#rope it

Taehyung, who Jin had come to the country festival with, gave him a nudge with his shoulder. Taehyung was able to see by the look in Jin’s eyes that he thought she was attractive, He couldn’t blame him —  She was hot as fuck. 

The whole crowd's eyes were solely on her, eyes focused so strongly that it burned holes into her skin. As the bull begins to slow, she stands up on the stirrups. Brown leather cowboy boots and hat, tying into the whole bull rider image. The crowd erupted into one final cheer as the girl steps out of the ring. 

The host takes her arm and holds it up. Shouting into the mic, she announces the girl as the new champion of the mechanical bull. Crowds are cheering for the young girl. Clearly a fan favourite by the number of people excited about the win. 

Some were even a bit too excited, seemingly placing bets on whether she would break the record again. 

“That was our reigning champion __ , who broke her record again! So you're good at riding?” Announced the host, the old woman giving __ a playful wink as a few whistles were heard from the crowd.

As the crowd died down, they returned to their activities. Jin follows Taehyung to the bar at the side of the barn. 

“You should give the bull a shot, Jin. If you beat her record, she will be impressed, I'll bet on it.” He couldn't help but be amused at his suggestion, clearly having an ulterior motive.

“Oh yeah? You just want me to embarrass myself.” He couldn't help but chuckle, making a fool of yourself in front of all these people. What was he? A comedian? 

_______

Letting his boots slip into the stirrups, he wonders why and how he ended up here.

Maybe it was the money Taehyung placed on whether he could get over a minute on the bull. Or his ego saying, ‘I could do that’ as each person went on. 

However, despite the reason for Jin being on the bull right now, He’s determined to beat Taehyung, who bet on him falling off before a minute had passed.

As the bull started to rock around in circles, his ego overestimated how well he could do. As each second goes by, Jin can feel himself being lifted each time it suddenly bucks in a direction.

Jin spots Taehyung in the crowd filming him. Jin also spotted __. Eyes filled with the intent of only focusing on him.

After what feels like 100 years of being whiplashed in all directions, his hand slips, leaving him rolling onto the padded mat.

The crowd cheers once again as the host calls out his time.

“That was Jin for the first time, and his time was one minute and ten seconds!” Despite having himself fly around on the bull for a minute, having everyone clap for Jin afterwards while he stood there awkwardly was arguably worse.

Jin was satisfied with winning his bet with Taehyung, and it isn't all bad, as he spotted __ in the crowd clapping for him with everyone else.

As he returns to the bar stools, Jin feels a tap on his shoulder. 

It was __. Jin can't help but stand there frozen. Captivated by her hair falling in wisps at the end, the gingham print top, with her shorts. Perfectly aligning with the theme. 

“You did well out there. I haven't seen you here before. Your name is Jin, right?” Her hand is playing with a loose strand on his shoulder as she speaks, while inspecting Jin’s face.

“Thanks, I still made a fool out of myself. You, on the other hand, that was hella impressive.” Letting a small chuckle fall from his chapped lips. 

“No, no, oh, you did much better than the average person. It's a relief to see someone as good-looking as you not make a fool of yourself.” Her smile is soft and welcoming; he can't help but try to make the most of the opportunity.

‘What? Did she just say what I think she said?’ 

“Congrats, by the way, would you like a congratulatory drink, champion? Even though I'm sure you’ve already been given many.” Jin’s mind is at a loss for the situation that has just unfolded. 

“I wouldn't decline a free drink.” Her body follows behind him slowly, allowing him to lead her through the crowd.

Her hand is latched to his as he leads her to where Taehyung sits. As Jin takes a seat on the stool as the bartender comes to take his order. 

Unable to comprehend what either Taehyung or __ is saying, Jin brings his lips close enough to speak so she can hear.

“What would you like to drink?” He talks into her ear, which for some strange reason seems to be flushing to an even darker colour by the second.

“I'll take a cider,” She says, leaving him to repeat the order to the bartender before returning to the conversation.

The drinks lay down on the bar coasters, slowly pushing towards him as Jin brings his card to pay. 

The rest of the night flies by in bunches, from Jin’s sodas to her ciders, which happen to pile up unnoticed. 

By the time the evening came, Jin was left waving ___ off to some of her acquaintances.  

________

Taehyung was met by his girlfriend as they returned home together. 

