Work Text:
"Stop elbowing me before I bite you." Taehyung threatened, baring his perfect set of white teeth as he halted from his steps so he could give his best friend a glare.
But said best friend wasn't listening to him as his eyes were already focused on something, or rather someone. "Who's that?" Jimin pointed to an unfamiliar gray-haired boy sitting on the pavement opposite Taehyung's house. The gray-haired stranger was quietly sitting there by himself, expression grumpy as he furiously typed on his phone. He didn't even spare them a look when they stepped out of Taehyung’s house.
"Oh," Taehyung said in recognition when he followed Jimin's line of sight. "He's our new neighbor. He and his friend just moved opposite ours yesterday. Didn't I just tell you a while ago?"
"I remember you blabbing about it,” Jimin faced Taehyung with a frown, “But you didn't tell me that your new neighbor is this gorgeous." Jimin complained, heart eyes going back to his best friend’s new neighbor. “He’s wearing a beanie! And ripped jeans! And his hair is gray! That is so my type.”
"Yes and he looks like he can kill you with a glare." Taehyung whacked Jimin in the back of his head. "You and your weird preferences. You’re planning on getting your paws on him aren't you?"
Jimin, the self-proclaimed cool (lol no), playboy (not really) answered him with a you-know-me-too-well smile. Taehyung smiled back, a sarcastic one, before hitting him in the head again. "Back off, Jimin. He just moved here. You'll scare him away."
"But he's handsome. I really like him." Jimin pouted.
"Yes, he’s handsome. And okay, you like him. And liking him means you're going to embarrass yourself in front of him sooner or later." Taehyung said, pushing Jimin so they could resume walking. “And unfortunately, embarrassing yourself is equals to embarrassing myself too."
"I won't." Jimin stood on his ground, “Let me stare for a little while.”
“No, Jimin. We have to go.”
“Let me introduce myself to him.” Jimin insisted. “I think I’m in love.”
“You are crazy. I don't even know why i'm friends with you. Leave him alone.” Taehyung said with finality in his voice and dragged a whining Jimin behind.
The next day, the two best friends were hanging out at Taehyung’s house again. They were in Taehyung’s bedroom to be exact, which was conveniently located where Jimin could see the perfect view of Taehyung’s new and handsome neighbor's house.
"His name is Yoongi. Min Yoongi." Taehyung supplied while throwing Jimin a weird look. The slightly older boy was chillin' by the bedroom window, craning his neck as he tried his best to spot even just a shadow of the gray-haired cutie he now knew as Min Yoongi.
"Yoongi. Yoongi." Jimin repeated the name on his mouth. "His name suits his handsome face perfectly."
Taehyung could only scrunched his nose at how cheesy Jimin sounded. "Want more info about him?"
"Do you even have to ask? Spill." Jimin ordered, eyes not leaving the window.
"Five dollars." Taehyung held an open palm.
"The hell, Tae! I don't have money."
"No money, no info."
Jimin contemplated for a while. He could get his own information by himself. He was way better than Taehyung when it came to stalking gathering information after all. But he was desperate and he needed new info, fast. And Taehyung was only asking for five dollars anyway.
How cheap. Jimin thought.
But that thought wouldn't stop him from whining. "I thought we're friends, Taehyung." The older teenager was groaning as he halfheartedly pulled a crumpled five dollar bill from his pocket. Yes, five dollars might be cheap, but it was still money.
"We are, Jimin. Bros forever, remember?" Taehyung was grinning when he moved to pick the bill Jimin threw at him. He didn’t expect that Jimin's sudden crush on his new neighbor was this serious. Not that he was complaining because money.
“The nerve of you to say those things when you’re here, shamelessly leeching off of your friend's money." Jimin complained.
"Suck it up, Jimbles."
“You’re cheap, Kim Taepoo.”
“You’re stingy, Park Jishit.”
“Shut up! Now spill before I snatch my precious dollar back.”
“Well,” Taehyung started, leaning on his bed to get into a more comfortable position. “His name is Min Yoongi and he just moved in with his friend named Jung Hoseok.”
“Continue.”
“His birthday is on March 9.”
Jimin hummed.
“His close friends calls him Suga. He’s 176 cm tall and he weighs 57 kg. He’s a Pisces and his blood type is O.”
