You Infire Me

Chapter Twenty: Cherry Blossom Confession, Part Two

"He looked at me with serious eyes, but not the kind that made me wonder what I'd done wrong. The kind that made me wonder what I'd done right."
— Denise Jaden, Never Enough

Your eyelashes flutter open to see Yoongi's pink lips inches from yours. He's rested his forehead on yours. And he's just stolen your thunder with those three words.

"I'm sorry," he half-laughs, half-exhales. "I had to beat you to it."

You smile, teeth and all. "Why? Cause you're the guy?"

"Because you deserve someone with the guts to say it first."

Good answer.

"I love you," he whispers. Those words leaving his lips a second time solidifies the fluttery feeling in your heart. It's real. He means it.

Min Yoongi loves me.

There's no need to snatch one of the floating flowers out of midair and pick it apart, petal by petal, asking if it he loves you or if he loves you not. There's no need to walk, pensively, along the side of the reflecting pond, wondering what his feelings or intentions are. There is only one need in this moment: to stop time from passing, so I can stay here, with him, forever. You hold on to his polo shirt—one hand on his collar, the other on its front pocket—with that wish. His arms clasp your waist, hands resting on either side of you.

"I lo–" You begin.

"I love you," he interrupts once more.

You move to touch your cheek to his. "Would you let me say it back?" You whisper-shout into his ear.

"Fine," he whispers back, teasingly.

"I love you too," you mutter, albeit a little shakily.

"You sure?" He chuckles. You feel his laughter vibrating through your body even more than you could before, now that your bodies are touching.

"Yes," you respond. "I'm just . . . a little nervous."

"Understandably so," he wiggles his eyebrows. "I am intimidatingly gorgeous." You jokingly push him away, but he captures you in his arms again. "And I'm in love with you."

"You've said that already."

"No, I haven't. I love you, and I'm in love with you. It's important to say both." He inhales when he notices your eyes asking for further explanation. "Loving someone means you have tender feelings for them. It means you'd sacrifice for them. It means you desire their happiness. For example, I love my parents and my brother. My hyungs, too.

"Being in love with someone means something more, something deeper. It means you're the one who's meant to have tender feelings for them. You're the one who's meant to sacrifice for them. You're the one who's meant to desire their happiness."

"So . . . the difference is destiny?"

His eyes glimmer with pride. "Exactly. Oh, my smart Y/N-ah." His arms flex around you. You flash back quickly to the days when you'd get easily distracted by those muscles. Now you all but crumble under their power. Guess some things never change.

"Destiny's in the details, wouldn't you agree?" You ask, cocking your head to one side.

His features turn contemplative. "I suppose so. Would you give me an example, Dr. Y/N, professor of love?"