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“Why didn’t you wait till I finished my practice? You had promised we’d go home together!” Jimin pouted.
“I… I got bored and I wanted to get home and rest.” Jungkook scoffed not even looking up as his gaze was fixed on the phone.
“But… You promised.”
“You aren’t a baby Hyung. You can come home fine. What’s the big deal?”
A flash of hurt crossed Jimin’s face. “I know nothing is a big deal to you. Probably not even me. Guess you wouldn’t even miss me if I am gone.”
Jungkook sighed. “Where is this coming from now? And as if you are going to go anywhere?”
“Is that a challenge Jungkook? If you keep being an ass maybe I will find someone better than you.”
Jungkook laughed. He actually laughed. “Go on then. Go find yourself, someone, better than me.”
Jimin didn’t say a word. Hurt was written all over his face. He left the room to sleep in his own bed. Jungkook saw Jimin’s face saddened, lips drooped into a downslide and eyes contorted with pain. But Jungkook was an asshole. Why was he coming home without Jimin such a big deal anyway? (Because you promised him you would wait and you didn’t. Jimin would never do that to you no matter how tired he’d be after a practice’ the good voice in his head called out)
‘Whatever’ he said to himself as he drifted into a slumber sleep. Just when he was entering his dreamland, he felt something harsh hit his head as if somebody had slapped it tight. He felt a push and pull, weird drag as if his soul was pushed out through his body and through time. He felt as if was falling into nothing, his body losing into gravity as he screamed out loud and cried for help.
Suddenly he felt himself hitting the ground with a bang to his head and he opened his eyes in a flash, panting and breathing hard.
“Hey, you alright,” Taehyung asked.
“Yeah… Just a bad dream” Jungkook said. (Wait! Why was he talking to Tae when the last he remembered was having a stupid fight with Jimin and then sleeping comfortably on his bed)
Rubbing his head (cause it felt super heavy... finally!) he looked around and to his surprise, he was sitting inside their company van heading somewhere. He wondered how the hell did he get here because the last he remembered he was definitely sleeping in his own bed.
He looked around at the members chatting out loud, being chaotic as usual where Jin was laughing over something Namjoon said and Hoseok screeching at anything and everything. His eyes went over to Jimin fidgeting with his sweater paws (awwwww! sweater paws guys) He was sitting beside Yoongi glued from shoulders to toe, face dangerously close to each other smiling. (Why don’t you just sit on his lap now? Jungkook thought) They were giving each other those googly eyes. (What the hell! Jimin… You ass! I am right here)
But those eyes seemed sincere and true as if he was intruding a private moment, eyes that screamed love, eyes that claimed a bond, eyes that held stars for the other, eyes so soft and dripping sugar that said they belonged to each other. And he stared at them silently, taking in the situation. Cause seriously what the hell was going on? His head throbbing with a headache. Why isn't Jimin sitting next to him in a car (They always do) and when did Yoongi look at Jimin with those disgusting puppy eyes? Jungkook felt a pang of pain through his chest as he poked his cheeks with the tongue.
Maybe this is a dream after all he thought. Yup! A dream. But dreams never felt like this. Dreams never had feelings and intimate moments. Nope! Jungkook’s dreams were stupid, they consisted of random shit where he talked to Jarvis as he experimented with his Iron man suit, or where his members left him to fight a thousand zombies on his own and he fucking killed every single one of them and saved the planet (Hail Jungkook... The mighty they cheered), where he was Jack Sparrow and battled to claim his Black Pearl sailing high and low with crooked black teeth and Elizabeth Swann (Who cared about Will Turner anyway).
'Wake up. Wake up' he was saying to himself. This dream seemed too real.
Taehyung nudged him. “Even after five years of dating, they are all over each other. Isn’t it cute?” Taehyung whispered in his ear.
“WHAT…!” he yelled back to Taehyung.
“Jimin and Yoongi. Look at them.”
“WHAT… dating? Dating…! Who! Them! WHAT! ” Jungkook kept his voice low but fuck was Tae screwing with him? Jungkook gave him that horrified look, the one where you realize you wanted to let a little air out but you accidentally shit your pants.
