Chapter Text
“Ready?”
Reznikov, the Russian astronaut slide in showing her head at the entrance of your chamber. Her fiery red hair is so striking against the white metal walls of this station. They turned on the anti-gravity just a moment ago for morning routine. So everyone is floating freely.
Even in the dark space you still have a sense of time. There’s morning, there’s night. People just greets everyone good morning and good night like how we normally did back on earth. There’s earth clock but everyone just assumed it’s night when you sleep and when you wake up it’s morning. The normalcy.
A crew mate from Japan has a full playlist of earth sounds. From the sound of rain, the sounds of birds flapping their wings, even the sound of water pouring down. He said he recorded his wife pouring the coffee into his cup. Everyone in the ship craves for normalcy. To fight loneliness, a human can go as far as remembering the things that grounded them. You haven’t thought of that because honestly that is so cool. You’re making a mental note to vent it out to him when you send him a video message later.
Like Gina Reznikov. She dyed her hair red because she wants to remember the color of her mom’s curtains. Unlike you, she’s in here for a long course. Five solid years. She is a biologist from Russia, a gentle yet passionate woman. It was her who has been showing you around and helps you settle down ever since your team arrived 38 hours ago. You’re practically here as a student and since everyone is very well-seasoned in their fields, it is a huge opportunity for you to learn new things. It’s both scary and exciting. The International Space Station felt so spacious compared to the ship.
“Reznikov, your hair looks exceptionally on fire now that I keep staring at it. You know you reminds me of my friend. He dyed his hair red throughout his freshman year in college. No regrets.” You chuckled, remembering one of your important people, his bravery and his escapade with colors on his head.
“Oh, just call me Rez, is it the same guy we had talked about yesterday? The one that give you the photo book?” She whispers. You’re not sure why she did that but she did express on how much she wanted to borrow your photo book. She was on the verge of crying when she saw the photos.
“I miss earth, I can’t believe I’m crying over photos of forests and trees.” She grabs the walls and slightly pushed her body so she can reach the holder on the door of Firewall Two, the lab.
Since she’s a biologist and you’re a botanist, you can understand her feelings. “You can look at them whenever you want, he would be very soft and mushy when people appreciate his photos.” Your hearts blooms as you’re trying to make up his surprised face in your mind.
He makes you a photo book of forests, plants, animals from big to little. “Don’t want you to miss everything too much. My heart hurts if yours hurt too.”
“I don’t know how he looks like but if he used to have a red hair like, then he’s my guy,” Rez said as she pulls punched in the code to lock the door. The lab must be off from anti-gravity since it will be hazardous to work with chemicals and other tools while floating.
“No, not him,” you scoffed, following closely behind her. Jungkook would never dyed his hair. Wait, he did. It was fuchsia pink and you missed it. How he stands out in a sea of people because of his hair, not because he is the only one your eyes are trained to land on. Definitely not that.
“His name is Taehyung, he would’ve loved to hang out with you,” you bumped your elbows with hers.
“Bet he’s a fun guy like me.” She winks at you. She rotates the laver clockwise before pulling the heavy door opened.
“He is, he has this contagious smile,” remembering Taehyung and his free spirited soul, bursting energy everywhere.
She looks at your smile, but your eyes are downcast. She knows that looks. She has been sporting it for years. “Time flew fast here. Before you know it, you’ll be home to your loved ones real soon.”
“Grab onto something, I’m gonna turn off the anti-gravity. I don’t want you to fall.” She informed you.
You quickly grab the edge of the lab table and after she turns it off.
“I don’t think I will ever get used to it,” you chuckled softly.
“What? The floating?” Rez asked.
“No, the falling.”
summer 20XX
“I’m going to fall from there?! No, uh huh, I’m not sure, Jungkook,” you gulped. Eyes wandering everywhere.
“Come on, you got this. Don’t close your eyes before you did it, okay. You’ll miss the view.” He puts his large hands on your shoulders. Lightly massaging the tense muscle. He has no idea why you would be scared now. This is not the first time you’re doing anything crazy with him.
By crazy you mean anything that Jeon Jungkook can do to push you out of comfort zone. He once dragged you along to the park to try on his new skateboard. You can’t even ride a bike at that time. Of course you fell, scrapped on your palms. Thank god Jungkook put you in a full protection gear.
He panicked but then he smiled. So wide. “Look at you, my little daredevil” he said while wiping the dirt and dried blood on your palms with wet tissues, the one that he has with him all the time.
Sometimes you wonder how did you grow from who you used to be before Jungkook to you now who always attached to him by the hip, literally. Because it’s Jungkook. A ball of wonders and a ray of fun is what he is. If you didn’t enjoy being with him, you would’ve ran away. Very much like the woods, there’s never a day you went on without seeing him.
