Chapter Text
Jimin took a deep breath in.
His chest expanded and his lungs filled up with air. He held his breath for ten seconds, let his lungs start to burn just slightly and then let it all go in one long exhale. He kept his eyes closed and let his body relax, willing all his troubles away with every next exhale.
“Jimin, please just pick up. This is important I swear.”
He took another deep breath in, this one heavier and more rushed than the last. He was very much trying to force his body into relaxation. He would relax one way or another.
Jimin huffed as he listened to the fourth voice message Yoongi had left him in the last hour.
Just when Jimin was finally getting over the breakup, the hurt started to fade and he began taking time for himself again, here comes Yoongi once more! With absolutely no regard for his feelings once again! The nerve of that guy. Jimin scoffed mid child’s pose.
He had left his phone on do not disturb, but clearly, he had never changed Yoongi’s contact’s bypass to override it.
Jimin straightened up from his pose and reached the end of the mat he grabbed his phone and clicked to lock then threw it back onto the couch, resuming his position on the yoga mat.
He got low to the ground, let his muscles relax and fall into place in familiarity. A slight warm stretch to his legs, a little reach with his arms. He took a deep breath in, letting clean cool air flow in through his body and held it for a few seconds. He parted his lips to breathe out, and just as he finally settled into the pose his phone rang shrill again.
“Ah, fucking hell.”
This is what he gets for not setting his phone on silent, this is all solely rooted in the fact that he failed to block Yoongi's number after their fight, purely all as a result of having the fight in the first place. This was all cosmic karma weighing down on Jimin for making the wrong choices just a year ago. And now his morning yoga session was ruined.
He dropped his arms and sat back criss-cross on his mat and willed himself to calm down. He hated how dramatic he was, especially compared to how aloof Yoongi seemed to always be. It made him feel so dumb and childish, especially during arguments. They only ever got heated on Jimin's end, with how passionate he was, but Yoongi just had a cool disposition and never showed that anything ever affected him. Jimin snorted, opposites attract was the most bullshit statement he had ever heard.
He took a calming breath and willed his heart to stop beating so fast. Jimin knew it was impossible but it felt like if his heart thumped one more time it would jump straight out of his chest. He reached back to the couch and swiped the screen to answer just barely making it to the last ring.
“Yes…” he drawled, trying to sound as indifferent as possible. Really give Yoongi a taste of his own medicine. See how he’d like it.
“Jimin,”
Jimin sniffed. He was not going to get excited about hearing Yoongi say his name again. He didn't care about Yoongi. They were over and Jimin's heart really need to slow down and his saliva glands needed to start doing their job. He licked his dry lips.
Yoongi laughed lightly into the phone and Jimin's traitor of a heart did a full somersault in his ribcage. Any more exposure to Yoongi and he could definitely propose his heart for Korea’s national gymnastics team.
“Finally, wow you sure are tough to get a hold of, no wonder your mom had to go through me.”
“What?”
“That's the thing right, you know I wouldn't be calling if it wasn't important.”
Jimin felt a little bit ill at that statement. He frowned. Of course, Yoongi wouldn't be calling to get back together, that was so dumb and silly and Jimin can't believe he actually thought that for a split second.
“What’s up?”
“Well, you see the thing is, I need a favour.”
“Uhm, I really don't think you’ve got the right person for this.” Jimin calmed down again, bringing a cold front to his tone.
“Yeah well, it unfortunately really has to be you.”
Unfortunately? what did he mean by that? Jimin can be a dick too.
“Wow… you're really not selling yourself here Yoongi.”
“Jimin, don't be like that.”
“Jimin this, Jimin that, do you need something or did you not have enough time to berate my personality the last three years?”
Yoongi sighed on the other end and a heavy silence followed.
Jimin stood up from his position on the floor and placed his phone in between his face and shoulder.
Yoongi didn't deserve any more of his spare time, he had shit to do.
He bent over and started rolling up his yoga mat into a tube, fixing it with an elastic band before resting it against the wall.
“I got a new photography event next month…” Yoongi eventually continued.
Jimin simply hummed and closed his iPad, turning the screen black on his unfinished session walkthrough.
“And I can't say no to it because it’s from someone really important.”
