Two more sessions had passed in group without Yoongi there. Jimin wasn't sure what to do. The guilt he felt for making Yoongi's life hell was getting to him, and he was concerned that Yoongi hadn't shown back up.

Jimin continued to try to catch Yoongi's eye in the halls, but Yoongi wouldn't even acknowledge Jimin's existence. Jimin eventually decided to skip class one day to stake out Yoongi's locker so he could get him in a position to talk to him.

But Yoongi, as soon as he saw Jimin standing at his locker, simply turned around and walked away. It was passing period, so many other students were in the halls with them. Even so, Jimin went after Yoongi. When he reached him, he grabbed his arm and pulled him into the bathroom. As soon as he was sure no one else was there, he finally confronted Yoongi.

"Yoongi, please come back to the group. I promise I'll keep everything you say to myself."

Yoongi snorted. "Sure."

"I will!" Jimin promised. "I haven't told anyone what you said last time you were there. I'll continue to not. Just...please come back."

"And why should I?"

"Because you need it. You need support. And I don't want to be the reason you don't get it."

"What changed your mind?"

Jimin looked at him confusedly. "What? I never – "

"What changed your mind from destroying my mental health to now being concerned about it?"

Jimin looked down. "I didn't know – "

"No," Yoongi spat. "You just didn't care."

A few moments of silence passed between them while Jimin summoned the courage to speak again.

"You're right."

Yoongi cocked an eyebrow.

"You're absolutely right," Jimin continued. "I didn't care about what I was doing to you. It never even occurred to me that it may affect you to the extent it does. But I would never want to be the reason someone - anyone - would end their life. I...I couldn't handle it."

"So, then this is all about you? About your feelings and your concerns? Okay sure, Jimin, I'll go back just so you can feel better about yourself."

Jimin's eyes widened. "No! No, that's not what I mean at all!"

"You know what, if you can show me you give a shit about my problems in any way, shape or form, I'll go back. But I won't hold my breath."

Yoongi then pushed the bathroom door open and walked away. Jimin watched him go and sighed, wondering what he could do to prove to Yoongi he was being sincere.

As Jimin walked out of the bathroom, he watched as one of his friends suddenly walked up to Yoongi and pushed him to the floor. His friend then kicked all of the belongings Yoongi had been holding around until they were scattered near and far from Yoongi. Jimin rushed over to them.

"Stop, Hwang," he said.

Hwang looked at Jimin confusedly. "What?"

"Let's just leave him alone."

"But why?"

"Why even waste your time on him?" Jimin said. "Just leave him be."

Hwang eyed Jimin. "You're acting weird."

Jimin sighed. "I know. Let's just go."

Hwang eventually shrugged and turned with Jimin to walk away from Yoongi. Jimin threw a glance over his shoulder and tried to smile at Yoongi, but he couldn't bring himself to. He and Yoongi both knew getting Hwang to back off was only temporary.

-

Yoongi took a deep breath before opening the conference room door. He couldn't believe he was back.

He kept his head down as he entered, but Mrs. Choi was so delighted to see him that she addressed him and brought everyone's attention to him.

"Yoongi! I'm so glad you decided to come back."

"I told someone I would if they helped me out," Yoongi muttered. He then looked up and his eyes immediately found Jimin's. Jimin smiled a small smile. Yoongi did not return it.

"Well," Mrs. Choi said as Yoongi found an empty seat. "We were just getting started. Jimin was about to share his story."

Yoongi's eyes fell on Jimin again, now curious as to what he was about to find out about his mortal enemy.

Jimin took a deep breath. "Okay, so I'm Jimin. Obviously. And there are actually a couple of reasons I'm here. The first is that I'm bulimic."

Yoongi stared at Jimin, surprised.

"I feel like I have an image to uphold. And I can't do that if I'm fat. I thought about just stopping eating, but then I know my parents would get suspicious. So, I binge and purge. It's...easier, I guess."

Mrs. Choi nodded encouragingly, waiting for him to continue after he'd paused for a few long moments.

"The other reason is that..." he paused again, afraid to continue. He chanced a glance at Yoongi and, at the non-judgmental look on Yoongi's face, he decided to proceed.

"I'm gay. And hiding it has led to me becoming depressed."

Yoongi's eyebrows shot up.

"I know I need therapy and medication, but I can't tell my parents about either of these things, so I can't get the help I know I need. They don't even know that I'm here. They think I'm tutoring a friend during each session."

"Jimin," Mrs. Choi said softly. "I'm so glad you're here. This shows that you do want to get help, which is more than a lot of people your age would do. I'm sorry that you feel you can't tell your parents about any of your problems, but I'm glad you're continuing to come here. We will all do whatever we can to support you."

There were head nods around the room, but Jimin looked over at Yoongi again. Yoongi didn't nod, but he didn't look like he was planning some sort of insidious plot to out Jimin to the school. Jimin felt himself relax a bit.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

-

That was the catalyst. Yoongi continued to come to group, and Jimin shared more and more about his issues and fears. He knew it was giving Yoongi ammo to possibly ruin his life, but Yoongi hadn't said anything thus far, so Jimin felt comfortable enough to continue to share.

Yoongi, however, had not spoken since he originally revealed his secret. Jimin found himself wishing Yoongi would share more, but for now, he was just grateful Yoongi was still going to group.

One day after a session, Jimin caught up to Yoongi at the bus stop before his bus showed up.

"Hey, Yoongi," he said carefully. "Can I ask you something?"

Yoongi looked at him suspiciously. "I guess."

"Are you really gay?"

Yoongi scoffed. "If I was, you think I'd want to confirm that for you?"

Jimin averted his eyes. "I just...I thought that if you were, maybe you could help me kinda come to some terms with the fact that I am."

"You want help from the faggot?"

Jimin dropped his head. "I'm sorry, Yoongi. I'm sorry I always called you that. I'd hate it if anyone called me that, so I can't imagine – "

"No, you can't," Yoongi confirmed. "And you'll never have to endure it. If you keep your sexuality a secret, that is. If you come out, though, be prepared for it. It's not fun."

Jimin nodded, still avoiding Yoongi's eyes. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

Yoongi sighed. "It's...whatever. It's fine."

Jimin shook his head. "It's not. I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could...I dunno, help somehow."

Yoongi cocked an eyebrow. "You want to help me?"

Jimin finally met Yoongi's eyes. "Yeah."

"Well, frankly, Jimin, if you can't figure out how to help me, then you're fucking stupid."

Jimin's eyes widened. "I – "

"Get your dumbass little friends to leave me the hell alone," Yoongi snapped. "They listen to you...you've always wielded that power around. But you've never used it for good."

"I-I know," Jimin replied, obviously ashamed. "And I'll try – "

Yoongi rolled his eyes. "Okay, you'll try."

"I will!" Jimin said fiercely. "I promise!"

"Jimin," Yoongi said tiredly, as though he were done trying to pretend he was interested in what Jimin had to say. "If you want me to be receptive of you and especially confide in you, you'll have to do better than try."

Jimin chewed on his bottom lip nervously. "I'll tell them to leave you alone. Really, I will. But I can't control what they do after that."

"Can't you? You're the ringleader."

Jimin thought long and hard about how scenarios of him telling his friends to leave Yoongi alone would go. It would not go over well, he knew; the boys would be suspicious. But Jimin knew he needed to at least try. He owed that much to Yoongi.

"I'll talk to them tomorrow," Jimin promised. "I'll make it clear they shouldn't mess with you anymore."

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "Okay," he said disbelievingly.