Chapter Text
The day was warm, unusually so. Winter had just ended, bringing beautiful spring blooms and a weather most would enjoy. But today, the weather was warm, not uncomfortably warm but warm enough to irritate Jimin, who was currently sitting at the common dinner hall, with an untouched plate of food in front of him and his best friend beside him.
"You can just go and join them, you know?"
Jimin turns to look at his friend beside him.
"What are you talking about, Tae?"
"You? Staring at HIM?", Tae says, nodding towards the table to their right.
"I'm not staring", Jimin says.
"You can't fool me Jimin.. If you want you can just go and join them. I don't think they'd mind. One of the occupants is your own cousin.. I think he'd be thrilled to have you there"
"I said, I wasn't staring", Jimin grits out. "I was just thinking about something."
"Lie as much as you want.. But it's okay.. I won't force you, Min.. But don't lie to yourself"
Jimin nods to his friend and gets up from his seat and out of the hall, bidding his friend goodnight, completely missing a different set of eyes following his moves from one of the tables.
Jimin decides to take a walk instead of heading to his little cabin in the pack. He needed time to get his emotions under control. Being the pack healer, he had a lot of responsibilities, and very little time to himself. Throughout his walk, he kept thinking about what his Beta friend had told him. Jimin knows Tae was right. He WAS staring at the table, at HIM. At Jeon Jungkook, the head hunter, his bane of existence.
Things weren't always like this. Jimin and Jungkook's families had always been close. Jimin was 5 when he first met Jungkook. Jimin was a year older than Jungkook and the pups had become good friends ever since. Over the years they'd grown closer, with Jimin beginning to like Jungkook, even before they had presented. But things changed. Or maybe they didn't, maybe he was blind.
Jimin's cousin, Jiwon, was only a year younger than him. Jimin still remembers the schooling years when they'd attended the lessons together. All three of them, Jimin, Jiwon and Jungkook. It hurts Jimin to think back to the times they'd spent together. To the moments they'd shared. They're all distant memories now. Right now, he wasn't a friend to Jungkook, he was more of an acquaintance. Someone Jungkook's bound to tolerate because he belongs to the pack, or because he's related to his would-be mate, Jiwon.
It shouldn't hurt Jimin as much but it does. Jimin loves Jiwon, he's beautiful and caring. Unlike Jimin, Jiwon wasn't always as cheerful or active. He'd been born weak, weaker than the others. So Jimin always was a bit overprotective of his cousin. And his cousin loved him. So yes, Tae was right. If he had gone to that table, his cousin would have warmly welcomed and asked him to have a seat. But he didn't, not with Jungkook sitting next to Jiwon, not with Jungkook ignoring him, or staring at him in distaste. There was only so much he could bear.
Jimin hadn't realized how late it was and how far he'd walked. So he decided to head back home and in his hurry, he ended up tripping and falling over. His feet hurt like hell.
"Sh*t, I must have sprained my ankle", the healer hisses in pain. His cherry vanilla scent now turned sour in distress, as he tried to get back on his feet. After the second failed attempt, he listens to the rustling of leaves. His senses kick back in. He was still in packlands, so chances of rogues to attack him were low but not zero. He tries his best to listen in, and then it hits him. The scent of rain and wildflowers.
Jungkook emerges from behind the trees, standing over him and looking down at Jimin. It's too dark for Jimin to decipher the look on the alpha's face. Why's he here? Was he following me? Is he pitying me? Too many thoughts occupied his mind. And then he saw Jungkook offer him his arms. Jimin almost laughs bitterly, ignoring the offered hand and trying to stand on his feet. Maybe it was his pride or maybe it was a coincidence, but this time he ended up successfully standing up on his feet. The left foot still hurt but he was trying his best to mask it.
"You're hurt. What were you doing here, all alone, this late?"
"I don't see why I should be answering you", Jimin snaps back. For a moment Jimin thinks, he notices an expression of concern on Jungkook's face or maybe it was the moonlight playing tricks on his mind. But the expression is soon replaced by that of annoyance.
"Yes, you are. As a pack member, as a healer, one would expect you to be a bit more sensible, responsible. Can't say I'm shocked to see you here like this.."
Words, they're just words.. Jimin keeps repeating in his mind. They mean nothing. But they did. They were like sharp knives carving his heart. Because even after so many years, he still loved the wolf, standing in front of him..
"I'm fine.. Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your friends? Or are you following me?"
"Don't think so highly of yourself. Your cousin was looking for you.. I was just helping"
Of course. Of course Jiminie, why else would he be here. Jimin notices his fingers beginning to shake. He takes a step and realizes just how hurt he is. Jungkook tries to hold him, but he raises his hand up, looking him in the eye.
"You don't have to fake concern for me, Jungkook. You didn't help me then.. You don't have to help me now. Tell Jiwon, I'll meet him tomorrow", Jimin says, limping his way back to his home.
Jungkook remains frozen, hands fisted. He hangs his head low and curses, kicking a stone laying on the ground.
"Fuck".