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The wind is blowing on Jimin’s face as he and Eunwoo stares to the open sea. Jimin is glad he chose the seats on the deck instead of the inside of the cruise ship because this view is magnificent. The sun is setting; the red, pink, and orange hues mixing together in the sky, and looking like they’re going to dip themselves in the sea. The cruise isn’t shaky, and Jimin makes a note to tell Taehyung that when he tells him about the dinner cruise.
“Eunwoo, picture, please?” Jimin says sweetly to his son, and he huffs, because dad, that’s the 100th photo today! “Come on, Eunwoo. Look at the view, isn’t it nice?”
“It is,” Eunwoo mumbles, his lips pouting a little in resignation, and he chews on his meat as he gazes to the view. “Look, dad! Yanghwa bridge!” Jimin takes the chance to snap that photo of his son excitedly pointing to the bridge, and Jimin quickly puts it in his favourites folder (along with other Eunwoo pictures), just so he wouldn’t forget to upload it on his Instagram. Screw his friends, and the way they would probably comment on his infatuation with his son. He’s his baby.
“Eunwoo-ya, dad is gonna take more food, okay?” Jimin says, and he gets up from his chair, and pauses, looking at Eunwoo who is still looking around as the cruise takes them around slowly. “Come on, Eunwoo.”
Eunwoo pouts, finally tearing his eyes away from the view as he shoots his father a pleading look. “But, dad! I wanna stay here. I’m a big boy, okay? You’ll get food for only a second, wouldn’t you.”
That’s true. Jimin would probably only take a minute at most to load up his and Eunwoo’s food, but his protective instincts don’t like it when Eunwoo is left all alone. Hell, he doesn’t even like it when he has to stay back in his office after working hours. He always makes sure to work efficiently during working hours just so that he wouldn’t have to call up Taehyung and Yoongi to take Eunwoo from his school. He can only trust Taehyung, Yoongi, and his parents to truly take care of Eunwoo. Imagine a cruise full of strangers? Like hell, he would leave Eunwoo alone. Not ever since that day.
But Eunwoo whimpers. And Jimin is weak.
So Eunwoo stays at their dinner table, and Jimin quickly run over a few things with him that Eunwoo says yeah to monotonously, more concerned with the way the sky is now a bluish colour, and the bridge. Jimin rushes inside, quickly taking two plates, and loading them up with food that both of them probably wouldn’t be able to finish, but he doesn’t care because being picky about food is the least of his concern now.
When he comes back to the dinner table, Eunwoo is gone.
-
Jimin takes a deep breath.
It’s not a big cruise, surely he would see his own four-year-old son somewhere running around the deck. Hell, these people in the cruise look super rich and pristine that Jimin is confident that they wouldn’t be interested in his son who’s in a button-up and is looking at everything in wonder. It’s not holidays season, so the cruise only has a few tourists who quite literally look like Eunwoo with his childish behaviour. Right, right, Eunwoo must have wandered off somewhere. No one took him.
Jimin sees his son when he rounds up on the other side of the cruise ship, the back of the ship where there is more space, and even more important people dressed in their suits and in a meeting.
“Eunwoo!” Jimin exclaims, and he crouches down to hug his son close to his chest. “You scared me! I told you to not wander off, didn’t I?”
Eunwoo looks shocked, but happy with the ice cream cone in his hand, and Jimin should have guessed that was what made Eunwoo runoff. He fights off the curses about to roll out of his tongue, and just hugs Eunwoo tighter. He doesn’t care that these businessmen are probably looking at his inadequate self in disdain; his son went missing just because Jimin gave in to his puppy eyes for the first time. Jimin can freak out all he wants, they can suck his ass.
A person coughs, and Jimin finally looks at the person next to Eunwoo. Jimin didn’t even notice the person, merely because Eunwoo was his only main focus earlier, definitely not because the person is too unattractive and blends too well with the crowd. Jimin eyes his shoes first, shiny, and the kind that Jimin wears to work, before he looks up (way up). Jimin stands up, finally feeling inadequate right next to the immaculate person.
“Wh-”
“Dad, this is the man who helped me pick my ice cream!” Eunwoo yells excitedly to Jimin, and Jimin just pets Eunwoo’s head absentmindedly, studying the person just as the person shoots a gentle smile to Eunwoo. The person is good looking, muscles fitting onto his body at the right places, and a killer jawline. Jimin can see twinkling eyes; shiny and beautiful like how the sky is right now; purplish-blue. The person looks at Jimin, and he smiles. A gentle and genuine one, that Jimin feels regretful he can only gape at the person and play with the hem of his baby blue dress shirt. Jimin takes Eunwoo’s hand in his left, and he tries to hide the grimace he feels at the stickiness of the ice cream.
“Jeon Jeongguk,” he says smoothly, while Jimin coughs, nodding, and he offers his hand to Jimin, using his left hand, and Jimin is blown away by the consideration. His confident posture falls a little when Jimin only stares at his outstretched hand. “Er.”
Jimin stretches out his right hand quickly, colouring a little at his uncomposed behaviour. “Sorry. And thank you for taking care of my son,” Jimin says curtly, and he quickly bows at Jeongguk, squeezes Eunwoo’s hand a little to encourage him to do the same, and Jimin almost lets out a sigh when Eunwoo’s ice cream falls out of his hand, and Eunwoo looks at him sadly.
“I can take you to get more ice cream, Eunwoo,” Jeongguk says gently, and he lowers himself down to get into the same height as Eunwoo. Jimin watches as Jeongguk elegantly raises his hand, and one of the waiters attend to him. “Could you please clean this up? And also get me another ice cream,” he turns to Eunwoo again, “was the flavour yam, Eunwoo?”
“Yes,” Eunwoo replies timidly, looking guiltily at the floor, at Jimin, then at Jeongguk. He is immediately reassured when Jeongguk pats his head gently. “It’s alright, Eunwoo.”
The waiter quickly does all Jeongguk asked for him to do, and within seconds, Eunwoo has another ice cream in his hand, the floor is clean, and Jeongguk is waiting for him to say something.
“Thank you,” Jimin can only say again, and Jeongguk studies him, and Jimin feels like fidgeting under his watchful gaze; so gentle, yet so dangerous. Jimin can only look away. He makes the move of going away from him, but Jimin is stopped.
“Wait!” Jeongguk exclaims, and he looks around a little, afraid of attracting some unwanted attraction. “What’s your name?”
“Park Jimin,” Jimin answers blankly, and Jeongguk nods, and looks settled.
He moves closer towards Jimin, like what he’s saying is not supposed to be heard by everyone, and only Jimin, and perhaps Eunwoo. Is Eunwoo looking? He’s probably too invested in his ice cream. “Can I have your phone number?” Jeongguk says lowly at him, eyeing him with a gentle look in his eyes, but there’s this little tint of desperation in his orbs that Jimin tries to not look into.
“Oh, sure,” Jimin says, and he bites his tongue to stop cursing. What the hell? Couple (and more) of his co-workers have been trying to get his number to hit on him, but he barely budged for the past two years. Now, someone who he just met ten minutes ago asked for his number, he just gave him? Why? Because he’s attractive? Fuck.
