Chapter Text
It's a bitter cold December morning and Seokjin is just finishing pulling the last of the cookies from the oven and putting them out to cool.
In the meantime, he goes into the cafe’s sitting area and begins pulling chairs off of tables and setting them back on the floor and giving the tables a quick clean.
By the time he’s done the cafe is open and Seokjin flips the sign on the door and brings out all the baked goods and puts them in the display cases as he waits for the first customers to trickle in.
Everything was usually fairly quiet the first hour or so of opening and it usually wasn’t until about 7:30 that the first morning stragglers would walk through the doors looking for their pick me ups. Until then Jin looked through his accounting, satisfied he was meeting his numbers this week and trying to make crunches where he had slightly missed the mark the week before.
He’s in the middle of that when the door chimes and he looks up. The clock says it's only been fifteen minutes. But it’s not really unusual he did sometimes have the odd customer or two even this early. Seokjin looks at the person that walks in— he’s covered in white fluffy snow and looks sleepy and cold. When he pulls his hood off though Seokjin sees mint green hair and cat-like eyes. His cheeks are flushed a delicate pink and his button nose is just red.
Jin can’t help when his mind coos a little at the sight and he gives a soft laugh.
“Snowing a little out there?” he asks, glancing out the windows where it looks like cotton balls are falling from the sky instead of snowflakes, and the stranger grunts.
“Try a lot,” he says but then looks up at Seokjin and gives him a gentle smile. “Hello,” he says belatedly, and Jin blushes slightly at the pretty stranger.
“Hello yourself. How can I help you?”
The man hums coming to the board and checking over the options— they are scrawled in pretty chalk thanks to Taehyung's artistic talents, and then he looks at the display case.
“Um, an americano please, and what's a good pick-me-up treat?”
Seokjin thinks on it, “have you had a good strawberry scone?”
“I don't think I’ve ever had a scone period.”
Seokjin can’t help it when he gasps a bit and the stranger grins at him, “Definitely the strawberry scone then,” he says amused.
“A strawberry scone it is,” Seokjin replies a little embarrassed and rings the man out.
Seokjin can’t help the small smile on his face. Most of the morning crowd could be grouchy but Seokjin liked when he could have some nice customers to joke around with and he quickly prepares the order and hands it over to the man waiting by the counter.
“Thanks,” he says smiling at him, but there's a warmth and kindness there that lingers. Seokjin nods and lets the man head back out the doors and away wondering if the lingering static in the air was normal.
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He honestly doesn't expect to see the man again. Seokjin has met plenty of memorable customers who go and never come back so he's surprised when a few days later the man is there again bright and early at 7:15 and ordering the same thing.
“The scone was so good I think I might have cried a little when I bit into it,” he says and Jin can’t help the laugh he lets out, his chin ducked to his chest, a smile lingering on his face even after the man has long gone.
When Sehun comes in later putting on his apron he smiles at him, “you look happy hyung,” he says and Seokjin smiles at him too but shakes his head because he still hasn't realized his mood might be fluttering feelings for a stranger.
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Seokjin usually changed up the pastries in his display case every week and he hesitates in the morning when he realizes scones aren't a part of the list this week but he can't help himself when he makes a small batch of dough anyways, freezing some and throwing one scone onto the oven with the cookies.
For himself, if he gets hungry he tells himself.
But then when 7:15 rolls around and that familiar button nose and those cold flushed cheeks come into view and pout when they see the sconeless display case Seokjin feels ecstatic when he pulls out the special little scone he made this morning and sees the way the stranger flushes and bites his lip happily and maybe the happiness makes Seokjin’s heart flutter and he's not sure why.
“Yoongi” the man introduces himself as he takes his food and gives him a shy smile.
“I'm Seokjin,” he returns and Yoongi nods awkwardly hand scratching at his neck shyly before he gives him a lingering look and the most indulgent gummy smile and he’s off.
