SUMMER'S OVER @solecize - Tumblr Blog

⠀　　⠀　　⠀　　⠀　　₊✧⋆⭒˚｡⋆ THE FARMHOUSE ♡₊˚

every summer on your grandpa's farm was real-life magic to your younger self, who left a piece of her heart in amber valley when the years went on and the town became nothing but a faint childhood memory. upon his passing over a decade later, you come to terms with the dead end in your bustling city world when an unexpected inheritance calls you back to the place you once loved. despite knowing nothing but the corporate ladder and the emptiness of your post-grad life, you make the abrupt decision to uproot your entire life and take over your grandfather's old farm. as you return to the town that you desperately want to remember, you begin piecing together not only the home that you've left behind, but the parts of yourself that you've lost of yourself along the way. your first summer back in the valley challenges you amidst grief and the confusion of your twenties, alongside an all-too-familiar face from your childhood that quietly finds his way back into your life.

pairing: country gentleman!jungkook x city girl!reader content/warnings: no use of y/n, estranged childhood best friends to lovers, stardew valley inspired, small town au, parent jungkook (to his younger sister), next door neighbours, mutual pining, miscommunication, equestrian jungkook, themes of grief and growing up, post-grad/early twenties confusion, explicit language, substance use, mentions of death, eventual smut (in part two) notes: because, eventually, amber valley always welcomes you home :)

full note about this rewrite in the masterlist, but this is the first part out of two for the farmhouse! this encompasses what was originally chapters one to five, including the extra one shot called "the lesson" + i'm not tagging my usual tag-list for this because it's a reupload, but if you would like to be tagged for the second part, you can let me know!!

1/2 | masterlist | 33k

For the first time in a long time, your eyes flutter open to the golden curtains of the sun. Mornings have always consisted of the same thick dread of the glare of a royalty-free alarm and the promise of cheap coffee in the office. When you’re greeted by the rays—somehow both harsh and welcoming all at once—you blink away the sudden sting and your eyes adjust to the muddy path ahead.

There’s no mistake about it: the town withstood an unforgiving storm last night. However, mud coating the wheels of your bus seems to be the only indication, as you become distracted with the kiss of summer in the skies above. The sun disrupts cotton candy clouds painted across clear cerulean and you look up, revelling in the sight.

Memories of Amber Valley became bygone over the years, as memories always do. But, Amber Valley turned into a long lost chase that you haven’t won in years and the older you became, the town disappeared from your life entirely. It’s akin to the smell of your favourite scented markers or rumbling feeling in at the pit of your stomach on the first day of school. They embodied nothing but faint ideas lost from your childhood.

“We’re not going to visit Grandpa this summer? What about Jungkookie?”

At age twelve, you couldn’t fathom skipping the Midsummer Fair or being away from your horse, Marshmallow. The idea of a summer without Jungkook, your best friend, is just unimaginable after years of being attached to one another like glue. When you're that young, absolutely everything felt like the end of the world, whether it was missing out on an episode of your favourite show or not getting an invite to a classmate’s sleepover. You realized quickly that being stripped away of a summer in Amber Valley was a little different in comparison, as you looked into your father’s dull eyes several weeks before the end of the school year.

His eyes had been dull since the divorce was finalized in February. They never shone quite the same since then and that’s how you knew things weren’t going to be the same.

He shook his head at you, but never met your eyes. “No, I’m sorry. You’ll get to see him when he visits for your birthday, though," your dad explains slowly. "And you can still write Jungkook letters."

“Why can’t mom take me?” you asked carefully, knowing it was a long shot.

“Because you’ll be staying with me for summers and you’ll be with her for the school year. We walked about this.”

You did, in fact, get to see Grandpa for your birthday that summer, but everything really had changed. When you were able be with him in the city, he laughed with his whole body and his smile never failed to reach his eyes when he gave you updated on the farm and Amber Valley. Now, Grandpa did his best, but time passing came with your losing your own bright eyes whenever he spoke fondly on the town. It was inevitable, when the big city that you grew up in enveloped your teenage self and you soon become more concerned with other interests that came with the turn of youth—clothes, parties and boys.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with those ideas. You stood by this at heart, embracing femininity and defending it with the same passion you had for science and life. You simply grew up. You grew up and began wearing high heels to dates, to university lectures and eventually, to your soulless 9-5 job on the busiest corner of the financial district.

After many years, you long outgrew your riding boots that were likely tucked away at the back of your closet in your studio apartment. You began just smiling politely and nodding when your grandfather shared local Amber Valley gossip about individuals who were just names to you now, also tucked away at the back of your mind with the rest of your childhood memories.

You eventually surpassed the age where you needed your parents’ permission to make the three hour trek to Amber Valley, past the period of time when your divorced parents refused to speak with each other to coordinate a trip for you to see your grandfather. Yet, the idea of returning to the valley never crossed your mind. Like summer camp, it became something that you thought you didn’t need anymore and preferred spending your holidays with your friends in your hometown. Instead of spending your days feeding chickens and riding horses, you got your first part-time job at the nearby mall, found your first boyfriend and passed your driver’s test. A seventeen year old city girl wouldn’t want to waste her summers at her grandfather’s old farm.

Then, memories of your best friend fade with the rest until he's just a name.

“Mrs. Oh’s husband just left the valley for his deployment overseas. May God watch over that family.”

It was one of the last times that you saw Grandpa before his passing, late on Christmas Eve when everyone else went to bed. Your mom, her new husband and little sister had bade their good-night's by 10PM and left you with one another, sipping honey lemon tea by the fireplace.

The quiet with him was nice, one of the things you missed the most about summers spent with Grandpa. Your mom’s new husband made a lot of money and that was one of the first things you noticed about him and this house. It was so different from the two bedroom inner city apartment you were raised in and was certainly the polar opposite of Grandpa’s farmhouse. A part of you missed the way the television only got three channels and how all of the windows never quite opened all the way because they would fall apart entirely if you pulled too far. You and your grandfather mused these thoughts on the fancy white leather couch, when the conversation slowly moved back to how the old farm was going.

You tried to sound interested. “Oh, really?” you hummed—though, the reality was that you couldn’t remember if the Oh family was the one that ran the general store or if they were the family that lived by the river.

Grandpa grunted in response. “Mhm. Thankfully, they have Jungkook helping around the store,” he said. “Ah, the wasted potential with that boy, but such a kind heart.”

“Jungkook...?”

“You remember him, don’t you? The two of you were never apart, always riding your bikes by the beach,” he said. “I’ll never forget, you would come back with that boy and show me the seashells you collected that day, asking who found the better ones. Always making a competition out of everything.”

He chuckled and you joined in, hiding the despondence for being unable to recall. The anecdotes are all but fuzzy images in your mind, but you do recognize a sadness in your chest when you try to remember Jungkook.

Grandpa didn’t seem to notice, though, continuing to discuss Amber Valley. Cranberries and pumpkins were the strongest crops of the fall, Mayor Kim got re-elected for a third time, and something about the town getting their first chain convenience store. Then, Grandpa’s face lost its smile and a serious expression formed on his aging features. He asked you about your job and how life was for you.

By then, you were twenty-two and working an entry-level position with nothing but a bachelor’s degree in your pocket and a hunger to climb the corporate ranks. Like any fresh college graduate, there was no meaning to life if it weren’t for paying overpriced rent, Thirsty Thursdays, dating apps, and maybe remembering to go to the gym every now and then. The life you lived was loud from city traffic and heavy from looming student debt.

Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, you don’t exactly know where you want to be in life and you’re not sure how, if possible, to find more to it.

“My job is...okay. I’m just starting out, trying to do my best,” you concluded, a softness to your reply.

Grandpa, still with a serious look, placed a hand on your shoulder. “It gets stressful, doesn’t it?”

You opened your mouth to respond again, but failed to find your voice this time. Stress personified itself in funny ways, whether it was your growing caffeine addiction or getting too tired to give your parents a call on most nights. Adulthood was everything you expected and yet, nothing you expected. Once you graduated, you were left in a strange void where there are no signs to lead the way out. Everything you were supposed to do was done—you secured a job that you dedicated four years of studies to and just like that, you were pushed into a world of hustle and bustle. Once this depressing realization settled, you tried to hide it by cracking a faint smile.

Grandpa saw through it, though. He always did. The relationship you shared with him was special, carved through years of quality time in that old farmhouse.

“Well, darling, if it ever gets too stressful...” he said and you became confused when he pulled out a sealed envelope from his pocket. When you took it from him, you find nothing but your name written in your grandfather’s decorative penmanship.

You raised an eyebrow. “What is this, Grandpa?”

He finally smiled again, but shook his head. “A gift. It’s yours for when you find that you need a break from the challenges of life.”

Grandpa was the type to speak in poems and fables like that, but it always meant something. He also only ever gave gifts from the heart. Now, you had no idea that he was presenting you with none other than his entire heart and soul.

You took his envelope and slid in in the drawer of your desk at home, the same one where you worked tirelessly even after coming home from the office. It stayed hidden away for months, but poked at you with curiosity every once in a while. However, something told you to restrain from opening it.

When it became one of the last things you had from Grandpa, at last, you retrieve it from the drawer and with you on the day of his funeral.

It was no surprise to anyone that Grandpa wanted to be buried in Amber Valley, his home for decades and his birthplace. Once upon a time, when you were a child skipping rocks by the town river and riding your horse through mustard-hued sunflower fields, this was your home, too. For that, you were hesitant to return and confront the realities of your coming of age in the reflection of a town that now only lived in your memories. A sickening reminder of the years that have slipped through the years and the nagging guilt of turning your back to what used to be your entire world.

Wedged between your parents who finally ended their years long refusal to speak to one another, you stare at the onyx coffin ahead. Twenty seconds is all it takes for the sight to disappear, lowered into the ground. All too quick. You clench your arms wrapped around yourself, tighter and squeezing Grandpa’s envelope tucked underneath your elbow. Pattering rain is the least of your concerns, so long as the envelope remains protected.

“Of course it’s raining,” you sigh to yourself. You can’t help but remember the worst of the valley’s constant rain and bellowing wind during your last summer here.

Here. Amber Valley. You’re actually here, but you refuse to even look around. The drive from the city was quick and you arrived directly to the funeral service. Even if you wanted to take it all in, you can’t make much of the town through the gloom and all of a sudden, the valley is so much colder than you remember. Like your existence since your grandfather’s passing, the colour and life of it all has been lost. Your return feels unwelcome, like you’re not supposed to be here. Today, Amber Valley is unforgiving as much as it was perfection.

The idea of your return hasn’t crossed your mind for years. There is no homecoming to a place that does not have a home in your heart.

You can’t make out much of the attendees through the melancholy, but the community is evidently devastated. Saying goodbye to a beloved neighbour has left them sobbing and cold-faced. Grandpa was always well-loved among the townspeople, helping out his friends with mundane tasks when he wasn’t on the farm and shared his warm personality at local events. This is affirmed through the stories shared at the service, recognizing him for his distinct good heart; yet, all of this weighs heavy on you and feels far away, having detached yourself from Amber Valley.

“Oh, an unfamiliar face! What’s your name, dear?” A man around your father’s age with salt and pepper hair hands out hors d'oeuvres at the post-service gathering in the church basement. He appears to be the most upbeat one in the room, even though it doesn’t say much with the occasion at hand.

The room is large and suffocating all at the same time with a slew of fuzzy-feeling faces around you. If it were up to you, you would have left right away to go back home to settle in your grief and away from the glimpses of the valley you once knew—the emerald feels, cobblestone-lined town square, bellow of windstorms against old trees. Instead, you stand politely in the eye of the hurricane, waiting for the day to end.

You tell him your name, while silently panicking as you look around for your parents. Standing in a room full of strangers isn’t your favourite activity, but especially not following this funeral. The last thing you want to do is socialize and be asked questions about who you are, having gone through the motions of the day without feeling anything but numb.

Maybe, you’re also scared to be recognized.

While saddened by your grandfather’s passing, you knew that his illness would eventually catch up to him. That didn’t mean you actually thought the inevitable would come. When you heard the news, the world simply got a little bit quiet. You’d been living in delusion for so long and it finally happened. You haven’t felt grief before, but you didn’t realize that today’s grief would be accompanied—perhaps even deepened—by the painful nostalgia of the town that raised you in the summertime.

The man peers at your face, searching for something until his eyebrows raise. “You’re the old man’s granddaughter. Bunny?”

Hearing the nickname nearly causes you to clinch, having not heard it in so long that you were surprised you even reacted to it. For your entire childhood, you were almost exclusively called this name by adults and friends alike. You also begin searching the man’s face too, looking for some signs of familiarity.

There wasn’t room for a response when the man pulled over another individual by his sleeve, seemingly just attempting to walk by in peace. It was a younger man and your eyes are immediately drawn to the adornment of tattoos that peek below his rolled up sleeves before you scan for recognition. The second thing you notice about him are how soft his hands are. This is realized because the sight of the man makes you drop whatever was in your own hands out of surprise.

The only thing that you were holding was your grandfather’s envelope, no longer pristine and stained with a few raindrops. It isn’t until now that you realize that you’ve been clutching onto the keepsake since the service started. You bend down to reach for it when he also attempts to make the save for you, your hands brushing.

When you look up again, you’re taken aback and you’re not sure why. He stares back at you, also confused by what he sees.

“Jungkook, you remember Bunny?”

You forget the older man is still there and that he was the one who pulled Jungkook over in the first place.

Jungkook. This is the little boy you spent a lifetime running around town with, all those years ago. When your grandfather last mentioned his name, you couldn’t quite recall his face. Now, crouched down across from you, it all clicks at once. A storm of memories rains down on you, as you scramble to your feet and try to not wobble on your favourite high heels.

He also stands up and hands you the envelope, mirroring your revelations in his wide eyes. You mutter a thanks and fix an imaginary snag on your cardigan, burning with meekness and unsure of how to act.

“I, um,” you start, looking over at the older man and trying to not look at Jungkook. “I just go by my first name now.” You remind him of it through a tight smile, still feeling like your gut has been punched in after hearing your grandfather’s nickname for you.

“Oh, that’s right! You’re all grown up now!” he exclaims. “Do you remember me? Mr. Kim?”

The truth is that you don’t remember him by face, but the name does signal that he is most definitely the mayor that Grandpa always talked about. You vaguely remember Mr. Kim in your own childhood, always boasting a larger than life presence that still shows now. The command apparently ran in the family, with his father being the valley’s previous mayor and Grandpa’s best friend.

“Mayor Kim, of course.” You hope you sound convincing, still trying to look around for a way out of this awkward conversation.

Jungkook still stands to the side, the same confusion etched on his face. “Wait. You’re the girl from next door.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“You... you tricked me into eating mud once,” he blurts this out, as if an imaginary light bulb has just went off over his head.

You’re still staring at each other and for a moment, you see the little boy with big eyes and the loudest laugh in the world. He’s all grown up, too. You can’t believe it—it truly is Jungkook. A strange version of him where he’s taller and broader with eyes have seen a lot more than monkey bars and sunflower fields. Yet, his comment nearly takes you back, back to the time when you were kids. For a moment, you’ve been transported back.

“I-I didn’t trick you,” you snap back. “You just went for it! You always did dumb stuff like that.”

The truth is that you left behind your normal self in the city before coming down to the valley for the funeral and being face to face with Jeon Jungkook has momentarily pulled you right back. A real smile nearly twitches at the corner of your lips.

Somehow, the memory is clear as day and you remember Jungkook as a seven year old with a horrible bowl cut and missing teeth. You wore light-up sneakers and candy bracelets lined your arms that day, as you both sat on the porch of the farmhouse with him. The two of you exchanged dares to see who would give up first. Maybe that was why Grandpa always said that you were -

“—always so competitive,” Jungkook says, smirking.

Although you surely shared countless more memories, this one stands the test of time and it shows when you ultimately let out a laugh. Jungkook takes a second, too, but he eventually gives in and joins with his own. You didn’t notice it until his swollen eyes became crescents in his giggles, but he also seems to be having a troubled day. He grew up with your grandfather next door, so you can only imagine the turmoil in his own mind.

“There is it, Jungkook! Nice to see you finally cheer up a bit,” encourages Mayor Kim and Jungkook falls back into a straight face instantly, almost in a comical fashion. You suspect that this is not the first instance today that Mayor Kim has been on his case about lightening up.

Before Mayor Kim can chat away even more, his attention gravitates towards something at the other end of the room. He sighs and sets the plate of hors d'oeuvres down, as he glances at the time on his wrist dressed with gold.

“I see I’m being called over,” he says, turning to you and says your name with a smile. “It was a pleasure seeing you again, young lady. I hope to see your around town before you have to go back to the city.”

Swiftly, Mayor Kim weaves his way through the crowd and just like that, it’s now just you and Jungkook.

You take this opportunity to give Jungkook an actual once over, comparing his appearance to the faint image you hold of this man from, what? Over ten years ago? Undeniably, at your stolen glimpse, he’s handsome and you’re startled at the fact that this is the little boy you spent all your summers with. He surely grew into his face and you don’t realize that you’ve accidentally said this aloud until he bursts out laughing.

Jungkook is as much taken aback as he’s amused. “Oh, you got jokes, huh? That’s what you learned growing up in the city?” he teases and a faint burning sensation spreads on your cheeks.

“I didn’t mean it like that -” you interject, but he waves you off with a grin.

The conversation is more than a little overwhelming, considering you’ve been abandoned by your parents in this church basement after burying your grandfather. At the very least, the lighthearted teasing eases your nerves ever so slightly. Jungkook still recognizes your rigid posture, holding up more than you’re able to, and his grin eases into a sympathetic smile.

Somehow, you feel okay enough around him to drop your squared shoulders for the first time today.

“I’m sorry, I should be giving my condolences. Your grandpa was loved by everyone in this community.”

Looking around the room, it’s clear. Everyone has spent the afternoon sharing fond stories and making toasts in his honour. You feel out of place for many reasons, but more so because in another world, you would be joining in with the attendees. Instead of being a kind of extended family that watched you grow up, these people are strangers. You aren’t even sure if anyone has recognized you, having done your best to lay low and not draw any attention to yourself beyond sitting in the front row of the burial, where no one dared to approach you then.

You look back at Jungkook and see the way his own smile hasn’t quite reached his eyes. You think about the endless days he spent at the farmhouse with you and the way Grandpa treated him like one of his own—teaching him how to milk cows, riding horses with the two of you, feeding him dinner. That was your best friend at one point, basically apart of the family.

“No, I’m sorry,” you say, looking down at your feet. Every memory comes crashing down on you at once. “You were like a son to him, too. I’m glad you were there for him when I wasn’t able to be.”

From what you remember, Jungkook was always around to help around the farm in your grandfather’s declining age. At first, after you stopped coming around for the summer, Grandpa was still physically able to take care of everything, but kept the young boy around for company. Feeding the chickens was just an excuse to have his presence.

An overwhelming weight of guilt settled in your chest, but Jungkook cuts in after seeing tears well up in your eyes. You’re embarrassed to be damn near a breakdown.

“It’s not like that,” he says. “He knew where your heart was and was always so proud of you. And he loved the adventures the two of you had in the city. He knew things had to be that way.”

You try to keep it together. At the end of the day, you weren’t there. You know reasons are reasons, but none of that made it feel right. Time always feels so far away until it’s finally gone.

You think about your parents’ divorce and Grandpa’s strawberry fields. You think about the feeling of relief that flooded your senses when you walked across a stage and received your university degree. You think about the dirt underneath your riding boots and you think about your first kiss, stolen during the first summer you had away from Amber Valley. All visions that remain withering underneath the June sun that feel so far away, along with the ifs, ands, and buts that plagued your dreams when it came to what has passed.

