Jimin has barely placed on his headset when his boyfriend's apologetic voice chugs into his headphones. 

"Listen Melonboy, I'm so so so so so SO sorry about yesterday...can you please just forget I yelled at you like that because I wasn't thinking straight and I was just really hurt by something else entirely but I took it out on you and I really didn't mean to hurt you because I really really really like you Jimin and I never want to hurt you-"

"Jungkook." The purple-haired male duly interrupts his boyfriend's blubbering. A growing serenity of one who has been forgiven rushes into his mind. Jimin rubs comforting circles on the bare skin underneath his pear-colored crop top. "You're forgiven...I'm the one who should be apologizing. I went behind your back to hire the investigator to look for Junghyun without telling you...I didn't realize that he'd been lying to you this entire time about the...about the, um...accident."

Melonaju walks up to the sponge and wraps his virtual arms around Pluto. The cathedral's delicate filtered sunlight tickles the sponge's black eyes, making Pluto97 have a much softer, tamed-down appearance. Why did I ever think this sponge was scary? It's so beautiful...so unique.

Pluto97 raises his spongey arms in tandem with a gush of appreciation. "Oh, Melonboy! No worries. I totally forgive you. I'm happy you are the way that you are 'cause I know I can't stay mad at you for long."

"Unless I kill your mom." Jimin breaks the hug, feeling warmer already. Even if the hug was digital, he needed it.

"Right, right...I'll never stay mad at you unless you kill my mom. Now..."

"Let's get on with the level?"

"Precisely! There are so many dodos in this hallway now, I feel like I'm back at high school."

Melonaju follows the sponge down the lengthy corridor to door 65, only five levels before the final level. "Hey, where did you go to high school? I went to Busan School of the Arts...and didn't Junghyun too? But you never mentioned where you went."

"Right...heh...funny story..." Jungkook's voice tickles his ear, and he adjusts the headset over his purple hair. "I kicked off my high school career in a juvenile detention center-"

"WHAT!" Jimin waits for the younger to giggle, to tell him it's just a joke. But he doesn't. "Wait, really?"

"Yep." The sponge steps up to the level door, playfully knocking on the wood a few times. "My friend dared me to shoplift a pair of earrings from this edgy store in a bad part of town...and uh, well, let's just say the earrings looked nice for a few minutes until I was arrested. I didn't even know the earrings were worth that much...I was only like 14 at the time and couldn't miss out on the challenge...a total Casket Carrier for myself, am I right? Mom suggested I do a year of home schooling, then I went to online. My grades still sucked, haha..."

"You...my lovely boyfriend...a felon!" Jimin laughs into the mic, stomping his Converse on the living room floor. Knowing Jungkook's troubled past, it's easy for him to picture Junghyun telling his family that Jungkook was too buzzed to drink safely. If Jungkook was known as Busan's bad boy, then wouldn't' it make sense for him to crash his father's car? Now I see how they got away with covering it up. No one would doubt some delinquent crashing a car. "Does that mean I get to use handcuffs on you?"

"WOAH WOAH WOAH THERE, MELONSEXY-"

"Only to arrest you, of course. Cuz I failed to arrest you on the Han River trail when you wouldn't stop slurping your stupid lemonade."

"There was some left in the bottom of the cup! That was not a crime!" Jungkook defends, now kicking the door. Wait...

"Jungkook! How are you doing that!!" Melonaju points at Pluto's legs, which move separately to nudge the door with black shoes. "Your controls must have changed! Your legs...oh, it's too beautiful!"

"Hahaha! I've never been able to do this before! I'M A FUCKING NINJA WOO LOOK AT THIS! ROUNDHOUSE KICK ALL THE WAY, BACK KICK, FAN KICK-"

"Ouch!" Melonaju gets kicked across the cathedral floor, sliding on his crop-topped back to hit one of the glamorous pillars upholding the building. "Somebody call the cops, my boyfriend is trying to kill me!"

"I'll call them!! BEEP BOOP BOOP--yes, hello? Someone is trying to kill my boyfriend. Do I know who it is? Maybe, but I won't tell you! No...wait--yes...no, ma'am! No ma'am, I haven't been acting violent-"

"Yes he has!" Jimin chides over the headset to the fake operator. He loves when Pluto and him get into skits, because he has gotten better at acting and finds it fun. Jungkook enjoys playing along too. "My boyfriend is a convicted felon, someone please put him behind bars!"

