Him and Me

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."—Morrie Schwartz

"Where is my morning kiss?" Jimin puckered his lips leaning into my face.

"Aish, Jimin!," I leaned away and pushed his forehead backward with a finger.

"Mia!," he whined and followed me around.

I giggled at his extra cringy behavior.

Today when I woke up, for the first time in my life I was smiling like a crazy girl. Somehow I felt wide awake and overly alive with just three hours of sleep. I jumped off my bed with so much strength and excitement that Jimin stared at me blinking his eyes for a solid minute; his daily routine of dragging me off my bed and pushing me into the bathroom was broken that day. He then looked at my smiling and giggling form with awe. He was quite alarmed when I even sang in my shower and danced tying my hair, dragging him with me. I knew he was confused about why my mood swung to a whole new level but he played along with me.

I felt so elated and ecstasy was literally flowing through me as I slid through stairs.

"Mia! You'll fall," Jimin grabbed my arm but I giggled and jumped off it.

"Hello, family!" I exclaimed as I entered the kitchen making all of them flinch.

I rushed to my mom and hugged her kissing her cheek. She had wide eyes as she eyed my joyfully humming and skipping form.

"Good morning, my beautiful sister!" I chirped at Diya.

"G-Good morning, sis," she looked surprised, "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am!," I shrugged, "Why wouldn't I be?" I sat down at the table.

"Um, maybe you look a little too-"

"Cheerfull?!," I looked at her with a wide grin, "I know, right?!" I squealed.

Both of them exchanged looks. I saw Jimin facepalming himself with a low chuckle.

"Morning fellas," slurred Liya when she sat down on the table.

"Good morning Liya!," I exclaimed causing her to choke on her juice.

She looked at me wide-eyed, carefully set down the glass, "D-Did you just wish me-"

"Yes, yes I did," I smiled widely at her, "How are you, my pretty little sis?"

"Uh...," she looked at me blinking her eyes multiple times then glanced at my mom and Diya who just shrugged shaking their heads.

"Mm...my favorite song," I said joyfully when a new song came from the radio.

I hummed to the song and finished my breakfast. I moved my body to the beat while washing my plate and turned around to see everyone watching me wide-eyed.

"Uh, are you okay, Mia?" mom asked finally squinting her eyebrows, "Do you perhaps have a fever?" she reached forward to touch my forehead but I didn't let her.

"I'm perfectly fine, mom" I hugged her again, "Have a great day at work!"

I picked up my bag and turned to my sisters, "See you guys at school," I waved giving them a finger gun, and rushed out of the kitchen humming to the song, Jimin following right behind me with a goofy smile.

"Is she possessed, Mom?" I heard Diya asking, "Should we call an exorcist?"

I just chuckled and dragged Jimin out of the house.

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"Isn't this day great," I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh morning air in the field.

"Yeah...you're so excited today," Jimin mumbled from beside me with a small smile on his face, "Can I ask why?"

I opened my eyes and looked at him, "Because you're with me"

"I've been with you for over a month but I never saw you so excited and smiling like today," I think he knows exactly what he's talking about, "Is it perhaps because of what happened yesterday?" there was that smile on his face.

"Maybe...?" I shrugged.

"I knew it," he smiled widely.

"Of course you know, Chim," I smiled along with him, "I'm happy that I don't have any burdens anymore. I don't have to hide anything from anyone. Above all, I'm elated that you're here with me, Chim."

I felt his hand against mine as he interlocked it, "I want to hold this hand forever" he said, "Besides, are you officially gonna call me Chim from now on?"

"Yep," I said kicking a stone and then I looked up abruptly, "Okay, too much sweet talk. Let's race to the bus stop," with that, I took off without a warning dragging him by his hand in mine.

"Yah! Slow down!" I heard him shouting.

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"Hey, nameless cold cool girl," called an all too familiar voice.

I know who. This guy's seriously gonna ruin my mood.

I turned around with a sigh, "What do you want..." I looked down at his red PUMA sneakers which he wears every day to school, "...annoying red puma boy?"

