."

Jihyun closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. "Not for Jimin's sake."

"For Jimin's sake! I left my ancestral house. Left my family and established my business from nothing! Just so I could admit him in a good school in Seoul. Just so I could provide him with the best education. No father would ever take such risk for his child but I did."

"No." Jihyun said at once. For a long time he had listened to his father twist the reality and had done very little to put an end to it. But he couldn't let Hyunbin get away with such blatant lies anymore.

"We left Busan because we were kicked out. You left your ancestral house because your family didn't want you anymore, Dad. Because you didn't have a healthy relationship with them and they didn't want to have to do anything with us."

"Jihyun." Hyunbin hissed.

"No." Jihyun gritted out and stood up at once. "I won't allow you to change the facts. I refuse to be gaslighted! I refuse to be manipulated because I was there! I was a kid but I remember vividly what went down." Jihyun was pacing now. His jaw was set tight, stomach in coils with the sheer disgust he was feeling. He then stopped and stood right in front of his father. "Stop trying to put all the blame on Jimin. Is this why you brought him to world? So that you'd blame him for every bad thing that has ever happened to you?"

"Mind your tongue, boy." Hyunbin roared. He stood up too, standing inches away from Jihyun. "I could've solved all the issues with my family and continued living in Busan. But I left because I wanted to give Jimin a better life."

Jihyun scoffed. He then looked down towards Minseo. "Why aren't you saying anything? For god's sake, for once in your life speak up for Jimin! You have spoken up for me countless times, Mom. Why won't you ever try to defend hyung?"

"Jihyunie, is this the way to talk to your father?" Minseo bemoaned. "Where are your manners? See, you've after all learnt the venomous ways of your brother!"

"What manners!" Jihyun shouted. "I'm sick of it! I'm sick of the both of you exploiting Jiminie hyung however you want!" He swallowed thickly as he approached his mother and gripped her shoulders. "Is there something you're hiding from me? Is Jimin not my brother?"

"What are you saying?!" Minseo exclaimed, freeing herself from Jihyun's grip. "Of course he's your brother! He looks like you! Both of you resemble your father!"

"Then why don't you love Jimin?!" Jihyun choked out. "How could you be so cruel to your own child?! Oh god, what has he ever done to you?!"

"You're talking as if I have never done anything for him." Hyunbin stated then. He silently tapped his wife on the shoulder, nodding at her and asking her to take a seat. Hyunbin turned to face Jihyun again. "You're talking as if I haven't fed him and bathed him and clothed him. As if I haven't provided him with a roof above his head."

"Dad." Jihyun smiled bitterly, tears swimming in his eyes. "People do that for their dogs too. People do all that for their pets."

"I gave him an education—"

"As you should have. You're his father, who else was supposed to provide for him if not you? He didn't ask to be born. You brought him into the world and so it was your responsibility to provide for him. Parents have some duties to their children. It's what parents are supposed to do. You weren't doing him any favour. Do I need make you understand this?"

Instead of ending the conversation there and then, Hyunbin was ready with another rebuttal.

"Who took him to the dance classes?" Hyunbin jeered. "That isn't in any farher's to-do list but I did it for him. I paid extra for those expensive classes. I didn't earn much at that time but I wanted to make him happy." Hyunbin carefully schooled his expression into one of utter hurt. He then turned to Minseo. "Your mother waited hours outside those classes to pick up your brother."

Minseo, on cue, starting crying.

"Jimin didn't start dancing as soon as he was out of the womb. We made him who he is today." Hyunbin let out a shuddering breath as he turned to Minseo and started wiping her tears off. "Don't cry, darling. We're just unfortunate."

Jihyun stood there, dumbfounded. He inhaled sharply, feeling frustrated beyond comprehension. "So just because you payed for his dance classes, he must worship you? If so, then what about the sacrifices that he's made to make you happy?"

Hyunbin opened and closed his mouth but Jihyun didn't let him gather any explanation.

"You beated him. He endured. You verbally and emotionally abused him. He endured. You prohibited him from making friends. He obliged. You made him drop dance and go to a business school. He agreed. You then decided that he wasn't fit to manage your business because he's a carrier. And he endured. He lost two years of his life. Two! Dropped out of business school after two excruciating years."

Jihyun was openly crying now.

"I was the one who acted like a brat. I was the one who argued and—and threw tantrums. How could you be kind and loving towards me and not him? It doesn't make any sense!"

Jihyun broke down to hiccuping sobs. His knees gave out and he staggered back to the couch. "It doesn't m-make any sense. Let him be happy, for heaven's sake! Let Jimin live his life with Jeongguk hyung." He heaved. His chest rose and fell quickly in an effort to alleviate the crushing tightness his lungs seemed to have been subjected to.

"Jihyun," Minseo murmured after a long moment of deafening silence. But Jihyun couldn't bring himself to hear any more.

"I always believed that you'd change." He croaked. "I always reassured myself, as I reassured Jimin that you'll soon realize your mistake. But I was wrong." Jihyun said, wiping hastily at his eyes. "I don't think I can live with you anymore."

"W-What are you saying?" Minseo gasped and then turned to look up at Hyunbin desperately. "Darling, what is he saying?"

"Jihyun," Hyunbin tried to interject.

"I'm leaving then. I cannot continue living in a house that won't stop witnessing my brother being wronged every damned day." He said as he got up.

"N-No, son." Hyunbin reached out, clutching onto Jihyun forlornly. "I just have you. Y-You can't leave your old parents like this. You're my only heir."

"I don't want to be. I don't want to be something you so painfully insulted my brother for not being."

"J-Jihyun." Minseo held his face in her trembling hands. Her tear soaked face looking miserable. "I'll die without you. Please, I'm begging you. Don't leave me, son."

Jihyun felt numb. All the while that his parents kept coaxing him, weeping pitifully and begging him not to leave, Jihyun felt nothing but despair. He felt like he was being gagged and smothered. Like he was held hostage underwater and could not breathe.

Jihyun let out a hoarse cry. If this was how he was feeling right now, he could not even imagine how Jimin must have felt his entire life.

....

Jeongguk's eyes traversed all the unique designer clothes and beautiful statement pieces. Taehyung had yet again outdone himself. His new clothing line had got people swooning and gushing. His new stores and boutiques, full of opulent and breathtaking clothes, were favoured by countless celebrities.

Jeongguk studied the designs closely as the models walked the ramp. And when Jimin finally appeared, Jeongguk had to restrain himself from conking out. Jimin was strutting down the path, hands in the pockets of the black fitted pants, buttons of his sheer white shirt undid and the hem tucked in, flashing pierced nipples, a thin black choker fitted snug against his neck. And his hair was black.

Jeongguk encountered several palpitations throughout the fashion show. With every costume change, Jimin appeared with a new hair colour. Lushoius black. Ash gray. And a bewitching mix of gray and blue.

Jimin shimmered under the lights. His grace and poise, his hooded eyes, his distinctive walk. He held his audience spellbound. And they staggered up to Jimin at the afterparty. And Jimin, clad in tight leather pants and jacket, an embodiment of lust and sinful, giggled airily and flaunted his wedding ring.

Jimin moaned prettily when Jeongguk kissed him square on the lips, his hands wandered down Jeongguk's robust torso and then to his firm ass. Jimin squeezed him, needful. Squeezed his thighs just as much.

Parties in Los Angeles were a fickle scene. Taehyung's party was stunning lobbies with their sweeping staircases, massive chandeliers and a grand ballroom mixed ardently with live bands, alcohol and flashing lights.

Jimin threw his head back, his giggle breaking off into a wanton little cry as Jeongguk mauled his neck. Jeongguk felt heady, a bit dizzy and a bit intoxicated, and graciously high on Jimin. They shared some pot, kissed filthily thereafter and then took off to their hotel room.

It was probably their third round or so when Jimin came to. He had passed out a few minutes back, his eyes hazy and body burning with need. He let out a shaky little breath, his body tightening around Jeongguk. He resisted for a mere couple of seconds before Jeongguk soothed him.

"It's me, baby." Jeongguk panted into Jimin's neck. His hips kicking into Jimin's heat desperately. He had no recollection of anything beyond Jimin.

Jimin mewled, hugging Jeongguk with weak limbs. "So good, Jeon–Jeonggukie." He slurred.

Jeongguk laughed a little and then worked his hips with gusto, fucking lewd moans out of his spouse. He had no recollection of anything beyond Jimin. Jimin's pleased cries, the serene brutality of their passion, the alluring symphony of their bodies, their lips adrift in each others.

Jeongguk felt alive.

Chapter Text

Jimin lowered himself into a knee bridge, slowly, sensually, folding his body upon itself. Thighs spread apart, balancing his weight on one hand as he threw his head back and brushed his hair away from his forehead. He took a moment to look at himself in the mirror. He still had a lot of planning to do.

They had enough time on their hands, two months to be exact, before the show. The seventy-first cultural heritage festival, held annually.

After toiling for so many years their group had finally emerged as the global artists, making their home country so proud. And so this prestigious festival, this performance, really mattered.

Jimin had to finish his solo piece in a week's time. And then the whole crew would work together on the group performance. Despite having talked to Hoseok a dozen times and perfecting his choreography, Jimin still felt jittery.

Jimin sighed, now beginning to feel the stretch, as he kept looking at himself in the mirror. Before his gaze met that of Jeongguk's through the mirror. He gasped, sitting up straight and turning around.

"You aren't allowed here!" Jimin whined, sitting cross-legged.

A sly smirk spread across Jeongguk's face. "I just came to check up on you. It's raining heavily. I wanted to make sure that my darling isn't cold."

"Really?" Jimin cocked up an eyebrow. "But you didn't ask me anything. You were just standing on the threshold, watching me." He huffed.

"Well, you can't blame me." Jeongguk chuckled and then his eyes roved all over Jimin's frame.

Jimin bit down on his lip, tipping his head to the side. "Are you trying to flirt with me, Mister Jeon?"

Jeongguk closed his eyes momentarily before walking up to Jimin. He squatted down in front of him then, resting his hands on Jimin's thighs, he shook his head no. "I am flirting with you." Jeongguk let out in a gruff voice before leaning in and capturing Jimin's lips in a kiss.

Jimin kissed Jeongguk back sweetly and he smiled when Jeongguk nuzzled lovingly against his cheek.

"How much did you see?" Jimin murmured.

"A split." Jeongguk breathed against Jimin's lips. "And the last pose."

Jimin laughed a little and then gazed at Jeongguk for a long moment.

"You're stressed out." Jeongguk stated.

"Hmm," Jimin hummed and looked into Jeongguk's eyes. "It's a big deal. The show."

"I know." Jeongguk smiled and held Jimin's face reverently with both hands. "And you're performing in it. I'm so proud of you. And I know that you'll do amazing." He said, eyes doused in love. "Though I haven't watched any of it as you forbade me..." they both chuckled at that, "...but I know that you've choreographed your piece so splendidly. You've been formulating and practicing for over a week, Jimin. You've given yourself many sleepless nights. And I worry about it." Jeongguk spoke gently, his eyes never breaking contact with Jimin's. "I don't want you to stress yourself out and make yourself sick. You've two whole months and I promise you that you'll do excellent."

Jimin exhaled a deep sigh. He nodded slowly into Jeongguk's hands. "I know. But I just... I'm worried, Jeongguk..."

"It's okay to be worried." Jeongguk soothed. "But worrying yourself to the extent that it interferes with your well-being isn't okay. Please tell me, love, what do I do to remedy it even a little bit? I'll do anything to ward your anxiousness away. Just... Just tell me."

Jimin held onto Jeongguk's hands. "I can't take my mind off it. No matter how hard I try, I'm just... I worry a lot and I need to give my best and squash my fears." He exhaled, his hand reached up and tangled into Jeongguk's hair. "Would you do that for me? Take my mind off it for a while?" Jimin urged as he closed the distance between them. "Kiss me?"

Jimin inhaled sharply then as Jeongguk connected their mouths. His hands found solace in Jeongguk's hair and their mouths devoured each other. Jimin groaned when Jeongguk grabbed his waist possesively.

Over the course of time, Jimin learnt this about himself. That Jeongguk could remedy his fears like this, that he needed to give up control sometimes. And Jeongguk was always ready to soothe him however he wanted.

Jimin panted, breathing heavily as Jeongguk slowly started mauling his neck. His hands skimming the sweaty t-shirt off Jimin's body.

Jimin groaned throatily, a hint of smile tugging the corner of his lips up. "I'm gonna feel cold." Jimin whispered out but let Jeongguk get rid of his t-shirt anyway. "This contradicts the very intention with which you came here."

Jeongguk lowered him down slowly and then his lips captured Jimin's in a soaring kiss. His hand crept down and started rubbing against Jimin's steadily filling cock. "I'll keep you warm with my body." Jeongguk replied whilst nuzzling down the column of Jimin's neck.

Jimin threw his head back and moaned. His restless hips kicked up into Jeongguk's palm. The latter ravished him passionately, drowning Jimin altogether in the alluring mist of love and lust. Utterly intoxicated by each other, they barely could hold back.

Jimin looked up at Jeongguk through hooded eyes. Kiss swollen lips parted, the heat cranking up in his body as Jeongguk freed him of the remaining clothes. Jimin watched him silently. The sheer hunger in Jeongguk's eyes. Jimin could get lost in Jeongguk so easily. The kind of lost which led him to find his true self.

"Jeongguk..." Jimin mewled. And Jeongguk squeezed his thighs in succession.

"Jeongguk, I love you." Jimin breathed. And Jeongguk ceased where he was sucking a bruise into Jimin's groin.

Jeongguk raised his head and then leaned up and in. He cupped Jimin's face affectionately. "I love you so much, Jiminie. You're my world." He said. He kissed Jimin's flushed cheeks. "You're my sun, my moon. My world revolves around you."

Jimin trembled. He trapped Jeongguk in his arms and kissed him over and over again. "I cannot live without you." Jimin whimpered.

"You're mine." Jeongguk looked into Jimin's eyes. "No one can ever take you away from me. Not even you. Yes?" He said resolutely. "You're mine, Jimin."

Jimin nodded. It felt exhilarating to affirm his love for Jeongguk and to hear Jeongguk's concord.

Jimin let himself get lost in Jeongguk. The latter descended down slowly, leaving a trail of love behind. Jeongguk forced Jimin's legs open and buried his face between them. All Jimin could do was take it.

He took the unending brilliance of the pleasure Jeongguk's tongue brought him. He bore the orgasmic bliss he was made to take and he laughed breathlessly when Jeongguk kissed him square on the lips and told him how pretty he looked when he came apart.

And Jimin obliged gladly when Jeongguk sucked on his fingers, sucked them wet and well and then guided them down to his quivering rim.

"Open yourself for me, baby." Jeongguk purred. One of his hands anchored Jimin's hips to the floor and the other held on to his wrist, setting up the pace and angle.

Jimin let out a broken moan. He shivered bodily when his fingertips just grazed that sweet spot inside of him. But it wasn't enough. His fingers were too short, incapable of pleasuring himself like this.

"I can't reach," Jimin sobbed. "Please, Jeongguk,"

"Shh," Jeongguk soothed him. He nuzzled against Jimin's hipbone and forced Jimin's hand deeper inside. "Do you want me inside?"

"Yes, please—oh please," Jimin cried.

"Then you must get yourself ready for me, no?" Jeongguk smiled devilishly, tipping his head up and gazing into Jimin's tearful eyes. "I will fuck you so good, baby. Just make me happy first, hmm?"

Jimin tried, God, he tried. He angled his hips this way and that way, rubbed insistently against his walls, he even tweaked his nipple just right, and by the time he neared the edges of that wondrous euphoria he was a desperate, slobbering mess.

Jeongguk looked so pleased. He kissed Jimin's tears away and held onto Jimin's wrist tighter, decelerating him to a maddening halt.

Jimin cried out, shaking his head. "Oh please, please, I'm close—"

"I know." Jeongguk comforted him. "You can go on. Or do you want to cum with me inside?"

Jimin let out a choked sob. He wanted to cum. He wanted to cum so bad but he wanted to cum through Jeongguk's cock too. He hiccuped, feeling the pleasure slowly ebb away. But Jeongguk started moving his wrist again to keep him on edge. This was torture. But Jimin gave in anyway.

"With y-you inside." Jimin murmured and Jeongguk smiled so bright that Jimin's heart ached. He would merrily sacrifice a million orgasms for that smile.

"I'll take care of you." Jeongguk promised.

Jimin swallowed thickly. It dawned on him that they were doing this in his studio. Was he going to have sex with Jeongguk right there? But Jimin was so hard that it hurt. He was aching so bad to get Jeongguk inside of him. He was too desperate to comprehend anything. And he needed it. He needed to take the edge off for while.

"Bring the lube and condoms, please." Jimin groaned. "I'll keep myself ready for you."

And Jimin waited patiently while Jeongguk hurried up the stairs. The thunder rumbled and as he casted a glance towards the windows, the sky was overcast and the rain was plattering against the glass. Jimin groaned, fucking himself a little deeper and a little harder, while his eyes traveled to the mirrors. A bit fogged up and misty and yet Jimin's cheeks coloured a vivid red upon seeing his debauched form in them.

When Jeongguk came back to the studio, Jimin spread his legs wider invitingly. He panted and whined and Jeongguk stumbled out of his clothes so hastily. Jimin took in the glorious sight of Jeongguk's naked muscular body, his chiseled stomach and his heavy cock. It looked painfully engorged, red and angry, promising Jimin an intense fuck.

"Please, now, please," Jimin wailed, his hips moving erratically, refusing to be tamed any longer.

"I got you." Jeongguk hissed and then he was on top of Jimin the next moment. He kissed Jimin's waiting lips, kissed his worn out wrist too and then rolled on a condom and pushed in to the hilt.

Jimin puled with pleasure, tossing his head back and digging his nails into Jeongguk's shoulders.

"Harder, Jeongguk." Jimin moaned and then sobbed when Jeongguk complied readily.

Jeongguk pistoned his hips harshly into Jimin's heat. His hands holding him down into postion.

"Like this?" He growled and buried his face into Jimin's neck, sucking on his shoulder. "Is this hard enough, baby?"

"Y-Yes, J-Jeongguk, ah—" Jimin whimpered. "M-More please,"

Jeongguk gritted his teeth and thrusted in so sharply that Jimin spilled spasmodically between their bodies. He was sobbing into Jeongguk's ear, his weak hands having fallen down to his sides.

"You take me so well, Jimin." Jeongguk drawled as he slowed down the pace to let Jimin ward off some sensitivity. "You look so beautiful when you take me so well." He said and then pushed Jimin's hair back before turning his face to the side.

Jimin's breath hitched. His body tingled the moment his eyes fell on their reflection in the gigantic mirror.

"See, how pretty you look." Jeongguk whispered sensually into his ear. Their eyes met through the mirror and Jimin's insides fluttered unwittingly around Jeongguk's cock.

"It's a miracle that I can keep my cock out of you at all." Jeongguk groaned, kicking his hips hard. "If I could have my way at all times, I'd keep you plugged up day and night."

"Fuck. Fuck." Jimin shivered bodily. "God, Jeongguk."

There wasn't much Jimin could do than watch them fuck through the mirror. His eyes drank in the sight of Jeongguk's robust body covering him almost entirely, the enhancing rhythm with which Jeongguk moved. Jimin cursed, his body moving up the floor with each hard push.

Jeongguk grinded his hips in a couple more times before lifting Jimin off the floor and flipping him. Jimin gasped, his body responded sluggishly as Jeongguk uprighted him on his hands and knees. And then Jeongguk was fucking him from behind.

"Look, baby," Jeongguk panted into Jimin's ear, one of his hands holding Jimin's face up. "So fucking perfect."

They were closer to the mirror now and the view knocked the air out of his lungs. Jimin whimpered at the sight of their coupling, at the desperation lacing his features, and at the way Jeongguk was joined to him. His cock was hardening fast, leaking precum all over the floor.

Jimin kept watching, pleasured sighs escaped his lips as Jeongguk kept fucking him earnestly and fervently, making him so desperate and wanton. Jeongguk's hand gripped his hips, his face buried into the crook of Jimin's neck, sucking and biting and kissing. And his other hand slithered down and tugged at Jimin's cock.

Jimin lost himself in the bewitching symphony with which their bodies moved together.

....

Minseo sat motionless as Hyunbin indulged with his meal. She nudged the dishes closer to him, appraising her husband with her watchful eyes.

"Jihyun. Has he gone to bed already?" Hyunbin asked.

Minseo sighed. "He packed his bags around noon."

"What?" Hyunbin coughed, putting his chopsticks down. "Why didn't you call me? Where did he go?"

"Calm down, darling. You know your son well, he has made up his resolve." Minseo replied meekly. "He said he talked to the concerned authorities and is going to stay at the university campus. He apparently can't focus on his studies when he's here."

"This boy." Hyunbin grumbled as he massaged his temples with both hands. "Don't worry, dear. I'll talk to him in a couple days and bring him back home."

Minseo shook her head solemnly. She reached out and wrapped her nimble fingers around Hyunbin's wrist. "Let him be, Hyunbin. Let him cool down a bit. He's hot headed just like you." She smiled softly and then her eyes flickered with a strange shine. "Besides, it's better if he doesn't stay here for a while, right?"

As Hyunbin nodded his head in agreement, Minseo added. "What did Sooyeon say? Did she agree?"

Hyunbin smiled. "Sooyeon is as willing as we surmised her to be."

"I told you. I saw it in her eyes back at the wedding. The scorn with with she looked towards Jimin spoke clearly of her unhappiness with the marriage."

Hyunbin picked up his chopsticks and started fiddling with the side dishes. "You've a very observant eye. Such keen eyes for detail, I must say. You asked me to seek Sooyeon out and she exceeded our expectations even. I went to her for a possible loan in exhange and yet she just simply started signing checks. She doesn't want her money returned. She just wants Jimin out of Jeongguk's life."

Minseo sat static as Hyunbin talked on and on. Her fingertips tingled and the blood pulsated wildly through her veins as she assented to her husband's schemes. And then Hyunbin chewed away his food merrily while Minseo had her gaze fixated at him.

Such cunning eyes her husband had. And yet he failed so miserably to pierce her disguise.

....

"Jeongguk."

Jeongguk looked up from where he was immersed in the files. Hyejin looked apprehensive as she walked into his study.

"Jimin has been practicing in the studio since after lunch." Hyejin said meekly. "It's night now. I'm getting worried."

Jeongguk pressed his lips into a thin line and rubbed a hand down his face. "Gosh. I got carried away with work."

"I don't want to disturb him. So I didn't go call him."

Jeongguk nodded. "I'll go." He stood and then placed a gentle hand on Hyejin's shoulder. "Don't worry, Hyeji. He has an important performance in two months. That's why he's practicing so hard." Jeongguk smiled. "I'll go call him."

....

"...and scene!" Hoseok exclaimed and the entire crew roared cheerfully. Hoseok smiled wide, clapping enthusiastically. "We're not only going to bring new life to old favorites, but we're also going to leverage our theme. We don't want a disjointed show, we have never had that and certainly not now." He said as he looked at all the dancers, their pants and hums spurring him on. "The stage is tricky this time and so we're gonna think beyond the stage. We'll have the aisles involved and the entire floor space..."

Jimin swallowed thickly. He couldn't focus further on whatever Hoseok was saying. He straightened his back, ran a hand through his sweaty hair as he fixed his eyes on his reflection in the mirror. Either the glass was too foggy or his vision was blurring. Jimin rubbed at his eyes, staggering on his feet as he tried hard to make sense of whatever was going on around him.

"Hey, whoa. You alright there?"

Jimin closed his eyes shut and tried to regain control of his limbs as Hoseok held onto him, uprighting him.

"Just a bit dizzy." He tried not to grimace. "I will... I will sit down for a bit."

"Yeah. Yeah." Hoseok said urgently as he guided Jimin to one of the unoccupied chairs. "Here, drink some water. We've been practicing relentlessly since morning."

Jimin chugged down the whole bottle instantly. He exhaled a shuddering breath after, the cool water calming down his frizzled nerves.

When he finally did look up at Hoseok, the older was staring at him with worried eyes. A frown marring his face. "Didn't you have breakfast?"

"I ate some." Jimin rasped, pushing the hair away from his forehead. "I just..."

Hoseok's mouth twisted unsettlingly.

"Hobi hyung." Jimin tried to smile reassuringly. "I just think that I'm coming down with a cold or something. My head's feeling heavy ever since I woke up in the morning."

"Then you should get some rest." Hoseok said gently. He pulled another chair near and sat down besides Jimin. "Take the rest of the day off, hmm? There's not much to do today anyway."

"But hyung—"

"No buts." Hoseok dismissed. "Rest today and get better. Otherwise you're gonna get yourself sick and then you'll have to take some more days off." He stood up after a few moments, patting Jimin on the back. "Go home, Jiminie. I need you to be a hundred percent tomorrow."

"Jiminie?" Hyejin called as soon as Jimin entered through the door. "You're home early today."

Jimin nodded and smiled a little, making his way towards the living area.

As soon as he plopped down on the couch, Hyejin paced towards him. "Are you fine? What's wrong?" She asked. Her worried eyes spanning Jimin's pale face while her hand started checking whether he was running a fever.

"Hyeji," Jimin murmured softly. "It's nothing, I promise. I was just feeling a little dizzy and I have a headache so I came back home to rest."

"Oh, dear. You did good that you came back home. Did you eat anything since morning?"

Jimin shook his head. "I'll nap a little and then I'll eat."

"Okay." Hyejin smiled. "Go get some sleep. I'll make you mudfish soup. It'll give you stamina and make you feel great."

Jimin slept soundly. He was out as soon as his head landed on the pillow. And he only opened his eyes when Jeongguk caressed his hair and called him gently.

"Jeongguk?" Jimin grumbled whilst rubbing at his eyes. "You're home."

"How're you feeling now?" Jeongguk asked, leaning in and planting a kiss on Jimin's forehead. "Hyeji told me you came home early. You were feeling under the weather?"

"I'm fine now." Jimin yawned as he sat up. "I needed sleep, I think. I'm so hungry."

Jeongguk chuckled and pinched Jimin's cheek. "Dinner's ready. Come let's eat."

Jimin continued to feel weird the coming few days. The bouts of this strange sickness waning and waxing throughout the day. He tried to ignore it as much as he could, forcing his attention towards practice instead. But as the days progressed, he found himself fretting more.

And then one morning, he couldn't even bring himself to look at the breakfast table set up in front of him. Hyejin was busy fixing him a plate and Jeongguk was getting dressed up while Jimin was trying to steer his upset stomach. Even the aroma of the food felt nauseating to him. So Jimin requested Hyejin to pack his breakfast instead, saying that he had an early schedule, and promptly left.

But as soon as he reached the studio and started dancing and as he took a few tourners, Jimin couldn't keep the sickness at bay any longer. He crouched down and heaved and then he was running to the bathroom.

"Jimin-ah," Hoseok bemoaned, his lips twisted down sadly. "Let me take you back home."

Jimin cradled his head with his hands and shook it. His eyes were steadily filling with tears while he sat back on the floor against the mirror. "I will j-just watch."

"Jimin-ah."

"Please, hobi hyung." Jimin pleaded. "If I can't dance today let me at least watch so that I remember it well."

Jimin sat aloof and troubled throughout the whole segment, watching his group practice. He felt so miserable and helpless, so awfully sad that he couldn't join in.

When he went back home, it was well past nightfall. As soon as he pushed the door open and walked into the living area, the first thing he noticed was Jeongguk's worried expression. His husband was hovering over him in a second.

"Jimin?" Jeongguk said, alarmed, as he gently cupped Jimin's face. "What's wrong?"

Jimin looked up at him with bloodshot eyes. His chin trembled and then the tears finally ran down his cheeks. Jimin buried his face in Jeongguk's chest and sobbed.

"Baby, hey, what's wrong?" Jeongguk asked. A deep frown settling between his brows as he rubbed Jimin's back affectionately and hugged him tighter. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Jimin choked on a sob and shook his head no. His hands clutched onto Jeongguk's dress shirt so hard.

"Did anyone say anything to you?" Jeongguk asked then. "Is it about the performance? Did anything happen at the studio?"

"J-Jeongguk—" Jimin hiccuped as he looked up at his husband desperately. "I-I couldn't—I c-couldn't d-dance—"

Jeongguk winced at the sight of the fat tears falling down Jimin's swollen eyes. "Please, baby. Don't cry. Tell me what happened. Why couldn't you dance?"

"I-I couldn't, J-Jeongguk... I had to sit down the whole d-day." Jimin wailed.

"Please don't cry." Jeongguk urged. He kissed Jimin's tear soaked face, thumbing away the wetness. "Let's sit down, yeah? Let's talk calmly."

Jimin nodded mutely and then Jeongguk hauled him up in his arms. He walked them to the couch, settled Jimin on it and crouched down in front of him. Jimin was sniffling, now feeling even worse that he cried like this at the threshold. Hyejin was standing next to Jeongguk, clutching onto her clothes, her face twisted in agony.

"Here," Jeongguk said, gently pushing the glass of water against Jimin's lips. "Drink a little. That's it, my love."

Jimin swallowed thickly, rubbing at his raw eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Shh, no, sweetheart. Tell me what happened." Jeongguk soothed, holding onto Jimin's hands. "Why couldn't you dance?"

"I was feeling sick." Jimin mumbled, casting his eyes down at his lap. "I threw up a little."

"When?" Jeongguk raised a brow.

"Around noon."

"Why didn't you call me, baby? I could have taken you to the doctor." Jeongguk frowned. "What were you doing there the whole day?"

"I watched." Jimin was crying again now. "I felt s-so bad that I could only w-watch." His throat was clogging up, voice thick and gruff. "Hobi hyung told me that he would drive me back home b-but I didn't want to leave, J-Jeonggukie."

"It's okay." Jeongguk tried to smile. He sat up, bringing Jimin to his chest. "It's alright, darling." He said into Jimin's hair, kissing him again and again.

Jeongguk turned to look at Hyejin, still holding the half empty glass in her hand, who had gone very still. Her eyes fixated on Jimin's trembling form.

"Hyeji?" Jeongguk called, bringing the woman out of the trance.

Hyejin blinked, looked at Jeongguk for a long moment and then approached them. She put the glass on the coffee table and sat down besides Jimin.

"Come here, child." Hyejin cooed, bringing Jimin to her bossom. "How long have you been feeling sick?"

Jimin sniveled. "That day... When I came back home early."

"Why didn't you tell me that you were still not feeling well?" Hyejin murmured, her hand never ceasing to caress Jimin's hair.

"I-I didn't want to make you worry. I thought I was going to be o-okay."

"No baby. You're my kid, you should tell me everything." Hyejin chastised him lovingly. "Especially about your health, hmm?"

Jimin silently nodded into her neck. Hyejin then looked back at Jeongguk. "Jeongguk, I think you should take Jimin to the doctor."

"Yeah. Let me call—"

"No, I don't want to see any doctor." Jimin pleadingly looked up at Hyejin and then at Jeongguk.

"We'll take you to the family doctor, Jiminie." Hyejin placated. There's was an edge to her voice and Jimin didn't have the heart to cross her words. "Take him to Eunhee." Hyejin said to Jeongguk and then directed her gaze back at Jimin. "Eunhee is really nice, I promise."

Jimin agreed reluctantly. On the condition that they would wait till the morning and if Jimin still wouldn't be any better, they would go see the doctor. He slept fitfully and as the morning came, so did the nausea. Jimin tried to put up with it, he managed to take a seat at the breakfast table even, but failed to keep the queasiness at bay. He blanched at the sight of food, the bilious feeling regurgitating up his throat.

Jeongguk was looking at him with narrowed eyes and Jimin's head was starting to hurt. He excused himself and as soon as he got up, lightheadesness sent him reeling down to the floor. And the next moment, his vision blacked out.

When Jimin came to, it was in a white walled, tall ceiling room. He groaned throatily, his lids feeling heavy and his mouth dry.

"Jeong—"

"Hey, hey, baby." Jeongguk's voice flooded his ears. His eyes slowly focused on his husband's hunched, disheveled form. "I'm right here." Jeongguk soothed, holding his hand and kissing it.

"Where..." Jimin let out gruffly.

"You fainted, Jimin." Jeongguk said slowly. "You almost gave me a heart attack, darling." He tried to chuckle but all what came out of his lips was a sad little noise. "I took you to the hospital."

"Hate the hospital, Jeongguk." Jimin groaned. He tried to sit up but Jeongguk urged him to keep lying down.

"I know, baby. But they gave you plenty fluids, hmm, love. They said you were dehydrated and your blood sugar levels were low." Jeongguk smiled a little.

"I want to go home." Jimin exhaled a shuddering breath. "I-I'm fine now, Jeongguk, I wanna go home."

Jeongguk tried to pacify him but Jimin was adamant. "Let the reports come—"

"No, I wanna go home now, please," Jimin was starting to hyperventilate. "I don't like the h-hospital—"

"I'm here with you, aren't I?" Jeongguk implored. "I'm not leaving you alone for a single moment, Jimin. Please, just let the reports come, I promise I'll immediately take you back home."

Jeongguk managed to calm Jimin down. He leaned over the bed, stroking Jimin's hair soothingly and singing to him. Jimin slipped in and out of slumber and by the time the blood test reports came, Jimin was feeling much better.

"Jimin-ssi, how're you feeling now?" Kang Eunhee smiled at them. Jimin was feeling jittery. Sitting across from the doctor had never brought him good tidings in the past.

"I'm feeling good." Jimin uttered nervously. He squeezed Jeongguk's hand a tad harder when the nurse came in with Jimin's reports. Jeongguk turned his head towards Jimin and nodded at him reassuringly.

"Let's see." Eunhee smiled as she opened the envelope. "You need to eat properly, Jimin-ssi. You're borderline underweight and I know you must be practicing very hard. I'm your fan, I don't know if Jeongguk told you."

Jimin smiled despite the willies. "You're so kind."

Eunhee smiled wide, her eyes scanning through the papers in her hand. "You need to take good care of yourself. We took the blood samples as soon as Jeongguk brought you here and discussed your symptoms with me." She said, putting the reports down and looking at the couple with a bright smile. "Congratulations, Jimin-ssi, Jeongguk-ah, you're having a baby."

Jimin felt a rush of blood storm straight to his head. He looked at the doctor with wide blown eyes, his heart galloped fiercely inside his chest. "W-What?" He croaked out.

"You're pregnant, Jimin-ssi." Eunhee was all smiles. "It was your morning sickness all this time. This's very normal. I'll give you a diet plan to alleviate the nausea and nourish the baby properly—"

Jimin let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "You're mistaken, Eunhee-ssi. There's something wrong with these reports. I cannot be pregnant."

Eunhee frowned. "You're aware that you're a carrier, Jimin-ssi. You can get pregnant."

"I know that, I-I—" Jimin swallowed thickly. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, his eyes then fell on Jeongguk who was barely breathing.

"Jeongguk, tell her," Jimin pleaded, clutching back on to Jeongguk's hand. "Please, tell her that it's not possible. That we have been... We have been—Jeongguk..." Jimin's voice broke down to a sob and Jeongguk started reasoning with the doctor.

"We have been taking precautions." Jeongguk heaved. "Ever since we got married, we have always had protected sex."

"Oh." Eunhee looked at them sympathetically. "It's not a planned pregnancy then. You've had a contraception failure."

"Maybe the reports are wrong." Jimin urged. He was gravitating towards the desk, clutching onto anything his hands fell on to ground himself. "M-Maybe the reports got swaped or something." He panted, shaking like a leaf. "I-I can't be pregnant. This can't be happening."

"Jimin-ssi, we can take the blood test again for your sake. Or we can go for the ultrasonography. But this is your report. You are expecting."

"I have a performance in two months." Jimin cried.

Eunhee's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Jimin-ssi. I don't think you'll be able to perform. You're already weak, you need proper rest. I can't allow you to dance or take part in any vigrous exercise."

Jimin planted his forehead on the desk. He became eerily quiet, listening to Jeongguk desperately trying to reason with the doctor. Jimin felt his chest constrict painfully. His hands and legs were shaking uncontrollably.

"How long..." Jimin wheezed. He forced his head up and looked at the doctor with empty eyes. "How far along am I?"

"Just over five weeks." Eunhee provided.

Jimin grew quiet. His mind started running miles, his eyes farway. He had been pregnant for over a month. A whole month. Mouth agape and brows furrowed, Jimin went back to the events from a month ago in his head. And the blurry memories of partying and dancing and alcohol flashed in front of his eyes.

"Jeongguk..." Jimin whispered. "LA afterparty." He spoke, eyes downcast. "Did we use condoms?"

The silence was deafening. The air around Jimin grew colder the longer it took Jeongguk to speak. Jimin could hear his own erratic heartbeat in his ears as he waited for an answer. "Did we?" Jimin asked again.

"I think I did, Jimin." Jeongguk's voice was wavering. "I can't remember clearly—" He trailed off. He tried to reach out his hand but Jimin pulled away. Eunhee made a desperate sound to dissipate the tension but Jimin was too numb to care anymore.

"I'll give you some space." Eunhee said and was about to get up and let the couple talk privately. But Jimin rushed up on his feet fast.

"I want to go home." Jimin told Jeongguk. The latter looked up at him and tried to say something but Jimin couldn't be there any longer. "Please, Jeongguk, take me back home."

Jeongguk nodded at once and turned to look at the doctor. "Eunhee, don't say anything to anyone at home. I'll talk to you. But no one can know about it."

"Yes, sure. Yes." Eunhee replied back instantly.

Just at the moment they left the hospital, the paparazzi flooded the streets. Jeongguk winced, already on edge, the whole ordeal would only aggravate the situation. His bodyguards rushed towards them, and admist all the frienzied movements, the maddening push and pull, Jeongguk just held Jimin's waist with both hands and lifted him off his feet.

Jimin let him. He didn't react at all as Jeongguk carried him to their car as the cameras flashed uncontrollably into his eyes, nor did he react after Jeongguk fastened his seatbelt for him and started driving away.

He could feel Jeongguk's eyes on him the whole time. The drive to the hill suite was excruciating. With Jeongguk desperately trying to formulate any words and Jimin gazing out the window with hard eyes.

Jeongguk had reassured Hyejin and sent her back home when Jimin was admitted in the hospital. He had called her then when Jimin woke up and told her that he was feeling better now. But then as Jimin staggered into the penthouse, Hyejin's heart sank as soon as her eyes fell on him. Jimin's face scrunched up and he ran into her arms.

"What happened?" Hyejin asked wretchedly. Dread filled her whole being when she looked at Jeongguk's grief stricken face. "What happened, for God's sake tell me!"

Jimin bawled, soaking her shoulder with tears.

"Jeongguk, what happened?!" Hyejin almost yelled.

"I'm p-pregnant." Jimin hiccuped.

Hyejin blinked. "What?"

Jimin let out loud, convulsive gasps. "I-I'm pregnant, Hyeji."

Hyejin faltered and then stared at Jeongguk who nodded at her slowly. And then her eyes steadily filled with tears of joy. Jimin was pregnant. With her Jeonggukie's baby.

Hyejin let out a wet chuckle, smile splitting her face. But before she could congratulate the couple, Jeongguk's alarmed eyes pleaded her not to. He was shaking his head miserably, placing a finger on his lips and requesting her not to say anything.

Hyejin did as Jeongguk gestured her to do. She calmed Jimin down. Distress coursed through her veins as she noticed how detached Jimin was from Jeongguk. The latter was maintaining a distance from Jimin, constantly looking at him but not touching him.

Hyejin managed to get some food in Jimin's belly. She took him to his bedroom and sat next to him till Jimin drifted off to sleep. Then she made her way towards Jeongguk, who was as still as a stone.

"Jeongguk," Hyejin murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I don't understand."

"It wasn't supposed to happen." Jeongguk said gruffly.

Hyejin frowned. She sat down next to him, rubbing his arm soothingly. "But it's a good news." Hyejin said. "Aren't you happy that you're going to be a father?"

Jeongguk clenched his jaw and closed his eyes shut. "This was the only thing he ever asked of me and I broke his trust."

"What do you mean?" Hyejin murmured, utterly perplexed at Jeongguk's words. "What's going on?"

"Hyeji." Jeongguk sighed. He turned to look at the woman. "When Jimin accepted my proposal, it was on one condition. That I would never interfere with his career by either forcing him to give up dancing or—" His voice broke off at the end into a feeble little sound. "—Or by putting a child in his belly. I had promised him that we would wait for a few years and that it would be his choice entirely." He swallowed thickly, burying his face in his hands. "I failed him. I broke his trust."

"Did you..." Hyejin whispered out slowly. "Did you do it on purpose?"

"God, no." Jeongguk grunted. He got up and paced, running desperate hands through his already mussed hair. "I swear to you, Hyeji. It was an accident. But I should've been careful. God, I'm such an idiot. It's all on me." He turned to look at the woman. "What do I do now? What do I even say to him? He's too young, Hyeji. He must hate me for doing this to him."

"Don't say that." Hyejin beseeched. She got up at once and held Jeongguk's shoulders with both hands. "You didn't do it on purpose and Jimin can never hate you. He loves you, Jeongguk."

"I broke his trust." Jeongguk choked out. "The only thing he ever wanted from me and I took it away from him. He was so happy, Hyeji. I had finally earned his trust, his—his love. He was excited to perform in two months and I took it away from him."

Hyejin blanched at the sight of tears in Jeongguk's eyes. She couldn't even remember the last time Jeongguk cried. Her heart plummeted down to the floor as Jeongguk broke down in front of her.

"I-I will talk to Jimin." Hyejin said with trembling lips. "He will listen to me, Jeonggukie. He's a sweet kid, he will understand."

Jeongguk shook his head. "I have to remedy it, Hyeji. I did this to him and I have to correct it now." Jeongguk rubbed a hand down his face. "He's already weak, Hyeji. Eunhee said so herself. Carrier pregnancies are high-risk, we are both painfully aware of that. You saw how he fainted, Hyeji. My life almost slipped out of my fingers when I watched him fall. And he's only a month along. What if any complication arises? I can't lose him."

Hyejin felt her throat clog up. "What do you mean?"

....

(Warning: Mentions of abortion.)

Jimin didn't even stir when Jeongguk slowly got into the bedroom. He heard the latter bolt the door shut gently and move about the room. Jimin pretended to be asleep, his body turned away to the other side. Jeongguk seemed to hesitate for a long moment before finally recessing down on the bed. Jimin felt his heart break when Jeongguk leaned in and kissed his shoulder, mumbling a soft "goodnight" into the fabric.

Jimin stayed awake the entire night. Long after Jeongguk finally fell asleep, Jimin kept staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of whatever was happening.

He was pregnant. There was a baby growing inside of him. His and Jeongguk's baby.

Jimin screwed his eyes shut. His chest heaved as his breathing got laboured.

“You will never interfere with my career.”

Jimin's own voice reverbrated in his head. The memories rushed back to him, the conditions he had put forth before he accepted Jeongguk's marriage proposal.

“All the decisions regarding my career will be mine. I will never compromise with my passion, I will never stop performing. You will never do anything to even remotely jeopardise my career.”

