Archive of Our Own ^beta

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To love him is to dance to whatever music his heart his playing.

"Welcome to Calico!” 

Jimin greets automatically, morning enthusiasm running high in his voice as he looks up to see who walked into the studio. 

He freezes.

The man looked no younger than him, but his height is certainly deceiving. He was taller than the average, but pulled it off with all the right body proportions - slightly broad shoulders, slim waist and long, toned legs. Fluffy brown hair fell into those wide eyes, filled with a rich brown that drew you in, and a nose that was simply perfect for the chiselled angles of his face. High cheekbones tapered towards beautifully curved lips, a rosy shade of pink, and that’s when Jimin knew he took his staring way too far.

Clearing his throat, he smiles once more and watches in pleasant curiosity as the man walks over to a corner at the back of the studio, right where a small patch of evening sunlight streams through the gauzy curtains, and simply stands looking at the world outside. 

He was beautiful. 

But unfortunately, the increasing number of students trickling into the studio couldn’t let him stare any longer and Jimin continued to greet every one of them and discuss their plan for the day. 

***

“Hi! Hope you had a good week!” Jimin bows at the three girls, and moves towards the speakers to set up for his class today. 

The studio doors open once more and Jimin looks up from his phone to greet the new entry. “Hello, welcome back to Calico— oh.” He pauses, locking eyes with the very same man who’s made his presence for the third day this week. “Hey. Did you have a good week?”

Those doe-eyes widen at being addressed once more, but the surprise wears off immediately and he simply nods at Jimin before walking toward what seemed to be his favourite spot. 

Jimin wondered why that man hardly spoke up, even skipping the introduction during his first class to simply say, “Hello. I’m glad to be here. Please take care of me.” A typical and formal Korean introduction.

‘ He’s probably shy. I shouldn’t push him too much then.’ He notes to himself. 

His assumptions are proven right when he notices a trend in the past three days the man has shown up. While his other students, mainly men and women in their late twenties, some his age too, constantly pipe up and clarify their doubts, this stranger hasn't given Jimin the opportunity of hearing his voice even once. 

“Perfect! And now a Monastery for the next beat,” Jimin explains as the dancers nod while doing a two-step. “Ready? 3, 2, 1…. There you go! Wahh, you guys nailed it!” 

But when he sees a few people at the back looking disheartened, he immediately jogs over to pause the music and address the class. “Hey, it’s okay if you didn’t get it this time. I’m here to teach you and help you through it, okay? Keep in mind this small analogy if you want -  if you stumble, just make it a part of the dance.” 

When those few students cock their heads curiously, Jimin smiles and explains. “What that means is, nobody is perfect. We all stumble from time to time. What’s important is how you respond or adapt when you do so. Embrace your stumbles, make it a part of the rhythm, and just keep dancing. Okay?” 

Jimin beams when everyone nods with newfound motivation and jogs back to play the song. “Here we go, Calicos! Taking it from the top, starting with that two-step. Make sure you hear that one beat!” 

Just as they near said beat, Jimin catches a sudden movement from the corner of his eye. He looks right in time to find the mysterious man rushing out of the studio in seconds without a word. It shocks him without a doubt, but Jimin masks his worry and goes on with the routine.

A few minutes later, the man quietly enters once more, zig-zags through the dancing crowd and moves back to his spot, dancing like nothing ever happened. Jimin quickly discerns how the man still manages to keep up easily, even after stepping out and joining in at a new part of the choreography, surprisingly, with no fault in his steps.

It’s not every day that he finds someone who can keep up with his pace. His choreographies are no easy task, so Jimin is quite impressed.  

But little did he know that it won’t be for too long. 

***

“Sorry, sorry! Excuse me... sorry, I just need to— thank you."

‘ There he goes again.’  Jimin tells himself ruefully. 

He can do nothing but watch as the man quickly exits the room, leaving behind a trail of people tripping over their feet or losing track of their choreography as they make way for him. 

With a sigh, Jimin reels in the bubbling frustration underneath and claps his hands with all the fervour he can muster. "That was awesome, guys! You're all doing so well! Let’s keep that energy running high!" Despite their fatigue, the energizing chorus of approval he receives in response is enough to wash away any of the lingering vexations and return a bright smile back on his face.

Mood: Copines by Aya Nakamura

"All right, that's the Calico spirit! And… 5, 6, 7, 8!" He cries, grinning as the scattered dancers whoop in delight and flow into the faster part of the choreography. "That's it! Right wave... left wave... double time!" 

Just for his personal satisfaction, he adds a little extra flair into his steps while the dancers before him move in sync with the beat. "Right foot! Left foot! Here come the bird wings!" A laugh bubbles out everyone in the room at the cute nickname they gave that particular step. 

Right when they're a few lines away from the chorus, Jimin sees the studio's door open once more and catches a familiar figure slipping back in. 

‘ And he’s back. Again.’ He does a mental eye-roll before quickly composing himself to keep the smile on his face.

"Here it comes!" Jimin gears the dancers up for the slightly fast-moving choreography of the chorus. "3, 2, 1... and hip twist! Hip twist! Now body rolls, c'mon Calicos!" 

Despite his attempts, Jimin's eyes automatically find the figure clad in black, positioned back in his corner and dancing with a fluid ease that is as good as a professional. 

Honestly, Jimin shouldn’t even be surprised every time he witnesses this religious routine, considering it's been this way for over a few weeks now. 

The mystery man, as Jimin likes to call him, slinks in quietly every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday— the three days Jimin is in charge of classes— keeps to himself, and never budges from his corner at the back of the studio. 

And of course, not without making it a point to leave at least once in the duration of his class. Jimin was horribly mistaken to assume that incident would be a one time thing. 

It’s frustrating, because as good of a student he is, Mystery Man never wants to talk or even try and give an explanation for why he dashes out of the class like he’s running for his life.

‘ Focus, Jimin!’ 

Pushing thoughts of a certain man out of his mind for now, he cheers loudly. "Bring out the big guns, folks!" The students immediately shape their hands into guns and roll them to the beat. "That’s it! Almost at the end, let's make even that last step count!" 

A few spins, slow pelvic thrusts and body rolls and before they know it, the studio finally plunges into a relaxing silence, occasionally broken by heavy pants or small coughs. Jimin smiles proudly and unplugs his phone, giving the class a moment to catch their breaths and giving himself that moment to scan every face before him. 

There's nothing more gratifying than seeing a bunch of people throw in every last bit of their energy to bring to life choreographies and routines Jimin has spent several sleepless nights on.

"Phew, now that was quite a session, wasn't it?" Jimin says as he moves back to the centre, slicking back his damp purple locks before resting his hands on his hips. "Just a few words like always, and I'll let you all be, okay? In fact, why don't you all start stretching while I do so?"

The class nods and begins stretching out the agreeable burn in their muscles, and even Jimin casually stretches his arms so as to give them company while he speaks. 

"So, I know some of you are here since dance is a hobby, and some are here to hone your skills for a bigger picture in the field of dance. Whoever you are, whatever your dream may be, don’t lose sight of it.” Jimin twists to unwind the knots in his back and resume when he turns back around. “Especially since this is the time when companies open up for hiring again, universities have their entrance exams, and whatnot, it’s hard to keep yourself motivated at times. Right?”

Nods pass around the crowd, the students sharing sympathetic glances at one another before facing Jimin. 

Jimin claps his hands. “Well, here’s what you’re gonna do. Every time you look in the mirror, just keep telling yourself that it’s you who’s putting in your all to make your dreams happen. You are your own role model. Always go on your path, and imagine that all you have is today to make a difference for yourself. Okay? Never give up!"

While he anticipates the usual yet ever-welcome warm smiles and happy laughs, what he most definitely doesn't expect is for Mystery Man to applaud first and bring the entire class to join along and give him a loud, hearty round of applause. 

The wholesome response to his words makes an unfamiliar warmth bloom in his chest. As a dance major, it was words like these that gave Jimin confidence to follow his dreams. And if he’s able to help others in the same way, then it means the world to him.

Soon enough, it's time for everyone to disperse and Jimin takes his usual spot near the doorway to wish them a happy weekend and see them next week. 

That is until he spots his Mystery Man going for the other exit and nearly reaching the door handles when—

"Hey! You there, in the black joggers. Hold on one second, please." Jimin says, cheering on the inside because he honestly thought the man would flee and not wait obediently. Greeting the last student a happy weekend, Jimin shuts the front exit and jogs toward Mystery Man. "Thanks for waiting."

Mystery Man nods.

"Um, I've been seeing you here for three weeks now, you're pretty good." Jimin tries again, hoping to extract even a single word after days of wondering in silence.

With a hand rubbing his nape, Mystery Man shrugs weakly and nods again.

Jimin sighs. "Look, I understand if you would not like to talk with me for whatever reason it may be," Mystery Man's eyes widen in surprise and he considers that a win, especially since it's the first reaction other than those small nods. "But if you're going to be a regular in my class, I was hoping I could know your name at the very least."

Silence.

Brushing his fingers through his hair, Jimin nods to himself with slumped shoulders. "Alright, have a nice weekend. Uh… yeah, see you, then." 

The moment he spins on his heel, the wince is unstoppable from making an appearance on his face after that awkward, one-sided interaction. Jimin truly hoped that after three weeks of consistently attending his classes, they could make some progress with regards to their relationship as teacher and student.

However, his Mystery Man seems insistent on staying true to his mysterious identity, and at this rate, Jimin sees no solution to this dilemma. He might as well—

“Jeongguk.”

He freezes in his tracks, only a few steps across the room when he hears it. Mystery Man’s voice is softer than expected, a velvety texture in that tone, and Jimin can’t help but smile at this small victory.

He spins on his heel immediately. “Sorry?” 

Though he’s clearly heard the name, you can’t blame Jimin for being a tad desperate to hear a voice he’s been waiting to listen to for days now.

“My name… it’s Jeongguk.” The taller male answers with a little more strength in his voice.

A small, relieved smile curls his lips. “I see. Well then, Jeongguk-ssi , will I be seeing you next week?”

Jeongguk nods wordlessly and Jimin’s relief is squashed once more. These small nods, awkward silences and the abruptness to their conversations— there’s only so much one can take. 

He's about to address this issue at hand when a simple ringtone beats him in breaking the silence. 

It's sort of endearing as he watches Jeongguk fumble around with what looks like a worn-out gym bag until he fishes out the device and silences it immediately.

"Sorry, I need to go," Jeongguk starts quickly and Jimin's mood is dampened instantly. "I'll... I'll see you next week, Jimin-ssi. Bye!" The man bows abruptly, before dashing out of the studio without another glance. 

All the while, Jimin finds himself standing there, dumbfounded, and mulling over if this entire encounter actually happened or not.

***

"Let me guess, it's him again," The receptionist says as she types away without sparing him a glance. "The fluffy, brown-haired man you have been thirsting for since the day he arrived."

Jimin can't help but chuckle weakly at her straightforwardness as he walks over to the front desk, bends over and places the keys in the hand-made China dish.

"I didn't even say anything, Mi-rae noona."

She hums and clicks away at her mouse a few times before spinning her chair swiftly and throwing Jimin one of her knowing smirks. "Don't need to, Jimin-ah. You should know by now that I don't need you to tell me things for me to know them." She bends forward, interlocks her fingers and rests her chin atop of it. "I simply let you think that for you to feel better."

Choosing to spare a few minutes and humour her, Jimin also bends forward and smirks. "Or you mean Hobi hyung tells you everything while you fuck him six ways to Sunday."

Mi-rae sits back in her chair, a proud glint in her eye as she crosses one leg over the other and says, "Ah, ah, who's to say it's not him fucking me six ways to Sunday?"

"To-may-to, To-mah-to." Jimin sing-songs happily and pulls the weighty register toward himself as he enters his check-out time and signs. Shaking his head, he chuckles to himself once more. "But yeah, you're right. It was him."

"See? Was that so hard to admit?" 

“I admitted it was him. Not that I thirsted for him as you allegedly claim.”

“I’ll get it out of you someday.” Using the table before her, she pulls herself forward and addresses him while tying her long black hair into a ponytail. "So, what did he do this time?"

"I think it would be easier if I tell you what he did not do, namely staying in class without running out and talking with me. Just when I thought yesterday was progress, he ran out on me. Again!" Jimin whines. 

“Hang on, rewind. What do you mean yesterday was progress?”

Their two-second miraculous conversation flashes in his mind, bringing a proud smile onto his lips as he says, "I managed to get him to tell me his name."

"Wow,” Mi-rae drawls, clearly teasing him for the ridiculous victory. “What medevial form of torture did you use?"

Jimin snorts. "The cliche one. Cornering him before he leaves and badgering him with questions till he gives in."

Mi-rae chuckles and crosses her arms over her torso. "Something tells me what went down is definitely less menacing than that, but okay." Jimin is about to protest when she pipes up again, "Seriously though, what did Jeongguk-ssi do for you to hate him so?"

"Hey, I don't— wait. Jeongguk-ssi? You know his name?!"

The disbelieving look he receives in return makes him feel like the biggest idiot on the planet. "Jimin-ah. What on Earth do you think this godforsaken register is for?"

"Why did you not tell me? After all these days of me complaining and whining about it?"

"Why did you not check it yourself?" Mi-rae counters, effectively shutting down his baseless arguments and making him slump in defeat. "Plus, this is my only form of entertainment for the day. Of course I was going to make the best of it."

"You're the worst." Jimin whines and bends to rest his head on the cool marble surface of the desk. "I just wish he opened up more, you know? At least that way I can figure out why he keeps running out of my class while I'm talking."

"I have to say, this is quite possibly the only time I'm seeing someone run away from you instead of running toward you." Mi-rae teases as she ruffles his purple locks fondly. "Give him sometime, Jimin-ah. You said he told you his name today, right?" Jimin nods with his head still on the desk. "In that case, who knows? He might talk more next week."

Another heavy sigh. Jimin lifts his head and stands upright to give her a grateful smile. "Yeah, I hope so."

“I’m sure you do.”

“Noona!”

Mi-rae cackles and spins back to face her monitor and waves him away. "Off you go now. My honey bunch will be at your house by eight for your ‘Guys Night In’ or whatever."

Jimin gags. "Please keep the cheesy nicknames to yourself, noona. There are poor single souls around here."

"Shoulda thought of that before joining Calico, honey." Mi-rae says, turning her head to shoot him a quick wink. "Now go. I wanna lock up and get out of here quickly, and you are delaying that."

"So quick to shoo away your favourite dongsaeng. Oh, the pain!" Jimin retorts as he sniffles dramatically and heads for the exit.

"Boo-hoo. Get lost, you brat." Mi-rae counters, sending Jimin into a fit of cackles as he takes one last second to stick out his tongue and scurry away before she comes chasing behind him. 

Their dynamic has been this way ever since Jimin joined Calico - the small, neon-lit studio on a corner street of Itaewon that’s a prime hotspot for many aspiring dancers. 

Four years ago, as a dance major fresh out of university, Jimin was grabbing any opportunity he got to pursue a career in the field of dance, and that’s when he found Calico. At the very beginning, his time at the studio had been incredibly rocky, filled with several amateur mistakes both as a choreographer and teacher. 

