Epilogue

because I love you guys xx

•••

I walked down the street while blowing on my hands, trying to keep them warm in the bitter cold. I still hadn't bought myself a new pair of mittens and I hoped to buy some today. It was Christmas Eve and I was on my way to the outdoor city outlet to buy last minute gifts. I could see my breath in the air as I breathed out a long sigh while entering the crowded area. People bustled around talking on their phones while holding dozens of shopping bags. I squeezed my way through the swarm of shoppers and headed towards the middle of the outlet. I could see the towering Christmas tree that the city put up annually and felt a smile spread on my face. Everyone always said that they hated winter because it was so cold. They always pointed out the negatives of winter, always saying that it was such a depressing season. I disagreed with them. Sure, it was cold and everything was lifeless, but it was worth in the end because things would turn pleasant again. Christmas and New Years were perfect examples. Kid were bubbly and hyper as the teens and adults were on break from work and school.

I finally reached the Christmas tree and breathed out a sigh of relief while smoothing out my coat. I looked around and searched the place for the person I had promised to meet up with. Absentmindedly, my hand reached up to the necklace that hung around my neck and fiddled with the charm. It was the same one I had wanted to buy on the day Jimin took me to the city carnival. Realizing now that I was messing with it, I rememberedthe day that I received it. It was on the same day Taehyung had to leave.

"I have to leave now, Jimin."

I smiled at him sadly as he glared at the floor with his hands shoved in his pocket. He no longer wore a school uniform. Instead, he was dressed nicely in a white tuxedo and his hair was neatly styled. I fixed his crooked tie and pulled his cheek, trying to get rid of his dreadful frown.

"Don't look so sad, it's not like you won't see me again."

"But still... I don't want to leave you."

"It's okay, Taehyung. I'll see you in heaven someday. Plus, you can come down and visit when you're not on duty. C'mon, where's your smile?"

I pushed the corners of his mouth up and we stood there in silence until he finally broke out into a toothy smile. He laughed loudly and pulled me into a hug. I embraced him and breathed in his soothing scent.

"Maybe, if we're ever reborn someday, you'll fall in love with me instead of Jungkook."

His eyes glimmered in hope as we pulled back from each other. I giggled and rolled my eyes playfully.

"Sure, we'll see about that."

I shriveled Taehyung's hair as he pouted at my abstract answer. I handed him the golden pocket watch with a sheepish smile.

"It's kind of cracked, sorry."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow at me and opened the watch to check what I meant by cracked. Just as it opened, his eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open.

"What did you do to it?!"

I could only shrug and stare at my toes with a grim expression on my face, recalling the memories of the

boy I fell in love with. Taehyung saw my shoulders deflate and decided it was best to change the topic. He cleared his throat and shoved the pocket watch in the inside pocket of his tuxedo.

"I'll see you again someday, Jimin. Don't forget me, alright?"

I nodded my head as I lifted my eyes off the ground to study Taehyung's face one last time before he left. At my sullen look, he pulled out a small, royal blue box and an envelope.

"Before I go, here. Take these. Park Jimin requested that I give them to you."

He placed the two items in my hand and closed my fingers around them. I stared at them with a surprised look as I hadn't seen Jimin since the day the incident happened. I opened up the envelope to find several letters that seemed to have been written all in one day.

In regards to the Princess,

I am writing this to you to apologize for my actions. I'm sorry for what happened on the night I confessed to you. I lost control of myself and let the worst get to me. I knew I was tacked, but I didn't feel like it was something to call attention to. I'm sorry for putting you in such a dangerous and fatal situation.

Right now, I just finished filling out the application form for studying abroad in the States. I'm sure you're better off without me and if Jungkook is there for you, I rest reassured that you'll be happy. I do plan on returning after graduating, and by then I hope that you'll give me a second chance to fix my mistakes and to make you happy again. I hope that you'll keep me somewhere in the back of your memories, but for the time being, goodbye,

Princess.

