Work Text:
This fic is inspired by this post for JM and JK, and this post because college au JK has me feeling some type of way.
"Yuck!" Eunsoo sticks his tongue out in distaste and puts Jimin's coffee mug back on its saucer. "I don't know how you drink this stuff black."
Jimin gazes at his friend, amused, over his laptop screen. "Then why did you drink it? You always do this."
Eunsoo frowns, "I always think the next sip will be better and somehow I'll magically like it."
"Do your work, Soosoo."
Eunsoo rolls his eyes and opens his laptop with a pout. He starts typing something, his keys clacking way too loud for it to actually be something productive. It continues for a few seconds before Jimin reaches out and shuts the laptop with a sigh.
"What is it?" Jimin asks.
The two friends are seated in Pan's Coffeehouse, the cafe closest to their campus where their friend Taehyung also works. They frequent the shop after classes to do work, hang out, or dick around with Taehyung on his break when they have time. Sometimes, Eunsoo likes to flirt with Taehyung's co-workers or random customers in the shop, to which Taehyung scolds him.
"You're going to get banned from here for making customers uncomfortable," Taehyung had said.
Eunsoo had just shrugged, "I don't think I make them uncomfortable."
And he wasn't wrong: Eunsoo was an out-going ball of sunshine, somehow adorable and hot at the same time. He had recently dyed his hair cotton candy pink, the colour accentuating his flawless skin and he always styled it to match whatever make-up look he decided to do that day. He was a little taller than Jimin but not taller than Taehyung, and his fashion sense managed to be just the right amount of fuckboy and hipster to not come off entirely as either. He always had boys and girls throwing themselves at him and exuded confidence even out of his ass.
When they were younger Jimin once told Taehyung, seriously, that he believed Eunsoo shat rainbows.
Taehyung was Jimin's mellower friend: He was the youngest of the 95' trio (though only by a few months) and was the perfect balance of introverted and extroverted. This was probably due to the fact that he didn't really care what people thought of him and was comfortable in his own skin, had been since kindergarten. Jimin and Eunsoo liked to excessively baby him even though they were all the same age, and he was usually in the middle of them (literally) when Jimin and Eunsoo argued as they butt heads the most. His hair was currently blonde due to Eunsoo convincing him to let him bleach it to practice for his cosmetology.
And Jimin, well, was Jimin. He was the shortest of the three, and though he would classify himself as an extrovert, he would say he was actually an "introverted extrovert". 'What the fuck does that even mean', Eunsoo had said. Jimin explained that while he enjoyed being around people, making new friends, and socializing, he got his energy off of being by himself and spending time alone, doing his own thing. He was only open with his closest friends but was friendly towards strangers, never one to give the cold shoulder. But there were times Jimin was shy and awkward, and that stemmed from his lack of self confidence, the complete opposite of Eunsoo. Jimin had let Eunsoo dye his hair a platinum silver, something he still didn't know if he liked or hated.
The three were currently in their last year of university and living together in a small house in downtown Toronto; Eunsoo majoring Cosmetology, Jimin majoring English, and Taehyung majoring media arts. They had been friends since kindergarten and since finding out what each other was applying to post-secondary for, had joked that after graduation they would open their own production company.
"What, Eunsoo," Jimin says flatly, hand still on top of Eunsoo's computer.
"That guy over there is looking at us," Eunsoo whispers, leaning closer to Jimin. His eyes shift briefly to the side where said guy is probably sitting. "He's really hot. Don't look."
Jimin turns his head to look anyway, but he only moves his head an inch before Eunsoo grabs his jaw and turns Jimin's head back. "I said don't look!"
"Well how am I supposed to know what you're talking about if I don't look?" Jimin hisses.
"You glance sideways, Jimin, from your peripherals!"
"I can't get a good look doing that!"
"If you literally turn your head it's gonna be so obvious, idiot."
Jimin opens his mouth in retaliation but Eunsoo shoves a biscuit into his mouth.
"Shut up, he's coming over here."
Jimin accidentally inhales the biscuit.
The silver haired male starts violently coughing and as Eunsoo hops up from his seat to pat him on the back, the guy hesitates on approaching. He comes up to them anyway.
"Um, are you alright?" He asks, cautious.
Jimin is too busy trying not to die to acknowledge the guy's question. Eunsoo gives Jimin one last slap to the back before smiling sweetly at the stranger. Jimin unattractively spits most of the biscuit out into a napkin and picks up his coffee to help clear the rest from his throat.
"He's fine, just underestimates how much he can fit in his mouth. Over-eager this one," Eunsoo says and Jimin chokes on his coffee too.
"Oh, um," the stranger flushes and brings a hand up to scratch the back of his head sheepishly.
"Are you okay, Minnie?" Eunsoo half-shouts over Jimin's coughs. "I'm gonna go ask Tae for a glass of water, okay?"
Jimin wipes his mouth on a new napkin and gives Eunsoo a 'don't-you-dare' look but his friend is already giving the stranger a quick smile and skipping off towards the barista counter.
Jimin, half his face covered by the napkin and coughs dying down, looks up at the guy standing awkwardly beside his table. The stranger is indeed hot: He's got messy brown hair underneath a black cap and big, doe eyes. He has a strong jawline and his lips are thin, pink, and slightly upturned at the ends in a small smile. He stands tall in a baggy, grey Puma sweater and matching, loose grey sweats. He probably goes to the gym a lot.
"Are you alright?" The guy asks again.
Jimin just nods behind the napkin.
"I'm Jungkook," the guy introduces and holds his hand out. He drops it quickly when Jimin just continues to look up at him with wide eyes. "I don't usually do this, but I was sitting over there with my friends and they convinced me to come over here and say something or else I would regret it..." Jungkook stuffs his hands into the front pocket of his sweater. "I noticed you guys come in and... I hope it's not too forward..." Jungkook, despite his overall 'hot-guy' look, seems to shy away a little. "I thought, um... Uh... I thought 'wow, that's gotta be the most beautiful guy I've ever seen'." Jungkook nervously glances at the counter again and Jimin now understands.
"Oh, I see," Jimin says and lowers the napkin. "Eunsoo."
Jungkook looks at Jimin with wide eyes. "Um, sorry?"
"I can give you his number if you want," Jimin is already rummaging through his pencil case for a pen. "I don't have any paper though, and this napkin is gross." Jimin taps the back of his pen against his lips in thought.
Jungkook just watches him.
"Ah!" Jimin stands as well and notes that Jungkook has a few centimeters on him. He's exactly Eunsoo's type. "Do you mind if I write it on your arm?"
Jungkook stares at Jimin dumbly as Jimin reaches out to take the brunette's hand. Jimin ignores the heat rising to his cheeks as he notices Jungkook's hand seems to be a lot larger than his; his palm bigger and fingers longer. Jimin's always been a little self conscious of his hands but had eventually learned to accept it as Taehyung would wax poetic about his pinky whenever he would feel particularly upset about his unfortunate hand size. Jimin also takes in the tattoos littered over the taller man's knuckles and gently rolls Jungkook's sleeve up his forearm. Good god, even his forearm looks delicious. Jimin and Eunsoo always did have the same type.
Jungkook's hand is soft and warm as Jimin scribbles Eunsoo's phone number onto the tan skin. When he's done, he goes to pull his hand out of Jungkook's but the other man squeezes it.
Jimin blushes, face hot, as he looks up at Jungkook timidly.
"Um," Jungkook says. He's been saying that a lot. "This is... Um."
Jimin taps the harsh black ink of numbers on Jungkook's forearm. "My friend. My friend's phone number."
"Oh," Jungkook gulps and Jimin almost thinks he looks disappointed. But that's what he came over here for, right?
"That's why you came over, right?" Jimin asks to confirm, and Jungkook stares down at the digits, the two still holding hands.
"Do you mind," Jungkook juts his chin out towards the pen in Jimin's hand, "Do you mind if I write down my number for you?"
"You don't have to," Jimin says softly, "I'll let Eunsoo know I gave you his."
"Please?" Jungkook smiles.
Jimin bites his lip. "O-Okay." The shorter male holds out his pen for Jungkook.
Jungkook takes it and flips Jimin's arm over, rolling up Jimin's sleeve. His touch is light but Jimin can feel the warmth radiating from his hand as he writes down his own phone number and then his name in a small, blocky font. Jimin thinks his handwriting suits him.
