Chapter Text
Jimin was happy for his friends. No, really. Taehyung and Jungkook deserved to be happy, especially the latter. He knew what Jungkook went through. They have been roommates after all. He was there when Jungkook tried his darndest to make his dreams come true. He was there when Jungkook almost gave up on it. He was there when he had to sell his camera, the only thing giving him hope, and saw how it broke his heart. He was also there when Jungkook started smiling more, when he started believing in himself more, and when he first realized that he had been in love with Taehyung since they were four. If anyone in the world deserved the happiness that they have now, it’s Jungkook.
Jimin cried with happiness when Taehyung told him that he’d be proposing to Jungkook. He cried when Taehyung told him that he renovated a spare room in their apartment for Jungkook’s studio. He cried when Jungkook called him crying after he said yes to Taehyung.
“I’m so happy for you,” he told Jungkook, meaning the words with all his heart.
“Thank you, Jimin, for being with me since the beginning. For putting up with me when I was starting to become annoying and for believing in me when I was doubting myself. You’re my best friend.” Jungkook told him, still crying on the other line.
“I’m telling Taehyung you said that,” he teased.
Jimin was proud of Jihyo for finally succeeding in her dream of becoming a dancer. Just yesterday, Jungkook, Jimin, Taehyung, Jihyo, and her girlfriend celebrated the opening of Jihyo’s dance studio. There were many tears, mostly from a very drunk Jihyo who thanked Jungkook for coming into her life.
“If I never met you that faithful day, I would have never made as many tips as I did,” Jihyo said, her words slurred, drunk, and half-asleep on her girlfriend’s lap. “Thank god, Mingyu couldn’t make it.”
“Everything fell into place,” Jimin said.
“Soon, they’ll fall into place for you too,” Jihyo told him as she reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Jimin was proud of his friends. He really was, but he couldn’t help but feel like he was left behind. His friends were successful in doing things they love with people they love but Jimin…
Jimin shook away all of the negative thoughts. He had no time for them after all. He was running late for his shift at the restaurant. He just came back from working at a catering event. It ran later than usual so he didn’t even have time to change. He didn’t like either of his jobs but they paid well.
He tried looking for jobs that could fit his degree. He wanted to be a vocal coach. But how could he when…
“You could save up and then do what you love once you have enough,” Jihyo told him but it wasn’t easy. Jimin knew Jihyo meant well so even though he wanted to cry and laugh at how impossible it was, how unreachable his dream was no matter how much money he’ll save, he only smiled. Besides, he never told anyone what his dream was and why it was now impossible.
Jimin sighed with relief as the restaurant came into view. He ran as fast as he could, knowing that the shift’s manager was less forgiving than the others. Thankfully he made it just in time. Jimin changed into his uniform and prepared for the day, not expecting that he would see the one person he thought he would never see again.
“Hello, welcome to Serendipity, I’m Jimin and I’ll be your server this evening,” Jimin said to a table of three. It was his usual greeting. What Jimin failed to do was look at the people at the table before he came. He should have. He really should have.
“Jimin?” the man to his right said.
Jimin’s second mistake that night was looking at the man.
Yoongi. It was Min Yoongi. The man who promised to be there for him for all of eternity. The man who he thought he would be building his dream life with. The man who walked away, leaving nothing but broken promises and fragments of what was once Jimin’s heart in his wake.
If there is one thing that Jimin prided himself on, it was his professionalism. It didn’t matter which job it was that he was doing. Even if he was berated and humiliated, he always stayed calm and humble. So Jimin smiled at Yoongi, pretending that his heart wasn’t breaking at the sight of him.
“Will you be ordering now or will you need time to choose?” Jimin said in his most polite and stable voice, looking away from Yoongi.
“Uhh... I think we need a bit of time, thank you.” The man to his left said.
Jimin looked, his third mistake. It was Hoseok. Jung Hoseok, the man Yoongi said he didn’t have to worry about. But here they were, years later, still together.
Jimin’s heart started beating so loudly in his chest. He could feel his head throbbing a little at the sight. Tears were burning behind his eyes. “Okay, Let me know when you’re ready.” He said as he left, ignoring Yoongi who was calling for his name.
Yoongi was not easy to forget. How could Jimin forget about the boy who was his first in so many things? Yoongi was his first crush, first kiss, first date, and first and only love. It took Jimin months to move on. Then he found out that Yoongi and Hoseok started dating merely weeks after they broke up and it broke him even more. The betrayal ran so deep that it took him years to heal. Then, once he was certain that he moved on, they were everywhere.
