The Story of Us | Jikook/Kookmin

19 | Too Good To Be True

Jimin POV.

- Annyeonghaseyo! -Chul-soo and I both exclaim at the same time, entering the repair shop arm in arm. All the other workers are surprised to see Chul-soo again and as they engage in greetings and catch up, I find Mr. Choi to offer him the coffee I made for him from home this morning.

I was just feeling grateful for the good happenings and I wanted to make someone happy! He is extremely happy when he accepts my favor, heartily laughing while taking a delighted sip from the cup. 

With smiles I head to appa's little office at the back of the repair shop, mentally ready myself to knock on the door and check the propriety of my clothes. I dressed up to impress him, well not that differently than usual, I just made sure I didn't have the dirty work apron, that my hair was styled well, that I had a fixed make-up to look buckled up and everything... It's Friday on top of everything, my favorite day of the week, meaning: Everything is gonna be great!

It still makes me so nervous to imagine myself attempting a conversation with him, but if he has good thoughts about me now... he will not turn me down, isn't it?

Here goes nothing.

Knock knock knock!

I wipe my sweaty palms on the sides of my jeans, waiting impatiently for his voice to call me in.

- Yes?

I breathe in and out, cheering 'fighting' from inside and turning the knob, politely walking inside after appa signs me to come in.

- Good morning, father. -I bow, joining my hands in front of myself and forcing myself to keep eye contact with him as I perform the action. -Are you doing well?

I gulp and straighten myself, wait desperately for him to say something, anything, instead of staring at me but he does something even more dramatic that leaves me in shivers.

He smiles. 

A-appa smiled at me. He smiled. He fucking smiled. 

I feel my heart race to the end of the universe as he stands up and keeping the smile walks to me. places his hand on my shoulder and nods.

- I'm doing well, son. How are you?

Thump thump thump.

He said son. He... called me 'son'. I can feel my vocal chords shake as I part my lips to speak, my body somehow numbs starting from my shoulder where his hand grips downwards. I feel relieved but scared for my life, it feels like forever since I stood this close to him, saw his smile... It's creepily real...

- I-I'm alright, th-thank you. -I say hardly, ashamed to not have been his strong boy that can stand fearlessly in front of him like he expects me to. He had told me that when I was younger... 

And then I run out of words. I have nothing else to say. All the scripts I plotted fly away from my head, and I can't find anything to utter to him. He is my real father, it shouldn't be so hard to be in presence, should it...?

- Your mother spoke to you yesterday, I heard. -He says retrieving his hand and leans himself at the table he'd been working on before I interrupted. 

I nod, my cheeks flushed in embarrassment as I look down, unable to keep eye contact any longer. 

- Yes. 

- What do you think about it?

My head snaps towards him, my eyelids blinking fastly as I try to understand what he means by that. And then I gather myself together and spurt words.