Chapter Text
What if it's not meant for me?
Love
Wolf Alice - Don't delete the kisses
Jimin could not believe that this was really happening to him. How—after everything he'd done for Dajun—was this situation right here, right now, possible?
His stomach rebelled at the prospect of being dumped at his workplace, before his boss, for fuck's sake, by one of his superiors.
Taehyung had told him that it had been a bad idea to date Dajun, his ten-year-older colleague and superior. Did he listen to his best friend? No, of course not. Jimin was the type who always knew it better. And now it was biting at his delicious, plump ass.
With his hands clenched into fists, he watched his still-girlfriend looking at him sadly with a practised smile. She even cleared her throat, loud enough for even the last colleague at the back of their open-plan office to hear what was going on.
Jimin felt a chill run down his spine.
“I'm so sorry, baby. I can't do this anymore,”said Dajun, glancing at the floor between them. Her hands clasped together, she looked at him through her long eyelashes.
“I don't want to hurt you. But I can't be with you anymore. Our age difference is just too great. And we're not right for each other. I hope this won't affect our future work as colleagues.”
She was audacious enough and bowed. Jimin felt sick.
He felt a dozen eyes on him. Soobin, one of his favourite younger colleagues, looked as if he was close to tears. Of course, it wasn't nice to witness colleagues publicly break up while they were all working in the romance department of a publishing house.
Jimin gritted his teeth.
“Of course, I accept your decision, Dajun. I'll take the rest of the day off.”
Dajun nodded, her lips trembling. Jimin didn't buy it—she must have planned this. She had already been acting strange at their last meeting three days ago.
Jimin didn't hold it against his girlfriends when they broke up.
What he did hold against them, however, was when they did it in front of their colleagues for attention-seeking reasons.
This catapulted Dajun to Jimin's public enemy number 1, displacing his high school bully Jun Kwan. Jimin hated public humiliation.
She would pay for this.
He turned on his heel, his Chelsea boots making frantic clicking noises on the linoleum. He didn't even wait to hear what Dajun had to say.
Now he would lose precious holiday time because of her! And that's when Jimin was on the verge of crashing out every minute of the day! He expected the stress to take him at any moment and drag him to hell!
At least his long cashmere cardigan blew dramatically as he left their office.
Yongsun, his colleague sitting next to him, texted him so. Some reassurance in these dark times.
“I'm going to kill her,” Jimin announced, lying face down on Taehyung's couch, his voice muffled by an expensive pillow. “Slowly. Publicly. Maybe at the next launch party.”
“Very romantic of you,” Taehyung said, handing him a wine glass. “Fits your brand very well, as far as romance goes.”
Jimin screamed into the pillow before sitting up abruptly and taking the wine glass. He wanted schnapps. A hangover of death. A one-night stand that couldn't be more unreasonable.
Simply put: Jimin was spiralling.
Seokjin plopped down next to Jimin on the sofa. “Are you sad?”
This question sobered him up immediately. Jimin paused for a moment, sipping at his wine. He listened to his inner voice.
Was there sadness beneath all the anger and shame of public humiliation?
Yes. A little bit, yes.
“I knew it couldn't go on like this for much longer,” he said quietly and emptied his glass in one gulp. Jimin let himself fall back into the cushions beneath him with a groan.
Seokjin patted his head.
He was glad he had his friends. Jimin had come straight to Taehyung's apartment after calling Seokjin, and Taehyung had even left work early to be there for Jimin.
The two of them were his favorite boyfriends.
“Dajun was right—we're not that compatible. Still, dumping me like that. Come on!” Jimin asked, throwing his hands in the air. “I don't feel like seeing her every day.”
Taehyung came out of the kitchen and put a bowl full of chips on the table in front of them. “I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you so.”
Jimin groaned and pressed his hands to his face. “Yes, I know, Tae-tae. I should have listened to you. Don't get involved with your colleague.”
Taehyung nudged Jimin's side lightly with his elbow.
“Don't get involved with your coworker who's ten years older than you, which seems to bother her subconsciously since she had to keep emphasizing it, and while we're on the subject of bothering people, didn't she also make fun of your sexuality?”
Jimin groaned against his hands, which were still covering his face. He had been an idiot.
“She said I couldn't be bisexual because I was dating her. And that I am still figuring myself out.”
Seokjin and Taehyung threw pointed looks at him. Jimin could feel them.