It was Hoseok, his senior from university and founder of Calico, who trusted Jimin enough with the position as a choreographer and teacher, while Mi-rae - his partner of three years and Calico’s other half - provided all the moral support Jimin ever needed.

Flash forward back to the present, and Jimin can now proudly call himself two things - Hoseok’s closest friend and one of the three partners of Calico. It’s a thought he always remembers before leaving the studio every day, and it never fails to bring a content and happy smile on his face. 

However, today is not one such day. 

Jimin wearily drags his feet over to the scratched and bumped Sonata that's also been by his side for a long time now, dumps his duffel bag in the back, and hops into the driver's seat to crank the car up. 

He's just driving out of the parking lot and onto the fairly empty roads when his phone rings. Connecting it to the car's Bluetooth, Jimin connects the call.

"Jiminie, oh my Jiminie~"

Jimin chuckles fondly, ready to be hit with some bad news. "Don't use that tone on me, sir. What did you do now?"

"Yah, that's a severe accusation that you are going to regret, my friend."

"The only thing I should have regretted is agreeing to share a flat with you after we graduated," Jimin quips and bursts out cackling while Taehyung squawks in disbelief. "Okay, okay. Back to why you really called, what's up?"

"Can't a man call you because he missed you?" 

Jimin reminds himself that this is precisely why he's able to survive long days like these, driving a car with a broken radio - Kim Taehyung is there to his rescue, serving as his prime form of entertainment.

"Tae, I'm literally going to be home in fifteen minutes, so whatever it is that you did, just fess up so I’ll know if I have to get anything on the way."

" ...”

“Okay, I’m hanging up—”

“Hobi hyung is going to be here in five minutes and we don't have any of the ingredients at home for our special pasta." Taehyung rambles quickly and despite how badly Jimin wants to smack his best friend to the other dimension, he feels oddly considerate today.

"Hm. Is that all?" When he receives no response from the other end, Jimin shifts gear and turns onto the road towards their neighbourhood's supermarket before calling out once more. "Tae? You there? Shit, did I lose him?"

" Am I speaking to Park Jimin, born in 1995, from Busan, whose temper has left me with bruises in very questionable places and—"

"If you want me to be mad, I'll gladly give you the earful you want to hear." Jimin cuts in and smiles wickedly when the man on the line shuts up immediately. "Good. Now until hyung comes, can you please clean the place so he doesn't whine about walking into a pigsty again?"

"Have I told you how much I love you, Park Jimin?"

"On your good days."

" Well then, consider this one of those days. I love you, and I will clean our home down to every nook and corner, even heaven would be jealous of our abode." Taehyung declares, drawing out a guffaw from Jimin as he parks at the supermarket.

"I'm holding you to that, Kim Taehyung." He says and cuts the call, shaking his head with a smile as he locks the car and passes through the blast of air conditioning at the market doors. Standing at the entrance, Jimin sighs. "Okay, let’s see…”

~ ~ ~

Hoseok bursts out laughing, nearly knocking the glass of red wine over, as he wheezes out, "That's all you got him to say? Just his name - 'Jeongguk' ?"

"Shut up, hyung." Jimin mumbles, swirling some spaghetti onto his fork absentmindedly, seriously reconsidering his decision of narrating today's incident to his supposed best friends.

"I mean, Mi-rae noona is right though," Taehyung starts, taking a small sip of wine before he shrugs. "You wasted your one magical question to gain an answer you had at your disposal all along."

"Hang on, though, I’m genuinely curious. You never did tell me how this rivalry started," Hoseok asks as he serves himself more pasta and Taehyung nods fervently, helping himself to some wine. "Do shed some light for us, Min."

"It's not a rivalry, hyung. Stop making it sound worse than it is." Jimin sighs, sets his utensils down on the plate, and sits back. "I just want to know why he keeps running out at the most random times. I'm not saying nobody should leave during classes, of course they can. But every time he does it, in that panicked way of his, it makes me question things about my teaching."

"Woah, woah. You can’t possibly mean that! The way you teach is spectacular, bub!" Taehyung insists and successfully pulls a small smile onto his lips.

"Thanks, Tae."

"Does it really bother you that much, Min-ah? Because if you want, I will gladly have a word with him." Hoseok offers but Jimin only refuses with a shake of his head and a soft smile.

"It's not that, hyung. I wouldn't have taken it so seriously if it was just once or twice, but ever since he’s been attending classes, I've seen him run out like his pants are on fire.” The two men chuckle, but wait to let him continue. 

“And it's… it’s his timing , you know?" When they both cock their heads curiously, Jimin elaborates. "What I mean is, one moment his big, brown eyes will be staring at me so sincerely as he listens and the next moment his eyes widen, and he’s out the studio in seconds. So it must be something I'm saying or doing, right?"

"I see." Taehyung says simply, swirling the glass in his hand as he thinks.

"What are you usually talking about?" Hoseok asks and Jimin hums questioningly with cheeks puffed up from a mouthful of spaghetti. "Those moments when he runs out. Are you explaining or addressing any doubts regarding the choreography, or—"

"It’s kind of a mix, I guess? Either when I’m showing them the choreography or when I'm giving the Calicos a small pep talk and such." Jimin clarifies, hardly easing his own conscience in the process.

' Is it really my teaching after all?'

"I have an idea." Taehyung pipes up suddenly and the grin splitting across his face has Jimin regretting whatever it is that's to come. 

***

"Okay! Are we ready to put those grooves into action?" Jimin cries out, doing his best to keep the zestful spirit alive in all his students.

The onslaught of cheers are enough to electrify the air again and Jimin grins while selecting the newest song for their routine and setting his phone back down. As much as he's thrilled to be back with his students, his mind is weighed with another important task for the week. 

A task that he should be implementing right about now.

"Actually, how about we try something different today? Um… oh! Jungkook-ssi," Jimin almost feels bad for the startled, probably even betrayed, and utterly aghast look on the man's face, but then he remembers his ultimate aim, and the guilt is pushed back temporarily. "Could you join us upfront, please? Calicos, let's have some applause for our volunteer of the day!"

In all honesty, he genuinely didn't want to do this but at the same time, he is done with the one-sided interactions and misunderstandings. As a wise soul once said - desperate times call for desperate measures. 

"You can stand right here," Jimin says, guiding the man towards the centre as the applause dies down. Facing the crowd again, he claps his hands. "So, on our agenda for today is…Shadow Dancing!”

The class claps in curious enthusiasm as Jimin smiles and elaborates, “Here’s what we’re gonna do. I'll go through the entire choreography once and Jeongguk-ssi will be my shadow— what I do, he'll try and repeat. You guys can observe the first time and after us, we'll all go together. Sounds good?"

"Y-E-S!"

"Awesome!" He turns to face Jeongguk and is pleasantly surprised when he sees no animosity in those features directed toward him. "How about you, Jeongguk-ssi? Any questions?"

"None at all, Jimin-ssi." Jeongguk answers confidently - nothing like the man who could barely meet his eye the previous day or the man who ducks his head and constantly runs out of his class. 

It’s something about his tone - a mischievous, kittenish lilt to his words - that has Jimin smirking ever so slightly and nodding his head in agreement. “Perfect! Let’s get this started."

‘Taehyung, you better be right.’ He thinks to himself as he walks over to the speakers and plugs his phone in. 

“So! How many of you are familiar with the song ‘Domino’?” A roar of cheers erupts around the class at the mention of the song they’ve been requesting for weeks. 

“It’s going to be intense so I need my Calicos to pull out those sexy charms and sweep me off my feet!” Jimin encourages cheekily, adding a wink for good measure as he pulls his purple locks into a man-bun.

A deep yet shockingly soft chuckle snaps his attention from the students before him to Jeongguk, who he had embarrassingly forgotten is standing right next to him. 

Mood: Domino - Jessie J

Thankfully, he’s saved by the bell - or the song, rather - as the opening strums of an electric guitar and steady synthesizer beats douse the studio air in an electrifying buzz. Quickly, Jimin shuffles into position - left foot sideways, hands on his hips and head hanging down. Closing his eyes to enter his dancing headspace, he lets himself absorb every beat, every rhythm, until the last beat gives him his cue.

Snapping his head upon the first count, Jimin drags his hands down his body and snaps his hips side-to-side in sharp movements. With a smirk on his lips, he steps forward and back, making strong backward pelvic thrusts to hit every beat.

“Go, Jimin-ssi!” A student from the back cries out and begins to clap on each beat, the others following suit in seconds. “Jimin! Jimin! Jimin!”

The adorable chant has the laughter bubbling out of him as he continues with the choreography. Absorbed completely in the choreography, Jimin fails to notice the man behind him, slowly catching up to match and overshadowing his pace.

“Jimin-ssi, Jimin-ssi, Jimi…” The cheers die down slowly and an icy fear grips his heart in a vice grip.

His mind instantly goes haywire. ‘Is the choreography too hard? Is it too sensual to be considered appropriate? Gosh, I knew I should have—’

All of a sudden, there is another sudden enthusiastic uproar of cheers and the purple-haired man off-guard. That’s when he feels it. 

The presence that has been stealthily growing behind him and challenging his every move. All eyes have now shifted toward Jeongguk who’s effortlessly keeping up, almost in pace with Jimin’s steps and hardly breaking a sweat.

While Jimin has never doubted the other’s abilities, this is the first time he’s ever had the chance to observe Jeongguk up close as he dances. They say dancers are athletes of God, and Jeongguk— doe-eyes glinting with zeal, jaw set tight and dark brown locks glistening with traces of sweat—

Jeongguk is, without a doubt, God's finest creation.

A sudden guitar strum booming from the speakers snaps Jimin back to reality and he flushes at how easily he’d been distracted. As the song gradually builds up to the beat drop, following a body roll, Jimin spins on his heel and turns his back to the class, making his way to the mirrors.

“Didn’t peg you as the distracted type, Jimin-ssi.”

The sudden raspy voice evokes a sharp gasp from Jimin. It’s a downright embarrassing sound but Jimin is far too gone in shock to care in the slightest. 

Is Jeongguk the one initiating conversation right now? Is Taehyung’s plan actually working?

“And what makes you think the distracted look isn’t a part of the performance?” He manages to retaliate, although the shock hasn’t quite worn off yet.

“Really? Well as your shadow I wasn’t quite informed. My apologies,” Jeongguk says, albeit teasingly. The two of them snap twice, shift closer and spin to face the class once more. “After you, Jimin-ssi.”

It didn’t take a fool to understand that Jeongguk is deliberately taunting him, as though he dares Jimin to one-up him in this Shadow Dance challenge. Which is funny because, hey, who’s the real instructor here? 

But what he doesn’t know is that if it’s one thing Jimin loves, it’s a challenge.

“Try and keep up, Jeongguk-ssi.” He says, throwing a brazen wink, and right as the beat drops, Jimin slides to the left, Jeongguk to the left, and they jump into a sideward shuffle.

With the faster pacing of the song, like he always does, Jimin throws in his all to follow through with his motto - ' Dance till the very last step is a performance of its own .’

Side-step.

Right.

Left.

That’s what would usually be running through his mind, music nothing but a thrumming vibration in him as he lets muscle memory lead him along. It’s an exhilarating experience but also isolating in a way because it’s always just Jimin and the music.

But not this time.

While Jeongguk and him spin to switch places, share an excited glance and perform the shoot dance a few steps forward, Jimin finds that he’s… he’s having fun.

Something Jimin hasn’t had in a long time, ever since Hoseok and him started handling different classes.

And it’s not because of the song or the onslaught of cheers but because one look at Jeongguk’s eyes, and he understands. Jimin connects with the flares of passion in those doe-eyes twinkling back at him— connects on a cellular level, if he may exaggerate.

As their eyes meet between every three steps, after what feels like ages, Jimin simply enjoys the feeling of dancing in sync with someone instead of solely focusing on the nitty-gritty of each step. For once, he gets to experiment with his steps, knowing that Jeongguk had his back to adapt and pull through with him. 

Somewhere along the way, it feels like he’s the one shadowing Jeongguk, not the other way around, and before he knows it, Jimin is already finishing the choreography with a double-time step and standing back-to-back against Jeongguk, a wide, toothy grin splitting across his face.

“W-H-O-O!”

“Awesome job, Jimin-ssi!”

“You guys rocked it!”

Still standing against the sturdy back, Jimin relishes in the cheers and praises thrown their way, body vibrating with excitement. All it took was one dance with Jeongguk, and Jimin is hooked onto this new, addicting feeling. 

“Am I dismissed now, Jimin-ssi?” That familiar raspy voice whispers near his ear, and that’s when he realises he’s still standing back-to-back with the taller male. 

Jimin practically leaps away, putting the much needed distance between them (more for his own sanity) and desperately tries to ignore the tingling sensation from where their backs touched. 

“Yeah,” He croaks, then clears his throat and tries again. “Yes, thank you for joining me, Jeongguk-ssi.” 

“It was my pleasure.” Jeongguk answers smoothly, and Jimin genuinely wonders why this suave refused to show up during their previous encounters. 

While he watches Jeongguk duck his head and make his way back to the corner of the studio amidst the chatting students, Taehyung’s voice rings clear as day in his head. 

‘ Put him in a position where he has no choice but to stay. Make him feel more involved, Min.’ 

Crap. The plan isn’t over yet, Jimin belatedly realises.

“Jeongguk-ssi, wait!” He jogs over swiftly, grabs his wrist and leads the man back upfront without another word. “Calicos! Can we have a round of applause for this wonderful gentleman?” After a few rounds of hearty applause, Jimin continues, “Before we get on with the routine, I want to share a few words, if I may.” 

Instantly, Jeongguk goes rigid, almost as if he’s hyperaware, body on alert like it’s preparing for a fight-or-flight response. 

‘Nope. Not letting you run off today, Jeongguk-ssi.’ Jimin tells himself, subconsciously tightening his grip on Jengguk’s wrist.

“As you all have seen, what we did today was Shadow Dancing - a very fascinating term, I admit - but what interests me more is the way we perceive it.” Jimin smiles, remembering the words his teacher once told him. “To watch one dance is to watch one’s heart speak. So, as long as you connect with the emotion of the song, whether you're standing behind or in front of a person, the dance is no problem.” 

Turning to catch Jeongguk’s eye, he carefully gauges the younger’s reaction for something, anything, to give him a hint as to why he wants to run away.

When finds nothing, Jimin ignores the pang of disappointment and continues. “I assume that’s exactly how Jeongguk-ssi here was able to follow along. By connecting with me and the song.” 

At the mention of connecting with one another, Jimin locks eyes with Jeongguk one last time but now, he gulps dryly at the dark intensity burning in those doe-eyes as they stare right back at him.

But it all shatters in a fraction of seconds.

“Excuse me.” Is all he hears before a body is rushing past him in the blink of an eye. 

“No, wait, Jeon…gguk.” He lets out a resigned sigh, watching helplessly as the taller male runs out of the studio like his life depends on it. 

Shooting his students a quick smile, Jimin goes over toward the speakers, while his mind is left in shambles. All he wanted was to make Jeongguk feel included in the class, as he assumed the other felt neglected, hence his reserved nature. 

Yet, all he seems to have done is push the man further away. 

