Love, Kookie

The best day

"Guys, wait up!" Jin shouted at Jungkook and me as we ran across the beach, laughing.

In the few months since I had met Tae's friends, we had become an inseparable little group, especially Jungkook and I. He had asked me out right away, but I was too scared to say yes at first. I had told him that I wasn't ready, that I was still figuring things out. By the time he took me on our first date, I realized exactly what I had been missing.

Five months later, I was the happiest I had ever been, and I couldn't imagine a life without him in it.

"Please! I need to talk to Lana!" Jin shouted some more. I stopped running and began to catch my breath.

"Come on, get on my back, we'll outrun him." Jungkook told me giddily. I smiled at his childishness.

"He's right, I have to talk to him about something." I sat in the sand as Jin started to approach.

"Talk to me, then." He knelt in the sand beside me and pecked my cheek.

"This isn't about you." I lied. "Go bother Tae, Namjoon, and Yoongi, you big baby. We'll be right there."

He pouted. "I'm your big baby, though, right?" I ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead.

"Of course. Now shoo." I waved him off. He gave me a bunny smile and I watched as he ran off and jumped on Taehyung's back.

"So," Jin started, finally catching up and plopping down next to me. "Have you figured it out yet?" He asked with a smile. Jin had become like a brother to me. And he knew Jungkook well, so I would confide in him a lot.

"I think I have." I smiled to myself as I watched Jungkook laugh with our friends from afar. "You don't think it's too early, do you? To feel this way?"

Jin draped an arm across my back. "I think when you love someone, you just know. There's no timeline for love."

"Thanks, Jin." I kissed his cheek. "I think.... I think I'm gonna tell him." I said, mostly to myself.

"Good. You two are right for each other." Jin opened his arms and I hugged him, thankful to be surrounded by such good friends.

"Hey, Jin-hyung! Quit hugging my girlfriend!" Jungkook teased as he made his way back over to us. "We're gonna miss the fireworks!"

"Actually, can I talk to you for a second?" I asked nervously.

"You're not breaking up with me for this doofus, are you?" Jungkook crossed his arms and pouted.

"Nah, she's not my type." Jin teased, standing up to meet the others.

"Hey, I'm a catch." I whined back at him.

"You're also, like, five years old. You toddlers have fun." Jin ran off and left me laughing alone with Jungkook.

"Everything ok?" Jungkook asked, sitting beside me. He put an arm around me and began rubbing my shoulder.

"I have to tell you something." I looked at my hands.

"It's not bad, is it?" He asked softly, his voice concerned.

"No, no." I made myself look him in the eyes. "Jungkook?" I smiled.

"Yeah?" He exhaled, his face close to mine. He seemed... nervous.

"I love you." The words came out naturally, more easily than I expected them too.

A slow grin spread across his face. "I think I love you too."

"You think?" I mocked him.

"Lana Grace Channing, I am desperately and hopelessly in love with you." He rephrased. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

I smiled wide and pressed my lips to his, hard and passionate. His hands weaved their way through my hair and pulled me closer to his body.

"Woooooo!" I heard Jin cheering from afar. Jungkook pulled away from me. I watched as Jin led Tae, Namjoon, and Yoongi in a cheering fest. Namjoon even let out a loud whistle.

"Could you not?" Jungkook asked, only slightly annoyed.

"You know you love us!" Tae yelled.

"You know what? Yeah" I smiled, then met Jungkook's eyes. "I really do."