Chapter Text
Six years ago
“Thank you, thank you!” Jimin launches himself at his dad, so grateful for the brand new Xbox that is being presented to him.
His dad was more than happy to purchase it, with it being one of the only stereotypical ‘teenage boy’ requests that Jimin has ever made. Not that his father has ever judged him for that, they have a relatively good relationship. It’s his mother that causes Jimin stress.
They just don’t see eye to eye. His mom wants the best for him, of course but their ideas of what that is don’t really align.
But he isn’t going to dwell on that today.
Today, he is setting up his new console and finally playing Halo, which is all everyone at school has been talking about for months. His parents wanted him to finish his first term of the school year before he got completely distracted by video games which Jimin conceded to.
And now he has the whole summer break to play. It’s not like he has any friends to hang out with.
Saying that Jimin isn’t popular in school would be an understatement. He goes through hell every day at school and not because he isn’t academic or a good student. In fact, he is top of the class in most subjects.
But his soft features, higher pitched voice, acne and crooked teeth make him the perfect target for the worst kinds of people at his school.
They have phases of ignoring him, as all of his bullies are involved in sports which means they have busy schedules. But when they aren’t practising as frequently, they resort to their next favourite pastime of harassing Jimin.
But he is free from all of that for the next five weeks. Complete bliss.
Jimin quickly realises that he is not a natural at video games but he resolves himself to improve in the next two weeks.
He soon gets into a terrible routine of spending most nights awake till sunrise, playing away frantically.
And within two weeks, he feels brave enough to go online and begin a multiplayer game, testing his skills in a team. He only improves quicker after that, completely engrossing himself in the console and barely leaving his room except to grab food and pee.
It’s on another lazy night that Jimin goes online and joins a team and sees JeonJungkook0901 on the screen. He freezes.
Jeon Jungkook. Star football player, a year older than Jimin and probably the most popular guy in his school.
Not one of his bullies, thankfully but he plays football with some of them. And he could not be more opposite to Jimin.
Luckily, Jimin chose the username puppykitty13 as he is smart enough to keep his name out of his username (he cannot say the same about Jungkook). It crosses his mind that it might not be that Jungkook but Jimin is relatively sure that Jungkook’s birthday is in September as he usually has crowds of people congratulating him when they return to school after summer.
It just can’t be that much of a coincidence.
His suspicions are confirmed when their game starts and Jungkook speaks, his familiar tone crackling over Jimin’s headset.
Jimin stays completely silent, not daring to speak even though he is certain Jungkook has no clue who he is and has never spoken to Jimin in their whole time at school.
Instead he just uses his developing skills to help their team, despite the team’s overall lack of skills other than Jungkook. When their team loses, Jungkook doesn’t hesitate to tell the team that they were all shockingly bad.
But then he does hesitate, “Except for you, puppykitty13 . You were alright.”
Jimin is shocked. He mumbles out a thank you as quietly as possible, thinking it would be rude to ignore a compliment.
And he thinks that will be it. But when he exits the game, he notices he has a friend request from none other than JeonJungkook0901.
He reasons it out in his head. Jungkook has no idea who he is anyway so if he accepts he could have an online friend to play with. And it’s not like he has to tell him his name or anything.
He takes a deep breath and clicks accept.
* * *
“Yah, we could have won that one.” Jungkook’s voice crackles through to Jimin, still catching him by surprise despite having been gaming with him for three days now.
It has been so much more fun having someone to chat to online, rather than just playing by himself to get better.
Not to say it hasn’t been weird as well. Jimin is caught in a conflict of knowing who Jungkook is and knowing Jungkook has no idea of that. It feels like he’s lying even though he technically isn’t.
“Wanna play another?” Jimin says, still unsure of what to say to Jungkook.
“Nah, I’m bored.”
“Oh, okay. Sorry I can leave you to-”
“No, no, I meant with Halo, you should get some other games so we can play those ones together.” Jungkook says, and his reassuring tone should not make Jimin’s face go warm but he’s sure he looks like a tomato right now.
“Um, I could probably convince my parents to get me a new one.” Jimin squeaks, voice breaking on the last word and causing more embarrassment to go shooting through him.
“You should get Resident Evil if you can! I can teach you how to play it as well.” Jungkook sounds so excited through the headset that Jimin resolves himself to ask for the new game.
His mom isn’t thrilled but his dad takes Jimin’s side when he asks and pointedly asks his mom how much she has spent on clothes this past month as a way of getting her to see reason.
So Jimin goes online on Friday, only two days after Jungkook mentioned playing a new game together and excitedly messages him saying he has it.
It’s not too long afterwards that Jungkook asks with an uncharacteristically shy tone if he can have Jimin’s number.
“So we can message about gaming and if each other is free without having to go on our Xbox’s.” Jungkook explains, “And we could… chat too. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about gaming.”
Jimin so desperately wants to say yes. His head is telling him it’s a bad idea. He is nothing like Jungkook and soon, Jungkook will realise that and decide he wants nothing to do with Jimin.