ーPark Jimin

P.S. Enclosed in the case is the necklace I planned to give you after confessing. Despite turning me down, I want you to keep it. You looked so beautiful when you smiled as you put it on in the store, I couldn't help but buy it for you. I hope you get a chance to wear it again without feeling burdened that it holds a memory of us.

I tucked the first letter back in the envelope and opened the royal blue case to find the necklace I had tried on in the store before going to the carnival with Jimin. I stared in shock and I heard Taehyung chuckling.

"Do you want me to help you put it on?"

I slowly nodded and took the necklace out from the case. I turned around and let Taehyung put it on around my neck. As he finished, he blew on the nape of my neck, causing me to jump at the sudden sensation. I felt the goosebumps rise on my skin and I spun around with my cheeks flushed red. Taehyung laughed and stood back, admiring me with his hands resting in his pockets.

"You look beautiful, as always."

I covered my face with my hands as my cheeks seemed to get rosier while my smile only got wider. Taehyung shook his head in amusement before pulling me into a hug one last time. He pulled back a few moments later and took a deep breath. He lifted my chin with his two fingers and sent me a wink before kissing my cheek. He whispered into my ear before finally breaking away. What did he say? I couldn't possibly tell you.

I blushed lightly and smacked his arm. He laughed and clutched his arm. After a few more minutes of playing around,

we straightened up and Taehyung cleared his throat once more. We both let out a long breath after taking one in. Our eyes locked for the last time and both of us smiled.

"Goodbye, Jimin."

Taehyung raised his hand and gave a small wave as he started to dissolve to dust, and then to nothing. Now alone, I stood facing no one and quietly whispered,

"Goodbye, Kim Taehyung."

"What are you staring at?"

I looked over next to me and saw the person I had promised to meet staring at me and then off to the distance, trying to find what I was staring at.

"Hmm? Nothing, I was juー"

I did a double-take and let out a shriek.

"Calm down, idiot. It's just me."

"God, you scared me! Stop doing that, Jungkook!"

I glared at him and crossed my arms as he laughed at how easily I got scared. I turned away from him and started walking away when I was pulled back into a warm embrace.

"Hey, don't leave. I'm sorry. Your hands are freezing, how long were you waiting?"

I blushed as I felt his strong arms pull me closer to him. I looked up from his chest to see him staring down at me with a worried look.

"N-not long. Come on, let's just go."

I forced myself to break from Jungkook's warm embrace before walking ahead of him. I took deep breaths to calm my rapid pulse before Jungkook caught up to me. He nonchalantly took my right hand into his left and intertwined our fingers before putting them in his coat pocket. I glanced up at him to see a small smile resting on his face. I couldn't help but smile myself. I was still in slight

disbelief that he was here right now, next to me, and alive for all that mattered. I had received a whole mouthful from my parents because of him, but I found myself smiling through their whole lecture because I had successfully saved the person I had come to love so much.

"Thank you, Jimin. Thank you for making me happy again for the short period of time we knew each other, and thank you for forgiving me. I love you."

That was the last thing I heard before the line went dead.

No. This couldn't be happening. Jeon Jungkook, don't you fucking die on me!

I chucked my phone on my bed and dash out of my room and down the stairs. I let out a loud gasp at the sudden sharp pain in my ankle and I tripped down the last few stairs, but got right back on both feet as I just couldn't care less. I didn't care about anything and anyone at that moment, my top priority was to save Jeon Jungkook and that was what I was going to do.

I shoved my feet into my worn-out high tops and scrambled out the front door and down the street. It was dead hour, everything was dead silent and it was pitch black outside except for the dim, faint light the moon gave off.

Where had the illuminating bright moon gone? The one I had seen when I was on the veranda stargazing with Jungkook, where was it?

The winter wind howled through the lifeless streets as the naked trees hindered at the harshness of it. The bitter cold stung as it gnawed at my bare skin. In too much of a rush, I had forgotten to change or even grab my coat before leaving. I shivered as I ran through the

streets ignoring the burning pain in my ankle that only seemed grow more and more painful. My tears froze on my cheeks the moment they left my eyes as the icy wind kissed, or more like smacked, me in the face.

