"Do you want to go to the mall today?" They had just finished their breakfast and it was the weekend. Jungkook doesn't want to simply sit at home and get bored. Going out would be perhaps a better option.

"Sure. Haven't been there in a long time." Jimin already has his shoes on, tying up his shoelaces, before Jungkook can blink

"Since when are you so quick?"

'When I get a chance to spend more time with you', Jimin thinks. But, of course, he doesn't answer Jungkook’s question like that.

Jimin simply shrugs and blurts out the first thing that comes to his mind. "I want ice cream." 

He says it like they don't have ice cream in the freezer, one of his favourites at that, but he doesn't want to stay home either. Not when he has the chance to get to know Jungkook better.

"Hahaha. You're too adorable when it comes to ice cream."

The smaller blushes when he sees Jungkook’s thin lips curl into a bunny smile, causing his heart to flutter.

"Ready to go?" Jimin nods.

They set off shortly after and walk together in pleasant silence to the bus stop. Arriving, the bus also only came a little later, in which they got on, Jimin cursed inwardly. Because that didn't happen without embarrassing himself and slipping on the step and falling behind. It could have ended embarrassingly and painfully. Fortunately, that was prevented by Jungkook, who was right behind him and held him by the waist. Not to mention the flush that crept over Jimin’s face afterwards.

Inside the bus, it was occupied by not many people, but not less either. Jimin was the first one to go to the back of the bus, taking a seat at the window. Jungkook followed suit, taking the seat next to him.

Every so often, their hands and knees would brush against one another on the ride, creating some comfortable tension between them. At some point, they're too caught up in their thoughts and Jimin's head falls onto the taller one's shoulder. That is just one of the many examples to see that they have gotten closer and more comfortable with each other.

Once they arrive at the mall, Jimin reaches out for Jungkook's arm and pulls him to the ice cream parlour.

He just couldn't wait.

"What flavour do you want to get? I'll go and get it for you."

"No, it's okay. I can pay for it myself," Jimin stubbornly says.

"That's out of the question. I was the one who suggested going to the mall, so tell me what I can get you." Jimin sighs, he knows Jungkook won’t change his mind and he just has to settle for this—whether he likes it or not. He's too stubborn.

"Okay. Strawberry and snickers, please. I will go to the table in the back." He points at it with his index finger.

Jungkook nods and turns to the counter.

Jimin takes the opportunity to think back to their first encounters and how much Jungkook has changed for the better. Jungkook is no longer the ticking time bomb that’s just waiting to explode.

He has opened up more and more to Jimin day by day over the previous weeks. The same goes for Jimin. They have been living together for one month, and yet it feels longer.

Despite getting closer, there’s still this secret Jimin carries around, eating him up from the inside. Though, Jimin is willing to trust Jungkook with certain things. The problem with the bullies is still present and untouched. Even if they left him alone yesterday, it's only a matter of time before they would corner him and Jungkook would know about it.

"Here you go." Jungkook interrupts his train of thought and hands him the ice cone.

"Thank you, Jungkookie~" he says, faking a smile. Jimin thinks it’s enough to cover up that he thought about this unpleasant topic but apparently Jungkook sees right through him.

"What's wrong? Do you not want to be here?"

"No, everything is fine." He waves his hand, indicating a 'no' as he sees concern flashing in Jungkook’s face. "I wouldn't want to be somewhere else, I've just thought about something.”

"Okay," is all Jungkook says while observing him. It’s clear that he wants to ask what it is, but he drops the topic and continues to eat the rest of his ice cream. "Where do you want to go next?"

Jimin looks around, his gaze stops at a cute shop.

"Let's go there," he says, pointing his index finger to the shop that has caught his attention.

"Alright, let's go."

Jimin doesn't need to be told twice. Within seconds he stands up and looks impatiently at Jungkook, who reaches for his denim jacket that he has hung over the back of the chair.

"Come on...!" He urges.

'Oh my... What did I get myself into?' Jungkook thinks when he sees the determined look on Jimin's face.

The moment they reach the shop, Jimin lets out an exhaled 'woowww', saying like "wow there are so many cute things...", while Jungkook is contemplating turning around and going back out to the next store. This is absolutely not his cup of tea, with stuffed animals in many variations, sweaters with girlish motives. It appears to be some sort of kawaii store. 

He is about to tell Jimin he is going into the shop next door and is looking around when his eyes fall on Jimin in front of the mirror. He is dressed in a jumper that reaches down to his thighs, while he pushes out his lower lip and looks cutely at himself. Jungkook imagines in the next moment what it would be like if Jimin were wearing his jumper, he would look just as adorable-

Oh, dear Lord... Why are you doing this to me? Someone help me, please.

"Doesn't your boyfriend look cute in it?"

The saleswoman's voice surprises him. He was not aware that while he was eyeing Jimin, he had unconsciously approached the counter. There you see that it’s impossible to take one's eyes off the blond and get easily distracted. 

Jungkook only realises the woman’s question when she snorts and looks between Jimin and him back and forth. When did Jimin become so irresistibly cute that he can’t take his eyes off him?

Jungkook nervously swallows

"He- He isn't my boyfriend," Jungkook smiles nervously at her. The funny thing is that he feels a little sad at this, but he brushes it off.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I just assumed because you looked so close outside the store and you can't take your eyes off of him. Forget I said anything, please."

"It's fine. He is-"

"Jungkook."

