Chapter 19

"A worried parent"

"Mr. Park, it looks like you have sprained your ankle," said the doctor who was standing by the bed where Hakyeon, Namjoon and Ha Na were all hovering over Jimin like worried parents.

"Your foot needs to rest! It would be good if you can keep it elevated and we will put on some elastic to put compression on the sprain." Jimin listened carefully as the doctor spoke, while Hakyeon was glaring at him from the side, making sure he took it seriously.

"For how long?" said Jimin when the doctor was done talking.

"For one or two weeks, it all depends on how well the injury is healing." Jimin let out a sigh, but felt a sharp pain in his shoulder when Hakyeon pressed down on it, hard.

"We will make sure he follows your instructions," said Hakyeon.

"Good," said the doctor, "stay here and a nurse will come and put on the elastic and the bandage very soon."

"Thank you," said Jimin and the doctor then left to move on to his next patient.

Jimin fell backwards on the bed, resting his head on the soft pillow and he took in a deep breath. He felt a light touch on his hand and for a minute he thought it was Hakyeon again, but the softness made him rethink and when he opened his eyes, he saw Ha Na kindly holding his hand as she looked at him in worry. Jimin sat up in the bed and slowly pulled his hand away from Ha Na, feeling both Hakyeon and Namjoon looking at him.

"It is going to be okay," signed Ha Na slowly, so Jimin was able to understand.

"Thank you," replied Jimin in sign language and was thinking of what else to say when suddenly, his eyes became wide open and had nothing but fear shone through them. Ha Na was confused by the change in Jimin and turned around to take notice of a middle-aged man standing a few feet away from them, a bouquet of flowers held loosely in his right hand and a disappointed look on his face.

"Park Jimin!" yelled the man and walked all the way up to the bed where Jimin was lying, "what the heck is going on?"

"Who is this?" signed Namjoon to Ha Na.

"Dad, I can explain!" said Jimin.

"Never mind," signed Namjoon quickly.

"Then explain!" Hakyeon and Namjoon both took a step back, dragging Ha Na with them so they wouldn't be caught up in whatever was about to happen.

"I... what are you even doing here dad?" asked Jimin.

"Me?" said Ha Jun and held up the flowers to show Jimin, "I just thought I would come and congratulate my son on passing the last exam before summer holiday. But when I came to the University, you weren't there and when I asked for you in your dorm room, this young and confused boy ended up telling me that my son was at a dance contest?"

Seriously Jungkook, thought Jimin to himself.

"I am sorry, I know you don't like me spending so much time on dance, but I thought it would be alright as long as I didn't neglect my studies."

"Yes to practice a bit for fun in your spare time," spoke Ha Jun, "not taking part in a big contest, without even telling me about it."

"The reason I didn't tell you was because I knew you wouldn't allow me to do it!"

"If you knew I wouldn't allow it, then why would you do it anyway?"

Jimin was about to speak when he got eye contact with Ha Na who was trying to get his attention.

"Is everything okay?" signed Ha Na, "should we leave?"

"No!" said Jimin while signing, "everything is fine, don't worry." When Jimin looked back at his father, Ha Jun's eyes were filled with rage.

"What was that just now?" asked Ha Jun.

"I... I have been learning sign language," said Jimin quietly.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I want to be able to speak with Ha Na Noona," said Jimin and pointed to Ha Na, whereafter Ha Jun shifted his eyes to look at her. She tried sending him a warm smile and waved, but Ha Jun just looked back at Jimin.

"So instead of studying like you should, you have been spending time on silly stuff like dancing and sign language? How will this help you become a good lawyer?"

"Have you ever even considered that I don't even want to be a lawyer?"

"Don't you dare start talking about being a professional dancer again!"

"Hakyeon is a professional dancer," said Jimin and now pointed at Hakyeon who looked like he wanted to disappear, "he is living off it just fine."

"I see where you get all these weird ideas from, you are clearly not in a good environment when I look at the friends you are hanging out with."

"Excuse me, sir," said Hakyeon, making Ha Jun look at him again, "I wouldn't say I am friends with Jimin, it is more like rivals who understand one another and-" Hakyeon stopped talking when he felt the stare from Ha Jun intensify greatly.

"I think you have to come home for summer holiday," said Ha Jun and looked at Jimin again.

"No I am not going home!" replied Jimin.

"It wasn't a question, I am going to your dorm right now to get your stuff and then I will come back here to pick you up." Ha Jun turned around and left even before Jimin could say anymore. Ha Na came and put her hand on Jimin's arm but he immediately pushed her away.

