did you mean that?

"i can't believe i didn't notice jungkook's injury," he mutters repeatedly. "and just scolded him like a mad man. what if his condition worsens because i didn't call the ambulance earlier? this is all my fault. i can't believe i was so blind!"

"it's not your fault, captain. the situation was hectic then," jimin says. "you're being too hard on yourself. and you were right to scold jungkook, he deserved that."

namjoon just continues to bury his face in his hands.

"jungkook will make it, he's a strong kid," jimin says firmly. "he will be okay."

"yeah captain," taehyung chimes in. "he's jeon fucking cena, he will make it."

"you're right," namjoon looks up and cracks a tiny smile. "jungkook's a strong kid. he'll be okay."

when the doctor finally emerges from the operating theatre, everyone gets up at once.

"how's jungkook? jeon jungkook." namjoon's the first to ask.

"he's in stable condition now. fortunately, the stab wound isn't very deep." the doctor says and everyone relaxes. "but he can't be discharged yet, we'll have to keep him under observation for a day or two to make sure he's fine."

"thank you doctor," taehyung hugs the older man tightly. "thank you so much!"

"i'm just doing my duty," the doctor smiles politely and gives taehyung two awkward pats on the back. "the patient's awake, you may see him now."

"oh my— my baby!" taehyung cries and naruto-runs towards jungkook's ward. jimin follows suit (with a normal run).

"jungkookie!" taehyung cries the second he enters.

"hey guys!" jungkook smiles at everyone. he looks a little tired but besides that, he seems fine.

"jungkook!" namjoon runs to hug him. "i'm so glad you're alright!"

"does this mean i don't have to submit that report?" jungkook asks with one side of his cheek squished against namjoon's chest.

"i'll think about it," namjoon sniffles and messes with jungkook's hair. "you punk."

jimin stays behind when everyone leaves after having their share of coddling jungkook, and taehyung shoots him the lenny face on the way out.

jungkook smiles toothily when he realises that jimin isn't leaving.

"hey jimin." jungkook gestures for him to come closer.

"does it hurt a lot?" jimin feels tears welling up in his eyes again.

"i'm fine, it's practically just a scratch— don't cry." jungkook gives jimin's hand a comforting squeeze. "i'm alright now, see?"

"okay okay." jimin rubs his tears away with a smile. now that jungkook's finally out of the danger zone, jimin asks the one thing that's been on his mind since just now. "by the way, about what you said earlier..." his voice trails away and he feels shy all of a sudden.

"hmm?" jungkook looks like he's trying hard to maintain a straight face, but the corners of his lips are giving him away.

"what you said about liking..." jimin feels as if his cheeks are on fire, and jungkook seems to be enjoying his pain. "when you called me 'baby'...?"

"huh? what do you mean?" jungkook blinks at him with round, innocent eyes.

jimin groans in frustration and explodes. "forget it!"

jungkook bursts out laughing at the sight of jimin's anger and reaches for his hand again.

"yes i meant that," jungkook stops laughing and looks him directly in the eye. "i like you, jimin."

jimin presses his lips together as hardly as possible to prevent himself from breaking into an embarrassingly huge grin.

"okay."

"just okay?"

"wait i got another question for you," jimin says, a little petulantly. "why did you stop calling me 'sweetheart'?"

the expression on jungkook's face looks so fond, and jimin can't help but blush again.

"it's because i realised i meant it."

"huh?"

"initially, calling you sweetheart was meant to be ironic, because you're like, the total opposite of a sweetheart," jungkook snickers.

"i would punch you but you're injured."

jungkook sticks his tongue out and continues. "i had fun calling you those nicknames because it's cute when you get all flustered and shy. but then, we made peace and the more we got along, the harder it was for me to call you that. because i realised i couldn't say it with a straight face anymore."

jungkook's mischievous grin is replaced by a soft smile as he looks down and fiddles with jimin's fingers.

"i couldn't call you by the nicknames without blushing," jungkook laughs then shakes his head with a scoff. "can you imagine me? blushing?"

"yeah it's cute, i've seen it." jimin reaches up to tousle jungkook's hair with a beam.

"oh no!" jungkook covers his reddened face in his hands. "this is so embarrassing!"

"no," jimin gently peels jungkook's hands away. "it's adorable."

"okay," jungkook smiles bashfully at him. "it's okay because it's you."

jimin sits by jungkook's bedside and they talk for a long time, even though jimin planned to leave like, an hour ago so that he can make it back in time to catch his drama. but everytime jimin tries to leave, jungkook would pull him back with a pout, and jimin would be rendered powerless.

"wait so tae was really the one who told you about that restaurant?" jimin asks in surprise.

"yeah, because he kinda found out about my feelings for you so i asked him for advice—"

"you asked tae for advice?"

"yeah he's not as dumb as we make him out to be," jungkook laughs. "he told me to test the waters by taking you to a fancy place for a date instead of our usual roadside stall to see your reaction."

"no wonder he called me a dense piece of celery!" jimin's jaw sags in realisation.

"you kinda are. tae was probably trying to find out if i confessed," jungkook smiles shyly. "i did try confessing to you that night while we were eating though, but it was really hard to get it out, with you looking so disgruntled at the food."

"i'm sorry," jimin says with a frown. "i really had no idea, god and i legit thought you just wanted my meatball."

jungkook throws his head back with a laugh then stops abruptly.

"oh wait! you still haven't told me you like me!" jungkook cries sulkily, before looking genuinely worried. "or do you not like me that way?"

"i—"

the door suddenly opens and a nurse enters.

"sorry sir, visiting hours are over," she says. "may i know how are you related to the patient?"

jimin feels his cheeks warm before he even says his answer.

"i'm his boyfriend," he bites his bottom lip anxiously. "i'm leaving soon."

the nurse nods and leaves, and jimin turns around to find jungkook with his mouth hanging open.