VOTE PLX

A human body.

It was then he focused on the face. The air stalled in his lungs. Dark hair fell across features so handsome; he wouldn't have believed it if it weren't in front of him. Black, liquid eyes met his. Staring. Jimin was frozen. There was no way. No way. But what other way was there? What explanation? There was only one. Even if it were crazy.

The figure before him was human, yet not. His gaze flicked to the man's hairline. There was a scrape on his forehead. Another, longer cut marring the otherwise flawless skin of his arm. Both wounds still fresh but now scabbed over.

"Impossible," Jimin's heart was still pounding, the flashlight sweaty in his grip. He stared at the beautiful, silent, nude man before him, hardly daring to believe what he was seeing. "It's you."

"It's me." The man confirmed.

Jimin stared at the man who was not a man, wondering when his brain was going to catch up. The man wasn't a man, but he certainly looked like one. At least for the moment. When did that happen? More importantly, why had it happened?

"You're," Jimin's voice stalled. He wondered if he was hallucinating, but hadn't consumed a single drop of alcohol that day. "Fuck... this is crazy... you're an otter."

The man blinked; mouth set in a slight frown. It reminded Jimin of the animal when its whiskers drooped. Shaking his head, he tried to remain calm. There had to be a logical explanation, right? Even as he thought it, he knew there was only one fact. One truth. And that was that the figure sitting on the sofa was the otter he'd befriended weeks prior.

"I am," The man nodded. "But I also am not."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jimin asked.

A shrug. "I'm both."

"How is this possible?" Jimin, searching for a reasonable explanation. "And don't say magic!"

"Alright," The man said. "I won't say it."

Jimin couldn't help a huff of frustration. He didn't even know why he was getting so worked up. Perhaps because as much as he enjoyed writing and consuming content like fantasy, magic, and the supernatural, it was also a comfort to know it wasn't real. That the veil wasn't thin. Because if people could turn into animals... What else might be true?

He glanced at the man who was watching him with an amused expression. The inward pursing of his lips, clearly holding back laughter. Jimin failed to see what was so funny about the situation. He needed to sit down. No, he needed a drink. No...

"Are you alright?" The man asked.

"No," Jimin answered. It was the honest truth, and extended far beyond that moment.

"I suppose I've been a bit rude," The other conceded. "Let's start over. I'm Taehyung."

"Taehyung," Jimin repeated.

Taehyung nodded. "And you're Jimin."

"You know my name," Jimin said softly.

"I do," Taehyung said. "It was one of the first things I learned about you."

"Oh?" Jimin was curious what other things Taehyung might have learned.

Taehyung nodded again. "You also make good food. Well, good scones anyway. I enjoy them a little more when you add blueberries. You don't happen to have any, do you? I'm starving."

He stood and Jimin watched the blanket fall away, forgetting for a brief moment that Taehyung was stark naked underneath. Jimin let out a gasp and averted his eyes. Heat bloomed across his cheeks seconds later.

Taehyung appeared unaware of the turmoil the action had caused. He strode in the direction of the kitchen. Jimin kept his gaze fixed firmly on the floor, registering bare feet and slender legs in his peripheral vision. It wasn't that he was a prude, but there was something a bit disarming about the other man. He moved with a confidence that was, for lack of a better word, inhuman.

Jimin could hear Taehyung rattling around the cabinets. Though curious to see what he was doing, he chose instead to head up to the bedroom and grab a pair of clean pajama pants from a drawer. Descending the ladder once more, he was greeted to the site of Taehyung standing at the far counter, facing away from him, his toned and very shapely ass on full display.

Heat throbbed low in Jimin's stomach as his face grew equally hot. What the hell was wrong with him? They'd just met and besides he still wasn't quite sure what Taehyung was. He chalked it up to his body's natural response to an attractive man. A man who was not a man.

"Put these on," Jimin thrust the pants in Taehyung's direction without looking at him.

"Ah," Taehyung said, laughter in his voice. "Right. You humans and your thing about nudity."

"I don't have a 'thing'," Jimin growled. "I just think it's better if you cover up until we get to know each other a bit better."

"Oh," Taehyung let out an even louder hum of mirth. "So, you want to get to know me better?"

"I don't mean like that!" Jimin insisted.

"Hm," Taehyung clicked his tongue. "That's a shame. Though, it's alright. I feel I've gotten to know you in a way, but you haven't had quite the same chance. I'd like us to get to know each other. Whatever way you want. Now... or in the future."

