Remember Me

Chapter 29

A/N: Hello hello hello! I'm so SO grateful that folks are reading and enjoying this story, and a bit surprised, especially since I'd just intended it as a side project at first. I REALLY love reading all of your comments, and I'm really glad you've stuck with Remember Me despite the random hiatuses I've taken in the middle. Well thanks to them I'm quite a bit ahead with the chapters, so I'll do a mass release to get the story out to y'all. Have a great day and I hope you enjoy the mass release!

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Zara

Jimin marveled at Jin's apartment and whispered to me, "Why isn't my apartment this big?"
I whispered back, "I mean, maybe he's richer? He's a big party guy and a big company heir. Check out the bar on the second floor, it's gorgeous."
Jimin nodded once we walked up the stairs in Jin's penthouse. The layout was a little different from the day of the party, and I could see signs that he wasn't living alone in this big place.
"My brother and his wife live here too," Jin said once he noticed us looking around, startling me.
Jimin smiled, "You have a younger brother?"
"No, an older one."
Jimin glanced at me with an eyebrow raised. I knew what he was thinking. In our world of big companies and heirs, the eldest sibling not inheriting the company usually entailed some scandal. I didn't know about it, so I could only shrug in response.

The doorbell rang as we sat on the couch, and Jin shuffled off to go get the door. Jimin asked, "What'd his older brother do?"
I let out a laugh at the sudden interest, especially since Jimin was more or less in the same position as he wasn't inheriting Park Corp. Except of course, he didn't have siblings, which made the whole issue harder on him, and more scandalous.

"I've only heard rumors, but I heard he wanted to pursue something else. He also married someone his parents didn't approve of, I believe."
"And his father kicked him out of the line of company succession like that?"

"As opposed to what? Forcing his son to listen to him?"
"I guess compromising?"
I stared at Jimin for a long second, "And what? Be hated by his child? From what I've seen, force doesn't work. And perhaps, this just proves he doesn't deserve the position. Win-win situation here."
Jimin narrowed his eyes, "Doesn't deserve the position? That's cold."

"That's the reality. Being CEO requires a lot of sacrifice and work. It was his choice to give up the position after all. We can't have everything. I mean, most people hardly have... anything."
Jimin pouted, "You're a negative one, aren't you?"
I looked past him to see Jin walking over being followed by a few others and mumbled.
"I'm just realistic, that's all."

Jimin turned to look at Jin and smiled. Behind him, Namjoon, Hoseok, and Jungkook walked in with grins on their faces. Namjoon looked worried, but I could tell he went through great pains to hide it.

Jungkook bounced up to him, "Jimin! You wanted to... meet us?"
Jimin looked a little flustered by the attention but gave his best. "You're Jungkook, right? And you're Namjoon. You're Hoseok?"
The three boys looked between each other and nodded with emotion.
"Jin has been telling me about you guys more. I've also seen your performances on YouTube. I'm... glad I can meet you guys." I could hear the sadness in Jimin's voice. "Can you tell me more about college and all that?"

Hoseok looked like he was going to tear up but he sat down. The five boys fell comfortably into conversation, while I sat by Jimin, intrigued and quiet. Jimin clearly had a lot of fun and mischief in college, and I was only learning now that a lot of the excuses he used to offer his parents were bogus. It was interesting to hear the kind of person he'd become.
Of course, I'd glimpsed it before, marveled at it, but had only been greeted with a cold shoulder.
Every now and then Jimin would start playing with my hair or my hand while listening, and unconsciously kept turning to me to give his commentary. Every time he made a joke I saw him turn to see if I'd laugh. I was getting spoiled by the fondness the old Jimin had, and I was aware of it somewhere in the back of my mind.