Work Text:
Jeongguk had been peacefully enjoying lunch in the cafeteria, silently listening to his friends chattering about the company’s latest tea.
He’d made himself bulgogi and couldn’t help mentally patting himself on the back because it tasted that good.
“There he goes, frowning like the food did him dirty or something.” He heard Namjoon say, and even with his closed eyes Jeongguk knew his friends were about to tease him relentlessly. It wasn’t his fault that he was a foodie and his taste buds knew the value of good food.
Unlike his friends who just resorted to filling their stomachs with food from convenience stores.
Taehyung stretched his hand from the other side of the table to pick a piece of meat from Jeongguk’s lunchbox.
Jeongguk should’ve felt embarrassed from the sound that came from the back of his throat in protest to Taehyung picking his food, but he reacted too late, which caused him to lose the best piece he had been saving for later to eat.
“Yah, that’s not how you treat your sunbae!” Taehyung said after making a show of eating the meat. He made loud obnoxious noises, making sure Jeongguk saw how he was enjoying his food.
“Woah, Jeongguk-ah. What are you even doing here? You should be a chef at a Michelin-star restaurant,” Taehyung said. “Now I don’t even want to eat my ramyeon anymore.”
Jeongguk closed the lid of his food immediately when he saw Namjoon and Hoseok looking interested in his food. “Sorry, the food is finished.”
“Look at this brat,” Hoseok laughed incredulously. “Fine, fine. Don’t share your food with us—but don’t come crying to me when you need help with datasheets you couldn’t fill out.”
“Or when you have no clue how to run the reports.” Namjoon added.
“Oh Jimin-ah!”
Jeongguk froze, eyes widening and his face reddened at the mention of his colleague. He didn’t miss the way Namjoon snorted next to him because of his reaction.
Taehyung raised his hand to catch Jimin’s attention, and when he did, Jimin instantly brightened up, and he walked between tables in the cafeteria to reach Taehyung.
“Oh, Taehyung-ah! How have you been?” Jimin said in the same cheerful voice he speaks to everyone.
Just when he reached their table, Jimin gave Taehyung a side-hug, and then greeted everybody else in the same cheerful voice.
When his eyes fell on Jeongguk, though, all signs of warmth vanished so fast Jeongguk felt himself shiver at the coldness. “Jeongguk-ssi.” Jimin nodded in greeting.
The cold, business-like voice he reserves just for him.
“H-hi.” Jeongguk said, waving awkwardly.
“Why don’t you join us, Jimin-ah. We’ve got room for one more person.” Namjoon said.
It was funny how Jimin's expression and aura changed. Even faster than a chameleon changing colors.
Jimin smiled, eyes disappearing into crescent shapes. “Ah, I’d love to, but Yoongi and Seokjinnie-hyung are at the table waiting for me.”
Hoseok clicked his tongue. “Well, that’s a shame cause Jeonggukie here has the best Bulgogi in the world ] and wanted to offer it to you.”
Jeongguk adjusted his glasses, “I— uh,” he fumbled with the lid and lifted it to show the content inside. “It’s nothing special but I can—“
“No, thanks.” Jimin interrupted so suddenly that Jeongguk almost choked on his words. Even the other three at the table were stunned into silence. The man cleared his throat awkwardly, “I have lunch already. But thanks for the offer.”
“Ah, of course,” Jeongguk said, looking down, his glasses sliding down his nose once more, but this time, he made no move to push them back.
“Alright, guys. Enjoy lunch. See you back at the office.” Jimin said cheerfully, and Jeongguk knew the tone was not at all intended for him.
Moments after he was gone, Hoseok let out a whistle. “Man that was harsh.”
“I swear he hates me.” Jeongguk sighed, pouting at his food which seemed to have gone soggy. Just like the way he felt when he got the cold shoulder from Jimin. “Everday I talk to him the more I am made sure that I have no chance with him.”
Namjoon clicked his tongue, reaching out to ruffle Jeongguk’s hair. “What? You’ve only been here for three months or so. I’m sure Jimin just needs some time to warm up to you. He’s a ball of sunshine you know.”
“Yah, Jeonggukie, I didn’t raise a loser. Stop pouting like that.” Taehyung said, snapping his chopsticks towards him before sneakily stealing another piece of meat from Jeongguk.
This time Jeongguk made no attempt to stop him. His stomach was in a deep state of confusion. Butterflies still struggling to survive the attack Jimin had launched minutes ago.
“I wish at least I knew why he hates me so much.”
“Aish, he doesn’t hate you. As Namjoonie said, he just needs to warm up to you.” Taehyung said, waving his hand dismissively. “Ah, seriously Jeongguk-ah, where did you learn to cook so well?” He continued, his voice muffled cause he was chewing the food.
“Oh, I know!” Hoseok exclaimed suddenly, startling everyone at the table. “You could just woo him by making him lunch. I know that would instantly touch his heart.”
Now that made Jeongguk ponder for a second, before brightening up in realization. “Hobi hyung, you really are a genius. Yeah, I could do that. In fact, I can make a good guess what he might like.”
“Look at him. Already planning to make his crush lunch, while we’ve been begging him for weeks to do the same.”
“Shh, Namjoonie,” Taehyung said, sliding Jeongguk’s dish toward himself when he realized Jeongguk wasn’t going to eat it anymore. “Don’t get in the way of love.”