Jimin snuck a peek at Taehyung, sighing inwardly with relief that he'd had put on the pants. Never mind he wore them low on his hips, and the pale material was a bit see-through. Jimin's mouth was suddenly dry.

"Anyway," Taehyung said. He tilted his head toward the kitchen. "Food."

"There aren't any more scones," Jimin said. "I packed up the last few today. I— I lost them on the beach. I can make some in the morning. But there should be other things. Let's see."

He skirted past Taehyung toward the kitchen. Eyes lowered once more; he could sense the other's fixed on him. Keeping his breathing steady, Jimin padded in the direction of the fridge, acutely aware his feet were leaving sweaty prints on the floor behind him. In fact, his whole body prickled with sweat. Jimin wondered if Taehyung could smell how nervous he was. The answer was probably yes.

"I don't have any fish either," Jimin said, pulling open the small fridge. "I actually have to go shopping in the next couple days, but there's a bit of leftover chicken. Or I have eggs. I don't know if otters like eggs. Oh, and loads of snacks too."

He gestured to the shiny, colorful packages littering the counter, most of them opened and half eaten. Taehyung stood beside him, carefully considering the items. He selected a blue bag of crisps and undid the rubber band securing the top. Reaching inside, he pulled out a few and snapped them up. Crunching filled the room, and Jimin hoped it drowned out the sound of his pounding heart.

Jimin still didn't understand what was happening. He knew that he'd found the otter unconscious on the beach, brought it home, and that somehow during the night it had become a man. A naked man. Who insisted he was not solely one or the other but both, and joked that it wasn't magic. Who was now standing there eating cheese and onion crisps at two in the morning. Jimin wondered if crisps were poisonous to the otter, but right now the otter was a human, so did it make a difference?

Taehyung glanced over, cheeks a bit puffed. He extended the bag toward Jimin and asked in a slight muffled tone, "Did you want some?"

Jimin wanted to reply that he was fine, but instead found himself reaching into the bag and taking a couple. Taehyung finished chewing, swallowed, and then offered the smallest of smiles. The nervous tingle in Jimin's middle seemed to intensify as he popped them in his mouth. "Thank you."

The silence was broken only by the crinkling of the wrapper and the soft sounds of their breathing. Jimin chewed his own crisps, studying the other man as he peered inside the bag again. He was handsome in an almost beguiling sort of way. The type that authors wrote about in romance novels, but didn't believe actually existed.

Dark eyes flicked up to meet him and a pink tongue swiped at the corner of a mouth to gather any remaining crumbs. Jimin swallowed, unsure of what to say next. His mind was whirring, still trying to process what his brain believed to be true and the physical evidence before him. After a moment, he shook his head. "I still don't understand."

"That's okay," Taehyung said, placing the crisp bag on the counter. He gestured in the direction of the sitting area. "Shall we sit?"

Jimin nodded. He followed Taehyung to the couch, grateful that it was wide enough to leave a gap between them. The flannel blanket was still in a heap on the floor. Jimin grabbed it, arranging the fabric over his lap. It smelled of salt and the sea, but he didn't care. The covering made him feel less exposed.

Taehyung curled up in the opposite corner, reclining back a bit to rest his elbows on the arm. "I know this must be strange for you. Overwhelming. Perhaps a bit scary."

"This morning," Jimin tried. "And before... all those weeks. You were an otter."

"Yes," Taehyung nodded.

"But now you're not."

"Yes."

"What are you?" Jimin asked. It seemed rude to be so blunt, but there wasn't really a polite way to phrase the question.

"As I said before, I am both," Taehyung said. "There's a few different names people use for my kind. I suppose one of the more common ones is a hybrid, though I am more of a shifter. I don't retain any of my physical animal features between forms, but the concept is relatively the same."

"So, you've been able to do it the whole time?" Jimin asked, gesturing at Taehyung's form. His brows knit as the head bobbed in confirmation. "Why haven't I seen you like this?"

"I didn't know if I could trust you," Taehyung said simply. "As you can see, it is rather alarming for someone to discover that the animal they've been interacting with also has a human form. Sometimes they do not react favorably. Besides, would you have believed me?"

"Probably not," Jimin admitted. "I'd have said you had too much to drink. Or were teasing me or something."

"I do love to tease," Taehyung said, the saucy glimmer in his gaze flaring to life once more. Then he became serious. "In truth, I've wanted to reveal myself to you, intended on doing so very soon. The storm had other plans."

