Author's pov:

The dark silence welcomed him as he opened the door of his library, he looked around the room and he could feel the pain locked inside each and every corner, the yearning for its real owner, for his Dad. A small smile displayed on his lips as he wondered how he and the library wished to get the same person back to life.

Jimin walked in leisurely, not even bothering to turn on the lights, his mind was racing with many thoughts. Why could he never make anyone happy? Why did everyone suffer because of him? He was such a disgrace.

His legs halted in front of the large window, and he looked up at the sky, even the moon seemed to be disappointed at his actions. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he remembered the precious words his dad had uttered to him.

‘Jimin-ah.’ He called faintly, as he stroked his son’s hair who was fast asleep on his bed after a long day. Jimin had sports day, he had won in every event that he had participated in, except for the relay race in which his team came last. He was upset because he was the one who tripped on the ground and couldn’t win it. He was demotivated.

‘You might think that you have failed, but you didn’t my boy. So what if you didn’t win the race? You won the hearts of all the people who were supporting you, you didn’t let their cheers go to waste. Instead of giving up, you stood on your feet and tried to win the race.’ He said he was one of those people who were supporting Jimin.

He had seen the audience go wild when Jimin stood up and ran again, the loud howls, claps and his names being called was the only thing Mr. Park could hear now. He chuckled and added, ‘You don’t know it, but you have made everyone happy, made them feel so proud of you just like how I am.’

He held Jimin’s little hands and continued, ‘And my only advice to you is, keep doing this. Don’t give up, try again, make them happy, let them be proud of you.’

Mr. Park kissed the crown of his head, ‘I will leave now, I love you. Sweet dreams.’ He smiled one last time before leaving the room, unaware that Jimin was just pretending to be asleep. How could he sleep when all he could think about was of the earlier events but thanks to his dad, all his demotivation had vanished into thin air. He smiled to himself.

‘I love you too, Dad. Thank you.’

A tear ran down his eye as he scoffed, his dad was so wrong about him. Who did he make proud now? Who was proud of him? Who was happy because of him? Nobody was.

“Why were you proud of me, Dad?” He asked, looking up at the sky as hot tears filled his eyes and rolled down his cheeks, he harshly wiped them away and added, “You see me, right? Grandma told me that you and mom see me everyday, Dad, are you proud of my actions?” His chest heaved up and down as he cried.

“Are you happy that I hurt Helvin? I hurt grandma with my lies, I hurt everybody!” His heart ached, he felt as if his heart would rip open with the excess amount of pain that slept in there. He couldn’t control his emotions, he didn’t know why he could never try and make someone happy.

He turned his back to the black sky and plopped down on the floor, pressing his knees to his chest and burying his face, he sobbed quietly. He felt so useless to his family and everyone else, he wished to die but he had no courage to physically harm himself.

✦

Taehyung ran towards the library as fast as he could, he was worried, worried that something must have happened to Jimin and he might do something to himself, even though he knew the older wouldn’t, there was still a five percent possibility of self harm.

The cold breeze splashed onto his face as he kept running, he refused to come out at this cold hour at night but he had to go against his plans all for the sake of Jimin.

The older man would never drive at a fast pace unless he was angry and Taehyung had noticed it twice, once it was because of Mia constantly annoying him and the other was when his grandma disapproved of him running the library. She wanted him to take over the business but he had already placed his heart in the library.

Once he reached there, he quickly opened the gate and sprinted to open the door but he hesitated, would Jimin feel annoyed if he interfered in his matter? He didn’t want to anger the older man but he also didn’t want to walk away without checking up on him.

He pushed the door open and darkness hit him, why didn’t Jimin turn on the lights? He stepped in and saw that the only source of light was the moon that shone through the large windows. He walked further and his ears perked up at the sound of faint weeps that came from a corner.

His eyebrows creased, ‘Was Jimin crying? But why?’

He hurried to the back of the shelves, the sobs got louder and louder and he finally saw his favorite person cuddled up. He panicked and ran towards him.

“Jimin hyung!”

Jimin’s eyes shot open and he snapped up his head only to find Taehyung coming to his way and then kneeling down in front of him, concern was the only thing that he could see in the younger’s face.

“Why are you crying? What’s wrong?” He questioned in a hushed tone as he touched the older’s forehead and cheeks as if to check if he had fever even though he knew that wasn’t the matter.

