Asclepsius

Chapter 10: A Little Too Familiar

Author's POV

After nearly an hour of searching through her wardrobe for something comfortable yet presentable, Amungi finally decided on an outfit.

Usually, she wore a little more makeup whenever she went out.

Being a makeup artist meant looking presentable was almost part of the job.

But today was different.

It was morning.

It was her day off.

And, honestly, she couldn't be bothered.

So for once, Amungi decided to go completely natural.

No elaborate makeup.

No carefully constructed look.

Just her.

She grabbed her bag and headed out.

BTS House

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Jin opened the door.

The moment he saw her, his eyes widened.

"AM! Oh my gosh, you look so cute!"

Amungi smiled shyly.

"Thanks, Jin hyung!"

Jin suddenly stepped aside.

"Oh gosh, I forgot. Come in, Am."

Amungi gave a small blush.

"Sure, hyung."

She stepped inside.

Jungkook immediately looked up.

"Oh! Amungi! What a surprise!"

Am blinked.

"Wait..."

She looked around.

"Namjoon hyung didn't tell you guys I was coming?"

Jin shook his head.

"He only told me."

"We thought we'd let it be a surprise."

"Ohhh."

Amungi giggled.

"Hehe."

Suddenly, Namjoon's voice echoed through the house.

"LEE AMUNGI!"

Amungi turned around.

"KIM NAMJOON HYUNG!"

Namjoon laughed as he approached.

"Oh my God."

He looked at her outfit.

"You dressed so cute!"

Then he noticed something else.

"No makeup?"

Amungi laughed.

"It's my day off!"

Namjoon smiled.

"You have such a baby face without makeup."

"Hehe. Thanks, hyung."

Yoongi looked over from the living room.

"You're back to being the soft and cute girl."

Amungi immediately raised an eyebrow.

"I don't have to be a soft and cute girl, hyung."

She pointed toward herself.

"I am a soft and cute girl."

Yoongi simply nodded.

"Hmm."

Amungi grinned.

"Ha!"

She looked around.

"Where are Jimin and Taehyung?"

Jin answered.

"Jimin's doing his morning routine."

Jungkook added,

"And Tae asked for me."

Amungi frowned.

"Where is he?"

"Still asleep."

"Oh, okay..."

Before she could finish, Jungkook suddenly looked toward the hallway.

"Oh. There he is."

A sleepy Taehyung appeared.

"Kookieeee!"

Jungkook turned around.

"Yeah?"

Taehyung walked straight toward him.

"There you are!"

He wrapped his arms around Jungkook and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

Amungi froze.

Her eyes widened.

She slowly looked at Namjoon.

Then at Taehyung.

Then Jungkook.

Then back at Namjoon.

"Are they... together?"

Namjoon blinked.

"In what sense?"

Amungi lowered her voice.

"Boyfriends?"

She paused.

"Husbands?"

Then she looked horrified.

"Please don't tell me they're brothers."

Namjoon burst out laughing.

"Okay."

He looked at her suspiciously.

"Are you a Taekooker?"

Amungi's eyes lit up.

"Yeah!"

Namjoon grinned.

"Then welcome to paradise."

He gestured toward Taehyung and Jungkook.

"Our very real, very lovey-dovey Taekook."

Amungi covered her mouth.

"OMG!"

She immediately lowered her voice.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scream!"

Namjoon chuckled.

"I understand."

Amungi was still staring at the couple in disbelief.

I knew it.

A Few Minutes Later

Footsteps approached from the hallway.

Jimin appeared.

He stopped when he saw Amungi.

His eyes widened.

"Ji..."

He blinked.

"AMUNGI!"

Amungi smiled.

"Yeah. I'm here for real."

Jimin looked toward Namjoon.

"Hyung, why didn't you tell me?"

Jin immediately answered.

"Why?"

He grinned.

"So you would've dressed nicely?"

Jimin's face changed instantly.

"HYUNG!"

Everyone laughed.

Amungi looked between them, confused.

"Guys?"

Jimin quickly composed himself.

"Sorry."

He looked at her.

"Nice to see you here."

Amungi smiled.

"Mm."

But neither of them realized that everyone else had noticed that tiny exchange.

Brunch

Everyone eventually gathered around the dining table.

Taehyung and Jungkook sat together.

Hoseok sat beside Yoongi.

Namjoon sat with Jin.

And, by complete coincidence...

Amungi and Jimin ended up sitting directly opposite each other.

Namjoon looked at Amungi.

"So, Am."

She looked up.

"Yes, hyung?"

"Tell us about yourself."

Amungi nearly choked on her drink.

"Ah!"

Namjoon laughed.

"Don't be nervous. I just want to know more about you."

Amungi smiled awkwardly.

"I don't really have some huge history."

She paused.

"I was born and raised in the Middle East."

Everyone listened.

"After high school, I wanted to study Fine Arts."

Her expression changed slightly.

"But my parents and siblings never really supported that idea."

She looked down.

"So I left home and came here because I wanted to study somewhere they wouldn't come after me."

The table became quieter.

"I finished my degree."

She smiled faintly.

"And now I'm here."

Yoongi looked at her.

"Do you talk to them now?"

Amungi shook her head.

"No."

She paused.

"I want them to contact me."

She looked down at her hands.

"I'm not going to chase them. If they want me in their lives, they'll have to come to me."

Yoongi nodded slowly.

"Hmm."

Jin quickly changed the subject.

"Okay!"

