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Jungkook looks around the room full of people, trying to find the one person he is there for. His buddy from Thermodynamics texted that Sooji is at the party so he hurried over.
He has been trying to get a glimpse of her since arriving but to no avail.
Man this party sucks
He regrets not asking Jimin to join, he would have had company at least. But Jimin is probably out with Haesung or something. He is always with him nowadays. Anyways. Where is this girl?
He idles around the room for a bit before his eyes land on the snacks table.
Might as well eat something he thinks.
As he walks towards the table, his eyes land on the singular piece of cupcake. His mouth salivates at the thought of devouring it, stomach growling as if it just now realised how empty it is, so he closes the distance and bites into the sugary sweetness in seconds. The vanilla frosting melts into his mouth making him close his eyes and groan at the heavenly taste.
In his haste to get the last piece, he had not noticed that he was not the only one reaching for it.
“That was my cupcake!” he heard someone speak with irritation. He turned to his right to find a man standing there, arms crossed over his chest, scowling at him.
“How was that your cupcake?” Jungkook asked, puzzled. “It was on the common table”
The taller man's scowl became deeper. “I was reaching for it first. You literally snatched it before I could grab it” he accused.
Oh so that's how it is. “Listen buddy” Jungkook started with mock sweetness , he was already annoyed. “This..” he gestured towards the table, “ This is a common table. Meaning the food here is for everyone. You don't get to call dibs on a cupcake”
The man became angrier at that, the tip of his ears turned red, “ I had my eye on it before you. I reached for it first. You saw it and still took it.” Jungkook wanted to scoff at the accusation because he really had not seen the other man there. “That cupcake was mine” The man screamed with an intensity that was no joke.
“Oh please! Stop acting like I wronged your ancestors or something. It's just a cupcake!”
“It's not just a cupcake. It was my favourite cupcake. And the last one” he narrowed his eyes.
Unbelievable.“Aren't you too old to be at a college party fighting over cupcakes with some random stranger? Don't you have a life?” Jungkook retorted.
The accuser became redder if that was even possible. He could almost feel the steam coming off his hot face.
The man in front of him flicked his wrist in a strange movement and muttered some words in a language Jungkook did not understand.
Suddenly his body started feeling hot and…strange. He blinked a few times and the next thing he knew he was on the floor…looking up at his accuser. The man was big no doubt but he looked like a giant now. What is happening?
“You shouldn't have said that” The man crouched to get closer to him. Why do I feel so cold? He wondered. The cold expression on the other man's face did not help at all. Everything felt wrong. Jungkook was panicking. “You need to learn some manners”. And with that, the man flicked his hands again and everything around him became a blur.
One minute he was at a party, the next minute he was drowning.
The water was everywhere around him. He struggled to understand the sudden change of his surroundings, flailing his arms and legs around to swim.
After the initial shock wore off, he realised he was not suffocating. He was under water but he did not have to struggle to breathe.
Fascinating.
He kicked his hands and legs in a more controlled manner then. Jungkook did not swim much. Now he tries to remember if it was always this…easy? He feels so light.
That's when the hands cutting through the water drew his attention. They're his hands but there were…only three fingers..and there was a web of thin skin between them. He looked down at his feet kicking in the water and they looked the same.
What the hell?!
He jerked back in shock. He needed to get out of this water. He was definitely going crazy.
He kicked his hands and feet with more force and soon broke through the surface of the water. The full moon greeted him along with towering trees.
Where am I?
He looked around to find the shore But all he saw was water and tree branches and lilypads. Everything looked gigantic and scary in the dark, only illuminated by the moonlight.
He dredged through the water and climbed on a lillypad.
This is not real. This is just a nightmare.
A creepy hooting sound snapped him Out of his spiralling Thoughts. He looked around and saw a pair of eyes glowing in the dark. Something was on the tree in front of him…watching. He felt dread rush through him. He heard a fluttering sound somewhere on his left that made him search in the dark. Suddenly the lilypad started swaying,first gently, then more rapidly as the waves in the water became stronger.
Something was coming. Something big.
The ripples became stronger and bigger as the source of the disturbance drew closer. Soon, a pair of eyes peeked through the water. They were glowing with a greenish hue to them, the pupils were two narrow vertical slits, dark and dangerous. Jungkook scrambled back in a panic. He wanted to scream and cry but the sound that came out of his throat did not sound like his own.
“Yoongi! You're scaring the kid” Suddenly a voice cut through the thick silence.
“Yeah…cut the act” he heard another voice from his left. “This one looks fragile”
Jungkook could focus on nothing but the thundering of his strange heart and the glowing eyes in front of him. Menacing as they had been a second ago, the pupils dilated and the slits became wider. So much so that they almost looked round. The head that held the eyes rose out of the water more and Jungkook could finally make out what it was.
Crocodile. It's a freakin 'Crocodile! His brain screamed.
“Sorry kid” Jungkook could not believe those words came out of that scary looking jaw with hundreds of sharp teeth. The one that could kill him in an instant.
He just blinked dumbly at the creature.
Something flew past as he felt a whoosh of air. It landed on a branch Very near to him.
“Don't be scared,kid. We're not going to hurt you” The thing spoke again. Jungkook Squinted his eyes to figure out what it was. The bird stepped forward in the moonlight and he finally could tell. It was an owl, his feathers a mixture of brown and white and grey.
This is a dream. This is a dream. He started chanting to himself. There is just no other scenario where he would be talking to a crocodile and an owl.
“It's not a dream,” someone said.
Unless of course he has gone crazy. Or dead.
