Chapter Text
“Who is coming?” Jungkook frowns. It’s been ages since he heard the name. So many years have passed that he thought he would never hear this name again.
Flashes of a young boy, short in height and with a baby face who was way too touchy, comes to mind.
Please don’t be that Jimin. Oh God no, please. Not that nightmare.
“Park Jimin. Don’t act like you don’t remember him,” Jin says in a tone that somewhat sounds accusatory to Jungkook.
Maybe he is accusing Jungkook.
“I remember him,” mutters Jungkook. Even if I don’t want to remember him and his clinginess.
He remembers how Jimin used to be so needy and clingy to him all the time, following Jungkook wherever he went like a lost puppy. The behavior was a bit annoying if Jungkook was being honest.
“You used to hang out with him back in Busan all the time in High School,” Jin keeps going on. Even if Jungkook can’t see his brother’s face right now, he very well knows that Jin is rolling his eyes at him.
Wrong. Jimin used to hang out with me, not the other way round.
“He used to bring such cute gifts for you.”
Oh the gifts!
Jungkook makes a face.
He remembers those as well. The other boys in his class used to make so much fun of him because of those. The reason he had started running away whenever he saw Jimin.
“He is coming to Seoul.”
“Why,” Jungkook groans. “Why is he coming here?”
“Don’t use that tone, Jungkook,” Jin chides at him. “After moving to the states, it’s the first time he is returning to Seoul. And look at the destiny, that you both have now ended up together in the same university.”
Yeah, fate fucking great. It always comes to bite on his ass.
“And why are you telling me this?” Jungkook asks. He is not liking this one bit.
“Be nice,” Jin warns. “He doesn’t know anyone here. And he will need someone to accompany him to the university. So, hang out with him and make him feel comfortable.”
“I am sure, he will find someone to make friends in his class,” Jungkook argues.
Because Jimin never really had any issue in making friends. With his loud voice and a tendency to always please others, he was always the center of attraction in high-school.
“I don’t know about others, but I expect you to be good with him. He is in the same year as you.”
Jungkook frowns at that. “Shouldn’t he be my senior?” he asks. “Jimin is like 2 years older than me. Is he also repeating the class?”
“He had to take a break in studies due to his grandpa’s health, and that’s why he is joining now. At least that’s what his father told me.”
Jungkook nods at that information. He didn’t know about this. Well, he didn’t know anything about Park Jimin once he moved out of the country to stay with his mother.
“Jungkook-ah.”
Jin’s voice breaks Jungkook’s reverie.
“Hmm?”
“Please be a good friend of his. He will need one.”
Jin’s words confuses Jungkook. There is something in Jin’s voice that's… Jungkook doesn’t know what it is, he is unable to pin it.
“Okay,” Jungkook sighs. “I will help him in the class once he comes here.”
“Oh, did I not tell you?”
“Not told me what?” Jungkook asks.
“He should be there today, probably coming your way.”
“What?” Jungkook shrieks. “And how the fuck he knows where I am?”
“Language,” Jin warns. “I told him that you will be going to your Astronomy class at this minute.”
Jungkook groans yet again. He was thinking of skipping it.
“Yeah, alright,” Jungkook says half-heartedly. “I will help him out.” He mutters and then ends the call.
Jungkook then stares at the class in front.
Astronomy 101.
Oh, he hates it so so much.
His phone beeps with a text from Taehyung.
Where you at?
Jungkook knows that’s a mocking comment. He knows it because Taehyung never goes to any class that starts before the sun is not exactly at the top of his head.
Class. Jungkook answers.
Skip. I have a pack of soju. Lets play a round of games on the xbox and then watch FIFA later?
Tempting. The option is way too tempting. Jungkook should really go for it.
But, then Jin’s voice echoes in his head, requesting to be with Jimin once he reaches there.
Jungkook ponders for a while. Jimin is not a kid anymore. He is sure Jimin can proceed on his own.
Jimin won’t need anyone’s help.
