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this was it, jeongguk was going to die.
his short seventeen years is over and he's going to die in the most pathetic way: by the hands of kim jimin, local midget.
"JEON!" he screamed waving his fork around like a maniac while yoongi tried but failed to calm him down. "YOU GET BACK HERE YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
jeongguk ran, oh yes he ran as far as his muscular legs could carry him and yanked open his door to safety.
soon, angry knocks banged on said door as kim jimin continued yelling at jeongguk from outside. he almost wanted to throw open his bedroom window and laugh at the bastard but knew that jimin would throw his shoe at him. tiny man with tiny hands yet he threw like a champ(jeongguk should know, having been hit by batons 'accidentally' multiple times by jimin.)
the aggressive knocks halted after a few minutes of chaos. jeongguk peeped out the window and saw jimin being dragged away by yoongi and taehyung, obviously still furious and reluctant to stop harassing jeongguk. he let out a sigh of relief and slumped to the floor of his bedroom.
but why was jimin pissed at him? two reasons actually:
1. jeongguk had beat his timing once again during trainings and the small man with small hands was not happy.
2. said miniscule man may or may not had found jeongguk in his house making out with his older brother.
what could he say! while jimin was a little man with little hands that could barely pass a baton, his brother was an absolute looker.
taehyung was jeongguk's beautiful secret boyfriend. he was nineteen and taking a gap year from college. only reason why he never met said taehyung despite only being two years older was because he studied in a private school instead.
jeongguk met taehyung at one of their meets the previous year. he was looking for his brother and had wandered off, getting himself very lost. jeongguk, who happened to be there cooling off from a heated fight with jimin. taehyung just asked for directions and they hit it off immediately.
how was jeongguk supposed to know that this greek god was related to trash, it was definitely a common mistake considering they don't even look alike.
jimin was short and taehyung had an inch on jeongguk, there was no way someone taller than jeongguk could be related to park jimin.
impossible.
anyway, when jeongguk found out who taehyung's brother was the only thing out of his mouth was, "oh! you're the cockfaced cumstain cunt my brother hates so much! yeah okay this has to be a secret so sh." and put a finger to his lips while winking. jeongguk was too distracted by taehyung's cute shushing gesture to be angry at the less than flattering nickname jimin gave. kudos though, it was creative and alliterative.
they managed to keep it lowkey and indeed a secret for six months until jimin decided to come home from a run early.
you see, as much as jimin had aggressively knocked on jeongguk's door just now, he had no common courtesy to rapt on the door seeing if taehyung was okay with him entering his room.
obviously not this time since jimin walked in to his brother's tongue down his mortal enemy's throat.
proceed to the wild chase as jeongguk scrambled out of their house and back to his home. thank god he was a sprinter because if he wasn't his neck would most likely be enclosed by some small hands.
only question is now what?
there was absolutely no way jimin would allow his precious brother to date 'scum'. jeongguk's heart ached at the very thought of breaking up knowing jimin's selfish and closeminded attitude.
it's what sparked their rivalry to begin with.
the moment freshmen jeongguk joined the high school and waltzed into track try outs easily overtaking jimin's record timing, jimin had hated him to the core. his competitive nature, his refusal to even accept jeongguk's attempts at a friendship and his overall dick-ness lead to an ongoing dispute between the two. not even limited to track, even in classes they shared ever since jeongguk joined the senior classes. jimin never failed to peek at jeongguk's test marks and silently cheer when he scored higher.
it was honestly very ridiculous and very one sided consdering jeongguk had nothing against jimin at all.
yet, jimin's most likely going to bring in personal distaste and stop at nothing to prevent jeongguk from even thinking about taehyung.
jeongguk wanted to throw a tantrum because it's not fair.
his whiney internal complaints were interrupted by the buzz of his phone. it was a message from taehyung apologising for his brother. jeongguk pressed the dial button while rolling his eyes because taehyung shouldn't need to say sorry for his asshole brother.
"hey," his deep voice rang in jeogguk's ear. "i really am sorry, jimin's being super annoying! can't believe how petty his ass is!"
jeongguk chuckled at the elder's frustration. "it's okay, tae, i've known that for like three years and counting. anyway, what happened after you pulled mr grumpy away from my home?"
"he managed to calm down after being bribed with a sweet and yoongi cuddles but as expected," he heard taehyung sigh from the other end. "he doesn't want me to see you anymore which is stupid because i'm his damn hyung, he should listen to me."
jeongguk's heart shattered. why was jimin such an ass?
