Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

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Jimin’s legs were almost giving out on him, making him limp through the entire way to his apartment. He internally groans and curses himself for not accepting a ride from one of his friends, Kim Taehyung and Jung Hoseok, and preferring to walk home from the bar where he celebrated his twenty-ninth birthday. Also, his clothes are way too inconvenient for a middle of the night stroll through the cold autumn streets—a button up satin shirt, skinny leather pants and his favorite high heeled chelsea boots. But he was still able to convince (tire out) his friends, saying a small walk would reduce the effects of alcohol, which was what he needed the most, and it’d be okay; all that with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes while he tried to hide the goosebumps that ran down his spine from the cold and not make eye contact with Hoseok’s reprimanding ones.

After a lot of insistence from Jimin’s friends and reassurance from Jimin, they let him go home by foot. Sometimes he could be way too stubborn for his own good. He refused even when he was offered by Min Yoongi, Hoseok’s boyfriend and the nicest and most chill guy Jimin has ever met, and, in that moment, definitely the most sober one in the group. But he was exactly the kind of problem he wanted to avoid: spend the last few minutes of his birthday with a couple by his side, let alone Hoseok and Yoongi, who fit together so well; or listening about a couple, because Taehyung would definitely babble about the new girl he’s seeing, how perfect and quick-witted she is and how she was able to steal his heart with a single look.

But don’t get him wrong, Jimin loves his friends, would take a bullet for them. And at pretty much any other time he’d happily do anything that meant spend more time with them. But there’s something about turning 29, getting older, and still being alone while everyone around him seems to be settling down that made him uncomfortably lonely, with a racing mind and feeling like crying.

During his early twenties, Jimin didn’t mind being by himself, since, at first, he and his friends only wanted to focus on university and to try to become successful in life. He did his military service right after finishing high school, graduated college at 24 and eventually found a job at a law company, where he worked tirelessly to become the respected lawyer he always aspired to be as early in life as possible.

He’d still visit his family back in Busan during holidays and would occasionally go out with Taehyung and Hoseok when the entire trio was free for a night out. But, during this time, Jimin didn’t have a lot of partners, and none of them were close to becoming something long-term. I don’t have time for this type of relationship right now , is what he used to tell himself, always trying hard to sound cold and determined, even though deep down he knew what his heart longed for the most. And though it wasn't completely untrue, the reality was too hard to swallow: he was so used to his hectic routine that he was scared of change, even if it was a single small part of it, all because of the fear of an imaginary mess that he wouldn’t be able to organize.

With that, the seasons changed and the years passed, Park Jimin grew old like the autumn leaves but never feeling like he truly bloomed like the cherry blossoms in the beginning of spring. It’s like everyone else’s lives kept evolving, but he was still stuck, like there was a force keeping him from moving on with his life, from taking the next step. And, as a consequence, he got into a mid-life crisis way too early in life, with his mind filled with regrets and frustrations.

Jimin lets out a load of grunts when he turns a corner and spots his apartment building. It wasn’t even a twenty minute walk, but it felt like it had lasted an eternity because of the pain he started feeling on his feet from the start. His jacket is not enough to keep him from the cold, his hands and arms feel numb, the warmth from the alcohol in his system is long gone.

While still walking and with his briefcase on one shoulder, he grabs the backpack he took to work so he could change outfits for his birthday to look for his keycard, now stuffed somewhere between his work clothes and plan B outfits—not his smartest idea, since he’s not the best at multitasking, especially with the amount of alcohol he had consumed. He curses at himself during the entire process, feeling breathless after finally snatching the keycard. He flips the card on his hand, adjusts the backpack and the briefcase back on his shoulders and, with the clinking of the charms attached to his backpack, he almost misses the tiny cries that sounded way too much like a kitten.

His body goes cold and he stands still, a small pout on his lips, furrowed brows and big, concerned eyes look around for the source of the noise. But the street is completely silent and, in a way, everything seems to be darker than normal. Feeling like he had instantly sobered up, he starts to walk slowly so he doesn’t miss any noise, since his heart is beating loud enough, and so he doesn’t trip on his own feet while trying to turn his phone flashlight on.

It lights up the streets for a moment, but Jimin doesn’t see anything but fallen leaves on the ground. Because of that, he considers the fact that it was probably his mind tricking him so he could become more alert of his surroundings. Because now he can’t hear anything but the noise from a busy street a few blocks down.

But as Jimin makes a move to pocket his phone and go home, he hears it again. And this time the cries don’t stop and it really sounds like a kitten. His heart falters and his mouth goes dry, almost feeling like crying too. He leaves all his stuff on the floor, taking with him only the phone with the flashlight still on. In the middle of his internal turmoil, he even dares to let out a few meows and ma-hah , just like he had seen on the internet, to calm down the kitten he had no idea where it was yet. 

The high pitched cries lead Jimin to an alleyway a few steps away between two tall buildings. The sinister vibe of the place doesn’t unsettle him like it would in any other occasion, since he’s more worried about finding the baby cat. Some of the lights from both buildings are still on and Jimin can listen to low, muffled sounds coming from a few apartments. He asks himself if people couldn’t listen to the cries or were just heartless enough to not care.

He spots the kitten on the top of one of the dumpsters that were lined up in the alley, the baby starts meowing louder as soon as it spots Jimin and his eyes fill with tears just as fast. The cat has white fur and black and brownish-orangish spots all around and is inside a dirty cardboard box with small newspaper rips that hardly fit its little body. He turns off the flashlight and pockets his phone, trusting the street lamps lights to help him get the cat and get out of there. But as his hands went up to scoop the kitten up, a cold breeze hits them both.

“Just a second, baby,” he promises the cat, feeling agitated and waving his hands in front of the animal like it could understand everything he was saying.

He turns around and speeds back to his backpack lying in the middle of the sidewalk, snatches the first thing he sees—a white Chanel sweater that he would cry about later. He kisses it apologetically, stares up at the cloudy sky in silent prayer for nothing in particular but everything at the same time, and runs back to the kitten in the dumpster, as if it wasn’t him who could barely walk a few minutes prior.

“Please, don’t cry,” he pleads, wrapping the sweater around the cat and holding it like it’s a baby, it hasn’t stopped meowing, though now his cries are a bit lower. “Shhhh, you don’t have to be scared. No, no, no, I’m here . I’m not your mommy, but I’ll take care of you.” His voice breaks. “I promise.”

He has to put the kitten down on the ground to pick up his stuff and he does it in record time, afraid the cat will run away. But the kitten stays in place, looking up at Jimin and meowing nonstop.

“You don’t have to worry, sweet thing,” he says after picking the baby back up. “You’re not gonna be alone anymore, hm? Jiminie will take care of you.”

The apartment building Jimin lives in is pet friendly, so it wasn’t like he was breaking a rule or committing a crime by bringing a cat in, but he didn’t want to get any complaints from neighbors because of a kitten crying at almost one in the morning. But it had thankfully stopped meowing by the time they arrived at the lobby, having decided to fall asleep curled up in the sweater in Jimin’s arms. It probably felt like it was safe enough to rest, Jimin supposed, with his heart warm and feeling proud of himself.

As he arrives at his apartment, the adrenaline he had been feeling while rescuing the kitten starts to wear off, so his entire body decides it’s time to start aching again and he realizes how much he needed to shower and do his skincare. While placing the kitten down on the living room rug by the coffee table, he laughs to himself, thinking that, right after he left the bar, he was sure he would arrive home, throw his stuff on the nearest corner, take his clothes off and go straight to bed. But now his reality was the furthest from it, and the only thing on his mind was how the hell he was supposed to take care of a cat, a baby one at that.

He spends the entire shower thinking about the questions he was going to ask Naver about what he should know, at least for tonight, about how to take care of a baby kitten. Jimin makes sure not to take too long in the bathroom, since he has no idea what could happen to the cat in the living room. He didn’t want it to somehow get hurt or feel lonely or scared. 

He comes back to the living room to find the cat awake, with his big, dark blue eyes staring right back at him. With the first meow it lets out, Jimin is quick to pick up the baby and leaves his Chanel sweater on the floor, feeling his heart hurt a bit for kind of ruining one of his favorite pieces of clothing, but not enough to make a big deal out of it. He has more important things to worry about at the moment.

He makes a makeshift bed with a cardboard box that would give the cat plenty of room, just in case it likes to sleep stretched out , he thinks to himself, and some soft rugs and hand towels he doesn’t use often anymore. He puts the cat on it and carries it with him to the sofa, laying down and setting the bed with the cat on his stomach, left hand holding the box and right one, his phone.

He types quickly into the Naver search bar to look for articles about what are the first things I should worry about when rescuing a baby kitten at night and there are no vet clinics open . He opens the top one, praying it has all the answers he’s looking for.

Make sure it is not injured in any way. He had looked for any signs of bruises while walking home and didn’t find anything, and judging by how calm the cat seems to be now, he figures everything must be fine. He mentally checks this off.

Baby cats can’t regulate their body temperature. Keep the kitten warm by wrapping it in a soft towel or blanket. He stares at the cat curled up in the middle of the makeshift bed, puts his phone down and grabs one of the towels to wrap around the baby. The kitten meows in the beginning by the sudden disturbance, but stops as soon as it understands what is going on, letting out throaty happy noises. Ensure the heat source is gentle. He gently pats the cat’s head. Check.

Dehydration is a big concern for baby cats, especially if they’ve been away from their mothers for too long. Offer kitten formula if available or give them water using an eyedropper. Okay, he has an eyedropper, easy. They need special kitten formula (Please, never offer milk! It might upset their little stomachs.) and should be bottled-fed if very young. Jimin stares at the cat, he has no idea how young the baby is, he could be one or six months old and he’d have no idea. But its ears are still a bit floppy and it is very small. So definitely still a baby. If you don’t have the formula available, you can wait until the morning. But the cat needs to be monitored for any signs of hunger. Kittens under 4 weeks need to be fed every 2 to 3 hours.

“Seems like you’re the only one who will be getting some sleep, hm?” he tells the kitten, who now looked like it was fast asleep, petting one of its ears with this thumb and pointer. “But you should rest, yeah. We’re going to find a vet first thing in the morning. But you don’t have to be scared, hm-kay? I’ll be there with you.”

After almost dozing off on the couch while reading cat related articles, Jimin limps back to his bedroom for the night, not feeling like waking up the next morning feeling any more pain than he was already going to. He places the kitten bed right by his own so he could check on it easily. He wishes the cat a goodnight and falls asleep, but not before praying to the universe that the cat and everything else would be alright.

ᓚᘏᗢ

“Jimin-ah! Why are you up so early? I thought I wouldn’t hear from you before noon. Is everything okay?” Hoseok says from the other side of the phone. Jimin can hear muffled noises in the background, he knows he just interrupted one of Hoseok’s dance classes, but he also knows he is the only one who would be available on a Saturday, so early in the morning, at 8 am. Taehyung is probably deep into dreamland, considering all Jimin’s calls weren’t picked up.

PARK JIMIN

I know I called you, like, six times, but don’t worry. I’m completely fine. I’ll talk to you later.

Attached picture.

Is what he sent Taehyung, with a selfie of him smiling and with one of his thumbs up—because he knew Taehyung would probably consider calling the police after seeing the amount of missed calls—before calling the second and last person who could help him right now.

“Hey, hyung. I’m sorry I disturbed you, but it’s kind of important and Taehyungie didn’t pick up any of my calls.”

“Jimin-ah, you don’t have to apologize. Are you okay? Do you need me to come over?”

“Oh, no, hyung, you don’t have to, really. I just need to know what vet clinic you take Mickey when he’s here in Seoul with you?”

“Vet clinic?” Hoseok laughs. “Baby, if you’re feeling sick, I’d recommend you go to a hospital.”

“Ha-ha.” Jimin deadpans, but now he has a smile on his face. He had felt nothing but anxiety since the moment he woke up. The kitten thankfully seemed fine every time Jimin checked on it during the night, but his heart wouldn’t be at ease until a veterinarian told him there was nothing to worry about. “But seriously, I need to find a vet, even if I was actually sick, I’d have to stop by a vet clinic first. Long story.” Hoseok hums.

“I’d like to hear about it later. I’ll send you the address and you send me updates. Take care.”

“Thank you, hyung. I will.”

He ends the call, pockets his phone, grabs the box he had put the kitten in earlier and heads out of his apartment. As soon as he exits the elevator, his phone vibrates with Hoseok’s text with the vet clinic’s address. Only when he’s finally in the Uber, he shoots Hoseok a thank you text with a picture of the cat, getting a message full of different hearts, cat and love related emojis seconds later.

Luckily, Whiskers & Wags Veterinary was a few minutes away from Jimin by car, tucked away from the busiest parts of Hongdae, small and cozy. The waiting room has a calm atmosphere, with the faint sounds of dog barks and conversation and a relaxing jazz tune in the background. There are already two people waiting when he arrives, both with dogs, which Jimin gives a small, nervous smile to, hoping they don’t pounce on him if they find out he has a cat with him, though they seemed to pay him no mind.

But the dogs aren’t the only things making him feel uneasy, with his heart a mix of nervousness and discomfort. As a lawyer, Jimin is used to being in charge and prepared, but right now, he’s feeling uncertain and vulnerable. Now, standing in the waiting room with not even a proper carrier for the kitten, just an old cardboard box with old pieces of cloth to make it warm, he feels a bit out of place, not sure what to do next. He knows this isn’t something he can figure out only through online research, and this only makes his anxiety worse. He’s a bit out of his element—this isn’t the controlled environment of a courtroom, and he’s not used to being the one asking for help.

After a brief wait, his name is called from the end of the hallway, his heart misses a beat and he stands up quickly, with wobbly legs. The veterinarian who’s there waiting for him is young, definitely not the one Hoseok mentioned that usually takes care of Mickey. He has long black hair tied up in a ponytail with the excess tucked behind his ears. He adjusts his black-framed glasses and Jimin spots a few tattoos from under his long sleeved scrubs. But even though all his other features are so nice, the kind, sparkly eyes and warm and easy smile on his face are the only things that Jimin truly needs at the moment, making his heart a bit more at ease.

“Hi, there, you must be here with the little one.” He bows and points at the cat in the box and his smile grows bigger and his eyes go wider and sparklier seeing the kitten. Jimin nods quickly, looking up with big eyes and rosy cheeks at the vet. “I’m Dr. Jeon Jeongguk. Please, follow me.” 

Jeongguk leads them through a hallway off the waiting area to an examination room. It’s small but functional, with everything a vet would possibly need. A small scale for weighing pets is tucked in a corner, there’s a counter with various tools and one wall is filled with posters with general pet anatomy posters, reminders of vaccines, wellness checks and paw-print decals. There’s also a desk—where Jeongguk is sitting now, with a computer, some framed photos of him and a white fluffy dog and other types of clutter.

“Park Jimin, right?” he asks after Jimin sits on the chair in front of the desk, Jimin looks at him and nods, before looking back at the kitten. Jeongguk adjusts his glasses and types something down on his computer. “How’s your kitten doing today, Jimin-ssi?”

Jimin gulps. Such a simple question and he feels like he has no idea how to answer. He feels like back when he was a kid, when he’d go to the doctor and needed to have his mom tell them his symptoms.

“Uh, yeah… I’m not sure.” He looks down at the cat and it stares right up at him. Jimin rubs the back of his head. “It’s my first time with, you know, a pet. I just found it yesterday night and… I just wanted to make sure it’s okay. I can’t tell you how it’s acting because I’m not exactly sure what’s normal and what’s not.”

Jimin is usually very confident, always knows exactly what to do and what to say, especially in his professional life. But here, in unfamiliar territory, he feels awkward and silly, even embarrassed for having to admit he doesn’t know anything about the kitten or cats in general. He hears Jeongguk hum and type a few things on his computer. When the typing sounds stop and he looks back at the veterinarian, he’s looking right back at him, smiling reassuringly.

“It’s completely normal to feel a bit unsure at first, especially with an animal so young. You don’t have to worry, Jimin-ssi,” Jeongguk comforts with kindness, his voice soothing. Jimin relaxes slightly, feeling his cheeks get warm and muttering a small thank you . “Now, let’s take a look at this sweet baby.”

As Jeongguk examines the kitten, Jimin tells him more about how he found it the previous night, imagining it’d give him more insight on what specific exams the cat should do. Jimin watches every single detail closely with a strange mix of worry and fascination. He’s not only anxious for the kitten but also captivated by the way Jeongguk handles it with the utmost care while also explaining to Jimin what each examination is for, switching his voice for when he’s talking to him and talking to the cat.

When Jeongguk rambles on about the genetics of three-colored cats, Jimin learns the calico kitten is a female. Jimin has to force himself to not pick one of the names that instantly pop up on his mind, or to stop imagining her in pink bows, sleeping in a cutesy pink bed or lounging in a pink and purple cat tree by the living room window, not wanting to become more attached than he already is. If he ends up putting the kitten up for adoption, which he most likely will, he wants to prevent a less brutal heartbreak.

“She’s a little underweight, but nothing too serious. With the right care, she’ll be just fine, you don’t need to worry.” Jeongguk smiles with, again, the sweetest and most reassuring smile someone has ever given Jimin. He sighs, relieved, most of his anxiety completely leaving him, but his heart is still beating a bit fast. Jimin scoops up the cat in his arms, forgetting about the cardboard box for a little while to cuddle the kitten for the rest of the consultation.

“That’s really good to hear. I was kind of panicking for a second there, I’m sure you could tell.” Jimin laughs, feeling his cheeks hurt from all the embarrassment he’s feeling since he got in the room.

“It’s understandable. First-timers always have a lot of questions, a lot of worries… but you’re doing great,” he assures gently and Jimin deeply appreciates it. Jeongguk stares at both of them for a bit, smiling sweetly, before adding. “Looks like you care a lot about her already, Jimin-ssi, and so does she.”

Jimin looks down at the kitten lying peacefully in his arms. He scratches one of her ears and smiles.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect to, I think… but I guess I’m attached.”

By the way Jimin mutters it, it’s not hard to sense all the big emotions going through him at the moment, so Jeongguk chooses to give him a bit more encouragement, though more subtly this time.  

“That’s how it starts. You take care of them and they find a way into your heart before you even realize it.” This earns him another shy smile from Jimin, who quickly looks up at him and gazes back at the kitten again.

Jeongguk takes some time typing down a few things for Jimin. When he explains some of them from time to time, just like he did at the examination table, Jimin pays attention to every single word that comes out of his mouth. When he is not saying anything and is just typing away, Jimin loses himself in thought, but never stops scratching the cat’s head.

“Here are some tips on feeding, cleaning and other general and special care, since she’s so young. I’ve written down a few brands of kitten formulas that I recommend, kitten food for when she’s a bit older, litter… all the essentials you need to start, so we can get you all set up for the next few weeks,” he says, handing him the printed piece of paper. Jimin almost goes cross-eyed skimming through the words in the paper, but vows to himself he’s going to read and study every single one of it as soon as possible, even though Jeongguk still talks him through each thing he wrote, giving him the basics of kitten care. Jimin listens intently. “The results of her fecal exams won’t take more than a few days to arrive. Is there a phone number or email I can send them to? Along with the details of any other treatment we might need to give her.”

“It can be my personal email.”

“Perfect! Jimin-ssi, it was really nice to meet you and your kitten. She's a sweetheart and I’m sure she will be fine in no time.” Jeongguk gets up and bows a few times and Jimin is quick to do the same. As Jeongguk goes to the door to open it for Jimin, he puts the cat back in the cardboard box, now feeling a little stupid for carrying her around in such a horrendous thing. He adds a carrier to his mental list of things he should be getting her as soon as possible.

“No, thank you so much, Jeongguk-ssi. You helped me more than I could hope for, really, thank you.” Jimin bows for the hundredth time, feeling his cheeks go red once more. Jeongguk just shakes his head, his sweet smile leaves his face not even one.

“I’m only doing my job, Jimin-ssi, but I’m happy to help. You can head to the front desk to schedule our next appointment in two weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing you two again. I’m certain she will come back better, since I’m sure you’ll take good care of her.”

“Thank you.” Jimin bows again, and he swears Jeongguk’s smile grows bigger, showing his teeth. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks, Jeongguk-ssi. Thank you.”

“Have a nice weekend, Jimin-ssi.” Jeongguk bows again. And that’s the last thing Jimin sees before darting out of the examination room. Not too fast to be noticeable and make him look like an asshole, but fast enough so Jeongguk doesn’t see his cheeks combust, because what the hell was that?

Were veterinarians always so cute with their patients’ owners? Is that a rule they must follow? Because neither Hoseok nor Taehyung ever told him about how cute their veterinarians were when taking Mickey and Tannie to the doctor. Or were Jeongguk’s attentiveness and cuteness just side effects of examining a cat as cute as Jimin’s? Because there was no way he was supposed to be leaving that room feeling his heart beating this fast.

He refuses to believe it was because of anything other than that. Admitting that it could maybe be because Jeongguk is extremely attractive and definitely the type of guy Jimin likes would be too humiliating, and he would have to consider things he just doesn't want to think about too much. Like the fact that he’s been a bit love and touch-starved for too long, and it’s been even longer since he felt butterflies in his stomach by a simple, kind smile.

Jimin tries to laugh it off as soon as this thought flashes through his mind. Jeongguk is clearly naturally charming and he definitely doesn’t have any idea about it—and that honestly just makes it worse for Jimin. He is certainly not the first, and won’t be the last, person to fall victim to Jeongguk, his big sparkly eyes and bunny teeth.

Also, Jimin has eyes . He knows an attractive man when he sees one, and he can appreciate them. Though sometimes a bit too much. But so what ? Some of them hit harder than others, that’s just how things are, how life is.

Jeongguk is just an amazing professional, and that's how Jimin’s thoughts about him should stay. He even said so himself. I’m only doing my job, Jimin-ssi. The ease Jeongguk communicated with Jimin, with soft eyes and kind smile, making him feel understood, is just part of the profession. He’s probably had to handle a handful of panicked pet owners before. The fact that Jimin hasn’t felt this assured by someone other than his friends and a few family members is just an added detail, one he doesn’t feel like pondering on for too long.

After a few long, deep breaths to calm down his racing heart and with the cardboard box safely in his arms, Jimin walks to the reception desk to pay and schedule the kitten’s next visit. He gives one of the receptionists, a dark haired girl named Yunjin, the list of things Jeongguk gave him, hoping to get some more advice and get all the products listed in the clinic.

The first thing the kitten gets is a light purple and pink soft-sided carrier, cute and pink just like pretty much all the stuff Jimin buys for her: a bottle, litter box, a scoop and a mat, a bed with a few soft blankets, some toys, a scratching post, a brush, a first aid kit and a collar. He chooses to buy a stainless steel food bowl and water fountain, so unfortunately he couldn’t get those in a cute design. He also gets the appropriate food and cleaning supplies in case accidents happen. All thought through so her future owner won’t need to worry about getting her the essentials, since he basically has everything now.

Yunjin helps Jimin carry all the new stuff to the Uber car who’s driving him home. He bows to her a few times, feeling a little embarrassed at her giggles, because she can’t stop pointing out, amused but good-naturedly, how she never expected a man like him—dressed up so elegantly and sophisticated with his button up shirt and fancy boots—would end up buying the entire stock of baby pink cat supplies the clinic had. She wishes him good luck on taking care of the kitten, assures him he can call them whenever he needs help and waves them both goodbye until they turn around a corner.

 With pink and achy cheeks, smiling dumbly at himself and feeling like he had just survived the hardest part of his entire life so far, Jimin figures that, though he still has a long way to go, this wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. He looks down at the kitten curled up in the corner of the carrier, staring right up at him, and his heart is finally at ease.

ᓚᘏᗢ

“She’s so adorable. I feel like I’ll just burst into tears at any second,” Hoseok cries, trying to hold himself back from snatching the kitten from Jimin’s arms and showering her with love, because even though she’s cute, he’s still terrified of cats.

More terrifying than that, though, was the way Jimin was staring up at them, not even realizing how protective he was towards the kitten. But even though his stare was intimidating, Taehyung and Hoseok were finding it extremely amusing. Both of them were crouched down to be eye level with the unnamed kitten, who was staring right back at them, curious, and they’d coo at every single movement she made, Jimin included.

“I know, right? I just want to eat her up in one bite like sushi,” Taehyung muses and Jimin scoffs, always finding the way his friend talked about certain things to be a little weird. “Man, I’m fighting my cute aggression so hard right now, someone has to hold me back.”

“Huh, I hope no one has to,” Jimin fires back with a frown on his face. Taehyung and Hoseok share glances, wide eyes and lips pursed, before bursting into giggles.

“Easy there, papa bear,” Taehyung says, getting closer to Jimin just to scratch the cat’s head and then pet his friend’s head. “You looked ready to file a lawsuit, I guess the lawyer instincts kicks in even for your little baby girl.”

Hoseok falls to the floor laughing, scaring the kitten a little bit and making her cower for a second in Jimin’s arms, watching Hoseok on the floor with wide eyes. Jimin can’t keep a straight face for too long before starting giggling too, because Taehyung and Hoseok have been cracking jokes since the moment they showed up at Jimin’s apartment later that Saturday.

 A few hours before Taehyung and Hoseok had arrived, Jimin had finished setting up everything he had bought for the kitten, so they had instantly noticed the signs of a pet. Jimin’s apartment, which was usually a little too tidy and serious, now had a few scattered toys, a small scratching post and a cozy little pink bed for the kitten. So before asking the more serious stuff, like what the hell happened to their friend, Taehyung and Hoseok had shared glances and smirks, thinking of all the teasing they’d do to Jimin.

“Look at this, the man’s been a dad for, what, not even a full day? And there’s already a cat empire forming here. Jimin-ah, are you sure you found only one kitten?”

“When’s the housewarming party for your cat? I’m assuming you’ll have the whole apartment arranged for her by the end of the weekend, cat-proofed and everything.”

“Next thing we know, he’s going to be wearing matching suits with the cat.”

“So who’s going to be the godfather? We gotta take this cat thing seriously.”

“I bet you already have a relaxing cat music playlist saved on your phone. But don’t worry, we won’t judge–much.”

“I can already picture it: you watching cat videos with your cat. It’s the circle of life, man.”

Though it was quite surprising for Hoseok and Taehyung at first that, when they arrived, they didn’t find Jimin in his office, nose deep in something work or law studies related, or in his living room, with the lights off and curtains drawn, rotting on his couch watching a drama—enjoying a day off work the best way he knew how—it was obvious to both of them and everyone else who saw Jimin today how attached he already was to the cat, even though it had not even been 24 hours yet. Because of that, they definitely didn’t buy any of the “All these cat things are just so her future owner doesn't have to worry too much about getting her new stuff” thing Jimin had told them.

But even if he hadn’t said any of that, even if he wasn’t as put together as he actually was, not knowing much about what to do as a new cat dad, Taehyung and Hoseok could tell that, just like everything he puts his mind to, Jimi was hell-bent on making sure the kitten was as comfortable as possible. And, honestly, she was having the time of her life, being treated like a princess. Jimin rambled on and on about how he had found her, laughed at the poorly made cardboard box bed he created so she could stay the night in, listed every single examination she went through at the vet and the things he bought for her and how he managed to give her a bath with the shampoo the vet had prescribed, almost crying seeing her trembling while he was drying her off.

The two friends listened vehemently to everything, laughing and humming at the right times, waiting for the perfect moment to ask the most important question, the one that would lead them to a very significant topic, one Jimin seemed to want to avoid at all cost. 

“What are you planning on naming her, though? That’s the only thing you didn’t tell us yet,” Hoseok asks when they’re all sitting on the couches in the living room and the kitten is off Jimin’s lap, analyzing all her new stuff in the corner of the room, Taehyung nods.

Jimin hesitates. On one hand, he wouldn’t be able to answer because he can’t decide between all the names that flash through his mind in a second; on the other hand, he wouldn’t be able to answer because he really has no idea if he’s really keeping the cat. He can’t deny how excited the idea of having her makes him feel, everyone has told how attached he seems to be already. But the excitement quickly turns into anxiety if he thinks too much about it. Naming her would just make things more real, not only the excitement but the anxiety as well, and it would also just possibly leave him with a broken heart, and he tells them just as much.

“Who said there has to be any heartbreak?” Taehyung asks, visibly confused, with furrowed brows and a huge pout on his face. Jimin sighs deeply.

“You know why, Taehyung-ah, I work too much—”

“Because you want to, though,” he interrupts. “Those people at your law firm are practically begging you to take at least a week off, you probably have hundreds of vacation days because of how much you work after hours.”

“Ugh, don’t be dramatic.”

“I’m not, though”

“Yes, you—”

“Jimin-ah,” Hoseok interrupts, voice firm, and the two youngest shut up immediatly. Jimin slumps on the couch and stares at the ceiling, not wanting to hear his friend going into hyung mode . “Maybe the hundreds of vacation days are a stretch, we’re in Korea, after all.” He side-eyes Taehyung. “And you still, like, visit your parents sometimes, so you do take some days off,” he adds, raising his pointer finger like he’s going to list a bunch of things, but he quickly closes his hands again, “but is that all there is to it? To your life? Just work, work, work, sometimes go out to see us, work again, go back to Busan for a few days?”

Jimin takes some time to think about it, even though he knows Hoseok is not wrong, it is all there is to his life. But he still mentally walks himself through his routine, thinking he’d find something more if he’s lucky, but he finds himself empty-handed.

“I… guess?”

“Is that what you want?”

Jimin pouts, and even if he already knows the answer to it, he takes a while to answer. 

“No.”

“Well? Then what’s the problem?” 

“I don’t know, Hobi hyung.” Jimin takes another deep breath. “I guess I’m just scared… What if I work fewer hours to take care of her, start a new routine, and I suck at it?”

“Uh, that’s your opinion—but I beg to differ, actually.” Taehyung raises his hand. “You literally gave us a presentation on how to take care of a cat like Hoseok hyung and I aren’t literally dog owners.”

“I mean, I guess you can say I own a cat, if you know what I mean,” Hoseok interrupts, wiggling his brows. Jimin smiles small.

“Okay, one: fucking ew . Two: don't interrupt me, this is important,” Taehyung says, pointing a finger at a giggly Hoseok before looking back at Jimin, finger now aimed at him. “You talked about how you found her and all the stuff you bought for her like you were presenting a court case. And right now you’re probably really trying to hold yourself back from looking at more things to buy for her because of all the “future owner” shit you tried to give to us.” Hoseok snickers, nodding. “Jimin, baby, my darling, I love you. And we’re being so honest when we say all of this.”

“We’ve seen how you get every time we get on this topic, when we say how you should try something new, change things up a bit and all that. You get upset and say we don’t know how you really feel, and maybe we don’t, because I still can’t fucking understand you, but we’re your friends, Jimin-ah. We might not know how it feels, but we want to help you regardless.”

“Also, you always said you’re not actively looking for a change–because you avoid it like a plague, you tell us just as much, even though it’s something you know you want. But can’t you see? You’re running away from it, but it still showed up for you.”

“But what if I can’t handle it? What if it’s too much?”

“Honey, there’s not gonna be a single significant change in your life that’s not gonna feel like too much in the beginning,” Hoseok says.

“But what if I have to give her up in the end?”

“But what if you don’t? Jimin-ah, you didn’t even try ,” Taehyung answers. “If it’s not something you can see yourself in long term—because you absolutely can give up on something after you’ve tried it, you can say you’re fostering her for now and will put her up for adoption after she gets all her shots and treatments done. Who knows, maybe her adoption papers will have your name on it in the end.”

“But I’d hate it if it doesn’t work out,” Jimin admits. It’s not surprising to his friends to hear him say this, since it’s something that he has told his friends and himself a lot of times before giving up on something he’d like to try out. “I’d feel like I have failed her.”

“Jimin-ah, she’s not going to feel that way, so neither has you. God knows what could’ve happened if you didn’t find her yesterday night and take such good care of her since then. I mean, look at all the nice stuff you’ve bought her” Hoseok says, stretching out his arms and twisting his body around. “Look at how committed you are to making sure she’s okay. Even if it doesn’t work out and you have to give her up for adoption in the future, you’ve already done so much.”

“And I bet if she could speak Korean, or if we could speak Cat, she’d be thanking you,” Taehyung adds and Hoseok and Jimin laugh. Jimin discreetly wipes his eyes. “Also, I’ve known you since middle school, Hoseok hyung knows you since college. We’ve seen you fail at so many things and, honestly, at least I can’t see how this is one of those times.”

“I can’t either.”

“What if it is, though?” Jimin asks them, and he knows they’re probably a little fed up with him at this point, but a lot of reassurance is never too much for Jimin.

“That’s why we’re your friends, though,” Hoseok says.

“And just like I said before, you basically gave us a presentation on how to take care of a baby cat. If it gets a lot for you at some point, you know you got us, right? I mean, I don’t know about Hoseok hyung, but I can safely say I now know a thing or two about cats.”

“Huh, I doubt you do.” Hoseok elbows him, laughing. “But even if we don’t, we’ll try to find a way, we’ll look something up on Naver or on YouTube, call the vet clinic for help or something.”

At the mention of the vet clinic, all the moments Jeongguk made Jimin feel a bit funny inside earlier flashes through his mind in a brief second. Though it’s not enough to dwindle down the anxiety inside of him. He has to bite back a giggle, pretending it’s because of his friends’ antics.

“Well, don’t get too attached then, I guess… I’m still figuring this out to see if it will work out. Who knows if I’ll even do this right.”

“Welcome to parenthood, Jiminie,” Hoseok says, going to sit beside Jimin on the couch to slide his arm around his neck. “Just wing it like the rest of us.”

“ As if he’s going to wing it,” Taehyung deadpans, then smiles small. “We just saw him give a speech about how to change the litter box’s sand and its different types a few seconds ago. We’re gonna see him teaching us about dogs soon too.”

“I have to say, though, I never thought I’d see the day.” Hoseok sighs happily. “Mr. 80-hour workweek with a kitten. You’re really going soft on us.”

“You two have been acting like I just turned into a cat whisperer,” Jimin defends himself, but he can’t help the smile blooming on his face. “It’s just… I don’t know… She needed me…”

“And you needed her…” Taehyung adds, whispering.

“Yeah… I guess. Maybe I needed this.”

Taehyung puts both hands up in silent victory and Hoseok snickers, pulling Jimin by the neck for an awkward hug. There’s a brief moment of silent contentment between the three of them. Taehyung and Hoseok feel really happy for Jimin and, knowing that taking the cat in could be the change that he needed, they would undeniably support him every step of the way. Because they knew it wasn’t just about having a pet—it was how the responsibility might pull him away from work, make him slow down, open him up for new things, and even rediscover parts of himself he’d been neglecting. She was the catalyst of something bigger.

ᓚᘏᗢ

It’s late in the evening and Jeongguk is still at the vet clinic, hours after the closing time. The clinic is dimly lit, quiet except for the hum of the machines and the soft sounds and rustling coming from the animals staying over tonight. Jeongguk sits at his desk, the soft glow of his desk lamp illuminates the scattered files and notes in front of him, which he tries to organize from time to time. He's leaned over, scribbling a few last details into a chart. It's not hard to notice the signs of exhaustion on his face, but he's focused all the same, with a tiny pout on his lips and furrowed eyebrows. Every now and then, he adjusts his posture and his glasses and stops to stretch his neck and shoulders, but he doesn't stop working.

The phone’s buzz beside him on the desk immediately ruins his focus. He stops with his pen up mid-air and, stead of trying to return writing, he starts to anxiously tap the pen lightly on the table, the rhythm the only sound in the room aside from the clock on the wall and his heart pounding in his ribcage. 

Jeongguk eyes his phone and it buzzes with yet another message, and he doesn’t have to look to know that it's probably from his family’s group chat. He also knows exactly what it will say. His father’s last message still lingers in his mind, haunting.

We don’t understand you, son. You could be doing so much more.

His father has always voiced his confusion and concern with Jeongguk’s career path, as if being a veterinarian wasn’t enough. In his mind, he could have joined the family business, followed the path that had been set for him long before he was even able to babble. But instead, he chose this: a small, often thankless job that had nothing to do with prestige or wealth. His family couldn’t understand why he dedicated so much time studying to take care of animals instead of people, why he’d rather spend his nights staying up late to look after strays instead of climbing some corporate ladder.

He was used to the weight of his family’s disappointment, but today it was heavier than usual. He didn’t have the greatest day at the clinic, a pet under one of his coworkers’ care wasn’t showing signs of recovery with the treatment it was under and Jeongguk got yelled at by one of the owners when he was trying to comfort and calm them down. He couldn’t blame them for reacting that way, but the feeling of failure pressed down on him more on these kinds of days. 

The room feels too small, too silent, the tik-tok on the clock making Jeongguk grow restless. He stands up and heads on the door into the dim hallway, the soft glow of the recovery room drawing him in, and he steps inside. 

At the far end of the room, Jeongguk spots a terrier lying down in a small crate, it was just recovering from surgery. He approaches it quietly and slowly so it doesn’t get startled, crouching down in front of it, he feels his heart calm instantly by the sight of the dog and the soft sounds and rustling coming from the other animals in the room. 

“Hey, buddy. Hanging in there?” The dog instantly wags his tail and Jeongguk laughs softly. He reaches his hand through the bars to gently scratch behind one of its ears, his touch careful and kind. “You’re doing good. You’re a good boy, yes, you are. You’ve got a good fight in you. You’ll be bouncing around in no time, Jeonggukie promises.”

For a moment, the weight in his shoulders seems lighter, the stress from earlier today and his family’s discontentment briefly forgotten. This is where he feels most at peace—taking care of animals that rely on him, doing the job he loves, no matter how little recognition he gets from people sometimes.

After a few minutes, he stands up again, walking around the other crates to check on the pets, even though he knows there are other people doing this job, so he doesn’t necessarily need to do it. He scratches a few ears and adjusts some blankets gently, always stopping to talk softly with a few of them who are awake and staring up at him.

As he works, he feels his phone buzzing a few times in his pocket, but he doesn’t stop to check it. Some of them might be from Mingyu or Namjoon asking if he’s already heading home, but he knows who most of them are from and what they’re probably saying. Something about how his brother and cousins are succeeding at their own jobs, some in the family business, or how his parents are still baffled on how he chose to work with animals. How come you could not even choose to care for other people?

Instead, Jeongguk decides to linger in front of the last crate, where a tiny cat is blinking slowly at him, looking sleepy and indecisive on whether it curls back to sleep or it keeps staring at Jeongguk, whose expression softens as he watches the animal. This , he thinks, is enough for me. Maybe his family will never understand, and that makes him want to bawl his eyes out if he thinks about it too much, because even though he knows he doesn’t need their approval to know and be where he belongs, he still loves them in a way.

Because of this, there’s a flicker of doubt that sometimes lingers in the back of his mind. A voice that makes him wonder if he’ll ever feel fully free of his parents’ expectations, or, if not, if he will be able to make them proud in one way or another. But, for now, Jeongguk shakes it off, standing tall and heading back to the break room, where his notebook lies open, waiting for him.

He sits back down and picks up the pen, deciding to push the thoughts of his family aside. For now, his focus is on his work, and the satisfaction that comes from helping all these animals should be enough to drown out these thoughts. He can cry about them later.

Chapter Text

It’s almost evening at Jimin’s law firm. The autumn sun is almost setting, casting a long, orangish light through the tall windows, warming up the office before the chill night arrives. The office is quieter now, since most of the firm’s employees have already left for the day, their footsteps and conversation fading as they trickled down one by one. Jimin is still sitting at his desk, fingers flying across the keyboard as he reviews the final details of a contract. And he’d normally relish the stillness, using it as an opportunity to bury himself deeper into his work without distraction.

But now, he feels different.

It was the first day since he found the kitten, two weeks ago, that he was back at work at the office. He had the opportunity to work from home, since he didn’t want to be away from the kitten when she was still so young. During the previous two weeks, she needed extra care and was still getting used to her surroundings, so being around was a nice thing. But he can only be away from the office for so long.

As his eyes skim over the document, he finds himself glazing at the clock on the corner of his computer screen more times than he’d consider normal. 17:55. He usually wouldn’t keep track of the time, lost in his work tasks. But now, his thoughts keep drifting back to the kitten waiting for him at home. It’s been hours  since he left her, and while he knows she’s fine, the nagging worry still lingers. She's probably bored by now. Maybe I should’ve left out more toys…

He shakes these thoughts off, forcing his attention back to the contract. There’s a small deadline tomorrow morning, but he knows he can finish this by tonight. And he tells himself that the faster he finishes this with no distractions, the faster he can get home. His mind, however, won’t cooperate and is only half into the game. His phone, inches away, buzzes faintly from time to time with motion notifications coming from the pet cams he had installed in the apartment. His fingers twitch toward it, tempted to check to see what she’s up to now, what corners of the apartment she’s decided on exploring this time.

But, instead, he forces himself to focus and powers through the last paragraph of the document, reading it twice and thrice to make sure every detail is perfect. His focus sharpens momentarily, the perfectionist lawyer in him refusing to let his work slip, no matter what distractions life throws at him.

Finally, with a sigh of relief, he clicks send . The document is gone, another task checked off of his seemingly never-ending list.

As the computer is turning off, he leans back in his chair and stares up at the ceiling with both hands on his forehead. The office is so quiet that the faint hum of the computer’s CPU is the only sound breaking the silence. In the past, he would’ve stayed here for hours more, moving on to the next case, preparing for the next meeting. But today, there's something else pulling him away, there’s something waiting for him at home. 

Deciding to go home is a decision that makes him feel weird, feeling like it would probably take some time until it stops leaving a strange taste on his tongue. A small part of him feels guilty for even considering leaving when it feels like there’s so much more to do. But another part—the one that pictures the kitten curled up, waiting for him—makes him stand up and gather his things.

