Jungkook couldn't get himself to bargain with his emotions, but he was ensuing himself in danger of awkwardness if he didn't respond to Jimin right now. It was the next day, evening to be exact. He typed the text on his phone.

Come home? Let's watch a movie.

Jimin was eagerly waiting for a text or call from Jungkook so it was obvious he opened the notification within two seconds.

You want me to come to your home?

Why not? I come to your place all the time. I stayed there too. Can't you come today?

Jimin understood that perhaps Jungkook wasn't feeling as unrestrained with him as before so he smiled. His heart was hammering too, but he put on a strong face for the younger whom he knew must be going through a lot more.

I will be there in two hours?

Can you come now? I have asked my mom to make food. We can have dinner together.

Jimin had to keep his phone under the pillow and take a walk around to prevent himself from writing dinner with your parents on the first date, but he knew he couldn't right now, not until he has heard Jungkook's response first. For all he knew, Jungkook would respectfully deny him.

Ok...will be there in fifteen.

Hurling his phone over the bed, breathing deeply, Jimin ran inside his closet space to find something that Jungkook's parents' would approve of. One year ago, when he met the Jeon family in the principal's office, he'd assumed the worst, at least lifetime of hatred towards him from the senior Jeons', but the adults were more mature than he thought.

He chose a blue button-up shirt with black fit-trousers and black shoes like an office-going employee. Such attires rested in his wardrobe to be ignored unless there was any school event, like the quiz competition, or the interviews that he's had to face as the best performing student.

His mother's jaw dropped as he stepped down from the stairs and she couldn't stop herself from sauntering towards him. "You look like a big boy," she apprised, her eyes resonating with the pride she was feeling.

"I am a big boy, mother."

"Wait!" Just as Jimin turned around, Mrs. Park stopped him. Jimin halted and turned to see the woman ambling towards the cabinet. She returned with a box in her hand. "Give this to Jungkook. I made it, but he didn't come over today."

"H-how do you know I am going to Jungkook?" Jimin suddenly stuttered. The cold glint that was always there in his eyes melted and the innocence of a child in front of his mother replaced it.

Mrs. Park smiled. "I approve of it." She nodded and walked back inside.

Jimin felt like an interloper on familiar ground. Mrs. Park wasn't a woman to show affection, or say anything supportive or intimate to him. But she had changed because of Jungkook. He knew the younger boy was adorable and no one could resist cooing at him, but he never assumed that his mother would treat him the same way as Jungkook, which was ironic.

**

"Excited for results?" Mr. Jeon asked and Jimin looked up at the cheerful man smiling with his family over the dinner table. His eyes averted at Jungkook who encouragingly nodded at him.

"Yes, Mr. Jeon," Jimin said politely, although he wasn't really thinking about results at all for obvious reasons.

"This isn't fair. You call my wife aunty and I am still Mr. Jeon?" The man complained, chuckling at the end and serving more noodles into Jimin's plate. Jungkook sat across, in front of Jimin with his mother beside him while Jimin sat near Mr. Jeon. Jimin kept whispering for Jungkook to come to sit with him while the table was being set, but the boy ignored it as though he didn't know him at all.

"Would you rather if I called you uncle?" The boy smiled, feeling his heart being put under the frenzy of the warmth of this perfect family. He couldn't help but dream as he kept stealing glances at the beautiful baby who had his head hung low at this moment if he would ever, though it was too soon to be thinking of this, become a part of the family too, officially.

"Definitely, and visit more often. Jungkook lost a year and it distanced him from friends, I am glad he is making friends again."

The words pulled the reaction out of Mrs. Jeon and also Jungkook. The boy didn't want anyone to know about the year he suffered so much. "Hyung, I will be in my room." He stood up suddenly and left the table. Mr. Jeon's face contorted into pain as he regretted bringing it up.

"I am done too, I will go check up on him."

