glo-up

1 - Prologue

Jimin wasn't handsome.

Jimin didn't stand out.

Jimin looked like any ordinary boy. He had dark black hair that fell past his eyes, and plump, soft lips. He had to admit; he didn't like the way his face looked. He didn't like his body build and he didn't like his hairstyle. In other words, he didn't like what he looked like.

How could he like his average appearance, when City was filled with gorgeous, handsome individuals?

Jimin lived in City, a large and sprawling futuristic-looking metropolis in the center of the world with floating cars, flashing lights and celebrities. Almost everyone who lived in City looked stunning: flowing glossy hair, huge, bright eyes and the perfect body.

However, not all of them were born with that beauty. Most of the celebrities had gone through a procedure called the Glo-up. Everyone had to go through the Glo-up eventually, when they turn 21. After the Glo-up, they would be perfect, no flaws or imperfections whatsoever.

Jimin was 20, his 21st birthday only a week away, and he couldn't wait to get his Glo-up, the day where he would finally be perfected.

~ ~ ~

"Can I get water please?" Jimin asked the bartender wearily; the flashing lights and strobes hurt his eyes and gave him a massive headache, not to mention the strong smell of alcohol.

The bartender was a young man who looked to be in his early 20's. He had vibrant red hair and smile shaped like a heart. He snapped his head upwards upon hearing Jimin, his heart-shaped smile instantly turning into a round oval, his eyes widening and his eyebrows vanishing behind his hairline, in a cartoonish shocked expression. Jimin would have found it a little humorous, if his head didn't feel like it might drop off.

"Water?? You're here at STRAY, the most famous club in City with the best drinks, and you're gonna order water??" he exclaimed in disbelief while he poured a sparkly, clear liquid into a tall champagne glass and accidentally letting it overflow, due to his shock.

"Uhm..." Jimin paused and fiddled with the hem of his shirt, unsure of what to say to not ruin his image further. "I just don't drink is all..." he said, looking down, embarrassed. It was the norm to drink at a young age, but he was never very fond of the taste.

"Come on, don't bully the kid," a voice came from behind Jimin. He spun around and saw his best friend, Kim Seokjin, who wore a casual button up collared white shirt, and a black tie that was fashionably loose around his neck. Jin wrapped his arm around Jimin's shoulder, smirking, champagne glass in his other hand as he swished the yellowy-golden liquid around, the bubbles fizzing to the top and popping. "Jimin here is a little baby, isn't he? He can't handle alcohol." Jin laughed and pinched his cheek, obviously intoxicated.

Jimin frowned at Jin and pushed his hand away. "I only wanted a glass of water, and besides, I shouldn't be getting drunk. I'm really... lightweight." He studied Jin's flushed, red and sweating face. "You're already drunk, Jin." he sighed, taking out a tissue to wipe the sweat off Jin's glistening forehead, the multicolored lights reflecting off the wet surface.

Jin laughed again, louder this time, slapping the tissue out of Jimin's hand and nearly dropping the champagne glass onto the slick floor. "No, I'm totally sober!" he said loudly, voice slightly slurred. Jin slammed the champagne glass down on the bar counter, making a loud noise and wiped his mouth with a white sleeve, staining the fabric. "Can I get some beer next?" he asked the bartender with a crooked smile.

"Of course!" his heart shaped smile reappeared. "You-" he pointed at Jimin with the stirrer in his hand, which dripped the sparkling liquid onto the glassy bar counter, creating tiny droplets that sparkled against the harsh lights. "Learn to have some fun, kiddo, and have a drink once in awhile, like your friend here." He filled a plastic cup with tap water and reluctantly passed it to Jimin, then a can of beer to Jin.

Jimin took a sip of the water as he watched others on the dance floor, who were chugging down large glasses filled with alcohol, dancing and mixing together, their sweaty bodies pressing and rubbing against each other into a mass of waving arms and loud cheers. He scrunched up his nose in distaste, turning away from the commotion. Jimin didn't really like the taste of alcohol, and was unsure why anyone would enjoy it. It tasted all bitter and sour, like carbonated milk gone bad. He preferred water and strawberry milk. Why wouldn't anyone like strawberry milk?

Jimin's eyes drifted over to the center of the dance floor, where there was one man surrounded by a bunch of girls. They were all dancing together, and they seemed to be fighting over the man in the center, each trying to dance with him at the same time, sort of like a terrifying pack of wolves- or maybe Jimin was just scared of girls.  Either way, he didn't dare to approach the crowd.

The guy in the center had the darkest hair Jimin had ever seen; he swore it was darker than squid ink against a black tablecloth, with perfect, pale porcelain skin that resembled a doll. He had a perfect body and the perfect outfit. He flirted with the girls and made them swoon in the perfect way. How did one flirt with girls? Pickup lines? A wink and a smile? Jimin had no idea at all.

This man was someone Jimin knew.

This man was someone he admired.

This man was someone he envied.

This man was better than him in every single way possible, and yet he was 2 years younger than Jimin, but capable of everything he wasn't able to do.

This man was Jeon Jungkook, a freshman from the same university Jimin studied at.

And Jimin thought he was fucking gorgeous.

a/n: hello there :DD I'm a pretty amateur writer, so I hope you enjoy this story! I've got big things planned out, and maybe even a second book (but that's getting ambitious lol)! im super excited to write this story, I think its got lot of potential, so stay tuned :DD