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“Seokjin, good morning,” Yoongi says shyly the next morning but hesitates, “wait but when were you born?” he asks and Seokjin already knows the order because Yoongi is a creature of habit and never steers from his usual so he’s already preparing his drink and the lone scone is already in its little brown baggy.
“1992,” he says and Yoongi’s cute mouth pops into an ‘o’.
“Hyung then,” he says softly and Seokjin feels his stomach warm and his hands shake a bit. Just a few minutes of Yoongi every morning and Seokjin didn't know how to breathe anymore.
“What year are you?” he manages to choke out, not looking forward because his cheeks are flaming red.
“1993,” he says and Jin nods quickly finishing his drink.
Usually, once Seokjin gives Yoongi his drink he leaves with a few words bemoaning work and giving Seokjin his thanks but today he lingers slightly awkward slightly like he doesn't want to leave or maybe that’s Seokjin's wishful thinking.
“The scones are always so good hyung, do you make them?” he asks. Seokjin nods and Yoongi gives him his signature smile.
“You’re so good. Did you come up with the recipe yourself? And do you just work here hyung or is this your place?”
Jin’s surprised with how Yoongi is standing closer settling his stuff on the counter and giving him his attention like he wants to stay and chat and so Seokjin indulges him standing on the other end drying off some in house mugs they used that he had washed before Yoongi came in.
“Well, it's a standard scone recipe that I refined, and yeah I bought this place a few years ago now.” He pauses before he looks up at Yoongi, “You never told me what you did,” he asks and Yoongi scratches the back of his neck again like he does whenever he’s shy.
“I actually just started a new job a few weeks ago when I first started coming here actually. I work for an idol company with a friend. He’s a producer there and he recommended me and so I got to come down here to work.
Seokjin gasps, “No way that's amazing!” he says and sees Yoongi look down, a small blush forming.
“Please you say that like you don't have a whole business of your own. And don't say it's not much because I’ve been passed during midday sometimes and it's always packed.”
Now it's Seokjin's turn to smile shyly and they both bask in the slightly awkward but tooth-achingly sweet silence before Yoongi picks up his things and gives Seokjin one last smile.
“I should get going though hyung, it was nice talking to you. See you tomorrow,” he says, his voice always a deep rumbling timbre with promises sinking deep and Seokjin nods and waves.
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Seokjin has one social media account Seokjin doesn't use it ever he made it in culinary school to keep up with his classmates and he still uses it to check up on them but that's about it.
Today he finds a friend request from Hyosung. He feels queasy he almost deleted his whole profile but he calms himself and simply deleted the request and closes his laptop.
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It's been a while since Seokjin has had nightmares. A really long while honestly.
He had started to think he was finally forgetting, moving on, putting things to rest.
But it's hard to do any of the above when Seokjin had never even looked under his bed for the monsters that haunted him in the first place, content with just pretending they didn't exist until they popped back out and scared him again and then he’s back to square one.
When Seokjin gets up that morning, the sunshine that had been following him around for the past few weeks dims and he feels hollow, maybe translucent so instead of the sunlight hitting him it feels like it shines right through him. Sometimes it felt like all that was left of Seokjin was some hollow ghost of who he was. Maybe that's why he and his monsters lived so well together.
He’s always heard ghosts were complacent in the grip of demons
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When Yoongi drops by that morning all smiles, Seokjin does his best to smile back.
Seeing Yoongi definitely gives his heart a little peace, a little happiness, but it's hard to completely eliminate the shadows.
Yoongi must sense his mood too because he pauses a bit as he was talking about how bitingly cold it had been outside.
“Are you okay hyung?” he asks and Seokjin pauses as he’s making Yoongi’s americano and then looks back at him.
Sometimes he wishes he could just tell someone, but he pauses and smiles and builds his walls up a little higher so Yoongi can’t see his heart.
