Chapter Text
“Teaching self-defense as a teacher and saving the world from evil is harder than you think.”
.・゜-: ✧☾ ☽✧ :-゜・.
Birds chirping, leaves bristling lightly, the sun rays hotter, feeling like how people imagine a desert to be, and a school bell ringing woke a particular 26-year-old man, Park Jimin, from his deep focus. Jimin was meditating, getting ready for his last class of the day.
The thought of his couch pops into his head after the long day he had had today teaching. He stood up from his meditating position, picked up his clipboard, and started to make his way toward his outside office, which other teachers would refer to as his cabin.
Jimin’s profession was being a self-defense sensei who taught martial arts in a small-town high school called Negwin. Sitting down and checking the wall clock on top of his only window, Jimin had five minutes before the bell rang.
The ten-minute breaks were just enough for students to use the bathrooms, have a quick chat with their friends, and head to their lockers to retrieve any textbooks needed for their classes. His students, however, didn’t need books. His lessons required students to dress up in their dobok taking an additional five minutes for the students to come out of their respective gendered locker rooms.
Since he had ten minutes to spare, Jimin turned to look at his computer and set down his clipboard to the side. He signed in to his account, and opened the grade book of his students to start putting their points of the day. As it was the last day before the students head to their summer break Jimin had the students demonstrate everything he had taught them so far as their midterm exam for his class, giving his students advice on what areas they were lacking and needed to focus on to improve.
As a teacher, Jimin had often wondered if having a self-defense class as an elective for students to choose to take freely could cause outbreaks in their school if students were childish with their actions towards one another. However, what he had experienced and seen his small city go through made him think otherwise.
The world was a dangerous place to live in, going as far as where one thinks that nothing bad could happen to them and it will. Lately, one of them had been kidnapping people, between ages of 18-30, after the curfew the government gave them no passing 8 pm.
Doing the best the cops could, they couldn’t always be there on time to stop these kidnappers from getting away and that was where Jimin came in. During the bright day, he worked as a self-defense teacher and, at night, became a well-known superhero within his small city named Aeon , helping the law by keeping people safe with his magical abilities.
Jimin wasn’t born gifted as some other superheroes were. He inherited them while being on vacation on Jeju Island with his best friend, Kim Taehyung. That day, Jimin could recall in detail how their visit changed their lives, or more to his own.
It was like any other bright, clear day; the clouds were out of sight, the sun shining, and calm surroundings. The warm wind present that day surrounded them like a warm blanket. Unlike everything, surfing with ease was smooth, and both Jimin and Taehyung were filled with excitement since it was their first time going to Jeju. They were shown the island alongside a group of tourists led by a tour guide. They got to see and experience many of the plentiful views they would always see online, imagining how the soft-looking sand of the beach felt underneath their toes and how blue the beach water was under the sun's bright light.
They were told about the meaningful background of every elemental on their island. A lone tree stood tall and healthy when they came upon the sunrise peak, in the center of the open land. According to the tour guide, the citizens referred to the tree as the ‘The Holy Tree’.
An urban legend laid behind the tree of how that same holy tree possessed an immense amount of magic power. Magic power could be given to a human if the tree saw the true reflection of someone responsible and trustworthy.
Curiosity or, more like calling, Jimin remembered how much he was lured towards the tree. It felt as if the tree itself was a magnet and Jimin was its other half, from the strong magnetic pull forced him to get closer. He was in a daze, and if it hadn’t been for Taehyung snapping him out of his trance and calling out for him, Jimin would have gone to touch the tree.
It wasn’t until nightfall that Jimin couldn’t sleep. He twisted and turned, unable to get comfortable in his bed, his mind full of thoughts. It was absurd that the tree could occupy so much of his thoughts, but it did.
Instead of thinking about the event he and Taehyung had planned for the next day, what he was craving to taste, hell, maybe even what school would be like when returning to teach, but no, it wasn't what he did. Jimin’s mind was solemnly focused on that damn tree that he was already walking out of the hotel, fully dressed and at four early in the morning. He followed the same distance towards the sunrise peak, taking an hour to get there.