“I am an idiot,” he said miserably. “And everyone will look at me compassionately tomorrow at work, and I will hate it.”
Taehyung rested his chin on Jimin's raised knee.
“Babe, look at me.”
Jimin peered through his fingers at Taehyung. At least the sight of his best friend calmed his agitation.
“I don't think I love her,” he whinced, “but I'm hurt. How could she do this to me?”
Now hot tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. Jimin swallowed. Taehyung's expression as he looked at him only made it worse.
Taehyung ran his hand through Jimin's blonde hair, his lips pressed together. “I don't like seeing you so sad,” he said.
Seokjin, next to him, hummed painfully, “Me neither.”
Jimin pushed his lower lip over his upper lip.
“I want revenge,” he said quietly, lifting his hands from his face to pick up the empty wine glass and wave it in front of Taehyung's face.
His friend immediately realized what Jimin wanted and reached for the half-empty wine bottle on the table to fill his glass.
All three lost themselves a little in the wine afterwards. Seokjin made even cruder jokes than usual to get a smile out of Jimin, while Taehyung became increasingly affectionate, and Jimin soon lay almost on his lap, letting him stroke his hair (he loved it).
“I still want revenge,” Jimin slurred, his head resting in Taehyung's hands, “nothing serious. But it was really shitty to break up with me in public like that.”
The alcohol sat warm and heavy in his stomach. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Seokjin and Taehyung were feeling the same way.
“Hmm, that reminds me,” Seokjin said, slowly sinking to the carpet in front of them. His fingers reached for his laptop.
“My colleague Dani recently mentioned a rent-a-boyfriend service that she really liked,” Seokjin said, opening his laptop.
“Here,” he said after a few minutes, placing the laptop on Jimin's lap.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” he asked, confused. Nevertheless, he looked at the website that was open in front of him.
There, in red letters, was written “Rent a Boy/Girlfriend,” which looked a bit retro. However, the site was stylishly designed.
“Your revenge,” Seokjin said simply, letting his head fall onto Taehyung's lap as well. Jimin sat up, his gaze fixed on the screen in front of him.
“Hm,” he muttered quietly, and as if following an impulse, he pressed the “boyfriends” button.
Jimin had never had a boyfriend, even though he was bisexual. He had known this since he was 15 and had gotten a little too close to a boy he played soccer with.
Jimin had sex with men, two to be exact. One-night stands.
Dajun had always acted so strangely when he had mentioned his sexuality—the few times it had happened.
Would it unsettle her if Jimin were to date a man now?
The thought was mean, but Jimin was drunk, and he longed for petty revenge. He clicked through the file of men who offered their services as boyfriends—all for show, of course.
His gaze lingered on a picture of a man named Jeon Jungkook.
Jimin's mouth went dry. The guy was exactly his type.
Black hair, short, longer bangs covering his face. Long eyelashes, big eyes. Muscular build, as far as he could tell. Tattoos.
The perfect mix of hot and cute.
Jimin clicked on the picture, and a character text popped up.
Hi, I'm Jeon Jungkook, 24 years old. Here for whatever story you need to sell. At your service for all services: whether as a boyfriend, big brother, fake husband, or just as an escort to the next event. Experienced in making exes jealous and families convinced all the same. Always professional, always convincing. Book me, you won't regret it ;)
Cocky.
Jimin pressed the tip of his tongue against the inside of his cheek. A glance to his left showed him that Seokjin and Taehyung had already fallen asleep.
Following a drunken whim, he clicked on the “booking” button under Jeon Jungkook's text. The deposit was processed immediately, and the meeting would take place in two days. There, the email read blurry, Jungkook would discuss a contract with him.
Jimin sighed, closed his laptop, and then set about waking up his two sweethearts. He needed to sleep on that sofa.
Jimin ignored the strange butterflies in his stomach.
Jimin was feeling extremely nervous as he entered the discreet café. Jimin was led by a bored waiter to a table reserved for Jeon. His soon-to-be boyfriend wasn't there yet.
Had Jimin decided never to drink alcohol again the morning after the fateful booking? Yes. Had Taehyung and Seokjin been very amused by him as soon as he told them with horror about his booking the day before? Also yes.
But was he also curious?
Once again:Yes. That's why he was sitting here. And, he decided, it wasn't such a bad idea to have a fake boyfriend. Jimin still wanted to get back at Dajun.