Pluto darts towards Melonaju on the cathedral floor, kicking into the air. Jimin is fascinated by the strange movement out of the sponge. For 64 levels he hasn't seen SpongeBob so much as lift a single foot. He's so used to seeing the smooth slide that Jungkook's character does. I'm so glad that he's getting better. Those electro pads must be working miracles. Or maybe it was the sexual therapy.

"I'm not a felon! I only got a misdemeanor!" Pluto misses Melonaju on the first kick, making contact with the tall marble. A sponge foot bounces off of the pillar while Melonaju rolls away. "Get back here, Melonscam! You know you find a bad boy hotter than a boring goody two shoes! I'm a solid million percent sexy tattoo artist bad boy made specifically for Thick Stuff. Not a cooped up, same-joke-different-day law intern!"

At the mention of Jinyoung, Jimin can't help but laugh at the accurate description of the other. "Oooh...burn. I'll have to tell him you said that."

"No! I was kidding!!" Pluto's leg swirls in the air uncoordinatedly. Then, he stops and sets his leg down. "Wait, so are you and Jinyoung like, close now? Like...friends? You just told me yesterday that his father was the one that helped you, so...you can't be enemies anymore..."

"That's right. We're friends." Oooh...do I sense jealousy? He knows I don't like Jinyoung like that, but it's definitely there. "Jinyoung's not that bad since he's not trying to get into my pants anymore."

Jungkook gasps, then groans, then whines, then slams a fist down on Patrick's armrest. Jimin hears all of the noises in his headset and has absolutely no clue what's going on in the other's mind. The younger speaks in a whisper out of the blue.

"Is he...is he uh, bigger than me, Jimin?" A reserved question with hints of insecurity. Jimin nearly dies inside at the random comparison question."Is he as good a kisser as me?"

Blushing profusely, Jimin grasps at the side of his face. He did not expect Jungkook to take it in this direction, but he guesses if he needs to affirm Jungkook's sexual prowess, he will. 

"F-first of all..."

"Was he really good in bed?"

"Kook! Stop it. Your dick is bigger than his--his kissing was too messy and rushed, and he was drunk the one time I was with him...okay? You already know I'm going to choose you every time, babe."

Jungkook chuckles lowly through his headphones, and Jimin swears he can feel Jungkook's fingertips on him outside of the headset. His hands quickly come up to his stomach, but nothing is there. Damn it. He's making me all hot and bothered, and he's not even here.

"Kinda sad you aren't here for our round two of sexual therapy." Jungkook confesses, and in the game the sponge sidles over to the door. Melonaju follows, appreciating the way that the sponge's legs are moving differently than before. More normally. "I miss your lips on mine, your body against mine, your moans in my ear-"

"ENOUGH!" Jimin's entire body is feeling zappy and hot from the younger's deep drawl telling him how much he misses touching him. "Jungkook, we have a level to beat, not our meat to beat! Get your head out of the gutter for a second...um, but maybe...we could...uh-"

"After we play, I'll video call you, how about that?! You in?" The younger sounds eager. Melonaju nods vehemently in the game, a perfect translation of Jimin's violent head bobs in real life.

"Yes. Yes, please."

Melonaju crosses his legs while standing, and Jungkook giggles darkly in his headphones.

"Wonderful, Melonsexy. Let's rush through this level. Count down for me?"

Jimin curses his boyfriend as much as he adores him. His nose wrinkles against the headset. "Of course, felon. Three, two, one-"

"SUFFICE!" They shout, opening the door. 

Almost instantly, they're met with a swinging lightbulb above the stark heavy metal of a thick table. Two gray chairs line one edge of the table, slightly pulled back. On the far wall, a rectangular paneled mirror shows their characters' reflections. The sponge darts into the room, kicking the chair.

"Well isn't this ironic! An interrogation room! Woah...look Melonboy! The side of that wall has English letters on it."

Jimin swivels in his headset, finding the black letters painted on the wall behind them. They're all capital--all lined up neatly, but Jimin doesn't know what they mean. 