Jimin passed the empty car park and hiked up the open path. When he reached the peak of the round mountain, Jimin was met with the same lone tree. Only this time was the tree illuminated with a surrounding gold shining light, bright enough to blind a human eye.
Even if the light was bright, it didn’t hurt Jimin’s eyes; it was as if Jimin saw something pure. His eyes shone in pure amazement, in disbelief that he was seeing something that scientifically didn’t make any sense, nor could be proven.
Just like earlier, that strong magnetic pull forced Jimin to have the desire to feel. His feet automatically started to walk towards the glowing tree. Jimin never questioned how he wasn’t able to see the tree shining from far away since it was so bright. The only thing that he wondered was if he did indeed fall asleep and this was all a dream, a trick played by his mind. Maybe hearing of the urban legend of the tree impacted him to dream such a crazy dream.
The closer Jimin got, the more in tune he became with his senses. His ear started to ring, getting louder every step he took that got him at close range. Eyes widened, Jimin extended out his arm, his sense of touch twitching to feel the rough bark under his fingertips.
The adrenaline inside his body fumed every circuit. His heart beat faster, breathing getting quicker, and branches of nerves oozing inside him when his fingers made contact. Jimin felt a rush of tingles that wandered from his arm to his whole body, letting his skin shine the same golden color as the tree illuminated. It caused him to loudly gasp.
Jimin panicked; this was not normal. It had to be a dream, yet it couldn’t be since it felt so real! No tree should be able to do such a thing. There was no way it could, except this one. Jimin fumbled. What was fake? Why did his body feel weird? What was going on?
It took a couple of seconds before every shining bright segment of light disappeared. Jimin felt hot and heavy. His breathing became rigged, vision blurry, and the last thing Jimin remembered was feeling the pulse of something wanting to be let out from deep inside him.
Waking up was like hell to Jimin. His body felt really heavy; it hurt even to move. Every part of his joints was tense; a good massage would surely help it. Jimin opened his eyes and saw he was back inside the hotel room he shared with Taehyung. His head was very fuzzy, throat dry, limbs numb and weak. Jimin groaned, bringing the back of his hand to his forehead, feeling a warm wet cloth on it, and felt himself burning.
It was then, when he tried to get up, groggily and calling out for Taehyung, Jimin entered into panic mode when his body started to float. The action caused Jimin to enter a state of fear. The intensity of feeling like shit subsided for that moment and with all his might, he started to scream for Taehyung to come and help him.
It didn’t take long for his best friend to run inside their shared room, yelling Jimin’s name, and holding a white plastic bag. Jimin hoped it was medicine for him and seeing how Taehyung’s eyes widened upon seeing him.
“Tae, help me! I’m floating,” Jimin begged, upside down, voice coming out in a wavering tone. He looked at Taehyung pleadingly, who looked back at him, color draining from Taehyung’s honey-tanned skin tone into a pale face as if Jimin was a ghost who appeared before Taehyung for the first time.
*
The memory made Jimin snicker, pulling him out of thought. That day was when his new life had begun. It was hard getting accustomed to everything. Having the ability to do all kinds of things was hard for Jimin to control. He was glad he had gotten his magical skills during the summer, giving him a month and a half to work on them.
Frequently, Jimin wished that everything was a huge dream. Things he used to do, he wasn't able to do anymore since his focus had drifted from the life he used to have, but the crescent mark that appeared on his chest after that night said otherwise.
Jimin saw in the reflection of his window how his students were starting to come out from their respective locker rooms.
Jimin looked at the time. It was five minutes after the bell had rung. Jimin raised his eyebrows, he didn’t notice the time went by as he was reminiscing about his past.
*
“Good job everyone! Not bad for your first half of the school year. I won’t be seeing you for the next six weeks. I recommend that you keep practicing. Doesn’t matter how much time you put into it or how you do it. My advice would be ten minutes every day, or just randomly do them to practice your fight-or-flight response. Remember, this class is only for self-defense. Don’t use it unless it’s required. Take care and have a lovely summer break. You’re dismissed,” Jimin concluded and watched how his students bowed down to him and bid their goodbyes to him.
