"It's up to me, and I don't wanna continue."

The pen rolled towards the edge of the table, dropping down as if it were a cliff. The boys frowned turning their heads towards the owner of the voice, expressions showing a wide range of emotions from the six faces, from confused to not wanting to believe the words they just heard as if Park Jimin had just cracked a lame joke. But none of it felt funny as the atmosphere seemed to be thickly covered in seriousness.

He leaned back, heaving a deep sigh watching the leader gulping down his throat before sitting straight, he opened his mouth to speak, "What are you saying Jimin?"

"Exactly what you heard hyung," Jimin let out with a sigh, "The contract is over and I don't wanna renew it. My time as a BTS member is done, I've decided."

"But... why?" The youngest asked softly, staring at elder with hopeful eyes that never defied Jimin.

"I have my reasons." He said, straightening his posture and standing up, "Thank you everyone for being so supportive and so caring with me, I've had the best time of my life with you guys. But now, I think I should leave. Please don't let my absence bother the group, BTS should still rise high as we dreamt together."

Bowing one last time as a sign of respect and an attempt to hide his tear-brimming eyes, Jimin glanced at the six perplexed faces, the seventh and eighth being their manager and the CEO of their agency respectively.

"No, wait" Taehyung voiced, "we- we can talk it out and come to a common conclusion. Can we get some time?"

Sejin glanced at the older male, both in authority and age, nodding as he received an affirmative look from the CEO, "Sure, but please make it till tomorrow."

Taehyung nodded instantly thanking him and  CEO Bang breathlessly as his eyes leaped towards his best friend who was ready to leave.

Jimin found himself shaking his head, not feeling the need for another discussion on this, although his thoughts were interrupted with a hand on his shoulder, he lifted his gaze up finding Sejin smiling at him with an empathetic look.

"Mr Bang wants you to think carefully, it's a big decision Jimin."

He nodded subtly, fixing his eyes on the floor again, hearing them walking out of the room and left the seven boys alone. Feeling the urge to run away and never return kept eating him after all he had done to the people he called his brothers, his family.

Fixing his eyes on his friend who had requested for this conversation and more time, he breathed deeply gathering enough courage to tell them a firm 'No' once again. After seven years of life worthy time with these boys and performing for millions of fans, now was the time he was supposed to call it all off. To leave this fame and the popular Park Jimin personality, and live a normal life as just Park Jimin.

"What's wrong Jimin?" Taehyung asked softly, grabbing his friend by the shoulders and staring at him with desperate eyes.

"Nothing Tae, I'm just tired."

"Then take a break," Yoongi stated, "You're talking about leaving BTS, leaving us, leaving Armys, do you think being tired is worth all that?"

"Please hyung, we promised to be together forever." Jungkook said, almost tearing up as the lump in throat could be heard in his voice.

"I know Kook, I'm sorry for leaving all of you like this. We talked about renewing our contract together and everything, but I... I can't continue, please try to understand." Jimin responded, holding Taehyung's hands as he took them off of his shoulders and flashed a small smile. "I'm sorry,"

"Talk to us if there's a problem, I promise it won't be that bad. We've gone through so much together Jimin, you're one of the strongest people I know, please don't give up like this." The leader said.

Jimin looked down, sighing deeply as his voice came out like a whisper, "...I don't wanna continue."

"You're just being impulsive!" Yoongi slammed his hand on the table, springing up on his feet as he glared at Jimin. "We all fucking talked about this and shit! you still have the audacity to snitch on us!"

"Yoongi-ah, don't shout at him" Jin said, patting the eldest rapper's shoulder. "I'm sure we'll find a way."

"I don't know what's so wrong that you're suddenly flipping like that, but trust me Jimin, it feels like shit to be us right now." Hoseok said, massaging his temples.

"If not for us, just fucking think about your fans! There are millions of people out there who look up to you, they love you more than they love themselves! You're the reason so many people didn't give up and still have a smile on their faces because they know BTS is there to make their day! What are we going to tell them?! That Park Jimin, their idol, left because he was tired?! He didn't want to continue seeing us together?!" Taehyung yelled.

"You've read their messages too right? You know how much BTS means to Armys and still you decide to leave knowing that it can have an adverse effect on lives of those thousands and thousands of people out there?"

Jimin stared at his feet, listening to all the words his brothers had to say even if it was a little harsh, he was fine with it for he knew he deserved their anger after practically snitching on them for someone else. Just to be nice to one soul, he was risking these seven along with a million hearts all around the world.

