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Jungkook enjoys watching television. Entertainment at its finest if he’s being honest. Movies and tv shows, it doesn’t really matter. Except for the news, Jungkook really dislikes watching the news.
But movies are okay, foreign ones, too. The characters look fabricated and poorly selected, the language often irritates his ears, as well. It’s nothing like Korean or English, even though he doesn’t really understand English. He still likes it, because Namjoon understands English. He lives on the first floor, right beneath Jungkook. Namjoon doesn’t like watching television. Jungkook hopes he’s not disturbing him by having the French movie on full volume. At least it’s not the news. Jungkook dislikes watching the news. He wonders if Namjoon enjoys watching the news. Probably not, he doesn’t really like watching television.
The actors in the movie laugh and Jungkook laughs with them. A domino effect if anything. He doesn’t understand why he’s laughing or what’s going on for that matter, the movie is foreign. He still watches it because he likes movies. And tv shows. Anything but the news. The actors laugh again. Jungkook chuckles.
It’s raining outside and Jungkook wants to go open the window, let some fresh air in, vent out the foreign sounds coming from the tv. He doesn’t, though, he might get a cold. If he gets a cold, he’ll have to sit at home and bundle up. Maybe it’s not that bad, he could just watch movies and tv shows.
He doesn’t open the window, he’s afraid of running out of movies to watch. What will he do then, watch the news?
The actors laugh, Jungkook laughs with them.
“Have you seen him recently, I haven’t?” Jimin asks as he’s peering out the window.
“who?”
“Namjoon.”
“yes.”
“are you going to ask him out?”
Jungkook laughs.
“where?”
Jimin shrugs and the action looks nervous. Jungkook gets nervous with him. Jimin lives two floors above him, perfect for someone like him. If Jungkook enjoys watching movies and tv shows, Jimin enjoys watching people.
Taehyung always comes home at 8 pm after work with a freshly baked, fluffy loaf of bread from the Polish bakery in the city, Jimin said so. Seokjin always feeds the white neighborhood cat expensive treats, Jimin also said so. He also said that Hoseok and Yoongi are going on a vacation soon. He doesn’t remember where. Maybe France, perhaps they’ll bring Jungkook some more movies to watch.
Maybe Jimin could tell Jungkook what kind of movies Namjoon likes. But Jungkook knows that Namjoon doesn’t like watching the television. He should ask him why. Does he enjoy watching the news? Jungkook likes movies better.
“I don’t know, maybe to the movies? They say people like going to the movies.” Jimin’s smile is encouraging.
Jungkook nods and sips his tea, he would like to see a movie.
A French one.
"Do you think he'd like to go out with me?"
"I think he likes you."
Jungkook hopes he does.
On his way home, Jungkook bumps into Namjoon, his eyes were wide and kind. He’s always kind, despite the fact that Jungkook gets shy. He doesn’t this time, maybe he should ask Namjoon out to the movies?
His heart skips a beat, he doesn't know how to control it.
“Would you like to come up and have some tea?” Namjoon’s voice is kind, he’s always kind.
Jungkook isn’t shy anymore.
“I already had tea at Jimin’s.”
“That’s a shame.”
“What kind of tea?”
“Black. I got it from China, it's new.”
Jungkook nods, he’d seen China in the movies, he follows Namjoon to his apartment.
Jungkook doesn't mention that he doesn't really enjoy black tea. He enjoys Namjoon's company, though.
The tea is black and fragrant. Jungkook doesn’t like the smell.
“It smells like dirt.”
Namjoon chuckles, not like the actors in the movies. Jungkook blushes, he doesn’t laugh along.
“I think it smells like China.”
“What does China smell like?”
Namjoon shrugs.
“I think it smells like dirt.” Jungkook retorts in a kind voice and sips the tea despite it burning his throat. Namjoon likes the tea, and Jungkook likes Namjoon, maybe it does smell like China, they never mention that in the movies so he wouldn't know.
“Maybe China smells like dirt?”
“Maybe.”
They drink the tea and smile. It burns their throats, and the smell of dirt lingers in the air.
Namjoon’s eyes are vibrant, Jungkook likes looking at them. He’s not shy and Namjoon is kind. He should ask him out.
“Have you seen any good movies lately?” Jungkook asks, the tea now cold.
Namjoon shrugs.
“I don’t watch television.” He’s still kind.
“I like to watch movies.” Jungkook smiles and pours himself more tea.
“What kind of movies do you like?” Namjoon’s eyes are interested.
“Foreign ones. French ones.”
Namjoon quirks an eyebrow and sips more tea, it still tastes like dirt.
“Do you speak French?”
Jungkook shrugs.
“No. I just like the movies.”
Namjoon nods, Jungkook can tell that he understands.
“You should show me sometime.” Namjoon whispers and the tea suddenly tastes better.
“I thought you don’t like watching movies?”
Namjoon nods and pours himself more tea.
“It does smell like dirt.” He mumbles, astonished.
“I wish it smelled like China.”
Jungkook thinks about what kind of movies he’s going to show Namjoon. Perhaps French ones.