"babe? you okay? listen, i'll talk to him tomorrow and see how it goes and- shit he's coming. i love you i'll text you later." and the line went dead.
jeongguk wanted to cry and also really wanted to commit homicide. the stupid midget is being a brat and he feels so bad taehyung had to deal with him for eighteen years. he was more sad at how upset taehyung had sounded over the phone and the worry he had.
all thoughts of insecurity came rushing in about his relationship and taehyung, the words 'break up' had floated around consistantly and jeongguk just felt his heart pulmet each time.
he needed to have a good run so he did.
sweaty and exhausted from running his usual route, he walked around for a little to cool off. typically, jeongguk's legs betrayed him and lead him to the kim household.
it wasn't very far, maybe just a few blocks away, but with every step his heart grew heavy from the events that happened earlier. the run was supposed to clear his thoughts not drag him to the one place that creates them. he contemplated texting taehyung to come out but pushed that aside knowing jimin was likely watching like a hawk. instead, he just stared at his boyfriend's bedroom window wistfully, wishing for taehyung to draw his curtains just so jeongguk could see him before their potential end.
jeongguk stood there for about five minutes to catch his breath, curtain unmoving, before giving up and heading home.
he woke up to a text from taehyung telling him to meet him at the park in ten minutes. the message was sent five minutes ago and jeongguk jolted awake, swiftly going through brushing his teeth and washing his face. not bothering to change, he ran out of the house saying a quick goodbye to his mother and to the park.
taehyung was already waiting by the entrace holding a bag and wearing a large grin.
"h-hey!" jeongguk jogged over and giving a quick peck to taehyung. "hey yourself, you need to start waking earlier than 1pm."
jeongguk shrugged. "why'd you call me here? you talk to jimin yet?"
"he didn't approve." taehyung lowered his head slightly, gaze shifting to the ground. "but i have a solution!"
"what?"
"disguises!" his boyfriend squealed shoving the bag in jeongguk's face.
"you're coming to my house today but as my new boyfriend hoseok!"
"wasn't hoseok your roommate?" jeongguk raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend. "yes i told jimin he had asked me out on a date and i said yes since he hates you!"
jeongguk pretended to be hurt and clutched his chest dramatically. "you give me up that easily?"
taehyung pinched his cheek and cooed, "no of course not! change you look too jeongguk, there's even shoes in there."
after fitting all the clothes and wig taehyung bought him, jeongguk glanced at himself in the park bathroom mirror.
he looked like himself but in an orange wig and different clothes.
"tae, no way this will work. jimin's not stupid." he deadpanned but taehyung ignored him, dragging him to his car and whisking off towards his house.
"i'm home!" he called, yanking jeongguk in the house and in full view of jimin watching some drama in their living room. "i brought hoseok too!"
jimin looked up from the television and stared at jeongguk in disguise, he narrowed his eyes and jeongguk gulped.
"do i know you?"
"no." jeongguk lied, beads of sweat falling from his forehead. taehyung was beside him anxiously glancing between the two and chewing his bottom lip nervously.
"no wait, oh my god, i do!" jimin stood uo immediately. jeongguk froze as he brought himself face to face with jeongguk, only inches apart. his eyes drifted all around jeongguk's face but fixated on the faux mole taehyung drew with eyeliner before he made eye contact again.
"oops guess not. sorry, you just look like someone i know." jimin's expression immediately softened. "my deepest apologies...hoseok?"
jeongguk took everything back, jimin was stupid. so very stupid, how did he manage to top the class even.
"yes hoseok that is me and no problem! i get that a lot." he forced a fake smile.
"well! enough of introductions, we're going up bye chim!"
"bye hyung, bye hoseok! have fun!" and he just returned to the drama without second thought.
the two collapsed on taehyung's bed laughing their heads off.
"your brother is really dumb, you know?"
"i know, told you it would work." taehyung teased. jeongguk snuggled closer into taehyung's side and the blonde placed an arm around him.
"maybe we can actually keep this up."
"maybe."
they could actually keep it up.
every time jeongguk visited taehyung's house jimin would greet him warmly. it was a little terrifying but mostly hilarious that jimin was just so oblivious and blind.
once, jeongguk had come too early and taehyung hadn't returned home yet. he was forced to spend one-on-one time with jimin in their living room. the television was playing some movie but instead of focusing on it, jimin decided to interogate jeongguk.
"so..." he began. "you and tae, huh?"
"yeah." jeongguk shifted uncomfortably. was jimin really doing this?
"look, i'll be honest. i didn't really like any of taehyung's exes." jimin sighed reminiscing. "especially this one guy, wow, i really want to kick his ass."
jeongguk snorted in his mind.
"but i like you, hoseok." jimin smiled fondly at him. "ever since you started dating, he seems much happier. i like seeing my brother smile."
