Archive of Our Own ^beta

What’s your reason for finding the world beautiful?

—

“Okay so what would you say are your areas of expertise?”

“Well,” Seokjin straightens his back, “I would say that I’m very good at time management and organization. I’d say that I’m also a very fast learner, most of the time paying attention to accuracy and detail.”

“Alright,” the man across from him smiles, and writes a few notes on the resume Seokjin had given to him at the beginning of the interview. “So what are you looking forward to most for this job?”

“I think it will have to be the fact that I’ll get a chance to learn to really discipline myself, as well as keep up with the fast pace that this job will most likely have. Being a personal assistant is a hard-“

“Sir, this a McDonald’s.”

Seokjin falters. And then takes a look around the office. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he holds up a finger and smiles apologetically at the man before pulling out his phone. He opens the map app on his phone and stares at the flashing blue dot showing his location. He was in fact, at a McDonald’s. He was wondering why a business man would want to meet up at a shady parking lot for a job interview.

Huh.

—

Seokjin slams the door to his apartment and immediately kicks off his shoes. He picks them up and places them on the show rack next to the door before hanging up his keys. He swings the guitar case strapped to his back over his head and gently leans it against a wall before stretching out his tired back.

“So did you get the job?” Jimin, one of his roommates that he was sharing the apartment with, asked from the couch.

Seokjin grins widely at him, before digging through his pocket to locate the very special item he had gained after the interview.

“Absolutely not,” Seokjin answers, pulling out a keychain with an alpaca charm on it, “but I got this sick keychain while busking outside that McDonald’s parking lot.”

Jimin narrows his eyes at him. “Why were you in a McDonald’s parking lot?”

“Turns out the business man was not an actual business man but a cashier in a suit who wanted someone to fill his job,” Seokjin rolls his eyes, but continues to dig through his hoodie pocket, “that, and I earned enough for pizza, you want take out?”

“I’m-“ Jimin sighs, and then flops against the couch, “sure why not.”

“Why don’t you actually use that money for grocery shopping?”

Seokjin jumps, and then immediately turns his head towards the kitchen, where a disgruntled Hoseok stands, hunched over and peering into their nearly empty fridge while grumbling to himself.

“I don’t see you buying groceries,” Seokjin jabs back, good naturedly of course.

“Yeah, but I’m also the only one who earns a decent income,” Hoseok sighs, opting for grabbing the entire orange juice cartoon out of the fridge before heading back towards his room. Read : their room, that the five (Namjoon was out somewhere, and Yoongi was most likely still in their room sleeping) of them share.

“Hey! Don’t attract ants!” Jimin shouts from the couch.

“Roger!” Hoseok says and closes the door behind him.

“Who the hell is Roger?” Seokjin asks.

Jimin lets out a warning breath, “Don’t-“

“Does he live here now too?”

“I-“

“Where do burgers go to dance?”

“Can you-“

“The meatball.”

Needless to say, Seokjin slept on the couch that night.

—

He wakes up with a crick in his neck, but he gets up anyways, groaning quietly to himself as to not make a lot of noise. The walls were a lot less soundproof than he would’ve liked. He makes his way to the kitchen, where the only thing separating it from the living room was an island with five stools gathered around it.

He hears a door creak open, and then close.

He turns just in time to see Namjoon coming out the bedroom with a messy bed head and slip into the bathroom, his eyes barely open.

Seokjin chuckles to himself, before digging through his cabinets to make the four of them a simple breakfast. He doesn’t know what it is yet, but he knows it’ll take twenty minutes tops, because he can’t bring himself to do anything too complicated at, he turns his head to squint at the clock, 6:36 AM in the morning. Dawn of a new day.

Once he’s done, and Namjoon’s no longer using the bathroom, he goes in there himself after setting the table.

He comes out to see everyone else gathered around the island.

“You eating?” Hoseok asks when he spots him, shoving another forkful of fried noodle into his mouth.

“Nope, I’m just gonna get a sandwich, I found an expensive looking company building when I was biking back from McDonald’s yesterday, I’m gonna go try busking there,” he says excitedly, skipping his way back to his bedroom to get dressed.

“Don’t get robbed!” He hears Namjoon yell before he closes the bedroom door.

He snorts to himself. “Roger!”

There’s a silent pause. And then Namjoon speaks, “Who is Roger?”

“Oh my go-“

—

Seokjin sits on the edge of fountain with his guitar in his lap, the only thing supporting him from falling over completely. It’s also digging into his ribs, but he can dig it. (Haha, get it, because it’s digging into his ribs. Dig it? Very American.)

His guitar case is flipped open by his feet, but it’s empty, because he hasn’t earned anything yet. Not because he was bad, he just hasn’t started playing yet. Nothing’s coming to mind, and that was his current dilemma.

He sighs, and then pulls out his phone. He presses the first person he sees on speed dial in his contacts list and waits, setting the phone on speaker while it rings.

“Hello?” Yoongi’s voice crackles out, scaring several people who were just walking by him.

“What song should I play?”

There’s a pause. “You really called me just for that?”

“Yes,” Seokjin sighs, “it’s been half an hour.”

“You’ve never had trouble before,” Yoongi says, and it sounds like he’s frowning.

“Well, this is rich people territory, so I’m kinda stumped,” Seokjin says, and slumps over even more, a pour overtaking his features even though Yoongi wouldn’t be able to see it. But, he could hear it. There’s a shuffling noise, and then Namjoon is speaking.

“Well, you could play something out of the ordinary? Like foreign music.”

“Like anime openings?”

“I mean, if you want?”

“Don’t phrase it like a question, give me ideas, I’m dying here,” he whines.

“Play foreign songs, ones that they won’t immediately recognize.”

“Ah, so you really want me to play American music don’t you.”

Namjoon sighs. “Or French? Or Italian. Anything.”

“Alright, thanks, love you guys.”

“Love you too,” they say in unison before Yoongi answers, “now go get some rent money.”

Seokjin chuckles, and then hangs up. He scrolls through his phone, looking at a list of songs that either he’s heard, or that anyone of them really, has heard that wasn’t from the top charts.

He stops at one that was fairly old, but still catchy when he had first heard it. Normally when he busks, he also sings, but just playing guitar would have to suffice for now, because his English pronunciation is utterly terrible.

He strums a few strings first, the song starting out fairly slow, but as the song picks up, so does his pace. He finds himself smiling the longer he plays, and the crowd that gathers around is not bad either. It’s a decent size, but he could care less about the numbers. He’d still be here if only one person stood around.

He continues playing, strumming the chords with the rough pads of fingers and drumming his hand occasionally against the wood, never once stopping until he finished the song.

With one final beat against his guitar, he ends the song, and he hears several people clapping. He looks up to smile at the crowd. Some people leave, some people stay, but Seokjin is grateful for them for listening regardless.

No one comes up to drop any money into his case though, but that’s alright, because he’s still got all day.

Before he can start his next song though, one that he’s more familiar with, a man in a suit waddles up closer to him. He was trying to be discreet, Seokjin can tell, but his round eyes and innocent face gives away his intentions of inspecting Seokjin closer.

Seokjin smiles at the man, and crosses his arms over the edge of his guitar to lean his chin on them. “Any requests?”

The man stiffens, before shaking his head with an apologetic smile.

“It’s okay, I won’t judge. My music taste is all over the place honestly,” Seokjin beamed.

