I whip my head back to gawk at his smug expression. I don't think my mouth has ever been stretched so wide, my cheeks sting from all the blood now rushing to them.

"BOYFRIEND?" My dad yells, making me free myself from Taehyung's hold. "Lilo I taught you better than this!"

"But Dad I—"

"I don't want to hear another word. Your mother and I will not stand for this, will we darling?"

"But Howard he's so good looking!" She holds out her palm, "How old are you young man? Are you wealthy? Are you a famous model? Are you already married? What's you're blood ty—"

"Mom stop." I whisper in embarrassment.

"Well I won't stand for this." My Dad finishes, "Look at his hand, he's obviously a troublemaker. Plus he looks like a girl. I don't want to see you with this boy again!"

Taehyung stands from the couch and stops beside me, "Sir, you're living in a fantasy if you think you can intimidate your daughter into staying single forever. And you obviously think you're scarier than you actually are. There's nothing wrong with her having a boyfriend. Somewhere along the line you got a girlfriend and made her, right?"

Oh my God...

Oh...

My God...

He wants to die.

"...Y-you will not tell me what is and isn't appropriate for my daughter! Leave my home this instant before I make you!"

"Howard..." My mom looks at him with disagreement.

Taehyung puts his hands in his pockets and leans his lips by my ear. "Thank me later."

I look at him with a wide-eyed, stunned expression, wondering what he even means. Thank him for what? All he's done is banished himself from my home. That idiot.

After crouching down to pick up Li he bows at my parents and walks out. My mom blushes and waves enthusiastically before he exits.

"Lilo I am very disappointed in you for disobeying my orders like this. After everything I've told you."

"Dad he's not even my boyfriend he's my....."

......Boss? I can't say that or my dad would make me resign at once. Especially after the way Taehyung just spoke to him. Is he a friend?

I trail off, my chin almost touching my chest and hands falling lazily to my sides. "...I don't know what he is."

He scowls and shakes his head disapprovingly. "Girl or boy, you are no longer allowed visitors for the next month. Not Mina, not your cousins, not even—"

"Dear that is enough." My mother places her hands on her hips in frustration. "Our daughter is not 10 anymore, it's time to let her grow up. Are you going to scold and punish her for having a boyfriend like this when she's 23? You told me that when we fell in love it was the best moment of your life, and we were 17. Don't deprive that happiness of our daughter."

All noise in the room becomes nonexistent, my dad falls silent and glares at me, then sighs.

"I just don't want you getting hurt by boys. They can be so..."

"Heartless? Controlling?" I say, referring to himself.

He goes mute again, turning to my mother before averting his attention back at me. "I'm sorry Lilo. I don't want you to think I'm a heartless father. If you start dating just... please be wise in who you choose. My only daughter deserves the best."

I smile widely and give him a tight hug, making him jump in surprise. It feels so good to finally be free to do grown-up things like dating, without worrying about disappointing my dad.

...Thanks to Taehyung.

My dad's arms buckle around me, a peck lands on the top of my head. "I have to hand it to him... the kids got guts. A lot of guts. I'll still snap his neck if he hurts you though." He jokes, making me chuckle.

"You wouldn't be my dad if you didn't."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 🍂

Later that night I bring my knuckles to the wood of the door, knocking five times.

It's late, almost 11 to be exact, but I don't want to wait. I want to clear this up now. It only feels natural to get it over with at this moment.

There's no response... Maybe he's asleep.

I knock again anyway.

Finally the door swings open. Jimin stares at me with widened eyes and parted lips, I continue to stand opposite him, my fists clenching as they become clammy in my pockets. His rock hard expression softens and eyes shift away before my lips part to speak, "Hey."

"Hey..." He responds almost at a whisper. His fingers scratch the back of his neck awkwardly. "Let me in?"

He steps aside and opens the door wider without a response, his eyes remain glued to the floor.