“Yeah.” he says smiling sweetly, fakley, “just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
Seokjin may not have talked to Yoongi a lot over the past few weeks they knew each other but he does know Yoongi is intuitive and he knows Yoongi didn’t buy his explanation but he concedes with Seokjin and gives him a small smile as he makes a quiet exit that morning.
Seokjin wants to cry because just when things were going right, his past was still holding him back and Seokjin knew he was forever chained to those wounds.
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“What’s wrong?” Jimin asks him gently when he’s in for some coffee later in the evening.
The four of them were going to catch a movie today. Some new superhero epic that everyone had been buzzing about and they were all going to meet at Seokjin’s cafe before heading to the theater downtown only a few blocks away.
Jimin was here early as usual after school let out and he had sent all the little kindergarteners he taught home.
Seokjin hesitates, but like he had with Yoongi that morning he shakes his head and smiles, “Nothing.”
But where Yoongi and he were still only acquaintances at the most, he had known Jimin for a few years now and said man looked at Seokjin with an unimpressed face. However, the thing was that in all these years Seokjin hadn’t told Jimin either. No one knew, not Jimin, not Taehyung, not Jungkook.
Well, there was someone else but Seokjin doesn't like to think about that either. Another one of his mistakes, hidden in his closet full of skeletons.
“Hyung,” Jimin starts seriously, but the doors chime and new customers come in and Seokjin is thankful for the excuse to leave.
Jimin is just as stubborn if not more and he keeps his eyes on him and when Seokjin finishes with the order and begins to nervously wipe down the countertop Jimin watches him cooly.
“Sometimes I wonder why you keep everything hidden so tightly like that,” he finally says quietly, “we are your friends, have been your friends for years now but then I wonder what I really know about you beyond the superficial and it’s not a lot."
This freezes Seokjin and they stare at each other until Jungkook comes in bright-eyed and excited and crashes into Jimin's back as the latter grunts and finally stops putting Seokjin on the spot.
He’s sorry— Seokjin really is. But he thinks some secrets are better left unsaid.
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When the movie ends they all go out drinking at one of their favorite bars after.
Tomorrow is the weekend so Seokjin won’t have to open shop until later and he’s thankful for that because he knows the younger three won’t let him leave until they do.
By midnight the bar is full and noisy and he sees quite a few women and men batting eyelashes at their table and Taehyung bats back at one point and they send him into the crowd to go get some and see him grinding on some strangers a little while later on the bars makeshift dance floor.
Some girl approaches their table and smiles at them but she’s got eyes on Jin only and he sweats and looks away, the implications clear in her eyes.
“Would you like to dance?” she asks and she’s honestly really pretty and cute and maybe Jin really would have in another life but with who he was now the thought just made him choke and feel ill.
“I-I’m no thanks! I just—don’t feel too good,” he fumbles and lies and the girl blushes at the rejection but takes it well enough and tells him it’s fine as she walks away and Jin chews on his lips.
“Aw live a little Hyung,” Jungkook says knocking his shoulder and laughing but they have all gotten used to Seokjin being hopelessly single for the past few years and Jin has never said anything about it beyond he doesn’t feel ready for a relationship yet because of how busy he is with the cafe and so they usually stop but as Jungkook is pulled away by some other girl It’s just Jimin and Seokjin and Jimin is sipping his drink slowly as he looks at him.
“The cafe has settled down in the last year Hyung, I think you could make time for some romance now,” he says and Seokjin looks at him and he knows Jimin is still bitter over earlier and he’s about to let it pass before he wonders if he at least owes Jimin some sort of explanation.
“Jimin I,” he begins and Jimin perks up, “I know you think I’m not open with you guys or am trying to keep you out of my life but— there are just some things I don’t want to talk about or bring up because it hurts. It’s just too hard… I’m sorry,” he is truly sorry. Because he couldn’t do one thing right. He was broken and wounded himself but he couldn’t even keep his friends happy. He was useless.
Jimin looks shocked but quickly ducks his head in shame and nods and Seokjin wants to tell him it’s not his fault and that he’s the problem but he feels too ashamed to say anything anymore.
