Looking out of the taxi window, Lorraine took in the fresh air of Busan. Even though it was early winter approaching, the air was still a little wet, sticking to her skin. The city lights that glimmered as they drove onto the bridge were breathtaking. But it did less to settle Lorraine's anxiousness.

Fuck, why wouldn't she be anxious? When Jimin had suddenly dropped the plan of making her meet his parents.

She wanted to. She had wanted to meet his family ever since he had mentioned it. It felt very intimate and personal. But...

But.

But Lorraine was good at everything.

Lorraine was good at anything and everything except for when it came to...families. Past was proof. Her encounters with families had been nothing but a short of... destruction. Knowing how much it meant to Jimin, she was spiralling. She sat at the corner of the backseat, silently basking in the night breezes as the car drove by. She could see the sea.

"You're still worried."

Jimin said through the silence.

"I am." She replied, pressing the coat that was draped over her body closer towards herself. "I suck at this."

Jimin's hand pressed on her shoulder and it was a mere touch but it's so full of serenity that Lorraine could dissolve.

"You don't suck at it, you were just around wrong people. Look how good you are with your brother."

Lorraine missed him.

She really fucking missed him.

It was six months before she could finally touch his face and kiss his lips and she could really cry over how much she missed him.

She had been busy. Very busy. He had been busy too. She didn't even realise amongst all the work but the moment she saw him, she realised that he was the missing piece of the puzzle.

"It means a lot to you, that's why." She breathed out. "That's why I'm worrying."

"I know."

She exhaled deeply and hummed in response. Letting go all of the tiredness of the day. From the long hour flight to the flashes of lights.

*

Jimin rang the doorbell of the penthouse they stood in front of, where his parents lived. Now that they were here, Jimin looked more nervous than excited. Maybe because he saw them lesser than people expected.

Lorraine gulped.

The door opened, revealing a lady. She had long black hair and brown eyes, ones that reminded her of Jimin, almond shaped. A pointed nose and plump lips. She was almost Lorraine's height, slightly shorter.

Her eyes scanned the both of them, staying a little longer at her son. Her brown orbs became glassy, gleaming. Even if she'd have known that Jimin was going to come, seeing him in person made it so overwhelming for her.

When Lorraine looked at Jimin, he had the same expression as her mother's, on the verge of breaking into fresh tears as he surged forward and jumped into his mother's embrace.

Jimin's mother was small and it was hard to decipher wether Jimin was seeking comfort or giving it through the hug. Maybe he was doing both, and he was crying. Whispers of how much he missed her stumbling past his lips.

She said something in Korean that made Jimin let out a watery chuckle above her head. He wiped off his tears with the back of his hand before the both of them averted their heads to address Lorraine.

Lorraine could swear to fuck she had never felt so nervous because of being the centre of attention ever in her life. And she got paid for that shit.

She broke from her haze when Jimin's hand gently touched her own, squeezing around her and pulling her forward.

"It's nice meeting you," she said politely.

Jimin's mother looked at Lorraine with large, round eyes. Brown strikingly similar to her son's. She lifted her hand and for a moment...hesitated. Hand hovering in the air as if she was contemplating before she placed her palm on Lorraine's cheek, warm. Warm like...she had just been cooking food.

"You look like a... goddess."

Her words were placed with heavy Korean accent, so kind and generous. A chuckle escaped Lorraine's mouth at the compliment. The old lady clapped her hands in, a happy sound, close to chirping leaving past her lips.

"It's the first time Jimin has brought a girl over to meet us! Oh dear, I'm so excited to know you!"

Jimin's mom was kind.

Mothers are usually very kind.

She had this smile so wide, like she was assuring Lorraine. Like she could see that she was nervous. Her hand came to wrap around her shoulder as she led Lorraine into the house. Jimin followed behind them with a sweet smile.

Lorraine's skin was instantly hit with warmth as they entered the living room, candles lightening the brown concept and make their glow fall over the mahogany sofas that were given a natural tree trunk look. The whole house had a different, culture enhancing aura.

"Ah, this kid only misses his mother."

When Lorraine turned towards the voice, she was met by a man. Face structure strikingly similar to her boyfriend, just a bit chubbier.

Jimin huffed a dramatic breath. "You know that's not true, dad." He muttered, going towards his father and hugging him as well. His dad patted his back like he was proud of him, very fucking proud.

When they separated, the elder man looked at Lorraine. Anxiousness striking up again, all Lorraine could do was muster up an awkward smile.

"It's nice meeting you, sir."

Jimin's father barked a loud laughter.

"Oh dear, you don't need to call me that. Cut the formalities, I'm trying to be the cool father here."

It made Lorraine giggle.