Jimin can only fumble as he types in his phone number into Jeongguk’s iPhone 7+ in jet black. Jimin thanks the Gods out there that Jeongguk didn’t ask for his phone instead, because his phone is a shameful iPhone 5s that Jimin didn’t even bother changing ever since his second year of college. Too much money. Too much money that could go into improving Eunwoo’s wellbeing.
“I’ll go now,” Jimin says softly right after he gives Jeongguk’s phone back to him, and Jeongguk nods, looking dazed as he stares at the phone in his hands. He typed in something in his phone, and he smiles his gentle smile again.
“Thank you,” Jeongguks says.
Jimin nods, and brings Eunwoo back to their table. Their food is probably cold now.
-
Jimin would be lying if he says that he isn’t waiting for Jeongguk’s texts and calls. But no one will know if he lies, so he says it.
“I am not waiting for his texts and calls,” Jimin says forcefully three days after the cruise, and Taehyung and Yoongi invited him and Eunwoo to have dinner at their place.
“Right, and the sky is green,” Yoongi drawls out as he colours with Eunwoo on their carpet. Their coffee table is moved to the side just so that Eunwoo and him can lay comfortably on the ground and colour without going out of the lines. Eunwoo pointed out that the sky should be pink, and Yoongi crinkles his nose in confusion. “What do they teach you in school, Eunwoo?”
Right, maybe certain people by the names of Taehyung and Yoongi would know if he lies.
“But, that time dad and me went on the boat, the sky was pink!” Eunwoo retorts back, and Taehyung who just comes back from the kitchen nods seriously at Eunwoo, ruffling his hair as he passes by him to plop on the sofa where Jimin is seating at.
“Dad and I, honey,” Jimin corrects half-heartedly, not even bothering to tell Eunwoo it was really not a boat, and he takes the watermelon slices on the plate Taehyung brought with him. “You want, Eunwoo?”
“No,” Eunwoo says without even looking at what Jimin is offering him. “When will we see the Uncle from the other day, dad? He promised me that he would buy me toys.”
Jimin gapes at Eunwoo who is still colouring innocently, while Yoongi bursted out laughing along with Taehyung who is fiddling with their remote TV. “He told you that, Eunwoo?”
“Yeah!” Eunwoo says enthusiastically, and he stops colouring as something crosses his mind. “Unless he lied. Which is bad, right?”
“Right,” the three of them choruses, and Taehyung snorts right after, the watermelon in his mouth makes him form an ugly face as he does.
“That guy really hasn’t said anything to you?” Taehyung asks, just to make sure, and Jimin grunts.
“Yeah. But it’s whatever. He must be busy or whatever. He looked important. And maybe he lost interest. Who the hell gives a damn? We talked for like fifteen minutes,” Jimin rambles, and Yoongi gives him a look of disbelief.
“What’s his name? You’ve never gotten around to telling us his name,” Taehyung replies.
“Jeon Jeongguk.”
“Wait, the Jeon Jeongguk?” Yoongi asks, making sure, and Jimin wrinkles his nose in confusion.
“I guess? I mean he’s the only Jeongguk I know. Isn’t Jeongguk, like, a very common name?” Jimin answers, unsure and unsettled at the look of disbelief on his friends’ faces.
“Jimin, babe. Jeongguk is a very common name. But Jeon Jeongguk isn’t. Isn’t he the heir of that car parts transport company?”
Jimin scowls. “How do you know?”
“Didn’t he get into that scandal with that idol like two months ago?” Taehyung fires back. “It’s said that they’re just friends, though.”
Right.
“Right. Whatever. It’s not like I would stood a chance in the first place. I’m a single father,” Jimin mutters, moving his head to Taehyung’s lap, and The Little Mermaid started playing.
“You say that like being a single father is a bad thing,” Taehyung mumbles as he softly caresses Jimin’s hair, and Yoongi makes a noise of agreement.
“I’m not ashamed of being a single father, you guys know that,” Jimin sighs, and he curls into his body even more. “The dating market doesn’t exactly need a single father. And also the chaebol’s partner’s market.”
“Market?” Eunwoo echoes, and Jimin giggles.
“It’s okay, Jiminie,” Yoongi says, and he wiggles around their comfortable carpet to get rid of his body cramping. “You have the three of us.”
“Yep,” Jimin says sleepily, “all I need.”
-
The next day, Jimin’s phone pings with a text.
[unknown number]
Hello, this is Jeon Jeongguk. I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner with me tomorrow. Bring Eunwoo along. I’m looking forward to seeing you. :)
-
The place Jeongguk picked out is neither expensive nor cheap. It slots itself comfortably between the middle range price, and Jimin is grateful for the consideration. It also looks like a family restaurant, which is nice. It’s not that he’s broke. He just doesn’t want Eunwoo to feel uncomfortable. He’s the picky eater, and adult food is not really something Eunwoo enjoys, and Jimin is glad when he flips through the menu that he can see a Kids’ section.
Jeongguk is late. But he warned Jimin about it already beforehand through text that Jimin doesn’t mind. Jeongguk also told Jimin to just say his name for the reservation and it comes as a surprise (it shouldn’t be) when the waiter’s eyes widened comically and quickly led him and Eunwoo to a more secluded corner where the air conditioner is neither cold nor warm. The first, er, date, is perfect, and Jimin wonders what else will amaze him about Jeongguk tonight?
(As if insisting on bringing Eunwoo along wasn’t enough for Jimin to be impressed.)
Jeongguk comes in four minutes after Jimin sat down and looked through the menu. Eunwoo is sitting beside him, flipping through the menu, too. Jimin had told the waiter that he would wait for Jeongguk to order, and the waiter respectfully bowed. Jeongguk walks in like he isn’t late in the first place, and something about that strikes a string in Jimin’s heart. He walks like he has all the time in the world, and Jimin is studying him in his casual button-up and Timberlands, he looks like nothing like the look he was sporting the first time they met. He looks, almost, younger.
“Hello, Jimin,” Jeongguk greets with his gentle smile, and Jimin’s heart almost sings at the sound of his name uttered by him. “Hey, Eunwoo! How have you been? Sorry, hyung was late, okay?”
“It’s okay!” Eunwoo says cheerfully, and he pats Jeongguk’s shoulder almost understandingly. “Dad said you were busy.”
“He did?” Jeongguk smirks, and he steals a glance at Jimin that he pretends to not see. “I was. But, not too busy for you and your dad, alright?”
“Really? So you would be with us, now?” Eunwoo asks innocently, and Jimin tenses.
“Hey, Eunwoo, baby, don’t,” Jimin softly reprimands.
“It’s okay,” Jeongguk says, and his eyes meet Jimin knowingly, “I wouldn’t mind being with you two as long as your dad doesn’t mind, Eunwoo.” That was flirting.
“Let’s order, shall we?” Jimin asks, clearing his throat despite the lack of mucus, and Jeongguk laughs elegantly.
“Okay.”
-
Jimin discovers a few things about Jeongguk during dinner.
Jeongguk is younger than Jimin by two years. Jimin’s twenty-seven. That isn’t really a surprise to Jimin. Jeongguk looks younger than him, despite being the heir of a big company. He could even look like he’s still in college if it weren’t for that Rolex on his left wrist, and the confidence and the niceness he exudes. But Jeongguk was surprised and appalled at the thought of having to call Jimin by ‘hyung.’