Jimin's voice is soft and timid as he calls his name. Jungkook returns Jimin’s gaze in an instant, seeing his cheeks slightly tainted pink. His eyes fall then on the petite figure, standing in front of him. Jungkook’s hands begin to sweat and his mouth goes dry. He tells himself to calm down, but it’s no use when Jimin takes a step towards him, keeping their eyes locked.

Jimin looks so-

"How do I look?" he asks nervously. Jungkook isn't able to say anything, too taken aback at the sight. Jimin looks extremely adorable. "I look bad, don't I?" 

Jungkook snaps back to reality at these words. "No! Please don't think that. Y-You, look really good in them. The jumper fits you."

Jimin starts blushing almost immediately at his words and Jungkook, realising what he just said, he starts blushing as well.

"Th-Thanks."

Jungkook clears his throat "Do you want to buy more clothes?"

"No, I think it's enough for now, but I want to go to that one shop near the entrance with stationery."

"Good, then let’s pay and we can go there." Jimin nods, a soft smile grazing his lips.

“You don’t want anything?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “Not today, not really.”

And so they grab the things Jimin wants to purchase and pay at the cashier before they walk out of the store.

"Jungkookie?" Jimin looks at the said boy.

"Hm?" Jungkook turns his attention to Jimin, brow raising.

"Are you hungry?"

"I'm not that hungry, but if you want to eat something that's fine with me, or if you want, I can go and pick something while you're going to that store where you intended to go." Jimin's eyes form into crescents and Jungkook has to remember not to stare. After all, he has come to like the eye crescent smile.

"Okay."

They part ways and Jungkook orders two take out boxes with chinese food before he goes to the stationery shop where they are supposed to meet. To his dismay, he can't see him.

"Hello," the woman at the counter greets him friendly as he enters the shop.

Jungkook doesn't take notice of the cashier immediately, being too distracted by glancing around in the shop. He's furrowing his brows as he doesn't see him at all.

"Excuse me, have you perhaps seen a boy with a grey jumper and blond hair?" Jungkook taps with his foot mildly nervous on the floor, his stomach is churning anxiously.

"No, I'm sorry. No boy that fits your description has entered the shop." Jungkook's stomach drops.

"But," the woman speaks up again and catches his attention, "I saw a boy in front of the store who looked like how you described him. He stood there for a moment until a man came up to him." Jungkook's eyes widen at what she says and panic spreads through his body.

"And then what happened?" He asks immediately.

"I don't really know. The boy didn't look all too happy before they both went to the entrance of the mall."

"Thank you very much."

He runs out of the shop towards the exit, not caring if people looked strangely at him or if he unintentionally misses a person by only a few centimetres.

He can't be that far away.

Every time his shoes touch the marble floor with a thud, his breathing becomes uneven and the food is long forgotten in his hands. Jungkook reaches the door and pushes against it with his shoulder to open it.

There is no way he'd go with anyone other than Jungkook. He doesn't have any friends besides him, so it just doesn't make sense to Jungkook why he would suddenly go with someone else, so he assumes the worst scenario.

His first thought is that he might be at the bus station, but drops his shoulder when he finds no one there. He clasps the bag stronger, causing his fingernails to dig into his skin as his chest tightens.

Jungkook's feet lead him back to the mall until he thinks he saw something shifting in a dark alley. He spots the shape of two individuals kissing on the wall.

Probably some teenagers making out, he rolls his eyes at the thought. But just as he's about to turn around and search somewhere else, he hears one of them muttering a help.

Jungkook needs a second to figure out the familiar voice until the person attempts to say a fainted word he's all too associated with.

"J-Jungkoo-k."

Right away, Jungkook puts the food on the ground and takes large steps towards them. Rage pulses through his veins and he wishes for nothing more than to tear the head off, whoever touches Jimin. His family.

"What do you think you're doing?! Go the fuck away from him!" Jungkook yells with anger, then raises his fist at the man's face who has his lips on Jimin's throat. He's more than disgusted by the sight.

The guy spits on the street. "Do you really think you will keep me away from him? Don't you also think he would make a good trophy?"

"Don't you dare say that!" Jungkook sees red and kicks his knee in his stomach, which makes him tumble but looks back up with a grin and huffs.

He can pick up the fear that shines in the blond boy's eyes. Jimin's trembling and clinging to Jungkook. "Are you fine?"

"Adorable how much you care about him." Jungkook focuses on the man, who's facing him now with a devilish grin. "How about we make a deal? We can both share him." 

He licks his lips and Jungkook's hands form into fists, knuckles turning white.

"How about another deal? You will go back to where you came from and I won't call the police."

The man huffs. "Oh come on, where's the fun in that?"

Jungkook takes out his phone, typing already the digits in when the guy suddenly throws his phone to the ground and pulls out a knife.

"I warned you." Jungkooks voice was deep and would've frightened anyone but the man.

He sees red. Adrenaline fills him and makes his body go rigid. Jungkook's face hardens and he turns into a side stance.

"Seriously... You wanna fight now?!"

Jungkook smiles mischievously before he spins his body and jumps in the air while lifting his right leg before finally knocking the man with his left foot to the ground within seconds.

"Finally an opportunity to use my secretly learned Taekwondo skills," he mumbles to himself as he looks at the passed-out guy.

"Thank you for saving me, Kookie." He leans his head against Jungkook's chest while Jimin's arms circle around his stomach.

"Are you alright?" Jungkook asks, worriedly. He places his index finger underneath Jimin's chin and lifts it.

"Now... I'm fine." He smiles shyly.

Jungkook smiles back and reaches with one hand for Jimin's and with the other, he goes to grab the take-out food. "Then let's go home."