Yesterday and today had already been hell on earth for him at work. His colleagues constantly looked at him with pity, they even let him go first in the cafeteria because they felt so sorry for him. If there was one thing Jimin hated, it was open pity like this and, in fact, all the attention that made his face flush with embarrassment.
Jimin cared about his image, and it had to be perfect and untouchable, not tainted with shame, at least that's how it felt right now.
And what really got to him was Dajun herself, who kept popping by his desk, walking past conspicuously inconspicuously "to check" on him.
She also talked loudly at every opportunity about how sorry she was for him. She loved the attention in the office. Jimin had always found that exhausting about her. And now it was at his expense.
So he had to get revenge, he had childishly decided. It wasn't exactly the most mature thing to do, but Jimin was petty like that.
If Dajun sank into the ground with jealousy, it would have been worth every won.
Absentmindedly, he sipped the matcha latte he had ordered when suddenly a figure stood at his table. Jimin looked up from his phone and gazed into large, dark brown eyes.
Eyes that looked suspiciously like Jeon Jungkook's, just like the picture on the platform.
Jimin's breath caught in his throat. Jeon Jungkook was smoking hot.
“Park Jimin?” the man asked, raising an eyebrow. Jimin nodded, and then, because he didn't want to appear shy or intimidated, said, “That's me.” At least he had his voice under control.
His heart began to race when Jeon Jungkook sat down across from him. A jute bag with a folder hung from his arm. Jimin let his eyes glide over Jungkook's figure. He wore a leather jacket, a white wool sweater, and black fabric pants with chunky boots.
Of course he was fashionable.
Jungkook was a heartthrob. Like someone who stepped out of one of Jimin's romance novels—the ones collecting dust on his desk because he'd been too miserable to do his job properly and get to editing them.
The sound of a throat being cleared interrupted his stare. Jimin's gaze was fixed on the thick silver chain around Jungkook's neck.
Looking at Jungkook's face was even worse. It's no surprise that he was able to make a living as a fake boyfriend. Who wouldn't want a pretty boyfriend like that?
“So,” Jimin said slowly because he didn't want to be caught staring again. “I've never done anything like this before. What are the terms? How would your services work?”
A grin spread across Jungkook's face.
“Getting down to business so quickly? How about we start with a little introduction and the reason you booked me? Or did you decide right away that I was the right choice?”
Jimin tensed up immediately. He gripped his cup tighter, feeling his face heat up.
“I—sorry,” he said, hating that the other man got him flustered in the short span of seconds.
“Of course, you're right. We should get to know each other more.”
Jungkook nodded, grin still plastered to his pretty face.
“I am Park Jimin,” Jimin explained and dug his fingers into the cup before him to get rid of the nervous energy that had befallen him.
“I am 27 years old. I work in the publishing house Hybe as an editor in the romance department.”
Jungkook's eyebrows shot up, “At Hybe? That's a gigantic company.”
Jimin nodded. “Yes”, he said, his eyes fixating on the small mole beneath Jungkook's lips. It made his face even prettier, such symmetry.
“My department is sharing one hell of an open working space. And that's where my ex Dajun decided to dump me.”
Jungkook whistled softly, “Damn. And I guess that's why I'm sitting across from you today?”
Jimin nodded. “I want revenge.”
Jungkook's grin widened.
“I love revenge.”
They stared at each other for a minute. Then Jungkook cleared his throat and rummaged around in the jute bag he had hung over the back of his chair.
A folder was spread out in front of Jimin, containing a document with lots of small print but also blank spaces to fill in.
“I'm Jeon Jungkook, 24 years old,” he introduced himself properly. “I've been doing this job for four years and I'm very good at it. It's financed my studies so far.”
“What subject?” Jimin asked, suddenly interested.
“Theatre,” Jungkook replied and winked.
Jimin suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Well, at least his fake boyfriend seemed to have professional training.
“I see.”
Jungkook pushed the documents closer to Jimin and took a pen out of the bag.
“So. I have a contract here that covers the basics. We'll fill it out together today. At our next meeting, I'll bring a more detailed contract that focuses primarily on consent—in other words, what we're both willing to do while we're playing a fake couple. Okay?”
Jimin nodded and glanced with interest at the contract in front of him. Until now, he had only dealt with publishing contracts in the context of his job.
