By: @vera_ba

"He's mad at me."

"What? Why–––"

"I just know it," Jungkook says, walking back and forth in the office, "I mean ––– he didn't even ask if I wanted some coffee when he went to make one for himself, and he always asks," he rambles, "and ––– he's being distant again, barely looks me in the eye, have you seen it? A-and he didn't even come in once since the morning, which is not like him at all, and –––"

"Jungkook," Tae cuts in, brushing his now black curls out of his forehead with a soft sigh –– it suits him –– wait, did he compliment it? He totally didn't, fuck, now Tae will be upset with him too––– "Jungkook, sit your ass down and listen to me," the black-haired says firmly, pointing at the space on the couch next to himself. Jungkook obeys, shrinking to himself as he does. Tae turns to him, grabbing both of his shoulders and looking into his eyes. "Jimin isn't mad at you," he says, "he told me, he told you, so just ––– take a deep breath," he says, breathing in deeply himself, the younger following the example, "and let's not spiral even further down, 'kay?"

Tae is right – technically. Jimin did text him to ask if they're good the day after the incident, and they've both agreed they are, and have been acting like it never happened – the exact same way they did with the night they spent together – still, it's not exactly like it was before and that's the part driving the younger crazy. Jimin is definitely less ––– touchy, and as much as Jungkook does not consider himself to be a touchy-feely person, he's missing it. He's been strangely missing Jimin even though it's only been four days since the wedding ––– it took him a hot second to figure out why. The older has not only been less touchy but avoided being alone with Jungkook or even look at him the whole day –– and that was the exact moment he started spiraling. In conclusion, Jimin might not be mad at him, but his irresponsible actions had their consequences. Cause and effect, see? –––

"Kook," Tae tries again, shaking him by the shoulders gently to catch his attention. The younger blinks, still a little dazed.

"Your hair looks great," Jungkook says quietly, his friend staring at him confusedly for a second before his expression morphs into an amused one.

"Thank you," Tae chuckles, ruffling the younger's hair fondly, "but let's not change the topic here, okay?" he suggests gently, the blond ducking his head embarrassedly. "Why do you think Jimin is mad at you?"

"Well––" Jungkook starts, fumbling with the hem of his sweater, "maybe not mad, but ––– definitely upset."

"You think he's upset with you, because what ––– he didn't bring you coffee?" Tae quirks a brow at him, continuing before the younger could retaliate, "and didn't come in to spend his break with you as usual."

Jungkook sighs, pursing his lips. He knows it sounds silly –– that he sounds silly. There's just no other explanation––––

"Kook," Tae starts, "think for a moment – would you consider Jimin as the kind of person who wouldn't speak his mind in this situation?" he tries to reason with him, the younger shaking his head reluctantly. "Okay ––– and, have you considered, that maybe, just maybe," Tae continues, taking both of the blond's hands now, "he just feels awkward, the same way you do."

"So, I made him uncomfortable," Jungkook says, absolutely mortified, "oh my god, that's even worse," he whispers.

"How on earth–––"

"If I upset him, I can just apologize, but––––" Jungkook slips out of his hold, starting to pace again, "if he's uncomfortable in my presence, I ––– I can't do anything about it, just–––" his voice cracks, anxiety filling his system to the brink. If Jimin is uncomfortable with him, then he should give him some space and –––

"Just?"

Jungkook exhales shakily, stopping in his tracks and glancing at his best friend nervously. He can't explain it. At least not in a way it would make sense to the older. He would think it's silly. He's going to laugh at him–––

"Kook, come on," the black-haired presses gently, "let me help."

Jungkook ponders for a moment, before he sits back again with a tired sigh. "If he's uncomfortable then I should probably let him be and ––– I ––– please don't laugh at me, I know it's silly–––" he starts, playing with his fingers to busy himself, "I just ––– Jae always did this ––– thing, when we had a –– disagreement," he explains warily, "he would just ––– give me the silent treatment for days instead of talking to me and ––– it really messed with my head, you know? I knew I was being clingy and overthinking it and I know I'm doing the same with Jimin right now, but I'm just ––– too anxious for this and –––" he tries to continue, taking in a shaky breath. If he knew Jimin was upset with him, he could apologize and he knows the older would listen, because he isn't Jae and he would be willing to talk about it, but if he has to give the other space ––– what if Jimin realizes meanwhile that he's not worth all this trouble?