"It was so bad," Jimin said, an involuntary shiver rippling over his skin. He could still hear the rain lashing at the cottage. "I thought the roof was going to blow off."

"A valid concern," Taehyung said. "These dwellings are usually pretty steady. Those who built them did so because they wanted them to be able to withstand the climate. Especially those situated closer to sea."

"I've only lived in a city where the buildings are close together," Jimin admitted. "It might rain, sometimes severely, but nothing like that."

"The city, huh?" Taehyung's brows rose. "I am surprised someone from there could find such peace here."

"Is it that unusual?"

"Yes," Taehyung said. "I haven't lived here my whole life. I'd frequent a couple other islands. The coastal town where you caught the car ferry? I've spent some time there too. It's easier to blend in as an animal, but then you're often limited to the water or the shoreline. People find it strange if an otter just goes gamboling about in town. Not that I haven't done it before."

Jimin tried to picture an otter strolling along the lanes he'd traveled on his way. It was comical, but he also could see how it would be a bit of an odd sight. "I see."

"Anyway," Taehyung went on. "Point is, I've seen a lot over the years. Uni students, couples, friends, families. Everyone is seeking a different type of experience. Some are looking for a quick getaway over the weekend. Others spend a bit longer, wanting an idyllic retreat for their children or anniversary. I understand. This country is beautiful. There's a force that makes you feel as though you're a part of it. Wild, but also gentle in a way. Dare I say, magic?"

"There's more of you then?" Jimin asked, avoiding the sparkle in Taehyung's eyes by rolling his own. Though he could no longer deny the truth, he didn't imagine being a shifter was a common gift. "The other otters?"

Taehyung shook his head. "Just me. I've yet to meet one who is the same animal, but I've crossed paths with a few others over the years. You actually have once as well."

Jimin's brows knit. "What do you mean?"

"Jin is one also," Taehyung said.

"Jin?" Jimin hadn't thought it would be possible for him to be even more shocked that night, but he found himself proven wrong again. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Taehyung was biting his lip, looking very much as though he were on the brink of laughter. "I'm sorry, you should see your face right now."

"I'm surprised," Jimin said. "I had no idea."

"Oh yes," Taehyung said. "He and I are old friends. I'd been here long before he came. I wouldn't even mention him at all, but seeing as you've responded rather... well to this revelation, all things considered..."

Jimin scrubbed a hand over his face. He wondered if he were in fact still asleep and having some intricate, hyper-realistic dream. It had never happened to such a level before, but there was a first time for everything.

Perhaps it was his mind's way of offering him a creative outlet. He might awake in the middle of the action, brain hazy, and lean over to grab the notebook and pens from the nightstand. After jotting down every detail and promptly passing out again, he would be greeted by a series of incoherent flourishes the next morning.

"I know it's a lot," Taehyung said. He let out a sigh.

"Yeah," Jimin said. He glanced at the wounds on the hybrid's temple and arm. "Are you alright? Did you need bandages or something?"

There was a small first aid kit in one of the kitchen cabinets. He'd discovered it the first evening while unpacking. Taehyung reached up to touch the place on his head, wincing a bit when his fingers pressed the spot. "No, I'll be okay. Thank you though, for bringing me in."

"You're welcome."

Silence settled between them. Jimin alternated between staring at the plaid in the blanket and Taehyung. As hard as he tried, it was hard not to keep staring at him. If the hybrid noticed the attention, he didn't comment on it. Taehyung's eyes were also fixed on a point in the distance. Jimin wondered what he was thinking about.

"So," Taehyung said after a few minutes. "Though I have learned things about you, there is a lot I haven't."

"Yeah?" Jimin said. "What did you want to know?"

"You write a lot," Taehyung said. "Like... a lot. I've seen you filling that notebook daily since you arrived. What do you write about?"

"Oh," Jimin said. "Nothing in particular. It should be related to my work. That's what I do. I'm a writer, a novelist to be more specific."

"Really?" Taehyung leaned forward. "That's fascinating."

"Do you like to read?" Jimin asked, deciding that if he were going to accept shifters being real, he was going to dive in headlong, just like the protagonist in many of his books. Consenting to strange and wondrous things they might not fully understand in exchange for a grand experience. For the moment, the grand experience included otters turned men who might have hobbies such as reading.

"I have been known to pick up a book on occasion," Taehyung said. "But you said "should", as if you aren't working on them. Why not?"

