Shadows of Eternity (Jikook)

Mysterious Allure

Meet Park Jimin, a charismatic and introspective photographer with an eye for capturing the unseen, found himself irresistibly drawn to the mystique of Haneul-gul. Born and raised in Seoul, Jimin had built a successful career in urban photography, today was just another day in Jimin's life his recent project had been completed and he just had to finish retouching the pictures he had taken before he could send them to the client, so after getting morning coffee from his regular cafe he started towards the book store owned by none other than his best friend Kim Taehyung. 

Kim Taehyung, known as Tae to his close friends, was a soul deeply intertwined with the pages of old books and the scent of antique paper. Born into a family that cherished storytelling, his parents often entertained him with folktales and legends from their cultural heritage.

Taehyung's love for literature blossomed into a passion for preserving stories, not just as words on paper but as living, breathing entities that could transcend time. His fascination with the past and its untold tales led him to open his own bookstore, a cozy haven named 

"Timeless Pages."

The bookstore became a sanctuary for Jimin where the lines between past and present blurred, where every shelf held a piece of history waiting to be rediscovered, and the place where inspiration struck him, taehyung being present there was the icing on the cake.

Today was one of such days, you see for Taehyung, owning the bookstore was more than a business venture; His careful curation of vintage books and forgotten artifacts aimed to transport visitors to different eras, allowing them to experience the essence of bygone times.

The Bell dings when Jimin pushes the door and enters into the bookstore,tae pops his head out from a corner where he was arranging a few books, and Jimin spots him instantly.

"Good Morning tae, brought you coffee" Jimin greeted

"Why, Thank You, Mr.Park, god knows how badly I needed this" Taehyung rushed to his best friend and took the coffee instantly taking a sip and relaxing flashing his boxy smile at Jimin, who just flashed his own smile at him.

"So is your project done, one about that old town?" taehyung asked sipping on his coffee.

"Yes, I just have to retouch the photos, complete the mood board, and send it to the client, which is why I am here" Jimin replies his own coffee gone and his laptop already powered up to start the final touches. Taehyung leaves him to his own devices and goes about his day. This is very natural to them jimin has a corner reserved for him at Taehyung's store, perks of being his childhood best friend.

Jimin and Taehyung's friendship had its roots in the charming neighborhood where they both grew up. As children, they discovered a hidden alley connecting their houses, and their shared curiosity quickly turned it into their secret hideaway. One day, as they explored the nooks and crannies of their little haven, they stumbled upon an abandoned library tucked away in an old building.

While Jimin was drawn to the dusty volumes filled with captivating images, Taehyung found solace in the written stories that seemed to breathe life into the pages. Their interests, seemingly contrasting – Jimin's fascination with visual storytelling through photography and Taehyung's love for the written word – merged seamlessly within the walls of that forgotten library. It became a place where Jimin could capture the essence of tales with his camera, and Taehyung could immerse himself in the magic of narratives.

As they grew older, Jimin's passion for photography flourished, fueled by the vivid imagery he had encountered in the books from their childhood haven. Meanwhile, Taehyung's dream of opening a bookstore took shape, inspired by the countless stories that had captured his heart. Their shared love for storytelling, whether through images or words, became the foundation of their unbreakable bond.

Years later, when Taehyung finally opened Timeless Pages Jimin's support was unwavering. The bookstore served as a testament to their shared childhood dreams, a place where Jimin's lens could capture the timeless tales Taehyung curated within the shelves. The magic of storytelling that bound them as children now echoed through the pages of Jimin's photographs and the shelves of Taehyung's bookstore.

Jimin's trip down memory lane was interrupted by his best friend who had ordered them food knowing how Jimin completely forgets to eat when immersed in work so taehyung took it upon himself to feed his best friend healthy meals at least when he was in the bookstore which was almost all the time except when jimin went on his photoshoots to different locations but that never stopped tae from nagging his best friend into eating and sleeping.

"what would I do without you ?" Jimin says looking at the food both of their own favorites and some of their shared favorites.

"Probably Starve" Taehyung replies sassily, both laugh and dig into the food.

"So, I might have something for you on the shelves at the back corner," Taehyung said casually finishing up his meal, he didn't have to look at Jimin's eyes to know that his eyes were sparkling at the mention, he just smiled to himself proudly when Jimin rushed to the said shelves.

When it came to his best friend Jimin, Taehyung's thoughtful sourcing of the mysterious photo book was more than just a business gesture. It was a testament to their shared history, a silent understanding of Jimin's yearning for the profound, and a way for Taehyung to guide him toward the hidden narratives that lay within the carefully preserved pages of Timeless Pages.

Jimin rushes back to him with the old-looking but vintage photobook, he held it up to his best friend sitting in front of him.

"You sourced this gem for me, didn't you?" Jimin asked smiling like a kid on a Christmas morning.

Taehyung grins, "Guilty as charged. Knew you'd appreciate it. It screamed Jimin from across the room"

Jimin opens the book "You nailed it, Tae. And check this out. pointing at an old sepia-toned photograph "It's like a snapshot from a forgotten era."

Taehyung leans in "Right? Found it in a dusty old collection and thought, "Jimin needs to see this." So, what's the verdict? Does it live up to your mysterious standards?" Tae asks

"More than that. It's like it's calling me to uncover stories hidden within its pages. I've got this longing for something deeper, you know?" Jimin replies completely fascinated by the book or maybe a particular photograph.

Taehyung nods knowingly "I've always said, you and mystery go hand in hand. What's the story behind this photo that's got you Captivated?

Jimin is still looking deeply at the photo, unsure of its allure, "It's just something about the photograph, Tae. It's like the promise of untold tales, an invitation to explore the unknown."

Taehyung hmm understanding Jimin's curiosity "Well then, looks like I've just handed you the key to another adventure. Ready for whatever secrets this journey unfolds?

Jimin smiles "You know it, Tae. Always ready for the mystery."

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This is the background of Jimin and Taehyung's history and their friendship.

I have little of this story pre-written since I started to write this last year but didn't get around to posting it so after refining the pre-written chapters I will post them one by one.

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