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"Do you know how long until we reach our destination?" Jimin asks inquisitively towards Jeongguk, eyes straying out the window and noting that they are no longer on the highway. They've been sitting on the bus for the past two hours, and Jimin is getting slightly impatient, which he doesn't mean to be. He's simply thrilled about this weekend's trip. It's a place Jimin hasn't been to before but holds such beauty from what he's seen on Jeongguk's phone.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. I don't think it will be too long before we arrive," Jungkook mumbles under his mask in a calm manner after he throws a glance at the city buildings of Yangyang. His eyes dart back to Jimin in his cute denim bucket hat, under which he hides his hybrid ears. There's something about Jimin that always draws his gaze. He just hasn't figured out what it is. "Can't wait to finally stretch my legs."

Jimin smiles at him. It was Minsu's idea to make a weekend trip to bond, knowing the perfect beach in the northeast of the country.

The Naksan beach.

Jimin loved the idea for many reasons. One, he hasn't seen anything but his town. Second, it has always been a dream to go to the beach. Kids in his class spoke about it and made him envy them a little after seeing pictures and wishing to bury his feet in the soft sand. Since then, visiting a beach and dipping his toes into the water has been on his list.

Jeongguk booked a little hotel which is close to the ocean but also central and close to nearby markets. He didn't tell Jimin more about this trip but having never explored the world outside his town made him super excited to explore once they arrived.

Fast-forward, they reach the hotel area around ten in the morning, giving them the rest of the day to explore Yangyang Gun. Surely, they can spend it sightseeing, tasting excellent local food and most importantly having fun. Jimin doesn't mind what order they do this in. Although, he wouldn't mind going to the beach first.

Jimin throws himself on the double bed they'll share and contentedly breathes out, a smile tugging on the corners of his mouth. Jimin has sneaked into Jeongguk's bed every night for the past week, and Jeongguk has kept throwing confused glances and questioning him now and then until he started accepting fate. No matter how often Jimin will go to bed in the other bedroom, he will wake in Jeongguk's bed.

He listens to the water running in the bathroom sink while Jeongguk freshens up, gaze going to the white hotel ceiling. Jimin wonders why Jeongguk chose Seoul out of all cities to live in. From what he's seen, he probably wouldn't say no to living here. Has it something to do with being in a band? Did he move to Seoul when Jeongguk was a child?

Thinking about and questioning such things makes Jimin eager to learn more about the other person and to understand him better. Innerly, he also knows that Jeongguk has booked this trip not just as a getaway trip, but to get to know each other better. Jimin should be scared by how keen he's to get this day started. He isn't and that's what scares him.

"Want to go explore Yangyanggun?" Jimin's eyes flicker to Jeongguk, standing in the bathroom entrance in nothing but blue jeans and a loose white sweatshirt. He got rid of the mask, and his usual dark clothes changed into thinner ones since the bus was cold. It's different from his usual style, but Jimin thinks it makes him look just as handsome.

"Does it not worry you about you getting recognized?" Jimin watches him with big, brown eyes, his voice somewhat timid.

"Honestly? A bit. Does it bother you when I go out without a mask? This is the downside of being in a band to get easily recognized, but I just want to enjoy the time here. I'm sure some people would even recognize me with a mask on. Though I don't think it should be as bad here as in Seoul."

Does it bother Jimin? Not really. He's aware that if he keeps living with Jeongguk, people will find out eventually. Jimin has seen news and interviews from other celebrities before and despite the fact that there have been no incidents with fans or paparazzi so far, it doesn't mean that Jeongguk is left entirely at peace in his free time. Jimin is only concerned about speculated articles.

"It doesn't bother me." Jimin shakes his head and plays with his hat, fingers brushing over the seam and tugging on the loose threads. His eyes shine with curiosity as the question pops into his mind, he wanted to ask. "Why do you live in Seoul?"

