Archive of Our Own

"Jiminie, you don't have to come if you don't want to." Taehyung suggests, gauging Jimin's reactions with anxious, hazelnut eyes. "Seriously, I'm sure Woohyun won't mind. To be honest, he's too busy with trying to stay on two feet."

Taehyung's attempts work as Jimin can't help but giggle at his words, releasing his abused bottom lip from the wrath of his teeth. Try as he may, but his mind can't help but conjure up with the worst scenarios possible that all end in humiliating, crippling embarrassment.

"Yo, Jimin! You guys coming or what?" Sungwoo cries with an annoying smirk, words slurring enough to indicate how many beers he had this evening. He's pulled away immediately by a girl whom Jimin assumes is his date for the night, and the two disappear into the mansion that's their host for tonight's pool party.

In theory, a game of 'Spin The Bottle' is as harmless as it gets. But add a whole bunch of drunk high schoolers, an empty closet, and Jimin's cheating ex into the mix - yup, it's the holy trinity waiting to drown you in a night of regretful mistakes.

"Okay," Jimin whispers to himself but it catches Taehyung's attention anyways. "Let's go play."

"Are you sure, boo? I don't want you to feel like you have to."

"No, I actually want to, Tae. I can't let that dickhead control my life." Jimin places his empty beer can on the pool table and looks at his best friend with a smile. "I promise, I'll be fine. Besides, I have you with me, don't I?"

"Damn right you do. Anyone who dares come near Park Jimin has to cross me first." Taehyung announces proudly and this time, Jimin throws his head back and laughs as the two boys make their way inside the Jeon residence.

It was not an unknown fact that the Jeon brothers loved to host their school's biggest pool parties, leaving their mansion-of-a-house for horny teenagers to crash in, get wasted with the never-ending supply of drinks and leave the next morning with a pounding headache. However, most people usually come just to have a rare chance of mingling with Doryeo High School's finest students- Jeon Taehyung and Jeon Jeongguk. Even if it's just for a night, and even if those two will probably forget you the next morning.

"Is Jeongguk here, by the way? Or is he staying at the university dorms this weekend?" Jimin asks, and leave it to Taehyung, his one and only friend since he moved from Busan to Seoul, to grab this opportunity and tease him to no ends.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"On whether or not you'll finally admit that you have a thing for my older brother?" Taehyung asks with a face too smug for his good.

Jimin rolls his eyes. "Okay, I am not doing this with you again."

"You most certainly are. Just say it, babe. I can't keep carrying a knife with me to cut the tension every time you two are in the same room."

Jimin doesn't give Taehyung the satisfaction of a flustered response and instead hastens his pace to make his way to the vast expanse of a living room. While Taehyung cackles behind him, Jimin's mind drifts to the hidden parts he's kept locked away.  A place where he acknowledges the lovesick butterflies raging in him in Jeongguk's presence or the electrifying thrill that buzzes in him when he knows Jeongguk's eyes are on him. A place where his heart is free to pang and bleed every time Jeongguk regards him only as his younger brother's best friend.

He doesn't know when he started looking at the older in a romantic sense. Sure, he might have had some sinful fantasies once in a while at the beginning - he's still a horny teenager after all - but what he can't place a finger on is when he started picturing them in a more domestic sense, doing all the cheesy, romantic shit he's only ever witnessed in the corny rom-coms he binges. Maybe it's from all the times Jeongguk's come to pick him up when Tae had extra classes, letting Jimin wrap his arms around his waist as they rip through the streets on his bike. Or when he becomes an utter goofball when it's just the three of them hanging out in the house, cooking with them in the kitchen and crushing them in Mario Kart championships.

But deep down, he knows that it all stems from the rare moments when the older trusts him enough to show that soft side only to Jimin when everyone else only sees his indifferent facade. That dimpled grin, those unrestrained giggles, the lively twinkle in his eyes - things that only Jimin gets to witness and cherish, which others can't.

And yet, the harshest truth of it all is that whatever this is, it will and always be an unrequited crush. Nothing more, and nothing less.

"I think we can keep the day-dreaming on hold for a while," Taehyung whispers in his ear and successfully yanking Jimin out of Jeongguk-land. "We're here, and I think you have a pleasant surprise waiting for you."

Jimin snorts and shoves Taehyung aside playfully. "The only thing pleasant is..."

He trails off weakly as a pair of intense doe-eyes stare at him from across the room, narrowing as they scan Jimin from head to toe and Jimin can feel the weight of that heavy stare dragging across his body. It should be illegal for Jeongguk to be walking around like that - clad in denim from top to bottom with his favourite black stompers - as he swirls the glass in hand lazily and casually throws Jimin a smirk. Does he even have the tiniest idea of how harmful he is to Jimin's heart?

"Earth to Jimin. Earth to Jimin."

"He's here. Jeongguk is... here." Jimin states dumbly, still reeling from the fact that Jeongguk is here. This is unfair on all terms because Jimin had no time to mentally, and even physically, prepare himself for this encounter.

"Yup. He got a few days off after their semester exams so he chose to visit," Taehyung answers helpfully and leads Jimin further inside the living room where a group of fifteen students sit in a circle, a glass bottle resting in the middle, waiting to spin and put them all in hell for the next hour or so. "I suggest we focus on surviving this hellhole first, after which you're free to eye-fuck my brother as much as you want."

Jimin grimaces as he lets Taehyung lead him to the crowd. "I don't get how you can talk about your brother and me like that? What sibling does that?"

"Please. You of all people know how I live to oppose orthodox standards, Jiminie. I'm just calling what I see. And what I see is my best friend who's whipped for my hot-ass older brother and a dumbass college student who is a coward to act on his feelings and make a move on my one-in-a-million best friend."

Jimin ignores the implication of Jeongguk liking him because he's had enough of getting his hopes high for no goddamn reason. Not just with Jeongguk, but with any of his crushes in general. So Jimin does what he does best - divert.

"So you don't mind if your brother and I become a thing?"