Jungkook is almost in the middle of responding when he feels something running towards him. His head jerks up and in the blink, he watches something really small come crashing towards him.
The collision happens like a tornado hit him. The little body crashes right into Jungkook and bounces back.
Jungkook sees the little arms of the other person flail backwards to get some balance. But, the backpack is way too heavy bringing his weight down, making him fall.
It’s an instinct, when Jungkook moves forward and wraps his arms around the other’s waist, pulling him closer to his body yet again.
The guy in front is so small that Jungkook almost engulfs him in the hug, his face sticking to Jungkook’s chest.
Jungkook looks down to check for any injury when he realizes. It’s a familiar face.
The face that belongs to Park Jimin.
Jimin has his eyes shut so tight, as if he is still in the notion that he would fall any time soon.
“You okay?” Jungkook asks.
Hearing the voice, Jimin locks down at his place, as if he is unable to move his limbs or legs. Jungkook’s eyes glide all over him. A bit of worry gnaws Jungkook’s brow.
Jungkook watches as Jimin flares his nostrils, trying to breathe in and out, and then doing the same with an open mouth.
Jungkook removes one of his arms that’s around Jimin’s waist and moves that hand towards Jimin’s face. He presses his two fingers below Jimin’s chin and pulls up, forcing Jiming to look up at him.
And woah.
Jimin looks… different.
He had lost a lot of chubbiness on his face. He had sharp jawlines around his face. If Jimin used to look cute in high-school, now he looks… woah.
Jungkook blinks several times like an idiot as if that’s gonna change and Jimin would fade away from front of him.
“Jimin-”
“LET.GO.OF.ME.” Jimin breathes out every single word as if it’s a miraculous ton of work he has to do to get his voice out.
Jimin’s voice is laced with a hidden panic that makes Jungkook to immediately remove his other arm from around Jimin’s waist.
Is Jimin not recognizing him? Jungkook wonders. Did he get a concussion after the collision or something?
He takes a step back, so that Jimin can look at him. “Jimin, it’s me. Jungkook.”
Jimin cautiously steps back as well. His gaze moves over Jungkook’s face, slowly the realization sinking in.
“Jungkook,” Jimin whispers as if he can’t really believe his eyes.
“Yeah,” Jungkook says. “Jin hyung told me you have enrolled in this university now.”
“Were you waiting for me?” Jimin’s eyes widened. “Did I make you late for the class? I am so sorry,” he mumbles shyly looking down at his shoes.
Jimin is looking like he is on the verge of crying. And it’s not sitting right with Jungkook.
The Jimin he remembers has always been so jolly and bubbly. A real ray of sunshine. Always laughing, always smiling. Always making sure others laughed along with him.
Always making sure that Jungkook laughed with him. Even if he had acted like a douche sometimes… a lot of times with Jimin.
The past Jimin always smiled.
But the present Jimin who is standing in front of Jungkook now, is not smiling at all. His lips are lying just there, as if they have never been used for a smile in the past years.
The other thing Jimin loved was hugging others. He used to give the warmest hugs. That’s something Jungkook had always liked in secret.
Even if Jungkook had said otherwise, Jimin never really listened to him.
The amount of time Jungkook has pushed him away, and yet Jimin never swayed.
Those shameless flirts never stopped even when Jungkook seemed so annoyed by it.
Instead it had always encouraged Jimin more. He never stopped talking even if Jungkook tried to tell him otherwise.
But, the Jimin in front of him is standing shyly, looking down at his shoes, as if they are the most interesting thing in the entire world. He is shrinking into himself as if that would make him invisible.
The high-school Jimin was never like this. He wanted to fly higher so that the whole world could see him, applaud for him.
Old Jimin would be all over Jungkook by now, squishing him, giving those stupid warm hugs.
But, Jimin is doing none of that.
He is standing at a foot away, keeping his distance.
Jungkook shakes his head. Maybe he is overthinking. Maybe Jimin just grew up, matured up.
