Chapter 67: The Aching Void

            “Mr. Jeon, it's time to suit up.” The voice of Chief Wu echoed from the top of the stairs as Jungkook smiled and pulled away from Namjoon. Right after, he bowed to the elder and glanced back at Namjoon.

            “Guard him with your life!” Jungkook concluded and finally ran off to put his space suit on. Within the corridors of the space room, Jungkook undressed and placed on the white jumpsuit to go under the outer layer of the astronaut suit. He was helped into his suit and all he thought inside was Jimin. Of course, before he could get to his place, he made a trip to his station and took out a picture frame of Jimin giggling along with another picture frame of the couple locking lips over the bed. It seemed as if the picture was timed so they could have enough to lay on the bed and cup each other's face. That picture alone was Jungkook's favorite with Jimin.

             The young astronaut took a moment to stare at Jimin's cute smile over the other picture frame and decided to take out the pictures from the frames. Making sure he took tape as well to put it against the walls of the rocket so Jungkook would always see Jimin and know exactly who and what he was fighting for. Their love was what motivated Jungkook to keep going.

            “Kookie! Let's get to the rocket. We have a scheduled launch in about fifteen minutes. Until then, we have to be there. It's finally going to happen.” Exclaimed the older astronaut. The two weren't wearing their helmets just yet and still wandered around to say their goodbyes to everyone around them. So, Jungkook finally followed Taehyung out of the facility while caressing a picture he had of Park Jimin smiling. “Ah, the love you have for him is ‘out of this world’~” Taehyung joked around as Jungkook smiled while looking into the second picture he shared with his boyfriend; kissing against the bed.

            “Of course we do… Oh, I miss his smile already. I miss his soft lips and his perfect scent of apricots and peaches… so sweet, just like his personality.” The young man then scoffed and blushed to himself. “I just wish he can smile like this right now… He must be wallowing in a puddle of his own tears. It's killing me, Taehyung. It kills me to know that he's at home as we speak, gasping his breath in endless tears. Tears I wish to dry and kiss away.”

            “I could see why you didn't bring him here. Saying goodbye the first time was tough enough. Doing it the second time won't be any better.” Taehyung assured and then stopped walking to smile and drop his hand over Jungkook's shoulder. “But do you know how to tell if he truly loves you?” Questioned the older and made Jungkook chuckle so suddenly.

             “What is it now, Love whispering God; Kim Taehyung?”

             “Well, the only way to tell if he truly loves you… Is if he comes to see you off even if you told him not to. Then you'll know he loves you so much. No tears or words would get in his way to see you one last time.” With Taehyung's words sounding so true, Jungkook smiled to himself and one part of him hoped Jimin would come running in to kiss him once more, but then another side of him just hoped Jimin would stay home so he wouldn't have to suffer again.
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             Meanwhile, Jimin was out of breath; running down the street and pushing many people in his way. He was running to the facility and wasn't going to waste another minute crying to himself. There, Jimin wore his white dress shirt, black slacks, Jungkook's black suspenders, and black, classy, shoes that carried him with every step he took to run to his job. He knew there was going to be an emergency launch at any minute; leading to Jungkook's departure. Jimin's eyes looked swollen from the tears he cried and his nose was still tinted red. Even along the way, he cried thinking Jungkook must have left already. In case if he did, Jimin's eyes were locked up at the skies above to see if any rocket took off at that very hour.

            “H-He must be crazy if he thinks I'm going to stay behind and never see him off…” Jimin uttered in his hollow mind. Ever since Jungkook left him like this, it made Jimin's mind grow hollow; the only place he turned to once Jungkook left the house. He knew he was going to be lonely for a long time; but he just couldn't bear to feel it now. He wanted to feel loved one more time in case anything was to happen to his lover while take-off.

          Passing buildings and long runs of fields; Jimin couldn't feel his own legs with the constant running and he took no breaks. He was breathless and as he ran; his eyes fixed upwards to finally see the facility up ahead. The rocket had yet to be launched. Which meant; Jungkook was still on earth.
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         Of course, time was running out. Jungkook made his way to the rocket and Taehyung followed him as well. Right in front of the rocket; there was pictures to be taken. Normally, a press would be present; but since this was an emergency launch, no one was alerted. So, the astronauts took pictures before they took off. As Jungkook stood there with Taehyung, he was waiting for Jimin to run in any minute. Yet, it was silly for him to think Jimin was going to show up out of nowhere.

        “It's time to go, Jungkook.” Taehyung mentioned and it seemed as if the younger man was too lost in his daydream to notice the pictures were already done. All that was left was to finally leave. Without any further ado, Jungkook boarded the rocket and watched how it closed behind him for the last time. His heart began to race once he pasted the pictures up at his section and dropped off the tape through the window where it fell onto the grass below. There, someone was quick to grab it and run off. With silence, Jungkook finally set his helmet on and strapped himself to the chair within his section facing Taehyung.

