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There were many things Jungkook had expected to be doing on the last Friday before spring break: packing his bags so he could head to Busan early on Saturday morning, binge watch his favorite anime, cook up some sort of creative dish with whatever he could find in his tiny kitchen, or sleep a healthy amount for the first time in forever. But attending a party at Jung Hoseok’s house was definitely, definitely not one of them. Hoseok was a master’s student, captain of the volleyball team, founder and former president of the dance club and an allround cool, popular guy. Usually, Jungkook kept to himself. He was pretty shy, didn't have many friends in college and put all of his time and energy into football and studying.
That’s why he was very surprised when he found out Hoseok had been waiting for him just outside the dressing room after football practice. At first, when Jungkook spotted Hoseok slouched against the wall, immersed in his phone, he didn’t think much of it. But when he was halfway down the hallway, he heard a “hey, hold on a second,” accompanied by footsteps approaching him. Jungkook stopped walking and spun around. It took him about five seconds to realize that yes, Jung Hoseok, one of the most popular and handsome guys in school, who couldn’t possibly know who Jungkook was, suddenly acknowledged his existence. He just looked at the elder with big eyes, closely resembling a deer caught in the headlights. A wide grin spread over Hoseok’s face.
“Don’t be scared,” the elder said. “I’m not gonna beat you up or anything.”
Jungkook didn’t know how to reply, still confused. So he kept quiet.
“Actually,” Hoseok continued. “I’m here to invite you to a party. I’m hosting one this Friday, at my parents’ house, which is about half an hour from campus.”
Jungkook blinked a few times, then realized he should probably reply, cleared his throat and said: “Yeah. Really?”
It was a stupid response. Immediately after he said it, Jungkook wanted to punch himself in the face. Hoseok let out a chuckle.
“Yeah, really,” Hoseok said. “So, are you coming?”
Jungkook thought it over for a moment, not really knowing if he wanted to, but eventually came to the conclusion that he didn’t have much of any sort of reputation anyway, so that there was really nothing at stake and, therefore, no good reason to say no. So, he nodded and said: “Yeah, of course.”
Hoseok’s smile grew so wide that his eyes almost completely disappeared.
“Awesome,” the elder said. “See you on Friday, then. Oh, by the way, you did great during practice.”
Jungkook smiled a small smile.
Friday rolled around. Jungkook slept in until noon, went to football practice - which ended up taking up the entire afternoon - and when he got home, he realized he had no idea what to do. Never in a million years had he expected to ever get invited to one of the notorious parties that took place on and around campus. How was he supposed to act? What time should he show up? What should he wear? He looked in his closet, trying to put an outfit together, but had no clue what would be an appropriate choice. He sighed to himself and decided that he needed help. His best shot was probably calling his friend Taehyung, who he used to go to high school with and had befriended through a shared love for video games. Taehyung had just been a weird dork the first couple of years that Jungkook had known him, but as he had gotten older, he got more and more popular and fashionable.
He picked up his phone after three rings.
“Jungkookie! How is my favorite dongsaeng?”
“Hyung, I need your help.”
“Oh no, what happened? Did you fall in love? Did someone reject you?”
Jungkook grunted. “No, it’s nothing like that. I-”
“Did you embarrass yourself in front of that hot teacher again?”
“No, hyung, just listen, okay?”
“Fine,” the elder relented. “What’s up?”
“I got invited to a party and I don’t know what to wear.”
Taehyung let out a loud laugh. “You got invited to a party? Man, things really have changed since you left Busan.”
“Wow. Thanks, hyung.”
“No, no, Jungkookie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just- I don’t know, you were always so shy and you had such a difficult time making friends. You must have improved. I’m proud of you.”
Jungkook smiled. “Thank you, but it’s actually kind of weird. I haven’t done anything out of the ordinary.”
“Huh? Is someone trying to trick you into something?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so? It’s just- okay, let me explain.”
Taehyung hummed and Jungkook tried to find the words to explain the situation to his friend.
“So, there’s this really popular guy,” Jungkook started. “Hoseok. Jung Hoseok. He’s a master’s student, captain of the volleyball team, very good at dancing, straight A’s and everything... and, I don’t know why, because we’ve never talked before, but he was waiting for me after practice and he... he invited me? Just like that. And I’ve never been invited to a party by one of the popular guys, and now I don’t know what to wear, hyung. I literally only own white t-shirts.”
