Chapter Text
26th December, 2019. 1:00pm.
“Alright, we’re here.” His dad says, stopping the car by the curb.
Jungkook feels a little weird, not a bad weird but just... weird. He can clearly see his house from the car window. He’s exactly where he has wanted to be for so long that it feels weird being finally here, especially when he doesn't seem to be aching for home as intensely as before.
Because Christmas was fun. Really fun. They had lunch and went ice skating and played video games and his dad played a few songs on his new digital piano while Hoseok and Jin sang and they played charades and it was a day full of brightness. Jungkook laughed and smiled and talked and just had fun . It was great.
It makes returning home more bittersweet.
His dad slips out of the car and opens the trunk. Jungkook gets out too, carrying his backpack in his hand. The weather is somehow colder than it was in the morning, the wind seeming to whip at his ears and nose. The tips of his fingers quickly turn red with the cold.
His dad hands him his suitcase and closes the trunk with a slam.
“So, are you okay with staying over at the end of the month?” His dad asks, hands inside the pockets of his large coat.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Jungkook nods.
“And your game is on the-”
“15th of January.” Jungkook confirms.
Yoongi smiles, “Okay, I’ll be there then.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, promise.” His dad nods.
He then steps forward and embraces Jungkook. Jungkook embraces him back.
The hug speaks for itself. No words need to be said.
They break away and Yoongi pats his shoulder, “I’ll see you soon, Kid.”
“Have fun with Hoseok.” Jungkook says sincerely, “And bring me something from Korea.”
“What do you want?”
“A magnet is fine. Or maybe a postcard.”
“So typical touristy stuff?” Yoongi chuckles.
“Yeah.”
“Will do.”
Yoongi smiles and Jungkook smiles back. Jungkook thinks his dad is going to be leave but Yoongi extends a fisted hand.
Jungkook bumps it. Just like old times.
Soon, his dad gets in the car and leaves, but Jungkook doesn’t feel relieved like he thought he would at the beginning of the holiday.
He’s actually looking forward to seeing his dad again, which feels strange to think. Things are still not perfect between them, it will take time for things to mend, but there is a start. And a start is always good.
Jungkook walks to his house, suitcase dragging behind him. With his numb fingers, he unlocks the door.
He steps into his house and he does feel at home again. The minimalist decoration and simple colour scheme seem to cleanse his eyes from the colour overload (mainly green overload) he had at his dad's house. The air smells like roses from the vase at the entrance, which surprises Jungkook because his mum has never been the biggest fan of flowers, but they're pretty. He can hear his mum walk around and talk on the phone, probably to a co-worker or a friend. She’s talking to someone when she’s pacing around.
“Mum, I’m home!” Jungkook shouts from the entrance. He drops his keys in the metal key bowl and sighs. He hangs his coat and picks his bag up again.
"Yeah, just wait a second, Jungkook just got home." He hears his mum say from the stairs.
He mum jogs into the hallway and moves her phone away from her ear. She smiles at Jungkook and immediately hugs him tight.
“Oh, god, I missed you so much!” His mum says brightly, “There’s food for you in the fridge, if you’re hungry.”
Jungkook smiles. He missed her too.
“Thanks, I’ll eat in a bit.”
“Good. And you have to tell me everything that happened!”
Jungkook rolls his eyes, “Yeah, yeah.”
His mum smiles at him and goes back to speaking on the phone, chattering away about something. They have plenty of time to talk anyway.
Jungkook smiles as he takes out his phone and walks up the stairs. He leaves the suitcase in the hallway to be dealt with later.
CHAT NAME: two and a half men
[13:11:34] Jungkook : hey guys
[13:11:45] Jungkook : i just got home
[13:11:56] Jungkook : anyone wanna hang out?
[13:12:13] Tae : glad you made it in one piece
[13:12:24] Tae : but i cant dude i still have family stuff
[13:12:57] Chimmie : That’s great, I’m so glad you’re back!!
[13:13:08] Chimmie : I’m actually pretty free today, what do you want to do?
Jungkook goes in his room and drops his bag by the door. His walls are mostly covered in posters and the room is decorated with black furniture. The black curtains are drawn to allow sunlight and his black drum set sit in the corner by his desk. His black room. Still pretty monotone, but these four walls give him comfort, because they are his own. They give him the safety and privacy he often needs.
He immediately throws himself on the bed. His black bed, which he missed so dearly. There’s nothing more comfortable than his black bed. The green bed really could never.
Jungkook rereads Jimin’s message, paying more attention to the words. He looks back at his bag and smiles, knowing what’s inside. Suddenly, his body seems to vibrate with energy and at the same time, apprehension.
