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despite it all • park jimin

chapter 2 — soft spot

plot – when you finally go to the bar on 17th street, it's not for help.

words – 3.1K

chapter 1

For a long time you thought you would never take Jimin up on his offer to go to the bar on 17th Street.

Then the day came that you did.

***

Things go back to normal for a few weeks after the night you helped Jimin. You go to work and for the most part it's easy to put that night out of your mind. Then there's the hours when you can't sleep or you don't have a shift, and it all comes rushing back. You visit your dad's grave and you tell him about Jimin, asking if he'd be mad at you for helping him. You don't talk to your mother, she never could forgive you for becoming a first responder.

Three weeks after that night, you get called to the scene of a gunshot victim in an alley. You and your partner Jeongguk immediately start to help him. Or you try to, at least. He's so young, no older than eighteen or nineteen.

"Come on, kid, hold on!" You mutter under your breath as you try to stop the bleeding. You look at Jeongguk, who looked at the victim with wide eyes, face pale. "Hey! Snap out of it! We need to get fluids in him, start a saline and blood line."

You work on him for almost fourty minutes before he's gone. Your gloved hands and shirt are drenched in blood. You sit back on your heels, a sense of defeat coming over you. You take a second to pull yourself together before you reach over to close his eyes, sending Jeongguk to get a blanket to cover him with, and that's when you see it.

The outline of a tattoo on the left side of his neck. Your blood runs cold and you hope that you're wrong. You reach out with shaky fingers, turning his head just a little, to get a full view of the tattoo. You suck in a deep breath when you see it.

A serpent.

You were right. This kid is in the same gang that Jimin is in.

"Funny, isn't it?" A voice asks above you.

You look up, and the badge around his neck tells you he's a cop. You frown slightly at him, "Who are you?"

"Detective Choi, Gang Unit."

"Well, Detective, I don't see anything funny about this situation." You are tempted to glare at the man.

"They spend their days breaking the law, hurting people and then expect to be helped when they get shot as a result of their own actions." He said, sneering down at the body.

"They're still people." You say, heart twisting at the man's careless words.

"Barely." The detective scoffed, looking down at the body with interest, pointing down at it. "But this one. He was important."

You don't understand what a kid has to do with all of this as you frown crossly up at the detective. "He's just a kid."

"Yeah, but he's a Park." The detective says, a glint of excitement in his eyes. It makes anger stir inside of you. "Park Jihyun, in fact. Second in line to the most dangerous gang in the province."

"So, what? Because of that he doesn't deserve to live?" You scoff in disbelief as Jeongguk returns and start to cover the body. Before the press could arrive and take pictures and videos for the six o'clock news.

The detective shrugs, "I'm just saying, no one will cry over his death."

"You just said he has a family. I'm sure they will." You remind him.

The Detective shakes his head, "No, they're not gonna cry. They're gonna go to war."

"And what? You're going to use the war to catch his brother? While he's grieving? Seems a little cold." You say as you push to your feet. You could see Jeongguk frowning as he looked back and forth between you and the detective.

"I figured I'd give them a taste of their own medicine."

"Are you going to tell that to his brother when you notify him?" You retort, mentally yelling every kind of curse you could possible think of at him.

"I'm not going to tell him."

Your mouth drops open in shocked disbelief, appalled by the detective. "What? You have too. You're bound by law."

"They don't follow the law. Why should I extend them that courtesy?" He shrugs.

"Because his family will be worried sick! And you're a cop!" You exclaim, voice rising a little.

"I'm counting on it." The detective grins before walking away.

You clench your hands into fists, an overwhelming urge to hit the detective coming over you. You look at Jeongguk, who still seemed out of it. You frown at him, he's never reacted like this to seeing someone being shot before. "Hey, are you okay, Jeongguk?"

"Yeah," He nods quickly, a little too quick, but you don't say anything. "Just, his family . . .

they deserve to know."

"They do." You agree immediately. "And I'm going to make sure they find out."

Jeongguk's head whips to you, curious and kind of relieved. "How?"

"I know this guy, he's in the same gang as the kid is, or was."

For a second, Jeongguk looks amused. "You know a guy in a gang."

"Shut up." You feel you're cheeks burn, suddenly feeling shy. "And yes, I do. His name is Jimin and I helped him out once. He told me that if I ever need something to go to the bar on 17th Street. I may not need something, but I figure he would probably be able to tell Jihyun's family."

You turn to Jeongguk, who went quiet by your side. His eyes was open wide again, but this time there was a sliver of fear in them. "A guy named Jimin, who is in the same gang as the kid with a bar on 17th Street?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nothing." Jeongguk all but squeaks, shaking his head furiously, eyes still wide.

You side eye him, "You're judging me for doing this, aren't you? Meh. Whatever. They deserve to know. I'm telling them."

***

After your shift, you immediately go to the bar on 17th Street. It was a nice, casual kind of place. On another day, you could see yourself having a drink there. You look around and you don't see Jimin, so you head to the bar to ask for him.

The bartender is tall and buff. And gives off a scary vibe with his tattoos and the emotionless expression on his face. You notice the same serpent tattoo Jimin has on his neck, on the bartender's forearm. This guy is probably your best bet on finding Jimin.

"Uh, hi, I'm looking for Jimin." You blurt at the bartender, who is busy wiping down the counter. You feel a flush rising on your cheeks. That sounded so demanding.

"Who's asking?" The bartender asks without look

"Y/N."

That gets the bartender's attention. He stops wiping the counter and looks at your with sparkling eyes, a boxy smile breaking the blank look on his face, making him look more like a puppy as he shakes his curls out of his eyes, "So, you're Y/N."

You're caught off guard by the fact that he seems to know you. It makes you a little defensive, "What does that mean?"

"It's means you're the girl, or woman, who saved Jimin." He says, looking like the cat who ate the canary.

Your cheeks heat up even more, "I didn't save him, just helped him out."

"The cops and the gang who he went after by himself, like the dumbass he is, was after him. If he was alone that night, he would have been killed. Or worse." The bartender tells you, restarting his task of wiping the counter, but there's only one thing that registers in your mind.

"I helped a fugitive?" You yelp, feeling your heart stutter in shock.

The bartender frowned at you, "I thought Jimin said you know who he is."

"I know he's in a gang."

The bartender stops in wiping the counter, looking at you with scarily serious eyes. "Y/N, Jimin isn't in the gang, he leads the gang."

Your mouth drops open and it feels dry. "I helped a gang leader, who is also a fugitive?"

"Aren't you one for the history books." Taehyung notes with a boxy grin.

"Not exactly something I'd like to be remembered for." You tell him, legs feeling weak all of a sudden.

"Eh, apples, oranges." The bartender shrugged, putting down his cloth. "I love strawberries, by the way. Anyway, my name is Taehyung. I'm Jimin's best friend and second in command, in case you were wondering. You said you're looking Jimin right? Well, he's busy right now, but he did say to call him right away if you ever come, so, I'll go get him for you."

And with that, the bartender - Taehyung - disappeared. You looked after him in bewilderment, "What the fuck?"

Less than five minutes later, Jimin walked out from the door where Taehyung disappeared into. He looked different from the last time you saw him. He was wearing black skinny jeans with a black polo neck sweater and a black leather jacket. He looked more dangerous than when he was covered in blood. More attractive, too. You very carefully cut that train of thought off before it could grow roots. You watched as everyone in the bar eyed Jimin, but also gave him a wide berth.

When he stopped infront of you, his features softened ever so slightly. You frowned down at his clenched, bloodied fists, "Have you been punching people again?"

"Punching people is in my job description." Jimin answered, jaw visibly tensed. He looked at you, and you could tell right then that something is very wrong. "You are always welcome here, Y/N, but right now I'm a little busy. One of my men has been taken and I am trying to find him."

You face falls and suddenly a lot of things make sense. "I think . . . I think I might know where he is."

Confusion falls over Jimin's face, "You? How could you know?"

"I had a call today. Gunshot victim in an alley. He had that tattoo-" You point to Jimin's neck, where his serpent tattoo is. "And I wanted to come and tell you. I mean, I didn't know if you know everyone in your gang, I didn't every know that it is your gang, until Taehyung told me just now, but I just wanted to tell you in case you knew him."

