Jimin

After he walked into work that morning, Jimin stood by the elevator on the bottom floor before checking his watch. He was on time like always, and most mornings Jimin often found himself running into his boss, so he took it upon himself to wait for Jungkook. His cheeks felt slightly heated as he stood with his briefcase against his knees, nodding politely at the other workers who took the elevator ahead of him as he waited to see the taller, handsome suited man walk through the revolving, glass doors.
After some time, he checked his watch again, and the pink haired man stood on his toes to scan over the crowd of business men and women. It was getting later than Jimin could have anticipated, and he gripped the handle of his briefcase as he stared down at his feet.

"Jimin?"

Jimin looked up when he heard someone call his name, and when he did so he met the eyes of the friendly salesman who he had become acquainted with not so long ago. "A-ah, Mr Kim...good morning."

"Just call me Taehyung," the taller laughed. "And good morning! Are you waiting for someone?"

Cheeks flushing, Jimin immediately shook his head. "I-I was just early, that's all..."

"Well it's nearly clock-in time," the salesman laughed, before he pressed down the elevator button and took a step back to face Jimin with his hands pocketed. "You taking the next one?"

"I..." Once more, Jimin glanced at the building entrance with a slight frown. Where could Jungkook be? "Sure."

Taehyung eyed Jimin from the side, before the elevator doors opened and the two stepped inside. The doors closed behind them, and the silence between was definitely eerier considering how lively Taehyung came across as. Jimin had spotted him a couple times in the company cafeteria or on the third  floor speaking to someone, and the salesman never failed to sprout a smile or relieve a laugh from his lips. Sparing a glance to his right, he watched the taller jabbing his phone screen with his thumb, his brows cascaded in a way which threw Jimin off guard. "Taehyung?"

"Hm?" Taehyung immediately looked up from his phone, before sliding it into his pocket.

"Are you alright?"

"No, I'm half left."

"Ah..." Jimin's eyes widened, before he found himself smiling widely at the other. "That was terrible."

Taehyung in turn grinned at the older, before shrugging. "It was legendary. And to properly answer your question, I'm completely fine. Why did you ask?"

"You just looked worried about something," Jimin pondered, whilst the elevator door opened and some coworkers stepped onto the elevator. "By the way, you haven't seen Jungkook anywhere yet, have you?"

When Jimin mentioned his boss's name, Taehyung froze momentarily, before he replaced his facade with such of an innocent one. "No I haven't. I was just texting him now, actually."

Jimin's eyes lit up. "Is he okay?"

"Was it him who you were waiting for?" Taehyung implied, the edges of his mouth somewhat curved upward.

"N-no, I was just...you shouldn't answer a question with a question."

"Mr Park, there is absolutely nothing wrong with 'holding the elevator' for your boss," Taehyung whispered, so the other people around them couldn't hear.

"I wasn't!" Jimin whined. "But I was...surprised that he wasn't on time like he usually is. Unless he's already here?"

Taehyung shook his head. "Jungkook likes to keep by a strict schedule, so he wouldn't come in any earlier than he has to." Then, Taehyung's phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it back out to check the screen. As Jimin peered up at the taller in anticipation, the salesman sighed before putting away his phone again. "He's coming in later apparently. He isn't...feeling well."

"Oh...that's not good," Jimin mumbled. "Maybe he got caught in the rain."

"Maybe..." The elevator doors opened once more, and Taehyung stepped off before flashing Jimin his signature, friendly smile. "This is my floor. I'll see you around maybe?"

"Sure...have a nice day," Jimin replied, as he watched the younger bow and take his leave. The doors closed again, and Jimin couldn't help but allow a sigh to escape his lips. He hoped Jungkook was okay. Rainy days in the summer didn't exactly help to reduce the chances of someone catching a cold, or the flu. Maybe could catch Taehyung again at lunch.

***
With a sigh, Jimin grabbed his tray of food before heading to an empty table in the cafeteria. Then he stopped. He really had been sighing all morning. He sighed once more, as he sat down and picked up his chopsticks before he started eating. Would it be weird for Jimin to check up on Jungkook at his home? It wouldn't...would it? Being alone and ill wasn't a great thing.
Looking up to eye the other people eating, he tried to find a face he recognized, but failed to do so. Jimin hadn't been in the company long, and because he had been assigned to such a huge project so quickly he hadn't had the time to get closer with anyone in his office. Work had given Jimin the excuse to eat at his desk, but without Jungkook here to hand out assignments for the project Jimin was subjected to working on other smaller projects which he had postponed. Jimin didn't mind eating alone, but it still wouldn't hurt to have a friend to eat by.

"Is this seat taken?"

Sitting up, Jimin bolted upright when he felt the weight of the person taking a seat across from him. "No! I-I mean...it isn't," he stuttered.

"Good."

"A-are you...saving a seat for someone else? B-because I can sit elsewhere-"

"It's fine," the other cut him off, as he pulled apart his chopsticks and started eating. Jimin squeezed his hands together underneath the table, before he worked up the courage to look up at the person seated in front of him. He had a small face, and was incredibly pale with black hair and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. Jimin couldn't say he recognized this person, because such a person he was sure he'd remember.

