Wounds That Won't Heal

The following day felt like a blur for Jimin. Rehearsal ran longer than expected, and he found himself pushing the dancers harder than usual, frustrated by small mistakes he normally would’ve brushed off. But the tightness in his chest never eased, his mind always drifting back to the inevitable conversation with Yoongi.

By the time the final run-through finished, sweat dripped down his temples, and his muscles ached from hours of practice. But none of that compared to the dread that had settled deep in his stomach.

He knew he couldn’t put this off any longer.

As the dancers filed out of the studio, offering tired waves and goodbyes, Jimin lingered, taking slow, deliberate breaths to steady himself. He wiped his face with a towel, glancing at the clock. Yoongi would be here any minute.

“Are you staying late again?” Junho’s voice startled him, and Jimin turned to see the director leaning against the doorway, watching him with a concerned look.

Jimin shook his head, managing a faint smile. “No, I’ll be out soon. Just need to finish a few things.”

Junho gave him a long look, clearly sensing that something was off, but he didn’t push. “Alright. See you tomorrow, then.”

As soon as Junho left, the studio fell into silence, the only sound being the distant hum of the air conditioning. Jimin stared at the mirrored walls, his reflection tired and frayed at the edges. His mind raced with what he would say to Yoongi. How could he even begin to unravel everything that had been left unsaid for five years?

The door creaked open, and Jimin’s heart leapt into his throat. He didn’t need to look to know who it was.

“Hey.” Yoongi’s voice was quiet but firm, like a wave breaking against the shore, steady and constant.

Jimin turned slowly, eyes locking onto Yoongi’s. He was still in his usual black hoodie and sweatpants, a look so familiar it almost hurt to see. Yoongi looked the same—yet different. His eyes held the same intensity, but there was something deeper now. Something weary.

“Hey,” Jimin echoed, standing straighter, clutching the towel in his hands as if it could anchor him. “You wanted to talk?”

Yoongi nodded, stepping further into the studio, but keeping his distance. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, his gaze briefly flicking to the floor before landing back on Jimin. “Yeah. I think we should.”

Jimin exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the towel. “Okay.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable, filled with all the things they hadn’t said for years.

Yoongi cleared his throat, glancing away for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. “It’s been a long time.”

Five years. A lifetime. Jimin almost scoffed, but instead, he nodded, keeping his voice even. “Yeah. It has.”

Yoongi shifted on his feet, his hands still deep in his pockets, as if he didn’t trust himself to let them free. “I don’t know how to start this… there’s a lot I want to say.”

Jimin swallowed, feeling his heart race in his chest. He had waited for this moment, but now that it was here, he didn’t know if he could handle it.

“Then just say it,” Jimin said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Yoongi met his eyes, and for the first time in years, Jimin saw something raw and vulnerable in his gaze. “I never wanted it to end like that.”

Jimin’s breath hitched, his chest tightening as old wounds reopened. The breakup had been so sudden, so cold. He had been left without answers, with nothing but a gaping hole where their love had once been.

“You left,” Jimin whispered, his voice shaking. “You didn’t even explain. You just… walked away.”

Yoongi’s jaw clenched, guilt flashing in his eyes. “I know. I was a coward.”

The admission hung in the air, and for a moment, Jimin didn’t know how to respond. He had spent years trying to understand why Yoongi had ended things without warning, why he had disappeared from his life with no explanation. Now, hearing Yoongi admit to his cowardice felt both validating and infuriating.

“Why?” Jimin asked, his voice rising slightly as the emotions he had buried for so long came bubbling to the surface. “Why did you leave, Yoongi? Why didn’t you fight for us?”

Yoongi’s expression tightened, and he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. “Because I was scared.”

“Of what?” Jimin’s voice cracked, and he hated how small and broken he sounded. But he couldn’t help it. His heart was laid bare, exposed in a way that left him vulnerable to whatever Yoongi would say next.

“Of losing you,” Yoongi said, his voice soft but laced with pain. “Of ruining everything. I thought if I stayed… if we kept going the way we were, I’d hurt you more.”

Jimin shook his head, disbelief washing over him. “You *did* hurt me. You hurt me by leaving. Do you know how long I waited for you to come back? How long I hoped you’d call? And you never did.”

Yoongi flinched at Jimin’s words, and the guilt in his eyes deepened. “I know. I know I messed up, Jimin. I should’ve handled things differently. I should’ve fought for you, for us. But back then… I didn’t know how.”

Jimin’s heart ached at Yoongi’s honesty. There was no anger in his voice, just regret. And for the first time in years, Jimin realized that Yoongi had been just as lost as he had.

“I thought I was protecting you,” Yoongi continued, his voice low. “But all I did was push you away.”

Jimin closed his eyes, tears prickling behind his lids. He had imagined this conversation so many times in his head, but he hadn’t expected it to hurt this much.

“I was ready to stay, Yoongi,” Jimin whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I would’ve stayed if you had just asked.”

Silence followed his words, and Jimin felt a tear slip down his cheek before he could stop it. He wiped it away quickly, not wanting to show Yoongi how deeply he was still affected.

Yoongi took a step closer, his expression pained. “I’m sorry, Jimin. For everything. I know it’s too late, but I need you to know that I regret how things ended. I’ve regretted it every day.”

Jimin’s throat tightened, and for a moment, all he wanted to do was collapse into Yoongi’s arms, to let him comfort him like he used to. But he couldn’t. Not yet.

“You can’t just apologize and expect everything to be okay,” Jimin said quietly, wiping his eyes. “It’s been five years, Yoongi. You can’t undo that.”

Yoongi’s gaze softened, and he nodded slowly. “I know. I don’t expect you to forgive me right away. But I want to make things right. If you’ll let me.”

Jimin hesitated, his heart warring with his mind. Part of him wanted to run, to avoid the pain of reopening old wounds. But another part of him—the part that had never truly stopped loving Yoongi—wanted to give him a chance.

“I don’t know if I can trust you again,” Jimin admitted, his voice trembling.

Yoongi stepped closer, his eyes full of determination and something else—hope. “Then let me earn it. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

Jimin looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of insincerity. But all he saw was Yoongi, raw and open, offering a second chance.

“I don’t know,” Jimin whispered, feeling the weight of the past pressing down on him.

Yoongi took one last step forward, closing the distance between them. He reached out, his hand hovering just inches from Jimin’s arm. “I’m not going anywhere this time, Jimin. I promise.”

Jimin stared at him, his heart pounding in his chest. Could he really do this? Could he let Yoongi back in after everything that had happened?

“I’ll think about it,” Jimin finally said, his voice barely audible.

Yoongi nodded, a small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips. “That’s all I’m asking for.”

As Yoongi turned to leave, Jimin felt a mix of emotions swirl inside him—hope, fear, longing, and pain. He wasn’t sure what the future held, but for the first time in years, he felt a spark of something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.

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