First Snow

Chapter 9- Day By Day

Jimin went to his room sometime in the early morning.
His lips felt raw from kissing.
They hadn't spoken much, except for random stuff but neither of them seemed to want to breach the subject of what was going on between them.
They were just happy the way it was right now.
It was the weekend, so he could get some much needed sleep.
He was awoken by the call of his mother.
She asked about work again.
And Lisa.
His mood went from cloud seven to a dark, brooding night sky.
He didn't lie. He told her things were going great with Lisa. And things were. It just wasn't what his mother thought. They were doing great as friends.
Jungkook didn't want to think about what his mother would think of what was happening in his life. .
She had alway liked Jimin when they were children, but he didn't think his mother would like how things had developed between Jimin and him at all. She would be shocked, maybe even disgusted.
He decided not to think about it for now.
He worked on some of his photos on his laptop, but eventually hunger drove him out of his room. Taehyung shouted a good morning from the living room where he and Jin were heartedly playing a video game.
Jin swore loudly and Jungkook smiled.
He went to the kitchen and poured himself some milk and corn flakes when Namjoon joined him.
"Morning.", he said and smiled.
Namjoon rubbed his eyes as if he had just woken up.
"Morning JK."
Then he looked at him properly and a secretive smile crept up his face.
"Slept well?"
Jungkook turned red and had to look away.
"I slept all right."
"Mhmm," Namjoon only answered nonchalantly, making himself some toast.
He knew how he looked. His hair was still messed up from Jimin's hands, and he supposed his lips were still swollen too.
"You should make a second bowl for Jimin. I'm guessing he's hungry too." he said with sparkling eyes and Jungkook nearly dropped the milk.
Namjoon chuckled at Jungkooks shell shocked expression.
He clapped him on the shoulder and took his food.
"Don't worry, JK, I'm not going to say anything. Just... ", he shot him a worried glance. "Just be careful you two, will you?"
Jungkook swallowed hard and nodded, feeling like he was just scolded by his father.
He stared after him as he walked back to his room.
So, Namjoon knew.
He didn't know how to feel about it.
He glance at Jin and Taehyung, still immersed in their game and wondered if they knew too.
Then he made a second bowl of cereal.

They went to the park, then ice skating.
They didn't talk about what had happened. They simply enjoyed their time together. But things were different. Like how they would walk closer together, their hands touching every now and then, and it always send little jolts through his body.
Or how he now obviously used every moment he could, to take videos and photos of Jimin. He already had plans to make it into a short film.
He was in awe of Jimin's grace as he did spins on the ice and even had to lower his camera to watch the real thing.
He was so beautiful.
When they walked home, it was already starting to get dark and the temperature dropped significantly.
Jungkook had to force himself not to take Jimin's hand and shove them into his pocket.
But there were people in the park they were crossing, and he had to remind himself that they were in Korea.
He had seen two boy and two girls hold hands and kiss in public in L.A. all the time, but he knew it was different here.
He had to surpress a sigh.
He wished things weren't so difficult.
He wished his mother would be supportive and his father too, but they grew up in a society were it was simply wrong for two boys to love one another.
He wondered if maybe it was.
Maybe he and Jimin were wrong somehow.
He glanced at him from the side, and quickly decided: no.
There was absolutely nothing wrong. There couldn't be.
Not when it felt so good and real.
"Jungkook!", Jimin suddenly exclaimed, looking at the darkening sky.
He followed his gaze and saw what Jimin was so surprised about.
"It's snowing.", Jungkook said wondrous, staring up at the slowly descending white snow.
He loved snow.
And so did Jimin.
"First snow." he now told Jungkook, smiling as he caught the first snowflakes.
Jungkooks breath caught at the joy in Jimins eyes.
When Jimin looked at him and gave him the biggest, happiest grin, snowflakes already landing on his black coat, Jungkook nearly stumbled.
He looked around and saw that the few people in the park were busy looking at the sky too.
So he pulled Jimin behind a tree, away from anyone's eyes. He let out a surprised gasp that Jungkook shut up when he kissed him.
He kissed him slowly and deeply, trying to tell him how he felt when he didn't have the courage to tell him.
Jimin let out a little happy moan, and Jungkook smiled against his mouth.
When he pulled away, a little out of breath and looked at him, it was as if the world stopped turning just for them.
Instead he was falling... And falling.
He didn't know if he could ever stop- or if he wanted too.
"Well, you know what they say about first snow?"
He looked at Jimin quizzically.
"What about it?"
Jimin laughed and playfully hit him on the chest.
It didn't hurt a bit.
"JK don't tell me you never heard of this tradition. It's like.. I don't know, drinking Soju, I guess."
" I haven't been drinking Soju before I came here?" jungkook answered honestly.
Jimin went quiet. Jungkook was still pressing Jimin to the tree with his body, but he didn't just want to get lo yet.
" Tell me! What does first snow mean? "
Jimin looked flushed, his squishy checks red and his gaze skipping nervously, not able to hold Jungkook gaze.
"You know, just romantic nonsense... I'll tell you another time."
He nodded with a smile. From the corner of his his eyes he saw a couple walking close by. They stood still and watched them pass. He wondered if he could ever do that with Jimin. Their uncertain future lay heavy on him.
He lowered his head.
Soft, small hands lifted up his chin a second later, a small smile on his lips.
"Don't worry, JK.", he said quietly.
"We'll figure it out. Day by day, okay?"
Jungkook nodded, something rising up in him. He didn't know if it was sadness or anger, but he leaned forward again, and took Jimin in his arms hugging him as if he was everything holding him down to earth. He fit perfectly in his arms, his head buried in Jungkooks neck.
They just stood there for what felt like hours, the snow silently falling around them.