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The crying seems to get louder by the minute and it’s non-stop, it has been for the past 10 minutes. Jungkook has done it all, tried feeding the boy, playing with him, offering him sweets, putting on cartoons for him to watch, reading his favourite book… Nothing works!
“Eomma!” The little boy cries out, calling for his mom who’s obviously not in the house.
Jungkook feels like he’s pretty close to also starting to cry and calling out his own mother. Why did he think baby sitting would be a good idea again? Maybe he should go back to working at the fast food restaurant. Except he can’t, ‘cause he was fired for defending his friend Taehyung from the rude customers.
“Hey, Hyunjae, look at this cool game,” Jungkook tries, showing the crying boy a silly game on his phone. For a moment it seems like the colorful screen catches Hyunjae’s attention but not even five seconds later he starts crying again.
“I want eomma!” He yells, picking up a toy and throwing it on the floor.
Jungkook sighs but before he can try to calm down the little boy, he hears a knock on the door.
Please don’t be the Kangs , he mentally begs. Or I’ll be fired on my first day.
As soon as he opens the door, a familiar face greets him but there’s no time to say anything because Hyunjae runs to the man standing on the door.
“Mimi hyung!” Hyunjae cries as he opens his arms for the man to pick him up.
“Hey, little one. It’s okay,” The man carries him, holding him tight, which seems to immediately calm the little boy down.
“Please stay,” Hyunjae hiccups, face hidden on the man’s neck and little hands grabbing his shirt as if he’s afraid the man will just disappear.
Jungkook watches everything wide eyed. The man just hugged him and he immediately stopped crying while he’s been trying so hard with toys, TV and phone games.
“I’m right here, hyung will not leave, okay?” The man’s voice is so soothing even Jungkook is a little more relaxed now. Maybe he understands why Hyunjae was immediately comforted by the man’s presence.
“Hi,” Jungkook finally says and it’s like the man is seeing him for the first time because it’s clear in his expression that he also recognizes Jungkook.
“Jungkook, right?” He asks, offering Jungkook his hand for him to shake.
Jungkook nods. “Yeah.”
“I’m Jimin,” the man introduces himself as if Jungkook doesn’t know who he is.
Jungkook could tell him that he knows his name is Jimin and his surname is Park. Or that after the first time they met, Jimin made such an impression that Jungkook looked him up on instagram and had a hard time not liking all of his pictures. Or that the only reason he still goes to the club where they met is to see him again since the club is an hour away from his house and it’s not even that good.
But he doesn’t say any of that.
What he says instead is:
“Yeah, I remember.”
Jimin smiles and it’s so different from the smiles he’s given Jungkook before, it’s softer and brighter and Jungkook likes it a lot. Not that he didn’t before but this time just feels… different.
“Do you mind if I…” Jimin points to the inside of the house and Jungkook immediately steps aside, letting him in.
The living room is very messy since he had been trying to calm Hyunjae down by giving him all of his toys which the boy just tossed aside. Jungkook starts picking up the toys and putting them in the box next to the TV while he hears Jimin’s calming voice talking to Hunjae and making the little boy laugh. It’s a relief to hear that sound instead of all the crying. When he finishes cleaning up the living room, he looks at Jimin sitting on the couch with a sleepy Hyunjae in his arms.
Damn, how does he do it?
“He doesn’t accept strangers well,” Jimin explains, probably noticing Jungkook’s questioning gaze. “He gets very fussy when his parents aren’t here and I’m guessing you’re the new babysitter?”
“Yeah,” Jungkook sits down on the other side of the couch and turns to face Jimin. “I was actually here a few days ago to meet the Kangs and spend some time with Hyunjae and he was actually great and seemed to like me, but I guess it’s different now that his parents aren’t here,” he explains.
Jimin nods and offers another one of his soft smiles. Jungkook really is having a hard time understanding that this Jimin and the guy he’s hooked up with at the club a few times is really the same person. The Jimin he met at the club is like a demon, half lidded eyes pulling everyone in to watch his hips swaying on the dance floor, glossy lips inviting you for a taste that Jungkook has tried and left him wanting more.
But this Jimin, the one sitting in front of him with Hyunjae asleep in his arms is exactly what he would think an angel looks like. Kind eyes, soft smiles, perfect skin, he knew Jimin was pretty but right now that’s the closest Jungkook has ever been to having his breath taken away by someone’s beauty.
