Under the Cherry Blossoms (Taejin/Kookjin)

Chapter 4: Unexplainable Attraction

JIN'S POV

Have you ever met someone for the first time and felt very comfortable with that person? You are so comfortable with that person to the point that you can easily tease him and talk to him as if you have met him for a long time. That's what I feel right now with Taehyung.

I can't deny that there is some kind of attraction between us. It was unexplainable. 

Is this love? Or maybe because both of us had a bad day and we felt comfort in each other's presence? I don't know. 

When he first dragged me out of the bar, I shoved his hand and looked at him intensely. As I looked into his eyes, I felt lost in them. I broke our eye contact and stormed away as I was afraid of the irregular beating of my heart. 

Now that I am talking to him, I feel so drawn to him. It's an amazing feeling but at the same time, scary. I'm scared because of how perfect this moment is. He was in the right place and came to me at the right time.

This is like a fairy tale, a prince saving me from from a dragon.

However, it can't be a fairy tale, right? Because my life is never destined to be like that.

Is it really this easy to have a perfect moment like this?

"Hey! Why are you sweating? I'm just teasing you, ok? We're not going to your place or my place although I don't know what's wrong with it unless you were thinking of something else." I teased him again. He opened his mouth but words won't seem to go out. I felt a bit guilty so I stopped.

"Ok! I'll stop teasing you." I laughed sounding like a windshield wiper. "I do want to go somewhere though. It's my favorite place. You'll love it."

***

TAEHYUNG'S POV

I felt relieved when Jin said that he was just teasing me. Well, it's not that I don't want to have sex with him. I really do. Who wouldn't? But the moment is just too perfect to be tainted by a one-night stand.

I had one-night stands before. Everything happened so fast. But for Jin, I don't want that. I want to take things slow.

There is some kind of unexplainable attraction between us. I am drawn to him and it's crazy.

Is this love? Is it even possible to fall in love at first sight? I don't know him that much. Hell yeah, I don't even know his full name. All I know is I want to stay like this... with him.

The craziest part is I feel like walking on eggshells with him. I mean, I could easily get any person I want because I'm pretty confident and aggressive. Yet, with Jin, I become careful. I don't want to do something that would disappoint him. I start to feel like a "Yes" man, the type of guy who will end up agreeing with whatever he says.

"Ok! I'll stop teasing you." He laughed. His laughter is so cute. It sounded like a windshield wiper. I could listen to it all day.

"I do want to go somewhere though. It's my favorite place. You'll love it." He said. I smiled. I want to say that I'd go anywhere with him, even in the pits of hell. But I guess, I would sound so whipped and I might scare him away.

*****

AUTHOR'S POV

"What music do you want to play?" Taehyung asked, with one hand inserting the key to the lock cylinder and the other hand browsing the playlist from his phone.

"Anything you want." Jin was busy adjusting his seatbelt.

Taehyung tapped on a song from his playlist. 

A calming melody filled the car. 

Jin hummed and closed his eyes at the familiar music. He then turned his head to Taehyung and smiled sweetly.

8.2 seconds is all that it takes for a man to fall in love.

The smile, so sweet and enchanting, melted Taehyung's heart. His heart skipped a beat.

One.. two... 

Their eyes locked, trapped in a magical world where pixie dust sparkled in a dreamy atmosphere.

Three... four...

"Itsumo Nando Demo from Spirited Away?" Jin's voice was calming, as gentle as the ocean breeze.

Five... six...

Taehyung curled his lips. "Yes, do you like Spirited Away?"

Seven... Eight...

"It's my favorite movie. And that is my favorite song."

Nine... Ten...

"It's my favorite movie and my favorite song, too."

The engine was long forgotten. They stayed like that for a while, drowsing themselves in the soft melody. 

Eyes still locked to each other, more than 8.2 seconds.

"Why do you like Spirited Away?" The ethereal beauty asked.

"Because Spirited Away is a metaphor of the loss of innocence and the desire to regain such innocence." Taehyung replied, with gaze unwavering.

"Yeah, I agree. The other characters portrayed the loss of innocence in the form of greed and loneliness. Chihiru symbolizes innocence. No wonder No-face and Haku were drawn to her." Jin added, with eyes glued to the dark orbs of the man in front of him.

"It's a metaphor of what we have right now. As we go through life, our personal and social issues strip away our innocence and purity. We begin to feel pessimistic even if good things happen to us. Our mindset gets fucked up."

Our mindset gets fucked up. 

The statement caused Jin to break the eye contact. He turned his head towards car door's window. He whispered, "You're right."

The sudden change in demeanor caught Taehyung off guard. He averted his gaze and started the engine.

For a few minutes, they did not talk to each other.

Taehyung took the initiative. "But we can always regain the innocence back, if we are brave enough to choose it over habits. It may take time though."

Jin hummed. "It's weird. We are complete strangers but I feel comfortable with you."

"Feeling's mutual. We're a perfect match." Taehyung blurted out, while staring at the road before them.

After a while, blush took over his body when he realized what he said. Perfect match.

He took a quick peek at Jin to check how he reacted, but the beauty does not seem bothered. So, he turned his gaze back to the road.

Unknowing to Taehyung, the words affected Jin.

The beautiful man was in deep thoughts. Is it this easy to be happy? Is it this easy to find a perfect match? What if...?