“But Jungkook, this is too crazy, I don’t think I have the stomach for this,” placing both hands on your soft belly. Feeling as if the content in it is doing a gymnastic show. This is probably one of the most intense moments of your 17 year old life. Though your body is easing at his touch on your shoulders, your mind is still clouded.
Are you sure you want to do this? Why is he so calm? Granted, because he is not the one who is about to jump off of a 10 meter diving platform into the 2 meter deep pool. You’ve calculated, there’s no way you’d survive this. Jungkook said you were being silly (he’s right).
“Jungkook,”
“Yes, sweetness”
“Why am I doing this? Remind me again.” You sucked on air and feel it lumping in your throat. That’s how nervous you are. You hated heights and falling down.
“Because,” he noticed you’re getting more anxious, he slowly turns to face you. Cupping your face with his hand, he bends to look into your eyes. You looked up and you saw the same innocent face that’s been with you since you were twelve. Except now he looks a little different. Water dripping from his hair as he already jumped into the pool before he spotted you. Wet lean chest and his skinny arms, chapped lips and a scar on his cheek.
The scar that he got from a sharp branch in the woods because he was grabbing your arm from tripping over the bulging roots. He was such a fool. You still winced at the memory of his bleeding cheeks. Yet his one main concern at that time was you. Stupid Kook, you scolded him every time your eyes set on the scar. The scars that almost faded but still still traceable, he too, is changing. He is no longer a boy, except his mentality, yup.
Aside from that now he really needs to bend down to look at you? Since when did he become so tall?
“You promised yourself and I quote ‘Jungkook! If i get full marks in biology, be my witness as I took a fall from the highest peak in this town!’ end quote,” he grins before continuing, “well sweetheart, congratulations for bio and this is the peak that we’re looking for. Now off you go.”
“I take it back. I thought I wouldn’t get good marks for bio. The questions were crazy hard,” you let out a frustrated groan as you’re remembering why on earth would you make such a dare. And to Jungkook out of all people. He is relentless. He never backs out from challenges.
“That is because my sweetness, you are a genius. And I’m utterly proud of you for that, now go make yourself prouder. Conquer the heights.” He pushed you to climb up the stairs.
“You’re not coming?” Fear flashes before your eyes as you’re not feeling him beside you. You turn around and he was folding his arms with a proud chest, down the stairs. Your hands are shaking on the railing. He noticed that, immediately placing his big hands over yours.
“No, this is your battle. But I will catch you.” He grins so wide his eyes bends like two crescent moons. Softly circling the back of your hand with his thumb.
“Impossible, the water will catch me first,” you scoffed.
“Figuratively, ___ you’re ruining the mood.” Jungkook sighed. Palms on his face. Frustrated because you, sometimes is too straightforward. Even after years of being with him. He thought you would’ve picked some of his sense of humor.
“You’ll feel different after you jumped. A good different. I swear.”
“Now, off you go my wild cat!” He yelled out for everyone to hear. Though there’s not much people in this local public pool but he just wants to celebrate you. He patted on your butt to which he earned a scowl from you.
After he saw you climbed you the plank safely, he rushed to the side of the pool. To catch you.
“I must be crazy,” you breathed. Not able to muttered clearly because of your nerves.
It took you almost 15 minutes but you jumped, half of the heart feels like coming out of your chest and the other half is smiling proudly down there to catch you.
“Told you she can do it,” Jungkook told his two best friends before he immediately swim to get you. Jimin and Taehyung are giving each other a knowing look. They were the sole witnesses of Jeon Jungkook losing his shit while he keeps on craning his neck to look up for you.
Just 15 minutes ago, They were sure Jungkook is so close to climb up the stairs to get you down. It was him who was nervous actually. Biting his lips as he completely ignored both Jimin and Taehyung. The duo were assuring him that you would be fine but he keeps muttering “this is a bad idea, she hates height,” and “should I get her?” continuously.
So the line “told you she can do it” is mostly to himself. When you jumped he swears his heart stopped beating for a second and then it started to beat twice as hard. Fearing for you not coming up for air. In the split second but it felt so long for him. “Bad Jungkook bad Jungkook bad Jungkook” blaming himself but the moment your head coming up from the water he exhaled a relieved sigh loud enough for Jimin and Taehyung to hear him.
“You did it!” He pulls you closer to him as he swiped the water from your face.
Gasping for air you clutched tighter on him. Your hands are on his shoulder as you legs wrapping around his torso. Jungkook is holding his breath. He hopes to god that you couldn’t hear how loud his heart is beating. “Never gonna do that again, you got me Kook?”
“Yes, sweetheart.” He chuckled and hold back the choked feeling in his throat as you tighten your legs around him. Still floating in the water.
He swam both of you closer to the edge of the pool where Jimin and Taehyung were leisurely soaking their legs. Jimin doesn’t want to swim because according to him, the chlorine will messed up with his newly bleached hair. And Tae just follows along.
