Chapter Text
Jungkook peeks over his textbook. Mr. Cutie keeps eating his food peacefully. In a state of desperation, he tries using mind powers to will the other man to make eye contact with him in a perfect meet cute, and then their eyes met, typical romantic movie moment, but he's interrupted by his friends once again.
"Just go and talk to him already. The longer you stare at him, the more you just become creepy."
"Namjoon's right," Seokjin says. "You've threaded on cute shy boy territory last semester, but now you're way past that. You're rapidly approaching strange kid that stares at others from the corner of the room without saying anything and probably has a jar of hair collected from people without their knowledge territory and I won't stand for that. I can't be associated with these kinds of people."
Jungkook closes his textbook and fully turns to his friends. Almost. Still got to keep Mr. Cutie in his line of vision.
"This is all very simple," Jungkook says, "I can either go and talk to him right now or I can stay here. If I go, the situation can go two ways. I can either charm him up immediately and make him fall in love with me with my amazing personality and sense of humour, which is very unlikely. Or I can make myself a fool in front of him by saying the stupidest shit known to mankind, have him laughing in my face and tell me that he'd never go out with me, which would make me explode of heartbreak into a black hole that would swallow up the whole planet."
"Which are both very plausible possibilities," Seokjin agrees, nodding.
"Or," Jungkook continues, "I can sit here and enjoy lunch with my friends while sneaking some glances at the most beautiful man in this world. All while patiently waiting for a good opportunity to make a move."
"I'm going to finish med school and residency before that moment comes," Namjoon snorts.
"Well, I'm going to start growing wings and learn archery and change my name into Cupid before that moment comes," Seokjin says before snapping the textbook out of Jungkook's hands. "Do you want me to be your wingman?"
With his cover now gone, Jungkook gives up on the mind control plan.
"It's all very funny, but you were in my shoes not so long ago."
"Excuse me," Seokjin says, offended. "I've never pinned over a man to this extent. Do not even compare me with you. As soon as I laid eyes on Namjoonie here I marched my butt over to his pile of books and empty cups of coffee and told him we're boyfriends from that moment on. Nonnegotiable."
Jungkook regards him with a bored expression, hours of Seokjin lamenting over why Namjoon can't just get it that he's flirting with him filling his mind.
"Was that before or after he assumed you're making out with all your friends?"
"Alright, alright," Namjoon says. "In my defense, I was knee deep in exams and sleepless nights spent studying, so excuse me if I didn't have time to take a retrospective look at my social relationships."
"That's okay, baby. You've got it right after the forty seventh date," Seokjin assures him.
Namjoon smiles back and then scribbles something in his notebook. They're sitting in the university cafeteria on their almost done lunch break, trays of food and papers scattered all over as Namjoon is trying to read his notes one last time before his next class. Jungkook always admired the other man's intelligence, and Seokjin did too, as that's what made him fall in love in the first place.
"I really need to get my grades up," Jungkook murmurs under his breath.
Seokjin immediately rolls his eyes. "Please, not another thing to put on your list before you consider yourself worthy of asking him out. I can assure you, he's not going to ask for your report card before agreeing to go on a date with you."
Jungkook shakes his head, somewhat exasperated with himself. Truly, he'd also want to just be over and done with this, but he just can't bring himself to walk over to Mr. Cutie and start up a conversation.
It all started off on a random day around a year ago when he saw this pretty guy on campus and thought to himself wow, that's a pretty guy.
It all snowballed from there. Just like the yellow car effect, from that day on he's been seeing Mr. Cutie anywhere he'd look. The library, the cafeteria, the park around the campus, on the university halls. Always in passing, for just a few moments, but never talking.
Many would call the fact that he keeps seeing him everywhere pure coincidence, caused by the fact that they're attending the same university, but Jungkook likes to think that this is faith pulling them together.
It is a blessing and a curse that they do not have any classes together, because Jungkook is sure his mental well being would be spiralling if he'd have to spend multiple hours everyday seeing him. Taking notes. Concentrating on lectures. Absentmindedly chewing on his pen...
Focus!
"There never was a list to begin with," Jungkook says redundantly.
"Sure, we'll just pretend you suddenly took on a liking for working out and wearing tight clothes around campus shortly after seeing him for the first time," Seokjin says casually. Jungkook glares at him. "Or that that weird phase where you were only consuming green juices right before spring break was not your way of trying to hype yourself up to ask him out."
"Can't someone take care of their health just for the sake of it?" Jungkook defends himself.
"Or that you don't spend hours every Thursday getting ready, only to skip your morning classes to sit around in the library when he's having his study group sessions," Namjoon adds.
"Okay, that's..."
"Or that you didn't spend all of last summer flirting with people in clubs just to practice for when you'd ask him out."
"Or that you don't take general knowledge quizzes online just so you'll look smart whenever you do decide to talk to him."
"Or that..."
"Okay, okay. I get it," Jungkook says, agitated.
His friends give him a compassionate look.
"Just go and talk to him before making any more scenarios." Seokjin watches him cautiously before adding, "and at least make sure he's into men before starting to plan your wedding."
Jungkook deflates immediately upon hearing the words. Ah, yes, that whole thing. Sure, he chose to play the long game courting him — you see, choosing not to talk to him yet was a deliberate choice — but there was always that nagging voice in his head telling him that no matter how good he looks, how smart and funny he is, Mr. Cutie could just very simply be a straight man with no interest in him no matter what.
The sad thing is that this voice might not even be just the result of insecurities, but a very real voice of reason.
Meeting a guy in a gay club? Jackpot, hit the target right in the head, that man is into dudes. Meeting a guy in university? Well, last time he checked, Google told him there's a 2.6% probability the odds are in his favor. And in all this time Jeongguk's never heard of Mr. Cutie seeing any man.
Again, many would call that number low, but Jungkook likes to think that faith will take care of that.
But he can't deny that this is a big reason as to why he hasn't tried talking to him yet. While it would be better to rip the band-aid off and move on if there is really no chance for him, Jungkook finds himself in a comfortable Schrodinger's cat situation—hey, maybe Mr. Cutie is passionate about thought experiments.
"Yeah, well, until then, a little bit of window shopping never hurt anyone, so" Jungkook takes his textbook and gets back on position. "If you'll excuse me."
He glances over upsidedown notes he took last week and discreetly peaks at his prey. Now, if this group of people would just pass already... Ah, almost there, come on, dude, move. There, finally.
Jungkook looks at his table confused.
"Namjoon?"
"Hm?"
"Is that Min Yoongi over there?"
Namjoon pushes his glasses a little higher on his nose before squinting in their direction. Seokjin very obnoxious snaps his head around as well, but Jungkook can't even care about subtleties right now.
"Yeah, that's him," Namjoon confirms.
"Hm," Jungkook says thoughtfully.
At the other table, Mr. Cutie pushed his now empty tray of food to the side and he's blessing everyone with his side profile as he's in a conversation with Hoseok and Yoongi.
Jungkook and Seokjin observe the others like vultures for a little while longer until they finish their conversation. Hoseok gives Mr. Cutie a side hug and Yoongi gives him a high five before they all leave the cafeteria.
Jungkook tears his eyes away after the doors close and Mr. Cuties' back is no longer in sight. He stares owlishly at Seokjin.
"What?" Namjoon asks, confused.
"Those were Jung Hoseok and Min Yoongi over there," Jungkook whispers, hunched over the table like they are discussing something very serious and very secret. Which they totally are.
"And?" Namjoon asks, still confused.
Jungkook rolls his eyes. "Hoseok and Yoongi? Hello? They're another gay couple."
