== Chapter 10 ==

                                                                                                                    Getting Left Behind                                                                                                          

Jimin watched with a shocked expression that was so well mirrored back at him by the other. He watched as the other hesitantly got up from the bench, clearly shocked and looking as if he had seen a ghost. He watched those eyes that screamed of just how many things they wanted to convey to him.

“YOU IDIOT!” Jimin screamed at the top of his lungs. He felt his tears now blurring up his view, yet still seeing clearly how taken aback the other was. It was a mixture of expressions from the other, as if he had misread this whole situation completely and here he was standing before Jimin who was so wronged by him.

“You!” Jimin screamed again, this time more muffled and lower. “If you were going to wait like an idiot that you are, you could have at least done it somewhere where I could ing see you!” he cursed, now not even bothering to control his tears or the loud sobbing. It didn’t appear the other was any less unaffected either, as the younger chocked up a bit, as tears began streaming down his cheeks just as messily as Jimins own.

He couldn’t even face the other now, his fingers darting for his own hair, harshly pulling on the strands as if checking that he really was there, and not just dreaming away at the comfort of his bed. Jimin couldn’t even face the other, and had to turn away; not that the other much minded, seeing how the younger just continued to stand there frozen.

Just how could this even be real?

-

He cried for what felt like hours, he cried in a way he never knew he could, and it felt so good, like never before. He felt like all the confusing feelings inside of him were finally being released, all that pressure he felt till now, was slowly leaving his body. He must have looked like a pathetic mess, and he was glad there was no-one else around, apart from them two, it would have been too much of a show, and attracted a lot of unwelcomed attention, which he didn’t want.

“You’re such an idiot” Jimin said, not even caring to face the other, as he sat on the cold ground “I can’t believe how stupid you are” he continued to insult the other, tears still streaming down his cheeks “If you weren’t here right now, I would really not believe how dumb you have become-”.

“What was I to do then!?” Jungkook shouted back, his voice a pitch higher, and shaky from the crying, “Don’t you think I’m angry!? You didn’t show up! You! You just left me!” his voice getting louder, and so was his sobbing “Why are you even here?” the sentence came out almost wailed, his tone so pained, that Jimin was feeling the guilt and pain reappear all over again. “Why now?” Jungkook continued in his sobs “I don’t want to see you… let me live, please…” he pleaded.

“Then why wait like a pathetic fool?” Jimin glanced back.

=

After a while, the sobbing stopped from the both of them. Jimin guessing, same as himself, the other had also ran out of tears to cry. It was almost funny, if not so much pathetic, to cry yourself dry.

“Why are you here?” Jungkook asked, calmer and firmer than Jimin expected the other to sound.

‘I don’t even know myself. Because I missed you? Because I thought about you each and every day? Because I felt guilty?’. Why was he here? The thoughts kept filling his head, not one being the answer he could give to the other in this situation.

“A trip” He lied, although it wasn’t fully a lie; even if he wanted to see Jungkook, he didn’t know he would actually find him here, there was no way for him to know where Jungkook was and it was all just a coincidence.

“A trip?” Jungkook repeated drily under his breath.

“Yes.” Jimin nodded, sensing the awkward atmosphere between them “For an hour or two till the next train comes back”.

“I see” Jungkook nodded, without much meaning behind it.

“You…” Jimin cleared his throat “…live around here?” his voice slightly trembled at the words. Why would he ask the other such question? They weren’t even… friends. In fact, he didn’t know what they were now, strangers? Well maybe closer than strangers, but he could guess they were not that much different either.

“Yeah” Junkook just nodded in a direction, which Jimin could only assume was the others house located at.

=

They stood outside a two storey flat, as Jungkook rustled through his jacket pocket for the keys. Jimin was feeling hesitant to go inside, despite following the other all the way here. It was because he felt hungry, and so, somehow he found himself here with the other. He must have gone crazy, and he knew it, he should have just stayed at the train station and waiting for the next train back, even better, he should have not even gotten onto the train in the first place.  

=

“What do you do now?” Jimin was sat down on one of the chairs, by the small dining table, located near the window. Outside was the street they had just used to come here which was fully visible and lit by the sun. He couldn’t help noting how everything appeared to look so calm and peaceful here.

