Chapter Text
Platonic relationships
are those characterized by friendship and lacking romantic or sexual aspects, in contrast with romantic relationships. They are named after Plato and reference his writings on different types of love.
“Geez, Jeongguk, stop staring at my brother.” Namjoon kicks Jeongguk’s shin under the table.
Namjoon is Jimin’s step-brother and Jeongguk’s best friend. It wasn’t his first time coming to the Park Residence but it was definitely his first time coming here with Jimin home.
Jimin is a figure skater, and after winning the gold medal for Seoul, he flew home and spent time with his friends. Besides, university is almost starting, and Jimin still has to earn his degree.
Jeongguk watched as the younger boy laughed among his friends. He tilts his head as his lips curve into a smirk, “Sorry man, but I’m seriously considering breaking the bro code.” He says, eyes never leaving Jimin.
“Oooookay, we lost him, guys.” Namjoon sighs, shaking his head. The boisterous laughter coming from their own circle of friends caught Jimin’s attention, and when the figure skater turned his head to their direction, he briefly locked eyes with Jeongguk.
Jeongguk broke eye-contact and gave Namjoon a playful pat on his arm, “I’m joking, he’s your little brother. Plus, I’m seven years older than him.”
Hoseok chimes in, “Yes, but he’s already twenty one—”
Namjoon placed his hand over the accountant, “Don’t give him any ideas.” He begs. “Jimin is off-limits. He has a whole career ahead of him, don’t shift him off-focus.”
A soft chuckle leaves Jeongguk’s lips as he listens to his friends bicker. When he looked back to steal a glance, he caught Jimin already looking at him. The younger one quickly averts his attention back to his group of friends.
— two years later —
Jeongguk plays with the pen, twirling it between his fingers as he reviews the provisions of another service contract.
Jeon Jeongguk, 30, holds the position of CEO and Chairman of Jeon Seol Group of Companies—a corporate behemoth housing Golden Publishing, Inc. and Jeon Yul Security.
A soft beep makes Jeongguk peel his eyes off the document he was reading. The security system alerts him of someone activating the biometrics. He doesn’t even have to check the cameras to know who it was, but he takes the remote and turns the flatscreen across his desk to reveal the grid view of all the cameras. It automatically zooms into one of the panels.
Only one other person has access to his penthouse.
Jimin holds a finger heart up towards the CCTV with a smile while the biometrics scans his features. When the camera shows Jimin entering Jeongguk’s penthouse, the CEO turns the flatscreen TV off. Not long after, the door to his office opens.
The younger one sets his duffel bag and skates on the leather couch before striding his way towards Jeongguk. He placed the documents and the pen on the table as Jimin walked around his desk.
Jimin climbs on the CEO’s leather swivel chair, straddling the older one for a while before letting his legs swing on either side. He heaves an exhausted sigh as he wraps his arms around Jeongguk and hides his face in the crook of his neck.
“Long day?” Jeongguk asks, voice soft as he gently rubs Jimin’s back.
“Mm.” Jeongguk feels Jimin’s chest vibrate as he hummed. “My day was so dragging, I had a huge fight with my mom, and I barely had energy for skating practice.” The younger one adds, lips brushing against Jeongguk’s skin as he mumbles.
“We can talk about it when you feel better. Do you want me to prepare you a bath?” Jeongguk offers, hands gently patting Jimin’s back.
Slowly, the younger one leans back a little and rests his palms on the CEO’s chest. His lips pressed in a thin line as he thought about the hot bath. A soft laugh leaves Jeongguk’s lips when he sees Jimin’s cute dimples.
“Tempting.” Jimin says before resting his head on Jeongguk’s chest and moving his arms to wrap around the latter’s waist. “But I like it better here, bugging you while you work. Just hold me until I fall asleep.” He says.
Jeongguk laughs, but he lets Jimin hold him. “I have a lot of papers to review and sign tonight.”
“Hnnnng. Then read and sign whatever while I’m on your lap.” Jimin whines, eyes closed as he holds the CEO tighter. “It’s not like your eyes and hands are full.”
Although he couldn’t see his face, Jeongguk just knows Jimin is pouting. He cards his fingers through Jimin’s soft hair, fighting the urge to plant a kiss on the younger’s forehead.