By now, Jimin was already gaping by the window. He refused to leave its side, not until he saw a glimpse of Yoongi. “How the freak did you know all those stuffs? And Suga, really? That's cute.”
Taehyung gave him a mysterious smile before answering, “You don’t want to know.”
“Are those info even legit?”
“What do you take me for?” Taehyung gasped, looking offended. “Of course all of those were legit. Now will you shut up so I can continue?”
“You have more?”
“Again, what do you take me for? Stingy bro, I assure you that your five dollars won’t go to waste.”
“Continue then.”
“He’s in college, and…” Taehyung egged, wanting to add suspense to the situation only to fail because his best friend’s attention was still fixated outside the window. “He’s single.”
Jimin's face broke into a huge smile. “Good, good. That means I have a chance.”
“Good luck with that,” Taehyung told him. “And oh, I forgot. He’s twenty three.”
Jimin nodded to himself, calmly taking all the new information inside his head when his eyes suddenly grew wide. He turned his head to face Taehyung, so fast the latter was afraid he got a whiplash.
"Twenty three? He's already twenty three?" Jimin exclaimed, surprise evident on his face.
"Yes, he’s four years older than us." Taehyung confirmed.
"But he looks like he’s twenty." Jimin flailed around, momentarily leaving the window so he could whine at his best friend’s face. “I’m younger than him. I’ve never tried to make a move on someone older than me before. I only look cool to those who are younger than me. What if he doesn't find me cool? What if he doesn't like me?”
“Shh, it’s alright, everything’s going to be okay. You are not that cool to begin with anyway.” that earned Taehyung a smack from Jimin. “You don’t have to worry about your age difference. If I were you, I’ll worry about what he'll think once he learned how much of a creeper you are. Plus, we don’t even know if he’s gay.”
“Wait, what?! You don’t know if he’s gay?" Jimin screeched. "That should be the first information you should have taken. What kind of an informant are you, Mr. Kim?” the older boy continued to nag.
Taehyung smirked, eyes twinkling with mischief. “That precious information will cost you another five dollars, Mr. Park.”
“Park Jimin, you are such a creeper.” Taehyung complained while trying to pull Jimin away from his bedroom window, to where he perched himself the second he arrived at Taehyung’s house the next day. “I don’t even know why I am friends with a weirdo like you.”
“Let go of me, Taehyung. I want to see your neighbor,” Jimin tried to squirm away from Taehyung’s grip, “And have you heard the saying, ‘birds that flocks together, stay together’?”
Taehyung could only sigh at his stupid friend, “I’m pretty sure it’s ‘birds of the same feather, flock together’” he corrected. “By the way, Yoongi is not there. I saw him going out with his friend this morning.”
Jimin’s shoulder immediately slumped at the information.
Jimin went to visit Taehyung that day as early as he could. He had bags of chips and drinks with him too. He needed them to use as a bribe so Taehyung would let him stay there the whole day for his stalking purposes.
“You could have told me earlier. You know, to save my time.” Jimin said sarcastically. He sighed before standing up, hands snatching the bags of chips and drinks he brought as he made his way towards the door. He didn’t expect his plans to fail without even starting. He felt so miserable.
“Where are you going?” Taehyung asked, not really interested to where his friend was going. He was more concerned at the bags of food on Jimin’s hand.
“Home,” came Jimin’s lazy reply. “I don’t have any reason to stay here anymore.” He said dramatically.
“Then leave the food in here. You said you bought them for me.”
“Not anymore.” Jimin hugged the food protectively over his chest and then he was out. Taehyung already took his money yesterday. He bought the snacks with his own money, therefore, those foods were his.
He could hear Taehyung shouting the words ‘Don’t you dare show your face in front of our door steps ever again, you selfish puppy,’ as he walked outside. But he didn’t pay attention to it. He took one last longing glance towards Yoongi’s house before walking away with a pout on his face.
Jimin was sulky as he made his way home. His feet felt heavy as he walked slowly, kicking some stones and pebbles once in awhile. He somehow wished for it to rain because it would definitely fit the mood that moment since he was feeling a bit emo.
All he wanted that day was to see a glimpse of Yoongi (Okay, lies. He really wanted to officially meet Yoongi, talk to him face to face. Kiss him too if he could). He should've approached him yesterday. He should've introduced himself yesterday. He should've asked for his number, but no he didn't because Kim Taehyung had to freakin' stand on his way.
You don't even know him, he said.
