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"Wow, you're beautiful," the man before him said seemingly in a daze. Jimin's eyes widened as he stared up at the black-haired male who was on top of him. At his widening eyes, the man quickly pulled himself off Jimin and offered a helping hand to pull Jimin off the floor, all the while smiling apologetically.
"Ah, sorry about running into you, that was an accident. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," the taller male said with a sheepish grin.
"Um... it's ok, I wasn't paying attention either," Jimin responded as he offered a small smile of his own.
The other laughed softly and rubbed the back of his head while staring at Jimin. Jimin looked away feeling a little uncomfortable, and then noticed his book on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, recalling that he was reading the book while walking and as such hadn't noticed anyone about to run into him until it was too late.
"Again I'm sorry, you're not hurt anywhere are you?" the other male asked a little concerned.
Jimin shook his head as he clutched his book to his chest, "no, I'm fine. You?"
"I think I scraped my hand just a little bit but otherwise I'm fine!" The black-haired male responded with a light chuckle before continuing, "So... um, I haven't seen you around campus before, what's your name? I'm Jungkook by the way!"
Jungkook extended his arm out to shake Jimin's hand. Jimin reached out and shook the taller's hand while replying, "I'm Jimin. Nice to meet you."
"Jimin... the name suits you," Jungkook said while nodding in response to Jimin's introduction.
"Thanks," Jimin replied. There was a moment of awkward silence between the two before Jimin finally broke it by saying, "Well I better get going, I've got a class to get to in ten minutes."
"Ah, yea... me too. Um... I'll see you around?" Jungkook asked hopefully.
"Hmm, I kinda doubt it. You're an engineering major and I'm a literature major. We probably won't have classes together, and our two circles don't interact so it's not likely we'll see each other again unless it's on purpose," Jimin responded spotting the logo on Jungkook's jacket.
"How did you know I was an engineering major?" Jungkook asked surprised.
"The logo on your jacket. That's the engineering club's logo, it's a huge giveaway seeing as those jackets are kinda exclusive for you guys," Jimin replied.
"Oh... that is quite the giveaway I suppose," Jungkook said laughing. Jimin smiled at that, Jungkook's laugh was quite nice.
"Yeah, it is," Jimin said.
"But... I'd like to see you again, so maybe we could meet on purpose?" Jungkook asked shyly.
Jimin raised an eyebrow at that, "why do you want to see me again?"
"Well... you're really, really pretty and I... I kind of want to get to know you," Jungkook responded, his cheeks taking on a red hue. Jimin frowned at that response and glanced up towards Jungkook's head. The number there surprised him. 0%. That's not a number he saw often. Jungkook was telling him the complete truth at the moment.
At Jimin's lack of response and frown, Jungkook quickly spoke up again, "I-I know I sound weird saying that but I don't have any bad intentions! I just want to be friends!"
The number changed. 10%. Less of the truth now. But still, a rather low number compared to the high numbers he was used to seeing on a daily basis. No one ever told the truth these days.
"Friends?" Jimin questioned, his mouth in a thin line.
"Well... not really. I'd rather ask you out but we've only just met and I don't think that's appropriate..." Jungkook replied the red hue to his cheeks expanding. The number was back to 0%. Jimin couldn't help but let his lips twitch upwards at that. He couldn't believe the honesty he was getting from this total stranger. This wasn't usually how someone would express interest in him. It was usually never this honest or pure. The number was always in the upper 40s or higher when someone asked him out or said he was pretty.
"...and so I wanted to get to know you first is all." Jungkook continued when Jimin didn't reply, his voice trailing off near the end seemingly losing confidence in himself.
Jimin stared at Jungkook for a moment before he began laughing softly, "you're cute Jungkook."
* * * *
It was around middle school when Jimin developed the ability to see the numbers and tell when people were lying to him. That was also the time he lost all his friends because of it.
"Jimin's so weird these days. He always knows when I'm not telling the truth... it's almost scary how he knows," Sohyun said to Yongjae. Jimin was browsing through the books in the library and stumbled upon the two talking in the row in front of him. He kept his head low hoping they wouldn't notice him through the shelves.
"Yea... it creeps me out. Even when I'm only partially lying he knows!" Yongjae said.