Now, Grandpa is gone and you suddenly realize that it’s all over. You’re stranger in a place that once was home and you know it’s time to accept that you can’t change any of it.

Jungkook notices the look in your eye and panics. You almost feel bad because it’s clear that the last thing he wanted to do was upset you. He frantically holds his hands up.

“Sorry...I don’t mean to—”

“—It’s okay. Just strange being back here, I guess."

Jungkook nods slowly, offering you a smile. “For what it’s worth, it’s really nice to see you.”

Between everything going on, you realize that you needed this genuine warmth. You actually feel weight lessened with Jungkook’s comfort.

“I’m glad to see you, too.”

The day comes to an end and you think about the revelations that have surfaced after crossing paths with your childhood best friend and his kind smile. A kindness that you forgot about. Returning to Amber Valley was weird. It was so damn weird that the air of the town stuck with you for months following, like bubblegum stretched between strands of hair and a melody on loop in your head.

You couldn’t shake it—not when you continue to work an extra twenty hours of overtime in a week, when you stare ahead of everyday traffic in dread, and especially not when your boyfriend of a year dumps you because you’ve “changed” so much since the start of the year.

And, it’s true. Something within has shifted since the conversation you shared with Grandpa on Christmas Eve, as his words about the stressors of live echo constantly. You wear a fresh pair of eyes to the struggles you’ve buried and it isn’t simply the you who has changed, but the outlook you hold on life. Ever since twelve years old and fully committing to a life in the city, everything has skidded over to the fast lane.

No one really understands change when it all happens in the blink of an eye. In the past few years, everything has moved rapidly and you didn’t get a chance to catch your breath. One moment, you’re fifteen, sneaking a sip of your first ever since and the next, you’re twenty-four and drinking straight out of the bottle on a Tuesday evening. You wonder how you ended up jaded at a nine to five black of a job that sucked out your energy and passion. When you were kid, like any other one, you had all kinds of big dreams and now, you can’t imagine fantasizing about anything but a promotion.

The weeks that follow Grandpa’s funeral has you rethinking what truly deserved your energy and passion. Did you enjoy your everyday routine of gluing on false eyelashes and trying to not rip your pantyhose? Your parents now live in their own worlds and new lives, having long stopped asking why you never call. Your only friends are co-workers when you have no room for hobbies between the rigorous hours you work.

Finally, one Thursday night, you arrive home from work at exactly 10:13 in the evening and reach your breaking point. Riddled with exhaustion and feeling like you’re being strangled by it, you kick off your loafers by the door. You spent the entire commute home wondering what even “it” is and then, the understanding hits you.

This was what Grandpa was talking about.

As you walk to your desk, each careful step murmurs with a quiet fear. After the funeral, Grandpa’s envelope no longer lives hidden underneath manila folders in your drawer, as if you were avoiding the truth. You came home and placed it on the surface and the sight of his penmanship mocked you every time you opened up your laptop after work hours.

You don’t know why you left it in plain sight, until this very moment. Gingerly, you pick the envelope up and tear it open.

“If you’re reading this, you must be in dire need of change. The same thing happened to me, long ago. I'd lost sight of what mattered most in life... real connections with other people and nature. so I dropped everything and moved to the place where I truly belong.”

Packing up your things after opening up the envelope takes just two weeks, as you discover what Grandpa left you in his passing. There isn’t an ounce of hesitation in your heart when you make the decision to eventually leave your life behind.

Your mother complains that your degree is going to waste and your father expresses concerns that you’re not ready for this kind of responsibility, especially not all by yourself. After all, you’re twenty-four and you’re not supposed to actually know anything. Not quite an adult, not quite a child.

None of that matters to you. Two weeks pass and you meet Amber Valley and her sunlight for the first time in years, convincing yourself that the storm has ceased for you and the sun shines to welcome you back.

The bus eventually comes to stop and just like that, it’s like the sun has already faded when you notice that you’ve been dropped off on a plain road in the middle of nowhere. The day of your return has arrived and you feel the first cloud of worry. When you look back, the bus has already accelerated away to resume the route and you’re left with nothing but a duffel bag and a phone that couldn’t find any signal. You have no idea where you actually are.

“Oops.” Is all that you could say. You didn’t exactly memorize where the bus stop is and how was it is from the farmhouse. Maybe it’s the city girl in you, but you thought there would at least be service.

Even while trying to find humour in the situation, when the situation settles in, you finally realize that you’re stranded in a place that’s unfamiliar to you.

Is this place even unfamiliar? You scan your surroundings, seeing nothing but fields of fields, and quickly accept that there’s not way you can even try to make out where you are without the help of your phone. You’re definitely in town, but you can tell that you’ve been left at the farthest point of the borders.

Then, you hear it.

It’s been over a decade since you last rode, but your ears perk up at the sound of a horse’s gallop like second nature. You have to squint, but it’s unmistakable.

With their speed flying across the fields in the other direction, you need to think fast. “Hey! Hello!” You attempt to wave your arms, but see that it’s useless.

So, you drop your bag unceremoniously and bring your hands to your mouth, releasing the loudest whistle that you vocal chords could handle.

The horse and its rider continue on their path and for a few seconds, you think that you’ve lost hope. But, then, as you’re about to pick up your bag in shame, you watch them take a wide turn back around. They’re headed in your direction.

You wave your arms back and forth again, affirming that you need their attention. As they approach, you make out the figure of a man wit chestnut brown hair peeking out underneath his Stetson. Appearing to be around your age, he wears medium wash, strained jeans that have surely seen dozens more of rides like this one, along with a plain white-shirt.

“That was the loudest whistle I’ve ever heard,” he hollers, drawing closer to you.

You shake your head, bashful. “Honestly, didn’t even know I still knew how to do that.”

“Pretty sure the whole town heard. My name’s Namjoon, are you visiting someone around here?”

With the similar age, you try to recall someone named Namjoon from your time in the valley. His appearance doesn’t ring a bell in your memories and you give him your name anyway.

Then, you pause. “Wait. Are you...Joonie?”

Namjoon’s eyebrows shoot up immediately, looking at you like you spoke a different language. “P-Pardon me?” he sputters.

Joonie. He’s Mayor Kim’s eldest son, who was sent to some fancy arts camp every summer when you were younger. You met him only a handful of times throughout the years, as he often arrived back to the valley for just the last week of August—right before you would leave the farmhouse to return to your parents in the city. Even then, one feature always stuck in your mind: his dimples. You recognize his polite smile and piecing it together with his name clicks the familiarity in your mind.

“I’m pretty sure you’re Mayor Kim’s kid, right?” you say, blinking up at him. “Sorry, I’m bad with faces, but you are Joonie, aren’t you?

The confidence in your voice is fuelled by the fact that no one really leaves Amber Valley. The town has always been the kind of place where families would raise their children for generations, where the kids would grow up and marry their neighbours and so on. You and your mother are the exception, but you think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

“No one has called me that in years—wait, Jungkook! Over here!”

Even with how small of a town that Amber Valley is, you’re surprised to see who it is.

Namjoon is still calculating your appearance when the faint noise of galloping booms nearby. Another rider arrives, seemingly looking around the field for him at first. The man in question brings his hand to his mouth and releases a whistle similar to yours. You gloat silently because yours was, in fact, louder.

The sound is enough to catch the other person’s attention, as you make out Jungkook’s figure that approaches.

“Namjoon, I just spent ten fucking minutes looking for you -”

You try your best to keep your expression neutral when you confirm that it actually is Jungkook on the horse, especially with how it was because of him that you finally opened that envelope from Grandpa—the whole reason why you’re here. He dons all black from his cargo pants to the wife beater tank that exposes your tattooed arms. The sight makes it difficult to keep your expression the same and for your eyes to stay up.

Jungkook is just as startled to see you, eyes wide. “Oh, hey. Did you, uh, come to collect something from the farmhouse?” His irritation towards Namjoon has suddenly evaporated and his voice has dropped by an active, in addition to cutting his volume. You watch him swiftly hop off his horse, too cleanly to be casual.

Namjoon sends him a look when he notices Jungkook straighten his shoulders without even trying to be subtle. “Sorry, have you guys met?” he asks, confusion only doubling as his eyes dart between the too of you.

“—We called her Bunny. You remember her, right?” Jungkook begins explaining who you are, nudging towards you.

Namjoon looks back you and concern forms. “His granddaughter. Oh, you were at the funeral—I’m so sorry for your loss. Everyone loved your grandpa here.”

A tight smile forms on your face, the same one you wear every time someone mentions him. At this point, the worst of the grief creeps up on some days, but you’re learning how to manage it day by day. Jungkook catches your eye and he clears his throat, noticing it.

“The old bus stop is the worst,” he coughs with a topic change, gesturing towards the tiny sign on a pole above you. “People get lost all the time when they arrive. Well, actually, we don’t really get a lot of people visit by bus -”

You can’t help but cut in. “—I’m not visiting.”

This is it. The moment where it all becomes real. The two men give you and your Chanel duffel bag a blank stare and you wonder if the idea is so hard to believe. It was for your parents, who both thought you caught them on some sort of prank show when you revealed the contents of Grandpa’s envelope.

You wear platform May Janes and a leather skirt in the dead of the June sun, so maybe they have a reason to be confused. Still, you know it’s time to stand your ground. There’s a weight of silence that spread for a moment, so you decide that you should clarify.

“Yeah, um, I’m not visiting. I’ll be taking over my grandfather’s farm. You see, I’m moving to Amber Valley permanently.”

The way you announced your plans to your parents was more simple in your head after rehearsing the explanation a dozen times over and anticipating every bad reaction you could receive. There were plenty of good reasons—the property was going to rot and go to waste, it’s what Grandpa wanted, and more. So many sweet words intertwined with one another, but not once did you mention your perpetual unhappiness.

Explaining it to two people who are essentially strangers should be easier, but the look on Jungkook’s face hints that he can tell there’s a bigger story to dropping everything to move to the valley.

“That’s...wow,” Namjoon breathes out, definitely not expecting that answer.

“Well, congratulations,” offers Jungkook, also at a loss for words. “That’s amazing. Welcome back, then.”

Even with finally verbalizing your move, you still feel like none of this is real. Namjoon is also congratulating you, talking about how great this is. You appreciate that neither of them are prodding too much into your business. Instead, they hop off their horses.

“Need a ride into town?” Namjoon gestures down the road.

Your eyebrows furrow in confusion at the mention of a “ride” and then, your eyes fall on the beautiful stallion that he has a gentle hand on. Oh. Somehow, the idea makes your stomach drop.

“What’s wrong? We used to ride all the time when we were kids,” Jungkook says, reading the worry on your face.

One of the things that your mom warned you about was that no one was going to initially take your seriously in town. Your grandfather was a well seasoned farmer, as the property had been passed down for generations until your mother declined the responsibility. And, of course, you grew up in the city and damn sure looked like it. You knew you needed to fit in fast.

You shook your head rapidly. “I, uh, injured my ankle a week back. Biking.” A hollow chuckle that the two overlook. “So, it’s best that I don’t ride into town.”

The nerves at the pit of your stomach that appear makes you realize that you have a lot of work to do. You aren’t the same girl that left Amber Valley and you know you have a lot to prove. It’s been years, but there was a time when you rode more often than you walked on your own two legs.

Jungkook just nods, almost knowingly, and doesn’t press further.

Pushing away this painful discernment, there are bigger issues at hand.

“Is there any other way I can get into town, fast? I need to get to the farmhouse before my movers do.”

“Oh, no worries! Stay put, we’ll come back for ya with a car,” Jungkook says without hesitation.

You raise your eyebrows. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother?”

Namjoon waves you off and gives you one of those sweet smiles that only a gentleman from the country side to give. It’s the same smile that Grandpa and Jungkook have. “Shouldn’t take long. You’ll be okay waiting here?”

Breathing out in relief, you nod and give the very kind semi-strangers a thank you.

As you watch them ride away, you’re glad that small town hospitality is a real thing. You hoped that this would be the case as you made your move back, remembering the kind of tight-knit community Amber Valley has always been. Everyone knew each other here and never hesitated to lend a helping hand. This leaves you wondering who else you would encounter in your new life from your past. Growing up, there weren’t too many other kids your age around here and you would assume that they would want to leave the valley like you did, given the lack of opportunities. You speculate why Jungkook and Namjoon are still around, but you understand how hard it is to actually leave the town behind when your roots have been planted for generations.

Standing on the side of the road doesn’t feel unsafe at all, not when Grandpa would allow you and Jungkook to roam around town until late at night with no supervision. Not a single vehicle passed by as you waited and you’re certain that you would have ended up hitchhiking by foot in the opposite direction without Namjoon’s intervention.

Soon enough, a baby blue Mustang approaches in the direction. You look up at the roar of its engine and the clank of metal, indicating just how old the car is. The car comes to a stop and when the windows roll down, you see Jungkook in the passenger’s seat. Meanwhile, there’s a different face behind the steering wheel. You initially don’t recognize him by face, until he opens his mouth and the recognition hits you like a truck.

“Hi, you’re -”

“Park Jimin?” your jaw drops.

The Park family ran a generation-spanning fishing business in Amber Valley and your mother was once high school sweethearts with Jimin’s father. This explained his mom’s snippy behaviour towards you when you were a child, apparently not wanting you to hang around her son. She fed him ideas of how evil you apparently were—or so, that’s what the gossip from Jungkook’s mother was. Jimin constantly picked on you and called you names, but Jungkook’s mom assured you that it was nothing you did.

Jimin peers over, analyzing your face for a few seconds. Beside him, Jungkook is noticeably stifling a laugh. When the realization hits, Jimin mirrors your open mouth.

He can’t help but finally laugh. “Oh, no way. Shit, you’re Bunny.” There’s no sense of resentment or snark, which surprises you. Then again, this wide-eyed individual with the sweetest smile you’ve ever seen is nothing like your childhood bully.

Once you slip into the backseat, duffel bag nestled next to you, the atmosphere turns out to be quite lovely. An old Beyonce album is shuffled in the background and although the road into town is more than a little bumpy, no one seems to mind amidst the exchange of funny anecdotes. For the first time since getting off the bus, you nearly feel at ease—even with the overwhelming reality due to surface once you reach the farmhouse.

“I remember one summer, you ripped all of my Silly Bandz! Absolute monster!” Jimin exclaims with a grin, meeting your eyes in the mirror.

Jungkook adds in, “Yup. You guys hated each other. Always had to play peacemaker.”

“Hmm...” you trail off, smirking. “Oh, yeah. You definitely had to physically hold me back from Jimin a few times.”

Apparently, between “forcing” Jungkook to eat mud and terrorizing Jimin for his dinosaur Silly Bandz collection, you were a menace as a child. Thankfully, the memories are all fun and games, as the three of you share giggles about being kids in the valley. Slowly, piece by piece, you begin to grasp lost memories that had long been tucked away at the back of your mind.

You can envision it: the three of you at the town community center, little Jungkook tugging you away from another verbal war with Jimin. He’s always been too kind for his own good and glancing at him, he still has that warmth about him. You saw it at the service, at the bus stop, and he still smiles at you in a way that makes you feel like everything will be alright. You just can’t believe that you’re here, with him.

He’s certainly not little anymore, as you steal glances him. He has the kind of rugged appeal and simpatico that love songs are written about, the entire package with his heart worn on his sleeve. You’ve witnessed pieces of him in people you’ve met over the years, but the familiarity of a childhood friend is unlike any other. These are the friends that know your deepest fears and the reasons why your parents failed you—yet, you can’t find a single thing to talk about. There is an air of awkwardness that only time can forge and it saddens you.

Still, when Jungkook smiles at you, you feel a warmth you haven’t felt in years.

At the sight of the town square ahead, he looks back at you. “Doing okay? We’ll be reaching the farm in a few minutes.”

It’s like he can see all the thoughts moving along the cogs in your head. You nod, silent appreciation in your eyes. The two of you have a lot of catching up to do and you can’t help but wonder why you lost touch in the first place.

“Hey, where did Namjoon run off to again? I was supposed to lend him something,” Jimin says, interrupting your pondering.

“Something about helping his dad with whatever, I dunno. Y’know how Mayor Kim is.” Jungkook shrugs and then turns back to you again. “He says good luck with moving in and he would’ve helped out if he had time.”

Jimin sighs. “He’s always at the beck and call of Mayor Kim. Poor guy just wants to get out of here.”

Curiosity pokes at you, wondering why these young adults stuck around the small town. The average demographic of the town is definitely on the older side and you end up asking them both what they did for work. While you observe Jungkook go quiet, Jimin pipes in.

“I help my parents out with the family business, probably will own it when they retire. You know, I actually don’t mind it here and I could see myself staying forever—“

“—That’s because you’ve never stepped foot anywhere else,” Jungkook interjects,

“And, you know what? It’s great!” Jimin defends. “Except the dating pool is a bit shallow. Gotta figure that one out.” His pout elicits a laugh out of you, bewildered that this is the little brat from your childhood.

After some more small talk, the conversation turns to you again.

“So, what were you up to these past few years?” asks Jungkook and you realize just how much time has really passed. A large gap exists between those endless summers and now, one that you never thought would spread.

“I, well,” you say, not knowing where to start. “I was working in an administrative role for a clothing company after I graduated. Nothing crazy.”

“You into fashion?” Jimin says, glancing at your outfit.

You laugh awkwardly. “I guess so. Honestly, after finishing school, I don’t really know what I’m into,” you say. “Figuring things out after graduation has been weird.”

You’ve been beating yourself up ever since getting your degree and feeling as though you’re wasting your best years. Once upon a time, you faced the world with bright eyes and big dreams, until school came to a close and you had to actually confront the realities of being an adult. You felt…jaded. Wondering if this really was everything that you’ve worked for.

He nods. “I get you.”

“I guess that’s why I found myself here. For Grandpa, but…also for me.”

Jungkook speaks up, offering you a smile. “That’s a first step. You don’t have to know everything now.”

“That’s something that I’ve been trying to tell myself,” you chuckle. "

“Don’t we all?” he offers and in a way, Jungkook is right. You keep those words bundled in your heart, as Amber Valley comes closer into view.

Eventually, once passing the center of town, the car makes a sharp turn towards another dirt path that leads to Grandpa’s property.

Your property now. Everything is in your name and this is the moment where you realize that this is now your home. The lively air of the conversation distracts you momentarily from the confrontation due. After all, your hasty acceptance of the role and whirlwind of the past two weeks, packing and taking care of all the documents, left little time to accept your new reality.

The anxiety is clear, knowing that you’re about to meet your grandfather’s greatest pride and joy for after years away. Not as a visitor, but its caretaker.

It’s been several months since your grandfather’s passing and you anticipated that there would be extensive work for you to do on the farm. There are also other floating questions about the property that have been unanswered thus far— the property is now in your name, but what happened to Grandpa’s other possessions? The animals? The furniture? Your mother mentioned paying for upkeep after Grandpa’s passing, since she didn’t think that you’d be willing to actually take over.

The moving truck arrives just a few seconds after you do, which leaves you consoled. The three of you exit the car and you offer both men a warm smile.

“Thank you so much for the ride, I really appreciate it. I would’ve been so lost without your guys’ help.”

“It’s no problem at all! I think it’s super cool that you’re taking over the farm, keeping it in the family.” Jimin winks. “Plus, we’ll definitely be doing business. Now, don’t worry, my days of being in a pain in the ass are over.”