"Uh...I don't think that's in English...veritas vincit? What does that even mean?" Melonaju skims over the letters on the wall with a digital hand, wondering their significance. "Do you have your phone nearby, Kook?"

"Mhmm. Why? Oh, you probably want me to...oh, where is it..." A brief pause on Jungkook's side as his hand feels around blindly for the phone. "HEY SIRI! YEAH YOU...HEY SIRI!! OH YOU HEARD ME? OKAY UM, WHAT DOES...VERITAZ VINCEET MEAN IN KOREAN?"

Jimin listens for the robotic sound of the lady living in the phone. 

("Veritas vincit is Latin for 'truth prevails.' It is a motto inscribed on the banner of the Czech Republic-")

"YEAH YEAH THANKS SIRINATOR YOU CAN SLEEP NOW!" Jungkook screams before tossing his phone somewhere. Jimin giggles, picturing the phone landing on Jungkook's large, soft bed...the same bed that he's grown to find a symbol of safety, laying in Jungkook's arms and feeling warm against the other as they sleep. "Truth prevails, Melonliar! I'm guessing we're about to take a lie detector test. Time for the juicy stuff to come out."

"Riiiigghhht..." Melonaju steps up to the table, assuming the level starters are the chairs. 

Jimin feels a sense of dread wash over him as he takes a seat in the chair...for a phobia, the truth can be very, very scary. Growing up homosexual, Jimin didn't want to accept the truth of being attracted to men, initially scared that he would be seen as an outcast. Now I'm over that...but there are so many truths that I hate to address even more than that one.

The truth of Gyuri's sexual abuse and manipulation over him made him afraid of women for a good four years. The truth of Jungkook getting injured by Gyuri's father hurts him more than he can put into words. The truth of the situation scares him. In a perfect world, he wouldn't have to address those truths, forgetting about all of his issues to fall into his boyfriend's arms. But seeing Perilation push him towards candor makes it more personal. It's as if the game is forcing him to comply to the world's standard of honesty, no matter how brutal the truth is.

I'm trying to protect Jungkook by not telling him about Gyuri...if he knows about her, he'll immediately be on her hitlist...I can't afford to have him affected by this too! Jimin's inner voice tries to reassure him, but it's instantly blocked out by Jungkook's fake louder one. 'You know that's not true, Melonboy. You know if you told me I would understand the situation and help you in any way that I could! I don't care if that means I'd get threatened, as long as I can be there for you. If you're in trouble, why don't you tell me? What are you afraid of?'

"Shall we start the level?" Jimin cuts the fake Pluto out of his mind, holding out the chair for the sponge to take. When both seats are occupied, Jimin's screen instantly shifts as he's thrown into the level. 

.

♥ welcome to level 65: Verisimilitude ♥

♥ here, you will be asked ♥

♥ QUESTIONS! :) ♥

♥ and you will be forced ♥

♥ to answer them TRUTHFULLY ♥

♥ your pulse strips never LIE! ♥

♥ ONE UNTRUTH, ONE STRIKE! ♥

♥ three strikes...and you're out. ♥

.

"So baseball but for liars." Pluto97 is sitting across from him at a dimly lit table in a congested room. "Here, let's practice. I'll pitch a super fast curve ball to you right now, and you have to tell the truth. Would you rather eat a candy necklace off of me or lick whipped cream off of my abs?"

Jimin squirms in place. Fuck this boy for making me think such blissful things. "The second one. With the candy necklace I always end up biting through the string and then the little candy pieces get everywhere. Plus, candy necklaces have blueberry flavor and those ones-"

"Taste like old milk--oh! Why didn't I think of that!" Jungkook noisily hits his wheelchair's arms some more. "Now you give me one. Another would you rather question--and I'll promise to tell the truth."

Jimin thinks hard for a moment. Then, something pops into his mind. "Okay, but you have to answer one hundred percent honestly. Would you rather go without soup for a week to have me stay at your house all seven days--or have all the soup you want but I only come over for the weekend?"

Silence on the other end. Jimin almost snickers, the amount of thought the younger is putting into this is hilarious. I knew he'd be conflicted. Soup is his super hero--hah! SOUPER HERO! And I wouldn't blame him for choosing his daily addictive healing potion over his annoying boyfriend-

"I choose Melonsoup!" Jungkook chides proudly. "Even though it would be painful to go an entire week without my mom's delicious soup, I'm finding out that the healing properties of my boyfriend are much greater than that of soup. Plus, then I'd get to see you for a whole week! You know all the things we'd do! That would be so fun! I could take you to my art classes, meet your parents, go out to restaurants, go sightseeing-"

.

