Work Text:
Jeongguk’s head hits the table and he wakes up with a jolt for the fifth time.
He leans back against his seat and sighs as Taehyung throws him a funny look.
“Dude, what’s up with you? This is the fourth calculus lesson you’ve slept through this week. And it’s a Thursday,” Taehyung nudges Jeongguk, teasing him.
Although it's rather funny seeing his friend drool all over his textbook and, if Taehyung is lucky enough, get called out by the professor, he can’t help but feel slightly worried for Jeongguk.
School is definitely getting a bit busier than usual with their final examinations just around the corner, but he knows Jeongguk is a freaking genius, one of the smartest in their friend group. There’s no reason he would need to stay up to study, grades have never been something Jeongguk has had to worry about.
That just makes Taehyung even more confused, looking at Jeongguk fall asleep again, head tilted back with his mouth wide open. He considers throwing bits of paper in the mouth of his unsuspecting friend to pass time, but the professor timely ends the lesson and dismisses them.
Next time, Taehyung smirks to himself. He packs up his books and shakes Jeongguk awake.
“Come on sleepyhead, let’s go. Class is over”, he says, pulling Jeongguk out of his seat. Jeongguk stumbles down the stairs of lecture hall, stretching his arms out and blinking the sleep from his eyes.
As they make it to the exit, they spot their group of friends out in the hallway, chatting by the bathroom. They push through the small crowd of newly dismissed students to join them, just as Yoongi walks out the bathroom.
“Hey guys,” Taehyung cheerily greets, then turning to give Yoongi a kiss on the cheek. Yoongi lets out a small grunt with a hint of a smile on his face.
“Hey TaeTae! Hi Gukkie! We were just heading to our classes, you finished?” Jimin asks with a warm smile on his face.
“Yeah, but I have another 2 more classes to go,” Jeongguk sighs, slinging his heavy backpack on his shoulder. Jimin pouts slightly pats his head for comfort.
Namjoon mentions the appalling 4 more classes he has to attend for the day, and others pipe up to complain about the number of assignments they still have to complete, even with finals coming up.
“By the way Jiminie,” Taehyung interjects, “is it okay if I crash in your guest room for a few more days? Yoongi has a hundred more projects to rush and claims he can’t work with me distracting him,” he says with an eye roll directed at his boyfriend, who sighs and mutters out a small apology.
Jimin furrows his brows for a second, hesitating a little before opening his mouth to reply, but Jeongguk interrupts him.
“You’ve been there the past week! And why Jimin-hyung’s place? Namjoon-hyung and Seokjin-hyung’s place is bigger isn’t it?” Jeongguk says, gaze not meeting Taehyung's.
“Ah yeah, but I guess I’m not really a big fan of hearing the sounds they make at night...” Taehyung continues. Seokjin hits Taehyung in the arm with a small “yah!” and Namjoon blushes, but they both don’t do much to deny it.
“Plus I don’t really want to crash on you and Hobi-hyung’s couch when Jiminie has a perfectly comfy unused bed calling out to me, right Jiminie? Me and the bed have become rather good friends already,” he reaches out to grab one of Jimin’s hands drowning in his lilac sweater paws, swinging it around.
“Why? You have any objections, Guk?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. Jeongguk freezes slightly at the question.
“Err, of course not. Just that finals are coming up. Don’t want Jimin-hyung to be up all night because of your snoring...” Taehyung moves to smack Jeongguk, who moves behind Jimin for protection just in time, chuckling.
“Aish he’s just kidding. No worries Tae, just bring more of your things over later if you need to.”
“Thanks Jiminie, you’re the best!” Taehyung sings while maintaining eye contact with Jeongguk, as if rubbing it in.
Moments later, the boys smile and wave goodbye as they split up to walk to their individual classes.
Jeongguk walks off with a troubled sigh and furrowed brows.
-----------------------------------------------------
It's the following Tuesday when Yoongi sits across Jeongguk in the cafeteria, watching him chug down his third cup of coffee while his own cup sits full in front of him.
“You gonna drink that, hyung?” Jeongguk asks, pointing at the untouched coffee.
“Err, you go ahead. Looks like you need it more.”
Jeongguk scowls at the reply but moves to lift the fourth cup to his mouth anyways.
“You better slow down before you choke. What’s with the sudden caffeine overdose?” Yoongi questions the younger.
“I only got a few hours of sleep last night and I have my Economics final in like,” Jeongguk puts down the now impressively empty cup, checking his phone for the time, “ -five minutes, that I just can’t afford to fall asleep in.”
“Up late studying?” Yoongi asks as Jeongguk moves to stack up the four empty coffee cups and pick up his bag.
“...something like that,” Jeongguk replies standing up from the table. Yoongi tilts his head in confusion.
The younger bids Yoongi farewell with a quick “see you later, hyung” before Yoongi has the chance to question him further on that fleeting statement.
He stalks out the cafeteria, and Yoongi sees him completely miss the bin as he tries to throw away the cups, Yoongi shakes his head with a small grin as Jeongguk picks them up and throws them away, shooting an embarrassed gaze back at Yoongi.
The sun has almost fully set by the time Jeongguk finally steps back into the comfort of his apartment, exhaustion hitting him like a ton of bricks. With a grunt, he throws his bag aside and lets his feet guide him to the couch, lying down face-first with a relaxing sigh.