They finally release each other's hands and Jimin takes his pen back, moving to sit back down.
"I never got your name," Jungkook says as Jimin pulls out his chair.
"Oh," Jimin runs his hands shyly through his hair, "Jimin. My name is Jimin."
"Cool, nice to meet you, Jimin." Jungkook grins, "Send me a text sometime?"
Jimin tilts his head in confusion as Jungkook turns to leave. "Uh, yeah, I'll let him know to text you."
Jungkook is already sitting back down with his friends.
"What happened?!" Eunsoo seems to have teleported back to his side once Jungkook has left and Jimin nearly jumps out of his skin.
"Jesus Christ!"
"Show me your arm," Eunsoo demands and Jimin holds it out for his friend to examine, his sleeve still pushed up. "Score! Look at you, Jiminie! He was totally hot." Eunsoo looks in the direction of Jungkook and his friends and waves unabashedly.
Jungkook gives a small wave back and his friends snicker.
"It's for you, Soosoo," Jimin says. "I gave him your number too. His name is Jungkook."
Eunsoo looks at Jimin like he's grown two heads. "... You what?"
Jimin rolls his eyes, "I think he was too shy to ask you for your phone number so when you left, I decided to help him out."
Eunsoo stays frozen. Jimin doesn't know what's wrong.
"What?"
"Jimin."
"What?"
Eunsoo smacks Jimin on his head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You're dumb, Minnie," Eunsoo says flatly, making his way back to his seat across from Jimin. "You're lucky you're pretty."
"Hey!" Jimin exclaims, "What do you mean by that?"
"Whatever. What's Jungkook's number?"
Jimin doesn't appreciate being brushed off, but he holds his arm out for Eunsoo to type Jungkook's number into his phone. "You're welcome, by the way."
Eunsoo gives Jimin a bored look before going back to tapping away on his phone. "I didn't say thank you."
Jimin huffs, a little put-off by Eunsoo's sudden cold demeanor. "You ditched me and left me with a stranger. I wing-manned you perfectly and now you're being mean."
The pink haired male puts his phone down and calmly looks at Jimin. He studies Jimin and Jimin finds himself getting even more annoyed by the second.
"What, Eunsoo?!"
"Jiminie, I wish you had more confidence. I wish you would see yourself the way I see you. The way everyone else sees you."
Jimin is taken aback. "Eunsoo---"
"I'm gonna get my own coffee. I also wish you drank coffee with cream and sugar like a normal person so I could mooch off of you." And with that Eunsoo is standing and off to the counter again.
--
A week later, Jimin has forgotten about the Jungkook incident until the man shows up at his front door on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
He's wearing a fitted white t-shirt that's borderline see-through and stretches illegally across his chest underneath a loose, plaid long-sleeve. His light blue jeans are ripped at the knee and Jimin can see the tops of muscled thighs. His hair isn't hidden underneath a cap but styled nicely off his forehead and parted slightly to the side.
"Hi," Jungkook greets, a bouquet of flowers in hand.
Jimin, wearing his over-sized sleep shirt with a rip in the shoulder and his boxers, stands in shock. Jungkook shifts from one foot to the other.
"Eunsoo hates flowers," is the first thing Jimin blurts out.
Jungkook gulps. "Um... Right..." The brunette holds out the flowers for Jimin. "For you?"
Jimin awkwardly takes the bouquet and steps aside. He motions for Jungkook to come in, inhaling the scent of the flowers. They're a lovely arrangement of lavenders. When Jungkook steps in and takes off his shoes, Jimin gets a whiff of the cologne he's wearing and hates that he smells better than the flowers: There's something masculine but weirdly spicy-sweet about his choice of cologne, and somehow it all works with Jungkook's... Jungkook's everything.
"I'll let Eunsoo know you're here," Jimin moves to go upstairs, but Jungkook stops him by grabbing his elbow.
Jungkook flushes at the contact and quickly pulls his hand away. "Did... Did Eunsoo not tell you...?"
"Tell me what?" Jimin asks.
Jungkook shrinks into himself. "Uh, Jimin... I---"
"Jungkookie, you're early," Eunsoo's voice says from beside Jimin and Jimin startles away from him. He has to learn how Eunsoo manages to teleport unexpectedly everywhere. "Like, really early."
"I was nervous," Jungkook admits and Eunsoo glances between Jimin, Jungkook, and the bouquet Jimin is clutching tightly.
"They're supposed to be for you," Jimin says quickly. He doesn't want his friend to misunderstand. "I just told Jungkook that you don't like flowers. For future reference."
Eunsoo sighs. "... Okay then. Let's go." Eunsoo goes to put on his shoes and then gestures for Jungkook to follow.
"I'm coming?" Jungkook questions stupidly and Jimin gives him a bewildered look.
Eunsoo taps his foot impatiently. "Yes! Let's go."
Jungkook throws Jimin a longing look and scurries to put his shoes back on.
Jimin watches Jungkook scramble to tie up his laces, getting a nice view of his ass as he bends over. Eunsoo stifles a laugh.
"But Eunsoo, you're---" Jimin starts.
"Bye Minnie!" Eunsoo sings and tugs Jungkook out the door once the brunette has knotted his laces.
"---wearing your pajamas," Jimin finishes lamely, staring at the closed door.
Taehyung comes down sleepily a moment later. "Hey, Min, what's with the flowers?"
Jimin follows him to the kitchen. "Remember that guy from the coffeehouse? He came to pick up Soo and I guess he didn't know that Soo doesn't like flowers."
"Mmm," Taehyung nods and turns on the coffee maker. "Aren't lavenders your favourite?"
"Oh," Jimin raises an eyebrow, "Yeah... They are."
"Nice," Taehyung says and goes back to making his coffee.
Jimin ignores the pickup in his heart rate and turns on the stove to make some breakfast.
--
Jimin runs, literally runs, into Jungkook the next day on his way to Pan's Coffeehouse. Taehyung had called Jimin a few minutes ago and asked Jimin to bring him the spare uniform shirt in his bedroom as Evangeline, one of his co-workers, had accidentally spilled chocolate drizzle all over the front. Normally Taehyung would wait until he got home to deal with it, but it was Sunday and he told Jimin over the phone he didn't want to deal with the old church ladies criticizing his stained shirt.
Jungkook loops his arms around Jimin's waist to prevent the silver haired male from toppling over. He pulls him upright and the uniform shirt Jimin is clutching in his hands is the only thing keeping their chests from touching. His hold is strong and firm, a little too tight for something as simple as making sure Jimin regains his footing.
Jimin blinks up at Jungkook.
Jungkook blinks down at Jimin, breathing in heavily as he stares at Jimin's parted lips.
"Hello, Jungkook," Jimin smiles brightly, despite their position. The shorter man isn't sure if they're crossing any lines being in this strange hug-embrace thing, considering they don't know each other that well. But he figures if Jungkook is going to be Eunsoo's new boyfriend, he may as well be friendly instead of always making things awkward.
"Hello, Jimin," Jungkook says back but makes no move to let go.
"I'm on my way to Pan's," Jimin wiggles out of Jungkook's hold and the taller man unwinds his arms from around Jimin's waist.
"Can I come with?"
Jimin tilts his head, "I guess so? I'm just dropping off a spare shirt for Tae. I don't think Eunsoo is there, though."
"That's okay," Jungkook says and follows after Jimin.
"You go to the university, right?" Jimin starts conversation, trying to ease the nerves he feels at the bottom of his stomach. It's a fluttery feeling he absolutely will not associate with something as cheesy as butterflies. "What are you studying?"
"Media production," Jungkook answers. "Mainly leaning towards photography and cinematography. I'm in my second year."
"So I guess I'm older then," Jimin beams. Jungkook smiles back, this tiny smile that pulls up the corners of his lips and thins out his top lip to reveal his front four teeth. His eyes squint in these happy half-moon crescents and his cheeks bunch up a little, making him look younger and so adorable that Jimin stops walking for a second.
Jungkook looks at him questioningly.
"Nothing," Jimin mumbles and continues.
"What about you, Jimin? What are you studying?"
"English," Jimin replies. "I want to be a writer. I'm in my last year, but I'm thinking about doing a masters program."
"That's cool, if you stayed another two years we can graduate together," Jungkook says. Jimin tries not to think about that knowledge, afraid it'll mess with his heart.
They arrive at Pan's and Jimin turns around in front of the door. "I'm just gonna pop in to give Tae his shirt, you don't have to come in with me."