♥ You must both answer on the sound of the chime. ♥

♥ A correct answer will be rewarded. ♥

♥ Incorrect answers ♥

♥ WILL N0T~! ♥

♥ BE TO♥LERATEDDDD!!! ♥

.

"But what if I need more time to think about it? How long do we have? Oh gosh, Jungkook, I'm horrible under pressure. What if it asks me my favorite candy but I can't decide and say the wrong one?"

Jungkook is fully serious in his ears. "Just go with your heart, Melonboy. If you are anxious while you answer, it might read that you're lying even if you're undecided. As long as you're confident in your answers, I think we'll be fine. This should be a piece of cake."

Jimin tugs at his hair, swaying around impatiently. Nervously. I really hope so...

.

♥ First Question. ♥

♥ What is your favorite color? ♥

.

Ding!

"Purple...and yellow!"

"Black and yellow!"

Jimin blinks as a purple and yellow flower sticker appears in the desk space in front of him. Across the table, Pluto traces a blackish yellow tulip, his dark sponge eyes studying the adhesive. Internally, Jimin sighs. If these are the questions that they'll be given, then Jungkook was right. This will be a piece of cake.

.

♥ Second Question. ♥

♥  Are you more of an OPTIMIST or a PESSIMIST? ♥

.

Ding!

"I'm a pessimist...I guess."

"I'm a beautiful, wonderful, happy-go-lucky optimist! Oh yeah I am!"

Jimin rolls his eyes, smiling from cheek to cheek. This might actually be kind of fun for them.

.

♥ Third Question. ♥

♥ What would SCARE you more? HURTING YOURSELF? or HURTING OTHERS? ♥

.

Ding!

"Hurting others!"

"Hurting others!!"

.

♥ Fourth Qu3stion. ♥

♥ Wh o makes y ou happy? ♥

.

Ding! 

"Jeon Jungkook!" Jimin grins.

"My beloved Melonboy Park Jimin!"

.

♥ Fifth QUesTION. ♥

♥ Has this PERSON ever hurt you before? ♥

.

"Uh..."

Ding!!

Jimin sighs. "Yes."

"...yeah."

.

♥ SIXTh Question. ♥

♥ Do you like B♥YS or GIRLS? ♥

.

Ding! DING!

"Boys!" Jimin asserts, creasing his brow as the chime sounds more aggressively. In front of him, the desk is filling with various stickers of all kinds. One is a sad face, another is sponge, another one is a knife. Whatever that means.

"I like both!" Jungkook clicks his tongue. "But I kinda got the hots for a boy at the moment..."

.

♥ SEven. Seven. ♥

♥ Do you like the sun or the moon more? ♥

.

Jimin thinks about it. Ever since working at Radon, he's gotten so used to seeing the moon as he goes into work and leaves work. He actually likes the moon, likes how it usually comes along with sparkling stars and the hope of something better. The power of nighttime. 

DING! DING DING!

"The moon."

"The sun!" Jungkook chimes.

.

♥ eightth quesstion. ♥

♥ do you hate someone right n0w? ♥

.

Jimin's stomach drops, his hands growing sweaty. He hopes the questions don't get too personal, otherwise...

DING!

"Yes. I do hate someone."

"Yes."

.

♥ Ninth Question. ♥

♥ WHO? ♥

.

FUCK. FUCk!! Nononono! Jimin bites his lip, trying to convince himself that he hates someone else more than Gyuri. He imagines himself punching the person with the messy bun and black jumpsuit, a false hatred building up in his veins with the hope that the lie detector won't pick this one up. Please...please work. Jungkook can't know about her. Not yet.

Ding!

"I hate my father for getting us into an accident and tearing our family apart."

Jimin gulps. "I hate the lead game maker for programming this game to be so-"

.

♥ WRONG!!! WR0NGWRONGWRONG!!! ♥

♥ PARK JIMIN, YOU HAVE LIED. ♥

♥ A HORRIBLE SIN. ♥

♥ ONE STRIKE. ♥

.

