Chapter Text
Hoseok drummed his fingers against the armrest, matching the rhythm from the song playing through his phone. He lightly bobbed his head to the music, enjoying the smooth rap against the steady beat, and the carefree feeling it gave him. It was difficult to listen to in the small confined space of a train though. Listening to music, he always thought of dance moves or routines that would best suit the song, the rhythm, the feel of the music. Often he would act out the moves right there and then, but he tried to instead store them in his head for later.
Looking to his right once a particular song ended, he couldn’t help the small smile that formed as he gazed at the person in the window seat next to him. Jimin, his boyfriend of six months, sat casually in his seat, watching the scenery zoom past. He may have looked normal to anyone else, but Hoseok could see the signs of anxiety on Jimin’s face; the boy was biting his lip lightly and his hand was curled into a fist on this thigh. Hoseok removed his headphones, and lightly nudged him.
“Hey,” he gave a light smile.
Jimin blinked a few times before turning to him wordlessly. Hoseok almost hated to say it, but the boy was cute no matter what, even when he was obviously nervous.
“I’ve told you a thousand times – you have nothing to worry about. They’re going to love you.”
Jimin smiled lightly, before the smile disappeared and he looked down. “I know, but…I can’t help it. You know how I get. What if I get nervous and say the wrong thing? What if I knock over everything on the table when we’re having dinner? What if they change their mind about us and-”
“Hey, shhh, shhh,” Hoseok put his hand on Jimin’s face and tried to calm him down. He obviously had been holding in brand new anxiety since the last outburst the night before, and it was starting to bubble over again.
“Look at me,” he spoke lightly, “my family already loves you. They’ve seen dozens of photos, I’ve told them all about you. You don’t need to worry about them liking you.” Jimin sighed and put a hand over Hoseok’s, “…Okay, hyung.” He did his best to give a reassuring smile back before Hoseok was satisfied.
“That’s my Jiminie.” Hoseok said as he playfully pinched one of Jimin’s cheeks. Jimin let out a laugh and complained like always and like always, Hoseok continued to playfully tease him, pinching his cheeks, using that annoying aegyo voice of his, the pair soon erupting into giggles, forgetting the rest of the world around them.
After calming down and wiping away the tears at the corner of his eyes, and confirming that he did in fact feel better, Hoseok seemed to be satisfied and returned his attention forward. Jimin returned to gazing out the window, the train operator announcing they were 30 minutes from their destination of Gwangju station.
Upon hearing the announcement, Hoseok sent a message to his sister to let her know their train was on schedule. She replied quickly, saying she was heading over to the station and would be waiting for the pair outside. Hoseok set his phone down and sighed as he laid back further into his seat. His sister was always his biggest supporter, and while he didn’t tell Jimin, the truth was that he was feeling a bit nervous himself about bringing Jimin home for the first time. While his parents were understanding, they’d never met anyone he’d dated before. Of course, his past relationships were all short-lived and nothing like his relationship with Jimin, but still. He wasn’t nervous just because it was Jimin, the person who had so quickly become the center of his universe. But Jimin was his first ever boyfriend, with all of his past relationships being with girls. After much coaxing from his sister, who he’d confided in when he first met Jimin, he’d finally been able to announce to his parents that he had a boyfriend. That was three months into his relationship with Jimin. He was a bundle of nerves when he finally called his mom to tell her. He cried when she didn’t even miss a beat; she excitedly asked him to tell her everything about the boy, where was he from, how did they meet, what was his favorite food? His dad was more reserved, as was his personality, but reminded him they only wanted his happiness and to call if he needed anything. That was early Spring. Now it was summertime, and he finally had given into the fact that he was homesick. When he mentioned this to his parents, they didn’t hesitate to invite him for a visit, but insisted he bring the boy they’d heard so much about.
Convincing Jimin to meet his parents was another hurdle altogether. Jimin was naturally shy, and even though Hoseok got to see his bright and playful personality once they got to know each other a little better, it was still difficult for him to open up so quickly with new people. Hoseok knew Jimin would be terrified at the prospect of a visit to meet his boyfriend’s parents, but he’d finally agreed, even after Hoseok assured him he didn’t have to do it if we really wasn’t ready. But it was settled, and the next day, his parents bought them a set of train tickets from Seoul to Gwangju.
