"What do you mean?"
You yell, bewildered and confused as you stare at Jimin with bulging eyes. He raises his fingers from the steering wheel, looking back at you.
"Chill out, it's only for 2 days."
"B-but I my suspension ends in 2 days, and what about Jungkook and Taehyung? I don't even know where you're taking me!"
Jimin chuckles, shaking his head.
"We'll get back in time for training. Taehyung and Jungkook aren't going to die if you're missing for 2 days, and surprise! I'm taking you to Jeju Island."
You stare back at him with your jaw open, speechless.
"But why?"
He glances at you, before a small smile crawls up his face.
"I wanted to make it up to you."
Your heart flutters, as you lean back into your seat.
He planned a two day vacay just to make it up to me?
"What about clothes and stuff?"
You ask, your voice now softer.
"They have clothes at the resort. I'm not sure if I chose the right sizes though."
He winces, and you smile.
"It's alright. T-thank you, Jimin."
He runs a hand through his hair, eyes focused on the road.
"No problem."
*~°~*~°~*~°~*
*The next day at the resort*
You stare out in awe as the sun rises, its golden opulent rays spilling out onto the surface of the ocean, shining across the waters.
Jimin and you slept in seperate rooms, but shared a balcony. He stretches next to you, sighing as he watches the view before he speaks up.
"Sometimes it's nice to get away from the city and all the trouble."
You hum, your eyes finding its way to stare at his side profile.
Outlines by the sun's golden rays, every feature of his chiseled face is enhanced as his silver locks are pushed back with the wind.
"This colour looks good on you."
You say smiling, your fingers reaching out to poke at his hair before pulling it away immediately. He glances at you from the corner of his eye, a small grin playing across his lips.
"You think so? I was stuck between the cream blonde and this one. I guess I made the right choice."
You lean with your back against the railing of the balcony and say,
"You know, you didn't have to go to such an extent just to-"
"I didn't do this just for you to forgive me, Y/N."
He cuts you off, his grin fading as he lips press together to form a thin line. You furrow your eyebrows as he turns to you, leaning closer.
"I did this because-"
Your breath hitches, and he abruptly stops before shaking his head and ruffling his hair.
"I did this because I wanted to get to know you better. To have some fun and hang out, you know?"
He says with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Your heart sinks for some reason, and you sheepishly laugh.
"Yeah.. of course. Why didn't I think of that?"
His cheeks puff out as he stares at the ground, shuffling awkwardly.
Your stomach rumbles loudly, a concoction of deep growls and little squeals. You cover your stomach immediately as Jimin's eyes shoot up to you before they're pushed up into crescents.
The two of you break out into spurts of giggles and he says,
"That's the cue for breakfast, then!"
°~*~°~*~°~*~°~*~°
You finish your breakfast with a satisfied pat on your stomach, and Jimin chuckles.
"That was the best food I've ever-"
You're hastily cut off by an obnoxiously loud, bellowing burp from Jimin that lasts around 3 seconds, hurling the both of you to the floor in hysterical laughter.
"I'm sure I can burp longer."
You say in between laughs, and Jimin replies.
"We'll see next ti-"
The sweet moment is cut off by Jimin's ringtone, and you tuck a piece of hair behind your ear as he stares at the contact. He raises his gaze to you with a small smile.
"Why don't you take a walk on the beach? I have to take this call."
"O-oh, ok. Sure."
You say, your heart thumping in your chest in hopes that the caller wasn't the person you thought it was.
When you were finally out of sight, Jimin answers the phone, bringing it to his ear in a hurry.
"Bora, I told you not to call me for these two days. Is that too hard of a task?"
"Jimin, this is serious! My sister knows where we live now. She knows Y/N's suspension is almost over and she's trying to pull some nasty tricks. Fuck that honeymoon you're on, and get back here, please."
Jimin stays silent for a moment, before bringing his forehead to the wall, lightly banging it.
"Hello? Are you there?"
"Just wait till I'm back, Bora. I want a break from this shit."
"Jimin! I swear to god-"
He ends the call, turning his phone on silent mode and tossing it onto his bed before stepping outside. Goosebumps travel his pale skin as his feet sink into the sand, walking towards your crouched figure in the water.
His fingers clasp the edges of his see-through cotton shirt as he slips it off his body. His muscles roll beneath his glistening skin with every movement as his shorts hung low on his waist, teasing glimpses of his V-line.
