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Throughout the school year, Jin and Jungkook’s friendship has grown stronger. Whenever Jungkook’s dad is off, Jin visits, and when Jungkook’s dad is at home, Jungkook stays at Jin’s house. Jungkook has gained a section of the closet, a place to put his skincare, and a toothbrush at Jin’s house. The one thing he didn’t have was his own bed, but he’s just fine with cuddling Jin every night, curling up against his chest under the warm blankets.
But finally, today is the last day of school, and it’s time for the hot summer to begin. They only have about a month of freedom before band camp starts, but to Jungkook, anything is better than school. During school, he’s separated from his friends and has to go home to an empty house; during summer, he has no reason not to have a sleepover every day.
—-
The first summer sleepover of many is at Jin’s house, on a humid Friday night. They sit in the living room, spread out across the space as they watch the coming-of-age comedy movie Jin picked out.
Namjoon, Jimin, and Taehyung are a pile of limbs on the blanket laid on the floor, so close that you can’t tell one from another. Yoongi and Hobi are sitting on the loveseat, Hobi cracking jokes and Yoongi laughing loudly. Jin and Jungkook are on the sofa, sitting side by side despite the large amount of unused space.
—-
When it’s time to sleep, Hobi and Yoongi stay where they are, and Namjoon, Jimin, and Taehyung crash on the couch. Jin pulls a sleepy Jungkook into his bedroom, and he falls onto the mattress immediately. Jin watches Jungkook’s chest rise and fall as he snores softly and allows himself to take in Jungkook’s relaxed features.
—-
The next sleepover of the summer is just Jungkook and Jin. Jungkook’s dad isn’t home, and probably won’t be for a while, but he comes over anyway.
They sit in Jin’s bed, watching YouTube videos on the laptop. It’s no different than what they’ve done many other nights, but tonight, it feels like they're sitting even closer than usual. Jungkook's legs are over Jin’s, Jin’s arm is around Jungkook’s back, and Jin’s head is on Jungkook’s shoulder.
Halfway through watching a mukbang, Jin slumps again Jungkook more, and Jungkook glances over to see him fast asleep. His long eyelashes frame his closed eyes, and little puffs of air come from his plump lips.
Jungkook closes the laptop and pulls him a bit closer, closing his eyes with a small smile.
—-
Hanging out as a group is normal, but hanging out one-on-one is unusual. Yet, Jin asked Jungkook if he wanted to go to the park, just the two of them, on a hot summer day.
Jungkook accepted, and now here he is: licking an ice cream cone that Jin paid for while walking in the park. They’re traipsing slowly, their free hands occasionally brushing against one another as they talk about nothing important.
Suddenly, Jin comes to a stop, staring at Jungkook intently.
“Do I have something on my face?” Jungkook asks.
“Jungkookie,” Jin breathes in, “I like you.”
There’s a pregnant pause where Jungkook’s mouth is hanging open in shock, and ice cream is dripping down his hand. Jin slowly becomes more nervous, his fingers tapping against his thigh.
Jungkook composes himself and clears his throat, “I- I like you too.”
When they continue walking, their free hands are now intertwined.
—-
A hot day in July, the first day of band camp:
Jungkook doesn’t want to do this again, but he loves playing his instrument too much to give up band. He’s marching (less horribly than last year) with his (still horribly) heavy sousaphone. When they rest, though, his eyes drift to the other side of the field to Jin, who’s already looking at him.
At lunch break, the group goes to the expensive smoothie place that opened last summer. Jin buys and orders for Jungkook without asking, and they sit next to one another at the table. Jimin and Tae shove their smoothies in Namjoon’s face, while Hobi and Yoongi share some expensive healthy snack. Jin steals a sip of Jungkook’s smoothie, his face smug when Jungkook catches him in the act with an indignant look.
Jungkook’s heart feels warm and full, and he thinks this is maybe how it was always supposed to be.