"Because I'm stuck," Jimin said. "Well, perhaps stuck isn't the right word."

"Writer's block?" Taehyung said.

"Sort of," Jimin said. "Everyone has a different way of dealing with it. Some push through, some plunk at the keyboard until something sticks. Others might go out in nature or get a coffee to strike inspiration, get their mind off the project and the ever-looming deadlines."

"That sounds stressful," Taehyung said.

"It can be," Jimin said. "For me though, there was a lot more going on than just problems with the prose."

"Oh?" Taehyung asked. "Like what?"

Jimin sighed. He didn't want to talk about it. Didn't want to talk about it anymore as he hadn't wanted to live it. It was easier not to. To ignore the advice that told him not to repeat the cycle again. And again. And once more for good measure. Ignore calls from his agent and emails from the editor and texts from friends and family. Wondering why things weren't going the way he anticipated or planned when he always did his best to do everything right. To retreat further in on himself until it was just him and his thoughts in the recesses of his mind and he attempted to numb the disappointment.

Jimin blinked, realizing that he zoned out for a moment. Taehyung was watching him, sharp eyes searching and serious. "What?"

"I know we just met, and this might be overstepping," Taehyung said. "As I mentioned earlier, I've watched you on the beach. Though I've not read any of it, I can tell how the words make you feel by your expressions. You seem... sad a lot. Even the times when you sit on the sand or the rocks, staring at the water. Even that very first night. I could sense it, the heaviness surrounding you."

Jimin swallowed. He didn't know what to say. It would be easy to pretend everything was fine, deny the truth of the other's words. After all, he'd been doing it for months. Instead, he blew out a breath and nodded. "Something like that."

"What happened?" Taehyung asked. As soon as the words left his lips, he rushed on, "You don't have to share if you don't want to, but I am a good listener. Not to mention I have no one to tell. A perfect secret keeper."

Jimin didn't consider most of what he might disclose secrets. Some of them were very public. The idea was tempting, though his insides coiled a bit with uncertainty. It would be freeing in a strange way. Though unaware of the particulars, Taehyung was right. He'd been able to pick up on details in a matter of weeks that others in his life missed for months.

Sleep pulled at his eyelids once more. Though it would be nice to share, the idea of getting into it all was daunting. Despite the adrenaline rush at the hybrid's transformation, his body was winding down. It was late, growing later by the second. In a few hours, the first glimpse of sunrise would appear, shades of pink and gold extending across the sky.

"Can I think about it?" Jimin asked, stifling a yawn.

Taehyung nodded. "Of course. Get some sleep."

Jimin rose to his feet and handed the blanket to Taehyung. "See you in the morning."

He could sense the hybrid's gaze on him as he walked toward the ladder. Halfway there, the smooth, rich voice ensnared him a final time. Spinning, he raised a brow. "Yes?"

"I meant what I said," Taehyung replied. "I'd like to get to know you better. And thank you again, for saving me."

"I don't know if I did that," Jimin said. "I kind of just panicked and scooped you up... then dumped you on my couch while I searched for Jin."

Jin. He'd almost forgotten Taehyung said Jin was also a hybrid shifter. He wondered what sort of animal the other man was.

"You did more than you realize," Taehyung said. "Anything could have happened left out in the open. You brought me to a safe place where I was able to rest."

"You're welcome," Jimin said, ignoring the pleasant warmth that flooded through him at the praise.

"Goodnight, Jimin," Taehyung said. Even from across the room, he could see the merriment flickering in the hybrid's eyes. "I'll see you in the morning."

Jimin made his way back to bed, slipping beneath the covers with his mind racing. So much had happened that day, particularly in the last hour or so. There was no going back, he couldn't pretend he didn't know the existence of magic in some form was possible. The lines between fiction and reality forever blurred.

He stared out the small window at the night, listening to the sound of the nearby water on the sand. His thoughts drifted to Taehyung. He wondered if the hybrid had gone to sleep or if he were still sitting awake on the couch. What would things look like going forward? Taehyung said he wanted to get to know him better. What did that mean? More importantly, what did Jimin want it to mean?

Letting out a sigh, he rotated onto his other side, pushing an arm beneath the pillow. Before he knew it, he'd drifted off again.

He awoke to sunlight and a pair of dark eyes peering over the edge of the loft floor. Jimin gasped and sat up, heartbeat rabbiting. Though in the back of his mind, he knew it was Taehyung, he was caught a bit off guard. Groaning, he scrubbed a hand over his face and up through his hair, allowing the spike of adrenaline to dissipate.