You close your eyes, as the cold ocean water runs through your fingers and feet, the salty smell of the ocean invading your senses. Something catches your eye and you lunge forward, your hands cupping the moving creature.
You could feel it moving on your palm and you giggle at the tingly sensation. You open your hands to see a little white crab, it's beady eyes staring back at you.
"Hello there."
You coo, tilting your hand as it crawls up the side of your palm. You poke at it lightly before setting it down and it scurries across the sand, disappearing into a hole soon after.
You yelp, as a pair of arms grabs hold of you and throws you further into the water that now reaches your neck.
You reach out to smack Jimin as he wades his way towards you.
"Don't do that!"
You yell, and a smug expression coats his face. Before you could comprehend the situation, water is splashed up your face and nose, the hysterical laughter of Jimin following as he brings to increase the distance between the two of you.
Your windpipe burns from the water, and you glare at Jimin before saying.
"Oh, you're gonna get it this time."
The waves hit the side of your body as you lunge forward, grabbing hold of Jimin's shoulders from behind.
It's only now that you feel his soft skin beneath your fingers, realizing he was shirtless. Your heart skips a beat, but you complete your revenge mission anyways.
Placing your hands on the top of his head, Jimin laughs and squirms, trying to get hold of you. With all your weight, you push him beneath the surface of the water with a sadistic grin splayed across your face.
You feel his hands grabbing your legs, squeezing them.
You let go of him after, only for your grin to be wiped away when you hear his muffled screams from below.
"Jimin?!"
You scream, before plunging yourself underwater and grabbing hold of his arm. You could see the terrified look in his eyes as bubbles relentlessly left his mouth, racing to the surface.
His knees were pulled up to his chest while his hands remained on either side of his ears.
With great difficulty, you pull him upto the surface to see his pale, terrified face and trembling lips.
He was perfectly unharmed, and very much alive as he stared at you like you were a ghost he'd just seen. You pull him to the shore, and he sits down slowly onto the sand, his wet hair standing up in different places.
"Jimin, are you alright?"
You ask, your voice now trembling at his sudden change in demeanor. He just stares at the sand, before bringing his knees to his chest.
"I'm sorry, I-I thought nothing would h-happen because the water isn't even d-deep and-"
You're cut off in the middle of your apology as he stands up, his face still pale and his breaths ragged and uneven. Without a word, he stumbles into the resort, grabbing onto everything he can to support him before slamming the door shut.
You gape at him with trembling eyes, as guilt rises up your throat like bile.
What did I do wrong?
Everything was going splendid and this happens.
You slowly approach the entrance to the resort, and lightly press your ear to his door.
Silence.
With your bottom lip trapped between your teeth, you enter your room right beside his, closing the door silently.
I should apologize again.
Why... Why did he react like that? He wasn't drowning and he didn't pull himself up even when I let go of him.
After a quick shower, you pull on your sweats and t-shirt, letting your damp hair fall down your back. You take a deep breath, ready to confront Jimin.
You open your door and jump in fright when you see him standing outside your door, staring right at you. He was still shirtless, but had his grey sweatpants on this time.
He stares at you with hooded eyes, and you pull him by the arm into your room.
"Jimin, I-"
"You don't... you don't have to apologize."
He says, his voice raspy and partially wavering.
His eyes darted around the room, as he sits on your bed with his head in his hands.
"Yes I do, Jimin. I'm sor-"
"You didn't know about it. Just forget this ever happened."
He says, and you stare at him in confusion before parting your lips to speak.
"Didn't know about what?"
Your voice goes barely above a whisper, and he pats the space next to him, eyes still not meeting yours.
You slowly sit down next to him, keeping your distance because you were afraid that you'd hurt him again.
"God, I never thought I'd tell you this."
He groans, throwing his head back for a moment before facing you and crossing his legs. You do the same, and stare at him in worry for what he might say.
His face contorts, as he begins to speak.
"My mother... she um..."
He runs a hand down his face, glancing at you before gritting his teeth in frustration.
"Why is this so fucking hard to say to you."
He mutters, clenching his fists.
You shake your head, replying.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'll just keep my distance from you in the water, maybe you're just hydrophobic or-"
"Give me a minute, Y/N."
