My Cold Muse | Yoonmin

The night was late as Jimin walked slowly through the campus garden. The cold air pierced his skin, but he paid no mind to it. His thoughts were occupied by everything that had happened that day—the morning encounter with Taehyung, the tension with Yoongi during practice—it all left him feeling confused. However, his steps came to a halt when he heard a voice so familiar.

"Jimin-ah," Taehyung called from a bench beneath a large tree. "I know you often pass by here."

Jimin turned and saw Taehyung sitting there with a small smile. Hesitantly, he approached and sat beside him. "Tae, what are you doing here this late? It's cold."

"I was waiting for you," Taehyung admitted, his gaze fixed ahead. "I need to say something. Something I've been holding in for too long."

Jimin fell silent. He could sense the shift in Taehyung's tone. Usually playful, now it was serious. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for what Taehyung was about to say.

"Jimin," Taehyung began, looking straight into his best friend's eyes. "I like you. I always have."

Time seemed to freeze. Jimin was stunned, unsure of what to say. "Tae..."

"I know this is unexpected," Taehyung continued quickly before Jimin could respond. "But I can't keep pretending to be just a friend. Every time I see you, these feelings grow stronger. I need to be honest, Jimin. I'm not asking for an answer now, I just want you to know."

Jimin averted his gaze, trying to process what he had just heard. His heart felt heavy. He cherished Taehyung deeply, but his feelings were already set elsewhere. He bit his lip, searching for the right words.

"Tae, I truly appreciate you," Jimin finally said, his voice soft but firm. "You're one of the most important people in my life. But... I can't return your feelings the same way."

Taehyung fell silent, his small smile slowly fading. Yet, he tried to remain composed. "Why?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

"I... I like someone else," Jimin admitted honestly. He knew this was the right moment to tell the truth. "And I think you already know who it is."

Taehyung lowered his head, taking a deep breath. "Yoongi hyung."

Jimin gave a small nod. "I'm sorry, Tae. I know this must be hard for you. But I hope this won't change our friendship."

Taehyung let out a quiet chuckle, though there was a hint of bitterness in his tone. "You're too kind, Jimin-ah. But I can't promise to give up so easily. I don't want to lose you, even if it means staying by your side as just a friend."

Jimin gazed at Taehyung, his eyes glistening. He reached for Taehyung's hand and held it tightly. "I will always need you, Tae. You are such a big part of my life. I don't want to lose you either."

For a moment, they sat in silence, letting the quiet fill the space between them. Even though a wound had just been opened, they both knew that their bond was too precious to break.

♡♡♡♡

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Yoongi sat alone in the practice room. His fingers slowly pressed against the piano keys, playing a melody filled with emotion. His mind was clouded with thoughts of Jimin. He knew he could no longer ignore his feelings, but he was also afraid.

"Why do I have to feel this way?" Yoongi murmured to himself. His gaze fell upon his trembling fingers. "Jimin... why are you so hard to forget?"

But even as doubts filled his heart, one thing became clear to him that night. He needed to make a decision. If he kept suppressing his feelings, he would only end up hurting himself—and maybe even Jimin.

And for the first time, Yoongi felt ready to face what he had been avoiding all along.