Love. Such a perfect word that sounded much better being heard as it rolled off the tip of his tongue. Jungkook was silent on the question. Has he ever found someone he truly admired? All his life he was known for running away once anything was given to him; he would run away and try to forget the problems he already had so the word love was something he barely heard from.

"No... not really..." Jungkook mentioned and grew embarrassed. "I'm not the... romantic type, I've never really had a relationship before..." Jungkook answered and nervously looked down from the kitchen.

"How about love from family or friends? Surely you've had that... right?" Jimin wondered and watched as the water boiled.

"My... family, I haven't spoken with them in two years. Love with them is complicated, and I only have one friend; my roommate, but it's also complicated with him as well," Jungkook confessed and cleared his throat. "What... about you...? Maybe you have an interesting story to tell, have you ever fallen in love?"

"Oh... what an amazing story it is..." Jimin whispered and closed his eyes once more to think about it longer. "I've fallen in love... many times... with the same person, if that makes any sense," spoke the man and let out a gentle smile while his eyes were glued shut; reminiscing on only the good things that lit up his dark world. "We were destined... destined to meet every time we said our goodbyes. What a story to tell, a long story to be exact, that just keeps repeating until the end of time. I fell in love many times, but that's how it is when it comes to love. It's as if you're on a roller coaster that never ends."

Jungkook tried to comprehend what Jimin meant. He pondered the words Jimin spoke and smiled to himself, thinking of how sweet Jimin's mind truly worked when it came to love. Jungkook never found love as good as Jimin, so he was like a child being told a story of true love. As exciting as it was, it also left Jungkook longing to find out much more about Jimin's life and who he truly was. But the boy knew well he couldn't be spoiled any further. Step by step, piece by piece, he was sure to learn more about this mysterious man.

"They must be very special to you... where are they now? Are you waiting to meet them once more?" Jungkook questioned and anticipated Jimin's answer once it began to take a moment for him to respond.

"You could say that... but I can tell he's near... I just need to give him some time. He will come to me soon, I just know it," Jimin assured and lowered the heat of the stove boiling the water for tea.

Jimin remained in the kitchen, not longing to face Jungkook as they slowly unraveled many things about each other since the two of them weren't very fond about confrontation. They were the same person, distant, silent, fierce, and a little curious at times. In no way did Jungkook realize that Jimin's attempts at confrontation were always hidden away in a mask or beyond another room. So there they stood, standing in separate rooms yet, feeling as if they stood right by each other to share a few words on a topic they had different views on.

"How could you be so sure that he's near? Do you let him know that you're thinking of him every night?" The curious boy wondered and looked back towards the kitchenette with an anticipating smile just longing to carve over his pale and perfectly chiseled face.

"I just know it, fate always has a way of bringing us together every moment we're apart. And it's working right now," Jimin concluded and finally pulled his eyes open to set the pot of hot water to the side once he turned off the stove. "Jungkook... have you ever been hurt?"

"I... I broke my arm once, it hurt really badly!"

Jimin then let out a laugh and shook his head at the thought of the boy's answer. "No, that's not what I meant. I'm speaking about being hurt deep down... you seem to have a story to tell on that. If you want, I'll be here to listen if you need to be heard," Jimin continued the conversation. He felt a connection with the boy and didn't want to seem distant at a time like this. So, Jimin stood in place and distracted his gaze with many things so he could imagine it all.

Opening up about his story was a struggle Jungkook just needed to face. He let out an exhale and figured that if he longed to know more about Jimin, he had to be able to open up a bit to him in return. Of course, the two were hoping to work together to make progress.

"I... I.. I've grown apart from my family after many things. Many things I've done ended up hurting me, from the way people spoke about me, to the way I handled my issues.." Jungkook confessed and let out an exhale. I broke myself through drinking."

"So you have a drinking problem?" Jimin asked and awaited Jungkook's answer.

"Yes, I do... but, it's not as bad as it was before. For some reason, I haven't drunk a thing here... but if I was to see a bottle of alcohol, I would finish it in a second! It's a way I cope with my issues..." Jungkook mentioned and continued to dig deeper into his mind to continue venting to Jimin just standing in another room to hear his voice. "Everyone around me tried to help with my issue, but I never let them. I never allowed anyone to get too close, so I would run away from my problems and drink to avoid it."

Jungkook continued to speak as he let out exhales in between as if those words still haunted his mind every waking moment. Before he knew it, his mouth grew dry and craved a taste of any bitter and cold alcohol. But when he looked around, he realized that it was just him sitting in the room while Jimin stood in another. Hearing him out but still, staying away since confrontation was a difficult thing for the two.

