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Jungkook still feels so out of place on this side of town.
He’s grown to view the rotting wood and the dirty streets of the west end of town as home that the clean streets of the east side are unnerving.
No one here knows who he is. No one here knows how he lives.
It wasn’t the life he chose and it wasn’t the life he wanted but it was who he was and he never questioned it.
At least not until he met him.
It had been a mistake honestly. A few months back Taemin, the drug dealer Jungkook worked for on the west end, told him that he had a large delivery on the east end of town that he wanted Jungkook to carry out. Told him that he had a certain boyish charm to his face that no one would ever suspect him.
Jungkook’s always been self conscious of the youth evident on his face, always blushing when the Taemin’s other runners tease him for his large eyes unable to find a way to defend himself.
But this time they played into the boss’ favor. So he ventured over to the east end for the first time in his 21 years.
All he had to do was collect payments from a very wealthy businessman and make the trade, but immediately he was lost in the unfamiliar city.
“Do you need some help?” A kind voice comes from behind him. Jungkook had turned around and came face to face with the most beautiful person he’s ever seen in his life. Jungkook had never really seen beauty before, had only read about it in the books he stole from chain stores he and his friends would visit. He always wondered what true beauty would look like and he figures it must be this person.
“You look lost...I have to go into work but if you follow me in i’m sure I can help you!” The man continues, the sun shining off of his perfect pink hair. Who even dyes their hair pink? Jungkook looks around and notices that they’re standing in front of a coffee shop. This must be where he works.
He just nods and follows the man inside, physically unable to say no to anything he says. He watches with great interest as the man ties a black apron around his tiny waist.
He sets a small cup of water on the counter and nods for Jungkook to take it. He tries not to shake as he takes a sip.
“So, where are you trying to go today.” The man questions, an easy smile on his face. For some reason this man is completely at ease with him and Jungkook wonders what it must feel like to be able to trust a stranger like this.
“I-uh….I want to get to the Bighit building.” Jungkook stutters out. He understands why Taemin set him out on this mission, he wouldn’t think this bumbling idiot would be any sort of a threat either.
The man giggles and Jungkook’s heart skips a beat. He’d stumble over all of his words for the rest of his life if it made this man laugh like that.
“You’re so cute, the Bighit building is just one block over to the right. On the same side of the street and everything. It’s pretty hard to miss, it’s the tallest building downtown.”
Jungkook feels so dumb now, of course it was as easy as that.
“Are you new around here? I’ve never met someone so confused about what is arguably the most well known building around here?”
Usually these questions would make Jungkook suspicious and start to sweat but something about the look on the man's face makes Jungkook feel calm and even a little giddy.
“You could say that. I’ve never really wandered into the downtown area before.”
The man raises an eyebrow but says nothing more. If he knew what Jungkook was suggesting, it didn’t show on his face.
“Well i’m sure you have important business to attend to, i’ll let you leave.” the man clears his throat and delicately takes the glass of water back from Jungkook.
Jungkook nods silently, as much as he would like to stay here he does have a job to do.
“By the way.” The man says as Jungkook starts to walk out the door. “My name is Jimin and if you ever want to visit again I would be very happy to see you.”
Jungkook let the door shut behind him but the name rattled around in his head as he walked the block to the hgdkgf.
Jimin. What a pretty name.
That’s where the addiction started.
Jimin hadn’t left his mind since that night and Jungkook's stolen romance novels were just making things worse. They spoke of soulmates and two people complete opposites but bound by their love. Jungkook may have been raised in the darkness but in his heart was a blazing fire of hope. But he also knew his place in the world and that there was no place for hope like his and if he wanted to survive he had to crush it with all of his might.
That’s when he saw Jimin for the second time.
He told himself it was just to settle his mind and allow himself to forget about the pink haired barista. But when he walked in, all the feelings hit him full force all at once.
Jimin was wearing a sweater that matched the color of his hair and two long dangly earrings hung from his ears as he cleaned the espresso machine humming a tune Jungkook didn’t recognize.
Jungkook had suddenly felt very self conscious in the baggy black clothes he always wore. He felt dirty.
Jimin’s eyes flickered to the door and then widened when he saw who it was.
“You! It’s you!! You returned!!” Jimin gave him a huge smile and Jungkook couldn’t help but smile back.
