Chapter Text
Jungkook wasn't expecting to win a Golden Globe ever in his life, but he did. What's even more surprising is the fact that he won against Park Jimin, one of the greatest actors of all time. Jungkook considered him as South Korea's pride, both in theater and film.
His first time leaving the red carpet with a trophy in his hand was an extraordinary experience—the crowd is cheering, though he can barely see through the blinding flashes of cameras. Getting into his car was another thing.
The press flock to him like a moth to a flame, bombarding him with questions. Jungkook tries to listen to them one by one. “How is it like receiving your first Golden Globe?”
“It feels amazing, really.” He continues walking and smiling for the camera. Amazing is an understatement—he feels accomplished. Ever since he was little, he always wanted to become an actor, and even came to a point where he would make skits every dinner time in front of his mother. Now that he has won an award, all his efforts are finally being recognized. People are finally discovering his worth.
“Do you have an inspiration or role model who brought you to this moment?” Another question Jungkook gets to process. It's one of the most common questions, but Jungkook has never been asked this before. Maybe he really is becoming a big hit.
Jungkook hums. “Yeah, I look up to Lee Minhyuk a lot. Because of him, I became passionate when it comes to acting. It's my dream to work with him one day.”
Lee Minhyuk has been in the entertainment history for as long as Jungkook can remember and has done every film genre there is: comedy, action, drama—you name it!—however, most of his movies are psychological horror films. Jungkook remembers watching Minhyuk's films at the early age of five. He basically grew up with Minhyuk and portrayed him as his father.
Though he answered the question honestly, he knows he's lying to himself—it's Lee Jimin who has been his inspiration before Minhyuk, though the latter comes a close second. Jimin, the son of Minhyuk, the child star who was pronounced dead months after his strange disappearance. A cold, haunting feeling crawls up Jungkook's chest everytime he thinks of it. It never feels right, especially when he and everybody else are still clueless on how the boy died.
Jimin's sitcom was Jungkook's favorite show when he was little, and he only found out about Minhyuk through the child actor. The two made a huge impact on his life since then.
The kid was only ten when he died—Jungkook remembers how much he sobbed in his mother's arms when Minhyuk released a statement. Jungkook always wanted to be an actor because of Jimin, and his mother would always tell him to fly to the US and become friends with Jimin since she was as fond of him as she was fond of her son. That dream was crushed when Jimin passed, and is left as an unfulfilled wish.
Minhyuk was serious about Jimin's death, to the point where any articles or interviews mentioning the latter's name would get taken down and sued in a blink of an eye—he stated that it's disrespectful, and almost twenty years later, nobody has uttered his name. Jungkook cannot risk getting sued by one of his role models, even if he has no intentions to put his son in a bad light.
The flashing lights bring Jungkook back to his surroundings. The interviewers push themselves onto Jungkook, but luckily, he makes it to his car. He quickly opens the door, nodding apologetically to the people outside as the driver takes him away.
The next day, he makes it to the headlines—not because of his achievement.
Apparently, Park Jimin had an interview today. Jungkook watches the clip attached in the article—Jimin's hands are panicky as he buries something back into his pockets. This doesn't look like an interview at all, but rather the press finding Jimin during his lunch break to invade his privacy.
“How come you didn't get to attend the Golden Globe Awards last night?”
“Excuse me, but—”
“What would you like to say to Jungkook? You two are known to be South Korea's favorite actors, and just last night he won a Golden Globe. Would you like to congratulate him?” An interviewer interrupts, shoving her microphone on Jimin's face.
Jimin seems irritated at this point, so he grabs the microphone and claims "Jeon Jungkook isn't all that—he's a rising actor, and that's it. The praise will die down soon."
That's how the clip ends.
Reducing Jungkook to just a rising actor is pretty bold of him. Jungkook can't believe out of all the people who can publicly say they don't like him, it's Park Jimin?
The same Park Jimin who Jungkook thought was on good terms with—who is he kidding? They've never even met before! Jimin hates him, and for what?
It was definitely the award last night. That has to be it.
Jimin is threatened by the fact that he's finally getting defeated by a “rising actor”, that's why he's suddenly attacking him.
He has the nerve to imply that Jungkook is nothing more but a one hit wonder, not when Jungkook has been dedicated to his craft.
First of all, Jungkook has been in the industry for five years, the same as Jimin. They equally rose to fame early in their careers, but somehow Jimin got more popular overtime despite his arrogance. Now Jimin is dragging Jungkook's name into the mud. Jungkook didn't do anything wrong in the first place.
