Archive of Our Own ^beta

It’s early afternoon by the time Jimin is free from work for enough time to retrieve Mina from the vet and drop her at Taehyung’s. He crosses the automatic door with hurried steps and a bit out of breath. The clerk, and Jimin’s friend by now, Jin, smiles at him from his computer. “Look who managed to come on time for once.” 

“Hi to you too. Is Mina done? I need to be back in around forty minutes tops.”

“We’re not a pet parlour, Jiminah. Appointment times here depend on the ailment. Let me tell Namjoon so he can check the back.” Jin speaks while he types on his phone. “He’s on it.” 

“How’s Mina?”

“She had a small infection on her left ear, that’s why she kept scratching it and crying. We gave her something for the pain and some intravenous antibiotics. We’ll give you a bag with an antibiotic solution you need to apply in her ear nightly. And some vitamins on the house cause her hair wasn’t as shiny as Namjoon likes it.”

Jimin smiles at that, fingers anxiously tapping against the counter. “Thank you, hyung.”

“Relax, you’ll make it on time. You’re the boss anyway, what do you worry for?” He puts his phone down and watches Jimin with a pensive expression on his face. “We got a new client today, you should’ve seen him and his dog. Stars, I tell you. Like father, like son.” 

Jimin lets out a chuckle. “Right. What about me and Mina?”

“Your daughter is precious. Can’t say the same of you though, always forgetting to call, forgetting our dinner dates-” Jin counts with his fingers. “Forgetting the life you have outside from your next new book deal-”

Jimin passes his hand through his hair in exasperation. He knows Jin is right, but if he wants to push his and Yoongi's business to the top of the Korean Literature Industry, sacrifices need to be made. No matter how big they are in his personal life. That’s what Jimin tells himself every time he has to call and cancel plans with one of his friends, or tell his parents that he can’t come visit on the weekend. 

“We’ve been trying to sign a new book deal with Kim Changmin, but he’s proven to be difficult, so I had to take matters into my own hands. That’s been taking up all my time.”

Jin whistles at that, eyebrows raising, “Those are high stakes. I get why you look so constipated nowadays.” Jin lets out a loud laugh, and waves a hand dismissively, ignoring Jimin’s stare. “The guy I mentioned earlier has a golden retriever, too, actually. Hey! Your dogs should marry so I can have a puppy! Just imagine…” He exclaims playfully, dreamy eyes flicking toward the sound from the metallic door behind him.

“You can’t fit a golden retriever in our apartment. We’d need a bigger house.” Namjoon comes out from the back with a leash and some paperwork in hand. “Hey, Jimin. Could you fill these up and sign them?” 

Seeing Jimin’s strained expression, Jin hurries to shake his hand in a placating manner. “You can do it tonight. It’s fine. Just don’t let it pass from today. You can transfer the money to Namjoon’s account later, too.”

“Thank you, hyungs. I love you. I’ll see you later.”

The best part of having your close friends start a business of their own, apart from seeing them accomplish their dreams, of course, is that he can have the benefit of blind trust bestowed upon him. Meaning, as Jin said, he can pay them later tonight. Jimin makes sure to set up a reminder on his phone as he grabs the leash attached to the plastic cone over Mina’s head, and proceeds to walk out of the vet. He makes a mental note to give them more discounts for Jin’s favourite recipe books and Namjoon’s classic collection; he hasn’t done that in a while.

By the time he makes his way from Taehyung’s place to his office he has ten minutes to spare, which he uses to placate his growling stomach with a ready-made sandwich from his company’s cafeteria. He forgot to ask his secretary for delivery food, and hasn’t eaten anything since he woke up. He’d crawled from his bed to his desk computer while still in his boxers in an effort to start a productive morning answering his overdue emails. 

The rest of his afternoon goes the same way; gone in a whirlwind of meetings and papers. It’s dark outside by the time he closes his laptop and picks up his coat to leave; back hurting from staying in relatively the same sitting position for at least three hours. 

When he’d decided he wanted to start a publishing company, he hadn’t expected it to be- so business like. He’d dreamt of spending days inside printing spaces, circles of writers, even mouldy storage rooms, looking for forgotten books he could bring back into popularity for their mere quality. 

And he could do all that, still, but a publishing firm was also a company. And companies have to be run.

Sometimes the life of a businessman can get to be no life at all, he thinks sourly as his car glides through the traffic. The only downside of leading a team and earning excellently, which he also always makes sure to acknowledge when he has a stressful day like this one. 

He’s good. He’s safe. He has food. He lives comfortably. He even has a beautiful dog that he loves.

What else could he ask for? Nothing. Not really. 

And still, he notices that on days like this one where he barely manages to have time for his own thoughts, there’s always a longing within him for some extra… something. Some kind of comfort, maybe; some extra warmth in his life. 

He wishes he had more time for human connection.

The first alarm sign Jimin gets when Taehyung opens his apartment’s door is his expression. Big worried eyes on Jimin’s as he exclaims. “Why didn’t you check your phone? I’ve been trying to call you all day.”

Jimin blinks a few times at him, taken aback.  Why would Taehyung do that?

The second sign is the realization that Mina didn’t come running the second the door opened. 

“It ran out of battery and I only had my business phone with me. What happened? Why didn’t you call me on that one?” Taehyung drags him inside impatiently as Jimin continues to stutter.

 “Okay. First, charge your phone. You must have a thousand calls.” Taehyung extends his hand and Jimin hands him his phone so he can charge it on the kitchen aisle. “I got a new phone, remember? I don’t know all your numbers by memory, Jiminah.”

Calls? From who?

“Where’s Mina? What’s happening?” Jimin’s voice grows tense.

“That’s the thing.” Taehyung exhales, looking at Jimin pointedly. “Where is Mina? I can’t believe you didn’t notice that you got the wrong dog.” 

“I got-” Jimin can feel himself paling. “What do you mean, I got the wrong dog?”

“The dog you got is not even a female. He has a pink spot on his nose, too, did you not check?” Taehyung shakes Jimin shoulders with both hands, his eyebrows creased together. 

A slight panting sound comes from Taehyung's living room followed by a set of thuds echoing on the wood, and a moment later the only thing Jimin can do is stare at the golden retriever staring back at him, mouth slightly agape; eyes big and alert. 