🍥🍥🍥
Cooking was the easiest thing for him. The one constant that soothed his nerves every time he stepped into the kitchen. It had started with his parents, with the way they used to stand side by side at the counter, laughing and cooking together. Jeongguk remembered watching them, how their shared love for good food and quiet time in the kitchen had seeped into him without effort.
By fourteen, he’d learned enough to make his first dish entirely on his own.
Since then, he always helped his parents around at the kitchen, and now in Seoul, at his own apartment, his house never spent a day not smelling of delicious food.
So, all in all, cooking had always been a kind of refuge for him. until he made the stupid decision to try and steal Jimin’s heart by cooking for him. Jeongguk had never been more nervous, hands trembling slightly as he stirred the pan, so the sauce for the pasta would come together.
This was one of his favorite recipes. One he learned on a sleepless night from a youtube channel, but now Jeongguk was questioning everything.
What if he is allergic to this sauce?
What if he finds the taste weird and hates it immediately?
What if—
“No Jeongguk-ah, no one hates pasta.” Taehyung said on the phone. “Well, unless their taste buds are damaged.” He added after a bit of thought. “But Jimin is perfectly fine, so no worries about that.”
Jeongguk nodded, staring skeptically at pasta in the pan. He had to give himself more credit, cause it tasted good and looked good as well.
“Alright hyung, if you say so.”
🍥🍥🍥
Jeongguk waited hours until Jimin left his desk, before he hastily stood up and put the container on the desk.
Initially, he had planned on giving it to him in person but Jimin once again gave him the death glare just because Jeongguk tried to say a few words more than the usual hello and how are you. So naturally, Jeongguk chickened out and resorted to plan B.
Leaving the pasta on Jimin’s desk, with a cute anonymous note that said, for Jiminie hyung~ <3
Jeongguk didn’t have the heart to see how Jimin would react when he found the container on his desk. So, he left earlier than usual for lunch. He sat in a corner, pulling out his phone holder and placing his phone on it. Nothing better than watching a variety show of his favorite girl group during lunch time.
Jeongguk was almost finished with his lunch, when the other three finally joined him.
“Oh, you’re here early?” Hoseok said in question, then, he leaned in to see what Jeongguk was watching intently. “Ah, this is IVE right?”
When Jeongguk nodded, Hoseok laughed hard, clapping his hands in excitement. “Woah, Jeongguk-ah, see what you’ve done to me already. I know all the members because of you.”
“What do you mean? I was singing Off The Record the whole night. Your obsession has gotten to me, I guess.” Namjoon said with a laugh, sitting next to Jeongguk and opening his lunchbox.
Taehyung took Jeongguk’s phone to look at the back of it better. “Woah, already a new photo card? This ain’t IVE, right?”
Jeongguk shook his head in lieu of a response.
Hoseok took the phone from Taehyung, “wait, wait this one is familiar. Saw her in that award show.” Hoseok squinted his eyes, trying to guess the member.
“So, what happened to the pasta you made for Jiminie?” Taehyung asked, his attention now back to Jeongguk.
“Oh wait, she is in ILLIT, right?”
Jeongguk chuckled, scrunching his nose and as a result, his glasses slipping down a bit. “Yeah, that’s right.”
“So?” Taehyung prompted, snapping his fingers to catch Jeongguk’s attention. “The pasta?”
“Oh—um.” Jeongguk cleared his throat, slipping off his glasses and busying himself with cleaning the lenses. “I gave it to him.”
“You did? So? What was his reaction?”
“Anonymously. I gave it to him anonymously.”
The table fell silent, everyone looking at him in shock. Until Namjoon snorted and broke the silence. “Wow, Jeongguk-ah, you’re really hopeless aren’t you?”
“No, I'm not!” Jeongguk crossed his hand defiantly.
“Yes, you are.” Taehyung pointed at him in accusation. “How did this happen? You were so intent on giving it to him.”
“I- uh… he almost almost told me to fuck off when I tried to talk to him.” Jeongguk said, clearing his throat.
“No, he wouldn’t.”
“Well, I don’t know.” Jeongguk shrugged, "I wanted to compliment him on his shirt and he just cut me off and said he needs to work so I shouldn’t disturb him.”
Hoseok hummed, “that’s weird.”
As if on cue, Jeongguk spotted Jimin from afar. He was holding the same container in his hand. Panic flared in Jeongguk’s chest, and he hastily packed up his lunchbox, because if Jimin saw they were eating the same thing, it would give everything away.
“Oh, Jimin-ah, nice shirt you’ve got.” Taehyung hollered, catching Jimin’s attention.
The effect was immediate, Jimin’s face brightened up so fast, in contrast to the way he reacted when Jeongguk said the same thing.
To his misery, Jimin walked towards their table. Eyes kind to anyone he met, but sharpening at the sight of Jeongguk.
Jeongguk gulped in nervousness as he once again waved awkwardly, only to be ignored by Jimin… once again. “ah, Taehyungie, you flatter me.” he said, while ruffling Taehyung’s hair in affection.
“oh, you bought a new lunchbox, Jiminie? Never seen this one before.” Taehyung asked, throwing Jeongguk a sneaky look. Jeongguk never wanted to punch that face more.
“oh this?” he held up the container, “ah, well some angel decided to make me pasta.”
“pasta?”
“yes!” Jimin exclaimed excitedly, and something about the way he happily opened the container to show he did eat the whole meal warmed Jeongguk’s heart. “Like, one of the best I ever had. If only I knew who this was. I’d probably kiss them on their mouth.”
