Archive of Our Own

it started off as part of a pilot study, a campaign for a project on campus.

the three of them- hoseok, taehyung and jimin himself- were wearing headbands, a similar shirt to show unity, and either holding posters or flyers. don’t forget the cutely hand drawn personalised nametags.

free hugs today! come claim your free hugs!

“excuse me!” jimin sweetly rushes up to a hoodie-cloaked boy in all black,  “you look like you’re in need of a hug!” the pink on his cheeks lets jeongguk know that he’s very bashful about it, in spite of such a ‘bold’ statement, so to speak, at the sight of a complete random stranger on campus.

he’d been dealt with his fair share of rejections this morning, from grumpy college students grovelling over for a class they’re late to those that pretended he didn’t even exist. there were also a number of friends that showed up to support their project, as well as those who gradually acquiesced, either knowing the cause for the campaign. or those that were there simply just to cop a feel. it went without saying that people were different, and thus reacted differently to social situations. but generally, the consensus of this short pilot run was received positively.

“is it… very obvious that i’m touch starved?” jeongguk blinks at him, hood falling backwards just in the nick of time as jimin parts his lips to answer. the boy (who’s very much taller and bigger than him, since he wore sneakers instead of boots or loafers today) has very soft-looking curls, and they are just begging jimin to pat his head.

“n-no! not at all!” jimin hastily says, the two yellow puppy characters on the side of his headband (their name is chimmy, he believes) swaying vigorously, and the unabashed free hugs!!! mini banner wedged between the chimmy heads were waved in front of jeongguk’s eyes. “but if you are… would you like a hug, then? it’s free! and i promise it’s not anything predatory- wait, of course i would say that if i was doing that kind of thing… um! forget what i said! i mean, serial killers also say that they’re not gonna murder you, right? wait- oh my god. i hope i’m not scaring you, am i? i can explain! you see, i’m doing this as part of my sociology project and last night i happened to be reading on some murd-”

as jimin goes on along his ramble, earnest in getting jeongguk not to misunderstand his words, he barely registers in until he feels a weight atop of his head, feels his chimmy headband recede by a bit.

“you smell good,” is all the taller boy tells him, his muscly arms draped around jimin’s waist firmly.

“you smell really nice too,” jimin softly replies, biting his tongue to avoid anymore silly things from being said, and he leans in to rest his head on jeongguk’s chest. he hears jeongguk’s breath hitch, a tiny gasp; before he mumbles, “my name is jimin, by the way.”

“jeongguk,” said boy mumbles, “i think i should go- i feel a little less touch starved now.” there’s an appreciative smile he flashes jimin, to which he melts at, when they pull apart. jeongguk is ridiculously cute, in spite of his bigger physique, and jimin can only flush in response. 

“i’ll still be giving free hugs tomorrow!” is all jimin finds himself saying, just as jeongguk turns to leave, “uh! same place same time-” he stops when jeongguk laughs and gives him a thumbs up.

jeongguk does show up- at the same place, same time.

jimin did have to endure the teasing of his two other group members at the proposal of proceeding with a semi-debated second day of results.

it was really nice hugging jeongguk again.

“um, excuse me, jeongguk ssi! is it okay if we exchange our, uh-”

“email?” jeongguk mumbles, and jimin can see his ears turn red. oh, he’s so cute- he wanted to exchange emails with me?

“actually,” jimin clears his throat, “i was thinking phone numbers? or kakaotalk id? or maybe instagram, if you don’t mind-”

“my id!” jeongguk says a little too loudly, “sorry, i always thought it would be like school projects and stuff. then it’s jeonggukkie- with a double g and double k.”

jimin doesn’t know how much more his heart can take.

it blossomed from there. 

they’ve started meeting, realised they had similar interests and hobbies and subjects, realised they lived in the same dormitory building, two floors apart. they completed each other, had very fond, melty eyes when the other wasn’t looking. they’ve denied it, but blushed at friends and others calling their meet-ups for a meal or studying together as ‘dates’.

of course it was just a study date, they would argue, what else could it be termed as?

at this rate, he’s going to be caught by the hall monitor again. jeongguk feels goosebumps crawl up his skin as yoongi meets eyes with him, likely approaching to reprimand him for loitering in the aisles of the classrooms.