Jimin looks at you with wide eyes, a spark of light returning to those cold eyes. "What did he look like?"

"Uh, he was young. I didn't really notice much else, sorry. I was trying to save his life." You tell Jimin, and then something occurs to you. "Wait, one of the detectives on the scene told me his name. I don't know how they know but-"

"His name." Jimin interrupted, a little sharp, but there was an urgency to his voice.

"Uh. Jihyun. Park Jihyun." You tell him, watching as Jimin both deflate and light up in the span of five seconds. You almost get whiplash with how quick his mood changes.

"What hospital did you take him too?" Jimin asks eagerly, hopefully.

You heart twists, knowing that you're the one who has to break that hope. You soften your voice, making it as gentle as possible. "Jimin, we didn't. We tried our best, but we couldn't save him. By the time we got there, he had already lost too much blood. I am so sorry."

Jimin's expression shutters and it makes you feel like someone punched you in the gut. He takes a breath before saying, "Thank you for coming to tell me. And thank you for trying to save him."

Jimin walks away and you want to stop him, to comfort him somehow, but you don't because it's not your place.

You turn to Taehyung, who looks so incredibly sad it broke your heart a little. You know you should leave but you can't just put leave without at least trying to help. "Are you okay, Taehyung?"

"No," He shakes his head, fiddling with the cloth he used to wipe the bar down earlier. "But I will be."

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yeah, actually." He says, surprising you pleasantly. You thought he would refuse your offer. Your heavy heart lifts a little, happy to help, and you nod at Taehyung, indicating to him to tell you what he wants you to do. He looks at you for a long while and it makes you fidget a little. He's not going to ask you to hurt someone, right? You sincerely hoped not. Finally he spoke and you could have never guessed what came out his mouth next. "Jimin is going to come to you. I don't know when, but he will. I don't know what exactly happened between you and him the night you saved him, but it changed something in him. He's been different since that night and it's because of you. So, he'll come to you and seek comfort and when he does, I only ask one thing."

You swallow thickly, having no idea what to do with everything Taehyung just dumped on you. "And what is that?"

"Please be gentle with him. People think he's dangerous and fearsome, and he is. For the most part he really is, but that's not all he is. Underneath that, he has the biggest heart. A heart he usually keeps hidden and locked far away, but somehow, you made it past all of his defences in a night. And right now, his heart is hurting badly."

You give Taehyung a strange look, thinking that he must be reading something wrong somewhere because you and Jimin didn't spend that much time together. Maybe two hours. How could that have been enough time to get past his defences, as Taehyung said? "Uh, I think you might be exaggerating the situation but okay. If it will make you feel better. I promise to be gentle with him. Whatever that means."

Taehyung was visibly relieved by your sincere promise. "Thank you."

"It's nothing." You waved him off. "Anything else I can do for you?"

"No." Taehyung smiles, small and much dimmer than the bright boxy grin he gave you earlier, but just as true. "But I think I'm starting to see it."

"See what?" You look curiously at him.

"Why Jimin has a soft spot for you." He answers nonchalantly.

You very almost choke on thin air. "I helped him out once and told me he'd return the favour. That does not mean he has a soft spot for me."

"Yes, he does. Have you not been listening to a word I've said?" Taehyung all but demanded, placing his hands on his hips.

"I'm listening," You give him a slight smile. "Still working on believing."

"Well, believe it." Taehyung huffs. "Earlier, when you came in and asked for Jimin and I went to get him? He was busy, uh . . ." Taehyung trails off, unsure how much Jimin wants her to know. He knows better than to outright lie though. He settles on a word that is both discreet and understandable. "He was interrogating a guy for answers about Jihyun's whereabouts. You are the only person on this planet I was allowed to interrupt that interrogation for."

"He did say to come anytime I want." You defend, feeling heat creeping up your cheeks again.

Taehyung looks like your words just proves his point. "Exactly."

You sigh, resigning yourself to the fact that you won't be able to change his mind. You glance in the direction where Jimin went and your mood deflates, "You think he's going to be okay?"

"I don't know." Taehyung admits honestly, eyes lingering on the door.

"I have this foreboding feeling that this is the calm before the storm." You say, nodding in the direction where Jimin went. "He was too quiet when I told him the news, but I could see the grief in his eyes. Was he close to the guy who was killed?"

"Very." Taehyung nods. "Jihyun is, or was, Jimin's brother."

You felt your heart drop to the bottom of your feet as the last pieces of the puzzle fit together. You should have realised, the detective told you Jihyun's brother is the leader of the gang and Taehyung told you Jimin leads the gang. "Oh my God."

"Yeah." Taehyung nods, biting his lip.

"I can't imagine how Jimin must feel right now." You say, wanting nothing but to barge through those doors and go hug Jimin.

"I think it helps that it came from you, instead of the police. Those smug bastards would have just rubbed his nose in it." Taehyung says with a distasteful look on his face.

"Why would they do that?" You ask, deciding not to tell Taehyung that the police wasn't even planning on telling Jimin at all.

"Because we're in a gang. Although, they can't proof anything against us. Especially against Jimin. They don't know much, but they know he's our leader. He took over from his dad when he retired, when Jimin was twenty-one. Which really pisses them off." Taehyung looked a little smug over that fact.

"I get that. I mean, my dad was a cop, before he died in the crossfire of a gang war. I was seventeen at the time, so I can still remember how he would get angry or frustrated when he couldn't solve a case or find evidence to prove his case."

"Sorry about your dad." Taehyung says, looking like he actually means it.

It makes you smile a little, "It's okay. I mean, it still hurts like hell sometimes, but they found the guy who pulled the trigger and he's spending the rest of his life in jail."

"Want me to take him out for you?" Taehyung offers. "We got a couple of guys in prison and I'm sure Jimin wouldn't mind."

"No, absolutely not!" You exclaim with wide eyes, heartbeat kicking up its pace as panic shoots through you for a second. "Jesus Christ, first Jimin and now you. What is wrong with you two?"

Taehyung's eyes get a wicked gleam and you somehow know what he's going to say before he opens his mouth. "We're-"

"In a gang, yeah, I know. That isn't an excuse." You sigh, running a hand over your face. A heaviness settles around your heart. "This is going to get ugly, isn't it?"

"Maybe. Maybe not." Taehyung shrugs. "But probably."

"Great." You mutter. Better stock up the ambulance then.

***

chapter 3

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it!

[bangtanreadingcorner]

despite it all • park jimin

chapter one — bandaid

plot — you never could ignore someone who needs help. not even a gang member.

words — 3.1K

You were walking home from a night out with friends, the pleasant buzz of alcohol in your veins making you feel giddy and floaty as you hummed softly. The street was quiet but in the distance you could hear people laughing, sirens of an ambulance, a barking dog and it gave you a sense of security and familiarity.

What was most definitely not familiar was the man rounding a corner, and almost slamming into you. You yelp, taking a quick step backwards, heart stopping before it skyrockets. You have apparently underestimated the amount of alcohol you've had to drink because that quick step causes you to loose your balance, and unable to regain it, you fall to the ground, landing ass first.

You contemplate just sitting there until the morning but when the man you almost bumped into lets out a pained groan, your eyes flicker up to him. Horror fills you as you take in his blood stained appearance. There is blood on his shirt, his pants, his face. His one hand was holding his side and his knuckles are bloody.

You scramble to your feet, suddenly much more sober than you were two seconds ago, "Oh my God, are you okay? Ah, nevermind, stupid question. You're covered in blood, you couldn't possibly be okay. Is there someone I can call for you? Ohhh, I know, I can call an ambulance."

A hand grasps around the wrist of the hand going for the phone on the inside pocket of your jacket, fingers strong and grip tight. His voice is low and husky when he speaks, "No. No ambulance."

Trying to press down the mounting panic in your chest, you swallow thickly. "Dude, not to be stating the obvious, but you are covered in blood."

"Most of it's not even mine." He says around a cough, eyes drooping, bracing himself against the wall.

Your eyes widen when you process his words and you twist your wrist in his grip, wanting to pull away and run. You clear your throat, running your eyes over him. "Well you look like you're going to be fine, so I'll just go."

He nods tiredly, letting go of your wrist, a strand of his blonde dyed hair falling into half closed, exhausted eyes, his breathing hard, and your heart twists. You want to help him and you're about to offer, when you remember his words from just seconds ago.