Just as he’s about to drift into his five hour or so nap, the ringing of his phone resonates in the empty apartment. He groans as he blinks an eye open and stretches his entire body off the couch, carefully crawling down onto the floor and to his bag.
He sees an unglam of Hoseok light up the screen as his phone continues to buzz and he answers the call with a grunt.
“Jeonggukie,” Hoseok sounds equally as dead as Jeongguk feels on the other end of the line. “I have to help Yoongi-hyung with his music project tonight, sounds like a real crisis. Settle your own dinner and don’t wait up for me, knowing him I’ll probably be stuck in his studio until 2 in the morning. I have my key so remember to lock the door, okay?”
Jeongguk grunts again.
“Actually, make sure you lock the door now. You sound like you’re about to drop dead and if a robber accidentally wakes you up from your slumber, I’d be worried for him” Hoseok teases.
“Very funny. Bye hyung.”
Jeongguk throws his phone aside with a sigh as he pushes himself off the floor, running a hand through his hair. Guess he’ll have to order in some food and spend the evening by himself tonig-
Oh, he thinks. An evening with the apartment to himself.
Smiling, he bends down to pick up his carelessly discarded phone and dials a number he knows all too well.
-----------------------------------------------------
It’s the following evening when Seokjin feels his phone buzz in his pocket. Fishing it out, he sees Jeongguk’s caller ID.
“Hey Seokjin-hyung, are you busy?”
“Not really, just preparing dinner. What’s up?”
“Ah, I need a small favor. You own some concealer, right?”
“Yeah, I should have some.” Seokjin replies. Jeongguk must have chosen to call him knowing Seokjin uses makeup for his shoots sometimes.
“Great, do you think you could bring it for me tomorrow? I agreed to help Yugeom with his photography project and he just needs to take a few portraits of me.”
“Sure thing, Guk. You sure you don’t need anything else? Some eyeliner or blush or something?”
“I’m good hyung, just concealer is fine. Thanks, I owe you one. Say hi to Namjoon-hyung for me!”
Seokjin hums and ends the call, feeling a bit confused as to why Jeongguk would need concealer and nothing else. The younger’s skin has always been fairly clear, and he hasn’t noticed Jeongguk breaking out or anything recently.
The confusion slips his mind until he meets Jeongguk in the hallway the next morning and understands.
First, he notices that Jeongguk is dressed a bit weirdly, his jacket zipped and his collar pulled up higher than usual, hands stuffed in his pockets despite their campus’ heating doing a fine job at keeping the students warm.
But as Jeongguk walks closer to him and Namjoon, he sees the exact reason Jeongguk desperately needed to borrow concealer.
“Oh my gosh Guk, no wonder you had to borrow makeup from me,” Seokjin can’t help but laugh.
“What? Shit, are they that obvious?” Jeongguk’s eyes widen, his hand instinctively reaching up to rub at his neck, a tick he has when he’s embarrassed or nervous.
“Yeah, honestly even mine haven’t been this bad before,” Namjoon joins in.
Jeongguk gulps, waiting for his friends to call him out and interrogate him. How was he supposed to explain? What excuse would they even buy?
“What have you been doing all night? Did you not sleep a wink?”
Maybe he could say he got into an accident and, wait, what?
Jeongguk shoots a confused look at his two hyungs.
“Your eye bags are so bad! And your dark eye circles too. You kinda look like a panda,” Seokjin chuckles.
Namjoon hits him softly on the chest. “Aish, he must be suffering a lot with the workload piling up. Call me for help whenever you need it okay? I don’t mind teaching you if you’re having any trouble.”
Jeongguk’s facial expression morphs into one of relief, chuckling a little at himself as he reaches out to take the concealer from Seokjin.
“Ah, I’m good, but thanks anyways, hyung,” Jeongguk smiles at Namjoon. “I’ll return this to you real soon, see you guys!” Jeongguk turns to walk away still smiling at himself, but then stops and turns back to face Seokjin and Namjoon, fingers moving to covers the bottom of his eyes self consciously.
“A-Are my eyebags really that bad...?”
“Nothing my concealer and a bit more sleep can’t fix. Good luck with the shoot Jeonggukie! And get some rest!” Jeongguk laughs at the encouragement and thanks Seokjin again before darting in the opposite direction.
-----------------------------------------------------
This is the third time Hoseok has heard Jeongguk’s beeping alarm in the past 10 minutes. The ear-piercing noise is coming from behind Jeongguk’s closed door, but Hoseok can hear it clear as day.
It’s 9AM. Jeongguk is usually awake way earlier than Hoseok, but for some reason today Hoseok woke up to a flat quieter than usual, coffee cold and breakfast unmade.
The alarm is really starting to irritate him. He wonders how Jeongguk can even sleep through its loud and incessant beeping. With a sigh, he sets his coffee down and walks up to Jeongguk’s door.
“Jeon Jeongguk. I’ve heard your alarm go off a million times now. Please let me enjoy my coffee in peace and switch it off!” Hoseok huffs out, pushing open the door that separates him from his sleepy flatmate.
“W-what?” Jeongguk groggily sits up from bed, eyes still mostly closed. He scratches his head and reaches for his phone to turn off the alarm, eyes widening at the time.
