THE PATH TOWARDS THE EXIT || BTS

ROOM #5: Park Jimin (5)

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"Can I really stay here?" haneul asked almost for the 100th time as she step inside the room Jimin offered her.

Jimin heaved a heavy sigh. "Look, it's almost 5:00 and I badly need to sleep because I have an early practice—"

"I know..."

"Then, do have any other place to stay?" Jimin asked.

"No."

"You see... Now please rest, we'll talk tomorrow."

Just like that. For the first time Haneul was able to sleep in a comfortable bed, she was able to feel peaceful after so many sleepless nights, and she was lucky to get a few more hours of sleep than what she usually get.

That morning, 8:45AM.

"What are you doing?" Jimin asked as soon as he stepped inside his apartment's kitchen, seeing the meek girl setting up some plates on the table.

Haneul greeted him with a shy smile. "I cooked for you... You possibly can't go to practice without eating anything, right?"

Jimin smiled. If only she knows how his days usually work... He don't get to eat untill lunch time. But this is nice, I'll have breakfast for the first time in forever. He nodded and quickly made his way towards the table and sat on one of the chairs.

"These all smells great." He complimented before taking a spoonful of his breakfast.

Haneul watched him peacefully and sat astride him. "I hope you didn't mind that I used some of your stocks to make them."

Jimin just shook his head, "That's fine."

"Anyway... Thanks for making me stay the night, I better get going, I'm late for my first job and I have—"

"About that..." Jimin was fast to cut her off. "I've a perfect job for you, one job that pays bigger than all your jobs combined."

Haneul's eyes widened in shock. "Uhm, you di-didn't have to!"

"I want to help." Jimin firmly told her. "You'll have enough time to study and work at the same time."

"How did you—" She didn't know how it was possible that Jimin knew about her so much.

Jimin sighed and sadly smiled at her. "I did some research about you this morning... I'm sorry if I crossed the line but I — it's sounds dramatic but I didn't like seeing anyone going through the same situation. It's difficult."

"I appreciate it." Haneul said softly, her eyes trained to her hands, she could not look up. "But studying... I don't think I could do it, I need to take care of my family and I—"

"But what about your dreams?"

Haneul faced him, her eyes glossy. "I have no time for dreams."

Jimin look her straight in the eyes and said, "If you don't build your dreams, someone will hire you to build their dreams."

She was stunned. He's right. All her life she did nothing but work just to help her family, but what about helping herself? She never think of herself because she was always busy seeking validation from her parents, she was always needing that praise that never received.

"Think about it." Jimin told her, patting her shoulder before leaving for his practice.

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