Jimin sat up slowly. His heart was thundering inside his chest. His vision was hazy with how much he had cried the whole day.

“And you trust Jeongguk.” Hoseok's worried voice rang in his head. The way the older had looked alarmed after Jimin revealed to him that he was going to marry Jeongguk.

“Hyung, he hasn’t missed a single performance. He always shows up no matter how busy he is, always brings huge bouquets to all my shows.”

Hoseok had looked at him impassively. And Jimin had so innocently replied back.

“Hyung, he wants me to dance. He won’t pose a threat to my career. Unlike whoever father choses. I cannot take any risk.”

Jimin casted a glance towards Jeongguk's sleeping face. The little puffs of air that escaped his lips. His relaxed features, oozing nothing but warmth.

"Most men have a tendency to cripple your wings and put you in a cage once they get a hold of you.” Taehyung had told him.

“I’ll leave him then.” Jimin had replied. “Once I’m married, father won’t have any claims over me. He won’t have any say in my life. And if Jeongguk turns out to be slightly as controlling I’ll straightaway file for a divorce.”

Jimin's eyes welled up with tears. He got up and locked himself in the en suite. His body was shaking terribly with the sobs emanating from his throat.

"I put so many clauses into this marriage that I strongly believed that it would fail one day." "

And if I say I love you, what stops me from empathizing with you? I can't say I love you and then not try to understand your fears. That's not love. You did put those clauses, Jimin. And I put myself in your shoes."

Jeongguk wouldn't do this to him. No. Jeongguk couldn't do this to him. Jimin had told him clearly. Jimin couldn't be pregnant.

"This is how it's going to be. Dancing will always be first for me."

Hyunbin's sinister voice rumbled in his ears. His degrading laughter, Minseo's stabbing huffs. They had wanted this for him. To fall pregnant and be forced to leave his career.

"He will learn. Jeongguk will teach him, he'll show him his purpose."

"Let him dance and be pretty. The day's not far when Jeongguk will demand for him to carry his children and he will have to retire from this madness."

Jimin shook his head vehemently. Tears oozed out of his eyes in rivulets. He plopped down on the floor, hugging his knees to his chest.

"You'll never find yourself alone in this marriage."

“I’ll leave him then.”

"Most men have a tendency to cripple your wings and put you in a cage once they get a hold of you.”

"He will learn. Jeongguk will teach him, he'll show him his purpose."

"Jimin, please open the door!"

Jimin plastered a hand on his mouth. His body shook with fear, with uncertainty and despair. Jeongguk kept knocking at the door desperately, clamouring and pleading, begging him to let him in.

"Baby, please," Jeongguk let out a broken sob. "Jiminie, please, let me in. Please, I beg you."

When Jimin finally found the strength to get up and open the door, Jeongguk engulfed him into a tight hug. He squeezed Jimin's shivering body against his own, kissed the side of his face dozens of times and whispered apologies into his skin.

"I didn't do it on purpose." Jeongguk begged him. "I swear to you, Jimin, I could never do this to you on purpose."

Jimin wailed brokenly. He clutched onto Jeongguk for dear life. "I-I cannot leave you."

"W-What?" Jeongguk wheezed, holding Jimin's face in his hands.

"I cannot leave you, Jeongguk. I cannot live without you." Jimin hiccuped.

"You—No Jimin. What are you thinking." Jeongguk's face turned pallid. "Why–Why would you say that?"

Jimin's chin wobbled. "I had told you that I would leave you if you do anything to jeopardize my career."

"Jimin, I'm begging you, please believe me. I didn't plan on knocking you up." Jeongguk's eyes filled up with tears and he cried pitifully. "You can't leave me, baby. I'm at fault but you can't leave me."

Jimin could not bear to look at Jeongguk's tears. He plunged himself into Jeongguk's arms and wept like a child. They held each other for long, painful moments. Too afraid to let go. Too afraid to speak.

Jeongguk eventually led Jimin back into the bedroom after the both of them having calmed down conspicously.

"I can't be pregnant." Jimin quavered. "I can't have a baby, Jeongguk. It's not only about my career, I'm too afraid. I don't know about carrier pregnancies and it's haunting me." Jimin rubbed a hand down his face. The back of his eyes was hurting so bad, his head was hurting, his heart was hurting. "I'm not ready to have a baby. I'm not mentally there, Jeongguk. What am I going to do?"

Jimin's eyes widened with fear then. "What do I say to Hobi hyung? What do I tell them? What do I—"

"You're not alone in this." Jeongguk promised. He brought Jimin in in an embrace and rubbed his arm soothingly. He spoke in a low voice after an interlude. "I'll take care of it. I talked to Eunhee earlier. It's a contraception failure and you're just a month along."

Jimin exhaled shakily. He looked up at Jeongguk with hesitant eyes. "Y-You are saying..."

Jeongguk nodded. "We can terminate this pregnancy."

Jimin shuddered bodily. Fear crept up his spine but Jeongguk held onto him. "Abort the baby?" Jimin croaked.

Jeongguk winced. "It's not a baby yet, Jimin. Just a month old conception." He placated. "I know it sounds scary but I think it's the right thing to do. We can't have a baby right now."

Jimin shook his head. "I don't... I-I'm scared, J-Jeonggukie."

"I know." Jeongguk murmured. He cupped Jimin's face and kissed his chapped lips. He let Jimin hide his face in his chest. "I'm scared too. But you're too young to have a baby. We haven't talked about it. We're not ready. And who would know better than us about trying to raise a human being when you're not even remotely ready to be a parent."

"B-But, Jeongguk..."

"Think about it." Jeongguk said into Jimin's hair. "Take a few days' time and think about it. They will just give you a couple meds and it'll be over. No one will ever know about it. No one will speak about it."

Jimin screwed his eyes shut and clenched Jeongguk's shirt in a tight grip.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Jimin." Jeongguk held Jimin just as tightly. "I will take care of it. And nothing of this sort will ever happen again."

Chapter Text

Jimin settled back against the cushioned baluster, overlooking the koi filled pond.

The morning air was chilly and he was clad in some shorts and t-shirt. He didn't have breakfast even, the morning sickness rendering him unable to bear even the sight of food. So he slipped outside to his favorite place of the entire hill suite property.

This one gazebo, secluded and surrounded by cypress and jasmine, affording a breathtaking view of the crest of hills, had always tempted Jimin. When Jeongguk came to learn about it, he redesigned the entire area to Jimin's taste. So now, there were slate stone pathways leading to the gazebo and to the artificial pond, well kept, which housed a gasp of koi. Pampas grass and marigolds lined it's perimeter. Colourful and jubilant. So unlike the tumultuous mess that had become of Jimin's life.

Jimin was an unwanted child. Born at a very difficult time when his parents' marriage was in shambles. Unloved and uncared for. And then casted out when he was confirmed to be a carrier. Jimin felt his throat clog up. He closed his eyes and breathed in heavily. Trying to ward off that unpleasant congest by filling his lungs up to the hilt. There was an unwanted baby in his womb too. Just like himself. About to be rejected and damned.

When Hyunbin denounced Jimin unfit to be his son, the resentment towards his father drove Jimin to make something of his life. He would be lying through his teeth if he said that he never wanted to confute and spite Hyunbin. He wanted to prove his father wrong. He wanted to live and strive so that one day he would look his father in the eye and tell him how awfully wrong he was about Jimin. And now... Jimin would lose the very reason to make better of himself, to confront Hyunbin, to loathe Hyunbin for turning his life into a desolate boneyard. At least Hyunbin let him be born. Here was Jimin, contemplating whether he wanted his baby... his guiltless little baby... to be born at all.

Jimin shuddered bodily. No. It wasn't a baby yet... An embryo, not bigger than a sesame seed, which looked more like a tadpole than human at this stage. His doctor said so and so did Jeongguk. But this... this little thing did not ask to be made. Just like Jimin had not asked to be made and brought to this world.

And what if Jimin decided against aborting it? Could he devote his time carefully to the bringing up of the baby? He would have to make indefinite sacrifices. Dancing he could not fathom his life to be anything without, he would have to give up. How would he juggle hectic schedules and taking care of a baby? He travelled quite a lot for his concerts. He would have to abandon the baby and hire a caretaker for them. Just like Jeongguk's mother did... And then what happened? Jeongguk detested Sooyeon for it. And so would his baby him. Jimin shivered at the thought. Wouldn't the baby wish that Jimin aborted them just like Jimin had wished countless times upon himself? How would Jimin endure being hated by his own child? How would he survive that? He could tolerate his father's hatred, not his baby's.

But could he really bring himself to abort this... this tiny sesame seed sized life? Helpless... At the mercy of Jimin's decision. Not a baby yet, but still a growing life nonetheless. Innocent and pure.

Guiltless, just like Jimin was.

But letting the baby live wouldn't just entail eight more months of being pregnant and then undergoing procedures to bring them to the world, no. Being a parent would start after that and Jimin would never stop being one. What if he failed his own kid? How would Jimin live with that?

Jimin hugged his knees to his chest and let out a choked sob. Was he really pregnant? Was there really a tiny life growing inside of his body? God. This wasn't how he had envisioned falling pregnant. He adored children and had pictured adopting a precious baby in some distant future. That he would one day conceive, he had always taken with a grain of salt. He foolishly told himself over and over that it wouldn't happen to him despite being told again and again that it would. That he would be made to stand down and leave his passion for good. That his sole purpose would be serving like some broodmare, bearing kids and staying home looking pretty. Hyunbin had warned him that a time would come when his wings would be crippled and he would be left noosed and entrapped. And that was precisely what was happening to him...

But Jeongguk could not do this to him... Jeongguk loved him. Jeongguk made him feel like he was worthy of being loved. Jimin was his and he didn't have to knock him up to make him stay by his side. Jeongguk didn't do it on purpose... Hyunbin was gravely wrong about Jeongguk.

Jimin flinched bodily the moment he felt a touch on his shoulder. He turned his head sharply to the side, only to be met with Jeongguk's gaze. Jeongguk smiled hesitantly at him as he proceeded to wrap the soft throw blanket around Jimin's frame.

"It's chilly out here." He spoke softly.

"Thank you." Jimin replied dutifully and averted his gaze.

"You didn't have breakfast." Jeongguk murmured then and Jimin shook his head.

"Here," Jeongguk smiled. Jimin looked at the steaming cup of tea Jeongguk had brought him. He reached his hands and accepted the tea. The warm cup channeling some heat and comfort to his numb fingers.

"Chamomile tea. It'll settle your stomach and nausea." He said, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. Jeongguk looked troubled and unsure. Jimin didn't like seeing Jeongguk like this at all. The silence that befell them felt like daggers being shoved into Jimin's heart. He swallowed around a dry throat and licked his parched lips.

"Thank you." He looked up and smiled at Jeongguk. "You're getting late for the office."

He saw Jeongguk let out a breath of relief. The latter staggered a bit before he leaned down and cupped Jimin's face with both hands. "I've taken a week off." Jeongguk whispered, "I'm making you some food. You haven't eaten properly for days. I know you want to be here alone..." He said, directing his gaze towards the house phone on the coffee table, "Call me if you need anything, hmm?"

Jimin nodded. He felt his heart clench painfully inside his chest as Jeongguk brushed the hair away from his forehead and planted a kiss there.

Jimin watched him walk back to the house with longing eyes and as he pondered on and on, he remembered vividly the times he had wanted Jeongguk not to wear the condom. The times when he begged Jeongguk to not wear one. Wasn't it selfish of him? Putting Jeongguk in such a dilemma, asking such a thing of him which would put his patience on trial when Jimin was the one who put the condition forth in the first place. And yet Jeongguk willingly let himself be prosecuted. Jimin couldn't even count the number of times Jeongguk apologized to him since that fateful day.

The pregnancy was an accident... They had never talked about it... God, they weren't even ready for it. Jimin wasn't ready for it. It wasn't even Jeongguk fault. His husband took the whole responsibility upon himself but Jimin knew in his heart that he was responsible too. He became too careless. He asked Jeongguk to not wear condom a few times. And when they were both high and drunk, neither could be held responsible for the conception. They weren't in the right state of mind that night, their inhibitions washed away and so it was selfish of Jimin to hold Jeongguk accountable. The pregancy was an accident. Jeongguk was not what Hyunbin and Minseo prophesied him to turn into.

But it couldn't be undone. He did get pregnant and the outcome was growing in his womb. And Jimin was scared shitless. What if he developed some complication and it endangered his life or the baby's? What if something bad did happen to him? He had researched thoroughly about carrier pregnancies and all that he learnt left him with a thundering heart and drenched in cold sweat.

He wanted to call Taehyung and tell him. But he couldn't. He wouldn't be able to bear if Taehyung resented Jeongguk for getting Jimin pregnant. He couldn't talk to anyone about it. But how would he decide anything then without even taking advice from his friends? 

Jimin put the cup down on the table. He planted his head on his knees and cried.

....

Hyejin walked into the kitchen with a heavy heart. She pursed her lips, her shoulders slumped and her eyes hazy as she took in the sight of Jeongguk chopping away with guilt written all over his face.

"Did Jimin say what he wants to eat?" Hyejin asked gently as she stood besides Jeongguk.

Jeongguk shook his head. "I couldn't ask him." He said in a gruff voice as he put the chopped vegetables in a bowl. "I talked to Eunhee and researched a bit. So I'm preparing quite a few dishes and hoping that at least one of them would sit right with Jimin. Eunhee said mixed gain rice and seaweed soup are good for him." He said with a weak voice, as he started working on the broth. "I think he will be able to eat these at least. And I'm preparing his favourite dishes too. And I think that if I add—"

Hyejin placed a hand on Jeongguk's, taking the ladle away from him. "You're a nervous talker." She said in a sad tone.

Jeongguk let out a shaky breath and leaned heavily against the countertop. "I don't know what I'm doing, Hyeji. I don't know what I should do."

"Did he say anything?" Hyejin asked. "Has he decided?"

"No." Jeongguk shook his head. "Nothing yet."

Hyejin chewed on her lip and rubbed at her eyes, pressing down at her eyeballs to relieve some stress. She held Jeongguk's shoulders then, turning him to face her.

"And what about you? What do you want?"

"I want his happiness." Jeongguk said with quivering lips.

"About the baby, Jeongguk." Hyejin bellowed. "It's your child too."

"It is." Jeongguk choked out. "M-My child. But I'm not the one carrying the baby, Hyeji. I don't get to decide for Jimin."

"It's your first child, Jeonggukie. Don't you have love for it?" Hyejin let out a sob.

Jeongguk's eyes filled with tears. He turned his face away. "My first child." He murmured with a sad smile. "I always dreamed about having kids. How I would provide for them. How I would play with them and nourish them." He then turned to look back at Hyejin. "And whenever I daydreamed about having kids, it was never under these circumstances." Jeongguk took in a deep breath, willing the tears away. "Of course, I love the baby. I'm protective of it. I want to m-meet my child. But not like this, Hyeji. Not at the expense of risking Jimin's life and happiness."

Jeongguk held the woman's hand then and walked her to the balcony overlooking the garden. Hyejin's eyes instantly fell on Jimin's crouched form, sitting aloof in the far pavilion.

"Look how miserable I have made him." Jeongguk sniffled, voice trembling. "He has grown weak already, Hyeji. And I can't see him like this. He's too young to have a baby."

Jeongguk turned the woman towards himself then and cupped her face with both hands. "I love him. I can't live without Jimin. And if I have to sacrifice a hundred babies for his sake, I'll do it."

....

Jimin took a few days' time to make the decision. Jeongguk stayed patient and understanding. Neither he nor Hyejin hovered around him or nagged him. Jimin told Hoseok that he was sick and needed to take proper rest.

He took days off and spent most of his time out in the garden. But every time he rode the elevator to the penthouse and passed the studio floor, his heart ached so badly. He tried to keep his eyes shut and never look towards that floor number either on the panel or the display. But his heart ached nonetheless.

....

He was sitting in the drawing room one evening. This spacious room situated away from the living area, cozy and warm. He was mindlessly flipping through the channels on the tv when his phone started ringing.

"Jihyunie?"

"Jimin, are you alright?" Jihyun's worried voice flooded his ears.

"W-Why are you asking?" Jimin swallowed thickly as he sat up straight.

"I saw you on the news. You went to the hospital? Jeongguk hyung was carrying you. What's wrong? Why did you go to the hospital?"

Jimin closed his eyes and sighed. His racing heart slowly settling. "I wasn't feeling well. I took some days off too. I just had caught cold."

"Really?" Jihyun sounded doubtful.

"Y-Yeah. You know Jeongguk. He freaks out easily when I tell him that I'm not feeling good." Jimin tried to laugh it off. "So he took me to the hospital for a check up. But you know the media, Jihyun."

"You looked troubled." Jihyun stated. "I saw you on the tv and you were looking like you were about to cry."

Jimin felt his throat clog up. His lips trembled with the intense urge to share his predicament with his brother. No... Jihyun already had a lot on his plate. He was already fighting their parents for Jimin's sake. He had even started living in the university campus, away from their parents. Jimin couldn't burden him with this now. What kind of an older brother would he be to worry Jihyun like this.

"Jiminie? Are you there?"

"Yea—Yeah." Jimin willed the tears away. "I just couldn't dance for many days so I was feeling really low."

"Oh, Jiminie." Jihyun's guilt laden voice made his heart ache. "I can understand then. I know how bad you feel when you fall sick and can't dance. But are you eating properly? Are you taking care of yourself, hyung?"

Jimin nodded miserably. "Jeongguk is taking good care of me." He said with a wavering voice, unable to keep the tears at bay any longer. "He took days off. He has been cooking for me all this time. He... He is..."

"Jiminie, I'm so happy that you married Jeongguk hyung. I can sleep soundly at night, relieved that you're being loved so much and taken care of."

Jimin dissolved into sobs. "I-I don't know what I ever did to deserve Jeongguk." He rubbed defeatedly at his eyes and tried to level his breathing. And when he looked to the side, Jeongguk was standing here by the door, watching him.

Jimin's eyes filled up with tears there and then. His ears were ringing and he couldn't make sense of anything Jihyun was saying. He stared as Jeongguk slowly approached him.

"I'll talk to you later, baby." Jimin said to Jihyun before disconnecting the call and burying his face in his hands.

"Baby." Jeongguk called and kneeled down in front of him. He grabbed Jimin's hands and slowly pushed them away from his face.

"I-I'm scared, Jeongguk." Jimin cried. "I can't decide... I c-can't—I don't know what I should do..."

Jeongguk inhaled deeply as he cupped Jimin's face with both hands. "I think we should do it."

Jimin looked at him with fearful eyes.

"It's not the right time, Jimin. We can't handle it right now." He said calmly.

"W-What if..." Jimin wheezed out. "What if I can't get pregnant in the future?" He clutched onto Jeongguk's shoulders when the latter looked at him with confused eyes. "Jeongguk... What if after we a-abort this baby, I can't get pregnant again?"

"What are you saying?"

Jimin rubbed furiously at his eyes. "Carrier pregnancies are so difficult, Jeongguk. I was able to get pregnant but what if I-I abort it and then I can't get pregnant again?"

Jeongguk thumbed at his drenched cheek. "Then you don't get pregnant again."

Jimin shook his head in despair. "Y-You don't understand. What if I can't conceive ever after this? When we will want to be parents and then we can't—"

"Then we'll adopt a baby." Jeongguk smiled weakly. "Jiminie, conceiving and bringing the baby into the world doesn't make you parents. Taking care of them, loving them and bringing them up with devotion does." He leaned up and kissed Jimin's tear stained face. "Why are you thinking about this? Hmm? Haven't I made it clear that I didn't marry you for producing babies?"

Jimin gave him a sad little smile. "B-But—"

"I can't see you like this." Jeongguk pleaded. "I'd give anything... anything to go back and stop this from happening."

"It's not your fault." Jimin tried.

"Of course it is." Jeongguk frowned. "I was so stupid. I should have kept myself in check. God, I brought this upon us."

Jimin placed his hand on Jeongguk's lips. "Stop blaming yourself."

Jeongguk kissed Jimin's palm lovingly. "I can't see you like this, Jimin. It's killing me."

Jimin plunged himself into Jeongguk's arms and wept. Jeongguk held him tight. "I'll take care of it, hmm? I won't let you hurt any more."

Jimin nodded pitifully into his chest. His nails ripping into Jeongguk's shirt with every wail.

....

Jimin clinged onto Jeongguk's arm the whole time. His body kept breaking into cold sweat, his gut churning with displeasure as he walked into the clinic. Jimin kept his eyes trained on the floor whilst Jeongguk talked to the nurse and as they were led into the waiting area.

"It's okay." Jeongguk soothed him. He wrapped an arm around Jimin's shoulders and kissed the crown of his head. "It's going to be okay."

Jimin trembled with fear. He dared a look at the other patients. Pregnant women. Some with little kids in the tow. Swollen bellies and cheerful faces. Jimin teared his gaze away and burried his face into Jeongguk's coat. Not a single carrier. Just him.

Jeongguk kept humming reassuringly in his ear but the giggles and gurgles drowned his voice completely. Jimin's heart ached. He looked up at Jeongguk's face with raw eyes. "Pl... Please, Jeongguk..."

Jeongguk instantly gathered him and walked into Eunhee's room. He sat Jimin down and talked to the doctor. Jimin felt the dread slowly slither up his spine. His hands were shaking badly. He looked blankly at Jeongguk when the latter patiently went over the process again. Telling him that he would have to take two pills and then Jeongguk would take him home. That it would be over soon. Jimin tried to focus. He tried to make sense of Jeongguk's moving lips and yet all he could hear was his own ragged breathing.

He was about to abort the baby. Jimin was about to abort his child.

He didn't move when Jeongguk tried to coax him. Instead, he squeezed Jeongguk's hands hard. "I-I want to see it first." Jimin whispered.

"What, love?" Jeongguk asked.

"Ultrasound." Jimin breathed harshly and looked at Eunhee. "I-I want to see it once."

Jeongguk looked conflicted but agreed. Since the pregancy for carriers was always deemed high risk, ultrasound at six weeks was allowed. And so Jimin was led into another room. His knees buckled up but Jeongguk never let go. He placed him on the bed and sat near him. Jeongguk kept kissing him lovingly as his belly was exposed and some gel was applied to his abdomen and pelvic area.

Jimin kept looking at Jeongguk. His heart was galloping inside his chest. His fingers were numb with how harshly he was clutching onto Jeongguk's coat.

"Jimin-ssi, now I'm going to place this transducer onto your belly." Eunhee informed him and Jimin nodded jerkily.

"Breathe." Jeongguk murmured to him and Jimin gasped for air.

Eunhee kept moving the transducer around and Jimin kept looking into Jeongguk's eyes. The silence was deafening. The white of the room was hurting Jimin's eyes and he didn't want to be there any longer. Jeongguk kept caressing his cheek with his thumb.

"Jimin-ssi." Eunhee spoke softly. "Here."

Jimin swallowed around a parched mouth and turned his head slowly to the monitor. His breath hitched the moment his hazy eyes fell on that small blip.

Eunhee pointed towards it. "Here's the gestational sac. The embryo is planted excellently in the womb." She said and Jimin focused hard on the grainy image. "And this—" Eunhee continued as she moved the wand a bit on Jimin's pelvis, "Can you see this little flutter in this area?" She asked and Jimin nodded slowly. Eunhee looked back at him with gentle eyes. "It's the heartbeat. The embryo looks very healthy to me, Jimin-ssi. It has already developed the heartbeat at six weeks. This area..." Eunhee pointed back to the screen, "Is going to transform into heart."

Jimin kept mum as his belly was cleaned and he was led back to Eunhee's office. Jeongguk was clearing some doubts with Eunhee, asking her for how long Jimin had to rest after the product of conception was removed. Jimin slowly looked down at his stomach, it didn't look different to him. No one could guess that there was this tiny blip growing inside. The tiny blip with a heartbeat. His vision blurred with the onslaught of tears as he placed a trembling hand on his belly.

Jeongguk walked up to him after a moment. He tucked Jimin's hair behind his ears and smiled reassuringly at him. "Come, baby." He urged. "I'll take you home as soon as—"

"I can't do it." Jimin whispered out.

"What?" Jeongguk frowned.

Jimin looked up at him with a broken expression. "I can't do it."

"What are you saying, Jimin?" Jeongguk asked. His eyes became hauntingly large and he stopped breathing altogether.

Jimin sobbed as he shook his head. "I can't kill it. I can't kill our baby, Jeonggukie."

....

As soon as Jeongguk brought Jimin back home, Hyejin's heart dropped down to the floor. They were supposed to be back home much earlier and Hyejin had been restlessly pacing the whole time. She never bore any child, she couldn't fathom what Jimin might have been going through and her heart ached so terribly for him. She didn't know how to console him.

She had been gathering strength since the couple left for the clinic. But all her strength crumbled down into nothingness when her eyes took in Jimin's wretched state. Jeongguk was holding him in his arms and Jimin was crying feebly.

Hyejin rushed to them at once. And Jimin latched onto her.

"Shh, my child." Hyejin said to him, craddling his head to her chest. "It's over now. You're going to be okay."

But Jimin shook his head weakly. His swollen eyes emptied of all the tears. "I-I saw it." Jimin hiccuped. "H-Hyeji... I s-saw it..."

Hyejin looked up at Jeongguk's downcast eyes. And then back at Jimin.

"I-I saw the b-baby." Jimin let out a heartwrenching cry. "It has a h-heartbeat." And Jimin broke down into ugly sobs.

Jeongguk crouched down and wrapped his arms around Jimin's shuddering body. Jimin cried out into his neck and Jeongguk hugged him tight. He looked at Hyejin with a defeated look in his eyes.

....

Minseo walked out of the room hurriedly with her ringing phone clutched tightly in her hand. She casted one more glance towards Hyunbin's sleeping face before gently shutting the door close and descending down the stairs. And then she rushed into the dining room and answered the phone.

"Jihyunie? How's Jimin? Did you talk to him?"

Jihyun sighed on the other side of the phone. "Yeah. I just called him. He said he had caught a cold and wasn't feeling well."

"Oh, thank God!" Minseo exhaled. "I got worried when I saw him on the news. He looked so distraught."

"Yeah." Jihyun murmured. "He hasn't been able to dance for weeks so he was feeling very low."

Minseo bit down on her lip and settled into one of the chairs. "Look how miserable I am." She bemoaned. "I come to know that my kid is sick and I can't even ask him what's wrong."

"You could call him on the phone." Jihyun said flatly.

Minseo clicked her tongue. "You know your father, Jihyun. If he comes to know that I called Jimin, God knows what he will do to me."

"It's your own fault." Jihyun retorted immediately. "You let it happen. You never spoke against the brutal way Jimin hyung has been treated."

"Because I'm scared of your father!" Minseo hissed. "You're aware how he severed all the ties with my entire family! If he kicks me out, where would I go? He ruined all my relations, Jihyun, and I can't make him angry. He will..." She swallowed harshly as her voice trembled. "He will separate me from my kids."

"Hasn't he done that already?" Jihyun chuckled bitterly. "You wanted to preserve your marriage and Jimin had to pay for it."

"You don't know how much I suffer. You don't know how badly my heart aches for Jimin. He's my firstborn, I loved him more than I ever did you and because of the animosity between him and Hyunbin, I lost my son." She cried softly. "And now I have to ask you if Jimin is doing fine. How helpless I am. It's better to die than—"

"Stop." Jihyun groaned. "Stop, mom. Go to sleep, I'll... I'll talk to you tomorrow. If your husband comes to know that you're talking to me about Jimin, he might divorce you."

Minseo closed her eyes as Jihyun disconnected the call. She put the phone down on the table and wiped at her eyes. And then she looked up at the photo frames, the family pictures hanging on the walls around her.

Hyunbin had removed Jimin from them. He didn't just marry him off, it was like he wanted to get rid of his entire existence from their lives. And now, Jihyun had removed all his pictures too. Minseo looked at the pictures with dead eyes. She stared on and on... before a sly smirk appeared on her face. And then she picked her phone back up and dailed the number she knew by heart.

"Miyeon?" She smiled wickedly. "I did it. I separated him from both the kids."

Minseo remembered vividly how brutally her husband had ended all the ties with her family. She was an orphan and had been brought up by her elder sister and two brothers. She loved her siblings dearly and she loved their kids dearly. But when she got married to Hyunbin, he took everything away from her.

Hyunbin had a bad temper. His siblings had no love for him or for Minseo or their children. He had caused enough ruckus in their lives that after they married him to Minseo, they wanted to be done with him. When they finally kicked him out, Hyunbin took it out on Minseo. He made the plans overnight and then asked Minseo to pack her entire life and move to Seoul with him and their children. He didn't pay any heed to her pleas and tears. Minseo watched with numb eyes as Hyunbin mistreated her siblings and casted them out of her life.

The day she set foot in Seoul, her blood thumped with the dire urge to take revenge. She made sure that Hyunbin never pulled around and mended his relations with his family. But it didn't bring her the peace she wanted. So she slowly started poisoning his heart against his own kids.

She blamed Jimin once and then Hyunbin never stopped blaming Jimin. She looked at Jimin with disapproval and Hyunbin sneered down at him. Minseo's plans were shaping perfectly. She just had to plot and then wait till her children came of age. And then she wouldn't even have to leave the house. Her kids, moved by the immense hatred for their father, would take her away.

If only Jimin wasn't confirmed to be a carrier.

Minseo remembered how it shook her entire existence. Hyunbin was livid. But she seethed. This wasn't what she had planned. She wanted to marry Jimin to Miyeon, her niece. The only daughter of Minseo's distraught sister. This was to be her salvation. Her only chance to fix her ties with her family. Miyeon was barren and it turned away all the suitors. And as long as she and Jimin had different surnames, the family wouldn't mind this marriage. They were desperate enough and so was Minseo.

But Jimin ruined it. He had to be a carrier. Hyunbin didn't waste a second and started looking for a husband for him. And Minseo loathed Jimin for it. But she didn't even have to punish Jimin for disappointing her and breaking Miyeon's heart. Hyunbin and Sooyeon were going to do it for her.

Now all she needed was Jihyun. She had tried so hard to degrade Jimin's image in his eyes but it only drove Jihyun away from her. Now she had to move very cautiously. The only way she could keep Jihyun tied to herself was by pretense. She had to pretend to love Jimin and victimize herself. Once she moved away with Jihyun, she could even coax him into marrying Miyeon.

Minseo exhaled a satisfied breath. She just had to wait and play that dumb role. And sooner than later her life would turn around.

....

"Jimin." Jeongguk tried but Jimin shook his head.

"I can't do it, Jeongguk." He said with a gruff voice. He didn't have any more tears to shed. His eyes were hurting. His head was hurting. He somehow manged to get some food in his stomach.

"How..." Jeongguk started only to falter.

"I don't know." Jimin whispered. "I'm scared. I don't know what I'm gonna do but I just know that I can't do that to our baby." He looked up and reached a hand out, urging Jeongguk to sit with him on the bed. Jimin clutched onto Jeongguk's hand and breathed harshly. "It has a heartbeat, Jeongguk..."

Jeongguk ached. He let Jimin hide his face in his chest and just held him. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what they were getting themselves into... All he knew was that Jimin was sacrificing so much because of him.

"What about the performance?" Jeongguk asked quietly.

"I'm not performing." Jimin replied with a thick voice, at the verge of breaking down. "B-But I will after the baby is born."

Jeongguk wanted to cry. He held onto Jimin amd tried to channel comfort into his trembling body.

"What do I do, baby?" Jeongguk asked pleadingly. "Tell me, I'd do anything for you."

Jimin looked up at him then. He stared at Jeongguk's face for a long moment with a distant look in his eyes. "Once this news gets out, it'll be a mess." Jimin winced as the images of media swarming them and the news channels going berserk flashed before his eyes.

Jeongguk listened patiently. His doe eyes trained on Jimin, ready to remedy whatever he could.

"Busan." Jimin murmured. "I want to go to Busan before we tell anybody about the baby."

Chapter Text

"Yes. That's why I called you. He's..." Jeongguk trailed off and looked towards Jimin, whose gaze was already trained on Jeongguk. He assessed Jimin with silent eyes for a couple moments before resuming to speak on the phone. "He's feeling much better today. But he needs to stay away from stress as much as he can. So I want to take him to Busan for some time."

Jimin fidgeted nervously, nursing a warm cup of chamomile tea while Hyejin rubbed his back soothingly. Jeongguk was currently on the phone with Eunhee, making sure that Jimin could travel safely.

"Yeah, his next check up is in a week." Jeongguk was saying. He was pacing now, a frown permanently settled between his brows. He looked much older these days, the stress had given him shadows under his eyes and a stubble he didn't care to shave. So unlike how pristine Jeongguk always looked.

Jimin felt guilt churn his insides. Neither Jeongguk nor Hyejin had passed a single peaceful day since the pregnancy was revealed to them. Especially Jeongguk… Jimin's heart ached for him and he felt even worse because he couldn't console him, couldn't assuage his grief just like he was doing for Jimin.

Jeongguk didn't deserve it. Not one bit.

Jimin's eyes fluttered open when Jeongguk drew a hand through his hair. He didn't even remember when he had shut them. He looked up at Jeongguk and tried to muster up a smile. Jeongguk traced his cheek with his fingertips and leaned down. He kissed Jimin on the lips and lingered there, just breathing him in. Jimin closed his eyes and accepted the kiss gratefully. He felt the cup being gently taken away from him and then sensed as Hyejin silently walked away to give them some privacy.

Jimin kept his lips locked with Jeongguk's, and the latter slowly crouched down. His hands wrapped around Jimin's waist and Jimin held onto Jeongguk's scruff.

"Jimin," Jeongguk breathed and nuzzled lovingly against Jimin's nose. "We should think again."

Jimin kissed him. He kissed him because he was bereft of any answers. He just knew that he couldn't abort the baby. He just knew it.

Jeongguk's hands slowly travelled up Jimin's sides and then held his face. He kissed Jimin just as eagerly as Jimin wanted him to. And when they parted, Jeongguk pleaded with him again. "A lot's at stake, Jimin. It's not the right time for a baby."

"Jeongguk." Jimin opened his eyes and looked at Jeongguk longingly. His gaze traversed Jeongguk's features, the shadows under his eyes and his sunken cheeks. He brushed his hand along Jeongguk's stubble and he couldn't help when his chin wobbled.

"When I decided to marry you, I made a resolve. That I'd divorce you if you force me to leave my career or make me have a baby. I always told myself that I'll leave you... And that was it. I never thought beyond that." Jimin heaved, lowering his eyes and focusing on Jeongguk's collar instead. "Now that I'm thinking about it, what would I have done after taking the divorce from you? Would I have aborted the baby then?" Jimin let out a shuddering breath. He kept his lips sealed for long excruciating moments and then shook his head slowly. "I don't think so. I would have taken the divorce from you and then brought the baby up myself."

Jimin then pecked Jeongguk's lips and stayed there for a while. Their erratic breaths mingled and their restless hearts beat in a cataclysmic symphony. "I wouldn't abort the baby. Neither in that situation nor in this."

....

Jimin gazed out of the window. His head was resting against the tinted glass as his eyes took in the sight of countryside; the grove of trees and farming lands. It had been a long while since he last visited Busan. A few months before the marriage.

Jimin sighed deeply and then peered down as Jeongguk rested a hand on his. Jimin smiled softly and intertwined their fingers.

He closed his eyes then and drifted in and out of slumber as Jeongguk drove them to their destination. He distantly remembered hearing Jeongguk talk on the phone, making sure that the necessary arrangements were made at the house.

When Jimin woke up, it was to the cool draught of air fluttering around him, bringing a taste of the ocean with it. Jimin made a soft sound at the back of his throat and stretched his limbs. He opened his eyes to the sight of a beautiful summer house, buffered by hills and trees. The sound of crashing waves ricocheted around him, with the squawk of seagulls. Jimin blinked, mesmerized, and then he turned his face to the side, only to find Jeongguk watching him raptly.

"We're here?" Jimin mumbled and Jeongguk smiled, nodding his head.

"We're here." He crooned.

The beach house was situated at an exotic location, nestled between the hills on one side and providing a panoramic view of the shoreline on the other, and Jimin looked in awe at the deep wood tones and marble stone construction. The celebrated local materials, native plants and the openness of the site instantly putting him at ease.

Jimin was so glad that Jeongguk brought them here, away from the maddening rush of Seoul and the constant scrutiny. He felt like he could finally breathe.

....

"Jeongguk," Jimin called from the bed where he had been splayed out, rendered unable to move owing to the sudden bouts of nausea, while Jeongguk meticulously unloaded their luggage. "Did you call Hyeji?"

"Yeah, I did." Came Jeongguk's answer. Jimin peeked down the bed and found him arranging stuff from Jimin's bags of toiletries. Jimin's heart melted.

"Here, baby." Jeongguk smiled, producing a neatly arranged basket. "Are you still dizzy?"

Jimin shook his head. "I'm fine now." He smiled softly as he accepted the basket gratefully.

"Okay, go take a shower, hmm? I'll make sure the dinner's ready." Jeongguk said. "But please be careful. If you want I can—"

Jimin kissed Jeongguk. And then left lingering pecks along Jeongguk's jawline. "I'll be fine."

Jimin then tredded towards the bathroom, turned the shower on. He rested his head against the glass and closed his eyes shut. He had come back to Busan with a purpose... Hoping to find some answers to his questions.

....

"Here?" Jeongguk asked. He slowly drove the car up the gravel path, his eyes locked at the establishment standing in front of them. Jimin hadn't said much to him. When he woke up that morning, Jimin had already gone shopping. And the moment he returned back, he had stuffed the entire back seat with wrapped presents. Jimin had simply asked if Jeongguk could drive them to an address, he didn't even want to bring the driver along.

It was an enchanting merge of modern concrete architecture and traditional hanok design, merging seamlessly with the granite beneath. Jeongguk casted a glance at Jimin, at the way he was solemnly looking towards the vast establishment. Their hands were locked together. Jimin then turned to him, having perceived Jeongguk's gaze, and smiled at him. "Come," Jimin said, "I want you to meet some important people."

Jeongguk walked in with a bated breath. Several segments of gardens, some decorated so beautifully with stone lanterns and shadow and twilight plants and pine trees, others fitted with basketball backboard and hoops, and badminton nets. And the closer they got to the massive building, the clearer the distinct chatter became.

Jeongguk exhaled a shaky breath then as the next moment dozens of children came rushing towards them, screaming out in joy.

"Jiminie hyung!" They shrieked merrily, hurtling towards Jimin and enveloping him in a tight hug.

Jeongguk blinked. He watched on in awe as Jimin giggled so brightly while returning the hugs. He had never seen Jimin smile like this. This smile was different, it was meant for those kids alone. Jeongguk felt his heart stutter inside his chest, realizing what was happening.

It was an orphanage. An orphanage Jimin had built over the years, trying to provide nourishment and security to the parentheses kids. Jeongguk's heart swelled with pride and love. He stood there, mouth hung open as Jimin kneeled down to talk to the kids, asking them how they had been, how their studies were going. Jeongguk's heart felt so full, he thought he might cry.

"Jimin!"

Jeongguk looked back ahead then as a middle aged woman came running towards them.

"Heavens! I didn't know you were coming!"

The woman engulfed Jimin in a tight hug, kissing the side of his face. "How have you been, darling?"

Jeongguk chewed on his lip. His gaze filtered between Jimin and the woman talking animatedly and the children whose interest was suddenly piqued towards him. Jeongguk smiled at them, greeting them formally.

"Hello. How're you doing?" He smiled, "My name's Jeon Jeongguk. I'm—"

"We know!" A little boy around the age of ten squealed. "You're the prince Jiminie married!"

And then he found himself circled by all the kids.

"Wow. You're so handsome!" One of the kids chimed.

"So tall, woah! Do you drink lots of milk?"

"I heard you live in a palace!"

"Oh, I saw your palace on the tv!" Another kid beemed.

Jeongguk leaned down and ruffled the kid's hair. "Your Jiminie hyung is the prince. I'm just a very lucky man who got to marry the prince."

The kids squealed unanimously at that.

"Jeongguk is such a pretty name! What does Jeongguk mean?" Asked another kid.

"Wow kids." Jimin rolled his eyes fondly. "What's the age difference here?"

Jeongguk threw his head back and laughed. He ruffled the boy's head one more time who had asked the question. "I'm not quite sure about the meaning behind my name. But it's something along the lines of 'the pillars of the nation'. It was given to me by my grandfather." Jeongguk smiled wide as the kid's eyes sparkled. "You can call me hyung."

"Wow, the great pillar! Jiminie hyung's name means greatness too. 'My wisdom will reach higher than the sky', Jiminie's name means."

"Of course." Jeongguk murmured and then looked up at Jimin. "Your Jiminie hyung was born to be great."

Jimin's cheeks turned rosy as he shyly averted his gaze.

"Jihoon, run along now, I've bought you all something!" Jimin smiled and then the children were rushing towards the car.

"Jeongguk," Jimin murmured then. "This's Ahn Gaeun. She's the caretaker and the manager of the orphanage."

"Nice to meet you." Jeongguk shook the woman's hand.

"And noona, this's—"

"Jeongguk-ssi," Gaeun smiled, "I'm so happy to finally meet you. Jiminie talks a lot about you on the phone."

Jeongguk raised an eyebrow teasingly at Jimin. "Does he now?"

Jimin huffed, rolling his eyes fondly, and then turning back as the woman spoke.

"Everything pleasant." She smiled. "Pardon my manners, Jeongguk-ssi, I haven't prepared anything for your visit. The staff's gone home for the holidays, so it's me and the kids these days."

"It's okay, noona." Jimin shook his head. "We'll all go out for lunch, if it's fine."

"Yes, sure." Gaeun said. And then she looked at Jimin with a hint of concern in her eyes. Jimin's expression changed drastically, gloom overshadowed his features.

"Noona," Jimin started in a feeble voice. And Gaeun immediately shook her head defeatedly.

"She's not here, Jiminie." The woman said sadly. "She took the retirement almost immediately after you got married."

Jimin inhaled sharply. "W-What?"

"She hasn't paid any visit ever since." Gaeun said, remorseful. "I didn't have the heart to tell you. But she'll come back. You know she will. She loves you too much."

After that Jimin's spirit distinctly plummeted. They went to have lunch with Gaeun and all the kids, but Jimin was clearly at tenterhooks. Jeongguk kept a steady hand on Jimin's thigh the whole time. And if it weren't for the kids giggling merrily and hugging Jimin every now and then, Jeongguk would have had a hard time soothing Jimin.

....

"Baby?"

Jimin looked up from where he was applying some eye cream.

"Would you like some tea?" Jeongguk asked and Jimin nodded his head urgently.

"Yes, please. Chamomile." Jimin said. He wasn't feeling so good. When they came back to the beach house at evening, Jimin declined having dinner. Jeongguk still somehow managed to feed him some porridge and seaweed soup.

Jimin settled against the headboard and stared up at the lit chandelier. Their room was really beautiful. Doused in a palette of creamy white, ballet pink, and a bit of gray. Jimin's eyes were pleased the moment he set foot in the master bedroom. He sighed, letting his eyes fall shut, wondering if there was even a possible end to his agonizing dilemma.