Suddenly Jeongguk felt like he might need water, his throat feeling dry all of a sudden. He could also feel his body on fire, which made him briefly wonder if he was coming down with something.
“oh, that good?” Taehyung hummed, the way he said that screamed i know something you don’t.
“Wait, I recognize that tone.” Jimin said, confirming what Jeongguk had been thinking. “it was you, wasn’t it? You made the pasta for me?”
Taehyung snorted, “not a chance, I can’t cook to save my ass. so, sorry buddy.”
Jimin sighed in disappointment. “well, then who was it?”
“I don’t know.” Taehyung laughed, “Jeongguk-ah, was that you?”
Jeongguk’s eyes widened, like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes fell on Jimin, who already had a deep frown form on his face just at the mention of Jeongguk. And that was reason enough for Jeongguk to shake his head, firmly refuting the claim. “ah, not me hyung. I can’t cook to save my life either.”
The look Taehyung, Hoseok, and Namjoon threw him was one of pure disappointment. Namjoon even shook his head, muttering hopeless under his breath.
“Well, I will find this guy eventually. You guys just wait and see.” Jimin announced, getting ready to leave. But then something stopped him, and Jeongguk frowned in confusion when Jimin was staring hard at something. Jeongguk followed his line of vision, only to see Jimin was staring at Wonhee, the member of his favorite girl group, with such intensity that Jeongguk hastily took the phone and hid it from the view.
Jimin’s gaze then fell on Jeongguk, his eyebrows raised in a judgmental look. “A new girl already? You impress me, Jeongguk-ssi.”
And without saying anything further, Jimin walked off, leaving Jeongguk stunned.
Later that night, Jeongguk was staring at his phone case, wondering what Jimin meant by saying what he said. Even Bam, his pet dog, was staring at the phone case too, as if trying to solve the mystery with Jeongguk. “Bammie, he confuses me so much.” he said as he patted the dog's head, earning a woof from him.
He rolled onto his side, putting his arm under his head. He hummed in thought, turning the phone case from side to side, until a thought struck him. “ah, he’s probably a hater, I guess.” he said that as his final thought before drifting off to sleep with bam next to him and his phone still in his hand.
🍥🍥🍥
Upon seeing Jimin’s positive reaction towards his food, Jeongguk gained confidence to cook for him more. This time, he made Tteokbokki.
“Yes, I know you’re judging me.” he spoke to bam, who was looking at him from the other side of the counter. “But I am also judging you cause you aren’t supposed to stand there on the stool like that, it’s dangerous.”
As if understanding his words, Bam jumped off the stool to join Jeongguk in the kitchen. He was delicately decorating Jimin’s lunch, smiling to himself thinking about his happy face when he ate his food.
“I think he’ll like this one, too, bammie.”
Back at the office, Jeongguk waited the same way he did last time, and when Jimin left his desk, he hastily placed the container on his desk and ran away to the cafeteria.
On his way to the cafeteria, much to his dismay, he ran into Jimin who was coming back from a bathroom break.
“oh sunbae-nim.” Jeongguk said, stopping dead in his tracks, nervously fixing his glasses, “um… hi?”
Jimin snorted, “you sure like greeting me, Jeongguk-ssi, don’t you? We saw each other back in the office, didn’t we?”
“oh, um—” Jeongguk cleared his throat, “sorry.”
Jimin smiled, a little tense. Then, as if remembering something, he added, “Anyway, Yoongi told me you’re in charge of the data analysis, right?”
Jeongguk nodded, his voice already failing him.
“There’s been a change in the project, and we’ve been paired up to work on the final report.” Jimin continued. “I was thinking… could you stay after office hours so we can get it done quickly? If we don’t finish early, we might have to work through the holidays.” He hesitated, then asked, “You don’t have any plans tonight, right?”
“oh, no. No, no plans at all.”
Jimin raised his eyebrows skeptically. “you sure?”
“Yeah, of course. I’d be happy to help.” Jeongguk said, putting up a crooked smile and hoping for the best.
“Alright then, thank you, Jeongguk-ssi,” Jimin said, patting Jeongguk on the shoulder before walking past him.
Jeongguk’s feet, however, felt glued to the corridor floor. He felt ridiculous, his brain still reeling from the brief interaction with Jimin. He shook his head, Namjoon’s voice echoing in his mind. You’re so hopeless, Jeongguk-ah.
🍥🍥🍥
Just like the first time, Jeongguk had the privilege of seeing Jimin’s face in happiness when he finished his food. “Seriously, whoever they are, they won my heart. Like how can someone cook so well, and why am I so lucky to be on the receiving end of it?”
Jeongguk ignored Taehyung’s pointed look when he said, “ah, I don’t know, Jimin-ah. Seems like someone’s got a crush on you.”
Jimin waved his hand dismissively, “oh please. Don’t get my hopes up. I’m guessing it might be one of the juniors trying to get on my good side by doing this. But either way, I am fooled. They won and now I need to know who they are.”
“Oh well, if only I could help.” Taehyung sighed.
Jimin nodded wistfully. “Anyways, gotta go.” Then he stopped midway, and to his surprise he pointed towards Jeongguk. “Don't forget about tonight, Jeongguk-ssi.”
Jeongguk nodded, “o-of course.”
“Tonight? What’s going on?” Hoseok leaned in, almost draping himself on the table, eager to know what’s going on.