Jimin couldn’t form words as he just sat there staring at him with wide red eyes, he had no idea why he was surprised at the younger’s presence.

Taehyung gulped and gently held his shoulders and shook him, “Hyung?” His tone rose as every second that Jimin didn’t respond to him, was making him restless.

Jimin snapped out of his trance and licked his lips, “Taehyung..” he breathed out, “Why are you here?” He stuttered, eyeing him from top to bottom.

Taehyung shook his head, “What happened to you? Why are you crying?” It wasn’t important as to why he was here, he just wanted to know what was it that made the older so vulnerable.

He forced on a smile and replied, “I-I..I’m okay—“

But Taehyung immediately cut him off, “Do not lie!” Jimin gulped, “I have never seen you cry, hyung. I’m worried, please tell me.” He requested, cupping his cheeks ever so tenderly, at the moment even his eyes were tearing up.

Jimin’s lips quivered and he slowly closed his eyes as he began crying, Taehyung embraced him without wasting a second. He rubbed his back as he controlled himself from crying and whispered comforting words into his ears.

They stayed in that position for what felt like a minute or so until Jimin gradually calmed down, he was no longer crying, just sniffling every now and then. Taehyung sat quiet as he decided to ask him once he was completely cool, he guessed that the topic must be sensitive.

Jimin slowly pulled back and refused to meet the younger’s eyes, but Taehyung was persistent. He couldn’t hold it anymore, “What’s bothering you?” He asked again, brushing his hair.

Jimin closed his eyes at the gesture, it was so relaxing that he almost forgot about everything but Taehyung’s questions wouldn’t let him. He sighed and wiped away his tears, “I..I feel worthless.” He stammered, all this time he was quiet, he was just thinking on how he should tell the younger.

Would it be okay to tell him? Was he reliable? And his heart and mind both had only one answer: yes. And he did, although he wasn’t planning on telling everything but he would open up about things that he thought he would be able to handle.

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows and he scowled at the older, how could he think of himself like that? He scolded, “You better not think that way! How dare you? You are not worthless. Who said that?”

A sigh escaped the older’s lips as he just looked down at his fingers and answered, “I am. I’m mean to everyone and hurt them with my words, and that’s the biggest mistake I have ever made.” Tears pooled his eyes as he continued, “because right now, the same people are taking revenge on me. And it’s true that Karma hits back. It surely does.”

Taehyung silently watched him shedding tears and then wiping them off and the same repeating while he said, “I’m really a disgrace to Park Family. I..I couldn’t make my parents proud. My grandma, she thinks I obey her and will do so in the future too but only if she knew that her grandson was already involved in something she despised.”

“And my friends?” He airily chuckled and added, “I know that hyungs and Jungkook are just tolerating me, they don’t like some of my actions yet they have never said a word about it and here I am, building y’all’s trust with my lies.” He sniffled and by this time, Taehyung couldn’t take it anymore and he pulled him into a hug and that was enough for Jimin to break down, to show his vulnerability again.

Taehyung soothed his back, he could hear Jimin saying, “I’m such a bad friend! A bad son and a bad grandson. I make nobody happy. I’m not worth anybody’s love.” Even though that turned out as a muffle, the younger could still make out the exact words.

He shook his head and sniffled, “Shh..” he was crying, he couldn’t see Jimin like this. Seeing this side of the older man made his heart tight, it was as if his heart couldn’t beat anymore due to suffocation. But he didn’t care about himself because at the moment, trying to fix back Jimin’s heart was more important.

He pushed him away gently and looked into his brown orbs as he spoke, “Hyung, Listen to me, okay?” Jimin just stared at him with teary eyes, he didn’t want to cry but he couldn’t control himself but he was trying.

“You are not worthless. And, it’s..it’s okay if you were mean to somebody, whatever happened, happened. You can’t change it, but yes, you can ask for their forgiveness and make everything right between yourselves.” Jimin listened to him without uttering a word, letting the younger one pour some facts into him.

Taehyung sighed, “And hyung, your family loves you no matter what you have done or how you have treated them. You are their son, grandson, you are one of their blood and they can never hate you.”

L A tear escaped the latter’s eye and he bit his lips in order to handle himself, Taehyung gently wiped it off and added, “There’s no human being who has done only bad deeds, there are good deeds of him too which are worth being proud of. Uncle and Aunt are proud of you.”

