"Can I get some more straws! And a new pen! None of these fucking pens work!" Jimin strides behind the bar, where Yeonjun stands dutifully training the newbie Jackson and Soobin struggles to keep up with the drink orders at the bar. Tonight, Radon is flooded--the busiest Jimin has ever seen it. Because of his new position as drink runner, he's constantly rushing around from table to table, answering the raised hands with a kind hello, what can I get for you? and scribbling down orders as fast as possible so he can move on to the next. 

It's hectic as all hell inside--people bump into him and drunkenly sing out above the electronic music pulsing in the bar's interior. Whereas usually the neon lights make Jimin feel like he's working in some secretive strip club, tonight he feels like he's in a cramped sardine can with overly flashy LEDs. Why the bar-goers would want to cram themselves in here to get wasted is beyond Jimin, but he must put up with the lack of space.

"Here, are these pens any good?" Jackson, the newbie, hands him some of his own. Jimin rips them from his hand with a quick thanks before dropping off a lengthy drink order by Soobin and rushing back out into the crowd. He knows his face is flushed with stress, mind racing while trying to keep all of the orders straight. Oh shit! I forgot to jot down the special request on that man's brandy--ugh! Gotta go back-"

"Ouch!" Jimin turns directly into a middle-aged woman, bumping his elbow into her shoulder. He apologizes emphatically--he truly does feel bad, if it hurt his elbow then it surely hurt her shoulder--and moves on quickly without hearing her answer. He has about fifteen other orders to hand out, and many more to take. His boss will get angry if he can't keep up with the customers, and Jimin can't lose this job. It pays better than any other service industry job with all the tips he racks up.

"Hey! Soobin!" Jimin strides over to the drink sheet, scribbling down a specification(only one, not four pumps of cherry syrup--I need to watch my blood sugar levels!)  for the drink alteration of this guy. "I changed the last order on that page, forgot to write it down earlier--only one pump of the cherry shit!"

"Got it." Soobin doesn't even look up at him from behind his station, quickly pouring various alcoholic liquids hastily into colored glasses. He drops a vibrant orange martini umbrella into one of the glasses and mumbles something about how stupid teenagers are before he runs off to hand the drink out.

"Excuse me-"

"Yes! How may I help you!" Jimin turns around and whips out his notepad, readying to write down this customer's order without even glancing up. He can feel his back sweating uncomfortably under the bartending apron and hopes his sweet cologne will last the night. It's been a scorching hot day, almost hitting records in Seoul for the first week of June. All the busy bodies in Radon aren't helping him cool down--plus, he's a naturally very warm person. I wish I had my thinnest crop top on now...

"Do you sell popsicles here...on the side?" The same woman he bumped into before stands next to the counter, staring at a neon sign that says drink up! above the stacked bottles behind him. 

"Yes, we do sell Melona bars separately from the drinks if you'd like." Jimin feels guilty as the woman turns her attention onto him. He was really too rash in apologizing to her before, he should have asked if she was okay before running off. This woman isn't like the snotty young adults who bark at him and boldly tell him he's sexy on some drunken dare. This woman is the epitome of working-class Korea, dressed neatly and without any obnoxious sparkle or jazz. "We have banana, lime, coconut, mango-"

"I'll take one mango and...I guess one banana one. Also-" The woman pulls out her wallet, fishing for cash. "Can I also get two Sprites please?"

"Of course." Jimin doesn't bother to scribble down the simple order. He can quick grab the ice cream bars and the sodas if he's fast enough--and with his skinny jeans tightly hugging his ass--he can be fast enough. "If you'd like I can grab the drinks and ice creams right away and bring them to where you're seated."

"That would be nice, thank you." The woman lays down a little too much won on the bar counter as Jimin races away to pour some Sprites. He takes his time reaching into the mini freezer, enjoying the cool relief of the ice on his hands as he grabs the ice cream. Man is it fucking hot. I'm sweating my balls off--and I still have two hours of Satan's quarters left! UUuggghhh.

As Jimin straightens, he bumps harshly into Soobin, who's passing by. However, his coworker is in no mood for bets tonight, heading off into the supply room with the same flushed look of concentration that Jimin has on. Jimin apologizes mentally for his clumsiness, but how can he help it! Tonight Radon is packed to the brim like a fenced-in ranch filled with braying cattle, except all of these cows are rip-roaring drunk and don't care if they bump into the other cows.

