Fake Love 《Jikook》

5

“Do you—”

“I get it! Lacking emotion! Too stiff!” Jimin has practically has had it and so he wails out in frustration. “You said that the first time, Jeongguk. I’m getting sick of it. Shut up, please.”

“Actually, I was going to ask if you wanted me to go get you something to eat… but hey! I’ll shut up.” Jeongguk is fully aware he’s being a wholesome brat, but he’ll take whatever he gets. He’s been ignored and deprived of Jimin’s company for three weeks, can he really be blamed?

“I’m sorry, you’re just… annoying.” Jimin is honest.

“I know! I like you too.”

Sighing with irritation, Jimin tries to go back to practice but unfortunately, he just can’t. He feels the stress resonating in his bones once again and the more dutiful part of his personality is trying to combat it. No success is found.

“Just, be you.” Jeongguk’s voice filters into his thoughts providing a very vague answer. Jimin reckons it’s just his delusion and continues.

“For fuck’s sake, you’re not even trying anymore. It’s sad to watch.” Jeongguk is blunt and surprisingly right. It’s like he’s throwing darts right at the bulls-eye. On the mark, with every word.

“Yeah, I don’t have a choice now do I?” Jimin contests, retreating from practice to throw Jeongguk a proper glance. The eyes he meets hold nothing but trial. A trial to convince.

“Why did you even agree to it when you clearly don’t even like what you’re doing?”

“I—”

Well, of course, Jimin doesn’t have an answer. He’s just that type of person – surely, Jeongguk has picked it up by now. Jimin is a people pleaser.

“Someone provided you a few compliments in a speech and you completely throw your own ideas to impress them.” Jeongguk rants and oh how he rants. He’s completely livid, though he is very careful not to let it show.

Leave it to Jimin to be the only person to never fully comprehend just how talented he is. To inspire others but never realize his own potential. Jeongguk’s very impatient, and he’s tired of waiting around for Jimin to finally come to his senses.

Jeongguk’s words are like shots to a bulletproof vest – painful.

“Seriously! You look worse than a beginner’s class. What happened to Park Jimin from that gala?”

Jeongguk still remembers it; it’s like a motion picture playing in the back of his head. How effortlessly Park Jimin had captured his undivided attention through just the movement of limbs. Something that instilled it deep within Jeongguk to go back to dancing – something he never planned on.

“What gala?” Jimin asks innocently, but he has a pretty good idea of what Jeongguk might be talking about. It was two years back and his first performance on behalf of the institute. He had tried his very best.

“Jesus, you’re dense as fuck.”

Jeongguk almost throws his phone aside in mild rage – crossing his arms to look more intimidating. It’s working.

“Stop thinking so much. It shows. Just… I don’t know! Be you.”

With a slight nod and a timid turn, Jimin tries to listen to Jeongguk. He’s probably doing something right because Jeongguk has finally stopped yelling.

Little does Jimin know… Jeongguk is just captivated by him once again. He stares, and he studies like the little overcritical appreciator he is.

Talented. Graceful. Perfect. Those seem like an extension of synonyms to describe the utter perfection that Park Jimin displays through fluid motion. It’s amusing since there is no music, there is just the rhythm of his steps creating such elegant music. And that’s all that Jimin requires doing. Be himself, to provide the perfect stage. Any other version is just not acceptable.