Magic Shop

Part 9 - The Photo Frame

Jungkook had almost fallen asleep by the time the others had finished their group discussion. For what felt like hours they had been consistently glancing over at him and furiously scribbling on endless sheets of paper, sometimes getting in each other's way. The youngest had lost count of how many 'oi's and 'move's had been uttered.

"Okay?" Hoseok finally exclaimed. "We're done, Kook." Jungkook jolted awake and sat up expectantly. "Right, so there is one remedy-finding method left that hasn't been used for a few years now. It was way before Jimin joined us, so he's as clueless as you – don't worry."

"So, what is the method?" asked Jungkook, still worried.

"Well," began Taehyung. "There's another room behind those doors that can only be opened when the patient imagines their deepest desire." He finished with a flourish of his hands and a smug grin.

"But..." the patient murmured. "I don't know my deepest desire."

"You don't have to," Namjoon replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tae was being dramatic."

"Ah."

"Just stand in front of the doors, close your eyes and wait for the lantern to light up," Hoseok directed. "The shop will know what you need." He shot the confused young man a knowing smile. Jungkook did as the doctor had instructed and steadied his breathing. Slowly he began to shift into the meditation steps the book had taught him.

Breathe in. Breath out. Clear your mind. Relax your body. Imagine a sky full of stars. Find the galaxy inside you...

Ding!

The lantern had lit up. Jungkook looked back at his friends, who nodded in encouragement. He took one more breath, turned the handles and stepped inside. A blinding white glow was all he could see for a split-second, and when his vision cleared he wasn't surprised to find himself in a room identical to all of the others he had visited. It contained nothing but a waist-high glass table and the items upon it.

The table carried a photo frame, with something underneath it that looked like an envelope, and a large paper bag which seemed to be from a shoe shop. As Jungkook grew closer the bag wavered and flickered and buzzed as if it were made up of beams of light. He absent-mindedly wafted a hand through it. Must be a hologram, he thought, impressed. How futuristic. He then turned his attention to the envelope he had spotted and slid it out from under the photo frame. Upon opening it he found a letter addressed to him in typed font.

To Jeon Jungkook, it read.

So, you haven't found you magical remedy. Well, worry no longer! Here it is – it's been here all along. excluding the extra little gift in the paper bag. You'll have to find that yourself when you next go shopping.

The photo in that frame depicts what you really need. Have a think about it – it's not hard to figure out so I know you'll get it right away.

Have a safe journey home!

-The Magic Shop

Jungkook slipped the letter into his pocket and peered inside the paper bag. Seeing its contents, he smiled in satisfaction. Finally, he picked up the photo frame to see the picture inside. It was one that he had never seen before, yet seemed so familiar. There he was, sitting on the couch in the shop's front room, surrounded by his new friends. They were all smiling brightly at the camera, looking more content than ever before. Jungkook almost felt complete. He knew exactly what his remedy was.

I literally just looked up "photo frame on table" for that picture.