“You’re going to wake up with a stiff neck if you sleep in this position.” Jeongguk whispers.
“Okay, then I promise I won’t fall asleep. I’ll just be resting my eyes. Ten minutes tops.” Jimin reasoned out, his voice growing softer by each word.
Jeongguk leaned his head back so Jimin could lie on his chest comfortably. “Okay, ten minutes tops.” He gave in, sighing as he closed his eyes. He needed the shuteye too, anyway.
Skinship was normal for the both of them. Jeongguk let Jimin bug him, hug him, cuddle him; but he is his best friend’s younger brother, and Namjoon made it clear that Jimin was off-limits, knowing Jeongguk’s dating habits.
So, whenever Jeongguk felt even a single butterfly flap its wings in his stomach, he was quick to dismiss the feeling and exile the butterfly away.
“Your brother will have my head on a spike.” Jeongguk would joke.
Jimin would roll his eyes, “What are you so worried about? I don’t like you ‘like that’. You’re my comfort person, it’s different.” He’d retaliate. It is true, though, that Jeongguk is Jimin’s comfort person.
Namjoon is a famous novelist, and ever since he’s made a name for himself, he’s almost never home. He spends his time traveling, taking little pieces of inspiration from every country he visits, and doing tours for book-signings and fan events; and because of his constant absence, Jimin could only turn to Jeongguk for guidance, advice, and a shoulder to lean on when he was overwhelmed.
For Jeongguk, the young figure skater is his breather from the hustle and bustle of leading a company. Jimin would drag him out of his office for some quick snack, a movie, or sometimes as simple as a stroll in the park, Jeongguk’s personal favorite. “You’re not a robot. Don’t be a loser.” Jimin would tease him.
However, Jeon Jeongguk was a huge spoiler.
Oh, he absolutely loved to spoil Jimin. Everything Jimin needs? Everything he wants? The CEO would have it handed to Jimin, wrapped in a ribbon and served on a silver platter. He even gifted Jimin a bracelet he caught him ogling once, earning a light scolding from the younger one.
“Jeongguk!” Jimin drops the honorifics, he never really uses them, “I was just looking at it!” The CEO watches him pout, but he knows Jimin is grateful. “Good, now you can look at it all you want and wear it around your wrist, it suits you.” Jeongguk laughs.
“Thank you, it’s beautiful, really. But you can’t impulsively spend a thousand dollars on everything I lay my eyes on.” Jimin tells him, doll eyes staring back at Jeongguk. “Jimin, I earn ten times the amount I paid for this by the minute.”
The older one takes the box from Jimin’s hand. “Plus, nothing I do is impulsive, sweetheart.” Jimin swore his heart skips a few beats at the nickname, but the CEO doesn’t know that.
Jeongguk proceeds to wrap the delicate jewelry around Jimin’s dainty wrists. “See? It was made for you. Perfect.” He meets Jimin’s sparkling eyes, “Priceless.”
Everyone could easily mistake it as a romantic gesture; but don’t misunderstand.
Every act is nothing but platonic.
Jimin wakes up in Jeongguk’s bed, but when he shifts his gaze to the other side, he finds it empty. The room was dimly lit, just like how Jimin liked it. The figure skater realized he was still wearing his clothes from training. He knows that Jeongguk hates it when clothes worn outside touch his bed, but he made an exception for Jimin.
So he strides his way to the older one’s walk-in wardrobe, the lights automatically illuminating the place when he walks in. He settles for one of Jeongguk’s favorite sweaters. The sleeves only let his fingertips peek out, while the hem of the sweatshirt hung loosely a little above mid-thigh.
The clock on Jeongguk’s bedside table read 2:38 A.M.
Oops, a little more than ten minutes, maybe I overdid my nap.
Jimin’s stomach grumbles. Right, dinner. Instead of going back to bed, Jimin quietly slips out of Jeongguk’s room.
As he headed to the kitchen, he noticed the door to Jeongguk’s office was left partially open. So Jimin takes a peek.
The CEO was already wearing comfortable clothes, yet he continued to read the files before him. His eyebrows furrow, lips moving a little as he quietly reads the provisions in the contract and proposals. He was in his natural element.