He says, and you purse your lips into a thin line, nodding with a sigh.
Why am I afraid of what he's going to say?
You place a hand on his knee as he calms down.
"I am hydrophobic, but I've gotten over it. But sometimes I just can't fight that fear when the memories... come back to me. It's like I'm re-living that moment all over again."
He says everything in a single breath, panting soon after. He clutches his sweaty palms as you squeeze his knee a little, to help him calm down.
You smile at him, and he takes a deep breath before continuing.
"My mother was schizophrenic."
You're taken aback, as your stomach twisted inside you. You continue caressing his leg as he continues.
"I never spent much time with her because of the disease. People told me it was for my safety, and that I was lucky I had more of my father's genes in me, or I would've ended up like her."
"Once my father left, my aunt came down from the U.S to help us. She was rich, and I was grateful she was there to help me. I was only 4 years old at the time. As the days went on, my mother started becoming... violent."
His voice cracks a little, and you say,
"Breathe, Jimin."
You could see that he was giving his all to prevent himself from breaking down in front of you, and your chest constricted at the sight.
"She would keep talking to herself and acting weird. One day, she approached her sister with a knife. Goodness knows how my aunt managed to calm her down. All I heard were revolting screams and crashing sounds. It was only a matter of time when something would happen to me."
Jimin sips from his cup of water and sighs, closing his eyes.
"My aunt was outside in the garden that day, and my mother entered my room, whispering to herself and staring at me with eyes wide like saucers. I was 5 years old, and that shit creeped the fuck out of me so I tried running out of the room. That's when she started speaking aloud."
"She kept saying, 'stay boy, stay'. She put her hands on her ears and began rocking back and forth violently. I began bawling at the sight, and she took me by the arm to the bathroom. She began talking utter gibberish, and when I tried pulling myself out of her grip, she threw me into the bathtub filled with water."
Tears welled in your eyes, as you take Jimin's trembling hand in yours.
"I'm so s-sorry."
You didn't fail to notice the tears in Jimin's eyes either, his sweaty fingers clasping onto yours.
"If my aunt hadn't made it in time, I would've been choked to death, drowned in that bathtub. My aunt took me away from her after that incident and raised me with my uncle as their own in Busan. I've never seen my mother again till this day. It's why I've had this fear of water my entire life."
Unable to control yourself anymore, you lean forward, pulling Jimin into a tight hug. He freezes, his hands remaining frozen in the air before slowly resting them on your back. His face lowers to the crook of your neck, a few drops of tears falling onto your skin.
"I didn't mean to make you relive that, I'm so so sorry and-"
You're cut off by his sniffles against your shoulder.
"Y/N. I already told you, you didn't know and it's fine as long as it doesn't happen again."
You rub your hands up and down his back to calm him down before you pull away.
Something sparked in you when Jimin stares back at you with his teary eyes. He hadn't looked at you that way before. There was kindness, and a swirling emotion you just couldn't put your finger on.
"Thank you. I've never told anyone this before."
He says softly, eyes lowering to his fidgeting fingers.
You smile a little, shaking your head.
"I never thought we'd get this close."
He chuckles a little, wiping his eyes.
"Me neither."
You part your lips to speak, the words you never thought you would say now leaving your mouth.
"You're a good friend, Jimin. I always thought you were a dickhead. I mean, you still are one.. just a nicer dickhead this time."
Jimin winces, rubbing his chest where his heart was, a single thought popping up in his mind.
Friend zoned.
You giggle, wiping away your tears too before whining.
"You made me cry. What are you doing to me?"
He shakes his head before booping your nose.
"I'm sorry for ruining the mood. We have loads of fun left to complete."
Your heart flutters as the two of you walk back out onto the sand, the afternoon sun blaring on the two of you. Jimin as always, looked ethereal in any type of weather.
When it was rainy, he'd always look puffy and pouty. When it was sunny, his skin would glow like honey beneath it's golden rays and when it was winter, his pale skin and plump red lips would contrast to his fuzzy clothes keeping him warm.
This time, you couldn't help but stare at him in awe. You had now gained a different perspective of him, one that wasn't always so cold, arrogant and brutal but now rather warm, cynical and shockingly fragile.
Your heart skips and flutters, while your stomach does somersaults inside you everytime he's near you.
Oh Jimin, what are you doing to me?