Jimin stepped into the apartment, immediately spotting Yuna on the couch. He noticed the bandage on her knee and frowned, his protective instincts kicking in.

“Yuna, baby, what happened?” he asked, hurrying over to her. His voice was gentle but laced with concern.

Yuna looked up at him, her small face still a little puffy from crying earlier.

“I fell at the park, Appa. But Kookie helped me and he put the elsa bandage for me,” she explained, with a small pout.

Jimin’s eyes softened as he knelt beside her, carefully inspecting the bandage. “Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured, his heart aching at the sight of her little injury. He gently kissed her knee, then looked into her eyes. “Does it hurt a lot?”

“A little, but Kookie took care of me,” Yuna replied, her trust in Jungkook shining through her words.

Jimin smiled softly, his heart swelling with pride for Jungkook. He had known Jungkook would take good care of Yuna, despite his initial worries.

“You’re so brave, Yuna,” he praised her, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face.

But as Jimin focused on Yuna, tending to her wound and making sure she was comfortable, Jungkook stood frozen a few feet away. His eyes were glued to the floor, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been dreading this moment since they left the park, and now that it was happening, the reality of it was crushing him.

Jimin didn’t say anything to him—no reassurance, no comforting words. He was entirely focused on Yuna, and to Jungkook’s panicked mind, that could only mean one thing: Jimin was angry, disappointed. He must have thought the same thing as the woman at the park, that Jungkook was careless and unfit to take care of Yuna.

He’s mad at me… he thinks I’m a terrible person…

The thoughts spiraled out of control, each one feeding into the next until they became a full-blown tidal wave of fear and self-loathing. Jungkook felt his breathing start to hitch, his chest tightening with each ragged breath. His vision began to blur, dark spots dancing at the edges of his sight as his lungs struggled to pull in air.

Jimin glanced up, finally noticing Jungkook standing there, pale and trembling.

“Jungkook?” he called softly, concern creeping into his voice.

But Jungkook didn’t respond. He was too far gone, his mind locked in a loop of panic and self-doubt.

“Jungkook?” Jimin repeated, his voice firmer this time as he stood up, taking a step towards him.

But the moment he moved, Jungkook stumbled back, his breathing becoming even more erratic.

“I… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…” Jungkook choked out, his voice strained and barely audible. His hand clutched at his chest as if trying to hold himself together, but it was no use. His breathing was out of control, coming in short, rapid gasps that did nothing to ease the tightness in his chest.

Jimin’s eyes widened in alarm as he realized what was happening. “Yuna, sweetheart, can you go to your room for a bit?” he asked gently, keeping his tone calm even though his heart was racing with worry.

Yuna hesitated, glancing between her father and Jungkook, clearly sensing that something was wrong. But she nodded obediently, sliding off the couch and hurrying to her room without another word.

As soon as Yuna was out of sight, Jimin rushed to Jungkook’s side, reaching out to gently grasp his shoulders.

“Jungkook, hey, look at me. It’s okay, you’re okay. Just breathe, okay? Breathe with me, love.”

But Jungkook was too deep in his panic to respond. His eyes were wide, filled with tears and terror as he struggled to breathe. The noise he made—half a sob, half a gasp—broke Jimin’s heart.

“Jungkook, it’s okay. You’re safe,” Jimin said soothingly, keeping his voice low and steady. He guided Jungkook to sit down on the floor, kneeling in front of him. “I’m right here. You’re not alone, Kook. Just focus on my voice, okay?”

But Jungkook couldn’t focus. The words of the woman at the park echoed in his mind, each one a reminder of how unfit he was to be in Yuna’s life. And now, Jimin’s silence, his focus on Yuna instead of him—it all added up to the conclusion he had feared the most.

“He’s… he’s mad at me,” Jungkook gasped out, his voice trembling. “I’m… I’m not good enough. I can’t… I’m going to mess this up, Jimin. I’m going to hurt her…”

Jimin’s heart broke as he listened to Jungkook’s panicked, broken words.

“No, Jungkook, no. I’m not mad at you. You’re not going to mess anything up. It’s okay, love, you’re okay,” he assured him, pulling Jungkook closer, wrapping his arms around him.

But the words didn’t reach Jungkook. He was too lost in his spiral, his breathing still rapid and uneven as he clung to Jimin, his body shaking with the effort to keep it together. The tears he had been holding back finally broke free, streaming down his cheeks as he buried his face in Jimin’s chest.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Jimin…” Jungkook sobbed, his voice muffled against Jimin’s shirt. “I didn’t mean to… I’m so sorry…”

Jimin held him tighter, his own eyes filling with tears at the sound of Jungkook’s broken apologies. “You don’t have to apologize, Kook. You didn’t do anything wrong,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Jungkook’s head. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

But Jungkook couldn’t stop the flood of emotions that had been building inside him for so long. The fear, the guilt, the overwhelming sense of failure—it all came crashing down on him at once, leaving him gasping for breath, his body trembling with the force of his panic.

Jimin’s heart ached as he held Jungkook close, whispering soothing words, trying to calm him down. But it was a slow process, each breath Jungkook took coming in uneven, ragged gasps as he tried to fight through the panic.

Jimin continued to hold him, rocking them gently back and forth as he whispered soft reassurances into Jungkook’s ear. “I’m here, Jungkook. You’re not alone. Just breathe, okay? Focus on my voice. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jungkook’s breathing began to steady. The sobs quieted, his body gradually relaxing in Jimin’s arms. He was still trembling, his face buried in Jimin’s chest, but the worst of the panic had passed.

Jimin let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, relief flooding through him as he continued to hold Jungkook close, rubbing soothing circles on his back. “That’s it, Kook. Just breathe. You’re okay, love. You’re okay.”

Jungkook nodded weakly, his breathing finally evening out. But even as the panic subsided, the weight of his fears and insecurities remained, leaving him feeling drained and fragile. He didn’t pull away from Jimin, didn’t dare to let go of the one solid thing in his world right now.

Jimin stayed right there with him, holding him tightly, silently promising that he wouldn’t let go either.