ALL IN BLOOM || VMINKOOK ✅

6

JIMIN POV

The room was buzzing when Kim ushered Jimin inside. He felt like people were staring and tugged awkwardly at his sweater.

"You look fine," Kim said.

"Go grab a drink and mingle."

It was hard to cross the room, so many people, so many strangers.

But it was warm, and he was thirsty. There were glasses of juice on tables at the edge of the room.

He picked one up and gulped half it down in one go.

Then he took a deep breath and let it out slowly before turning to face the rest of the room.

And found himself eye to eye with a familiar alpha.

"Hi there," the man said, an amused smile on his face.

"I'm Taehyung. That was quite an entrance you just made."

"Did you sleep in?"

"I missed some stuff the others had done before they got here. I had to catch up," he explained.

He never slept in.

He couldn't leave the goats to their own devices.

"What's your name?" Tae asked, a gentle reminder that they were not meant to know each other.

"Jimin."

"It's nice to meet you," Tae said, holding out a hand.

He took it hesitantly, surprised when all Taehyung did was clasp it gently before letting go.

"How are you finding the palace?"

"Big," he said, glancing around.

"Noisy," he added, making a face.

"Yeah," Taehyung agreed, eying the crowded room. "I guess it is."

"I miss the sound of the waves."

"You live on the coast?" Oh, right he wasn't supposed to know that.

"On an island, to the east."

"Well, it's a lucky thing you don't have to go too far to catch a few waves while you're here."

"We're only a stone's throw from the sea."

"Are we? It was dark when we arrived. I didn't get to see..."

A beta standing near them over heard and scoffed.

"Everyone knows the palace is on the coast, What rock have you been living under?"

"Not a rock," Jimin explained, puzzled. "An island."

The beta laughed and turned away.

"Ignore him," Taehyung said softly.

"Come on. I'll introduce you to some people. I'm in the navy, by the way."

"About half the alphas here are navy, the prince included."

"The rest are members of the royal guard."

They walked a slow circle around the room, and Jimin spotted Prince Jungkook,a group of betas and omegas clustered tightly around him.

"Our poor prince is besieged. Have you met him?"

"Not yet."

"All of the contestants are supposed to see him this morning."

"Hold on,let's flag down a guide."

Taehyung stopped a beta and spoke quietly to him, gesturing to Jimin.