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Jungkook bangs on Jimin’s door, mouth curved into a pout.
“Unnie! Jiminie, open the door! We’re going to be late!” Her hand meets empty air the next time she goes to knock and instead misses Jimin’s irritated face by an inch. “Unnie!” Jimin huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. Her bangs are clipped back by a little butterfly pin, but the strands by her chin are loose around her face.
“We’re not late, Kookoo. We’re on time. I know that’s a novel thing to you because you like to show up twenty minutes early anywhere you have to be, but I was getting ready.” She adjusts her bag over her shoulder and strides past Jungkook, ponytail bobbing in the wind. Jungkook stares after her for a second before jogging to catch up.
“Unnie, no,” she whines. “We were supposed to get there early. Hoseok oppa wanted to make sure that we could get another run in before the show.” She loops her hand through Jimin’s arm, pulling her closer. The height difference is as awkward as it always is, but Jimin easily falls into step.
“We’ll be fine, Jungkookie.”
Jungkook's pout deepens, but she relents. "Fine. If he gets mad though I'm blaming you."
Jimin grins. "Okay, Jungkookie." She rubs her face against Jungkook's shoulder. "You're so cute when you're worried," she coos, and Jungkook flushes and pushes her off.
"'M not," she mutters, picking at her fingernails. "Shut up."
Jimin laughs and latches on again.
"Cutie."
Hoseok, turns out, is not mad. He sighs and rolls his eyes fondly, ushering the two of them in as Jimin apologizes and Jungkook wanders further into the room, dropping her bag by the mirrors. She stretches her arms above her head one at a time, and Jimin is briefly distracted by the flash of skin when Jungkook's shirt rises up her stomach.
"Min?"
She quickly turns back to face Hoseok.
"Yes! Yeah, sorry. What were you saying?"
Hoseok chuckles, eyebrows raised knowingly, and Jimin pretends to be very occupied looking at the ceiling.
"I was asking if you and Jungkookie have been practicing your routine."
Jimin quickly nods.
"Yeah, of course. We'll be perfect by the show," she promises, glancing back at Jungkook. Hoseok rolls his eyes again and waves her off.
"Fine. Go practice some more. I have to go work with Yoongi for a while." He scoops his towel up off the ground and throws it over his shoulder. "Good luck."
"Okay," Jimin chirps, and then turns to the mirrors. "Okay, Kookoo, let's go."
The sun has set by the time they finish practice. Jungkook collapses to the floor, spreading out her limbs and panting, trying to catch her breath. Jimin tries not to stare at the way her breasts settle.
"Ugh," Jungkook groans. "I'm so sore. Give me a massage, unnie."
Jimin scoffs and hopes that Jungkook can't see her smiling.
"You're so demanding, Jungkookie. Turn over."
Jungkook grins triumphantly, flipping over in one smooth motion. She crosses her arms under her chin and sighs, relaxing to the floor. Jimin crosses over to her and plops down on her back, earning a strangled shout that dissolves into a satisfied moan when Jimin digs her fingers into Jungkook's shoulders. She settles back, sitting on Jungkook's upper thighs.
"Aaah," Jungkook moans again, "that feels so good."
Jimin hides the awkward sound she makes behind a cough. Jungkook turns her head to look up and Jimin shakes her head.
"I'm fine. Turn back around."
Jungkook melts under Jimin's hands, letting out little sighs and content noises. Jimin's mind races with excuses she could use to get off, but doesn't mind one and goes back to rubbing the muscles. She pushes too hard on a sore spot and apologizes when Jungkook winces. The only sounds in the room are Jungkook.
"Okay," Jimin says, cursing the tiny squeak she makes. "My hands hurt." Jungkook nods and rolls over.
"Thanks, Jiminie. Love you," she says, and Jimin sucks in her cheeks. She can't tell if the younger is serious or not.
"L- Love you too," she responds after a moment, and can't help but smile back when Jungkook beams up at her, front teeth peeking out. Jimin tries to ignore the butterflies in her chest. "Come on. We have to go."
"Okay!"
Jungkook hums the whole walk back to Jimin's house, bouncing on her feet. It's really nice outside, and Jungkook decided not to put her overshirt back on, opting to just wear her thick sports bra out. Her abdomen is distracting and Jimin drags her feet along the sidewalk.
They stop in front of Jimin's building, and Jungkook grins.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Jiminie!"
She waves and dips her head quickly, hair flinging around. Jimin watches her go. She sighs and shuts the door. Taehyung looks up from the couch when she drops her bag on the table.
“Hey, Jiminnie. How was practice?”
“Fine,” Jimin says, plopping down next to the blonde. “I-”
“How is Jungkook?”
Jimin frowns. “She’s fine. Why?”
Taehyung hums. “No reason. You just always look happier after hanging out with her.”
Jimin flushes. “I do not. I look the same after hanging out with anyone,” she huffs, and crosses her arms. Taehyung laughs.
“Sure. Pizza?”