“ah, nothing. He needs help with the reports.”
“ohhh, Jeonggukie, my smart smart boy.” Namjoon slapped him on the back. “I’m rooting for you, y’know?”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes, “yeah, no. Nothing’s gonna happen.”
Taehyung sighed, playing with his food in disinterest. “I lost hope in you, Jeonggukie. Just give me your Tteokbokki if you're not eating.”
Without waiting for Jeongguk to let him, he wordlessly pulled the dish towards himself and ate Jeongguk’s food instead.
🍥🍥🍥
Jeongguk felt antsy as his shift was coming to an end. Which meant soon the office would be empty and it would be just him and Jimin working on the project.
His friends patted him sympathetically on his back on their way out.
“You got this Jeonggukie.”
“Make sure you’ll stay alive.”
“If you were smart enough you’d take this chance and not let it go.”
Jeongguk sighed to himself as people gradually left the office, until finally it was just him and Jimin. Jimin sat only a few desks away, and Jeongguk had a clear view of what he was doing.
He hurriedly tidied his own desk as he watched Jimin shut down his computer and start walking toward him. Jeongguk had no intention of giving Jimin one more reason to judge him.
The photocard was still on his mind.
“coffee?” Jimin asked the moment he reached his desk, “it’s probably gonna be a long night.”
“uh, y-yes please. Thank you.”
Jimin nodded, “sugar free?”
“ah, no. I can’t handle the bitterness.”
Jimin chuckled, “just as I imagined.”
Jeongguk blinked, taken aback because this was the first time Jimin actually chuckled at something he said. “sorry?”
“nothing.” he smiled, smiled and walked off towards the kitchen to get them coffee.
Minutes later Jimin came back with two mugs of coffee, and handed one to Jeongguk.
“thanks hyung.”
“Of course.” Jimin nodded, sipping from his mug. “Now let’s get to work, shall we? I bet you can’t wait to get home, right?”
“ah, well, I don’t mind really. I asked a friend to take care of Bammie— my dog.”
“oh? A dog?”
Jeongguk nodded, excitement bubbling up in his chest. "He's my pet doberman. Let me show you a picture.”
He unlocked his phone, a little embarrassed. His wallpaper was a picture he’d taken at a fan meeting with Chaewon, another singer he liked from his favorite girl group. He glanced up when he heard Jimin let out a sharp intake of breath, freezing for a moment as his eyes landed on the screen.
“another…” Jeongguk heard Jimin mumble under his breath.
“sorry?”
“ah, nothing.” Jimin cleared his throat.
Jeongguk didn’t have to look through his gallery much, because the latest picture he had taken was from bam. “That's him— my pet, bam.”
“ah, Jeongguk-ssi. He looks so cute.” Jimin cooed, leaning to get a better view.
With his heart beating a little too fast at the proximity of himself and Jimin, Jeongguk swiped left to see the next picture of him, but to Jeongguk’s embarrassment it was just another picture of himself and Yunjin– another member of LE SSERAFIM in the same fanmeeting.
“oh, sorry.” Jeongguk laughed, face burning up. “My bad.”
To his surprise, Jimin straightened up, the smile on his face long vanished, “we must get back to work, Jeongguk-ssi.”
“of-of course.” Jeongguk said, pushing up his glasses. “Sorry Sunbae, I tend to get distracted when I talk about the things I like. My dog, for instance.”
“or the many girls you like.”
Jeongguk chuckled, “yeah, people say that a lot. I hope it’s not weird to you.”
Jimin looked at Jeongguk for a good few seconds, and Jeongguk could feel he was being judged real hard. Before he sighed and said, “I guess not.”
Jeongguk cleared his throat, “…right.”
They spent the rest of the night working so hard on the task given to them. And Jeongguk was pleased with the progress they were making. They really made a good team.
It was a little after midnight when they finally finished and emailed the ending result to Yoongi.
“Good job, Jeonggukie.” Jimin said, rubbing his eyes in fatigue.
Jeongguk wanted to laugh at himself for how his brain was quickly fixated on the new nickname Jimin had given him. “You too, sunbae. Thanks for your hard work.”
Jimin stood up, cracking his back and neck, letting out a groan. “God, if only I could just sleep here. What’s the use in going home if I'm gonna be back here in a few hours?”
Jeongguk nodded, agreeing as always with whatever Jimin said. “There’s a 24-hour diner nearby. We can have dinner there before going home to sleep.”
As if on cue, Jimin’s stomach grumbled in hunger, “right, we didn’t eat dinner.” he said dryly.
The diner was surprisingly still full of customers, even though it was well past midnight. Jeongguk and Jimin sat at a table near the window, and Jeongguk watched in fascination as Jimin gazed outside. Blonde hair fell into his eyes, and he blinked slowly, clearly showing signs of sleepiness. Something tugged at Jeongguk’s heart as he took in the soft expression on Jimin’s face, stirring an urge to reach out and caress his rosy cheeks.
Thankfully, their meal arrived before Jeongguk could make the rash decision and do things he might regret later.
Jeongguk leaned in, letting the steam hit his face, a pleasant feeling in contrast to the way his face had frozen in the cold winter weather. He took a deep breath, stomach grumbling with a stronger force the moment the delicious smell reached his nose.
“Let's dig in, Jeongguk-ssi.” Jimin said, no sign of the nickname he had previously given him.