"Just two hours. Two hours." Jimin repeats to himself as he carries the wrapped ice cream packages to an empty tray. He needs to stay motivated, to stay positive. He's totally sleep-deprived, stressed, and missing Jungkook, but he needs to stay positive. The bed will feel softer the harder you work, Jimin. 

After pouring the Sprites, he sets them carefully down on a tray and hurries off to the woman. She gives him a polite and patient grin, and Jimin is thankful he bumped into her and not some cranky old man who might report him to his boss for threatening straight couples or some other bullshit. 

"I'll follow you." Jimin chimes, eyeing the amount on the counter. "Um, excuse me ma'am. You paid double the normal price-"

"It's fine." The woman waves him off, heading off into the packed crowd. I don't deserve that much of a tip for slamming into her earlier...I'll give it to Soobin instead. Jimin frowns but follows her nonetheless. He holds the tray of sodas and ice creams carefully into his chest like a new mother might protect her child. In Radon, flailing arms and sporadic movements aren't a rare commodity as the night gets old--and Jimin has already had too many collisions to count on his fingers. 

It would be horrible if he managed to drop his tray or break a glass tonight, on this horribly crowded evening. Then he would have to stop everything he was doing, tell all the unpredictable drunkards to stay back, and no! don't go by that glass, sir! oh, you idiot! now there is blood everywhere-

"I'm sitting in the back, right over here." The woman leads Jimin to a booth tucked away from the busier areas, by the softer blue neon signs. "It's a bit roomier back here--less congested."

"Yes." Jimin agrees, glad that she isn't the type to complain to his boss. He prefers it back here too, in the dimly lit and slightly less rowdy section where the late night stragglers tend to hide out. It's the tucked away corner for the milder adults, for those who want the privacy of a booth yet still enjoy the various neon signs lining the walls. The woman points to the booth closest to the side exit, where a man--presumably her husband--is sitting. "It's cooler back here too! I hope your Melona bars haven't melted, this heat wave truly is horrible."

Jimin places the drinks one by one on some colorful coasters, setting the Melona bars next to them. The woman's husband doesn't look up, but Jimin doesn't blame him. This is a pretty shitty place for a date night, I'd be more interested in looking at my phone than the weird kids who start their own karaoke nights on a whim. 

"Thank you so much!" The woman slides into the booth and sits down, smiling warmly at Jimin. "And sorry I bumped into you before-"

"Oh please, I was the one that bumped into you! I'm sorry about that--hope my elbow didn't hurt you too bad?" Jimin places down a wad of napkins on the table. Somewhere in the bar, a chair gets tipped over, clattering against the deep blue flooring. It's owner must have fallen with it, because Jimin hears a burst of raucous laughter followed by the painful groan of the injured. Before the woman can answer about her state, Jimin gives her an apologetic look. "Excuse me, I have to attend to that. Enjoy your ice cream!"

Jimin gives a fleeting smile before grimacing at the scene by the bar. A young man who hardly looks of drinking age is tipped on his side in a barstool, hands cradling his head. The other men around him are cawing in laughter, pointing at their floored friend and not stooping an inch to help him up. Sighing in disbelief at their idiotic and unempathetic antics, Jimin bends down to help the man up.

"Are you all right?" Jimin gently helps the man to a seated position, then to a stand. The man reeks of alcohol, dazed expression telling Jimin that he definitely hit his head way too hard. His friends have stopped laughing now, but they gaze on in mockery, probably shunning Jimin's kind act as the weak side effect of his homosexuality. "Can you tell me how many fingers I'm holding up?"

"Mmm...?" The man blinks at Jimin's hand, eyes slowly gaining focus. "T-three? Yessss, three."

Jimin sighs, releasing his hold on the man's side. "Okay, good. Maybe you should hold off on more drinks for a while, huh? Need some ice for your head?"

"Mmmm...noo...I'm...good." The man definitely isn't good, wavering on his feet like a swaying hula dancer, but Jimin doesn't have time to make sure he's at his best. In one swift motion, Jimin pulls up the barstool with his foot and rights it. He points to the seat.

"Here, sit back down. And don't rock the seat. I'll get you some ice."

Jimin runs off to get the man his frozen compress, taking some orders and running other ones out in the process. When he finally bags some ice and gets back to said barstool, the man and his friends are gone. In his place is a man dressed in a light black button up, one that Jimin recognizes instantly by the way he leans back in the barstool confidently. The man that shouldn't be here, not with all this hullaballoo happening around him.