"I mean, I'm not doing anything..." Jungkook trails off, "But..."
The two have to step to the side as a couple leave the cafe.
"If you're not busy today, do you want to sit and have coffee?" Jungkook proposes, glancing at the floor, then the flower pot by the door, and then finally at Jimin. "With me. Coffee with me. In here," Jungkook rakes a hand through his messy bangs, sweeping it back and off his forehead as he leans against the glass door of the cafe with the right side of his body.
Jimin thinks it's meant to look cool, but he's not sure what Jungkook is trying to pull off as the younger man's hair flops right back into his eyes. He ends up having to scramble away from the door as another person tries to leave the cafe. They glare at Jungkook for blocking the entrance to which Jungkook gives them an apologetic bow of his head. He's so cute, Jimin thinks fondly.
"Sure, I was planning on doing an essay today," Jimin giggles, "But I'm always down to procrastinate."
Jungkook smiles as the two enter the cafe.
It's not too busy considering it's 11AM on a Sunday, but Jimin knows there's usually a rush of church goers around 12PM when mass has ended. The counter only has three people waiting in line and Jimin points to it, "Why don't you line up to order? I'll be there in a sec." Jimin waves the shirt in his hand for explanation and Jungkook nods.
Jimin rounds the corner of the counter and goes on his tiptoes to see behind the giant espresso machine at the end. When the steam dissipates, he sees Taehyung pouring steamed milk into two mugs.
"Psst," Jimin whispers and reaches over the machine to flail the shirt in front of his friend.
The material ends up smacking Taehyung in the nose and the blonde ruins the leaf he was trying to make in the espresso.
"Oops," Jimin gasps and Taehyung shakes his head.
"It's okay, I spit in this one anyway," Taehyung says.
"Ew, Tae!"
"I'm... Just kidding," Taehyung defends half-heartedly, and Jimin knows he's not kidding. The blonde quickly finishes pouring the rest of the steamed milk in the other cup and sets the two mugs on the expo counter. "Two vanilla lattes for Janice!"
An Asian girl with bright red hair and airpods in her ears glowers at Taehyung's happy grin as she takes the two cups. Once she turns her back to them Taehyung's grin falls. "Bitch."
Jimin giggles, "Rough day already?"
"Whatever, I'm used to it. You're the best, Jiminie," Taehyung says as he takes the shirt from Jimin's hand. "What can I make for you?"
"I'm gonna order from the counter... I'm, uh, here with someone."
"Oh?" Taehyung leans his elbows on the counter, cradling his face in his hands. The little printer beside him goes off with three chits popping up but the blonde ignores it. "Who? And why have I not heard of this earlier?"
"It's not like that," Jimin frowns, "I ran into Jungkook on the way here."
"I see," Taehyung says in a way that Jimin doesn't know what 'he sees', but he doesn't get a chance to ask when a voice is calling his name from the other side of the counter.
"Jiminie!" It's Jungkook, who is now standing in front of the counter, ready to order.
"So you're 'Jiminie' already?" Taehyung wiggles his eyebrows and Jimin sticks his tongue out at him and hurries over to Jungkook so as to not hold up the line.
"What would you like?" Jungkook asks, his wallet already in his hands. "I already ordered, I'll pay." Jimin opens his mouth to protest but Taehyung's co-worker, Evangeline, is narrowing her eyes at them. Jimin sees four other people have stepped into a line behind them.
"Just an iced Americano, please," Jimin stutters out.
"What size do you want, Park?" Evangeline rolls her eyes, annoyed. "I have to ask you every time."
Jimin gives her the stink eye right back, "It's always been a small Evangeline."
"The size is called tall , Park," Evangeline smirks, giving Jimin a once over, "But I can see why you always say small ."
"Eva, play nice," Taehyung shouts from the espresso machine.
Evangeline punches in the order and Jungkook taps his card on the machine. She waves them aside once the payment goes through and calls for the next person in line.
"She doesn't like you very much," Jungkook states, "I skipped the tip option."
"Yeah, I never tip her either. She has this massive crush on Taehyung and for some reason thinks he and I are dating," Jimin scrunches his nose in distaste, "Whenever she works cash I pay with nickels."
"Very mature of you," Jungkook snickers and lifts a finger to the bridge of Jimin's nose. He runs the tip of his index finger from in between Jimin's eyebrows down to the tip of his nose, smoothing out where it's wrinkled. "But it's okay, you're cute."
Jimin freezes under the touch, blushing. Jungkook boops his nose and there's that tiny smile again, and Jimin gulps. What are they doing? Is this flirting? Jimin shouldn't be letting him do this! "Anyways," Jimin steps away from Jungkook, putting some space between them. "What do you like to do in your spare time? Or in between classes?"
"Workout, mainly. Gotta get the most out of the gym on campus, part of tuition goes towards it," Jungkook raises both his arms and flexes his biceps. It's meant to be a playful gesture but all Jimin can think about is how Jungkook could probably lift him up and hold him against--- "And then I like to take photos, film with my camera, play computer games. I enjoy dancing sometimes, and I like to think I'm pretty good at it."
Jimin perks up at this, "Really? I love to dance!"
"Oh sweet," Jungkook says, "Maybe we should go to the studio together sometime and fool around."
Jimin's mind short circuits. "... Fool around?"
"Um, I meant like, play some music and just move around a bit. Not fool around as in fool around , but I could've meant that if you wanted?" Jungkook rambles, "Er, I just mean, if we were to fool around I hope it wouldn't be in a dance studio of all places and---"
"Oi, lovebirds!" Taehyung calls from the expo counter and Jimin lets out a sigh of relief, afraid of where Jungkook was going with that. "A vanilla bean frappuccino and an iced Americano for Jungkook."
"I got it," Jimin says, "Grab a table?"
Jungkook nods eagerly and nearly trips over himself on his way to the seating area.
"Well aren't you two just the sweetest," Taehyung teases when Jimin grabs a handful of napkins.
"Shut up," Jimin grumbles, "That's Eunsoo's new potential boyfriend."
"Sure, that's why he's spending his Sunday afternoon with you and not hitting up Eunsoo."
"They went out yesterday."
"You know Eunsoo came back an hour after he left, right? They barely went out." Taehyung sticks a straw in Jimin's iced Americano and takes a sip. "He's obviously into you. Are you into him?"
"What? No!" Jimin yells, pulling his drink away from Taehyung. "I wouldn't do that to Eunsoo."
"I don't think Eunsoo cares," Taehyung says. "He told me yesterday that there wasn't anything between them."
Jimin takes the two drinks into his hands, "There's always something between everyone and Eunsoo."
Taehyung looks at his friend with exasperation, "Not everyone, Jimin."
But Jimin is already walking away to the booth Jungkook's sitting at. He places Jungkook's frappuccino on the table and takes the seat opposite the younger. They both shrug off their jackets and settle in.
"So, you and Eunsoo," Jimin starts as Jungkook blurts, "Are you single?"
“What?” They both say at the same time.
“You first?” Jimin manages to get out before Jungkook can collect himself.
“I asked… Uh, I asked if you were single…” Jungkook murmurs, tilting his head down so his bangs fall over his eyes.
Jimin laughs nervously, “Yes… I am.” To try to ease the sudden tense atmosphere, Jimin quickly jokes, “Why, Jungkookie? Are you trying to set me up?”
“No!” Jungkook cries. He mumbles something but Jimin can’t hear him properly over the chatter of the cafe as it gets busier.
“Sorry?”
“N-Nothing,” Jungkook says quickly, “Sorry, you were saying?”
“I was just asking about you and Eunsoo. How was your date yesterday?” Jimin asks and stirs his iced Americano. The liquid sloshes around the glass and some of it spills over the lip of the cup. Jimin is quick to lift the glass off the table and sticks his tongue out to catch the droplet of fallen coffee. He licks up the side of the cup and then wraps his lips around the straw to take a sip.
Jungkook is staring intently at him, doe eyes impossibly wide.
Jimin reddens, realizing what he’s just done. He’s not with Eunsoo or Taehyung, his close friends, he’s with Jungkook. The brunette probably thinks he’s disgusting.
“Oh my God, I’m… I’m sorry,” Jimin stammers, reaching for one of the napkins from the pile he brought over, “That was really gross of me.”
“Please date me,” Jungkook breathes out, still staring.
