JiMina Collection

More Than Gold ~ Part 20

      Mina toppled off Jimin's lap, putting as much distance between them as she possibly could. She breathed heavily as she stared at Jimin in horror. What had just happened? Why did she think that? Why on earth would she ever want to kiss him? And why now? She had never thought of him that way before, and yet, just then, she had suddenly felt the urge to close that small distance between their lips.

      Jimin looked just as confused as she felt. "Mina?" he called out. "Are- Are you okay?"

     On shaky legs, Mina pulled herself up. Brushing the dirt off her cloak, she tried to pretend her outburst had never happened. "Yes... I'm fine." Even as she tried to look composed on the outside, a thousand thoughts were echoing in her mind.

"Are you sure?" Jimin stood and walked towards her, reaching out to place his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm fine!" Mina said, a little too loudly to be completely convincing. She stepped further away before he could touch her. "Uh - Let's have a look around, shall we?" She walked away from him in the direction of the village, desperate to give herself some space. Mina knew he was following her, but as long as he was out of sight, she could try to sort out whatever was going on.

      Mina had never so much as fallen in love before, let alone kissed anyone. Why did she want to  do so at that very instant? It's not like she ever could. Jimin was a prince and soon-to-be King; the entire kingdom was at his disposal. If she were ever to feel... something... for someone, it shouldn't have been him. She was utterly startled and confused, to say the least. All her life, she had followed the same rule: Don't get close and you won't get hurt. It was so simple. What was wrong with her now?

     She heard his footsteps rush up from behind her. Surely enough, Mina could see a flash of movement barely enter her line of sight. She refused to look directly at him. 

"Mina? You look upset... Or- or scared. Are you sure you're okay?" Jimin tried to keep up with her quick pace. "Was- was it me? Did I do something?" 

      Whereas just a few seconds ago she was trying her hardest to walk away from him, Mina slowed down at the concern in his voice. This wasn't fair of her. He had done nothing wrong. As she turned to meet his gaze, she softened at the look on his face. Mina suddenly felt guilty for worrying him, even if she didn't mean to. Here was Jimin, the victim of lifelong neglect, terrified that his only friend was mad at him. Mina simply needed time to... to fix whatever was wrong with her. She put on a smile and pulled him in for a hug. "You've done nothing except for being a wonderful friend. I promise I'm alright."

      Mina could feel Jimin relax a little bit under her care. See, everything was back to normal. Just two friends enjoying a day out together. Jimin wrapped his arms around her to reciprocate the hug she gave him. Without warning, her heart rate increased exponentially. What was wrong with her? Mina wrestled herself quickly out of his grip and once again began taking long strides towards the village. "Uh, come on. I want to show you around!" It wasn't necessarily a lie.

    She could tell Jimin was glad to be out of the castle walls for the first time, and yet he remained apprehensive about their setting. Mina wondered if the change was too jarring for him. He was, after all, a prince. The greens and golds of the hills were starkly different from the greys and browns of the outer villages. 

     Mina wanted to bring him to all the places she knew. Their first stop was the town seamstress' shop, where she used to live for a short while. It was awkward, but not unwelcome, to be able to see the seamstress again. Mina certainly did not miss her chores, but the woman had given her a place to stay for several months. She steered Jimin into the shop, the familiar tinkling of the front-door bell announcing their arrival. The stern woman was hard at work, but looked up from her spectacles to see the commotion.