“Ah,” the man looked around, and seeing that people were starting to leave, stepped a little bit closer towards Seokjin, “have you ever heard ‘Beautiful’ by Crush? It’s from a popular drama.”

Seokjin’s face lit up. “Goblin right?”

The man nods enthusiastically, “so you’ve seen it?”

“Of course,” Seokjin chirps, and then readjusts his guitar, “I’ll play it.”

Seokjin strums a single note, before pausing to look up at the man, who’s still smiling cheerfully at him. “Would you like to sing?”

The man stiffens then, “M-me?”

“Yeah, you don’t have to be good,” Seokjin smiles, “all that matters is that you have fun doing it.”

“Ah,” the man looks away, little bit hesistant and embarrassed, “no, I don’t-I don’t sing.”

Seokjin frowns. Judging by the man’s tone, his lie hadn’t sounded very convincing, but it wasn’t Seokjin’s place to pry. So he settles for a nod in understanding. The man smiles gratefully at him.

Seokjin plays the song from memory, from the one month he had spent binge watching the drama and locking himself in the restroom learning the tabs to every single soundtrack from the show. It was grueling. It had hurt his fingers far beyond any other time he had spent learning songs, but it was worth it.

Especially when he sees the man grin brightly, his nose scrunching up a bit in the process. It was unjustifiably cute.

He sings along with his playing, and he’s nearly lost in his own world by the time the song ends. He nearly jumps when he realizes that he’s gathered a bigger crowd than before, and they were all clapping. He grins, feeling his chest overflow with happiness when he sees several people come forward to drop several bills and coins into his guitar case, including the man with a suit.

“Thanks,” the man smiles at Seokjin one last time, before walking away towards the building with a small wave of his hand. Seokjin smiles and waves back, glad to have made a potential new friend.

He continues playing until the sun hangs high in the sky, taking small breaks in between. He’s just about to pack up for lunch when someone steps in front of him. He looks up to see the same man from the morning.

“You’re still here!” The man exclaims, smiling at Seokjin.

“Yup, I’ll be here until nightfall,” Seokjin says, standing up to stretch, “but I’m gonna go get lunch right now. You wanna come?”

The man blinks at him, his smile slowly slipping off his face as his eyes widen, “Really?”

Seokjin raises an eyebrow at him, “Yeah? Do you not want to come?”

“No! No, I mean, yes! I would like to,” the man smiles sheepishly.

“Great!” Seokjin bends down to gather the money he’s made into a small plastic bag, and then pushes the bag off to the side of the case to make room for his guitar. Once he zips it up, he slings the guitar carefully over his shoulder before turning back towards the man. “Ready to go, er-“

“Jeon Jungkook.” And Seokjin can’t edge off the feeling that he’s heard it somewhere.

“Kim Seokjin. Jungkook?”

Jungkook nods, grinning at him. And Seokjin thinks, he seems way too young to be wearing a suit that professionally, but who’s he to judge? He doesn’t really like doing it.

Seokjin heads off to the closest barbecue restaurant, and Jungkook follows him.

“So, how old are you?” Seokjin asks.

“23.”

Seokjin nearly trips over himself. “23?”

“Yes?” Jungkook furrows his brows in confusion. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing,” Seokjin smiles.

“What about you?”

“27, I’m turning 28 in a month.”

“Woah,” Jungkook marvels, “that’s old.”

“Rude! Is that really how you treat your elders?”

“Ones I meet off the street, play guitar, and wears giant hoodies and nothing else despite the cold November weather? Absolutely,” Jungkook says, and he smiles cheekily when Seokjin kicks him lightly with his knee.

“Just for that, you’re paying.”

“Aw, I was joking,” Jungkook pouts, but Seokjin just laughs.

“I was too, as if I would make my guest pay, I’m a gentleman.”

“Oh my heart,” Jungkook wheezes, “I’m swooning.”

“You better be, and with this face? It’s a complete package,” Seokjin says, gesturing to his face with a flourish of his hands. Jungkook snorts, but plays along with Seokjin anyways when he mimicks himself fainting.

Seokjin smiles, glad to see that the shy man from this morning had done a complete 180 into whatever character he was now. More comfortable. More open.

—

“So do you only go busking when you have time?”

Seokjin flips another piece of meat, pursing in lips in thought on how to answer the question.

“Sorry,” Jungkook smiles sheepishly, “was that a little too personal?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Seokjin reassures, “and yes, I do. I have time everyday.”

“Oh, so it’s like, a full time job?”

“In a way.”

“In what way?”

Seokjin winks. “Maybe when you earn enough friendship points I’ll tell you.”

Jungkook pouts. “Fine, I’m great at leveling up.”

“Sure. But if you pour all your points into one category, it won’t do you any good.”

“I know that,” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“So what are you then?”

“What do you mean?” Jungkook asks as he shoves another piece of meat into his mouth.

“Your job,” Seokjin supplies.

“Oh,” Jungkook frowns, his chewing slowing down, “I don’t know.”

Seokjin furrows his brows in concern, but decides to continue turning the meat over on the grill to let Jungkook continue.

“I mean, you know GC Entertainment, I’m like the company’s son? So there’s tha-“

Seokjin chokes. “What?!”

“I’m the company’s son?” Jungkook only raises an eyebrow in confusion.

“So you’re like really high on the food chain then!”

“Food chain,” Jungkook says in wonder.

“But what do you mean you don’t know what you do?”

Jungkook hunches into himself again, looking off to side as he absentmindedly bites at his chopstick. “I mean, I follow everything my father says. I do everything he gives me, and I do it to the best of my ability. And that’s really it.”

“So he’s a pushover,” Seokjin states.

Jungkook laughs, but shakes his head. “Quite the opposite really. It’s my choice.”

“Why though?”

Jungkook winks, and Seokjin can actually feel his blood pressure rising. “Maybe if you earn enough friendship points, I’ll tell you.”

Seokjin groans long and loud as he slides down his chair, with Jungkook laughing across from him the entire time.

Seokjin pays for the food, and they leave to go back to work.

—

Seokjin ends up coming back to the same place every two days, and Jungkook is there to greet him whenever he does, usually staying with him for about twenty to forty minutes near midday before going back to work. Sometimes Jungkook will join in on his singing, sometimes not, but Seokjin would prefer it if he did sing. Since he looks a lot happier and relaxed whenever he does.

Seokjin’s grateful, and he finds that the twenty to forty minutes he spends with Jungkook to be the highlights of his days.

—

It’s late December. He’s never had to explain something like that before, at least, not until he was asked.

—

“So why do you like busking so much?”

Seokjin stops mindlessly strumming his guitar and raises his eyebrow at the man clad in a full on suit sitting next to him on the front steps of a tall skyscraper. “Don’t you have a meeting to attend?”

“Don’t you have a job to find?”

“Wrong,” Seokjin grins, “This is my job, so screw off.”

“That’s not even how you tell someone off,” Jungkook huffs, crossing his arms and hunching over.

“Um? You want me to flip the bird at you? I don’t wanna get sued for that.”

Jungkook smiles. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“I’m not worried about you,” Seokjin rolls his eyes, “I’m talking about your hidden security guards or your personal assistants.”

Seokjin cranes his head and looks around for good measure, but not before Jungkook scrunches his nose up in disgust at him.

“You haven’t answered my question.”