Taehyung chuckled. “Wow. Okay. Uh, let me think.”
It was silent for a moment, and Jungkook gnawed on his bottom lip. He slowly started to realize how big of a deal this actually was. All of the popular guys were going to be there - and they were going to judge him. The volleyball team was going to be there, there were going to be master’s students, and-
Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat.
The dancers. They were going to be there. More importantly: senior Park Jimin, the dance club president, and literally the cutest, most graceful and most handsome guy Jungkook had ever seen in his school - or anywhere else for that matter - was going to be there.
“Hyung…” Jungkook said in a small voice.
“Yeah, I think I came up with something,” Taehyung said. “Do you still have that nice dress shirt with the vertical stripes I got you for Christmas?”
“Uh, yeah, I think I do. But hyung-”
“It’s a nice shirt, put it on. Wear it with some black skinny jeans and your fancy shoes. Send me a picture when you put it on.”
“Okay, will do, but hyung, I just thought of something.”
“What is it?” Taehyung asked.
“I- there’s this guy. Who’s gonna be there, probably. And um. I don’t think I want to go anymore.”
“Why? What did he do to you?”
“He didn’t do anything. I just- I don’t know. I just get… nervous around him?”
Taehyung sighed. “Jeon Jungkook, listen to me.”
Jungkook gulped.
“You are a great kid,” the elder said. “You are handsome, smart, muscular, good at everything, funny, and kind. There’s no reason for you to be as timid as you are. That Hoseok guy must have liked something about you, right? Why else would he invite you? I’m sure the other guys will like you as well. Just, be you, okay? Don’t try to act like someone you’re not because you’re nervous. It will be fine. At the end of the day, most people aren’t as superficial as they seem, you know. Even the popular ones.”
Warmth spread throughout Jungkook’s chest and a smile made its way onto his face. “Thank you, hyung. Really.”
“Now go get dressed, Kookie. Send me that picture, and don’t worry too much, okay?”
“Okay. Bye, hyung. Thank you.”
“Bye, Jungkookie.”
At exactly 9:13 PM, Jungkook found himself on Hoseok’s porch, wearing his nice shirt and shoes, hopping nervously from foot to foot. A trap beat and the sound of people talking were audible outside. For a few minutes, he thought about what he should do. He could still run away, take a bus back to campus, and go to bed. But he knew Taehyung was right: everything would be fine in the end. Maybe he could even make some friends. Ringing the doorbell was just the hardest part.
So he took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm his nerves. After three of them, he was almost calm, and before he could change his mind, he pushed the button. His heart started racing as he saw a dark shape approaching the door through the frosted glass window beside it. The door swung open and Jungkook was met by two boys. One of them was very tall, with bleached hair, a blissful expression on his face, dimples adorning his cheeks. The other was much shorter, and Jungkook didn’t have to look at him twice to know who he was: he instantly recognized the dark hair, round cheeks, sharp jawline. When Jimin saw Jungkook, his beautiful smile appeared on his face, which made his eyes disappear into small, adorable crescents.
“Jeon Jungkook!” Jimin exclaimed enthusiastically. “You came!”
The younger boy was baffled. He had no idea Jimin even knew he existed - let alone that he knew his first and last name. He didn’t have time to process any of it though, because the elder grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him inside, closing the front door behind him.
“I’m so happy you’re here!” Jimin said.
“Y-you are?” Jungkook stuttered.
“Of course I am! This is Namjoon-hyung, by the way. He’s Hoseok-hyung’s classmate and best friend. They used to be friends with benefits, actually, until Hobi-hyung started dating Yoongi-hyung-”
“Yah, Jimin-ah,” Namjoon said, although it didn’t come off very threatening, as he was still smiling. “You don’t have to tell everyone about that.”
Instead of feeling uncomfortable hearing that intimate information, Jungkook felt a sense of relief. Hoseok and Namjoon were gay. Or, into guys, anyway. If they were so open about this, at least they wouldn’t make fun of Jungkook’s sexuality, right? It was one of the things he had been scared of in preparation of the night.
Jimin giggled. “Sorry, hyung. Jungkookie, how about we get you a drink?”