Oh no
Is he dead?
Did that man kill him over a cupcake?
“I think you broke him” he vaguely heard a fluttering sound as the third voice spoke up again. “look at him, he's spiralling”
“Been there, done that” The crocodile scoffed. “Hey kid! Snap out of it.” he said a little harshly, making Jungkook jump.
“Who are you guys?” He finally found the voice to ask tentatively.
“ohhh! It speaks!” there was that buzzing again.
“Shut up Taehyung!” The owl chastised.
Who is he talking to? Oh right…there it is..a dragonfly. Ofcourse. That's not weird at all.
“We're just like you..” Jungkook doubted that statement. For one he didn't have the jaw of a killer.
“What do you mean just like me?”
“We're all here because of a certain witch” this time the owl spoke up. “So…what did you do to piss off Kim Seokjin?”
“Who?”
“You know…The one who turned you into a frog”
Jungkook had a sneaking suspicion but he did not want to face reality.
“A what?!”
“A frog. An amphibian. And no this is not a dream. Trust me buddy. I wish it were. But Sadly this is your reality now. So can we please skip this stage where you scream,cry, throw up, struggling to believe what we are saying and skip to the part where you tell us what happened?”
“Wow..smooth Yoongi”
“Hey I'm just doing all of us a favour. You know how this always goes”
“Yeah but can you not be a dick about it?”
“Sorry Namjoon, but I agree with Yoongi here. Gentle words didn't help it settle for me”
The owl sighed and turned to Jungkook.
“I'm sorry about them. I know you must be very scared right now. I wish I could tell you this is a nightmare you could wake up from any moment but that's just not true. You were cursed by a witch, just like the three of us. You crossed Kim Seokjin Somehow”
“But witches don't exist! It's all just a myth. And even if they did, I certainly did not meet one.”
“What's the last thing you remember?”
“I was at this college party. I had a fight with this guy over a silly thing. He accused me of stealing his cupcake even though it wasn't his…and then…and then…”
“Handsome guy? Godly face? Broad shoulders?”
Jungkook felt ice in his veins.
“Yeah…”
“That’s Kim Seokjin. Witch extraordinaire. Bane of my existence.” Yoongi snapped his jaw and Jungkook startled.
“Not only you. He's made all of our lives hell” The dragonfly said solemnly.
“Yeah but at least you guys were not his best friend” The owl added very Sadly.
“Wait wait! You guys were friends?” Jungkook was so confused. “Why would he turn you into an owl then?”
“Let's just say I broke his heart..”
“And you two?”
“We pissed him off one way or the other”
“So anyways…” The dragonfly, Taehyung, drawled when the ensuing silence got too much. “You sure it was just cupcakes? That's all that happened?”
“I mean…yeah. He was so angry from the get go. He blew up when I asked if a guy his age should be at a college party…”
“Oh boy!” Yoongi gasped
“You did not!” Taehyung said in disbelief.
“No wonder he snapped” Namjoon just seemed amused.
“What? He looked too old to be a college student..”
“You do.not.call Kim Seokjin old!” The crocodile chastised.
“Yeah, that's like asking to be cursed,” Taehyung said laughing. “boy, you messed up and you didn't even know what you were doing”
“It's not funny!” Jungkook was the one scowling now.
“It is. It Is” The dragonfly was basically rolling on the lilypad next to his, in laughter.
“Why is he so sensitive about his age?” He had to ask. Does not Make sense that he got cursed for that.
“A little over hundred and twenty ” The owl, Namjoon(?) responded.
“What?!” He screamed in disbelief.
“Yeah. Living in the modern society at the ripe old age of hundred something…you can imagine why he's so sensitive about it ”
“Well how was I supposed to know that?! And does it justify him doing this to me?” Jungkook screamed in disbelief as he went close to the water and caught his reflection there.
It's true. He's a frog now. A green slimy amphibian. He mourned the loss of his youthful handsome face that people tripped over for. “This is not fair!”
“Well…life is not fair, kid. Deal with it” Yoongi drawled swimming around.
“What am I supposed to do now? How do I break this curse?” He was on the verge of another breakdown. He wants to go home.
“Do you have a partner? Boyfriend? Girlfriend ?” The Owl shifted to a closer branch.
“What does that have anything to do with this?”
“Just answer”
“Well…no. I mean there is someone…but we are not official yet” he responded bashfully.
“Hmm..do you love them?” The bird questioned like he was contemplating something.
Jungkook spluttered…taken aback by the straightforward question. “Wha-What…you can't just ask someone that!”
“Why not? It's a simple question. Besides, right now it's the most important question since it will determine if you can get out of this or not.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kids these days…” Taehyung commented under his breath.
“It's the age old Cure to a lot of curses..true love.”
“What?”
“Seriously dude. Do you not, like, read? Or watch movies? Haven't you heard any fairy tales?” Taehyung said in an exasperated tone.
Jungkook took offence, “Well that's not the kind of thing I enjoy watching or reading. I'm not a kid” he said pointedly at Taehyung.
Taehyung gasped in mock offence, “you're not? Could've fooled Me”
Jungkook lunged at the dragonfly, wanting to tackle him and prove that
No, he is not a child
Much to his disappointment, the red insect flew out of his way.
“Like I said…a child” Taehyung drawled from his new location,
“Stop it Taehyung.” Namjoon looked so done.
“Why are you scolding me?! He's the one who jumped at me!”
“You are older, you should act more mature should you not?”
Taehyung Angrily flew up to the top of the tree.
“So, you were saying..”
“As far as we know, true love is the only cure for this curse. Now, since you have someone in your life…you might have a chance.”