“What, you gonna stay here until I do?” Seokjin goes back to lightly strumming his guitar, but he stops when he doesn’t hear a response. He turns back to the man beside him, who was smiling cheekily at him. Seokjin balks, “You’re kidding.”

“Try me.”

“Don’t you have a job?” Seokjin asks for the second time, giving up on trying to play his guitar in peace.

“Yes?” Jungkook asks. “But I don’t always have to be working. I’m using my lunch break right now.”

“It’s 9 AM,” Seokjin deadpans.

“Brunch break,” Jungkook supplies.

Seokjin sucks in a deep breath, shaking his head to stare at the ground in exasperation. He’s not coming back here tomorrow.

“I’ll pay.” Jungkook pulls out his wallet.

He’s definitely coming back here tomorrow.

He watches as Jungkook begins to pull out several bills, the numbers being much too high for one single person to hold at one time. He immediately pushes Jungkook’s wallet back towards his chest before Jungkook could hand him anything.

Jungkook only blinks at him, but slowly tucks his money away when Seokjin shakes his head.

“I like it because it’s free,” Seokjin finally answers.

“But aren’t you working for money?” Jungkook tucks his knees into his chest and wraps his arms around them, burying his head into his arms, keeping his gaze on Seokjin all the while.

“I don’t do everything for money you know,” Seokjin rolls his eyes. “Not everything is for money. Or for security and order.”

Jungkook only squints at him, and Seokjin reaches out to lightly flick Jungkook in the forehead. Jungkook hisses, sitting up to rub at his forehead, pouting.

“It gives me freedom,” Seokjin says, looking back down at the guitar in his hands with a smile, “I’ve never been good with following orders. That’s why I’ve never been able to hold a job.”

“Because of disciplinary issues?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow in confusion.

“Of course not. I can discipline myself just fine, how do you think I learned guitar?” Seokjin gives several rapid strums of his guitar, all out of synch and chaotic, but it manages to drag a smile out of Jungkook regardless. “I just like being my own person.”

“And that means remaining jobless?”

“You wanna fight?”

“I mean, I would win but go on I guess.”

“Just because I’m jobless, doesn’t mean I’m unhappy and struggling. Well,” Seokjin stares in the general direction of Namjoon and Yoongi’s production studio, attached right beside Hoseok’s dance studio, “I have help. A lot of it, that I’m very grateful for.”

“What does that mean?”

Seokjin grins. “I have amazing friends, who support me no matter what I decide to do. It’s comforting, being by their side. I’m very lucky to have them with me.”

Jungkook frowns, and turns away, staring into the pavement with a pinch between his brows.

“Run to not from, ever heard of that?” Seokjin smiles when Jungkook stares uncertainly at him. “I’m doing what I like, what I want, and I’m happy. It’s all that matters.”

“Not everyone can do that you know,” Jungkook murmured.

“I know,” Seokjin smiles, part sorrow, part relief, “which is why I’m considered lucky. But that doesn’t take away any of my rights to pursue this lifestyle. I have my chances, so I’m taking them. You’ll never get anywhere if you don’t do anything.”

“You seem like you would really appreciate all the nitty gritty details in life.”

Seokjin snorts. “And you wouldn’t? I thought that was your job. You know, reading the fine print?”

Jungkook grunts in disgust. “I hate that, but no, I meant, you would seem to be the type of person to just walk through parks at the crack of dawn just to catch the sunrise.”

“You haven’t done that before?”

Jungkook stares at him like he’s crazy. “Oh my god you’ve actually done that before?”

“Hey,” Seokjin protested, “the world is beautiful in its own right.”

Jungkook waves him off. “Yeah yeah, I know that. I can see the flowers and the trees and the crystal clear water at the beach. It just doesn’t always catch my eye. I can’t ever seem to find a reason for it.”

Seokjin frowns, but pulls his lips up in a sympathetic smile. “Then find something that does. You don’t have to always be appreciating nature just to find something beautiful. Anything can be, as long you find it beautiful yourself.”

Jungkook seems to ponder over it, pulling at the buttons of his blazer and shirt. But in the end, he settles for leveling Seokjin with a smile. “Play me something.”

“Are you going to pay me?”

“Depends on how well you play.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“No-“

“I accept, get ready to have your multifibered socks knocked off.”

Seokjin gets up from where he’s sitting on the steps and looks around. Spotting a nearby water fountain, he immediately picks up his guitar case and runs towards it, finding a suitable place to sit. He places the case by his feet. Jungkook follows after him, but not before removing his blazer and throwing it over his head in an attempt to hide his face.

Seokjin settles his guitar into his lap as Jungkook sits down beside him. He strums a few strings experimentally, before turning towards Jungkook. “Any requests?”

“Well,” Jungkook pauses in thought, before his face lights up, “there’s a really popular American song that I like. Have you ever heard of ‘We Don’t Talk Anymore’ by Charlie Puth?”

Seokjin scrunches up his nose, “Jimin’s played it before, I think he sang a cover of it too. But yeah. You want that?”

Jungkook nods enthusiastically.

Seokjin smiles, and plays his guitar. The song is a lot more upbeat than the guitar alone can make it out to be, so he adds his own flare to it by knocking his thumb against the wood every few seconds. It’s not the best alternative, but it makes the song sound more comparable in terms of beats to the original.

Jungkook rocks and sways with the beat, humming along with the notes that Seokjin plays. From the corner of Seokjin’s eye, he can see Jungkook mouthing the words when he’s not humming.

Halfway through the song, he stops, and turns towards Jungkook, who stares at him with a confused expression.

“Why don’t you sing?”

“Sing?” Jungkook asks, bewildered.

“Yeah, why not?” Seokjin grins. “You don’t have to be perfect, but you seem like you really want to.”

“Are you sure? Don’t you usually sing?”

“Yeah, but my English pronunciation isn’t the best.” Seokjin nudges Jungkook in the side with his elbow. “Go for it. What’ve you got to lose?”

Jungkook looks at him uncertainly, but nods reluctantly anyways.

Seokjin starts again, and this time, Jungkook sings along. Quietly, at first, but as the song continues, he starts singing a little louder, and Seokjin starts playing a liftle more livelier.

Seokjin smiles when people start gathering around them. It’s a small crowd, compared to the one drawn a few days ago when he first met Jungkook, but a large enough one that causes a scene, and attracts even more curious minds. But it’s not the crowd that’s gathering that gets him smiling, it’s the complete and utter blissful look on Jungkook’s face he catches from the corner of his eye.

As Seokjin strums the last chord of the song, and Jungkook drags out the last note, the crowd claps. Seokjin nods his head in a little bow, and Jungkook does the same, their grins evident and never leaving their faces. People file away when Seokjin makes it clear he won’t be playing another song for a while, but some step forward to drop some money into the guitar case laid by their feet.

He smiles and thanks each person that comes up, and Jungkook does the same, even though he didn’t have to.

“Well,” Seokjin peers into the guitar case once the last onlooker dropped a few bills in, “I’d say I earned enough for a good dinner for two at a four star restaurant st best. But I guess since you’re taking half I’ll have to downgrade to a two star.”

“I’m not taking anything,” Jungkook says, blatantly appalled at the idea.

“What do you mean? You’ve earned it.”

“All I did was sing, you played the guitar.”

Seokjin rolls his eyes. “Singing is an essential part of the song too, you know.”