“I was in a hurry,” Jimin explains, “and so I started running. I am late, and I made you late-”
Jungkook smiles a little. At least that blabbering is still there. So maybe not everything has changed about Park Jimin.
He kneels down and starts gathering up the stuff lying on the floor.
There are all kinds of colored markers and pens that have spilled out of Jimin’s bag. What the fuck? Who writes with an orange pen?
“I do. I like the color,” Jimin mumbles, his brows furrowed.
Did Jungkook say that out loud?
Jungkook is still staring at the said pen, when Jimin grabs it, snatching it out of his grasp. “You don’t need to help me.”
Jungkook is taken aback with that tone again. Why is Jimin being so snappy at him? It’s a first for him yet again.
“Jin hyung said that you have taken a transfer here. And since it's the middle of the term, I can help you with the notes so far.”
Jimin’s lips. “Really? You would do that for me?”
Jungkook shrugs. “Sure. But, I was kind of going to bunk the class right now.”
“You were?”
Jungkook doesn’t know why he said that. Maybe trying to get a reaction from Jimin.
Bunking class is not the right thing to do, Jungkook.
Jimin had told him when he was trying to get out of that one chemistry class in middle school.
But, this time Jimin is simply tilting his head and staring at him with an unknown question. “Then I should be heading to the class alone.” Jimin gets up, gathering up all his stuff and putting them inside his backpack.
“Thank you for helping me out,” Jimin points around the floor now all cleaned up.
“Let’s go,” Jungkook says.
“Aren’t you going to bunk the class?” Jimin asks innocently.
Well, he was going to. But, for some god forsaken reason, now Jungkook really wants to attend the class.
“Jin hyung would kill me if I leave you on your first day of class,” grumbles Jungkook. ‘Let’s get inside.”
Jungkook is standing near the door to their class, when he realizes that Jimin has not moved even an inch. He is standing right there at the same place, as if glued to that position.
Jimin’s shoulders are heaving up and down, his breathing coming out erratically. “I can’t do this.”
“What?”
“I can’t,” Jimin’s voice croaks.
His eyes meet Jungkook’s for a split second and then he is spinning around, running in the opposite direction instead.
Jungkook gapes at him, too stunned to even react.
What in the fucking hell just happened?
“He did what?” Jin asks when they meet for lunch.
“He ran away before the class even began,” Jungkook tells him. “I can’t believe I was caught by the professor and had to attend the class instead.”
“You should have followed him,” Jin starts massaging his forehead with his fingers. “Why didn’t you?”
Jungkook is confused. “Are you asking me why I didn’t bunk the class instead?”
“No, I am asking you, why didn't you go after Jimin to check up on him.”
“You are saying as if I didn’t try,” argues Jungkook.
Okay, he agrees that he has not been very good at hiding his annoyance with Jimin. But, that doesn’t mean he is a cold hearted person who wouldn’t even bother to check on someone in need.
“I would have gone after him, hyung, but the professor opened the door right in my face. I had to get in the class..” Jungkook doesn’t know why he is trying so hard to convince Jin.
“Lemme check up with him,” Jin says without listening to Jungkook. “Let me call him.”
And then Jin gets up to dial Jimin’s number away from him. Apparently, Jungkook is being too loud and Jin can’t talk to Jimin in front of him.
Wonderful. Now Jungkook is the bad guy here for no reason?
“What is this chaos all about?” Taehyung asks, who is lying on the grass, his eyes closed, basking in the sun.
“Nothing.”
“So, who is this Park Jimin?” Taehyung asks another question. His eyes still closed.
“No one.”
Taehyung’s eyes shot open, and he got up. The grass strays sticking to his hair. “Is this the Park Jimin? The one I have heard so much about? The one who is head over heels for you? The one who is madly in love with you?”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. “He is not in love with me. We were in school. No one falls in love when you are in school. Kids don’t know what they do, how will they know the definition of love?”
“I did,” Taehyung argues. “I fell in love in school.”
“Exactly. And look what it did to you.”
