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Jimin’s best friend is okay . That's a lie. He loves his best friend and would most definitely never leave him or trade him for another. Especially when his best friend is someone like Kim Namjoon. Namjoon, Jimin's best friend (ever since the day he walked into his first university class and a tall, lanky figure walked into him, essentially knocking him over because he was too engulfed in his philosophy textbook to even notice the tiny figure in front of him) of at least 2 and a half years now, was always just a phone call away. Jimin knew he didn't need to be at Namjoon's side every time he asked, but he still felt the need to.
"You don't have to come if you're busy," Namjoon would say quietly.
"It's okay, I don't even have work that day," Jimin would reply, while sending a text to his manager that he had eaten some terrible gas station food the night before and probably won't be able to get it out of his system for the next two to three days.
It just worked that way. Namjoon, shy by nature and certainly too awkward for any other human interactions, and Jimin, too small to reach anything on the top shelf but makes up for it with the size of his heart, were always found together whether you wanted them in a package deal or not.
That's why it was no surprise to anyone that once Namjoon turned his back, Jimin's face was basically covered in heart eyes and looking at Namjoon like he hung the sun. The only person unable to notice it was the man himself.
"Jimin-ah, just tell him," Hoseok would say.
"I will," Jimin would reply.
He never does.
That's how Jimin ends up sitting on Namjoon and Hoseok's couch at 8 o'clock in the evening, whining into Hoseok's shoulder about how "Namjoon-hyung is never going to notice me and I'm going to die alone because no one will ever be like Namjoon-hyung. Don't you think so, hyung?" The elder had invited Jimin over after the dance class they teach on Thursdays because Hoseok could feel Jimin overthinking the entire time. And he couldn't even get the younger to agree until he reminded him that Namjoon wouldn't be home until at least eleven, depending on how hard Yoongi worked him at the studio. Especially since they were producing songs for upcoming girl group debuts.
Hoseok stroked Jimin's hair as the latter let out loud, mostly fake, sobs into Hoseok's favourite yellow sweater. He'd have to wash it as soon as possible. It was the sweater that brought out his beautiful skin tone the most. God, he's starting to sound like Seokjin.
"Jiminie, why won't you just tell Joonie? I'm sure he won't hold anything against you, even if he doesn't like you the way you like him." Hoseok said softly.
Jimin let out a groan. "That's the thing, hyung. What if he doesn't like me? Then I'll just look stupid."
Hoseok was about to reply when Jimin's phone went off. It was pretty obvious who it was, the way Jimin's face lit up and he scrambled to unlock the screen.
Joonie-hyung <3 [8:52 pm]
Wanna come over tonight? I'll order some takeout for us. I'll be home around 11
Jiminie [8:52 pm]
I'm already here hyung!!! (/^▽^)/
Joonie-hyung [8:53 pm]
That was fast. Order what you want Minnie. I'll pay
Jiminie [8:53 pm]
Okay hyungie see you soon!!!!
"With the amount of exclamation points you put after every sentence, I think he thinks you're yelling at him," Hoseok said, making Jimin jump. He forgot the whole reason why he was here in the first place. "Park Jimin, you did not forget you are here in my own apartment, did you?"
"Of course not, hyung," Jimin said, smiling widely. No one could resist Park Jimin's smile, especially when his eyes crinkle up into little crescents. "What should we have for dinner? Pad thai?"
Hoseok shook his head. "You know what? You decide. I'm gonna call Tae and see if he wants to go out to eat." He smirked and watched as Jimin's smile went from a look of pure joy to a look of horror.
"Hyung, no !" He jumped up from the couch, trying to follow Hoseok to his room. "You can't leave me here alone with Namjoon-hyung, I'll die !"
The younger spent a great amount of time clutching onto Hoseok's leg, trying to stop him from leaving. He even sent a text to Taehyung telling him to refuse anything Hoseok offers (to which Taehyung replied, that's like asking the sun not to shine, no thanks , so that didn't work) and then asking Jungkook to help him out (to which Jungkook replied, Tae-hyung says not to do anything for you on the condition that they buy me lamb skewers , so basically, all his friends are traitors). Jimin can't believe the audacity of his so-called friends, all teaming up on him like this.
"I can hear you thinking from here, stop pouting and start creating your elaborate confession for Namjoon!" Hoseok yelled from the bathroom, where he had been styling his hair for a good 20 minutes now. "I'm telling you Jimin, the only person stopping you is yourself."
Jimin pouted. "Hyung, it's not that easy. Don't act like it didn't take you 5 months to work up the courage to ask Taehyung out." He's not wrong, he was there while Hoseok laid on the floor, listing off all the things he thought were perfect about Taehyung and then consequently listing all the things about himself that would turn Taehyung off (spoiler: Taehyung is not turned off by anything, whatsoever). It was a long 5 months.