“Huh?” Jimin looks at Jungkook dubiously as he wipes his mouth and then around the glass.
“Please don’t apologize!” Jungkook amends loudly and then sips on his own drink.
The two sit and slurp their drinks for a few minutes. Jungkook breaks the silence first and asks Jimin about what he likes to write, and in turn, Jimin asks Jungkook what he likes to film. The two continue to converse, this time more relaxed after Jimin’s embarrassing cup-licking-incident and the question about Eunsoo and yesterday is forgotten.
“I don’t believe you,” Jimin giggles when the younger is finished telling him a story about a time he went to a Korean restaurant uptown.
Jungkook and his friend went to dine in at a Korean barbeque place late at night after clubbing and the worker shit-talked and complained loudly to her co-workers in Korean about them. Jungkook and his friend didn’t say anything until they were paying for the bill, and after bypassing the tip option on the machine, asked the woman in perfect Korean: ‘Why do you think you didn’t get a tip?’
“The look on her face was so funny” Jungkook laughs, “She was speechless. She ran off and her manager came to apologize to us for her behaviour.”
“That’s mortifying,” Jimin grins. “Was the food good at least?”
“It was alright. There’s a place not too far from here that’s better. Food and service wise.”
“Really? I’m in my fourth year and I’m still not familiar with places to eat around here. I don’t venture farther than here. I think it’s cause I just come here for lunch and snacks since it’s discounted when Tae works… And it’s close.”
“That’s fair, but you should try stuff outside of this radius,” Jungkook chuckles, and the brunette has this twinkle in his eye when he looks at Jimin, “Let’s go sometime. We could grab dinner and a movie.”
Jimin bites his lip. The twinkle in Jungkook’s eye looks suspiciously like hope and that sounds kind of like a date.
“If you’re not busy… Maybe sometime this week?” Jungkook suggests and Jimin swallows a lump in his throat, suddenly very aware of who he’s with.
Jimin’s phone buzzes, notifying him Eunsoo’s texted him and the silver haired male feels his guilt amplify. Here he is, sitting with his best friend’s prospective love interest, enjoying afternoon iced coffees and feeling things he shouldn’t be feeling. Jimin instantly comes to the realization that if Jungkook were to become Eunsoo’s official boyfriend, Jimin will have to deal with seeing him with Eunsoo everywhere. Kind, sweet, hot, could-pin-me-against-a-wall Jungkook. Funny, endearing, cute Jungkook who makes Jimin’s heart race against his ribcage whenever he smiles that tiny, charming smile.
When it came to girls, their tastes were complete opposites, but Jimin and Eunsoo have always had the same type when it came to guys: Tall, fit, charming men who could sweep them off their feet (figuratively and literally) and dazzle them with their personalities, talents and smiles. But Jimin has never once fought over a guy with Eunsoo and vice versa. And he doesn’t want to start.
“I have to go,” Jimin yelps and shoots up from his seat. His hips collide with the edge of the table and it shakes a little bit, rocking their empty glasses dangerously.
“Wait, but---” Jungkook swiftly stands as well. He’s already got one foot out of the booth and Jimin needs to leave right now.
“Thank you for the coffee, Jungkook,” the older male grabs his phone off the table and bolts. He feels the smallest brush of Jungkook’s fingers trying to grab his wrist but Jimin is faster and sprints to the door.
Jimin nearly smacks his face into the door pushing it open, but manages to leave and run down the sidewalk for a few meters before he deems it safe to stop. He leans against one of the storefront walls for support as he catches his breath.
His phone rings in his hand.
“Hello?” Jimin wheezes into the receiver.
“Minnie?” It’s Eunsoo, “I texted you. Where are you? I forgot my keys in the house and I’m locked out.”
“I’m… I was just,” Jimin pants, not sure if he should tell the truth. The truth makes him feel ashamed, “I’m… I’m near Pan’s. I just dropped off a shirt for Tae.” Well, it’s half the truth.
“Oh good, you’re close,” Eunsoo sounds unbothered, “Can you drop by to let me in?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“I’ll see you in a few?”
“Yes!” Jimin squawks and hangs up. He pockets his phone and hurriedly walks in the direction of his house. Maybe he should grab them something to eat on the way? It’s past 2PM and Jimin knows he’s only thinking about buying Eunsoo food to compensate for the guilt-ridden feeling clawing at the pit of his stomach after spending time with Jungkook. The worst part? Jimin liked it. A lot. It’s the most fun he’s had chatting and getting to know someone, more than any date he’s been on since starting university. And it doesn’t help that Jungkook is attractive and nice.
Jimin wants to scream. He opts out of buying food, walking past the various fast food places lining the sidewalk leading up to his street, and speed walks the rest of the way home. Eunsoo is sitting on the bottom step of their porch, pulling at what little grass they have on the thin, rectangular lawn beside their narrow driveway.
“Hey,” Jimin says and Eunsoo smiles up at him, hopping to his feet and they both go up the steps to the front door. “Eunsoo,” Jimin utters out, stopping in front of the door and the pink haired male quirks an eyebrow.
“What’s up, Min? I have to pee,” Eunsoo says and Jimin watches him bounce from one foot to the other.
“It’s nothing,” Jimin pulls his keys out of his pocket and unlocks the door. Once he twists the knob, Eunsoo dashes in. The pink haired male unties his laces and flings his shoes off hastily and one sneaker hits Jimin in the face.
“Sorry Min!” Eunsoo calls out as he rushes up the stairs, the bathroom door slamming shut.
Jimin takes his own shoes off and goes towards the kitchen. “Are you hungry?” He yells up the stairs.
“I’m going out!” Eunsoo replies.
Jimin continues to the kitchen and opens the fridge to scope out the current food situation. There’s a head of cabbage on the bottom shelf along with a carton of orange juice and a jar of pickles. The middle shelf is no better, with one lonely cup of yogurt and a bag of milk with no milk holder** as Taehyung had broken it last week. The top shelf has a ketchup stain that Jimin is sure Eunsoo didn’t clean and the fridge door has a sock hanging off it. He should go grocery shopping.
His phone vibrates in his back pocket and Jimin pulls it out. There’s a text message from an unknown number.
Unknown
Hey Jimin, this is Jungkook. I hope you don’t mind, I got your number from Eunsoo a week back.
You forgot your jacket at the cafe today
Jimin groans. Of course he forgot his jacket in his rush to get out.
Me
Hey Jungkook!
Thanks for picking it up
Can you just give it to Taehyung?
Unknown
Uh I was going to but his co-worker told me he left already
Jimin pauses. He checks the time on his phone. 2:34PM. Taehyung shouldn’t be off his shift for at least another hour and a half.
Me
Can you check again?
He gets off at 4
Jimin waits and then his phone pings again.
Unknown
Yeah she said he left early today
Jimin puts his phone down. Then picks it back up. Then puts it down again. This is just his luck. Jimin thinks he needs at least a week to recover before seeing the younger man, the brunette’s arms and hand tattoos are not good for his heart.
Unknown
I could drop it off
Jimin sighs. He ponders on his response when he hears Eunsoo’s footsteps padding down. He could ask Eunsoo to get his jacket from Jungkook, but then that guilty feeling worms its way back into Jimin’s chest reminding him of their coffee rendezvous. If he asks Eunsoo he’ll have to admit to enjoying a very-date-like outing with the pink haired male’s love interest.
Jimin decides against asking Eunsoo.
Me
If you don’t mind
I’m home right now
Unknown
Okay cool
I’m leaving the cafe rn
Jimin knows the walk to the cafe to his house is only seven minutes and he doesn’t want Eunsoo to see Jungkook, doesn’t want to have to explain why Jungkook has his jacket. “Hey, Soo?” Jimin calls out.
Eunsoo’s pink head peeks out sideways from the kitchen door frame. “Mm?”
“Where are you headed?”
“I’m going to meet up with June and Xiulin at the library. Why?”
“Just wondering. You’re leaving, like, right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, have fun.”
Eunsoo disappears from the door frame and Jimin follows and watches him slip his sneakers on. The slightly older man straightens up after tying his laces and starts rearranging his hair in the mirror they have hanging next to the coat closet.
Jimin twiddles his fingers impatiently.
“Ah, shit,” Eunsoo curses, still looking at himself in the mirror. “I’m missing an earring.”
“Do you really need it?”