As he slips his jacket on, one of his coworkers knocks light on the door, stepping in a second later with a curious look.

“Leaving already? It’s not even six thirty yet,” Sungwoon laughs, disbelief plastered across his entire face. His face turns serious in a second, pointing a finger up at Jimin theatrically as if they were in a k-drama “Who are you and what have you done to Park Jimin?”

Jimin laughs softly, adjusting his jacket. “I’ve got… priorities now, hyung.”

Sungwoon leans against the doorframe and raises an eyebrow. Jimin can see the engines turning inside his head before his face breaks into a wide grin.

“Ahhhh, the famous kitten. I don’t know why I forgot you spent the last few days on paternity leave.” Jimin barks out a laugh.

“Something like that, hyung. Let’s just say I’d much rather be at home with her than stuck here any longer than I need to be.” Sungwoon crosses his arms, nodding in approval.

“Good. You deserve a life outside these walls, y’know. Even if it’s just chasing after a cat.”

“Trust me, it’s a welcome change.”

They say their goodbyes and talk about getting some drinks after work someday—at Jimin’s, of course, since he’d probably be too worried about the baby he has back home to enjoy himself, Sungwoon’s words. Making his way to the elevator, he can’t help but feel a rush of excitement. The thought of seeing the kitten again makes him feel giddy. Wanting to be home instead of in the office feels almost liberating. For the first time in years, he’s learning to let go of work, even if it’s for a few hours.

His life had been a predictable cycle before she came into it—endless hours at the office, occasionally some time to go to the gym, a brief return to an empty apartment and then sleep, only to repeat it the next day. But now, that cycle has finally been broken. There’s someone new at home, someone who depends on him. And though the kitten is still small and fragile, her presence already feels significant, tying him to a new kind of responsibility.

As the elevator descends, he finds himself smiling dumbly at the idea of going home to the kitten. He pictures how, at the second she hears his steps on the hallway or the click of his swipe card unlocking the door, she’ll leave everything behind to greet him with a clumsy jump and a million meows—because since she learned she can meow, she’s never stopped, always eager to endlessly talk to Jimin. Thinking about her makes the weight of the workday slowly lift off his shoulders, replaced by a feeling of contentment, a kind of happiness he hadn’t realized he was missing. Going home to her makes the day feel more complete, more purposeful. 

Before heading home, Jimin realizes he hasn’t picked up anything for dinner and decides to stop by a supermarket on the way to his apartment building. Usually, he’d push through, maybe make do with some leftovers or make himself some instant spicy ramen with a boiled egg on the side, but tonight, he decides that, for once, he wants to have a more decent meal.

He finishes grabbing the essentials, the ones he always does when he is forced to stock his fridge, on record time, thinking too much on the kitten that’s waiting for him at home, probably wondering where the human that has been coddling her the last few days has been, and makes his way towards the check out. But as Jimin turns the corner, heading to the registers, something catches his eyes.

The pet section.

His feet slow almost comically instantly, his gaze drifting to the brightly colored packages stacked neatly on the shelves. There’s a whole world of cat stuff he had never bothered to notice before—bags of kibble, small, soft plush toys, scratching posts and treats. Jimin hesitates for a moment, his practical side yelling at him to just walk past it, that the kitten doesn’t need any of this stuff yet, she’s already got the basics at home, and she’s still too young for most of this stuff.

But curiosity wins. It won’t hurt to check these stuff out, get familiar with the brands. He strolls through the aisle, scanning the shelves, eyes landing on a small, bright package of kitten treats. It boasts “Salmon flavored! For growing kittens!” in bold letters, with a cartoonish drawing of a happy, purring cat. Jimin reaches out, almost without thinking, and picks up the bag, flipping it over and scanning the nutritional information on the back.

She’s a kitten, but probably still too young for these… But what’s the problem with saving them for later? He smirks and nods to himself, as if this is the best convincement he could come up with, as if he doesn’t feel extremely silly for buying things the kitten doesn’t even need just because the idea of treating her, spoiling her a little, is strangely appealing. Even if it’s odd how much he’s been thinking about her every second of his day, how much he’s been invested since day one, he tosses the bag into his basket, shrugging as if to justify himself. Why not? She will thank me later.

As he’s going to turn around to continue down the aisle, he spots someone he doesn’t expect to. Standing at the end of the aisle, holding a bag of dog treats, was Jeongguk. He was wearing ripped jeans and a baggy t-shirt, showing off the tattoos on his right forearm beautifully, his hair was down and a little wavy and he didn’t have glasses on. A far cry from the Jeongguk from the vet clinic.

His body instantly goes cold from the shock, face turning tomato red. Jimin almost considers running back to where he came from, to avoid the humiliation of facing the only person in this store that would probably know the treats in his basket are for cats way older than the one he has. The idea of saving cat treats for later feeling embarrassing now. But before Jimin could even think of turning around and fleeing, Jeongguk looks up and meets his gaze. A big smile spreads across Jeongguk’s face instantly and he waves at him.

“Jimin-ssi!”

“Ah, Jeongguk-ssi,” Jimin chokes out, bowing in greeting and trying to compose himself. “Small world.”

“I know.  I saw you deep in thought looking at the cat treats, thought I’d say hi later. Shopping for the little furball?”

Ah, so he saw me considering getting adult treats for my month-old kitten, great. Jimin coughs.

“Yeah, I swear I didn’t come in here to buy more pet stuff, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”

Jeongguk laughs, eyes sparkling, and tries to discreetly look at what Jimin has gotten for the cat—making Jimin feel even more embarrassed—before looking back at him with a smile on his face.

“I know how it feels. My dog has me doing the same thing. You see something cute and suddenly it’s in your cart whether you need it or not.” He points at his own basket, with a bag of treats on top. “Case in point. These are his absolute favorites.”

“Wait, you have a dog?” Jimin asks, feeling a bit surprised and silly at the same time. Of course a vet would probably have a pet of their own.

“Yeah, a maltese called Moghwa–I know, cotton , not my most creative moment. He’s my childhood dog, so he’s a senior now, moved to Seoul to live with me after I graduated college.”

Jimin remembers when he went to the pet clinic and saw pictures of a white, fluffy dog at Jeongguk’s desk. Jimin lets out a small laugh, trying to picture the buff, tattooed guy with a tiny ball of white fluff, probably always nicely groomed as well, given how attentive Jeongguk is.

“That’s actually so cute, I mean –the dog .” Jeongguk smiles funnily at him. “I always wanted a dog growing up, but I somehow ended up with a cat. Funny how life works out.”

“Cats are great too,” Jeongguk says, voice softening. “Most of them have this thing in which they make you work for their affection, but when they come around, it’s worth it. Plus, they’re usually quieter than dogs, no barking at every little sound.”

“My kitten hasn’t shown me this side of them yet. I guess she learned she can meow and has free will and hasn’t stopped since. She’s in her talkative era.” They both giggle.

Jimin tells a few stories of the kitten from the last few days and Jeongguk listens intently, sharing a few bits about Moghwa. When the conversation eventually dies down and Jeongguk starts to move further down the aisle, scanning the shelves for more supplies, Jimin feels something inside him making him feel determined not to let the conversation end so soon. That makes him feel a little foolish, but before he can stop himself, he calls out.

“Hey, Jeongguk-ssi, wait a second!”

Jeongguk turns instantly, raising an eyebrow as a playful smile tugs at the corner of his lips. 

“Everything okay, Jimin-ssi?”

“Yeah, just… Do you have a minute?” Jimin asks, feeling a little breathless from the small jog and the embarrassment creeping up on his face. “I was wondering if you still have a few more tips. You know, for the kitten. Sometimes I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing, including now.”

There’s a pause, Jeongguk’s smile widens.

“Of course, Jimin-ssi. You’re doing better than you think, though, but I can give you some advice.”

They walk side by side a few steps down the aisle, Jeongguk looking at the shelves and Jimin looking at him. They stop when Jeongguk spots a toy mouse, picks it up and tosses it into Jimin’s basket.

“This one is always a hit between kittens, keeps them distracted for hours . And if you really want to spoil her tonight, you should get one of those.” He points at a small scratching post covered in colorful, dangling feathers. Jimin looks at it, and can instantly picture her going nuts over it.

“Thanks. I never really thought I was the type to spoil a pet, but here I am. She’s got me wrapped around her little paw already.” Jeongguk laughs.

“Trust me, I know the feeling. Moghwa has his own shelf at home, full of toys he doesn’t even use anymore,” he says with a grin. “But it’s part of the fun, right? Seeing them happy.”

As they chat, Jeongguk glances at a few products from the cat section and points at the ones he’d recommend for the cat, for either now or in the near future.

When the conversation ends, Jeongguk adds, coolly, with both hands on his pockets, “By the way, if you ever need more hands-on help or have any questions, feel free to reach out. I mean, you already know where to find me.”

Jimin feels his heart skip a beat—not only because of the offer, but also because of the way Jeongguk said it, so casually, like the door was always open. He liked having an excuse to keep seeing Jeongguk, and he hoped Jeongguk liked it too.

“Thanks.” Jimin flashes a genuine smile, hoping his cheeks won’t combust. “I might just take you up on that.”

They linger for a moment longer, just staring at each other’s faces. Something about the relaxing atmosphere between them, just sharing their interests in their own pets, feels right. But before things go from cute to awkward—Jeongguk’s demeanor slowly starting to look painfully shy and Jimin’s cheeks getting too red—Jeongguk coughs, glancing down at his phone.

“I should get going before Moghwa starts thinking I’ve abandoned him,” he says with a breathless laugh and Jimin smiles sheepishly at him. “Good luck with the kitten. Our appointment is this Friday, right? I’ll see both of you there.” He bows, both hands on his ears. “Take care, Jimin-ssi.”

“Take care, Jeongguk-ssi.”

Jimin watches as Jeongguk walks away, gaze never leaving him and a strange warmth spreading in his chest. 

He didn’t expect to run into him here at all, and now he can’t stop thinking about this not being just a coincidence. For the amount of times Taehyung had yapped about how finding the kitten was destiny, he can’t help but wonder if Jeongguk fits into this too.

Now he can’t stop thinking about his new routine and all the feelings that are coming with it. And he finds himself smiling as he looks down at his basket, now not only with groceries but also with a lot of kitten supplies, none of which were necessary yet. But he didn’t care. It feels good to be prepared. And it felt even better to think he would be seeing Jeongguk again soon.

By the time he arrives at his apartment building, the sky has darkened and the city lights are twinkling in the horizon. He feels a pang in his chest for taking so long to arrive, thinking about what the kitten has been up to. The ride up to the 31st floor is quiet, the calmness consuming him is a different kind of feeling that he hasn’t felt in years—a quiet contentment of knowing there’s something waiting for him on the other side of the door.

As he unlocks the door and heads inside, a soft pitter-patter of tiny paws greets him. The kitten is already up, starting to meow the second her big, curious eyes spot him, her tail fickling in excitement. Jimin instantly sets his work and grocery bags down, crouching to greet her with a soft smile. 

“Hello, baby. Missed me?”

She keeps meowing in response, attempting to climb Jimin by one of his legs, and he laughs as he pulls one of the toys from the bag—the mouse Jeongguk had shown him first.  As he pulls it out, her eyes instantly lock onto it, detaching her tiny claws from Jimin’s leg to start swatting at the toy.

Jimin can’t deny how much she’s become part of his life anymore. It’s a small change, but it’s getting more real by the second. 

Later that evening, Jimin is sitting cross legged on the living room floor, staring at the ball of fluff in the middle of the couch. Jimin had already taken a shower and was wearing his pajamas. The cat and he had already had dinner, their bellies full. The kitten was napping peacefully, legs all stretched out, just waiting for the moment her human would go to the bedroom so she could accompany him and sleep on her bed. She was completely oblivious to how Jimin was losing his mind.

“I can’t just call you ‘Kitten’, or ‘baby’, or ‘furball’,” Jimin mutters to himself, feeling like pulling his hair out. “You need a proper name, or else you’re going to think one of those is your name, we can’t have that,” he says, voice softer now that he’s talking directly to the cat, even though she couldn’t hear him.

After a few text messages exchanged between him and his friends, which he showed them everything he had bought for the cat at the supermarket, Jimin decided to man up , like Taehyung had suggested, and finally start accepting that he is, in fact, the father of a child–the baby cat. And she won’t be gone anytime soon, or at all. It has been two weeks already, and he can’t ignore reality any longer. 

HOSEOK HYUNG

You can start small, tho

TAEHYUNGIE

It’s just a name

It won’t be that hard

Easier said than done, especially to someone like Park Jimin. Naming her had been more difficult than any of them had anticipated.

Jimin didn’t play video games, so he couldn’t name her after a favorite character; he didn’t feel like naming her after any of the characters from the cartoons he used to watch when he was a kid, it didn’t quite fit her, and giving her a real person name wasn’t a option, so no famous k-drama characters either. He had scrolled through a dozen of cat name lists on Naver, yet everything had sounded too cutesy, too basic, or too pretentious for his little kitten.

He glances at her sleeping form and rubs his eyes. 

PARK JIMIN

This is ridiculous.

We need a theme or something.

TAEHYUNGIE

We’ve literally sent you a thousand different theme ideas

And you hated every single one of them

HOSEOK HYUNG

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Y’all might feel stupid after I tell you this, it just hit me

We forgot about food names

Yoongi is judging us so hard rn

There’s never a rule to what food you should and shouldn’t use as a name, Jimin for sure knows that. He has met countless pets named after food, going from a tuxedo cat named Bibimbap to a tiny, angry dog called Buldak. So when Hoseok forwards a link to a list of food names people usually name their pets, he doesn’t bother to look at it. He doesn’t need to open a list and read the opinions his friends will have on each name. Instead, he gets up and heads towards his kitchen for some real inspiration.

“Alright, let’s see…” he says out loud to himself, walking around and surveying his cabinets, looking for something. He opens the fridge and his eyes lands on a half-eaten carton of takeout sitting in one of the top shelves. He pulls it out and holds it with both hands, as if it would offer some kind of epiphany.

“How about… Soba?” he asks himself, eyeing the noodle container and turning to the cat who is slowly waking up on the couch, doing some big stretches. He tries to picture her doing her day to day activities while being named that, but it doesn’t feel right. “Nope, you’re too energetic for that.” She blinks up at him, still sleepy, completely indifferent to the dilemma.

He stares at his fridge for a bit longer before shutting it and staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. Kimchi felt like a nice name, and Jimin does love kimchi, but the Korean guy naming his cat after the most famous Korean dish in the world? It was too obvious, so were any other traditional Asian food names he could think of, so they were immediately scrapped off. 

Undeterred, he goes to the pantry, hoping to find something, the cat following right after him now. “I have cereal. Yah, what do you think about Cereal? Frosted Flake? Kellogg?” Jimin barks out a laugh. “I’m just kidding, I actually hate that.” He looks back at her, she’s sitting down right behind him, she yawns. “I know, I’m sorry, it was a bad joke.”

He looks at the things he has in his pantry and says each one he thinks would sound nice as a cat name out loud, to feel how it tastes on his tongue, to sense if he can imagine calling her any of those names. He also looks back at her, to see if she’d perk up at any of those names, to see if she has a particular reaction to any of them, but she just stays sat, staring up at him curiously and meowing at nothing in particular from time to time, still a bit sleepy, still unbothered.

“What about Peanut? Or Almond? You’re small, like a little nut,” he tells her, looking back to gauge her reaction. “I am allergic to them, though.” She meows back at him, and he listens intently, as if he’s paying attention to what she has to say, only to pause for a second after, realizing what he’s doing and bursting out in laughter, in disbelief at how ridiculous he’s acting. He puts his hands on his hips. “What the hell am I doing?”

He sighs and shakes his head, deciding on abandoning the task for the night, feeling like he’s fried his brain enough for today. He still skims through the kitchen for one last time to see if he can spot something, and that’s when he sees it. In the recycling bin, a paper bag of the steamed buns he had eaten yesterday night from a street food vendor.

He stares at the kitten, who seems to have spotted the same thing as him, or is curious about what he’s looking at. She leaves his side to sniff the bin, even attempting to climb it to analyze it better, but Jimin snatches her before she can do so.

With the kitten in his arms, he looks at her face, inspecting every single detail. She looks right back at him, curious about what he’s doing.

“Jjinppang?” He tilts his head to the side. “Jjinpang, Jjinjjin,” he calls, and she also tilts her head, meows back and tries to reach out for his chin. Jimin has to hold himself to not fall on the ground, laughing in delight at her reaction.

He says the name a few times, and the cat always has the same reaction, meowing back and trying to reach for some part of his face, growing a little more restless each time.

“Jjinppang,” he says one more time, more confidently now, and holds her to his chest. “Yeah, that fits you,” he says sweetly, in a high pitched voice. “You’re fluffy, sweet and a bit irresistible, just like steamed buns. I can even call you Jjinjjin from time to time, it’s cuter, isn’t it?” He asks one more time, she meows in response and Jimin figures, this time, it’s in approval. He feels a rush of satisfaction running through him. “So Jjinppang it is.”

He walks with Jjinppang in his arms to his bedroom. He sits on his bed with the cat in his arms, careful not to bother her too much, since she’s decided to fall asleep again with her little paws gripping his arms. He lays down on the cushion, feeling an unexpected sense of peace settling over him. He also feels a little bit funny, thinking that naming something so small like her would make him feel as grounded as he is.

With his free arm, he reaches for his phone, skipping through Hoseok’s and Taehyung’s messages, since they were unnecessary now, to give them the news.

PARK JIMIN

Attached picture.

Meet Jjinppang

HOSEOK HYUNG

SO CUTE, JIMIN

😍🐥❤️😺

TAEHYUNGIE

WE LOVE HER!!!!

PARK JIMIN

I came up with it on my own

Jimin feels a rush of pride consuming him as he types and sends the message, thinking to himself that there really isn’t a name as perfect as this one. He even thinks about turning his phone screen to Jjinppang to show her his friends’ reactions to her name, quickly catching on to what he’s doing and getting embarrassed at his own antics.

TAEHYUNGIE

No way you can be this cute

HOSEOK HYUNG

He’s a changed man

We’ve been through that already

PARK JIMIN

Did you guys really like it, tho?

It’s kind of a big deal

TAEHYUNGIE

I love it

It’s kind of fitting, you used to eat jjinppang pretty much every day after college

HOSEOK HYUNG

I remember that ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Your nickname should’ve been Jjinppang instead of Mochi

It’s really cute, Jimin, fits you a lot

TAEHYUNGIE

A homage to old Jiminie

Love that

You’re a changed man now!!!

ᓚᘏᗢ

It’s Friday evening, the night of Jjinppang’s follow up appointment with Jeongguk, and the weather had taken a sudden turn for the worse. The sky, which was cloudy all day, finally opened up, unleashing a torrent of rain just as Jimin was heading to the vet clinic, with Jjinppang safely on his backseat and an outfit less formal than the one he wore on the first time he took her there. And since the rain took him by surprise, he was not very glad to realize he hadn’t grabbed any umbrella.

“Shit, shit, fuck ,” he mutters to himself, low enough so Jjinppang can’t hear him curse. He rummages through the glove compartment and under the seats for some type of miracle, but doesn’t find anything. “Don’t worry, Jjinnie, if one of us has to get wet, it’s not gonna be you. Jiminie won’t let it happen.”

Jimin parks as close as he can, grabs the kitten’s carrier and dashes through the rain, holding the carrier under his hoodie to shield Jjinppang from the downpour.

As he enters the clinic, he’s already met with an atmosphere completely different from the one outside, the waiting room warm and welcoming. The sound of the storm raging outside is muffled and sounding not as scary as it really was. Jimin glances around and notices the place is empty, save for the receptionist at the front desk, Yunjin, giving him a knowing smile.

“You just made it in time,” she says, glancing at the clock, which reads 18:27.

“Yeah, I’m not missing her appointment,” Jimin says, a little out of breath. He stays still a few seconds, with a hand on his hip and staring at the wall trying to catch his breath. “It’s pouring out there.”

“Tell me about it. Dr. Jeon is almost ready for you—just give us a few minutes.”

Jimin nods and finds a seat, setting Jjinpang’s carrier beside him. He opens the zipper just enough to scratch her head, since she was clearly irritated from the rush through the rain, making her settle quickly as he spoke soothing words to her. He quickly smoothes down his hair and clothes, feeling like he can focus on his disheveled state now that the cat was fine.

As the minutes ticked by, Jimin starts feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. It wasn’t about Jjinppang’s health—he knew she was doing just fine, adjusting to her new home and routine. It was something else entirely. The thought of seeing Jeongguk again made his stomach flutter, an unexpected excitement he wasn't quite ready to unpack yet.

Just then, the door to one of the exam rooms opens, and Jeongguk appears, clipboard in hand and a smile on his face. He was wearing the glasses from the last time Jimin saw him at the clinic, but he had his hair down, still long-ish, a bit above his shoulders, but looking like it had just gotten a new cut. Jimin tries not to melt on the spot. Jeongguk greets the receptionist before his eyes land on Jimin, and his smile grows wider.

“Hey,” Jeongguk says, voice warm and soothing, as always, and he gestures to Jimin to follow him. “You made it through the storm.”

“Barely,” Jimin mumbles, feeling embarrassed, wondering if he fixed his appearance well enough. Both of them laugh. “Jjinppang wasn’t too happy about it either.”

Jimin sees the moment Jeongguk's smile grows bigger and his eyes get sparklier the moment he says Jjinppang’s name. It feels like Jimin’s heart will jump out of his chest at any second, but he still feels a rush of satisfaction at sensing Jeongguk’s approval of the name.

Jeongguk leads him into the exam room, the familiar smell of antiseptic and pet shampoo filling the air. As soon as they are inside, Jimin sets the carrier on the table and opens it carefully. Jjingppang looks hesitant at first, starting to meow the moment she spots him, as if she’s asking for assurance. With a few gentle words from Jimin and Jeongguk luring her to come out, she hops out and begins exploring the table and sniffing Jeongguk’s hand.

“That’s a good girl,” Jeongguk says with a high pitched voice, trying to scratch her head but failing, because every time he tries to reach behind her ears, she attacks his fingers playfully, and he laughs delightfully every time. “How has she been doing at home?” He asks a few moments later, going into doctor mode. He stops playing with Jjinppang and, instead, starts to calm her down to start examining her, checking her eyes, ears and paws with practiced ease.

“She’s been great, honestly. It’s less difficult than I thought it would be,” Jimin says, watching Jeongguk work with admiration. “Getting used to everything, of course, both she and I. But she’s settled in well, I think—and hope . Though I’m starting to think she’s training me more than the other way around.”

Jeongguk laughs softly, looking amused, and that makes Jimin smile. “Sounds about right. Cats usually make you adjust to their routine, not the other way around.”

Jimin nods, feeling his heart finally at ease. “Yeah, I actually left work early today so I could get her and make sure I would arrive in time. I never left work early for anything.” Jeongguk looks up from the clipboard, raising an eyebrow.

“Really? Sounds like Jjinppangie’s already having a pretty big impact on you.”

“Yeah… She’s a good distraction from all the long hours,” Jimin admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t realize how much I needed it.”

There’s a brief pause as Jeongguk’s expression softens in understanding. “It’s easy to get caught up in work,” he says quietly, as if he understood it all too well. “But, sometimes, the little things make the biggest difference.”

Something about the way he says it makes Jimin’s heart skip a beat. Jeongguk stares up at him and he holds Jeongguk’s gaze for a little longer than intended before quickly breaking eye contact, clearing his throat as Jeongguk stares down at his notes.

“So, uh… how’s she looking? Anything I should worry about?”

Jeongguk smiles and shakes his head. “Nope, she’s doing great. Gaining weight at a healthy pace, and her energy levels are good. Just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re doing a really good job, Jimin-ssi.”

Jimin exhales, feeling relieved. He reaches out to scoop Jjinppang back into the carrier, stroking her fur for a bit before closing it entirely.

“Thank you, Jeongguk-ssi. I’ll, huh, see you in a few weeks?”

“Sure,” Jeongguk says with a small smile. “She needs to get a few vaccines in around three weeks,” he adds, starting to organize his stuff. Seems like Jjinppang is his last patient of the day. “Unless, you know, you need something sooner.”

Jimin feels a bit flustered, leaving him wondering if there’s something more to it.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Jeongguk-ssi. Thank you.”

As they said their goodbyes and Jimin stepped back into the waiting area to schedule Jjinppang’s next visit, the rain outside seemed to have only gotten worse. He stares out through the glass door of the waiting area for a moment. The downpour is relentless, turning the street into a river of shimmering puddles. He glances back at the reception desk and feels a pang on his chest, feeling worried not only for himself and Jjinppang, but for someone else too. So he decides to wait.

“How are you planning to go home?” He hears Jeongguk’s voice a few moments later.

“My boyfriend is picking me up,” Yunjin says, and Jimin hears a bit of shuffling. “He’s already waiting for me outside. How are you going home? You said your car is at the mechanic. Do you need a ride?”

“Don’t worry about me, Yunjin-ah. Get home safely.”

“Are you sure?” There’s a pause, “Okay, then. But don’t forget to message me when you get home, okay? Get home safely. Good night, oppa.”

He hears footsteps approaching him and a bit of clinking. Yunjin is wearing a big hoodie with the hood up to protect her and her belongings from the rain. She smiles and bows to Jimin as she walks past him.

“Working up the courage to face the storm?” she asks, giggling at her own question. Jimin laughs as well, feeling embarrassed and wondering how long he’s been just standing there.

“I guess I am.”

“Good night, Jimin-ssi.”

“Good night, Yunjin-ssi.”

As she closes the door and runs to the car waiting for her, Jimin hears a few doors shutting in the back of the clinic and a few muffled voices. He hesitates, wondering if he really should offer Jeongguk a ride, considering the weather is getting worse. But the thought alone makes him a little embarrassed, leaving him wondering if he’s being too much. Jeongguk probably has a ride too, just like Yunjin. Maybe a nice and pretty girlfriend who’s picking him up—or a boyfriend. But does he even like men? Oh, my god.

He doesn’t have much time to ponder on these thoughts, though, because there are footsteps quickly approaching and Jeongguk appears in the waiting room—also with a hoodie on with the hood up, a raincoat covering him and his backpack and an umbrella that he’s swinging around. He stops the moment he sees Jimin, looking dumbfounded and with big eyes. Jimin wishes the ground would swallow him up.

“You’re still here? Is everything okay?”

“Ah, yes, it is,” Jimin splutters, feeling the embarrassment consume him from head to toe. “I was just waiting to see if the storm would settle, but looks like it will go on like this the entire night. I figured I’d stick around and ask if you want a ride.”

Jeongguk blinks at him, glancing at the empty street then staring back at Jimin. “You didn’t have to do that,” he says sheepishly, with a small smile. “You should make sure you and Jjinppangie will arrive home safely, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Oh, so you already know how are you going home,” Jimin states, more to himself than to anyone else. Jeongguk hums, nodding. “How?”

He hopes he’s not prying too much, because that really is none of his business. He feels a bit stupid for even waiting for Jeongguk in the first place, he obviously already has a plan, it’s not like—

“I’ll just catch the bus.”

“I’m sorry, what?” He stares at him, failing miserably at trying to hide his shock.

Jeongguk gives him a small, embarrassed laugh, looking at Jimin with big, sparkly eyes, like he’s slowly realizing his current state. There’s no bus in sight, and at this rate, even if one came, it wouldn’t be a comfortable ride home. Jeongguk looks around sheepishly, then points at the flooded street, the bus stop right in front of the clinic.

“Looks like I’ll be here for a while.”

Without thinking too much about it, he steps closer, takes his car keys out of his pocket and waves it in front of Jeongguk.

“I’m not about to let you stay out in this weather, waiting for a bus that might not even show up. You’ll get soaked in seconds, we can’t have that.” 

Jeongguk hesitates for a second, staring outside and looking back at Jimin before giving him a grateful nod. He bites his lower lip and flashes him a shy, grateful smile.

“Alright. Thank you, Jimin-ssi.” He bows and Jimin just waves him off.

Jeongguk had insisted that Jimin used the umbrella on his own, since Jeongguk already had this raincoat on, but Jimin vehemently refused. Now the two of them were huddled close together, trying not to step on each other’s foot as they struggled to make their way to Jimin’s car. Jeongguk was holding Jjinppang’s carrier close to himself under the raincoat—for extra protection. And Jimin was holding the umbrella for both of them with both hands so it wouldn’t fly away in the wind, but still a bit clumsy, since Jeongguk was a bit taller than him.

“You didn’t have to wait around for me, you know,” Jeongguk says, voice a bit too loud, since the sound of the storm was almost deafening, as they hurriedly walk through the rain, his breath visible in the chilly air. “I could’ve braved it.”

“You’re welcome.” Jimin gives him a teasing smirk, but his cheeks hurt from how close they are to one another. “But you’ve been looking after Jjinppangie, so the least I could do is make sure you get home dry.” Jeongguk chuckles, looking down, face hidden by the hood of his hoodie.

“That’s fair.”

Jimin opens the door for Jeongguk, helping him with his backpack while he sits down with Jjinpang in arms, trying to shield the three of them from the rain as best as he could. After Jeongguk secures the carrier in the back seat, talking softly with Jjinpang, and puts his backpack between his legs. Jimin closes the door and jogs to the driver’s seat, feeling a little out of breath.

With the three of them inside, they relish the shelter and warmth the car provided, staying a few moments in silence to compose themselves. Jeongguk is the one to break the silence.

“Sorry for drenching your car,” he apologizes, biting his lower lip and smiling sheepishly at Jimin. 

“No worries. It’s leather, so it’s fine. Besides, it’d be drenched regardless if you were here or not,” they both chuckle. Jimin fishes his phone out of his pocket, opening the GPS map and handing it to Jeongguk. “Home, right?” Jeongguk nods, grabbing the phone. “You can type in your address.”

“Thank you again, Jimin-ssi, really. I’m definitely not a fan of getting drenched.”

“No problem,” Jimin says, pulling away from the curb. “It’s the least I could do.”

Jeongguk nods and, with that, they settle into the drive. The rain is pouring outside, but inside the car, it’s peaceful—the faint sound of the droplets hitting the windows, a low song playing on the radio and Jjinppang’s soft meows from time to time, followed by Jimin’s soothing voice directed to the cat. For the first time, Jimin enjoys the company of someone else—who isn’t one of his friends or family— in a way that felt natural, unforced.

As they approach Jeongguk’s apartment, Jimin feels a twinge of disappointment. The ride had been too short. After Jimin pulls up to the curb, he turns to Jeongguk, not being able to hold himself from saying:

“You sure you don’t need a ride tomorrow too?”

Jeongguk barks out a laugh, shaking his head, before looking at Jimin with sparkly eyes. 

“I think I’ll be alright. But thanks for the offer, and for the ride.”

“Anytime,” Jimin replies, feeling a slight reluctance to let their moment end.

Just as Jeongguk is about to open the door and leave, he hesitates, turning back to Jimin with a thoughtful expression. Jimin’s heart beats faster.

“Hey, before I head out…” Jeongguk pauses, scratches the back of his head and clears his throat, contemplating how to say his next words. His cheeks get red. “Do you mind if I get your number? You know, just in case you need help with Jjinppang. I said you knew where to find me if you ever had any trouble, but calling or messaging me would be easier than coming all the way down to the clinic if something comes up.”

Jimin blinks, caught slightly off guard. He hopes the warm color of the ceiling light can mask his blush well.

“Oh, yeah, of course,” he says, reaching for his phone. “It actually sounds like a good idea.”

With shaky hands, they quickly add each other’s contact information. Jimin can’t help the way his stomach swoops inside of him in excitement as he types his name and number in Jeongguk’s phone. It wasn’t only about the kitten anymore—there was something more to this situation. Something he didn’t want to dwell on for too long just yet, but he couldn’t wait to find out. 

As Jimin hands Jeongguk his phone back, their fingers brush briefly, a tiny spark going through them, sending a quiet ripple through the air. 

“Just text me whenever you need, if you have any questions—or, you know, Jjinppang decides to pull a crazy cat stunt,” Jeongguk jokes, his smile easy and sincere, though a little shy, with flushed cheeks.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jimin says, grinning, feeling funny inside.

“Well, good night, then, Jimin-ssi.” Jeongguk bows a little, reaching for the car door and opening it, letting a bit of rain and cold air rush in, but Jimin still feels warmth spreading through him. “Good night, Jjinppangie-yah.”

“Good night, Jeongguk-ssi.” He watches as Jeongguk jogs to the entrance of his apartment building, quickly disappearing inside.

With a soft sigh, Jimin leans back in his seat, glancing down at his phone screen where Jeongguk’s name and number now sat in his contact list. He smiles to himself, knowing he now has a reason to reach out beyond just the next vet appointment.

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jeongguk kicks off his shoes by the front door and runs a hand through his damp hair, feeling his soggy clothes stick uncomfortably to every inch of his body. With how bad the storm has been, it’s not surprising that the water managed to find its way through the raincoat he had been wearing. He sighs deeply. The tension of a long work day slowly drains the rest of energy left in him. The clinic had been busier than usual this afternoon, so he’s always left exhausted during days like this.

Before he could even take another step, a white ball of fur, tail wagging furiously, came barreling towards him—Moghwa, his senior dog, who still acted like a puppy most of the time.

“Hey, buddy.” Jeongguk smiles, kneeling down to give the dog a much-deserved pet, getting a few kisses in return. “Did you miss me, huh? Yeah? Oh, I missed you too.”

He chuckles, feeling his mood getting better just from Moghwa’s enthusiasm. He picks the dog up and cuddles him close to his chest for a bit, trying to sense if he could get a bit of his dog's seemingly endless energy to himself, because he still had some stuff to do.

“Let me stay like this just for a few more seconds, please, Moghwa-yah,” he pleads when he feels the dog get a bit restless in his arms. “Then I’ll take you out.”

Jeongguk heads to the bathroom first, Moghwa hot on his heels, eagerly waiting for their usual evening routine. He puts on some comfy clothes and relishes the warmth of his apartment, appreciating how much cozier if felt with the chilly downpour going on outside before he had to take his dog out to potty. 

As he did his skincare, his mind couldn’t help but wander back to the clinic—specifically Jimin and Jjinppang. The image of Jimin from the first time they met, in the waiting area, with a cardboard box in his hands, looking a little lost and deeply concerned, was something that always replayed in Jeongguk’s mind for some reason. Then he goes back to earlier that week, when he ran across him at the supermarket. It’s clear Jimin wasn’t used to having a pet, yet there was something so endearing about the way he was so protective towards the kitten, always eager to know how to take care of her best.

Jeongguk smiles dumbly to himself. He didn’t really need an excuse to ask for Jimin’s number earlier, but he still gave one just in case. Because if he is being honest, there had been a flicker of something—a spark of curiosity—every time they’d interact. Maybe it was just the novelty of meeting someone like Jimin, who seemed so grounded, so successful in whatever he worked in, but was so adrift in his personal life. Or maybe it was just because, for the first time in a while, he has found himself thinking about something beyond the clinic.

He doesn’t know the implications of it, whether it’s even professional to be interested in the parent of one of his patients, if the rule still applies when the patients in question aren’t even humans. He has to ask Namjoon or Mingyu—the human and the animal doctor—later, to see their perspectives. But for now, he wants to enjoy and explore a little bit of this feeling on his own, keep Jimin and Jjinppang only to himself for as long as possible. 

With a soft sigh, he pulls out his phone from his sweatpants’ pocket. Jimin’s number sat nicely in his contacts now, under JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN) . He stares at the screen for a moment, contemplating whether or not he should send a quick text to check in on the kitten—and, consequently, Jimin as well—but he stops himself. He didn’t want to seem overeager. So he turns his attention to Moghwa, who’s sitting obediently by the bathroom door, waiting for Jeongguk.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he says with a laugh, pocketing his phone. “Let’s get you outside before the rain gets even worse.”

Jeongguk lives on the first floor of his apartment building, so he’s blessed with a small, half covered side yard where he and Moghwa spend most of their time when the weather is nice. He grabs both his and Moghwa’s raincoat from the hook near the door, struggling to put it on him, because he can’t stop wagging his tail the entire time, eager to go outside. The rain continues to pour heavily, the street lights casting a soft glow through the air. Moghwa sniffs around the bushes, completely unfazed by the bad weather, while Jeongguk leans on the wall, staring out at the rain and anxious to go back inside. 

These were the type of moments he treasured the most after long days. The busy clinic and the constant stream of patients and worried owners all faded into the background when he was back at home with Moghwa and, sometimes, with his friends.

He dries Moghwa’s paws off with a towel before letting him wander back to the living room. His eyes flicked to the bookshelf in the corner, filled with a mix of veterinarian textbooks, novels, and a few dog picture books. He selects one of his lighter reads—a fantasy novel he’s been meaning to start for quite some time now, deciding to slowly work through it, and sinks down on the couch. After a while, Moghwa joins him, plopping down between his legs and deciding to take a nap right there.

He flips through the book pages, one hand holding it and the other scratching behind Moghwa’s ears, but his thoughts are still elsewhere. As much as he tried to focus on the story, his mind kept going back to Jimin, the ease of their conversation, the way he always seemed nervous but genuine, the way he lingered at the clinic longer than necessary just for Jeongguk. Shaking his head, he lets out a soft laugh in disbelief.

“I’m getting ahead of myself,” he mutters, Moghwa perking up at him at the sound of his owner’s voice, but quickly going back to sleep.

He grabs his phone in his pocket, staring at Jimin’s contact while his thumb hovers over the message button. But, after a while, he decides against it, shoving it back in his pocket, smiling dumbly.

“There’s time,” he whispers quietly, as if reassuring himself.

For now, the rain outside and Moghwa’s company was enough. So he decides to try to focus back on the book, getting a bit more comfortable on the couch without disturbing his dog. After some time, he finally lets the day’s events fade as he gets lost in his book.

ᓚᘏᗢ

It’s Saturday morning, and Jimin is attempting to work from home, papers spread out across his desk, his laptop open, and his focus fixed on the legal brief he’s been staring at for the past hour. Deadlines are looming, and he’s convinced that this will be a productive morning—or so he hopes.

But Jjinppang, the new and lively member of the house, has other plans. She’s been a whirlwind of energy, darting back and forth from the living room to the office with the zoomies, chasing around invisible prey and occasionally knocking over a few books and plants—pretty much anything that wasn’t glued down. Jimin sighs, trying to stay focused as he hears her little paws skittering around him, but the persistent distractions make it harder and harder to concentrate.

Suddenly, there’s a light thud, and before he can react, he can feel her little claws lathing on his sweatpants, tearing through the fabric and scratching the skin of his leg, causing him to almost send the files on his hand in the air from surprise. He quickly places them on the desk before turning his attention to her.

“Ouch. Holy fuck , Jjinppangie-yah,” he cries. He tries to grab her, but she’s faster than him, climbing her way up through his leg and thigh. She was still too small to go up and down a few places, so Jimin was kind of her own personal ladder. She jumps from his thigh straight on his laptop keyboard, her tiny paws causing gibberish to appear on the document he had been typing on. “Whoa, hey, no,” he splutters, hurriedly putting the laptop away as Jjinppang looks up at him with wide, curious eyes. “These are not for you to mess with, young lady.”

She stares up at him for a few seconds and starts scanning the desk, sniffing every single thing on top of it—with Jimin holding it tightly to make sure she wasn’t about to knock them down like the cats in the videos he had seen on the internet. She steps closer to his papers, and before he can move them out of her reach, she plops herself down right in the middle of the stack.

“Of course,” Jimin says, breathing out a laugh, amused regardless of the situation. “Because that’s the most comfortable spot in the whole apartment.” He tries to gently slide the papers out from under her, but Jjinppang stretches lazily, swatting at his hand playfully and setting herself even more comfortably on top of the documents. “You know, I actually have work to do. Deadlines, I know you’re a cat, so you probably don’t know what that means, but it’s actually very important lawyer stuff,” he says, leaning back on his chair, staring at her.

Jjinppang responds with a wide yawn, showing zero concern for his important lawyer stuff . She blinks slowly at him, her head tilting to the side as if to say, I’m not moving and you know it .

“Fine, you win.” Jimin sighs, giving up. He stands up and stretches his arms above his head as Jjinppang watches him with half-lidded eyes. “Guess we’re taking a break—me from work and you from trying to destroy my house.”

He heads to the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee, giving Jjinppang more time to fully claim her new resting spot. By the time he returns, she’s fast asleep on top of his legal documents, belly up and all stretched out. The irony isn’t lost on him—this cat, with no worries or obligations, is fast asleep on top of the reason why her owner is so stressed most of the time.

He takes a seat again and watches her for a moment, her small chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. And Jimin can’t help the soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“You’ve got it easy, don’t you?” he murmurs, leaving forward to snap a picture on his phone. He opens his group chat with Hoseok and Taehyung and sends it.

PARK JIMIN

Attached picture.

This is what happens when you try to work with a cat

Guess my client will have to wait now

Almost immediately, his phone buzzes with replies from his friends, and Jimin chuckles to himself while reading them.

HOSEOK HYUNG

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

You’re doomed

TAEHYUNGIE

She’s the boss now, get over it

Jimin places the phone down and glances back at Jjinppang. He never expected she’d turn his life upside down like this, but he’s learned that there’s a strange contentment that comes with the chaos. His apartment doesn't feel so empty anymore—and neither does his heart—and the quiet isn’t as overwhelming. There’s warmth in the small moments like this one, watching her sleep, and Jimin finds himself not minding the disruptions to his routine as much as he thought he would.

