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“I thought it was a myth,” Jimin’s voice rang out in the night. He couldn’t possibly believe what he was seeing. The moon shone so brightly, illuminating the summer evening. Stars scattered all throughout the sky, as if some kid just threw them around without a care at all. He could hear the sound of the river water rushing towards the lake off in the distance, surrounding it was a forest that glowed in a thousand lights. The fireflies are waking up.It was beautiful.
Living for years in the city, Jimin has never seen anything like this. Amongst the smoke and the tall skyscrapers, the dark alleyways and the constant fear, there was never a chance to look up at the sky and marvel at such luxuries. He was taught to survive, look down at the ground, and make a run for safety.
So when he saw the stars in the eyes of a gaunt boy trying to steal a loaf of bread, he wanted to know how that came to be. He wanted to ask how something so wonderful could be begging to survive in such a hellish place. Jimin wanted to ask if there was anything more beautiful than what lived in his eyes. If that was even possible, he mused. And maybe, that question led him here.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jungkook asked, a gasp in his voice. “I never thought I’d see this again.”
Jungkook was lucky. A few years ago, he thought he was done for. As he lied on the cold concrete floor of some decrepit warehouse after being beaten to a pulp, he told himself that he cannot live this way. He told himself that he must find a way to escape. And so, he did. With a swollen leg and an empty stomach, he snuck his way out of the grasp of his abductors, ran as hard as his limbs could manage and never looked back.
Jimin looked at the younger boy beside him. His face awash in moonlight, he couldn’t help but sigh at the sight. He realized at once that Jungkook belonged here, among the stars and the moonlit nights, the gentle rush of the river waters and the soft glow of the fireflies. Not a single trace of the hell he escaped. He was something to behold, and oh, how lucky he was to be in such a presence.
I guess not even the harshest of realities could break something so ethereal.
Jimin laughed to himself. “What are you laughing at, you weirdo?” Jungkook asked, his brows furrowed in confusion. “Nothing,” Jimin lied. “It’s just that I haven’t seen anything like this before. I didn’t know there was such a thing.”
“I mean, look at the moon!” Jimin exclaimed, holding out his arm covered in the pale blue light. “I don’t think the moon and the stars shine so brightly anywhere else!”
Jungkook laughed, his voice slicing through the cold summer air, amusement dancing in his eyes. Jimin looked back up at the skies and knew then that he must be lying to himself.
The moon and the stars surely looked prettier in his eyes.