Work Text:
Jungkook sighed as he stared blankly at the computer screen before him, music blasting in his ears from his headphones, though his mind was no longer registering the words of the song playing. All the words he'd written for his essay were now jumbling together and nothing he had written was making any sense to him. He kept trying to read over what he'd written only to lose his place every few lines due to the words jumping at him and blurring together in an endless array of black letters with absolutely no meaning. At this point, Jungkook was pretty sure his essay wasn't even worth a 70. And knowing his teacher, even if it was worth a 70 he'd get a 50, just because his teacher hated him. Jungkook groaned as he slid his hand across his face in utter defeat. He really shouldn't have pushed this assignment back for so long, he'd known better. He should have started the assignment over a week ago, but he hadn't and now he had three days to write a 15-page essay over the history that led up to the modern day politics their country was now facing. Not only did it have to be 15 pages, but it also had to be in depth, use quotes from at least 12 different sources and it must flow coherently. If even for a moment he rambled in the essay and whatever he said didn't help support his thesis, his teacher would dock at least 10 points.
"Why does Mrs. June have to be so mean to us? Does she just enjoy watching us suffer?" Jungkook asked himself as he let out another prolonged sigh and rubbed his tired eyes. He glanced over to the clock on his bedside table to see it was already four in the morning and he still had to be ready to go to class tomorrow at ten where he could possibly have a pop quiz. Now would probably be an optimal time to sleep so he would at least be able to focus somewhat in class tomorrow and pass that quiz. Which he knew he could do since the quiz was always at the end of class and it was over things they'd learn that day. If he slept and was well rested enough to focus in class tomorrow, he could probably ace the quiz.
"But this essay... I really should at least get five pages done today or I might never finish.... Ah forget class tomorrow, this is more important," he reasoned with himself as he glared back at his computer screen and once again tried to read the last paragraph he'd written to try and figure out what he should write next. But again, he lost his place and nothing was sticking in his head.
"Ok, this isn't going to work," He grumbled to himself as he closed his laptop screen and stretched his tired limbs. I definitely need a break, he thought to himself as he got up and took his headphones off. He decided he should grab a quick snack and some coffee to wake himself up. While it wasn't ideal, he could afford a quick break before returning to his work; after all, he'd already decided he'd be skipping class tomorrow, one quiz wouldn't impact his grade as much as a failing grade on this essay would.
With his mind made up, Jungkook walked towards his bedroom door and out towards the kitchen. However as he walked towards the kitchen, he heard the distinct whirling of the mixer and the lovely smell of cake, which confused him. The only person who could be in the kitchen was Jimin, his roommate and yet to be boyfriend. Why yet to be boyfriend, you ask? Because Jungkook had yet to ask the elder to become his boyfriend despite the multiple (unofficial) dates they'd gone on. Neither of them called them dates, but in the back of his mind, Jungkook was sure they were dates. You don't just ask anyone to join you alone at places like the Arboretum, even if it is for a school project if it isn't a date. Jungkook had really wanted to ask Jimin out after their little coffee date a few days ago but had lost the courage when Taehyung and Yoongi had shown up and crashed the unofficial date. He still resented Taehyung a little for showing up uninvited; though he had pushed the resentment aside when he noticed how Jimin and Taehyung, despite being together, seemed to be avoiding each other. While Jungkook wondered if something was going on between them, he hadn't asked, he figured Jimin would tell him if the elder wanted to.
Jungkook shook his head to clear his thoughts over his failures to confess and asked himself, why was Jimin awake still? And why was he making a cake? If Jungkook remembered correctly, Jimin had a really hard time functioning when he got less than five hours of sleep. Seven hours was ideal for any growing student, but college rarely allowed for a full night's rest; so they made do, and Jungkook knew that Jimin needed at least five hours of sleep if the elder was to make it through the day without collapsing. So why was Jimin still up at four in the morning? Jungkook recalled the elder had an eight o' clock class today, so what gave? Jimin wasn't an irresponsible person and made sure to take care of himself most of the time, so this was very unlike him.