“these hallways are off boundaries after 2pm today- didn’t you hear the announcement this morning? it’s cordoned off for confidential staff usage. also, shouldn't you be in class if you’re still around, young man?”

“ah, yoongi ssi!” jeongguk respectfully bows, and yoongi eyes the box of chocolates he has in his hand, “sorry! i know you’ve caught me for my long hair before, i’ll tie it up right now! and please- i’m just waiting for a hyung…” 

he knows yoongi is a nice person, despite him sprinting down hallways (in quick spurts after his energy has recharged, and only if the student looks like the type to actually mull and repent) to mete out reflection slips and give out pink detention papers (to those who are incorrigible). yoongi, despite being a rule abider just like jimin and seokjin, is often known for leaving surprise birthday gifts, especially when he feels sorry for having to give out the ‘official’ warning letters for trivial things like neon shoelaces and overgrown hair and short skirts. he knows these are not representative of a student’s nasty personality or bad character- but rules and regulations are as such, and he will accept the unwanted task that everybody else refuses to take on. 

(jeongguk fondly remembers that yoongi had bought him a hair tie and gone red in the cheeks when he avoided eye contact, placing it on jeongguk’s table during his patrol.)

“i swear i was paying attention! i heard it and i know this block closes after 2pm, but it’s hyung’s last class- i’ll write a reflection if you want! please don’t send me to detention...”

“oh, jimin?” yoongi’s lips curl into a smile, knowing he’s hit the nail on the head when jeongguk starts clutching the chocolate box tighter. he hopes yoongi didn’t see the little note pasted on top of it to thank jimin for his unlimited supply of warm hugs. 

“fine by me. i won’t be reporting this to council president seokjin, then. but if there is a next time…”

“thank you yoongi ssi!” jeongguk smiles, and yoongi goes on his rounds, pretending jeongguk wasn’t there. “and make sure to tie your hair the next time we meet.”

“y-yessir!”

to celebrate their successful project, all that’s left being the consolidation and printing of an essay and statistics in a graphic organizer, taehyung and hoseok had bought multiple coloured hair dyes to go incognito- to switch things up a little since all three of them did have their fair share of embarrassing moments chasing campus students for free hugs, and bribing some friends with snacks to do their surveys. their tutor had been very pleased with their test run, and it seemed a promising A+, with wholesome, positive feedback received from their prepositions.

taehyung goes a bright cherry red, hoseok tries mandarin orange, and jimin goes a midnight blue.

he knows he rocks any hair colour- he’s experimented with wigs and other colours under the pretext of photoshoots and celebratory occasions. but maybe, midnight blue hits a little different.

jeongguk should be here any time soon, jimin muses to himself, waiting outside the lecture hall having ended early. jeongguk had texted him, saying he wanted to see him urgently- and of course jimin had sped over without a doubt.

“hyung, can you come over? i mean- actually, is it okay for me to find you instead?” 

his cryptic message had made jimin’s heart fill will worry, as he looked around, anxious to see jeongguk, hoping he would be unscathed and well. 

don’t worry, jimin had immediately typed back, hyung will wait for you. it’s your last class today, right? outside the usual place?

“hyung-ah!” jimin evidently brightens after being tapped on the shoulder, despite his tired eyes, when jeongguk comes running and bouncing over, his fluffy hair looking like two lopped ears of a bunny. 

“jeongguk, you scared me! is everything okay? what is the matter? are you feeling alright-”

“hyung-ah! look!” he leans forward, as if mid bow, presenting to jimin his freshly dip-dyed hair. 

“oh, is jeonggukie matching with me now?” jimin softens at once, realising the younger’s intentions. “yes, i am!” jeongguk lisps ever so endearingly in his excitement, and jimin can do nothing except give him a tight hug, a stress reliever after such a torturous day. “do you like it, hyung?” jeongguk softly says into jimin’s blueberry hair, “does jimin hyung-ah like it?”

“you scared me, gguk-ah. hyung thought you got into trouble.”

“oh! i’m sorry- i just got really excited to show-”

“yes. yes. i know. it’s good that you're safe and healthy. i love your hair, jeongguk. so, so cute.”

he can hear jeongguk hum in satisfaction, pulling him closer in an embrace.

it feels funny- because jimin wishes he had more to offer, so much more than hugs and validation and head pats and gentleness that he could have to give away to jeongguk, ever so willingly. jeongguk has been nothing but such an endearing puppy prince, a sweet boy with a beautiful voice and a great body and such a pure heart.