"I'm sorry!" Taehyung said, poking his head further into the room. "I didn't mean to scare you. I was just checking to see if you were awake."

"Oh," Jimin sighed. "Well, I am awake. Definitely awake."

"Sorry again," Taehyung said.

Jimin waited for Taehyung to leave, but he didn't. After a moment, he supposed it didn't matter. Swinging his legs over the side, he stood, suddenly aware of all the aches in his muscles. The frantic rescue and cleaning combination the previous day had not done his body any favors. Now that he was awake, two thoughts consumed his mind, as they did every morning. The bathroom and a cup of coffee, in that order.

"Good morning, though," Taehyung said, scurrying back down the ladder to let him pass. "Did you sleep well?"

"Surprisingly, yeah," Jimin said. "You?"

Taehyung nodded. He certainly looked more awake than Jimin felt. Jimin didn't know where to look. The hybrid was still not wearing a shirt, which he supposed wasn't a surprise. Did he even own clothing?

Jimin wasn't sure how often Taehyung made a habit of spending time in his human form. It was hard not to look at the honey gold skin of his bare chest and abdomen, but equally difficult to hold any eye contact. In the end, he tried his best to avoid doing any of it, and made a beeline for the bathroom, mumbling, "Good."

Taehyung was waiting for him when he came out. The other man's eyes seemed to light up a bit when they met him. Jimin's stomach gave a lurch. Steeling himself, he headed toward the kitchen, the desire for coffee more intense. He busied himself with preparing the water, hoping the tremble in his fingers was unnoticed.

"So," Taehyung said, leaning against the counter. "You promised to make scones."

"I did," Jimin replied, adding some ground coffee-beans to the pot. "It shouldn't take too long. Did you want to help?"

It would be more friendly, he reasoned, than to banish Taehyung to the couch or even outside. Even if it meant spending more time together, in quite close proximity. It wasn't that Jimin didn't want either of those things. He was just apprehensive.

"Sounds fun," Taehyung said, his tone bright and jovial.

Jimin turned on the oven and began to gather supplies. Scones were a fairly simple recipe, containing a few ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, butter, milk, and an egg. He set down a dish of blueberries as well. While scones were often made plain, the hybrid had requested them specifically. Jimin couldn't disagree, the extra bit of sweetness added to the overall taste.

Once assembled, he began to talk Taehyung through the process. Sifting the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Cutting the cold butter into thin slices before working it into the dry ingredients with his fingers. It was a strange seeming step, but a necessary one to the quality of the finished product. Pointing at the blueberries, Taehyung tipped them into the bowl and Jimin gently stirred until they were covered. Last, he poured the milk and egg mixture over everything in small amounts, using a fork to mix everything together until it formed a dough.

"Now," Jimin said. "This is perhaps the most satisfying part, outside eating them, of course."

Dusting flour on the kitchen table, Jimin tipped the dough onto the surface. The hybrid jumped at the chance and eagerly grabbed the dough, almost crushing it. Jimin reached out and took hold of Taehyung's wrists before he pulverized the blueberries. It took a moment for his brain to catch up with what he'd done, the warm skin and slender bones beneath his fingers before he snatched his hands back.

"Sorry," Jimin said, hoping that his face wasn't as red as it felt. "I didn't mean to —."

"It's okay," Taehyung said. "You can touch me if you want."

Jimin swallowed. Before that moment, he'd not considered how badly he might want to do just that. Now permission was granted, and it chased away almost every coherent thread in his mind, leaving behind only fog and uncertainty. He refocused on the task at hand, gently kneading the dough a few times before he stepped back to let Taehyung try again.

"I just didn't want you to squish the berries," Jimin said, trying to appear collected despite his thundering heart.

"I'm sure," Taehyung said. "I still meant it anyway."

Jimin responded by cutting the dough and forming two balls. Then he cut each of those into six triangles and went to retrieve a baking sheet from the cupboard. Taehyung helped him arrange the pieces with enough space to expand in between. Once Jimin slid the tray into the oven, he turned back to his coffee which had cooled to a perfect temperature in the time they took to prepare the scones.

"Did you want some?" Jimin asked.

Taehyung shook his head. "Just water, thank you."

While the scones baked, Jimin set about cleaning up. Taehyung started on the dishes, washing each piece carefully and setting it on the drying rack. He moved with quiet efficiency, and Jimin paused scrubbing the table of flour to watch him.

