Masked Love

CHAPTER 12

JIMIN'S BEDROOM

Jungkook stayed quiet. He patiently awaited Jimin's reply. He was hoping to hear that Jimin liked him too and it would be ok, but Jimin's last sentence grabbed his hope and tossed it to the corner of the room.

Jimin (quietly): 'There is more to it than you think, Kook.'

'This was not going to be good.' JK thought. He felt his chest constrict and tried to not react. Jimin sat next to him and crossed his legs.

Jimin: 'He IS my Uncle. He allowed this marriage because I requested it.'

Jungkook looked confused.

Jimin: 'I can do what I want as part of the main family branch because of the trials.'

Jungkook: 'You are in the main branch?'

Jimin nodded. Jungkook felt his heart pound. What did that mean for them? Their marriage was as it was originally intended, a business arrangement only? There was a lump in his chest growing in size and constricting his breathing.

Jungkook: 'Trials?'

Jimin: 'Myself and my cousins were pitted against each other, as kids, to determine where we rank. My Uncle believed that you were not just handed things by birth right – you earn it.'

Jungkook blinked. So what did that mean?

Jimin: 'The trials don't end. They go on forever and we constantly vie for the positions. Trials can be as simple as who can run their business the most efficiently to who can break the other's leg faster...'

Jungkook was horrified: 'What!?'

Jimin: 'Oh! Don't worry, the leg breaking thing was when we were kids. We don't do that much anymore...well, unless we get drunk. That's why I don't drink.'

Jungkook was in shock.

Jimin: 'I am second down in the whole Park family, and second in my immediate family. My Dad still thinks...'

Jungkook: 'Wait, wait! What? You don't drink?'

Jimin shook his head: 'Hell no! I can't. Drinking impairs your abilities, so will makes you weak. I swore off it at 15. Anyway...my Dad still thinks...'

Jungkook: '15!'

Jimin stared. He didn't think he was going to be able to explain the story soon with all of Jungkook's interruptions.

Jimin: 'Yes, we start early in the family. We are in entertainment so run hotels, bar, and clubs. We all start drinking young to build up a resistance to prevent getting drunk during business dinners or meetings. Even though I don't drink now, I can probably still out drink you easily.'

Jungkook: 'Tell me more.'

Jimin: 'About what?'

Jungkook: 'Drinking is training, breaking bones is training, what else?'

Jimin: 'Well...'

Jungkook raising his hands. 'Wait, wait, wait! Before you do...so that means you didn't drink last night?'

Jimin scanned Jungkook's face closely. 'Just tell the truth' he told himself. He shook his head, waiting to see Jungkook's reaction. Jungkook didn't react, just blinked.

Jungkook: 'You did all that sober?'

Jimin sighed and slowly nodded, not taking his eyes off of Jungkook. Jimin couldn't possibly tell Jungkook in a more direct way that he liked him, other than flat out saying it, than what they did last night. Jungkook rolled his lips to stop from smiling. He was trying to hold back the excitement.