He hasn't tried to speak to Tae since he hung up on him earlier in the week, and Tae hasn't attempted to contact him, either, but he needs to talk to him now.

Tae answers on the fourth ring.

" Jimin," he says, his voice even.

"I just went out for dinner with Maggie and Rich and Carly," he says, embarrassed that he's already full-blown crying, but he can't stop it.

Tae seems to take pity. "Did something happen, Min?"

"They asked me if I was dating anyone and I didn't even fucking hesitate, Tae. I totally forgot that I wasn't with him. I just... I told them I was with Jungkook like nothing had happened, like I hadn't treated him like shit and told him to get the fuck out of my house."

It's cold enough outside that he can see his breath when he exhales deeply. "And then I just kept going because it was the first time in weeks that I didn't feel like I was going to fall apart."

"Have you called Jungkook? I think maybe you should." His voice is soft, almost like he's whispering. Jimin doesn't know if it's meant to be soothing, but it is.

"I can't call Jungkook, okay?! I didn't remember Tyler's birthday and I'm starting to forget what it felt like to be around him and to be married to him and that isn't Jungkook's fault but I blamed it all on him and fuck."

His chest is heaving and he needs to start driving but he can't focus.

"It's not Jungkook's job to take care of me and put me back together and if I call him, that's what he'll end up doing because he cares too much and he loves too hard and I..." He trails off, unable to formulate anything else. "What the fuck did I do?"

"Listen to me," Tae says, voice louder now. "Jungkook doesn't take care of you because he feels obligated to. He does it because he's fucking in love with you. Even before you two were together, he would have done anything for you. Why didn't you just tell him something was bothering you, Min? Jesus."

Jimin clutches his phone harder. "I don't know, I don't know, and if I had, I wouldn't have blown up in his face, and he could have gone to dinner with me tonight and I wouldn't be panicking over the phone right now, for the love of God." He tries and fails to get his heart to stop racing. "If I hadn't been such a fucking coward and I just told him, I wouldn't be one second away from driving straight on into traffic and I wouldn't be pretending I was still dating him because it's the only way I..." His voice gives out again, and Tae doesn't bother asking.

"Don't play the 'what if' game. Just call him or go to his house or move on. Stop doing this. "

He looks up to the ceiling of the car. "I should have called Hobi."

Tae huffs out a laugh. "Probably."

Jimin is quiet for the next several moments, just focusing on breathing. Eventually, he says, "I'm sorry I hung up on you the other day."

"Yeah, well, you're going through some shit."

"I guess." He rubs his eyes. "Do you really think I should call him? Have you talked to him?" He sucks in his cheeks. "Is he doing okay?"

"I've talked to him. You should call him. Even if it's just to tell him you're completely done and want to be friends. Or nothing. It's not fair to leave him completely in the dark. He deserves closure, if that's what you're aiming for, you know?"

Jimin doesn't bother asking how Jungkook is again. He can assume. He sighs. "I know. I guess."

"Go home, Jimin . Go to bed and sort your head out and next weekend we can go out."

"Okay. Thank you."

"'Course."

When Jimin gets home, he hates that the porch light isn't on. It's so dark outside and he never remembers to turn it on before he leaves the house.

Jungkook always remembers.

He nudges the door open with his elbow and his eyes are immediately drawn to the pile of shit he'd compiled before he left the house.

"Fuck," he says. He's tired, so, so tired.

It's while he's standing there, staring at the garbage bags, that he realizing he's entering stage three of grieving - bargaining, wondering, and playing the what if game - and he absolutely hates how he can recognize it. It's like it's entering in waves, knocking him down right as he's picking himself back up again.

He doesn't empty the garbage bags or put the items back where they belong or bring them outside to the curb, but he does drag them back into his bedroom. He puts them next to the bed and he falls asleep before he can figure out what to do with him, forever wrestling with his mind.

The night of Halloween, Jimin manages to get one foot into his pirate costume before he decides that it's a horrible idea. He texts Tae and tells him to forget their plans and spends the rest of the night alone on the couch, trying not to stare at the half empty photo wall next to the TV.

Eventually, he puts a bowl filled with candy on his front steps so he doesn't have to talk to anyone at all.

Jimin hates Daylight Saving Time in the autumn, just like everyone else does. He hates that the sun wakes him up an hour earlier, that it's dark for his commute on the way home, and that it's been about a month without Jungkook.

He knows that has nothing to do with Daylight Saving Time, but he's so tired of blaming himself. He wants to blame it on something that's beyond his control and out of his reach.

It's around 3:30 in the afternoon when he realizes his cabinets are completely bare. No food, no drinks, no nothing. He hasn't been eating much, but he has to eat something, and the expired pears in the back of the refrigerator probably won't cut it.

He lets Link outside on his way out, checking to make sure the gate is closed behind him, and he heads to the grocery store, the absolute last thing he wants to be doing on a Sunday.

The store isn't too packed and he's able to make it to the checkout counter rather quickly, dumping a week's worth of food on the conveyor belt in front of him. He's watching the cashier scan a box of cereal when none other than Manager Matty approaches him, smile warm and body bouncing with every step.

Jimin has to force himself not to groan. Son of a bitch.

" Jimin, how are you doing?" he asks, hand outstretched for a handshake. "Shopping alone tonight?"

He forces an uncomfortable laugh. Matt doesn't seem to notice. "Yep, just me tonight."

"Anything I can help you with?"

Jimin looks back to the cashier, who's giving him a look that screams I'm sorry . "Nope, I'm all set. Just gonna grab my stuff and head home."

Matt hums. "No boyfriend with you?"

"I said I was here alone."

He holds up his hands. "No need to be hostile. Enjoy your groceries."

Jimin thinks back to the last time he was in this position, and how badly he'd wanted to punch Jungkook straight in the jaw for his behavior. This time, with this dick's condescending - and not to mention unprofessional - tone, Jimin wishes Jungkook was here, shoving his hand in Jimin's back pocket.

"I will. Thanks," he replies, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He grabs his bags and heads out the door, pissed that Manager Matt exists, pissed that he just spent 70 on food he knows he won't eat, pissed that it's already pitch black outside at 4:31pm.