"Okay, okay! Now both of you two go upstairs and freshen up. Dinner will be ready by then!"

Jimin's dad chuckled at his mother, wrapping his arm lovingly around her shoulder. "Don't be so excited that you scare the girl, sweetheart."

Lorraine gulped. Oh God. How long had it been since she was treated like a normal girl rather than a superstar. She was sure only and only Tom treated her like this. Like she didn't have to carry the weight of being someone so influential. Like she could take a break and just be...just be.

As much as she liked her status and her impact. She felt like she could take a break.

To be honest, the thought of someone not seeing her through her career but by the person she truly was, scared her shitless. It really fucking did. Because it had been so long. Her work gave her power, respect, dignity. Everything a person needed. But this was different. This was something more. Like...like- family.

Lorraine had never really had a family, had she?

She just considered her fans as her family. The Hollywood as well. People who helped her. Supported her.

Still, it felt different. It reminded her of Tom. Her brother was the only one she could relate this feeling to.

"Let's go." Jimin's voice cut through her train of thoughts. He had offered his hand for her to take so he could lead her upstairs to their shared bedroom. They had turned on the heater of that room as well, so that they feel instantly cozy and at home.

Lorraine took off her coat and rubbed her hands together to soak in the heat before sighing. Jimin was standing in front of her, who turned around and gave her the sweetest of smiles.

"Gorgeous." Jimin only ever called her by that name when he yearned for her too badly, even when his voice was calm. "Come to me."

Instinctively, Raine's feet started moving, padding soundlessly on the carpeted floor as she got close to him, half a foot's distance between them which Jimin instantly closed by pulling her by her waist. Pressed against his chest.

Jimin looked calm. So did she. It was so easy to copy his persona, composed from the outside but the mirth in his eyes said every unsaid truth; he wanted her.

She wanted him too. So badly.

"I've missed you." Lorraine breathed out, and she didn't realise how much she had missed him while she was succumbed by her work and fans until her throat went dry and something heavy settled in her chest. Until she said it out loud.

And the thing was-

She didn't want to hear it back. She didn't want to hear that Jimin had missed her too because- because world tours were his favourite where he was surrounded with love, passion and happiness. Every word consuming into one: ARMYs.

So no, she didn't want Jimin to miss her during such a precious time. She felt like it was irrelevant to miss her. She felt like she was irrel-

Jimin smashed his lips against hers, ending all her thoughts until all she could focus on was him, all of him. Until there was a rush of overwhelming emotions exploding in her chest and she was pulling him closer, so close. Her hands going to caress his hair and his face. Feeling him all she could. Revising the shape of his lips as they moved against hers, how they felt on her skin.

How it felt to be touched by Jimin. How it felt to touch Jimin. How it felt to be loved by Jimin. How it felt to- to...love Jimin.

It felt like home.

The way he kissed felt like home. So full of emotions, desperation.

When they separated, Lorraine just wished she had the power to face his eyes and the intensity they held. The raw, unyielding love they carried.

Their eyes contacted and Lorraine felt Jimin's breath hitch as he stopped breathing against her.

"Shit..." Jimin's voice was frail, shaking. His one hand came up to delicately caress the side of her face, like he wanted to make sure she was really there and wouldn't fade into the air if he touched. "I- Raine... I thought it would be easier. I really fucking-"

Breaking the sentence, Jimin buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling a sharp breath. And before she even knew, she was holding him back, melting into him.

"I love you. I love you so much."

Lorraine felt like she didn't say it enough. She had been feeling like that for a while now, ever since she started longing for him. She could never say it enough. That she loved Jimin, she loved him with her whole heart.

Lips once again connected, wet as they tugged and pulled at eachother's clothes, Jimin and Lorraine stumbled into the bathroom with clumsy steps, bumping into a wall or two.

Even as they yearned for each other in a way only forbidden lovers could, there was a gentleness to every hasty touch of his. Like Jimin wanted to feel. He didn't want to ravage but- but feel and make sure he had her.

Even when they were stark wet and clammy from the hot shower above them and Jimin was fucking into her earnestly, he couldn't stop kissing her. Whispering more of how much he missed her, loved her. Even when Lorraine was moaning softly in his ear, and trembling in his arms, all Jimin was doing was caress her face and press his lips against her neck, mouthing and gasping.

Lorraine would never get enough of him.

She knew that this pattern is going to repeat. She's going to shoot another movie, he's going to make another album. They're going to get busy with their work and stop meeting for a long fucking while again.

It scared her. The thought of being away for too long. What if they start... detaching because of it? But right now, she didn't want to think about it. She just wanted to feel Jimin's presence against hers.

