The air was chilly while the moon shined blindingly, the midnight breeze clinging to his body like another layer of skin. Jimin regretted the fact that he didn't grab a jacket before stepping out of the house. A silent curse left his lips as he trotted in his sweater across the clearing that led to the forest.

There was a persistent voice inside his brain that chanted a continuous mantra of: 'this is stupid.' Half of him agreed while the other half refused to listen. It's not like he knew Jungkook very well. He might not even be there waiting for him. He might have forgotten about him already. Yet he knew that his feet wouldn't stop anytime soon. They wouldn't pause a second to reach their destination, to reach the border and risk his life just to see the colored boy.

"Fuck, how stupid can I be?" Jimin whispered to the howling wind as he crept closer to the forest. He could hear the coos of a lone owl and the rustles of bushes from the various creatures and bugs that dwelled about. With a deep suck of breath, the shivering boy took out his flashlight with a slightly trembling hand. It flickered to life instantly when he pressed the button, it's bright white light folding over the creases of trees, seeping inside each crack in their barks and the dirt that was laid on the path he was about to walk on.

The entire surrounding went eerily silent as the trashy dirt beneath his feet crunched at every step. He was certain his shoes crushed a bug or two as he continued; the thought made him shiver. All he could see were familiar trees left and right.

Countless times before, he had visited this forest. Little ten year old Jimin would brave the forest at night when everyone was sleeping and wandered aimlessly for days until he grew tired and fell asleep on a rock or inside a hollow trunk of a tree. When he would wake up, he would already be back at home in his bed, snuggled up in his favorite blanket and a tray of breakfast waiting for him at his bedside table. He sighed, indulging himself for a moment to reminisce the memory.

He also remembered drinking his first bottle of alcohol here. The heightened pulse of his heart as he sneaked away one of his father's bottled liquor, slipping it quickly inside his backpack before bolting for the forest without a word. He would spend hours here talking to the trees as he drunk himself to a stupor. Needless to say, he considered the forest his friend. A place of comfort.

But now as he currently weaved through the tall trees, he could feel his blood swiftly coursing through his veins. This time he was sneaking out to the forest for a different reason. He wasn't simply wandering, he was on his way to reach the border and break the law, defiling the system that had been held sacred for ages. A system that he himself accepted and upheld. All for a boy who promised to be his friend.

Desperate, that's how it made him feel. Crazy, that's how the boy made him feel.

It was a long journey ahead he reckoned. Jungkook did say he left their realm at midnight but only reached the border at sunrise. That gave him a rough estimation of how long it will take before he finally would have arrived there. Granted that he doesn't bump into any bloodthirsty wolves. He still spent longer hours wandering about aimlessly back then, ready for any wild animal to pounce on him and tear him apart but he had never encountered one. He'll be safe. He prayed silently. 

This made Jimin wonder how had he never come across the border in the past. He had travelled the depths of this forest for days when he was younger but had never seen the border before. "Just head straight north," Jungkook had said. No specific directions to reach the border yet he never stumbled upon it. It was a thought that bothered him for the entirety of the walk.

Eventually the cold started to really get to him. It slipped under his skin, goosebumps littering his arms because of strong whips of the chilly midnight breeze. He really should have brought a jacket but it's too late to turn back and grab one now. He needed to press forward and carry on.

A bright solution suddenly crashed in his mind. He slowed down his steps and reached back to his bag to grab a can of beer. Alcohol was always a helpful aid during cold nights, it could help his body grow hotter. 

He opened the can with practiced ease and tipped it against his lips. The liquid hit his throat and he cherished the bitter burn of the alcohol and the heat that came along with it. He took another gulp right away, everything going down easily, his body welcoming every soothing drop of intoxication. He was sure he was addicted to anything that can make him drunk. They silence the pesky voices in his head and make him feel like he was drifting on a calm body of water, his whole being becoming tranquil and free for a sweet short time. It was the closest he could get to happiness.

He crushed the can in his hand after he finished the last drop and threw it away as far as he can. The poor can flew in the air until it slammed against a far tree, the metallic noise blared throughout the forest. Jimin felt significantly better after a drink. But now he could feel his tongue and throat itch, screaming for more alcohol to be poured inside his mouth.

He shook his head and tried to ignore it.