“I dance and work” Jungkook replied without much hesitation “There’s a dancing academy up the road” he said nodding towards a window by the kitchen counter, from which a long street lined with shops laid ahead “the fee isn’t much, and in any case they take you to events, competitions and such to perform and pay well”. Jimin could help noting how much it sounded like an automated reply by a machine.

“And the work?” Jimin further asked, for a second regretting even asking. It seemed like some sort of interrogation. No matter how curious he was about the other, who exactly was he to be asking all these questions of Jungkook?. Jimin was the last person on earth, to even have such right as to ask the other about how he was doing.

“Cafe” he answered “also on that same street. It pays enough for this apartment” he explained, looking around the room “and the money from dance competitions and events covers all the other expenses and any other stuff that I need to survive” although Jungkook was so open, he couldn’t help but feel how cold Jungkooks voice sounded, almost like strangers. Jungkook must have resented him so much, yet still brought him here to his apartment.

“The next train is in less than an hours’ time. Plenty enough time for you to eat and make it to the train” He stated, turning on the gas stove and quickly putting on top of it a sauce pan with water inside. “Sorry, but it’s going to be just ramen” he continued to pull out 2 packets of ramen from one of the cupboards above the stove “…today is my shopping day”. Jimins thoughts kept lingering on the fact that they have just met after all this time, and Jungkook was already mentioning the time for them to part, and in such a casual tone.

The silence between them felt so unbearable and strange.  

It was definitely Jungkook, yet he felt so unfamiliar in his eyes. He wasn’t ignoring Jimin, in fact he was speaking to him like anyone else would, but the unfamiliarity coming from the other felt so frightening and overbearing. He couldn’t help but think it was due to remembering Jungkook being so close to him, that having him like this felt unbearable and agonising.

=

It was just as Jungkook said, all they did was eat in a complete silence, and then leave straight for the train. The walk to the train station Jimin noting was only 20 minutes, yet with the sun already quite high in the sky, he was feeling hot and sweaty. He wanted to ask Jungkook to walk slower, but it was obvious that the other was in a hurry to get rid him.

He couldn’t help but finding himself at least two steps behind Jungkook throughout their walk; finding it hard to catch up to the others speed. Watching Jungkooks back the whole time, it oddly made him feel like it was Jungkook that left him behind, and it was also Jimin himself at fault, for not having been able catch up with Jungkook. It was a silly thought, but maybe being taller, made Jungkook automatically braver than him. 

-

When they reached the station, there were barely few people around. Jimin sat down on a bench in a shade, feeling his shirt disgustingly glued to his back, as he wiped at the sweat on his forehead with his shirt sleeve. Jungkook just stood still, leaning against one of the pillars; oddly appearing unaffected by the heat, and it was a strange sight for Jimin.

After 8 minutes he got snapped out of his thoughts by Jungkook who stood straight now, and started heading for the waiting line, taking a quick glance back at Jimin, who followed in his suit and walked over to stand by the line. The train was now approaching, and so was his time to leave.

In the time he tried to figure out how to say goodbye to the other, he found the train was already still in front of him. The thought shot to his mind, was this how it would have been? Them both waiting for the train, getting on, and just leaving everything behind... had he showed up that time.?

“Go” was all he could hear from Jungkook, who stood with his arms crossed, waiting for him to get onto the train carriage. That was almost like an instant snap to reality, he was going to leave by himself, and leave the other behind once again. However, there was nothing he could think of or do.

“Oh” Jimin nodded in response, as he felt his own body stiffen; awkwardly stepping through the open door. What did he even expected to happen?. He took a seat by the window, watching Jungkook take a step back as the train doors closed, and turn to walk away, not even waiting for the train to take off, or to wave at Jimin.

If Jungkook was to stop, and look back, he felt like he would be able to get off that train and stay, - even if for just a little while longer, because right now it felt too painful to leave just like that.

It hurt even more them being like strangers.

                                                                                    AUTHOR's NOTES                                                                                 

See, I didn't lie, there was quite a bit of sunshine in this chapter... i love sunny weather... ≧▼≦ 

So next chapter is the last one! Thank you for supporting this story up to this point, and I hope you won't feel disappointed with the next chapter!

I love reading comments, so thank you for commenting!XD