The Magic Shop: A BTS Short Story Compilation

Epilogue

Min Yoongi rubbed his hands together and then shoved them into the pockets of this dark, fitted coat. Though spring was in full swing, the lightly scented breeze held enough bite to chill his bones. With determined steps, he made his way through the tree-lined path, weaving in and out of the crowd, unheeding the delicate, pink petals twirling in the air like tiny ballerinas. At the moment, he only had one thing in mind—one person to be exact.

After a few twists and turns, he finally reached a narrower path, which skimmed around the perimeter of a lake. His breath quickened, not just from the exertion of his fast-paced walk but also from the sight of a small pagoda floating by the water's edge. Its curved roof, made from blue-gray clay, was just a tad darker than the sky in the background, while its pillars and railings, painted with vibrant green and red patterns, made it stand out from the otherwise muted scene. 

What drew his attention most, though, was the figure gazing intently at the sky. Her white coat lovingly hugged her slight figure, while its pale fur collar framed the delicate lines of her face. With her head tilted back, her hair floated down her back in dark, shiny waves. Though there were other people around her, she shone like a spring angel gracing mere mortals with her ethereal presence.

Yoongi's steps faltered as he stumbled on something and only barely kept his balance. He looked down and kicked the offending piece of rock to the side. When he looked up, he almost fell once again as the force of Kim Yeoreum's smile fully directed his way took him aback. Even though they'd known each other for years, he still couldn't immune himself to the sheer beauty of her smiling face. It took him by surprise each time and the usual symptoms occurred: heavy breathing, heated face, and clammy hands. 

"Yoongi-ya!"

The faint sound of her sweet tone tickled his ears. Yoongi cleared the blockage in his throat and then tentatively raised his hand for a wave. "Yeoreum-ah." 

When she bounded towards him, each step was like a stone skipping on the surface of still waters. Yoongi chuckled under his breath. Until now, he was in awe of the bright energy she emanated wherever she went. 

The closer she became, the faster her pace. 

"Be carefu---" Yoongi called out, but before he could finish his sentence, she crashed into him. Thankfully, his arms worked faster than his mouth, automatically lifting to catch and secure her into place. 

"What took you so long," she exclaimed, tilting her head back to stare at his face, her lips forming a pink pout.

Yoongi checked the watch on his wrist. "What do you mean? It's not even 10 in the morning yet. Technically, I'm early."

"Well, I was here a full ten minutes before you."

"Well, I didn't know we were competing on who'd arrive first. If I had known, I would have been here at midnight."

She gave him a sly look, eyes glittering beneath her curled lashes. "Really? You'd do that?"

"Of course. For you, I'd do everything." Though he said the words lightly, they rang with the weight of certainty. He'd really give her everything in his power to give.

Seemingly satisfied with his answer, she looped her arm around his and started dragging him forward. Yoongi trudged along, happy to follow where she led. Moments like this made him think about how lucky and foolish he was. To think he almost lost her! Not because they didn't love each other enough, because the love he felt for her would surely overflow for lifetimes ahead, but because of pride and insecurity. 

He recalled everything now. 

That summer before he graduated from university, they both went back to their hometown and got caught by her parents, who then confronted his because how dare the son of their biggest rival have anything to do with their precious daughter. His parents, although well-intentioned, tried to talk him out of pursuing his relationship with Yeoreum. In turn, Yeoreum's parents forced her to go on a vacation with their family friend, the Jungs.