“Uh….yeah…” Jungkook muttered, his mind telling him to abandon this plan and just go back to the west side and forget Jimin even existested.
“I’m so glad! Here, you have to try this new drink I created yesterday! I like to call it the strawberry cow. I think you’ll like it.”
Jimin started making the drink before Jungkook could even decline, his body hunched over a glass stirring and mixing.
“Here! Let me know what you think!” Jimin held out a drink the exact same color of his hair and Jungkook had no choice but to take it from his hands. He took a cautious sip and is met with the taste of strawberry and coffee. It was really good and Jungkook usually hates the taste of coffee.
Jimin stared at him with wide eyes, waiting for a response.
“It’s good I like it.” Jungkook managed to get out and Jimin’s body visibly relaxed.
“That’s a relief. I was worried you’d hate it and never come here again.”
Jungkook blushes at the idea of Jimin wanting him to come back another time. “You really want me here?” Jungkook asked, his curiosity killing him. It’s not like he has much to offer to someone like Jimin, he’s barely said any words to the other.
“Of course I do! You may not have spoken much but i’m a really good judge of character and I know when i’ll get along with someone immediately. Plus, you’re cute.”
Jungkook blushed even further and turned his attention back to the drink and sips. Jimin giggled in front of him.
“You can sit at the counter over there if you want, I’m just cleaning right now so we can chat if you want…” Jimin sounded nervous so Jungkook nodded and made his way over to the seats.
“Also, don’t worry about paying for that...or anything else here really. It’s on me don’t worry.”
Jungkook’s eyes widen and he tries to protest but Jimin interrupts him. “My boss let’s me try new drinks all the time so don’t worry, you can just be my guinea pig!”
And with that Jungkook was hooked. He’s seen plenty of people on the west end use drugs or alcohol as their poison but Jungkook somehow found Jimin. He couldn’t stop even if he really wanted to.
It’s been around a month since their first interaction and Jungkook visits the shop at least twice a week. Whenever he goes he tries to dress in his nicer clothes and even combs through his hair a couple of times. The guys in his building make fun of him for it but he doesn’t mind, he wants to look nice for Jimin.
He has learned a lot about the pink hair barista in this time. He knows he’s in university studying business and that he dreams of owning his own bakery and coffee shop one day that everyone will want to visit. He let’s Jungkook try all of his creations for free and each one is somehow better than the last.
Jungkook doesn’t tell Jimin about his life. He knows it bugs him that Jungkook won’t open up to him and it makes Jungkook feel guilty and ashamed. But, he doesn’t want Jimin to know who he really is. He hopes Jimin thinks he’s a university student just like him and not some peasant that lives on the other side of town with barely a penny to his name.
Guys like Jimin don’t like guys like Jungkook and he really doesn’t want to lose Jimin.
He walks into the coffee shop today and is greeted by someone who’s not Jimin. He doesn’t recognize this new person and it makes his head hurt and panic rises in his chest. Is Jimin not here? Did he quit?
“This is good!” Jungkook smiles. He’s really grown to like coffee thanks to the creations Jimin always hands him.
“Oh thank god.” The stranger sighs. “Jimin was all panicky this morning ‘oh is Jungkook going to like my drink what if he hates it’” Jimin hits the stranger in the middle of the chest.
“This is my coworker Taehyung, I don’t know if you’ve met him.”
“I’m also his roommate and best friend.” Taehyung holds out his hand and eyes Jungkook down. He’s afraid of what he might see behind his eyes, will he see the truth of Jungkook’s life?
“I approve of you now but that can always change..” Taehyung finally breaks eye contact with Jungkook and turns back to Jimin. “I’m going home now, enjoy the rest of your night okay.” He winks and Jimin flushes even more. Jungkook likes the way blush looks on Jimin’s face, so he rarely gets to see it.
“Taehyung is annoying. I'm sorry for that.” Jimin mutters.
“It’s fine I like him. He’s just passionate.” Jungkook takes another sip of his coffee as he watches Jimin start to get things ready behind the counter to be cleaned while he waits for another customer to come.
