Till death do us part [ j.jk × p.jm ]

chapter- 41

The mansion was unusually quiet that evening, the usual hum of activity muted by the impending storm. The sky outside had darkened ominously, thick clouds rolling in as the wind picked up. Jungkook was in the living room, trying to unwind after a long day of meetings. Upstairs, Jimin was sketching designs, his mind focused on lines and colors.

A sudden flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed almost immediately by a deafening crack of thunder. The mansion’s lights flickered and then went out, plunging the entire house into darkness. Jungkook sighed heavily and grabbed a flashlight from a nearby drawer.

“Jimin?” he called out as he headed upstairs, his voice echoing in the darkened hallway.

Jimin emerged from his studio, his face illuminated by the faint glow of his phone. His expression was tense, eyes wide with apprehension. “What happened? Did the power just go out?”

“Yeah, looks like it. I’ll check the circuit breaker, but with this storm, it might be a larger outage,” Jungkook replied, trying to keep his tone calm.

Jimin nodded, following Jungkook downstairs. They reached the fuse box, but as expected, flipping the switches did nothing. With no other options, they returned to the living room, where Jungkook placed a few candles on the coffee table and lit them, casting a warm, flickering glow around the room.

“Guess we’re stuck like this for a while,” Jungkook muttered, sitting down on the couch.

Jimin sat at the other end, the tension between them palpable in the confined, dimly lit space. For a while, neither of them spoke, the silence growing heavier with each passing minute.

Another flash of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Jimin flinched visibly, his breath hitching. Jungkook glanced at him, noticing the way Jimin’s hands trembled slightly.

“Are you okay?” Jungkook asked, his voice softer now.

Jimin nods. “I’ve never liked storms. They remind me of when I was a kid. I used to hide under my bed during thunderstorms.”

Flashback

In the cozy room, the younger boy and his friend were deeply engrossed in a game of "Whirlwind Chase," the colorful board spread out between them. The older boy patiently explained the rules, his voice gentle amidst their excited giggles.

Suddenly, a deafening clap of thunder reverberated through the room, causing the older boy to jump in fright. Without a word, he darted under the bed, seeking refuge from the storm.

Perplexed but concerned, the younger boy peered under the bed, his eyes wide with worry. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I... I'm scared of storms," admitted the older boy, his voice shaky from fear.

Sympathy softened the younger boy's features as he crouched down beside him. He could see his friend trembling in the dimness beneath the bed frame. Determined to offer comfort, he squeezed in beside him and gave a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry," he said softly. "I'll stay here with you until the storm passes."

Underneath the bed, amidst dust bunnies and forgotten toys, they waited together.

The room fell into a more comfortable silence this time, the shared memory easing some of the awkwardness. They both knew there were deeper issues they weren’t addressing, but for now, this small moment of connection was enough.