Jimin huffs. As attractive as it was looking at Jeongguk doing what he does best, he worries for him. Jeongguk didn’t seem to know how to rest. For others, it might not be obvious how hard the CEO works. He is hands-on, he is the very reason Jeon Seoul Group of Companies surpassed all others and became a corporate behemoth.
The younger one closes the lid of the pot so the water boils faster. He decided to make food that wouldn’t make much noise while he prepared them, he didn’t want to disturb Jeongguk. The wall clock reads 3:02 A.M.
Jeongguk didn’t look like he was planning to sleep soon, so Jimin decided to brew some tea for him. He walks to the cupboard and grabs Jeongguk’s favorite mug.
“Oh.” He whispers to himself when he sees the water already boiling. Absent-mindedly, he grabs the lid with his free hand.
The sound of glass breaking jolts Jeongguk out of his focus.
Jimin.
He quickly gets up and out of his office, and when he gets a view of the kitchen, he sees Jimin staring down on the floor with guilt painted all over his face.
Jimin accidentally let go of the mug when his free hand came in contact with the piping-hot lid.
Guilt washed over him. He broke Jeongguk’s favorite mug. The mug Jeongguk had ever since he started working for his grandfather in the company, while he was a regular employee. It was valuable to the CEO, said it reminded him to always keep your feet planted on the ground. A little memorabilia of how he worked his way from the bottom to the top, allowing him to learn the company inside out, the greatest lesson his grandfather ever taught him.
“Don’t move.” Jeongguk’s voice draws Jimin back to attention. The younger one feels Jeongguk’s big hands holding his waist firmly, lifting him and gently putting him down to sit on the kitchen island.
Jeongguk does a quick scan of Jimin’s body, cheeks briefly heating up when his gaze fell on Jimin’s exposed thigh. He swallows. “Are you hurt anywhere?” He asks.
Jimin shakes his head slowly.
A soft smile finds its way to Jeongguk’s lips. “Good. Don’t come down, you might step on glass.”
“I’m sorry.”
Jeongguk turns to him, “It’s alright. It’s just a mug.” Thumb caressing the apple of Jimin’s cheek.
“It’s your favorite mug, it’s valuable to you.” Jimin fidgets with the hem of the sweatshirt. Jeongguk’s eyes follow.
God. He mentally cursed. He wasn’t used to seeing this much skin from Jimin, just within reach too.
Jeongguk sighs, trapping Jimin by planting his palms on the cold marble. He gives Jimin an assuring smile, “And you’re my favorite person. So don’t come down until I clean everything up. I don’t want you accidentally stepping on glass. You’re valuable to me.” Jeongguk says, using the same words Jimin did.
The words leaving Jeongguk’s lips took Jimin’s breath away, and he felt fire ignite in the pit of his stomach.
Jeongguk was about to push away to clean up the mess, but Jimin lightly grabs onto the CEO’s shirt, making him turn his attention back to the younger one.
I know I shouldn’t play with fire, I promise I won’t. Jimin thinks.
Slowly, he wraps his legs around Jeongguk’s waist, pulling him closer as he does. Jimin rests his hands on the other’s shoulder.
Jeongguk feels his heart thrumming in his chest. His lips only a few inches away from the younger one. He placed his hands on Jimin’s hips.
“Jimin, you know we shouldn’t.” The older one says under his breath, but Jeongguk was unsure of the words that left his mouth.
Jimin nods the slightest, voice coming out as a whisper. “I know.. but this will mean nothing.. just.. totally platonic.” He convinced Jeongguk and himself as he smiles, breath tickling the latter’s lips. A little squeeze met the CEO’s heart.
“I just want to kiss you, that’s all..” Jimin quietly says.
I won’t play with fire, no. The younger one reminds himself again.
I’ll just dance around it. He concludes before leaning down to kiss Jeongguk, who returns the action immediately, hands gripping on Jimin’s waist as he deepens the kiss.
It was a dangerous dance.
Jimin felt Jeongguk’s hands under his sweatshirt, fingers lightly grazing his bare thigh.
And Jeongguk was willing to dance with him.