"Well if it isn't Park Jimin. You look flushed today." The man pauses. "It's really hot in here."

Jimin sighs, running a hand through his sweaty hair. "What can I get for you, Jinyoung? I'm kinda busy right now."

Jinyoung laughs, reaching his hand across the bar counter towards Jimin. "I wanted to talk to you, but it seems tonight's not a good night. It's so busy in here."

"Yes." Jimin ignores Jinyoung's reach out to him. He needs to make some drinks and get them out fast. He doesn't have the time to try and woo Jinyoung with his smiles and listening ears. "It's hot. And I'm working. I'm sorry I can't talk now."

"When's your break?" Jinyoung spouts, hesitantly bringing his hand back into his lap. Jimin dares to check the clock. Normally, he would've had a break by now, but with the full-house he hasn't sat down in seven hours. 

"I...don't know." Jimin tells the truth, pouring three shots of vodka and some pineapple juice into a large glass full of ice. Jinyoung deflates, his lips pulling into disappointment. "I seriously don't know Jinyoung. I'm sorry...it's just really busy tonight. Didn't I tell you my new work hours?"

"Yeah...I know." Jinyoung shifts around on the barstool, sipping at some red fruity drink he must've ordered. "You told me. I just haven't seen you in a while. I can't stay 'til closing, I have to work early tomorrow...so I guess I won't see you tonight..."

Jimin glances up from the drink he's making to see Jinyoung's drawn brows and pouted half-frown. Jimin feels a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his neck and he swipes it with a hand. Ugh...why does he make me feel so bad? I have to tell him the truth one of these times...but not tonight. I'm too stressed right now, don't need any more of that stress stuff on my platter.

"How about I walk you out to your car on my break?" Jimin's guilt complex eases more as Jinyoung perks up. "I'll try to get off in the next thirty minutes or so...can you stay for that long?"

"Yes!" Jinyoung downs the rest of his drink, triumphantly setting his glass down on the counter. "I'll be waiting."

Jimin nods, rushing off to make more drinks. And you always will be waiting, Jinyoung.

.

"Pluto Booto, do you copy?"

"Yes, I do. I copy notes, copy answers, and copy cheat codes down on paper so that I can beat everyone else around me."

"Don't know what that has to do with anything." Melonaju hops into the main chamber of the  spacecraft of level 37, trying to figure out where the spacesuits are. His character bounds high with the low gravity of the moon, and although that would normally seem like a very cool perk of space travel, his character keeps hitting his head on the ceiling. 

"But alright! I'm down with that response! Have you found any space suits yet? I don't know how we're supposed to fight with those aliens out there if we don't have space suits. Did you know? When you go out in space without a space suit, your blood starts to boil at the same time your body experiences lethal hypothermia, and the whole body bloats up like a rotten balloon, and most organ systems shut down automatically, a matter of seconds! while the sun's harmful rays make the skin bubble-"

"Wow! Tell me more!" Pluto's disgusted sarcasm drips through his headphones. Jimin laughs, opening more vague white containers of the space shuttle. Nothing comes out except for freeze dried packages of food and various knick knacks. At one point, a small figurine of Mickey Mouse floats out into the vessel's air. Jimin grabs at it, admiring the detail of Perilation's graphics. This is so cool!

"Hey, I found a Mickey Mouse thingy! This is something you wanna see, Kook!" Jimin bounds down the corridor of the ship towards Pluto. In the game, he holds out the toy to Pluto97, who takes it out of Melonaju's outstretched hand. Jungkook studies the object and tuts here and there about some shading/lighting/graphic lingo that Jimin doesn't understand. "Wait...isn't Pluto the name of Mickey's dog! Oh my gosh! Do you think the game did that on purpose!"

"Hahaha...if they did, then fuck them. But in a good way! This is a cute addition to the game. Just like you, Melonboy!" Jimin giggles at the words, tapping his knees together outside of the headset. The sponge chucks the miniature Mickey figure across the spaceship, and both watch as it drifts lazily through the air. "But I don't understand how you just talk about the human body bloating in space one second and then the next second you're fawning over some Mickey doll-"

.

♥ the aliens are coming. ♥

♥  SUIT UP NOW. ♥ 

.