Jimin stood then and moved over to where he had pushed his soft rug over to make space for the yoga mat. He crouched down and unfolded it.
“And I really need you to come with me.”
Jimin frowned as he dragged the rug back into place in the centre of his living room.
“Because it’s for your grandma.”
Jimin dropped the rug’s edge.
“What?”
“Yeah, didn't you get the invite?”
“Uhhh,” Jimin went back to his iPad and quickly scanned through his calender app to see if there were any events he had missed, finding none he moved to his email. Nothing there either. And then, like fog lifting over the shoreline a memory from last year resurfaced. He vividly remembered blocking emails and calls from most of his family members. His parents still had access to his number but he usually ignored their calls unless it was around any holidays. Cosmic karma is back at it again.
“Your mom called me and asked to book me and I couldn't say no, and then she asked me about you and apparently she doesn't know we broke up and now she wants us both there and I am not going to say no to your mother.”
Jimin sighed and sat back on his couch.
“That's… yeah, I haven't told them. But it’s fine I’ll let mom know and she can find another photographer.”
“Uhm no? I’m doing the event.”
“Uhm no,” Jimin mocked, “you're not.”
“It’s your grandma and your mother I am not declining.”
“Yeah my grandma not yours, you're not family anymore.”
“Well, clearly I am because someone neglected to make the announcement.”
“Great, yes, of course, this is my fault, it’s never your fault Yoongi.”
Yoongi sighed into the receiver. He always sighs when he thinks Jimin's too much. And Jimin is always too much for Yoongi. Just like old times.
“I’ll have you know your grandma still sends me fruit packages every season so no, Jimin, I will not be declining the offer, in fact, I’ll be there earlier to help set up and I’ll be giving them a discount. So maybe you should put your big boy pants ups for once and just suck it up. Not everything can work in your favour.”
“No, it just seems that everything has to work in yours all the time.”
Jimin hung up. He hated this, he hated their arguments. Even now, a year after their breakup, everything was still the same.
He’d deal with it another day. He was far too busy right now.
He put his yoga mat away and made his way into his bedroom. His, not our. He didn't have to share his space with anyone anymore. He got all the wardrobe space to himself. His shower counter was filled with only his products and he was no longer tripping upon cables and lighting fixtures around his place. Sure, sometimes the rooms got too cold, too quiet, too unfamiliar and he missed waking up to the coffee already made and coming home to the tv playing. But that part of his life was over. No use reminiscing about it anymore.
He looked over at Beetroot his sweet little cat with the stupid little name that Yoongi gave him. He was all stretched out on the bed covers in a sunny spot. Jimin reached over to pet his tummy. He sighed.
“You don't miss Yoongi at all do you, sweetie?”
Jimin still hadn't dealt with it a week later. Yoongi hadn't called again but that didn't stop the idea from gnawing away at his insides all week. He had slept awfully and his caffeine levels definitely increased twofold in the last seven days.
On one hand, this was a bad bad idea. He should just tell his parents that they've broken up, have been for almost a year, and he should just cancel the invite. Or maybe he can compensate Yoongi with the fee he would have gotten anyway and get them another photographer.
Jimin scowled. That wouldn't do. His grandmother would definitely choose Yoongi and his cute little cheeks any day over Jimin.
He paced back and forth in his little office, wearing away at the carpet below his feet.
A small niggling part of Jimin couldn't deny that it might be a good idea. He would see Yoongi again but he could be the aloof one this time. He could be cool and put together and he could show Yoongi how amazing his life was going without him. Jimin knew it was petty and childish, but he still held onto the break-up as if it only happened yesterday.
He had been in many relationships before, broken up with many people and yet this one specific partnership managed to worm its way into his heart and make it hurt to this day.
No, he didn't need to see Yoongi again. He would just call his mom and tell the truth. That's fine. No need to lie to anyone and spend a week with Yoongi.
He unlocked his phone and made a call to his mom. She was the second number in his favourites, second only after Yoongi. Still.
He sighed.
He could imagine how the call with his mom would go. She’d gush about how much she dearly missed him, would definitely update him on everything and anything she deemed important within the neighbourhood, including Kim Jaehee’s ill dog four doors down, then Jimin would mention Yoongi's name and his mother, a force to be reckoned with, would launch right in and gush about missing him too. And it would most definitely eat into his working hours.