“I’m not taking anything. Keep it,” Jungkook taps Seokjin on his chest with the back of his hand, “besides, corporate heir remember?”

“Ah, of course, I can’t believe I even considered it,” Seokjin scoffed, but it was playful in manner.

Jungkook smiles, and looks down at his watch. “Well, there goes my twenty minute break. Back to long meetings and paperwork.”

“Have fun!” Seokjin cheers.

“Screw off.”

“That’s not how you tell someone off.”

“Haha. So funny,” Jungkook rolls his eyes, but he gets up and slips his blazer back on. “Are you coming back here tomorrow?”

Seokjin blinks at him. Jungkook looked, very hopeful.

“I, uhm, yeah? Yeah.”

Jungkook grins, wider than Seokjin’s ever seen, and drops several bills into Seokjin’s guitar case before walking off, waving enthusiastically. “Great! I’ll see you tomorrow hyung!”

Seokjin smiles and waves back, waving until Jungkook disappears through the glass doors of the building.

Seokjin immediately deflates, blowing out a puff of air before looking down at his guitar case. His eyes nearly bug out of his head when he sees how much money Jungkook had left him.

“Holy sh-!”

—

“Alright so I’ve got the electricity bill covered this week!” Seokjin announces as soon as he steps through the front door.

The only person who’s there to greet him is Yoongi, who’s midway through pouring himself a glass of water.

“Nice,” Yoongi congratulates, “finally got that sugar daddy I suggested?”

Needless to say, Yoongi sleeps on the couch that night.

—

It’s early February. He thinks, at that time, he’d already laid out a foundation for his answer. His reason.

—

It’s early in the morning, and with it still being late winter/early spring, the sky is still a pale gray.

“Have you ever heard of BST?”

“They were literally established under my company why are you asking me this.”

“Great!” Seokjin grins. “Because I finally finished learning the tabs on their cool new song and I think you should sing it.”

“Sick. Which one?” Jungkook asks, no longer protesting against Seokjin’s urging and pushing for him to sing.

“Last Love.”

“Oh. I like that one a lot,” Jungkook smiles, “I actually learned how to dance that one too. It’s pretty cool, even if it looks a little awkward.”

“You dance?” Seokjin asks, astonished. “That’s amazing!”

Jungkook seems to think otherwise, because he looks away bashfully. “Not really. I don’t really do it a lot.”

“What? Let’s go I’ve already learned the tabs and chords. We’re doing this whether you like it or not,” Seokjin declares, before turning towards Jungkook with a reassuring smile, “unless you really don’t feel comfortable doing it.”

“It’s not that I’m comfortable,” Jungkook hesitates, “it’s just that I’m not used to it. I mean I want to, I’ve just, never done it. It’s too, carefree for my lifestyle.”

“Then what better time than to start now,” Seokjin chirps, and then proceeds to push Jungkook off the ledge that they were sitting on.

Jungkook stumbles forward, spinning around on his heel to protest, “Hey-“

Seokjin only sends him off with a two finger salute and a wink. Jungkook sighs, but smiles weakly at him anyways.

“At least let me get comfortable.”

“Do whatever you want JK, I’m just here to help.”

Seokjin looks up to see Jungkook taking off his blazer, and the proceeding to pull his shirt out from where it was tucked into his pants. Panic bubbles in his throat, “Oh my god don’t strip! You’re going to catch a cold!”

Jungkook turns around to stare scandalously at him. “I’m just untucking my shirt! I can’t dance in the stiff suit.”

“But it’s cold,” Seokjin whines.

“I didn’t bring a sweater,” Jungkook murmurs, shivering slightly from the morning wind.

“Then take mine. I’ll just wear your blazer,” Seokjin says as he puts his guitar aside and pulls off his hoodie, “not like I have to move much anyways.”

“Okay,” Jungkook takes the hoodie with a cheeky smile. He pulls it over his head, finding it to be a little bit too big on him, just like it was on Seokjin. “I like it, you’re never getting this back.”

“In exchange for a blazer that costs as much as my rent? You, are the fool,” Seokjin mocks as he pulls on Jungkook’s blazer, finding it to be warmer than he expected. Jungkook laughs, and settles into place, waiting for Seokjin to give him the cue to start moving.

Seokjin’s honestly surprised, that Jungkook would trust him enough in a public setting like this and let go.

But he’s happy in another sort of way, a way he can’t describe, when he can’t figure why his stomach turns when Jungkook laughs.

But regardless of whatever his stomach is feeling, he taps his guitar twice, and Jungkook gives him a thumbs up. He starts strumming.

—

It’s late March. He’s slowly getting there, piecing together his answer, his reason, but for some reason, he can’t quite get there. He’s missing something.

—

“I wanted to be a badminton player when I was younger.”

“Oh my god,” Seokjin whsipers, “are we at the level where I unlock your tragic backstory?”

Jungkook grabs a pillow from behind his chair and throws it in Seokjin’s direction. It doesn’t make it as far as across the room, but it does land near Seokjin’s feet, so he picks it up and places it on the couch.

“I invited you into my office because it was raining outside, be grateful.”

“Is that really any way to speak to me? Who is five years older?”

“Physically? Because the mentally needs some aging.”

Seokjin nearly throws hands with a 23 year old.

Seokjin lays down on the couch, leaning his head against the armerest as he hugs a pillow to his chest. “So? You going to continue?”

Jungkook seems to contemplate that, before leaning back into his office chair.

“Everything I do is to make my parents proud. Not because they force or push me to, I want to. They’ve done a lot for me. And I want to pay them back to the best of my ability,” Jungkook says, his voice filled with sorrow and pride.

“So they tell you what to do and you do it?” Seokjin asks.

“No, not exactly. They don’t say anything, but I know what would make them happiest. Like my mom, she wants me to inherit the company. My dad, wants me to draw realistic art. They don’t say it, but it’s there, and I do it. For them. Everything I do is for them.”

“What do you do for yourself?”

“What?” Jungkook asks, as if the question never crossed his mind.

“What do you do for yourself?” Seokjin repeats.

Jungkook stares at him, unblinking, as if the world was either crashing down around him, or if the door to a whole new world had just been opened.

Seokjin throws his arm over his eyes, doing his best to hide a smile. “Maybe that’s why you never see a reason to find things ‘beautiful’. You never see anything for yourself.”

Jungkook is silent.

“But hey, you said you wanted to be a badminton player, you wanna go play right now?”

“I have work.”

“Okay?”

“Read between the lines. I’ve never played before.”

“Oh my god you’ve nev-We’re going, pack your bags.”

—

“You know when I said badminton, I was thinking, actual badminton.”

“What do you mean? This is badminton.”

Jungkook levels Seokjin with a deadpan stare. Seokjin only grins, and then shoves a Wii remote into Jungkook’s arms.

“This is hardly the same thing.”

“Oh please, you’re just saying that because you know you’re gonna lose.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Yes.”

“Bring it on old man. Bring it on.”

Seokjin loses, multiple times. But it’s fine, because it’s Jungkook’s money they’re spending at the arcade, so who’s the real loser, hm?

He’s sweating by the time they leave the arcade. Jungkook is too, but he seems to be glowing, even with the stormy gray of the clouds in the background when they step back outside.

“What do I win?” Jungkook asks excitedly.

“A walk under my umbrella back to the bus stop because you’re a heathen who thinks shielding your head with your blazer hiked up all the way to your head is acceptable,” Seokjin said, bordering playful and snide.

