Chapter Text
The energy following the victory at finals simmers down to a low hum and the season comes to a gradual end. Jimin’s schedule falls back into its old monotonous feel, but a large part of him craves for the thrill of volleyball season to continue forever. When classes are dismissed on the first Monday back from the tournament, he wanders out into the hall following his peers. Some deliver congratulatory pats on his back while others remain oblivious to his existence altogether. The latter help put Jimin’s short volleyball career into perspective: for most, it’s a simple high school team that’s performed well at an inter-school tournament and will now be on hiatus until the next school year. Most team members will return, but the upperclassmen will continue on to college while some may even choose to prioritize academics.
Jimin feels a sharp pain in his chest and his heart wrenches at the thought of losing contact with any of the players. With startling clarity, Jimin realizes volleyball has grown to mean so much more to him— this is his second family, this is something he wants to continue to pursue.
Amidst his dilemma, Jimin discovers he has unconsciously strolled down the same path he’s traced for the last few months to the gymnasium. Today, however, the doors are sealed shut with an “ongoing repairs” sign plastered across the front and deafening silence beyond. Jimin simply remains rooted in his spot as a fond smile creeps onto his features, reminiscing the first time he was guided through those doors, to the unsuspecting players that changed his life for the better. For the first time, Jimin found a place where he truly belongs.
Turning away from the doors is bittersweet — Jimin doesn’t want this season to end, a part of him wants to cling onto the memories he’s made here, to all the first times he’s overcome obstacles he never imagined he would, to all the people he’s met that have helped him gain confidence and control in his life. At the same time, he’s looking forward to what’s to come, to all the innumerable opportunities that await him next season, to getting back into the swing of managing an entire volleyball team… to seeing Jungkook again.
Jimin hasn’t seen Jungkook since they shared seats on the bus ride back to campus. They bid each other farewell amongst their rowdy teammates who were splitting up into different directions to return home. They didn’t contact each other at all over the rest of the weekend, but Jimin can imagine the fatigue following such physically grueling matches. Yet, a slightly selfish part of him craved for some attention—for some insurance that their friendship was not entirely reliant on the foundation of volleyball club.
Jimin heaves a sigh that leaves him breathless and painfully aware of the lump lodged in his throat. For now, it was time to head home and get used to this new lifestyle, whether he liked it or not.
“Boo.”
Jimin screeches and tumbles back with the momentum of his own reaction, ending up plastered across the floor. He raises a hand to cover his heart, his entire chest rising and falling rapidly, and his nasal passages suddenly cleared as he heaves. During a short moment of clarity, Jimin registers Jungkook’s trademark cackle over his pathetic form.
“That was absolutely priceless, damn I wish I recorded that!” Jungkook strolls into his vision, his grin wider than ever and his eyes crinkled too. Jimin whines in embarrassment and makes to cover his features but Jungkook is quick to kneel down beside him and grasp his hands.
“Why would you do that?” Jimin complains as he struggles to sit upright, straining against Jungkook’s hold on him so he can punch the culprit’s chest.
“You looked so unsuspecting, I couldn’t help myself,” Jungkook confesses whilst looking abashed, even moreso when Jimin’s features become completely blank, looking as if he’s struggling to understand how the inner wheels of Jungkook’s mind turn.
“You wound me,” Jimin mumbles as he finally works to get up from the floor with assistance from Jungkook who pulls his entire weight off the ground effortlessly, as per usual. When Jimin’s safely delivered to his feet, he notices the remarkably small distance between them and quickly steps back to be able to meet Jungkook’s eyes better. “Why are you here at the gym?” Jimin questions as he diverts his eyes elsewhere, Jungkook’s unwavering gaze on him too difficult to match.
“Could ask you the same thing, no?” Jungkook cheekily responds, “but I had a feeling you’d be here… and you know, you still haven’t fulfilled one promise.” Jimin’s eyes snap back to Jungkook’s, widening with each passing second as Jungkook’s grin only gets more and more cheeky.
“I-what?”
“The kiss, Jimin, I never got one.”
Jimin suddenly feels all the moisture drain from his mouth, his lips parted pathetically in an attempt to formulate a snarky reply, but his mind blanks. All he hears is static as he helplessly watches Jungkook close the gap Jimin had made between them earlier. The grasp on his hands tightens, reminding Jimin he never let go in the first place. He’s frozen completely still and Jungkook begins to lean in closer and closer.
