"You both were at a pivotal age where you should have lived your lives freely but you both didn't. He didn't have to change his last name like you but he defended your former last name to every single person he came ocross. He didn't feel terrified that someone would find about his past but he felt terrified that he wouldn't find you before he left earth. Do you think he didn't live in loneliness? He did, every single day after you disappeared from his life. He blocked everyone. Other people's words didn't come back haunting at him in form of nightmares, his words that he told you..... did." Namjoon answered to the previous points you made.

"If you are able to forgive your mother and continue a relationship with her then why is it so difficult for Jimin? Your mom didn't speak about you or uttered your name ever again to anyone but Jimin did to every single person he met personally. Not because of his love for you but to pinpoint his mistake. He wasn't scared to feel judged. Your mother didn't fight for you or try for you but Jimin never gave up and fought for you till now. Some people might say that the broken trust between you two can never be fixed or the words he told you can never be erased but what about both your scars? You both didn't live your lives after that day and you both lost your happinesses as well"

"What do you want me to do then? Do you want me to be friends with him again? Do you want me to reciprocate his feelings? Now or a couple of years later?" you didn't know what to think or feel anymore, so you just said what came to your mouth first.

"Y/n.... don't listen to their words. I know way too well that a 10 year trauma can't be erased because the people who caused it are called out or because of the few words I'm saying now. Compared to what you went through, I didn't do anything to them. I just did what I could do with my abilities but it's something!!! Something I should have done that day so I only did what I was supposed to have done a long time ago as a.....as a..... best friend." Jimin spoke with a firm tone behind you.

"You don't have to feel indebted or grateful for it, that's the least I could do for you. I don't want you to think that I did it for anything else. After you, Namjoon & Jin were the ones who stuck with me, no matter how much I pushed them away that's why they feel protective over me so please don't take their words to heart. I am......sorry, I really am. That day I learned that words are like knives and have the power to kill someone. There might be multiple reasons as to why I had acted that way but none of them justify what I said to you because at the end, I was a terrible friend."

"I would feel broken if you had told me those words as well.. I wanted to speak with you for the longest time but it wasn't to divulge for the longest time but it wasn't to divulge any of the things they told you. I don't expect us to become friends again, let alone have a special place in your heart because I don't deserve it. I might not be a part of your life anymore but just wanted you to know that you were, are and will forever be a part of my life. I will always be there waiting for you as whatever you want. If you ever feel alone or need help, know that your chim-chim is there for you. The 17 year old Jimin might have been a jerk and failed to do the right thing but this Jimin won't." only sincerity was laced into his words.

You let his words sink in before recapping everything that you went through the lost 10 years and before that.

Only the memories of that day haunted you whereas for him, the memories of that day as well as the memories with you didn't let him sleep a night without crying.

You felt suffocated by his presence but he felt suffocated with and without your presence.

You both focused on your work to distract from your agony and pain. You both stopped living after that day.

"It wasn't our intention to tell you these things without jimin's permission but we couldn't keep quiet after hearing your words. You said that he didn't protect you as his friend and he didn't protect the girl he claimed to have loved but he did do it. Would you have preferred him defending you in the class and leave you behind afterwards? His one second of doubt and assumption has costed him a lot more than you think" Namjoon said his last words.

"We are not asking you to give him a second chance because not everyone deserves it and it's something that you have to decide within yourself. There are girls who give their bullies who have hurt and humiliated them on purpose a second chance in the name of love. Heck, there are people who give their partners who cheated on them or didn't know their value a second chance because they say they weren't in the right state of mind when they did those things" Jin said with a tired tone and a weak smile. He probably have up.

"Even if you allow jimin as your boss and only give him a place in your professional life, it's more than enough for all of us. We are not expecting anything from you to be honest. But don't disrespect his feelings or his past. I don't think anyone would have done what he has, including yourself. The most they would have felt is regret or guilt but they would have carried on living their lives without a second thought about what happened. Not everyone gets stuck on their past, let alone their high school life. If you really think about it, would you have stopped living your life because of your best friend? For someone who wasn't there anymore?"

"We all said or did stupid things when we were in school. If we all took that against ourselves then nobody would be able to live happily or peacefully with anyone, it's how you make amends and redeem yourself that matters. Jimin did a mistake, not a sin..... If you think allowing him in your life again will remind you of your betrayal then allowing your mom should remind you of her betrayal as well. Don't take his one time mistake forget all the times he protected you from harm at school. We all want you to live a happy life, y/n..... even if that means not allowing jimin in your life. Isn't it right, chim?" Jin asked.

Jimin with a warm smile which he replied with a warmer smile.

"Because if you are happy then we but especially he will be happy. You don't have anything to stop you now. Live your life, don't think about anything, now or even a couple of years down the line" Jin reminded you.

He knew the road to recovery wasn't going to be easy nor with a finish line. It was going to be a journey with obstacles that could be overcome with help along the way because that was the reality of trauma.

He knew that if you lived your life freely, it was more than enough for his friend. On the other hand, you were found at a loss of words.

They all let you make your own choice but what is the choice you are supposed to make?

~