“i love it, i love it so much,” jimin continues to tell the crook of his neck, nuzzling in so jeongguk knows he really means it with all he has. nobody really bothers to stop and stare- even if they did, the two of them, entwined as one, wouldn’t have noticed it. “and i love you and how big you and your heart both are. you are so, so precious, jeongguk. you are my goodest boy.”

jeongguk gives him a little whine as he holds jimin tighter, not wishing to let go, ever. “hoseok hyung and taehyung hyung and yoongi hyung and seokjin hyung and namjoon hyung and all the hyungs and everybody has a jimin in their life! so i want to be jimin hyung’s jimin, if that makes any sense..?” he can’t help but keen when jimin sighs contentedly into his arms, reveling in his warm touch and his even warmer words.

“you are the best boy, jeongguk,” jimin says lovingly, eyes full of bliss and happiness and all the loveliness in the world, “at this rate, hyung is going to pamper you and go utterly soft for you- you are such a sweetheart, you know that?”

“even if i dress very scary? with the crazy shoes? uhm, people say i have anime girl feet with the platform boots and things like that and my long hair and-”

“you can dress how you want, love. i like you for you. even if you turned up wearing a skirt or a dress or tied pigtails or anything of that fashion, i’m sure you’d look stunning and rock it! and of course i’d love it.”

he doesn’t expect to see jeongguk gasp, his eyes sparkle with wonder, “because fashion has no gender attached to it, right?”

“absolutely correct!” jimin tickles his chin fondly, and he cheeses so hard.

“jimin hyung,” jeongguk murmurs, leaning in close, their foreheads touching. he can hear jimin gasp ever so slightly, see his cheeks start to pinken. “ah- i think i- um, maybe-”

“maybe..?” jimin gently prods, cupping his face with an angelic smile, and jeongguk shies away at how jimin looks at him with such adoration.

“i think i might really- i really like- ah!” jeongguk stops himself halfway, not sure how he should continue. “i really want to say it properly… and i don’t want to screw this up, so if you could-” 

jimin can see the vexed brows and pouty mouth as jeongguk reflects on the right words. his heart sings, regardless of whether jeongguk planned to recite a dozen love poems or to just mutter an inarticulate sentence. he feels his earnestness, his sincerity; and that was more than enough.

“hyung will wait for you.” jimin tells him gently, brushing his hair to the side to see his doe eyes clearer. “hyung will wait for what my jeonggukie wants to say.”

jeongguk is well aware that jimin isn’t an overachiever, but rather an overtly-committed perfectionist. he signs up for club activities and dance and martial arts and manages part of the student council and teaches dance for little kids in his spare time. not to mention his reigning stellar results, and how he does amazingly well in everything he participates in, be it by choice or mandate.

and yet, jeongguk’s heart melts a little knowing that jimin will always make time for him, and that jimin will make sure to give in to his physical cravings of being hugged or held or coddled; with others, there’s bound to be some defences put up, for safety. it’s only innate instinct, isn’t it? but with jimin, everything is different. his walls were let down so easily, and it was only in a span of hugs (that he could count on one hand) that he entirely trusted and cherished someone by the name of park jimin.

today, jimin has a miraculous free day, and yes, he decides to spend it studying yet again. but in jeongguk’s room, studying together.

“ah- i give up, i hate math, hyung! you can just focus on your stuff-”

but jimin shushes him with a small finger, shaking his head disapprovingly, “if i’m doing well in school then i want you to do well too. if i’m going to excel in math, i want jeongguk to ace his math exams too, okay?”

“okay… then i’ll do it to make jimin hyung proud.”

jimin melted into a puddle of mochi, his head and soft cheeks sticking to jeongguk’s arms as comfort and support for the rest of the day.

the one time they got lucky enough to make a reservation for a private study room, away from the human eye, sparks flew. both needing to wear prescription glasses when doing work, they shared the same table, littered with common components- a graphing calculator, coffee, coloured gel pens and markers, snacks, a long ruler, textbooks; having some subjects in common, they could easily share resources, just like how they shared the room. 

however, instead of how one would normally sit across each other, they would sit side by side. it didn’t need to be awkward, since the room was booked solely for their usage, but it got obvious when they turned to stare at each other’s side profile.