Jimin drinks a lot from there so by the time they are all stumbling into Seokjin's apartment he has three loose-limbed and flailing idiots hanging off of him that he unceremoniously deposits them on the couch.
He has an extra mattress that he pulls from under his bed and like usual Taehyung and Jungkook strip their pants off and fall as a mess of limbs on the mattress and knock out.
Jimin is slower and takes Jins offered T-shirt because he had been in a button-down and changed taking off his pants and sinking into the queen-sized bed and after Jin is changed he follows suit. Jin turns off the light and is close to sleep when he hears Jimin’s tiny voice call his name.
Jimin hadn’t talked much to him after that but right now the darkness seems to give him the confidence to speak and Seokjin hums tiredly back.
“Jinnie Hyung, ‘em sorry. I was being selfish talking to u the way I did this afternoon. I just thought— I thought u didn’t tell us things because you thought we were still those stupid kids that worked for you at your cafe from a few years ago and that’s why you kept things from us. Because you were always the cool adult and we were eager college kids but I was being selfish and didn’t realize it could be because you weren’t comfortable talking about it. Em sorry, em sorry Hyung,” he says and tapers off and it’s pitch black and Jimin's voice slurs and his breathing evens out and so Seokjin lets himself spill a few silent tears. He’s sorry too.
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If Seokjin has learned anything over these years it's to bury the bad things and keep going and so when he wakes up the next morning he is definitely more chipper in the face of his 3 miserable best friends.
“Get some medicine in you and I’ll treat you guys to breakfast at the bakery later.” He says to them and gets moans and groans in return and he thinks that is a satisfactory response so he heads off to open the bakery.
It takes the usual 2 hours to get everything done and he’s opened shop by 10 and a few minutes later Taehyung, Jimin, and Jungkook fumble in miserable and sad and their hair still sticking up in various directions and eyes half shut.
“Did u guys literally walk here like that?” He asks and gets nodding heads and he laughs and gets them what they want.
“Love your scone Hyung,” Jungkook mumbles still half asleep and Seokjin laughs,
“I’ve heard that before.”
It’s like he’s spoken of the devil because not even ten minutes later of listening to his friend's sleepy mumbles does Yoongi himself walk in.
He raises an eyebrow when he sees Jungkook who had thrown himself across the counter a few seconds ago demanding Seokjin make chocolate scones too.
“Hyung is’ so good,” he says, clinging to Seokjin like an overgrown koala as Jimin and Taehyung cackle and Seokjin rolls his eyes but smiles.
“I like the strawberry ones though,” Yoongi says and suddenly his friend's heads whip around as Yoongi comes up to the counter.
“Hello Yoongi,” he says laughing, “don’t worry I have enough chocolate on my menu anyways thanks to this one,” he says looking pointedly at Jungkook, “ I think there's enough.
“Nooo,” Jungkook bemoans and Seokjin pats his back as he gently makes sure Jungkook is seated on his bar stool again.
“The usual?” Seokjin asks turning to Yoongi and he nods and smiles shyly as Seokjin prepares his order and then blanches, “wait it’s a Saturday! Why are u here today?" He asks and then internally smacks himself because Yoongi blushes and he waves his hands, “not that you aren’t always welcome,” but usually Yoongi only stopped by on the weekdays on his way to work, never the weekends.
“Oh I have to be in the studio finishing up some stuff, the group's debut is closing in and it’s crunch time,” he says and Seokjin nods as he hands him his order and Yoongi smiles at him and then his friends and Seokjin sees them exchanging glances and wonders if he should introduce them because it’s not like Yoongi was anything… just a customer.
But Yoongi seems to think otherwise because he smiles at his ill-kept group of friends and nods, “friends of yours?” He asks and Seokjin doesn’t know why he blushes but he nods.