"Nope," Taehyung says, emphasizing the 'p' as they stop a few metres away from the group. "As long as you two are not gonna fuck in my bedroom, I'll be the happiest person to see two of my favourite people on this Earth be together."

"Where can I find a sibling like you?" Jimin says with a dreamy smile and Taehyung guffaws.

"Sorry honey, we're limited edition."

Their little bubble of happiness breaks when Woohyung hollers for them to join quickly and before he knows it, Jimin finds himself stuck between two of his classmates while Taehyung sits opposite him, laughing and being the social butterfly that he is. As expected, the game starts off smoothly and ten rounds in, everyone except Jimin is more than hyped to see some drama. The desire is practically buzzing in the atmosphere and to his bad luck, someone decides to act on it.

"Okay, okay," One of the girls - Jugyeong - says as she places a manicured hand on the glass bottle. "How about we spice things up now? Whichever person the rim of the bottle points at gets to pick another person from this group and play Seven Minutes to Heaven in that closet."

All heads turn to the one and only tiny closet in this house, where one could have easily accommodated a bigger room there instead of that confined location that will soon bear witness to some unpleasant sights and sounds.  Jimin groans internally when a majority of the group agrees and they commence the next few rounds with Jugyeong's suggestion. So far, a lot of the couples have gone into the closet and come out with flushed faces and swollen lips, and even Taehyung had his turn with one of his flings. Thankfully, no one has chosen him yet but Jimin knows this haven won't last for long, and damn him for his accurate instincts.

"Chanyeol!" The students cry when the rim of the bottle lands on his ex and Jimin's eyes wince shut automatically.

Truth be told, no sane individual would ever think of choosing the ex they cheated on for a round of Seven Minutes to Heaven, but Chanyeol is far from sane. It was a bruising hit to his ego when Jimin had been the one to break up with him a month ago and ever since then, he's made it a point to make Jimin's life a living hell. Be it spreading rumours throughout their campus or approaching him at every party, expecting Jimin to come back to him with his tail wagging behind him - Chanyeol has established himself as a grade-A asshole.

A grade-A asshole you dated to get over your silly crush on Jeongguk, he thinks as his eyes shift in Jeongguk's direction reflexively.

Jimin's breath hitches in his throat when he sees Jeongguk staring right at him, a look so intense he can't figure out if the man wants to fuck him or throw him out of the house. It's always been a game of push-and-pull with the older boy - somedays he would regard Jimin in the highest manner and somedays, Jimin is simply invisible in his eyes.

"So who do you choose, bro?" Woohyung asks and Jimin clenches his fingers in his lap, praying with all his might that it's anyone but him.

"Hmm... I think I can give our poor Jimin a chance." Chanyeol answers condescendingly and if not for his immense self-control, Jimin would be reaching over to land a sound punch to his ex's face. "We don't want anyone going home without getting a chance, do we?"

"Alrighty! Jimin it is!" Woohyung cries and the other students - hungry hyenas, to be more precise - who anticipate gossip at any time of day, clap excitedly and usher Jimin out of his seat.

Clenching his jaw, Jimin can only catch a sympathetic glance from Taehyung before he follows Chanyeol into the closet. As he walks, Jimin contemplates whether surviving seven minutes in a closet with his ex is worse than the rumours and embarrassment that will follow in the coming days if he didn't go. Call it peer pressure, but shying away from a game of Seven Minutes to Heaven is an open opportunity for people to spin the most bizarre tales and brings about an unnecessary mass of headaches for yourself.

It's just seven minutes, Jimin. Who says you guys have to do anything? Just knee him in the balls if you need to, but get this over with.

That's the last he tells himself as the closet door closes behind them and the two boys drown in darkness. The silence that follows is agonizing and it kills Jimin to even be in a one-mile radius of this asshole, but he's laid down in his grave already.

***

"I've missed you, baby." Chanyeol says after a while and the pet name sends an ugly shudder through him.

"Don't you dare call me that, you asshole." Jimin seethes and does his best to plaster himself to the back of the closet and put as much space between them as possible.

"C'mon Jimin, you can stop the act now," Jimin holds his breath as he feels the boy move closer, "I know you still want me. We both know no one else can handle you except me."

"I'm not a thing to be handled or owned Chanyeol, and if you had even an ounce of decency in your body, you would understand that."

Cold hands trail their way up Jimin's hands and once they reach his forearms, he finds them pinned against the wall in a vice grip. "Yeah? Well you didn't seem to mind when you had my dick up your ass."

"Oh please, don't feel so smug about it," Jimin hisses when Chanyeol's grip on his arms tightens at that, "You couldn't even get me hard."

On second thought, Jimin really shouldn't be pushing Chanyeol's buttons when they are already in a compromising situation but his hot-headedness is bound to be his downfall someday.

"In that case let's test that theory now, shall we? Hm?" Chanyeol whispers as he pushes his body flush against Jimin, making sure his crotch rubs against Jimin's uncomfortably.

Despite Jimin's attempts to push him away, the swimmer has always had an upper hand when it came to physical strength. Something that attracted Jimin once, simply because it was a pitiful resemblance to the true owner of his heart who had a body made by Adonis himself.

"Chanyeol, sto-stop it!"

Okay, so on third thought, getting into a closet with his plastered ex was a horrible decision. Jimin does his best to put what little distance he can between them using his fists, but the swimmer is stronger, now grinding against Jimin slowly. From outside, he can hear the others holler that they have three minutes left, but Jimin dreads what exactly can happen in those three whole minutes.

Time stops, his blood runs cold and Jimin freezes all over when he feels lips press against his collarbones and Jimin's mind goes haywire as those very lips trail upward and press harder onto a spot on his neck.

That snaps a switch in him.

"Get off me!" He cries, using every little burst of strength in his body to throw the boy off him. Chanyeol stumbles back in surprise, not having expected the sudden shove, and Jimin feels like he can finally breathe. He's too busy trying to catch his bearings, chest heaving as he feels the disgust crawl over his skin, Jimin doesn't notice the swimmer approaching once more.

"You bitch," A gasp is yanked out of Jimin as his back is pushed to the wall once more by the swimmer's body pushed onto his. One of Chanyeol's hands that clutch at his waist dig in painfully while the other covers his mouth, "I'm going to make you remember your place, Jimin. You hear me?"

"No one breaks up with Lee Chanyeol, baby," The swimmer whispers near his ears as he places a firm kiss under Jimin's earlobe. "No. One."

His backup plan of kneeing the jerk in his balls fails horribly for Jimin finds his thighs trapped under the weight of Chanyeol's body against his. So the most he can do is shake his head fervently and squirm as much to stop the boy from having his way with Jimin.

Please. God, please, don't let this happen.

Jimin screws his eyes shut in revulsion when he feels the hand on his waist trail back and grope his ass roughly. He feels utterly helpless as the swimmer presses a harsh kiss on the column of his neck and Jimin can only pray that he leaves no hickey; he needs no reminder of tonight's sickening events.

***

All of a sudden, Jimin hears a commotion outside and a spark of hope flares in him. Seven minutes had to be over by now, right? But the more he focuses on the loud protests coming from the students who seem to have crowded near the closet, it sounds more like an argument. Jimin thinks he hears Taehyung asking them to stop, that five minutes is more than enough, and he holds onto that hope that his soulmate will convince them with all his might.

What he wasn't expecting is for the closet door to slam open, hard enough for the piece of wood to nearly come off its hinges, and in seconds Chanyeol is ripped off of him and tossed onto the floor like a tin can.

"Oh my god, Jiminie, are you okay?' He hears before Taehyung is all over him, checking if he's okay and quickly leading Jimin out of the hell hole. "I'm so sorry, boo. I'm so, so sorry. I should have come and checked in on you sooner, or- or stepped in before this even happened. God, I can't believe —"

Jimin rips his eyes from where the closet door is slammed close and Chanyeol's grunts are heard, and interrupts Taehyung by lifting his inconspicuously trembling hands to cup his best friend's face. "Tae. I'm okay."

"No, but he — "

"Yeah, he had his hands on me, but nothing happened. Trust me. Thank you for asking them to stop." Jimin says with a soft smile that soon turns into a confused look when Taehyung hesitates.

"Yeah, so about that," Taehyung casts a nervous look at the closet before he shoots Jimin a sheepish smile, "That wasn't me?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Taehyung has no time to answer when a series of gasps and whispers ensue once the closet door is slammed open once more and Jimin winces at the sound. Whoever that is will be in big trouble if he actually ends up damaging Jeon property. Shaking his head, he reverts his attention back to a wide-eyed Taehyung, but before he can even ask the other what's wrong, a strong hand grips his wrist and spins him around.

"What — " This time, the gasp that slips out of him is because he's completely breathless by the view before him.

Jeon Jeongguk, in the very flesh and blood, stands before him in all his mighty glory and Jimin would fall to his knees in reverie if he could.  If he paid more attention, Jimin would have noticed Jeongguk's bruised knuckles or clenched fists, but his gaze is distracted toward far more important details. Details that he can pay attention to now that Jeongguk stands so close to him for the first time this whole night. Like the way his light smoky eye acts a sharp contrast to the pools of warmth swirling in those doe-eyes, the way every light in the mansion reflects of his face and douse his features in a sinful level of hotness, or the way the lips Jimin's only ever dreamed of kissing glisten under the yellow lights of the fancy overhead ceiling.

As Jimin's eyes narrow at the thought of Jeongguk kissing someone else with those lips, Jeongguk seems to mistake it as something else and a low frustrated growl from Jeongguk breaks the train of Jimin's drifting thoughts.

"Come with me." Jeongguk says as he curls his hands around Jimin's wrist firmly and leads them away from the hall without a word, up the butterfly staircase and towards the one room Jimin has never dared to enter whenever he visits - Jeongguk's room.

Jimin is far too stunned to utter a syllable so he wordlessly follows the raven-haired male and stands like a fish out of water in the centre of the room as Jeongguk locks the door and stands with his back facing Jimin. He wasn't planning on talking unless required but the way Jeongguk's shoulders move up and down, like he's taking long deep breaths to calm himself, worries Jimin.

Yet, before he can make a move, Jeongguk is spinning on his heel, reaching Jimin in three long strides and once again Jimin stands shell-shocked as Jeongguk's hands cup his face, eyes paralysing him with such intensity, Jimin wants to either spontaneously combust or kiss the other senseless. Preferably the latter.

"Tell me he didn't do anything. Tell me, Jimin-ah, because I'm trying insanely hard not to lose it right now." Jeongguk says in a gruff tone, lower than his usual velvety tone, while his thumb rubs Jimin's cheek tenderly and his dark eyes send a pleasant tingle down Jimin's spine. It's only then does Jimin register the red, bruised knuckles and his heart cries seeing Jeongguk hurt because of him.

"I — he didn't... I mean, he kissed my... my neck, and — " Jimin cuts himself off with a soft gasp as Jeongguk's grip on his face tightens.

"What else?" Jeongguk's hoarse tone does things to Jimin he can't even explain, and although he shouldn't find the clench of Jeongguk's jaw insanely hot, he does.

"He... he kinda — no, definitely — um, groped my... ass." Jimin ends in a weak whisper, partly in disgust and partly because he never imagined telling Jeongguk all this, while standing in his arms. Veiny, muscled and built arms, he might add.

"I'm going to kill him." Jeongguk growls and Jimin near-to-god whines when he moves from Jimin and storms to the door.

Jimin snaps out of it right in time to jog behind Jeongguk and wrap his arms around the older male's waist to stop him. "Please don't. Please."

"Jimin, he fucking touched you. I'm not going to — "

"Hyung, please." Jimin rests his head on Jeongguk's toned back gently and tightens his grip on Jeongguk's waist. "I don't want to see you get hurt. I just... can't. So please, just stay here."

"Jimin-ah..."

"With me. Stay with me, please." Jimin finishes softly and he's sure it's only because of their close proximity does Jeongguk hear him.

Jimin can feel the fight drain out of Jeongguk gradually, from the way his shoulders slump ever-so-slightly and breathing that's quieted to a relaxed pace. In all honesty, he has no clue where the courage to hold onto the Jeongguk like this came from. A spur of the moment fuelled by pure desperation to have Jeongguk by his side led them here and sue him because he doesn't regret this one bit. Whatever little time he has to spend with the other like this, he'll take it.

As though sensing his thoughts, Jeongguk's hand covers Jimin's over his toned torso and Jimin tenses as he turns gently in Jimin's hold. The dark, intense look from Jeongguk's eyes are now replaced by a refreshing warmth that radiates across his features and cocoons Jimin in blissful calm.

"Let's go sit down, shall we?" Jeongguk asks in hushed tones, and Jimin doesn't trust his voice enough to give an answer with cracking so he simply nods.

Jimin expects them to sit on the edge of the bed or maybe sit cross-legged in the middle, but as always, Jeongguks throws his world off its axis when he goes to sit back against the bed's headrest and pats the space right beside him. It takes a moment for everything to process in his hazy mind but Jimin eventually makes his way to toe his socks off and join the boy in bed.

"Did Tae, uh, did he come and tell you to enter the closet?" Jimin asks after a few moments of silence, playing with his fingers as he speaks.

"No. It wasn't Tae."

"Oh." Taking the plunge, he decides to look up and face Jeongguk as he continues, voice hardly louder than a whisper, "Then how?"

"I had a bad feeling ever since it was that bastard's turn, and I prayed that it wouldn't be you," Jeongguk explains but Jimin can't focus on even a single word because of Jeongguk's ministrations. The older had wrapped an arm around Jimin's shoulders and brought him even closer while the other hand tucked a blonde lock behind his ear. "After five minutes, I knew something was wrong. I just knew. And I'm never wrong when it comes to you."

A sharp inhale from Jimin cuts through the silence and he simply swallows the lump in his throat as he nods. The proximity, Jeongguk's scent, the feeling of his hands thumbing Jimin's cheek gently - it overpowers all his senses and leaves him breathless in Jeongguk's hold.

"So... how have you been?" He asks awkwardly, not knowing how to break the tension because he would rather die than address the sudden change in atmosphere.

"Really?" Jeongguk's voice is laced with thinly-veiled amusement and the deep chuckles that follow send a pleasurable tingle down his spine. "After what happened tonight, you're asking about me?"

Jimin pouts and reverts back to looking at his fingers intently. "Shut up."

"I've been okay," Jeongguk starts and Jimin's eyes nearly fall out of their sockets as long, tattooed fingers intertwine with his over the white quilt. "Missed you, though."

"Aish, why are you being like this, hyung?"

"What? I can't miss my mangatteok?"

The nickname pulls out an involuntary giggle from him and Jimin finds himself going lax in Jeongguk's arms. It was a nickname that Jeongguk came up with last summer after Jimin spent the vacation with them at their beach house and resorted solely to the iced Korean snack, mangatteok , to beat the heat. Whether said heat was from the blazing sun or Jeongguk's ripped physique, Jimin will never figure out.

"You can," Jimin mumbles as his eyelids fail on him, drooping shut dangerously fast. "Just don't tell anyone that name."

As though the action is second nature to him, Jeongguk slides down so his shoulder can accommodate Jimin's head comfortably while his arm slips to circle around his waist and hold Jimin against him. Rubbing his sides rhythmically, Jeongguk talks in soothing tones, "Of course not. If I remember correctly, you said you would, and I quote, whup my ass, if I did."

"That I will." Jimin sasses and they pause for a moment - both recollecting the not so fond memory of Jimin acting as a living threat to Jeongguk's ass last summer - before they burst into soft titters.

If he could, Jimin would simply melt and solder himself into Jeongguk's side forever, intoxicated to the feeling of having the older male hold him so gently in his arms. He snuggles into the crook of Jeongguk's neck with a dopey smile, and with a long inhale, he anticipates Jeongguk's fresh, breezy scent to waft into his nose.

A scent that never comes. A scent that's been replaced by a stinging and sickeningly sweet floral fragrance that surely belongs to one of the girls at the party.

He rockets into an upright position, jolting even Jeongguk who had been resting his head atop Jimin's and he gives Jimin an adorably confused head-tilt that makes his heart do a million somersaults.

No, Jimin, you're supposed to be mad right now!

"What's wrong, Jimin-ah?"

Jimin scrunched his nose, eyebrows furrowing and meeting in the middle, as he points an accusing finger at Jeongguk. "That's not your smell."

"My... smell?"

"Ugh, yes! Your smell, hyung! You know, that soft laundry scent that's all breezy and -hic- fresh!" Jimin pouts, confused and annoyed by the waves of frustration coursing through him right now. Coupled with his pleasantly intoxicated state, Jeongguk's growing smirk only serves to anger him more. "You smell like a walking advertisement for a ladies perfume." He scrunches his nose in distaste.

"Hm. So is that what I smell like to you, Jimin-ah?" Jeongguk asks with a deep chuckle as he moves to sit upright and bend forward, acutely aware of the effect h. Like the fucking tease he is.

"No- not just me, it's to everyone!"

Jeongguk leans forward a tad more. "I don't just let anyone close enough to know what I smell like, darling."

The damn pet name. Jimin nearly moans at the way the term of endearment rolls of Jeongguk's tongue like pure sin but he holds back just in time. Barely.

"I- I... so?! That's totally not the point right now." Jimin knows he sounds like a petulant child but there's only so much one can take before they break. Before they tip over that metaphorical edge and fall head over heels into the love canyon.

And Jimin... well, he's standing at the edge.

"What's the point then?" Jeongguk asks, as though he isn't already aware of how much the fact that someone else's stench is on Jeongguk. His Jeongguk.

"Get rid of that... that horrid odour." Jimin glares when the older male laughs into his fist. "Otherwise I won't let you cuddle me."

Jeongguk gasps and places a hand over his heart as he feigns a pained expression, and even this endears Jimin to the point where he wants to simply smother the other in a flurry of kisses. "You can't do that to me, Jimin-ah. How will I survive? Hm? How am I supposed to live on without my daily dose of mangatteok cuddles?"

"You survived fine when you moved to college. And I'm sure you survived just fine when you brought Se-ri noona home last weekend." Jimin snaps and he makes a conscious effort of putting some much-needed distance between them. More for his sanity than anything else.

"Jimin-ah," Jeongguk starts as he moves closer, leaning forward by covering Jimin's hand with his and staying mere inches away from Jimin's flushed face. "Did you miss hyung that much? Or... are you perhaps jealous?"

The tantalisingly close proximity and the warning signs of how close they are to breach a particular topic are what sends Jimin tipping off the edge. Now there's no pulling him back. There's no saving him from what's about to unfold.

"And what if I am?" Jimin mumbles defeatedly.

He's so tired. Tired of denying these feelings that only seem to bottle up over time. Tired of playing whatever game Jeongguk wants to play when Jimin wants so much more. And ultimately, he's so fucking tired of not being able to have Jeongguk the way he wants to.

Inhaling a sharp breath, Jimin turns to face Jeongguk and startling the other boy in the process. "What if I am jealous, hyung? Is that going to make any difference? What we have is nothing but an obligatory relationship since I'm friends with your brother. Isn't that... isn't that what all this is?"

The way the warm pools of chocolate swirling in Jeongguk's eyes blaze into a piercing, dark look renders Jimin speechless. His breath hitches when that searing gaze flickers between his lips and back up to his eyes, the tension snowballing in the room to the point of suffocating Jimin in a lovesick sadness.

"Is that all you see me as, Jimin-ah? That's all that we are?" Jeongguk whispers, voice tainted with a hoarse edge. "You think I take all of my brother's friends on the back of my bike? That all of my brother's friends can even lay their hands on me the way you do?"

"Then you tell me, Jeongguk," A sick sense of satisfaction licks up his spine when he sees Jeongguk's eyes darken at the missing 'hyung' following his name. "What makes me any different from your hookups? Whatever you mentioned is the same thing you do with all your hookups. How am I supposed to believe that I'm any different when you've never indicated otherwise?"

"The difference is that those hookups are a means of holding myself back from doing those very things with the man I want to. The difference is that those hookups could never steal my breath the way a certain someone does." In one swift move, Jeongguk curls an arm around his back and draws Jimin impossibly close he can hardly breathe.

"Now it's your turn to answer, Jimin," Jeongguk whispers, followed by an anxious gulp from Jimin. "What am I to you?"

Jimin hesitates. What exactly is Jeongguk to him? It's a question he regrets not asking himself for they could be in an entirely different situation right now if he knew the answer.

Jeongguk. The boy who had originally irked Jimin to no ends with his indifferent demeanour. The boy who, only after a few days of Jimin, came to his defence when he was falsely accused of cheating on Chanyeol. The boy who gradually warmed his way into Jimin's heart with his goofy, dimpled smiles and bunny grins. A man who Jimin found himself trusting with his whole heart in more ways than he could count - caring for Jimin in his own silent, powerful ways and showering Jimin in undying amounts of love during his darkest days. The only human whom Jimin knows completes him in ways he can never explain. The one and only person who, for the first time in his life, made Jimin want to simply fall recklessly without worrying about the consequences.

"I... I don't know." Jimin ends up saying because he really doesn't know. How can he use one word to accommodate all the things Jeongguk has come to mean to him?

While he battles his dilemma mentally, a whole other situation unfolds before him because of those three words.

"I see." Jeongguk's clipped tone makes Jimin snap his head up in time to see a closed look on the older boy's face.  A look that practically shows his defence coming back up. A look that sends an inexplicable pain rippling through Jimin because he caused that.

Before Jimin can backtrack his words, Jeongguk moves to the other end of the bed that by Jimin's standards is an amount of space that is as painful as heartbreak. After having the raven-haired male so close to him for God knows how long, it physically pains him to be far from him any longer.

Yet somehow, the pain ends up evolving in frustration as he gets off and moves to stand at the foot of the bed so he's standing before Jeongguk, who apparently seems to find the bedroom window far too interesting to spare Jimin a glance.

"Seriously? That's it? 'I see' is all you have to say to me?" Jimin cries.

Jeongguk scoffs and rolls his eyes. "I don't know."

He knows his words are being tossed back to him but what truly angers him is the two different states of mind these words are coming from - one of frustration from harbouring an unrequited crush from and one of hurt for reasons Jimin still can't place a finger on.

An unexpected sigh breaks his frustrated train of thought and he focuses back on Jeongguk who slumps against the bed with a resigned look plastered over his features. "Sorry, Jimin-ah. I didn't mean that. Just... let's just forget all this happened, okay? Why don't you rest for a while and I can take you back to the party when you feel like it?"

Jimin doesn't know what pains him more - the fact that Jeongguk can dismiss the last few minutes between them so easily or that he's missed his one golden chance. Whatever it is, it quickly transforms into pure lovesick rage and he's storming until he stands right before Jeongguk.

"Not a chance. You don't get to write this all away when I'm going to be the one that's gonna lie here and sulk like a fool. Take responsibility for your actions for once in your life, Jeon Jeongguk." Jimin growls and he sees Jeongguk's eyes flare momentarily before they revert back to the cold, unwelcoming orbs he hates.

"Jimin-ah, listen — "

"No, you listen, Jeongguk! You- you can't keep doing this to people. You can't just... just spend the better half of the past two years making me fall in love with you, then proceed to ignore it like it didn't even happen. You can't!" He cries, whirling around to face the window as he winces internally at the desperation practically dripping from his tone. It's funny though, because at this point, he simply can't find it in him to care anymore.

This is him, going all in, wearing his heart on his sleeve and taking upon what feels like the biggest gamble in his life.

Right when he hears Jeongguk inhale sharply and attempt to say something, he spins on his heel to face Jeongguk once more before the impending rejection hits him square in the face. "You asked me what you are to me? Well I don't fucking know, Jeongguk! I really don't, because how... how the hell am I supposed to explain with just one word? You tell me how you would spell out to someone that you've been heads over heels for them since two goddamn years!"

"You... what?! Years? Wait, Jimin — "

Jimin hardly spares him a breath of a chance to slip in any words as he laughs bitterly to himself and ploughs on. "A someone that's as good as your best friend. Someone that's- that's always cared for you and had your back even when you didn't know it. Somebody who's literally, and I mean like literally, out of your league but still showers you with all their attention and makes you feel like you're their world in just that one moment. So ho- how do I— what can I even... like," He can feel the hyperventilation building up inside him but Jimin's far too gone to care a damn. "What, a-a friend? A crush, lover, or- or a partner? What do I call you, Jeongguk? What... what do you want me to say?" Jimin chokes out, his chest heaving as he pauses his rant.

"Baby, please. Breathe, Jimin-ah." Jeongguk pleads softly and whether it's the gentle tone or the broken look on his face, all of it only sums up to a tragic rejection in Jimin's mind.

Unable to face the older male without crumbling into an ugly breakdown, Jimin turns away and faces the window. Might as well stare at the defeated look on his face than Jeongguk when the outcome won't favour his side any which way.

The mental adrenaline that tore into him at the prospect of letting this chance slip through his fingers begins wearing off, and leaves him with his heart bare and mouth dry with hardly any words left to say. "Is that all you see me as? That's what you asked me, isn't it? Well, here it is, Jeongguk. This is everything that I see you as. Now it's up to you to do with this information as you please." Jimin finishes softly, eyes trained downward by the end of it while his mind reels fiercely, trying to catch up on the events that just occurred.

He said it. It's all finally out in the open - his feelings for Jeongguk, the insecurity that he would never be in Jeongguk's league, and the overwhelming love he feels for the other as a friend and a lover. Whatever intoxication was brimming in his system has dissipated completely and Jimin feels horribly sober.

It's only after a few agonizing moments of silence does Jimin register the sound of the bedsheets crinkling before he feels Jeongguk's presence behind him. He has to bite his lip harshly from letting the surprised gasp escape when Jeongguk's hands on his hips spin him around to face the older.

It's too soon. I can't do this. He's going to reject me, isn't he?

Jimin screws his eyes shut and doesn't dare open them, even when Jeongguk lets out a strangled chuckle and cups his face with one engulfing hand. "That was a lot of questions." Jeongguk whispers.

What?

Utterly confused, Jimin cracks one eye open and his knees nearly buckle at the undeniably fond look Jeongguk sports as he looks at Jimin. Although he's not prepared for the rejection and humiliation yet, Jimin still finds himself asking, "Wha- what... do you mean?"

"I said, that was a lot of questions. Questions I don't have answers to," Jeongguk confesses quietly and if not for being inside his body, Jimin is sure the deafening shatter of his heart would have broken the silence effortlessly.

He can't do it. Standing here in Jeongguk's arms while he hears the same boy break his heart is the cruellest thing the world can do to him, and Jimin absolutely hates it. He makes a valiant effort of breaking out of Jeongguk's hold, squirming and looking away, anything to protect his bleeding heart. But Jeongguk seems determined to keep him close as he rejects Jimin.

"Let me add a few questions of my own to that list, hm?" Jeongguk says instead and the bizarre statements coming out of Jeongguk's mouth make no sense to him, but he listens anyway. It's obvious at this point, how far he's gone for Jeongguk, that he's willing to stand here and listen to Jeonggquk question everything about his crush on the raven-haired male.

"If I had all the answers, then I should also know why I fell for my brother's best friend, shouldn't I?" Jimin's eyes fly open but Jeongguk's is far from done. "If I knew, I should know when I fell so hard, that every day apart from him kills me on the inside, right? If I had answers... then I must know how he manages to brighten my day with a simple smile and how he can leave me utterly breathless without even making an effort."

"Jeongguk." Jimin half-sobs as the stinging tears threaten to spill any moment now.

"So tell me, Jimin-ah," Jeongguk starts once more, this time bringing his other hand to the small of Jimin's back and pulling Jimin flush against himself. "Since I don't have even a single answer, do you think I am worthy enough to convey just how much I love him?"

The sob that he'd been holding back finally rips out of him, bringing along with it a tsunami of raging emotions that when put together, only account to one thing - a pure, unadulterated love for Jeongguk that surges through every vein and swells into a desperate longing for the heart he can finally have.

Without a second thought, Jimin grabs the lapels of Jeongguk's denim jacket and has a split second to notice the other's wide-eyed look of surprise before he crashes his lips onto Jeongguk's. Although Jimin is drowning in the sinking yielding and the surging tide of warmth, the kiss is his first gulp of fresh air as he breaks the surface. He's fallen over the edge of the cliff and just moments ago, he anticipated the heartbreaking crash, but not anymore. Now, he's caught onto his lifeline and is soaring through the clouds as he kisses Jeongguk with every ounce of passion left in his body.

It doesn't take long for Jeongguk to let a low whimper rumble through his chest, the hand that was cupping his face now wrapped around his shoulder completely and pressing Jimin closer, and before he knows it, Jimin finds himself being kissed with a fervour fuelled purely by heartfelt desire. In seconds, the sudden gradation of intensity makes Jimin whine and cling onto Jeongguk tightly, holding onto the only thing grounding him in a dizzy swaying world. As fast-paced as the kiss is, Jeongguk is just as careful, gently prying his lips open but giving Jimin the ultimate decision of letting him in or not. He can't help but smile against Jeongguk's lips as he lets the older enter his parting lips, wild tremors shooting through him as they go about their passionate exchange. Letting his arms rest on Jeongguk's shoulders, he takes the opportunity to run his fingers through the soft locks and stand on his toes to chase the sensations only Jeongguk can bring out in him.

All of a sudden, a surprised squeal from Jimin breaks their kiss as Jeongguk hoists him upward, lifting Jimin by his thighs, and walking toward the bed with a one-dimpled grin that sends Jimin's heart palpitating to a painful level. Jeongguk tilts his head up and teases him by pressing feather-light pecks over his mouth, laughing when Jimin tilts his head further up to make the older chase his lips. Both of them have no intentions of breaking apart even after Jeongguk sets him down, and while chasing and stealing chaste kisses from one another, they end up with the two of them facing one another, content with remaining in the arms of their lover.

"Hyung, stop." Jimin whines playfully as Jeongguk continues to place a flurry of kisses over both his cheeks, forehead, nose and back down to his lips again.

"That's not what you were calling me a few moment ago, darling." Jeongguk whispers with a provoking smile that Jimin is tempted to kiss away. "And hyung is the last thing I want you calling me when we're like this."

Jimin snorts and props himself on one elbow. "But you are my hyung, aren't you?" He drags a teasing finger down Jeongguks face and towards his chest, stopping only when Jeongguk groans and pushes him back down.

"Jeongguk. Call me Jeongguk again."

"Jeongguk." He whispers as the raven-haired male leans on top of Jimin and lowers slowly.

"Again."

"Jeongguk." Jimin bites his lip to stop the elated grin from splitting his face open as he whispers Jeongguk's name into the silence of the late evening.

"Again, please."

Gently placing both hands on the back of Jeongguk's head, Jimin brings him closer as he mutters, "Jeongguk-ah."

Jeongguk smothers his blissful sigh with another toe-curling kiss that has Jimin seeing the stars and moaning into the kiss shamelessly. Now that they've had a taste of the feeling of their lips on one another, there's no stopping them from indulging in a few more grappling kisses until they break apart for air.

With a gentle kiss to his forehead, Jeongguk rests back onto his pillow and holds one palm facing upward in the space between them. Jimin wastes no time in sliding his palm into Jeongguk's and cherishing the sight of their intertwined fingers over the white duvet.

"I can't believe this is happening." Jimin says quietly, unconsciously tightening his grip on Jeongguk's hand to remind himself that this is real. That he's really lying in Jeongguk's bed after confessing and kissing him like he's always wanted to. "You really love me?"

"Trust me, my brain still needs a dozen more kisses for me to process that you aren't just a figment of my imagination." Jeongguk confesses as he presses a soft kiss to Jimin's knuckles. "But yes, I love you, Jimin-ah. I've loved you since the day you decided to open yourself to me and let me see the beautiful person that you are. So when you tell you that you're far from done with me, Park Jimin, I mean it. Because there's no way I'm letting you go without giving you all the love you deserve. And gods above, I want it to be only me to give you that love. I need it to be only me."

Jeongguk's words steal the wind out of him as Jimin loses himself in the chocolate-brown eyes that stare at him with an overwhelming fondness that's going to take him at least a week to get used to. His hand moves of his own accord to place itself on Jeongguk's jaw and he loves the way Jeongguk practically melts into his touch.

"I don't think I'm ever going to be done with you too, Jeon Jeongguk," He says, earning himself a blinding smile from Jeongguk while he continues, "You've ruined me for life. I don't think I could ever want someone else as much as I wanted you."

A deep inhale and Jeongguk moves closer to rest his forehead on Jimin's. "I'm sorry I made you feel like I didn't want you. Trying to keep myself from pinning you against every wall and kissing you senseless, I felt like it would be easier to keep my distance."

"It's okay. There's nothing to apologise for. I wasn't any better though," Jimin admits and he gives Jeongguk a sheepish smile in response to the confused hum from the older, "What? You think me stumbling into you or leaning over to your side when I laugh was normal?"

Jeongguk sputters. "I thought it was! In fact, I thought you did that with everyone." He ends with a pout and Jimin is so tempted to lean a little closer and take him up on the offer of being kissed senseless.

"Who's the jealous one now, huh?" He teases but Jeongguk recovers faster.

"Oh, I'm not jealous, darling. 'Cause I know there's something I have special, reserved just for me." He says, evoking a coy smile Jimin as he plays it off with faux-innocence.

"And what might that be?"

"This," Jeongguk says before he dives in, not to kiss Jimin much to his chagrin, but to playfully bite Jimin's cheeks. "My mangatteoks."

Jimin pushes him off with what little sexual frustration Jeongguk managed to elicit with just a few words. "That's it, this relationship is over."

Just as he attempts to roll away, strong arms wrap around his waist and pull him back against Jeongguk's chest. All the while, Jimin laughs and kicks his legs, trying to put up a weak fight, when he's tackled onto the bed with Jeongguk hovering above him. He manages to catch only a glimpse of the mirthful twinkle in those doe eyes before Jeongguk's dives in to attack his neck and blow raspberries, drawing out happy tears from Jimin's eyes as he laughs away every crumb of stress from his body.

When Jeongguk finally settles down, letting Jimin snuggle into him and rest his head on the outstretched arm, he can't help but voice out the question that's been nagging at him for a while now.

"What now, Jeongguk? I know it's too soon to label this or whatever, but I just want to know, where do go from here? 'Cause you'll be going off to the college dorms in a few days and I... well, I'll be graduating in two months. So yeah... what do we do?"

"Honestly Jimin-ah, it's going to be complicated only if we make it be," Jeongguk says as he nuzzles into Jimin's hair, "I visit every other weekend anyways and you practically live here. So until your college is sorted out, let's just, you know, go with flow? As long as you'll let me love you, that's all I need."

Doing his best to ignore the tornado of butterflies raging in his gut whenever Jeongguk says he loves him, Jimin lifts his head off Jeongguk's arm and fixes him with a playful, unamused glare. "Go with the flow? Really?"

He relishes how Jeongguk panics instantly, as though losing what they have meant as much to him as it means for Jimin. "What? What did I say?"

"You said going with the flow, right? So this means I can still go on the blind dates Taehyung has planned for me?"

A sharp gasp is drawn out of him when Jeongguk circles his arm around Jimin's waist tightly and draws him in so close, he can see the way those gorgeous lashes cast beautiful shadows on Jeongguk's cheekbones. When his eyes flicker upward, Jimin honest-to-god moans when the dark, possessive flames burn in Jeongguk's eyes.

