Our grace period for separation is
Starting with our first encounter, which was incredibly nerve-wracking, Park Jimin and I bumped into each other frequently. It was truly strange. We'd never even crossed paths before, but after that day, we'd run into each other in all sorts of places: in the alley near our house, at the supermarket, in the park, at a cafe. It was as if a bright red thread was tied around each other's little fingers.
“At this point… is there really such a thing as fate?”
I never believed in the very concept of fate. In this harsh world, believing in something like fate and waiting for it to happen... I thought it was too cruel. But even that thought began to change. After meeting Park Jimin several times.
Park Jimin approached me as that kind of being. As if possessed by something, I wished he were my destiny.
“I wish Jimin would do the same.”
I hugged my pillow tightly, embarrassed to show anyone. My mouth was tightly shut, my body was curled up, and my cheeks were flushed. It felt awkward, like I was falling in love, but I didn't hate it. Somehow, I felt like he was in the same situation.
As the days passed, Park Jimin and I grew closer. We met more often and contacted each other more frequently, but nothing about our relationship changed. We simply knew each other's ages, what we liked, and were comfortable speaking. That was it.
About a month into our ambiguous relationship, I, a quick-tempered person, decided to test Park Jimin. Being quite perceptive, I was able to see into his feelings to some degree, and he was clearly in the same boat. I was dying to love him, but I was too scared to confess.
“Jimin, I have a problem.”
"What is it?"
“I have a crush on someone… but should I say I don’t know what they think of me?”
At the end of spring, cherry blossoms poured down from the sky, and there we were, a shade more pink than the petals. As I walked among the falling cherry blossoms, my steps stopped, and Park Jimin, who had been walking ahead of me, also stopped.
“…What kind of person is he?”
I watched Park Jimin from behind, barely suppressing the snickers that were slowly creeping out. Seeing this, I realized I might have already known his feelings. Park Jimin, who had been walking away, stood upright at my mention of having a crush, and I answered from a few steps away.
“Um… someone who makes you laugh just by looking at them?”
”……“
"First of all, he's really cute, but he's also cool. And he's handsome!"
"… I see."
“He’s younger than me, but he’s mature, incredibly affectionate, and… should I say more?”
At this point, I've pretty much told you everything. The person I like is you, Park Jimin. But Park Jimin, who has absolutely no sense of humor, seemed completely oblivious. Judging by his continued back-and-forth, I can tell.
“No, don’t.”
Park Jimin, unaware that he was describing himself, abruptly turned away, telling her not to talk about him anymore. His expression was not only tense, but he looked as if he was about to burst into tears at any moment.
I was flustered. I just wanted to make sure our relationship was secure, and I was just trying to tease him briefly. I had absolutely no intention of making Park Jimin cry... But Park Jimin strode towards me with long legs. Standing before me, his eyes flushed red, he lowered his head, and gently tugged at my collar.
“Please look after me too, sister.”
"uh…?"
"I probably like it a lot more than that person."
Park Jimin wouldn't know. The moment I heard that, I barely managed to suppress a laugh. The hand that held onto my sleeve tightened its grip, fearing I might leave him behind.
“So… don’t like that person…“
It sounded like a cute whining. The hand tightly clutching his collar, the head bowed low, the slightly trembling voice. Everything Park Jimin said and did, begging me to like him instead of him, was simply adorable. I bit my lip, squeezed my eyes shut, and tried to hold back my laughter, but in the end, I couldn't hold it back and burst out laughing.
“Pfft… Phew…!”
When I burst out laughing, Park Jimin lifted his head from his deep bow, and when he saw me laughing, he pouted. He probably thought I was joking when he had spoken his true feelings.
I smiled brightly at Park Jimin, who still held onto my sleeve, his lips parted, and then wiped away the tears that had formed in his eyes with my fingers. Then, I grabbed Park Jimin's hand, which was holding onto my sleeve, and looked him in the eye.
“Park Jimin, do you know you’re really cute?”
“It’s not cute.”
"What makes you smile every time?"
"uh?"
"It's you, you idiot."
Park Jimin's eyes, staring at me, widened. I glanced at him again and chuckled, and his eyes seemed to redden. I placed both my hands on his face, and he placed his hands on mine and held them tightly.
“I like you. Let’s go out together, Jimin.”
Park Jimin, who embraced me in response to my confession, smiled brightly. For a moment, he held me in his embrace, even enjoying the slightly suffocating feeling, his lips curling into a smile.
On the day when the last cherry blossom petals of spring were fluttering, we quickly began our love in a passionate flame.
