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The bowls look beautiful. They’re colorful and honestly so mouthwatering Jimin has to control himself otherwise he’ll end up having a bite of it before he serves the food. The smell is also delicious so even before they try it, he’s proud of himself. He’s giving it a 9 out 10 for presentation; hopefully, the taste matches the visual.
He can hear Jungkook’s steps before he puts the bowls on the dining room table, the younger one probably being attracted by the smell traveling through the apartment.
“Ooh, babe, this looks incredible,” Jungkook says, helping him bring everything to the table, eyes growing wide when he sees the Spicy Salmon Bowl Jimin has been preparing for the past two hours.
“I hope it tastes just as good,” Jimin replies. “I really put some effort into this one.”
Jungkook nods and smiles at him. “You’ve been putting effort into everything you’re trying and I’m really proud of you.”
Jimin has been dedicating all his free time to cooking and baking for the past month. He’s been watching Youtube videos, searching for recipes, and going grocery shopping at least three times a week to always have all the ingredients he needs.
He’s never been big on cooking. Most of the time it’s Jungkook preparing delicious meals while he watches and helps as much as he can, but he had enough of it. It started with him just saving a few videos to try later but then he decided it was later and it was time to put everything into practice.
Jungkook has been nothing but supportive, always helping, going with him to the supermarket, and giving him feedback on the meals he prepares. Luckily, the younger one is not picky when it comes to food so Jimin can prepare lots of different foods and Jungkook eats them with a smile on his face.
“Thanks, gorgeous,” Jimin kisses Jungkook’s cheek before sitting down. “Okay, time for the truth I guess.”
As soon as Jungkook tries the mix of rice, spicy salmon, and vegetables he makes a face that would make anyone think he hates the food, but Jimin knows better. Whenever the younger looks angry is because he loves whatever he’s eating. The little noises he makes never fail to make Jimin smile.
“Gosh, babe, try it!” Jungkook says, pointing at Jimin’s bowl. “It’s unbelievably good. I think you outdid yourself.”
Jimin nods and puts some of the food in his mouth. He chews slowly, trying to taste everything while Jungkook continues to eat and shakes his head, clearly delighted with it.
“Hm,” Jimin swallows and frowns. “The sauce is not very spicy and the salmon is kind of blend,” he complains.
Jungkook looks offended as if he was the one who cooked.
“What? No, it’s not. It’s the perfect amount of spicy,” his eyebrows are knitted together and there’s a small pout on his lips.
Jimin sighs. He wants to believe Jungkook’s words but he simply doesn’t agree. The bowl definitely looks much better than it tastes and he could’ve done a better job with the salmon and the sauce. As soon as he starts playing with the food, feeling discouraged and unmotivated, Jungkook holds his hand.
“Min, why are you being so hard on yourself?” Although his tone is serious, his expression is soft and welcoming.
“Because I want to cook delicious food,” he reasons.
Reaching for his other hand, Jungkook searches for his eyes before he talks again.
“It is delicious. It was delicious even before you decided to invest your free time in it and now it’s even better,” he kisses the back of Jimin’s hand offering him just enough courage with his eyes. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, okay?”
Jimin nods. “Promise you’ll tell me if I cook something and it’s not good? I promise it won’t hurt my feelings.”
Jungkook offers him his little finger and Jimin immediately intertwines his own with it.
“I promise, Min.”
They go back to eating it and although Jimin is grateful Jungkook continues to talk about how good it is while looking angry at his food, the more he eats the more he feels like something is lacking in this meal. He finishes it with disappointment filling his stomach, promising himself he’ll do better next time.
A week goes by where Jimin tries a little bit of everything. He bakes pain au chocolat that despite having a weird texture – not at all flaky like Jimin wanted – it still tasted good. He also tries cooking some Korean dishes like Budae Jjigae and Kalguksu – the first approved by Taehyung and Seokjin while the latter received approval from Yoongi, Namjoon and Hoseok.
As expected, Jungkook has been praising everything he cooks. The younger one helps whenever he can and always shows excitement to try the dishes. Jimin still feels insecure, however, for the most part, he’s enjoying the experience and feels like he’s improved a lot but he hates that he sometimes questions whether his boyfriend and friends are being honest with their feedback.
“Hmm, what’re you cooking tonight? It smells so good!” Jungkook hugs him from behind and rests his chin on Jimin’s shoulder.
Jimin smiles as he stirs the sauce. Jungkook is right, it does smell delicious and he’s excited for the new recipe he’s trying.
“Tteokbokki,” he answers. “I found this new recipe and thought I should try since it’s a little different from regular Tteokbokki.”
Jungkook’s stomach grumbles as if on cue and they both laugh.
“Can I help you with anything?”
Jimin nods. “Can you get me the salt?”