Shit , he has class all the way on the other end of campus in 10 minutes.
“Oh my god, shit shit shit shit shit.” Jeongguk throws his blankets up and jumps out of bed, almost slipping on some discarded paper strewn about his floor. He runs into the toilet to grab his toothbrush and flatten his hair down as much as he can.
Hoseok sees him making a mad dash around his room like a headless chicken, shoving books and papers into a bag with a toothbrush still sticking out of his mouth and hair not much neater.
He runs out of his room, barely remembering to stop by the kitchen to spit out his toothpaste and rinse his mouth once before he’s out the door in record time, belting out a rushed “sorry hyung!”, then slamming the front door a little too loudly.
Hoseok sighs and sits back down at the table to finish his breakfast, wondering what has gotten into that flatmate of his.
Just before leaving for his own class, Hoseok makes a quick stop at Jeongguk’s room, tidying it up a little for the younger, seeing as he had no time to clean up his pigsty of a room this morning.
Entering the war zone, he stacks up some fallen papers, puts some clothes into the laundry bin and makes the bed before walking out, somehow failing to see a familiar lilac sweater peeking out from underneath the covers.
----------------------------------------------------
“Pens down, class. Put your papers on the desk before leaving. Thank you.”
Taehyung groans, head banging onto the table in defeat as Jeongguk clicks his pen shut, admiring his own examination paper with a satisfied smile.
“That was the worst experience of my life. 10 out of 10 would never do again,” Taehyung laments, walking out of the lecture hall, cracking his aching neck.
They had just finished their calculus final, or Jeongguk had just finished the calculus final and Taehyung had barely understood half of the paper.
Jeongguk chuckles at his friend. "No worries hyung, repeating the year doesn’t sound that bad, cheer up!” Taehyung elbows him with a glare.
“You wanna go grab a bite with the rest? I think they have break in the cafeteria now,” Taehyung asks, checking his watch for the time.
“Ah no thanks,” Jeongguk replies. “That final seriously killed my last brain cell. I’m just gonna head back and take a well deserved nap. Tell everyone I’ll catch up later.” Jeongguk responds, waving as he starts in the direction of his apartment.
“Hey hyungs,” Taehyung plops down at the table.
“Hey Tae, how was the final?” Namjoon prods.
“Don’t even talk about it. I walked out of there even more confused than I was before,” Taehyung pouts.
“It’s okay, I think they let you retake it if it turns out real horrible. Where’s Guk?”
“Jeongguk went back home to sleep, says he’s too tired to join us,” Taehyung replies, stealing a sip of coffee from Yoongi’s cup.
Hoseok furrows his brows at Taehyung’s answer.
“Hey, do you guys think Jeongguk is acting a bit...weird lately? He seems way more exhausted than usual,” Hoseok questions, worried about the younger.
Before the rest can provide any input, Jimin enters the cafeteria and strolls up to the table.
“Hey Jiminie!” Seokjin shuffles in to make space for him to sit. “Don’t you have class now?”
“My teacher isn’t feeling well, class got cancelled. Where’s Jeongguk? Still in class?” He asks, noticing the younger’s absence from the table.
“Ah no, we were just talking about him! He went back to his flat to take a nap, says he just can’t stay awake. Hoseok was saying he looks tired than usual,” Taehyung fills him in.
“Yeah,” Hoseok shrugs, “he had trouble waking up for class this morning, ended up rushing out of the house in like 5 minutes.”
“He’s always falling asleep in class these days too.” Taehyung adds.
“Actually, Seokjin-hyung lent him a bit of concealer the other day to cover up his dark eye circles. He definitely looks worse than usual. I wonder if something's up?” Namjoon questions and Seokjin hums in agreement.
Jimin bites his lip.
“Now that you mention it, I was sitting here with him a few days ago as he was gulped down 4 cups of coffee like it was water. I knew something was off, maybe he’s just been up late studying? Has he been falling behind in classes?” Yoongi directs his question to his boyfriend.
“Ugh, no way,” Taehyung shakes his head, “not Jeonggukie. He may have fallen asleep in every class the past week but he’s still doing tons better than me. We all know he’s a genius.”
“Maybe he’s having some family issues…” Seokjin says with a frown. “Jiminie, you talk to him a lot right? Do you know anything about it?”
Jimin’s eyes shift to the left, thinking. “I don’t think so? He hasn’t mentioned anything that’s been troubling him. Maybe it’s just finals taking a toll on him” Jimin responds softly, shrugging.
“Mm... that’s probably it. He’s not like, working late shifts or anything right? I don’t think he’s tight on money.” Seokjin says.
“I doubt so, I probably would’ve noticed if he got a job. He’s the same, just a lot sleepier,” Hoseok laughs and the others chuckle silently at his reply.
As conversation drifted off onto other topics, Jimin became awfully quiet, eyes flitting to every corner of the cafeteria apart from his friends. Taehyung watched him pull out his phone, typing out a text every now and then with furrowed brows.
Before Taehyung could ask if everything’s okay, Jimin’s phone started to ring.
“Sorry guys I need to take this, I’ll see you guys later!” Jimin answers, pressing his phone to his ear and speed walking out the cafeteria doors.
That was weird, Taehyung thinks, but his friends resume conversation like it’s nothing, so he brushes it off.
