If Only I Was A Little Braver | Park Jimin

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3 years ago

another gala. another smile.

another guest. another talk.

it went on and on for Jung Hoseok who was only 15 at that point of time.

"you are a smart one." they would say.

but Hoseok never wanted to be smart.

he wanted to be happy.

and that was the only thing he couldn't have.

that was also the only thing people didn't know he didn't have.

Kim Seokjin was sitting right at the corner, enjoying his juice since he was a year away from being legal for alcohol.

that was when he unintentionally witnessed every single action Hoseok was doing.

Seokjin knew, from the way Hoseok's smile dropped right after the guest walked away to the way his lips stretched into another natural looking smile when another person came by, Seokjin was very sure, Hoseok wanted out.

and coincidentally, Seokjin did too.

he wanted out of this life. this ridiculous rich life. it was more of prison to him than luxury.

so he took his chance to approach the 15 year old.

when Hoseok saw Seokjin, he smiled almost immediately even though he didn't really know if the boy was approaching him.

Seokjin realised that it wasn't the smile that made him look natural.

it was the thought of having to smile.

Seokjin almost winced when he imagined how many times Hoseok had to force a smile out like this to make an instinct.

"Good evening-"

"Jung Hoseok." the older boy smirked, tucking his hands into his pocket.

Hoseok was surprised, but regained his composure as he smiled, "yes, that's my name. do you need any help?"

Seokjin raised an eyebrow.

"drop the fake smile, I'm Kim Seokjin." the man held a hand in front of him.

Hoseok didn't shake it, instead, he frowned.

"listen middle school kid, I know you want an exit from this life. I do too. so I have a plan that I think will benefit both of us." Seokjin went straight to the point.

Hoseok blinked, surprised and confused.

"so stop smiling when you don't even want to. you look ugly."

and that was exactly what Hoseok did.

...

now

"so Jin brought you and Taehyung away from home?"

Jae asked, scratching her neck.

"almost." Hoseok deadpanned.

"we had almost left that hellhole. we were running from guards after guards. our fathers were crazy in searching for us." he chuckled, finding themselves childish then.

"then what happened?" Jae frowned.

had they been able to escape freely, everything would have been so different.