“Yah…! What’s with you today? You have been acting all distracted.”
“You tell me. Last I knew I was sleeping in my own bed and then I wake up to Yoongi and Jimin eye-fucking the hell out of each other.”
“Because Jimin is Yoongi’s boyfriend and they have always been like this, all sap and smitten. We all know it. We see it every day.” Taehyung put a hand on his head.
“Are you running a fever? You really seem a little different today.”
‘Fuck!’ Jungkook thought ‘Why is this dream so real? Wake up. Open your eyes, you moron.’ He pinched himself, slapped himself, jerked his body a little.
“Yah…! Jungkook! Sit still will you?” Tae shouted at him.
Maybe it was God’s way of punishing him because next, he saw Jimin curling into Yoongi as he drifted into sleep and Yoongi left light kisses into his hair, stroking his hair softly and Jimin purring. Fuck! Did Jimin just purr?
(Okay! Time up…! I am sorry for being a brat! He told himself. Please let me open my eyes and go back to the time when Jimin was my boyfriend. God! He prayed hard. Let me wake up.)
He had seen enough sci-fi shit in his life to know dreams never feel this real, where every detail is laid out crispy clear. He had felt falling and slipping through different dimensions. He had seen Doctor Strange slip through multiverse when he laughed at The Ancient One (His fall felt the same), he had seen About time, 13 going 30, 17 again, If only, Moon Lovers, Rooftop Prince, Queen In-hyun's man (Jimin’s choices mind you, not his) to know this reality was nowhere close to a dream. He could smell the air, hear every word from the conversations the members were having, their bicker and banter and stupid obnoxious jokes. So if not a dream, what was this? A time slip? An alternate dimension? A parallel universe?
Fuck! Jungkook’s brain short-circuited. There was no way to find out, was there? He’d have to wait till it gets over. Because being stuck in an alternate reality where he saw Jimin being caressed by anyone else was almost- nope not almost- was definitely a nightmare.
But of course, the torture did not end here as he felt Yoongi shaking him from his thoughts.
“Jungkook will you carry Jimin to our house? I don’t want him to wake up. He seemed very tired today.”
“Okay Hyung.” (Jungkook wouldn’t say no to this)
He picked Jimin carefully, hoping he would not wake up to minor jerks as Jungkook lifted him in his arms.
“Careful. I don’t want him to wake up” Yoongi said as he stroked Jimin’s hair back that fell over his eyes. He looked at his Hyung, sensed the care in his words.
Jungkook felt his heart clench at the scene because Yoongi seemed so soft for Jimin and he didn’t remember doing this for Jimin. He always woke Jimin up and made him walk all the way to his bed. He never considered he could go the extra mile to carry him home.
“What are you doing?” Yoongi asked as they entered their house.
“Taking him to his room.”
“He always sleeps with me in my room. You know that.”
“Oh yes!” Jungkook lied as he carried Jimin to Yoongi’s room bitterness and nausea closing into his throat. No matter what the realm he was in, leaving Jimin in someone else’s bed made him surge with rage. He prayed for the nth time to let whatever this is be the end.
The second time he opened his eyes, he prayed he was back to his own reality. He got out of his bed and out into the living room only to see a sight where Jimin was sitting on Yoongi’s lap being fed breakfast as Jimin scrolled through his phone. (Nope! Still stuck here he thought… and when did Yoongi become this whatever this was, letting people sit on his lap)
“Enough Hyung. I am full.”
“Nope. One more sandwich and a glass of milk.”
“Hyuuuung…..!” Jimin whined.
“No Baby. You gotta eat. I am not having you faint on me again.”
“That was a lifetime ago. Will you ever let it go?”
“Nope. Now eat. God knows with our schedule today if we will get to have a proper lunch.” he says as he places a soft kiss on Jimin’s lips.
Jungkook’s hands clutched tightly under the table as he watched them silently. Jealousy, hatred, anger, sourness and every bitter feeling running through his veins as he saw them kissing slowly (Right in front of Jungkook's salad).
