episode 4

Jeongguk blinks, lowering his two fingers from his mouth. His mind swims in clouds and he thinks distantly, Jimin. Jimin will pick me up. “My husband,” he answers, words slurring slightly. “Jimin. He can come.”

From then on it takes gentle prodding from both the salesman and someone else who works there- a woman with vivid red hair that Jeongguk really wants to reach out and touch, to get him to call Jimin. “Jiminie,” Jeongguk’s tongue feels heavy and far too big for his mouth, if only he could pull it out, that would feel better. “Can you pick me up? Please? I’m at the store.”

Jimin sounds worried, “Boo, what’s wrong? Why does your voice sound so weird? Why do you need me to pick you up?”

Jeongguk thinks about how Jimin must look right now; eyebrows furrowed to a point, hands twitching nervously, cute little eyes narrowed, and he smiles, wishing he could see. He likes when Jimin worries about him, likes when his husband babies him. It makes him feel special. “Please just come,” he says, he doesn’t know what else to say. He doesn’t want Jimin to know of the red rawness of his lips, the fast beats of his heart clanging against his chest, the heavy tongue and hungry eyes that make his head fuzzy.

“Ok boo I’m on my way,” Jimin sounds scared and suddenly Jeongguk stops smiling. He doesn’t like it when Jimin is scared. “Don’t hang up, Jeongguk. I want you to talk to me.”

“About what?” Jeongguk asks.

“Anything, Gukkie. Talk to me about anything.”

Jeongguk babbles nonsense because he doesn’t want to tell Jimin the truth. “I bought red socks yesterday, they’re really comfy but also kind of itchy, I…” the words disintegrate into the air as he talks and it feels like it’s been hours when Jimin finally rushes into the store, looking around frantically, orange hair flopping on top of his head as he spots Jeongguk and runs over.

He gathers him in his arms and Jeongguk relaxes, recognizing safety and home and Park Jimin. He inhales Jimin’s sweet citrus scent but his mind keeps dragging him down, down to sharp brown eyes and big hands that are so different from the tiny paws that Jimin has. He keeps quiet as Jimin pesters the salespeople with questions and he keeps quiet as Jimin checks him over for injuries and gathers his face in his hands to stare at his eyes.

“Did he hit his head?” Jimin asks as he brushes his knuckles softly against Jeongguk’s cheek. He isn’t asking Jeongguk, he’s asking the salesman, but he’s looking right at him with such a tight, worried look that Jeongguk can’t help but lean into his hand and quirk his lips up into a small smile, trying to reassure him that he’s fine, he’s just feeling a little woozy at the moment, nothing to worry about.   

“I don’t know,” the salesman replies and his voice is distant. Everything is distant except for Jimin. Jimin. Jimin. Jimin, and that man. His other soulmate. His two soulmates. “I recommend getting him straight to a bed, however. He looks tired.”

Jeongguk doesn’t catch Jimin’s words because the world closes in on him and the last thing he thinks about before his eyes slide closed is the smoldering, reluctant attraction he feels for a man who shouldn’t be his soulmate.       

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***