“Jimin-hyung sounds weird,” Jeongguk softly says as he studies Jimin eating, while also feeding Eunwoo who is on Jimin’s phone on YouTube. “Does Eunwoo eat carbonara?”
Jimin looks at him in confusion. “Yeah, he does.”
“Open up, Eunwoo,” Jeongguk says cutely, and Eunwoo opens his mouth without even looking up from the phone. “Great.”
“You still need to call me hyung,” Jimin says, and he smiles a soft smile at Jeongguk, and Jeongguk looks traumatised. “What?”
“That’s the first time you’ve smiled at me.”
“This is only the second time we met, Jeongguk.”
“What will you give on the third?”
Jimin goes silent.
Other thing he discovers is that Jeongguk is, in fact, not dating that idol he was rumoured to be with last month. He makes sure to clarify that first, as if he knows that Jimin knows about it, and Jimin doesn’t know if he should heat up shamefully and not at the right sentiment, or be insulted that Jeongguk thinks that he cares. (Jimin does, he just doesn’t want Jeongguk to know, in case he comes off too desperate.)
“I’m not dating anyone,” Jeongguk comment absentmindedly as he sips on his drink. It’s banana smoothie, and Jimin feels like teasing him about it, but doesn’t.
“Oh,” Jimin replies, unsure of what to say, but he nods along with his answer. “Would be a shame if you were, wouldn’t it?”
Jeongguk’s eyes dilate as he studies Jimin. “It really would.” And Eunwoo makes a noise of disapproval as Jimin stops feeding him, and Jimin gives him another spoonful of his food.
“I wasn’t dating anyone for the past two years, too,” Jeongguk supplies helpfully, and he takes a bite out of his food.
“Cool,” Jimin mumbles, and he stops, complementing whether and not to tell Jeongguk about this. “I wasn’t dating anyone ever since four years ago.”
“Cool,” Jeongguk echoes, and he smiles at Jimin. Gentle, like he wants Jimin to trust him.
One thing for sure; Jeongguk knows that Jimin is a single father. He knows, and he’s using that chance to the fullest. He’s flirting with Jimin like there’s no tomorrow. Or, more accurately, he’s flirting like no tomorrow because he’s scared he won’t get a tomorrow if he doesn’t outright shows his interest. Jeongguk intrigues him, in the gentlest and weirdest way possible. Jimin got his co-workers’ attention pretty much right after he started work. He ignored all of their advances, but what exactly makes Jeongguk so different from them. Perhaps, it’s that smile. Or maybe, it’s the fact that he takes care of Eunwoo so well.
Even now, he’s studying Eunwoo as he nods along to what Eunwoo is narrating him. Eunwoo is telling Jeongguk about the story that Jimin heard in the car; where his best friend in school had told him about this dance about baby shark and taught the whole class that. His co-workers would probably get bored if they know that he has a son, and those who know would’ve probably given up by seconds. Dealing with a child isn’t easy; it needs attention, and Jeongguk is giving his all right in front of Jimin as if to prove to him; I’m all you need, can’t you see?
Eunwoo is now demonstrating the dance, his giggles flowing through the space, and Jimin feels like he does when he has dinner with Taehyung and Yoongi. Like at home and peaceful. Except. Jeongguk is looking at him so tenderly, in a way that Taehyung and Yoongi don’t. It’s nice. Jimin misses feeling like this. Jimin misses giving himself a chance to actually enjoy himself. It’s even nicer that Eunwoo is here to enjoy it with him.
-
Jeongguk is about to pay for their food when Jimin stops him.
“Jeongguk, please let me pay my own bills,” Jimin says seriously, and Jeongguk’s outstretched hand with his credit card is already with the worker, but Jeongguk shrugs at him with his gentle smile.
“Alright, I’ll send you my bank number so you can transfer, then,” Jeongguk replies, nonchalant, and Jimin is suspicious, but also grateful. Eunwoo is speeding outside of the restaurant right as Jimin opens the door, and Jeongguk follows after. Jimin is just about to go to his car when Jeongguk speaks up.
“Eunwoo-ya, didn’t hyung promise you toys?” Jeongguk asks excitedly, and Jimin shoots him a look. Of course he did. Of course. That’s why he had let Jimin pay for his own cost, he still wants to treat Jimin other stuffs.
Eunwoo looks at him excitedly as he stops running, and he bounces excitedly on his toes instead, and looks at Jeongguk expectantly. “You did, hyung! See, dad, I told you he did?”
“I never said he didn’t promise you, didn’t I?” Jimin retorts back, and he ruffles his son’s hair as he turns to Jeongguk, putting his arm over Eunwoo’s back as he holds him down. “And Eunwoo has way too much toys in the flat already, Jeongguk. You don’t have to.”
“I don’t,” Jeongguk begins, and he shrugs softly right after. “But I want to. And Eunwoo does, too. Right, bud?” Cue Eunwoo’s excited bouncing.
“I went with my own car here,” Jimin blurts out, and Jeongguk shrugs as he moves closer towards Jimin and Eunwoo.
“We’ll take it later, then,” Jeongguk replies easily, and really, it is easy. “We’ll drive together to the toy store, and drive you back here to get your car.”
“Don’t you have work tomorrow?” Jimin softly asks, and Jeongguk laughs. It’s a Saturday tomorrow, but Jimin is trying his luck with the CEO’s son’s responsibilities in mind.
“I have one meeting in the afternoon,” Jeongguk shrugs, and he moves to Eunwoo’s other side, and takes his hand, and Jimin is taken aback by what a nice view the scene before him holds. “And it’s only nine, hyung. Surely, Eunwoo doesn’t sleep at 8 on a Friday night, right?” Jeongguk feigns shock to Eunwoo (which Eunwoo shakes his head violently at), and he smirks at Jimin. “Unless dad here sleeps at nine, Eunwoo?”
Jimin scoffs at the question, and Jimin punches him on the shoulder weakly. “Shut up, and fine.
They walk to Jeongguk’s parking spot, and Jimin shouldn’t be surprised when he is greeted by the sight of a Bugatti, but Eunwoo next to him gasps as he breaks away from Jimin and Jeongguk’s hold. “Woah, sports car, hyung!”
“Sports car,” Jeongguk agrees, and he opens the door of the passenger seat for Jimin, signalling Jimin to enter first attractively. “It’s only a two-seater so Eunwoo will have to sit on your lap, or something,” Jeongguk says regrettably, and looks at his Bugatti like it’s the car’s fault. “Sorry, hyung.”
Jimin swallows back an incredulous snort, and he enters the car, and Jeongguk shuts the door off with a gentle smile.
-
Eunwoo may and may not come back from the toy store laden with a little too much toys. But neither Eunwoo and Jeongguk are complaining.
(Jimin is. But they ignored him to squeal over the Legos. Damn it.)
-
Jimin works under a known publishing company as the senior editor. They have got the best writers in Seoul under their belt, and Jimin quite enjoys his life, and he can bask over the fact that he didn’t take a degree in English for nothing like most people argued whne he chose that major. Most of Jimin’s days are spent cooped up in his office, reading transcript from unreleased books, and approving them. Sometimes dull, but it’s nice and calm.
