He woke up the way he fell asleep.

Held securely in Yoongi's arms.

And Jimin just did. Not. Want. To move. Yoongi's arm was still clasped around his waist, one leg between his own, one hand loosely pressed against the back of Jimin's head, fingers tangled in the boy's orange hair. He could hear Yoongi's gentle breathing and still felt his steady heartbeat, as his head was still against the other's chest...

Still a little sleepy, Jimin tightened his grip around the boy's torso, feeling his cheeks flush with color but he didn't mind because he figured Yoongi was still asleep. Then Jimin felt Yoongi's hand move, fingers dragging lazily through the boy's orange hair as it moved down to rest on the other's neck. Jimin flinched. Yoongi stirred awake.

"...morning..."

One word, and Jimin's entire face burned red. Yoongi's deep, groggy, raspy morning voice...something Jimin never once thought he'd hear in his life, but certainly something he wasn't complaining about hearing, either.

Yoongi gradually (reluctantly) peeled away from warm, cozy Jimin to sit in an upright position. His mint hair, Jimin could see now, was sticking up in random places, and though he tried to smooth it down, it didn't work. He sighed and began rubbing his eyes with his wrists as Jimin watched in adoration.

The boy's shirt was a bit wide and low-cut at the opening, allowing both his collarbone and an inch of one of his shoulders to peek out. A small pout was perched upon his lips.

Yoongi truly was the cutest boy Jimin had ever seen. He didn't catch himself staring before Yoongi did.

"I probably look like a mess, don't I?" He sighed again and shook his head. Jimin also shook his head.

"No, you look alright."

At this, Yoongi slowly turned his head to face Jimin. The tiniest little smile popped up, and if Jimin had been more awake, he might have noticed the pink dusting Yoongi's cheeks.

"...mm." He glanced at Jimin's shirt, then made a face at it. "I didn't even realize," he began, also noticing the boy was still in his jeans from yesterday, "you never asked to borrow anything to wear. Wasn't that uncomfortable to sleep in?"

I didn't notice, either. I was too distracted by the fact my crush was cuddling me. "N-no, it's fine. It wasn't uncomfortable."

"You're sure? You're not just saying that 'cus you don't want me to feel bad?"

Stop being so sweet and considerate... "Really, it's okay."

Regardless Yoongi still made a face that suggested he was skeptical of Jimin's words. Sighing, his eyes traveled over to the alarm clock sitting atop the desk beside his bed. Jimin looked at it, too.

6:28 a.m. Yoongi's alarm was set to go off in two minutes. He stretched out his arm and shut it off before that could happen. Then, with a pout upon his lips, he faced forward again, appearing somewhat upset at a certain realization, which he soon voiced.

"School."

Jimin had forgotten. In his drowsiness, along with being sidetracked every so often by his glances at Yoongi, the thought had slipped his mind, and so sharply did Jimin feel a sudden ill feeling wash over him.

School. The first school day since his secret had been shared amongst Yoongi's closest friends.

Doubts and fears flooded his heart. They knew now. Three people other than Namjoon and Yoongi, who Jimin trusted, knew about his little secret. And that still terrified him.

His hands trembled a little as he tried to carefully peel the blankets off his legs and get out of bed. Yoongi could see that change in him, the strong hesitance at the remembrance that he wasn't going to be able to fool those boys any longer. He dreaded facing them, no doubt. Or at least dreaded the thought of them holding his secret over his head like well-deserved blackmail.

The thing is, Yoongi was fairly confident that wouldn't happen. Seokjin wasn't one to intentionally step out on his own to cause harm to someone, and truthfully neither were Hoseok or Jungkook, but Yoongi had more confidence in those two now that he had given them both a stern talking to.

Still, he felt Jimin's fear was completely reasonable. In an attempt to comfort him, Yoongi reached out to place his hand on Jimin's shoulder before the boy stood up. Jimin craned his neck to look back at him.

"I'll stick with you today."

Jimin furrowed his brow slightly.

"I mean, if that's okay." He paused, glancing away for a second. "I'd completely understand if you didn't want me to. I mean, there's no question people would question me being around you...so it's up to you, Jimin."

His voice was filled with such tenderness and sympathy. And his eyes, the way he held Jimin's gaze, the soft pocket of compassion tucked within them that he swore he could feel in his chest...

Yoongi was perfect—well, of course he wasn't perfect. No one was. Yoongi lost his temper, got impatient at times and Jimin had witnessed both of these things in the time the two had been friends. But still. To Jimin, nonetheless, Yoongi was perfect.

This was only going to make it even harder to fall out of love with him.

"It's okay. I'm tired of avoiding you at school anyway."

This earned a smile from Yoongi, who patted Jimin's shoulder almost as a way of saying, I'm proud of you. And he was. He was proud that Jimin was taking forward steps, and this, he knew, was a major one. He could already feel the stares of the people at school, the obnoxious questions and accusations, the judgmental expressions.

Jimin could feel them, too. Yoongi knew this.

"Do you need to head back to your house to get your things for school?"

"I'll text Namjoon to bring them for me," Jimin replied. "Our houses aren't too far from each other."

"Oh, okay then. That's good. Do you...wanna get breakfast at The Golden Spoon?"

"That's fine."