But his heart wants to continue with this slowly growing friendship. He feels content in a way he never has before and he knows it’s down to Jungkook.
So for the second time that month, he takes a deep breath and says yes.
* * *
Jimin cannot believe he is friends with Jeon Jungkook.
But here he is, lying on his bed at 10pm with his phone in his hands and texting away fiercely, grinning at his screen and anticipating what Jungkook will say next.
He gave Jungkook his number yesterday and told him to put puppykitty13 as his name because despite his growing bravery, he definitely didn’t feel prepared to tell Jungkook any of his personal details, just in case.
And then Jimin got in a fight with his mom earlier today so he told Jungkook he didn’t want to game tonight, expecting Jungkook to acknowledge it and move on to his own evening without a second thought.
But two hours later, they’re still texting.
All it had taken was Jungkook asking if there was a reason he didn’t feel like gaming tonight.
Jungkook:
Not that it’s a problem… But you can tell me, y’know.
Jimin:
I fought with my mom. So I’m not really in a good mood :(
Jungkook:
Oh, that sucks… I fight with my dad all the time too.
Jimin :
Really??
Jungkook:
Yeah, we don’t always see things the same way, it’s hard.
Jimin:
Like what?
I mean, don’t feel like you have to tell me, though!!
Jungkook:
No it's fine I don’t mind telling you.
I play football. And my dad is kinda known for also playing football. Which is great!! But he also has high expectations for me.
And he wants me to go to his old college in Busan but I want to go to Seoul. So we keep fighting about it. Cause I’ll need to look at applying soon.
Jimin:
That sounds really tough :( I know we haven’t known each other for very long but whenever you want to rant I am available!
Jungkook:
Thanks OJO
What about you and your mom though? Was the fight bad?
Jimin:
We fight about the same thing a lot too, mainly cause I want to be a dancer but she wants me to go into law like my dad.
Jungkook:
You dance?!? That's super cool :0
Jimin:
Yeah.. I’m not anything special though so that’s why my mom doesn’t want me to try and pursue it.
Jungkook:
Hey, don’t put yourself down. I bet you’re great! I think everyone should try and go after their dreams.
Jimin:
So is football your dream?
Jungkook:
Yeah I love it so much. Even though I was put into it cause of my dad I actually think I love it more than he did when he was younger.
But that makes it harder. Cause I want to succeed and I think Seoul is the place I could do that but I also don’t want him to think I don’t trust his judgement.
Ah sorry if I’m rambling. You probably don’t care about this.
Jimin:
No! Like I said you can rant to me any time ^ ^
Jungkook:
Cute emoji :P
And if Jimin squeals and kicks his feet like he has a crush, that’s a secret he’ll be taking to the grave.
* * *
Despite Jimin’s hopes and prayers, his summer break is nearly over.
For nearly three weeks, he has texted, gamed and even called Jungkook every single day.
And he doesn’t want to accept that it will all change once he is back at school and miserable again.
He can’t imagine feeling up to gaming or chatting to Jungkook very often after a day of torment and knowing that they go to the same school but live very different lives.
Plus, he’s feeling guilty about keeping his own identity a secret while not telling Jungkook that he knows exactly who he is.
The only remotely personal facts that Jungkook knows are that Jimin is 15 and goes to a private school in Busan like Jungkook does.
When asked about anything else, Jimin has tried to change the subject or ask Jungkook something instead to deflect.
Crazily, Jimin has even been considering telling Jungkook who he is and actually speaking to him at school.
The thought started to cross his mind when he considered whether it could help with the bullying if Jungkook were to know who he was and defend him.
Even just in three weeks, Jimin has gathered that Jungkook is a good person and nothing like some of the other athletic boys at their school.
But Jimin wants to focus on surviving the first day back before he decides if telling Jungkook could help in any way.
* * *
Jimin can’t help but glance over at Jungkook from his locker.
It’s nearly lunchtime on the first day back and Jimin is already feeling a bruise forming on his shoulder from where one of his worst tormentors, Hyunsik, pushed him into a door earlier.
Jimin watches as Jungkook grins at his friend but then his smile fades as soon as he turns away, looking like he’s lost in thought.
“I feel like I have to put on this persona at school.” Jungkook is telling him over the phone, his voice slightly muffled as Jimin huddles under his blanket.
“Why?” Jimin mumbles back, curious but not wanting to seem overly eager to hear more.
“Ah, I don’t know… I guess it’s because I’m kinda popular at school but I feel like other than sports, I don’t have anything in common with the people I hang out with.”
“Oh…” Jimin says, unsure what to respond with. It’s not like he can tell Jungkook about any friends of his as he doesn’t have any.
“I know this probably seems like I’m complaining about nothing-” Jungkook quickly adds, misinterpreting Jimin’s lack of response as judgement.
“No! I just don’t know what to say… I guess… Well, if you wanted, we could be friends?” Jimin says, holding his breath.
