Life is to be lived whether you're willing to or not. Some days are incredibly hard to start, let alone finish, but we have to push ourselves to get the work done.

Jimin had so much on his mind, with a lot to do and conclude, bringing things to an end for a new beginning.

He knew V wouldn't speak a word to him, adding to his worries, and he knew V was right to do so and he wanted to just bring an end to it because he wants only V and just V.

Jimin crashed at Taehyung's place the night before. The best friends talked late into the night, sharing their insecurities and empowering each other. This helped Jimin wake up with renewed energy the next day that was crucial for him to take necessary actions.

And with this, they started the next day together.

Jimin and Taehyung began their morning routine, fueled by the comforting conversation from the night before. After a quick breakfast, they headed to the university, ready to tackle their classes.

There's a different type of comfort in being accompanied by the person we feel so connected with. Like an extension of their own soul shared by another body, that's how Jimin would describe Taehyung, and so would Taehyung for Jimin.

As if their problems didn't exist when they had each other, though the traces of their problems would remain in the back of their minds.

"We agreed to start the day with new energy. Don't feel so low already." Taehyung spoke up on their way to the university, walking through the bustling streets. Jimin decided to look away from the road to his friend, hand in hand as they walked.

"It’s not like I can choose what to feel no matter how hard I try. I just feel low, knowing Dowoo won't bother to spare a glimpse of me today." Jimin whispered, to which Taehyung squeezed his hand.

"I know exactly how it feels for some reason. Pfft, stupid. But again, you have a lot to make up for today. You need to just push yourself a little, bestie. And with that being said, find Yoongi hyung right away to talk because I bet he has seen your messages but won't bother replying." Hearing Taehyung's words, Jimin only sighed.

As they walked through the bustling campus, chatting more about other things, they suddenly stumbled upon Jungkook and V in the distance, also making their way to their classes. 

Jimin's heart skipped a beat at the sight of V. The unresolved tension between them made him anxious, and he hesitated to approach. Taehyung, on the other hand, was waiting for Jungkook to end a silly challenge they had going, which made him hesitant as well.

They exchanged glances, unsure of how to proceed. The campus crowd moved around them, but at that moment, it felt like time had slowed down. 

V’s eyes held the same emptiness, as if he contained so much within and yet nothing at all. The same eyes that would light up when they met Jimin's seemed lifeless that day, as if all his soul had been drained away.

That's exactly why we call anger the little demon inside us. It's something we can't control easily, something we can't deal with or ignore, because if we do, it will only grow stronger.

For Jimin, those lifeless eyes were stealing away his life with each breath. The urge to run into those arms was overwhelming, but guilt held him back, freezing his feet to the ground.

The story wasn't different for Taehyung either. His eyes told a different tale of emotions when they met Jungkook's gaze of longing.

"If he doesn't come closer right now, I swear to God—" Taehyung murmured to himself, joining his bestie in the staring challenge with their boyfriends.

Jungkook's eyes almost relaxed at the sight, as if they had been waiting to see Taehyung. But for Taehyung, his eyes held a sense of hurt and agony.

It's strange how we can love someone yet feel the need to smack some sense into them. That's exactly what Taehyung wanted to do.

But then V decided to look away, down to the ground. He ran a hand through his hair, sucking the inside of his cheeks before turning around and clutching Jungkook's arm to drag him away.

"Come on, we're getting late." V murmured as he dragged Jungkook along with him who seemed hesitant but didn't have much choice.

And then there was the pair of blondes, one almost tearing up and the other rolling his eyes in frustration.

"Like, who the fuck even needs them? We've got it together now. Let's go." And with that, Taehyung pulled his friend away with him to class before he could break down there.

~♡~

"Your mixtape will be done in no time. So, when are you going to treat me for helping you?" J-Hope asked his friend Yoongi as he accompanied him in the music club's studio.

Their semester didn't have much academic work to cover, so for his music degree, Yoongi invested his time in the lab, preparing music because he had never felt this inspired before.

As for J-Hope, he was just helping his buddy out.

"You know I buy meals for you all the time. What more do you need now?" Yoongi asked, barely glancing at his friend as he focused on his computer. J-Hope kicked the side of the wall to push his chair closer to Yoongi, who remained unfazed.