“it’s easier to ask you if i need help,” jeongguk reasoned, vouching for their strange seating arrangement. “so i think jimin hyung should sit next to me, by my side.”

there was no one there to eye them weirdly; but nevertheless, the self-consciousness still settled in on it’s own, together with the rapid heartbeats and the nervous swallowing.

“why, yes! i’m sitting next to you because it’s easier to share sweets too,” jimin nods, but the rosy flush says otherwise. “i’m sitting here to share the lemon gummies.”

a moment of silence ensues as jimin starts working on his assignments, too focused to see jeongguk stare at him this time, utterly transfixed. hands moving on his own, it’s only when jeongguk’s hand touches jimin’s thigh does he realise how silly his seating plan had worked out. since both of them were right-handed, there was no way they could hold hands while studying. even sitting opposite to each other, jeongguk comforts himself, they wouldn’t be able to hold hands under the table either.

“oh.” there’s a soft whine that escapes his lips as he realises this, and jimin’s baby radar tells him that jeongguk is upset with something. it becomes even more obvious when jeongguk starts mumbling to himself and linking his own pinkies together, as if making a promise.

“ah, you want to hold hands?” jimin sets down his mechanical pencil, beaming as if he’d solved the problem successfully. (actually, he did, but in another context.)

jeongguk whips around to stare at him, “w-was i very obvious again?” jeongguk pouts, and he speaks like jimin could ever have the heart to reject him.

so, his touch-starved self is showing again, and he hopes jimin won’t chastise him for it. he’s half-convinced that jimin is a mind reader, with the way he so perceptively understands and knows and willingly gives in; sometimes jeongguk feels bad for being like this- it’s just that, most people take a glance at him and deem him a strong, cold man that hates being touched, the peak stereotypical alpha male prototype- but people too have a soft side, right?

“do you think i’m very needy, hyung? it’s just that- not a lot of people let me hug them and cuddle and i really like it but i-”

“i’m not hearing any of that,” jimin hushes, a smile blooming on his face as he tells jeongguk to scoot over to the right, so that he can sit on the left side. that way, jeongguk won’t have to extend his arms too far to link pinkies.

“jimin ssi!” jeongguk suddenly exclaims, ears red as he takes off his hoodie, making jimin squeak. “w-why are you taking off your clothes-!”

“you’re under the air conditioning now,” jeongguk murmurs back, coaxing jimin to lift his hands so the terribly oversized army green hoodie can slip on him easily. “i want hyung to stay warm.”

he didn’t tell jimin he wanted him to smell like him, too.

it’s jeongguk’s first time entering jimin’s room in the dorm. he feels nervous for some reason, for usually they meet in public spaces, sometimes in jeongguk’s room since it’s on a lower floor. it almost feels like jimin is allowing him to glean into something more personal and private- as sociable and extroverted jimin can be, he often is reserved and keeps to himself when he’s on his own.

“gguk-ah, you can just take off your shoes and leave them outside by the rack. i have spare guest slippers so don’t wor- jeongguk?”

noticing how jeongguk has been buying time, looking at jimin and then his covered feet, jimin wonders why he’s behaving like this. maybe he feels his feet are dirty? or maybe he sweat a lot today, so he feels insecure about how he smells? does he have other places to be? 

jimin’s ready to tell jeongguk he always smells fresh and warm, when jeongguk breaks his own silence.

“is something bothering you, jeongguk? never mind, just come in with your shoes, we can talk inside. hyung won’t mind-”

“i’m wearing toe socks!” jeongguk suddenly blurts, an expression of hurt clouding over that jimin feels the ardent urge to hold his hands. “and apparently it’s really ugly. i forgot to bring a spare pair of normal-”

to his surprise, jimin tumbles over in laughter just in time for jeongguk to catch him before he keels over.

“so that was it, my puppy prince?” oh no, he shouldn’t be enjoying jimin cupping his face, thumb stroking across his little cheek scar. “why would i ever laugh at your socks! what even is considering the normalcy of socks? just think about it, jeonggukie~! consider this, then- what the heck are men? also, i think we’re way past that now…”

as jimin’s little musings calm him down, he allows his mind to wander, just a little.