There's no way Jimin could tell her about them breaking up, not when she thinks that they are made for one another. Yeah, no. There's a reason why he never broke the news in the first place.
He could call his dad? But he would most definitely forget to mention anything to his mother. That wouldn't work either.
His grandmother? Absolutely not, she would sooner adopt Yoongi into the family and kick Jimin out than accept them breaking up.
Surely he could find some second cousin? Maybe he could send flowers to his grannie’s house with a note and then flee somewhere at least twelve hours away by plane. His grandmother would never willingly step on a plane. Or well, he's not sure how far she's willing to go to skin him alive for losing out on Yoongi.
Jimin's heart battered his chest violently.
“Shut up ,” he murmured. There was no reason to be nervous. Seemingly, his heart had made the decision before Jimin’s brain was able to rationalise any other escape route.
He unlocked his phone and the favourites list stared up at him.
He was gonna regret this. He was totally gonna regret this. They would end up at each other's throats the entire week or Jimin would be miserably stuck in a goop of his feelings.
He pressed the phone icon and the call went through.
The recipient picked up with a click after only three rings.
“Jimin?”
“I'll do it. I'll do the event with you,” he murmured.
He hung up then, not wanting to draw it out any longer. They could just text each other the details. He collapsed on his desk chair and spun around a few times, feet dragging.
His heart stammered unsteadily and Jimin was sure his ribs would bruise at this rate. This definitely isn't normal, not at his age. Maybe he should get it checked out before the trip.
He picked up his phone again and drafted a text to Taehyung asking him to mind Beetroot for him.
Jimin stood against the concrete pillar and peered over the top of his sunglasses.
The train platform was busy as always at eight in the morning. The sun was up and shining at full brightness and if it weren't for Jimin's nervousness, then he might have believed the heat was getting to him already.
He craned his neck to check all his corners before slowly moving out from behind the pillar.
The coast was seemingly clear.
After Jimin had survived the initial embarrassment and anxiety of calling Yoongi, they texted each other to come up with a sort of game plan to follow. Texting had been, nice. It was easy to fall back into old banter and habits and Yoongi was always fun to talk to. Yet, Jimin still found himself waiting anxiously by his phone hoping Yoongi would respond and keep up a live conversation. Old habits die hard.
Jimin had pushed that they travel separately. He didn't want to drive and was quite content with taking the train, that way he could use the journey time to catch up on some neglected paperwork. But most importantly, Jimin most definitely didn't want to sit beside Yoongi, either in a car or on public transport for four hours.
Yoongi had put up a fight at first, but Jimin stood his ground and eventually he won out.
There was no reason for Jimin to be so anxious around his train. Yoongi hated trains and preferred driving, and he had a whole trunk full of equipment he would need to bring so obviously he would pick his trusty car. And it was much too early for Yoongi to even think about being awake. When they lived together he was strictly nocturnal, even missing out on most sunlight hours during winter. But that didn't stop Jimin from peering around the train aisle when he stepped into it.
The carpet was plush under the shoes and Jimin easily found his reserved seat. He read his ticket again to double-check check this was his seat before storing his baggage overhead. He sat facing the direction they were going in order to minimise his motion sickness and he chose the window seat so he could gaze out at the scenery changing from modern Seoul to the countryside fields as they whizzed by.
He relaxed in his seat and cracked his neck. He was safe for another few hours. They planned to meet up at the municipal bus station in Busan and take the last leg of the journey together. At least that would keep their performance up.
He placed his smaller satchel on his lap and unzipped it, ruffling through different folders that he packed trying to find the one he wanted to start reading over first.
Mid-rummaging his seatmate sat down. Jimin sighed lightly, he was hoping he would be lucky enough to sit by himself for the train ride. He finally pulled out a file that wouldn't make his head hurt from the get-go. He looked to his side to greet the stranger but as soon as his eyes fell on the person he sunk lower into his seat.
Life was clearly having a whole party and his role was the pinata.
He sank lower into his seat, curling into his jacket’s collar and dipping his head so his cap covered most of his face. He sat impossibly still as Yoongi settled in beside him.
