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May 12th 2033, 11pm, Jimin’s apartment
“Tae, I’ve told you like a million times, I’m not going”, Jimin stressed to his very tired and very done with his shit best friend and soulmate in the whole world Kim Taehyung.
Sighing, Taehyung sat down next to his best friend and laid a hand on his shoulder, “Minnie c'mon we’ve talked about this, Jungkook will be really bummed if you don’t go, he’s missed you”.
At this Jimin began to sulk and look down at his hands, fiddling with the rings on his fingers, “It’s been years Tae, he’s moved on and I haven’t…I’m pathetic”.
“Jimin…”, Taehyung started.
“No, I can’t pretend everything’s okay and I’m happy with my life when all I do is ask all you guys for information on his wellbeing and stalk all his socials because I’m too much of a coward to contact him myself…I can’t and I won’t watch him get married to someone that isn’t me when I know all I’m going to do is burst out crying and make a scene because I’ll be damned if I don’t admit that the only reason we ever broke up was because of me”, Jimin breathed out dejectedly.
Taehyung knew how much the heartbreak had effected Jimin and also knew when and when not to push him but he couldn’t stand back and let Jimin beat himself up over something that happened years ago. “How about this? Just stick around for the ceremony and leave before the reception, Jungkook will understand if you tell him you’re busy”, Taehyung reasoned.
Jimin seemed to ponder for a moment, glancing at the framed picture of him and Jungkook on the day of their 13th year anniversary that he couldn’t bring himself to throw away after they broke up, before slowly turning towards his friend again.
“No.”
Taehyung’s shoulders sank in disappointment, “Jimin, please. We’re all worried about you, including Jungkook-”.
Jimin scoffed, “Really? Jungkook, the man who got into another relationship after what? 6 months after we broke up, don’t give me that bullshit Tae, you and I both know Jungkook lives a happier life without me in it, and if he didn’t he would’ve reached out, but has he? No, he hasn’t so stop trying to get me to do things I don’t want to do, especially when you know how much I still love him.”
Taehyung pursed his lips and ran his hands through his hair in agitation, “That’s not true and you know it. Every single time I ever speak to Jungkook, he always always asks about you because although things ended between you two, he cares about you and you were a big part of his life so stop making up lies in order to convince yourself he hates you, because he doesn’t.”
Jimin rolled his eyes and stood up from the sofa, walking towards the grand-scale window overlooking the busy streets of Seoul, “Fine, but it still doesn’t change the fact that he’s getting married and I’m not going”.
Tae stood up and joined him at the window, “Have you ever considered that it might bring you some closure to see him with someone else? I know you love him Jimin believe me I do, but it isn’t healthy to live your days overworking and barely eating, especially as a coping mechanism for 5 years after what happened, it might help you move on”.
Jimin looked up at Taehyung with unshed tears, “I can’t Tae, I can’t”.
“But you need to, I just want to see you smile again Jimin”, Taehyung whispered.
Tears trickled down Jimin’s cheeks without him realising and Taehyung reached up to wipe them away, planting a kiss on his forehead in the process.
Jimin sniffled and offered a bittersweet smile, “Okay.”
…
May 13th 2033 - The Wedding day - 11:30am, The venue
Jimin was jittering with nerves, constantly running his hands up and down a white suit he found in the depths of his closet in a hurry this morning. Taehyung was by his side, glancing at him every so often to check on how Jimin was holding up, he knew how much Jimin was suffering inside and not showing on the outside. He was also so incredibly proud of his best friend, and knew how proud all the other members were too, smiling to himself as they walked through the highly decorated corridors of the venue Jungkook was set to get married at in approximately half an hour.
Both men turned the corner, and were met with the sight of Jungkook, Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Seokjin and both of Jungkook’s parents, huddled together at the front of a stage overlooking rows upon rows of seats, laughing and chatting carelessly.
Jimin felt his hands began to get sweaty and gulped as he took in the sight before him.
Jungkook looked gorgeous. His hair was long and slicked back, showcasing his smooth forehead and an incredibly attractive undercut beneath his auburn locks. His skin was the most sensational caramel tan, glowing in the light of the chandelier above him, and he was wearing a very flattering all black suit. His blazer was double breasted and fit just right around his broad, strong shoulders, and his slacks hugged perfectly around his huge, muscular thighs, tapering off slightly to display his sleek dress shoes. He looked like a dream and Jimin was in awe.
The moment didn’t last long because luckily or unluckily Jimin’s ogling was interrupted.
“JIMIN!”, screamed Seokjin, running towards both men in excitement, enveloping Jimin in a bone crushing hug.