“Yeah he’s passionate for sure...we went to high school together so we’re just really protective of each other. We call each other our soulmates.” Jimin’s eyes shoot up and meet Jungkook’s in a panic. “Not that we’re dating or in love or anything we are strictly platonic friends plus Taehyung already has a boyfriend that he’s deeply in love with so it doesn’t even matter…” Jimin trails off as Jungkook just stares at him in confusion.
“Ah i’m making this weird...you probably don’t like me anymore.” Jimin says dramatically, laying his head in his hands.
“Nonono.” Jungkook is quick to reassure him, “I like you a lot. Nothing would change that I promise.”
Jimin’s head shoots up and he looks at Jungkook with the softest smile he’s ever seen. Jimin smiles a lot but this one felt different, more intimate.
“Thanks Jungkook, I like you a lot too.” Jimin’s smile morphs into the one Jungkook is more familiar with, the friendly one. “Now, do you want to hear about how I caused problems in my politics class today?”
---
Today, Seokjin is standing in their shared run down kitchen when Jungkook tries to leave.
“Hey!” He yells making Jungkook stop in his tracks. “Where are you going and why are you wearing a nice shirt?”
Jungkook blushes. “Nowhere just..just a cafe.”
Seokjin studies him hard. “Oh my god, do you have a crush on someone who works in a cafe? OH MY GOD IS IT ON THE EAST SIDE?”
Seokjin is a little overdramatic.
“Maybe…” Jungkook trails off, starting to move towards the door again. Before he can reach it, Seokjin is standing in his way.
“Tell me where it is and who it is.”
“No!” Jungkook tries to reach past him and open the door, Seokjin slaps his hand away.
“I’m not letting you through until you at least tell me the name of the cafe.”
“You’ll just embarrass me!” Jungkook whines. “He doesn’t even know I live on the west side.”
Seokjin gives him a stern look that tells him he’s not moving any time soon.
“Ugh FINE it’s called Mochi Cafe, can I leave now?”
“Fine.” Seokjin finally moves out of the way. “You should ask them out though, you clearly like them a lot.”
Jungkook pretends he doesn’t hear him as he walks out the door. That would be a bad idea.
---
“Jungkook!” Jimin cheers as Jungkook walks into the cafe. Jungkook immediately starts to blush just like he does every time he talks to Jimin.
“What do you want to try today? Something fruity or chocolaty or floral?” Jimin leans over the counter and bats his eyes at Jungkook.
“I-” Jungkook starts before Jimin jolts up and interrupts him. “OH I know! Go to the end of the bar i’m going to have you guess what it is!”
Jimin tells Jungkook about his day and all of his classes over the espresso machine as he makes whatever he has planned for Jungkook.
Listening to Jimin talk always makes Jungkook so calm and happy, he has no idea how to explain it.
Jimin finishes telling him a story about how he overslept his class today on a quiz day and spirited across campus and sets the cup down on the counter.
“Try it!” He says with a smile.
Jungkook takes a hesitant sip and is met with a delightful taste. It’s sweet but not too sweet.
“What is it?” He asks.
“It’s a lavender latte! It’s my new favorite, isn’t it amazing?”
Jungkook nods enthusiastically and takes another sip.
“So,” Jimin says shyly, his eyes not meeting Jungkook’s. “I was wondering if you wanted to maybe hang out with me not in this coffee shop sometime...like a date.”
Jungkook’s eyes widen to the size of saucers. A date??? Jimin wants to go on a date with him??
At first his chest blooms, so full of happiness that he feels like he could sing. Jimin likes him! But then reality crashes down and his stomach falls.
He can’t date Jimin, they’re from two separate worlds. They would never work out. Jungkook can’t even afford to go on nice dates and he would never be able to pay for Jimin’s meals or any of the other things a boyfriend does.
Jungkook must be showing his angst on his face because Jimin starts to ramble. “It’s okay if you don’t I mean it was just a suggestion you are completely free to say no I mean I guess it would be weird I am just a barista that you see sometimes so I get-”
Jungkook cuts Jimin off. “Jimin I really really like you it’s just...we wouldn’t work out.”
Jimin cocks his head. “Why do you say that? I feel like we get along great.”
Jungkook shakes his head. “It’s not that it’s just….we come from different worlds. We would never last together, it's not even worth it.”
Jimin is quieter now, like Jungkook is a small animal ready to run at any moment. “Jungkook what do you mean by that?”