Yoongi has been awfully quiet for a long time.
“If that is the case, why haven’t any of you broken it yet?” He looked pointedly in Yoongi’s direction. “Why are you still here?”
“Believe it or not, love is not so easy to come by. Especially true love” the crocodile looked even more dangerous if that’s even possible. “ Not everyone is lucky enough to find the one”
Jungkook ducked his head in shame. He should not have asked that. It must be hard for them, they have been stuck here longer than him after all.
“I have to get back. I have to…I have to do something. I can’t stay here..”
“I would suggest you find your special person and get a kiss from them as soon as possible. The longer you stay in this form, the more animal habits settle in.” Namjoon said as he began grooming himself with his beak.
“But how do I get out of here? Where even is ‘here’ anyway?”
“Yeouido park. He always sends his victims here for some reason.”
Jungkook lit up at that. Yeouido park was near to where Jimin lived. He needs to get to him. Jimin would definitely help him out.
“I need your help” he looks at namjoon with big eyes, hopeful it would help him get his favour.
Of course, Namjoon caves.
-
“Ow!”
“Ow! Ow!”
“Stop fidgeting,will you?”
“Can you not grab me so hard?”
“I would if I wanted you to fall”
“Ow!”
“I swear to god Jungkook, if you don’t stop squirming I’m going to drop you!”
Their bickering continued while Namjoon carried him in his claws as they flew through Seoul. Jungkook somehow managed to identify Jimin’s balcony from a bird’s eye view. It’s harder than one might think, everything looks so different from up here.
“That’s the one, the one with lots of potted plants…yeah fourth floor, yeah…yellow towel hanging”
“Got it. Hold on”
Namjoon dropped Jungkook close to the balcony floor. It was not the gentlest landing but Jungkook survived. His body was agile.
The lights were on in the living room, which means Jimin is home and awake. Now that Jungkook is here, he feels nervous. How is he going to explain all this to Jimin? He can hardly believe it himself.
“Good luck kid” The owl postured to fly away and Jungkook panicked.
“Wait, you're leaving?”
“Yeah, gotta go find dinner, I’m starving” Jungkook did not even want to think about what dinner meant for him.
“But how will I find you again?” He feels scared to be left alone, especially when he does not know how Jimin will react.
“Don’t worry kid, I’ll come check up on You tomorrow night. Hopefully your problem will be solved by then” with that, the owl flew away, soaring into the full moon Sky.
Jungkook admired the view for a few seconds before deciding to head inside. The balcony door is open so it is not much of a problem. His legs might be short but he covers a lot of distance by jumping. It feels very strange but soon he finds joy in moving in such a way.
He can hear Jimin humming in the kitchen, probably preparing a late night snack. Jungkook smiles to himself at the thought. The two of them stayed up late most nights playing games, watching anime and eating ramen.
He hops on the tea table and waits there, he knows where Jimin will take his seat..so he patiently waits.
“Hi!”
Jimin almost drops the hot ramen at the sudden voice when he's supposed to be alone.He looks around but sees no one. Did he imagine it?
“Jimin hey…no…not there…here..look down here” that’s Jungkook’s voice.
Where is it coming from?
“Tea table…”
Jimin screamed his lungs out. Wtf???
There was a slimy frog sitting in the middle of his tea table, beady eyes looking at him.
“Don’t freak out..” as soon as Jimin realises the frog is speaking, he does indeed freak out.
“Can you stop screaming? The neighbours will complain again”
Why is the frog speaking? Why is it speaking in Jungkook’s voice?
“Oh god! oh god! oh god! What is happening?!”
“Jimin…can you…like chill for a second…it’s me…”
Oh no, the frog knew his name.
Jimin started moving away from the table, planning to lock himself in his room. He is reminded of one of his favourite animes , parasyte, for some reason.
I’m too pretty to be an alien's puppet
Jungkook notices Jimin’s attempt at fleeing so he jumps at him. Which, in hindsight, was not the best move because he only becomes more frantic, trying to get the creature off his body.
“Ew ew ew! Get off! Get off! You will not have this body! I will not be your host!”
The scene in the living room was something straight out of a comedy film, a man scrambling around the room, trying to get a frog off his shirt while the frog held on dearly so as to not be flung away, all while trying to calm the man down.
“What are you even saying?! Can you...stop…moving…ow ,that hurts!”
“Not today you alien bastard!”
“Jimin!”
“Jim–!”
“Jwaman! Stop! Listen to me..”
Jimin abruptly halted all his movements.. he was feeling breathless . He is quite sure what he heard. That name..there is only one person who calls him that.
“How do you know that name? What…who are you?”
“I’ve been trying to tell you that for so long!! God you’re so annoying sometimes. It’s me! Jungkook! Your best friend and roommate!”
“What?!” Jimin definitely did not hear that right.
This frog is Jungkook?
“God, now I understand what Yoongi meant,” Jungkook mumbled to himself.
“Listen..” he started tentatively. “I know it sounds unbelievable but I got cursed by a witch earlier today. He was pissed at me and turned me into a frog.”
He hopped off and took his seat at the table again.
When Jimin did not say anything, Jungkook continued to tell him everything that transpired after that and how he ended up at his place.
“I need your help Jimin. I really don’t know what to do”
“How do you expect me to believe any of this?” Jimin finally spoke up.
“ To be honest, I don't know…I would have a hard time believing any of this if I were in your situation too. But…Jwaman, I'm desperate. I'll do anything to prove it's me”
Jimin contemplated for a few seconds before asking, “ Alright…what's my favourite colour then? If you are Jungkook you should be able to answer that easily”
“Yellow” he answered without missing a beat.
