These days, Jimin still hides in school after lessons in fear of his bullies and Jungkook would still ignore him for now in school, but that's fine by him.

Then whenever he gets home, Jungkook would talk to him about his day or hobbies which are photography or going to the park, and laying down on the grass while looking up at the sky. Jimin could tell they are getting closer each time they talk.

Little does he know that Jungkook would observe him from time to time in school, wondering where he would be and what he would be doing.

Today is one of these days when Jungkook sits in the last row and takes notes during the lesson, but not without glancing at the blonde boy who sits by the window two rows in front of him.

Jungkook takes a look around him. Everyone is either constantly drawing notes on their papers or interacting with each other. It's like there's a wall around Jimin. Nobody speaks to him; he appears solitary and miserable.

'No surprise, he wanted someone he could talk to', Jungkook thinks.

"Please work on the assignments I wrote on the board until the next class."

Jungkook gathers his things together and prepares to go, having another look at Jimin, who basically stuffs his stuff in his back hastily and gets out as quickly as he can.

Sure, there is nothing in this room that would hold him back, but why did he run away?

Jungkook gets concerned and decides to follow him silently. However, when he exits the classroom, there is no sign of Jimin where he might have gone.

During the break, Jungkook looks into every accessible classroom in anticipation of finding him somewhere but without success. He then chooses to look in the restrooms and other rooms but is still unable to find him.

The next time he checks his phone, it shows the end of the break. With a deep sigh, he gives up on searching. If he still isn't back by the next lesson, he would go and search again.

Jungkook arrives at the classroom just in time to observe Jimin sitting in the last row and attempting to cover his wrist with his sleeve. Jungkook's wrath grows as he stares at the other wrist. Jimin's pale wrists are coated in dull purple spots.

Worry takes over him and Jungkook blends out what others might think as he strides determined towards Jimin, he feels terrible for not finding Jimin in time to prevent whatever occurred to him.

Jungkook slams his hands on Jimin's table before grabbing his hand and dragging him out of class, catching the attention of his classmates behind him. But that's something he couldn't care less about right now, when his first priority is to make sure Jimin is okay.

"What has gotten into you?!" Jimin asks with a quizzical look, their eyes meeting. Jungkook ignores the lines forming between Jimin's brows.

"Jimin, are you alright?"

"Yes, I am fine. Did you seriously-" Jimin stops talking, and gasps as Jungkook carefully lifts his hand up and pulls his sleeves up, exposing the purple bruises that cover his arms.

"You're obviously not fine," Jungkook says in a hushed voice, layered with concern, before he adds, "What happened?"

He examines both wrists closely and then softly runs his fingers over them.

Jimin looks down, unable to meet Jungkook's gaze. He gnaws on his bottom lip, shrugging. "Nothing big happened. I just... rushed down the stairs and before I knew it, I was on the ground."

Jungkook lets out a scoff in disbelief. Does Jimin genuinely think he is that stupid? Even a seventh-grader could see that this isn't true. Jungkook clears his throat with a frown on his face, undoubtedly staring directly at Jimin and trying to build some kind of eye contact.

"Jimin-"

"Guys, I know it is very tempting to stay out until the very last second of the break, but would you go to your seats now, please?" The teacher they have for the upcoming lesson is now standing behind Jimin, looking at them both with a serious expression.

Both nod apologetically in response and walk quietly into the classroom to their seats.

Jungkook's eyes meet Jimin's once they sit at their seats, he senses there's a different reason for his bruises Jimin isn't willing to discuss, and it only adds to his frustration when Jimin turns his gaze to the front.

Jungkook has to find out what happened. He doesn't know why he's suddenly feeling protective of Jimin, but neither does he care when he doesn't want him to be hurt in any manner.

_______

The sun wanders over the sky, gently disappearing behind the busy city's lofty buildings. A fading purple, mingled with salmon orange and a hint of light blue, decorates the clear sky as they return home quietly.

Jungkook abruptly pulls him upstairs to his bedroom as they arrive at home. "Jimin. I wasn't planning on pressuring you, but you leave me no choice. I am getting worried about you. Could you just tell me the truth? You don't have to be afraid of me. I just want to know what happened. Please. You can trust me." He grasps Jimin's hand and draws delicate circles on the back of it.

Jimin on the other hand looks to his feet again. It wasn't on purpose for Jimin to turn away from every gaze Jungkook threw him for the rest of the day. But the urge to resist, just to run to him and spill the truth about the purple bruises while he would bury his head in his chest, became unbearable.

Once Jimin would begin to spill, he believes he couldn't stop telling him about all that happened in the past which made him cry and didn't let him sleep at night at all.

Yet, many of these incidents happened because of his bullies, making his life a living hell within the school's beige walls. He doesn't want to risk something happening to Jungkook simply because of the stupid gut feeling that tells him he should confide it to someone.

His heart is heavy and all he wants to do is nothing else other than, to tell the truth. However, Jimin chooses to answer differently. "Can you trust me on this and just let it go? I told you already, it was when I walked the stairs down."

Jungkook takes a deep breath, slowly becoming impatient. "You and I know that you are lying to me. Did someone hurt you?"

Jimin simply shrugs. "Why? I am not important anyway."

Jungkooks frowns at his words before he takes a step closer, looking him into his eyes. He doesn't understand why the latter would say that. "Don't say that. You are important to me."

Jimin's heart skips a beat at his words, and his pulse quickens when he looks the taller in the eyes. He can see his honesty and pain in them. There's also no denying that he looks at Jungkook's face more than Jimin probably should.

For the first time, he notices how gorgeous he seems in the last rays of the sun. How come he hasn't noticed his sharp jawline, or the mole beneath his nose until now. His gaze wanders down to his lips, which always form into a bunny smile when he's happy. Oh, how he would love to see it right now, instead of his pissed expression.

They stare mere seconds at each other before Jungkook speaks again. "You are the only person I want to trust and the only person who I consider a friend."

Jimin would be lying if he said he doesn't feel it heart clenching that Jungkook thinks of him as a friend. But it does, and he doesn't know why, considering they haven't known each other for long, makes sense as to why he would say it. Then why does it bother him?

Jungkook takes Jimin's silence and stern expression as discomfort, so he slides an arm around him, pulling him into his warm embrace.

"I am sorry when I made you angry and uncomfortable. I won't pressure you anymore. I am just so worried about you, but I will try patiently to wait until you are ready to tell me."

He lets his hand find Jimin's shoulder blades, rubbing circles into his skin. Jimin doesn't move an inch. Instead, he allows himself to lean into the comforting warmth that Jungkook is willingly providing with his body.

Just this once, he imagines what it would be like if Jungkook held him more often and what he would be like as a boyfriend. Would Jungkook be someone who would comfort someone with cuddling?

"Thank you."