They ate in comfortable silence, sighing in delight as each bite hit just right.
“Ah, this tastes like heaven. If only I had a personal chef who could make food like this for me every day.”
Jeongguk chuckled, subconsciously sliding a piece of meat onto Jimin’s plate. “Ah, sunbae, try this with the lettuce and a bit of this sauce. It'll taste even better.”
Complying, Jimin wrapped the meat in the lettuce and dipped it into the sauce. Jeongguk felt a small surge of triumph as Jimin’s eyes widened, his eyebrows shooting up so high they nearly disappeared into his bangs.
“Woah… how do you even know this?”
“years of experience.” Jeongguk proudly boasted.
“I thought you didn’t know how to cook?” Jimin raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.
“Oh, well… I’m just a foodie. An experienced one at that,” Jeongguk said, avoiding Jimin’s gaze.
Jimin hummed in understanding.
“Do you live alone, sunbae?” Jeongguk asked instead.
Jimin nodded. “Yeah… I used to be roommates with Yoongi, but then he moved in with Seokjin… living the dream boyfriend life, you know? So after that, it was just me, alone, with no cooking skills to survive on.”
“ah, that’s a shame. It’s not healthy to live off of ramyeon all the time. You must eat healthily.”
Jimin chuckled. “Look at you worrying about your sunbae.”
Jeongguk smiled sheepishly, dropping his head to play with his food.
Eventually they finished off their late-night dinner, and Jeongguk suddenly found himself in a semi-wrestling match with Jimin in who gets to pay for the food.
“I’m your sunbae so stop being a brat and let me pay.”
“Well, what if I just want to pay for my sunbae.” Jeongguk retorted back.
“why would you? Do you also want to get on my good side like the other hubaes?”
“Ah well, I wouldn’t deny anything.”
“this brat.” Eventually it was Jimin who accepted defeat. “Fine, pay for the food. But know that it’s not fair to use that strength on me. You muscle pig.”
They walked back towards the bus station. Neither was drunk but the sleepless night was sure getting to them as they stumbled every two steps they walked.
Jimin snorted, “I wouldn’t have been this clumsy if I had drunk all night.”
“good alcohol tolerance?”
“you wouldn’t guess.”
“ah, then I’ll take this as an invitation to a night out at a club. How does that sound? Wanna show off your so-called alcohol tolerance to me?”
“Ah, you really like to rile me up, Jeongguk-ssi. catching me in my vulnerable state,” Jimin said, pausing to take a deep breath of the chilly night air. “But who am I to say no to a challenge? One day, you’re getting your ass beaten.”
“alright, hyung.” Jeongguk said, no sign of being intimidated in his voice.
“Be scared, Jeongguk-ah. Everyone underestimates me by my height, but they never know what’s coming for them.”
Just when Jimin wanted to kick a pebble on the sidewalk, his feet slipped on the ground and he fell hard on his butt. Even Jeongguk was not quick enough to catch him.
To his surprise, Jimin was the first one to burst out laughing. “ah, this is ridiculous, I’m not even drunk, what’s wrong with me?”
Jeongguk laughed under his breath and helped Jimin up. A new-found bravery telling him to keep him close. “you’re a cutie.”
Jimin looked up at Jeongguk with wide eyes, a blush on his face. “maybe it’s you who’s drunk.”
“m’not.”
“oh?” Jimin said, his voice so soft it made Jeongguk’s heart melt in a puddle of goo.
The same bravery he had found made him ask the question he wanted to months ago. “hyung, why is it that you act so differently with me?”
Jimin looked at Jeongguk, a troubled expression on his face. He opened his mouth to answer, but then felt something wet land on his cheek. They both looked up, and realized with a startle that the snow had started. “it’s snowing.” Jimin said, a smile stretched on his face as he closed his eyes to feel the sensation of snowflakes on his skin. “make a wish, Jeongguk-ah.”
Jeongguk closed his eyes, feeling a bit disappointed because he knew he wasn’t going to be given an answer anytime soon.
So instead he silently made a wish, just like Jimin told him to.
🍥🍥🍥
The third time Jeongguk decided to make lunch for Jimin was Samgyeopsal.
The whole time Jeongguk made it, a smile lingered on his face, memories of the other night replaying on his mind continuously. “ah, bammie, if only I could just lean in and kiss him.” he said with a wistful sigh.
Bam nuzzled his nose against Jeongguk’s calf, causing Jeongguk to laugh and lean it to pet him affectionately. “you’re rooting for appa, aren’t you?”
Woof was the response that came.
Jeongguk had learned the ritual so well. Jimin was meticulous in the time he took his bathroom break, almost the same time as the last few days. Just like before, Jeongguk put the lunchbox on his desk and ran away to the cafeteria to sit and watch his favorite variety show before his friends joined him.
“ah, Jeonggukie, sitting alone in the cafeteria. Where are the others?”
Jeongguk’s head snapped up so fast he nearly strained his neck. It was Jimin, sitting right in front of him, in all his glory, holding the same lunchbox Jeongguk had set on his desk.
“oh, hyung.”
“Sorry, am I disturbing you?”
“no, no, not at all.” Jeongguk yanked the earphones from his ears, nearly pulling the wires apart.
“Well, I got another dish from my secret lover, what’s your guess, hm? What do you think they made me?” Jimin asked, excited to take the lid off.
