Stay in this Dream | 01
You’re the maid of honour and he’s the best man — Park Jimin, a world-famous star who somehow becomes your unexpected dance partner. What starts as a wedding obligation soon grows into something neither of you expected.
As the wedding countdown ticks away, sparks fly between you — but the reality of his fame and the distance between your worlds starts to pull you apart. Can you hold on to this fragile dream, or are you just dancing toward a goodbye you aren't ready for?
Pairing: Fem Reader x Jimin
Genre: AU - Canon Divergent, Fluff, Slight Angst
Chapter 1: Not an ARMY? Yeah, right.
Word Count: 1,632
Picking up the best man for your friend’s wedding should’ve been easy. Unfortunately, no one mentioned he was Park Jimin.
You stood at the airport’s arrivals gate, clutching a placard as you recalled the phone call from your best friend a few hours prior.
“Y/N! I need your help! It’s an emergency!”
“I swear to God, Addi, if it’s something silly like what colour the buffet tablecloths should be, you’ll be dead before you hit the altar.”
“Hey! Colour schemes matter!”
“No one gives a damn about the tablecloths as long as the food is good!”
“Shut up! That’s not even why I called!”
“Then pray tell, what exactly is this emergency?”
“Minhyuk’s best man is arriving from Seoul in a couple of hours, but the driver we arranged cancelled at the last minute! The poor guy will be stranded!”
“And you want me to pick him up?”
“Pretty please?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“Really? You’ll do that?”
“Of course I will. You thought I’d say no? I’m wounded, Addison.”
“I mean, the airport is a two-hour drive from here. You’re wasting four hours on this.”
“Come on, Addi, it’s not like I have anything better to do. And you know I can’t say no to you.”
“And that’s why you’re my maid of honour!”
“Damn right I am. Just send me his details.”
“Will do! Thanks babe, gotta go!”
She hung up before you could say another word. You shook your head, smiling. It was typical of Addison to end a call without a goodbye. A minute later, a text pinged on your phone: Jimin, 867-XXXX.
Your heart immediately skipped a beat. Ah, if only it were the Jimin—the man of your dreams. Of course, Jimin was a common name, so you told yourself there was no point in getting excited. Still, a girl could dream. You sighed before noticing the time. Shit, I’ll be late! You ran to your room, debating how much effort to put into your appearance. What if he’s cute? It couldn't hurt to look nice. You picked an effortless outfit and dabbed on some tinted lip balm. After grabbing your keys, you headed for the car.
-
You checked your watch for the tenth time. You had been waiting for almost an hour, and after several ignored calls, there was still no sign of him. You looked down at the placard in your hand that read 지민.
You were about to give up when a hand tapped your shoulder. The man wore a bucket hat, a white tee, and dark jeans. His face was completely obscured by a mask.
“Oh! You must be Jimin! I’m—”
“Uh, sorry to interrupt, but can we leave right now?” His voice was muffled but urgent. “I think I might have been recognized.”
You would have done a double-take at the familiarity of his tone if you hadn't been so annoyed by his rudeness. After making you wait an hour, the least he could do was be polite. Still, you managed a tight smile. “My car’s right over there. Follow me.”
He practically ran to the car, stuffed his suitcase into the trunk, and dove into the passenger seat. He only heaved a sigh of relief once you cleared the parking lot.
“Oh, thank goodness. I think we’re safe now.” He pulled off the hat and ran a hand through his hair; a gesture that felt somewhat familiar. Then, he lowered his mask.
The face staring back at you was one you had spent countless hours smiling and giggling over. It was also the face currently serving as your phone's lock screen.
You slammed on the brakes, pulling onto the shoulder with a violent screech. “WHAT THE HELL?”
“AHHHH! WHAT HAPPENED?”
“You’re THE PARK JIMIN!”
“Could you keep it down, please? I’m trying not to be spotted!”
“I must be dreaming! AAAAHHH—”
Your scream was cut short by Jimin’s hand clamping over your mouth. “Please calm down! I need to stay off the radar!”
You nodded slowly, trying to soothe your racing heart. Only when he was sure you wouldn't scream again did he pull his hand away.
“Sorry,” he admitted sheepishly. “I didn't know how else to stop you.”
“No, I’m sorry for yelling. I was just… caught off-guard. I didn't expect to be picking up an actual celebrity.”
He gave you a small smile. “That’s alright. I didn't let you introduce yourself, did I? Let’s start over. I’m Park Jimin.” He held out his hand.
You hesitantly shook it. “I’m Y/N.”