Still having work to do, Jimin went back into his small office and started to work on putting the test scores of his students in the grade book. Exams were only twenty percent of the student’s grades for his class, as participation was a huge part of his class.
After finishing and sending them to their district, Jimin decided to call it a day. He grabbed all his stuff and walked towards the bathroom connected to his office to change out of his dobok and back into his casual clothes he came in the morning.
Walking the empty halls, only the sound of his footsteps echoing through the walls. Jimin pondered on whether he should go home and relax or check on two people he thought were still on campus.
Deciding to do the latter, Jimin made his way towards the art wing, noticing a specific door open and voices emitting from the inside, voices that sound way too familiar. Jimin peeked his head inside the classroom, seeing how both of his friends were inside speaking. Taehyung, his childhood buddy, noticed him right away.
“Jiminie!” Taehyung chirped, cutting the other off and making him also whip his head to look at him with his doe-eyed eyes that Jimin often thought could hold a whole universe in them.
“Hi, Jiminie hyung,” the doe-eyed man greeted him, showing Jimin his bunny smile. Jimin’s heart raced at how beautiful the brunette looked. Jimin’s breath also hitched from seeing how cute the other man looked with his black fuzzy sweater with pink dots, black pants, black shoes, and hair down covering his forehead.
The man’s name was Jeon Jungkook, an art teacher. Jimin had been crushing on Jungkook since he first laid eyes on him. His beauty always amazed Jimin at how such perfection was made and brought down into the unpurified earth's ground. It didn’t matter what Jungkook dressed like. It could be something really simple and Jimin, inside his mind, would be screaming at how Jungkook could look so good in everything.
Can he stop looking so adorable? My heart can’t take it!
“Hello, you two,” Jimin finally said, walking towards them and grabbing a chair to sit on. “How were exams for you?”
“Boring,” Taehyung answered first, pouting as he slumped himself on the chair, an action that made Jimin smile.
“Oh, come on, Tae. I’m sure it wasn’t that bad,” Jimin replied, a chuckle escaping his lips, resting his chin on the palm of his hand.
“Oh, how about you try to sit at a desk for 45 minutes and just observe if students try to cheat?” Taehyung exclaimed, pointing his finger at Jimin, who laughed. “I may teach French, and it’s fun when I teach it to my students, but when it comes to testing and me just sitting there doing nothing, it makes me hate my job for one single day.”
“Hyung, you should have thought about that before you decided to major as a French teacher.” Jungkook grinned.
“I did take it into consideration, but I never thought it would be this bad,” Taehyung whined.
“Then stop complaining. We go through this with you twice every year,” Jimin said, making Jungkook start laughing and Taehyung groaned.
“Tch. fine. Enough about my misery. How were exams for you two?” Taehyung asked, flipping the conversation away from him with a pout.
“You go first, Jiminie hyung,” Jungkook said, looking at Jimin with a warm smile.
“Well, it was okay. I mean, it wasn’t boring like Taehyung’s day.” Jimin smirked, looking at Taehyung, who raised his two middle fingers at Jimin.
Jimin chuckled, seeing Taehyung's fake angry expression. “But, at the same time, it was good. My students did amazing today. A lot of them got perfect scores, being my top students. The lowest grade I gave from all my classes combined was a C+,” Jimin shared.
“Hyung, you should teach me self-defense. I’ll need it even more now since violence has been a bit more active nowadays.” Jungkook sighed.
“Tell me when and I’ll make time for you, bun,” Jimin said, looking at how Jungkook’s cheeks flared a bright red, and nodded at him. “How was your day, by the way?”
“It was exciting!” Jungkook excitedly expressed, eyes shining as he recalled his day. I’m so proud of my students. They all did spectacularly! You should have seen the determination in their eyes as they focused and made their sketches come to life on their canvas.”
Both Jimin and Taehyung were looking at the younger teacher with smiles on their faces. Jungkook was the light in their trio group. The art teacher was always filled with happiness, seeing the world from another whole view.
“However, I’m going to stay here longer since grading all these art pieces is going to take its time,” Jungkook sheepishly said, scratching his neck.
