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25 doesn’t feel any different that 24 did.
Jungkook still wakes up alone in his tiny apartment with only the sound of traffic below him keeping him company.
It’s fine though, he’s never been the type to make a big deal out of his birthday. Sure, his parents and friends would always get him a cake and celebrate with him but that was when he was young and full of life. He’s an adult now, he doesn’t need anyone to get him a cake.
At least that’s how he thinks he should feel but as he sits down on his worn out couch with a bagel in hand and watches a new episode of the kdrama he likes on his TV, he doesn’t feel like he’s much of an adult.
He’s still single, he’s still working full time at a shitty restaurant because he has no idea how to even start a career, and he barely knows how to keep himself alive day after day.
Yeah, 25 doesn’t feel any different. Not any more different than 24 or 23 or 22. All the years start to blend together.
He looks at his phone and sees that he has a text from his mother wishing him a happy birthday and tells him to go buy himself something nice along with $30.
It won’t get him very far here, but he can at least enjoy a nice coffee.
He tells himself he doesn’t care that much as he tries on shirt after shirt, trying to decide on which one he likes the most.
When he finally steps outside, the air is so cold it almost makes him want to head back inside and crawl back under his covers for the rest of the day.
But he wants his coffee so he heads down the block to the coffee shop closest to his house.
It’s small but it makes the best lattes Jungkook has ever had so he tries to stop in whenever he has extra money to spend. He figures today is a good enough excuse.
“Good morning!” a voice says as Jungkook opens the front door. He looks up to see a blonde man with a smile so big it’s making his eyes disappear standing behind the counter. He looks almost like an angel and it makes Jungkook’s mind go blank.
“Would you like some coffee?” The man asks and Jungkook realizes he’s just been standing in the entrance looking like an idiot.
“Oh um…yes.” Jungkook stammers. “A large latte with salted caramel and white chocolate.”
“Oh fancy.” The man says with a teasing grin. “A special day today?”
And usually Jungkook doesn’t engage in conversations with customer service workers, he gets to do enough of that at his own job, but something about this man makes him want to answer him.
“Um kind of…it’s my birthday.”
That man’s jaw drops dramatically. Jungkook think’s it’s overkill.
“What? No way, how old are you?” He asks as he presses buttons on the espresso machine.
“25.”
“That’s a good age! Right in between being a real adult and being a fake adult. It’s a good year.”
“It doesn’t feel like a good age.” Jungkook says.
The man just shakes his head. “Everyone thinks that after 23 but it’s not true. There’s grace in growing older.”
The man starts steaming some milk and Jungkook thins the conversation is over until the man speaks up again.
“So, any plans for the day? Anything special.”
“Oh no not really…i’ll probably just watch some movies in my apartment or something.”
The man gasps loudly. “You’re not doing anything? That will not do!!”
“Never really been a birthday person…” Jungkook shrugs.
“Still, you’re going to spend your birthday alone?” The man asks. Jungkook stays quiet.
He puts the drink down in front of Jungkook and takes a sharpie out of his apron and writes ten numbers on the lid.
“That’s my phone number, I get done in two hours so text me if you want to do something, I’m a lot of fun, I promise.”
He winks at Jungkook and pushes the cup closer to him.
“Also the drink is on me. Happy birthday.”
Jungkook blinks hard and looks down on the lid. Along with the numbers scrawled on top, there’s a heart and a big smiling face.
It makes Jungkook smile and when he looks up, the man’s eyes are still on him.
“My name is Jimin by the way.”
“I’m Jungkook.” Jungkook holds his hand out and Jimin takes it and shakes it. Jimin’s hands are soft and smaller than Jungkook’s.
The door jingles behind them notifying them of a new customer and Jungkook lets go of Jimin’s hand and steps aside.
Jimin gives the new customer the same huge smile and Jungkook slips out of the cafe when he’s talking.
He stares at the numbers the entire walk home, they feel like they’re mocking him.