Well, calm when this co-worker isn’t constantly knocking on his office door and asking him out for lunch.
Don’t get Jimin wrong. He’s not arrogant, he did accept his co-worker’s request the first few times he asked, brushing off the way he asked Jimin as something friendly, and not the please-date-me kind of way. But then comes the sixth time Jimin accepted, and he asked him if he would like to go on a date after work. That, was where Jimin drew the line. The co-worker still didn’t give up, knocking on his office door every lunch hour to ask Jimin whether and not he would like to have lunch together. Like right now.
“Hello, Jimin,” Youngmin says after he knocks respectfully on the door. “Would you like to go out for lunch?”
“Um, hey, Youngmin,” Jimin greets back, and he uncomfortably raises up the transcript in his hands. “Got work today.”
“Oh,” Youngmin says, and Jimin taps his foot against the tiles rhythmically. “You could continue work after lunch, you know? It will only take like thirty minutes at most.”
Jimin likes Youngmin as a co-worker, truly. He’s not even unattractive. He has that slender and boy-next-door face that everyone would fall for in a heartbeat. He even has a cute smile, sharp canines showing, and he would cover it when he gets insecure (he shouldn’t). He’s good at his work, and is one of the most diligent co-worker; he doesn’t laze off at work and always makes sure to do something at work, unlike some people in his office. So, no, Jimin can like Youngmin if he tries, but the only person stopping him is Eunwoo.
Eunwoo isn’t stopping him from dating. Youngmin doesn’t know he has a son, and Jimin is pretty sure Youngmin is the type to feel like dating Jimin while knowing Jimin has a son is a burden. Actually, most of his co-workers don’t know the fact that he has a son. It’s not that he hides it, he just never brings Eunwoo to work because he’s always there to pick up Eunwoo on time, and when he isn’t there for Eunwoo on time, he doesn’t like for Eunwoo to stay in his office till late with him. And the question do you have a son? Isn’t exactly a norm when you’re single.
Jimin’s phone rings, and Jimin raises his eyebrows in confusion at Jeongguk’s name on the screen. Jimin ushers Youngmin to exit with a soft nod, but Youngmin shakes his head stubbornly, waiting by the door, and Jimin can only sigh as he picks up the call.
“Hello?” Jimin questions right as he answers, and Jeongguk on the other line laughs. Jimin feels his body tingle at the deep rumble, and coughs it down to hide the fact from prying Youngmin.
“Are you at the office?” Jeongguk asks softly, and he sounds like he’s driving, judging by the sounds of honks, and also some movements.
“Uh, yeah. What’s up?” Jimin asks, and Youngmin is still studying him, so he spins his chair to face the window instead of the door.
“I bought food. I’m coming to your office,” Jeongguk replies easily, and there’s the sound of plastic rumbling, and Jimin almost jumps from his chair. “I’m here already, actually. You told me you’re on the sixth floor? Ah, damn, there’s too many people in the elevator. I’m just gonna use the stairs. But, yeah, I’m coming up alright?”
“Um.”
“See you,” comes the reply, and the line is cut off.
Youngmin is still at the door when Jimin turns around, and Jimin is met with a soft smile. “Is the answer still no?”
“It’s not that,” Jimin chokes out, and he looks at the window showing the view of his other co-workers who are now starting to leave for lunch. “Someone has already bought me lunch.”
“Oh,” Youngmin says, and he looks confused at the sudden change of reason. He is just about to say something else when Jeongguk appears behind him.
“Hello,” Jeongguk says smoothly, and he raises the plastic of food (probably Indian) he bought.
Youngmin stumbles back, taken aback, and he makes way for Jeongguk to come in which Jeongguk shoots a grateful smile at. Jeongguk looks good, strides confident, like it always is. He places the food on Jimin’s table and shoots him a smile, a different smile from the one he gave Youngmin. This smile is gentle and sweet, like it’s only reserved for Jimin, and Jimin can only smile back at him, entranced.
“Hey, you,” Jeongguk greets, and he quickly ruffles Jimin’s head which Jimin huffs and laughs softly at.
“Hey,” Jimin whispers, and clears his throat after, signaling to Youngmin. “That’s Im Youngmin. From marketing.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jeongguk says smoothly, and Youngmin gapes. “I’m Jeon Jeongguk.”
“I know,” Youngmin swallows, and he stares at the two of them. “Are you two--” he gestures at both of them, waving his hand at them to emphasise his point. “Together?”
“Um,” Jimin begins, but he is cut off by Jeongguk.
“Sort of. Kind of. We’re almost there. Right, hyung?” Jeongguk asks confidently, and his eyes that hardened earlier at the question turns soft at the sight of Jimin.
“Yeah,” Jimin agrees. “You can go for your lunch, Youngmin. I don’t think Gukkie here bought enough for all of us to share.” Lies, Jimin can spot three containers of Briyani, and two containers of Tandoori chicken, but Youngmin is still too stunned to notice, probably.
“Right,” Youngmi coughs out, and Jimin smiles at him. “Bye, Jimin. See you.”
“See you never, more like,” Jeongguk mutters.
“Why did you come?” Jimin asks a few minutes later as they settled with their food. Jeongguk is sitting cross-legged on Jimin’s guest chair, looking perfectly at home, and it crosses Jimin’s mind that maybe Jeongguk is at home when he’s with Jimin.
“Because I missed you,” Jeongguk replies easily as he takes a sip of his water.
“Oh,” Jimin says uncomfortably. Feeling shy with the easy confession, and Jeongguk smirks at the view that he gets; flustered Jimin with his flushed cheeks. “I miss you, too, I guess.”
It has been around a week since the last time they saw each other. They did text regularly, Jimin sending pictures of Eunwoo every morning in response to Jeongguk’s good morning texts. Jimin didn’t want to do that at first, because he knows certain people don’t like it when Jimin sends pictures of his son to them to gush over him, but after Jeongguk asking about Eunwoo this, Eunwoo that, Jimin just accepts the fact that Jeongguk himself had grown fond of Eunwoo. With that thought in mind, Jimin feels much more settled talking to Jeongguk.
“You guess?” Jeongguk inquires, amusement evident in his tone, and he laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners at Jimin’s answer.
“Shut up, Jeongguk.”
“You called me Gukkie earlier,” Jeongguk points out.
“I did,” Jimin replies breezily. “Do you feel uncomfortable with that?”
“No, really,” Jeongguk replies hurriedly, like Jimin would take away the nickname privilege. “I love it.”
“You love it,” Jimin echoes, giggling right after. “Right.”
“Makes me feel closer to you,” Jeongguk comments.
Jimin bites his tongue, resisting the urge to tell Jeongguk that Jeongguk is the newest person he had let in after four years. That Jeongguk is already close to him even without the nickname. He hadn’t even seen anyone for the past four years. The fact that Jeongguk can sweep into Jimin and Eunwoo’s life and settling himself in it like he had always meant to be there all along scares Jimin.
It scares Jimin because the last time he had let this happened, he was left with an eight-months Eunwoo in his arms and a broken heart.