“Jungkook?” Jimin’s voice takes him by surprise and he realizes this whole time he’s been shamelessly staring at him.
Jungkook clears his throat, praying that the warmth he feels on his face isn’t noticeable.
“Sorry, I was just… thinking.”
Jimin is quiet for a few seconds, his eyes don’t meet Jungkook’s when he starts talking again.
“It’s weird meeting like this, huh?”
He doesn’t need to explain more, Jungkook understands what he means. He nods.
“I guess we’re not used to seeing each other in the real world,” Jungkook adds, getting a laugh in return.
“Yeah, guess not,” Jimin agrees. “Do you live around here?”
Jungkook shakes his head. “Up in Haeundae.”
“Oh,” Jimin doesn’t hide his surprise. “It’s a little far.”
“It’s only 20 minutes by car,” Jungkook explains, but Jimin shakes his head.
“Not from here, from the club.”
Crap.
“Yeah, it’s…” he clears his throat again and shifts in his seat. “It's a bit far but it’s a nice club so it’s worth it.”
He can’t tell if Jimin falls for his lie, but as he keeps his eyes glued to the floor he can feel Jimin’s eyes on him. He doesn’t dare look back, he has a very strong feeling Jimin would be able to see right through him.
“I’m going to put Hyunjae in bed,” Jimin announces.
Jungkook watches him go upstairs and hears Hyunjae’s sleepy voice and Jimin starting to sing to put him to sleep again. He should be doing that, he feels bad Jimin is spending his night taking care of a child that Jungkook is being paid to babysit.
When Jimin comes downstairs again Jungkook is finishing cleaning the kitchen. At least Hyunjae got to eat dinner before he started crying and rejecting Jungkook. He looks back to find Jimin leaning on the kitchen door watching him. He can’t quite tell what the man is thinking but he likes the way Jimin is looking at him. He likes it a lot.
“Hi,” he says quietly, earning a smile from Jimin. “I’m so sorry about that,” he points upstairs.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind at all,” Jimin answers, still standing by the door.
“Still, I should be the one babysitting him.”
“You are, I’m just giving you a hand. It’s really okay,” He gestures with his hand for Jungkook to let it go, so he does.
“Can I maybe offer you a cup of coffee as a thank you?”
Jimin nods, looking very pleased. “That you can!”
Jungkook is thankful that Jaehyun Kang, Hyunjae’s dad, showed him how to work the coffee maker before he left with his wife to have dinner. It’s a fancy coffee maker that Jungkook has never seen before so he still struggles a bit, especially when Jimin starts talking again.
“So, Jungkook who lives in Haeundae and babysits for the Kangs,” he says jokingly. “Is babysitting your main job?”
The coffee maker starts making the coffee and Jungkook sighs in relief before turning to Jimin.
“I’m actually a junior in university and I’m doing a summer internship, but since it’s unpaid, here I am,” he shrugs.
Jimin rests his arms on the counter and leans forward, interested in the conversation they’re having.
“What are you studying in uni?”
“I thought it was my turn to ask a question,” Jungkook jokes.
Jimin smiles sweetly, but shakes his head. “It’s not.”
Jungkook laughs, but Jimin doesn’t.
“Oh, you’re serious,” he doesn’t try to argue, he promptly answers Jimin’s question. “I study Visual Arts and Film.”
That seems to peak Jimin’s interest ‘cause he leans closer to Jungkook standing on the other side of the counter. He smiles and this time, Jungkook realizes, it’s not the sweet smile from before, it’s more like the mysterious smiles Jimin would give him in the club.
“So Kim Jungkook is an artist,” he offers and it makes Jungkook laugh.
“Kim Jungkook?”
Jimin shrugs. “Lee Jungkook?” He tries again.
Jungkook shakes his head.
“Park Jungkook?”
“Nope, and it’s not Choi either,” he jokes, knowing Jimin is using the most common Korean surnames. “It’s Jeon Jungkook actually.”
Jungkook puts a mug with steaming coffee in front of Jimin and gets a gente smile in return.
“What do you like the most about the course, Jeon Jungkook?” Jimin sits back but still seems very interested in Jungkook’s answer.
