Jan 1' 2020
Hope is contagious.
Happy New Year.
～⋅⊱༄♡༄⊰⋅～
I sat with my dad on the balcony of our house when the fireworks began, lighting up the night sky.
Aroma: Happy New Year! <3
Jimin: Happy New Year! :)
Even though the air was filled with loud, cheerful sounds of the erupting fireworks, my ears only rejoiced in the sounds of those exploding in my heart.
↭
Jimin's POV:
I laid down on the bed with sleep deprived eyes, but this time a smile danced on my lips, a real smile.
I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ready to spend another night trapped in the kaleidoscope of my thoughts, only this time they weren't as twisted like they always were.
Jan 4' 2020
I began to crave that voice.
Despite my fears, I can't help but follow it.
～⋅⊱༄♡༄⊰⋅～
I was fiddling with the corner of the cover of my phone as a source of entertainment while waiting for my Dad to wrap up his last session. Why does he have his clinic in the middle of nowhere? Random thoughts started infiltrating my head.
Dad wanted to take me out for dinner today because he had been really busy the past couple of weeks and realized that he wasn't able to spend time with me. My heart always warmed up at his thoughtfulness. Despite the fact that I've stayed away from him most of my life due to my parents' separation, he never gave me a chance to feel distant, to feel disconnected.
The creaking of the door striked against my ears. I jerked my head up towards the source of the sound as I saw my Dad appearing from behind the door, followed by his patient. My eyes widened as I recognized who it was. Jimin.
This was the second time we were crossing paths at my Dad's clinic. My heart beat accelerated as I took in his form. My mind rushed back to the night at the park and the tingling sensation took over me again.
My Dad approached me with a smile and side-hugged me.
"How are you sweetheart?"
"I'm fine Dad." I smiled back. Then I turned to face Jimin, who stood behind my Dad with hands in his pockets.
"Hi Jimin."
"Hey, how are you?" The corner of his lips twitched upwards, and it refreshed my memory of that entrancing smile, fueling my need to see it again.
"I'm doing well, I hope you are too?" I raised my eyebrows.
"I'm okay."
I turned to my Dad, who was eyeing both of us cluelessly and laughed.
"Sorry Dad, I forgot to tell you. I know Jimin, we're friends.... I guess." I glanced at Jimin.
"Oh I see. That's great actually, this boy needs some good friends and mind you Jimin, my daughter is amazing." Dad nodded his head proudly.
I almost face palmed myself. "Thanks Dad", I mumbled.
"I have to agree on that." Jimin grinned and I knew my cheeks were burning without even having to touch them.
"Uhh, I'll wait for you in the parking Dad, be quick, I'm hungry." I groaned and rubbed my hand over my stomach.
"I'll be there in a minute sweetheart." Dad smiled and walked towards his secretary on the other end in the lobby.
"Well...bye Jimin", with a subtle wave of my hand, I began to turn away.
"Uhh Aroma..." Jimin's voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Yeah?" I turned back around, facing him, he was hesitating to make a firm eye contact.
"I was wondering if we could hangout sometime soon? You know, after college?"
Does he sound nervous? I almost giggled at the thought. Cute.
"That'd be fun, what do you have in mind?" I bit my lower lip in anticipation.
"Nothing actually", he nervously scratched the back of his neck with his fingers. "You choose."
"How about a comfy evening at my place, we could watch movies? I mean if you're comfortable with that. We could do it at your place instead, if you want." I babbled on.
Jimin chuckled and then tilted his head slightly to stare at me.
"Tomorrow, my place. I can pick you up?"
"I do have a car mister, I'll be fine." I scoffed playfully.
"I'll text you the address."
"Mhmm." We both exchanged numbers.
"Well I guess that is settled, I'll see you later then."
"I'm looking forward to it." His voice came out lower than I had expected, it stirred something inside of me and I kept myself from squirming in my spot.
I managed to give a friendly nod and began to make my way towards the exit.
"Oh and Aroma..." I looked at him over my shoulder.
"We are friends." He smiled widely, popping out those soft cheeks of his, my hand itched to squeeze them right there. Control yourself idiot.
I gulped and returned the gesture before walking away, hoping that he didn't notice my right hand clutching my chest tightly, as if in pain, when in reality the giddy, overflowing emotions I was feeling were getting the best of me.
Jan 5' 2020
I could get used to this feeling.
Of affection,
of contentment.
of
Love?
～⋅⊱༄♡༄⊰⋅～
"I hate the main lead, she's an absurd, self-absorbed bitch." I ranted while shoving a few popcorn in my mouth.
Jimin chuckled beside me, and I narrowed my eyes at him. He raised his hands in surrender and turned his face back to the screen while I huffed and aggressively shoved more popcorn in my mouth. The movie ended after a short while.