"Just leave, all of you... just leave me alone!" yelled Jimin and Ha Na drew back a little. She stood for a short while, like she was waiting for Jimin to take back what he said, but when he didn't, she just turned around and ran away, disappearing from his eyes.

Ha Na ran as fast as her feet could carry her, even though she could sense people around her looking, but she didn't have time to care about that for now. She had to find him before he left.

After turning around another corner, she finally saw Ha Jun walking towards the front exit and she went into a spurt until she reached Ha Jun and grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and held him back.

"What on earth?" Ha Jun turned around and saw the tiny girl from before holding onto him.

"Let go!" said Ha Jun. 

Ha Na did as he said, but immediately started signing, trying her best to make him understand, but he just looked at her hand movements with confusion and annoyance.

"Would you please stop, I don't understand any of that!" said he and was about to walk away. The panic was spreading in Ha Na's body and without thinking, she grabbed his arm again, hugging it tight.

"Let go of me!" yelled Ha Jun and tried to brush her off, but she just held on tighter.

"I will call security," said he and tried to walk away, but Ha Na just dragged across the floor, still holding onto his arm.

"Hey hey hey, what is going on here?" Ha Jun looked up and into the eyes of the tall man who had also been by Jimin's bed earlier.

"Will you please make this girl let go of my arm?" said Ha Jun and pointed at Ha Na who stuck to him like glue.

"Ha Na," said Hakyeon and put his hand on her. Ha Na looked up and the minute she saw Hakyeon, she let go of Ha Jun and instead start signing to Hakyeon.

"Sir," said Hakyeon while Ha Jun was stretching the arm Ha Na had held onto, "Ha Na would like to tell you something, can I translate for you?" Ha Jun looked at the tall man and the tiny girl who looked back at him with pleading eyes.

"Alright, but make it quick!" said Ha Jun with a sigh. Ha Na started signing again and Hakyeon looked at her and started translating.

"She is saying, even though she didn't understand everything that happened back there, and that it is probably not her place to meddle, there is something she has to tell you," translated Hakyeon and Ha Jun looked at Ha Na since she was the one speaking indirectly. 

"Jimin is an amazing dancer and he looks the most happy when he is dancing or practicing. I once asked him if it was stressful keeping up with school and dance at the same time, but he told me that since dancing was his dream, it didn't feel like work to him. I never had a dream before and I never worked hard to do anything, but watching Jimin give it his all, it makes me want to find my own dream to pursue." 

Ha Na stopped for a minute, making sure Hakyeon was following along and then continued;

"Today Jimin gave it his all in front of several hundred people who all cheered for him and was mesmerized by his dance. But because he wanted to do the best he could, he ended up overdoing it and sprained his ankle. I am sure he was in a lot of pain, but he was so happy to be dancing that he didn't even care. He just danced with everything he had in him."

Ha Jun looked at Ha Na, waiting to see if she had anymore to say, while also trying to process everything conveyed to him just now.

"I just want him to have a good life," said Ha Jun finally, "not an uncertain life where he never knows when he will get the next paycheck."

"Who says you can't be a professional dancer and make enough money for a decent lifestyle?" said Hakyeon and signed for Ha Na to follow along the conversation, "I have been in the business for many years and even if it is hard work, it is something I enjoy, and economically I am not in the need of anything. When I look at Jimin, I can see he loves to dance and I can see he will be a great dancer if he is just allowed to pursue it. I am not the only one who can see that, did you know a talent scout gave Jimin his card?"

"No," said Ha Jun, "I didn't know that."

Back in the emergency room Jimin was lying in bed, Namjoon standing next to him while awkwardly trying to make conversation.

"So, does your foot hurt a lot?"

"They gave me some pain killers," said Jimin.

"That is good!" said Namjoon, "you are becoming better at sign language I see."

"I guess."

"I know it is making Ha Na very happy," said Namjoon, but he didn't get any reply from Jimin this time, "I know I was a bit overprotective in the beginning. I just love my little sister a lot and I don't want anything to happen to her, but I know now that you are not a bad person and that you are making Ha Na very happy." 

There was still not a word from Jimin. 

"I guess what I am trying to say is, I am sorry for not trusting you before. I know Hakyeon is sorry too, he is just way to proud to ever say it." A deep silence overcame both of them until Jimin quietly uttered:

"Thank you."

"Oh no problem, I-" Namjoon was interupted when he noticed Jimin's father walking up to them again and Jimin also noticed and sat up on the bed.

