Third Person's POV

Bumalik ulit si Jungkook sa harapan nang pintuan ng binata. Sinubukan niyang kumatok, pero agad rin niyang binawi. Tumalikod ito, pero hindi siya pinapatahimik ng isipan niya kaya naman nagdoor bell ito.

Akmang pipindutin niya ulit 'yon nang bumukas ang pintuan. Jimin was standing right in front of him with soaked clothes. He was looking at the younger male with puffed eyes, and then after seeing Jungkook he began crying again. Malakas ang bawat hikbi nito, nakapikit ang mga mata habang patuloy sa pag-agos ang kanyang mga luha. Agad naman siyang nilapitan ni Jungkook, hinawakan niya ito sa magkabilang balikat. He was looking at smaller male with worried eyes, mga matang nakikiusap. Gusto niya itong tanungin, gusto niyang malaman ang rason kung bakit nagkakaganito siya ngayon bagay na kahit di niya tanungin ay alam na niya. Still Jungkook wanted to ask, at pakiusapan si Jimin na tulungan siya ni Jungkook. Kahit na masakit sa loob niya ay hindi na lang ito umimik at hinila si Jimin upang yakapin. He held the back of the smaller head and leaned in, lightly pressing his lips against the smaller locks.

"Let's get you change." Basag ni Jungkook, hihiwalay na dapat siya ngunit naramdaman niya ang pagpulupot ng mga kamay ni Jimin sakanya. Hinawakan na lamang niya ang likod nito, tapping it lightly, upang patahanin ang binata. Naramdaman naman ni Jungkook na unti-unti na rin itong nababasa and he doesn't mind.

"Let's get you change 'cause you are shaking right now, Jimin-hyung." His cries subsided and Jungkook felt the smaller nodded.

Jungkook dragged the smaller into his room, agad naman siyang naghanap nang towel at pinulupot 'yon sa katawan ni Jimin, it was bothering Jungkook, he was just holding back, natatakot na pagtabuyan siya ulit ni Jimin. He was holding the smaller shoulders, habang nakatingin parin dito.

"Hyung," Tawag niya dito, Jimin was looking at his own feet. Jungkook was staring at the smaller with a soft look, "Kailangan mo ba nang tulong ko?" Marahan niyang tanong, Jimin shake his head no.

"I can change my clothes," Pabulong nitong sambit, at tumango naman sakanya si Jungkook. Binitawan ni Jungkook ang balikat nito at hinawakan niya ang pisngi ni Jimin, inangat 'yon ng kaunti para magtama ang mga mata nila. Seeing his bloodshot eyes, it pains Jungkook deeply- hinila niya ang binata at niyakap itong muli.

"I'm sorry," Bulong nito. Jimin leans in resting his head against the latter's shoulder. They stayed glued together, the smaller was now hiccupping while Jungkook rubs his back softly.

Naramdaman naman ni Jungkook ang marahan na pagtulak sakanya ni Jimin, senyales narin 'yon para bigyan ito ng privacy.

"Sa labas lang ako." Paalam niya at tumango ito kay Jungkook, the taller male smiled and took a step back, napatingin si Jimin sakanyang damit.

"Magbihis kana rin." Pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon ay iniwas niya na ang tingin kay Jungkook with his brows pulled together.

"I'll do it, later." Mas kumunot naman ang noo ng binata sa sinabi niyang 'yon.

"Pagbubuksan ulit kita nang pinto, magpalit kana." He told Jungkook as if reading what's on the latter's mind.

Nagmadali namang umalis si Jungkook upang magpalit ng damit at agad ring bumalik, and true to his words, Jimin opened the door for the younger. He greets Jimin with a smile, habang hindi naman makatingin sa mga mata niya si Jimin.

Kinuha naman ni Jungkook ang kamay nito at dinala sa kwarto ni Jimin, pinaupo niya ito sa harapan ng vanity mirror niya at kinuha ang hair dryer. He starts drying the smaller male's hair.

Umangat ang tingin ni Jimin at pinagmasdan ang reflection ni Jungkook. Malungkot itong nakatitig sa binata. Siguro nga ay kailangan na niyang madaliin ang lahat, nang sa ganon ay hindi na niya ito kailangan pang isipan pa at katulad ni Namjoon, hihilingin rin ni Jimin na iwan na siya nito. He'll cut him off from his life too.

"You'd been asking me about going out lately, right?" Paninimula niya and Jungkook only hummed in response. Kahit na panandalian itong napatigil sa ginagawa when Jimin suddenly brought it up.

