Chapter 33: Still Speaking Volumes – October 3, 2025
Jimin glanced at Jumi. “Are you nervous?”
“Me? Nervous? Why would I be nervous? It’s not like we’re going to perform for anyone tonight.”
“Just for everyone within listening distance of the radio.”
“Yeah, but…who listens to the radio anymore?”
“We do!” exclaimed all their friends as they surrounded them in eager anticipation of the debut of their new song.
Actually, it was an old song. A song Jumi had begun to write before she and Jimin had ever admitted their passion for each other. A song she had composed for a little boy named Baekho and a little girl named Bohee. A song about children who felt like outsiders and were just looking for love.
Who knew that such a song would become so wildly popular?
“Jimin, I still can’t believe anyone wants to listen to this song. I wrote it for a couple of children.”
“It’s a beautiful song, Jumi. You underestimate yourself.”
“Well…I think it’s your guitar playing that grabbed everyone’s attention.”
“No, it was definitely the beautiful melody you carved out on your piano that made this song so beloved.”
“You two are ridiculous!” Yunseong exclaimed. “The entire song is lovely! From start to finish. Piano. Guitar. Voices…”
“You really like my voice, Yun?” Jumi asked self-consciously. She still had a hard time believing anyone would want to hear her sing.
“No, Jumi. I LOVE your voice! Come on, sing for us!”
“She’s about to. On the radio,” Yunyeong responded dryly. “So, hush, Yun! So we don’t miss it!”
Everyone fell silent as they strained to hear the opening bars of a song Jimin and Jumi had produced together just a few months ago. After a few beats, Jumi’s lush, deep voice crept up the spines of several people in that crowded room.
“Trapped in a black-and-white world,
I’m just an ordinary girl.
Waiting for my rainbow,
Waiting for my moonglow.
Waiting for true love to show.
Waiting for a friend, you know.”
Yunyeong couldn’t help but look at Jungkook as Jumi’s lyrics washed over her. It was as though Jumi had written this song to accompany her book series. Or to describe her journey to finding her precious Kookie. He glanced at her then, and the secret grin that suddenly wreathed his face definitely caused her to glow.
Then the chorus found them all, teasing their ears with its lilting melody. Jimin sang the first stanza, and Jumi, the second.
“Now I’ve met you.
What can I do?
I think I love you.
I think I need you.”
“Your eyes, they shine.
Wanna make them mine.
Your smile too
Could bring me through.”
Then Jumi seemed to question Jimin.
“Can we be friends?
Till the very end?
Will you hold my hand?
Help me understand?”
Jimin’s clear, high voice answered Jumi’s deeper one.
“I need you, friend.
To comprehend.
Please come sing with me
Just wanna be free.”
As Jimin listened to himself singing those lines, he couldn’t help but smile at how they reflected his real life journey with Jumi. He had coaxed her into singing with him. And, boy! Was he glad he had!
A sweet interlude drew them all in for a few moments. Then Jimin’s voice seemed to echo the sentiments Jumi had expressed in the first verse.
“Trapped in a corner, no joy,
I’m just an ordinary boy.
Waiting for my daydream.
Waiting for my sunbeam.
Waiting for true love to gleam.
Waiting for a friend, it seems.”
As the voices of Jumi and Jimin once again serenaded each other in the chorus, the actual girl and her husband glanced around the room and watched the reactions of all their friends. It was still a marvel to both of them that anyone was that captivated by something they had created together. Suddenly, their wandering eyes collided, and Jumi gave Jimin a smile of such incandescent radiance that he felt like he was floating.
A while later, Jumi found him sitting in a corner of one of Tae’s couches. She marched over to Jimin and plopped herself down on his lap. Much to his surprise.
“So…I see you’re now comfortable sitting in my lap,” he teased her.
“Absolutely, Jimin. Absolutely.” She smiled down at him.
And Jimin lost himself in her lovely, sienna eyes. And in her scent that suddenly wrapped around him. Lemons. He still wasn’t tired of that fragrance. He doubted he ever would be.
She was his lemon girl. His lemon girl. She had never married anyone else. Somehow he had won her. He beamed up at her.
And Jumi found herself drowning in his beautiful eyes. His speaking eyes. Jimin’s intense, chocolate depths still spoke volumes to her. Even after all this time…
