20

"P-Park Jimin?"

"The one and only."

"What... What are you doing here?"

"I came back for you. Now wipe those tears, a Princess should never cry."

He used his thumbs to swipe the tears off my cheeks as they started to subside to sniffles. I regained my balanced and pulled myself to my feet, out of Jimin's arms as I examined him from head to toe.

He was different. A different aura surrounded him and he wore a white pocket tee with a black and white varsity jacket on top along with some black skinny jeans. He had a snapback on backwards and he wore black and white shoes that matched his attire. His skin wasn't a sickly pale anymore either. Instead, it was a lively skin tone and his cheeks were dusted peachy pink from the cold, winter gust.

"You seem so... different. Where'd you disappear to so suddenly?"

"I went to seek a revival merit. After receiving one, I came back for you, and as a human this time, not a demon."

"W-what?"

Jimin rolled his eyes playfully before taking my hand and placing it on his chest. We stood silently as I felt the evident beating of his heart against my hand.

"How...?"

"It was an option offered to me when I died due to some complications in my life, but I rejected it. I didn't want to return to this rotten and torturous world again. But, after meeting this one person, I wanted it more than anything so I sent a request to the Heavens and after going through the various tests and procedures, my request was accepted."

"Does that mean you get to live again? As a normal, everyday person?"

He

nodded with a cheeky smile.

"Under specific circumstances, yes. I'm gonna spend it with you, so don't even think about getting rid of me."

He winked and took my hand.

"I'll explain the rest later. For now, let's go. It's getting late, Princess. I'll walk you home."

"No, it's fine. You don't haー"

Before I could finish my sentence, he pulled me along towards my house. He swung our hands as we talked, observing our surroundings that were illuminated by the setting sun. Once we arrived, he gave my hand a tight squeeze before letting go.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Princess. Don't miss me too much."

I rolled my eyes at his remark but giggled quietly before thanking him and entering my house. I greeted my parents before grabbing something to eat and heading upstairs where I finished my homework and washed up for bed. As I hung up my uniform in my closet, I saw the pocket watch slip out of my skirt pocket. Luckily, I had caught it before it hit the ground.

Whew.

I left the closet and opened the watch to check the time before going to bed when I saw a large crack near the other one I had discovered earlier today.

It cracked again?? I never dropped it and I haven't bumped into anything today, so how'd it crack again? Is this some type of sign? Dammit, where's Taehyung when you need him?

I sighed and closed the watch. I would just have to figure it out myself. I carefully placed it in my bag before going to bed.

•••

Day 20/29

"Something onyour 

mind , Princess?"

"Hmm? No. Nothing."

I sat at my desk in the classroom while picking at my lunch. Jimin had joined me for lunch since yesterday, and Jungkook and I had become like how I said we were to AhYeon. It was like we didn't know each other anymore. He was back to his old self with his sad, slumped shoulders and his head always bowed low. A scowl was etched onto his face and his hair was always in his eyes, preventing me from seeing them.

"Hey? Are you sure? You look bothered by something."

"Everything's fine, Jimin. I'm just not hungry. Here, eat the rest."

I pushed my lunch box towards him and handed him my chopsticks before sitting back in my chair. He gave me a worried look but after giving him a smile, he sighed and just ate. There was indeed something on my mind. The dream I had last night wandered my mind and I couldn't help but feel fear crawl up my spine. Unlike my other dreams, this one I could remember vividly.

I sat in a white room with the gold pocket watch in my hand. A screen appeared in front of me and unclear scenes flashed on it. They were of Jungkook and another figure and as the scenes passed, the pocket watch began to crack more and more.

"You're running out of time, Jimin. The span of days are shortening and there's a chance that Jungkook will commit suicide before the 29th day. You've got to do something, and you've got to do it quick.

"I could hear Taehyung's voice in my head, but he was nowhere to be seen. His voice was full of warning as he explained the situation. As I watched the pocket watchcrack even more, my heart raced faster and faster. A familiar scene of horror flashed onto the screen and I was jolted out of the dream by a scream and the lucid scene of the pocket watch finally shattering to pieces.

"Jimin? Hello? Are you sure you're okay?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. I'm fine, Jimin. You should go, the bell's about to ring."