“Oh yeah his is Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook,” he says and they nod at Yoongi clearly interested, “and guys this is Yoongi,” he says unsure what to say at the end— A regular? an acquaintance feels too impersonal. A friend? Too much. He doesn’t know but Yoongi just raises a hand and smiles.
“Nice to meet you all,” he says as he grabs his stuff and starts walking, “it was nice to see ya Seokjin. Thanks for the food as always, I’ll see you Monday!” He says and is out the door and it takes Yoongi to round the corner before excited voices go up around him.
“Oh my god! Who was he Hyung?”
“Did you see the way he blushed at hyung?”
“He’s so cute, please tell me you're considering something there!” They all yell over each other and Seokjin sighs bringing his hands up to placate them.
“He’s a recent regular and we talk sometimes, I’m sure he just blushes easily, and no I’m not considering…” he begins but tapers off because really he actually wouldn’t mind beginning something.
The others watch him and share knowing smiles and Jimin rests a hand on his elbow, “Hyung he looks really nice. You should consider it.”
And well maybe Seokjin should.
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After the boys leave Seokjin spends a busy Saturday dealing with the weekend crowd from lunch all the way to closing with Hani coming in in the afternoon.
By the time he’s done he’s exhausted and he heads home and face plants into the couch.
He thinks back over the day, the good sales, a grouchy old man, the boys, and Yoongi.
He thinks back to Jimin's words and his encouragement.
Seokjin hadn’t dated anyone in years and he hadn't had a relationship for even longer. Probably high school.
He thinks back to all the times he had tried dating since coming to Seoul. None of them had ended too well. Everyone had been more than kind but Seokjin just couldn’t bring himself to get comfortable and had broken things off after a date or two. That hadn’t gone too well and it had been one of the reasons that Seokjin hadn’t tried so long but now years down the road and he thinks he’s given it enough time to try again.
And Yoongi seemed nice.
By then again looks could be deceiving.
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Seokjin's behind the counter wrapping up for the day. It's Saturday again, late in the evening and it's almost closing time. Seokjin is pouring over some accounting he'll probably have to take back home.
He sighs just as the little bell indicating a new customer rings and Seokjin looks up smiling when he sees Yoongi. Seokjin doesn't even really notice the other man until they are both closer to the counter and the man gasps.
"Seokjin Hyung?" He asks and Seokjin startles watching the man and he feels like his gut drops so low.
"Namjoon?"
Seokjin remembers highschool corridors and smiling faces. He remembers friends, and then he remembers him and he thinks he might be sick.
Seokjin really has to control himself as he feels flashbacks assault him. Fuck he never wanted a day like this to come, he never wanted to be reminded of back home ever.
Yoongi looks between the two surprised especially when it becomes awkward very fast and he laughs a bit awkwardly, "you guys know each other?"
"We were friends…" Namjoon trails off. Seokjin feels so guilty but Namjoon doesn't sound accusing. Just sad. "How have you been Hyung?"
Seokjin looks down and nods, he's not really sure, better, he supposes, better than the last Namjoon probably saw of him so he forces a strained smile on his face because Yoongi is looking, "good, good," he says and then walks away because he needs to not be anywhere away from Namjoon and the waves of memories he brings with him of a place he wants to forget.
He turns to the sink behind the counter and begins washing his hands watching them shake under the running water and takes a deep breath, "what can I get you guys?" He says maybe a little coldly.
"I, um, the usual is fine," Yoongi says and he seems to be at a bit of a loss at the situation and when Seokjin turns around he can barely look at him he just looks straight ahead unseeing, lost, trying to not lose it.
"Americano," Namjoon says quietly, and Seokjin immediately moves away tucking himself into a corner to complete the order when usually he would stand close to Yoongi to have a conversation.
He completes the orders and quickly hands them over and Yoongi seems really unsure and Seokjin wants to smile and tell him it's alright but nothing is alright he thinks he's gonna throw up.
He doesn't really look at either of them as they leave.
"See you, Hyung," Yoongi says quietly and Namjoon stands there and looks at Seokjin, he still looks sad.