Jungkook shouldn’t have said that. But, the words came out without his realization. Taehyung’s falling face made him realize this.
“Tae, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Taehyung smiles. “Apology accepted. Because it’s you. I can’t be angry with you for long.”
Perks of having a best-friend, they can’t stay mad at you for long. And if it’s Taehyung, that anger can melt in a second.
“But, seriously tell me. Is this the same Jimin?”
“Yeah,” Jungkook takes a long sigh. “It’s the same Jimin.”
“Interesting.”
“Don’t,” Jungkook warns.
“But I didn’t even do anything,” Taehyung pouts.
“My personal life is not some entertainment television drama for you, Tae. Stop entertaining yourself through my life.”
Taehyung laughs at that. “Now I know the reason why you didn’t reply to me. Jimin comes above FIFA, Booze, and me.”
Jungkook stares at his friend. “Didn’t know we were dating,” he raises his brows.
To which Taehyung acts as if something hit him on his chest. “That hurts. I never thought hearing this would hurt me here, so damn much.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes again. Taehyung and his theatrics. He loves drama way too much. Jungkook turns his head, craning his neck to find Jin, who is still probably trying to call Jimin.
“Jimin and I have known each other since childhood, and have gone to the same middle and high-school.. Sure,” Jungkook shrugs. “But, he is not my priority. He is just… there. He is not my best friend. And I am not going to choose him over anyone else.”
Taehyung grins at that. “Liar,” he says and lies back on the ground, resting the back of his head over his arm.
“I am serious. Jimin is not my type. He has never been, and he will never be.”
Even ifJimin now looks gorgeous with those plump lips and crescent eyes, even with those cute chubby cheeks, Jungkook is not at all interested in Jimin. He will never be.
Wait, did I just call Jimin cute and gorgeous? No fucking way.
“Never say never,” Taehyung says with his eyes closed.
There is no point in arguing with Taehyung, so Jungkook lets it go.
“He is not picking the call,” Jin says when he comes back after a while. “But, I talked with his father. He talked with him an hour back, so Jimin should be fine I guess.”
Jungkook doesn’t understand the paranoia behind Jin’s behavior.
“I am gonna talk to him later when I am free. I have to go to my class now,” Jin grabs his bag. “Jungkook-ah, if you meet him by any chance just tell him to call me.”
Jin would have met Jimin right then and there, if he had stayed a little longer to return back home with Jungkook.
Because Jungkook is currently sitting in his car in the parking lot. And on the side of the road, he is able to see the tiny figure with blonde hair at a distance. Walking slowly and tugging on his hoodie.
Is Jimin hiding from someone?
“Is that your Jimin?” Taehyung asks curiously from the passenger seat.
“He is not my Jimin,” mutters Jungkook but keeps his eyes on Jimin nonetheless.
Before Jungkook could stop, Taehyung is already rolling down the window and shouting “Hey, you!” at Jimin.
Jimin jumps at his place like a scaredy cat who just got attacked by something dangerous.
Jimin then looks around as if he can’t believe Taehyung is talking to him. “Hey?” he says awkwardly.
“You are Jimin, right?” Taehyung flashes his best smile at him. “I am Taehyung, I have heard so much about you from Jungkook.”
And then his eyes fall over Jungkook and those said eyes become big like saucer. “J-Jungkook,” he whispers in a shock.
“You survived your first day,” Jungkook tries to talk.
But, he gets silence in return.
“Are you heading somewhere?” Jungkook asks again. “I can drop you-”
“No,” Jimin is fast in rejecting the offer. “It’s not that far,” he points in the south direction. “It’s walkable.”
“Actually we are also driving in that direction,” Jungkook wants to say more, but Jimin is already walking away.
What the hell?
“Okay, that’s enough.” Jungkook unlocks the door and gets out of the car, walking right behind Jimin.
He grabs on Jimin’s wrist, but leaves it immediately.
Because Jimin shrieks in such horror as if he got burned by Jungkook’s touch.