You will creep him out, he said.
Give my new neighbor some space, he said.
The fudge!
What was wrong with him introducing himself to Yoongi, the new neighbor? That was a common courtesy between people who live in the same neighborhood, right? They might not be on the same street (lucky Taehyung) but he lived in the same area too so he had every right to introduce himself to Yoongi.
Kim Taehyung was a freaking cock blocker.
Stupid Kim Taehyung.
Jimin was busy insulting his best friend inside his head when he heard a sudden eruption of laughter nearby. Who the fudge allowed them to be that happy when Jimin was feeling down? Jimin looked up from his sulking so he could give them a stinky eye only to be shocked with the scene that greeted him.
There he saw Yoongi and whom he assumed was Hoseok sitting on one of the benches. Both of them had ice cream cone on their hands though it was pretty obvious that it was only Hoseok who was enjoying since Yoongi had that grumpy look back on his face again.
Yoongi was sitting there and Jimin was lucky enough to be there at the same time. This was his chance! And with a rushed and not really well thought decision, he decided to jumped on the nearby bushes to observed Yoongi instead of sitting on the bench next to them like what a normal person would do.
He was scolding himself a while ago for not introducing himself to Yoongi yesterday. But look at him now, pathetically hiding behind the bushes so he could get a glimpse of his new found crush.
Jimin now had the perfect view of a frowning Min Yoongi. The two weren't doing anything special at all. Yoongi was just there sitting, his barely touched ice cream was already melting on his hand as he pretended to listen to what this overly clingy and practically screaming Hoseok dude was talking about. They weren't doing anything special but it was also obvious that they were both close and that sent a pang in Jimin’s heart.
He wanted to be that close with Yoongi too.
They were just friends, right? He asked himself. Well that was what Taehyung told him anyway. And speaking of Taehyung, Jimin picked out his phone from his pocket and quickly typed a message.
To: Taepoo
ASDFGHJKL! u wudn't believe wat just happened 2 me.
No reply.
To: Taepoo
u won't believe who is sittin just 10m away frm me.
Still no reply.
To: Taepoo
u know wat, i'll say it anyway. min yoongi s hir, sittin 10m away frm me. eating ice cream with the very loud and clingy boy
To: Taepoo
how lucky of me
still no freakin reply
To: Taepoo
poo?
To: Taepoo
go outside. here n the park and see it 4 yoself and join me
To: Taepoo
im hiding behind d bushes btw
To: Taepoo
god, Yoongi s cuter up close.
To: Taepoo
was dat rily his friend? the loud boy? just only FRIENDS?
To: Taepoo
dey seemed so close.
To: Taepoo
not dat im being jealous or anything.
To: Taepoo
taehyung?
To: Taepoo
helo?
To: Taepoo
i know ur reading my msgs so dun ignore me
To: Taepoo
kim taehyung?
To: Taepoo
i feel like a creep watching dem.
To: Taepoo
tbh.
To: Taepoo
kim taehyung, hello. r u there?
To: Taepoo
i know ur reading my txts u dumbass.
To: Taepoo
txtbck
To: Taepoo
txtbck. asap
To: Taepoo
talk to me
To: Taepoo
what kind of frend r u?
To: Taeoo
dis bushes r startin 2 irritate my skin.
To: Taepoo
ohmgfod. yoongs just smiled. his gummy smile! he luk so frreaking cute.
To: Taepoo
i think im going 2 die.
To: Taepoo
KIM TAEHYUNG!
To: Taepoo
Don't ignore me.
To: Taepoo
bro ;A;
Jimin almost jumped from where he was crouching when his phone vibrated, finally getting a reply from Taehyung.
From: Taepoo
Hu u?
To: Taepoo
wow! what kind of brofriend r u?
From: Taepoo
HU DIS? NEW PHON
To: Taepoo
srsly taepoo, stop bein so childish. u shud b cheering 4 me
From: Taepoo
HU DIS? ;(
To: Taepoo
dats not funny.
From: Taepoo
HU DIS? NEW PHON!! ;<
To: Taepoo
im park jimin. PARK JIMIN. ur besfriend. bro5ever. your bestman and the future god father of ur future children
From: Taepoo
o, i dunno some1 named park jimin, esp a park jimin hu gave me fud only 2 take it bck. bye.
From: Taepoo
the betrayal
To: Taepoo
fine. b dat way.