Maybe finals really is putting everyone on edge. That’s got to be it.
-----------------------------------------------------
Apparently, it’s not only Jeongguk that is starting to feel the stress of finals.
That night, Hoseok just couldn’t bring himself to sleep no matter how hard he tried, too worried about his papers the next day. He checks his phone, groaning at the fact that it’s already past midnight. He’s been in bed for the past 2 hours, wanting to get a good night’s rest, even resorting to counting sheep, but his mind just doesn’t want to shut down.
He closes his eyes, slips further into his comforter and focuses on the soothing low hum of the air conditioner. With a sigh, he starts to count his sheep backwards.
At this moment, he hears a faint click. His eyes creak open and he peers into the darkness of his room, listening quietly to see if his ears are just playing tricks on him.
It’s soft and barely audible, but he hears another click from outside his room and he jolts up straight into a sitting position.
Hoseok hears light footsteps in the corridor. He gets up, ears peeled to his door. It’s quiet for a while more, and Hoseok’s active mind almost runs wild with all the endless possibilities of whoever or whatever is on the other side of his door. But before he scares himself too terribly, he hears another low thump, the sound of the front door closing and then locking. His ears are definitely not playing tricks on him.
Hoseok counts to 30, not hearing any other strange noises, and opens his door slowly.
With his eyes already used to the dark from his 2 fruitless hours of lying in bed, he looks out and spots Jeongguk’s room door sitting agile across the corridor.
Tiptoeing across the cold floor, he pushes the door open. The room is slightly messy just the way it has always been, nothing out of the ordinary.
Except, Jeongguk isn’t in bed.
Hoseok walks out into the living room, then to the kitchen and bathroom but there is no sign of Jeongguk. He looks out the peephole of the front door, seeing nothing but a deserted hallway.
This is seriously strange, he thinks to himself. He unlocks the front door and looks left and right, an eerie quietness surrounding him. He is about to close the door when looks down and sees that Jeongguk’s shoes are missing.
Now this is really suspicious. Coupled with his flatmate’s recent exhaustion, even Hoseok is smart enough to realize there must be a link. He flips on the living room lights, double checking the apartment to make sure Jeongguk was truly gone, and then picks up his phone and dials Taehyung.
Taehyung picks up the phone with a groggy “hello”.
“Tae, I think Jeongguk just left the house. I don’t know what he’s doing but maybe this is why he’s so tired all the time. I’m worried.”
He hears shuffling of sheets in the background. “What? What time is it?”
“Past midnight, I think.”
“Shit okay, he took his phone with him right? Why don’t you try calling him?”
“Whatever he’s doing, he probably doesn’t want me to find out, that’s why he’s sneaking out at the ass o’ clock at night. I just happened to be awake this time, God knows how long he’s been doing this.”
“Okay okay so don’t call him. How long ago did he leave? Can you follow him?”
Hoseok goes to their balcony and looks down at the street below their apartment.
There aren’t many streetlights, but in the dim lightning he sees the familiar back of the younger crossing the street, turning left down the road.
“I think I see him downstairs. Should I follow him?” Hoseok asks Taehyung, panic rising in his voice.
“Yeah I guess so. I can’t think of any better ideas right now, my brain really isn’t working. Just grab your phone and follow him if you can. Text me the location and I’ll come meet you. It’s dangerous being out alone this late at night.” Taehyung replies.
“Yeah, exactly. Okay I’m going now. You gonna wake Jiminie?” Hoseok shuts the balcony door and walks towards the front door.
“I don’t think I should. He crashed pretty early today, looked way more tired than usual too. I don’t want to disturb him. Yoongi is probably busy too, maybe shoot Jin-hyung a text and see if he’s up.”
“Okay I’m on it. Thanks Tae, see you soon.”
Hoseok hangs up, locking the front door behind him before dashing down the stairwell apartment complex, hoping Jeongguk isn’t too far away by now.
He texts Seokjin as he descends, who thankfully replies in just a few short seconds with a “what’s up?”.
He explains the situation briefly via text and Seokjin replies saying Namjoon and him are on the way, probably worried sick about the younger too.
As he reaches the door of the building, Hoseok looks to his left where he last saw Jeongguk and squints, now struggling to see any sign of him in the quiet street. He barely makes out a figure in the distance just as it turns left onto an alley and out of Hoseok’s sight. With a groan, Hoseok jogs to catch up with him.
Seriously? A shady and dark alley? This is a horror movie just waiting to happen, Hoseok thinks to himself. How dumb could Jeongguk be to even hang around an alley at this time of the night?
This is definitely not how Hoseok imagined spending his night before finals, but life is just full of surprises.
The alley isn’t a very creepy one per se, but everything looks scarier in the dark. Hoseok almost loses sight of Jeongguk as he walks further down. When he reaches the end, he exits onto another street nearer to campus. Hoseok freezes as he sees Jeongguk slow down a bit, looking to his left and right, as if sensing someone near him.
Geez, Hoseok thinks, this guy is no joke.
Jeongguk pulls his backpack tighter around his shoulders and stuffs his hands into his pockets, turning right and continuing down the street. Hoseok maintains a safe distance behind him, forgetting exactly why he’s hiding from his flatmate in the first place but before can question his intentions again, Jeongguk disappears.