"Resign first, and then we'll do that." Jimin stated his condition.

"Sige," Pagsang-ayon nang binata sakanya. He did not even try to argue, "I'll let Jungwon know." Jungkook added casually, tsaka inilapag ang hairdryer sa mesa. Hinarap ni Jungkook si Jimin sakanya at lumuhod ito sa harapan niya. Jimin was staring down at the him, binigyan siya ng malawak na ngiti ng binata.

"Gawin natin lahat nang gusto mo, I won't oppose to anything. Pangako." His actions only raise Jimin's suspicion about Jungkook knowing what was Jimin planning all along. Hindi siya sigurado kung kailan nagsimula but he's certain na 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit siya umalis at nanatili sa Seoul nang ilang araw. And that's the reason of the change Jimin was noticing since earlier.

Again, Jimin wasn't even secretive about it. Kahit binabawi naman niya kapag napapansin niyang he's being harsh, pinaramdam niya pa rin niya kay Jungkook 'yon or worst he must've seen it...

"Do you need anything else-"

"You didn't get me flowers today." Jimin cuts in. Jungkook was caught off guard when Jimin said that. He's confused and conflicted- Jungkook had seen it.

Nung araw na naiwan niya ang smartphone niya... binalikan niya 'yon. That's why he didn't get his phone after witnessing it and gave him another to confirm it, kaya biglaan rin ang pag-alis niya, for that very reason.

"Ah," He contemplated before continuing, Jungkook knew exactly where those flowers are going to end up afterwards kaya nawala sa isipan niyang dalhan ulit ang binata, Jungkook played it off and grins.

"Sorry, I was too preoccupied earlier. I'll get you one later." Ngumiti si Jimin, and this is the first since he got here. "Binibiro lang kita." He softly said pagkatapos ay tumingin ito sa kama niya.

"Parang bibigay na 'yung mata ko, okay lang bang magpahinga muna..." Jimin trailed off, tsaka binalingan muli nang tingin ang binata. "...kasama ka?" He continued, almost, with a worried voice as he asked for Jungkook's permission which caught the younger off guard.

"Sigurado kaba sa hinihiling mo?" Jimin's worried gaze turned into amusement, he raises a brow at him.

"I just want to be sure, ayokong pagsisihan mo 'to pagkatapos."

"Bakit ko pagsisisihan?" Jungkook attempted to clarify what he meant but failed to do so. He wanted to know Jimin understood what he was asking for. Ayaw niyang maulit ang nangyari kanina nang hinalikan siya nito. The smaller kept on muttering that it shouldn't have happened when they were in the car. He was really bothered by it and Jungkook doesn't want him to behave like that, it worries Jungkook.

"Sigurado ako, don't worry." Jimin assured the younger with a small smile.

They both in the bed facing each other habang nakatingin sa isa't-isa hanggang sa bumaba ang tingin ni Jimin at tuluyang nitong ipinikit ang mga mata. While Jungkook kept his gaze fixed on the smaller male, he decided to put his worries aside and let himself drowned in the moment. Nang mapansin niyang mahimbing na itong natutulog ay hinawi niya ang buhok ni Jimin at hinawakan ang noo nito, tsaka hinawakan niya ang kanyang noo. He sighed in relief nang masiguradong wala itong lagnat.

Jimin woked up and was confronted by Jungkook's presence. Jungkook had his mouth slightly open which Jimin found adorable. Napatingin naman siya sa nunal na malapit sa labi nito, maybe it was his curiosity that led him to find himself touching the younger's mole. It was a light touch, glancing at the younger's face to ensure he didn't wake up before pressing his finger against the mole once more.

He gasped in surprise when he felt a hand wrapped around his wrist, then slides it up a little to hold his hand, at marahang ibinaba 'yon. Jungkook is now holding his hand, a smile made its way to Jimin's lips. Ipinikit niyang muli ang mga mata niya at di rin nagtagal ay nakaidlip rin ito.

Jimin woke up and realises wala na sakanyang tabi si Jungkook. He sat down and reached for his phone that was on the bedside table. There were few messages from Jinwoo. Jimin's expression switch up immediately, he was now smiling as he scrolls through his phone.

Jinwoo sent Jimin images of flowers and then there Jimin realizes why Jinwoo went out. Napahawak ito sakanyang dibdib, Jinwoo knew Jimin hasn't been feeling well, Jimin made it obvious too and he went out para dito, para mapasaya si Jimin, he felt his heart swell, he's such a thoughtful child. Jimin wanted to go back and hug the child. Napansin naman niya ang voice message nito, Jimin tapped his voice message and listens carefully.

