The bakery felt emptier than usual that afternoon, even as the familiar faces of townsfolk filtered in and out, their chatter echoing through the warm space. But for Jimin, each moment felt like it stretched on indefinitely, as if time itself was holding its breath. He moved around the bakery almost on autopilot, his hands occupied with pastries and coffee, but his mind somewhere else entirely.
As he placed a fresh batch of cookies in the display, his thoughts returned to the conversation with Jungkook—the uncertainty in his voice, the look in his eyes, the way he'd reached out as if to say he wanted to stay, even if the world was pulling him in another direction.
Every time the bell over the door rang, Jimin's heart skipped, only for the anticipation to be met with disappointment when it wasn't Jungkook. He tried to distract himself by pouring himself into his work, arranging displays, perfecting his recipes, even greeting customers with extra warmth. But his heart wasn't in it. His thoughts remained tethered to that corner table, to the memory of Jungkook's fingers lightly brushing his own.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Jungkook sat in his car, parked at the edge of a quiet overlook, his phone held loosely in his hand. The call from his firm replayed in his mind, the crisp tone of his boss outlining the promotion details, the prestige, the benefits, the validation of years of effort and ambition.
But alongside those words was a competing memory—the softness of Jimin's gaze, the warmth of the bakery, the sense of calm he'd found in a place so unlike the life he'd built. For the first time, he was forced to confront the thought that maybe success didn't look like what he had always imagined. Maybe it wasn't about the city skyline, or the power that came with a title. Maybe it was something simpler, quieter, but infinitely more fulfilling.
He looked down at his phone, scrolling through photos he'd taken during his stay—the crooked smile Jimin wore when he caught Jungkook attempting to help with the pastries, the sleepy town square bathed in early morning light, the view from the bakery window with Jimin standing in the foreground, unaware that he was being captured in a moment that felt so ordinary yet somehow perfect.
Jungkook leaned back, running a hand through his hair. He knew he couldn't keep running from this decision, couldn't keep hiding in the warmth of Jimin's world while avoiding the reality of his own. And yet, the thought of walking away felt almost impossible.
Finally, he tapped a message to Jimin.
Jungkook: "Could we talk later tonight? There's something I need to figure out, and I think you're the only person who can help me."
Evening: A Walk Under the Stars
That evening, Jimin waited on the edge of the town's small park, his heart pounding as he watched for any sign of Jungkook. The stars were out in full, dotting the sky in a dazzling display, the air crisp with the scent of pine and autumn leaves. It was a perfect night, the kind that made everything feel like it was falling into place, even if, for them, it felt like things were on the verge of falling apart.
Jungkook arrived a few moments later, his steps slow and deliberate as he approached. Jimin gave him a tentative smile, and Jungkook returned it, though his eyes held a storm of emotions.
They walked in silence for a while, moving along the path that wound through the park, neither of them sure where to start. Finally, Jungkook spoke, his voice low, as if he were afraid of disturbing the quiet around them.
"I keep thinking about everything I've worked for," he began, hands stuffed in his pockets. "And it feels... wrong to walk away from it all. But then I think about
Jungkook paused mid-sentence, staring off into the night sky as if the stars could somehow give him the answers he was looking for. Jimin watched him quietly, his heart aching at the sight of Jungkook's torn expression. It was rare to see him so vulnerable, so lost, and something about it made Jimin want to reach out, to soothe the pain he could sense in Jungkook's silence.
After a few long moments, Jungkook finally spoke again, his voice rougher, softer. "I feel like I've been living this life that was supposed to be mine, you know? The success, the city, the title. But now... being here, being with you... it feels like I'm seeing things clearly for the first time."
He turned to Jimin, his gaze intense, searching. "But if I walk away from everything I've worked for... what does that make me? Am I giving up, or am I just... choosing something new?"
Jimin's breath hitched at Jungkook's words. He took a step closer, his hand instinctively reaching for Jungkook's. "Choosing something new isn't the same as giving up, Jungkook," he whispered. "Sometimes, we have to let go of what we thought we wanted to make space for something even better."
Jungkook's eyes softened, and he gently intertwined his fingers with Jimin's, as if drawing strength from the warmth of his touch. "I'm scared," he admitted, his voice barely a murmur. "I'm scared of losing myself if I let go of the life I built. But at the same time... I'm scared of losing you if I don't."
They stood in silence, the weight of Jungkook's confession settling between them. Jimin's heart swelled, his own emotions threatening to spill over. He squeezed Jungkook's hand, grounding him, reassuring him.
"You don't have to decide everything right now," Jimin said gently, his thumb brushing over Jungkook's knuckles. "Maybe just... give yourself time to figure out what really matters to you. And whatever you choose... I'll be here."
Jungkook exhaled a shaky breath, the tension in his shoulders easing as he held onto Jimin's words. He could feel the fear loosening its grip, replaced by something warmer, something that felt like hope.
They continued their walk, hand in hand, their steps slow and unhurried as they moved beneath the canopy of stars. And for a little while, they simply existed together, savoring the quiet comfort of each other's presence, the unspoken promise that they would face whatever came next—together.
YOU ARE READING
The small town (jikook)
Fanfiction"Long time, no see, Jimin," Jungkook says, smirking as he walks up to the counter. Jimin forces a smile, folding his arms as he leans against the counter. "Heard you were back. Figured I'd run into you sooner or later." Jungkook chuckles. "Did you m...