"Get me a good meal. I mean, in a nice restaurant. With drinks, barbecue, and—"

"No."

J-Hope rolled his eyes. "Can't you do that for your buddy?"

"No."

"Look how ungrateful you are—" J-Hope said dramatically, but before he could say anything else, the door to the studio flung open, catching both their attention.

J-Hope almost stood up from his chair at the sight, and Yoongi, usually unfazed, was visibly startled. His eyes shifted to the person at the door, and his breath grew shallow.

"Hyung," Jimin said in a low yet firm voice, confusing the two in the studio.

"I'll be waiting for you at the Korean barbecue restaurant two blocks away from campus during the break. It's up to you if you want to come or let me wait the entire day." As Jimin announced this, Yoongi's eyes grew numb and blank, unable to utter a word.

With that, Jimin gave the two a quick glance before turning to leave, leaving them in utter shock.

Yoongi's eyes remained fixed on the spot where Jimin had stood, while J-Hope scoffed and smiled, shaking his head.

J-Hope nudged Yoongi with his elbow, breaking the silence that had settled over the studio. 

"Well, looks like someone's got plans for lunch."

Yoongi shot him a look, half-annoyed, half-anxious. 

"Don't start, Hoseok."

J-Hope chuckled, pushing his chair back and forth slightly. "Come on, you have to admit, it’s a bit romantic. The whole mysterious invitation to a Korean barbecue place... it’s like something out of a drama."

"He got a fucking boyfriend, can you shut up?"

"Oh, so it's official with that rebel kid?"

Yoongi remained silent, his mind racing. He was torn between the fear of what Jimin might say and the hope that this could be a chance to clear the air between them. But what if he couldn't conceal his emotions? What if everything fell apart?

Seeing his friend deep in thought, J-Hope softened his tone. "Hey, Yoongi, whatever happens, just be yourself. You’ll figure it out."

Yoongi barely acknowledged the words, still lost in a trance. His fingers drummed on the table, and his eyes were unfocused. He could feel the weight of the upcoming conversation pressing on him, and the uncertainty gnawed at his nerves.

J-Hope sighed, recognizing that his friend wasn't in the mood for jokes. "Alright, man. Just know I’m here for you. You’ll be fine."

Yoongi nodded absentmindedly, his mind already at the restaurant with Jimin, replaying countless possible scenarios. The rest of the studio session passed in a blur, J-Hope's occasional comments barely registering as Yoongi remained lost in his thoughts.

~♡~

"Buddy, do you mind if I just, you know, take a stroll into the other department?" Jungkook started off during the boring lecture while his friend remained unresponsive, staring into space.

Jungkook was just as bored and he wanted to escape and just get to Taehyung's department to bring an end to that stupid challenge; it's been longer than 24 hours already.

"Buddy?" Jungkook called out again to steal his friend’s response, who rolled his eyes.

"Why do you wanna go to the other department?" V asked, and Jungkook sighed.

"Just ‘cause—okay, I fucking miss my boyfriend. You were the one who pulled me away when I needed to say a sweet good morning to him." Jungkook argued in a whisper, and V remained quiet.

"Okay, I am your only company today. Why don't you come with me?"

"You can go if you want to." V whispered simply, and Jungkook sighed again.

"Buddy..."

"I am not coming with you."

"Hey, okay, let's wait till break time. You go to Jimin, and I'll go to my baby. We'll have a talk and then come together for lunch. How does that sound?" Jungkook asked his friend, whose eyes grew darker.

"It's the last thing I want to do." V whispered in a voice laced with agony, and Jungkook's concern for his friend rose.

"You're that mad?"

V didn't say a word.

"Rightfully so. Then maybe let Jimin walk towards you, and we'll fix that."

Jungkook could sense the tension weighing heavily between them. V's silence spoke volumes, and Jungkook knew there was more to the situation than just missing their significant others.

"Look, I get it." Jungkook said softly, leaning closer to V. "But we can't let this ruin our day. Let's make a deal: we'll both go see our partners during the break. If you don't feel like talking to Jimin, that's okay. Just being there might be enough."