"Don't you dare." Jeongguk growls and Jimin turns his head and attempts to playfully bite the thumb resting on his cheek. When the older realises he was being messed with, Jimin finds fingers pressing into his sides and tickling him restlessly until he's begging for Jeongguk to stop. "That was a dangerous game you played, Jimin-ah. Don't think for even one moment that I'm going to let anyone else lay your hands on you other than me."

"Is that so? Then you simply have to prove it to me, don't you sweetheart?" Jimin taunts, but a thought strikes him and he switches back to a demanding demeanour, " In that case you don't get to bring random noonas home every — "

"Baby, Se-ri is a friend, I swear. She has a boyfriend, too." Jeongguk interrupts amusedly while he traces Jimin's bottom lips lightly.

"Oh. Fine then," Jimin resigns with a pout. "Okay but still, I have some demands."

"Mhm?" Jimin glares at the distracted response because someone is too busy tracing the outline of his lips with an alluring look in his eye. When he clears his throat, Jeongguk's attention snaps back to him with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I was... ahem, distracted. You were saying?"

Since Jimin had been the reason for said distraction, he can't help but let Jeongguk off with an amused huff. "Demands, Jeongguk. First, no more letting girls or guys hop on your bike for a ride, unless its like boring college stuff. That seat is only for me, and if they do get on, you better keep your waist as a clear, off-limits zone. You hear me?"

Jeongguk lets out a deep laugh and shakes his head as presses a firm kiss into Jimin's hair. "God, you're adorable. Okay done. What's next?"

"We're exclusive now, so if someone in college even dares to hit on you, you better say you're taken." Jimin says leaving no room for doubt.

"Am I now?"

Jeongguk."

"Okay, okay, I'm taken. Heart locked and key given to my one and only mangatteok. Anything else?" Jeongguk asks with a voice laced with fond amusement, and now that Jimin has gotten his requests out of the way, he finds himself smiling too.

"Nothing else. Now cuddle me like you mean it. Today's been a shitty day and you're the only thing that's made it better." Jimin admits, practically purring when Jeongguk wraps his arms around him cosily and lets Jimin tangle his legs with Jeongguk's and fit into him like the perfect puzzle piece.

"Anything for my baby." Jeongguk whispers, pressing one last kiss to his forehead before the both of them drift into the best sleep they've had for ages.

Seconds before he lets himself slip away, Jimin whispers, "Jeongguk, you love me, right?"

"I do, darling. Love you so, so much."

Jimin shivers at the confession and snuggles even closer into Jeongguk - if it's even possible considering how they're locked at every limb - and lifts his head to press one last, firm kiss to the lips he can now press a million kisses to for days to come. "I love you, too. Thank you for loving me back." He murmurs against Jeongguk's lips.

Jeongguk holds his head into the kiss and sucks his bottom lip into a passionate kiss, only letting go to shake his head and say, "Never thank for something I don't have control over."

The last thing Jimin feels is a faint brush of lips against his lips as he drifts off with a sleepy smile etched into his features, bound to be there even when he wakes up several mornings later and serve to remind him of everything which happened later that night.

The only sounds coming alive are the dying tunes of some pop song playing from downstairs and the few drunken students putting a fit to try and find a spot to crash for the night. Although one wouldn't call this peaceful, lying in Jeongguk's arms knowing that his feelings are returned by the man who's stolen his heart, Jimin would say this is serene enough for him.

That is until —

"Jeongguk?"

"...hm?"

"You still haven't told me how that floral scent got on your shirt."

⨠ ⨠ ⨠ 

4 MONTHS LATER

"Yah, Jeongguk-ah, have you heard of the new fresher in our campus?" Seokjin asks as they unbox their meals at the college cafeteria.

"No, why?"

"Apparently the dude's hot. Like really, really hot."

"Hyung, you sure it's not because you want a hot, cute fresher to join us as the campus heartthrobs?" Hoseok teases, "You know, to get some young energy in our group."

"Jung Hoseok, do you mean to say I spread old energy here?" Jin cries, squeaking in protest when Hoseok simply shrugs.

"Seriously though? Is what hyung saying true?" Jeongguk asks Namjoon, undoubtedly curious because it's not every day that someone catches Seokjin's eyes.

"I mean, I haven't seen him yet but yeah, people have been talking about it." Namjoon adds and Jeongguk nods in understanding. He's about to continue when a text message from his phone diverts his attention.

"Oo, look at our Jeonggukie blushing? Is that your supposed boyfriend, Kook?" Hosoek teases and Seokjin joins in, never missing a chance to tease the youngest, but Jeongguk's too busy cooing over Jimin's adorable messages to wish him luck for his presentation in class today.

"Also, where is Yoongi hyung? He's going to be left with with last scraps if he doesn't come soon." Jeongguk says as he sends a bunch of hearts and kissy emojis to Jimin before locking his phone.

"I remember him telling me that he was in charge of showing the freshers around so he might take a while." Namjoon says while Seokjin and Hoseok bicker over who got the most sausages in their tray today.

It's not until ten minutes later when Seokjin quickly grabs everyone's attention at their table with his excited demeanour, "Guys! Guys, look! The fresher I was talking about. He's here."

"Oh wow, he really is cute." Hoseok says.

Namjoon turns around and his eyebrows shoot up instantly "And hot."

"Yah, Kook-ah!" Seokjin plus an earbud out and grabs his attention, "Did you hear us? That kid I was talking about is here!"

"Wait, is he coming here? With Yoongi hyung?" Hoseok asks eagerly, but Jeongguk is too focused on revising the last slide of his presentation when —

"Hey, Jeongguk hyung."

Jeongguk's head snaps up and he whirls in his seat so fast, the crick in his neck might be inevitable. But everything pales in comparison to the bubblegum pink-haired man that stands before him with a sheepish smile on his face, staring right at Jeongguk with a cheeky sparkle in his eye.

"Jimin-ah."