He didn’t give the younger time to reply, and instead just grabbed his wrist again and pulled him into the kitchen.
The dining table was completely filled with bottles of wine and liquor. Hoseok was standing at the counter, wearing a questionable outfit with clashing patterns and colors, pouring something into a red cup while talking to another guy. The guy was wearing an all black outfit with a leather jacket, and is hair was dyed mint green. He seemed intimidating, but Jungkook also noticed an unexpected softness in his face. They looked up as they heard the other boys entering the kitchen.
“Hoseokie-hyung!” Jimin said excitedly. “Look who showed up!”
Hoseok smiled at them. “Hey there, Jungkook. Welcome.”
“Thank you, Hoseok seonbae-nim,” Jungkook said politely.
“This is my boyfriend, Min Yoongi,” Hoseok continued, and he gestured towards the guy in all black. “And oh my God, please, call us hyung.”
Jungkook nodded and turned to Yoongi. “Nice to meet you, Yoongi-hyung.”
“Hi, kid,” the elder said, and smiled a small smile.
“Yoongi-hyung!” Jimin said. “Can you please make both of us a drink?”
“Sure thing, Jimin-ah,” Yoongi said. He grabbed two cups and a few bottles off the table.
“Hyung makes the best mixes in the world,” Jimin whispered in Jungkook’s ear.
The youngest nodded acknowledgingly. He still wasn’t sure what was happening, but it seemed as though everyone was being genuinely nice, which was a big relief for him. He decided that he would just try his best at winging it tonight. Taehyung had probably been right: if he tried to act like someone he wasn’t, he was probably just going to come off as an idiot anyway. And Jimin seemed to like him, which was… Unexpected but nice. Very nice.
Yoongi handed them the drinks. “Here you go kids, two Suga Specials. Don’t be like me, drink responsibly.”
Less than ten minutes later, Jungkook was on his second Suga Special. Somehow, Jimin had managed to convince him to come upstairs to play games, so Jungkook, Jimin, Hoseok, Yoongi, Namjoon, and someone who got introduced to Jungkook as “our mom, Jin” were sitting in a circle on the carpeted floor of a large bedroom. Because Jungkook didn’t drink very often, the mysterious beverage he had finished so quickly was already starting to fill his abdomen and chest with a pleasant warmth. He still felt a bit tense, not knowing what kind of games and situations to expect, but he knew he would loosen up soon.
“Okay!” Jimin said, who was sitting opposite Jungkook. “Guys! Let’s play what we always play, okay?”
Everyone agreed enthusiastically, but Jungkook had no idea what Jimin was referring to. As if the elder could read his mind, he continued: “We have a new player in our midst though, so let me explain the rules. Jungkookie, we are playing a game of Never Have I Ever with five fingers first. The loser has to take four shots of soju directly following each other. The winner will spin the bottle to determine their partner for our version of Seven Minutes in Heaven, which is the same game, but you get locked in a closet for fifteen minutes instead. In the meantime, the others will play Truth or Dare, but without the truths, just the dares. When the fifteen minutes are over, we will vote for the person who we think is the winner of the dare game, and they will get to spin the bottle. Got it?”
Jungkook nodded, even though he wasn’t sure he would remember. He couldn’t help but think it was kind of stupid. Weren’t they too old for games like this? At the same time, he also felt a little bit excited though: he realized this was probably the only chance he would ever have to get to know the handsome boy sitting across from him.
As the game progressed, Jungkook found out that he didn’t have much life experience compared to the others, which would have probably embarrassed him if it wasn’t for the fact that he knew it would make him win this game. His eyes were on Jimin almost the whole time. The senior had apparently never smoked a cigarette or cheated on anyone, but he had showed up to class with a hangover more than ten times and, apparently, he had had a threesome. So, Jimin had three fingers left, while Jungkook was the only one who still had all five. It was Jin’s turn, who was sitting next to Jungkook.
“Never have I ever…” Jin started, and then paused to think for a few seconds. “Had a crush on an upperclassman.”
A blush crept onto Jungkook’s face. He hadn’t admitted to it yet. He knew he had been developing a crush on Jimin, but he also knew that it was completely irrational and stupid. When it came down to it, he didn’t even know the senior. But, seeing as he was obviously winning the game and getting more honest as the alcohol spread through his brain, he decided to put a finger down. For some reason, his eyes met Jimin’s while doing so. The older boy grinned, also putting a finger down.