“Aw come on. It was a good idea at the time.”

“Don’t you have company cars for this?” Seokjin opens his umbrella and holds it up.

Jungkook presses into his side, and together they step out onto the sidewalk and into the rain.

“Nah,” Jungkook scrunches up his nose, “I’d rather drive my own car.”

“And remind me why we didn’t take the car here?” Seokjin asks, shivering as the wind blows against his sweaty skin, making everything seem a whole lot colder. Jungkook doesn’t seem to be faring any better.

“B-because they w-would realize I l-left work,” Jungkook’s teeth chattered, and he was huddling into himself and pulling his blazer tighter around his body.

Seokjin doesn’t answer, only hastens his pace towards the general direction of the nearest bus stop, Jungkook pressed into his side.

It takes a while, but the sweat dries off and they adapt to the cold. Which was also the perfect time for a strong gust of wind to blow and rip the unbrella out from Seokjin’s hands

“No!” He yelps, and chases after it, trying his best not to slip on the wet floor, but the umbrella is turned inside out by the time he catches it rolling down the sidewalk.

Rain pelts down on them by the time Jungkook catches up to where Seokjin had stopped, holding his soiled umbrella in his dejected hands.

“Well, it could be worse?” Jungkook asks optimistically.

“Don’t jinx it,” Seokjin scowls, but he drops the anger quickly and sighs, “what do we do now?”

His hair is starting to fall flat against his forehead, and stray water droplets are sliding down his face when he turns towards Jungkook. He’s in a similar state, with both of their clothes slowly starting to soak through.

But Jungkook is grinning.

“What.”

“You look funny, having your hair completely flat like that.”

“As if you look any better. You look like you just got fired,” Seokjin fires back, but he’s smiling too.

Jungkook’s eyes suddenly widen. “Are your shoulders really that wide?”

“Really?” Seokjin deadpans.

“Well, sorry for now noticing the guy I’ve been hanging out with these few months have shoulders the length of America,” Jungkook scoffs, crossing his arms as Seokjin laughs.

“That’s great!” Seokjin smiles.

Jungkook stares at him then. The first few seconds don’t bother Seokjin that much, but Jungkook continues staring, with a little part in his mouth and his eyes blown wide. Seokjin waves a hand in front of Jungkook’s face.

“I know I’m handsome, but that won’t stop us from catching a cold. We should really go,” Seokjin says, but with a concerned furrow in his brow.

Jungkook snaps out of it, coughing into his hand before turning away. “Yeah. Yup. Let’s go.”

“Already catching a cold?” Seokjin smirks.

Jungkook nudges his shoulder into Seokjin’s side. “As if, you’re the old man, you think your immune system can handle it?”

“Are my shoulders broad? Am I the most handsome person in Korea? Are you totally going to get grilled by your secretary when we get back?”

Jungkook’s face suddenly pales, before picking up his pace, “Oh shi-!”

He breaks out into a full sprint then, and Seokjin follows at a brisk pace behind him, laughing the entire way.

—

It’s mid-April, and he feels like he’s drowning. Like he’s just below the surface of the water, and the answer is right there, but he can’t pull himself out. He can’t find the right words.

—

It’s the afternoon, and a day off, for Jungkook at least, so Seokjin decides to bring Jungkook to Hoseok’s dance studio. Him, and a friend. Seokjin doesn’t know who that friend is, but apparently he’s the only other friend Jungkook has. Of course, Jungkook doesn’t say that, but it’s implied. So Seokjin does his best to tell the others to accept the two with their lives.

Hoseok’s dance studio is under construction at the moment, so no classes were being held. So in theory, it would be easier to introduce the two parties, with Seokjin being the mediator.

In theory.

But right as Jungkook steps through the door, with his friend behind him, all hell breaks loose.

Seokjin steps froward to introduce Jungkook first, until Hoseok beats him to it and takes extra large strides forward.

Hoseok grabs Jungkook’s hand and grins brightly. “So you must be Seokjin’s sugar daddy. Thank you for paying our bills.”

“Ahah,” Jungkook laughs nervously, “what.”

Seokjin can hear Namjoon sigh in the background, and then mutter, “We know who’s sleeping on the couch tonight.”

That was mishap #1.

Mishap #2 is—

Jimin immediately throws himself into Seokjin’s back, whispering furiously into his ear. “Who is that and can I have him.”

Except he was too loud, and now everyone in the room has turned towards them, each with varying expressions ranging from ‘yes take him’ to ‘what the fu-‘ let’s not finish that.

Turns out the ‘yes take him’ was Jungkook’s friend, who was also, coincidentally, the one Jimin was gesturing to.

“Taehyung, and you are?” Taehyung smiles, making his cheeks look a lot puffier than they actually were.

Seokjin’s pretty sure Jimin has melted into his back by then.

He’s also pretty sure he’s made the biggest mistake of his life.

—

Turns out it goes pretty well, and they spend the rest of the day getting to know each other and playing games, all the while jackhammers and construction noises happen in the background, forcing them to shout and yell over the noises.

A great bonding experience. Truly.

He looks over at Jungkook, he has the widest grin on his face, completely unrestrained as he laughs along with Jimin by his side.

Seokjin can’t take his eyes off of him. And he thinks, this was worth it.

Except for the fact that’s pretty sure his ear drums are popped by the end of it. That and his throat was sore. How the hell was he supposed to earn money now.

—

It’s late June. And he’s getting there. He keeps writing down his answer on a notepad, reading it over, and then tearing it out. It’s not good enough. His answer wasn’t good enough. But it was getting there, and he was starting to see it.

—

Somehow, one day while Seokjin is sitting in Jungkook’s office with Jungkook typing away at his computer, Jungkook brings up something that Seokjin would’ve rather not heard.

“I’m getting married.”

Jungkook says it nonchalantly, as if he had known since he was born and just rolled with it. Seokjin, on the other hand, was floored.

He looks up from where he was plucking at a guitar string, nearly snapping it when he heard. His throat goes dry, “What?”

“In November,” Jungkook’s voice and tone remains passive, but there was something in it, something Seokjin couldn’t quite place.

“Oh.” And that’s all Seokjin can muster. “To who?”

“A childhood friend. I-,” Jungkook swallows, his hands shaking over the keyboard, “she, she’s the daughter of an actor, so her parents know mine pretty well. My mom absolutely adores her.”

Seokjin feels his heart plummet to his stomach, but he can’t figure out why. He feels something churn in his stomach, making him feel a little bit angry, and a little bit dreadful at the same time. “That’s nice.”

“I know. She’s, she’s nice.” But the way Jungkook says it is uncertain.

So Seokjin swallows his bitterness, and instead focuses on the way Jungkook’s face is falling. “What about you?”

“What about me?” But Jungkook knows what he’s asking, judging by the way his muscles tense, and his hold tightens on his mouse.

“Do you want to marry her?”

“There’s nothing wrong with marrying her. She’s a very nice girl, and I look up to her. I like her.”

It’s not a no. But it’s not a yes either.

“Do you love her enough to marry her?”

Jungkook doesn’t answer, and Seokjin doesn’t press, only sighs. He could say a lot of things right now. He could encourage Jungkook, bring him out of his uncertainty and hesistation, like he doesn’t know if he’s doing the right thing. He could yell at Jungkook, questioning and demanding why, why, why does he just act on a whim for things, thinking it’ll please other people. Plead with him, beg him not to marry her and instead, chase after his own happiness.