The two of you laugh and exchange a playful handshake. Meanwhile, Jungkook takes your duffel bag from the back and slings it over his shoulder. You’re impressed by his quick chivalry, but he’s always been one step ahead of you.

Jungkook smiles at you and you can’t help but smile just a bit wider. “Do you need help with anything else, by the way?” he gestures to the moving truck, where your belongings are slowly being unloaded.

“Oh, no! Trust me, you’ve done more than enough.” You wave him off—the neighbourly spirit is definitely still strong in Amber Valley, but you already feel bad about having them fetch an entire car because the idea of riding a horse gave you a heart attack.

“You sure?” Jimin adds.

You say, “Absolutely. The movers got most of it anyway.” You’re worried about exploring the property and taking a look at the state of it, but you’ve accepted that this is the first task you need to take care of in your new role. You have nobody but yourself to rely on.

“Alright, cool. Well, I hope to see you around! Kook, you’re good?” Jimin turns to the other male, who just nods. “Nice. See ya then!”

And just like that, he’s off. Jimin is certainly a ray of sunshine, but seems like the type who’s always on his feet.

You’re momentarily confused when Jungkook doesn’t leave with Jimin, until you remember that he just lives about a five minute walk away. That reminds you of why the two of you used to be stuck together like glue. Of why you used to love blueberries fifteen summers ago, back when you would pick them together.

Even with the years passed, Jungkook is still somehow right here. He clears his throat, realizing he’s also been staring at you.

“Well, uh, you probably remember where everything is, but the chickens were fed this morning and—" Jungkook starts and you’re confused.

“What are you talking about?” you say. “Wait, has someone been physically here to take care of the farm?”

You finally get a good look around the front and see that everything looks ...normal. The farmhouse looks almost exactly as it did in your memories, when your grandfather took meticulous care of the property.

The grass is cut and jade green, seemingly not missing a day of water. Not a single renovation had been made to the farmhouse since being built and while it certainly shows, the age of the house accentuated a certain charm that only old buildings gained over the years. The wrap-around porch is still in tact, despite the chipped paint, and the unique red roof has faded into a dirty maroon that has lost remnants of your mother’s favourite colour—specially customized by Grandpa to match. The shrubbery around the house is slightly overgrown, but not enough where it’s unbearable and indicates that there’s been maintenance at some point between now and your grandfather’s passing.

Jungkook shuffles his feet slightly. “Well, your mom was paying for basic maintenance. I don’t think she knew what to do with the property.”

“Yeah, she knew that Grandpa left it behind for me, but thought I wouldn’t be interested,” you say. After all, you took a while to finally open up that envelope. “I think she was even planning to sell it, until I told her that I decided to take it over.”

He nods. “That was the plan,” he says, then shyly smiles. “I, uh, I’m really glad you’ve decided to come back.”

Something unknown in your chest flutters at the statement and your shoes are suddenly the most interesting thing in the world.

“Me too. It’s what Grandpa wanted.”

Pausing for a moment, he scratches his nape.

“Right. The farm,” Jungkook chuckles, looking away.

“Y-Yeah. Sorry, um, what were you saying about the chickens? And what about the fields?”

He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Well, you know, before your grandpa passed, I was helping him around the farm and stuff. I told your mom that that I’d volunteer to continue coming around until she sold the place.”

“You’ve been taking care of the farm?” you probe, completely stunned.

“I mean, there was no one else to do it. He gave everything to this place and I didn’t want any of it to go to waste, plus I’m right next door,” Jungkook answers, ears red. “I didn’t know what the situation was until you showed up today, but the animals had nowhere to go! I was just being a good neighbour, really.”

“Jungkook ...” You were left speechless. You couldn’t believe how golden of a heart this man truly had to be keeping grandfather’s memory alive, all behind the scenes and for no recognition.

He simply chuckles. “Look, I’m not just glad someone is here now to get things up and running again, but the fact that it’s you. You’re the perfect person for this.”

His words leave you feeling tormented. “Am I?” you ask, staring at the ground again.

You’re about to fill some really big shoes and you know it. Such affirmation means the world to you, even if you don’t believe it yourself. There’s an immense amount of pressure on your shoulders, now seeing the farm with your own eyes for the first time in years.

Without missing a beat, Jungkook responds, “Of course. You're here because you are about your grandpa’s legacy and that’s more than enough. You’ll be a natural, don’t worry—I’m sure all the little things are going to come back to you!”

By the look in his eyes, Jungkook genuinely does care and you can see the happiness glinting in them—maybe even relief. This has been his home as much as it was yours. Most of all, it’s evident of how strong his faith is in you. You can’t remember the last time someone has looked at you like this. You also can’t remember the last time you’ve seen someone with such passion, not after years being surrounded by soulless corporate employees and exhausted college students.

Amidst the warmth of the valley and the sight of your childhood best friend in front of the old farmhouse, your heart softens in a way it hasn’t in so long. Still, the nerves rattle your chest.

“I don’t know, running the entire place is a lot different from doing little chores as a kid,” you laugh nervously, but he waves you off.

“You got this,” he repeats, voice firm.

“Hey...” you begin, overwhelmed with emotion, and you can’t help but walk closer to him, your legs moving for themselves. He instantly shares the same idea and opens his arms at the moment you do, enveloping you in a hug, Neither one of you know that the other has tears forming. “Thank you, Jungkook. Seriously.”

“I should be thanking you. Well, do you want me to show you where everything is?”

You agree without hesitation. After making sure the movers didn’t require anything from you, the two of you embark on a quick tour of the property and the different buildings.

“I can tell you’re going to be good at this stuff,” he says, walking with his hands shoved in his pockets.

You raise an eyebrow. “At running the farm?”

“At taking charge,” Jungkook clarifies with a smirk. “You always had that quality when we were kids.”

“Funny. Back then, I’m pretty sure the word you used to describe me was bossy.”

When you were little, everything on the farm felt so big and far—just like how the rest of the world was boundless in every way for a kid. Now, as an adult, things are just as daunting with the new chapter in your life, despite age taking away that limitless wonder. Even with your sarcasm, the encouragement is sorely needed.

“Your grandpa always talked about how independent you’ve become,” he says. “That you got this big job and your own apartment, all of that.”

“I guess it was just expected of me.” You shrug, kicking a rock as Jungkook leads you to the chicken coop. “After my parents got divorced, I just…wanted to be on my own.”

You forget that Jungkook still knows you so well. Part of it is likely from Grandpa giving him updates on you, the same way he talked about Jungkook when you were gone.

“What was it like, living with your dad?”

“He was always busy with work. Left me to my own devices,” you say. “So, I guess that’s where it comes from.

“Still, it’s pretty freaking amazing that you’re doing this.”

“It feels right.”

“And that’s why I think you’re going to do great.”

He opens the door for you and you make eye contact, noticing the genuine warmth in his smile. Somehow, after the long journey to the valley and the past few weeks of scrambling to figure out your move, the sight of Jungkook’s smile makes everything feel a little okay.

You roll your eyes playfully. “You’re buttering me up.”

Jungkook shakes his head. “You’ve always been one to go for what they want,” he says, seriously, bumping your shoulder. “And, maybe I’m just happy to see you around here again.”

“Weird, huh?”

Standing side by side together again after all these years, after all the changes that have happened in your lives is something that you never would have dreamt of, not in a million years. You feel at ease, as if the surroundings of flower fields and hay has brought you a certain kind of peace that you can’t get elsewhere. There was a day when you played your last game of hopscotch, when you misplaced your friendship bracelets to never find them again, and when you never finished making paper airplanes with Jungkook.

Now, you’re here. For a second, it feels like summer lasts forever once again.

“Weird, but I’m glad.” His answer is soft, but he means it. You know that assuredness from anywhere, even if the last time you heard it was when Jungkook convinced you that you were going to have the best summer together—only for you to never come back.

You still can’t believe that you’re back at the farmhouse, as Jungkook continues leading you around the property and showing the state of things. A heaviness weighs each step when you can see Grandpa’s figure in every sight that comes to you.

He’s chasing you around the perimeter of the greenhouse, laughing as he tries to tag you. Teaching you how to properly harvest potatoes and dig for them in the dirt. You see his smile and your soul is eight years old once more, but you know he’s gone.

Jungkook looks over and notices the sadness etched on your features. He momentarily stops in his tracks.

“You’re doing him proud,” he whispers.

You blink once, twice, until you see that he’s reading you like an open book. Some things never change.

Cracking a small smile, you say, “I hope you’re right.”

After an hour or so, Jungkook says his goodbyes and the movers long finished their job. He still has that warm glow hovering over him and you think that these kind of people will never lose; it’s something that you’ve always admired in him.

“You know where to find me,” he yells with a grin, as he makes his way back to his house next door.

And, it leaves you relaxed at last. With the farmhouse’s living room filled to the brim with cardboard boxes and wrapped up furniture, you know that there’s so much more ahead of you. You make a cup of tea and before getting to anything, find yourself outside and sitting crisscrossed on the steps to the front door, just wondering what was to come next.

The first few days on the farm are exhausting, as expected. Thankfully because of the maintenance since Grandpa’s passing, including Jungkook’s help, there is less work than you expected. You perform many of the hands-on tasks naturally, having spent summers doing the same chores over and over again. The business side of the farm proves to be a bit of a headache at times, but you use your college degree to use and slowly figure out how to navigate financial planning, along with the other administrative work.

This doesn’t mean you’re not tired when the weekend rolls around and you decide that it’s time to go into town for your essentials. You’ve been living off of ramen noodles since moving in, having lacked the energy to go grocery shopping at the end of every night. When Friday night comes, you decide to finally unpack the last of your boxes and make a grocery run at the only store in town.

After walking the half kilometre, you’re glad that you waited an hour until closing after seeing how empty the surroundings are. You wear stained sweatpants that are far older than you’re willing to admit and your hair is held up into a messy updo—definitely not in any state to be seen by anyone. You nearly pull this off, until you find yourself in the cereal aisle and feel something tugging on your pant leg.

“Oh...? Oh!”

For a moment, you were too engrossed in deliberating between the cereal with the cute cartoon mascot and the not-so-fun cereal with the better nutritional value. You jump slightly when you look down and see a beagle with the cutest eyes that you’ve ever seen.

You whisper, “And who do we have her?” You quickly put down the cereal box, bending down to pet the tiny animal, and notice that there’s no leash or collar of any kind.

From behind you, the sound of spongy footsteps—almost like a squeak with each step—pads over. A little girl appears and you discern the squeakiness came from her pink light up sneakers. With a leash that matched the colour of her shoes in her grasp, her distress visibly eased upon laying eyes on you and the dog.

“Oh, Peanut! You’re going to get me in so much trouble with Kookie,” she gasps, immediately wrapping her arms around the puppy and reattaches the leash. Looking at her, she can’t be more than ten years old.

Still crouched on the ground and meeting her at eye-level, you ask, “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“I’m so sorry! I’m okay!” she frowns and despite how distraught she is, the little girl’s big eyes are adorable. “It looked like she needed a second, so I took off her leash. Thank you, miss!”

So much for wanting an in and out trip of the store. You don’t mind, though, as Peanut nears again and jumps—narrowly missing your face with an excitable lick. You giggle in a way that you haven’t in a while, scratching the puppy behind the ears.

"Jiwon! How many times have I told you to keep Peanut leashed while we’re in public?”

Soon enough, another round of frantic footsteps follow. You look up and at this point, you aren’t even surprised to see this familiar face again.

It’s just your luck that you’ve ran into Jungkook here. After he left the farm on your first day, you realized that you didn’t get his contact information. You weren’t exactly comfortable with just randomly popping up at his house if you needed anything. Thankfully you didn’t need any immediate assistance, just various things that needed repair around the property, but you decided those tasks could wait.

Clad in a muscle tee for a band that you don’t recognize, you can’t help but admire the way his tattoos are exposed and adorned his arms. You have to snap out of it. He finally notices you and stops in his tracks, saying your name.

“H-Hey. How’s your first few days gone?”

“Oppa, why are you making your voice sound like that -”

Jungkook clears his throat. “Shut it, Jiwon.” You think his ears have turned pink, but he adjusts the baseball cap on his head and his hair falls to over them.

You look between the two of them confused, especially when you notice that they share the same eyes and smile. Two other figures approach before you can open your mouth to answer the question.

“Hey! There you guys are—we got the cake.”

You’ve never seen so many people wear cowboy hates in one place other than Amber Valley and this man is no exception. He’s easily one of the most handsome men that you’ve physically laid your eyes on. Beside him, his friend is also quite handsome, but in a different way—like someone you would see out in the city. The second man stands out against other people you’ve seen in town, between his Apple watch and expensive-looking Jordans.

“Who’s this?” The first one asks, taking in your appearance and you notice Jungkook nudging him with an eye roll.

Jungkook introduces you by name. “She’s moved here from the city and taking over the old farm next to my house. It was her grandfather’s.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss. Welcome to Amber Valley, though—I’m Taehyung,” he smiles and offers his hand, which you take. “I’m new, too. Moved to the bungalow by the river last year.”

The other man also offers his hand. “I’m Yoongi. Welcome to Amber Valley and good luck.”

“Actually, I’m not new—wait, what?” you look at Yoongi, confused. “What do you mean good luck?”

Jiwon cuts in, rocking back and forth on her light-up sneakers. “Yoongi says he got tricked.”

“Tricked?”

“Tricked to come here,” Taehyung says, in between soft laughter between them all. “He’s also from out in the city and relocated for work without knowing that the town is in the middle of nowhere.”

Yoongi grumbles, “My realtor didn’t mention it and the virtual tours didn’t show it.”

You quickly learn that Yoongi is also a recently new resident and hasn’t exactly grown accustomed to living in the countryside. Meanwhile, Taehyung proudly declares that his move to the valley was very much voluntary and that the town has inspired the setting for the manuscript he’s working on.

“I love it here, it’s really peaceful,” he says, which you nod in agreement to. Even Yoongi sighs and nods—the charm of Amber Valley undeniable even for him. He cracks a smile at his friends when he does, showing that he isn’t totally unhappy with his move.

The last to be introduced is Jiwon and you try to not gawk at her appearance that more you look at her. She is the splitting image of Jungkook when he was a kid. She just called him oppa. You put two and two together eventually.

“My annoying little sister.” Jungkook sticks his hand out, but Jiwon instantly smacks his hand away from her head, as if on instinct.

You’re more bewildered than anything, realizing that this little human came into the world while you were away from Amber Valley—a testament to just how long you’ve been gone. The idea isn’t too far-fetched when Jungkook’s parents were always on the younger side. They were the same age as your own, who had you at nineteen.

Of course, with your parents at that age, it was always a no-hesitation decision for them to send you away to your grandfather’s farmhouse for the summer. Free childcare was always unreliable in the city and this made things easier for them. This is how your summer in Amber Valley alongside Jungkook began and like most kids in town, your mother grew up alongside his parents. For that, it was encouraged and even expected for the two of you to eventually become friends. A certain level of trust existed with this connection that allowed you privileges like being able to stay out late biking with Jungkook and play around unsupervised on the fields.

Before you were even born, there was always going to be a connection to Jungkook.

You clear your throat. “It’s nice to meet you all,” you say and turn to him. “It’s a little weird that you have a little sister this grown now. Has it really been that long since I left?”

Jungkook just laughs. “Longest nine years of my life since this brat was born.”

“Hey!” quips Jiwon.

“Your mom did always say she wanted a daughter. She must be thrilled,” you attempt to joke, but the chuckle wilts away when the atmosphere explicitly shifts.

Taehyung and Yoongi awkwardly look away, just smiling flatly. Jiwon blinks blankly and pretends to fuss over Peanut wagging her tail. Jungkook expression is unreadable.

What the hell did you do wrong?

It’s Taehyung who breaks the silence. “Hey, Jiwon? Wanna go pick out a card for Jin?”

Jiwon nods enthusiastically—a little too enthused. She hands Peanut’s leash over to her brother and happily skips away with Yoongi and Taehyung.

Your heart races. “I am so sorry, was it something I said?” you blurt to Jungkook, as soon as the three are out of sight. You’re concerned about the fact that you just made a horrible first impression and you don’t even know why.

“Ah, no, it’s nothing, really...” Jungkook trails off, but he takes a second. You can see the thoughts race through his head, as if mentally preparing himself to speak again.

“Are you sure?”

“There is something you should know,” he continues, looking at the ground. “You see, my mom and dad passed away six years ago.”

The entirety of your body freezes in place. “What?” you ask, unsure if you heard correct.

The familiar feeling of grief strikes you like a lightning bolt, leaving you detached. Your chest physically drops beneath the ground and your blood runs cold. Six years ago. Grandpa didn’t mention this—or maybe it did and it faded into the background. You can’t believe it.

“Hey, it’s okay, you couldn’t have known.” Jungkook approaches and places a gentle hand on your shoulder, calming you down at his touch.

You shake your head anyway. “I’m so sorry, Jungkook.” These are the only words that you can find.

“I promise, it’s fine.” Jungkook chuckles lightly, rubbing your arm. You don’t do well with physical touch, but you damn near melt at the familiarity. “It was an accident and it happened a long time ago. It’s just a bit hard on Jiwon because she doesn’t really remember them.”

“God, I feel awful -”

Jungkook says your name firmly. “I promise you, it’s okay.” He continues to assure you, while Peanut just looks up at you with those big eyes.

You still can’t find any words, as you mentally grasp at any remaining memories of Jungkook’s parents. They were always so good to you when you were around for the summer, treating you like one of their own. Jungkook’s mom even joked that you were the daughter she always wanted.

He’s the one who decides to change the subject, in spite of the lingering questions about his and Jiwon’s situation. Instead, he chats about the reason why the four of them are in the grocery store in the first place, talking your ear off about how excited they are for their friend’s birthday party tomorrow.

“We’re throwing him a surprise party at the local pub—well, I guess it’s the only one in town,” Jungkook prattles and suddenly looks away, hesitant. “Do you, uh, want to come? It’ll be a lot of fun!”

Heat burns your cheeks. “Oh, I' really shouldn’t intrude -” you start, uncharacteristically shy. Something about Jungkook inviting you out to a social setting drives in nerves, bringing you back to what it felt to be like a little school girl talking to the cute boy she sits next to in class.

“No! No, it’s no intrusion at all,” Jungkook interjects immediately. “Trust me! There aren’t a lot of people in town that are our age and we’re all pretty close, so it’d be nice if you met everyone. Jin is really friendly, he’ll want to meet you and make sure you’re fitting well and everything.”

Jungkook is talking rapidly and you’re unsure why. You pause, mulling it over, because you still feel out of place. Moving to a new town is daunting, but you know that this was always going to be a part of the experience. Besides, Jungkook is familiar. You’ve met two new people already.

“I don’t know -”

“—Think about it!” he continues to insist, as reaches into his jeans and pulls out his phone.

Now, you’re undoubtedly frozen in place. What was it about Jungkook that made you so nervous. This is the same little boy that used to cry if your Beyblade was stronger than his. You couldn’t believe yourself.

Jungkook taps on his phone a few times and turns it around for you. “Put in your contact. I’ll text you sometime tomorrow and see if you made your mind up?”

You do, in fact, end up giving Jeon Jungkook your phone number. You think it’s been a while since you’ve gotten out the house when it isn’t work-related, surely, because your hands quiver ever so slightly when you type your information in. At least you don’t have to be the first one to ask, since you’d been deliberating about bothering Jungkook for his number earlier. It also grants you great relief that you don’t have to be the first one to text either. However, after waving goodbye to Jungkook and disappearing into the dairy aisle, you silently come to terms that you’re going to spend the entire day checking your phone for a text from the man in question.