But a father lies above all that, right?

"I... I don't know what to say to you Jimin, you've changed so much. You're not the one I used to call my best friend." Taehyung's words felt like bullets shot directly in his chest. Words hit harder than a bullet, that person was right, "Leave if you want to, I won't stop you. But remember, you won't be allowed back anywhere close to me again. Leave, and forget you ever knew me. Kim Taehyung is dead to you."

The boys followed Jimin's silence, feeling the loss of words like they never did before, watching Taehyung sign his contract papers and storming out of the room leaving Jimin still in his place. Yoongi glared at him, signing his contract as well, extending their partnership with the agency for more years.

"I hope nobody else is getting 'tired', sign your papers and call Manager Hyung, I'll be in my studio."

Hoseok took the next, leaving his signature on the papers and gesturing their leader to call him when they're done. The eldest glanced at the three boys left, taking the pen with a heavy heart and signing up for BTS again, the only difference being that it will be a six membered boy band this time.

"I still think, you should reconsider." Namjoon said, giving a light squeeze to the younger's shoulder as he smiled faintly, signing his contract as well before leaving Jimin standing alone with the maknae.

Jimin sighed, blinking a couple of times, hand moving up and wiping the lone tear that just left his eye, "You should sign it too" he said in a breathy voice, not making any eye contact with the youngest member.

"BTS is seven hyung, not six." Jungkook reminded, "Please don't leave us..."

"...I'm sorry Jungkook, I have to." Jimin gulped, trying his best not to let a meltdown take over, "I swear you can call me whenever you want and talk to me. I'll be with you, just not together physically."

Jungkook looked at the elder boy, still resembling the look from years back when they first met, which made Jimin avert his eyes in a span and clear his throat that was almost giving up to the point he would break right in front of Jungkook.

"Ju-Just sign the papers, I'm leaving..." He said in one breath, feeling Jungkook's eyes on him. The boy stood up, stepping forward and hugging his hyung shedding pearly tears on his shoulder while Jimin hesitantly lifted his hand caressing the younger's hair the way he always liked from his hyungs.

"Please hyung..." He shook his head, chewing on his lip and sobbing silently looking at Jimin.

"No bunny, I have to go this time. You know I'd never leave you all if it wasn't important, trust me I don't like it either."

"I won't sign the papers if we all are not together"

Jimin's eyes looked at the side, blinking the tears away before focusing on Jungkook again. He took the pen, handing it to the younger and nodded in assurance, "You're BTS' ace Jungkook, they need you, and this is about your career, you worked so hard for this. Sign the papers."

"We need you too hyung, nobody can replace you. And this- this is your dream too right? You wanted to be with BTS for a ling time, what happened to all that?"

"...I'm sorry" Jimin whispered shaking his head subtly, "just sign the papers, don't risk your career because of me."

Jungkook stared at the pen in his hand, tears running down his cheeks making his face look puffy. His silence wasn't for an approval, Jimin knew this, but didn't want to make it any harder for the boy, so decided to stay quiet and let him tackle his thoughts by himself.

He patted Jungkook's back encouraging him with a small smile as he nodded towards the contract papers, imagining a new BTS in the world which will be having six members not the lucky seven they used to be. A voice was to be left out between the loud music that played in huge stadiums with thousands of fans screaming their lungs out. A cheerful smile was to be missed on new Run Episodes on Tuesdays.

Park Jimin was to be missed from today.

"Good luck, keep working hard and never give up. Hyung's always watching you and supporting you." His voice came out as a tender one for Jungkook who was staring at the papers as if he did a mistake by putting his signature on them.

Jimin patted his back, smiling softly through glassy eyes before taking a step back and turning on his heels leaving the boy standing alone in the room.

Alone in the empty hallway, footsteps echoed faintly as he walked into the elevator, pressing the button to the ground level and seeing the metal door sliding close. The sight blurred to an extent where Jimin knew he should stop walking but halting anywhere before his car would be a big mistake right now.

Once seating himself inside, his palm pressed against his mouth, muffling the hurtful cries filled with guilt, helplessness and many similar emotions overflowing through his eyes and voicing through his mouth.

___________

a/n- what a coincidence that it's dussehra and the first chapter is out on such an auspicious (शुभ) day 😂😂 happy dussehra to everyone ❤️✨ have fun, stay healthy!

vote if you like. and stay tuned for the next chapter that will be coming on next friday (i have a lot of a homework to do 😓)

byee see you soon! love ya!❤️