Jimin looked taken aback at the right answer, “That was too easy. Could be a lucky guess…tell me…tell me something only Jungkook and I would know”
“Hmm..something only we would know…” he thought about how to answer that because the amount of history they had between them was huge. How does one sort all that at a moment's notice?
“How about the first time we met…you were on your way back from dance practice and I was on my way back from school. Back then I didn't know we lived in the same neighbourhood. We fought over the same seat on the bus and the whole time you were yelling at me all I could think about is how you looked like a baby Chick because the yellow sweater you were wearing made you look all fluffy and tiny. And whenever I remind you of this story you throw…” a cushion flew past him and landed on the carpet. “..stuff at me. Just like that.”
“I did not look like a baby Chick!”
“You didn’t see yourself!”
There was a pregnant pause as Jimin stared at his guest.
“OK fine. You pass.”
“Thank god! Can you please stop being so scared and come sit down here? ”
Jimin took a seat with a huff, ramen long forgotten.
“So…you piss off a witch,huh?”
“Yep”
“Not surprised”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Well you're annoying as fuck so it's really..”
“Take that back!” Jungkook pushed his legs and jumped On his best friend's thigh in retaliation.
“Oh god! Can you stop doing that?! I know it's you but you're a frog right now and it's freaking me out! And it's gross!”
“You're gross!”
“You're literally slimy and green!”
Jungkook huffed, he couldn't argue with that.
“Stop calling me annoying” he sulked.
“You literally called me annoying first…you know what…we're going off track” Jimin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You were saying…you need my help. So, what can I do?”
“About that…these other guys I met…people who were cursed just like me, they said the only way to break the curse is with true love's kiss”
Jimin's eyes widened at that, he shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
“How cliché. But I don't see what I can do here..”
“What do you mean you don't know? Jimin! I need you to take me to Sooji so she can kiss me and I can…”
“Oh”
“Yeah. So can we please go to her?!”
“Right now?”
“Well yeah. Do you want me to stay a frog longer?”
“Jungkook..bestie.. have you seen the time? If I were to go find Sooji right now asking her to kiss some frog, she would surely call the police on me or ring the mental hospital”
“OK you have a point”
“Like always”
“Can you not?”
“sorry”
“What do we do now?”
“There's nothing we can do right now. So might as well get some sleep. Wait! Do Frogs even sleep?” Jimin asked
“How the hell am I supposed to know? In case you've forgotten, this is my first day as a frog!” Jungkook answered, irritated.
“Chill froggy, I'm just thinking out loud”
Jungkook glared at him after hearing the nickname. “Think out loud somewhere else then. Or better yet, I'm leaving.”
“Where the hell are you going?!” Jimin was amused to see all of his best friend’s attitude fit in that tiny body.
“My room ofcourse” he answered while hopping away.
Jimin acknowledged the answer with a small okay and moved to his own room.
What a night.
-
Well Jungkook has the answer to Jimin's earlier question now.
Frogs don't sleep. At Least not the way humans do. When he closed his eyes, he felt himself relax so he stayed like that for a while to fall asleep. But it turns out he can't. Staying idle and relaxed was equivalent to human sleep for him. That too he Did not need to do for long. It must have been only a couple of hours and now he was bored.
He may have eaten a few small insects here and there but nobody needed to know about that.
After hopping around the house and discovering nooks and corners he never paid much attention to before, he moved towards Jimin’s room.
He hopped on to his bedside table to see if Jimin was awake. Shockingly, he was not.
What do I do now?
With nothing else to do, his thoughts started running any direction they could. His focus shifted to Jimin's sleeping form. He was curled in a foetal position, hands fisted, resting under his chin, lips pushed out and forming that beak that he adamantly refused to acknowledge he had. Jungkook felt a sudden rush of warmth in his cold body.
He turned his head and started looking around the room, If only to avoid Looking at his best friend.
He has not been inside Jimin's room in a long time, even though they live together. It was kind of his fault though. He had walked in on Jimin and his boyfriend unannounced which resulted in a lot of yelling and awkwardness between them.
Jimin was obviously furious but to be fair Jungkook had always gone into his room without knocking and he never complained before.
Anyways, he stopped coming into this room after that.
Everything looks the same. He sees their picture from back when they were still in high-school,stuck in the mirror. There is the rabbit plushie Jimin bought just to piss him off because someone had commented that Jungkook looked like a bunny and he didn't like hearing it.
These small things took him down different memory lanes and before he knew it, it was morning.
“Psst! Jimin!” Jimin heard a whisper which barely registered in his sleep-addled mind.
“Jimin!”
“Jwaman!”
“Chimchim!”
“Chikkiiiii!”
“Whaaaaattttt???” Jimin whined, annoyance winning over sleepiness.
“Wake up! It's morning!” Jungkook was feeling impatient.
“Leave me alone Jungkook! I'm sleepy!” Jimin grumbled without opening his eyes.
He felt something land on his pillow with a muted thud.
“If you don't wake up right now I'm going to jump on your face” suddenly Jungkook's voice was very close to his ear. He slowly opened his eyes.
There's a frog sitting right in front of his face.
The scream that left his throat aborted halfway when the events of last night came back to him.
“Oh my god! stop scaring me like that!”
“No. I enjoy it” the little shit said with a smug tone.
“Of course you do,” Jimin sighed. There goes his sleep. He feels wide awake now.
“Don’t be snappy with me. I'm the one stuck in a frog’s body.”