September 2nd—AGE NINE

Dear Jungkook,

My mom said I should write you letters. I don’t really know what to say here. You better be visiting Marshmallow and be nice to her while I’m gone. I miss her a lot. I guess I miss having you around, too, since I don’t have anyone to play Guitar Hero with...

p.s. Happy late birthday. Maybe I can visit and come to your party next year if my mom lets me

January 19th—AGE TEN

Dear Bunny,

I learned how to skate for the first time! Too bad the ice will be gone when you’re back and we won’t get to skate together. Can you believe we’ll be in middle school soon? Are you scared? Hoseok and Namjoon say it’s not a big deal. Also, I saw your grandpa yesterday and he showed me how to use a tapper on a maple tree. So cool!

p.s. You should ask your mom if you can come to the valley earlier this year

April 23rd—AGE TEN

HEY JUNGKOOK,

Look inside this package! I sent you a book with this letter. I told you in my last letter that I would send you one. It’s Astronomy for Dummies (because you’re a dummy). You better read it before I come back to Grandpa’s. Got it? You have a month and a half, loser.

p.s. I got my first iPod. It’s nice to have when mom and dad are always yelling.

September 30th—AGE TEN

Hi Bunny,

Jimin sprained his ankle today during gym class. Your grandpa told me to mention that in the letter because he said it would make your day. I do feel a little bad for him since the nurse at our school is really mean. Also, I know it’s a month away, but I’m so excited for Halloween. My dad got me this really cool Goku costume! What are you gonna dress up as?

p.s. I have my first jumping show on Saturday. Will send the pictures.

February 4th—AGE ELEVEN

Jungkook,

I’m so tired of my parents fighting all the time. All they do is shout at each other for hours. I can’t wait to come back to Amber Valley, so I don’t have to hear them all the time. I wish I had your parents, they’re so nice. Also, I hate middle school. It’s so hard to be friends with the girls that sit next to me, they always leave me out of things. Even Hoseok lets me play with his Pokemon cards if I ask, but those girls just ignore me when I try to eat lunch with them. Don’t you miss elementary school?

p.s. Is Grandpa doing okay? He says he is, but I hate being away from him!

May 17th—AGE ELEVEN

Dear Bunny,

Guess what. My dad got me a skateboard!! It’s so cool. If you’re nice to me, I’ll let you borrow it. We should see who can do the coolest trick. (me, duh because I’m better than you at everything)

p.s. You better hurry up and come back! The year always feels so long sometimes when you’re not here.

November 25th—AGE TWELVE

Hi Jungkook,

How are you? I guess you heard the news. I can’t believe I’ll only be living with my dad soon. Do you think my mom doesn’t want me? They said we have a few months until the divorce is finalized. Honestly, I’d rather just live with Grandpa all the time. Then I could see Marshmallow everyday all year! Or maybe you can convince your parents to take me in. Actually, I take that back, I could never live with you. You’re so messy.

p.s. I got my own skateboard! It’s cold now, but I’m gonna practice and bring it with me next summer.

February 18th—AGE TWELVE

Bunny,

I know you’re super sad and stuff, now that it’s all over. I’m sorry about your parents. We’re gonna have the best summer, though. I’ll make sure of it! Then, maybe you won't think so much about it. Look at this bucket list that I made:

Jungkook and Bunny’s Secret Super Cool Fantastic Summer Plans

Eat breakfast for dinner

Watch the new Captain America movie

Ride the big kids ride at the Midsummer Fair (I’m tall enough now, so you better be, too)

Stay up all night!

Make ice cream

p.s. If you have any ideas, add onto the list. I hope you're doing okay.

When Jungkook mentioned the Saloon to you, you thought it was a joke that poked at the whole countryside town vibe.

“He said: It’s actually called the Saloon. Like, unironically. That’s what he texted me.” You’re rambling into your phone, wedged in between your ear and shoulder, as you stand in your kitchen and scroll through your laptop, propped on your island counter.

On the screen, you’re assembling a spreadsheet to assist the navigation of the business side of the farm. Expenses, inventory, vendors, timelines. Thankfully, this kind of stuff is related to the field that you went to school for and you’ve done more than enough soul-sucking administrative work at your last job. Your experience made the transition far easier, but there are still a lot of things to figure out. Most notably, there’s hardly any product to be profiting from when no one has around to tend to crops and your eyes have been glued to the document, figuring out the best course of action going forward.

“Oh, honey, that place has been called ‘The Saloon’ ever since I was a little girl.”

Your mom’s voice chimes in from the other end of the call, something new for you. Since the turn of your early twenties, regular phone calls to your parents became far and few between. Moving to Amber Valley initially felt like the disconnect would grow even stronger—instead, it’s brought you closer to them, especially your mother, who has had her fair share of anecdotes and advice when it came to getting around the town. There was clear surprise in your voice when she picked up the day of your move in, but the calls became frequent after that.

Even within your first week or so, Grandpa’s letter seems to be growing truer everyday, as your surroundings drew you to reconnect with what you thought was to be lost.

Eyebrows furrowed, you continue to scroll through your work. “Mom, you don’t think he meant it as a date, right?” your voice grows panicked and she chuckles on the line. You don’t think you ever talked to your mom about boys growing up. “I can’t do a date, Christ, I literally just got here!”

“Calm down. It’s probably that Amber Valley hospitality,” she says, then pauses. “Well, you know, you did have crushes on each other growing up.”

“Mom, no. We did not -”

She merely laughs. “It was so obvious. You mailed a Valentine’s Day card to Jungkook every year after one point. I think he punched little Jimin because he called you ‘Jungkook’s ugly girlfriend.’”

“Right. And then, Jungkook screamed that I wasn’t ugly.” You stifle a snort, beginning to think. “Huh, I do remember that.”

Spending time reminiscing with your mom not only comforts you in a strange way that you haven’t felt in years, but it also momentarily distracts you from the anxiety creeping as each passing hour goes by. Jungkook did end up texting you, asking you if you were coming down to the Saloon for the birthday surprise. When you got the message, you looked away and closed your eyes when you pressed ‘send’ on the confirmation that you would drip by.

The idea send shivers down your spine for the sole reason that you can’t remember the last time you went out and met new people. Before moving, there was no such thing as “free time” and you only maintained surface-level friendships with your coworkers. However, knowing Amber Valley and the tight-knit community, you’re well aware that it’s only a matter of time before you get acquainted with everyone.

By the time six o’clock comes, you’ve forced yourself to get change and you inspect your outfit several times before leaving. The last thing you want to do, especially with how your arrival screamed city girl, is stand out. So, you put on your favourite denim jeans and a plain long sleeve top, not even looking at a pair of heels for the night.

Making your way into town, you find the pub situated between the flower shop and hardware store. The exterior definitely makes it look like the establishment has been around since your mom was a little girl, the siding showing age with chipped paint here and there. A special charm still lives between the worn sign and rusty dome lights, the kind that only grows after decades.

“Hey!” Someone cheerfully says your name from behind.

You jump, having not paying full attention to your surroundings. Turning around, it’s Taehyung and he’s holding a box adorned with magenta polka dot wrapping. He wears a similar outfit to the one from the day before, except a different Stetson hat. You quietly wonder if there’s a store in town that specialized in selling only these hats.

“Hi Taehyung. Is this for Jin?” You offer a smile, gesturing to the box.

A pleasant grin formed on his face. “Yup. I’m pretty sure I got him the best gift ever, but don’t tell anyone.”

He walks ahead of you and opens the door, pausing. You realize he’s opening it for you and you thank him, going right in.

Small town hospitality. You need to definitely get used to that.

Tonight is a Saturday evening, but to your surprise, the bar didn’t have a single patron. Taehyung then points to a sign next to the door, which you missed completely. It reads “Private event, closed for the night. Invite only.”

“Oh, wow, am I V.I.P?” you joke, following him to the back of the room, where a stack of presents are grouped on one table.

“Of course! You’re Jungkook’s friend, after all,” he says, setting his box down with the other. “You guys go way back, huh? How long has it been since the last time you guys saw each other?”

You count the years in your head. “I think twelve or thirteen years. A while.”

“What, no Facebook back in the day?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

“No, he wasn’t really fond of that stuff. My parents got divorced and summers here turned into summers with my mom. When I stopped coming, we lost contact completely.” You can’t recall any attempts at continued communication afterwards, other than Grandpa offering updates here and there about him. “We used to write letters, but I don’t know what happened...”

For a while, you wondered why Jungkook never wrote you again after you stopped coming to the valley. Admittedly, as you look back, it hurt your preteen self that he never tried. But, eventually, you moved and left Jungkook in your childhood, along with the town.

Taehyung slowly nods. “So. You didn’t know about what happened?” he asks, gently.

You already know what he’s talking about and you squeeze your eyes shut in embarrassment. “No. And I felt really bad about it at the store.”

“It’s okay. You know, since I moved to town, I’ve admired Jungkook a lot. He’s good to his sister and I don’t think I could have done what he’s done,” he says and leans against the wall in thought. “If there’s any pain, he hides it well for the sake others.”

That sounds like the Jungkook you remember. he was always the type to put others before himself, no matter how big or small the issue was. Then, you begin thinking about Jiwon.

You suddenly say, “Taehyung. Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, shoot.”

“Jiwon. She’s only nine. And Jungkook doesn’t have any other family...”

The smile at the corner of Taehyung’s lips is sad. “That’s right. Jungkook is her primary guardian and has been ever since he was nineteen and she was four.”

His answer weighs a hundred pounds on your chest. You take a second to let it sink in, the thick reality of it all. More questions formed in your head, floating around in a race that you can’t seem to win and articulate properly. Before you try to speak, you jump again at the appearance of two new individuals—one of them being Jungkook himself and it forces you to shove these thoughts away.

Jungkook waves. He’s always had this habit of shaking hair out of his face and you can see that it’s never gone away, all these years later. He moves fluidly, like he has all the time in the world, and it’s in stark contrast to the impatience in the man he arrives with.

“We’re behind schedule, did Yoongi put the cake in the fridge? Where’s the balloons at?” This new person trudges in with a case of beer, wide-eyed. “We have to hurry, we need—Oh! It’s you! I totally, remember you, I heard you were back!”

You’ve never seen anyone with such energy, exhibiting positivity like a ray of sunshine. He grins wide, saying your name before you introduce yourself, and looks like he’s genuinely delighted to see you. You’re still trying to figure out who he is, watching him set down the case of beer, and immediately pulls you into a bone-crushing hug. That’s when it hits you.

“Oh—Hoseok, hi!” you wince, trying your best to hug him back, but his infectious enthusiasm elicits a giggle out of you.

Jung Hoseok—the boy who lived on the other side of Jungkook’s house. He’s the first person to remember you by face alone, which takes you aback. A few years older than the two of you, you weren’t close to him as you were with Jungkook growing up, but he was always around. You remember him as the big brother figure who showed you the cool “older kid” shows and games that your parents would have never let you watch at that young age. Needless to say, when you came home one September with a copy of Grand Theft Auto, your dad was not pleased.

“How have you been? You look so grown up! You’re really staying here for good?” The questions are rapid-fire, one after the other.

Beside, him but tapped Hoseok to bring him back to the main conversation. “Bro. Bro! We’re behind schedule, remember?” he groans, but grins wider when you meet his eyes. “Glad you could make it.”

Every time that you’ve ran into Jungkook since returning to town, you’re always momentarily stunned at the sight of him. He towers over you and you can catch a whiff of his cologne when he gently pulls Hoseok away from you, something musky that makes your brain stutter.

“Oh, right.” Hoseok quickly lets go and clears his throat, beginning to point at each of you with firm authority. “You, Taehyung. Go help Jimin with the slideshow. Namjoon has the pinata.”

Pinata? How old was this Jin person? Maybe he’s one of Jiwon’s friends.

“You, Jungkook. Jin said he’s five minutes away, we need you to distract him for a bit longer.”

“Um, can I help?” you pipe in, feeling meekly out of place. “I mean, I’m here as a last minute guest, so I’m just happy to help in any way.”

He claps his hand together in glee. “Thank you! Go help Jungkook distract Jin, you being there will give him a reason to yap on. Let’s go team!”

Hoseok raises his fist in encouragement and in the blink of an eye, he dashes away.

At this, Jungkook is completely unfazed and frankly, so are you. You remember Hoseok’s personality and evidently nothing has changed—extremely vigorous and could never quite sit in one place. On the other hand, Taehyung looks perplexed as much as he appears amused. All he can do is shrug and pick up the case of beer that Hoseok clearly forgot.

“Well, let’s go team, I guess. I’ll see you guys in a bit!” he chuckles and walks off.

You were expecting to move around chairs or help bring out food. This wasn’t quite in your card. You turn to Jungkook in confusion and he smirks at your expression.

“Come follow me.”

He leads you back outside the Saloon, hands shoved into his jean pockets. The early summer air is stunningly humid and the air hits you like a muggy and sticky wall. But, there’s one thing that makes it all worth it.

You stare up at the night sky, a fixed gaze of wonder. “You can really see the stars when you’re in the valley.”

The stars, dotted across the night, twinkle and smile down at you from afar. It’s a view that others only romanticize and dream of in carefully crafted paintings, the kind hat humans write poems made to move the soul about. And now, this dream is your new home. You’ve always found comfort in the stars, even if you no longer love them like the way you did when you were a kid.

Looking around, you’re glad that some things don’t change—whether it’s the night sky or the magic of the summer in the valley.

Jungkook mimics the way you tilt your head up, lost with his own gaze. “I’ve lived here all my life and I never get tired of it.”

“I can’t believe I missed out on all this.”

He points out to the sky above. “There’s Ursa Major and you can see -”

“—the Big Dipper,” the two of you say in unison, which leads to shared laughter.

“Of course. I forgot who I was talking to.” Jungkook nudges you, grinning.

Stacks of astronomy books used to line your shelves in your childhood bedroom, just below the tapestry of the Northern Sky that hung on your walls. Even your bedroom in the farmhouse still has hanging decorations of the solar system and glow-in-the-dark star stickers on the ceiling; your grandfather kept these completely in the same spot until his passing. Having ignored the task of organizing and redecorating this room, you made a mental note to do so when you arrive home.

"You think so little of me,” you say, teasing.

Jungkook shakes his head. “Come on. You’re the one who taught me about all of that,” he replies, turning back to you. “Remember when you used to randomly quiz me on constellations? That shit was so stressful.”

You could see yourself sitting on Grandpa’s porch steps with Jungkook, who would always lazy on the hammock across from you. One summer, you would compile actual multiple -choice questions and threw pebbles at him whenever he got an answer wrong. Eventually, your grandfather scolded you for that, so you changed your weapon of choice to toy balls.

“I guess my lessons paid off, though,” you banter and he snickers.

Jungkook then says your name, seriously. “And by the way?”

“Yeah?”

“I think the world of you.”

The statement is so firm and heavy that you freeze.

You laugh, not believing him. “Do you really?”

“I still see all the good in you,” Jungkook offers with a crooked smile. “Growing up doesn’t change that. Figuring out how to survive doesn’t either.”

That leaves you breathless. It’s something that you’ve never considered before. When you lost your grandfather, you weren’t just mourning him, but the little girl who thought she could do anything because of him. Only Jeon Jungkook of all people would still believe in her.

You search his eyes for any insincerity and find none. As you do, you see the same in him—Jungkook still has the same bright gleam and caring soul that he had all those years ago, even with the clear hurt and loss that he’s also gone through. The familiarity jumps out at you and you almost feel…proud to see him like this.

“I never doubted that you would ever lose the best of you either,” you say, playing with the hem of your shirt.

Following this, someone in the distance shouts Jungkook’s name before he can react. You look over and see a man, walking in your direction and distracting you from the suddenly heartfelt conversation. He’s tall and handsome with an inviting smile. A little too handsome, the picture-perfect kind. You clear your throat.

“Oh, Jin!” To this, Jungkook nudges you and whispers, “Get ready.”

At first, your eyebrows are furrowed because you were expecting a little boy, considering the pinata. Upon closer look, he had to be around Yoongi’s age.

“Hey! Hoseok told me to meet him here, have you seen him?” Jin’s eyes scan his surroundings. “Uh, he is working tonight, right?”

“Uh, did he say that?” Jungkook’s tone is not convincing at all and you’re stumped that Hoseok designated such a horrible liar to be the distraction. “I think he is, want me to call him?”

“Yeah, he said he was returning something he borrowed from me.” Jin looks at him strangely, cocking his head to the side. “No, why don’t I just go inside the Saloon and find him? Why are you even standing out here?”

Jungkook suddenly blurts out your name. “Meet Jin! She’s taking over the farm next door to me!” he exclaims, seemingly now way around the conversation. There’s literal pain in his smile, as he avoids making eye contact with Jin.

Your eyes go wide and Jin turns to you, having not realized there was another person in his presence with the way you’ve been standing behind Jungkook. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there.”

“Yeah, hi. That’s me. Nice to meet you.” This time, it’s Jungkook looking at you like you have two heads and a tail with how awkward you sound. You clear your throat and offer a handshake to Jin.

Jin doesn’t catch the clumsiness of the conversation so far and takes your hand. “It’s really nice to meet you! Jungkook actually told me a lot about you!” It’s subtle, but you could hear Jungkook groan.

You raise an eyebrow at him, curious. “Oh, did he?” you respond.

“You guys grew up together, right?”

Although you could tell right off the bat that Jin came to Amber Valley from elsewhere, his demeanour is just as welcoming and friendly. He asks you a few questions about where you’re from and how settling in has been. It’s enough of a distraction for now, as relief settles on your shoulders.

When Jin isn’t looking, Jungkook mouths: “Good work.”

Meanwhile, the older man is still rattling away. Clearly, Jin is known for being talkative for a reason.

“I’m sure you’ll be an natural. It sounds like you’re well prepared! And you have experience!” he declares and his positivity gives you genuine reassurance. “We’re all friends around you, so don’t be shy to reach out if you ever need anything.”

“Thank you,” you shyly reply.

Jungkook, after regaining his composure after Jin’s earlier comment, joins back in. “Jin runs the bakery down the street.”

“Yeah! My wife and I used to buy eggs from your grandpa all the time, hopefully we can keep doing that.” He winks at you.

Then, the front door of the Saloon cracks open just enough for Hoseok to poke his head outside. There’s no signs of life or activity from the inside, with the light shut off and all voices coming to a complete silence.

Jin tilts his head slightly when he notices Hoseok. “There you are—wait. Are you...closed?” he looks over at the darkness of the interior. “The bar is closed on a Saturday night?”

“Yeah, uh, plumbing issues.” Hoseok’s eyes dart over to you and Jungkook. “You two! What brings you around this time of the day? You know what, you should all come in!”

“What about the plumbing issues -”

“Let’s go!” Jungkook interrupts, pushing Jin towards the door.

Despite the growing skepticism etched on his face, he glances over to the two of you and shrugs. He relents and follows his friend’s gesture to come in side.

As you follow, you mumble to Jungkook. “You and Hoseok are terrible liars.”

He just stifles a laugh and playfully jabs his elbow into your arm. You shove him back with an eye roll. You feel relief that your job is complete, but it feels even nicer that everyone is so welcoming.

Hoseok opens the door wider and Jin goes in first, while you and Jungkook trail after. Their ability to make the interior appear deserted is impressive, with not a single soul in life. The stools and chairs were even stacks on the tables, as if the establishment is really closed for the night.

“By the way, Hoseok is the manager of the Saloon,” Jungkook whispers, leaning into your ear.