Jungkook gasps in his ear. "What? Melonpie...were you indecisive on that one or something? I told you if you couldn't choose to be confident. Unless you don't hate anyone? But you already answered that you hated someone..."

"Yeah, I don't know...maybe we have different definitions of hate?" Jimin clenches his fists at his sides. "Sorry about that, Jungkook. I'll try harder, sorry."

The sponge nods quietly, watching as Melonaju's stickers get blood poured all over them. Jimin cringes at the realistic graphics of the slips of sticky paper getting doused in the substance. All because of one lie. One strike. I can't...I can't afford to lose this level...please just...give us easier questions.

.

♥ Tenth Question :) ♥

♥ Are you scared of commitment? ♥

.

Jimin's shoulders relax at the question. Melonaju drums his fingers on the bloody desk.

Ding! 

"No."

"I used to be, but I'm not anymore...I have Jimin to prove that!" Pluto claps his hands a few times joyously. Then, the sponge makes a heart with his hands across the table. Melonaju reciprocates the gesture. Soon, both players get a lock and key sticker, although Jimin's is kind of bloody.

.

♥ eleVEnth Question. ♥

♥ What is your w0rst memory? ♥

.

Jimin's eyes widen, his fists pounding worriedly at his thighs. His stomach twists in knots, mouth growing dry. I've had a lot of bad memories...I just have to pick a bad one. A lot of them were bad. The game has to understand I can't just choose one. It doesn't have to be with Gyuri either, right?

Ding!

Jungkook clears his throat. His voice sounds a little sad. "When I first found out I was paralyzed...and that I was at fault for crashing the car. Now I know that's not true...but that day was the worst day of my life."

Jimin's heart twists for his boyfriend. And...because of something else. "My worst memory was when I found out Jungkook saw me kissing Jinyoung...and I thought he hated my guts-"

.

♥ WRONG. ENTIRELY WRRRONG!!! ♥

♥ LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR ♥

♥ PARK JIMIN ♥

♥ you keep lying >:( ♥

♥ STOP LYING! ♥

♥ TWO STRIKES!!! ♥

.

"JIMIN! One more strike and we're out! Why would you lie about your worst memory? Care to elaborate on that? You know I won't judge whatever the truth is."

Jimin bites the inside of his cheek hard. Enough to draw blood. He can taste the iron in the substance as more virtual blood gets poured on the desk space, spilling into Melonaju's lap. It takes sour, empty. I know you won't judge the truth, Jungkook. But I don't want you to think any differently about me. Will you touch me the same way...kiss me the same way if you knew that I've been forced into the same actions against my will at knifepoint? Would you pity me for the manipulation, the level of humiliation I put up with all those years? It's embarrassing...too embarrassing. 

"I couldn't decide on one...I just picked a bad memory at the last second and I'm sorry...but that truly is one of my worst memories...I hated that day! I'm just not as decisive as you are...I'm sorry, Kook. How are we going to beat this level? Ugh..."

"Just hope they ask simpler questions." Jungkook says, a tiny bit irritated. Jimin doesn't blame him. He wants their relationship to be open, to have a bond of trust. But something is holding Jimin back from telling Jungkook about Gyuri. Something within...the same force that prompted him to hold back his homosexuality back years ago. A protective wall that doesn't need to be there, yet still exists.

.

♥ QU3sTI0 N twelve. ♥

♥ what are you ALL3rgic to? ♥

.

Ding! 

"Nothing...that I know of...I mean, I have allergies. Does that count? I couldn't tell you if I'm more allergic to mold or pollen? Is that a good enough answer?"

"I think that's acceptable. I mean, they can't punish you for not knowing. I'm personally allergic to certain kinds of latex. This one time, when I was in middle school and dressing up as a bloody zombie for Halloween, my entire face broke out in a horrible rash after applying liquid latex..."

.

♥ Question thirteen. ♥

♥ Do y0u ♥believe♥ in l0ve? ♥

.

ding ding ding ding ding ding!

"Yes. Of course."

"Yep."

.

♥ Q uestion fourteen. ♥

♥ ARe you in love? ♥

.

