/My Secret Crush / Jikook~

63

Jimin slipped his hand into the worn strap of his bag, a habitual gesture that brought him comfort. The familiar weight of the water bottle and packet of wipes inside reassured him, a constant reminder of his preparedness for any situation.

As he stepped out of the narrow sickroom, the faint beeping of monitors and muffled whispers enveloped him. The institution's stark corridors seemed to swallow hope whole, but Jimin's thoughts were with Jungkook, left behind in that fragile space.

He lingered outside, ears straining to catch the soft murmur of Jungkook's voice, his heart aching in sympathy. The poor soundproofing allowed snippets of conversation to escape, and Jimin's anxiety spiked, worried that Jungkook might emerge, searching for him.

With a deep breath, Jimin pushed aside his concerns and stepped into the bright sunlight. A short walk to the nearby convenience store cleared his head. As he browsed the aisles, his mind wandered back to Jungkook, imagining his drawn face and weary eyes.

Returning to the institution, Jimin's footsteps echoed through the deserted corridors. He turned a corner, and his gaze locked onto Jungkook, standing at the cashier's desk, immersed in the administrative tasks for his transfer.

Jimin approached quietly, his eyes drinking in Jungkook's profile. He slid the water bottle from his bag and placed it discreetly beside Jungkook's hand.

Jungkook's gaze flicked up, a hint of irritation softening as their eyes met. "What took you so long?"

"The queue was long," Jimin replied, his voice even, as he wrapped his fingers around Jungkook's hand.

" Lots of people, huh?" Jungkook's tone was skeptical, but he didn't pull away.

Jimin's thumb traced gentle patterns on Jungkook's palm. "Em."

Jungkook's grip tightened, a subtle reassurance. "I thought you got lost. But everything's done now. Let's go."

As they stepped into the elevator, Jimin nodded, his eyes never leaving Jungkook's face. The soft glow of the elevator lights illuminated the lines of exhaustion etched on Jungkook's features, and Jimin's heart swelled with empathy.

Jimin's pace quickened as they stepped out of the hospital, his hand still clasped around Jungkook's. Memories of what he saw outside lingered, fueling his urgency.

"Hey, slow down!" Jungkook laughed, his voice warm and carefree. "Why are you walking so fast?"

"You need to see this, walk faster," Jimin replied, his eyes sparkling with a mix of concern and determination.

Jungkook didn't resist, allowing Jimin to guide him through the gentle pull. His longer strides easily kept pace with Jimin's hurried steps.

As they walked, Jimin shot him a sidelong glance. "You're so heavy; it's too strenuous to pull you."

Jungkook chuckled and picked up his pace, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "What's got you so worked up?"

They soon escaped the institution's confines, stepping into a winter wonderland. Snowflakes danced around them, delicate and slow, as the sun shone brightly in the sky. The air was filled with an otherworldly warmth, a perfect balance of cold and heat.

Jimin's face lit up, his smile radiant. "Look, it's snowing, but the sun is out!"

Jungkook had witnessed this magical phenomenon countless times since childhood, yet Jimin's infectious enthusiasm drew a smile from him. "I've only seen the sun after rain, never snow," he said, his voice filled with quiet wonder.

Jimin's eyes sparkled. "Em! After rain or snow, the sun always comes out." His words were laced with a deeper meaning, a message of hope.

Jungkook listened intently, his gaze locked onto Jimin's. "Em."