"Oh you noticed my sneakers!" he looked down at them, "So, like I asked last time, can we be friends?"

"Does NO ring a bell?" I asked annoyed.

"C'mon what's wrong with being friends? We can hang out and all, it's fun!" he wiggled his eyebrows for whatever reason.

"Look, if you're trying to get something from me, it won't work if you don't tell me what it is," he opened his mouth to speak but I held up my hand silencing him, "Or if you're trying to hit on me for whatever dumb reason, that won't work because I already have a boyfriend" that rolled off my tongue easily. It was a nice saying though.

"Huh? You've a boyfriend? No way!" he backed away.

"I don't lie," I rolled my eyes.

"Well, the reason is not any of that," he shook his head, "I just genuinely want to be friends with you. You seem like a cool person to hang out with"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"It's true," he raised his eyebrows up.

"Fine," I sighed still not taking eyes off him, "Just to let you know. If you try anything that makes my blood boil I won't hesitate to chop off your tongue or any of your limbs" I gave him a threatening glare.

He gulped.

"Why did you gulp now?" I asked.

"I-I was just s-scared. You look intimidating as hell!" he exclaimed.

"Your problem," I shrugged and walked away.

"Hey! I still don't know your name!" I heard him calling from behind.

"Mia," I called out without turning around and gave just a flick of my wrist.

"Thanks!"

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"Where'd he go? It's been a while" I mumbled under my breathe looking up from my book towards the door of my bedroom.

Right after we reached home after a series of jokes and holding hands, Jimin vanished somewhere saying he had something to take care of. I don't know what he's talking about and I questioned it but he was stubborn and I had to let him go half-heartedly. I still had a little trauma from what happened last night. I was getting restless glancing at the clock on the wall opposite me multiple times. It's been 5 hours since he has gone and I was starting to get worried a little as it was near midnight and everyone was probably asleep. It may be stupid of me to think like that but my heart could never stand without his presence.

Right when I thought I should go search for him, Jimin came into the room passing through the door. I released a breath and looked at his oddly smiling face.

"Where have you been?" I asked right away.

"Um...around?" he shifted from feet to feet with his hands behind his back.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, look, it's full moon today!" he said pointing out of the window abruptly as if trying to distract me from something. I just sat on my spot staring at him and he saw that I was not moving, "Aish, come here, Mia," he then came to me and grabbed my hand dragging me towards the window.

It was indeed a full moon and was very enthralling. I kept watching it with a smile forming on my lips when suddenly darkness engulfed my eyes and I started to panic. I was going to punch or kick or do something as a primary instinct but a soft touch on both of my hands stopped it.

"Mia, follow my lead, hm?" a whisper near my ear sent a shiver down my spine. I was turned around afterward.

"Jimin wha-" a finger on my lips shushed me.

"Ssh...just take my hand and let me guide you," he whispered again.

Taking both my hands in his he started goading me out of my room. He kept whispering me directions and by the look of it, I was climbing stairs. I didn't know where he was taking me at first but eventually, I got an idea so I didn't resist and let him take me anywhere he wants.

Finally, a door was opened and the cold night wind hit my exposed skin. I shivered a little as he slipped a hand around my waist and walked me towards a particular spot. His hands left me for a moment before he clutched my right hand gently.

"Open your eyes, Mia," and just like that, the veil from my eyes was taken off.

The view before me was breathtaking. A ravishing view of the whole field behind my house with that green velvety texture lining its ground brightening it in the moonlight and the dark silhouettes of trees contrasting to the starry cloudless sky and above us stood a humongous glowing silver moon in its full exquisite outfit. The serene atmosphere can bring a smile to any creature on the planet earth, and me being one was absolutely awestruck by it.

A jacket was placed over my shoulders. Only then did I wake up from my daze and turned to my side to look at the moonlit figure of an equally dazzling Jimin. He looked ethereal as always with the moonlight cascading his soft yet sharp features. I couldn't help but admire him for his godly beauty and damn that smile which never fails to leave a tingling sensation in my stomach; he'd look like an exact angel if he'd wings but I don't think he'd need one.