"Pffftt, alien shmalien. If we need to, we can just scare them away, or you can talk to them in alien tongue! Tell them how laaame Earth is so they don't invade it."

Pluto slaps his knee in the game, chuckling in Jimin's ear. "Wow, you're really lax today, Melonsweetie. I think I'm starting to rub off on you."

"Naaaahhhh, not at allllll. What makes you think that?" Jimin does a perfect impression of Jungkook's voice as Melonaju gesticulates in weird motions just like the sponge does. "I'm a Busan Warrior, and these aliens aren't getting us on my watch. Not in this town. Nada yada--shit, what else did you say? Oh yeah! Ahem--zip, zilch, zero chance of them gettin' us-"

.

♥  PROBABILITY OF ALIENS GETTING YOU ♥ 

♥  100 % ♥ 

♥  :) ♥

♥  better Su1T Up!!!!!! ♥ 

♥  OR diE! ♥

.

"Well, that just shows how helpful I am, in any case...and I wasn't even the one talking!" Jungkook snorts in his headset, and the sound makes Jimin smile. Ever since they confessed that they like each other, it's as if a huge weight is off of them both. Now they get through the levels in record time, giggling about dumb jokes and how they're the undefeated Busan Warriors, ready to 'smash the fucking levels to pieces.' 

Perilation tries time and time again to get under their skin, to make things scary--but it only rarely works. With Jungkook speaking in his ear, stuff that is scary suddenly becomes laughable.

"Oh, opps, hang on. Wait a sec. Can we pause the level? My connection is bad, I'm getting a message on my screen that a cord isn't plugged in...shit...how am I supposed to fix it if I can't take off the headset?"  The sponge touches his head a few times in the game, tapping his temples. Jimin figures Jungkook must be adjusting the headset in real life. "HEY MOOOOOMMMM! MOOOOM! Yeah, I need you."

Jimin hears the intonation of a soft female voice entering the room, but can't make out any words.

"Since I can't take the headset off could you pretty please fix the HDMI cable on the-"

The mic cuts. 

Jimin fumes, opening his mouth before he can help himself. "JEON JUNGKOOK TURN YOUR MIC ON! Let me say hi to your mom! JUNGKOOK!!! If you like me, then you should probably turn on your mic! You should probably stop being a little brat AND LET MELONHEART INTO YOUR HEART!"

The sponge stands in place, wavering around. Outside of the space ship, Jimin can hear distance warbles of approaching aliens, and the deep strings of the daunting cello music pluck louder. Jimin starts pushing Pluto in the game, angry that Jungkook feels the need to cut his mic around his mom. He does it in their video calls too whenever she comes in! Plus, he still won't show his face. He just shows his paint-splattered desk and his hands. Not that I'm complaining about his hands...they're very attractive-

"JEON JUNGKOOK!!! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR MEEEE! I KNOW YOU CAN! LET GO OF YOUR LITTLE WALL BLOCKADE SEPARATING ME AND YOUR LOVELY MOTHER SO I CAN SAY HI TO HER! YOU ALREADY SAID HI TO HOSEOK, THIS IS SO UNFAIR!!! YOU STINKY LITTLE BRAT, I'M NOT GOING TO VIDEO CALL YOU LATER IF YOU DON'T TURN ON YOUR-"

("Ooooh I like him.") The sound suddenly comes back alive in his ears, and Jimin smiles as he hears footsteps receding. Did Jungkook's mom just say that? About me?

"Hello? Jung-"

"YOU JUST COULDN'T SHUT UP AND BE PATIENT FOR TWO SECONDS COULD YOU!" Jungkook tries to sound angry, but it comes out more of an embarrassed whine. "WITH THIS STUPID NEW TV MY MOM HEARD EVERYTHING YOU SAID, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, MELONSCREAMER? UUUGGHHH..."

"Haha! Oh no! Now Mrs. Jeon will hate me! I was being so rude-"

"She's not Mrs. Jeon anymore. My parents are divorced." Jungkook says quietly. However, he is quick to dispel the seriousness of his statement. "Also, no, she doesn't hate you. I think she likes you more than she likes me..."

Pluto starts fake crying into the mic. Jimin rolls his eyes, crossing his arms in the game. The sounds of the aliens grow louder all around them, but he ignores each warbled, futuristic shrill of noise. "She doesn't even know me! She can't like me based on some rant I just gave-"

"I may have kinda maybe totally partially told her about you a lot on some days." Jungkook laughs nervously.

