ꜱᴏʟᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴋɪɴɢ | Jikook

Two Worlds

Jimin

I hum happily as I get into my car, setting out the leftover cupcakes I made for the class party in the teachers' lounge. They're Chimmy cupcakes since that's my class's favorite character I created. They were lemon flavored with homemade icing. The kids loved the flavor and that's what they voted on for the party. Of course, I made a few vanilla ones for the picky eaters.

Giggling, I take a picture of one of the cupcakes to post on Twitter.

After I post that, I decide to check the timeline to catch up on whatever I missed. I know that Jungkook had a live and I plan on watching it tonight since it's Friday and I finally have time to relax. It's not that I dislike or find my job too stressful, but I am a bit of a perfectionist and an overachiever. I make sure all of my students can read and write at a basic level and count to twenty. It isn't really expected that I teach the kids anything. In a way, this is just free daycare, but I love to see the pups learning.

I giggle at all of the Lyghts going crazy over JJK1 and obsessing over the looks. Just as I'm about to scroll again, I receive a barrage of text messages from Aera.

After I finish messaging Aera, I put in my AirPods and sit in the corner, drinking chai while finally watching Jungkook's livestream, other faculty finally filtering in.

I can't help but smile when I see Jungkook, the man obviously done with a workout and at the studio just to go live for us. It's impossible to suppress the lovesick sigh that escapes my lips as I watch him, entranced by every little thing he does. His voice is so soothing to the ears. I could listen to him tell stories forever.

He seems really shy and down humble, thanking his members for all the help. It's crazy to hear how nervous he was, and is, about the album. It's a work of art. I just wish I could order the physical copy and fanboy over the aesthetics and inclusions. I have all of my stuff ready for new photo cards. If only I had a bigger salary and had more money from my business.

Blinking, I zone back into the replay, my eyes widening as I scream, eyes zeroed in on the pink bunny plushie and a yellow dog plushie in Jungkook's studio—my pinky bunny plushie—my Cooky, and Chimmy.

All of the staff look at me and I blush, realizing I jumped up and screamed in the middle of the teachers' lounge. Apologizing, I bow and run to my car, dialing Aera.

"Calling me so soon after we texted? Did you miss me that much?" Aera laughs.

"I know how we got all the business!" I scream, bouncing around my car.

She pauses as she processes the words I said rapid fire. "Little Promises business?"

"Yes! We're famous! The love of my life is our ambassador! He loves my plushie! He loves Cooky! Kookie loves Cooky! I'm sobbing!"

Aera laughs. "I can hear you sobbing. So you're saying this is somehow related to Jeon Jungkook?"

I wipe my eyes. "My future mate, aka The Sold Out King, had Cooky in his livestream about JJK1. That's why we got all of those orders. Lyghts found us."

"That's... wow, Jimin. I can't understand how you must be feeling. Cooky is one of the characters you designed yourself. You even based it off him. It must be like a dream come true to have him appreciate Cooky so much. I can't even imagine how I'd react if Tae saw Tata and fell in love with them," Aera says softly.

Sniffling, I start to calm down. "It's amazing, but terrifying. Lyghts are a force to be reckoned with. I-I don't know how we'll keep up with this long term, especially considering how we just work out of our apartment. We have our small business license and we've done this for a while, but..."

"Oh, Min, they'll approve us eventually."

Tears stream down my face as I recall all of the rejections. "We couldn't get approved for a loan or a space to have a proper shop, Aera. I love teaching and never wanna give it up, but I also want to see people in person show up to our store. I want to be able to employ a proper team, have a warehouse and whatnot. I want to feel like a real business. I just feel like a kid playing pretend."

"But everything you put out comes with love, that's your little promise to the buyer, that the products were made with love and care. This might be the start of something new, Min. This'll definitely bring in more money. It'll be hard for us to get used to since it's just us, but you've always explained how caring Lyghts are. I'm sure they'll understand the wait, especially considering all the work that goes into this and how we are just a small business. We weren't made to keep up with such a fandom."

"I... I hope so..." I sigh, finishing up the conversation with Aera before they hang up.

Dejected, I look into my visor mirror, my eyes red and my face blotchy and puffy from crying. This is all so much in so little time. It really is overwhelming to think that the man I've grown to love has some iota of knowledge about me. He doesn't seem as untouchable. But at the end of the day, he's Jeon Jungkook and I'm just Park Jimin. I bet he's already forgotten about Little Promises and won't order from us again. It was nice while it lasted. Now, it's time to face reality.

Jungkook and I are from two different worlds that will never collide.