He thinks about them as he sips his coffee as he finishes watching his drama. He thinks about them as he tries to beat the level he’s been stuck on in his video game. He even thinks about them when he takes a shower.
Two hours have passed and he could probably recite the number by memory by now.
The clock reads 11am and Jungkook realizes how much time he really has left of his birthday. Does he want the rest of his day to be just like the last two hours?
Without thinking, he picks up his phone and types the number in.
It’s Jungkook. What did you have in mind?
Jungkook sets his phone down and takes a deep breath. What if Jimin regretted giving Jungkook his number and ignores him now? What if-
A ding tells Jungkook he has a new text. He lunges for his phone and opens it.
YAY i’m glad you texted me!!!!!! I have lots of ideas, we can go get some lunch and plan the rest of the day :) meet me at the sandwich shop that’s next to the cafe!!!!!
Jungkook smiles at the message, the smiley face in the middle of it making his heart sing.
He jumps up and rushes to his room to change.
What do you even wear when you’re planning to spend your birthday with a beautiful stranger?
He doesn’t even have someone he can ask.
He settles on a white shirt with jeans and a leather jacket. Casual but still good looking, at least that’s how Jungkook is hoping he’s coming across.
He’s never been great at looking the way he wants to be perceived.
The walk to the sandwich shop only takes him about five minutes and when he reaches the door, he sees Jimin inside talking amantitedly to one of the servers.
When he opens the door, Jimin’s eyes meet his and he jumps up and waves his arms.
“Jungkook!” He says. “Over here!”
Jungkook can’t help but smile at Jimin’s over enthusiasm even though it makes everyone else in the shop stare at them.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” Jimin says as Jungkook makes his way over to the table and forces him to sit down. “I was just telling Hoseok here that it was your birthday and that I was going to make it the best day ever for you.”
The server nods and Jungkook can feel a blush creep up his neck.
He thought he would be hopelessly embarrassed by the attention Jimin is giving him but he finds he quite likes it a lot, the actions making him more shy than anything else.
“I got your meal covered.” Jimin pushes the menu towards him. “Just pick whatever you like.”
Jungkook recites his order to Hoseok and turns back to Jimin.
“So Jungkook.” Jimin says once Hoseok is gone. “Tell me a bit more about yourself? Your hobbies? Likes and dislikes?”
“Oh well…..” Jungkook trails off, never quite knowing how to introduce himself to people.
“I went to college for literature but now I just work as a server…I don’t really know what I want to do with my life. I like music and going to concerts and I like making art….other then that I guess I don’t really know.” Jungkook trails off awkwardly.
He watches Jimin waiting for the other to be off put by who Jungkook is, for him to realize how weird and unlikable he is.
“That’s cool.” Jimin says with a huge smile. “I took a lot of literature classes in college too, it was so interesting. I majored in math though. I thought it would be more reliable, I guess it wasn’t” He laughs full and loud and it makes Jungkook laugh too..
He feels his chest start to relax as his mind recognizes that Jimin is like him, a lost post college graduate.
“And, music is cool too. I just saw the neighborhood last week, do you know of them?” Jimin asks.
“I was there too!” Jungkook exclaims, excited. It makes Jimin laugh again.
“Yeah? What a coincidence. It was such an amazing show wasn’t it?”
Jungkook nods enthusiastically.
“And lastly, you like to make art. What kind of art?” Jimin asks.
“I like photography the most…I dabble in drawing though when I get bored.”
“That’s cute.” Jimin says. He doesn’t say it the way his parents did when he was a teenager though, in a way that makes him feel small for liking to draw. The way Jimin says it, it makes him blush and divert his eyes.
“So, we have literature, music, and art as your interests.” Jimin mutters. It sounds more like he’s talking to himself than to Jungkook.
He takes out his phone and starts to aggressively type. After typing what Jungkook can only assume is a novel, he looks up.
“Okay, I have the whole day planned.” He says with a huge smile.
“Already?”
“Of course! I told you I was good at this.”