“Thank you for riding, we hope you had a pleasant trip.” The stewardess politely spoke as Hoseok and Jimin excited the train with the other passengers. Once they stepped out into the air, Hoseok started to relax once more, even feeling giddy from finally being back in his hometown. Excitedly, he grabbed Jimin’s hand and led them both outside to the car pick-up area, Jimin half-protesting, but laughing, as he was (not actually) dragged along. They stopped at the curb, Hoseok looking around for the familiar car. His phone pinged a minute later.
Dawon-noona: Look to your right :P
Head shooting up, he saw his sister some distance away, standing next to a car he didn’t recognize. Grabbing Jimin, they quickly made their way over.
“Hoseok, Jimin, you made it in one piece I see.” Dawon greeted them with a smile as they walked up. Jimin had seen plenty of pictures of her before, but in-person it was more obvious how similar she looked to her brother.
“Noona, I missed you!” Hoseok gave his usual over-zealous greeting and hugged his sister, before stepping back to stand next to Jimin. Placing an arm lightly around Jimin’s waist, he gestured to his boyfriend.
“Noona, this is Jimin. Jimin, this is my noona, Dawon.” Dawon didn’t miss the glint in her brother’s eye, or the complete change of expression as he fondly introduced the two.
“U-um nice to meet you, noona.” Jimin gave a small bow. He was surprised when he straightened back up and Dawon brought him in for a hug.
“Nice to meet you, Jimin-ah” she gave a sweet smile and stepped back. “You know…” she looked him up and down. “You have a really nice frame. Have you ever considered modeling?”
Jimin was sure his entire face turned red. Hoseok scoffed and put his arm back around Jimin protectively. “Noona, please don’t oogle my boyfriend! He’s not here to model for your shop!”
“But look at him. You know he’d look great next to some of the other models I work with, not to mention the clothes would fit great in all the right pla-“
“Noonaaa, Jiminie is not for sale!” Hoseok pouted loudly, still standing next to Jimin protectively, while said boy was still speechless and bright red.
Dawon waved her hand dismissively, a teasing smile on her face. “I’m only kidding, Seokie. I promise I won’t whisk Jimin away to become an overnight modeling sensation while he’s here.”
They finally loaded their luggage into the trunk of the car, with Hoseok and Jimin sliding together into the backseat as Dawon sat in the driver’s seat.
“By the way noona, I don’t recognize this car. What happened to your old Hyundai?”
“I traded it for a newer model. The shop has been doing well lately, so I finally decided to upgrade.”
Jimin listened quietly while the two caught up on things. Although he was still slightly flustered, he couldn’t help but feel at ease with both Jungs. Even though she was a few years older, Dawon spoke casually and brightly. Her presence wasn’t nearly as intense and energetic as Hoseok’s, but her presence had a nice vibrancy. She also obviously liked to tease, so he was easily able to tell where Hoseok got it from.
As they got deeper into town, Hoseok began pointing out different things in Gwangju as they passed. “I used to dance down that street in front of the coffee shop! That’s the pet store we got Mickey from! That’s the department store I accidentally grabbed the wrong woman’s hand when I was little and cried. That’s where I drank my first macchiato and then accidentally dropped it-” Jimin laughed as Hoseok’s ‘points of interest’ became more and more ridiculous.
When they finally pulled in front of a house in a larger lot in the neighborhood, Jimin started to feel his nerves returning. He was going to be meeting his boyfriend’s parents. Hoseok had kept him so entertained on the ride in, he completely forgot to prepare himself mentally. What would he say? Who should he address first?
Before he could have another full-blown panic attack, Hoseok grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. He looked at his boyfriend next to him, who was giving him one of his bright smiles. “Ready, Jiminie?” Jimin squeezed his hand back, and nodded. As soon as they got out of the car, Jimin saw two people emerge from the home. “Hoseok, welcome home!” Hoseok’s parents, led by his mother, were walking over to the car.
“Mom, dad!” Hoseok hurried excitedly over to his parents, his mother trapping him in a large hug and combing down his hair. His father walked over and gave him a strong hug as well. Jimin stood a few steps back, not wanting to intrude on their reunion.
“Mom, dad,” Hoseok stepped back alongside Jimin, putting a hand on the small of his back. “I’d like you to meet Park Jimin, my boyfriend.”
