"COME TO MY SKY AND PLAY WITH ITS STARS.
THEY'RE THE PIECES OF MY SOUL. BUT BEFORE YOU GO,
TAKE SOME OF THEM WITH YOU. THEY'RE MY GIFT TO YOU.
AND LEAVE THE REST FOR ME. WHICH WILL REMIND ME
FOREVER HOW MUCH I'VE LOVED YOU."

The next morning dawned cold but serene, with sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees, painting dappled patterns on the ground below, the fresh air enriched with the soothing scents of pine and dew. Seokjin and Yoon Min set off on a bike ride, Frodo nestled snugly in the basket of her bike, his little tail wagging joyfully with every turn they took. As they pedalled along the winding trails, they took their time, taking a tour around the campsite for hours and savouring the beauty.

After the bike ride, they returned to the same lake for one last fishing session. Seokjin expertly cast his line; this time, Yoon Min also joined him. Despite his efforts and experience, she caught the biggest fish of the day, her triumphant grin earning a playful groan of defeat from him, but deep down, he couldn't help but feel proud of her.

They spent the afternoon lounging by the lake, comforted by the gentle sounds of nature, with Frodo peacefully napping at their feet. Together, they shared gossip and snacks, relishing the simplicity and warmth of the moment, grateful for each other's company.

Later, they returned to their RV and prepared the camp outside again. In the evening, the sky unfurled like a velvet curtain sprinkled with diamonds, the stars casting their gentle glow. Seokjin and Yoon Min sat in front of the RV, their makeshift camp illuminated by the flickering light of a small fire. The scent of roasted marshmallows mingled with the crisp night air as Frodo, nestled in her lap, purred softly.

Seokjin leaned back in his chair, his eyes scanning the night sky before shifting to Yoon Min. She was petting Frodo with her fingers; meanwhile, her gaze was tracing constellations. He wondered if this was the best time to give her the gift he brought for her the day before coming on this trip. With a light exhale, he cleared his throat, breaking the comfortable silence.

"I have something for you," he said before pulling out a neatly wrapped box. "I wanted to give you a gift on our first-ever trip."

She looked at him, her eyes widening in surprise. But instead of taking it, her hands flew to her mouth as she exclaimed, "Wait! I got something for you, too!"

He blinked, caught off guard. "You do?"

"Three somethings, actually," she replied with a grin, quickly getting to her feet and putting Frodo beside the fire. She darted inside the RV, leaving him behind, utterly baffled yet intrigued.

When she returned, carrying three parcels, his curiosity bubbled over. "Yoon Min, what-"

"I swear I did not know you were getting me a gift!" she cut him off. "I wanted to give you something for a long time, so I thought this trip was the perfect opportunity.."

As she sat next to him with the parcels, he couldn't help but stare at the aesthetically wrapped presents for him. He prayed she never stopped surprising him. Suddenly he felt like a child on a Christmas morning.

"I appreciate the gesture, but three gifts? What did you even get me?"

She smiled. "You'll find out soon. But first, let me open mine! I'm so excited!"

So he handed her the box and scooted a little closer to her. Yoon Min carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. Inside was a delicate, celestial-inspired pendant, featuring a crescent moon made of polished silver, adorned with subtle swirling constellations. Dangling from the moon was a small, shimmering star crafted from a deep sapphire-blue crystal. The chain was slender and elegant, allowing the pendant to stand out. Its design looked so exquisite that it looked like it had been crafted from the night sky itself.

She gasped, her fingers brushing over the pendant. "Jin-ssi, it's gorgeous..."

He explained, "I wanted you to have something that reminds you of how much you've helped me heal and become whole again. This is my way of saying that in the darkest time of my life, your light saved me. This necklace is a symbol of what we've built together- our universe."

Tears glistened in her eyes as she set the box down and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you," she whispered against his shoulder. "No one ever gave me such a special gift. I love it with all my heart. Thank you for thinking I deserve it."

He hugged her back. Whenever she hugged him, his soul was happy, and his body was so relaxed, his mind was so relieved, their souls embracing together like one soul.

"Let me put it on for you," he murmured, pulling away and taking the necklace from the box. Her cheeks tinged in the glow of the fire as she turned her back to him, sweeping her hair aside. He fastened the clasp with careful fingers. When she faced him again, the pendant sparkled against her collarbone, perfectly suited to her.

