“Did you drink yesterday because I told you that I like you?”

Jimin sighed. If he could, he would have avoided this line of questioning but since his late morning wake up ruined any chance of that, he didn't think he had any choice but to lie.

“Of course not. I was just having a drink with my friends.” Jimin replied in a fake nonchalant way and hoped to God that the acting skills he's currently displaying are good despite being hungover. “I don't know how high you think of yourself, hyung, but not everything I do revolves around you.”

With that, Jimin quickly went out of the house, before Yoongi had a chance to stop him or ask any more questions that Jimin currently does not have answers for. He does remember the conversation he had with Taehyung last night. While he's nowhere near the place Taehyung described, Jimin couldn't deny that there is something between him and Yoongi.

But it's not something he's ready to explore yet, not until he's more confident about his own feelings. He knows he should have said something to Yoongi, at least to ask for some time to sort his thoughts out. But the way Yoongi confronted him just now, made it impossible for Jimin to even ask that.

Guess he will have to have that conversation when he goes back.
   
  
  
  
_________________________________
   
  
  
  
  
When Jungkook finally woke up, the better half of the morning was gone. Taehyung had left him a piece of swear bread and a cup of milk, which Jungkook guessed to be his breakfast. His stomach was feeling rumbly so he assumed it was okay to eat.

He went out of the room in search of Taehyung and found the latter making what looked like a rack. At the sound of Jungkook's footsteps, Taehyung turned around and gave a big smile.

“Hey.. you're up.”

“Yeah.” Jungkook's answering smile was just as big.

“How's the head?”

“It's bearable. At least the ringing in my ears stopped.”

Taehyung chuckled as he turned to what he was doing again. “Did you eat?”

“Yeah.”Jungkook sat on a big rock next to Taehyung. “What are you making?”

“Mother wanted a rack to keep all her pots and pans.”

“Hmm… you're always making something for her.”

“Should I not?” Taehyung's voice was full of teasing. “You can tell me if you want something too. I'll make it for you.”

Before Jungkook could say anything, a loud voice rang through the air. “Kookie!”

Both Jungkook and Taehyung turned their heads at that sound to see Jimin walking towards them. His face looked rather troubled and it made Jungkook worry instantly as well.

“Hyung,” Jungkook sprang up from where he was sitting. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing.” Jimin was not making eye contact with Taehyung. “Everything's fine. Are you busy today? I was thinking about going to the market.”

“Uhh.. I don't think we had anything planned.” Jungkook glanced at Taehyung. “Did we, hyung?”

Taehyung looked at Jimin again, taking in his troubled expression and his fidgeting form, before looking back at Jungkook. “Nope, only finishing this. You should go.”

“Ohh.. okay.”

“Jimin.” Taehyung's call made the newcomer finally look at him. “Not the tavern.”

“Of course not!” Jimin scoffed. “I couldn't feel half of my head when I woke up.”

“That's better. I felt like I had two heads, each pulling me in the opposite directions.”

All three of them stared at each other for a few seconds, remembering the details of the night before. And a single, unified thought was in all their heads. ‘Never again.’
  
  
  
  
__________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
“So..” Jungkook said as he walked in a slow pace next to Jimin. “You wanna tell me what this is about?”

They had been walking for about half an hour. Jungkook waited patiently until Jimin was ready to tell him whatever it is that's bothering him. But it was evident that Jimin needed a little push.

“Yoongi… he said he likes me.”

“Oh.. what did you say to him?”

The answer was a few seconds late. “Nothing.”

“What do you mean ‘nothing’? Wasn't he waiting for a response?”

“I suppose he was. But I wasn't ready to give one yet.”

“Oh.. I understand.”

Again there was a silence for a few minutes, before Jimin himself broke it. “What do you think I should do?”

“I don't know hyung, it's your choice, I believe.”

“I know. But I can't take such a decision alone. I need to be there for you-”

“-Stop!” Jungkook's hand shot out to grab Jimin by his forearm. “Please, don't let the thought of me influence your decision in any way. This is your life, hyung. You don't owe me anything anymore. I'm no longer your responsibility.”

“You'll always be my first priority, my prince. I've sworn my life in your protection. Nothing ever will change that.”

“But hyung-”

“No ‘Buts’, Kookie. We hide lots of secrets. It's not fair for Yoongi to be kept in the dark, if something were to happen between us. And I'm not ready to compromise your safety for anything.”

Jungkook sighed. “So what? You're just gonna live like this, alone, forever being just my shadow? Please, hyung, don't make me carry such a huge burden. I want you to be happy. I don't mind if you tell Yoongi hyung about me. I believe he has proved himself to be trustworthy. Let's all live our lives the best way we can, hyung. Happily.”

“Hmm…”

“Promise me you'll already think about it. Please.. and for heaven's sake talk to Yoongi hyung. Don't keep him hanging like that.”

Jimin gave a nod. He had already made up his mind to talk to Yoongi. The elder had been nothing but good to him and doesn't deserve to be strung along like that.

After reaching the market, Jimin went straight to a shop he had been meaning to visit for a while now. And then they went to a small place where they serve food. Jimin didn't have breakfast at all and even Jungkook only had a slice of bread and milk. They were having their food when they heard the conversation from the next table. It was done in a hushed tone, but Jungkook and Jimin were coincidentally close enough to make out what they were saying.

“I heard a strange rumor from my master.”

“Ohh.. what is it?”

“You know my master has connections in the palace right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“So he heard some things while he was in the palace.”

“In the palace? What is it?”

“Do you know the second prince? Prince Jungkook?”

Jungkook quickly lowered his head, while Jimin angled his body so that the prince was somewhat covered. Jungkook doesn't have the princely features on his face anymore, courtesy of living like a commoner for a long while but he could still be recognised by some one familiar with him.

“Yes, yes. What about him?”

“They say he has disappeared. No one knows where he is.”

“Heavens! Are you sure? Why isn't the king doing anything then?”

“Who knows? They say the king and the prince had a huge fight and the king had expelled the prince. But I don't believe that. I think the prince ran away for some reason.”

“Hmm..”

“Yeah. I wonder where he is right now. And if the prince had indeed run away from the palace, do you think the king might give a reward to anyone who finds out where he is?”

Suddenly, there was a noise of a chair being pulled, Jimin discreetly glanced back to see a new person joining that table. The newcomer obviously belonged to the higher class, but Jimin was sure it was not a familiar face.

“Hello.” The newcomer was using the same hushed tone. “I couldn't help but listen to your conversation. So you say the second prince is missing?”

“Apologies, master.” Jimjn could clearly hear them being frightened out of their wits. Speaking ill of the royal family is an offense to be paid with one's life. “This lowly dog doesn't know what he was talking about. Please have mercy on us.”

“Oh don't be scared.” The newcomer said in a reassuring tone. “I'm also interested in this information. If you could take my servant to the person who told you this, it would make me very happy. And I'm very generous when I'm happy.”

The duo was still scared but after some persuasion, the newcomer managed to convince them to help him. And when they left the place with the said servant, Jimin made the quick decision to follow them.