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“Let’s go, baby.”
The murmured words spoken in the throes of sleep sent a shard of ice through Jimin’s chest. Jungkook had fallen asleep while they were binging the latest Korean drama Jimin had become obsessed with, and the angst portrayed on the screen was nothing compared to the pain filtering through his heart. Jungkook stared at the soft smile on Jungkook’s face, apparently dreaming a very happy dream with this baby of his. Jungkook hadn’t said anything about having a crush or someone he was seeing, and Jimin wasn’t sure whether he should feel more betrayed at the fact that Jungkook hadn’t said anything to him, or heartbroken that Jungkook had someone in his heart.
His feelings for Jungkook had been slowly and steadily building throughout the past year, as they had gotten closer as friends. Jimin was shy and had never had a serious relationship. There had been a couple people he had flirted with briefly, but it never lead to anything more than that, Jimin always being too afraid of getting hurt. His feelings for Jungkook went much deeper than what he had felt for anyone else. He liked him a lot, maybe even loved him, and the realization that Jungkook might already have someone else filled him with dread. He knew he shouldn’t have let himself fall for someone.
Jimin paused the drama, covered Jungkook with a blanket and turned off the light. He moved to his bed and covered himself under his blanket, willing himself not to cry.
~~~
“Hey!”
A pillow hit Jimin smack in the middle of his chest, waking him up from his restless sleep. He opened his eyes and glared at the figure standing at the foot of his bed.
“What the fuck?”
“Why didn’t you sleep next to me? You always sleep with me on the couch or wake me up and snuggle with me on the bed when I stay over.”
“You were deep asleep, and I wasn’t going to make my back suffer.”
“Bullshit. You look upset. What happened?”
“Let’s go, baby,” echoed nastily in Jimin’s head as he watched Jungkook’s expression morph into one of concern.
“Nothing.”
“Oh come on, Jimin. Nothing never actually means nothing. I know you. You’re my best friend.”
“Are you?” Jimin wanted to retort, demanding why Jungkook hadn’t told him about whoever was in his heart. “It’s really nothing this time. You seemed tired and I wanted you to sleep undisturbed,” Jimin muttered quietly instead.
“That’s the first time you ever let my sleep quality stop you from taking all my body heat. Don’t bother next time, it’s not like you. Besides… I don’t mind sleeping next to you.”
Although Jimin knew Jungkook meant the words in a reassuring and joking manner, he was filled with an irrational sense of anger and bitterness.
“Well I don’t want to sleep next to you anymore.”
“… What?”
“Nothing. Just… I have to get ready for class.”
Jimin pushed Jungkook out of his way as he left his room and stepped into the bathroom. He knew he was being unreasonable and petty, and that all things considered, he should be happy for Jungkook if he was in a relationship. But all Jimin could think of was someone else snuggling next to Jungkook, sharing a bed with Jungkook, being the recipient of Jungkook’s smiles and hugs. Jimin had never pegged himself to be a jealous individual but there was no other word to describe the horrible emotions coursing through his veins. He was jealous, downright envious of whoever it was that was Jungkook’s “baby” and he desperately wanted to be that person instead. When he finished his shower and left the bathroom, the apartment was empty and a post-it note was stuck to the refrigerator door.
“Jimin,” it read. “I’m leaving first because you seemed like you wanted some space. Text me when you’re done with class and we can go get dinner tonight. I’ll take you to the arcade! See you later.”
Jimin crumpled up the note and tossed it in the trash.
~~~
“Jimin!”
Jimin cursed under his breath as he quickened his steps, jamming his earphones more tightly into his ears and trying his best not to get caught. It was all futile as he felt a strong grip on his upper arm forcing him to turn around. A hand reached up to yank the earphones out.
“Jimin.”
Jimin looked up to see Jungkook staring down at him, frustration and confusion turning his mouth down into a grimace. “What?” he growled defensively, yanking his arm out of Jungkook’s grasp. “I’m busy, make it quick.”