“I am sorry.” Jimin murmurs his apology. “I thought… nevermind.”
Jungkook blinks. He is doing that a lot today. Basically he is doing that a lot around Jimin.
“Why do you keep running away?” Jungkook asks slowly. “Earlier during the class and now again.”
Jimin licks his lip and opens his mouth, probably to say something. But he doesn’t.
“Jin hyung is worried sick about you. And you didn’t even pick your call.”
Jimin’s eyes widen at that again and Jungkook sees the immediate guilt all over Jimin’s face.
“My phone died,” Jimin says quietly while rubbing on his wrist.
Now that Jungkook is noticing, Jimin has a black band bracelet on the left wrist. The same one Jungkook had grabbed a few seconds back.
“I will call him soon,” Jimin promises. “I have to go now.”
Before Jungkook can say anything more, Jimin is already running away… from him.
Is this how it’s gonna be from now on?
Years back, Jimin used to run towards Jungkook.
But now, everything about Jimin has changed. He looks closed off. Silent.
Jungkook doesn’t know how he feels about all this.
In the end, Taehyung dragged the whole fucking town to their apartment in the name of a party.
“It’s a small hangout. Only three or four of our friends are gonna come, since it’s a last minute plan.”
That’s what Taehyung had mentioned.
It became a whole fucking party. And Jungkook didn’t want to party. He really isn’t in the mood.
“Why do you keep throwing parties?” Jungkook asks. “I really don’t want to hear another complaint from our hyungs.”
“Namjoon and Hoseok hyung are fine with it. They actually love it,” Taehyung points at Namjoon and Hoseok, who are apparently having the best time.
“Yoongi hyung hates it though.” Jungkook says and looks around to find Yoongi sitting in one of the corners, his eyes closed as if he is trying to sleep.
Taehyung grins. “More of a reason to party all night. He hates noise too by the way.”
By noise, Taehyung means the loud music he is playing. Jungkook doesn’t understand Taehyung’s obsession of always trying to get on Yoongi’s nerves.
And he doesn’t want to understand it either.
“Yo, I am here,” Taehyung shouts at some newcomers in his apartment.
Great. More people.
Jungkook is so not in the mood of meeting people. Especially because of the weird day he had today. Park Jimin is still on his mind.
He doesn’t want Jimin to reside in his mind, in his thoughts though.
Why is he thinking about him?
Jungkook shakes himself, giving an internal smack on the back of his head and slowly walks backward to detour… to get out of the apartment. He really needs to get away from the crowd.
On the way he grabs a bottle of soju though. Alcohol is the only way he can numb these chaotic parties around him.
He opens the door of the apartment at the same time when the door of the opposite apartment opens. And there he stands, with wide eyes and slightly parted lips.
Park Jimin.
What the…
A small smile starts appearing on Jimin’s face in astonishment.
Jungkook’s eyes roam over Jimin and the way he is dressed. Those cotton shorts are short, ending at his thighs, exposing those legs. His eyes lingers over them a little more than necessary.
Those legs are not too skinny. But given Jimin’s height, they look long, and perfectly shaped. The sun-kissed skin looks a perfect tan.
Jungkook comes to a conclusion. Jimin has really nice legs.
Jimin is wearing a long sleeve white shirt and even though the shirt he is wearing is covering everything, it’s thin.
And Jungkook can easily see the silhouette of Jimin’s body beneath that shirt, his chest, those curves…
Blood shoots straight to Jungkook’s groin and he can feel the zipper of his pants too tight around it.
What is he even thinking all of a sudden?
He can’t be having these thoughts for Park Jimin.
So he tries to concentrate on his irritation towards Jimin instead.
“Careful. We need to stop meeting like this,” Jungkook takes a sip of soju from his bottle, “or else I will start thinking that you are following me.”
“Wh-what?” Jimin asks, his voice shaking.