Most of it's not even mine.

Which means that he probably hurt whoever's blood is on him. Which means that this is a dangerous person, the kind of person you run from, not help. Judging from the tattoo in his neck, he's in a gang. You don't know what exactly everything about the different gang tattoos and what every stripe or cross means but everyone knows that anyone with a serpent tattoo is part of the most dangerous gang in the province. Maybe even the country.

You walk past him, intent on going home and forgetting about this incident. Your try putting it out of your head as you cross streets and your small apartment comes closer, but it doesn't work. At the next street you have to cross, you look back, and see the man still bracing himself against the wall as he walks slowly. He stops, resting with his back against the wall.

You bite your lip, your heart at war with your head, torn between doing the right thing and the safe thing. You look at the man again – gang member or no, he's still a person who needs help – and your heart wins the fight.

"Fuck it." You mutter to yourself before taking of in a light jog, back to the injured man. His body tenses up, like he's preparing for a fight, and his eyes snap open when he hears you approaching, hard and cold and it terrifies you a little. It's almost enough to make you turn around again. But then recognition flashes in his eyes and his tensed shoulders relaxes. You look at him silently for a moment and then you blurt out, "Where are you hurt?"

"None of your fucking business." He breathes, moving his eyes from you to the night sky.

"Rude." You clack your tongue at him, risking a step closer. "Are you bleeding anywhere? Or is all of this blood the other guy's?"

He looked at you again, something feral and definitely dangerous glinting in his eyes. "Who says there was just one?"

Instead of fear, you can feel your annoyance rising, "Can you answer the question and stop deflecting?"

His brows furrowed, clearly confused. "What are you doing here? Weren't you on your way home or something?"

Fully annoyed now, you glare at him. "I'm trying helping you, you ungrateful ass."

Amusement flickers in his eyes, "Well you're not doing a very good job of it."

"Well, you're not making it very easy." You retort, deciding to just take matters into your own hands. You step close to him before taking his arm and bringing it around your shoulders, noticing that he winces when you lift his arm. "Let's go." You tell him, tugging gently until he starts walking in the direction he came from and where you're going.

"You have no idea who I am, do you?" He asks. You glance up at him, seeing a smirk on his lips.

"I have some idea." You say, giving a pointed look to the tattoo in his neck.

"So, you know I'm in a gang." He concludes. "And that I most likely got my injuries from doing something illegal."

"Yes." You nod. "And speaking of injuries, are you bleeding?"

"Not that I know of." He answers. He wobbles a bit and you stop, waiting until he regains his footing before continuing. "And you don't care?" He asks curiously.

"Of course I care and in normal circumstances I'd probably call the police, but you're hurt and you need help, not the police. So, I'm going to help you."

"What if I'm an assassin with a thing for cutting woman into pieces?" He sounds amused, like this whole situation is a source of entertainment for him.

"Wouldn't that be a way to go." You deadpan.

He snickers and then goes quiet for a while before asking, "Are you going to call the cops?"

"Are you going to hurt me?" You ask instead of answering.

"No." He sounds like he means it but that doesn't really reassure you. "Not unless you give me a reason too." And that actually does make you feel a little better.

"Well, there you go then." You tell him.

"I should just take your word for it?" You can feel him looking at you, but you ignore his gaze, focusing on watching your step. He wasn't resting all of his weight on you, you could tell, but the added weight still slowed you down and caused strain on your muscles but you ignore it, intent on helping him.

"Considering the fact that I'm taking a stranger who is a literal gang member and a potential killer into my home, you really don't have any ground for that argument." You inform him matter-of-factly. You rewind your words and lament that maybe your are as crazy as your cousin accuses you of being.

"Your home?" He whistles, but starts coughing halfway through. "Buy a guy dinner first."

"Hah!" You scoff, ignoring the way your cheeks burn from his teasing. "I'm helping you. If anyone is going to be buying dinner, it's going to be you."

"I'm Jimin, by the way. If you're going to help me, the least I could do is tell you my name." He says, and when you look at him, he looks sincere and a little shy.

"Y/N." You tell him.

You reach your apartment without any incidents or without running into anyone – a man covered in blood would have raised questions – and you navigate it in the dark, leading him to your couch before going back to the door and locking it and flipping on the lights. You turn back to him, watching as he looks around your place. You couldn't help but feel a little self conscious. "I know it's no palace, but it's mine and you're only gonna be here for one night. Unless you plan on leaving directly after I help you."

"I like it, it feels comfortable. Like a home." Jimin tells you, face softer than its been since the moment you met him. You stare a little, but then you notice the blood on his face again and you look away.

"You should go and take a shower. I'll give you the biggest clothes I'll have, so don't worry about that. I'll wash yours and put it in the dryer, so it will be clean for when you leave. I'm pretty sure if you walk down the street with blood stained clothes in broad daylight, someone is bound to call the police." You are rambling and you're perfectly aware of it, but you're nervous.

He nods and gets to his feet, wincing. "Which way is the bathroom?"

You point, "Down the hall to your left. Do you need help?"

Jimin gives you a slight smile, "I'll manage."

You wait until you hear the shower running before you go to your room, hunting down your biggest hoodie and pair of sweatpants. You knock on the bathroom door, letting Jimin know you're leaving the clothes outside the bathroom door.

You wait on the couch for Jimin to finish, wondering what your mother would say if she could see you now.

You bite down a smile when Jimin comes out of the bathroom, towel drying his hair. The sweatpants are obviously too small, ending high above his ankles, the fabric stretching over his thighs – and if you spend an extra second looking at those muscular thighs then it was no one's business. The hoodie seemed to fit just right, but he didn't zip it up. Your eyes is glued to his chest, not because it was eye-catching – oh and it was eye-catching alright, a defined six pack was waving at you almost mockingly – but because of the bruises.

"Like what you see?" Jimin's teasing voice brings you out of your staring stupor.

"I-" You cut yourself off, suddenly choked up by emotion.

His eyes widened and he walks as quickly as he can to you. "Hey, no, no, it looks worse than it is. You should see the other guys."

"That doesn't really make me feel better, but thanks for trying." You tell him, blinking hard, and getting up from the couch. "I'm going to get my first aid box."

While in the bathroom, you toss Jimin's bloody clothes into your cleaning bucket, making a mental to wash it as soon as you're done helping him.

You walk to where he's sitting on your couch, going down on you knees so you could face him. You notice the gun laying next to him and your heart almost jumps out of your chest. You give him an unimpressed stare, "Seriously?"

He gives you a smug smirk, "It's for protection."

"From what? My bandaids?" You ask sarcastically.

"Gang member, remember?" Jimin says, like you need the reminder, and you pull a face at him.

You ignore his chuckle to inspect his face, and the first thing you notice is how attractive he is. (But that doesn't matter because you're only helping him and then he's leaving.) The second thing you notice is that there is just a few scratch marks on his face, nothing too serious. You clean it up with some antiseptic, a little impressed that he doesn't even wince.

"Okay, I need to take a look at your chest now, make sure none of your ribs are broken, so will you sit a little forward?" You ask him and Jimin does as he's asked.

"You don't seem too bothered by the presence of a gun." Jimin comments, obviously curious as you run your hands over his ribs (he tenses for the first five seconds then relaxes), pressing against it, feeling carefully.

You shrug, "My dad was a cop, and while he didn't parade his around, I got used to them nonetheless."

"Past tense." Jimin observes, eyes on your face. You can feel his gaze and it causes goosebumps to rise on your skin. "Is he dead or retired?"

Your hands falter for a moment at the blunt question. You swallow thickly, continuing your path over his ribs. "He died in the line of duty."

"What happened?" He asks.

You look him in the eye, "He got caught in the crossfire of a gang war."

"Oh." Jimin sounds like someone knocked the breath from him. Silence falls around you and it lasts until you finish your exam of Jimin's chest before he says, "I'm sorry."

You look up, "Are you really?"

"What's that suppose to mean?" He frowns at you.

"Don't say something you don't mean. I'd prefer it if you said nothing at all." You eye the bruises on his chest, wondering how people can do that to each other. "There doesn't seem to be anything broken but you definitely cracked a few of them and it's gonna hurt like a bitch, come the morning."

