A Caged Bird | Minjoon

62

"what about that one there?" jimin asked, pointing up to the sky, "that looks like one."

namjoon nodded.

"looks like the little dipper," he said.

the two stared at it for a moment, a small distance between them, while they laid on jimin's big blanket and stared up at the midnight stars. the two were on a grassy field in a secluded spot, with the sky somehow casting a glow on them from the moonlight. 

and it was so beautiful.

usually, it would be the type of moment to celebrate, but with the current situation the two were in, it felt hard to celebrate anything at all.

"little dipper?" jimin questioned, suddenly, "why do they call it that, anyway?"

namjoon paused, before replying.

"... i think because the stars form into the shape of a dipper."

jimin's face scrunched in confusion.

"what's a dipper?"

"it's like... a ladle... a type of spoon, i guess."

they fell silent before jimin spoke again.

"what about that one?" he asked, pointing again, "that looks like something."

namjoon nodded.

"from what i can tell... it looks like cassiopeia."

"...and what does that one mean?"

he thought for a moment, then spoke up.

"they named it after a queen," joon started, "they say she was placed in the stars as some kind of punishment."

"...why?"

namjoon set a hand on his own chest to readjust, then replied.

"she was... boastful... and vain. they didn't like that, i guess."

namjoon continued on for a few moments, but all jimin could think about was how smart he sounded.

joon always sounded so smart and educated. he had a way with his words that jimin always found so admirable— ever since he met him.

it was ironic to him that namjoon had been so shy and scared to speak in the beginning— and even sometimes now, because jimin swore joon could make anything sound brilliant if he was the one saying it.

he loved that about him.

the two continued the little game they were playing, addressing constellation after constellation while jimin listened.

it was something to talk about... something that didn't have to do with everything else going on in their lives, clearly trying to avoid the topic as much as possible.

"well, what does that one mean?"

the two were staring up at a new constellation, and namjoon hesitated, before replying.

"well.., that one's simple, really," he said, pausing for a moment, then turning his head to meet eyes with jimin,

there was another pause, and then he continued,

"it represents love," he started, "unconditional... and eternal love."

they just looked at each other for a moment, eyes locked, until jimin broke the stare and put his focus back on the stars.

"oh," he said.

more silence fell over them, and then jimin spoke again.

"...do you," he paused, "do you really believe in that, though?"