He blinked his eyes open when Jeongguk softly called him. And then gladly accepted the warm cup of tea.

"Your feet look swollen." Jeongguk murmured then and then silently propped up Jimin's feet using a pillow and retrieved some essential oil to massage them.

Jimin watched him with a tender look in his eyes and then let out a pleased grunt as Jeongguk's strong hands worked on his aching feet. "God, thank you. My feet hurt so bad." Jimin whined.

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have put some epsom salt to the bathtub."

"You already do a lot for me." Jimin whispered.

"As I should." Jeongguk frowned. "It's all because of me. The least I can do is help you feel better."

Jimin looked at Jeongguk for a long moment. At the way Jeongguk was focused in massaging his feet, the way he was so attuned to Jimin's emotions and to his well being.

"You never told me about the kids." Jeongguk said after a peaceful interlude. "They absolutely adore you. I didn't know about the orphanage."

"I kept it a secret. I started the orphanage some years ago." Jimin smiled and then sighed. "It was all Ms Lee."

"Ms lee." Jeongguk echoed. "Your ballet teacher."

Jimin nodded. By now he had finished the tea and put the cup on the bedside table. He reached his hands out then, urging Jeonguuk to settle beside him.

"I always wanted to be more. Before I even understood the concept of want. I have always wanted to be more." Jimin said, placing his head on Jeonguuk's shoulder, hugging his forearm to his chest. "Father didn't care much about me and mother didn't want to spend her time entertaining me. So she used to lock me in a room and leave me to my own devices. And I, like most kids, would sit in front of the tv all day." Jimin closed his eyes, reminiscing. "It was probably a barbie movie. Or some other cartoon show. I don't remember clearly, but I saw them dance on the tv and my whole world changed. It became my life, watching that show, watching them move their bodies so magically. I wanted to watch more of it. And slowly I wanted more. I wanted to move just like them. I tried to but it wasn't flawless. It wasn't synchronized. It was crude and untrained. I wanted more than that. I started throwing fits, god, I was the picture of a brat, refusing to eat or cooperate with my parents. Father wasn't home most of the time and mother couldn't handle my tantrums, so she sent me to dance classes. I was what...three? Four?" Jimin scoffed fondly at the memory.

"It became my life. Every weeknd. Those two days were the highlight of my entire week. However, those classes focused more on dancing for fun and teaching basic coordination skills rather than developing any real technique. I realized that it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted more. As I grew, so did my passion for dance. I refused to stop going to the dance classes. I worked harder, studied harder to please my parents so they wouldn't stop paying for the classes. I kept wanting more and began learning from the internet. That's how I came to know about Ms Lee."

Jeongguk looked down at Jimin, at the way his eyes gleamed so beautifully. He smiled and listened on patiently.

"Lee Chowon. The goddess of ballet. She was otherworldly. So graceful. So elegant and sophisticated." Jimin said, awestruck, voice doused in immense admiration. "I wanted to be just like her. When I looked at her, I could see myself, standing there on the stage, moving like her, doing twirls and pirouettes like her. I felt the dire need to meet her and learn from her." Jimin continued and Jeongguk could feel that ecstacy conduiting to his own body. "I somehow managed to get into her dance school. I was in the class with seventy others. And they seemed to be better than me. I couldn't catch Ms Lee's eye like that. So I had to become better than them. She had other teachers teach us basics of ballet. I trained for months and never got any class from Ms Lee." Jimin's enthusiasm dwindled down then. "But her classes were expensive. And father didn't want me to act like a bloody girl anymore. He said dancing was a pretty hobby for pretty girls and then admitted me to the business school."

Jeonguuk kissed the top of Jimin's head. His heart ached as he experienced the transition of emotions. Jimin hugged him tighter.

"Those years were the worst years of my life." Jimin's voice wobbled. "I wasn't allowed to dance. I wasn't allowed to speak of it. Tae tried to cheer me up. He would take me to his then studio apartment and I'd dance and cry. He always clapped so loud for me. It wasn't the absence of dance that haunted me though, it was the fear that I'd lose my passion the longer I stayed away from it. The day I was confirmed to be a carrier... My father disowned me... Partially. I was so heart broken, Jeongguk." Jimin looked up at Jeongguk then and cupped his face with a trembling hand. "I gave years of my life for his happiness and he casted me out just like that. A single piece of paper sealed my fate that day."

Jimin burried his face into Jeongguk's chest. The latter held him through the harrowing pain of the past, those days long gone but the wound still festering. Jimin cried softly, drenching the fabric of Jeongguk's shirt with his tears. "Tae talked me out of it. He held my hand one day and took me to the principal's office. Made me drop out of the business school. I joined the performing arts classes the next day." Jimin sniffled, rubbing at his damp eyes. He let out a wet laugh then. "I went to talk to Ms Lee after that. I managed to get an appointment with her but I didn't have any source of income, I couldn't afford her classes. I told her so. I must have looked so pitiful. Pitiful and determined. That she challenged me to a dance off. Me against her best student. I tried my best but the years of gap weighed heavy on me. I couldn't win against the girl."

Jeongguk's heart stuttered inside his chest. "What did you do then?"

"I started working. I had two part-time jobs. One at a cafe and another at a pet shelter. I worked my ass off and went to school and by the end of a month, I had money on me. It was only a third of Ms Lee's fee. I was scared but I still went to see her. I told her that I would take a third of the total classes. Just two days a month." Jimin swallowed thickly. "She looked at me with such piercing eyes. The silence was so deafening that I thought my heart might stop. And then she agreed. It was like I'd hit jackpot. Eight classes a month, taught by the teachers Ms Lee had appointed, were nothing compared to the two classes a month from Ms Lee herself."

Jeonguuk smiled. He closed his eyes and felt the burning sting. "How were the classes then? How was Ms Lee?"

"She was so strict." Jimin laughed dearly. "God, she was so strict, Jeongguk. She was ruthless and she was so perfect. I worshipped her. You know she had this long cane with which she'd discipline me. Every single time it struck against my skin, it felt liberating."

Jeongguk squeezed Jimin against himself. And Jimin understood. He looked up at Jeongguk and craned his neck to plant a kiss against Jeongguk's lips. "It was necessary, baby. I needed that. It's what made me, Jeonggukie. At the end of three months, I went to her with all the money. She took it and then asked me to go along with her. She took me to an orphanage and donated the entire amount. Look for the less fortunate ones, Jimin. She said to me that day. You're fortunate that you found a way to live your passion. Some people can't even afford to have a passion."

Jeongguk waited patiently as silence befell them. Jimin's eyes were so distant. He was looking at Jeongguk but his eyes didn't seem to focus on him. Jimin blinked the haze away after a long moment. "That day I made a resolve. I didn't just want to be a dancer, a performer. I wanted to be more. I wanted to make sure that at least one unfortunate kid got to sustain his passion."

Jeongguk couldn't help the tears that gathered in his eyes. He cupped Jimin's face with both hands and kissed him for all he was worth.

"The orphanage... I built it for the kids who didn't have a shelter, neither for themselves nor their dreams. Half of them want to be dancers." Jimin cried. "You saw that sweet boy, Jihoon? Who asked you about the meaning of your name?"

"Yes, baby." Jeongguk replied, voice thick with emotions.

"He's a carrier." Jimin wept. "Just like me."

Jeongguk held Jimin's face tenderly. "And he has you, Jimin. I wish you had your own Jimin to guide you, to soothe you."

Jimin choked out a sob. "I have you."

Jeongguk held him till Jimin had no more tears to shed, till his heart didn't seem to be heavy any longer.

"I earn a shit ton of money through my art, through my shows. Before my father would ever come to know about it, I would wire almost all my money to the orphanage. If he would've come to know about the kind of money I was earning, he'd take it all away. He'd keep me by his side all my life. If only he knew that he didn't have to marry me off in order to fill his pockets." Jimin heaved a deep sigh and settled back against Jeongguk's shoulder. "The orphanage is an important part of my life, Jeongguk. The part that I would never talk about. Because it's meant to benefit those precious kids. Not me."

Jimin intertwined their fingers then, gazing at their wedding rings. "The kids were so upset because they wanted to attend the marriage. I have to make it up to them, you know."

Jeongguk smiled as he nuzzled against Jimin's hair. "We'll make them happy. I'm so glad that I got to meet them."

"They wanted to meet you. They've been asking me to bring you with me when I come to visit." Jimin murmured. "They like you very much."

"I want to do something for them." Jeongguk urged. "To help secure their future. At least scholarships. That at least they graduate without having to worry about the cost."

Jimin felt his heart skip several beats. He looked up at Jeongguk and found him gazing back with such devotion and sincerity. "Yes, please. I'd like that very much." Jimin smiled wide and kissed Jeongguk.

....

Jimin woke up to the sun peeking up over the horizon, it's rays glistening and sparkling over the undulating waves. The screeching seagulls and the pleasant gale luring him out of his slumber. Jimin inhaled deeply and stretched his limbs as he sat up.

"Please don't get sick. Please don't get sick." Jimin groaned, rubbing a hand down his face.

"—Minnie?" Jeongguk slurred, eyes barely open and yet hand reaching out to rub Jimin's back. "Feeling sick?"

"No, thank god." Jimin sighed contentedly. He moved his back closer to Jeongguk to get more rubs.

Jimin almost dozed off again as Jeongguk slowly sat up behind him and kept caressing him.

"I'll bring you some tea." Jeongguk said, voice gruff and ladden with sleep. He propped his head on Jimin's shoulder, nuzzling deep into his warm neck.

"You should rest up a little bit." Jimin murmured as he rubbed his forehead against Jeongguk's cheek. "I'll go to the beach. It's been so long since I last saw the morning sun at the sea."

Jimin took a stroll at their piece of the beach. The blueness of the shimmering water and the almond undertones of the uncompromising sand, could tempt the most jaded eyes. The cool breeze fluttered his clothes gently, adding to the serenity of his early morning walk along the shore. Jimin left his soft footprints in the moist sand, only to be washed away by the calm rhythm of the waves. The tide foaming up on the shell laden beach.

They had breakfast at the pavilion near the sea. Surprisingly Jimin didn't feel sick at all. He drank up two cups of chamomile tea and ate some dry fruits and toasts. That had been his breakfast routine for some time now.

Jimin looked at the horizon, at the illusion of merging skyline and sea. He heaved a deep sigh. Illusions, Jimin thought, were sometimes more hopeful than the actuality. Fof they lend you far greater courage than the veracity could ever.

"What is it?" Jeongguk asked after a long while.

"Could we spend some more time here?" Jimin sighed. "I don't want to go back yet."

"Anything you want, baby. We can stay here as long as you want."

Jimin turned to look at Jeongguk. "I came here to meet the kids and to meet Ms Lee. I was hoping that she'd give me some advice. That I'd find what I was subconsciously looking for."

Jeongguk chewed on his cheek. "I can look for her. If you want to speak with her, I can—"

Jimin shook his head. "She left because of me. She took a retirement because of me."

"What?" Jeongguk frowned.

"She..." Jimin licked at his dry lips. "She didn't want me to get married. Not so soon at least. It was the only time I didn't listen to her."

Jeongguk looked at Jimin steadily, waiting for him to continue.

Jimin swallowed thickly. Guilt marred his features as he hesitated to voice his next words. "Ms Lee believed that I would have to compromise with my career after marriage. That I'd be made to give up on my dreams one way or the other."

Jeongguk lowered his eyes. "She wasn't wrong."

Jimin's chin trembled with the onslaught of tears. "She's angry and disappointed with me." He sniffled. "But I couldn't imagine that she'd leave me just like that."

"Jiminie..." Jeongguk bellowed, reaching out and taking Jimin's hands in his own.

"I don't want to force her to talk to me, Jeongguk... All her life she wanted to prove that ballet isn't just a mere sport, it's a way of life. A way of life not only meant for girls. Ms Lee was so proud of me. She always said that I could rule the world with my art and dedication."

Jeongguk held his hands tight. "We still have time, baby. We can still go for MTP." He pleaded vehemently. "I feel like we're making the wrong decision."

Jimin felt a chilling shudder run up and down his spine. He squeezed Jeongguk's hands right back. "I don't know if I'm doing what I should or not." Jimin said in a feeble voice. "I have contemplated, Jeongguk. I have thought about it so much that this thought lingers at the back of my head the whole damn time. I really don't know if I'm doing what I should or not. But I just know that..." He choked out. "That letting our baby live cannot be wrong."

Jeongguk wrapped Jimin in his arms. "It's alright." Jeongguk shushed him, kissing his head. "Don't cry, please."

Jimin breathed heavily, clutching desperately onto Jeongguk's shoulders. "When father forced me to stay away from dance, those years broke me. Because I had no hope of returning back to it. But this time..." Jimin blinked the tears down his face, looking up at Jeongguk with a wistful smile stretching across his lips. "This time I know that I'll return back to my dreams. I have you with me now, Jeongguk. You're my strength, you bring me hope." He cradled Jeongguk's face in his hand, leaving his soul bare for Jeongguk to see. "You have to help me, Jeongguk. I can't do this without you."

....

Jimin's morning sickness kept dwindling and then burgeoning as the days progressed. Some days he'd wake up in the dead of the night, swinging himself up just as fast and rushing to the bathroom to empty the contents of his stomach. Jeongguk would be hot on his heels, rushing right behind him. He'd kneel on the floor behind Jimin and hold his forehead. He'd push his hair away from his face while Jimin retched miserably. And then he would cradle Jimin's spent body against his own and take him to the bathtub.

"I hate this feeling." Jimin would cry helplessly. "I always hated this nausea and vomiting." He would huff and scowl. "Who was that idiot?"

"Which one, baby?" Jeongguk soothed him lovingly and tried not to smile at all.

"The one who called it morning sickness." Jimin scoffed. "Morning, my ass. I have morning and afternoon and evening and night sickness for fuck's sake!"

Jeongguk would lower him into the bath gently then and help him brush his teeth. He learnt a hard way that the scented bath bombs made Jimin nauseous. So he customized and piled up the unscented ones. He would shampoo Jimin's hair for him while the latter rested against his chest. Some days Jimin would pass out then and there and Jeongguk would wash him devotedly and then tuck him back into bed.

As the days passed, Jeongguk effectively trained himself into taking proper care of Jimin. He had successfully listed out all the food items that made Jimin sick. He learnt too, that Jimin preferred that he washed his hair for him. And he did his best to act nonchalant as he walked into their bedroom and found Jimin lying on a heap of cherry stems and a paper cup of a mountain of pits on the bedside table.

Jimin couldn't bear to go to the kitchen. He couldn't even look at the refrigerator without the bile regurgitating up his throat. And Jeongguk made sure that Jimin never had to walk into the kitchen at all. They ate in the bedroom and Jeongguk took the dishes away. He could see the guilt written all over Jimin's face each time but Jeongguk made sure that he smiled at Jimin lovingly and kissed that unwanted shame away.

They went for Jimin's scheduled prenatal checkups. Eunhee kept a thorough record and a specialized team of doctors, Perinatologists, handled Jimin's pregnancy. Since the carrier pregnancy, though rare, was always deemed to be high risk.

Jimin couldn't get used to the hospital visits still. He always held on too tight to Jeongguk's hand. And when he settled down on the bed for sonography, he always required Jeongguk to soothe him.

And as the time went by, Jimin's morning sickness slowly waned. He had lost some weight on grounds of his inability to stomach food because of the near constant bouts of nausea. But slowly, he found himself craving certain food out of the blue. So it was quite a surprise when Jeongguk woke up in the middle of the night, searching for Jimin, only to find him sitting on the kitchen counter and munching on some radish kimchi.

Jimin also struggled with the sudden increased desire to pee. It often woke him up from his sleep and it irritated him a lot. But one night when Jimin unexpectedly woke up, feeling hot and sweaty and bothered, he staggered to the bathroom in a daze. He didn't have to piss, no, his body wanted something else entirely.

Jimin groaned, fumbling with his clothes and getting into the shower. He let the warm water cascade down his body as he desperately tugged at his cock.

The next day, he got aroused at the mere look at Jeongguk's sturdy back. Jimin whimpered and planted his face back into the pillows.

A couple nights later when Jimin was jerking off in the shower again, he realized that it wasn't doing anything for him. He wanted more. His body wanted more and he was becoming so desperate to relieve himself of that itch settled deep inside him. He tried fingering himself open, only to cuss and throw the bottle of lube scattering away. He looked at his small fingers defeatedly and his chin wobbled. He couldn't help the sob that ripped out of his throat.

"Baby?" Came a soft knock on the door. "Are you sick? Are you alright?"

Jimin cried. He was frustrated and he just wanted to go back to sleep.

"Jimin? I'm coming in." And then Jeongguk was pushing through the door and looking at his very naked, very aroused body.

Jimin stared at Jeongguk helplessly. He must have looked so ridiculous, standing in the shower, his dick hard, fingers shining with lube while the said bottle laid somewhere on the floor.

"Help m-me." Jimin let out a pitiful whimper and it was enough to break Jeongguk out of his reverie. He tripped over air twice but managed to wrap his arms around Jimin and bring him back to bed.

Jimin's whole face was aflame. He tipped his head to the side as Jeongguk blinked down af him. "J-Just get me off once please." Jimin whispered. "I need your fingers."

"Of course." Jeongguk soothed.

Jimin closed his eyes and rested back. Jeongguk scrabbled around for a little while before settling back between Jimin's thighs.

"Relax, baby." Jeongguk drawled and then he was pushing two of his lubed up fingers into Jimin's heat. Jimin moaned throatily, his hands flew to hold onto Jeongguk's shoulders. "Shh, I got you." Jeongguk whispered and started moving his fingers in and out, seaching and grazing.

Jimin was thrashing underneath him. Cries of Jeongguk's name fell from his lips unbound. After over a month of abstinence, he had thought that this would become awkward between them. But it was like coming home. Jimin needed Jeongguk and his body wasn't shy as to hold back.

"Please, please—" Jimin hiccuped, moving his hips desperately. He grabbed handfuls of Jeongguk's hair and brought him in to kiss him. He nibbled hungrily on Jeongguk's lips and felt accomplished when Jeongguk kissed back just as passionately.

Jimin's heart felt so full. This was the man who had been taking care of him and fulfilling all his desires without a single rebuttal. God, he was on the verge of crying. His heart ached for Jeongguk, at how selfless and patient his husband had been the whole time, at the way he put his own child on the line if it meant keeping Jimin sane and happy.

"I love you." Jimin sobbed. If only those three words could hold the power to divulge all the love and affection he had for Jeongguk. "I love you, Jeongguk."

....

Jimin hissed as his ears started ringing. It was quite early in the morning and the previous night his body had finally been sated, that it felt outrageous that his sleep was being interrupted. He groaned, tossed and turned in vain before finally sitting up and gathering his senses.

The house phone was ringing and Jeongguk was taking a shower. Jimin sighed and then reached to the other side of the bed and answered the call. But before he could even speak, his mind stopped working altogether.

"Jeongguk? You said you'd call. I was waiting the whole night." A pause. "When are you coming back to Seoul? I'm missing you so much."

Jimin felt his throat parch. The hand with which he was holding the handset was shaking terribly.

"Chaeyoung?" Jimin heaved.

"J-Jimin!" The woman sputtered. "Oh my god, I didn't... You're up so early today..."

Chaeyoung babbled on and on but all Jimin heard was a white noise.

"Please don't tell Jeongguk, he... It's nothing really! I was just calling him as a friend..." 

The line went dead after that. Jimin clinged onto the phone and turned his head towards the bathroom where Jeongguk was still bathing. And when Jeongguk got out of the shower and walked straight towards him to kiss him good morning, Jimin didn't say anything to Jeongguk at all.

....

The  chilly evening air was gusting steadily. Jimin’s teeth chattered the moment he stepped outside the house. The lawn was lit up, the starts were already twinkling and Jeongguk was diligently building the fire at the fire pit. Jimin smiled softly, remembering how he had mentioned craving some steak in the afternoon.

Jeongguk forbade ordering food from restaurants and all the take outs Jimin usually lived on. If Jimin craved barbeque, Jeongguk would prepare it for him. If he craved steak, of course Jeongguk would put the fire pit in use and grill at the cauldron outside in the chilly evening air.

Jimin shook his head reverently as his eyes softened. He slowly walked down the stepping stone path leading to the fire pit. As soon as Jeongguk’s eyes fell on him, he dropped the logs of wood and rushed towards Jimin.

“Baby, it’s too cold out here.” Jeongguk urged.

“I wanna sit outside by the fire.” Jimin said. He didn't want to sit by himself. He didn't want to spend any more time thinking about Chaeyoung.

“Let me build the fire first then, hmm?” Jeongguk drew a gentle hand through Jimin’s hair. “As soon as I’m done, I’ll call you.”

“I’m dressed well, Jeongguk. I’m not cold at all.” Jimin retorted. He leaned up and pecked Jeongguk’s lips softly. “I wanna watch you work.”

Jeongguk sighed as he led Jimin to the set of chairs situated around the circular stone structure. Jimin propped his knees up on the chair and melted as Jeongguk wrapped him up with fluffy blanket.

And then he watched Jeongguk set up the kindling. He craned his neck and peeked into the pit and then frowned. “Why’s there sand in there?”

Jeongguk looked up at him and smiled. “The sand absorbs the heat and distributes it throughout the entire base of the pit evenly, Jimin-ssi.” He said as he got back to arranging the kindling and the logs. “Without the sand, the heat can become concentrated in one specific area. And will burn hotly through the grill.”

Jimin nodded, entirely mesmerized. He let out a pleased sigh when the fire started burning merrily. His mind kept playing that phone call over and over again, it kept pinpointing how Chaeyoung even knew that they were in Busan. She sounded like she had been in constant contact with Jeongguk. But then Jeongguk wouldn't lie to Jimin. Especially not now that Jimin was pregnant with his baby. Jimin nibbled on his lip nervously and tried to shut those thoughts away. He tried to move his chair closer to the fire but Jeongguk shook his head. “Not so close, Jimin-ssi. At least three feet away, please.”

Jimin smiled, already feeling at ease. He pouted down at Jeongguk but his body was getting pleasantly warm nonetheless. He watched Jeongguk move around meticulously and set up the grill. And then soon the sizzling of the meat and the delicious aroma filled the air around him.

Jimin looked on in utter awe. “You’re so good at this.” Jimin exclaimed. “I could have never imagined that Jeon Jeongguk knows his way around the kitchen and around a fire pit.”

Jeongguk laughed. “It’s all dad. He used to take me camping often.”

“Really?” Jimin blinked. “Dad knows how to do all this? Wow.”

Jeongguk smiled and stood up. He settled in the chair next to Jimin while periodically turning the meat on the grill. “He didn’t have much time for me.” Jeongguk sighed, eyes far away. “He loved me dearly but he was always working. And I got sick of it. I stopped talking to him, threw a big fit a couple days before my tenth birthday.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Dad pushed all his work aside and made time for me. He was asking me what I wanted for my birthday. So I demanded a hiking trip. Just me and him.”

Jeongguk ran a hand through his hair, resting his chin on his palm and flipping the meat on the grill. “After that he took me to so many trips. Hiking, fishing, camping, snowboarding. Whatever I wanted. He taught me how to build fire, how to grill and fish. This estate, he bought it for me. Because I loved coming back to Busan in winters.”

“He’s a great father.” Jimin murmured softly. Jeongguk turned to look at him and Jimin looked up at him with glassy eyes. “He loves you so much and he taught you such incredible things.” Jimin smiled, but then his eyes steadily filled up with tears. “Mine taught me how to muffle my own sobs and how to take a beating without making a fuss.”

“Jimin—” Jeongguk tried, a gloomy expression shadowing his face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“No,” Jimin choked out, shaking his head miserably. “I’m happy that dad loves you so much, Jeongguk.” He said and then reached out to hold Jeongguk’s hand. The latter stumbled closer, holding Jimin’s hands affectionately.

“Y-You’ll be a great dad too.” Jimin sobbed. “You’ll love the baby so dearly, just like dad loves you. You’ll teach them all these arts. You’ll take them to all these fun adventures.”

Jeongguk’s face crumpled up in pain. “Baby, we both will—”

Jimin smiled sadly at him. “I don’t know shit about parenting. I don’t know what parental love is supposed to feel like, Jeongguk. I don’t have… I have no one whose example I’d follow.” The tears oozed out of his eyes. “All I have is a fucked up childhood. I’m so scared that I’m gonna fuck up my own kid.”

“Hey, no, baby.” Jeongguk instantly gathered Jimin in his arms and brought him into his lap. Jimin hid his face into Jeongguk’s neck, gasping for each breath. “Our baby is so lucky to be a part of you.” Jeongguk kissed his head and rubbed soothingly up and down his back. Jimin shook his head in denial but Jeongguk shushed him.

“You’ve always loved so selflessly, Jimin. You love Jihyun like he’s your own kid. You love the kids at the orphanage so dearly, baby. You love Taehyung and Hoseok so much, you’re always looking out for them. You’ve given Hyeji so much love, she can’t even live without you.” Jeongguk smiled and looked down at Jimin’s swollen eyes. He planted a heartfelt kiss on his forehead, his hand brushing Jimin’s bangs away. “And me. A total stranger. You gave me so much love. You’ve made me so happy, baby.” He said, his voice raw with emotions. 

Jeongguk then cupped Jimin’s face with both hands and kissed him softly. “You’re going to be a great parent, Jimin. You put the baby before everything else, you think they won’t realize?” Jeongguk smiled, thumbs caressing Jimin’s flushed cheeks. “I’ll have so much to learn from you.”

....

Jihyun sauntered hurriedly to his room. It was quite late and he didn't have the patience to walk into his parents. He just had to collect some books and go back to his hostel. He packed the said books into his backpack and lugged it over his shoulder. The house was shrouded in darkness as he stealthily descended down the stairs. But then he stopped in his track as his eyes fell on the light shining through the small gap in the far left hallway.

Jihyun frowned. It was almost four in the morning. He felt sudden unease slither up his spine and instead of walking him straight ahead and out of the house, his feet carried him towards the source of light.

His heart was beating erratically, blood rushing to his head as he took slow, deliberate steps. It was his father's study. And he was talking to somebody in hushed whispers.

Jihyun rested his head against the wall as he stood there, unmoving, clutching onto the strap of his backpack. His chest rose up and down with every effort he made to breathe. He listened on and as he did, life seemed to be leaving his legs. Before he could stagger and fall then and there, he rushed out of the house and locked himself in his car.

His hands were shaking terribly as he retrieved his phone. Jimin. No, he couldn't call Jimin. Jimin wasn't feeling well and was currently in Busan. It was fucking four in the morning. He couldn't call Jimin. But he had to tell somebody. Jihyun tried to level his breathing, his backpack was missing, he must have dropped it somewhere while he was rushing out of that damned house.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before dialing a number. The phone rang a few times before it was finally answered.

Jihyun swallowed around a dry mouth.

"Who's Chaeyoung?"

....

"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?" Jeongguk asked.

They had come back to Seoul a few days back. It had been almost a month and the only thing he had said to Hoseok was that he was taking his name back from the event. Hoseok was shocked and dumbfounded but Jimin couldn't provide any answers to his questions right then. But now... Now he needed to say the truth. So he was outside his company building, sitting in the car with Jeongguk and trying to muster enough courage. He had called Taehyung too and asked him if they could meet at the studio. Jimin heaved a deep sigh. He had no idea how his friends were going to react. They'd probably feel betrayed but more than that they'd hate on Jeongguk for doing this to Jimin.

And Jimin... Jimin would never be able to witness their hostility towards Jeongguk. So he needed Jeongguk to stay away while he broke the news to his friends.

"Yeah." Jimin sighed. "I'll be back soon."

And then he was heading towards the studio.

Jimin's heart was hammering inside his chest. He took a deep breath and pushed in. And then he found the entire studio empty, save for Hoseok and Taehyung who were sitting on the couch, looking expectedly towards the direction he came in.

"H-Hi." Jimin choked out awkwardly.

"What the fuck, Jimin?" Taehyung got up at once. Jimin flinched bodily but held his ground. "You say you can't take part in such a huge event and then disappear for an entire fucking month! What the hell's going on?"

Jimin felt his throat dry out. He clutched onto his sweater tightly.

"Jimin." Hoseok got up then. And his anger was all in his eyes. "What's going on? Did anyone prohibit you from dancing?" He raised an eyebrow, his intent clear.

Jimin shook his head. "No. That's not it."

"Then what?" Taehyung almost growled and Jimin's ears ringed.

"I'm pregnant." He blurted out.

There was a deafening silence. Hoseok and Taehyung stared at him and then their eyebrows shot up to their hairline. "What?!" They yelled.

"I'm p-pregnant." Jimin repeated and then he couldn't hold back his tears any more.

Jimin cried pitifully. Taehyung and Hoseok panicked and managed to get him to the couch. They talked him down, made him drink some water. And then Jimin, a sniffling mess, was looking down at his lap while Hoseok and Taehyung scolded him.

"How could you not even tell me?" Taehyung cried.

"I was shocked." Jimin mumbled. "What could have I told you?"

"How far along are you?" Hoseok asked.

"Going into the twelfth week."

"Wow." Taehyung muttered in disbelief. "He knocked you up when you had clearly—"

"No, Tae." Jimin cried out desperately. "It was an accident. A... A contraception failure. He wanted me to abort the baby because he understands that I shouldn't be having a baby at all right now."

Taehyung looked at him impassively for a long moment. His face so incredibly unreadable that Jimin gnawed at his bottom lip out of fear. "Why didn't you then?"

"W-What?" Jimin heaved.

"Why didn't you abort? You really shouldn't be having a baby right now. Did Jeongguk really suggest so or are you saying this to me to save face out of your love for him?"

"I swear to you." Jimin sniveled pitifully. "He pleaded with me a lot. He even took me to the clinic but I couldn't."

"Don't cry, please." Taehyung sighed then and sat besides Jimin. "I'm sorry that this happened and for making you cry." He said as Jimin hugged him and wept on his shoulder. "You should've told me, Jiminie."

"I know..." Jimin sobbed. "But I was so scared, Tae. I didn't know what to do. But I promise Jeongguk didn't do it purposely. That... That night in LA, we were high and drunk and..."

"It's okay." Taehyung shushed him lovingly. "It's going to be okay. I'm right here with you, aren't I?" He said as he kissed Jimin's hair. "Did you tell anyone at home?"

Jimin shook his head. "No... You're the first people I'm telling. Just Hyeji knows."

Hoseok sighed from where he was standing near the window. "Did you ask him to wait outside?" He asked, smiling a little at Jimin. "He's a grown man, he should be able to take some scolding, no?"

"Hobi hyung..." Jimin urged.

"It's okay. Call him up."

Jimin looked hesitant but Hoseok nodded at him reassuringly. "I promise. Call him up."

"That... Went surprisingly well." Jimin sighed as Jeongguk fastened his seatbelt for him. "Tae is well... He's still shocked I guess. But it feels good that I'm not hiding it from him anymore."

Jeongguk smiled up at Jimin and then cradled his face in his hands. "I love you." He whispered. "I love you so much."

Taehyung did demand answers from Jeongguk. And Hoseok looked disappointed but in the end, they accepted Jeongguk's sincerity. Hoseok consoled Jimin about the performance the way only he could. He reassured Jimin that he didn't have to worry about taking care of the baby and his career clashing, that the baby would have a flock of uncles ready to spend quality time with them. Jimin cried happy tears then.

A few days later, Hoseok proposed that Jimin taught the primary level bellet at the studio. That way he would still feel connected to his art and won't feel sad about not being able to dance. Jeongguk welcomed the proposition with eager enthusiasm, setting a meeting up with Jimin's doctors right away. And he was so happy when they said that it was indeed doable as long as Jimin didn't tire himself or perform vigorously.

....

As the days progressed, an unsettling feeling lodged itself in Jimin's gut. Though he had urged that Jeongguk went back to office and he had begun teaching little kids at the studio, still he couldn't help but fret.

Jimin kept thinking about that phone call he received from Chaeyoung back in Busan. He never talked to Jeongguk about it, he never brought her up in any conversations they had, and yet still the thought kept nagging him.

And one day, after he was done teaching kids and Hoseok proposed that they went out to eat together with Taehyung, Jimin kept thinking back to that fateful phone call and what it could have meant. Jeongguk had an important meeting that day and Jimin didn't want to stay home when Jeongguk wasn't around. So he agreed and went to eat with Hoseok and Taehyung.

"You're barely eating." Taehyung remarked. "Do I get you something else?"

"No, it's fine." Jimin smiled.

He looked down at his phone on the table as it pinged. Jimin grabbed it hurriedly, only to stare down at it in horror.

Unknown:
Your husband has been cheating on you. Go back to your house and see for yourself.

Jimin felt all the air being squeezed out of his lungs. "I-I need to go." Jimin shuddered, scrambling to get out of the chair.

"What?" Hoseok asked in alarm.

"I need to go back home, hyung."

....

Jeongguk rubbed a hand down his face. The office work had been piling the whole time he was away. Though his father managed Jeongguk's work as much as he could, Jeongguk still had a lot to do when he came back to Seoul.

His hotel chain in Macau was flourishing steadily. He had an important meeting concerning it the whole day. But still he managed to get back home before evening.

Jeongguk put his jacket away mindlessly, undid his tie and got rid of it too. He undid the top two buttons of his shirt and folded back his sleeves to his elbows. And then he plopped himself down heavily on one of the living area couches. Hyejin wasn't home. And Jimin had gone to eat with Hoseok and Taehyung. Jeongguk smiled, glad that Jimin was feeling much better now and that his friends were providing him with constant support.

He must have passed out out of exhaustion. He distantly perceived the cramp in his neck and the darkness the entire penthouse was shrouded in. He sighed deeply when he felt a gentle caress on his forehead and then fingers in his hair.

"Mmm, Jimin." Jeongguk slurred and divulged in the pleasant feeling. But then slowly as he focused on the touch and the way that hand moved, he frowned. This wasn't Jimin. Jeongguk's eyes shot open and he got up from the couch at once.

His eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he found Chaeyoung's face staring up at him.

She smiled wide. "What happened, Jeonggukie?"

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Jeongguk growled. "How the hell did you get in?"

Chaeyoung clicked her tongue sharply. "But you were enjoying my touch, weren't you?" She said slyly as she got up too. "You had a long day and I want to make you happy." Chaeyoung tried to wrap her arms around Jeongguk's neck, but the latter grabbed her arm sharply.

"Get out." Jeongguk hissed. "I thought you were—"

"What did you think?" Chaeyoung laughed. "No one's here, baby. I think at least you owe me one night for making me wait so long."

"Have you fucking lost your mind?!" Jeongguk yelled. He twisted Chaeyoung's arm painfully when she tried to touch him again. Jeongguk managed to drag her away but then Chaeyoung was flunging herself onto him and trying to kiss up his neck.

"Get the fuck off me!" Jeongguk shouted and pushed her away. Chaeyoung lost her balance and then she looked up at Jeongguk with cold eyes.

"If I can't have you then no one can have you, Jeongguk." Chaeyoung seethed. And the next moment she was ripping her own clothes off.

Jeongguk looked down at her in sheer horror. "What the fuck? Have you lost it?" Jeongguk growled and grabbed her hands. She struggled weakly against him before catapulting herself on the couch.

Jeongguk was numb. His mind was totally blank as he looked down at the woman. And then the main door flew open and Jimin was walking in.

Jeongguk stared in terror, trepidation started building up in his gut as he watched Jimin slowly assess the entire area with his eyes. Jimin eyed Jeongguk's undid shirt and his jacket and tie that were lying haphazardly and then his eyes fell on Chaeyoung and her ripped sleeves.

Fuck. No. This couldn't be happening. Jeongguk tried to speak but his voice failed him. And he realized what the fuck had just transpired. Chaeyoung had set him up. She set him up so that it looked like Jeongguk was cheating on Jimin with Chaeyoung. Jeongguk felt his eyes sting with tears.

"J-Jimin..." Jeongguk tried but Jimin raised a hand to shush him up. Jeongguk's entire world seemed to crumble right in front of him.

Jimin's eyes left Jeongguk and Jeongguk fell down to his knees. He watched helplessly as Jimin turned to Chaeyoung. "Explain."

Jeongguk's ears were ringing. He looked at Jimin with pleading eyes but Jimin was so painfully silent as he listened to Chaeyoung.

"I'm sorry." Chaeyoung had started crying by then. "I didn't want to do this to you, Jimin. Jeongguk promised me that you would never come to know about this."

She was going on and on about the hoax affair. She had perfected an entire script about Jeongguk's alleged infidelity. Jeongguk couldn't help but weep. This was the woman who he grew up with, whom he once deemed to be his best friend.

Chaeyoung's cries turned to feeble sniffles. Jeongguk kept kneeling there, shaking his head in utter denial. Was he going to lose Jimin like this? How could this be happening to him?

Jeongguk flinched as the thunderous sound of a slap ricochetted in the whole penthouse. He looked up instantaneously, only to find Chaeyoung bleeding through her nose and Jimin seething down at her.

"How fucking dare you, you bitch?" Jimin growled, grabbing the woman's hair and shaking her head. "How fucking dare you plot with my father and then lie to my fucking face?!"

Chaeyoung gasped, trying to get away, but Jimin refused to let go of her. "What did you think? That you'd act such and such and ruin my marriage? Did it never cross that thick skull of yours that maybe I know Hyunbin and his disgusting mind more than even he does?"

"J-Jimin?" Jeongguk heaved. He managed to get back to his feet somehow and looked on in horror as Jimin's face contorted with rage.

"Joonie hyung. Bring them in." Jimin said then and threw Chaeyoung back to the couch. And then Namjoon came in with several officers in tow.

"Arrest this lying piece of shit." Jimin spat out. "Take the footage from all the cameras." He said and then looked down at Chaeyoung as she was being handcuffed. Jimin smiled. "We have you on tape."

Chaeyoung shouted and screamed her head off. "Let go of me! You don't know who I am! Let go—"

And then her voice died down as ahe saw Jeongguk rest a hand on Jimin's lower belly. Chaeyoung felt her heart break into a million pieces when Jimin smiled at her and then rubbed his hand slowly over Jeongguk's.

....

Sooyeon rubbed her sweaty palms aginst her dress. She trudged forward with dread coursing through her entire body.

Chaeyoung was in police custody. Sooyeon swallowed thickly as she rushed into the police station with her lawyers. She shrieked and shouted, threatened and warned, and in the end she was finally granted the permission to see Chaeyoung for ten minutes.

Her head was pounding and her thoughts jumbled. How the hell could this even happen?

"Chae..." Sooyeon croaked out and all the air escaped her lungs when she found Chaeyoung behind the bars, sitting miserably against the wall. What was she supposed to tell her? I'm sorry that you're in there as a dreadful result of my plan? God, what if Jeongguk came to know that Sooyeon was involved in all this? No. Sooyeon couldn't let that happen.

"Chae, baby." Sooyeon pleaded as he grabbed the bars to ground herself. "What happened? How did—"

"He did it." Chaeyoung said, face stoic and eyes empty. "He took my Jeongguk away."

"Chae, please!" Sooyeon cried out. "Talk to me, please! What are you saying?!"

"He did it, didn't he..." Chaeyoung smiled bitterly as she finally got up to her feet. She walked up to Sooyeon and looked her dead in the eye.

"I'm ruined."

"Chae—"

"He's pregnant." Chaeyoung said and then her eyes were filling up with tears. "He's pregnant with my Jeongguk's baby."

Chapter Text

Jimin's body trembled. He was seething with fury and indignation. Facial muscles tense, eyes glaring threateningly as Chaeyoung was handcuffed and dragged away.

Jeongguk felt numb. He stared on, mind hazy with disgust commingled with terrorizing fear. He didn't resgister anything, just that Jimin's body was shaking terribly in front of him. So without a second thought, Jeongguk moved, wrapping an arm around Jimin's midsection and placing a protective hand on Jimin's lower belly.

Jeongguk's instincts were running berserk. Every fibre in his body screamed in agony, reminding Jeongguk of the tiny life growing in Jimin's womb. And then when Jimin placed his own hand over that of Jeongguk's, he knew that Jimin was feeling the same.

Chaeyoung's screams soon dwindled down to nothingness. Jeongguk's ears were ringing so he barely noticed anything. He stayed unmoving, plastered to Jimin's back until the latter's body wasn't trembling anymore.

And then Jimin turned around to face Jeongguk. Jeongguk swallowed thickly, still unsure of anything he would say to Jimin. But he soon learnt that he didn't have to as the next moment Jimin's lips were on his.

Jimin grabbed the collar of his shirt and kissed him. It took Jeongguk a long moment to reciprocate and then another to notice that Jimin was standing on his tip toes and was having a very hard time reaching Jeongguk's lips. But when it dawned upon him, he wrapped his arms around Jimin's frame and lifted him up in his arms, letting Jimin kiss him fiercely.

"You're mine." Jimin growled. He grabbed handfuls of Jeongguk's hair and nibbled on his lips. "She can't take you away from me." Jimin was chanting, shuddering.

Jeongguk kissed him back passionately, still standing unsteadily on his feet as he slowly gained his bearings back. He felt a rush of fear and anger course through his veins, but more than that, he felt relief... Relieved that Jimin had faith in him, that Jimin knew that Jeongguk would never do such vile thing to him.

"How did—" Jeongguk wheezed out. "What just... I don't..." He couldn't even formulate any words.

And then Jimin told him everything. About Chaeyoung's phone call in Busan. That Jihyun had overheard Hyunbin plotting with Chaeyoung on the phone and immediately called Jimin and exposed the whole dirty trap to him. About the text he had just received from an unknown number.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jeongguk frowned.

"I wanted to know what exactly they would do." Jimin replied. "I wanted to know how low my father can stoop. Honestly, I'm not even surprised. I just fail to understand how he managed to get his paws on Chaeyoung to act out his ploy. And I wanted to catch them red handed."

Jeongguk stared at Jimin for a long moment. "I can't believe you kept all of this to yourself while you were already going through a lot." He stepped closer then, holding Jimin's waist protectively. "If anything would have happened to you—"

"I'm fine." Jimin purred, smiling at Jeongguk reassuringly. "I'm sorry that she did that... I thought, I don't know... I thought she'd fight with you or something..." Jimin hissed, disgust churning his gut.

"You fixed the cameras here?" Jeongguk cocked an eyebrow at Jimin.

"Joonie hyung got it done for me. I had a hunch."

Jeongguk brought Jimin to his chest and kissed the top of his head. "For a moment I thought that I lost you." He tightened his arms around Jimin's shoulders. "I was fucking terrified out of my mind."

"I just want them punished." Jimin murmured then. He stared at Jeongguk's throat with glassy eyes. He couldn't afford to let Hyunbin get away with this.

....

Sooyeon gwaked at Chaeyoung as she babbled on and cried pathetically. What? Jimin was pregnant?