I reached Jungkook's vast house and rang the bell at the gate while trying to catch my breath and wipe away my frozen tears. The driveway was empty as always and there wasn't a single light that was on in the house but I knew someone was home. Jungkook had to be home. To hell with his parents, they could've died for all I cared. Abandoning their one and only child and choosing their work over him? What kind of morbid shit was that?

"Jeon Jungkook!!"

I scream his name at the top of my lungs as I relentlessly rang the bell. Still, no one came. I shoved the gate multiple times, throwing myself against it, but it still refused to move. I kicked the gate and yelled at it, calling it a good for nothing son of a bitch. I ended up climbing the gate and falling on my bottom on the other side of it. I got back on my feet and immediately started searching for a spare key that'd open the front door. I didn't know how much time I had left as I had left all possible time sources back at home.

After what seemed like hours, I found the spare key hidden behind the holly wreath that hung on the front door. It pricked my fingers as I plucked the key from it, but I ignored it as I quickly shoved the door open and chucked the key somewhere in the house, not bothering to close the door. As I bolted up the stairs, my eyes caught sight of a clock and saw that there were only seven minutes

left till 5:16. I yelled for Jungkook as I threw open every door in that damned long hall. I heard the deadly familiar rattle of a bottle of pills from the room at the very end of the hall and I immediately ran towards it. I shoved the door open with all the strength I had left to see Jungkook standing in the middle of the room holding his hand up to his mouth. I rushed in and slapped his hand away from his mouth, sending the mass of pills flying across the room. Jungkook stared in shock as I stood in front of him breathing hard and looking like a total mess.

"H-how did you..."

My face scrunched up as I let the rest of my tears fall. In a state of complete and total panic, I ended up blurting the first thing that came to my mind instead of telling him how stupid he was to try to commit suicide again.

"Goddammit, Jungkook! Tell me that you love me in person, not over the damn phone!!"

Jungkook was dumbfounded by my words and even more by my presence as I broke down in front of him. He slowly pulled me into a hug before whispering that everything was okay.

"How could you do that to me? You asshole, I thought I just lost you forever, don't do that to me!"

"Shh, i-it's alright. I'm sorry, Jimin, I'm sorry. Don't cry, I won't do it, I'm still here."

He stroked my windblown hair as I cried into his shoulder. My fists tightened as I gripped onto his shirt, afraid that he'd slip away and leave me like he almost did just now. Jungkook gently swayed from side to side and slowly, I was lulled to sleep as he hummed a soft melody into my ear. I woke up in a daze

as I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar room. I moved to get up, but someone pulled me down and I found myself wrapped in the embrace of two strong arms. Flustered, I let out a small gasp and tried to turn my head to see who it was when the person nuzzled their face into the crook of my neck.

"Don't go."

I relaxed as I recognized Jungkook's groggy morning voice. I felt my cheeks heat up as I blushed and tried to get out of his arms. Jungkook only tightened his hold and startled me with a kiss on my neck.

"Don't leave me. As long as you stay with me, I'll stay with you."

Suddenly, I was pulled out of my trance of thoughts by Jungkook abruptly pulling me into a store.

"Wha-huh??"

Jungkook guided me through the store keeping me close to his side as he saw the roaming eyes of several other boys in the store. He brought me to the back of the store where the winter accessories were and only took a second before grabbing a pair of pale blue mittens. He smiled at them brightly before bringing them to the cashier where he quickly paid for them.

"I saw these when AhYeon dragged me down to the city a few days ago and I thought you'd like them. You never wear anything to keep your hands warm, they'll end up cracking and bleeding if you don't start taking care of them."

Jungkook took off the tag and handed them to me but I could only stare at them, still trying to process his sudden action. He sighed and rolled his eyes at my reaction.

"Fine, I'll help you."

He took my hands and blew on them to warm them up. He then

gently kissed both of them before pulling the mittens on them. Finally coming back to my senses, I wildly blushed and withdrew my hands immediately after he had finished. Jungkook smirked in an amused manner and chuckled before taking my hand and walking me out of the store. A few minutes after leaving, I realized that I had forgotten to thank him.