His eyes lingered on her neck, and for a moment, it felt as though the stars themselves had gathered to witness the moment. She smiled widely, her finger tracing the pendant.

After a moment of quiet admiration, Seokjin's eyes sparkled with childlike excitement as he rubbed his hands together. "Okay, now it's my turn! What did you get me?"

Yoon Min gave him a nervous chuckle before shifting to hold the first gift behind her back. "Wait, before you say anything, just promise you won't judge me."

His brows furrowed. "Why would I judge you?"

"Because you're a celebrity. You can buy anything you want, and you already have everything. So forgive me if my gifts seem silly. I really thought hard about what to give you-"

"Yoon Min, whatever it is, I love it already because it's from you. Now stop making me wait and give me that!"

He actually snatched the present from her, earning a gasp from her. But also, to his surprise, it wasn't a box, but rather an aesthetic envelope. He raised a brow as he carefully opened it and pulled out a thick stack of neatly bundled cash.

For a moment, there was silence- then came his laughter, loud and uncontrollable. He almost fell back in his seat. "What is this?! Did you really just gift me money?"

"Exactly 500,000 won," she replied nonchalantly, her smile turning mischievous. "Buy whatever you don't already have. I figured this would be funny."

He doubled over, clutching his stomach, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "This might just be the most creative gift I've ever received. Is this really what you came up with after thinking hard?"

"It's practical!" Yoon Min defended, though she was chuckling embarrassedly too.

He shook his head, still chuckling while looking at the envelope. "Practical is one way to put it. I'm keeping this forever. Framed. On my wall. This is too iconic. Gotta show it to my members."

"Please don't," she pleaded with gritted teeth.

Seokjin kissed the envelope. "I am rich!"

In response, she rolled her eyes before reaching behind her to retrieve the second gift. "Okay, this one is a bit more serious," she said, handing him a small black box.

In a second, he forgot about the envelope and took the box from her. He opened it carefully, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the celestial bracelet inside. The design was minimalist and classy, featuring a white-gold band with a small moon charm as the centrepiece, complemented by tiny engraved stars. His gaze lingered on the secret engraving inside: "You have me until every last star of the galaxy dies."

She started to explain, "I really hope you like it, Jin-ssi. You totally don't have to wear it if you don't want to, but I wanted you to know how much the engraving means to me. It really comes from the bottom of my heart!"

Usually, he did not wear bracelets except for photoshoots, but this bracelet became a favourite piece in his heart already.

He looked up at her, smiling warmly. "It's exactly like what I felt when I got you that necklace. Great minds really do think alike, right?"

She chuckled softly, her cheeks flushed with pride. "I guess so."

He slipped the bracelet onto his wrist. It really looked classy on him. Then he held his wrist out toward Frodo, who was licking its paws. "What do you think, Frodo? Pretty stylish, huh?"

The kitten let out an enthusiastic meow in approval.

He laughed, sitting back. "Thanks, Yoon Min. I'm gonna wear it every day for the rest of my life."

She shook her head and remarked, "Don't thank me just yet. You still have one last gift, remember?"

Pulling out the final present, she offered him a book. When he looked at her, it appeared that her heart was racing, not out of fear, but with the quiet vulnerability of revealing the deepest part of her soul. As he looked down at the book, he noticed it was a beautifully crafted graphic novel.

"I spent weeks on this, so I hope you enjoy it." she moved closer to him. "I created a story...about us. I also did the illustrations. It wasn't too hard since it's kind of my job, but I must admit it took me longer than I expected."

The small book had a textured, brown leather appearance with celestial-themed designs like stars and a glowing moon, and the title "A Journey Through Us" was elegantly displayed on the cover. It was richly detailed, resembling something out of a dream. It had a personal touch that seemed to shine even in the starlight.

"You made this all on your own?" he asked.

Yoon Min nodded. "Yes. So don't hold it against me for giving my character extra credit."

His chuckle was forced as he was engrossed in the design, admiring its craftsmanship. He read the title, running his fingers over the embossed letters before opening it slowly. Each page recounted a story- their story- through her art and writing.