Jimin sees it now. He’d been too busy to even check. 

His stomach turns when he asks out loud, but mostly to himself. “Where the fuck is Mina then?” 

He picks up his phone the second it lights up, messages start popping up quickly on the screen. There are a dozen calls from the vet, and about the same amount from an unknown number.

Namjoon answers in the first ring. “Oh my god, Jimin, where have you been?”

“Did you just give me the wrong dog and did I just not notice? Where is Mina, hyung? Is she okay?”

“Yeah, yes, she’s fine, the guy called half an hour later in a panic. We reassured him you were a decent human being and didn't eat dogs for breakfast. He hasn’t had time to bring her in though. We gave him your number; he wants his dog back.”

“No shit.”

There’s a heavy sigh from Namjoon then, followed by a pause. Jimin can hear Jin laughing in the background.

“I’m so sorry, Jiminah. I didn’t notice cause both of them had cones on their heads, and they weren’t wearing collars.”

“I mean… I am worried, but as long as the guy is good to her, I can pick her up tomorrow. Is he decent, hyung?”

“He’s more than decent.” Jin speaks over Namjoon, undisguised amusement in his voice. “He’s very, very decent.”

“Wow, babe! Thank you, that’s so helpful.” He can hear the tender annoyance in Namjoon’s voice. 

And above everything, that’s what calms Jimin down the most. If his friends are not worried, then he also shouldn’t be.

“He’s the new client I talked to you about.” Jin quips. “Treated his own dog the gentlest I’ve seen a dude treat anything. Mina will be okay until tomorrow.” 

Namjoon hesitates when he regains his phone, disappointment in his voice. “Mmm- I think we just lost a client, didn’t we? You should call him, Jiminah. He must be freaking out.”

“It’s also my fault, hyung. I should’ve checked instead of being so- busy all the time. I didn’t even glance at her, my own baby.” Jimin sighs in frustration. “I’ll call him and get back to you, alright?”

“Yeah, okay.” Namjoon says. Jimin hears Jin’s goodbye, kid before the line goes silent.

“Well?” Taehyung asks.

“I need to call the guy that has my dog and pick her up tomorrow.”

“Is she okay?”

“Yeah, yes, she is.”

Taehyung’s worry seems to melt away in an instant at the affirmation. “If you ever lost my daughter I would never forgive you.” He walks to the side of the room that is his living room and throws himself on his couch, followed closely by the golden retriever that isn’t Mina.

Jimin follows, too, cell phone in hand. “She’s my daughter, excuse you.”

“Do you lose your offspring often, then?” At Jimin’s sustained glare. “Fine. Niece.”

Jimin proceeds to call the unknown number (the dog's owner, most likely) with his eyes closed and a hand on the bridge of his nose. A stress induced headache starting to take hold of him. 

Taehyung is calmly petting the dog beside him. It was his free day today -although he chooses them, since he is self-employed- so he must have spent the entire afternoon spoiling him rotten. The dog seems to trust him, putting his head in his lap easily. He’s actually so similar to Mina- but not  similar enough for Jimin to get them confused.

He feels a pang of guilt at the thought. Mina is more important than his meetings and appointments, and apparently he needs to remember that more often.

“Hello?”

“Hi, I believe you have my dog.”

“Oh my god. Finally! Do you have a habit of not answering your calls?” The voice at the other end sounds rushed and worried.

“No- uh, sorry?” 

“Is Nono alright?” 

“Nono?” Jimin thinks out loud. “Is that your dog?” Nono? 

Are you Nono, good baby? He hears Taehyung repeat to the suddenly very cutely excited dog in his arms.

“Listen,” Jimin continues, trying to get this sorted out quickly. “can we meet up tomorrow so we can exchange dogs? I’m very sorry for the trouble.”

“I was going to propose the same thing, but first- is he okay? He gets very nervous when he’s not with me; he has attachment issues.” 

Jimin blinks at the very, very relaxed dog drooling next to him.

“He’s very calm right now, actually, I wouldn’t have guessed.”

There’s silence for a few minutes, as if Nono’s owner is deciding whether what Jimin is telling him is true or not.

“That’s never happened before.” He sounds confused. “If he’s at ease… then I guess I can trust you to keep him for the night.”

“But can I trust you? How’s my dog? Her name is Mina, and she has an ear infection right now. Is she… in pain or crying?” Jimin feels a painful jab in his chest as he asks that. 

“Not anymore. I called the guys at the vet place when I noticed what had happened and they told me what she needed, so I bought her the medicine. She’s sleeping in my bed as of now.”

“Oh.” Appreciation blooms in Jimin’s chest, and Jin’s compliments of the guy cross his mind. “Wow, that’s- that’s a lot more than what I expected. Thank you, really. Is there anything- uh- Nono needs or likes? I want him to enjoy his one night with me and not miss his owner too much.” 

“He went in for a final checkup so if you could take his cone off that would be great. He really hates cones.”

“Okay. Anything else?” 

“Uhm, he likes cake. Just make sure it’s the healthiest it can be.”

“…cake?”

“Yeah, I only give it to him on very spread out special occasions, and considering- I think he deserves some.”

“Uh, okay, I’ll do that.” Jimin feels the corners of his mouth rise involuntarily, and signals for Taehyung to take Nono’s cone off. “In that case, give Mina some steak and if you’re willing and comfortable, some cuddles too.”

The ghost of a chuckle. “Will do. Should we meet at the vet place, then?”

“Mm, tomorrow’s Saturday, right? There’s actually a park near there, maybe we can meet there? I want to give Mina a very long apology walk.”

“Yeah-” The voice starts, but his words are halted by a sudden, distinct whistling sound, followed by a barely there curse. A frown tugs at Jimin’s eyebrows. 

The voice speaks over the otherwise all consuming sound, much louder than before. “I have to go. See you there then.”

The line goes silent before Jimin can say or ask anything else. 

Weird. He just hopes the guy’s not a delinquent, or anything sketchy. Or if he is, at least that he has a sweet spot for dogs. One night with a delinquent who likes dogs wouldn’t hurt Mina, would it?

He considers calling again to see if the guy is alright. Maybe there was a fire where he was? He taps his fingers on his phone in thought, but decides against it. He’ll trust Jin’s gut this time.