"T-thank you, Jungkook. You didn't have to buy them for me, I planned on buying myself a pair today. I'll pay you back, how mu-"

"It's alright, just think of it as a thank you gift."

I gave him a confused look.

"Thank you gift for what? I haven't done anything for you."

"You stayed by me and stopped me from doing the worst thing I could've ever done.""Oh, don't thank me for that. You were the one that decided to stay on this earth. You should thank yourself."

Jungkook only chuckled before wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close to his side.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Save your cheesy lines for Christmas, Jeon Jungkook."

"I can't help it, your breathless beauty brings it out of me."

He flirtatiously winked and I couldn't help but giggle at his cheesiness. We continued walking through the outlet and stopped at a few stores for me to buy my parents somethings. As I finished purchasing my parents' gifts, I noticed that Jungkook wasn't buying much. He had only bought one small gift and he had put it in his backpack the moment after he paid for it. Instead of buying other gifts, he insisted that he carry my bags for me. "You should

buy something too."

"I did."

"You only bought one thing. You should buy something more."

"For who? I wouldn't have anyone to give them to."

I glanced over at him as we walked past several stores and saw that he had a sour look on his face. I decided to just drop the subject and leaned my head on his shoulder. He let out a long sigh before kissing the top of my head.

"Fine, I'll think of something to buy."

I looked at him in surprised and he chuckled while pulling my cheek while shaking his head.

"Goodness, the things I do for you."

"But you love me."

"I do."

Not expecting him to agree, I nervously giggled while covering my cheeks with my now mitten-clad hands. Jungkook laughed at how easily flustered I got before continuing through the stores. We came across a store that specialized in music arts and electronics and Jungkook's eyes never seemed to leave it as we walked past it. I laughed and dragged Jungkook back and into the store. His expression immediately brightened as he caught sight of recording microphones and composing softwares. His eyes sparkled and I knew the perfect present for him. Jungkook pulled out his wallet and checked how much he had left before letting out a disheartened sigh and shoving his wallet back in his pocket. He placed the software back on the shelf before walking towards the door.

"I'll wait for you outside, take your time."

The moment he left the store, I grabbed the software pack off the shelf and brought it to the cashier to pay for it. By the time I was out of the store,

my wallet was feather light with only a few dollars left in it, but I was satisfied with my purchase as I tried to imagine Jungkook's face when he saw what I had gotten him.

"Let's go, pretty boy!"

I smacked his back and ran off before Jungkook could react.

"Hey!! That hurt, get back here!"

I ran around the outlet while laughing loudly until Jungkook finally caught me. His revenge was nonstop tickling for five minutes.

"My god, Jungkook, stop! I'm going to die laughing!!"

I tried to push Jungkook away but he managed to keep me in his reach as he continued to tickle me. My stomach ached from laughing and I swear, I felt like I'd have abs soon. He finally stopped tickling me and I had to hold onto the wall for support as I tried to catch my breath and cease my laughter. After recomposing myself, I glared at Jungkook and slightly shoved him.

"You looked so adorable when you were laughing, I couldn't help myself."

"Psh, yeah right. You just wanted revenge."

Jungkook rolled his eyes but a teasing smile still played on his lips. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing around in stores and eating exotic new things in the food court.

Jungkook had some trouble with buying his parents a present as it seemed like he didn't know a single thing about them. He didn't know even the trivial things like their favorite colors or their interests and hobbies. All he knew was that his father traveled for business and that his mother was far too busy to send even a call or a text once in a while. Jungkook said the last time he had heard from his mother was during his firstyear in middle school. The last time he'd seen her, he couldn't recall. I had trouble suggesting things as his parents were probably mad rich and had everything they wanted.

By eight in the evening, we still hadn't thought of anything. I asked him if he just wanted to go home, but he refused and persistently searched through the stores. I suggested a few small things but he shook his head at all of them and kept looking for something bigger.

"Jungkook, it doesn't have to be something big. Anythiー"

"Yes, it does! They won't accept some puny little thing, Jimin!"