"It was nice to see you again,"
"You as well," Seokjin says mechanically, insincerely.
When they are out of seeing distance Seokjin runs to the door and closes up shop fifteen minutes early.
He wants to be away right now he doesn't want to be in the store he wants to be tucked under some blankets and hidden away but honestly even that sounds horrible.
Instead, as he finishes counting the till hands shaking and he calls Jungkook praying he will pick up, and thankfully the younger does.
"Hyung!" He answers always excited and adorable and wonderful and Seokjin thinks he might start crying.
"Hey kookie..," he thinks his voice sounds a bit wet, "do you um mind if I come over to your place tonight and stay over?" He asks.
The lines quiet for a second and Seokjin is worried Jungkook might say no but instead, his worried voice is speaking again, "are you okay Hyung?"
He isn't Seokjin isn't but he doesn't want to say that or else he thinks he'll never pick himself up again, "yeah…" he says shakily instead mustering all his strength hoping he doesn't fall apart.
Jungkook clearly doesn't buy it, "Come over," he says instead kind of stern, "do you need me to pick you up?"
"No." No Seokjin needed the fifteen minutes of drive time to pick himself up, he was fine he just didn't want to be alone, he was fine, "no it's good I'll just, I'm gonna grab my pajamas and toothbrush and I'll be there soon,"
It's quiet but Jungkook finally sighs, "okay I'll be waiting," he says and Seokjin grunts in affirmation and says a quiet bye before he clicks his phone shut and sighs burying his face in his arms and just taking a moment.
He takes a few calming breaths like he remembers his therapist teaching him and then he heads out the doors locking it all up and then heads to his apartment.
His mind feels blank as he makes a bag and throws it in the car and then he makes his way to Jungkook.
He tries to conjure up some sort of positive emotion. He doesn't want to show up at Jungkook's place empty and terrifying but by the time he shows up at Jungkook's door that's all he feels.
When Jungkook opens the door he doesn't ask anything though he takes a look at Seokjin and pulls him into his arms and hugs so tight and it's all Seokjin needs.
He doesn't cry he's cried for so many years that he thinks he's run out by now but he does just completely sag in Jungkook's arms letting himself be pulled to the couch where he hugs Jungkook just as close as he hugs him and he lets himself rest.
They don't say anything and they don't move but it already makes Seokjin feel infinitely more than the numbness that was consuming him and he just shuts his eyes.
He thinks he doses off a bit. They had hugged for so long. He should be embarrassed but he isn't at all, it was everything he needed and more he's so thankful to Jungkook. Eventually though as Seokjin relaxes Jungkook pulls back and rests him on the couch and he lays back blearly and exhausted and Jungkook brushes his bangs away.
It looks like he wants to ask but he's waiting for Seokjin to say something but Seokjin can't, he never does.
He never does.
Instead, Jungkook just continues to play with his bangs as he wakes up a bit more and comes into himself more not even realizing he had been slightly out of body.
"Want some pizza?" Jungkook asks and Seokjin gives him a weak but genuine smile.
"Thought you'd never ask."
Jungkook finally smiles at him as he runs and gets them both plates and brings Jin soda because Seokjin always complains if there isn't any with his food when he comes over and then Jin eats in silence with one of his best friends and he lets himself just feel at peace.
Despite everything despite all the reminders of his past today, Seokjin wasn't alone anymore. Even if he couldn't tell Jungkook anything, Jungkook and Taehyung and Jimin, they all were there for him. Seokjin doesn't feel alone, he doesn't feel alone at all and that keeps most of the fear at bay.
"Hyung," Jungkook starts and Seokjin nods. "Are you okay?"
He is now so he nods again and he knows that's not what Jungkook meant.
"What happened?" Jungkook finally asks. And Seokjin expects it because even with all his secrets Seokjin had never freaked out like that. He sometimes tenses up or is awkward or keeps to himself and he has his secrets but this was a genuine meltdown and Seokjin knows Jungkook is allowed to ask that. He just can't answer.