"How do you know all of this?" He questions.

"I'm a paramedic." You answer, reaching for his left hand, remembering that his knuckles was bloodied before the shower.

"That explains a lot." He grabs your wrist with the hand you're not holding, holding onto it almost gently. "Look, about what you said just now, you're helping me despite the fact that it could have been one of my people that killed your dad." He squeezes your wrist, looking into your eyes imploringly. "I mean it."

You shrug, tilting your head. "Yeah, well, my mom always said I can't hold a grudge to save my life."

When you're done cleaning up and bandaging his hands, you pick up the bottle of pills you brought with you. You shake out a few pills before standing to go and fetch him a glass of water. You held out the water and the pills onto him, "Here. You've got to be in a world of hurt right now."

"What is that?" He asks, eyeing the white tablets laying on your hand.

You sigh, "Just some paracetamol. It's all I have. Just because I'm a paramedic doesn't mean I keep hospital grade medicine stocked in my home."

"Four of them?" Jimin's eyebrows went up. "Are you trying to overdose me?"

You squint at him, "Don't be such a baby. I take three at a time for my headaches and I am willing to bet my right kidney that you're hurting worse than my headaches usually are."

You pack up your first aid box and when you put it away, you bring the bucket with Jimin's bloodied clothing. You filled it halfway with water and then walked to the kitchen. You empty half your salt supply into the water before using your hands to rinse the clothing.

"Why are you washing my clothes with salt?" Jimin's voice comes from behind you.

You startle for a second before taking a deep breath and answering him, "I'm not washing it, I'm rinsing it with cold water and salt, to get the blood out of your clothes."

"Seriously? That works?" Jimin asks, surprise clear in his voice.

"Yep."

"I could have saved so much money that I wasted on new clothes each time I had a bloodstain on something, if I had known that." He whines and you look over your shoulder, finding yourself strangely endeared when you see the pout his lips is pulled into.

"I'd rather not know." You snort, shaking your hands off and heading to the sink to wash them. You dry your hands, leaning against your counter as you let the clothes soak for a bit.

"You haven't asked." Jimin says out of nowhere. He was leaning against your fridge, looking exhausted, but his eyes watched you intently.

You know what he was talking about. The bruises, and where he got them, the other guys he mentioned. He had been expecting you to ask, and you never did. You cross your arms over your chest. "It's none of my business."

"It's not." He agrees.

"See." You give him a slight smile.

"Still. Most people would ask." He says, tilting his head as he looked you up and down.

"Yeah, well, I figure I'm better of going down Plausible Deniability avenue and Better Of Not Knowing street in this case."

That gets a genuine laugh out of him, his eyes scrunching and a breathtaking smile on his lips. It's bright and cheerful and your stomach swoops. You are unable to not smile back at him.

After rinsing his clothes and putting it in the washing machine, you go back to the living room, only to find Jimin fast asleep on your couch. Something inside of you goes very soft as you watch him sleep. He looks years younger, completely relaxed.

You take the step ladder from your kitchen and tiptoe back to your room, getting the extra duvet from the top of your closet. You grab one of the four pillows on your bed and you head back to the living room. Gently, you lift Jimin's head and slip the pillow underneath it, half afraid he would wake up. When he doesn't, you breathed a quiet sigh of relief and throw the blanket over him. As you tuck him in, you spot the handle of his gun, pressed into the back of the couch.

You hope the safety is on.

***

When you wake up the next morning, Jimin is gone.

Placed on top of the pillow and folded duvet stacked on your couch, is a piece of paper with writing on.

Y/N,

I put your clothes in the washing machine after getting dressed, so you just have to dry it. I figured it was the least I could do after all the trouble I gave you.

I mean what I said last night, I really am sorry about your dad.

If you ever need my help, doesn't matter if it's something dumb like a lift somewhere or something a little more serious like taking someone out for you, you can find me at the bar on 17th Street. Chances are, I'll be there. If not, ask for Taehyung and tell him Jimin sent you.

Thank you for everything.

- Jimin -

P.S. I hope I see you again someday.

***

chapter 2

A/N: this is going to be a multi-chapter/part story. I don't know how many yet, just that there will be more!! Also, I am not a medical professional, so just go with the medical inconsistencies. I promise they won't be too far fetched.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

the fact is • jeon jeongguk

plot – you're a waitress that gets stuck serving jeon jeongguk, who can't make his mind up on what to eat.

words – 6.4K

"Indecisive snot, aren't you?"

The words are out before you could stop them. Your natural instinct is to take it back and apologize, but this idiot has pushed you over the edge. He has changed his order six times and that was after adding sides and removing this or that. The customer - the arrogant brat of a chaebol, you thought to yourself - looking at his menu snapped his gaze to you, eyes widening in surprise, disbelief and was that intrigue? Nope. Probably just a trick of the light.

"Excuse me?" He says, eyebrows still raised to high heaven.

You weigh your options silently for a few moments. You could try and kiss his ass and loose your job. Or you could finish what you started and loose your job. Because there was no question, you were loosing your job. Speaking to a customer like that, in a restaurant as high end as this? The ultimate no-no.

The choice was a no brainer.

You give him a flat look, "Are you deaf?"

A surprised scoff leaves him and for a moment he stares at you, and then a smirk pulls at the corners of his mouth. "Do you not know who I am?"

"Of course I know who you are, Jeon Jeongguk, I don't live under a rock." You roll your eyes at him.

"Huh." He frowns at you.

You frown back, "What?"

"I've never met someone so . . . outspoken before. Normally people are all compliments and well wishes." Jeongguk doesn't say how delightfully refreshing it is. Like a spring breeze, spreading through his veins and breathing colour into his monotonous life. This is the most excitement he's had since he went parachuting eight months ago. That is a sad thought, but unfortunately a true one.

"Yeah, well," You shrug, tapping your pen against your notebook. "Kissing ass and lying are two things that didn't make it onto my list of qualities."

"Speaking your mind, obviously did." He notes, still smirking.

"Excellent observational skills there, Sherlock." You deadpan.

Jeongguk laughs and you don't like the way it makes warmth simmer in your belly. He looks up at you with dark eyes and you privately think for all that the media gets wrong, they have one thing right. Jeon Jeongguk is ridiculously attractive. "What's your name?"

"Are you blind or illiterate?" You raise a brow down at him. He looks caught off guard for a moment.

"Um...neither?" It comes out unsure, hesitant.

"Then what exactly is stopping you from reading my name badge?" You ask, tapping the badge on your chest with your pen. You were already losing your job, so you might as well make the best of it.

He looks embarrassed for a second, eyes dropping to the table, cheeks dusting the faintest shade of pink.

You raise a brow, "So, are you going to order or are you going to complain to my manager and get me fired?"

"Fired for what?" He asks.

You want to snap at him, but the genuine confusion in his eyes made you hold your tongue. For once. In a 'duh' tone, you tell him. "Speaking my mind."

"Ah. Right." Realisation lights up in his eyes. "I could have you fired for speaking to me like that." He says, like the thought never occurred to him.

"I'll go get my manager then." You say and turn on your heel, not at all surprised.

Jeongguk's mind goes into an epic panic as you turn your back on him and he blurts a quick, "Wait."

"What?" You ask, turning back to him with an uninterested look.

"I said that I could. Not that I would." He tells you and it makes your speechless for about five seconds.

Then you squint at him with a slight glare, "What do you want?"

"Excuse me?"

"You obviously want something in exchange for keeping quiet. What is it?" You speak matter-of-factly. After a moment you add, "Just know, if it's something sexual or in that direction, I'd rather loose my job."

Jeongguk gapes at you, looking stunned. "I don't know whether to be insulted by the insinuation that I need to blackmail someone into sleeping with me or that you'd rather loose your job than sleeping with me."

"So sorry for offending your delicate sensibilities." You drawled sarcastically. "You still haven't told me what you want."

"Well, I like coming here often and when I do and you're my server, I'd like you to always speak your mind around me." He said, with the smallest of shrugs, looking down at the silverware on the table instead of at you.

Confusion sweeps through you, his request catching you off guard. "Really? That's it?"

"Yes." He nods stiffly.

"I don't understand." You admit.

"You don't have to. You asked me what I want, this is it." He looks at you again, eyes still dark and piercing and you can't understand what he's thinking.