“you sound exactly like another sunbae,” jeongguk quietly whispers to himself.

he hugged jimin extra tight after the door was closed.

it was all thanks to that moment, that he confirmed the fact that jimin was, indeed, his safe space. a little piece of heaven. a safe haven.

the following time they meet, jimin comes bearing gifts.

“ta-da!” jimin announces, handing him a stack of flat items, wrapped prettily with cute chickie wrapping paper. judging by his balled fists in the air and his dewy cheeks puffed, he looks proud of his creation “i asked seokjin hyung- you know, our council president- and he said toe socks are very comfy, jeonggukie! so i bought you some online and doodled on them to make it special. i hope you like them!”

upon insistent nudging to open them immediately, jeongguk finds a bashful jimin looking at him in earnest, in anticipation to his marker embellishments. the pulls open the plastic packaging of the first pair, the left sock saying 〃 ☉｡☉ 〃   WoW! , and the sole of its respective right side going ~  。~ hmm.

jeongguk doesn’t quite know how else to describe this other that pure devastation.

“these are so cute, hyung,” jeongguk coos on instinct, looking at jimin with very grateful eyes, “why are you so cute?”

“you think i’m cute?” jimin mumbles back, little beak appearing from his lips, “thank you.”

“i’m going to wear them every day-!” jeongguk tells him indignantly, feeling the urge to tell jimin how great his creation is, and jimin’s giggles only make him fall even harder. 

(read: jimin falls onto jeongguk’s shoulder, and jeongguk quite literally falls for jimin.)

“don’t be gross, jeonggukie!” jimin wheezes, “that’s dirty if you wear the same socks everyday! but luckily your hyung is smart and nice and look at all these socks he’s bought for you- i can draw more for you if you want…”

it seemed silly, but it meant something. they spend the remains of the day doodling comical faces on jeongguk’s new toe socks.

“hyung, i hate that you always have so many things to do…” jeongguk grumbles, pouting as he flops onto jimin’s bed. they’ve become accustomed to becoming all-nighter friends, as well as naptime buddies and study buddies. it comes to the point where their bedsheets and blankets and pillows all smell the same now, due to laundry fairy jeongguk sharing his secret weapon of downy softener.

“you can rest first,” jimin sweetly but apologetically ruffles his hair, turning up the air conditioning so jeongguk is comfortable. “i’ll wait,” is what jeongguk says, but he ends up falling asleep while jimin conducts an online interview from his study desk.

he only rouses, mid-sleep, mid-wake, when jimin finally joins him on his yellow sheets, puts his arms around jeongguk’s waist.

it’s only then that he sighs in bliss, being held in a back hug- or as a little spoon- and drifts off into a peaceful, dreamless slumber.

“hyung, can i tell you something? it’s kinda silly, but i felt like i wanted to tell you-”

“nothing is silly, jeongguk-ah. i’m always here to listen if you want to talk, my dear. let’s hear about it?” he can see jeongguk’s bunny teeth poking out in relief as jimin rubs his arm soothingly, mouth curving into a very shy smile.

“actually, i go to the gym a lot because i like to exercise and stuff, but also because-! because one day i… i wanna have my boyfriend run into my arms and i’ll be able to catch them and carry them and then finally i will kiss them… but it’s kinda silly to even think about, and now- saying it aloud-! it’s so-!”

so very incredulously embarrassing.

he’s at a loss for words when jimin giggles and collapses into his lap, pretty face lying on his thighs as he reaches out a hand to brush jeongguk’s bangs aside and get a closer look at his doe eyes. “does my jeonggukie want to do that someday?”

“huh?” clearly, he’s been wanting to do it with a special someone (jimin), but he doesn’t dare say the L word- much less the B word. 

“but we- uh! i haven’t even- we’re not… yet…”

“boyfriends?” jimin sweetly smiles, and jeongguk almost melts into a puddle of goo as jimin prods him on ever so subtly. “does jeonggukie want to be boyfriends?”

so very impossibly endearing.

“can we..?” jeongguk’s eyes widen as he puffs his cheeks, and jimin almost rolls off his lap when he laughs, then picks himself up to sit in jeongguk’s lap, to which he secretly revels in. “do you mind if we… b-boyfriends-”

“of course i mind!” jimin huffs, making jeongguk panic for a split second, “i was getting anxious that you weren’t gonna ask and it was all in my head!”