“I probably left it on my dresser.” Eunsoo unties his laces and takes his shoes off. He walks past Jimin upstairs and Jimin feels his nerves start to kick in. He checks the time… Eunsoo has to leave in five minutes before Jungkook gets here.
Jimin hears Eunsoo rummaging around his room for two minutes before he goes upstairs, taking two steps at a time. He enters Eunsoo’s room to find his friend on his knees, face pressed to the floor as he shines his phone flashlight underneath his vanity.
“I think I dropped it,” Eunsoo says as he scoots backwards.
Jimin turns the flashlight on his phone as well and drops down to help and they find the earring in thirty seconds.
“Thanks, Minnie,” Eunsoo grins as he fixes the dangly chain to his left ear. Jimin just nods and guides Eunsoo to the stairs before he can start to touch his hair again.
Eunsoo puts on his shoes again and waves to Jimin, yanking the door open. Jimin exhales in relief as he still has a minute to spare.
Except he doesn’t. Maybe it’s because Jungkook’s legs are longer so he covers more distance in less time. When Eunsoo opens the door, Jungkook is standing there with Jimin’s jacket draped over one arm and his other hand raised to knock.
“Oh, Jungkook,” Eunsoo says, surprised, and Jimin thinks his heart stops beating.
“Eunsoo,” Jungkook replies.
“Interesting,” is all Eunsoo says. “Well, bye.” And the pink haired male brushes past Jungkook nonchalantly.
Jimin gapes at Jungkook; Jungkook is still standing outside and Jimin is frozen by the kitchen. Eunsoo’s footsteps sound as he descends the porch steps and then they fade away into the late afternoon air leaving Jimin and Jungkook staring at each other.
“Can I come in?” Jungkook inquires and Jimin rushes to the door to formally welcome Jungkook in.
“Yes! Sorry,” Jimin says, embarrassed, and Jungkook steps inside. Jimin closes the door behind him and the younger holds out Jimin’s jacket, to which the older accepts and puts it on a hanger to put in the closet. Jimin turns around from the closet to find Jungkook looking at him, the two fairly close as the foyer isn’t that big.
“Thanks,” Jimin breathes out and raises his hands to give Jungkook what he hopes is a friendly pat on the shoulder. But when he brings up his hands, Jungkook shifts slightly to the side so both of Jimin’s palms land on the taller man’s chest. Jimin feels the hard muscle of the brunette’s pectorals underneath his fingers and can’t seem to stop himself from dragging his hands down, down, down… And oh, Jungkook’s entire torso is fucking rock hard and he must have a fucking eight pack or something, what the fuck---
Jungkook clears his throat and Jimin jumps away from him, body on fire with humiliation. He can’t believe he did that. Any lower and he would’ve been cupping Jungkook’s crotch for fuck’s sake.
“Thank you!” Jimin squeaks, three feet away from Jungkook. “For my jacket. And thank you again, for the coffee.”
Jungkook smiles and rubs the back of his neck, “No problem… Um, about earlier…”
“Sorry for leaving so abruptly. Eunsoo got locked out,” it’s not a lie, so Jimin doesn’t quite feel bad.
“It’s okay,” Jungkook affirms, “I understand. I actually wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I had, um, I had a really great time with you this afternoon.” Jungkook pauses and Jimin doesn’t know if he’s expected to say something. Should he say he also had a good time? That would be telling the truth, but he’s so confused with everything that’s happened and how he’s feeling because the main thing holding him back is the fact that Jungkook is Eunsoo’s. “I was hoping we could do it again? Um, like I said, there’s a great Korean place near campus and we could catch a movie before or after, depending on movie times or when you wanna eat---”
This sounds like---
“Jungkook,” Jimin interrupts and the brunette goes still, “I don’t want to make assumptions, but this sounds like you’re asking me out.”
“That is what I’m doing,” Jungkook says bluntly. “I want to get to know you better.”
The gears in Jimin’s head turn. They creak a little as Jimin furrows his eyebrows and scrunches his nose. Jungkook gives him this fond look and Jimin frowns. “You mean… As friends?”
Jungkook’s fond expression morphs into a pained one, and Jimin almost feels bad, except he shouldn’t feel bad because it’s not like he’s rejecting Jungkook. Rejection would imply romantic feelings.
… Right?
“We can go out as friends, if that’s what you want.”
“I think… I think I would like that,” Jimin says meekly. Being friends is harmless, all the better for when Jungkook and Eunsoo make it official. Except Jimin doesn’t really want to be Jungkook’s friend because he wants to climb the younger like a tree ---
Jimin shakes his head and grins widely at Jungkook, albeit a little hesitantly. He closes the three foot gap between them and holds out his hand. “Friends?”
Jungkook considers Jimin’s outstretched hand for a moment and instead of grasping it in a handshake like Jimin had intended, the brunette reaches out to lace their fingers together in a hand hold. Jungkook’s palm engulfs Jimin’s and before the silver haired male can comprehend what’s happening, the younger gives him a quick squeeze and lets go.
Jungkook laughs, “Friends.”
Alright Jimin, you can do this, you can be Jungkook’s friend!
And then Jungkook’s laugh settles on that tiny, adorable smile and Jimin’s own smile falters.
---
Being Jungkook’s friend is not easy. In fact, it fucking sucks. It’s been about a month since the two agreed to be ‘friends’, and the feelings Jimin has been trying to push away since the Coffeehouse Sunday™ only blossom and flourish. Jimin is falling hard and it’s getting more and more difficult to ignore the desire in his heart and the confessions of love that form in his mouth like word vomit, threatening to spill over every time Jungkook so much as looks at him.
At first Jimin associated it with lust: Simple. Anybody with eyes could see that Jungkook was a fine piece of man. He was tall, built but not overly buff, and very, very good looking. He wasn’t a fashionista, but he had that college-boyfriend-look with the right amount of baggy clothing (like hoodies, sweats, shirts) paired with tighter fitting pieces (like ripped jeans and v-neck t-shirts) and he always smelled nice. Jimin just thought, yeah, I want that to lift me up and bend me over or fuck me up five ways to Sunday.
But then he realized it was so much more than that.
One night Jungkook had joined them for movie night on Friday. Jimin had cooked extra spaghetti instead of the usual serving for three, and after dinner they all settled in the living room to pick a movie. Taehyung sat in the loveseat by himself and Jimin, Jungkook and Eunsoo took the couch (in that order), the three shoulder to shoulder underneath one blanket.
Halfway through the movie, Jimin had jumped a little from an unexpected explosion blaring through the speakers and ended up halfway across Jungkook’s lap. One of his legs was thrown across Jungkook’s thighs, and his shoulder dug into the younger’s chest. He was quick to move, but Jungkook had placed a hand on his knee for the rest of the movie.
Another time Jimin had agreed to meet Jungkook at Pan’s for a morning coffee before their afternoon classes and Jungkook was already sitting at a table, waving Jimin over. He had already bought Jimin’s iced Americano and a butter croissant and gestured to the seat across from him. Jimin hadn’t bothered to ask how Jungkook knew, just sat down and pulled out his laptop to get some work done. He and Jungkook briefly had a game of footsies under the table, and if Jimin had to duck his head behind the screen to hide his blush, Jungkook didn’t need to know that.
And then the incident that happened that Jimin knew he was fucked was when he was studying endlessly for a midterm that was coming up on top of writing six essays, and he hadn’t gotten much sleep over the course of three days. He thought he was going to die holed up in his room on top of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein among ten other gothic horror novels when an angel in the form of Jungkook Jeon appeared at his door. Jungkook brought two bags of takeout food, snacks, and drinks and ordered Jimin to eat and recharge. He sat with Jimin for five hours, helping him bookmark and highlight important pages for his cited sources for the essays, and provided comforting neck massages and hugs when Jimin really felt the weight of the workload.
When he had finally finished everything, Jungkook lent Jimin a clean hoodie he brought, saying: “This is my stress sleep sweater… it’s really soft inside and it guarantees you a good night’s sleep! Calms your nerves before an important exam, too.” Maybe it was the stress or the commotion of finishing six essays but Jimin had started bawling, ugly crying into Jungkook’s shirt on the floor of his bedroom. Jungkook had stroked his hair until he calmed down and, after everything, smiled brightly before leaving. That night, wrapped up in Jungkook’s sweater, he did indeed get a good night’s sleep dreaming of doe eyes and a tiny, bunny smile.