Still, he knows what he has to do.
[13:16:39] Jungkook : that’s perfect actually
[13:16:47] Jungkook : meet me at drew’s in an hour
***
Drew’s coffee shop is a recurring meeting spot for Jungkook, Jimin and Taehyung. Taehyung’s dad is pretty good friends with the owner, Drew, and so the trio always get discounts and more importantly, are allowed into a secluded section at the back which is really nice. They spend a lot of time there, sometimes studying, but mostly just messing about and chatting.
When Jungkook walks through the door, Drew immediately greets him with a warm smile and hello.
“Hey, Drew” Jungkook greets back, “Is Jimin here?”
Drew nods, “He’s at the back. Already ordered for you.”
Jungkook gives him a thank you and moves to the other end of the coffee shop. The shop is pretty empty, only one or two people dotted around. The atmosphere is warm and pleasant, the smell of coffee comforting and inviting.
Jungkook casually slips through the ‘Staff Only’ door and goes up the stairs. He goes through another door, and Jimin is already sitting at the small wooden table, a latte in front of him while he looks out of the window.
Jungkook is hit by just how much he really missed him.
“Hey Jimin.” Jungkook says, smiling.
Jimin turns towards Jungkook and he smiles brightly, in the way that shines with joy. He stands and quickly moves to Jungkook, hugging him tightly. It’s so tight it feels like their bodies are pressed right against each other and Jungkook loves it. Loves feeling Jimin in his arms.
Jungkook really missed Jimin, his scent and his warmth and his touch. Just his whole being.
“Jungkook, I missed you so much.” Jimin whispers.
“I missed you too” Jungkook whispers back.
“Are you okay? Did yesterday go well?” Jimin pulls back and looks at Jungkook earnestly. Jungkook must be referring back to what happened on the 24th. Jungkook called Jimin on Christmas morning to tell him everything that happened. Jimin was very sympathetic and comforting, as he always is, but Jungkook assured him things were at least a little better. It was the sun after the storm, and the storm was very much needed.
Jungkook never got a chance to update him and tell him about how the rest of the day went, as he was constantly busy and the second his head hit the green pillow, he fell asleep.
“Yes, it was great. We had a lot of fun.”
Jimin smiles, “That’s good. I’m very glad.”
The two sit back at the table. Jungkook chooses to seat beside Jimin as opposed to sitting facing him. Jimin seems a little surprised and moves the americano he ordered for Jungkook in front of him.
“So, how was your christmas?” Jungkook asks he peels off his jacket and stirs his drink.
“It was good. I had fun with my family.” Jimin takes a sip of his drink.
Jungkook nods. It feels like the perfect opportunity to bring up what’s in his bag. He’s a little nervous, but he really wants to do it.
Jungkook leans and takes the bag out of his backpack. Somehow, the bag is still mostly intact. He lifts it up and shows it to Jimin, “I got you something.”
Jimin’s face is one of shock, “Oh, Jungkook, I didn’t get you anything, I’m so sorry-”
Jungkook shakes his head. He doesn’t really care for presents. Jimin’s presence in itself seems like a present, as cheesy as it sounds, “No, no, it’s okay. It’s just I saw this and it reminded me of you.”
Jimin’s face widens, forming a perfect ‘O’. His cheeks flush.
“Here,” Jungkook hands him the bag, “You can open it.”
Jimin takes the bag carefully in his small hands. He shoots Jungkook a glance and a small smile and slowly opens the bag.
He fishes out the bundle of tissue paper and gives Jungkook an excited look before opening the paper. Jungkook’s heart leaps in his chest.
He grips his cup tightly.
Jimin takes out the bracelet and his eyes sparkle looking at it. He admires the sapphires in the dim daylight and he chuckles. He immediately leans to hug Jungkook.
“Aw, Jungkook, I love it. I love it so much. Thank you.”
Jungkook smiles too because he is so relieved that he likes it, that he actually likes it, and that he seems so happy and Jungkook just feels adrenaline pump through his blood and his stomach fills with butterflies.
Jimin pulls away and wraps the bracelet around his wrist, “Can you help me put it on?”
Jungkook takes his trembling fingers and fastens the bracelet. His skin scrapes Jimin’s a few times and it just makes Jungkook more nervous.
Jimin smiles and holds up his wrist. The bracelet is a little loose but it looks good. It seems to suit him. The ballet shoe pendants jiggle with the flick of his wrist.
“It’s so beautiful. Thank you, Kook.”
Jungkook blushes, “It’s really no problem, it wasn’t even that expensive-”
“No, but you’re always so sweet. So thoughtful.” Jimin’s cheeks continue to flush and it must be from the heat in the small room. Jungkook too is finding the room a little too warm.