"Jungkook, don't force me. If someone wants to, they'll come here." V whispered, his tone firm. Jungkook sighed, sensing V's frustration.

"Exactly, I'm willing to meet my sunshine." Jungkook whispered dramatically, like a hopeless romantic and V pushed his friend away with irritation.

"Go get the fuck away, go wherever you want." V said angrily, and Jungkook chuckled softly, recognizing V's need for space.

"Alright, I'll see you at lunch then." Jungkook said, trying to lighten the mood. V nodded tersely, still visibly upset, but Jungkook knew he needed to give him some space.

As the lecture finally ended, Jungkook approached V tentatively, sensing his friend's simmering frustration. V didn't meet his gaze initially, but Jungkook knew he had to address the situation.

"Hey, I'm gonna go see Taehyung now." Jungkook said softly, keeping his tone neutral.

V remained silent, his jaw tensing visibly. After a moment, he finally looked up at Jungkook with a tight expression.

"Go." V replied curtly, his voice strained.

Jungkook hesitated, wanting to say more but knowing V needed space. With a sigh, he turned and headed towards Taehyung's department, his mind swirling with worry and guilt.

Meanwhile, on the other side, V felt a knot of frustration building within him. He checked his phone again, hoping for any sign from Jimin—a call, a message, anything. But there was nothing. Not a single word since their last argument.

"Why wouldn't he just reach out?" V muttered to himself, gripping his pen frustratedly. Is it really this complicated now?

He wanted to pick up his phone, to text Jimin and break the silence, but his pride held him back. The thought of being the first to apologize gnawed at him because it should be Jimin, not him. He's the one who got hurt, not the other way round.

~♡~

"I understand your choice to not attend classes today. I don't want to hear boring voices when my mind isn't at ease." Taehyung said to Jimin as they found themselves sitting on the bleachers of the football ground, taking in the little sunlight through the cold winter.

Jimin remained quiet, sitting next to him, lost in his thoughts. He wondered about Taehyung, puzzled by his will to talk to him. His mind drifted to thoughts of Yoongi and their meeting during the break. Doubt and uncertainty clouded his thoughts, making everything seem more complex and confusing.

"Let's not talk about anything right now. I'm sorry, Tae, but can we stay quiet for a moment?" Jimin questioned his friend, who hummed in response, snuggling his head more onto Jimin's small frame.

"As you wish." Taehyung said, taking out his phone to check the time. After pressing the buttons several times, he realized it was already dead as he forgot to charge it in the morning.

He sat up properly and tapped his phone again, sighing in frustration.

Meanwhile, Jungkook rushed to Taehyung's department, weaving through the bustling hallways filled with students heading to their next lectures. The chaos outside Taehyung's classroom was overwhelming, but Jungkook pushed his way through the crowd. 

As he entered the classroom, he felt the eyes of several students on him, some giving him strange looks while others, especially the girls, checked him out. He paid no attention to any of it, his mind solely occupied with finding Taehyung, who was nowhere to be seen. 

Jungkook scanned the room frantically, his eyebrows frowning.

Jungkook scanned the classroom one last time, confirming Taehyung wasn’t there. He walked out, taking his phone from his pocket. Quickly, he typed a message to Taehyung.

"Where are you?"

He waited for a moment, hoping for a reply, but none came. Growing more anxious, Jungkook immediately dialed Taehyung's number only for it to say that his phone was switched off.

Jungkook sighed, running his hand through his hair before raising his head and wandering his eyes around, wondering where else Taehyung could be. Should he search for him on his way back to class? V needs him too. He shouldn't leave him alone as well.

Jungkook could only sigh.

~♡~

As lunchtime arrived, Jimin found himself sitting in a Korean barbecue restaurant, anxiously shaking his leg under the table as he waited for Yoongi. The worries gnawed at him, but he continued to wait, hoping Yoongi would arrive soon and put his mind at ease.

On the other hand, Taehyung, left alone, didn't have much to do for the rest of the day. He didn't feel energetic enough to attend the club sessions after lunch, and he and Jimin had already missed a few lectures. Deciding to call it a day, he walked out of the campus to head back home, hoping to charge his phone quickly while his mind was consumed with thoughts of Jungkook.

