JIMIN_PARK IS TYPING
- in which one message becomes the start of your fated love story with a boy who has no meaning towards the concept of love; requested by @JadeSRG310
ji eun
hmm you had to be there, it was so romantic
y/n
i bet it was
y/n
i'm so happy for you
The guilt of lying to your best friend isn't as strong as it was a few months ago; the usual aching of your chest and worry eating away at all your thoughts now an insignificant throb in the back of your mind.
Now, you're not saying that you're not happy for her. In fact, you couldn't be happier for Ji Eun and just how successful her life has turned out to be. It's just that you don't need to hear every single second of it.
At this point, you're unsure of whether to call it over sharing or bragging.
Her newest topic of discussion is her boyfriend, Taehyung, and how she's so sure he's the one even though they've only been dating for a few months. Taehyung is a close friend of yours so you know exactly why she feels that way and, although you've stressed that point to her numerous times, she still finds it necessary that you know every detail.
ji eun
hey, i'm sorry
y/n
what for?
ji eun
i just feel bad for always talking about my relationship
y/n
no, don't be!
y/n
i'm totally fine with it :)
There you go again with the lying, the bad habit deciding to firmly stick itself to you. In actuality, you've got a pot of vile envy boiling inside you, it getting harder and harder to control with every day that passes.
Holding a relationship has never really been on your list of skills, your rather long list of failed relationships constantly taunting you with this shameful fact. Even so, you've never dared admit to anyone that you've got a terrible pit of loneliness growing alongside your envy; the ridiculous amount of sadness within it enough to make you spend countless hours crying into your pillow like a child.
ji eun
are you actually looking for a relationship??
y/n
uhhh i'd love to say yes
ji eun
but?
y/n
but with uni and work, i just haven't found the time to make connections with anyone
ji eun
i think we both know someone who can help
You furrow your brows together, feeling uneasy as the three bubbles that signify her typing pop up onto the screen while your thoughts take you back to the terrible blind dates she had set you up on way back when you had the energy to try a few.
A shudder courses through you as her message finally pops up.
ji eun
so, you should probably know this, but tae had a whole group of friends when he was in high school
ji eun
and he's still really close with some of them!
ji eun
if you want, i can ask him to message a few and see if they're available
You scoff as your cheeks heat up at the mere thought of how embarrassing it would be to have your best friend's boyfriend try and set you up with a boyfriend.
y/n
no, don't worry about it!
y/n
i don't want him to go out of his way just to ask them
ji eun
uh oops?
y/n
you did it, didn't you?
ji eun
you know me too well
You groan in irritation, throwing your head back onto your pillow in disbelief, choosing to ignore the way your fingers twitching with anticipation and excitement.
ji eun
but he found someone!
ji eun
turns out most of his friends are in relationships BUT
ji eun
his closest friend has been single for a long time
ji eun
and he's super cute!!
Your eyes widen as it finally registers in your mind what she's just said. It's odd how your excitement bleeds into your anxiousness and turns you into a smiling, shaking mess. This uncomfortable mix of emotions has you doubting your ability to go through with it, bottom lip slotting itself in between your teeth as you try to think of a way to tell Ji Eun without disappointing her.
ji eun
jimin_park
ji eun
that's his profile name, if you decide to give it a go
ji eun
tae has already told him about you so you don't need to worry about it being weird ;)
y/n
tell tae i said thanks
y/n
and thank you as well, ji eun
ji eun
that's what i'm here for <3
Your finger aimlessly hovers over his profile name, the sight of it strangely intimidating. Your stomach churns in response to your worries, your free hand flattening against it in a mindless attempt to soothe the pain. Thoughts suddenly weighing heavily in your head, you close your eyes and take deep breath, deciding to give it a go.
However, you don't expect to see two notifications awaiting you when you reopen them.
jimin_park has requested to follow you.
jimin_park sent you a message.
You gulp, exiting your chat to view the notifications with a slight shiver running down your spine. Without anymore time spent thinking, you accept his request, follow him back and jump onto the chat; his first message so simple that it's impossible for you to interpret what it means.
jimin_park
hi
Your breath hitches in your throat, the idea of this being a rather exaggerated response flying right over your head as you change chats and furiously type out your message.
y/n
OMG HE JUST MESSAGED ME FIRST WHAT DO I DO???
ji eun
reply back?
y/n
ugh shut up
ji eun
what?? you asked what you should do
ji eun
now, hurry up!
You roll your eyes at how ultimately useless she is and head back to Jimin, feeling the corners of your lips curl up into a soft smile as you hesitantly send through your first message.
y/n
hey :)
jimin_park
as much as i'd hate to disappoint you, i feel like i need to make this clear
jimin_park
i'm not interested in a relationship right now
jimin_park
but, if you're up for it, i'm more than willing to become friends
*
Your brows stay furrowed together even after you've turned your phone off and placed it numbly to your side, hands clasped in front of you as Jimin's message and your decision not to reply just yet comically haunts your thoughts.
