" Why are you leaving?"
His voice stopped me.
My heart jumped.
"Uhm…" I couldn't speak.
Before I could move
He pulled me into his chest.
My breath caught.
"Did you come to watch me?" he asked softly.
I shook my head quickly.
"No… I just saw the crowd and wanted to know what was going on. I'm leaving now…"
I tried to move away.
But he held my wrist.
Tight.
"Minju… please."
His voice was hoarse.
Tired.
Almost… desperate.
I looked at him.
" You need to go back," I said softly.
"Everyone is waiting for you."
He didn't move.
"I became this…" he paused, his grip tightening slightly, "…because you believed in me."
My chest hurt.
"You told me I could do it," he continued. "So… please. Don't leave me now."
I looked away.
It hurt.
So much.
Because it was true.
I was the one who pushed him.
The one who told him to chase his dream.
And now…
I'm the one walking away.
"…Jimin," I whispered.
My voice shook.
"Were you at my house yesterday?"
He went silent.
My heart dropped.
"Jimin…" I stepped closer. "Tell me the truth."
"Jimin! Where are you?!" a staff voice shouted from behind.
He didn't turn.
He just nodded slightly, like he heard them.
But he didn't let go of me.
"Then why did you leave?" I asked.
My voice was softer now.
More afraid.
He looked down.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then ...
"I went to meet my manager."
My fingers tightened.
"I asked him and begged him …" he continued slowly, "…if I could date "
My heart started beating faster.
"And?" I asked.
My voice almost broke.
"What did he say?"
Jimin swallowed.
His lips parted
"He said…"
"Jimin! You need to be on stage right now!" a staff member rushed in, grabbing his arm.
My heart jumped.
"No.....wait...." I said quickly.
Jimin looked at me.
His eyes…
Full of something I couldn't understand.
Pain.
Regret.
Something deeper.
"He said no," he whispered.
Everything went silent.
The staff pulled him.
"Come on, now!"
He didn't fight.
But he didn't look away from me either.
Not even for a second.
"Minju…" he said softly as he was dragged back.
And then...
He was gone.
The noise of the crowd returned.
Loud.
Distant.
But all I could hear was that one word.
No.