Frantic, Hoseok sprints down the street to where he last saw Jeongguk. Amongst the rows of darkened and closed shops, he spots a brightly lit store with a neon sign and heads towards it.
It’s a 24 hour café, one he’s passed by a handful of times considering it is quite near to the college campus.
He sees some movement in the cafe and ducks down to hide behind a bush near the entrance.
Peering through the glass window, he sees Jeongguk in the cafe, ordering from the sleepy looking barista at the counter. After a few moments, Jeongguk collects his drink and goes to sit down at a corner seat, away from the window Hoseok is spying through, thankfully.
Hoseok ducks further down and shoots Taehyung and Seokjin an update about the rather safe location, relieved that Jeongguk isn’t out dealing drugs or meeting crooks. At least he hopes.
He observes Jeongguk for a while more, now with books and papers scattered around the table, his backpack discarded onto the floor.
Taehyung, Namjoon and Seokjin reach Hoseok’s temporary hide out, catching their breath. Before the four of them can even exchange any greetings, they spot another movement from inside the cafe.
A rather petite boy with raven hair struts out of the bathroom, pulling a sweater over his head and walks towards Jeongguk with a smile.
The four onlookers collectively gasp and their eyes widen at the scene. Taehyung rubs his eyes just to make sure they aren’t playing any tricks on him.
They’d know that lilac sweater anywhere.
‘Hyung,’ Hoseok lip-reads as Jeongguk smiles up at Jimin, pulling out the chair next to him.
Jimin plops down in the seat beside Jeongguk, taking out his own papers and stationery.
“Oh my god.”
“This is ... interesting...”
The group is silent as they watch the scene in anticipation. Jeongguk and Jimin carry on a casual conversation with small smiles on their faces, before Jeongguk points as something on his textbook and Jimin leans over to look.
“We all know what’s going on here right?” Taehyung breaks the silence. The four boys turn away from the window and look at each other.
“It’s so obvious…” Hoseok continues, “Jimin is tutoring Jeongguk!” Hoseok yells and Namjoon shushes him.
“Yeah! That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Seokjin agrees, gaze returning to the cafe.
“So this is what’s got Jeongguk so tired the past week, he’s being tutored by Jimin. I didn’t even hear Jimin leave the house tonight. Who would’ve known...” Taehyung reasons.
“Aish, I told that boy to come to me if he needed any help and he said he was fine” Namjoon adds with a huff.
“Yeah, maybe he’s just embarrassed to approach us for help. He always only relied on Jiminie, isn’t it?”
“I guess we worried for nothing,” Taehyung says with a yawn. “What time is it?
“Shit. It’s almost half past 1. I need to get back to bed before I get screwed over by my papers tomorrow. No way I’m failing this year, man.” Hoseok grunts and pinches the bridge of his nose, eyes closed.
Namjoon pats Hoseok on the back and the four of them chuckle a little at the silliness of the situation, Hoseok feeling a bit bad that he’d made them all rush down.
They promise to talk about it tomorrow instead, relieved for now that Jeongguk is safe, and go their separate ways with a small wave, eager to get back home to the comfort and warmth of their beds.
With their back turned against the cafe, the four friends completely miss the way Jimin blushes as Jeongguk cuddles up behind him while he studies, peppering light kisses along his neck.
----------------------------------------------------
The next morning, Jimin and Jeongguk walk into the cafeteria side by side, seeing their friends hunched over the usual table, sound asleep, Yoongi being the only one mildly awake.
Taehyung has his head on Yoongi’s shoulder, eyes closed as Yoongi taps away on his laptop. Across them sits Seokjin, Namjoon and Hoseok, with their faces planted between their crossed arms on the table, letting out small huffs.
“Wow, were your finals really that tough?” Jimin asks, eyebrows raised at the sight before him. Beside him, Jeongguk looks amused but slightly terrified, having a glimpse of what awaits him for the next few years of college.
“Just. Need sleep. And coffee. Lots of coffee.” Seokjin calls out, voice muffled by his arms. Jimin chuckles and pats his hyung’s head in comfort.
“Jeonggukie,” Hoseok suddenly says, lifting his face up from the table, eyes still closed. “You can tell us anything, you know that right? We are your hyungs, you don’t have to be shy. Or embarrassed.” Hoseok cracks one eye open at the end, looking at the younger standing in front of their table.
“I-okay... okay Hyung... thanks? I guess,” Jeongguk answers while scratching his head, slightly confused at the sudden comforting statement.
“You understand?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Okay good, don’t forget it,” Hoseok forces out a smile and lets his head hit the table once again. “You can tell us whenever you’re ready, but for now please get your hyungs some coffee before we disintegrate”, he finishes.
“W-Whenever I’m ready for what?” Jeongguk’s eyes widen at that last statement, gaze finding Jimin’s in panic.
Jimin returns his gaze with an equally confused and panicked look, before stuttering out a short “Y-Yeah, you guys could definitely use some coffee. Jeongguk come help me.”
Before Jeongguk can even take a step, Namjoon stands up from his previously hunched over position.
“No need, Guk. I’ll go with Jimin.”
“No need Hyung, I-”
“It’s fine. Go sit.” Namjoon says as he follows behind Jimin, leaving no room for discussion.