“Would you like us to stay and accompany you?” Jimin asked, looking at Taehyung to see if he was also in, to which he got a nod in return.
“Oh, no, no, no, it’s okay!” Jungkook remarked, waving his hands in no motion. “I can handle this amount of work. I’m sure you two are tired. You should go and rest!” Jungkook warmly said, standing up when the other two stood up and led them to the door.
“Don’t stay here too late then, Jungkookie. I don’t want anything to happen to you,” Jimin said earnestly.
“I won’t, hyung. Thank you for passing by,” Jungkook smiled, as both Jimin and Taehyung started to walk away, sharing a goodbye with Jungkook, who closed his door for privacy. Both Jimin and Taehyung walked their way towards the main hall to exit the school.
“Hey, Min?” Taehyung called out for him and Jimin turned his head to the side to give his attention to Taehyung.
“Yeah?”
“Will you ever tell Kook about your abilities? I mean, it’s been two years since you got them and one year since you started to be a superhero in our beautiful town, but I was wondering if you will ever tell Jungkook about them. It’s not pressure. Trust me, it is the least I want. However, he is our friend.”
The question was on Jimin's mind, and he knew Taehyung was right. They have known Jungkook since he started working as an art teacher at the school four years ago. Keeping the latter in the dark rubbed Jimin the wrong way. Jimin’s foremost reason for not telling Jungkook was because he wasn’t sure how Jungkook would react to him having abilities. At first, his mind was just filled with pessimistic thoughts, but now, after knowing the art teacher for four years, he felt ready to spill the beans.
“I was thinking of telling him soon. Just don't know when really, maybe it’ll come smoothly?” Jimin asked Taehyung at the end.
“If you’re thinking about Kook’s reaction being something negative, then you have to erase that thought as you know how much of a fan he is of you.” Taehyung nudged his arm.
“ My superhero me, not the real me, ” Jimin responded sullenly.
“That’s a lie. Kook loves you!”
“As a friend.” Jimin pouted.
“You don’t know that.” Taehyung countered while crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, you’re right on that. Maybe I’ll ask him out on the weekend? Like a date or something?” Jimin asked, looking at Taehyung to see if he agreed with his plan.
“That sounds perfect, Jiminie!” Taehyung said happily, his boxy smile appearing on his handsome face. “Question though, are you going to tell him that it will be a date?”
“Do I have to?” Jimin fidgeted his fingers.
“Of course, you have to. Jimin, this is your time! You’ve had a crush on him since you saw him for the first time. It’s about time you made a move,” Taehyung encouraged him, opening the front door to the outside for them to step out, and they started walking towards their cars that were parked close to each other.
“You’re right. I need to make my move now, or else it’ll be too late,” Jimin said, tone now filled with determination.
“That’s what I wanted to hear and see!” Taehyung praised, making both friends laugh before telling each other, ‘See ya tomorrow.’
*
That same night, while sitting down on his couch and reading a book, Jimin’s crescent mark on his chest started to glow, something he later on figured out after he had gotten his powers, alerting him that there was someone who needed his help. Flying straight to his closet and slipping on his blue suit and mask, Jimin quickly flew out of his home through the window. The further north he went, the closer he got to the person in need by picking out their exact emotion.
According to the person, he felt he was in a state of fear. The feeling of fear indicated to Jimin that they either got stuck somewhere or they could be in a potentially dangerous situation where they could be attacked by someone else.
When Jimin got to the scene, he was barely able to hear any audible sounds. What he did catch was someone being muffled, trying to scream.
His eyes adjusted to the darkness, and Jimin could see three people harassing the person in need. Jimin lunged towards them, pulling them away from the victim. The people got back up from the ground, but Jimin was already positioned in front of the victim, standing in between the three men who took out their daggers.
As they lunged at him, Jimin used his taekwondo skills to stop any possible stabs and disarmed the men. Jimin was able to knock out two, but unfortunately, the last one slipped under his radar because when he turned to look for him, the man had Jungkook trapped with the dagger on his throat.
Wait, Jungkook?
“Don’t take another step, or else I won’t hesitate to slit the pretty boy’s neck open here in front of you,” the man threatened, putting pressure on Jungkook’s neck, but not enough to cut.