But he doesn’t, because he also has ulterior motives for not wanting Jungkook to marry his childhood friend, and he can’t trust himself not to accidentally say it.

Seokjin looks up, and what he sees absolutely destroys himself inside. Jungkook is hunched over his desk, shoulders tense and hair falling over his face. His hands were clasped together with his nails digging into his skin. He looks like he’s about to cry. He looks small.

He doesn’t look happy. He’s not happy. Not anymore. But his parents will be, and that’s all that matters to Jungkook. Seokjin knows. He just doesn’t know why. Why Jungkook does it.

“To be fair,” Seokjin says airily, “I would marry you in a heartbeat.”

Jungkook looks up, eyes wide and innocent. The corner of his lips twitch, and his shoulders loosen, his nails no longer digging into his skin. Jungkook chuckles, even if it sounds a little sorrowful, but it’s very much real. Seokjin feels his heartbeat quicken.

“What, don’t think I could ever marry someone like you?” Seokjin raises an eyebrow as if Jungkook was challenging him.

Jungkook only scrunches up his nose as he smiles, “I’m not saying that, I’m just saying that you would never want to.”

“Wrong. I can marry anyone I want. As long as I love the person, it doesn’t matter whoever it is.”

“You would love me?” Jungkook asks, and his voice sounds small.

Seokjin swallows, and looks away. How was he supposed to answer that? “Of course,” he whispers.

He hears Jungkook suck in a breath, and Seokjin immediately shoots up from the couch. His ears were burning, his cheeks were hot. He had to leave. “I-I think it’s time to go. I’ll see you tomorrow!”

He bolts before Jungkook can say anything.

It’s dusk, when the sky is at its prettiest shade of orange and pink.

The sun is nearly set when he returns home, rubbing furiously at his eyes and sniffling continuously. All four heads turn towards him when he opens the door to his apartment, teary eyed and disgusting, having wiped his nose with his sleeve.

Jimin sleeps with him on the couch that night.

—

It’s September. And he feels himself getting further and further away from the answer he was just beginning to grasp.

He slams his hands down on the desk and yells out in frustration. His mind is blank. He buries his head into his arms.

—

Jungkook’s never watched a drama with a friend in the dark at 12 AM crying at the angst and heartache the actors portray. This needs to change.

“Okay but, why would you want to?” Seokjin questioned.

“Because it’s romantic!”

“But the male lead is already leaving! It’s not like they’re going to just magically get together,” Seokjin spread his arms out.

“Hyung, it’s not about the consequence, it’s about the moment,” Jungkook says, throwing a handful of popcorn at Seokjin when Seokjin rolled his eyes at him.

“You’re cleaning that up.” Seokjin grins smugly as he snuggles further into the couch, leaving Jungkook to groan and pick up stray pieces of popcorn. “Besides, I say it’s still no use. The male lead isn’t going to go against his dad and just go marry her.”

“It’s called, freedom of choice, you know, run to not from?” Jungkook asks, and Seokjin rolls his eyes, because that was his phrase.

“What do you know? The one time you tell me about freedom of choice and it’s about a drama.”

“Well I still say go for it, Eun-seok should follow her heart and run after the man she loves.”

“It’s not gonna work.”

“You don’t know that,” Jungkook argues. His voice wavers.

“Of course I do, I’ve watched this drama already.”

“You have?” Jungkook shoots up and widens his eyes.

Seokjin snorts, but nods. “I watched it when it came out with Jimin. Want spoilers?”

“God no,” Jungkook says, and shoves another mouthful of popcorn into his mouth.

“Are you sure?”

“Certain.“

“Crystal?”

“100%”

“So the male lead goes to America and-“

“La la la la la!” Jungkook shouts, interrupting Seokjin and covering his ears.

“And he starts working in this new company-!” Seokjin shouts louder, and so does Jungkook.

It continues with Seokjin still shouting spoilers at the top of his lungs while trying to pry Jungkook’s hands off of his ears. He’s grinning the entire time.

They’re forced to stop when there’s a bang on the wall, most likely from the neighbors. It ends with Seokjin laughing at the top of his lungs, Jungkook doing the same, all the while kicking him lightly until Seokjin falls off the couch.

“Rude!”

“So is spoiling!”

Seokjin picks up a piece of popcorn and throws it at Jungkook, a piece that Jungkook could’ve easily avoided, but chose to let it hit himself instead, square in the cheek. Seokjin bursts into another round of laughter, and Jungkook kicks him again, this time slightly harder in the ribs.

Seokjin wheezes, but just lets his body fall limp as he closes his eyes.

“Hyung?”

He doesn’t answer. And it remains silent.

He’s nearly asleep when he feels a warm presence lie down on the floor beside him. It’s comforting, comforting when it shouldn’t be, considering that he’s lying on the cold floor with the hardwood floor digging into his back and butt, but right now, he wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else.

He falls asleep.

—

“You know,” Namjoon says to him one morning, “it’s hard falling in love with someone from a different world.”

Seokjin freezes, pausing in pouring his orange juice as Namjoon sits across from him on the island. Jimin, Yoongi, and Hoseok are all seated on the living room couch. They’re all tense, and lean over the other to stare discreetly from the corner of their eyes.

Namjoon doesn’t notice the tension, only continues talking with a sad frown. “I mean, it’s hard to fight for someone, who doesn’t fight back. It’s hard, to keep running towards someone when they don’t do the same.”

“Yes?” Seokjin asks. Why was Namjoon saying this? As if, as if he didn’t already know this. As if he didn’t already accept it. What did Namjoon want from him.

“But,” Namjoon pauses reluctantly, “it’s easy to love.”

Seokjin caps the orange juice and leans his hands on the island, hanging his head down between his shoulders. “Okay.”

“How long will you keep chasing?”

Seokjin leaves.

—

“Namjoo-“ Hoseok starts, but Namjoon only sighs.

“I know.” He gets up with a slump in his shoulders. “I’ll get my pillow.”

He’s sleeping on the couch tonight.

—

It’s October. He has to go. He stands up from his desk, looking down at his abandoned notebook.

Most of the pages have been torn out, and only one page remains. He doesn’t want to use it. He doesn’t know if he can.

He picks up his pen, wanting to try one last time to find his answer.

He drops it. And leaves.

—

Jungkook had told him the day before in his office that he was leaving tomorrow. He offered Seokjin the chance to come see him off, but Seokjin politely declines. He tries not to notice the visible deflation of Jungkook’s shoulders.

But he’s made up his mind. Namjoon was right. He can’t keep chasing.

Run to, not from.

Just not this time.

—

So why in the world is he chasing?

He runs towards the company building. It’s still dusk.

He has time.

He runs into the building, rushing straight towards the lady at the front desk. She recognizes him, but her smile is sympathetic when she tells him that Jungkook had already left.

Left for Europe. Left for his wedding.

Seokjin thanks her, and smiles sadly. He turns away, but she suddenly shouts his name, and he turns back towards her. She’s out of her seat, and pointing frantically at the entrance.

He immediately turns, and he sees a group of businessmen walking towards the entrance, Jungkook in the middle. There’s also a blockade of security guards surrounding them, but Seokjin could care less as he rushes forward.

