A/N: First time writing with my friend, Alonsea who is editing my first BTS story and is coming out with her own BTS story soon so check it out! Please ignore any mistakes you may see and let's begin!
Name: Count to Ten
Description: Meet Jimin, a timid man diagnosed with Mysophobia, a pathological fear of contamination and germs, whose disease is becoming a burden on performing simple daily tasks. What happens when he meets Jungkook, the loner psychiatrist who will stop at nothing to cure Jimin and his illness? Will their damaged pasts get in the way of their own pursuits of happiness? Based on Ten Count. Jikook. R&R
Disclaimer: This is fiction and nothing more, and I don't own Ten Count, this is just my interpretation. Enjoy!
Chapter One: Mysophobia
The glimmers and shine of the orange and yellow morning sun burston the palette of the dark blue sky as it eased into the dawn of Seoul, South Korea. In the tall buildings in the distance, blasted the sounds of an alarm clock whose incessant rings were silenced once heard by the slim, white gloved hand that hit it with precision yet annoyance.
The figure lying on the grey bed of the expensive and organized apartment stood up with a controlled grace showing itself to be a small man. Groaning yet aware of his surroundings, he reached for the black handkerchief that lied on his nightable and frantically wiped the clock until he let out a sigh or relief.
The most meticulous and irritable part of his day has begun.
He entered the marble bathroom and stared into his crisp reflection. His shiny grey yet lavender hair glistened in the florescent lights and his dark brown eyes watched as he knew what he was about to do, his plump lips dried out from his slumber as he licked them for comfort.
The indescribable fear that went into his body as he began to do so, shook him to his core.
A simple task to many.
A difficult mountain to climb for him.
Don't worry. The faster it's done, the sooner you can get on with the rest of the day. Breathe.
With shaking gloved hands, he slowly peeled off the silk fabric from them, exposing the damaged flesh of his palms, disfigured with cuts and calluses. Grabbing the bleach that laid under the sink quickly, he hurriedly and viciously washed his hands with the bleach, wincing from the stinging pain that came with it.
How much less disgusting he had felt at that instance.
A satisfied sigh escaped his lips as he slowly leaned further to allow the water to run into the sink, the alluring sound filling his ears.
He rinsed his hurt hands and allowed the cold to wash away the small blood droplets that flowed from his cuts. Typical.
Grabbing small bandages and covering his wounds, he breathed out in relief.
It's okay.
He glanced at the new gloves that adorned his hands and slowly closed them.
I'm okay.
…
A hectic and organized morning for the man that was as routine and exact as he liked it to be.
The scrubbing of his shower left his skin aching from the intensity of his strokes and his teeth, while blinding white had hurt from his usual twenty- minute brushes. Despite the personal pain he felt that he grown used to, his outward appearance was carried with dignified aura despite the repulsion he felt at his outside environment. Dressed in a fancy grey and white suit, with a jacket over it to the fight the winter air, he observed the blur of people walk past his eyes, noticing the carefree attitudes he desperately wished he had.
But just watching them, so unaware of their own problems and diseases, made him crave the bleach sensation on his fingertips once more.
Some called his condition a problem.
He called it a solution.
As he made it to the considerably largest building in all the city and one of the best tech companies in the world, he entered as he was greeted with the welcoming hellos of the secretaries as he slowly made it to the elevator.
The other large obstacle that stood in his way. With timidness, he reached for his handkerchief that was folded neatly in his suit pocket and used it to press the button to go up.
"Jimin~ah!" a voice echoed in the building as the man turned his neck to the source of the sound, a smile he was so used to yet never tired of seeing came to view. A small smile formed on his own lips in response.
" Morning, Taehyung." Jimin's sweet voice uttered quietly with a distinct shyness. He awkwardly faced forward to stare at the steel doors in front of him.
Taehyung, the man dressed in his own black suit and trench coat jacket, continued watching the small individual with a friendly grin across his handsome face. Standing next to him, he made sure to maintain enough distance to not make the other uncomfortable which Jimin always appreciated.
The bell ding of the elevator's arrival warned both men to enter, Taehyung pressing his floor's button first to give Jimin the space to do so before getting on. Jimin felt Taehyung's stare on him as he approached and glanced up to send another awkward smile before gripping his handkerchief and pressing the button.
The other man who was watching the movement had felt his grin fall. An emotion that resembled sadness etched on that features but he quickly shook it off to resume his cheerful persona.
"How have you been?"
Jimin felt his heart sank at the hidden implications behind the question, the feelings of concern and worry obvious in his co-workers words.
He bitterly sent a strained smile, one he was so used to using when asked the exact question.
One that showed the obvious difference between him and the rest of the world.
"I'm fine."
They kept eye contact for a bit, the moments of silence sending a tense vibe between the two. But Taehyung simply nodded with his infectious smile and muttered a simple, "Okay."
Until the familiar ding of the elevator at it's place of arrival took them out of their stupor.
Noticing the number, Tae sent a small, confident wave, his infamous grin taking over once again and turned to Jimin, backing up slowly unto the floor.
"See you later, my lovely Jimin~ah!" waving similarly like a child before turning on the floor and out of view.
A little chuckle escaped Jimin's lips as he closed the elevator and pressed the buttons lined with his handkerchief. He watched the doors close and let out another exhausting sigh before his gaze shifted. He lifted the handkerchief near his face to look at it, nearly glaring intensely. He gulped the heavy feeling that placed itself in his throat away before clenching his fist into the soft fabric.
