“So the camera.. what’s the occasion?” Jimin asked as you both abandoned the row of high-end cameras, needing to specifically inquire the front desk about a Leica camera. “It’s a gift for what he did for me at the charity event, gathering my family and all.” You smiled recalling the tender feeling. “He’s done a lot for me.. and I want to repay him somehow, even for the Peonies he gets me.”

“Peonies?” Jimin inquired.

“My favourite flowers.” You said before stepping towards the front desk, Jimin soaking in that information with a knowing smile.

“Good afternoon, sir, ma’am. What could I help you with today?”

You returned the greeting kindly. “Hi, I was wondering if your store carried Leica cameras, by any chance?”

“Oh!” The worker exclaimed. “Of course we do, they’re right out at the back. Do you know what type you’re looking for today?”

Jimin then glanced to you, his silver earrings dangling as he questioned. “Do you even know cameras?” 

You shot him a confident look before replying to the salesperson. “Yes, of course I do. I was interested in the Leica M series, if you carry them? The rangefinder range is definitely what I’m looking for. ”

“What a lovely choice! May I ask if you’re interested in the black and white or coloured versions?”

“Coloured, please. I was specifically wondering if you have the M10-R model in silver chrome? The detail rendition is sharper, after all.”

“We do have just that model, I’ll go retrieve it now. Please feel free to look around the shop while I look!” They beamed while smiling warmly, disappearing into the back. Your attention then turned towards Jimin who whistled, impressed. “Damn, smart woman. Are you into cameras like him, too?”

You snorted, hiding your laugh behind your hand. “No, I don’t know jack shit about cameras.”

Jimin burst out into a fit of laughs, turning his back to the counter to prop his elbows up. “You’re fucking entertaining, Ari. I like you.”

You gave him a smile with your teeth, telling him the truth. “I just researched before coming. I wouldn’t get anything without looking up which camera he’d like.”

“So you buy him gifts that have to do with his super secret hobby and you know what he likes now? Isn’t that just sweet?” Jimin quipped sarcastically, to which you almost elbowed him again and he held his hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, I’ve just been saying since time, you guys are cute. You’re telling me my stone-faced, most intimidating CEO in Seoul of a best friend buys you flowers?”  

You scoffed, rolling your eyes. “It’s just him keeping up our image, and we’re not cute, genius. It’s a forced marriage.”

Jimin took a frustrated breath, hand coming up to his temple. “Now you guys say the same shit too? Your red string of fate is showing, Ari.” He drawled, to which you became incredulous. “What do you mean he said the same thing?”

“Not the point, Ari.” Jimin dismissed. “The point is that sentence is dumb, and you both know it.”

“How is it dumb? It’s just the truth.” You fought back, but Jimin wasn’t buying it.

“You know it doesn’t matter if you two were forced into an arranged marriage, right? It doesn’t take away from whether or not you feel something, your feelings are valid no matter the circumstance.”

“Pardon me?” You needed him to repeat that. “Feelings? What feelings?”

Jimin’s incredulous eyes flashed to you, brows quirking at your audacity. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

You held your hands out confusedly, not catching his drift. Jimin had to laugh at your oblivion, turning towards you to speak theatrically with his hands. “So get this, Ari, you guys like each other.”

You blinked. “Excuse me, like? What is this, high school? I don’t have a little crush on Taehyung, Jimin.” You felt like Jimin had oddly, somehow seen into your heart, and you were quick to guard yourself, immediately deny his claim just so you didn’t have to admit what you’ve been trying to reject. “And Taehyung doesn’t like me either.”

“You’re really gonna play the denial game, Ari?” Jimin genuinely asked, disbelieving of your negligence on this. “I know my best friend. And even if I may not know you that well, I can read you like an open book.”

You pointed at yourself, feigning offence. “Me? I know you can’t be talking about me.”

“Oh, I’m certainly talking about you,” Jimin emphasized. “You’re the worst one between you two.”

“Okay, pause,” You had to slow this down. “Explain, how am I worse, and in what context?” You were beyond confused, Jimin leaving too much in between the lines.

He sighed out, wishy-washy on saying this but decided it’s for your own good. “Ari, I don’t know what’s blinding you so much, but you have feelings for Tae, loads of feelings.”

You blinked. “What?”

“Ari,” Jimin regarded you seriously. “You guys have feelings for each other, point blank period, and I don’t know why you’re both not doing anything about it. Everyone can see it.”

You had to scoff at Jimin, crossing your arms. “Nobody has feelings for anybody, Jimin. We’re just a married couple obligated to look good for the cameras, ‘everyone’ is mistaken.”

Jimin had to latch onto your shoulders, driven to convince you. “Ari, how can you not see it?” He sincerely inquired. “Look, fuck the cameras, the tabloids, and really think about you two. How is everything you do just for show?”

“Jimin, our winter wonderland date? Both the events we attended, hell, he drops me off to work and has lunch with me for our image. It’s all fake, none of it is real.”

Another disbelieving laugh spills from Jimin, licking his plump lips. “Why do you think he even took you to that amusement park, Ari? Didn’t he tell you it’s his favourite place? Those events? Didn’t he always protect you when things went south? Your car rides and lunches? Ari, I’ve never seen Taehyung pass up his work for anything, yet he does so for you.”

Your brain was running an error, trying to not comprehend him right now, denial on the forefront of your mind. “That’s not.. that’s all for show, Jimin, to make us believable. He can never feel something for me.”

Jimin narrowed his eyes. “And why not? Ari, you can’t fight me on this. I’m his best friend and I know him inside out.”