-
Taehyung insists on seeing Jeongguk.
That, at least, is inevitable. It has been around a month since Jimin and Jeongguk have this thing going on with them. Jimin likes Jeongguk, that part is undeniable. Jeongguk is nice, funny, and he treats Eunwoo like his own son, and apparently, to Taehyung, anyone who treats Eunwoo nicely deserves a place in Jimin’s life, and also the privilege to get to know Eunwoo’s Godfather.
“Invite him for dinner,” Taehyung demands over phone. Jimin is ironing in the living room, where Eunwoo is doing his homework on the coffee table, and Jimin irons whatever he put in the washing machine the other day. Jimin got the steam powered iron just because he’s annoying, and likes to spend a ridiculous amount of money on the perfect and efficient household necessities. Yoongi always points out when he sees the iron that there is a cheaper iron that doesn’t cost 300,000 won. Jimin can only flip him the bird discreetly.
“Why would I want him to meet you?” Jimin says to the speaker, and Taehyung sighs on the other line, and Jimin smirks. Of course he wants Taehyung and Yoongi to meet Jeongguk. It’s just too soon when he thinks about it twice. They have only known each other for barely a month. Meeting his best friends for life practically mean please get married to me in Jimin’s book.
“Oh, come on. Even Yoongi is curious about him, Chim,” Taehyung pleads, and Jimin hears some rustles of paper. Jimin assumes that Taehyung is going over his case files. He always does that at this time. “Yoongi, honey, tell him.”
“I’m very much curious about this Jeon Jeongguk, Jiminnie,” Yoongi says monotonously, and Jimin snorts.
“You sound curious alright,” Jimin points out teasingly. Jimin knows Yoongi is curious. Having been friends with Yoongi since his adolescent years make him able to detect Yoongi’s moods and true feelings. The three of them just know each other so well, it’s ridiculous.
“Next week, okay?” Yoongi asks over the line, and Taehyung cheers in the background.
“I’ll have to ask him, hyung,” Jimin softly says, and he can already feel the bubbling anxiety in his chest at the thought of sending the text to Jeongguk.
“So, ask him. Next week, Friday. Deal?”
“Okay,” Jimin sighs, and they hang up.
Eunwoo looks at Jimin with his bright eyes. “Are we going to have dinner with Jeongguk-hyung again?”
“You want to, baby?” Jimin asks, hoping that one person is on his side.
“Yes!!” Eunwoo yells, and Jimin can only give him a worn out smile.
-
From: Park Jimin [heart emoji]
Do you want to have dinner with my friends at their house Friday next week?
From: Jeon Jeongguk
Is this another step towards our blooming relationship?
From: Park Jimin [heart emoji]
Hahahahaha. You could say that.
From: Jeon Jeongguk
:DDDDD
Of course. Send me the address. I’ll be there <3
From: Park Jimin [heart emoji]
Was hoping you would say no. My friends are super annoying.
[location]
But alright.
:)
<3
-
Jeongguk arrives at exactly 7:00 pm on next Friday at Taehyung and Yoongi’s apartment. He’s holding a wine and also a small box of another new toy for Eunwoo that Jimin frowns at. Jimin actually told Jeongguk that they’re having dinner at 7:30, so it’s a surprise that Jeongguk shows up early.
“You’re early,” Jimin notes lightly, and he ushered Jeongguk in who is just opening his shoes at the doorway.
“Of course,” Jeongguk replies coolly, and he smiles at Jimin. “Where’s Eunwoo and your friends?”
“The kitchen,” Jimin shrugs, and he points at the box with a sigh. “You got Eunwoo another toy? You’re going to spoil him rotten at this point, Guk.”
“I know,” Jeongguk whispers right as he passes Jimin, and he plants a small kiss on Jimin’s kiss as a compensation. “Let me spoil him rotten, hyung. He deserves it.”
Jeongguk then goes to the kitchen, and Jimin is left standing there with the burn of Jeongguk’s kiss on the apple of Jimin’s left cheek. Jimin doesn’t feel twenty-seven. He feels like a teen who just got his first crush, and is currently pining at its’ best. Jimin feels butterflies in his tummy as he looks at Jeongguk, and he finds his heart skipping a beat when Jeongguk makes sure to make Jimin feel like Jimin makes him feel the same way. Jimin feels like seventeen, and ready to bare his heart to Jeongguk.
-
Taehyung and Yoongi like Jeongguk, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Jeongguk is brought up well. He’s polite and he makes good jokes that gets everyone in the table laughing. He loads up Jimin’s food instinctively like it’s a natural thing for him to do and Jiimin can see Yoongi and Taehyung exchanging looks of approval to each other. Jimin feels like he’s introducing Jeongguk to his parents rather than his friends.
Jeongguk offers to clean the dishes, and didn’t act surprised or taken aback that Yoongi only shrugged, and asked him to fold his already folded sleeves even higher. It’s apparent that Jeongguk asked because he was truly genuine with helping and wasn’t just being polite. Something about that makes Jimin feel strangely giddy.
Eunwoo is attached to Jeongguk by the hips now that even he offered to clean with Jeongguk. Jimin can only snort helplessly as he watches Eunwoo tell Jeongguk and Yoongi about his tales of the day. Yoongi quickly signals at Jimin to take Eunwoo away, and Jimin already feels a dreary feeling about what’s coming as he and Eunwoo leave the kitchen to join Taehyung in the living room. It’s the talk. Just when he thought Yoongi couldn’t get any more cliche.
Taehyung smiles at Jimin happily when he plops down on the sofa with Eunwoo next to him whom immediately pick up the remote and flip through Netflix’s Disney section. “Jeongguk is nice,” Taehyung begins.
“Hei is,” Jimin agrees while Taehyung studies him carefully, and Jimin takes it as a challenge to have his eyes glued on the television and focus on carressing Eunwoo’s soft locks. He gives in, sighing as he meets Taehyung’s imploring eyes. “What?”
“Does he make you happy?” Taehyung asks, and Jimin blinks at him, not expecting that kind of question.
Jimin swallows. “You know he does.”
Taehyung leans back, and sighs. It sounds contented, and Jimin feels his chest warm up that he is that close with his friend to the point of knowing the category his sighs belong to. “I’m happy if you’re happy. You know that, right?”
“Cheesy,” Jimin mutters, and he throws a small pillow to Taehyung that he lazily catches. “Thanks, though.”
“We’ve been friends for so long. I can’t believe you still get awkward at these mushy feelings,” Taehyung laughs, and Jimin is about to throw another pillow at him when the sounds of the kitchen door opening stops him.
“Hey,” Jeongguk greets, and he ruffles Jimin’s hair, and Eunwoo’s next. “I have to go back now. Ride in my car? I’ll send you home.”
Taehyung picked up Eunwoo today at school, and Jimin from work right after. So Jimin didn’t use his car that day. So he did need a ride. His first option was actually just a taxi, but he would feel even more secure riding with Jeongguk. Plus, they get to talk more, but Jimin has pride and self-control, so he says instead, “are you sure it’s not a burden?”
“You and Eunwoo? A burden?” Jeongguk snorts, like those words don’t belong together. They probably don’t. “Never.”
Jimin heats up under the knowing look and suppressed laughter from Taehyung.