“Can I see it?” Jungkook asks as he reaches across the table.
Jimin snatches his phone and holds it above his head. “Nope! Your day is going to be a surprise!”
Jungkook is about to protest when a plate of food is set down in front of him.
Then a small cake with a single candle is set down as well.
“Happy birthday.” Jimin says softly as Hoseok lights the candle.
Then the two of them start to loudly sing and Jungkook is forced to cover his face with his hands as the rest of the restaurant joins in.
Everyone cheers when it finishes and Jimin laughs so hard he almost falls out of his chair.
“I hate you.” Jungkook pouts.
“That pout is cute but it’s not very convincing.” Jimin says. He pushes the cake closer to him. “Now eat. We have a full day of activities.”
—
“Where are we going?” Jungkook asks for what he feels is the millionth time.
“I told you, it’s a surprise.” Jimin insists.
They’re sitting in Jimin’s car and the other has been refusing to tell Jungkook where they’re heading for the past ten minutes. It’s starting to drive Jungkook insane.
“Come on, it’s my birthday. You can’t keep things from someone on their birthday.” Jungkook tries again.
“Calm down, we’re here.” Jimin laughs. “Look out the window.”
Jungkook looks out and sees the huge local art museum.
“Oh…” He trails off. “I’m actually not a big fan of museums.” He says, timid.
“Well, you haven’t been to one with me.” Jimin says brightly. “Plus, you said you like taking pictures and I think the best place to take pictures is in an art gallery.”
“I guess I've never tried that.” Jungkook confesses.
“See, it’ll be fun. You have to trust me.”
“Okay, weirdly enough I trust you.” Jungkook confesses.
Jimin gives him a huge smile as he parks the car and leads them into the building.
It’s nice and quiet inside and Jungkook has to admit, very pretty. He can already feel his fingers itching to take his phone out and take picture after picture of every corner.
“You like it already.” Jimin smiles. “I can tell.”
“Maybe it’s prettier than I thought it would be.” Jungkook confesses.
“This isn’t even the best part.” Jimin takes his hand and leads him up the stairs to a different room.
They come to a stop in front of a painting filled with colors and flowers. Jimin doesn’t let go of his hand.
“This is my favorite piece here.” Jimin says. “No one knows who the artist is but I can tell they put a lot of love and hard work into it.”
Jungkook leans in and takes a closer look at the painting and the careful strokes that take up the canvas.
“I like it when art doesn’t have to have some kind of deep meaning.” Jimin says. “I like art that can just exist as something that makes me feel happy when I look at it, you know? It doesn’t have to be deeper than that.”
Jungkook nods. “That’s how I feel about making art. There’s no deeper meaning to anything I draw or take pictures of. It just makes me happy.”
Jimin smiles at him softly. “I’m glad you get it. Do you want to look at more pieces? You can take your phone out and take pictures of me if you want. I’ve been told I make a great model.”
Jungkook laughs loudly, making a few other people turn their way.
“That sounds like fun, lead the way.” He says.
Jimin walks in front of him and Jungkook follows, his phone up. He can’t help but take picture after picture of Jimin. He is a natural model, he can’t even argue with that.
He can’t stop, every picture looks better than the last. He wants to print all of them and get them framed so he can hang them on his wall.
“Are you getting any good shots?” Jimin asks after a while, sitting down on one of the benches throughout the museum and inviting Jungkook to join him.
“I think so.” Jungkook says shyly, handing his phone over to Jimin and scrolling through the pictures he’s taken so far.
“Wow Jungkook.” Jimin says in awe. “These are really good. You’re really talented.”
“Oh..thank you.”
“I’m serious. I need you to send all of these to me, they’re all like a piece of art. They belong here more than some of the stuff they actually have hanging here.”
Jungkook laughs but sends Jimin all the pictures.
Jimin takes Jungkook's hand into his own. “Thanks.” He says softly.
“No problem.” Jungkook swallows hard, trying to not focus on how soft Jimin’s hand is. “You’re so natural in front of the camera. It was easy.”
