Breaking the Silence

Jimin's personality leaned toward silence, he had always been the type to build a boundary around himself, not out of resentment, but simply because he didn't know how to open up to others.

Conversations felt like a challenge he never quite knew how to tackle. As a result, he kept his interactions minimal, doing his best to be a good son by staying quiet and keeping to himself, hoping to avoid the need for difficult conversations altogether.

Now, standing in his room, he felt a familiar knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. How was he going to explain this sudden trip to his mom? The idea of speaking up felt foreign, almost out of character, but he knew he had to find a way. For Inna, and maybe a little bit for himself, he would have to push past his unease.

After mustering some courage, Jimin made his way to the front room. With a small, hesitant voice, he called out, "Mom?"

His mom's voice carried an upbeat tone. "Yes?"

Jimin hesitated, nerves getting the better of him. "I want to tell you something."

His mom nodded, her expression encouraging. "Go ahead."

Jimin fidgeted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Actually… Mom… Me and Inn…"

Noticing his hesitation and the discomfort clouding his eyes, his mom quickly tried to put him at ease without drawing attention to his unease. She spoke warmly, "Jimin, first sit here. How can we talk if you're standing there like you did something wrong and I'm about to scold you?"

She added with a frank but gentle smile, "Come on, sit down first. Even if you did something wrong, I promise I won't scold you."

Jimin sat down, took a sip of water, and tried to steady his nerves. Still hesitant, he began speaking. "Mom, summer vacation is starting tomorrow, right?"

His mom nodded, her face open with curiosity. "Hmm."