“So,” Jungkook began, entering Jimin's full name in a free text field, “how long do you want to use my services? What did you have in mind, what events should I attend, for example? Or should I just pick you up from work?”
Jimin bit his lower lip. Of course, after freaking out yesterday, he had thought carefully about what he wanted to use Jungkook for and for how long. He had also checked his bank account. Jungkook was anything but cheap.
“I want us to take it slow. First, you pick me up from work, then we have a date in public at Dajun's favorite bar, where we take a few snapshots that I can post on social media. Also, there's a big company event in a month, and I'd like to take you with me.”
Jungkook nodded, “So, like 3-5 dates? Or would you prefer more?”
Jimin frowned. “How much would 6-7 dates cost?”
Jungkook took a Post-it note out of his pocket and neatly wrote a sum on it. Then he handed it to Jimin.
Almost explanatorily, he added, “If I play the boyfriend, I can't play the date for anyone else. That's why it's a little more expensive.”
Jimin sighed, staring at the amount.
He thought back to Dajun. Hot bile crawled up his throat.
“No problem,” he said, voice higher, “6-7 dates it is then."
Jungkook smiled at him, scribbling the details on the contract.
“Okay, then,” he said, pushing the document over to Jimin, “read it carefully and sign it.”
Jimin took his time reading the terms and conditions. However, there was nothing in it that was incomprehensible. It was professionally written.
The price was written down neatly, just as Jimin's and Jungkook's private adress and contact details. Suddenly, heat crept up his face. It was uncomfortable. He really was renting a boyfriend, like the mainlead in a fake dating romance novel.
Just that he wouldn't experience the love story of his life.
Jimin was just here to get revenge on someone that hurt him.
At the end of the document was an exclusivity clause that promised Jungkook's time and energy to be focused on Jimin, as well as the number of their dates.
“Our next meeting will not count as a date," Jungkook said, then, "it will be another chance to get to know each other. I usually prefer to do that meeting in a more private space. Do you feel comfortable visiting me? Or should I come by your house?”
“I don't mind inviting you over,” Jimin said, not fond of visiting Jungkook in his home. Jungkook was still a student, while Jimin had a full-time job (he deliberately ignored the fact that he had hired Jungkook).
Jimin took the pen in hand and signed the contract, next to a small sentence that read “Physical and mental boundaries to be discussed in a second meeting.”
“Thank you,” Jungkook beamed at him as he stowed the contract and letter in the folder and pulled out a new sheet of paper. “I have another document for you with the bank details.”
The discomfort intensified. Jimin would pay someone to play his boyfriend. Shouldn't he be ashamed? Didn't he think he could get a man to date him for real? Was he that uncertain about his charm towards men?
Jimin was very good in overthinking, but he was equally as good in pushing it all away from him, to fall into a deep state of no-worries-at-all. Usually, this would come back to haunt him later on.
He carefully filled out the document, providing his bank details. As he pushed the document back to Jungkook, the man beamed at him.
“Always a pleasure to make a good business,” Jungkook said. Jimin tried a smile.
Jungkook looked at his watch and sighed, “I am sorry, I don't have much time today. I promise I'll be having more time when we'll meet next. Can I message you about our next meeting using the phone number you provided in the documents?”
“Of course,” Jimin said and he was strangely relieved that they wouldn't be talking much today. Maybe he needed some time to stomache what had just happened.
“So—bye?” he asked, trying a smile again. This time it worked.
“Bye, boyfriend,” grinned at him, seemingly in a good mood with all that money that he had just earned with Jimin. He stood up, waved at him and then turned around to leave the café.
Jimin's eyes involuntarily fell on Jungkook's ass and small waist. He swallowed.
He was an animal.
As Jimin left the café moments later, he already had a message on his phone from an unknown number.
Jimin wished he wasn't as excited as he felt. He had hastily used yesterday evening after work to clean his entire apartment. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to eliminate every crumb on his floor for Jungkook.
Well, maybe he felt the need to look good in front of others. Jimin was a people pleaser: He wanted others to think he was infallible. It was a defense mechanism that had only done him good so far.
This self-awarness didn't help him break through his apparent childhood trauma though.
Jeon Jungkook was three minutes early as the doorbell rang while Jimin already waited impatiently in his kitchen, wiping the kitchen counter for a third time that day. He had already put some snacks, glasses and water on the table in his small living room.