"Oh my god! Jungkook, do you think Mr. Cutie will catch the gay from them?" Seokjin whispers in fake worry.
"Fuck off," Jungkook whispers back.
"No, seriously, what's that got to do with anything?" Namjoon asks.
"Well, they didn't hang out together before. That's got to mean something, right? Maybe... I don't know, you know?" Jungkook says, hopeful.
"Mean what? That he's not a homophobe?" Seokjin snorts. "I don't think that's enough to get Mr. Cutie in your bed, you know?"
"Don't say his name like that!" Jungkook snaps, scandalized.
"I don't think that necessarily means anything, Jungkook," Namjoon says. "He can be friends with anyone he wants to. Yoongi and Hoseok are nice people. We're also friends with some straight men, it doesn't mean anything."
"No, no," Seokjin says. "Jungkook's onto something. Why else would they be talking? This is so obvious. They're going to give him a blood bath on our next gay congregation this Sunday to make him one of us. Namjoon, have you checked the super secret email account? I think it's our turn to bring a sacrifice."
"Hyung, you're not funny," Jungkook whines. "Maybe it doesn't mean anything, maybe it does. Hyung," he turns to Namjoon and takes his hands in his, "please, can you ask Yoongi anything about it? You are in med school together. Just, next time you see each other, can you please ask him?"
"Ask him... what?"
"Ask him if Jimin said anything or hinted anything or did anything to suggest that he might be interested in men."
"You could just wait for the next secret gay meeting this Sunday," Seokjin mumbles while collecting his stuff.
"Please, hyung," Jungkook says. "I can't ask either one of them without sounding like I'm interested in him."
Namjoon gives him an uncertain look.
"Are you sure about it?"
Jungkook sighs. Fuck, he's not sure. He's never explicitly tried to get information about him, he's always just found out basic knowledge through random encounters. Like hearing classmates call his name on their way to their respective classes. Seeing him leaving the pharmaceutical classrooms. Noticing that he's always in the library on Thursday mornings after his own teacher cancelled class last minute a couple of times in a row—it might be a little weird that he started skipping said class for him now, but anyway.
The point is, he's never explicitly tried to find things out about him before, but he's getting desperate. This crush has been around for almost a year now and it doesn't seem to want to go away anytime soon. And he always keeps pushing talking to him further and further away in time. Right now, his resolution is to ask him out on a date until winter break. But it's already November and he feels nowhere near ready and he knows he'll just push it until spring break. And then until summer break.
And they won't be in this university forever.
So, maybe just a little bit of help—like knowing if Mr. Cutie even plays on the same team or not—is exactly what he needs to finally take the leap.
"Yeah, I'm sure," he says, unsure.
"Starting to enter creepy territory," Seokjin singsongs before putting his backpack on.
"Yeah, I know. Now I'm a strange kid that quietly stares at others and probably has a jar full of nails. Well, I don't care."
"Nobody said anything about nails. Careful, you're snitching on yourself," Seokjin says with a wink.
Jungkook looks at Namjoon hopeful.
"Yeah, fine. I'll ask him," he accepts begrudgingly.
Jungkook makes a little jump from how excited he is, grinning widely. Seokjin rolls his eyes fondly at the younger.
"This still means you'll have to talk to him one of these days. You know that, right?" Seokjin says as they're leaving the cafeteria.
"I know, I know. I just get so nervous about him, I don't know why," Jungkook says before hugging Namjoon. "Thank you so much, hyung."
Namjoon pats his back brotherly. "You're welcome."
"Just pray to all gods that Namjoon won't be so obnoxious about it and make things worse," Seokjin adds, stopping Jungkook dead in his tracks.
"Oh my god. Hyung, how are you going to ask him?" he asks, starting to panic.
Namjoon blinks at him in confusion. "I don't know. I'll just ask 'hey, do you know if this guy is gay?'"
"No!" Jungkook yells, earning himself a couple of glares from students around them. "Hyung, you'll have to be subtle about it."
"Good luck with that," Seokjin snorts.
"Hyung, just make it look natural, like it just came up in the conversation. Don't just ask it straight away, that would look suspicious," Jungkook says, staring deeply into Namjoon's very confused soul.
"How can I make it look natural? I'd never ask anyone something like this."
Jungkook scrubs his face nervously. Why can't academic intelligence also come with recognizing social cues in dire situations like this one?
"Okay, okay. Just..." he searches in his brain for the perfect outcome. "Just mention something like you've seen Mr. Cutie in the library with a book that you wanted, but it's not there anymore, okay? You're in medical school, he's in pharmacy school, you've got to have some books that coincide, right? Right. It doesn't even matter what book it is, just say something like that to bring the subject up and then... then say you've seen them together and ask... ask, like..." Jungkook tries really hard to come up with something right now, but his brain is not cooperating, and Seokjin snickering beside him doesn't help at all.
"Okay, so," Namjoon says, "I say I've seen Mr. Cutie in the library..."
"No!" Jungkook yells immediately, mortified. "Do not say Mr. Cutie, okay? Under any circumstances. Just say his name. Jimin, okay? Jimin, just say Jimin. Not Mr. Cutie."
"Okay, okay. It just slipped, alright? We refer to him as Mr. Cutie so much, it just came naturally," Namjoon says with his palms up apologetically.
"Oh my god. It cannot slip when you're asking about him, okay? I think I'd just die if you say that," Jungkook laments, exhausted.
"I have to be there when you ask Yoongi. I want to see this all go down," Seokjin laughs.
"You cannot be there," Jungkook cuts in. "You just can't, okay? You'll just make it worse and make Namjoon nervous and he'll mess it up. Hyung, just try to be subtle and natural about it," he pleads.
"Okay, I'll be subtle and natural. Don't worry about it," he says, trying to calm the other down. "I'll just mention him in passing, use his name and not say Mr. Cutie, and then see if Yoongi says anything. And if he doesn't, I'll just try casually pushing the conversation in that direction without making it obvious. And if he still doesn't say anything, I'll just let it be and not push it to look like I'm having an ulterior motive. And I won't even mention your name. It will all be very subtle and natural," Namjoon says as they arrive at the door of his class, smiling at him reassuringly.
But Jungkook still doesn't look convinced.
"Hey, if anything, it'll just look like Namjoon is trying to cheat on me with Mr. Cutie, not that you're spying on him," Seokjin jokes.
"Yeah, exactly," Namjoon agrees.
Jungkook exhales, stressed. He has the feeling that this will all just go very, very bad and Mr. Cutie will end up getting a restraining order against him.
"Hey, don't worry so much," Namjoon says. "I can do subtleties. I'll just make it all very organic and report back immediately."
"Yeah... Okay. Thank you. Just... If Yoongi starts to get suspicious, abort the mission immediately," Jungkook says.
"Will do."
They say their goodbyes and leave Namjoon to enter his classroom. Jungkook just can't shake the feeling that this will all blow out in his face eventually.
📖
Namjoon did not, in fact, report back. Jungkook waited all day for Namjoon to text him, but of course the universe wouldn't be nice to him just this once. He texted the other man the next morning for any updates, but he only received radio silence. Jungkook is heading to the library for his weekly scheduled linear algebra class skipping and cuties watching now.
The library is spacious and well lit with a large glass wall. There are multiple separated single person desks and a couple of larger tables for study groups, but this early in the morning there are very few students around.
He sits at his usual desk, opens his laptop and takes out his notebook. This little activity of his started over a month ago and really, four times doing it is not even that weird. Especially when you consider the fact that the first two times were not intentional. And it's not like he's just being a creep either. He spends his time catching up on his studies. Plus, the fact that the teacher whose class he's skipping right now is the biggest snooze ever just reinforces his behavior.
