jinmin \\ The Prince and his Guardian

One Day Until

No more memories, Jimin decides resolutely before heading to the prince's door to cover his shift for the night. He's been recalling past memories ever since the inevitable wedding is getting closer to happening and it's been nothing more than painful and depressing.

Ever since the night they had confessed, things between the prince and his guardian had become even more awkward than before.

Jimin had tried his best to feign utter carelessness or ignorance about it, and yet whenever their eyes met he couldn't get the image – his handsome prince in front him, his warm hand cupping his cheek, his loving eyes staring at him - out of his head.

And so, before they knew it, both were avoiding each other's gazes.

Jimin shakes his head firmly as he's marching on the illuminated empty hallway, his blank face staring straight ahead.

There's nothing between us. He'll forget about me as soon as he's passed some days with his new wife, so why can't I?

As his feet have finally dragged him to his spot, Jimin's ears perk up at the faint sound of someone crying and his eyes grow slightly bigger in surprise. The confused guard scans the hallway before turning to gaze at the door behind him. Carefully placing one ear on the white wood, he closes his eyes tightly whilst trying to concentrate on the muffled sound. Hesitantly, he wraps the fingers of his hand around the door handle before turning it slowly and opening the door.

He is the prince's personal guardian, after all. Shouldn't he investigate what's wrong with him?

And there said prince is, sitting on the end of his bed with his back bent, his lower arms resting on his thighs and his gaze at the ground. His short sniffs slowly come to a stop as he looks up at his visitor like a helpless little kid.

'It's alright...' Jimin immediately consoles him as he shuts the door and runs in his direction, only to doubtfully stop in front of his sad prince whose face is stained with the traces of how his tears have rolled down his cheeks.

Carefully dropping himself next to him on the soft silk bedsheets, he knows no better than to let his hands rest on his thighs and stare at the prince's slumped figure.

He soon realises he's not much help at all and so he's raising a hand until his fingers can gently wipe away the remaining tears on the prince's clear skin.

The prince, frozen like a statue, doesn't react, respond or reply and so the guardian draws his hand back awkwardly, unsure of what else he can do. Nothing.

The minutes are passing by in silence as they are sitting next to each other on the end of the luxurious soft bed, both staring into another direction.

Is he on stand-by, Jimin wishes to ask aloud. Is he not going to acknowledge my presence?

'I can't marry her...' the silence is broken suddenly as he hears Seokjin's soft, almost whispering voice, which makes him look down on the prince's slouched figure in surprise. 'I can't...'

'Yes, you can,' the younger one tries weakly, only to be interrupted.

'No, I can't!' Seokjin snaps at him as he jumps up from the edge of the bed, agitatedly grasping a side of his head before letting the hand drop to his side with a frustrated huff.

Jimin's body freezes for a second at the sudden change in behaviour and voice volume as he looks up at the tall figure, frustration and resentment expressed on its face. He's never seen the prince lose his temper before.

'And it's all your fault, you know that? You did this to me!' the other cries out as he throws his head back and squeezes his eyes shut for a quick second.