Jeongguk could swear everything happened in slow motion at that moment. The way Jeongguk wasn’t fast enough to hide his own dish, the way Jimin took the lid off, the way his eyes brightened in excitement when he realized the content of the container.
“oh, it’s Samgyeopsal!” he clapped his hands in happiness, then his eyes fell on Jeongguk’s meal and widened in pleasant surprise. “Oh wait, you have Samgyeopsal too!” Then, if possible, Jimin’s eyes widened more in a not so pleasant surprise, “wait a minute.”
Jimin leaned in, to examine Jeongguk’s dish from closer, then his head snapped up to Jeongguk. “Jeongguk?”
At that moment Jeongguk wished the earth would just swallow him up and make him disappear. “I… I can explain.”
“it was you all along.” Jimin said, not in question, but in affirmation. “but I thought, I thought— you said you don’t know how to cook.”
Jimin’s face was so confused, Jeongguk felt terrible for lying to him. “I’m sorry, hyung. I can explain, if you let me.”
Jimin waited for him to defend himself, but then his eyes fell on the phone case on Jeongguk’s phone and there was a shift in his face that confused Jeongguk to hell. Jeongguk looked at his phone case to see what was wrong. It was just another selca he had taken with one of his favorite singers. How is that a reason to make Jimin mad?
“You really are shameless, aren’t you?” Jimin said, and without another word, he left, leaving his lunchbox on Jeongguk’s table. Jeongguk looked at Jimin's figure growing farther away from him. Then his eyes fell back on the lunchbox, the steam rising from the food felt like it was mocking him.
With a sigh, Jeongguk put the lid back on, his appetite long gone— just like Jimin, who had already disappeared.
🍥🍥🍥
The whole time Jeongguk tried to get Jimin alone to talk to him, he was given a cold shoulder. It was as if Jimin wanted nothing to do with Jeongguk. It confused and hurt Jeongguk to no end. To the point that he was hiding in the bathroom, wiping his tears because he was that much of a loser.
“You're not a loser, Jeongguk-ah.” Taehyung said, the next day at the cafeteria. “I don’t know what’s going on with Jimin, but even I, as his friend, can say that it’s a dick move to just go and not explain anything.”
For the first time in the few months he’d been working at the company, Jeongguk made no lunch for himself. Not even eating the ramyeon Namjoon offered to him.
“poor boy,” Namjoon said, rubbing his shoulder to give him a bit of comfort. “You really need to talk to Jimin, solve whatever misunderstanding that’s happening here.”
“Yeah, Jeonggukie. I can’t bear to see you mopping like that all the time.” Hoseok said, pinching his cheek. “we need to cheer you up, immediately.”
“how about a night out, hm?” Taehyung said, face lighting up at his idea. “how does that sound, Jeongguk-ah?”
Jeongguk shrugged, “alright. I guess I could use that.”
Turns out, the night out Taehyung had planned was a night out in karaoke, where Jeongguk could sing his heart out to all the breakup songs in the kpop industry. The other three turned on their phone’s flashlights and supported Jeongguk in his heartbreak song.
“ah, Jeonggukie, the way you sing,” Hoseok said, wiping his nonexistent tears, “makes me almost think you lost the love of your life.”
Jeongguk plopped on the seat next to Hoseok, sniffing as he leaned his head on the boy’s shoulder. “you never know hyung. He could’ve been the love of my life and I lost him without even having a chance to ask him out.”
“this guy…” Taehyung sighed, taking a swig of his drink, “stop being dramatic and fight for your man, Jeongguk-ah.”
Jeongguk sat up straight, even in his hazy state of mind, a goal became clear in his mind. “Do you think Jimin is still at the office?”
“why? Why? Why are you asking?” Taehyung asked, laughing at Jeongguk’s determined expression, “wait… don’t tell me… woah Jeongguk-ah, you surprise me sometimes.” Taehyung checked his phone to see the time, then nodded to himself. “yeah, he’s still there.”
Jeongguk stood up, sudden dizziness attacking his head. “oh wow,”
“yah, where do you think you’re going? Drunk like that.”
“m’not drunk. Just tipsy.” he said, clearing his throat and shaking his head to get some sense back into his head. “I’m going to see Jimin-hyung.” he said, taking out his glasses from his coat pocket and putting it back on. As if that would help him focus better. “Namjoonie hyung, can you get me a cab?”
“Jeongguk…”
“Oh please don’t be so lame Namjoonie. Always getting in the way of love.” Taehyung protested.
“what the…” then he shook his head, “fine, fine. But don’t come to me if you regret it Jeongguk-ah.”
“I won’t.” Jeongguk said with determination.
🍥🍥🍥
“I won’t.” Jeongguk said again, after getting out of the taxi and looking at the company’s building. It was snowing again, and it helped Jeongguk get back to his senses a bit more. “I won’t regret it, Namjoonie hyung.” he said again to himself, already feeling the uncertainty seeping through his heart just when the effects of alcohol were slightly fading off.
As he walked towards the building he realized with a startle that Jimin was already leaving the building. Jeongguk could see his smile the moment he spotted snow from meters away. His button nose was red already and Jeongguk almost wanted to cry, because how could someone so cute be so mean to him.
“hyung.” Jeongguk hollered, but to his dismay, the earmuffs covering Jimin’s ear didn’t allow Jeongguk to be heard. So he did the next best thing. He ran so hard to reach Jimin.
