Favourite Jikook Stories (3rd Book)

The Truest of Love - 2/13

Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7922755/chapters/18105577

Rays of sunlight trickles into the room through the dewy glass window. There is a slight shuffle coming from beneath the layers of blankets. Jimin wills himself up into a sitting position, his eyes still closed. What time is it? Jimin blindly searches for his phone and finds it under his pillow.11:23...oh, its only, wait 11:23??!?!?!?! Crap. Jungkook. Shit. Jimin jolts out of his bed, the sleepiness all but washed away. Running into the bathroom, Jimin manages a quick shower and settles for a casual outfit of ripped black jeans and a striped long sleeve. Rushing down the stairs, Jimin trips over the doorway mat.

"Tae, mom, I'm going out with some friends! I'll be back before 8!" Jimin shouts as he quickly pulls on his shoes.

"Friends??? I know all your friends, can I come-" Jimin shuts the door before Taehyung even made it off the couch.

11:48, good. I still have time.

Jimin and Jungkook had decided to meet by the old photoshop near Jimin's house at noon today. Jimin strolls leisurely, knowing he has more than enough time to get to their meeting place.

Upon arriving at the photoshop, Jimin checks the time.

11:52. Might as well check out the store since I have 8 minutes to kill and Jungkook's not here yet.

The old photoshop is a family business. It's been running for decades now, according to the veteran occupants of the town. It's a small shack that gives off a vintage feel. The wind chimes tinkle as Jimin opens the door and a wave of cool air scented with timeless photographs greets him. The wood floor creaks under his weight as Jimin slowly makes his way into the shop, feeling oddly like an intruder since no one seems to be around.

"Excuse me..." Jimin looks around warily. Getting no replies in return, he scans the entirety of the shop with his eyes and spot a small bench set in front of a backdrop of a train station. A few feet away from the set up lays an old camera fixed on top of a tripod. It's one of the older model and not small like cameras nowadays.

"Well, hello there young man." A raspy voice came from behind Jimin. Whipping his body around a whole 180 degress, Jimin catches sight of an elderly man emerging from a hidden hallway at the back of the shop. "Anything I can do for you on this fine sunny day?" The man asks warmly.

Jimin shakes his head gingerly, "No, thank you. I was just looking around." The man just keeps staring back at Jimin and the awkward silence stretches for a while. Having nothing else to say Jimin points back to the backdrop of the strain station, "Uhm, this..." He has no idea what he's going to say.

"Oh, that. It's neat isn't it? Couples come here to take pictures all the time. There's even a rumor that if you and your true love take a photo with this backdrop, you'll be able to find your each other no matter what. Although I don't even know where such silly talk started from." The old man chuckles.

"Is that so..." Jimin gazes back at the backdrop with an unreadable expression. "I hope I can come back one day to take a photo."

"Oh, no rush son. You'll come back with the right person once the time is right. I'll even take your photos for free when that time comes." Jimin gives a sweet smile in return. Just as Jimin turns to look outside the window, Jungkook's car pulls up by the door.

"Then, I'll get going now." Jimin bows at the friendly shop owner.

Sliding into the passenger's seat, Jimin can feel his heart palpitating. He's never been in Jungkook's car by himself. The only times he's been on it is when Taehyung was there and Jimin's third wheeling.

"Hey." Jimin greets Jungkook with a shy side glance.

"Thanks for coming with me hyung, dinner's on me." Jungkook says before revving up the engine to take the two of them to the jewelry store. The drive isn't long but Jimin is unable to strike up a decent conversation. After several "Uhm" and "Ah" Jimin settles back into his seat, opting to staying quiet rather than being awkward. Soon, Jungkook pulls up in front of an elaborate looking store.

"Here we are. Let's go."

Jimin also gets out of the car and follows Jungkook inside the store, where sales associates are already welcoming them. Jimin's nervous shuffle goes unknown to Jungkook who is already browsing through the many glass displays that hold endless rows of gold and silver accessories. The two make a stop at the ring section, Jimin fidgeting with the hem of his shirt while Jungkook converse with the sale associate.

"Hyung, Jimin-hyung. Which ones do you like?" Jungkook's question catches the spaced out Jimin by surprise.

"Huh? Which one I like? You mean the rings?" Jimin asks obliviously. What a stupid thing to ask
Jimin. Of course he's talking about the rings. That's what you're here to help him buy, remember!? Jimin scolds himself internally. "Sorry, give me a second."

"No worries, take your time. It's going to be your wedding band after all." The sale associates states kindly. Jimin looks from the sale associate to Jungkook uncomfortably. Jungkook gives Jimin a shrug, might as well go with it rather than explaining ourselves, he seems to say. Jimin lets it go.

When he has narrowed his selection down to two rings, Jimin looks up from the display to let Jungkook knows he's done choosing.

"These two..you can pick the one you like better." Jimin says timidly. Out of the two rings that Jimin chose, one was gold in color while the other was silver. Taehyung has always favor silver accessories, Jimin, however, like gold ones. While picking the rings, Jimin debated if he should just settle with the silver band, but he like the gold band too much to not mention it.

"Well then, try them on hyung. Let's see how they look" Jungkook urges.

"You want me to try them on?" Jimin asks incredulously. He is sure the request had no hidden meaning but Jimin cannot help the soft blush that creeps up on his cheeks. Even though Jimin's hand is significantly smaller than Taehyung's, the width of their fingers is the same. Another mystery of the Park twins. With great care, Jimin slips on the silver band. It fits.

"That's really pretty. Taehyungie likes silver too doesn't he?" Jimin nods without taking his eyes off of the ring. Taehyung would surely love it. It will look so good on his long fingers, Jimin wordlessly admits.

"How about the other one? Try that one on too, hyung." While Jimin removes the silver ring from his finger, Jungkook reaches for the gold band. "Here, let me put it on for you." Jimin knows it's only an innocent act of courtesy, but he imagines otherwise. The sensation of Jungkook's cold fingers as he slides the wedding band on Jimin's ring finger pulls at Jimin's heartstrings. It's sad but Jimin thinks he's such a lucky person to have experience this feeling at least once in his life.

"Wow." Jungkook is genuinely awestruck. "It looks even more beautiful on your finger hyung..."
Jimin watches Jungkook with regretful eyes. But it's not for me is it? It's not for me to wear, cause I'm not the person you're marrying. I'm not the one you love.

"Let's get this one then. Wait here, I'll go settle the bill." And just like that, Jungkook leaves Jimin and heads to the front desk.

What just happened. Jungkook's going to buy this ring?

Things are moving too fast for Jimin and he can't process it all. But it makes him happy, yet also guilty, that Jungkook chose the ring that suitedhim, and not Taehyung.