I'm okay.
…
"...and you have a meeting at noon with the board members and a dinner with the director of the X Corp. That is all scheduled for today." Jimin spoke quickly and efficiently from the black folder in his grasp before closing it with one hand.
Noticing the quietness from the intimidating man who sat at the large mahogany desk in the private office sat with his leather swivel chair facing the wall to floor windows, staring out unto the large everlasting city.
"Mr. Lee?"
The chair slowly turned so he was able to see the friendly face of his boss and the CEO of Bangtan Inc. As per usual, the man perceived to be a genius and the smartest man of all Korea, was dressed in his stained sweatpants and a large black tee. Yet, his glorified upbringing did not stop his lovable personality from shining through.
"Jimin, you are by far, the best assistant I've had. To think, you've only worked here for two years. What would I do without you?" He spoke appreciatively, not noticing that the movement of his chair made him knock into the desk, and rather clumsily, break the glass figure that laid dormant.
Two knowing heavy sighs erupted from the two.
Jimin, grabbing the nearby dustpan and broom he always kept handy, made his way over and swiftly cleaned up the mess.
"I rather not think about that, Mr. Lee." He said to himself more than his boss.
A scowl and a groan came from the sitting man whose position on the chair was everything far from his status.
"What did I say about calling me Mr. Lee? You know I don't like it. It makes me sound old."
"I'm sorry, Namjoon." The frail man uttered unsure about how comfortable he felt dropping honorifics as he tossed the glass pieces in the trash to once again face him.
"Better. You can get back to work, I'll call if I need anything." He said, and as much as Jimin hoped his boss would get his necessary duties done, the chances of him trying to sneak a nap past him were far more likely.
I better make sure to wake him before the meeting.
Quietly, Jimin closed the office door with his gloved hand and made his way to his desk located in the common area of personal assistants, secretaries, and other people of high-status.
Grabbing the cleaning solution from under his desk, he wiped the table top diligently before sitting down and resuming his workload for the day.
…
I have to get this to Accounting and then make sure Mr. Lee is ready for his meeting.
Jimin walked down the busy offices with a calm speed, giving waves to those who knew him and smiling with a professional manner.
The events that followed moved in slow motion.
One of what he could only assume was a buzzing intern, with a tray full of drinks turned and collided with him, making them drip down his button up and jacket, some even lying in strands of his hair, making him covered from head to toe.
The stinking scent of coffee overwhelmed his senses, dizziness began to overcome him, and he felt the fear begin to settle in as the world faded behind him and everything became background noise. He could hear the silence that the rather buzzing office overtook yet could just only focus on the sticky sugary substance that was slowly dripping down on him.
"I'm so-" the voice of the girl in front of him began but he could only hear one voice.
One taunting, mocking voice.
"That's disgusting."
His eyes widened and taking quick, short and rapid breaths, he stumbled backwards and ran to the nearest bathroom. He slammed the door open, grateful that no one was there or just unaware of an individual's presence regardless.
Like he was in a drunk fit, he made his way to the sink, staring at the brown stains that began to settle down on his white gloves and spread.
Fearfully and rapidly he pried them off his hands and tossed them uncaring on where they landed, grabbing the soap and pumping it at a astonishing speed making sure not to touch it, he used his elbow to turn on the sink and washed his hands until he could feel them wrinkle, keeping his brown eyes on them and not noticing the overcoming sadness and tears that began to fall and overtake his being.
Sobs became frantic as he took off his shirt and jacket tossing them, using his hands to wash his chest and hair to help make him escape the disastrous odor.
It's okay. It's okay.
He looked up to stare at his reflection in the blurry mirror, watching with red rimmed eyes at the figure who looked nothing like him.
Jimin didn't recognize the weak, pathetic man who was staring back at him.
He didn't want too.
His legs grew weak, crying loudly, he sank and kept his knees close to his chest and making sure not to sit down fully on the dirtied tiled floor.
Jimin could no longer feel his own throat from the cries that escaped his lips. He could only feel his tainted body and the screams of his haunting, traumatic past.
I'm okay.
I'm okay.
He glared at his damaged, unsightly palms. The pale skin now resembling a weak, torn piece of paper. Jimin's tears fell into the dry cuts, causing them to sting once more.
"Jimin?"
He slowly lifted his head up to have his gaze meet Taehyung's, his eyes welling up and his body trembling with shame and sadness at the sight of the other man's astonished face filled with pity.
I'm… okay, right?
A/N: First chapter done, tune in Sundays at 5pm-10pm to see an update weekly if I choose to continue.
Preview:
"You need to see someone. So we have assigned you to attend a briefing with a psychiatrist's office."
Jimin's already pale face grew even more so as he wrung his gloved hands out in front of him.
"And if I say no?" He asked timidly, not daring to look up.
The quietness of his loud boss was another sign of the uneasiness of the subject at hand.
"You'll be asked to leave...permanently." Namjoon spoke with a professional voice, unusual for him, which made what he was saying only that more serious and his words much more piercing to the man in front of him.
The eerie silence that filled the room with tension was cut off by his boss's strong baritone voice.
"You scared a lot of people, Jimin. At least attend the first meeting, and if you really feel you don't need it, then I'll believe you."
Jimin replied with nothing but his silence.
"This is all for your sake, whether you notice it or not."