"She walks alone 'neath the moon's soft glow,
As he dreams of her in fields of snow.
Their unborn child, a symbol of love's grace,
In a world torn by conflict, a beacon in space."

⊱ ───ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ─── ⊰

In the humble confines of the orphanage, Cheon Seok and Mai found solace in the simplicity of their love. The room, adorned with threadbare curtains and worn-out furniture, became a little jar  for their dreams. As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow upon the faded wallpaper, Cheon Seok took Mai's hands in his, eyes gleaming with affection.

"Promise me, mi amore," he murmured, his voice a soft melody in the quiet room. "No matter what happens in this war, you'll hold onto these memories, our moments together."

Mai nodded, a tender smile playing on her lips, the promise of the future nestling within the gentle curve of her belly. "I promise, Cheon Seok. Our love will endure."

With meticulous care, she crafted rice dumplings and balls, a quick recap to their  past and the meager surplus they had saved. Each morsel bore the flavor of their  struggles and the anticipation of a future yet to unfold.

Beside the modest table, Cheon Seok opened a worn sketchbook, its pages a chronicle of their love. His skilled hands traced the contours of a landscape, a masterpiece in the making. "Imagine, love, running through these autumn leaves, our happiness immortalized in these strokes."

Mai's eyes sparkled with excitement. "It's like a dream, Cheon Seok. A dream I never want to end."

As the scent of rice and the strokes of Cheon Seok's pencil intertwined, their love became a tapestry woven from the yarns of simplicity. In the background, a vintage radio played tunes from an era long gone, the melodies weaving a backdrop to their shared hopes and stories untold.

In the quietude of that evening, Cheon Seok and Mai exchanged words that resonated with the promises of forever. Their laughter and whispered dreams filled the room, transcending the hardships of 1950. The promise of a better tomorrow flickered in their eyes, and as they embraced amidst the simplicity of their surroundings, their hearts beat to the rhythm of a love that defied the constraints of a war-torn world.

⊱ ───ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ─── ⊰

I stood before Y/n's door, my heartbeat echoing the anticipation of a crucial moment. I was hesitating for a brief moment before knocking, and when the door opened, I was met with Y/n's casual smile, a façade that concealed the complexity beneath.

"Hey, Jungkook. What brings you here?" Y/n's voice was steady, masking the unspoken tension that lingered between us. But she called me Jungkook.

"Is it okay if I come in? Like, if it's not disturbing you..." My words felt uneasy as I started speaking.

"Oh, sure! Come in. It's okay."

As I stepped into her room, my eyes were drawn to the bed adorned with a colorful array of clothes. The sight captivated me, and for a fleeting moment, I found myself lost in the imaginary realm of Y/n wearing each outfit.

"You have a lot of nice clothes. I mean, really nice," I blurted out, unable to contain my curiosity.

Y/n chuckled, "Oh, these? Just some old stuff. I'm cleaning up."

The room held a certain charm, a reflection of Y/n's personality. Intrigued, I began to wander around, my eyes grazing over the variety of dresses that adorned hooks and shelves. Some were vibrant and lively, while others exuded a timeless elegance. My mind embarked on a journey of imagination, picturing Y/n in each outfit – the simple, classy, and modest dresses that seemed to resonate with her essence.

I couldn't help but voice my thoughts, "I can imagine you wearing this one, a classic piece. It suits your style."

Y/n looked up from her task, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Really? You think so?"

Nodding, I continued my exploration, my attention shifting to the makeup and skincare products neatly arranged on her vanity. "So, what's your go-to makeup look? And these skincare products – why these particular ones?"

Y/n hesitated, her reluctance evident. "I don't know, just the usual stuff. I don't really have a set routine."

Determined to unravel the layers, I pressed on, "Come on, there must be something special you do. Tell me, what's your secret?"

She sighed, a smile tugging at her lips. "Well, maybe I have a few favorites. This moisturizer is amazing, and I love this lipstick shade."

"Ooh, that's a nice colour. What shade is it? Can you swatch it?"

"Sure," Y/n replied, reaching for the lipstick on her vanity. With a graceful twist, she revealed the elegant bullet, its color reminiscent of dusky roses. Gently, she applied a delicate swatch on the back of her hand, the creamy texture leaving an impression of refined sophistication.

"There you go, Jungkook. It's called 'Velvet Peony.' I wear it when I want a subtle yet bold look," she explained, her eyes lighting up with a shared enthusiasm for beauty.

She called me Jungkook, again.

"So, what brought you here? Anything specific?"

"Uh, I was wondering..." My eyes roamed around her whole room. Nothing typical that I could borrow. I can't borrow make up or her clothes or jewellery. "if you have some spare paints or art supplies. I ran out, and I thought maybe you—" my words stumbled over each other, a reflection of the unease I felt.

