Chapter Text
song recommended: 11:11 by Taeyon
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, 2018
~ ding ~
The blue-haired barista jolted up from his seat as the sound of the front door awoke him from his nap. Grumbling, he fixed his hair and smoothed out his collar. Still half asleep. he managed to mumble out a few incoherent words.
"Hello, my name is Min Yoongi, how may I help you today?"
Yoongi yawned, rubbing his eyes and made eye contact with the man in front of him. He felt his breath quicken and a tug pulled at his heart, apart from the clear attraction he felt towards the man Yoongi was puzzled by the pain underlying his affection.
On the other side of the counter stood a boy that Yoongi would like to call perfection itself. He had blonde hair that framed his face and wore a brown woolen jumper that reached his neck. His dark eyes sparkled beautifully and Yoongi couldn't help but smile softly as he admired the customer.
The man smiled, causing his eyes to turn into crescents. Yoongis heart rate increased drastically, unable to ignore the obvious flush on his cheeks. Judging by the small grin on the customers face, he wasn't ignoring it either. Clearing his throat, he stuttered "m-ma-may I take y-you-your order?"
In a soft voice, the customer said, "Yes could I please have one matcha latte please?"
Melting at the sound of his voice, Yoongi tried to remain professional. "Ok sir, that will be 3 dollars, please wait for your drink on the right."
As the man turned to take a seat, Yoongi felt a warmth wash over him. He didn't register anything he had done and only broke out of his haze when he called out the customers name.
"Park Jimin? One matcha latte". Yoongi scanned him from head to toe, trying to savor the few minutes he had left with the elegant man and his addictive presence. Hoping to see his smile, Yoongi was disappointed when he was met with a frown.
"I'm sorry sir, but how did you know my name?" asked Jimin in confusion.
Despite Yoongi's equally matched confusion, he couldn't ignore how adorable he thought Jimin looked with his furrowed eyebrows and his head slightly tilted to the side.
"Excuse me?" said Jimin a little louder, breaking Yoongi's thoughts.
"Oh right, uh didn't you tell me your name?" asked Yoongi, pausing from his shameless staring.
"No..." said Jimin hesitantly, not knowing what was going on.
Yoongi fell silent, not knowing how to respond or deal with the situation. Despite the obvious problem, Yoongi could only concentrate on Jimin. From his cross-shaped earrings to his jean-clad legs.
"Uh, I guess I remember you from previous orders?" said Yoongi thinking of an excuse.
"Oh, ok that makes sense," said Jimin still doubtful but satisfied. "Anyway, thanks for the drink, have a good day" Jimin flashed him a smile before leaving the cafe.
"My day already got better," thought Yoongi absentmindedly.
"Oi, Yoongi what are you staring at, clean up that table man." shouted his co-worker, Jin.
"Oh right, sorry I just thought of something" shouted back Yoongi, hurrying over with a cloth and broom.
Wiping down the table Yoongi thought about his encounter. Fortunately, he had convinced Jimin as to why he knew his name but he hadn't convinced himself. Yoongi couldn't remember ever talking to Jimin, and he knew because with a face like Jimin's who wouldn't.
"Oh the customer from before left you a tip by the way," said Jin as he counted through the register.
Nodding in thanks, Yoongi tucked the 5 dollars into his pocket. Jin looked at him from the side, noticing the ghost of a smile on Yoongi's lips. Jin had only known Yoongi for 3 months but always saw him with the same bored eyes and permanently scowling mouth. The two weren't close but had established a mutual working friendship that each one respected.
"Hey, are you okay?" asked Jin, noticing the spaced-out look in Yoongi's eyes.
"I don't know" replied Yoongi "I feel strange."
"Are you sick? You can go home, there are only 2 hours left I can handle the rest of the shift" said Jin worriedly.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, but can I take you up on that offer? I'm sorry to leave you alone but I just can't be working right now. said Yoongi hesitantly.
"Yes of course, but you owe me one." grinned Jin trying to lighten his mood.
"You got it, thanks again, see you tomorrow," said Yoongi, smiling at Jin.
Putting on his hoodie and his earphones, Yoongi walked out to the nearby park, hoping to clear his thoughts and grab a hold of everything that had happened in the last 2 hours. Sitting under a maple tree, he sipped on his hot chocolate, he stared over the calm waters of the river. The lazy evening sun cast mauve and peach shadows across the surface of the water, Yoongi's eyes watched the light dancing through the reeds and in between the flowers.
"When it comes to you, there's no crime"
"Let's take both of our souls, and intertwine"
"When it comes to you, don't be blind"
Yoongi leaned back into the tree, trying to drown out his thoughts with music. He just couldn't seem to figure out why he was acting like this. Yoongi liked being in control, in control of his actions and feelings, and well sometimes, in control of others... but this was different. He felt different. Jimin was different. How Yoongi was so enticed by his every move, his every word, his very being.
"Just what are you doing to me Park Jimin..." whispered Yoongi out loud.