Jungkook takes a sip from his own coffee as he thinks about it for a moment. He likes how invested Jimin seems to be in this conversation and doesn’t mind answering his questions at all. He just hopes he also gets to ask Jimin questions since everything about him intrigues Jungkook.
“I guess photography, drawing and film editing,” he finally replies.
“An artist indeed,” Jimin raises one eyebrow and seems very pleased with the answer.
The sound of keys on the door gets their attention and a few seconds later both Jaehyun and Ha-rin Kang enter the kitchen. They greet Jimin excitedly, seeming very happy to see him there.
“I didn’t know you were coming today,” Ha-rin says.
“Yeah, I had to bring something for my mom and when I was leaving Hyunjae saw me through the window and asked me to come and play with him and Jungkook,” the way he lies is so convincing that for a second even Jungkook believes it’s what happened. “You know how I can never say no to him so here I am.”
The angelic smile is a contrast to the look he gives Jungkook for a brief second before turning to the Kangs again.
“How was dinner?”
“Oh, it was great! We went to that new Italian restaurant in Saha,” Jaehyun answers. “Did Hyunjae give you any trouble, Jungkook?”
Well.
Jungkook shakes his head because if he says otherwise they’ll know Jimin lied before.
“No, sir, he was great!”
“Perfect. Thank you so much for your help,” the man answers, giving Jungkook the money they agreed on before they left to have dinner. “Can we call you next time we need help with Hyunjae?”
Blood rushes to Jungkook’s face and he looks down to hide it. “Of course. I’d be happy to help again.”
Jimin coughs and Jungkook looks at him, noticing he was actually laughing and trying to hide it with a cough. He narrows his eyes at him, but Jimin just flashes him a charming smile.
They say their goodbyes to the Kangs and leave the house.
Outside, Jungkook turns to Jimin, unsure of what to say but unwilling to say goodbye.
“So, I take it you don’t live here?” he asks, recalling the conversation Jimin had with Ha-rin inside the house.
Jimin shakes his head. “My parents live here,” he points to the house right next to the Kang’s.
“Would you like a ride home, then?” Jungkook offers. “In case you’re going home, of course.”
“Yeah, I’d love to!”
It’s quiet as they walk to Jungkook’s car parked a block away. Although it’s not uncomfortable in any way, Jungkook would like to get to know Jimin more or let him ask more questions and watch his reactions like they were doing before. But the longer the silence stretches, the harder it is to find something to say. He watches as Jimin types his address on the GPS and then presses okay. The woman’s robotic voice tells him to go straight and then turn left.
“Hm, thanks for helping me,” he finally says.
Jimin turns to look at him, but he keeps his eyes on the road ahead.
“I thought the coffee was your way of saying thank you.”
The smile in his voice makes Jungkook laugh. “It was, now I’m actually thanking you for lying to the Kangs about me and Hyunjae, you really didn’t have to.”
“Should I have told them I found their only child sobbing and screaming while their babysitter looked helpless?”
Jungkook puts one hand in his chest and feigns a shocked expression.
“I did not look helpless!”
“Please, you looked like you were on the verge of breaking down,” Jimin says with a loud laugh. “If I hadn’t walked in you would have probably started sobbing with Hyunjae.”
Jungkook lets out a nervous snort because as much as he’d like to deny, that’s exactly what he was feeling when Jimin showed up, he just had no idea it was so obvious for other people to see it too. He can feel Jimin’s eyes on him but he doesn’t tun around, he’s just trying to drive as slow as possible without being obvious because the GPS says they’re only fifteen minutes away from Jimin’s house and he’s not ready to say goodbye.
“I’m happy it happened, though,” Jimin says and this time Jungkook can’t help but look at him.
“Enjoyed my misery, did you?”
The sound of Jimin’s loud laughter rings through the car and Jungkook feels like he could melt.
“Not because of that, silly. It’s because it gave us the chance to get to know each other,” he says and suddenly speaks quieter. “You know, at a more personal level instead of… at a club.”
Jungkook looks briefly at Jimin and catches his blushing cheeks. He likes it so much more than he should.
“You mean you didn’t get a chance to get to know me while you had my dick in your mouth in the club’s bathroom?”
He feels a light punch in his arm and Jimin laughs again.
“Look at you showing your true colors. And here I was thinking you were this quiet and shy guy,” Jimin shakes his head disapprovingly.
