49: Everything Crumbled

JAMIE POVIt has been a month and a half since I met Jimin's father, and today, I get my cast off of my ankle. After a little over two months of immobility, I am once again, FINALLY, able to move my leg properly. The doctor took my x-ray and concluded that my bone is remarkably completely healed. Jimin insisted on coming to this doctor's appointment with me and Elizabeth, and upon taking off my cast, the first thing I did was run into his arms. We laughed and hugged, and I finally felt free.

"Wanna go dance?" He asked. With that, a huge grin spread on my face and I agreed almost immediately. Elizabeth sent us off and we went to our school campus, where we rushed into the dance room.

"Now, let me see my jagi dance the choreography." Jimin said. I laughed and nodded as he prepared the music. I looked into the mirror and jumped up and down, feeling little to no pain on my leg. I felt ecstatic. I felt like I could run for miles.

When the music turned on, I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and let the beat sink in, remembering the choreography Jimin and I worked so hard on together. Over the last month and a half, Jimin and I finished the choreography for the dance. All we needed to do was adjust it, get it approved from our coach, and perform it at the championships. I was so excited to dance, that I almost couldn't wait for the beat to drop. When it finally did, I popped my eyes open, and began. I did the turns and pops as we planned, watching myself in the mirror. Also in the reflection, I saw Jimin smirking as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded, watching me. Soon, once the second chorus came around, he joined in and we danced together. We were in sync with every move, as if we have been dancing together all along. Once the song ended, I once again ran into his arms and laughed.

"Finally, I'm free!" I cheered. Jimin chuckled as he kissed the top of my head.

"Congratulations!" He said. However, after saying that, his smile slowly faded. This made me exchange my smile for a confused expression as I took a step back to get a better look at him.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. Want to keep dancing?" He asked, walking away to the boom box. I caught his hand and pulled him back.

"Wait what is it? Come on, just tell me." I said with my hands resting around Jimin's torso. He gave me a sad smile as he sighed.

"Well you see... I talked to the coach a few days ago and... he told me that there is a chance that Momo might be my partner for the championship dance." He said. At that, my eyes widened and I took another step back from Jimin. My heart broke, as if I was abandoned.

"W-What?" I asked. Jimin scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah, well apparently since you have been out for a while and Momo has been substituting your spot, he's been watching her and seeing improvements. He thinks she may actually be my partner instead. I tried to explain to him that the choreography was already made with you and me, but he said I could simply just teach Momo the choreography. I don't know, I guess he's trying to be fair to the person who has been filling in your shoes while you were hurt." He explained. With every word he said, my heart dropped even more. The one thing I looked forward to the most... and Momo may take my place..? At that moment, all remnants of my happiness disappeared. Now I just felt scared, angry, and hopeless.

"O-Oh." I said. Jimin saw my expression and gave me a worried reaction.

"No, Jamie, I'm sorry. But your back now, all you have to do is show coach that your still the best. Come on, Momo won't take your spot because your the best dance partner I have ever had." He said, snaking his arms around my waist and he neared my face. I turned away slightly, trying to hide my disappointed feeling. Jimin kissed my cheek.

"Let's make sure you show coach that you're the best." He said. He walked to the boom box and turned on some pop music. "Will You dance battle with me?" He asked.

I sighed as I gave him a small smile. I wanted to shake off my sadness, especially because I just got my cast off. I nodded as I slowly took my place in the room.

Once the music started, I was ready to test my body. The beat was a bit hard to grasp, but once I did, I went for it. I started off with a flip and carried on with b-boying before getting up and doing a few pops and swerves. It felt so good to dance again, I never really wanted to stop. After about a minute, I passed it onto Jimin who happily continued. He did pops and turns and flips as well, circling around me and somehow incorporating moves to help him approach me and peck my lips. I giggled as he passed it back to me.

We danced for what seemed like hours.

"Jamie, we should stop, you shouldn't overwork your leg the first day." Jimin finally said as we collapsed on the floor. I laughed as if I didn't overwork my leg already.

"Okay, I got carried away." I said and Jimin chuckled.

"Well it's insanely hot, watching you dance." He said as he opened his arms wide, dropping them onto the ground. I started to blush, but I played it off by smacking his forehead lightly.

"Shut up." I laughed. He just shrugged.

"It's true." He simply stated. "Anyway, wanna go back to my house? I can feed you food." He said. I nodded.

"I like food." I answered. He laughed and nodded.

"Go get changed and I'll meet you back out here." He said. Then, he sat up, quickly pecked my lips, then ran out towards the boys' locker room. I smiled widely as I watched my little ChimChim go. Then, I got up and went to the girls' locker room, where I changed happily. When I went back out, Jimin was already there with all of his stuff. I quickly met him and we started off to his house.