“Thanks hyung”, Taehyung joked.
Seokjin held up a finger against Taehyung’s lips to silence him and took in Jimin’s face, “My sweet Jiminie, I’ve missed you so much-”
Yoongi interjected, “We’ve missed you so much”.
Seokjin glared and muttered something under his breath about having disrespectful dongsaengs and resumed his speech, “As I was saying, it’s been so long since we last saw each other, a year? You look beautiful as always, how are you?”
Jimin blushed from the complement and also from the sudden attention he was getting, “Ah hyung…I missed you all so much really. I’m sorry it’s been so long, I’ve been really busy with work and before I knew it a year had gone by, Let’s not leave it so long next time yeah?”
Seokjin nodded and pulled away, letting the other members and Jungkook’s parents greet him after not seeing him for so long, moving over to Taehyung to say hi and ask how he’s been doing.
When Jungkook’s mother pulled Jimin in for a hug and said hi, she whispered into his ear and Jimin’s eyes instantly watered, “I’ve missed your cute face, I’m so sorry things didn’t work out between you two, I really thought you’d be together till you died, but anyway…you’ll always be our son.”
Jimin pulled away and locked eyes with her nodding, “Thank you eommoni…”
Stepping aside, the inevitable came and Jimin met Jungkook’s gaze, he felt his composure crumble slightly but quickly collected himself.
Jungkook however, wasted no time and hugged Jimin with desperation and yearning, taken aback by his presence and happiness to see the elder.
“Jimin”, Jungkook sighed into his fluffy, blonde hair.
“I know”, Jimin was blinking rapidly, trying to hold his tears in.
Jungkook squeezed Jimin tighter around his waist, “It’s been 5 years hyung…Why, why didn’t you reach out?”
Jimin felt his heart rate increase, “I needed time Jungkook.”
“5 years!?”, Jungkook exclaimed confused.
“I’m sorry, I never meant to ignore you for so long, things just happened and it turned out this way but I never, ever stopped caring about you”, Jimin explained.
“Neither did I”, Jungkook agreed.
Both exes pulled away and took in each other’s appearance again, shocked at how much the other had changed in a matter of 5 years.
Jungkook cleared his throat, embarrassed at being the main focus of everyone in the room and rolled his shoulders back, ridding himself of any tension.
“You look really pretty hyung”, Jungkook uttered shyly.
Don’t say that, please
“You look really handsome too”, Jimin replied, casting his eyes down to the ground, ignoring his initial reaction.
Jimin could see Taehyung in the corner of his eye, ready to interject when needed, but he waved his hand to signal he was okay, and Taehyung visibly relaxed.
Jimin looked up and noticed Jungkook was already staring at him but before he could say anything, Jungkook beat him to it.
“Are you dating anyone?”, he asked in a low voice.
Jimin furrowed his eyebrows, surprised by the sudden question and tone of voice Jungkook was using. He thought over in his head how he would respond when he remembered Jungkook wasn’t asking because he wanted to get back together but rather because he expected Jimin to had moved on like he did, so Jimin lied.
No
“Yes I am actually, I’ve been in a relationship for about 3 years now…His name is Jake and he grew up in the States, we met when he was helping to produce my album ‘My last breath’ and we hit it off, so here we are now 3 years and counting…he couldn’t make it here tonight though, but I’m sure he would’ve been happy to meet you”, Jimin finished with a haste. He had no idea where that had come from but it felt good to convince everyone he was doing better than anyone had initially thought.
Everyone’s jaw dropped in confusion but no one was as shocked as Jungkook, he took in a sharp inhale and clenched his jaw, “Oh…I’m glad you’re happy Jimin”.
Realisation dawned on Jimin and he immediately regretted his statement, but he couldn’t just take it back after everyone had heard so he nodded and uttered a quiet, “Thank you, I am, and I’m glad you are too”.
As if on cue, guests and guests began to enter the room and were escorted to their seats. So their conversation was cut short as everyone dispersed to their respective places before the ceremony officially began. Taehyung tugged Jimin by his sleeve and dragged him towards their seats frowning, and Jimin sighed knowing exactly what was coming.
“What. Was. That.”, Taehyung bit out in disbelief.
Jimin folded in on himself, nervous from the hostility and confrontation, “I don’t know okay? Everyone thinks I’m a mess and still heart broken so it just came out, I just wanted to have some ounce of dignity to get myself through one of the hardest experiences of my life”.
Taehyung softened, “Oh Jimin, no one is judging you for being a little shaken up about the situation, but lying is not the way to deal with this.”
“You think I don’t know that!?”, Jimin squeaked out incredulous.
“Then why…”, Taehyung began.