Jimin blinks at the question. Him and Jungkook have never really spoken about love before. He knows there's an attraction between them, an undeniable like, great company...but love? His insides twist as he rereads the question a few times. What does that phrase even mean? He's in love with candy, in love with the idea of love. But is he in love with Jungkook? 

Ding!!!!! DING DIng! 

"Uh..." Jimin is terrified that their answers won't agree. Wouldn't that be terrible? Absolutely awful for the one person that differs...awful for both of them? Does Jungkook love me this early in our relationship? We never even spoke out this...oh God...what if-

"Yes."

Jimin audibly gasps, clenching his chest as butterflies erupt in his stomach. "Yes."

Thank fucking god he said yes. I was so scared. Jungkook...loves me? I can almost hear him now. 'It was love at first sight, Melonheart.' Oh, what bullshit, what beautiful...lovely love love love love lovely bullshit that I'd love to lovely believe...he loves me? No...yes!! lovelovelovelove-

.

♥ Question FIFT3EN ♥

♥ Are you a righty or a lefty? ♥

.

"Okay, what the fuck is up with these questions. First they ask if I like the moon, then they ask if I like...erm, love my boyfriend, then they ask if I'm a righty or a lefty even though in settings you have to choose before you play! What bullshit. It's like these questions are pulled out of a hat!"

"Right! What are the game going to ask next, what  sassy stuff we're going to do after this? Haha."

Ding!

"I'm a righty, you dumbass game."

"Me too, you dumbass game."

.

♥ Question >:( ♥

♥  CALCU l4ting... ♥

♥ 'What are you doing after this? HAHA.'  ♥

.

Pluto's sponge arms punch out in the air, as if punching the words on his screen. Melonaju does the same, cursing the game for it's adaptive listening feature that enables it to learn and process their speech. That's so fucking creepy.

 DING!

"Well, I'm going to uh, video call Jungkook...maybe uh, get a little wild-"

"GET A LOT WILD! We're going to have so much fun with sexual therapy today! You hear that, Perilation-"

"Hey, don't interrupt my answer! What if the game reads my getting cut off as a lie!"

"Oh, sorry. Go on."

"Uh...so...he's going to um...help me out with something..."

"Don't be shy about it. It's healthy to express your sexuality. And super sexy."

"ME AND JUNGKOOK ARE GOING TO BEAT OUR MEAT! There, is that good, Kook darling?"

"BAAHAHAHAHH!! THAT'S THE BEST! THAT'S RIGHT GAME, WE'RE GOING TO-"

.

♥ YuUCK. QUestion next.♥

♥ question NEXT. ♥

♥ NEXT QUesiton. ♥

♥ NEXT. ♥

.

"What in Satan's quarters? Is it broken?" Jimin studies the font dripping down his screen. It's almost as if the game is unsure, or having trouble calculating another question. 

"I think we made it too flustered, Melonsexy. HAHA!" Jungkook giggles into his ear, a welcome sound at anytime. It reminds Jimin that this boy is in love with him...and he's in love with this boy too. "Let's ask it some questions."

"Okay. Hey, Perilation. Yo dawg...alert. Attention. We have some questions for you."

"It's not gonna answer us, but i want to ask the first one." Pluto waves his arms around, as if trying to get the game maker's attention. 

"Go for it, babe."

"When we get to the Winner's Circle, will we get free food? It isn't worth it unless there's free food." 

Jimin snorts, gripping at the edge of his green crop top. "That's true! Hey game? Will you make some soup for my boyfriend? And make me a batch of chocolate cupcakes with triple yellow frosting and purple sprinkles?"

"Oooh...those sound good. You know, we should try baking next time I see you."

"Great idea! If that means I wear a kiss the chef apron and smear frosting all over your lips, then I'm in." Jimin imagines the scene and instantly feels bubbly inside. He misses Jungkook really bad. Staying at home over the weekend has never felt so lonely. Sure, Hoseok is sometimes home...but it isn't the same. Hoseok is normally either out with Thea or exercising.

.

♥ Enough ♥

♥ SM4LL ♥

♥ TALK ♥

♥ QUESTI 0 ♥N sevent33n ♥

♥ over the course of your life...♥ ♥♥♥

♥ have you ever ♥

♥ experienced any SERIOUS trauma? ♥

.