“Alright! alright! I'm sorry”
Jungkook just huffed and went back to perching on the nightstand while Jimin went to the washroom to freshen up.
After a while the door opened and Jimin walked in shirtless, towelling his wet hair.
“God! can you not walk around naked?” Jungkook sounded almost offended, avoiding looking at Jimin’s bare torso.
“Excuse me?! This is my room. I can be as naked as I want!”
“Don't I know it” Jungkook said under his breath but Jimin heard it regardless. Now they were both obviously thinking about the time Jungkook walked in on him and Haesung.
There was that awkwardness again. So Jungkook decided to speak up.
“ Are you ready to go now? I think if we leave now we can catch Sooji at her 8am class”
“Are you that eager to kiss her?”
“Excuse you, I'm eager to go back to being human!”
Jimin scoffed and left the room, thankfully after putting on a t-shirt.
-
“Wait, I think her class let out. People are coming out”
“I can see that,” Jimin rolled his eyes.
They have been waiting discreetly In front of the building, Jungkook hidden In Jimin's shirt pocket, where he has been peeking out from.
“That tickles. Can you not move so much?”
“Sorry. It's just a little cramped in here”
Jimin hummed in acknowledgement, trying his hardest to not react to the delicate brushes against his left nipple.
“So how do you wanna do this? Do I just go up to her and ask her to kiss you?”
“Like that would go over smoothly” Jungkook contemplated for a while before saying, “Maybe you can ask her to talk somewhere private? That way I can explain to her the situation. You being there might help me convince her faster”
“Mhm…let's see”
They waited a few more minutes before Jimin spotted the redhead. He always found the dye unsuitable on her but hey, he was not going to tell her that. He lightly jogged to catch up to her.
“Hey Sooji!”
“Oh hey Jimin! What's up?”
“How are you? Haven't seen you in a while”
“I'm good. Would be better if Jungkook wasn't avoiding me though. Haven't heard from him in a couple of days.”
“Ah! haha!..I'm sure he has his reasons.” Jimin squirmed awkwardly,
“ while we are on the subject…listen i wanted to talk to you about something. Could we maybe go somewhere private to talk?”
“Oh…um..sure. Is it something serious?” she asked curiously.
“You could say that..”
“Alright..let's go to the Machines laboratory. I'm assisting the next class but it should be empty now.”
Jimin followed her,jittery with nerves. He was not feeling confident with Jungkook's plan.
-
The lab was cold and empty…just like Sooji had said. She put her bag at a table and turned to Jimin, “So.. what is it?”
“Listen…I know what I'm going to say next is going to sound absolutely crazy…but it is the truth. It's about Jungkook..he's…you know what…I'm just gonna let him explain himself..” with that, Jimin gently extricated his best friend from his pocket and presented him to Sooji on his palm.
The girl instantly jerked back with a disgusted look on her face and Jimin could sympathise, “Go ahead, tell her Jungkook”
“Sooji, I know you are freaking out right now…and I under-”
“What the fuck is this Jimin?!” she screamed before Jungkook could finish his speech, “ Why the fuck are you holding a frog in my face?” she looked like on the verge of puking.
“Well if you let Jungkook finish what he was saying…”
“Jungkook? Where is he? What are you talking about?!”
“Sooji! Here…it's me..I'm the frog” Jungkook tried again.
Sooji jerked back even more.
“Jimin, get that thing away from me! It keeps croaking, it's creepy”
“Do you not hear what he's trying to say? Why won't you listen to him?” Jimin was feeling frustrated now.
“Listen to who? Jimin, what is wrong with you? You're scaring me!”
“Jungkook! He's trying to speak to you!” he shoved his palm in her direction more.
“The frog?! You think it's Jungkook? What kind of prank is this?” She looked around as if there were hidden cameras.
“Do you not hear him talking?”
“Talking? Jimin! It's a freakin frog…it cannot talk. All I hear is it's croaking!”
“Wait seriously? You don't hear his voice?”
The girl sighed. She looked done with the whole situation. “Listen, I don't know if this is just a prank or if you're just plain crazy..but I don't have time for this. I have to get ready for class so I have to ask you to leave now” she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a stern look.
Jimin was stunned. For a second he wondered if he indeed was crazy. Until Jungkook spoke up, “Jimin, let's go”
So he put his friend back inside his pocket and headed for the door. He heard a small what a freak on his way out.
-
“I don't understand” Jimin was now sitting at a lakeside. A lake inside Yeouido park to be precise.
Jungkook had asked to take him there, which seemed like a normal request at the time.
What he did not expect though, was to find Jungkook's new friends.
Was he freaked? Yes. But considering how he adjusted to the fact that his best friend was turned into a frog, this did not phase him as much.
“Why couldn't she hear you?” Jimin thought out loud.
“I don't know,” Jungkook said solemnly. He looked as if he had given up hope.” All I know is that I'll be stuck as a frog forever”
Jimin felt sad for his best friend, “ Hey, don't be like that. I'm sure we'll find another way”
“There is no other way, kid. You think we would be here if there was?” he heard the crocodile say.
“Maybe you did not try hard enough.” Jimin stared daggers at the creature.
“What if we went to the witch who cast the spell? We can beg him to reverse it. Or give him money.” he said hopefully.
“He won't.Kim Seokjin has a talent for holding grudges.” Yoongi said boredly again.
“Do you ever have anything positive to say?” Jimin wanted to punch the crocodile.
The other scoffed and went further into the water.
Taehyung was sitting on a long leaf of a reed when his instincts alerted him of danger and he flew away.