"Yes, they will. Why wouldn't they?"

"You don't understand, Jimin! They just won't!"

Jungkook threw his hands in the air and yelled in frustration while attracting the attention of a few other shoppers. I have an apologetic smile to them, dismissing them, before turning back to Jungkook. He was desperate for his parents' affection and attention and he was thinking that he'd get it by gifting them an unnecessarily large present.

"Listen to me, Jungkook. I'm not going to say that I know your relationship with your parents because I don't, I honestly really don't, but I know that you don't have to get them some huge thing as a gift. Your parents will receive anything that you get them because in the end, you're still their son and they still care about you. They'll know that you took the time and effort to buy them something and that will be enough for them."

I spoke to him softly as I watched his face crumple up in sadness. The tears welled up in his eyes finally fell and I gently

reached up and caressed his cheek, using my thumb to wipe away his tears. I smiled at him and whispered to him that he'd be okay, and that he was loved. Jungkook sniffled and took deep breaths before finally nodding. I hugged him and he relaxed into my arms and whispered a 'thank you' in my ear. Jungkook kissed my cheek before pulling away and walking to the men's section of the store. A goofy smile spread on my face as I followed Jungkook while touching the place he kissed.

In the end, Jungkook bought a leather wallet along with a tie for his father and a pearl necklace for his mother. He looked nervous as he held the two bags in his hand on our walk home. He seemed to be overthinking things again and I gently nudged his side to wake him up from his trance of thoughts. He smiled apologetically as he realized how out of it he'd been and started to talk about how he wanted to see the first snowfall of the year with me. We both mentioned how we wanted a White Christmas this year unlike the past few years.

Once we reached my house, I thanked Jungkook for keeping me company for the day and turned to leave. As I walked towards my door, I could feel his eyes burning a hole into my back. Before I could open my front door, Jungkook decided to speak up.

"Can you spend the night at my house tonight?"

He looked lonely as he stood out by the front gates. It had been a while since I had last stayed with him and after what had happened on the 7th of December, I didn't know if my parents would let me. I sighed softly and said that I'd ask them. I opened the front door and called for my parents. Both ofthem poked their heads out from the living room doorway with welcoming looks.

"Home already?"

I nodded my head but I stood in the entrance with a hopeful look on my face.

"Can I spend the night at my friend's house?"

"Who's the friend?"

I sighed and told them that it was Jungkook. My parents looked at each other and did the thing where they communicated through their eyes. After a few moments, my father turned back to me and said that I could as long as I texted him that when I got to Jungkook's house. I smiled brightly and thanked him before dashing out of the house, slamming the door shut behind me. I tackled Jungkook in a hug as I told him that I could. His expression softened into a grin as he chuckled and hugged me back. We raced to his house and said that the last one there got to use the shower last even though there were probably more than enough bathrooms for two people at his house. I had a head start yet, in the end, I came last place.

"Damn you and your long legs!"

I yelled breathlessly and giggled as Jungkook did a hair flip while strutting through the front gates of his house. I followed him inside and placed my gifts by the couch in his living room and texted my parents as I had promised before walking up the stairs after Jungkook. He led me to a large bathroom in a room that looked like it hadn't been touched in years. There were personal belongings in the closets and drawers though and I assumed that it was his mother's room.

"You can wash up here. I'll leave you a towel and a change of clothes by the door. My room's the

last one down the hall, when you finish, just come in.

"I nodded and thanked him before entering the bathroom and washing up. By the time I was out, it was ten-thirty and freezing cold. I quickly ran from the bathroom to Jungkook's room and barged in without knocking. I immediately regretted it as I let out a squeal and slammed the door shut as I walked in to see a shirtless Jungkook with slick damp hair. My felt my face heat up and I heard Jungkook's snickering from the other side of the door. I heard shuffling for a few minutes and waited until it turned silent. I stayed with my back leaned against the door and debated whether or not to go in until I heard Jungkook's voice, causing me to jump.

"You can come in now, I'm fully dressed."