"Hi, excuse me."
Jungkook looks up and suddenly angles start singing. The library is filled with a golden light, everything else in the background fades and flowers bloom from every nook and cranny of the room. Mr. Cutie is smiling at him.
Not just that, Mr. Cutie is talking to him.
"Uh, hi," Jungkook says, snapping back to reality.
"Sorry to bother you, but are you a computer science student by any chance?" he asks.
Jungkook blinks slowly and for a moment his mind is completely blank. Is he a student? What is he studying? Does he even go to university?
"Uh, yes. Yes, I am," Jungkook says and mentally shakes himself to get back to his senses.
"Um, can you... I mean, I'm really sorry to bother you, but my laptop just won't turn on and my friend," he points to a table where his classmates sit and Jungkook recognizes Hoseok, "he said you might be able to help me. So I thought I might ask."
"Yeah, sure. I'll take a look," Jungkook accepts immediately.
"Thank you so much," he says relieved and puts his laptop on the table, then takes a seat next to Jungkook. "My name is Park Jimin, by the way."
"I'm Jeon Jungkook. Nice to meet you," he introduces back and shakes his hand. His soft hand.
Jungkook turns is attention to Jimin's laptop and tries to concentrate. His laptop is an older model, but it looks very clean and neat and it's obviously well taken care of. He turns it on and hears the distinctive sounds, but the screen remains black.
"How long did you have it for?" Jungkook asks.
"Five years," Jimin says. "I didn't really use it much. Just whenever I needed to write the occasional papers for school or wanted to watch a movie. Lately I've been using the library's computers for essays because I keep forgetting to bring my laptop. And I didn't have time to watch anything so it's been shut for quite some time."
"When's the last time you turned it on?" Jungkook presses the Windows key sequence. Nothing happens.
Jimin takes a second to think, squinting his eyes. "About two months ago. I'm not sure." He watches Jungkook turn it off and on again. "Is it bad?" he asks.
"I might need to do a system restore. Maybe you have issues with the monitor connection. Might be the hardware. I'd have to take a look at it to know for sure," Jungkook says on autopilot. He's internally freaking out so bad right now. And Jimin is sitting so close to him, Jungkook can smell his cologne and shampoo. He's so thankful that he spent extra time on his self care and outfit today so he doesn't look like a slob. He knew it would pay off one of these days.
But Jimin looks bummed out at the news.
"Did you have anything important on it?" Jungkook asks.
"Not really. Just some old pictures that might be on the cloud anyway and some old essays that I don't need anymore." He closes his laptop and puts it aside when it seems like Jungkook is done looking at it. "Would I have to change it?"
"Not really," Jungkook says. "Maybe it's nothing complicated. Maybe you'd have to change your hard drive. But again, I'd have to look at it to know for sure."
"You mean like open it up and look inside of it?" Jimin asks.
"Yeah, but I can't really do it right now," Jungkook says, gesticulating around, his heartbeat starting to pick up.
Jimin looks at him thoughtfully. "Well, I wouldn't want to bother you anymore. You've already been very nice to look at it. I think I'll just take it to a repair shop."
"It wouldn't be a bother," Jungkook assures him quickly. "I mean, this is what I'm studying, so it would just be some extra experience for me. Plus, I'd be able to do it faster than the repair shops around here who have customers."
Jimin takes a moment to think about it. Jungkook is battling with himself if he should be saying anything more right now. He'd die for an opportunity to see the other man again, but he doesn't want to come off as desperate.
"Do you need your laptop to work anytime soon?" Jungkook asks, trying his luck.
Jimin sighs. "Yeah. I moved apartments a few days ago and lost all my notebooks," he explains. "So I thought I might start taking notes on my laptop so it wouldn't happen again. But then it decided to break." He pouts and flicks his laptop at the end.
Jungkook chuckles. "Well, I can take my working kit and an extra hard drive just to be sure from home after classes and fix it later today if you're also free." Jimin looks up at him from under his eyelashes. To really drive the point home, Jeongguk adds, "it's really no problem," and then gives him a reassuring smile.
Jimin matches his smile and eventually nods. "Okay. Thank you so much. I owe you this," he says.
"Don't mention it," Jungkook says, and from a short lapse in judgement he decides to try winking at him, which warrants him a short laugh from the other.
"Okay, well, I don't want to keep you from your work anymore, so I'll just leave you be. Thank you again," Jimin says, smiling before taking his laptop and getting up to leave.
"Jimin, wait," Jungkook says before the other man can turn around. "Give me your number," he says, his heart in his throat. What is happening?
Jimin looks at him confused.
"So we can arrange when to meet later for your laptop," Jungkook explains, anxiously scratching at his neck.
"Oh!" Jimin says, looking embarrassed. "I thought... yeah, give me your phone."
Jungkook hands Jimin his phone, waiting patiently as he types his number in and sends himself a message with Jungkook's name.
"Okay, I'll text you later," Jimin says, smiling and waving before returning to his friends.
Jungkook returns the gesture and immediately slumps down once Jimin is a safe distance away. What the fuck was that?
He talked to Mr. Cutie, got his number and agreed to meet again later. Is this real?
Nevermind the fact that he's just trying to fix a laptop here.
He can't concentrate on anything after that. He tries looking over his study plan, but the numbers keep twirling into small hearts and pretty faces with broken laptops. He finally decides to put an end to his suffering and gathers his things to leave, but not before Jimin smiles and nods at him on his way out.
His legs feel like jelly.
📖
Mr. Cutie 🩷💻
hey :)
i just got home from uni
if it's too late we could meet another day
Jungkook reads the messages as he's blow drying his hair. He literally ran home after his classes were done and tore apart his apartment trying to get ready. Even though he knows he shouldn't do too much just yet, he can't help but micro analyse everything about himself now. There are clothes scattered everywhere and there's a face mask sheet in the corner of the room and hair care products everywhere.
His hands hover over his screen, trying to decide if he should postpone it to look cool about it or just meet today. He kind of doesn't want to waste how much time he spent trying to make himself look good just to sit in his room and binge watch kdramas and eat ramen either.
Jungkook checks the time. It's 07:30 PM.
you
hey :)
it wouldn't be a problem for me to meet now
whatever you want
He waits patiently, chewing on his bottom lip. He dramatically exhales and shakes his body when the reply comes.
Mr. Cutie 🩷💻
alright then
would you be ok coming over to my place?
i'm too tired to meet somewhere public right now
Jungkook scratches his neck. He actually prefers something private, as he'll be more comfortable with less people to potentially embarrass himself in front of.
you
yeah that's fine
just text me your address
He does and Jungkook looks it up on Google Maps. It's a twenty minute walk away from his place. He lets the other know and then puts his shoes on.
The November air is cold tonight, but Jungkook is grateful for the coolness it brings to his heated up face. He feels like he floats all the way to Jimin's apartment. He hasn't been able to concentrate on anything else today. He doesn't remember anything from his lectures, he's not even sure he attended them actually, and he's certain he skipped lunch today.
He enters the building like in a dream, skips the steps two at a time in anticipation and takes a second to regulate his breathing before knocking.
"Hey," Jimin says when he opens the door, smiling softly. He wears gray sweatpants and a baggy white t-shirt and his hair is damp. Jungkook feels his heart melting at the sight.
"Hi," Jungkook says, feeling his face split into a huge smile.
"So, I don't usually let strangers into my house," Jimin says playfully, keeping the door open enough so Jungkook can see inside his apartment, but not enough to get in. "But Hoseok hyung vouched for you not to be a secret serial killer. And I have most of my stuff packed anyway, so if you turn out to be a crazy stalker I can just easily move again, so I think it's okay if I let you in," he says before moving from the doorway.