“It’s the third time we are meeting like this.” Maybe it’s the alcohol in Jungkook’s system that he is blurting anything and everything. “It cannot be by chance, for sure. You must be stalking me, like you used to do in school.”
It’s supposed to be a joke. Of sorts. Maybe… probably. Jungkook doesn’t know.
Jungkook tries to smile to show that he didn’t mean what he said.
But that small smile that had appeared on Jimin’s face disappeared as fast as it had appeared.
Jungkook regrets those words as soon as he says that.
“I am not following you or anyone else,” Jimin mumbles, looking down once again. “Trust me. If I could, I would hide myself away from everyone.”
Jungkook looks at how Jimin pulls on the end of his long sleeve, making some kind of sweater paws with it.
Shit. He really shouldn’t have said that.
“I stay here,” Jimin looks up and stares into Jungkook’s eyes. But the way he is looking, he surely can see into Jungkook’s soul. “I have shifted here.”
“I thought you were going to stay in the dorm room.”
Jimin shakes his head. “Didn’t want to. Too crowded.”
Jungkook snickers. “And this isn’t?” Jungkook points his thumb at his apartment.
Jimin cranes his neck to look through the open door. “Yeah,” he gulps. “I didn’t realize it would be like this when I shifted here.”
“Weren’t you in the States? Frat parties must be pretty common.” Jungkook sips on his soju.
The comment did something to Jimin. Because at that very moment, Jimin freezes, as if he is remembering something very very disturbing.
“Hey,” Jungkook snaps his fingers in front of Jimin’s eyes, breaking whatever zone he went into. “Are you alright?”
Jungkook is asking that question a lot today.
“Y-yeah. I am.”
“You sure?” Jungkook asks again.
Jimin nods. “I have talked with Jin hyung by the way.” he informs suddenly. “Thought you should know.”
“Thanks for calling him. He was really worried about you.”
And then silence falls between them.
It seems ironic to Jungkook, because there is loud music booming from his apartment. And yet, he can’t hear anything. Jimin’s silence overpowering everything.
“Uh, do you wanna come over?” Jungkook asks to kill the silence. They are already standing and talking. It would be really rude not to invite Jimin over.
Right?
“Jin hyung is on his way but there are other guys inside. They stay over here in the other apartment as well. You can meet them.”
Jimin’s eyes flicker over Jungkook’s shoulder for a mere second. He frowns as if his mind is still making a decision.
“Jungkook-ah!” Taehyung comes out shouting his name. “Why are you standing outside, come to the party baby.” He hangs his arm around Jungkook’s shoulder to pull him inside but stops mid-step when he sees Jimin.
“Hey you!” Taehyung grins at Jimin. “Didn’t expect to see that pretty face so soon. I am Taehyung, we met in the morning?”
“Y-yeah, s-sorry I rushed out earlier. I was in a hurry.” Jimin fumbles, a little flustered with Taehyung’s attention on him.
Jimin has always loved everyone’s attention. He had never shied away from it. And yet, Jungkook is seeing the new version of Park Jimin in front.
“I am Jimin by the way,” Jimin hops from one foot to another awkwardly. “I, uh, I recently moved to this apartment.”
“No way!” Taehyung exclaims. “It’s like fate is doing everything to collide our paths.”
When Jimin looks at him in confusion, Taehyung adds, “Me and Jungkookie share this apartment. We are neighbors buddy.”
And Jimin looks like he will really collapse because of less oxygen in his system.
“I really didn’t know,” Jimin looks at Jungkook. “I didn’t know before I took this apartment. I swear.”
Jimin keeps repeating it with those innocent eyes that are boring into Jungkook’s soul, begging him to listen to him.
“I believe you,” Jungkook says and that’s when Jimin stops. “I believe you.” Jungkook says once more. Just because.
“Okay.”
“You should come in,” Taehyung asks. “The whole gang is inside. Except for Jin hyung. But he will be in soon.”
Jimin gulps and looks back at Jungkook who is waiting for a response from Jimin. “Thanks, but maybe next time. I was heading to bed.”