Sooyeon shook her head in disbelief. "How do you know for sure that—"

"I fucking saw it!" Chaeyoung glowered back at her, clutching onto Sooyeon's hands painfully that were holding the bars. Chaeyoung seethed. "Jeongguk was—he—he held Jimin's belly and that son of a bitch smirked at me. He was laughing at me!" She screamed. "I don't even care that he almost broke my nose or that he slapped me, but he made my Jeongguk put his baby in him..." She wailed, her nails digging into the backs of Sooyeon's hands, drawing blood. "The baby Jeongguk was supposed to put in me... You promised me! You promised that if I did what I did, Jeongguk would be mine—"

"Shh." Sooyeon swallowed thickly as he looked over her shoulder for any passerbys. "We don't know for sure. He's a carrier, Chae. Carriers have a hard time getting pregnant."

"But he managed to!" Chaeyoung wheezed. "To spite me, to take Jeongguk away from me and to make sure that no one would separate Jeongguk from him!" Her nails kept digging into Sooyeon's hands with the sheer intensity of her heartbreak and Sooyeon winced, retracting her hands from the bars.

Jimin was pregnant with Jeongguk's child. It was quite a surprise and shook Sooyeon from within. But she couldn't help the gratification bubbling inside her chest. Jeongguk was going to be a father. And Sooyeon a grandmother. Sooyeon let out a shaky breath as the thoughts plunged her mind.

Despite all the odds, Jimin indeed had managed to solidify his place in Jeongguk's life. And he had given them an heir. Sooyeon felt the blood thum pleasantly through her entire body and she struggled to keep herself from smiling. Finally. An heir to Jeon empire. A healthy little boy who Sooyeon would cherish more than life itself.

Her eyes cautiously scanned Chaeyoung's pitiful face then. The scarlet specks of blood still lingered here and there. She looked so downtrodden and broken. Sooyeon couldn't trust her state. She had to make sure that Chaeyoung never uttered her name.

"Listen, Chae." Sooyeon prompted, holding Chaeyoung's hands. "I'll get you out of here, I promise you."

Chaeyoung shook her head. "What then? I'm ruined anyway. You said that—"

"I know what I said." Sooyeon growled and then closed her eyes shut when Chaeyoung flinched bodily. Sooyeon breathed in and out and calmed herself down. "You can't tell anything to anyone, you hear? If you do, Jeongguk will never even look at you."

Chaeyoung cried. "He hates me already."

"He doesn't." Sooyeon exhaled. "He's under Jimin's influence right now. But I told you that you will be my daughter-in-law. Have you forgotten?"

"N-No." Chaeyoung sniffled.

"But if anyone comes to know that it was me who asked you to do this, then I won't be able to help you. Jeongguk will never be yours then."

"Pl-Please don't say that." Chaeyoung hiccuped, shaking her head. "I need him. I'll die if I don't have him."

"Then please, just be patient and have faith in me." Sooyeon whispered. "When have I ever broken my word, hmm?" She then squeezed Chaeyoung's hands reassuringly. "Don't you know how much I love you?"

....

Sooyeon had never felt so apprehensive.

Not even on that fateful day when she first learnt that Jeongguk was going to marry Jimin and she found Jimin lounging casually in Jeongguk's penthouse. The kind of jitters that she was feeling now were of the sort that Sooyeon had never experienced before. Jeongguk's baby was growing in Jimin's womb. Sooyeon let out a choked breath as she drove to the hill suite.

....

"Baby?" Jeongguk walked into the bedroom.

"I'm ready, I promise." Jimin replied promptly as he tied his shoe laces with nimble fingers. "You're late to office." Jimin grimaced. "I could drive myself—"

"It's alright. I'll drop you to the studio." Jeongguk smiled. "Office will wait for me. I own it."

Jimin rolled his eyes, smiling wide. "Okay, Mister Jeon. Let's go."

They were ready to head out when Jeongguk received a call from security. He frowned, his jaw clenched tight and Jimin stared at him anxiously.

"What's wrong?" Jimin asked as he placed a hand on Jeongguk's shoulder.

Jeongguk sighed deeply. "Mom. She's trying to get in. What's she doing here?"

Jimin looked into Jeongguk's eyes and they knew what each other was thinking. Jimin chewed on his lower lip and then nodded at Jeongguk. "Let her in."

"But Jimin—"

"If my hunch is right then we can't keep her away from the truth." Jimin said solemnly.

Jimin waited impatiently. Jeongguk was pacing in front of him while he took a seat. Jeongguk was clearly anxious. He had stopped talking to his mother a long while ago. Sooyeon couldn't bring herself to accept Jimin as her son-in-law and Jeongguk cut all the ties with her. And now she was desperately tying to meet them.

Jimin stood up the moment Sooyeon walked in. Jeongguk stopped pacing and was looking at her expectantly, trying to decipher what Sooyeon was all about. Sooyeon's gaze locked on Jeongguk, her lips visibly trembled, ready to speak, but then she looked straight at Jimin and then she was rushing towards him.

And before Jimin or Jeongguk could even react, Sooyeon was standing right in front of Jimin, looking him in the eye. Jimin's heart was hammering inside his chest and his hand spontaneously sheilded his belly. And then he was being engulfed in a tight hug.

"You're pregnant! God, thank you!" Sooyeon cried.

Jimin blinked. He looked at Jeongguk, the latter staring back at him, utterly perplexed just like Jimin was.

Sooyeon rubbed his back, murmuring softly about how happy she was to learn about Jimin's pregancy. She then cupped Jimin's face with both hands, her eyes full of unshed tears.

"Thank you." She laughed, a smile so wide etched on her face. "I can't even express how happy I am, Jimin. You've made me so happy."

And then Jeongguk stepped towards them. He stood besides Jimin, placing an arm protectively around Jimin's shoulders. "Who told you about it?"

Sooyeon looked up at Jeongguk and smiled tearfully. "Shouldn't you have told your mom?" She choked on her words, tears springing out of her eyes. She reached a hand out and held Jeongguk's face. "My son is going to be a father."

Jimin watched with a heavy heart as Sooyeon wept. Jeongguk stayed stoic but Jimin couldn't bear it anymore. He moved then and gently led Sooyeon to the couch. "Please, have a seat." He murmured.

Sooyeon held onto Jimin's hands and beckoned him to take a seat besides her. "I know you hate me. As you should, Jimin. I've been so bad to you." She smiled bitterly, sniffling. "And I'm so selfish that I came to see you only after learning that you're expecting a baby. My Jeongguk's baby. But I'm a mother, I couldn't stay away." And then she was melting into sobs again.

Jimin winced as he looked up at Jeongguk pleadingly. But Jeongguk stayed adamant and refused to console Sooyeon. Jimin squeezed Sooyeon's hands reassuringly. "Please, don't cry."

"If you could forgive me." Sooyeon hiccuped. "I have been punished for what I did. Jeongguk doesn't even acknowledge my existence anymore. But please—" She urged, "If you could give me another chance, Jimin. I want to make it right."

Jimin gazed into Sooyeon's hopeful eyes for a long moment. And then he found himself nodding concisely.

Sooyeon heaved a shuddering breath and then she was hugging Jimin to her chest.

"I went to see Chaeyoung yesterday."

Jimin felt the sudden wave of disconcertion settling in his throat. He looked at Sooyeon steadily as the woman put her cup of tea down on the coffee table. Neither Jimin nor Jeongguk could go to work as Sooyeon gushed over them and insisted that she made Jimin breakfast.

"Why?" Jeongguk gritted out.

Sooyeon sighed. "I know she's disturbed and in anguish—"

Jeongguk scoffed.

"—but I have some responsibilities towards her." Sooyeon continued. "I have helped raise her, Jeongguk. I was the one who promised her that you'd marry her." She closed her eyes, shaking her head. "I made a severe mistake. I shouldn't have assumed anything about you and her. What is done is done but still I have to take some responsibility for her." Sooyeon then looked at Jimin. "I'm so terribly sorry for what Chae did, Jimin. I knew she was having a hard time but I could have never imagined that she would go to this extent." She tutted. "I came to know that she has been arrested and I went to see her, as I should have, only to be met with the ugly truth. She has broken my heart, my trust and I—"

"She tried to sexually assault Jeongguk." Jimin stated, eyes hardened. "You and I can never imagine what Jeongguk had to go through. One moment he was taking a nap and the next Chaeyoung was trying to force herself on him. She ripped her clothes to frame him, you know. That's disgusting."

Sooyeon pressed her lips together in a thin line as Jimin talked. She then looked at Jeongguk, her eyes flaring with the onslaught of tears. "I'm so sorry." She wheezed. "I didn't know what she did. She didn't tell me all this. I scolded her a lot for coming here and starting a scene, I didn't know that she committed something so vile."

"She'll pay for it." Jeongguk said simply. "I'll make sure of it."

Jimin watched as Sooyeon looked down at her lap. She seemed to be really anxious and unnerved. But she didn't say anything more. After that the conversation slipped back to Jimin's pregnancy.

"How far along are you?" Sooyeon chimed.

"I'm in my twelfth week." Jimin replied dutifully. "Third month."

Sooyeon's eyes glimmered. "Goodness." She exclaimed, unable to keep her excitement at bay. She hesitated a bit but then smiled at Jimin. "Can I touch him?"

Jimin jerked his head back at Sooyeon. "Him?" He turned his eyes to Jeongguk in confusion.

"The baby." Sooyeon smiled. "If you don't mind, I want to touch him."

"We don't know the baby's sex yet." Jeongguk said in a gruff voice. There was an edge to his voice which both Jimin and Sooyeon readily perceived and then Sooyeon promptly corrected herself.

"Oh, yes, of course." She said awkwardly before turning back to Jimin. "Don't mind me, Jimin. The firstborns are usually males in Jeon family so it has become a norm for us old folk to expect the first child to be a boy. Anyway!" She smiled, reaching out her hands and letting them hover around Jimin's belly.

"Of course." Jimin said, pressing his lips together. He then sat straighter to grant the woman access to his abdomen. Jimin's eyes found Jeongguk's, who looked really apologetic. Jimin shook his head softly at Jeongguk, reassuring him silently as Sooyeon's hands spanned his lower belly.

"You can't really feel the difference at this stage." Jimin said gently. "I'm not showing yet."

Sooyeon blinked away tears of joy. "This's the best day of my entire life. I'll take such good care of you, Jimin. Like a mother-in-law must. You must rest a lot, take naps and eat with abandon."

"I and Hyeji take good care of him." Jeongguk provided.

"Yeah but being taken care by you or by Hyejin is different from being taken care by me." Sooyeon rolled her eyes. "You can't know enough. I have lived through the experience of carrying a life."

"Doesn't matter." Jeongguk's eyes hardened.

"Anyway!" Sooyeon dismissed, voice cheerful. "Tomorrow I'll bring you homemade food and then I'll take you out for brunch and then from there we will go shopping—"

"Mom." Jeongguk mirthlessly cocked his head to the side. "Jimin goes to work at ten and comes back home at three."

"W-What?" Sooyeon gawked. She sharply turned her head towards Jimin then. "You still dance? While you're pregnant?"

"Jimin teaches primary level. His doctors approved." Jeongguk growled out. "And it makes him happy so of course, he does."

Sooyeon narrowed her eyes. Her mouth twisted in distaste and she clicked her tongue. But other than that she refrained from commenting any further. "As long as you're keeping the baby safe." Sooyeon muttered. "Be careful, Jimin. It isn't just about you now. There's our heir growing in your womb."

Sooyeon then started talking about hosting Jimin's baby shower.

"I didn't think about it." Jimin panicked. "I was thinking of keeping the pregancy private."

"Non sense, darling. Jeongguk's child is expected to be born! I'm going to be a grandmom, oh dear! This will be the grandest baby shower anyone has ever seen."

Jimin felt the quisiness build in his stomach. His head was starting to hurt, thinking about all the media attention. Jimin looked at the woman for a long moment as she spoke on and on, before shutting his eyes and turning his head away.

....

By the time Sooyeon left, Jimin was feeling quite distraught and turbulent. His stomach was in knots, his head was hurting and he simply retired back to bed. Jeongguk stayed by his side, soothingly massaging Jimin's temples to alleviate some pain. And Jimin fell asleep like that, lips parted and fingers weakly clutching onto Jeongguk's sleeve.

And then when he woke up after a long nap and found Jeongguk still caressing his hair, warmth rushed through his entire being.

"Oh, you're up." Jeongguk smiled. "How're you feeling now?"

"I'm good." Jimin smiled affectionately, kissing the back of Jeongguk's hand.

After a shower and a meal and as the three of them settled to watch some drama together, Jimin urged Jeongguk to call Jaesung and give him the good news.

Jeongguk nodded, face contemplative and full of something Jimin couldn't gauge. And then Jeongguk grabbed his phone and called his father.

Jimin sat besides him, realizing how nervous Jeongguk actually was, and slipped his hand into Jeongguk's.

"Dad?" Jeongguk spoke into the phone. "Yeah, we're good. How're you doing?" He said with a shaky voice and then casted a glance towards Jimin.

"Dad, I have to tell you something." Jeongguk said then, voice thick and wavering.

"Jimin's..." Jeongguk exhaled a shuddering breath and Jimin wrapped his arms around Jeongguk. "I'm going to be a f-father, dad."

In an hour, Jaesung was at the hill suite. Jeongguk trembled when he saw his father rushing in. He got up instantly, mind hazy and then hugged his father. Now that Jeongguk was going to be a father, he was entirely capable of understanding Jaesung's love for him. So he hugged Jaesung tightly and couldn't help the moisture from gathering in his eyes.

Jaesung was smiling from ear to ear. "Congratulations." He let out a watery laugh as he patted Jeongguk's back and ruffled his hair. The way he always did when Jeongguk was still growing up. "Congratulations to the both of you."

Jimin stood there, watching in awe, his heart full and yet aching... His own parents would never congratulate him like that. They wouldn't care that Jimin was pregnant. Jimin felt his eyes and nose burn, his throat was closing in on itself but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the heart wrenchingly beautiful scene. But then Jaesung was smiling so softly at him, like Jimin was akin to something so precious to him, and then he was making his way towards Jimin.

Jimin closed his eyes and tears fell down his face the moment Jaesung placed his hand on Jimin's head and then kissed his forehead.

"Thank you so much, my child." Jaesung said, eyes doused in love and such tenderness that Jimin cried. Jaesung hugged him to his chest. "There, there," He cooed, "Don't cry, my sweetest. You have all my blessings and love."

Jeongguk updated Jaesung about Jimin's pregnancy. About his health and diet and supplements. Jaesung listened on, eyes keen, and his arm permanently wrapped around Jimin's shoulders. Jimin couldn't really hear or reply, his mind was fuzzy, and he just sat there, looking down at his lap, smiling so wide as he relished in Jaesung's fatherly love and affection.

"I'll make sure that he has the best doctors in the country." Jaesung stated.

And Jeongguk was nodding aggressively. "A team of doctors, best in this field, are handling his pregancy."

Jimin's heart skipped a beat. Jeongguk was sitting there, with red ears and nervous hands, as if he were a little kid answering his father about his results. Jaesung was asking him a plethora of questions and Jeongguk was reassuring him that he was capable of taking good care of Jimin.

Jimin felt so cared for. He rested his head against Jaesung's shoulder and closed his eyes. His soul was at peace, his mind was floating and he kept smiling as Jaesung pecked his head lovingly a dozen more times.

"He's fast asleep." Jaesung whispered as he looked down at Jimin's sleeping face.

"Today was really exhausting for him." Jeongguk murmured as he got up from the couch and walked towards Jimin who was dozing on Jaesung's shoulder. "I'll take him upstairs." Jeongguk said and Jaesung smiled softly.

"Careful that he doesn't wake up." Jaesung whispered, already missing Jimin's presence besides him as Jeongguk slipped his arms under Jimin's knees and his back and carried him in his arms. Jimin mumbled something sleepily and rested his face against Jeongguk's chest and Jaesung couldn't keep himself from cooing.

Then when Jeongguk descended back to the living area after laying Jimin down to sleep comfortably, Jaesung hugged Jeongguk again.

"He's really precious, Jeongguk." Jaesung smiled. "Take good care of him and fulfill all his wishes. Pregancy is such a magnificent yet difficult time. And he's very young, never forget that."

Jeongguk nodded, eyes focused and full of resolve.

"Jimin will have good days and bad days." Jaesung continued. "But never be harsh to him in any way. He's carrying your child and is going through a lot of changes because of it. You must keep that in mind and you must always be patient with him."

"I promise." Jeongguk said in a heartbeat.

And then Jaesung, now finally satisfied, smiled gently at Jeongguk. "So my son is becoming a father. What a blessed day it is."

Jeongguk choked out a tearful laugh. "I'm so nervous and worried all the time. I can't even sleep at night. I keep waking up to make sure that he's alright. He's had really bad morning sickness." Jeongguk winced. "But it's getting better now. He wasn't even able to eat anything, dad. I was worried sick that he was growing weak each day."

"I understand." Jaesung frowned, eyes faraway. "When your mother was carrying you, she had some pretty bad days. She screamed a lot and I developed a habit of making sure that I'm not aggravating her anger in any way. Though later I realized that that was just her." Jaesung chuckled.

Jeongguk chewed on his lip. "She came here earlier."

"She did?" Jaesung looked at him in bewilderment and then frowned deeply as Jeongguk nodded. "And yet she never spoke of it to me."

"You know how she is." Jeongguk said. "I was shocked that she had somehow learnt about Jimin's pregancy. We haven't told anyone yet. You're the first person we called and told about it."

"That's weird." Jaesung grunted.

Jeongguk looked at him hesitantly and then he revealed everything about Chaeyoung and the events following her arrest to him. Jaesung looked at him with eyes wide blown and face contorted with shock.

"Jeongguk." Jaesung spoke, stringent. "You realize the mental pressure Jimin might have been under all this time? Figuring out all this...this non sense, while in the first trimester." He shook his head in disapproval, worry lacing his words. "Just focus on Jimin. Drive him to the studio and pick him up on time. Don't worry about the office work or about anyone else. I'll take care of this—" He gestured with his hand, disgust marring his sharp features. "—this Hyunbin and Chaeyoung myself."

Jaesung then got up and put his coat back on. "And I'll keep an eye on your mother. I don't have a good feeling about her. You said she was suddenly apologizing to Jimin and showering him with love?" He heaved a deep sigh when Jeongguk affirmed. "You do know that she abhorrs Jimin. And even if her reactions were genuine, they were just meant for the baby, not for Jimin."

Jeongguk grew silent then. Jaesung assessed him with perceptive eyes, gauging his expression. Jeongguk voice quavered as he finally spoke then.

"Dad..." Jeongguk murmured in a feeble voice. "Is it normal to feel anxious and powerless?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Whenever I look at Jimin..." Jeongguk swallowed thickly, his eyes hazy as he slowly shook his head. "I can't explain exactly how I feel. I look at him and I want to protect him. But then I fear that I might hover around him too much and annoy him. But I cannot not hover, I get agitated."

Jaesung smiled warmly and his eyes visibly softened. "I know how vulnerable you're feeling, Gguk. But this is the kind of vulnerable you crave so fiercely." Jaesung murmured. He placed a hand on Jeongguk's shoulder then as he reminisced. "You know, when you learn that your partner is carrying your baby, you feel like it's the greatest feeling in the world. And then when the belly swells, then you feel like that is the greatest feeling in the world." He then sequeezed Jeongguk's hand. "But when your child is born and is finally in your arms, that feeling is something else entirely."

Jeongguk smiled at his father, his throat parching and vision getting blurry as he imagined holding his tiny baby in his arms for the first time.

"You'll be great parents, I know that." Jaesung smiled reassuringly. "And you'll take good care of Jimin. I know that too."

....

Later at night when Jimin had already settled under the duvet, Jeongguk slipped into the bed and kissed the side of his face affectionately.

"I'm sorry about today." Jeongguk grimaced as he propped himself on his elbow and looked down at Jimin's face. "She crossed so many lines."

"She's excited about the baby." Jimin tried to smile. He ran a hand through Jeongguk's hair and Jeongguk closed his eyes at the sensation.

"Still. She made you very uncomfortable. She has no filter." Jeongguk groaned and then wrapped his fingers around Jimin's wrist and brought it to his lips. He planted kisses and nuzzled lovingly into it.

Jimin smiled warmly. He couldn't help the way his heart melted whenever Jeongguk showed him affection like that. "Come here." Jimin whispered and then wrapped his arms around Jeongguk's neck.

They kissed deeply, their eyes closed and warmth spreading through their entire being. Jimin just stayed there, feeling, as Jeongguk laid a hundred more kisses on Jimin's lips.

"I love you." Jimin purred. "She's your mom and I understand that she's excited about the baby, Jeongguk. We can't take this way from her." He murmured, voice so sweet that Jeongguk wanted to drown in it. "I'm so happy that dad came here. He was so happy."

"Why are you so nice, Jimin-ssi?" Jeongguk looked down at Jimin, pinching his cheek. "You're too kind and forgiving. I don't know what to do with you."

"Keep loving me." Jimin giggled and pecked Jeongguk hand. "And keep making me chamomile tea. That shit works like magic."

Jeongguk snorted and attacked Jimin's neck. "You curse a whole lot now, Jimin-ssi."

....

Jimin's unquiet body turned him restless. It was finally weeknd and he had hoped to sleep in. But the weird ache only exacerbated. He tossed and turned, tried changing positions but it only made him hiss out in pain. Jimin finally gave up and pushed the duvet off his body. He sat up in bed, his eyes falling on the wall clock. It was a little past ten in the morning. Jimin could distantly hear Hyejin and Jeongguk talk downstairs.

He heaved a deep sigh and rubbed at his eyes. But then he hissed out as the sudden bolt of pain shot up his chest. Jimin groaned and trudged towards the walk in closet. And once he was standing in front of the mirrored walls, Jimin lifted his shirt up and off his body and tossed it away. Clad in just his tiny shorts now, he frowned deeply at his sensitive nipples.

"What's wrong with you?" Jimin goused as he stepped closer to the mirror. He touched one and groaned. They were very tender and even a bit painful to touch. Jimin shrieked in fear and then took the piercings off with shaking fingers. He gasped and grunted when his nipples were finally rid of them. And then he closely inspected them.

Jimin couldn't breastfeed, his doctors had told him. His carrier body wouldn't function that way. It was a relief to him but the sudden sensitivity did terrorize him immensely. So he sat on the chaise lounge there with his phone and began looking for it on the internet. And yet when he couldn't find much about carriers, he called Eunhee.

It was apparently because of his piercings. Eunhee reassured him that tenderness was a very common symptom and asked him if he had noticed some swelling. Jimin answered in negative, red in the face. God, he should have remembered to take the damn piercings off.

Jimin put the phone away and then got up to inspect his chest again. His pectorals didn't look any different to him. His nipples were a bit sore and inflamed, owing to the assault from the piercings. Other than that they looked very regular to Jimin.

Jimin shook his head and hoped that they didn't change through the course of his pregnancy. He stood there, unmoving, looking at his reflection in the mirror, at the tattoo covering his ribcage. And then he sighed. He was in the fourteenth week of pregnancy; now in his second trimester. The doctors said that the dangerous period was over now and that his baby was very healthy and growing rapidly.

Jimin smiled at that. It had been a very rough time for him. The immeasurable amount of stress he'd been under during the first trimester, Jimin was so lucky that it didn't affect his baby. Jimin ran a hand through his hair. He should probably give up on the hopes of getting some more sleep. He was feeling hungry too now. He decided to go grab something to eat and so he turned to pick his shirt back up, but then he ceased... His eyes were glued to his frame in the mirror and Jimin looked, wide eyed, at his side profile. At the tiny yet very noticeable bump peeking out from his lower tummy.

Jimin stopped breathing altogether. His hands hanging in the mid-air, as goosebumps erupted all over his skin.

That was... his baby. That was definitely his baby.

"Baby..."

Jimin started as Jeongguk's voice filtered into the bedroom. He couldn't find his voice to call back. He just stood there, unable to move a single muscle as he heard Jeongguk calling him and his footsteps getting closer.

"Jiminie?" Jeongguk called and finally slided the door open. "Oh, there you are." He smiled, breathing out in relief. "I thought you were going to sleep some more..." Jeongguk trailed off and then noticed Jimin's entire demeanour. He walked towards Jimin slowly then, eyes assessing the situation.

"Are you alright?" Jeongguk frowned. "Why're you standing like this? Is—Is everything okay?"

Jimin heaved. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he looked Jeongguk in the eye. He still couldn't formulate a single word so instead he cupped the side of Jeongguk's face and moved him towards the mirror. Jeongguk, utterly confused and worried, did as Jimin required. His eyes searched Jimin's frame desperately before he too suddenly held his breath.

Jeongguk looked down at Jimin's belly in the mirror. A wheeze squeezed out of his lungs and he jerkily turned to look back at Jimin. He looked down at the tiny bump. His lips trembled miserably.

"Our b-baby." Jimin finally choked out as his hands flew down to hold the swelling. "Jeongguk," Jimin cried out, tears springing out of his eyes in rivulets. "This is... T-This is..."

And Jeongguk dropped down to his knees. He looked at the pregnant belly, tears running down his face, and then he looked up at Jimin's face. Jimin nodded miserably at him and then Jeongguk buried his face in Jimin's belly and let out choked sobs and cries.

Jimin wept openly as he saw Jeongguk break down. He hugged Jeongguk's head to his stomach, held onto his hair with trembling fingers, as Jeongguk cried his heart out. His tears drenching the little bump, Jimin felt Jeongguk's laboured breaths on his bare skin and the vibrations from his throat seep into his bones.

Jimin smiled tearfully and then laughed. "That's your baby, Jeongguk." He said as he ran his fingers lovingly into Jeongguk's hair.

Jeongguk was a mess. Jimin had never seen him like this. He could have never imagined Jeongguk in such a vulnerable state, down on his knees and crying his eyes out. This was the first time Jeongguk had allowed himself to show the human reaction to becoming a father. Jimin felt an insurmountable amount of guilt churn his insides. He had kept Jeongguk from showing happiness, from even revealing his innate emotions regarding his own child.

Jimin slowly got down on his knees and embraced Jeongguk tightly. "It's okay." Jimin murmured, his voice gruff and barely steady. "That's your little baby, growing so well, hmm?"

Jeongguk nodded pitifully into his neck and hugged him back tighter. Jimin closed his eyes and rubbed Jeongguk's back soothingly as his husband finally let his bottled up emotions out.

Hyejin looked at them with dewy eyes. She kept clutching onto her tunic for dear life as Jeongguk held her shoulders with trembling hands and brought her to the living area. Hyejin looked longingly at Jeongguk's flared eyes and then at Jimin who was sitting on the couch.

"D-Did you..." Hyejin choked out. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't keep her voice from wavering. Jimin nodded up at her and got up. And then he lifted his shirt. Hyejin inhaled sharply.

Her hands abandoned her crumbled up tunic as she reached them out. They were shaking miserably.

"C-Can I?" Hyejin said brokenly and Jimin wrapped his hands around hers and brought them to his baby bump.

Hyejin gasped. Tears flooded her eyes as she felt the tiny lump.

Jimin smiled at her, barely keeping himself from dissolving into a pool of tears. He let her explore the swelling with shaking hands and he kept his hands protectively over hers to ground her. It occurred to him that this was something that Hyejin never experienced, something that she could have wanted to fiercely but prohibited from.

Jimin caressed her veiny hands and looked into her misty eyes. "That's your grandchild, Hyeji."

Hyejin jerked her head up and looked at Jimin, her face instantly contorted as she let out a strangled breath. She would have fell to the floor then and there if it weren't for Jeongguk's hands holding her upright.

Hyejin cried. She cried so miserably that Jimin felt like his heart was being ripped to shreds. His soul ached as he looked at the woman, her old hands splayed over his tiny baby bump... Something that she was forbade from having... Jimin readily hugged her to his chest and reassured her. The grief mangled his entire being... God, he had even kept Hyejin from expressing her joy. This woman had so selflessly devoted her life to the bringing up of Jeongguk and Jimin had so selfishly kept her from celebrating that kid she brought up finally becoming a father.

"I-I'm so s-sorry..." Jimin sobbed into Hyejin's neck. "I kept you from—"

"N-No." Hyejin didn't let him finish. She embraced Jimin tightly and planted a dozen kisses on his shoulder. Her kisses ladden with tears, of joy, of a sense of completion, of becoming a grandmother... Hyejin whimpered and held Jimin's face tenderly. "No, darling. I understand how hard it was for you. I'm sorry that it had to happen like this."

They consoled each other, whispered words of gratitude and regret, and just held each other. They had managed to calm down marginally and then Jeongguk wrapped his arms around the both of them. He hugged them both to his chest and they clinged onto him.

"You're making me cry again." Jeongguk laughed, tears already cascading down his eyes. Jimin and Hyejin laughed tearfully into his chest and he kissed their heads and kept them in his embrace.

....

Jimin slowly developed a habit of cradling his baby bump. It happened so spontaneously and so innately that it caught him off guard when suddenly Jeongguk was staring at his hand with such a soft gaze.

Jimin's breath hitched when he followed Jeongguk's line of sight. But before he could do anything, Jeongguk had stepped in and placed his own hand over Jimin's. Jimin closed his eyes, feeling a weird flutter in his stomach as Jeongguk kissed him.

Jimin's belly swelled slowly but surely. His morning sickness became a distant memory and he learnt to steel himself during his prenatal visits.

Teaching primary level ballet helped him a whole lot. It helped him maintain liaison with the studio and his art and whilst at the studio, Jimin appraised his group's upcoming performance and invested into the ideas too every time Hoseok needed his opinions.

Jimin was constantly being reassured and supported and slowly his fears started to ebb away. And then being pregnant started feeling normal to him. Jeongguk dotted on him, he satisfied Jimin's sudden food cravings, and eased him into this new phase of their life.

What would have Jimin gone through if he didn't marry Jeongguk? Jimin shuddered at the mere thought.

"You okay?" Jeongguk murmured, his hands ceased where they were shampooing Jimin's hair the moment he felt Jimin suddenly tremble.

Jimin smiled down at the bubble bath water. "Yeah, I'm just... happy."

Jimin closed his eyes when he felt the tender kiss at the nape of his neck. "Is it because I'm washing your hair, Jimin-ssi?" Jeongguk whispered against his skin.

Jimin felt the sudden rush of blood through his body. "It's because of you." He whispered back and then turned his face back to look at Jeongguk. Their eyes connected and they just leaned in. Jimin lost himself in the feeling. He was kissing Jeongguk hungrily, nibbling on his lips, his hands holding onto Jeongguk.

Nothing else mattered. Neither the fact that Jimin still had shampoo in his hair and was sitting in the bath, naked, nor that Jeongguk was still in his white dress shirt and black pants and had rushed home from office because he received a call from a very panicked Jimin who missed having his hair washed by Jeongguk.

Jeongguk had rolled his sleeves back, three of the buttons were undone and half of his shirt was drenched by now. But he didn't care either. He just kissed Jimin back eagerly, to give Jimin whatever he wanted, to soothe him however he required.

Jimin was burning with the need. He was clutching onto Jeongguk's shirt with white fists, pulling him in over the edge of the bathtub.

"–min," Jeongguk breathed into Jimin's mouth, his hand holding the edge of the bathtub and the other craddling Jimin's face.

"Don't say anything." Jimin urged. "I-I need this. Need you, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk pulled Jimin out of the bath at once. He carried him to the shower and let the water run down on them. Jimin clinged on to him and Jeongguk caged him against the glass promptly. He kissed Jimin while the water cascaded down his body, drenching his clothes completely. Jimin gasped and whimpered as Jeongguk mauled his neck while getting the shampoo off Jimin's hair.

Jimin thrashed, nails almost ripping through the sheets as Jeongguk fingered him. He was whispering praises into Jimin's skin, pronouncing his love all over again while Jimin floated in an endless sea of pleasure.

Jeongguk was kissing his neck, careful of Jimin's tiny baby bump, as his fingers rubbed Jimin's insides just right. Jimin moaned, high and breathy, face scrunched up in pleasure and head thrown back, exposing more of his neck for Jeongguk to kiss.

"What a pretty boy you are, Jiminie." Jeongguk drawled, angling his fingertips just right. Jimin cried out, body strung tight as he shot warm cum all over his stomach.

Jeongguk cooed, stilling his fingers but never taking them out. He knew Jimin wanted more. Ever since Jimin's morning sickness dwindled he had been wanting intimacy so direly. Jeongguk was aware, he had talked to Eunhee and researched a lot.

Jeongguk slithered down Jimin's body and lapped up the cum eagerly. Jimin groaned, already hardening again at the obscene view. Jeongguk licked him and suckled on his chest and stomach and then he continued down his belly. Jimin swallowed thickly, eyes trained on Jeongguk, breath caught in his throat. Jeongguk was laving at his baby bump without even realizing.

Jimin knew the exact moment Jeongguk realized. Jeongguk stilled abruptly and then he stared up at Jimin with wide eyes.

Jimin's eyes filled up with tears and they fell down the corners of his eyes. "G-Go on, please." Jimin croaked out. "I-I like it, please."

God, Jimin's heart almost stopped when Jeongguk pulled his fingers out of Jimin's heat and instead cradled the pregnant belly. And then he was showering it with heartfelt kisses. Jimin's hands found solace in Jeongguk's hair and he closed his eyes.

"I love y-you." Jeongguk wheezed out.

And Jimin sobbed softly. "They love you too, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk let out a wet chuckle. "I'll lay my life down for you." Jeongguk heaved and then nuzzled against Jimin's belly button. "And for our baby."

"Our baby." Jimin cried, shaking his head. "Our baby, J-Jeongguk. I'm s-so happy that it's your baby. That you put your baby inside me."

And then Jeongguk was kissing him passionately. Jimin wrapped his legs around Jeongguk's waist, his arms wrapped around Jeongguk's neck as he was kissed fiercely.

Jimin panted, body burning with need. "I-I need you. I n-need you. Please. Please."

When Jeongguk tried to reach down and finger him again, Jimin shook his head violently. "You." He cried. "It's not enough. I need more, Jeongguk."

"Jimin," Jeongguk swallowed, looking into Jimin's eyes. "I... Sex..." He pressed his lips together. "I don't know if we should."

"You won't hurt me." Jimin breathed, hips restless against Jeongguk's crotch. "I'm going insane. My body needs you. I need you."

Jeongguk looked at Jimin for a long moment but then Jimin let out a weak sob and he moved. Jeongguk got rid of his boxers and then out of habit he reached out for the drawer he put the condoms in. And then he ceased. Silence befell them and Jeongguk retracted his hand back hesitantly.

Jimin had stopped breathing altogether. His eyes were glazed over, lips parted as he stayed unmoving for a long while. And Jeongguk just stayed there on his knees, eyes casted down, feeling the guilt churn his insides.

"You don't need to use them anymore." Jimin said then, eyes still far away.

"Jimin, I..." Jeongguk tried but words failed him entirely.

Jimin just shook his head and then looked at Jeongguk. And a weak smile stretched across his lips. "I wish I could remember the feeling... I tried to remember it a lot but..." He reached out a hand and Jeongguk took it in his own eagerly. "I want to experience it." Jimin breathed, eyes shining with tears. "I want to know how it felt when you gave me your baby."

Jeongguk choked on a sob.

"Please..." Jimin whispered.

Jeongguk slowly leaned in and rested his forehead against Jimin's. He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath as he felt Jimin reach his hands down and wrap them around his cock.

Tears clinging to Jeongguk's lashes then fell on the apples of Jimin's cheeks and Jimin let out a strangled cry as he guided Jeongguk's length to his prepped entrance with shaking hands.

They trembled bodily when the cockhead slithered in. Jeongguk's chest was heaving and Jimin could barely breathe. It felt familiar yet painfully strange. Jeongguk's baby was growing in Jimin's womb now and Jimin had tired himself with his thoughts.

Jimin hugged Jeongguk's shoulders when he bottomed out. Eyes wet and closed, hearts pumping erratically. They just stilled there, just breathing.

Jimin was feeling a distinguished need burst deep within him. His senses seemed to be heightened, his insides were throbbing, he felt fuller than he had ever before.

Jimin let out tiny whimpers of want. His needful little cries filled Jeongguk's ears.

"H-How..." Jimin groaned throatily, clinging onto Jeongguk for dear life. "I-I feel... D-Does it feel different?"

Jeongguk nodded into Jimin's neck, just barely moving his hips. "Y-Yeah." He croaked.

Jimin whimpered, redglessly moving his head from side to side. "The baby..." Jimin choked out. "—the baby is making me feel different, Jeongguk... What do you f-feel?"

Jeongguk then raised his head and gazed at Jimin. He wiped the tears off that had fallen down the corners of Jimin's eyes. "You're all clamped up, baby." Jeongguk's lips trembled as he smiled softly at Jimin. "But it feels softer and warmer. I just..."

Jimin nodded, throwing his head back against the pillow. "Y-You like it?"

Jeongguk lowered his head back down and rested his forehead against Jimin's neck. He swallowed thickly and nodded. "I like it, Jiminie."

And then they moved. Gently. Bodies moulding together. The cacophony of their soft sighs and moans ricocheting in the entire bedroom. They took it excruciatingly slow, scared that they might hurt their little baby. Every time Jeongguk pulled and pushed back in home, Jimin's needful cries only augmented.

Jimin bloomed beautifully just like that. Unfettering his passion and clamping harder around Jeongguk's throbbing cock. Jeongguk choked out grunts of Jimin's name, trying to restrain himself, trying hard to not just fuck in blindly.

Jimin was a blabbering mess, grabbing onto Jeongguk's shoulders with frantic hands, hips impatient and restive with the anticipation of finally feeling Jeongguk shoot his seed inside him. This would be the first time he'd experience it with a conscious mind and it only made Jimin even more desperate.

Jeongguk was grunting and groaning miserably now. He was so close, he could feel the flames of pleasure blazing hot in his groin. And Jimin was clawing at his biceps so desperately. Delirious, begging Jeongguk to fill him up, to strengthen that instinctual bond which they had cinched unknowingly already.

"P-Please... Please... Please," Jimin was slurring incoherently, thrashing underneath Jeongguk's body. Jeongguk pushed in deeper and then shushed Jimin with his lips.

"There," Jeongguk shivered bodily, gazing into Jimin's tearful eyes, as he finally flooded Jimin's insides with his cum. Jimin stilled at once. He stared unblinking at Jeongguk, mouth hung open, hands uselessly falling back to both sides of his head.

Jeongguk refused to break the eye contact. Even as the waves of pleasure crashed onto him. His hips kept kicking in involuntarily, the euphoria rendering him incapable of any coherent thought except for Jimin.

And then Jimin was crying. His pretty face scrunched up as tears oozed out of his beautiful eyes.

"Shh... It's okay." Jeongguk kissed him weakly and nuzzled against Jimin's warm cheek. "It's okay, my love."

Jimin hid his tear stained face into Jeongguk's neck and hugged him tight. They were still joined together and Jimin didn't want Jeongguk to pull out yet, afraid that Jeongguk's seed might escape out of him and leave him terribly empty. He felt the weird flutter in his belly, a dull feeling that was gone as soon as it came.

"I-I wish I could remember..." Jimin sobbed softly. The warmth from Jeongguk's cum was pleasantly spreading inside him, flooding his fertile womb, marking him again from within. And this time, Jimin would remember it. And he would cherish it. He felt so complete, something animalistic inside him felt so secure, that it made him cry all over again.

"I love you." Jimin hiccuped while cradling Jeongguk's face with both hands. "I can't live without you, Jeongguk. Promise me," He pleaded, voice breaking. "Promise me you'll never stop loving me. I can't live without you, Jeongguk, it will destroy me."

"Shh." Jeongguk kissed his trembling lips. His eyes glimmered with unshed tears as he smiled down at Jimin, running soothing fingers through Jimin's hair. "Until my heart stops beating, it will only ever love you. I promise." Jeongguk breathed, placing his forehead against Jimin's. "I promise."

Chapter Text

The lights dimmed out slowly. The hushed murmuring dissolved into complete stillness. Nervous anticipation was building up in leaps and bounds and the whole area was thumming with vibrant zest.

The stage was shrouded in darkness. Jimin could feel the pre-show jitters, his stomach was in knots, and his contact lenses already stung his eyes which anticipated the harsh stage lights zeroing in on them. Jimin gulped nervously, chest rising and falling irrationally, his mind reminiscing his very first performance.

And then the horn started blaring. Jimin's heart lept inside his chest and he squeezed Jeongguk's hand tightly. His eyes started searching the stage, still shrouded in darkness. A steady rhythm was building up as the drums started playing. Till finally the lights focused on the figures. The horn and the drums suddenly came to a halt. The figures stayed unmoving, their arms curled around their frame, their heads tilted down. Jimin held his breath. He could feel his own muscles coil, as if he were up there on the stage, preparing to let loose with the beat. Jeongguk enveloped his hand with both of his. And then the beat dropped and the figures dropped to the floor. And so did Jimin's heart—it plummeted and then rose. And his belly fluttered.

The performance set about, the dancers moved in synchronized symphony and Hoseok took the lead. Jimin's heart was hammering inside his chest, his eyes were glassy, palms sweaty. But Jeongguk never let go of his hands. With every stunt that was performed, Jimin's heart leapt and he squeezed Jeongguk's hands harder.

The seventy-first cultural heritage festival. Jimin couldn't perform but he was happy for his team. They had earned it and watching them perform at such a prestigious festival, representing their home country and making everyone proud, Jimin felt his heart soar. He ached too. He ached immensely that he couldn't join his team and make the stage his, but then he held his pregnant belly with shaking hands, Jeongguk's palms splayed over them, and promised himself that the next year he would be standing up there, across from where Jimin was sitting right now.

He watched the entire show diligently. Jeongguk soothed him continuously, he rubbed Jimin's belly gently. Jeongguk didn't say anything to him, well aware that Jimin was in a trance and that he just needed to absorb the entire event and live it. He just sat next to him, making sure that he doesn't disturb him but letting his presence reassure Jimin. Providing him silent support, the likes of which Jimin direly needed.

Jimin cheered loudly as his team finally took one last bow before they would speak into the mic. Jimin stood up at once, clapping for them vehemently, tears oozing out of his eyes and his lips trembling with a proud smile. Hoseok's eyes found him instantly, as if he were already looking for Jimin. Hoseok smiled at him and nodded. And then he accepted the microphone with grateful hands, smiling widely. Jimin chuckled tearfully and Jeongguk helped him settle down in his chair.

"It's a great honour." Hoseok started, looking at his huge audience. "To be able stand here in front of you, on his auspicious stage and perform. Our team worked very hard day and night, every single one of us." He smiled, his eyes crinkling with joy. "Not only for this performance, it took years and years of hard work and dedication that finally led us here. And it wouldn't have been possible without our gem, the pride of our team, Jimin." Hoseok pointed towards Jimin with an open palm, summoning him so lovingly.

The lights instantly fell on Jimin and the crowd cheered enthusiastically. Jimin stopped breathing altogether as he looked at Jeongguk with wide eyes.

"Go ahead." Jeongguk smiled at him, kissing the back of his hand. "Your stage and your fans are calling you, baby."