"I hope that's not why you moved here in the first place," Jungkook jokes. He enters the hallway, takes his shoes off and accepts the pair of slippers Jimin offers him.
Jimin laughs at that, causing his eyes to close in little crescents and making his face look radiant. "No, nothing like that. Just wanted a bigger space after I got a job. Living on campus sucked."
"I know, I hated it too," Jungkook says, thinking back to the crammed rooms and communal bathrooms and rowdy collage kids. "Your place is really nice," Jungkook compliments as he enters the living room.
His apartment really is nice, though very empty. There are a couple of boxes on one side of the room and the only furniture here is a couch and a coffee table. But his apartment is in a new building and it looks very modern, with large windows that look over a nice greenery park. His apartment is also very warm and Jeongguk feels his fingers tingling at the temperature change.
"Yeah, if by nice you mean barren," Jimin snorts. "Sorry the place looks like this. As I said, I just moved here a couple of days ago and I haven't had time to unpack yet. Thank you again for doing this. You're saving me so much time right now."
"No problem, I really don't mind," Jungkook smiles, taking a seat on the couch.
"How old are you, by the way?" Jimin asks from the kitchen.
"I'm twenty four," Jungkook says.
"I just turned twenty six," Jimin says, placing two cans of soda on the coffee table. "You can call me hyung." Jimin gathers his legs underneath himself and props his arm on the back of the couch, smiling softly, and for a second Jungkook can't look away.
God, he's absolutely beautiful, he thinks.
"I will," Jungkook whispers back, looking at him mesmerized.
They stare at each other for a few more seconds. Everything feels very domestic, and Jungkook enjoys it a lot. Jimin from across the room was a sight for sore eyes, but Jimin from up close makes Jungkook unable to look away, and he doesn't mind that at all.
Eventually, Jimin breaks eye contact.
"Um, I don't know if you already had dinner or not, but I was planning on ordering some food as a 'thank you' for helping me," Jimin says, taking his phone out of his pocket. "I also don't have anything in my kitchen for a proper meal. There's this really good restaurant not that far away and they deliver very fast. Do you want anything specific?"
"Any kind of noodles is fine by me, thank you," Jungkook says. Jimin shoots him another smile before placing the order. "Where did you start working?" he asks.
"The pharmacy just around the corner. Man, if you're an insane murderer I'm just offering myself on a plate right now," he laughs. "I met you this morning and I already brought you to my house and told you where I work."
"And willingly gave me your laptop. I could very easily hack it and steal all your information," Jungkook jokes.
"Oh, god. How did I survive this long? I practically have zero preservation instincts," Jimin laughs.
"Hey, Hoseok hyung vouched for me, so you have nothing to worry about," he says, unscrewing the laptop. "Can you bring me your charger? I want to make sure it has enough battery in case it needs any updates."
Jimin freezes for a second, staring at Jungkook with wide eyes.
"My... charger?" he says.
Jungkook tries to remain straight faced.
"You made sure your laptop is charged, right?" He sees Jimin's mental wheels working inside his head.
"I don't even think I know where my charger is right now," he admits. "Probably in one of these boxes, but I have no idea in which one. I kind of just shoved everything in. God, I'm so stupid. If I called you over here just for my laptop to be out of battery..."
"Hey, it's okay. I wouldn't mind either way. But yeah, we should probably check that first." He tries turning the laptop on again and looks at the battery light, but neither the battery, nor the power light blinks up. "How long have these lights been out?" he asks, tapping them.
"Oh, those? They stopped turning on like... a year ago? But if you shake it a little, sometimes they turn back on," Jimin says, reaching out to grab his laptop.
Jungkook protectively holds the laptop closer, out of his reach. "Okay, don't shake your laptop," he laughs, making the other grin embarrassed. "Come on, I'll help you find the charger. We'll see what our next move is after that."
Jimin swings up from the couch and dramatically sighs. "God, if you truly came over just for this, then I'm the biggest idiot ever." He brings a cutter and a knife from the kitchen to open the boxes. "You get the cutter. I need you at a disadvantage in case you turn out to be a..."
"Still on that?" Jungkook interrupts him.
Jimin raises his hands defensively. With a cooking knife in his hand. Pretty offensive.
"Can never be too sure," he says.
Jungkook snorts. "Come on. I protected your laptop from you going WWE on it. I'm harmless."
"Hey, you don't know what kind of relationship is between me and my laptop, okay? Everything is very consensual, I'll have you know," Jimin says.
"Oh, yeah? I'll believe it when the other party is not completely knocked out," he chuckles, causing Jimin to trip over himself laughing.
"Man, you're funny. I regret not meeting you sooner," Jimin says, making Jungkook's heart flutter. "I've actually seen you around campus once or twice before," he adds.
"Yeah, I think I've seen you too," Jungkook admits, feeling his throat drying up, and he has to fight keeping a polite smile on. Shit, has Jimin observed him staring at him before? He sticks his cutter in a box to open it up in order to distract himself and have an excuse not to look Jimin in the eyes.
"I'm really glad Hoseok hyung 'adopted' me," Jimin continues, apparently not noticing Jungkook's mental turmoil. "It's so hard to make friends once you start university. And now I've got three new friends in less than a week, all thanks to him."
"Friends, huh?" Jungkook asks, looking at him with a small grin that Jimin matches immediately.
"Well, I call anyone friend who gets to observe first hand what an idiot I am," he says, starting to open up boxes. "This is gonna take forever," he says with a frown after rummaging around in a box and coming up empty handed, no charger in sight. "If you want to leave, I can just look for the charger myself and text you when I find it."
Jungkook stops looking through cutlery and books—there really is no rhyme or reason to these boxes—and shrugs his shoulders, trying to look indifferent. Even though internally he's panicking because he's enjoying his company so much and doesn't want to leave just yet.
"Already trying to kick me out again?" he jokes, making the other chuckle. Jimin shakes his head. "It's faster if we look together. And you did promise me noodles, so."
"Fair enough," Jimin grins, returning to his search.
"How did you meet Hoseok?" Jungkook asks after some time to fill in the silence. Fine, and to gather information, too.
Jimin stops in his tracks for a second before shrugging.
"He just started talking to me one day," he says. "He's so friendly. It was exactly what I needed that day. If I didn't have my best friend I swear I'd be a hermit. Talking to new people is so nerve wracking for me. And starting a PhD program really sucks all the energy and time out of you. I'm doing my PhD in Medicinal Chemistry by the way, I don't know if I mentioned it before."
"I noticed," Jungkook smiles, holding one of his university books above his head. He doesn't mention that he knew this information before though. "Hey, I think I found your notebooks," he says.
Jimin immediately abandons his box and crawls over to him, grabbing the box with both hands and sticking his head inside. "Oh my god! You found them!" He yells happily. "I've been looking for them everywhere. I could just kiss you right now," he says, making Jungkook's heart stop.
"Glad I could help you," he manages to croak out. He grabs his can of soda and takes a huge gulp.
"I was so worried about you coming over and ending my life when you're actually saving it right now," he says as he grabs all of his notebooks in his arms, securing them under his chin. "I'll go put them away really quick. I'll be right back."
"Do you need help with that?" Jungkook laughs as Jimin waddles out of the room like a duck.
"I'm fine!" he yells back.
Jungkook chuckles to himself and moves on to another box. God, he didn't feel so good in so long.
"You've got a lot of packages from IKEA," Jungkook notices out loud when Jimin comes back.
He exhales tiredly and slumps down next to him. "Yeah, I had to order a bunch of furniture because my last apartment came furnished and this one was empty. But I cannot, for the life of me, manage with their instructions. I swear to god, they did not give me all the pieces for the coffee table," he whines.
