It was a bright, sunny day in Seoul.

Everything was filled with color. The city was as busy and bustling as ever. The sound of chit chat, footsteps, traffic, and laughter played all around the streets. People around had smiles on their faces as they talked and laughed and walked. Everything was vibrant with every hue of the rainbow. The city seemed so alive.

It was one of those days where everything just felt and looked beautiful for no reason.

Park Jimin smiled as he looked at the ever changing scenery presented to him by the car window. He loved these kinds of days because it was so rare and because it reminded him of certain girl who had slowly started to fill his days. He felt his phone vibrate and as he saw the message sender, his small smile became a smirk.

‘I swear, I’m going to drop your , Park Jimin. I dare you to be late again.’

He could almost hear her voice as he read her text. It amused him, to be honest, the way they interacted. He remembered the first time he had met her. It wasn’t anything special, to be honest. He had first seen her when Red Velvet had introduced themselves backstage and given BTS a copy of their album, asking them to support their debut. A pretty standard practice among rookies and senior groups. He hadn’t imagined that months of rather awkward meetings in the hallways would someday cease to exist and be replaced with meetings filled with jokes and teasing.

‘Aw… Do you really want to see me this badly? Just admit it, you love me, don’t you?’

‘In your dreams. I’m way too out of your league.’

He laughed but he knew what she said was true. As much as he hoped that she’d look at him in the same way he saw her, it was becoming more and more evident that she only saw him as a dongsaeng. s turned to look at him before all looking at each other and sharing a knowing look. They all knew who he was talking to. It wasn’t a secret that Jimin and Seulgi texted each other often. And it also wasn’t a secret that they all knew how Jimin wasn’t aware of how he was slowly getting more and more attached to her each day.

As Jimin remained oblivious to the thought behind the knowing look of s, he put his phone down and closed his eyes. He basked in the small ray of sunlight that entered through their window as he slowly fell asleep. He fell asleep to the memory of a beautiful day in Seoul and at the thought of her.

The night was just as alive as the day. People and bright lights were everywhere. The flashes of cameras surrounded the boys. They smiled and waved as they walked through the red carpet into the stadium where they would be performing for the night. He looked around, hoping to see a certain someone among all the idols who have gathered for the night.

And finally, he saw her.

Jimin knew she was beautiful. It was one of the things that struck him most when he first met her but that didn’t stop him from being floored every time he saw her.

She was talking to one of the stage managers. He could tell she was little shy by the way she stood and how she nervously fiddled with her fingers as she talked. He watched as Seulgi started to smile and laugh and he couldn’t help but smile too.

At that moment, she turned and saw him and their eyes met. He swore, for the brief moment that their eyes met, he felt his heart stop. When she smiled at him and shot him a little wave, he couldn’t help but realize how much he was slowly starting to like her.

He gave her a signal, telling her to go the place where they usually met. She sent him a sign in reply and he understood that she would finish talking to the stage manager before heading towards the place where they always met.

It was a bit dark and empty since everyone was focused on making sure the music festival would go as planned. Jimin leaned against the vending machine which provided the only light in the room. He played around with the rings on his fingers as he waited for her. He smiled softly as the thought of her. It had been so long since he had seen her last.

“I’m sorry for making you wait long.”

He turned to see her walking towards him and honestly, as she came closer, he could feel his heart start to beat faster and his smile slowly become larger.

“It’s okay. I’m used to waiting,” he said. “Weren’t you the one threatening me if I came late?”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “This is the first time it’s happened. Admit it, you’re the one who’s usually late because you’re caught up with your fangirls.”

He chuckled at her. “Are you jealous? You know you’re the only girl in my heart.” He winked at her and smiled as she snorted.

“You look stupid,” she replied. “Stop lying.”

Jimin couldn’t help but wish that she knew how true his statement was and how she was slowly filling up his heart and his thoughts.

“Honestly, why do we still even meet up in such secretive places?” she asked him. “It’s not like we’re hiding any relationship.”

Jimin pouted at her. “Do you not like spending time with me?” He put his hand over his chest. “I’m honestly so hurt. I’ve missed you so much and this is the treatment that I get?”

She playfully slapped his arm as she laughed. “What a drama king. I’m not entitled to meet up with you, you know. We’re not dating or anything. Besides, we’re only fueling dating rumors if we keep doing this.”

It would be a lie if Park Jimin said that he wasn’t disappointed with what she had said.

“Let them talk,” he said as he ran his hand through his hair before shoving them into his pockets. “Honestly, I don’t mind.”

“Even if it hurts our groups?” she asked with a tone of disappointment and surprise. A moment of silence followed as he refused to look at her.

She sighed. “Look, all I’m saying is that we aren’t hiding anything so maybe we should just meet when our groups meet.”

He took a deep breath as she said that. It was now or never. If he didn’t say anything, she would never know why he persisted on meeting her alone or why he talked to her everyday. He needed her to know how much she meant to him, even if it meant losing her.

He needed her to know because he couldn’t take keeping this feeling all to himself.

“Look,” Jimin said as he looked straight into her eyes. “All I’m saying is that I like spending time with you alone.”

He could see the confusion appear on her face and how her eyes demanded him to explain what he had meant before she masked all of it with a playful emotion.

“Park Jimin, are you crazy? Are you sick? Do you have a fever?” she asked as she put her hand against his forehead.

As she did so, he gently held her wrist and she stopped. He put down her hand before staring down at the ground.

“The truth is,” he whispered, so softly that he wondered if she could even hear what he was saying, “I like you. I really do. And you don’t have to like me to but I thought you should know. You deserved an explanation why I keep insisting on meeting you every time our schedules overlap and this is why. I like you Kang Seulgi.”

He had expected her to reject him right then and there. He had half hoped that she wouldn’t say anything and quietly leave the room. Another part of him half hoped she would say that she liked him too. He expected every other scenario except for the one that unfolded.

She took his hand and made him look at her before smiling softly at him. “Please wait for me,” she told him. “I’m sorry for having to make you wait but my heart isn’t quite ready yet. I need to be sure of my feelings before I give you a proper response.”

Jimin felt his heart sink and he stared down at the floor again. “Does this mean that I don’t have a chance?”

Her laughter rang across the silent and empty room. “You’re more charming than you think, Park Jimin. I think you have a pretty solid chance.”