Floorboards creak with every step, only adding onto the anticipation and heavy silence in the air. Jin surveys the room, eyebrows furrowed. He clears his throat, cutting into the awkward tension.

He starts, glancing at you and Jungkook. “So. What’s the deal with you two -”

“Surprise!”

Sharp, bright lights flicker on and illuminate the room without warning. The speakers turn on and blare upbeat music, causing Jin to jump and yelp. Ahead, two dozen or so people pop out from random places—underneath booths, from behind walls, hidden on the other side of the bar. Balloons and streamers spill out in all different directions, some landing in your hair. Jungkook looks over and laughs, picking it out for you.

“Happy birthday, Seokjin!” The entire room yells in unison.

You awkwardly try to join in on the greeting once you catch onto what everyone is saying. Despite this, the high energy engulfs you and you can’t help but smile. Some of the boys begin throwing streamers Jin, while Namjoon appears from under the bar with a lit chocolate cake.

He approaches with the cake and everyone begins signing to Jin, as Hoseok whispers your name from your side.

“Thanks for your help!” he nudges you. “It’s exciting that you’re around again!”

The song concludes and Jin gleefully blows out his handles, while you cheer along with his friends. Over the celebrations, Jungkook finds his way over to you again and raises his hand for a high-five, which you immediately accept. The atmosphere unlocks something inside you, a fuzzy feeling spreading. Within days, you’ve been welcomed into the community and for the first time in a long time, you see people that could become actual friends. Maybe this is what Grandpa was talking about.

“Yeah,” Jungkook agrees with Hoseok, adding, “It really is exciting that you’re around again.”

“Real connections...” you mutter yourself, remember the contents of the letter.

The yelling grows louder, as partygoers chant for Jin to make a speech.

Jungkook does his best to shout over the chanting. “Huh, what did you say?” he yells.

“Nothing!”

____

Now, you aren’t prepared for the next part of Grandpa’s wishes for you. You’re pleased with being able to fulfill it partially already—a surprise to you that you were able to ease into your new life and become comfortable with the people around you. At the end of the day, though, you still have a farm to run and this reality check hits harder on some days than others.

From what was written on the envelope, it’s clear to you that Grandpa really wanted you to reconnect with people and nature. People, you consider achieved. But, nature? You didn’t fully grasp what you were getting yourself into, not until now.

“Oh my God! Why does Mother Nature fucking hate me?!”

The best thing about living in a big farmhouse all by yourself is the fact that you can run around and make as much noise as you wanted. You’ve never actually lived in a house like this, always coming home to an apartment with thin walls and lots of neighbours. Ever since the first day in Amber Valley, you’ve found the freedom of being able to express yourself freely—often yelling at the top of your lungs, shrieking like a bird when anything frustrated you. Considering you just moved to a new place and have been learning an entirely new job without help, this happens quite often.

You scream into the void after your first phone with a vendor, who asks you multiple times if you know what you’re doing. You swear you nearly break your vocal chords when you sink into the mud the first time you check out the fields after a rainy night. At the very least, you walk away several feet away from the coop before you screeched in agony after the chickens give you an extra hard morning.

When a soft knock on your front door interrupts your emotional break down, your heart stills.

“Fuck!” you whisper to yourself and cover your mouth.

Your thoughts race, wondering who could be visiting you. You hope it’s not someone important, like Mayor Kim. Maybe they didn’t hear. The door knocks again and you inhale sharply. They definitely heard.

You have no choice but to tentatively cross the room towards the door, taking a deep breathe before swinging it open.

“I didn’t know you started tending to hyenas on the farm.”

Jungkook stands there with a lazy, shit-eating grin. The early morning shines, already looking beautiful for only eight in the morning. He wears workout clothes—baggy grey sweatpants and a tank stop that clings to his body. You catch yourself straining to keep your eyes on his face and not anywhere else.

“Oh, shut it. Good morning to you, too,” you shoot back, well aware that he can see the blush on your face. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Sorry, I would have texted, but I was already passing by the house on my run,” he says.

It’s been about a week since you last saw Jungkook at the Saloon, but he was nice enough to check in you every once in a while to see if you were doing okay with the farm. You hardly leave home, too used to the same routine of working and going right to bed everyday from your old life. Habits are hard to break and you don’t even notice how you’ve been so secluded until you realize that it’s been several days since you’ve even seen a real human.

Jungkook continues, “Anyway, I noticed that your windows are a little messed up from the storm and I just wanted to make sure -”

With a face burning even hotter, you open the door wider to show him the state of your front entryway.

His jaw drops.

Water pools around your feet and nearly everywhere else on the floor. The age of the farmhouse couldn’t stand the aggressiveness of the storm and you definitely did not anticipate for the next day to be this bad. You definitely regret shoving the windows closed without any reinforcements before you went to bed.

“Yeah...they’re wrecked,” you sigh, looking over to what’s left of the windows, considering a good chunk of the frames are on the ground. “Actually, that’s why I was screaming.

“You know, I take back what I said about the hyenas. Totally justified.”

“Thanks,” you say dryly with an eye roll. “I’m surprised this hasn’t happened before.”

Jungkook makes a gesture, as if coming in and you oblige. You step aside carefully to avoid another puddle.

A low whistle escapes his lips as he walks inside, inspecting the sight. “Honestly, me neither. You would think this would’ve happened already ages ago.”

You don’t know what else to do bug shrug. “I can handle it.”

Despite your words, you certainly could not handle it. There’s still a million other things you need to take care of around the farm—dealing with broken windows and a flooded first floor are incredible burdens that you have no idea how to fix.

“Shit. Look, I have to go to work in a bit, but let me help you out,” Jungkook says.

You instantly shake your head. “Jungkook, no. It’s fine, really, I got it.”

“Have you even picked up a screwdriver in your life?”

“Hey, I definitely have!” you huff, knowing he’s teasing you. You do want to slap him upside on the head, just like you used to when you were kids, but find the strength to refrain.

Jungkook’s smirks, raising his hands up. “I’m kidding. But,” he pauses, tone firm, “at least let me help you fix your windows. You live all alone in this big house on this big farm. Accept the help.”

At this point, you can tell that he’s exasperated with your stubbornness and you laugh. You aren’t one to turn down someone offering to do manual labour for you, but you’re do happen to be hesitant to risk showing any lack of independence. Though, something tells you to say yes and it isn’t Jungkook’s persistence. He looks like he genuinely will not walk away until you say yes and you remember that things have changed—you don’t need to continuously rely on yourself for everything.

“Okay, fine. You’re real annoying, you know that?” You can’t help but let the last part slip, too natural.

He shakes his head, chuckling. “Thank you—oh, how lucky I am for milady to accept my lousy, peasant self to fix your windows!” At that, you shove him playfully, even though he barely budges at the force. He’s too damn broad to even blink at the attempt.

“By the way, I’m glad we exchanged numbers. I would have tried calling your landline at some point if I didn’t run into you at the grocery store,” you say. “Then again, I’m not even sure you still have one of those.”

Jungkook raises an eyebrow, grinning. “You still remember the landline number to my house?”

You pause. You didn’t even realize that it was engraved into your brain. That was the thing about childhood memories, the way they never truly leave—even when you think some pieces are lost forever. Some bonds endure time in funny ways.

“How could I forget?” you offer your own smile, soft. “Anyways, thank you, Jungkook.”

“By the way -” he says, giving you a pointed look as he shuffles towards your door. “I know you’re perfectly capable of doing things by yourself. That doesn’t mean you should have to.”

Just like that, he’s read your mind.

"I guess so,” you respond. “You saved me a trip to the hardware store.”

Jungkook carefully tiptoes around the water, stepping back out onto the front porch, and chuckles. “It’s what friends are for. I’ll come by tomorrow morning, how’s that sound?”

Needless to say, this is not what you meant when you decide to “reconnect with nature” at all. With you fluffy indoor slipper soaked in rainwater, you consider yourself more than connected with it. In fact, just to be safe, you make a mental note to visit the beach and hope that would be enough for the forces of nature to leave you alone for the rest of the summer.

___

Like many residents in town, it doesn’t take long for the Saloon to eventually become a part of your regular weekly routine. You found that half the town hung around the old pub on Friday night and your visits to snag a booth aren’t necessarily to wind down with a drink on each occasion. Instead, you enjoy the company of those around you and are welcomed with open arms by the friends you’ve made. After the commencement of your early twenties, you lacked a “third space” and a community you could lean on. Amber Valley changed this for you.

“Can you guys please pay attention? This is the call to adventure in the hero’s journey,” Yoongi snaps, interrupting a poorly hidden conversation between Jungkook and Namjoon. The two immediately cease talking, as if caught by a teacher in the middle of class.

Gathered tonight around the big table near the arcade machines, the Saloon is serving its purpose as that third place to your newfound friends. You learned about the bimonthly book club hosted by Yoongi and he encouraged you to observe, in hopes that they would gain a new member.

Hoseok, as the manager of the pub, made every Friday fun with themed nights. There’s karaoke night, which Jimin is apparently the reigning champion of. Unfortunately for you all, tonight is Salsa Night and he evidently did not warn Yoongi of this. Yoongi also did not inform Hoseok that his book club had to move their meeting tonight, resulting in an untimely clash.

“I can barely hear you!” Jungkook defends himself, hands in the air and gestures to the dancefloor full of people.

You’ve been smiling and nodding the entire time in oblivion yourself because you can’t hear. Rapid dance steps and the pulse of salsa music drowns out most of your surroundings. You’re just glad that Jungkook was the one to point this out, as you opted to politely sit in silence as a new invitee.

To your left, Jin is twirling Mrs. Oh around, who is the middle-aged lady that owned the town general store where Jungkook works. He originally arrived as a member of the book club, but was swept away by the addicting beat of salsa. He’s now spent the last minutes trying to convince the group to join in.

“Are you guys done now?” Jin calls out, noticing the way Yoongi shuts his book in frustration.

Namjoon nudges Yoongi. “C’mon. Let’s just postpone today’s meeting.”

You giggle softly when Yoongi makes a dismissive gesture with his hands, shooing everyone off and is cue for you all to disperse from the table. The others stand up, presumably to grab a drink or join in on the festivities. You’re about to do the same, until Namjoon taps your arm when you rise from your seat.

“Just wanted to check in on how the farm’s going,” he begins and his smile is kind. “You know, our families have been close for years, so you’re basically family, too—even if we didn’t spend that much time together when we were kids.”

Many of the townsfolk, including all of the boys, obviously hold a lot of respect for Namjoon and it isn’t hard to see why. You have the sense that he had his head on straight and is grounded in a way that’s bigger than the town. His goodwill never does unnoticed by you.

“Well, it’s still a work in progress,” you remark. “I’m just very lucky that my mom was still taking care of the property after Grandpa passed. Even more lucky that Jungkook was also looking after it.”

Namjoon’s eyebrows shoot up, as if this is the first time he’s hearing about this. “Really? He was? Wow.”

It’s sweet to think about—Jungkook doing all of that work around the farm voluntarily and without recognition, just out of the goodness of his heart. Amidst that, though, you can tell there’s a lot on his plate. You take a deep breathe and, in the end, bring it up to Namjoon.

He nods solemnly at your question. “Yeah, he has Jiwon and she’s a good kid, but she still a kid to look after,” Namjoon sighs. “Of course, no one wanted to see her get split up with Jungkook after their parents passed. If he hadn’t become her guardian, she would have been likely matched with a foster family out of town.”

A few week or so prior, when Jungkook first showed up to your front door to fulfill his promise of fixing your windows, is when you begin to wonder about Jungkook’s home life. This is also the day when you learn how selfless he really is.

Summer is finally in full swing by this June morning, as the sun beats you to the pulp and the only thing on your mind, other than staying hydrated, is corn season. That, and the anticipation of a handsome man on your doorstep at any given moment.

By this point, you’ve grown accustomed to waking up at the crack of dawn nearly everyday, but you make your best efforts to not let that show by ensuring your appearance is kempt before your visitor’s arrival. Hell, you even swipe on a lip gloss for the first time in a long time. After tending to your early tasks, you soon receive the text that Jungkook is at the farmhouse door while you’re out back.

Specifically, you’re fighting for your life, damn near huffing and puffing, attempting to close the garage shut. Yet another repair that needs to be addressed. You just can’t catch a break, as you text Jungkook back.

hey, i’m out back. give me a few.

Just before this, you took your time to shower and change into clothes that didn’t smell like cow shit. The last thing you wanted to do was look like a mess in front of Jungkook—all for it to get ruined, getting sweaty from putting all of your bodily strength into a broken garage door.

A few minutes pass and you can make out Jungkook approaching from a distance. You wave, even though you wanted him to stay put and not have to walk all the way around with how big the property is. The sight of him here briefly takes you back to the way the two of you used to play hide and seek, running across the same fields that you’re standing on.

“Shit, I should’ve warned you about that,” Jungkook groans, putting a slight jog into his step as he comes closer. “That garage door broke just before your grandpa passed.”

You exaggerate a wide-eyed expression. “Broken? Oh, I was just fighting the door for fun, what do you mean?” You narrow your eyes at Jungkook when he laughs. “Would have been great to mention before I lost years of my life trying to close this thing.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he replies, as he steps past you carefully and puts a hand on your arm as he does so. You hold your breath for a moment at the nickname.

He tilts his head up, looking up at the door from the inside and grimaces. You mimic his actions, trying to identify what exactly he’s inspecting. You know about farming and you know about finance, but you certainly do not know anything about repairing things.

“How did Grandpa even get this big tractor out of there with a broken door?”

“Crop production hasn’t been as high in recent years because his body couldn’t handle all that manual labour. It was a low priority repair because we used the smaller one parked out by the front shed,” Jungkook explains. You smile a little at the we, feeling grateful that he was around enough to be knowledgeable about all this. “Honestly, it’s a quick fix. Just looks like the cable and rollers need to be repaired.”

You just shrug is off and check the time. “Well, this is a problem for another day.”

As you begin walking off, Jungkook follows you with the same pace. You genuinely aren’t pleased with yet another to-do item before you’re even finished with the rest of your day. A list dedicated to repairs has been an idea that you’ve toyed around with, but you’ve avoided it with the fear of how overwhelming it may end up being.

“Not to rain on your parade, buuuut, I noticed on my way over here that your coop’s fencing might need to be replaced.”

You’re not surprised that Jungkook has the same exact thoughts floating through his mind. Although you’re pretty frustrated, the irony is too funny to ignore. You did happen to notice the fencing and already mentally tucked it away to your repair list.

“Yeah, it’s a delight,” you sigh and move along.

As you lead him back into the house, the two of you make small talk. Being here with Jungkook is still odd to you, picking up a friendship where you left it off from thirteen years ago. The dynamic eases up the more time you spend together, but you’re reminded of those thirteen years apart and this means thirteen years of catching up.

“So, are you off work today?” you ask, as Jungkook carries in his toolbox left on the porch.

He sets his tools down by the front shoe rack, rolling his sleeves up slightly. His thick forearms are exposed and your eyes trace over the ink lining his skin. “Kinda. I don’t really have a set work schedule, just helping out Mrs. Oh whenever she needs me,” Jungkook replies. “I did tell her that i would be busy this morning, though.”

You remember the Oh family from when you were younger and when you cleaned their store’s windows, they always gave you and Jungkook free ice cream, in addition to twenty bucks each. Mr. Oh is a high-ranking military officer and his wife owns the town general store. Their two girls were just toddlers the last time you saw them and their youngest son was born sometime after you stopped visiting Amber Valley.

“Their little boy is old enough to man the front counter now, huh?” you say.

He chuckles. “Yeah, he’s in that weird pre-teen phase, though, acting like he’s cooler than everyone and anything. Jiwon sets him straight, though.”

“Aw, poor girl. I know what that’s like.” You send him a knowing look.

“They really do remind me of us,” Jungkook replies with a smirk, glancing at a framed picture on the wall.

The picture is of you, no older than eight, in faded overalls and showing the toothiest grin. It was untouched when you moved in and must have been framed sometime after you stopping coming into town, since you didn’t recognize it when you arrived. You don’t have the heart to move it, knowing Grandpa hung it up while you were gone. A part of your chest hurts a little and you aren’t sure what to say.

“Well, I hope she’s a better behaved kid than you were,” you remark teasingly.

“Hey, I was an angel compared to you,” Jungkook shoots back, rolling his eyes. “But, yeah, she’s a great kid. Hardly gives me trouble. Besides, if I’ve ever needed help with anything, I got my friends, the Oh family, and even other neighbors like Mayor Kim have always been around.”

Pride and gratitude intertwine in Jungkook’s voice—although steady, evident of all that he’s been through. You can’t imagine what the last six years have looked like, as you notice the thoughtful look in his eyes. He was so young, just a month or so apart from you, and the idea of having the responsibility over a child at that age is unfathomable.

Given the circumstances, you don’t push too much on the subject of Jiwon, but you are appreciative of how he allowed himself to open up on you. You lean against the wall, listening to Jungkook talk about his little sister and it’s clear that he loves her immensely.

“You’re lucky to have that kind of community around you,” you say.

“It’s your community now, too.”

A warmth trickles into your chest when you heard those words, a truth that you take a moment to repeat to yourself after years of hyper independence. You’ve forgotten what it’s like to be able to rely on other people. Physically, you just smile and nod, changing the topic.

Without realizing it, chatting with Jungkook has taken up quite a bit of time, as he talks with you and begins the process of replacing your windows. There’s other things to attend to outside, from the fields to the greenhouse, but the conversation flows so naturally that you get lost in it. At some point, you brew a fresh pot of coffee and a hand a mug over to him, interrupting his installation of what explained was “exterior stop moulding.”

You hum, listening to him explain his employment situation with the Oh family. He helps operate the store, taking on the role that Mr. Oh used to cover before he went overseas again.

“Thank you for the coffee—anyway, they did so much for when I first became Jiwon’s guardian, so of course I lent a hand when Mr. Oh went away.” He takes the hot cup, carefully taking a sip. “He hasn’t always been gone, but even when he comes back, it’s just my full-time job at this point. The schedule is flexible, they pay me more than I should be paid, and Mrs. Oh watches Jiwon whenever I need it.”

“If you don’t mind me asking,” you respond, “what were you doing before you worked at the store? Before you started taking care of Jiwon?”

When you were little, Jungkook was always academically gifted. he loved books and used to brag about how he got better grades than you did. You thought that he was the type to leave Amber Valley and find success elsewhere.

Jungkook sighs deeply. “Honestly, there was never really a ‘before’. It kinda just went from high school to me suddenly getting custody of Jiwon in the middle of my gap year,” he says. “I mean, I worked part-time with Jimin’s family sorting fish bait, if that’s what you mean.”

He chuckles lightheartedly, but you frown. Things have changed too much—no matter how good or bad, the idea of it all always leaves you feeling a little empty. Jungkook hasn’t changed much, still with the same good spirit and kind heart, but the reality of changes like this don’t care about that kind of stuff.

To your side, he notes your silence and speaks up again. “Remember when were kids and promised to go to the same university when we grew up? And you’d show me the city instead of me showing you the valley?”

“Yeah, that was the plan,” you say, smile crooked. You nearly forgot about this and vaguely recall a pinky-swear attached to that promise. “Maybe there’s a universe where that happened.”

In a phone call the day before with your mom, she casually joked that she always thought that you and Jungkook would get married. She and his mom even made a bet when you were all kids about it, mirroring the competitive spirit passed down to the two of you. At one point, at the very least, there was a time when you couldn’t imagine being apart from him. You imagine a world where you fall in love with Jungkook to the backdrop of a college campus: study dates in the library, sneaking into each other’s dorms, debates that turn into flirting in the lecture hall.