“I am quiet and shy,” Jungkook argues. “Just not so much with guys who've literally seen me come.”
“God, you’re the worst!”
The GPS announces that the destination is right ahead and Jungkook feels a sudden sadness. Should he invite Jimin to go somewhere? Will he be at the club this weekend? He didn’t even get the chance to get to know Jimin the way he wanted. Is it too late now?
You have arrived at your destination.
Stupid GPS!
Jungkook stops the car in front of a nice building and Jimin unfastens his seatbelt.
“Do you have–”
“Would you like–”
They say at the same time and then laugh.
“I’m sorry, go ahead,” Jungkook says, gesturing for Jimin to continue.
He looks at Jungkook for a few seconds before talking again.
“Do you have any plans for now?”
Jungkook doesn’t hesitate before answering – almost yelling – that he does not have any plans. Jimin laughs.
“Would you like to–”
“Yes!”
Jimin gets out of the car and waits for Jungkook to park it on the other side of the street. When Jungkook joins him, he grabs him by the hand and pulls him inside the building. The ride up the elevator is quiet. Jungkook can feel his hand getting a little sweaty and he hopes Jimin can’t feel it. When they get to the last floor, Jimin guides them past all the doors to a flight of stairs. Jungkook just follows him quietly.
When Jimin opens the aluminum door on the top of the stairs, Jungkook looks around the spacious rooftop. It’s quiet and very windy, the city lights shine bright under the cloudy, dark sky.
“It’s beautiful here,” Jungkook says, getting closer to the railing to watch the breathtaking view.
“Yeah, this rooftop is the main reason I decided to stay in this apartment building,” Jimin tells him. “Sometimes I sit here for hours, it’s so quiet and peaceful I get completely lost in my own thoughts.”
Jungkook loves when Jimin stands close to him, their arms touching as if the place is so crowded they have to squeeze together.
“So, I assume you have a nice job to be able to rent an apartment in this nice building,” Jungkook looks at the man next to him.
Jimin smiles gently. “Nah, I’m a nepo baby.”
They both laugh but then Jimin gets serious.
“I’m not even joking, this used to be my grandma’s apartment which she left for me in her will,” he explains.
“So your grandma was rich? That’s not being a nepo baby.”
“I work at my dad’s company,” Jimin admits, looking at Jungkook with a funny expression.
Jungkook nods. “Oh wow, Park Jimin is a nepo baby.”
A few seconds go by before Jimin turns to Jungkook and looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
“I never told you my surname,” he says and Jungkook understands what he’s done.
Fuck.
He’s gonna lie. He should lie, right? Park is such a common surname, he can just say he took a guess and got luck. Yeah, that’s definitely what he should do.
Except Jimin beats him to it.
“You looked me up!” He accuses and Jungkook feels the blood rushing to his face.
It’s dark, maybe he can’t see it , he thinks, but the look on Jimin’s face tells him otherwise.
“What did you find out about me, Jeon Jungkook?” Jimin teases, getting even closer to Jungkook.
Trying to come up with words proves to be very hard when Jimin is so close. The wind is making his eyes look glassy and there’s a hint of lipgloss on his lips. His perfume seems to transport Jungkook back to the times they made out, even with all the smells inside the club, Jimin’s scent still seemed to pull Jungkook into his aura.
“Your instagram,” Jungkook confesses.
“Why didn’t you follow me?” There’s a hint of annoyance in his voice and the cutest pout on his lips.
“Because then you would know I was stalking you.”
“Oh, stalking?”
I have got to shut up!
“Innocently, I promise,” Jungkook rushes to explain.
“Hmm, okay,” Jimin taunts. “And did you like my pictures?”
Jungkook doesn’t realize what Jimin is really asking, so he just shrugs.
“No.”
The look on Jimin’s face takes him by surprise. Just then he understands the question.
“Wait, no! I did, of course I did!”
Jimin looks skeptical.
“How could I not like them?” Jungkook continues. “You’re so pretty and so fucking sexy. The night I found your instagram I–” he stops talking, suddenly realizing he was going to overshare and embarrass himself.
But of course Jimin won’t have it.
“You what?”