They, being TEAR, a rap trio which Yoongi and Hoseok were a part of, alongside Kim Namjoon who went by RM. During their first years, they never showed their faces but their songs were everywhere. Jimin knew instantly that SUGA was Yoongi. He knew his voice. He had memorized it. After all, it used to be his favorite sound in the world. About 5 years ago, after the trio won their first Grammy, they came out with an album with their faces on it. Their popularity grew. Even after uncovering the mystery of who was behind TEAR, people didn’t seem to be satisfied. They were more curious, more than ever before.
Jimin was hurt when he saw that Hoseok (J-HOPE) was in the group as well. He has never met the man when he and Yoongi were still dating. Once the photos came out, Jimin was just angry and hurt and bitter at everything. Yoongi promised Jimin that it would be the two of them. Yoongi promised Jimin that they’ll walk up to the top, and crawl if they had to. Yoongi broke that promise as well as his heart. But here he was, at the top of the world but with him was Jung Hoseok, instead of Park Jimin.
“He even changed his stage name,” Jimin said as he watched TEAR's very first T.V interview ever. Yoongi used to go by Agust D. Agust D was for Jimin only, Yoongi used to say. But now even that part of him no longer exists. “He really erased me from his life,” he whispered to himself bitterly.
Jimin remembered all the fights that they had. Jimin remembered asking about Hoseok and Yoongi being so defensive. “You’re thinking way too much. He’s just a guy I work with,” the latter would always say.
But Jimin couldn’t help but feel hurt that Yoongi was spending way more time with Hoseok than with him. Even during his days off, Yoongi would rather “work” with Hoseok on a song, usually leaving Jimin all alone in their shared apartment for hours, sometimes even days. Still, Jimin held on. Even if he was hurting, even if he could feel Yoongi slowly drifting away, he held on because he loved him. In the end, it was Yoongi who left.
Jimin was serving another table in his section when RM motioned to say that they were ready to order. With shaking hands, he walked to the trio and took their orders. “Will that be all?” He asked after they were done.
RM cleared his throat, “Yes, thank you.”
“Ok, I’ll be back with your food in a bit,” Jimin said as he walked back to the kitchen. He didn’t have to look back to know that Yoongi and Hoseok were staring at his retreating figure. Their eyes were burning holes at the back of his head. He put his hands in his pockets to hide his trembling hands and took a few deep breaths to calm down.
“Are those TEAR? Oh my god, Jimin, you’re so lucky!” His co-worker said.
Jimin nervously laughed a little, “Yeah…”
Once their food was ready, Jimin took some more deep breaths before going back out. “Just give them their food and you won’t have to see them again until they’re done eating,” he whispered to himself. He wore his best customer service smile and headed toward TEAR’s table.
It was easy and fast. It should be since Jimin has been doing this for what, almost two years now? So it was almost like muscle memory for him. However, it was his emotions that were making it hard to just do his job. “Enjoy your meal, and if you need anything else just call for me,” he said but internally wished they would not.
Yoongi watched as Jimin walked away from their table. He never expected to see Jimin again, he wished he never had to because he knew exactly what would happen: this. The dams he closed shut opened back up, letting so many emotions out. Happiness, fondness, regret, love. Yes, love. He watched as Jimin’s eyes widened in recognition for a moment before going back to pretending he was just another customer. It pained him to see the boy act as if he was just another stranger instead of a man he once bared his soul to. Could he blame Jimin though? He broke his heart into million pieces and broke all the promises he made to him.
“Hyung…” Hoseok, his co-member, and long-time boyfriend called from beside him. Yoongi turned to look and saw his expression. He was sad, annoyed, and angry at Yoongi. Of course, he understood why.
He sighed and said nothing. What could he say that would not hurt Hoseok anyway? It was not like he could be honest and tell him that his heart soared with happiness upon seeing Jimin. It wasn’t like he could say that he suddenly felt so alive. It wasn’t like he could tell Hoseok that seeing Jimin again felt like coming home. So he kept quiet.
Tonight was supposed to be a fun dinner between friends. They’ve just finished a world tour and were currently on a three-month-long break. Hoseok wanted to go to this restaurant so bad but looking at him, it seemed like he was enjoying himself the least.
Namjoon tried to lighten the mood, cracking jokes, and talking about their plans but while Hoseok tried hard to not spoil the atmosphere but it was hard.
