【 Jungkook 】
It truly was a scenic view, witnessing how the hues of autumn prettily painted the scenery around you; aburn leaves gently getting picked up and carried by the wind now littering the streets almost like a carpet which crackled and rustled underneath your feet when making your way home from a shift at the café— steps feeling much lighter than some months prior as you gradually managed to get back onto your feet just like you had promised yourself that one night in June.
The process of moving on with one's life was by no means easy, and you highly doubted there was a fast nor simple way to adjust to life without someone you weren't prepared to lose— however, you somewhat managed to make it work through the mindset of living life if his honor, almost as if he still was there to experience everything together with you. And while there was a time where you purposely avoided everything that bore even the slightest reminder of the dear entity, after some months you gradually began to reincorporate fragments of him into your life again, for the most part now being able to find solace in them rather than sorrow— though of course there still were some exceptions which you to this day couldn't bare to witness nor hear.
On your way home, you decided to take a brief detour and stopped by the park— nose and ears flushed a subtle crimson from the cold air as you slumped down onto what had come to be a special park bench located underneath the willow tree, momentarily sitting in silence while adjusting your scarf before finally allowing a faint smile to tug at your lips as you softly spoke by yourself.
Jungkook: Hey, it's been a while...? I'm sorry I didn't visit last week, but I think you'd be glad to know the café is thriving— although I also suspect you'd find the chance to simultaneously scold me for working so much overtime...
A melancholy snicker forced its way past your lips as you paused to fidget with the fabric of your scarf, tone now sounding more playful and somewhat scolding as you hesitantly spoke up once again after a little while.
Jungkook: I still can't believe I've implemented these foolish habits of coming here to talk to myself like this— but I do it all just in case you by some chance were able to hear me, which I still doubt...
There was another painfully silent pause as you stuffed your cold hands into the pocket of your jacket, impossibly sinking further into the bench as you raised your gaze towards the sky partially blocked by the willow tree's yellow branches.
Jungkook: After losing you, I think I finally understand the true depths of why they say you never lose someone just once— because time and time again I find myself losing you through the jokes you would've made, things you would've enjoyed, acts you would've scolded me for, memories we've shared, plans we never got to complete and so forth.
You couldn't help but allow another sullen snicker to emit past your lips as you closed your eyes to feel how the cold breeze ran through you— similarly to how it'd feel the times Taehyung accidentally would pass through you.
Jungkook: I still refuse to listen to our song, you know...? Call me sappy all you want but I— just can't bear to hear it... Not without you.
A very faint smile tugged at your lips as you then proceeded to mutter out a quiet ''You can probably imagine I had a hard time trying to explain to Hobi-hyung why that particular song was banned from our café's playlist...'' before yet again silently fidgeting, this time with the hem of your coat's sleeves whilst sighing softly.
Jungkook: Oh right... I also began taking pictures of every sunset you created— you really did have a knack for artistry didn't you, Taehyungie?
A bittersweet smile tugged at your lips as you thought back to the ghost's hidden talent for art which he had proven through his first-ever painting, and later continued to prove through the beautiful sunsets you've found yourself chasing every night, almost as if it was the only thing left truly connecting the two of you; a gentle goodnight if you will, before he sent you off towards a new day with new opportunities.
Speaking of artistry, as if on cue, a beautiful blue butterfly suddenly came fluttering over before settling down onto the benches backrest right beside you— a sight comically similar to the very memorable painting that the entity had made, prompting an amused giggle to escape past your lips as you carefully turned to admire the beautiful sight; jokingly uttering out a faint ''Well hello there, reincarnated as a butterfly, did you ghostie?'' before watching how it eventually fluttered its wings and flew away moments later.
Unexpectedly, when you slowly lowered your head to gaze at your fidgeting hands, silent teardrops gradually began to stain your pants as something about the sight caused a stir of emotions to well up— soft broken sniffles eventually making themselves audible while you tightly clenched your fists and cursed softly under your breath. Body trembling slightly as you tried to mute your quiet sobs with little to no success, feeling frustrated that you began to cry over such a thing.
It was only when you noticed a shadow gradually beginning to tower over your frame, that you quickly scurried to wipe your tears in a sorry attempt at pulling yourself together in front of the stranger, uttering out a rather clumsy and choked-up apology while slowly raising your gaze and waiting as your blurred vision due to the tears gradually cleared up— only to be met by the gentle smile of somebody with features awfully similar to the ones of–
Taehyung: It's not like you to get sentimental over a butterfly Gguk, missed me that much, hm?
There was a hint of playfulness in that stupid tone of his while you sat there dumbfoundedly ogling the sight in front of you in sheer disbelief, desperately trying to process just what sort of cruel trick your mind was playing for you right now as you slowly shook your head.
Jungkook: W-What— No w-wait, I'm seeing things aren't I? You're obviously just a fragment of my miserable imagination— this isn't real... T-This is just another dumb hallucination that will perish...
The taller bore an unamused expression as he crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow whilst looking down at you and grumbling out a fairly disappointed ''Really? We're doing this shit again Gguk?''— instantly causing your widened doe eyes that still lingered on him in sheer disbelief to well up with fresh tears as your bottom lip began to quiver, causing the man's gaze to soften while he gently opened his arms for you.
Taehyung: If you don't believe me, then why don't you come up here and check for yourself?
Although there was a brief moment of hesitancy, fearing he'd disappear the second you'd get too close to him, you quickly pushed those fears aside and impatiently shot up from your seat to confirm his presence— launching forward right into his arms before fully breaking into a fit of audible sobs upon feeling how the warmth of his embrace engulfed you fully.
It was a feeling you only could've dreamt of experiencing suddenly becoming reality, and so you couldn't help but desperately cling onto him for dear life whilst nuzzling into the comforting warmth of his shoulder, fearing he'd disappear again if you didn't hold onto him tight enough— the comforting scent of his cologne now rubbing off on you as he held onto you just as tightly, intimately keeping his hand on your head whilst breaking into quiet sobs of relief himself.
Jungkook: Y-You— You're here... Y-You're actually here?
A breathy chuckle left the tallers lips as he nodded in response whilst rubbing soothing circles on your back, deep-toned voice effortlessly comforting you as he spoke ever so gently.
Taehyung: I'm right here petal, right where I should be.
»»———- ∘◦°˖✧❀✧˖°◦∘ -———««
Dare I say, this is probably my favorite chapter that I've ever written? 🥹😭
Genuinely broke into tears writing this so if there are spelling errors I missed then my bad, I literally couldn't see! 🙏🏻
I was honestly debating on whether I should write one more filler chapter before this one, but decided against it as it risked being both repetitive and boring— oh and I also think I tortured you guys and myself enough!
Also just to be clear, no this is not the end of this book!
Anyway, hopefully you all enjoyed this week's chapter!💜
-Jing