My Cold Muse | Yoonmin

That night, the practice hall was empty. Jimin and Yoongi were still there, finishing their last practice session. Exhaustion was evident on Jimin's face, but his eyes still sparkled with determination. Yoongi, on the other hand, looked as composed as always, yet something about his expression was different tonight—like a burden too heavy to put into words.

"Hyung, we're done for the night, right?" Jimin asked, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Yoongi nodded, but instead of packing up, he remained seated at his piano bench, staring blankly at the keys.

"Hyung," Jimin called again, his voice softer. "You seem… different tonight. Is something bothering you?"

Yoongi didn't respond immediately. He simply twirled a pencil between his fingers, his expression unreadable. "Jimin," he finally spoke, "why do you care so much about me?"

The question caught Jimin off guard. He hadn't expected Yoongi to ask something like that. "Because… I want to get to know you better, hyung. I know you're a good person, even if you try to hide it."

Yoongi let out a small chuckle, but there was a bitter edge to it. "A good person, huh?" he murmured, more to himself than to Jimin.

Jimin watched him, sensing that Yoongi wanted to say something. "Hyung, I'm here. If you want to talk, I'll listen."

Yoongi took a deep breath before finally saying, "You know, Jimin, I'm not someone who trusts easily. It's not that I don't want to, but because I had to learn the hard way."

"What do you mean, hyung?" Jimin asked gently, careful not to push too hard.

Yoongi's gaze drifted toward the piano, as if the melodies he once played held painful memories. "I used to love someone," he said slowly. "She was the only person who made me feel like I could be myself. But in the end, she left. And the way she left… it destroyed everything."

Jimin's heart ached at the pain in Yoongi's voice. "Why did she leave, hyung?"

Yoongi gave a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Because I wasn't good enough for her. At least, that's what she said. She told me I was too focused on my music, too difficult to understand. So she chose someone easier."

Jimin lowered his gaze, his chest tightening with sympathy and sorrow. "Hyung, I… I don't know what to say."

Yoongi shook his head. "You don't have to say anything, Jimin. I made peace with it a long time ago… or at least, I tried. But from that moment on, I decided to keep my distance. I don't want to be hurt again."

Those words made Jimin understand why Yoongi always seemed so closed off. But at the same time, they also made it harder for him to reach the older man's heart.

"Hyung," Jimin spoke, his voice quiet yet filled with sincerity, "I know you've been through a lot. But… I hope you know that not everyone will hurt you. There are people who truly care about you, and I want to be one of them."

Yoongi turned to look at Jimin, surprised by the honesty in his eyes. For the first time in a long while, Yoongi felt that those words weren't just empty reassurances. There was something in the way Jimin spoke that made him want to believe, even if doubt still clouded his heart.

"Thank you, Jimin," he finally whispered.

That night, as they left the practice hall, Yoongi felt a little lighter. And for the first time, he thought that maybe—just maybe—Jimin was someone he could allow into his world.

Meanwhile, Jimin walked beside Yoongi with newfound determination. He knew this journey wouldn't be easy, but he wouldn't give up. Because now, he understood that Yoongi was more than just a cold, unreadable man—he was someone who needed love and understanding, just like himself.