"Fine, okay, yeah, I can do that." You nods eventually, noticing how his shoulders untense just a bit. You look at him, curious and full of questions, but cautious enough to not actually ask. "Are you gonna order now?"

"Why don't you surprise me? I can't decide what I want to eat." He says, handing you the menu.

"I'm shocked." You deadpan with a faux smile, before looking at him seriously. "Are you allergic to anything?"

"No." He shakes his head, lacing his fingers together and resting his hands on the table.

Your mind races for a few moments before settling on a dish. You nod at Jeongguk. "Okay, I'll be back with your food in a while then."

***

Three weeks later, you haven't served Jeongguk again. It's not that he hasn't been in, oh no, he has. You've seen him, caught him staring and then looking away quickly. He just hasn't sat at one of your tables again. Each week, the tables get rotated and there is four rotations, so you'll only be on Jeongguk's usual table next week.

You walked into the kitchen, just coming off your lunch break when Lee stops you and says, "Table 12 for you."

You look at Jae, who was on table 12 this week and got a hostile glare. You ignore her and look at Lee with confusion, "But I'm not on table 12 today."

"You were requested and customers here get what they want." Lee shrugs, giving you a 'it is what it is' look.

"By who?" You ask, having some idea of the answer. There is only one customer you know that would request you. You are always polite to the other customers but with an air of detachment, that keeps them from prying and you from getting into trouble. Until three weeks ago, that is.

"Jeon Jeongguk." Lee says, confirming your suspicions.

"Motherfucker." You swear.

Jae looks down her nose from you, "Don't he used to it. It won't last. He'll get bored of you soon enough."

"I hope so." You huff, as Jae walks away with a less than pleased expression.

"What?" Lee asks, her shock obvious.

"You heard me."

Lee tilts her head at you in disbelief and curiousity, "So, you're not trying to get into his pants?"

"Uh, no." You frown at her. Sure, he's hot but you know your place. You also need money than you need to get laid. "Why?"

"Most girls try when they work here, but everytime they try something, Mr. Jeon complains and they get fired." Lee explains.

Something suddenly made sense to you, "Is that what Jae's trying to do?"

"No one will say it to her face, but yeah, it is." Lee nods, shrugging a little. "She's jealous that he requested you, when you've worked here just over a month, served him once, and she's worked here for almost two years and he hasn't blinked in her direction."

"Huh," You frown, lost in your thoughts. "I wonder why he didn't get me fired then."

"Why? What did you say to him?" Lee eyes you curiously.

"Called him an indecisive snot." You smirk gleefully, happy that you got away with talking to him like you want and not getting fired because of it.

"Right." Lee says in a tone that made it clear she doesn't believe you.

"I did." You insist.

Lee waves you off, and you exit the kitchen, walking into the dining room, heading over to Jeongguk's regular table.

You look at him as he comes into your line of direct sight. His one leg was shaking, eyes shifting around the room, fingers tapping the table restlessly. When he spots you walking over to him, he stills completely. A smile - a cute one, you admit to yourself and no one else - spreads on his lips as he breathes your name, "Y/N."

You give him a look, "Did you miss me or something?"

"What? No." Jeongguk scoffs quickly. "I was bored. And you cure my boredom."

You raise your eyebrows at him, head going forward a little, "I cure your boredom?" You repeat, slowly. Maybe he's kidding.

But Jeongguk just nods at you as if it makes all the sense in the world, "Yeah. It's like live entertainment while I eat."

You scowl at him, "I'm not a circus clown."

"That's not what I meant!" He exclaims, voice a little too loud, causing heads to swivel in your direction. He takes a breath and speaks again, softer this time. "I just meant that it's nice. Or it was nice, the one time I actually got to talk to you."

"So, you did miss me." You tease good naturedly. Jeongguk doesn't answer, just stares resolutely down at the table. You sigh, feeling fond instead of annoyed. You hide a smile as you ask, "What will it be today?"

Jeongguk looks at you again, hesitantly at first, then fully when he sees your expectant gaze, "Surprise me."

Now you were surprised, "Again?"

"I liked what you ordered last time." He does that small shrug again. Actually, it's less of a shrug, and more a slight lift of the shoulders. You notice that he has broad shoulders, and the suit he's wearing only makes them look better. You push those thoughts away, focusing on the conversation.

"And if you don't like it this time?" You challenge.

"I did say surprise me, and surprises can be positive or negative." Jeongguk decides not to tell her that this is his favorite restaurant and he knows the menu by heart. He knows and likes every dish, so there was no way he wouldn't like something she serves him. And he's curious as to what she'll decide this time.

You snort, laughing lightly, "You know, you're not as bad as I thought you were."

Jeongguk looks mildly offended, "I'll have you know, I'm a catch."

"I'm sure." You nod, hiding a grin.

"I am." He insists and you had to admit, he is attractive.

"Yes, right up until the moment you open your mouth." You say honestly, writing down one of the dishes on the menu.

"Rude." He pouts a little and you suppress the urge to giggle, of all things.

"Maybe," You concede. "But it's the truth." You picked up his menu, turning on your heel to go to the kitchen.

"So, how do I . . . improve?" Jeongguk asks when you come back with his food, continuing with the conversation where you left off.

"Do I look like a life coach to you?" You set down the food. "Enjoy."

"Thanks." Jeongguk grins at her. "And, no, but if I went to one they'd tell me what they think I want to hear, not what I need to hear."

You stare at him for a few seconds and he looks back unflinchingly. "Well," You press your lips together. "I guess you should start with why you want to change."

That makes Jeongguk falter. He can't very well say, 'so I can impress you, since my money doesn't seem too' and he thinks for a bit. "I have come to realise that maybe I treat people unfairly based on how much money they have. I would like to change that."

Your eyebrows goes up, "That's surprisingly deep, coming from you."

"I'm not swallow." He defends himself.

You nod complacently, "Right, well, the answer is easy but actually doing it, will all depend on you."

"What do I do?"

"Just, think before you say something. Ask yourself, can my words hurt this person?"

"And if they deserve it?" Jeongguk wonders.

"The right answer would be to still be considerate, because two wrongs don't make a right, but I hate being a hypocrite, so go for it, if they deserve it. I mean, it's not like I held back when you annoyed me." You gave a shrug. "I should go. We're not allowed to loiter at the tables."

Jeongguk wants to ask her to sit with him and keep him company some more, but he knows he would be setting himself up for rejection. Instead, he just looks at her with a half smile. "Just when I think I have you all figured out, you do or say something that proves me wrong."

"My mom always used to say, you can spend a lifetime with someone and still learn something new about them every day. People evolve everyday and you'll never be who you are right now, tomorrow again."

"She sounds like a wise woman." Jeongguk remarks.

You smile, nostalgia making your heart warm, "Yeah, she was."

"I'm sorry." Jeongguk says, catching onto the past tense. A lump forms in your throat out of nowhere.

"Thank you." You swallowed thickly, clearing your throat. You gave him a shaky smile, hoping he wouldn't notice. "See, you're doing better already."

Jeongguk did notice but decided not to call her out on it. He just smiled up at her softly, watching after her figure when she walks away.

***

"You know, if I didn't know that you come here everyday, I'd say you that you are stalking me." You teased Jeongguk when you go to take his order for the fifth time in a row. You've had a day off, inbetween, but when you showed up for your next shift, Jeongguk was there and everytime he's requested you. By now, whoever was on rotation for his table, just lets you know whenever he shows up.

"And how do you know that?" Jeongguk raises a curious eyebrow at you.

"I complained to Lee about you and she told me." You explain to him, mentally running over the menu in your head. Jeongguk told you on the third day to just order for him everytime. So, when you walk to his table under the guise of taking his order, the two of you just talk.

"Lee?" He inquires.

"She's my friend and another server here."

"Ah." Jeongguk nods in realisation. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

"You can ask, but that doesn't guarantee I'll answer." You say, giving him a cheeky smile.

She has a beautiful smile, Jeongguk thinks to himself. He shakes himself out of his thoughts and looks her in the eyes, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

You frown down at him, finding the question odd. He's never asked anything too personal. Just normal things, what you're studying, what you do when you're not working. Sometimes you'll tell him a story of something dumb you did as a kid, but he'll never outright ask. "No."