“Where is it all going wrong?” He whispers under his breath. 

***

“He came back in after that, did he not?” Hoseok asks, sipping on his cappuccino elegantly. “Then what are you moping around for?” 

“But why is he running out in the first place? It has to be something!” Jimin whines and drops his head on the cafe’s table. “Maybe I’m reading into this too much. If he wants me to let him be, then I’ll do just that.” 

A gentle hand rests on his forearm. “Are you sure you can’t just talk to him? Considering he initiated conversation with you yesterday.” 

“I agree with hyung,” Taehyung pipes in from and places Jimin’s order on their table. “Give it a try. I’m sure it will be—”

“Better than the plan you suggested?” Jimin quips with a raised eyebrow. 

Taehyung pouts. “Hey, at least that plan led you somewhere.” With a smirk, he stands upright and bops Jimin’s nose. “Worked better than you badgering him just to get a name.” 

“I’m gonna rate the customer service here as horrible.” Jimin huffs. 

The blue-haired man guffaws and ruffles his hair. “You love me too much for that.” With a wink, he walks away leaving Jimin floundering for words.

He immediately turns to Hoseok who’s sporting a highly amused look on his face. “Stop looking at me like that!” 

“Like what?” He asks with a look all too innocent to be true.

“Like… like you know something I don’t. Or like that something is written all across my face.”

Hoseok snorts. “It kinda is, though.”

“Hyung!”

“Okay, tell me something.” Hoseok places his cup down and leans forward with a knowing look, chin resting on his crossed fingers. “Why is he ignoring your advances bothering you so much? If it was anyone else in your class, you wouldn’t have even batted an eye.” 

“That’s… that’s not true. I would have—”

“You would have tried once, sure. But you wouldn’t be so resilient in not giving up, would you?”

“I…” Jimin slumps back in his seat, defeated. “Fine! Yes. But only because he’s someone of our age so I just want to talk to him. And because I really like dancing with him.” 

“But you agree that you’re genuinely trying hard for him. So putting two and two together, you’re interested in him.” 

“ What? No!”

Hoseok pinches his cheek in an instant. “Don’t you lie to me, Park Jimin. We’ve all heard you cry about how fluffy his hair was, how cute his round eyes looked, how handsome he looked when—”

“OKAY! We get it!”

“Who are you trying to fool, huh?” 

“This is workplace harassment. I’m going to report you to the authorities.” Jimin threatens, though he probably doesn’t look as menacing as he’d like to be. 

“Okay, I didn’t want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice,” Hoseok says as he sits back and sighs gravely. “As a senior who has two years on you, I implore you to answer the following questions with a yes or a no. Got it?” 

“As your business partner , I respectfully decline.” 

“I’m sorry, are you asking to be fired right now?” 

Jimin huffs. “Such an abuse of power is unacceptable. I will not tolerate such—”

“ Park. Jimin. ” 

“Fine!” He cries in resignation. 

Hoseok smiles in triumph. “Good. Now question one - are you bothered that Jeongguk is not giving you the time of day?”

“...yes.” 

“Hm. And if given the chance, would you want to strike up a friends-turned-to-lovers relationship with him?” 

“Hyung!” Jimin whines, but to no avail, because Hoseok is actually asking that question with a straight face. 

“Fine, let me rephrase. For now, would you like to be friends with him, dance with him, yada yada yada? Until you end up climbing him like a tree, that is.”

“Oh my god.” He whines under his breath, squirming in his seat as he finally answers, “Yes. I want to be friends. Just friends.” 

“Sure, Jan.” Hoseok drawls. “Okay, here comes the last question - are you interested in Jeongguk? In a way where you want him to know you and vice versa?”

He hesitates. Is what he’s feeling considered an interest, though?

Sure, he’s found himself staring at the doe-eyed man more times than he can count. And yes, he’s wanted to see those cupid-bow lips curl into beautiful smiles or feel those toned arms hold him as they dance together in the studio with no one else but them. He wants to hear that velvety voice call his name and laugh with him, and… and…

Oh.

“So?” 

“...I guess.” He finally murmurs with cheeks that could leave dumplings steaming in seconds. “ Aish. ”

“Not a yes, but I’ll take what I can get.” Hoseok sighs and yet, Jimin already knows there’s a proud smirk on his face right this moment. 

After sitting in the hot seat of embarrassment for a good minute, Jimin stands up abruptly. “Okay, you had your fun. I’m going back to the—” 

“Hold your horses and sit down. It’s my turn to play cupid now.” Hoseok cuts in, and he groans. 

‘ Just how many people need to get involved in their relationship before anything works out?’ Jimin thinks before he freezes. ‘ Wait. Relationship? When did that—”

“Oi!” Two snaps before his face drag his zoned out self from oblivion and back to facing Hoseok’s enthusiastic face. “Focus. Now, here’s what you’re going to do.”

***

‘ He’s not here yet.’ Jimin wonders as students filter in for their last session of the week. 

The voice in his head is of no help either, nearly convincing him that their previous session pushed Jeongguk too far. With an anxious heart and distracted mind, Jimin greets his students with a half-hearted smile and slowly makes his way to the front of the class. 

“Are you okay, Jimin?” A gentle voice asks, and Jimin looks up to see the brown-haired male, Jaeyoung - one of Calico’s students - staring at him with a concerned look.  

“I’m fine, Jaeyoung-ssi. Thanks for asking.” He says with a smile, receiving one in return. 

Jaeyoung and him are on blurry lines when it comes to friendship, teetering between acquaintances and new friends, but it’s always a delight speaking to someone of his own age amongst a class of many seniors. 

“You should take it easy, you know. Let one of your favourite students here take over the class on your behalf for a day.” Jaeyoung suggests, and the suggestive tone is not missed. 

Jimin chuckles and plays along. “Is that so? Well, who would you suggest as my TA?” 

“I mean, if I really had to, I wouldn’t mind helping you out.” Jaeyoung shrugs with a mirthful look. 

“Oh, hardly subtle, I see,” Jimin teases, barely fazed when Jaeyoung throws him a cheeky wink. “I’ll definitely keep you in mind then, Jaeyoung-ssi.” 

Just when he’s moving to walk away, Jaeyoung’s hand shoots out to catch his wrist. Although surprised, Jimin school’s his features into a curious smile. 

“Um, I wanted to ask if you were free this evening.” 

“Today? Yeah, I should be. Why?” 

Jaeyoung instantly perks up like a puppy before a bone. “Really? Then would you like to—”

As though on cue, the studio doors burst open with immense force, startling Jimin and everyone else in the process. Since he’d been standing with his back facing the door, Jimin simply assumes that person was in a rush so he doesn’t turn around to save them the embarrassment. 

Instead, he focuses back on what Jaeyoung had been saying. “Sorry, you were saying?”

“Huh?” Jaeyoung’s eyes snap back to him and lighten up once more. “Oh! Yeah, I was wondering if you’d like… to…” The man trails off, eyes focused somewhere behind Jimin and looking… scared?

Even before Jimin can ask what’s wrong, he gets his answer served to him in seconds. 

“Jimin-ssi.” A gruff voice calls out from behind him, instantly sending pleasant shivers down his spine. 

Jimin gasps and spins on his heel, only to lean back at the close proximity. “Jeongguk-ssi! You came.” 

“Oh?” Jeongguk takes off his bucket hat and mask ( it’s summer though?) and raises one eyebrow. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Would you like me to say yes?” Jimin teases back, not wanting to miss this golden opportunity when the other seems to be willing to talk. “Just say the word.”

“Hm. If that’s the case,” In one move, Jeongguk takes one step forward, dark eyes flickering up to Jaeyoung as he says, “Yes.” 

Jimin blinks. “Oh.” 

“I’ll, um, get back to my position.” 

The purple-haired man, who found himself distracted once more, quickly snaps his attention to Jaeyoung who stands awkwardly, shuffling his feet. “Oh! My bad, you were trying to tell me something, Jaeyoung? I’m sorry, I didn’t catch it.” 

Jaeyoung’s eyes flicker up to Jeongguk then back at Jimin. “It was nothing, don’t worry. Maybe we can catch up after this class.” 

“Sure!” Jimin bows after Jaeyoung and watches the man slip back into his place. “Right, now where were… we.” 

Of course. Jeongguk had already walked back and occupied his usual position at the corner of the studio without so much as another word. If this goes on any further, Jimin might just end up pulling out all his hair in frustration.

First thing in the morning and he’s already crossed, all because Jeongguk keeps stringing him along with these hopeful attempts at conversing, only to leave him halfway through.

‘ Why does that bother you so much though? Because you like him.’ His mind suggests and Jimin scoffs. Yeah, right.

Storming to the front of the class, he takes a deep breath, pushing down all the vexation for later, before clapping his hands twice. “Okay! Another beautiful day to break our backs, right?”

“Y-E-S!”

“...No.” 

He has no qualms in throwing his head back and spilling unfettered laughter. “Well, for that one brave soul who said no, I shall heed your request today.” After a few cheers, Jimin resumes, “I want to go with one of our newer choreographies today. So first, can everyone pair up please?” 

Jimin stands back and watches as the men and women scurry around the classroom, pairing up either with their acquaintances or someone new. The excitement buzzing in the air lifts his spirits as well, considering it’s been a while since they did a paired-up routine. 

However, his eyes soon find that Jaeyoung, Jeongguk and another girl, Ryujin, are beginning to stand isolated. As much as he wants to pair up with Jeongguk and test these supposed feelings, their interaction at the beginning of the class left him unreasonably sour for reasons he can’t figure out yet. 

“Jaeyoung-ssi?” He calls out and it’s like time stands still. 

Jeongguk’s eyes immediately dart toward him and stare back with such raw intensity, Jimin feels like it might just consume him whole. With his face mask off, Jimin can see the way his tongue pokes his inner cheek, eyes narrowed before he looks away. 

‘ Really? That’s what you’re going to do?’ 

Jimin huffs and turns to a surprised Jaeyoung with a smile on his face. “You can pair up with me. Come on up front.” 

The man smiles brightly and wastes no time in making his way to the front, but all the while, Jimin can’t stop his eyes from flitting back and eyeing the way Ryujin approaches Jeongguk with a shy smile. 

His eyes nearly pop out of their sockets when Jeongguk smiles back and nods, letting the girl stand beside him. When he looks right back up at Jimin, there’s a stubborn determination in his eye.  

‘ Fine. Let’s do it your way.’ Jimin thinks as he turns to face the class entirely. 

“Alright, now that we’re all paired up, let’s dive into it. Do my Calicos remember our choreography for Don’t Go Yet? Where we changed partners in between the choreography?”

“Y-E-S!” 

“Would you look at that! Perfect! Okay then, so it’s the same routine but only a few places where you will need to face your partner-” Jimin turns so he can face Jaeyoung while addressing the class. “-and hold one another to dance. This is a slower version so you can follow me and Jaeyoung-ssi as we dance. Are we good with that?”

After a chorus of agreement, he grins and darts to connect his phone to the speakers and play a song whose routine is one of Jimin’s personal favourites. 

‘ Not with your favourite person though.’ Jimin mentally groans at the unnecessary thought, deliberately ignoring it as he finds the song. 

“Here we go!” He cries, running back to his spot and nodding at Jaeyoung.

Mood: Don’t Go Yet - Camilla Cabello

As the Latin beats and guitar strums fill the room, Jimin takes slow, flirtatious steps toward his partner. His eyes, however, stay transfixed on one corner of the room, flaring with a determination paralleling someone else’s. 

Clapping twice, Jimin and Jaeyoung sync up and dive into the choreography with every other pair in the room, popping their limbs and shuffling their feet to the beat.

And yet all he can see is him and Jeongguk, alone, separated by the vast expanse of the studio as they dance glaring at one another. 

The music is simply white noise, overpowered by the irrational need to prove something until one of them gives in. The guitar strings are plucked faster, hastening the pace and in turn fuelling Jimin’s vigour as he practically stomps, albeit elegantly, to circle around to the rhythm. 

Every hip twist, every body roll, every snap - he makes sure Jeongguk sees it. 

But so does Jeongguk. 

At the drop of the beat, Jimin steps back so he’s against Jaeyoung’s chest, those hands on his hips as he sways side-to-side, but everything fades out when he sees Jeongguk’s tattooed fingers resting on Ryujin’s hips. 

Jimin sways his hips - and boy does he sway them good - all while locking eyes with the brown-haired man. But Jeongguk is no better, having the nerve to smirk at Jimin while Ryujin and him do a back wave together, with his hands still on her hips. 

‘ Beat that.’ Jeongguk’s wink seems to scream as every pair breaks apart and grooves to a two-step. 

Jimin huffs, but gathers his bearings as every pair rotates and repeats the basic Cuban step until they’re moving back and front smoothly. 

“Okay, time to change - One!” Jimin cries with a forced smile, clapping as everyone side-steps to get ready to shift partners. 

“TWO!”

Everyone spins and the partners change.

“Uno!” Jimin cries as he breaks apart from Jaeyoung and shifts to another student.

“DOS!” 

The class claps twice and spins the other way to shift partners. As all twenty students laugh and groove with a Bust Down step, tapping their foot to each beat, Jimin follows along with the same fervour. 

Immersed in one of his favourite parts of the song, Jimin doesn’t notice who he’s reaching out to as they automatically shift partners, gasping when a familiar tattooed hand grips his wrist and spins him around swiftly. 

“Got you.” Jeongguk whispers as he comes closer, holding Jimin’s hand as they slide apart and come back to each other. 

A hot simmering feeling boils low in his stomach as Jeongguk and him lock eyes, moving in sync as they do the popular salsa move, and the grip on his waist never falters. 

“One!” Jimin cries once more, his voice evidently shaky. 

But right when they have to change partners, Jeongguk pulls them both back so the other student reflexively reaches out to the woman next to Jimin. 

“Jeongguk!” He whisper-yells but yelps when he’s twirled once more. Nearly crashing back into the taller male, Jimin glares. “What are you doing?” 

“I thought you said we connected, Jimin-ssi,” Jeongguk whispers as they move beside one another to do a shuffle. When they circle around each other, he flashes a roguish smile. “I just want to dance with my connected partner.”

“I—” 

He has no chance to respond as they change partners once more and Jimin finds himself holding hands and repeating the Cuban step with Jaeyoung. 

‘ Focus, Jimin.’ He tells himself like a mantra. 

“Uno!” He hollers, the dancers following with, “DOS!”

Just when he’s spinning to the right to change partners one last time, a hand twirls him to the left and he’s back in Jeongguk’s arms. 

“C’mon, show me what you’ve got.” He taunts and Jimin’s had just about enough. “Let’s dance, Jimin-ssi.” 

Clenching his jaw and using Jeongguk’s shoulder, he pulls himself flush against the other male roughly. The grip on his waist tightens evidently, and he smirks as they sway facing one another, eyes never dropping for even a single moment. 

For once, Jeongguk seems taken aback at his sudden ferocity and a proud sense of satisfaction licks up his spine. Leaning forward, Jimin whispers, “What happened, Jeongguk? Cat got your tongue?” 

Before Jeongguk can respond, Jimin slides away and they are stuck circling one another. Except this time, Jimin drags his hand from Jeongguk’s shoulder, teasingly trailing it down his chest to his waist as they do so. 