“ Did you just try to eat me?” He asked Jungkook in disbelief.
Jungkook scrambled to defend himself, feeling ashamed, “Bro I swear I don’t know what came over me it’s like one minute I was here and then the next minute my tongue was just flying out and my legs kicked on their own….i swear it was not on purpose”
Taehyung assessed him for a few long minutes before relenting “I believe you.” He added, “ The longer you stay in this form the stronger the animal instincts become”
The dragonfly flew closer to Jimin and landed on Jimin's knee. “Keep you best friend in check”
Jimin laughed at the absurdity of it all.
“And don't be angry. Yoongi sounds mean but he's actually really nice.” it said. “I wish Namjoon was here, I'm sure he would be able to help”
“Where is he?” Jungkook asked a little hopefully.
“Sleeping. Daytime is not for him.Maybe come back later at night?” Taehyung suggested.
“Yeah, we'll do that. For now let’s go back home, Jungkook” Jimin said, picking up his friend. Jungkook just nodded solemnly.
Jimin decided to walk home. It's a long way but maybe it will help alleviate the other's mood. The frog has been eerily silent on his shoulder. People passing give him weird looks but nobody says anything.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Jimin said, breaking the silence.
“Just..you know..thinking about what I would do if I'm stuck like this forever.”
“You won't be. We'll figure it out.” Jimin said with confidence.
“What if we can't?!” The frog said frustratedly.
“Then we can't. You remain a frog forever. And I carry you everywhere I go for the rest of my life.” Jimin said plainly as if it was a simple solution.
“You would do that? You will stay with me?” Jungkook asked, shocked.
“Of course I would! What kind of question is that?! You're my best friend. I will take care of you forever if I have to.” Jimin looked offended that Jungkook would even think otherwise.
Sudden warmth flooded Jungkook’s body at Jimin’s reassuring words. It eased his mind tremendously, even if temporarily. He knew he had Jimin if nothing else.
_
Jimin was lounging on the sofa, reading a book while Jungkook rested on his chest. The slow rise and fall of it along with the rustling sound of pages turning gave him a peace he has not felt in a long time.
He is reminded of the summers when the two of them would lounge in either Jimin's or his room, eating ice-cream or reading Manga side by side.
They have not been as close or spent as much time together in the past few months.Jungkook disapproved of Jimin’s boyfriend, which obviously Jimin didn't like, creating friction between them.
“You always find a problem with whoever I am dating!” Jimin had accused.
“ It's not my fault that your type is ‘dickhead’ ” Jungkook regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth.
So there has been a weird tension between them ever since Jungkook fought with Jimin about Haesung that neither of them knew how to resolve. He missed this closeness more than he would like to admit.
Their bubble Of peace is popped when the front doorbell rings.
Jungkook watches from his hiding spot as Jimin's boyfriend embraces him in a hug and kisses him. It's chaste, nothing too inappropriate but Jungkook feels irritated nonetheless. What a dickhead, he grumbles.
The two take a seat on the same sofa where he was lying with Jimin a few minutes back. He cannot clearly hear what they are talking about but he notices Haesung looking around for someone. Jimin tries telling him something but the other man pounces on him unannounced, pinning him on the sofa. He trails kisses on his jaw and neck as Jimin tries to say something again.
Jungkook feels his cold blood boil. He hops out of his hiding to get closer and listen better, intervening if possible.
“..sung.. stop it!” he hears Jimin say.
“Come on baby. I haven't seen you in so long. I miss you” The guy says without stopping his activities.
Jimin awkwardly tries to push him away, with his palms against the other man’s chest but he won’t budge, “ Yeah? Is that why you never even called to apologise?”
“Oh Jimin! You’re still upset about that? Can’t you just let it go?” The man said, mouthing at his neck, hands trailing to places Jungkook failed to see.
Jimin suddenly surged upwards, pushing the man off of himself with force.
“Let it go? Are you kidding me?” He sounded furious.
“I didn’t even say anything that bad. You’re getting your panties in a twist over nothing!” Haesung drawled.
“Nothing?! Huh!” Jimin scoffed, offended. “ You insulted my best friend and you call that nothing?”
“You can’t even take a joke”
That does it for Jimin, he jerks away from the man and stands up abruptly. “Get out” he says with a menacing tone, pointing at the door.
Jungkook squirms in his place, never having heard this kind of tone from his best friend. He is also having trouble processing the fact that they are fighting over something related to him. He doesn’t know what Haesung had said about him, but seeing Jimin’s reaction he can imagine it was nothing short of nasty.
The guest stands up too and looks at Jimin incredulously, “ Are you seriously kicking me out? Jim–”
Jimin doesn’t let him finish.
“Not only am I kicking you out, I’m also breaking up with you. I thought you would apologise, I was ready to give you a chance. But clearly you don’t regret your actions. So we’re done” he says icily.
“You’re out of your mind! You can’t be breaking up over something like this! You’re choosing himover your boyfriend?!”
Jimin’s red rimmed eyes glared at Haesung with fire, “I will always choose Jungkook over you. Over anyone”
The firm declaration left Jungkook feeling dizzy.
He should probably tell Jimin to not fight over him, to not sacrifice his love life for him. He should be a better friend . But he can’t. He simply cannot suppress the happiness that bubbles in his heart, takes over his entire body .
He misses the rest of what happens between the other two, too lost in his thoughts. He is only snapped out of it when the front door slams shut loudly. Jimin is curled up on the couch, his face buried in his hands.
Jungkook was not meant to hear any of this, he had assured Jimin he would be in his eroom. Should he feel guilty about eavesdropping? He doesn’t.