Jimin wanted to object but he was shushed by the younger one as he continued, “I don’t know what lies you are talking about and I won’t push you to say it now, but look at me, hyungs and Jungkook. Aren’t we happy because of you? Hm?” The older looked up at him with curious eyes, were they happy? Really?

“Remember when you were sick but still insisted on helping out Jin hyung with his work and even took care of Namjoon hyung because he had food poisoning? When they told us about it, we could see the pride and lots of love in their eyes for you.” Taehyung said, smiling as he waited for a reaction from the older but all he received were tears.

“You help Hoseok hyung in his restaurant and whenever Yoongi hyung is sad and Hoseok hyung can’t make it, you take him out and make him happy. Have you ever noticed the pure adoration in their eyes, in their tone when they speak to you or when they call you by your name so sweetly?” He questioned, pushing back the black hair off of Jimin’s forehead.

Jimin could do nothing but process each and every word and realize that Taehyung wasn’t wrong but he was. The times when his grandma took care of him and provided him everything he asked for even when he got caught many times with his lies, showed her unconditional love for him. His lips curled up a bit.

“Jungkook is so cheerful whenever he is around you and so am I. We all feel so loved with you, hyung.” Taehyung murmured and cupped his cheeks ever so softly, “I feel like I’m in cloud nine whenever I’m with you.”

Jimin’s heart fluttered hearing those words, he gulped as their eyes met and it was now that he could see the love and care in the younger’s eyes. How was it that Taehyung could make him feel better with the use of words and nothing else? He wondered. His touches relaxed him and it was as if he wasn’t even crying hours ago.

He couldn’t take his eyes off of the younger, at that moment everything around him looked like a galaxy, infinite stars showering their blessings on them. He licked his lips and leaned in slowly, his eyes fixed on Taehyung’s lips, it was his target that he had to attack and he did but he didn’t know why.

Taehyung’s eyes dilated and he stiffened as Jimin captured his lips. What was he doing? What was going on? He was so shocked but he couldn’t move his limbs fast, it’s like his hands had only three percent energy but still with that less amount of energy he held Jimin’s shoulders and gave a slight push thinking that he would get the gesture and move back but in vain.

“Please..” The plea in his tone was audible and Taehyung swallowed thickly, he looked at Jimin who still had his eyes closed and lips just an inch away from his. He couldn’t resist the desperation or plea or whatever it was and closing his eyes, he kissed back.

Jimin’s heart sat on ease as their lips moved in a perfect coordination, the younger’s lips were so soft, as soft as a cotton candy that he would love to eat 24/7. He slid his fingers into the red hair and tugged them, Taehyung’s brain logged out entirely, he never imagined this, a kiss with Jimin.

The older had pulled him closer by his neck as he devoured him, he could hear the rapid beating of Taehyung’s heart against his own. Taehyung hesitated to wrap his arms around him but eventually gave in, the older felt so warm as always. Jimin was his favorite blanket in these cold nights, he knew that currently, he was not being himself but he didn’t care.

He loved the way Jimin kissed him so lovingly.

✦

Jimin’s Tesla froze in front of Kim's bungalow and he craned his neck to his right to have a look at Taehyung, who was seated with his head hanging low. He didn’t dare to look up or into Jimin’s eyes after they were done kissing, his face glowed like a pink neon light and he only responded with a yes or no.

The older one felt nervous, he was already regretting that kiss after seeing Taehyung’s reaction, he didn’t even let him put the seatbelt on for him. He wanted to punch himself or more like wanted to put his head out and roll up the car window. He shouldn’t have kissed him for his own pleasure.

He sighed and cleared his throat, looking back at the younger he called softly, “Tae?”

Taehyung flinched and looked around and at the end his eyes landed on the older man, who was staring at him in concern. He blinked profusely as his cheeks burned at the remembrance of their kiss, he looked away and unbuckled his seatbelt quickly.

“Take care.” He muttered before opening the door and climbing off, Jimin reached out to grab his hand but couldn’t get a hold of it as Taehyung was quick in shutting the door behind him. Jimin was left with his mouth wide open, he watched Taehyung close the gate and get inside his house, he seemed faster than the cheetah.

Jimin looked so dumbfounded, he wanted to cry again, he punched the steering wheel and screamed, “Fuck you Park Jimin!”

✦✧✦✧

Well, Hello there! Belated Merry Christmas to you all, I hope you guys have enjoyed your day! Take care of yourselves guys and have food on time, never skip it.

Who is ready to enter 2023??