𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙮 / 𝙥𝙟𝙢

𝙫

The stillness of the garden wrapped around them like a warm embrace. Y/N leaned back on the bench, their gaze lifting to the night sky, where a few stars managed to peek through the haze of city lights. There was a sense of serenity in the air, a quiet understanding that neither of them needed to fill the silence. It was enough just to be here—together.

After a while, Jimin shifted beside them, his voice soft in the quiet. "You know, I didn't expect tonight to turn out like this."

Y/N turned to look at him, curiosity sparking. "How do you mean?"

Jimin chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Well, when I walked into that café earlier, I was just planning to grab a quick coffee. Maybe clear my head before heading home. I definitely wasn't expecting to meet someone like you."

Y/N felt their heart skip a beat. His words, casual as they seemed, carried a weight that made them feel seen in a way they hadn't felt in a long time. "I didn't expect tonight either," they admitted, a small smile tugging at their lips. "But I'm really glad it happened."

Jimin's eyes softened as he met their gaze. "Me too."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the connection between them hanging in the air like a fragile thread—one that felt as though it could either unravel or become something stronger. Y/N could feel the warmth of Jimin's presence beside them, a magnetic pull that had been there since the moment they first met in the café. It wasn't just the comfort of having someone guide them through a new city—it was something more, something that made their heart race in a way they hadn't expected.

"I think," Jimin said, breaking the stillness, "this city can be whatever you need it to be. A place to get lost, or a place to find yourself."

Y/N's gaze lingered on him, feeling the truth of his words settle deep inside. "Maybe both," they said quietly. "I think I needed to get lost first... before I could figure out what I really want."

Jimin smiled, a quiet understanding passing between them. "It's all part of the process. Sometimes you have to lose your way to find what really matters."

The gentle breeze stirred the leaves above them, the fairy lights swaying softly in the night air. Y/N felt a sense of calm settle over them—a calm they hadn't realized they were searching for when they stepped off that bus earlier in the day. Seoul was still an unknown maze of streets and alleys, a sprawling city that pulsed with energy, but it didn't feel quite so overwhelming anymore. Not with Jimin beside them.

"Do you ever feel like you're still searching?" Y/N asked, their voice soft, almost hesitant. "Even after all this time in Seoul?"

Jimin was quiet for a moment, his gaze thoughtful as he looked out at the garden. "Yeah, sometimes. I think we're always searching for something—whether it's belonging, or purpose, or just the next step in life. But I've learned that it's okay not to have all the answers. The journey is the important part."

Y/N nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle into their chest. "That makes sense. I think I've been so focused on trying to figure everything out—who I'm supposed to be, what I'm supposed to do—that I forgot it's okay not to know."

Jimin turned to them, his expression gentle. "It's more than okay. It's human."

There was something about the way he said it that made Y/N feel lighter, as though the pressure they had been carrying was slowly starting to ease. They had spent so long trying to mold themselves into some ideal version of who they thought they should be, but maybe the real journey was learning to accept who they were in the moment.

"I think I'm starting to see that," Y/N said, their voice soft but filled with newfound clarity.

Jimin smiled, and the warmth in his gaze made Y/N's chest tighten in the best way. "Good. Because whoever you are right now? That person's pretty great."

Y/N's cheeks warmed, a blush creeping up their neck as they ducked their head slightly. "Thanks," they mumbled, the sincerity in Jimin's voice making it hard to meet his eyes.

Jimin chuckled softly, the sound like music in the quiet garden. "Hey, don't get shy on me now," he teased gently, nudging Y/N with his shoulder.

Y/N laughed, the tension easing as they met his gaze once again. "Okay, okay, I'll try not to."