A thought suddenly occurs to Jeongguk and he doesn't really want to ask because that'll destroy every hope he has but he needs to know. He quirks a brow at her, "Girlfriend?"

You snort at the question, "No, I'm straight. My cousin swings both ways though. Nearly gave his mom a stroke when he came out at our annual Christmas family dinner two years ago."

"Oh." Jeongguk wants to sag in relief, wants to let out a thankful cheer, but settles for just a small smile and letting out a breath of relief.

"Why are you asking?"

He does that little shrug that isn't really a shrug thing. "I was just wondering. You never really talk about one, or even someone you're interested in."

"Okay, if there was someone, why would I tell you?" You are teasing, but he doesn't know as you look at him blankly.

"I was just curious." Jeongguk huffs defensively.

"Yeah, yeah, settle down." You snicker. After a moment you say, "I guess I don't talk about it because there hasn't been anyone to talk about."

"Really?" Jeongguk beams up at you hopefully, eyes glittering.

"Really." You roll your eyes, but there was a slight warmth in your cheeks that wasn't there before.

***

Seven months and many short conversations later – in which you learnt many things about Jeongguk and vica versa – you walk up to his table with a smile, genuinely excited to see your sort of friend. The smile fades from your face when you lay eyes on him – his whole body was tense, you could tell even from a distance, he was glaring out the window, clenched fists laying on the table. Something wasn't right. You quicken your pace, concern swirling in your belly. You stop at his table, feeling your heartbeat quicken. "What's wrong?"

"None of your fucking business." He snaps at you, words so venomous it makes you take a step back in shock, but mostly hurt.

Jeongguk regrets the words the moment they're out because he didn't mean them. He doesn't want to fight or argue. He came to see her to feel better. Now he snapped at her. He waits, for whatever tongue lashing she is about to give him. He'd deserve it and he'll take it. But she says nothing. Somehow her silence was much worse than any insult she can hurl at him. Her face closes off, he watches it happen as her fingers tighten around the pen and notepad she uses to take orders, and panic sparks beneath his skin, overriding all the anger he feels.

No. His mind rebels against the thought immediately.

"What can I get for you today, Sir?" Her voice is perfectly polite as she asks the question, like it was the first time he met her. Until he made her snap after changing his order for a sixth time.

No, no, no, no, no! Not this. Anything but this. His heartbeat quickens.

Jeongguk was quickly turning frantic, "Y/N, please, I-"

"We have a lovely special today." She goes on as if he didn't speak, eyes void of the usual fire when she'd argue with him or the gentle warmth when she sometimes smiled at him and called him an idiot. It was the only times he ever liked being called an idiot.

He listens to her droning on about he specials, explaining them. Jeongguk's heart drops all the way down to his feet. It feels like someone pulled a rug from beneath his feet, and he is thrown off balance from the how utterly wrong it feels, how much it bothers him, hurts him, that she is talking to him like he is just another random customer. Like she hasn't told him how she got stuck in a tree, climbing after the neighbors cat. Playing with their cat because her parents never allowed pets.

A cold feeling of dread washes over him because Jeongguk has no idea to fix whatever he just fucked up.

***

You very almost cry when Jeongguk snaps at you, feeling irrationally hurt by his words. You shove it all down as you pull up your walls and shut him out to protect yourself. You serve him as quickly as possible, walking away without a friendly word.

"Trouble in paradise?" Jae smirks at you when you come back from serving Jeongguk.

You glare at her, not in the mood for dealing with her jealousy today. "No, just looking at your face is enough to put anyone in a bad mood."

Jae's eyes widened, fury spreading on her face. "You bitch!" She yells, raising a hand to slap you.

You smirk, catching her wrist easily. "Careful, just now you break a nail."

You let her go, walking away. You wait until you're in the bathroom, safely away from prying eyes in a locked stall, before letting you face crumple, only letting one tear escape before getting yourself under control.

You finish your shift, completely exhausted by the end of it – emotionally and physically. The last thing you have the energy for, is Jeongguk, so of course he's waiting for you at the personnel entrance and exit when you step outside. Intent on ignoring him, you pretend that you don't see him and you start walking in the direction of the train station.

Jeongguk follows you, apparently not easily deterred. "Will you just talk to me please?"

"What would you like me to say, Sir?" You ask in your most professional voice, looking ahead and not glancing at him.

"I'd like you to talk to me and stop treating me like I'm a customer." He says, sounding frustrated and desperate.

"You are a customer, Sir." You answer, still not looking at him.

"For fuck sakes, will you stop with the 'sir' already and talk to me like you used to?" Jeongguk all but explodes, stepping infront of you, and looking down at you for a change. It's startling, for a moment. You always look down at him when he sits at the table and it never occured to you that he's taller than you. He sets his hands on your shoulders (they're big and warm and you feel surprisingly safe, even when he squeezes slightly), frantic and desperate eyes looking into yours. "You don't even have to talk, you can yell or scream or shout for all I care, just please stop."

"You want me to talk? Fine." You glare up at him, shrugging out of his hold and taking a step back. He's way to close for comfort. "Look, I get I'm not exactly from the same side of town as you are, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable of empathy. I'd bet that I have more empathy than most people you know. So, when someone I see as a kind of friend, snaps at me when I ask them what's wrong out of concern, when they could have said they don't want to talk about it, it hurts." You rant, a little out of breath. "Do you understand that? You hurt me."

"I'm sorry. Fuck, I am so sorry, you have no idea. I shouldn't have snapped at you and I regretted it the moment I did it. I was angry, and I know it isn't an excuse but it's the truth."

"Sorry isn't going to fix it," You say, voice edging on being too sharp. Your heart twists when his face falls. You soften a bit. "But it is a step in the right direction."

Jeongguk perks up, "What's another?"

"For starters, next time you don't want to talk about me, tell me instead of snapping at me." You give him a pointed glare, crossing your arms over your chest.

Jeongguk gives you an apologetic look, "Again, I'm sorry. I honestly didn't mean to snap at you. I came to talk to you, hoping I'd calm down a bit. I had an ugly fight some dumbass that tried to sell low quality material to us and I took it out of you."

You are reminded of the fact that he is the heir to his father's multi-billion won international conglomerate and for some reason, it makes you sad. You smile at him, ignoring the sadness. "Well, you're forgiven but I'm not forgotting."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He grins cheekily. He paused for a moment, then smirks at you. "So, we're friends now?"

You groan, "I should have known that would come back to bit me I'm the ass."

***

A large bouquet of pink tulips is delivered to you the next morning. Inside is a card that reads:

Thank you for never giving up on me. -JJK

Lee whistles loudly when she sees them and your cheek burn. "Someone must really like you."

"It's from a friend." You say, ignoring the fluttering in your belly.

"My point still stands. Those are out of season, you know." She remarks.

You nod, "I know. They're my favourite."

You finish your shift with a smile on your face. Until your boss calls you into his office.

"Yes, Sir?" You ask, still smiling and the bouquet of flowers in your one hand, backpack up on your shoulders and ready to go home.

"Y/N. I'll get right to the point. There's been a complaint that you've been too friendly with one of our customers." He says bluntly.

You almost drop your flowers in shock, "What?"

"I'm sorry to do this, Y/N, but it is a direct violation of the contract you signed when you started here. Professionalism is our top priority. I have no choice but to fire you." He says, and he does look sorry as he holds out an envelope to you. "This is the week's wages. Again, I'm sorry. You are a good worker."

"You're firing me because of something someone accused me off?" You ask, indignant and a little angry. "You're not even going to ask me if I did it? And if I did it, why I didn't stop?"

"The accusation came from a very trustworthy customer that was concerned that our reputation might be damaged." Your manager says. "If it gets to the owner and he finds out I did nothing, I could loose my job."

You scoff, taking the envelope. If you didn't need the money, you'd have thrown it back in his face. "So, it's okay for me to loose mine?"

"I'm sorry."

"So am I." You say before turning around and leaving.

***

The first day she's not there, Jeongguk brushes it off, thinking she has the day off and forgot to tell him. The second day, he starts to worry, just a little. The third day, he almost thinks himself into a mental breakdown. The fourth day, he demands to see the manager.