The man in front of you is neither the Jungkook that lived in those youthful fantasies nor the little boy that collected seashells with you on the beach. Daydreams and nostalgia can be dangerous, but like everything else, they have to pass. Like watching trains go by, the two of you grew up and your lives have unfolded in unexpected ways.

Still, he smiles at you like he does in all of those other timelines and you find comfort in it.

“I’m just glad we’re here now,” Jungkook says.

Eventually, you declare yourself a distraction to his work and excuse yourself from the living room to take care of the rest of your chores after catching up.

Checking in on Jungkook every half hour, it’s early in the afternoon when he finishes replacing both sets of windows.

The sun is still as unforgiving as it’s been in recent days and the humidity is no different. The air conditioning system in the farmhouse is mediocre at best, oftentimes not even usable, and you made sure there’s a stand fan next to where Jungkook was working. You’re coming inside to offer him another water bottle when he excitedly shows you his finished product.

“Not bad, huh?” He folds his arms across his chest.

The windows look impeccable—the frame now fully reattached and still blends into the rustic look of the farmhouse. You step closer, observing his work and you shake your head with a breathless laugh.

“More than ‘not bad,’ Jungkook. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it,” you say.

It’s hard to believe that he installed it all in such a short time span and the contrast is especially stark, given how old the broken frame was. You’d been prepared to pay him for his work, but he’s refused it every time you’ve brought it up—even threatening to throw rocks at you, just like you used to do to him as kids.

“My pleasure. What are neighbours for?”

You wonder if you’ve ever even had more than a nod with your old neighbours in the city. Amber Valley sheds a light on a lot of things that you stopped believing in.

He grins and as he begins gathering his tools, you feel a strange weight in your chest and you have to stop in your place. You know exactly what this disappointment meant and the last thing you need is complications when you haven’t even been in town for a month. Instead, you shove these clearly hormone-driven thoughts away, in spite of the way you stare at the way Jungkook’s tattoos move against his flexed muscles.

Tearing your eyes away, you try to speak without a shaky voice. “So, uh, when do you even become so handy?”

Jungkook shrugs. “Just something I picked up. I always thought about going into carpentry or engineering.”

After the conversation earlier about what Jungkook’s aspirations used to be, the statement causes a dull ache in your chest. You force a smile.

“So, I’ll come by again for the fence?” he pipes up, interrupting your thoughts.

“Wait, what?” The question snaps you back to reality. You recall Jungkook pointing out your decaying fence upon his arrival, but nothing else.

He looks at you, seemingly feigning confusion. “Yeah, you said you’d let me fix the fence.”

“What? No, I didn’t,” you say, narrowing your eyes at the way he just blinks blankly. “Are you messing with me?”

“You said I can come by sometime in the middle of the week.”

“You—When, did I say that?”

The conversation momentarily diverts your attention away from Jungkook making a beeline for your front door. Before you can even process what’s happening, he’s waving at you and scurrying away.

“Have a nice day! See you later!” Jungkook yells from afar and you can hear the laughter in his tone. He knows damn well what he’s doing.

From this day on, you continue finding yourself in the whirlwind that is Jeon Jungkook. For the next few weeks, Jungkook pays you a visit for at least two days out of each one with a different excuse of a repair to “help” you out with. Though you’re aware that it’s bullshit, the crinkle at the corner of his eyes every time he greets you at your front door shows that he’s on the same page.

“I should check the condition of your chimney,” he remarks one time and you have to stifle a laugh. The running gag grows more and more obvious with each random repair, but nobody cares between years of catching up and familiar humour.

You roll your eyes. “Mhm. Do you want coffee or tea today?” you ask, as the two of you fall back into rhythm.

A silent agreement forges that no one talks about when it’s just the two of you in the farmhouse. Even though you would have refused back and forth had Jungkook actually given you a choice, you begrudgingly accept his help around the property. In reality, you’re thankful for the company and you can tell that he is, too. You take anywhere from an hour to a couple to just talk with each other—sitting cross-legged a few feet away as he hammers away at your fence or as he replaces light fixtures.

The routine of Jungkook helping you out around the farm feels dangerous. After all, when you packed up all of your worldly possessions and abandoned your old life in the city, you promised yourself that this would be a new chapter for yourself. A man was never supposed to be entailed in this, not in the end goal and much less the bigger picture at all. The last person you thought it would even be was the little boy that you once called your best friend, who you find yourself drawn closer to as each day passes.

On the third repair of Jungkook’s mission to use the farmhouse as some sort of House Flipper level, you make lunch and he tries to humbly refuse.

“It’s really not a big deal, I ate before I came here.”

Silver clouds muddle the sky as you approach Jungkook out in the fields, busy smashing a rail into place with a mallet. You clutch your cardigan tighter around your body amidst a sudden wind and you look up. It’s hard to tell because of the lack of sun, but the day nears two o’clock in the afternoon.

“You came here in the morning!” you huff, tapping your feet.

Considering that Jungkook is still declining payment, you feel the need to do something for the stubborn man. His stubbornness reflects yours and the way you’ve been trying to refuse his help. The only reason for his success is the fact that his persistence is outmatched. At this point, you would just have to shove food into his mouth for him to accept anything from you.

Jungkook just smirks at your exasperation. “Wow, I forgot how annoying you can get,” he teases.

“Let’s go—chop, chop.” Your tone is dry, as your fingers brush with his when you grab the hammer from his hand.

You turn to place it back into Jungkook’s toolbox when the first kiss of a storm descends down on your bare legs. The sky never lies. You tilt your head up to meet the clouds again, but this time, you’re met with rain that doubles, then sharply triples. Jungkook calls your name out from behind you.

“This doesn’t look good, we should get going!” he says, taking the denim jacket tied around his waist. The cold sensation on your back suddenly disappears and you realize he’s holding the jacket between the two of you—his right arm pulling you close to his side and his other enveloping your body. From his proximity, the woodsy notes of his cologne leave you intoxicated.

A clap of thunder interrupts your faze. You briefly wonder if Amber Valley always stormed like this in your childhood or if you only embraced the happy, sunny parts. The town lives in your memories surrounded by dazzling waters and rainbows, just like everything else did when you were nine years old.

Your legs fail when you attempt to keep up with Jungkook’s pace. “Can you slow down?” you pant, willing your body to move as fast as possible.

He can’t help but snort. “If this was a zombie apocalypse, your ass would be dead right now.” When you step on his food with intention, he finally relents and walks slower, laughing when he does so.

The chicken coop is on the other end of the property from the farmhouse, so you struggle for several minutes trying to make it back. As you and Jungkook hike together, pressed close, tension is nonexistent when you spend the entire walk laughing at one another and cracking jokes. You momentarily forget your surroundings of a growing storm.

You both stumble onto the back porch, up the steps and nearly fall on top of each other. Jungkook tightens his arms around you when he sees that you’re about to miss a step and you let out a breathy “thank you” through your giggles. He shakes his head and drops his grip when you make it under the gable roof. You shiver slightly at the loss of his warmth.

“You didn’t check the weather forecast?” you wheeze, patting your pockets for your phone. When you look back out, the rain is unrelenting.

Jungkook defends, “Neither did you, genius.”

The two of you pause for a moment, before bursting out into laughter again. Between you, the banter comes so naturally that you could forget that you’ve spent years apart. He leans against you and feels like a puzzle piece finding its place.

You wonder if Jungkook has been standing this close to you this whole time. You also wonder if he can tell that you’re struggling to keep your eyes away from his torso and the way his wet t-shirt clings to his body. Daring to make eye contact, you nearly choke on your own breath when you see that he’s looking at you, too. The stare is intense and holds for longer than necessary, until you break the silence with a breathy whisper.

“That’s it for you today, huh? With the rain and all,” you murmur.

His gaze lowers and he awkwardly clears his throat. “Well, that’s too bad. I was making good progress.” Jungkook also turns to stare out into the grey skies and flashes of lightning.

“I guess you can just come tomorrow.”

The statement surprises you as it leaves your lips, completely blurting it out. Jungkook raises an eyebrow at you, before nodding slowly and the corner of his lips quirk up to form that charming, gentleman smile. You can’t help but turn around to hide your own smile, instead changing the topic by telling him to stop standing around like an idiot. However, the shift is clear; the routine and agreement you share has no longer become silent.

Something also changes between you and Jungkook, but you struggle with truly recognizing and accepting this—a certain denial that you keep running from. Around your newfound friends, though, the dynamic between the two of you never changed. There’s little evidence of those quiet moments you share at the farmhouse of unspoken tension, reserved for just the two of you. Instead, you see more of the upbeat, heart-of-gold Jungkook that he displays for the rest of the world. Despite that, some of the guys catch on faster than the others.

“If I knew that you guys were going to bicker the entire time, I would’ve just asked someone else. Seokjin offers. Hell, I’m pretty sure that Jiwon would have been better than you two, even if she can’t reach up that high!”

One day, Namjoon asks if you and Jungkook would be willing to help him put up posters around town for the Midsummer Fair. It didn’t occur to you to question why he asked you for Jungkook’s presence, but you end up roping him into it regardless. Unfortunately for Namjoon, the two of you end up in a heated debate.

“But, I’m right. Aren’t I, Namjoon?” you prod. “His idea is horrible!”

“No, it’s not.” Jungkook is pouting, naturally. “It’s a great marketing scheme. for the fair”

“To dress up as clowns and hand out fliers? We’re going to scare the kids away!”

Namjoon sighs loudly, in disbelief that this conversation is happening in the first place. The poor guy is wedged in the middle of you and Jungkook, as you three stroll along the sidewalk and look for places to tape up posters.

“Tell her she’s wrong, future Mayor Kim,” Jungkook says to Namjoon, who groans at the nickname.

He shakes his head. “Do not start. You have no idea about the speech my dad gave me today about ‘being a leader’ and all that.”

“Oh, are you also planning to run for mayor at some point?” you ask.

Namjoon’s reply is instant. “Definitely not,” he says without any sign of hesitation. “I have a master’s degree in fine arts. I don’t mind being a leader in the community, but the last thing I want to do is be a politician.” The laugh he lets out is nothing short of hollow.

“What we would all do to not be trapped here,” murmurs Jungkook and you almost miss it.

Your gaze meets his and quiet smiles are exchanged, as if silently saying I understand you. With no lighthearted argument in the air, there’s instead a sort of comfort grounding the two of you—just knowing the weight behind Jungkook’s words and the sacrifices he’s made. You did, however, miss the way Namjoon catches sight of this shared smile and turns away to keep the moment remain the two of you only. He smiles on his own, noticing the connection that needed no words.

Namjoon isn’t the only one who notices this between you two. During Salsa Night at the Saloon, the other boys have taken note of something clearly budding—or at the very least, a friendly connection resurfacing. Part of your heart isn’t even sure which one it is. Jungkook chats with various groups of people and seems to be in every corner of the room except yours, but you catch his eye every now and again. It’s like a secret language when you do, stolen smiles that nobody else gets to see.

You just wonder when he’ll finally come over here and at least say hi. It’s been a couple of days since you last saw him, with his latest excuse for the farmhouse being the chalking on your silo’s roof. You don’t even know what that means, but you stopped arguing about the repairs the same way he stopped insisting that you don’t need to make him food. Instead, you began texting him about what time he would be coming by, while he began taking leftovers home—especially when you always “accidentally” make too much food.

“Hey guys!”

You’re sitting with Namjoon at the bar, talking idly, when Jimin plops down on the stool beside you. He was previously sitting off to the side of the dancefloor, lazily sipping on a beer and gossiping with Hoseok about who-knows-what.

“Not participating in Salsa Night?” you question casually.

“Nah. I’d embarrass everyone with my dance moves.”

Namjoon chuckles next to you. “See, Jimin sounds like he’s joking, but he’s actually an insane dancer.”

“It sounds like you’re good at everything, Park Jimin.”

He speaks with a slight slur. “You know who’s not good at anything?” It’s evident that the beer in Jimin’s hand is clearly not his first one of the night. “Jungkook! He’s horrible at pretending to not look at you and he’s been doing it all night.”

“Jimin,” Namjoon warns, but it’s ignored.

“You should go up to him, I think he wants something,” he continues without caring.

You hesitate to say anything, confused. But, even with Jimin under the influence, you notice a look of relief washing over Namjoon’s features. You wonder if he was going to point out the same thing, but was holding back. With this, you do look over and immediately catch Jungkook’s stare, which he tracts like touching fire and turns back away to whatever conversation he’s involved in.

“Uh, is there something on my face?” your eyes widen.

“Well—” Namjoon tries to cut in, but Jimin’s voice overpowers him.

“No. You’re just a pretty woman wearing a nice dress that he happens to like,” he deadpans.

Namjoon pinches the bridge of his nose and nudges you, murmuring your name. “Just ignore this guy.”

“You’re a funny drunk, Jimin.” You dismiss the statement altogether, probably not even registering what he said in your brain properly.

Before he can open his mouth to say something else, Namjoon rises to his feet and grabs Jimin by the collar. He drags him away without a word and you’re confused even more.

Jungkook suddenly appears in front of you and whatever words you had die in your throat. He got a trim this week and while you miss the messy way his hair fell just underneath his ears, you like how his eyes are now framed. He sits down at the bar, wearing a flannel over his tank top and a dark wash of denim.

“Everyone left?” he asks, scanning the room to see where the others have suddenly dispersed.

Bewildered at the disappearance of your friends, you can only shrug. You aren’t even sure what’s happened. In the background, Salsa Night endures and the music has changed to another upbeat track. Then, you look up at Jungkook, tapping his foot to the beat, and smile.

“Jeon Jungkook, you aren’t going to embarrass me by asking to dance, are you?”

He’s briefly taken aback by your question, but a smirk on his lips form. “First of all, I would never embarrass you. I’m definitely a better dancer than you.” Jungkook winks and extends his hand, gesturing for you to join him.

Although likely a product of the margaritas you’ve had tonight, you grab his hand without missing a beat. His skin is soft when he laces his fingers around yours and you’re surprised at how natural it feels. Thankfully, the senior community of Amber Valley goes wild for Salsa Night and makes up the majority of the crowd on the dancefloor—a perfect way to hide your horrible dancing as Jungkook leads you in between the retirees having the time of their lives. He leads the steps with a big grin and the rest of the night is filled with jokes and stepping on toes, while your friends look on in the distance with knowing smiles.

____

When Jungkook finds out that you’re scared shitless of riding a horse, he declares it his mission to help you get rid of the fear.

You knew you could only hide it for so long, dodging your friends’ invitations to join them on the trails for weeks now. Amber Valley is known for its stunning visual, marked by crisp emerald woods, open fields and a river that wrapped around the borders—a beautiful background for a nice hack. Nothing is more freeing than enjoying nature in the sweltering summer with wind lacing your hair.

It wasn’t always like this, of course. You used to love riding horses. as a little girl and learned at a young age after being gifted a pony that you named Marshmallow. However, as years went on, it fell to the back of your mind and the idea is now not only foreign, but frightening.

Things feel like they’ve changed completely and Jungkook has made it his mission to show you that it doesn’t have to be this way. He still sees his childhood best friend in you.

“You’re...a full blown equestrian.” You gape at the shelf in front of you, full of a myriad of trophies, photos and framed ribbons in every colour of the rainbow.

In his efforts to convince you let him help you tackle your fears, Jungkook asked you to come over. You were a bit hesitant for multiple reasons, mostly involving your growing attraction to the man, and definitely started internally freaking out when he began leading you to his bedroom. Then, you saw what he wanted to show you and you were left stunned.

At times, you get distracted when you’re with Jungkook, sometimes by his charming smile and the shiny metal reflecting off his lip. You can ultimately admit that you spend a little too much time stealing glances at his chiselled arms decorated with tattoos. Not today, though, as your focus hones in immediately when you peer into his room and your jaw drops at his accolades.

Jungkook stands with his arms folded across his chest and a smug smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “Well? If there’s anyone to help you with this, it’s me.”

From evening to cross-country, it’s evident that Jungkook is more than a well-seasoned equestrian. You glance over at one framed picture, where Jungkook is captured in a Stetson and washed denim, hoisting a large, golden cup in his arms. Beside him is his horse and his other held a helmet. You’re in disbelief.

“Honestly, this is so freaking impressive. No joke.”

Even with how the two of you rode together as kids, you didn’t expect for Jungkook to take up his hobby for so long afterwards. It’s not something that necessarily fits him, at least not visually as a big man with tattoos, piercings, and a strong gaze, but you know better. At the end of the day, his energy is actually nothing short of a boy-next-door with a heart of gold. You’re endeared by the pictures of him lovingly holding his favourite horse.

“Then, you can trust me. I’ll be a great teacher.” Jungkook grins. “Hell, I’m not even really teaching you anything you don’t already know.”

You sigh, the familiar nerves creeping up. “I don’t know -”

“—You used to love riding! You’re just nervous and we can fix that fast,” he insists and you’re not sure if you’re just convinced by the array of awards in front of you or if it’s his countryside charm, but you can feel your walls crumble.

Or, maybe it’s because you’re standing in Jungkook’s bedroom and the very idea of it makes your stomach flutter with fucking butterflies. It’s worrisome to be spending even more time with Jungkook amidst your seemingly unresolved...feelings? The conflict only adds to anxieties surrounding getting on a horse for the first time in years.

You aren’t even sure what to call what you have for Jungkook. He’s your closest friend since moving back to town, but over the past few weeks, the two of you have constantly found yourselves in situations that cause your heart to pound and you can’t begin to understand why. You don’t know if you’re seeing mixed signals, but you’re surely second guessing yourself. For now, the only thing you can do is push forward and prioritize your friendship.

It’s hard, moving back to Amber Valley and finding out that your childhood best friend got hot.

“Just let me be a good friend and help you out,” he says, turning around and gesturing for you to follow him.

You have to swallow the “F” word like poison.

It’s perhaps these conflicting thoughts that leads to follow Jungkook to the back of his house, sending waves of relief through your body to be away from such an intimate space like his room. You were too scared to even look around when you were in there, barely making it past the door frame to look at his shelves.

Now, it doesn’t occur to you that Jungkook is bringing you to his stables until you’re walking down a cobblestone path.

His head tilts up and he squints at the sky. “It’s a beautiful day,” Jungkook half-sings, nudging you.

The golden rays of the summer sun are near blinding and wraps around your entire body, while the light breeze in the atmosphere paints a picture-perfect scene for a visit to the trails. You don’t realize you’re pouting until Jungkook points it out, laughing.

“I can’t believe that I’m doing this,” you mutter, as you take in the sights. You never actually verbally agreed to this, but it’s too late now.

The Jeon family built their stables generations ago and while you were unaware of Jungkook’s equestrian success, they were always known for owning a number of beautiful horses. Mr. Jeon used to be heavily interested in breeding horses and he taught you all about it when you were a kid. He leads you to the sturdy timber building, weathered by years of use, with a gently pitched roof and heavy oak beams. A broad pair of sliding barn doors stand open to the central aisle, an ivory shade that matches the fencing that frames the well-kept stable.

You and Jungkook trudge inside, into the tack room that served as a storage space for miscellaneous equipment, like saddles, bridles and other grooming equipment. The interior is as homey as you remember, but just as orderly. An enduring scent of fresh hay mingles in the air with leather and pine shavings, as dust floats in shafts of golden afternoon light.