Jeongguk sits down beside Yoongi at the silent table with a gulp. There is so much tension in the air from Hoseok’s words, but it seems like Jeongguk is the only one who feels it.
While Jimin orders the coffee from the cafeteria staff, still confused at Hoseok’s sudden statement towards Jeongguk, Namjoon starts to speak from beside him.
“Jimin-ah. I know Jeongguk’s been behaving a bit... off lately.”
“He’s just tired Hyung,” Jimin blurts out the go-to excuse, quick to brush Namjoon off from poking further into the issue.
“I know it’s more than that, Jimin” Namjoon says, lowering his tone slightly.
Jimin gulps.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to be telling you this, but we saw you guys at the cafe last night. Jin-Hyung, Hoseok, Tae and I.”
Jimin’s jaw drops slightly, the realization dawning upon him.
As if reading his mind, Namjoon continues.
“Don’t freak out, it’s fine. We won’t tell Jeongguk that we know, if you think he’s too ashamed to talk about it.”
Hearing that statement, Jimin stills, now standing completely frozen even as the cups of coffee are placed before him.
Jeongguk was ashamed ?
Was Jeongguk ashamed of being with Jimin? Is that what all their friends thought about their relationship?
“A-Ashamed? You think he’s ashamed?” Jimin utters, tears threatening to fall. The air surrounding him gets thicker and suddenly it's hard to breathe.
“Yeah, I mean,” Namjoon reasons, “it’s always taken him a bit longer than the rest to truly open up to anyone. I’m glad he’s found comfort in you this way, and trusts you enough, but I guess he’s still too embarrassed of it to tell us just yet.”
Jimin gasps softly at the elder’s words. Embarrassed? Was that really what Jeongguk thought?
“N-Not that there’s anything to be embarrassed of! It’s no big deal, he doesn’t want to share this information with us and that’s his choice! It’s good that you’re there for him, so maybe you could talk to him about this more, you know? Tell him it’s nothing to be ashamed of, right Jiminie?” Namjoon puts a hand on Jimin’s shoulder and directs a warm smile towards him.
Jimin just can’t return the smile, the words replaying in his mind. Jeongguk is ashamed of him. Jeongguk is embarrassed of them .
Jimin swallows his worries and finally manages to stutter out a “yeah hyung”, then scoops up all four cups of coffee into his arm dangerously quickly, making a beeline back to the table.
Namjoon furrows his brows at Jimin’s reaction, seeming a bit too serious for just some tutoring sessions. He stretches his arms out and yawns, deciding to head to the bathroom to wash the sleepiness out of his eyes before dealing with anything else.
Jimin dumps the cups of coffee onto the table and takes a seat next to Hoseok, across from Jeongguk. He seems more fidgety than usual, playing with his fingers, eyes shifting around the room, landing on Jeongguk occasionally.
Yoongi glances down beside him, and momentarily sees Jeongguk extend his leg to knock at Jimin’s shin gently, getting his attention. He nods subtlety in the direction of the cafeteria exit, and Jimin nods back, eyes downcast.
“Sorry hyungs, I left some books back at my place. I’m gonna run to get them. Enjoy your coffee and rest more. Jimin-ssi, can you follow me back real quick?” Jeongguk announces, standing up from the table awkwardly.
“Y-Yeah let’s go,” Jimin gets up and follows right behind Jeongguk as they exit the cafeteria, steps a bit quicker than usual.
The sleeping males crack one eye open at their sudden exit, but can’t find the energy in them to question it further. Perhaps they’ll consider after coffee and another nap.
Meanwhile, Jimin impatiently tugs at Jeongguk’s hand and pulls them into the bathroom, turning back to make sure his friends aren’t watching them.
Entering the restroom, he starts to pace back and forth at the row of sinks, biting his nails.
“Woah, Jiminie calm down. What’s wrong? Talk to me, please” Jeongguk reaches out to hold Jimin still, meeting his glossy eyes.
In one of the stalls, Namjoon stands frozen at the sound of his two friends’ heated conversation just beyond the cubicle door, deciding not to exit the bathroom in fear of making things awkward. They obviously have some things they need to sort out, Namjoon supposes he can wait just for a little while.
“Jeonggukie... Namjoon-Hyung told me they saw us at the cafe yesterday. I don’t know why they were there but they saw us, Guk.”
Namjoon hears Jeongguk inhale sharply at this information, pausing slightly before he answers.
“Okay Jiminie... do you want to tell them what’s going on then? Please don’t freak out, okay?”
Jimin huffs. “How about you, Jeongguk-ah, do you want to tell them?”
“...What? What are you saying?” Jeonggukie blurts out, confused at the elder’s tone.
After a beat of silence, Namjoon hears sobbing. Jimin is whimpering, attempting to control the loud wails threatening to break free. He hears Jeongguk shush him, probably pulling him close to muffle the sounds.
“I-It’s just... Joon-hyung came up to me and told me to talk to you, b-because he thinks you’re ashamed and that’s why we’ve been keeping this a secret from th-”
“What? Ashamed? Jiminie no, no. I’d never ever be ashamed of this, hyung. Please don’t think that. Please don’t cry.”