The warning from the other made Jimin’s blood boil. He wanted to go and free Jungkook from his hold, beat the man to a pulp for touching his bunny, and hold him in a life-and-death situation. All Jimin was able to do was clench his hands into fists.
Jimin took a deep breath from his nose, calming his nerves and the raging adrenaline inside of him, and started to conduct a plan inside his head to get Jungkook out of danger.
“Now, I want you to take a step back while I take this pretty boy with me.”
His words were like throwing knives at Jimin, hard to avoid but still exceeding them. Adrenaline rushing in pure anger. One wrong move and it’ll cost Jungkook’s life. Jimin needed to calm his mind to avoid that from happening. Remembering how he also owned telekinesis, Jimin put his mind to focus on the blade, feeling the cold sharp edge inside his mind, he bent the knife, taking it out of the other man's hand, and then throwing far away.
The man's eyes widened when he finally realized he stood no chance against Jimin. He threw Jungkook to the ground and started to run away, screaming in agony as Jimin made him float and with his omnikinesis he broke both of his arms as revenge for touching Jungkook.
“Where the fuck did you think you were going to go?” Jimin said, his voice dropping an octave,
“Let me go, you crazy anomaly!” The man screamed.
Jimin dropped the man to the ground, earning a satisfying scream of pain, and with his magic, he put the three of them together, making them unable to move a muscle.
Jimin turned around to see how Jungkook was still on the ground, looking at him wide-eyed. Maybe it was a little too much from what Jimin did to the man, but he couldn’t help it. The man was willing to take Jungkook’s life without hesitation. If Jimin thought about it, he did enough mercy as he could have made the man combust into pieces.
Noting that Jungkook was in a trance and did not get up from the ground on his own, Jimin approached him and extended his arm. His action made Jungkook snap out and look at his hand before accepting it and standing up.
“Have you called the police?” Jimin asked, receiving a nod from Jungkook.
“I called them when I noticed them following me, but they haven’t arrived yet,” Jungkook informed Jimin, who was upset about the lack of action from the authorities.
“You still have your phone with you?” Jimin asked, wondering if the harassers had probably sabotaged it.
“Um, y-yes, I do,” Jungkook responded in a stutter, looking inside his front jean pocket, taking it out, and handing it out for Jimin to take.
“I was only asking for you to check the time,” Jimin chuckled, pushing Jungkook’s phone back to him and making Jungkook shyly smile.
“Um, well, it’s 8:30 pm,” Jungkook timidly said.
“Exactly, and you think it’s proper for you, to be walking around the streets at this time?” Jimin scolded Jungkook while crossing his arms, trying to seem more serious.
“N-no,” Jungkook quietly replied as he hung his head low.
“Why are you walking at this time of night? Violence has gotten greater this past year. What do you think would’ve happened if I wasn’t able to rescue you?”
“I-I’m sorry. I was walking back home. I had completely lost track of time grading my students' project exams and when I noticed the time, I realized that the sun had gone down,” Jungkook explained, and Jimin let out a sigh.
“I guess that’s understandable,” Jimin nodded, taking notice of how Jungkook was still shaking. “You’re still shaken up?”
“Huh? Oh! I’ll be okay.” Jungkook dismissed it with a small smile.
At that moment, the sounds of police sirens could be heard, and soon enough, police cars were parked outside the alley. Jimin took hold of Jungkook’s arm, taking him with him, not wanting the latter to feel more uncomfortable with the situation, and walked up to the policeman heading their way.
“Three culprits held together far back,” Jimin informed them as they stopped in front of him. Jimin nodded as the cops looked at Jungkook as if they were asking if he was the one they planned to commit a crime with.
“I’m taking him with me,” Jimin informed them. When he got a nod from the cops, Jimin watched as they started to make their way back to retrieve the criminals and waited until they got to them before he stopped using his telekinesis.
Looking back at Jungkook, Jimin couldn’t help but find Jungkook adorable, with his brows furrowing a bit. “Come. Let me take you to a place to distract you,” Jimin offered, extending his hand for Jungkook to grab. He saw that Jungkook hesitated to take it, but in the end, he did. It made Jimin think that something about him made Jungkook feel at ease.