Hoseok emerged from the bathroom with a pointed look. "5 months is different from 2 and a half years, Jimin. At this rate, you're probably in love with him." Jimin froze. In love with Namjoon? There's no way. He can't be in love with the man he called his best friend. The best friend that doesn't even know that he's head over heels for him.
Hoseok watched as Jimin threw himself into another puddle of thinking and decided that it was time to stop pushing it. "You know what? Don't worry about it, Chim. Just enjoy your dinner with Namjoon, okay? He's your best friend and you guys deserve some best friend time together. You've both been quite stressed." With a pat on Jimin's head, Hoseok left the apartment, leaving Jimin sitting on the couch.
At this rate, you're probably in love with him.
Jimin thought back to all the times he spent with Namjoon.
On his second week of school, Jimin called Namjoon and asked if he wanted to watch a movie because being in university was too stressful for him, to which Namjoon replied, it's literally your seventh day of uni, relax . But he still let Jimin pick the movie that played in the background while Jimin ranted about how much he missed his family and his friends back home in Busan. On that day, Jimin was happy.
After his first set of exams, Jimin stayed in Namjoon's bed for three days straight because he thought his brain was going to explode. Namjoon hadn't even finished his exams yet but as long as Jimin didn't make too much noise, he let the smaller boy lounge around his room while he studied long and hard. He even let Jimin give him massages when his back hurt from being hunched over his textbooks for too long. In those three days, Jimin felt relaxed.
When Jimin decided he didn't want to study marine biology anymore, Namjoon held his hand as he called his parents to tell them that he wanted to switch majors. When his parents yelled at him for wasting a year's worth of tuition, Namjoon wiped his tears. Jimin felt safe.
On the day of his first showcase, Namjoon called his parents and secretly brought them to Seoul to watch. At the last beat of the song (that Yoongi and Namjoon produced together as one of their major projects), Jimin removed his blindfold, looking for Namjoon, but instead found himself looking into the teary eyes of his mother. Jimin felt like he was forever indebted to his best friend for doing such a thing for him.
When Namjoon failed an important project, Jimin sat at his side while Namjoon cried into his hair and held tightly onto his figure. It was the first time Jimin ever skipped class, but he figured his best friend was worth it, and he could just pick up the notes from someone else in his class. Even though Namjoon repeatedly whispered into his ear, just leave me here, you have a class , the look on his face when he woke up the next morning, sleepy-eyed but happy that Jimin had stayed, was worth it. Jimin felt the butterflies in his stomach.
On the day Namjoon and Yoongi both signed a contract with the biggest entertainment company in Seoul to become interns with the intention of hiring them soon afterward, Jimin was the first person Namjoon called. He laughed when Namjoon paused and said, shit, I should tell my mom , and then further explained that he called Jimin because he was at the top of his favourites. Jimin was ecstatic.
When Namjoon sold his first song, his very own song, one he created with no help from anyone, he brought Jimin to the studio to hear it first before anyone else. I want you to hear it raw , he said quietly when the song ended. Because you always see that side of me . When he looked up at Jimin with tears of joy slowly blurring his vision, Jimin smiled at him and gathered him up in his arms, telling him how proud he was of his soon-to-be Grammy-award winning best friend. Namjoon laughed and held him tighter. Jimin felt like he belonged.
When Namjoon's older brother, Seokjin, came to visit and told possibly the cheesiest joke to exist ( If you're Korean going to the bathroom and you're Korean coming out, what are you when you're inside the bathroom? Seokjin gave him an evil smile. European! Ha, get it? ) and Jimin was the only one who laughed, Seokjin told everyone that he liked Jimin. But not for me , he said, laughing as Jungkook pouted. Come here, tokki . Namjoon yelled out that he wasn't about to share Jimin with anyone anyways. Jimin's insides felt terribly warm that night.
When Jimin was told that his dance was too plain and like everyone else's, he showed up at Namjoon's door and cried the whole night. Namjoon did nothing but held Jimin in his arms, telling him that there's nothing wrong with your dancing. You're so strong, Park Jimin, you're gonna be a star one day and your coach will think that he made a mistake trying to fail you from his class. Namjoon didn't know a thing about dancing. Maybe his whole dancing career could be a mess but Namjoon would still tell him he was the best dancer out there. Jimin fell in love.
"Fuck." Jimin whispered to himself from where he was sitting, in the exact same spot that Hoseok had left him. He checked the time on his phone. 10:16 pm. He had about 45 minutes to either create that amazing confession Hoseok told him to, or he could bolt.
Naturally, he chose the second option.