“So?” Taehyung asks beside him. 

Jimin turns to him and extends a hand to pet their new friend. A wet nose with the cutest little pink dot in it occupies itself with poking at his palm. 

“So. Let’s make some cake.” 

Jimin grins at Taehyung’s confused expression.

“...cake?”

Jimin turns the ignition key with a yawn and the motor goes silent, leaving only the pants and huffs of a very restless Nono by his side. He sighs at his face in the rearview mirror; the purple eye bags he’s sporting looking greyish in the early morning light. 

Turns out that Nono did have attachment issues. Things had been going perfectly okay until they arrived at Jimin’s place, and that’s when Nono seemed to realize that he wasn’t going home for the night.  

He’d spent all night crying and barking and running around, and Jimin had barely managed to have a few minutes of shuteye when his phone buzzed on his nightstand. A message belonging to Nono’s owner, asking him to meet before their accorded meeting time, because apparently he was at the park already. At 6:30 in the morning. For a run. 

Jimin’s big on exercising, too, but he likes to be practical about it. He’s never been the type of person who goes out of his way and makes trips to exercise in places far away from his home just because they are nice, especially not so early in the morning. He values his time too much for that, and he values any kind of sleep he can get too much to even entertain the idea. 

Unlike this guy, apparently. The guy likes pain.

The wind cuts through his jacket as he makes his way through the various paths leading to the small lake at the center of the park, an anxious Nono tugging at one of Mina’s leashes. 

It suddenly occurs to him that he doesn’t know what this guy looks like, or what his name even is. 

There’s quite a few people around when he arrives at the edge of the lake, can one of them be him? 

No, cause he must be with Mina. 

Jimin starts making his way around the lake, tired eyes on the lookout for a guy with a golden retriever. 

He feels so eager to reunite with Mina. Although it’s only been a day, the guilt he feels accentuates his longing. 

He wonders if he should take advantage of the moment and exercise a bit, but figures  he’ll probably pass out in his current condition. He feels all weak and jittery.

Nono keeps tugging him towards the side where the grass is, so Jimin obliges. He is about to sit down next to a grass munching Nono when he hears it. Another dog barking close by. 

Nono’s ears perk up, and Jimin turns around just in time to see a jogger approaching them, face covered by a black face mask and a black cap on his head. He can’t help the smile that spreads when he sees a very eager Mina trying to run to him the moment she recognizes him. Jimin’s chest fills with anticipated relief, and the tension in his shoulders dissipates.

The guy let goes of Mina’s leash and she comes crashing on top of Nono to get to Jimin. He can’t help but laugh at the happy chaos that ensues. 

Nono and Mina together are a feast to his weak, helpless heart. 

Jimin turns to the jogger, still panting a few meters away. “Hey, I think they like each other.”

“Hi, yeah I- ” The eyes of the guy widen when they fall on Jimin’s face, his words faltering. 

“...oh, Park Jimin?”

“Huh?” Jimin blinks in confusion, and the guy seems to remember his face is mostly covered. He waves his hand with a chuckle, and proceeds to lower his mask.

It takes him a second to connect the boy from his memory to the man standing before him, but once Jimin does, his stomach drops. 

It takes his tired brain another few seconds to find words.

“Jungkook- Jeon Jungkook. Oh my god. ” He squeaks. “Hi. Wait. Wow.”

Fuck. 

“Yeah. Same. I haven’t seen you in so long. You… you look good.” 

Jimin appreciates the compliment, he really does, especially because he knows that at the current moment he looks like the walking dead. God. He wishes he’d at least wore a pair of sunglasses to hide his tiredness. He hopes he looks composed, because the last thing he was expecting just happened. 

Jeon Jungkook is Nono’s owner. The universe must be laughing at him right now.

“Uh- Thanks, that’s thanks to Nono and his daddy issues.” 

“Attachment issues, and I warned you, didn’t I?” Jungkook drops down to pet Nono, who whines by their side for attention. “Did you sleep at least a bit? I remember you having a very light sleep, no?” 

Jimin does everything in his power to gloss over the fact that he’d remember something so specific, and speaks with his face turned to the lake; his arms around himself. “According to my sleep app-  around 17 minutes.”

“Can I buy you a coffee, then?”

When Jimin turns to look at Jungkook, then, looking up at him with his big eyes- even after all these years, there’s the ghost of a flutter in his stomach. Barely a stir of it; through a memory path buried by time and, Jimin hates to admit it, conscious effort. 

It’s barely the memory of a long forgotten, dumb teenage love, but it’s enough for Jimin’s heart to remember how it felt, and start beating a bit faster as if by reflex.

He smiles, and drops down to pet Mina next to Nono.  “Thank you. Yes, I would like that.”

The first difference Jimin notices about Jungkook as they walk with both dogs to the coffee shop Jungkook knows is the change in his physique. He’s broader; bulkier. He’d be lying if he said that his calves weren’t nice to look at. His face isn’t so different from what he remembered either -sharp jaw, high cheekbones, pretty eyes, pretty lips, pretty nose- but there is a manliness now to it. He looks like an adult, obviously, but there’s also a clear confidence to his gestures that wasn’t there before. Not everyone is able to develop this kind of comfortable in my own skin aura as they age, Jimin can give him that.

He also notes that his hair is wavy and longer than he’s ever seen it on him, falling stylishly over his ears and framing his face perfectly. He still has his cute signature front teeth, but now instead of adding cuteness, they added something else entirely that Jimin was not even willing to delve into. 

“Why didn’t we exchange names in the first place?”

“I don’t know, but to be honest, for a second I was worried you were some sketchy dude that sold drugs at his parents house or something. What kept me going was that my friend said you were nice.” 

Jungkook smiles at the ground. “That’s a very detailed first impression... Why would you think that? And who’s that friend that apparently knows me?”

“The people you met at the vet are actually two of my best friends. They don’t usually have slips like this one, you know? I have no idea what happened this time.”

“Mmh-” Jungkook leans in to the side playfully. A smile and a glint in his eye. “Maybe it was fate, Park Jimin.”

A gesture so unlike the Jungkook he used to know. The world seems to slow down as it hits him. Jungkook is basically a stranger now, just like Jimin is to him. 

“Why did you think so badly of me, though?

