Jimin thanked the air hostess and relaxed in his seat. Jungkook had been silent for the rest of the evening, attending meetings and mingling with the crowd with a distant look in his face. The eldest wondered what went wrong as he seemed fine before lunch.

Even when they got on the airplane, Jungkook didn't utter a word. He silently went to sleep and didn't bother to eat. Jimin wanted to scold the youngest for not eating, but let it slide because he sensed his need to be left alone. Jungkook looked worn out.

With a sigh, he settled in his seat, browsing through the movies with his mind preoccupied. He slanted a sideways glance at Jungkook who was fast asleep beside him. A good sleep should help him. They would get approximately one and a half-day rest before they hit the ground again. Jimin tried to relax but couldn't help the heaviness settled in his chest at Jungkook's sudden withdrawal.

Taehyung texted him earlier that he boarded the plane and would meet them at the hotel. He would arrive an hour earlier than them. It was good to have Wi-Fi on the plane. Jimin checked both his and Jungkook's emails, responding to the ones that needed attention before pocketing the phone. The distraction didn't work that long. His mind refused to stay at one thing for more than a minute.

His thoughts went to Taehyung. If one thing Jimin learned about Taehyung during his time in Jeon Corporation was that, he was a big baby, easy on the eyes with a heart of gold. He was younger than he was by two months.

Kim Taehyung was the most handsome man Jimin had the pleasure to meet, most of all an amazing human being a unique personality. Sorry Jin Hyung. You're worldwide handsome though. Tae was easy to be with and brightened the mood with his funny antics, after their awkward start they had hit it off decently. Of course, there were moments when Tae just went silent as if he was at a loss of words. But Jimin thought it must have something to do with the past. A theory he was yet to confirm.

As ridiculous as it sounded, Jimin couldn't shake off the feeling that was solidifying in his gut. He knew them. Perhaps, it was that sense of nostalgia that only a few people able to evoke though you were meeting them for the first time in life. Or in his case, they were the ghosts from his past.

He thought of speaking to his doctor hyung, but decided against it. Why hadn't they come in search of him? That question still lingered in his mind. If they didn't come looking for him, it meant they weren't on good terms. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to shake the uncomfortable feeling.

They still had eight hours of flying ahead, so he decided to catch some sleep. Perhaps, he could do some sightseeing during these two days.

***

Jimin's idea of resting went down the drain when they landed in Paris. One of the investors phoned Jimin two hours after their arrival, demanding to push the meeting from Monday to Saturday over dinner because something has come up.

While Jimin felt bad for the youngest, Jungkook had just sighed and said he will go. Jimin gave up his plan to explore the city and join Jungkook. They freshened up in their rooms and Jimin helped Jungkook to go over the proposal. He had a keen eye for details and it was something Jungkook appreciated. They found themselves doing this often and Jimin always brought something new to the table.

However, Jimin couldn't join him because Taehyung showed up at Jungkook's doorstep with a high fever. His flight delayed due to bad weather, he arrived three hours late.

"TaeTae is sick," he had whined before crashing on Jungkook's bed.

Jimin promised to stay behind and care for him while Jungkook attended the meeting. While the youngest still had enough time to prepare for the meeting, he asked if Jimin could take Taehyung to his room since he had to prepare for the meeting. Jungkook had warned Taehyung was whiny and demanding when he got sick before they left his room. Only Jimin didn't know the extent of it because he soon learned why Jungkook practically pushed them out of his room.

Jimin had brought Taehyung to his room since both Jungkook and Taehyung opted to share a VIP suite while Jimin had his VIP suite.

"Minnie...hold me," Taehyung kept whining until Jimin gave in, climbing into the bed with him. Taehyung loved to blabber nonsense and he was hella cute when he did that. He had spent the past hour tending to Taehyung, listening to his silent murmurs. The childhood stories he recalled made the eldest laugh.

"Minnie doesn't love TaeTae anymore," he suddenly mumbled causing Jimin to freeze. "Why don't you love me anymore?"

Was that the meds? But the pain in his voice tugged at Jimin's heartstrings.

"I...I..."Jimin stuttered, his hand freezing on the wet cloth he placed over Taehyung's forehead. The doctor had checked on him earlier and gave him an injection and medicines. The fever had reduced, but his ramblings continued. His hands shook as his head reeled. "T-that's not true," he managed to say as he replaced the wet cloth.

Taehyung moaned when the cold cloth touched his forehead. "Minnie left TaeTae," he whimpered, lips pressed in a thin line, eyes closed as he curled into a fetal position.

Jimin moved closer, his eyes wide and palm growing sweaty at this revelation. "What are you talking about?" His heart lurched to his throat. When Taehyung didn't respond Jimin gripped his shoulder, gently forcing him to face him. The youngest responded, turning to face Jimin, throwing his arms and legs over the eldest, holding him in a tight embrace.

"TaeTae looked for Minnie everywhere. Minnie was gone." He was crying.

Jimin's throat went dry. What was he talking about? Was Taehyung his boyfriend? Did they fight? The familiar dull ache started at the base of his skull. Jimin forced himself to breathe as he stared at the man who looked so tiny.

"Who was I to you?" he whispered, heart in his throat, blood rushing to his head.