“did i make you wait long?” jeongguk sheepishly asks, rubbing the nape of his neck, “‘m sorry, hyung… i was trying to make sure-”

“what are you sorry for, my baby!” is all jimin says with a burst of mirth and joy, “i told you before and i’ll tell you again- hyung would have waited, if it was for you.” 

“jimin hyung-!” jeongguk’s heart painfully squeezes at the tenderness of jimin’s gaze, and everything just tumbles out of his mouth all at once.

“jimin hyung do you wanna be my boyfriend because i want to take you out on a d-date! and hold your hand and cuddle when we sleep and carry you and h-hold hands and go on a date and love you forever!” he says this all as he squeezes his eyes shut, stumbling over his words and repeating them all with stammers until he’s short of breath. when he exhales loudly, peeking an eye open to see jimin’s expression- for he’s been silent this whole time- is a beautiful, rosy-cheeked jimin with the most beautiful smile on his face.

“jeonggukie wants to go out on a date and hold hands?” jimin slowly comes even closer, interlocking their fingers, noting his adorable lisp and his repetition. “that’s already a given, my baby.”

feeling indebted to jimin for buying him more colourful apparel, in an attempt to spruce up his monochromatic wardrobe, jeongguk tries to buy him coffee instead, since the latter refuses to accept payment in return.

as jeongguk waits outside the nearby coffeeshop for him, creamy latte in his hands, he sees a tiny ball of purple fuzzy sweater dash towards him. he panics, holding the iced beverage in his hands tighter, and relaxes as jimin stops short, a few steps away before jeongguk’s embrace.

jeongguk feels a little sad, but also relieved since he would’ve spilt the hot beverage or dropped it or god knows what would’ve happened. before he can even articulate what he wants to say, the words just come tumbling out of his mouth.

“hyung- you remembered that i wanted to-?” he pauses, allowing jimin to fill in the blanks of the open-ended sentence. jimin only nods with a pretty grin, aware that jeongguk doesn’t want his supposedly embarrassing ambition being revealed, lest there were familiar faces around the bend. as jimin joins him outside the coffeeshop, discussing what to eat, he sees jeongguk pale, turn towards the opposite direction as soon as he sees someone approach in their direction.

instinctively turning around, jimin greets the boy with a familiar smile, “hello namjoon hyung! daily americano run?”

“yep. see you later for ethics class!”

“mn! seeya-”

he’s distracted by jeongguk, who’s tugging on his sweaterpaw, possibly trying to find his hand. 

“can we leave, hyung?”

“huh- sure,” he’s a little puzzled by jeongguk’s strange reaction, but he makes no apparent disapproval whatsoever, and lets jeongguk take them to a nearby cafe to have grilled cheese sandwiches.

“is there anything on your mind, jeongguk?” jimin tenderly holds his hand, looking at him with all the love and generosity in the world. “you don’t look too good.”

jeongguk’s been awfully quiet ever since that encounter, and jimin is more than eager to ease him through whatever it may be.

“i- i had a crush on sunbae before,” jeongguk tells him with ruddy cheeks, mid-munch through the toast, “i didn’t know you knew him.”

“ah… namjoon hyung and his charming dimples and personality, isn’t it?” it’s funny how he doesn’t feel as upset as he thought he would’ve been as he tells jimin his buried feelings. he feels at ease, safe; protected, almost. 

in the care of jimin.

“i really, really liked namjoon sunbae-” jeongguk licks his lips, eyes getting watery as he recounts, “i even tried to put flowers in my hair, like seokie hyung suggested, to look pretty when i knew i would see him, but-” 

“ah, is that why you always hum flower, flower, flower to yourself?”

“d-do i still do that? well- the daisies that grow by the school yards are really pretty-”

“yes, they are, jeongguk. flowers are beautiful. apologies for digressing- please carry on.”

it turns out that namjoon did call him pretty that day, with the flowers in his hair- but alas, jeongguk realised that their love languages were different. namjoon was not one to express his love and affection in physical touch, preferring words of affirmation as opposed to jeongguk’s physical touch and acts of service. hypothetically, it wouldn’t do any of them good if they were to be together romantically in the long run, right?

“i was really hesitant to confess because i thought i might be bothersome- and that day when i was thinking about it, jimin hyung came up to me asking if i wanted a free hug.”

at once, jimin tugs his chair, slides over to accompany jeongguk’s lonely arm.