        “I'm so nervous… I'm worried about my Jimin.” Jungkook spoke and switched his microphone and hearing chip on.

        “Listen Jungkook, the more you worry, the more nervous you'll get. It's better to keep calm during launch. You don't want to trigger anything.” Warned the older man as he did the same; switching on his chip and microphone. Once they turned on their devices, they were greeted by Mr. Park within the monitor room; taking Jimin's place for now.

         “Alright. We'll be starting with the countdown. All set?”

         “All systems are a go, Mr. Park.” Taehyung assured and Jungkook just kept glancing out the window. “Shall we begin with countdown?” At that moment, the ignition for the rocket began and the countdown was already being chanted. There was no going back now. A rush of adrenaline pumped through the astronauts' bodies while their gaze fixed skyward. Waiting to be launched.

         “This… This is all I've worked for… Just for my Jimin.” Jungkook thought and closed his eyes to prepare himself for it.

          “Starting in three… Two… One… Lift off.” Counted down the monitor within the rocket and with that, the engine got louder; metal clanging together and finally; the ignition was set. Right at launch, a cloud of smoke filled the only window outside the Rocket B400-C3. Jungkook smiled to himself and within seconds; he heard the door to the monitor room slam open within the facility through his hearing chip.

         “Jimin?” Called out Mr. Park as Jimin was out of breath, glancing up at the rocket already taking off through the big window ahead. “My son, what-”

         “N-No.. No! NO! JUNGKOOK!” Jimin cried loudly as he felt a piece of him break once he realized that he never got there on time to give his boyfriend one last kiss. “JUNGKOOK!” Jimin sobbed and screamed in pain as Jungkook and Taehyung were able to hear it within their helmets. “C-COME BACK!”

          “Jimin… Jimin, it's okay! You'll be okay...” Namjoon rushed over to Jimin while the young man was already on the floor; sobbing and crying loudly to himself. “Jungkook is coming back… He'll always come back to you…” Assured the older astronomer as he hugged him for comfort. Jimin cried for many things he would have to live without for quite some time and they were all the good things he's ever experienced with his Jungkook. His smile, his laugh, his appetite only built up while the couple cooked together, all of that made Jimin happy. The man was so attached to Jeon Jungkook; having the young man by his side was all he's ever known since the day he finally came back from space and escaped death. Only now, who was going to make him smile when all those things were taken away once Jungkook left?

         “N-NO IT'S NOT! I'M NOT GOING TO BE OKAY!” Jimin covered his face to stop his endless tears, but he couldn't. All the fears of Jungkook leaving earth, spiralled out of control in his mind and drove him crazy. Jeon Jungkook meant the world to Dr. Park Jimin.

          Sadly, Jungkook listened to Jimin's cries and unpleasant screams he gave from the pain. It was unbearable for him and just before he could hear any more, Mr. Park shut the audio off and all was left was pure silence on the other side. Tears streamed down Jungkook's face; he heard the heart of someone he loves, break into a million pieces in a blink of a second. Jungkook fought these tears well, but nothing prepared him to hear Jimin break down like this.

         “Hey… Hey, Jungkook…” Taehyung spoke as the rocket began to pick up speed once the travelled far up until they were breaking atmosphere. “F-FUCK NOT AGAIN!!” Taehyung shouted and kept his eyes shut while Jungkook’s head pointed upwards; but his eyes fixed onto the picture of Jimin smiling. Making him feel like this would be Jimin's face right after and when he talks to him through the microphone and hearing chips placed into the suit.

         “We'll meet again soon…” Jungkook whispered to himself and despite the tough pressure of the atmosphere breaking, the two held up pretty well. After a while, they began to reach space in no time. Setting out to finally find the B248 and send it home. “Oh Jimin… My little Mochi. All I think of now is just a little planet that grew lonely. But when the stars align again, I promise I'll be under them to meet you. There, I would have a small star to propose to you with. And I'm sure it will be brighter than any other star in the sky. I know so.” Jungkook spoke into his own head the whole ride to space.

         Eventually, the Rocket B400-C3, made it to space. It was silent, still, and nerve-racking. By there, Jungkook and Taehyung's bodies felt as if they were going to float out of their seats if it wasn't for the straps around their torsos. Their very own eyes met with stars from far away; outside the only window within the B400. It was everything the two astronomers wanted to see! They felt amazed and were left with their mouths open.

       “So this is how it feels like to be up here… Hey, Jungkook? Are you doing okay? I know those cries Jimin gave were tough to hear; I was scared as well. But… At least you know he loves you desperately?” Teased the older astronaut to lighten up the mood as Jungkook only made a small smile right after. Jungkook was really left speechless. After hearing Jimin's cries as if he was right by him, scarred Jungkook and made him feel like Jimin was next to him; crying in emotional pain. No matter how hard Jungkook would think to himself, nothing positive of those thoughts healed the aching void within.

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