Now, it was Jungkook’s turn. He had been thinking about it for a while. He obviously needed to think of something that wouldn’t apply to him, but he also wanted to get to know Jimin more. Luckily, he had loosened up enough by then to go for a somewhat bold one. While speaking, his eyes were trained on Jimin’s hand, two small fingers still pointing upward.
“Never have I ever had a crush on a girl.”
The majority of the group grunted in annoyance at having to put down a finger. But Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat when he saw that both of Jimin’s fingers were still up. His eyes shot up to the elder’s, who was looking at him with an expression that was hard to read.
A few turns later, Jimin lost the game, and Jungkook won. Yoongi went downstairs to get an empty bottle and soju. Earlier, Jungkook had hoped to win the game, his competitive nature taking over. But he hadn’t fully realized what winning this game meant. Now, he was going to have to spend fifteen minutes locked in a closet with someone he barely knew. He gulped at the thought. So far, he had actually done a pretty good job at blending in, as far as he could tell, but spending fifteen minutes locked in a closet with only one other person… he didn’t know if he could handle it.
Yoongi came in with an empty bottle to spin with, a bottle of soju and a shot glass.
“Four shots, Jiminie,” Hoseok said, laughing. “Do you think you can handle it?”
“Hyung,” Jimin said. “Is that even a question? Of course I can.”
He downed the shots easily, almost as if it was water, face only scrunching up a little bit after the last one. The group applauded him.
“Now it’s time for Jungkookie to spin the bottle!” Jimin chimed. “Come on Jungkookie! This is the best part!”
Yoongi put the empty bottle in the middle of the circle. Jungkook stared at it for a few seconds before convincing himself he was overreacting and spinning it with force. He held his breath as the bottle spinned one, two, three, four seconds, and then slowly came to a halt. Jungkook looked up at who the bottle was pointing at.
He was convinced the universe was playing some sick prank on him.
Of course it had landed on Park Jimin, who was looking at the sophomore with a smug grin on his face.
“Okay, Jeon Jungkook,” the elder said, voice sultry, because apparently the universe really, really hated Jungkook. “Are you ready?”
Jimin got up and extended a hand towards Jungkook, whose throat suddenly felt too dry to respond. The younger boy nodded, took Jimin’s hand, ignored the whistling and comments coming from the others, and let the senior guide him into the hallway, then another bedroom, and then a small, dark closet. Jimin closed the door. The distance between them was less than a foot.
It was silent while they let their eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. It wasn’t a particularly uncomfortable silence, but there was a slightly weird, thick atmosphere. Jungkook tried to think of something to say, but his mind was blank. He felt relieved when Jimin broke the silence.
“I guess both of us are back in the closet, then,” the elder joked.
Jungkook giggled and said: “Yeah, looks like it.”
Their eyes had gotten used to the dark closet enough to see each other’s faces. Jungkook could see Jimin looking up at him, smiling, eyes glistening with something. When Jimin didn’t say anything, the younger boy cleared his throat.
“Uh, Jimin-hyung,” he said. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” The senior’s voice was soft, sweet and high-pitched.
“Why did Hoseok-hyung invite me?”
Jimin giggled a little. “Yeah, that’s kind of an embarrassing story.”
The sophomore looked at him, not understanding.
“Look,” the elder said. “I used to see this guy from the football team. In secret, because he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s gay. Which was fine, I guess. I mean, it wasn’t, but I was in love with him, so I didn’t mind then. Anyway, I used to watch you guys practice a lot, and I always noticed how… different you are from the others. You think a lot more about your moves before you make them, and you move so... gracefully. So when things started going downhill with me and Byungj-”
He stopped mid-sentence and put his hands over his mouth, eyes going wide.
“Oh my God,” the elder started in a small voice. “I can’t believe I messed up like that. Please don’t tell anyone, I-”
“Hyung,” Jungkook said sincerely. “Seriously, don’t worry about it. I won’t.”
Jimin smiled a small smile. “Thank you. Anyway, when things started going downhill, I started developing an... interest in you. Byungjoo broke up with me, I stopped going to football practice, but for some reason, I was still thinking about you. So last week, I convinced Hoseok to go to football practice together so he could invite you.”