“Still, you made me look like I was a part of the art. That takes talent, no matter who’s in front of the camera.”
Silence settles between them and Jungkook can feel a tension start to develop.
Jimin clears his throat and the tension shatters.
“Let’s look through the last part of the museum.” He says, lacing his fingers through Jungkook’s.
Neither of them let go for the rest of their time there.
—
Jungkook almost screams in excitement when they pull up in front of his favorite record store.
“How did you guess this was my favorite?” Jungkook asks.
Jimin just smiles. “I guess you just have good taste. This is my favorite too.”
The shop is warm and smells fairly of incense. Jungkook loves it.
“Pick out the vinyl you want.” Jimin says with a gentle touch to Jungkook’s arm. “It’s my birthday present to you.”
“You don’t have to do that, you’ve already done so much.” Jungkook objects, but Jimin just shakes his head.
“Nope. I am treating you to a record and you’re just going to have to deal with that.”
Jimin pushes him over to where the rows of vinyls are and starts to slip through them. The sight makes Jungkook feel like he’s in a 90s romance movie and he can’t help but snap a picture.
“Are you taking a picture of me?” Jimin asks over his shoulder, his eyes glistening.
“Oh…yeah.” Jungkook says, flustered. “I figured it was okay.”
Jimin laughs. “Of course it is. Plus, this is my good side anyway.”
The implication makes Jungkook blush and he very pointedly avoids looking at Jimin’s ass. It makes Jimin laugh even harder.
“Just come over here and look at vinyls with me.” Jimin says, reaching out and grabbing Jungkook’s hand to pull him closer.
He doesn’t let go as he flips through each of the vinyls and comments on them and Jungkook isn’t about to let go either.
Jimin’s voice flutters in and out of his mind, most of him focused on Jimin’s hand in his own and how natural it feels to be there.
Jimin drags him over to another isle and starts flipping through more isles.
He shows Jungkook his favorite albums and in turn Jungkook shows him his. He tells him how much emo music meant to him when he was younger to his embarrassment but Jimin just smiles and tells him that he grew up listening to a lot of My Chemical Romance.
Jimin convinces him to buy from under the cork tree by Fall Out Boy after they spend roughly twenty minutes going back and forth over the best emo music of the early 2000s. Jungkook insisted that it was Fall Out Boy and Jimin was convinced it was My Chemical Romance.
When they leave the store Jungkook feels light, lighter than he’s felt in months.
It’s rare, he realizes, to feel like he perfectly fits into the space that he occupies. Most of the time he feels out of place and wrong, like where he currently is isn’t where he is supposed to be.
But he feels like he belongs here and now, right next to Jimin on his birthday.
It’s probably a weird feeling to have with someone he met literally that day but he can’t find himself to care when he feels this happy.
He feels like Jimin is a long lost friend rather than a stranger, he doesn’t want to question it too much.
“Where to next?” Jungkook asks when they’re sitting in Jimin’s car again.
“My biggest surprise is next.” Jimin says with a grin. “You’re going to love it.”
—-
Jimin’s hand is in his own once again as he’s led down the streets passing building after building. At this point, it feels natural to be holding hands with him even though the two of them have only known each other for a handful of hours.
“Seriously, what are we doing here?” Jungkook giggles as he’s pulled across yet another crosswalk.
“It’s right up here,” Jimin says as he points ahead “it won’t take much longer.
Jungkook almost gasps when the building comes into view.
“Ta da!” Jimin cheers as he stands with his hands outstretched towards the concert venue in front of them. “It’s only a local band but I figured you would enjoy them. The tickets are on me.”
“I cannot believe you are taking me to a concert.” Jungkook laughed, slapping Jimin across the chest in excitement.
“It’s the best way to end the night.” Jimin says, his eyes sparkling. “Now let’s go, I don’t want to miss the opener.”
Jimin buys their tickets and the two of them head in.
The room is decently filled and there’s already a band on stage playing some type of indie music.