The slow intake of breath from the taller male is precisely the reaction he craved. Jeongguk wastes no time in pulling him back in for a quick salsa motion. “You’re asking me what happened when you started this first?” He hisses. 

“Oh, but I certainly intend to finish it,” Jimin quips, spinning in Jeongguk’s arms to do a body wave sideways and groove to the beat with a booty pop. Right before he slides away, he traces Jeongguk’s jaw teasingly as he whispers, “If you want to dance with me, you better be ready for the consequences.” 

“ Don’t go yet~ ”

Upon the last line of the song, all the dancers cheer and hi-five one another and that’s when Jimin steps back, blinking rapidly as he realises what he’s just done. 

Jeongguk seems to snap out of it too, for he’s looking around hastily then back at Jimin with a kind of desperation he’s never seen in these doe-eyes before. 

“Jimin-ssi…” He starts but the tides of humiliation have already consumed Jimin. 

With a quick bow, he zig-zags between the students as quick as he can and makes his way to the front. Everything after that is a blur, and Jimin doesn’t even register his students leaving. 

What has he done? 

Jimin wastes no time in hurrying to pack his belongings before a certain someone approaches him. Even if the chances are slim, he doesn’t want to take a chance of interacting with the other male.

Not today. Not after what he has so recklessly done. 

“Jimin-ssi, can we talk?” 

He continues packing with a heavy heart. 

“If I offended you in any way, I’m sor—”

“No!” Jimin snaps, only to shake his head and rephrase softly. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong, Jeongguk-ssi. Nothing at all. I…”

I shouldn't have let my feelings control me. I should have been the professional one. 

“I just have somewhere to be right now.” He ends up saying. Standing up with his small duffel bag, he hardly looks at Jeongguk when he bows. “Have a good weekend.”

Jimin doesn’t recognise where he’s going, mind too much of a mess to give him that luxury, until he reaches the reception where Mi-rae is seated. 

“Noona, can you close up the studio today? Thanks.” He rambles and bows quickly before he’s heading out the glass doors. 

“Jimin, wait!”

He doesn’t stop until he’s reached his car, hurled his bag into the back and finally collapsed into the front seat. Resting his head on the steering wheel, Jimin breathes heavily as words that he’s managed to forget after all this time begin to resurface once more.

You’re so easy to get riled up. Fucking emotional for everything.

You’re prioritising some stupid studio over our relationship? Fuck this. You’re going to come running back to me someday.

Dance is simply pathetic, Jimin. Just like you. 

Dance is pathetic. 

Pathetic. 

Pathetic. 

You’re pathetic.

***

Hoseok grabs the tray with a bowl of soup, rice and side dishes and approaches Jimin’s room quietly. There’s no sound in the otherwise bubbly house, devoid of the soulmates’ usual bickering, and the silence unsettles him. 

“Is he still sleeping?” He asks Taehyung who’s seated beside a huge lump on the bed, hiding under the covers. 

“Oh, he’s not sleeping alright. Just being the stubborn ass that he is,” Taehyung snarks and they turn to look at the lump for any reaction. “Seriously? You’re not even going to try and insult me, Minnie?”

Silence.

“At least tell us what happened, Min. Let us help you.” Hoseok tries as he sits at the foot of the bed. “Or is it because you don’t trust us enough for that?”

Taehyung shoots him a look. ‘ Emotional blackmailing? Really, hyung?’

Hoseok shrugs helplessly. ‘ I had no choice.’

The tell-tale ruffling of sheets grab their attention and they find the top of Jimin’s head revealed, the purple-haired man turned to face the wall. 

“Do you guys think I’m a weak person?” A soft, broken voice asks. “Always acting with my heart instead of my mind first, like an idiot—” 

“Park Jimin, don’t you dare finish that sentence. Is this about what he said?” Taehyung asks, and Jimin can only nod meekly, ashamed of how many words by someone so insignificant like his ex can affect him this much. “Min-ah, no weak person could have come out of a relationship so toxic all by themselves. You did.”

“Tae’s right, Min. And weak, how? Life? Feelings? Please. Look at how far you’ve made it till now. Calico is standing on its two feet because of all the determination you put in. Calico is our vision.” Hoseok says and harrumphs. “And your emotions are what make you you Jimin. They are one of the million wonderful things about you, So whatever that A-grade asshole said means absolutely nothing because you’re proving his words wrong every single day by living your dream and standing by it, no matter what anybody says.”

The three friends sit in a moment of silence as Jimin lets their words sink in. With a sigh, he looks up to see the two men waiting patiently, eyes warm and accepting, ready for whatever it is Jimin wants to tell them.

“Something happened today.” Jimin finally starts. 

He goes on to tell them about today’s incident without missing even a tiny detail, no matter how embarrassing some details may be. From the ugly feeling in his gut (which he now inevitably has to accept as jealousy) to the euphoric sensation when dancing with Jeongguk - he tells them everything. 

“...and yeah, that’s pretty much what happened.” He finishes, refusing to look up until they say a word.

“...”

“You can say something now. I would really appreciate it.”

Hoseok opens and closes his mouth twice, sighing numerous times before he starts. “Okay, so let me get this straight. I asked you to do a simple couple dance routine so you can pair up with Jeongguk. Instead, you go and have a crazy, sexy salsa show-off with said man. And now you got yourself into this mess?” 

Taehyung chuckles at his pout. “What he means is, instead of communicating, like Jeongguk was evidently trying to do for once, you ran away?” 

“What was I supposed to do?! I literally overlooked that I was teaching a class because I was trying to make Jeongguk jealous! Where is the professionalism in that?” 

“Oh my god, these two are impossible.” Hoseok whines and buries his face into Jimin’s pillow. 

“Jimin-ah, he was reciprocating too!”

“He literally said I started it!” Jimin retaliates. “And he sounded so mad.”

“Jimine. My sweet, innocent Jimine,” Taehyung pacifies with an excessively saccharine smile. “You were going to make the poor soul pop a boner in front of twenty other people. Of course he’s going to sound nothing less than sexually frustrated!”

Jimin pauses. “...what?”

Hoseok laughs and scoots closer, Taehyung following suit. “I think you should talk to him next week, like two functional adults, exchange numbers—”

“Kiss, fall in love, marry and happily ever after!” Taehyung finishes. When the two men give him an unimpressed look, he smiles cheekily. “What? I just fast forwarded the story.”

Jimin giggles and looks at Hoseok guiltily. “You’re not going to fire me?”

“I definitely am,” When Jimin pouts again, Hoseok smacks the back of his head. “Over my dead body! Yah, of course I’m not going to fire you, dummy! I’ll go insane if you’re not there with me to carry Calico forward.”

“And I’ll go insane if you get fired ‘cause you’ll eat my head by sitting at home all day.” Taehyung cuts in and finally, the tension eases.

After the two men sit on either side and cuddle him, Jimin sniffles and basks in their warmth. “I love you guys.”

“We love you too, Minnie.” Hoseok says first, until the two of them turn towards the blue-haired boy.

“...Tae?”

Taehyung thinks for a moment. “I think I’ll love you a bit more if you and Jeongguk sort your shit out next week.”

“ Kim Taehyung! ”

***

Fridays. 

The one day when you’re buzzing with energy throughout the day, working to your full potential so you can feel satisfied with your progress or yourself in general by the end of the week. 

A day that is your most important reminder to say you can handle whatever it is that’s thrown at you. You made it past an entire week, after all. 

Keeping all that in mind, his mood is considerably good as he gets into his car, focused solely on his big plan for the day - Jeongguk. 

After a long week spent thinking, journaling and reading several WikiHow articles, it's safe to say Jimin is past his stage of denial and has now accepted that he has the tiniest crush on Jeongguk. But more importantly, he’s accepted that he doesn't want to let another day go waste without actually getting to know his Mystery Man.

So today, all he has to do is apologise and make a proper attempt with the man to see where they can go from there. Easy, right?

Nope.

If you’re Park Jimin… well, you’re doomed. 

It all started when his alarm woke him up half an hour later than needed, making him curse and rush through his morning routine as best he could - breakfast can wait for later.

And yet, he still managed to step out with a well-matched outfit, only to have it blessed by the droppings of an outrageous pigeon. But again, it’s okay, he felt oddly forgiving today. Running back in, he swapped it for a simple white printed-tee and black joggers and headed out. 

When he thought the outfit change was his first hurdle, Jimin was in no way prepared for his old car to take its last breath right in the middle of traffic. Stuck on one of Itaewon’s busier roads, it's no easy task dealing with angry office-goers who play their car honks like their very own instrument. 

Several apologies later and with the help of the tow truck, Jimin watches as his car is hauled away while he’s left on the side of the road. 

Of all days, why today? Why, on the one day he wants to make things right, everything is going wrong?

By the time he reaches the studio, he’s unfashionably late and justifiably annoyed, both being the worst combination when he’s supposed to teach a very calm and composed choreography today.

And of all people, it’s to a batch of elder and young adults who have upgraded to the Friday level of classes. 

“Jimin-ssi, you’re here!” 

“Why are you late?”

“Can we start now, Jimin-ssi?” 

“Shall I pay the class fees now or by the end of the week, Jimin-ssi?” 

On normal days, Jimin would entertain each and every question in stride, but right now he really didn’t appreciate the questions bombarding him left and right the moment he walks into the studio. 

Nodding wordlessly, he makes his way to the shelves, drops his bag and does his best to drag a smile onto his face as he walks through the crowd of students to the front.

“Hi - yes, okay - one second, let me just… Hey everyone! Are we having a good morning?” 

While the elder ones in the crowd give him some enthusiastic ‘ Yes’s ’, the younger ones simply grunt or nod in affirmation. 

“Right. Well then, let’s get started, shall we? It’s going to be an easier version of a contemporary routine so we need to be light on our feet.” Jimin explains as he does a few quick stretches of his own. “Anyone here who’s—”

“Can’t we do something else?” One of the younger students ask. 

Jimin sighs. Why couldn’t I have gotten only the nicer adults today?

“This is what I’ve prepared for today’s class. I hope you can understand.” He clarifies with a smile. 

“Whatever.”

“Jimin-ssi, aren’t you, like, a dance teacher? Shouldn’t you be prepared to teach any kind of dance?” A boy asks, looking towards his friends as they cackle and chortle together.

He understands them. He really, really does. Especially since he was a rebellious kind of kid at their age too, eager to make a mess wherever he went. But today is quite possibly the worst day to mess with him, and he can feel the patience slipping through his fingers like falling sand. 

“I am prepared, but we adhere to schedules very firmly here at Calico.” Jimin explains with a smile so fake, one would gag. 

“Kids, you must be respectful to your dance teacher here, okay?” An elder lady calls out. “Jimin-ssi is a wonderful teacher so as long as you follow his lead, you’re going to have fun here.”

Jimin shoots her a grateful smile and nods to the class. “Yup, and don’t worry, since this is your first class—”

The studio doors open and Jimin catches a glimpse of Jeongguk slipping in. To say his heart begins racing like he’s in a marathon is an understatement. When Jeongguk stands in his position and, surprisingly, shoots Jimin a small smile, he’s a goner.

Inhaling sharply, he blinks rapidly and looks back at the class. “Sorry. As I was saying, since it’s your first time joining us here on a Friday, I’ll make it easy.” 

With a heart beating louder than the warm-up beats surrounding the studio, Jimin does his best to keep himself collected till the end of this class. From that point, everything goes smoothly and Jimin thinks his day’s unlucky streak is finally coming to an end. 

Until they come to rehearsal time, that is.

“Ahjussi, can’t you move further away for this step?” 

“This is too hard!” 

“Jimin-ssi, I’m not getting this part. Can you help me out, please?” 

“I need help here! This footwork is just mad.” 

It’s a disaster upon a disaster. 

Jimin hardly catches a minute of rest as he darts across the studio clarifying doubts and patiently ( not for too long ) dealing with the younger students. 

He’s on the sixth younger student now. “Look, if you can just watch how I’m doing it, you might be able to—”

“What? Are you saying I’m not paying attention?”

“I’m not saying that. You’re doing good. Maybe just shift your weight onto the other leg when—”

“Jimin-ssi, I’m the best dancer in my school,” She says, flicking her hair back and staring him down. “I think I know what to do. I just called you here to check if my posture is correct or not.” 

‘ Why did I think I could handle this without Hobi hyung?’ He feels like a fool, remembering how he assured Hoseok that he can handle today’s class by himself. 

The voices in his head start to get louder once more, mocking him for thinking he was ever good enough for this job, and Jimin is so close to giving in. One more word from this student and—

“Jimin-ssi…” A gentle voice calls from behind him and he’s instantly doused in a sense of calmness.  “Why don’t I take care of this? You can help the students up front.” 

A shaky sigh slips out his lips as Jimin turns to find Jeongguk staring at him with a look so soft, so gentle, that makes him want to break down this instant. 

“Thank you, Jeongguk.” He whispers with a nod, stepping away slowly. 

He had no doubt Jeongguk could handle questions regarding the choreography, seeing how he has always been the first one to grasp every one of Jimin’s routines with effortless ease.

On the other hand, the girl’s face immediately withers into annoyance. “Jimin-ssi, I asked you to—”

“Jimin is not here to attend only to you,” Jeongguk cuts in and stands before the girl in an assertive stance. “So, let’s run through the choreo once more and see what the problem is.”

She scoffs. “And you are?”

“My partner,” Jimin says as he moves to stand beside Jeongguk, the smile wiped off his face and replaced with a stern look. “I would appreciate it if you listen to what he has to say. He’s more than capable of fixing your posture, I assure you.” 

Jimin’s tone left no space for doubt, which the girl seemed to understand now, for she nods quietly and changes her stance from arrogant to that of a proper student. 

With a nod, he turns to walk away when a hand holds his forearm and stops him. 

“Partner, huh?” Jeongguk whispers, and though Jimin stands facing the other way, he can hear the smile in the other’s voice. 

Turning his head, he locks eyes with the taller male. “Didn’t you call yourself my connected partner? I thought you wanted to take on that responsibility.”

Jeongguk chuckles. “I’m ready to do whatever you want me to, Jimin-ssi.”

Memories of last week’s incident flash through his mind, and Jimin hesitates, unsure of where the two of them stand right now, even if Jeongguk is talking to him like nothing ever happened.

Jimin bites his lip, uncertainty evident in his features. “Jeongguk, I—”

“Later,” Jeongguk says with an assuring smile. “I promise. Now go, your Calicos need you.”

With a small chuckle, Jimin flashes one last grateful smile and turns back to attend to the students upfront. From that point onward, Jeongguk and Jimin work in tandem - he takes care of doubts upfront while Jeongguk deftly handles the students at the back. 

In all honesty, this has to be the most productive class he’s taken thus far. Not only have the newer students accustomed to the faster routines, but even the older ones have no problem adjusting to the contemporary style of the choreography.

“I have to say, this has to be one of my best classes so far,” Jimin tells everyone as they start wrapping up. “All of you were wonderful, you made me so proud.” Claps and cheers bring the studio to life, and Jimin beams.

