Chapter Text
"So where are we going, hyung?"
The weather was actually quite nice, sunny but not hot, windy but not chilly. The streets of Gangnam was buzzing with people walking about, going in and out of stores, talking and laughing, atmosphere heavy with the smell of street food wafting through the air.
Jimin was a ball of excited nerves as they stepped out of their dorm and begun walking along the street.
They walked past a couple of souvenir shops, high class restaurants selling seafood, and a couple of clothes shops.
"Hyung," Jimin whined, trying to prompt Yoongi into talking.
Yoongi let out a sigh.
"You dumbass. I'm trying to be nice here. Just follow me, can you please?" Yoongi said with an eye roll.
"Ah, okay okay," giggled Jimin excitedly.
This was his first time ever going out with Yoongi alone. They have never done this before. Jimin coming to see him make music in the work studio sometimes doesn't count. That was just him being a busybody and bothering other people doing their work. But this was something else. Something that had him walking on the balls of his feet, something so new, so thrilling that he couldn't contain his grin.
Yoongi led them into the Cat Cafe that he sometimes go to, just because they serve his favourite bubble tea. As soon as they entered the cafe, they were met with meows, purrs and trills of 20 something cats, all of different breeds and different ages - the older ones resting on customers' laps, enjoying the rubs on their backs; the kittens running around playing with each other.
This is a place Yoongi comes often when he's not feeling motivated - when he has so much work to do he wishes he could sleep, but he comes here instead to enjoy the cat therapy. Not one of the boys know this, of course. Who would have thought that Min Yoongi has a soft spot for anything other than Kumamon?
Jimin reached down to scratch a cat on its chin as it wrapped its tail around his leg.
"Hello, you," Jimin cooed to the brown furry creature.
Yoongi watched Jimin in fascination. Huh, he thought to himself.
The cafe waiters and waitress greeted Yoongi in warm welcome. They talked to him like they've known each other for a long time, asking about his well-being and his progress in making his music. Jimin saw this from the corner of his eye, finally getting up from playing with the cat and making his way over to the crowd around Yoongi.
"Annyeonghasaeyo," Jimin said, bowing politely.
"Ah, annyeonghasaeyo!" the waiters and waitress replied with friendly smiles and polite bows. "I think this is your first time here, right?" asked a waiter with "Jihoon" written across his name tag.
"Ah, yes. I've been wanting to come here, but never had the time to. I didn't know Yoongi hyung comes here often," Jimin said, eyeing Yoongi with a smirk.
"He comes here a lot! But he always come alone. This is his first time bringing someone here," Jihoon giggled slight at the scowl on Yoongi's face.
"Aish. Would you rather me go to a different cafe, Jihoon?" Yoongi asked. Jihoon just laughed.
"Sheesh Yoongi, take a chill pill. Your room is ready," Jihoon made a face at Yoongi before leading them towards the private room section. He passed them the menu as they sat at the table across from each other. "Just press this beeper when you're ready to make your orders."
Jihoon winked at Jimin before closing the door.
Both Yoongi and Jimin were quiet while they chose their drinks. Jimin sneaked a peek to Yoongi from the top of the menu, taking in the older's faded grey-dyed hair, his round wire-rimmed spectacles... And the shift in his eyes as he realised Jimin was looking at him.
Jimin quickly put his own menu back up, totally covering his face behind it, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks as he looked over the menu.
"Are you done choosing?"
"Ah.. Ah yes.." Jimin answered as he slowly put down the menu. His cheeks were still tinted pink, and Yoongi's eyes flashed with captivation.
Soon Jihoon was bringing in their orders - Mega White Latte with caramel syrup and crushed almonds for Jimin, and a simple Caffe Americano for Yoongi. (No, he doesn't like espresso even though he likes his coffee black.)
Jimin was cracking his head for a topic to talk to with Yoongi, but Yoongi seemed to beat him to it.
"How do you like it here?"
Jimin was so taken aback with the simple question that it took him several minutes to understand that Yoongi had started the conversation first.
"I like it a lot. The interior's pretty chic, the cats are cute, and the staffs are very friendly. I mean, whoever's able to talk to you like how Jihoon-ssi did must be pretty cool to be able to do so," Jimin's grin was wide as he took in Yoongi's scowl.
"I come here too often for that to happen," murmured Yoongi, sipping his americano.
"So how often do you actually come here, hyung?"
"I don't know. Whenever the work studio is feeling too stuffy, I guess. When I can't seem to get any work done. When I don't feel good."
When you don't come around with that smile of yours, and your awful coffee.
"Which is a lot of times, I assume..?"
"Not exactly. Basically just whenever I need fresh air."
"And you've always came alone?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you invite any of us along? Just so that you'd have company. Or maybe just Namjoon hyung? Or maybe just me..?" Jimin added the last part timidly.