Second, ever since that “interview” took over the internet, Jungkook's career has been stable. The cheers aren't dying down any soon. Hell, he's Jeon Jungkook, one of the most famous actors in the world.
The first time Jungkook meets the actor, it’s at the Emmys. It has been eight months since Jimin's statement. He should be celebrating his nomination, but Jungkook is hanging around in the washroom, though they're currently announcing the winner for the category he was nominated for—he's not gonna win it, anyway. Why should he care?
He pulls out a flask from his coat and shakes it around, it's empty. He puts the flask back and groans, rinsing his face with the cool water. He doesn't even remember finishing his vodka.
As if the universe was playing with him, he receives a low hum from his phone with Sophia's contact popping up to the top.
Big night tonight, huh?
Jungkook knows she's waiting for an exact response to her text, and he gives it away, anyway.
Yeah, drank a flask of vodka. There's nothing left.
I figured.
You're nervous, and it's a special occasion, I get it. One bottle is enough.
Jungkook breathes out, shoulders lighter than a couple of seconds ago. One flask is enough, he convinces himself.
With nothing to do, he leans into one of the cubicle doors to rest for a couple of minutes, until he hears the door slam open and shut.
"What are you doing here?" Jimin's brows furrow as he rushes to the sink. "Your show fucking sucks, by the way."
"Are you searching for a new scandal? I heard you're good at those." Jungkook looks away from the man, staring at him through the mirror instead.
"Don't get too comfy, you've never gotten an Emmy." Jimin's hand covers the lower half of his face. Jungkook tilts his head when he notices blood peaking from Jimin's nostril. He blinks once and it's gone. Huh, the substance must be getting to him.
"So why are you here? I heard Park Jimin never goes to the toilet because he's too busy claiming awards."
"You hear a lot about me, you sure you're not a fan?" Jimin snickers right after washing his whole face with the cold water. He pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket and dries his face, pinching his nose bridge in the process.
It's silent for a while, too silent Jungkook hears the muffled speech from outside. "This is truly an honor. This is my first Emmy and…"
Jungkook's brows jump. "Did you lose against Maria's movie?"
"Fuck you."
"I'm taking that as a yes." Jungkook laughs mockingly. "Wow, this is incredible."
"I'm not surprised if me losing turns you on, everybody wants me." Jimin rolls his eyes, burying his handkerchief back inside his suit.
"I guess we're even, considering you have a hate boner for me. We never even met each other, how can you publicly say you don't like me? Belittling my art and passion? I expected better from a theater kid like you." Jungkook leans back against the door, scanning Jimin's back. He has the perfect proportions for a model, Jungkook would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous of that.
"You're that intolerable." Jimin faces him. "God, you're more annoying in person. Your face is stupid."
"Welcome to my world, where you have to deal with losing an award every once in a while."
"Do you want to get sued? One fucking call from my manager, and you're over." Jimin stands right in front of Jungkook as he grabs him by the tie.
Jungkook frowns mockingly. "I'm so sorry you've won every Oscar and Emmy you were nominated for. It must be tough staying as a nominee for the first time."
"You don't know who you're messing with." Jimin whispers, breath hitting Jungkook's face.
Jungkook can see his reflection in Jimin's eyes, he has never seen the actor this angry before—not even in his movies. When he breaks contact with his eyes, the both of them look down to each other's lips in sync.
"Then I guess you don't know who I am." Jungkook whispers back right before Jimin kisses him aggressively. They're both angry, and Jungkook has never experienced an angry makeout session, but it feels so good. It would also be bad to say he's enjoying this a little too much because it's Jimin kissing him.
Jungkook groans, flexing his strong jaw as he tries to keep up with Jimin's pacing. "Fuck you," Jimin's hands discard Jungkook's black coat.
Jungkook's hands also roam around by themselves, ending up on Jimin's nape while the other on the back of his head, pushing him even closer. He grabs a bunch of Jimin's blonde locks, pulling them desperately.
Jimin's tongue does things to Jungkook. He has never kissed anyone with a tongue like Jimin's. Too sad it's only used for whining and complaints or bragging.
The kiss becomes full of teeth, and at this point Jungkook is drowning in Jimin, and he doesn't want to save himself.
With Jimin devouring his lips, his hands start undoing Jungkook's tie and unbuttoning the said boy's button down.
However, three buttons in, and a booming voice comes in the washroom.