"gee thanks jimin." jeongguk found himself smiling back genuinely at the compliment. sure it was to hoseok but let him have his moment. he guessed even jimin did have a heart, a heart just full of love for his older brother and that was heatwarming to hear.
"no problem, my dude. marry him one day."
"i hope!" jimin laughed at jeongguk's enthusiam but jeongguk was serious, he did want to be with taehyung forever.
"say, you wanna play mariokart?" jimin grinned.
when jeongguk recounted it to taehyung, the elder took a few seconds to process it before falling to the floor in a fit of giggles. "oh my god! i really can't stand him!" he heaved.
their secret nearly became exposed one day when yoongi came over. jeongguk was just about to leave taehyung's place and tried to say a quick goodbye to jimin.
"goodbye jimin!" he waved. jimin beamed and waved back.
"who's that?" yoongi grunted a little too loudly. "hoseok! taehyung's boyfriend!"
"say, doesn't he look like jeon-"
"okay gotta go bye!" and jeongguk exited before yoongi could spill the beans. jimin shot a curious look at yoongi only shrugged and let it slide, not really caring for anything but the boy next to him.
this charade went on for so long, it became natural to wear the wig first thing. in fact, jeongguk nearly wore it to school once if it weren't for his mother laughing at him. naturally, jimin was still as rude to him when he was jeongguk and made the effort to glare harder since finding out about the two.
thank god for 'hoseok' that jimin didn't punch him first thing. they had a deep heart to heart once while waiting for taehyung and jimin opened up about,
"that asshat jeongguk!" which was mostly his bitter jealousy. 'hoseok' spoke logic to jimin and talked him out of punching himse-jeongguk in the face.
"i think i'm going to slap him the moment i see him!" jimin fumed, clenching his fists so tightly.
"maybe he's not a bad guy, you never really got to know him after all. don't punch first, give him a chance. i doubt he'll look taehyung's way after i came in!" he added a chuckle for effect but internally his insides twisted. for a micro man with micro hands jimin did know how to fight well, he was excellent at muay thai and despite the height was likely able to knock jeongguk out if he tried.
after that conversation, it was pleasant save for his expressions. if looks could kill, however, jeongguk would be in pieces from the daggers he stared.
taehyung and him were still in their closeted relationship but sneaking around was nothing if 'hoseok' was there. they could do as they liked with less consequences since jimin loved hoseok.
even jeongguk confessed to taehyung once while they laid in bed lazily in each other's presence that he even liked jimin when he wasn't being annoying. frankly, jimin was a really fun guy. he was hilarious and even relatable. he even invited jeongguk out for lunch, the two of them alone.
they went to this chinese place, jimin's favorite, which was a small little hole in the wall a short ten minute drive away.
"what do you want? i'll treat!" he beamed his eye smile as jeongguk flipped through the menu. he had never been there before and requested jimin ordered for them instead. "no it's okay, i'll pay."
"no, no. really, i want to."
and who was he to protest jimin's offer anyway.
when they waited for their food, they flowed into conversation smoothly. jimin began talking about school and complaining about teachers. jeongguk only listened, careful not to say anything that could give him away.
"yeah and there's this one guy, jeongguk? wow man i really detest him." he pulled a disgusted face and jeongguk froze.
"why?" he squeaked. jimin just stared at him, frowning slightly at jeongguk's reaction. he was about to ask about it when, thank god, the food had just arrived and jimin's suspicion was wiped away.
"honestly? he makes me feel weak." he swirled the noodles around his plate. "he's younger yet so much better, i feel so inferior to him. i guess partly envy because i was never that good when i was his age."
jeongguk tried not to choke on his rice. it was shocking to see the kim jimin, high and might caesar, admit to feeling so low. even though he was already short, his confession made him appear smaller to jeongguk as he hutched over slightly embarrassed, almost sad even, eating his noodles quietly.
"i guess i have been really mean to him but i just don't know how to feel. like i think it's better we be enemies so my competitive nature doesn't get in the way but i'm sick of it. i started hating him but now, i really dont but it's a force of habit. he reminds me of what i can never be." jimin avoided jeongguk's gaze.
"i think he may be sick of it too. you never really told him why you hate him so maybe he just feels offended and frustrated at that too." jeongguk shrugged casually. "maybe."
jimin looked up and smiled softly. "maybe if i didn't act that way before it would all be different, it's too late to change now."
"it's not, just apologize."
"nah, i've got too much pride for that." he laughed a little. "maybe in another universe we actually could have been friends."
