Love At First Kick

36

After a while, they all calmed down, and Jimin started getting ready for his final fight.
He was silently putting on his equipment. He didn't look good. At all. He was happy for me, but his mood quickly went down.

Everyone kept looking at him, but no one said anything. They didn't know what to say.
I sat next to him and watched him for a bit before talking.

'Are you okay?' I ask him quietly

'I'd say I'm okay, but I'd be lying. I'm not alright at all.' He sighs heavily

'I believe in you. I know you'll win.' I tell him, trying to encourage him

'I'll try. I did promise, after all.' He smiles weakly.

'Jimin, be ready in 5.' Coach Yong calls for him and leaves. Jimin looked after him and looked like he was about to throw up.

'Jimin.' I call his name, and he looks at me.
'I have another promise to make.' I tell him

'What is it?' He asks

I lean in closer so only he can hear me.
'You know how I have been saying "soon" for a while now?'

He looks at me, his face lighting up a bit.'Yes?'

'How about you promise me you'll win, and I promise to be yours as soon as you're out of that court?' I ask, smiling

He looked like someone threw a bucket of happiness over him with how he perked up. He looked like all the worries in the world just disappeared. He had the most beautiful smile I've seen yet.
'You mean..?'

'Yes. I want to be with you. So win. For me. For us.' I smile at him

'I'm winning. I promise. So wait here for me. Watch me win. I promise. I promise.' He kept repeating, hugging me. It's more like crushing me.
He cupped my face from both sides, lifting it up, then placing the softest kiss on my forehead.
'When I come back, this is going somewhere else.' He whispers

I heard Youjin and Jungkook gasp, and Suri laughed.

'I'll be right here. Go get em.' I smile brightly at him

'Coach, let's go!' Jimin yells to coach Yong, 'I gotta win this thing.' He jumps up, running to the coach.

'Maybe take your equipment first, son.' He tells him

'Oh, right.' Jimin says, running back up to me, taking his things. I was just laughing at him. What an idiot. But he's fine, so that's all I can ask for.

'I'll be back in 2 minutes.' He says

'You've got 3 rounds.' I remind him

'Not if I K.O. him in the first one.' He grins and runs off

'Rin!' Coach Yong calls me, and I look at him. 'I don't know what you told him, but thank you.' He gives me thumbs up and walks to meet Jimin at the entrance.

I felt pretty embarrassed with everyone staring at me. My mom and Soo Ho knew, so they smiled. Suri gave me thumbs up.

'What did you tell him?' Hobi asks

'It's complicated. But it worked. That's all that matters.' I sigh in relief

'Is this what you've been saving it for?' Suri asks, and I nod at her, smiling

'Did you know this was gonna happen?' She asks

'I was hoping it wouldn't, but it was my one chance to lift him up if it did. Otherwise, this would have been done long ago.'

'Well, it sure helped.' She laughs, motioning at Jimin.
He was jumping, bringing his knees high up, warming up by the court, waiting for the fight before to end. He was all smiles and laughing with the coach.
I'm so happy it worked.