Taehyung pouted. "Minnie forgot." His grip on Jimin tightened. "Minnie and TaeTae—soulmates and brothers for life. Minnie promised to love TaeTae forever."

Jimin couldn't contemplate the relief that spread inside his chest on hearing this. "Why did I leave?"

Taehyung didn't respond. He craned his neck, blinking his eyes at the eldest.

"Why did I leave, TaeTae?" Jimin repeated, eyes burning with tears. Here it was the mysteries of his past. And he didn't know what to feel right then.

"Only Minnie knows," Taehyung pursed his lips with a sigh. "Minnie stopped loving TaeTae."

"I never stopped loving you," Jimin said, his eyes widening at the sudden confession. Where did that come from?

Taehyung gave him a weak smile. "Don't leave me again, Minnie."

An unknown emotion squeezed his chest. There was so much pain in Tae's voice that Jimin couldn't fathom. What happened to them?

"I won't." Jimin threaded his hands through Taehyung's soft hair. "Was Jungkook my soulmate too?" If they were his friends, that would explain why he cared for them. How long had they known each other?

Taehyung huffed, his voice lower than a whisper. "Only Minnie and TaeTae soulmate."

"What was he to me?"

But the youngest responded only with soft snores and Jimin sighed in defeat.

***

Jimin didn't know when he fell asleep. Tae had clung to him like a koala and he had resorted to reading a book on his phone. Something had woken him up. He rubbed his eyes, looking around to see Jungkook sitting at the foot of the bed with a soft gaze. Jimin wasn't surprised to see Jungkook since they had keys to each other's rooms. It was needed since Jungkook had the habit to sleep in through the alarm and well Jimin thought it was only fair to give Jungkook his extra key in case the youngest needed him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Jungkook said. He had ditched his suit jacket, his tie hung loose on his neck and sleeves pushed back to his elbow.

"It's fine." Jimin stretched, wincing when his neck protested from sleeping at an odd angle beside Taehyung. He stretched the back of his neck and rubbed the back to relieve the tension of his muscles.

"I ordered food." He jerked his head to the food trolley that was beside the bed. "How is he?"

"He's fine. The fever went down." Jimin touched Tae's neck then nodded to himself before removing the now dry cloth on his forehead and wiped off the sweat. He was sweating out and kicked off the bedsheets at some point in time, which was good. "How did the meeting go?" Jimin asked opening the lid of the dishes to reveal his favorite food. It was good the hotel served Korean food. It had been only three days and Jimin already missed the Korean delicacies.

"It was okay." Jungkook sighed. "He might require some convincing. I think I did a good job, he was a tough cookie."

Jimin nodded and busied himself with the dishes. "Did you eat?"

"I ate something," Jungkook mumbled under his breath.

Jimin lifted a brow. He knew what that meant. The meeting that should have been done inside a boardroom was done in a restaurant. Jungkook took work so seriously and put everything into it. He could already imagine what kind of dinner he would have had.

"Eat with me. There is enough food for both of us." Jimin started filling a plate without waiting for Jungkook's response and patted the place beside him on the bed. "Come closer."

A sigh drifted off Jungkook's mouth and he followed his command like an obedient child. He went to sit on his right side on the bed and grabbed the plate Jimin filled for him. They continued to eat in silence. Jimin stretched his neck again. The pain won't reduce. Jungkook reached with his left hand as if it was his second nature, massaging the sore muscle as he ate with his right. Jimin groaned closing his eyes as he let the youngest tend to him. The moment felt so intimate, once again stirring that foreign sensation inside his chest—the touch so familiar.

Jimin wasn't the one to complain. Jungkook's fingers worked like magic and soon the pain had subsided. Once they were done with food, Jungkook cleared the plates and put the empty dishes aside.

Jimin was coming back from the bathroom, still exhausted even after all these hours of sleep when he saw Jungkook already settled on the bed with Taehyung. He had removed his tie and shoes, but was still in his work slacks and dress shirt. The youngest hugged Taehyung from his back resting his head on the pillow leisurely.

Jimin contemplated sleeping in Jungkook's suite for a moment since his bed was otherwise occupied, but Taehyung stirred in his sleep with a soft slur, "Minnie..." He patted the space Jimin occupied earlier. "Minnie left TaeTae again." At his soft sniffle, Jimin jumped to the bed, wrapping his arms around Taehyung.

"I'm here," he whispered running his hand through Taehyung's hair. "Do you want to eat?"

"No. Sleep." Taehyung threw a leg over his waist, hands reaching out to pull him closer.

Jimin chuckled. This was new yet familiar. As alarming as it sounded he could definitely get used to this. Taehyung's fever had gone down and he was such a teddy bear. He returned the gesture by throwing a hand over his newfound soulmate, only to realize now he came as a package deal. His hand grazed Jungkook's slim waist and it was too late to pull away. Jungkook on the other hand extended his hand that was secured in Taehyung's waist to hug Jimin.

That was how they fell asleep that night, Taehyung sandwiched between them.

Something sweet yet hot coming up...I know I made you wait for long, but since it's Jungkook's birthday...I'll give it to you. Next chapter coming soon. Stay tuned!

Until we meet again...💜💜💜

https://youtu.be/gECH7H7F1u8