It was always you (BTS JIMIN FF)

Chapter 21: Good Morning.

Jimin opened his eyes. The sunlight just barely started to peak in through the window. Sophie was still tucked into his arms and asleep. He pressed his lips to her forehead and lovingly gazed at her face in awe. She was his, this remarkably sensual woman who he could not help but fall in love with at first sight.

Sophie slowly opened her eyes, noticing Jimin watching her. Still sleepy, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Good morning," she said, smiling at seeing the warmth and love in his gaze.

"Good morning my love," he answered. Sophie giggled at his unrestrained affection and tucked her face into his neck, taking in his scent.  He sighed and tightened his arms a bit more around her body.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked quietly.

"Hm, I did," she answered, still sleepily.

"I love you." He said, the words rolling off his tongue naturally and effortlessly.

"I love to hear you say it," she whispered. "I love you too."

"You probably don't realize it, but I fell for you a long time ago, already at the hospital," Jimin reflected, while brushing his fingers though her hair.  "There was something so warm and familiar about you, and you were kind and so beautiful, I just could not help it."

Sophie remembered back to the time they first met at the hospital. She pulled her face away from his neck to lay her head on a pillow and face him, looking him in the eyes.

"It was mutual then," she stated. "I think I fell for you already back then too, even though I didn't want to admit it to myself at the time. I remember spending the most time in your room, and always looking forward to seeing you and hearing your stories. The day you asked me for my contact, I desperately wanted you to confess to me on one hand, but felt it was my duty to reject you on the other. I was so conflicted. I am so happy that you handled it the way you did."

"You liked me...even then?"

"I can now honestly say that I did. But you were a patient, and such feelings are forbidden. I tried so hard to get over you. When Andre asked me to be his girlfriend I thought it was the perfect opportunity to move on. I even pushed you away when you came back to meet me at the hospital lobby and say thank you."

"You did," he agreed, frowning at the reminder of the painful encounter.  "Then why were you so friendly when we met at the restaurant soon after? Why did you not push me away again?" He wondered.

Sophie dropped her eyes in embarrassment.

"Because as soon as I walked away from you after our meeting in the hospital lobby I immediately regretted it. I went to the bathroom and cried. All those feelings I had for you, the ones I tried so hard to suppress, started flooding me. I ached to have you in my life .  So when we met by coincidence at the restaurant later that day, I told myslelf fate may not be done with us yet, so I gave in and let my guard down."

"I remember that dinner clearly" Jimin recalled. "It was painful to know you were in a relationship, but I was so excited about the possibility of seeing you again when you mentioned the underground dance meetings. I was so desperately looking for some way to be near you, even if just as an acquaintance or perhaps even a friend.  I told myself it would be enough, even if you were with somebody else."

"Andre." Sophie finished Jimin's train of though. "I tried to fall for him, but I never could. I was relieved when I caught him cheating."

"I don't understand," Jimin said with a surprised look." You looked so hurt after that break up, I assumed he must have meant a lot to you"