He miscalculated how much strength the security guards hold, because three guards immediately break from the blockade to stop him, while the rest have spotted him and are currently rushing the group of businessmen away. Jungkook leaving with them. Even if he looks confused.

—

It’s October.

—

Night is approaching.

—

They’re out of time

—

Despite all the security guards holding him back, he kept on pushing. Pushing past the heavily toned men, far bigger than he could ever be. Pushing past the only thing that’s separating him from the one person he wanted to be with most. Pushing past his insecurities, his fears, his worries, just for one boy.

One boy who changed his world.

For the better? Who knows, all that he knows, at this very moment, is...

“Jungkook!” Seokjin pushes past the final security guard, and runs past them before they can grab at him. He presses himself up against the glass doors that were now locked, standing between him, and the path that the group is taking towards the shiny black sedan parked outside.

There’s shouting, too much of it to catch, but from the way Jungkook freezes in his steps, Seokjin knows that he’s heard him, even after one call.

Jungkook turns around, his eyes widening when he catches Seokjin, and Seokjin wants to laugh at how comical he looks. He wants to laugh, so much, so so much, but the cheerful squeaks don’t come out. Can’t come out. He leans his head on the glass, shoulders trembling as his eyes burn. Everything hurts, but it’s all okay. It’s okay now, as he looks back up at Jungkook with a smile, one that Seokjin knows Jungkook can’t reciprocate.

The security guards must nearly have caught up to him by now. So he settles for the only thing he can do, the only thing he can say.

“I love you!” He’s jerked back by a rough hand on his shoulder, so he misses how Jungkook reacts, but it’s not like it mattered, not anymore. This was his final message for him, and he delivered it in full. But he can’t stop his screaming for some reason. “I love you!”

It’s not supposed to matter.

“I love you!”

This was supposed to not matter anymore. He pushes against the security guards again, desperately looking up in an attempt to find Jungkook’s figure again in the mayhem.

“To the moon and back! To the stars! And everything in between! I love you!”

He knows that people are taking pictures, recording videos, and he remembers that he’s in a lobby of a famous company and most likely causing a scene. He can hear the rapid flashes and shouts and yells of protest, or encouragement, or slander. Who cares though? Insults, shame, pride, he doesn’t have any of that right now.

So he continues pushing, until the security guards finally loosen their hold and let him go.

He stumbles forward, flailing his arms around until he finally finds his balance. The crowd’s shouting was starting to die down, but it’s the last thing on Seokjin’s mind as he straightens up, seeing an empty walkway in front of him behind the glass.

They must’ve left for the airport.

The crowd behind him steadily starts to disperse, but he can’t find it within himself to move.

Until there’s next to no one left, and he suddenly feels the weight of the world crashing down on him, crashing down on his heart.

It’s hard to love someone from a different world.

He knows.

It’s hard to fight for someone who doesn’t ever fight for you back.

He knows.

It’s hard to find someone who will stand by your side, who will come running to you, when you’re running for them.

He knows.

But it’s so easy to love.

He knows.

So how long will you keep on chasing?

He doesn’t know.

He takes several steps forward, until he’s nearly bumping into the glass with his nose. He leans his forehead gently against the cool surface, and closes his eyes. He presses his hands up against the glass, and then curls his fingers, as if whoever stood on the other side could intertwine their fingers with his.

Tears roll down his cheeks, and he nearly chokes at the unexpected sob caught in his throat. He opens his eyes and looks up, lashes wet and vision blurry.

“I love you,” he whispers, but it comes out as a whimper as he falls to his knees, “come back.”

Dont leave me.

He cries.

Don’t go.

He screams.

Stay.

He whispers.

It’s mid-October. And night falls.

—

[BREAKING NEWS]
Corporate Heir of GC Entertainment was last seen boarding a flight to Europe for a wedding with a daughter of the fairly famous actor XXXX. Rumors have been confirmed to be true that the inheritor of the company and actor’s daughter have been previously engaged, and are cementing their marriage in Paris. Full article below.

—

A month passes.

Surpassingly, he doesn’t gain as much popularity on social media as he thought. Most people wrote him off as a crazy fan, because apparently he wasn’t the only one who had attempted to do what he had done at the office. Nor was it the first time anyone has done it.

So he’s fine. His face dies down, until there’s barely any traces of his scandal left on social media, unless someone brings it up, then that’s a different story. But he could care less, it still hurts, but he’s determined not to let it bother him. So he stays off the internet for the entire month.

He doesn’t miss the looks that literally everyone in his apartment shoots him, but he lets them slide, determined not to give anything away. Because, really, there wasn’t anything to give away. He said his words, he did his part, and he meant them. End of story.

But.

He looks up at the tall skyscraper looming over him, frowning when a little pang of pain tugs at his heart. He really spent a year busking here, huh. He really couldn’t believe it, because time seemed to have passed a lot slower for him, or rather, he hadn’t expected time to pass as quickly as it had.

But here he was. In the cold November air, dawn of a new day, standing in front of a company building, but this time, devoid of a certain corporate heir.

He smiles, and heads towards the fountain that’s stationing in front of the company building. It’s off, compared to the first time he was here. But he was a little earlier this time anyways, earlier than usual, earlier than ever.

He sits down at the fountain, setting his guitar case down by his feet as he unzips the case and pulls out his guitar. He holds the instrument in his arms, positioning it properly so the neck placement wouldn’t strain his arms and heel wasn’t digging into his thigh.

He waves to a child who passes by, contemplating whether or not to call his roommates to help him decide a song. He would call, they would pick up, and he would ask, and they would answer. That easy.

Except it wasn’t. Because there was already a song he had in mind. One that he adored. One that he played as something to pass time. One that he had to relearn and love, even more than before.

He strums his guitar. “It’s a beautiful life.”

—

‘This life is beautiful, yeah, sure, I guess you can say that.’

Seokjin turns his head towards Jungkook like he’s lost his mind. “This world is plenty beautiful, don’t you appreciate the little things?”

Jungkook frowns. “Of course I do, and I become enamoured it just like you do! I just-I just don’t see the point sometimes. I’ll appreciate it, doesn’t mean I’ll know why.”

Seokjin snorts. “Of course.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” And Jungkook makes a squawk of offense.

“Nothing,” and Seokjin can’t hide his smile, “you’ll learn one day, corporate heir.”

Jungkook’s frown doesn’t disappear.

—

People are gathering, some slowing their pace as Seokjin continues singing. Seokjin could almost feel a little off kilter, because he’s so used to singing with Jungkook while busking here, in this particular area. But it’s already been a month, so he has to learn, learn to move on.

“Beautiful life.
Beautiful day.
Stay with me.
Beautiful my love.
Beautiful your heart.
This beautiful life.”

—

“What if I don’t ever learn?”

Seokjin stops tuning his guitar, and turns towards the slumped over figure beside him. “What do you mean?”

“How to look at things and appreciate them, for a reason.” Jungkook draws his knees up and wraps his arms around them. He’s pouting. But it looks so cute and childish that Seokjin can’t help but laugh.

He means it good naturedly, but Jungkook doesn’t take it the same was as he unwraps one arm and lightly slaps Seokjin’s back. Seokjin feigns hurt, but Jungkook is still pouting, so he does his best to think of a good answer, a smile still playing at his lips.

“What’s got you smiling so much.”

Seokjin turns towards Jungkook then, and his smile grows. “You.”