“Alright, you can nap for a bit,” he says softly, more to himself than to her. “Work can wait.”

And with that, he leans back in his chair, sipping his coffee and letting the quiet linger a little longer.

Later that day, the living room of Jimin’s apartment is buzzing with the usual laughter and inside jokes from him and his friends. Hoseok and Taehyung had dropped by to hang out like they usually did on some weekends, catching up over some snacks and a few beers. Tonight, though, there was a new addition to their little group: Jjinppang, who would alternate between napping, sniffing around Hoseok and Taehyung curiously and asking for cuddles from Jimin.

The topic of the kitten, now sleeping peacefully on the couch behind Jimin, was brought up more than once during the night, with Taehyung and Hoseok cooing at every move she made and teasing Jimin about his sudden shift from workaholic to loving pet dad. 

“So, how’s our little queen doing?” Taehyung asks, glancing over at the kitten before staring back at Jimin. “Still causing chaos?”

“She’s actually been pretty good, if you disregard her small stunt today,” Jimin says good naturedly with what Hoseok has mentioned a few times as a Proud Dad Smile . “Took her to the check up yesterday, vet said she’s all good.”

“Oh, the one you said you stumbled across in the supermarket?” Hoseok asks.

“The one that made you buy all that stuff for Jjinppangie?” Taehyung snickers.

“One.” Jimin raises his pointer finger. “He didn’t make me buy shit— shit ,” he whispers, mindful of Jjinppang. “He didn’t have to say anything, just kinda pointed at random things and I immediately got her, it just felt right.”

Taehyung barks out a laugh, staring at Hoseok with twinkling, delighted eyes. They’re just like Jimin in that sense—Taehyung with Yeontan and Hoseok with Mickey—, so spending money on stuff for a pet is not something out of the ordinary for them. What makes it amusing is not what is being spent, though, but who’s spending it. They can’t stress enough how amusing it is to see Jimin acting just like them, bonding over his newfound love for spending way too much money on his pet just because.

“It’s Jeongguk, right?” Hoseok asks and Jimin nods. “He’s a nice guy. Never had an appointment with him, though. It’s usually with Mingyu.”

“Wait, I don’t know who he is,” Taehyung complais, mouth full of seaweed chips, because he hates not knowing the faces of the people they talk about when they’re together. “Show me his Instagram or something.”

“I think it’s private,” Hoseok answers. Jimin deflates a bit, he had never considered checking Jeongguk’s Instagram until Taehyung asked, his hopes to see more of him crushed in a matter of seconds. “Just think of, like.” Hoseok opens his arms wide, then flexes them. “Just a very buff, hot dude, with a few tattoos, dark hair and huge eyes.”

Taehyung hums, like he can picture it perfectly. “Just like how Jiminie likes.”

Jimin groans and rolls his eyes and Hoseok falls on the floor laughing. He can’t help the blush on his cheeks, hoping the dim light and the alcohol can mask it well.

“I never thought about it, but it’s true.” Hoseok says after he calms down, looking at both of his friends with huge eyes and nodding frantically, connecting the dots in his head. He points at Jimin accusingly. “That’s why he’s so good at convincing you to overspend on Jjinppangie!”

“Yeah!” Taehyung points at him too.

“What!?” Jimin looks at both of them with wide eyes and arms up, trying to hold back his laughter. “We just settled on the fact that I overspend on her because I want to,” he says, smiling funnily at them while Taehyung and Hoseok look at him suspiciously. “Besides, he’s been nothing but helpful.”

“ Helpful , huh?” Taehyung says, raising an eyebrow. Hoseok snickers and slaps his arm playfully. “And by helpful, you mean what exactly?”

“He’s just giving me good advice,” Jimin says, not catching on to how increasingly suspicious and curious his friends get. “I had no idea how to take care of a cat, he’s been really patient with all my questions.”

Hoseok and Taehyung exchange a look.

“And that’s it?” Hoseok asks, feigning innocence. “Just advice?”

“Well, yeah,” Jimin says, trying to hide his disappointment. Because he knows he wishes it could become more. “What else could it be?”

Taehyung leans forward with a smirk. “Did he ever say or do anything interesting when you were together? Did you feel, you know, a more purrsonal connection?” Hoseok barks out a laugh and Taehyung’s devilish smile widens.

Jimin pauses, realizing the sudden shift of the conversation. He scratches his head and glances back at the kitten to check if she’s still asleep before looking back at his friends and responding.

“Well…” Taehyung and Hoseok look at him expectantly, leaning forward. “After the appointment, he gave me his number.” Their faces morph in utter shock. “You know, just in case I had any more questions about the kitten.”

Both of his friends sat up straight, their eyes practically bulging out of their heads.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Taehyung says, holding out his arms. “He gave you his number? Like, personal number?”

“Uh, yeah,” Jimin replies, a little off at how excited they looked. Jimin had felt the same way last night, staring at Jeongguk’s contact on his phone with excitement bubbling in his chest, but it didn’t take him long to realize that it probably wasn’t for the same reasons he—deep down—wished it was. He had thought his friends would catch on to them faster than he did. “It’s probably easier than calling the clinic all the time.”

“Oh, my god,” Hoseok groans, slapping his forehead. “Are you serious? Jimin-ah, this is, like, huge .”

Jimin blinks, still not quite understanding why they were freaking out so much, way more than he did.

“I don’t see what the big deal is. He’s just being helpful, right?”

Both Taehyung and Hoseok laugh in unison.

“ Helpful ?” Taehyung says, barely holding back his laughter. “Jimin-ah, vets don’t just hand out their personal numbers like candy. This guy is into you.”

“What? No, he’s not,” Jimin says, waving them off. “He’s just being nice.”

Taehyung shakes his head in disbelief. “You’re telling me this guy—this professional veterinarian —decided to bypass the clinic phone and give you his personal number, just for cat questions?”

“—I don’t think it’s this cat he wants to know more about—”

“Come on, Jimin-ah. He’s interested.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that,” Jimin says, though now with a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice. “He’s just looking out for Jjinppangie. I mean, I thought about the possibility of this being something more, maybe him wanting to become friends, but, like, why would he be interested?”

“Because you’re a catch, dumbass!” Hoseok says, exasperated, laughing. “He’s probably been waiting for the right moment to give you his number. Like, how did he even ask for it anyway? Was it at the end of the appointment?”

“Uh.” Jimin laughs sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I actually gave him a ride home.”

Both Taehyung and Hoseok squeal, making a fuss loud enough to wake Jjinppang up from her slumber. She does a big stretch, looking grumpy and grunting at them. Jimin pets her apologetically before she decides to walk to his bedroom so she can sleep peacefully.

“You gave him a ride home?” Taehyung asks, amazed.

“It was raining and Jjinie was his last appointment of the day. He was planning on going home by bus . I wasn’t going to sit there and let that happen.”

“Okay, fair,” Hoseok says, raising both his hands up, though he still has a devilish smile on his face. “Let’s not talk about it— now , I mean. Let’s not talk about it now , don’t think the conversation is over, and focus on the main topic, I feel like we drift away from it way too often.”

“Right,” Taehyung says, snickering, and turns back to Jimin. “Think about it, Jimin-ah. He didn’t tell you to call the clinic if you needed help—he gave you a direct line to him. Don’t you see the difference?”

“I guess…” Jimin says slowly, glancing at his own phone on the coffee table. “But what if it’s just… you know, professional courtesy? He did say it would be easier than having to call or go to the clinic if I had any questions.”

“God,” Hoseok groans again, dramatically flopping down onto the floor. “You’re hopeless. That was just an excuse.”

“Completely hopeless,” Taehyung echoes, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “Do you really think vets give out their numbers to every random person they meet? He’s definitely interested, man. You need to text him.”

“What? No, I’m not texting him.” Jimin laughs nervously, feeling his stomach swoop at the idea. “What would I even say?”

“Hey, thanks for the advice on the kitten. She’s doing great,” Taehyung says, waving his hand as if it was the easiest thing in the world. “Just casual, you know?”

“I don’t know, guys,” Jimin mutters, the idea of sending Jeongguk a message making him feel anxious. “It could be really awkward if I’m reading this wrong.”

“You’re not,” Taehyung assures, grabbing Jimin’s phone and handing it to him. “Trust us. You need to message him. Just keep it simple, see how he responds.”

“Yeah, we’ll help you,” Hoseok chimes in. “We’re not letting you leave this apartment until you text him.”

Jimin barks out a laugh. “Good, because this is my apartment.”

Hoseok guffaws, smiling sheepishly. “Then we’re not leaving until you text him,” he hollers and Taehyung falls on the floor laughing, clapping his hands.

After they calm down, Jimin sighs, looking at the bottles of beer on the coffee table and wondering if they drank way too much. Then he stares at his phone like it holds the weight of the world.

“You two are insane.”

“No, we’re the voice of reason,” Taehyung corrects with a grin. “You’re the one overthinking it.”

Reluctantly, Jimin unlocks his phone and opens his messages app. His fingers hover over the screen as he stares blankly at his empty message box with Jeongguk. His friends were practically vibrating with excitement, moving across the coffee table to sit beside him.

“Okay, okay, what should I say?” Jimin asks, glancing between them.

“Just something simple like I said,” Taehyung suggests. “Thank him for the advice, mention the kitten, and leave it open.”

Jimin nods, trying to work up the courage to even start typing. His heart pounds, and he reads the message over and over, thumb hovering over the send button.

“Hit send already.” Hoseok nudges him.

“Okay, okay, I’m going,” He mutters, pressing end. “Alright, here goes nothing.”

PARK JIMIN

Hey! Thanks again for the help with the kitten. She’s doing great! I’ll let you know if I have any more questions.

Both of his friends erupted into cheers, clapping like they had just witnessed some grand achievement.

“You did it!” Hoseok shouts, pumping his fist in the air and high-fiving Taehyung.

Jimin shakes his head, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety.

“You guys are ridiculous.”

“We’re your hype men.” Taehyung grins from ear to ear. “And you’re going to thank us when this turns into something more.”

“ If it turns into something,” Jimin corrects, though with a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He isn’t sure what could come of it, but for the first time in a while, he feels a flicker of excitement about a new relationship, and he doesn’t feel as hesitant about the possibilities ahead.

As the night continues, his phone remains quiet, but the seed of anticipation has already been planted. He tries to ignore the anxious knot in his stomach after sending the text. They had moved from the floor to the couch, Taehyung and Hoseok on either side of Jimin, cuddling him. Both of them were also clearly waiting for something to happen, throwing glances at Jimin from time to time.

“Let’s all stop stressing,” Taehyung says at some point, his head against Jimin’s shoulder. “It’s just a text. Worst case scenario, he doesn’t reply tonight. Best case scenario… well, we’ll see.”

“I’m not stressing,” Jimin lies, receiving a playful poke in the rib from Hoseok, because his restless shifting gave him away.

“Right,” Hoseok drawled sarcastically. “Which is why you’re itching to check your phone every ten seconds.”

Before Jimin could defend himself, his phone buzzes on the coffee table, the screen lighting up with a new message notification.

All of them freeze.

“Oh, my God! It’s him!” Taehyung gasps leaning forward so fast he nearly knocks over the empty glass bottles on the coffee table. 

“No way,” Hoseok adds, scrambling closer to see the phone. Neither of them dare to pick it up, only staring at it from above. “Jimin-ah, pick it up, pick it up!”

Jimin feels his heart thud in his chest as he reaches for the phone, his stomach doing somersaults. He swipes the screen, his hands oddly clammy for a simple text message. And there it is.

JEON JEONGGUK

Hey, Jimin-ssi!

No problem at all, I’m glad she’s doing well

Feel free to reach out anytime, I’m always happy to help

Hope she’s adjusting well to her new home! ;)

The winking face at the end.

For a moment, none of them say anything. Then, all hell breaks loose.

“Bro, he replied!” Taehyung shouts, shaking Jimin’s shoulders. “And look—‘Feel free to reach out anytime’? Dude, he so wants to hear from you.”

Hoseok is nodding vigorously, grinning from ear to ear. “Dude, this is big! He gave you an invitation to text him whenever. The door is always open!”

“Guys, calm down,” Jimin says, feeling like they’re acting like highschool girls, though his own excitement was starting to bubble up. He stares at the message again, reading over the lines like he’s missing a hidden meaning. “He’s probably just being polite. I mean, he’s a vet, of course he’s going to offer to help with the cat.”

Taehyung and Hoseok groan.

“Are you seriously gonna play this down?” Taehyung asks, slapping Jimin’s arm. “He literally gave you an opening. You can’t ignore this.”

“Come on, Jimin-ah. Even if he’s just being polite, he’s giving an excuse for you to keep texting him. He wouldn’t say that if he didn’t want to keep the conversation going,” Hoseok adds and Taehyung nods the entire time, agreeing with him.

Jimin looks between the two of them and stares at the text message again, still a bit in disbelief that they were acting this strongly.

“You guys are blowing this out of proportion.”

“Are we?” Taehyung asks, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. “Then why are you smiling like an idiot?”

“I’m not—” Jimin splutters, because he is smiling. He tries to hide it with his free hand, biting his lips to try to suppress it. But then he sighs and puts his hand on his hips, giving up. “Okay, fine. Maybe it’s a bit exciting.”

“A little?” Hoseok laughs. “This is huge ! You should reply, like, right fucking now.”

Jimin blinks, taken aback. “Reply? Right now?”

“Yeah, right now!” Taehyung says, nudging Jimin. “You can’t leave him hanging. Just say something casual, like, ‘Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,’ or… I don’t know, something that shows you’re interested in something more than just vet advice.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Jimin admits, feeling the pressure build as both his friends watch him expectantly.

“Nothing we can’t help with,” Taehyung says confidently. “Keep it simple, like I said. Maybe ask him how his day’s been. You don’t have to dive into anything deep—just keep the conversation going.”

Jimin hesitates, staring down at his phone. The screen lights up, showing his wallpaper—a picture he took of Jjinppang when she was three weeks old, belly up and staring up at him and holding her tiny paws in the air—and Jeongguk’s message notification right at the bottom. He feels his stomach flip. He knows his friends are probably blowing this out of proportion, just as deluded as Jimin is, or maybe even more, but still… Now, with the alcohol in his system to give him the courage he usually wouldn’t have otherwise, he feels his nervousness turn into excitement.

“Fine.” Jimin takes a deep breath. “I’ll reply.”

Taehyung and Hoseok giggle, high-fiving again. Jimin takes a minute to type what he wants to say, overthinking every word, before finally hitting send.

PARK JIMIN

Thank you, Jeongguk-ssi, I’ll definitely take you up on that offer!

How’s your day been?

“There.” Jimin exhales loudly. “Happy?”

“You have no idea,” Taehyung replies, eyes twinkling and smiling as dumbly as Jimin is.

“Now we wait,” Hoseok says, beaming and clapping excitedly.

They all lay down on the sofa again, but now Jimin’s phone is set on his lap, for safety purposes in case Jeongguk decides to reply when they’re all tangled together, cuddling. Jimin tries to act casual, like it was just any other day for him, but he was buzzing in anticipation. Even though he tried, it was getting harder and harder to deny it—he was hoping for something more from this. Whether Jeongguk felt the same way or not, well… that was still something difficult to figure out, regardless of what Taehyung and Hoseok had to say. 

Jimin tried to focus on the show playing on TV—a random episode of Friends Hoseok and Taehyung had picked—with the original audio and Korean sub, but his mind kept drifting back to the message he just sent, the subtitles blurring and the characters’ conversation sounding like gibberish. His thoughts were racing. Was I too casual? Did I seem uninterested? Or was it the right amount of politeness without being too forward?

He is about to grab his phone to turn it up again, with the hopes Jeongguk had replied but the notification didn’t come through, when it buzzes, lighting up.

The room falls dead silent as three pairs of eyes lock onto the phone.

“Oh, my God,” Taehyung whispers, practically leaping off the couch and covering his mouth with wide eyes. “No way he replies that fast.”

Hoseok’s hand nudges Jimin. “Jimin-ah, check it!”

Feeling like he was about to walk into a classroom to do an exam he hadn’t studied for, Jimin picks up the phone, unlocking it with shaky fingers. There, at the top of the screen, was the new message.

JEON JEONGGUK

Today was busy, but not too bad. Thanks for asking!

How about you?

Has the kitten been keeping you on your toes? :) 

There was it again—the smiley face, Jimin can even picture the way he’d smile at him if this was face to face. He feels his heart skip a beat.

Both his friends were crowding around him now, eyes wide in excitement. Taehyung grabs his arm and shakes him.

“He asked about you! That’s not just a polite response—he’s interested in keeping the conversation going and hearing from you!”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Jimin mutters under his breath, reading the message again.

Hoseok leans over the back of the couch, practically vibrating with excitement.

“This is great, you know? He could’ve just said something basic like, ‘I’m good, thanks’, but he asked about your day and the kitten! That’s a total conversation starter.”

“Well,” Jimin stammers, feeling a blush creep up his neck. “Maybe he’s just being nice.”

“Nice? Sure. But people don’t just ask about your day unless they actually care, especially when you both saw each other yesterday,” Taehyung says, shooting Jimin an encouraging smile. “Plus, asking about the kitten? He remembers what you told him.”

“He’s literally her vet,” Jimin says, but when their friends’ content smiles morph into blank stares, he tries to work against his disbelief. “You think so?”

“We know so,” Hoseok says confidently. “You gotta reply again, keep it going.”

Jimin stares at the message, his fingers hovering the keyboard but not pressing any keys, frozen in uncertainty.

“I don’t want to mess this up, though.”

“You won’t.” Taehyung waves him off. “Keep it casual, but make sure you show you’re interested too.”

“You’re already overthinking it,” Hoseok adds and shakes his head with a laugh. “Just tell him about your day, maybe drop something funny about the kitten.”

Jimin sighs, realizing there was no getting out of this. His heart pounds as he types the reply and sends before he can second-guess himself more, putting the phone back on the coffee table with a loud exhale.

PARK JIMIN

It’s been good! Mostly catching up on some work stuff, since I’ve been racing home to check on her the entire week.

She’s got me wrapped around her little paw already ㅎㅎㅎ

“There. It’s done.”

Taehyung and Hoseok burst into excited chatter, high-fiving again like they’d just won a bet. Jimin could only smile to himself, the nervous energy buzzing through his veins and sobering him up a little. He had no idea where this would go, but for the first time, he felt a little less unsure about it.

Maybe , he thought to himself, this can be the start of something good.

ᓚᘏᗢ

Though Jimin and Jeongguk messaged each other back and forth a few times throughout the week, it was never anything major. The conversations were brief, mostly about the Jjinppang—updates on how she was doing, small questions about care, and polite responses in between. Every time Jimin’s phone buzzes, though, he couldn’t help but feel a small flutter of excitement. It was nice to have someone new in his life, even if it was just casual.

It was just a message or two during the day, then radio silence until the next reason to text popped up. And at first, even if Jimin wanted it to become something more, he didn’t expect it to go beyond that. 

It’s Thursday, and Jimin had gotten home from work much earlier than usual. He’s still adjusting to his new routine—coming home at a reasonable hour, having time to unwind, and spending time with Jjinppang. Today, she was fast asleep in her bed early, curled up in a tiny ball, having tired herself out playing with a new toy she got obsessed over. Every time Jimin checked on her at work through the cat cam, she was jumping and rolling around with the toy in her mouth.

As Jimin sits on his couch, flipping through channels without much interest with a bowl of spicy ramen in one hand, his phone buzzes. He glances over, expecting it to be a reminder from a colleague, a message from Taehyung or Hoseok or some late-night spam email notification. Instead, he sees Jeongguk’s name lighting up the screen.

JEON JEONGGUK

Just got home! Thought the day would never end. Do you ever feel like your days just stretch on forever?

How’s your night going?

Jimin blinks at the message, thoroughly surprised. They hadn’t talked today yet, but their messages had always been about Jjinppang. So this was different—it wasn’t just a check-in about her, it was… personal. He finds himself smiling dumbly at his screen, unable to stop himself from doing so.

PARK JIMIN

Yeah, sometimes. Work can drag on, especially when there’s a mountain of paperwork to get through

But thankfully the work today was more chill. I’ve been home with Jjinjjin for a few hours now—she’s pretty much knocked out for the night, though

Seems like her day has been more eventful than mine ㅎㅎ

Jimin feels the familiar flutter of anticipation as he places his phone beside him, staring at the screen expectantly while slurping the rest of his noodles. Part of him wonders why Jeongguk was texting him out of the blue, but another part of him doesn’t care—he is just glad for the company.

It didn’t take long for his phone to buzz again.

JEON JEONGGUK

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Luck you, I wish Moghwa would calm down that easily

He’s still wide awake, getting the zoomies and running around the living room, it’s his way of keeping me company

Pets are too good for us, honestly

Jimin chuckles softly to himself. Even though he has never gotten a clear picture of Moghwa, he can easily imagine a white ball of fur pacing around the living room while Jeongguk sat there, probably exhausted but still doting on his pet. It was a small, intimate glimpse into his life, and that made him feel more connected to Jeongguk in a way.

PARK JIMIN

ㅎㅎㅎㅎ

They really are

I call already tell I’m gonna spoil Jjinjjinie for the rest of my life

When did you get Moghwa? You mentioned once he’s your childhood dog.

He replies quickly, hoping Jeongguk would reply just as fast. He sets the phone down again but can’t help the thrill of excitement coursing through him. He wasn’t used to this, feeling so invested with such a simple exchange. Usually, his texts were all work related, straight to the point, or just mindless, dumb conversations with Taehyung and Hoseok. But this? This was different. There was no rush to finish the conversation, no agenda—just talk.

The phone buzzes again, and Jimin finds himself picking up way too fast.

JEON JEONGGUK

I got him when I was fourteen, so not really a child anymore ㅋ

He’s thirteen now

He stayed with my parents when I moved here for vet school, but as soon as I graduated, two years ago, he came to live with me

Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without him

Jimin smiles to himself, he could feel the warmth and affection from Jeongguk even through the text messages. They hadn’t talked about much outside of their pets, even in real life, but now, even if it was still about them, it felt like they were sharing more than that. Jimin had already briefly talked about how Jjinppang has changed his life for the better to Jeongguk. It was the first time Jeongguk was doing the same, and there was something comforting in the way he opened up, however subtly.

PARK JIMIN

Sounds like you two have been through a lot together

He replies, then hesitates for a moment before adding a bit more before he could overthink more.

PARK JIMIN

Like I already told you before, I never thought I’d be a pet person

But now that I have Jjinppangie, I can’t imagine not  coming home to her

He wonders if he was being too much, saying too much. But before his nerves can fully settle in, his phone buzzes again—Jeongguk’s reply coming almost instantly.

JEON JEONGGUK

Heh, I know the feeling

They really do have a way of sneaking through your heart, right?

It’s funny, you think you’re doing them a favor by adopting them, but they’re really the ones changing your life

Jimin stares at the messages for longer than necessary, feeling something stir in him. They change your life. The words are imprinted in his mind, and he found himself agreeing more than he expected to.

He hadn’t fully admitted it yet, not even to his friends, but having Jjinppang had already changed a lot for him, and he knew everyone around him could tell. He wasn’t the same person he was before the fateful day he had found her in the dumpster, after celebrating his birthday and drawing himself in self-pity. Work was no longer his only priority, and he found himself thinking about what else he might be missing, the thought of it not as scary as it used to be.

PARK JIMIN

Exactly

I didn’t expect her to change so much for me, but I guess life has a funny way of doing that

Jimin shoots back, feeling a little vulnerable but also strangely okay with it.

JEON JEONGGUK

That’s true

Life is unpredictable, but sometimes that’s the best part

I don’t think I’d be where I am now without Moghwa

It’s weird to think about how much they can influence you, right?

Jimin smiles softly, his heart warming as he reads the message. The conversation had taken a turn he didn’t expect—a little deeper, more personal. And for the first time in a long time, Jimin didn’t feel so alone in trying to figure things out. Of course he had his friends by his side every step of the way, but having something new to bond over this kind of stuff felt nice. There was someone else out there, just as uncertain, but, different from Jimin, more open to where life was leading them.

PARK JIMIN

Yeah, it really is

Funny how things work out

Jimin doesn’t send anything else, and neither does Jeongguk, but as he sets his phone back in his pocket, getting up to wash his dishes, Jimin can’t stop smiling.

Maybe this really wasn’t just another vet-client interaction. Maybe, just maybe, there was really something more waiting for him. Something—or someone—he hadn't expected before. Jimin used to run away from things like these, feeling like they were always forced, unnatural. But as his relationship with Jeongguk slowly bloomed, he wasn’t so scared.

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jeongguk fidgeted with the edge of his coaster as Mingyu and Namjoon chatted across from him, their conversation buzzing around work and recent news, though it was being drowned out by the loud music at the pub and Jeongguk’s own thoughts. He had barely said a word since they sat down, and even though Jeongguk had always been more of a listener, both of his friends were picking up on it.

“Jeongguk,” Najoon calls, waving his hand in front of him and narrowing his eyes. “What’s wrong with you, man? You’ve been quiet all night.”

He bites his lip, hesitating. He hasn’t mentioned anything about Jimin to them yet, mostly because he didn’t know what to make of his own feelings. But now that things seemed to be moving, it was getting harder to keep it to himself, to pretend that there wasn’t something affecting him.

“There’s… something I haven’t told you guys,” Jeongguk finally says, voice a little shaky. He glances up at both of his friends, who were looking back at him a bit worriedly, curiosity piqued. He took a deep breath. “I’ve been… texting this guy.”

The worry on Namjoon’s face vanishes, brows shooting up in shock. “You’ve been what?”

Mingyu barks out a surprised laugh, leaning forward, looking utterly intrigued. “Wait, wait, wait. You’ve been texting a guy? Since when ?”

Jeongguk rubs the back of his neck, feeling a tiny bit awkward under their sudden scrutiny.

“Uh… it’s been around two weeks now. He’s… well, he’s one of my clients. He brought in his kitten a few weeks ago, and we sorta hit it off, I guess?”

Mingyu’s mouth drops open. “You’ve been texting a client? What the fuck? Who made the first move? It surely wasn’t you, because—”

“—I did,” Jeongguk mutters, cheeks flushed. Namjoon chokes on his beer.

“ You asked for his number? Holy shit, Jeongguk-ah, since when you’re the one that does that?”

“I know, I know!” Jeongguk says quickly, raising his hands as if to call them down. He quickly covers his ears with them, feeling them burn in embarrassment. “It was for the cat at first, okay? Well—kinda, that's what I told him, at least.” Mingyu’s mouth drops even more and Namjoon snickers. “He’s always been really worried about how to best take care of his kitten, so it felt like a nice excuse just in case, and he was really grateful. And it was only—mainly about the kitten at first, okay? But then I texted him last week asking how his day had been, and we kinda have been talking more about other types of stuff since then—work, life, you know, the usual—”

“—the usual —” Mingyu chokes.

“—and it just sort of… continued.”

Mingyu drops his arms on the table, palms up, gesturing to Jeongguk. “Let me see!” he cries and Namjoon laughs, doing the same thing with one of his hands, though in a way less dramatic manner. Jeongguk huffs, feeling his cheeks flush, but he still fishes his phone out of his pocket, looking for their text messages. They hadn’t talked today, Jimin did say he was going to be busy even though it was a weekend, so Jeongguk didn’t want to bother too much.

“This is wild, honestly. Who’s this dude anyway? Mingyu, do you know him?” Namjoon asks, looking between both of his friends.

Jeongguk sighs, a small smile playing on his lips as he scrolls through his and Jimin’s text messages. “His name is Park Jimin. He’s a lawyer—super successful, really smart, but also very down to earth and kind. We’ve been talking mostly about his kitten, Jjinppang, but he’s, like, so easy to talk to.”

Namjoon grins and Mingyu can’t contain it anymore and snatches Jeongguks phone, holding it in the middle of the table so all three of them could look at the screen.

“I wanna see it for myself, though,” he mutters and scrolls to the top, starting to read from their very first conversation, skipping through most of the messages, because it was just like how Jeongguk had said, overly respectful and always about the cat. “I’ve seen Jimin before, he has a calico kitten. He’s a very fancy guy, but he walks around with this pastel pink carrier with his cat inside, it’s pretty amusing. He also loves to spoil her, like, a lot. She probably has a better life than all of us combined, man. Sometimes I wish I was her.”

Namjoon barks out a laugh, looking utterly amused.

Jeongguk and Mingyu met in the military and bonded over the fact both of them wanted to go to vet school. Namjoon showed up only years later, when Mingyu was moving to a new apartment and Jeongguk went to help him. He was Mingyu’s neighbor, so he had received a box of cookies as an apology for the loud noises he and Jeongguk were going to make for a few days. And since Namjoon was taking a few days off back then, he ended up helping both boys out, and the three of them bonded over books and music.

They were Jeongguk’s only close friends, and the three of them were a unique little group, since Jeongguk and Mingyu were the same age but a few years younger than Namjoon—and friend groups usually consisted of people who were all born in the same year. Sometimes, people thought Namjoon was just an older brother who went out to babysit one of the two, and most of the time, they were somehow correct.

Mingyu reads one of the messages aloud, placing a hand on his chest, mimicking Jeongguk’s voice dramatically. “ Do you ever feel like your days just stretch on forever? Ugh. ” Jeongguk groans, wishing a hole would open just under the booth they were sitting at, swallowing him whole. He was grateful that, at least, the music was loud enough so other patrons couldn’t hear them. “Aw, this one is cute. It’s funny, you think you’re doing them a favor by adopting them, but they’re really the ones changing your life. Aw, Jeongguk-ah,” Mingyu says, voice mocking sweetness, “how thoughtful of you. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

Jeongguk laughs, embarrassed, and shrugs. “It felt right at that moment. He was saying how the kitten’s already changed his routine and how he didn’t expect that.”

Namjoon nods, reading a few more messages, before humming thoughtfully. “Man, he’s hooked—and I mean both of you. You got him.”

Jeongguk flushes more, contorting in embarrassment in his own seat and snatches his phone back, feeling like his friends have seen enough already.

“It’s not like that, okay? I mean, yeah, kind of is, we’re talking and it’s nice… but it’s still just texts. I don’t know if he’s thinking the same thing as I am.”

Mingyu shakes his head, chucking amusedly. “Dude, he’s texting you late at night about life-changing stuff. That's not casual. Trust me, he’s into you, if he wasn’t, it wouldn’t be like this.”

Jeongguk shrugs, trying to play it cool even though he knows his ears and cheeks are tomato red and his heart is racing. “I guess, I don’t know. I like it but it also kinda feels a bit weird. I’ve never felt like this with a client before. And like you guys saw, we mostly talk about the cat, but even then, it feels more than that.

“Sounds like someone’s got a crush.” Namjoon chuckles, leaning back in his seat. “So, what’s the plan? Are you gonna ask him out or something?” Jeongguk shakes his head quickly.

“No, no. It’s not like that. I mean, he’s a client, and I don’t even know if he’s into guys. I don’t know if this is, like, bros bonding over our pets, or if it’s more . I don’t want to make things awkward, especially since it’s been only a few weeks and he still has to come back to the clinic often a few more times.”

Namjoon and Mingyu exchange looks before both of them turn back to Jeongguk.

“Dude, you’re overthinking it,” Namjoon says. “I mean, texting outside of work? Everyday? That’s not a casual thing, not bro stuff either. People don’t just do that unless they’re interested in something more.”

Jeongguk bites his lip, his mind racing. He had been trying not to read too much into it, especially so early on, trying to convince himself it was purely platonic, that Jimin was just being friendly because of the kitten. But assuming it was only from the good of his heart, nothing other than that, was also trying to read too much into things, right? So what was the middle point?

“I just… I don’t know if he feels the same way,” Jeongguk says quietly, his gaze dropped to his glass. “He’s so different from me. He’s got his whole life figured out, and sometimes I still have existential crisis because of my parents, wondering if I’m even on the right path, if being a vet is the right choice for me.”

Mingyu reaches out, stretching out his hand so Jeongguk can take it. He does so reluctantly, deciding to stare at his own lap rather than at either one of his friends.

“You’re doing fine, Jeongguk. You’re an amazing professional, and anyone who knows you can see how passionate you are about your job, and I don’t doubt Jimin feels the same way. And if he doesn’t, honestly, then he’s a dumbass and is missing out on something great.”

Namjoon nods in agreement. “As for whether he feels the same way or not, you’ll never know unless you put yourself out there. Maybe don’t ask him out right away, but keep the conversation going. If he’s interested, you’ll know. Also, even if it doesn't work out like that, who knows, maybe you’ll at least make a new friend.”

Jeongguk sighs, the weight on his shoulders feeling a little lighter now that he shared his feelings with his friends. “I guess I could try at some point. But I’m afraid I will mess things up in a way that I won’t even get to have him as a friend, I don’t want that to happen. I like him and I like talking to him.”

“Let’s ignore how you said you like talking to him when you barely see our texts for now,” Mingyu says trying to ease the mood and Namjoon snickers and Jeongguk smiles small. “Jeongguk-ah, you won’t mess it up,” he assures, a grin forming on his face. “But I think you should consider letting him know you’re interested in more than just his kitten, you know? Slowly, though, of course.”

Jeongguk smiles despite himself. “Alright, fine. I’ll see where it goes. But I’m not rushing into anything.”

“Good,” Namjoon says, nodding and smiling happily. “Just take your time, but don’t hold back either. You deserve to be happy.”

Jeongguk looks at his friends, feeling grateful for having them by his side and their support, but not really knowing how to show it. So he just squeezes Mingyu’s hand before placing it on his lap. Maybe they were right. Maybe this could be something real.

Chapter Text

Jimin has always been the type to rely on his alarm clock—6:30 sharp, every day, without fail. But now, his routine has a new element: the persistent, tiny meows of a kitten who seems to operate on her own personal schedule. And today, as usual, she is up before him. 

Jjinppang claws her way up the bed climbing through one of the blankets, starting to meow softly the moment she spots her owner’s mop of black hair, making her way towards his face. She was light as a feather, but the way she weaved through the covers and on top of him and settled right on his chest makes her presence impossible to ignore. Jimin grunts, trying to stay still under the sheets, hoping she’ll stop at some point.

She stares at him for a few seconds and, when he doesn’t budge, she paws softly at his cheeks. Jimin groans. 

“Okay, okay, I’m up,” he mumbles, voice thick with sleep. He’s barely able to crack one of his eyes open, and he finds her staring at him with those wide, expectant eyes, as if she has something important to say. Jimin can’t help but smile. “You’re bossy in the morning, you know that?”

She responds with a soft meow, head tilting to the side as she looks at him and nuzzles the side of his face. She paws at his cheek a few times, as if to tell him to hurry up.

Jimin chuckles and scoops her up in his arms, one of her paws is still up trying to reach his chin. He grabs his phone to check the time. 5:51— Jesus . He gets up from the bed slowly, freeing her the moment she starts getting restless in his arms as she realizes he’s actually getting out of bed.

Jjinppang trots out of the room, her meows getting louder by the second, looking back a few times to make sure Jimin is following right behind her as she leads the way to the kitchen. From time to time, he stops to yawn loudly and stretches his arms, and Jjinppang meows at him get louder, as if she’s scolding him for not doing what she wants.

“You’re not starving, you know,” he says, amused, but he moves to get her food anyway. As soon as it hits the bowl, Jjinppang pounces, diving in as her tiny body quivers with enthusiasm as she eats away. Jimin leans against the counter, watching her with a faint smile. “You eat as if you’ve never eaten anything ever,” he says softly, but there was no denying the joy he feels for providing her food.

While she eats, he moves around the kitchen to make his breakfast. He settles the kettle on the stove and grabs his favorite mug from the shelf. His morning coffee has always been his sacred ritual—his only constant in his otherwise chaotic mornings. But with Jjinppang being part of his routine now, there is something calmer about how his mornings unfold, even if he has to be woken up by a screaming cat way before his alarm goes off during most of them. There is no more rushing through the door with half a cup of coffee in hand and an empty stomach, no more frantic mental lists of meetings before he’s even managed to finish breakfast. 

Jjinppang finishes eating when he just starts sipping on his coffee with some scrambled eggs on the counter, and she meaners over his feet again, meowing softly at him, reminding him she’s not finished with him just yet. He stares down at her and smiles small, feeling warmth fill his chest, not only from the coffee. 

“You want attention now, hm?” he asks, though he already knows the answer. He carries the mug and the plate towards the kitchen table, Jjinppang hot on his heels, and sits down. She grabs his pants and climbs her way up to his lap, curling up in a tiny ball and purring contently as she nestles against his belly. 

For a moment, Jimin just sits there, sipping his coffee and stroking her soft fur, taking more time than normal just so they can stay there longer. There isn’t any rush to leave. Jjinppang stretches in his lap, yawning before laying down again. Her trust in him is heartwarming, and Jimin can’t help but smile to himself. He picks up his phone and scrolls through Naver with one hand, absentmindedly skimming through the news while the kitten purrs away. 

After finishing with the eggs and coffee and giving Jjinppang a few more scratches, he glances out the window of his living room, the sky is still dark. He glances at the clock—6:33. He still has a lot of time to kill before work, and a thought pops up in his head— a bit of yoga might be nice . It isn’t something he made time for often, he’d usually just try to find some time to hit the gym. But he knows he will have a busy day ahead, so clearing up his mind beforehand feels nice, and the quiet morning feels right for it.

Setting Jjinppang down on the floor, he moves to the living room and unrolls his yoga mat in the free space by the coffee table. Jjinppang, curious as ever, follows closely behind, watching his every move inquisitively, with her big eyes. She sits at the edge of the mat, her tail flicking, waiting to see what kind of game Jimin is about to play.

“You’re thinking this is all for you, aren’t you?” he asks with a soft laugh, glancing down at her. Jjinppang gives a tiny chirp in response, pupils wide and eyes gleaming.

Jimin starts with a few deep breaths, raising his arms above his head and stretching toward the ceiling. The air feels cool as it fills his lungs, the first rays of the sunshine streaming through the windows now that the sun is slowly rising. He’s just settling into the first pose—mountain pose— when he feels a little paw bat at his ankle. Jjinppang has decided it’s time to join in.

“Okay, this might be a challenge,” Jimin mutters under his breath, trying to suppress a laugh.

He lowers himself into a downward dog position, feeling the stretch in his calves and shoulders. But soon after he settles into the pose, Jjinppang darts underneath him, clearly thinking it’s an invitation to play.

She swipes at his hands with her tiny paws, then pounces on the edge of the mat, her small body vibrating with excitement. Jimin tries to hold his position, but Jjinppang is restless in her mission to turn his yoga session into playtime. When she launches herself toward his face with an enthusiastic meow, he collapses on the floor laughing, rolling onto his back.

“Okay, okay, God , I give up,” he says, chuckling.

Jjinppang climbs on his chest, purring loudly and nuzzling her head against his chin. He reaches up to scratch behind her ears, feeling a warm fondness bubble up inside of him. The yoga session might have been cut short, but it’s hard to care when she was so determined to be part of the moment.

Jimin stays there on the mat for a few more minutes, letting the kitten curl up on his chest as he runs his hand through her soft fur. It’s hard to believe how much had changed in such a short time. Just a few weeks ago, his mornings had been rushed, devoid of any real joy or spontaneity. Now, he’s found himself slowing down for a bit, savoring the little things.

After a while, Jjinppang stretches lazily on top of him before hopping off to explore the room, her little tail flicking in the air. He watches as she pounces on a loose corner of the mat, her entire body wiggling, full of mischief. Sighing contentedly, Jimin sits up, folding his legs beneath him as he watches Jjinppang continuing her exploration. He’s about to roll up the mat when the kitten pounces on it, clawing at the fabric like it’s her greatest enemy. 

“You’re going to destroy that, hm?” he asks, amused. Jjinppang blinks up at him innocently before diving back into her attack, her little claws catching on the fabric as she rolls around.

He didn’t expect to become attached so quickly. There is a warmth to his mornings now that he hadn’t realized was missing. He watches her for a moment longer before he glances at the clock again. His usual routine would’ve had him out the door by now, probably checking his phone for any emails that came through overnight. But instead, here he is, playing with a kitten and finding a sense of peace in the middle of his previously chaotic mornings.

“Alright, I’ve got to get ready for work now, baby,” he says, looking down at Jjinppang, who is now sprawled out in the middle of the mat, basking in the morning light.

He rolls up the mat carefully, trying not to disturb her too much, and carries it to the corner of the room. She stretched lazily and hops up to follow him, her tiny paws making almost no noise as she paddles along.

As he moves around the apartment, gathering his things and getting ready for work, he realizes just how much he was looking forward to coming back—to come back home to Jjinppang. The thought catches him a bit off guard, he has never felt this way before. Sure, he has his friends, his family, his work, but this is different. The sense of responsibility isn’t a burden like he had expected. It’s something that grounds him in a way he hasn’t felt in years.

“I’ll be back soon, okay?” he promises the kitten, feeling a small pang of guilt he always feels when he has to leave her behind for work. He isn’t used to feeling so attached, especially to something so small and fragile, but there is no denying the bond that had formed between them in such a short time.

As he locks the door behind him and heads down the hall, Jimin smiles to himself. His life has shifted and he isn’t dreading what the day might bring. He’s feeling a sense of lightness, knowing that when he comes home, she will be waiting for him, ready to curl up in his lap, to remind him that sometimes, the little things are the most important.

ᓚᘏᗢ

After what felt like an endless week of relentless rain, Jeongguk wakes up to something he hasn’t seen in days—clear skies. The sunlight streams through his bedroom window. He blinks at the brightness, momentarily disoriented before a smile creeps across his face. It’s his first day off in a while, and the weather has finally decided to cooperate.