"Not a single message. Didn't his challenge die already? And if I go to him, he'll call me the clingy one. But I guess I am one." Taehyung muttered to himself as he walked.

He stopped in his tracks, frustration bubbling over. "That's it, I've had enough. Can he just stop with this bullshit already?" he said aloud, glaring at the sidewalk.

"I mean, who even does this?" He sighed roughly, giving him an adorable look which might kill Jungkook if he were to be there.

"Fine. I'll go to him and we can decide later. I swear to god if I see this man, I don't know if I'll kick him or kiss him because this has been too much. Who does this? Who forces their partner to stay away for 24 hours? What in the—" Taehyung blabbered to himself as he turned around on his heel and headed back to the college campus, determined to find Jungkook since his phone was useless for the day.

~♡~

"Let’s go grab something to eat, buddy." Jungkook suggested to his best friend as they finished their last lecture before the lunch break. He hadn’t been able to find Taehyung, so he endured a few more hours of lectures with his friend by his side.

"I’m not hungry." V said, getting up and slinging his bag over one shoulder. Jungkook followed him, trying to match his pace.

"But I’m starving." Jungkook insisted, but V simply turned and started walking away.

"Let’s just go home and eat." V said over his shoulder.

"Home? We have club sessions to attend today." Jungkook reminded him, but V didn’t stop and kept walking. Jungkook had to speed up to catch up with him.

"I don’t give a damn." V muttered, his tone final.

Jungkook quickened his pace to keep up with V, his concern growing. "Come on, V. Is this because of Jimin?"

V didn’t say anything, his expression closed off.

"Alright, let's head back, but first, can we get something to eat? I feel like I might collapse from hunger." Jungkook said dramatically, clutching his stomach. V paused and gave him a skeptical look before stopping in his tracks.

V looked at Jungkook after sighing and asked, "Alright, what do you want to eat?"

"I think chicken wings might just save me." 

V could only get a grip of Jungkook's waist before dragging him along to the cafeteria.

~♡~

"Thanks, buddy." Jungkook said gratefully as V placed a tray with a bucket of chicken wings in front of him. Jungkook quickly set V’s phone aside, which V then picked up after sitting down.

"You were texting my brother?" V asked, glancing at the phone screen after sitting down. Jungkook simply hummed in response.

"I thought he had blocked me or something." Jungkook admitted.

"You guys are something else." V commented, shaking his head. He then pressed back and saw Jimin’s profile picture that was an adorable shot of him lying in a garden, flowers tucked in his hair, smiling up at the camera—a picture V remembered taking. 

His heart almost melted into a puddle. He can never deny that this little human is his weakness.

"Here, open your mouth." Jungkook said, dipping a chicken wing into ranch dressing before bringing it closer to V’s mouth who looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Mmm, it seems delicious." Jungkook said with anticipation. When V didn't immediately open his mouth, Jungkook pressed the wing with ranch against his lips.

"Eat it before I shove it down your throat." Jungkook said, mimicking Jimin's high-pitched voice with a chuckle but V’s expression showed he wasn’t amused.

"Okay, sorry, just one bite, please." Jungkook then insisted, sounding genuinely apologetic. With no other option, V reluctantly took a bite.

Jungkook took a bite of the chicken wing and savored the flavor, finishing it in one enthusiastic gulp. With a satisfied sigh, he turned to grab another wing for himself. 

Meanwhile, Taehyung was busy scanning the college and ended up in the cafeteria, his eyes searching desperately for Jungkook. Frustration was evident in his tense posture and hurried pace.

As Taehyung’s gaze finally landed on Jungkook, he saw him happily enjoying the chicken wings, completely immersed in his own little world. Jungkook was laughing and chatting with V, feeding him from time to time, oblivious to the growing irritation on Taehyung’s face. His boyfriend’s carefree demeanor only added to Taehyung's frustration.

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Taehyung marched decisively toward Jungkook. His footsteps were heavy, and his breaths came in short, frustrated bursts. Each step seemed to echo his mounting irritation as he approached, determined to bring his boyfriend out of his little world.

"Mmm, delicious, isn’t it?" Taehyung's voice cut through the conversation, causing Jungkook to look up. Taehyung’s face was far from amused; it was a mix of frustration and annoyance.