"Kook," Tae pleads, worry written all over his face and ––– fuck, he feels sorry for him. It's somehow even worse than being told his feelings are dumb––– "I'm so sorry Jae treated you like that, it's horrible–––" he says, and of course Jungkook was right ––– "it's not silly, okay?" the older continues, "it's a really shitty thing to do to your partner and –––" he sighs, observing the younger with a concerned frown, "why didn't you tell me? That he's treating you like that?"

Here we go. The questions Jungkook can't even answer to himself––––

"I –––" Jungkook starts, gaze focused on his lap, "you hated him enough already," he mumbles ashamedly.

"Well, I sure as hell would've yeeted his ass back to fucking Florida if I'd known about it," Tae huffs, the younger shrinking into himself, "fucking asshole––– ugh, and now I'm supposed to sit through the whole damn meeting with not only those rich white dudes but him? Without punching him in the nuts with a stamper or something –––" he continues, the other curling into himself even more ––– "okay, okay, I'm sorry –– hey," Tae takes his hands again, squeezing them gently, "I'm sorry," he repeats earnestly, "he just ––– his mere existence makes my blood boil at this point, but I'll calm down now," he takes a big exhale, rubbing his best friend's hands to reassure him. "Okay, let's go back to the main point," the black-haired says, probably sensing the younger doesn't want to talk about it anymore, "look, I don't think you made Jimin uncomfortable, okay? It's just ––– awkward, like when you fucked and ended up working together the next day, yeah? " he makes a face, the other huffing a weak laugh. "You guys just need to get over the awkward stage again, and you already did that once, so don't worry, okay? Just give him some time," Tae says with a warm smile. "And if you don't want to wait for that long, I'm certain if you'd just sit down and explain that you don't only wanna smooch but also have a huge crush on him–––" he starts playfully teasing again, disrupted by a flick on his forehead, courtesy of Jungkook.

"Who has a crush on who?"

Two heads whip to the open door, the blond's eyes widening in fear as he registers Jimin's presence. Holy shit, holy fucking shit, how much did he hear–––

"Me," Tae replies to save his best friend the embarrassment, "on Yoongi," he adds with a cheeky smile, "don't tell him though."

Jimin gives him an unimpressed look, walking into the office desk. "I literally came home yesterday to you two being all mushy and confessing your eternal love for each other on the couch," he says, brushing through the documents in his hand once again before placing it on the table, "I think he knows."

"You could've come home to us banging on the couch too," Tae banters with a grin.

"Ugh, gross," Jimin says with a grimace, "now I have the mental image in my head, thank you, Taehyung-ah," he pretends to gag, his dramatics earning him a soft smile from the youngest.

"You're welcome," Tae says cheekily, absolutely shameless.

"Wait, did you––" Jimin turns to him abruptly, squinting at the black-haired who wiggles his brows at him, grinning still, "you know what? Don't know, don't care," he murmurs, slipping the papers in front of the youngest. "Could you sign at the end, please?" he asks, avoiding the blond's gaze –– it hurts, even if it's really just the awkwardness of the situation––– "thank you," the blue-haired grabs the documents, turning on his heels and walking out of the office–––

"Hey, Min," Tae chimes in, Jimin turning around with a questioning hum, "wanna check out that new Mexican place with us for lunch?"

"Oh, umm––" Jimin shifts on his feet, sweater paw swaying the stack of papers absent-mindedly, "I can't right now, sorry," he says with an apologetic smile, glancing at the youngest for a second before he turns back to the black-haired, "I think I'll just buy a sandwich or something at the cafeteria and stay here," he says, "I'm a little behind with ––– well, everything basically," he adds quietly, finishing off with a soft sigh.

"Come on, I bet your boss won't mind if you leave some things for tomorrow," Tae says, giving the youngest a meaningful glare, the latter nodding reluctantly.

"Y-you shouldn't work in your lunchtime, Hyung," Jungkook adds shyly, his heart doing a hopeful flip in his chest as Jimin looks at him, actually looks at him, and smiles –– at him.