Jungkook sighs, looking around, desperately trying to find something that might distract Jimin and make him forget about what he just said, but the rooftop is just as peaceful as before. Jimin’s eyes are glued to Jungkook’s face, watching his expressions and clearly trying to read behind the mask Jungkook is trying to put on, but it’s useless.
“I may have… touched myself thinking of you.”
Jimin raises both eyebrows, not a trace of shock or disconcert on his face.
“That’s it?” He asks, catching Jungkook by surprise. “I’ve touched myself thinking of you hundreds of times.”
“Hundreds of times?” He yells before Jimin shushes him and bursts out laughing. “What do you mean hundreds of times?”
Jimin doesn’t stop laughing, which leads to Jungkook laughing along, confused, bewildered, amazed… so many feelings taking over him.
“Not hundreds, of course, that’s a hyperbole,” Jimin explains and then gets closer to Jungkook and lowers his voice. “But many times.”
Jungkook feels like he’s glowing, he can’t wipe the smile off his face. The guy he’s been pretty much obsessed about has just told him he touches himself thinking about Jungkook. That’s better than listening to his favourite song.
“I can tell you really liked hearing that,” Jimin teases.
Jungkook grins. “That’s an understatement, Park Jimin.”
There’s a moment of silence between them, the city lights are shining bright but they don’t pay them any attention, too lost in each other’s eyes. Although they’re close, Jungkook doesn’t think they’re close enough. He wants to get drunk on Jimin’s scent again, feel the softness of his lips and the way he draws Jungkook in like no one has ever done before.
Jimin is the one to break the silence with a quiet laugh.
“For two people who have hooked up so many times, we really shouldn’t be acting like two awkward teenagers,” he says.
Jungkook agrees. “And yet, here we are.”
Jimin takes a step closer. It’s a small one, almost as if he’s trying to read Jungkook’s reaction.
“I really liked getting to know you better,” Jimin says. “We’ve never had the chance to do it when we meet at the club.”
Gosh, Jimin just knows all the right things to say. Jungkook thinks about making a joke but he doesn’t really want to. Jimin is being honest and he wants to do the same.
“I kind of have a confession to make,” he whispers. Thankfully Jimin is close enough to hear it. He doesn’t reply, just waits for Jungkook to continue. “You’re actually the reason why I keep going back to that club even though it’s an hour away from my house.”
There’s a big grin on Jimin’s face when he nods.
“Yeah, I kind of had a feeling you didn’t go there because the club is nice,” he jokes. “But I’m glad you kept coming back for me. And also that out of all the children in Busan you ended up babysitting my parents’ neighbors’ son.”
“Look at you getting all mushy,” Jungkook teases.
Jimin rolls his eyes dramatically. “You ruined it. Bye.”
He turns around but Jungkook quickly holds his arm and pulls him close, much closer than before. Their bodies are touching now, all it takes for Jungkook to kiss Jimin is leaning down a little and God knows that’s all he’s been wanting to do all night.
“You’re so fucking pretty,” he whispers before finally closing the space between them.
This kiss is different though, nothing like the hungry ones they’ve shared so many times at the club. It’s slow and sexy and their tongues explore their mouths like it’s the first time they’re kissing. Jungkook loves the way Jimin holds onto his shirt as if he’s afraid Jungkook will just go away suddenly and how his fingers scratch his scalp in the same rhythm of their kiss.
They don’t see time going by as they share kisses and confessions. Their hands wander, touch warm skin, discover what they like all over again.
A few heavy drops of rain start falling and Jimin grabs Jungkook’s hand and pulls him inside. This time they stop in front of one of the doors.They’re both wet from the rain and Jungkook can see the same smile he has on his face reflected on Jimin’s face.
“I don’t want to say goodbye now,” Jungkook confesses.
They’re close again, Jimin’s back is against the door while Jungkook’s body almost covers his. Jimin gets on his tiptoes to kiss Jungkook softly.
“Then don’t,” he whispers, lips against Jungkook’s. “Stay with me tonight.”
Jungkook can feel goosebumps shooting up and down his body. The way Jimin is breathing him in, inviting him to finally get to know all of him tonight. He watches as Jimin opens the door and takes a step back, entering the apartment before offering his hand for Jungkook to take.
“Will you stay? “ He asks again.
There’s no hesitation when Jungkook holds the hand Jimin extended to him.
Of course he’ll stay. There’s no other place he’d rather be.