And Jimin stood on wobbling legs. The cheers only got louder and Jimin's heart was thrashing inside his rib cage, threatening to rip out of his chest and ascend up to the heavens. If it weren't for Jeongguk's warm hand at the small of his back, guiding him to the stage, Jimin would have fallen to the ground. Jeongguk's hand only left him when he had successfully given Jimin's hand to Hoseok, to help him up the stage.

Jimin felt like he was experiencing something out of the world, like he was watching it all happening from an outer projection. It felt unreal. He stood there on the stage, in front of thousands of people who were clapping for them, calling his name like a mantra. The stage lights shone on him, his team stood there behind him and Jimin gripped the mic stand to ground himself. His eyes scanned the faces of those thousands of people smiling wide, and among them Jeongguk's face was shining the brightest.

Jeongguk was smiling so wide, his eyes tearful, his palms reddening with the sheer intensity with which he clapped for Jimin.

Jimin smiled. He smiled tearily into the microphone. "Thank you. Thank you for giving me so much love. Even though I couldn't perform today for you." Jimin croaked out, his chin wobbling. "I promise you that I'll work harder and come back with far better performances than what I have given you till now."

His audience was listening to him patiently, with such an intense focus. Their eyes hopeful and proud. And Jimin knew that this was where he belonged. He was meant to dance and be on the stage. This was his purpose. This was what completed him, what made him feel fulfilled.

That morning when Jimin had dolled himself upup prettily, just like he would when he was performing, he had made sure that his tailored white shirt was adorned with lace and gems and ruffling beautifully. That it wasn't snug on his frame, that it hid his baby bump perfectly. But now as he was standing in front of all these people who loved him and his art so unconditionally, Jimin wanted nothing but to be sincere with them.

Jimin's eyes searched for Jeongguk. He looked at his husband longingly, admist all the loud cheers and chants of his name. Jeongguk was looking back at him devotedly and he was holding a large bouquet of flowers for Jimin. Just like he always did.

Jimin finally let the tears fall. He smiled wide, so wide that his cheeks hurt. And then his hands abandoned the mic stand and instead rested on his pregnant belly.

The audience shushed for a moment, Jimin's heart was lodged into his throat, the cameras were flashing, the lights were too harsh onto him, Jeongguk was staring at him with wide eyes, and Jimin just held his breath. And then he exhaled shudderingly, his hair sitting up, shivers slithering up and down his spine as all the people stood up and cheered even louder for him.

Jimin cried. He let all his inhibitions go and cried. All that he had been shouldering silently till now flooded out of him. Hoseok held his shoulders gently and Jimin just cried as he nodded at his audience. His hands never leaving his belly. That weird flutter inside was making itself known constantly, colliding softly against his skin from within. Jimin hiccuped, his hand flew to his mouth in an effort to reign in his sobs. Jimin finally understood. This was his baby moving. His little baby was constantly moving around in his womb as Jimin kept standing in front of his audience.

Jimin hiccuped, finding Jeongguk's eyes and nodding at him miserably. And then Jeongguk was coming towards him, the gorgeous bouquet in his hands.

The ocean of fascinated onlookers chanted Jimin's name and whistled as Jeongguk gave the bouquet to Jimin. Jimin laughed, hugging the flowers to his chest, and then he catapulted himself into Jeongguk's arms.

Jeongguk was shaking terribly as he wrapped his arms around Jimin's frame and hugged him.

"They moved." Jimin choked out into Jeongguk's ear.

"What baby?" Jeongguk whispered out, tightening his arms around Jimin as the petals and confetti was showered down on them.

Jimin let out a wet laugh. "The baby moved, Jeongguk." Jimin cried, clutching onto Jeongguk's arms for dear life. "I felt our baby move."

Jeongguk let out a choked breath as he broke the embrace and cupped Jimin's face with both hands. His eyes were filled with tears and he was smiling so brilliantly at Jimin. "The baby moved." Jeongguk repeated as he brushed Jimin's tears off. "They moved while you were on the stage. They want you to be up here, Jiminie. Your passion excites our baby too."

Jimin nodded vehemently and kissed Jeongguk with trembling lips.

"The most beautiful dancer in the whole wide world." Jeongguk smiled into the kiss. "I can't wait to see you perform."

....

"Jiminie..." Jihyun sobbed, clutching onto Jimin and crying pitifully on his shoulder. "I'm going to be an u-uncle?" He laughed and then dissolved into tears.

"Yes baby." Jimin cooed, running a soothing hand down Jihyun's back. "You're going to be an uncle. Wow. Uncle Jihyunie."

"Oh god—" Jihyun choked out, voice wavering and muffled. His eyes were flared red and swollen. Jimin didn't look any better. They were in their private room backstage and Jimin had announced his pregnancy to Jihyun and his whole team.

"Don't cry, sweetheart." Jeongguk soothed, his voice laced with affection as he ruffled Jihyun's hair.

"H-Hyung," Jihyun hiccuped as he looked up at Jeongguk. "Jeongguk hyung, thank you." He smiled and then he was crying all over again.

Jimin winced, his worried eyes staring at Jeongguk. And Jeongguk understood. He opened his arms and then Jihyun was hugging him tight. Jeongguk smiled down at the mussed up mop of black hair. "Shh, kid. No more tears, hmm?" He cooed and Jihyun nodded into his chest. "You've been so strong. And I'm so proud of you. I'm so thankful to you, Jihyun." He murmured as he placed a hand on the back of Jihyun's head.

Jeongguk nodded reassuringly at Jimin as he effectively shushed Jihyun. And then they all headed to the hill suite to celebrate properly. They ordered food and grilled meat outside. Though no alcohol was served because Jeongguk had banned it in the house as Jimin couldn't have any of it anymore. Jeongguk too had let go of all the stuff that Jimin couldn't consume because of his pregnancy.

Jimin sighed fondly as he settled back into the hammock, rubbing his belly soothingly as he watched Jeongguk play pool with Jihyun, Hoseok and other people from their team. Some were cheering, some betting, while they all were carrying plates filled with delicious food and sweets.

"How's my baby doing?" Taehyung smiled as he sequeezed himself into Jimin's hammock.

Jimin chuckled. "Good. I'm so happy."

Taehyung nodded and then reached a hand slowly and patted Jimin's belly lovingly. "And how's this precious angel doing?"

"They moved today, you know." Jimin giggled, eyes crinkling with joy. "I felt them move, Tae. It's real. There's a baby in there."

Taehyung opened and closed his mouth and then let out a choked up squeak. "R-Really?" He whispered. "Congratulations, Jiminie. I really can't wait. I want to meet your little miracle sooner."

His little miracle. His little angel. Jimin smiled as he looked down at his swollen belly. His winged miracle. The hope that perched in his soul, his pretty little miracle swan.

Jimin chewed down on his lip, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. "I'm so relieved that I didn't abort the baby, Tae. What was I even thinking?" His chin wobbled as he patted at his eyes. "Jeongguk was trying to convince me for my own sake. But thank god that I didn't agree, the guilt would have killed me one day."

"Shh." Taehyung frowned. "Don't say like that. We're all with you, hmm? You won't have to raise the baby on your own, never. We'll spoil your kid rotten."

Jimin chuckled breathily and then held onto Taehyung's hands. "I'm sure you will. And my kid is so lucky that you'll help raise them. I just... I'm really satisfied with my life, Tae. I have Jeongguk, I have you, Hobi hyung, Jihyun, dad, Hyeji, all our team members, the kids in Busan, and now my little baby. And I'm looking forward to meet my child and to start performing again. And my fans... they're so incredibly happy for me, Tae. I could die happily."

"Yah, Jimin-ah." Taehyung growled, "Don't say that. I told you. You've a lot to look forward to."

"Yeah." Jimin smiled cheekily as he rest back against the hammock. "Did I mention Joonie hyung?" He teased.

Taehyung scoffed, barely able to suppress the fond smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "He's so clumsy. And he gets flustered easily. And he takes me to museums for dates, can you believe it?"

"Mhmm." Jimin nodded fondly. "And you love going to all those museums with him."

"I love art." Taehyung retorted. And then added shamelessly. "He's a piece of art too."

Jimin giggled, throwing his head back. "Are you taking care of the bonsai he gifted you on your birthday?"

"He personally comes to check on it every weekend. He thinks I might water it a lot or forget to water it at all." Taehyung rolled his eyes, sounding every bit offended. "And that bonsai is a traitor! I water it perfectly but the moment Joon walks in, suddenly it doesn't vibe with my apartment." He grumbled and whined. "And then instead of babying me, Joon babies his precious little bonsai!" Taehyung's lips jutted out into a petulant pout before it all melted away and paved way to a fond smile. "Ugh, I love him."

"I can see that." Jimin giggled, hitting Taehyung's thigh. "You're so dramatic." He huffed as he closed his eyes, smiling from ear to ear. "Now I know why you could tell so easily that I had fallen for Jeongguk."

Taehyung grunted in question, still rubbing at his thigh in mock hurt, and Jimin opened his eyes and tilted his head to the side where Jeongguk was still immersed deeply into playing pool. Sleeves rolled up and smiling so wide as he won the game and high-fived Jihyun.

"It really changes your whole demeanour. You can't help but look at them and suddenly your heart is at peace." Jimin murmured, rubbing gently at the lower side of his belly where the baby was harmoniously fluttering against. "Love does reflect right on your face."

....

Hyunbin just stared at the woman. Dumbfounded, his mouth hung open. "What?" He wheezed when his muddled mind finally comprehended what was being said to him.

"Jimin's pregnant." Sooyeon repeated, face cautiously stoic. "He's three months pregnant."

Hyunbin got up at once. His chair screeched against the wooden floor of his dining room with the force he pushed it back. "Lies!" He growled.

"I saw his reports with my own eyes." Sooyeon rolled her eyes.

"What now?" Hyunbin paced. "Jeongguk won't leave him now that Jimin's expecting. What do we do now?"

"We?" Sooyeon scoffed. "There's no we here."

Hyunbin turned to look at her with disbelief written all over his face. "What are you saying?"

"I agreed because I thought Jimin wouldn't be able to give anything to my son. But now he's pregnant. With our heir." Sooyeon said simply, waving her hand around nonchalantly. "So this's it. I want my heir. He stays with Jeongguk until he gives birth to Jeongguk's son." She stated as she folded her arms at her chest. "Maybe they'll stay together after all. I believed that he won't stop dancing but see, he's teaching some kids these days. Not performing. As long as he gives Jeongguk his heir, I don't care."

"What—No!" Hyunbin hissed. "Chaeyoung is behind the bars because of our plan!"

"Your plan!" Sooyeon got up at once, banging her hands onto the table, her voice sharp and shrill. "Your wife's plan, more specifically. You don't dare drag me into this. Not after I paid off your debt for you." She growled out. "Do you intend to pay me back? Do you have the money? I don't think so, Hyunbin. So my name stays out of it."

Hyunbin clenched his jaw. He closed his eyes shut, breathing harshly through his nose. "Did Chaeyoung say anything to them?"

Sooyeon uprighted her posture, running hands down her hair to smoothen it out. "No. She won't say anything, I made sure of it. I'll try to get her out but it doesn't seem likely to me at this point. Somehow Jimin already knew about her."

Hyunbin's eye twitched. "So he knows it was me?"

"I don't know if he does." Sooyeon sighed and then she stepped towards Hyunbin, looking him in the eye. "I didn't care what sick games you and your son liked to play. But now Jeongguk's son is growing in his womb. You stay away from him. You harm him, you harm my grandchild. And I'll finish you if anything happens to my grandchild. Clear?"

Hyunbin narrowed his eyes. His balled up hands were shaking on his sides, trying to reign in his temper. But then he breathed in deeply and smiled. "Of course. We didn't know that he was pregnant. I got my money and you your heir."

"Very well." Sooyeon said. "This will be our last conversation regarding this matter." And then she left.

Hyunbin sat back down on the chair. He felt utterly conflicted. Jimin was pregnant? Hyunbin clenched his eyes shut and when he opened them, Minseo was standing there, looking at him with a haunted look on her face.

"You hear?" Hyunbin said gruffly to her. "Jimin's pregnant."

....

"Where were you?"

Sooyeon flinched bodily as she jerked her head towards the bedroom door.

"Oh, Jaesung. You scared me." She let out a sigh of relief as she rested a hand against her chest.

Jaesung frowned fowned down at her as Sooyeon went back to getting her makeup off.

"I went to get Jimin some jewelry." She smiled sweetly. "We'll have to plan his baby shower meticulously later so I'm getting his presents already."

"Sooyeon." Jaesung said and Sooyeon's hand halted in the mid air, grip tight on the makeup wipe. "Did you know about Chaeyoung?"

Sooyeon pressed her lips into a straight line and slowly turned to face Jaesung. "About Chaeyoung?" She asked, facial features depicting confusion. "About what?"

"About the disgusting deed she tried to commit." Jaesung spat as he assessed Sooyeon with hardened eyes.

Sooyeon gasped. "Of course not, darling. If I did, I would have spoken some sense into her!" She got up from the ottoman. "I just got the news that she was arrested so I rushed to see her."

Jaesung slowly made his way towards her. His eyes narrowed. Sooyeon had to steel herself and try hard to not look away. "I don't give empty threats." Jaesung said then, voice threateningly low. "I have warned you abundantly about what would happen if you don't mend your ways. Are you sure that you had nothing to do with that vile—"

"I promise." Sooyeon rushed to speak. "I didn't have any idea that Chae would do something like that, Jaesung." Her voice trembled but she maintained the eye contact with her husband.

Jaesung clicked his tongue. "Good. Because if you were involved in it somehow, I'd divorce you right away."

Sooyeon felt a shiver run down her spine. She tried to smile as she reached a hand out and rested it on Jaesung's arm. "I'm happy for Jimin, Jaesung. I promise. I wouldn't do anything to harm him in any way."

Jaesung looked at her mirthlessly and then shook his head. "You care about the baby. Not Jimin. You wouldn't do anything to harm Jimin now because it would eventually harm the baby." He spat out as he grasped Sooyeon's hand and lifted it off his arm. "I see right through you, Sooyeon."

....

Minseo toiled around the clock. She ignored Hyunbin's presence as much as she could even though today surprisingly Hyunbin wasn't domineering at all. He just kept quite as he lingered around Minseo, seeking comfort the likes of which Minseo couldn't provide him.

Jimin was pregnant.

Jimin was pregnant and both Hyunbin and Minseo didn't know how to wrap their heads around this information. Both of them had always anticipated it very much and now when it finally came true, they didn't know how to react.

Miyeon had called Minseo at least two dozen times. Minseo couldn't take her calls, not when Hyunbin hovered around her, so she had to switch off her phone. Minseo swallowed thickly, scrubbing the plates too harshly. Was Miyeon aware of Jimin's pregnancy? Was this the reason she was frantically calling Minseo on the phone? Minseo clutched onto the plate too hard as she leaned heavily against the sink. How could Miyeon have possibly learnt about it so quickly? It must be something else.

Hyunbin had been eerily quite for some time now. Minseo casted a glance towards him, his hunched frame sitting aloof at the small table set in one far corner of the kitchen. Minseo bit down at her lip, finally discarding the plate she had been mercilessly scrubbing for the last fifteen minutes. She washed away the soap from her hands and took a deep breath. Wiping her hands with the apron she made her way towards Hyunbin.

"I don't know how to feel about it." Hyunbin said as soon as Minseo was standing in front of him. He didn't look up, didn't look at her at all, his eyes focused on a point on the table.

"All of a sudden..." Minseo cleared her throat, standing awkwardly.

Hyunbin nooded his head. "I'm... I'm mad that Jimin got pregnant now that we were finally about to achieve something—" He swallowed thickly, a deep frown marring his face. "He betrayed me, Minseo. He set the trap so cleverly and married Jeongguk. He betrayed my trust..." Hyunbin stopped then and rubbed a hand down his face before finally looking up at Minseo's face. "But I don't hate his child. I—I'm conflicted but I don't hate that child even if it's Jimin's."

Minseo kept looking at him steadily. "Our grandchild. We should..." She shook her head then, correcting herself. "We must be happy for him. We're his parents after all."

Hyunbin nodded mutely and turned his head away. He gazed outside the window and heaved a deep sigh. "He's looking out for himself. He's solidifying his place in Jeongguk's life by having his baby. As he should. It's all I ever wanted for him. And yet, I feel conflicted."

Minseo inhaled deeply as she finally turned her phone on. It was way past midnight. They had had a very quiet dinner and Hyunbin retired to the bed sooner after that. Minseo stayed up, watching some drama mindlessly, as she waited for the right time to call Miyeon back.

She had just turned her phone back on as the onslaught of messages flooded the screen. Minseo winced, her hands shaking slightly as she tried to swipe them off the screen. As soon as she called Miyeon's number, she was met with a hoarse and a very angry voice.

"You ignored me the whole day." Miyeon complained, not letting Minseo speak at all.

"Something came up, Miyeonie, that's why—" Minseo tried.

"Something came up?" Miyeon mocked her. "Or Jimin's pregnancy came up?"

Minseo gasped, gripping her phone tightly in her hand. "H-How did you—"

"It's all over the news!" Miyeon sobbed. "All the news channels were live broadcasting the cultural programme and I tuned in because I knew Jimin was gonna be there. Even when he suddenly took his name back two months ago, I knew that he would still be present there." She said weakly, her voice laced with pain. "I missed him. I missed his darling face, I just wanted to see him." Miyeon wept then, barely able to speak coherently. "B-But he... he just, his belly was swollen with child. H-He announced his pr-pregnancy."

Minseo staggered on her feet, her hand flying out to support herself. "Y-You saw it?" She wheezed out. "I didn't know, I swear to you. Sooyeon just paid us a visit and told us."

There was a long pause on the other end and then Miyeon sniffled. "You can't give me Jimin now. He's happy with Jeongguk. I don't want Jihyun even though he resembles with Jimin a lot. A painfully lot. My heart wants Jimin and no one can give him to me." She groused. "And even if you get me married to Jihyun, or even Jimin, I can't give you a grandchild. I wanted to—so badly but I'm happy that Jimin made you a grandmother." And then she was sobbing her heart out. "J-Just congratulate him on my behalf if you could. I don't think we should keep speaking to each other."

Minseo's eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat and then the severe palpitations made it hard for her to even breathe. "Miyeonie?" Minseo whimpered into the phone, settling down heavily on the floor. "Miyeon, please." She cried as she let the phone crash to the floor.

....

"Oh, when did it happen?"

Jimin smiled breathlessly at Eunhee. "A couple days ago when I went to the cultural festival. It happened two more times since then."

Eunhee smiled wide at them. "We call it quickening. These are your baby's first movements in utero." She chimed. "Should we go for the ultrasound?"

Jimin nodded, squeezing Jeongguk's hand back.

"The baby looks very healthy to me, Jimin-ssi." Eunhee smiled as the three of them gazed at the screen. "Fourteen weeks." She smiled. "You're doing so well."

Jimin smiled back at her, his eyes glassy. He sighed fondly when Jeongguk planted kisses into the curve of his neck.

"Do you want to know the sex of your baby?" Eunhee asked conversationally.

Jimin's instinctual reaction was to shake his head in disagreement. "You can tell at this stage?"

"At fourteen weeks, the ultrasound may reveal the sex organs. But the results aren't considered fully accurate until eighteen weeks."

Jimin bit down at his lip as he focused back on the screen. "I don't think that I want to know before the baby is born." He then turned his face to look at Jeongguk. "Do you want to?"

Jeongguk smiled at him affectionately. "No, baby. Let it be a surprise. And it really doesn't matter. What matters is that both you and our baby are healthy."

Jimin nodded at him vehemently as Jeongguk nuzzled against his cheek. But the thoughts kept festering him even as his routine check up was over. Jimin sat there on the bed, frowning as he wiped away the gel from his belly.

"What do you want to eat for lunch?" Jeongguk asked, gathering the reports and securing them neatly into the folder.

"Jeongguk..." Jimin murmured as he slowly pulled his sweater down. "Your mom thinks—" He started and then sighed. "Your mom insists that it's a boy."

Jeongguk looked at him, frowning. "Don't take her seriously, Jimin."

Jimin shook his head. "It just doesn't sit right with me, how she always refers to the baby as he and him. What if it's a girl? Would she be disappointed?"

Jeongguk put the folder down on the table and paced towards Jimin. He held Jimin's face with both hands, the latter looking up at him in earnest.

"It doesn't really matter, Jimin. If it's a girl or a boy. They'll be our baby and we'll love them regardless of their sex." He frowned deeply, face twisting in disgust. "What kind of parents discriminate on the basis of sex of their kids? That's disturbing. Because it's we who give our babies their sex, it's genetic."

Jimin pressed his lips together and wrapped his own clammy hands around Jeongguk's. His voice feeble when he whispered out then. "And what if it's a carrier?" His chin wobbled. "Like me?"

"Then he'll be the luckiest little boy in the whole wide world, Jiminie." Jeongguk replied in a heartbeat. "He will have you. He will be your son." He placated lovingly, eyes honest and full of love. "It shouldn't matter to us at all. It really doesn't matter to me, Jimin. Not after we know what those sick expectations lead to. We're better than that and our baby will never have to live through such mindless scenarios."

Jeongguk then settled on the bed besides Jimin, wrapping one arm around Jimin's shoulders. He then placed a warm hand on Jimin's steadily growing belly. "I promise you." He purred, kissing the top of Jimin's head. "If it's a boy and he doesn't develop any interest in being an heir, then he can do whatever his heart craves. Whatever brings him joy, he'll pursue." Jeongguk rubbed the belly gently, just like Jimin always liked. "And if it's a girl and she wants to..." His voice trembled then, "—and she wants to take care of her dad's business then I'll be so fortunate that my daughter succeeds me."

Jimin laughed, all choked up, as he rested his hand on top of Jeongguk's.

Jeongguk inhaled shakily. "And if it's a boy and a carrier, then he'll have all the freedom to live his life the way he wants. Nobody, and I say nobody, will ever force him by either choosing his profession for him or asking him to marry a girl." Jeongguk stated, voice firm. "No one will interfere, Jimin. Let my mother say whatever she wants, her words fall on deaf ears. It's our baby, no one gets to tell us what to do."

Jimin nodded and rested his head on Jeongguk's shoulder. "I don't want our baby to shoulder our dreams. I don't want that kind of burden on them." He said with a faraway look in his eyes. "Those expectations rip you apart."

....

"I'll handle everything else here. There's just the meeting with the board of directors which, I'm afraid, you'll have to spearhead yourself, Sir." Shinhye smiled through the screen as she arranged the files with practiced ease.

Jeongguk frowned. "I thought dad was going to lead it?"

Shinhye grimaced with a hint of sympathy. "I'm afraid that they specifically want you to handle it, as you're the CEO. Mr. Jeon will need to be updated about so many details in such a short period of time."

Jeongguk nodded. "I'll fix a date for the meeting then." He said as he loosened up his tie a bit. "Good job today, Shinhye. Go home early today and rest well."

Shinhye smiled wide and then hesitated. "Sir—"

"Yes?" Jeongguk replied as he fixed his gaze back at his laptop screen.

"Sir, we wanted to congratulate Jimin-ssi in person." She said slowly. "Everyone in the office is so ecstatic." Shinhye smiled softly, her eyes twinkling as she remembered how cheerfully everyone greeted Jeongguk on the video call. "We want to meet Jimin-ssi and give him and the baby our blessings."

Jeongguk smiled at her. "Of course. I'm not sure if I'll take Jimin to the office. But you guys can come over." He said, his mind providing helpfully that Jimin wouldn't be bothered by their attention since he knew very well how much he was respected and adored by Jeongguk's employees.

Shinhye clapped her hands in delight. "That'll be awesome!" She chirped and then laughed and ducked her head as she remembered that she was still on the call with her boss.

Jeongguk chuckled. "Very well, then. I'm taking the rest of the day off."

Jeongguk turned the laptop off and put the files away neatly. It was just a little past six in the morning.

As Jimin was now in his second trimester, he had become so needy and restless. He often woke Jeongguk up in the middle of the night, whining about being too turned on to fall asleep. Jimin's sleep pattern had become very inconsistent too. He would doze off at random times but couldn't get a steady sleep of more than an hour as the constant pressure on his bladder from his growing womb made certain that he had many bathroom visits throughout the day and night.

And so Jeongguk too couldn't sleep properly. His mind would register even the barest movement and he would wake up. Jimin often felt so guilty about it that he was even waking Jeongguk up whenever he had to go to the toilet. But then the other times when he woke Jeongguk up, pouty and desperate, demanding to be fucked into the mattress, Jimin didn't feel as guilty. It left Jeongguk breathless, Jimin's almost insatiable sex drive these days that is. Jeongguk often had to shock Jimin with something new to keep him satisfied for at least six hours.

Jeongguk smiled as the memories flashed in front of his eyes. He then casted a glance down at his clothes and snorted. He was wearing a crisp white shirt, a black necktie and a pair of basketball shorts. Just enough clothes to be presentable during the meetings online.

As soon as he walked into the bedroom, Jimin giggled breathlessly at him.

"What's with this attire?" Jimin questioned, breath caught in his throat, voice high and whiney.

Jeongguk stopped dead in his tracks and plastered his back to the door as he bolted it. He groaned, taking in the sight of his sweet, sweet Jimin who was grinding restlessly into the mattress.

Jeongguk felt his throat parch as he tutted. "Are you laughing at your husband, Jimin-ssi?" He raised an eyebrow.

Jimin buried his face into the pillow and let out a broken whine as he shook his head. "I-I'm laughing at the fact that Jeon Jeongguk attends his meetings half naked. No one could ever dare to even guess."

Jeongguk crossed his arms at his chest, eyes hungrily raking over Jimin's withering body. Jimin was close.

"Hmm. I'll make sure that I dress properly next time, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk smiled devilishly as he cocked his head to the side. "It'll just take me like ten more minutes to change out of the dress pants and to be back to you."

"I was kidding." Jimin whined promptly. "Y-You look handsome, now please." He said as he turned his face back towards Jeongguk, his cheeks blushing pink and eyes misty. "I need you."

Jeongguk laughed and then made his way towards the bed. Jimin slowly turned to lie on his back, spreading his thighs invitingly. "H-Hurry." Jimin moaned, his hips kicking up in anticipation. "I-I'm ready just put it in."

Jeongguk sat down on the bed, eyeing Jimin's desperate little cock, smearing precum all over his hipbone. He reached a hand out and teasingly rubbed at the cockhead. "So messy." He drawled, satisfied at the way Jimin's hips trembled.

"J-Jeongguk—" Jimin tried but Jeongguk nodded at him reassuringly, shushing him.

Jeongguk rubbed Jimin's swollen belly affectionately and then reached his hand down and inserted two of his fingers into Jimin's heat. The latter cried out, throwing his head back against the pillow, revealing that anticing curve of his long sculptured neck.

"Finger yourself." Jeongguk said simply as he took his own fingers out.

Jimin jerked his head back towards him, eyes shining with tears. "I already did." He groaned. "I don't want—I want you."

"Such a brat." Jeongguk smirked as he grabbed Jimin's thigh with one hand and loosened up his tie with the other. He noticed as Jimin's eyes fell on his neck and then his tie and the audible hitch in his breath. Jeongguk leaned in, smiling wide. "I'll tie you up if you don't listen to me."

Jimin sobbed. He closed his eyes as more precum oozed out of his needy cock. "Please, please," He chanted, delirious, and Jeongguk's mouth watered.

"Please what?" Jeongguk teased. "Please no, you'll behave." He growled, leaning closer to Jimin's lips. "Or please yes, tie you up."

Jimin's hands flew to Jeongguk's shoulders as he crashed their lips together. Jimin shuddered, grabbing onto the tie. "Tie me up, oh please, Jeongguk. I need it so much."

Jeongguk sat up and settled between Jimin's legs on his knees. Jimin watched breathlessly, clutching onto the sheets, as Jeongguk undid his tie and straightened it out. "Hands, please." Jeongguk said, voice firm but eyes gentle and Jimin raised his arms and presented his wrists.

Jeongguk tied him up so prettily. Jimin was on the verge of tears, horny out of his mind at the prospect of Jeongguk tieing him up, at the prospect of being so helpless and at Jeongguk's mercy. Jeongguk bound his wrists together and then sat back straight and unbuttoned his shirt excruciatingly slow.

Jimin was certain that he would cum with just one touch to his weeping cock. The soft, silky material of Jeongguk's tie was rubbing so ardently against his wrists. Jimin kept his hands down above his head, waiting eagerly for Jeongguk to get rid of his shirt and shorts.

"Such a good boy." Jeongguk praised him, now finally naked as he lubed himself up and gave his hardened cock a few tugs. "See baby, it wasn't so tough, was it?"

Jimin shook his head jerkily, raising his hips to lure Jeongguk in. "N-Now, Jeongguk, ugh..."

Jeongguk nodded and then guided his cockhead to Jimin's quivering rim. "Shh." Jeongguk murmured, kissing Jimin's throat. "Breathe slowly."

Jimin rested his head back against the pillow and took in shaky breaths as Jeongguk slowly fucked him open.

"Good boy." Jeongguk rasped as he let go of his cock and continued to thurst in. "So beautiful, Jiminie." He murmured into Jimin's chest, his hands grabbing Jimin's bound wrists.

Jeongguk fucked him like that, slowly and deeply. Showering kisses on Jimin's arms, his forearms and his wrists, whilst making sure that the knot wasn't too tight. Jimin was delirious out of his mind, consumed by the heat, relishing in his soaring pleasure.

Jeongguk drove his hips so alluringly into Jimin's wanton heat that Jimin fell apart so easily under him. Being restrained like that whilst Jeongguk's body engulfed him entirely, Jimin felt so thrilled and so safe.

And as soon as Jeongguk came inside him, Jimin was out light a light.

Jeongguk smiled down at Jimin's sleeping face, still trying to catch his breath. He rested his forehead on Jimin's chest and moaned throatily as he pulled out of the mind numbing heat.

Jeongguk gently unbound Jimin's wrists and planted kisses over them. He cleaned Jimin, put some boxers on him and tucked him in.

He was just freshly out of the shower, clad in a large black t-shirt and some sweatpants as Hyejin softly knocked on the bedroom door. Jeongguk paced and opened the door quietly and then stepped out of the room.

"Yes, Hyeji." Jeongguk whispered. "Jimin's fast asleep."

Hyejin nodded. "Your mom's here, waiting for you in the living room."

Jeongguk sighed. "I swear to God if she came to check whether Jimin's belly has grown bigger since last day—"

Hyejin shook her head. "She wants to talk to you. She said that she came to see you."

"Jeongguk." Sooyeon smiled up at Jeongguk from where she was arranging the chrysanthemums from the bouquet into the vase on the coffee table. "Aren't these lovely?" She chimed. "Jimin will love the bright yellow! It's so pleasing to the eyes."

Jeongguk took a seat on the couch opposite to her. "You wanted to speak with me?"

Sooyeon hummed, assessing the vase for a short moment. "About the baby shower."

"Mom." Jeongguk sighed. "I told you that we don't want—"

"But he announced the pregnancy to thousands of people the other day." Sooyeon tutted as she sat back. "The event was live on tv. Cameras all around him. The whole country knows about it and are talking about it. I want the baby shower to be such a grand event that—"

"No." Jeongguk frowned. "Announcing the pregnancy and throwing a grand party are two entirely different entities. He's in the second trimester now so of course he had to let his fans know. But the unnecessary stress hosting a party would put him in?" Jeongguk shook his head. "No."

"But Jeongguk," Sooyeon retorted. "The entire family is aware now. It would look so wrong if they aren't even invited to give Jimin their blessings."

Jeongguk rolled his eyes. "I'm aware how they mean to give Jimin their blessings. Dressing him up in a hanbok and keeping him on his feet the whole day as he greets all the distant relatives. Besides, it's not even a tradition."

Sooyeon opened her mouth to say something but Jeongguk firmly stated his answer as he got up. "If you really want to do something and celebrate then just you and dad should come."

....

Jimin waddled into the living area, face still swollen with sleep. As soon as his eyes fell on the bright yellow flowers, his eyes lit up.

"Pretty." Jimin smiled as he settled down on the couch and leaned in to smell the flowers.

Jeongguk chuckled as he walked in with a tray full of dishes. "You like them?"

Jimin smiled, eyes turning into lovely half moons.

"At least she did something good." Jeongguk said as he sat besides Jimin and placed the dishes on the table.

"Who?" Jimin asked, still caressing the flower stems.

"Mom." Jeongguk sighed. "She came earlier today. You were sleeping."

"She's been getting me bouquets and fruits almost everyday." Jimin murmured.

"As she should." Jeongguk said curtly as he mixed a bit of the stew into the rice and spooned it up with some meat. "Here, baby." He said then, pushing the spoon gently against Jimin's lips.

Jimin smiled and accepted the spoonful of food and he hummed in delight. "Tasty." Jimin squealed, shifting his body eagerly towards Jeongguk.

Jeongguk laughed merrily as he fed Jimin the entire bowl of rice and the meat stew.

Jimin settled back against Jeongguk's shoulder. "I'm so happy that I married you. You cook so well, Jeongguk-ssi."

Jeongguk huffed. "I'm flattered, Jimin-ssi. But Hyeji made this food for you, not me."

Jimin looked up at him and gasped in mock hurt. "I take my words back. I'm cuddling with Hyeji then."

Jeongguk threw his head back and laughed. He then leaned in and planted a big kiss on Jimin's lips.

Later that evening, as they were done with the dinner, Jimin noticed Hyejin's downcasted eyes. He watched her as she put the kimchi and some dishes back into the refrigerator, a gloomy expression on her face.

Hyejin retired back to her apartment for the night but Jimin couldn't help but feel restless. Jeongguk was setting up the cozy environment for them to cuddle and relax as they watched netflix, but Jimin only felt more agitated. At one point he was just staring blankly at the large screen, his head resting on Jeongguk's chest, who oblivious to Jimin's dilemma, was enjoying the movie thoroughly.

"I'll be back." Jimin said then, kissing Jeongguk's lax lips.

"Bathroom? I'll pause till you come back."

"It's alright." Jimin smiled as he got up. "I'd rather you tell me what I missed."

And then Jimin took the elevator down to the tenth floor. He rapped on Hyejin's door, shifting his weight impatiently from one leg to another.

"Jimin?" Hyejin gasped as she opened the door. "What's wrong, are you alright?" Her eyes searching for Jeongguk.

"Can I come in?" Jimin smiled.

Hyejin hesitated a bit but then nodded, opening the door wide for Jimin.

Jimin had been in her apartment countless of times till now. So he didn't understand Hyejin's hesitation. But then as soon as Jimin came in, Hyejin smiled nervously and went to seal a large cardboard box. She seemed to have been busy packing something.

"What's this?" Jimin asked out of curiosity.

"Oh, nothing!" Hyejin smiled wide, gesturing with her hand. "Just some stuff, I'm putting it away."

And that sadness was back in her eyes. Jimin chewed on his lip, watching Hyejin fumble with the duct tape. And as he kept looking at her, he noticed the redness of her eyes, the wetness still clinging to her lashes.

"H-Hyeji..." Jimin choked out. "What's wrong? You've been crying?"

And Hyejin ceased. She looked up at Jimin in alarm and then her face crumbled and she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Jimin rushed to her side at once and kneeled down besides her. "What's wrong?" He asked, panic lacing his words as he held the woman's face with both hands.

Hyejin laughed, despondent and miserable. "It's nothing, sweetheart. It's stupid."

"It isn't." Jimin frowned. "Please tell me."

Hyejin tried to deter but Jimin was adamant. And he was on the verge of tears too. So Hyejin inhaled shakily and then gave in.

"I-I just..." She tried, voice trembling. "I wanted to give you something... for your baby shower." And then she was dissolving into tears.

Jimin winced. "H-Hyeji..."

Hyejin shook her head and let out a little self deprecating laugh. Jimin's heart broke.

"I-I can't do much." Hyejin sniffled. She grasped Jimin's hands and looked at him. "I want to do so much but... it's not my place, I can't do as much as I want to."

Jimin looked at her brokenly, tears swimming in his eyes as he held Hyejin's hands.

"I-I just went the other day and—and..." She smiled tearfully and then looked at the sealed cardboard box. "I just couldn't find the courage to... It doesn't matter, Jiminie."

Jimin's heart was beating so fast as he too looked at the box. He looked back at the softly sobbing woman. He understood then as he smiled gently at her. "Please, may I?" He asked. Hyejin looked at him with wide eyes but Jimin waited patiently. And then she nodded slowly.

"It's nothing, really." Hyejin was saying but all Jimin could hear was his own frantic heartbeat in his ears as he tore the tape off and opened the box.

Jimin's eyes welled up with tears and he let out a feeble cry at the sight of the tiny newborn clothes. Tears fell down his cheeks as his eyes took in the little onesies, tiny socks and shoes, bibs and a couple swaddle blankets. Jimin reached a hand into the box and took out a small white onesie and he let out a choked sob.

Hyejin moved closer to him and she took out a baby blue bib and a striped sweater set. "This's Jeongguk's." She laughed tearfully. "He outgrew his clothes so fast and his parents kept buying him so many clothes. I think he wore these just a couple times." She said as she caressed those clothes, eyes soft and fond as if remembering Jeongguk wearing them.

"I was asked to donate them but I couldn't." She said as she looked at Jimin. "I kept as many of his baby clothes as I could. I bought some clothes for the baby and then I remembered... It's a tradition in my hometown. My mother-in-law too had given me some of my h-husband's clothes that she had saved for when I-I..."

Jimin instantly gathered her in his arms and he nodded vehemently into her neck. "Of course. Of course, Hyeji." He smiled, getting choked up all over again. He then took the little sweater in his own hands, feeling warmth spread throughout his entire being as he imagined Jeongguk in it. He hugged the sweater to his chest. "My baby will wear all these clothes." He smiled wide, tears oozing out of his eyes. "My baby will wear all the clothes their grandmother so lovingly gave them."

Hyejin cried out and hugged Jimin to her chest. "T-Thank you, Jiminie..." She sobbed, kissing Jimin's face with trembling lips. "Thank you, Jiminie."

Jimin hugged the woman tightly. "Thank you for bringing Jeongguk up so well. For incorporating your values in him." He smiled, rubbing Hyejin's back comfortingly. "You know you saved my life, right? By bringing up Jeongguk so wonderfully, you gave me the best life partner I could ever ask for."

Hyejin laughed endearingly. "You're my heart, you know that?"

Jimin giggled as he looked at Hyejin. "I know. But Jeongguk doesn't either know that you love me more nor does he know that I've abandoned him tonight. I need my Hyeji-cuddles." He pouted.

Hyejin laughed, pinching Jimin's cheeks. "Of course. Do you want some snacks?"

Jimin shook his head as he folded the tiny clothes with devotion. "I just want cuddles and kisses. And your grandchild wants belly rubs." He smiled, seeing Hyejin melt with happiness. "Let me call Mister Jeon and tell him that he's gotta sleep alone."

....

Jeongguk gathered the documents and his phone. He was rushing about, checking with utmost scrutiny whether he had taken everything he needed.

Jimin watched him keenly from the bed, quite interested. "It looks as if you're going for the job interview."

Jeongguk snorted, shaking his head. "Today's the meeting with the board of directors, baby."

"Oh," Jimin sat up straighter. "I forgot. All the best, baby."

"Thank you." Jeongguk smiled and then walked up to Jimin, kissing him on the lips. "I'll be back as soon as the meeting is over."

Jimin smiled, pecking Jeongguk's lips lovingly and relishing in thethe pleasant scent of his cologne. "I don't have to go anywhere today so take your time."

"Alright." Jeongguk murmured as he tucked some blonde strands of hair behind Jimin's ear. "Be a good boy." He drawled before kneeling down and rubbing Jimin's belly. Jimin watched him fondly as Jeongguk nuzzled against his belly button. "Be good, hmm? Don't tire my sweet little husband too much."

Jimin closed his eyes, feeling the baby move gently. He caressed the back of Jeongguk's neck as the latter breathed dozens of kisses into his baby bump.

It was Jimin's day off and he lazed around a bit. Until Hoseok called him on the phone.

"Jiminie? Are you okay?"

"Yes, hyung." Jimin replied. "Why?"

"You didn't come today so I got worried."

Jimin frowned. "It's my day off, Hobi hyung."

"Oh." Hoseok mumbled on the other side. "I think there's been a miscommunication, Jimin-ah. The kids weren't informed that they didn't have to come today."

Jimin sat up straight. "Oh, the kids came to the studio?"

"Yeah, they're here." Hoseok chuckled. "I'll call their parents, don't worry."

"No, hyung." Jimin smiled. "If they've already come to the studio then let's not waste their day by sending them back home. I'll come in half an hour."

"Really?" Hoseok asked, sounding concerned. "Jimin, I don't think that—"

"It's fine, Hobi hyung." Jimin reassured, already getting up to get ready. "I'll be there soon. I'll teach them for an hour and then be back home."

Jimin told Hyejin that he had to go to the studio for an hour. He didn't want to disturb Jeongguk, aware that he must be busy in the meeting so he decided to drive himself to the studio. Hyejin looked uneasy, asking Jimin to at least send Jeongguk a text. But Jimin reassured her.

But as he stepped towards his car, a very weird, sickening feeling settled into his gut. Jimin stood there, looking at his car for a long moment. He didn't know what he was feeling but he just knew that he didn't like it. Not one bit. So he turned back around and instead decided to ask one of the drivers to take him to the studio.

Jimin settled into the backseat and buckled himself up. He rested his head back heavily and looked out of the tinted window. His eyes kept focusing back down on his phone in his hands. He was feeling agitated for some reason and he just wanted to reach the studio as soon as possible.

"Sangchul, just pull over on the side of the road. I'll go and then please take the car to the parking lot. I'll be back in an hour."

"Yes, Sir."

Jimin rested his head against the window and heaved a deep sigh. The baby was moving around quite a bit. Jimin smiled down at his belly, rubbing a hand against the spot.

"Your dad asked you to be good today, hmm?" Jimin murmured softly. "But you're always good to me."

He closed his eyes and then dozed off a little. When he woke up, it was to the sudden halt as Sangchul pulled over on the side of the road across from the studio.

"We're here, Sir."

Jimin nodded, rubbing at his eyes as he gathered his phone and then reached a hand to unbuckle his seat belt.

But then Sangchul's shriek pierced through his ears. "Holy—!" He yelled, trying to get the car started back as another car came speeding towards them, rampant.

Jimin eyes widened and he trembled. "Oh shit."

"Sir! Get out! Get out!" Sangchul screamed and Jimin tried to unbuckle the belt with shaking hands. His body broke out into a sweat, a hoarse cry ripped out of his throat as he undid the buckle and turned to open the car door.

"No, no, no." Jimin shivered and his lungs gave out as he clutched his belly with both hands before the unbridled car collided against them.