I step inside and head straight to the living room, walking around slowly whilst being reminded of the familiar decor. The three of us used to crash here often, but ever since I opened the cafe we've hung out there instead.

This house always had a comfortingly warm and homey aura to it, and it usually smelled of candy, but the aura feels different today. It feels colder, the sweet sugary scent has been replaced with a tinge of beer.

Scanning around the room brings back another wash of memories, mostly the long talks we'd have until 3 am. The first thing that catches my attention are the pictures of the three of us. Each photo gives me a sense of deja vu.

"I remember this day..." I pick up one of the picture frames, then collapse into the soft pillows that line the couch. "It was the day school finished early... We rode bikes through the park and Jungkook got that scar on his head from checking that girl out."

"Yeah..." He awkwardly chuckles and sits opposite me. "He got too distracted and crashed into the lake."

"And the duck bit him on the ass..." A snicker escapes my lips. I can tell Jimin is holding back his laughter too.

When my laughter fades I look at the floor and lick my lips. "Jimin, do you remember how we met?" I ask.

He sighs and nods. "Yep. You were new to middle school, so I ate lunch with you... Even though you told me to leave you alone. You wouldn't talk much, I was worried you'd never like me."

"But you still did it every day for a week... You were the only one in that preppy private school who wasn't a stuck-up rich kid. You introduced me to Jungkook and said we'd be friends. It was the first time in years I didn't feel alone."

"But then you vanished."

His words paint the room dark almost instantly. My eyebrows raise and smile fades when I see the seriousness in his expression.

"You dropped out of school without saying a word. You didn't even call us, it was just... poof, you were gone. We tried looking for you... A week had gone by, then a month... next thing I knew you were gone for seven..."

"Jimin..."

"When you came back you wouldn't even tell us why you left. I forgave you because I saw you as a brother, but it hurt Tae... Just like it still hurts now."

"I know..." I lightly place the picture frame on the coffee table between us. "That was harsh, but even at that young age I had responsibilities I needed to take care of. I didn't want to worry you by saying anything. I thought you guys would do just fine without me."

"Just fine? We were lost without you. Not that you even cared. I bet you don't even remember anything from middle school. You were gone for half of it, how could you anyway?"

My focus doesn't shift from his rubbing hands and turned cheek. Is that what he really thinks? That I just forgot about him until I needed him again? Is that how I left him feeling...?

"I remember the day I started smoking." I start off, "I was so stressed... but you caught me and dumped my cigarettes in the trash, I never touched them again. I remember when I almost got me expelled for setting off the fire alarm but you took the blame. I remember when Jungkook was stupid enough to climb that humongous tree and was too scared to get down. So you climbed up with him and the two of you fell flat on your heads like apples."

My last words make Jimin chuckle through a light smile.

"Before I met you, I didn't even know what it meant to have a friend. To this day I really wish I could tell you why I left... Because I never wanted to leave you guys in the dark, but I assumed you could do way better without my problems. In the end I was glad we found each other again, I don't know how I would have coped without you.

And as for the Lilo thing... I never meant to steal anyone from you. You're nice, good looking and a talented dancer, it's annoying how perfect you are. You'll find a girl that's way better that Jisoo or Lilo. And I promise the next time you hit me, I'll take it like a man until I die from blood loss. A real friend takes the punches until you've gotten everything out."

Jimin's eyes meet my face, the end of his lips curl into an unhide-able smile before he throws his head back and covers his eyes.

"Aish... Stop already. You're gonna make me cry."

I laugh once more, standing from my seat and walking around the coffee table that separates us. The second I get to his chair we're found embracing each other.

"I'm sorry bro..."

"Me too..."

I stayed for a couple more hours, we continued to tell the memories we shared until 3 am.

Oops no DUHRAMA this time kiddos.. bet you was expecting something messy lol sorry, that's coming up and your. Not. Ready. So rn let's just drink in this positivity 🙃💖💜💕