Who knows, maybe if he kept this position for the next three hours straight and didn't move a single hair, then he could hide and not suffer the wrath of whichever higher being hated him. What did he ever do to deserve being shit on so horribly?
He lifted his files closer to his face and panicked. He definitely panicked,
“Jimin?”
Jimin closed his eyes and groaned in his head.
“Why are you here?” Jimin placed his notes down on his lap and swivelled to face Yoongi, a displeased pout forming on his face. He was still curled into himself and Jimin bet he probably looked pathetic.
He was truly starting to regret this whole event.
This wasn't worth it at all. He had to turn in his last holiday dates and delegate all his remaining work and he still ended up packing more binders and notes in his bag for the four-day stay than clothes. He even had to bring his work phone along with his personal one.
He slunk even lower into his seat, his shirt bouncing up and wrinkling. If he went any lower he would come sliding down the seat altogether. He hoped his grandma had invested in a more modern iron since the last time he visited.
His last time had been with Yoongi by his side too.
It was over a year ago in August, just before his mother’s birthday. They had taken the train together to Busan to visit Jimin's parents and then spent a few days helping out his grandma on her small farm.
Yoongi had gotten on with Jimin's family like a house on fire.
He was kind and polite as always and was always willing to hand a helping hand to anyone who needed it. The summer sun had been good to Yoongi too, his face littered with the faintest freckles and he built up some muscle after carrying around bags of apples and plums.
“Getting the train, same as you I guess.” Yoongi pursed his lips.
He shot Yoongi a sarcastic smile.
“Ha, what a coincidence, never knew you liked early journeys.” Jimin had picked the earliest train out of Seoul that was possible specifically because Yoongi was a night owl and always preferred the late-night bookings. This was much too coincidental to be considered a coincidence.
He knew this was Taehyung’s doing. He never asked Jimin to share his journey details for safety before, that rotten dirty little gremlin of a friend.
“People change I guess.”
Jimin shot him a dull smile. “Of course they do.”
“Well if you don't mind, I’ll just,” Jimin lifted the file packet he was holding and sat back in his seat facing forward.
“Guess some people don't.” he heard Yoongi mutter under his breath but chose to ignore it.
It wasn't worth it. They had a four-hour journey ahead of them and he didn't want to be the one to start a fight before it even began. Especially not in public.
It wasn't worth it. Yoongi wasn't worth it.
The train journey went ok. They didn't talk much except to finalise their roles which involved a lot of nervous rules from Jimin and a lot of eye-rolling from Yoongi.
“Can you relax, we dated for three years, I think I know how to fake a relationship.”
“No, I can't relax because you put me in this situation. I should have just sent flowers and moved to Portugal.”
“You’d hate Portugal, maybe try Germany instead.”
Jimin was reminded that Yoongi did indeed know everything about him, and he hated it.
That was more or less the extent of their conversation for the whole journey. Jimin kept silently scouring through his files with hawk eyes and Yoongi had his earphones in and eyes closed. Jimin kept finding his gaze drifting towards Yoongi every few minutes. His concentration was completely shot.
He missed seeing the relaxed expression on his face. The way his thick lashes cast a shadow beneath his eyes, the slight natural pout of his lips, the way his hair fell down his forehead. He looked too lovely when he was at peace. Jimin didn't know whether he was asleep or not but decided he didn't want to risk getting caught staring at him, so he turned away as quickly as he caught on to his eyes drifting to his side.
But they were finally in Busan.
Jimin managed to step off first with his one suitcase and watched from the platform as Yoongi struggled to handle his equipment and push through the throng of people. He wondered why Yoongi didn't take his car. It would have been so much more comfortable and quicker for him. They used to take road trips often, almost whenever their days off coincided. Yoongi always drove to their destination and Jimin took the wheel coming back. They'd always stop for lunch on the way to and then for ice cream and coffee on their way back, radio blaring their newest favourite album while they drove down the motorway with the sun setting in the evening. Yoongi always wore that stupid black headband that showed his forehead but also spiked his hair up like a hedgehog and his massive yellow sunglasses that he even managed to talk Jimin into wearing so they could match.
Jimin hasn't been anywhere other than his office building and his house in a year.
