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Namjoon hated Jimin.
Well, it wasn’t necessarily hate. It was more like annoyance at every single little thing that Jimin did, like smirk at him or wink at him or blow him a kiss.
So, yeah, Namjoon hated Jimin (or at least he told himself he did).
He told himself he hated Jimin, even as they leaned against the wall, facing each other. Namjoon’s cheek was tingly and warm from where Jimin’s breath hit it.
I hate you, he thought, as he closed the distance between them, their lips meeting not for the first time.
Yet for the first time, after they exchanged quick handjobs, Namjoon began to contemplate his true feelings for Jimin.
He was straight, he thought. But what he did with Jimin might suggest otherwise. Okay, Namjoon conceded, maybe he wasn’t straight, but he did hate Jimin.
Except, why? If he wasn’t straight, there was no reason to hate him. Namjoon hated him for making him confused, for making him feel small and weak. Jimin showed up one day and changed Namjoon’s whole life, his whole outlook on life, the whole idea of what he thought his future might look like.
With one smile, Jimin changed Namjoon.
And Namjoon hated change.
So, he hated Jimin.
But if Namjoon accepted that change, there wasn’t much to hate. He didn’t hate Jimin’s laugh, Jimin’s voice, the way Jimin’s eyes crinkled when he smiled that smile that got Namjoon weak in the knees.
Maybe he didn’t hate Jimin.
Yeah, Namjoon decided. He didn’t hate Jimin.
The next time Jimin came to Namjoon’s studio, Namjoon allowed himself to hope. Maybe if he didn’t hate Jimin, they could be something more that this. Maybe they could be something more than just stolen handjobs and messy kisses. They could be something.
And so, as Jimin leaned in to kiss him, he laid one hand on his chest, stopping him.
“Is everything okay?” Jimin asked, brows furrowed, making Namjoon want to smooth out the crease between them with his thumb.
“Yeah, I just… wanted to ask you something.”
Jimin, seeming only slightly concerned, nodded.
Namjoon raised one hand to cup Jimin’s cheek, the younger man leaning into the welcome touch. He caressed his thumb over Jimin’s cheekbone before taking a breath.
“Will you go on a date with me?”
Jimin’s eyes widened before he choked out a laugh.
“Hyung,” he exclaimed, “I thought you were gonna ask something kinky.” He giggled. “Yes, Namjoon-hyung, of course I’ll go on a date with you.” He scoffed. “I can’t believe it took you this long to ask.”
Namjoon playfully scowled, gently smacking Jimin’s cheek with his hand, before pulling it away and grabbing Jimin’s hand instead.
“I thought I was straight and you made me question everything, so then I thought I hated you.”
Jimin gasped playfully, “So you’re not straight? Kim Namjoon, I am shocked.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he admonished as Jimin giggled again.
He took a step closer, Jimin’s arms winding around his waist as Namjoon’s wound around the shorter man’s neck.
Both men were suddenly serious, but Namjoon wasn’t scared, wasn’t confused anymore. He knew what he wanted.
“I never really hated you, Jimin.”
“I know,” he nodded.
“And I really like you.”
“I really like you, too,” Jimin’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. He sighed, “I’m so glad you hate me.”
“Yeah, I hate you so much,” Namjoon agreed before fitting their lips together.
Three days later, they went on their first date.
Three months later, they had been on so many dates that Namjoon had lost count.
I love you, Namjoon thought as he closed the distance between them, their lips meeting not for the last time.