when the stars align

Chapter 1

Busan, Korea. A beautiful town, seemingly enough city and farm land for everyone to get piece of the life they want. My family lived more on the outskirts and in a more Rural area. The sky was always clear and, my were the stars beautiful. Stars are so absolutely stunning. I wish I could pull a constellation out of the sky and keep it in my pocket. 

I've loved stars ever since my Appa showed me their beauty. Appa loved astrology so much, he showed me everything about the sky for as long as I could remember. From the planets, to meteors, then of course, Stars. I dream of constellations, and every night I lay out in the field just a few blocks away to see stars light up the sky. Doing this brings me a little closer to Appa. 

Appa and Omma were buried a very long time ago. I can still remember vividly how terrified I was when I heard the news. My parents flew to America for business years ago, and their plane was hijacked. They crashed into a pit of fire. I was only in elementary school. That's when I moved in with my grandmother. Ever since she has been my only family and she brought me to Busan to make a life for myself. Since I've lived with her almost all my life, all I have left of my parents are few pictures and stars. I watch them to feel alive.

People often cry at the memory of a passed loved one, but I try to think they are still here, wandering and watching me live and guiding me into life. I love the thought of there presence in the stars.

I am a Senior in college this year, trying so hard to make Omma and Appa proud. I am going for Astrology, wanting to spend everyday with what I loved most. My Astronomy class brings me much joy, maybe too much. It is where I've met the ever so handsome Jeon Jungkook. Well, we've never spoke but he sits beside me in class. He is a couple years younger than me, but I've heard he skipped a lot of highschool because of his smarts. I always wondered why he had astronomy as a class. He was majoring in performing arts, so I always assumed extra credit course. That was until tonight.

There Jungkook was, sitting in the opened field, sobbing his eyes out. He screamed "Curse you stars", hitting his fist into the ground. The sound was horrid to my ears. I couldn't just leave him there like that. I walked over, trying not to frighten the boy. "Annyeong." I said as I crouched by his side. He looked at me, and my heart broke at the sight.

Jungkook sat with puffy eyes. A large cut on his lip. His cheeks flushed red. "Jungkook?" "How do you know me?" I was upset with his response, my lips making a small frown. "W- we goo -to th-the same school. I'm in y-our Astronomy class." I stuttered my words, saddened he didn't know who I was. I mean, who did? No one talked to me because I was a gay fag. I was the boy who never talked in class, and wore big black rimmed glasses.

He looked at me for awhile, just staring at my facial features. "I'm fine. You don't need to comfort me Jimin. I think I'm just going to stargaze for tonight. Head home." I was surprised. Did he like star gazing too? "Actually... I-I am her here to do the sa-ame. I really love constellations and stars." My words were rambled and soft. "Well, we can watch them together." The only thing I felt was my heart race though my chest. I could only stare before I nodded.

He hung his head back and let every tear fall past his jaw, his breathing was drawn heavily. He kept holding back sobs, chocking up each tear. "Jungkook-shi, you-you can let it out." "I don't know if I'm ready to."

We sat in silence for a while and I had laid down on the grass, it was cold and wet, lightly soaking my backside, but it was comforting. I smiled as a star glistened beautifully, lighting Jungkook's features handsomely. He wiped his tears and sighed. "It is getting late and cold, we should get going." he started to stand but I had the urge to stop him. I pulled at his fingers "Wait, why not stay the night?" I looked above us, and it was one of the most beautiful nights I've seen in so long. His eyes met mine for awhile. "Okay.'

It had gotten to the point of being 2 in the morning and my eyes started to drift into a slumber. Mine and Jungkook's conversations were short, and I could tell he was starting to relax and I don't know what took over me. The feeling overwhelmed me and suddenly I awoke to see Jungkook staring at me. His gaze left me speechless, and I just opened my mouth and gapped. "Jimin, you seem so free." "I've learned to let go and try to stay positive." "Teach me to be free", he grabbed my hand and looked so intently. "Tell me what happened, it can set you free from the weight of holding back." He looked nervous "I-I don-" "Jungkook, it is okay. I'm the most made fun of Kid in this town. Nothing you say will make me dislike you." 

"I-I'm gay and my dad found out." he sputtered.

My cheeks tinted pink at the thought of Jungkook possibly having a crush on me, which I knew to be untrue. The thought was still so beautiful. "Did he do this?" I lightly placed my thumb to his lip. He closed his eyes and nodded quickly. "He just doesn't understand, I know how it feels to feel alone and like no one will care or love you." "Yeah, well your dad doesn't beat you." he scoffed. My heart stiffened.

"My dad is dead." I stood and gathered myself feeling ashamed in his outburst when I was just trying to be there for him. I walked quickly and heard faint calls of "Jimin, wait!" but I was a little too heated to care. I made it all the way home, climbing my tree into my room to not wake Grandma, and finally let sleep truly take over. I'll think about this all tomorrow.