The Fire in Your Eyes - Yoonmin

Three

It wasn't until our fourth time out we officially called it a date. We went out for dinner at a restaurant you hadn't been to before. You hadn't been to a lot of places, actually. You couldn't afford to eat out. You considered yourself lucky if you could go to McDonald's once every few months. You felt bad since I was paying, but I managed to convince you to let me treat you.

After we went out you had your turn. This time, you brought me to a cliff overlooking a beach. A different one from the one you lived on. By the time we got there, it was already dark out. The moon and stars were shining high in the sky. We sat together, near the edge but not so close we could tumble off by accident. Our hands were interlocked as we stared out. Your eyes were locked on the water, while mine were on the sky.

"What do you see?"

Your voice startled me, drawing me out of my thoughts and sending my eyes to you. "What?"

"When you look out there, what do you see?" Your eyes reflected the light from the sky. The fire had been glowing a little brighter recently. I assumed it was because of your new friend, Hoseok, who was helping teach you to dance. All he'd asked in return was that you help to teach the kids at his dance studio once a week. Ever since we'd first met and those dance lessons had started, the fire in your eyes was shining brighter.

I didn't know if it was from the dance lessons or not, but I secretly hoped I had a little something to do with that new spark.

"Well," I began, breaking out of my thoughts. "I see the stars." You gave me a look, asking me to tell you more. I took a deep breath, searching for the right words and turning back toward the sky. "The stars are always there for me. Nights where I don't feel satisfied, where I question what my life is worth. All I have to do is look outside and I can have comfort." I stopped myself, unsure if you wanted to hear more. But you nudged my shoulder, reassuring me that I could keep going. "They're also messengers. Whenever I miss my grandmother, I can just talk to the stars and I know that... that wherever she is..." I took a deep breath, blinking back the tears. "I know the stars will get my message to her."

"Is she...?"

"Dead? Yeah." I turned to meet your eyes, flashing a sad smile. "I loved her so much, but she was a heavy smoker. Liked to tempt death. Resulted in lung cancer which killed her seven years ago."

You took both of my hands in yours, giving them a gentle squeeze. "If she was anything like you, I'm sure I would've loved her."

"Loved?"

You rolled your eyes. "Not the point."

I chuckled. "Well, she did raise me. So if anything, I'm like her."

You smiled at me, then turned back to the sea. I watched the side of your face, noticing how your features relaxed as you watched the waves. "I shared what I see. What about you?"

I watched as your chest rose and fell in a deep breath. "Like with the stars for you, the sea is comforting to me. I can scream out into it and it'll accept it. I can cry and it won't judge my tears. And there are so many beautiful creatures, too." You stared into the distance with a longing I didn't quite understand. "The turtles, the sharks, the whales, every type of fish. And there's so much we haven't discovered, too. For all we know, the Kraken exists deep down. And then... okay, this is going to sound crazy, but... I believe that those who die of the sea are reclaimed, transformed into..."

"Mermaids?"

"Or mermen, yes. It's like an apology from the sea. 'Sorry I ended your life, here's a new one.'"

You slowly turned to meet my eyes, the insecurity obvious. I smiled, trying my best to seem reassuring, and I lifted one of your hands to my lips, pressing a gentle kiss to your knuckles. "That's a beautiful thing."

Your face turned red, and I knew mine was probably the same. "Yoongi?"

"Jimin?"

"What... what is this?"

I tilted my head, still holding your hand up. "What is what?"

"This. Us... hanging out. Is it just hanging out or...?"

I felt my face grow redder. "I mean... if it's okay with you, I'd like to think of this as a date." The silence made me nervous, so I quickly began to speak again. "If you want us to just be friends, that's okay too, we don't have to-"

I was stopped by a finger pressed to my lips. Specifically, your finger. I could tell you were holding back laughter, and all it did was make my anxiety rise further.

"I'd love to call this a date, Yoongi."