*
Jimin began to float and the houses around them gradually disappeared, becoming smaller with increasing distance. Jungkook clung tightly to Jimin's shoulders with his hands, while Jimin found space on his hips. Silence befell them as Jimin brought them to a spot devoid of people, tall blades of grass shining green in the moonlight. The place was beautiful, as was the scenery it offered.
He approached a nearby hill, a cherry tree located at the center. Further down was a glistening lake, clear reflections from the twinkling stars in the sky alongside the full moon that was displayed to its full glory. A sight for sore eyes, if you will.
Jungkook looked around with curiosity and positive astonishment in his eyes. It seemed as if they dived into a dream or another world and were under some kind of spell, captivated by the surroundings.
Jimin, too, was under the spell. He just couldn't take his eyes off the man in front of him, happy that he could bring him to this place. Tentatively, he let his hands fall from Jungkook's waist next to his body as the other turned in amazement to the moon in front of which dark clouds were creeping in, enveloping them in darkness for the time being.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. Fireflies began to move their glowing bodies above the blades of grass, through which Jimin flew joyfully.
A shooting star flew past them in the sky above and the very next moment, a firefly sat down on Jungkook's dainty index finger. He eyed it scrutinizingly until it flew away again.
Just as the clouds released the moon, Jimin put one hand under Jungkook's thigh and the other on his back, lifting him as if he weighed nothing. And maybe he intended to impress the other by flying him to a pier and gently setting him down there.
Captivated, Jungkook walked along the brown wooden jeffy and looked up at the moon, which now hung like a large white balloon above the horizon. The water around the jetty danced in small, wave-like and calm movements.
Jimin gave him a charming smile when Jungkook turned around and came running towards him. They touched as Jungkook wrapped his arms around Jimin's warm body, eliciting a wave of euphoria. Everything around them shifted as they looked into each other's eyes. Suddenly, Jimin's blue mask disappeared, and they danced as if there was music, embracing strong emotions and freedom by curving their spines and controlling footwork like two soulmates who confessed their love to each other.
Their motions were fluent together, like several months of practice and years of knowing each other. Jimin spinned him and then caught him before Jungkook could lose his balance. His hands glided down to Jungkook's waist, lifting him into the air before he set him down, his feet barely touching the floor and his hand grasped Jungkook's thigh. Spinning him around and dancing with Jungkook filled him with joy and grace.
He somersaulted Jungkook, who lay down on the jetty. Jimin landed with both feet on the ground and ran to the end of the wooden object, turning around in time, and holding Jungkook back with one arm as he dared to jump with his arms outstretched in an attempt to jump into the cold water.
And like a tiger circling its prey, Jungkook danced around him, his enchanting smile present on his lips. His hand rested smoothly on Jimin's shoulder until their eyes met and this dream they were in switched back to reality. Jimin was wearing his blue mask again as if nothing had happened.
Happy hormones spread through Jimin's body and he lifted Jungkook by gently throwing him into the air, with one hand under his feet, letting Jungkook balance on it with ease in the fresh night breeze, his foot barely touching his hand.
After that, everything passed in seconds. Jimin pulled his hand away, caught Jungkook, and threw him towards the water. He was quick to extend his hand, wrap it around Jungkook's waist, and dip him in the air. Weightless with Jungkook under him in his arms, they flew across the lake, the tips of Jungkook's feet touching the water.
With arms outstretched, they landed on the hill with the cherry tree surrounded by colorful flowers.
Jimin watched Jungkook spellbound as he walked to the cherry blossoms and let his fingers wander over individual blossoms. He looked back through them, smiling innocently and broadly. Jimin took the chance and flew over the beautiful tree, allowing a small wind gust to blow blossoms down on Jungkook. It looked magnificent, and Jimin wanted nothing more at that moment than to kiss him and follow his feelings. Their fingers touched again when he came down to him on the ground and he had to restrain himself with all his willpower not to give in to his feelings.
"Thank you for bringing me here," Jungkook said, his voice soft and sincere. "It's beautiful."