"I don't like it... it's not like I want to lie all the time. It's just easier than telling the truth. And white lies exist so feelings can be spared. But I can't even tell white lies around him," Sohyun complained.
"I get it. I've been hanging out with him less for that reason. So have the others. It's just too hard. No one wants to upset him, but it's hard to not tell white lies sometimes," Yongjae replied.
Jimin didn't want to hear anymore. He quickly put down the book he'd been holding and headed for the library exit. He was sure his former friends knew he'd heard them, but they made no effort to apologize when they later saw him. Rather, they ignored him.
And since then, Jimin avoided making friends, it's not a hard thing to do with his nose in a book all the time.
* * * *
"This is Taehyung, and over there is Hoseok hyung, his boyfriend," Jungkook said introducing Jimin to a couple of his friends. The two had been hanging out for a couple of weeks now, and Jungkook had thought it was time Jimin become acquainted with his friends, seeing as Jimin didn't have any of his own.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Jimin," Jimin said and bowed a little in greeting.
"Oh, you're so cute! The cutest thing I've ever seen!" Taehyung said immediately pinching Jimin's cheeks. Jimin noted the 10% glowing above Taehyung's head.
"Really Tae? This is why I have trust issue with you! You said I was the cutest thing you'd ever seen!" Hoseok fake pouted at his boyfriend.
"You are! Jimin is second cute," Taehyung replied glancing back at Hoseok with a dazzling smile as he let go of Jimin's cheeks. The number on his head dropped to 0%. Wow, Taehyung must love his boyfriend, Jimin thought in awe as he rubbed his sore cheeks.
"Hyung... you shouldn't pinch Jimin's cheeks, he's older than you. It's disrespectful," Jungkook said scolding Taehyung as he looked worriedly at Jimin, being all too aware of how hard Taehyung's pinches could be.
"He's older then Tae? No way, you look 16, no offense!" Hoseok said to Jimin.
"None taken, but I'm 21," Jimin replied.
"That's the same age as me! You lied Kookie!" Taehyung exclaimed indignantly.
"No Jimin hyung was born in October. He's older," Jungkook defended.
"That's not much of a difference! It's only 2 months!" Taehyung argued.
"Let's ignore these two and go grab lunch," Hoseok said grabbing a hold of Jimin's hand and walking towards the counter to order their food.
* * * *
"They'll make it in time," Jimin's teacher reassured him as he went to make sure the stage was set up. 80%. Of course, the teacher didn't know if Jimin's parents would make it in time. But the fact that Jimin was still waiting for his parents to arrive, with only five minutes left till the award ceremony started, wasn't reassuring Jimin at all. It seemed all the other parents had arrived to see their children, so where were Jimin's parents? Would they miss his middle award ceremony? He knew his parents didn't care about him, weren't ever actually proud of him, but still, they wouldn't miss this would they?
Five minutes passed and they still hadn't arrived. Jimin walked up onto the stage when his name was called with a small pout on his face. He took his awards and didn't wait around for anyone to take pictures. Who would take them anyway? When the ceremony was just about over is when he saw his parents sneak in.
When he met with them after the ceremony finished he asked them why they'd been so late. They tried to deny being late.
"What do you mean? We were here the whole time! You probably just couldn't see us!" Jimin's mom said smiling her most charming smile. 100% glowed above her head.
"So you managed to get pictures?" Jimin asked.
"Aw, we're sorry son, the camera died when we arrived so we didn't manage to take any," Jimin's dad said trying to sound apologetic. 90% gleamed above his head.
"Oh. At least you didn't capture the moment I tripped on stage," Jimin said.
"Yea, we're sorry that happened to you, you're not hurt are you?" Jimin's mother asked not realizing Jimin was lying to her.
"I was lying, mom. I didn't trip. You said you were here the whole time, you'd have known I was lying if that was true," Jimin responded as he began walking away towards the car. His parents followed a few feet behind him. He could hear his mother whisper yelling at his father for making them late.
Jimin heard his father sigh. "It's not like he got any important awards anyway, we didn't miss much."
Jimin glanced back to see a 17% illuminating from his father's head. Even if he knew his father wasn't ever really proud of him, it still hurt to see the truth staring him in the face.