"maybe." was all jeongguk said before jimin switched the subject hastily.
in the span of this act jeongguk had even gotten close to jimin as hoseok and while everyone they met was more or less shock to see jeongguk in an orange wig with jimin laughing away, no one had the heart to expose him.
they all were terrible liars and actors though.
"WOW jeon-hoseok! that's so weird to see you! yeah we met in...kindergarten." jackson forced a grin nervously when they had bumped into him after the chinese lunch.
"oh hey jimin!" seokjin greeted. "and jeon-"
"hoseok." jeongguk sent a look that screamed 'DON'T'.
"hoseok! yes." jimin asked how they knew each other and seokjin panicked, coughing out, "er he used to water my plants for me when i was out. got to go bye!"
they ran into jackson again, this time with mark. "hey hoseok and jimin." he wiggled his eyebrows, emphasis on 'hoseok'. "isn't that jeon-" mark furrowed his eyebrows in confusion only for jackson to slap his mouth shut with his palm. "hoseok, babe! what are you saying it's hoseok. my elementary-"
"kindergarten."
"kindergarten friend!" he swiftly dragged mark away.
even throughout these encounters, jimin remained clueless. jeongguk found himself clamping his mouth in a faux yawn to resist letting out a giggle. how could jimin be this oblivious was really a phenomenon.
jimin and jeongguk started going out with each other so much that taehyung complained it was like jeongguk was dating jimin instead.
however, after at least two months of the act, jeongguk woke up at 1.30pm to a text.
he couldn't sleep at all the previous night and ended up knocking out around 5am. often jeongguk thought about coming out to jimin as himself. while his relationship with taehyung was somewhat out there, it still was hiding and all jeongguk wanted to do was love freely. he wanted to be taehyung's boyfriend, not hoseok.
jeongguk pulled himself out of bed and checked his phone. taehyung had spam texted: "PARK @ 1.45 ily pls dont be late!!"
checking the time quickly, jeongguk had about 13 minutes to. rushing through his morning routine once more and slipping on a random pair of jeans, he sprinted out of his house to the park.
by the time he reached the park, he was panting and winded but on time. jeongguk saw his boyfriend looking stunning waiting at the entrance as always. he wore a grey sweater and black skinny jeans along with a usual snapback snuggly on the top of his dirty blonde locks.
upon seeing jeongguk practically dying, taehyung bounded over face etched with concern as he fretted over the heaving boy. regaining his breath swiftly, he pulled taehyung in for a tight hug.
they lasted in each other's embrace for quite some time. "you can let go now." taehyung laughed. jeongguk only nuzzled his face into his shoulder muttering, "i'm scared if i let go your stupid brother will never let us have this again."
"silly, he will if you wear that hideous wig!"
"i mean as jeongguk. im jeongguk." he mumbled into the soft material of taehyung's sweater.
of course, they did seperate eventually and taehyung invited jeongguk to stroll with him, walking in contented silence as he laced his fingers with jeongguk's.
"guk?" he leaned, fitting his head in the crook of jeongguk's neck nicely.
"yeah?"
"i love you." jeongguk blushed and doubled over with happiness. he said it back and taehyung grinned widely. so typically cheesy of him to remind jeongguk how much he loved him and so typically cringey for jeongguk to act so schoolgirl in response.
they went into comfortable silence before jeongguk confessed. "i don't want you to be my secret."
taehyung peered at him in confusion.
"i want to kiss you and hug you and love you even in front of your bastard brother. as jeongguk."
"i know, baby." taehyung's voice was soft as he brought a hand up to cup jeongguk's cheek. "i want it too but jimin..."
jeongguk disagreed, even if jimin said 'no' he was only taehyung's little brother. it should not be a concern at all but it was jimin. they still have to try.
he voiced this to the blonde who only bit their lip in thought. taehyung was definitely doubtful and fearful that this may lead to a fight.
jeongguk understood why though, the last arguement landed taehyung in another school away from jimin. they had only reconciled after a year of ignoring each other. taehyung didn't want to lose jimin as a brother anymore after that so they vowed never to argue severely.
yet another storm was brewing. taehyung's face began to fall slightly and jeongguk panicked. perhaps they could comprimise, it was worth a shot?
"tae let's just try to talk to jimin. baby steps." the elder nodded and smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "ice cream before we talk?"
