Jimin was startled awake by the sound of his phone ringing.

In a tired confusion, he propped himself up, then picked up the device and looked at the screen. The caller ID displayed Yoongi's name--well, pastel boy. Jimin hadn't changed it yet. Nervously he answered the call.

"Why are you calling me?"

There was a slight scoff from the other end of the phone. "Wow. Is that really how you answer calls? You weren't responding to my text, Jimin."

I forgot he even texted me. "So??"

"So is everything okay?"

He wasn't expecting that. The sincere concern that Jimin swore he could feel. Not knowing what to say, Jimin said nothing at all.

"You left in such a hurry. I just wanna understand why..."

The events of earlier that day flashed across his mind again, specifically the incident to which Yoongi was referring. Jimin didn't want to lie. He didn't want to worry Yoongi anymore, either. So he explained: "I lied to my brother and I had to cover up for it by running to Namjoon's. I'm sorry...I didn't think it would bother you so much."

There was a pause, then a gentle sigh of relief. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything I did," Yoongi said. "This was the second time you ran out of my house 'cuz you were upset, after all."

Guiltily Jimin remained silent.

"So is everything okay? Are you...in the clear, or whatever?

"It's fine," Jimin said.

"Okay. If you insist. I'll see you at school tomorrow, then."

"Okay...bye."

"By-"

"Wait, Yoongi!"

"W-what...?"

F**k, why did i tell him to wait?? "...n-nothing, good night."

"...good night, Jimin."

Jimin hung up. Sat still for a moment. Then promptly slammed his face with his pillow, into which he groaned loudly in frustration and embarrassment - aka the two emotions he had been experiencing way too often as of late.

Jimin concluded that he needed more sleep and did just that. Unfortunately dreamland wasn't the easiest place to avoid one's newfound crush...

▫️▫️▫️

Early the next morning, Jimin reluctantly got ready for school as he always did: getting dressed, combing his hair, packing a quick lunch and eating a quick breakfast, and finally brushing his teeth before grabbing his leather jacket and heading out the door.

Except one issue. His jacket wasn't hanging up where it usually was.

And for the life of him, Jimin couldn't figure out why. He always hung up his jacket by the door after coming home; it was a subconscious action by this point. However, it was morning, so Jimin couldn't put two and two together to remember why his jacket wasn't here. Instead, he decided to look around the house briefly, in the living room and his bedroom and even in the bathroom - no luck.

"Jihyun, did you take my jacket??"

"The one I got you?"

"Obviously."

"No, I didn't take it," the older called from his room. "Why would I take it?"

"How should I know? It's just missing."

"Well, borrow one of mine. I should have one hanging by the front door, too. Just take that."

"...fine."

Too tired to argue, Jimin quickly grabbed his brother's brown leather coat off the hook and slipped it on, then left the house. And on a cold, early morning such as this one, Jimin felt he could go for a nice, hot cup of coffee, so started on his way with the plan to make a quick stop at The Golden Spoon. Luckily, this time, no unwanted presences hindered his getting his Wake-up Call just the way he wanted. Extra cream. Extra sugar.

Stepping outside again, Jimin shivered in his coat, which, just like the one he had lost, was hardly adequate for these kinds of temperatures. He took a long sip of his coffee.

"Heya, Chimchim. Nice coat!"

This abrupt exclamation had been made by Namjoon, unsurprisingly, who had walked up to The Golden Spoon right as Jimin exited it. The latter frowned.

"I don't like it," he muttered bitterly. "But I couldn't find my other one, so this is what I'm stuck with."

"You don't like your other one, either, though."

"Exactly."

Namjoon stifled a laugh, shaking his head. "You're such a bucket of sunshine, aren't ya, Chim?"

Without reply, Jimin continued on his way again. And Namjoon followed.

Upon their arrival at school, the two bid a temporary farewell to each other and made their way to their classrooms. Jimin collapsed into his seat. Time crept by. First period was about to start. Yoongi entered the room. Yoongi sat down.

