JiMina Collection

More Than Gold ~ Part 18

     Countless eyes stared unabashedly at the two people emerging from the crowd. Jimin carefully led Mina onto the dance floor, focusing on the soft touch of her hand enveloped in his own. They now stood at the centre of the ballroom, out in the open and exposed for everyone to see. Just like they had done several days ago, Jimin intertwined their fingers and placed his free hand upon Mina's waist, drawing her closer and coaxing a gasp from her lips. Mina delicately placed her hand on his shoulder. The murmurs of the crowd began to dwindle as the anticipation of the music and dance grew with every passing second.

     This instance was not without distinct apprehensiveness. They felt uneasy and uncomfortable. This was the first time anyone would see them dance. This was the first time the King would take notice of his son's partner. This was their first time attending an event of this magnitude. There were far too many firsts.

     For a fleeting moment they stood there, simply staring at one another for fear of noticing the people around them. Jimin could see the uncertainty in Mina's eyes. He too, was fretful under the close watch of so many; yet, he hated to see the discomfort written all over her face. Jimin leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I don't think I've said this yet. You look stunning," he said, coaxing a shy smile out on her anxious exterior. "Don't worry about everyone else. I'm nervous too." Jimin tried to console her. "Just have some fun. Enjoy the moment."

     Mina simply nodded and composed herself with a deep breath. As the soft flow of music filled the air, they began to move. Jimin and Mina glided gracefully across the dance floor. To an outsider, it was a magical sight. The woman's dress billowed beautifully around them, shimmering under the flickering light of the chandeliers. The prince seemed so at ease, his eyes never straying away from his partner as he led them around the ballroom floor. The pair twirled and spun as they slowly began to enjoy themselves. Mina laughed as Jimin dipped her around and pulled her close over and over again. The smiles that adorned their faces soon transformed into genuine laughter. 

     Jimin couldn't get enough of the sensation. For reasons unknown, it felt so wonderful to have Mina in his arms as they floated across the ballroom. He couldn't stop looking into her eyes; those beautiful orbs that twinkled with their own light. She was an ethereal wonder to behold as she danced in step with him. There was no way for an onlooker to know that she had only danced once before. Jimin was sure that everyone was watching her, not him. Nonetheless, he was glad to see that Mina was seemingly unaware of this attention and enjoying herself as much as he was. 

      At last, the presence of everyone else didn't matter. It was just the two of them having the time of their lives. Jimin didn't want the moment to be over so soon. But like all good things in his life, the music began to fade away as the dance came to an inevitable end. Jimin clung desperately onto the final seconds of the dance, just holding Mina there and not letting go. The crowd around them clapped politely; the uproar marking the end of that instant in time. Mina looked down with a shy smile as they parted. She was still not used to such attention. Jimin kept one of her hands wrapped in his. He didn't know why his behaviour was so erratic all of a sudden, but he couldn't bring himself to let go. Mina evidently noticed this and sent him a confused look that he pretended not to see.

    Jimin's father offered closing remarks to their guests as the ball came to an end. With the last dance complete, the crowd began to depart from the castle. Jimin and Mina could see the unintended effects of their time together. Twenty-nine other girls glared at Mina with expressions ranging from shock to outrage. Jimin unwillingly let go of Mina's hand. "We might have a problem here." Jimin whispered in her ear.

"Yeah, I'm thinking they aren't too happy with me right now." Mina whispered back. "Didn't you tell them that you couldn't dance?"

"Oh. I did, didn't I? They're probably furious now. Sorry." Jimin apologized.

"It's alright," Mina smiled. "I had fun."

"So did I," Jimin grinned. "Just tell me if they give you any trouble."

"I'll be fine," Mina sighed. "They'll cool off eventually. You're going to marry one of them anyways, not me, so hopefully they'll look on the bright side of things."

"Y-Yeah," Jimin stuttered. Why did he feel so melancholic all of a sudden?

"Well, I should go before they trample me over in their haste." Mina smiled. 

"Sleep well," Jimin sighed.

"Thanks," Mina patted his arm before turning to leave. "You're a really great friend, Jimin. Goodnight!"

     Jimin waved feebly at her retreating back. Glancing at the other girls, who were still fuming, he quickly exited the ballroom and headed straight for his chambers. Jimin rushed into the room and shut the doors behind him. He leaned against the closed doors and slowly sank to the floor. Running his hands through his hair, Jimin tried to process everything that had happened. It wasn't until a few minutes ago that he finally had an inkling of what he was feeling. He assumed the light-headedness and elevated heart rate was because he was nervous or sick. But that didn't explain why he craved contact so much; more specifically, Mina's contact. It didn't explain why he felt such resent towards the male crowd that Mina had accumulated. It didn't explain why he couldn't tear his gaze away from her or let go of her hand.

     He finally let the long forbidden thought enter his mind. There was only one explanation that made sense. 

Jimin was in love.

      And yet for him, it didn't make any sense at all. He didn't believe in love. He had never been loved. He had never seen love. The world showed him, time and time again, that he had no room for love in his life. His father showed no love for him. His mother abandoned whatever love he thought he merited. Love was just an abstract theme conjured out of fairytales. But here he was.

     Could it really be? Once he allowed that suspicion to grow, Jimin began to understand the true weight behind this realization. This was not good. Even if he did act upon this new, foreign sentiment, nothing would become of it. Mina had no interest in him. Like he once did, Mina had no inclination to find love. She had her whole life ahead of her. Mina could spend hours talking passionately of her travels and hopes for the future. She had places to be and things to do. She could never stay locked up in the castle with him. 

      Jimin groaned and let the back of his head hit the wooden door. Love surely couldn't bode well. But Jimin had no clue how to rid himself of the strange and terrifying emotion. And yet although he was afraid, a part of him remained curious. People spoke of love as a wonderful ordeal. An unparalleled adventure. An irreplaceable experience. Was love really so bad if everyone seemed to think otherwise? Was he wrong about love? 

     Whatever love was, it was drawing him towards Mina, his best and only friend. He supposed love would mean that he would be with her for more than just a couple weeks. She would always be with him; she who made him laugh and smile. She gave him a reason to get up every morning. She brought warmth into the place he had always thought of as a cold, empty prison. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Mina made him happy. 

     But she was his friend. Just his friend.

     When they had first become acquainted on that fated day, he thought that 'friend' was the most beautiful word he would ever know. Jimin had spent his entire life longing for a friend. He spent his childhood alone, with no one to confide in. No one to talk to. No one to trust. Now, only a short while after he had finally fulfilled that longing, he was instead filled with a sadness he never thought he would feel. For the first time in Jimin's life, the word 'friend' didn't seem so wonderful anymore.