This story is dedicated to you if you have ever been abused by someone bigger, stronger, and seemingly more powerful than you. You are not alone. You are infinitely precious. And the trauma you endured is not your fault. Know that you are so loved. And whatever trauma you have been through – it does NOT define you. You are a beautiful rose, a lovely lily, a most precious gem.
Rated M for Mature. This story deals with some difficult topics and involves some graphic situations.
Jungkook was true to his word. He met Hyejin the next morning, and together they walked Twenty-two. Then they returned to her home and left the dog behind as they made their second trip to the park that day.
Jungkook turned his head to look at her. He had a big grin on his gorgeous face. “Do you remember where you sang your song to me the first time?”
She gazed up at him and realized with shock that that had been over six months ago. She nodded. “At the bend in the river.”
He smiled. “Lead me there.”
She blinked. What was he up to?
She headed that way. Jungkook reached out and laced his fingers through hers, pulling her closer to him. He smiled at her. She returned his joy. A few minutes later, they approached the bend in the river. Her eyes widened as they took in the picnic basket and the blanket spread over the ground a few feet from the river. She glanced at Jungkook.
“Kookie?” she questioned him.
He suddenly grinned, revealing his adorable white teeth. His cute nose scrunched up, and his eyes turned into two dark half-moons dancing above his cheekbones. She couldn’t help but smile at his happiness. She loved it when Kookie revealed his gorgeous grin.
“I hope you didn’t eat breakfast yet.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t.”
“Good.”
He pulled her towards the blanket. He drew her down on it till they were both seated. Then he opened the picnic basket. He began to pull out an array of delicious foods. Starting with Choco Boys. Hyejin laughed when she saw them.
“The breakfast of champions!” she declared as she grabbed the package out of his hand and held it high over their heads.
Jungkook chuckled as he unearthed some Kimbap, rice rolls. Next were dumplings, Mandoo. Some Gaeran Mari, rolled egg omelette, followed.
Hyejin’s eyes grew big. “Goodness, Kookie! How much food do you think I can eat!?”
Then he pulled out a thermos of tea and two cups. He began to pour her a cup. He handed it to her.
She smiled at him. “Kookie! You are so sweet!”
You have no idea, thought someone observing them from behind a tree.
Kookie proceeded to pile a plate high with food for her. He handed it to her along with some chopsticks.
“Dig in,” he smiled.
“Aren’t you going to get anything?” she asked him as he sat staring at her.
His eyes never left her face. “In a minute.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. Followed by his AirPods. He handed one to her. “I have a gift for you.”
“Oh?” she asked curiously as she receive the AirPod and stuck it in her ear. She set the cup of tea down in a safe place where she wouldn’t knock it over.
Jungkook put his AirPod in his ear and touched the screen of his phone a few times. After a moment, some beautiful music began to pour into her ear through the AirPod. A moment later, Kookie’s captivating voice joined the melody. He began to sing, and she gasped as she recognized the song. His breathy voice seemed to fill the air around her as she closed her eyes. Her meal sat forgotten in her lap.
“I’m still waiting for the one…who holds my red cord undone. Will she look my way today? Will she fly some other place?” Then his beautiful voice vocalized for a few beats before he continued singing, “Is she sweet and darling dark? Her lips leave a gentle mark? Do her eyes gleam in sunlight? Her hair raven like midnight?”
He had taken liberty with her lyrics to write it from his viewpoint instead of hers, but she loved it! This song had clearly been written for Kookie to sing to her! Then he added a bridge she hadn’t written.
“Oh, yes! She’s delightful. Oh, my! She’s insightful. And her lips are like the sweetest wine. All the time. All the time.”
Then he began to sing the chorus.
“The red thread that winds around my heart, it’s been held in her hands since the start. My eyes unveiled to her beauty, my heart inhaled this brand new duty.
“Come now and weave our hearts together. I’m praying this will last forever. We’ve found our red thread of divine fate. Let’s grab it now before it’s too late.”
The interlude played, and Kookie sat looking at her, a vulnerable expression on his face. She was drowning in his dark eyes. The emotion in them was drawing her closer to him. Then his voice returned to her as he began to sing the second verse through the AirPod.
“Saw her walking through the park. Then Love’s arrow found its mark. One glance, my heart is undone. I’m the true love she has won.
“Taken by her smiling eyes, I’ll give her all my aching sighs. I’ve seen her gentle, red lips. Do they hold some kind of bliss?”
Kookie’s eyes found her lips and seemed to get stuck there. Those lips curved in a smile as she noticed his attention wander from her eyes to her mouth. As the chorus played in their ears, she set her plate down on the blanket and scooted closer to him. His eyes found their way back to her gaze.
“I’m still wondering what the answer is…” he murmured.
“The answer? To what?”
“To the question I sang. Do your lips leave a gentle mark? Or will they blaze a trail of fire all the way down into my bones? Do your lips hold some kind of bliss?”
Those lips curved into another smile before parting as she responded, “Let’s find out…”
His gaze sharpened on her for a moment before dropping to her lips again. Then his head bent towards hers. He was leaning on his right hand, his legs drawn up under him. She was in a similar position. Though, she was resting her weight on her left hand. They bent slowly towards each other.
Kookie’s left hand came up slowly to embrace her cheek. His thumb brushed her skin gently, and she shivered at the touch of his skin against hers. His fingers were releasing tingles which ran along her nerves in a giddy race towards her center. She hoped he’d never let go. Then his eyes fluttered shut as his face moved nearer still. She kept her eyes open for a few moments to drink him in with every one of her senses.
Her eyes wide open, she could see his lovely eyelids close over his eyes. She feasted on his beauty. She studied the dark curve of each of his eyebrows, the straight bridge of his noble nose, and the lovely expanse of his forehead peeking out between the dark locks of his bangs. But as his lips drew near her own, her eyes closed. A moment later, his mouth descended upon hers.
In the split second before his lips touched hers, as her eyelids closed off one of her senses, the other four sharpened, and she noticed that the air around him smelled of spring, new life, and damp soil. She could hear the closing bars of the beautiful song which she had written and which Kookie had perfected. But she could also hear the exhalation of his breath right before he kissed her. She loved his breath. She wanted to share in it. He was giving her the desire of her heart right now.
That left what she was feeling. Oh! Pure bliss, indeed! His fingers still teasing tingles into her cheek, as his lips found hers, she felt as if her every sense was invaded by his presence. His taste invaded her mouth; his scent flew up her nose. His lips tasted like peppermint. She could feel the heat of it infiltrating her sinuses. Had he been chewing gum?
As her ears drank in the song he was singing over her, her lips felt the lightning of his life force touching her own. They reveled in the tenderness of his mouth moving gently across her own. Her mouth sank into his, enjoying his taste and the moist heat of his breath mingling with her own.
She was riveted to that spot. At one point, her mind basked in the touch of his fingers lightly stroking her cheek. Then her focus shifted to the feel of his mouth loving her own. She was enveloped by the sight, sound, smell, and taste of him. And by his touch. She didn’t want him to ever stop.
She’d waited six months for this. And it had been worth every single second she’d endured.