“I mean, it was that alarm going off while we were on the phone.”

“Oh. That was my smoke alarm.” Jungkook scratches his neck with a sigh. “I accidentally burnt the sticky buns I was making. I left my oven unattended so I could answer your call, so it was your fault, actually.”

Jimin raises his eyebrows, and his mouth turns into a soft, surprised O. “You bake?”

“I do. But my specialty lies in salty dishes.  Korean, French and Japanese food mainly. I’m a chef by profession.” 

Jungkook’s statement only reinforces Jimin’s last thought. He knows that the awe is clear in his face, and he doesn’t try to hide it when he says, “I didn’t even know you could cook. That’s amazing.“ 

“I mean, it’s been almost a decade after all, hasn’t it?” 

That makes Jimin pause. “Yeah, it has.” Then, “You make it sound like so long ago when you say it like that. It’s only been like seven or so years, hasn’t it?”

“What about you, Jimin?” 

“Well, I...” Jimin thinks about how to go at it. He’s never been one to brag about his current status, and he feels a bit embarrassed to say it out loud, if he’s being honest. How does one say “I’m the co-founder and CEO-” with a straight face? He has yet to figure that out.  “I’m working at Taeyang Publishing- It's a-”

“I know it.”

“You do?”

“Of course, Taeyang is one of the top publishing companies in South Korea, isn’t it? I love your book covers; they are always beautiful.”

The corners of his mouth rise involuntarily at that. Jimin’s glad someone outside his company can appreciate the long, hard hours that go into designing a book cover. “That’s true. The illustrators we work with are truly incredible.” 

They walk for a few more blocks until they arrive at a small coffee shop in the corner of an old but picturesque building. Despite it’s unusual location, It’s actually a popular brand he’s been seeing more and more around Seoul these days. The walls are the same as all the others around the city: pretty wood panels in a light, warm color that makes Jimin feel cozy every time he comes in.

“I love this coffee shop. Good call.” Jimin squints at the big window from the street. Even though it’s only 7:30 a.m., there’s a few clients inside already. Coffee shops are frequented by productive, early rising, hard-working people after all. At least in the early mornings.

He looks at Jungkook as a sudden thought assaults his mind. “Wait, what about Mina and Nono? They won’t let them in. I’ll wait here while you get the coffee.”

“Uh, no, that’s not a problem.” Jungkook scratches his neck. “Come in. It’s fine.”

Jimin frowns at him, but Jungkook only repeats “It’s fine- It really is. Come on.” He then opens the door and signals Jimin inside. Jimin goes in, holding both Nono’s and Minas leashes, biting his lip in apprehension. The moment the barista sees him, he opens his mouth to ask, and Jimin is already pushing Jungkook to get out again. But then the guy’s eyes flick behind him and he suddenly bows. A 90 degree angle bow, which Jungkook mirrors with a practiced ease. Jimin just stands there, trying a slight bow with his head while holding the dog’s leashes as they try to roam around the place.

“Welcome, Sajangnim.” 

The puzzle pieces in Jimin’s brain scramble together. 

“Wait, is this your coffee shop?” He asks Jungkook as they make their way to the back of the establishment, where there are no clients.

“Yeah.” Jungkook makes a face, taking the leashes from Jimin’s hands with a little tug. Jimin gives in and lets them go, and Jungkook looks at the little red lines on his hands as he speaks. “I don’t usually do this, it’s just- I didn’t bring cash with me and I really wanted to get you something to drink. And this is the place where I can get free coffee. So.”

“You own my favourite coffee shop in Seoul. Who would have thought.” Jimin can feel himself grin. It makes Jungkook visibly relax.

“What. You think I would’ve judged you for being a business owner? Somehow not like you cause you think your own product is good?”

“Maybe?” Jungkook smiles at Jimin’s raised eyebrows. “I mean, a lot of people do. I personally think it’s dumb but, well, I guess there’s sometimes a misconception that you can’t like what you work for, but I think that’s the most important thing as an entrepreneur.”

Jimin hums, he yawns and puts his chin in his hands. “I agree.” His voice comes out croaky. “After all, if there’s no love for your work, how can you produce anything of value?” 

“Park Jimin, are you about to fall asleep on me?” Jungkook says with a hint of amusement.

“It’s so cozy I think I might. Could you give me the details of your interior designer? It's so cozy in here...”

“Will do. What do you usually drink?” Jungkook makes a gesture to Nono to stop chewing on the chair he's in, which Nono ignores. Jimin lets out a quiet laugh; he looks at Mina, who is just lying next to him, her gaze toward the street. He feels calm at the sight of her. Mina’s always been Jimin’s stress reliever. When he’s with her, it just feels like things are fine, and there’s a possibility in the world for their small pocket of peace. 

He reaches out to pet her head, smiling when she turns around to lick his fingers. “Actually, I’ll have some tea. I plan to go back home and sleep after this, being Sunday and all.”

Jungkook blinks at him, a sudden worry in his expression, “But are you gonna drive?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ve been worse.”

“I can take you in my car or something. Or yours, and then take a taxi back.” 

Jimin thinks about it. He’s not one of those people that can’t function without sleep, but he’s also not one of those people that can go three days without it. Especially now that he’s reaching his late twenties, he’s realized how important it is to take care of your health.

“Deal. You can take me home. Can I get a decaf matcha latte then?”

“Coming right up.” Jungkook stands up with a wink and goes to make the queue like any customer would. 

It strikes Jimin as endearing, how even when it comes to his own very thriving business, he manages this humble demeanour so naturally.  

Maybe Jungkook hasn’t changed that much at all. Apart from the playfulness and the confidence, he’s still a good man. 

Maybe it’s too soon to tell, but Jimin has always been good with gut feelings. And his gut is telling him that Jungkook is still the kind of guy he’d fall for if that’s what he was looking for at the moment. 

Oh, well. Good things come at the wrong times all the time; he’s learned to make peace with that fact already.

They end up taking a long walk at the park after their coffee shop trip, catching up and just enjoying each other’s company. Mina and Nono are off their leash now, playing a few meters away from them. “Wow, they really like each other, huh? How old is Nono, by the way?”

Jungkook chuckles and leans toward Jimin in mock confidentiality, “He acts like a baby still, doesn’t he?”

