Chapter 12
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Jimin stepped through the front door quietly, his hands trembling as he pushed it closed behind him.

The house was still, save for the faint ticking of the clock in the hallway.

He hoped, prayed, that he could make it to his room without being noticed. But the sharp click of heels on the marble floor shattered that hope.

"Where are you coming from, Jimin?" his mother's voice cut through the silence like a blade.

She stood at the foot of the staircase, her figure towering even in her petite frame.

She wore a pristine black suit, her hair slicked back, every inch of her screaming control and power. Her eyes, however, were piercing, sharp with disappointment.

Jimin froze, his heart sinking. "I-"

"You what?" she snapped, taking a step closer. "You think you can just come and go as you please? That you can disrespect this family and my reputation?"

"I wasn't doing anything wrong," Jimin mumbled, his voice barely audible.

"Speak up, boy," she demanded, her voice rising. "Where were you? Who were you with? Do you even think about how your actions reflect on this family?"

"I was with a friend," Jimin muttered, his shoulders curling in on themselves.

Her laugh was humorless, sharp. "A friend? Do you expect me to believe that? While I'm working to uphold the name of this family, you're out gallivanting like some aimless fool?"

The frustration, the guilt, the weight of everything he'd been carrying boiled over. "Maybe I'm not perfect like you want me to be!" he shouted, his voice trembling.

"Maybe I just needed space! Maybe I-"

The slap came without warning. His mother's hand struck his cheek with a force that left him reeling, his head snapping to the side.

The sting burned, but it was nothing compared to the humiliation that followed.

Jimin's father, seated in the corner of the living room with his newspaper and coffee, finally looked up.

His gaze was impassive, detached. "Apologize to your mother, Jimin," he said simply, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

The words hit Jimin like a thunderclap, reverberating through his chest with a force that made it hard to breathe.

His mother stood before him, her figure imposing even in the dim light of the kitchen.

Her voice, sharp and laced with venom, pierced the tense silence.

“Everything I do is for your good,” she hissed, her perfectly manicured nails digging into the polished countertop.

“Why can’t you see that? Why can’t you just fall in line? Without this family, without my name, without me, you’re nothing… nothing more than a pathetic little guy.”

Jimin’s fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as he forced himself not to crumble under her gaze.

The words sliced through him, cruel and deliberate, tearing at the fragile threads of self-worth he had left.

His breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling too quickly as he tried to keep the tears at bay.

“You don’t mean that,” he managed to whisper, though his voice trembled with uncertainty.

“Oh, don’t I?” she snapped, her tone colder now, more dismissive. “You think your little acts of rebellion go unnoticed? Sleeping out, neglecting your responsibilities, chasing some silly, meaningless interests—what do you think that says about you? About me?”

Jimin’s head dipped, his throat tightening painfully as her words settled into his mind like poison.

He hated how much power she held over him, how her approval—or lack of it—always felt like a noose around his neck.

“Look at me,” she demanded, her voice cutting through the thick silence. Slowly, reluctantly, Jimin raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed and glossy with unshed tears.

“I’ve built everything,” she continued, her words measured and unyielding.

“Your life, your opportunities, the air you breathe—I’ve given you that. And this is how you repay me? By acting like a failure? Like a… disappointment?”

Something inside Jimin snapped. The dam he’d tried so hard to keep intact began to crumble, and before he could stop himself, his voice broke through the silence, raw and trembling.

“I’m trying,” he choked out, his words catching in his throat. “I’m trying so hard, but it’s never enough for you, is it?”

His mother scoffed, her expression hardening. “Because trying isn’t enough, Jimin. Being enough is what matters. And right now, you’re far from it.”

Her words were the final blow. Jimin staggered back a step, his face crumpling as tears spilled down his cheeks.

Without another word, he turned and bolted from the room, his feet carrying him up the stairs to the sanctuary of his bedroom.

He slammed the door shut behind him, his breath hitching as he collapsed onto the floor clutching his knees to his chest as the sobs began to shake his body.

The tears came hard and fast, blurring his vision, soaking the sleeves of his sweater as he tried in vain to wipe them away.

His mother's words rang in his ears, each one sharper than the last. Her disappointment, her cold indifference to his pain-it was suffocating.

But it wasn't just her.

Kai's face flashed before his eyes, the look of confusion and hurt when Jimin had pulled away from his touch that morning.

He thought of the way Kai always looked at him, like he was the most important person in the world.

And then there was Jungkook. Jungkook, whose presence had felt like a whirlwind, thrilling and dangerous.

The rush of it all had been intoxicating, but the aftermath was devastating.

"I'm a horrible person," Jimin whispered through the sobs.

The guilt was unbearable, clawing at his chest, threatening to consume him.

He had hurt Kai, the one person who had loved him unconditionally. And for what? A fleeting moment of distraction?

His phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him from his thoughts. With trembling hands, he picked it up and dialed Kyara's number.

"Jimin?" Kyara's voice was groggy, concerned.

"Can you come over?" Jimin croaked, his voice breaking.

"Are you okay? What's going on?"