“Coming!” he shouted while walking to the door.
As soon as he opened the door, sweet cologne hit him. Jimin blinked at Jungkook who was every bit the walking wet dream he remembered him to be. Just now he smelled so sweet and luxurious, Jimin felt uneasy.
Although he was the one with the very grown-up job and grown-up life, the two years younger student with a fairly special part-time job made him feel shaken to his core.
Jimin felt unsure suddenly, while he did have many dates in his life (with women), many hook-ups (with women) and considered himself a flirt.
Jungkook had the ability to nullify that part of Jimin's identity somehow.
“Hi,” he said opening the door wider, “come in.”
Jungkook stepped inside, and Jimin's brain short-circuited. If he'd looked good at the café, he looked devastating now. He wore all black - a fitted turtleneck that showed off his build, tight jeans, Chelsea boots. His hair was styled back, showing his full face, those big eyes and the lip mole that Jimin had definitely not been thinking about.
The sweet, expensive cologne made Jimin's knees weak.
“Nice place,” Jungkook said, looking around.
“Thank you,” Jimin said.
“Should I take off my shoes?”
“Ah, please do so,” Jimin replied. He pointed under his clothes rack. “These are slippers for my guests.”
Jungkook hummed, folding himself in half to get rid of his shoes. Instead of getting too fixated on Jungkook's ass again, Jimin turned around to walk into his apartment.
He had a living room with an open kitchen. Jungkook followed him while eyeing Jimin's interior design.
Jimin's apartment was pretty minimalist. He didn't need much to be happy. His living room was the only room with decorations on the walls: photos he had taken of his loved ones over the past couple of years.
Strangely, a photo of Dajun had never hung on that wall.
They sat down on the couch. Jungkook had already spread his folder out on the coffee table between them. Jungkook pulled out a thicker document than last time. There were multiple pages stapled together.
“All right,” Jungkook said, clicking his pen.
“This is the part where we get specific. Some clients find this awkward, but I promise it's necessary. We need to establish boundaries—physical, verbal, and emotional. What are you comfortable with and what are you not?”
Jimin nodded, his throat suddenly dry. “Makes sense.”
“Good.” Jungkook's expression was serious and professional now. “Let's start with the basics: Physical touch.”
Jimin stared at Jungkook.
“What is okay with you and what is not?” Jungkook asked, tipping the end of the pen against his lower lip.
“I think I am fine with everything?” Jimin didn't want that sentence to sound like a question. “Like, hugging and the like—I am fine with it.”
In fact, he was too okay with it.
Jungkook hummed again, and drew little crosses on the document in front of him.
“What about casual touching? What if I put my arm around you? Would you prefer me to be a touchy boyfriend, or does that make you uncomfortable in public? Everyone is different—I don't mind either.”
Jimin thought about it. He was naturally affectionate—always leaning into Taehyung, letting Seokjin ruffle his hair, hugging his colleagues when they had a good day. Touch came easy to him.
“Touchy is good,” he said, more confident now.
“Actually, that would make sense for me. I'm pretty affectionate anyway, so it won't look forced.”
“Perfect,” Jungkook said, making a note.
“So arms around shoulders, waist—all fine?”
“Yeah, that's natural for me.”
“What about hair? Some people are particular about it.”
Jimin shrugged. “I like it, actually. My friends do it all the time.”
Jungkook nodded, scribbling.
“Good to know. Makes my job easier when you're already comfortable with touch.” He glanced up with a small smile.
“Hand-holding obviously won't be an issue then?”
“Obviously not,” Jimin confirmed.
“Great. So.” Jungkook’s pen hovered over the page. “Let's talk about kissing.”
Jimin's mouth went dry. Right, of course. Somehow he had managed not to think too much about that part.
Jungkook's lips twitched as if he were suppressing a smile. Jimin must have made a funny face.
“For most clients, that's usually a big boundary. Some want it, some absolutely don't. There's no wrong answer.”
Jimin nodded slowly, trying to organize his thoughts. “What are the options?” he asked.
“Well,” Jungkook leaned back slightly and tapped the document with his pen.
“Kisses on the cheek are most common. They're simple, sweet, and not too intimate. Kisses on the forehead if you want something a little more tender. Hand kisses if you like old-fashioned romance.”
Jimin had to smile at the thought of Jungkook kissing the back of his hand.
