Lifetime

Near Perfect

Hobi and I spent a little less alone time together after that night. I could never be sure if it was because of his guilt over what happened or that moment when, at least on my side, there was something more.

He seemed to be focusing on Gabby, joining her family for a short vacation and spending every dime he made working at the movie theater by smothering her with gifts and dates. It was during the week he was away that Jimin and I grew closer in our relationship.

We sat underneath my window while he shared the deepest parts of himself. Jimin told me about the difficulty of his parent's separation and the anger he felt toward his father for moving into another relationship so quickly. It was hard to identify with his experience, but when I saw the pained look in his eyes I knew that the best support I could offer was my attention.

I didn't see myself as having much to share or contribute, grateful that there hadn't been any significantly difficult moments of my life so far and sad that he had.

"It all kind of changed my view of relationships. Growing up, a relationship like my parent's was everything I dreamed of. I thought they were soulmates, that they'd be together forever." He confessed, letting out a shaky laugh. "Sorry that probably sounds really dumb." He looked down with his apology.

I squeezed his hand. "It's not. Do you think it's real? Soulmates, I mean."

He laughed. "I don't really know. How does anyone ever know something like that for sure?" He asked.

I shrugged. "You're right. Sometimes I wish there was some sort of proof or map that could just point me in the right direction." I sighed, giving a subtle hint toward the thing I'd been trying to find for half of my life.

"That would take all of the fun out of it," he smirked, kissing my cheek, "but for the record, I've never felt the same about anyone as I have for you. It was actually a little weird."

"Weird?" I wondered.

His brow pulled together in thought. "Yeah, like I felt something for you when you first opened your door the day I moved in, more than any other girl I've liked and even more than with the girl I dated for an entire year." He seemed almost confused by the feeling.

"Is that a bad thing?" I questioned further, my curiosity getting the best of me.

"It's just hard to understand or know what it means." He described, looking over for my reaction and clarifying. "But it's not a bad feeling."

He'd started setting an alarm on his phone to stop us before we lost track of time after several occasions where it seemed like we blinked and the sun would start rising. I groaned at the sound, wrapping my arm around his in an attempt to keep him from leaving.

"Don't do that, you've already yawned three times in the last twenty minutes so I know you're sleepy." He chuckled, kissing the top of my head.

"Sleep with me." I whined, my voice slow and tired.

The way he smiled at me wasn't helping, making me want to fight against sleep forever to look at him. "Your mom would literally kill me."

"Please, I'll sneak you out before she wakes up." I tried my best to pull him in with a pleading look in my eyes. I kissed him to seal the deal, both of us standing and moving as quietly as possible to climb through my window. I had to shush him as he accidentally stepped on one of the plushies that sat on my floor, holding his hands over his mouth as he laughed at the squeaky sound it made.

I peeked out of my door to make sure the house was still completely quiet and dark, able to hear the rumble of my dad's snoring in the hallway. When I turned back around Jimin was kicking off his shoes at the end of my bed.