“Y-You’re really not ashamed? But Joon-Hyung said-”
“Aish,” Jeongguk raises his volume, “these are my feelings. Are you going to listen to Namjoon-hyung or me? I would never be ashamed of this, Jimin-ah. They don’t know us, they don’t know you like I do. And they don’t know me like you do either, so just listen to me okay? Listen to me, not them,” Jeongguk finishes, voice clearer and tone a little lower.
Jimin continues to sob for a while, probably into Jeongguk’s shoulder. When his crying gets softer, he hears Jeongguk speak up again.
“Please don’t think that I’d be ashamed, okay? Let’s go back to my place, so we can clean you up, messy. We’ll skip all your classes after this, you’re having a bad day.”
He hears Jimin chuckle. “You’re a bad influence Jeon,” he says, voice a little further now, just before the bathroom door opens and closes again, leaving Namjoon to soak in the silence.
I guess this whole tutoring thing really is a sensitive topic to Jeongguk and Jimin , Namjoon thinks to himself. He doesn’t exactly understand the entire conversation he just overheard, but he hopes they work things out and feel better soon enough. Hearing Jimin cry was bad enough, he’s not sure he can handle watching the actual sight.
He’ll make sure they don’t bring it up until Jeongguk is ready to talk, Namjoon decides. That’s the least they could do for the youngest.
---------------------------------------------------
Turns out, Jimin and Jeongguk work through the problem rather quickly. By the next afternoon, Namjoon sees them are walking into the cafeteria smiling at each other like the entire bathroom-fiasco never happened.
They stand in front of their table and clear their throats, getting their friends’ attention.
Jimin notices that all of them seem more alive today, probably finally able to get their well-deserved rest the night before, since their night of spying on him and Jeongguk is over.
As their friends abandon their previous chatter, they turn their heads and look at Jimin and Jeongguk, already predicting what they were going to say.
“Uh... I, um…” Jeongguk starts off strong. “We know that you guys saw us at the cafe just the other night. I’m sorry you had to find out from spying on us, rather than directly from our mouths,” Jeongguk sheepishly finishes, exhaling a breath he didn’t even know he was holding.
“So, uh, I guess since everyone probably already knows, we’ll just come right out and say it...” Jimin continues, looking at Jeongguk for reassurance.
Jeongguk nods and opens his mouth to do the big reveal, but another voice interrupts.
“Why is this so dramatic? It’s literally no big deal guys, don’t worry so much about- Ow!“ Taehyung winces as Hoseok elbows him on his right.
“Yah! Be more sensitive, maybe grades are a touchy topic for Jeongguk...” Hoseok attempts to whisper, but both Jeongguk and Jimin manage to his words.
“Wait, what? Grades?” Jeongguk says, confused.
“Just go on! It’s okay, ignore them. What were you saying ah, Jiminie?” Seokjin glares at Hoseok and Taehyung. They retreat further back into their seats.
“Ah, okay. Yeah, we were just going to say, as you probably already know... Jeongguk, um... we-” Jimin stutters out, glancing between his friends seated before him and the youngest standing closely beside him.
Jeongguk smiles at his boyfriend before boldly grabbing his hand and interlocking their fingers.
“Jimin-hyung and I are together. Sorry that it took this long for you to find out...we hope you can forgive us for not telling you sooner,” Jeongguk finishes, staring apologetically at his hyungs, awaiting their response.
The table is silent. Their mouths open slightly as they stare at the couple and their interlocked hands.
“I-Is this a joke, or....” Taehyung mutters, not fully grasping the situation right in front of him.
Another beat of silence passes.
“Huh? Why are you acting as if you didn’t know this already? Jimin said you guys literally followed me two nights ago?” Jeongguk raises a brow, feeling utterly and hopelessly confused by his hyungs.
Yet another moment of silence falls upon the table, this time longer. Jimin gulps, suddenly nervous.
The silence is shattered as Seokjin speaks up.
“...Ah...Maybe we are just a teeny bit shocked because WE DIDN’T KNOW! WHAT THE HELL! YOU GUYS ARE TOGETHER?” Seokjin exclaims, banging his hand on the table and standing up, earning an glare from Yoongi as he pulls him back down.
“I mean... yeah? We are together, you know, boyfriends. We go on dates...which is what you caught us doing two nights ago? What’s going on? Are you guys not okay with this?” Jimin says, looking extremely puzzled, panic rising in his chest.
“Oh my gosh, no, no! That’s totally great, honestly, good for you! You’ve been dancing around each other for god knows how long now,” Jeongguk rolls his eyes at Taehyung’s unnecessary comment, “but when we followed you to the cafe... we just kinda thought...”
“These idiots thought you guys were having tutoring lessons. They thought Jeongguk was embarrassed about needing extra help with class, so you tutored him in secret. Idiots, honestly. I can’t believe I trusted you lot,” Yoongi clarifies, going back to drinking his coffee like nothing ever happened.
“...”
“Me tutoring Jeongguk? You guys know he’s literally almost topping every one of his classes right?” Jeongguk reacts with a soft ‘hyung!’, squeezing Jimin’s hand. “He skipped a freaking grade! If anything, Jeongguk should be tutoring me! And he’s 2 years my junior!” Jimin finishes with a laugh as he places a hand against Jeongguk’s chest.
After minutes of Jimin and Jeongguk awkwardly standing at the foot of their table, information finally processed, the guys stand up and congratulate them, hugging them tight and maybe shedding a single tear. Just one.