* * * *
For winter break Jimin went back home even though he was aware his parents wouldn't care or be around much. At least he'd be in his hometown and close to the sea. Jimin had planned to spend the break by himself but those plans quickly changed when Jungkook realized they lived very close to one another. A 15-minute drive from one another in reality. And so, Jungkook invited Jimin over and Jimin went whenever he found his own house empty.
When Jungkook had introduced him to Yoongi, Jimin had been surprised by how close they were to each other. The two stepbrothers seemed to know each other very well, and they were so genuine with one another. And this genuine family bond extended to their parents as well, Jimin soon learned. The whole family trusted each other and rarely lied about anything to one another. Honestly, Jimin was a little envious of how close the family was to one another. Jimin had longed for that to be the case in his own family, but his parents were never were honest with him, and no matter what others said, it was obvious his parents didn't care about him.
Jungkook was staring at him again. Jimin could feel the younger's eyes on him even as he tried to concentrate on his book. It was a little uncomfortable. Jimin didn't understand why Jungkook would always stare, what was there even to stare at? Sure, Jungkook meant it when he called Jimin pretty, but... that shouldn't translate into Jungkook wanting to look at him all the time. Or should it? Jimin honestly wasn't sure. None of his dates ever really meant it when they'd called him pretty. And Jimin just wasn't used to attention from anyone.
"Kook, stop staring at Jimin and focus. I need you to memorize those lines now so we can record soon," Yoongi berated the youngest.
"Sorry hyung!" Jungkook said as he turned his attention back to the paper in hand and tried to memorize the words. Yoongi sighed before getting up from his computer and crossing the large expanse of his bedroom to sit beside Jimin.
"He really likes you," Yoongi whispered while staring at Jungkook. Jimin glanced above Yoongi's head and saw the number 3% glowing there.
"I don't see why he does," Jimin whispered back wondering why all of Jungkook's friends and family always had such low numbers.
"It's because one, you're pretty. Two, you're kind to everyone. Three, you have a nice smile. And four, you make his heart flutter every time he looks at you," Yoongi said while shaking his head with a small smile on his face. 0%. Jimin didn't know how to feel about that.
"He told you all that?" Jimin asked.
"Yea he did. But he didn't have to tell me anything for me to know he's got a huge crush on you," Yoongi replied. 0%.
"How do you know that?" Jimin questioned, he still couldn't believe Jungkook liked him so much, even though the evidence was staring him in the face.
"Because I basically raised him. Since we're stepbrothers, we've been through a lot together and we both know each other very well. I always know when he has a crush on someone," Yoongi responded confidently. 13%. Seems like there were some doubts in Yoongi about knowing Jungkook completely.
* * * *
"I like you! Will you go out with me?" Chanyeol asked, holding out a bouquet to Jimin. Jimin blushed as he took the flowers and looked above Chanyeol's head. 38%. One of the lowest numbers Jimin had ever seen on a person's head when they confessed. The last person to ask him out had a 63% over their head, so this was significantly less. Maybe 38% wasn't bad? Maybe with time, the number would drop as Chanyeol's feeling grew. Jimin hoped that would happen as Jimin had a huge crush on the junior and wanted to say yes. And so he did.
"I-I like you too," Jimin admitted with a shy smile.
"Y-you do?!" Chanyeol asked in surprise and Jimin nodded while hiding his face behind the flowers. Chanyeol's face broke out into a huge grin as he cheered. "So that means you'll go out with me right? You'll be my boyfriend?" Chanyeol asked for confirmation.
Jimin nodded and his blush deepened when Chanyeol hugged him after placing a kiss on his forehead.
"I'm so happy!" Chanyeol exclaimed. Jimin's smile lost a little of its gleam when he saw the 40% when they pulled apart.
* * * *
"Jungkook?" Jimin called out as he watched the younger unwrap his sandwich. They were at one of the local restaurants having lunch. There was only a day left of break, and then they'd have to head back to Seoul since classes would start.
"Yes, Jimin?" Jungkook replied as he took a bite.
"Are you ever going to ask me out?" Jimin asked with a straight face.
"W-what?!" the younger sputtered, his face turning red as he choked on the bite he'd just taken. Jimin was quick to give him his water bottle watching worriedly as Jungkook devoured the water.
When it seemed his chocking session had ended, Jungkook looked up at Jimin and hesitated a moment before asking, "do you want me to ask you out?"