He smiled.

"Tell us about your talents."

Amungi laughed.

"I'm not as talented as you guys think."

"Art and makeup are probably the only things I'm actually good at."

Namjoon raised an eyebrow.

"But your university said you're an all-rounder."

Amungi looked surprised.

"They said that?"

"Yeah."

She laughed.

"Maybe I'm slightly good at writing lyrics."

Yoongi immediately looked up.

"You write lyrics?"

"Songs, actually."

She shrugged.

"But they're probably not very good."

Yoongi stared at her.

"Are you kidding?"

He pointed toward her.

"I don't care whether they're good or bad."

"You have to show them to me one day."

Amungi smiled.

"Sure!"

Then suddenly...

She winced.

Namjoon noticed immediately.

"You okay?"

Amungi straightened.

"Yeah."

She smiled.

"I guess it's just a little hangover."

Jimin quietly looked at her.

His expression became concerned.

The Balcony

A little later, Amungi stepped onto the balcony.

The view of Seoul stretched endlessly before her.

Buildings.

Roads.

The morning sunlight reflecting against the glass towers.

She leaned against the railing.

For a moment, everything was peaceful.

Then she heard footsteps.

Someone stopped beside her.

Jimin.

He didn't say anything at first.

He simply stood there.

After a moment, he looked toward the skyline.

"The view is beautiful, right?"

Amungi jumped slightly.

Then laughed nervously.

"Yeah."

She sighed.

"It really is."

Jimin looked at her.

"Can I ask you something?"

Amungi became slightly nervous.

"Yeah."

He hesitated.

"Do you miss someone right now?"

Amungi's smile faded.

She looked toward the city.

"How angry can you possibly be with your family..."

Her voice became softer.

"They're still your family."

She swallowed.

"You only get one."

A tear slipped down her cheek.

"So..."

She smiled sadly.

"Yeah. I miss them."

Jimin's heart sank.

He couldn't bear seeing her cry.

Without thinking, he gently hugged her.

"It's okay."

His voice was quiet.

"I'm here."

He paused.

"I mean... we're all here for you."

Amungi sniffled.

"Thank you."

For a few seconds, neither moved.

Then they both seemed to realize how close they were.

They quickly stepped apart.

Awkward silence.

"I'm sorry," Jimin began.

"I didn't..."

Amungi interrupted him with a small smile.

"It's fine."

She wiped her cheek.

"Actually..."

She smiled.

"I think I needed that."

"Thank you."

Jimin nodded.

"Okay."

There was another silence.

Then Amungi looked at him.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"Yesterday..."

She folded her arms.

"Why did you break that glass?"

Jimin looked away.

"You looked like you were either extremely annoyed..."

She raised an eyebrow.

"...or extremely jealous."

Jimin was quiet.

"Can I be honest?"

Amungi smiled.

"That's what I want to know."

He took a breath.

"Jihyun."

Amungi blinked.

"Wait..."

"The guy who was talking to me?"

"And dancing with you."

Her expression slowly changed.

"Oh."

Jimin looked at her.

"Amungi..."

She smiled.

"You can call me Am."

Jimin blinked.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"No need to use my full name every time."

He smiled.

"Okay."

"Thanks, Am."

She laughed.

"Isn't it funny?"

"What?"

"We barely started talking properly..."

She smiled.

"And somehow we already became close."

Jimin chuckled.

"Yeah."

He looked at her.

"It almost feels like we've known each other in another life."

Amungi laughed softly.

"Maybe."

Neither of them noticed the strange silence that followed.

Neither understood why that sentence felt strangely familiar.

Then suddenly...

"AMUNGI!"

Jin's voice echoed from inside.

Amungi turned.

"Okay, bye Jimin."

She smiled.

"It was nice talking to you."

Jimin frowned playfully.

"Wait."

She looked back.

"Isn't it unfair?"

"What?"

"You're the only one calling me by my full name."

Amungi laughed.

"Then what should I call you?"

Jimin smiled.

"Something cute."

Amungi thought for a second.

"Should I call you..."

She grinned.

"Chimmy?"

Jimin's cheeks immediately turned slightly pink.

Amungi noticed.

"Sure."

He smiled.

"That sounds good."

Amungi waved.

"Bye, Chimmy."

"Bye, Am."

She walked away.

Jimin remained on the balcony for another moment.

A strange warmth filled his chest.

Why does that nickname feel like something I've heard before?

Back Inside

Jin looked at Amungi.

"What took you so long?"

Amungi smiled.

"I was just mesmerized by the city view."

Jin nodded.

"Okay."

He walked her toward the door.

"Have a safe trip back to your apartment."

"Thanks, hyung."

Everyone gathered around.

"Byeee, Amungi!"

"Bye!"

She waved at everyone.

Then, just before leaving, she turned around.

Her eyes met Jimin's.

She smiled.

Jimin smiled back.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

Everyone noticed.

Taehyung exchanged a glance with Jungkook.

Jin raised an eyebrow.

Yoongi quietly watched.

Namjoon smiled to himself.

Nobody knew what had happened on that balcony.

But everyone knew that those two smiles meant something.

Jimin's POV

I watched the door close behind her.

I couldn't stop smiling.

Then a strange thought entered my mind.

Am...

I placed a hand over my chest.

I think I know what this feeling is.

I looked toward the door again.

But... is this right?

Somewhere deep within me, something whispered an answer.

Something ancient.

Something I couldn't yet understand.