“Why didn’t you text me last night?”
“I forgot.”
“Obviously that’s not it seeing as if you actually forgot, you would’ve been confused right now.”
Jimin flinched, knowing Jungkook was right.
“Okay, why are you avoiding me? Why are you upset?”
“Look, I don’t have time for this-”
“Then make time because all I know is I spent the whole night staring at my phone wondering why my best friend didn’t text me when I had asked him to, nor did he respond to any of my texts or calls when it had been hours after he should have reached out. And I have no idea why he’s doing that.”
“Well maybe I just didn’t want to go out last night.”
“Then you could have just said I’m not in the mood. But you never even responded.”
Jimin had always hated how whenever he got angry or upset, he would start crying, and he could feel the tears threatening to overflow. Determined not to cry in front of Jungkook, he wrapped his arms around his torso and looked away.
“I’m just not feeling great right now, Jungkook. Please let me go.”
They stood there quietly, in the middle of the campus quad, before Jungkook finally sighed.
“Why won’t you talk to me...?” he murmured, voice breaking at the end.
“I just… don’t want to.”
“I tell you everything.”
At that Jimin felt the anger and bitterness return and he glared up at Jungkook.
“Oh yeah? Then who was the ‘baby’ you were calling out for two nights ago when you fell asleep on my couch?”
Jungkook’s face blanched and he stared in horror at Jimin.
“W-what?”
“If you really told me everything, you would have told me there was someone you liked too.”
“Jimin, I-”
“Save it.”
Jimin shoved his earphones back in, turned around, and stalked away. This time, no one chased after him.
~~~
Jimin was huddled on his couch with a tub of ice cream and about three blankets cocooning him, staring blankly at the stupid comedy on the screen, when a soft knock on the door interrupted his moping. He debated ignoring it, but as the second knock came more strongly, he sighed and untangled himself from the blankets to make his way to the door. He opened it to reveal Jungkook standing there, a takeout bag in his hand.
“Go away,” Jimin growled before he tried to close the door. Jungkook was quicker and stopped the door from closing with his foot before he forced it back open.
“What the-”
“It’s you.”
“What?”
“You’re the person that was in my dreams that night, the person I’ve been dreaming about constantly for months now. It was you the whole time, Jimin.”
“I…it was…me?”
“Yes, I am in love with you, you big dummy.”
Jimin couldn’t help the tears running down his cheeks at Jungkook’s confession. Shocked, Jungkook darted forwards, dropping the bag as he swiped his thumbs across Jimin’s face, wiping away his tears.
“No, no you’re not a dummy. Don’t cry. You don’t have to like me back or anything, it’s fine. I just wanted you to know so you know why I had a hard time telling you.”
“I’m the baby?”
“You’re…what?”
“You said ‘let’s go, baby’. That’s me?”
“Oh… uhh… yeah.” Jungkook blushed furiously. “Umm… I mean I can’t really help what I say in my dreams you know? It’s like-”
“I love you too, baby,” Jimin interrupted Jungkook before closing the distance between them and kissing Jungkook. Jungkook froze in shock, unable to respond for a couple seconds before he cupped his hands around Jimin’s face and deepened the kiss. When they broke apart to catch their breath, Jimin chuckled. “I’m such an idiot,” he whispered breathlessly.
“We both are,” Jungkook grinned. “Go out on a date with me.”
“Okay.”
~~~
“Babe, are you ready?”
Jungkook was sprawled on the couch, watching TV while Jimin finished getting ready for their date. “Almost!”
He put on two silver hoops and a ring, then made his way out to where his boyfriend was waiting for him. “Ready!”
Jungkook looked up and let his gaze travel lazily up and down Jimin, before smiling widely. “You look handsome.”
“So do you,” Jimin giggled. “Good to go?”
“Yeah,” Jungkook said as he stood up.
“Let’s go, baby.”