Chapter Text
That very same day, snow covered the streets in an ethereal way, dusting star-like hoarfrost in every visible surface. If you were to pass by at that very moment, you’d swear you had seen that image before. And very well, it was so picturesque that it could resemble an old painting you had seen in your grandma’s basement, hidden, indeed, yet strangely noticeable. It was something like a feeling, almost, something you’ve felt some day, but you cannot pinpoint it. It’s an unseen emotion, like it’s there some days, then it’s gone, and for awhile it never returns.
“So, I was planning to tell you this sooner. I just couldn’t find the-“ words.
“Time, me either.” She answered almost immediately, fiddling with the ends of her coat. “Tell me now.”
Silence reached both of their ears, as the picturesque scenario became very dull. And that’s what happens when you leave things at your grandma’s basement: they get rusty, they get covered in allergy-inducing dust, and more likely than not, they are long forgotten.
“I don’t know how to start.” He said breaking the silence. What else could he say, really. He could have began the conversation with ‘well, hey, I haven’t seen you in awhile…’ or even ‘i know you’re my best friend but you left for two complete years, and we stopped being friends all of a sudden but I really need to let you know that-‘.
She groaned, interrupting his thoughts. “Oh please, stop it, Jungkook! Just blurt it out!”
“I can’t!”
“Then I’m leaving.” She said abruptly, gathering her purse in her hands and sighing with indignity. She had travelled all the way from Paris to Seoul, all for her so called ‘best friend’ to literally chicken out and leave her hesitant for a response. But Saf knew better than that. She’d leave, whatever, he could go and-
“I’m getting married.” Jungkook blurted out, finally. And here’s where the difficult part takes place. “I heard the bells some days after you left to France. I’m not sure what else you want to hear.” Her already paling skin turned a shade or two paler as she stared at him with big eyes. “I have a soulmate now, I just wanted to let you know.”
She bit her lip with fear: honestly, she had heard the bells long before he had. It was a summer day, very different from the day he blurted out his truth, in which she had seen a man so handsome she chocked on her fresh lemonade. Never had she ever felt such pain; the bells ringing so loud her head almost exploded. And it was then when she had met her soulmate. But that was 6 years ago. The longest 6 years. That was when she was younger and way more naive. But the tragic part of this all is that that handsome man she had seen was Jungkook. But unlike her, the bells in his head that indicated he had found his soulmate never rang. They didn’t even tingle a little bit.
“Kookie.” She whispered softly, letting the tears she had so forcefully avoided to touch the surface of her cheeks. “Kookie.” She repeated a tad louder. “I’m so happy for you.” But she wasn’t.
He hugged her close to his body, letting out a tangled sigh. “I’m so scared, you don’t know how eternal this 2 years have been without you.” She nodded, closing her eyes even tighter (but you don’t know how eternal this whole life will be without you, she thought as her tears flowed violently). “You know I’d do so much for you, right?” He asked, scooting away from her hold, yet placing his hands on her hips. “Saf, you’ll always be my best friend.”
“I know.” She smiled sadly at him, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I’d give up my love for you, you know?”
“You’re so cheesy!” He yelled with embarrassment as he hid his face in his hands. “France has rendered you cheesy.”
She laughed lightly, pressing her hands to her cheeks as she cleaned them tiredly. “France has done all kinds of things on me, Kookie.” He smiled back, looking at the sky.
“Saf, how’s the search for your soulmate going?” She breathed out slowly, taking in her surroundings. This was certainly a painting she had once seen in her grandma’s basement, really. She was sure she had seen it at least once, surrounded by all the furniture and unused objects her family didn’t want anymore but were so attached to let go from. “You’re still looking for them?”
She closed her eyes, sighing once again. “No, not really. I’m not looking for anyone.” She assured him, crouching down to touch the snow. “Like, the bells have rang before, I’m certain. But they don’t appear in front of me.” He sat down beside her, scratching his neck.
“Doesn’t that petrify you?” He asked warily, burying his gloved hands in the snow.
She chuckled, shaking her head. “Not any more.” She thought her response quietly before speaking up again. "I think he has found his soulmate in another person that’s not me.” She closed her eyes forcefully and bit her lower lip in hopes of not letting any tears slip anymore. Saf had cried enough and really wanted nothing more but to run away and never see him again. But for the mean time, she’d have to act all tough in order to avoid the unwanted questions and accusing eyes. “But that’s okay.”
He nodded softly, dusting his hands. She stared at him in some sort of awe, that could have well felt very romantic and private, if you were to pass by them. But really, it was just plain unrequited love. She stared at the endless curves in his face, his bowed lips, his jawline, his eyes, his everything. “You’re staring.” Jungkook said, playfully pushing her by the arm. She grinned, turning to look at her long forgotten purse.
“I need to go.”
He nodded, standing up and helping her do the same. “Me too, actually.” She nodded back, scratching her nose. “I’m going to need you so much, you know? With all the wedding planning and stuff since-“
“I don’t want to help, Kookie.” Saf interrupted, clawing her nails in the palms of her hands. He furrowed his brows lightly, folding his arms in his chest. “I don’t even know who te fiancee is, your family must have really forgotten about me and I don’t feel like intruding.”
He nodded confused, staring back at her. “No no, I really need you there.” He answered shortly, almost begging as he took one last shaky breath. “Of course my family won’t mind one bit, you know? They still love you like their own daughter.” Which was particularly true, considering how many times Saf had eaten dinner with the Jeon family, and it was pretty evident they knew how joined at the hip Jungkook and her were. Everybody knew it, actually.
She sighed, deciding not to fight back, and instead disappear from his life without him noticing. “Alright, Kookie.” He grinned widely, showing off his bunny teeth that Saf loved to annoy him with. “The things I do for you…”
“The things you’d do for me can be counted on your fingers, but if you only knew the things I’d do for you.”
“And you call me cheesy, Jeon Jungkook.” He chuckled, walking backwards as he waved his hand and screamed ‘I’d rather be cheesy than boring! Bye, Saf!’ She waved back, finally letting the painful tears out as she smiled for his sake.