Joonie-hyung <3 [10:17 pm]
Hyung, I can't stay for dinner. Something came up, I'll still order you some food though so you can eat when you get home.
He didn't bother waiting for his reply as he quickly grabbed his things, ordered Namjoon's food, then all but ran out the door. His heart was beating loudly in his chest. He called the only person he could think of that could help him in his situation.
"Hello?"
"Jin-hyung, it's me," Jimin breathed into the phone, running down the street. He knew it would've been faster for him to take the transit, but his thoughts were all jumbled and he needed the air.
"Jimin? Are you okay?" Jin said, concern evident in his voice. Jimin didn't call often. He preferred to just send texts and if not, he'd ask Namjoon to call.
Jimin could hear shuffling in the background and before he could respond, another voice came in. "Jimin-hyung? You sound like you're running," Jungkook said. Of course the two were together.
"Yeah, um," Jimin wasn't sure if he wanted to interrupt their couple time. "Are you guys, um, busy? I don't want to intrude or anything." The last thing he wanted was to bother anyone else with this situation.
"Of course not!" Jin exclaimed. "Kook and I were just going to pull out some snacks and watch a drama or something. You can come join us, if you want." He could hear the TV playing in the background, so it was good to know that they weren't just saying it to make him feel better.
"Yeah hyung!" Jungkook added. "It'll be way more fun when you come, grandpa wants to watch some old drama or something." He giggled at the end and a slap registered through the speaker, of course Jin would retaliate. "I'm kidding, hyung!"
"Okay, I'll be right there," Jimin replied. "But um, can you do me a favour, hyung?"
"What's up?"
"Can you, uh, not tell Joon-hyung I'm coming over?" There was a silence. "Hyung?"
Jin cleared his throat. "Why, Jimin? Did something happen?" The silence that followed was deafening.
Jimin didn't know how to answer. He was almost there anyways. He could just.. say it and then deal with the consequences after when he got there, right?
All or nothing. "Well. I may have come to the conclusion that I'm in love with Joonie-hyung? Nothing big, obviously." He let out a nervous giggle to compensate for the weight of his previous statement.
"Jim-" Jungkook started, but Jin cut him off.
"Wow, Chim. Yeah, come over. Don't worry, we won't tell Joon where you are." Jimin let out a breath of relief.
"Okay, hyung. See you." He slowed down his pace. Now that he actually said it, he wasn't in a rush anymore. There was only so much he could do now. But it didn't stop the hundreds of thoughts running a mile per minute in his head. Was he supposed to keep it hidden from Namjoon forever? It was bearable when it was just a crush but now that he's discovered that he's in love with his best friend, how was he supposed to act? He really didn't want Namjoon to stop being his best friend. That would be the worst.
"It'll be okay," Jimin whispered to himself as he turned the corner onto Seokjin’s street. He stopped in front of the apartment entrance and took a deep breath. Who better to have this conversation with than the love of your life's older brother?
Love of your life. Namjoon-hyung is the love of my life.
Jimin shook his head. He couldn't keep thinking like that, it would only hurt him more.
He took the stairs up to the third floor where Seokjin’s apartment was. His legs were burning after all the running, stairs, not to mention the already deafening beating of his heart. Just as he lifted his hand to knock on the door, he heard muffled screaming. It sounded like someone was yelling into a pillow.
Jimin shrugged. It was probably the drama that they put on. He was about to knock again when he heard Jungkook speak.
“Hyung, shut up, oh my god.” What the hell was going on in that apartment?
But his question was answered on its own when Seokjin himself spoke. “Seriously Namjoon, get your shit together.”
Jimin couldn’t breathe. Namjoon was there. The man that he had very recently discovered he was in love with, was just a few feet away from him, with nothing but a wooden door separating them.
“Kook, you tell me how to relax when I just heard the man of my dreams confess to my own fucking brother than he is in love with me. Jimin. Park Jimin, is in love. With me.” Namjoon said loudly. Jimin could picture him pacing back and forth when he was in a mood. Most likely, Namjoon had also thrown his hands in the air to try to get the point across.
“He has a point, tokki,” Seokjin said. “You freaked out before you asked me out, didn’t you? You had a whole panic and everything and then when you saw me you literally just said, ‘Hyungie please date me’.” Seokjin cackled as Jungkook let out sounds of protest.
But then Jimin processed what Namjoon actually said.
The man of my dreams.
Jimin quickly pulled out his phone.
Jiminie [10:49 pm]
Hyungie where are you?
“He just texted me!” Jimin heard Namjoon shout from inside. He smiled to himself. Now he knows how he sounds when Namjoon texts him. “Why’s he asking me where I am? You guys didn’t tell him I was here, did you?”
Jungkook scoffed. “Of course not. Have I not been fighting with you this whole time, hyung? Where is he anyways? He should be here by now.”