After finishing their meals, Namjoon cleared his throat and said, “Do you wanna go check out this new bar Jackson recommended to me?
Yoongi and Hoseok knew what Namjoon was doing. As the leader of the trio, RM was used to mediating between the two when they but heads, both at work and at home. Before Yoongi could say anything, Hoseok spoke up, “Sorry, but I’m already a little tired. Maybe it’s best we head home?”
Namjoon nodded in understanding. “Sure, no problem. We have three more months to spend time doing whatever so we could check it out once you’re feeling better,” the ever-understanding leader said with a gentle smile.
“I, uhm, I just need to use the restroom. I’ll be back,” Hoseok said as he stood up.
Shortly after Hoseok went to the restroom, Jimin came back to their table with the bill. Yoongi offered to pay, being the oldest and all, Namjoon even teased him of spoiling his two dongsaeng once more. Yoongi just smiled. His next move was another reason why he offered to pay. Earlier, before Jimin came back to take their orders, he wrote his number on a piece of paper, probably a receipt from a convenience store, whatever. He paid in cash, tipping Jimin a sizeable amount and slipping the paper in between the bills.
Jimin thanked them both and walked away to get their receipt.
Unbeknownst to any of them, Hoseok saw the exchange on his way back to the table. He was livid and hurt. Feeling petty, he purposely bumped Jimin’s shoulder harder than necessary when they walked past each other. Jimin looked up, ready to apologize to whoever it was but what greeted him was Hoseok’s glare. Still, being naturally polite, Jimin bowed and apologized. Hoseok didn’t even bother looking at Jimin and just walked back to join his two members.
On the table, Namjoon scrunched his brows disapprovingly at Yoongi. “Hyung-”
“It’s nothing to worry about, Namjoon. Hyung knows what he’s doing,” he said, cutting off the younger.
“I sure hope you do. You’re dating Hoseok now.”
“You’re thinking way too much.”
Their conversation ceased once Hoseok came back.
“Ready to head home?” Hoseok asked Namjoon and Yoongi to which the two nodded.
They put their hats, masks, and glasses back on, aware that just outside the restaurant, a swarm of paparazzi was waiting for them at the entrance. They walked straight to the car waiting for them, not once entertaining any questions or even sasaengs that were there. Once safely in the car, Hoseok cleared his throat. “So Jimin, huh? I thought he was studying music? Why is he a waiter now?” he asked Yoongi, mockingly. He couldn’t help it. He felt jealous of the other even if it was him Yoongi was with now.
“Something must have happened. I know he was good at what he did,” Yoongi answered in a defensive tone.
Hoseok scoffed. “Maybe he was just not as good as you remember him to be,”
“If you two don’t fucking stop, I’m throwing you out to the paps,” Namjoon told them seriously.
“Hoseok’s just overthinking things,” said Yoongi.
“Hyung, I swear to god,” Namjoon warned.
Back at the restaurant, Jimin stared at the piece of paper tucked in between the bills he was given as tips. It was a phone number with a note saying, “Please call me. We need to talk.” Jimin knew who it was from. Primarily because it was Yoongi who paid but also because he knew his handwriting very well. Of course, he did, Yoongi used to write encouraging notes to him every day back when they were still in high school. Yoongi wrote him a box worth of notes once he graduated high school. When Jimin moved in with Yoongi once he was in the university, Yoongi would stick notes on the fridge telling him that he might be late for dinner or that he would be staying with Hoseok to work on a song.
Jimin just stared at the paper, as if it would throw or burn itself if he looked hard enough but it didn’t. “What’s there to talk about?” He said to himself bitterly. He knew he should’ve discarded it but he couldn’t. So he pocketed it and tried to forget it was there but the truth was that was the only thing he could think about for the rest of the night.
Jimin wondered as he lay in bed if he agreed to what Yoongi wanted, if he dropped out of Uni and risked it all, where would he be? Would he still be with Yoongi? Would they be living the life they’ve always dreamt of? Jimin would never know. It was useless to think about it now. Yoongi was way too far away for him to ever reach again, then there’s also Hoseok.
Jimin cried that night just like he did when Yoongi broke up with him. His heart felt as hurt and as betrayed as when he found out about Yoongi and Hoseok. He cried himself to sleep because it was all he could do. That night he dreamt of a life where everything went perfect for him and Yoongi. Even in his sleep, he cried because he knew, it would only remain as a dream.