In no reality can Jungkook accept anyone else kissing Jimin. Those kisses were his, belonged to him. Every morning when Jimin woke him up, he put those soft lips on his. He knows how it feels to kiss Jimin. Those red, full plump lips taste like sugar, honey and sometimes like bitter coffee and peaceful mornings. They remind him of bright sunny days and happy sighs, lazy whines begging five more minutes of sleep. Jungkook remembers Jimin pampering him at breakfast, putting food on his plate and smiling at him when he finished it clean. What Jungkook doesn’t remember is doing the same for Jimin. So when he looks at Yoongi making Jimin eat till the last bite, he feels guilty. Guilty that in this realm someone loves Jimin more than him.
The YoonMin saga doesn't end there. Over days he observes the two. Yoongi never leaves Jimin’s side, doting on him with those love filled eyes, praising him at every opportunity he gets, pecking his sweet cheeks when he thinks nobody is looking (Yeah right) and Jimin… Jimin basks and shines under his love, giggling and smiling at everything Yoongi does. Yoongi waits for him after every practice ensures Jimin does not overdo it. He sits with him during every meal making sure Jimin eats whatever is served to him. He asks Jimin his opinion on everything, be it lyrics, a song, any tune, clothes, perfume, toothpaste. He pays attention, eyes always following Jimin, ensuring him he is never alone. If Jungkook didn't understand love, he'd probably gag himself with the sweetness of this relationship. But Jungkook knew love and he understood that Jimin survived on recognition and praises and hugs and a hundred 'I love you' (in a day).
But the bitter feeling never left him because Yoongi got to caress Jimin as Jungkook sat two couches away every day. Yoongi got to hold his hand and whisper sweet nothings into his ears, he got to kiss those lips and hold him every night as Jungkook slept alone on that cold ass bed with only memories of what Jimin’s warmth felt like.
Jimin’s warmth felt like soft sand and pleasant waves, humid air and salty breath. Jimin’s warmth felt like Busan and his mom's cooking and unconditional love.
Jungkook missed it. He missed Jimin as the dead missed their souls, as a wanderer longed for a home, like an addict who craved his drug. Jungkook desired Jimin from his heart's core, his attention, his constant presence, his annoying voice calling out to him hundred times a day, describing Jungkook every single detail in their bed at night even if Jungkook was with him the whole time. Jungkook longed for those pretty eyes on him, fighting for his consideration, smiling into lovely crescents whenever Jungkook requited them.
Jungkook missed Jimin chasing him wherever constantly chirping with those lips “Jungkook-ah this and Jungkook-ah that.”
Jungkook's heart was full of pain. The punishment was enough to make him regret his contempt. He wanted Jimin to hug him and love him and caress him and kiss him. He wanted his Jimin back all in one piece just like before. He got up involuntarily as his feet led him to Jimin’s room. But reality struck him as he heard Jimin’s voice from a different room and Jungkook shamelessly eavesdropped on whatever conversation Jimin and Yoongi were having. Jimin was laughing, more as if he was being tickled.
Oh, that sweet laugh Jungkook thought. Jimin’s laugh got butterflies crowding his stomach, his sweet giggles felt like a melody played by a happy musician. They got Jungkook pumping through their busy schedules, melted his tired bones and worked as medicine on off days.
“Hyuuung… Please, will you sleep now?”
“Always after you love.”
“Will you stop babying me so much? Seriously! You overdo it sometimes.”
“I have to.”
“And why is that?”
“Well! What if you find someone better than me Jimin-ah? I am going to spoil you so much for it to never happen.”
“How many times do I have to tell you I am not going anywhere Hyung. I love you.”
“I love you too. Just don’t find anyone else okay.”
“There is no one else better than you Hyung.”
All this felt like a tight slap to Jungkook’s face.
He turned away and instead of heading back to his own room he went up to the terrace and looked up at the stars, wiping his eyes through tears though they kept coming despite all his efforts to repress them.
He looked up at the sky and he whispered “Sorry….”
He didn’t know for whom the ‘sorry’ was, maybe it was for the mystical being who let Jungkook slip into this alternate reality and made him realize how it felt to not have Jimin in his life, maybe it was for Jimin whom Jungkook had taken for granted never realizing there may come a time Jimin would get tired of Jungkook’s carelessness and actually find solace in somebody else’s arms.