Jungkook gives him a sympathetic look.
"They did not!" Jimin defends himself immediately, trying to suppress his laughter.
"Sure they didn't, hyung," Jungkook says and pats his knee assuringly. He picks up the cans of soda from the table before shaking it slightly. It wobbles back and forth lazily. Jimin immediately slaps his hand playfully.
"Don't do that! I'd like to see you do any better."
"I actually enjoy building IKEA furniture. It's pretty fun," he says and resumes the elusive charger search.
Jimin rolls his eyes. "Of course an engineer would say that," he snorts, opening up another box. "If you open up a box and see my underwear, then you did not see anything."
Jungkook chokes on his breath and feels his face heating up.
"Noted," he croaks.
Jimin pats his back, laughing, and they're interrupted by his phone ringing. "This must be the food. Wait a second," he says before getting up.
Jungkook uses this time to catch his breath. He still can't believe that this day is real. His hyungs are going to have an aneurysm when they hear about it.
But for now he has to stop thinking about Jimin and his underwear first.
"Food's here," Jimin announces, putting the bags on the coffee table. "Wait a second as I set this up."
"Are we sure the table won't collapse while we eat, though?" Jungkook asks, therapeutically searching in a box of Jimin's things. A safe box. With no underwear.
Jimin rolls his eyes. "Don't be a brat about it. I should've said it was passed down from my grandmother or something."
Jungkook laughs, but he stops dead in his tracks as he touches a black cord. He grabs it and pulls, taking out a laptop charger and a sock.
"Is this your charger?" he asks smugly, holding it up like a prize.
Jimin's eyes snap back to him.
"You found it!" he yells happily. "I swear, you know where my things are better than I do." He stops mid plugging it in his laptop. "It's your first time here, right?" he asks in playful suspicion.
Jungkook rolls his eyes. "I swear, I haven't gone rummaging through your stuff beforehand. I just get very motivated by noodles."
Jimin seems happy with his response as he giddily nods and plugs his charger in the power socket. They both hold their breath as the laptop takes a second to wake up, but then the monitor lights up. They both exhale loudly, incredulous.
"So this bitch was just out of battery? I'm such an idiot. Sorry for wasting your time," Jimin says.
"Don't worry about it," Jungkook assures him. He's never felt like his time has been put to better use before. "We'll just let it run some updates while we eat. This might take some time," he says after checking it one last time, then he moves to the table.
Jimin hands him chopsticks and a box of noodles, which he gladly accepts, and they start munching in. He didn't realize just how hungry he was before and he doesn't even bother to make conversation at first, and Jimin seems to be in the same situation.
"You were right. This is very good," Jungkook compliments after a while.
Jimin nods proudly.
"Told ya," he gloats between bites, then he takes a good heaping of food with his chopsticks and turns to Jungkook, keeping a cautious hand under it. "Here, try this. It's their best dish," he says.
For a second, Jungkook is too frozen to react, but then he accepts the food. "It's amazing," he says, even though he barely notices the taste because of how flustered he is.
Jimin nods knowingly and resumes his eating. He's either completely oblivious or Jungkook manages to appear collected somehow.
"You saved me so much hassle right now," Jimin says, staring at his laptop screen. 17% update completed. "I don't even know where I would've found the time to go to a repair shop for this between school, my research, my job and unpacking. Truly, thank you so much," he says sincerely and lightly squeezes Jeongguk's arm.
Jungkook flexes his muscles subtly.
"You're welcome." He smiles friendly, a little at a loss of words. This feels like the best day ever for him, he really doesn't feel like he's doing the other a favour.
Jimin gets up and gathers the food containers after they're done eating, shooing Jungkook's hands away when he tries to help out. "Is it taking too long?" he asks, looking at his laptop. 34% update completed.
"Well, you haven't used it in a long time, I wouldn't be too worried about it," he says. He shoots up on his feet when Jimin trips over a box and falls to the floor, food boxes scattered everywhere now. "Are you okay?" he asks, worried.
But Jimin just laughs at himself and lets Jungkook put him back on his feet. "I'm making a fool of myself in front of you here. Yeah, I'm okay, don't worry," he says, straightening his clothes.
"Let me help you," Jungkook offers, but he's immediately shut down by the other.
"Absolutely not," Jimin says. "You've done too much already. Just let me pick up my dignity and clean my mess in peace." He kicks a box of food with his foot in mock anger, making the other laugh. "I'll go change my clothes," he says, pointing at the grease stains. "Do not start cleaning this up while I'm gone. I'm serious," he warns, trying to look authoritative, and Jungkook raises his hands up innocently.
As soon as the other closes his bedroom door, Jungkook starts picking up the boxes and chopsticks and throws them in the trashcan. He's in the middle of looking through the cupboards for something to wipe up the rest of the mess when Jimin emerges back, looking at him accusatory.
"What did I just say?"
Jungkook scoffs and turns around with something snarky to say back on the tip on his tongue, but he freezes on his spot when he sees Jimin. Jimin is wearing shorts.
Dear Lord, have mercy.
"I scratched my knee," Jimin says casually when he sees Jungkook looking at him. But Jungkook barely noticed the scratch because Jimin's legs are muscular, yet delicate, like they're sculpted marble. "But you can always count on a pharmacist to have bandages on hand, right?" he laughs, flopping something on the counter.
Bandages. Or some disinfectant maybe. Or some first aid kit thingy. Whatever. Legs.
"You can go in the living room, I'll clean this up quickly and be there in a second," Jimin says lightly and grabs some wipes from a cupboard Jungkook hasn't checked yet. This time, Jungkook doesn't even try protesting and he just goes in the other room, looking at the floor.
He closes the door after himself and exhales deeply, putting his hands in his hair. Never in his life has he thought he'd be in a situation like this. Mr. Cutie is actually really nice and funny, on top of being exceptionally good looking, and Jeongguk enjoyed talking to him so much and the conversation felt so easy and natural for him. His crush is just deepening for the man the more he talks to him. And he's a pharmacist. In this economy? An employed man makes him weak in the knees.
Also, his knees.
Jungkook shakes his head, trying to get some clarity.
The laptop screen shows that the update is 43% completed now. It is going pretty slow actually.
He sighs and notices the box Jimin tripped over. He moves it around a bit and takes a good look at it. It's an IKEA book storage unit.
"Sorry I keep being all over the place," Jimin says entering the room, making Jungkook jump out of his skin, surprised. "I just had a lot on my mind lately. I'm barely sleeping anymore and the food I had with you is the only proper meal I had all day," he says, sounding exhausted, and slumps on the couch. He brings his injured knee up and takes a piece of cotton with some disinfectant on it to clean the area. "What are you doing?" he asks when he sees Jungkook holding the box.
Jungkook stares at it thoughtfully before looking back at Jimin. "I can build this for you if you want," he says.
Jimin looks taken aback. He sputters for a few moments, ready to politely turn the offer down, but then he stops. It would really be nice if Jungkook would build it, actually. He's disastrous when it comes to this and he really needs some furniture. I mean, he sleeps on a mattress on the floor and his whole house is full of boxes. And he definitely doesn't have the time or the energy to do this by himself.
"I... That would be very nice of you, thank you," he says quietly. Jungkook shoots him a charming smile that makes Jimin's heart skip a beat. This is bad, Jimin thinks to himself.
"You're welcome," Jungkook says. He moves the box in the middle of the room, opens it up and starts taking the pieces out. It's nothing complicated, just a billy bookcase, and Jungkook is well acquainted with them, as his own apartment is filled with billy bookcases. Even though he has a feeling Jimin won't put figurines in this one.