"I am sorry young man, but can I have a word with my son in private?" said Ha Jun.

"Yes of course!" said Namjoon and left as fast as he could. Ha Jun sat down on Jimin's bed, but Jimin just looked away.

"Let us talk," said Ha Jun.

"We already talked," replied Jimin.

"No we argued, I want to talk," said Ha Jun, "do you really not want to be a lawyer?"

"Oh how did you figure that out?"

"Let us stop it with the spiteful comments!" said Ha Jun, "I am asking because, I hear you got scouted today."

"Yeah," said Jimin, "so what?"

"Can I see the card?" Jimin handed the card to his father and Ha Jun gave it a quick scan.

"What did the man say?"

"That he was a talent scout from that entertainment company and he wanted to sign with me. I told him I was a law student and not a professional dancer, but he still gave me the card."

"Is that so?" said Ha Jun and sat thinking for a while, "I think you should sign with them."

"WHAT?" Jimin finally looked at his father, checking if it was in fact him who had said those words just now.

"I am not saying I think it is the best idea for a career, but I think it is worth giving a shot. But, if a year goes by and you haven't made any progress at the company and is still just a trainee without a future, then you have to back to your studies!"

"Dad, are you serious?" asked Jimin.

"Have you ever seen me not serious?" Jimin threw himself at Ha Jun and embraced him in a warm hug, one those two hadn't shared in a very long time.

"Thank you so much, dad!"

"But you have to wait until your foot is all healed! I won't have you dancing on a sprained ankle!"

"Of course not, I promise to wait until it is better!" said Jimin and hugged his dad again.

"Wow, two hugs in one day," said Ha Jun, "you must be really happy."

"I am!"

"Then remember to thank your friends, that tall guy really spoke your case! But the deaf girl was the one who convinced me."

"Tall guy? You mean Hakyeon? Hakyeon and Ha Na talked to you?"

"They did," said Ha Jun, "Quick question, is something going on between you and that girl?"

"Me and Ha Na? No, nothing is going on, why would you think that?" said Jimin a little nervously.

"Really? I don't know, I am pretty sure she is fond of you. The way she spoke about you made it seem like she was already deeply in love." Jimin looked at his father with widened eyes. 

"Forget it, I will go talk to the doctor now, and after you are discharged, we can go eat together." Ha Jun left Jimin on the bed, whose heart had started beating faster and faster. Just then, he saw a nurse walk past him with a wheelchair and he reached out to her.

"Excuse me, can I borrow that for a minute?"

Wheeling through the hospital, Jimin looked everywhere for Ha Na, praying she hadn't gone home yet. He made sure to send her a text, but she didn't reply. In the end, Jimin decided to go to the front exit and just then, he found Ha Na sitting on a chair all alone.

"Ha Na!" yelled Jimin without thinking about her hearing and then went up to her. Once Ha Na saw Jimin, her eyes were filled with joy.

"What happened? What did your father say?" signed Ha Na so fast Jimin could barely keep up.

"Woah easy, I am not that good yet," said Jimin. He then told Ha Na all about what Ha Jun had said and Ha Na was thrilled to hear that Jimin could finally make his dream a reality.

"I am so happy for you!" signed Ha Na, her eyes shining in the light.

"It is all thanks to you," said Jimin, "And... there is something... something I want to tell you."

"What is it?" signed Ha Na.

"It is... I... what I want to say is... I li-" Jimin stopped talking when he realized how many people were around them and even though Ha Na couldn't hear, the noise was making it hard for Jimin to focus on conveying the words he wished to say.

"I would like to do something together with you!" said Jimin then, "tomorrow night, you know, to celebrate what has happened."

"Are we going out again? Should I ask Jung Hwa to come, or maybe my brother or Yeonnie oppa?"

"No!" said Jimin, a bit too loudly, "no, I want to celebrate alone with you... if that is okay?" Ha Na was a little surprised, but then nodded along with a smile.

"I will have Jung Hwa cover for me," signed she and winked at Jimin, "just text me the time and place we are meeting."

"Okay I will, now go home, they must all be worried about you."

"Okay bye!" Ha Na waved as she walked out of the door, Jimin still sitting in the wheelchair. The moment she was out of sight, Jimin took out his phone and dialed in Taehyung's number.

"Yo man, what is up?" said Taehyung over the phone.

"I... I need your advice!"

"You need my advice? What is going on?"

"I need advice on how to confess to Ha Na."

Hello everyone!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, make sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Also, remember to take good care of yourself and stay safe.

Love, Annalise~