“but now you have me,” jimin tells him. “you can pick me up and carry me around and hug me whenever you want.”

then the theft begins. (not the hearts, those were stolen a long time ago.)

jimin had supposedly forgotten to return jeongguk’s sweaters, and jeongguk had amusedly been seen with jimin’s white shirts. then their wardrobes started to overlap. jimin’s rings were on jeongguk’s fingers. jeongguk’s beanie was snugly sitting on jimin’s head.

it only becomes worse when they go shopping together. when jimin buys a white top, jeongguk will get it in black. if jimin gets a little yellow chick keychain, jeongguk gets a similar pink rabbit keychain. jimin buys long sleeves, jeongguk buys them short. jimin’s skinny jeans and chelsea boots are jeongguk’s baggy pants and platform shoes. 

today, they’re wearing the same clothes.

it’s almost as if it’s deja vu, when they meet namjoon again along the way to the library. jimin’s hand grips onto jeongguk’s arm tighter, as if to tell him he’s there and everything is well. it’s all okay.

everything goes.

“what? are you a couple or something?” namjoon laughs as he waves to jimin good morning, “are you both wearing denim shirts?”

jimin only giggles with a nod, waves him goodbye.

jeongguk had once thought that if day like this ever came, being accused of being attached to someone other than namjoon himself, he’d be hurt and upset; it would have implied that they never stood a chance, right?

but now, as he hears this, interlocks his fingers with jimin, sleeves hiding them, he actually feels proud. feels happy to be with someone like a beautiful and wonderfully made park jimin.

or as per what jimin enjoys doodling these days, coupled with the marker ink atop of both their socks beneath the shoes, he’s h^^py.

“jeonggukie drinks coffee now?” jimin tilts his head, stepping into his invisible personal bubble, “i thought you didn’t like bitter-”

“it’s hot choco,” jeongguk fondly says, taking jimin’s hands to wrap them around the paper cup, “hyung likes hot choco… you were whining about no hot choco yesterday.”

“jeongguk…” jimin coos, eyes melting into honey, and jeongguk watches with wonder as they sparkle, “you’re too good to me, jeongguk.”

it’s almost as if he can see jeongguk’s invisible tail wagging excitedly, and he pulls him into a hug, careful of the hot beverage, “you need to stop spoiling me, gguk-ah!”

“hyungiwanttokissyou.” jeongguk suddenly interjects.

“pardon?”

“i want to… uh, k-kiss?”

“here?” it’s obvious jimin is just teasing him at this point, crescent eyes crinkling with joy as he giggles, latching onto jeongguk as he leans forward due to too much laughter. then, he uses a pointer finger to cutely poke his cheeks and nose and eyelids and forehead;

“jeonggukie can kiss wherever he wants-”

he should’ve known jeongguk has always had a very big appetite.

it’s a small world. one way or another, jeongguk’s become gym buddies with taehyung and seokjin. as they all run the treadmill side by side, jeongguk decides that he should ask for advice. the duo which he was currently sandwiched between seemed like they had it all.

“hyungs, i always want to kiss him, what should i do?”

“jimin says you always ‘kiss his nosie’, ” taehyung quotes with a cheshire grin, and jeongguk’s eyes go wide. “how did he find out! he was sleeping when i-”

“you could start small… write him letters, cook him food… hold hands and share airpods-”

“we already hold hands and share airpods!” jeongguk retorts, amping up the incline, and the other two follow suit. “i need to impress him by doing profound things-”

“i think everything seokjin hyung does is impressive…” taehyung dreamily says, winking at seokjin’s reflection in the mirror, and seokjin sends him a hand kiss via the same medium. “for starters, taehyung is a very romantic person too, so-”

“i want what you two have!” jeongguk whines, “i want to be like that with jimin hyung!”

“be yourself, jeongguk…” taehyung soothes, and seokjin adds in with a chaotic “hell yeah! be yourself! be gay! do crimes!”

jeongguk’s too exasperated to respond, partially due to the perspiration from the exercise. as they cool down, going slower now, seokjin gently tells him, “i’m just fooling around, but in all honesty, you can just be more considerate, think in each other’s perspectives, and you can always talk about anything and everything. right, tae-ah?”