“And for the younger ones in the bunch, you guys blew my mind,” The younger students, who’ve finally warmed up to him during this class, smile proudly. “And see? Nobody cares if you dance well or not. There is no good or bad dancing. All you need to do is toss those shoes off and dance the way you want to. Because you know what? Great dancers are great because of their passion. Even if they fall, they know exactly how to land.” 

From the corner of his eye, Jimin sees some movement in the back and his heart sinks at the prospect of Jeongguk walking out once more. 

But as though he heard him, Jeongguk looks up, raises one finger to excuse himself and walks to the very back, sits on his haunches and begins rummaging through his bag. 

A simple gesture but considering their history, it made Jimin’s heart sprout wings and flutter all about his chest. 

“That’s it for today then. I’ll see you all tomorrow! And for those who have concerns regarding the fees and schedule, see me upfront.” Jimin says and stands back to let everyone go where they needed to. 

The students scatter around, waving goodbyes and chatting amongst each other as they filter out the studio. Meanwhile, the new students flock around him and Jimin finds himself occupied with several questions without a breather in between. 

“Yes, perfect! See you next week! Bye!” He waves to the last student and watches them leave the studio. 

Sighing heavily, he slumps against the wall beside the mirrors, shuts his eyes and slides down to collapse on the floor. 

“You look like you lost 10 years off your face today.” A voice teases. 

Jimin cracks one eye open to see Jeongguk walking towards him, hands in his pockets and bag slung cross-body style, looking nowhere near the mess Jimin is right now. 

“Yah, you try dealing with a class of thirty students all at once.”

Jeongguk cocks his head with a look of sheer innocence.“I thought that’s what I was doing all this time.”

A tired laugh bubbles out of him. “Wanna join me?” He asks, tapping the spot on the floor beside him. 

The brown-haired man wastes no time in crossing the distance, placing the bag down and sitting beside him. If Jimin’s skin burns where their shoulders brush against each other, he doesn’t say it, letting them sit in the silence of the studio. 

“What a class, huh?” Jeongguk finally asks.

“Yeah.”

Jeongguk drums a random beat with his fingers against his thighs. The beat stops.

“Are they going to be joining us tomorrow as well?”

Jimin sighs. “God, no. No offence, but I can only deal with so much in a week.”

Jeongguk hums and goes back to drumming a different beat this time. After a while, he stops once more.

“You hungry?”

He can’t help it. He really can’t. The man is trying so hard to fill the silence and Jimin appreciates him for doing so, except the last question has the laughter gushing out of him without restraint. 

“You really had nothing else to say, huh?” Jimin wheezes after doubling over, almost leaning against the taller male in the process.

Jeongguk pouts, like near-to-God pouts, and the way those lips pucker is far too tempting and distracting. 

“You know…” Jimin sighs and turns so he can sit facing the other. “This is the most you’ve ever spoken with me in the past month.”

Frown lines immediately crease Jeongguk’s forehead and guilt crosses over those handsome features. “I’m sorry about that. I just… I’m not great at talking with new people. And I think I made things worse between us even before I could talk with you so I didn’t think you’d want to.” 

That catches Jimin off-guard. By the looks of it, Jeongguk seemed like the perfect-boy-next-door, the one who everyone loves talking to, the popular one of the flock. It hardly occurred to him that Jeongguk was just nervous to talk to him as Jimin has been all this time. 

“It’s okay. I never wanted an apology,” Jimin tells him with a gentle smile and Jeongguk instantly relaxes. “There is something I’ve been meaning to ask you, though.”

Here goes nothing.

“Why do you keep running out of my class?” 

Jeongguk chuckles hesitantly and averts his eyes. “I was wondering when you’d ask me about that,” Instead of bolting away or diverting like Jimin thought he would, Jeongguk sighs. “Can I show you something?”

Jimin nods and waits patiently as he turns to rummage through the contents of his bag. For once, Jimin does his best not to conjure up any possible scenarios of what could happen now because they’re already in a complicated mess as it is. They don’t need his extra imagination in the mix.

“Here it is,” Jeongguk mumbles before facing him with a tattered black journal that looks like it has seen quite a few years. “Um… it’s too embarrassing to explain so I’ll let you see for yourself.”

Reaching out for the book carefully, Jimin shoots the man a curious look before turning the pages with care. Nothing makes sense at the beginning, just pages of scribbles, scratched out and underlined words scrawled across every page. 

It's the thought of living being young

When your heart's just like a drum.

I wanna dance, the music's got me going, 

how do I stop this

I believe in myself;

My back hurts in order to let my wings sprout.

“These are lyrics,” Jimin whispers to himself, gasping when it finally clicks. “You’re a singer?!”

“An idol in training, to be more precise.” Jeongguk clarifies, rubbing his nape as his ears turn endearingly pink. 

“Okay, hang on. First off, that’s super cool! I swear, you certainly have that idol aura around you.” He says, circling his hands as though he’s tracing the halo surrounding the other man. 

With a shy chuckle, Jeongguk bows. “Thank you. And secondly?”

Jimin drops his hands in his lap and shrugs sheepishly. “No offense, but what does that have to do with you running out?” 

“Did you actually read the lyrics, Jimin-ssi?” Jeongguk asks, amusement lacing his tone as he cocks his head, asking Jimin to look at the book once more. 

“What do you mean?” Jimin glances at the notes. “I just read all these…” He trails off when a few lyrics catch his eye. 

We don't need to worry

'Cause when we fall, we know how to land

“Great dancers are great because of their passion. Even if they fall, they know exactly how to land.”  

What is that you’ve dreamed of? Who do you see in the mirror?

“When you look in the mirror every morning, don’t forget that it’s you who’s putting in your all to make that dream happen. 

I gotta say, Go on your path. Even if you live for a day.

Always go on your path, and imagine that all you have is today to make a difference for yourself.

As Jimin starts flipping through the pages faster, the words on the pages begin muddling in his mind… with his own words.  For every lyric scribbled onto the pages, Jimin can hear his favourite phrases and cherished quotes, things he’s shared almost every class, ringing in his mind. 

“Got your answer?” Jeongguk asks softly. 

His brain short-circuits on the spot. 

“How— I don’t… this is… what? ” He blabbers out, whipping his head to stare at those anxious eyes. “Why?” 

“Wh- why?” Jeongguk sputters and bursts into a fit of laughter. “This is the first time I’m seeing a muse question why they’re an inspiration.”

“ Muse?!” 

One more such word from this beautiful man and Jimin will combust into flames right this instant. 

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the things you say when you’re trying to motivate the class are pretty lyric-worthy.” 

“Well, I see that now.” Jimin mumbles, cheeks flaming hotter than humanly possible. “So, every time you dashed out…”

“I was trying to jot down the lyrics before I forgot them.” Jeongguk finishes. 

With a shuddery sigh, Jimin slouches against the wall and looks up at the ceiling. It all fits now - his reserved nature in public, the bucket hats and face masks, the godforsaken marathons out of his class- 

Everything makes sense.

Jeongguk must mistake his silence for something else because he immediately begins rambling. “I’m sorry. I know it was very rude to keep leaving like that. And… if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll stop coming to class. I won’t even bother you—”

“What? No, Jeongguk, no!” Sitting upright, he turns to face the anxious-ridden male with a smile. “I was just surprised and also kinda mad? But that’s because I didn’t know why you kept leaving, you know?”

“I’m sorry.” Jeongguk repeats once more, head hanging low.

“Hey, it’s fine. You explained yourself and I understand.” He lets out a breathy laugh in disbelief. “Honestly, who would think a commoner like me can ever be an inspiration for some idol?”

“You have no idea.” Jeongguk mumbles with a small smile.

“Huh?”

“No, nothing.” Exhaling in relief, the taller male also turns to face him. “So you’re okay with me coming to your class?” 

“If your agency has no problem, then I’ll be glad to have you here,” Jimin beams and flashes a wink. “I’ll also need the eye-candy to get more students.”

“Oh my god.” Jeongguk huffs, moving to stand up.

“No, I was just kidding! Come back!”

Shooting him a playfully weary look, Jeongguk sits back down and extends one hand. “To make up for my horrible introduction when we first met - I’m Jeon Jeongguk.”

Stifling a giggle, Jimin puts on an indifferent face and shakes his hand. “Park Jimin. You better perform well in my class, okay, Jeongguk-ssi?”

Jeongguk nods gravely and with a deep bow he says, “Yes, seonsaengnim.” When he manages to draw out another giggle from Jimin, he sits up and cocks his head. “I wanted to ask. How old are you, Jimin-ssi?”

“Oh my, is chivalry dead?” He starts with a dramatic gasp. “How can you ask a grown man his age like that?”

“Jimin-ssi~” He whines with a pout that severely puts Jimin’s self-control to the test.

“Okay, okay. I’m twenty-two. You?”

“Twenty. You’re my hyung then! Jimin hyung.” Jeongguk says brightly and it stirs a warm feeling in his chest. “Is that okay? Can I call you that?”

“Yeah,” Jimin whispers, before realising how creepy he sounds and clears his throat. “Yeah, you can call me hyung.”

Jeongguk grins and Jimin is instantly reminded of the adorable bunnies Taehyung keeps sending to cheer him up every day. The younger takes his book from Jimin’s lap and goes to tuck it into his bag once more. 

“So, Jeongguk. You said you were an idol in training, right?” 

Jeongguk hums, zips his bag close and faces him once more. “Yup. I was the last one to join my group since I got scouted only last year and I’ve been training ever since.”

Jimin claps in astonishment. “Wahh, that’s impressive. When do you guys debut?”

“For now, the plan is to make our debut performance on M Countdown at this year’s December showcase.” 

“And the songs? Will you guys be using all those lyrics in your debut songs?” Jimin questions excitedly, no different from a kid high on sugar.

Jeongguk chuckles and moves forward to rest his chin on his palm. “Why, hyung? Do you want me to? Should I sing about the cute dance instructor back in Itaewon for my debut performance?”

Jimin’s thoughts screech to a comical halt in his mind, with all the side effects like metal screeching and all. 

Jeongguk just called me… 

“Cute?” 

Instantly, Jeongguk’s expression changes from that of playful to utter panic as he sits upright. “No, what I meant was—”

“PARK JIMIN!” 

Both men snap their heads to where the studio doors have slammed wide open and a shrill voice boomed. Mi-rae stands right there with her hands on her hips, looking far from pleased at the scene before her. 

“What on Earth are you doing here for so long? I told you not to stay back and practice — oh.” She stops in her tracks, eyes scanning the figure beside Jimin. “Why, hello there.” 

Jeongguk stands on his feet, with Jimin following right behind him, and bows politely. “Hello, Mi-rae-ssi.”

“Noona.” Jimin calls out, praying that she heeds the evident warning in his tone to not utter a word.

“I see you’re the one who’s kept our Jimin quite busy.”

And of course, she doesn’t listen. 

“Oh! I, um — I was just about to leave.” The younger says, moving to grab his bag when Jimin catches his wrist. 

“Let’s leave together. We’re closing up anyway.”

“Ah. Okay.” Jeongguk mumbles and it’s only now that he gets to witness firsthand how different the younger is in the presence of new people. 

God, how intimidating he must have looked when he was constantly staring the poor soul down for leaving his class. 

By the time the three of them leave the studio, the sun has begun scattering amongst the clouds into a million pink and purple fragments, the street lights turning on one after the other and the evening breeze playing with their hair.

“Should I clarify what I meant by him keeping you busy?” Mi-rae asks as they wait for Jeongguk to get off the phone with his manager. 

Jimin sputters and pushes her toward her vehicle. “Go, noona! Go home and bother someone else.”

Mi-rae cackles but dutifully obliges, getting into her car and winking suggestively before driving away, taking Jimin’s peace of mind with her.

“Hey hyung? I…” Jeongguk sighs long and heavy as he stands beside him, bucket hat and mask back on, and shuffles on his feet. “My manager just called. I don’t think I can make it to class for a while. A few weeks even.” 

Jimin spins on his heel, eyebrows furrowing reflexively at the sudden news. “Is everything okay? Are you in trouble?”

“I’m always getting in trouble, hyung. They’re used to it by now,” He answers cheekily and the tension in Jimin’s shoulders lighten considerably. “No, um, we’re starting promotions next week. Twitter posts, promotional videos and such, so my schedule is going to be packed.” 

“Oh.” Jimin does his best to mask the disappointment on his face and smiles as best he can. “It’s fine, Jeongguk. We’ll… we’ll just meet when you’re back then. Don’t forget me, okay?”

Jeongguk stares at him hard and long, almost seeming disappointed with his answer, before he says. “I could never.”

“Good. I’ll, um, I’ll see you then!” Jimin says quickly, waving as he heads back to his car. There’s a sinking feeling in his stomach but for now, he needs to get away to figure it out.

“Hyung, wait!”

Jimin halts and spins around, surprised to see the younger jogging up to him quickly. “What happened?”

Pulling down his mask, Jeongguk’s lips curl up into a shy smile as he extends his phone. “Let’s exchange numbers?”

***

It’s a comical sight. Truly. 

Three grown people sitting hunched over the small device, zooming in and out, tapping the screen, looking at each other, and repeating the cycle once more. 

“Stop,” Jimin wheezes, trying his best not to knock the soju glasses over. “I don’t see how this is such a big deal.”

“You don’t—” Hoseok raises his hands in surrender and falls flat on his back. “That’s it. I don’t know this dumbhead anymore.”

Taehyung pats his thigh sympathetically while Mi-rae simply shakes her head and pours herself another glass. Every reaction seemed completely unwarranted if you ask him.

“Jimin-ah, tell me again, what was your game plan for today?" Taehyung asks, barely trying to conceal the sarcasm dripping in his tone.

“I still don’t see what you think went so wrong! Look, I was supposed to talk with him, solve our issues, and begin a proper friendship like two normal people. Right? And that’s exactly what happened!”

“It’s not about what went wrong, Jimin-ah. It’s how you’re so nonchalant about the fact that you snagged yourself a K-pop idol of all people, who in turn, literally confessed that you’re his muse.” Mi-rae explains, earning herself fervent nods from the other two men in agreement.

Jimin mulls it over as he knocks back his glass of soju. “Okay, so may-y-y-be things took a different turn, but hey, I got his number. That should count for something right?”

“It only counts for something if you’re gonna do something about it,” Hoseok pipes in as he sits upright, staring Jimin down with a knowing look. “You’re not going to text him first, are you?”

He blinks rapidly. “…no?”

Another wave of grunts and blasphemies fill the room, with Mi-rae having to physically hold Hoseok back from knocking some sense into Jimin.

"Why? You don’t know when he’s going to come back again. What do you plan on doing until then?” Taehyung asks.

Swirling the shot glass in his hand, Jimin takes a moment. 

What will he do with Jeongguk’s number? But to do something with that number, he needed to know where they stand in the first place - acquaintances? Friends? Potential crushes?

“We can hear you thinking all the way over here!” Hoseok points out.

He gets a pillow to the face.

“I won’t do anything,” Jimin decides and asserts that statement by placing his glass on the table with a sense of finality. “Yup. He asked for it, so let him text me. Plus, he’s the busy one so I’m just… you know, being accommodating of his schedule.”

