The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of the dorm, soft and golden. Jimin stretched on his bed, letting the warmth sink into his skin. The past few weeks had been heavy, with rehearsals and endless schedules, but today felt quieter, slower. He checked his phone and saw thousands of unread comments on their official fan app. His lips curved into a small smile.
He tapped into a few, scrolling quickly.
"Jiminie, are you eating well?"
"Please rest."
"Your smile makes my day."
Jimin exhaled. Sometimes the weight of so many eyes on him felt overwhelming, but it was also grounding. These people wanted him healthy, happy, alive. He had promised himself to listen more to that side of ARMY, the ones who wanted him to breathe and not just perform.
He opened his camera app and went live without thinking too much. His hair was still messy, his sweater a little loose, but maybe that was what fans liked best. Authenticity.
"Good morning," he greeted softly, his voice calm. Comments started flooding in, hearts flying across the screen. "I woke up late today, so I'm feeling… a little guilty. But I think my body needed it."
He laughed lightly, hand covering his mouth. He leaned closer to the phone. "Have you eaten? Please don't skip meals."
He kept the livestream simple—talking about breakfast, about practicing some dance lines later, about missing his family. The fans responded with warmth, and he felt lighter as he spoke. There was a moment, brief but telling, when Taehyung walked past in the background. Jimin saw the comments spike instantly.
"Taehyung!!"
"Is Jungkook with him?"
"Taekook moment?"
Jimin shook his head, chuckling. "You guys notice everything." He didn't explain further. The subtlety was enough.
Later that day, he slipped out to meet an old friend from Busan. It had been months since they'd seen each other, and the café they chose was tucked away in a quiet alley where cameras didn't follow. They ordered warm tea, and for a while, Jimin wasn't an idol. He was just Park Jimin, catching up about school memories, laughing about small jokes. His friend asked if he was okay, really okay.
Jimin hesitated. "Some days are harder than others," he admitted, fingers circling the rim of his cup. "But I have the members. And ARMY. And… I'm learning to slow down. To breathe."
The friend nodded, not pressing further. That was enough.
When Jimin returned to the dorm, the living room was alive with quiet laughter. Jungkook and Taehyung sat close, sharing a headphone between them, watching something on Jungkook's phone. Their heads leaned in too near to be casual, yet no one questioned it anymore. It was there, a presence everyone accepted, like air.
Jimin's gaze softened. He knew what it felt like to hold onto something fragile and fear it breaking. Seeing them comfortable now, even in the smallest ways, filled him with relief.
He walked past, pretending not to notice, but a smile tugged at his lips. Maybe this was what growth looked like. Not loud confessions or big fights, but quiet moments of peace, livestream smiles, shared headphones, and soft acceptance within the group.
For the first time in weeks, Jimin felt light. And he carried that warmth with him into the night.