“Look, I don’t know what any of you tell Jungkook about when it comes to me, but I can’t deal with him thinking I’m still hung up on our break up, especially on his wedding day so I lied okay?”, Jimin croaked out.
At some point during Jimin’s response, the band set up in the corner of the room next to a huge fish tank full of the most interesting creatures, began to play the opening song. The song the bride would walk out to and everyone halted their conversations immediately.
“Okay, but don’t think this conversation is over”, Taehyung reminded as he turned his attention to a golden archway covered in twines of roses and lilies, where all the bridesmaids were walking out from.
Jimin’s head pulsed, his legs began to shake and he felt sick the moment Lee Sieun, Jungkook’s bride to be, appeared from the archway he was admiring before. His breathing became erratic as he watched with beady eyes as she walked calmly and collected towards the man he once called the love of his life.
Taehyung noticed his distressed state and placed a reassuring hand on his knee. Jimin held it instantly and tried counting in his head to calm himself down before anyone he didn’t know noticed how badly he was effected.
The second Sieun arrived at the alter and she and Jungkook held hands, Jimin diverted his attention to a plant pot sat on the windowsill to the left of the happy couple, analysing the way the flowers drooped and how bright each petal was.
Anything to keep me sane
Sieun recited her vows first, although overwhelmed and crying, she finished in a composed manner and slid the platinum band around Jungkook’s left forth finger.
Jimin had to physically hold himself back by gagging.
Jungkook started off strong, recalling fond memories with Sieun and how happy she makes him, but the minute he had to say “I do” he froze and became silent.
People started to look around at each other, confused by Jungkook’s hesitation but the silence didn’t last long because he ran off stage muttering an “I’m sorry but I can’t marry you” to Sieun and fled out the doors.
Everyone was baffled.
Jungkook was missing. Sieun was crying, both heartbroken and embarrassed and Jimin was relieved.
Chaos erupted and all the members got out their seats in a rush and followed Jungkook’s direction, attempting to find out what happened and where Jungkook was.
Jimin felt his feet move before he even registered what he was doing and quickly found that familiar mop of black hair, crouched beneath a freshly bloomed cherry blossom tree.
“Jungkook, what are you doing? Why did you leave?”, Jimin questioned in fear.
Jungkook flinched, removing his hands from behind his head and looked up at Jimin’s puzzled expression,”Jimin?”
“Sieun is devastated Jungkook, what happened?”, Jimin accused, eager to find out the reason behind Jungkook’s actions.
“I don’t love her Jimin, not like I love you”, Jungkook admitted.
“Jungkook, what are you talking about?
I-”, Jimin was interrupted by a teary eyed Jungkook.
“I love you Jimin, only you. How can I marry someone knowing you’re sat there watching me? I know we’ve been apart for 5 years but it feels like cheating to see you looking like someone has stabbed you whilst I promise my life to someone else that isn’t you”, Jungkook heaved out, desperation oozing from his lips and he stood up and clasping Jimin’s hands in his.
“Jungkook, you can’t say this after getting in a relationship so soon after we ended, do you know how much I felt like shit? We broke up because we wanted different things and now you decide to tell me this? After walking out on your own wedding, what about Sieun?”, Jimin shouted, anger evident in his voice.
“We never had sex Jimin. Ever. She was no one to me, I got into a fake relationship with her straight after we broke up because I thought it would make you jealous and get back with me, but you never did. She fell in love with me along the years and I didn’t have the heart to leave her so I just went along with it. I’ve made excuses after excuses of why I can’t do this and that with her until we got married and I was so worried you wouldn’t come today because I thought it really was the end of us. But then i saw you stood next to Taetae-hyung and felt like I finally had a chance again until you told me you’re in a relationship with Jack or whatever his name is and I know you’re happy but I wanted to tell you anyway-”
Jimin silenced Jungkook’s rant with a kiss full of longing and passion, slotting their lips together in a synchronised rhythm, knocking their teeth together as warm tongues found their way into each other’s mouths before they finally parted with an obscene pop, gasping for air as they both smiled at each other.
“Jimin what about Jack?”, Jungkook asked, still swallowing large gulps of air as he wrapped a protective arm around Jimin’s waist, staring deeply into his eyes.
“It’s Jake but he doesn’t exist Jungkook, I lied because I couldn’t face seeing you with Sieun”, Jimin giggled.
“Oh”
“Yeah oh, so are you gonna stand there looking dumb or kiss me again after waiting 5 long years beca-”, Jimin squealed in surprise as Jungkook slammed their lips together again, smirking at the elder’s reaction.
Together again at last
13 years and counting