Once upon a time, in the infinite stretch of the night sky, there was a shattered moon. Once whole and luminous, he had been broken by a fierce tempest of cosmic deceit. His pieces were scattered across the heavens, and though he still lingered in the sky, he no longer radiated as he had before. His fractured light cast long shadows, making him feel as though he had lost his place in the sky.

Down below, there lived a star catcher who spent her days weaving constellations out of lost starlight. One fateful evening, while gathering stray starlight in her small lantern, she came across the broken moon. After listening to his sorrowful tale, she said, "I will gather your fragments and return them to you."

The moon, despairing and sceptical, asked, "Why would you do this for me? What have I ever done for you?"

The star catcher smiled. "Your light is what brings my spirit to life. You believe you're broken. But broken mirrors like you create the most beautiful patterns with light."

The moon fell silent, his shattered light trembling with something he hadn't felt in a long time- hope.

So every night, through stormy skies and across endless horizons, the star catcher searched relentlessly. Each piece of the moon hid in dark corners of the universe- some buried in shadows, others safeguarded by celestial winds. She carried them in her lantern, her hands bruised and her heart full. Every night, she returned a piece to the moon. Yet he remained despondent. So the star catcher shared stories of how she had mended herself after storms attempted to scatter her, too. But she had been unable to fix her broken lantern all this time.

With every piece she brought back and each fragment he reclaimed, its light began to intensify. The more the Moon healed, the more the star catcher's lantern glowed. It trembled with every shard restored, its brightness expanding wider and brighter, until one night, it illuminated the entire sky.

The sky rejoiced, but the moon was not the same as before. His light now possessed a warmth he had never known- a warmth born from gratitude, resilience, and the beauty of imperfection. Then he cast its glow upon the star catcher, raising her into the sky to join the stars, where she became a guiding light for the lost souls of the universe.

Together, they became the eternal night's most stunning sight; a testament to how they both healed each other and the belief that even the most broken things can be made whole again.

Yoon Min watched him anxiously. It didn't take long for him to finish the book. Once he read it, he turned to her, his eyes shimmering. He deeply cherished this representation of their story. The metaphor beautifully captured their journey- Yoon Min's unwavering efforts to heal Seokjin's broken heart and his eventual recovery, which transformed them both and allowed them to fall in love. Her illustrations in the book were incredible, making it easier for him to read and be entertained.

He remained silent for a moment, closing the book and leaning in. His lips met hers in a kiss that was long and tender, filled with gratitude and the weight of countless unspoken confessions. The world around them seemed to fade away; only the stars and the whisper of the night breeze remained.

When they finally broke apart, he smiled at her. "T-Thank you for this. I could never express how much I love it. It's so beautiful. I feel like I might cry-"

She gently placed a finger over his lips, silencing him. "You're welcome. I'm happy you like it. But please don't cry."

That earned a chuckle out of him. Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he gently put the book aside and stood up. He took her hand, pulling her up suddenly.

"Come on," he said, guiding her to the open patch of grass near the RV.

"What are you up to?" she asked, smiling softly as she let him drag her.

He didn't reply immediately, his smile carrying a hint of mischief. Gently, he took one of her hands, placed it on his shoulder, and rested his other arm around her waist. His eyes locked with hers as he started to sway to an imaginary tune.

"Oh my god, Jin-ssi! Why do you want to dance all of a sudden?" Yoon Min exclaimed, her laugh filling the quiet night.

"I can't think of a better way to thank you."

Around them, fireflies began to drift, their soft glow weaving through the darkness. The two swayed under the cosmos, the distant hum of nature the only music they needed. The campfire crackled softly, its golden light blending with the silvery hues of moonlight.

She lowered her gaze shyly, then glanced at the shimmering insects surrounding them. "I heard fireflies are human souls, wandering every night, looking for the person they loved the most."

He whispered soft words into her hair, "Then we'll be fireflies, too. If anything happens, we'll find each other wherever we are, no matter how far." His arms wrapped securely around her, holding her close as they moved in perfect synchrony.

They kissed, and all the thousands of jigsaw pieces the universe had laid out to bring them together glowed in unison. The fireflies continued their waltz around them, the stars sparkling brighter than ever, as if the entire cosmos was applauding their love story.

☆THE FAULT IN OUR STARS☆

THANK YOU FOR READING
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