THE LAST SONG_____ *Chapter 3 - Louder Than Words*

The tiny hearing aid rested in Yoongi's palm.

Neither of them moved.

The silence between them was heavier than any argument they could have had.

Jimin's chest rose and fell unevenly as he stared at the device, wishing the floor would swallow him whole.

"So..." Yoongi finally spoke, his voice calm despite the storm in his eyes. "Are you going to tell me what this is?"

Jimin looked away.

"I..."

The words caught in his throat.

He had spent months preparing excuses in case someone ever found out.

But standing in front of Yoongi...

None of them felt right.

Yoongi took a slow step forward.

"Jimin."

That single word broke him.

Jimin covered his face with trembling hands, tears slipping through his fingers before he could stop them.

"I'm losing my hearing."

The confession barely rose above a whisper.

"I've been losing it for months."

Yoongi's grip on the hearing aid loosened.

"...What?"

"The doctors said it's progressive." Jimin laughed bitterly, though there wasn't an ounce of happiness in it. "One day... I won't hear anything."

The room fell silent again.

This time, Yoongi didn't know what to say.

Jimin slowly sank onto the couch, staring at the floor.

"I didn't tell anyone."

His voice sounded empty.

"My parents don't know."

"The orchestra doesn't know."

"You didn't know."

He let out a shaky breath.

"I was scared."

Yoongi sat across from him, listening quietly.

"I thought if I ignored it..." Jimin continued, "maybe it would disappear."

He smiled through his tears.

"Turns out life doesn't work that way."

"You should've told me."

Yoongi's voice wasn't angry.

It was hurt.

Jimin looked up.

"I didn't want your sympathy."

"You think that's what this is?"

"No?"

"No."

Yoongi leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"I'm upset because you've been carrying this alone."

Jimin's lips parted, but no words came out.

"I watched you smile every day," Yoongi continued. "I watched you tell everyone you were fine."

His jaw tightened.

"And all this time... you were suffering."

Jimin looked toward the piano near the window.

"I can't hear every note anymore."

His voice cracked.

"Some disappear completely."

"I'll be performing one last concert next month."

He swallowed hard.

"And I don't even know if I'll hear my own piano."

The confession shattered something inside Yoongi.

For years, he'd watched Jimin lose himself in music.

It wasn't just a career.

It was who he was.

Seeing him speak about it as if he were saying goodbye...

It hurt.

Without thinking, Yoongi stood and walked toward the piano.

His fingers brushed over the polished wood.

Then he pressed a single key.

A soft note echoed through the apartment.

"Did you hear that?" Jimin nodded.

"Barely." Yoongi played another.

"And that?" Jimin hesitated.

"...No." Another key.

Another silence.

Yoongi stopped playing.

His chest felt unbearably heavy.

"I'm sorry." Jimin frowned.

"What are you apologizing for?" Yoongi looked at him.

"I'm apologizing because I didn't notice sooner." Jimin shook his head immediately.

"No."

"You couldn't have known."

"I should have."

"You couldn't."

Their eyes met.

For the first time since arriving...

Neither of them looked away.

The evening sun slowly disappeared beyond the apartment windows.

Neither of them noticed how much time had passed.

Finally, Yoongi broke the silence.

"Your concert..."

Jimin gave a weak smile.

"What about it?"

"You'll still perform."

Jimin blinked.

"I don't know if I can."

"You can."

"I can barely hear."

"You'll perform."

Jimin stared at him.

"How are you so sure?"

Yoongi's expression remained calm.

"Because if hearing the music becomes impossible..."

He paused.

"...then we'll find another way for you to feel it."

Jimin frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Yoongi stood, grabbing his jacket.

"I don't know yet."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"But I'm going to figure it out."

For the first time in weeks...

A tiny spark of hope flickered inside Jimin.

It was small.

Fragile.

But it was there.

As Yoongi reached the front door, he glanced back one last time.

"Eat dinner."

Jimin let out the smallest laugh.

"You're seriously telling me that after everything?"

"You still skipped lunch."

"...You noticed?"

"I notice more than you think."

The apartment door closed softly behind him.

Jimin stood there for a long time, replaying those words in his head.

I notice more than you think.

For months, he had believed he was fighting alone.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

He wasn't anymore.

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