But damn was the ground slippery. Jeongguk almost fell twice, and Jimin was getting further and further away from him. “Hyung!!” he yelled again, but it was to no avail. “ah, shit.” he cursed as he hit a tree on his way.
Just as Jeongguk finally reached Jimin, his fingers brushing Jimin’s sleeve, his foot skidded on the wet pavement. The ground gave way under him, and then he fell down hard. “ah, fuck.”
“Jeongguk!!” Jimin exclaimed, “oh fuck, are you okay?” Jimin dropped to his knees beside him, panic in his voice as he checked on Jeongguk.
Thankfully, the thickness of his jacket and the beanie he was wearing, helped cushion the impact.
“Fine. I’m fine.” Jeongguk breathed out.
“What the hell are you even doing? You could’ve gotten hurt.” Jimin snapped, “are you out of your mind? Who the hell runs in such weather?”
“I just… I just,” Jeongguk said, still out of breath, then he held up his hand, “can you help me up?”
Jimin immediately held his hand, helping him up, and brushing the wet mud of his jacket. “you okay?” he asked again, for reassurance.
Jeongguk checked himself over— his arms and neck— but all felt fine. “All good,” he said with a smile, hoping to ease Jimin’s worry.
“Why were you running, Jeongguk-ah?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“couldn’t wait?” Jimin asked.
“couldn’t wait.”
“Well, go one then. What is it you wanted to talk about so bad?”
“hyung, I’m sorry. For leaving you lunch, without telling you it was me. I swear I had no bad intentions.”
“What were your intentions, then, Jeongguk-ah?” Jimin said, exasperation seeping in his voice.
“I like you hyung.” Jeongguk said, almost yelling. Excitement, anticipation and anxiety swirled like a wild tornado in his chest, making his hands shake. “there, I said it. That’s my intention hyung.”
“Well that’s why it’s bad. Why are you like this, Jeongguk-ah?”
And then everything just stopped, no more tornadoes in his chest. Instead there was an ominous silence ringing in his ears. “what?”
“You confuse the hell out of me.” Jimin said, poking his pointer finger in Jeongguk’s chest. “How could you be like this? Always so kind and caring, it makes everyone believe you’re some angel in this world. But does anyone know how terrible you are?”
“hyung…” Jeongguk said, holding Jimin’s wrist right where it was on his chest. “what do you even mean? I’m seriously lost right now.”
Jimin scoffed, tears pooling in the corner of his eyes, making them glisten under the orange headlights of the street. “give me your phone.”
“what?”
“your phone.”
Jeongguk scrambled to take his phone out of his pocket. And the moment he handed it to Jimin, Jimin let out another scoff. “I knew it, just another girl. You’re crazy.”
“Woah, woah. Do you have some kind of sworn feud with these girls?”
“not the girls, but you!!!” Jimin said, voice raising after each word he uttered. “How can someone change so many girlfriends in a span of months? Or wait, do you cheat on them? Do you have a harem or something?”
Jeongguk blinked, then blinked some more because he was still confused as fuck. “…girlfriends?”
“Yes, girlfriends!”
“hyung… are you… I’m sorry, but are you an idiot?”
“What? Now I’m the one who’s an idiot?” Jimin laughed in disbelief, his mad expression was comical now that Jeongguk knew the source of his problem.
“yes! You really are an idiot.” he laughed, relief flooding in his chest. “you really got me for a second, I even had to question myself whether I had a girlfriend or not. Ah, hyung, you’re unbelievable.”
“Jeongguk, I am one second away from throwing you back on the ground and making sure you break your ass.” Jimin said as a warning.
“These girls are singers, you fool!”
Jimin clamped his mouth shut, “what?”
“Wow, I can’t believe you. Are you never on your phone? These singers are famous, how could you not know them?”
“they are… what?”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes, then searched through his gallery to show Jimin a video he’d taken of a concert. “Look! This one is who I have taken a picture with. I can’t believe you didn’t stop for a second and question yourself.” Jeongguk said, laughing as he spoke. The look of horror on Jimin’s face was so good, Jeongguk was almost tempted to take a photo of him.
“I really am an idiot.” Jimin said, bringing up his hands to hide his face in embarrassment. “ah, Jeonggukie, I was moping the whole time thinking about you being in a relationship the first time I got to know you. And then I broke my own heart by assuming you were a jerk who had many girlfriends all at once.”
“ah hyung, that would only be possible if I was into girls, y’know?” Jeongguk said, chuckling when Jimin groaned into his hands.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I was so jealous and heartbroken, it clouded my judgement.”
Jeongguk hummed, bringing Jimin to hug him close to his chest. “jealous? Heartbroken? Care to explain why?”
“ah, now is not the time to mock me, Jeonggukie.”
Jeongguk bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling. “I’m just curious, hyung.”
“Fine, I had this massive crush on you and your stupid glasses that cover half of your face.”
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” Jeongguk said, feeling cheeky all of a sudden.
Jimin bumped his head against Jeongguk’s chest. “So mean. Mean, mean, mean.”
“Well, it’s not worse than you having beef with some kpop idol— ow!” Jeongguk sing-songed, yelping as Jimin reached to pinch his neck, the only part of his body not covered in a puffy jacket.
“Fine. I guess I owe it to you.” Jimin sighed, detaching himself from Jeongguk’s arms only to hold his face in his icy hands. Jeongguk loved the feeling of it. “Jeongguk-ssi.”
“hm?”