Today is perfect for getting outside, and even though he’s a much more stay at home kind of guy, having survived through the cold, stormy days and with a dog as his companion, Jeongguk knows there is no way he’s going to waste it.

“Moghwa,” he singsongs, calling out for his dog, his voice echoing through the apartment.

A soft jingling of tags accompanied by the sound of excited paws raced down the hallway straight to Jeongguk’s bedroom. His faithful maltese senior dog with endless energy bounded into the room, tail wagging, as if he knew exactly what the day had in store.

“Yeah, you guessed it,” he says with a high pitched voice, crouching down to wrestle his dog for a bit, stopping only to scratch his ears. “We’re going out ,” he says, emphasizing the last word only to see Moghwa cock his head to the side, since Jeongguk knows it was one of his favorite words. “We’re going to the park today. Yeah, you’ve been cooped up all week, haven’t you?

Moghwa lets out an excited bark, his tail wagging so furiously that he’s swaying from side to side, making Jeongguk laugh delightedly. He gets dressed, slipping into something comfortable and warm—a pair of baggy jeans, black baggy hoodie and a black beanie and eats a quick breakfast. Once he was ready, he grabbed Moghwa’s leash as the dog practically danced around him in anticipation.

“Alright, alright, buddy, let’s go,” he says, laughing as he clasps the leash onto his harness.

The walk to the park was short, since they don’t live very far from it. The sky is bright and blue, almost no cloud in sight, the air is crisp and clean after the rain washed everything down. You could hear a few birds chirping through the soft breeze rustling the dry leaves on the ground and overhead. Moghwa tugged on his leash the entire time, his nose glued to the ground as he sniffed every inch of sidewalk they walked on, clearly delighted by all the fresh smells left by the rain.

When they arrived at the park, it was like the entire city of Seoul decided to come out and enjoy the sunshine—and probably one of the last ones before the cold finally arrived. Families were spread out on picnic blankets, there were people passing by jogging with earbuds in, and children playing in the jungle gym.

Jeongguk crouches down to Moghwa’s level and looks at the way his ears are perked up and his eyes are wide as he looks around at all the area he has to jump around.

“Be a good boy, okay?” Jeongguk asks, receiving a few licks in return. He smiles at how excited Moghwa is and repeats the question. “ Okay? Will you be a good boy?” He receives a few more licks, this time more impatient ones, and Jeongguk snickers before unclasping the leash off the harness. 

Moghwa shoots off like a rocket, his legs a blur as he races across the grass, stopping every few moments to investigate a new corner or to chase after something he had spotted somewhere. Jeongguk follows closely behind to make sure he’s alright, praising or laughing at a few of his antics from time to time. This is one of his favorite ways to unwind. It’s rare that he gets to have a day like this—no work, no obligations, just enjoying the day with his favorite companion.

Moghwa was having the time of his life, darting across the grass with his tail wagging furiously as he chased after a ball Jeongguk had brought along with them. 

“Good boy,” Jeongguk murmurs when he’s back and drops the ball on his feet, scratching behind his dog’s ears. He tosses the ball again, chuckling amusedly as he watches as Moghwa run after it like a rocket. Sometimes he wonders where he got all this energy from.

After a while, Jeongguk sits on a bench and grabs a book he’d been meaning to finish for a while now but had never found the time to read. It was a recommendation from Namjoon, and his hyung has been bugging him to finally finish it for a few days now. He tries to focus on the words, but his mind keeps wandering. He thinks back to the conversation he had with his friends a few days ago—how they kept teasing him nonstop during the entire night about being the one to ask to exchange numbers with Jimin.

He can’t help but smile. It wasn’t like him to make the first move, but something about Jimin had felt different. He was kind, a little awkward in a cute, endearing way, and clearly devoted to his kitten. They have been texting on and off more since that day, none of them seeming to want to end their conversations, so it always goes on and on until someone is forced to do so—either because they were very tired, because they had to go back to work or because some of their pets made a mess that needed to be fixed right at that moment. And while their conversations had been light, it was nice. Really nice, actually.

And the more they talked, the more Jeongguk found himself looking forward to the next text. Jimin had this way of making even the simplest things feel interesting, entrancing Jeongguk with every word he said.

Suddenly, his phone buzzes, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glances down at the screen and feels his heart skip a beat reading Jimin’s name flashing across the notification. He can’t help how giddy he feels, not only for receiving a text from Jimin but receiving a text from Jimin while thinking about him. It was like the universe decided to listen to his prayers. His words had never felt so powerful.

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

Hey!

How’s your day going?

Jeongguk smiled, immediately tapping the notification open and typing a reply.

JEON JEONGGUK

Pretty good, actually :)

Today is my day off, so I’m out at a park with Moghwa.

Finally got a break from all the rain.

Whoa, talking about the weather , Jeonggunk’s brain screams at him , what a sweet talker you are, Jeon Jeongguk .

JEON JEONGGUK

How about you?

As he waits for Jimin’s reply, his eyes drift back to Moghwa, who’s found another dog to play with. He’s running in circles around the new friend—a bigger, gray dog with long legs and neck, but that wasn’t that taller than him—while it stares at him quite confused as he barks and wags his tail happily, completely in his element. 

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

That sounds nice!

I’m at work, procrastinating until I have no other option than deal with some files I have to work on ㅎ

So I thought I’d check in

How’s Moghwa doing?

JEON JEONGGUK

He’s having the best time, as usual

We both needed this after being stuck inside all week

Attached picture.

Now they aren’t just texting, but occasionally sending pictures to one another too. It started once when Jjinppang managed to tip over her litter box and dump litter all over the floor and herself—something neither Jimin nor Jeongguk have found out how she managed to do. Jimin had sent Jeongguk a few keyboard smashes and disappeared, coming back after a few minutes and after some concerned messages from Jeongguk with a bunch of pictures of Jjinppang with litter all over her body, followed by a bunch of kekekes. Since that day, they have been sharing random pictures to each other in the middle of their texts, some related to what they were saying, some not.

It had started casual, simple, with a few cute and funny pictures from their pets. But after three days, Jeongguk decided on a whim to start a conversation about a random ramyeon brand he had seen at the grocery store, followed by a picture of it that he took embarrassingly long to take—because he thought about every single detail way too much. But Jimin wasn’t good at taking pictures, Jeongguk had found out quickly ( Only of Jjinppangie , Jimin occasionally says), so his pictures would always be a little weird, with the angle or lighting slightly off. At first, he had apologized, clearly sounding embarrassed through his texts, but it had quickly become something hilarious for him. So Jeongguk decided to not think too much about the pictures he’d send either, not worried about making everything look so right.

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

I bet

I’ve seen a few videos of cat’s going out on walks on leashes, makes me want to try it too

But I don’t think Jjinie is ready for the great outdoors yet ㅎ

Jeongguk chuckles to himself, imagining all the chaos Jjinppang would attempt to create at a park. He wonders if Jimin would be able to handle that.

JEON JEONGGUK

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Maybe wait until she’s a little bit bigger before she takes on the wild

He hesitates for a few moments, thumb hovering over the send button, before adding another message.

JEON JEONGGUK

But if you ever need company, I’d be happy to help her test the waters when the time comes

There was a slight pause before Jimin replied, and Jeongguk found himself tapping his fingers against his phone, wondering if he’d been too much. There were a few times in which one of them would hint that they should go out or go over each other’s house, but they had never been this direct before. But before Jeongguk could think about it too much more, the reply came.

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

Sounds like a plan

I’ll take you up on that offer

The conversation continued for a while, drifting into random topics about their favorite foods and places back in their hometown—because they had found out they were both from Busan—and other details Jeongguk found himself wanting to know about Jimin. There was a comfort in their back-and-forth, a sense that they were slowly opening up and discovering a few things about each other through the small things they shared, it made Jeongguk feel connected.

JEON JEONGGUK

Anyway, I should probably let you get back to your work

Didn’t mean to keep you this long

JJINPPANG’S DAD (JIMIN)

Nah, I’m glad you did

It’s been nice talking to you for these past days ㅎ

Jeongguk feels his stomach flip and a giddy smile creeping up on his face. He doesn’t hesitate this time, quickly sending back a reply.

JEON JEONGGUK

Yeah, it has been

It's late afternoon by the time Jeongguk has decided to call it a day at the park. The sun hangs low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the trees and grass, the cold breeze takes over, lowering the temperature. Moghwa has managed to drain his entire energy, so now Jeongguk is carrying him home, his tail was wagging slowly. They had spent the entire day outdoors, and now Jeongguk’s stomach was rumbling, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

As he walked home, the smell of sizzling food filled the air, making Jeongguk pause. Tucked in a corner, a few small food stalls catch his eye, the smell coming from them inviting. His mouth watered at the thought of grabbing something warm to eat.

“Guess it’s dinner time, hm?” he says, glancing down at Moghwa and setting him down so he wouldn’t walk in through the food stalls with a ball of fur on his arms. He starts sniffing at the ground contentedly.

Jeongguk approaches one of the stalls and orders tteokbokki and fishcakes with extra cheese and a side of kimchi and steamed rice. The sizzling sounds and rich smells were enough for him to feel like what he had ordered wasn’t enough, because of how his stomach grumbled the more he stood around the stalls, thinking about what he should order next in case he’s still hungry—or if he felt like it’d fit. He takes a seat at one of the small stools, with Moghwa dutifully on his side, his eyes looking through the grills, clearly hoping for a bite.

“Sorry, buddy,” Jeongguk says, petting his head with his foot. “This one’s all mine, but I’ll get you something when we get home, I promise.”

The ajumma at the stall he had ordered his food smiles at them, noticing Moghwa’s hopeful eyes. “He’s a cute puppy,” she comments, serving Jeongguk his food. “Always so patient.” Jeongguk grins.

“Yeah, he’s a good one. Doesn’t beg too much.”

As he dug into the tteokbokki, the spicy, chewy rice cakes warmed him from the inside out. He tried to eat slowly, wanting to savor each bite, but his hunger was speaking louder than anything else, and he nodded furiously at each mouthful of food he put in his mouth.

Moghwa, sensing no food was coming his way, lays down between Jeongguk’s feet, content just to be near him. When he finishes his meal, Jeongguk stands up and gives Moghwa’s leash a gentle tug.

“Alright, bud, let’s head home for real now.” He glances at the time on his phone, noticing he was almost running out of battery. The sun was starting to set, but the evening was still so nice. And as he scoops Moghwa up in his arms, he figures they could take the long way back.

In the middle of his walk home, his phone buzzes in his pocket. He picks it up with his free hand expecting it to be a message from one of his friends or work, but his face lits up as he sees Jimin’s name on screen.

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

Hope you had a nice day off!

I’m just getting out of work, literally cannot wait to be home.

Jeongguk smiles as he reads the message, the thumb from his free hand hovering over the keyboard as he thinks of what to reply. It has become a habit by now—these short texts between Jimin at the end of their workdays that made his evenings just a little brighter.

JEON JEONGGUK

Just finished at the park with Moghwa

Grabbed some food on the way back

We’re heading home now

His footsteps feel lighter as he typed, and as he walks down the street, he can't help but smile to himself, thinking about how these messages from Jimin have become the highlights of his days. He stares at Moghwa and wonders if he could sense all the big emotions inside of him. 

After they arrive home, Jeongguk unclasps Moghwa’s leash and watches as he paddles straight to his food bowl, looking up at him expectantly. Jeongguk chuckles, crouching down to refill it with his dog’s favorite kibble. 

“There you go, buddy. You earned it today,” he says, watching as Moghwa eagerly starts eating, his tail wagging faster the more he eats. Jeongguk makes a mental note to take him to the groomer some time this week and walks to his bedroom.

Jeongguk makes sure his phone—now off—is charging before he makes his way to the bathroom, stretching as he feels the weight of the day settle in his muscles. Turning on the shower, he lets the water run until the steam begins to fog up the mirror while he does his skincare. He undresses and steps in, the hot water hits his skin and he immediately feels his muscles relaxing a bit, the tension from the day slowly being washed away.

Jeongguk takes his time in the shower, staying still under the spray, allowing the warmth to soak into him so he can relax completely. And by the time he’s finished, the mirror and the walls are completely fogged up, and the cool air against his damp skin feels like a nice contrast to the heat. He wraps himself in a towel and heads out the bathroom, spotting Moghwa sprawled out on the bed, belly up, fully content after his meal. 

With a small smile, Jeongguk paddles over to his bedside table to check his phone. As he unlocks it and turns around to head to his closet and pick something to wear, his phone starts buzzing with notifications, but it quickly becomes something more than Jeongguk was used to normally, especially since his phone wasn’t off for too long. He puts on underwear and sweatpants as fast as he could, anxious to check his notifications and see what's the reason behind all the buzzing.

When he picks up his phone, his stomach drops. He has a few missed calls and some messages from JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN) , and he can’t help the concern growing on his chest. Jeongguk takes a deep breath and decides to click on the messages first, praying to whoever was listening that everything was alright.

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

Get home safely

I’m home now and Jjinjjinie has been curled up in her bed since I arrived, I guess she’s just as tired as we all are ㅎ

Jeongguk smiles faintly at the text message, it was sent around forty minutes ago, right before Jeongguk had arrived home. He could just hope the next messages would be just as lighthearted as this one, and the amount of messages and calls were because Jimin just wanted to talk. Twenty minutes later, Jimin messaged again.

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

She doesn’t want to eat her food, I’ve called her a few times now and she doesn’t even leave the bed

I even took a shower in case she wasn’t so hungry when I arrived, but it’s dinner time, she always eats around this time

Missed voice call.

I don’t want to get nervous and paranoid, Jeongguk-ah

But I can’t help it ㅠㅠ

Missed voice call.

Ten minutes after these messages, he sends more.

JJINPPANG’S DAD (JIMIN)

Missed voice call.

Missed voice call.

I tried to get her out of her bed, but she started crying when I tried to pick her up

I didn’t do anything wrong

I don’t understand

Missed voice call.

Jeongguk-ah

Please pick up ㅠ

Five more minutes passed, and Jimin sent another stream of messages again. They were from five minutes ago.

JJINPPANG’S DAD (JIMIN)

Missed voice call.

Jeongguk-ah, please, can you call me the moment you see this

I don’t know what’s going on and I’m really fucking scared

Jjinppangie has just been whimpering nonstop and I have no idea what happened

Missed voice call.

Missed voice call.

Pleaseeeeee

ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

With shaky hands, Jeongguk presses the call button as fast as possible. He starts pacing around his bedroom, Moghwa staring at him confused but in high alert, sensing his owner’s nervousness, and Jeongguk’s legs feel like jello. It doesn’t take long for Jimin to pick up, and Jeongguk almost faceplants on the floor when the first thing he hears from the other side is Jimin’s sniffles.

“Jimin-ssi, what’s wrong? I just saw your messages,” he says, feeling guilt consume him bit by bit. But he tries to not sound too desperate, since he doesn’t want to make Jimin more nervous than he already seems to be.

“I don’t kn-know, Jeongguk-ah,” Jimin cries, his voice coming out a bit shaky and muffled. Jeongguk swings open his wardrobe door, picking the first t-shirt and hoodie he sees in front of him, looking for his first-aid kit and car keys next. “Jjin-Jjinppangie doesn’t want to eat, and she cried when I tried-tried to-to pick her up-up, and she’s been whimpering since- since then. I don’t know what-what happened, and now I’m crying too-oo.”

“Jimin-ssi, I know you’re nervous, but I need you to calm down a bit for me and Jjinppang,” Jeongguk says, voice soothing and he walks around the apartment to gather his things before rushing to the parking lot. He hears Jiimin taking a deep, shaky breath. “That’s it. Jimin-ssi, send me your address, I’m coming to your house to check on both of you.”

“Okay, I’m se-sending it,” he mutters shakily. Soon after, Jeongguk feels his phone buzzing in his ear. “I’m so so-sorry for bothering y-you, Jeongguk-ah, especially since today is your day off.”

“Hey, don’t say that, okay? You’re not bothering me, Jimin-ssi. I meant it when I said you could reach out for help whenever you needed, that’s the main reason why I asked for your number,” Jeongguk assures Jimin and he hears him mutter a small okay under his breath. He hopes he doesn’t sound as nervous as he actually is, since Jimin seemed to have calmed down slightly. He hops in his car and puts Jimin on speaker, opening their messages so he could get the directions to Jimin’s apartment. “I’m in the car now, I won’t take long, don’t worry, alright? But, Jimin-ssi, I need you to look around for me and see if you don’t see any blood or puke.”

“I don’t think I do,” Jimin says, voice still shaky but sounding less anxious. “I loo-looked around already, everything else seems fine aside from her behavior.”

“Nothing else?"

“Nothing else.” Jimin sniffles.

“Alright, Jimin-ssi. It says I will arrive in ten minutes, so I’m on my way,” Jeongguk promises, wishing he could just teleport straight to Jimin’s apartment. “For now, I just need you to calm down, keep watching over Jjinppang until I get there”

“O-okay, I can do that.” Jimin takes a deep breath. “Thank you, Jeongguk-ah, really,” he says, voice soft but still quivering a bit, a mix of gratitude and worry.

“I’ve got it covered,” Jeongguk assures gently. “See you in a few.”

Barely a moment passes after Jeongguk gently knocks on the door of Jimin’s apartment before Jimin opens the door, his tear-streaked face hitting Jeongguk harder than he expected. Jimin’s usual calm self was nowhere in sight—his face was flushed, his eyes red and his shoulders were tense as he hugged himself.

“Jeongguk…” His voice cracks, and he quickly wipes his cheeks, trying to wipe the tears that can’t seem to stop.

“Hey… It’s okay. I’m here,” Jeongguk says, resting his hand on his shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze.

His heart aches at the sight of Jimin, curled up in on himself, and he has to fight the urge to embrace him tightly and assure sweetly that everything will be alright. He lets himself in after Jimin nods slowly, opening the door wider and gesturing at him to come inside.

“I… I tried everything. I don’t know why she won’t eat, and she just keeps whimpering as if she’s in pain.” He sobs, covering his own mouth while he tries to take deep breaths. He stares at Jeongguk, eyes big and filled with concern. “Jeongguk, what if it’s serious?” he asks, voice thick with worry. Jeongguk shakes his head, moving his hand from Jimin’s shoulder to his back, caressing it soothingly.

“Let’s have a look, okay?” he says, calm and steady. “You’ve done everything you can, you’re already doing the best which is being here for her. Now let’s see what’s wrong, hm?”

Jimin swallows, his gaze fixed on Jeongguk’s eyes, as if they were the only things holding him together. He nods again. Jeongguk quickly takes off his sneakers and leaves it by the front door, right beside Jimin’s fancy lawyer boots. He follows Jimin, who’s heading towards the living room where Jjinppang is—in a fluffy, baby pink pet bed by the sofa. Jeongguk stays by Jimin’s side for a second more, hand back on his back, his touch lingering for a bit longer, before he sits down on the floor in front of the cat.

Jjinppang settles quietly in Jeongguk’s touch, shivering just a little as he carefully starts to examine her, moving slowly and soothingly. She whimpers a few times, just like Jimin had said, and Jeongguk keeps murmuring comforting and encouraging words to her, scratching behind her ears from time to time. Jeongguk checks her gums, gently feels her stomach and checks her temperature, making sure he wasn’t stressing her too much. Jimin, as the attentive father he is, hovers nearby, watching with bated breath and arms crossed over his chest as though he was holding himself together, his full attention on the way Jeongguk was handling Jjjnppang and how she reacted to everything.

After a thorough check with all the tools he had brought from home, Jeongguk gives Jjinppang one last head scratch before he looks back at Jimin, offering him a small smile.

“I think she’s just got a bit of a tummy ache,” he explains, watching Jimin’s eyes slowly get bigger, as a weight visibly gets lifted from his shoulders and the words start being processed. Jeongguk has to fight the urge to laugh. “She’s a curious one, you always tell me that, so she may have eaten something that didn’t sit right on her stomach,” he explains softly, snorting a bit when Jimin covers his eyes, probably embarrassed. “Nothing serious, but she needs some time to settle down. I’d say no food until morning—just water. She’ll likely be her normal self again once it’s out of her system.”

Jimin drags his hands down his face, looking visibly flustered. He stares at Jeongguk for a second more, biting his lip, before he looks down at Jjinppang, a few more tears slips down his cheeks despite his best effort to hold them back. But this time, he laughs a little too, though sheepishly.

“I… I was s-so worried,” he says, crouching down to pat Jjinppang’s head, which she gladly accepts. “I know she’s just a cat, but she’s so small, and I really didn’t want to mess this up…”

Jeongguk reaches out, gently placing a hand on Jimin’s shoulder and squeezing, grounding him. “She’s not just a cat to you, Jimin-ssi. She’s family now, and it’s natural to care this much,” he says, his gaze warm and reassuring. “You’re doing a great job.”

“I just— God .” He barks out an embarrassing laugh, drying the tears that still insist on falling down on his face, and Jeongguk smiles. “I can’t believe I was crying this much for her to only have a fucking upset stomach, I was literally sitting here thinking she was going to fucking die or something.”

Jeongguk can’t help the laugh that he lets out, looking embarrassed and ready to apologize a second after, but Jimin laughs along with him, leaning his body against his and resting his head on Jeongguk’s shoulders for a second until he’s able to calm down. His face is still flushed, his nose still pink and he still has dried tear tracks down his cheeks, but he’s smiling now, a bit sheepish, but still. And Jeongguk can’t explain how grateful he is that this is how it has turned out.

“It just shows how much you care about her,” Jeongguk says, feeling all fuzzy inside. Jimin holds a finger up at him and shakes his head.

“ No , it shows how I cannot be left alone with my own thoughts—or my friends for that matter,” he says, grabbing his phone from his sweatpants pocket and looking for something in it. Jeongguk appreciates for a small second how cozy and fluffy he looked in his oversized hoodie, making Jeongguk want to squeeze his cheeks. “After I texted you the first time and you didn’t reply, I went straight to my friends group chat to call for their help—”

“Oh, Jimin-ssi, I’m sorry for not replying earlier, by the way. If only I—”

“First of all, call me hyung,” Jimin says, voice soft and cheeks pink. “I’ve already called you crying and you’ve seen my snout covered face. So it’s safe to say we’re on hyung and dongsaeng basis now, though you’re the one that has been taking care of me more and not the other way around.” Jeongguk laughs at how flustered Jimin is, but he nods nonetheless.

“Okay, Jimin hyung.” He tests the way it sounds on his tongue and likes the way it feels and the way his stomach swoops. Jimin nods, cheeks puffed and flushed, and goes back to look through his phone.

“Secondly, as I was saying, Jeongguk-ah, I texted my friends right after I sent those first messages and you weren’t replying to them—you don’t have to apologize for that, by the way. And look.” Jimin shows him his phone screen, a group chat between him and two other people. Jeongguk reads the message Jimin was pointing at, eyes almost popping out of his face.

HOSEOK HYUNG

Man, IDK

I honestly don’t know what that might be, but Naver suggested me this

Attached image.

KIM TAEHYUNG

What the fuck

The image was a screenshot of a Naver search, the search bar reading “What should I do if my cat is a…” and the top result being from an article about serious digestive problems in cats. The highlighted text being “ICIID is a very serious condition that must be addressed right away. Common symptoms include a cat feeling pain in their tummy area and…”.  (author’s note: this is not a real disease, just random letters put together haha)

“Jesus, what did he even write to show that up?” Jeongguk asks and Jimin just chuckles, shaking his head.

“I have no idea, I guess that’s just how internet works, just gives us the worse case scenario for whatever we’re feeling.” Jimin sighs dramatically and Jeongguk laughs. “The only thing I know is that, even though I really thought Hoseok hyung was wrong and it was bullshit at first, my mind started wandering more and more, and that’s how I had turned into the mess you walked in on,” he explains, pointing at himself with his eyes welling up with tears again, and he laughs sheepishly. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that, by the way.” Jeongguk smiles warmly at Jimin, looking at him adoringly, and he wishes he could just hold his face and kiss his cheeks.

“Hyung, you don’t have to apologize for that. I’m always happy to help, you can call me whenever you want, cat related or not.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” Jimin says sheepishly, looking down at his hands sitting on his lap. “But I’m still embarrassed that you came all the way down for nothing.”

“Hey, it wasn’t for nothing,” Jeongguk says, and Jimin looks at him and pouts. “Aren’t you feeling better now? Isn’t Jjinppang going to feel better soon?”

“Yeah,” he murmurs, the pout still on his face, as he looks back down at his hands. Jeongguk has to hold himself back hard. 

“So,” he nudges Jimin’s foot until Jimin looks back at him. “You don’t have to stress about that,” he reassures again, and Jimin nods.

Jeongguk’s heart beats faster as their eyes stay locked. He tells himself to break his gaze, to say something else, but he couldn’t seem to look away or even think . And, judging by the way Jimin’s mouth twitched into a tiny, sheepish smile, neither could he.

The low buzz of Jimin’s phone jolted them back to reality. Jimin tores his eyes away from Jeongguk, and he can feel the sudden absence of that magnetic pull between them. Jimin blinks a few times, momentarily disoriented, his gaze dropping to where his phone is laying beside him on the floor. Jeongguk gets up from the floor and clears his throat as if he, too, needed to ground himself back to the present. The spell was broken, but the fuzzy warmth in the air was undeniable.

“Sorry, it was my friends asking about Jjinie,” Jimin explains, getting up from the floor as well. “I think Hoseok is getting murdered tonight,” he jokes and Jeongguk laughs.

“Well, I guess I should get going, it’s getting late,” Jeongguk says, reaching out to give the kitten one last scratch behind the ears before gathering his things and standing up. Jimin opens his mouth like he wants so say something, with brows furrowed, but nothing comes out. “I’m working only after lunchtime tomorrow, so I can check in tomorrow too, to see how she’s doing. But just call me if you need anything else, hyung, okay?”

Jimin nods and smiles small. Jeongguk wishes he could freeze this moment in time for a while, just so he could keep staring at Jimin’s flushed cheeks and grateful eyes for a little longer.

As Jeongguk turns to put his sneakers on, Jimin’s voice stops him, a little hesitant and warm.

“Actually… um, would you like to stay over for dinner, Jeongguk-ah?” Jeongguk’s head whips back to where Jimin is standing with his cheeks a light shade of pink, he glances down and scratches the back of his head. “I mean, you came all this way for me and saved us both from a lot of stress tonight. It’s the least I can do to say thank you.”

Jeongguk leaves his sneakers and straightens up, because he was still ass up tying them. He pauses for a second, surprised by the offer. But the thought of sharing a quiet meal with Jimin felt like something he shouldn’t pass up. So he gives a small nod and smiles.

“Yeah… that sounds really nice, actually.”

Jimin’s face lits up and he lets out a relieved laugh, eyes twinkling. “Great! It’s nothing fancy, just some pasta and whatever I can find in the fridge,” he says with a soft laugh and Jeongguk can’t help but smile too.

“Pasta sounds perfect, actually.”

They head towards the kitchen, Jimin looking back from time to time to see if Jeongguk is following after him. Jimin had an open-plan apartment, so they can see Jjinppang watching them from the nest, ears perked up curiously and tail fickling as she stares at both of them.

“Need any help?” Jeongguk asks as Jimin starts to happily rummage through the cabinets. 

“If you’re up for some salad duty,” he replies, handing  Jeongguk a few vegetables and smiling as their eyes meet and hands brush.

They naturally fall into an easy rhythm, Jimin stirring the pasta while Jeongguk chops the vegetables. They laugh and exchange a few looks while they talk, easing into each other’s company naturally, their nerves from earlier dissipating as they talked about how their week’s been. 

Jjinppang, sensing the comforting atmosphere between the two of them, fights off her tummy ache and paddles over the two of them. She immediately rubs against Jimin’s legs before getting up to Jeongguk and sniffing his socked feet.

“Hello, Jjinppang,” Jeongguk says in a high pitched voice and she meows back at him, Jimin watches the scene adoringly. He has to resist the urge to crouch down and scratch her head, focusing on the vegetables in front of him. “Looks like she likes having guests over for dinner.” Jimin chuckles, watching her lean over Jeongguk’s legs, rubbing herself against his feet.

“More like she knows who saved her tonight.”

They finally settle at the kitchen table, the meal warm and simple, a one pot vegetable pasta with the perfect amount of gochujang. Jimin and Jeongguk chat comfortably as the rain starts to fall outside.

As they finished their meal, Jeongguk offered to clean up, but Jimin insisted on helping, snatching Jeongguk’s plate from his hold and walking to the kitchen. So they work side by side, washing and drying dishes, neither of them in a hurry to end the night. The quiet familiarity is something Jimin hasn’t felt in a long time, so he savors every second of it, each shared glance and laugh settling something inside him.

With the kitchen tied and the dishes put away, they head back to the living room, deciding to share a bottle of soju as they continue talking. Jjinppang had found her way up Jimin’s lap and was now sitting comfortably and making biscuits on his tight. She still complained a bit when Mimin held her a certain way, so he just let her be.

They sit side by side on the floor, a quiet falling over them as they drink the first shot of soju. It was a different kind of silence, not awkward or uncomfortable, but filled with something unspoken, a gentle tension that seemed to be waiting for one of them to break.

“I know I already thanked you too many times, but I really mean it, Jeongguk-ah” Jimin begins soflty, looking straight at Jeongguk’s eyes and feeling grateful warmth bubbling up in his chest. “Thank you for everything tonight. I didn’t think… well, I didn’t think I’d need a rescue for myself,” he says with a shy laugh, looking down at Jjinppang. “Or that I’d even have someone to call.”

“I meant what I said, Jimin hyung,” Jeongguk says, smiling softly. “Anytime. Don’t hesitate.” Jimin nods to himself, looking lost in thought. And even though they haven’t known each other for long, Jeongguk has seen these thoughtful eyes way too many times to not know what’s going on inside Jimin’s head. “I wouldn’t have let you go through that alone, especially not after everything you’ve done to her,” he adds and nods towards Jjinppang. “She’s lucky to have you.”

Jimin stares at him, looking thoughtful still. “I know this might sound too corny, but sometimes I wonder if she’s saving me as much as I’m saving her,” he admits, his voice barely above a whisper. Jeongguk watches him for a moment, his expression warm and understanding.

“It’s not corny, hyung,” he says softly. “They come to our lives exactly when we need them the most, even if we don’t realize it,” he says quietly. “Moghwa was like that for me too.” Jimin tilts his head, curious.

“Moghwa—your dog?”

Jeongguk hums while nodding, smiling to himself as memories flood his mind.

“He’s been with me since I was a teenager. He moved in with me after college and has been a constant in my life ever since. He’s the main reason why I started having a more healthy routine and starting to take care of myself more—I’m sure you can relate to that too.” Jimin nods and they both smile at each other. “Sometimes, I think he helped me find my way even when I didn’t even know I was lost.”

“It sounds like he’s been there for you through a lot,” Jimin says, a smile tugging at his lips.

“More than I can explain, than I can imagine,” Jeongguk admits, eyes filled with fondness. “He’s taught me a lot. About patience, about taking life slower, about being okay with not having everything figured out right away.”

Jimin nods slowly, gaze dropping to the cat sitting on his lap.

“You know…” he trails off again after a while, talking softly as if he’s speaking to himself. “Sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice—choosing veterinary medicine.” He takes a slow breath and looks at Jimin to gauge his reaction, but his gaze was open and inviting, though undoubtedly shocked, but he silently encouraged him to continue.

“What do you mean?” he asks, leaning in slightly, attention unwavering. He never took Jeongguk as a guy who didn’t have his life together, on the contrary, he always seemed so sure and passionate about what he did. But he supposes he probably looks like that to a lot of people too, when the reality was the furthest from it.

Jeongguk’s gaze shifts, a hint of smile tugging at his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I love what I do, truly. But my family—they never really understood it. They wanted something more… traditional for me, I guess. Something stable and prestigious.” He lets out a small, wry laugh. “Sometimes I feel like I’m constantly working to prove that I’m good enough, that this career I chose isn’t just a… a hobby ,” he says bitterly. “But no matter what I do, it still feels like they’re waiting for me to wake up and do something else. It’s fucking exhausting.” He pauses, glancing over at Jimin. “Do you know what I mean?”

“In a way, I do,” he murmurs, looking at him. “I think a lot of us have this… image of what our life should look like either because it’s what we want or what someone else expects of us. And sometimes, even when we’re exactly where we thought we wanted to be, it just doesn’t feel right.”

“You’re really good at what you do, though.” Jeongguk tilts his head to the side, studying him. “You’re… what did your friends call you once? The prodigy lawyer ?” Jimin laughs, hiding his face with his free hand, the other one too busy scratching Jjinppang’s head. He sits facing Jeongguk, laying his head on the sofa.

“They do love to bring that up.” He hesitates, having another shot of Soju before continuing. “But honestly, sometimes I feel like I’ve been chasing success for so long that I forgot to look at myself and check if it was really making me happy—if that happiness was enough for me to keep going. I kept working nonstop, climbing my way up and achieving things because it felt like the right thing to do, because it was something I wanted since I was a teenager, but I don’t know… Now I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something, and that I’ll never be able to have it.” Jeongguk’s gaze softens, understanding clear in his eyes.

“You seem like you have everything together, though—I mean, you seem to live such a comfortable life.”

“That’s the thing,” Jimin replies, giving Jeongguk a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I do, but it isn’t enough, Jeongguk-ah. For a long time, I thought it was—I mean, I have friends, a good career, a nice apartment, everything that’s supposed to make me feel… settled. But somehow, it’s just empty.” He sighs. Sensing the way the mood has soured a bit with their topic of conversation, he tries to break the ice a bit. “Who would’ve thought that finding a kitten on the street was what I needed to make me realize it.” He laughs softly, and Jeongguk gives him a real smile for the first time since the conversation started, looking at both Jimin and the kitten with soft, adoring eyes. “For the first time in forever, I want something more in a way that doesn’t scare me that much, I want to come home to something.”

“It’s funny, isn’t it? How it takes something so small and cute, like Jjinppang and Moghwa, to see things differently.” Jimin nods in understanding, eyes looking from Jeongguk to the kitten. “Sometimes I have these really bad days at the clinic, that make me question all my life decisions over and over, but every time I come home to Moghwa, or I’m looking after a particular pet, I remember the reason why I chose to do what I do.”

“If you’re ever having these days, you can just think of Jjinppangie and I,” Jimin says softly, smiling gently at Jeongguk. “When you think that what you’re doing isn’t important or rewarding enough, remember that, if you hadn’t been there to help me, if you hadn’t been so caring and helpful from day one, this seemingly put together lawyer would probably be weeping his eyes out right now.” Jimin points at himself and they both laugh, and Jeongguk feels his cheeks get warm under Jimin’s gentle gaze.

“Thanks, hyung,” Jeongguk says, cheeks red and feeling funny inside. “I guess I really needed to hear this.”

They fall into a comfortable silence again, but this time, it felt different—more intimate, like something unspoken has been shared and understood. The only sound was Jjinppang gently purring on Jimin’s lap and the occasional sound of the shot glasses being poured, filling the quiet between them, it felt profound.

After a moment and the last shot of Soju, Jjinppang finally decides to leave for her bed, Jimin glances at his empty glass and the empty bottle in the coffee table, and he lets out a small laugh.

“It’s strange, but just talking about this with you… it feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” he admits, and though he feels lighter after the more intimate conversation with Jeongguk, a new, pleasing filling makes him feel like he was almost running out of breath. Jeongguk smiles back at him, and it seems like he’s been feeling the same way. “I feel like I’m not missing anything right now, and I’m not as scared as I usually am about the future.”

“You don’t have to be,” he replies softly. “Sometimes it’s okay to just… be. To take things as they come.”

Jimin hums and nods. And as their words faded into silence, they found themselves getting close—closer than either had anticipated. They share a quick look and, before Jimin could stop himself, he leans into Jeongguk, his heart pounding. Jeongguk’s eyes soften, as if inviting him closer, and then they are kissing, slowly, tentatively. Jimin loses track of time, his hand moving to Jeongguk’s shoulder, grounding himself in the closeness he hadn’t realized he so desperately needed. Jeongguk’s right hand rests on his waist while his right hand cups his face, thumb grazing his cheek in a touch so soft it sends a shiver down Jimin’s spine.

But as they pulled back, noses brushing against each other’s, the excitement Jimin had felt during the kiss had quickly turned into a terrifying anxiety, and a flicker of uncertainty flashes across his eyes. He feels a surge to panic, unbidden and sharp, prickling at the edges of the moment they just shared. When Jeongguk opens his eyes, Jimin’s gaze falters, and he slowly slips away from Jeongguk. And though Jeongguk can’t hide the hurt in his eyes as he immediately notices Jimin’s expression, he offers him a small, understanding smile.

“I… think I should head home,” Jeongguk says gently, his voice soothing, with no trace of disappointment. He keeps his tone light, easing Jimin’s tension with grace, just like he always did.

But his reassurance doesn’t quite reach Jimin, overpowered by the bittersweet feeling that was heavy in the air. He feels a pang of regret, chest tightening, wanting to hold on for a little longer, to hold on to the feeling of closeness—to hold on to Jeongguk and ask for him to hold him for just a little longer. But he knew Jeongguk was right, he needed to process his own feelings first.

“Yeah… that might be best,” Jimin whispers, voice barely audible. He manages a small smile, feeling a mix of gratitude, anxiety and something deeper he couldn’t quite name.

Jeongguk gives him a reassuring look, lingering for a moment longer, as if to tell him that this didn’t have to be the end, and Jimin feels like bawling his eyes out. With a final, gentle squeeze to Jimin’s waist, he rises to his feet. Jimin watches him grab his jacket and slip on his shoes by the front door, and he never felt a pain quite like this one.

“Goodnight, Jimin hyung,” Jeongguk breaks the silence, voice soft. “And… thanks for tonight. It was really nice…” He pauses for a second, looking around the apartment, trying to find his words, before glancing at Jimin like it’s the last time. “I mean it.”

Jimin nods, but his mind is still spinning. He doesn’t know whether he wants to crawl back to Jeongguk and beg him to stay, to fight off the fear clipping up on his spine, or to let this ugly feeling swallow him whole, like he was so used to, and to run away from another chance life gave him of turning things around.

“Goodnight, Jeongguk-ah. And… thanks, too.” His voice is barely a whisper, weighed down with so many unspoken fears.

As the door clicks shut, silence floods the room. Jimin's hand drifts to his cheek, grazing his fingers softly where Jeongguk’s touch had been. His heart is still beating fast inside of him, each thud making his anxiety grow bigger as new thoughts and questions he didn't know the answer to start to fill his mind. It should’ve been reassuring—the way Jeongguk had sensed his hesitation and decided to step back with so much care. He knows Jeongguk wasn’t pressuring him, wasn't expecting more than he’s able to give, especially after Jimin had opened up about his fears. But somehow, the kindness made him feel even more vulnerable, more exposed.

Jimin sinks in on the couch, running his hands through his hair and resisting the urge of pulling them out in frustration as he tries to catch his breath and make his heart stop beating so fast. The pleasing breathlessness he had felt a few minutes ago quickly turns into an ugly feeling that makes his stomach churn. Even with Jeongguk’s understanding, the idea of changing his carefully guarded life felt terrifying. He’d been telling himself for so long that he was fine on his own, in denial of his own feelings. And now, every piece of certainty felt like it was slipping through his fingers all at once.

He curls up on the couch, hugging a pillow to his chest as he stares at the rain out the window, watching the raindrops race their way down the glass and wondering if Jeongguk made it home safely.

He could also still smell Jeongguk’s subtle scent lingering in the air, and it’s almost too much—almost a reminder of something he doesn’t have anymore, or at all, of a connection he had wanted so badly. He isn’t used to wanting something like this, something so unpredictable and unknown.

Jjinppang was proof that most of his worries were silly. She came into his life like what felt like an unexpected whirlwind, a reminder that not all significant changes in his life were something to be afraid of. She fitted into his routine easily, bringing quiety to his busy days and comfort to his once empty apartment. Watching her sleeping peacefully on her bed beside the couch, completely unaware of all the big emotions going on inside of Jimin, was proof enough that some changes—even the unplanned ones—could fulfill his life in a way he had never expected.

But unlike the gentle, gradual warmth Jjinppang has brought into Jimin’s life, his feelings for  Jeongguk came crashing down hard and relentlessly, sweeping over him like a sudden storm. While the kitten had slowly nudged her way through Jimin’s heart, Jeongguk tore through his defenses with an intensity he wasn’t prepared for, leaving him breathless and shaken. It was fast, raw and unforgiving. It stirred up emotions he never thought he’d ever feel and exposed parts of himself he’d longer kept buried.

All of this because of a fucking kiss , he thinks to himself. What the fuck am I so afraid of? he asks, but no answer comes. He is left with only the echoes of his own fears, his eyes welling up with tears and the faint, lingering warmth of Jeongguk’s presence.

Chapter Text

As Jeongguk steps through the front door, he lets out a long, shaky breath. The ghost of Jimin’s kiss still lingers on his lips, bittersweet and stirring. He presses his back against the door and closes his eyes for a moment as the evening’s events replay on his mind again and again. The kiss had felt so right, effortless, yet the look on Jimin’s face after that told him he didn’t seem to feel quite the same way, that he was peering over the edge of what was actually right for him, and that he felt scared. The way Jimin glanced at him would be engraved in Jeongguk’s mind for what felt like forever, considering the hollowness he felt in his chest.

Jeongguk ran a hand through his hair, trying to make them stop shaking and to get rid of the ugly feeling growing on his chest. He hadn’t meant to push Jimin or expect anything, all he wanted was to be there, to share the feeling that had snuck up on him quietly and discreetly. But seeing the way Jimin’s brow furrowed and his eyes were full of hesitation, that flicker of doubt spoke louder than words. 