“Hey” he says softly, moving close to Jimin when he hears him sniffling.
Jimin startles and looks up, meeting the beady black eyes of his amphibian best friend. He quickly tries to wipe his eyes in an attempt to hide his tears but his efforts are in vain.
“Are you okay?” Jungkook asks, jumping close to his face on the sofa.
“How much of that did you hear?” Jimin asks, feeling resigned.
“Enough” Jungkook responded, avoiding his eyes
Jimin just hummed, moving to lie flat on his back,covering his eyes with his arm.
“I’ll be okay”
Jungkook took the opportunity to hop on his chest again, neither of them said another word and soon, Jimin drifted off to sleep .
–
It’s quite late at night when they make it to the park again. The side of the lake where Jungkook’s friends live is secluded, darker too. The moonlight is their only saving grace.
Jimin feels jumpy, scared of the moving shadows of the large trees, of the silence that feels too eerie to be normal. He keeps looking around , scared a ghost might just pop out of the bushes.
He almost jumps out of his skin when an owl whooshes in and perches on the tree in front of him.
“Namjoon! Finally you’re here” he hears Yoongi say.
“Hi guys, Sorry I’m late. I went to check up on this kid but looks like I wasted a trip” the owl speaks. “ He’s here and I see that his problem isn't solved yet.” He looks at Jungkook pointedly.
The frog bows his head in apology, “ Sorry about that, I forgot you were going to visit”
“That’s alright.” The owl assures him.
“Now tell me what happened, did you not get your kiss?”
“Yeah..about that..” Jungkook explains in detail what happened with Sooji.
“So she wasn’t able to hear you?” Namjoon enquires when he’s done.
“No, she could hear my voice but not that I was speaking” he answered dejectedly.
“But your friend here can hear you fine, right?”
“Yes I can,” Jimin answered immediately.
“How curious..” The owl stared at Jimin so intensely that he felt as if he could see through to his soul.
“What do I do now?” Jungkook’s whining broke Namjoon out of his musings. “ Well,I think–”
Namjoon did not get to finish his sentence. One minute everything was fine, the next there was a high pitched screeching noise as a large shadow flew in and snatched Jungkook off the ground.
Everyone stood frozen in shock for a few seconds until Taehyung screamed, “ We have to stop him! He’s getting away!”
“Fucking Jaebeom! When is the fucker going to leave us alone?!” Yoongi grumbled, swimming fast.
“What’s happening!” Jimin asked Taehyung, panicked out of his mind.
“That owl is Jaebeom! Let’s just say he hates us, especially Namjoon. He has attacked us multiple times”
Jimin’s blood ran cold. Jungkook is in danger. He looked towards the sky where the ashy owl was soaring,circling the area, as if mocking them. He could make out the small lump in its claws that was Jungkook. He wasn’t moving
Jimin couldn’t hold back the scream that tore through his chest “ Jungkook!”
Tears burned his eyes as he looked frantically towards the others, “ Help him! We have to do something!”
Namjoon flew up determinedly, meeting the other bird mid air.
“Let him go!” He demanded. His voice sounded faint from down here but they could still make out what he was saying.
“Why? Is this your new friend?” Jaebeom asked mockingly.
“I said..” Namjoon flew closer, “ let him go!” He sounded furious.
“Don’t you dare dictate me! You think you’re so high and mighty just because the other owls listen to you and follow you?! You are nothing! You’re a fraud!” The villainous creature spat out.
“Your quarrel is with me. Let the frog go!”
“And what if I don’t? I think I’m going to enjoy squeezing the life out of this one” he said menacingly, tightening his hold on Jungkook, who by now was barely conscious. The bird had nicked his skin with its claws while grabbing him, he was losing blood.
Just then, Jungkook heard his best friend scream from below, “Let him go, you bastard! I’ll kill you if you hurt him!”
Jungkook was scared. He did not want to die. He has barely lived his life. But more than anything, he was scared of never seeing Jimin again, never seeing his smile, never feeling the warmth of his hugs. He fought hard to stay conscious, he couldn’t give up.
Jimin was furious. The protectiveness he felt for Jungkook had his entire body on fire, he could move mountains right now. Not seeing any other option, he picked up a small rock and hurled it towards the bird. They were high enough that he knew the stone would not hurt Jungkook by mistake. His aim was only to startle the bird into losing his hold. Which worked, because Jaebeom let go of Jungkook and Namjoon swooped in and grabbed him immediately.
Before they could rejoice in their victory, the furious bird attacked Namjoon’s back. He let out a blood curdling screech as claws dug in his back. Even through all the pain, he managed to keep a firm hold on his frog friend. He swirled around in the air, flapping his wings violently to jerk the other off of his back.
The other three stood watching on the ground in horror.
Jaebeom was flung off of Namjoon but he quickly rounded on him again,sharp claws out, trying to gouge Namjoon’s eyes out.
Jaebeom may have the brawn but Namjoon had the brain, even while caught in a fierce battle, he managed to form a strategy.
Without being obvious about his attempts , he flew closer to ground bit by bit, drawing the other with down him.
Yoongi realised what Namjoon was doing, “ He’s trying to bring the fight closer to us. We have to help him.”
Both Jimin and Taehyung asked in unison, “How?”
“Jimin! Get on that tree. As high up as you can go. Take Taehyung with you” Yoongi instructed.
They wasted no time in following.
Jimin utilised his hard earned agility and core strength from dancing and kept climbing until the branches became too thin to support his weight.