Jimin thinks he hears sirens blaring in the distance, but it might have just been his brain going into overdrive as it struggles to catch up with the pace of the advancements unfolding between them. A kiss!? Jimin’s never received one before, heck, he still doesn’t even know why Jungkook insists on getting one from him. Why him of all people when this perfect, golden ace could literally have anybody he wished for? Jimin was too innocent for this—his mom still covered his eyes when couples kissed on screen! How was Jimin even supposed to react?
First things first, Jimin slams his eyes shut and awaits the outcome.
But it never comes.
“Pft.”
Jimin’s eyes snap open and his cacophonous thoughts come to a sharp halt. Jungkook lets go of his hands as he doubles over in laughter, cackling so hard he can barely make room for breathing in between. Jimin’s lips tremble and his heart pounds so loud he’s afraid the perpetrator in front of him will hear it.
“I’m in a serious dilemma and you’re laughing! How dare you!” Jimin delivers a solid punch to Jungkook’s chest and finds minimal satisfaction in the way Jungkook’s heaves transform into ones coping with pain instead of laughter.
It takes Jungkook a good minute to calm down, but when he finally does, he straightens up to give his full attention to Jimin. “Okay, okay, care to enlighten me, cutie?” His smirk is accompanied with a signature raise of his bold eyebrows. Jimin will refuse to acknowledge the heat of the blush that painted his cheeks in response to the nickname.
“Why me?” Jimin simply questions when he’s able to find the root of all his questions, the one outlined repeatedly in red and plastered across the forefront of his brain. When Jungkook tilts his head in sheer confusion, Jimin hesitates to clarify, “Why do you want to kiss me… of all people?” When the overwhelming realization of Jimin's genuine confusion falls on Jungkook, his expression morphs into one of true disbelief.
“Wait, don’t tell me… you didn’t notice?” This time, it’s Jimin’s turn to tilt his head to convey his lack of understanding. Jungkook groans and slaps his palm across his own face, dragging it down in a way that morphs his features all to Jimin’s amusement. “Jimin, I like you! I have since the first day you walked through those doors!” Jungkook points straight at the doors behind Jimin, but Jimin's frozen stiff, completely unmoving as the confession settles into his system. “Did you seriously not notice all of my flirting!?” Jimin’s mouth falls open wider with each added confession, until Jungkook has to calm down from his hysterical state and gently tap Jimin's chin as a reminder to close it.
Jimin sputters as his hands come up in an awkward defensive pose, shielding himself from Jungkook’s constant prodding as he tries to digest the sudden plethora of information.
“I didn’t,” he admits meekly and at least he manages to feel guilty when Jungkook looks caught between being outright distraught or unbelievably fond. Ultimately, Jungkook has to bite his lip to stop himself from cooing at Jimin as he grows increasingly red and tries to fold in on himself to appear even smaller—perhaps in an attempt to hide away from the embarrassing turn of events.
“I’ll say it again, Jimin, this time more straightforward. I like you a lot, and I want to know if it would be okay for me to kiss you?”
After throwing caution to the wind and letting himself be engulfed by his own feelings for Jungkook that were previously suppressed under irrational fears, but are now rising rapidly to the surface, Jimin gulps and nods.
The last sight he sees before he lets his eyes gradually blink shut is pure, unadulterated happiness grace Jungkook’s features—an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes. Jimin admits to himself that this is the sight he first when in love with.
Jimin first feels the warmth of Jungkook’s palms cradling his cheeks, settling comfortably there while an index strokes his soft skin. Jimin’s lips part gradually when he feels Jungkook’s breath first fall near his upper lip, bringing his lips closer each second. Expecting the contact, Jimin is startled when he feels a distinctive nuzzle against his nose, catching him off guard. Before his eyes can snap open, his lips are covered.
The first touch is similar to the caress of a feather, so light it barely registers. Then, he presses harder, moulding to fit the cushioned bumps of Jimin’s lips. Jimin’s head is tilted lightly with guidance from one palm as Jungkook’s other hand floats down his arm to curl around Jimin’s stiff fingers. With slight prodding, their fingers are slotted together, fitting as perfectly together as their lips. With a few more gentle presses, Jungkook begins to lean away.
The chirping of the birds gradually filters back and Jimin’s eyes gradually open to the bright lights around them, his senses heightened more than ever before.
With his hand encased within Jungkook’s, Jimin becomes aware of one thing. Change is inevitable and Jimin may not know what the future will bring, but with Jungkook at his side and holding him like he would the most precious pearl, he’s no longer afraid.
They both give in to the pull between them, and lean back in.