Jimin nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "I'm glad you like it."
They stood there in silence for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. The moon shone brightly overhead, and the fireflies danced around them. It was a magical moment.
Finally, Jimin took a deep breath and spoke. "Jungkook," he said, "there's something I need to tell you."
Nervousness oozed inside of Jimin as the big doe eyes of the brunette made contact with him. Having Jungkook in front of him gave him sudden confidence in confessing his feelings. He took a deep breath, breaking eye contact, feeling the muscles in his body relax.
“I know this is completely random, and maybe you’ll think of me as crazy and how something like this could happen. However, having you in front of me gave me the sudden confidence boost to let out something that I have been holding back.” Jimin looked back at Jungkook, who looked questioningly, “Ever since I laid my eyes upon you, you’ve made me question the definition of the love I’ve always known. You made me want to become the best version of myself that I never thought I had in me. I know it sounds crazy coming from me, someone you have never interacted with before, but it’s true. I like you, Jungkook.”
He said it. Jimin finally released the words he’d always kept inside, wanting to be let out whenever he was around Jungkook. Hope bloomed inside him, but crashed down when Jungkook had a sad expression on his face.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t say I feel the same. You’re right, it is crazy since we’ve never exchanged words before and I know many people out there wish to be in this spot that I am. I wish I could say this without hurting you, but that won’t be the case. I have someone else that I’m in love with,” Jungkook confessed with a tender smile.
Jimin felt like he would break when he heard Jungkook’s words. He already had someone he loved.
“He’s a great person. Someone that I’ve known ever since I moved to this town. He’s a teacher at the school where I teach. There’s a lot to him that attracts me. He may seem or act like he doesn’t like teaching teenagers in his class, but I know he does. Especially when we talk, his students are all he spends his time discussing. His radiating smile, which is always warm and makes his eyes turn to crescents, is so captivating. It makes him more dazzling. His kind and comforting personality is just always so welcoming. He isn’t rude, always putting others before him. It’s everything from him that I seek for. It’s him. It’s always been him since I met him,” Jungkook finished with a shy smile adoring his face as he looked at the ground. If it was daylight, Jimin was sure Jungkook had a blush spread on his cheeks.
“I understand.” Jimin smiled, even if he was in pain. What mattered to him more was Jungkook's happiness. He would live to that if this man he spoke of were the key to making him smile beautifully.
“I’m sorry.”
Jimin could tell that Jungkook actually felt bad from his faint tone, and it hurt Jimin that Jungkook was going to start blaming himself for hurting him. Without hesitation, Jimin brought his hand up and rested it on Jungkook's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze as assurance.
“Don’t be. It’s not up to us who our hearts choose. If he’s the one to make you feel comfortable and safe, that’s enough for me,” Jimin said, ruffling Jungkook’s hair, emitting a giggle from the latter. “Are you going to ask him out?”
With his words, Jungkook looked at him with wide eyes. “Are you kidding? I could never!” Jungkook let out in panic.
“Why not?”
“I’m not even confident if he even sees me like that.” Jungkook frowned.
“Well, you did mention that you two interact. Are you two at least friends?”
“We are. Along with our other friend. However, I wouldn’t know how to approach him in that matter. What if I break our friendship for something so silly? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if my stupid feelings were the cause of breaking a four-year friendship. Plus, they're the only friends I actually have here. The rest of the teachers are just acquaintances.”
“Okay, spill it. What’s not to like about you?” Jimin asked, crossing his arms.
“I’m clingy.”
“Sounds fine to me even more since I know you would like to be around your partner now.”
“Being in this field of work, I became talkative, but off school grounds, I go into my shell, and the need to isolate is there.”
“This means having someone you like around could help you with your small problem if you don’t like doing that.”
“Since I’m clingy, I like being the big spoon when I cuddle or go to sleep.”
“Well, I’ll be. I like being the small spoon.” Jimin winks.
“I actually have a dog.”
“People like dogs. I like dogs.”
“...And one cat.”
“Sassy and kind. You’re that type of owner. I can feel it. And I meow-like it.”
“Okay, I’m going to ignore that bad cat pun.” Jungkook giggled, “Well, what about, spending one-hour showers and singing every hour, every minute, every second of the day, sound?’