“That’s it?” Jungkook asks, putting the salt right next to Jimin who just agrees quietly.
“Yeah, I’m almost done. Maybe set up the dinner table?” he suggests and Jungkook promptly obeys.
There’s music playing in the kitchen so he just sings along as he finishes cooking. He tries a bit of the sauce and is quite happy with the result, it has the perfect amount of spices and salt.
He suddenly remembers a new boyfriend prank he saw and wonders if he should try it. He’s got everything he needs right there, salt and some sauce. He hasn’t pranked Jungkook in a while and he wonders how the younger will react.
When noise comes from the living room, Jimin decides it’s time to act. He grabs a big spoon from one of the drawers and puts salt in it. He’s seen people fill the entire spoon with it but he doesn’t have the heart to put so much, just enough that it will definitely have a strong taste.
“Cutie, come try this,” he calls as he covers the salt with some of the sauce.
When Jungkook appears in the kitchen, all happy and ready to try whatever Jimin has for him, it takes a lot of mental apologies for Jimin to go on with the prank.
I’m so sorry, gorgeous , he thinks before offering the spoon to his boyfriend.
Jimin watches closely for Jungkook’s reaction. It’s clear it’s not his usual reaction but he does a very good job of hiding it and it would’ve probably worked if Jimin didn’t know him so well.
“What do you think?” He asks feigning curiosity.
Jungkook hums, trying his best to make the same angry faces he does when he tries food that he likes. It takes a few seconds for him to say something and Jimin waits patiently.
“It’s…” he clears his throat and coughs.
“Are you okay?” Jimin offers a few pats on his back. “You didn’t like it, did you?”
Jungkook quickly recomposes himself and shakes his head. “It’s not that. It’s just…” He sighs, his face still slightly contorted and looking more disgusted than angry.
Not laughing is hard, especially when Jungkook is trying so hard to hide his feelings from showing through his expressions.
“It’s a tiny bit salty,” Jungkook finally says. “But it’s fixable, I’m sure we can put some more water in the sauce.”
It’s clear he’s being very thoughtful of his words and Jimin couldn’t be more grateful. He looks at the sauce and stirs it a bit more, as if thinking about what Jungkook’s just said.
“I tried and it tasted so good,” he pushes.
Jungkook is taken aback.
“Really? Maybe it’s me. Let me try it again,” he goes for the spoon and Jimin doesn’t have time to think.
“NO!” He yells, immediately regretting his reaction. “I mean, no, I will try to fix it.”
Jungkook doesn’t budge. He looks confused as he searches for something in Jimin’s face. For some reason Jimin cannot think of a good excuse, all he does is try to stand in between his boyfriend and the pot of sauce.
“Jungkookie,” he whines but all he gets in return is a small smile on the corners of Jungkook’s lips. “Let me fix it.”
He sees the moment something changes in Jungkook’s expression. His eyes grow wide and he looks terrified as he stares at something behind Jimin. Time seems to slow down as Jimin turns around, already taking a step back just to see… nothing .
Jungkook’s laughter rings through the kitchen and he looks back at his boyfriend to see him trying the sauce again.
Oh, he felt so easily for that one.
Jimin pouts but Jungkook quickly pulls him by the waist and starts kissing his face and tickling him.
“I can’t believe you put salt in that spoon, you meanie,” there isn’t a trace of anger in Jungkook’s voice, it’s pure amusement and Jimin can’t help but laugh along.
“I had to!” He says, out of breath from laughing so much. “I haven’t pranked you in a really long time. But I feel horrible.”
“Why are you laughing, then?” Jungkook makes his best puppy eyes.
Jimin starts apologizing while pecking his lips so many times Jungkook starts laughing again. “I feel so bad, gorgeous.”
“Do you really?” Jungkook looks at him, squinting his eyes. Jimin promptly nods. “Prove it.”
Jungkook is clearly challenging Jimin and beats him if he won’t accept the challenge. He gives his boyfriend his best sassy look.
“Whatever you’re thinking, I’ll do it,” he crosses his arms.
He watches as Jungkook reaches for the drawer and takes a spoon. Jimin knows what he’ll do before Jungkook even drowns the spoon into the salt container. He can’t help but notice the younger doesn’t put too much, the same way he did for the prank.
With the spoon full of salt and sauce in front of him, he looks at his boyfriend. He can see Jungkook doesn’t think he’ll do it so that just motivates him to grab the spoon from him and immediately put it in his mouth.
“Jimin!!” Jungkook yells before he has the chance to close his lips and taste the salt. He takes the spoon from Jimin’s hand and throws it in the sink.
“I was going to do it,” Jimin protests and Jungkook laughs.
“I know you were, you nut job,” he jokes, holding Jimin’s face in his hand and kissing his lips. “I love you too much to let you do it.”