By now Namjoon had dropped their altitude significantly and Jimin had a direct view of the two locked in a fight in front of him. Yoongi was directly below them in the water, sight locked as well. They met each other’s eyes briefly and he knew what he had to do. He broke a long branch off of the tree and waited.
As soon as the pair ducked close enough, Yoongi flicked his long tail and sent a splash of water flying their way. Jaebeom startled and let go off Namjoon. At that moment, Taehyung flew close to the ashy owl’s eyes and blocked his vision as best as he could.
Jimin got his chance when Taehyung herded the owl closer to the tree. He swung the branch as hard as he could on the bird’s head, sending him crashing into the water.
Yoongi’s open jaw was awaiting on the receiving end.
Jimin would have felt bad at the crunching sound but the bastard had tried to kill Jungkook so it’s all fair.
Jungkook
Jimin scrambled down the tree. Uncaring of the scratches and cuts caused by the rough bark and sharp branches.
Namjoon dropped him on the grass gently.
Jimin’s body felt like it was made of lead, making it difficult to take each step. Because Jungkook was just lying there, limp and unmoving.
He picked his best friend up in his palms, delicately as if he would break like fine china.
“Jungkook!” he called breathlessly, his name sounding like a prayer. It might as well be, the way his soul was crying out in desperation,to any deity that would listen. He would give anything for Jungkook to be okay right now.
“Please please please be okay” the sob that wrenched its way out of him sounded inhuman.
His heart stopped and body froze as he felt a small movement against his palm.
His eyes eagerly waited to see Jungkook moving, just to prove he was not hallucinating.
And it happened again.
Jungkook’s head moved up slowly, gossamer lids sliding,giving way to black eyes.
“Jwaman” his small voice was as loud as a cannon in Jimin’s ears. Relief flooded him with such a force that he collapsed on the ground on his haunches, sobbing.
“ Oh god! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You’re okay! You’re okay!” He kept chanting, clutching Jungkook close to his chest,as tears streamed down his face.
When his sobs died down and he managed to calm his heart, he realised how eerily silent everything around him had become again.
All of their newfound friends were standing around, looking just as emotional.
Jungkook’s beady eyes were trained on him. He brought his palms closer to his face.
“Don’t scare me like that again, you hear me? If you die I’ll bring you back just so I can kill you” he threatened with tears still clinging to his eyes.
Jungkook scooted closer to the edge of his hand so he could come closer to Jimin,
“I wouldn’t dare. You’re scarier than any witch” he joked. “ Besides, I have to live to see you get all old and wrinkly after all.” He extended his body on his hind legs as much as he could, “ Because I love you Park Jimin” he placed a gentle kiss on Jimin’s nose.
Jimin let out a shaky breath as his heart constricted in his chest. And when it expanded, it felt like it was pumping warm sunlight in his arteries.
He surged forward and placed a kiss of his own on Jungkook’s head, “I love you too, idiot”
The love he felt for Jungkook was seeping out of his pores. When he opened his eyes, he realised, not metaphorically. The two of them were cocooned in a warm golden glow that felt so safe and serene, he wanted to live in it forever. The air in their bubble thrummed with love, not only his, he could feel Jungkook’s love for him too. Could almost taste it in his tongue. He looked on in astonishment how one minute he was holding his best friend’s entire body in his palm, the next it was the large tattooed hand he was intimately familiar with.
When he looked up, the sparkling galaxies inside Jungkook’s eyes stared back.
He could not contain the ecstasy he felt even if he tried. He surged forward and captured Jungkook’s lips in a desperate kiss.
Jungkook returned his energy tenfold, engulfing him in a tight embrace, kissing with abandon.
“You’re back! You’re human again” Jimin exclaimed in between kisses.
“I thought I’d never see you again!” Jungkook confessed “I love you! I love you so much!”
Jimin kissed harder in response.
Their bubble burst only when Yoongi cleared his throat loudly next to them.
Both of them looked at their compromising position and flushed red. Jimin had somehow ended up entirely in Jungkook’s lap. It wouldn’t be so bad if only Jungkook was not as naked as the day he was born.
Jimin scrambled to get up but Jungkook’s hold on his waist only became tighter. He glared at Jungkook but even he knew the look held no heat. Jungkook relented after a few moments of stare down. So he finally got up, took off his own jacket and held it for Jungkook to cover up his modesty.
“I knew it,” Namjoon said. “ I knew it the moment you told me he’s the only one who could understand you” He looked smug.
“Well that makes one of us” Jungkook says scratching his nape “ Because I had no idea until I was literally dying and neither did this idiot”
“Hey!” Jimin swatted his arm, offended.
“You guys are so cute!” Taehyung said giddily.
“At least you figured it out now,” Yoongi drawled in his typical tone. “Some people..” he looked pointedly towards Namjoon “ ..are still oblivious”
“What do you mean?” the owl asked genuinely.
“Come on Joon, how long are you going to pretend that you’re not in love with Kim Seokjin? Or he with you?”
“What– how do you– that’s not–” Namjoon’s spluttering only delighted Yoongi more.
Chaos ensued.
“What do you mean he’s in love with the witch?” Jungkook had a scandalised look on his face.
Taehyung had cornered Yoongi with his own queries and Namjoon was still struggling to act normal, shifting from one leg to another.
All the chatter abruptly came to a halt when something fell from the tree with a loud yelp.
A small squirrel looked around with frightened eyes.
“Great, another one” Yoongi scoffed.
Namjoon, the ever patient being, asked gently, “ And who might you be?”
The squirrel gulped nervously, “I’m Hoseok”
~The end~