“And on the lips?” Jimin asked, hating that his voice had grown quieter. Jungkook looked him firmly in the eyes.
“Only if you want me to. And even then, I would ask for permission every time, or we could agree on a word or sign that I could use to ‘warn’ you, so to speak. I'm open to it, but I won't do anything you don't want me to.”
At these words, something in Jimin relaxed.
“Okay."
Jimin wondered for a brief moment what would happen if Jimin would initiate a kiss. Jungkook spoke as if he'd be the one that would coordinate their touching.
He didn't know how to feel about that.
“For context,” Jungkook continued, still in a professional tone, “most revenge plans work well with kisses on the cheek. That's enough to make the relationship believable without crossing important boundaries. But if you think Dajun needs more convincing, we can take it a step further. Maybe even for photos. You know her better than I do.”
Jungkook looked at him seriously.
Jimin bit his lip and thought. Would kisses on the cheek be enough to make Dajun jealous? Or would she dismiss it as friendly?
“Can we decide that spontaneously?” he finally asked.
“Kisses on the cheek are definitely okay. On the forehead, too. But kisses on the lips—maybe we'll decide in the moment if we need that?”
“Absolutely,” Jungkook said, taking notes. “And just to be clear: French kissing is out of the question unless we explicitly renegotiate this contract. It's about looking like a couple, not being one.”
“Right. Of course.”
Jimin was definitely not disappointed. That would have been stupid.
Jungkook looked him over for a moment.
“What kind of signal should we agree on for when I'm getting ready to kiss you on the lips? Or would a word be better?”
Jimin sat up straight. This was like kink negotiation, but the fake boyfriend vanilla version.
“Maybe you can touch my right shoulder?” Jimin asked, tapping his own right shoulder. “I can easily remember that.”
“Okay,” Jungkook said, writing this down on the document he was balancing on his knees.
“Then we need a safe word that we can both use at any time if something makes us uncomfortable.”
Jimin's eyes drifted to the romance novels stacked on his shelf—the ones he edited for a living, full of fake dating tropes just like this.
“Contract?” he said, half-joking.
“Since that's what this whole thing is?" Jungkook raised an eyebrow, then grinned. "I like it.”
Jungkook scribbled the word down with a smile.
“We're halway through already,” he said, “now the most important question: Pet names! Do you like them? Or should I just call you Jimin?”
The thing was, Jimin really liked pet names if they were cute and romantic. He didn't know if he wanted Jungkook to know. To get the act right in front of Dajun, Jungkook should give him a pet name though. Jimin started chewing at his lips, a nervous habit.
Jungkook watched him, curious. “I like pet names,” he then said, “if you want to, you can call me whatever. Just no mean things, please.”
Jimin's eyes fixated on that mole again.
“Okay,” said, “I will think about one. Or do you have something particular in mind?” he asked, grinning. Jungkook shook his eyes, a playful smile on his face. “You can get as creative as you want.”
The small revelation eased him into the truth. “I like pet names, too. You can think of something, I am fine with anything really. Just—ah just don't make it condescending, yes?”
“Noted,” Jungkook replied.
He had already scribbled up a few pages, drew countless crosses. They arrived at the last page.
“We need a cover story, one that is easy enough to not forget and complex enough to be real. Do you have an idea already? You know yourself and your dating habits best.”
Jimin wrung his hands in his lap. Now came the part where he was going to be honest. There was no point in lying to Jungkook. Besides, since he was paying Jungkook to be his fake boyfriend, it was unnecessary to feel shy or ashamed.
“I never dated a man yet,” Jimin said, looking at his hands. “Ah, that doesn't mean I never was intimate with a man before,” he hastily added as Jungkook's eyes grew in size.
“I never was an actual relationship with a guy before.” He forced himself to look up and meet Jungkook's eyes.
“Dajun made me feel weird about my sexuality,” Jimin continued.
“She kept saying I couldn't really be bisexual because I was dating her. That I was just ‘figuring myself out.’ It made me feel like I had to prove something. Everyone at work has only ever seen me with women.”
“So showing up with a boyfriend will make a statement,” Jungkook said.
“Yeah.” Jimin swallowed. “Is that okay? I mean, you do this professionally, but—“
“Jimin,” Jungkook's voice was firm but kind.
“That's exactly why you hired me. And for what it's worth? She was wrong! I hate people like that.”