Mrs. Jeon smiled to give Jimin a go-ahead who bowed before he could leave the dining hall. "Why would you say that?!" The lady yelled at her husband and the mand held the bridge of his nose.

**

Jungkook was choosing a movie to watch by clicking on the remote, sitting on the edge of the bed as Jimin walked in. The younger discerned the presence in his room and cocked his head around. "What do you want to watch?" He tried to beam a smile, but his face kept twitching in shyness.

"Can we talk first?" Jimin folded his arms over his chest, nervously breathing.

Jungkook gulped, getting up from the bed and walking towards the older boy who still stood by the door. He kept gnawing at his bottom lip and inched so close that he could feel Jimin's breath on him. Looking up, he nodded. "I like you too, Hyung."

There was a tingle in Jimin's chest and soon, it spread all over his body, causing goosebumps to erupt. He wanted to smash his lips onto Jungkook, pick him into his arms and never let go, but Jungkook's next words hit a pause on those plans. "Which movie?" He asked indifferently.

Jimin scratched the back of his head. "Kissing booth?"

"I have watched the first part," Jungkook turned around, affirming.

"Good, me too," Jimin stepped nearer to the boy, trying to hold his hand but Jungkook took off, walking towards his bed and hopping on top of it. He patted the space beside him.

Jimin joined his chin to his chest as he got on the bed. The movie started playing and soon, both of them leaned against the backboard of the bed, doting their eyes at the screen. Jungkook was scared as he has never before, scared that he'd end up spoiling everything, or even the fear of saying goodbye to Jimin spoke to him.

Jimin, on the other hand, was the happiest he has ever been. The one boy he liked more than anyone liked him back, but why was Jungkook suddenly acting out of it. They didn't speak a word, neither laughed on the comic scenes and thirty minutes passed. Jimin couldn't deal with the silence anymore. The pillow he had grabbed and put on his crotch was thrown away as he turned towards Jungkook, pulling his palm and making Jungkook lean towards himself.

"Hyung~"

"We are dating now. Deal with it."

Jimin leaned to kiss the boy's face when Jungkook gasped shakily and pulled himself away, just enough to not fall down the bed, but he slithered back to the edge of the bed.

"Hey," Jimin's eyes widened and he reached to hold Jungkook to prevent him from falling or getting hurt when the latter clumsily managed to get off the bed while breathing frantically.

Jimin realized his mistake. "Hey, hey, Jungkook." He got on his feet too immediately.

Jungkook started retreating his steps, tears in his eyes that were threatening to spill out. "I- I am so sorry," Jimin hastily got to Jungkook's side of the bed but maintained the distance between them. "I am sorry, Jungkook. I won't do anything to make you uncomfortable, I promise." He would have held the boy in arms, but he knew he wasn't to touch him right now unless given permission to.

"I am sorry," Jungkook's lip quivered.

"No," Jimin shook his head and courageously stepped closer to reach the cheeks just in time to wipe the falling tears. "Why are you crying?" He asked, leaning his head down to peek at Jungkook's face that was hung low.

Jungkook sniffled. "For acting like how I did."

Gulping, Jimin offered his hand in front of Jungkook and the boy didn't think twice before offering his own to be held into the older's palm. "It's okay," Jimin patted the palm and brought Jugkook back to bed. "In fact, I am sorry. I was being impatient with you."

Jimin successfully made Jungkook calm down and they laid side by side, holding hands and watching the movie for some time. The air wasn't thick anymore and they enjoyed the time together. "I need a bio break. Can I pause?" Jungkook asked softly.

Jimin stretched his arm to pick the remote from the bedside table and pressed the pause button right before checking the time on his phone. Jungkook saw that and he felt discouraged that Jimin perhaps wanted to leave now. "Hyung...It's our break. Can't you stay here tonight?"

Jimin chuckled softly, craning his head towards Jungkook. "I could stay...but are your parents going to be cool with it?"

"They don't have any problem," Jungkook confirmed quickly. "Please," he pouted.

"Stay."

18 Mar 2021