Author's pov:

As night fell, the sky turned a deep shade of blue, the air cool and refreshing as the ocean breeze carried the scent of saltwater through the open windows.

Outside, on the patio where the grilling was set up, Jin and Hoseok stood beside the sizzling barbecue, the sound of the pork belly crackling over the heat. The two exchanged jokes, their laughter filling the night air as they worked together, carefully turning the strips of meat, making sure each piece was perfectly charred and juicy.

Nearby, Namjoon, Jimin, and Jungkook had finished setting the table, the dishes neatly arranged on the patio. They were chatting casually as they watched Jin and Hoseok grill, laughing over random stories and teasing each other in between.

Namjoon leaned against the outdoor table, his arms crossed as he and Jimin discussed their plans for the weekend, while Jungkook was busy trying to sneak bits of grilled pork belly when no one was looking.

Yoongi and Taehyung were busy in the kitchen preparing the main dishes, the savory scent of garlic, onions, and spices filling the air as Yoongi stirred the vegetables in a sizzling pan while Taehyung chopped up fresh herbs for seasoning.

“Do you think it’ll be enough?” Yoongi asked, glancing over at the large pot of rice on the stove.

“It should be. You always make plenty,” Taehyung replied with a small smile, focusing on chopping the herbs with precision.

Yoongi laughed softly, wiping his brow. “Guess I can’t help it. It’s like an automatic reflex to cook more than needed.”

Taehyung nodded, glancing over at him. “True, but that’s what makes your food so good. No one’s ever left hungry.”

Just as Taehyung finished adding the herbs, Namjoon called out from the dining area.

“Yoongi, you’ve got a work call,” Namjoon said, his voice carrying across the kitchen. “They’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”

Yoongi sighed, setting down his knife. “I’ll be right back. Keep an eye on the rice for me.”

With a quick nod, Taehyung continued to stir the dish, the rhythmic motions calming him as he focused on the task at hand. As the sounds of the grilling and conversation from the dining area filled the space, suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind, making him jump.

"Jimin!" he yelped, startled enough to almost drop the wooden spoon.

Jimin’s soft laugh tickled his ear. "Relax, chef. Just came to see what you're making... smells amazing," he teased, resting his chin on Taehyung’s shoulder.

Taehyung gulped at the close proximity, the tiny hairs on his arm stood tall while his heart thumped loudly. Now that he was aware of his feelings and had made a decision earlier, he preferred to avoid closeness with Jimin — the only way that might help in suppressing his feelings from growth.

He nudged his arm back into Jimin, trying to push him away smoothly and without any awkwardness as he said, “Don't be so close, Jimin. Someone might see us.”

Jimin chuckled and leaned against the counter next to him, staring at the beautiful man, “As you say, Cutie.”

Taehyung blushed at the nickname, but bit his lips to avoid smiling. “What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out helping them?” He questioned, briefly glancing at the older man and resuming to stir the dish in the pot.

Jimin crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes glinting with mischief. “They’ve got enough help over there, but you don’t,” he said, clicking his tongue before standing up straighter. He rubbed his palms together, his voice smooth as he added, “Let me help you with something.”

Taehyung glanced at him briefly, then looked back down at the pot he was stirring. He could already feel the tension between them, but he was trying hard not to let it affect him. “You want to help?” he asked, somewhat reluctantly, as he reached for the wooden spoon, filled with a ladle of the dish. “Here, taste this and tell me if it’s good.”

Jimin moved in closer, his face just inches from Taehyung’s. He held the spoon carefully, blowing on it before taking a small taste. He nodded with approval, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. “It’s perfect,” he said, his tone light, “but it could use a little more spice.”

Without waiting for a response, Jimin leaned over and reached for a jar of chili flakes from the counter. His proximity made Taehyung tense up, and he unconsciously took a step back, not wanting to give in to the warmth of Jimin’s closeness. Jimin glanced at him, his playful smile never fading as he shook a pinch of the spice into the dish, then mixed it in.

With a teasing glint in his eyes, Jimin leaned in even closer, his face hovering near Taehyung’s. Taehyung's heart rate quickened, and he instinctively turned his face slightly away, trying not to make it obvious just how much he was affected by Jimin’s closeness.