It's odd because a message like that clearly says 'I'm not looking for a relationship' but Taehyung's lack of hesitation in helping Ji Eun push him to you had implied that he was.
Before you can even properly organise your chaotic train of thought, your hand reaches to reclaim your phone and message Taehyung, your anxiousness translating into the way your fingers shake as you type.
y/n
taeeeeeee
y/n
i thought he was looking for a relationship
y/n
but he just wants to be friends
y/n
what do i dooooo?
tae tae
wait, jimin?
y/n
yeahhhh
y/n
he messaged me after saying hi that he doesn't want a replationship rn but he's cool to be just friends
tae tae
don't overthink it bc you should actually be feeling over the moon
y/n
huh?
y/n
why???
tae tae
jimin excels at everything except love and that's purely bc he's never had any
tae tae
when chim was a child, he lived with his parents who were never at home unless there was absolutely no place else for them to be
tae tae
they never cared about him or paid any attention to him
tae tae
so he grew up alone and feeling as if no-one could love him
y/n
that's horrible...
tae tae
i found all this out a few weeks after we met when i asked if i could stay over at his place
tae tae
he told me that his house would never count as a home so i dragged him over to stay with me
tae tae
i guess you could say that lack of experience and exposure has caused him to lose all meaning of love
tae tae
i've tried really hard to get him to open up to those close to him but i'm the only one he sticks to
tae tae
so you should feel even more grateful that you actually got a reply more than two words from him
tae tae
hell, i'm impressed that he even messaged first!
y/n
but why choose me to help him?
tae tae
bc, despite not knowing it, you're full of that energy and joy that he really needs in his life
tae tae
trust me and keep talking to him
tae tae
he'll be warming up to you in no time
y/n
okay, i'll keep trying
y/n
thank you, tae
tae tae
anytime ;)
Your eyes flutter shut, heart knocking against your chest as you take refreshing mouthfuls of air, mentally convincing yourself that everything will be fine. Finally, after a few extra minutes of spontaneous meditation, you type out a short message for Jimin.
y/n
being friends sounds great!
y/n
and sorry that took so long, i was cooking when you messaged
His reply is instantaneous, making you wonder if he had been patiently waiting for you to message him or if he was simply anxiously freaking out over whether or not he had said the right thing to you.
Oddly enough, the thought makes you smile, cheeks tingling with the familiar sense of them turning red.
jimin_park
that's a relief, i thought you would've been offended by my previous message
y/n
not at all!
y/n
so you and tae were friends in high school? how come i never saw you around?
jimin_park
ah, i went to a different high school but i occasionally hung out with the group of friends that i'm sure you're familiar with outside of school
y/n
ohhhh
y/n
that makes sense :)
y/n
so would that make you the same age as tae?
jimin_park
yes, it would
y/n
omg you're older than me
y/n
should i start calling you oppa??
jimin_park
nO
jimin_park
jimin is fine!
y/n
....okay ;))
y/n
jimin, are you studying at uni?
jimin_park
yeah, although it's not as hard as i thought it would be
y/n
how so? what are studying?
jimin_park
i'm in my last year of studying dance
jimin_park
i figured that since it's the last year, it'll be difficult but the assignments are all still manageable which makes the course a lot more enjoyable
y/n
wow, you must be really good at dance
jimin_park
ah, i'm not too bad
y/n
i'll get tae to send me some clips of you dancing
jimin_park
or i could just show you
y/n
....or you could do that :)
jimin_park
hmmm you're very inquisitive
y/n
oh, i'm sorry if i'm prying too much
jimin_park
no, no, it's a good thing
y/n
it is?
jimin_park
yeah, but now it's my turn to do the asking
y/n
alright :)
jimin_park
so if i'm in my last year, you must be in your first...
y/n
yes, sir!
jimin_park
haha, what are you studying?
y/n
teaching and education
jimin_park
you want to be a teacher?
y/n
yeah, i know it sounds odd but i've always wanted to be like miss. honey from matilda
jimin_park
i'm sure you'd be a great teacher, i can just see it
y/n
awee thank you
y/n
and i'm certain that you're an amazing dancer ;)
jimin_park
thanks
y/n
tae told me that you used to live with him
jimin_park
uhh yeah, when i was younger, i did
jimin_park
now, i just live near him...he's a horrible roommate
y/n
omg ! i was going to say that he's pretty messy so you'd be brave to live with him
jimin_park
it was a nightmare sharing a room and BATHROOM with him
y/n
you poor thing :(
jimin_park
i know, i needed intense counselling after it
You chuckle to yourself, hand hovering over your mouth as you struggle to rid yourself of the aching smile plastered onto your face. You allow your thoughts to drift as he takes his time in typing out his message, finding it odd that your heart jumps up against your rib cage when nothing much has happened between the two of you.
Perhaps, you realise as you ponder on this troubling thought a little while longer, it's the fact that each message he sends is read in your mind by a man with a voice that's as gentle as a breeze and drips with a sweet and thick honey that can be compared to the heavenly gold that embraces the eyes that stand out in all of his photos.