The show goes fine. Jungkook wears really small shorts during the performance and Jimin struggles to not stare at her the whole time. When Hoseok points it out she just makes up an excuse about being unfocused.
“I know you’re jealous because her tits are bigger than yours,” Seokjin yells from backstage where he’s holding a hair straighten inches away from a different student’s head after the first routine. “But focus, please!”
“Fuck you,” Jimin shouts back. Seokjin just grins and goes back to what he’s doing.
Jungkook enters a couple minutes later, sitting next to Jimin and tipping sideways into her lap. “Unnie.”
“What, Jungkook-ah?”
“You did really well out there,” Jungkook says, smiling up at her, brown eyes sparkling. “I’m proud of you.”
Jimin scoffs good-naturedly. “Thanks. Even though I’m older than you and have been dancing longer.” Jungkook grins. “You did well too,” Jimin continues, running her fingers through Jungkook’s hair, and the other girl beams.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
They have a class together, a mixed-year history class, and have weekly study sessions. Jungkook dumps her stuff all over Jimin’s bed and hops on, kicking her shoes off and Jimin rolls her eyes. They work in relative silence before Jungkook groans.
“Unnie.”
“What?”
“I want to take a break,” Jungkook whines, and Jimin laughs.
“We’ve only been working for like half an hour, Kookoo.”
Jungkook pouts. “I know. But I’m already tired. Please?”
Jimin sighs dramatically. “Fine. What do you want to do?”
“Hmm,” Jungkook says, placing a finger on her chin. “I don’t know. How about a nap time?”
The other raises her eyebrows. “A nap? Are we in preschool again?”
“No!” Jungkook laughs. “I just want to nap. Please? We used to all the time as kids.”
They did, when they were younger and their parents figured it would be easier to just lump the two of them together instead of messing around with two houses and babysitters. But now Jimin doesn’t know if she can handle being pressed in a small bed next to a grown-up, soft, nice-smelling Jungkook. So she smiles softly. “Not for me. You can though, Jungkook-ah.”
Jungkook frowns. “Why not? Unnie, I want to cuddle. I always roll off your bed if I sleep on my own here, you know that.”
Fond memories of a drunk Jungkook tumbling out of her bed make Jimin laugh. “You’ll be fine. I’ll wake you up if it looks precarious.”
“But,” Jungkook starts, chewing on her bottom lip and Jimin watches the way the plump skin bends under her teeth. “I want to be next to you, Jiminie.”
“You’re an adult now, Jungkookie,” Jimin tries, still attempting to get out of having to be that close. Jungkook’s frown deepens.
“Is something wrong?”
“What?” Jimin blinks. “No?”
Jungkook sits up. “You haven’t been talking to me as much lately. Did I do something?” She shifts, looking at her lap. “Um, if I did, can you tell me? Please? I miss you.”
“I’m right here,” Jimin says, laughing awkwardly, because it’s not like she can just tell Jungkook that she thinks she might be in love with her. “I haven’t gone anywhere. I’ve just been busy and tired.”
“You aren’t tired OR busy,” Jungkook argues. “You stop straightening your hair and don’t wash your face every day when you’re tired, and I asked Taetae-unnie and she says that you haven’t been very busy at all. So what gives?”
“I…” Jimin starts, and then trails off. Jungkook’s lip is wobbling now and her eyes are getting glassy. “Oh, Kookoo, don’t- no, you know I can’t handle it when you cry.” Jungkook sniffs and looks away. Jimin gulps and then gets up from her chair, climbing next to Jungkook. “I promise. It’s not you. I’ve just- been thinking a lot lately.”
“Don’t do that,” the other mumbles. “You’ll hurt yourself.” Jimin laughs, and reaches for her hand. She laces their fingers together.
“I-”
She cuts off abruptly when soft lips press against hers. When she blinks she can count the lashes fluttering in front of her eyes. Jungkook’s mouth is soft and warm. Jimin jerks away after a moment, eyes wide, and Jungkook sits back. Jimin brings a hand up to her face, untangling their fingers and doesn’t say anything. Jungkook sighs.
“Okay. Sorry, unnie. I’ll- um, go. Sorry. I’ll see you tom- later, okay? Thanks for letting me hang out,” she mutters quietly, gathering her stuff. She doesn’t straighten all of her papers like she usually does, instead just shoving them in without thought. She zips the backpack closed, slinging it over one shoulder, and leaves. Jimin watches her go, chest aching. Fuck.
Jungkook isn’t in class the next day. Or the next, and Jimin starts to worry. Jungkook never misses class, even though they’re allowed to miss a certain number. She tries to call the other girl, but her phone is off. She goes to Jungkook’s apartment.
“Jungkook?” She says as soon as the door opens. “I’m-”
“Jungkook isn’t available,” a different voice answers. Jimin looks up at the short man standing in the doorway. “Can I take a message?”
“Um,” Jimin says, trying to look past him. “Where is she?”
“Not available,” he repeats, and she frowns.
“Why? I’m- can you tell her that Jimin stopped by? And that uh, ask if she can answer her phone.”