Jungkook had some trouble processing this information. The guy he had looked up to, found incredibly attractive, had secretly stared at whenever he could… The most beautiful boy he had ever seen, Park Jimin, had wanted to get to know him?
“But...” The younger’s voice trailed off.
“What is it?” Jimin asked.
Jungkook shook his head. “It’s stupid.”
“No, tell me, Jungkookie.” The senior’s voice was soothing, reassuring.
“Just… Why? Why me?”
Then, the elder did something Jungkook wasn’t expecting. He stepped closer, leaving only an inch between their faces, and grabbed both of Jungkook’s hands. Their chests were touching. The younger boy froze. Jimin’s breath smelled of soju, his hair of something sweet, fruity, and oh my God, he was so close. Jungkook’s first instinct was to push the other boy away and run, but he didn’t. Instead, he looked the elder in the eyes and tried to remind himself to breathe.
“Jungkookie,” Jimin said tenderly. “I think that there’s something special about you. Something you don’t reveal to just anyone. Most people either don’t know you exist, or they think you’re just shy and quiet. Boring, even. But I think they don’t see you for who you really are. I think you’re keeping a lot of interesting stuff hidden in that muscular body of yours.”
A blush rose to the sophomore’s cheeks, and he was grateful the closet was dark.
“Am I right?” Jimin asked with a smile.
Jungkook shrugged. “I don’t really know.”
“Will you let me find out?”
The younger gulped, wondering what the other boy meant. Jimin moved his face even closer to Jungkook’s, making the younger panic. He had no idea what to do. His eyes trailed down to Jimin’s plump lips, which were so close to his own, and he couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to kiss him. He would only have to lean forward a little bit…
“Will you go on a date with me?” the elder asked.
Jungkook didn’t know what he had been expecting, but it wasn’t this. When the words sunk in, it felt as though fireworks had been set off in his stomach. He was petrified and excited at the same time, wanted to say yes, yes, of course I want to, he wanted to scream it in Jimin’s face, he wanted to hug him, kiss him, lift him up and twirl him around. He didn’t do any of those things, though. Instead, he just nodded and smiled, unable to speak. Jimin smiled back widely.
“Kookie…” the senior whispered, face still extremely close to Jungkook’s. “I’m… really drunk.”
Jungkook let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, I kinda noticed.”
“I- can I-”
Instead of finishing his sentence, Jimin released the younger’s hands and moved his own to cup the sophomore’s cheeks, pressing their bodies together. Jungkook’s heart was beating so fast he was convinced it had been replaced by a hummingbird. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but was unsuccessful.
“Can I kiss you?” Jimin whispered, voice so soft Jungkook could barely hear him.
He didn’t even have to think about it. Of course he wanted Jimin to kiss him. Maybe he would have said no, would have saved it for a better moment, if it hadn’t been for the alcohol in his bloodstream. But he couldn’t resist, not in the situation he was in: trapped between the wall and Jimin, with the elder’s hot breath fanning against his lips, his body heat radiating through their clothes. It had been ages since Jungkook had kissed anyone, and there was nothing more he wanted right then and there than Jimin’s beautiful, soft lips on his own. So he nodded, and the elder immediately closed the small gap between their mouths.
It was exactly how Jungkook had imagined it would be. Jimin kissed him softly at first, then more eagerly, pressing his body into the younger a little bit more. His tongue swiped across Jungkook’s lower lip, asking for access, and the younger let him enter, tongues finding each other, hungrily caressing, exploring. The elder tasted of soju and something sweet - wine, maybe - and his lips were soft and warm against Jungkook’s.
Neither of them knew how long they’d been kissing, when suddenly, the closet door opened. They pulled away in shock, seeing Hoseok and Yoongi standing there with matching grins on their faces.
“I’m afraid your fifteen minutes are over, lovebirds,” Hoseok said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “It’s our turn now.”
Jimin chuckled and rolled his eyes, moving away from Jungkook and stepping out of the closet. He reached out a hand towards the younger, which Jungkook took, following him into the room. The senior gave him a big, reassuring smile, eyes forming those adorable crescents. And Jungkook knew that, for now, he didn’t have to worry about how this would work out. He would get to spend time with Jimin, see him smile like that, get to know him, maybe hold his small hands and kiss him again, and that was all that mattered.