Puzzled, Jungkook walked towards the kitchen only to see the elder was fast at work mixing something in a mixing bowl from what Jungkook could tell. Though what was more peculiar was that there were already two other cakes made, a tray of cookies, and an assortment of various other sweets. How long had the elder been cooking? Jungkook couldn't help but wonder what was going on, alarms going off in his head as he also noticed the poorly placed party decorations now hanging from their ceiling and walls.
"Jimin?" Jungkook called out to the elder who had yet to notice him. But Jimin didn't respond still focused on mixing whatever he was working on at the moment. Jungkook frowned and stepped closer to the counter and raised his voice to be heard over the sound of the mixer, calling out Jimin's name again.
Jimin looked up once he heard the younger. He blinked a couple of times before turning off the mixer and addressing Jungkook. "Oh Jungkookie, what are you doing up?" Jimin asked as he turned towards the oven and opened it to pull out another tray of cookies. Jungkook's eyes widened at just the sheer amount of sweets Jimin had made. Looking back up at Jimin he furrowed his eyebrows while answering, "I should be asking you that... what's going on?"
"Nothing much, just baking as you can see," Jimin replied cheerfully, but Jungkook could detect the underlying sarcasm in his voice.
"I can see that," Jungkook responded before shaking his head, "but why?"
"Cause it helps me," came Jimin's casual reply as he placed the things he'd mixed into a ziplock bag and grabbed a pair of scissors to cut one corner of the bag.
"Helps with what?" Jungkook persisted while also realizing Jimin had been working on making frosting before Jungkook had arrived.
"De-stress."
"Cooking helps you de-stress? Since when? You've said you're stressed before but hardly ever cooked during those times. I think you even once said you didn't like to cook?"
"It's baking actually. I like baking. And it doesn't matter, Kookie, it's a coping mechanism, it doesn't gotta make sense. Leave it be, now do you want a cookie?" Jimin answered waving off Jungkook's question by working on frosting the cupcakes he'd made.
Jungkook wasn't buying Jimin's excuses though. The elder looked exhausted with his eyes slightly red and eye bags beginning to form. He might have only met Jimin about three months ago with the start of the new school year and they might not yet be boyfriends, but they were roommates and they were close. So Jungkook could tell Jimin wasn't ok at the moment. Jungkook knew a lot more about Jimin then he let on. Most of the information he had on Jimin was from observation, talking to Jimin, and Jimin's friends. Jungkook knew Jimin danced to de-stress which he'd learned from Jin hyung, Jimin's oldest friend. So if Jimin was really stressed, he should be dancing his stress away not baking... unless this was a new form of de-stressor Jimin had taken to without anyone knowing, but somehow, Jungkook doubted that.
"Seriously hyung, what's going on?" Jungkook questioned again. "It's 4 am, why are you up baking a cake? And what's with the party decorations and sweets?"
Jimin gave him a pointed look as if irritated that Jungkook wouldn't just let him be. "Fine if you must know... I'm celebrating the death of my sleep schedule and sanity. Now, do you want a cookie?" Jimin answered seemingly exasperated as he put down the frosting and grabbed a hold of the cookie tray before holding it out towards Jungkook. Jungkook raised an eyebrow before taking the tray from Jimin and setting it aside.
"Hey why are you putting them all the way over there, I still need to add decorations to them! If you didn't want any, you could have just said so," Jimin pouted reaching for the tray again but Jungkook was quick to grab the elder's wrist and prevent him from taking a hold of it.
"What?" Jimin asked Jungkook while trying to weakly pull his hand away.
"Jimin, what's wrong? Why can't you sleep?" Jungkook asked instead as he gently stroked the soft skin under Jimin's wrist.
Jimin stayed silent for a moment not reacting in any way. Jungkook waited a couple of seconds before speaking again when he realized the elder wasn't about to answer. "I know you don't bake to de-stress hyung. I also know you're trying to distract yourself right now, so something big must have happened. Are you worried about something?" Jungkook asked as he released Jimin's wrist and walked around the counter to pull the elder into a hug. If there was one thing Jungkook was sure about, it was that Jimin always felt better if someone hugged him, and Jungkook was more than happy to do that. Jungkook felt Jimin tense up in his hold for a second before relaxing a moment later. A few seconds of silence passed before Jimin released a heavy sigh, his lower lip beginning to wobble.