Taehyung cut an impressive figure. The wide stretch of his shoulders and smooth curve to his waist. It was easy to see the muscles moving beneath the skin, the bones of his spine. He was limber, but strong, just like the aquatic beast who lived within him. Once more, the absence of a shirt was distracting, but Jimin felt it would be too obvious to go and fetch one. The hybrid seemed to have a bit of an aversion to clothing in general.

Seven minutes later, Jimin pulled open the door to the oven to rotate the scones. "Just a bit longer."

"I can't wait," Taehyung said. He sat down at the table and rested his elbows on it. "What were your plans today?"

"I didn't really have any," Jimin admitted. "Usually it's just wake up, sit on the beach, lounge around, eat. I don't lead a very interesting existence."

"I wouldn't say that," Taehyung said. "Sometimes it's okay to be content moving at a slower pace."

"Yeah," Jimin muttered. "That's what my agent says too."

"Agent?" Taehyung said. "Wow, so you're really official then. An agent... that's cool. What's he like?"

"I am sure he'd be flattered by your excitement," Jimin huffed a laugh. "Though also probably a bit perplexed, he doesn't take compliments well, gets a bit shy, something his husband loves exploiting. In all seriousness, Yoongi is great. He found me when I was new to the scene, that was almost five years ago. So much has happened since then, but he's been one of the few constants."

And one of the only people Jimin now felt he could truly depend on, but he didn't say that last part.

"He sounds great," Taehyung said.

"He is," Jimin agreed. "But yeah, he always tells me to take a beat. Slow down. Stop and smell the roses or whatever."

"He encouraged you to take this trip," Taehyung said.

Jimin nodded. "I'm supposed to indulge in rest and relaxation. I don't know how much I've done of either of those things though. You asked about plans earlier, I almost never do anything special unless Jin or Emilia have organized something. I've probably seen every inch of this island multiple times whether on bike or foot. It's a beautiful place."

"It is," Taehyung confirmed.

The hybrid was watching him again, gaze questioning. Jimin knew that magic of some form must exist to allow Taehyung to flit between human and animal forms, but now wondered if he possessed any other skills. Could he read minds? Would he be able to see into Jimin's brain, glimpse all of the secrets concealed within?

He was saved by the timer signaling the scones were done. Jimin pulled them from the oven as the hybrid leaped from the table and came over to inspect the results. The exteriors were perfectly golden brown. Jimin turned to glance at Taehyung. Quiet pride shone in the dark eyes. It seemed to flicker brighter when Jimin complimented how well their combined efforts turned out.

"We should let them cool a bit first," Jimin said. "Burning your mouth is unpleasant no matter who or what you are."

"Fair enough," Taehyung said. "In that case, can we go outside? Just for a bit?"

"Sure," Jimin replied.

They ended up on the beach, still in their nightclothes, feet bare. Taehyung strode along with a bouncing gait that reminded Jimin strongly of how the otters moved on land. It was charming in a way. He found himself smiling again, mouth falling open as Taehyung neared the water and his human body melted away. An otter bounded forward in his place, leaving behind the pajama pants.

Jimin stood, watching the animal frolicking in the shallows, emitting happy squeaks and chirps. It was one thing to see each form separately, but to see both in a matter of seconds left him a little shell shocked. There was no interpretation, nothing to explain away what he just observed. There was no fog of whiskey or lack of sleep. Only his eyes took in the most surreal spectacle he'd ever witnessed.

He sat down on the sand to watch. Taehyung dove down deep, reappearing several feet away a few moments later. After repeating the action a few more times, throwing in some twists and somersaults for flair, he popped up again. The furry face was gone, replaced by flawless human features.

"Are you having fun?" Jimin asked.

Taehyung nodded. "Yes. Would you consider joining me?"

"Maybe some time," Jimin said. "It's not good for humans to swim in water for a few days after a heavy storm. I may live in a city, but there's beaches. The rules have been drilled into me since I was a kid."

"Oh," Taehyung nodded. "Okay. Well, it's a date then."

A date. Why did Taehyung have to phrase it that way? Jimin drew his knees to his chest. Based on the limited clues he'd provided, the hybrid probably thought he was some hot shot celebrity writer. Someone who would be a catch, when in reality...

"I'm going to get out now," Taehyung said with a wink. "If you want to close your eyes."

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE 17 ENGAGED READERS!!! keep supporting me and enjoying the book!!! 

date- 12th sep 24

words - 5254