Jimin's phone buzzed.

pastel boy:
after school, wait for me outside the gymnasium
i don't want ppl to see, they might suspect something, but..
i have what you're looking for

There was no context. No context, and Jimin was still too "out of it" to think logically, and so immediately his heart put ridiculous, flirty images into his head that rekindled his desire to slam his face into a machete.

He's not here to kiss you, get your act together, Park Jimin.

He didn't reply. He had read the message, and Yoongi could see he had read the message, and that was all there was to it.

"Hey, Jimin, lookin' a bit jumpy today." His classmate Sojung commented.

Jimin put his phone away in a gay panic.

"...precisely what I mean. Jumpy."

"I'll jump on your face if you don't shut up."

Sojung just laughed. "Whatever you say, man."

A couple minutes later and class began. Jimin tried to focus. He tried. But he couldn't, because, obviously, he was too busy thinking about Yoongi's text. He knew he was being ridiculous. Nevertheless, as he tapped his foot anxiously, he blamed Yoongi for not being more straightforward.

From time to time he would glance over at the boy during class. Cute Yoongi, with his pale round cheeks, in his pale blue sweater, glasses, tiny, shiny earrings, a semi-concentrated expression...

Jimin caught himself staring and had to quickly turn his attention to the teacher again.

Ugh, I hate this...

The end of the day seemed like it would never arrive. But it did, of course, and as Jimin (im)patiently waited for the majority of the students to leave, he continued to worry over what it was Yoongi wanted him for.

"I have what you're looking for..." He whispered under his breath. A couple students looked at him funny as they passed by his desk, leaving the classroom. His face flushed a little.

Eventually, the time came when Jimin saw it safe to go to that somewhat hidden spot behind the gymnasium. His anxious steps nearly drove him to running. Out of the school building, making several turns, all the while glancing frantically around to make sure no one was following him.

No one was.

Well, no one seemed to be.

Jimin made it to the spot Yoongi had specified in his text. Surely enough, there the mint-haired boy was waiting, school bag slung over his shoulder and another bag held tightly in his hand. Seeing Jimin approaching him, Yoongi opened the bag to reveal what was inside:

Jimin's leather jacket.

"Wh--!" Flustered, Jimin snatched the jacket out of Yoongi's hands, not at all approving of the grin now surfacing in the boy's expression. He couldn't find words at first and just scoffed. "W-..y-...why couldn't you just say you had this?!"

Yoongi tilted his head, still smiling. "Sorry?"

"Don't 'sorry' me!" Jimin exclaimed, stomping his foot. "Your text was very misleading, jerk."

"Misleading?" Yoongi took out his phone to read the message he'd sent, knowing full well the vague wording of it, as it had been intentional. He read it aloud: "I don't want people to see, they might suspect something, but I have what you're looking for." Innocently, he lifted his head again to look at Jimin. "What's wrong with it? I figured you'd connect the dots and realize I was referring to you leaving the jacket at my house.

"I hate you."

Yoongi gasped. "This is news to me."

Annoyed as much as he was embarrassed, Jimin hit Yoongi's arm, which only made him giggle in amusement, thus making Jimin's heart do that thing he didn't like. Well, he couldn't say in full honesty that he didn't like it. Really the only part about it he didn't like was that it was difficult to hide. And that he had to hide it at all.

"Well, I have to go, I'll see ya later, Jimin."

Waving goodbye, Yoongi flashed one last smile and took his leave. Meanwhile Jimin just stood still and watched until he left. Then, looking down at the jacket he now gripped in his hands, he sighed deeply. And to himself he muttered, "You know the way I am yet you still treat me like this? Cruel bastard..."

In a few seconds Jimin decided he, too, should get going, so he turned himself around and prepared to begin the walk home.

But he was met with a familiar face. One of Yoongi's friends.

Jungkook.

The boy was standing a short ways off, staring intensely at Jimin though he didn't speak at first. The silence, together with the cold fire burning in that boy's eyes, chilled Jimin to the core. As did the single sentence that fell from his mouth.

"If you don't stop hanging out with Yoongi, consider your little secret out of the closet, Park Jimin."