-
Jeongguk is driving a four seater today, so Eunwoo sits at the back. Eunwoo’s quiet for once, running around at Taehyung and Yoongi’s flat all afternoon to evening doing wonders to his stamina. Now that Jimin looks back at him, he’s actually sleeping. Jimin twists his body to the back from the passenger seat, resting Eunwoo’s body properly so that he won’t get a crick.
“Thank you for inviting me to dinner with your friends,” Jeongguk begins as Jimin returns to his seat. Jimin blinks at him, or more accurately, his jawline. He looks good, eyes focused on the road, and his dress shirt still rolled up. He looks absolutely immaculate and perfect that Jimin wonders how he got so lucky.
“More like thank you for coming. Tae and Yoongi-hyung are literally so annoying,” Jimin retorts, and there’s a fond admiration in his tone as he speaks about his friends. “Sorry you had to see them together. They’re quite annoying as a couple.” Especially today, they kept asking Jeongguk questions that can even go out of the boundary, but Jeongguk patiently and lightheartedly answered them all with rational answers.
“No, it’s more than that,” Jeongguk stops, swallows the lump in his throat, and he shoots a quick look at Jimin, and his eyes go back to the road. Jimin can only look at him and wait for him to continue. He looks unsure for once, unconfident, and Jimin takes it all in. This rare display of vulnerability tugging his heart. “It made me feel closer to you. It sounds dumb, really. I just don’t know where I stand in your life sometimes, hyung. You asking me to meet your friends just mean a lot to me because you’re allowing me into your private life. So, thank you.”
Jimin breathes out a laugh, and he lets his fingers comb through his hair. “You’re the first person I’ve ever really let in ever since Eunwoo’s mother left us. Of course you’re special, Jeongguk,” Jeongguk’s hold on the steering wheel tighten, and his knuckles look a little white. He’s biting his bottom lip in thought and in an attempt to stop himself from smiling, and Jimin can see a hint of dimple appearing on his cheek.
They stop at Jimin’s apartment complex, and Jimin and Jeongguk stay in the car for a while, basking in each other’s presence. Jimin looks at Jeongguk, and Jeongguk is looking straight ahead, thinking of something, and Jimin wants to kiss him. So Jimin does, on the left cheek, and Jeongguk looks at him in shock.
“Can I kiss you?” Jeongguk asks, and the fact that he even asked for permission warmed Jimin’s heart immensely.
They kiss, just a slight touch of their lips for a few seconds, and Jimin is in the clouds.
Jeongguk carries Eunwoo up right after, and leaves again with another peck from Jimin.
-
Eunwoo’s mother is Jimin’s old colleague from college, and her name is Hari.
Eunwoo was unplanned. He’s not a mistake. Jimin refuses to call Eunwoo that even with the various words thrown at him with much more worse equivalents. Eunwoo is a beautiful unplanned miracle, but the first time Hari showed up at Jimin’s dorm with tears streaming down her cheeks with the news, Jimin’s guts were telling Hari to shut up and stop lying. Hari stood on her ground and kept telling him that the baby was Jimin’s, and it’s undeniable. She raised the idea of abortion, and Jimin was repulsed by the idea.
They were a junior in college when Hari was pregnant with Eunwoo, and Jimin remembered avoiding Hari like a plague for the first three months before he was dragged by Hari to the hospital when she caught him one day for her monthly checkup. Somehow, through that one time, Jimin fell in love with the thought of Eunwoo.
Jimin stayed with Hari when he could during her pregnancy, and somewhere along the journey they fell in love. Perhaps that was their first mistake. Perhaps they felt obliged to fall in love just because they were having a baby together. Or perhaps, it was right, and both of them didn’t try hard enough after Eunwoo was born. But what’s important was that they fell in love during Hari’s pregnancy,
Jimin ignored all the looks he got when he walked around campus with his pregnant girlfriend, and Hari did too. Eunwoo was born when they were in the last year of college, and Hari was so stressed out with the amount of things she needed to do and the pregnancy she teared her hair out every night. Jimin was there next to him, with his own studying materials, assuring her that it was all worth it in the end.
It was. Eunwoo was born, and to Jimin, at least, he was his baby, a miracle. Jimin thought Hari had the same sentiment, and maybe she did for the first four months of Eunwoo’s life. Things started to change after that. Jimin got to spend more time with crying Eunwoo in his apartment his parents bought for him and Hari while Hari was out almost all the time. She came in one day around the time Eunwoo was only 8 months and said to Jimin, “I want to continue to be a doctor, Jimin. I don’t think it will be possible with taking care of Eunwoo, too. I’m leaving.”
She left. And Jimin was left with Eunwoo.
That was four years ago.
-
Jeongguk has taken a liking to residing in Jimin’s apartment right after he comes back from work. Jimin knows that Jeongguk’s condo is closer to his work than Jimin’s apartment is, but when he points this out to Jeongguk he just grunts, and mumbles some things about wanting to see Jimin and Eunwoo every day.
“Why don’t we come over to your condo for a change?” Jimin asks Jeongguk jokingly one weekday when all three of them are all snuggled up in the sofa watching television.
“You would?” Jeongguk asks excitedly, and Jimin looks at him in surprise.
“I mean, yeah, sure? I’m sure you live somewhere posh, don’t you, Jeongguk?” Jimin teases, and Jeongguk huffs a little as he lays down again. Eunwoo is between them, attention on the screen of the TV showing a drama, and his homework of the day laid on the table, finished because Jeongguk helped him with it while Jimin cooked dinner.
“Sort of,” Jeongguk mumbles uncomfortably, “you don’t mind, don’t you?”
“Why would I mind?” Jimin asks incredulously, and Jeongguk makes a little noise at the back of his throat.
“It’s not exactly homely. My mum picked out the interiors to make it look modern and all. It doesn’t look like your apartment,” Jeongguk replies, and he actually sounds insecure Jimin wants to laugh.
“Wouldn’t that be a good thing? That it’s not like my apartment?” Jimin asks jokingly, and Jeongguk chuckles a little.
“No, it’s really not. Your apartment is, like, really lively and home-like,” Jeongguk answers, and Jimin nods, understanding. His apartment is certainly lived in. His living room and kitchen is just divided by a bar where Jimin puts up six stools he got off somewhere cheap. From his living room, you could see the refrigerator decorated by Eunwoo’s drawings from school, hung up by some fridge magnets. His living room has pictures of him with Eunwoo, Eunwoo alone, and also of his parents (real parents and fake parents aka Taehyung and Yoongi). So, yeah, you could say that Jimin’s apartment is pretty lived-in.
“Wanna take Eunwoo’s drawings to hang on your fridge?” Jimin asks jokingly, and he quickly splutters when Jeongguk looks like he’s considering it. “It’s a joke!”
“But I want it,” Jeongguk says stubbornly, and he taps the top of Eunwoo’s head with one finger. “Eunwoo, can hyung have your drawing?”
“My drawing?” Eunwoo, pour soul, questions as he looks up to Jeongguk.
“Mmhmm,” Jeongguk replies, nodding excitedly to excite Eunwoo, and it eventually works because Eunwoo seems like he had an epiphany as he shot up the sofa, making Jimin and Jeongguk who were leaning on him hit one another, and Eunwoo didn’t even take a notice as he zooms to his room.
