Chapter Text
Love doesn't make you stronger. It corrupts your soul, invades your senses and break you into tiny million pieces until you have no choice but to be strong.
"Love takes away your sanity until you have no choice but to be sane."
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Jimin has a tendency to do things he shouldn't do.
"Jimin!"
Said boy's gleeful shrieks resonated throughout the living room, soft blonde hair bobbing with every dash and turn as he escaped the desperate clutches of his best friend and long term neighbour.
"Jimin, It's not funny!"
And despite the words, his bestfriend couldn't help the giggles from erupting as they tripped over the edge of carpet and ended up entangled on the L-shaped couch.
Jimin's eyes had taken the shape of crescents as he squirmed out of the taller boy's grip.
"Hyun-g" He gasped for air, cackling loud against the boy's eardrums, "St-op.... tick-ahah-tickling-"
"Serves you right, you moron." There was no malice in his friend's tone, just pure mischief and fondness.
"Hyung!" Jimin squealed, eventually slipping from the couch onto the carpeted floor. The other boy was about to follow when suddenly, a loud ringing interrupted their antics.
"Who is it?" His friend raised a serious eyebrow as Jimin gripped the phone tightly, eyes shining with mirth.
"Your boyfriend." He whispered, smirking at the way his friend flushed from head to toe.
"He is not my boyfriend." He denied before demanding the phone.
"Let me talk." Jimin was grinning from ear to ear and the other boy was totally aware of his intentions but before he could snatch the phone, the little shit had already swiped to attend the call.
"Hello?" A rich baritone vibrated through the small device, "Hoseok-ah?"
Jimin glanced at his friend and just as he expected, Hoseok sat there, feet tucked under his legs, eyes blown and breath hitched. Jimin doesn't think he needs to move closer to hear the thundering of his best friend's heartbeat. His honey scent, faint but sweet, lingering in the air was enough of a reaction.
"Hoseok? Are you okay?"
Jimin's gaze turned back onto the phone and after a few concerned but assuring glances at his nervous friend, his voice rang out, soft and feathery.
"Yes. I am fine, Yoongi-ssi."
There was a silence as Yoongi took a relieved breath.
"Thank Heavens. I was worried that you wouldn't like me calling you."
Jimin smiled at Hoseok's lovestruck expression before replying smoothly, "I cannot deny that I was indeed nervous because.. we have never spoken like this before."
"I understand. If you are uncomfortable, I can call another tim-"
"NO!"
And Jimin didn't mean to shout but he had seen how his friend's face fell and -
Jimin is a loud person. He doesn't like to beat around the bush. He is blunt and expressive; the complete opposite of Hoseok.
"I mean, It's fine." He added softly.
Yoongi cleared his throat, "I'm relieved."
There was an awkward silence afterwards in which Hoseok looked spaced out and Jimin looked a bit bored. Unbeknownst to them, Yoongi was just plain anxious.
"It-It has been so long." He started, "Last time, I heard your voice we were like seven or eight. It was so different back then- your voice, I mean."
It is different because it doesn't belong to the same person, you moron.
Jimin resists saying that and instead opts for just rolling his eyes.
"Well, Your voice has changed a lot too. It comes with puberty I guess."
"It did?" He sounded surprised and Jimin looked at Hoseok, mouthing 'What? Did I say the wrong thing?'
"Joon told me my voice is basically the same, just a bit deeper."
"Joon?" And Jimin didn't mean to blurt it out because he was supposed to know who this 'Joon' is, since he is pretending to be Hoseok.
"Ah. Kim Namjoon. He was a grade under me in school, same as you. You don't remember?"
Hoseok was giving him a 'you mess this up, I'll kill you' look so Jimin offered him a silent apology before humming uninterestedly into the phone.
"I guess so. I'm not in contact with any of them."
"Oh." Yoongi cleared his throat and spoke again, "Namjoon presented as an Alpha too. We'll have a little get together once I come back to Korea."
"Is this an invitation?" And No, Jimin didn't mean to sound so flirtatious but he has a tendency to do things he shouldn't do.
Yoongi chuckled and Jimin didn't acknowledge the little squeal Hoseok suppressed into the cushion. He was too focused on the flutter inside his stomach.
"Of course, It is. You are the first person I would invite. You know that."
No I didn't.
Because I'm someone else.
"Is that a promise then?"
Yoongi hummed dramatically and even if Jimin had never seen the Alpha, he could imagine the mirth in his eyes and a fond smile playing on his soft lips. That's how Hoseok always describes his Alpha. His Alpha.
Hoseok's Alpha. Hoseok's Promised.
"It's not a promise. It's a vow." Yoongi speaks with sheer sincerity dripping from his voice.
And Jimin could feel his heart tripping, falling down a dark pit with no return. His mind whirled with the need to walk down an aisle meant for someone else.
Yes, Jimin does have a tendency to do things he shouldn't do.
But he does it anyways.