Jeongguk takes his phone and wallet, places them in a small bag that he wears over his shoulder, and puts on his sandals. He looks elegant when he puts on his expensive sunglasses and pushes back the loose strands of hair Jeongguk has tied into a man bun. Jimin swallows as a silly thought enters his mind while watching the older, making his cheeks tint pink. Would Jeongguk one day allow him to tie his hair into a bun?

"Let's go, and I'll tell you about it."

That's all Jimin needs to hear to get up from the bed and put on a thin jacket. He's almost instantly right behind Jeongguk as they exit their hotel room. Jimin enters the lift first and goes to press the button. Both their fingers touch, causing them to look at each other briefly. Jimin spots the tiniest blush on Jeongguk's cheeks.

"Sorry, I didn't think you would go for the button at the same time," Jeongguk mumbles out an apology before he removes his hand.

"It's okay," Jimin whispers, a small smile creeping up his face.

"Where do you want to go first? A temple? Do you want to see nature first?"

"Hm... which ever is the closest?"

"So the beach," Jeongguk nods confidently and continues in a silvery voice, "We can go to the beach again in the evening if you feel like it."

"Oh yes! Then maybe we can see the stars!" Jimin replies enthusiastically and claps his hands, his feet rocking on the balls of his feet before the lift pings and the doors open.

"I'm not sure, we'll see them then since the beach is close to the town and the amount of light pollution is higher in towns with larger populations. But who knows, maybe we'll get lucky."

"Let's hope for the best." Jimin brightens up with an unwavering eye contact and then steps out of the lift, Jeongguk following close behind. "Can you tell me now why you live in Seoul?"

Jeongguk nods and goes ahead after rechecking the internet for directions. "I grew up an hour away from Busan in a town. I used to be in a school band, playing the drums. My parents didn't have a lot of money, but they bought me drums, so I could always practise and paid me a few drums lessons before I became a permanent member of the school band. Till this day, I'm so grateful for what they did for me."

Jeongguk sighs, looking up through his sunglasses to the blue sky. Jimin discerns the worry in his voice and tilts his head, but has no chance to comment on it when Jeongguk speaks up again. "Funny enough, back then Minsu and Youngjin were members of the school band too, but we weren't really close until we met at a gig one, two years later. We lost touch in those years, and my taste in music changed from what we played in school.

At the gig, we talked more and exchanged numbers, and we clicked. We saw an opportunity for an audition and decided to give it a try. Neither of us really stopped playing the instruments after school. Luckily, we had the same music taste and wanted the same thing. So, we auditioned and moved to Seoul. Two years later, we debuted as a band."

Jimin's eyes sparkle while he listens to Jeongguk's story. It sounds more interesting than his life and much brighter. He grew up in a town as well, and he was happy. Things changed when he got into a relationship which turned terrible for him. The other person made him isolate himself from his family, so Jimin decided one day, enough was enough, and he decided to leave whatever he had behind as long as it meant being away from this relationship. That's how he hid in his red panda form and hurt himself by falling from a tree. Jimin was paranoid about his ex-boyfriend finding him.

"This sounds really awesome," he comments, admiration flickering in his wide eyes. Not everyone can speak of such great happiness. "You have really found each other. I didn't expect you to have known each other for so long. Coming back to you growing up... does that mean you grew up with animals?"

"I didn't, but after I moved to Seoul my parents decided to move to a farm and bought some animals to start a small business. I've visited them a few times, but I didn't warm up to the animals."

"Ah, right. This explains now what you said about pets and hybrids." Jimin nods understandingly, adding, "But you don't need to worry. Forget about our first encounter. I think you did a great job when you thought I was a red panda and let me stay. What kind of animals do they have?"

Jeongguk hums and thinks for a moment. "They have sheep and ducks. When I think about it, the way you're asking, you seem quite fond of animals. Maybe we could visit them one day."

"I do like animals! They're so cute. Just wait until we get there then, I bet I can get you to warm up to them," Jimin giggles but sounds confident as he speaks, certain to make it happen. It would be so cute to see Jeongguk petting a sheep, especially since he doesn't seem like an animal person.

Jeongguk side glances at Jimin and raises an eyebrow. "What's your favourite animal?"