Chapter Text

Heat prickled uncomfortably on his scruff despite the air conditioners blaring. Downing down the animated and vociferous discussion coming about. Jeongguk tugged at his collar as he casted a glance at the wall clock. The meeting had stretched to almost four hours now, incorporating an hour long lunch too with the board of directors. Jeongguk had never wanted to withdraw from a business meeting but today he just hoped for it to be over, not even caring about successfully securing the deal. Jeongguk exhaled deeply as he loosened his tie a bit, his eyes scanned his wrist watch again and then the wall clock.

Just past four in the afternoon. Jeongguk pressed his lips into a thin line. This was the longest he had been away from Jimin in months. The meeting stretched longer and longer and Jeongguk sat there, somehow feeling uncomfortable in his own skin. He left his cellphone with Namjoon and had probably piqued him by reminding him again and again to be cautious about any phone call from Jimin and Hyejin. Though Namjoon understood and reassured Jeongguk countless times, the worry eating away at him was making him paranoid. He just wanted to talk to Jimin once and make sure that he was alright.

Throughout the meeting, horrifying scenarios unceremoniously kept nagging him. Of Jimin accidentally skipping a stair, or slipping in the bathroom. God forbid. Jeongguk clenched his eyes shut. All of the scenarios ended with Jimin being in pain. Jeongguk wanted to clock himself out for letting these sickening thoughts rear their ugly head. Maybe it had something to do with the information that Jimin was soon entering his fifth month of pregnancy, that he was soon going to be so heavily pregnant. Jeongguk bit down on the inside of his cheek, imagining Jimin huffing and waddling around, womb so heavy with Jeongguk's child that it left him breathless. Or maybe it was just because Jeongguk had not let Jimin out of his sight in months. Jeongguk tried to reassure himself and focus back, by now his father was well aware that Jeongguk wasn't mentally there at all.

But then when suddenly Namjoon barged into the conference room, disheveled and pale, Jeongguk's lungs burned and he held his breath, hoping—praying that Namjoon wouldn't look his way. His mind was suddenly a tumultuous mess, blaring loudly, warning Jeongguk that something was wrong with Jimin. Jeongguk grabbed the cushioned arms of his chair and braced himself, hoping that they had missed some important file and Namjoon was just bringing it to them. But Namjoon was clutching Jeongguk's phone in his left hand. And then his eyes found Jeongguk's. And Jeongguk's heart dropped down his chest and plummeted to the ground in a splattering bloody mess.

Jeongguk was already on his feet, pushing his chair hard against the far wall.

"J-Jimin." Namjoon wheezed out and Jeongguk's ears started ringing.

"Where's Jimin?" Jeongguk croaked as he walked towards Namjoon and grabbed his collar with shaking hands.

"Jimin is—" Namjoon stammered, his eyes glossy. "T-There was an accident—"

And Jeongguk ran. He ran past Namjoon and everyone, rushing as fast as his legs would. His heart was thundering inside his chest and his lungs seemed to be on the verge of collapsing.

Namjoon was yelling as he followed Jeongguk, saying everything Jeongguk didn't want to hear.

No. No. No. This could not be happening. Jeongguk's face crumbled as tears gathered in his eyes. His hazy mind gathered bits of information... that Jimin had been in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital and that his driver was waiting outside to take him to the hospital. Jeongguk wanted to cry out in disbelief and yet his trembling legs were impulsively speeding towards the car.

"Jeongguk!" Namjoon was screaming after him but all Jeongguk could focus on was the blurry image of the car in front of him. And as soon as he reached it, he grabbed his driver by the collar and pulled him out. A strangled cry ripped out of his throat as he started the car with shaking hands and sped off.

"G-God, please please please—" Jeongguk whimpered as tears cascaded down his cheeks. "Don't do this, don't do this, please I'm begging you." He gritted his teeth as Jimin's smiling face flashed in front of his eyes. Jeongguk banged his fist on the steering wheel, letting out cries of agony.

The horns were blowing right and left as Jeongguk broke all the traffic lights. He needed to go to his Jimin, he needed to be there with him, he needed to have his Jimin safe back in his arms. How could he be anywhere else in the damned world while Jimin was laying in a hospital bed? Jeongguk grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled at it in desperation and anger.

And as soon as he reached the hospital, he dived out of the car and rushed in like a madman. He was barely able to breathe, fearing that he was losing time. He looked around and then scrambled to rush up to the station.

"J-Jimin—" Jeongguk choked out, "Is he here?" And he was praying that he would get refutation in reply. That his Jimin wasn't there. He was pleading to be told that his Jimin wasn't there.

"Road traffic accident?" Was said back to him. Followed by the floor number and a look of utter sympathy.

Jeongguk felt helpless and pathetic as he rushed to the said floor. Jimin was currently in the ICU.

The omnipresent smell of antiseptic was making him nauseous today. Unlike all the times Jeongguk visited the hospital with Jimin for the antenatal checkups. Jeongguk shuddered as the thought pierced sharply through his heart. Jimin was pregnant.

Jeongguk felt numb, like he was barely himself and was watching it all unfold from an outer projection. His body was running high on adrenaline as if put on an autopilot. But the moment he reached the floor and was met with the woe mangled faces of Jimin's team members, Jeongguk stopped dead in his tracks. The time stopped. And he stood there, scanning their tear stained faces... He searched for Taehyung and Hoseok's face. Jeongguk managed to take a small step forwards before his eyes finally fell on Hoseok, sitting aloof in a chair, eyes trained to the ground, his shirt stained with blood.

Jeongguk's knees gave up and he fell to the floor.

"Jeongguk!"

Dozens of hands were grabbing at him the next moment. Trying to pull him back up on his numb legs. Trying to shake him back to reality. Trying to force his dead eyes back into focus. Everyone was trying to coax him out of that downward spiral. Everyone, except Hoseok and Taehyung. The two of them didn't move a muscle, glued to their seats, their faces ashen, widened eyes full of horror.

"Jeongguk! Please hold yourself together."

"Everything will be alright... The doctors are doing their best—"

"You need to keep yourself together—"

"Look at me, look here, Jeongguk—"

Jeongguk's eyes were stuck on Hoseok's shirt.

"Jeongguk." Jaesung's voice filled his ears then, his father placed a warm hand between his shoulder blades. His father was here. His father would save him from all the grievous calamities. His father won't let anything happen to Jimin. His father always protected him, he had never let any harm come his way. He won't let it happen now either, Jeongguk was saying to himself. And yet he couldn't move. Couldn't turn around and look at his father.

"Joon, help him up." Jaesung ordered and then Jeongguk was being forcefully lifted and deposited into an empty chair. His head bounced against the hard wall as he was forced into the chair, his pupils dilated so beyond belief that his eyes looked haunted.

Jaesung and Namjoon were crouching in front of him, others were rubbing soothingly against his shoulders, Jeongguk stayed unmoving, his vision blurring and then focusing back till all the images started merging into one another. He could barely make sense of anything that was being said to him. His breathing was ragged and uneven and he couldn't get enough air to keep his lungs from burning. Jeongguk looked helplessly ahead, his head spinning with the lack of oxygen in his system, begging his father silently to help him breathe somehow. Jaesung was saying something to him, he looked like he was screaming, and Jeongguk just looked back with an empty stare.

And then he gasped out loud when Namjoon started hitting his back. Jeongguk choked on every single breath, his trembling hands found Jaesung's coat and he grabbed onto the lapels, looking his father in the eyes and trying to breathe.

"Take deep breaths, good boy, take deep breaths." Jaesung was begging him. And Jeongguk stared on with eyes bulging out of the sockets, his mouth wide open to force more air down to his lungs. He was wheezing pathetically. His hands were shaking so bad, his heart was beating so irratically that it was actually beginning to hurt. His chest was constricting painfully. His throat was closing on itself involuntarily. He was feeling lightheaded, on the brink of losing consciousness. Hands were rubbing at his chest insistently; Namjoon was yelling, begging everyone to give Jeongguk some space to breathe.

Jeongguk kept wheezing. Till his wheezes finally transitioned into deafening cries.

Jimin had been in a car accident just a little while ago. Outside the studio. Both Sangchul, Jimin's driver, and the other driver who collided against them, were in critical conditions. Sangchul had a broken neck and the other driver had a major head injury. And Jimin... Jimin had lost a lot of blood. He was rushed to the hospital and was currently being operated on. The doctors weren't yet clear on his condition but he had a concussion, multiple lacerations and contusions. He was in a crital condition, that the doctors had said.

Jeongguk screwed his eyes shut and shook his head desperately. How could this be happening? This could not be happening. He wrung his hands uselessly and then looked at Namjoon. "D-Did you check properly?" He croaked out, trying to get up on his wobbling legs, only for Jaesung to force him back into the chair. "It could be s-someone else." Jeongguk begged, his pleading gaze switching from Namjoon to Jaesung and then back to Namjoon. "Joon, just check once. Maybe J-Jimin's at home, maybe there's some misunderstanding—"

"Jeongguk." Jaesung said softly as he cupped Jeongguk's face with both hands.

Jeongguk let out a miserable sob as he desperately started patting down his suit jacket, searching for his phone. "Let me call him. Maybe he's at home, waiting for me. Let me check—"

Jaesung grabbed his hands, ceasing all his erratic movements. "He will be okay."

Jeongguk's chin wobbled.

"Don't lose hope, my son." Jaesung urged, "Jimin's alive and the doctors are doing their best."

Jeongguk's eyes welled up with tears and then he let out an agonizing cry. Jaesung promptly hugged him to his chest and let him weep.

Jeongguk's pitiful cries were heart wrenching. "D-Dad..." Jeongguk hiccuped miserably. "H-He was fine, dad. When I left in the morning, he was fine." He said as he shook his head vehemently. "H-How is he in the hospital now? H-How—"

Jaesung shushed him, holding his face with both hands and making Jeongguk look at him. "You can't break like this, Jeongguk, look at me."

"I'll die without him." Jeongguk wheezed as she stared back at his father. "I'll die without Jimin."

"They're doing everything they can, I swear to you, Jeongguk." Jaesung winced. "Please hold yourself together, my son."

Jeongguk's eyes kept wandering back to Hoseok's hunched frame... to his bloodied shirt... to the specks of blood that seemed to have rained down on it, drenching the fabric and painting it red. Jeongguk was going to throw up.

If only he could either move the clock back in time or just speed it up. Because this very moment whilst passing excruciatingly slow, was breaking him atom by atom. His whole world just crumbled down to nothingness, just like that. While his Jimin was deserted in a world battling between life and death, Jeongguk was made to taste the torment of waiting. Helplessly. At the mercy of whatever divine powers get to decide, at the mercy of that moment when the doors would finally be opened and the doctors would speak to him.

And then when finally the door was opened and Eunhee came out to talk to him, Jeongguk felt scared. He had never felt so afraid of anything in his whole life.

"Jeongguk." Eunhee called, voice painfully clinical.

Jeongguk was staring up at her with eyes wide blown. His tongue seemed nothing more than a slab of meat stuck in his mouth, unable to move or formulate any words. Eunhee, realizing his fear, nodded at him instantly.

"He's out of danger." She said and Jeongguk began sobbing. He buried his face in his hands and wailed and it dawned upon him how fucking scared had he been and what exactly he had almost come close to. He could have lost Jimin. He could have lost Jimin.

He could hear feeble cries from the then hauntingly silent corner now. Taehyung was crying in relief, just like he was.

"He has lost a lot of blood." Eunhee continued, placing a comforting palm on his shoulder.

"Take my blood." Jeongguk choked out. "I'll give anything for his sake. O-Our blood groups match and—"

"I know." Eunhee placated. "Hoseok-ssi donated his blood as soon as he brought Jimin here. We'll need more, so yeah."

Jeongguk nodded desperately. The silence stretched for an uncomfortably long moment. Jeongguk fisted his crumpled shirt. "There's something more." He realized, looking up at the doctor.

Eunhee inhaled deeply. "The baby." She uttered while looking at Jeongguk with eyes full of sympathy, and then she shook her head negatively.

"The baby." Jeongguk repeated. Jaesung's hand tightened it's grip on his shoulder. Jeongguk frowned up at Eunhee. "The baby."

"We couldn't save the baby, Jeongguk." Eunhee exhaled shakily. "We tried so hard but there wasn't much we could do to save the baby. The placenta had already been separated completely because of the forceful impact of the car crash. Jimin was bleeding heavily due to placental abruption. Without the placenta, the baby couldn't survive."

Jeongguk kept staring at her. He felt disjointed. Jeongguk's head didn't quite seem to cognize what was being said to him; still fixated on sending relief through Jeongguk's wrung out body after learning that Jimin was out of danger now.

"There are some papers you need to sign, Jeonggukie." Eunhee spoke softly. "Jimin's body is yet to start the process of pushing the passed fetus out."

Jeongguk breathed. "Dad..."

Jaesung choked out a response, still clutching onto Jeongguk's shoulder.

"I lost my baby, dad."

Jaesung winced, "Jeonggukie, I'm so sorry—"

"What do I say to Jimin?" Jeongguk frowned as he looked at his father with bloodshot eyes. "That we just... That our baby passed away?"

"I'm so sorry, Jeonggukie... We should be relieved that Jimin is alright," Jaesung tried but Jeongguk let out a pitiful sob as he smiled bitterly.

"This's unfair." Jeongguk choked out. "This is so unfair, dad. He didn't want it and yet he kept it, only for that choice to be ripped away so brutally from him."

"Jeongguk, what are you—"

Jeongguk's lips trembled as tears finally cascaded down his cheeks. "It was an unplanned pregnancy. He wasn't ready for it, dad. He had shows and concerts and the pregnancy brought everything to a standstill. It was the only thing Jimin had ever asked of me when he accepted my proposal. That he needed time to build his career before we tried for a baby. But I couldn't keep that promise." Jeongguk's voice broke down. On his side, Jaesung and Namjoon had gone very still.

"I brought it up." Jeongguk sniffled, voice barely more than a guttural whimper. "I suggested that we abort the baby." Jeongguk heaved. "I tried to reason with him, dad. That it wasn't the time. But he... H-He decided to keep the baby." He choked out, rubbing desperately at his wet eyes. "I can't kill our baby. He said to me."

"Isn't this cruel, dad?" Jeongguk asked then, turning in his chair to look at Jaesung. "He chose the baby. He put his career on the line and now the baby is dead anyway."

Jaesung winced, cupping Jeongguk's face with both hands.

"How am I supposed to feel? I lost my child but I'm feeling so fucking sorry for him, dad." He bellowed, grabbing Jaesung's hands and then smiling so sadly at him. "He's good." Jeongguk cried, sniffling pathetically. "He's good, dad. He doesn't deserve this. I swear to you, he doesn't deserve this. D-Dad... He was finally happy. He was happy that we were going to become parents. He was so happy, dad. Why did this happen to him?"

"Jeongguk, please, you can't break like this." Jaesung pleaded vehemently. The way Jeongguk was pleading with him, croaking out his pain, Jaesung knew that he was spiralling down. That he wouldn't be able to endure it no matter how hard Jaesung tried to console him. "Please, you have to be strong for Jimin's sake."

"It was such a painful decision for him to make." Jeongguk was shaking miserably. "Withdrawing his name from all those prestigious shows, being unable to dance. Yet he sacrificed everything for the baby's sake. And now he was so happy, dad. Why did it have to happen to him?! Why him?!" Jeongguk heaved, barely able to breathe. "Why now, why him? Why not me? I should have been with him in that car, dad." He cried, shaking his head in desperation. "I promised him that I'll be with him forever. How many promises am I gonna break?! Why wasn't I in the car with him? Why does he get to suffer like this? This's unfair—"

Jaesung looked at Namjoon desperately as Jeongguk started hyperventilating again. Namjoon moved instantly, holding Jeongguk down and trying to talk him out of it.

"If I couldn't stop this from happening, at least I should have been in the car with him, dad. How many promises am I gonna fucking break? What do I tell him? How am I gonna face him?"

"Jeongguk, look at me." Namjoon almost growled out. "I'm sorry that you lost your baby. I'm sorry that it happened. But this was out of your hands, out of everyone's hands. You hear me?" Namjoon frowned, holding Jeongguk's face firmly with one hand. "The baby has unfortunately passed away. We must accept this harsh reality."

"If you break like this, who's going to take care of Jimin? Imagine his pain, Jeonggukie." Jaesung tried when Jeongguk dissolved into heart rending sobs. But Namjoon shook his head at Jaesung.

"Let him cry, Sir." Namjoon said as he blinked his own tears away. "He just lost his baby. Let him cry."

....

Jeongguk's hand was shaking miserably as he attempted to sign the papers. His vision was blurry with tears, his eyes were sore, and his mind kept playing the pictures from their wedding day. That day his hand had trembled too while signing the marriage papers, but the reason had been astronomically different. Jeongguk wished that no parents should ever have to sign these papers, that no parents should ever have that look of sympathy directed towards themselves. When his hand still shook violently, Jaesung took the pen from him.

"I'll sign them." He looked at Eunhee. "Jimin is my son."

Taehyung kept sobbing softly. He kept chanting prayers while Namjoon rubbed his back, trying to console him.

"I-I called him. I called him." Hoseok finally broke his silence as he looked down at his shirt. "T-To the studio. I-I... I called him."

Jimin was still knocked unconscious and his body hadn't started rejecting the non viable fetus yet. When Jeongguk exhausted himself completely and his eyes couldn't produce any more tears, he requested to be let in. He begged. That he had to see Jimin, touch him, as soon as he could. Eunhee and the other doctors told him that Jimin wasn't even conscious but Jeongguk begged. It was all he could do anyway. His status, all the estates and all the money he had, everything seemed to have been turned to dust.

"I won't ask for anything ever again, dad." Jeongguk promised Jaesung.

They finally led him inside then after Jeongguk followed all the instructions diligently and changed into scrubs. As soon as he opened the door, he was hit with a plethora of movements and a heavy, choking scent of blood. Jeongguk swallowed thickly, too scared to move. There wasn't much going on but the sight of all the machines and wires and the omnipresent beeping sound and all the doctors and nurses surrounding one lone, cold bed. His Jimin was lying there.

Jeongguk moved on shaking legs. He took slow steps to the chair that was set up for him by Jimin's head. As Jeongguk slowly approached the OT bed and as Jimin's supine frame became clearer, it seemed as if life was slowly being breathed back into Jeongguk's core. 

Jimin was there. Lying there under all the harsh lights, unaware of his surroundings. Jeongguk exhaled a shuddering breath as he settled into the chair silently, his eyes assessing Jimin's face.

Jimin looked pale. He had cuts and bruises scattered almost everywhere, blood was still sticking to his hair and neck, almost having dried and hardened now in places. Jeongguk's eyes silently kept assessing him, his face mostly obscured by the oxygen mask, his neck, his chest that was slowly rising and falling. Jimin was alive.

Jeongguk smiled sadly as he reached out a hand and tucked some strands of blood-drenched hair behind Jimin's ear. "T-There..." Jeongguk cooed softly as his fingertips gently traced Jimin's cold cheek. "I love y-you, Jiminie." He murmured, his gaze lingering back to the movements of Jimin's chest. "I love you, baby."

"You're going to come back to me." Jeongguk murmured. His hand was shaking badly as he continued to caress Jimin's bruised face. "You know that I can't live without you, right? I'm nothing with you."

Jeongguk kept whispering softly near Jimin's ear, well aware that Jimin wasn't there, that he wouldn't hear anything, neither Jeongguk's proclaims of love nor the affirmation of his fears. He just kept talking softly, caressing Jimin's gorgeous hair, his perfect eyebrows, his soft eyelashes.

And then Jimin's body eventually started rejecting the expired baby. And Jeongguk stayed by Jimin's side, kissing his forehead as tears cascaded down his cheeks. It seemed like his heart was breaking to thin shards and penetrating through his lungs. But he forced himself to keep focusing on Jimin's face. He wanted to break down, he wanted to exhume his entire being as he kept thinking how Jimin wasn't even aware of anything that was happening to him.

Jimin's eyes stayed half closed, his lids quivering ever so slightly under the effects of anaesthesia. Silent tears escaped the corner of his eyes and Jeongguk kissed them away. "It's alright." Jeongguk placated, himself more than he did Jimin. "It's alright, my love." He just held onto Jimin's face and kept kissing him, clearing the thickened blood out of his darling's gorgeous hair.

"Now I hate the hospital just as much as you do." Jeongguk murmured. "I think I hate it even more than you do." His voice sounded so feeble and pitiful to his own ears, every syllable laced with fear and uncertainty. He could have lost Jimin. His heart squeezed painfully inside his chest, his throat clogging up with the fresh onslaught of tears. "I will die without you, Jimin. You know that, right?" Jeongguk frowned, thumbing away another tear drop that helplessly tumbled down the side of Jimin's face. "Shh, my love. It'll be okay, hmm? Just a little longer." Jeongguk smiled softly, trying not to look as the doctors worked away silently.

"Just, please stay in dreams, yeah?"

Chapter Text

Are you done? Are you going to behave cos I've got a fucking story to finish.

It's FICTION. This story is tagged for the triggering subject matter. Proceed with extreme caution.

If you cannot stomach the topic about miscarriage and the heartbreak it brings, kindly opt out. You can find tons of great works here which cater to your interests. Don’t expect me to distort and ruin my work just to make you happy.

Be kind and careful.

Thank you.

Chapter Text

Aghast.

The moments went by slowly. Excruciating. Heart wrenchingly. The clock ticking by and the spiritless, rueful sighs were all one could hear. The eyes kept lingering at the tall, white door as the sickly feeling lodged itself in everyone's guts. Behind those doors, Jeongguk was probably saying goodbye to his baby.

All they could do was keep sitting in silence and wait.

The clock kept ticking louder and louder. And the eyes helplessly kept gazing towards it again and again. As if that sole, cold object was keeping them from falling apart. Not a single word was spoken. Perhaps out of fear… Or sorrow… Or remorse…

Remorse… Guilt… Blame… The emotions which were incessantly clouding Hoseok's head.

Hoseok never spoke a word again, like Taehyung. Except that he kept shaking his legs anxiously while Taehyung stayed eerily still. Namjoon spared many glances at Hoseok, silently urging him to speak. Because he was the one who had found Jimin and brought him to the hospital in the first place. He was the one who had witnessed the devastating tragedy with his own eyes.

Namjoon was silently urging him to let everything out but Hoseok seemed too afraid to even hear his own voice.

The clock continued ticking louder and louder and Hoseok looked like he was going to lose his mind. His eyes were fixated on his blood stained hands. He kept turning them, flexing and extending his fingers, as silent tears cascaded down his face.

Slowly... Agonizingly... Hoseok broke down.

He sobbed into his bloody hands. His muffled cries bringing tears to everyone's eyes. And then when he finally did speak, they couldn't be ready to hear all that what was kept bottled inside.

"I-I… C-Called him…" Hoseok shivered bodily as he planted his face in his open palms. "Jiminie wasn't supposed to leave his house. It was m-me…" He choked out.

"What happened, Hoseok?" Jaesung asked immediately. Voice heavy and eyes silently pleading.

Hoseok shook his head, knees shaking with the sheer restlessness, until Namjoon got up from his seat beside Taehyung and sat next to Hoseok, placing a firm hand against his knee.

"You called Jimin." Namjoon prompted and Hoseok finally looked at him. Miserable.

"I called Jiminie…" Hoseok said with trembling lips, as if unsure. Scared. And guilty. "He... Uh... He was... Uh... He was at—at home. Would still b-be there, perfectly alright if I hadn't."

"Hoseok…" Namjoon shook his head at him. "It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself."

But Hoseok shook his head in denial. Miserable. He held his head with both his hands, kness bouncing in utter distress.

"I can still hear it." He choked out.

Namjoon swallowed thickly.

"The screech... The... The c-crash..." Hoseok hiccuped as he raised his head and looked at Namjoon with bloodshot eyes. "I can still hear it, Joon."

And then the whole scene gushed out of him like a dam broken.

Hoseok and the team had decided to entertain the kids in the meantime since it usually took Jimin around forty minutes to reach the studio from the hill suite. They passed the time by treating the kids with ice cream and some snacks while break dancing for them. The kids enjoyed thoroughly and the forty minutes passed quite pleasantly. Only for it all to end in a catastrophe.

Exactly forty minutes later their ear drums ringed with a loud crash. The sound so sickening that it pulled horrid screams out of everyone's throats.

It was a really, really bad accident. A taxi had rammed right into the door of a car, denting it so horribly, the impact having shattered all it's windows, lifting it up from one side and sent it crashing onto the other. Both the vehicles were beeping hauntingly. The trunk of the taxi having caught on fire.

Hoseok released a shuddering breath, his eyes zeroing on the car. A quiet prayer escaping his trembling lips. The car wasn't Jimin's.

The car wasn't Jimin's. Hoseok repeated in his head and then aloud. But it still didn't send any rush of relief through his body. Instead, his gut was churning with a heavy feeling of impending doom.

His heart was beating so furiously as he staggered towards the car.

"Please—Please—Please," Hoseok was chanting as he neared the car. "The car is not Jimin's... The car's not Jimin's... Please..." His teeth chattered out of fright as he somehow climbed up the turned over vehicle and then a helpless sob ripped out of his throat as he peaked in through the broken window.

Blood... Glass... Sickening smell of burning oil... And Jimin...

Jimin's eyes were fluttering. He was breathing faintly. His neck extended back into an uncomfortable angle. Shards of glass lodged into his skin. Already bruising and turning black and blue.

The time stopped.

Hoseok's heart stopped.

And he stopped breathing altogether. Until Jimin tried to crane his neck up and looked at him with unfocused, fearful eyes.

"H-Hyung," Jimin mouthed. Not even a whisper. "Hyung... My baby..."

Jimin rested his head back down, eyes shutting closed. "It h-hurts... My baby..."

And Hoseok's eyes fell on his belly and the red seeping into his jeans. And Hoseok lunged in, uncaring of the broken window cutting into his arms and ribs. He lunged in, trying to pull Jimin out.

By now all the crew members were out on the street, some helping the taxi driver, some calling the paramedics and others checking up on Jimin's driver.

"It's Jimin!" Hoseok screamed out. "We need to pull him up, we need to pull him up, we need to—"

And then dozens of panicked hands joined in, pulling out a passed out Jimin from the badly battered car.

"Call an ambulance!" Hoseok yelled at someone, eyes too cloudy to decipher faces. "Hey, hey, Jiminie..." Hoseok sat on the road with Jimin in his arms. Blood was gushing out of him in horrifying amount, running down his legs. Hoseok cried out in agony, hugging Jimin to his chest. "No no no please no!"

"His clothes were drenched in blood, Namjoon." Hoseok sobbed pitifully into his hands. "I just knew... I just knew that the baby was gone... I just... I couldn't do anything to save the baby..."

Namjoon winced and hugged Hoseok, trying to console him. "You saved Jimin's life. You didn't wait for the ambulance and drove him to the hospital as fast as you could." Namjoon said and then held Hoseok's scruff with both hands, looking into his eyes. "You saved Jimin's life, Hoseok."

....

Jeongguk staggered to his feet. Body swaying a little as he took the steps out of the operating room.

Jaesung promptly rushed up to him to lend his support to Jeongguk's unsteady body. And as soon as he placed his hands on Jeongguk's shoulders, Jeongguk looked at him with defeated, infuriated eyes.

"Jimin's—" Jeongguk said, voice hoarse as if his vocal cords had been abraded by gravel. He cleared his throat then and shut his eyes momentarily. "Jimin's okay." Jeongguk nodded, more to himself in a placating tone. "He's out of the danger. His vitals–he's okay."

Jaesung pressed his lips into a thin line. Jeongguk had just witnessed the emptying of Jimin's womb and Jaesung didn't know what the hell he was even supposed to say to him. He opened and closed his mouth, made efforts to formulate some words and Jeongguk must have noticed his struggle because he just lurched forward and started walking towards an empty chair.

"Jimin's okay now, dad." Jeongguk nodded. "They will transfer him to post op in a bit."

Only when Jimin was finally shifted to his room, Jeongguk allowed himself to take in his surroundings. Pale faces, sunken eyes, chapped lips. And in the midst of all kinds of sympathetic expressions, there was Taehyung's broken one. The latter had refused to speak, refused to even leave his chair, his lips moving constantly, subtly, as he prayed to God. And now that Jimin was out of the clutches of death, he allowed himself to break.

Jeongguk offered him a sad little smile and Taehyung wailed. He tried to get up on his unused legs, only to let out a wince of pain as he harshly fell back into his chair. Jeongguk rose then and slowly walked up to Taehyung. Steps heavy and heart even heavier. Watching him as Namjoon steadied the latter.

Taehyung choked on his own spit, coughing violently and then bawled, finally effusing out all the fear and helplessness and ache that he had been keeping to himself.

"I know." Jeongguk shushed, as he hugged Taehyung and rubbed soothing circles into his back.

"I-I was s-so–" Taehyung choked out as tears cascaded down his cheeks. His voice so hoarse, pouring out pain in every syllable. "–scared." He inhaled sharply. "My Jiminie... My Jiminie– Jeongguk. I want to see him. J-Jeongguk, take me to him, I want to–"

Jeongguk's chin wobbled. "I know." He cradled the back of Taehyung's head as the latter clinged to him and cried into his chest. "He's okay. You'll see him. I'm taking you to him."

Taehyung cried harder as he nodded his head pitifully.

Jeongguk then looked at his father with a deep frown. "Jihyun, does he—"

"No." Jaesung replied back. "We haven't told anyone yet."

Jeongguk nodded. "Don't say anything to him yet. Let Jimin gain consciousness and get a bit stable." He said as he continued rubbing Taehyung's back soothingly. The sheer vibrations from his distraught sobbing piercing right into Jeongguk's bones aggravating the ache that's already made home in them.

"And mom." Jeongguk shook his head carefully at his father. "Or Jimin's parents."

And Jeongguk helplessly watched as Taehyung broke down into pitiful sobs as he took in Jimin's state.

Jimin had been transferred to his room, still unconscious, but now out of the clutches of danger. His vital signs were being monitored and recorded religiously and routinely. As soon as Taehyung's eyes fell on him, he rushed to his bed and fell to his knees. Body unable to command itself, he raised his torso and then fell back down. Raised himself up again to level his face with Jimin's but couldn't hold himself there. Exhausted, he rested his forehead against the bed frame and cried hysterically.

Jeongguk watched him quietly by the door and felt his heart break piece by piece. His throat clogging up with the intense urge to cry.

"J-Jimin–ah..." Taehyung hiccuped and raised his head back. Lips trembling and hands shaking even more as he dared to touch Jimin's face. "Jimin–ah..."

His hand hovered over Jimin's bruised cheek for long agonizing moments. His tearful eyes spanning all over Jimin's face in urgency. A broken expression on his face. But then he just got up, retracting his hand and turning around to face Jeongguk.

"He's alive." Taehyung whispered out and then said it again in a steadier voice. "He's alive, Jeongguk." Taehyung walked up to him and clutched onto his shirt. "The baby... A part of my soul has left me... But what matters the most to me is I could have lost Jimin too." He winced, his chin trembling, pupils dilated with fear.

Jeongguk nodded his head mutely.

"You hear me?" Taehyung wept. "We could have lost Jimin today just like that. You could have lost him and you almost did.

Jeongguk glanced towards Jimin and nodded again. Resolutely.

And then Taehyung hung his arms back down and went back to kneeling by Jimin's side. This time finally caressing his face.

....

Jeongguk stayed unmoving by the hospital bed. He refused to leave Jimin's side at all. Jimin was still heavily under the influence of pain medication and whatever the doctors had infused into his body to keep him alive. And Jeongguk kept sitting by the side of his bed, staring at him unblinkingly as minutes turned into hours and hours into days, afraid that he might miss a moment.

Such a harsh contrast between the day he saw Jimin for the first time and now. That Jimin was silently hurting on the inside but smiled so brightly that he outshone the sun. That Jimin braved out whatever he was subjected to. But this Jimin… Jeongguk's Jimin…

And then Jeongguk inhaled shudderingly as Jimin's eyelashes suddenly fluttered ever so softly. His chest seemed to cave in, heart about to burst out of his ribcage.

"Jiminie," Jeongguk murmured, instantly leaning in to lay a kiss on his eye lids. His lips trembling with sheer sadness. "Hey, love," He smiled a broken smile.

Jimin swallowed slowly. He was trying so hard to open his eyes that Jeongguk's heart cried for him. Jimin let out a weak little whimper and Jeongguk ached.

"It's okay," He whispered into Jimin's ear. "I'm right here, it's okay, baby."

And then Jimin slowly looked up at the ceiling, eyes empty and disoriented. His fingers kept twitching by his sides. Jeongguk's eyes rushing to cast one glance at his fluttering eyes and another at his trembling hands. He kept trying to do something... anything. Jeongguk didn't know what to do with himself.

And then Jimin slowly raised his hand, uncoordinated and shaking. Jeongguk watched him. Panic swarmed him then and before Jimin could rest his hand over his belly, Jeongguk took it into his own.

Jeongguk let out tears of grief. As soon as Jimin gained even a minuscule of consciousness, his instincts rushed through his body. Eyes barely open, barely even working, and yet hand reaching out to lay protectively over his child. The child who was long gone now.

Jimin gurgled, eyes dazed and lips parted. And then he fell back asleep.

Jeongguk closed his eyes. He couldn't take this. He couldn't take this. God.

Jeongguk shuddered as his brain kept painting the dreadful pictures of how Jimin would react.

Jeongguk hissed, shaking his head to push all those heart wrenching images away. He leaned in, burying his nose in Jimin's neck and filling his senses with Jimin's scent, trying to find comfort. And then he couldn't really find Jimin's scent. Washed away by blood and then the blood itself washed away by chemicals. Nothing left to settle Jeongguk's heart. Jeongguk wanted to break and cry.

After all that Jimin had gone through, he had to lose the baby like this… Unaware… Lying prone in a hospital bed, unaware of what had happened to him. Would Jimin even have the memories? The last moments before he lost consciousness? Imagining Jimin seconds before that car rammed into them, how scared he must have felt? How helpless? Jeongguk gritted his teeth as tears cascaded down his face.

"I-I'm so sorry…" Jeongguk hiccuped as he dislodged himself from Jimin's frame, afraid that his strangled cries might wake his darling up. He couldn't wake Jimin up like this… especially not when he wasn't even minutely ready to handle the situation.

So Jeongguk paced. Agitated and scared and heartbroken… At least he got to say goodbye to his baby… But his poor Jimin… He wasn't even aware that that precious little life had been wrenched away so brutally from them.

How would Jeongguk even break the news to Jimin? What would he even say? How would he even look Jimin in the eyes and tell him that he has failed him?

Words… Just empty words… All his promises were just empty words… He married Jimin and then couldn't take his responsibility… He couldn't be the man Jeongguk had promised Jimin that he'd be. If he had acted responsibly he wouldn't have gotten Jimin pregnant in the first place and now Jimin wouldn't have lost their baby like this.

Jeongguk was breathing heavily now. His heart was thundering inside his chest. His eyes kept shedding useless tears and that's all he seemed capable of doing. Regret and tears.

But then whenever he turned back and stared at Jimin, he couldn't be ashamed of the relief that flooded his gut instantly. Jeongguk loved his unborn child. That innocent little life his and Jimin's love had created. Jeongguk fucking loved his unborn child. But his love for Jimin transcended everything. Jeongguk had spoken it out once to Hyejin but now he actually felt it. He really could sacrifice a hundred babies if it meant that Jimin's life was saved.

His mind kept replaying Taehyung's words like a broken record. And he knew exactly how Taehyung was feeling. The baby's passing had left them hollow. They loved the baby to pieces but they couldn't love the baby more than they did Jimin.

Jeongguk steadied himself and then sat back into the chair, caressing Jimin's forehead.

That's how Jaesung found him in the middle of the night, hunched over Jimin's side, caressing his hair and murmuring to him softly. Jaesung walked in carefully and placed a gentle hand on Jeongguk's shoulder.

"Jeongguk." He called. "Come eat something, please."

Jeongguk shook his head as he whispered. "I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten for almost twelve hours." Jaesung reprimanded him softly. "You need to take care of yourself too so that you can watch over Jimin properly."

"I won't leave him alone." Jeongguk replied as he turned to look at Jaesung with raving eyes framed by bags and dark circles. "I'm not leaving him alone, dad."

Jaesung opened and closed his mouth. He wanted to assure Jeongguk that he would stay with Jimin while Jeongguk had something to eat. But he hesitated. Jeongguk looked so broken, so fragile, Jaesung feared that if he tried to move Jeongguk just a foot away from Jimin's bed, Jeongguk would crumble down to pieces. So instead he mustered up an encouraging smile and nodded vehemently at his son.

....

Hours upon hours of anxious alertness and watchfulness was finally catching up to Jeongguk, turning his lids heavy. Jimin was still out of it, under the influence of all the heavy medication as hours turned into days. Jeongguk took in Jimin's bruised face, strangely peaceful in contrast with all the cannulas pushed into his veins to conduit the medications and fluids constantly into his body.

Jeongguk needed to stay awake and vigilant. He needed to be prepared for when Jimin finally woke up. Jeongguk heaved a deep sigh as he rubbed at his aching eyes. Closing them momentarily only brought a tinge of burning pain to him. He then planted a tender kiss on Jimin's forearm before getting up to go fetch himself some coffee, but not without making sure that his father stayed by Jimin's side.

Jeongguk rubbed a hand down his face and then rested his head against the coffee machine. His eyes were burning owing to the lack of sleep so he shut them for a while, mind however, still with Jimin.

"Jeongguk?" Namjoon placed a gentle hand on his back.

"Hmm?"

"Your phone, you have it on you?" He asked.

Jeongguk patted his dress pants half heartedly and then shook his head. "Left it somewhere. Don't remember."

Namjoon hummed. "Hyeji has been calling you relentlessly."

Jeongguk turned around.

Namjoon pressed his lips together. "It's been two whole days, Gguk. She has called me a hundred times."

Jeongguk chewed on his lip. "What did you say to her?"

Namjoon shook his head. "I didn't answer. But you gotta talk to her. She might be losing her mind."

Jeongguk looked away with a deep frown maring his face, thinking, and then he nodded slowly. "Yeah. I—Yeah."

Namjoon dialed her number and Hyejin picked up on first ring and then he handed the phone over to Jeongguk.

"Hello? Namjoon? Hello?"

"Hyeji..." Jeongguk called.

Hyejin gasped on the other side. "Jeongguk, where are you?! Where is Jimin?! What is happening—"

"Hyeji..." Jeongguk uttered despondently and Hyejin's breath clearly got caught in her throat.

"Where's Jimin?" She asked slowly. "Is he okay? Is the baby okay?"

Jeongguk closed his eyes shut. "Jimin's okay." He said. "Jimin's okay."

"J-Jeongguk..."

Jeongguk cleared his throat. "I'll send Namjoon to come pick you up. Okay?"

"Jeonggukie, what has—"

"Hyeji..." Jeongguk whispered. "Jimin's okay."

Jeongguk was sitting outside Jimin's room when Namjoon brought Hyejin to the hospital. Jeongguk slowly raised his head and stared at her as Hyejin's eyes slowly filled with horror. Namjoon was holding her by the shoulders for the woman staggered on her feet, walking unsteadily as her eyes looked at all the torn faces.

"J-Jeongguk," Hyejin choked out and he got up then and walked up to her. He stood right in front of her, looking at her shell-shocked face, watching the blood slowly drain from her cheeks.

"He's okay now." Jeongguk said and Hyejin stared at him and then at Namjoon.

"J-Jimin—the bab—"

"He's okay now, Hyeji." Jeongguk repeated and then leaned in as he rested his forehead on her shoulder.

Hyejin wrapped her arms around him, clutching onto him desperately as silent tears ran down her face.

It could not have been for that long. After Jeongguk had seated Hyejin down and then slowly broke the news to her, he just rested his head on her shoulder trying to find comfort. Hyejin didn't say anything, she just kept making a silent prayer and just like that Jeongguk's eyes felt too heavy.

It could not have been for that long. A moment of human weakness perhaps but then Jeongguk was frowning at the distant whispers. He murmured groggily to himself, incoherent. His eyes felt like lead and his tongue too heavy. But after a brief interlude of eerie silence when the murmuring started again, Jeongguk's eyes flew open. He sat up so quickly, almost giving himself whiplash. And then he pushed himself up from the chair and barged into Jimin's room.

Cold sweat broke out on his skin immediately.

"Jimin, Jimin, listen to me please." Taehyung was begging.

And Jimin... Jimin was trembling like a leaf. Horrified. Pale like a ghost as he tried to maneuver himself up.

"Where's my baby?" Jimin choked out, wobbling. His shaking hands landing on his painfully flat belly. Coarse tremors wracked through his body and then his eyes found Jeongguk.

Helpless tears fell down Jimin's eyes. "J-Jeongguk, where's our baby?"

Jeongguk inhaled shakily and took a step towards the bed. "J-Jimin, please listen to me, baby." He begged, breathless. "You were in an accident—"

"What did they do to me?" Jimin cried, looking at everyone with accusatory eyes. "What did they do to my baby?!"

Taehyung rushed towards Jimin in panicked motion but Jimin scooted away.

"What have they done—Where's my baby?!" Jimin screamed now as he grabbed at the cannula and ripped it out of his veins. Thin streams of blood instantly ran down his forearms.

And Jeongguk moved, grabbing Jimin's arms, trying not to break at look of utter betrayal in Jimin's flared up eyes. "How could you let them do this—Where's my baby!" He was struggling in Jeongguk's arms, trying to free himself.

The next moment Namjoon rushed in with the nurses.

"Jimin, please, please—" Jeongguk pleaded but Jimin was thrashing and screaming. He left them with no choice, Jeongguk and Taehyung held him down as he was tranquilized immediately.

Jeongguk kept holding Jimin even after his frigid body sagged against him.

....

Jeongguk wanted to cry. He wanted to get down on his knees and break. The sight of Jimin's face turned away from him was so torturous, so unendurable that Jeongguk wanted to scream in agony.

Taehyung had tried to talk to Jimin and so did Jaesung and Hyejin. But Jimin kept staring away. Refusing to acknowledge their presence at all.

Jimin stayed silent for a long excruciating time. Sitting there on his hospital bed, looking away at the far wall. The room was eerily quiet save for Jimin's ragged breathing.

Just breathing. Jimin was just breathing. His face stoic and drained of all the colour. Jeongguk wanted to hear his voice. Jeongguk wanted to hear him talk so desperately. But then when Jimin finally spoke, Jeongguk's skin crawled with fear.

"Where's the baby?" Jimin asked, voice barely more than a strained whisper.

Jeongguk swallowed thickly. He was starting to feel a bit dizzy. He tried to move towards Jimin's bed as he rubbed his sweaty plams over his slacks. "It's been three days since the accident—"

"Where's the baby, Jeongguk?" Jimin asked again as he turned his face towards Jeongguk and Jeongguk instantly came to a halt.

Jeongguk breathed heavily as he stared back into Jimin's swollen eyes.

"He's resting, Jimin." Jeongguk choked out. "I... I..."

And Jimin closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall with a sharp thud. His chin was wobbling so pitifully, rivulets of tears now cascading down the corner of his eyes. Jeongguk winced, but before he could as much step forward and hold him, Jimin clenched his jaw painfully as he fisted the sheets.

"He?" Jimin trembled helplessly.

"It was difficult to tell but the doctors think that..." Jeongguk whispered as he rubbed at his eyes, trying to find the right words. "The doctors, uh... They think t-that... that it was a boy..."

Jimin inhaled sharply but stayed restrained. However grief was rolling off him in torrents and it was making it hard for Jeongguk to breathe.

"You buried him?" Jimin asked then after a disquieting interlude.

"I'm sorry, baby." Jeongguk wheezed out. "You were unconscious and—"

"It's alright." Jimin whispered then. "He got to rest. It's alright. It's alright."

Jeongguk silently moved and settled himself on the chair near Jimin's bed. He slowly reached out, hesitant, as he wiped at Jimin's wet cheeks with shaking hands. "I'm so sorry." Jeongguk whispered tearfully as he felt his throat getting clogged up and his heart being squeezed by his ribs and weighing down heavily. How would he even console Jimin? What was he even supposed to say?

Jimin just nodded silently. Eyes still closed and jaw set tight. He was visibly trying so hard to keep breathing that it scared Jeongguk. The latter was at a grievous loss of words. He had been preparing himself to face Jimin for days. But the way Jimin was clamped shut, barely letting any cries out was not what Jeongguk had expected of him. And it sent shivers up his spine. Jeongguk watched him silently as he kept caressing his face, until Jimin spoke again.

"Could you do something for me?"

"A-Anything." Jeongguk choked out in desperation. "Yes, yes, baby. What is it?"

Jimin opened his eyes then and turned his face towards Jeongguk. He looked hollow, his eyes having lost all the life. "Please call the nurse. I want something to help me sleep."

....

The nights still moulded into days and the days still sank back into darkness. Time still flowed away like river, impounded by ruthless tides that imposed a deranged sense of lucidity. Sun still shone through his windows and so the rains plattered against them too.

The raw calamity slowly transmuted into a heart rending memory. And vivid experience into words.

No one stopped breathing.

No one stopped eating either.

No one never descended down into the graves of their loved ones.

All that stayed persistent and a testimony of the loss was grief.

And life still seemed to go on. Seemed.

But in actuality, everything had come to a glaring halt. Everything vital. Everything preeminent. Everything about Jimin and Jimin himself.

Jeongguk had brought him home two weeks ago. He had walked Jimin into the house, his arms wrapped around his shoulders protectively. His eyes almost never straying away from Jimin's face. Jimin's passive face...

Bruised still, weak and hollow. Devoid of any apparent emotions. It was the absence of everything that made Jeongguk ache so bad. The absence of his tears. The total absence of Jimin's voice from his auditory spur. And the grave absence of his filled out belly. As if the baby never existed.

It left Jeongguk aching even more. Jimin's silence and his bruised body the sole testament of their loss.

Jimin did whatever he was required to do. He walked when he had to. He ate when it was the time to eat. He stepped into the shower when Jeongguk softly prompted him to. He went to bed when Jeongguk helped him change into his sleepwear and then shut his eyes closed when Jeongguk wrapped his arms around his body.

Without a complaint. Without a wince.

Jaesung came to see him every day and whenever he did, Jimin silently sat besides him. Breathing. Just breathing.

Taehyung stayed at the hill suite for a whole week. He stayed glued to Jimin at all times. Often trying to elicit any reaction from him, out of the fear that Jimin might be slowly sinking into the abyss.

Grief. The only cure to grief was grieving. And Jimin... He wasn't grieving. No. It didn't look like he was grieving. It looked like he was slowly dying. Withering away. Like an important part of his body had been amputated and now he was dying slowly of blood loss. Like he was slowly spiraling down into a hypovolumic shock.

"Jimin..." Jeongguk called slowly in the dead of the night, squeezing his arms around Jimin's frail body. His hands mindful, always so fucking mindful to stay away from resting on Jimin's belly. Always trying so hard to curb that instinct, that habit of splaying on Jimin's belly and caressing it.

"Jimin..." Jeongguk called again. Brokenly. And this time Jimin hummed ever so softly.

Jeongguk's chin wobbled. Tears oozed out of his eyes, drenching the bridge of his nose and then his pillow. Jeongguk sniffled helplessly into the back of Jimin's head. "I'm sorry, Jimin."

Jeongguk ached. He ached so miserably. This ache was so profound that he wished for Jimin to sob and scream and wail.

And Jimin just hummed again. His body going taut for a moment and then relaxing back into Jeongguk's arms. Jeongguk scooted even closer, ready to gather Jimin back up again if only he just allowed himself to break. But all that ever broke and kept breaking was Jeongguk's heart.

Jimin just breathed. Breathed a little harsher. And then the sleep took him away again.

....

Jimin really couldn't remember anything. He could barely remember Hoseok's call from that day. Perhaps an uncanny defense mechanism ensued to make sure that he lived out the pain.

He kept thinking and thinking. He kept trying to remember. But all that he ever ascertained was that he wasn't pregnant anymore. That all that remained of his baby was a ghost feeling of pain and a lapsing memory of having carried him.

Exhausted of trying and failing to remember, his adamant brain started reminding him of other things instead.

"What a disgrace."

Jimin blinked and then turned his face around, frowning as he took in his empty room. A couple days back, Jimin had finally spoken, had finally called Jeongguk's name and asked him to go to his office. Jeongguk, though torn, had at last agreed if it meant that Jimin kept speaking to him. How long was Jimin going to keep Jeongguk away from work after all? Wasn't it enough that Jeongguk stayed away from his office for the majority of the time that Jimin was pregnant and then for the days that Jimin was recovering from the accident? For how much longer was Jimin still going to waste away Jeongguk's work hours?

Jimin stayed cooped up in his room, sitting by the large windows and staring at nothing. Nothing until he harked back again.

"You're cursed, Jimin."

Jimin's swallowed around a dry mouth. His heart picked up the speed, making him nauseous. He slowly got up from the couch and beelined for the en suite.

Rushing to the washroom only heightened his bouts of nausea. His legs automatically folded at the knees, hands bracing himself out of memory. He had, after all, spent a good amount of time hunching over the toilet seat and heaving out the contents of his stomach. Then it was because of the pregnancy and but now, now the thought of it make him sick.

He retched, steadying himself then and walking up to the basin to wash his face. And as he looked at himself in the mirror, he ceased. His eyes roving over the bruises, the grazes, the stitches. Jimin just ceased. He looked... empty. He looked empty and he felt empty.

His baby had passed away.

Jimin glanced down at his belly fearfully. Watching the rise and fall of his chest and the flat of his stomach. Empty...

He looked back at the mirror and he felt nothing. Must he feel sorry for himself? But it wasn't him who had died.

His baby had passed away.

His baby had passed away?

He had no recollection of the accident. He just... woke up and he couldn't feel his baby move... His baby wasn't there. He had lost the baby just like that...? He just woke up and was told that his baby had died... How could he have lost his baby just like that? He couldn't get to do anything. He didn't do anything. He just woke up and his baby had died.

Jimin loathed his empty womb. He loathed what he saw in the mirror. He loathed himself.

All he could see was a failed man who couldn't even contain his own child in his womb. All he could see was a failure of a husband. All he could see was selfishness and bleached hair and failure.

"What have you done to your hair, hmm? It used to be so black and shiny and healthy."

Jimin hissed. He could feel the ghost of his father's fingers on his forehead.

"You're cursed, Jimin. You'll never find happiness."

Jimin grabbed a handful of his hair and walked closer to the mirror. He tugged his hair up with desperate hands, frowning deeply, eyes zeroing on the darker roots growing in.

"What have you done! Look what have you done now!"

Jimin shook his head, gut churning again with queasiness. Red was running down his legs and his belly was hurting so bad.

"What did you do, Jimin?!"

Jimin rummaged around the cabinet, hands shaking and searching. And searching till his fingertips caught onto it's handle. Blood was gushing out of him and he was losing the baby.

"Why would you do that?!"

Jimin grabbed the scissors, tugged his hair up harshly and cut out a chunk of it as a growl ripped out of his throat.

....

Hyejin turned off the stove and started plating the food silently. The gloomy weather casted dark shadows around her as she took a seat at the table. And then she closed her eyes. The grave turmoil in their lives was sinking them into the horrid quicksand. And Jimin's silent sadness was breaking her from within.

Hyejin pressed the heel of her hands into her eyes as thoughts began to plague her again. The future looked so bleak, so barren and she wondered if they even ever could make peace with what befell them. She casted her eyes towards the food she had cooked for Jimin. He barely ate any. He had gotten so hauntingly thin and frail that Hyejin was afraid that he might crumble at any time. It dig holes in her heart, sitting next to him and watching him stare at his plate with hollow eyes, her voice falling on deaf ears every time she tried to coax him into eating.

Hyejin heaved a deep sigh, steeling herself.

"Jiminie?" She called, heading towards the master bedroom, preparing herself to be met with Jimin's wretched state.

"Jiminie? Darling, come have dinner with me." Hyejin said as she pushed open the door. She frowned at the empty bed, trying to ignore how her heart quickened the pace of it's beating.

"Jimin?" Hyejin called again as she walked towards the en suite. And then her heart started pacing as she found it vacant. Jimin wasn't in his room. Jimin wasn't there.
Hyejin inhaled sharply and began to look around frantically.

She was crying openly now as she buzzed the guards, sobbing into her hands. Jimin was nowhere to be found and Hyejin was feeling so dizzy that she had to push herself into a chair. Her trembling hands somehow succeeded in calling Jeongguk.

"I can't find him." Hyejin bawled into the phone. On the other side Jeongguk was losing his mind.

"Have you checked everywhere?" Jeongguk's agitated voice tore through the speaker. "Hyeji, calm down, you said he was taking a shower..."

Hyejin nodded miserably. "He was taking a shower t-then I started making dinner and then... and then I can't find him, J-Jeongguk please..."

Jeongguk barely heard another word as he started screaming at his assistants. They were calling Jimin's number but every single call was left unanswered.

"Track his phone!" Jeongguk screamed at someone. "Track his phone! I want his location now!"

Hyejin stayed clutching onto her phone like a lifeline. Crying, praying, trying to figure out anything from the absolute chaos that was unfolding on the other side of the device.

"Sir, it's at your home! The location is the hill suite!"

"Fuck. Fuck."

Hyejin heard Jeongguk swear and move about. "J-Jeonggukie..."

"He has left his phone at home." Jeongguk croaked. "We'll find him. We'll find him, just... Just... I'll call you, okay? I will find him."

Jeongguk rammed his phone on the table and grabbed handfuls of his hair. "Shit. Shit. Shit." Where would he even go looking for Jimin? Jeongguk paced as he grabbed his phone back and called Taehyung.

"Hey, what's—"

"Is Jimin there? With you?" Jeongguk almost begged. And his heart sank at the way Taehyung inhaled sharply.

"No. Did he go somewhere?" Taehyung was asking back frantically.

"We can't find him." Jeongguk choked. "He left his phone at home and—"

"Jeongguk!"

Jeongguk turned around to face Namjoon's disheveled form. "We found him!"

Jeongguk disconnected the call promptly as he paced towards Namjoon.

"Gguk, he's at Han river. Hangang bridge." Namjoon looked at him with panicked eyes. "The media, they're there and it doesn't sound good, Gguk."

"Get the bodyguards. Get the fucking cars and get my whole fucking security down to Hangang!" Jeongguk yelled as he rushed to his car.

Namjoon scurried in into the passenger seat, phone glued to his ear. "Sungil-ssi, stay on the call." He fastened his seatbelt as Jeongguk raced the car. "One of his managers called me. He got notified by some media personnel."

"Why is he at the bridge, Joon?" Jeongguk asked brokenly. "Why would he go there like this?"

"Jeongguk..."

"What's Sungil saying? What's going on there? Tell him to—to get Jimin away from there." Jeongguk said, his knuckles paper white with the sheer force with which he was gripping the steering wheel.

"He's..." Namjoon frowned as he listened on, nodding silently and then heaving an exasperated sigh.

Jeongguk casted an enraged look towards him.

"He can't get to Jimin. The media have blocked the bridge."

"Fucking bastards." Jeongguk seethed. "Joon..."

"Yes, we're on our way, Sungil-ssi. Yes, we have our security with us—"

"Joon..."

Namjoon placed a steady hand on Jeongguk's arm.

Jeongguk's security worked in practiced comportment. They segregated into two teams, both reaching and blocking the bridge on the two ends. Their vehicles effectively blocking the media from approaching the bridge.

And as soon as Jeongguk reached the foot of the bridge, he tried to get as close as possible. The rain was splattering harshly on the windshield, making it harder to discern anything beyond a particular point. The gloomy night sky wasn't helping at all, too. Jeongguk cursed as his eyes fell on the lone figure standing at the deck, looking intently into the water. His heart ached, he didn't want to startle or alarm Jimin. So he just leapt out of his car, the rain drenching him completely in a fraction of a second, and darted through the numerous security vehicles.

Jimin was standing eerily still. His foreams resting on the railing. He was quite clearly standing too close to the parapet. Jeongguk clenched his jaw as he started running towards Jimin. He completely stopped breathing, begging Jimin to just stay still. The closer he got, the harsher his heart beat. His eyes set on Jimin, his ears ringing mercilessly.

And then he let out a shuddering breath the moment his arms touched Jimin's body. Jeongguk instantly wrapped his arms around Jimin's chest and brought him down, away from the parapet. And Jimin let himself be handled without any fight. Jeongguk stood there, with Jimin in his arms, against his chest, and life being breathed back into his veins. He didn't even talk out of fear. He just hugged Jimin to his chest, too scared to let go.

"What are you—" Jeongguk croaked out as he buried his face into Jimin's neck. "Jimin, why did you come here like this?"

But Jimin didn't talk back. He didn't as much move. Jeongguk then lifted his head and turned Jimin around in his arms to actually look at him. And when he looked at Jimin, his heart broke to a million pieces. Tears oozed out of his eyes.

All he saw was black. Black was running down Jimin's neck.

Jeongguk let out a pained groan as he stared at Jimin's hair. Shell shocked. Jimin had dyed his hair black. His hair wasn't even the length it was earlier that day. He had haphazardly cut chunks of his hair. He had dyed it black and the dye was still running down his neck in the rain. Jeongguk touched Jimin's hair slowly, felt it between his fingertips... Felt the ragged ends subjected to violent chopping. Jeongguk started crying openly.

"What have you done, Jimin?" Jeongguk cried, holding Jimin tighter. He ran his fingers into Jimin's hair, the latter looking away with dead eyes. "What have you done to your hair, baby?" Jeongguk whimpered as he hugged Jimin to his chest and kissed his hair and cried into it.

"Talk to me, baby." Jeongguk begged. "You should have told me if you wanted to dye your hair. Y-You should have told me if you wanted to come here." Jeongguk hiccuped. He didn't want to accept it. He didn't want to think of the reason why Jimin was there. He held Jimin's shoulders and looked at him again. Looked at him properly. Jimin was shivering in the cold, drenched to the bone. Jeongguk instantaneously got out of his coat and wrapped it around Jimin. His arms caging him even tighter.

"Talk to me please..." Jeongguk bawled. He started shaking Jimin's shoulders. And then he yelled. "Jimin, talk to me!" 

And then Jimin blinked up at him. His pupils hauntingly dilated, his teeth chattering, lips turned purple. He blinked up at Jeongguk and then looked around, dazed. As if he didn't have any memory of walking up to Hangang bridge in the pelting rain.

Jimin let out a weak, feeble sound as he looked back up at Jeongguk. And he smiled a sad little smile. His lips trembled and Jeongguk's entire world shattered.

"I lost the baby, Jeongguk..."

Jeongguk inhaled sharply.

"I lost the baby..." Jimin repeated. His cold hands slowly slithering up Jeongguk's chest and grabbing onto his shirt. "J-Jeongguk, our baby..."

And then slowly his face morphed into sadness itself. Rain was pouring down on them in torrents, the skies crying with them. Jimin broke down to pieces right there. He screamed in agony, straining his voice so bad Jeongguk felt like he was going to rip his vocal cords.

"I know. I know. I'm so sorry, Jimin." Jeongguk wept as he tried to hug Jimin to his chest.

"My baby!" Jimin cried and cried. He clutched onto Jeongguk harder, shaking his head this way and that way in denial. "My baby died, Jeongguk!"

"I-I'm so, so sorry, J-Jiminie... Please baby..." Jeongguk begged as Jimin slowly lost all his inhibitions, his wounds out open, raw and festering for everyone to see. His knees buckled and he fell down to the ground and Jeongguk with him, holding him still and crying with him. Mourning their lost child.

Jimin just screamed up at the thundering sky. His grief ladden cry far too deafening than the lightening strikes.

Chapter Text

Jeongguk's dark eyes were steadily trained on the gigantic tv screen in front of him.

Elbows resting on top of his knees, hands clasped together under his chin, hunched forward as he was seated on the edge of the couch.

For the past several weeks grief and fear was all that he was rendered capable of feeling. But now, as his burning eyes stayed locked at the screen, all that he was feeling was profound and barbaric rage.

Disheveled didn't even encapsulate his current state. Stubble unshaved for a while now, hair wild, sunken cheeks with tense facial muscles and jaw clenched back shut. His unforgiving eyes were boring into the screen. Right in front of his eyes, on the big television screen, Jimin was falling apart in his arms.

As if the pain wasn't debilitating enough on its own, it had to be documented and televised for the whole world to see. Right in front of him, Jimin was swaying away in heartbreak. Black dye was running down his neck. His flimsy t-shirt was drenched in rain and black and the outline of his emaciated body was painfully visible.

“These are the images from the Han bridge earlier today. Jimin-ssi is looking awfully troubled. Mr. Jeon’s security is trying hard to block the press but we’re trying hard to get the news to our viewers.”

“Unfortunately Jimin-ssi does not look pregnant anymore. I think… I think he has lost the baby.”

“We have never seen him like this before. It’s hard to believe that this person really is Jimin-ssi. I had never imagined I would see him having a mental breakdown in my lifetime.”

Jeongguk bit the inside of his cheek raw to keep himself from grinding his teeth in scorn. The metallic taste of blood pooling into his mouth only made him thirsty for violence.

Jeongguk watched in silence as he carried a barely conscious Jimin back to the car. The camera that had filmed them was subtly shaking now as Jeongguk got closer. It was so cruel and unfair; the sheer excitement oozing out of the cameraman for a job well done.

Jimin's raw wound was all open for the whole world to see. Slowly festering, rotting through the bone.

"Fuck no!" Taehyung snarled on his side. Thrashing in his seat as he sealed his eyes shut. Refusing to watch the misery unfold all over again.

Only now that Taehyung had spoken did Jeongguk register the people who were inhabiting his space. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts and the wickedness emanating from the news channels that he totally forgot that Taehyung, Namjoon, Hyejin and Hoseok were sitting with him in the living room since the previous night as they refused to leave Jimin alone.

On the screen, Namjoon was growling at the cameras. The security was trying so hard to block their view and push them back.

And in the distance, Jeongguk was carrying the shell of his love in his arms. Jimin's head lolled back, bouncing carelessly as his eyes looked up blankly. The unforgiving rain battering his already abused face.

Then the footage was cut off.

And so the whole world knew.

Their loss had become the headlines.

Their mourning, the burning topic of the day.

“Did we threaten to sue?” Jeongguk spoke, voice harsh as if he was fed gravel.

“We did.” Namjoon provided from his side, already whipping out his phone.

"They are repeating the same broadcast since last night." Taehyung let out a frustrated growl. He then turned to look at Jeongguk in alarm, face sombre by the sudden invocation. “Jimin can’t be seeing this.” He murmured helplessly. “No matter what. He can't see this."

Jeongguk stayed motionless, lost in thought. His shoulders were stiff and crouched down. Taehyung waited for his answer impatiently which did not come, bouncing his legs restlessly before giving up and turning to Namjoon.

“We have to take the TV off of Jimin’s bedroom wall.” He said to Namjoon.

Namjoon nodded his head slowly but didn’t say anything back. Taehyung groaned, shaking his arm. “Namjoon, we have to keep this from Jimin. He can’t be seeing this shit.”

“We can’t keep this from him much longer.” Namjoon spoke in a hushed voice. “We have threatened to sue but Jimin is a public figure. They know that we have no grounds to drag them to court.”

Taehyung scoffed in utter disbelief. He scoffed at the cruelty of the circumstances, at the thought that the system was rigged beyond repair and they were destined to lose.

"What are we going to do?" Hyejin whimpered softly, turning to Jeongguk in desperation. "I can't see him like this."

Jimin had cried and cried the previous night. His screams still rang in Jeongguk's ears, having gouged their imprint permanently in his temporal lobe. Right at that bridge, Jeongguk knew he had lost his Jimin. The person wailing into his chest was barely a person anymore. But Jeongguk had held him tight in his arms nonetheless. Jeongguk cried with him and tried to hide Jimin away from the piercing eyes. But what could he ever do when the flashing lights, incessant questions and roaring thunder dwarfed his pleas? What could he ever do when Jimin looked up at the sky and started screaming? Presumably at any God watching him mourn from above.

Jimin had turned mute then. His body turned limp and malleable. He didn't say anything, neither in the car, nor during the whole ride back home. Having turned voiceless from his pain, Jeongguk had held Jimin in his arms until Jimin's bearings slowly slithered away, leaving him stock-still for Jeongguk to carry.

Jeongguk rushed to their room as soon as he stepped in the penthouse with Jimin in his arms who looked more like a corpse than a breathing person. Hyejin had begged Jeongguk to let her in. She had begged and promised Jeongguk that she would make Jimin calm down. When Jeongguk finally let her in, there was hardly anything for her to placate.

Jimin was somewhere else. Gone. Almost cross-eyed. It scared them so much that they promptly called in Jimin's doctor.

He was given medicine to calm him down. And Jeongguk wanted to bash his own head into the ground because there was nothing left to calm down… Jeongguk had lived a glimpse of Jimin's trauma for even less than an hour and his skin would rather have preferred to be flayed.

And now as Jeongguk glared at the blank screen, having watched Jimin break down to pieces anew, he was completely lost. Where were they supposed to go from here? How would they ever move past this loss?

Their phones kept ringing throughout the previous night. No one even got a wink of sleep.

It was all over the television. Every single channel’s hot topic.

"Jimin-nim has apparently lost the baby. He was seen quite distraught as he wandered to the Hangang bridge. Moments later we saw Mr. Jeon rush in with his security."

"We weren't quite sure what had happened between the couple." Another reporter added. "Then the camera caught the heartbreaking scene of Jimin-nim having a break down. And he didn't look pregnant anymore."

"We're trying to reach them. They left quite hurriedly and we couldn’t get any answers from them. But in the meantime our correspondent has been trying to get in touch with the  hospital networks nearby to learn about the actual situation that happened—"

As if his heart hadn't broken enough last night.

Taehyung rubbed at his eyes aggressively. "This shouldn't have happened. God. This is so wrong."

Jeongguk slowly stood up then. His legs numb as if drained of all their blood. Everyone looked up at him, hoping that Jeongguk would put things right. Jeongguk didn’t think he had the ability to mitigate anything anymore, if he could then Jimin wouldn’t be lying motionless upstairs in their room. 

With heavy steps, Jeongguk climbed up the stairs. The weight of the world weighing him down.

Taehyung rested his head back against the couch, eyes staring up at the ceiling. "What am I gonna do..." He murmured, eyes glassy. "What am I supposed to say to Jiminie? I'm scared of looking him in the eye."

Hoseok pressed his quivering lips together in a thin line. His presence nothing but forgotten amidst the chaos. "Me too."

....

"Did Jimin—"

Jeongguk shook his head in denial as he heaved a deep sigh. Jaesung pressed his lips together in a thin line.

It was evident that Jimin needed his parents, especially his mother, the most in this vulnerable moment. Coping with the loss of your child, such a disaster could only be empathised well with by someone who had carried a life themselves. However, there was no word from Jimin’s parents.

As for Jeongguk’s own mother… She had cursed Jimin’s entire family tree up and down ever since she came to know about the tragic incident, for having given him “weak genes”. For her, being proven right about Jimin’s propensity for miscarriages as a carrier weighed far heavier than the grief of losing Jeongguk’s unborn child.

She was simply ecstatic that she could now tell Jeongguk how she had “told him so”.

As for Jaesung… He could barely bring himself to look at Jeongguk’s miserable face. Then how could he ever console Jimin?

“Mom…” Jeongguk murmured. “Does she know?”

Hyejin looked between the two with distressed eyes.

"Unfortunately, yes. The news channels were all broadcasting it the whole damn day." Jaesung sighed.

Jeongguk chuckled sadly as he buried his head in his hands. “Namjoon somehow managed to handle it. He threatened to sue them over breech of privacy.” He murmured, still in disbelief. But Namjoon was smart and efficient. He had dug up decades upon decades worth of dirt and had used that as a leverage. He had successfully pulled all the news about Jimin from those gossip channels, threatening them that he would unearth the carpeted scandals. And when some channels still remained adamant, refusing to be browbeaten into silence, Namjoon had bribed them with money.

“It was a fickle excuse, they obviously knew, so Namjoon bribed them to shut their mouths. It’s not gonna shut them up forever though, but for now they will leave it alone.” Jeongguk admitted so as he rubbed at his sore eyes. “We should have done that last night. I can’t fathom how I didn’t get it done sooner.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Jaesung frowned. “Jimin was in such a bad condition. With all the events that unfolded it’s a miracle that you managed to get Jimin back home safely.”

Jeongguk shrugged it off. “What did mom say?”

Jaesung heaved a deep sigh at that. “You know your mother.”

Jeongguk rubbed a hand down his face. "God."

"But I have made sure that she doesn't come visit anytime soon." Jaesung reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"God knows what poison she's gonna spew at Jimin." Jeongguk groaned.

“Did you talk to him? What did he say?”

“I haven't been able to talk to him at all.” Jeongguk murmured. “Every time I go up to the room, I lose all my strength. He doesn’t… doesn’t even look at me. Every time I look at his face, my soul leaves my body."

"He's going to need a lot of time." Hyejin spoke softly, hovering over Jeongguk’s hunched frame, hardly able to reign in her tears.

Jaesung looked at her, sadness pouring out of his eyes, as they then fixated themselves on his miserable son. His shoulders drooped like they were carrying the burden of the entire world, head hanging low as if deluged by shame. He just sat at the dining table quietly. Hand refusing to pick up even a morsel of food.

Jaesung drew in a deep breath to regain his composure. "Hyejin is right, Jeongguk. He's going to need a lot of time. And patience."

Hyejin softly settled to sit beside Jeongguk and placed a hand on his nape. "I'm sorry, Jeonggukie. You didn’t deserve this at all.”

Jeongguk nodded mutely. Then inhaled deep before finally raising his head. "I don't know what to do, Hyeji. I don't know what I got us into."

“What do you mean?” She frowned.

“The day I married him,” Jeongguk croaked out, “I promised him to keep him happy and safe.” He smiled bitterly, eyes hazy as if reminiscing their wedding day. He then sniffled, eyebrows scrunching up as he looked up at Hyejin with desperate eyes. “I might be even worse than his father.”

Hyejin gasped harshly. "You—No, Gguk. Why would you say that!”

"It's all because of me. Because of my stupidity and carelessness. He didn’t even want a child to begin with. And then when he finally accepted and loved that baby–”Jeongguk choked up, voice breaking as tears helplessly oozed out of his eyes.

"You're not responsible for it." Hyejin smiled sadly at him. “Not one bit.” She then cupped Jeongguk's face with both hands, forcing him to look at her. "It was meant to happen so it did."

Jeongguk’s chin wobbled miserably, tears cascading down his sunken cheeks. Jeongguk kept trying to avert his gaze, so Hyejin held on to him a little tighter. "All we can do is make peace with the pain and try to steer Jimin away from self destruction. Jeongguk, we need to bring Jimin out of this. It won't help him if we end up blaming ourselves. You hear me?"

Jaesung kept watching them silently. He was one of the richest men in the country but at that moment he realised how utterly destitute fate had rendered him. He just sat there, incapable of consoling his own son. The way this woman who was “low born”; inferior to his lineage and a mere caretaker for his son made Jaesung feel so incapacitated in that moment, felt utterly humiliating to him. And rightfully so. Hyejin would have made a great mother. Jaesung felt so humiliated that he was complicit in taking away this woman’s dreams and aspirations from her. He was just sitting there, witnessing this woman build up Jeongguk’s broken resolve, wiping his tears and being an important source of courage for him.

Jaesung realised in that moment that Hyejin had been more of a parent to Jeongguk than Jaesung and Sooyeon together could ever be.

Jeongguk was listening now too. He kept listening as Hyejin listed out all the ways they had to work together. Nodding and working it out in his head. And when Jeongguk's chin wobbled just a bit, Hyejin stood up at once and hugged him. She let Jeongguk bury his contorted face into her stomach as her arms wrapped protectively around his head and shoulders.

Jaesung kept watching silently as Jeongguk cried a little and whispered to Hyejin in agitated undertones. And he watched as Hyejin whispered back in solemn resolve, her hands pressing down on his shoulders;  transferring strength to them.

Jeongguk kept hugging her till he was finally equipped to brace himself. He got up then, his chest rising and falling in a cataclysmic fusion, as he mustered the strength to climb up the stairs to his room.

Jeongguk would try. He would try again and again. Over a million times. Because Jimin deserved it. Because Jimin was worth trying for till the last breath escaped Jeongguk’s lips.

….

As soon as Jimin gained his bearings, Taehyung jumped up and rushed towards  his room. Jeongguk stayed rooted in his place downstairs, letting Taehyung try to talk to Jimin. He was fully aware that if Jimin needed to listen to anyone right then, then it had to be Taehyung.

Hoseok flinched bodily when Hyejin caressed his head. "I'll bring you tea." She smiled at him. Hoseok shuddered out a small thank you under his breath, gaze trained down at his feet, unable to look up at Hyejin or Jeongguk.

Taehyung was undisputedly clueless of what he was going to come across on the other side of the door. His hand visibly shook as he pushed the door open and walked in with a bated breath. And what he did find, was decidedly what petrified him.

Dead. Dead was the only word that came to Taehyung's mind. Dead was permeating through the whole room. Dead was wafting towards Taehyung and about to choke him.

"Jimin..." Taehyung called softly and Jimin slowly turned his face towards him.

Dead was all he could feel in Jimin's swollen eyes. Dead was the only thing holding out in Jimin's gaze.

Taehyung pressed his lips together nervously. The intensity of Jimin's burrowing gaze made him want to cower. But he continued walking towards the bed, silently noticing how Jimin's eyes were gauging his every movement.

Jimin looked at him for a long moment. Even as Taehyung finally was standing just at arm's reach, Jimin continued to stare up at him mutely. Taehyung's gut churned in apprehension. Jimin had never looked so vacant at the face of any calamity that ever befell him. But then... Jimin had never lost a baby before.

Taehyung even started dreading the words that would come out of his own mouth. But he steered himself nonetheless as he slowly settled on the bed in front of Jimin. Jimin's eyes still trained on his face.

"Jimin-ah," Taehyung murmured and finally reached a hand out and placed it steady on Jimin's propped up knee. "I'm so sorry."

Jimin blinked at him and then continued to stare for an excruciatingly long moment before nodding once and finally averting his gaze.

Taehyung's chin wobbled helplessly but he only scooted closer, desperately trying to anneal his faltering voice.

"Please don't look away." Taehyung urged as he cupped Jimin's face with both his hands. "Jiminie..." He beseeched, eyes pleading. "I'm really sorry."

Jimin closed his eyes shut momentarily and took in a deep breath. "Me too." He whispered out as he looked back at Taehyung. And that was it. Jimin acknowledged him. He acknowledged Taehyung's emotions. But he had nothing left to give. He had lost. And Taehyung found himself at a loss for words. Jimin's face was nothing he was ever familiar with. War torn. Defeated. What was there left to mend anyway?

But he refused to stop caressing that grief stricken face. That cold, cold, lifeless face. He kept caressing Jimin's cold face slowly, his thumbs brushing his cheekbones, eyes taking in all the bruises and grazes littered on it. It didn't only feel devastated, it looked every bit like one.

"Haneul had to go like this, Jiminie." Taehyung choked out and Jimin closed his eyes shut.

"You have to let him go." Taehyung whispered out and Jimin inhaled sharply.

"Don't." Jimin said.

"Haneul—"

"Don't, Tae." Jimin warned.

And Taehyung wanted to cry. He knew that this was cruel of him. Saying the name out loud—the name Jimin had been thinking about a lot. Saying it out loud now only wrenched their hearts painfully. Taehyung felt like he was betraying Jimin by speaking out the name of Jimin's baby when he had left them for his heaven abode. Jimin had confided in Taehyung by disclosing this precious name to him. He knew Jimin couldn't bear it but Taehyung had to. He couldn't lose Jimin to misery. Taehyung needed Jimin to grieve his child like he deserved to.

"Haneul is resting now, Jiminie. Please—" Taehyung begged when Jimin screwed his eyes shut and tried to turn his head away. "No. No, please." He pleaded, holding on to Jimin, "He wasn't meant to—"

"It hurts." Jimin hissed, shaking his head desperately, holding Taehyung's forearms in a vice grip. "Please stop talking. It hurts."

"I know." Taehyung cried. His hands brushed Jimin uneven hair, chopped and dyed haphazardly. Tragic. And he cried for that too. "Talk to me, please. Jimin-ah. Just please talk to me..."

"I can't remember." Jimin heaved. "What do I tell you, Taehyung? I can't remember!"

"Just... Just please..." Taehyung sobbed. "You didn't deserve any of it. You didn't deserve to lose Haneul—"

Jimin clenched his eyes shut and growled. "I can't remember losing him!" He snarled as he dug his palms into his eyeballs. "Why don't you understand, Tae?! I can't remember the accident! And now I can't remember how it felt carrying him!"

Jimin didn't even bother to fight it when Taehyung wrapped him up in his arms and pulled him into a tight embrace.

Jimin just shook his head and then choked up rough cries of agony. "I feel like I might be forgetting him already. I don't want to forget him, Tae—" Jimin heaved, looking up at Taehyung with a broken expression. "I don't—It's all I have got and I'm already forgetting how it felt like when he was in my womb—"

And Taehyung saw the exact moment when venom slowly seeped into Jimin's soul and tainted it. When disgust marred his face and he bared his teeth. "My womb… My… My womb." Jimin seethed, hatred bleeding into his pupils. "I'm cursed, I told you."

"Jimin... Jiminie..."

"I'm cursed! I told you!" Jimin yelled as he tried to get away. "I always told you but you won't listen to me!" Jimin started struggling now against Taehyung's embrace. He choked at his own words, his eyes steadily welling up with tears as he shook his head up at Taehyung. "Even my womb is cursed."

"Please, shut up, Jimin. Please, shut the fuck up. I beg you." Taehyung hurled, as he screwed his eyes shut at those venomous words. "You can't blame yourself for something that was out of your control."

"Something...?" Jimin cried miserably. "My baby died, Tae." Jimin shook his head, snivelling pathetically. "H-Haneul..." He choked on a sob as he said the name out-loud. "My Haneul died a painful death."

Taehyung lunged at Jimin and hugged him to his chest. He had tried to coax Jimin into talking a dozen times till now. As had Jeongguk and Hyejin too. But now that Taehyung had managed to make Jimin talk, his ears started ringing with those cruel words Jimin was saying against himself.

"I'm begging you! For fuck's sake please shut the fuck up!" Tears cascaded down Taehyung's eyes as he kissed Jimin's ruined hair.

"You want me to talk to you?" Jimin sobbed, shaking his head. "What do you want me to talk about?" He screamed and then broke down into tears anew. Tears oozed out of his flared eyes in rivulets. "How I feared that I would fail my own kid?"

Taehyung flinched at Jimin's words. His hands uselessly held onto Jimin, praying that they would berth in Jimin's turmoil, but fully aware of their limitations.

"I feared that I would end up failing my own kid but I even fell behind my own expectation of failure." Jimin sniffled feebly into Taehyung's chest. His voice was raw and muffled. "I couldn't even bring my baby into the world in the first place. I failed at the very onset. I couldn't even give him a peaceful death, Tae. Just see how cursed I am."

"Shh, please." Taehyung sobbed pitifully. "He must be hurting too from up above seeing you hurt like this."

Jimin shuddered bodily at that as fear crept up his spine. "He must hate me for doing this to him. Why shouldn't he—"

And Jeongguk's forehead stayed plastered against the door. His eyes remained shut, heart a pile of boulder and chest a mere cavity slowly collapsing on itself. Unmoving as he kept listening to Jimin's heart wrenching laments of sorrow.

"—Why shouldn't he?" Jimin was gasping out, hiccuping miserably. Taehyung's pleas all but fell on deaf ears. "What good have I ever brought to anyone? I'm cursed, Tae... I'm cursed... My Haneul didn't even get to die peacefully. He must have hurt so bad and I can't even remember."

Silent tears oozed out of Jeongguk's eyes.

"He must have hurt so bad, Tae!" Jimin sobbed pathetically. Wailing and thrashing, unable to bear it any longer. "My baby had to hurt so bad, Taehyung. I did that to him."

"I-I did that to him?” Jimin breathed out raggedly, his hands shaking in terror as the weight of his own words came crashing over him. “I did that to him… Tae… What have I done, oh my God–"

“Jimin! Jimin, no no no…” Taehyung tried, scrambling to contain Jimin somehow. Jimin was in full blown panic now, flailing frantically, as his face drained of all the colour.

“Oh my God–Oh my God–What have I done?!”

The voices dwindled slowly as Taehyung accomplished to muffle Jimin’s heart wrenching sobs. Jimin was a hiccuping mess now, unrecognisable. His poor vocal cords abused and on the tethering edge of permanent attrition.

"Jeongguk." Namjoon called out, solemn. Standing in front of Jeongguk who had his forehead plastered to the bedroom door. Jimin’s stifled cries penetrating through the wood and piercing right through their hearts. Namjoon defeatedly tried to pull Jeongguk away from the door. "Don't do this to yourself."

But Jeongguk refused to budge.

"Let him vent." Namjoon urged, squeezing Jeongguk's shoulder. "Tae is helping him let it all out. We have to let him mourn."

Jeongguk glanced at him with bloodshot eyes. Tears running down his nose. He stayed fixed to the door, just breathing heavily, letting the cold surface numb his skin even more just as Jimin's wails of agony slowly cut through his benumbed heart.

Jeongguk stayed looming at the door until Jimin's subdued cries finally dwindled down to nothingness. Despite failing to move him, Namjoon's hand, however, never lifted from his shoulder. Jeongguk kept standing still as he heard Taehyung speak softly to Jimin. His forehead was numb now, his eyes barely capable of letting his festering wound pour out any suppuration.

And he didn't dare move even after Jimin's voice had deserted them yet again.

....

It was later that day that Jeongguk finally steeled himself and slowly pushed the door open. Jimin was curled up on the bed, hugging his knees to his chest. Body still racking with muffled sobs.

Jimin only wailed harder when Jeongguk laid down next to him and silently wrapped his arms around him. His piteous cries left Jeongguk's heart in tatters.

"Jiminie…" Jeongguk called, trying to turn him towards himself, kissing the back of his head when Jimin refused to move.

Jeongguk tightened his arms around him, buried his face in Jimin's neck and closed his eyes. "Why won't you look at me?"

He felt Jimin's body seize up ever so slightly so Jeongguk just nuzzled deeper. "You haven't looked at me the whole day. Not today. Not the day before. And not even the day before that. I can bear any punishment, Jimin, but not this."

"Please." Jeongguk beseeched. "Just please look at me."

Jimin muffled his sobs against the pillow. His battered body wound tight.

"I need my baby back." Jimin murmured. "Jeongguk… I need my baby back."

Jeongguk let out a choked cry.

Jimin turned towards him then, sitting up on his knees as he begged Jeongguk. "Please. Please, I beg you." Jimin sobbed softly, hanging on to Jeongguk's shirt. "I need my baby back, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk only cried as he held Jimin, inconsolable. Jimin thrashed, hitting him in the chest with weak hands, begging for mercy, begging for his lost child.

"J–Jeongguk, please, please…" Jimin wept, holding Jeongguk's hand and placing it over his chest. “What did I do to deserve this? It hurts." Jimin pleaded with him. "It hurts so bad… Please, give me my H–Haneul back."

Jimin kept imploring as he hugged Jeongguk tight. "I will be good to him this time. I will… I will be good, I promise. Please don't punish me like this. Please, it's killing me."

"You have always been good to him, Jiminie." Jeongguk murmured into his hair. "He was lucky to have been with you." At Jimin's heart wrenching cry of agony, Jeongguk corrected himself with a sad smile. "He is happy to have been with you. He is up there, looking down at you."

Jeongguk kept trying to soothe Jimin. Hissing every time Jimin hiccuped out those stuttering breaths. "He will always be with you. He hurts seeing you hurt like this.”

Jimin wailed pitifully as he looked at Jeongguk with inflamed eyes. Jeongguk cupped his face with both hands, wiping the tears away lovingly.

“Life and death is something beyond human reach. You conceived unknowingly. And you miscarried unknowingly.” Jeongguk murmured, bearing through Jimin’s heart wrenching shudders. “Haneul came to our lives when we weren’t ready to have him. And he left us when we were so prepared to welcome him. We were helpless in both the situations and had no power whatever against the will of fate.”

Jimin’s cries had now dwindled down considerably. He was looking up at Jeongguk, his own hands wrapped around those of Jeongguk.

“We have to say goodbye. As much as it hurts, I’m not ashamed to say that I feel relieved that you’re here with me. Have you considered for one moment what would have become of me if something had happened to you?”

Jeongguk hoped that Jimin listened to him. He poured his heart out to him, hoping, praying that Jimin would try to cope. Because that was all they could do. They could just grieve and cope.

….

Jeongguk slowly retracted back to his study. Left abandoned, it felt foreign. He sat himself down, mind reeling with the events of the day. Another week had passed since Jimin last spoke to him. Or to anyone. His heart felt like a mere clump of muscles, forcefully regurgitated and stuck in his throat, suffocating him from within.

That day Jihyun had come to the hill suite.

Jeongguk had just managed to get some breakfast into Jimin’s system, barely a foot out of the bedroom as he stood at the top of the staircase and stared down at the commotion. Jihyun's haunted eyes stared right back up at him.

Hoseok was desperately trying to calm the kid down. And so was Hyejin. Jeongguk stayed stunned for a long moment till Jihyun let out a loud sob. Jeongguk rushed down the stairs hurriedly then, he didn't waste another breath as he crossed the distance between them and hugged Jihyun to his chest.

"H-Hyung..." Jihyun wailed, clutching onto him for dear life. "Is it true–Is it true? Jimin hyung...” His eyes darted up towards the bedroom. “Where's Jiminie? T-The baby?"

Jeongguk held him tight and kissed his temple with trembling lips. He then looked down at Jihyun with bloodshot eyes as he shook his head no.

Jihyun gasped, trembling like a leaf. "H-Hyung..." His voice broke as he exhaled shakily. "Baby—Your baby—"

Jeongguk rested his chin on top of Jihyun's hair and closed his eyes shut. Tears escaped from the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry."

