[edited]

Aera relaxed in his arms, while SeokJin ran his slender fingers through her soft brown wavy locks.

They were currently sitting on a bench somewhere in the park which was situated on and around the banks of the huge lake. This park was specially known for the relaxation and the detoxification it provided to the visitors.

Jin thought it would be like a natural relaxation therapy for Aera, so he had decided to bring her here.

Also, he had to give to her a very important present he had brought for her.

"What are you thinking about?" A voice, he had come to love by now, brought him back to reality.

He looked down at her into her soft eyes, curious of what was going on in his head.
Even though she was not in her best minds right now, she wasn't ignorant to not see how distracted Jin seemed since a few days. She noticed how he would always be lost in thoughts.

What she also noticed was how gentle, he would be with her. How he would look at her, as if she was the most precious human around. How he would treat her with utmost care, like she was a rare flower, delicate and fragile.

She wasn't the best at voicing out her thoughts, let alone feelings. But she had started to feel from the depth of her heart to thank him for all he was doing for her. She wanted to hug him, feel the safety she always did when she was with him, and enjoy the warmth his embrace provided her with.

It almost felt like she was with him. Again.
He did remind her of him, time and again, but the difference now being, she didn't feel that much pain anymore, as compared to how she did when she used to remember Yeojung. When the wound was still fresh and open.

The hurt. That painful feeling of a huge loss. It was still there. But it felt like it was finally subsiding. Like the wound was finally healing. With him by her side.

Yet she was scared. Of a possibility of him being taken away too, from her. That was always how it went.
The thought alone, made her shiver, and she moved closer into his arm.

A soft chuckle was heard from above her head.
"I don't think you heard anything I said, am I right?" He said, jokingly.

But Aera just stared at him, her gaze falling over every inch and centimeter of his face, almost as if trying to memorize even the smallest of details.

Jin felt like melting under her soft, yet firm gaze. He was a man who had been known for his unwavering confidence in himself. But at the moment, he couldn't help but think what she was thinking about, still studying his face.

As impatience grew inside Jin, wanting to get answers to his unasked questions, he finally opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by Aera asking, almost through a whisper,

"You'll never leave me?"

Jin's eyebrows furrowed.
"I-What?"

Aera sighed, gathering herself together. She swollowed the forming lump in her throat, to slowly move her head upwards to look straight into his eyes, only inches separating their faces.

"My closest of people, each and everyone I loved so very dearly, was taken away from me. You-won't leave right?"

Jin smiled and shook his head lightly.

"I'd be a fool to leave you, you know? I'll be with you and I won't ever leave you, you get that?"

Aera nodded, smiling abashed.
She rested her head on his broad shoulder, eyes still into his.
SeokJin slowly started leaning forward.
Aera's eyes widened and her breath hitched. She closed her eyes shutting and waiting for it to happen. But then she felt a pair of soft lips against her forehead and opened her eyes.

Looking at her from above was Jin, still as close as ever, his lips still ghostly touching her forehead as lovingly as she could ever imagine.

Her eyes shut back again as she felt another long and feather-like kiss on her forehead. Long fingers wrapped themselves assuringly around her shorter ones.

"I'll protect you. You understand that? I'll be there for you, today, tomorrow, always."

-

Jin waited for Aera outside the park restroom. It was almost sunset and it was time to get Aera back home.
As he stood on the ground, waiting for the girl, a hand placed itself heavily and suddenly on his shoulder.

A smirk drew itself on his lips and he turned around.
"Yah, Jungkook-ah! Trying to scare me now, I see."

Jungkook dramatically placed his hand on his chest and said,
"What?! Hyung, not even a thanks? You know, it's not so entertaining to watch you getting all lovey-dovey with your patient through the bushes, alright?"

He earned no 'thanks', instead, a smack to his head by Jin.

"Yah! Hyung! Why?!" He whined.

"Uh, because you're younger?" He replied sassily, smugly grinning.

Jungkook rolled his eyes.
"Whatever."

He took out a small box from his jacket pocket and handed it to Jin.
"Here's what you needed. It should get activated by tomorrow."

Jin opened the box and eyed the item inside carefully. His gaze softened.
"Thanks Kookie. For everything."

"Yah Hyung, it's nothing."

Jungkook hugged his Hyung 'goodbye' and left as soon as he heard the door to the restroom slide open.

Aera soon appeared in front Jin jerking her hands to get rid of the droplets of water, which must've remained after washing and drying her hands.

"Cold, cold water." She mumbled to herself as she repeated the action.

Jin chuckled at the sight, removed his muffler from around his neck and wrapped it gently around Aera's neck, covering her ears.

"Come on little baby, let's get you home."

--

"I can't even think of living without loving you..."

---