To: Taepoo
our friendship s over.
To: Taepoo
i want my friendship bracelet back!
After the last message, Jimin tucked his cell phone back in his pocket. He couldn’t be bothered by Taehyung’s dramatic antics that moment so he resumed staring at Yoongi, feeding his brain the image of the lethargic yet very swaggy actions of Yoongi and his everything.
From what Jimin had gathered from his ‘stalking’, Yoongi seemed to be a very crabby person who appeared disinterested half of the time. And Jimin, bless that boy, actually found it really cute. He hasn't talked to Yoongi yet and he was already that whipped.
The next day, Jimin found himself standing outside Taehyung’s doorstep once again. This time he had two boxes of newly bought Milkis. His new weapon to bribe Taehyung.
He had a backpack full of his belongings too. He was going to stay in Taehyung’s house (even though his house was practically a street away) for the rest of the summer. He made that decision without even consulting the owner of the house.
Taehyung opened the door thirty second after Jimin pressed the doorbell.
Taehyung stood there for a second; staring at his ex-best friend before nonchalantly shifting his gaze to look to his left then to his right before shrugging.
"No one's here. I guess someone's playing a prank on me." Taehyung whispered, pretending that he didn't see a sheepish looking Jimin standing in front of him, before slamming the door right on Jimin's face.
Jimin was left there gaping, few words running in his mind.
Kim Taehyung held grudges and he sucked at acting.
Jimin rang the doorbell again. The door opened revealing a not-so-happy Taehyung.
“Kim Taehyung, I am not here to take your friendship bracelet back.” Jimin started, “I’m here to say sorry for taking your food that I freakin bought with my own money. I'm sorry okay. Stop acting so childish. Let's set aside all our differences and be best friends again.”
The younger boy raised an eyebrow. “Who are you?” He said.
Jimin was this close on pulling his hair out, but then, he was also thankful that it was who are you and not a hu dis new phone.
“I am that someone who saved you and your face from being dunked in the toilet by the bullies when we were still in daycare.” Jimin answered. He didn't want to say those things. It was a sensitive topic and a sob story (not really) for the both of them but he got no other choice. Taehyung's face softened at that.
“Fine, but that doesn't mean I fully forgive you.”
“I got Milkis.” Jimin chirped, showing him the boxes. “Your favorite.”
“You're forgiven.” Taehyung said with his box smile. He motioned for Jimin to step in and to bring the boxes inside when his eyes caught something outside. “Oh, you have a nice timing, Jimbles. Look~” he said, pointing outside.
Jimin turned his head.
Opposite them, just a few meters away, was a very energetic Hoseok dragging a protesting Yoongi from behind. Hoseok went to dumped the frowning Yoongi on one of the two beach lounge chairs in their garden before skipping to where the water hose was. He was probably going to water the plants but Jimin didn't care because his attention was on Yoongi.
Yoongi was still on his sleeping clothes. He was wearing an oversized white shirt and some sweat pants and was sporting a bed hair too. And Jimin wanted to fight him because, how could someone look so casual yet so sexy at the same time? Yoongi was so handsome even though it was obvious that he just woke up. How unfair.
“Fuck you, Jung!” it wasn't that loud, but Jimin, with his perked ears, still heard Yoongi cursed when his friend playfully splashed him with water. “Stop it before i wrap that hose around your neck and strangle you with it.”
And Lord help Jimin because he actually found a cursing and raspy voiced Yoongi hot. His crush on the older boy just intensified.
And then it got better because Hoseok, the dude with a sunshine smile that could rival Taehyung’s, actually noticed them standing in front of the Kim’s house and enthusiastically waved using his hand that wasn't holding the water hose. “Hi, new neighbors!”
As if curious to whom his hyper friend was waving at, Yoongi shifted his gaze from Hoseok to the two of them.
Jimin couldn't help but gasped because Yoongi was now squinting at them with that perpetual scowl on his face.
Jimin dramatically clutched on Taehyung’s shirt to steady himself. “Tae, hold me! Hold me!” he squeaked, “Senpai noticed me!”
And Taehyung, who was excitedly waving back at Hoseok, started to slowly back away from his flailing and spazzing best friend, acting like he didn’t know him even though he knew it was too late. Jimin was so hopelessly smitten by their new neighbor and the second hand embarrassment Taehyung was feeling was too real.