"Mr. Jeon." The manager greets with a smile that was clearly fake. Jeongguk thought back to Y/N, who never smiled much but when she did, it was honest and pure and breathtaking. He misses it and would do whatever it takes to get it back.

"Where is Y/N?" He demands, voice and gaze equally cold and intimidating. It's a side of him that she broke through within minutes, digging up the real Jeongguk and pulling him to the surface. The past months, he's been able to breathe again, live instead of just existing, waiting for the next person that wants his money. But that cold and calculating side of him is still there.

The manager pales and Jeongguk's worry increases. Did something happen to her? The manager shifts on his feet but still doesn't answer. "If you don't answer me within the next five seconds, I will call the owner and ask him to answer me."

"S-she was fired." The man stutters out.

Jeongguk feels his stomach drop. She never outright said it but he knows she depends heavily on the income from this job. It worries him, because he has this urge to take care of her. He wants to give her as much money as she needs, for her to live comfortably, but he knows she wouldn't take it. He glares at the manager, "Why?"

"Someone filed a complaint against her. She was getting to friendly with y-you." The manager says, looking a little terrified.

Jeongguk clenches his jaw, "And instead of asking me if I have a problem with it, you fired her?"

"Her contract says-"

Jeongguk stands up, towering over the man in height and size. "I don't give a shit what her contract says. How many times have I filed a complaint when the servers made me inappropriate offers and crude suggestions? I never once complained about her."

Jeongguk doesn't give the manager anymore time to do anything other than letting out a squeak before turning around and leaving the restaurant.

***

Five days after you were fired, you started too feel it. The absence of Jeongguk's presence. At first, you didn't notice it. To wrapped up in finding another job, worried about money and going to classes to think about it. But today is Sunday and the diner you found a temporary job at two days ago, is closed on Sundays. It's crappy pay and not alot of hours either but it was something and it'll help until you could get something else.

You lay on your bed, listening to your mom vacuuming the living room. University housing was expensive and you'd rather live at home and save the money than having even more debt. You laze the day away, knowing that none of the projects you have, is due that Monday. Your thoughts drift back to Jeongguk, like it always does. You honestly didn't think you'd end up missing him this much.

You like him, so fucking much. You figured it out a long time ago. You also know that you come from two different worlds. You are fine with that, you accepted it and you were content to be his friend.

Now he's completely gone from your life. Ripped out of it without warning.

You go to your classes the next day. In your last one, you doodle absentmindedly on the corner of your notebook, only half listening to the Professor. When the class is over, you look at what you drew and then groan out loud. Jeongguk's initials. Of fucking course. You scoff to yourself, leaving the class and then the building. You want to go home and sulk in privacy.

Outside, the sun was shining and you stood still for a moment, soaking in the warmth.

"Y/N!" A voice yelled your name and your head whips in the direction because you know that voice. You look, eyes searching desperately because you are so sure it was his voice. You're not hallucinating and- and there he is, running over to you.

"Jeongguk? What are you doing here?" You ask when he stops infront of you, completely bewildered.

He looks panicked and frantic. Like that day he snapped at you. He grips your shoulders, the hold almost painful. "You weren't there. I went to the restaurant and you weren't there and the manager told me you were fired and-"

"Jeongguk, stop. Breathe." You say, reaching up to hold onto his wrists, lightly rubbing your thumbs over the inside of his wrists. You wait until his grip loosens, until he was holding instead of gripping. "How did you find me?"

"You told me where you go to school one day." He answers off handedly, eyes scanning over your face, almost as if memorising the little details. Guilt flashes on his face, "I'm sorry you were fired."

You laugh at his words, removing his hands from your shoulders because it was getting a little too intimate, your heartbeat speeding up. "You know, half the time I see you, you end up apologizing to me."

"Hey, it's weird for me too." Jeongguk pouts and you have this urge to rise on your tiptoes and kiss it. "I'm not used to apologizing."

"Don't worry about it, I'm not angry." You wave him off.

"Can we talk?" He pleads and you agree immediately because you missed him so much.

"Yeah, there's a park nearby."

"Scared to be seen with me?" He teases with a smirk, and for a moment it's like nothing has changed.

You snort, "Don't you know? The walls has ears and Twitter accounts."

Jeongguk laughs, loud and unrestrained, throwing his head back. You couldn't help but smile. "This way."

You guide him to the park. It wasn't very big, and not a lot of people came here either, so it was perfect to talk. You each sit down on a swing.

"What are you gonna do now?" Jeongguk asks.

You shrug, "No clue, but I'll figure something out."

A guilty look spreads on his face again, "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have-"

You cut him off, "Shouldn't have what? Let a server talk back to you? Yeah, probably not but we both enjoyed it, so it's on you as much it is on you. More on me though, because it was my responsibility as an employee to treat you with respect."

"You did," Jeongguk says immediately, sincerely. "Even when you were at your most brutally honest moments."

You give him a slight smile. "Well, fun as it was, it seems our path has come to an end."

"Why?" Jeongguk frowns heavily at you.

"Huh?"

Jeongguk looks you in the eye, gaze piercing. "Why does it have to end?"

You snorted, thinking he was messing with you but his eyes were completely serious. You answer in a matter-of-fact tone, "Because you're you and I'm me. Besides, most of the time we argued."

"Y/N." He says your name like it is his greatest wish. He stands up from his swing, making his way infront of you and pulled you to your feet. He looks at you, eyes impossibly fond, "That wasn't arguing. It was banter. If you think that's arguing, you probably think my parents goes to war every now and again." He smiles, a little nervous. "And foe the record, I would rather argue with you for the rest of my life than ever kiss another girl again."

Your mouth drops open in shock, and you really don't know what the fuck to make of that. "I-"

He cuts you off, "And I don't want this to be over."

Silence falls between you two. You stare at him, he stares back. Until, finally, you blurt, "I don't know what to say."

Jeongguk is a little bit disappointed, but not surprised in the slightest. At least it isn't an outright rejection. "You don't have to say anything. Just answer one question."

"Okay?"

"Would you want to date me?" You choke on thin air from shock. That means that he feels the same way as you do, right? Happiness makes your blood sing. Then it sinks in and reality comes back to you. Your happiness evaporates and you swallow thickly. You open your mouth to tell him 'no', but once again Jeongguk cuts you off before you could say something. "Forget about our social status, forget about what people would say and think about me and you. Together. Really think about it. I have, and I think we could work, if you gave it a chance."

"And if it doesn't work?" You ask softly, vulnerable in a way you've never been before. Distantly you wonder how he knew what you were thinking.

"Then at least we can say we tried." He shrugs.

You look down at the ground, wanting to think without looking at him, into those mesmerizing eyes of his. He could ask you to commit murder, and chances are that you'll do it if he looks at you long enough. When did you become so completely gone for him? You think about it, but there was never a moment where you realised, this is the person I like. Maybe . . . maybe it's because you've always liked him. Right from the start, even when he was infuriating. The thought is startling, but you aren't scared by it. It's more like another piece of the puzzle between you and Jeongguk has fallen into place. But there is the problem of your different social statuses. Yeah, Jeongguk said forget about it, but for how long? If you try and this does work out, then eventually you'll have to face the reality of everything that comes with being together. Somehow that scares you more than if it doesn't work.

You look back up at him, and you know – despite all your worries and doubts – it was never really a choice because you choose Jeongguk the moment you chose to accept his offer of being honest all those months ago. "Okay."

Jeongguk looks like he's ready to argue, "I-" You watch as your answer sinks in. The stunned expression almost makes you laugh, "What?"

"Did you want me to say no?" You give him an amused look, smile curling the corners of your lips upwards.

His eyes widens and he shakes his head frantically, "No, no, no, I just wasn't expecting you to say yes to quickly."

"That makes two of us." You admit. Jeongguk is right though, better to try and either fail or succeed, or never try and forever wonder what if. You smile up at him, heart soaring happily. "You make a good case. You should have become a lawyer."

Jeongguk's eyes light up, "Just wait until you hear the case I have to make on why we should kiss."

"Tell you what, if you kiss me within the next three seconds, you don't have to make a case at all." You bargained with a grin.