“ Being accommodating. ” Hoseok imitates in a high-pitched, nasally voice. “Coward.” 

The dancer ends up buried under all the pillows on the couch.

***

Jimin didn’t notice the extent to which Jeongguk’s presence affected him in class, but he certainly notices it now.

It’s been a week, and the lack of a familiar figure positioned at the corner of his studio significantly unsettles something ugly inside of him. He tries his best to brush it off and carry on with his usual routine but he could only do that for so long.

Now, it simply doesn't feel right.

Funnily, Jimin now finds that he misses Jeongguk’s constant interruptions in more ways than one. Be it him running out of class ( for reasons he now knows ), or silently challenging Jimin with his own choreographies- 

Jimin misses him.

“No special words for us today, Jimin-ssi?” One of his students ask and he snaps out of his reverie to find her staring at him with expecting eyes.

“Ah, well, I guess the reservoir of motivation is running dry today,” He tries to tease and raises two fists in the process. “But you all know I’m always rooting for you! Hwaiting!”

“HWAITING!” The class yells and with that, he successfully wraps his last class for the week.

‘Third class without Jeongguk, though.’ His mind notes and Jimin is too exhausted to fight that realisation.

It all feels so monotonous now, without Jeongguk’s constant element of surprise, and Jimin doesn't even notice that he’s already signed out and crashed behind the steering wheel. Like a moth inevitably drawn to its flame, his eyes drift to the device mocking him from the passenger seat.

Every day, the number sitting on his phone gets harder and harder to ignore. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to reach out first. Maybe he should just give Jeongguk a chance like he’s been dying to do since their conversation last Friday.

“Ugh, screw it. I’m going to text him.”

Opening KakaoTalk on his phone, Jimin’s finger hovers over The Contact™ for a few seconds. Should he? Should he not? Should he? Or should he n—

A sudden vibration in his hands sends a jolt down his spine as he glances at the new notification.

From Jeongguk.

JEON JEONGGUK

Hi hyung! Sorry, it took me so long to text you!

Jimin practically fumbles with his phone as he tries to text back quickly, heart doing a million somersaults and catapults in excitement.

JIMIN

Hey Jeongguk-ah :) 

It’s not a problem. How was your day?

JEONGGUK

Eh… it was fine. 

Missing your Friday classes though 〒▽〒

His fingers freeze over the keyboard as he reads the younger’s message again and again with a goofy smile on his face. God, why is he acting like a lovesick teenager?

JIMIN

I didn’t miss you though. Was quite peaceful, tbh. 

No one running out and disturbing the class all the time.

JEONGGUK

AJKLIHSDKIHJF

Hyung!! I told you!! It was for the lyrics!

You said you understood (T_T)

JIMIN

Omg calm down!

I was just teasing. I missed you in class as well.

No one gets my choreographies as well as you do.

JEONGGUUK

That’s because your choreographies are a work of art, hyung.

They just flow, like every step is meant to be.

A whimper slips out of his lips at the compliment thrown so casually into their conversation. While he’s had so many people compliment his choreographies before, there’s something different about the way Jeongguk describes them.

Almost like he cherishes them.

JEONGGUK

Hyung? Are you there?

“Shit!” Jimin didn’t even notice he’d zoned out until the notification’s buzz.

JIMIN

Yeah, I’m here!

I’m glad to hear you like my choreos then :D

Anyways!! How are the promotions going?

JEONGGUK

Cute.

Promotions huh? it’s actually kinda fun. 

My hyungs are these modern boomers so I’m constantly helping them out with Gen-Z trends XD

JIMIN

Poor souls, having to deal with you all day long.

RIP Jeongguk’s hyungs.

JEONGGUK

Wahh, you’re so mean, Jiminie hyung! 

Hmph ( ˘︹˘ )

He bursts out laughing, already imagining the way the younger would be pouting if he was here, and the nickname only leaves him impossibly endeared. 

In the midst of typing, a sudden knock on his window scares the wits out of him.

He turns to find Mi-rae looking at him questioningly, beckoning him to roll his window down. When he does, she’s leaning in, scanning the car left and right, until her gaze falls on him.

“What are you still doing here? I thought you would have left by now.”

“Oh, I was just, you know, sitting and listening to the radio. Winding down, haha!” Jimin uses the conversation as a distraction to slip his phone into the seat beside him.

“You’re listening to a radio that’s not been working for three years now.” She deadpans.

Welp, he forgot about that.

“What? Pfft, of course not! On… on my phone! Yeah, I downloaded this new app that gives me the latest updates. Can’t be living under a rock, can we?” Jimin laughs awkwardly, praying that those hawkeyes don’t stare into his soul and pull all the lies out of him.

“Okay…” She stares at him with narrowed eyes, before eventually shrugging it off. “Well then, I’ll see you on Sunday at my place?”

“You bet! Bye noona!”

He waits until she gets into her car, waves back, and drives away around the corner. The moment her car goes out of sight, Jimin’s pouncing on his phone, hoping he didn’t keep Jeongguk waiting for too long.

JIMIN

Hey! Sorry, I’m back. 

Needed to close up at the studio.

JEONGGUK

You’re still there? It’s quite late, hyung. 

Don’t work too hard!!

Jimin’s heart melts into an indistinguishable puddle of mush at the sentiment. Who knew under that indifferent exterior lay a boy so precious that he wants to protect with his whole heart?

JIMIN

Aww, nice to see you care so much about your hyung! 

Dw, it’s just today. 

I’m heading home now

For a while, he sees the three dots playing a game of hide-and-seek on his screen, popping up then disappearing for a whole two minutes until the message finally arrives.

JEONGGUK

Do you want to have a video call when you reach home?

It takes a while for the message to process through the euphoric haze in his mind, but when it does, Jimin’s heart gets on its pogo stick and makes a huge leap up to his throat.

A video call.

With Jeongguk.

Just… Jeongguk.

His fingers hover over the desired letters, typing and deleting the message repeatedly as he deliberates his decision again and again. All it is, is a harmless call with a man who’s making a clear effort to be friends. There’s nothing that could go wrong.

If you don’t take into account his minuscule crush on the younger.

But that’s a problem for another day.

Because the pros clearly outweigh the cons here, and who is he to deny the majority?

JIMIN

Sure. 

Give me fifteen minutes.

Jimin reaches home in a record time of ten minutes. 

***

“Taehyung-ah, I’m going out. Be home in an hour or two!” Jimin hollers from the doorway where he’s slipping on a pair of shoes. 

A few dishes clatter in the sink and the blue-haired man comes out of the kitchen, bandana in his hair and yellow rubber gloves on his hands, and still looking all the more intimidating. 

“And where might you be headed, my dear friend?” 

“I’m meeting someone.” He answers simply, unsure if he can reveal too many details. 

“At 7 in the evening? The time Park Jimin literally becomes a hermit crab, cooped up in his room?” Taehyung teases though it seems like he has an inkling as to who that certain ‘ someone’ is. 

“Har, har, very funny,” Jimin casts him a playful stink eye and grabs their house keys before unlocking their door. “And remind me to call that car service dude!”

“In your dreams!” 

Shaking his head fondly, Jimin locks their door and bounds down the staircase to where the cab is waiting for him. Although jittery with nerves, the thrill of excitement is impossible to ignore and is quite possibly his only motivation to do what he’s doing now. 

“Gangnam-gu, 10-31, Nonhyendong, please.” He addresses the driver while hopping in.  

It’s been nearly a week since Jeongguk and he began texting, and while it started off as simple greetings and courteous questions about each other’s day, their conversations gradually evolved into that of sharing memes, hilarious Reddit posts, learning each other's quirky habits and so on.

By now, he’s proud to admit that he knows quite a bit about the younger man. How he grew up scouring every street in Busan with his small film camera; how he absolutely loves banana milk, samgyeopsal, convenience store ramen and practically anything topped with cheese, and how he’s an adventure freak - scavenging for a thrill in anything he does. But also the serious stuff, like his avid passion for dancing that drew him to the auditions in Seoul and all the stories about how he could not let go of joining this one agency because of his super cool ‘Joonie’ hyung. 

During one casual conversation, Jeongguk had asked if he wanted to visit him at their company building. While Jimin thought he’d been joking, the younger actually sent his location and vowed that he’ll make sure Jimin can sneak in and out without a hassle. 

So here he is, ten minutes away from the company, sitting in the back of a cab with shaky legs and sweaty palms. 

Soon enough, he finds himself standing before a 5-story building, the word CUBE lit brightly with LED lights, with no idea what to do and where to go. 

“I should probably call him,” Jimin mumbles, pulling out his phone from his back pocket and scrolling through his contacts, before sighing and looking up once more. “Or should I just go in and ask? Wait, but that’s not how sneaking in works. Aish, you dummy.”

“Are you Park Jimin?” A gruff voice calls out and Jimin’s spirit leaves his body. 

He spins on his heel and is met with the sight of a man, much taller and broader than him, clad in formal clothes and eyes, sharp and unforgiving. But what terrifies him the most is the employee ID card hanging around the man’s neck. 

“Yes!” Jimin squeaks, immediately bowing for forgiveness. “Please don’t report me! I swear, I’m not a saesang or anything. I- I…” 

Will this person even believe him if he says he was invited here? 

“Calm down. You’re here for our maknae, I know,” The man says, voice a tad softer now and Jimin stands upright in shock. “I’m their manager and I’ll be taking you inside. Just keep your head down and walk normally. Come on.” 

Jimin nods wordlessly and follows the other man in a daze, prays to all the powers above that he’s not making a grave mistake being here right now. 

“Welcome back, Do-hyun-ssi.” A female employee bows at the reception and the man— Do-hyun, he presumes— simply nods back and continues walking. 

No words are exchanged between them as he guides Jimin to an elevator until they are walking past a few rooms and stop before the last one on the floor. 

“You may go in.” Do-hyun says and departs just like that, leaving Jimin sputtering in front of the door. 

“Just… just go?! How do I— what the— do I just knock?” He whisper-yells to himself, running nervous fingers through his hair. “Okay, screw it. Screw this,” He takes a step closer to the door and sighs. “I’m just going to knock and ask for— AH!” 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” 

“Hyung, what did you do now?”

“Yah, I didn’t see him there! How was I supposed to —”

“Jesus, help him up first.” A deep voice cuts in. 

The first thing Jimin sees from where he’s toppled back onto the ground is a chiselled face and an adorable dimpled smile. 

“Hey, are you okay?” Dimple Man asks, snapping him out of his dazed stupor. 

“Huh? Ye- yeah, I’m good.” 

“I’m so sorry, I really did not see you there.” A second voice cuts in and Jimin diverts his gaze to the person beside Dimple Man.

Holy shit!

This man - who Jimin will henceforth only refer to as Angel - is by far the most beautiful person he’s ever seen. Every facial structure looks like it’s been handcrafted by the Greek gods themselves. 

“It’s okay.” Jimin whimpers softly. 

Angel Man scans his face worriedly. “Are you sure? You don’t sound good.”

“Hyung, if he says he’s okay, let him be.” A gruff voice calls from behind them. 

As the two gorgeous men move aside, Jimin lays eyes on a man no taller than him, ruffled black locks falling into his eyes as he closes the door behind him and comes forward. 

His eyes narrow suspiciously, before he cocks his head and asks, “Are you a journalist? From the media perhaps?” 

“No! No, I… I was, um, invited here?” He trails off nervously that evidently does nothing to clear his name or explain his presence in this building. 

“Really?” The black-haired man drawls. “And who might that be?”

“Jeon Jeongguk.” 

All three pairs of eyes widen, eyebrows raised in sync while the black-haired man stands with his mouth in an ‘O’. Casting glances between each other, Dimpled Man comes forward with a gentle smile. 

“Can we know your name?” 

“Park Jimin.” He states simply, hoping that can explain something. Anything. 

“Daebak!” Angel Man exclaims and immediately pushes through to stand before Jimin with a huge grin. “ You’re Jimin?! Jeongguk’s Jimin? The dance instructor from Itaewon?” 

Ignoring the flutters at being referred to as Jeongguk’s, he nods with a shy smile. Honestly, this is the first time his name saved his ass and gave him so much value. 

“Oh my, you’re adorable. Here, come on in!” Angel Man says and before he knows it, Jimin is being pushed into what looks like a compact gym. “Jeongguk-ah! Someone’s here for you!”

The sound of barbells being placed in its stand draws his attention to one corner of the room, and there he is, Jeon Jeongguk in all his glory. The younger is dressed in a plain black shirt stretched taut over his chest and nylon sports shorts.

“Jiminie hyung!” He wastes no time in jogging across the room and joining the four men with a big smile on his face. “You’re here!”

Jimin smiles and waves awkwardly. “Hey, Jeongguk.”

“You didn’t tell us we were having a visitor, Gguk-ah,” Dimple Man says, gesturing toward Jimin. “We nearly scared him away. Well, Jin hyung nearly did, not us.”

“Yah! Respect your elders, will you?” Angel Man - Jin? - cries and Jimin almost cracks a smile. 

Jeongguk pouts and grabs Jimin’s hand to pull him towards himself. “How could you, hyung?”

“Okay, but I think some introductions are due,” The short, black-haired man says and steps forward, extending his hand with a hint of a smile. “Min Yoongi.” Jimin shakes his hand with a small smile.

“Kim Seokjin. But please, someone as adorable as you can call me Jin hyung.” Angel Man - no, Seokjin - says, and something about his presence screams warm and homely. “I’m sorry for earlier.”

“It’s really okay… Jin hyung.” Jimin says as he shakes his hand.

Jin laughs. “Oh my god, you’re so precious.”

Dimple Man steps forward for the last handshake. “Kim Namjoon. I’m the leader of our group, B-Side.”

“Hello, Namjoon-ssi,” Jimin says, grinning a little because he can finally associate a face to the infamous ‘Joonie hyung’ Jeongguk is always talking about in their chats. “Nice to finally meet you all.”

“Likewise.” Namjoon says and stands back with the other three men. “Well, we have to be off now. But I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other more often?” He asks with a knowing grin. 

“Oi, stop teasing them,” Jin says and grabs the two men to drag them towards the door. “Let’s grab lunch sometime, Jimin-ssi!” 

“Oh, um, yeah. Sure, hyung.” Jimin stammers in surprise, not expecting such a warm welcome.

Yoongi simply nods with a smile and is the last one to exit the gym, closing the door behind him and leaving Jeongguk and him in the silence of the room. 

What are they supposed to do now?

“I didn’t think you were going to come, you know.” Jeongguk says, dragging Jimin’s eyes on him to find a rosy smile on his face. “Thanks, hyung.”

Conscious under all the attention, Jimin attempts to cover it up with a laugh. “Of course! You promised to introduce me to your group members after all.” 

“Definitely not like this.” The younger says, and the two of them burst out laughing. Jimin takes a seat on one of the gym benches while Jeongguk leans against the wall. “So, what do you wanna do?”

“Hey, you’re the one that called me here. The ball is in your court.” 

“Really? Okay then, 100 pushups! Start!” 

Jimin throws his head back and laughs. “Fine. “ He gets into position and starts a few pushups. “One, two, three—”

“No, oh my god, hyung stop!” 