"Thanks, but it's –– college stuff, actually," the older replies with a small shrug, "I'm a little stuck with my thesis and –––" he sighs, brushing through his unusually messy hair, "my brain just doesn't seem to be working lately."

"We will bring you something for lunch then, 'kay? My treat," Tae says with a sympathetic smile, the blue-haired reciprocating with a small one of his own, "a sandwich isn't enough brain fuel," he adds, feigning seriousness with his index finger pointed, which earns him a soft chuckle, holy shit, he missed that sound so much –––

"That's really nice of you, Taehyungie, thank you," Jimin says earnestly, "you two have fun, though," he adds, glancing at the youngest before turning the doorknob and leaving the office.

"You know what you should do after lunch?" Tae immediately turns to the younger, who's blinking at him confusedly, "help him," he says, "and yourself, too."

Jungkook blinks, dumbfounded.

"What?"

"Help him with his thesis," Tae repeats, "you're the tech genius here, not to mention he's writing about your company, so–––" he shrugs, lips curling up into a playful smile.

"What–– n-no, I can't–––" Jungkook shakes his head vehemently, "Hyung, he clearly doesn't want to be alone with me, have you been listening to me at all?" he says in disbelief, not mentioning the underlying thought here, the one laced with old memories that still makes him shudder in discomfort ––––

"Oh, I definitely had," the older says, leaning back on his chair leisurely, "and I stand by my point," he says, "you either talk to him about it or take this golden opportunity to get your ––– friendship out of this ruckus as soon as possible."

Jungkook sighs, fingers drumming on the desk. "And how would me telling him that I might have a crush on him would help, huh?" he murmurs, ignoring the other option completely, "it would just make things more awkward," he says, although uncertainly. He still isn't really sure what answer Jimin wanted to hear that night–––

"My god, you're so oblivious," Tae says with a deep sigh, glancing at the ceiling, maybe hoping for some divine intervention ––– wait, oblivious to what?–––– "Look, you'll have to be brave and take the first step here, okay? Because Jiminie ––– I don't think he will this time," he gives the blond a meaningful look, which just makes the latter even more confused––– and absolutely mortified. It's just –– way too familiar. Something happens, the communication stops, and Jungkook's only chances are crippling anxiety until they get out of this –– ruckus on their own, or  ––– try until he gets through Jimin over and over again ––– "Kook," Tae's voice pulls him out of his spiraling, "Jimin isn't like him," he says simply as if he's reading the younger's thoughts and Jungkook ––– he knows, he swears he knows in his mind, but ––– he can't shake off this strange, uncomfortable déjà vu clinging onto him, getting heavier and heavier on his shoulders.

"Okay, I'll ––I'll try," Jungkook replies quietly, unsure if his friend has even heard it –– he doesn't try again though, it was more for himself anyway. A quiet promise for himself, a promise to keep clinging to that hope that Jimin isn't like him, that he's a good one, despite something in the back of his brain telling him that whatever it is between them, is doomed now, because the older now will see that he's just ––– not worth the trouble and Jungkook should let him. And the worst part is, that sick, twisted part of him wants it to be true, wants Jimin to open his eyes finally and see him, the real him, the ugly part that seems to overshadow the good and ––– isn't worth it.

Jungkook tries to gather some courage and fails miserably at least two –– no, three times that day. First, while bringing Jimin his lunch, but he seemed so immersed in whatever he was typing on his computer, the younger quickly skirted away, barely catching the older thanking him for the food. The second was at their floor's kitchenette with Jungkook patiently waiting in line for the coffee machine as Jimin brews his own coffee, his heart fluttering when Jimin considerately grabs the oatmilk for him from the fridge before taking out his own preferred milk. He eventually initiates small talk too, only for Jungkook to fuck up and ask if he managed to make any progress with his thesis, which seems to be a sore spot, resulting in an unusually brief answer and a few more awkward exchanges about the weather and Jungkook almost bursting into tears right in front that damn coffee machine after the other left. The third ––– well, that was just devastating. Jimin was trying to balance a huge stack of mail and place it on the younger's desk, and Jungkook, like the fool he is, thought that it's his time, because isn't being nice to someone is the easiest way to break the ice? Well, it definitely isn't, at least not when you end up accidentally elbowing your coffee cup in the process and pouring its content all over the dozens of contracts Jimin just printed and carefully stamped for him. Jimin, the patient man he is, stayed calm and said it's okay, but ––– Jungkook has seen what okay means. He's been trying to fix the okay all day––––