There was silence. Jimin wondered what the three of them looked like inside.
“Wait,” He heard Namjoon say. “He has my location shared. Why is he asking me where I am?”
“Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit,” Jimin whispered, rushing to turn off his location when suddenly, the door swung open.
“I found him!” Jin yelled. “Jimin-ah, how long have you been standing there?”
Jimin stood there in shock after coming to the realisation that Kim Namjoon, award-winning producer, probably the smartest (and best-looking) man Jimin has ever known, Jimin’s best friend of 2 and a half years, and very recently the love of Park Jimin’s life, has feelings for Jimin.
Namjoon likes Jimin, too.
That was all Jimin needed to hear in his head before he all but shoved Jin out of his way (“sorry, hyung!”) and ran towards the tall man sitting on the couch with his phone in his hand looking confused at Jimin’s current location. Well, the phone wasn’t in his hand for long as Jimin knocked it out of the way before tackling Namjoon.
“Hyungie!” Jimin yelled, wrapping his arms around Namjoon’s middle and holding him tight. “You like me, too!”
Jungkook and Jin let out coos before Jin quickly ushered Jungkook into the kitchen to give the two their privacy (not before Jungkook snapped a few pictures to send to the group chat, along with a quick pay up, Yoongi-hyung ).
“Hyung,” Jimin giggled, burying his face further into Namjoon’s chest. The elder chuckled, and Jimin learned that feeling Namjoon’s low laugh vibrate throughout his body was his favourite feeling. “You like me. I don’t look stupid.”
Namjoon grabbed Jimin’s shoulders and peeled the smaller boy away from his body. “You see, Chim, you’re wrong about that one.” Jimin stopped laughing and looked at Namjoon in shock. Did he read the situation wrong?
But then Namjoon smiled, dimples and all. “I love you, Jimin. I love you more than you can imagine, since the day you knocked on my bedroom door and said, ‘I think my brain is melting and since you’re so smart, I was hoping staying in your room for possible a couple days will transfer your brain cells to mine, is that cool?’” Jimin smiled at the memory.
“I think that’s one of my best quotes. Best you’ve ever heard, right?” He nudged Namjoon slightly with his shoulder.
The elder nodded in agreement. “Much more memorable than, ‘wow, thighs’.” There was a loud bang in the kitchen and Seokjin let out another loud cackle.
“How was I supposed to know he’s your brother?” Jungkook yelled, exasperated from the overuse of his slip-up the day he met Namjoon. “It’s not like you have thunder thighs, hyung! No resemblance!”
Jimin ignored the bickering from the kitchen and looked intently at Namjoon. “I didn’t come up with an elaborate confession like Hobi-hyung told me to, but I think this will say everything I need,” he said, leaning in close. He checked one more time for any sign of discomfort from Namjoon before pressing his lips to his.
Just when he thought his hyung couldn’t hold him anymore tighter, his arms slipped around his waist, pulling him impossible closer so that he could kiss him harder.
There was no tongue, no fireworks, no moans of pleasure.
It was just Jimin and Namjoon. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.
-
“I don’t understand why you won’t buy me lamb skewers, I technically didn’t help Jimin-hyung out,” Jungkook argued with the couple sitting across from him, the next day. Jin rubbed comforting circles on the back of his neck with one hand while he grilled the meat in front of him with the other.
Taehyung shrugged. “You just made quite a bit of money from Yoongi-hyung, you can afford it.” Yoongi rolled his eyes, still bitter about losing the bet ( You couldn’t have waited one more month, Joon? It’s not like 2 years was long enough for you . Jimin hissed at Yoogi for that.) Hoseok was just glad he didn’t have to spend any more money than he had to on Jungkook, or any bets, for that matter.
Amidst the chaos of their little friend group sitting in the small restaurant, Jimin was lost in his boyfriend’s eyes, smiling at the way his dimples made their presence known every time Jimin was caught staring.
“You never told me why you were at Jin-hyung’s apartment last night instead of at work,” Jimin said quietly, mindlessly drawing circles on Namjoon’s palm.
“Same reason why you were at my apartment. Complaining about your best friend not loving you back,” Namjoon replied, booping his boyfriend’s nose in the process.
“Coincidence, you think?” Jimin asked, watching as Jungkook tried to steal meat off of Taehyung’s plate. Taehyung slaps him with chopsticks and Jin visibly has to hold Jungkook back from grabbing the tongs. Yoongi looks like he wants to go home.
“That I ended up at their place while you professed your love for me on the phone? Maybe,” Namjoon said thoughtfully. “That it was you I basically ran over on your first day of university? No. It was meant to be.”
Jimin’s best friend is okay . His boyfriend is even better .