ACATALEPSY I BTS AU

CHAPTER 21 - A Heart's promise

Jimin found it incredibly soothing to be in your bed, surrounded by your sweet scent. 

Your arms were soft, your hair silky to the touch. He couldn't stop staring at your features—you were like an angel. 

*Angels shouldn't cry,* he thought. Time passed, and you had finally calmed down. 

He planted a gentle kiss on your cheek and decided to move, carefully slipping out of the covers. But before he could, he felt you grab onto his arm, making his heart race. For a second, he thought you'd woken up, but then he noticed you were still fast asleep, snoring softly. He smiled. 

You mumbled in your sleep, *"Mom... don't go... I won't cry anymore..."* and snuggled closer, holding his arm tighter. 

Jimin chuckled to himself, *You think I'm your mom. You really miss your parents, huh?* 

He laid back down, pulling you closer. Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to your forehead and whispered, *Don't worry, I'll never leave you...* 

He made up his mind to stay awake the whole night, just to watch over you. You looked so worn out, and he wanted you to rest peacefully. Besides, he couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of having you in his arms. 

Who knew if he'd ever get this chance again? Hours passed, and despite his best efforts, his eyes began to droop. He fought to stay alert, distracting himself by gently taking your hand in his. He examined it, comparing your small fingers to his own. 

*So tiny...* he thought, laughing quietly.

He'd always been teased for having small hands, but next to yours, they looked much bigger. 

He squeezed your hand gently, admiring how perfectly they fit together. 

*Like they were made for each other...* 

As he studied your hand more closely, he noticed a small cut on your finger, stitched up with a few neat stitches. His heart tightened. 

*What happened? Did someone hurt you?*

The thought made his blood boil. No one would ever lay a finger on you again, not without going through him first. He kissed your hand softly, frowning at your bitten nails. 

*You must get so anxious...* 

The more he observed you, the more he was drawn to the little things. 

*You're so simply beautiful on the outside, but so intricate if you take the time to look closely,* he mused, thinking of a Bosch painting—full of tiny, mesmerizing details that only the careful observer could appreciate. 

He wanted to know everything about you. Every scar, every quirk, every so-called imperfection that, in his eyes, were like little pieces of art. 

You were full of what society would call "flaws," but to him, they were like decorations, making you even more special. 

He kept glancing at your hand, his eyes resting on your ring finger. He hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and placed a delicate kiss on the empty space where a ring would go. 

"I really hope no one has claimed your heart yet," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Keep this finger free for me, please." 

The words lingered in the air, but only he could hear them. You lay there, peaceful and unaware, while he made promises to a future you hadn't even imagined yet. 

"I promise to love you, respect you, and cherish you forever," he continued, though part of him wondered if you could ever truly understand the weight of that promise. As he sat beside you, watching you sleep, he felt a strange sense of ownership, of wanting to protect you, but also a creeping fear.