"O-oh...my..." Jimin feels the butterflies in his stomach flitting about his guts in honor. His face heats up a solid ten degrees, and his hands fly up to his burning cheeks to cool them. Jungkook talks about me to his mother? 

"I...how much does she know...?"

Jungkook coughs, and the sponge turns the other way. Jimin steps forward, trying to get on the other side of the sponge that keeps avoiding him. Pluto spins in wide circles, trying to block Melonaju from seeing his face. "Yeah um...maybe uh, kinda...well, you see..."

"Tell me."

The sponge stops."Everything. She knows everything." 

"Oh." Jimin doesn't know what he finds more endearing. The fact that Jungkook is a total Mama's Boy and tells his mother everything like a giddy high school gossiper? Or the fact that the topic they speak about is him, Park Jimin--some random bartender in the middle of Seoul? "I...feel strangely honored? I, uh, hope you say good things about me..."

I have no doubt you do, Jungkook. Jimin grins.

"Don't worry! I only tell her the bestest parts about you. You don't mind that I've showed her what you look like, right? I have all these screenshots from our video calls-"

.

♥  THE ALIENS ARE COMING! ♥

.

Sirens wail in their ears, but Jimin doesn't miss the stray that's what he said out of Pluto before the lights in the space shuttle cabin start to flicker.

"Wow. Lame joke. I just thought of something, though."

"What?"

"Why do we always have conversations inside the level? We should really wait until after we beat it. Wouldn't that make more sense?"

"Naaahh. I'd rather talk to you than deal with these alien headasses."

"Yeaaahhh, me too. Also, before I was joking about that threat of not video calling you later tonight--I totally will! I don't have much time before my shift, but I can fit a video call with you into my schedule!" Jimin gleefully twists his indigo crop top between his fingers.

"Aw, I'm the one who feels honored now...but what should I draw you tonight?"

Jimin pauses to think. "Whatever these dumbass aliens end up looking like. Oh! And put Mickey Mouse in the corner...and maybe Pluto the dog too!"

"Anything for you, Melonheart."

Jimin blushes right as the lights above them explode, the aliens invading the space craft with bloodcurdling shrieks. 

.

Two nights later, Jinyoung is back at Radon. But this time, he's not there to sigh and get upset at Jimin's inability to speak to him. This time, Jinyoung is in it to win it, bolstering his confidence with one too many shots of soju and a purposely half-buttoned up shirt.

Jimin sees right through it.

"It's too hot outside. I don't want to go out with you on my break. I'd rather just stay in the employee's room." I should have shut this guy down years ago. But I'd rather just ghost Jinyoung and spend my time video calling Jungkook than deal with this one's sorry ass...ughhhh why am I so mean...

"Pleeeaase come outside! I have a business trip tomorrow and I won't be able to see you for days..." Jinyoung leans over the bar, resting his buzzed head in his cupped hands. Jimin can't deny Jinyoung's good looks, but they won't change his feelings for the law intern. "Think of it as a mini goodbye? For me?"

Well, I am a meanie. The least I can do is go out and chat with him on my break to make him feel better. "Fine. I'm taking my break in fifteen--be prepared to see me all sweaty and nasty because I'm already burning up in here. It's only going to get worse outside."

Jinyoung gives him a smirk. "You're sexy when you're all sweaty."

Jimin cringes--he can basically hear Hoseok going oooohhh in his mind right now. "Don't make me change my mind."

As he walks to the other end of the bar, he notices the feeling of someone staring at him. Just as he's about to glance up, Yeonjun calls out not it and subtly points to a woman standing on the end of the bar. Jimin strides to the woman, who he's nicknamed Sprite Lady in his mind ever since he smacked into her. Jimin raises his cheeks in a pleasant smile.

"Hello! The same thing tonight?" Jimin is good with memorizing orders from so much practice--he's a master when it comes to putting drinks to people's faces. Radon gets its troubled bout of regulars--Jinyoung's included among the bunch--who have a tendency to stick to the safety of a few drinks. It makes it easy for Jimin to memorize them. "The two Melona bars--one mango, one banana...with the two Sprites, extra ice in one of the glasses?"

"Yes!" The woman gives him an awed look. "You catch on fast."

