five

As I watched television, the sun eventually disappeared, allowing the moon to take over the dark sky. Once there was no sunlight left in the sky, I turned off the television and jumped off the couch and towards my bedroom.

I tore through my dresser and found my swim trunks. I put them in a bag along with a towel, slides, my wallet with the card inside, and my phone.

I treaded into the kitchen, grabbed my keys off of the hanger, and exited the house. I skipped down the stairs and towards my car, hopping inside before turning on the vehicle.

I felt excited yet depressed. The guys and me would normally go to the pool late at night, maybe buy a drink or two for all of us, and have a good time. However, we haven't done that in a long time. Once Seokjin started partying and Namjoon got his current job in a big business, we haven't been able to hang out like we used to. Not all seven of us at the same time, at least.

I ignored that fact and decided that I was doing this for myself. I was going to relax alone and refresh my mindset. So, I stepped on the acceleration pedal and headed towards the pool.

As I went, I couldn't help but notice the people walking around either in their yard or going down the sidewalk. All of them were having a good time either with friends, family, or lovers. There were people sitting on their porch conversing, teenagers walking down the sidewalk with cigarettes in their hands, and lovers making out next to their cars. Tonight seemed like it was going to be a good night.

Once I got there, I pulled the keys out of the ignition and grabbed my bag, getting out of the car. I went to the pool area first, setting the bag down behind a chair. I took out my wallet and my phone and stuffed my keys in my pocket along with the card. Then I left that side of the building and went around to the bar side.

I entered the crowded place and they had music blaring out of the speakers, as always, with most of the people going crazy on the dance floor.

I approached the counter and a man with an apron smiled at me, asking, "What would it be tonight, sir?"

"Can I get a bottle of whiskey, please?" I asked, returning the smile.

"Of course!" he answered, bending over to grab something under the counter.

"Say," he started, "You don't happen to be going to the pool, do you?"

"I am. Why'd you ask?" I responded, tilting my head to the side in curiosity.

He stood up and placed a bottle of whiskey on the counter between us, replying, "Well, I remember seeing your face before. You and about six other guys would come in here and get a drink before going to the pool."

I nodded, saying, "Yep, that's me."

He looked from side to side before turning back to me, asking, "Where are the others?"

My smile faded and I looked down at the bottle, answering, "It's just me, tonight. We haven't done anything like that in...a long time."

His eyes clouded with sympathy, saying, "I'm sorry to hear that. Just take the bottle and enjoy yourself, alright? You can't be upset at a time like this."

I lifted my head and smiled once again at the man. I opened my wallet and pulled out a few bucks, handing it to him in exchange for the bottle. We nodded to each other and I turned around, exiting the bar.

I went back around to the pool and swiped my card, hearing the sound of the door unlocking. I entered the somewhat dark room and walked over to my bag. Since the room was mostly surrounded by windows, I went into the guy's changing room to change into my swimwear.

I peeled off my clothes and slipped on my swim trunks followed by placing my slides on my feet. I put my clothes at the bottom of the bag and placed my towel on top along with my phone and such. I came back into the pool room and set my bag down and placed my slides beside it. I then turned to the pool, sprinted, and dove into the water.

Unlike most indoor pools, the deep end was actually relatively deep, about ten feet. It was just enough to dive into. I burst through the surface and ran my hand through my hair, enjoying the refreshing feeling all over my body. I swam over to my bottle of whiskey that I had sat beside the pool. I popped off the cap and took a swig of the cool liquor, wiping my mouth off with the back of my hand.

I continued swimming for a while, stopping for a few seconds here and there to take a drink. However, when I went to take a drink for about the tenth time, I heard someone behind me blurt, "Jimin-ah!"

I jumped around, eyes stretched wide to see Seokjin standing there with a grin on his face. He came forward and before I could do anything, he held me tightly in a hug.

As much as I wanted to stay in his arms, I pushed him away. After all, he's not good for me if he's going to continue being this way.

He stumbled back and tilted his head while looking down at me, asking, "What's wrong?"

I sighed, answering, "I wanted to be alone."

"I thought you would want to hang out with me," he said, pouting.

I tried to ignore his cute face, replying, "I need to get some things off of my mind, hyung. If I wanted to hang out with you, I would've called."

"Like what? Talk to me, I'll listen, I promise," Seokjin said, a hint of desperation in his voice.

I shook my head, saying, "That won't help!"

"Why not?" he asked, trying to get the answer out of me.

"Because I have a cr-" I stopped mid sentence, my face heating up like wildfire. I looked down at the water, my heart beating against my chest.

Seokjin bent down so that he could see my face. I avoided eye contact with him but I could still see him out of the corner of my eye. He opened his mouth, murmuring, "Go on."

I sighed heavily, burying my face in my hands, choking out, "I have, a crush on you, hyung."

I felt so embarrassed. We've been friends for a very long time and he thinks of me like a little brother. He must feel so uncomfortable knowing that I actually have feelings for him.

Suddenly, I felt his warm embrace wrap around me in a loving hug. I lifted my head and looked up at him. His eyes shifted over to me and his lips curved into a small smirk.

"You know," he said, his hands moving to my waist, "we could go home, maybe to your place and have a good time, if you know what I mean."

I instantly pushed him away, yelling, "No! Why on earth would I do that!"

He shrugged, saying, "It could help me develop feelings for you."

"That's not what I want!" I screamed, tears beginning to crawl down my cheek.

He was taken aback by this and he asked, "What do you want, then?"

I breathed calmly for a moment before answering in a cracked voice, "I want the old Seokjin back, the one I fell in love with. The one who didn't go to parties and get wasted all the time. I want the Seokjin that was fun and smart and had a future for himself."

I paused for a moment as Seokjin stared at me, his eyes clouded with many emotions that I could not read because I couldn't look him in the eye.

I took a deep breath before finishing, "I want the Seokjin that I would say 'yes' to."

Silence filled the room and it almost felt suffocating. I grabbed my bottle of whiskey and climbed out of the pool. I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the pool room and to my car, leaving Seokjin alone.

-•-•-•-•-

aesthetic set 05