"You'll thank me later, just trust me."

Jungkook clenched his jaw, fingers flying across the keyboard as he furiously typed out a response. It had been a week since the train wreck of a date he’d been on, and now Taehyung was up to his old tricks again—trying to set him up with another guy. Without asking, of course.

"I’m not thanking you now, and I highly doubt I’ll be thanking you later," Jungkook shot back.

"Aww, come on. Just give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen?" Taehyung’s reply came almost instantly.

Jungkook rolled his eyes and quickly typed out a list of potential disasters. 
"1. He could be another pervert just trying to get laid. 
2. He might be a gold digger. 
3. He could be a slob who chews with his mouth open. 
4. He could turn out to be a total creep or, worse, a serial killer. 
5. Or, I don’t know, he might have some secret disorder like schizophrenia and end up murdering me in broad daylight!"

There was a pause before Taehyung responded. 
"Jeez! Okay, relax. None of that is going to happen. Trust me."

Jungkook groaned out loud, glaring at the screen. 

"That’s what you said last time. And the time before that. And... guess what? The time before that too."

"Okay, but one last time! Pleeease. Just one more shot. For me?" Taehyung's response was accompanied by a slew of puppy-eye emojis.

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed as he typed back, already regretting his decision. 

"Fine."

Before he could even blink, Taehyung’s text popped up. 
"Oh great! Here’s the address…"

An hour later, Jungkook sat at the table, fingers tapping impatiently on the wooden surface. His eyes kept darting to his watch. Thirty-five minutes late.

He let out a bitter smile, taking a sip of his wine. He should’ve added “getting stood up” to the list of potential disasters he sent Taehyung earlier.

Leaning back in his seat, he scoffed quietly, more at himself than anything else.

“Jungkookie?” came a voice, soft and familiar.

Jungkook looked up to see none other than Jimin standing by the table, a look of surprise on his face. "What are you doing here?"

Jungkook sighed, swirling his wine in the glass. “Waiting. For my date.”

“Oh.”

“Been waiting for the past half hour,” Jungkook added with a wry smile.

Jimin's eyes widened in realization. “He stood you up?”

Jungkook just smiled in response, the kind of smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“What about you? Why are you here?” Jungkook asked, trying to shift the conversation away from his pathetic situation.

“Can I sit?” Jimin asked, pointing at the chair across from him.

Jungkook made a face, raising an eyebrow. “Of course you can. Why even ask?”

Jimin slid into the seat, getting comfortable. “I had a long day. Thought I’d treat myself. Heard the food here’s pretty good, and I hadn’t tried it yet.”

Jungkook waved over the waiter, signaling for another glass of wine for Jimin. “Well, that sounds a lot more fun than what I’ve got going on.”

Jimin frowned slightly, his expression softening as he looked at Jungkook. “You okay?” he asked gently, reaching across the table to place a warm hand over Jungkook’s.

Jungkook let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m kinda used to it. I think I hold the record for the worst dates. And the one guy I’d actually love to be with doesn’t even see me like that. Guess love’s not in the cards for me.”

“Hey, that’s not true,” Jimin said, his hand squeezing Jungkook’s. “And whoever this guy is, if he can’t see how amazing you are, then he’s the one missing out. Any man would be damn lucky to have you, Jungkook.”

Jungkook scoffed, the words slipping out before he could stop them. “You’re only saying that because you don’t want me to feel bad. You’re my friend, Jimin. Of course you’d say that.”

Jimin’s face tightened in protest. “I’m not just saying it. I mean it. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

Jungkook felt something snap. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the months of frustration from bad dates piling up, but before he could think, the words flew out. “Oh really? Do you feel the same way? Because guess what, Jimin? The man I love — the same man I can’t be with — is you! So, are you really feeling lucky right now?”

The silence that followed was deafening. Jimin’s eyes went wide, his lips parting slightly as he stared at Jungkook, completely stunned.

Jungkook’s heart sank into his stomach, his pulse racing in his ears. He couldn’t believe what he’d just said.

He swallowed hard, grabbing his wine glass and downing what was left of it in one go, trying to drown the rising panic. He stood abruptly, pushing his chair back too quickly, almost knocking it over.

“I’m sorry. Just… forget I said anything,” Jungkook muttered, eyes fixed on the floor. “I’ll pay for the wine and leave. You enjoy your dinner.”

Jungkook made to leave, but Jimin’s hand shot out, gripping his wrist firmly.

“Say that again,” Jimin demanded.

Jungkook blinked, confused. “What?”

“Say it,” Jimin insisted, his eyes locking onto Jungkook's. “I want to hear it. Slower. Clearer this time.”

Jungkook felt his heart pounding in his chest, every muscle tensing. He didn’t move, didn’t breathe as Jimin’s gaze bore into him. He couldn’t look away even if he wanted to.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me you love me.”

Jungkook’s throat went dry. He tried to swallow, his mouth barely forming the words. “I—” He hesitated, then finally dropped his voice to a whisper. “I love you.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and raw, and before Jungkook could process what was happening, Jimin stood from his seat. His hand moved from Jungkook’s wrist to his jaw, cupping his face with a gentle firmness.

And then, without warning, Jimin leaned in and kissed him.

Jungkook’s eyes flew open wide, his brain scrambling to catch up with the feeling of Jimin’s lips pressed against his own. It was soft and warm, and for a second, he didn’t know what to do.

But then it hit him. Jimin was kissing him.

Jimin pulled away from the kiss, leaving Jungkook completely speechless. His heart was still racing, and he couldn’t quite process what had just happened.

“I feel more than lucky. I feel blessed!” Jimin said, his face lighting up with the biggest, goofiest smile.

Jungkook blinked, trying to catch up. “Wh-what?”

“I love you too, Jungkook,” Jimin said, his voice soft but full of sincerity. “I’ve loved you for a while now. I just... I didn’t know how to tell you. I was scared. So I kept dropping hints, hoping you’d pick up on them. But you never did.” Jimin laughed, shaking his head. “And then you started going on dates, and I thought… maybe you didn’t feel the same way. I figured if I couldn’t have you, at least I could be a good friend—be there for you when those dates didn’t work out.”

Jungkook stared at him, still processing everything. “Wait… you… you love me?”

Jimin chuckled, gently ruffling Jungkook’s hair. “Yes, you coconut head. I love you.”

Jungkook felt his heart do a somersault. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Can I... can I kiss you again?” he asked, his voice soft and unsure.

Jimin’s eyes sparkled with laughter, but instead of answering with words, he leaned in, closing the gap between them. Their lips met again, and this time it wasn’t rushed or filled with nervous energy. It was slow, tender, and full of everything they’d both been holding back for so long.

The end!