“Oh, that’s a lovely name! Nice to meet you, Y/N.” He shook your hand warmly, his eyes crinkling into his signature smile. You ignored the butterflies in your stomach, praying your palm wasn't sweaty.
“I, uh, think we should get back on the road. It’s a long drive.”
Jimin flushed and dropped your hand. “Of course!”
As you pulled back onto the highway, he glanced at you curiously. “So, are you ARMY?”
You resisted the urge to go full fangirl. “Oh, y’know… I’ve heard some of your stuff. I run a dance studio. It's kind of impossible to avoid your choreography. Good music. Good moves. That’s about it.”
His eyes lit up. “You dance?”
You smiled, finally finding your confidence. “Every day.”
Inside, you were screaming. Outside? Ice cold. Nailed it.
But then, your phone rang through the Bluetooth speakers. Loudly.
I need you, girl, wae, honja saranghago, honjaseoman ibyeolhae~
“Shit,” you muttered, grimacing as you answered the call.
“Hey babe! Did you pick him up?” Addison chirped.
“Addison Lisa Walters, you are so dead.”
“Me? Whatever for?”
“YOU. DID. NOT. TELL. ME. How could you send me to pick him up without saying who he was?!”
“What are you talking about? I sent you his name!”
“You didn't tell me I was picking up PARK. FUCKING. JIMIN! Especially when you already know—”
“Know what?”
You shot a panicked look at Jimin. He could clearly listen to every single word of your conversation, intentional or not. You sighed. “We’ll have this conversation later. Face to face. Enjoy the last few minutes of your life, Addison.” You hung up.
“So, not ARMY, huh?” he asked with a sly smile.
“Sorry,” you muttered. “I just didn't want to unleash my inner fangirl and scare you off.”
He smiles at you again and you feel your breath leave you in a whoosh at the sight of it.
Oh God, is this really happening?
“How long have you been ARMY?” Apparently he wasn't gonna let up this topic soon, and you had no choice but to answer him. “About two years now.”
“Two years?” Jimin hummed, leaning back against the headrest. “That’s a pretty long time. Does that mean you have a favorite song? Or maybe… a favorite member?”
You gripped the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the road to hide the heat in your cheeks. “I’m a fan of the whole group, obviously. But if I had to pick… I’ve always admired the dance line. The way you move is just… magical.”
Jimin smiled to himself quietly, acting as though he hadn't noticed his own face on your lock screen.
“We use your music for classes,” you admitted. “The kids love 'DNA', but my advanced teens? They’re obsessed with 'Blood Sweat & Tears.' I spend half my week teaching them how to do that floor slide without bruising their knees.”
Jimin let out a melodic laugh. “That is not an easy one! I have many bruises from that song myself. I would love to see that—to see someone teaching our passion to the next generation. It’s… endearing, Y/N.”
The way he said your name made your heart do a nervous little dance of its own.
The tension that had started as awkwardness had melted into something warmer. For the next hour, the conversation flowed easier than you ever imagined. You told him about the chaos of teaching six-year-olds their left from their right, and he listened with genuine fascination.
By the time the familiar sights of Addison’s neighborhood came into view, the two-hour drive felt like it had only lasted twenty minutes. You pulled up to the curb of the estate.
“Well,” you said, putting the car in park. “We’re here. Safe, sound, and hopefully, still off the radar.”
Jimin didn't move to get out immediately. He looked at you, his expression soft. “Thank you, Y/N. Not just for the ride, but for treating me like a person. It’s been a long time since I could just… talk.”
He reached for his hat and mask, but before putting them on, he paused. “I meant what I said about the studio. I want to stop by. I want to see those 'advanced teens' of yours.”
You scoffed. “Ha ha. Nice one, Jimin.”
Jimin pouted. “I’m serious! You don’t believe me?”
“I believe you’re a very busy man with a very big heart,” you said gently. “But you have a wedding to be a best man for, and I have a studio to run. Speaking of which, I'm already late.”
He laughed, grabbing his suitcase. He leaned back into the open window, his eyes crinkling. “I’ll find it, Y/N. Expect a visitor.”
You watched him disappear through the front doors, the silence of the car suddenly feeling heavy. You let out a long, shaky breath and caught your reflection in the mirror. You looked flushed, your eyes brighter than they had been in years.
“Yeah, right,” you whispered to yourself, a bittersweet smile tugging at your lips. Like Park Jimin is actually going to show up at a suburban dance studio.
You put the car in gear and turned the corner, but as the engine hummed, you didn't turn the radio back on. You didn't need to. The sound of his laugh was still echoing in the quiet, making you feel, just for a moment, like you were driving on air.