“Let’s get something to drink and eat.” Jimin says before leading them to the bar.
They settle in as they enjoy the band performing.
Jungkook tells Jimin that he likes them and Jimin says that he’s so glad he does.
Their feet touch each other under the bar and it’s making Jungkook's skin itch.
Finally, the main act comes on stage making Jimin jump off of his seat.
“Let’s go dance!” he says excitedly.
And Jungkook, even though he’s never been a fan of dancing in public, says yes for some reason.
Jimin orders them two shots of tequila to down before they make their way out there.
The music is louder this close and it pumps through Jungkook’s entire body miking with the drinks making him feel like he’s floating.
Jimin starts moving immediately, his body slowly swaying with the music. Jungkook can’t tear his eyes away from the curve of his back.
“Dance!” Jimin yells, snapping Jungkook out of his daze. “No one here is watching.” He smiles.
“Except for you.” Jungkook says.
“I have a feeling I'll like it though.” Jimin smirks and Jungkook’s heart skips a beat.
Slowly, Jungkook starts to sway along to the music as well and before he knows it, he’s lost himself in the music. The only things in the world right now are him and the music flowing throughout the room.
The band starts a slow song and Jungkook feels Jimin pull him in.
“Let’s dance together.” He says softly.
Jungkook nods and Jimin wraps his arms around Jungkook’s neck.
His hands feel so different when they’re placed on the top of his spine and not on his palm.
Jimin moves them back and forth slowly to the beat of the song. The singer is singing something about lost loves but Jungkook doesn’t have it in himself to pay attention to the music anymore, not when he has Jimin in his arms.
“Thanks for spending the day with me.” Jungkook says almost directly into Jimin’s ear.
“No problem.” Jimin says. “I wanted to. You’re super sweet. I’m glad you didn’t have to spend your birthday alone.”
Jimin leans back to look Jungkook in the eyes and it feels like time stops. All that exists right now is this moment between the two of them.
Jungkook doesn’t know when he started leaning in but he’s sure that Jimin was leaning in too.
Soon they’re only a breath away from each other. They both pause, giving the other a chance to back away.
Then, their lips meet.
Jungkook immediately melts against Jimin, their lips slotting together perfectly. Jimin tastes like the tequila they had earlier and it makes his head hazy.
His hands threads through Jimin’s hair as he tilts his head to kiss him deeper. A moan makes its way out of Jimin’s throat and Jungkook wants more.
“Do you want to go back to my place?” Jungkook says against Jimin’s lips.
“Please.” Jimin says back with a smile.
The song comes to an end and the crowd around them cheers.
Jungkook leans in for another kiss.
—
Once Jungkook closes the door to his apartment, Jimin has him pushed up against it.
“So, what do you think about being 25 now?” Jimin asks between kisses.
“You’re asking me this now?” Jungkook asks as Jimin’s mouth travels across his jaw and down his neck.
“I want to know.” Jimin says, looking up at Jungkook with a pout.
“Maybe growing older isn’t so bad if I get to have more days like this one.” Jungkook says. Maybe it’s a bit too honest but it makes Jimin light up.
“I’m really glad. Growing older is a privilege, who wants to stay young forever anyway. Each year you grow into yourself a little more.”
Jungkook smiles. “I didn’t know you could be so philosophical.”
Jimin laughs. “I’m not philosophical, I'm just a huge sap.”
“It’s cute.” Jungkook says, pecking Jimin on the lips.
“Oh, look.” Jimin says, pointing over to Jungkook’s kitchen clock. The time reads 12:04 pm. “It’s not your birthday anymore.
“I guess it isn’t.” Jungkook says. “Do you still want to hang out with me?”
Jimin smirks up at him. “Oh, I plan to spend plenty of days with you.”
Jungkook can’t help it, he grabs Jimin wrist and yanks him in the direction of his bedroom.
Jimin’s laugh rings throughout the apartment and Jungkook thinks he could get used to it.
25 is going to be nothing like 24.