"Not really...hey, this one's on the house tonight. It's the least I can do for slamming into you the other day." Jimin walks over to the mini freezer. Tonight, Radon is still as bustling as ever, but not as horrible as it was the first day of June, when Jimin had crashed into this woman and later had to stop a bar fight from breaking out among two buff dudes.

This pansy can't stop us! The large youngster had shouted, shoving Jimin's hands off of him. I'm going to win this fucking fight and I won't have no staff gettin' in my way!

Jimin ended up putting the man in a headlock he learned in bartender's self-defense training, preventing the guy from attacking the other guy Soobin was holding. Other bar-goers looked at him in fascination, cheering as Jimin calmly walked the burly man towards the door and ejected him outside with a don't come back in here unless you want me to call the fucking cops. Goodnight!

"That's so kind of you! By the way..." The woman starts when Jimin walks towards the booths near the side entrance. He already can see where this woman is sitting by the presence of the busy husband, always buried in some kind of work, scribbling stuff down on paper. How can that guy see in the dim lighting back here? "...I love your nail polish color."

Jimin sets the tray down on the table, unloading the Sprites and Melona bars. "Aww thank you! I like your nail color too, I've always wanted to try pastels. That green reminds me of the lime Melona bars, if I'm being honest. It's pretty."

The sweet woman sits down across from her counterpart, who still hasn't lifted his head. I guess he's not a people person. "Oh really? I thought the color was a little too vibrant for me."

"No, not at all...I think it adds a nice pop of color to your outfit." Jimin wishes he could just stand here and talk about nail polish with this woman for the rest of his shift. It's easy talk--and quite refreshing. No bar fights to worry about back here, and no Jinyoung in this corner. "Well, it was nice talking to you-"

"Thanks for paying for the order. You really didn't have to do that." At this, her counterpart's head jerks to the side, and Jimin thinks for a moment the man with the dark hat is going to look up. He doesn't.

"Yes I did, and-" Jimin leans forward, cupping his hand around the side of his mouth in a secretive fashion. "Whenever you come to Radon, feel free to come and find me--the guy with purple hair, for a discount! Well, hah, I'm not really supposed to give 'em out, but I think the sodas are way overpriced."

The woman laughs heartily at the surreptitious behavior and nods. Jimin gives her a friendly wink before turning around to get back to work.

"Wait-"Jimin spins around at the voice. The woman is looking at him with an eyebrow popped. "What's your name? In case I need to ask for you--to get the discount."

"Haha!" Jimin extends a friendly hand. "I'm Jimin. And you are?"

"Eunmi." The woman shakes his hand firmly, Jimin's nail polish glimmering next to hers. "Nice to meet you, Jimin."

Jimin smiles at the nice woman named Eunmi, nodding his head in respect at the awfully quiet husband next to her.

"Jimin!" Jinyoung's voice can be slightly heard over the banter of Radon, and Jimin internally groans. He turns around in haste--Jinyoung's voice tonight makes him more on edge than ever--and accidentally catches the edge of an object sticking out of the booth.

"Woah!" Jimin stumbles forward, barely catching himself before he can faceplant into the ground. He grabs onto the neighboring booth stand to right himself. Next to him, the object he tripped over clatters loudly onto the floor. He feels his face heat up in embarrassment at his clumsiness, and he rushes to set the object back to where it was. "Oh gosh--I'm so sorry-"

"It's okay." Eunmi grabs the folded wheelchair from Jimin's grasp, propping it back in its place on the seat. Jimin facepalms, averting his gaze from the table. When he brings his eyes back to the woman adjusting her husband's wheelchair, he realizes that the man has looked up. Jimin stares at the person.That's not what I was expecting.

"Jimin!" Jinyoung's voice, a little louder this time, yells drunkenly from the bar. Jimin blinks at the wide, curious brown eyes staring up at him that belong to a smooth, youthful face under the black bucket hat. So it wasn't her husband. This guy is young--probably younger than me.

"Are you...okay?" Jimin doesn't know why he's asking the young man this vague question...but the guy seems awfully pale now, his face drawn in mortification. Eunmi quickly lays her hand across the boy's hands, staring at him across the table in worry. Jimin waits for an answer but doesn't receive one--the boy can only gape at him wordlessly. Why is he looking at me like that? He looks like he's going to throw up. Is he ill? That might explain the wheelchair. "Do you need some water? Maybe some fresh air? You look like you're going to faint-"

"He's alright." Eunmi cuts in, and the boy's chin drops to his chest, obscuring Jimin's view of his spooked face. "Don't worry, he's just shy."

"Oh." Jimin laughs awkwardly, staring at the top of the boy's bucket hat. He doesn't believe the words. Does shyness make someone's face blanche to the pallor of a sheet of paper? No. Fear does--Perilation has taught him that much. "Anyway, sorry for tripping over your wheelchair! Have a good night!" 

Jimin speeds off feeling a little dizzy, trying to place the boy's deer in the headlights look. Do I have something in my teeth? Or...maybe he's a mute--antisocial? Why would Eunmi bring him to a crowded bar if that was the case?

As he races towards Jinyoung's form at the bar, Jimin peeks over his shoulder at the booth. The boy is now saying something to Eunmi, sulkily shaking his barely lifted head. Jimin watches as the woman stares down at the Melona bars and sighs. By the time Jimin makes it to the bar, Eunmi is pulling out the wheelchair, unfolding it next to the boy's seat. Very briefly, Jimin thinks he catches the boy's gaze, but in the dark lighting of the side booths, he isn't sure. Are they leaving? So soon?

"You're here! It's almost been fifteen minutes!" Jinyoung cheers, catching Jimin's arm as he walks by. "Quick punch out for your break and then let's go!"

Jimin checks the clock. Has he really been over there for almost fifteen minutes? No way. "Jinyoung, it's only been five minutes."

"Eh, who caaaress." The alcohol is strong on Jinyoung's breath, wafting over Jimin's face in a puff. Jimin's eyes fall to Jinyoung's toned chest peeking out behind his unbuttoned shirt, and he draws his gaze away. "My Uber is going to be here in five minutes! I need to say goodbye to you before my trip!!"

"Fine. Fine!" Jimin unleashes himself from Jinyoung's grip on his arm. He sidles around the edge of the bar, grabbing some napkins to wipe the sweat off his brow. "Hey, Yeonjun? I'm taking my break now."

"Sure." Yeonjun doesn't look up from the citrus cocktail that he's making. "See ya back soon."

"Yay!" Jinyoung smiles brightly at him, tugging on his arm when he removes his apron. "Let's goo!"

Jimin's feet stutter tiredly to keep up with Jinyoung's fast-paced steps. His heart is totally not in this--into talking for a drunk Jinyoung until his ride comes to pick him up, but he tries to tell himself it'll be over soon. Jinyoung is going away for some law trip! This will be a most relieving goodbye. When Jinyoung comes back from his trip, Jimin will break it to the law intern that he doesn't like him in that way and finally end this. Sounds good. Just get this stupid goodbye over with.

Before Jimin knows it, he's being pulled out the side entrance door, the heat smacking him in the face like the monkey in the circus level. He groans, releasing himself from Jinyoung's arm and rapidly fanning his face. My makeup is going to get all cakey in this weather!

"So..." Jinyoung giggles like a little girl, walking up to him. A car honk interrupts them, and Jimin turns to see a blue designated driver car pull up alongside the curb. "Damn it! You were supposed to come-" Jinyoung checks his watch. "Ohh...wait...I must've seen the time wrong...it's here on time. Damn it!"

Jimin cheers on the inside, throwing up have fun on your shitty trip confetti in his mental mind party. "Oh. Shoot. Well, this is goodbye then." Jimin holds out an extreme friend-zonish fist for an awkward see ya fist bump. Jinyoung stares down at it. He looks up. And laughs.

"Woahhh, no no no...that's not a goodbye." Jinyoung steps up to Jimin, arms wrapping around the petite purple-haired man before Jimin knows what's happening. "This is how you say goodbye."

Jinyoung leans in, connecting their lips in a deep kiss. His large palm holds Jimin's head in place, attacking his lips in a drunken fervor. No,stop! We're in public, stop!! 

Alarms go off in Jimin's mind and he tries to push Jinyoung away. I'm not even kissing him back!Why isn't he stopping! Jimin wiggles his arm against Jinyoung's chest but the other is way stronger than him. Jinyoung groans against his lips as if saying--I'm not gonna leave until you kiss me back.