"It's rude to stare you know," he smirked as I broke from yet another daze, "But I'll gladly let you" he winked.

"How did you find this place, Jimin?" I asked looking around ignoring his flirty look.

It was the back terrace of my house.

"I just came upon the door and was curious," he rubbed his neck.

My eyes came to rest on the telescope and a bunch of snacks over a spread-out blanket.

"Woah! Where did you get that?" I pointed to the telescope walking towards it.

"It was lying abandoned in your basement," he shrugged, "I just cleaned it up. You used to love stargazing when you were little so I thought maybe you have that habit now too..?" he looked unsure.

"Of course I do!," I said squatting down to adjust the knobs, "It's just I don't have time"

"Really? I'm happy to hear that," he sat down beside me, "It's in good condition. I've checked it"

I looked through it and started searching for a particular constellation. Sure enough, it was there.

"The archer!" I mumbled.

"You still like that constellation," Jimin chuckled, "You had theories and fantasies about it, right? 'Archer always points towards east' stuff"

"Yep, I still do," I said sitting down beside him staring up at the sky.

"Do you like it?" Jimin asked after a silence.

"Yeah..." I stared at the captivating night sky, "Um, sorry what?" I'd fallen into a daze again.

"The date," he scooted closer to me with a nasty smile.

I blinked at him.

"I mean we can't exactly go to cafes and movies so, this was all I could think of," he explained rubbing the back of his neck, "Stargazing, a little picnic in the middle of the night, and the beautiful view. I'm sorry if I disappointed you. I'll make sure to take you to a perfect dat-"

"Chim," I held his hand as he looked up from his blabber, "You are with me right here, right now in this place, right beside me. It doesn't matter where we're" I tapped his and my chest, "As long as these are in the right place, everything's perfect. Just to assure you; whatever you do for me, when it's filled with love it's more than perfect for me." I smiled at him.

He pulled me into a hug, his warmth flooding through me on this cold night.

"Thank you for being here with me," he whispered.

"No, thank you for letting me be," I whispered back pulling away.

"So, let's start our first-ever date!" he clapped enthusiastically.

"Of course" I smiled at his excited form.

We spent our time chatting about things from our childhood and some very treasurable memories. He would talk about the whole world and I would listen to everything he says. He told me about how he got into BTS and about his training periods, his school and friends he had in high school, his contemporary dance academy and how he developed a passion for dancing and singing. He told me his painful memories about starving to death, being called shorty and fatty, my heart literally broke even imagining someone hurting him as I clenched my fists. Then, about his journeys as an idol. It was mere hard work, dedication, passion, and perseverance of what they are today. Their fame and popularity were not some luck, they have earned it, in a hard way. I almost teared up from their life story.

He then talked about how much he loved his fans and his lifelong debt towards them for supporting and encouraging them to move towards their dreams. He cried when talking about their unconditional love towards BTS and how much they believe in them. He had so much to say about them. It's almost like he was talking about his family and I'm happy for that fond smile on his face.

"Mia," Jimin called while my head was on his lap and he was playing with my hair.

"Hm," I hummed with closed eyes.

"Will you answer my question truthfully?" he asked threading his fingers through my hair.

"Hm," I hummed again.

"What caused you to change?" my eyes opened as I peered at him, "To change from your bright personality to being...cold?" he had an uncertain look in his eyes.

I kept silent.

"It's okay if you don-"

"I want to talk about it," I stated sitting up and turning to face him directly.

He had an encouraging look.

I took a deep breath and looked at the stars.

"Heartbreak," I said.

There was silence as I waited for him to say something but I didn't get any so I decided to continue.

"I had a crush on Ryan's brother; Rithik," I said, "It was when I was 16, you know when the hormones start to kick in and make you restless. I don't know when it started or anything but it only grew stronger every time I saw him; can't blame him he's indeed handsome and every girl's ideal type. And my stupid self finally decided to confess him at a relative's wedding party. The worst decision in my life"

[Warning: Disturbing scene: Any type of violence against women is highly intolerable and it will never be. Treat women with respect]

Flashback

2 years ago...