"When we first met you said you did. But you said it was too soon to be appropriate. It's been a month now... so I was just wondering if maybe you've changed your mind," Jimin said looking down at his unopened sandwich.
A moment of silence passed over them. I guess he did lose interest in dating, after all, Jimin thought to himself as he began unwrapping his sandwich. It disappointed him a little.
"I haven't changed my mind," Jungkook suddenly spoke up, drawing Jimin's attention to him. 0%.
"Oh?" Jimin prompted.
"I'm... I was just waiting for the right moment to ask you out," Jungkook admitted. The number above his head stayed at 0.
"Hmm... in that case... can now be the right moment?" Jimin asked, a smile growing on his face as he looked down again. He was happy to see 0%, he was happy to see that Jungkook was still interested in him.
* * * *
Chanyeol hyung, can we go on a date tomorrow?" Jimin asked his boyfriend while they sat together for lunch. They'd been dating for two months now.
"Sorry Jimin, I've got an upcoming test and could use this weekend to study," Chanyeol replied not tearing his eyes away from his phone.
Jimin glanced up above Chanyeol's head to see 80% written above his head. Jimin sighed and returned his gaze to his drink taking another sip and feeling disappointed.
Upon hearing his sigh, Chanyeol looked up from his phone and gave Jimin a small smile. "Don't be upset with me. I promise to make it up to you next weekend ok?"
60%. At least it wasn't 90% like last time, Jimin thought as he nodded.
Chanyeol's smile widened as he reached over and stroked Jimin's cheek. "You're so pretty. I hate seeing you sad, I'm sorry ok?"
75%.
* * * *
"I think we lost Namjoon and Jin hyung," Jungkook said as he walked hand in hand with Jimin. The two were somewhat lost in the fairgrounds, having gotten separated from their hyungs. The four of them had come to the fair on a double date. But two hours into their date, they'd lost sight of the other couple.
"I'm sure we'll find them eventually," Jimin replied as they continued to walk. They eventually passed the Ferris wheel and when Jungkook noticed that the line was rather short, he pulled Jimin along to get in line.
"I don't like heights," Jimin muttered eyeing the Ferris wheel with a pout.
"Aw, why?" Jungkook asked.
"It's just scary. Being so high up. What if the ride malfunctions and the carriage falls?" Jimin asked.
"That won't happen. They make sure these rides are secure before they let anyone on," Jungkook said trying to reassure Jimin.
"I don't know..." Jimin said still eyeing the ride suspiciously.
"Come on, for me?" Jungkook pleaded as they neared the front of the line.
"Fine," Jimin conceded.
Jungkook cheered. They soon boarded one of the carriage carts and the ride began moving them upwards. Jimin held on tightly to his seat as he glanced outside in both fear and awe. When they reached the top and the cart slowed to a stop, Jimin took in the gorgeous view.
"It's so pretty," Jimin whispered.
"It is. But not as pretty as you," Jungkook hummed in response as he looked away from the window and towards Jimin. Jimin looked at the younger as well, smiling when he saw the 0% still above the younger's head.
Despite it being three whole months of dating, Jungkook still liked him. He still didn't lie to him. He was always honest and genuine. It made Jimin's heart swell.
"Jimin?" Jungkook called out to the elder who was somewhat lost in his thoughts. Jimin hummed in response.
"I love you," Jungkook said. Jimin's eyes widened in surprise. He quickly glanced up to see the number hadn't changed. He looked back at Jungkook's face, still finding it hard to believe.
"You don't have to say it back, I just wanted you to know," Jungkook said. The younger was blushing as he looked away from Jimin, unable to maintain eye contact. Jimin felt his heart race as he slowly stood up and went over to Jungkook's side. He sat beside the taller and placed his hands on Jungkook's cheeks forcing the younger to look at him.
Jimin smiled happily as he leaned forward and kissed the other. When he pulled away he said, "You're always so honest with me. I love you too. You mean a whole lot to me. I'm so happy we met."
"Me too. I'm so happy with you. I don't think I'll ever stop loving you," Jungkook said, and Jimin didn't have to look up to know the younger meant it. Jungkook leaned forward and kissed Jimin again and Jimin happily kissed back. He'd found his soulmate, he was sure of it.