"My own family began to hurt me with cruel words telling me; 'you're getting lazy!', 'Don't be selfish, think of what you're becoming and how it's affecting us all!', 'Do you ever think about anyone else when you begin to drink?!'. I yearned for healing through drinking, so the only thing that surfaced in my mind was an escape. An escape that left me at ease, a bottle of beer to everyone, but to me, it was a true pain reliever. I began to go to many clubs since I was out of the house . Things weren't looking too good for my relationship with my parents. That led to me avoiding them completely until I ran away from them and lived with my friend. But eventually, he too got tired of me. Here I am now... confused, lost, thirsty..." Jungkook concluded, hinting at his alcohol problem when it suddenly began to arise.

"So I guess confrontation is difficult for you too, hm?" Jimin asked and began to pour hot water into a mug where a tea bag sat inside it. "You ran away from them when they tried to help you... I know how that feels. Is there something that still sticks onto you to this day?"

"I... well, my mother used to say I was a ticking time bomb; I tend to blow up and hurt everyone around me. Then, there's nothing left but the ashes that serve as a reminder of what my actions cause. For the people who surrounded me, they are left in pain because of my actions.... You don't know how badly I wanted to go back and face them... but I kept running, afraid of what they'll say, afraid of them hurting me more with their cruel words," Jungkook answered and let out a sigh when he leaned back against the couch. "Jimin... do you have any... alcohol?"

Jimin listened to the boy's question and began to pity him. Jungkook didn't seem like the type of boy who would endure so much, but at the same time, Jimin knew better not to assume anything about Jeon Jungkook. Jimin then held the mug in his hand and stepped out of the kitchen to see Jungkook pressing his head against the chair and losing his focus at the ceiling. Once the man stepped in, Jungkook looked at him with no other thought surrounding his mind.

"No, but I have something better. I brewed tea for you just so you wouldn't wake up with a sore throat. Drink it... it's way better than feeding into your demons," Claimed Jimin as Jungkook looked up at the man and accepted the cup when it was given. "You've been doing so well here... I would hate for all of that progress to go to waste, wouldn't you say so as well?"

"...right," Jungkook answered and held the cup in his hands before moving the tea bag up and down within the hot water. "Jimin... why did you ask me those questions?"

"What's wrong with asking questions? I get a little curious... just like you... just like him..." Jimin continued and kept his gaze at Jungkook.

Jungkook pondered many things. Many things Jimin said and the many things he did. No matter what he heard, all he gained out of the conversation with the older was that he could have a soft and warm side despite his firm and cold ways. Jungkook didn't want to believe Jimin was just different, he wanted to believe that this man, this man who stood before him so firmly, was just another normal human being. But why did all the doubts warn Jungkook that this couldn't be true? Wasn't Jimin a normal being? No matter what he heard coming out of those plump, red, gorgeous lips of his, it couldn't be enough. Nothing was ever enough to feed Jungkook's curiosity.

"Him... is his name, Hyunwon?" Jungkook asked and looked Jimin in the eyes to diffuse any further disconnections they had.

"Yes... that's his name..." Jimin answered and broke his gaze away from Jungkook before pacing away. Leading Jungkook to grow hesitant towards his next question.

"When will he find you? How will he find you if you're going to stay here, holding me hostage?" Jungkook wondered and didn't hear an answer from the man right after. "Is that question too personal..?"

"Yes... yes it is," Jimin answered and slowly made his way to the kitchenette once more. "Anyway, has this conversation allowed you to recall anything? Have my words brought anything back from your memory?" Jimin questioned and looked back at the boy sitting and staring at his every move. "Please... tell me it did... lie to me if you have to."

Jungkook was silent once more. Looking into the brown eyes of the pale man before a red flare began to spark within it once more. "I... I don't... I can't lie to you about something that seems too important."

"Thank you, Jungkook..." Jimin replied, knowing well that the boy didn't have it in him to lie to him no matter what. Just as Jimin looked at Jungkook, he slowly approached him once more and hid his hands behind his back. No longer wanting Jungkook to flinch each time he reached out to him with the cold hands he was punished before with. "You chose not to lie to me when I allowed it.. so honest and understanding."

"I just... I just didn't want to lie to you after the words we just shared... it didn't seem right," Jungkook answered and watched Jimin bend over and reach to the level of his beady eyes. Staring into his pure soul with his cold and empty stare. Only then, did Jungkook realize that Jimin held his hands behind his back, refusing to touch the boy after torturing him before with his own cold touch.

"Oh Jungkook, if only you knew how many people lied to me standing in your position," Jimin spoke softly into a whisper. "Many... many people... would lie to me, but you... you're so sweet and honest... you really are just like him, and that's what I like about you."