“It’s really nothing-”
“No, I-” Jimin clears his throat, “I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
Jungkook’s heart begins hammering so tightly against his chest it feels like his ribs will collapse. He tries to seem calm though and attempts to smile.
Jimin looks down at his fingers, which are fiddling with his short nails. Jungkook never noticed he bites them.
“I came out to my family.” Jimin announces, looking at Jungkook to assess his reaction.
Jungkook’s eyes widen, “Really?”
“Yeah. They were… shocked. My grandparents didn’t take it too well and my parents are going to take a while to digest it but it wasn’t too bad. They didn’t kick me out at least.”
“That’s good. That’s great. I’m- I’m so proud of you, Jim.” Jungkook settles his hand on top of Jimin’s knee and it feels intimate but Jimin shows no discomfort. In fact, he settles his hand on top of Jungkook's.
“Thank you.” Jimin says, voice soft.
He continues, “I just- I felt like if I was to do this I would need to, you know, really commit to it. And make sure I was ready to follow through. I felt like I really needed to tell them before I do this.”
Jungkook furrows his brows in confusion, “Wait, do what?”
Jimin meets Jungkook’s eyes unflinching and Jungkook is sort of taken by the intensity of the stare and how beautiful Jimin looks in the winter day, black hair sweeping over his hazelnut eyes.
“Tell you I have feelings for you.”
Jungkook feels something hit him in the gut and slap him in the face. His eyes widen but his stare doesn’t leave Jimin’s eyes. Their gaze seems to be locked.
“You- you what?” Jungkook stammers. His heart seemed to stop and then go a thousands miles an hour, almost wanting to speed out of his chest.
“I have feelings for you. I have for a long time. And I- I’ve been too scared to say anything because of so many things. But now I’m out and if you want, we can go out and maybe- maybe date? And oh, I’m sorry, I’m getting way ahead of myself, aren’t I? Gosh- ”
Jungkook squeezes Jimin’s knee gently and that seems to cease the rambling.
“No, you aren’t. I- I have feelings for you too.” Jungkook feels his face heat up in embarrassment. He isn’t so brave to meet Jimin’s eyes, “But I didn’t want to say anything because we have college coming up and you’ll move so far away-“
“And?” Jimin searches for Jungkook’s eyes again, “I don’t really care. I just like you a lot and you know, carpe diem."
Jimin sighs, "When that comes up, we’ll deal with it. But we’ll deal with it together. And that’s what matters, right?” He shrugs, “Besides, you promised to not leave me. And I trust you. I trust you to honour that promise.”
Jungkook swallows, his throat feeling so dry from the nerves.
“I trust you too.” And he means it.
Jimin smiles, “Yeah. So if we trust each other, we can, you know, work through it.”
Jungkook nods. The more he thinks about it, the more he realises that maybe that’s what his parents lacked- trust. Trust that they would last, trust that they could sort things out. And maybe that’s what his dad and Hoseok have or what Jin and Namjoon have. Trust. Trust that they will be fine. That no matter what, they’ll stick by each other.
Jungkook trusts Jimin wholeheadly. He knows Jimin trusts him too. And maybe with that, they’ll make it last. Maybe they won’t end up like Jungkook’s parents.
And even if they don't, Jimin is sweet enough to justify the ache. Jungkook knows he won't regret it.
“Yeah, whatever happens, we’ll sort it out.” Jungkook confirms.
Jimin nods. Jungkook is aware Jimin’s hand is still on top of his and his hand is still on his knee.
Jimin shifts closer, eyes scanning Jungkook's face. Jungkook feels himself shift closer too, almost if they are tied by a magnet.
Their breaths now brush each other’s lips.
“I know it’s usually after the first date.” Jungkook starts, “But can I kiss you? It’s okay if- ”
Jimin cups Jungkook’s cheek and smiles. He leans and their lips meet in a soft kiss. It starts out delicate but slowly Jimin deepens it and it starts to get more passionate. Jimin's lips are so soft and they taste like cherry lip balm and it feels like a dream. It's better than anything Jungkook has ever imagined. Jungkook has kissed other people before, but never has a kiss been so exhilarating in his life. It feels like sparks are going off inside him and butterflies are flying inside his stomach, which is busy doing cartwheels.
In short, it feels nice. It feels right.
They break away for air and Jimin chuckles.
“Yeah, I’m definitely gay.”
Jungkook laughs too and they laugh together. Jimin leans in his arms and hugs him tight.
Yeah, things will be fine, Jungkook thinks. With Jimin, with his dad, with school.
Yeah, everything will definitely be fine.