~Four Months Later~

Work, grades, work, grades.

Jimin grits his teeth, crumbling the paper in his hands. She's working every day but still managing to get fantastic marks on all her exams. Meanwhile he's an average student playing basketball but for some reason he's slipping. He went from straight A's to now B's with some C's in there, his lowest even being a D. How? How did that happen? He went from being a top student to now a below average one.

Instantly his future career flashes in his mind. How is he going to provide for his family if he can't score a good job? In order to score a good job, he needs fantastic grades. He can always ask Namjoon for help, but the poor man is already interning and has more than enough on his plate. Y/N, Hoseok, Chaeyoung, and Jungkook are a grade behind, so he doubts they'll be of much help with the more advanced classes not to mention Y/N and Hoseok are working, Jungkook's a track star, and Chaeyoung's big in cross country.

Yoongi is obviously gone and done with school for good, playing in the NBA for the Lakers. The fucking Lakers. Min Yoongi got scouted by the LA Lakers. Yes, the Min Yoongi. Jin is a graduate who's working hard in his field, doing a lot of hands-on projects that take him as many as forty hours to bring to life. Jimin, out of empathy, doesn't want to ask the busy man for help. So who does that leave? Taehyung.

Tae is a passive student, not really good or bad. He kind of just sits there with a mix of B's and A's, maybe a C. He does what he has to do. No more, no less. Maybe he can help. Jimin gnaws on his lower lip, considering asking Tae, but he can't. For some reason he can't bring himself to ask for help. This is his problem. Y/N, Jungkook, Hoseok, Jin, Namjoon, Chaeyoung, and Taehyung always deal with theirs on their own. Why can't Jimin do the same? It makes him feel so weak.

He sucks in a deep breath, throwing the paper in the trash. He doesn't need a reminder of his failures. Right now he needs to focus. Focus on everything around him. Jimin goes upstairs, taking out one of his textbooks and opening it. Only ten minutes into his reading session, his phone rings.

Jimin, although confused, picks up right away. "What's up?" he questions. "Hey hey hey, guess what?" Jackson's voice says. Jimin strings his eyebrows together, "you're throwing a party?" "What? Why would I do that? I hate throwing parties it gets exhausting. The basketball team is gathering in Minho's house, gonna be lots of beer. Want to come?" "Now?" "In like twenty minutes, it was a spontaneous kind of thing," Jackson replies.

He purses his lips in thought, thinking about it for a moment. He looks between his book and his keys resting on the nightstand. "Fuck it, I'll come for a little bit. I'll be there in twenty-five." After an ecstatic Jackson gives Jimin his goodbyes, they end the call, Jimin thinking about how his night is gonna go.

His fingers type out a text to Y/N, letting her know he'll be out tonight and she might return before him. Maybe this is what he needs, a relaxing night. Jimin has been stressing so much that some drinks and quality time with his friends sounds like the most appealing things on the planet.