"I can't do it," Jimin whispered.
"Can't do what hyung?" Jungkook asked gently as he peered down at Jimin.
"I can't keep up with everything or do anything right. I'm falling behind in all my classes, I have so many projects to work on and I can't keep up at dance practice anymore. Everyone is upset with me because I can't keep up and I just mess everything up. Taehyung isn't speaking to me because I canceled so many plans with him because I was so behind in my classes. And today I got a call from my mom about how one of my professors contacted her to tell her I was about to fail her class. I can't do it. I can't keep up anymore!" Jimin said as he broke down crying. "I'm so tired of it all. I haven't slept in days and I can't figure out how to fix anything. How do I get back on track? It's driving me insane. What if I fail all my classes this year? I'll lose my scholarship! And then what will I do? I'm going to flunk out of college and end up living in shambles aren't I?" Jimin asked rhetorically as the tears flooded out of his eyes.
The sudden onslaught of tears took Jungkook by surprise but he quickly pulled Jimin closer into a tight hug, making sure to make the smaller feel secure as he gently shushed him. "Shh, it's ok Jimin," he whispered to the elder as he rubbed soothing circles into the smaller's back.
"No, it's not! Nothing is ok! I'm failing all my classes and Taehyung hates me!" Jimin cried out while burying his face into Jungkook's shirt. Jungkook realized Jimin was having a mental breakdown one that probably had been delayed because Jimin had tried to push it away by baking.
"Taehyung doesn't hate you hyung. I'm sure he'd understand if you explained how busy you were to him," Jungkook tried to reason with Jimin.
"No! He's mad c-cause I always cancel on him... b-but somehow always find t-time for you and he t-thinks it's because of m-my crush on you. H-he thinks I'm p-playing favorites and he s-says I'm being m-mean... But I'm n-not! It's j-just easier with you c-cause our schedules m-match more than his does with mine!" Jimin responded as more tears slipped from his eyes and onto Jungkook's shirt.
Jungkook was stunned for a moment. Did Jimin just confess? His brain tried to catch up with the sudden confession and he tried to decipher if Jimin had really meant his confession. But he soon snapped out of his ramped thoughts when he felt Jimin's tears against his shirt. He let out a quiet sigh as he realized now was not the time to address Jimin's confession. Right now, he had to help his soon to be boyfriend feel better and get some much-needed sleep.
"It will be ok. I know you hyung, sure things look bad now. It seems difficult right now, but you're going to get through it. You're going to catch up in all your classes and in dance. You'll make it up to Taehyung and everything will be alright. You just need to rest first. You're obviously been worried too long to have rested properly and it's messing with your head now," Jungkook said. Jimin didn't respond to that instead just shook his head against Jungkook's chest.
Jungkook bit his lower lip contemplating what to do for a moment before an idea came to him. He knew Jimin needed to sleep or else the elder would stay up and worry the rest of the night and make things worse for himself; so Jungkook had to help him fall asleep even if it meant doing something he usually hated doing. Jungkook slowly released Jimin and then lead him towards the living room and towards their comfy sofa. He laid down on it before pulling Jimin on top of himself. He then wrapped his arms around Jimin's waist securely forcing the elder's head down onto his chest with his left hand. Once situated and comfortable, Jungkook began to sing a lullaby while rubbing Jimin's head softly.
"Jungkook?" Jimin's questioning voice asked trying to understand what Jungkook was doing. Jimin was well aware Jungkook didn't actually like to sing in front of anyone despite having an amazing voice.
"Shh, just relax hyung. Close your eyes and just listen to my voice," Jungkook instructed. He resumed singing and felt Jimin shift against him a bit before laying still. It took a few minutes of Jungkook singing for Jimin to relax but the elder soon did. And as Jimin relaxed he slowly felt the tension inside of him leaving as he continued to listen to Jungkook's melodious voice. Pretty soon, Jimin's eyes fluttered closed and he began to breathe more softly and deeply, his consciousness slowly slipping away and turning to black.
