Chapter Text
Like every morning, Jin hops off the train and walks the three blocks to Big Hit’s building. The summer heat is already killing him, but he still finds himself noticing the little things flowers in the planters, a couple of butterflies passing by. It’s cheesy, but he likes it.
He’s almost at the entrance when Taehyung shows up, yogurt in one hand, pastry in the other.
“Morning, Jin. How you doing?” Tae grins, already glowing like the office doesn’t start in five minutes.
“Hey, Tae. I’m good just tired. Let’s head up, I’ve got a report due today.”
They ride the elevator together and split toward their desks. On the way, Jin freezes for a second: Namjoon is already typing away, eyes glued to his screen. It’s not even 8 a.m. yet. This man actually has a death wish via overworking.
It’s not the first time Jin’s caught him like this. He always tells himself he’s responsible, but next to Namjoon? He feels like a fraud. The guy shows up before sunrise, leaves after everyone else, and somehow still looks respectful and put together. Not that Jin keeps track, obviously. He just… worries. That’s all.
Truth is, Jin’s been at Big Hit for two years and crushing on Namjoon for about one year and 364 days. It all started the second day of training, when he found Namjoon asleep under his desk, curled up like a burrito with a green blanket and a tiny pillow. Six feet tall and folded like laundry. That was it. Game over.
For months, Jin tried to convince himself it was nothing. Normal, office crush, move on. Except it didn’t fade. Jimin noticed, of course.
“You should just confess or, like, ask him out. What’s the worst that could happen?” Jimin teased once, winking.
But Jin couldn’t. If he couldn’t be Namjoon’s boyfriend, at least he wanted to stay his friend. And the last thing he needed was to turn the office into a drama show.
Things could’ve stayed like that. Except life isn’t fair. Exactly one year after meeting him, Namjoon casually dropped during lunch that he was dating someone. Park Juwon finance guy at a big bank, speaks three languages, apparently the funniest person on earth. Jin’s stomach dropped. Compete with that? Yeah, right.
Apparently, they met in Italian class. Juwon asked if Namjoon wanted to partner up for the final project. Of course he did. Jin cursed himself a thousand times. If only I’d signed up. If only I spoke another language. If only I wasn’t… me.
Now he just swallows the what-ifs and hopes no one sees how badly it stings.