“hyung likes you, so much that he lost his mind over some kpop idol.”
Jeongguk threw his head back in a laughter, bringing Jimin back into his hug.
“you’re never gonna let me live this down, are you?”
“not a chance.”
“alright.” Jimin shrugged non-chalantly, before going on tip-toes and bringing Jeongguk’s lips to his. Something so unexpected, yet welcome and pleasant. They were basically freezing at that point, their chapped lips sliding against each other, Jeongguk’s glasses in the way of their kiss before he eventually took it off to kiss Jimin better.
Jeongguk would never change it for the world.
The warmth he felt in his chest, made him forget about all the cold in the world.
They finally stopped kissing when it felt almost inappropriate to be like that in public. Not that Jeongguk cared, though. But the way Jimin sighed in happiness, and finally, finally directed that bright, beautiful smile towards him, made Jeongguk feel fireworks going off in his heart.
“Has anyone ever called you pretty?” Jeongguk said, all of a sudden, because how could he resist? When Jimin was looking at him like that, his eyes shining under the streetlight, the snowflakes adorning his pretty blonde hair, his cheeks a faded pink, matching the color of his lips.
Jeongguk was a weak man after all.
🍥🍥🍥
It was a busy Saturday in Jeongguk’s household. Jeongguk was busy preparing meals for his guests. Even bam was excited, anticipating who might come to their apartment.
The guests invited were none other than Taehyung, Hoseok and Namjoon, of course.
They were all surprised to hear from Jeongguk two days after the night at the karaoke. Even more surprised to hear Jeongguk inviting them to lunch, something they had been begging Jeongguk to do for months.
The doorbell finally rang and Jeongguk opened the door to three worried looks, carrying many bags of snacks and drinks. “oh, you’re here. Come in.” He stepped aside and let them in.
It was comical how the three of them scanned Jeongguk’s face for any hint of sadness, but jeongguk didn’t let anything show.
“how are you doing, boy?” Namjoon finally asked.
“Never been better,” Jeongguk said, guiding them toward the living room. “Make yourselves at home. I’ll let you know when lunch’s ready.”
“I can’t believe this is the day we get to taste your food.” Taehyung said in excitement, following Jeongguk in the kitchen to see what he had been cooking. “oh, wow. This is insane, Jeongguk-ah. You’ve made so much.”
It was that moment his phone pinged, screen brightening up. “oh, hyung can you read that message for me?”
Taehyung raised his eyebrow in question, but complied nevertheless.
Jeongguk waited with bated breath for his reaction.
“Be there in a minute, love,” he heard Taehyung say, followed by a shout from the other side of the counter. Jeongguk didn’t have to look back from where he stood behind the sink to imagine the expression on Taehyung’s face.
“what, what?” he heard Namjoon and Hoseok joining to see the reason that made Taehyung shout like that.
“oh, you asshole!!! look at his background, hyung. Look!!!” Taehyung hollered, “you’re dating Jimin?!”
Jeongguk cackled, finally joining the other three. Taehyung immediately lunged at him in a playful wrestle, shouting, “How dare you?! After all I did for you, this is how you decide to announce your relationship to me? A wallpaper of you two kissing?!”
“Surprise!” Jeongguk said, choking back laughter as all three of them let out incomprehensible sounds of shock and surprise.
“Woah, Jeonggukie, you had us all worried for three days. We thought you got your heart broken,” Hoseok finally said.
“Sorry, hyung! I just had to see your faces when I surprised you like this.”
“This brat!”
“Anyway, Jiminie will be here any moment,” Jeongguk announced.
“Right, I know that already—thanks to you making me read the text,” Taehyung grumbled, walking back to the living room and flopping onto the sofa. “This asshole! Can’t believe you played us like that!”
Just as promised, Jimin joined them within a few minutes.
“Hey, babe,” Jeongguk said, pulling Jimin into a hug and pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
“Hi,” Jimin smiled, melting at Jeongguk’s touch.
Jeongguk could hardly believe he got to have Jimin like this— in his arms, smiling at him with all the affection in the world. The contrast between this version of Jimin and the one from just a few weeks ago never failed to give him whiplash. Still, he’d never been happier about this pleasant change.
“We’re still here!” Taehyung called out, still sulky from before.
Jimin laughed so hard he stumbled, and Jeongguk caught him in another backhug to steady him. “Ah, Taehyung-ah! Did we surprise you?”
Taehyung just scoffed, burying himself in his phone and pretending not to care. But no one could resist Jimin’s charm, not even sulky Taehyung, who melted the moment Jimin pulled him into a hug, squeezing so hard that Taehyung eventually surrendered.
And that’s how the rest of the day went. Everyone sat around Jeongguk’s dining table, happily munching on the food he had made.
“Jeongguk-ah, does being your boyfriend come with the privilege of having you as my personal chef?” Jimin teased as they finished lunch, sleeves rolled up while helping with the dishes.
Jeongguk smiled, turning on the tap and adjusting the water’s temperature. “Ah, I knew there was a reason behind you wanting to date me. You just want me for my good cooking skills.”
Jimin leaned against him, bumping their hips together. “What can I say? You may have stolen my heart like that.”
“Alright,” Jeongguk shrugged, smiling in defeat. “What do you want me to make for you?”
“Pasta, please!” Jimin announced happily.
Jeongguk chuckled, tilting his head to press a soft kiss to Jimin’s temple. “Your wish is my command, babe.”