I clutched the tiny rose and the love letter into my chest as I stood outside the party area. Loud music blared every time someone opened the door and the air vibrated to the upbeat music played inside. Night breeze gently caressed my cheeks and pushed my hair away from my face as I stared at the door patiently waiting for one person to come out. There was a gentle smile on my face and my heart was racing uncontrollably just by imagining what I'm gonna do next.

"Mia?" my head shot up, "He'll be here in a minute," said Sneha and left just like that.

I'd asked her to call him.

I nodded and said thank you to her with a goofy smile.

After a few minutes of waiting, he came out. Just by looking at his handsome face, my heart started beating triple its speed and my palms started sweating profusely.

His steps were a little uneven but I shrugged it off focusing on the reason why I was there. He walked towards me with staggering steps and blinking rapidly. He supported himself by leaning against the tree and looked at me with the smile I've come to adore so much.

"What's it Mia dear~?" his voice slurred a little.

I blushed and looked down at my feet hearing him call that. I saw him leaning down to face me with a questioning look with a hum under his tone.

"What do you want to tell me, hm?" he leaned in towards me slightly making me panic.

"I-I uh I...want t-to uh," I gulped harshly unable to form sentences.

I looked up hearing him chuckle. He abruptly grabbed my arm and pulled me towards somewhere. It was the backside of the building and I was a little scared by the dark atmosphere but being with him made me feel safe. How wrong I was...

"Tell me now," he demanded with a smirk, leaning on the wall.

I stood there awkwardly fiddling with the things in my hand mustering up the courage.

"I want to say something," I made out without stuttering, " I've been wanting to tell you this for a very long time." I closed my eyes and breathed in, "I like you!" I extended the rose and letter towards him.

There was utter silence but after that, a peal of laughter was heard. I opened my eyes and saw him laughing loudly clutching his stomach. His laughter made me back away a little with the fear. I stared at his form as he stopped his laughter and yanked the rose and letter from my hands. My eyes widened when he tore the letter into pieces without even thinking twice. He then looked at the rose and took in my broken form.

"You like me, huh?" he asked twirling the rose in his hand.

I nodded vigorously with tears forming in my eyes.

"Seriously?," he scoffed, "Did you really think I'll like you back?" he plucked a petal, "Do you even look yourself in the mirror?" another petal was thrown away by him as tears finally flowed down my face, "You are so ugly that I can't even look at you!" the petal fell to the ground as tears uncontrollably rushed down, "You don't even know your place. Then I'll show it to you!" he dropped the rose into the ground and stomped on it walking away.

I stared at the fragile rose as I trembled crying so hard.

He then came back with a trash can. He threw it to the floor making me flinch, came towards me and grabbed my arm harshly dragging me towards it.

"What's this?" he asked pointing to the spilled trash.

I whimpered with the pain in my arm but he didn't let go.

"I asked what's this?!!" he yelled to my face making me flinch again.

"T-Trash," I whimpered out and gasped as he pushed me off to a wall.

"That's what you are," he snarled at my terrified face, "An ugly can of trash. If you were your sisters I would have accepted your petty little confession. But you are not! You are good for nothing, you ugly slut"

My eyes widened at that.

"Besides the only thing you have is a good body," his eyes then trailed off me making my skin crawl and twitch my face in utter disgust.

I aggressively pushed him off me and ran away with trembling limps. On the way, I bumped into my father.

"Mia? What happened? Why are you crying?" he asked as he shook my trembling form.

"D-Dad, please t-take m-me h-home," I cried into his chest as he hugged and walked me away from the place.

That was the end of my little crush.

End of flashback

"That prick..." Jimin gritted his teeth in rage.

"It's alright, Jimin," I chuckled lightly, "he was just drunk and he only remembered snippets of what happened. My stupid self couldn't even distinguish a drunk person. He had apologized to me countless times, though I'll smile and brush him off I can never forget those words. I'm not some machine whose memory can be erased. I did have a trauma that took months for me to overcome by going to self-protection classes and by building self-confidence. But there were some other characteristic changes I couldn't get rid of"

"You mean the flinching upon human contact?" he asked wide-eyed.