"I actually met someone the exact way I met you, Jimin-hyung." He sounded really excited as he tells Jimin that. "Just like you, he stayed by my side and accompanied me throughout my journey until I was done. I'm sharing this with you because I want to reassure you that I was in good hands, so there's no need to worry." He proceeded to clarify knowing exactly how Jimin think.

"But I can't tell you who that person is though.

It's a secret."

Jimin recorded his voice as his response to Jinwoo's voice message, "I understand. However not everyone you meet are nice, Jinwoo and I want you to remember that. No more sneaking around, alright? And I know you'll not gonna let go of that person. Poor him."

Jimin thanked Jinwoo in his message after playfully teasing the child. Jungkook slightly opened the door and saw that Jimin was now awake, smiling at his phone. He assumed that Jinwoo had already sent the pictures he took earlier. Even now, hindi parin siya makapaniwala na magkakilala pala ang dalawa. Hindi lang magkakilala kundi close sa isa't-isa. He wonders kung isa rin ba sa naging studyante ni Jimin si Jinwoo. Just a mere thought of the child makes the younger smiles too. He's not any other kid he knows.

Binuksan niya ang pintuan at pumasok ito sa loob. Jimin looks up at him and smile. And the younger was smitten almost immediately. He felt his heart skip a beat, hindi niya kasi inasahan na titignan siya ni Jimin nang may ngiti sa labi nito. Jungkook wanted to believe that it was genuine.

"I prepared a dinner," Tumingin si Jimin sakanyang phone at tinignan ang oras. It was already seven in the evening. Ang buong akala nito ay hapon pa lang. Bumaba siya nang kama at nilapitan si Jungkook, pinagbuksan naman siya ng pintuan ng binata at sabay silang pumunta sa kusina.

They were both seated, Jimin put a piece of meat on Jungkook's bowl and Jungkook did the same for the smaller. Jimin pour himself a water but stopped and uses his other hand. And Jungkook saw that, at itinuon ang tingin sa pulsuhan ni Jimin. It was covered by a bandage. Just as he starts drowning in his own guilt and sadness, Jimin calls for him.

"What are you doing, Jungkook?" Jimin chuckles, "You are spacing out." He stated then Jimin realizes what was it about, tiningnan ni Jimin ang pulsuhan niya, he raises his hand to make Jungkook take a look.

"Ito ba? I got this in the daycare. It's a light scrape." Jimin clarifies, smiling. Iniwas niya ang tingin at pinagpatuloy na kumain. "I'm over it, hindi katulad nang iniisip mo ngayon." Jimin mumbled tone low but enough for Jungkook to hear. Hindi naman nagsalita si Jungkook. Ibinaba ni Jimin ang kamay niya.

"Aray," Daing ni Jimin at nabitawan ang hawak-hawak nitong chopsticks, agad namang tumayo si Jungkook at kinuha ang kamay ni Jimin. The smaller male looked up at him and grins.

"Biro lang," Jimin chuckles, eyes sparkling as tells Jungkook that.

And Jungkook was in dazed.

Binawi ni Jimin ang kamay niya at kinuha ulit ang chopsticks nito, kumuha siya ng beef at isinubo, na parang walang nangyari. Umupo naman si Jungkook ulit, he was still confused sa inaakto ni Jimin ngayon.

Nang matapos silang kumain ay pinigilan ni Jungkook si Jimin.

"Ako na ang magliligpit at maghuhugas, pahinga kana."

"Nah, I'll do it. Kung gusto mong bumalik sa apartment mo, you can go as well." Aniya, Jungkook was contemplating but in the end, he agrees, thinking, that would what Jimin wants.

"Okay," Hindi na niya pinilit pa, kahit na ayaw niyang mag exert ng work si Jimin lalo pa't may discomfort itong nararamdaman. Naputol ang pag-iisip nito nang makita ang pagbagsak ng mukha ni Jimin.

"Aalis ka talaga?" Jimin asked him, tugging Jungkook's heart.

"Kung ayaw mo..."

"Pero gusto mo nang umalis?" Tanong niyang muli.

"Akala ko pinapaalis mo na ako."

"Did I? I was only suggesting," Jimin clarified, and softly stared at Jungkook, bumilis naman ang tibok ng puso ni Jungkook sa mga titig na 'yon.

'Yung titig na gustong-gusto makita ni Jungkook mula kay Jimin na ang buoang akala niya ay tuluyan nang nawala at kailanman hindi na niya makikitang muli. The gaze that conveys his emotions toward the younger one, allowing his love to be felt even without words... katulad ng dati.