"Jimin! They're calling you on—"
There's this silence as the two actors jump. Jimin wipes his mouth with the back of his hands, while Jungkook wears his buttons again with shaky hands that also fix his tie.
Jungkook's panicked eyes meet Taehyung's surprised ones. He can trust Taehyung with this little secret, right? After all, Taehyung is Jimin's best friend. The Kevin Hart to Jimin's Dwayne Johnson. There's no way he'll be using this against his best friend, right?
"What the fuck did I just see?"
"Tae—"
"Don't answer, you have to get up on stage quickly." He looks away from the two, which makes Jimin push his own messy hair back to fix it. "But it seems you have other priorities."
Jimin huffs, rushing out of the bathroom to accept his award—best male actor, or something like that, Jungkook hears some parts of Jimin's speech despite his voice being so muffled.
"So…" Taehyung makes his presence known. He's still here with his arm pushing the door wide open. "I'm finally meeting Jungkook."
The latter picks up his coat on the floor. "Yes. Hi."
"Didn't know you were the scandalous type." Taehyung finally gets in the washroom to wash his hands and face, probably to hopefully unsee what he had witnessed earlier.
Something gets caught in Jungkook's throat when he tries to defend himself. "What? No… no I just—"
"You gotta tell me, are you guys a thing? Is this what Jimin's hiding?" Taehyung asks, eyes on the ground.
"No, we're not." Jungkook clears his throat. "Why would he hide something from you? You're Kim Taehyung."
"He's been getting frantic for the past few weeks, at least when I talk to him. I knew he had something to tell me but wouldn't, and I couldn't pry it out of him." The corners of Taehyung's lips twitch downward.
Jungkook can only hum.
"The secret revealed itself, anyway. How long have you been dating?" Taehyung chuckles this time, and that basically concludes Jungkook's first impression of Kim Taehyung: loves gossip.
"I said we're not dating." He repeats, a little annoyed now. "Why would I want to date him? He's rude."
"Then what was all that I walked into earlier? A little skit for your new film?" Taehyung's brows furrow. "Of course you're not going to tell me about your relationship, Jimin told you not to. I'm not dumb."
Jungkook purses his lips for a few seconds, and then sighs. "No offense, but you are dumb."
"None taken."
"Please just take my word. If we were dating, you would've known sooner." He says, combing his hair with his fingers.
"Sure." Taehyung replies, unconvinced.
Ever since that stupid award ceremony, Jungkook's life has been tumbling down.
He gets an email from Jimin himself a week after the Emmys. No subject title, no greeting, nothing. Only an address and time. No context.
Of course, Jungkook being curious, visits that address the next day at seven in the evening, like what the email said. Who knows what that address is for? Jimin might’ve set him up, or Jimin is being held hostage.
He parks his car in front of a big gate, going up to it to knock, when a small speaker in front greets him. "Who is it?"
Jungkook blinks cluelessly under his sunglasses. "Park Jimin sent me this address." He talks back to the speaker, and then all of a sudden, the gates open.
He takes his time to appreciate the garden to his left. Though it seems the grass hasn't been mowed in a while and the plastic plants look convincingly real, it's not so bad to look at.
As he approaches the mansion, the front door opens and a hand grips onto his arm, taking him by surprise and pulling him in.
"Act normal." Jimin whispers, hushing him with a finger close to his face. Jungkook is pushed up against the wall, trapped by Jimin, and can barely breathe—either because of how sudden he ended up in this situation, or the mask he has been wearing for the whole drive here.
"You think I—"
"Taehyung is here and you're eating dinner with us. Don't ask any questions until he's gone." Jimin rambles, then slowly lets Jungkook go. When he does, Taehyung comes out from one of the doors with the loud flushing sound of a toilet.
"Oh! You're here!" Taehyung cheers, and now Jimin is pushing Jungkook to the dining area. "I cooked these, by the way. I promise there's no food poisoning in here."
And so they eat, and what's weird about that is Taehyung talking to Jungkook as if he was dating Jimin—which he already clarified before that he is not—and Jimin himself is nodding along.
Jimin even calls him his "boyfriend", which catches Jungkook off guard. One day, he's an Emmy loser. The next day, he's dating his rival actor who also happens to be the most popular celebrity of all time.
Thankfully, Taehyung leaves early. That just leaves Jungkook and Jimin.
"What was all of that?" Jungkook asks, annoyed and confused and everything. He has no idea what's going on.