Jungkook laughs and Jimin’s heart sinks.
“We’re already friends, don’t be silly!” Jungkook is still laughing but he also sounds sincere.
A friend.
Jimin can’t quite believe it.
But as he subtly glances over at Jungkook, he can see what Jungkook was getting at.
Jungkook doesn’t seem as carefree as he often sounds on the phone.
And that’s when Jimin decides to tell him who he is.
So that Jungkook can maybe, possibly have a chance at being himself at school.
And so that Jimin can finally have a friend.
* * *
Jimin resolves himself to tell Jungkook the very next day because he knows that otherwise, he’ll probably chicken out.
He knows Jungkook has football practice after school and luckily Jimin’s debate team runs until ten minutes before the football practice ends so he will be able to head out to the field and wait for Jungkook there.
He has even found a way to hopefully reveal himself to Jungkook in a special way.
Only last week, Jungkook mentioned an energy drink that he can never find in the local supermarkets and stores in their area as it is more commonly stocked in Seoul.
Luckily his mom goes to a supermarket a lot further out than their small town as she claims their produce to be fresher. Jimin wanted to try the drink for himself so asked his mother to buy two cans which she did, not without telling him that energy drinks are not a healthy habit to get into.
So tomorrow, Jimin will go up to Jungkook and hand him the drink. He hopes that they’ll be alone because he thinks he might lose his nerve if he sees any of his bullies around.
Jimin spends the evening texting Jungkook, idly chatting about their first days back at school and when Jungkook says he wishes they could know each other in person, Jimin has to hold back a smile.
Tomorrow, they finally will.
* * *
Jimin hurries along the corridor to the field, clutching the red energy drink in his hands and hearing his heart beat louder with each step.
This is it.
He spots Jungkook as soon as he opens the doors, his hair tousled around his neck in an attractive way despite how sweaty and tired he is from practice.
The coach blows the whistle and sends the team off to the showers but Jimin knows this is his moment.
“Um.. Jungkook!” He says, calling across the grass as Jungkook starts to head in the direction of the lockers.
Jungkook turns, an expression of surprise on his face when he sees Jimin. Not judgement, surprise.
“Did you say my name?” He asks, walking over to Jimin slowly.
“Yes… Um…” Jimin flusters, suddenly completely unsure of whether this is a good idea.
“Hey, Jeon. Don’t stand too close to that fuckin’ weirdo.” Jimin hears from behind Jungkook and tears spring to his eyes. He can see Jongin, one of his bullies, is looking back at them intently.
This was a mistake.
“Um, here.” He says quickly, handing Jungkook the can before he changes his mind completely.
“What-” Jungkook looks at Jimin and then at the can and Jimin sees the realisation in his eyes and dawning comprehension of who Jimin is.
“JK, what are you doing? Is this spotty freak your boyfriend?” Jongin yells again and Jimin physically sees the way Jungkook recoils in response.
“I don’t want this. I’m not interested, sorry.” Jungkook says, handing the can back over to Jimin, his expression hardened.
He knows. He knows and he’s still reacting this way. He's not who I thought at all... He's just like them.
Jongin has called some of the other boys out and they’re approaching slowly, calling Jimin all the usual names and asking Jungkook why he’s still standing there.
Jungkook remains silent, hearing all the awful words and not saying anything. Even though he knows that Jimin is puppykitty13.
“I hope you get treated like this in the future and realise how badly it hurts.” Jimin says, finding the courage to look up at Jungkook and seeing the shock reflected in his eyes.
“Oh no, JK. He’s hurt.” One of the boys from the field shouts, the rest bursting into laughter.
“Wait-” Jungkook says but Jimin turns around and runs, putting his dancing stamina into good use by running all the way through the school and only stopping when he gets to the entrance.
Jimin runs up the stairs when he gets home, barely able to see from the tears blurring his eyes. He flings himself onto his bed and lets himself break down, face red with anger as he screams into his pillow.
“I HATE YOU, JEON JUNGKOOK.” He cries properly then, exhausting himself to the point that he just lies in bed for half an hour, tears tracking down his face silently.
As he stares off into the distance, noticing the way his heart is clenching just from looking at his Xbox, a notification on his phone goes off.
His heart drops but he crawls to his bag anyway and retrieves his phone.
Jungkook:
Hey
Wanna game?
It’s been a weird day.
Despite feeling like he doesn’t have a single drop of moisture left to cry, Jimin feels his eyes welling up again.
Why is Jungkook pretending that nothing happened? Why is he still messaging Jimin?
In a fit of rage, Jimin blocks Jungkook’s number.
Then he storms over to his Xbox and blocks Jungkook on there too. He deletes Halo and Resident Evil from his downloaded games too because looking at the familiar icons make his chest hurt.
He deletes their message thread, deletes any trace of Jungkook being in Jimin’s life.
He doesn’t feel relief when he’s done, he feels empty.
But at least he took control.
Jeon Jungkook is no one to Park Jimin anymore.