---
“I’m doomed,” Jimin sighs woefully, flopping dramatically over the table and he nearly knocks his iced Americano over.
Taehyung sighs, exasperated, and steadies Jimin’s glass. “Such a drama queen. Just confess.”
Jimin sits upright and looks at Taehyung, scandalized. “How can you say that?”
“Why can’t I say it?”
“You know why.”
“No, Jimin, I really don’t.”
The two stare at each other. Jimin’s stare is hard, scathing, while Taehyung’s is challenging.
“Because.”
“Because?” Taehyung prompts, “Because he’s Eunsoo’s?”
Jimin nods meekly.
“Jiminie, open your eyes,” Taehyung makes an exaggerated motion in front of his face that Jimin can’t decipher what it’s supposed to mean. “And look at the facts.”
“What facts?”
“I’m not finished!” Taehyung says impatiently and Jimin raises his hands in surrender, ducking his head to sip his drink from the straw. “Over the course of the month, you and Jungkook have hung out how many times?”
Jimin ponders the answer, “Um, I don’t know? A lot? But you guys have also hung out with us---”
“Good enough,” Taehyung waves his hands dismissively, “And how many times has Jungkook hung out with Eunsoo? Alone, I mean.”
“How am I supposed to know? What they do is… Private,” Jimin doesn’t mean for it to come out so bitterly, but it does so he lifts his drink again to occupy his mouth before he says something he’ll regret.
“Okay, well I can tell you that they haven’t hung out together, alone, at all in the past month.”
“So…? They probably don’t have time---”
“But Jungkook has time for you?”
“I meant on Eunsoo's end---”
“Okay and how many times has Jungkook taken you out?” Taehyung interrupts, “And when I say ‘take you out’, I’m talking deep, meaningful conversations over dinner. I’m talking about late-night movies at our place, treating you to ice cream, and cute little cafe dates in the afternoon---” Jimin looks at Taehyung like a deer caught in the headlights, to which the blonde rolls his eyes, “---don’t look at me like that, you guys literally come here, I fucking work here. You think I don’t notice you two giggling in a booth and the hearts that float around your head whenever Jungkook flexes his biceps? Which he does on purpose, by the way, nobody’s biceps bulge like that when opening a water bottle.”
Jimin is quiet, unsure of how to proceed with this conversation.
“My break’s over, Min,” Taehyung says as he checks the time on his watch, “If you’re too scared to say something to Jungkook, how about you start with Eunsoo? Eunsoo will understand.”
“But what if he doesn’t?” Jimin whispers.
“He will,” Taehyung says firmly and stands. He gives Jimin an affectionate tap on the nose and a gentle smile before he’s off to the barista counter.
Jimin finishes off the rest of his drink. “I’m doomed.”
---
Talking to Eunsoo turns out to be quite the task.
It’s springtime and Eunsoo is preparing for several written exams, culminating assessments and projects, so the pink haired male is scarce around the house, spending most of his time on campus or in the cosmetology studios.
Jimin, having finished most of his main coursework, has the time to spare to wait up for his friend, but finds it hard when Eunsoo barely comes home. Lately he’s been texting Jimin and Taehyung that he’s crashing at a classmate’s place as they both work on projects and study together.
It’s a Thursday night when Eunsoo comes home early, around 7PM, and Jimin is finishing up cooking instant ramyun for him and Taehyung.
“Did you make extra? I’m starving,” Eunsoo complains, taking a seat at their small dining table in front of Taehyung.
Jimin places a bowl of noodles in front of Taehyung, “Oh, I used---”
“Actually, I just remembered,” Taehyung cuts in, “I’m… I’m not hungry. You can have mine, Soosoo.” The blonde pushes his bowl towards Eunsoo and hops up from his seat.
“Are you sure, Tae? I can---”
“Have it,” Taehyung assures and even puts the chopsticks he was holding onto into Eunsoo’s hand. He then grabs Jimin’s arm and brings him into the kitchen. “Now’s your chance. Talk to him about Jungkook.”
“What? No!”
“Yes!”
“Taehyung, no!”
“Jimin, yes!”
“No, I’m not ready.”
“Jimin, if you don’t talk to Eunsoo I’m telling Jungkook you want to lick his---”
“Fine!” Jimin hisses, picking up his own bowl of noodles. “I’ll talk to him, are you happy?”
Taehyung nods, a smug grin on his lips.
“I want you to know, I used the last pack of ramyun. The only thing left in the fridge is your sock, so I hope you starve,” Jimin says snootily and walks away from the blonde to sit with Eunsoo.
Eunsoo smiles at him when he sits down, and Jimin suddenly feels a weight settle uncomfortably on his shoulders.
“I have to be quick, got a lot to do,” the pink haired male says through a mouthful of noodles. He’s already eaten half the bowl and Jimin gulps. That means less time to talk.
“Um, Soosoo,” Jimin starts, twirling his noodles around with his chopsticks.
“Mm?”
“Can I… Can we talk?”
Eunsoo notices Jimin’s serious tone and stops shoveling food into his mouth. “Sure, Minnie. What’s up?”
“Well, um… How are you?” Jimin deflects and Eunsoo raises an eyebrow.
“Good, I guess. Been busy. And you?”
“Good…” Jimin answers and continues to push his noodles around.
“You know you can tell me anything, right Minnie?”
Jimin knows that. They've been friends since times when they were still wetting the bed, but something about confessing his secret feelings for his best friend’s man makes Jimin feel dirty. It makes him feel guilty for not saying something sooner.
“It’s about Jungkook,” Jimin mumbles.
Eunsoo stares at Jimin blankly.
Jimin holds his stare and his breath.
Eunsoo breaks the staring contest by shrugging, “If this is about how you want to his lick chocolate drizzle off his abs, I say go for it. But I’d rather we didn’t talk about it. I love you, Minnie, but TMI.”
Jimin drops his chopsticks, his mouth hanging open. The metal utensils clatter to the floor and some soup gets on his sweater. Eunsoo slurps the rest of the noodles in his bowl and finishes the soup in three gulps.
“Wow, that was great, thanks Min!” Eunsoo pats his stomach and Jimin is in such a state of shock he doesn’t even register Eunsoo standing to leave.
“W… Wait!” Jimin exclaims and gets up to follow his pink haired friend to the kitchen. “That’s… I… Huh?”
Eunsoo places his bowl in the sink and turns around to face Jimin, leaning against the counter. “Taehyung told me, I hope you’re not mad.”
“M-Mad?” Jimin nearly shouts, flabbergasted. “Me? What about you?”
“What about me?” Eunsoo asks, playfully tilting his head in confusion.
“I’m… Jungkook is…” Jimin takes a deep breath and tries to collect his thoughts. His mind is reeling. “Aren’t you and Jungkook dating?” He asks first, because that seems like a good place to start.
“Jungkookie and me?” Eunsoo snorts, “Don’t you think that if I were dating a guy, he would be over here 24/7 with me instead of hanging out with you all the time?”
“I---”
“Jiminie, you’re not slick. I know you and Jungkook have texted everyday for the past month, I see him tagging you in memes on Facebook, I know that’s his sweater,” Eunsoo glances down to Jimin’s torso and the silver haired male brings his arms up to cover his chest, like that would do anything. “So really, the question should be, aren’t you and Jungkook dating?”
Jimin just blinks. What is happening? “But he asked for your number at Pan’s when we… And then I gave it to him… He took you out that Saturday and then… I’m so… He… What?”
“Oh, my Minnie,” Eunsoo tuts, shaking his head. He places both hands on Jimin’s cheeks and squishes them so Jimin’s lips pucker out, “You’re are the cutest, sweetest angel to ever grace this planet. Your lips? Sinful. Your body? Amazing. Your ass? If we weren’t basically brothers, I would eat it.”
Jimin puts his hands over Eunsoo’s to remove them from his face but Eunsoo just squishes a little bit harder.
“But when it comes to love, you’re so dumb. So extraordinarily blind to men and women lining up at your door, waiting for you to acknowledge their advances. That day at Pan’s, why did you give Jungkook my number?”
Jimin waits for Eunsoo to ease up on his hold on his face before he replies, “Because he was looking at you.”
“No, he was looking at you.”
“But when he approached us and you left, he looked to where you had gone.”
“No, he was nervous and was glancing around. You’re too pretty to look at for long periods of time, Minnie, anyone would be nervous.”
“But,” Jimin says feebly, “You’re pretty too.”