Jimin felt his face burn up, but bowed a full ninety degrees. “It’s very nice to meet you both. Thank you kindly for allowing me to accompany Hoseok this week and inviting me into your home.” He breathed a small breath of relief as his practiced introduction came off without a hitch.
“My my, what a polite boy.” As Jimin stood back up, Hoseok’s mother smiled and walked forward to bring Jimin in for a warm hug. “It’s nice to meet you at last, Jimin!” Hoseok’s mother stepped back, and his father stretched out a hand. “Welcome to the Jung household, Jimin.” Jimin took his hand and shook it, “Thank you” as all he could manage out at that point.
“Now, come on you two, you must be starving. I cooked some lunch up and it’s waiting inside.” They all shuffled inside, with Hoseok’s mother telling them to wash up before eating, and his father insisting on bringing in their luggage. Before they could make it to the washroom, however, Hoseok was quickly distracted.
“Mickey!” he shrieked as the excited pup whimpered inside its puppy gate in the nearby living room. “Mickey, Mickey, Mickey!” Hoseok could not contain himself as he padded over to the small dog. He picked him up and the dog quickly began licking his face. “Awww, did Mickey miss me? Huh, did Mickey miss me? Yes, you did, aww you are the cutest thing, aren’t you?” Jimin laughed lightly as he watched his boyfriend baby talk to the small dog he’d seen in so many photos. “Jimin! Come say hello!” Jimin walked over to them as Hoseok held Mickey against his chest.
“Hi Mickey,” Jimin held out his hand for the dog to sniff, who in turn looked up at Hoseok with his big eyes.
“Go on, Mickey. Say hello to Jimin.” Mickey slowly extended his small head and sniffed Jimin’s hand, before giving it a small lick.
“Awww, does Mickey like Jimin too? What impeccable taste he has!” Hoseok exclaimed.
Hoseok’s mother yelled from another room for them to hurry up, so they quickly washed up before making their way to the dining room. Once sat around the table, the twenty questions began for Jimin.
“So Jimin, I’ve heard from Hoseok how the two of you met, but I haven’t heard your side of the story.”
Jimin, who had answered a few simple questions about himself already, was feeling a little more acclimated to the room and a little more outgoing with answering their questions. “Um, I guess as Hoseok told you, I’m also a dance major. My teacher at my school in Busan recommended me to the dance program at a university in Seoul, which I ended up transferring to in my second year. I joined the contemporary dance program, but my dorm roommate Taehyung recommended I try the hip hop class. Hoseok-hyung was in the same class as a student teaching assistant.”
“And when I saw Jimin walk into the room, I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” Hoseok added in dramatically.
“Hoseok-hyung taught me hip hop well.”
“We were attached at the hip!”
“Hyung was a year above me in rank, and the student instructor assistant, but the teacher paired us together officially after seeing us practicing together after class.”
“A match made in heaven!”
“The teacher said our styles complimented each other well”
“The ultimate dancing duo!”
Finally Jimin couldn’t hold it in anymore and covered his mouth as he cracked up from Hoseok’s antics. The rest of the meal was carefree as they all swapped stories, some of which lead to Hoseok even flushing from embarrassment and hiding his face in Jimin’s shoulder. Afterwards, Hoseok brought Jimin up to his room to wind down for a little bit. Jimin gazed around the room, so simple, but cozy as in it hung a few old banners and posters from Hoseok’s street dancing days.
“Hey.” Jimin turned to Hoseok who was sitting on the bed. He patted the spot next to him. Jimin obliged and sat down.
“Hey, hyung.”
Hoseok put his hand over Jimin’s on the bed and smiled one of his endless genuine smiles. “You did great out there.”
“Thanks, Hyung.” He paused for a bit. “…Your family is really nice. I’m…I’m glad I came here.”
Hoseok smiled again and put his other hand on Jimin’s cheek, stroking it lightly with his thumb, while he gazed at his boyfriend fondly. Looking into Jimin’s eyes for a moment, he slowly brought their faces together, kissing Jimin softly. Jimin returned the kiss, both of them moving their lips together slowly.
After a minute, they separated to catch their breath, their faces still centimeters apart.
“You know, I’m still not convinced I didn’t die that day I first saw you.”
Jimin smiled softly. “I could really be an angel you know,” he teased lightly.
“As long as you’re my angel, I don’t mind being dead.”
They giggled and spoke in hushed whispers, despite there being no reason to, once again forgetting that the rest of the world existed around them.