Jimin finishes bandaging his knee neatly and moves to sit next to Jungkook. He quietly observes him working, looking almost mesmerized. At this point, Jungkook almost finished screwing everything in and the only thing left to do is to assemble the pieces together.
"You're really good at this," Jimin notices out loud.
Jungkook shrugs. "I just always liked building stuff. LEGOs, IKEA furniture, computers, whatever. I've always been better at the practical stuff," he says.
"I'm exactly the opposite," Jimin laughs. "Maybe that's why I got into pharmacy school. I can study theory like an animal. Not really like an animal, but you get what I'm saying. But too much studying can really fuck you up. I can feel my brain melting some days from information overload," he laments, pushing his back to the floor and bringing his hands up to rub at his eyes.
Jungkook makes the mistake of looking at him for exactly one second before snapping his head back to his work. Jimin's shirt rode up and a few inches of his stomach are visible now.
"Yeah, tell me about it," he chuckles nervously. "My hyung is in med school and I catch some things on the fly and this stuff is so complicated, I literally feel like it's klingonian."
"It really does feel like that sometimes," Jimin chuckles. "Who's your hyung?"
"Kim Namjoon," Jungkook says. "Maybe you've heard of him, he's pretty popular."
Jimin shoots right back up, looking at him with wide eyes. "The Kim Namjoon?" he gasps.
"The one and only," Jungkook chuckles nervously. His top got back into place, but now he bent his knees up and his shorts are slumping down around his thighs, and Jungkook is sure he can spot the hem of his boxers. Jungkook is going to die.
"He's like, the smartest man in the whole medical department," Jimin says in awe. "I've never seen you with him, though."
"Maybe because he always has his nose in a book," Jungkook snorts, leaving out the part that whenever Jimin is in the same room Jungkook is almost always covering his face with a textbook to look at him in peace. He gets up and takes a piece of the furniture with him, holding it on its feet. "Hold this right here, please," he says.
Jimin immediately gets up and does as he's told.
"I still can't believe you're just casually friends with Kim Namjoon."
"Yup," Jeongguk says, screwing one shelf in. "He and Seokjin hyung are my best friends. No one understands me like they do. They're basically raising me here," he laughs.
Jimin looks taken aback.
"Kim Seokjin?" he asks.
"Mhm," Jungkook murmurs, concentrating on making everything straight. "He's doing a biochemistry degree now, maybe you've heard of him."
"Heard of him." Jimin lets out an incredulous laugh. "Who hasn't heard of him? He's getting his second SNU degree. These guys are like legends," he says, looking amazed. "Can't believe you're friends with both of them."
"Yeah, well, they're kind of a package deal," he laughs. When he sees Jimin's confused expression, he explains, "they're a couple."
"Oh," Jimin says, looking surprised. Jungkook observes him for a few more seconds, but he can't read anything on his face. Definitely not a homophobe, though, he thinks. "You hang out with the smartest people alive, what are you doing here with me?" he jokes after some time.
Jungkook laughs. "You're a pharmacist doing your PhD at the top university in Korea, give yourself some credit, hyung," he says, taking a look at the laptop.
Jimin looks at it as well, frowning. "Why does it say '4% update completed' now? it was almost 80% when I last looked at it."
"It probably needed more than one update," Jungkook says. "You've been updating it regularly before, right?"
Jimin cringes a bit at himself. "Not really," he admits. "I would get an update notification every so often, but most of the time I just ignored it... That's not good, right?" he asks, looking uncertain.
Jungkook sighs, amused. "Well, let's just say you need some computer science student friends too, not just people from the medical field."
"I guess I do," Jimin agrees. "What year are you in, by the way?"
"I'm in my second year in a master's program," Jungkook says, finishing up the bookcase. "It's way lighter than university, though. So I have a lot more free time to do other things now."
"Like what?" Jimin asks.
"Like, I'm a freelance video editor right now. I finally have time to go to the gym regularly. I help cute guys in the library with broken laptops," Jungkook says before he can help himself. He immediately shuts his mouth closed and snaps his head in Jimin's direction, looking mortified.
Jimin stares at him with wide eyes. For a second he looks like he might burst out laughing, but he contains himself with a tight lipped smile and instead says, "that's so cool, what kind of videos do you edit?"
Jungkook snaps his head back to the bookcase, gulping. He very pointedly stares at the shelves. His fingers are slightly trembly right now and he feels his face heating up.
"Um, just like... video editing for some YouTubers," he says.
"That's... wow, that's so cool. What kind of YouTubers?" Jimin asks, still looking amused.
"Don't think of PewDiePie or Mr. Beast," Jungkook laughs. "Just some people making game plays. Some girls doing makeup tutorials. A couple of them are pretty big, actually. That's kind of my niche," he says, taking a step back and admiring his work once it's done.
"Okay, you just become cooler and cooler the more you talk about yourself," Jimin says, making the other laugh. "This is amazing," he says, pointing at the bookcase. "Amazing. I could've never been able to do this." He tries shaking it a bit, but it remains sturdy, no wobbling or anything. "I definitely couldn't have done that," he laughs.
Jungkook laughs, starting to calm down now. He looks at the laptop. 79% done now.
"Let me fix your coffee table until your laptop is done," he says, trying to find another distraction.
"Excuse you, there is nothing to fix at the coffee table," Jimin says in mock offense with a big smile on his face, but he does move next to the table. "I'll have you know that I employed the most competent craftsmen to assemble this fine piece. How do we do it?" he asks.
Jungkook chuckles at him. "Just help me flip it over," he says. Jimin grabs the table legs from one side and Jungkook from the other, flipping it. Jungkook crouches down and takes a good, hard look at it. The screws are jabbed in and the wood is damaged on almost every single hole, and on a particular leg Jimin seems to have resolved to glue in order to keep it in place. Jungkook can barely contain his laughter while Jimin is cracking up and continues to say "finest craftsmanship" over and over.
"Yeah, I think you're better off just getting a new one," he says, putting the table back on its position.
"I see no problem with this table," Jimin defends himself, barely able to speak from how hard he's trying not to laugh. He leaves the room and comes back with his notebooks and textbooks from earlier, still stubborn to transport them all in one go.
He sits down in front of the bookcase and starts putting them in, and Jungkook follows him right away, helping him organize.
"But seriously, thank you so much for everything you've done here," Jimin says sincerely, smiling at him. Jungkook smiles back. "You've fixed my laptop, found my textbooks, cleaned my mess and built my furniture. I started off scared that you might take my kidneys, but now I don't want to let you leave anymore," he laughs, falling back on the floor and leaving Jungkook to do all the work of putting everything in its place.
Jungkook turns around, ready to say something about it when his eyes fall on Jimin. He's laying on the floor, hands above his head, knees bent and a huge smile on his face, staring Jungkook right in the eyes. Now his stomach is exposed even more than before and Jungkook can clearly see the hem of his boxers from where his shorts rode up. This time he can't even look away.
"I want to make it up to you," Jimin says, smiling.
Jungkook's brain short-circuits for a second, not so innocent thoughts filling his mind.
"Hm," he manages.
"Mhm. What do you want?" Jimin asks in a breathy voice, not changing his expression one bit and staring deeply into his soul.
Jungkook's eyes widen at that and he isn't even able to respond this time.
Jimin looks at him expectantly, raising an eyebrow. That smile still on his face.
"What about... dessert?" he says.
Jungkook grips 'A Textbook of Pharmaceutical Microbiology' in his hand, staring down at him. Jimin's got to know what he's doing now, right?
"Mhm," Jungkook finally croaks out.
