he paints with lies ❆ kookmin

17 • 열일곱

February 4th 2020

Gimpo Airport, Seoul, is not as crowded as it usually is when they enter the building─it is only 5:29 in the morning after all. Still, it is a struggle to evade every person standing between them and the bag drop.

''Are you sure that you've got everything you'll need on the plane in the handbag?'' Jungkook sounds slightly out of breath as he turns his head to ask Jimin the question.

''Eh I- I don't know. I don't have time to do anything about it now if I'm missing something though,'' Jimin huffs, even more out of breath than Jungkook, as he jogs with the large bag over his arm.

''Just make sure you have the passport, boarding pass and money then. I'll drop the suitcase for you,'' Jungkook tells him as they reach the bag drop for those travelling to Daegu. There is no queuing line, because the boarding time is up in 21 minutes.

''Okay,'' he responds as he drops to the floor with the handbag. He rummages through it with his heart in his throat. Nervousness was eating at his insides, making him slightly nauseous.

They had woken up late this morning, with little time until Jimin's flight would depart. The both of them had been extremely tired after too few hours of sleep. Luckily, Jimin had already packed everything except for a few things, such as his charger and toothbrush. There was no time for eating breakfast though.

It was important that Jimin made the flight. He had a meeting at 10:00 with Jungkook's father and a man that specializes in the law concerning contracts that kept one or both parts from revealing information. They would not be able to reschedule, there was no time left that worked before they would have to meet with those from the newspaper.

Now, Jimin barely has enough time to make the flight, and it might just be because he took time to arrange a surprise for Jungkook in the last minute. He had ran into Jungkook's room to unpack the stuffed animal he had brought from his own collection. The night before, as they went by his apartment, he had brought it along, hiding it in Jungkook's closet as soon as they arrived. He had remembered it in the last second, wanting to place it on top of the bed where he would see it. Jungkook had stood with shoes and coat on by the door, yelling at Jimin to hurry up and find whatever he looked for so they could leave.

They were both stressed, but at the very least Jimin seemed to have everything he needed─he found it all in his handbag. It was one less thing to worry about.

''Let's go,'' Jungkook said as the suitcase disappeared from view. He took a hold of Jimin's hand, and they made their way to the pass control with a few minutes to spare.

"Have a good flight baby," Jeongguk said with a small smile, as he stroke Jimin's cheeks, cupping them as he placed a kiss on his forehead. Jimin felt like a child again, small and scared to have to experience something new all alone.

''Do I really have to walk through yet? I still have... eighteen minutes to spare.'' He looked up from his wristwatch to study Jungkook's features with a pout.

If it was longing or sadness that Jimin saw in Jungkook's eyes, he was not really sure of. The small smile gracing his thin lips were telling Jimin that he was trying to suppress it though. "Just a few minutes then."

Jimin closed his eyes, and they burnt as tears formed behind his lids. It was not the fact that they had to be apart for a few days that made him cry─because they would see each other soon enough. No, it was the guilt that caused it.

Because, Jungkook still had not even asked what his own father wanted help with so bad that Jimin had to leave for Daegu. Why his father was there to begin with. He was still clueless about what was going on, but he trusted Jimin to tell him whenever, if ever, he was ready.