"Rabbits. Though I don't think they like me all that much, their fur is very soft, and they tend to be curious and tender. What's yours?"

"I think my favourite animal might be... a red panda." Jeongguk playfully grins and speaks with such confidence, like he's forecasting the weather, his eyes gleaming when Jimin swats his arm and breaks out in laughter.

"That's not fair... you can't-you can't just say that. What's your favourite animal for real?"

Jeongguk shrugs as they approach a secluded area of the beach. Toddlers play in the water in the distance, and a boardwalk is lined with pine trees not far from them. Given that the sun is not as intense as it is in the summer, they consider themselves pleased that there are not many people outside. "Well... I like dogs, but I can't say I have a favourite animal. Although I can confirm that I recently came to like and favour red pandas."

"Jeongguk~" Jimin whines and pushes the drummer so that he stumbles over the yellow-beige sand, a gasp falls from Jimin's lips. He exhales in relief when Jeongguk doesn't fall but bursts out laughing and nudges Jimin's shoulder. Feeling his face flush, Jimin breaks eye contact with Jeongguk and focuses on the blue ocean waves crashing against the rocks near the lighthouse.

Listening to the sea is a soothing feeling, so Jimin decides without further ado to have a closer look, no longer feeling the need to feel the water on his feet. He takes off his sandals and walks across the warm sand to where the cold water touches his toes and eventually his feet. Jimin squeals as a stronger wave touches his shin, leading him to roll his trousers higher.

He quickly regains posture, noticing how much fun it is to stand at the shore. A wide grin is plastered on his face while excitement, and impatience pushes through his body. Jimin's glad they packed swimming trunks, but standing here and embracing the ocean air, Jimin finds it challenging to hold back.

"Don't go in too deep, or your trousers will get wet, and then you'll have to walk around in them!" Jeongguk calls out to him, who has sat down under a tree a few metres away. Jimin, however, feels like doing anything but listening to what Jeongguk tells him. Surely it won't be so bad. The waves have been relatively low so far.

He takes another step towards the ocean, the water now reaching his shins and feeling refreshingly cool in the sun. Jimin dips his hand in the water, his fingers playing with it in lieu of paying to the upcoming wave.

Jimin feels the wetness first after he lifts his head and stares unimpressed at the water. He scoffs and pulls a face as if to take revenge when suddenly sturdy hands wrap around his waist and lift him out of the water.

"Didn't I tell you to be careful? Now your clothes are wet."

Jimin is somewhat reassured that it's Jeongguk who lifts him out of the water. Despite this, the fact that Jeongguk takes him in bridal style to the shaded place where he already has two small towels set out doesn't make matters any better when his heart beat picks up. His fingers reflexively hold onto the fabric of Jeongguk's t-shirt, taken aback by Jeongguk's strength. He had not seen this coming, and neither the question that goes through his mind: How strong is Jeongguk?

His gaze subconsciously trails to his sharp jawline and earrings, shamelessly admiring Jeongguk's side profile. In fact, he wanted to imitate Jeongguk when he reprimanded him, but having felt suddenly giddy when he picked him up in bridal style, Jimin quickly lost his laughter.

Looking back, this was something that was lacking in his prior relationship. He immediately felt at home with Jeongguk, which he hadn't felt in a long time with his prior relationship. There's often this need to see Jeongguk, feeling bubbly when Jimin does. Especially when he mentions his name. Does Jeongguk feel like this too?

He's pulled out of his thoughts when Jeongguk is about to place him on the towel. Gravity has decided that Jimin feeling embarrassed isn't enough. Therefore, Jeongguk stumbles, loses his footing on the sand due to Jimin wriggling in his embrace and falls over him. The taller reacts quickly and supports his weight with one hand next to Jimin's head while Jimin closes his eyes mid-fall.

The world seems to slow down around them. Neither of them realise they're holding their breaths, anticipating the collision between both bodies. 

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N/A: a big thanks to Amy 💫

What do you think will happen next? 🤭