Run With Me || JJK+PJM

twenty-four

JUNGKOOK

When we finally reach the closest town, the sun is already set. The streets are quiet save for the rhythmic clacking of the horse's hooves against the gravel. The train only arrives in the morning and that leaves us with the task of finding another shelter. I release my arms from Jimin and he exhales before halting the horse.

There is a warm glow from one of the houses - a rare sign of life in this dead night.

Jimin notices it soon after me and starts the horse walking towards it.

***

There is some sort of chime attached to the door that clinks against itself when I knock on the door. Jimin rubs his hands together for some warmth as he clings on to the horse's reins. There are footsteps rustling about behind the door before an old man with a thick white beard opens it.

He stares us down in surprise.

"Who are you?" he asks in the deepest voice I've ever heard.

"We're just travellers looking for a room to stay for the night," I say, looking at him hopefully. He squints at us.

"We'll trade a room and some food for this horse," Jimin offers. It takes a minute before the old man agrees.

"Tie it to the pole first. I'll show you to the barn," he grunts. Jimin quickly knots the reins as the man steps back and lets us in.

The barn is at the back of this house and is surprisingly more spacious than the other motels we've been in. It's washed in a dark blue and there are stacks of hay about.

"You can make a fire - whatever you want," he says as Jimin and I walk through the doors.

"Get out before breakfast," he finishes before turning around and leaving.

"What about the food?" Jimin calls out daringly.

"I'll get you two some boiled eggs," he replies reluctantly.

It's not much but it's something. Jimin closes the barn doors to stop snow from getting in and making it colder than it already is. I get to making room for us to sleep while he looks for sharp items.

Within minutes, he's got a nice fire going and I've made us more than enough space.

I slump against the hay and Jimin joins me, exhaling.

"Will Mi Cha find us here?" I ask and he remains quiet. I stare at his side profile until he looks at me.

"What?" he asks tiredly. I laugh in disbelief.

"I just never thought I'd end up here," I say truthfully before staring back at the fire.

"Beside the most gorgeous boy on Earth? I know."

I can hear the cockiness in his voice so I elbow him. He chuckles.

"What're you going to do once you sue Mi Cha?"

He shrugs.

"Go back to my home? Find a girl to wed? Live off the rest of my father's money?"

"Where's the musician part in this?" I tease and he sighs.

"It's not a viable option," he laments.

"Why not?'

He shrugs.

"What kind of girl do you want to find?" I tease further and he looks me dead in my eyes.

"I'm not sure I even want to find a wife anymore," he confesses.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. It was something my father wanted me to do - marry. But I saw his marriage with Mi Cha. She was in it for the money. What's the point of marrying if that's all my wife wants from me - my money?" he explains bitterly.

"Find a good wife then," I say like it's the simplest thing.

"Maybe I just don't want to get married," he says. I raise my brows.

"That's a sharp turn from wanting to get married," I comment.

"I don't know. I'm just tired of it all," he sags further. I don't bother asking what he's talking about.

"I've never had a friend other than Dae," I say, smiling a little.

"You have another friend?" he asks in mock surprise and I elbow him again.

"I meant you. Thank you for helping me," I say truthfully.

"Sorry for screwing your plans up," he apologises.

"Sorry for that too," I grin.