You dismiss those thoughts from your mind, overly aware of the way they leave lingering tingle behind, and return to your phone to find a few more messages.
jimin_park
it was lovely to talk to someone new
jimin_park
in fact, i'd say that it was quiet refreshing
y/n
well then i'm glad you feel that way!
y/n
it was great talking to you too!
jimin_park
goodnight then, y/n :)
y/n
night, jiminnn
Pressing your palms against your burning cheeks, you release a childish squeal and fall back onto your bed, that honey voice ringing in your ears despite never being there in the first place.
This is bad, you note while staring up at your ceiling with a dazed smile. It's been awhile since you last developed feelings for someone but, you're no fool.
You know exactly what's happening and you can't figure out whether you want it to stop or not, the shaking palm of your hand flattening against your heart as you stress on this idea.
*
The rain is a welcoming sight after weeks of a harsh light that makes doing anything uncomfortably unbearable. You draw your gaze away from your phone to stare at the masterpiece the rain seems to be creating on your window, the corners of your lips twitching up at you follow a lonely raindrop with your eyes, sighing disappointedly when it reaches the bottom and disappears.
You go to follow another one but the vibration of your phone has you abandoning the rain as your smile blooms into something more youthful.
Jimin's name sits prettily on your screen; the mere sight of it enough to reduce you to a fit of childish giggles paired with flushed cheeks as it has been doing for the past few months. During this time Jimin has, unbeknownst to him, done nothing but constantly feed you with reasons as to why falling for him is not a bad idea and you've been obediently and contentedly swallowing down each one with a stupid grin on your face.
And yet, the two of you have never met each other in real life.
Each time either you or Taehyung try to coax him into coming out for a movie or lunch, he always politely denies with excuses—studying, work, or visiting family—that you can't really argue against despite knowing that he recycles them occasionally.
It's like fate itself is screaming in your face to give up but you're not allowing yourself to be easily fazed.
After all, he's often the one that suggests the idea of meeting up and doing things together; this alone building up your hope for there to be a chance between the two of you.
Besides, Taehyung himself has even told you that Jimin is a lot more comfortable, in terms of opening up and talking, to you than he is with him. Warm pride swells in your chest at the mere thought of it, your smile inevitable as you return your attention to your phone.
jimin_park
hi :)
y/n
hellooo :))
y/n
have you eaten yet?
jimin_park
i'll eat in a little bit
jimin_park
why?
y/n
maybe we could head out for lunch...
y/n
if you're not busy
y/n
i mean, don't you find it a little weird that we've been talking for so long and have never met up?
y/n
i get that you're busy but every single time???
y/n
i've been wanting to see you in person for a while now and i know that sounds slightly creepy
y/n
but i've been wanting to hear your voice, your laugh and look you in the eyes....
y/n
and it hurts that i haven't done that yet
jimin_park
why do you think so much about meeting me?
You can feel your irritation grow into something that makes your fingers tremble above the screen of your phone, your free hand clenched into a tight fist by your side in relation to his obliviousness.
This overpowering irritation of yours drowns out any speck of common sense you have left in you the very second your fingers begin to type once again.
y/n
BECAUSE I THINK I LOVE YOU
The gasp that rips through your throat after you re-read your message sends a wave of shock down your spine so powerful that your phone falls from your grip, falling onto your mattress with a dull thud, hands immediately seeking refuge on your cheeks, fingers trembling against your cool skin.
You stare at the black pit on your bed, knowing very well that in a matter of seconds some taunting or heartbreaking message will come through and breathe life back into the device. You tug on your lip with your teeth, feeling hot tears sting your eyes as you timidly reach out for your phone, fingers outstretched and heart rattling in your throat.
The screen shakes back to life as it suddenly illuminates your room, the unfamiliar number that presents itself to you sending a shiver of uneasiness down your aching spine.
Eventually, you latch onto it and swipe to answer, cautiously holding the device to your ear.
"Y/N," a voice murmurs, your breath pleasantly hitching when the honey lacing itself in between the letters of your own name drip feverishly once it leaves his mouth, the softness and velvet-like sound of his voice causing out an outbreak of goosebumps and shivers that almost has you sighing dreamily; your heightened nerves being the only thing stopping you.
"Yeah?" You breathe, vision blurring as your tears overflow onto your cheeks.
"You have no idea," he chuckles, barely giving you enough time to accustom to how child-like it sounds before continuing on, "how long I have been waiting for you to say that."
"I—I don't understand," you mutter, sniffling in a manner that definitely gives away the fact that you're crying. Thankfully, he chooses to pay it no mind.
"I don't expect you to. I meant that I was waiting for you to say so that it gives me enough courage to say it back."
A pause.
"I love you too."
Relief spills through you in the form of his voice, each word washing out all your nerves and filling you with an indescribable warmth.
"Tae gave me your address so meet me outside in ten."
You want to tell him that it's raining and your plans might be ruined but a glance to the window shows you the sun, in all its glory, warming up the air and drying up all the rain, making it seem as if it was never there.
You laugh freely and push yourself off your bed, making a beeline for your closet.