Fine...this is the last fucking time! Jimin relaxes his mind, picturing Pluto as the one he's kissing to make it easier for him to get it over with. Well, not the sponge, Pluto--but the person. Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook. The one he has yet to meet. The one with the baby's butt face, who wears all black, who has brown hair and is a Mama's Boy and doesn't like to drink alcohol-

"Wait." Jimin pushes Jinyoung off of him. His eyes widen in a theory, and he races back into Radon, ignoring the confused cries that leave Jinyoung's lips. Jimin doesn't know what he's doing running back to Eunmi's booth, but something feels off in his mind. Why would he stare at me like that?

The booth is empty. "Damn it...but they j-just left, maybe I could...check the parking lot--oh? What's this?"

Jimin spots a stack of white papers at the far corner of the booth, right where the boy with the large bucket hat was sitting. Jimin dives across the table, reaching far back into the corner to retrieve the stack. He starts to page through the stack of...drawings? That boy must have forgot-

Jimin's breath hitches in his throat. He feels his heart drop into his stomach, feels the world closing in on him, feels a smile burst across his face and his knees buckle. He plops down harshly into the booth, laying each individual drawing out. Soon, tiny tears form in his eyes.

They are all drawings of him. All various shots of Jimin around the bar, from his vibrant purple hair to the his varying expressions when doing different things. One drawing is of Jimin behind the bar, smiling bashfully down at his nails. Little yellow colored-pencil hearts float around Jimin's head like sunny butterflies. 

In another drawing, Jimin is angry--breaking up a fight between two guys who are cowering in fright. Jimin laughs at the one that depicts him crashing into Eunmi, his elbow poking into the woman's shoulder. One even shows Jimin standing next to the booth that he's seated in now, smiling brightly and handing Melona bars to Eunmi and another figure with a scribbled out face. Jimin frowns at this one, wiping numbly at the tears that are falling down his face. On the final page is a creepy drawing of a sponge next to Melonaju, yellow and purple hearts surrounding the two bodies. Above the two figures is a line of Morse Code that simply reads .... .. (HI).

"P-p-plu-pl..." Jimin is sniffing up a storm, staring at the detailed drawings with clouded eyes. Then, an idea pops into his head. If Jungkook just left minutes ago--out the side entrance- "He could still be in the parking lot!"

Jimin doesn't think twice before sprinting from the bar into the heat, the drawings fluttering in his hand. Thankfully, Jinyoung is no longer there and neither is the Uber. Jimin's teary eyes rake around the parking lot--scanning for Eunmi and her son wearing all black...and...the wheelchair. Look for someone in a wheelchair. In a wheelchair...in a wheelchair...Jungkook...in a wheelchair...oh God...

Then, he sees something that makes him raise his droopy chin. A reddish car pulls out of a spot in the distance, and Jimin swears he sees a lady that looks similar to Eunmi in the driver's seat. Jimin doesn't know what he's doing, but he starts running--waving his arms around frantically like a lunatic. He needs to see that boy again--needs to hear his voice--needs to say hello to Pluto97! That was...Jungkook?

A barreling car honks at him, and Jimin jumps out of the way of the angry beige sedan before it nearly hits him. He cries out, tripping over the curb, and falling onto his knees on the harsh cement. Jungkook's drawings fly from his hand, papers floating this direction and that. He gasps as they leave his fingers, spreading out like they'd been through a tornado.

"No, no!!" Jimin dives for each of them, hurrying to gather them up on his hands and knees. As he frantically scrapes around for the sheets, a horrifying thought hits him. Wait...if Jungkook left out of the side entrance...right when I was with Jinyoung...

"No please no. No, don't--he didn't s-see...he c-couldn't have...he k-knows I don't...like Jinyoung...like t-that..." Jimin collects the final paper in his hands, dread washing over him. When he finally raises his gaze from the ground, the red car passes him by. Time seems to stop, freezing in place like an unfortunate ice cube before it finally succumbs to the cold.

There, in the passenger seat window, stares those same brown eyes from before. Jimin stands up hurriedly off the ground, not caring if he looks like a complete snotty, crying wreck as he reaches his arm out towards the boy. He's reaching out for Jungkook, reaching out in hello, in apology, in gratefulness...in shock, disbelief, and regret. He's reaching out for Jungkook.

"JUNGKOOK?" Jimin screams at the boy through the car window, who has a deeply pained expression on his face. Jimin's heart drops in realization as Jungkook's eyebrows pinch in confused sadness. The red car speeds up, moving away from Jimin's spot in the parking lot. "JUNGKOOK!"

The boy only blinks at Jimin through the car window, dropping his hurt gaze to his hands as the car drives away.

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