Jeongguk didn't need to be told twice. He leaned close and kissed you, slow and deep, one hand slipping into your hair and the other curling around your waist, pulling you close to him. He breaks the kiss, licking his lips and your eyes are drawn to the action. You lick your own lips, liking the taste of him. His voice is deep and rough, his cheeks flushed, when he asks, "Want to go get something to drink?"

"Yeah," You nod with a goofy smile, your own cheeks also flushed, feeling like you might float away at any second. "I could go for a smoothie."

"I love smoothies." Jeongguk grins back at you, taking your hand, lacing your fingers. His other hand was still wrapped around your waist and hold you close.

An old question flashes across your mind as you run your hands up his chest, liking the strong, study feel of it, until you can lock your arms around his neck. "You know, I've been meaning to ask."

"Mmm?" Jeongguk hummed in acknowledgement, showing that he was listening.

"Why didn't you get me fired that first day?" You ask, aware that you are suppose to be getting smoothies but it could wait for a bit.

Jeongguk had been expecting this question for a while, and had come up with an answer a long time ago. He looks down at her with all he feels for her, a content smile on his lips.

"Because you were the first honest person I have met in years. Because you put me in my place without thinking twice. Because when you glared down at me after I changed my order for the sixth time, there was a fire in your eyes that woke something inside of me that I couldn't control. Not then and not now." He leaned down, rubbing his nose against hers, the gesture shy and intimate. "Because the fact is, you had me at 'indecisive snot'."

the end.

A/N: Tumblr and it's 250 box limit will be the death of me, I swear. I get it, I do. But come on! This very almost didn't fit, I had to edit and mush several chapters into one. Eventually it fit, but NEVER AGAIN! It was exhausting and time consuming. I'll rather split it again, like I did with two of my other fics. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. This took me a while with all the editing. Purple hearts for all of you!! -Kayla.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

rumor has it [2/2] • jung hoseok

words — 3K

part one

You took of your shoes, haphazardly kicking them into the shoe rack, pulling off your baby pink sweater as you padded to your room, humming with a gigantic grin on your face.

It wasn't five minutes since you arrived home when a knock sounded on your door. You threw your sweater on the bed, heading to the door.

"Yeah, I'm coming." You called, and the incessant knocking ceased. Probably Minji or Jamie that wants to borrow a book or some paper to print a project. You opened the door, frowning slight when you saw who was on the other side, "Hoseok? Is everything okay?"

"I'm not feeling very gentlemanly right now." He declared before stepping closer, grabbing you by the neck and kissing you until you were breathless, your socked covered toes curling.

"Good night." He said when he pulled away, then added on, "For real this time."

You laughed a little, feeling so ridiculously happy. You wondered if you could combust from it.

"Text me when you get home." You blurted, still catching your breath.

"Promise." He nodded, licking his lips. You leaned forward to peck them one last time. For now.

You laughed again, practically vibrating with giddiness as you closed the door for a second and final time.

***

You liked to think that maybe you would have a boyfriend, in the not so distant future, after that. It's not like you go around kissing any guy you go out on a date with. And yeah, there's been some horrible dates you went on that never went anywhere, but that's a story for another day.

Right now you were more interested in listening to what Hoseok had to say. The two of you were sitting in the Quad, eating lunch together. You warned your friends to pretty please stay away for now because this thing between you and Hoseok was still new and fragile. And maybe you want him to yourself for a little longer but that was none of their business.

"So, the Dance Department is holding its yearly talent show." Hoseok said after swallowing a bit of his chicken and mayo sandwich.

"I heard," You nodded, taking a sip of orange juice. "The whole campus is talking about it."

"I entered and I was wondering if you'd come?" He asked, looking at you nervously. "For me. For, you know, moral support."

"Absolutely." You nodded eagerly, belly fluttering. You liked the fact that Hoseok had invited you to the competition, especially knowing how much dance means to him. "Can I bring my friends?"

"Sure," Hoseok grinned excitedly. "The more, the merrier."

In the three months leading up to the competition, you would scarcely see him during the week with how much he practices but you make up for it by spending most of the weekend together.

You get to know much about Hoseok in the three months that pass. Little things, like how he swears when he gets startled, all of his phobias (spiders, snakes and heights you got, but fear of water was a little bit of a strange one for you, because you're in love with water but it's not like you own a swimming pool so it wouldn't be a problem), his likes (cuddling while watching a movie) and dislikes (watching scary movies at night - or just in general), habits (biting his lip when he concentrates) and hobbies (skateboarding).

Finally, the day of the competition arrived. It was pretty much a full day event, according to Hoseok, because there was the entrance round, which took the most time, quarter finals, semi finals and finals.

You were walking to the hall where the competition would be held with your two best friends, Minji and Jamie. Your arms were linked through each other's. "Thank you guys so much for coming."

"Of course. Where else would we be?" Jamie smiled gently at you.

Minji nodded, then said, "And we've been dying to meet the guy who has finally melted your heart."

"Just behave yourselves." You told them, pointing a finger in warning.

"Who, us?" Minji gasped.

"We're angels." Jamie smirked.

You snorted, looking around for Hoseok. He said that you would all meet out front. "Sure. Whatever makes you sleep at night."

"Hey, Y/N!" Hoseok's voice caught your ears and you turn in the direction you heard it. "Over here!"

A grin breaks out on your face when you see him, a few guys standing with him, and it takes all your will power not to run to him. You didn't even look at anyone else as you walked to him, stopping only when you reached Hoseok. "Hey."

You wanted to kiss him but didn't. PDA isn't something you've discussed yet, and you definitely don't want to be pushed away or make Hoseok uncomfortable.

"Wow, you look . . ." Hoseok breathed, eyes widening when he did a full body sweep of you. You wore a dress for the first time since he's met you, paired with some matching wedges and a little bit of make-up. "Beautiful."

"Thank you." You grinned, feeling your cheeks flush. "You look very handsome." And he did - a low cut white shirt that put his collarbones and little bit of his chest on display, tucked into black, ripped skinny jeans and a pair of white Converse sneakers.

A throat cleared from somewhere around you and both of you snapped out of the little bubble that unknowingly formed around you, the pair of you ignoring the world.

"Right, I should probably introduce you." Hoseok cleared his throat, tossing a glare over his shoulder when one of his friends snickered. "Guys, this is Y/N." He looked at his friends, gesturing at you. Then looked at back at you. "Don't worry if you can't remember all their names today. There's six of them. Okay, this is Namjoon, the best friend I told you about. That is Yoongi-hyung and his best friend Seokjin-hyung. Next to them is Taehyungie and his best friend Jiminie and next to the shorty is his boyfriend Jeongguk."

"I'm not short." Jimin huffed, a hand wrapped around Jeongguk's bicep.

"Of course not, hyung," Jeongguk consoled, patting his head. Then he smirked, "Just vertically challenged."

"Yah, you gigantic brat!" Jimin snarled as he used the hand on Jeongguk's bicep to try and hit him in the back of his head. Clearly this has happened before because Jeongguk expertly ducked away and grabbed Jimin's hand, spinning Jimin until his back was pressed against Jeongguk's chest. Jeongguk wrapped his hands around him a struggling Jimin, smiling as he pressed a kiss against his hair.

"Don't worry about them, they're always like that." Taehyung said with a grin when he noticed the way you looked at them, wide eyed.

"Good to know." You laughed. "Well, it's so nice to meet all of you." You stepped next to Minji and Jamie, who were eyeing all of Hoseok's friends with interest. "And these are my two best friends, Minji and Jamie."

Jamie stepped forward, peering at Hoseok, "It's so nice to meet Y/N's new beau. She hasn't had one since high school."

"Would you shut up?" You hissed, cheeks flaming, as you pulled her back to your side.

"Aww, look. She's blushing. I've never seen her blushing. Not even when looking at pictures of Idols' abs." Minji cooed, laughter and snickering following.

"You two are dead to me." You said with a glare as you went to stand next to Hoseok.

"Hobi-hyung was so excited when he told us you were coming." Jeongguk let know when everyone calmed down.

"I'm happy he asked me, even if it is moral support." You smiled happily, smile widening when Hoseok's hand slipped into yours. Now, hand holding was something you two did a lot.

"Hah!" Seokjin scoffed. "Moral support, my ass. Hoseok doesn't need moral support, he's won this competition since his first year." You could feel your eyes widening, jaw dropping open.

"The other's don't stand a chance." