A/N

Surprise update<3

Chapter 4

●●●

The day of his birthday came a lot quicker than anticipated, although it did have a pretty nice start. Jimin flopping onto him, wrapping his arms and legs around him and holding him in place, just to sing a very off key version of happy birthday, admittedly more screeching it than anything else.

"Happy birthday, my baby. Finally an adult now, huh?" Jimin teased, pecking Taehyung's cheek.

"You're like two months older than me. Don't act like you're all mature." Taehyung pushed Jimin off before sitting up in bed and stretching his arms.

Jimin climbed out of bed, rummaging through his backpack and pulling a small package out. "Now I can finally give this to you." He stood up and climbed back onto the bed where he sat down cross-legged. "Your present." He pushed it into Taehyung's direction.

"I told you not to get me anything." Taehyung complained, but his hands were quickly working the wrapping paper. He didn't tear it, instead carefully opening it around the edges.

"But I wanted to and you have been staring at this for months..." Jimin stated, watching as Taehyung's eyes widened. "You didn't."

The older grinned widely. "What if I did?"

Taehyung stared at the small box with Chanel written on it. Very careful not to break something he opened the box, letting out a high pitched screech. He'd seen enough of these unboxing videos to know what was inside.

Jimin quickly covered his ears with his hands, laughing.

"I fucking hate you. You can't just... Holy shit!" Taehyung exclaimed before tackling Jimin in a hug. "You're the best friend anyone could have."

Jimin patted his back, still laughing. "I'm guessing you like my present."

"It's the best... you're the best. I'm gonna cry." Taehyung exclaimed, sitting back up and carefully opening the second box that was inside the bigger box. Jimin had gotten him sunglasses. The ones Taehyung had silently been longing for for months, although maybe not all that silently.

Jimin patted his back, hugging him tightly. "It's your eighteenth birthday. I had to get you something special."

"You're seriously the best." Taehyung wept, returning the hug.

Jimin grinned cheekily. "I know I am."

The day passed quite quickly. His mother had bought him some cake and they stuffed their stomachs with it for breakfast to the point where they felt like throwing up. After that they watched some movies, played games and went out to the garden for a bit.

Around five pm Mina showed up, congratulating Taehyung and handing him some chocolate and a birthday card. Admittedly things got a bit awkward. Jimin and Mina didn't really have a dislike against each other per say. They just really didn't like each other either. Mina because Taehyung seemed to be more keen on spending time with his best friend instead of her most of the time, while Jimin didn't like her because she took away his best friend's time from him.

They did treat each other politely, but that was about as friendly as it got. By six pm Jimin said goodbye, reminding Taehyung once again that he'd have to tell Jimin everything that happened. Taehyung promised it, hugging his friend before watching him walk off. Jimin turned around one last time, holding up his thumbs and mouthing. "You got this!"

A warm smile spread over Taehyung's lips. Jimin was right. He got this. He'd be honest and it was going to work.

"Mina..." They were lying on the bed, making out. Mina lying underneath him, her hands on his chest while Taehyung had one placed on her waist while supporting himself with the other.

"Yeah?" She was a bit breathless, looking up at him with brown pretty eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Taehyung gathered his courage while hesitantly rubbing her side. "I have to show you something... and please don't freak out. You know I'd never hurt you ever."

Mina furrowed her brows. "What are you talking about? Why would I freak out?"

"I..." Taehyung made a pained face. He slipped off of her, lying down on his side next to her. He didn't want to make her feel caged in. "Just watch. And please listen before you draw any conclusions."

Very slowly the slit that was located on his back opened, tentacles pushing past it, gladly using their chance to roam around freely. They took a bit to move out from underneath his t-shirt but when they did and Mina spotted them her eyes widened in horror.

She scrambled out of bed, pressing herself against the wall of the room, shaking her head in disbelieve. Taehyung sat up hesitantly, but couldn't get up. He didn't want to scare her even further. The image of the fear in her eyes seemed to burn right into Taehyung's soul.

"Mina, I really won't hurt you." He promised, slowly skidding toward the edge of the bed to get up but freezing when Mina's shrill voice cut through the room.

"Stay away from me."

His tentacles wrapped around his own arms and stomach like they were trying to find comfort hiding away, but Mina didn't stop looking at them like they were going to suddenly dash at her. "Don't come closer." She whimpered, pressing even harder against the wall.

Taehyung could feel tears gather in his eyes, but he forced himself to swallow them down again, looking up at the ceiling and blinking. His voice came out a bit shaky when he talked again. "I won't try anything... you can leave." He nodded into the direction of the door.

Mina scanned over him for a couple of seconds, suspicion glinting in her eyes, before quickly grabbing her bag, sprinting towards the door and storming out of the room.

Taehyung simply sat there for a couple of minutes, his tentacles brushing over his arms and neck almost like they wanted to comfort him. Tears made their way towards his eyes again. Maybe they were right. Maybe that part of him was disgusting. Who'd want these? He looked down at his arm where one tentacle wrapped itself around it.

The worst part about it was that no matter how much he hated them he couldn't really get himself to hate them. They were part of him. He knew they didn't want anything bad. So why couldn't anyone else see that?

Taehyung
Mina ran out on me

Taehyung
I think she just broke up with me

Jimin
What the hell?

Jimin
Why would she do that?

Jimin
I'll beat her up when I see her again

Jimin
No one hurts my baby

Taehyung
Don't

Taehyung
I can't force her to like me

Jimin
She could have been nicer about it

Jimin
Why the hell even?

Taehyung
I don't want to talk about it

Jimin
Did you already...?

Jimin
Is that why she left?

Taehyung
No

Taehyung
We didn't do anything

Jimin
Should I come over?

Taehyung
I don't know

Taehyung
It's late

Jimin
Who fucking cares

Jimin
I'll be there in ten minutes

Jimin
And I'll bring ice cream

Jimin
Lots of ice cream

Taehyung
Thanks

"There you go baby." Jimin said softly, stuffing a big scoop of ice cream into Taehyung's mouth, who was still a bit teary eyed, but Jimin's presence was the best comfort he could wish for.

Taehyung sniffed, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "Thanks."

"That's what friends are here for." Jimin hushed, patting Taehyung's leg before scooping more ice cream up and feeding Taehyung. "Aaaah." Jimin opened his mouth, gesturing for Tae to mimic what he was doing

Taehyung rolled his eyes but nevertheless opened up.

"Good boy." Jimin teased, putting the ice cream container to the side. "Let's watch a movie. How about a Pixar movie? Maybe Coco?"

"You really like seeing me cry, don't you?" Taehyung chuckled, wiping his eyes taking a deep breath. "But sure, let's watch Coco."

They cuddled up on the sofa like they'd had so many times growing up. Jimin was soothingly stroking Taehyung's hair. Taehyung fell asleep like that, feeling at home. After all, Jimin was the one single thing Taehyung couldn't afford to lose. The one thing that kept him sane in all of this struggle of who he was and was supposed to be.

A/N

Changed the update schedual again to every monday and friday. Hope there are no objections<3