Jimin shakes his head, “You’re gonna have to make a new chair for the table we were in is all I’m saying.”

“I should make note of that, actually.” Jungkook takes out his phone and types a reminder in with fast fingers. “Nono’s two years old. I rescued him during Christmas time, but I’m actually not sure when exactly he was born.”

“He is a baby, oh my god.” 

“How old is Mina?”

“She’s five. Wait, actually- she’s turning six next month. I’m throwing a dog party! Nono is encouraged to come.” 

“Can I come?”

“Will Nono drive himself?” Jimin snorts at Jungkook’s side look. “Yes, you can come.”

They arrive at the shore of the lake, it’s almost 9 a.m. according to Jimin’s watch, but he’s in no rush, not even to go to sleep yet. He kneels down to pick up a rock and plays with it in his hands. It’s less chilly than before, but he still shivers.

“Talking about parties, do you remember our senior year… Yoongi’s birthday party? I think it was in our senior year, at least.” Jungkook puts his arms around himself, feeling cold too.

“Yeah, I do.” Jimin answers quietly. He remembers it quite clearly. The only time he’d ever entertained the thought of telling Jungkook how he’d felt all throughout high school. They’d spend the whole night together, buzzed and, just like right now, enjoying each other's company. 

“I liked you, then. Did you know?” Jimin’s breath comes out in a puff. Jungkook is looking at him with a crinkle in his eyes. The old jungkook would’ve never confessed something like that so suddenly, and it takes Jimin a few seconds for his slow brain to process, and his cheeks to cool down.

He bites his lip when he asks “Did you? I didn’t know.”

“I was too shy to tell you- or act on it.” Jungkook shakes his head with a sigh. “Of course you didn’t. Looking back on it, I wish I had.”

Jimin rubs the stone in his hands before throwing it to the lake. It disappears with a splash, and now his hands are empty. He puts them back in his pockets, warm engulfing them. 

“I mean, you’re telling me now.” He says, “That has to count for something, doesn’t it?”

Still, Jimin does wonder what it would’ve been like. If Jungkook had managed to do what Jimin couldn’t. If maybe there would’ve been a beginning there instead of an end.

Jungkook hums. “I guess it does. It’s never too late.”

As Jimin tries to gloss over a statement for the second time that morning, that weird ghost of a feeling he had when he met Jungkook comes back; stirring slowly at the pit of his stomach. 

“We should do this again.” He says. “Come here with the dogs, I mean. They act like long lost siblings already. I think it’s a relationship worth pursuing.”

Jungkook looks up at him, and something flashes through his features, and Jimin can tell he got what Jimin meant by that, even if Jimin isn’t exactly sure himself. There’s a hopefulness blooming inside him, though. That he knows. 

He wishes he was better at this than he is. 

“I’d love that. Nono would love that, too.”

Jimin just nods. They’re silent as they stare at Mina rolling in the grass. Jimin smiles at him. “So, are you taking me home?”

Jimin plops down on his bed with a huff. Half dead from exhaustion, but with a smile on his face. Jungkook had had to give him Mina’s medicine, and considering he’d parked his car on the opposite side of the park where Jimin’s car was, they’d had to walk. A lot.

Even while exhausted, he rolls in his bed, unable to close his eyes. His head is a mess of many unanswered questions and only one truth. Jungkook liked him back. His past seems to take a new shape now that he knows this, and it’s quite frustrating to imagine all the little things that could’ve been telltale signs that at the time he’d swept under the rug. 

He knows that since he hasn’t slept, his mind is a little feverish, and that’s why he allows this train of thought to continue. He knows that as the adult he is, there are other, more important things to worry about, but right now, if he’s completely honest, his head is filled with the man he spent the whole morning with. A man for whom he used to have feelings for. 

Besides, it’s Sunday, he deserves a break.

The week that follows is one full of last minute meetings, important emails and author visits. Jimin spends most of his time absorbed in work, running over both new book and investment proposals, and running around between taking more care of Mina and going back to the office. Even with all the usual stress, a part of him feels lighter than usual. He finds himself spacing out, pen tapping the surface of his desk, thinking of what he’ll wear on Saturday, or where he can take Jungkook to drink something nice (he wants to return the favour), or replaying the conversation they had in the park; or the one they had in the cafe; or the one they had in Jungkook’s car as he was taking Jimin to his place.

Jimin wouldn’t admit to this teenager's demeanour even if someone asked him directly, but, he does admit to himself how giddy he feels inside. 

When he meets him that Saturday, it’s like time hasn’t passed at all. They choose a different park this time, one closer to both their places -they discovered they live fairly close to each other-, and that has more green spaces meant for dogs, and some food stands for them to enjoy. Jungkook decides not to jog this time, but still dresses in sweatpants, and Jimin can’t help but wonder whether this could be considered a date had they agreed on it. 

With the way they are around each other -Jungkook’s eyes crinkling every time Jimin does something silly, or his puckered lips as he argues back on something he’s teasing him about, and Jimin’s feeling of ease and comfort engulfing him warmly- it feels like one to him, so much so, that he finds himself holding Jungkook’s wrist at various points in time. But not his hand, not yet, because Jimin is not the best at handling rejection, and he deems it too risky.

It all feels like a date, but he doesn’t mention it. It’s only the second time they’ve seen each other, after all, and Jimin is not the type to rush or assume.

Meeting on Saturdays becomes their thing, and Jimin starts looking forward to it the most, but unlike the first few times, he tries not to think about it too much during the week. He wills himself not to overthink, that is, and not to daydream. He’s realized it gets to be a problem at the office. Yoongi gives him hell for it, but not as much as Jimin himself does. 

He has this very permanent dread inside him that he doesn’t even want to think about when it comes to his relationship with Jungkook. He knows the feelings he had came back already, and even though he doesn’t want to stop seeing him, he doesn’t know how much more of this pining he can handle. 

One would think that as an adult Jimin would’ve gotten a hold of himself already, but apparently it’s easier said than done. So as a coping mechanism, he tries to drown himself in work of course. Meeting after meeting, proposal after proposal, email after email, he tries his best to keep this up until the fourth week since they met.

He’s lounging in his living room on a late Friday night, a half empty bottle of wine on his living room table and Mina asleep by his side, when he receives a message.

