skin | 01

Beginning

Jungkook

Stepping out of my vehicle I paced towards the glass doors of the modern white building. I walked on the clean white concrete as the sound of busy streets flooded my hearing. Cars honked and sped fast as everyone rushed to their afternoon lunch.

Pulling on the metal handle I opened the door to be greeted with the sterilized scent of the building. The interiors were a clean white complemented with metallic accents.

No sign of color at all.

I would go insane here too.

I walked towards the front desk as a woman sat behind a desktop typing away. Her white blouse was buttoned to the very top as she focused on the screen. I cleared my throat hoping to gather her attention.

"My apologies sir welcome to Burke's Psychiatric Center are you here for an appointment?" she questioned as her brown eyes searched my expression.

"Actually no," I started as I glanced towards my watch "I'm here to pick up my friend Kim Seokjin you don't allow cell phones during shifts so he mentioned asking for him here."

"Yes, Dr. Kim he's a pretty busy person but I can surely call him down for you. May I ask your name?" she asked

"Jeon Jungkook," I responded with a small smile.

She quickly placed the phone between her ear and her shoulder while typing on her keyboard. "Yes I need Dr. Kim please, a man named Jeon Jungkook is here for him," nodding and placing the black phone back down she glanced at me. "He will be right down please take a seat."

Sighing, I walked towards the lobby the black seating hinting the only color in the building. I sat in the uncomfortable chair as I glanced at the flat television screen that portrayed educational videos about psychosis. The magazines sat on the small table beside me showed captions of mental health as I rolled my eyes staring off in space.

"Jungkook!" A voice bellowed as Seokjin arrived from a door further back. In a blue dress shirt and black slacks, his glossy black shoes clicked as they made contact with the bleach white tiles.

I rose up to greet him our hands meeting in a firm shake as we quickly hugged.

"What was it you wanted to talk about?" He questioned as his eyebrows furrowed.

"I was hoping we could discuss it over possibly lunch?" I asked he glanced at the silver watch on his wrist as he nodded.

"Amelia, give me off for lunch... I have no further appointments, " he directed towards the woman behind the counter. She quickly went back to typing on her keyboard as she confirmed his departure.

"There's a diner further down we could go to, seeing as you've paid for parking let's get your monies worth." he laughed while we made an exit out of the cold stale building.

"How do you feel, about being a Doctor and all?" I questioned, reminiscing about how not too long ago we both graduated from university. Our friendship just as strong as it has always been.

His face drew to a thin line as he glanced forward. "I see some pretty fucked up shit working in mental health..." he spat " I often fear for my patients, I feel sad for their families."

"I bet," I responded.

He smiled while opening the door to the diner. A few people sat in booths along the windows as the bar was almost empty. A baseball game filling the tv screen above it.

"Hello welcome to Main Street," a woman smiled as she hunched over wiping the tables. "What may I get you?"

Seokjin and I sat in a booth as he quickly reached for a menu. "I'm thinking possibly a turkey sandwich and water how about you?" He asked

I pulled the menu from behind the condiments as I glanced through the sandwiches, everything didn't appear so appetizing as nervousness sat at the pit of my stomach.

"Maybe... a ham sandwich?" I spoke as she quickly wrote on her pad.

"Anything to drink?" She questioned while eying me.

"Yes, a Stella," I confirmed, nodding she walked towards the kitchen as I cleared my throat.

"Seokjin, I'm gonna ask Nicolette to marry me," I spoke looking down at my hands.

His eyes widened as he stared at me. "Are you sure? you guys just started dating again two months ago... I'm surprised you're still seeing her."

"I know I know... but I'm thinking maybe this marriage will force us the grow closer making a permeant commitment to share our lives together—"

"Jungkook she left you for her ex!...twice!?" He shouted quietly as his fist made contact with the table.

"We love each other," sighing I felt a weight of sadness on my chest. "I love her so much. There is nothing more than marriage I want from her. Trust me on this." I begged.

Our drinks were placed down in front of us. As well as some silverware and straws. I watched as our food quickly followed being served on a ceramic plate and a toothpick keeping the bulky sandwich together.

Seokjin squeezed the fresh lemon into the glass of water while stirring it with a straw and taking a sip. He sighed in relief, the beverage quenching his thirst as he looked at me.

"I trust you."