CIGARETTES AND TULIPS // jikook

29 - dreaming about you

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the next day unfolded with a familiar rhythm that felt steady enough to ground jimin in a semblance of normalcy. 

after an afternoon of focused study in the library, the calm silence and soft lighting of the study hall worked their magic on him; page after page of notes started making sense, the tangled web of theories, formulas, and concepts finally beginning to click. by the time he packed his things, his head was filled with the glow of progress—a small victory, but one that carried a sense of accomplishment he hadn't felt in a while.

he had been so scared of the exams and now, it felt better. now that he had made some progress, now that dean wasn't present in his life anymore, now that he and taehyung were better. it all felt more normal at this point.

not like it was all okay. but it was better.

back home, the gentle hum of his mom in the kitchen brought him comfort as always. they ate together, the usual quiet chatter weaving between bites, and though his appetite hadn't fully returned, he managed to eat a bit, allowing her to fill his bowl one more time without protest. they talked about small things—her work, the recent flowers she'd added to the shop's arrangements, and her laugh warmed the evening in a way that made him grateful for the simple routine of being home.

his mom had a way of talking about customer interactions, it was just comfortable to listen to. she was a very likable woman, customers adored her. 

jimin had envied her lots for it. even though he tried to be like her, tried to socialize more, it was difficult for him. not the interaction itself but bringing himself in these social situations. he just felt most comfortable alone in his room. but he wanted to be different so bad.

after dinner, jimin retreated to his room, intent on getting more studying done before bed. 

he spread his textbooks and notes out around him, diving into the material with surprising ease. each formula and definition seemed to unlock itself as if the stress he'd been carrying had loosened just enough to make space for understanding. it felt good, truly good, and by the time he finished, he let out a contented sigh. maybe things would get easier; maybe he was finally ready to face this semester head-on.

later, he did his skin care routine, slipped into some pyjamas and went to bed, his mind slipping into sleep after a few minutes of tossing and turning.

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it wasn't the dreamless sleep; it was one wrapped in haze, soft and warm, like slipping beneath a blanket of sunlight, a sweet dream.

jimin found himself drifting into something so tender it felt surreal in his sleep, and yet, there was a warmth, a steady presence beside him. he didn't need to look to know who it was - jungkook was there, close enough to feel, and somehow it was like jungkook had always been there.

in the dream, jimin's hand reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing against the fabric of jungkook's shirt. it was softer than he'd imagined, warm, like it had soaked up sunlight just for him. he could feel the warmth radiating from jungkook's skin beneath, it made him sigh softly. 

he had always imagined him being warm and comfortable but touching him for this long was exceeding his expectations. 

his fingertips wandered, trailing from jungkook's shoulder down to his forearm, taking in every detail: the strength in his arms, the way his muscles seemed to tense slightly under jimin's touch, the tattoos on his soft skin. he felt shy, almost reverent, as if he were holding something fragile and precious, something he was afraid to let go.