Jungkook:

Are you busy right now? 

Jimin:

Hello, Jimin. How was your week? It was fine! thank you! I’m glad to hear that, sorry to ask but are you busy right now? No, Jungkook, I’m actually not! what’s up?

Jungkook:

Too many exclamation marks

Jimin:

Hahaha

Jungkook:

I do want to know about your week, but I wanted to ask you that in person. Can you come to my place? And bring Mina

Jimin: 

Why? Is everything okay?

Jungkook:

I have something for you

Jimin:

For me? What is it?

Jungkook:

Come and see

;)

[Jungkook sent his location. Tap to see.]

Jimin calls the driver he reserves for when he travels somewhere with Mina and he can’t take his own car. Jimin hates rich people things, but this is the only one he allows himself to have for situations like this one. He’s a bit tipsy, the street lights he sees from the passenger window slightly blurry, and even then he’s a bit more nervous than he would have expected. 

He spends the rest of the relatively short trip biting his smile down.

Jungkook lives in a very fancy neighbourhood, as expected, but more so Jimin wonders how his own place looks like. Jimin has learned from experience that you can’t judge someone from the kind of neighbourhood they inhabit, but for the space they are supposed to make their own. 

He remembers 17-year-old Jungkook’s room, all muted colours and bright anime posters, and wonders how much he’ll discover of this Jungkook this time around. 

Jungkook answers at the first ring. His lips curving into a smile the moment his eyes land on Jimin, hands rubbing together in what Jimin thinks is excitement.

“I thought we were meeting tomorrow.” Jimin can’t help the grin that tugs at his mouth then. Maybe he’s drunker than he thought. 

“Come in.” Jungkook’s warm gaze takes a minute to take Jimin in as he takes off his shoes and steps inside, before licking his lips nervously and turning it down toward Mina. “Hiiii baby Mina.”

Jungkook’s place is all creams and greys and pleasant harmony. It feels cozy but spacious at the same time; welcoming. Like Jungkook, Jimin thinks. 

“I brought the wine I was drinking.” Jimin says, at which Jungkook cocks an eyebrow in amusement. “What? It’s Friday night and my week has been hell.”

Jungkook takes Jimin’s bag and throws it on his sofa. He takes the wine bottle out and examines it with a hum.

“Are you also a wine expert?”

“I have to be. I, uh, have a few high end restaurants around the Gangnam area.”

Jimin’s eyes grow bigger at that. “You are a box full of surprises, Jeon Jungkook.” He sighs dramatically. “When you think you know them.”

“Not at you not telling me you’re actually the founder of Taeyang Publishing.” Jungkook snorts, gaze still fixed in the bottle. “This Bordeaux is expensive, and you were drinking it alone?” He tsks. “You have good taste, though, I approve.”

Jimin’s frozen in place for a second still. “Co-founder. How did you… ah, you googled me?”

Jungkook barks out a laugh. “Yes. I’m guilty.”

Jimin takes the wine from his hands. Jungkook’s eyes open in surprise, but Jimin is smiling. “Yah, can I not enjoy my wine alone? That means I have an actual appreciation for good wine. You should be glad I brought some for you.” 

At this point they’re both still smiling to the point that Jimin thinks it’s a little ridiculous. Jungkook takes Jimin by the shoulders and nudges him toward the nearest hallway.

“I am. I’m glad you brought it here to share. Come, I want to show you my kitchen.”

Jungkook’s kitchen is probably the best equipped kitchen Jimin’s ever seen, it looks like it has everything you need for baking, grilling, even steam cooking. But then again, Jimin knows nothing when it comes to cooking. Sure, he can cook, but the thing is he thinks more about nutrition than he thinks about taste, and that is shown clearly every time he does cook.

Something catches Jimin’s attention, and his wine filled stomach growls. “It smells good. What is that?”

He turns around and sees Jungkook leaning against one of the counters, watching him with a smile. 

“I’m cooking something for you.”

Jimin cocks an eyebrow at him. “Are you now. What if I had eaten already?”

“You could’ve watched me eat and then taken it home. I just wanted you to come, if I’m being honest.” 

Jimin tries to not look as affected by that as he feels when he answers. “Well, I’m here.”

“You are.”

There’s a tension in the air that makes Jimin’s stomach twist with excitement. Jungkook seems as composed as ever. Looking at him impassive from where he stands. Who would have thought he’d find himself here?

“Where’s Nono?” Jimin asks. 

“He’s in the backyard. Want to put Mina there with him for a bit?”

“Sure.” Jimin follows Jungkook out of the kitchen and to the living room area again, where they find Mina sniffing at a wall wide glass door that separates the backyard from the rest of the place. The other side is dark, and the lights from the inside are reflected onto the glass, but still Jimin can see Nono’s happy tail waving at them from where he paces.

“Wow, I’ve missed Nono so much.” Jimin thinks out loud. He approaches the door handle and tugs. The door slides smoothly to the right, letting a gust of cold air inside. 

“Hi sweet baby, how are you? Have you missed me? Huh?” Nono seems delighted at Jimin’s attention; he rubs his face on Jimin’s knees as Mina tries to push him out of the way so Jimin can pet her too. Jimin's heart swells at the sight of them together again.

 When he looks around to bring Jungkook in on the fun, he finds him kneeling beside him, looking at him with a fondness that surprises him. 

Their gazes lock, and Jimin swallows as discreetly as he can. Jungkook presses his lips together, leaning a bit closer almost involuntarily.

Jimin gets it. He feels it too. It’s a kind of magnetic force. Attraction.

His breathing is shallow when he murmurs. “You’re cute.” 

He sees Jungkook’s Adam's apple bob up and down briefly, eyes breaking their hold on Jimin as they roam over his expression.

And then something in his eyes shifts, like he just remembered something. He's the first to move away, sits on the ground and extends a hand towards Mina.

“I hope you like Italian food.” His voice comes out hushed. 

“I do.” Jimin clears his throat. “I do. Thank you.” 

He suddenly feels sober.

Jungkook decides to put on a black apron for making the sauce for the Italian dish he’s making. Jimin would be lying if he said it didn’t make him feel some type of way. He says it’s because “sauce making can get messy”. If it wasn’t for what happened earlier, Jimin would have probably done something about it by now.