He turns around and gives you a very obvious once over. Your eyebrows damn near reach your hairline at that—did Jungkook just check you out? He catches your expression and a shade of pink tints his ears.

“Oh, uh, sorry. I just wanted to make sure that you’re wearing appropriate clothing to ride.” He awkwardly scratches his head and you nod—a little too vigorously to be casual—in understanding.

“I-I should be fine,” you reply, forcing a chuckle. You’re wearing just leggings and a t-shirt, along with a pair of foots after finishing work on the farm for the day.

He then passes you a helmet and a body vest for you to slip on. “See, that’s the spirit,” Jungkook encourages and he snickers when you send him a sharp glare in response.

With the necessary equipment in his arms, Jungkook waits for you to adjust your riding gear before leading you to the stables. You’re surprised at how fast you’re able to ready yourself, the motions coming back like second nature.

The stable is medium-sized, just enough to hold about five stalls. A wide central aisle runs the length of the building and it’s clear that everything is meticulously maintained. Feed bins are labelled, while other supplies sat neatly arranged on shelves. Brass nameplates gleam on every stall and you quietly read each one.

“This is Leo, over here is Orion ...” Jungkook introduces, gesturing to each horse. “And this is Virgo, who you might remember. You’ll be riding her today.”

“Wait. All of your horses are named after constellations.”

You stare at Jungkook, who stills. Astronomy was your life-long hobby, which you introduced Jungkook to as kids. At around age nine or ten, you couldn’t go more than a day without mentioning your love for space and celestial objects. This love inspired Jungkook to name his first horse after his Sun sign, which you taught him about.

Even after all this time, Virgo is still as graceful as you remember. The bay more stood with effortless poise, even with age, with kind eyes and a healthy black mane spills over her arched back. Nostrils flare as she scents the breeze and your approach. You fight your nerves and gently stroke her by the back.

When you left town years ago, the Jeon family had many older horses that Jungkook probably couldn’t care on his own, not when he had enough on his plate with raising Jiwon. None of the other horses are ones that you’ve met before.

He smiles bashfully, looking at his boots. “I ended up having to sell my dad’s horses when I didn’t have the time and money to care for them,” Jungkook says. “Leo has been my competition horse and Orion has always belonged to Jiwon, even before she was born.”

“And the name theme?”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Just came about. Don’t get a big head, I thought it sounded cool,” he brushes it off, but the pink has now spread to his cheeks.

Orion, Leo, and Virgo. Your own cheeks feel a bit warm, realizing that Leo is your Sun sign, but you don’t comment on it. Surely, it’s a coincidence. You also refrain from teasing further, mostly because Jungkook is now setting up the bridle and you accept that you actually have to ride the horse.

Finally, you, Jungkook, and Virgo go outside. The vast fields beyond the Jeon estate are speckled with gold, the first bloom of sunflowers nearing. You try to ground yourself with that, but find yourself pouting when you turn to him.

“Wipe that frown off your face,” Jungkook says. “It makes you look ugly.”

“Hey, who are you calling ugly -”

“—I said it makes you look ugly.” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Now, shut up. I believe in you, alright?”

You exaggerate your pout, almost comically. “I guess.”

“Don’t forget, as long as you have trust and communication with Virgo, everything will be fine. Safety is key, so just approach calmly and confidently,” he rattles off.

Up until this point, you still have no idea how you got roped into this. However, looking at Jungkook, he just looks so hopeful and you can’t bear to crush his spirits.

“Alright...”

“You remember the basic aids and how to mount?”

Your eyes dart between him and Virgo, then back at Jungkook again. Not a word can escape your mouth, as you’re essentially frozen in place. This whole time, you’ve been pretending that your nerves are non-existent and hoped that the teasing and goofing around would be sufficient to hide it. In reality, you’re scared shitless and Jungkook obviously sees right through you.

You speak up, innocent tone forced. “What?”

Jungkook just groans. “Come on. You’ve done this before, I promise you have nothing to be scared of.” He’s now officially halted with the joking around and his features transform with seriousness, genuinely trying to encourage you. “Trust yourself. And me. Do you trust me?”

Sighing, you do nod. You don’t know where this random fear came from and you just hope that you’re only rusty and nothing more. Imagining yourself on a horse is inducing nausea out of nowhere, but you screw your eyes shut and focus on your breathing.

He’s right, though. You aren’t a total beginner, it turns out that you really were just freaked out at the idea of getting on a horse. After taking another deep breath, you slowly approach Virgo and reach for her reins.

You place your left foot into the stirrup, while gripping onto the front of the saddle for support. Then, in one swift motion, you swing your right leg over Virgo’s back and gently settle yourself. Jungkook lets out a low whistle.

Shooting him a look, you say, “What, am I doing something wrong already?” Your heart is beating out of your chest and your hands tremble slightly as you hold on for dear life...until nothing actually happens. The hard part is finally over.

“Not at all. You sure you’re actually scared?” Jungkook asks, chuckling. He’s impressed. “You got on her like a pro with zero directions! No mounting block, too!”

“Wait, you never even offered me one,” you hiss.

“‘Cause I wanted to see if you would actually need it or if you got that muscle memory.”

You roll your eyes. “And by the way, I am definitely not scared. Only shaking for no reason—just something I like to do.” You say this through gritted teeth, as you regard the distant horizon to distract yourself.

Virgo is calm and doesn’t scare you off in any way either, but you know that if you look down and see how far you’re elevated, you would start freaking out.

Jungkook approaches closer and you nearly flinch when he places a gentle hand over your own, where your knuckles are slowly turning into the colour of paper from holding onto the reins so tightly. You loosened the tension in your shoulders when he rubs your hand in an attempt to calm you down, especially when you see the determination swirling in his eyes.

“You got this.”

You gulp, watching how his gaze softens and your heart begins to race again—but this time, it isn’t because of the horse.

He pulls away slightly to inspect your form, nodding in satisfaction. “Looks good. You might want to sit up a tad bit straighter.”

“Like this?” You move ever so slightly, but freeze when Virgo shifts beneath you.

Jungkook chuckles. “Relax. Just like this -”

Nothing could have prepared you for the way he reaches over, his hands finding a place on your torso. You can only hope that your pounding heart isn’t as deafening to him as it is to you when he does so. He guides your back and posture, straightening your frame.

“Better,” he murmurs, hands still on your waist.

Then, after several long moments of Jungkook in this same position, he retracts his arms like he’s touched fire. If you weren’t losing your mind, you probably would have laughed at him. Instead, he mumbles something about grabbing Leo and scurries away back inside the stables.

Eventually, like Jungkook insisted, you get the hang of things in a blink of an eye. Knowing how to ride isn’t just something you could forget, but ridding yourself of your anxieties was a different beast to tackle. You have to admit, it was far easier than you imagined when you had Jungkook’s help. Even if he cracks jokes and is a major distraction every time his muscles flex under broad daylight, he’s kind and patient to you in a way that you appreciate.

By sundown, you’re confident enough to see the trails with him. The two of you have a great time riding together and when the clouds have eventually faded against streaks of lilac, the two of you make it to the top of a hill. The air is much cooler and looking out, the wide fields feel infinite. You’ve hopped off Virgo to survey the view and Jungkook stands just a few feet away from you, also taking in the skyline.

“I told you that you got this!” he exclaims, as he comes to a stop next to you.

“Thanks for believing in me,” you laugh, shaking your head.

Jungkook’s voice is gentle. “I’ve always loved how you can just…be brave.”

“I’m not brave,” you retort.

“You definitely are. The average person wouldn’t have accomplished half of what you have since you moved back to the valley.”

Jungkook’s insistence leaves a hammering noise in your ears and you have to look away to hide your flustered expression. Every time he says something like this to you, it always comes from the heart.

You gaze outwards in admiration. “I guess getting over my fears was so worth the view,” you muse.

“I would never, ever trade this view for anything. I love it here,” Jungkook sighs. “It’s amazing that when you’re in the valley, you get to see the stars and the fields and everything with no bright lights or loud cars.”

And, it’s true. There’s a certain beauty that could only be found at the top of a hill in a small town, surrounded by nothing but dirt and water. Though on paper it doesn’t seem like much, you remember why Amber Valley was the entire world to you at one point. You don’t know in what other life you could feel the serenity in watching the sunset with a man that made your stomach turn with butterflies when he looked at you. That scared you as much as getting on a horse and getting up this hill did. Still, you bury it again. It isn’t the time or the place. You do smile to yourself and then to Virgo, as if exchanging secrets about Jungkook.

“I told you to believe in me,” he remarks, eying the way you pat Virgo. “You’re not city girl. You’re meant to be out here with m—uh, us. With us.”

He clears his throat and doesn’t meet your eyes; you almost don’t catch the slip-up.

A part of you wondered if you were just physically scared of riding or if you believed that you were no longer the little girl who used to love it, if time and loss has taken away too much of it. You only had happy memories of riding and thought that you could never have those again, not with all the changes in your life. Stars used to seem reachable and scraped knees were the worst of your worries, until you no longer believed in endless summers and your top priority was paying student loans. Today, you’ve been proven wrong.

“Yeah...maybe. Maybe I am,” you reply, tugging your bottom lip in between your teeth.

Jungkook changes the subject, pretending like he didn’t say anything. “You should have seen yourself!” he suddenly exclaims, nearly bouncing off his feet. “You were great and Virgo loves you. Hell, you’re better with her than any of the boys—she almost trampled Jimin one time.”

You scoff, playfully elbowing his side. “And you thought that it would be a good idea to let me practice with her? You know, if you wanted to kill me today, just say that.”

“But, you survived.” Jungkook smiles, taking half a step and half a breath towards you. He gently reaches out, brushing a strand of hair away from your eyes.

A visible swallow before you can speak, but the gesture diffuses any coherent thoughts that you have.

Bravery is forever a challenge to catch and bottle up like a firefly, seemingly impossible to even believe in at times. It took bravery for you face your fears today. Somehow, the next words that come out of your mouth take even more.

After a beat, you find your voice. “Jungkook...” you trail off and he holds his gaze, curious. “Do you...wanttogetdinnernextweekend?”

The words come out jumbled and rapid, spilling out of your mouth messily. You think you even tripped over them, unable to stretch a single syllable out, and wouldn’t be surprised if Jungkook didn’t understand a thing. You open your mouth to repeat yourself, face hot, but then he breaks out into a smile.

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

____

Being on the farm brings back memories of being a kid all over again—that was a given. When you were young, you often made your chores into games to see how fast you could feed the chickens or sprinkle fertilizer across the fields. However, becoming the sole individual responsible for upkeep and the farm now being your source of income, it’s no longer a fun little activity for when Barbie got boring. Even though you’re in charge of your own schedule, you eventually hit the point where it feels like all of your energy disappears into thin air everyday. You try and trudge through, knowing things are only this hard in the beginning.

One of the only things keeping you sane is your friends. On the other hand, Jungkook gives the exact opposite effect—driving you insane. For more than one reason.

Taehyung invites you to movie night on a Thursday, which you ultimately regretted accepting after a long day of work. After spending so much time making your previous job your only priority, you forgot what it’s like to partake in social activities during the week. This is one of the things you’ve been trying to work on, but it’s hard when you’re nearly falling asleep every other minute.

“Do you want me to make you a coffee?” offers Jungkook from the opposite end of Taehyung’s kitchen island. You’re leaning on the other side, yawning.

The usual cluster of people are gathered in Taehyung’s charming bungalow, right by the river. You’ve never been in a group of friends that were so adamant with their dedication of spending time with each other, too used to using school or work as an excuse to shut yourself in. Most of the boys brought food or drinks without even having to organize, resulting in an abundance to share around the room. You were previously swirling around some red wine brought by Hoseok, hoping it would wake you up.

You’re glad that you thought of picking up a case of beers beforehand for everyone, but with your fatigue, you know you aren’t going to be able to enjoy more than the glass you’re holding. Today, you had to clean pens and sort waste, so you’ve been outside all day and you spent the entire afternoon smelling exactly like your chores. Even though you took a lengthy shower and mentally prepared yourself for movie night, you’re still exhausted beyond measure. It usually wouldn’t be this bad, but you’ve had a particularly long day.

“I’m okay, thank you,” you say to Jungkook, shaking your head. “I have to get up at, like, five tomorrow.”

From behind you, Jin emerges. from the living room and despite the movie only halfway through—apparently, Jungkook’s pick of Captain America: The First Avenger—it looks like he’s leaving. Leftovers in hand, he brings Jungkook in for a quick side hug and then does the same for you.

“Bye guys! Sorry, I have to leave early,” Jin informs you all, then turns to you and says your name. “I’ll come by tomorrow after work for the eggs?”

You nod and he beams, as you notice the pink carnations bunched in his hands.

True to his word, Jin has been a very loyal customer and started purchasing eggs for the bakery just a few days after you met. Slowly, but surely, the tides are turning for the farm and your profits have been increasing. You didn’t lack confidence that the business part of the farm would success, but you’d been unsure about how long it would take for your sources of income to be stabilized. Building a customer base off of the farm’s longstanding customers has been easier than expected, but you know there’s more work to be done. You have to listen to your father droning on about improving efficiency and diversification of products, biting your tongue back from snapping that you’re just one person.

Shortly after Jin’s departure, you end up in this abrupt phone call with him and excuse yourself to Taehyung’s backyard.

While your mother is the overbearing and protective type, your father has a knack for criticizing you and making you question every little thing you do. Since moving, you seldom provided business updates to him, which likely led to his concerned phone call in the first place.

“You’ve thought about further investments, right?” His voice is dry and your blood boils at that.

Breathing in deeply, you simply reply, “Yes.”

“Okay. Have you been managing your time well? The physical demands of the job?”

Although not explicitly that, it feels like your dad is just rattling off a list of reason why you’re incompetent for your role. You don’t realize it at first, but a sting on your palm is evidence of crescent moons dug into your skin. No matter how many times you insist that everything is covered and after all the questions he shoots your way, your dad somehow continues talking.

By the time you finally escape the phone call, doubt has long been planted in your mind. You begin wondering if he’s onto something. You say you’re handling things fine, but were you really? Your worn down, sore body screams at you as you ponder.

Then, you hear a door slide open.

The sound creaks and you remember where you are. Jungkook appears, having slipped on a denim jacket to combat the slight wind in the air. He steps out to the deck where you stand, a small frown drawn on his face.

“You okay?” he asks.

Nearing a month in town and several weeks of Jungkook’s presence becoming a constant around the farm, it’s safe to say that you’ve rekindled the friendship that you thought was long lost. It’s more than you’re willing to admit—so, when you hear how harsh your tone is when you open your mouth, you take yourself aback.

“I need to go home,” you snap all of a sudden. Your eyelids grow heavy and you can’t be around anyone but yourself, possibly irritation from fatigue.

“Already?” Jungkook raises his eyebrows, wary of your mood change. “That’s too bad, you missed most of the movie.”

“Yeah, sorry, I just gotta go,” you mumble and stuff your phone into the back pocket of your jeans.

You remember leaving your sweater in the kitchen, so you approach the door, but Jungkook still stands right in front of you.

“I was hoping you’d go for a ride with me before you went home.”

“A r-ride?” you sputter. “No, I can’t do that.” Your reply is immediate and you notice the way his eyes widen for a moment, as if he said something wrong. You’re too tired to clarify how you’re absolutely exhausted.

Meanwhile, Jungkook isn’t sure what to say. “Oh, okay.” And just like that, you side-step right past him and into the house to grab your things.

The exit is unceremonious and fast, saying goodbye to the boys while trying to hold back tears from the phone call with your dad. You could vaguely recall Jungkook asking you if he could walk you home, but you flew out the door after smiling softly and shaking your head. Not leaving any room for debate—you knew that boy damn too well. Your body has been shaking ever since the call and you could only focus on making it home.

Your heart is in your throat and your shoulders tense, as your head hung down the entire walk back to the farmhouse. You knew that things weren’t going to be magically easy with this big change, but you at least thought that you were doing an okay job. You only wanted your parents to think the same.

Amidst your physical and mental exhaustion, you look around and realize you’ve made a wrong turn, unsure of where you are. Your chest tightens and you can only wonder what bad luck you rolled for the day. Cheeks wet from stray tears, you’re overwhelmed and want to scream.

You pull your phone out, only to see a dead battery sign. Maybe you are as helpless as your dad is making you out to be, since you always seem to find yourself in these situations. A cold breeze dances around your body and you visibly aloud—until you hear your name.

“Hey, it’s me.”

The voice belongs to Jin, who no longer holds flowers and seems to also be heading home. You hastily wipe your face, which he doesn’t miss. He tentatively walks closer, not commenting on it.

“The farm is the other way, where are you going at this time of night?” Jin asks gently.

“I took a wrong turn,” you sigh, hoping the way your breath shakes isn’t so obvious.

Jin offers to walk you home and this time, in all your weariness, you accept. As he leads you in the other direction, you peer over and see Jungkook’s name flash on his phone. You remember how you left the house and a heavy load of guilt settles into your stomach. The least you can do is make a mental note to properly apologize to him tomorrow.

“So,” you try breaking the awkward silence. “I thought you had somewhere to be.”

Jin never missed a hangout with the boys and even if he had somewhere to go, he always makes sure to provide snacks or anything else his friends might need. He didn’t forget to make you an extra cookie when he baked for the boys or save you a seat at the Saloon—the natural care-giving type, even to a newcomer to town like yourself.

Right now, though, something is different about his smile.

“I made a quick stop to the cemetery to say hi to my wife.”

You break eye contact, looking at your feet. You weren’t sure until now, but over the past month, you’ve connected the dots about Jin’s wife and came to realize that she was no longer around. The details were never clear, especially with how young he is, but you didn’t want to ask anyone for confirmation.

“Can I ask how long?” you ask softly.

“Two years today. Taehyung didn’t know what day it was when he planned movie night, but I insisted that everyone go with the plan and I would just leave early.”

As the two of you walk, Jin explains that he moved to Amber Valley to be with his wife four years ago, before she passed away due to a terminal illness. You’re left breathless, but you understand at the same time.

You nod, voice still quiet and meek. “We just have to go on, don’t we?”

Jin smiles and this time, you can feel the warmth. “We do. It’s inevitable.”

Grief isn’t obvious to the naked eye and sometimes, it feels like it isn’t even there—until rings turn your skin green, until the ice cubes have melted and until the sky suddenly looks a little different when you look up. Like Jungkook, you couldn’t tell that Jin has been carrying that kind of loss. Part of you wonders if it’s the same for you, if the remnants of your loss is evident in your day-to-day motions or if you also hide it well. Not like something to be ashamed of, but a scar that is both meaningless on the surface and somehow still encompasses all the hurt you’ve ever felt at the same time.

In that moment, you realize that you aren’t just mourning the loss of your grandfather. You think about people fading in and out of your life, the natural rhythm of growing up, about your parents’ divorce and Jungkook returning to your life. Returning to Amber Valley has opened your eyes to the ways in which time has passed and taken away the best of you. You’ve confronted the childhood that you left pieces of yourself in and you do it the same way you’ve accepted the loss of the life you once knew—the hum of city traffic and the exhaustion weighing down your bones.

“Everything changes,” you mumble. “How are we supposed to just accept that? Loss just...follows you everywhere and you don’t notice until you remember to run around.”

“That also means loss is something that you have to leave behind you,” Jin says your name gently. His energy never falters, even in the quiet night. “It’s people like you and Jungkook that inspire me to look forward from loss. I think we’re all doing the best we can and that’s good enough.”

Before this conversation, you wouldn’t have been able to agree with that. Spending the last hour dwelling on things that you aren’t doing right or doing enough of would get you nowhere. Jin understands and you should have let Jungkook understand, too.