He gets rid of his sneakers in a daze, throws the jacket at the hanger—failed, and had to get it from the floor and hang it on nicely—and drags himself straight to bed, burying himself on the covers and hurling all his other clothes across the room. He can feel his moodiness build up just as quickly as the lump on his throat, they always come after he’s had a particularly frustrating day.

This night feels worse than others, though, because he’s usually able to control himself and his emotions pretty well, he’d be able to calm down pretty quickly. But as he unlocks his phone, he unconsciously opens his chat with Jimin—because that’s what he would do most nights after getting into bed. So he can’t control himself after he lets out the first sob. He can barely see the last message Jimin sent through the tears, the address to his apartment, and he feels guilt consume him, because when he had arrived there, their relationship was completely different than how it was after he left. And he can’t shake the feeling that it’s all his fault.

He had voiced to his friends how he wanted to have Jimin in any way possible, whether it was as a friend or a lover. But now he feels too stupid for being too ambitious, too hopeful—because now it feels like he doesn’t have Jimin at all.

He feels Moghwa’s paws on top of him, probably sensing all the emotions going on inside of him. He strokes her fur gently, trying to find some comfort in his presence and calm himself down as he feels his nose sniffing his tear-stained cheeks.

Moghwa has always been a steady reminder of the love and patience Jeongguk is willing to give. So, for a second, he allows himself to be a little bit more hopeful, even if the heartache was practically engulfing him completely. Jimin hadn’t pulled himself away entirely—he just needed space, a little bit more time. Maybe Jimin would realize that he didn’t have to face his fears alone. And maybe, as Jeongguk stares at the ceiling and holds Moghwa close to his chest, that was something he could hold onto.

ᓚᘏᗢ

Around early afternoon, Jeongguk wakes up with Mingyu’s voice calling him from the front door of his apartment. He grunts in response, as loud as his sore throat would let him, and stretches his limbs as best as he could under the covers, feeling like he had gotten hit by a truck. Moghwa was curled up beside him, his warm weight pressed against him, and he pets his head dazedly.

He had woken up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, shivering from head to toe and with his head feeling heavy and achy. He only managed to shoot Mingyu a quick text saying he couldn’t make it to the clinic today, each movement he made thick with fatigue. After that, he had drifted in and out of a fitful sleep, his throat raw and the fever making his head swim.

Mingyu steps into his room, a plastic bag in one hand and a metallic container in the other, because he knew the code to get into Jeongguk's apartment.

“Thought you might need a little backup,” he says, stepping closer to Jeongguk’s bed and getting a better look at the state he was in. “Damn, you look terrible.”

“Thanks,” Jeongguk says, trying to sound sarcastic, but his voice comes out rough and scratchy, making his throat ache. But he still smiles small to Mingyu when he grabs the container from his friend’s hand and opens the lid to reveal a warm, hearty soup, instantly filling his nose with the comforting smell of the broth. “Didn’t know I was getting the full service today.”

“You’re my patient for today, buddy,” he teases, mimicking the tone he and Jeongguk would use at the clinic when taking a pet in for an examination and Jeongguk’s smile grows bigger. “I brought you some meds, you didn’t exactly said what you had, just like you felt like you were dying—”

“And you only came to check on me hours later, imagine if I really was.”

“That would be no one else’s fault but your dramatic ass,” Mingyu corrects him, dropping the medicine in the nightstand and fishing out a pink thermic bottle out of the plastic bag. “This is chamomile tea, it’s Seokjin sajangnim’s.”

“Damn, getting treated by the boss,” he hums, putting a spoonful of soup in his mouth. 

“Right? Sajangnim was the one who made the tea, couldn’t make you soup, though, said he didn’t have enough time,” Mingyu explains and turns around to pick Jeongguk’s clothes off the floor, folding them nicely on the corner of the bed, just like how Jeongguk would do if he wasn’t so sick. “So he had to buy it from this restaurant he likes to go to, said he would discount it from your salary.”

Jeongguk makes a show of covering the container’s lid and setting it on the bedside table, pretending to dust off his hands, even if his arms were a bit shaky from how sick he was. Mingyu laughs and threatens to throw a sock at him. 

Kim Seokjin was the owner of Whiskers and Wags and the veterinarian Jeongguk has always aspired to be. He had given Jeongguk and Mingyu a job straight out from University, saying he saw a lot of potential in both of them. Though their work relationship was formal and respectful most of the time, since he was their boss, Seokjin was very understanding and considerate of all of his employees. And even if he said he didn’t pick favorites, Jeongguk was clearly one of them.

Mingyu helps Jeongguk take a shower, making the most of the free time he had before having to go back to the clinic. He had adjusted the water temperature and helped Jeongguk in and out of the shower when he was feeling a bit lightheaded, wrapping him in a towel and picking fresh clothes in the wardrobe. The warm water helps him relax his muscles and clear his mind for a bit. But Jeongguk still has to fight the lump on his throat throughout the entire time, feeling the vulnerability of the heartbreak crashing down on him as Mingyu makes sure he is alright.

“Thanks, Mingyu-yah,” he croaks once he was back on the bed, voice softer now, with cleaner clothes and feeling more refreshed, even if he was still feeling exhausted, “for everything. I didn’t realize how much I needed help.”

“That’s what friends are for,” he says, flopping down beside Jeongguk on the bed. Mingyu crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow at Jeongguk. “Now tell me, how the fuck did you manage to get sick?” he asks, the look on his face telling just how surprised he was seeing Jeongguk like this. “It’s not like you to go down so easily. Did you get caught in the rain last night? You mentioned you were going to the park with Moghwa to enjoy the sun.”

Jeongguk takes a deep breath, feeling a pang in his chest.

“Yes and no,” he answers, staring down at his hands. Mingyu, quickly sensing that there was something more behind Jeongguk’s words, changes his position on the bed to stare straight at Jeongguk. “I did go to the park with Moghwa, but we stayed there until around six o’clock… After I got here, I got a few messages from Jimin hyung. He had an emergency with his cat back at his apartment. So I just grabbed my stuff and went straight to his apartment.” He smiles small, remembering the way Jimin was laughing in embarrassment after finding out Jjinppang had nothing but a stomach bug. Mingyu raises his eyebrows and smiles too, aware of how hopelessly enchanted Jeongguk was with Jimin.

“You’re even calling him hyung now, things seem to have escalated.” He nudges Jeongguk and laughs.

“Yeah, they kind of did… But it went down pretty fast, too,” he murmurs, not even daring to look at his best friend’s face.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Jungkook sighs, his expression a mix of frustration and sadness.

“After I reassured him that things were alright with Jjinppang, he invited me to stay over for dinner. We talked about a lot of stuff the entire night, even shared a bottle—was it one? A bottle or two of Soju. We had this really nice talk, just… opening up about things, you know? I told him about my family and he told me a bit about his own struggles. And then…” He takes another deep breath.

“And…?” He glances back at Mingyu, who was sitting with crossed legs, leaning forward and looking at Jeongguk expectantly with his eyes wide. He nudges him in encouragement and curiosity, but Jeongguk just gives him a sad smile.

“We… uh, kissed.” Mingyu’s jaw drops and his eyes grow bigger, he leans forward more and holds Jeongguk’s forearm with both hands, probably trying to hold himself from shaking Jeongguk excitedly, mindful of how sick his friend was. “I can’t even explain it, just felt like everything I’d been holding in just came crashing out all at once.” Mingyu leans back a bit and makes a face, looking impressed but still cautious.

“Woah, so you really just… went for it, huh?” Jeongguk snorts and nods, a small, bittersweet smile on his face.

“Yeah… It was really natural, you know? It felt like it was building up to that, like it was inevitable,” he explains, feeling at fault for Jimin’s reaction following the kiss. Jeongguk closes his eyes for a moment, reliving the warm feeling of connection before guilt swallows him whole. “But then he pulled away… He got so quiet, Mingyu-yah, and I could tell he was nervous—maybe even scared .” His eyes well up with tears and his voice breaks a bit, but Jeongguk tries to recompose himself as best as he could, before the dull headache he was feeling all day got stronger. “I had no fucking idea what to say, so I left it at that. It’s just been eating at me ever since. I don’t think he meant to hurt me, and I didn’t mean to hurt him either… I think he just doesn’t know what he wants.”

Mingyu lets out a long sigh, placing a reassuring hand on Jeongguk’s shoulder and squeezing it. They stay in silence for a few seconds, Jeongguk staring blankly at his bedroom wall and trying to keep himself from drawing in his own thoughts.

“I get it.” Mingyu finally says, nodding to himself as if he’s replaying his own words before saying them. “From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he has a lot of things he hasn’t sorted out yet. And, honestly? That doesn’t mean he didn’t feel anything when he kissed you, Jeongguk-ah. He probably just felt too much all at once.”

“You think so? Like, maybe he wanted it but didn’t know how to handle it?” Jeongguk’s brows furrow as he considers it and Mingyu nods confidently.

“Exactly. I mean, he took on a kitten and that practically restructured his life, right? He’s probably just as surprised by all of this as you are. But, sometimes, people just need that extra reassurance, a little push.”

Jeongguk nods, slowly agreeing with everything Mingyu was saying, but with his eyes still clouded with worries.

“I guess I just hoped he’d give me something to work with… anything.” he says and chuckles humorlessly. “He looked so scared that I started to fucking doubt everything. I keep wondering if I did something wrong.”

“You can’t control his reaction, though,” Mingyu says, trying to be the voice of reason and make Jeongguk feel a little bit better. “But you can show him you’re still there for him, a text, a call—something small that says, like, ‘Hey, I’m not going anywhere’. If he sees that you’re still around and trying to work things out, he might realize he doesn’t need to be so scared.”

Jeongguk shifts on the bed, eyes casting dowards, though a glimmer of hope flickers.

“I hadn’t thought of it this way, I guess… But it’s just—I’m scared too, you know? Afraid that he’ll think that I’m pushing him, or that I’m too much, or not enough for him. I don’t want to scare him away.” 

“Look, if he’s really pulling you away just because you reached out, then maybe he’s not ready for anything yet. But if you think there’s something to hold on to—and it really sounds like you do—then it’s worth trying. A simple message isn’t going to ruin anything, I can assure you that much.” Mingyu's face softens and he squeezes Jeongguk’s shoulders reassuringly again. “And hey, if nothing else, you’ll know where you stand.”

Jeongguk’s heart feels a little bit more at ease at Mingyu’s words. He feels a little flicker of hope blooming, though slowly and timidly, on his chest as disappointment starts to melt into something gentler, though still a bit painful.

“I guess you’re right. I think… I think I do want to know, even if it’s freaking me out a bit. I don’t want to keep second-guessing this.”

“That’s the spirit.” Mingyu smiles as he leans back, looking more relaxed. “Take one step at a time. You’ve already come this far—might as well see where it leads you, right?” Jeongguk snickers. 

“Yeah… you’re right.” He sighs, though this time more contently. “Thank you, Mingyu-yah. Really, I needed this.”

“Anytime,” Mingyu replies, grinning and ruffling Jeongguk’s hair a bit. “Just remember, Jeongguk-ah, you’ve got a whole team in your corner. We’re not going anywhere.”

After Mingyu leaves, Jeongguk lingers in the quiet of his apartment, still in bed, thinking of their conversation. The encouragement had settled his nerves just enough to give him the courage to reach out to Jimin. He makes himself comfortable between the sheets, phone in hand and fingers hovering on the screen, thinking of what to say. His stomach was swooping with how anxious he felt while typing the message, reminding of the first times they had talked.

JEON JEONGGUK

Hey, hyung

How’s Jjinppang feeling today? I hope she’s alright.

He takes a deep breath, his heart rate going up unsteadily the more keys he taps. He reads the message over and over a few times and hits send.

JEON JEONGGUK

I was also wondering if we could talk about what happened between us last night

As he waits, his anticipation mixes with a strange sense of fear, hands trembling. What if Jimin didn’t want to talk about it? What if he had said the wrong thing? What if Jimin decides to end his friendship with Jeongguk—that has just now started to grow—right here and now?

The dots appear on the screen just a few minutes later, Jeongguk too anxious to leave their chatbox, and he holds his breath. After a moment, Jimin’s reply comes through.

JJINPPANGIE’S DAD (JIMIN)

She’s doing fine now! Seems like she was just having an off day, just like you mentioned.

Thanks for checking in.

Jeongguk's heart sinks a little as he waits for a response that never comes. He scans the messages again, looking for a hint of something more, trying to think to himself if Jimin had seen his second message or not—and if he hadn’t, how did he manage to not to. But there was nothing.

Disappointment washes over him, though he tries to shake it off, forcing back the tears threatening to fall as he thinks of a lighthearted reply about how glad he is that Jjinppang is feeling better. But none of them feel good enough, honest enough, because all he wants to do is to flood Jimin with desperate messages asking what is wrong—he doesn’t do any of that, though.

As he chooses to close his messaging app and put his phone away, the ache in his chest deepens until it’s all he can feel, raw and uncontainable. It starts with a lump on his throat, making him feel almost out of breath, and before he knew it, the tears began to fall silently. Jeongguk tries to put himself together a few times, but every time he thinks about Jimin’s message, the sadness grows heavier, filling him with a sense of loneliness that not even Moghwa—who shows up in the bedroom after the first sniffles Jeongguk let out—could ease.

Feeling feverish and exhausted, he slumps back against his bed, deciding to grab his phone back even if his head is pounding. The mix of heartache and helplessness makes his stomach churn, making him feel slightly nauseous. He takes a shuddering breath and, after a pause, opens his messages with Mingyu, fingers shaky as he types.

JEON JEONGGUK

Hey

I tried to text him

He barely responded

I’m just

I’m so sad, Mingyu-yah

I really don’t know what to do

ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

He stares at the messages pathetically, knowing his friend wouldn’t answer right away because he’s at the clinic. After a beat, he adds.

JEON JEONGGUK

I know I was trying to be positive

But it just hurts so much

I don’t understand what went wrong

As Jeongguk lays back, his phone resting on his chest, the silence around him feels heavy, pressing down like an unwanted reminder of just how far away Jimin felt right now. He closes his eyes and stops scratching Moghwa’s head, deciding on laying his hands on top of his head to try to make them stop shaking, trying to push back the tears that had only just stopped, but the memory of Jimin’s smile and the warmth of their evening together lingers stubbornly. In that moment, with his heart bruised and his hopes wavering, Jeongguk realizes that missing Jimin felt less like loneliness and more like the kind of longing that only lovesickness could bring.

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jimin goes through his days almost automatically, but his usual sharp focus was constantly ruined by his own wandering thoughts that keep drifting to that quiet night with Jeongguk—to the warmth of the living room, the softness in Jeongguk’s eyes and the unexpected kiss that lingered on his lips and kept replaying in his mind stubbornly and endlessly.

He’s done the right thing, is what he tells himself, by stepping back and keeping his distance. After all, he’s always been swamped with work, his days are always swallowed by meetings and late nights working from home.

And yet, the familiar work routine isn't quite the same anymore. Somehow, Jjinppang has worked her way into his schedule, pulling him home early some nights and making him linger a little longer in the mornings. In those quiet moments, as he watches her doze off by his side or bat at his papers with tiny paws, he feels the beginnings of a life that was more than that—more than nights working until late and overexhaustion. Still, he brushes those thoughts aside, convincing himself that a few changed habits didn’t mean he was capable of the kind of commitment Jeongguk is probably looking for.

Jimin has played this game before—keeping things casual, never letting anyone stay long enough to see the cracks in his life, never allowing himself to feel too much or want too deeply. It was easier that way. Every time he felt someone getting too close, he’d find a way to pull back, let the connection fade until it was just another chapter of his life he could barely remember.

But Jeongguk… Jeongguk is different. What he felt when he looked at him, the warmth inside of him when they kissed, it was undeniably stronger than anything else he had ever felt before. It clung to him, lingering in the back of his heart and mind, refusing to fade. But how could he possibly be the kind of partner someone like Jeongguk deserves?

Ignoring what happened—pushing him away and convincing himself he’s doing the right thing—felt safer. If he keeps Jeongguk at a distance, he won’t have to reckon with what he’d need to change or risk losing. He could keep the life he’s worked so hard to build untouched, steady; even as a part of him wonders what it would feel like to have something more, something lasting, if only he dares to let someone stay. But the memory of that night stays, lingering in his mind like a whisper of what things could’ve been if only he wasn’t so tangled up in everything he’d made of his life so far. The flowers that bloomed inside of him as his feelings for Jeongguk had quickly gotten stronger wilted by the ugly feeling that started to grow since that night and made him feel hollow inside.

He’s over Hoseok’s apartment tonight with him, Taehyung and Yoongi. They have ordered in and, with drinks in hand, are recounting stories from the past weeks and laughing about everything and nothing. He was initially hoping that he would be able to forget about Jeongguk’s existence just for a little bit, to relax and enjoy himself. But the more shots of soju and beer bottles he gulped down, the more real the feeling became.

Hoseok and Yoongi was own their own little bubble, sharing snacks and a few shy kisses from time to time—because even though Yoongi isn’t much of a PDA person, Hoseok is—so they don’t realize how detached Jimin actually is, easily convinced that he was just having a headache and is too tired from the busy workweek he had. Taehyung, though, can’t take his eyes off Jimin, staring at him suspiciously, not buying a single excuse that has come out of Jimin’s mouth. Because of that, Jimin has been avoiding Taehyung’s gaze like the plague, afraid that a single look on his eyes will be enough for him to find out about everything.

But the one who manages to get the truth out of Jimin isn’t Taehyung, but a drunk and giddy Hoseok, who looks tomato red from the alcohol and how much he had been giggling the entire night.

“You know what we should do?” he says, staring lovingly at Yoongi’s eyes and then at Jimin, grinning mischievously. “We should totally go out together sometime—a double date kind of thing. It would be fun, right?” He nudges Jimin with his foot.

“Yeah, that would be so fun,” Taehyung chimes in with a lilt in his voice, but instead of matching the mischievous smile, one he usually has when he and Hoseok are playing with Jimin, he’s staring at him with furrowed eyebrows and accusing eyes. “What do you think, Jimin-ah?”

“Uh…” He freezes, glancing away and taking a long sip from his beer.

Yoongi raises an eyebrow at him, instantly noticing something was wrong. Jimin always felt a little bugged every time Yoongi’s cat-like eyes were fixated on him, because even though they didn’t know each other much, he was a naturally observant guy, so he could read people very well. Yoongi is also not much of a talker, most of the time he’s just happy to be around and listen to everyone. This time, though, he joins Taehyung.

“Well, clearly he’s got something going on. Look at him.” Yoongi points at Jimin with the neck of his bottle of beer and Hoseok slaps his thigh. Yoongi stares at his boyfriend and raises his eyebrows defensively. “What? Totally guilty.”

Jimin’s heart skips a bit, his mind instantly flashing to the kiss he and Jeongguk had shared and the whirlwind of emotions that followed. He feels the heat creep up his cheeks, the giddiness from remembering the moment mixing up with the hollowness in a weird way.

“Yah, come on, Jimin-ah! Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it!” Hoseok teases, setting his beer down and getting out of Yoongi’s hold, scooting closer to Jimin. “You two are practically a couple already, just without the official title. It’s time to make it happen!”

Taehyung is staring at him from the couch on the other side and shaking his head disappointedly. Jimin looks at Hoseok, who is now right by his side, and opens his mouth to try to respond, but the words get caught on his throat. And he can see the moment Hoseok’s giddiness morphs into something else, something close to disappointment and pity.

Jimin knew his friends were expecting something to develop between him and Jeongguk, especially after that night at his apartment, when he had shot them a text saying Jeongguk was coming over to check on Jjinppang and, after that, that he would be staying for dinner. Jimin hadn’t mentioned Jeongguk not even once since then, though, saying he was just too busy with work to really talk to anyone. But he was really just avoiding talking about it to his friends, feeling like he would never be ready to dive into it, since the whole situation had become so complicated so fast.

“Yah, Jimin-ah, what happened?” Hoseok asks, the playful smirk on his face long gone. “You were all lovey-dovey on him last week, and now you’re looking at me like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“The ghost of commitment,” Taehyung says humorlessly, sounding fed up when the conversation hasn’t even started.

Jimin shrugs, trying to play it cool and pretend he didn’t listen to Taehyung’s comment or that he didn’t care, but he could feel his heart starting to race. “It’s not that simple,” he finally says, his voice barely above a whisper. “Things just… changed.”

Hoseok exchanges looks with Yoongi and Taehyung, and Jimin could see the concern in all of their eyes.

“How the hell have things ‘changed’? What do you even mean?” Hoseok presses, though gently. “We all thought you two were heading somewhere good.”

“It just…” Jimin sighs, shoulders slumping. “Complicated. I’ve got my work, I have Jjinppang now and—”

“No, no, no, no, no,” Hoseok interrupts immediately, shaking his head furiously while holding both hands up in front of Jimin. “We’re not having this mindset, I’m not letting you , I swear to fucking God. You’ve been dancing around each other for weeks .” Jimin hears Taehyung laugh humorlessly and he quickly glances at him, finding his friend looking at him with tired eyes, like he’s already given up. “Look, Jimin-ah, it’s okay to want more, especially with someone so good. But you can’t keep running away from it, and I can’t stress this enough.”

“Maybe,” he says slowly, “but what if it doesn’t work out? I don’t want to hurt him,” he adds, this type of excuse being one his friends know all too well.

“But what if it does? You could end up with someone who makes you happy, Jimin-ah. You owe it to yourself to explore that possibility,” Yoongi chimes in and they stay in silence for a few seconds before he adds, more bluntly this time. “And honestly, I don’t even know the guy, but I bet this is already making him hurt in some type of way.”

Jimin flinches. It instantly takes him back to the day after their kiss, when Jeongguk had messaged him saying they should talk about what had happened. He had panicked so much that he decided to completely ignore Jeongguk’s offer, too scared to face him and his growing feelings. The only people who would force him to talk things out were his friends, and Jimin didn’t have deep, raw, complicated feelings for any of them, and no other guy that Jimin had ever had a relationship with had ever dared to reach out after something went wrong, asking to talk. Jeongguk was unique in various ways.

After Jimin’s reply that day, he kept staring at Jeongguk’s message, stomach swooping and dread and anxiety eating him alive. He even saw a small bubble pop up to indicate Jeongguk was typing a few times, but nothing came of it. As much as he wanted to take the leap, the doubts lingered, and he remained stuck in a disarranged dance of what-ifs.

And since then, it has been radio silence.

Taehyung leans forward, looking at Jimin with a mix of exasperation and concern. “You know, Jimin-ah, it’s kind of exhausting to watch you do this to yourself,” he says, voice laced with a hint of irritation. Hoseok looks taken aback, but just like Yoongi, whose face is expressionless, you can see in his eyes how much he’s holding himself back from agreeing. “You meet a great guy—like, actually fucking great, like no other dude you’ve fooled around with, things are actually going well for once, and you still manage to pull the fucking plug before it even starts. It’s like you’re allergic to happiness.”

Jimin shots him a shocked look, feeling both defensive and slightly hurt by his last statement. “Yah, it’s not that simple, alright? There are… other things going on.”

“Other things?” Taehyung snorts, shaking his head. “Like what? Your work? Jjinppang?” He gives an exaggerated shrug, mocking Jimin. “Those things didn’t seem to bother you before, when you were practically glowing every time you talked about Jeongguk. But now, suddenly, they’re reasons to shut him out?”

Hoseok glances at him with a worried look on his face, but doesn’t intervene, sensing that, though it was a sentiment that all three agreed on, Taehyung seemed to be holding this back for a while longer, long before Jeonngguk was in the picture. Jimin shifts uncomfortably, staring down at his hands. He’s a bit used to being put on the spot by his friends, it’s something they all do to each other when they sense one has something they need to let out. But, just like everything about Jeongguk, this felt more intense than any other occasion.

“I just… I don’t want to lead him on if I’m not able to give him what he deserves. He’s such a good guy,” he says, feeling his heart hurt, “and I don’t want to mess that up.”

Taehyung sighs and runs his fingers through his hair exasperatedly, leaning back on the couch. “You know what’s your problem, Jimin? You think you’re doing everyone a fucking favor by keeping yourself closed off, but you’re not. You’re just making things fucking harder for yourself—and for Jeongguk. For once, you have something good going and you’re talking yourself out of it because of all these imaginary, fucking stupid scenarios. It’s fucking infuriating.”

Jimin’s lips press into a thin line, feeling the sting of Taehyung’s words and the lump in his throat growing bigger. “You don’t understand—”

“No, I understand it perfectly,” Taehyung interrupts, voice a bit softer but firm. Jimin wipes the first tear that falls with the back of his hand. “You’re scared, and maybe that’s fair. But, Jimin-ah, just because you’ve been busy or you’ve been hurting doesn’t mean you can’t be happy now. We’re all sitting here rooting for you, especially now that you’ve found someone so important. We stay here hoping that you’ll finally let yourself… try…” Taehyung takes a deep breath. “And you just… never do.”

Hoseok reaches over, hugging Jimin from the side and caressing his hair while he just lets him do it, letting the first tears fall silently on his friend’s shoulder.

“He’s right, Jimin-ah,” Hoseok says softly. “It’s okay to be cautious, but you can’t let fear be the only thing that drives you… As much as you want to, you don’t have to have everything figured out—that’s not even something we can do, honestly. Just… give yourself a chance to see where this could go.”

Jimin sighs shakily, wiping the tears that didn’t seem to stop falling. Their words hang heavily around him, and as much as he wants to dismiss them, he knows there is a truth to what his friends are saying. So he just keeps crying quietly. Crying because there was a part of him that was tired of holding himself back, from reaching out and taking a chance at a happiness that once felt so close, but that was also so scared.

“Look,” Taehyung continues, his voice softer but still pointed. “All I’m saying is… a Jeongguk doesn’t come along every day. And I don’t want you to look back and realize you let something special slip away because you were too focused on what could go wrong.”

“We just want you to be happy, Jimin-ah,” Hoseok says, holding Jimin’s cheeks to make him look at him. Hoseok gives him an encouraging smile as he wipes his tears gently. “You deserve it so much. And maybe, just maybe, this thing with Jeongguk could be exactly what you need.”

Jimin gives him a weak smile and nods, sniffling. “Thank you, hyung,” he croaks, “Taehyungie, Yoongi hyung. I’ll… I’ll think about it.”

Taehyung sighs and rolls his eyes, though now he has an affectionate smile on his face. “Don’t just ‘think about it’, Jimin-ah. Do something about it. Instead of running away from it—letting yourself try is the bravest thing that you can do.”

Jimin closes the door behind him, the gentle click echoing through the quiet in his apartment. He lets out a tired sigh, feeling his friends’ words still pressing down on him and a bit of headache from all the crying and alcohol he had consumed. They’d meant well, he knew it, but it didn’t make their advice any easier to swallow.

He kicks off his shoes and hangs up his coat, then paddles to his bedroom, where Jjinppang was waiting for him, blinking sleepy from her spot on the bed. The sight of her, still so small and cozy, brought a small smile to his face. 

“Hey, baby,” he whispers in a high pitched voice, sinking down on the bed. Jjinppang stretches lazily, looking up at him with trusting, inquisitive eyes before rolling to her back, inviting his hand for a belly rub. Jimin grants, rubbing her soft fur gently, and she immediately starts to purr, her tiny paws stretching and curling in contentment.

“It was a long day, you know,” he says, an adoration in his voice as he watches her that sometimes catches him off guard. He had never thought he’d feel so deeply for a pet. “I swear, sometimes you’re the only being that doesn’t expect something out of me.”

The kitten chirps, eyes closed, and moves her head in the direction of his hand, and Jimin chuckles, feeling a bit of the tension lift off from his shoulders. He just sits there for a moment, letting his mind drift in the gentle quiet, her warmth a comforting anchor. Then, almost involuntarily, he begins to speak.

“My friends, they… They just don’t get me,” he says, laying back on the bed and staring up at the ceiling. “They think I’m blowing this thing with Jeongguk way out of proportion, that I’m exaggerating. But they don’t see it as I do, they don’t feel the same things as me. It’s not as simple as they make it out to be.” He stares at her, who now has her eyes open, staring at him intently. When she was younger, her eyes were tiny and a deep shade of blue, now, they are big and turning into a pretty hazel color. “But you know how it is, right? I’ve been talking to you about it enough.”

Jjinppang tilts his head and Jimin smiles at her. She gets up from her spot on the bed and makes herself comfortable on his chest—one of her favorite spots to lounge—and Jimin scratches her head affectionately as she begins to purr.

“I mean, sure, he’s great. And I… I think I really like him,” he admits, not feeling strange for voicing his problems out to his furry confidant, since it’s not the first time he’s doing so. “But what if it’s just… another mistake? Another thing I mess up because I don’t have it all figured out?”

Her purrs grow louder, and Jimin can feel when she starts to make biscuits on his chest and he interprets it as her way of comforting him. Jimin chuckles, rubbing his hands on his face as he stares at her. “And here you are—no commitments, no job, no problems, just happy that I came home. No judgment, no pressure, just… here.”

The words hang in the air and Jimin feels his heart tug, a confusing mixture of warmth and fear. Having Jjinppang around always feels so nice, a small taste of comfort and companionship he didn’t feel like he needed. But Jeongguk, the commitment felt so much bigger, so much riskier.

“What if it’s too much for me?” he whispers, almost to himself. “I know they think I’m running away, but maybe… maybe it’s just self-preservation, you know? Keeps things simple. No one gets hurt.”

But even as he says it, the words felt hollow. Jjinppang lets out a small meow, rubbing her head against his hand so he could keep petting her, and Jimin realizes how ridiculous it feels to be giving himself a pep talk through his cat. He goes back to patting Jjinppang’s head and leaves a kiss on top of it, laughing quietly while shaking his head.

“You probably think I’m being ridiculous, hm?” he says, his voice a mix of humor and sadness. “Maybe I am, I guess. But… It’s scary, letting someone in like that.” He looks down at her, a small smile on his face. “Letting you in was easy, because, well, you’re just you .”

He hugs her gently, cradling her against his chest so she could get closer to him, feeling her warmth and the steadiness of her purring. “But Jeongguk… he’s different. And I feel—I don’t know—out of control, I guess, feeling too much all at once. And I’ve never been good at handling that.”

Jjinppang nuzzles his chin, her little nose brushing his cheek, and he closes his eyes, feeling the pressure in his chest ease just a little. He can sense the comfort she was trying to offer in her own way, and he feels gratitude bubbling up in his chest in the middle of everything.

“Maybe I’m just scared,” he whispers, giving her another kiss to her head, but letting his lips longer a little more on top of it. “Scared of things changing. But… maybe that’s okay.” His voice softens, words coming out barely above a breath. “Maybe I need a little change.”

For a long while, he stays like that on the bed, laying down and holding her close as he tries to sort through the tangles of emotions inside of him. The doubts, the fears, the strange and stubborn hope that somehow, despite everything, it would all work out. And even though he didn’t have anything figured out—and he’s trying to accept that maybe he would never have—he felt a small, flickering sense of peace.

The day of Jjinppang’s vet appointment is coming in a few days. Jimin supposes he could wait until then to talk to Jeongguk, feeling like it will be better to face-off his feelings instead of through text messages on the phone, so Jeongguk can really see how he really feels.

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jeongguk arrives at the clinic a little earlier than usual, the morning light barely able to shine through the overcast sky. It looks like it’ll be a quiet, foggy day— too fitting , he thinks, for how drained he feels inside. He usually loves these peaceful mornings, the time he’d spend organizing files, checking his schedule and preparing his exam room before his patients arrive. But today, everything feels dulled and oddly hollow, as if it requires twice as much energy. 

He sets down a fresh pad of paper at the receptionist’s desk, organizing the pens in a neat pile, feeling drained but restless at the same time. His hands move almost automatically, but his mind always wanders back to Jimin. It has been a week since that fateful night, and yet every time he thinks of that moment, he feels the same pinch in his chest, like he’s holding on to a little shard of something sharp and he can’t let it go. He could still feel the quiet of Jimin’s apartment, the warm glow of the kitchen light, and the softness in Jimin’s eyes just before they kissed.

Maybe this was it. Maybe Jimin had finally realized that he deserves something different—something better. The thought gnawed at him. Despite the comfort he found in his work and the sense of purpose he has as a veterinarian, he knew it isn’t the picture-perfect job people work for, his parents always told him as much. So maybe, that was why Jimin had pulled back. Maybe he saw the job Jeongguk loved, that he’d chosen despite his family’s disapproval, and decided that maybe they were right. It wasn’t enough. He could get something better than that.

Maybe if Jeongguk didn’t tell him about what his parents’ thought of him, things would’ve been different now.

Jeongguk shakes his head, pulling himself back to the present. He grabs a clipboard and moves to double-check the supplies in every exam room. This routine usually brings him focus, gives him something tangible to work through before his workday really starts, but today—and the past few days—his concentration slips every few minutes. He catches himself standing still in one of the rooms, staring blankly at one of the walls as the memories replay in his mind for the millionth time.

A soft knock on the door startles him back to reality. It’s one of his colleagues, a vet tech named Hyein, accompanied by Yunjin, both of them peering in with gentle looks on their faces.

“You okay, oppa? You’ve been looking… distracted,” Yunjin asks softly. Jeongguk manages a small smile, unconvincing.

“Yeah, just… tired, I guess,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t have to worry about me, though. I’m okay.”

Hyein and Yunjin look unconvinced but don’t want to pry, so they both nod, lingering a bit longer by the door before leaving. When they’re out of sight, Jeongguk releases a heavy breath and forces himself to concentrate, continuing his rounds, his heart still feeling heavier than it should. Even Moghwa, who would usually wait for him in his office with his usual excitement, seems to notice his sour mood during the last few days; he nudges Jeongguk’s leg with his nose, and he crouches down, giving him a few pats.

“What do you think, bud?” he asks Moghwa, scratching his ears. “Do I look that out of it?” The dog huffs and nuzzles closer, his silent warmth helping steady him for a moment longer.

But as the morning goes on, memories and reminders keep sneaking in as they usually do, as if the universe is conspiring to keep Jimin in his thoughts. When his first client of the day arrives, it’s a tiny calico kitten, barely a few months old, with the same inquisitive, wide eyes as Jjinppang. As he begins his routine check-up, he can’t help but feel a pang in his chest. The kitten squirms in his hands, its small paws batting at him playfully, completely unaware of the memories it’s stirring up.

He manages a small smile as he checks its heartbeat, remembering the way Jjinppang had curled up in his hands the first time he held her. Jimin had watched so closely that day, his face lit with that nervous excitement, hanging on every piece of advice Jeongguk had offered.

The owner, a young woman with a warm smile, thanks him enthusiastically as he explains the kitten’s care needs. She probably didn’t notice his gaze drift off for a moment, or the slight hitch in his voice. Because in his mind, he’s somewhere else, thinking of that night at Jimin’s apartment and wondering if he’d ever get to experience a moment like that with him again.

He shakes his head, trying to pull himself back to the present as the woman gathers her things. The little calico meows, its tiny voice startling Jeongguk slightly as he hands it back. As the door swings shut, Jeongguk feels a bittersweet ache lingering—a reminder of something he’d let himself hope for, and maybe lost.

By the time he manages a break around midday, Jeongguk finds himself standing by the clinic window, gazing out absently. He pulls his phone from his pocket, thumb hovering over the messaging app where Jimin’s contact sits, unused. He wants so badly to reach out, to ask about Jjinppang, to pretend it’s just a casual check-in. But he can’t bring himself to do it.

“Still holding out hope, huh?” Mingyu asks, bringing Jeongguk out of his own mind. Mingyu leans by the door, crossing his arms, attempting to give him a teasing look, but the concern is clear in his eyes. Jeongguk gives him a rueful smile as he pockets his phone.

“Maybe I’m just a little too stubborn for my own good.” He chuckles humorlessly, feeling his ears heat up from embarrassment. 

Mingyu has witnessed almost every single breakdown Jeongguk had in one way or another, whether it was in person or through a few confused words Jeongguk would send him privately or in his group chat with Namjoon—who, bless him, still didn’t know everything about what had happened, but always tried to find some free time to send a few comforting words. So getting caught thinking about the very reason why he felt so broken inside was a little embarrassing, it made him feel stupid.

During the past few days, Jimin didn’t bring him anything but deep heartache, so not even Jeongguk himself can understand why his mind was so insistent on replaying the same moment that had brought nothing but pain. Or maybe he does understand, just doesn’t want to dwell on this thought too much, because what’s been going on inside of him is already too much to bear. 

ᓚᘏᗢ

The pale morning light is already filtering lightly through the curtains when Jimin wakes up with the sound of his alarm, almost making him jump out of his skin, his stomach twisting in knots the second he realizes that today was the day. He didn’t sleep well, turning in bed incessantly as he goes over everything he wants to tell Jeongguk in his mind, feeling the sickly rush in his nerves as he thought of the day he has ahead. He rolls over to his back, spreading out his limbs like a starfish and staring up at the ceiling as if somehow it can offer him some reassurance, but it never comes. Only the daunting realization that, in around two hours, he will be face-to-face with Jeongguk.

Jjinppang, oblivious to his turmoil, is curled up next to his head, her tiny breaths short and rhythmic. Jimin reaches out and absently pets her head as he goes over the plan in his mind once again. He’d spent every day from the night at Hoseok’s apartment to last night rehearsing, mentally crafting each word, shaping them into an apology that he could only hope would be sincere enough. He knows he had fucked things up between him and Jeongguk, and he owes him honesty, if nothing else.

But what if Jeongguk didn’t want to hear me out? The thought brings him a fresh wave of nausea. But Jimin closes his eyes, taking a steady breath. If Jeongguk doesn’t want to listen to him, then he will have to accept. It’s only fair, since he has basically done the same thing over the phone over two weeks ago. So he won’t push, won’t make it harder for him—he will just say his piece and let Jeongguk decide. 

He tries to sit up, but the anxiety is thick in his throat, keeping him glued to the bed. For a few moments, he just lays there, heart racing, feeling the weight of everything he wants to say. Jjinppang stirs, stretching out her little paws as if reminding him she was there, her warmth oddly soothing.

“Guess it’s just you and me, hm?” he murmurs to her. “You think I’m doing the right thing, right?”

She blinks up at him, wide-eyed and innocent, as if in encouragement. Jimin manages a small, nervous laugh, giving her another pat. It’s almost enough to ground him—almost.

Finally, he swung his legs out of the bed, forcing himself to get moving. He can hear the faint sound of the traffic from a few blocks down and the muffled sound of the shower running from the apartment next door, the world waking up around him. He takes another deep breath, reminding himself that his was it—one way or another, he needs to face whatever would come his way.

When he is ready, he gathers up Jjinppang’s things and makes sure her carrier is comfortable. She doesn’t seem to mind the commotion, watching him with curious eyes as he moves around, double-checking that he had everything.

The ride to Whiskers & Wags feels longer than usual, each step echoing with the words he wants to say, the questions he was afraid to ask. His heart is pounding the closer he gets to the clinic, his mind racing with uncertainty. By the time he reaches the door, he feels lightheaded, the nerves simmering in his chest.

Inside, the clinic feels familiar, with the usual faint smell of antiseptic and lavender. Jimin feels a wave of memories rushing through him as he remembers the first time he was here for Jjinppang’s first appointment, the way Jeongguk looked at him so kindly and eased his nerves with just his smile. Jimin had been so hesitant then, in unknown territory, and Jeongguk had eased him into it so effortlessly.

And then, in the waiting room, he finally sees him. Jeongguk is moving behind the front desk, speaking with a coworker, and Jimin’s heart leaps. He is struck by how familiar but distant Jeongguk looks, as though he was seeing him through a fog. But then Jeongguk turns and notices him, his expression softening just a fraction.

Jimin takes a deep breath, summoning his courage, pulse hammering. His eyes stay fixed on Jeongguk, hoping—praying—that everything will be alright. He braces himself, hoping to offer some kind of hopeful smile, maybe even a timid “hello” to ease the tension. But before he can even think about taking another step forward, a voice breaks through his anticipation.

“Jimin-ssi! Right on time,” someone says cheerfully, and Jimin whips his head fast, spotting Kim Mingyu, who is smiling cheerfully and with a clipboard in hand. He hadn’t even seen him coming his way. The tall veterinarian looks at him with an unreadable expression once his face is out of sight from everyone else but Jimin, his eyes flicking briefly toward Jjinppang in her carrier before settling on Jimin with a tight-lipped professionalism that can’t quite disguise the undertone of irritation. “Let’s get this little cutie checked out.”

Jimin feels his stomach drop and his heart falter. He manages a quick, polite bow at Mingyu, swallowing back his disappointment that has swept through him  and hoping it isn’t so clear on his face. All this time, he has mentally prepared himself for this moment—to see Jeongguk and finally clear the air. Now, that fragile plan crumbles, replaced by a strange, new type of hollowness.

“Right this way,” Mingyu says curtly, low enough only for Jimin to hear, motioning with a slight nod.

Jimin follows him, swallowing hard, his nerves spiking for an entirely new reason. Mingyu’s tone is clipped, each word coming out a little sharper than necessary, and Jimin’s throat tightens under the weight of it. He knows Jeongguk and Mingyu are close—he heard all the stories about how they had met each other in the army, stuck together through university and managed to get the same job, so how could they not be? And he knows, just by Mingyu’s look, that Jeongguk must have told him everything.

He tries to catch Mingyu’s eye, to gauge whether there is any kindness there, but the man keeps his focus on the task, setting up the exam room and muttering instructions to Jimin without even glancing his way.