Jimin’s sitting on the free space in the counter as he watches Jungkook at work. His hands are quick on making Pasta alla Norma, a sicilian dish Jimin’s never had before. He quietly sips on his cup of wine, and offers it to Jungkook once in a while, who drinks from it, content. 

Once Jungkook is almost done, Jimin’s stomach growls loudly, and he whines as Jungkook giggles. “Stop drinking that wine, you’ll get a stomachache.” 

“Make me.” Jimin mumbles, and whines again when Jungkook takes it from his hand and downs it in one go.

“Done.”

“Is that what a wine expert would do?” Jimin swats a hand at him.

“Luckily I’m not one.” At Jimin’s stare, he continues. “I know enough about wine to know what I’m doing, but I’m not posh about it. Do I look like I'm a stuck up?”

“No, you look pretty.” Jimin drops. “Come here?”

Jungkook does a double take, clearly not expecting him to be bold, especially after whatever happened in the living room. 

Jimin can see the internal battle he’s having at the moment, as his feet guide him closer, until he’s standing pressed to Jimin’s knees. 

Jimin could say that he is a little too tipsy, but he’s suddenly so tired of lying to himself, he can’t manage to. He taps his finger on the center of Jungkook’s chest, gaze casted down in thought. 

“I liked you too, you know. Back then.” He hums. “I hold that very close to my heart.”

“Jiminah.”

Jimin looks up at that, it’s the first time Jungkook’s called him that since they met again. There'd never been a need or want for honorifics between them, they'd established that long ago, and the ease Jimin feels at that little expression of closeness comforts him.

Jungkook is so close, he can feel his breath on his skin. “Do you like me now?”

“I- I do.” 

Jungkook inhales, and his hands position themselves on each side of Jimin, encasing him, his hair tickles Jimin’s forehead. “Why did you not tell me?”

“Because I’m scared you don’t like me like I like you.” His voice is small, and a little weak, but he finds it feels good to get this off his chest.

Jungkook passes a hand through his hair, and Jimin takes the apron in one fist to keep him from leaving. “I mean- about your work, about being a CEO, about all that. I- I wasn’t sure you liked me because it didn’t feel like you could trust me.”

Jimin can’t help his chuckle at that. “You did the same thing, though.” 

Jungkook pauses, a bit confused, and Jimin actually finds it endearing, god help him. “With the restaurants? I was scared you would think I was bragging if I told you, but- I did tell you about the rest of my work.”

“So? A half lie is still a lie.” 

Jungkook presses his lips together and hums, considering Jimin’s words. “You are right. I should’ve been honest.”

“Jungkook.” Jimin tugs him closer again, feeling encouraged that he hasn’t been rejected yet. “It’s- I don’t know, It’s hard for me to trust people. And, when we first met, I wasn’t really planning to fall for anyone, my life’s way too fucking hectic to even try, so- I tried my best to stay at arm's length.” He swallows, the next words are hard to let out. “But also because… it was you and I was scared I was gonna fall down the pining road again.” Jimin lets out an embarrassed chuckle. “But I trust you, I’m sorry that I made you feel otherwise.” 

Jungkook bites the inside of his lower lip, but stays silent. He puts his hand on the side of Jimin’s face and pets at his cheekbone. Jimin feels warm all over. 

“I trusted you with Mina, didn’t I?” Jimin tries.

“You had no choice.” There’s slight amusement in Jungkook’s voice, and Jimin takes that as encouragement to keep baring his heart.

“Okay, if you don’t believe me, I'll prove it to you right now. Ask me anything.”

“No. I believe you.” Jungkook tells him with a shake of his head. “It’s just- I’m processing.”

“Well, for starters- do you like me, or should I go?” 

Jungkook’s cheeks turn slightly red, and if Jimin could describe the euphoria he feels in that moment, a book would probably not be enough. 

“I don’t think I ever stopped. Liking you, I mean. If I have to be honest- I tried to forget about you after graduation, and I thought I’d managed to- until I saw you in the park and it hit me like a train. I don’t know what it is about you, Jimin, but I do know that I’ve never felt like this toward anyone, not before you, and definitely not after.”

Jimin’s mouth pops open. “Wow, did my teenage romance dreams come true? Is that what this is?”

Jungkook laughs through his nose, embarrassed. “Shut up. Hey, our food is probably cold by now-”

He tries to leave, but Jimin tugs him back. His knuckles are white and still not letting go of Jungkook’s apron.

“Can you kiss me? We’ll have bad breath afterwards, and right now you probably taste like wine.”

Jungkook’s grin could compete with a beacon. He takes Jimin’s face in both of his hands as Jimin opens his legs and tugs him closer to his own body, hands on his hips. Jungkook’s lips are soft and deliberate, opening Jimin’s mouth with the right amount of pressure to use his tongue, to later nip at his lower lip with his teeth. Jimin realizes what a good kisser he is fairly quickly, he takes his time enjoying what he does to him. Jungkook smiles at the little breaths Jimin lets out when he does something he likes. 

“One more.” Jimin pouts when Jungkook tries to pull away. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I was sixteen. Give me one more.” 

Jungkook leans back in, obliging. This time Jimin takes the lead, taking his time making Jungkook unravel with his mouth. His hands deliberately roaming beneath his collarbones. He can feel Jungkook pressing closer in reaction to what he’s doing, but before it gets way too heated, he pulls away slightly.

Jungkook gasps, slightly out of breath. They stare at each other, slightly dazed.

”To be fair, I don’t think my sixteen year old self could have pictured how hot that make out session just now was.”

“You daydreamed about me?” Jungkook buries his face on Jimin’s shoulder. “I still can’t believe you liked me back. Park Jimin liked me back, and even daydreamed about me.” Jimin lets out a giggle at Jungkook’s awe.

“We were so dumb, god.”

“Maybe it was not our time. I think we’re better now than we were then.” Jungkook hums and nods, in thought. “Now that I think about it, imagine if we fucked it up because of something dumb. I can’t bear that thought.”

“Who says we won’t now?” Jimin asks. He’s joking, but there’s a very real fear underneath his words that Jungkook notices. 