Jimin stares up at him, barely containing his smile from turning into a grin. He bites his bottom lip, and in that exact moment Jungkook is sure he's about to die, but the doorbell rings, and Jimin snaps his head in that direction, startled.
"Oh, shit," Jimin says, looking at Jungkook surprised. Jungkook looks back at him confused. "I totally forgot," he says before getting up and leaving for the door.
Jungkook is left looking at his back, completely confused. He lets out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. What the fuck just happened?
And who is at the door? Negative thoughts fill Jungkook's mind. It's probably his girlfriend coming over to spend the night with her very straight boyfriend. What would Jungkook even do in this situation? He can't just get up and walk out now.
He hears Jimin opening the front door, stopping the incessant ringing, and then a man's voice saying "sorry, sorry, I know I'm late. He's here already, right?" And Jungkook is more confused than ever.
A second later Jimin comes back in the living room, another man around his age in tow.
"Jungkook, this is Kim Taehyung," Jimin says sheepishly, scratching at his neck. "The best friend that I've told you about. He keeps me from being a hermit."
Kim Taehyung shoots him a boxy grin and offers his hand to shake.
"Hi, nice to meet you. I was supposed to be here to make sure you're not an axe murderer," he jokes.
"Ah," Jungkook says while shaking his hand, surprised. "Do I really give off murderer vibes?" he asks.
"No, you do not," Jimin says immediately, laughing nervously. "I just... you can never be too sure, you know?" he says, sitting crossed legged next to Jungkook.
"You actually built this?" Taehyung says, looking at the bookcase. But his expression clearly shows that never in a million years would he believe that Jimin built it himself.
"Yeah. Yeah, I did," Jimin says confidently.
Jungkook looks at him fondly, trying to suppress a smile. Then his eyes meet Taehyung's.
"You built it, right?" he asks. Jungkook nods. "Knew it," Taehyung says, snapping his fingers. "Have you seen the coffee table? It's atrocious."
"He actually said it's not that bad!" Jimin says immediately.
Taehyung looks at him with an amused expression.
"Did he now?" he asks.
"He did," Jimin confirms. "And he fixed my laptop. And helped me unpack. And found my notebooks. All on top of building the bookcase."
Taehyung continues to stare at Jimin closely, like he's studying him.
"That's a lot," Taehyung says appreciatively.
"Mhm," Jimin says, grabbing Jungkook's arm again. Jungkook subtly flexes his muscles again. "You should be demoted from the best friend title. Jungkook would've had time to kill me tenfold in the time you were late if he was actually a murderer. I think I'll make him my best friend now."
Taehyung stares at Jimin's hand on Jungkook's arm.
"Yeah, you guys do look very cosy," he says. Jimin reluctantly lets his hand fall off. He gets up on his feet and looks around the room. "What were you doing when I got here?"
"We were just," Jimin moves his hand around aimlessly, trying to come up with something to say. "We wanted to have some dessert."
Taehyung very pointedly looks at Jimin's legs.
"I see," he says.
Jimin finally adjusts his shorts when he sees Taehyung's eyes, tugging on them until they sit back close to his knees, covering his thighs. The minutes that follow are filled with a staring match between the two, in which they seem to be having a full on conversation only with their eyes. Jungkook has never felt more unwanted in a place before.
"Uh, I think I'll leave now," Jeongguk says. "It's getting kind of late."
Jimin's eyes snap back to him.
"Well, um, the laptop is not done yet," he says.
"I thought he already fixed your laptop," Taehyung butts in, amused.
"It needed to be updated," Jimin snaps.
Jungkook looks over at the laptop. It's done updating now, showing a random image on the lock screen.
"It's done," Jungkook says. "We didn't even notice."
"Must've gotten preoccupied," Taehyung says. From the corner of his eye Jungkook sees Jimin jabbing his elbow in Taehyung's side.
Jungkook tries to ignore the weird energy in the room and focus on running some tests on Jimin's laptop after he types his password in.
"It's running kind of slow," he observes out loud.
"Mhm," Jimin says gingerly. Jungkook gives him a look.
"Has it always been this slow?" he asks.
"Not in the beginning," Jimin says. "Just lately it's been like this. That's also why I preferred using the library's computers."
"Have you been shutting it down every time after you were done using it?" he asks.
"Not really," Jimin admits. "Most of the time I'd just close it and forget to actually shut it down." Jungkook lets out a long suffering sigh at that. "That's not good, right?" Jimin asks, uncertain.
"Well, just remember to shut it down every time from now on, okay?" Jimin nods obediently. "I might need to change your software, though."
"Hardware, software. You keep saying things I don't understand," Jimin giggles, putting his hand on Jungkook's shoulder.
Taehyung's eyes go wide at that. Jungkook notices, but Jimin keeps being oblivious. He absentmindedly moves his hand down to Jungkook's bicep and that's when Taehyung makes an incredulous sound, making both of them look at him.
"Jungkook," Taehyung says, amused. "It's past ten and Jimin and I have classes in the morning. Maybe you could fix whatever is wrong some other time."
Jimin snaps his eyes on his friend.
"He doesn't... You don't mind staying, do you?" Jimin asks, turning to look at Jungkook with big eyes.
Jungkook looks at him surprised.
"Well, I... Um..."
"It's really late, Jimin," Taehyung interrupts loudly. "I'm sure Jungkook wants to go home now. He'll fix your ancient laptop some other time."
Jimin groans loudly and flops back on the floor. This time Jungkook doesn't even dare to look at him. But Taehyung's eyes bulge out and he yanks the other's arm, pulling Jimin on his feet.
"Okay, Jungkook has to leave now!" Taehyung announces and grabs Jungkook by his arm as well, yanking him to the entrance. "Got everything on you? Wallet? Phone? Keys?"
"My kit..." Jungkook mumbles.
Taehyung runs into the living room to grab it, and Jungkook and Jimin just stare at each other. Jimin uncomfortably shifts his eyes to the floor, keeping his mouth shut.
"There you go!" Taehyung says.
Jungkook looks at them confused, then quietly puts his shoes on.
"Okay, thank you so much for your help! Goodnight, Jungkook!" Taehyung says loudly before shutting the door closed right in Jungkook's face.
He immediately turns to Jimin, who stares at him mortified, hands over his mouth. They listen closely until they hear Jungkook walk away, hear the sound of the elevator going up and the familiar ding when the doors close. They wait a few more seconds until he descends a floor or two and then they both start yelling at the same time, jumping into place.
Jimin runs in the living room and Taehyung follows him immediately. They stop for a second and Taehyung just stares at him.
"You're dressed like a slut!" he accuses.
"I know!" Jimin yells, covering his face with his hands in shame.
"You were all over him!"
"I know!" Jimin says, looking devastated. "I was laying on the floor with my hands up and my legs open like I was in heat or something!" he yells, making the other one laugh.
"You are never like this!" Taehyung says.
"I'm never like this!" Jimin agrees. "Oh my god, Tae," he grabs the other man's shirt and looks into his eyes, mortified. "I told him I wanted to make it up to him for building the bookcase." Taehyung's eyes go wide at that, and Jimin nods, looking close to passing out. "And I was just spreading right before him and I asked..." he looks at his friend with a pained expression, "Tae, I asked him if he wanted dessert."
Taehyung's eyes almost leave his sockets at that and he starts slapping his chest, mouth wide open in disbelief.
"You slut!" he screams.
"I know!" Jimin cries, falling face first on the couch. "I'm never like this!" he laments.
Taehyung falls next to him on the couch with an incredulous expression on his face.
"This is incredible," he says, and Jimin dares to open an eye and look at him. "Dude, I don't think you're straight," Taehyung delivers the news.