“Put the carrier here. We’ll do a basic check up and then, hopefully, start to give her a few shots.”

He nods, placing Jjinppang’s carrier down as instructed, trying to stay calm under Mingyu’s mechanical movements. The tension feels stifling, and it seems like Mingyu is purposefully avoiding eye contact. And Jimin is a bit glad that it’s that way, because when Mingyu’s gaze flickers toward Jimin, he sees an unmistakable flash of frustration in his eyes that makes his cheeks red, makes him feel a bit uneasy.

Mingyu presses lightly along Jjinppang’s side, his touch careful and soft as he goes through the examination procedures. His voice, though carefully controlled, carries an edge that makes Jimin flinch.

“You know, Jeongguk doesn’t usually give out his number to clients. He likes to keep things pretty professional. So it was… surprising to hear he’d made an exception.”

Jimin freezes, his throat tightening. He knows where this is going, and yet he isn’t really sure how to respond.

“I—he didn’t… I mean, I didn’t think he’d feel—”

Mingyu cuts him off with a small, humorless laugh, shaking his head before looking directly into Jimin’s eyes. “Didn’t think he’d feel what? Didn’t think he’d take it seriously?” He sighs, picking up a notepad and jotting something down, his movements a bit too stiff. “Jeongguk’s not the type to mess around, Jimin-ssi. You either care or you don’t. Don’t lead him in just because you’re figuring things out. That’s not fair to him.”

Before Jimin can open his mouth to respond, Mingyu gestures for Jimin to hold Jjinppang. He does as such quickly.

“Hold her firmly,” he instructs, his words clipped and devoid of the warmth Jimin had witnessed before when he’d seen him talking to other clients. He tries his best to keep Jjinppang calm, holding her steadily while she wriggles, as if sensing what was coming, her tiny paws stretching up towards him as if seeking reassurance. He whispers softly to her, trying to soothe her as best as he could as Mingyu prepares a syringe.

“This will just be a quick booster,” he says, his tone professional but lacking any sort of softness when it’s directed to Jimin. “She might squirm, so keep her steady.”

Jimin takes a deep breath, calming himself down as much as Jjinppang, and watches as Mingyu gives the shot with precision and care. Jjinppang mewls softly, her little body flinching under Jimin’s hand, and he can’t help how his heart breaks and the wave of guilt washes over him as he listens to her cries.

“There, there,” Mingyu says softly to Jjinppang with a small smile, voice a bit high-pitched as he pats her head gently. But as his gaze flickers up briefly, catching Jimin’s expression, something flashes in his eyes—something almost like pity. But it disappears just as quickly, replaced by a sharp professionalism. “All done,” he tells Jimin with a quick nod.

Jimin strokes Jjinppang’s fur, murmuring reassurances to her as she settles back down, though her wide eyes and tiny shivers made it clear she was still on edge. He could feel the tension radiating from Mingyu, an unspoken disapproval hanging in the air between them.

“She’s lucky Jeongguk cares so much about his patients.” He begins, finally breaking through the silence, not looking up from Jjinppang’s medical record keeper he’s writing down on the desk. “I mean, I’m sure you know how he is.”

“I… yeah, I know. He’s… he’s great.” He swallows, feeling his face starting to burn up with shame for being put on the spot again. But he knows he deserves it.

Mingyu scoffs, just barely audible, his hand moving efficiently as he goes through what he’s written before continuing. “He had a rough week after the last time you two saw each other, you know.”

The words feel like a punch on the gut for Jimin, making his insides twist painfully. He shifts on his feet, feeling guilt flaring up.

“I didn’t mean to… I didn’t think—”

Mingyu straightens up, giving Jimin a measured look. “Listen, Jimin-ssi, I’m not here to lecture you,” he says, though his tone and the way he looked at him suggest he wouldn’t mind if he did. “But Jeongguk is a good guy. I just hope you’re not here to… fuck him up more.”

“I’m not.” Jimin’s cheeks burn. “I—I want to talk to him, actually. To apologize,” he says quietly. “I didn’t handle things well. It wasn’t my intention to hurt him. I’m… I’m not good at this, clearly.” He laughs humorlessly, trying to break the tension a bit.

Mingyu’s expression softens, though only slightly, as he looks at Jimin up and down and assesses his sincerity, and his mouth presses into a thin line. “Well, he deserves someone who is. Someone who won’t hesitate.” He pauses, closing Jjinppang’s record keeper and handing it to Jimin before folding his arms across his chest. “I’m not saying you’re a bad person, Jimin. Just… think about what you’re doing here. He’s been through enough.”

Jimin takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of Mingyu’s words settle heavily on his shoulders as he tries to fight back the tears threatening to bloom in his eyes. Every bit of guilt, his doubts, his confusion—it all felt sharper, as if his words had peeled back the protective layer he’d been trying to keep between himself and his feelings for Jeongguk.

“Look, whatever happened between you two, that’s your business. But just…” He pauses, gathering his thoughts before his voice softens just a bit after he takes a breath. “If you’re here because you’re serious, then maybe it’s worth saying something real. He deserves that much.”

Jimin nods, looking down at his feet. It’s almost laughable how a few pointed words from Mingyu has left him feeling like the ground beneath him was crumbling away. Here he is—a respected lawyer, known for his poise and calm even in the most heated courtrooms—now almost being brought to tears by subtle jabs from a veterinarian. Jimin is so used to facing high-stakes pressure, handling cases that could make or break careers, yet a few biting remarks had him unraveling faster than he would have believed. It’s absurdly humbling, realizing that, beneath all his accomplishments, he can be so thoroughly shaken by someone else’s judgment, especially when he knew it was deserved.

“Thank you, Mingyu-ssi. I…” He takes a deep breath, petting Jjinppang’s head for some courage. “I’ll talk to him, if he’ll let me,” he says, his tone more resolved, though his heart still feels like it’s trapped in his throat.

Mingyu nods curtly, packing up his stuff and barely glancing at Jimin.

“Good. He deserves that much, at least.” He takes a deep breath before glancing from his notepad to Jimin. His tone was still sharp, though professional, but there’s a bit of a sigh in it as he said the next words, as if he’d reluctantly softened for the sake of Jjinppang. “She’ll need to come back in three weeks for her next round of shots.”

Jimin nods, his gaze falling to Jjinppang as he nestles her back in the carrier. “Three weeks,” he repeats quietly, nodding to himself again and making a mental note.

Mingyu’s gaze lingers on Jimin, and for a moment, his expression softens further, as though he couldn’t quite hold on to his frustration with Jimin in the face of his clear affection for the kitten.

“Just remember to keep an eye on her for the next few days. Sometimes kittens are a little bit sore after the shots, but she should be fine.”

“Thank you,” Jimin says, managing a small, appreciative smile as he shifts the carrier in his hands and bows to Mingyu. There is a gravity in the vet’s gaze as he gives Jimin a short bow back, his eyes never leaving him. 

“And maybe… think about what you want by the time you come back.”

Jimin swallows, the weight of Mingyu’s words just getting heavier. He knows he isn’t talking about Jjinppang, and when he said ‘come back’, he didn’t mean to the clinic, but to Jeongguk. 

“I will,” he replies, voice steady, though his heart is pounding with anxious resolve.

Without another word, he turns to leave, feeling out of breath and with his mind racing through all the things he wants to say to Jeongguk.

His stomach twists as he steps out the door to the sidewalk, the memory of Mingyu’s cold, clipped tone echoing in his mind. It’s one thing to worry whether or not he’s hurt Jeongguk and to what extent; it’s another to face the fact that he has hurt him so deeply that he doesn’t even want to look at him. The idea gnaws at him, a restless ache that reminds him of every missed message, every avoided thought, every time he had convinced himself that pulling back was the right thing to do. Now he can see the impact he has left—a wound so raw that not even Jeongguk’s friend could hide his anger. Jimin wonders, with anxiety threatening to eat him alive, if he closed a door that couldn’t be reopened, if the only person who’s sparked something real in him is now too hurt to ever see him in the same way.

Chapter Text

The entire day, Jimin is a mix of jittery nerves and half-hearted attempts to focus. He has plenty of tasks on his plate—a court filing that was due by noon, a client's case review to prep, and a stack of documents to scan through. But every time he manages to get into a rhythm, his mind would drift back to Jeongguk.

After Jimin stepped out of the clinic, the weight of the interaction with Mingyu hung heavily on him, sinking his initial resolve. The idea of patching things up with Jeongguk in a simple, straightforward conversation suddenly felt naive, like he’d overlooked the tangled feelings left behind. He’d gone in thinking he could lay it all out—apologies, explanations, maybe even hope—but seeing Mingyu’s expression, feeling the resentment in every clipped word, had shaken him.

This is raw and real and a lot more painful than he’d let himself admit, more than just a misunderstanding or a simple fix. It isn’t something he can resolve in a few minutes by a reception desk or in the soft-lit quiet of an exam room. He needs to find a different time, a different place—one where they can both open up, where Jeongguk will know that he truly means every word. He needs to be honest in a way that goes beyond the convenience of a clinic visit. 

So Jimin’s mind is set as he leaves the clinic, determination sharpening each step. He needs to explain himself fully to Jeongguk—face to face, without the rushed awkwardness of a text or a brief, stilted exchange. This conversation has to happen somewhere they could both feel grounded, somewhere Jeongguk won’t feel blindsided or trapped. He will tell Jeongguk everything, even if it means laying bare every vulnerable, hesitant part of himself that he usually keeps buried deep. For once, he won’t let fear hold him back.

After mid-morning, he manages to bury himself in some paperwork, sorting through legal briefs and marking up notes with almost frantic energy. The steady, rhythmic routine of annotating points, highlighting key terms, and compiling the client’s case file gives him a fleeting sense of normalcy. But as soon as he looks up and sees the clock ticking past eleven, his stomach tightens. One hour less to see Jeongguk.

There’s this uncomfortable twinge of guilt—of remembering Jeongguk’s face that night, how hopeful and open he’d looked before Jimin pulled away and the heartbreak Jimin caused after that—tugging at his heart and looming over his head. So he decides to take a break, stepping out to grab coffee. He rarely takes breaks around this time, but today it feels inevitable, like an excuse so he can try to take his mind away from his own thoughts.

“Huh? Since when do you take any breaks before lunch?” Lee Haneul, one of his coworkers, jokes as she spots him on his way back to his office from the break room. “Don’t tell me the big, bad attorney is actually losing his focus.”

Jimin chuckles, but his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, I guess today’s just one of those days.” Haneul raises her eyebrows, looking at him curiously, but she decides to shrug it off.

“Well, just try not to slack too hard, or people will start wondering if you’re human.”

“Noted,” Jimin replies, forcing a grin as Haneul walks off.

Wondering if I’m human. What a fucking great time to get told that. Jimin thinks to himself, taking a deep breath. Like I haven’t been called heartless enough today to last a lifetime.

As the hours tick by, the nerves only grow stronger. He catches himself glazing at his phone more often than usual, checking his messages and checking the time through every device he has in his office—on the clock in the corner of his computer screen, his phone, the clock on the wall—as if the time will go by quickly. He’ll want the day to go faster and yet will wish to have more time to prepare. He mentally runs through all the things he wants to say to Jeongguk, the apologies he needs to make and the things he has to explain.

By mid-afternoon, Jimin’s focus had dissolved completely. He can’t ignore the anxious thudding of his heart or the way his palms feel a bit clammy just thinking about everything. He’s already resolved to go to Jeongguk’s place right after work, but the “what ifs” are eating away at him.

What if Jeongguk doesn’t want to see him? What if he has completely misread everything, and showing up is a mistake?

His thoughts are cut off by a notification. Glancing down and unlocking his phone, he sees a picture Taehyung has sent—Jjinppang, eyes bright and looking slightly confused as she sniffed a new, colorful toy.

TAEHYUNGIE

Attached picture.

Look at this little troublemaker!!

Don’t worry, I’ve got her covered

Jimin’s lips curve into a small, grateful smile. His friends have always come through when he needed them. He had asked Taehyung earlier to stop by at Jimin’s apartment sometime during the day to check on her, since Jimin has no idea how long he’d stay out at Jeongguk’s house, it can be two minutes or an entire night. Knowing Jjinppang is doing good and being taken care of makes his decision feel more certain.

PARK JIMIN

Thank you so much, Taehyungie

I love you

But if I come back home and she’s more spoiled, I’m coming for you

With a little less tension on his shoulders, Jimin takes a deep breath. Just a few more hours, he tells himself, glancing at the clock once more. He can get through today, through this agonizing waiting game. 

He is going to Jeongguk’s house. No matter how nerve-wracking the thought of standing on his doorstep feels, or how much he fears the possibility of rejection. Jimin knows he owes Jeongguk this. This conversation was long overdue, and every moment he catches himself hesitating makes the weight of it heavier. He just hopes he can find the right words. 

The rest of the afternoon is a blur, his usual drive and productivity slipping under the weight of everything he was feeling. He takes a few more coffee breaks and feels Haneul’s eyes on him every time he walks out of his office to the break room. And, by the time he wraps up all his tasks, it’s already nighttime, later than he was expecting, but he’s still resolute. His hands feel a bit unsteady as he packs his things and grabs his coat. He is out of the office and down the elevator before he could second-guess himself.

Jimin decides at the last minute to stop by a small, cozy takeout restaurant he likes to go to sometimes before heading to Jeongguk’s, thinking of bringing something with him for them both. It isn’t too far out of the way, and he figures showing up with food might ease the tension between them, even if it’s just a little bit.

After carefully studying the menu—and hoping that, from now on, he would always be able to do things for Jeongguk with care, just like now—Jimin settles on kimchi jiggae, warm and hearty, with a side of rice, vaguely remembering Jeongguk mentioning how much he likes it.

He holds the bags in the passenger seat tightly with one hand while driving to Jeongguk’s apartment and, as the familiar building shows up the closer he gets, the more his heart feels like it’s going to jump out of his chest. Jimin parks, gathers the food on his lap and takes a deep breath. His hands feel clammy as he gets in the building, wiping them on his pants as he finds apartment 13 on the first floor and rings the doorbell, waiting to finally hear Jeongguk’s voice after so long—or at least the mechanical click of the door unlocking.

But there’s no response.

Jimin frowns and tries again, pressing more firmly this time. But there’s still nothing. A sinking feeling settles on his chest. Jeongguk is not home.

For a moment, he just stays there, frozen. He grabs his phone and opens their text messages, scrolling through them and debating if he should call or text.  But he doesn’t want to appear so upfront—or worse, desperate, at least not now. But a second thought dawns on him, one that’s much worse and makes his throat tighten: maybe he is home, saw Jimin through the peephole and decided to ignore and watch him act like a fool, just like how Jimin had done to him.

Jimin wouldn’t blame him, though, he probably deserves every ounce of humiliation that comes his way for being such a dick. So instead of leaving immediately, he decides he will linger longer at the entrance, sitting down on the floor and hoping that Jeongguk might be walking down the street right now, almost home, maybe even with Moghwa in tow.

But the minutes stretch and the chill of the night air enters the corridor and seeps through his coat. Jimin shifts uncomfortably on the cold floor, the takeout bags resting beside him. The smell of food is deciding to waft up, teasing his empty stomach, but he ignores it. His thoughts are louder than the hunger, anyways. What if Jeongguk won’t come back anytime soon? What if he’s staying out all night?

Every now and then, the sound of footsteps and muffled chatter echo faintly through the hallways and Jimin straightens himself up, mentally preparing himself to see Jeongguk, only to be disappointed when it isn’t him. A few neighbors walk past him, their curious gazes lingering longer than Jimin is comfortable with. But he doesn’t judge, would probably stare a second longer than necessary if he saw someone dressed as fancy as him looking as hopeless as he is.

One older woman gives him a particularly scrutinizing look, one that Jimin hopes he’ll laugh at in the future, her brows furrowed and lips tightened as she tries to figure out what the hell he’s doing sitting on the corner like a stray cat.

“Are you lost?” she asks, clutching her grocery bag a little bit too close to herself.

Jimin shakes his head quickly, offering her a polite smile that he hopes doesn’t make him look like he’s crazy. “No, ajumeoni, I’m just waiting for someone.”

She nods, looking skeptical at him but not wanting to stay longer, muttering something under her breath as she walks past him. Jimin gives her a small bow before she turns away from him, exhaling loudly when she’s out of sight, pressing his hands on his face and feeling the heat of embarrassment creep up his neck. This is fucking ridiculous. Why won’t he just go home? Or check to see if Jeongguk is even nearby?

The corridor falls silent again. Jimin leans his head against the wall, letting his eyes fall shut for a second. His mind replays every word he plans to say to Jeongguk, each line feeling more awkward and inadequate than the last the more he ponders on them. He’s so lost in his own overthinking that he almost misses the sounds of footsteps approaching.

At first, he doesn’t react, not feeling like fooling himself a fourth—or was it fifth?—time for thinking it’s Jeongguk. But then, a familiar voice broke through his haze.

“Ji-Jimin hyung?”

His eyes snap open and he whips his head around. Standing at the end of the hallway is Jeongguk, Moghwa’s leash in one hand, a grocery bag in the other and a backpack on his back. His hair is a bit damp from the light drizzle outside and his eyes are wide, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

Jimin blinks, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, he can’t speak, can’t move. The sight of Jeongguk, so familiar yet so distant, is enough to knock the breath out of him.

“Were you… waiting for me?” Jeongguk asks, voice softer, trembling slightly as he takes a step closer, brows knitting in confusion. Moghwa tries to get as close to Jimin as his leash allows him, trying to sniff him.

Jimin scrambles to his feet, suddenly aware of how ridiculous he must look, sitting on the floor with a takeout bag like some sort of lovesick fool. He tries to hide the way his lower back screams at him as he straightens himself and pats his pants faster than normal.

“I—yeah. I mean, yes . I—uh—brought food. For you. For us. If you want to talk.”

He has to fight himself back from letting out a long breath when he finally takes in Jeongguk’s face from up close. There are small droplets of water running down his nose and cheeks from the rain, his big eyes are fixed on Jimin, full of emotion—the same way it did back at Jimin’s apartment, but, this time, with a hint of pain and sadness flashing through them—watching his every move as if Jimin was a ticking time bomb. His lips are getting redder from how hard he’s nibbling at them since he’s spotted Jimin and he’s trying to hide the way his chin wobbles. He was a bit taller than Jimin, broader, but now, he looks small.

Jimin desperately wishes he can skip to the future, to the part where he has already figured everything out so he could just hold Jeongguk close and kiss him like he should’ve done back then.

Jeongguk’s eyes flicker down to the bag of food, shooting back up at Jimin’s face quickly. There is another pause, a heartbeat of silence that feels like an eternity, before Jeongguk nods quickly, averting his gaze to anywhere else that isn’t Jimin, biting his lips with a bit more force.

“Okay,” he says simply, voice hardly above a whisper.

Jimin’s grip on the bag tightens as he tries to steady his breathing, heart on his throat. It isn’t much, but it is a start. Baby steps , Jimin thinks to himself as he lets Jeongguk walk past him to unlock the door to both of them and Moghwa, that is sniffing his shoes curiously, tail up in alert, probably sensing the uneasiness in Jeongguk.

Jeongguk hands Jimin the grocery bag and backpack without a word, their fingers brushing briefly. The contact is fleeting, but it sends a jolt through Jimin’s chest, a painful reminder of how much he misses the ease they once had. Jeongguk’s eyes don't quite meet his as he murmurs a small thank you before crouching down to unclip Moghwa’s leash and remove his sweater and dog shoes and take off his boots. Moghwa shakes his fur and paddles to his bed in the corner of the living room, letting out a small sigh.

Jimin follows Jeongguk inside after he struggles to take off his own shoes and hang his coat in the hanger, clutching the grocery and the takeout bags tighter than necessary in one hand while holding the backpack on the other. The quietness of the apartment is almost suffocating, broken only by the rain paddling lightly outside and the rustling of the plastic bags as Jimin sets the groceries and takeout on the kitchen countertop. Jimin looks around, seeing a bit of Jeongguk in every single corner of the apartment, but the coziness doesn’t embrace him like it likely would have done in any other occasion .

“You can give me my backpack,” Jeongguk says softly, breaking the silence. His tone was neutral, polite even, but there was an undertone of hesitation that Jimin couldn’t ignore. When their hands touch again as Jimin hands him the backpack, he notices how Jeongguk pulls back like Jimin has burned him. Jimin tries to hide the hurt on his eyes. “I’ll—uh—I’ll just take a quick shower, since, you know, I was at work and got caught in the rain and all.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll wait here.” Jimin breathes out, voice low and nodding, not trusting his own voice. “We don’t want you getting sick.” He smiles small, a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, unsure of what else to say and even if what he had said was too much.

Jeongguk nods, looking at his own hands. He looks like he’s hesitating for a moment, as if he wants to say more, but instead, he turns and disappears down the hallway towards his bedroom. A door softly clicks shut, leaving Jimin alone in the living room.

Jimin sinks on the couch, his hands running through his head anxiously as he tries to collect his thoughts. The awkwardness in the air is almost unbearable, it makes him want to scream in frustration, a constant reminder of everything unsaid between them. He leans back, staring at the ceiling, willing himself to calm down. He had rehearsed this moment countless times in his head, yet now, the words felt distant and out of reach. No matter how much he had planned for this exact moment, the realization that it won’t play out exactly like he had planned in his mind makes him nauseous.

As a lawyer, Jimin is no stranger to pressure. He has mastered the art of staying composed when things went south in the courtroom, spinning setbacks into opportunities flawlessly. It’s second nature to him—a skill perfected through years of practice. So this situation, he tells himself, is almost the same thing. He just needs to present his case, explain himself, and hope for a favorable outcome.

Yet, what makes him nervous now isn’t the confrontation itself—it was the fact that, for the first time, he isn’t arguing a point from behind a professional mask. Here, in Jeongguk’s living room, he isn’t the polished, unflappable attorney. He’s just Jimin, exposed and vulnerable in a way he has never allowed himself to be before.

Moghwa paddles over, pulling Jimin out of his own torturing thoughts, his nails clicking softly against the floor, and sniffling down at Jimin’s feet. He gazes up at him with curious eyes, his tail wagging gently now that he assesses that Jimin is no danger. He reaches down to scratch him behind the ears, grateful for the small distraction.

“Hey, bud,” he whispers, his voice barely audible. “Do you think he’ll even want to listen to me?”

Moghwa gives a soft huff, resting his head on his bare feet as if offering silent reassurance. Jimin smiles faintly, but it doesn’t last much. His mind races with doubts. What if Jeongguk has already decided he’s done? What if I’m too late to fix things?

The sound of the shower running echoes faintly through the apartment, a reminder of Jeongguk’s presence just a few doors away. It’s strange—despite how close they are physically, the emotional distance between them makes Jimin feel hopeless.

When the water finally shuts off, Jimin’s heart skips a beat. He straightens up, smoothing invisible wrinkles from his pants, trying to look composed. Moments later, Jeongguk emerges from the hallway, dressed in sweatpants and a loose hoodie, his hair still damp and curling slightly at the edges—looking so boyfriend that Jimin can’t help the way his heart skips a beat amidst all the feelings going on inside of him. He looks more relaxed, but there is a carefulness to his expression that makes Jimin’s chest tighten.

Jeongguk hesitates at the end of the hallway, his hands tucked in his hoodie’s pockets. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” he says softly, gaze flicking from Jimin to the takeout bags. “Did you eat already?”

Jimin shakes his head, his voice quieter than he intended. “No. I thought we could eat together. If… if that’s okay?”

Jeongguk nods, lips curving up into a faint, almost invisible smile. “Yeah. That’s fine.”

They move to the kitchen in silence, the weight of their unspoken, unresolved feelings hanging heavily in the air. Both of them know that dinner is just a prelude to the real reason Jimin is here, but neither dares to bring it up. For now, they let the unpacking and setting the table flow acting as a buffer, a small reprieve before they face their own feelings.

The living room is dimly lit, the soft glow of a few small lamps casting long shadows across the walls. Jimin learns then, sitting on the armchair with his back straight, hands clasped in his lap to keep them from fidgeting, that Jeongguk is a mood lighting kind of guy. It helps with the coziness, Jimin supposes, making the environment more relaxing in a way. Today, though, it wasn’t enough to ease Jeongguk, who has sunk into the couch, his posture closed off as he hugs his legs to his chest, his socked feet barely brushing the edge of the cushion. His gaze is fixed downward, as though the intricate patterns of the rug hold the answers to all his uneasiness.

Jimin shifts slightly in his seat, the leather creaking beneath him, the sound almost deafening in the heavy silence, making him grimace. The stiffness in the room is suffocating, each second passing making his chest feel tighter. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it, unsure how he’s supposed to cut through the barrier between them. His throat feels dry and his heart is pounding louder than he wants to admit.

“Who should go first?” he finally manages to force out the question after what felt like an eternity. His voice is soft, almost tentative, as though anything louder than that will shatter the fragile stillness between them.

Jeongguk doesn’t look up, but Jimin can see the slight tensing of his shoulders and the way his arms tighten around his legs. He hesitates for a moment, then finally speaks, his voice quiet and unsteady. “I will.”

Jimin nods and gives him space to gather his thoughts. He leans back a bit, his arms gripping the armrest as he tries to steady his breathing. He can’t read Jeongguk’s expression, can’t tell if the stiffness in his posture is anger, sadness, or something else entirely. All he knows is that Jeongguk looks smaller than he’s ever looked before, like the weight of the world has been pressing down on his shoulders for far too long.

Jeongguk finally lifts his head slightly, attempting to look at Jimin in the eyes but quickly averting his gaze and pressing his lips in a thin line before he exhales shakily. “I can’t stop thinking about this—about you, about us—since that night in your apartment,” he begins, his words slow and deliberate, as if choosing them carefully. “And I don’t know where to start, because I’ve also been feeling so many different things at once. I don’t even know if there’s a right way to say it.”

Jimin swallows hard, bracing himself for whatever is coming next.

“I—I was so hopeful at first, you know?” Jeongguk continues, his voice trembling a bit, his arms tightening around his legs. “Like maybe this was a start of something nice, something… real. But then you ignored me after I sent you that text asking about Jjinppang… and that hope… it started fading the longer I didn’t hear from you. At first, I thought that maybe you needed time, and I wanted to give you that, Jimin, I really did. I kept telling myself, Jeongguk, don't rush. People need space sometimes. But then… every time I checked my phone and there was nothing—no call, no text—it just kept chipping away at me. It felt more and more like I was naive, waiting for something that wasn’t going to come.”

Jimin’s face crumples, but Jeongguk doesn’t look up to see it. He wants to speak, to say something, anything, but the weight of Jeongguk’s pain renders him tongue-tied.

Jeongguk lets out a shaky breath, his shoulders sinking further. “I started replaying that night in my head over and over,” he continues, his voice quieter, tinged with guilt. “And the more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself that I’d done something wrong. That kissing you…” His voice falters and he swallows hard, his throat bobbing as he struggles to continue. “That I’d forced something on you. That I pushed you into something you didn’t want.”

“No,” Jimin interrupts, his voice breaking as tears well in his eyes. He shakes his head vehemently, his hands clutching the armrest for support. “Jeongguk-ah, no. You didn’t force me, I—”

“No, just let me finish,” Jeongguk says, his voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t help but think I messed it all up. That I took what could’ve been something beautiful and ruined it by being fucking selfish.” His lips quiver and he takes a shaky breath, blinking fast to keep his own emotions in check. “And then, I started wondering if maybe… maybe it wasn’t just the kiss. Maybe it was me. Maybe you realized…” He hesitates, his voice growing even quieter, to the point that Jimin leans forward a bit. “That you agree with what my parents think, since, you know, I told you about them that night. So maybe you saw that I wasn’t enough for you.”

Jimin’s breath hitches audibly, his tears now flowing freely. “Jeongguk-ah, no,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. He moves to the edge of his seat as though he wants to close the space between them, but Jeongguk doesn’t look up. “That’s not true, I’d never think about you this way.”

“No, it’s okay,” Jeongguk mutters, his head still bowed. “I get it, I do. I mean, I’ve thought about it before myself. You know… maybe they’re right, and I’m just… chasing something that’ll never really be enough for someone like you.” He sniffs quietly, a bitter smile ghosted across his lips. “You’re everything I’m not—successful, respected, confident. And me… I’m—I’m worth nothing.”

“Jeongguk, stop. Please. You have no Idea how wrong you are.”

Jeongguk finally looks up, his expression full of hurt, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Do I?” he asks softly, his tone laden with vulnerability. “The thing is, I don’t even know if I’m right or wrong, Jimin. I’ve been stuck in my own head because… you never said anything.” His voice grows heavier, full of frustration and sorrow. “When I messaged you, asking if we could talk, and you just ignored me…Do you have any idea how that felt? I kept telling myself, maybe he’s busy, maybe he needs more time. But every day that went by with nothing… I started to lose hope. And when you don’t get closure—when you’re left in this silence—your head just starts making up shit.”

“Jeongguk-ah, I—”

“No. Please, let me finish.” Jeongguk shakes his head, his voice growing shakier. “I get that you were scared, hyung. I really do. But when you’re left feeling so hopeless, when you don’t hear anything, it’s like your brain starts spiraling into all these what-ifs. Was it the kiss? Did I push too hard? Did he feel obligated? Did he regret it?” His breath hitches and he tries to control his emotions. “I just… I needed to hear something from you, anything, even if it was just to tell me to let go.”

Jimin’s eyes brim with tears and he takes in a shaky breath, gripping his knees to steady himself. “I know. I know, Jeongguk-ah. I understand what it feels like.”

“Do you?” Jeongguk frowns, the confusion clear in his eyes.

Jimin nods, his voice trembling as he begins to speak. “My head’s been doing the same thing, making up its own scenarios. Only mine… mine convinced me that I was doing the right thing by not reaching out. Not because I thought I was too good for you, Jeongguk-ah, but because…” His voice cracks and he takes another shaky breath before continuing, “Because I thought you were too good for me.”

Jeongguk freezes, his arms lowering slightly from where they’ve been wrapped around his legs. “What?”

“You don’t see it, but you’re incredible. You have this passion for what you do, this kindness in the way you care for everyone—animals, people…” He swallows hard, his hands now trembling in his lap, “me. You make people feel safe, seen. And I’m… I’m this guy who buries himself in work, who doesn't know how to fucking enjoy life, who pushes people away because I’m scared of letting them get too close. You deserve someone who won’t do that to you, Jeongguk. Someone who won’t screw it all up like I did.”

Jeongguk stares at him, lips parting slightly as he tries to process Jimin’s words.

“So… that’s why you ghosted me? Because you thought I deserved better?”

Jimin nods slowly, feeling like crying now, not only because of the pain he caused on Jeongguk, but also from shame as the realization of how stupid his own actions were starts to sink in.

“I thought I was doing what was best for you. That letting go was the right thing, even if it hurt me more than I could’ve imagined. But it didn’t make anything better—it only made everything worse. And now… I don’t know how to fix it, Jeongguk, but I really want to.”

The weight of the room settles between them. Jeongguk doesn’t say anything at first, arms still wrapped around his legs and his gaze locked on Jimin’s tear stained face. The raw vulnerability in Jimin’s words lingers in the air. Jeongguk is slowly moving past his own hurt, but he’s still trying to understand a lot of things. His chest feels tight, his emotions swirling in a confusing mixture of heartbreak, hope and hesitation.

When he breaks the silence, his voice is soft but steady, “You… you thought you were doing what was best for me? By disappearing?”

Jimin nods, feeling the weight of Jeongguk’s eyes on him, but feeling too ashamed to stare back at him. “It sounds ridiculous now, I know. But at the time… I had convinced myself that you’d be better off without me, That you didn’t need someone like me messing up your life.”

Jeongguk shakes his head slowly, his expression unreadable. “Messing up my life?” He huffs. “Jimin, do you even realize how happy you made me during the short time we spent together? You—” He stops himself, swallowing thickly as his voice cracks. “I never felt like you were messing anything up. You just… you just assumed what I wanted without you even asking me how I was really feeling.”

Jimin flinches at the words, guilt clawing at his chest. “You’re right. I did assume. I didn't give you the chance to tell me what you wanted. I didn’t give us a chance.” His voice falters, he opens his hands on his lap and starts playing with his fingers. “And I regret it every single day.”

Jeongguk leans back slightly, letting his legs stretch out in front of him, but he keeps his arms crossed over his chest like a shield. “Do you know what hurt the most, Jimin?”

Jimin shakes his head, his lips wobbling and his throat tightening.

“It wasn’t just the silence or ghosting,” Jeongguk says, his voice quieter now. “It was that I thought we were on the same page. That night, when we kissed… I thought you felt it too. I thought we had something real.” He lets out a bitter laugh, his eyes glistening. “But then, I didn’t hear from you, and all I could think was whether or not I had imagined it all.”

“You weren’t wrong,” Jimin blurts out, finally getting the courage to look Jeongguk in the eyes, his voice rising slightly in desperation. “You weren’t wrong, Jeongguk-ah, I felt it too. That’s what scared me. Because it wasn’t just some fleeting crush or a moment of attraction. What I felt for you was… it is something stronger than anything I’ve felt before. And that terrified me.”

Jeongguk blinks, his lips parting in surprise at Jimin’s confession. “You are scared… because you like me too much?”

“Yeah… And instead of dealing with it like a grown adult, I ran. I thought I was saving us both from what I assumed would happen if we tried and failed. I thought I was saving you from me.”

Jeongguk looks at him softly, a sad smile tugging at his lips. “You’re always trying to control the outcome, aren’t you? Like you’re in a courtroom, thinking of every strategy possible. But life doesn’t work like that, Jimin. People don’t work like that. You can’t plan love the way you plan your cases.”

Jimin lets out a shaky breath, his lips pressing together as he processes Jeongguk’s words. “You’re right,” he admits softly. “I’ve spent so much of my life trying to control everything. My work, my relationships, my emotions. But with you… I couldn’t. And instead of letting myself feel that and embrace it, I panicked.”

Jeongguk doesn’t respond immediately, rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes flickering to the corner of the room as he tries to gather his thoughts.

“I get it,” he finally says. “I’ve panicked before too. When I felt my parents’ house, when I chose a career they didn’t support. I know what it's like to feel like you’re going to disappoint someone no matter what you do. But… I never expected to feel that way with you.”

Jimin’s heart sinks. “I never wanted to make you feel that way,” he whispers and Jeongguk lets out a humorless laugh, smiling sadly at him once again.

“I know. But that doesn’t change the fact that you did.” He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, meeting Jimin’s gaze head-on. “Do you even know how hard it’s been, trying to convince myself to move on? While every single thing around me somehow reminded me of you, our moments together, Jjinppang, regardless of how much I kept telling myself that you probably didn’t care as much as I did?”

“I did care,” Jimin says quickly, his voice cracking. “I do care, Jeongguk. I never stopped.”

“Do you really want this?” Jeongguk asks, voice soft but firm. “Do you want us , Jimin ? Because I can’t do this halfway.”

Jimin looks at him, his tear-filled eyes shining with determination. “Yes. I want us. I was stupid to let you go, Jeongguk. But if you’ll let me, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right.”

The room falls silent again, the weight of their words hanging heavily between them. Jeongguk’s expression softens just slightly, but the hurt is still evident in his eyes. “You say that now, but… how do I know you won’t run again the next time things get hard?” Jimin immediately opens his mouth to say something, but he quickly shuts it. Jeongguk looked like he had more things to say, emotions swirling in his eyes—hurt, hesitation, and something else. Something warmer. He rubs the back of his neck and then, slowly, he exhales. “But I don’t want time either, Jimin.”

Jimin blinks, eyes wide. “You don’t?”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “I’ve had too much time to think already, and all it’s done is make me fucking miserable. So no. I don’t want more distance. I don’t want to sit here and wonder what things could’ve been. I want…” He hesitates, his gaze dropping to his hands before flicking back up to Jimin’s face. “I want to try it. With you. If you’re willing to do the same.”

Jimin feels his heart flutter in his chest. He hadn’t expected Jeongguk to say that, not after everything he’d put him through. He supposes he should stop doing that. And now that Jeongguk’s feelings are out there, he can’t deny how much he wants the same thing. “You… really mean that?” he asks softly, his voice trembling just slightly.

“I do,” Jeongguk says firmly. “But I think we need to go slow. Like… baby steps.” he lets out a small, nervous laugh, his lips twitching into the fattest hint of a smile. “I don’t wanna rush into something we’re not ready for. I want to make sure we get it right.”

Jimin feels his throat tighten with emotion. For weeks, he had convinced himself he didn’t deserve another chance with Jeongguk, that he had ruined any possibility of something real between them. But now, here Jeongguk was, offering them both a tentative way forward. “Baby steps,” he echoes, a small, watery smile blooming on his lips. “I can do that. We will take it slow.”

Jeongguk nods, his shoulders, relaxing slightly for the first time that evening.

“Yeah. No pressure. No expectations. Just… seeing where it goes.”

“Seeing where it goes,” Jimin repeats, his heart thudding in his chest. He lets out a shaky breath, his fingers gripping the edge of the armchair as he tries to steady himself. “I promise, Jeongguk. I’ll do my best not to mess up again. I want to try. With you.” 

Jeongguk’s smile softens that, and though it doesn’t fully reach his eyes yet, there was a flicker of hope in his expression that hadn’t been there before. “That’s all I’m asking for,” he says quietly.

For the first time in what feels like forever, detention in the room begins to ease. They aren’t fixed, and they both knew it would take some time—maybe even a lot of time. But for now, there is a tentative agreement, a shared understanding that they wanted to move forward together.

Jimin leans back in his chair, his heart is still racing, but the anxiety that had been gripping him for weeks is slowly beginning to loosen its hold. Across the room, Jeongguk mirrors the reaction, his legs stretching out in front of him as he lets out a long, steady breath.

“So,” Jimin says after a moment, his cheeks pink and his voice light, but still a little shaky. “What’s the first baby step?”

Jeongguk chuckles softly, the sound low and a little rusty, but genuine. “I think the first step is figuring that out together.”

They exchange small, tentative smiles. For the first time, they aren’t walking away from each other. They are moving towards something—slowly, cautiously, but together. And that is enough.

Jeongguk glances at Jimin after some time, looking at hoe he's zoned out, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. The weight in the room has lightened just enough for him to tease, testing the waters of their fragile new beginning. “You know,” he says, tone a bit more casual. Jimin’s eyes snap up at him, “you can come sit next to me if you want. I don’t bite.”

Jimin blinks at him, caught off guard by the second shift in his stone. He hesitates, his eyes staring at the empty space beside Jeongguk on the couch. “Uh... I’m fine here,” he stammers, though the pink rising in his cheeks gives away his nervousness.

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow, his grin widening. “What, is proximity too fast for you?” he teases, leaning back against the cushions with exaggerated nonchalance. Jimin’s jaw drops, his face flushing deeper.

“I—that’s not—It’s not like that,” he splutters, completely flustered. He buries his face and his hands for a moment, letting out an embarrassed laugh before finally gathering enough courage to shuffle over. His movements are hesitant, almost reluctant, but he perches on the edge of the couch beside Jeongguk, leaving a careful gap between them. Jeongguk watches everything with an adoring smile and adoration in his eyes. 

“There,” Jimin mumbles, glancing at Jeongguk from under his lashes, trying to hide the way his heart was beating fast inside of him. “Happy?”

Jeongguk chuckles softly, his gaze warm as he looks at him. “Never been happier,” he says, mocking seriousness, but with a hint of truth behind his voice. Then, leaning back, he adds, “You know, I was just joking. You didn’t have to get all flustered.”

Jimin lets out a small, sheepish laugh, covering his face again. “I know, you’re just impossible,” he mutters, though there was no real annoyance in his tone. Jeongguk giggles.

But as Jeongguk’s laugh dies down, Jimin grows quiet, his hands, that were still on his face, lowers slowly. Jeongguk notices the way his shoulders begin to shake slightly and, before he can ask, he sees it—a few tears falling down Jimin’s cheeks. And his heart drops.

“Hey,” he says softly, his playfulness melting into concern. He leans forward, watching as Jimin wipes his eyes and sniffles. “What’s wrong, hyung? Did I say something—”

“No,” he croaks, his voice shaky but sure. “It’s not that.” He sniffles, letting out a small, choked laugh and looking at Jeongguk with a smile slowly blooming in his face, his eyes turning into half moons and a few tears falling from it. “I’m just… I’m so relieved. And happy. I didn’t think—I didn’t think we’d be here, talking like this. I thought I ruined everything.”

“Hyung,” Jeongguk murmurs, reaching out to rest a hand in his arm, feeling his heart ache at Jimin’s words. “You didn’t ruin everything. We’re here now, aren’t we?” he says softly. “That’s all that matters.”

Jimin nods, his chin wobbling as he lets out another shaky laugh. “I know. It’s just… a lot. And I’m not used to feeling this way.”

“Come here,” Jeongguk says, pulling Jimin gently and making him sit sideways in his lap and into a hug, wrapping his arms around him with care. “You’re okay. We’re okay.”

Jimin melts in Jeongguk’s embrace, one of his hands clutches his hoodie and the other one grips Jeongguk’s hair gently as fresh tears streamed down his face. The relief of being held and feeling safe in Jeongguk’s arms, savoring this small moment, overwhelmed him completely, but in a way that didn’t make him want to let go.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Jeongguk mutters softly, tightening his hold on Jimin slightly. “You don’t have to apologize for feeling things, hyung. I’m just glad you’re here.”

He hears Jimin sniffing and trembling in his arms as he clutches Jeongguk’s hoodie tighter. “I’m so glad you’re here too.”