The man nods. “Sure. Anything else?”
Jimin fidgets. “Um, that I’m sorry. And I miss her.”
He nods again. “Sure.”
“Have a- have a nice day,” Jimin mumbles, before stepping back and letting him close the door. She stares at the door for another minute before walking away, holding her jacket closer.
What has she done?
Jungkook returns to class for the test the next week, but arrives exactly on time and leaves as soon as she’s done with the exam, leaving no time for Jimin to talk to her, much less even look at her because the other sits on the other side of the room than she usually does. She looks tired, Jimin thinks, and maybe like she hasn’t been eating well. She’s never been very good at taking care of herself without Jimin reminding her to go to bed on time and not staying up too late playing video games.
A couple days later Jimin finally asks the professor, and he tells her that Jungkook asked if she could do classes online for a short period of time. Jimin stands in his office awkwardly for a moment until he asks if she needs anything else. She shakes her head and almost trips through the door.
The guy at Jungkook’s apartment tells her she isn’t available again, and Jungkook still isn’t answering her phone.
Jimin lies on her couch that night and stares up at the ceiling. She remembers the look of Jungkook’s face when she pulled away, how soft and adoring she looked until Jimin jerked away, and then the hurt that spread across her expression. Jimin presses her palms against her eyes, but she can’t get away from the vision of Jungkook’s trusting, open face dropping like that. She wishes she could apologize and maybe kiss the taller girl again. Most of all, she just wants to see her again.
She gets her chance the next Monday. There’s supposed to be another test, but their teacher isn’t there and didn’t have a chance to email the class until it was already starting. Jimin catches Jungkook’s eye and then follows her out of the room. Jungkook is clearly rushing, weaving in and out of students, clutching her folders to her chest.
Jimin catches up as soon as they exit the main building, reaching out and grabbing her arm. Jungkook drops everything she’s holding in surprise, glancing at Jimin before bending down and quickly gathering everything up. Jimin puts her hands over Jungkook’s, stopping her.
“Jungkook?”
Jungkook stiffens, still looking down at the ground. “Uh. Yeah?”
Jimin winces because of the frosty tone of voice and the shaking of Jungkook’s shoulders. “Can I- can I take you to coffee? Please? I-”
“No,” Jungkook says. “Sorry. Yoongi is expecting me home. He needs help with a new song.”
“Y- Yoongi? Is he the-”
“He’s staying at my apartment for a while,” Jungkook interrupts. “Just needs a place to stay until he can find his own.” She picks up the last of her things and shakes Jimin’s hands off. “Maybe another day though.”
Jimin nods hesitantly, letting Jungkook go. “Okay. Uh, another day.” Jungkook dips her head and then backs away, glancing over her shoulder one more time before turning a corner and disappearing.
Another day turns out to be that Friday. She bumps into Jungkook at the campus cafe, insisting on paying for her drink before Jungkook can even get her wallet out. There’s an awkward moment where they stare each other down, before Jimin points at a table towards the back.
“Will you sit with me?”
Jungkook glances at the door and then at Jimin, and nods. “Ye- yeah. Only for a while, though.”
Jimin exhales, relieved. Maybe Jungkook doesn’t hate her. They sit down, and Jimin makes sure to grab an extra sugar from the bar. Jungkook likes sweeter drinks.
They sit in silence until Jimin clears her throat.
“Uh, Jungkook.” The other hums, not looking up from her drink. Jimin swallows. “I’m- I wanted- the other day. I-”
“It’s fine,” Jungkook mumbles. “I shouldn’t have. It’s my fault. I’m sorry. You can, uh, forget that it happened. I just needed some time. Sorry.”
“No,” Jimin says, shaking her head. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I’m the one who should be sorry. I just didn’t know what to do, Kookoo.”
“It’s fine,” Jungkook insists again. “I- you probably don’t like me like that. I don’t know what I was expecting. I probably made you uncomfortable.”
“What?” Jimin blinks. “No- no I- I do.” Jungkook looks up and Jimin takes a deep breath. “I do, uh, like you like that. A lot. I really like you, Jungkook-ah. I didn’t know what to do. That’s why I acted like that. And I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you feel like that,” she finishes, fingers twitching to reach for Jungkook, who clutches onto her drink tightly.
“Really?” she says, voice quiet but hopeful, and she looks at Jimin with those round eyes. “You… you do?”
Jimin nods fervently. “Yeah. That’s why I was acting weird, Jungkook-ah. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know you liked me too. I’m sorry.”
Jungkook sighs. “Thank god,” she finally says, leaning back in her seat, and she’s smiling even though there are tears in the corners of her eyes. “I was so worried. I really thought you hated me for a little bit there, unnie.”
Jimin laughs. “Of course not. I could never.” She decides to hold Jungkook’s hand anyways. “In fact,” she says, “can I- can I kiss you back? I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to earlier.”
Jungkook grins. “Yeah.” She leans over the table and purses her lips, waiting for Jimin with one eye open. “I’m waiting.”
Jimin smiles and meets Jungkook in the middle.