“Taehyung,” Jimin murmured, his breath warm against Taehyung’s skin. “You’re avoiding me. Do you not want to kiss me?”

Taehyung’s heart skipped a beat, his body tensing. He swallowed hard, willing himself to keep calm. “You…shouldn’t do it,” he replied softly, his voice strained as he stepped back further, his eyes flickering nervously. “Not unless you want the others to catch us.”

Jimin chuckled, clearly amused by the response. His eyes sparkled with an intensity that made Taehyung's stomach flutter. “Oh?” he asked, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “So you’re avoiding kisses just because of the others?” His voice was soft but teasing, clearly enjoying the effect he was having on Taehyung.

Taehyung could feel the pull of Jimin’s gaze, but he struggled to keep his thoughts in check. He reminded himself to focus, to avoid letting his feelings take over. He had to stop himself from falling deeper into this... whatever this was.

As Jimin’s smile grew wider, Taehyung’s thoughts swirled with confusion. He wanted to say something, to tell Jimin that they were just friends, that all this was wrong. However, he also wanted to know what their relationship was but the words caught in his throat. His heart hammered in his chest, and the space between them felt electric, charged with something neither of them could quite define.

Just as Taehyung was about to speak, Yoongi’s voice called out from behind them, breaking the tension. “I’m back,” Yoongi announced, stepping into the kitchen with a sigh.

“What’s going on here?”

Taehyung immediately stepped away from Jimin, his breath shaky as he turned back to the stove. “Nothing,” he muttered, focusing back on the dish in front of him. He was determined to regain control, to keep his feelings in check. He couldn’t let himself enjoy this closeness any more than he already had.

Jimin, on the other hand, stood there for a moment longer, a knowing smile on his face as he watched Taehyung's reaction. He couldn’t help but think that maybe Taehyung was just teasing him, drawing him in and pulling away on purpose. It was all part of the game, wasn’t it?

✦

The patio glowed softly under the warm fairy lights strung above, their golden light casting gentle shadows. The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore blended with the quiet chatter and laughter around the table. The smoky aroma of grilled pork belly filled the air, mingling with the crisp, salty breeze from the ocean. A perfect setting for their gathering.

Namjoon sat at the head of the table, with Taehyung and Jin on either side of him. Yoongi and Hoseok were seated next to Taehyung, while Jimin and Jungkook sat beside Jin, allowing Taehyung to have a perfect view of them.

“We should make this an annual trip. It’s so peaceful here!” Hoseok sighed contentedly, stretching his arms out wide.

“But only if Taehyung and I do the cooking,” Yoongi declared, sipping from his glass of soju. “I don’t trust anyone else near a stove.”

“Excuse me?” Jin gasped, pretending to be scandalized. “I am the best cook here!” Everyone chuckled at his indignation as Jin grabbed a piece of perfectly grilled pork belly with his chopsticks.

“These are juicy and amazing!” Taehyung praised, savoring the bite before picking out the juiciest pieces for Jin. “Here, hyung. These are better.”

“Thanks, but you know what else is juicy?” Jin wiggled his eyebrows mischievously.

The table groaned collectively, eyes darting to Namjoon, who continued eating unbothered by the chaos.

“Please, no!” Jungkook cried dramatically. “We do not need another one of your inappropriate stories!” Hearing that the group burst into laughter.

“You traumatized my poor Kookie,” Jimin teased, draping an arm casually around Jungkook’s shoulders.

Jungkook pouted like a child. “It’s true! I accidentally overheard them talking dirty on the phone once. I couldn’t sleep for a week.”

That earned another round of laughter from everyone, except Taehyung, whose attention was locked on Jimin’s arm slung so casually around Jungkook. The sight made something twist uncomfortably inside him.

“Tae! Can you pass that?” Jungkook’s cheerful voice broke his trance.

Blinking, Taehyung forced a polite smile and handed over the plate of fried kimchi, briefly meeting Jimin's gaze, which seemed to linger with curiosity.

“Thanks!” Jungkook grinned, piling some onto Jimin’s plate. “Here, have more of your favorites.”

“Thanks, Cutie.” Jimin’s playful nickname hit Taehyung like a sudden jolt. He thought that name was just for him.