Melonaju stills in the chair. Pluto does too, but not for the same reason. Fuck!! We're already two strikes in...I can't afford to lie. If I lose the game for us this far in, Pluto will never forgive me. That would be terrible...I can't-

DINGDIngDINGDING!!

"Sadly, yes." Jungkook sighs. 

That was expected, the younger was in a car accident. Physical trauma. But Jimin's answer isn't. "Y-yes. I have."

In his headphones, the younger sucks in a breath. "Wait...what?"

.

♥ ♥ ♥qusd♥♥sdfu♥♥

♥ What kind of ♥

♥ trauma or abuse? :) ♥

♥ have you suffered???? ♥

♥ LIST ALL THAT APPLY!! ♥

.

No...no, you can't do this to me. Don't make me think about that. Don't make me...don't...

"Um...I don't want to an-answer. I really don't want to answer. I r-really don't." Jimin doesn't even realize he's speaking out loud until the younger starts making confused noises in his headphones.

"Jimin. Calm down...it's just a game, remember. You don't have to answer anything you don't want to." The younger's voice comes out slow, like a half-frozen river. "Don't worry about-"

"But Jungkook! We'll lose the level...I c-can't have us losing...I..."

DINGDING! DING! 

DIng!

Jungkook answers first. "I have physical trauma to my body from the car accident. Mental trauma from being lied to and ...from the a-attempts at my taking my life when I was really depressed. I was diagnosed with PTSD by a psychiatrist after the accident...I think that's uh...about it."

Jimin hates hearing those words. He hates thinking about Jungkook suffer. His heart pounds in panicky bouts in his chest, hitting his ribs painfully. Your turn Jimin. Just say it. Knowing the basics of what you went through won't give Jungkook that bitch's name. It won't explain everything. Just get it out of the way and blow it off later. Tell him it's a story for another time.

Ding!! DING DInG DING DIng!!

"Jimin...you have to answer now."

"I...I know." Jimin inhales sharply, covering Melonaju's face with his hands. "I...I..."

Ding!! DI-

"I was emotionally abused, verbally abused...uh, s-sexually a-abused...I have suffered mental and physical trauma in my past...n-negative emotions surrounding women and my b-body image f-from...it."

The words all spill out, and Jimin finds himself feeling faint afterwards. In his headset, Jungkook is dead silent--Pluto97 doesn't make a move.

Suddenly, blood rains from the ceiling along with yellow confetti, and happy music plays spontaneously in his headset. Jimin feels his eyes growing wet as they're transported back to the cathedral, hanging his head for letting all of that out. Jungkook doesn't know the specifics, but he has the outline...and there's no doubt that he'll be curious to know more. Please don't ask about it.

"S-so...we...beat the l-level." Melonaju stutters out after the sponge turns to him in silence. 

"Yes. We did."

Jimin winces at the tone in the younger's voice. He can put his finger on the other's emotion. Pity? Sorrow? Anger that Jimin hadn't told him earlier?

"...um...uh, so...do you still want to u-uh, v-video call because I don't think right now is the b-best time."

"Jimin." Jungkook's voice is stiff. "I'm...wait...so you weren't lying about any of that? All of that stuff you said before about the um...emotional, verbal...and s-sexual abuse is...true?"

Jimin's breath hitches in his throat, a lump growing there. Maybe it's just his imagination, but Jungkook seems to be disappointed. He probably thinks he can't trust me. His own boyfriend.

"Y-yes...it's...true."

Jungkook is silent for a long while, staring at his character in the game. Then, the sponge character speaks.

"I was going to wait to tell you this..."

Jimin holds his breath. Oh no...now he's going to lecture me on lying, on how HORRIBLE of a boyfriend I am, of how much he doesn't trust me because I always keep things from him...

Jungkook clears his throat loudly. His voice comes out breathy. Completely serious.

"...but I'm actually in Seoul right now. The investigators contacted my mother and told her Junghyun was here. So she insisted on going. I was going to surprise you at Radon tonight, but now that you...said that..."

Jimin's stomach clenches. Jungkook's not going to come and see m-me. He's going to give me distance and avoid me so that he doesn't have to see his disgrace of a boyfriend. He frowns deeply, clutching at his face in the headset. 

Jungkook sighs.

"I'm coming over. Right now."

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