I slowly opened the door to see Jungkook waiting with his arms crossed and a teasing smirk on his face. I glared at him and covered my cheeks with my hands as I walked into his room in his oversized crewneck sweater and a pair of grey sweatpants. I had to pull and tie the draw strings at the waist to keep them from slipping off.

I sat on Jungkook's bed observing his room for the first time. It was more flourished than his room at his aunt's house. His shelves were packed with workbooks along with books on music composition and contemporary writing. There were two desks pushed together and on top of them was a large desktop computer, a recording microphone, a MIDI keyboard, a set of studio monitors, and a pair of headphones. It looked more like a recording studio than a room to be honest. There was another desk that was smaller and pushed to the

corner of his room. Set on top were his school notes and study materials along with his bookbag. Jungkook glanced over his shoulders and chuckled at my amazed expression before returning his attention to his desktop. I walked over and leaned over his shoulder to see his screen. He was dragging things here and there while clicking a few tools on the side.

"Are you composing right now?"

Jungkook nodded his head and handed me his headphones and asked if I wanted to listen. I eagerly nodded my head and put them on in excitement. The song was soft and smooth as it started off with a piano. When his voice came in, I was honestly shocked. Damn, he could really sing. A pleasant smile spread on my face as I listened to the song until it abruptly stopped. I frowned and turned to Jungkook to ask why the music had stopped.

"I'm not finished yet, I still have to record the last few verses."

"Ooh, really? Can I watch you recording??"

My eyes sparkled in excitement as I pressed my hands together in hope, but it was soon broken as Jungkook shook his head. His cheeks turned pink as he confessed that he was too embarrassed to sing in front of me. I laughed and made him promise me that he'd sing for me someday before letting him off. I asked him if I could go downstairs and get a glass of water and he offered to go get it for me, but I told him it was fine and left for the kitchen.

The house was huge and I found myself getting sidetracked by the extravagant furniture and the high ceilings that chandeliers hung from. As I walked through the living room to get to the kitchen, I noticed

that there wasn't a Christmas tree anywhere in sight. I frowned and got myself a glass of water before quickly returning to Jungkook's room.

"Hey, Jungkook. How come you don't have a Christmas tree?"

He turned around in his spinning chair while shrugging.

"I have one, I just never set it up anymore."

"Well, we should set it up this year!"

I jumped up and down with an excited look on my face. Jungkook chuckled and shook his head before getting off his chair. I followed him into the basement and helped him carry the large box into the living room. Jungkook looked excited himself as we brought the parts of the tree out of the box. Once we finished assembling the tree, he left to go get the ornaments.

While waiting for him to return, I decided I'd play a little trick on him and climbed into the Christmas tree box. I closed the box and minutes later, I heard Jungkook entering the room.

"Damn, we have a lot of orna-huh? Jimin?"

I heard his voice change from excitement to worry and I had to clamp my hand over my mouth to stop myself from giggling.

"Jimin? Where are you? If this is a prank, it's not fuー"

"Boo!!"

I popped out from the box and threw my hands in the air. Jungkook jumped and let out a high pitched scream while fumbling with a box of ornaments in his hand. The Christmas tree box tipped over and I tumbled out while clutching my stomach and laughing uncontrollably at his girly scream. Jungkook glared as he set the ornaments down and tackled me. I shrieked and tried to run away, but Jungkook grabbed me before I could

and for the next minute, I was attacked with tickles. As Jungkook finally stopped, he hovered above me, his face inches away from mine. I gazed into his eyes and I watched as they flickered from my eyes to my lips. Before he could do anything, I popped up and pressed a chaste kiss on his lips before rolling out from under him. I glanced back at Jungkook and giggled as I noticed him flustering for a second before grabbing a few ornaments and clearing his throat. I pulled out my phone and played some music to avoid an awkward silence, just in case.

There wasn't a clear line in our relationship and to be honest, it was kind of conflicting. We weren't an official couple and I understood why as both of us needed some time after the hectic events that had happened in a short span of 29 days, but it didn't feel right to be affectionate with Jungkook without knowing where I stood in his heart. Yet, at the same time, it was impossible not to. I just couldn't help myself.