Jungkook gapes at him, unable to say or do much else. He looks like a deer caught in headlights.

“Now think about that,” Seokjin says, trying to sound philosophical and wise, but really he’s trying to play off the fact that he doesn’t have a proper solution for Jungkook’s dilemma, “there’s your answer.”

—

Seokjin remembers the exact moment he had realized that there was an answer. Two days later, alone while busking in a nearby park. The grass seemed a little bit duller, the flowers a little paler, and the sun and sky a little dimmer.

“Beautiful life, beautiful day.
I do not want to lose you.
Beautiful my love, beautiful your heart.”

—

“So I think I figured it out.”

Seokjin raises in eyebrow. “Oh, do tell.”

Jungkook grins at him then. “Well, it’s sorta like admiring right? Like you’ll see something and see it in its original state and think, wow, this is beautiful. Experience everything as is, because it’s natural.”

Seokjin claps exaggeratedly, shaking his head along, even going as far as stomping his foot on the hardwood floor. “What a philosopher. Genius.”

“Hyung,” Jungkook whines, “I’m being serious here. Is that your reason?”

Seokjin purses his lips, and then smiles coyly. No, that wasn’t his reason for finding life beautiful. His reason was a whole lot different. “Nope.”

Jungkook groans, and then flops back against the couch. “I really thought I got it.”

Seokjin furrows his brows. “Wait, you were trying to find out why I think life is beautiful?”

“Duh.” And he says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“What about your reason?”

Jungkook frowns, and he doesn’t give him one. Instead, “I’m figuring it out.”

—

“It’s a sorrowful life, sorrowful day.
To the me who can’t overcome sorrow.
Sorrowful life, sorrowful day.”

—

“It’s been three months, and you’re still thinking it over?” Seokjin asks, bewildered.

“Shut up I’m trying to be wise here. Not everyone can inherit the wise at such a young age, you old man,” Jungkook says, his eyebrows pinched together in thought as he sits at his office desk. Seokjin sits across from him, in one of the company couches, a leather pillow hugged against his body.

“Rude. Don’t you have work to do instead of thinking of stuff like this? It’s only midday and I swear I can hear your brain cells frying over here.”

“Bold of you to assume I have multiple brain cells.”

“I’m-“ Seokjin pauses, and then hurls the leather pillow across the room, landing with a loud thud against the back of Jungkook’s chair, which he had so expertly spun around to block Seokjin’s attack.

“Hah!” Jungkook spins back around, a smug smirk pulling at his lips.

Seokjin rolls his eyes. “Yeah yeah, just get back to work. You won’t get anywhere otherwise.”

“But I’m still thinking.”

“Just do your paperwork instead. Trust me.”

“Okay but like-“

“Jungkook this is your job-“

“-but like how do you know what’s good for m-.”

“That’s my opinION!”

—

“It’s a beautiful life.”

The chords he plays grow softer, and so does his voice as he drags out the last note, until the song ends completely.

There’s a small crowd, maybe ten people at most, and they clap good naturedly. He smiles at them, but looks back down at his guitar, a hollow feeling suddenly filling his chest.

He looks up when he sees someone walk up to him, wearing a tiny pair of red sneakers. He looks up, and see a small child, probably five or six, drop a small envelope into his guitar case.

He furrows his brows, but grins when the child looks up with a smile.

“Thank you,” he bows his head, and the child walks away with a smile still plastered on their face. He watches as they walk back to their parent, who had also shot him a shy smile before grabbing the child’s hand and walking away.

“Odd, but okay,” he mutters to himself as he picks up the envelope. It wasn’t sealed, so he could easily pluck out the folded note in it.

‘I figured it out. For real this time.’

“Well done.”

Seokjin jumps, nearly letting go of the note and dropping it on the pavement. He turns to the side to see a man wearing a suit. Well, that would be too general. More like, the man wearing a suit who he had been singing about.

He looks back down at the note. The man who had most likely written the note.

“You wrote this?” Seokjin asks, waving the paper around.

Jungkook smiles, before taking a seat next to him on the fountain. “Yup.”

“I didn’t expect you to come back this early,” Seokjin says, fiddling with his guitar strap.

“Really?” Jungkook grins, as if he had been waiting for Seokjin to say that exact statement so he could reply with, “I did.”

Seokjin swallows, but he tries not to let the awkward silence hang too long in the air. “How was the wedding?”

Aaannnnndddddddd he’s screwed.

“Great!” Jungkook chirps. “So great that it was nonexistent.”

Seokjin nods, as if in understanding, before doing a double take and choking on his spit. His eyes nearly pop out of his head. “What?”

Jungkook laughs, one that seems way to enthusiastic and amused in comparison to the tidal wave that was crashing into Seokjin’s mind. He actually had the nerve to slap his hand on his knee, leaning backwards as the carefree laughter sprung from the bottom of his chest, and all Seokjin could do was watch. Still with the same butterflies in his stomach as 9 months ago, still with the same starry eyes as 6 months ago, still with the same bubbly feeling in his chest 3 months ago, still with the same ache in his throat that day at the airport.

Jungkook turns back to him when he comes down from his high, his grin seemingly to be permantly glued onto his face. “I didn’t get married.”

“I thought you did?” Seokjin asks, and it’s all confusion. “That was the whole purpose of your trip? The whole month away?”

“Well,” Jungkook looks away then, “it was. And then it became a trip of negotiation, because I didn’t want to get married.”

Seokjin gawks at him.

“I did it because I thought it was what my mom and dad would’ve probably wanted, for me to find someone I loved and to spend my life with happily,” Jungkook kicks his feet lightly against the ground, looking down wistfully, “I thought. But I couldn’t. And I told my dad that. And he understood. I’ve been doing this for a while now, finally speaking up for what I want to do, rather than just going with the flow. My dad supports me no matter what I want to do, as long as I’m happy doing it.

All because of you.” Jungkook smiles warmly at him. Dare Seokjin even say, affectionate.

But Seokjin can’t handle that yet, not what they’re still unfamiliar with each other. “Me? What did I do?”

“Pushed me for one. My buttons-“ Seokjin slaps him, and Jungkook only chuckles and slaps him back, “but me too. Myself. I’ve been happier. I’m running to, not running from, or just standing there.”

“That’s good,” Seokjin smiles warmly, “I’m proud of you.”

Jungkook nods, and then turns his head straight to look ahead. He’s still smiling. “My answer, do you want to hear it?”

Seokjin pops his mouth open, completely forgetting about the note. He wants to facepalm, but he’s too caught up on the moment to break it. So he answers a little shakily, a little uncertain, “S-sure, go ahead. I’m listening.”

“The world is beautiful, life is beautiful,” Jungkook gets up and walks to stand in front of Seokjin. Seokjin furrows his brows, but he sets down his guitar back into its case as he looks up. Jungkook is still smiling.

“Yeah?” Seokjin questions.

“Beacause you’re in it,” Jungkook says, his voice soft and warm as he gazes affectionately down at Seokjin, “Because you’re with me. And I get to see it with you, I get to share it with you.”

Seokjin’s eyes widen, his breath catching in his throat as he stands up. Jungkook steps back as to make room for him. Jungkook extends his hand out.

“Would you like to continue spending it with me?”

Seokjin takes his hand in a heartbeat, and Jungkook intertwines their fingers. They’re smiling.

—

It’s November again.
And the day’s just begun.