"Please, Kyara," he begged, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I need someone right now."

There was a pause before she sighed. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Jimin remained seated on the floor of his room, the faint glow of the city lights filtering through the curtains.

His cheek still stung where his mother had slapped him, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his chest.

He clutched his knees tightly, his breaths coming in short, shallow gasps.

His phone sat discarded beside him, Kyara's voice from earlier still echoing in his mind.

She'd promised to come, but it didn't feel like it would be enough. Nothing felt like it would be enough.

The weight of his mother's words crushed him: "You're a disgrace to this family." His father's detached, indifferent expression haunted him.

And then there was Kai, the image of his soft, loving eyes now replaced with the devastation Jimin knew he'd soon cause.

The shame was unbearable.

He let out a choked sob, tears streaming down his face.

"I ruined everything. My family, my relationship... I'm nothing but a failure. "

His fingers dug into his arms, nails biting into the skin as if the physical pain could somehow drown out the chaos in his mind.

The sudden sound of a faint knock against the window startled him. His tear-filled eyes darted to the source, and he saw Kyara's familiar silhouette climbing through.

"Jimin!" she exclaimed softly, her voice laced with concern. "What are you doing? Why happened?"

He didn't answer, just buried his face in his hands. Kyara crossed the room quickly, kneeling beside him.

"What's going on?" she asked gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm a failure," Jimin whispered, his voice barely audible.

Kyara frowned. "Don't say that. You're not-"

"I am!" he shouted, his voice cracking. He looked up at her, his face red and streaked with tears.

"I can't do anything right, Kyara! My mom hates me. My dad doesn't care. I cheated on Kai. I've destroyed everything I've ever touched."

Kyara's expression softened, but before she could say anything, Jimin continued, his voice rising.

"I was supposed to be perfect! Do you know how much pressure I'm under? How much they expect from me? And what do I do? I throw it all away. I hurt the one person who actually loves me."

His hands moved to his hair, tugging at it in frustration. Kyara grabbed his wrists quickly.

"Stop it, Jimin! Please don't hurt yourself."

He broke down completely then, his body collapsing against hers as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"I hate myself," he choked out. "I hate what I've done. I hate who I am. I'm just... I'm so tired, Kyara."

Kyara held him tightly, her own eyes filling with tears as she rocked him gently. "Jimin, listen to me," she said firmly.

"You made mistakes, but that doesn't mean you're beyond saving. You're not a failure. You're human."

He shook his head violently. "No, I'm not. I don't even deserve to be called human after what I've done."

She pulled back slightly, cupping his face in her hands.

"Jimin, look at me. You're hurting, and I get it. But beating yourself up like this isn't going to fix anything. You need to face it. You need to talk to Kai."

At the mention of Kai's name, Jimin's tears flowed harder. "He'll never forgive me," he whispered. "And I don't want him to. I don't deserve it."

"You don't know that," Kyara said softly.

Jimin looked away, his gaze falling to her wrists. For the first time, he noticed the faint bruises wrapping around her skin.

He reached out hesitantly, brushing his fingers over them.

"What's this?" he asked, his voice shaking.

Kyara pulled her hand back quickly, hiding it behind her. "It's nothing," she said too quickly.

Jimin's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me, Kyara. Did someone hurt you?"

"I said it's nothing!" she snapped, standing abruptly.

Jimin flinched at her tone, but he didn't press further. The silence between them was heavy, the weight of unspoken truths threatening to crush them both.

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The city's neon glow danced across Jimin's face as he walked aimlessly through the streets, his slender fingers lifting a cigarette to his lips.

The flame of his lighter flickered briefly before catching, illuminating his sharp jawline and tear-stained cheeks in a fleeting, golden light.

He exhaled slowly, the smoke curling from his lips and drifting lazily into the cold night air.

The bitterness of the cigarette burned his throat, but it was a welcome distraction from the ache that had taken root in his chest.

Jimin's free hand tucked into his pocket, his shoulders hunched against the chilly breeze that ruffled his hair.

His lips, slightly parted, glistened faintly from the moisture of his tears, but his expression remained unreadable-caught between anger, sorrow, and a fragile, fleeting calm.

The city blurred around him, its chaos reduced to background noise as he dragged the cigarette again, the ember glowing bright against the dark.

Smoke curled around him like a ghost, clinging to his clothes and skin, wrapping him in its haze.

As he walked, his steps deliberate but unsteady, Jimin's eyes caught faint reflections of himself in the darkened windows he passed.

A man drowning, yet somehow still standing. A contradiction in every sense.

He walked aimlessly for a while, his mind a storm of regret and despair.

Eventually, he found himself standing outside Kai's apartment. His feet felt like lead as he climbed the stairs, each step bringing him closer to the inevitable.

When Kai opened the door, his face softened. "Jimin," he said, his voice full of concern. "You look like you've been crying. What's wrong?"

Jimin stepped inside without answering, his eyes scanning the room for his belongings.

"What are you doing?" Kai asked, his brows furrowing.

"I'm here to get my stuff," Jimin said flatly.

Kai froze. "What? Why? Did I do something wrong?"