Song after song, we sang along with them and ended up singing a Christmas duet and almost knocking over the tree while dancing. Luckily, Jungkook had reacted quickly enough to save it from actually crashing to the floor. We both let out a long sigh of relief before bursting out laughing.

After finishing with the majority of the ornaments, Jungkook pulled out the tinsel and wrapped it around himself while putting on a pair of shades. He cat-walked around the living room while occasionally pulling a model pose. I snapped a few photos on my phone and couldn't help but cheer and clap every time he posed. Jungkook did a spin, buthe stepped on the end of the tinsel in the process and tripped himself.

"Oh, shi-"

He faceplanted onto the wooden tiles before he could finish his sentence. I ran over while giggling and watched as he rolled around on the floor while groaning and holding his nose in pain. I moved his hand away to see his bright red nose and a grumpy look on his face. My giggles turned to loud laughter and Jungkook got off the floor with his arms crossed against his chest.

"Stop laughing at me!"

"Hey, you kind of look like Rudolph, now!"

Jungkook stuck his tongue out at me before galloping back to the tree and making what I assumed were reindeer noises. After ceasing my laughter, we managed to get the tinsel on correctly, but the lights, not so much.

"Jungkook, quit moving! You're making it worse!"

"I'm sorry, but this position isn't exactly the most comfortable!"

Both of us stood in the middle of the living room bound together by the Christmas lights. I was trying to undo the tangles but Jungkook kept fidgeting. I was pressed against his chest and my arms were around his torso as I tried undo the knot that kept us tied together. Jungkook kept his face up and turned away from me as his shoulders stayed stiff and tense. Five minutes later, we were finally free and as I breathed out in relief, I tripped over the lights and fell face first into the floor. Jungkook was snickering while giving me his hand to help me up.

"Hey, now you're a Rudolph too!"

"Shut up, Jungkook. Don't use my jokes against me!"

I covered my nose and giggled

as I lightly shoved him. I picked up the lights and ran around the Christmas tree, wrapping them around it. Jungkook plugged in the cord when I finished and we both stood back and admired the tree that shinned in all its glory.

"I can't remember the last time I had a Christmas tree up in this house."

"Well, now you do."

I did the jazz hands while posing in front of the tree. Jungkook chuckled and pulled me into a hug.

"And I'm so glad it was with you."

I laughed and tightly hugged him back. Over his shoulder, I caught sight of the time and saw that there was only a minute left till twelve. Unable to contain my excitement, a wide smile spread across my face as I said my Christmas wishes early.

"Merry Christmas, Jungkook."

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Jimin. I hope to spend the next Christmas with you, and the one after that, and the one after that one, and the one after that one too, along with every other Christmas for as long as I live. My whole life I was dying to hear someone say that I didn't need to try so hard to be perfect, that I was enough, and that it was okay. I never thought I'd hear it, but I was wrong because I heard it from you, and I am more than just in love with you. You are my everything, in this moment, and every other that is to come."

Jungkook smiled lovingly as he spoke to me in his delicate quiescent voice. He leaned down as I stood on the tips of my toes. He kissed me tenderly as the clock struck twelve. His lips were soft as he deepened the kiss while gently pulled me in closer towards himself. It was a

sweet and passionate kiss, like the one I had always dreamed of having with the person I loved in the middle of the night at two in the morning, wrapped in each other's arms unable to fall asleep at the thought of wasting the time we had together by sleeping.

As we pulled away breathlessly, Jungkook whispered the words I would never grow tired of hearing from him.

"I love you."

Jungkook pressed one last kiss on my lips before completely pulling away. I blushed as I goofily smile and watched Jungkook wink before pulling out the last ornament we had both somehow forgotten about. He handed the large ornament to me and gave me a piggyback ride so I could reach the very top of the large Christmas tree. I carefully placed the shining star at the top and yelled a loud 'ta-da!' before letting out a loud shriek as Jungkook started running around with me still on his back. I was in a fit of giggles as he ran around the house while laughing loudly. Minutes later, we collapsed onto the couch trying to catch out breaths. Jungkook wrapped an arm around my waist as we laid on the couch while staring at the Christmas tree. I snuggled into his arms until I caught sight of something falling outside. I tumbled off the couch and ran to the window to see snow falling gently from the sky.