Jeongguk sighs contentedly, and he puts his arm around Jimin’s waist, bringing him closer to him, and he sniffs Jimin’s hair, and Jimin giggles. “Eunwoo’s probably looking for something he saved for you, Guk.”
“I’m happy he likes me enough to make me a drawing,” Jeongguk drawls out, and he intertwines his fingers with Jimin’s.
“Me too,” Jimin says silenetly, and Jeongguk plants a soft kiss on his head.
Eunwoo barges out a second later with a crumpled A4 drawing in his hand a few seconds later. He bounces excitedly as he gives it to Jeongguk, and Jeongguk laughs at him, taking the paper and bowing right after. Jimin peeks at it over Jeongguk’s shoulder. It’s a nice drawing. Eunwoo is pretty good at drawing.
(It’s a picture of Jimin, Jeongguk, and Eunwoo holding hands. Much like the scene on Jeongguk and Jimin’s first date right after they left the restaurant to go to the toy store)
-
The first time Jimin met Jeongguk’s mother is accidental and unplanned.
Jimin is just lounging at Jeongguk’s place with a transcript in his hands. It’s their weekly dinner together that just became a tradition over the months. Jeongguk has taken a liking ti switching places nowadays; some days, it’s Jeongguk coming over after work, and on every other days it’s Jimin coming over with Eunwoo. It’s a nice routine, and Jimin feels at home in Jeongguk’s condo like he does when he’s at his own home. Perhaps it’s just the presence of Jeongguk.
His mother enters right after entering the password on the keypad. Jimin doesn’t even notice it at first, too caught up with the book and Eunwoo is just playing with the lego (Jeongguk’s) on the coffee table. Jeongguk isn’t even home yet (he trusts Jimin enough to let him know his home passcode, so Jimin gives him a dupe of his apartment key which he was all starry-eyed on after Jimin gave it to him), so Jimin didn’t raise any suspicions at the door opening, thinking it was just Jeongguk.
“Welcome home,” Jimin says when he hears ruffles of plastic, and then there’s a soft thud. Jimin sets his transcript down in alarm, and there stands his parents in all of their Jeon glory.
“Who are you?” Jeongguk’s mother asks. It doesn’t sound rude, just confused, but then there’s this look on her face. Like something finally hits her. “Park Jimin.”
Jimin is standing up by now, bowing at her many times to count, and nodding. “Yes, you must be Jeongguk’s mother. Jeongguk isn’t home yet, he’s buying take-outs. I didn’t know you were going to come,” Jimin pauses, biting his bottom lip in thought. “I would’ve cooked if I knew, Mrs. Jeon.”
“Please, please, just call me mum!” She says cheerily, and she’s running her fingers through Jimin’s hair pleasantly.
Eunwoo, finally noticing all the commotion and the absence of his dad from the sofa peeks at them. Jimin coughs and gives Jeongguk’s mother a warm smile. “This is Eunwoo. My son.”
“Oh,” his mother says, and Jimin is quite literally ready for anything. “He’s the cutest little thing, isn’t he?! He has such big eyes! Like Jeongguk did when he was a kid,” Jeongguk’s mother coos, and she signals for Eunwoo to come closer, and Eunwoo obeys. Okay, so Jimin isn’t expecting that.
“Jeongguk told me a lot about you,” Jeongguk’s mother fills in when they sit down at the living room together, Eunwoo still in her hold, although he already looks like he wants to go back to his legos. “I’m happy you make Jeongguk happy.”
“He makes me happy, too,” Jimin replies humbly, and there’s a sound of the door opening right after Jeongguk punches in his code.
“Honey, Eunwoo, I’m home,” Jeongguk hollers, and his mother rolls her eyes jokingly at Jimin which Jimin giggles at.
“Hi, Jeongguk,” his mother greets pointedly right as Jeongguk enters the living room and is all wide-eyed at the sight of both of them together. “It’s nice to finally meet Jimin and Eunwoo. You have been teasing me a lot about them these past months.”
“Mum, please,” Jeongguk begins, and he sets the take-outs on the coffee table. “I didn’t know Jimin would be interested in meeting you.”
“Did you ask?” Jeongguk’s mother asks, and at the same time Jimin scoffs at him, “of course I would be interested!”
“Sorry,” Jeongguk says exasperatedly, and there’s this fond look on his face as he studies the three of them together. “I’m glad.”
-
“I didn’t think you would want to meet my parents because I’m not sure where we are in our relationship,” Jeongguk says that night after his mother returned home and they’re doing the dishes together.
“You have so much doubts in yourself when it comes to me, huh,” Jimin muses, and he looks at Jeongguk who is rinsing the plate off.
“You have no idea, babe,” Jeongguk mutters, and Jimin sighs, taking the bubbles and slathering it all over Jeongguk’s cheeks which he screeches at. “Hey!”
“Hey,” Jimin mocks, and he pinches Jeongguk’s cheeks. It’s a funny sight; Jeongguk pouting and his cheeks jutting out. He doesn’t look twenty-five. “Why can’t you see that I like you as much as you like me? If not more?”
“That’s impossible,” Jeongguk scoffs, and he breaks free from Jimin’s pinch. “Of course I like you more.”
“That’s not fair,” Jimin protests, “how did you even come into that conclusion?”
“I just know, hyung,” Jeongguk says, and Jimin knows he’s just teasing him so he huffs exaggeratedly, and Jeongguk kisses his cheek. “I like you a lot.” I know , Jimin thinks. Another peck on his other cheek. “I like you a lot lot.” Another peck, and this time it’s on his lips. “I might even love you.”
“Might?”
“I love you, then,” Jeongguk says smoothly. “Eunwoo, too. Especially Eunwoo.”
Jimin feels like crying.
“Thank you.”
“Of course,” Jeongguk shrugs, and he plants another kiss on Jimin’s nose. “Anything for you.”
-
“I love you, too,” Jimin responses that night when Jeongguk’s room is dark.
Jeongguk responds by a slight squeeze of his arms around his waist.
I love you.
-
Jeongguk looks hot when he’s working. That sounds stupid, but it’s the truth. He looks focused. He looks confident. He looks like he won’t give any shit to his employees. He looks like Jimin’s wet dreams in middle school.
Jimin is at Jeongguk’s office and this is the first time he has ever been there. He brought lunch and a rose just because Jimin’s annoying, and Jeongguk doesn’t know he’s there. So even if Jeongguk got invited out for lunch by his employees they can suck his ass because Jimin is here with food already; they can do that shit with him any other day.
“Hello,” Jimin greets Jeongguk’s secretary, and she makes a noise of surprise and recognition.
“Jimin? Boss’ boyfriend?” Jeongguk’s secretary asks, and Jimin nods although his ears are heating up. “Boss is inside,” she looks at the food in Jimin’s hand and the rose and wiggles excitedly. “I guess I don’t need to buy boss his food?”
“Yeah, you don’t have to,” Jimin says softly, and he gestures to the room, “can I come in?”
“Of course!” Jimin knocks on Jeongguk’s office door, and Jeongguk answers with a come in without even looking up from his laptop.
