Seokjin's eagle eyes noticed the way Jimin shoved the food around the plate with his fork, not taking a single bite. From the looks of it, Jungkook seemed to notice it too. Seokjin didn't miss the concerned look in their maknae's eyes when Jimin announced he was feeling full and excused himself from their table.

Jungkook excused himself a second later and trailed off in the direction that Jimin did. Seokjin could tell something was up. If he was being honest, he had noticed the way Jimin behaved around food for a little while now but had decided not to overwhelm the younger by confronting him head on.

From the looks of it, Jimin seemed to be reverting back to his previous habits which were in no way good for him. He shoved the chopsticks that held a good amount of noodles in his mouth and finished it.

"Yoongi, Hobi. Clean up after you guys are done," said Seokjin as he stood from his seat and dumped his now empty bowl into the sink.

"Don't smile there. Your turn for the dishes will come too," Seokjin heard Yoongi grumble as he exited.

Seokjin suddenly became aware of raised voices as he stepped foot in the passageway, undoubtedly belonging to the two members that left the table early. As he advanced towards Jimin's room, their voices grew clear.

"...just care about you, that's all."

"I already told you I feel full. Stop forcing me to eat! Why don't you get it!? I can't eat. I am not hungry. I feel like puking if I try to eat."

"That's because you haven't eaten anything at all. Just have something. I'll get your food here for you if you want."

"I don't want to eat. Just shut up and get out! Leave me be!"

"Park Jimin," Seokjin scolded as he stepped into the member's room.

Two heads snapped in his direction. Seokjin didn't miss the flash of hurt in Jungkook's eyes nor did he miss the pain in Jimin's expression.

"Jungkook, why don't you join the boys downstairs? Help Yoongi and Hobi out in cleaning up."

Jungkook nodded mutely and left without a word.

"Tell hyung what's wrong and don't bother lying. I've lived with you long enough to know what's going on. But I want to hear it from you. Tell hyung."

Jimin stared at him for a few seconds before tears filled his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, shame evident in his tone.

Seokjin waited patiently.

"I know I promised to never . . . hurt myself like this again but it's so hard. When these voices inside me are s-so loud. It's so hard to n-not believe them."

Seokjin tugged the younger into his arms and gently cradled his head.

"Those voices convince me . . . I don't fit in. I j-just want to be . . . I want to look good enough. I never want to look the way I did before. So ch-chubby and ugly. Hyung, I don't —"

His voice trailed off and Seokjin could feel his tears. He knew the younger was bullied for his looks when they joined the group as a bunch of trainees and he still feels guilty for not being able to shield him from the hate.

"Do you remember when Jungkook received hate over his vocals and his looks? Remember when Jungkook started hitting the gym more, eating less? He believed he didn't sound good enough or didn't look good enough. Why did you interfere the minute you realised the reason behind his behaviour? Why didn't you let him believe what those voices told him about himself?" Seokjin asked and Jimin pulled away from the hug, eyes wide as they stared at him, as though he was unable to believe how Jin could even ask him that.

"He's — How could I? That kid is talented beyond words. He's gorgeous. How could I just let him fall prey to those lies? How could I let him believe those untruths? He's just— I can't even express it. But he couldn't see it. So I had to be his eyes."

"In the same way, you fail to see the Jimin we all see. Jimin-ah, what would I not give for us to swap souls for a minute just so you could see yourself through my eyes. What wouldn't I give to record my thoughts on our first meeting. You have such angelic looks, Jimin. But you're more than just good looks. Your personality radiates right through you. Your talent oozes through every pore of your skin. So before you listen to a couple of bitches that bark on social media or to those liars in your head, I want you to come to us."

Jimin's eyes welled up.

"We're here, ready to be your eyes for you. We're always ready to erase those voices and replace them with our own."

Jimin let out a sob and buried himself in Jin's chest. Seokjin rocked them gently. Once Jimin's crying subsided, he pulled away and gave a weak chuckle.

"Sorry for crying over you like a child."

"You're never too old to cry," Seokjin assured him.

A knock on the door caused them to turn their heads to see Jungkook standing there with a plate of food.

"I brought it for Jimin-hyung. He hasn't eaten since last night," the younger explained as though pleading Seokjin to get Jimin to eat.

"You're one stubborn ass mule, you know that?" Jimin commented.

"Learnt it from you," Jungkook shot back.

Seokjin chuckled then shifted his gaze to Jimin and the younger sensed the question before he asked it.

"I don't know if I'll be able to."

"Just a few bites. Not the entire dish," Seokjin pleaded, "Each bite you take, hyung will praise something about you like couples do in cheesy films."

Jimin blushed, "please don't. I'll take a few bites.

Seokjin laughed in response.

Jungkook smiled and handed over the plate to Jimin. Just as he made a move to exit . . .

"I'm sorry, Kookie. For what I said before."

"It's fine, hyung."

Seokjin smiled. They would be okay.

22 February, 2023
To be continued