"Yeah, that was hard to erase. Thanks to you" I smiled at him.

He smiled sadly at me then pulled me into him wrapping his arms around me. I sighed upon the contact and rested my head on his chest clutching his bicep. I noticed the black necklace I gifted him and traced it with my finger.

"You can cry, you know?" his chest vibrated.

"I don't want to," I said absent-mindedly, "I promised myself I won't cry for him again. I'm tired of it, I don't care anymore"

"Mm," he hummed brushing hair away from my cheeks, "You are beautiful, Mia, just like the stars above us. You shine brightly like them lighting the whole sky and making it beautiful and wholesome to watch. Without the stars, there won't be any fun, who'll keep watching a blank sky? You're my star, Mia. The star who bought light into my dark life and made me believe that I have a purpose here. You're always important to me"

"Thank you," I whispered.

He pulled me up by the shoulders and made me look at him. He cupped one of my cheeks and stared deep into my orbs. His eyes didn't fail to hold me captive and I watched as his gaze trailed off to my lips then back into my widened eyes. He was asking my permission? But I couldn't even move from my spot let alone speak to him. My cheeks coated red and I could see the same opposite me too.

With our eyes locked he leaned in slowly closing the distance between us. My heart fluttered when he trailed his fingers through my cheek to hold my chin moving me closer to him. His eyes became half-lidded as I felt his cold breath on my lips. He looked up at my eyes again but I was too engrossed in maintaining my screaming inner self. He finally pressed his pink plump lips into mine making my breath hitch.

His lips were anything I could ever dream of; soft, delicate, serene, and comforting. He started moving his lips to a piece of unknown exiguous music along with the flow of wind. I closed my eyes and gave into him completely. He gently took my hands and placed them on his neck and he slipped his hands around my waist pulling me even closer. He tilted his head for better access and I let him as best I can.

It's almost like fireworks were exploding and leaping inside me with the stimulation of so many sensations. Maybe what they say about first kisses were right, that magical aura was around us and it was as if nature was overjoyed by our love for each other. The stars shined brightly dancing with each other and the moon had its characteristic arched smile on his face with a winking face. The trees leaned in towards us to see us, at the same time to cover us from the outside world and the birds on the nest kept quiet watching us intently closing the eyes of their kids. It was like we were in a fairy tale.

We pulled away out of breath and with flushed faces. He pressed his forehead into mine and closed his eyes, breathes fanning on my face.

"Was that your first kiss?" he asked with a smirk.

"Oh yeah!" I pulled away from him to look at him, "Unlike someone, I don't go around flirting and dating" I scoffed crossing my arms.

"NO!" he backed away, "I may be a flirt but I'd never kissed anyone. I'd saved it for my one and only which is, fortunately, you" he winked at me.

"Who knows?!" I huffed rolling my eyes.

"Are you jealous? I can clearly see it here," he smirked at me again.

"I don't get jealous easily but if I do," I turned to him with a death glare, "you'll get the wrath of Mia".

He gulped, "I don't need to know that"

"Good" I smiled.

"Woah! Are you split?" he asked with eyes saucers.

"I am," I took a bite off a cookie.

"Well, how was the kiss, hm?" he leaned closer to me wiggling his eyebrows.

"You have got a ghost breath," I replied nonchalantly.

"Yah! Do you know how many girls want my kiss?" he asked with a proud smirk.

"About 65 M?" I shrugged.

"Exactly!" he snapped his fingers.

"I don't care," I shrugged again, "They can get it if they want."

"You won't say anything?" he asked.

"Nope," I popped the p and added, "But the next thing you know, you'll be in hell and having a little tea party with Satan" I gave an innocent smile breaking the cookie aggressively into two making him flinch.

He gulped again, "I won't"

"Aww...Park Jimin...You are so gullible," I pinched his cheeks.

"And you take advantage of that," he pouted sulking.

"It's fun to see your chipmunk face like this," I winked.

"Yah!" he shouted lunging forwards to catch me.

I swiftly got away from him, giggling.