The Water Spirit

Part 11

This might be the last part
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Jungkook follows Taehyung off the bus and looks around the village. Other medical personnel step off other buses, as well, and stretch after the long drive.

Taehyung's blue hair shines brightly under the spring sun, and several elders on a bench observe him suspiciously. He takes a tie out of his pocket and tames his beautiful hair into a bun. Jungkook takes a deep breath because he instantly wants to pull the tie out and run his fingers through the hair, gripping the strands and pulling him close to kiss his tempting lips. Because, his boyfriend pouts cutely, as his eyes are narrowed in annoyance.

Jungkook plasters a smile on his face and walks up to him.

"You know how I feel when you wear a bun," he says teasing, trying to lighten the mood.

"You should suffer through this, like I do," Taehyung replies and takes his jacket off, cramming it into their backpack.

Jungkook's smile falls. "Why are you doing this to me?" he whispers urgently.

"Because you roped me into this, you sneaky human," Taehyung answers with distaste.

"I don't know what you mean. You agreed to this."

"I can't remember."

"You have selective memory loss. I asked you two weeks ago."

"When?" Taehyung inquiries, still looking annoyed.

"Before bed."

Taehyung gazes up at the sky, biting his lips in thought, looking like he is trying to remember. His eyes suddenly pop open and they sparkle in realization. "You sneaky human," he says again, and Jungkook feels himself grin broadly and winks cheekily.

"Yeah, exactly," he answers smugly.

"You know exactly what it does to me when you...," Taehyung whispers indignantly but trails off because both Dr. Choi's walk past them.

"Cheer up," Jungkook answers. "You can spend more time with me, and you like being outdoors."

"Not when I have to pick up trash that assholes threw out of their cars."

"We are giving back to the community."

"We are doctors, aren't we already giving back?"

"No, we get paid for that."

Taehyung huffs. "Can't I just flood the place? You know I would collect everything in no time."

Jungkook clicks his tongue in disapproval. "No flooding again. I still remember the two seals crawling across the aquarium foyer. Several guests were hysterical."

Taehyung snorts. "Good times. But still! I can't believe your Dr. Choi roped you into this."

"Well, yours tried too."

"Yeah, but I told her I was doing something important."

"That worked out well."

"Yeah, and whose fault is it."

Jungkook feels a clap on his back and Namjoon stops beside them. "You bicker like an old married couple."

"No," Taehyung answers, dismissively. "That will never happen."

"It won't?"

Namjoon looks with an awkward expression between Taehyung and Jungkook. His eyes bounce between them, getting faster by the second, making Jungkook dizzy. "Well, I will leave you two to it," Namjoon says and hurries off like the devil was on his heels.

Jungkook suddenly feels insecure and his stomach cramps. "What do you mean, Tae? Don't you want to get old with me?"

Taehyung furrows his brows. "No," he says like it's obvious. "Why would I?"

Jungkook feels another wave of cramps and the world seems to fall apart. "Are you breaking up with me? Because I tricked you into the spring clean up?" he says loudly and voices close by become silent, people peering at them in interest.

Taehyung looks around with a strenuous smile "Please excuse us." And grabs Jungkook's shoulders, pushing him away from their group, which is waiting for instructions.

They come to a halt, far away from the others, but Jungkook still feels eyes on them.

"Why would I break up with you?" Taehyung asks, puzzled.

"You just said you don't want to get old with me."

"Ahhhh," Taehyung whispers, like he just solved a difficult riddle. "I don't age," he answers nonchalantly.

Jungkook feels himself gape. "You don't?"

"Nope."

Jungkook takes several deep breaths and he grips his hair in devastation. "Oh god, I will get old and wrinkly and you will leave me," he says, upset, and turns away. He can feel his eyes burning and it seems like he does not have enough oxygen in his lungs.

Suddenly, arms sling around his middle and he feels Taehyung's warm body pressed to his back. "Breath slowly, Jungkook-ah. In and out. Slow, like I do," he says quietly and Jungkook tries to concentrate on his gentle voice. "In through your nose and out through your mouth. Yes, just like that."

Jungkook lets his arms sink and lays his hands over Taehyung's, needing to hold on.

"I'm not leaving you," he whispers and puts his head on his shoulder, pressing his cheek to Jungkook's. "I will stay with you, as long as you will have me."

"But I will become old and will die and I will leave you behind."

Taehyung turns his head, pressing a kiss on Jungkook's cheek. "You will stay with me."

"This is not possible and you know it."

"Jungkook-ah," Taehyung answers patiently. "I am holding you in my arms, and if you ask all the people standing over there, gawking at us, they would say that it's not possible that a water spirit is among them. And still, here I am."

Jungkook turns in his hold, gazing at his loving, hazel eyes. "You are."

Taehyung leans forward, placing a gentle kiss on Jungkook's lips. It seems like he puts all his love and adoration into it.

"Trust me, when I say that you will stay by my side, just like you are now. Everything is possible."

"So you will stay with me, but we won't turn wrinkly and gray?"

"That is what I'm saying," Taehyung replies, still gently, and smiles.

Jungkook takes another deep breath and it suddenly feels so much easier. "I love you."

"I love you too, even though you make me clean, but wait for the payback."

"I expect nothing less, my love."

🌊

The sun has set and the BBQ is in full swing after the cleanup. Jungkook takes a swig of his beer and looks to the other side of the garden.

Taehyung sits with several kids and they laugh hysterically. He observes them for a while, and one kid climbs into Taehyung's lap, caressing his blue hair in fascination.

Jungkook can't help himself, imagining a blue-haired child sitting in Taehyung's lap while he makes faces and they laugh together.

After all, his boyfriend had said that everything was possible.

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The End... again :)