Yoongi draped his legs over the side of the bed. Then he reached for his phone.

||You have (12) new messages from Hobi.||

||You have (9) new messages from Kookie.||

||You have (3) new messages from Jin.||

||You have (2) new messages from Riyeon.||

He only opened the messages from his sister.

Riyeon:
u retreated into ur room so quickly yesterday
was that boy ur boyfriend?
you've only ever had hoseok and Jungkook over in the past
not tryna be nosy
just curious

me:
not my boyfriend
just a friend
sorry, i was kinda upset yesterday
didn't feel like talking

Riyeon:
it's ok

me:
did dad say anything about it

Riyeon:
he assumed the boy was ur boyfriend 2 lol

me:
well he's not
be sure to let him know for me before u guys leave for work
he never checks his messages

Riyeon:
i'm sure he knows yoongles
you'd tell him first if u got yourself a boyfriend

me:
right
i'd definitely let him know
that's why i want to make sure he doesn't think i kept it from him

Riyeon:
such a father's boy u are

me:
go back to sleep why are u even up
u don't have work till 12

Riyeon:
true
well have a good day yoongles
talk to u later

me:
bye

Yoongi set his phone beside him. "Sorry, I was just-......Jimin? Are you okay?"

He was shaking more noticeably now. For the same reason as before. Except now, the fear had begun to evolve into vivid imaginations, worst case scenarios, and essentially everything that could possibly go wrong today. Without saying anything, Jimin got to his feet. Yoongi quickly did the same and hurried over to the other side of the bed, where he took hold of Jimin's wrist before the boy could make it to the door.

"Jimin. It's gonna be alright. I swear."

Jimin gradually started to nod, but his expression was still sadly troubled.

"Can I hug you?"

"What?"

"I'm gonna hug you."

So he did. Before Jimin could retreat, Yoongi drew him in for a hug, briefly, but firmly, holding the boy close once again.

Pulling away, Yoongi flashed one more smile of encouragement, then said, "I'm gonna get changed real quick, then we can go, okay?"

In response, Jimin promptly blurted, "I'll wait outside."

Two seconds later he was out of the room, and Yoongi heard the sounds of Jimin making his way down the stairs, soon followed by the distant closing of a door. Yoongi bit back a smile.

"He's cute when he's shy..."

▫️▫️▫️

As planned, the two stopped by The Golden Spoon, each ordering coffee and a pastry to go along with it. Then they walked the rest of the way to school with few words exchanged.

Jimin did want to say something, though. He wanted to tell Yoongi he looked cute all bundled up in his blue scarf and winter coat, beanie tucked over the tips of his ears. He looked warm and cozy and Jimin loved that.

But he was a little too shy, and more so still too worried about what would happen that day at school, to think about much else.

Surely enough, even upon arriving at the building, people were already looking. Including Namjoon, who had been waiting by the gate with Jimin's school bag around his shoulder.

And Namjoon thought about cracking a joke about the two being together, but upon noticing the despondent expression on his best friend's face, he stopped himself.

Jimin took the bag as it was held out to him. "Thanks, Joon."

"...no problem, Chim."

Then he looked at Yoongi, who gave a nod as a silent form of acknowledgement and greeting. Namjoon did the same.

Moments later and Jimin and Yoongi were both making their way into the school building. Side by side.

Surprisingly, no one said anything to Jimin or Yoongi directly at first. Naturally, though, they gossiped, and Jimin did all that was in his power to do to block out any and all voices. And since listening to music with his earphones was the only thing he could do, that's what he did.

Yoongi was used to hearing gossip about himself so it didn't make a difference to him. He just felt bad for Jimin, who was clearly on edge about the whole situation and he had every right to be.

Yoongi plugged in his own earphones when Jungkook walked into the classroom.

▫️▫️▫️

At lunch, Jimin sat at his usual table with Namjoon, and with both boys' permission, Yoongi joined them.

This is where the stares really became noticeable. Even without looking, Namjoon could feel them, too. But he wasn't personally bothered. Just for his friend's sake.

The same went for Yoongi. Sitting across from the boy, Yoongi attempted to start a conversation with him that would hopefully deter Jimin's mind from making him feel worse than he already did.

Meanwhile Seokjin, Hoseok, and Jungkook sat at their usual table as well. Except it hardly felt "usual." Without Yoongi there it almost felt as though they were being exiled, pushed into an unfamiliar space as they were left to watch Yoongi speak and gaze tenderly at the very same boy who had bullied him for as long as anyone could remember.

The guilt settled deeper. Even in Seokjin, who hadn't told anyone or made Yoongi mad like the other boys did. He just felt bad for thinking so harshly of Jimin. Then again, he still believed himself and his friends had a good reason for thinking the way they did. But it wasn't a good enough reason.

They acknowledged they were wrong. That was the important part. Jungkook and Hoseok, especially, had immense difficulty looking away from Jimin's table, hearts beating in an unpleasant manner every time they caught sight of Yoongi smiling at the boy.

Even without being able to hear their conversation the two could tell Yoongi was trying to cheer Jimin up in some way.

Yoongi was smiling. Jimin was trying to look less depressed. And Namjoon was there to push food onto Jimin's plate and make comments about how he'd try his best to cover up for Jimin if anyone ever came to him with questions and suspicions.

And Jimin felt a little better thanks to them.

*

*

a/n:
kinda an abrupt ending lol but i wanted to make the next part its own chapter