Jeongguk walks over, wraps his arms around Jimin’s torso and swiftly lifts him to stand him on his feet. With a gasp, he freezes in Jeongguk’s arms, not daring to move a single muscle. Only when Jeongguk lets him go and stands back does he inconspicuously take a deep breath again. 

Clearing his throat, Jimin looks around and asks, “Did you finish your workout?”

“Ah, not really. Still have a few more sets to do.”

“Go on then,” When Jeongguk looks at him questioningly, he stands behind the younger and pushes him towards the barbells. “Seriously, finish up. I’ll actually work out with you, since I usually go for a run at this time.”

Jeongguk casts a look at the gym equipment then back at Jimin wearily. “Are you sure? I called you over to hang out.”

“Who says we can’t—” Jimin jumps up to hold onto the pull-up bar. “— ‘hang’ out? Get it?” 

Jeongguk guffaws loudly, sitting on the bench-press bench and shakes his head. “You’re such a dork.” 

Letting go, Jimin lands steadily and winks. “Get on with it, then. Think of me as your personal trainer.” 

“Here too?” Jeongguk groans playfully, lying down under the barbell. “Isn’t dance class enough torture already?”

Jimin clicks his tongue sternly. “Jeongguk-ssi, you should have finished a set by now.”

“Yes, coach.” 

~ ~ ~ 

Jimin has no idea how they got here, but he’s not complaining. 

“I’m going to go slow, okay?”

“Jeongguk, I can take it. Just do it!”

“I will, but promise you will tell me if I’m hurting you.”

“ Yes! Will you get on with it already?”

Jeongguk groans lightly under his breath, hands gripping Jimin’s thighs tightly as he does the first squat, ensuring he goes down completely before slowly standing back up. 

Jimin squeals in delight. “See? You did it!” Giggling victoriously, he taps the younger’s biceps thrice. “Okay, you can let me down now.”

“...”

He looks up to meet the younger’s eye through the mirror. “Jeongguk.” He warns with wide eyes. “Don’t.”

“Hold on tight, hyung.” Jeongguk says with a smirk. 

“Jeongguk, sto— woah! I swear, I’m gonna— ah!— Gguk, let me— oh my god!” Jimin doesn’t know if he wants to laugh or scream deliriously, holding on for dear life as the younger continues doing the squats, but at a much faster pace. 

After a set of ten squats, Jimin is in stitches, still doubling over as he gets off Jeongguk’s back and sits on his haunches to catch his breath. 

The younger sits before him with a look he so badly wants to call as fond. “May I go back to my workout now?” 

“Yup.”

“And you won’t disturb me again?”

“Nuh-uh.” Jimin shakes his head cutely but both of them know better. 

Jeongguk chuckles and stands up. “I trust you as far as I can throw you, but okay.” 

He heads over to the treadmill for some cardio while Jimin stays seated on the ground, shamelessly enjoying the view. After a while, Jimin joins the younger on the treadmill beside him and they go for a 20-minute jog, sharing music and chatting over the melodies. 

“Ahh, don’t you just love that burn?” Jimin asks as they stretch the stretched muscles in their calves, making a few groans and grunts as he works the knots. 

Jeongguk stares at him darkly for a few seconds, before he quickly looks away. “Mhm.” 

He watches as the taller male wakes over to the pull-up bar to wrap up his workout for the day, and if Jimin drools at the way his triceps flex for every pull-up, then it’s nobody’s business but his ( and his imagination’s, of course) .

“And… done.” Jeongguk grunts as he lands on his feet, and walks over to grab his bottle. “C’mon, Jimin hyung. I’ll drop you off at the exit.” 

Jimin nods and walks over, doing his best to not stand and drool at the way that Adam’s apple bobs so perfectly while the younger chugs large gulps of water. To distract himself, he glances at the pull-up bar and an idea strikes him. 

He doesn’t know where this burst of confidence is coming from, but he’s going to make the best of it as long as it lasts.

“Jeonggukie?” He calls out teasingly, even going so far as to use the nickname he came up with today. “Can you help me, please?” 

The younger is by his side in seconds, cocking his head curiously. “What is it?”

Biting his lip, he tries to keep a straight face as he asks, “I can’t reach. Can you help me up?” 

Jeongguk stares at him in bewilderment, eyeing his grabby-hand motion, then his face, then the pull-up bar, and back at him again. 

“Seriously?”

“Please? I just wanna try a few.” He asks innocently whilst knowing exactly what he was trying to do.

Of course, he doesn’t expect Jeongguk to actually do it, but there’s no harm in trying. 

Not when Jeongguk’s been not so subtly teasing throughout the evening, almost as if trying to see which one of them would break first. 

“Oh, um, okay.” Jeongguk croaks and inhales sharply as he moves to stand behind him. “Should I— where do I… uh, you know—”

He watches the younger stumble with his words through the mirror and Jimin is hopelessly endeared. 

“Just hold me here…” Jimin grabs his wrists and places those large hands on his waist. “And lift me—” He cuts himself off with a sharp gasp when Jeongguk lifts him in one swift move. 

“Grab on, hyung.” Jeongguk rasps out, hooded eyes staring back at him through the mirror. 

Reflexively, Jimin’s hands shoot up to grab onto the bar overhead and he does two pull-ups just for the sake of it and quickly lands on his feet. 

“Ha, that was… um, that was fun!” Jimin spins on his heel and is caught by surprise at the intimately close proximity between them. 

Hardly a few inches between their faces and Jimin doesn’t know if he wants to berate those few inches for existing or thank them for stopping him before he makes a mistake. And yet, the closer Jeongguk moves, the warmer his breath feels, fanning against Jimin’s cheeks…

The more he wants to make that mistake. To jump that metaphorical cliff. To barely tilt to the other side of the forbidden line. 

“Hyung.” 

One whisper that shoots right down to weaken his knees, and Jimin is fighting a losing battle. 

“Jeongguk-ah.” He breathes out, eyes widening when he finds himself being walked back until he’s trapped against the mirrors.

The emotions battling in Jeongguk’s eyes are frightening at the very least, switching from soft to hungry within seconds as they flicker down to his lips. Slowly, Jeongguk raises an arm to rest it beside his head, as though it’s the last boundary to hold himself back. 

“I want to do something,” Jeongguk starts, the hoarseness of his tone flaring the arousal in Jimin’s gut. “But I need your permission first.” He looks into Jimin’s eyes, desperation saturating those doe-eyes, and Jimin…

Jimin is a weak, weak man. 

“Yes,” He whispers and begins nodding before he realises. “You can.” 

A shaky exhale leaves Jeongguk’s lips as he begins leaning in and Jimin is practically shivering in anticipation. Finally, those soft rosy lips brush against his and euphoria bursts like a million fireworks inside him. The kiss is soft, reverent almost, and Jeongguk leaves feather-light kisses against every inch of his lips. 

With every kiss to his lips, Jimin is falling harder and faster, with no guarantee that there’s someone to catch him at the bottom. 

And yet, when Jeongguk’s hand moves off the mirror to cradle his jaw gently, thumb stroking his cheek softly, Jimin can hardly bother about the consequences. So fisting his hand into the threadbare shirt, he pulls the younger closer with a sharp tug and sucks at the bottom lip he’s only ever dreamt of kissing. 

Jeongguk gets the hint quickly and a low groan rumbles in his chest as he winds an arm around Jimin’s waist and pulls him flush against himself. Jimin lets himself go like a puppet at its puppeteer’s will, hands gripping the back of Jeongguk’s shirt like a lifeline as he drowns and drowns. 

Sharp knocks rap against the gym door and the two of them rip apart from each other immediately, chests heaving as they stare at the door in anticipation. 

“Jeongguk-ah? Can I come in?” 

“Shit, I completely forgot,” He hears the younger mumble as Jeongguk jogs to open the gym door for Do-hyun. 

As Jeongguk converse with his manager in hushed tones, Jimin uses that time to process everything that went down a few moments ago - although the incessant tingling in his lips does serve as a significant reminder.

They did it. 

They crossed The Line. 

And while their lines were as blurry as lines could get, there had been one unspoken line that always existed - careers. Dancing in his studio, texting into the late of the night, shenanigans like these, catching feelings - it all meant nothing before their careers. 

And goddamn it, did Jimin know that. 

But why is it that he wants to say fuck it all and chase behind this reckless feeling? This adrenaline rush that he’s only ever associated with dance?

“..ung?” Jeongguk’s voice rings across the room and he whips his head to catch the younger staring at him with an indecipherable look. 

“Sorry?” 

“I was saying Do-hyun ssi has arranged for you to be dropped off at your apartment.” Jeongguk answer brusquely, quickly evading eye contact and facing his manager once more. “Please take care of him, hyung.”

What? That’s it? He thinks as he walks over to the entrance of the gym. 

“I will, Jeongguk-ah,” Do-hyun looks at him and smiles gently. “I shall wait for you at the elevators, Jimin-ssi.” He glances at Jeongguk once more before taking his leave. 

Jimin releases a nervous exhale and eyes Jeongguk anxiously. The other hadn’t said a word yet and it does nothing to ease the building tension in his nerves. 

Does he regret it? Us? 

“Jeongguk-ah, I…” He’s at a complete loss for words but he doesn’t want to leave it at this. “About what happened—”

“I think you should go, hyung.” Jeongguk interrupts. 

Gone is the playful man he’d seen all evening. Gone is the man who’d stolen his breath away and kissed him with such adoration. Who stands before him now is a man who’s once again put up all his walls, except this time, with no entry for Jimin as well. 

No. Please. 

Jimin steps forward. “Look, I know we didn’t talk about it, but I don’t want to leave like this. Please, Jeongguk-ah.” 

For a second, Jeongguk seems to break but it’s gone just as quickly. Exhaling shakily, he looks away and with a tone painfully soft, he says, “I’ll see you, hyung.”

Anger, sadness, and the all-too-familiar sting of heartache - everything swirls inside him like raging storms and Jimin takes one more step forward, completely fuelled by haywire emotions. 

“When, Jeongguk? Huh? When will you see me again?” He presses on, thinly-veiled anger lacing his tone. 

All he receives in response is a sharp inhale and downcasted eyes. 

The stinging in his eyes is his cue, so Jimin dashes past him wordlessly and walks toward the elevators without another glance. Not because he’s mad, but because one look at Jeongguk and he knows it will be him that breaks. 

The first tear rolls down his cheek only once he’s seated in the car.

***

Jimin swallows thickly as he stares wistfully around the empty studio. 

Two weeks. 

That’s how long it’s been since he last saw the younger, or more precisely, since the breaking point in their blossoming friendship. All it took was a matter of seconds to bring what they built over the course of a month to shambles. 

The day he went back, chest burning with heartache, Jimin was a mess. After years, the one time he chooses to open up his heart again, the one time he dared to be brave, it ricocheted at him. 

And yet, what was even more painful was when he woke up with a clear mind the next day and really thought about what went down. 

This wasn’t a case of one-sided pining or unrequited feelings. No, this was far more heartbreaking. 

Instead of going down the vortex of ‘What Ifs’, Jimin chose to put himself in Jeongguk’s shoes and realised that the younger was stuck between a rock and a hard place. While it isn’t frowned upon for idols to have a dating life, albeit relatively secret, it’s an absolutely risky and compromising decision for a trainee. 

So what Jeongguk had really done was push Jimin out of harm’s way for the time being, even though there were so many other ways he could have done so. But how could he have known? Especially when they never got the chance to explicitly talk about the feelings growing too intense to ignore. 

Adding to his bad luck, right when Jimin thought he might reach out to Jeongguk first, he stumbled upon a recent stir on Twitter. Only then does he discover the promotional tweets and videos of B-Side blowing up massively as hungry fans latch onto the fresh faces in the industry. 

Hence, he backtracks and decides to wait. 

He’s willing to wait as long as it takes for Jeongguk to come back - Jimin knows he will - and talk it out to show the younger that he’s up to take that risk if the other is. That he’s okay to stay in the shadows if it meant being with Jeongguk the way he desperately wants to. 

“Jimin-ah?” 

Snapping out of his thoughts, he turns to find Hoseok and Mi-rae standing at the studio entrance, hand-in-hand and ready to pack up for the day. 

“Hey guys. Leaving?”

“Mm.” Hoseok walks over to him, crouching before Jimin and stroking his hair fondly. “Are you doing okay? Do you want us to wait with you?”

Jimin smiles warmly. “I’m good, hyung. Really. You know I am.” 

The three of his friends do in fact know of his unrelenting decision to wait for Jeongguk and pursue a relationship with him, and while they weren’t particularly fond of the idea at first, they came around. 

“I do, but…” The man sighs and searches his face for any signs of sorrow. “Alright then. You sure you can close up the studio all by yourself?” 

“Hyung, how long have I been here again?” 

“I’m pretty sure you joined the company only yesterday.”

“I’m sorry, don’t you have a date to get to right now?” Jimin retorts, receiving a fond snort in return. “Seriously, I’m fine, hyung. I just want to practice for a little while before closing up. I have a few ideas in mind for the choreography I was telling you about.” 

“I heard that, Park Jimin!” Mi-rae hollers from the other end of the room with a stern but warm look on her face. “Don’t you dare practice too much, or I’m gonna make sure you don’t step into the studio for a week.”

“Noona ~” 

“Ah, ah. Promise me.” 

Jimin sighs and nods his head obediently. “I promise, I won’t stay too long.” He waves the two of them off quickly. “Now shoo. Those reservations won’t occupy themselves.”

It doesn’t take too long for Jimin to immerse himself into the stringing melodies, letting his body be carried by the rhythms and beats, while his mind duels a fight of it’s own - the music versus the tumultuous thoughts. 

However, a sudden commotion outside the studio abrupts his practice and Jimin walks over to the awning windows to view what’s going on. 

A few girls, high schoolers by the looks of it, are flocking around an individual clad in black from head-to-toe, and are squealing and pulling out random notes to shove it at the stranger. 

It’s only when Jimin watches a few more seconds does he see a mop of fluffy brown hair under the black bucket hat and a pair of doe-eyes glancing up desperately at the studio as a lot more excited girls flock around him. 

“Jeongguk-ah.” He breathes out. 

Rushing to grab his own face mask for rare occasions, Jimin’s legs carry him out of the studio in seconds. All the while, his mind chants one and only one thing: Jeongguk is here. He came back. 

As he reaches the ground floor and bounds out the glass doors, Jimin can hear Jeongguk’s apologetic tone from a distance. 

“I’m sorry, no photos allowed right now. Sorry.” 

“Oppa, just one autograph, then. Please?” A girl asks, practically pushing her book into his chest. “I can’t get it when you become famous then.” 

“Ah - this… I can’t as of now. Sorry.” 

“Jeongguk oppa, when is the debut performance?”

“Will B-Side release an album this month?” 

“Oppa! Oppa! Is this your practice studio?” 

Quickly getting surrounded on either side, Jeongguk is a metre away from being cornered against a wall, questions badgering him left and right. Cursing under his breath, and pulling the mask higher, he quickly reaches the crowd. 

“Excuse me, excuse me. Make way please, thank you. One second, excuse me.” In one swift move, Jimin grabs the younger’s wrist, overlooking his look of surprise to drag the man behind him. “Sorry, excuse me.” 