The sun had fully set now and the lights in the park created an exquisite atmosphere. The park was fairly empty now, only a few couples remained. Yoongi observed a pair nearby, a girl and a guy, probably in their mid-20s. They were sitting on a bench, smiling at each other and giggling like teenagers. Even though their very public display of affection made Yoongi uncomfortable, he also felt a deep loneliness when he saw the way they gazed at each other, two people lost in their own fantasy, content with sharing it with the other.
Yoongi had always avoided relationships, he had never felt the need for one. They only created heartbreak and if we were born alone, why wouldn't we die alone? However, today he had felt something he swore he would never act on. Love. Maybe it wasn't love, just simple desire or attraction to the other. He couldn't deny the fondness he had felt towards the younger.
The view of the river was abruptly blocked by a pair of legs, huffing in annoyance Yoongi looked up at the rude stranger.
"Hey, do you mind moving? Stand somewhere else." groaned Yoongi at the stranger in a mask.
"So hostile, I'm hurt," giggled the masked man "here I thought we had got along quite well before."
The hairs on Yoongi's neck stood up hearing the rosy laugh, looking closely he was met with two moon shaped eyes. He broke into a smile as he noticed the same brown jumper and silver earrings, confirming that it was Jimin.
"Oh, Jimin right? Sorry I was a bit caught up in thought and I guess I got irritated" apologized Yoongi sheepishly, gesturing for him to sit next to him.
"No worries, what are you doing here alone at night anyway?" asked Jimin, sitting down beside Yoongi, oblivious to their close proximity and Yoongi's rising heartbeat.
"Not much, just thinking and enjoying the view," said Yoongi.
"Yeah, the river really is pretty at night isn't it?" said Jimin with a smile. Yoongi turned to look at Jimin. The boy stared off into the distance, a small smile on his face. The late evening created a captivating atmosphere around Jimin, the stars reflected in his eyes. The park seemed to fade out and everything around them hazed over. The same, strange but familiar tug in Yoongi's heart returned, pulling him towards Jimin. Jimin seemed to notice Yoongis stare and turned to look at him, he smiled at the older.
"Hey, Jimin can I ask you something?" asked Yoongi hesitantly.
"You just did." mused Jimin with a smile.
"Shut up, you know what I mean." chuckled Yoongi, leaning back and relaxing into the grass. Jimin let out a small laugh and turned to look at Yoongi, waiting for his question. Yoongi sat back up and turned to face Jimin, not knowing how to word his next sentence.
"Have you ever felt a connection to someone before? Like a magnetic force is pulling you towards them, as if every inch of your whole being is connected to them?" asked Yoongi, looking at Jimin, desperately trying to make sense of what he was feeling.
Jimin fell silent as he considered Yoongi's words. All that could be heard was the slow-moving river, Yoongi felt his cheeks flush, afraid that he had made the younger uncomfortable. After the seemingly eternal stillness, Jimin finally spoke.
"I think so, almost as if you're soulmates?" said Jimin hesitantly.
"Yeah... almost as if you're soulmates.." whispered Yoongi. He looked up at Jimin, emotions clouding over his eyes. "You understand what I mean?"
"Maybe, I don't know, I don't think I've ever felt it with anyone before," said Jimin, looking at the ground with a blank look on his face, confusion laced with despair.
"Soulmates... it'd be nice to think about wouldn't it?" mused Yoongi, letting out a halfhearted laugh.
"I don't know, I think it's true. Haven't you ever felt it before?" asked Jimin in a curious tone.
Yoongi fell silent at his words, not knowing what to say. His relationship with romance (or lack thereof) was a subject he didn't talk about often. Jimin's question hung heavy in the air as Yoongi tried to find the right words to respond with.
"Not really, no. At least I don't think so..." Yoongi's words trailed off as he looked over at Jimin again.
Jimin smiled and took Yoongi's hand. Laughing he cheered "then let us both find true love this year".
Yoongi felt the blood rush to his head and forced out a laugh.
"We should meet up again, this was fun," said Jimin, grabbing Yoongi's phone to put in his number.
"Uh, sure," replied Yoongi, still a bit dazed from Jimin holding his hand. He looked at Jimin's contact which had been saved as "Jiminie 🌌". "Why the stars?" asked Yoongi curiously"
"In memory of how our first conversation" smiled Jimin pointing up at the sky.
Yoongi followed his finger and saw the multitude of glittering specks in littered above them. They had been talking for so long, the time had completely passed him. The normally dark winter sky was glittering that night and Yoongi marveled at the sight.
"Anyways, I'll see you soon," laughed Jimin, standing up to leave.
"Yeah, see you soon," said Yoongi, slight disappointment underlay in his voice. Jimin waved over his shoulder and walked down the path, soon disappearing around the corner. Yoongi stood up to leave as well, it was getting colder and he only had a hoodie on. As he walked back to his car, he couldn't get Jimin out of his head. All he thought about was his bright smile and his adorable sweater paws.
As Yoongi went through his phone later that night, he found a follow request from a new account.
"Park.Jiimin wants to follow you"
"Decline." "Confirm."
"Follow back"
"Confirm"