"Must be nice to finally eat after all the trouble you’ve put me through for the past 24 hours," Taehyung said, his voice laced with anger.

"I’ve been on edge, worried sick about a certain someone who couldn't even spare a thought for me—"

Jungkook scrambled to swallow the food quickly, trying to stand up and respond. He reached out to clutch Taehyung’s hand, but Taehyung was too worked up to notice or care.

"Babe, I tried to contact—"

"No, eat," Taehyung interrupted sharply, his frustration peaking. "Eat, because you must be starving, you—" Taehyung grabbed a chicken wing and forcefully pushed it into Jungkook’s mouth, his anger boiling over.

Jungkook's eyes widened in surprise as Taehyung’s hand thrust the chicken wing into his mouth.  He quickly tried to take it in his hand before he could choke on it.

"Look, I didn’t mean to—" Jungkook started to say, putting the wing away, but Taehyung cut him off.

"Save it," Taehyung snapped, his voice firm but slightly softer. "I don’t want to hear excuses right now. You’ve been avoiding me, and I’m tired of it."

"Babe-"

"Didn’t know your game included ignoring each other deliberately," Taehyung continued, his frustration evident in his tone.

"Babe, I didn’t—" Jungkook started, but Taehyung cut him off.

"Who was that asshole I saw in a hurry on campus yesterday who didn't even care to notice me, and who was the guy who came by last night and left ice cream on the counter?" Taehyung’s frustration was palpable as he let out his grievances.

"Babe—"

"No, I need to know who the hell that was!" Taehyung demanded, his voice rising.

"Will you let him speak?" V intervened, his irritation clear, his tone made it clear he was fed up with his shouting.

Both Jungkook and Taehyung turned their attention to V, momentarily silenced by his interruption.

"Maybe you should have kept your phone charged before barging in here." V scolded his brother, who frowned in response.

"You shouldn’t be talking, Kim Dowoo." Taehyung retorted, shifting his frustration to his brother. "You didn’t even come home or bother to let anyone know where you were."

"It’s my choice." V shot back, his tone defensive. "It’s my home as much as yours. Maybe if you stopped inviting other people over, I might actually come back."

Taehyung’s frown deepened, clearly upset by the exchange. 

"Guys, guys, let’s not fight." Jungkook interjected, trying to mediate the escalating argument. "I’m the one at fault here." He added.

"Then keep avoiding your issues and deal with your own shit. Don’t come around wondering why everyone treats you the way they do!" Taehyung’s voice was filled with exasperation as he spoke to his brother whose expressions quickly changed.

"Babe, stop." Jungkook said firmly, stepping between the two to defuse the situation. "You’re hurting him. He’s already going through a lot."

Taehyung’s gaze shifted to Jungkook, his eyes filled with a mix of hurt and frustration. Meanwhile, Jungkook stood protectively in front of V, who maintained his characteristic blank expression, feeling the weight of the confrontation.

"It’s my fault. I’ll take responsibility for that." Jungkook said earnestly, trying to ease the tension. "Let’s not fight."

Taehyung looked away, the hurt clear in his eyes. 

"Babe…" Jungkook whispered, gently reaching for Taehyung’s hand. The onlookers in the cafeteria watched the unfolding drama with mild interest before returning to their meals after V shot them a deadly glare.

"He’ll come back. He just—" Jungkook began, but Taehyung cut him off.

"So everyone gets to behave how they want except me." Taehyung said softly, withdrawing his hand. The sadness in his voice made Jungkook’s heart ache, while V bit the inside of his cheek, clearly frustrated.

"Babe…" Jungkook whispered, trying to hold Taehyung's cheeks who looked away, tensing the situation and Jungkook could only sigh.

"Alright, whatever it is, let’s all four of us meet up and talk this out." Jungkook suggested, but his words were interrupted by the sound of hasty boots approaching. The noise cut through the clamor of the cafeteria, and all three turned to see Min Yoongi walking towards them.

Taehyung’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Yoongi who stopped in front of Jungkook and him, his gaze steady and intense. Both Jungkook and Taehyung looked at him with puzzled expressions.

Without a word, Yoongi’s attention shifted downward, where Jungkook and V were seated. 

