the talk

we nervously sat on the couch, sharing worried glances. our parents had called us to the living room, us squeamishly adjusting ourselves as we sat next to each other on the leather.

i remember this day clearly, as it had set everything my life lead up to.

you were playing with your lips between your porcelain teeth, confusion displaying on your pretty features as my parents sat on the chairs opposite us, your father standing behind them, his hands over the back of my fathers chair.

"we don't know how to gently bring this up," mother said, clasping her hands gently in her lap. "but we've decided it's time to tell you."

still rather confused, i had gulped and looked you in the eye, slowly nodding to my mother. "go on, mrs jeon," you effortlessly said, smiling gently at her. how did you do it? i knew you were quite nervous by the way you gripped the hem of your shirt, yet your voice was calm and gentle. your hair was pulled into a messy bun, random stray hairs framing your face.

still in pajamas from our recent sleepover, tiredness painted your features, feet clad in pink bunny slippers. your legs were bare, blue shorts only coming to your mid-thigh. you still had popcorn crumbs dusting your mouth, and as i glanced at the clock on the wall, i realized it was around 2:00 in the morning.

"well, when a man and a woman love each other very much-"

i rolled my eyes.

"oh my god mom, this is what we're here to talk about? we know about the birds and the bees, we're like 16." i interjected, crossing my arms over my chest with a short laugh, watching your shoulders relax out of the corner of my eye.

"no, not that," she had giggled, wiping the edge of her eye with her knuckle. "don't interrupt me, jungkook."

"when a couple meets," my father eyed my mother out of the corner of his eye, correcting her, "and they are meant to be soulmates, a process called 'the awakening' takes place. it's when colour finally enters your world." you and i shared a joint look of confusion. "of course, you two have a long way to go-"

"dad," i interrupted once more, knowing my mother would scold me in a moments' time.

"stop interrupting people, jeon jungkook!"

"mom, seriously. sooyeon and i can already both see colour."

a look of shock passed through the threesome of people, your father eyeing me carefully. you nodded, thankfully backing me up. "i could see colour for as long as i can remember," you added, rather skeptically.

"oh." was the one worded reply from my mother, who halfheartedly gestured your father towards the kitchen. as he disappeared through the door, we moved in our seats, rather uncomfortable with everything happening. he shortly returned with a basket of brightly coloured fruits, setting them all out in front of us.

"from left to right, tell me what colour these are."

sighing, you and i had spoken in unison, pointing to the apple, banana, orange, and lime. "red, yellow, orange, and green."

again, we were met with a stunned silence, your eyes cautiously flitting between my face and the three adults facing us. "so, what does this mean exactly...?" i was glad that you were as perplexed as i was, your thin eyebrows knitted.

"exactly what we had hoped," my father said, wiping a stray tear from his creased eyes. "you two really are a match made in heaven."

and as our eyes met once more, everything became more vivid, the colour sharpening in bright shades.

i know you felt it too, for your cheeks dusted themselves with pink, and a smile etched itself onto your lips. your hand found mine, and our fingers laced with each other's as our parents rejoiced, in a large group hug.

so, this is it, right? the hypothetical ending to our story?

wrong. this is where it all begins.