"Long story short—I'm keeping something from Tae, he thinks it's our relationship, so I need you to pretend we're a thing now so he'd get distracted from what I'm not telling him and won't raise suspicion." Jimin explains briefly
Taehyung was right all along. Jimin is hiding something. It sounds like it's something very serious, but Jimin wouldn't tell him what it is despite making him aware that he has a secret.
Jungkook doesn't care about that little secret, anyway. Why would he? He cares little about Jimin ever since that interview, and Jimin couldn't care less as well.
"Are you out of your mind?" Jungkook stands up from his chair, hands flat on the dining table.
"You think I wanna do this?” Jimin scoffs, blinking to avoid rolling his eyes.
Jungkook nods as he turns to the door. “Yeah, you definitely wanna get in my pants and create more scandals.”
“It's not like we're going to tell the public!" Jimin defends, grabbing Jungkook by the shoulder before the said boy can walk away. "Taehyung is very much aware that actors have to keep secrets from the media. We'll only pretend we're dating when it's just Tae with us. Also, I'd rather drown myself in a three feet pool than get in your pants."
The next thing Jungkook knows, Jimin is leading him to his couch. "You can't just use me for a little secret you're hiding—"
"It's not little. " Jimin sighs, his eyes shut. "It's a very serious thing—at least for me."
"How bad can it be? Are you a part of the mafia and you can't tell Taehyung because he'll never look at you the same way again?" Jungkook snorts.
"Of all people, I'm asking for your help. That's how bad it is." Jimin pulls Jungkook down beside him. "I know I've been shitty to you, dragging your name to hell and back, but I'm asking you one favor. Once this is over, I'll leave you alone."
"When will it be over?" Jungkook asks impatiently. "This can't be a long-term thing."
"It won't."
Those two words play in Jungkook's mind hours later as he finds his naked body under Jimin's duvet.
Jungkook can't quite remember how the night escalated quickly, though he can recall arguing with Jimin over something dumb, getting a little too close to him, then getting caught in the heat of the moment. Exactly like their night during the Emmys, but this time it was Jungkook who kissed first, and instead of a rough makeout session, it was full-on sex.
"I have to go." Jungkook panics, getting up to grab his clothes and put them on.
"Help yourself," Jimin shrugs, rolling onto his side to reach for his phone on the nightstand. Jungkook peeks at it, it's eleven o' clock.
The latter puts on his pants, stumbling backwards and accidentally knocking over one of Jimin's trinkets. It splits in half, and Jimin swears under his breath.
Jungkook picks the left side of the trinket up. "I'm sorry, I can—"
"Jesus Christ," Jimin keeps his eyes shut. "Just leave."
Jungkook then leaves without sparing a glance at the other. This is definitely going to end his career, especially when his love team is getting so much adoration from fans.
Jungkook hates Jimin's guts, but after that night, he keeps coming back for more. Jimin sends him messages to come over, and he complies. He wouldn't admit he anticipates seeing Jimin, but he actually does.
Maybe he doesn't hate Jimin as much as he thinks. Not when he's slowly learning about the boy.
Their nights would usually start with hurried kisses. After the sex, the two would have small arguments, which results in Jungkook leaving for the night. The argument phase slowly fades away, and now Jungkook and Jimin are able to have decent conversations after their sessions.
In those conversations, Jungkook finds out that Jimin got sent to the emergency room due to performing a stunt while shooting John Wick. Jimin has been offered by the producers of Lucy to work with them, but he turned them down. Jimin never says the "I" in "I love you" because he has never been genuine with relationships. Jimin never apologizes because he doesn't like to accept defeat. Jimin has been on a dance show. Jimin started out on Broadway as an ensemble in Heathers. Most importantly, Jimin despises Minhyuk.
Of course, Jungkook's first encounter with Jimin wasn't really great. He used to describe him with three words: prick, egotistical, arrogant. Now, he sees Jimin as a human. There's more to Jimin than his pride. All these little things make Jungkook convinced that Jimin does deserve the success.
This does make Jungkook extremely confused—why is Jimin telling him all of this? Why did he claim to hate him and had the audacity to tell the whole world he did, but is messaging Jungkook to come over for sex? The more confusing part is why is Jungkook coming over anyway? Despite his hectic schedule, he still makes time for Jimin, this one complicated man.
Why are they making this into a thing? The sex has been going on for five months now (so much for keeping the relationship short-term) and neither of them are confronting the other about it.