“Thanks, Minnie, I love you,” Eunsoo cooes, “But this is not about me, this about you and how Jungkook thinks you’re pretty.”
Jimin thinks he melts on the spot. “He thinks I’m pretty?”
“Yes. That Saturday he came? The lavenders were for you, stupid. I was going to tell you about him taking you out, but he arrived really early. We’ve been texting back and forth about you, Min, not because we’re interested in each other.”
Jimin lets the information sink in. Eunsoo releases his hold on Jimin’s face, but not before giving him a loving tap to his cheek.
“What’s bothering you, Jiminie?”
“All this time I thought…” Jimin trails off.
“I don’t know how you didn’t know,” Eunsoo laughs, “Jungkook looks at you with stars in his eyes. That Saturday when I left with him, he spent fifteen minutes talking about your exposed shoulder from your ratty, old sleepshirt.”
“Oh,” is all Jimin says, staring off into the distance. He thinks back to all the times he and Jungkook have hung out and talked: To all the offhand compliments Jungkook would give him, his comforting actions when Jimin was upset or distressed, and their lack of acknowledgement towards Eunsoo. He thinks about how he admires Jungkook’s passion for his filmography and work, how the younger is somehow naturally good at everything. Even the little things like how good Jungkook smells with that masculine and weirdly spicy-sweet scent (Jimin still hasn’t figured out if that’s his cologne, deodorant, soap, or if he was just blessed by the Gods with that natural scent), even after a session at the gym. And then everything clicks. “Oh my God, I gotta tell him I want to lick his abs…!” Jimin declares, shocked.
“Okay, that’s great, Min, loving it, love you. But let’s not confess that to Jungkook just yet, hm?” Eunsoo throws an arm around Jimin’s shoulders and guides them out of the kitchen to the foot of their stairs. “How about we start with ‘I like you’, okay? Go get dressed.”
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Jimin, while wearing Jungkook’s sweater is cute and whatever, you have a soup stain on the front. And you’re not wearing pants.”
Jimin peeks down to his bare legs and rushes upstairs, taking two stairs at a time.
Taehyung, coming down, plasters himself against the railing to allow Jimin to sprint past him. The blonde grins at Eunsoo, “I take it he finally realized Jungkook is into him and not you?”
“Yeah, and I told him he’s dumb.”
“Fair.”
---
After Jimin’s changed into a loose fitted top, one that dips low to show his collarbones and just barely clings to his shoulders, Eunsoo sits him down to apply some make-up.
“Is this necessary?”
“Hey, do you want to lick his abs or not?”
Jimin lets Eunsoo do his thing. The slightly older male applies some bb cream and foundation to Jimin’s skin, praising Jimin for keeping up with his skincare routine. He then brushes some terracotta eyeshadow onto Jimin’s lids and lightly lines the outer corners of his eyes with a darker shade. Peach blush is dusted onto the apples of his cheeks and, against Jimin’s protests, Eunsoo swipes a hefty amount of gloss onto Jimin’s lips.
“I’m just accentuating what you already have, Min. If we weren’t basically brothers, I’d want those around my dick.”
Jimin leaves the house with Eunsoo as the pink haired male has to get back to campus to work on his final project. On the way, Eunsoo agrees to help Jimin pick up some food so that Jimin can bring it to Jungkook’s house, seeing as Jimin didn’t eat his noodles.
They find themselves at the Korean restaurant that Jungkook had mentioned a month ago, ordering spicy tteokbokki, rice balls, and japchae. Jimin asks for a bottle of soju to drink while they wait for the food. Eunsoo gives him an amused look as Jimin refuses the shot glass offered to him, uncaps the soju and starts chugging.
“Min, do you really need to do that to tell him ‘I like you’?”
“Shut up,” Jimin says when he lowers the bottle, half the liquor finished. Jimin’s tolerance is pretty high, but he’s going on an empty stomach and trying to consume the entire bottle in ten minutes. Despite this, he doesn’t think he’ll be more than a little tipsy. “Liquid courage.”
“Alright. Would you also like to stop by Pan’s to steal some chocolate drizzle or…?”
Jimin glares at Eunsoo while he downs the rest of the soju. The server who brings over Jimin’s bagged food gives him a weird look. “Here’s your takeout.”
“Don’t be so uptight, Minnie,” Eunsoo says as Jimin takes the food from the server, mutters a thank you, and they leave the restaurant. The pink haired male pulls out the tube of gloss he used on Jimin earlier and hands it to him. “Take this. Make sure you really pout your lips.”
Jimin tries it and Eunsoo shakes his head. “No, Min, more with your bottom lip.”
Jimin protrudes his bottom lip out a little more than his top one. Eunsoo nods in approval.
“And if you’re feeling super nervous, let your body do the talking,” Eunsoo pulls on a side of Jimin’s flimsy shirt so that one of his shoulders is exposed and the front gapes at his collarbones. “Like that. Then raise the shoulder that’s exposed and lean forward to him. Look up at him through your lashes. With the blush and the alcoholic flush on your chest, it’ll look really sexy.”
Jimin nods, “Okay, thanks Soo.”
“Remember to be bold! Good luck, Min,” Eunsoo gives Jimin a hug. “Tell Jungkookie I’ll kick his fucking ass if he rejects this fine ass,” Eunsoo gives Jimin’s butt a squeeze and Jimin yelps. “Bye bye!”
Jimin waves to his friend as Eunsoo jogs down the sidewalk towards campus. Jimin goes the opposite direction to where he remembers Jungkook lives. He’d walked to Jungkook’s house before when he would meet up with the younger to go to Pan’s or campus, but he had never gone inside.
When he gets to Jungkook’s street, the takeout in his hand feels overwhelmingly heavy and he feels himself starting to sweat. Perspiration beads at his temples and his hands become clammy. His feet begin to drag across the pavement as Jungkook’s house comes into view, and Jimin starts to doubt himself. Is this a good idea? Should he have texted Jungkook first?
Before he knows it, Jimin is in front of Jungkook’s door, fist raised to knock.
The silver haired male feels the soju kicking in, heating up his insides like a lit flame in his stomach. Jimin doesn’t know if it really is the alcohol or his desire engulfing him at being so close to what he’s wanted and thought about non-stop for the past month.
He fixes his shirt properly so both his shoulders are covered and knocks.
And then he waits.
A shirtless Asian man opens the door with his dark hair sticking up one side and Jimin wonders if he’s just rolled out of bed.
“Hello, is Jungkook home?”
The man lazily gives Jimin a once over, taking in the food in Jimin’s hand and the shine of Jimin’s glossed lips. He smirks, “You must be Jimin.”
“Um, yes,” Jimin says politely, “I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are...”
“No worries. I’m Chase, one of Jungkook’s roommates. Come in,” Chase opens the door wider for Jimin to enter and Jimin steps inside with a bow of his head.
“Thanks, I---”
“JEON!” Chase roars, not bothering to direct his voice to anywhere in particular, though Jimin can see the foot of their stairs not too far behind him.
“WHAT,” comes a muffled reply from upstairs.
“JIMIN IS HERE.”
There’s silence, and then hurried footsteps sound against the floor. There’s a loud crash, like a lamp has fallen over, and then Jimin can hear stumbling and several thumps.
While chaos is clearly happening upstairs, Chase acts as if this is ordinary and continues to stare at Jimin cool and collected. He’s very attractive: Just under six feet, Jimin guesses, with black hair and lovely tanned skin. He’s very fit, with the way his thick arms cross over a sturdy chest is any way to tell. Jimin wonders if all of Jungkook’s roommates are Adonises.
“So Jimin,” Chase drawls, “What do you study?”
“I’m an English major,” Jimin answers, changing the bag of takeout from one hand to the other. “I’m in my last year.”
“Ah, so you’re older than Jungkook?”
“Yeah.”
“Makes sense,” Chase says and Jimin is about to ask what he means by that when Jungkook bounds down the stairs, colliding into the wall at the landing. He’s shirtless as well, grey Puma sweatpants hanging low enough that Jimin can see the defined V of his waistline leading into the band. Jimin is reminded of his want to lick his abdomen and feels his cheeks heat up at the thought.
“Hey, Jimin, hey,” Jungkook greets, resting his elbow on the wall beside him like he didn’t just crash into it a few seconds prior. His biceps are on full display, and his pectorals twitch under Jimin’s gaze.
