Work Text:
Close your eyes.
Dream.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes
“Hey, I’m Jimin.” The boy next to him smiles and Jungkook offers a shy smile in response.
“I’m Jungkook. It’s nice to meet you.”
Jimin smiles back, bright and glowing and Jungkook’s dazzled for just a moment.
“Same. I hope we become great friends.”
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear.
“Oh, hey seatmate!” Jungkook starts at the voice and stares as Jimin slides into the bus seat next to him, grinning. “I didn’t know you took this bus too.”
They both get off at one of the later stops and Jungkook leans back as the bus bumps along, letting the sound of Jimin’s voice, of Jimin’s laugh, of Jimin’s brightness wash over him like a warm sunny day.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes.
“Hey Jimin.”
Nervous. Heart thumping. A swipe of the tongue across inexplicably dry lips.
“Hmm?”
“Can I kiss you?”
Smile. An English book dropped to the floor. A hand pulling closer.
“Took you long enough.”
How do you measure, measure a year?
Lips pressed together ever so gently.
Contented sigh of relief as soft as baby’s breath.
Remember this moment. The clock starts now.
In daylights,
“ -- up! Wake up!”
Jungkook opens his eyes groggily to a heavy pressure on his chest.
“mmrsdjkh Jimin?”
Jimin huffs. “About time. I’ve been sitting on you for the past five minutes. You could honestly sleep through an army raid or something.”
Jungkook grunts. “It’s Saturday. I’m allowed to sleep in.”
“No you’re not,” Jimin grins, eyes dancing. “You’re taking me shopping.”
“What?”
“No buts. Let’s go. Up and at ‘em.”
Smirk. Grab him in a headlock and drag him down towards you, squealing. Wrap him in your arms, his head on your chest. "Sleep a little more with me."
"All you do is sleep," Jimin complains even as he wriggles a bit to get comfortable. "Only for another thirty minutes."
Feel the regret washing over you. Wish you'd spent more waking moments with him.
In sunsets,
Jungkook puffs his way up the last stretch. Jimin’s there already, sitting on the grass, feet outstretched and Jungkook feels guilt claw at his chest.
“Jimin…” he calls and Jimin turns to look at him, something like disappointment in his eyes and Jungkook bites his lip. “I...I forgot. I’m really sorry.”
“At least you remembered…” Jimin mumbles softly and Jungkook sits beside him, silent in his guilt. Jimin smiles wryly. “Three hours after the fact.”
Jungkook winces.
Jimin stretches and sighs. “Well...you’re here now."
“I’ll...I’ll make it up to you somehow. I swear I’ll -- “
Hands on his shoulder. Push. Fall into the grass. Look up to see a smile you don’t really deserve.
“You made it just in time for the sunset, yeah? Let’s enjoy it together.”
Hands interlaced.
“Okay.” Meek. Sorry. I should’ve gotten here earlier.
The sky is beautiful. Red and pink and yellow and orange. But not as beautiful as the forgiveness painted across Jimin’s face.
“Happy birthday Jimin. I love you.”
In midnights,
“If we fall off, I’m blaming you.” Jimin gulps as he looks down at the drop.
Jungkook snorts. “You were the one who said you wanted to go stargazing.
“Yeah. From like the comfort of your backyard or something. On solid ground.”
“Nah,” Jungkook replies. “This way, you’re closer to the stars.”
They hang luminous in the night sky. But never as bright as the one right here in Jungkook’s arms.
“I’ve got you,” Jungkook murmurs into Jimin’s neck, wrapping his arms securely around Jimin’s waist. “I won’t let you fall. Don’t worry.”
Jimin smiles tentatively at him and Jungkook smiles back.
Remember each smile. Remember when you had your star.
In cups of coffee.
“I’m not going to finish this paper, fuck.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. “You won’t if you don’t start soon.”
Jimin turns to him. “Look, my puppy eyes are really good. Do you think if I -- “
Jungkook raises an eyebrow and Jimin stops and buries his head in Jungkook’s chest. “Ugh…”
“Get off my lap and get to work,” Jungkook chides, nudging Jimin’s shoulder. “I’ll make you coffee.”
Jimin wrinkles his nose as he pulls away from their hug. “Enough to power me through a whole night, please.”
Don't remember that either. Don't remember smiling at the bottom of that mug of coffee. Try to forget the way you took a picture of it because you thought the stain looked like a heart. Forget the way you sent it to him and he sent you back every heart emoticon in the library. Try your goddamned hardest to forget.
In inches,
“What’s with the long face?” Jungkook asks.
“Health examination,” Jimin mutters. “And height check. Again. I didn’t grow much since last year.” He looks at Jungkook. “And then there’s you. Giant.”
Jungkook laughs. “I like how you’re smaller than I am. Hugging is nicer.”
“But if I want to kiss you, I have to tiptoe!” Jimin whines.
Laugh. Shake your head. Feel the fondness radiate out from your heart until you think you can’t breathe. Bend down the three inches between you so you can press your lips to his and breathe him in instead.
In miles,
Jimin pouts into the webcam and it makes Jungkook laugh. “When are you coming backkkk, I miss youuuu.”
“In like three days, chill,” Jungkook grins. “When we get back, I’m going to ditch them all and just spend time with you.”
“You’re cheesy, go away,” Jimin mumbles but a smile is pulling at his lips, Jungkook can tell. “Come back safe?”
“Yeah, see you soon.”
“Not soon enough,” Jimin yawns.
Jungkook laughs and strokes Jimin’s image on the screen. Jimin playfully tries to headbutt the camera in an effort to reach Jungkook’s fingers.
“As soon as possible.”
In laughter,
Try not to remember this.
This hurts too much.
Grit your teeth and dream on.
In strife.
“Jungkook?” Jungkook frowns.
“Mrs. Park?” Her voice shakes over the phone and she’s breathing harshly.
“Jimin...Jimin’s in the hospital.”
Clock stops. Heart stops. Forget this moment even when it comes back up on stormy nights.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes.
He’s not religious but he prays anyways.
Please, please don’t take him away. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“Jungkook, it’s been hours,” Jimin’s mom says quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder. “You need some rest.”
“No! I...I want to stay here.”
She nods, eyes sad, and leaves him be and Jungkook drops his head in between his knees and shakes. And the words, the pleas, both spoken and unspoken, tumble from his mouth, his ears, his heart, his soul and he hopes they reach someone, anyone.
Please, please for the love of god, please don’t take him away.
You don’t have to remember this moment. You’ll never forget it anyways. Tossing and turning in your bed years later, you’ll still remember this moment.
In an operating room a few feet away under harsh operating lights, someone else is praying too.
How do you measure a year in a life.
“Mr. Jeon?”
The surgeon removes his mask and hangs his head.
“We’re sorry.”
The clock stops.
Wake up.
Open your eyes.
How about…
It’s rained recently and the grass that Jungkook steps through to get there is dewy and fresh.
“Hey Jimin,” Jungkook says, kneeling down. He smiles softly, sadly, putting a hand on the gravestone. “I got you flowers. Your favorite.”
He lays the bouquet down. Along with a small velvet box containing a promise ring that will never make it onto its intended finger and never will. No matter how much Jungkook wishes it would.
“Happy anniversary, hyung.”
Love.
The clock starts again.
Or does it?