He still freezes though and looks at Jungkook under his lashes because he's afraid of his reaction a bit but shakes his head, "it was nothing, kook." He finally chokes out and he's afraid Jungkook might hate him for not telling him and Jungkook raises his hand and Seokjin flinches hard because he thinks Jungkook’s gonna push him out and send him on his way or maybe shake him and demand an answer.
He doesn't do anything though he just holds Seokjins hand and Squeezes gently, "okay Hyung," is all he says and as Seokjin let's a few tears escape and wet their entwined fingers, Jungkook still doesn't say anything.
Sleep comes fast to him as Jungkook cuddles in close and they pass out on his big comfy queen-sized bed and thankfully nightmares stay at bay.
Seokjin is so thankful to Jungkook even when he wakes up and Taehyung and Jimin’s smiling faces sit opposite of him at breakfast and Seokjin realizes Jungkook probably called them and told them he wasn't doing so great
It's okay though he isn't mad. He can't be mad when Taehyung hugs him close and warm and Jimin frets over him and brushes at his bangs and they all throw themselves down on Jungkook's couch and watch bad horror movies all afternoon all of them screaming except Jungkook who just laughs and throws popcorn at them.
By the time it's the evening and Taehyung and Jimin have gone home Seokjin is also packing his bag but Jungkook stops him.
"You can stay another evening," and Seokjin already feels bad. He's overstayed his visit and Jungkook has gone above and beyond to make sure he had a good day.
He didn't deserve such amazing friends like this, friends who did so much for him even when Seokjin could barely give back, it reminds him of other friends, it makes him wonder why these three put up with him.
"I— it's okay," he starts but Jungkook just holds his hand.
"Hyungie it's okay, stay," he says and he sounds sure so Seokjin indulges himself this once and takes the kind hand offered to him.
Instead, he helps Jungkook clean his apartment and Jungkook jokes that's mainly why he asked him to stay as Jin throws the blanket he just folded up back on him and they end up tidying everything and chasing away and the bad tv horror from the afternoon with some sailor moon instead and Jin feels happy, truly happy.
When he wakes up early at dawn to head back home and open up the bakery he leaves a tiny kiss on Jungkook's cheek along with a thank you. If this was the old Seokjin without the support he has now from his friends he really doesn't know how he would have dealt with himself Saturday evening. He's almost afraid of the breakdown or the numbness that would have likely followed. Instead, he's returning to the cafe Monday morning and he feels perfectly fine.
Even when a cautious Yoongi enters the cafe at 7:30 on the dot Seokjin genuinely smiles at him.
Yoongi seems unsure though and quietly asks for his usual order watching Seokjin through his eyelashes and he looks so pretty and worried and Seokjin jokes lightly trying his best to show him he's not mad.
"Sorry about Saturday," Yoongi says and Seokjin almost chokes,
"For what?" He asks incredulously and Yoongi seems at a loss about what exactly either but he just scratches his neck.
"I didn't know you knew Namjoon." He tries and even though the name makes Seokjin feel a little ill he still manages to laugh.
"How is that your fault Yoongi?" He says and hands over the order and smiles kindly at him, "listen it wasn't your fault or even Namjoons," he says because it's true. "I just haven't seen him for a while so it caught me off guard. I should be the one to apologize. I gave you both terrible service the other night so my apologies instead."
Yoongi just shakes his head and his cheeks glow a bit, "its— don't even worry about it Hyung." He says and Seokjin sighs and smiles ruefully and then he considers the words he had been thinking about all weekend.
"Also, don't hesitate to bring Namjoon again. I probably scared him off but he's always welcome. I really was just surprised," he says partially true and Yoongi smiles at that and nods saying how Namjoon would probably be happy to hear that, and Seokjin smiles.
He was different now, he was better and he had friends and he didn't need to run from his past anymore he was okay. He was okay.