Yoongi thought about it for a minute.
"For one thing, I was always alone when I was at the work room at night, so there was nobody to invite. Secondly, would you wanna come here with me?"
"Yes, I would."
"Huh, I didn't expect that. Why?"
"Well, I’m always alone in the dance studio, too."
"Really? When? How have I not know of this?"
"Uh.. I usually practice alone, nothing much, nothing interesting. We're just one floor apart, hyung. I know you were always there at the work room till late at night because I would always check up on you."
"That's sort of creepy, Jimin-ah.." Yoongi said, scrunching up his nose.
"Ah, what- No, not like that! What I meant was I would always check if there was anybody else there before I leave. And you were always there. I wish you'd rest sometimes, hyung. It's not good for your health to always be working around the clock. You know what they say - all work and no play makes Yoongi a dull boy." Jimin replied, wiggling his eyebrows.
Yoongi only frowned, and when Jimin giggled at that, his frown deepened, forming a line in between his eyebrows. Jimin fought the urge to bring his finger up and smooth the scrunched up skin on his hyung face.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, too, Jimin. I know you've been working out more and eating less, and that is even more unhealthy."
Jimin looked surprised at Yoongi's words - hands stopping their way to bring up his cup of latte to his mouth - so he simply continued.
"I heard from ssaem-nim about how you almost didn't pass the monthly weight evaluation a couple of months ago. I know it's important, in this line of job, but I couldn't say I like it much seeing you not eating what you want to. We don't want you passing out on us suddenly before going up on stage again, now, do we? I for one knows that I don't want that to happen to you. You should take care of your health too, Park Jiminie."
Jimin felt his heart thumping hard behind his ribs. He didn't think anyone would notice. He made sure he'd have a nibble - or a bite, at least - of whatever the other members were eating. He didn't want any of them to worry about him. He remembered his fainting episode all too well.
He didn't pass his latest monthly weight evaluation test. The authorities were telling him to lose weight and work out more. He was the abs of the group, so he at least had to stay fit for them all. He tried eating less - no junk food, no problem. No rice, sure his meals didn't feel complete but it's alright, no? He compensated it with bread and oats, even though he got sick of them after three days. More chicken, they said, but he got bored of only eating boiled chicken breast. He ended up eating much lesser than before, but working his body to the max with their dance routine and gym workouts.
It was right before their turn at performing at a music show that he collapsed backstage. He thought he was feeling lightheaded due to his nervousness. He thought his shaky fingers were due to the fact that he was going to perform in front of so many fans a few months after their last stage. He thought his knees buckled up because he was filled with anxiety and that was when it him - all the dizzy spells, the vertigo and the whirling in his head brought clouds of blackness over him, wrapping around him so tight that he felt like his lungs were crushed inside him and last he heard were distant shouts of the other members.
Jimin blushed at the memory, dunking his head into his large cup of white latte and taking a sip, not knowing what to respond. The elder simply kept quiet, watching Jimin as he put his cup down to grin sheepishly at him, not realizing that some crema foam was stuck to his upper lip. Yoongi's hand moved on their own, impulsively cupping his palm on Jimin's jaw and sliding his thumb across his lip, wiping the foam away.
Startled by his own action, Yoongi acted as if he knew what he was doing, as if it was alright, as if it was nothing. It's a normal thing to wipe a friend's lips, yes? Casual, yes? Yes...probably. It's questionable, but with a napkin, maybe! Not with your fingers! He almost licked the foam on his thumb, but thought better of it and wiped it on a piece of napkin.
Jimin's eyes widen at the small action, a tint of pink was already forming on his cheeks, and he could feel his own heart thumping loudly in his chest, maybe loud enough for Yoongi to hear. He averted his eyes, picking up his mug again because he didn't know what to do.
They were quiet for a few minutes, the air suddenly awkward, and Yoongi chided himself at letting loose.
Jimin really brings out this side of him, the side he doesn’t know he has, one which makes him forget all normalcy and do the things he doesn’t usually do – like wiping other people’s lips, Yoongi thought with an eye roll directed towards himself.
Not wanting the situation to get even more awkward, Jimin looked straight into Yoongi’s eyes before breaking out into his signature smile.
Yoongi couldn’t help thinking that the sun has no other reasons to shine but to just help Jimin’s smile radiate even brighter. He felt the corners of his lips pulling upwards slightly, and he saw Jimin’s eyes crinkle with genuine joy. This time, he knew what he was doing. He took his napkin and wiped at the left over crema smeared on the corner of Jimin’s lips, noting the warmth he felt that crept up the back of his neck.
“Thanks, hyung,” Jimin said through his bright eye smile. Yoongi couldn’t help it. He smiled back.