"Snow! Jungkook, it's snowing!"

He walked over and peeked through the curtains to see the flakes piling onto the frozen earth. I pulled on my coat and boots before running outside in excitement.

"Jimin, hold on! It's twelve-thirty in the morning, what are you doing?!"

I spun around inthe middle of his front yard with a big smile on my face. Jungkook watched me from the doorway with his eyebrow raised and an amused smile on his face. I pulled him over along with me and we started waltzing in his front yard while humming a Christmas jingle. Jungkook chuckled as I stuck my tongue out trying to catch a snowflake while dancing.

"You're such a kid sometimes."

"Hey, I wasn't the one that did a cat-walk and model poses with tinsel around my neck as a scarf."

"Tch. Touché, Jung Jimin, touché."

As the snowfall started to become heavier, Jungkook forced me inside because he didn't want me to catch a cold. I felt like now would've been a good time to give Jungkook his gift so I pulled the present out from the shopping bag and called Jungkook over as I sat by the Christmas tree. I had the store wrap it for me because unfortunately, I couldn't wrap a present to save my life. Jungkook walked over with two cups of tea and at the sight of the gift in my hand, a big smile spread on his face and he asked me to wait for a second before dashing up the stairs. He was back in a flash with a box in his hand. We sat across from each other with bubbly smiles on our faces. Jungkook cleared his throat before handing me my gift.

"Merry Christmas, Jimin. Sorry I couldn't get you something more fitting for a girl, I'm not really good at gifts."

"It's fine, I'm sure it's wonderful."

I accepted the gift and carefully unwrapped it. The present was in a hand-sized black box and curiously, I slowly opened the box to find a beautiful watch staringback at me. It had six tiny rotating planets around one tiny rose gold sun in the center. There was a small shooting star at orbited on the outer ring that indicated the time and the months of the year were located at the edges of the watch.

"It's a Midnight Planetarium Watch. I noticed that that old pocket watch of yours was cracked a while back so I thought you'd like this."

I took it out of its case and carefully put it on my wrist. I was speechless as I watched the planets orbit in their timely assigned orbits. It was as if I had the whole universe on my wrist. At the sight of the large smile on my face, Jungkook chuckled and relaxed, realizing that I was in love with it. Drawing my attention back to Jungkook, I handed him his present with a hopeful smile.

"I don't think it can compete with the gift you gave me, but I hope you'll still like it. Merry Christmas, Jungkook."

He received the gift with an excited smile. When he pulled the wrapping paper off, his eyes widened before tearing the rest of the paper off. In seconds, I was tackled into a hug and a loud yell echoed through the house along with my giggles. He repeatedly thanked me over and over again and kissed my forehead before picking himself off the ground. After he calmed down, we finished out tea while singing random songs Jungkook played on the old acoustic guitar he had retrieved from the closet. When we ran out of songs to sing, we silently sat in each other's arms while watching the snowfall outside.

"Should we sleep? You look beat."

I nodded my head and stood to walk upstairs when Jungkook swept me right off my feet. I let out a small scream as he took me by surprise. Jungkook chuckled as he carried me upstairs to his room. He tucked me in his bed before crawling in next to me. I tucked my legs in as I snuggled close to his chest. Jungkook kissed the tip of my nose as my eyes slowly got heavier and heavier. Before I could completely drift off, I heard Jungkook softly whispering into my ear.

"I never thought we'd ever end up like this. You were lightning and I was thunder, the timing was always slightly off. If I was a star, then you were a supernova. If I was a wave, you were an entire ocean; raging and crashing in quintessential magnificence-and I was nothing. We were so completely different, but somehow, we've become what we are today and I can't be thankful enough. For you, for your love, and for every single one of your imperfections. I love you for all that you are, all that you have been, and all that you're yet to be."