It’s raining again, and Jungkook is afraid of getting sick. He doesn’t like the material of his scarf, it’s scratchy and uncomfortable on his skin, he’d rather not wear it at all. But it’s raining and his mother made it for him.
He’s home and the scarf is not an issue anymore, the silence, however, is. Jungkook hangs the scarf neatly by the door and pours some tea, it’s green. He wishes he had black.
He picks up his beat-up phone and dials his mother’s number, perhaps he should ask her to make him another scarf. Less scratchy if possible, he doesn’t like the material.
She answers on the third ring, she always answers on the fourth. Jungkook doesn’t question it.
“What are you doing?” she asks in a kind voice.
“I’m about to watch a movie.”
“What kind?”
“A French one.”
“But you can’t speak French.” She’s amused. Jungkook is too.
Jungkook laughs - the actors on the screen laugh with him.
“There’s nothing else on.”
“You could watch the news channel.”
Jungkook frowns, he doesn’t like the news.
It stopped raining after Jungkook finished his third movie. The last one was Chinese, English dubbed, though. He had black tea while watching it. It didn’t smell like dirt, Jungkook wishes it had. He still doesn't like it.
He didn’t wear his scarf as he went outside and sat on the bench. It was wet and sticky, Jungkook wonders if he’ll get sick. Maybe he could watch a tv show later.
There’s a white cat rubbing against his leg and Jungkook wishes he had some expensive treats to feed it, Seokjin always carries those around. Jungkook wonders where is Seokjin, maybe Jimin knows. He always knows where their neighbors are. He should ask him where Yoongi and Hoseok went. He hopes it’s France.
Jungkook has a good feeling it’s China, though.
The cat meows and runs off. It smells like wet dirt and he suddenly has a craving for tea.
Jungkook shakes his head and makes his way towards the building, he doesn’t have snacks for the cat.
He ends up in front of Namjoon’s apartment.
His eyes are kind, they always are. Jungkook feels shy, but he really wants to tell Namjoon about the movie he just watched, it’s a Chinese one, would go great with the black tea.
“Would you like some tea?” Namjoon asks him with a warm tone. His apartment smells like cinnamon and Jungkook smiles shyly.
“Does it smell like dirt?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s from China.”
Namjoon chuckles and pours him a cup. It’s a bit clumsy, he spills some on the edges, yet Jungkook doesn’t care. He can smell the aroma, it’s similar to the one lingering outside and he wants to ask Namjoon if he has a scarf. Is it as uncomfortable and scratchy as Jungkook’s? Did Namjoon’s mother make him one, too?
Jungkook drinks the tea.
“I saw a Chinese movie today.”
“Can you speak Chinese?”
“No. It was dubbed in English.”
“I can speak English.” Namjoon smiles and Jungkook smiles back. The tea is not as bitter as it was last time.
“What other movies did you watch?” Namjoon tilts his head, his eyes warm and dark.
“French ones.” Jungkook mumbles. He feels bad because he knows that Namjoon doesn’t like movies.
Namjoon looks interested, though. Interested in the things that Jungkook enjoys talking about, not the movies.
“I asked my mother to make me a new scarf today, mine’s old and scratchy.”
Namjoon nods and Jungkook knows that he understands. And the tea is suddenly too sweet, it still tastes like dirt.
“Do you have a scarf? It’s been raining a lot recently.”
Namjoon shakes his head.
“You’ll get sick. I’ll ask my mother to make you one.”
Namjoon laughs and the tea is gone now. The smell of dirt lingers.
“If I get sick maybe you could show me your French movies?”
Jungkook grins and it’s natural, not like in the movies.
“I thought you didn’t like movies, you could just watch the news.”
Namjoon shrugs and Jungkook contemplates what color he should ask his mother to make Namjoon’s scarf.
“I don’t like the news.” Namjoon mumbles and Jungkook asks for more tea.
“Neither do I.”
Jungkook wonders if the tea really is from China.
“I’m going to ask him out.”
Jimin nods and peers out the window.
“To the movies?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think he likes movies.”
Jimin nods again, he’s busy looking for things to notice. They’re drinking green tea, Jungkook has a craving for black. It smells like jasmine and citrus. He wishes it smelled like dirt.
“I think he really likes you.” Jimin eventually whispers and it’s kind, as kind as one should be.
Jimin is the kind of person who knows how to feel and knows how others should, too. Jungkook loves that about him, he always knows things. And people who know things are either kind or make you cry.
And Jimin has never made Jungkook cry.
He nods absentmindedly.
“I like him. I’ll show him my French movies.”
Jimin quirks an eyebrow and Jungkook grins, he knows that look. He doesn’t want green tea anymore.
“Can you speak French?”
Jungkook shakes his head and puts the cup away.
“Maybe you have some black tea instead?”
Jimin nods and opens the cupboard.
“It smells like dirt, though.”
“Is it from China?”
Jimin nods.
Jungkook drinks two cups.
Jungkook doesn’t understand people who don’t enjoy things just for the sake of appearing unique. In a world so full of unique individuals, the term has lost its meaning a long time ago. And Jungkook doesn’t really mind not knowing the definition of things.
