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Time is a funny thing. It crawls when you’re struggling, and sprints when you’re having fun.
"Min…"
Jimin squeezed his eyes, craving a few more moments of sleep.
"Ji-min-ah" Namjoon's soft voice nudged him awake.
Turning to his phone on the bed, Jimin rubbed his eyes open to look at his bf through the screen, grinning at him patiently with his stupid buzz-cut and dimples to die for.
"You're coming later today, right?" Jimin asked groggily.
"Ah… I'll have to take a rain check on that, cutie." Namjoon said softly. Jimin's lower lip was already trembling and he wasn't even fully awake yet.
It had been a year since Jimin had started design school, leaving Namjoon behind on the farm. The decision was fraught with fights and tears, but they made it work. Namjoon was able to visit every two weeks, if not every weekend. Or it was Jimin taking the early morning bus to the farm.
Unless Jimin was too swamped with an assignment, they spoke nearly every day too. At least in the mornings.
It was a delicate balance and they prided themselves on how they maintained it without fail. So when Namjoon cancelled today, it felt like Jimin's world was being shaken.
"You're sad." Namjoon's tinny voice crackled in the small dorm room.
"Yeah," Jimin said simply, letting Namjoon hum in acknowledgement.
"Kulmyeon is going to a new farm today, so I'll have to drive up there instead." He said as Jimin brushed his teeth.
"Oh, wow. Already!?" Jimin said after spitting.
Kulmyeon was the runt of their sow's latest clutch of piglets, two months old. He only let Jimin hold him when he was younger, so Jimin had made it a point to go down every weekend to care for him especially. He had little brown spots on him, and a friend from school suggested Jimin sign him up for this reality show where they made idols look after animals. "Jeez, it's like I can't even keep track of time these days."
"I'll track time for you, you just focus on taking care of yourself, alright? Love you, Ji-min-ah."
Sometimes, Jimin felt like design school was a mistake. But the qualification had value, and there, indeed, was a whole world of tools Jimin was yet to learn about.
With the prospect of meeting his boyfriend not being there anymore to motivate him, Jimin tried his best to concentrate on his classes with a flask full of coffee.
He was about to head back and sleep when a classmate told him he was wanted in the admissions office.
"What now?" Jimin sighed, wondering which Park Jimin he was going to mistaken for this time, what with the name being common. Even so, he went every time to verify his credentials, cooperating with the admin staff who reminded him of his aunt.
"Are you sure it's me you want," Jimin sighed as he walked to the empty counter.
"I'm very sure!"
"JOONIE!" Jimin laughed and ran, pushing the door to get behind the counter asap.
Jimin launched himself over Namjoon, who lifted and twirled Jimin around.
"You really thought I wouldn't come on our anniversary?" Namjoon mumbled, pressing kisses all over Jimin's face and neck.
"Shit, I forgot about that." Jimin chuckled.
"Don't worry about that. There's too much on your plate. Be better to my boyfriend," Namjoon admonished, booping Jimin's nose with his finger.
Namjoon had borrowed the office after hours for the little surprise party. Their friend SJ walked in with Kulmyeon a few minutes later, some of Jimin's University friends walked in with cake and drinks to join the celebration.
Jimin told everyone how their pig was going to be a celebrity soon. And after a few pictures, SJ took Kulmyeon back, while Namjoon dragged Jimin to a hotel room.
"Happy 4 years, Park Jimin. Thank you for being the love of my life." Namjoon said reverently.
"Thank you for working so hard for us, my love," Jimin said, sniffling in post-coital bliss in Namjoon's arms.
"You work hard too," Namjoon retorted.
"You know what I mean, Joonie,"
"I do, and that's why I'm saying you work hard too. Everyone uses the weekend to catch up with assignments, but you toil on them so you can give me all your attention." pointed Namjoon.
"You deserve nothing less," Jimin meant it.
"I was thinking, we could split the living room and make you a small office or studio, hmm? So you can work there too?" Namjoon said in the wee hours of the night.
"That's a great idea," Jimin sat up on his elbows. “But that means double the supplies…"
"Well, once we sign Kulmyeon's show contract, it might help." Namjoon chirped.
"Our baby is going to be a celebrity!" Jimin giggled.
"He's going to be so famous," Namjoon sighed.
Fears would ebb and flow, Jimin figured. But fortunately for him, Namjoon understood exactly how much promises meant to him. Kissing Namjoon before going to sleep, Jimin prayed for time to fly so they could be together again.
~Keut