Something warm bloomed in Jimin's chest.
“Thanks.”
Jungkook nodded once, then shifted back to the document.
“So, for our cover story. We should keep it simple but believable. What about a party? You went to a queer club and met me? You wanted to explore that part of yourself and we immediately clicked?”
“I like that a lot, but when did we meet?” Jimin asked, drawing his eyebrows together in thought. His breakup was fairly new.
“This weekend?” Jungkook suggested.
“You went to a queer club to blow off steam after the breakup. We met, hit it off immediately. Exchanged numbers, had a great first date, and now we're seeing where it goes.”
Jimin thought about it.
“That's fast though. Won't people think it's just a rebound?”
Jungkook shrugged.
“Maybe? But it's also romantic and honest. Sometimes you just click with someone. Plus, it makes the timeline clean—no way you cheated on Dajun, you were just ready to explore this part of yourself after she dumped you.”
“I like that,” Jimin said. It even felt a little empowering.
He tried to keep in mind that he hired Jungkook to do this, that it wasn't real. Their cover story would make a cute meet-cute novel though.
“Okay, so we need details,” Jungkook said, pen poised. “Which club?”
Jimin thought for a moment. “There's that place in Itaewon. Pulse? I've never been, but my friends go sometimes.”
“Pulse works. I've actually been there before, so I can describe it if anyone asks.” Jungkook made a note.
“What did we talk about that night?”
“Books?” Jimin suggested. “You asked what I did for work, I told you I'm an editor. You were charmed by my expertise.”
Jungkook grinned. “Obviously,” he said, teasing. “And our first date?”
“Coffee? Keep it simple.”
“When?”
“Sunday afternoon,” Jimin answered, “we couldn't wait, so we met up the next day.”
“Eager,” Jungkook teased, “I like it.”
“So,” Jimin said, trying to sound casual. He bit his tongue. “Friday, when you pick me up from work. How should we do this?”
Jungkook leaned back, thoughtful.
“What time do you usually leave?”
“Around five-thirty, six.”
“I'll come a bit earlier than five-thirty then, to make sure people see me.”
Jungkook's expression shifted into something more focused again, professional.
“I'll bring flowers. Text me which ones you like and I'll arrange something nice to woo you.”
Jimin's heart did something stupid in his chest. “Okay.”
“Trust me,” Jungkook said with a slight smile. “It will help building that jealousy.”
They both smiled at each other like maniacs.
Jungkook cleared his throat and then looked at the completed stack of paper in his lap.
“I think I have everything. I'm looking forward to Friday—I love revenge jobs,” he said and grinned.
Jimin grinned back. He already felt lighter and less nervous. Jungkook was professional, and they would be convincing enough for him to get back at Dajun. He couldn't wait to see her face when Jungkook came to pick him up.
“I'm looking forward to it too,” he said, “I feel much better about the whole thing now. I have to admit I was unsure how this would go today.”
Jungkook gathered his papers and stood up.
“I'm glad your concerns didn't come true,” Jungkook said, then walked back to the door, Jimin following him.
They said goodbye with a smile and a polite nod.
Jimin could swear that he felt one lonesome butterfly low in his belly as he watched Jungkook go. Walking down the floor of his apartment complex, he looked effortlessly pretty.
Jimin metaphorically crushed that butterfly underfoot. This was a strictly business relationship.
Jimin would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous—his gaze kept wandering to the clock, and half an hour before the end of the working day, his palms got suddenly sweaty.
Jungkook had texted him to reassure him that he would arrive a few minutes early so that they could be sure that as many of Jimin's colleagues as possible, who were still looking at him with pity, would notice that Jungkook had come to pick him up.
In his head, he rattled off a few things, fragments of words and phrases he had thought of saying to Jungkook when he came to pick him up. Obviously, it was just for show.
Jimin would go home alone. But: With the assurance that he did indeed had a boyfriend.
An expensive one. Taehyung had whistled when Jimin decided to tell him how much it cost him to rent a boyfriend.
And at that very moment, Jimin spotted Jungkook stepping foot into his department, his eyes searching. He held a bouquet of sunflowers in his arms.
As soon as Jungkook spotted Jimin, a cocky grin spread on his face.
Jimin slowly stood up, aware of every single gaze in the open-plan office directed at them. He could literally feel everyone holding their breath at the same time. Soobin, three desks away, had completely stopped typing.