Jimin shook his head, his tears threatening to spill again. "You didn't do anything wrong, Kai. This is all me. I'm the problem."

Kai moved closer, his voice trembling. "Jimin, please don't do this. Whatever it is, we can work through it. I'll change, I'll do whatever you need me to do. Just don't leave me."

Jimin's chest heaved as he tried to keep his composure. "Kai, stop. You don't understand. I-" His voice broke. "I cheated on you."

The room fell silent, the weight of Jimin's confession hanging heavy in the air.

Kai stumbled back, his face pale. "What?"

"I'm so sorry," Jimin whispered, his tears falling freely now. "I didn't mean for it to happen, but it did. And now I can't even look at you without hating myself."

Kai's knees buckled, and he sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. "Why?" he whispered, his voice breaking. "Why would you do this to me to us?"

"I don't know," Jimin sobbed. "I was scared, I was stupid, and now I've ruined everything."

Kai looked up at him, his eyes filled with pain. "I could forgive you," he said, his voice trembling. "If you'd just let me, I could forgive you. We could fix this."

Jimin shook his head violently. "You deserve better than me, Kai. I can't stay with you knowing what I've done. I can't forgive myself, and I don't want you to either."

Kai stood abruptly, his hands gripping Jimin's shoulders. "Please," he begged, tears streaming down his face.

"Don't do this. I love you, Jimin. I don't care what you've done-I'll do anything to make this work."

Jimin pulled away, his heart shattering with every word. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

Kai's hands fell to his sides as he watched Jimin turn to leave. "Wait," he called out, his voice desperate.

Jimin paused, glancing back.

"At least let me kiss you one last time," Kai pleaded, his voice breaking.

Jimin hesitated before stepping closer. Their lips met in a bittersweet kiss, both of them crying as they clung to each other for the last time.

When they pulled apart, Kai reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box.

"I was going to give this to you for Christmas," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jimin opened the box, revealing a simple silver promise ring. He let out a broken sob, clutching it to his chest. "I'm so sorry," he said again before turning and walking out the door.

As soon as Jimin stepped out of the apartment and closed the door, the sound hit him.

Kai's sobs.

They were low, muffled by the walls and the thick wooden door, but somehow, they were piercingly loud in Jimin's ears.

Each choked sound felt like a dagger slicing into him. His feet felt rooted to the ground, his chest tightening to the point where he couldn't breathe.

He stared at the velvet box in his trembling hands, the promise ring glinting faintly under the dim hallway light.

He hadn't even known he was crying again until a tear slipped from his chin and splashed onto the soft fabric.

And then, as though his legs gave out under the unbearable weight of it all, Jimin slid down the door.

His back pressed against the cold surface, and he clutched the box to his chest like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality.

His head fell forward, tears streaming relentlessly, his shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs.

He wanted to run back in. He wanted to throw the door open and take Kai into his arms, tell him that he didn't mean it, that he didn't want to leave.

But he couldn't.

Because it wasn't Kai who needed saving.

It was him.

"I don't deserve him. I don't deserve anything." The words tore through Jimin's mind, over and over, until they drowned out even Kai's muffled cries.

He pressed his hand to his mouth, trying to stifle the sound of his own sobbing. But it was futile. The grief was too much, too consuming, and it escaped him in broken gasps and choked whimpers.

For a moment, he pressed his ear to the door, as if he needed to hear Kai's pain to punish himself further.

Each muffled sob was a cruel reminder of what he'd done, of the person he'd become.

"Why am I like this? Why can't I just be better?"

The thought of his mother's slap earlier that day flashed in his mind. Her cold, cutting words: "You're a disgrace to this family."

His father's indifferent gaze over the edge of his newspaper, as though Jimin's entire existence was a minor inconvenience.

And then Kai's face-so full of hope, love, and desperation, even after everything Jimin had done.

Jimin hated himself. He hated his weakness, his selfishness, his inability to hold onto anything good without breaking it.

His nails dug into his palms, and he bit down on his lip until he tasted blood.

He opened the velvet box again, staring at the promise ring. It gleamed so innocently, so beautifully, as if it didn't know it was now nothing more than a relic of something Jimin had destroyed.

His trembling fingers traced the smooth band, and he let out a broken laugh through his tears.

"Kai..." he whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking. "You deserve so much better than me."

The door behind him creaked slightly, as if shifting under the weight of everything unsaid.

For a brief, wild moment, Jimin thought Kai might open it-might pull him back inside and tell him everything would be okay.

But no one came.

The only sound was the quiet echo of Kai's sobs inside, each one softer than the last, until they finally faded into silence.

Jimin sat there for what felt like hours, his body numb, his heart shattered into pieces he wasn't sure he could ever put back together.

When he finally found the strength to stand, his legs felt weak, like they could give out at any moment.

He placed the velvet box gently on the floor by the door, his fingers lingering on it for just a moment.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I love you, Kai."

And then he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the empty hallway.

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Oh oh oh merry christmas jammies i wanted to update as a christmas gift soooo how's y'all christmas going ? And how are we feeling so far ? With the book ofc and personally ofc
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