"What do you want to eat?" Jimin said while turning off the TV.
"Order anything, I just want food." I mumbled while scrolling through my social media.
"I'll cook."
My fingers stopped their movement and I looked up with raised eyebrows.
"Uhh, okay, but just so you know, I don't want to get food poisoned." I pressed my lips together to stop them from twitching.
"Make all the fun you want, I am a great cook, and I'll prove it." Jimin scoffed and I found his offended expression really cute.
"I'm sure you will. Now hurry, I'm hungry." I said and turned my attention back to my phone.
"When are you not?" Jimin shook his head and headed to the kitchen.
↭
"Damn, the food was good", I breathed a sigh of contentment and leaned back on my chair.
Jimin raised his eyebrows at me with a smug expression.
"Okay, yes. You have good cooking skills." I playfully rolled my eyes.
"I know."
"Aish." I shook my head, and looked at him with a blank expression. A few moments of stillness between our locked gazes, until we both burst out laughing, relishing the rest of the time in its content after effects.
Jan 10' 2020
She saw me like that.
I was terrified but her embrace cleared all my doubts.
～⋅⊱༄♡༄⊰⋅～
I knocked for the fifth time on the door, the concern on my face getting dominant each passing second.
Why isn't he answering the door? Is he already asleep?
"Jimin, open up! It's me Aroma!" I exclaimed, hoping he would hear my voice.
I knocked again.
My movements came to halt as my ears registered a faint sound of a glass smashing against the floor. Dammit.
"Jimin, come on open up! I'll help you." I bellowed before colliding my fists with the door once again. Adrenaline was rushing through my veins, causing a tingling sensation to erupt all over my body. Is he going to hurt himself? I panicked at the thought, but then reminded my nerves to stay calm if I wanted to get through this situation. It was hard, really hard.
"Shit, what should I do?" I started pacing back and forth in front of the door, stomach churning in nervousness and fear.
Just then the door opened, I turned around in a breath to see myself standing in front of a disheveled person. His hair shadowed his eyes, clothes out of place, drenched in sweat. I could see his chest heaving up and down in swift movements indicating he was having trouble breathing.
"Oh my God Jimin", I breathed out before my breath hitched in my throat.
"Please g-go away." He choked out, clutching his chest. The next moment, as if someone had ripped the soul out of his legs, he almost collapsed on the floor, but quickly gripped the side of the door to keep standing.
I lunged forward, gripping his shoulders tightly. "I'm not going anywhere, do you understand?"
My eyes roamed over his face, and I could see the pool of tears collected in his eyes tugging something painfully in my chest.
"Don't-"
"I'm taking you inside, come on." I draped my arms on his back and walked back to the living room, helping him sit down on the sofa. Lifeless as he was, his head fell back as he stared at the ceiling. I sat beside him, rubbing my hands on his arms.
"Jimin-"
"I can't breathe, I promise, I can't breathe-" Painful lines dug up on his face, until he let out a restraint sob, tears finally making it's way down from the corner of his eyes.
I swallowed a horrified gasp by pressing my palm tightly on my mouth.
"Your pills-?" I whispered.
"I didn't buy them, w-wanted to stop-" He spoke with difficulty between his ragged breaths, before curling himself onto the corner of the sofa.
At that moment, I had difficulty remembering any moment in my life that was more painful to watch. I slid closer to him before wrapping my hand on his neck from behind and pulling himself towards me.
"Shhh- I'm here, I'll help you." He gave in to my embrace, nuzzling his face is the crook of my neck. I could feel his harsh breaths against my skin and I tightened my hold around him.
"You're not alone. I'm here." I whispered, digging my nose into his soft hair and inhaling his scent, first time recognizing it as the smell of fresh grass and peppermint. I felt wetness on my skin soaking in through my shirt and realized it was Jimin's tears.
"Let it out." I hummed, while scraping my fingers on the back of his head. His sobs grew louder, until I felt an arm slide over my waist to hold it tightly. Tears welled into my eyes as we both held each other tightly, for dear life.
"I'm here. I'm here." I repeated, overwhelmed by the sudden burst of desire to never let him go. To always keep him by my side, to cherish every broken piece of his with endless love. To feel him, to heal him.
"You'll be okay."
"I'll help you."
His sobs soon waned into frequent sniffs until a deafening silence pursued. We kept wrapped in each other's unwavering embrace, slightly rocking back and forth in a calming rhythm.
We didn't let go.
After all, it felt right.
～⋅⊱༄♡༄⊰⋅～
A/N
Hope you guys liked this chapter, things are gradually unfolding. Writing that last scene was tough tho. Anyways, if you are enjoying this story, please vote, comment and follow!
Until my next update, take care guys.
-Jia <3