“And you weren’t there during those moments, Jimin.” You rebutted him. “We just make them seem real enough, you can’t see it.”

“Ari, you can’t see it.” Jimin stressed. “Can you stop thinking like that for one second? Why are you reducing everything he does for you down to something like publicity? Don’t you know that shit means nothing to him?”

“But it means something to his family, Jimin, the fucking company he runs with a long line of pride and reputation.”

Jimin took a tired breath, eyes breaking contact from you as he decided to be honest. “Look, I won’t speak over him or on his behalf, but..” Jimin trailed, his mind wandering through his thoughts. “You only know the version of Taehyung after he met you, you don’t know the version before.. but I knew that Taehyung.” Jimin spoke persuasively, poignantly.

“Ari, he acts differently with you, and it’s not just for some cameras or his company, either. You don’t understand that his smile stopped meeting his eyes a long time ago. You don’t know the things I know about him, the things he went through, that somewhere along the line he lost his smile.” Jimin’s eyes were sad, making you entirely soften in demeanour.

“I won’t say anything about it, because it’s not my place. But it feels.. like he’s himself again, like he’s not entirely sucked up into his family’s company anymore and he’s finally letting people see him for once, not just CEO Kim. So don’t say his actions are fake or that they’re for some petty cameras.” Jimin stressed, his eyes meeting yours seriously. “He’s not like that, he’s a sincere person, Ari. And it’s not right for you to downplay that sincerity just because you refuse to see it that way.” 

Jimin’s words hit you like a sudden freight train, close to protesting but you were intelligent enough to know he was exactly correct. You pondered over the words, your memory of what your father told you about Taehyung being sincere resurfacing, and you had to laugh.

Even at the time you made the mistake of assuming he’d just be another asshole.

And how very wrong you were.

You pulled yourself out of your thoughts, revisiting another statement of Jimin’s. “Why’d you.. call me the worst one?” 

He loosened his grip, letting go of you. “Because.. you’re the one who’s choosing to be the most blind between you both, Ari, and it’s almost painful.” Jimin admitted honestly, and continued when your expression only grew more confused. “Taehyung.. he’s new to this so that explains him, but at least he’s not being as resistant as you are. This entire conversation is proof.”

“I’m not.. I’m not being resistant.” You knew Jimin had caught you red-handed, but you were adamant on denying your feelings, denying everything you knew Jimin was right about.

And Jimin could see it, could see you battling yourself within, and even if he didn’t know the reason behind your lamentable turmoil, what happened at the charity event was enough for him to piece it together.

He then felt like being your friend in this moment, to guide you in the right direction.

“Ari, have you ever considered why you do the things you do for him? Why do you care so much for him? Why do you do such selfless things to protect him?” Jimin asked. “I know about your fight when Aera came to his office, haven’t you ever wondered why you got so jealous? Why do you always end up so close to him, naturally show your affection for him? Latch onto him when you’re scared and as though he’s your only lifeline?”

And just when you were going to swiftly deny everything, push it all away like you always have, Jimin delivered the last blow. “Fuck, Ari, why are you even buying him this gift? Is this for the press, too? Because I don’t see any around, and yet here you are.”

You stood motionless, feeling as though someone had hit you with the hardest truth you’ve fought tooth and nail to avoid, to push down and bury so deep you didn’t have to consider its meaning. Yet here Jimin was, providing an outsiders’ point of view that made you recognize your near laughable ignorance.

It just felt so natural, so easy to do such things with Taehyung to the point it was merely normal. To care about his health, to stay by his side, to be there when he needed someone, all the way down to the endless teasing and joking around with brimming affection laced into every action.

Even now, it was so easy to call him pet names, to anticipate his text messages, to adore the way he smiles, remember the sound of his laugh, to miss him when he’s gone, to admire his scent in the sheets.

Your mind felt like it was collapsing under the weight of your thoughts, mouth opening to start a sentence though falling short every time. You were only interrupted by the desk worker returning to you with the exact Leica camera you’d inquired for, cheering brightly. “Here it is!”

You and Jimin immediately painted on smiles and happily performed the necessary exchanges, Jimin even offering to pay for at least some of the camera but you speedily refused him, even threatening to kick his shin like you did Taehyung’s.

The shop was even kind enough to offer gift wrapping, which you gladly accepted. It gave another window for you and Jimin to stand alone together, his voice tentative when he spoke.

“Ari, you know I don’t mean to be invasive, but, think about how you feel. It’s not… a bad thing to feel something.” Jimin found it ironic he’d uttered the same words to his friend not long ago.

“I’m just.. afraid, Jimin. For a lot of reasons, I’m afraid.”

Jimin could distinguish the fear in your eyes, your hands lightly clutching themselves to your chest, and he could understand now why his friend was always so eager to protect you, to treat you with an abundance of kindness and care.

Because you were someone who’s been hurt too many times before.

“Ari, try thinking about it this way.” Jimin offered, his tone soft. “If it’s Taehyung.. the one you’ve always known… then what’s there to be so afraid of?”

Your unsure eyes flashed to Jimin, soaking in his genuine look of support, and you were utterly grateful Taehyung had such a wonderful best friend.

You clutched your hands harder feeling your chest flood with various emotions; fear, enamoredness, rejection, gratitude. But it all still left you returning a small smile to Jimin, both your sights distracted once the worker securely packaged your gift and handed it to you.
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How you all??
Sorry for the late update!. I was going to update morning but then I did not edit the chapter.
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Love you 😘.