The Magic Shop: A BTS Short Story Compilation

Epilogue

For weeks, he couldn't reach her, so after learning from a mutual friend about where she went, he decided to follow her, too. It was already horrible feeling like a stalker to his own girlfriend, but then he saw her seemingly having a great time with Jung Hoseok. Something in that moment shattered—his heart and consequently, the faith he had in her. 

What followed remains a blur to this day. 

Most likely, in his muddled state of depression, he decided to drink that blasted "forget me" soju to erase her and his misery. Recently, Yeoreum told him what really happened. Her parents had confiscated every means she had to contact him. That time he saw her was when her best friend, Hoseok, promised to help her reach him, instead. Apparently, Jung Hoseok had texted him to meet her at the Han River bridge park. He vaguely remembered something in that regard, but by then, it had been too late. The soju had worked its magic, and he dismissed the message as spam. 

Seriously, how foolish he had been!

Yet at the same time, how fortunate because although he'd given up too quickly, she didn't. 

Unlike him, she'd clung to hope as tightly as possible and refused to let go, though he treated her so terribly, so shamefully. A rush of emotions engulfed him, filling his chest and constricting his throat. Without warning, he stopped, pulled her close, then captured her lips with his own. He poured every complicated thought and conflicting emotion into the kiss. Gratefulness mingled with a tinge of regret, joy poured with a measure of sadness, and finally, a dollop of shame spilled with boundless pride. 

Though she must have been surprised, Yeoreum reciprocated his every move with the same intensity he gave. She was that kind of person, the kind who lived and loved fully, without any hesitation. 

When they finally pulled apart, breaths colliding as they formed white puffs in the space between their bodies, Yoongi decided that the perfect moment had come. This was it. He sank his hand into the depths of his coat pocket and then pulled out something he'd been carrying for a while. 

Yeoreum gasped, eyes widening.

Kneeling down, Yoongi carefully opened the box and its velveteen depths sparkled the brightest diamond, rivaled only by her glittering eyes.

"Kim Yeoreum, will you marry me?" 

Without a pause, she shouted, "Of course, I will! Now and a thousand lifetimes after." 

The sound of applause drew their attention to the crowd that had gathered around them. Yoongi whose world had previously shrunk to only include the woman in front of him was shocked at how many had witnessed a moment so intimate. Yeoreum, however, was unfazed. She cupped his face between her hands and bent down for another kiss. The cheers grew louder. 

With wobbly legs, Yoongi got up, lifted Yeoreum off the ground for a few seconds, then placed the ring snuggly around her finger. It fit perfectly. She giggled, wiggling her fingers, then bowing in the direction of the crowd who were shouting their good wishes. Yoongi did the same, mumbling his thanks. He was surely beet red with embarrassment, but for once, he didn't really care. He felt weightless, free from the worries that usually plagued him. A wide grin spread across his face. 

"You have the most beautiful smile," Yeoreum said, turning away from their dispersing audience and guiding him towards a more secluded spot behind a huge cherry tree.

He raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"Yes, you! Your eyes get crinkly at the corners and you smile so wide your gums appear. Sounds weird when I describe it, but it's really pretty. You only smile like this when you're genuinely happy." 

"I am genuinely happy," he said wistfully, unable to stop himself from tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You just agreed to marry me."

"Did you ever doubt I'd say yes, though?" 

"Not really," he teased, "but still, I was nervous. I don't deserve you." 

"Don't say that! After everything we've gone through, we deserve to be together. We deserve each other so much, we found our way back together even after enduring years of separation. I deserve you and you deserve me." She paused to catch her breath, then pressing her palm to her heart, Yeoreum declared, "I love you, Min Yoongi!"

"I love you, too," he said softly, once again choked up by the depth of feeling she inspired in him.

"What did you say?" she asked, that mischievous twinkle back in her eye. "I don't think I heard you."

"I love you," he repeated. Then, in his loudest voice, shouted, "I love you, Kim Yeoreum!"

A raft of nearby ducks quacked their protest at the disruption of their peace, while a sudden breeze caused a shower of pink petals to fall around them. Yeoreum threw her head back and laughed. Yoongi followed right after.

Though it felt like they'd reached the end of their story, it was more like the closing of a chapter. He could already foresee the beginning of the next one and the ones that would come after. All of them hinted at happy days with the woman he loved most. 

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