Jungkook takes a deep breath. “I just think you deserve a lot better than me.” He sets down the drink and avoids making eye contact. “Thank you for your hospitality.” He says before he turns around.
He hears Jimin call out his name but he rushes out the door. He makes it a half a block before he starts to cry.
---
Jungkook’s house is dark. He really doesn’t feel like turning the lights on, hasn’t for days if he’s being honest.
Yoongi and Seokjin keep on trying to drag him outside and Taemin keeps on bothering him asking if he’s going to help him sell again soon but Jungkook doesn’t really want to see any of them right now.
He keeps on thinking about Jimin and keeps replying how sad his eyes were when he turned him down.
He thinks about how his life could be different. Maybe in another life Jungkook would have been a college student too. Maybe he would have gone into Jimin’s coffee shop to study and had the nerve to ask for Jimin’s number the first day he was there.
Maybe they could have fallen in love and had a beautiful life together.
The thought makes Jungkook’s insides churn and he wishes that he was anyone one, that this life wasn’t the one that he had.
He lies down on the shitty couch in the middle of the living room and reaches for the remote for the TV he and his roommates spent all their money on to see if anything on TV can take his mind off of Jimin for even a second.
Right as the TV turns on, someone starts frantically knocking at the door.
Jungkook, alarmed, jolts up and makes his way to the door as fast as he can.
He swings the door open to come face to face with Park Jimin.
“Hi.” He says breathlessly. He’s sweating and Jungkook wonders if he ran all the way here.
“How-How did you find out where I live?” Jungkook asks, completely confused.
“One of your friends came to the shop today and told me to come over…” Jungkook curses Yoongi and Seokjin.
“Oh you didn’t have to do that i’m fine…” Jungkook trails off and tries to close the door, the view of Jimin just making his heart hurt more than it already was, but Jimin sticks his foot in the way.
He gives Jungkook a huge smile. “I need to talk to you okay.” Jungkook just nods.
“Okay at first I was really confused as to why you turned me down I mean I thought we were flirting and you were feeling it too and then when you didn’t say yes I thought you were straight or just didn’t like me and I was heartbroken I mean I really like you but I understand why you turned me down. I know you think that we’re too different to make it work between us, that you think we’re divided by two different worlds but that’s not true.”
Jimin carefully takes a hold of Jungkook’s hands and starts to softly stroke the top of each hand with his thumbs.
“I really really like you and I know that you like me and I want to at least try us. I know you’re scared but i’m not a quitter and I know you aren’t either. The worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work out and we break up but we could also have something really beautiful.”
Jimin pulls Jungkook closer to him and Jungkook can count the eyelashes on Jimin’s face. He can’t look anywhere else.
“Jeon Jungkook, will you please go on a date with me? I don’t care where you live or what you do or anything, I just care about you.”
Jungkook can’t take it anymore and he reaches his hand up to wrap it around the back of Jimin’s neck and pulls him into a kiss.
At first it’s gentle but then Jimin’s lips open and Jungkook falls his tongue over his bottom lip. He opens his mouth to let Jimin in and the kiss gains heat quickly.
Jungkook has both of his hands in Jimin’s hair and Jimin’s hands keep on sliding lower and lower down Jungkook’s back that he knows will eventually end up on Jungkook’s ass.
Someone whistles at them and they break apart.
“Maybe we shouldn’t do this right outside of my door.” Jungkook says, blushing.
“Well, are you going to invite me inside?” Jimin asks with a sly smile.
Jungkook smiles back and makes a grand gesture to the inside of his dark house. “Come on inside sir, it is the finest of homes.”
Jimin giggles and steps inside closing the door after himself.
Before Jungkook can even turn the lights on, Jimin is pressing himself onto him again and wrapping his arms around Jungkook’s shoulders.
“Does this mean you’re my boyfriend now?” He whispers.
“If you want me to.” Jungkook whispers back.
“I really do.” Jimin says before pulling Jungkook back into a heated kiss.
“Jimin!” The person calls out. “I think your boy toy is here!”
“He is NOT my boy toy, hi Jungkook.” Jimin saunters out from the back of the store with a drink in his hand and a blush high on his cheeks. “This is for you. It's a raspberry and white chocolate latte but I don’t know what to call it.” Jimin hands him the drink and watches him carefully as he takes a sip.