Eventually, Yoongi managed to make his way through the crowd. He came out looking awfully dishevelled and sweaty.
“Did the old lady beside you put up a fight?” Jimin asked as he took a bag from Yoongi’s arms. Only because he didn't want to hear Yoongi complain about his sore arms for the next three days.
“Yeah, she was surprisingly agile for her age, really got me struggling.”
Jimin snorted.
He checked his phone for any new messages. He had asked his mother if she wanted anything to be picked up while he was in the town but they didn't need anything apparently.
“Ok, so our bus is in an hour so we’re fine for time. I’m gonna go to the station now though.”
“Wait no,” before Jimin could make a move Yoongi had already taken his wrist. He looked at it and how nicely Yoongi’s hand fit around his. His fingers were smooth and cool on his skin. Jimin shook it off and rolled his eyes.
“What?”
“Let’s go eat.. come on like always.”
Yes, right. Like always. They always stopped by the same restaurant for lunch in between connections. God Jimin hated that they had a ‘visiting grandma’ routine.
“Uh yeah, sure I could eat.”
“Great.” Yoongi took hold of his wrist again and they walked off.
Yoongi walked ahead of him, pulling and tugging at Jimin’s hand like an impatient puppy on his first walk.
There was no obnoxious headband this time and no bright coloured sunglasses that Jimin found endearing. But Yoongi was dressed as simply as always. He always seemed to fit in so seamlessly into the rural towns and packed portside villages.
He donned his baggy wheat coloured shorts and cute little black sandals, the same ones Jimin gifted him two years ago. His hair was black and shiny, a much better look on him than the bleached strands he rocked in his undergraduate days.
He could easily haul around his equipment for hours and Jimin's grandmother never missed an opportunity to order Yoongi around the farm. Whether it be bringing logs back and forth or wrapping up cherry trees to stop the birds from eating them, he was kept busy. Jimin missed seeing him waddle around the land when the sun rose, dew still fresh on the grass and the chickens only waking up.
Jimin himself never felt like he fit into the countryside life. Every summer he would get devoured by the bugs and his granny’s guard dog never warmed up to him even though he’s been around since he was a child.
He wasted no time running away to Seoul once he could afford to. And he never looked back. He was happy living his city boy life, with his office job and his dress pants and sleek leather shoes.
He breathed in a lungful of fresh air when they stepped outside the train station. It was always comforting to be back home. Although he greatly enjoyed Seoul and his life, there was just something special about being back in Busan. Even though he didn't grow up in this part of the city, so close to the sea, just the train station and familiar streets were enough to put him at ease.
Their lunch wasn’t even that bad. It hurt, and Jimin felt so insecure the entire time but really, it wasn't that bad. He was just once again reminded of just how well they knew each other.
Yoongi had gone to the bathroom as soon as they were sat at their table and Jimin had ordered for them both with no problem. They chose their seats automatically, Yoongi facing the door and Jimin with his front to the rest of the interior.
They didn't really talk much. They never did when the food was good, which in this place? Was always good.
Yoongi looked so pretty, sitting calmly and eating away at his meal. All while Jimin was sweating himself to death in his white shirt. Creased to hell and back.
They paid their bill without any hassle and then they were off to the bus that would take them out to the surrounding villages. Jimin took as much as he could handle of Yoongi’s equipment and hopes he can sort out the rest. It's only a short walk but it was very hot already.
“The birthday party is on Saturday, if you're just doing photography for it why did we come down so early?”
Yoongi looked at him and huffed a bit from the weight of his bags.
“Mom asked if I could help out around the farm too. I mean it’s granny’s eightieth birthday y'know? I think they're planning to dig up the potatoes this week?”
“I see.” It should have shocked Jimin, the familiar way Yoongi talked about his family. But he knew it was rightfully earned. Not even Jimin could fault him there.
“I also must admit, you never unlinked your google calendar with me, so I saw when you were travelling.”
“You what ?” Jimin’s head swivelled.
“Hey, I just thought us having some time before actually seeing your family would be good. We could ease up a bit, y'know?”
Jimin gritted his teeth.
“Also Taehyung did send me your train time anyway…”
Jimin rolled his eyes and shot an unimpressed look at Yoongi.
“I see.”