"okay."
they dropped by a shop nearby and distracted themselves with the sweet milky flavours. for a moment, everything was normal and taehyung could laugh at his boyfriend without over bearing brothers.
jeongguk wished so hard it could always had been like this but jimin just had to barge in at the wrong time. feeling his anger bubble slightly, he focused on taehyung as he recounted some ridiculous story that had him giggling between sentences.
it was bliss, the calm before the storm.
hand in hand they edged closer to the door of taehyung's house, this time without the obnoxious orange wig equipped. jeongguk squeezed his boyfriend's hand tight for reassurance and taehyung nodded firmly as he opened the door.
jimin was home watching some movie with yoongi's arm wrapped around him. he mumbled a quick 'hello' not realizing jeongguk was even there. "hey chim, yoongi. i brought guk."
at the mention of jeongguk's name, his head snapped in the direction of the door. jimin's eyes fell into a natural glare and he began to get up, only to be restrained by yoongi.
"what are you doing here." he sneered.
"i'm hanging out with taehyung." jeongguk replied bluntly.
"don't care; my house too; get out." jimin gritted back, still held back by yoongi's death grip.
"i want to hang out with my boyfriend."
and boom, the bomb was dropped.
jimin's eyes magnified in horror. "y-you dick! how could you cheat on hoseok!" he sputtered in disbelief pointing a finger accusingly at taehyung. yoongi let one arm go to face palm at his idiotic boyfriend. "he was such a nice guy! far nicer than thi-this cock!"
taehyung and jeongguk pressed their lips together in a thin line blocking their laughter from escaping. it was so hard to take jimin seriously when he defended jeongguk in a wig so fiercely.
"jimin, my little brother." taehyung calmly walked over, hand physically pulling jeongguk along. "hoseok and me didn't work out."
"why! he was so damn perfect!" jimin wailed, about to burst into tears. "honestly did you break up with him or taehyung." yoongi muttered.
"not a fan of orange wigs so i made him take it off, see." he raise their held hands and shook them a little.
jimin's eyes comically became larger in more shock as the truth finally dawned onto him. his face fell and he settled back down onto the couch to continue their movie.
"you not going to say anything?!" taehyung half jokingly half seriously asked, worried that his brother had lost faith in the world.
clearly not because as taehyung uttered those words, jimin rose up again angrily. "okay yes i will!" he fumed. "how could you do this to me!"
"you hated jeongguk this was the only way he could enter my house! besides your petty fight is so stupid, you even like hoseok!" taehyung said exasperatedly.
"hoseok! ho. seok. not jeongguk!" yoongi face palmed again. "why would you deceive me!"
"you're being ridiculous, give him a chance! you haven't done that since the day he walked into your school!"
jeongguk remained silent, knowing anything he said would just add wood to the fire ignited in jimin. yoongi threw them a sympathetic look that jeongguk returned.
"one chance!" taehyung cried. "one damn chance!"
"no!"
"one chance you dick!"
"no way!"
"one chance or i'll show yoongi that interesting thing you sent to chanyeol that day!" and jimin went quiet. "you wouldn't."
"i would." taehyung nodded, hand reaching for his phone. jimin stared hard at it as if pondering how bad the outcome would be.
"fine! one chance!"
"thank you! oh my god!" taehyung threw his hands in the air. "now be nice! say hello."
jeongguk waved pathetically. "hi jimin."
yoongi nudged jimin harshly, "hi jeongguk."
taehyung appeared satisfied, bidding a goodbye to the two as he took jeongguk to his room.
locking the door shut, taehyung grabbed jeongguk's waist and roped him into a kiss. jeongguk melted into it, opening up his mouth to let taehyung in and arms going around taehyung's neck. they remained kissing until taehyung pulled away with a spit line connecting the two. "gross." jeongguk scrunched his face and taehyung giggled before the two just smiled like idiots to each other.
"we did it." he cheered, wrapping his arms around the younger tighter. "yeah." jeongguk nodded, deliriously happy that this weight had been lifted and that jimin finally acknowledged him with minimal resent.
"i love you." jeongguk added.
taehyung pecked his nose. "i love you too, hoseok." jeongguk just rolled his eyes.
"kidding!" he giggled. "i love you jeon jeongguk, not hoseok."
"i love you too, kim taehyung brother of jimin."
-
after the reveal, jimin reluctantly tolerated jeongguk. it wasn't much he was still sour about hoseok but began treating jeongguk with indifference rather than hatred. it wasn't much but it was something. one time he offered to help jeongguk buy water, he took it as a sign jimin was warming up to him.
a few days after, jeongguk was just lying with taehyung in bed. legs tangled and taehyung's arm thrown over jeongguk's waist protectively when a ding came from taehyung's phone.
"who is it?" he asked when the elder began to laugh.
"you wouldn't believe but hoseok-the real one- just asked if we could hang." he chortled. jeongguk felt a tinge of jealousy but just snorted. "should i say yes? jimin's already in love with him anyway." he contemplated but felt jeongguk tense beside him.
"just joking, babe. you're the only hoseok for me."
"let it go!"