Tides of Obsession

Chapter 1: Frenemies Forever

The heat of summer lingered in the air as the sound of laughter echoed through the narrow alleyways of Busan. Eleven-year-old Jimin dashed across the small street, his sneakers slapping against the pavement as he glanced behind him. He could hear Jungkook's heavy breaths, the younger boy chasing after him with that familiar competitive fire in his eyes. It was always the same—Jungkook never backed down, and Jimin never let him win easily.

"Catch me if you can, Jeon!" Jimin taunted, his voice light with a mix of playful teasing and challenge.

Jungkook growled under his breath, determined to close the gap between them. "You wish, Park! I'm not losing to you again!"

They were always like this—two magnets repelling and attracting in equal measure. From the moment they met, their relationship was built on banter, challenges, and a constant need to outdo one another. Yet, there was something else, something unspoken that lingered just beneath the surface, though neither of them could put it into words.

Jimin rounded a corner, slipping into a small park hidden between two buildings. He quickly hid behind a tall tree, pressing his back against the rough bark as he tried to catch his breath. His heart raced, both from the run and the thrill of the chase. It was exhilarating, as it always was when he and Jungkook clashed.

He peeked around the tree, expecting to see Jungkook searching for him. Instead, he saw the younger boy standing in the middle of the park, hands on his knees, panting heavily. For a moment, Jimin just watched him, noticing the way Jungkook's dark hair stuck to his forehead, his brows furrowed in concentration. There was a strange flutter in Jimin's chest that he didn't quite understand, so he brushed it aside as excitement.

"Are you giving up already?" Jimin finally called out, stepping out from behind the tree with a triumphant grin.

Jungkook straightened up, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Jimin. "Not a chance." He sprinted forward, and before Jimin could react, Jungkook tackled him to the ground, both of them collapsing in a heap of laughter and breathless giggles.

Jimin tried to push Jungkook off, but the younger boy was stronger, pinning him down with a smug look. "Got you," Jungkook said, his voice laced with satisfaction.

Jimin rolled his eyes, still smiling despite the defeat. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get used to it."

For a moment, they just lay there in the grass, the world around them quieting as they caught their breath. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the park. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful for two boys who were always at odds with each other.

Jungkook was the first to break the silence, his voice softer than usual. "Why do you always run?"

Jimin blinked, surprised by the question. He turned his head to look at Jungkook, who was staring up at the sky, a thoughtful expression on his face. It wasn't like him to ask something so... serious. Jimin wasn't sure how to answer, so he deflected as he always did.

"Because it's fun," Jimin replied, though the answer felt hollow even to him.

Jungkook hummed in response, not pressing further. They lay there for a few more minutes, side by side, until the sky began to darken. Reluctantly, they got up and brushed off the dirt from their clothes, their usual dynamic returning as they made their way back home, arguing over who had really won the chase.

But as they parted ways that evening, something lingered in the air—something unsaid, something neither of them was ready to acknowledge.

Little did they know, that summer would be their last together.