“But you know,” Jimin added, “eating my favorite dish with you makes it taste even better.” He scooped some onto Jungkook’s plate in return.

“Remember those late-night rooftop snacks at my place?” Jungkook reminisced, his eyes lighting up. “It’s been forever. I miss that.”

Jimin ruffled Jungkook’s hair fondly. “We’ll do that again soon.” Jungkook giggled like a kid, feeding Jimin a piece of kimchi in return.

Their playful banter was like a world of its own, separate from the rest of the group. Taehyung barely registered the ongoing conversation between Yoongi, Hoseok, Jin and Namjoon. All he could hear was Jungkook’s infectious laughter and see the warmth in Jimin’s gaze as he smiled at him.

Taehyung’s chest tightened. He thought he was special to Jimin, that he was treated differently. But here was Jungkook, getting the same smiles, the same affection. His grip on the chopsticks tightened.

Namjoon's voice cut through the haze.

“Tae and I go there every day after classes,” Namjoon was saying, joining in the conversation with Jin, Yoongi and Hoseok.

But as he glanced at Taehyung, Namjoon’s words trailed off. Something about Taehyung’s posture was off—the tense shoulders, the distant gaze. Namjoon followed his line of sight to Jimin and Jungkook, who were still laughing softly together, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

Namjoon’s brows furrowed as he looked back at Taehyung, whose discomfort was evident.

“Taehyung?” Namjoon called quietly, patting his hand.

Taehyung flinched, snapping out of his thoughts. “What?” he stammered, forcing a nervous smile. “Oh, nothing.”

Namjoon’s gaze lingered. “You sure?”

“Yeah,” Taehyung nodded quickly, masking his emotions with a laugh that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Namjoon didn’t press further, but his curiosity was piqued.

‘Something is definitely going on.’

✦

“Let’s take a group photo!” Jin suggested enthusiastically, clapping his hands together.

“Finally something you’re good at,” Yoongi muttered dryly, making everyone laugh.

They all got up from the table, finding places to stand under the soft glow of fairy lights. Namjoon and Jin stood at the back, Hoseok positioning himself beside them. Yoongi leaned casually to the side, looking effortlessly cool.

Jimin naturally moved closer to Taehyung, placing a hand on his shoulder without hesitation. “Tae, stand with me!” he said cheerfully, squishing right up to him.

‘What the–’

Taehyung's heart raced, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. His instinct was to step back, but with everyone watching, he didn’t want to make it awkward. So he stood still, feeling every nerve in his body tingle as Jimin's warmth pressed against him.

“Jimin, do you have to stick to Taehyung like glue?” Hoseok teased, grinning.

“He’s the cutest one here; I can’t help it!” Jimin quipped, flashing a mischievous smile.

Taehyung blushed furiously, trying to laugh along, though his voice wavered slightly.

Jungkook, standing on Jimin’s other side, glanced at them with a slight frown. His jaw clenched subtly as he watched Jimin practically posing with Taehyung instead of him. The easy camaraderie between them gnawed at Jungkook, even though he tried to brush it off.

“Okay, ready!” Hoseok announced, holding up his phone.

As the shutter clicked, Taehyung's heart raced—not from the camera flash but from the overwhelming sensation of standing so close to Jimin, who seemed blissfully unaware of the chaos he was causing in Taehyung’s chest.

“Perfect!” Hoseok declared. “This one's going on my wall.”

“Careful, your wall might catch fire from our collective hotness,” Jin chimed in, making everyone laugh.

Jungkook’s laughter was quieter, though, his eyes flicking back to Taehyung and Jimin with a glint of jealousy.

✦

The group had slowly dispersed after an evening of laughter and conversation, some retreating to their rooms while others lingered behind. Taehyung, restless and unable to fall asleep, had found himself outside by the pool, gazing at the water reflecting the soft moonlight.

His mind had been a whirlwind, replaying the moments with Jimin—those fleeting, intimate exchanges—but also his interactions with others, especially Jungkook.

He couldn’t help but wonder: ‘Was it all just my imagination?’

He fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve, heart heavy with uncertainty, ‘Am I just another friend to him?’