Along the way, we laughed, talked, and exchanged looks of complete love and affection; nothing more than the usual. Jimin's presence made me increasingly comfortable in any situation, and to me, his smile was everything. His words were everything. He was everything.

When we got to his house, he opened the door for me and we went in.

"Go wait in the living room while I get us a snack." He said.

"No, I want to help you." I said, but he shook his head and insisted.

"What kind of boyfriend would I be if I let my girlfriend make food for me the day she got her freedom from her cast?" He asked. I giggled.

"What kind of girlfriend would I be if I let my boyfriend baby me?" I asked.

"The best one, now go sit." He said. I rolled my eyes and did as I was told. Although as I walked away, I heard him groan in frustration.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"There's no food. Hang on, I'll run to the convenience store real quick for some food." I shook my head.

"No, let's just go to my house for food." I said, but Jimin was already putting on his jacket.

"No, Elizabeth must be tired and busy. It's fine I'll be back in ten minutes, stay here and watch some tv. I'll be right back." He said, and before I could protest, he was gone. I smiled and rolled my eyes as I sat down. Park Jimin, why are you so good to me.

I got the tv remote and turned on the tv. I flipped through the channels as I waited for him to return. Then, I suddenly heard the front door open, so I turned with a smile expecting my boyfriend.

"That was qui--" I stopped when I saw that the person at the door was not Jimin, but his mom. My eyes widened as I quickly turned off the tv, stood up, and bowed.

"Hello Mrs. Park." I said. Jimin's mom just looked around with her eyebrows raised.

"Where is my son? Why are you here alone?" She asked. I couldn't find the words to say.

"Um... he told me to wait here while he gets food at the convenience store." I said. That didn't please her.

"Freeloading off of my son huh? And you didn't even go along?" She asked. My heart pinched.

"I'm sorry..." I said.

"Not sorry enough." She said. I looked at her surprised as she closed the front door and set her stuff down. She approached me and I tensed up, scared of the conversation we were about to have.

"Not sorry enough to break up with my son, like my husband asked? Why are you ignoring our request? We're his parents, how dare you?" She asked sternly. My heart started to beat rapidly.

"I-I" I stopped and gulped, gathering my mind for my answer.

"I can't just break up with him like that. I support him in anything he does" I said.

"Well I want what's best for my son, and I don't think a depressed girl with a dead mother and an abusive father is healthy for him." At that comment my whole world stopped turning. My heart stopped beating, I stopped breathing, and tears immediately blurred my vision. I took a deep breath as a tear fell from my widened eyes. I looked into her eyes as they pierced my soul, as if her words weren't enough.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out of it. Tears streamed down my face and I forced myself to swallow the painful lump in my throat.

"E-Excuse me?" I managed to get out.

"Oh don't play dumb. You don't think I noticed? I heard the screaming at night, and I heard the sobbing. My son went to bed and was oblivious of everything, but I wasn't. My office is right next to your living room window, I see and hear everything. But my son doesn't know anything does he? He doesn't know that you're so unstable does he?!" She suddenly raised her voice. My fists clenched as I felt weak and pale, as if I've seen a ghost.

"P-Please don't tell him. Please..." I begged. She scoffed.

"You have the audacity to beg me for a favor right now? Wow. You don't get how this works do you?" She asked. I fell to my knees as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Please... he's going to be so hurt. He can't know about this, it keeps him safe." I sobbed. My head started to hurt as my eyes burned.

"Then break up with him. I don't want a girl like you with my son. I have been letting it go for months now and I even turned my cheek when my husband was here, but you rudely ignored us. My son has a bright future ahead of him, and he doesn't need a distraction like you." She said. I wanted her to stop. Her words were hurting me. But what could I do? She was right. She knew everything.

"Please... let me stay with him. I'll keep him loyal to his school work and I won't be a bad influence." I said.

"No. How many times do I have to say, no!" She answered.

"Please... please..." was all I could say. I felt anxiety building up in my system. She knew. She really knew.

"This is the last straw. I tried to let you two be, but the more I find out about you, the more I want you away from Jimin. You let it affect the both of you. I'm giving you one last chance to break up with him, and if you don't, Jimin AND your father will find out." She said. That was it. My ears didn't hear, my mouth didn't talk. All I could do was cry on my knees.

Right when I thought that things couldn't get any worse, the front door opened again, and there stood Jimin, holding two bags of food with tightened fists, and his eyes widened.

And just like that,Everything Crumbled.