They stay like that for a while longer, wrapped in the quiet comfort of each other’s company. Jeongguk’s arms remain secured around Jimin, his touch gentle and reassuring. And Jimin finds himself relaxing in his arms despite his initial shyness, feeling like he could probably fall asleep like this from how calm he feels. Neither of them spoke much, but the silence was far from being awkward now; it felt safe, full with emotions that neither of them were quite ready to put into words just yet.

It doesn’t take much for Jimin to discover that one of Jeongguk’s love languages is physical touch. He had never been one for cuddling, would only do it with his friends sometimes—it always felt too intimate, too vulnerable. But with Jeongguk, he felt nothing but safety. It was how he kept rubbing circles on Jimin’s back and how he adjusted his hold slightly from time to time as though ensuring Jimin was as comfortable as possible. And he wishes he could stay like this forever.

“You okay?” Jeongguk asks softly after some time and Jimin lets out a small hum.

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “I am.”

“Good,” Jeongguk says while smiling, his cheeks pressing lightly against Jimin’s hair.

Jimin wishes he could stay a little longer, but he stares at the clock in one of Jeongguk’s bookshelves and sighs reluctantly. “I should probably get going,” he says, his voice tinged with regret.

“Yeah, it’s late,” Jeongguk says after hesitating for a second, the reluctance in his voice mirroring Jimin’s, loosening his hold on him just slightly. For a quick moment, he toys with the idea of asking Jimin to stay the night, but he quickly dismisses it. It’s too soon, and he doesn’t want to push boundaries when they have just started rebuilding them. Instead, he offers him a small smile as they pull apart. “Let me walk you to the door.”

As Jimin puts on his shoes at the entrance, Jeongguk disappears down the hallway saying he has to grab something. Jimin smooths out his clothes and readjusts the collar of his button up and, when he turns back to look for Jeongguk, he’s already standing beside him, with a soft smile and a hoodie on his hand.

“Here,” he says, catching Jimin off guard when he immediately puts the hoodie on him—he doesn’t wait for Jimin to say soemthing, doesn't want to hear him protesting stubbornly, refusing to put it on because he thinks he doesn’t need it. When Jimin’s face pops out of the collar, his hair disheveled and eyes wide, Jeongguk grins. “So you don’t get cold, hyung. I don’t think your coat will be enough, since it doesn’t cover your face.” he adds softly and Jimin giggles while fixing his hair with Jeongguk’s help, before putting the hood up.

“Thank you, Jeongguk-ah.” He looks down at himself to adjust his hoodie for a bit before looking up at Jeongguk again. He stares at his eyes for a moment and, before he could overthink it, Jimin leans in and presses a soft kiss on Jeongguk’s cheek, lingering a second longer than necessary. “Goodnight,” he whispers, barely audible.

Jeongguk’s heart skips a bit and he bets he’s looking like a fool right now. Before Jimin could pull away completely, he holds Jimin’s waist and leans down, pressing a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Goodnight, Jiminie hyung.”

Jimin steps back, his cheeks flushed but his heart lighter than it has been in weeks. As he opens the door and glances back one last time, Jeongguk gives him a small wave, the corners of his mouth quivering in a soft, boyish smile that makes Jimin’s chest ache in the best way.

Jimin arrives at his apartment with a spring on his step. His conversation with Jeongguk kept replaying in his mind, every detail magnified, making him feel childishly giddy, the way Jeongguk stared softly at him by the end of their conversation, the warmth of their embarace, the soft kiss he got on his forehead that made his body shiver from head to toe, and, of course, the hoodie Jeongguk landed him before he went home—and made him keep thinking if we was already allowed to keep it to himself, just like he sees a lot of couples do.

He is practically beaming as he unlocks the door, ready to find Jjinppang and tell her everything. She always listens to him attentively, her big curious eyes always locked on him as if she truly understands every word that comes out of his mouth. It was silly, but tonight, he really needed her comforting presence.

But as the door swings open and Jimin steps inside, an unexpected sight makes him stop on his tracks, furrowing his eyebrows and tilting his head to the side. Jjinppang doesn’t come to greet him like she usually does, neither is she on her favorite spot on the couch—because she decided she was too cool for her cat bed now. Instead, she is lounging comfortably on Taehyung’s lap as he sits on the couch, scrolling through his phone like he owned the entire place.

“Uh, excuse me? What the hell are you doing here? Jimin asks, his confusion evident as he sets down his bag and takes off his shoes.

“Hello to you too, darling.” Taehyung looks up at him with a nonchalant smirk, proceeding to leave his phone behind to pat Jjinppang on the head. “I came here to check on my favorite girl, just like you asked me to,” he explains, feigning offense as he puts the hand that was petting the cat on top of his heart. Jjingppang, however, meows in protest before getting out of his lap and hopping on the floor, thinking the cuddle session was over with Taehyung.

“Well, of course, but this was like, hours ago.” Jimin squints suspiciously.

“I thought I’d stay around to check on you too, I didn’t have much to do in the afternoon anyway,” he adds with a shrug. “Since you were out being all serious adult with emotional baggage, I figured you would need someone to help you unpack all those big feelings after.” He grins mischievously, clearly enjoying the annoyed way Jimin looked at him.

Jimin huffs, running a hand through his hair as he crosses the room. “It’s not like I just came back from a war.” 

“Well,” Taehyung says, tilting his head, feigning deep thought. “It’s kind of like a war—an emotional one. And I figured it would be juicy. So spill.”

“Juicy?” Jimin raises an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes. “What does that even mean?”

Taehyung gives him a knowing look. “I mean, I didn’t think you’d bang or anything—It’s definitely too soon for that. But I expected… something.” He trails off dramatically, pausing as thought struck by a sudden realization. His eyes widens and he gasps, clothing his chest in mock scandal. “Wait. You didn’t actually—did you?”

Jimin’s jaw drops in horror. “What?! No!” he exclaims, his voice an octave higher than normal. His cheeks are flushed, and he glares at his friend, who was clearly having the time of his life.

“Are you sure?” Taehyung presses, leaning forward and pointing an accusatory finger at Jimin. “Because, honestly, you look pretty glowy for someone who didn’t—”

“We didn't even kiss properly.”

Taehyung blinks, eyes going wide. He leans back and puts a hand on his chin, staring at Jimin with a thoughtful look. For a moment, he looks genuinely surprised, like there was no fucking way, but he doesn’t press on that too much.

“Then what was it like?”

Jimin sighs dreamily, propping himself down in the armchair across from him. “I was… nice,” he says softly, a small, shy smile spreading across his lips. Taehyung tries to hide a little how shocked he is seeing Jimin acting this way, so enamored and carefree. “We talked— a lot. It wasn't easy at all, and it wasn’t exactly perfect, but…” His voice trails off, and he looks at Taehyung with a small smile. “It felt hopeful, you know? Like we are finally on the same page, and aware of each other’s feelings, even if it’s just the first page of a really slow book. And this is already way more than what I could’ve hoped for.”

Taehyung studies him for a moment, his expression softening. “That’s good,” he says sincerely. “You deserve that. Both of you do.”

Jimin nods, the warmth of the evening washing over him again. It was reassuring to hear Taehyung’s encouragement, especially after he had disappointed him so much with his previous actions.

The moment, hoverver, doesn’t last long, as usual with Taehyung. He sighs, mocking discontentment, and he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Still, I was expecting at least one makeout session.” Jimin huffs out a laugh, feeling his cheeks go red. “You’ve been pining over this guy for weeks, and you’re telling me there wasn’t even a little tongue action?”

Jimin groans, grabbing a cushion from the armchair and launching it directly at Taehyung’s face. “God, shut the fuck up! You’re so weird.”

Taehyung falls down on the floor laughing, easily catching the cushion before tossing it back at Jimin. “I’m just saying, you’re practically glowing. It’s suspicious.” Jimin huffs, shaking his head with a laugh. Taehyung catches his breath after a few moments and his eyes soften a bit. “Jokes aside, I’m really happy for you, Jimin-ah,” he says sincerely. “You’re doing a good thing by taking things slow. I mean, it’s nice, right? Thoughtful. It sounds like you two really care about doing this the right way.”

“Thanks,” Jimin mutters, feeling his heart warm and a soft smile tugging at his lips. “It does feel… right, you know? Starting slow. It’s not like either of us need to rush into anything. I think we both know what happens when you go too fast.”

Taehyung nods vehemently. “Yeah, and honestly? Taking your time just makes it all the more worth it when it works out. I’m proud of you for trying, Jimin-ah. You deserve to be happy.”

His friend’s words hit him harder than he had expected. His throat tightens slightly and he nods vigorously, as thought to assure both himself and Taehyung that this was the right choice. “Thanks, Taehyung-ah. I—I think so too,” he says quietly, but his voice carries a certainty that hadn’t been there before.

"And yet," Taehyung begins, leaning forward with a sly grin, "you still have that dreamy, lovesick look on your face. Like you’re seconds away from writing an acrostic poem with his name." He puts his hands up in the air, like he’s picturing something. “Jeon. Jeong. Guk. God, I wonder what that would turn out like.”

Jimin groans, throwing his head back dramatically before covering his flushed face with his hands. "I do not! Don’t be ridiculous," he protests, though his giggle betrays him.

"You do, and it’s adorable," Taehyung insists, sitting back with a triumphant grin. "So go on, keep gushing. Tell me more about this perfect angel vet of yours."

Jimin peeks through his fingers, cheeks burning. But a small invitation is all he needs. "Okay, fine," he relents with a bashful smile, as if it’s hard to make him start talking about Jeongguk. "He’s just... so kind, you know? Thoughtful and patient. He cares about people—like, really cares. He makes me feel like... like I’m enough."

Taehyung’s grin softens into something more genuine. "Well, you are enough," he says simply. "And if Jeongguk sees that, then he’s got his head on straight. Sounds like a good guy."

"He is," Jimin says as he looks down at the floor, smiling to himself. "And it’s just... I don’t know. The way he looks at me, the way he listens. It’s like he sees right through me—all the confidence I put on for everyone else—and still wants to stick around."

Taehyung rests his chin on his hand, listening attentively. But as Jimin continues to gush, Taehyung thinks he’s heard enough for the day.

"Alright, alright, I get it. I'm painfully single, so that's enough," he interrupts with a laugh. "He’s a dreamboat, the sun shines out of his ass, you’re smitten, and this slow-burn romance of yours is about to win all the awards. But now I have to know—what’s the next baby step in this grand journey of yours? I’m so intrigued."

Jimin squints at him suspiciously. "Why do I feel like you’re about to say something ridiculous?"

"Ridiculous? Me? Never," Taehyung says, feigning innocence as he places a hand over his chest. "I’m just curious! Is it a hand-holding date? Letting Jeongguk peel your perilla leaf? Or wait, wait—are you planning on making a couple’s Spotify playlist? Oh my god, matching pajamas, Jimin-ah. Imagine."

Jimin groaned loudly, grabbing another throw pillow and chucking it at his friend. "You’re fucking impossible,” he mutters, though the laughter bubbling out of him betrays his faux annoyance.

"But seriously," Taehyung says, dodging another pillow and sitting up with mock seriousness, "what’s the next baby step? A forehead kiss?”

“We’ve already done that.”

Taehyung gasps, clutching a hand on his heart. “Naughty.”

“You’re lucky I love you.”

“Damn right I am,” Taehyung says smugly.

As Jimin slips under the covers later that evening and feeling exhausted, right after Taehyung leaves, waving dramatically from the doorway, Jimin can’t stop smiling. Even with all the teasing, it felt good to share his happiness with someone who cares. The warmth of the day’s events still lingered on his chest.

Jimin grabs his phone from the bedside table before he gives Jjinppang a chance on getting comfortable on top of him, knowing that he wouldn't be able to move a lot after that. His thumbs hovers over Jeongguk’s contact for a moment before he finally taps it, composing a message.

PARK JIMIN

Hey, Jeongguk-ah 

Sorry for not sending you a message after I got home earlier so you knew I made it safely

My friend was here and we talked for a bit, that’s why

JEONGGUKIE ♡

No problem, hyung

I hope you were saying good things about me

Jimin’s eyes widens slightly, his face warming as he rereads the message. Jeongguk didn’t even know what he and Taehyung were talking about, yet somehow, he managed to still tease him. And, on top of that, he was completely right. A soft smile plays on Jimin’s lips as he hurries to reply. This brat.

PARK JIMIN

Depends on what you mean by “nice”

But don’t worry, I made you sound good.

A moment passes before Jeongguk’s response comes, and Jimin can almost hear his playfulness in his words, making Jimin laugh under his breath and types his response almost immediately.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

Made me sound good?

Wow, so you had to put in effort to make me look decent?

Harsh, hyung

PARK JIMIN

What can I say? I’m a lawyer

I can spin everything into a positive light.

The typing bubble doesn’t take long to appear, and Jimin’s heart gives a small, involuntary flutter.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

Good to know you’ll defend my honor in court one day

But seriously, I’m glad you got home safely 

❤

Jimin stares embarrassingly long at the heart emoji, feeling his own fluttering inside of him. He thinks carefully on his next message, feeling the need to express something more heartfelt.

PARK JIMIN

Thanks

I also wanted to say that I’m really happy and that I’m very thankful, about earlier, about everything. Thank you for being so patient with me

There is a longer pause this time, and Jimin’s nerves start to bubble up. But when Jeongguk’s reply finally comes, it’s enough to make his heart swell.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

Of course, hyung. You don’t have to thank me for that. You’re worth being patient for

I’m happy too, really happy

Sweet dreams, okay?

Dream of something nice… maybe us ;)

The tenderness in Jeongguk’s words makes his eyes sting just a little. He blinks quickly, typing a response with trembling fingers.

PARK JIMIN

Good night, Gguk-ah

I’ll try

Sweet dreams to you too ❤

When he finally sets his phone down for good, Jimin covers his face with his hands with a quiet laugh, his heart a soft mess of emotions. He can’t help but smile as he whispers to himself. “Maybe us.” He giggles. The thought carries him to sleep, his dreams filled with a warmth he hadn’t dared let himself hope for before.

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jimin has always been great at compartmentalizing. It’s what made him such a good lawyer, after all—setting his emotions aside and focusing on his task ahead. But ever since he’s met Jeongguk, it’s like this part of his brain doesn’t function anymore, or maybe Jeongguk just took over it—just like he did with Jimin’s heart and everything else. So it’s no surprise that, this morning, as he stares blankly at the words on the screen, he catches himself thinking about Jeongguk once again. But this time, his feelings feel slightly different, it’s something he can’t tuck away, no matter how much he tries: he misses Jeongguk dearly.

It’s not like they aren’t talking. Their message thread was full of texts from the last two weeks—good morning messages, check-ins about how work was doing, jokes about Jjinppang’s antics and pictures of Moghwa lounging around like loyalty. Jimin loves those messages, they always make him smile even on his most stressful days.

But this time it wasn’t enough.

He sighs, leaning back on his chair and rubbing his temples. His schedule has been relentless lately, and Jeongguk’s has been no better. Between his stacked cases and Jeongguk’s influx of appointments at the clinic, they haven’t managed to meet since that night of reconciliation nearly two weeks ago. Every day, he tells himself it was fine, that they are both busy and their relationship is still new. But the truth is: he hates how much he misses seeing Jeongguk in person. 

It’s the sparkles in his eyes and the way they soften when Jeongguk is looking at him or when he smiles, the warmth of his presence, the subtle, comforting scent that lingered around him. Jimin misses the sound of his voice, the way it was so comforting and so sweet, always carrying a mix of reassurance and playful charm. He misses the way Jeongguk holds him, with so much care.

Jimin’s chest tightens as he realizes how deeply he felt this. He hated the distance. Hated how he’d sit in his apartment feeling restless and needy when all he wanted was to see Jeongguk.

He glances at his phone, the screen lightning up and showing him their most recent conversation. Jeongguk had sent him a picture of Moghwa earlier that day, accompanied by a good morning text and how the dog had more patience with his vet than Jjinppang did. Jimin had laughed when he’d seen it, but now, staring at the messages, he feels nothing but a pang of longing. 

His fingers hover over the keyboard, debating whether or not he should text Jeongguk. He doesn’t want to seem needy—Jeongguk is probably just as overwhelmed as he is, and Jimin doesn’t want to add to his stress. But the ache in his chest refuses to be ignored.

So he types a quick message and sends it. Sue him.

PARK JIMIN

Hey

I know it’s the middle of the morning and you're probably busy

ButI just wanted to let you know that I can’t stop thinking about you

I miss you

Though he still feels a bit needy and worries he’s being too clingy, Jimin decides to be a responsible adult and focus back on his work. Unfortunately, those tasks weren’t going to do them themselves.

A couple minutes later, his phone vibrates again, pulling Jimin out of his work. Jeongguk’s reply came faster than he had anticipated.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

I miss you too, hyung

Jimin finds himself relaxing a bit, even if his chest is still quite achy. He didn’t realize how much he needed to hear these words until now.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

We’ll figure something out soon, I promise

Even if it’s just for a quick coffee or something

Later that day, Jimin is halfway through his lunch when his phone starts buzzing on the table. He glances at the screen, a smile blooming instantly as he sees Jeongguk’s name flashing on the screen. They usually don’t call during work hours, though, preferring to send texts just in case they won’t be interrupting anything, so Jimin immediately gets curious—and maybe just a bit concerned. Quickly, he wipes his hands on a napkin and picks up.

“Hello, Gguk” Jimin says, trying to keep his tone chill despite the way his heart picks up. “What’s up? Everything okay?”

“Hi, hyung.” Jimin hears Jeongguk exhaling loudly on the other end. His voice  is softer than usual, carrying an edge of weariness. “Sorry if I’m interrupting anything. I just… I don’t know. I needed to call.”

Jimin immediately strengthens up, focusing completely on Jeongguk. “Of course, you can call me anytime. What’s going on?”

“It’s just…” Jeongguk sighs. “One of those days, you know? Everything is piling up. Some of the pets I’ve been treating aren’t doing as well as I hoped. One of the appointments…” He pauses, trailing off, and Jimin could almost picture him rubbing his temple. “It was so hard, hyung.”

“I’m sorry, Ggukie,” he murmurs, his voice steady even though he feels his chest ache. “I can’ imagine how much that must weigh on you. Are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” Jeongguk admits and his honesty streaks Jimin silent for a second. “I mean, I’ll get through it. But today just feels heavier, makes me feel hopeless.”

“It's okay.” Jimin nods, even though Jeongguk can’t see him. “Sometimes it really is just… too much.”

He hears Jeongguk humming in agreement, sounding contemplative. “Your message earlier helped, though,” he says, voice softening. “Just seeing that made me feel better, less alone, I guess. It was nice to know you’ve been thinking about me as much as I’m thinking about you.”

Jimin blinks, momentarily caught off guard. His heart speeds up in his chest and he has to bite his fist not to let out a delighted shriek. Jeongguk is always so honest about how he feels with Jimin—something that Jimin definitely welcomes at all times and needs to hear more often than most people—but he never really knows how to react. He knew he needed assurance throughout their relationship, especially in the beginning, but he hadn’t realized how much it would truly mean to him.

“I’m glad it helped,” Jimin says quietly after a few seconds, trying to sound composed but he still feels breathless. Jeongguk must’ve noticed the effect he had caused, because Jimin hears him snorting before continuing.

“But it wasn’t enough, so I called, because I wanted to hear your voice too. I’m already feeling the effects.”

Jimin feels his cheeks heat up, a wave of emotions rushing through him. He wonders if there will be a moment in their relationship that he won’t feel so flustered at every confession from Jeongguk. He swallows hard and tries to ignore the blush on his cheeks.

“Hm.” Is all he manages to say at first and he hears a faint chuckle from Jeongguk’s side.. “I mean, I’m glad you called. I’ll always be here if you want to talk, regardless of how busy I am.”

“Thank you, hyung,” Jeongguk says and Jimin can almost hear the smile returning to his voice. “I don’t think you know how much it means to me.” They stay in silence for a few moments, Jimin picking at his own fingers nervously as he waits for Jeongguk to say something, too flustered to trust his own mouth. “I think I have to go back to work, though.” Jimin hears a bit of shuffling and Jeongguk muttering something to someone. “Thank you, again, for picking up, hyung. Hearing your voice—talking to you—it helped more than you know.”

“Anytime,” Jimin promises, voice steady even though he was feeling all funny inside. “Hang in there, okay? Take care of yourself, darling. And don’t forget to eat something,” he says, not even noticing the pet name rolling off his tongue.

Jeongguk hums softly. “I’ll try. Talk to you later?”

“Of course.”

As their call ends, Jimin immediately goes to work—but not on his lawyer taks, but on making sure Jeongguk’s day would be better somehow. He doesn’t waste time. He pulls up a food delivery app and quickly searches for something hearty, warm and comforting, something that might lift Jeongguk’s spirits. He settles on kongnamul guk with rice and kimchi on the side from a restaurant he likes.

Before checking out, Jimin notices something new he hasn’t seen before—a session for gifts. He hesitates just a second before adding a small bouquet. It wasn’t stravagant, just a single rose, but it made him giddy nonetheless. He makes sure to ask them to add a note too.

Take care of yourself, Jeongguk, you’ve got this. - J

Satisfied and with an fond smile on his face, he confirms the order as spins on his chair. Anticipation and nervousness bloom in his chest. He wonders if Jeongguk will think it’s too much. But then he remembers Jeongguk’s voice telling him that Jimin’s earlier message helped and how transparent he was about his own feelings for Jimin, and he lets himself relax. If he’s supposed to be this kind of partner, the one who loves to gift at any given opportunity, then he supposes he has to embrace this side of him.

Around two hours and one meeting later, his phone buzzes.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

PARK JIMIN!!!!

You didn’t have to do this ㅠㅠ

Jimin immediately opens the message, feeling his cheeks flush and a smile blooming on his face. When he sees the typing bubble popping up, he waits for Jeongguk to finish typing before replying.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

The food is so good

And the flowers…

ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

If someone tells you I cried, they’re lying ㅋ

ㅋ큐ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

You’ve completely spoiled me, hyung. I can’t stop smiling

Thank you so much

PARK JIMIN

You’re welcome, Ggukie

You deserve it

The next message makes his breath hitch.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

I don’t know what I did to deserve you though 

I’m really lucky to have you, Jimin hyung

PARK JIMIN

You’re just being you, that’s more than enough

I’m the lucky one

JEONGGUKIE ♡

ㅠㅠ

And I thought missing you couldn’t get harder than it already was

Please, tell me we can meet this weekend

Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

That’s how Jimin finds himself a few days later, pacing in his bedroom, throwing fleeting glances at the mirror before turning to the pile of clothes sprawled across his bed. He had tried on three different sweaters, two pairs of jeans and one admittedly ridiculous scarf, all in a desperate attempt to settle on an outfit before he passed out from nerves.

“Jjinppangie,” he cries, flopping down on the small available space on the bed beside the kitten who was loafing and looking at him with a curious detachment only a cat would manage. “Why do I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack? It’s just Jeongguk, for god’s sake. We’re just going out. It’s just a date. A silly little date.”

Jjinppang meows, probably in agreement, Jimin hopes.

“Exactly, girl,” Jimin says, pointing a finger at her. “It’s just a date, but it’s a definitely date.” His voice dips into a mockery of Jeongguk’s playful tone when Jimin had asked him the previous night to confirm their plans. Jeongguk had a thing for making Jimin feel flustered and silly in the best way when they were teasing each other, making Jimin feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

This date, like Jeongguk said, was another baby step , as they liked to call every little thing they did or were planning to do together, but Jimin knew better than to think of it as something small.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. Winter was creeping in quickly, the chill biting through even his apartment’s heating. He knew he needed to dress warmly, but every option felt wrong. Too casual. Too fancy. Too boring. Too much.

Jeongguk didn’t even tell him what he would be wearing, saying everything was going to be a surprise. Don’t think about it too much, hyung. Just dress cute, I’m sure it won’t be a hard feat for you. So he tries to do as such, pulling himself together and getting out of bed.

Jimin scans through his wardrobe once more, and like the gods were taking pity on him, a cream-colored fuzzy jacket catches his eye. He pairs it with a simple black turtleneck and his favorite black jeans. Jimin debates for a moment before grabbing his scarf, a muted plain pattern, looping it around him and absolutely hating how it looks. He crumples it on his hand and throws it on the floor. Then, he looks for another nice accessory and finds a nice black beret that he thinks makes him look cute. 

“Okay,” he says to himself, putting both hands on his hips, looking at the mirror and doing a little spin. He turns to Jjinppang, who blinks at him lazily. “This is good, right? Not too much? Not too little?”

Jjinppang blinks at him, looking sleepy and thoroughly unimpressed.

Jimin checks his reflection one last time, doing a few more different poses in different angles, to make sure he really looks cute. He puts some light makeup on, picking his favorite lipgloss and putting a little bit more of blush than he would’ve normally, so he has a cold look makeup , just like Taehyung and Hoseok have suggested, whatever that means.

A few minutes later, his phone dings.

JEONGGUKIE ♡

I’m outside ;)

Jimin smiles, such a simple message already making him almost explode from nerves and excitement. He glances back at Jjinppang, who didn’t move a single inch. 

“Well, wish me luck, baby,” he says, sitting on the bed briefly to scratch behind her ears. “Don’t miss me too much, okay?”

She lets out a soft chirp and flicks her tail slightly, as if dismissing him entirely. Jimin laughs lightly, not able to contain his giddiness, grabs his favorite black leather bag and skips out of his apartment.

The cold is biting, making his cheeks and nose sting a bit as he steps out of his building. But he quickly forgets about the chill when his eyes spot Jeongguk, whose face lights up the second he spots Jimin too, a charming, boyish grin taking over the closer Jimin got.

Leaning against his car, Jeongguk looked painfully handsome with a cream colored hoodie with a black jacket on top and black pants, looking comfy and cozy like he always did. And Jimin can’t help the thought that they somehow matched outfits even without knowing. 

“Hi,” Jimin greets, his voice soft and shy as he gets close to Jeongguk.

“Hi,” Jeongguk echoes warmly. He reaches both hands close to Jimin’s face, making Jimin freeze, no idea what Jeongguk is doing, but he feels butterflies in his stomach as Jeongguk gently fixes a hair strand, tucking it behind his ear. “You look beautiful,” he says, eyes lit up with adoration and Jimin feels his cheeks get pink. “Are you warm enough?”

Jimin nods. “Yes, I am.” Jeongguk hums, caressing Jimin’s arms, unable to keep his hands to himself. “And thank you. You look very handsome too.”

Jeongguk’s grin turns playful as he opens the passenger door to Jimin, holding his arm out to invite him in. “Correct answer.”

Jimin laughs and jabs a finger at Jeongguk’s side, making the younger laugh as he closes the door and hops around the car to get in. After they buckle their seatbelts and Jeongguk turns on the heater, Jeongguk casts a sideways glance at Jimin.

“So,” he starts, his tone full of mystery. “Any guesses on what we’re doing?”

“You’re really not gonna tell me?”

“What’s the fun in that?” Jeongguk teases, pulling out of the parking lot. Jimin pouts, giving his best pleading eyes at Jeongguk and he immediately scolds him for that, trying to fight back a smile. “No, no, no, no. No distracting the driver while he’s busy.”

Jimin huffs out a laugh, leaning back into his seat. “Okay, fine. Are we going to a café?”

“No,” he says, lips quirking.

“A movie?”

“Too predictable. Do you think I’m that boring?”

Jimin laughs. “I don’t know about you, but I am, that’s why I thought of those.”

“Well, you’re wrong.”

Jimin hums, tilting his head to the side, his curiosity growing. “Then what? Are we going out ice skating?”

Jeongguk snorts. “Do I look like someone who can skate without constantly falling on his ass?”

“Good point,” Jimin says, trying to bite back a smile. He squints at Jeongguk. “So, you’re really not gonna tell me?”

“Nope.”

“Not even a hint?”

“Okay, maybe a hint.” Jeongguk's grin widens and Jimin can’t help the smiling blooming in his face too as he looks at Jeongguk. “It’s… creative.”

“Huh, creative?” Jimin echoes, intrigued.

“And colorful,” he adds, his excitement bubbling just under the surface.

“Colorful… Is it some type of art class?”

“You’re getting warmer.”

“Wait, is it—”

“Flower arranging,” Jeongguk blurts out, too excited to keep it to himself anymore. “We’re going to a flower arranging class.”

“A flower arranging class?” Jimin looks at him, mouth and eyes open wide.

“Yup,” Jeongguk confirms, his grin so wide it’s nearly blinding.

“That’s… whoa.” Jimin blinks, letting the idea settle. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”

“I know right?!” Jeongguk says, clearly pleased with himself. “I wanted to do something different that none of us had done before, this was too good to pass up.”

“You really thought this through, huh?”  Jimin asks, his lips curved in a small, pleased smile.

“Of course I did,” Jeongguk says, looking at Jimin briefly and giving him a wink before turning his attention back to the road. “I wanted to impress you.”

Jimin's heart skips a bit and he lets out a quiet giggle. “Well, you definitely succeeded. I wasn’t expecting this at all.”

“Good,” Jeongguk says, his chest puffing slightly with pride. “I like to keep you on your toes.”

Jimin chuckles, shaking his head, and they fall into an easy conversation, the nerves from earlier melting away. As Jimin shares a few glances with Jeongguk from time to time, he can’t help but think Jeongguk wasn’t keeping him on his toes at all—he was making him fall, one gesture at a time.

The flower studio is cozy, with soft Koren ballads playing in the background and the nice scent of fresh flowers filling the air. There are four pairs in total, all sitting around a large, circular wooden table adorned with an array of colorful flowers, scissors and ribbons. Jimin quickly notices that all the other pairs were couples, their easy affection making his cheeks heat up as he and Jeongguk sit between two pairs.

The instructor, a young guy around the same age as Jimin and Jeongguk, introduces himself and starts by asking each person their birthday date, telling them their birth flower and the meaning behind behind each one of them—sometimes even having the flower at the studio to show everyone, receiving ooohs and aaahs nonstop—the class starting in a fun way.

Then, the instructor explains that, before going to the larger arrangements, each person will make a boutonnière for themselves, kind of like a warm-up. He shows how to make one first and Jimin nods along attentively, but his focus keeps drifting to Jeongguk, who looks absolutely at ease. Jeongguk keeps tapping his fingers lightly to the rhythm of the soft music in the background and, from time to time, catches Jimin staring at him, giving him a soft smile and a wink that makes Jimin flush and his heart race.

“Do you think we can manage this without making a mess?” Jeongguk asks Jimin after the instructor lets them get started with their own boutonnières.

Jimin stiffs a laugh, whispering back, “Speak for yourself. I bet mine will be prettier than yours.”

“Oh, it’s on,” Jeongguk teases, his eyes sparkling playfully, bumping his waist against Jimin’s.

“Why don’t we do this,” Jimin starts, waiting for Jeongguk to pay attention to him. When he hums, he continues. “I make one boutoriènne —”

“Boutonnière, hyung.”

“Whatever, Jeongguk.” Jeongguk snorts. “I make one of these for you and you make one for me.”

“Deal.”

Jimin focuses intently, carefully selecting small springs of baby’s breath and a delicate blush rose. Jeongguk, on the other hand, works a bit faster, his hands surprisingly deft as he adds a touch of greenery and a red rose.

When the instructor speaks again, he explains how to pin the boutonnière. Jeongguk spins Jimin, making them face each other. He does as instructed, placing his pin slowly and carefully on Jimin’s turtleneck. 

“There,” Jeongguk says softly, stepping back to admire his work, his eyes jumping from the pin to Jimin’s face with a satisfied smile. “Perfect.”

“It looks beautiful, thank you” Jimin gushes, looking down at the flower. “Now it’s my turn.”

Jimin’s hands tremble slightly as he tries to pin the flowers on Jeongguk. The proximity makes his heart race a bit, making him feel like a hopeless romantic highschooler. And when Jeongguk leans down a bit so Jimin could put the boutonnière in a better place, they are way too close to each other. If they weren’t in public, Jimin would probably steal a kiss from him.

Jimin pats Jeongguk’s shoulders after he’s done, looking as proud as Jeongguk did. “All done.”

“You said mine was nice, yours is way more beautiful.”

“You think so?” Jimin asks, looking at Jeongguk with big eyes.

“Yeah,” he says softly, smiling at Jimin. “You have an eye for detail.”

As the class continues, the instructor reveals the next part of the session: each person will be randomly assigned a different type of floral creation to try their hand at. Jimin and Jeongguk listen attentively as he explains each option, ranging from garlands to flower crowns, bouquets and glass bowl arrangements.

Jimin gets assigned a glass bowl and Jeongguk, a bouquet. And as they gather their materials, Jimin can’t help but glance at Jeongguk, who’s already surveying the flower options like he was plotting something.

“You seem oddly confident at this for someone who’s never done it before.”

“Maybe I’m a man of many mysteries, Jimin-ssi,” Jeongguk says theatrically. “Maybe I’ve been preparing for this my whole life.”

“Or maybe you just looked up cute date ideas in Seoul this morning,” Jimin teases and Jeongguk bursts out in giggles, threatening to tickle Jimin, drawing the attention of the other pairs and making Jimin’s cheeks go red.

“Okay, you got me,” he admits with a silly smile on his face. “I’m just a very competitive guy, I need to make sure mine stands out.”

Jimin works meticulously, layering the greenery delicately inside the vase, adjusting and readjusting until he’s satisfied with what he has. He puts a single white rose in the middle and decorates it with a few of his birth flower—bridal wreath spireas—and some other small flowers, making sure they’re all non toxic for cats. He even gets some praise from the instructor, saying he’s doing a very impressive job. 

Jeongguk makes a bouquet full of different color roses, going from light pink to purple and hot pink, arranging them with care. And as he works, he keeps glancing at Jimin, a plan forming in his mind.

When the instructor announces that the time is up, everyone steps back to admire their work. Jimin looks at his glass bowl, pleased with how it turned out. He glances over at Jeongguk’s bouquet, mouth opening in awe and eyes wide, ready to compliment him. But then, Jeongguk turns to him, holding out the bouquet with both hands.

“This, hyung,” he says, his voice steady, “is for you.”

The room falls quiet for a moment, Jimin’s eyes growing bigger as Jeongguk hands him the bouquet, making Jimin hold it like it’s a newborn baby. Jimin can hear two of the girls cooing at them and his face turns tomato red.

“What? Jeongguk-ah, this is supposed to be for your place.”

Jeongguk just shakes his head, his eyes soft. “I made them with you in mind. I want you to have it.”

Jimin hesitates before holding the bouquet a little tighter in his arms, his fingers brushing against the petals delicately as he takes in every detail. The warmth in Jeongguk’s gaze makes his heart flutter.

“Thank you,” Jimin says, voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re welcome,” Jeongguk replies, his lips curving in a gentle smile as he pinches one of Jimin’s cheeks delicately.

As they step out of the flower studio after the class, the crisp winter air hits them both, sharp but refreshing. Jimin clutches the bouquet close to his chest, his fingers curling protectively around the stems. Jeongguk immediately wraps one of his arms around Jimin, trying to protect him from the cold, carrying the paper bag with Jimin’s creation in his free hand. 

They walk side by side to where Jeongguk had parked his car on the other side of the street, the quiet hum of the city surrounding them, but it’s the gentle fall of the snowflakes that makes everything else fade into the background.

It starts slowly at first—a few small flakes here and there—drifting down from the darkening sky like tiny stars. Then, as if waiting for the right moment, the snow begins to fall down more steadily, softly blanketing everything in white. 

Both Jimin and Jeongguk pause at the same time, just like other people passing by, their eyes watching the quiet magic of the moment. They look at each other, now, their gazes lingering longer than usual. The world seems to fade away completely until it’s just them, standing face to face, looking at each other and making Jimin’s heart skip a beat, under the soft glow of the city lights and the gentle snowfall.

It makes Jimin feel warm even as the air grows colder. He could feel his cheeks heating, a mix of nerves and something deeper.

Jeongguk chuckles as he notices the way Jimin’s eyes soften, his breath fogging in the cold,feeling his own cheeks getting warm. “This is…” he starts, his voice soft, almost hesitant. “Do you know the saying?”

Jimin tilts his head slightly, confused. “What saying?”

“Ah, you know,” Jeongguk says, feeling embarrassed as he thinks about voicing his thoughts out. But he stares at Jimin’s eyes for a little longer, his sheepish smile turning into a knowing one as he speaks. “That if you’re out in the first snowfall of the season with someone you like, true love will blossom between you.”

Jimin blinks, the words taking a moment to settle in like the snowflakes gently on his beret. His cheeks flush, a soft pink spreading across his skin that had nothing to do with the cold. He opens his mouth to say something, but no words come out. Instead, his lips part in a quiet gasp, and his wide eyes dart away, suddenly too shy to hold Jeongguk’s gaze.

Jeongguk instantly notices, his lips curving into a smile that’s both amused and fond.

“You’re really going to leave me hanging after that, hm?” he teases gently, his tone light but laced with affection.

Jimin shakes his head quickly, still unable to look directly at Jeongguk. His hands clutched the bouquet tighter against his chest, almost like he was trying to hide behind it. “I—I didn’t know you were like this,” he murmurs.

“Like what?” Jeongguk asks, leaning forward with a playful smile.

“Such a romantic.”

Jeongguk tilts his head, watching Jimin with a soft expression, his eyes sparkling with mischief, though his heart is beating just as fast as Jimin’s. “I didn’t know you could get this shy,” he counters, leaning just slightly closer.

Jimin’s blush deepens and he finally lets out a soft, breathy laugh, still looking anywhere but at Jeongguk. “It’s just… that’s such a nice thing to say,” he admits, his voice trembling slightly. “I wasn’t expecting it.”

Jeongguk’s smile widens as he watches Jimin fumble for words, his shy reaction only making his heart swell more. "Well," Jeongguk says softly, "I’m glad we’re here together for it."

Jimin finally dares to glance up at him, and the look in Jeongguk’s eyes—gentle, warm, and undoubtedly sincere—steals his breath all over again. He bites his lip, feeling a strange mix of nerves and happiness bubble up inside him. The bouquet in his arms feels even more precious now, a quiet symbol of something growing between them.

“I’m glad too,” Jimin whispers, voice barely audible but carrying every ounce of truth in his heart.

Jeongguk’s smile softens, and for a moment, neither of them say anything. They simply stay there, snowflakes swirling around them, their breaths mingling in the cold night air. 

But the more Jimin stares at Jeongguk’s smile and feels the gentleness in his smile, words start to bubble up inside him, making his nerves tangle into knots and making Jimin hesitate for a second. He glances down at the bouquet in his arms again, the colors blurring as his heartbeat fills his ears. The snow continues to fall around them, soft and serene, wrapping them in a world of their own. Finally, he musters the courage to look back up at Jeongguk.

“Jeongguk?” Jimin’s voice is soft, almost hesitant.

Jeongguk’s eyes, warm and inviting, immediately settle on him. “Yeah, hyung?”

Jimin’s fingers tighten on the bouquet, his cheeks pink and lips trembling as he whispers, “Can I… Can I kiss you?”

Jeongguk blinks, momentarily stunned, before his expression melts into one of the gentlest, most beautiful smiles Jimin has ever seen. His heart leaps in his chest as Jeongguk steps just a fraction closer, close enough that Jimin can feel the warmth radiating off him even in the chill of the snowfall.

“You don’t have to ask, you know,” Jeongguk murmurs, his voice low and soft, like the snowflakes falling around them.

Jimin’s lips part, his breath hitching slightly as he searches Jeongguk’s face for any hesitation. Finding none, he lets out a shaky laugh and nods. "Still... I wanted to."

Jeongguk leans in first, his movements tentative and sweet, as though testing the waters. Jimin tilts his head to meet him halfway, and their lips brush together in the lightest, softest kiss. It’s fleeting but leaves behind a warmth that spreads through Jimin’s entire body, igniting his heart in a way that feels new but so familiar at the same time.

When they pull back, their breaths mingling in the cold air, Jimin ducks his head slightly, hiding behind the bouquet again. Jeongguk hugs him close, a shy smile spreads across his face, his cheeks flushed deeper now.

“That was… nice,” Jimin whispers, his voice barely audible.

Jeongguk chuckles as he reaches out to gently poke at Jimin’s side. “Nice? Just nice?” he teases, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Jimin looks up at him, his cheek squished against Jeongguk’s chest, biting his lip to suppress the smile threatening to take over his face. “Fine. It was really nice.”

Jeongguk grins, clearly satisfied, before leaning just a bit closer, his forehead almost touching Jimin’s. “Good,” he said softly, like he’s telling him a secret. “Because I’ve been wanting to kiss you all day.”

Jimin’s eyes widen slightly, and Jeongguk’s soft laughter fills the air, joining the quiet beauty of the snow around them. All Jimin can focus on is the warmth of Jeongguk’s presence next to him. He isn’t sure what will come next, but now, he can’t help but believe in the magic of this small moment, in the possibility of what might bloom between them. For a moment, the rest of the world fades away, leaving only the two of them standing there, wrapped in the warmth of each other in the first snowfall of the season.

As the snowflakes dance around them, it feels like something has already begun to grow—quietly, softly, but surely.

Chapter Text

Happy birthday to yo-o-o-o-ou

Happy birthday to yo-o-o-o-ou

A familiar, off-key voice breaks through Jimin’s sleepy haze, making him slowly stir, his body heavy with exhaustion from the night before. The playful tone makes Jimin’s lips twitch upward even in his half-awake state.