"Couldn't sleep either?" Jimin's voice had broken the silence, and Taehyung looked up, finding him standing there with an easy, casual smile.

He had settled beside Taehyung, their shoulders brushing ever so slightly. The night air had felt cooler now, and the space between them had been filled with an unspoken tension.

Jimin had noticed Taehyung’s quiet demeanor, tilting his head in concern. "You’ve been quiet tonight. Is something bothering you?"

Taehyung had quickly shaken his head, forcing a small smile, though it hadn’t quite reached his eyes. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

Jimin hadn’t bought it but hadn’t pressed it. Instead, he had leaned back on his palms, eyes drifting up to the starry sky. “You know, you can tell me if something’s on your mind, right?”

Taehyung didn't look up, just gave him a nod. He felt as though he was stuck in a maze, not knowing what to do.

A lull had fallen over them. For a moment, the only sound had been the soft lapping of the pool’s water, but Jimin’s gaze lingered on Taehyung, intense and thoughtful. His voice, when it came, had been almost hesitant, like he was testing the waters.

"You’re different, you know," Jimin had murmured, his words quiet yet carrying weight. He had no idea why he was suddenly opening up to him, but he knew that Taehyung was the only person that would help him live in the moment, ignoring the past and the future.

Taehyung had blinked, taken aback. “Different? How?”

Jimin’s gaze had softened as he searched Taehyung’s face. “You make everything feel quieter," he said, his voice surprisingly vulnerable. "When I’m with you, I don’t feel like I have to think so much." He paused, and the silence had seemed to stretch before he had added, almost as an afterthought, "It’s nice."

The words hung between them, gentle yet heavy, as though Jimin had been realizing the truth in them for the first time. Taehyung’s chest had tightened, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn’t known how to respond, but the sincerity in Jimin’s voice had filled him with a warmth he couldn’t quite explain.

Jimin shifted slightly closer, their knees brushing, and Taehyung felt the warmth radiating from him. “Do I… make you uncomfortable?” Jimin asked, his voice quieter now, as if the thought had just occurred to him.

Taehyung, caught off guard, shook his head quickly, his voice barely above a whisper. “No. You don’t.”

A small, relieved smile pulled at Jimin’s lips. There had been something deeper in his gaze then—an understanding, maybe, or a realization. His voice had softened further, as if sharing something fragile. “Good.”

And then, without another word, Jimin leaned in, closing the distance between them. Taehyung froze in his spot, his eyes were glued on Jimin’s lips, they were so inviting.

“Huh?”

Yoongi, unable to sleep himself, happened to glance out the window from his room upstairs. His eyes widened as he caught the sight of Jimin and Taehyung sitting side by side by the pool. Their faces just inches apart, their bodies so close. He froze, unable to believe what he saw.

Just as their lips were about to meet, something shifted in Taehyung—his breath caught, and in a flash, he pulled back, turning his head just in time. Jimin’s lips landed softly on his cheek instead, and Taehyung felt his face erupt in warmth, his heart racing.

Jimin laughed softly, the sound warm and teasing. “Shy, huh?” he said, his tone playful, but there was fondness in it too.

Flustered, Taehyung stammered, “I-I’m tired. I should… I should go to bed.” He stood quickly, his hands shaking as he walked away, avoiding Jimin’s gaze. And making a mental note to make sure Jin was sleeping in the middle, he didn't want anything to happen between himself and Jimin tonight.

Yoongi, still watching from his window, had exhaled softly, shaking his head with a knowing smirk. He couldn’t help but smile at how awkwardly cute Taehyung had been. But he was left with the lingering thought of what he had just witnessed.

Left alone by the pool, Jimin watched Taehyung hurry inside. He shook his head with a soft smile, his thoughts lingering on the moment. “He’s too cute for his own good,” he murmured to himself.

Yoongi stayed at the window a moment longer, his mind racing. He couldn’t ignore what he saw. His curiosity was piqued, and he began piecing together the little moments he had noticed between Jimin and Taehyung—those glances, the way their chemistry seemed to grow with every passing day.

‘I should keep an eye on this,’ he thought, unsure whether to confront them yet or simply wait and watch.

✦✧✦✧

How's it? How are you all?