“Why are you shirtless?” Jimin directs his question to Jungkook, but he also briefly glances at Chase. Jungkook was stumbling upstairs for a few minutes, how did he not think or have time to put on a shirt?
“Ooo, Jimin is here?” Another voice questions and a mop of blonde hair peeks out from behind Jungkook on the stairs’ landing. It’s a Caucasian boy, shirtless, and Jimin thinks he might lose his mind. “Isn’t that that dude Jeon’s been pining over?”
“Shut it,” Jungkook barks and pushes the blonde boy backwards, hiding him from view.
“I wanna see!” The voice whines.
“He’s pretty,” Chase supplies and the voice grunts.
“Stop it!” Jungkook shouts and Jimin can see the blonde boy trying to clamber over Jungkook.
“Can we go to your room?” Jimin questions, “I brought food.”
The three men go quiet and then Jungkook is stalking over to him, taking his wrist in his hand and leading him upstairs. They pass by the blonde boy on the staircase, who is also ridiculously good looking and Jimin wonders what sort of strange dimension he’s entered when he stepped foot into this house of Greek Gods.
They get to Jungkook’s room and sure enough there’s a broken lamp on the floor by the bed and several clothes are haphazardly thrown around. Other than that, Jungkook’s room is very neat and cozy, his desktop is tucked away in the furthest corner and his closet is organized. There’s a small window at the end wall that illuminates the center of the room with the sun’s orange glow as it descends into the horizon.
“You look nice,” Jungkook says as Jimin holds up the takeout and asks, “Where can I put this?”
They both stare at each other and then break out into nervous giggles.
Jungkook takes the bag of food from Jimin’s hands and places it on his desk while Jimin picks up a shirt off of Jungkook’s floor.
When the younger turns around, Jimin holds out the shirt.
“Can you… Can you put this on? It’s distracting.”
Jungkook feigns confusion, but Jimin sees the tiniest of smirks on his lips. “What’s distracting?”
“Jungkook!” Jimin huffs, waving the shirt around. Jungkook takes the offered shirt and shoves his head through the top hole and then makes a show of threading his arms through the arm holes.
Jimin, blush on his cheeks, puffs his cheeks out in frustration.
Once Jungkook has a shirt on, he beams at Jimin. “To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?”
“I thought we could eat together,” Jimin says and Jungkook goes to open the bag of food.
The younger takes out the containers of food and opens one of the styrofoam boxes to check inside. The silver haired male, hopped up on soju, saunters over to Jungkook and closes the box he’s just opened. Jungkook looks at him in surprise.
He peers up at Jungkook through his lashes and sticks his bottom lip out a little more in what he hopes looks seductive, “And then we could… Have dessert.”
“Oh?” Jungkook says, “Did you bring dessert? I don’t see any.” The brunette takes a glimpse at the bag of food again, uncertain.
Jimin grabs Jungkook’s chin into his hand and brings his eyes back to him. He takes the opportunity to lean a little bit closer into Jungkook’s space. “Um, me.”
Jungkook raises an eyebrow. “You?”
Jimin swallows. His tongue feels heavy in his mouth and he recalls Eunsoo’s words from earlier: Be bold. “Yes, me. Um… I’m… I’m the dessert,” Jimin blinks and feels a wave of nausea wash over him. Chugging a bottle of soju on an empty stomach, he concludes, wasn’t a very good idea.
Trying to shake himself out of the nerves, Jimin tugs on one of his sleeves so the cut of his shirt falls down one shoulder, exposing the skin to Jungkook. He places one hand on the desk behind Jungkook so that when he bends at the waist, Jungkook can see the dip of his shirt. He arches his back a little so his ass sticks out and he feels so absurd he’s tempted to forget this whole thing and run home.
Jungkook gapes at him. “Jimin, I...”
It's silent. Jimin thinks he can hear a clock ticking in the distance even though Jungkook doesn't have one in his room.
“God, this is ridiculous, I’m ridiculous,” Jimin says and succumbs to his humiliation. He pushes himself away from Jungkook and pulls his shirt back up, “Let’s just eat?”
Jimin reaches around Jungkook to pick up the tteokbokki but Jungkook grips his wrist and pulls him flush against him so they’re chest to chest. The brunette is biting his lip and looking down at Jimin darkly. “Are we talking about the food or you?”
Jimin holds Jungkook’s stare.
Then then he thinks, fuck it.
Jimin surges up and presses his lips to Jungkook’s, hands coming up to fist his hair. Jungkook’s mouth is hot on his as the younger shoves his own hands up Jimin’s shirt. Jimin sighs contentedly and Jungkook takes the chance to push his tongue past the older’s lips.
As they makeout, hands roam, teeth clack, Jungkook loses his shirt and Jimin loses his pants at some point. The silver haired male feels like he’s floating, everything he’s been suppressing coming to surface at this moment.
And then he realizes that he feels like he’s floating because he’s literally floating; he doesn’t know when but Jungkook’s picked him up, palms on the underside of his thighs as he presses him against the cool glass of his window. Jungkook detaches his lips from Jimin’s in favour of nosing along the column of the older’s throat, teeth grazing his jugular.
“Fuck, you’re so hot,” Jungkook pants into Jimin’s neck, diving in to suck a spot on Jimin’s exposed collarbone. “Been wanting to kiss you since I saw you enter the coffeehouse.”
“Oh,” Jimin moans when Jungkook slides one of his hands from his thigh to cup his ass. “J-Jungkook, w-wait---”
“Ugh, no, please” Jungkook grunts and puts Jimin down. Jimin’s feet barely hit the floor before Jungkook’s throwing him onto his bed. He squeaks when he bounces a little upon contact with the mattress.
“You’re so strong,” Jimin whimpers as Jungkook climbs on top of him and hooks his hands underneath Jimin’s knees to push them up to his chest. The younger settles in between Jimin’s parted thighs and thrusts his hips forward so his clothed cock comes in contact with Jimin’s boxer-clad ass.
“Do you like it,” it comes out as more of a statement than a question and the moans already slip past Jimin’s lips as an answer.
“But Jungkook, wait,” Jimin tries again as the brunette pushes Jimin’s flimsy shirt up to lick at his nipples. “O-Oh my God, Jungkook!”
Jungkook keeps at it, nipping at the skin and trailing kisses down Jimin’s abdomen. When he gets to the waistband of Jimin’s underwear the older grips Jungkook’s hair in both his fists and yanks up. Jungkook lets out a strangled moan but complies, coming up so that they’re nose to nose, their foreheads resting against each other.
“Wait, please,” Jimin heaves, “I… I need to tell you something first.”
Jungkook’s eyebrows are knitted together in frustration, Jimin’s lip gloss smeared across half of his face. He ruts against Jimin’s ass again and Jimin thinks he might come on the spot with the intensity of emotion and physical touch.
“J-Jungkook, please!”
Jungkook stills and unhooks his hands from under Jimin’s knees to place them on either side of the older’s head. He pushes himself upright to give them both some breathing room. He offers Jimin a hand and Jimin takes it and Jungkook pulls him up to a sitting position as well.
“Okay, okay,” he says calmly, and Jimin isn’t sure if it’s for him or for Jungkook himself.
“I... “ Jimin breathes, “Jungkook. I really like you.”
Jungkook lifts a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from Jimin’s face and tucks it behind his ear. The action is so tender Jimin feels like his heart could burst. How did he not notice this before?
“I really like you too, Jimin,” Jungkook says softly, “When you misunderstood me for liking Eunsoo, I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid to tell you because you seemed like you just wanted to be friends. And I thought getting to know you as a friend was better than nothing.”
Jimin shifts so that he’s in Jungkook’s lap, knees on either side of the younger’s hips. “I’m kind of dense. I always assume people are looking at Eunsoo.”
“I meant it, Jimin, when you walked into the coffeehouse that day… You are the most beautiful guy… Sorry, the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life. And I live with four gym rats who are basically a sponsorship away from IG model status.”
Jimin clicks his tongue, “Ah. That explains all the testosterone and lack of shirts going on in here.”
Jungkook laughs, “It’s spring, it’s getting warmer. Sue us.”
Jimin shakes his head and kisses Jungkook again.
---
“What do you want, Park?”
“Evangeline… Is your chocolate drizzle available for purchase?”
“... What the fuck?”
---
** in Ontario we have bagged milk, so we have milk containers/jugs that hold the bagged milk, haha