You sigh. “Yeah. You’re right.”

It’s as if Jin reads your mind. He playfully bumps your side, just as the farmhouse comes into view. “Ever since you’ve moved back, he’s only wanted to help you. Not with just the farm, but with everything,” he says and you don’t need to even ask who he’s talking about. “Don’t shut him out. I think he’s the perfect person to talk to about all of this.”

One thought echoes in your mind: I wish Grandpa was here. He would know what to do, how to guide you.

The days that follow, between billowing humidity and the lingering scent of sunflowers in the air, you see less and less of Jungkook. Deep down, you know that it’s your fault. You didn’t mean to storm out on him after the call with your dad, but lacked opportunities to properly apologize. He still replies to your texts, albeit with less enthusiasm and playfulness than usual. It seems like he’s had legitimate reasons to step away from the farm, though, having heard from Taehyung that Mrs. Oh has been sick all week and Jungkook needed to cover the store everyday.

You decide to take matters into your own hands. After he failed to appear at the Saloon that weekend, you take an extra long lunch break on Sunday and find yourself walking to the general store, already braced with an excuse of needing to buy seeds. This isn’t the first time you’ve visited him at work—in fact, you passed by earlier that week and came in specifically to bother him—so, it wouldn’t be out of place for you to casually pop in. Or, so you hope.

“Do you know where Jungkook is?” you ask Sangwoo, who is Mrs. Oh’s young son, propped up in front of the register and watching a show on his phone.

Sangwoo’s bored eyes meet yours. “Dunno. He’s not working today.”

This is strange. You were under the assumption that Jungkook wasn’t coming by for his usual random repairs because he had to be at the store. Still, you thank the boy and leave, wondering what you should do next. You contemplate texting him, but he left the meme you sent last night on delivered.

As you walk back to the farm, you decide to take an early left turn and end up in front of Jungkook’s house. Since moving back, this is actually your first time seeing his house again.

“Damn,” you mutter under your breath, feeling the wave of nostalgia hit you.

The place is mostly untouched from your memories and you notice the white pick-up truck that once belonged to Jungkook’s dad, still being kept in the driveway. To your delight, the huge tree in the front yard has the same tire swing that you almost broke your neck fooling around on. You wonder if you were just that fearless at age ten because you don’t know where it’s gone.

You aren’t entirely sure about what you would say if he opened the door. Outright accusing him of avoiding you wouldn’t be the best move, even though that’s exactly what you think he’s doing. Maybe you could take a page of out of his book and conjure up a wild excuse for showing up.

When you ring the doorbell, you quickly realize that there’s no sound that follows and softly knock instead. A few second pass and the oak door creaks open, just enough for to make out Jiwon’s big eyes. She gasps your name happily.

“Hi!” Her toothy smile reminds you of her big brother, near identical.

You mirror the smile. “Hi Jiwon. Do you mind getting Jungkook?”

She opens the door wider, enough for you to make out the living room behind her. There, Hoseok is fast asleep on the leather recliner chair facing the television. Jiwon quietly puts a finger to pursed lips, pointing to his sleeping figure. You step out and you make space for her, as she closes the door.

“Your brother is out?” you ask.

Jiwon nods, clutching onto the teddy bear in her arms. You recognize it as the same one that once belonged to Jungkook, recalling how you made fun of him for a whole summer for still carrying it around at age eleven. Her other hand has a handheld electric fan to ward off the Amber Valley summer heat.

“He took Leo to the vet. Why are you looking for him?” she sings the last part, swinging back and forth on her feels. The smirk she wears implies she knows something you don’t.

You assume that Leo is Jungkook’s horse, as he still kept them at his house. A sense of relief floats in the air, as you hope that this means he’s not intentionally avoiding you.

Then, your bubble is burst.

Jiwon sits down on the porch bench. “Oh, and he’s definitely avoiding you!”

“What?” You blink, thinking you didn’t hear her correctly with how fast she spoke.

“I said Hoseok is the worst sitter, I’m bored with nothing to do.”

This little girl is definitely Jeon Jungkook’s little sister without a doubt, the mischievous glint in her eyes is all the proof you need.

For the next half hour, despite having only left the farm for a quick break, you break out in conversation with Jiwon and end up enjoying chatting with her. You wanted a little sister for as long as you can remember and always complained that God gave you Jungkook as a friend instead. You can’t believe how bubbly and intelligent Jiwon is for her age.

She sits crisscrossed, playing with the arm of her stuffed animal. “Unnie...” You don’t even flinch when she calls you that, but you instead smile. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, Jiwon,” you reply.

Looking off into the distance, where her dad’s old truck is parked, Jiwon speaks. “Can you tell me what my parents were like? Oppa gets kind of upset when I ask.”

You freeze. Over the last month, you’ve dedicated yourself to connected with the valley once more. Slowly, but surely, you’ve come to remember the smell of coffee in the town square and the way sand on the beach shines like glitter. The feeling of having real neighbours warms you like a hug and the smell of cutting fresh grass is like coming home. It’s gradual, but you’re getting there. Regardless, some memories only live in picture frames and buried memories in your mind, underneath years that have long passed.

“They were...the best people,” you offer, closing your eyes and trying to imagine yourself on the same porch with Jungkook as kids. His dad taught the two of you how to play chess and his mom would always come out with iced tea, after a long day. “Your dad was the kind of man who was just good at everything he did. He showed Jungkook and I how to fly a kite, throw a baseball, how to play chess -”

“—I love chess!” she interrupts, the smile on her face widening at the thought of sharing something with her late father.

“Maybe we can play soon,” you say.

Like Jungkook, Jiwon looks at the brighter side of life. It’s admirable. You could only wish that it was also contagious.

Jiwon begins swinging her legs on the bench. “I have the best big brother, but I feel bad for him sometimes,” she remarks and you tilt your head at her. “Well, he was really smart when you were little, right?”

“As smart as he can be with that dense skull of his,” you joke, which makes Jiwon giggle.

She responds, “Did you go to college? I know he didn’t go because he had to take care of me. . .”

“He didn’t go, but that’s not a bad thing, honey.”

You reassure Jiwon that Jungkook has only ever wanted the best for her, which is why he didn’t go, and that he’s happy. In that moment, a rhythmic four-beat gat thuds from heavy hooves and draws closer. You squint outwards into the distance and see the man in question, his figure approaching with his horse at his side, and you scramble to rise. Jiwon smirks to herself when you do so, but you don’t notice.

Jungkook calls your name, eyebrows shot up. “Hey, what’s up? What are you doing here?” he asks, puzzled at your appearance.

Before you can answer, Jiwon interjects, “Can Unnie watch me next time?” She’s giddy, holding onto your arm, and you can’t help but feel happy that the young girl has clearly taken a liking to you.

“Jiwon, come on. You know that she’s always busy,” Jungkook scolds, pinching his nose and turns to you. “Sorry, I know she can be a handful -”

“Hey!” Jiwon pipes, but he waves her off.

You shake your head. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind at all. I’d love to look after her whenever you need.”

Jungkook’s eyes soften. He clears his throat and gestures for Jiwon to come closer to him. When she does, he whispers something into her ear and hands over Leo’s lead rope to her, presumably directing her to take the horse behind the house. She rolls her eyes at him and does so.

Now, it’s just the two of you, standing underneath the beating sun. His Stetson hat protects his face, while you’re covered partially by the house. Still, he walks forward and gently tugs you inside, murmuring something about this week’s heat wave.

Like the set-up of your own old house, the interior has several fans on at once due to poor air conditioning and you’re greeted by the whirl when you step in. Although the outside looks just the way you remember, you see that the inside of Jungkook’s house is much different, The furniture has been changed and rearranged in a new layout. The old fireplace has been closed up and the kitchen is no longer filled to the brim, as his mother used to keep it that way for you both.

“I wanted to change things up when they passed,” he suddenly speaks, as if reading your mind, “so I wouldn’t dwell so much.”

One picture on the wall stands out to you and it’s one that you know because you’re in it—you and Jungkook at approximately six years old. Captured was the same living room, where you’re playing with Power Rangers figures. Everything else around you is foreign, mostly recent pictures of Jiwon. There’s a single family portrait by the staircase, depicting a toddler-aged Jiwon and a teenage Jungkook with their parents.

“You…you’ve done amazing.”

Jungkook shoves his hands into his pockets, sighing. “I had to do it.”

“I don’t know how you did. What you went through is unthinkable and you still did an outstanding job,” you say. “With Jiwon, with the house, with yourself.”

His chuckle is hollow. “I don’t know about that last part. But, yeah, I’ve tried my best with Jiwon.”

“What do you mean? You’ve clearly become the best version of yourself,” you interject, crossing your arms. “You’ve always been kind and selfless—”

“—I just dreamt of more, you know? My parents dreamt of more for me.”

“It’s never too late to do what you want,” you argue.

Jungkook pauses, as if he’s never really considered that. He glances at the family portrait on the wall, deep in thought.

You snap out of your daze with Hoseok’s loud snore interrupting the silence, still fast asleep a few feet away from you. Jungkook snorts when he notices. His voice remains at the same volume, though, unbothered.

“Anyway, why did you come by?” he asks, placing his keys on the table next to the front door.

You sigh. “I just wanted to apologize for the other night at Taehyung’s,” you say. “I was just really tired that day and overwhelmed by a lot of things. I guess it’s all the pressure I’ve been under.”

He nods, slowly. “It’s okay. I was just...worried about you, you know? Jin told me he ran into you on your way home.”

Some things never change. Even with his teasing and stubborn attitude, Jungkook is still the caring little boy that you grew up with. His eyes are big, like a puppy’s, as he surveys your appearance to make sure everything seems okay with you.

“Things are just a lot.”

“I get it,” Jungkook says. “But, listen to me. You’re getting through all of this and I really admire you for it.”

“Who would’ve thought planting seeds and collecting eggs everyday would be so hard?” You try to deflect the emotion in your voice with the joke, but he doesn’t fall for it. He knows it’s more than that.

“I miss him, too,” Jungkook mumbles and you let out a shaky breath. “Your grandpa had this knack of making everyone feel okay, no matter what.”

He hits the nail perfectly, even without you having to say it aloud.

You stare at the floorboards, an ache in your chest. “I need it now more than ever,” you confess. “It’s hard to not look back.”

“I get it. You look back because that’s where the people you love are.”

You watch Jungkook briefly glance at the family portrait again and the two of you pause, letting the confusion and grief just…sit there. You both embrace it, together like you’re little kids together again.

Older, but with grown up feelings and without grown up strength.

You say, “If you ask me, I think it’s okay. Loss isn’t linear and it’s okay for it to come back sometimes.”

“Yeah. Like cooking a recipe exactly the way my mom did,” he mutters. “Or, hearing their laughter in my dreams.”

“I can feel Grandpa’s footsteps in the farmhouse all the time.”

Vulnerability has never come easy to you, but you and Jungkook speak to one another about loss without any walls. It took so long for you to finally cry after your grandfather’s passing, for you to accept that he’s gone. You wonder if you’ve left a piece of you in the valley, in your childhood with Jungkook, because of the way you’re slowly starting to feel whole again.

“Glad we have each other, at least,” Jungkook confesses.

Whenever you felt lost in life, there was something about Grandpa’s soft words of advice and strong arms that turned the world still for a moment. Instead, it’s Jungkook’s arms that wrap around you and you’re taken aback. He hugs you tight and you just melt, but you can tell that you both need it by the way his shoulders drop.

The hug lasts a second too long, only interrupted by a sudden gasp in Hoseok’s breathing amidst his deep slumber.

“God, he scared me,” you huff, right after the two of you jump apart. You immediately miss Jungkook’s warmth, even with the heat wave. He laughs with you, but pulls back all the way.

Jungkook tucks a stray hair behind your ear. “Thanks for that, though,” he mutters. “I don’t…really get to talk about them that much. My parents.”

“I should be thanking you.”

The proximity is dizzying, as you can practically count the number of eyelashes on Jungkook’s eyelid. There’s something about his expression, almost dream-like. You think you’re seeing him through a foggy haze. His gaze briefly flickers to your lips and that’s when he abruptly pulls back.

After this, he assures you that the two of you are fine and you do believe him when he says this. However, in the week that follows, it appears as though everything is but. You aren’t sure what reassurance or affirmations you’re chasing, but it’s clear that things are off with him.

The dynamic seems normal when you hang out with your other friends, but Jungkook still hasn’t returned to his usual routine of coming by the farm for you. He’s lively when you converse when you run into each other in town, but you notice an invisible wall of sorts erected between the two of you. You have no idea where it’s come from and you, being you, make it your mission to figure out why—especially with your dinner around the corner. None of your friends know about this dinner, especially since you’re sure they’ll call it a date, but you plan to figure things out and save yourself from an awkward time.

You begin with Yoongi, who gives you all but a deadpan expression when you come to him for advice. Now, you never actually intended to ask the older man for any guidance or insights, but as you happen to bump into him at the hardware store, the sales clerk makes a comment that you can’t ignore.

“Where’s your boyfriend? Don’t you usually come in together?” she asks sleepily, watching you take a look at some new work boots.

A perplexed look crosses your face when you realize that she’s talking about Jungkook. After all, for the past few weeks, you’ve been accompanying him to the hardware store whenever he found himself a new excuse of a repair to help out with.

“He’s working today,” says a voice behind you and you turn around, spotting Yoongi with insect repellent at hand.

You clear your throat. “Uh, hi, Yoongi. Nice seeing you,” you greet, laughing awkwardly.

The two of you make small talk about the weather and exit the store together. Thankfully, Yoongi doesn’t mention the interaction indoors, However, when you finally make it several steps away from the store, you decide it’s time to be blunt.

“I made Jungkook upset, didn’t I?”

He looks at you blankly. “Well, no. He’s just under the impression that you’re overwhelmed with work and is trying to give you space,” he explains. “Kook’s felt like he’s been ‘too much’ lately.” Yoongi makes air-quotations with his fingers, as if repeating back Jungkook’s exact words.

You don’t follow, still certain that you’re treading lightly. “In what way?” you question.

“I literally just said—oh, the two of you are so clueless with each other.” Yoongi rubs his temples, amused. “Bless your heart, honestly.”

Even though a part of you feels the way your chest stutters every time you see Jungkook at your front door or even just seeing his name pop up on your phone, you remain silent.

He eyes you. “Oh, come on. Even the little teenager at the hardware store can see that the two of you have feelings for each other.”

At some point in between sharing meals, sneaky glances when the other wasn’t looking and unassuming banter, there’s undefined feelings that have settled in the cracks. But, your heart is still confused. There’s understanding and familiarity and there’s nostalgia. What you feel for Jungkook is something that you’ve yet to calculate with all that you’re dealing with. You don’t know what other answers lay at the surface.

When the weekend inevitably rolls around, it’s time to put your foot down. You text Jungkook, confirming dinner plans at the Saloon and you don’t realize that this is mistake number one. Planning dinner at the Saloon was never going to be a good idea, not when you walk in and notice that your friends are lingering about. You shouldn’t have been surprised, given the pub is everyone’s usual hangout spot, and come to terms with the fact that you’ll be getting zero privacy tonight.

“Oh, fuck,” you mumble low to yourself through a forced smile, as you wave to Hoseok and Taehyung when you walk past them.

You walk further down, declining Jimin’s offer of a beer and waving off Namjoon scooting to the side to make space for you, until you make it to the very back of the bar. You hope that this is sufficient enough of a sign for them to leave you be.

Then, Jungkook walks in.

It’s hard to pretend to not notice, as he walks over to the guys and greets them briefly. Namjoon then points towards you, somehow knowing that you’re waiting for Jungkook. You groan, knowing that your friends are about to spectate your conversation-dinner-date thing.

However, as he approaches, something seems…off about him.

Jungkook smiles, saying your name. “Hey, did you order yet?” he asks, taking the seat across from you.

You spot a thumbs up from Namjoon on the other side of the room, away from everyone else’s line of vision, and you restrain yourself from a face calm.

Instead, you shake your head. “No. Uh, how are you?”

Today, he’s dressed in his typical attire of all black, wearing dark denim and a wife beater tank that clings to his body amidst the heat outside. Every outfit he wears seems to expose his beautiful tattoos and you have a hard time trying to not stare. You got a glimpse of his chest pieces a few times when he was working on the farm and the heat proved to be too aggressive for him, prompting him to go shirtless. It was cute when he would hurriedly cover up if you approached him or walked past—apparently too shy to be half-naked around you.

Today, though, he’s not shy at all. In fact, he’s talking a little too much and you suspect that something is wrong. On top of that, it becomes clear to you that this isn’t a date.

“It’s nice to catch up with a friend over dinner,” he comments at some point and your heart drops.

Jungkook begins talking about work and apologies for not coming around as much, blaming his schedule. The transition into small talk just makes you bite the inside of your cheek, having walked in with the intention to lay down the law. Thoughts about him and what appears to be unresolved feelings follow you like bees to honey. Despite this, your confidence declines as the mundane conversation drags on, the subject eventually reaching the upcoming Midsummer Fair.

“So, who are you taking to the fair?”

“Huh?” you ask.

Jungkook’s tone is breezy and casual, too easygoing if you squint. “It’s become more of a ‘couple’ thing in recent years.”

You nearly choke on your water and you try to compose yourself without making it obvious. The question is so vague and you aren’t able to decipher any sort of hidden message beyond the surface. He may be implying something. Even if he isn’t, this is your time to confess; you don’t know how long you can keep these thoughts bundled up in your overwhelmed brain.

“Oh, really?” you respond, keeping your voice as steady as you can.

Now, you can’t prepare yourself for what Jungkook says next.

“Yeah, you know…” Jungkook trails off, staring into the wood grain where his hands are settled. “Uh, Taehyung seems to have taken a liking to you. You should ask him!”

After a beat, you realize what he’s said. A plastic smile stretched across your lips, painfully, as you process his words. The enthusiasm on Jungkook’s features puzzled you like a riddle without an answer.

You’ve been reading everything wrong.

The small touches, the big gestures, the stolen smiles. You couldn’t believe everything was all in your head.

Meanwhile, Jungkook keeps talking. “Look, Taehyung and I have gotten really close since he moved to town. I’ll help you out,” he declares.

“Is that so?” you chuckle through gritted teeth, neither agreeing or arguing with him, given your state of surprise.

By the time the two of you begin eating, there are few patrons left in the Saloon. A quiet night, but your mind screams with just about a hundred different things and somehow, you can only smile and nod stiffly at Jungkook as he explains Taehyung’s ideal type. When he excuses himself to the bathroom, you catch Namjoon and Hoseok’s eyes from the bar. The former gives you a thumbs up and you respond with the most aggressive thumbs down possible.

Staring down at the way you clasp your hands in your lap, you feel like a coward. A confused one, at that. You think, maybe, it’s for the best that your feelings have been redirected like this, especially with all that’s on your plate. Still, you were sure that tonight was supposed to be a date of some sorts.

You decide that you need to focus on the farm and yourself, trying to bury the anger you feel. Jungkook hasn’t led you on, technically, even in spite of the mixed signals that your eyes have convinced you of. You’re not even mad at your friends, who have been insinuating that there could be something there. You think you’ve rid yourself of these thoughts. Easy and no question about it, especially when you have other priorities to attend to.

Then, you begin to have reoccurring dreams of kissing Jeon Jungkook.

Dreams that won’t go away, until you come dangerously close to making them true when Jungkook makes his return to the farm just a few days later.

You don’t know it yet, but this is when everything changes.

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