“We’re so proud of you, but really it’s mostly just Kook,” Jimin gives you a pat on your head. He smirks at you as he can see that you’re still tightly holding onto Jungkook as if he is your float.
Jimin knew. The only one who knew about your habouring crush on Jeon Jungkook. Because it’s Jimin, he just assumed things and they’re always turned out to be right.
“Hey Kook, why don’t you get ___ up here so you can grab the popsicles with Tae?” Jimin nudged Taehyung.
“Why me?” Taehyung pointed at himself.
“Just go, I’ll tell you later” Jimin gritted his teeth as he faked grinned at Tae.
“A second,” Jungkook replied, disappointed on how soon he has to let you go. He was getting used to your warmth. And you’re clinging to him is making him burn on the inside.
You sit next to Jimin as Jungkook and Tae foolishly smacking each other’s backs while they’re walking to the snack bar. You know very well Jimin is gonna lecture you, it has almost been his only mission to do that ever since he found out about your little secret.
“What Jimin,” you sigh.
“I didn’t say anything, did I?” He gives you a cheeky grin. Little shit.
“Are we gonna talk about this now?” You splashed him with your legs.
“Seems like an okay time to discuss for me,’” he counter attack you. “Seriously, you have to tell Jungkook. I will assure you that he is feeling the same way about you,”
“Did he actually tell you that?” You raised an eyebrow. Both of you know the answer very well. As much as they are brothers for life Jungkook is very secretive. Especially in this kind of department. Seeing him not replying, you said “exactly. He hasn’t said a thing and why should I? What if he never feel the same way I feel about him? We’re friends for years and let’s not ruin that.” You sighed.
“He didn’t, but the boy is clearly whipped for you. I seriously don’t know why the both of you decided to keep the feelings bottled. It’s driving me nuts. And for you to say that cliche cringe line is out the world. There’s no way Kook gonna end the friendship just because you tell him your feelings.” Jimin turns to face you. He put his hands on yours. Slowly massaging the knuckles
Jimin is a good friend and he is very observant. Of course he noticed those longing looks Jungkook throws at you when you’re not looking, those lingering shy glances from you every time Jungkook speaks.
You sigh as you stared at the jumping plank. You just jumped from it but you still scared of jumping into the pool of feelings you named after Jeon Jungkook. You like him, you really do. You couldn’t imagine going through life without him by your side. Maybe it was right but what if it is also wrong? What if along the way, he wasn’t there anymore? Can you make it? Or are you too depending on him? You feel like walking on a tightrope, never wanting to fall down.
No you can’t risk everything, he is your safe blanket. If you told him and everything fall awkward after that, you’ll crash.
“Let’s wait, okay? I am not sure any of us is ready for this conversation.” You mumble.
Rolling his eyes,“what? I didn’t hear you. This is bullshit. Jungkook could lift mountains for yo-
A slap landed on his mouth. You winced at how strong your fist come up to his mouth which you didn’t mean it, but Jungkook is coming! He can’t know you’re talking about him with Jimin.
“Shh Jimin, sorry” you hushed him as you can see Jungkook and Tae are coming closer.
Jimin grabbed your wrist with wide eyes.
“Don’t hush me, this is a serious issue. Neither you nor Kook realized what kind of constipated emotions you’re having. One of these days, I feel like shoving you straight-”
“Hey,” Jungkook’s stern voice raised the hair on Jimin’s neck. “Shoving ___ straight to what?”
“Into the pool!” You answered before you literally commit the action.
“Jiminie the meanie!” Jungkook laughed and he pushed Jimin into the pool too, Taehyung drops the popsicle as he kicked Jungkook on his butt and he jumped into the water with him.
“Fucking chlorine!” Jimin screech.
Jimin just shakes his head at the laughter from his best friends. He saw Tae playing submarine all by himself and then he saw you on Jungkook’s back like he is your trained dolphin.
“If these two are gonna take a lifetime to confess, I’m gonna call a fucking family intervantion.”
“___, come and look at this!” Rez sounds excited to show you her experiment. It’s one of her hundreds experiment she’s done in the ISS alone. She truly is an incredible woman. “I know you’re here to learn and observe but I’m really proud of this little one right here,” she beams at you. Pulling you closer to a big glass box. It contains a smaller box filled with nitrogen gas. A dozen petri dishes are neatly arranged in it.
“It’s my latest experiment, I’m studying how heart cells behave when the gravity doesn’t get in the way.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Oh yes she should be proud.
“That is so amazing!” You eyes are glimmering with amazement and wonders. This makes you feel so motivated and alive at the same time. You must make this one year valuable and memorable.
“It’s still in the early stages, and we might be working in a full anti-gravity mode to see how it works,” she winks at you. Noticed how your eyes light up. You’re an eager learner, she can tell that.
“So, get use to the falling,” she said.