"Pick that up for me." Yoongi said in a low, firm voice.

Jungkook followed Yoongi’s gaze and saw a set of keys lying on the floor. Realizing they must belong to Yoongi, Jungkook quickly bent down to retrieve them, handing them back to his senior who caught the sight of V standing behind Jungkook, glaring and shooting bullets into him through his eyes while Yoongi glared back at him with his deadly eyes.

"Thanks." Yoongi said as he took the keys from Jungkook. 

He then turned his gaze to Taehyung, his expression softening momentarily. Taehyung, still in shock, wondered why Yoongi hadn’t reached the restaurant yet, Jimin must be waiting alone.

Yoongi gave Taehyung a brief, reassuring smile before turning to leave. V’s frown deepened as he watched Yoongi walk away and disappear from sight.

Taehyung quickly reached for his phone in desperation but realized it was switched off. He muttered a curse under his breath, frustration evident.

"Where’s Jimin?" V suddenly demanded, catching both Taehyung and Jungkook off guard.

Taehyung’s face fell into a frown, and he responded with bitterness, "Why do you care?"

V’s expression grew more intense. 

"Where is he?" he repeated firmly.

Taehyung, sensing the tension, chose to remain silent, which only heightened the unease in the air. Jungkook glanced between Taehyung and V, feeling the weight of the unresolved issues pressing down on him.

"Why don’t we look for him together?" Jungkook suggested, trying to diffuse the tension.

Without waiting for a response, V quickly grabbed his bag and hurried away. 

"Hey, buddy, wait—" Jungkook called out, but it was too late. Taehyung had already dashed after V, and Jungkook, feeling the urgency, had no choice but to follow them.

~♡~

Back at the restaurant, Jimin sat alone at the table, his eyes fixed on his phone and then glancing around the empty restaurant. His leg jittered restlessly as he anxiously checked the time. Minutes turned into half an hour, and still, there was no sign of Yoongi. The waiting began to stir a whirlwind of questions and doubts in his mind.

Jimin’s thoughts raced, wondering if Yoongi would even show up. The growing uncertainty made him feel increasingly disheartened. He couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps Yoongi wasn’t coming, leaving him to spend the rest of his day waiting alone.

But then suddenly the door opened, causing his heart to jump, and Yoongi walked in, scanning the room until his eyes landed on Jimin. And he stopped.

When Jimin and Yoongi finally locked eyes, both of them froze. Jimin, sitting at the table, looked up with a mixture of uncertainty and fear, his expression reflecting the anxiety of having waited so long. Yoongi, standing in the doorway, paused in his tracks, his eyes revealing a deep sense of longing and regret. The silent exchange between them spoke volumes, conveying unspoken emotions that words couldn’t fully capture.

"Sir, are you looking for a table?" a waitress’s voice cut through the tension, breaking Yoongi from his trance.

"Oh, no, I’m here to meet someone," Yoongi said, his tone flat but with an undertone of regret. He reluctantly walked toward Jimin, who straightened his posture as Yoongi approached. Jimin's eyes softened at the sight of him.

"Sorry I’m late." Yoongi said as he slid into the seat across from Jimin, his voice carrying a note of apology.

"Oh, it’s—it's okay." Jimin replied, his voice trembling slightly as he tried to mask his nervousness. The atmosphere between them was charged with unspoken emotions as they began to settle into their long-awaited meeting.

Yoongi nodded, sensing the nervousness in Jimin's voice. 

"So, what’s on your mind?" Yoongi asked, his voice gentle but earnest. The question cut through the turmoil inside Jimin’s head, causing everything to suddenly go blank. 

Jimin was overwhelmed, unsure where to begin. His thoughts were a tangled mess, and he struggled to find the right words to express the confusion and emotions he had been holding back. The weight of his feelings seemed too heavy to articulate, leaving him momentarily speechless.

And he knew, this won't surely go the way he thought it would be.

───♡───

Sorry, guys, for the late update. I want to explain that I've been very busy searching for hospitals for my internship and I'm still in the middle of it. Additionally, friends and family require my time too, so I haven't had much time.

Please please please do comment a lot, it's my only driving force right now.

Hope you guys enjoyed it!