Jimin looks terrified at the thought, and he covers his face with a pillow before screaming into it.
"I mean, we can't know for sure just from that, right?" he asks, desperate.
Taehyung gives him a look.
"Well, you looked like you were ready to ride him," Taehyung announces, making Jimin look like he'd rather be dead right now. "I can assure you. I'm straight and I've never acted like that around any guy." Jimin covers his face again in shame with the pillow. "I've also never opened my legs in front of a guy and asked him if he wants desert." Taehyung grabs the other man's arms and starts shaking him.
Jimin throws away the pillow. "Oh my god," he says, red faced. "What do I do now?" he asks the universe.
"Text him to come back. I'm leaving. You're a pharmacist, you have condoms somewhere around this mess."
Jimin starts attacking his friend, but he just continues laughing. "This is insane," he says, staring at the ceiling. "I actually don't think I have condoms here," he adds as an afterthought.
Taehyung looks at him.
"I've got you covered. Text him to come back and I'm running to the nearest pharmacy."
Jimin doesn't even bother to respond right now. He just keeps on staring at the ceiling, his mind running a million miles an hour. Confused. He's so confused.
"You were supposed to be here to make sure something like this doesn't happen!" he remembers.
"I think you preferred me not being here, actually," Taehyung accuses. Jimin covers his face with his palms again and groans. "Dude, you stopped responding to my texts. I actually thought something bad might've happened."
Jimin's eyes snap back open and he looks at Taehyung, horrified. "Oh my god, Tae," Jimin raises himself in a sitting position and stares into Taehyung's eyes. "I put my phone on silent after the food arrived because I didn't want you to bother us," he says and immediately covers his mouth.
Taehyung's eyes widen.
"You slut!"
"I know!" Jimin cries, falling back on the couch. "What is wrong with me? I'm never like this!"
"Nothing's wrong with you," Taehyung assures him immediately and starts hugging him. "I think you just like him."
Jimin throws his hands up. This thought terrifies him as well, and for some stupid reason he feels tears welling up in his eyes.
"I'm never like this, though," he says quietly. Taehyung raises his head and looks at him, petting his hair. "Tae, you should've seen me. I was feeling him up and giggling and staring at him and I told him to ignore my underwear if he sees it in any of the boxes," he laments, making the other's eyebrows shoot up. "And I liked it," he says, scared. "I liked how he smelled and how he looked at me and how he laughed with me," he says with a pained expression, and his friend gives him a sympathetic look. "Tae, he's two years younger than me. I think I might die."
"You'll be fine," Taehyung assures him.
"He works out, Tae," Jimin says, staring at the ceiling with unfocused eyes. "He said it. He said he goes to the gym. I was not ready for the things this information did to me," he admits.
Taehyung looks at him with an amused expression.
"I think you're gone for him," he says.
Jimin nods sadly. "I think so, too."
"Hey, cheer up," Taehyung says. "There are worse things than having a crush on the literal guy that had a crush on you first."
Jimin sighs disheartened.
"He called me cute, Tae. He said that in his free time he helps cute guys with broken laptops."
"That's so cute," he coos.
"And the fucking bitch of a laptop just ran out of battery!" he cries. "This traitor made me look so stupid. It all looked like this was all just a ruse to get him to come into my house so I could get into his pants."
Jimin scrubs his face vigorously.
"Hey, I'm sure he doesn't think that's what happened," Taehyung says, trying to soothe him.
"And I kept calling him a might be murderer," Jimin cries suddenly. "I feel horrible. I had this guy in front of me that I knew likes me and I kept saying he might be a murderer because my brain could not come up with anything else to say." He worms his way out of Taehyung's hold and curls up in a ball. "My brain is all a mush right now, but I keep remembering ways of how I embarrassed myself," he murmurs.
Taehyung sighs. "I'm sure you're just overthinking things right now. He did not seem like he had a bad time here by any chance." He waits for the other to say anything back, but he doesn't. "Hey, you know he likes you, so take advantage of that. Tell him that you're a bit confused right now, but you like him, and see what he responds back."
Jimin slowly raises his head and stares Taehyung down with a serious expression.
"I would literally rather die."
Taehyung looks at him shocked and waits for Jimin to laugh or say that he's joking, but he doesn't.
"Okay, don't do that," he half laughs, but Jimin just slumps his head back down. "I don't think I know what advice to give you right now. I've never dealt with anything like this before," he admits. "Maybe you could talk some more with Hoseok about this? Maybe it was also too soon to talk to Jungkook right now as you're just figuring things out."
Jimin sighs. "I hate all this talking about it with someone else thing. I wish there was just a way of knowing."
"It doesn't work like that, unfortunately," Taehyung says, rubbing Jimin's back. "I mean, you feel attracted to him, right?"
Jimin takes a second to think about it before sighing deeply.
"I mean, he's objectively attractive," he says, hugging another pillow. "But does that mean that I'm attracted to him necessarily? I don't know."
"Would you go down on him then?" Taehyung asks.
Jimin takes a second to think about it.
"Oh my god!" he yells. "Why did I just take a second to think about it?" He jumps to his feet and looks around the room with a pained expression.
"I don't know, dude, but that's what I'm saying!" Taehyung yells, getting up as well. "'Cause if you ask me if I'd suck another man's dick I'd immediately say hell no, but you took a second to think about it!"
"Oh my god! No, I would not suck Jungkook's dick!"
"Are you sure about it?"
Jimin takes a second to think about it.
Taehyung looks like he might explode any second now.
"You took a second to think about it again!" he yells.
"Oh my god! What is wrong with me? Yes, I am sure! I would not suck Jungkook's dick!"
They spend a second staring at each other.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure!" Jimin yells immediately.
Taehyung throws his hands up. "I'm straight and I also don't talk about another man's dick with my friends!"
"Can we stop talking about his dick already?" Jimin yells.
"Gladly!"
"You brought his dick up in the conversation in the first place! Maybe you're the one that's not completely straight!"
Taehyung looks at him flabbergasted.
"I'm not the one who masturbated thinking about Jungkook!"
Jimin stares at him with wide eyes, speechless. This is the last time he tells Kim Taehyung anything personal.
"You said you'd never mention it again," Jimin grits out.
Taehyung deflates immediately.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, I just... It was in the heat of the moment. Come here," he says and opens his arms up.
Jimin glares at him red faced, with his arms folded in front of him, and takes short steps in his direction. Taehyung tries to give his stiff body a side hug. He feels humiliated.
"I feel humiliated," he says.
"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, it just slipped out. Please, forgive me," Taehyung coos, trying to hug him again. Jimin sighs deeply and puts his head on Taehyung's shoulder, but he doesn't relax his body.
"That was something deeply personal that I told you in the confidence of our friendship," he mumbles.
"I know, I'm sorry..."
"I'm really confused and stressed right now, and you shouldn't hold things like that above my head."
"I'm so sorry..."
"That was not nice of you."
"I know. I'm sorry. I love you."
Jimin sighs deeply and lets himself relax in Taehyung's hold. "Love you, too," he mumbles begrudgingly.
They hug in silence for a couple of seconds.
"I'm sorry for blowing up on you," Jimin says. "I guess I'm also a little mad that you came over and Jungkook left afterwards," he admits.
Taehyung looks at him with a frustrated expression, but he keeps his mouth shut. Jimin looks at him for a little while longer until his own words sink in, then he throws his head back and groans.
"Fuck it. I'm not straight. I want to kiss Jungkook."
Taehyung throws his head back laughing and holds Jimin even closer.
"I'm scared, Tae," Jimin whispers.
"I know. I'll be here no matter what. You're not alone," Taehyung whispers back.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."