The pink-haired man took in a deep breath. "I-I'm Park Jimin."

"Min Yoongi."

"Do you work here?"

Yoongi nodded whilst he dipped his food in the sauces. "Isn't that a strange question to ask?"

Jimin blinked, before tilting his head to the side. "N-no, this cafeteria is open to the public...it isn't uncommon to see people from other companies here too."

"Ah."

"Sorry for asking but...are you new?" Jimin had to ask, since it was pretty well known that such a big company like this one had sites that were open for outsiders to view. Watching as the pale man silently and stoically chewed his food, Jimin admired his stylish yet simplistic attire, like the glasses and fitted black blazer.

"Yeah."

"Were you transferred?"

"From Daejon."

"I-is that your hometown?"

"No, Daegu."

"I see..." Jimin bit his lips nervously. This person wasn't very...chatty. "Which department are you in?"

"I'm a product designer."

Then, his heart sped up and the pink-haired man almost lept from his seat from joy. "Me too!" He should have guessed from how artistic he appeared. Yoongi looked up from his food, and although Jimin didn't see him smile, his expression was still of a pleased one. Flopping back down onto the table, Jimin sighed happily. "I finally have someone to talk to!"

"That doesn't make us friends."

"O-oh..."

"Kidding."

Jimin looked up. "Huh?"

And Yoongi smiled. "I was kidding."

"Ha...haha, that wasn't at all funny," Jimin exasperated. "I thought I had overstepped my boundaries. By the way, how old are you?"

"26."

"So, you're pretty experienced?"

"Yeah-" At that moment, the doors to the cafeteria opened, and Jimin and his newfound friend trailed off in their conversation when Taehyung walked over to their table with a strained expression. Everyone around them all turned in their seats, and Jimin looked down at his knees when the room quietened at the sudden entrance of this usually happy man.

"Taehyung?" Jimin whispered. "Is something wrong?"

The younger sighed, as he ruffled his hair awkwardly. "Yes, well, not really-"

"Oh by the way, this is Min Yoongi, he just transferred."

Taehyung paused, before turning to the newcomer who nodded at the taller. "A-ah, right, I'm Kim Taehyung. It's a pleasure.

"Likewise."

"Anyway," Taehyung continued. "Jungkook sent me to tell you to finish the work he emailed you."

Jimin frowned. "Huh? Couldn't he just call me?"

"He did. Apparently you weren't picking up."

"That's strange, my phone isn't on silent mode-"

"I think you should take your food to the office," Taehyung interrupted. "He said it was urgent. Something about a meeting which had to be rescheduled?"

"Oh, okay..." Jimin frowned. "Is he...here?"

"Uh, y-yeah-"

"I'll go find him then," the older sighed, as he picked up his tray.

Taehyung reached out to grab Jimin's elbow, and the older froze. "Jimin, I don't think that's a good idea. He asked me to find you so you wouldn't have to see him..."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I, uh," Taehyung stumbled over his words, his expression sour at the realization that he may have let loose something which he maybe wasn't obliged to. "Just...you already have the work? There isn't much point in going to see him-"

"Is he really that sick?" Jimin scrunched up his face. "Why the hell would he come into work then? Yoongi-hyung, I'm sorry but we'll have to catch up later if that's alright?"

Yoongi gestured to the door, without looking up from his tray. "Sure."

"Yah, Jimin-"

The older brushed by the salesman before anymore was said, and he kept his head down low as he passed the onlookers to his lefts and rights. Why was Taehyung being so suspiciously inconspicuous? It didn't make any sense. It was like the other was going out of his way to make sure Jimin didn't meet his boss at all. Why was that? If Jungkook was ill then shouldn't he be resting at home? Or shouldn't Taehyung have cared for his friend?
Maybe their friendship wasn't as close as Jimin assumed. Or maybe...if anything, Jimin was sure that Jungkook's stubbornness had gotten the best of him.

Making his way down across the building, Jimin stopped in front of Jungkook's office. "Jungkook? It's me, Jimin." No reply. Was he really in there? "Jungkook? Are you okay? I'm coming in-" He twisted the doorknob quietly, and immediately scanned the room for any sight of the younger. He didn't have time to appreciate the decor, or any other vanity items, because his eyes fell upon a hunched over figured sprawled across a desk.

"Jungkook?!" Rushing over to his side, Jimin grabbed the younger's shoulders and shook them rashly. "Yah, Jungkook?! What happened?! Wake up!"

"Ughhh..."

"Jungkook?! It's me, Jimin! Can you stand? Should I get you some water-?!"

"Jimin...?"

"What the hell happened to you...?!" The older swallowed, when his boss's head tipped to the side to blankly stare from behind his bangs with death-ridden eyes. "Yah, Jungkook-"

"Mr Park..."

"Y-yes?!"

Jungkook's gaze met Jimin's. "Go away."

And Jimin frowned. "What?"

"Get out."