Perfect Role

Simmering

Chapter 3

Later that evening

"Jin Hyung, open up...!"

Jimin tried rattling Jin's locked door. When that didn't work, he knocked three times. He waited for a second longer. No response.

"Hyung, seriously, we all heard from JK. Open up...it's just me. Listen, I know it wasn't cool for Manager Sejin to drop that on you on the way home."

"I'm fine, Jimin," said the lowered muffled voice behind the door.

"We can all talk about it, just open the door. I know how much you wanted that role," he paused. "We're here for you and..."

"Leave him be, Jimin," said Hoseok, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You know how you can be hard on yourself? Jin Hyung is the same way. He just doesn't cry or show anyone. Give him a bit of space. He'll come out when he's ready."

With a defeated pout and lowering of his shoulders, Jimin decided to follow Hoseok down the polished marble staircase to join the rest of the group. When they reached the bottom of the staircase, the second floor opened up to an airy and welcoming expanse of space with plenty of room for the band and crew. In this current temporary home, there were abstract paintings on the walls and minimalist modern pieces of furniture. Exactly how Bangtan liked it: luxurious and simple.

"This sucks," JK said, exhaling heavily, seated at the dining room table. He and Tae were already setting the table for a late dinner when Jimin and Hoseok walked in. "How are we supposed to go on VLIVE now? It's not the same when Jin Hyung is upset. It really ruins the mood." He played absentmindedly with the tablecloth edge, his thoughts turning to his brother. JK chewed unconsciously on his lower lip as he wondered how long Jin would be holed up in his room. It already felt like a piece of them was missing without him at the table. He felt like crying because he didn't know how to help him. Jin was shutting them out... he sighed. Just then he noticed the water glasses needed filling.

JK brought a jug to the table and proceeded to place sparkling ice water in beautiful crystal glasses around the table, one for each brother. He filled Jin's too, out of habit. In the middle of the table, there was a beautiful and plentiful spread of catered food prepared for the boys and china plates in front of each chair. Somehow, they had gotten used to their extravagant lifestyle without even really noticing it. In fact, most days they were so exhausted from the endless traveling to shows, practicing and shuffling from room to room that they ate anything in front of them gratefully, even if it was cold.

"I know what you mean," replied Jimin, placing folded navy blue linen napkins on the table while Tae navigated around him, with metal chopsticks and silverware. "That's why I tried to get him to come out and talk about it with us. I saw his face when you guys came in. He looked really down."

"What do you think will make him feel better?" asked Taehyung. "Should we ask him to tell us jokes? But that means we need to laugh super hard and I'm not even that good of an actor." Tae's self-deprecating attempt at humor fell flat, even to his own ears.

But Hoseok couldn't help but laugh a little at the comment. "Ha...true," he replied. Seokjin's jokes were really lame most of the time, but in a way it was his special talent, and they counted on him for this. Jin had a gift of being able to get the group in the right mood, especially before the camera was turned on.

"Where is everyone? Are we all ready to go live?" Namjoon asked, walking in. Like everyone, he was ready for bed, dressed in sleepwear which included a bare face, long sleeves, basketball shorts and a socks & slippers combo. ARMY would secretly smile at the dichotomy of seeing them dressed so casually but eating with such finery on the table. "And where's Yoongi Hyung? Did someone wake him up?" he asked.