....

They wished upon a star. It blighted and crashed. And became the tears that oozed out of their eyes.

The ashes of the star burned its way down their face.

Pain, the lone testament of it having ever existed.

Pain, the only emotion they were rendered capable of feeling.

Jeongguk would let the tears fall whenever he could. Whenever he was alone. Whenever he didn't need to be strong. He would let the arid ashes slither down his face and he would contain them in the palm of his hand, would kiss them even, for they were the very testament of his loss. They were precious, for they were what was left of his child.

Jimin…

Jimin wouldn't let them out, however. If it meant that a part of his defunct star stayed with him then he would keep holding on to them for as long as his heart beat. Would let the embers set ablaze the insides of his eyelids. Jimin would keep holding on to them for they were all what was left of his child.

....

The taxi driver who crashed into him passed away.

Jimin kept sitting in one of the guest rooms. Sitting and watching the news report. His head rested back against the headrest of the recliner. The room was dimly lit. The curtains stood heavy and stood fast, not letting even a sliver of the sunlight through. Jimin just rested back, hands neatly placed on the arms of the chair, face stoic, eyes hooded and lips sealed shut. And he kept watching the television, unblinking.

The man, a forty-four year old taxi driver, had died in the early hours of the morning. The accident had put him in a coma. He had then briefly gained some lucidity, only to get worse. And then three days ago, they had to put him on a ventilator, already brain dead. Today, in the wee hours of the morning, he passed away. Leaving behind a heartbroken wife and two wailing kids.

Jimin watched. The light from the screen illuminated his hard set face. His black, uneven hair pushed back from his still bruised forehead.

The police and detectives had investigated thoroughly. Jeongguk had personally made it his mission to reach the very core of the accident and punish. After a whole month of toiling and gathering all the evidence, purposeful assault was overruled. The man was just a taxi driver, barely able to make both his ends meet with the meagre amount of money he made all his life from driving a taxi. No alcohol. No drugs. They found nothing on him. However the police had unearthed the many complaints over the last four years that he had put on record about the weary breaks of his taxi.

Jimin clenched his jaw as the detective in charge read the final report live on the television. A dozen microphones set up on the table in front of him. Cameras flashing on his face unrelentingly. He was going on about having started a tough investigation about the concerned taxi service company.

"This tragic mishap could have been avoided, had the company done its job and been vigilant. If they had taken the complaints about weary breaks seriously and acted upon it with responsibility, Mr. Jeon and Jimin-ssi wouldn't have lost their baby."

Jimin inhaled deeply. His body refused to move a single muscle. His jaw set tight.

The detective ended the interview and then the screen jumped to the tear soaked face of the passed man's wife. She looked more scared than grief torn, hugging her twelve year old son and nine year old daughter to her chest.

"He was a good man." The woman cried, shaking her head vehemently. "I swear on the lives of both my kids—" She sobbed pitifully, voice breaking. "He didn't do it on purpose. He could never hurt anyone."

The woman, whimpering and clutching onto her children, was hoping for something she would never get from the media.

Mercy.

Mercy to be left alone.

Her cries were falling on deaf ears. It would only bring her more harm, Jimin thought to himself. He knew how the media worked. He knew how the woman had fallen right into their trap.

The media were foreseeably ruthless. Caging this poor woman, stopping her in her tracks, not letting her through to be able to see her dead husband's face for the last time.

"Mr. Jeon most probably will press charges." One of the reporters said, others pushing the mics into the woman's pale face. "He's the most powerful man of the country and because of your husband he lost his unborn child. Do you want to appeal to him?"

"Yes, do you have anything to say to Mr. Jeon and Jimin-ssi?"

“What was your husband’s motive behind this? Did you know he was going to crash into Jimin-ssi’s car?”

The woman's chin wobbled. Her children clutching onto her miserably, trying to hide their faces from the camera. She looked into the camera and Jimin's heart trembled.

"I'm so terribly sorry for your loss." She said, tears running down her face. "I can understand your pain—of losing a child..." She said and her face broke into a sad expression. "My children are orphans now. They lost their father. Both our families lost our loved ones, but I promise that my husband... my late husband could never do it on purpose. He never cheated. It shamed my children to mention in the class that their father—was a taxi driver—but he strived hard to earn fair money. I beg you to spare us. Please have mercy, Mr. Jeon..." She was now shaking with long racking sobs. "I don't know how I'm going to bring these kids up without him—"

Jimin shut his eyes and breathed heavily and then reached for the remote and muted the television.

The media was trying hard to reach Jimin. So cruel of them to expect a statement from him. A statement concerning what... The loss of his child? Addressing how hollow he was feeling? How taxing it had become to pass the whole day? To live? How he couldn't even look at Jeongguk's face without wondering if his son looked like him? If he had the same nose? Jimin didn't even get to see his baby. Was he supposed to put that too in his statement?

"The fans want to know."

"The fans are concerned. They want to know how Jimin-ssi is coping up with the loss."

They always used this passable excuse. The fans wanted to know. No. The fans were begging these scavengers to just leave it alone. To not milk this tragedy for TRP and views. But these lowlifes still abashedly demanded an answer. When they couldn't reach Jimin, they went after the people related to him. His friends. They mobbed Taehyung the other day just outside of his own building.

Jimin screwed his eyes shut, unwilling to envision the scene. He shouldn't be even watching the news, he knew that. Jeongguk had taken the television off the wall mount of their room for a reason. It was a glaring mistake, for when Jimin turned his gaze back towards the muted screen and was met with the face of his father.

Jimin wasn't even minutely surprised to see that Hyunbin had agreed for an interview. Of course, he did. Jimin unmuted the tv and placed the remote back on the coffee table and rested back. This was going to be the first time that he would get to see how his father acknowledged his loss.

Jimin watched as Hyunbin heaved a deep sigh into the microphone. Eyes shut. He was dressed well for the interview. In his dark grey three piece suit. The one he always saved for something bigger as he would always say. Jimin smiled faintly. This was his father's big event.

"The day I heard about the appalling tragedy, I remember I was having tea with my wife." Hyunbin cleared his throat, his eyes seemingly distant as if he was reminiscing. "Suddenly it felt like we had sipped on poison. It's so devastating, hearing that your son has been in an accident and lost his baby—" Hyunbin shook his head, sighing as he looked up at the ceiling, "...hearing that my grandson had passed, I don't think there's a bigger loss in this world."

Jimin blinked slowly. Eyes staring and staring.

"The taxi driver passed away this morning." The interviewer prompted. "How do you feel about it?"

Hyunbin sighed. "Karma? I don't know. He took the most precious life away from us and I can't bring myself to forgive him. I don't think I ever will. He passed away but he murdered my grandson. Murdered my son's heart so brutally."

Jimin could barely breathe now, eyes straining with ache as he forgot to even blink.

"Jimin-ssi must be so traumatised. We have been trying to reach him and give our condolences—"

Hyunbin nodded his head vehemently. "He's mourning so he can't really... He's not in a condition to talk. We are giving him all the love and support he needs but then still he will need time to come out of this."

"Mr. Park, we really are sorry about your loss. The whole nation was so excited after learning about the pregnancy. Our hearts are torn to pieces and we just wish it could be undone."

Hyunbin pursed his lips. "I keep thinking about it too. Could we have stopped this from happening?" He shrugged and rubbed his hands. "I, as his father, always gave him advice that I deemed good for his sake. It's sad, you know, I had told him to stay away from dancing for a while."

It made Jimin sick to his stomach how quickly the interviewer perked up upon hearing it.

"Oh." The interviewer frowned and it looked so awfully fake that Jimin wanted to break the television down to a million pieces. "Jimin-ssi was going to the studio that day."

Hyunbin looked away with a defeated look on his face. Jimin knew what he was going to say. He just knew it, he felt it.

"Don't..." Jimin's chin wobbled.

He clutched hard on to the leather of the armrest, his nails digging in, stomach in knots. He knew what Hyunbin was going to say, he just didn't want to hear it from him but he couldn't stop. He couldn't bring himself to turn off the television because deep down he had thought about it too. Deep down he silently believed it too.

"If he had just listened to my advice, maybe that precious little life would still be growing in his belly today."

And just at that moment, Jimin's belly clenched and ached. He felt like he had been hit with a lightning strike. All the air pushed out of his lungs and he bent forward, his arm coming down to rest across his torso, legs adducting to shrink himself for comfort. He raised his head slowly, teary eyes fixing back at Hyunbin's indifferent face.

"He was always too stubborn to look past himself. I agree that his career was rightfully his first priority but then what could be more important than the wellbeing of your own child?” Hyunbin sighed, so unbearably fake, all his emotions so phoney that even a stranger would point it out in a heartbeat. “But alas. All we can do now is mourn."

“Jiminie?”

Jimin winced, swollen eyes burning with the onslaught of gleaming brightness filtering in as Jeongguk turned the lights on. Jimin had lost the track of time, the tv was playing static now, and exhaustion from crying had lulled Jimin into a restless sleep.

Jeongguk turned the tv off, eyebrows set in a permanent frown; probably wondering what was Jimin watching, as he approached him.

“Baby, what are you doing here?” He whispered, settling on his knees in front of the recliner. He lovingly combed through Jimin’s hair with his fingers. Soft eyes searching Jimin’s face for any clue of the situation.

Jimin allowed himself to show Jeongguk some mercy and smile. The smile never reached his eyes and his eyes were straining with pain. His head was throbbing as a deep ache settled in.

“What were you watching? You have been crying, haven’t you?”

“Jeongguk, please.” Jimin sighed. “You don’t allow me to do anything anymore. Is this my punishment?” He breathed the last part out.

“What do you mean?” Jeongguk murmured. His hand slipped away before he gained his bearings and rested both his hands on Jimin’s knees.

“Nothing.” Jimin sighed. “I was just watching and I fell asleep.” He fumbled around with his fingers out of nervousness, head hanging low. Jimin then reached out and held the sleeves of Jeongguk’s dress shirt. Smoothing out the wrinkles, doing and undoing the button. “Am I still asleep, Jeongguk?” He let out a soft sob, lips quivering. “Tell me that this is just a bad dream. Wake me up from this nightmare.”

Jeongguk wrapped his arms around Jimin in a tight embrace. “You are not alone in this nightmare.” He reassured as tears fell down his hollowed out cheeks. “We will survive this, Jimin. We have to do all that we can to cope. Yeah?” He kissed Jimin’s hair, breathing in shakily. “Just tell me what you want from me and I will do it. Whatever helps you to cope. You are not alone in this.”

If only Jimin knew what it would take to cope. To make peace with the pain. To keep his head afloat. For now he was simply drowning as he let his own malignant thoughts fester.

….

Claustrophobic.

That was a term Jimin had never imagined he would one day come to associate with Jeongguk.  A month or so had already passed since Jimin lost the baby; maybe more than a month, Jimin could not tell anymore. The days bled into nights and the nights still morphed into days and yet the woe never lessened. His  heart was left mangled and cursed, a pity imitation of his womb, incapable of showing mercy to himself.

Or to Jeongguk.  

And Jeongguk was trying. Every single day. And it broke Jimin’s poor heart. For it wasn’t just Jimin who had lost, the baby was just as much Jeongguk’s. Yet no one was consoling him as they were Jimin. Instead it only looked like everyone was walking on eggshells around him. Which only proved to be a cruel testament of the passing of his unborn child. And it undeniably made it harder for Jimin to heal.

The constant codling. The way everyone was rushing to envelope their arms around him as if he would shatter to pieces at any moment. The way it was expected of Jeongguk to ‘suck it up’ and be the responsible one and the sensible one at the expense of his own prerogative to grieve just made Jimin’s skin crawl with the feeling of downright shame.

Suddenly it didn’t seem to Jimin that they were in a loving partnership. Jimin felt like he was something akin to a parasite who was slowly sucking the life out of Jeongguk. And it was stifling. Back when they came to know about Jimin’s pregnancy, when he was trying to accept the fact that a child was on its way to change their lives forever, it was Jimin who was immersed in self doubt. Not Jeongguk. Jeongguk would have always turned out to be a great father.

However, the man who would be the perfect father, who probably always dreamt of having a child, was forced to cripple his happiness down. He was forced to provide Jimin with the option to let the foetus go.

Why was it always Jeongguk who always found himself to get the short end of the stick despite being the most accommodating and the most benevolent one? If anything, Jimin should feel ashamed to ever be in the presence of Jeongguk, rather than being the one who dared to feel claustrophobic in Jeongguk’s presence.

….

Detached.

Jeongguk wouldn't use that term to describe Jimin's conduct.

Jimin talked when he was talked to. He moved about and occupied space. They ate together and they went to bed together.

Detachment wouldn't elucidate Jimin's conduct. No. Jimin was aware of everything. Of his loss. Of himself. Of the people inhabiting the same space as him. He didn't detach, no. He was fading away.

Jimin was slowly fading away. There was a stark lack of Jimin from Jimin. Jimin was there but everything that made him Jimin was slowly fading away.

Yes, they would still eat together but Jimin never ate like he used to. His mannerisms were all gone. He wouldn't prop a knee up and get comfortable on the unyielding furniture. He wouldn't refuse to eat when Hyejin flooded his plate with more food. He just resumed eating and then asked Jeongguk about his day.

Jeongguk would barely get any food past the lump in his throat. In a way, Jeongguk realised that he had completely lost his Jimin.

He had felt thankful that they didn't get to work on the nursery. He had felt relieved knowing that there wasn't a place in their house which would become the memorial of their misery. But did Jimin really need any of that to be reminded of his loss when his own body was a walking admonition of it?

Jeongguk found him staring at his ultrasound scans one morning. Jimin had neatly arranged all those grainy sonograms into order on the table in front of him, while he reread all his old reports.

Jeongguk wondered how many times a heart could bear to break before it refused to beat altogether.

Jeongguk silently settled next to Jimin on the couch and wrapped his arms around him. And Jimin silently put the reports back down.

Jeongguk let his eyes fall shut as he inhaled deeply into Jimin's freshly washed hair. "Stop hurting yourself."

Jimin just stayed in his arms and closed his eyes as he rested his head against Jeongguk's chin. "I miss him."

Jeongguk's lips trembled as he choked out. "Me too."

"I would be entering my seventh month today if—"

"Shh." Jeongguk hushed him quickly. A deep frown settled between his brows. "You weren't supposed to, Jimin. This was written in our fate and we couldn't have stalled it."

Jimin stayed silent for a long moment at that. And then turned around slowly to look up into Jeongguk's eyes. "I wish I had aborted him when you were asking me to."

Jeongguk hissed at that. His arms tightened around Jimin's frail body.

"Everyone tells me that my baby wasn't supposed to come into our lives." Jimin continued nonetheless in a soft, steady voice; eyes slowly growing distant. "If he really had to go anyway, I wish I listened to you back then. He wasn't even a baby that time, like you said. He wouldn't have felt anything."

"He didn't feel anything." Jeongguk gritted out. He pulled Jimin even closer, staring into his eyes with a sharp gaze. "You hear me? He didn't feel a thing."

The only person who ever actually felt physical and spiritual pain was Jimin. Jeongguk was the baby's father too but all he did was contribute one cell while Jimin's entire body bonded with the baby and nourished him for all the months. Scrapped his own bones from within to provide the necessary minerals to him. Felt him; went to sleep with him and woke up with him; witnessed the baby's life swelling and thriving for months. Only for it to be suddenly wrenched away from him.

Jimin smiled a cruel little smile at that. And Jeongguk knew that smile all too well. He had loved Jimin for years before marrying him. He had watched him and admired him. Kissed the stages his precious feet had ever graced. He knew Jimin inside out and he knew that cruel little smile. Alas the only thing about Jimin that Jeongguk loathed to death. Piercing eyes and the lifting of one corner of his mouth, impersonating a smile and yet belittling himself. Shame was all that Jeongguk could see in Jimin’s eyes.

Jeongguk tilted his head a bit, eyes narrowing. “His passing had nothing to do with you, Jimin.” He said, searching Jimin’s face for a change of expression. Yet the shamefaced smile never vanished.

And then it dawned upon Jeongguk and struck him like a lightning bolt. All this time. That all this time Jimin had been holding himself responsible for what happened. Jeongguk cupped Jimin's face tenderly and kissed his forehead with trembling lips. "It was just you, Jiminie, who felt the pain. He didn't feel anything."

"I don't know." Jimin whispered. "I can't remember."

Jeongguk breathed heavily against Jimin's forehead. His hands clutching onto Jimin in sheer bouts of desperation.

"It was quick, Jimin. The impact detached the cord in an instant. He couldn't have felt anything."

Jimin nodded anyway as he rested his head into the crook of Jeongguk's neck. "I should have aborted him back then." He murmured, eyes faraway, still holding onto Jeongguk with weak hands. "You gave me a choice and I decided to keep him. And then couldn't even keep him."

....

"No matter how much I tell him, nothing is going through to him. As if he’s sealed behind a wall.” Taehyung winced. “He is holding this… this violent grudge against his own self–“ he was frantic as he flayed his hands around “–no matter what I tell him he thinks I’m lying to him out of pity.”

Hoseok lifted his head up to peep a look at Taehyung’s frustrated expression, who was pacing, grunting and cursing.

"He's blaming himself for everything.” Jeongguk sighed as he poured himself another glass of whiskey. He winced as he drowned it all in a single sip. “He’s now blaming himself for not aborting the baby early on.”

Taehyung trudged up to the bar area of the living room. And poured a glass for himself from the decanter. “It’s like every single day he is making up new excuses to put himself into some more misery. This overthinking will kill him and we can do nothing about it because he has built this godawful impenetrable wall and nothing we say ever reaches him!”

“Maybe he shouldn’t have any free time to think at all.” Hoseok said out loud and immediately the other two turned back to look at him, their hands holding their respective glasses suspended midair.

“I mean he’s able to think too much and not move on because he’s at home all day.” Hoseok continued as the two urged him to go on.

“What if he starts dancing again?” Taehyung murmured, a hopeful glint in his eyes. He looked at the two excitedly, “What if he goes back to the studio and starts working on a project. It will definitely take his mind off the things and make it easier for him to cope.”

Hoseok swallowed thickly at that, averting his gaze. “Tae, are you sure about dancing though? He did get into the accident while going to the studio in the first place. What if it only triggers him and worsens his state?”

“But there is not any other thing in the world apart from dancing that Jimin is so passionate about.” Taehyung retorted back. “And he can start here in his own mini studio.” He continued as he now was looking at  Jeongguk for approval. “At least we should get him back to dancing somehow. Going back to studio can wait till he has healed a bit.”

“You’re right.” Jeongguk finally said, putting his now empty glass back down. “He doesn’t want me to stay back. He doesn’t want pity. If I’m going back to work and doing what is to be done, then it doesn’t make sense that Jimin should just sit back and suffer in silence. I always find him watching those pathetic news channels yapping about the miscarriage still. God knows what kind of information he consumes every single day.”

"I want to talk to Jimin." Hoseok urged. “Maybe I can… Maybe I can…” He heaved a deep sigh as he hugged his shoulders tight.

"Hobi hyung…" Taehyung called gingerly. "Are you sure?"

Hoseok nodded, but even still Taehyung felt conflicted. He knew Hoseok was blaming himself too. He didn't know what was gonna happen but he sure as hell knew that both Jimin and Hoseok were very vulnerable at the moment.

"Please, Tae." Hoseok urged as Taehyung tried to reason with him. "Please, Jeongguk." He beseeched, turning towards Jeongguk then.

Jeongguk chewed on his lip, considering for a long moment, before nodding his head.

….

For two whole months Hoseok never dared to face Jimin alone once. Now as he was standing in the doorway of Jimin’s room, his knees felt weak and unsteady. Sweat was collecting on his forehead and the back of his neck was tingling with discomfort.

“Jiminie?” He called out. Cautiously.

“Hyung?” Jimin turned around to look at him. The twilight sky casting shadows on his lifeless face.

Hoseok took in a deep breath, heat pulsing through his veins as he finally took a step in.

“I… I wanted to talk… with you.”

“Sure, hyung.” Jimin said. Face devoid of any emotion. Drained of colour too. Jimin got up from where he was sitting on the edge of his bed and motioned Hoseok towards the couch. Hoseok sat down nervously, as Jimin looked at him expectantly.

“Jimin.” He began. “It’s been two months. You can’t stay holed up in your room forever.”

Jimin blinked at him, ever so slowly. But he didn’t say anything. Hoseok swallowed thickly, clearing his throat.

“You need to get back to your life now–”

“And do what?” Jimin murmured, more to himself than to Hoseok.

“Get back to your life, Jiminie.” Hoseok pleaded, placing a hand tenderly on Jimin’s knee. “You have an entire lifetime left to live with Jeongguk.”

“Hobi hyung.” Jimin sniffled softly. “It feels like there’s nothing left for me to get back to anymore.”

Hoseok pressed his lips together in a thin line. His throat was burning with the excruciating words lodged in it. He muttered up the courage then, as he allowed himself to look– really look –at Jimin. Frail, helpless, hopeless, lost.

“Jimin-ah…” He began. “Wouldn’t you ever forgive your hyung for causing you to lose your baby?”

Despondent tears were now running down Hoseok’s face in rivulets. Jimin gasped bodily as he turned to look at Hoseok.

“H-Hyung…” Jimin inhaled sharply. Eyes wide and hurt.

“We all know that I’m the one to blame.” Hoseok wept miserably. “Why did I call you that day, Jimin? Why didn’t I check your schedule?”

“Hyung, please… Don’t say that.” Jimin broke down, frantic as he scrambled to grab onto Hoseok.

“How do I even make it up to you, Jiminie? How can I ever compensate you for taking your child away from you?”

Jimin placed a hand on Hoseok’s mouth, forbidding him to say anything anymore. He bawled, screams of agony tearing up from his raw throat. “It’s not your fault.” Jimin shook his head vehemently.

Hoseok writhed helplessly in Jimin’s clasp.

“Hobi hyung, how can you even blame yourself for it?” Jimin cried. “It was me, hyung. I made the active decision of showing up to the studio. So don’t blame yourself for something you had no knowledge of.”

“But you didn’t know either!” Hoseok cried out, shaking out of Jimin’s grasp. “You didn’t know either so why are you holding yourself responsible?!”

Jimin whimpered, closing his eyes shut as hot tears cascaded down his cheeks.

“Show some mercy to yourself, please.” Hoseok murmured, heart-crushingly gentle as he curled his fingers around Jimin’s hands. His voice raw, laced with undisguised shame and frustration.

“Jiminie… Please, please look at me.” Hoseok bemoaned, his chin trembling with the incursion of fresh tears. “You deserve mercy.”

Jimin winced and then broke down into a frantic wailing fit. Hoseok just held him close, letting him cry his heart out.

“Shh.” Hoseok soothed, smoothing a hand down Jimin’s hair, caressing his head carefully. “Please forgive me. If only I could turn the clock back, I’d do anything… I’d give anything for all this to go away.”

They sat there in silence, holding on to each other. The sheer weight of Hoseok’s words weighing heavily on Jimin’s broken shoulders. His hyung was truly unrecognisable. Long gone was the Jung Hoseok who commanded attention wherever he went. The mentor who helped Jimin steer his career onto the right path. Replaced by this shell of a person who couldn’t even look Jimin in the eyes.

“Jimin.” Hoseok said brokenly. “If you could find it in your heart to forgive me then please go back to dancing. That’s the only way you can steer your life back on the right path.” Hoseok pleaded vehemently.

And Jimin couldn’t say anything. Hoseok was someone who encouraged Jimin when he was at his lowest. He was the one who recruited Jimin in his group and academy. He saw Jimin’s potential and had always been the steady rock Jimin could rely on. This man sitting next to him was frail and scared. And Jimin hated to see his hyung like that.

“Just try.” Hoseok begged, eyes hopeful. “Please Jiminie. Just try. We are all here to hold your hand through it. Take all the time you need, but please just think about it.”

Hoseok continued as Jimin just got lost in his thoughts. “You asked Jeongguk to go back to work. Isn’t it only right that you do the same?”

When Jimin still didn’t speak, Hoseok took in a deep breath. He placed a firm hand on Jimin’s knee. “Give peace a chance, Jiminie. Go back to your passion otherwise life will become too hard to live. Jeongguk deserves an easy life with you too.”

….

Jimin laid restlessly in the bed. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale ghostly light through the thin curtains. The humid summer nights prickling his skin with discomfort despite the air conditioning. Besides him Jeongguk was lost to a fitful slumber. His chest rising and falling in a cacophony of unease. He looked like he had aged beyond his years, like he was carrying a burden far too greater for his body to cope with. And Jimin watched him even as the night sky casted horrid shadows around him. The shadows crept and stretched across the walls, grotesque and ever shifting, like fingers reaching out to snatch him from the edges of sleep. 

Sleep. That never came. He tossed and turned and closed his eyes shut. His surroundings were eerily quiet and yet the blizzard inside of him was only rising. Another hour had slipped by, lost to the relentless tide of his inner turmoil. The night outside was quiet, peaceful even, in stark contrast to the storm raging within him. His mind kept racing, his own thoughts becoming his biggest enemy.

“Jeongguk deserves an easy life with you too.”

Jimin turned to face Jeongguk yet again whose face was relaxed now, presumably gotten rid of the nightmare that was feeding off of him for the past hour or so. He looked like he really needed that sleep.

The moon cast shifting shadows on his face, his features alternating between illuminating clarity and obscured shadows as the clouds veiled the moon. Perhaps that was what Jimin’s existence had eventually morphed into, a veil of sadness that wouldn’t let up. He was taking everything away from Jeongguk, bit by bit. Despite the horrors he had been plunged into over the span of two months, the only thing that absolutely petrified Jimin was the thought that he had unwittingly brought something sinister into Jeongguk’s life.

As he pondered on and on over the course of last week or so about the advice Hoseok had given him, he did truly believe that Jeongguk indeed deserved an easy life. But whether with Jimin or without him, Jimin couldn’t tell anymore.

But shouldn’t Jimin just try to salvage his relationship with Jeongguk? Jimin thought to himself as a deep frown marred his face.

Jimin glanced back at Jeongguk, trying to steer his own thoughts. Jeongguk did deserve to live an easy life. Hell, he had worked hard intently all those years to uphold the empire his father had entrusted him with. How could Jimin meddle with his career? Over the span of past couple of months Jeongguk had wilfully let go of certain business deals. He didn’t want to leave Jimin alone. And Jeongguk would keep gaining loses as long as Jimin stayed cooped up in the penthouse.

Jimin slowly sat up then, heart galloping inside his caving chest as he slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed. His feet hit the cold floor, a small relief in the stifling heat that had consumed his insides. He stood up and walked to the door, he turned to look at Jeongguk again before turning the knob as silently as he could and disappearing down the stairs.

….

Jimin forced himself to exhale. 

The burning sensation of keeping the oxygen restrained weighing his lungs down, sending jitters up and down his spine. His chest was heaving now with each forced, panicked breath that he took… and with each breath he felt so morbidly heady. He must have looked unhinged too; past midnight, sweat dripping down his sideburns despite the air conditioning, whilst goosebumps erupted all over his skin. There, as pale moonlight drifted shallowly around him, Jimin stood in front of the large studio door.

He shuddered bodily, unable to fathom this irrational fear–this foreboding feeling of doom, that he felt standing there. Jimin knew that he was trapped in a bad headspace, losing the baby in such a tragic situation where he could not even say goodbye to him, and everything that spiralled down ever since had surely taken a toll on him. But this irrational fear of entering into the studio paralysed him into an unmoving heap of nerves.

His mind was reeling, thoughts rampantly flowing through him; thoughts that had lurked deep within him for the past two months; thoughts that spoke to him in wicked undertones; thoughts that he didn’t dare naming or acknowledging.

Jimin steeled himself for a long moment, reigning in those rogue thoughts, before finally pushing the door open. The weight of the door felt heavier tonight, or was it that the strength had left his body altogether?

The studio was shrouded in strange shadows, its once bright facade now dulled by months of bitter neglect. As his eyes darted around the space, an unyielding lump lodged itself in Jimin’s throat, messing with the way he breathed, the way his heart pumped the blood through his veins. And yet with a bated breath Jimin finally dared to step in.

His body was still trembling violently out of this very emotion that he did not want to reckon, his footsteps echoed ominously as he crossed the threshold, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence that clung to the room like a shroud of mourning. He didn’t dare turn on the lights, fearing his own reflection in the tall mirrors, fearing that he might see what haunts him the most.

The polished wood floor, the mirrored walls, the ballet bars–everything was as he had left it, yet everything had changed. 

Forever.

His own body felt foreign to him now, a mere vessel of pain and loss. The mirrors lining the walls of the studio reflected eerie, fractured images of his past. The images of him dancing merrily, his pregnant belly framing his lithe body, the laughter, the promise of a fruitful future. Everything was in shambles now. The silence was unnerving, filled with the whispers of forgotten memories and lost aspirations.

Jimin let out a choked sob the moment his hand touched the ballet bar, he instantly pulled his hand back with a sharp whimper as if it were burned. His senses were heightened and he dared to ask himself.

What are you doing here? What did you come here for?

I want to go back. Jimin pleaded. Tears ran down his face unbound and unabashed. Take me back for I am lost.

You are lost? Or did you lose?

“I lost. I lost everything.” Jimin sobbed as he touched the bar again with trembling hands. Jimin slithered down to the floor in agony. His hands still holding onto the bar above, head hung low as tears of despair fell down to the ground.

What did you come here for?

Why are you here now?

“I can’t bear it.” Jimin wailed. His hands lost the strength and let go. Jimin, a snivelling mess, so unalike the resilient man he used to be. Or was he really ever that? Wasn’t this always the real him? Hiding behind the mask of courage and resilience. Hiding behind the fear of failure. Hiding. Always hiding. Could he hide from the brutal death of his own child now?

Jimin winced. A sudden sharp phantom pain spreading across his belly, knocking the air out of his chest. He gasped, clutching his belly with weak hands.

He wept for what seemed like hours. He wept for what had become of him. What a wretched lore was become of his life. A desolate boneyard. A forlorn abode; barren and destitute.

“Jeongguk deserves an easy life with you too.”

Hoseok’s words rang in his ears, shaking him out of the trance. Jimin hiccuped, wiping away the wetness from his face. He needed to get back to his life so that Jeongguk could start living again. He couldn’t bear witness to Jeongguk’s downfall, well aware that it was him who  laid the foundation of doom for Jeongguk.

Jimin got up then. Bracing himself, he dared.

The moonlight drifted in and out through the windows and Jimin finally dared to look at himself. There… the mirror reflected a man he scarcely recognised. And yet Jimin dared.

He dared as he moved to the position at the centre of the studio. Jimin closed his eyes, his feet taking the first position on command; heels firm on the ground touching each other while his feet faced outwards.

“Entrust your life to your art and you will never be estranged.” Ms Lee’s words reverberated at the back of his head and Jimin nodded.

I need to get back before it’s too late.

With a levelled exhale, Jimin dropped to a plié. His knees bending deeply as his arms extended to the side. An imaginary tune thrummed in his ears, rising and falling and Jimin tried to focus on this tune. A happy tune which slowly transitioned into one of longing. The violin emanating a poignant melody, rushing through Jimin’s body in a bout of frenzy. Jimin clenched his eyes shut, trying not to lose focus as he rose from the plié and transitioned into a tendu; keeping the toes of his right foot pointed he moved it about in a semi-circle, his left leg holding his weight.

Jimin suddenly noted with a crushing disclosure that he was lighter now. He choked on a breath as the thought plagued him. Of course he felt lighter, he had lost a lot of weight. Jimin let out a quiet sob… He had lost the weight of his baby.

His pointing leg trembled, threatening to lose position. Jimin reeled his body in, forcing control on his limbs which was so unnatural to him. Jimin was used to letting go. His dance always flowed like a river. Graceful and almost self-executing. But right now he was stiff and inflexible as he tried to control and perfect his every little movement.

Jimin continued with his eyes closed, he was breathing in a controlled manner now, still jittery but pragmatic. With another exhale he shifted his right leg up in a battement, arms extending back in deep longing as the violins continued on. However, as the melody steadily rose to a crescendo, so did the demeaning thoughts.

Wasn’t this what you wanted? To dance without the extra weight weighing you down?

The voice mocked and Jimin staggered on his feet as he had just began moving in a pirouette. Jimin halted, the music in his head dwindled down and his eyes flew open. He looked around him in alarm. The staleness of the room looked back at him in scorn.

Jimin swallowed thickly before starting the segment all over again. Forlorn violins began playing anew. From the first position to the plié, to a tendu, extending his right leg up then before tucking it into a passé. Jimin heaved, sweat running down his temples and beading at his forehead. He continued on a single leg while the other leg was folded against his thigh, the music rose to a crescendo as Jimin  spotted his head at each turn, eyes opening and fixing on a point in the mirror to maintain his balance. He continued on, the lack of shoes sending waves of excruciating pain through his toes. And then Jimin’s eyes strayed for a moment.

His dark hair was in a disarray. T-shirt drenched in sweat and clinging to his body. His face looked hauntingly hollow. His scrawny body was rigid like a rod as he took the turns, so unflattering and unnatural. His once lean and powerful body was now marked by the faint, lingering evidence of a loss too profound to articulate.

Do you not like what you see now? Childless and free. Fly now, Jimin. Didn’t you always want to fly?

Jimin gasped as a sudden deep debilitating pain rushed from within his belly and traveled down to his supporting foot, effectively knocking him down to the floor.

Jimin ceased. Lying on the floor, he panted heavily. Eyes dilated with each rush of adrenaline.

What?

Jimin gasped for each breath. His left foot was hurting really bad. Jimin sat up quickly, almost giving himself a whiplash. His throat was parching up, his ragged breaths ricocheting off the walls as Jimin looked down down at his foot with an accusatory glance.

It was the lack of shoes and stickers, he told himself. With a painful whimper, Jimin got up and walked to one of the cupboards. His left foot was hurting immensely but Jimin didn’t heed the pain. He grabbed one of his ballet shoes and hastily put them on before getting back in position.

Jimin closed his eyes, ready to start over.

This time he barely made it to the tendu. The moment he extended his right foot up, his left leg gave up, sending him crashing down.

Jimin panted heavily. His body was trembling with fear now. He got up again. Back to the position before reconsidering.

Maybe it was the lack of music, he told himself. It had very well been over two months now, he clearly was out of practice. However, Jimin didn’t let himself to dwell on the fact that he had been out of practice for longer in the past before and never failed to dance like this. He always picked from where he left off in a heartbeat. Ballet, after all was a second nature to him; deep rooted, ingrained, instinctual and visceral.

Jimin rushed to the other side of the studio. Heart pounding in his ears. He grabbed the remote with shaking hands, barely able to hold and operate the object without dropping it, and turned the music on.

The orchestral version of the piece he had been working on with Hoseok started playing. The very piece that he was producing for the seventy-first cultural heritage festival.

The one he did not get to perform in. Because of the baby.

“Stop!” Jimin seethed, covering his ears with both his hands in a feeble attempt to stop the voices. When he removed the hands, an amalgamation of piano and violin was playing away. Jimin grabbed a fistful of his hair. Desperation clawing at his guts, as he got back into position.

Jimin started the segment all over again. He was visibly agitated and frantic now. Equilibrium and poise having long evaporated off of him. His movements were flawed now–failing to extend his arms the way he ought to, like he was rushing every step just so he could reach and cross the segment of pirouette and jeté.

He was breathing harshly. Spinning around on one leg yet again. Stumbling but catching himself. His muscles were burning with exhaustion. And he finally leapt, attempting the jeté. Both his legs extended fully, as if he were weightless.

Weightless.

Weightless.

Jimin let out a choked cry. Tears sprung in his eyes, burning against the inside of his eyelids. The music enveloping him suddenly distorted as if the strings of the violin were brutally pulled out. The melody transitioned into the footsteps of the Grim Reaper, each note a step closer to him. The air around him grew colder, and he could almost feel the icy breath of death hovering over him mid-air.

Just as it had when he lost his baby.

Jimin crashed loudly the moment his right foot came in contact with the hardwood floor. Instead of flowing into a graceful fondu and continuing into an arabesque as was the choreography crafted by himself, Jimin lay in a shuddering, distorted bundle on the floor.

He heaved heavily as the haunting music twisted and contorted around him, transforming into a ghostly wail that seemed to seep into his very soul. The malignant thoughts clouded his mind yet again, unable to break free from the shackles of grief and misery. 

Jimin roughly removed the shoes and casted them aside. Maybe it was the worn out shoes, he tried to tell himself this time, as he strode to the cupboard yet again and retrieved another pair. But that didn’t save his face either. He found himself topple over and collapse yet again.

Jimin was a mess now. T-shirt thoroughly drenched in sweat. Chopped dark hair standing up in whichever way. Feet swollen and inflamed. So far removed from the graceful, beautiful dancer that he used to be. He threw this pair at the wall and dragged himself back to the cupboard.

“Please. Please just let me dance.” Jimin whispered out frantically as he grabbed a fresh pair of shoes, still stiff and unprepared. The rose pink pair was one of the many gifts from Jeongguk. Jimin wiped the building tears of frustration away as he sat down on the floor with the brand new pair of shoes and his sewing kit.

Ballet shoes were broken into as a ritual. A process meticulous and extremely personal for every dancer. It always used to calm Jimin’s nerves down before any performance, keeping him level headed and afloat. But now as he began preparing the pristine and stiff shoes, his trembling hands fumbled with the material. The music was rising to a crescendo anew, a debasing melody filling the studio.

He was being too rough with the shoes. Jimin knew that. He was being cruel. His heart hurt as he cut open the seams and broke the sole, bending the shank too far. As he began stitching around the tip of each shoe, the needle spilled multiple times out of his shaking hands, piercing his skin. Blood welled up from his fingertips and soaking into the fabric. The rose pink satin of the shoes gradually became streaked with red; his blood seeping into the expensive fabric and ruining it. Jimin’s hands shook, making his once meticulous work sloppy, but he still pushed through despite the numbing pain and the wetness threatening to fall from his eyes.

Few stray drops escaped from his eyes still, dropping on the shoes and mingling with his blood.

The shoes were a mess of crimson and pink the moment he was finally finished. Jimin pulled them on, the satin sticky against his skin. He stood, wobbling ever so slightly, and forced himself into position. He was uncertain now as he focused on the music still playing away.

Jimin waited patiently. He stood by, keeping his eyes closed as he allowed the music to end and then start over again. He was standing in first position, trying his hardest to unwind. Everything was perfect now, his position, his shoes, his posture, the music and the studio. He just had to dance.

Jimin levelled his breathing, inhaling deep.

“Listen to the music, Jimin. Feel it first. Think what you want to do with it.” Ms Lee said to him, solemn. She was circling around him, her heedful eyes scrutinising his every motion.

The music started, the sudden dramatic violin made his hair sit up. Jimin let the music consume him, he let the sadness pouring out of the strings agonise his heart. And then he started dancing. He didn’t follow through the choreography, he allowed his body to do what it wanted, he let it move however it deemed necessary to. Jimin just let himself go, he let the melody pour down on him in torrents.

“Your supporting leg should not be weak.” Ms Lee reminded him as he began to twirl. The shoes glimmered under the moonlight, crimson and pink, as Jimin rotated on one foot.

The music was flowing gracefully and Jimin moved his arms delicately. As delicately and cautiously as he would have held Haneul.

Jimin tilted his head up, eyes closed as tears of despair fell down from the corner of his eyes. His body soared through the air and he landed in intricate footwork and graceful spins, perfectly in time with the rhythm of the music.

“Could we have stopped this from happening?”

Hyunbin’s words pierced right through his aching heart. His words laced with a disguised venom and his eyes indifferent. He leered at Jimin, face contorting into disgust.

“You just have no shame, Jimin. What was the reason that your baby died?”

Jimin left out a choked cry, he screwed his eyes shut, trying to make his father go away. The music deformed and distorted, the violin was bring ripped apart.

Thud.

Thud.

Jimin shuddered as he kept twirling.

"This's what you gave me? This's supposed to be my first born?" Hyunbin slapped his mother right across the face. “Look at him being so shameless. Look at him dance so merrily after losing the baby.”

Jimin heaved. Eyes opening wide to allow himself to look at his surroundings. The studio was spinning around him, the mirrors were fogged up, he chanced a glance at one and saw the ghost of his pregnant belly bleeding.

Jimin shrieked, looking down at his stomach and finding himself twirl in a pool of blood. He was losing the baby. He was losing the baby and yet he could not stop spinning. He looked back up at the mirror and saw how horrendous his form was. He was just deluding himself. As Jimin looked back down at his foot, the blood was gone. And so was the baby. So was Haneul. Passed away because Jimin couldn’t stop himself from dancing.

"He was always too stubborn to look past himself. I agree that his career was rightfully his first priority but then what could be more important than the wellbeing of your own child?” Hyunbin tutted, shaking his head in disapproval.

Hyunbin turned to look at Jeongguk who was slumped over on his knees, tears of agony falling down his cheeks. In front of him lay the little casket that Jimin didn’t even get to see.

Jimin screamed.

He fell down so hard that he broke the nail of his toe. Fresh blood  was soaking the already tainted fabric of his shoes. His vision was blurry, the air around him charged with some malignant energy. Blood was all around him, blood seeped out from his jeans and onto the car seat. The pain of detachment of his baby tore through him from within, unlike any pain that he ever experienced. Jimin heaved as he rushed to the sink to wipe the blood off. Desperation lacing his actions. His vision somehow cleared and there was no blood. Jimin wasn’t even wearing jeans in the first place.

Jimin went back to the pool of blood in which he was dancing only to find that it was long gone. The little trail of blood was from his toes and the abused fingertips. It was all gone and he didn’t even get to say goodbye. His last words to Haneul were one of lie and deceit. He had told him that everything would be okay, that perhaps the accident was a dream. Jimin wept miserably as he got rid of the shoes and clutched them against his chest.

Jimin screamed as he remembered the helplessness he felt whilst stuck in the backseat of the car. He remembered the way he folded onto himself to protect his poor, poor baby, and how every fibre of hope was brutally ripped apart as he felt something ripping apart deep within him.

Jimin had screamed and cried for help. He had sobbed into broken shards of glass protruding against his skin. With every passing moment the steps of the Grim Reaper grew louder and louder and Jimin had begged him to take him instead. He had begged for Haneul to be spared.

Jimin fell to the floor in a gruesome mess of blood and tears. He was still clutching the shoes to his chest. His body shaking with the inconsolable pain. He knew what that feeling stabbing at his chest was all along. He couldn’t pretend anymore. It was never about the worn out shoes or the lack of music or being out of practice, after all.

He didn’t have it in him anymore. He couldn’t cope with the loss of his child. And he couldn’t bear to dance again.

Jimin wailed at his cruel fate. His art, for which he struggled all his life, for which he rebelled against his own parents, for which he gambled away his life and married  Jeongguk, had after all become a painful reminder of the innocent life that was stolen away from him.

So perhaps the Grim Reaper had already come to him too.

“A dancer dies twice — once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful.”