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The café was filled with loud chattering from one specific table, the waiters just stared at each other but shrugged it off, they weren't doing any harm, the café was mostly empty anyways.
The group mentioned was Jimin and Jungkook, and their respective friend's meeting up after finally freeing up their schedule to catch up about the latest happenings.
They were chilling, making jokes, Jimin's brother, Jihyun was also there with his girlfriend who happened to work in the same building as Jungkook. They were currently talking about their mutual office friend, Hoseok who had recently gotten divorced. Jihyuns girlfriend, Aera and Jungkook had seen the entire drama unfold and were sharing tidbits about what Hoseok is currently doing these days when he had accidentally slipped something he didn't mean, it was just the flow of the conversation. This is important to know that Jimin and Jungkook had been college sweethearts, and had gotten hitched 2 years after finishing college. Jimin is currently a stay-at-home husband, on the lookout for jobs.
Their other friend, Jin had casually asked, "He's going hiking in Norway, swimming in Hawaii and taking dancing lessons? How does he have the time?"
Jungkook answered, with Jimin sitting next to him, his arms around Jimin's neck, "Well, He's divorced now, he's got all the time in the world."
He didn't notice that his husband next to him, had stilled next to him. He is oblivious to his husband's reaction. What he said next made it even worse. "He's free now," still oblivious, he continued, "He's living the dream," Jungkook says.
Jimin pauses mid-drink. So does everyone, including Jungkook who just realised he made a huge blunder.
He coughs and sniffles, immediately correcting himself, "His dream, baby, not mine. My dream is yo-" He attempts to kiss Jimin's cheek which Jimin dodges.
"Stop, I've heard enough." Jimin sets down the drink. Everyone laughs and Jimin chimes along, settling the mood. But Jungkook is still nervous, he knows he needs to make sure Jimin knows it was a slip of tongue, he wanted the freedom of time, sure but not at the cost of a divorce. He fucked up by phrasing it that way. But he doesn't want to bring it up now when the conversation has gone into a more light mode, with Jin discussing about the new baby on the way.
However, he pulls Jimin closer to himself, holding him by his shoulders on the right hand, and playing with Jimin's fingers on the left.
Jimin seems nonchalant, like he couldn't give a damn.
But he did give a damn, because Jimin stayed silent throughout the trip back home, Jungkook felt so guilty, he kept gnawing at his lips. Usually, Jimin would talk and joke about the things he had done the past few days but he just sat quietly while he drove them home.
When they arrived, he headed straight for the bath, but before he could enter, Jungkook called to him but when Jimin turned around with a very cold and numb expression, he suddenly backtracked from his apology and instead said, "Hyung, I'll cook dinner."
"We just ate, Jungkook. I'm not hungry," Jimin turned around and said.
"But hyung, I'll make something quick, we can watch whatever. It's not good to skip dinner." He pleaded.
"Do whatever you want,"Jimin said, "I'm giving you the freedom." He said the word freedom mockingly and then entered the bathroom shutting it quite loud.
Jungkook stood frozen. He felt so guilty. He didn't like when Jimin was upset, because it was the complete opposite of how Jimin naturally is, he almost finds it scary. When Jungkook gets angry, he just sulks and he's easy to coddle but Jimin becomes so cold, like what he stays stick and his replies hurt exactly where it should.
Jungkook stands there throughout the time Jimin takes a bath, he is very close to tearing up. He really has to make sure Jimin knows he didn't mean what he had said. He is living the dream now , coming home to Jimin waiting for him, talking to him about mundane things and who is to say that they won't travel in the near future.
It hits harder for Jungkook when he realises that just some days ago he casually joked about how post-marriage he hasn't been as fit as he used to be, and Jimin had said, "Aigoo, I love my baby's chubby cheeks like this," in an endearing way but he had seen how Jimin had immediately gone to the bathroom after but he shakes his head, maybe he's overthinking this.
When Jimin comes out of the bathroom, he is shocked to find Jungkook still there waiting for him, "Ah, you scared me."
Jimin casually says, until he looks at Jungkook to realise that his husband is close tears, as he says, "Hyung.... I'm sorry."
He sniffles, and rubs at his eyes. This immediately softens up Jimin, "O Jungkookie, what am I going to do with you?"
He puts both his hands on Jungkooks face, making him make eye contact with him.
That makes Jungkook tear up even more, "Hyung, what I said at the café I don't- I don't mean it, you're my dream, i didn't mean it like tha-"
Jimin hugs Jungkook, and rubs his back. "Then why did you say that?"
"It slipped out, I meant that what he's doing is what I want to do, some day and with you of course. Not that a divorce is what I wnat, just the adventure. I didn't mean to sound like I'm grudging our marriage." He says this mid-sniffles and now Jimin is sniffling too, if Jungkook cries, he cries.
"Okay, I get it. I'm not dumb, Jungkook. It's just, you've had this slip-ups way too often, you were joking about running away from Seoul to Jeju and start a new life while we were watching videos your cousin sent of him swimming in Jeju. These things add up, you know? And I don't know what to feel. Did we get married too fa--?"
Jungkook immediately cuts him off, "Don't even say that, hyung. We didn't. I love you and every second of the last 1 year of being married to you. I just- I just hate my job, I feel like it's draining the life out of me and I never get to spend time with you nicely, I miss those times we would go travelling to different parts of the country together. It's childish, I know. I'm sorry, hyung."
"You don't have to be sorry, Jungkook. How you're feeling is valid. It just got lost in translation. Maybe just word it better next time." Jimin says, still encased in Jungkooks hug.
"There won't be next time, hyung. I promise."
Jimin gives a peck on Jungkooks lips and is about to turn around when Jungkook pulls him back, and kisses him on his lips, harder and more desperate. Suddenly, their full-on making out in their bedroom, that realisation makes Jimin giggle.
"What's so funny, hyung?"
"Just. Us. You waiting outside the bathroom door with that pout, my Jungkookie, how can you be so cute?" Jimin says as he pinches Jungkooks cheeks.
Jungkook cutely says in aegyo, "It's a problem. I try not to be cute, but I was born cute."
Jimin bursts out laughing, "Your voice is weird."
"It's a problem," Jungkook still says, in aegyo.
Jimin kisses him to shut him up.