As Taehyung smacks the back of Hoseok’s head lightly for his foolishness, Namjoon suddenly comes to a realization.
“Oh my god... Jiminie, did whatever I say about Jeongguk yesterday make you to come out to us? I totally forced you to come out to us, didn’t I? I’m so so sorry Jiminie I swear I had no clue, not even in the slightest. Please don’t take it to heart, you know the guys sometimes just say a lot of shit and-”
“What? No, it’s fine, we discussed it and-“ Jimin tries explain.
“Oh my god! We totally forced the both of you out of the closet! Hoseok! This was your dumb idea! It’s all your fault!” Seokjin jokingly explodes, hitting Hoseok on the head again.
“Yah, hyung! Why didn’t anyone stop me? I feel so shit, guys I’m so sorry. We are so sorry for pushing you to do something you weren’t ready for-“
“No! No, it’s fine everything’s good. Please don’t apologize anymore,” Jeongguk quickly interjects, waving his hands.
“I love Jiminie-hyung and I’m more than willing to share that all with you. Hell, I’ll stand on the table and announce it to the entire cafeteria he wants,” Jeongguk makes a move to lift a leg onto the table and hoist himself up as Jimin urgently pulls him back down, giving him a smacking him on the arm.
“Gosh you’re such an idiot. I love you too, Kook-ah,” his eyes crinkle looking at his boyfriend’s dramatic behavior, knowing he’d do anything to make Jimin laugh.
“Aigoo, congrats you lovebirds. I don’t know how I didn’t see this earlier,” Hoseok smiles. “So Jeongguk, you’ve been sneaking out to meet Jimin every night instead of sleeping? Is that why you‘re so tired?”
“Ah, I mostly sleep over at his place. I’ve been temporarily sex-iled because Taehyung-hyung is crashing at Jiminie’s place. So we just meet at the cafe to get some studying done instead”, Jeongguk explains, scratching at his neck coyly.
Taehyung moves to apologize, but as he opens his mouth, the realization dawns upon him.
“Hold on,” he pauses. “Please don’t tell me you’ve defiled the guest bed I’m currently sleeping in...” he finishes, watching closely as Jeongguk sheepishly looks down and Jimin tilts his head with a small smile.
“I-I changed the sheets before you came over, if that makes it better?” Jimin responds, a blush creeping onto his face.
The group bursts out laughing at Taehyung’s horrified face.
“Oh my gosh, I need to take a shower. Or like twenty,” Taehyung scowls, scrubbing at his arms. “Suddenly Namjoon-hyung and Jin-hyung’s apartment sounds like paradise. Please take me in, please I’m begging you my sweet loving hyungs,” Taehyung grabs violently onto Namjoon’s hands, pleading the elder, making the entire group chuckle.
“You fool, just come back home and sleep with me, but please keep out of my sight from 5pm to 10pm okay? I don’t want to, but I actually do need to finish my projects. I won’t be able to work knowing you’re an arms reach away,” Yoongi relents, stretching an arm out for Taehyung to bury himself against his boyfriend’s chest.
“Honestly, guys. I’m so happy for you both. Don’t be scared of coming to us about anything, okay? Nothing is going to change our love for you,” Namjoon says with a fond smile, the other four having a similarly warm look on their face as they turn to Jeongguk and Jimin.
“Thank you, hyung. It’s okay that things got a little messy,” Jeongguk chuckles, “I’m happy for us too” he finishes, looking at his boyfriend with all the overflowing fondness, feeling like the happiest person in the world as he sees his boyfriend look right back at him the exact same way.
Turns out, Jeongguk didn’t need any secret tutoring or extra cash after all, just some quality time alone with his lovely boyfriend; and if their group for some reason decided to start hosting their hang-outs at anybody but Jimin’s apartment, well, Jeongguk isn’t one to complain.
---------------------------------------------------
Two Nights Ago
“Jiminie…” Jeongguk mutters between kisses against Jimin’s neck.
“Aish, get off you brat. I have half a chapter to go. And it’s hyung to you!”
“I think I’m way more good looking than that textbook, hyung. Look at me instead.”
Rolling his eyes, Jimin drops his pen and angles his body to face his insatiable boyfriend with a fond smile.
“We can’t all be geniuses like you, Jeonggukie. I have to finish and get back home to sleep.”
Jeongguk pouts at his boyfriend’s words.
“Don’t make that face. You have to sleep too ah, Guk. The hyungs have been saying you look more tired than usual.”
“But I sleep better beside you,” Jimin laughs and hits Jeongguk’s chest lightly, blushing at the sappy words. “I can’t wait until Taehyung gets out of your apartment, he’s interrupting our study time, sleeping time and sexy time !”
“You’re lucky it’s 2AM. If anyone were here to overhear you, I’d smack you so hard.”
Jeongguk chuckles at his boyfriend’s empty threat, pulling Jimin closer to him, legs interlocking.
“Get more rest okay, or the hyung’s are gonna worry over how dead you seem.”
“It’s okay, hyung,” Jeongguk smiles, cupping one hand over Jimin’s sweater paws and using the other to pull his head gently to rest perfectly in the crook of his neck. “I’d rather spend time with you,” he says softly as he feels Jimin breathe in his scent.
“With you, I feel so alive. ”