I need to stay sober. He told himself as if lecturing his own brain would make it follow.

Jungkook better be there when he gets to the border or else he would terrorize the happy realm just to find him.

•••

He had been travelling for hours now and his feet were beginning to ache. Every bit of food packed in his bag had now become fully digested in his stomach. He also drank another can of beer when the urge became too much but fought to resist another one.

Confusion started to fill him as he walked on farther and he began to doubt his soberness at what he saw. Colors started to lay about the sky, to the leaves of the trees all the way down to its trunk and to the grass beneath it. They were faded and dull and not as bright as the hue of Jungkook but it was there. Barely visible but noticeable to someone who had spent all his life in a world of black and white.

He gawked at the flowers that laid about his feet. Their petals spread wide open as if they were aware of their own beauty. They were also the same color as the highlights of Jungkook's hair. That bright color that shone against his caramel locks. What was the name of that color again? Jimin couldn't remember but it was most definitely a pretty color. 

The scenery before him filled him up with astonishment to the very tip of his toes and fingers. It left him breathless. He could only imagine how much more breathtaking the happy realm would be. It would be full of rich, vibrant colors bright enough to blind him. He had never been this close to the other realm and suddenly everything feels so surreal. He's going to be pissed if this is just a dream.

"You came!"

The sudden voice made Jimin flinch. His body jerked backwards and he fell on the grass with a muffled 'thump'.

"I can't believe you're here!"

The person yelled again. Jimin whipped his head to find the source of the voice only to flinch once again to see a pair of large eyes so close to his.

"Fucking hell!" He yelled at the cackling boy who already fell back against the grass, clutching his stomach in uncontrollable laughter. Jimin grabbed a handful of soil and threw it at the other but it only hit his lower body. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry." Jungkook wheezed between his laughter.

Jimin stood up, dusted his jeans and offered a hand to him. The colored boy grinned as the older pulled him up to his feet. Jimin didn't want to let go of the warm colorful hand.

"I can't believe you're actually here," It was Jimin who spoke the words this time. The younger offered him smile before grabbing his hand to drag him somewhere. "Wait. Where are we going? Is this the border?"

When he doesn't receive a reply, he sighed and let Jungkook drag him off, legs too tired to try and keep up on his own.

Jungkook pulled him along hastily. The boy was buzzing with energy despite having traveled the same distance as Jimin. He bounced with every step, once in a while looking back at Jimin to beam a large smile. The older was enchanted by his beauty. He was enchanted by the smooth skin of his palm kissing his own. How their fingers fit perfectly together as if they were meant to be.

But he couldn't dream of 'together', not when their realms were so 'apart.'

Jimin forced himself to look away before he blurted out something stupid again like last time. He tried to focus on the scenery around them instead. He suddenly noticed that they weren't in the forest anymore. The pack of trees grew thinner and the grass rose higher and higher until it reached the top of their heads. The sharp edges of the wild grass poked at his skin, leaving an annoying itch wherever it touched.

"Here." Jungkook said softly as they slowed down to a stop. "I marked this as my special spot."

They stood in a circular spot that wasn't covered by the irritating wild grass and Jimin felt relief wash over him. Everywhere he looked all he could see were the pointed tips of the grass.

"And how did this become your special spot?" He turned to Jungkook, an eyebrow raised.

"Well," The younger halted to find an answer for a moment. "I found it!" He smiled triumphantly.

Jimin scoffed and kicked a nearby pebble, "How are you so sure no one else found it before you?" 

"Fireflies show up during the dark!" Jungkook suddenly exclaimed and Jimin found it amusing how he quickly steered off topic. "They're really pretty."

"Fireflies?" The word didn't ring a bell for the older one.

Jungkook tilted his head in slight surprise, "You haven't seen fireflies?"

"...No," was Jimin's quiet answer.

"Oh, don't worry!" The happy boy smiled, his eyes pure and genuine, making Jimin feel an indescribable throb in his chest. "We'll watch them together later."

"So we're spending the whole day here?" Jimin asked, feeling a bit skeptical. They're still close to the border and if a guard saw a happy and a sad boy together, the superiors most definitely wouldn't be pleased. They would surely be killed without hesitation. Not that Jimin minded death at this point. He just didn't want Jungkook's perfect life to be ruined because of this.