Jungkook kept singing until he felt Jimin still completely and felt his steady breaths against his chest. He lifted his head and peeked down and smiled when he saw the elder was fast asleep. Looks like singing to him had worked, much to Jungkooks relief. Jungkook stared at Jimin for a bit before gently moving Jimin's bangs out of the way, so he could look at Jimin's beautiful face. Jimin's eyelashes fanned his cheeks, and his plump lips were slightly parted as he breathed in through them. He looked so peaceful at the moment, dreaming peacefully presumably. Jungkook couldn't help but admire the elder at the moment and relish in the preciousness of the moment; but as time slipped by he began to grow sleepy himself, his eyes soon began closing of their own accord.
"Sleep well hyung," Jungkook whispered as he too began to feel himself drift away. His last fleeting thoughts reminding him of his unfinished essay but he quickly forgot about it after another fleeting thought reminded him Namjoon owed him a favor. He could just ask Namjoon who had taken and aced the class for help tomorrow. With less tension in his mind, Jungkook drifted off to dreamland, getting some much-needed sleep.
When he awoke the next day, Jungkook found that Jimin was still sleeping peacefully in his arms. Glancing over at the clock on the wall, he saw it was already past eleven. Looks like the both of them had slept through their respective classes. Jungkook let out a quiet yawn before he began gently carding his hand through Jimin's black locks, which slowly roused the elder from his slumber. Jimin grumbled a little as he began to wake up. He slowly lifted his head slightly and looking around, sleep clearly fogging his mind. His eyes soon rested on Jungkook who smiled up at him and said, "Good morning hyung, I'm sorry to say but I'm afraid we've both missed our morning classes. Hope you didn't have anything too important going on in today's class?"
Jimin gave him the most adorable confused expression that Jungkook had ever seen, making the younger coo internally. After a minute though realization soon flooded through Jimin and a slow blush began to overtake his cheeks. Jungkook was confused at first why Jimin was blushing until he remembered the confession Jimin had made. Smiling Jungkook decided maybe now was the time to address the confession.
"Did you rest well hyung?" Jungkook asked. Jimin looked away from Jungkook and nodded.
"That's good, I'm glad I was able to help.... You've got a wonderful boyfriend don't you?" Jungkook said a little hesitant near the end.
Jimin's head snapped up to look at him so fast, Jungkook was afraid Jimin might have snapped his neck. Jimin looked at Jungkook with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth as if he was about to say something but the words had gotten stuck in his throat.
"What's with that look? Did you forget what happened already?" Jungkook teased laughing lightly.
Jimin's eyes seemed to grow wider if possible as the blush on his face darkened. "Y-you remember?"
"Of course... so... is it ok that I'm calling myself your boyfriend?" Jungkook asked hopefully.
"Y-yeah," Jimin answered as a small smile overtook his face and then grew with each passing second.
Jungkook chucked and raised his head to place a kiss on Jimin's temple. "I'd kiss you on the mouth, but I think I might have morning breath so yea..." Jungkook trailed off as Jimin laughed and nodded his head.
"I agree," Jimin said shyly as he covered his mouth, his eyes twinkling. Both of them giggled before finally getting up and deciding to get ready for the rest of their day.
"Well, at least our day can start off on a great note. Not only do I now have a boyfriend but I get to start my day off with cake! What better way to start off today?" Jungkook asked as the two of them finished brushing their teeth and washing their faces after which they made their way to the kitchen where all the sweets were still out on the counter.
"I can't think of a better way to start the day at all," Jimin hummed feeling refreshed and giddy as he went to the cupboard to pull out two plates and a couple of glasses for their breakfast.
"Actually... I think I can," Jungkook said as he stood behind Jimin and grabbed the elder by the waist, turning him around and bringing him closer. He stared at Jimin's eyes for a moment before leaning down and kissing him on the lips.
Now, this was the perfect way to start the day, Jungkook thought.