“Angelic and purrfect.” Jimin smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.
Jungkook scrunched his nose from the cat pun. “Okay, but you are saying all of that based on you!”
“Aha, and my point is, who wouldn’t like you?”
“People? I’ve had people laugh at me when I was a kid because I looked ugly.”
“You’re not ugly. Those people don’t know what they're talking about.”
“I used to be an emo kid.”
“And I can see that you’ve evolved your emo phase by just wearing black clothes.” Jimin pointed at Jungkook’s outfit. Jungkook did the same in looking down on him.
“I really like the color black.” Jungkook huffed.
“I’m not judging you.” Jimin giggled, putting both of his hands up in a surrendering manner.
Everything felt right, the light breeze getting a bit stronger, making the petals of the blossoms flow between them while flourishing away into the sky. The warm, gentle smile of Jungkook felt like home to Jimin. In his eyes, Jungkook always looked like an angel from heaven. A ray of beaming light, lighting up someone’s day or night with his presence.
Jungkook always made Jimin feel like everything would be okay, and it was, in his doe-sparkling eyes, that held kindness and love. They were also telling him that everything would be okay. Life holds obstacles, but by looking through them, there’s a path for you to take.
“How do you feel now?” Jimin asked, genuinely hoping what Jungkook was feeling before coming here was gone.
“I feel better. Thank you… This place is beautiful. How did you find it?” Jungkook wondered out loud, looking down at the scenery of the large body of water.
“Found it when I was getting used to my magical abilities. I was learning how to master flying and stumbled upon it. Perfect place to just ease your mind or gather inspiration for maybe an art piece,” Jimin replied, looking to his side as well.
“I do see the inspiration.” Jungkook hummed.
They stayed quiet for another bit, taking in the nature surrounding them. It wasn’t awkward, but comforting. They stayed there for a couple more minutes until Jimin asked Jungkook if he was ready to go home. As they were flying, Jimin, having Jungkook in his arms bridal style, had also asked the younger to lead him to his home. Of course, Jimin knew where Jungkook lived. However, if Jimin weren’t to ask and he’d taken Jungkook to his place, then he would be guessing that Jungkook would most definitely view him as a stalker. And that was the last thing he wanted. Other than the directions being said, it was quiet between them.
They flew in the clear, dark blue sky out in the open. No clouds in sight to be seen. Since it was pretty late, almost all of their town’s lights were out, indicating that some citizens had drifted off to dreamland.
“Right there, that apartment with the balcony,” Jungkook said, pointing at the said building.
Jimin made his way towards it, lowering down to finally reach the balcony, his feet gently touching the ground, and slowly letting Jungkook do the same.
“Well, I think this is the time where I say goodbye.” Jimin smiled.
“Yeah, I guess it is. Is it not?” Jungkook let out sheepishly.
“Yeah.”
They stared at each other until they both burst out laughing. Their laughs were so carefree. It felt right for both of them.
“I’m glad we were able to break off the upbuilding awkwardness right there with a laugh.” Jimin chuckled.
“Yeah, I’m glad too.” Jungkook giggled, covering his mouth with his palm.
“Do you always leave your balcony doors open?” Jimin asked, looking at the open, wide doors. “What if somebody climbs to steal from you?”
“I know it’s unsafe, but it’s the only way I will feel fine inside.” Jimin frowned, not understanding. “You see, even if I leave my windows open, the apartment would be too hot when I get home. However, by leaving the balcony doors open, I come home with a fresh house. I hate the heat and no, I don’t like turning the AC on. It would use too much power,” Jungkook explained.
“Well, I guess that makes sense.” Jimin eventually agreed, processing everything. “Alright, I should leave you to rest.” Jimin smiled, walking back to turn around.
“Hey, Aeon!” Jungkook called out for him, halting Jimin’s steps. “Thank you for saving me and taking me out to distract myself from what happened. I really appreciate it.”
Jimin nodded. “You’re welcome,” he said, jumping to fly away into the lonely night sky.
.・゜-: ✧☾ ☽✧ :-゜・.