Happy birthday, my Jiminie-e-e

Happy birthday to yo-o-o-o-ou

“C’mon, you’re really not gonna wake up?” There’s a pause. Then someone lightly nudges him. “I guess I’ll have to start again until you do, then. Happy birthday to yo-o-o-o-ou.” Jimin groans, slowly swatting the air. Someone laughs. “Happy birthday to yo-o-o-o-ou. Happy birthday, my sweet Jiminie-e-e.”

“Jeongguk-ah, it’s too early for this,” Jimin slurs, pulling the blanket on top of his head and curling up in the sheets.

“Too early? It’s literally seven in the morning. You’re wasting the time you’re not spending your birthday at work in bed, honey,” Jeongguk teases, undeterred. Jimin wasn’t able to get a day off today, too busy with cases to consider skipping work just because of his birthday. The only thing he would manage to do was to get to work a few hours later than usual. Jeongguk gets closer to where Jimin’s face is under the blanket and finishes the song. “Happy birthday to yo-o-o-o-o-o-o–ou.”

Jimin peeks out from beneath the comforter, blinking up at Jeongguk who’s sitting beside him at the edge of the bed, grinning like a mischievous kid, with a small birthday cake in his hand. Jeongguk’s dimples were deep, showing how proud he was of his little performance. And before Jimin can open his mouth to say something, he receives a big kiss from Jeongguk.

“Happy birthday, Jiminie hyung. I love you.” 

“Thank you, darling,” Jimin smiles sleepily, finally stretching his limbs and sitting up on the bed. When he leans in to give Jeongguk another kiss and reciprocate his I love you , he groans exasperatedly as he notices something—or rather, the lack of something. “Jeon Jeongguk, why the hell are you naked?” he asks, voice full of disbelief and tired resignation.

“Because, as far as I’m concerned, this apartment is mine too. So I can do whatever I want—including walking around the house like this to get my boyfriend his birthday cake,” Jeongguk says simply, shrugging with an easy smile on hiFs face. Since they moved in together around two months ago, Jeongguk liked to mention it at every opportunity, using it as an explanation for anything that happened to either of them, regardless of whether it made sense or not.

ᓚᘏᗢ

The decision to move in together had come in one quiet evening, some months into their relationship. They were cuddling on Jeongguk's couch, Jimin on top of Jeongguk, a soft melody coming from their shared playlist playing in the background, and the warm feel of summer enveloping them. Jimin’s fingers traced light patterns in Jeongguk’s scap, something that he had started doing absentmindedly and couldn’t seem to stop. 

“You know…” Jimin began, voice soft, testing the waters. When Jeongguk hummed, eyes closed and completely relaxed, he continued, “I was thinking…”

“Good,” Jeongguk muttered playfully, earning a light slap on his chest. “About what, love?”

“Well,” he hesitated for a second, the tips of his ears flushing pink as he earned an encouraging kiss on the cheek from Jeongguk. “I’ve been thinking, with how packed our schedules usually are, and how we sometimes have to cut our days short because I have to go home to Jjinjjinie or vice versa…” Jeongguk hummed, not really knowing where the conversation was heading. “Wouldn’t it be nice if… we, maybe, lived together?”

Jeongguk’s eyes shot open, his head and body jerking up so fast he almost sent them both down the floor. “Are you serious?” he asked, voice cracking just a little.

Jimin chuckled nervously, his hands fidgeting with the hem of Jeongguk’s tank top. “Yeah, I mean, we’re already together pretty much during all of our free time. It just feels… right, don’t you think? I hate it when you have to leave, or I have to leave. I don’t like it when we can’t spend the night together and, every time I wake up next to you, or do any little thing with you, I wish I had you everyday. Plus,” he added, lips twitching in a small smile at his little confession and at the way Jeongguk’s eyes were slowly filling with tears. Jimin squished Jeongguk’s cheeks and kissed him lovingly before continuing, “I think Jjinppang and Moghwa would be good siblings.”

Jeongguk blinked at Jimin for a beat too long, his lips parting as if to respond but no words came out. Jimin watched Jeongguk’s lip quiver and dried his tears until his boyfriend managed to say something.

“Are you sure?” he asked, voice trembling with emotion.

Jimin hugged Jeongguk as tight as he could, laughing in pure delight. “Of course I’m sure, darling,” he said with his voice muffled against Jeongguk’s neck as he left a few small kisses there. “If you have me, of course.”

Jeongguk pulled Jimin back just enough to stare at his eyes, which were also filled with tears. “You have no idea how happy this makes me,” he said, voice thick as he cupped Jimin’s face like he was the most precious thing in the world.

When the excitement of the decision had settled, the logistics began. Jeongguk slowly moved his and Moghwa’s things to Jimin’s apartment, starting the first step of what was back then probably the most difficult part of their move: introducing Jjinppang and Moghwa. Jimin spent days reading about integrating cats and dogs—before even asking Jeongguk about living together—, scouring forums and even pestering Jeongguk for tips as a veterinarian—which he happily gave. They were mentally prepared for weeks of cautious introductions, barriers and a lot of patience. But nothing could have prepared Jimin and Jeongguk for how shockingly easy it turned out to be.

After the pets seemed used to each other’s scent, they finally worked up the courage to introduce them face to face. On the day of it, Jjinppang was perched on the couch like a queen on her throne, her hazel eyes watching Moghwa with mild curiosity. Moghwa, as always, was eager and excited, his tail wagging energetically as he sniffed around the unfamiliar space.

When Moghwa spotted Jjinppang, he was already very close to her—his eyesight was getting worse as the months went by—and he let out a soft whine, his tail thumping against the floor as he tried to inch closer, as close as Jeongguk deemed safe. Jjinppang’s ears twitched, but she didn’t move, watching his every step.

“Easy, buddy,” Jeongguk murmured, keeping a hand on Moghwa’s collar in case he pounced on her, wanting to play. “We don’t want to scare her.”

Jimin held his breath, sitting right behind Jjinppang, ready to intervene at any moment. But to his surprise, Jjinppang remained calm. When Moghwa got a bit too close for her liking, though, she simply raised a paw and gave him a half-hearted swat, her claws retracted.

“She’s jealous of you,” Jeongguk said with a laugh, pulling Moghwa back in his arms gently and cuddling him, showering the dog with kisses. “I think she doesn’t like sharing you.”

“Only with you,” Jimin said, earning a big smile from Jeongguk. Jimin scratched Jjinppang’s ears, the cat leaning into his touch and purring loudly. “She’ll learn,” Jimin said confidently.

True to his word, Jjinppang had quickly adjusted to Moghwa’s presence. In fact, Moghwa was the one who seemed to struggle more, often whining when Jjinppang refused to entertain him and play. The cat, ever the dignified queen, mostly ignored his attempts, retreating to high perches or curling up in Jimin’s lap to assert her dominance.

But over time, a quiet companionship formed between them. Jimin often caught them sharing a bowl of water or napping together in a path of sunlight in—now—his and Jeongguk’s living room—who had a particular touch of both of them in every corner of the room and the apartment. Once, he even walked in on Jjinppang gently grooming Moghwa’s ear, the sight so precious he had to take a picture to show Jeongguk later, who cried the second he saw it.

“They’re like siblings,” Jeongguk had said that night, teary eyed as he beamed at the photo. “The kind that bicker but secretly love each other.”

Watching the two pets coexist so seamlessly made Jimin and Jeongguk’s transition to living together feel natural. Their shared home became a sanctuary, filled with laughter, warmth and love. Every moment—whether it was having dinner together, cuddling on the couch watching a variety show or simply watching their pets nap—reminded them that, even if it seemed like a rush, a step too grand for them to take so early in their relationship to anyone other than them, this was where they were meant to be.

ᓚᘏᗢ

“Not even underwear, tough?” Jimin sighs in faux discontentment, running his hands through his hair sleepily. Jeongguk’s smile grows bigger.

“I want to keep things authentic. Pure, you know?”

“Authentic?” Jimin rolls his eyes, though the corners of his lips twitch with a smile. “You’re setting a bad example for Jjinppang.”

Jeongguk snorts, nodding towards the foot of the bed where Jjinppang was curled up, completely unbothered. He gives Jimin another quick kiss before saying, “I think she’s seen worse.”

“Worse than having to see you flaunting that ass around the house in the morning?” Jimin deadpans, though he’s smiling at Jeongguk’s constant affection, grabbing the cake out of his hands and setting it on his lap, looking at the lit candle.

“Well,” Jeongguk scoots closer to Jimin, looking at him devilishly. “She’s seen last night.”

Jimin gasps, shoving Jeongguk hard as he feels his cheeks heating up in flames. “Jeongguk!”

“I’m joking, baby. I’m joking.” Jeongguk laughs, nose scrunched and his bunny teeth showing. He leans in and, this time, gives Jimin another kiss on top of his nose, looking at him fondly but still with a hint of mischief. “I locked the door and all, you don’t have to worry. I’m just saying. You didn’t seem to mind me being naked last night.”

Jimin slaps Jeongguk’s chest, feeling more embarrassed than annoyed now, and ducks his head, trying to hide his smile. “I can’t believe I’m living with you,” he murmurs, but his words have no real bite. Jeongguk gives him a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s always good to remember that you were the one that pitched up the idea.” Jeongguk’s expression softens, the teasing fading as he reaches out to brush a strand of hair from Jimin’s face. “Best decision ever and you know it,” he says quietly, voice filled with love that makes Jimin’s heart ache in the best way.

“Maybe it was,” he admits softly. The fondness in Jeongguk’s gaze melts away the rest of sleepiness in Jimin’s body. 

Jeongguk’s grin returns, softer now, as he pats Jimin’s nose gently with his pointer finger. “Alright, birthday boy, make a wish before the candle melts all over your cake. I wanna eat it.”

Jimin stares at the flickering flame for a moment, closing his eyes as he makes a silent wish. It’s a simple one, really. For more moments like this. Quiet mornings filled with warmth with Jeongguk by his side. He blows it out and Jeongguk cheers.

“Happy birthday, baby,” Jeongguk says again, voice low and affectionate, as he leans forward to kiss Jimin’s lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too, my darling. Thank you,” Jimin says, unable to contain his smile as he caresses Jeongguk’s face softly. Even as Jeongguk pulls away, his warmth still lingers.

But their little bubble pops the moment Jeongguk suddenly stands up, heading out of the bedroom, his hips swaying exaggeratingly.

“And where are you going?” Jimin calls after him, laughing despite himself.

“Back to the kitchen. Naked,” Jeongguk replies smugly. Jimin bites back a laugh as he picks up his cake, deciding to eat the frosting with his finger while Jeongguk does god-knows-what. There’s a bit of shuffling coming from the kitchen, so Jimin assumes Jeongguk will bring a fork or a spoon, but his voice echoing through the apartment makes Jimin choke on his own laugh. “Oh no! I hope Moghwa doesn’t see me like this!”

“You’re ridiculous!”

Moghwa had grown old gracefully, but his sight had gradually faded over the past year, first in the right eye, then in the other. It had been a devastating adjustment for Jeongguk, even though, as a vet, he knew the day would come—and it had arrived later than usual for dogs Moghwa’s age. Jimin remembered the nights he’d go to Jeongguk’s apartment after work just to be there for him as silent support, holding him close as Jeongguk cried away as he slowly started to accept the inevitable.

But even as his vision dimmed, he never lost his zest for life. He slowed down, for sure, his once boundless energy reserved for shortened spurts of playful antics, but his spirit remained unbroken. He still wags his tail when he hears his name being called—especially by Jeongguk—and is still able to stumble his way into his owner’s lap for snuggles whenever he gets the chance.

The way Jeongguk always takes care of Moghwa with so much love and care is another small reminder of how big Jeongguk’s heart is—and why Jimin had fallen so hopelessly in love with him.

Moments later, Jimin hears Jeongguk padding back into the bedroom, the faint clinking of metal giving him away. He turns his head to see Jeongguk holding up two forks and a glass of water with a wide grin lighting up his face.

“Breakfast in bed!”

“Ah, how delightful,” Jimin teases, holding his hands up excitedly. Jeongguk plops down beside Jimin, handing him one of the forks and the water. Jimin gulps it down quickly and puts the empty glass on the bedside table. “You didn’t seriously bring two forks for such a small cake, did you?”

“Why not?” Jeongguk shrugs, unabashed. “Didn’t want to fight you over bites. I’ve seen how defensive you get when it comes to food.”

Jimin jabs a finger at Jeongguk’s side and Jeongguk laughs. “You’re unbelievable.” He rolls his eyes, but his smile gives him away.

“I’m serious, see? You already ate half the frosting.”

“So? It’s my birthday,” Jimin shrugs, minicking Jeongguk. “I can do what I want.”

“Of course you can, my love,” Jeongguk says softly, kissing him.

No matter how not in the mood they were, Jeongguk would always give Jimin a few affectionate kisses while they talked, regardless of the topic. He had told Jimin in the beginning of their relationship that it was because he just couldn’t help himself, and, with time, Jimin learned how to not react much to it. 

In the beginning, Jimin also kept worrying about whether he’d be able to match Jonegguk’s level of affection. Jeongguk’s love was so unreserved—expressed through tender touches, sweet words and thoughtful gestures—that Jimin used to feel overwhelmed, afraid that he’d fall short. But just like they had promised each other, every ounce of insecurity or doubt was talked through. When Jimin had nervously brought it up one weekend, Jeongguk simply smiled and took his hands, telling him that love wasn’t a competition—it was about showing up in their own ways.

Slowly, Jimin learned that his quiet smiles, lingering gazes, random presents, and steady presence were enough, because Jeongguk saw his love in every small action, just as clearly as Jimin saw Jeongguk’s in every way he touched him.

Once the last bite of cake is gone, Jeongguk leans back against the headboard with a content sigh, his fingers lazily tracing patterns on the sheets. Jimin is brushing off the crumbs, muttering about how they’d need to change the bedding later, but there’s no real irritation in his tone. His eyes soften every time they meet Jeongguk’s, the moment so intimate it wraps around them like a soft blanket.

“Shower?” Jimin suggests after putting the plate and their forks on the bedside table, his cheeks getting pink.

“Together?” Jeongguk asks, voice tinged with mischief, head tilting to the side, testing how far he can push his luck. Jimin rolls his eyes.

“Fine,” he says, but holding a finger up at Jeongguk in warning before slipping out of bed. “But no funny business. It’s only because it’s faster. We need to get to work.”

There is, actually, a lot of funny business during the shower, as Jimin should’ve predicted. Once under the warm spray of water, Jeongguk makes sure to leave Jimin whiny and breathless before they can actually start to shower—and he can’t find it in himself to complain. But even as Jimin grabs the soap, Jeongguk’s arms are still snaked around his waist.

“You know,” Jeongguk says, his voice low and teasing as he nuzzles against Jimin’s wet shoulder, “I don’t think we’ll be leaving this apartment anytime soon, actually.”

Jimin huffs out a laugh, but his cheeks flush crimson. He turns to face Jeongguk, his expression caught somewhere between fond exasperation and amusement.

“Do you ever stop?”

“Why would I? You’re so cute when you’re flustered,” Jeongguk replies smoothly.

Jimin swats at him halfheartedly, trying to wriggle free from Jeongguk’s hold, but Jeongguk just laughs, pulls Jimin closer and fills his face with kisses.

They manage to finish showering at a reasonable time so they don’t have to rush a lot to get dressed for work. Jeongguk is much more distracted than usual while picking something to wear, but Jimin doesn’t press too much for now, focusing on choosing a nice shirt.

“I can’t believe I have to work on my birthday.” Jimin sighs dramatically as he buttons his shirt, glancing at Jeongguk who’s now loungin on the bed, dressed and staring at the view—Jimin. “What’s the point of being an adult if you can’t take a day off when it actually matters?”

“The point is paying bills, love.” Jeongguk smirks, propping himself up in one elbow.

“I’m serious,” Jimin huffs, adjusting his watch. He has a cute pout on his lips, and Jeongguk tries to hold himself back from giving him the millionth kiss that morning. “”When I was a kid, my parents would let me skip school on my birthday. I’d just lounge around all day, eat cake and open presents. Now I’m stuck dealing with people and deadlines.”

“You know, you can always feign a stomachache,” Jeongguk says, feigning a thoughtful expression, like he’s really considering it. “Got a tummy ache from how sweet your boyfriend is.”

Jimin snorts, grabbing his bag. “You’re such an idiot, darling—”

“—thank you—”

“—if only it worked out like that.”

As Jimin leans down to give Jeongguk a quick kiss goodbye, Jeongguk catches his wrists and pulls him closer, caressing Jimin’s cheeks as he talks.

“Don’t work too hard, okay?” His voice is softer now, a touch of seriousness slipping through his teasing.

“I won’t, darling,” Jimin promises, smiling against Jeongguk’s lips before pulling away. “You aren’t leaving for work until when?”

“I have a little more time, might even take a ten minute nap before going.” Jimin giggles and slaps Jeongguk’s chest, making Jeongguk smile. “Have a nice day at work, hyung. I love you.”

“I love you too, my baby.”

Jeongguk watches as Jimin leaves their bedroom, the grin on his face widening. He hears Jimin say bye to Jjinppang and Moghwa, his voice cute and high pitched, after he can hear the front door of the apartment close faintly. Jeongguk stays a little longer in the same position Jimin left him, and only after enough time passes, he shuffles around the bed, like Jimin would be able to hear him from the corridor.

He snatches his phone in one hand and the plate and forks in the other, skipping to the kitchen as he scrolls through a group chat he had created a few weeks prior.

JEON JEONGGUK

He’s gone

All systems go

We’re sticking to the plan, right?

TAEHYUNG HYUNG

Don’t worry, everything is under control

Cake is on the way!!!

HOSEOK HYUNG

I’ve got balloons, streamers, and candles

How much is too much? 

Should we go overboard? Or should we keep it classy? Asking for a friend

JEON JEONGGUK

The limit does not exist

Jeongguk giggles and feels his stomach swooping in excitement. Jimin didn’t like big, extravagant parties, but he’s set to make tonight’s special nonetheless. Balloons, a cake from Jimin’s favorite bakery and a cozy gathering with their little friend group as a surprise is something that has never left Jeongguk’s mind since after Jimin had mentioned he never got a surprise party back when they had attended Hoseok’s in February. Jeongguk was too shocked by that and was set to make it happen for Jimin’s first birthday together—and, hopefully, one of the many more to come. He even arranged for Moghwa to wear a little sparkly bow tie and a hat and Jjinppang a birthday-themed collar or something like that.

TAEHYUNG HYUNG

Do we have a theme? Or is it just “Jimin is the best and we love him”?

JEON JEONGGUK

That’s the theme. And I don’t want anyone messing it up.

Jeongguk glances at the clock, noting the hours he had to pull everything together. He has enough time to do everything with no hurry, but the anxiety keeps telling him he’s already late to do half the stuff he needs to do. He will go out to do some errands for Jimin’s birthday and stop by the clinic because he has a few clients during early afternoon. He has no idea at what time exactly Jimin will arrive home—he’s confined on one of Jimin’s coworkers to keep an eye on him, to make sure they message Jeongguk when Jimin leaves—, so he and his friends should be all at his apartment at a reasonable time so they can all be there when Jimin arrives.

But before he gets going, he decides to shoot Jimin a quick text, unable to keep every little thing to himself for too long.

JEON JEONGGUK

I hope you have a wonderful day, because you deserve it, baby, even if you have to spend it at work

Tonight, you’ll be spoiled like the king you are

So don’t stress too much. You don’t want to pull a muscle on your big day, ahjussi

I love you

JIMINIE

You brat!!!

You’re lucky I love you just as much

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jimin and Jeongguk were tucked in a corner of the karaoke room, comfortably wrapped in each other’s presence despite the chaos erupting around them. Hoseok, Yoongi and one of his work friends were putting on an overly dramatic performance of an old Korean ballad, complete with exaggerated gestures and off-key singing, as though they were auditioning for a soap opera.

Jimin was uncharacteristically quiet, his head resting on Jeongguk’s shoulder. He had said he was just having a small headache and was a bit sleepy, but regardless of the real reason, Jeongguk stayed glued to him, since he was still a bit shy around Jimin’s friends without his boyfriend by his side. The tipsy flush on his cheeks made him look warm and endearing, and Jeongguk couldn’t help but press a few soft kisses to Jimin’s temple from time to time, their own little bubble calm amidst the rowdiness.

“You’re quiet,” Jeongguk murmurs close to Jimin’s ear, placing a soft kiss there, his voice low.

“Just thinking,” Jimin said, his words slightly slurred but no less sincere. He played with the edge of his sleeve, glancing at the bottle of soju on the table as he considered whether to take another shot or not. “This is nice, isn’t it? Being surrounded by people who care about you… I bet Hoseok loved the surprise.”

“He better have.” Jeongguk chuckles and Jimin smiles at him. “We spent so long planning this.”

Jimin nodded slowly, his gaze unfocused, lost in his own thoughts. After a beat, he sighed, sitting up slightly to look at Jeongguk. “You know, I’ve never had a surprise birthday party before.”

The words caught Jeongguk a little off guard. His brows furrowed as he tilted his head, studying Jimin’s face for any hint of their usual teasing, but the soft vulnerability in Jimin’s expression was unmistakable.

“Never?”

“Not even one.” Jimin shakes his head. “My birthdays were always small, just me, my parents and my grandma, then, later, Taehyung. They were sweet, of course, I always had a nice time, but they were also… quiet, I guess. When I got older, it was always dinner with Taehyungie and Hoseok hyung. I don’t think anyone has ever gotten out of their way to plan something big like this for me.”

Jeongguk frowns, his heart racing at the thought. He couldn’t fathom Jimin never having the joy of a room full of people he loved shouting, “Surprise!” just for him. He hugs Jimin closer to himself, squeezing one of his hands in his.

“You deserve a hundred surprises,” Jeongguk said firmly, making Jimin huff out a laugh and smile at Jeongguk adoringly, eyes shimmering.

“I don’t need anything extravagant. I’m not saying this to make you feel bad or anything either. I just… I guess I never looked like the person who would wish to have a surprise party like this one, nor have I ever told someone this. Sometimes I just wonder what it’d feel like, you know? To have everyone show up for you this way, even if you know they will because it’s your birthday and all.”

Jeongguk just nodded, not responding right away. His mind was immediately whirring with ideas, even if Jimin’s birthday was months and months away. He could picture it so clearly—Jimin walking into a room filled with their closest friends, the look of shock and happiness on his face as he saw everyone waiting for him. He made a silent vow right then and there: he would give Jimin the kind of birthday he’d always wondered about, something full of love and joy, with every detail crafted to show Jimin how cherished he truly was.

“I’ll make sure you’ll find out,” Jeongguk finally said, his voice steady despite the overwhelming affection threatening to spill over.

“What do you mean?” Jimin blinks up at him.

“Hm? Nothing, baby,” Jeongguk said, leaning down to kiss the tip of Jimin’s nose. “Just promise me you’ll keep being patient with me, okay?”

Jimin tilted his head, narrowing his eyes playfully as though trying to decipher Jeongguk’s cryptic statement. But instead of pressing further, he smiled, his cheeks dimpling as he whispered:

“Always.”

They sat together in comfortable silence for a while, the ballad ending in an exaggerated wail that made the entire room burst into laughter. Jimin snuggled closer to Jeongguk after they had clapped for his friends’ performance, and Jeongguk felt his heart swell at how naturally Jimin fit against him.

“I think I’m lucky,” Jimin murmured suddenly, his voice barely audible over the chatter and laughter of their friends.

“Why’s that?” Jeongguk asked, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on Jimin’s shoulder.

“Because I have you,” Jimin said simply, his words carrying a weight Jeongguk felt deep in his chest. “Even if I never had a surprise party before… You make me feel like every day is a little celebration.”

“What’s going on with you, hyung? You’re gonna make me cry,” Jeongguk joked, his voice trembling a bit.

Jimin chuckled softly, and as their friends launched into another chaotic karaoke performance, Jeongguk couldn’t help but smile. He held Jimin a little closer, trying not to blurt out those three words lodged inside his throat so suddenly, but knowing there’s going to be a time he won’t be able to hold himself back.

ᓚᘏᗢ

The living room of Jeongguk and Jimin’s apartment has been transformed into a cozy, festive space. Warm fairy lights are draped along the walls, casting a golden glow across the room. Small balloons in various shades of yellow and gold float on the ceiling, their ribbons dangling just within reach. A banner stretches above one of the big windows right beside the dining table, reading “Happy Birthday, Jimin!” in bold letters with a tiny paw print next to it—Jeongguk’s little touch to include Jjinppang and Moghwa in the celebration. 

The coffee table is piled with snacks—cheese platters, fruit arrangements and an array of Jimin’s favorite snacks, including some homemade kimbap Jeongguk had spent all morning making over at Hoseok’s and Yoongi’s apartment. A small, two-tiered chocolate cake sits proudly in the center of the dining table, decorated with delicate frosting autumn leaves that go from yellow to bold red with some paw prints going from the bottom to the calico cat shaped biscuit sculpture on top to symbolize Jjinppang—illustrating the scene of Jimin finding her exactly an year ago. It matches Jimin’s taste for simplicity but, at the same time, is cute just like he is. There are also two vases with bouquets of red roses—that Jeongguk made sure to make them himself—on each corner of the table with a few small candles around.

In one corner of the living room, there is a small makeshift space that is decorated just so they could take cute pictures with a polaroid camera—that Jeongguk had gifted Jimin on Christmas—and props—a last-minute idea from Hoseok, who has already claimed he’d be in charge of the pictures once Jimin arrived and saying he would turn them into a scrapbook as another birthday present for him. The playlist Jeongguk had painstakingly curated plays softly in the background, a mix of Jimin’s favorite songs and a few cheesy classics for karaoke later in the evening.

The apartment is bustling with activity. Yoongi is in the kitchen, diligently arranging the extra drinks while Hoseok and Mingyu are in charge of testing the karaoke machine, belting out half a song before devolving into laughter as the lyrics flash across the screen.

They have tried, unsuccessfully, to put on a tiny party hat on Jjinppang’s head, only for her to swat at it lazily in protest. She’s now perched on the windowsill, watching the street with half-lidded eyes. Meanwhile, Moghwa lays contentedly on his bed in the corner, his tail wagging faintly whenever someone walks by and talks to him or gives him a scratch behind the ears. Despite his slower pace and diminished energy, he is still very much the heart of the home, and Jeongguk makes sure he will be comfortable amidst the festives.

The only people missing are Taehyug and Namjoon, who have recently started dating. Their odd dynamic was a constant source of entertainment for the group, and their tendency to run late—a mix of Taehyung’s indecisiveness when choosing what to wear and Namjoon’s calm nature—is something that Jeongguk has been worrying about since the planning began. He’s pacing nervously by the door, clutching his phone as he re-reads the texts from one of Jimin’s coworkers saying he was on his way, followed by an almost immediate message from Jimin:

JIMINIE

Be home in 10!!!

Can’t wait for the king treatment, definitely didn’t get anything close to that at the office

“Where are they?” Jeongguk mutters worriedly, walking over to Hoseok and Mingyu who are laying on the floor from laughter. “If Taehyung hyung and Namjoon hyung run into Jimin on the stairs, the whole surprise is fucking ruined! I think I’m gonna cry.”

Mingyu sits up on the floor, snatching the mic from Hoseok’s hand. “Relax, Romeo,” he says with the mic on, his voice echoing through the apartment, making Hoseok stifle a laugh, mindful of how nervous Jeongguk is getting. “Even if they run into Jimin, he’s not going to connect the dots immediately. Jimin hyung’s probably daydreaming about the fancy dinner you told him you’d take him to to think there’s a surprise party or anything of the sorts.”

Almost immediately, his phone buzzes again. Jeongguk takes his phone out of his pocket, it’s a few texts from Taehyung.

TAEHYUNG HYUNG

Almost there with Namjoon

Parking spot now

Chill

“Oh my god.” Jeongguk’s knees almost give out. “They’re going to fucking meet in the elevator or something. This is it. The surprise is ruined. I’m going to fucking faint.”

“Jeongguk-ah,” Yoongi calls as he gets close to the three boys, sounding completely unimpressed. “Sit down before you give yourself a heart attack. If anyone can play it cool, it’s Taehyung. Have you ever met him?”

Jeongguk flops down on the couch, head in his hands, and Mingyu sits down beside him, crossing his arms. “If he does find out, though, it’s not the end of the world either, Jeongguk-ah. Worst case scenario is: he cries early, and the rest of us don’t get to watch that.”

Jeongguk, with his heart feeling like it is going to explode, takes in a deep breath and ushers everyone into their places, urging them to quiet down. Even though Mingyu and Hoseok can’t help cracking jokes and laughing under their breath—sometimes joined by Yoongi—, the trio manages to dim the lights and crouch behind the couch as the sound of the elevator dinged just outside of the door.

His worst fear seems to manifest when the distant murmur of voices filters through the hallway—and not just one or two voices, but three.

“Oh my god. Do you hear that?” he whispers urgently to the three guys hiding across the sofa. They all stop for a second, trying to hear what was going out outside of the apartment door.

“Oh, no fucking way,” Hoseok whisper laughs. “Is that—?”

“It’s Jimin,” Jeongguk confirms, stomach twisting. “But it’s fucking Taehyung hyung and Namjoon hyung too.”

“Relax!” Mingyu whisper shouts.

“That’s exactly what I was trying to avoid!” Jeongguk hisses as low as he can, clutching at his hair as his friends snicker. 

“It’s fine. They won’t say anything and Jimin won’t suspect. You’ll survive,” Yoongi reassures, but his shoulders are shaking from silent laughter.

“And even if Jiminie suspects, it’ll be cute,” Hoseok says encouragingly, giving Jeongguk an excited smile, because Jimin, Namjoon and Taehyung are getting closer and their voices are getting clearer.

Jeongguk jumps to hide along with Hoseok, Yoongi and Mingyu, all squeezed together in front of the couch, out of sight. He can make out Jimin’s laugh—a sound that’s now both comforting and terrifying at the same time.

“...Jeonggukie said he’s taking me to dinner after work,” Jimin says, his tone fond and cheerful. “Something fancy, I think. He likes to keep secrets so everything is a surprise. Though, knowing him, he probably has some ridiculously cute plan in mind.”

“Of course he does,” Taheyung says in mock exasperation. “Jeonggukie’s like that. A total romantic. But don’t let him off the hook too easily, Jimin-ah. Make him squirm a little for being late.”

Namjoon chuckles. “I don’t think Jimin’s the ‘make-him-squirm’ type. But yeah, he definitely deserves something special. Right, Jimin?”

Jimin laughs again, and Jeongguk can tell they’re now in front of the door. He freezes, barely able to breathe as he continues listening to them talk.

“I mean, I’m not complaining. Just being able to be with him is amazing. And he’s already spoiling me all week.”

Jeongguk feels a pang of both relief and disbelief—Jimin has absolutely no idea.

“They didn’t say anything,” Jeongguk whispers, turning to his friends, feeling like he can burst out in tears at any moment.

“See? Told you,” Hoseok grins, bumping Jeongguk’s waist lightly, but almost making him fall on the ground.

As the unlocking tone sounds in the living room, all four of them crouch down lower. Jeongguk’s heart is pounding and a smile tugs at his lips. Jimin steps inside, chatting so animatedly with Namjoon and Taehyung that he doesn’t even notice the fairy lights decorating the walls at first, or the way Taehyung stifles a laugh after they get inside and Namjoon looks like he’s in pain.

Is only when Jimin crouches down to take off his shoes that he notices from the corner of his eye the decorations in the apartment. His brow furrows slightly, curiosity and excitement blooming in his chest as he notices the soft twinkle of the fairy lights strung along the walls, casting a warm glow over the space. The banner catches his eyes, then the bursts of color from the dining table—the cake and the flowers—and the ceiling full of balloons.

“What is going—” Jimin starts, eyes wide as he straightens up and tries to look at the decorations through the dim lighting.

But before he can process things any further, Jeongguk and the other three jump out from behind the sofa, a chorus of people erupting into a loud, cheerful, “SURPRISE!”. Jimin gasps, his hands flying up to his mouth as his eyes instantly fill with tears as they dart through his friends and the decorations. Taehyung and Namjoon join in, pulling Jimin, who’s frozen in shock, closer to where the others are as they all immediately break into the birthday song.

Jeongguk steps closer to Jimin as they continue singing, his own eyes shimmering. Seeing Jimin so overwhelmed and touched is enough to make his chest ache from how much love he has for him. He blinks a few times to try to keep the tears at bay, but it’s to no avail.

“Oh my god,” Jimin whispers tearfully as the song ends. He dries his tears with the back of his hand and as he laughs softly through them. “You guys… I don’t even know what to say.”

The group coos at him and Taehyung hugs him from the back.

“Don’t cry, Jiminie, or you’ll make all of us cry too.”

“I guess it’s too late for that,” Hoseok chimes in, laughing as he points at Jeongguk’s red nose and tear stained face. 

Jimin practically runs into Jeongguk’s arms, hugging him tightly as the room erupts into another set of cheers and applause. Jimin buries his face in Jeongguk’s shoulder, laughing through his sniffles, and Jeongguk hugs him tighter, pressing a soft kiss to the side of his head.

“Happy birthday, baby,” Jeongguk murmurs, swaying them from side to side.

“I can’t believe you did this for me,” Jimin says, voice muffled. He pulls back just enough to look at Jeongguk, his face glowing with happiness despite the tears. “I love you so much.”

“I had to,” Jeongguk replies, grinning through his tears. “You deserve this and so much more, my love. I love you.”

“You deserve it, Minnie,” Hoseok says brightly, making Jimin turn to him, his grin nearly splitting his face. “But don’t thank us too much. Jeonggugkie planned everything. We were just the helpers.”

Jimin turns to stare at Jeongguk, his arms still wrapped around him. “You really did all of this?”

Jeongguk nods, his lips curving into a soft, shy smile. “I wanted to make today special for you.”

Jimin takes a shaky breath, resting his forehead on Jeongguk's shoulder and hugging him tighter. “You’re too good to me,” he whispers, feeling like crying again. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Jeongguk murmurs, hugging him back just as tightly. His voice cracks slightly as he adds, “I just want to make you feel as special as you make me feel everyday.”

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jimin and Jeongguk had planned a cozy evening together over at Jeongguk’s house. It was nothing extravagant—just a simple dinner at home followed by a movie on the couch. Jeongguk was sprawled at one end, legs stretched out and Jimin nestled against him, his head nestling comfortably on Jeongguk’s chest.

The credits of the movie rolled, but neither of them moved to turn off the TV. Jeongguk’s hand absentmindedly played with the strands of Jimin’s hair, his touch light and tender. Jimin, wrapped in the cocoon of warmth and comfort Jeongguk provided, found himself mumbling sleepily:

“I could stay like this forever.”

“What, squished against me like this?”

“No—I mean, yeah… Kinda.” Jimin huffs a laugh, poking Jeongguk’s side, making him squirm. “Just… here. With you.”

Jeongguk's heart swelled at the words. He tightened his arms around Jimin, pulling him impossibly closer. The quiet intimacy of the moment washed over him, and before he could stop himself, the words finally slipped out.

“I love you, you know?”

Jimin shifted slightly, tilting his head up to meet Jeongguk’s eyes. The word seemed to still, Jeongguk was frozen and his fingers halted in Jimin’s hair. For a moment, he just stared, parting his lips in surprise. But, then, a slow, shy smile took over Jimin’s face, his eyes softened in a way that Jeongguk’s nerves melted away.

“I know,” Jimin said, his smile getting bigger as he crawled on top of Jeongguk until he was able to give him a small kiss on the lips. “I love you too, love.”

“Yeah?” Jeongguk breathed out, laughing giddily, his tone laced with disbelief and joy.

“Mhm,” Jimin confirmed, his cheeks pink. “Took you long enough, though.”

“Yah, hyung,” Jeongguk huffed and Jimin giggled, the fondness in his tone betraying his feigned annoyance. “I just told you I love you and you’re teasing me?”

Jimin cupped Jeongguk’s face in his hands, squishing his cheeks so he could kiss Jeongguk’s pout. “I mean it.”

“That it took me long enough?”

Jimin let out a laugh. “No, you silly. That I love you too.”

“Hm,” Jeongguk muttered, pleased.

“I really do,” Jimin said softly, his thumb brushing softly against Jeongguk’s cheek.

“Say it again, then,” Jeongguk murmured. He leans into Jimin’s touch, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment before opening again to lock with Jimin’s.

“I love you,” Jimin said, giggling as Jeongguk broke into a wide, toothy smile.

“I love you too,” Jeongguk said again, his voice firmer this time, filled with conviction. He tilted his head forward, resting his forehead against Jimin’s. 

ᓚᘏᗢ

Jimin follows Jeongguk across the living and dining rooms. Jeongguk shows him every single detail of the decorations he had planned for Jimin. Jeongguk starts recounting all the details of planning Jimin’s surprise party. His voice is soft, but his eyes sparkle with excitement as he tells Jimin about how nervous he had been when asking their friends to help, worrying they might let the secret slip and how he was afraid they’d think he was being too much. Hoseok chimes in once, almost falling on the floor laughing while Jeongguk’s face slowly turns red as he describes Jeongguk nearly bursting into tears when the kimbaps he had tried to roll kept falling apart, and how him and Yoongi served as moral support during his mid-cooking meltdown.

Jimin can’t help but gasp when he notices Jjinppang and Moghwa “dressed up” for the occasion too—Jjinppang is wearing a tiny, shiny pink bow secured loosely around her collar, and Moghwa is sporting a festive bandana printed with little cakes and balloons and with a tiny party hat. His hands fly to his mouth as he crouches down to greet them, cooing, his voice thick with emotion, at how adorable they look. Jjinppang purrs when she gets a few scratches and kisses and Moghwa wags his tail enthusiastically, nudging Jimin’s hand with his nose.

“Were you two part of this plan too?” Jimin asks in a high pitched voice, not sure at which one of the two she should look at. “And you didn’t tell Jiminie anything, Jinnie-yah? You’re such a good girl.”

“This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” Jimin says when he looks back up at Jeongguk, nose red and eyes shining. “Thank you.”

When Jeongguk talks about shyly asking the florist if he could arrange the rose bouquets himself, his cheeks flushed pink, because of how much he wanted things to be personal, Jimin feels like his heart could burst at any moment. The love he has for Jeongguk is so big that sometimes he feels his chest ache, and his heart swells with every word Jeongguk says.

But Jimin fears it’s actually going to burst when he sees the cake standing as the centerpiece. His breath hitches when he sees it up close. The frosting decorations are simple but beautiful, with the intricate details of leaves along the edges. But his eyes are immediately drawn to the paw prints going from the bottom to the second tier and the small figurine perched on top.

“Oh, is that—?”

“Jjinppangie,” Jeongguk says with a soft smile. “I realized it’s not just your birthday—It’s also been exactly a year since you found her. I thought it’d be nice to celebrate this too.”

“Jeongguk-ah, darling, this is…” Jimin trails off, staring at the cake with so much emotion in his eyes as tears start to well up again. He shakes his head and gently traces the tip of his fingers on the cat figurine. “This is everything. I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe you remembered.”

“Of course I did,” Jeongguk says, his voice equally tender. “Jjinppang is such an important part of you and she’s had so much impact on you—on us.”

Jimin laughs through his tears, sniffing as he turns back to Jeongguk. “You always do this—you make me feel so loved, I don't even know how to handle it.”

Jeongguk reaches out, wiping a stray tear from Jimin’s cheek. “You don’t need to ‘handle’ it. Just let me love you, okay?”

Jimin can’t help but think back to the day he had found Jjinppang—a shivering, wide-eyed kitten, huddled in a corner, helpless and scared. Sometimes Jimin gets lost in his own thoughts, thinking about what could’ve happened if he didn’t hear her cries or decided to not keep her. Because, back then, in the beginning, he had no idea how much she’s changed his life for the better.

Jjinppang was a reminder to slow down, to take care of something beyond himself, to find joy in the small, quiet moments. And if he had no idea then how much she’d impact him, he definitely wasn’t expecting her to bring someone as wonderful as Jeongguk to his life—a whirlwind of warmth, patience and love who has turned his world upside down in the best way possible.

She had been the catalyst of something so much bigger, and Jimin knew he’d never be able to find the right words to express how grateful he was. Not just for her but for everything that had come after. For Jeongguk, who had walked in his life with such an open heart. For his friends that had always welcomed him with so much love. For the quiet courage he was slowly finding within himself to face his insecurities.

Jimin’s gaze shifts to Jeongguk, who’s laughing at something Taehyung said, his eyes crinkling at the corners in the way Jimin loved so much. His heart swells. Things have changed so much in the past year—sometimes faster than he felt ready for—but for the first time, he isn’t scared at all.

Sure, there is still a long way to go. He has some of his own problems to work through, lessons to learn about being a better partner—something he’s slowly working through with Jeongguk by his side—and habits to unlearn when it comes to how he views himself. And life with Jeongguk, with Jjinppang, and now Moghwa, promises to be unpredictable in ways that might’ve terrified him a year ago.

But now, unpredictability doesn’t feel like a looming shadow; it feels like an adventure. Living with Jeongguk means mornings filled with soft teasing and quiet laughter over coffee and tea, evenings spent sharing stories of their day, and some occasional chaos courtesy of their furry family members. And he knows it won’t always be perfect, but being with Jeongguk also means learning to trust, to let himself be vulnerable and to love without fear.

Jimin exhales softly, his smile deepening as he looks around at his living room, all of them are sitting on the couch surrounded by the remnants of the party—half-eaten slices of cake on the coffee table and a few bottles of soju, along with a microphone that has run out of battery. He doesn’t know what the future holds for him or for any of them. But he’s learned that he doesn’t have to face it alone. He will always have a soft place to land. And that’s perfect. That’s everything.