"Oh, of course! Come on in," Y/n interrupted, inviting me into her space. "Can you perhaps take them from there?"

"Yeah, paints. And maybe some brushes too," I stammered, glancing back at the bed of clothes.

Y/n busied herself searching through her art supplies, seemingly unaware of my internal struggle. "Here you go. Take what you need."

"Thanks," I muttered, accepting the supplies, my eyes still lingering on the clothes.

My mind raced with thoughts of Y/n's preferences. "I bet your favorite color is blue. Am I right?"

Y/n paused, a thoughtful smile playing on her lips. "Close, but it's actually green. How did you guess?"

"Oh, just a lucky guess," I replied, mentally kicking myself for not knowing something so basic.

Our conversation meandered around mundane topics, yet the air crackled with unspoken tension. As I fidgeted with the art supplies, I found myself struggling to steer the conversation toward the Daegu incident that lingered like a shadow.

"So, you know, I've been thinking a lot about that trip. Daegu," I finally mustered the courage to address the unspoken elephant in the room.

Y/n glanced up, her expression guarded. "Yeah, it was quite something."

A deep breath escaped my lips as I dove into the apology that had been festering within me. "I need you to know how sorry I am. I lost control, and I scared everyone, especially you."

Y/n sighed, her gaze softening. "Jungkook, we've all moved past that. It's water under the bridge."

"But I haven't. I can't. Not until I know you're okay," I confessed, my vulnerability laid bare.

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "I appreciate that, Jungkook. But really, I'm fine. Let's not dwell on it."

"Can you please stop calling me Jungkook? I just... I can't bear it, okay?"

The shift, though subtle, carried a weight that resonated through the air, leaving me momentarily breathless

"Why? Is it not your name anymore?"

I retorted, my tone sharper than intended. The unexpected surge of emotion caught me off guard, and I found myself grappling with the discomfort of unspoken vulnerabilities.

Y/n, her expression a mix of confusion and concern, took a step back. "Jungkook, I'm just using your name. What's wrong?"

"It's not that it's not my name anymore. It's just... when you say it like that, it feels different. Like you're distant, formal. It's like you're keeping me at an arm's length."

"I..."

As my words hung in the air, Y/n's eyes widened with realization. "Jungkook, I had no idea it made you feel that way. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I sighed, a mixture of frustration and desperation. "But there's a reason I like being called 'Kook.' It's not just a nickname. It makes me feel wanted, you know? Like I'm part of something, like we have this unique connection."

"I mean, actually, you know..."

"It's just that there are so many things in this world that I often mean to say but when I'm trying to say it I just fumble and make mistakes and then eventually forget what I'm trying to say, as if the initial thing that I wanted to tell was absolutely nothing and then I don't even know what I'm saying and why I'm blabbering like right now, yeah, I'm blabbering for no goddamn reason but there is absolutely no such reason behind every little word I utter but I can't elucidate the reason nor make any sense—"

"Stop, Jungkook. I, I mean, Kook, I'm just using your name. Jungkook, there's, there's something I must tell you."

"What?" My brow furrowed in confusion as she took a deep breath, her voice carrying a mix of nervousness and determination.

"I... I'm in love with you. I have been for a while, but I was scared. Scared that if I said it, things would change, and I might lose you. So, I started distancing myself, and maybe, unconsciously, that's why I started using your full name. I didn't want to feel too close because I was afraid of what it might mean."

Her confession hung in the air, creating a charged silence between us. The weight of her words settled on my shoulders, and for a moment, time seemed to suspend as I processed the revelation.

"I'm sorry, do you have some rat poison like maybe ricin in about a little worth?"

"I'm sorry, what? My brain has officially malfunctioned. To begin with, my chemistry is very weak, so miss, I don't know what the heck ricin is. And point two, you don't drastically reveal something so fragile and ask for a goddamn chemical, ma'am!"

"I fucking told you that ricin is rat poison!"

The absurdity of the situation hit me, and I couldn't help but chuckle, the tension in the room momentarily diffusing. "Okay, first of all, I'm not keeping any lethal substances around, and secondly, you might want to avoid such dramatic statements after dropping the 'I'm in love with you' bombshell. It's not great for the heart, you know?"

"I... I didn't think it through, okay? I just panicked. Now what better than simply dying?"

"Why would you want to be dead, now?"

"I hate you, Kook."

"You just said you were in love with me and now you hate me?"

"What nonsense is this?!"

"Alright, alright,no rat poison, no dying, no hating. Because, you can relax. I... When I was blabbering about all those reasons and not reasons and, and... And whatever the heck I said, listen, all of that was to lead to just, just, you know, just three words."

"What!"

"I love you."

"What?"