"Yes. We'll stay here until you consider me your best friend."

Jimin shook his head. "Then we'll be staying here forever, Jungkook."

The younger seemed shock for a moment, then, as slowly as ever, his parted lips stretched into a radiant smile. "I wouldn't mind staying here with you, hyung."

And there it was again, Jungkook changing the color of his cheeks and the tip of his ears. Jimin darted his eyes away, heat suddenly creeping on his cheeks and neck.

"Where are we anyway?" Jimin asked, hoping to get an answer this time while avoiding the boy's sweet smile. "This isn't the border, right?"

Jungkook nodded eagerly. "We're still a good distance away from the border. I've been waiting there for a while so I decided to take a little walk, hoping to bump into you and I did!"

Jimin hummed and shoved his dirty hands inside the pocket of his sweatpants. He saw dirt caked under his nails earlier while Jungkook was holding his hand and the contrast of color and delicateness pushed him a bit towards insecurity. His palms were calloused and rough due to farm work while Jungkook's were soft and smooth. Jungkook's nails were also painted a shiny blue with too much white, a shade lighter than the color of the faded sky itself.

"Jiminnie hyung! Let's sit down." The colored boy suddenly tugged his leg and only then did Jimin notice he was already sat cross-legged in front of him. He nodded slowly and imitated the way Jungkook sat on the dirt. "Do you like my nails? I painted them earlier while I was waiting for you. They're pretty, right?"

Did he see me eyeing his sophisticated hands earlier? Jimin thought anxiously.

"They're really pretty," He answered sincerely and watched as Jungkook's eyes lit up at his response. "Just like the owner."

Jungkook giggled, idly picking a few stray weeds on the ground near him to stall. Then slowly he looked up, eyes shining, "Are you flirting with me?"

The older shrugged, casually saying, "I'm merely being honest."

The smile on Jungkook's face shone bright even as he tried to hide it behind his hand. "Oh!" He suddenly exclaimed out loud, hands flinging in the air. Jimin flinched back, dodging the flying arms and stared at him with wide eyes. "I can paint your nails!"

"That's not a good idea..."

"Why not?"

Jimin twisted his lips in a thin line. "They'll be able to see it back home."

"We can erase it before you go back. There's a liquid that erases it completely," Jungkook offered, excitement radiating off of him. "Come on, please Jiminnie."

Jiminnie... He really liked hearing Jungkook say his name. How he slightly raised his pitch as he reached the last vowels 'ie' and dragged it out like how a child would pronounce a newly learned word.

"My nails are dirty." He blurted out, remembering the younger was waiting for an answer. "They won't be good to paint at," He admitted, shoving his hands deeper in his pockets.

"Nonsense!" Jungkook told him and the next second he's reaching for his backpack, pulling out some materials he has never seen before. "Come on, give me your hands."

Jimin showed them to the colored boy hesitantly, nerves on edge as he expected the other to insult his unattractive hands. But not one insult slipped out of the younger's mouth. Only a small thank you before he went to work on cleaning his nails. He cut the grimy edges of Jimin's nails swiftly and with practiced ease. Jimin only watched in awe as Jungkook moved his hands with obvious skill as he began to do all sorts of things on his nails. At the end, Jimin marvelled at his now shiny and tidy nails.

"Now what color do you want?" Jungkook asked him as he shuffled inside a small yellow bag patterned with flowers. It was full of small containers containing different colors.

"I like blue," He answered immediately.

"Oh. like mine?"

"A darker one?" He said, unsure if Jungkook even had the paint with that type of color.

"Sure." Jungkook smiled as he continued shuffling through his small bag. "Here." He pulled out a tiny bottle with the same color Jimin imagined.

"Yeah. That one." Jimin quickly presented his nails and wriggled his fingers playfully.

Jungkook painted his nails gracefully. His eyes glistened as he focused on applying them carefully. It was a strange sight for Jimin to see somthing so vibrantly colored on his own body. This was something he just imagined but now as he tried to sit still, everything felt lighter and brighter. Jimin knows breaking the law for something like this wasn't stupid after all.

His wishes and desires were definitely not stupid. He'll let himself have this.

•••

     
pretty boys painting their nails is my aesthetic