Butterfly

24. The Call

"What would you think about me getting a tattoo?"

I snuggle closer to Jimin, my hands gently tracing over his arm, running over his bare side, enjoying the slight shiver I feel go through his body at my touch.

"A tattoo?"

He nods, his fingers running through my hair. "I've been thinking about it lately."

"It depends on what you get." I shift so my head is in the curve of his neck, inhaling the scent of his warmth.

"I'm not sure what I'd get yet." He trails his fingers over my side, pulling me closer to him, and I tentatively rest my leg over his waist, just to see what it feels like, before deciding it's comfortable and leaving it there.

His voice is a soft rumble as his hands tangle in my hair again. "I want something meaningful, you know?"

I nod, enjoying the feel of his hand trailing to my waist again, closing my eyes. He wraps his arm over my waist, holding me tightly against him as he shifts slightly so our faces are level, nuzzling my cheek with his nose. We lie there, cuddled up in his sofa, and I smile as I inhale his warmth, my brain growing fuzzier as I start drifting off to sleep.

"I think the movie's over by now, what do you think?" Jimin murmurs, his face pressed against my hair, and I smile, nodding slightly.

"I kind of did want to see it."

Jimin chuckles softly, his hand moving to gently stroke my cheek. "We can rent it again sometime."

I nod, relaxing against him again. We really were planning to watch a movie both us wanted to see, but somehow that led to kissing and then cuddling on his sofa, no attention on the movie.

"You know, I'd find it easier to watch movies if you wore a shirt once in a while," I murmur sleepily. He's so warm that it's making me really tired.

"I'd find it easier to watch movies if you weren't so damn beautiful."

I laugh and he smiles, exhaling slowly as he gently noses my cheek. "I'm so tired."

I nod, pulling away slightly. "Stop that, I can't fall asleep here or Sandra will be pissed. She's already weird, after I spent the night last weekend."

Jimin sighs, turning us so I'm laying underneath him, pinned by his weight, his face buried in my neck. "Is Sandra really your priority right now?"

"Jimin," I complain, smiling, and he chuckles lightly.

"How about we go out for dinner?"

I smile, nodding, and he pulls away slightly, sighing.

"Of course...that means I've got to get up, and I really don't feel like it."

I laugh, letting him kiss me softly, and he smiles against my lips, pressing me back against the sofa again, his tongue gently finding its way into my mouth. His hand gently runs over my side to rest on my waist, his thumb gently caressing the bare skin between the hem of my shirt and the waistband of my jeans, and he deepens the kiss slightly, tilting his head, slow and sweet.

Jimin pulls away slowly, his eyes meeting mine, and the look in them is so sweet, so in love, like nothing I've seen before. I feel my cheeks warm, looking up at him, and he leans forward slowly, his lips meeting mine almost tentatively, kissing me so slowly, so passionately that it takes my breath away, and I'm lightheaded when he pulls away, resting his forehead against mine, breathless.

We're silent, neither of us sure what to say, just sharing breath, inhaling each other's closeness. Jimin's phone buzzes and he doesn't move, his eyes still on mine.

"You should get that," I murmur as it starts ringing, and Jimin lets out a breath, brushing the lightest of kisses to my lips before he pulls away, rolling off the sofa. I miss his warmth, feeling odd without his weight pinning me down. I sit up as he reaches for his phone, then leans back against the sofa from his seat on the floor as he swipes to answer.

I lean over, gently running my fingers over his bare shoulders, feeling how tight they are from his meet yesterday. I massage his shoulders gently, feeling the muscles, the softness of his skin, and he tilts his head to the side, letting out a soft sigh.

"Hello?" He's silent for a minute, his muscles relaxing under my hands. "Yes, this is Park Jimin."

I stop massaging his shoulders as I feel his muscles stiffen, tightening, and he sits up straight, the look on his face nothing I've seen on it before.

"What happened?"

I stare at him, dread filling my stomach, and he pulls his knees up to his chest, his voice cracking slightly.

"Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can."

He hangs up and I wait, watching him run a hand over his face, letting out a breath, his face drawn. "I have to go."

"What happened?"

He's already standing, halfway to his bedroom, his voice slightly muffled. "That was the hospital." Jimin reappears in the doorway, his hair messy, and he just looks at me, and I'm not sure he's even seeing me.

"It's not..." My voice trails off, thinking of the frail woman, her soft voice and delicate frame.

"She - they didn't say exactly - They don't know - they don't..." his voice breaks and he stops, the words too horrible to say out loud.

My eyes widen and I stand, walking over to gently touch his face. "I'm going with you."

He leans his head on my hand, the look on his face utterly hopeless, broken, nothing of his usual playfulness. "You can't." He whispers the words, closing his eyes, his voice shaky.

"Jimin, I need to be there for you."

He shakes his head, swallowing, fighting to control his voice. "Just go home, Y/n. I'll text you when I find out more."

"Jimin..."

"Please."

It's the way he says it, his voice faltering, his eyes on mine, that makes me shake my head, grasping his shoulder gently, meeting his eyes.

"You need me."

He shakes his head again, but I don't move and he looks away, knowing he's lost, that I'm just going to get a ride some other way if he won't drive me.

"All right."