It’s a lie. Jungkook can tell. “This early?”
“It’s almost midnight.” Jimin points.
Jimin never used to go to sleep before two in the morning. Jungkook knows it. But, he doesn’t push it.
“Well, we all are up for a while,” Taehyung says. “So, if you change your mind-”
“I am not going to,” Jimin says, his words a little too tight and somewhat sharp. “Goodnight.”
Taehyung’s face falls. And that’s something that always triggers Jungkook.
“He was just trying to be nice and polite to you. Why are you being snappy to him?” Jungkook asks, his voice a little too loud.
Jimin’s lips parted at that, his eyes widened again. For a brief second he looks between Jungkook and Taehyung.
Jimin had seen Jungkook with Taehyung in the morning. But, he didn't notice how close they were.
Jimin has never seen Jungkook being this close to anyone in high school. It was like, no one really caught Jungkook's attention.
Not even Jimin. Even if he tried so hard.
…You try so hard. Loosen yourself a little bit Jimin-ah…. Maybe if you are not this shallow like a kiddie pool….
"Are you okay?" Jungkook is looking at Taehyung with eyes full of concern.
And Jimin is looking at Jungkook. Jungkook is looking at Taehyung in the way he never looked at Jimin.
And this shouldn't hurt. Jimin is over his high school crush. He tells that to himself a millionth time.
And it had worked when he was in the States.
But now that Jungkook is standing in front of him all those feelings are rushing back. If Jimin is being honest with himself, they never really left.
Jungkook is talking so nicely with Taehyung, and that makes Jimin wonder is it just him Jungkook has never liked?
What's wrong with me?
Jimin wonders.
You know what's wrong.
Jungkook whispers something in Taehyung's ear which is not audible to Jimin. As if Jungkook is keeping his voice down on purpose.
He doesn't want Jimin to hear it.
Jungkook has never cared like this for Jimin even though they had known each other for years.
"Come on gukie. I am fine." Taehyung assures. "Don't make it a big deal."
Taehyung smiles brightly at Jimin and it makes Jimin feel guilty for snapping like that earlier.
Jimin blinks to bring himself to reality. “I am so sorry, Taehyung-ssi,” Jimin bows deeper in apology. “I didn’t mean to sound rude. I just-" panicked that I would be forced to go to a party. And I can't do parties. Not now. Not ever.
Jimin doesn't say that out loud.
"Please don't apologize for something this small." Taehyung says. "Well if you really feel sorry, then come and hang out with us." He grins.
Jimin goes white. He actually goes paler at that. He doesn't know how to get out of it without sounding rude anymore.
He is holding the door knob so tight that his knuckles have started to ache now.
"Let it be," Jungkook mutters. "We are going to wrap up soon anyways." He looks at Jimin sideways then.
Jungkook has grown so much. But there is one thing that has not changed. He still looks at Jimin with irritation.
And that look still sends so many pangs of emotions inside Jimin’s heart.
Jimin bows again and closes the door to lock it. He waits until he hears the shutting sound of the other door.
Jimin didn't realize he had been holding his breath for the past few minutes until he was inside his own apartment, behind the closed door.
"It's okay," Jimin mumbles to himself. "You are far away from that place. These people are not them. Taehyung seems nice. And Jungkook…"
Well Jungkook still looks like he is not very fond of Jimin.
And after the way things became awkward before, he is sure that Jungkook won't want him to hang around him either.
Jimin knows one thing for sure. Neither Jungkook nor Taehyung is going to ask him for any future hangouts.
Which should be fine, Jimin thinks. He didn't have any hopes before coming to this university either.
It's not like Jimin and Jungkook had been best friends in high school so it won't matter if Jungkook starts avoiding him now.
And Jimin doesn't even know Taehyung.
It won't matter.
Maybe it will be for the best. To keep himself away from the crowd.
You are just a catastrophe waiting to happen.
Jimin can still hear those words ringing in his ears.
He chuckles to himself.
Yeah… sounds about right.