“yeah! ya know what? if you ever run out of things to say, just ask him stuff a married couple would- like what does he wanna do in the future, how many kids does he want-”

“why yes, i do remember discussing this- taehyung wants to stop at five if we have time, and i’d like our oldest child to be a daughter… then we should have a son-”

it looks like they have it all planned out.

“j-jimin hyung!” jeongguk comes bursting through the door, in the middle of a sunny afternoon, “hyung do you want to have children with me!”

“huh? children? like babies?” jimin blinks at him, it’s only 3:33pm, in the middle of the day, when jeongguk’s asking such a vital, major-life-decision-type of question out of the blue.

“yes! jimin hyung let’s have lots of babies!”

jimin pauses his essay writing for a moment to look at him.

“hmm. is this related to taehyung? taetae is always rambling on how he wants to have as many children as he can with seokjin hyung-”

then he stops short, looking down to find the culprit of the gurgling noise interrupting their conversation.

“oh dear,” jimin pats his tummy, “are you okay, buddy? shh, i’ll give you ramen later,”

“hyung, you didn’t eat again?”

jimin lets his overlapping front teeth peek out apologetically, offering a peace sign. (peace signs are good for any occasion!) “um, i got carried away writing the essay, i guess.”

“wait here!”

jeongguk comes back no less thank 7 minutes later, hands holding a few cups of instant ramen, and a flask. as he pours water out of the thermos, jimin starts to whine ever so cutely.

“did you make sure the water has been boiled?” jimin pouts, frown etched deeply, “if the noodles are half cooked then you might get indigestion and i’ll be worried-”

“we will get indigestion,” jeongguk corrects him cutely, “because we are sharing the ramen!”

“i see,” jimin says quietly, before tip toeing to give him a kiss, “i’ll eat it deliciously, then. thank you, jeonggukie.”

“it’s how much i care about you,” is all jeongguk tells him, kissing his forehead as he hands jimin his pair of chopsticks.

“jeonggukie, could you come down to my room for a bit? i think i’m missing something…”

“sure! i’ll be there in five!”

when he enters, he expects a distressed jimin, a disheveled room; but jimin only tells him, “ah! there you are! i’ve missed you,” he mumbles, a coy smile attached to his lips, and then jeongguk starts to connect the dots, realising he had missed a special person, rather than an object that he wasn’t able to locate in his room.

“you… missed me?” jeongguk almost gawks, to which jimin looks offended.

“of course i missed you! we haven’t seen each other for two whole days! facetime does not count!”

“two days, huh.” jeongguk allows tiny laughs to spill from his lips, a genuine smile blooming, “i missed you too, hyung-ah. my tiny little kitten hyung. baby cat hyung.”

jaya, jaya! hyung i want jaya! 

unable to get jeongguk’s precious little jingle out of his head, jimin decides to buy a whole carton of jeongguk’s favourite snacks, knowing that they haven’t seen each other as much as they would’ve liked to. it’s all jeongguk’s favourite snacks, because he gets hungry easily and fidgets about without his daily banana milk, the way jimin drinks his coffee.

there’s just something about him- jimin loves watching jeongguk eat because it makes his heart full, and his heart is on the verge of bursting whenever jeongguk picks up something to drink and his eyes go very wide and his cute little nose peeks out, kind of like OJO. the sweet afternoon treats don’t just stop there- jeongguk gets successively spoilt with more snacks and cheesecake and grapefruit tarts and boba. 

but jimin will never see jeongguk’s fond eyes when he heads to the counter to pay. likewise, jeongguk will never see jimin’s slow smile when he orders jeongguk’s portion, careful to mention special requests if required.

however, jeongguk does arrange for a very pretty bouquet to be specially delivered to him, with a handwritten card of thirteen hashtags to convey his message. hopefully, jimin loves him just as much too.

“jeongguk-ah!” jimin yells, looking for him ever since the bouquet had been resting in his arms for half an hour, him unable to stop admiring it. it sits pretty on his desk at the moment. “thank you for the flowers!”

he runs towards him, and jeongguk is more than happy to catch him in his arms and lift him into a kiss. “i love you, jeonggukie-”

“jimin hyung-ah,” jeongguk breathes, spinning him in little circles as they both giggle, cheeks pink, “i love you too, my little sunflower.”

they’re h^^py.