The actors laugh on the screen, he remembers to laugh back.
His phone is ringing and it’s his mother, she made Namjoon a scarf.
“It’s black, does he enjoy black?”
“I think he does, he likes black tea, he says it’s from China.”
Jungkook’s mom laughs out a peculiar sound that makes him miss her even more. She made him a scarf as well, a less scratchy one.
“You don’t like black tea, Jungkookie.”
He laughs, the actors are telling jokes.
“And he doesn’t like movies.”
There’s a knowing sound on the other end and Jungkook smiles.
“I’m going to ask him out.”
She laughs again, Jungkook doesn’t feel shy with her.
The actors on the screen laugh along.
Jungkook runs his fingers through the silky material of the scarf and he’s excited. It’s raining today and it was raining yesterday and the day before that. Namjoon still doesn’t have a scarf, Jimin said so. He’d seen him walk home with a bag of groceries, black coat, and no scarf.
Jungkook is glad that the coat is black, it’ll match the scarf.
He also wonders if Namjoon bough more tea, he was running low.
He knocks on Namjoon’s door and waits patiently, the scarf neatly tucked under his arm. He feels like a character in a French movie. Or maybe a Chinese one, he now enjoys both.
Namjoon’s eyes are kind but cold. As a matter of fact, his entire being seems cold and Jungkook feels shy again.
“Are you sick?”
Namjoon nods and lets him in.
“It’s been raining a lot.”
Jungkook places the scarf on the table and Namjoon brightens up, it doesn’t make him feel better, though.
Namjoon loves the scarf, Jungkook’s mother will be happy to hear it. The black yarn was a good choice. Jungkook still feels shy.
“Do you have tea? You should rest.”
Namjoon shakes his head and clutches the scarf to his chest.
“I’m all out. Maybe you could show me your movies instead. Even though you don’t speak French.”
Jungkook laughs involuntarily and suddenly he’s not shy anymore. He doesn’t even remember why was he ever shy in front of Namjoon. It doesn’t seem natural.
“And you drink tea that tastes like dirt.”
Namjoon laughs and his face looks brighter now, he’s not as sick anymore even though it’s still raining outside.
“It’s still tea. It tastes like tea.”
“And they’re still movies, the actors still act.”
Namjoon nods, he understands.
“Are they good at acting?”
“Not really.”
“But you still enjoy it?”
Jungkook nods and he wants to tell Namjoon all about how he enjoys things. He likes movies and tv shows, he likes the smell of dirt and black tea from China, he likes his mother’s handmade scarfs, and he likes Namjoon. He wants to tell him.
They put on a movie. Jungkook doesn’t understand French and Namjoon doesn’t understand the movie.
They cuddle on the couch and Namjoon stares at the screen, he doesn’t really like movies, but Jungkook wants to show him. He’s not shy anymore and it doesn’t even matter that he doesn’t know French, because he has seen this movie before.
The actors laugh and Jungkook laughs with them. Namjoon follows in his pattern.
“Why are we laughing?”
“They told a joke.”
“Did you understand it? Is it a funny joke?”
“I don’t know, I don’t have a sense of humor.”
They laugh again. It’s comfortable and Jungkook doesn’t care that the actors can’t act. It makes no difference that he doesn’t understand the language or that it hurts his ears, it doesn’t matter that Namjoon doesn’t enjoy watching television or that they have no tea left.
At least they’re not watching the news.
Jungkook is enjoying the moment, and Namjoon is learning how to do that with him.
The actors on the screen kiss and Jungkook turns to Namjoon.
“I like you.”
Namjoon turns to him, expression shocked and pleased.
“Did they say that in the movie?”
Jungkook shakes his head and laughs. The actors don’t laugh with him.
“I can’t speak French, remember?”
“But you’ve seen the movie before.”
Jungkook nods and smiles, eyes wide and kind.
“I like you too.”
Jungkook nods and Namjoon laughs. The actors laugh with him. Jungkook wonders if Namjoon has seen the movie before.
“I know. Jimin told me.”
“He knows everything.”
They stare at each other and Jungkook wants to ask him to put on the scarf.
He feels warm and happy, similar to the movie yet he’s not acting. And neither is Namjoon.
And they can’t speak French, but it’s okay because they don’t need to know the language in order to follow the movie’s pattern.
Jungkook leans forward and they kiss. It’s not shy.
It’s natural and fulfilling as if speaking a foreign language that you’ve always known.
Jungkook doesn’t even care that he can’t speak French or that he doesn’t really like the taste of black tea from China that smells like dirt. Because he likes kissing Namjoon and Namjoon is kissing him back with as much enjoyment.
The actors laugh and they smile against each other’s lips. Jungkook forgot what it feels like to be shy.
“I think they told another joke, should we laugh?” Namjoon’s eyes are smiling and Jungkook doesn’t want to look away.
He shakes his head.
“It’s okay.” He places his head on Namjoon’s chest and places a small kiss on his palm. “I can’t speak French anyways.”