The summer breeze heals his lungs, flowing in through the window, disturbing Jin’s combed hair. He didn't care because the day that he had today was more than enough to fill his mind. No radio needed to fill the silence.

The was until he could feel his truck's engine spluttering. As they say, if everything goes great, something will be bound to go wrong later. “Shit- No, not right now.” 

The engine of the car came to a spluttering stop as Jin steered it towards the side of the road. Letting his palms slide against the leather wheel.

‘Typical. Of course, there is nothing here.’ In frustration, He gets out of the car and stands outside. In the hope that his saviour will come to the rescue.

As a small jeep pulls along the side of the road, Jin can't be more overjoyed, considering how tired he is. 

The smile, unwillingly, erupted on his face. Seeing his saviour as the famous ____. Jin can’t help but chuckle as he spoke to her as the distance between the two of them shortened.

‘Fancy seeing you here.’ The smile that paints itself on his face must make him look like an idiot.

‘Must be fate. We keep meeting each other like this.’ Words that should have left his brain as a joke lingered for far too long. Working its way over every possible hidden message behind it. 

A bit desperate, but he’ll take his chances. 

“So, what happened with your truck? Just broke down?” As she worked her way around the back of the truck, letting herself under, to see if there was anything visibly wrong with it, before making her way to pop open the lid of the engine.

“You know how to fix cars? Pretty cool.” He lets his weight rest against the metal of the car, which was peeling slowly. ‘Maybe I shouldn't have trusted something so cheap and gotten it wrapped professionally.’ 

“Yeah, I learned from my dad. He’s a mechanic, so he knows more than I do, but I'm catching up to him. From the looks of it, the problem’s your MAS filter. I can replace it, but I’ll have to call my brother or dad to come and bring it.” 

The relief must’ve shown on his face; the fatigue was getting to Jin, you know. It almost seemed like ___’s eyes lingered on his face from time to time. A slight tint materialized on her ear.

After a quick phone call, both of their bodies lean against the doors, gaze set on the sun falling into the horizon, the cicadas filling the air. 

“Want to explore with me?” She swings her legs over the fence to the overgrown wildflowers. What fool would pass upon an opportunity like this? 

“Of course,” Compared to ___’s graceful hop over the fence, Jin looks rather humiliating when one leg swung over, he struggled to get the other over without falling backwards.

The thump of his boots rooted into the ground, followed by her laugh, stomach held with her arms crossed, she looked beautiful. 

Would it be insane to say he wanted to kiss someone he met that day?

Truthfully, Jin could embrace her all in that moment.

The creek the two of them walk along, the fallen tree that he contemplated joining her as she walks on the bark. Jin, on the other hand, takes off his boots and walks through the stream, as she extends her hand, letting it fall into his as she stumbles her way through the meticulously grown branches.

The grip on his hand turns her knuckles white as she makes it to the end. Jin follows her through the flowers until she sits down. He runs his hand through the boundless amounts of flowers, and picks a small one to gift her.

“For you, madam savior,” Presenting the flowers in an overly extravagant bow. “Not enough repayment for helping with my car, but I will repay you.” 

She accepts the flowers, and as he sits down, letting the air rush against his skin, maybe she gives him more energy; he's no longer weighed down by the urge to sleep. He can’t be tired when he feels ___’s head rest against his shoulder.

“Maybe you could repay me with a kiss?” A whisper, potentially from embarrassment, but the shock runs through him like a chill. The palms that rub against his jeans felt sweaty, but he would never decline. 

“Are you sure?” Jin’s head turning and leaning on ___’s, perhaps to hide his anticipation in hope of ___ saying yes, or maybe he had to hide the heat he feels in his face.

“Yes.” Time felt too fast at this moment; Jin wanted it to last forever, but the suspense got to him like a dog tired of being told to wait. 

Jin’s hand fits snug at ___’s waist, as he brings his lips to fit hers, after each one, her head rests in the crook of his neck, soft breathing from her nose flowing onto his collarbone.

“I want to know you better– if you’ll let me, of course?” The soft voice makes a perfect blend with the cicadas and the soft wind ruffling both of their hairs.

“I’ll work to know every part of you, and do everything I can do for you.” With his hand in hers, Jin brings ___’s knuckle to his face and litters a soft flurry of kisses on every inch of it.