He kept looking at the sky whispered a “Thank you…”
He didn't know for whom the ‘Thank you’ was, maybe it was to the mystical being for making him realize how precious his Jimin is, maybe it was to Jimin for making Jungkook a happy man by loving him with the fullest heart.
He kept looking up at the stars, the moon or whoever he thought was up there to hear his heartfelt prayers “I get it now. Just let me go back to my Jimin please.”
Jungkook let go of his frustration, days being away from Jimin, watching Jimin being loved by someone else. He cried all those accumulated tears on that terrace, loud at times and mere sniffs at some. His mind chanting “Jimin… Jimin… Jimin…”
Jungkook knew now how it felt losing Jimin.
If Jungkook were cold showers and rusty mornings, Jimin was a tub full of warm water and pleasant sunrays.
If Jungkook was stormy nights and thunder rails, Jimin was soft showers and muddy smell.
If Jungkook was falling leaves and chilly winter, Jimin was blooming flowers and dancing trees.
If Jungkook was awkward and indifferent, Jimin was all feelings and strong emotions.
Jungkook loved Jimin with all his heart, but for a mere time period, he took his love for granted. But Jungkook's heart had always and will always belong to this small cute chirpy annoyingly pretty boy.
For Jungkook, Jimin was rainbows and unicorns, angel and heavens, sugar and honey, whiskey and wine. Jimin was Teletubbies and bubbles, teddy bear and cuddles, running streams and deep lakes, sunshine, and moonshine and star shine and milky ways. Jimin was like an entire galaxy who deserved to be held, cared and protected, who deserved to be researched and reached. Because in this world full of shit, people like Jimin needed to be treasured, needed to be caressed and loved. Because in this world of deception and hypocrisy, Jimin who has so childlike, pure and innocent needed to be worshipped and praised and kissed.
Jungkook finally understood everything and now he wanted to return to his reality. In the universe where Jimin had eyes only for Jungkook, where Jungkook’s name never left Jimin’s lips, where Jimin embraced Jungkook and Jungkook cherished Jimin.
When the next time Jungkook opened his eyes and he looked at the time it was 3 a.m. He had felt the gravity doing that pukish push-pull again. The gods had finally listened to him and let him slip into his own world.
He got up from his bed and hurried as he opened the door to Jimin’s room. He saw the small figure curled up on himself under the blankets fast asleep.
Jungkook sighed and lifted up the covers and pulled Jimin tight into his arms. He kissed Jimin’s temple and caressed his face with small kisses and smelled his hair.
He was back in Jimin’s space. Jimin tasted like strawberry and citrus, his hair smelled like coconut shampoo, one which Jimin always stole from Jungkook and he complained (Never after this. Oh hell! he will buy that shampoo company if Jimin wants).
‘Mine’ he claims to himself as he kisses those plump soft lips.
“Kookie…?” Jimin shifts in his sleep with half opened eyes as he looks up at Jungkook.
“Hmmmm”
“What are you doing here? Couldn’t sleep?”
How Jungkook wished he could tell him he hadn’t slept for days stuck in that shitty universe.
“No, I couldn’t. I missed you Hyung. So much.”
Jimin giggled (Ahhh! That sweet giggle) “I am right here kookie.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Hyung...?"
"Hmmm"
"Please don’t leave me. I will be good. I promise. Give me another chance to be better.”
Jimin looked at him with confusion over his face. "Why are you saying this kook-ah?"
"Before when you said you will find someone better than me."
“Oh!" Jimin had already forgotten all about it. "In this life, I am all yours kook-ah. Now sleep, baby.”
Thank god for this life and this realm, Jungkook thinks. Because he doesn’t want to know how the Jungkooks in other universes exist without a Jimin. He got a really good glimpse of it and never ever does he want to go back to any one of them. In this realm, he will love his Jimin with all his heart, hold on to him as his lifeline, he will be what Yoongi from an alternate reality taught him- Selfless love and keeping said promises.