"Sasabihin ko naman sayo ng diretsuhan kung gusto kitang umalis," The younger notices how his tone changes, at kung papaanong naging mabigat bigla ang paligid nito. "I don't want that right now but maybe... some other time." Those words struck Jungkook as if the smaller one was reminding him not to forget what had just been said, as if it was a reminder that everything was temporary. Jungkook's heart began to ache.

"At gusto ko, kapag nangyari 'yun, you'll do as I say." Jimin firmly said. Napatitig lamang sakanya si Jungkook. He took a moment to search for any sign of doubt or hesitation, but finding none- tears gathered in Jungkook's eyes. And unable to bear the thought of it, he lunged forward and pulled Jimin into his arms. Naramdaman naman niya ang paghawak ni Jimin sakanyang likuran.

Mariing ipinikit ni Jungkook ang kanyang mga mata. He is still struggling to come to terms with losing Jimin from his life once more. Dalawang taon ang nawala sakanila. Dalawang taon niyang hinangad na makasama siyang muli. At hindi niya makita ang sarili na mabuhay na wala si Jimin. And he is dejected knowing that he couldn't do anything about it. Matagal na siyang sinukuan ni Jimin at hindi na magbabago 'yon.

Jimin felt Jungkook trembles, the younger is crying. Jimin's heart aches with pain.

"Let go, may huhugasan pa ako." Jimin says chuckling, hinigpitan lamang ni Jungkook ang yakap niya. Jungkook had no intention of letting go.

Slowly, Jimin's emotions began to overwhelm him. His lips quivered, but he suppressed it, hiding his face against the younger's neck.

***

Nakayakap at nakapatong ang chin ni Jungkook sa balikat ni Jimin habang naghuhugas ito ng plato until he finally broke the silence.

"Pagkatapos nito, labas tayo." Jungkook mumbled.

"Anong gagawin sa labas?"

"Drive kita kahit saan mo gusto." Aniya. Napahinto si Jimin.

"That reminds me of..." Jimin's wonders back to the moment where they stay the night at Hanyang River. Kung saan nakahiga sila sa kotse, habang nakatanaw sa mga bituin.

"Reminds you of?" Ulit ni Jungkook, umiling si Jimin.

"Pass muna, may pasok pa ako bukas." Paalala sakanya ni Jimin.

"Sasabay kaba saakin?"

"Dipende, resigned kana ba niyan?" Jimin snickered, "Kasi kung hindi pa, walang hatid-sundong magaganap." Jungkook chuckles.

"Kung sakali man na resigned kana, siguraduhin mo lang walang makakakita sayo." Jimin warns, tone light.

"Kung bumili kaya ako ng motorbike? Para maiba, bago rin sa paningin ng iba." Jungkook suggested, Jimin laughs at him. Kung makapagsalita si Jungkook ay parang laruan lang bibilhin niya.

"Tapos na ako, pakawalan mo na ako."

"Ah, tapos kana pala." Jungkook repeats tsaka kinarga si Jimin, the smaller gasp at napakapit agad sa leeg ni Jungkook. Nagsimula itong maglakad kaya inayos ni Jimin ang pagkakahawak dito.

"I'll do as you say..." Jungkook suddenly said, pertaining to the conversation he had left earlier unanswered. "Anything." He pointed.

"But I won't hold back myself anymore." Jungkook made himself clear, "Of course, everything comes with your consent. If it's uncomfortable for you, I'll stop." Jimin smiles and tightened his hold against the other.

"Why do I feel like you're going to do sinful things to me?" Hindi naman napigilan ni Jungkook mapatawa sa sinabi nito.

"Again, we won't be getting there, if you won't allow it." Inilayo ni Jimin ang mukha nito, to get a better look at Jungkook. The younger stopped in his track, and turned to face the smaller as well.

"If you show me what you meant by not holding yourself anymore, maybe..." Jimin cupped the younger's cheek, his gaze slowly drifting to Jungkook's lips.

"Maybe, I'll consider, allowing it." Jimin then locked eyes with the younger one. "Is this a challenge?" Jungkook asked, raising a brow.

"Matagal kang nawala sakin, wag mo 'kong sisihin if I'll do it the hard way." He declared, and Jimin became flustered, cheeks slowly turning crimson. Realizing this, he leaned in and buried his face against the younger's neck. Jungkook laughs when he did that, hinampas naman siya ni Jimin sa dibdib.