He stared at me for a few seconds before sighing and standing up. He pushed the chair back to the desk he pulled it from and turned back around to face me. After putting away my lunch box, I looked up and gave him a questioning look. He chuckled before smirking at me.

"Cheer up, Princess. I better see you smiling for real by the end of the school day or else!"

"Or else what?"

He gave me a wink and a mini heart with his fingers.

"You'll see."

With that, Jimin left the classroom leaving me clueless and curious. He was Park Jimin, who knew what he would do?

When the last bell rang, I quickly left the classroom and as I walked out the front doors of the school, I saw Jimin waiting by the gates. He waved at me as I approached him. He raised his eyebrow as he examined my face from different angles.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

"No, there's something that's suppose to be on your face that's not."

"Huh? What?"

"A smile. Looks like you get to see what I meant by 'or else'."

"Huh?! Wait, Jimiー"

It was too late to protest. Jimin had already pulled me away from the school gates and into the city. He kept a strong assuring grip on my hand and we slowed down as we walked past

the variety of stores that were decorated and framed with bright lights and eye-catching items. I stopped a few times to look at the items that were on display by the front windows of the stores. A necklace from a jewelry store caught my eye and I asked Jimin if we could go inside for a second. He laughed at my eagerness before agreeing and opening the door for me. I walked over to the counter and asked the sales associate if I could try on the necklace that I saw from outside. She nodded and smiled at me as she retrieved the necklace from its case. Jimin watched as she came back holding the necklace in her hands and smiled before wandering off.

The sales associate helped me put it on and pointed to the mirror that was on the counter. I smiled as I touched the charm that hung from the gold chain and turned to the associate to tell her that I'd buy it, but I remembered that I hadn't brought my wallet with me.

Sighing softly, I took off the necklace and handed it back to the associate while apologizing for having her get it for me. She waved it off and left to return it to its case. I called Jimin's name to tell him that we could leave but he didn't reply. I searched the whole store for ten minutes before walking out of the store and finding him waiting outside with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Are you ready to go, Princess?"

"Sheesh, you should've told me you were waiting outside. I spent the last ten minutes looking for you."

"Sorry, I was doing something and I wanted to see how long it'd take you to find me."

I rolled my eyes and opened my mouth to complain

again, but Jimin pressed his finger to my lips and smirked.

"I get it, I'm sorry. C'mon, let's just hurry. We're almost there."

He took my hand and guided me to the place he persistently said was a secret. Once we neared the place, Jimin covered my eyes with his hand and carefully guided me from behind until I heard loud shouts and screams.

"J-Jimin? Where are we? Is everything alright? I hear screaming.."

I heard him chuckle before whispering that everything was just fine. He tightened his grip on my hand reassuringly and we walked for a few more minutes, the shouting growing louder and louder. We finally stopped and I felt him let go of my hand.

"Okay, we're here!"

"Well, you have to move your hand or else I can't see where we are, Jimin."

Jimin laughed at my impatience before starting his count of three.

"One... Two... Three!"

He removed his hand to reveal the colorful scene before me. It was a carnival. There was an enormous Ferris Wheel and a bunch of tents and carts set up around the other large carnival rides. Soft music was playing as kids ran around with cotton candy and candy apples in their hands. I felt myself smile at the sight before me and I breathed in the sweet scent of carnival treats that were made even sweeter by the loud laughs and giggles of the people around.

"Do you like it?"

"I... I love it.. How'd you get tickets for such a carnival, it's almost impossible to get them for large carnivals in Seoul.."

"I got them from a friend. C'mon, let's go ride the swing chairs!"

Jimin pulled me along to the line for the swing chairs with a childish smile on his face. I could see the excitement on his face as he couldn't stand still in the line. He ended up dancing to the silly music that played as the ride started up for the people who were already on before us.

"Hey, Jimin. Did you miss this?"

"Hmm? Miss what?"

"Y'know, this. All of this."

I used my arms to motion at the things around us. He stared at me for a moment before laughing. His eyes creased, showing his signature eye smile and his face seemed to be illuminated by the bright lights around us. He poked my cheeks and smiled at me like I was the most valuable thing left on the earth.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Princess, but I sure know that I missed you like hell."