Jimin eyes his textbook, seeing the big words inked out on the paper. After a moment's hesitation, he shuts it and tosses it back into the corner. He jumps up, straightening his appearance. Y/N decided to walk to work so at least he doesn't have to call a cab or anything. Twenty-five minutes he said. Twenty-five minutes... hopefully he'll only stay at the 'party' for a little bit. He still has a girl to cuddle when he gets home...

~~~

You pace back and forth, nibbling on your fingernails. Where is he? It's one o'clock in the morning. Of course you saw the text he sent, but what the fuck? You've spammed him about his location over and over again but nothing is working. You're considering going out and searching for him.

Why is he out so late at all? Is he wasted? Oh God, how will he drive home if he's wasted? No no no please be okay Jimin... please. Fucking hell what is going on? You almost cry at the dark thoughts passing through your mind. Where could he be?

A few minutes later, the doorknob jiggles, and soon after a giggly Jimin bursts through the door and barely manages to close and lock it behind him. The dim lighting of the kitchen still illuminates your angry face. "Where the hell were you?" "Minho's," he simply replies with a smile. "Are you drunk?" you question, but it sounds like more of a statement. "Maybe," he mumbles.

"So... you're telling me you go out randomly, stay there until one in the morning, then come home totally shit-faced? Fuck Jimin, how did you get home?" "I drove." Your jaw drops, "you fucking drove?!" He seems unaffected by your concerns. He seems a little... light. Wobbling ever so slightly, fiddling with his fingers while his blinking is slower than normal. He's drunk alright.

"Go to bed," you say, sighing. Although you're pissed, there's not much you can do about it now. It's not like he'll have the brain power to comprehend you, and the odds of him even remembering this are slim to none. Jimin cutely nods, bouncing over to the stairs and going up them right away. Gosh he's still so cute. Despite how furious you are with him for being so irresponsible, you're relieved he's okay. A text would've been nice, but you wouldn't be as mad if this is a one time thing. It shouldn't have even happened once, but he's forgiven you for so much. As long as he apologizes sincerely and promises not to scare the shit out of you again, it should be okay.

Regardless of your thoughts you trudge up to your shared room, surprised to see him sitting up. You raise your brows as he opens his arms up. "Come here baby girl," he says in a sing-songy voice. "Uh... what?" "You know I can't sleep without you," he admits with a sheepish smile, "I tried taking a nap once while you were at work. Couldn't do it. I needed you next to me."

Your heart melts at his confession, and just like that, the anger fades completely into relief that he's okay. You slide into bed, going under the covers. He takes the hint and follows, smiling like a baby. "Cuddles?" he innocently asks. Ugh he's literally a baby. You're dating a baby.

"Okay," you whisper, scooting closer until your chest hits his. "Mmm... I love you my baby girl... you're my little girl you know that?" Uh oh does he have a thing for being older than you? Why are you just finding this out now? "Yeah?" you say, but it sounds like a question.

He giggles, "can I show you who you belong to?" Fucking drunk Jimin is so horny God dammit. You shake your head and pout, "sleep and I'll reward you in the morning." Just like that - Jimin buries his head into your shoulder and closes his eyes. It really doesn't take much, does it? Not like you're complaining though. Finally a night of peace and quiet...

~The Next Morning~

You awaken to an empty bed, making you frown. Is he gone for class already? His first class is earlier than yours, but you always wake up with him to send him off. Jimin wouldn't leave without seeing you, right? Your heart hurts at the thought, pushing off of your bed only to look at the clock. You're waking up five minutes early. So where the hell is he?

With your panic starting to grow, you hop out of bed and quickly brush your hair before rushing down into the kitchen. You're slightly surprised that Jimin's still here. He's standing in front of the fridge, rifling through it with one hand while the other holds a water bottle.

"Hey," you greet. He jumps and turns around, holding a hand over his chest. "Jesus you scared me. What are you doing up so early?" "Only five minutes before we normally wake up. Shouldn't I be asking you that?" He shrugs, "hangover. Needed painkillers and water."

It goes quiet, the two of you awkwardly standing there. Well, someone needs to address the elephant in the room. Why does it have to be you? "Why did you do that?" you whisper-ask. You walk over to the counter and place your hands on the wood. Jimin watches for a moment before sighing, "I don't know. At first I only wanted to go for like half an hour. Drink a little bit with my buddies but not too much, then come home and do some studying until you got back. I swear I really didn't mean to stay. They brought out this keg and kept offering me drinks... in the moment it seemed like I was just having fun when in reality I was getting wasted."

You absorb his words and nod. Again, silence. One full minute of silence. "I'm really sorry," he mumbles, "I know I probably scared you a lot. I promise I won't do it again." You blink back your tears, "scared me?" You meet his shocked eyes. "Min I was fucking terrified. I thought someone might have drugged you, took you, hurt you. I thought you might've gotten into a car crash. I was standing by my phone all night half expecting to get a call from the hospital."

He tears up, slowly nodding. "I'm not mad at you for going out. I'm not mad at you for getting wasted. Hell I'm not even mad at you for being gone all night." You pause for a moment to shake your head. "I'm mad at you for not even bothering to text me saying that you were okay. I know you weren't in your right senses, but it was one o'clock in the morning. One o'clock and I was pacing around this kitchen all night thinking you were injured, kidnapped... k-killed..."

His eyes expand at your confession. "And yeah that's the overthinker in me, but what else was I supposed to think when my protective boyfriend who always texts back within a minute doesn't text back for hours?" Jimin looks down in shame as you sigh. "There's nothing you can do about it now. I'm not going to yell or keep ranting about this, I know you feel bad about it."

Jimin nods, looking up again. "I'll be honest I'm a little hurt, but I know you didn't mean to cause that. You just wanted to have fun but... please, don't do it again." "I won't. Baby I promise I won't." You let out a shaky breath and nod, rounding the counter to hug him.

"I love you so much Chim... you scared the shit out of me," you murmur. He hums, holding you close, "I'm so sorry princess. I love you too, so much... I won't do it again. I promise. I really promise, I mean it." You squeeze him, sniffling while nodding against his chest. "Do you want me to write it in your goal book?" You go stiff. It's been a while since you've brought that out. Ever since you broke your first goal you decided against using it. It faded to the back of your mind.

"No, it's okay. I know you won't do it again. I trust you Chim." You pull back to meet his eyes, "be careful, okay? I still want you to live your life and hang out with friends, but please text me if you're staying out that late again. Don't drunk drive either." "I won't," he replies with a smile, pecking your lips. "Really, I'm so sorry I did that." "We all make mistakes Min. Lord knows I've been making a lot of them recently but you've forgiven me every time." "That's different, you've been busy at work."

You shake him off, "and getting worked up about the future, falling asleep when I could be spending time with you, too caught up in studying to take you out..." He pouts, "for starters, we all get worked up about our futures. And falling asleep? You can't help that baby girl. Do I really need to explain why studying is important? Do I really need to?"

A small laugh escapes your lips, "I guess not but... I still feel bad." "Only you would feel bad about things you can't control." "I just... I want you to be happy Min. I can't help but feel like this whole thing is my fault." "How?" he asks with furrowed brows. "I mean I've been so gone recently... if I came home earlier this wouldn't have even happened. We'd be cuddling right now, laughing and kissing..."

"Shh baby girl, that's not your fault. It's mine, don't try and take the blame or I'll kiss you." "Is that a threat or a promise?" "Can I say both?" he asks with a charming smile. You smile back, placing your hands on his shoulders. "I really love you Min. Let's stay strong, okay? Things have been really tough for both of us recently... but we're fighters. We'll fight for this. For us." He kisses you gently, pulling back after mere seconds. "I love you too princess. I'll fight for you... I can't live without you..." You sniffle, nodding rapidly, "I can't live without you either..."