“We can’t know that, but we’ll never know until we give it the best we can.” He kisses the corner of Jimin’s mouth, before moving to kiss him again, his nose rubbing against Jimin’s cheekbone. “I have a good feeling about this.”

They spend the rest of the night drinking wine, eating and talking, Mina and Nono laying comfortably around them. It hits Jimin then, as he lays on Jungkook’s couch with his head on his lap, that the feeling he had, that lonely feeling of something missing, is not throbbing inside him anymore. 

Maybe all he needed was Jungkook, is the last thought he has as he dozes off.

Jimin wakes up with a pair of arms loosely wrapped around him. He tries to sit up, but as soon as he moves to the side, the surface he’s in gives in a little and he slips. He squeals and grabs Jungkook’s middle, pressing himself against him further. A half asleep Jungkook groans from above his head, his nose pressing against Jimin's hair. Jimin lets out a sigh.

He tightens his arms around Jimin, “You okay?” He croaks out, eyes still closed.

Jimin kisses whatever skin he can get as a reassurance. Lips grazing Jungkook’s collarbones before nuzzling against his neck.

“So I didn’t dream last night.” Jungkook sounds more awake now. He moves to his back, bringing Jimin on top of him. Jimin can hear his heartbeat a lot more clearly this way. And it makes him happy. He wraps his arm tighter around Jungkook’s middle and presses himself against him further.

“We fell asleep on your couch.” Jimin points out.

“Mmh, it’s more comfortable than I expected.”

“Mmh.”

“What time is it? Can you check somewhere?” 

Jimin picks up his phone from the coffee table with a groan, and hoists himself up on his elbows at either side of Jungkook’s face.

“Please don’t drop that on my face.” He raises his head to bite at Jimin’s forearm.

“Stop, if you do that and it falls then it’s not my fault.” He lets out a breath, smiling. “It’s barely 8:40. Should we sleep in, then?”

“But it’s Saturday.” Jungkook states. 

“So?”

“We go out to the park on Saturdays.”

Jimin sets the phone on the floor besides the couch and wraps his arms around Jungkook’s neck, his chin resting on the other’s chest. Jungkook blinks at him in confusion when Jimin grins. 

“We can do that whenever we want now, can’t we? Saturday was the day I had an excuse to see you, but now I can see you whenever I want.” 

Jungkook huffs out a laugh. “And why is that?” 

“Because I like you, and you like me too.” 

When Jungkook kisses him, a smile he couldn’t hide even if he wanted to spreads on his face.

They end up going to the park after all, and decide to visit the vet beforehand. Jin’s eyes open like saucers when Jimin crosses the threshold followed by Jungkook, who holds Mina and Nono’s leashes in one hand. 

“Hi, hyung. Where’s Namjoon hyung?”

“Oh my god, are you two dating already? You took your time. Thought I switched those name tags for nothing.” 

Jimin stops in his tracks, hands coming up to cover his face. “Seriously, why do you do this to me?”

“Hey, Jiminah.” There’s the sound of a metallic door and Namjoon appears from behind the counter. “Do you need anything?”

His jaw drops when he looks at them, away from the papers in his hands. “I owe you a date at that new place you like.” He turns to look at Jin as if Jimin wasn’t reconsidering their whole friendship right in front of him. “Shall we do Sunday?”

”Sunday sounds good.”

“This was a bad idea.” Jimin takes Jungkook’s arm and makes an attempt to reach the door behind them, but Jungkook tugs him back with a grin. “Actually, I need some vitamins for Nono, I want his hair to be as shiny as Mina’s.” He says, unaffected.

“Uh, right.” Namjoon’s confusion doesn’t let up as he takes some bottles from the shelves to his right.

“We aren’t dating.” Jimin finds his voice, and looks at Jin pointedly. He hesitates, then. “Not yet.”

Namjoon knows better than to press further. He puts Nono’s vitamins in a bag and hands it to Jungkook. “Here you go. That would be around thirty seven thousand won.” 

He receives Jungkook's money and proceeds to click away at the register.

“Whatever, Jiminah, just know that I love you.” Is all Jin says. He doesn’t have to say anything else, Jimin thinks, the grin plastered in his face is torture enough. When he looks over at Jungkook, a bit awkwardly, he finds a thoughtful expression on his face, eyes focused on Namjoon’s quick fingers. Jimin wills himself not to overthink.

Once they are at the park, though, Jungkook stops Jimin with his arm and asks, “Do you want to? Date me, I mean.” Same serious, thoughtful expression as before.

Jimin puckers his lips and narrows his eyes as if in thought, index finger tapping his chin for extra suspense. And Jungkook bites his lip, suddenly uncertain. It makes Jimin want to coo at him, because isn’t it obvious? 

“You want me to be honest?” He starts, and takes a deep breath that he holds for a moment too long.

“I’ve wanted to date you since I first saw you-” Jimin suddenly raises his arm in a wide circle and points, breaking into a smile, to the lake. “Right there with those jogger pants on, oh god.” 

Jungkook opens his mouth and closes it again. Finally, he only raises a questioning eyebrow  at Jimin.

“You don’t believe me? Well, too bad, cause it’s confession time. You look hot when you run.” Jimin tries to cut his smile off and be serious then, but he can’t with the way Jungkook is looking at him, still not saying anything. His confusion too endearing for Jimin to handle.

In the end, though, he pulls through. Since Jungkook’s hands are busy holding the leashes, Jimin grabs his forearms instead, fingers rubbing the golden skin there, and wills himself to say what’s on his mind.

“I do want to date you. But. I’m a bit scared we won’t have as much time for us as I would like. That scares me.”

“Because of your work.” Jungkook nods, understanding. 

“Yes, because of my work. If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t even consider trying.” Jimin says sincerely. “But it’s you, so I want to make things work. Whatever it takes.”

Jungkook’s eyes spark at that, and he moves to hug Jimin, tugging Mina and Nono closer until they are a mess of limbs and ropes. Jimin bursts into laughter. It’s clumsy and it hurts a little where the ropes rub against his skin, but he swears he’s never been as happy as he is in this moment. 

He sneaks his arms up and kisses Jungkook for a long minute, until Nono starts crying at their feet. 

Jungkook kisses his nose before letting go, and repeats. “Whatever it takes.”

Jimin knows they’ll make it work. They’ve been waiting for long enough, after all.