That's how Jungkook ended up staying late, trying to bury himself in work and not cry like a baby at the fact that Jimin didn't even say goodbye to him before he left; however, it doesn't distract him as it usually does, and he gives up an hour later and decides to go home to have a good stress cry. What he didn't expect though, was to see Jimin glued to his computer, so immersed in whatever he's reading he doesn't even hear the door open. The blond blinks at him with wide eyes, partly surprised to find him there, partly relieved the older didn't leave without a word. He shifts on his heels awkwardly for a moment before deciding on disrupting the silence with an awkward cough, smiling sheepishly at the older as he whips his head up.

"Going already?" Jimin says, rubbing his eye in the most adorable way––– no, focus ––– already?

"Umm ––– it's half past six, Hyung," the younger answers quietly, starting to get a little concerned now. The older stills, staring at him with wide eyes, then at the clock on the wall before he jumps off his seat, cursing under his breath and shoving his stuff into his backpack. "S-something's wrong?' the blond asks gingerly.

"I'm uh–––" Jimin brushes his messy hair out of his forehead, eyes roaming the desk in panic before he exhales relievedly, pulling his phone out from under a stack of paper, and slipping it into his pocket, "I'm just going to be really late," he says as he pulls his beanie on and slips into his coat.

"Do you umm–––" Jungkook licks his lips nervously, "I could give you a ride if you want."

Jimin stills, glancing at him, worrying his lower lip as he ponders for a moment. "Really?" he asks, the blond nods. "Only if you're sure it's no bother," the older adds then, playing with the string of his hoodie, uncharacteristically shy.

"Of course, it isn't," Jungkook replies without missing a beat, hope blooming in his chest with a smile on his face simultaneously, the older reciprocating earnestly ––– before he tears his gaze away. Well, it's a start.

"Okay," Jimin clears his throat as he throws his backpack over his shoulder, "we can go then."

"So, where to?" Jungkook asks as he starts the engine, glancing at the older shyly.

"Do you know the bakery on 4th Ave? You know, the one Yoongi's parents own?" Jimin asks, focusing on his phone screen as he keeps typing.

"Oh, do I?" Jungkook asks with good-natured sarcasm, smiling to himself as he hears an amused chuckle from the side, "Tae forces me to make a stop there on the way home once a week, at least. I mean, I get that he has a sweet tooth, but let me tell you, it's getting out of hand," he jokes.

"I hope you realize he's doing that to flirt with his boyfriend, right?" Jimin giggles, the younger glancing at him for a second with a shocked expression, letting out a soft huff as he focuses back on the road, "Yoongi is there, managing the cash register to help his parents out once a week, at least" the older explains nonchalantly, "see the pattern?"

"Damn," Jungkook sighs in a dramatic fashion, "I'm such a fool," he says, smiling brightly as he hears the older's burst of laughter, that pretty, lively laughter he's addicted to, apparently, judging by how much he's grown to miss it just in two days ––– holy fuck, he really is a fool. "So, I've been basically driving him around to make out with his man," he concludes, earning another lovely giggle.

"I don't think they dare to make out there, if that consoles you," Jimin replies, "I mean, Yoongi was raised better than to do that in front of his parents," he muses.

"Tae wasn't," Jungkook huffs jokingly, both laughing now, the younger's heart soaring with happiness. "So," he starts, once their laughter dies down and the silence starts weighing him down again, "are you helping out at the bakery, too?" the blond asks because even small talk is better than not talking at all.

"Nah," Jimi says, shaking his head in the blond's peripheral vision, "I'm tutoring Yoongi's younger brother in math," he explains, "he's finishing high school this year and I've been preparing him for the GED."

"Oh," Jungkook breathes out surprisedly, stealing a glance at the older as they stop at a red light, "t-that's ––– really nice of you," he says, "I always sucked at math," he adds with an awkward chuckle, letting out a relieved exhale as Jimin laughs too, even though it wasn't funny at all.

"Well, I was a mathlete in high school," Jimin replies with a sweet, melodic chuckle, the younger's eyebrows jumping up surprisedly, "don't tell it to Taehyungie