No words are exchanged till the two men enter the studio and escape into the safety of those four walls. Locking the door for good measure, Jimin stays frozen facing the door as he breathes heavily. 

Just the fact that after two weeks he’s finally in the presence of the younger leaves him breathless and utterly tongue-tied. With the way they left things, he has no idea what to say or what to do. 

The two of them are trapped on thin ice, tension waiting to be cracked at even the slightest dialogue, while the banks of safety are only a leap away. 

“Hyung…” 

The first crack on ice. 

Turning around slowly, Jimin takes a moment to observe the taller male, tracing every feature with his eyes when he was completely deprived of them for the past two weeks. The dull, neon-purple lights flickering off those chiselled features only made Jeongguk look so painfully handsome, it hurt. 

Do you remember our kiss? Did you come back to make us right? Are you here for me? 

“Are you okay?” Jimin asks instead. When Jeongguk blinks back at him innocently, he can’t help the fond chuckle slipping out of him. “Back there with those girls. You were so flustered you looked like you could combust any second.” He teases, hoping that would at least ease the tension. 

“Oh. Ohh, that. Um, I’m good?” Jeongguk sighs and tucks his hands into his pockets, as though trying to feel smaller. “I just hope I get better at dealing with all the attention. Otherwise I’m not going to have any fans.” 

Try as he may, but Jimin can easily discern the insecurity in that little joke. But on his watch, there’s no way in hell he’s going to let Jeongguk think he deserves nothing less than all the love and praise he deserves. 

“You can simply stand there and smile, and still have a million fans, Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin whispers. 

The younger stares at him wistfully, eyes longing, before he looks away. “And yet, I can’t help but crave the attention of only one fan amongst them all.” 

The second crack on ice. 

“Who says I’m your fan?” Jimin asks, still trying to tread slowly by teasing. 

Jeongguk turns to face him with a hardened look. “And who says I’m talking about you, hyung?” 

“I am,” Jimin says confidently, striding forward till he reaches the younger. “Because if you’re not talking about me, then you’re a liar, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk’s eyes flicker down to his lips, then back at him, finally cracking a sad smile. “If being a liar is what it takes to protect the people I care about, then I’ll gladly be one.” 

Jimin’s breath hitches in his chest.

So, he was right. Jeongguk really did push him away that day for Jimin’s sake. And yet, if this is not a sign of how much the younger cares about him, then what is?

With a new surge of confidence, he moves to stand toe-to-toe with Jeongguk and places a palm over his cheek. “But you don’t have to be one, Gguk. At least not with me.”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “Hyung, you don’t—”

“Don’t what? Understand what I’m getting into? I do, Jeongguk. I know all about the hurdles we will have to face, the secrecy, the restrictions - I don’t care.” He brings both his hands to cup Jeongguk’s face and brings him down to put their foreheads together. “As long as we’re going to have each other, I don’t mind any of that. None of it will ever matter if I have you by my side.” 

He can see the hesitation draining away bit by bit in Jeongguk’s features, the fight leaving him in the form of trembling fingers reaching out to hold onto Jimin. 

‘One leap, Jeongguk. One leap and we’re off the ice. We will be safe. Just one leap.’ 

Jeongguk’s face crumples in sorrow, shaking his head repeatedly. “I can’t give you so many things, hyung. Not the time or attention somebody better than me can.” 

“I don’t care.”

“I… I can’t take you out on public dates, wine you, dine you, and do all the cheesy things every other couple can do.” 

Jimin shakes his head with a teary smile. “I don’t care.”

“I can’t come with you so you can introduce me to your friends, I— I can’t even hold your hand if we ever go out.” 

“Jeongguk… I don’t care .” He emphasizes. “As long as you hold my hand when it’s just us, and won’t let go, I’m ready for it all.” 

“Hyung,” Jeongguk’s voice breaks, eyes shining with unshed tears. “I won’t be able to love you the way you deserve.” He whispers, raw and vulnerable.

Staring into the doe-eyes that hold nothing but adoration and warmth, Jimin smiles through blurry eyes. “What I deserve , is all the love you can spare me, Jeon Jeongguk.” He raises on his toes, breathing the words onto the younger’s lips. “And I know you will fight the world to give me more than what I deserve.” 

“Jimin…”

“Please, Jeongguk. Trust me.” Brushing his lips against the younger’s, Jimin whispers. “I’m all yours.”

Jeongguk whimpers and leans down to crash his lips onto Jimin’s. From there, the two of them let their lips do the talking. 

The kiss is rough, fervent and a mess of desperate grabbing at whatever they can find to hold each other impossibly close. Jimin inhales sharply and surges forward to catch Jeongguk’s bottom lip in a bruising suck. Gently tugging at the brown locks his fingers have threaded through, he brings Jeongguk close, closer, until their tongues search desperately in the cavern of their mouths. 

Jeongguk wraps both arms around his waist and walks them back against a wall, all while bending forward again and again, almost animalistically, to attack Jimin’s lips with harsh kisses. When Jimin’s back hits the wall, he gasps and reflexively tilts his neck to let Jeongguk travel down and bruise every inch of his pale skin. 

“Jeongguk…” 

He moans when there’s a harsh suck at the junction of his neck, soothed by several kisses atop of it, before Jeongguk travels upwards once more, pressing feather-light kisses everywhere he goes. 

The tension cracked and sizzled out, letting the two of them revel in this newfound bliss. 

“Hyung, I—” Jeongguk inhales deep and slow as Jimin pulls him forward for one last, deep kiss. As they pull back, the younger smiles fondly and strokes the apple of his cheek. “I want to do this right with you. And for that, I need to apologise.”

“Apologise?”

“For that day back in the gym.” Realisation dawns on him, but when Jimin opens his mouth to say something, the younger shakes his head. “No, I need to. Because that was an incredibly shitty move and I should have atleast dropped you home myself, or- or seen you down, or just fucking said something . So, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry for leaving you like that and pushing you away. I didn’t— it was just—”

“Jeongguk-ah, it’s okay.” When the younger refuses to look at him, he gently holds his chin and makes Jeongguk face him once more. “Look at me. I understand why you did what you did. We never even spoke about us, when there was evidently a lot of tension in the room,” Jeongguk chuckles at the tease, pulling out a smile on Jimin’s lips. “And most importantly, you had a lot more to lose if something went wrong.” 

“That doesn’t justify making you cry.” Jeongguk pouts and he’s so tempted to kiss this man senseless once more. 

Wait. 

But he can kiss this man senseless now. 

‘ Ha. Now that’s character development.’ He thinks to himself victoriously. 

With a smirk, Jimin surges forward once more and presses one, two, and three short, loud kisses on the younger’s lips and stands back proudly. “Then all you have to do is kiss me better now.” 

Mood: Back Pocket - Giulio Cerato

“That I can do.” Jeongguk says, and for the first of many kisses this evening, Jimin finds himself drowning in soft lips and doe-eyes. 

This time, when Jeongguk pulls back, he almost whines at the lost sensation and pulls a pout of his own. “I’m not better yet. Come back.”

Jeongguk snorts fondly and kisses his forehead instead. “As much as I would love to, am I not disturbing you? You were in the studio after all, and…” All of a sudden, those doe-eyes widen and Jimin yelps when there’s a pinch at his waist. “Yah! Why were you at the studio so late? Are you trying to constantly worry me? Why are you going home so late?”

As much as the concern sends the butterflies in him into a frenzy, Jimin is not amused by the physical assault. “Why should I tell you? And excuse me, you’re the one that vanished for two weeks! So don’t you come yelling at me.”

“That! That was…” Jeongguk trails off, clearly knowing this is a losing fight. “I was busy.”

Jimin barks out a laugh. “And what, I’m not busy when I’m staying back late at the studio? What do you think I do here then?”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Jeongguk stares at his lips with a smirk. “There could be so many things one can do in a studio all by themselves.” When he looks back up, the wink he flashes throws Jimin’s world off its axis. 

“You—” Jimin wiggles out of his hold with a flustered huff. “Get lost now. I have things to do and you’re not helping.”

Right as he spins on his heels and heads over to the speakers up front, muscled arms wrap around his waist and lift him off the ground. “ Jeongguk! Put me down! Jeon— AHH!”

Delirious laughter bubbles out of him as the younger spins them around, giggles reverberating all around the studio, and in that moment, Jimin thinks he can’t get any happier than this. 

“Hyung, I really, really like you.” The younger admits with flushed cheeks, still holding Jimin up in his arms. “I promise, I won’t ever make you regret choosing me. I’m going to do this right.”

Jimin bites back an emotional sob and nods, looking down at Jeongguk with a teary smile. “I know, Jeongguk. I know you will.”

As Jeongguk finally puts him down, both of them left with flushed faces and breathless lungs, Jimin is reminded of that one dance practice where everything went right and wrong all at once. 

“Hey, Jeongguk-ah?” He walks backwards with an enticing smile on his face, “Do you want to dance with me?” 

“Hm. I have to take revenge for that day after all, don’t I?” Jeongguk’s eyes darken instantly, no signs of the innocent doe-eyes he was staring into moments ago. Taking slow, predatory steps forward, Jeongguk smirks. “Let’s dance then, Jimin- ssi. ”

THREE MONTHS LATER

“Right this way, Jimin-ssi.” 

He nods and walks forward with jittery legs, smiling only when they pass by the company’s gym, fond memories rushing back to him in seconds. 

“One moment please. We will call you in when we’re ready.” The man says and walks into the conference room. 

Jimin sighs and sits in the waiting chairs anxiously. 

It was a Monday morning when Calico got a call, asking for Jung Hoseok and Park Jimin to come in for auditions as choreographers at CUBE. Though it was an unbelievably joyous moment back then, sitting alone right now leaves Jimin terrified beyond bounds. 

Just earlier, Hoseok had been taken the other way to audition for a different group, so he didn’t have his moral support beside him either. 

A buzzing notification from his phone draws him out of his thoughts. 

JEONGGUK

Good luck, babe! You’re gonna nail it!

Lemme know when you’re done… 

Need to give you a tour of the ‘gym’  ;)

A soft laugh slips out of him as Jimin relaxes considerably and sends back several kissing emojis and an approving wink to Jeongguk’s tour suggestion. 

Jeongguk had been beyond ecstatic when Jimin told him about the offer on that very day, going so far as to trying to convince Jimin that he should be the one to escort Jimin to the conference room. Jimin said no, of course, but the sentiment made his heart melt. 

For a day or two, he had a nagging feeling that it could be for Jeongguk’s group, but just the next day, Jeongguk came bursting in, telling him how the new choreographer for B-Side was amazing and the perfect match for their team.

Was he disappointed? Pfft, of course, not. ( Disclaimer: he was.) 

“Jimin-ssi,” He looks to the side to find the same man gesturing to the conference room. “You may go in now.”

‘ Here goes nothing.’ 

With one last deep breath to calm his nerves, Jimin bows to the man and walks into the cream-white conference room. His eyes are drawn right away to the man behind a long, brown oak desk, sitting smack right in the centre. Although his posture screams dominance, his eyes are nothing but calm and inviting. 

“Welcome, Park Jimin-ssi. Glad you could make it.” The man says, voice deep and booming across the room. “My name is Lee Byung Hyun.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.” Jimin bows deeply and stands back up, not daring to divert his eyes anywhere apart from Byung Hyun. “It is my pleasure to come here for an audition. I will work hard and hope to be chosen for this wonderful opportunity.”

A few chuckles pass around the room, one from Byung Hyun himself, and Jimin is lost. 

“There’s no need, Jimin-ssi. We’ve actually received some sparkling recommendations from the band members themselves.” Byung Hyun explains, eyes twinkling knowingly as he gestures at the members sitting to his left. 

Very slowly, Jimin lets his gaze drag from Byung Hyun to the first member on his left and has to bite back a gasp. Sitting in order are Namjoon, Seokjin, Yoongi, and…

Jeongguk winks at him with a proud smirk. ‘ Gotcha.’ He mouths.

His shock must be written in bold across his forehead, because Byung Hyun chuckles and continues.“Along with their recommendations, we have seen your videos on social media, and we have to say - we’re quite impressed.” 

The words have died in his throat, shock still setting in, as he blinks rapidly and bows in a daze. “Thank you, sir. I… this, um— it means a lot to me.”

“You’re very welcome. We only wanted to arrange this meeting as a formality but if there’s anything else you would like to add?” 

Jimin hesitates. “I’d love to take this opportunity but… about Calico, my studio—”

Byung Hyun shakes his head. “You will have no such restriction where you cannot dedicate your time to both B-Side and Calico. As long as discretion is maintained with regards to the boy’s choreographies, you are free to do as you please.”

He nearly collapses in relief as he bows once more. “Thank you, sir. And sincerely, thank you for the opportunity. I will be honoured to join the company.”

“We’re happy to have you, Jimin-ssi.” Byung Hyun stands up, the other four members follow suit, and stand before him for a handshake. “We will email you the contract and schedule one final meeting, but from today - welcome to the family.”

Jimin beams and shakes his hand firmly, bowing one last time as he takes his leave.

“Told ya we’ll be seeing each other more often,” A deep voice starts and Jimin laughs, turning to shake Namjoon’s hand with a smile. “Don’t go too hard on us, Jimin-ssi.”

“Trying to get me fired already, Namjoon-ssi?”

Namjoon chuckles and pats his shoulder. “Not at all. Gguk would kill me.” Swerving away from Jeongguk’s swat, he laughs. “See you soon, Jimin-ssi.”

“Wanna take me up on that lunch now?” 

Jimin smiles brightly and shakes Seokjin’s hand. “Definitely, Jin hyung.”

“He remembers ~ ” Jin squeals as he blows a flying kiss and follows Namjoon out the room.

Yoongi shakes his head in feigned disappointment as he extends his arm for a handshake. “They’re going to be a handful. Hope you’re ready for it.”

“I shall try my best, Yoongi-ssi.” Jimin giggles when Yoongi flashes him a gummy smile and walks out. 

And lastly…

“Liked your surprise, baby?” A voice rasps near his ear, followed by a kiss to that spot behind his earlobe. 

Jimin giggles as he leans back against Jeongguk’s chest, arms wrapped from behind, and he turns his head to press a chaste kiss on Jeongguk’s lips. “You’re so mean. I hate you.”

The younger guffaws and holding his waist, spins Jimin around his arms. “Nope. You love me.” 

He sighs gravely. “I do.” 

Stealing a kiss from him once more, Jeongguk leans back to look at him with stars in his eyes. “So does this mean I can stop coming to your dance classes now?” 

This time, it’s Jimin’s turn to laugh out loud and smack the younger on his chest. “So does this mean you have no need for your muse anymore? Or have you found someone else?”

“How could I ever go looking elsewhere when my muse has come right to me?” Jeongguk retorts smoothly, and Jimin really can’t find it in him to be mad. 

“Is that so?” Jimin bites his lip and leans forward with a teasing smile. “Well, in that case, your muse insists that he be asked properly.”

With a smile whose warmth that can rival that of the sun’s and the stars in his eyes dancing to their heartbeats, Jeongguk leans in, stopping mere inches before his lips to whisper:

May I have this dance with you for the rest of my life?