Jungkook stands corrected—he never hated Jimin's guts. Obviously, he was pretending to hate the guy to cover the fact that he likes him. Every time the "celebrity crush" question comes up in an interview, Jimin is the first that comes to mind. However, he always answers with "Soyoon" and the crowd goes wild. If the fans actually think this love team would have a future together, then they're completely wrong. Jungkook and Soyoon are just like every other love team there is, with money hungry managers.
Every night, Jungkook wonders what would happen if he answered those interviews more honestly. If he called Jimin's name, what would be the reaction he would've received?
Though Jungkook spends the night with Jimin over and over again, he feels lonely. As long as they keep this thing unlabeled, he'll keep feeling lonely.
And Jungkook hates how Jimin hates him when they're not alone, but with everyone's eyes on them—fans, haters, media outlets—they do have reputations to keep.
But Jungkook has hope when Jimin whispers into his cigarette one night after another session, he has hope when Jimin proposes an idea to have a movie together, to end this "rivalry" (as the media would say) for once and for all.
He thinks of the possibilities—he'd get to see Jimin on set, and not only during nights trying to shush themselves from making any noise and peeking out of the windows to be wary of any paparazzi outside. He'd get to win an Oscar with Jimin; every film Jimin touches turns into gold, and Jimin has never lost an Oscar he was nominated for. This could be Jungkook's first win in that stupid award show, with a possible ratio of six nominations and one win.
But here come the problems: if Jungkook would ever be in this movie, his company would force him in it together with Soyoon. He should've thought twice before agreeing to this love team thing—but money is still money, and he has been earning more than the past two years thanks to the hype and people's obsession with straight couples. Another problem is though Jimin wouldn't be hating him in public anymore, he still won't like Jungkook the way Jungkook likes him.
Being a gay celebrity is somehow controversial too. Yoongi came out as bisexual so long ago but up to this day, he's getting mass hate. Jungkook watched his friend become the most beloved musician to the most despised. Hell, Jungkook also got bashed for defending Yoongi, so how the hell is he himself going to come out to everyone?
The answer to that is easy: don't. Why even bother when he's already loved by many?
"Hey, are you even listening?" Jimin snaps his finger in front of Jungkook's face, startling him from his train of thought.
Jungkook sits up, tugging Jimin's duvet with him to let it sit on his shoulders. "I think I was."
"Did I fuck your brains out tonight?" Jimin kids, rolling his eyes playfully. "My manager was able to talk things out. I have this project coming up—the script is already finished and every character is already taken—but they're editing the script again since they added a new character. My manager and I convinced them to add it so you could play the role."
Jungkook laughs nervously, eyeing Jimin's cigarette as it touches Jimin's pretty lips. "Isn't that a little…"
"Come on, I thought you wanted to work on a huge project like this!" Jimin puffs out a ring of smoke. "It's the least I can do to return the favor. My agent will contact yours, and you'll be in this project. Shooting starts soon after they finalize the script. It's the sequel to Glass Onion."
"I do want that, it's just that I have to bring Soyoon with me. My manager said I need to be in movies with her." Jungkook rubs the back of his neck.
"I've seen her last show, you're not even in it. Why would it be a problem if she won't be in your movie?" Jimin scoffs. "My agent is good at her job, don't worry. We'll be shooting the movie without love teams involved."
"She'll be there either way—she loves going on sets."
"As long as she's not bugging me, I can try to tolerate that." Jimin sighs, shifting his position so that he's facing Jungkook. "Should I walk you to your car?"
Jungkook's chest tightens. This is the hardest part of the night—getting out of Jimin's bed. After sex, Jimin escorts him out seldomly, and Jungkook heads home. Sometimes, he just wants to stay in Jimin's arms until dusk, but rules are rules, and he has to leave.
"I'll go by myself." He mumbles, grabbing his clothes on the ground and quickly wearing them. His eyes land on Jimin's half-lidded ones, and for a second, Jungkook thought the boy was watching him get dressed, or at least he kinda wished. Maybe that way Jimin would make up his mind and pull Jungkook back into bed and whisper "stay the night", just maybe.
Once Jungkook is all dressed up, he gives one last look to Jimin before heading to the door. This isn't the first time Jungkook's walking to his car alone.
Before he turns the knob, Jimin breathes out a few words Jungkook couldn't catch. He hums, not turning around to face him.
"Goodnight." Jimin replies. "Love you."
Jungkook's head hangs low, leaving the room without a word. Jimin needs to stop playing with his feelings.
As Jungkook sneaks out of the house, he groans in disgust. He's gonna need a bath when he gets home.