Jimin pulls away, almost taking offense in his boyfriend’s words, even if it isn’t serious.
“Excuse me, are you saying I don’t love you?”
“Well,” Jungkook holds him by the hips and shrugs. “You did make me eat a spoonful of salt.”
Not finding anything to say, Jimin just puts his hand on his chest and pretends he’s much more offended than he actually is. Jungkook raises an eyebrow as if challenging him. Before he says anything, Jungkook’s stomach grumbles again and he takes it as a way to escape the situation.
“Okay enough with this nonsense. Let’s eat,” he hurries, not giving Jungkook any time to reply before going back to finishing the meal and rushing Jungkook to the dining room to eat.
«»
Jimin feels something bothering him, something that comes from his chest. He can’t shake the feeling that he might’ve taken his prank a bit too far by making Jungkook eat a spoonful of salt, especially after the younger wouldn’t let him do the same.
He can hear the water running, which means Jungkook is still showering. With his mind rushing free, he tries to focus on something to make up for what he did. He thinks about Jungkook’s favourite dessert, it’s not something he’s tried before but he could try it now.
The internet tells Jimin all the ingredients he needs – most of which he doesn’t have – so he sends a quick message to Jungkook telling him he’s gone to the little market across the street and will be back soon. Since the place is empty, he grabs everything he needs and is back home in no time.
As soon as he opens the door he sees Jungkook doing something in the kitchen. His hair is still wet from the shower and he’s only wearing his underwear, a sight that Jimin adores.
“Hey, babe,” the younger one greets him with a smile. “That was fast.”
Jimin notices he’s preparing something in a small bowl but has no idea what it is.
“Yeah, it was just me and Mr. Lee,” he says, referring to the owner of the store. “This smells delicious!” He points to the bowl.
Jungkook nods. “It does, right? Can’t wait to try it.”
He leaves the bowl on the kitchen counter and goes to the bedroom. Jimin quickly puts away everything he bought to surprise Jungkook later when he’s distracted playing games.
Eyeing the bowl for a few seconds, he gets too curious to not get closer and inspect it. It looks like some kind of yogurt; white, very pasty but the smell is so good he can’t resist putting some of it in his mouth thinking that he always likes whatever Jungkook makes anyway and after what he did earlier he looks forward to praising his boyfriend.
“Babe, no!” He hears Jungkook’s voice and drops the spoon.
It does not taste good. He makes a sour face and although Jungkook is clearly worried, he laughs.
“What is this?” He manages to ask with the paste clinging to his whole mouth.
Jungkook’s laughter just gets louder.
“It’s lotion. Please spit it out and wash your mouth,” he says, pointing to the sink. “Did you swallow it?”
Jimin quickly spits everything and washes his mouth three times, the taste still lingering. Jungkook offers him a cup of water and he drinks everything, his eyes still a bit watery from the awful experience.
“I couldn’t swallow it,” he finally answers.
“I can’t believe you ate lotion,” there’s still so much amusement in Jungkook’s voice he can’t get mad at the younger.
“You said you wanted to try it so I thought I should do it because everything you make is so delicious and I felt bad for what I did earlier,” he explains.
“C’mere,” Jungkook whispers, hooking one of fingers in Jimin’s belt loop and pulling him closer. He kisses his cheek gently and holds his face with one hand. “Why did you feel bad? You know I like your pranks, they always make me laugh.”
Jimin sighs, hugging Jungkook closer and resting his cheek on his shoulder. He does his best to ignore the bad taste still in his mouth.
“Yeah, but you wouldn’t even let me eat the salt,” he mutters.
He feels Jungkook rocking their bodies from side to side before kissing his hair. The younger is quiet for a while and he just enjoys being embraced, his boyfriend’s warmth spreading through him.
“Is this because I said I love you too much to let you eat the salt? You know I was just joking, right? I would never doubt your love for me just because of a silly prank.”
Jimin nods. “I know. Don’t mind me, I’m just being dramatic.”
They stay like that for a little while, Jungkook still rocks their body while Jimin is grateful he gets to smell his boyfriend’s soapy scent.
When Jimin finally looks up at Jungkook, the younger offers him a gentle smile.
“How’s the taste in your mouth?” He asks.
Jimin makes a disgusted face. “Still lingering.”
“Hmm, I’ll kiss you later, then.”
They both laugh, Jimin’s whole body leaning into Jungkook as the younger holds his arms.
“I love you,” he says sincerely.
Jungkook smiles and nods.
“I know you do, I never had a doubt,” he assures. “Please don’t stop pranking me, okay?”
Intertwining his little finger with Jungkook’s, Jimin promptly agrees because he knows he won’t be stopping any time soon. Even if they sometimes might find themselves on a weekend trip to Busan, naked on a rooftop, or with lotion and salt taste in their mouths.