*

The house was so warm that Lorraine felt sleepy. She had put on a sweatshirt as her slightly wet hair fell on her shoulders, walking along the hallways with lazy step to go towards Jimin's mother.

Jimin had said he'd be downstairs in a while so she was left all alone, wandering across the hallways to approach the stairs.

As she strode down the stairs, she noticed something that she hadn't while climbing on the first floor. There was a corner. A corner where the stairs changed their direction.

Embedded onto the wall of the corner, there was a unit, over which many candles were lit. Above it, there were frames. Photos of a boy not so old.

It could be only one person, Lorraine knew. It was Jimin's brother.

Lorraine gripped the mahogany unit to still herself from the overwhelming response her body spiked with. Staring at the photos one by one.

He looked so young.

And so much like Jimin.

Shit, he looked exactly like Jimin. Just had to remove the Sharpness of his elder brother's features and that was it.

He looked happy too. There was his solo photos and then there were the ones where the boy was with his family.

Jimin's mom, Jimin's dad. A trio. Somewhere there was Jimin, him and his dad. Sometimes it was his mom. Sometimes... It was just Jimin and him.

On a beach, with Jimin's orange hair splayed across his forehead and both of the brothers bathing in sun.

Everything was so warm.

This house was so warm.

The people in this house were so warm.

But somehow–

Somehow this specific corner was the warmest.

"Jimin had taken him on a trip to the beach in this one."

Lorraine startled slightly, spinning her head towards the voice. It was his dad. She tensed for a second before sighing, eyes ki d of melting as she looked back at the picture he was referring to. The one where Jimin and his brother were on a beach.

"He's just a little kid."

Mr Park hummed behind her. "I assume Jimin has told you about him."

She nodded. "He has..." She gulped. Breathed in, once, twice. "Kept blaming himself. I couldn't see him like that, so heartbroken."

"Yeah, it was... pretty hard for him. For everyone, of course. But... especially for him."

Lorraine knew that. She had seen it.

"You know...he has never told this to any of his partners." Mr Park said, then chuckled and looked down. "I mean, not like I know anything about his life but, he's barely even had partners that he was serious about. At least not enough to invite them over and meet us."

Her lips curled up in a small smile. She knew what Mr Park was saying, but it didn't fail to make her feel...happy. Happy to know that Jimin found her trustable when it came to sharing what he felt.

"I'm so glad to be there for him."

The elder man sighed, smiling softly.

"Let's go and eat dinner."

While they say and ate the way too spicy food– Lorraine had chucked down at least two litres of water and Jimin couldn't stop giggling about it. Jimin's parents asked her a lot of questions, and surprisingly it didn't feel like an interrogation. Rather it felt like they were genuinely interested in knowing her.

After eating and chatting, everyone dispersed back to their own rooms to sleep.

*

Once in the bedroom, both Jimin and Lorraine had decided to take a stroll in the balcony rather than sleeping right after a heavy dinner.

Solace.

That's what it felt like.

It wasn't like they were doing anything romantic. They weren't even holding hands. Their shoulders were grazing as they walked side by side until the end.

Then there was silence.

Above Busan that gleamed blue tonight.

"I...uh..." Jimin stammered, trailing off before even starting the sentence. Although it didn't fail to catch her attention. When she averted her head to look at the side, he was looking down. "I saw you standing by the photo wall...with my dad."

Lorraine gulped. "Yeah...I was..."

Jimin let out a dry laugh. "He looked happy, didn't he?"

Jimin took care of him a lot.

"He did. Just a little kid."

Suddenly, a heaviness was growing in Lorraine's chest. Jimin hadn't said anything. He wasn't even trying to find comfort. He knew that his brother looked happy– was happy and it went in vain. That he was about to be happier but it stopped. He... stopped. Jimin knew that and he still smiled like the way he did and was kind like the the he was.

Lorraine could never.

She had still to overcome the trauma of her cunt of a father stabbing a piece of shattered bottle in her back but she had found a way out and had built her life like she was the only one in this whole damn world.

Lorraine hadn't been kind after that. Not even once.

So maybe–

Tears dropped down Lorraine's eyes.

Maybe if something like that happened to Tom, she wouldn't know what to do. She knew. If anything ever happened to her baby she'd destroy the world for everyone who's living in it before dying herself.

So when Jimin smiled the way he did and was kind the way he always was–

She couldn't help but think that he was the strongest person in this world.

Because how would she be able to even walk a step if she ever lost Tom so how did he still found a way to be happy?

How?

After losing his brother?

Then it hit her.

Jimin wasn't happy.

Jimin wasn't happy till he found her.

He had told this to her many times but it only hit her today, deep in her bones. She had made Jimin happy, somehow.