Good, Jimin thought. Look, everyone, look what a perfect boyfriend he had here.
“Hello,” Jimin said, proud of how calm his voice sounded.
“Hey, boyfriend,” Jungkook said softly, the wide grin still on his face.
Jungkook looked like one of the characters had stepped out of the pages of the countless romance novels on Jimin's desk.
He wore a black-and-white striped shirt and a black trench coat, the bouquet of sunflowers fitted neatly into the look.
Jungkook was charming. Not only Jimin but his whole office, judging the way they gazed at him.
He handed him the sunflowers, his face one that Jimin would describe as in love if he didn't know better.
Jimin couldn't quite understand Jungkook yet; perhaps he never would. What Jungkook decided to show him was the image of a professional fake boyfriend.
“I know you said you've been stressed this week. I thought these might help.”
Jimin took them with a blinding smile.
His fingers brushed Jungkook's, and he remembered that this was a transaction.
The tingling in his stomach was merely a byproduct of Jungkook's good acting and his good looks.
“They're perfect,” Jimin said, and he meant it a little more than he intended to.
Jungkook's eyes narrowed. Then he raised his hand, oh so gently, and placed it on Jimin's right shoulder.
Oh.
Jimin had about a second to process that before Jungkook leaned forward and pressed a small kiss to his cheek. Warm lips, the faint hint of that sweet perfume, and Jimin's entire nervous system experienced a minor shutdown.
He would need a minute.
Or several. An hour?
It's fake, he told himself with the energy of a man clinging to his sanity. You're paying him. It's a service. You're a customer.
“Jimin.”
Her familiar voice sounded strained.
Jimin turned around with a smile plastered on his face.
Dajun stood in the kitchen doorway, a coffee cup halfway to her lips. She stared at Jungkook with an expression Jimin had never seen on her face before—something between polite composure and very visible, very satisfying jealousy.
Her gaze wandered from Jungkook to the sunflowers, to Jimin, and back again.
Jimin smiled at her, stretching his lips thin. His cheeks were hurting from all that smiling. Jimin had not had much to smile the past days and weeks.
“Dajun-ssi,” he said kindly. “Remember, I mentioned I was going to meet someone?”
He hadn't—they didn't talk anymore since she had publicly humiliated him, except for greetings and that occasional performative smile of Dajun that spoke of so much fake sympathy it made Jimin fume.
Jungkook, blessed be his theatre studies and years of professional experience, put his arm around Jimin's waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His hand rested lightly and firmly on Jimin's hip, and Jimin didn't think twice about it.
“Nice to meet you,” Jungkook said to Dajun, his voice calm and composed. He didn't introduce himself.
He didn't need to, the sunflowers and the hand on Jimin's waist spoke for themselves.
The crack in Dajun's composure widened.
“I didn't know you—”, she began.
“Are you ready?” Jungkook asked Jimin, as if Dajun hadn't said anything. The rest of their office was just staring at them, some in delight, others in curiousity, and some in shock.
Jimin picked up his bag.
“I'm ready,” he said.
He didn't look back as they left. He could feel the silence behind him, as well as countless eyes. The silence was deafening and worth every single won he had spent on it.
Outside, the sharp air of beginning spring hit him. Jimin exhaled, stretched his lungs and let some of that nervous energy he had felt for the whole day go. They had done it. The first outing had been a success.
Next to him, Jungkook took his arm from Jimin's waist and walked beside him with relaxed steps, his hands in his coat pockets.
“Well,” Jungkook said, “your ex didn't look very pleased. I feel your desk neighbor though— what's her name?"
"Yongsun," Jimin said (he loved Yongsun).
"She was rooting for you—she had the biggest smile on her face. But your ex was very surprised."
“She was” Jimin said. Someone like me dating someone like you.
A laugh escaped him suddenly, genuine and way too loud. Jungkook gave him a surprised sideways glance and then smiled too. A real smile, Jimin thought. At least it looked real.
He should stop questioning if Jungkook's antics were real or not. Jimins shouldn't ruin the fun.
He just had to get used to this renting-a-boyfriend-thing, he was sure.
Jimin shifted the sunflowers in his arms and kept walking, Jungkook's sweet cologne in his nose. When Jungkook offered to walk him home, he said yes.
That was his little treat for a day spent all nervous and overthinking.