“Too busy for your boyfriend?” Jimin asks, and Jeongguk looks up from his laptop in surprise.
“Jimin?” he asks, and he sounds so stupidly happy Jimin giggles as he closes the door.
“Hey, you,” Jimin replies instead and he gives him his rose, which Jeongguk laughs out loud at as he accepts it.
“A rose?” Jeongguk wheezes, and Jimin tries hard to maintain a straight face.
“Anything for you,” Jimin replies, and he pinches Jeongguk’s cheek hard, which he makes a soft whining sound at.
“Do I have to smell it, babe?” Jeongguk asks jokingly, and Jimin’s facade falls, giggling along with Jeongguk. Jimin gives a small kiss to Jeongguk’s cheek and pats it right after.
“Do you, Guk. But, let’s eat. I bought unhealthy fast food.”
“Sounds like a perfect office date.”
-
“Uh, hyung, baby, I can’t come to dinner at your place tonight,” Jeongguk says quickly over the phone to the point that Jimin feels like he misheard if it isn’t for the repetition. “I can’t come. Too much work. Sorry, hyung.”
“It’s alright,” Jimin says, feeling uncomfortable, but he brushes it off. This if the first time Jeongguk has ever bailed on their weekly dinner together. Cool. His first time, but why does Jimin have a dreading feeling about this? “Go back to work, then. It’s cool.”
“Sorry, hyung,” Jeongguk sounds nervous over the phone, like he’s afraid of Jimin bursting, which is odd, but Jimin shrugs him off again. “I’ll see you, okay?”
‘’Mmkay,” Jimin says, and he says it quickly, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Jeongguk replies just as fast, and Jimin’s heart is at ease again.
-
Taehyung and Yoongi insists on taking Jimin and Eunwoo out for dinner at the mall. Which is nice, because a certain someone bailed out on their tradition, uh. But the mall is kind of crowded, and the last thing Jimin wants after a long day at work is to be swarmed by strangers. But Taehyung says that Yoongi is treating so that’s a-okay to Jimin. Free food, happy Jimin.
Taehyung seems kind of on edge the entire time they’re at the mall. He keeps clutching his tummy, and complaining about how much it hurts to them, and Jimin knows that when he does that he’s nervous. But what exactly is he nervous for? Eunwoo is finally able to eat properly without Jimin feeding him, so that’s good because he only has to keep a lookout on Eunwoo spilling the food, and not putting food at the wrong hole.
Yoongi looks like normal. Except there’s this happiness exuding from him. He pays the food without complaining like he always does, and he even takes Eunwoo to the toy store at the mall and offers to buy him one toy which Eunwoo is excited for.
“Why are you two so,” Jimin pauses, running his left hand that is not intertwined with Eunwoo over the two, “excited?”
“We’re just very bad at concealing our love for you and Eunwoo, Chim,” Yoongi says, and he looks like he’s about to tear up along with Taehyung next to him, so Jimin looks away weirdly.
-
When Jimin returns home with Eunwoo, Taehyung and Yoongi insists on coming along with him up to his apartment. This isn’t really a surprise, so Jimin doesn’t bat an eye and just shrugs at their eager behaviour. Jimin unlocks the door, only to find it unlocked. Jimin’s first instinct is to take Eunwoo in his arms and bolt away, in case the burglar tries to harm them.
But Taehyung puts his hand on Jimin’s shoulder, and Yoongi’s recording on his phone, so something is up. Jimin opens the door, and his living room is dark. Jimin remembers leaving the light on at the hallway where they open their shoes because Taehyung and Yoongi picked them up at around seven when the night is getting darker. The small hallway is dark, but there are two rows of candles on the way to the living room, the middle empty, and Jimin can see that Jeongguk is standing in the middle at the end where the two rows of candles end.
“What?” Jimin splutters, although he has a feeling of what exactly this is.
“Hey, you,” Jeongguk greets, and he looks ridiculous, trying to say that smoothly while also looking like he’s about to poop his pants.
“Are you--”
“Uh, yeah, listen, baby,” Jeongguk calls for Eunwoo with his hands with a gentle smile on his face, and Jimin almost melts. He gives Eunwoo something, and Eunwoo nods at the brief and simple instruction. Eunwoo merely stands there next to Jeongguk with an excited smile on his face, and he’s holding the ring. The box that contains the ring.
“Okay, so,” Jeongguk begins, and he takes Jimin’s hands in his. “I met you and Eunwoo around a year and a half ago, didn’t I? At the cruise. I met Eunwoo first, and he was literally contemplating for so long over the ice cream I decided to help. Eunwoo told me his father told him to not wander off, but he was having his ice cream fix,” Jeongguk laughs, amused, and he continues, “I know this sounds bad, but I’m glad Eunwoo wandered of. Because if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t meet you.”
“I thought you were beautiful even when you rushed to Eunwoo and yelled his name. I thought you are beautiful even when you wake up next to me with morning breaths. I love you a lot, Jimin. I love Eunwoo, too. Days where I can’t see you pains me,” Jeongguk swallows, and he looks like he’s gonna cry, “I really want to see you for the rest of your life. I want to be the person you wake up to every morning, I want to raise Eunwoo with you every morning, and I want Eunwoo to consider me as a father. I want to spoil Eunwoo rotten. I want to spoil you rotten. And I want more that anything to take care of both of you.”
Jeongguk gets on one knee, and he’s at the same height as Eunwoo now. He nods at Eunwoo, and Eunwoo opens the box with much difficulty, and Jeongguk laughs, helping him right after, and Jimin’s heart feels so so so warm, it’s ridiculous.
“Will you marry me, Jimin?” Jeongguk asks, but Eunwoo is still holding the ring box, not Jeongguk, excitedly bouncing on his feet as he does. Jimin wants to cry at the consideration.
“Of course, Jeongguk,” Jimin replies, and Taehyung and Yoongi in the background erupts in cheers.
“Okay,” Jeongguk giggles, and he takes the ring out of the box, softly saying thank you to Eunwoo, and Jeongguk slips the ring onto the finger. It fits perfectly.
Jimin is warm. Jimin is so so warm.
-
“You know when we met?” Jeongguk asks.
“No,” Jimin answers jokingly, and Jeongguk huffs as he hugs Jimin’s naked torso closer. “Okay, yeah?”
“When you put in your number and I typed in something?”
“Mmhm?”
“I put in love right after your name.”
“Jeongguk, that was the first time we met,” Jimin giggles.
“I know,” Jeongguk whines, and he pulls Jimin even closer. If that’s possible. “I liked you a lot the first time I saw you.”
“Me, too,” Jimin replies, and he boops Jeongguk’s nose, “not as much as you liked me probably, but I was attracted to you.”
“Good.”
“And, babe?”
“Yeah?”
“Your contact number in my phone is still only Jeon Jeongguk.”
“No emojis?” Jeongguk whimpers, and he stretches over Jimin to take Jimin’s phone and typed in Eunwoo’s birthdate as his passcode. “I’m changing it. I can’t believe you would do this to your fiancee.”
Jimin can only giggle.
(And yes, Eunwoo is having a sleepover at Taehyung and Yoongi’s house, just in case you’re wondering.)