Abroad with Jimin

6

I wake up with Jimin's head on top of mine, his arm draped over my shoulder. I check the time. It's been almost 3 hours. We should be arriving in Busan soon. I try to look up at Jimin without moving his head. He's sleeping so peacefully, I don't want to wake him. Without thinking, I reach up and stroke his cheek. He flinches but doesn't wake up. His skin is impossibly smooth. The train starts to slow.

"Jimin?" I say softly. "Jimin?" I slip my hand under his head to support it so I can move my own. Free to move, I look out the window and gasp. It's so colorful.

"Are you ok?" Jimin jolts awake. He grabs my hand.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. It's just so beautiful." I point out the window. I feel his eyes on me. He brushes a piece of my face-framing hair behind my ear.

"Yes. Beautiful."

I smile at him like that for a moment and realize that I've started to lean in. He seems to notice and follows my lead. His hand moves to my chin, tilting my face up.

"Skylar?" He breathes. His breath smells fantastic.

"Mm?" I try to keep my eyes from fluttering shut.

"We're here." He drops his hand and backs away, putting his sunglasses back on.

"You're such a tease." I whine, stomping my foot as I stand.

"C'mon." He reaches out a hand. "You can't be mad at me. You're not going to walk around Busan alone, are you?" I roll my eyes and grab his warm, strong hand.

********************

Today was great. Jimin took me to all of the tourist locations. We went on a hike to this big lookout spot where you can see the city below. For dinner, he took me to his favorite noodle place and ordered half the menu. We went for a walk on the beach, and his heels kept getting stuck in the wet sand. He told me he wears them because his members tease him about his height.

"You're not that short." I say, teasing him. He stops in his tracks.

"Watch it." He challenges. "Or you might end up with wet shoes."

I laugh. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." He charges at me and picks me up effortlessly, throwing me over his shoulder. He spins and spins, making me dizzy.

"Put me down!" I shriek, laughing. People are staring. "How are you so strong for someone so small?"

"Oh, now you've done it." I can hear the smile in his voice. He drops me so my feet land in the freezing ocean water, soaking my vans and the bottoms of my leggings.

"Park Jimin!" I shout. He takes off running. I try to chase him but can't feel my feet, so I trip.

Jimin's POV

I hear Skylar call my name but I'm too busy running away. Women are scary when they're angry, but I'm laughing too hard to be concerned about that.

"Jimin, my ankle!"

I slow my pace and look back. I stop laughing when I see her on the ground, holding her foot. She looks up with tears in her eyes. I run back to her quickly. This is my fault. I kneel in front of her. "What hurts?" I ask, trying to inspect.

"Jimin." She chokes out, and grabs onto my shirt, pulling herself closer to me. I help her up and she throws her arms around my neck, hugging me. I'm startled at first but snake my arms around her back, holding her tight. It's been a long time since I've hugged a girl my age.

Suddenly, there's something cold and wet on my neck. I let go and she starts laughing, standing up fine on her own. Then I feel it. She's put a handful of sand down my shirt. "Ahh!" I try to avoid the dripping sensation, looking like a worm as I try to curve my back away from the sand falling. She laughs harder. "Hey! You were crying!"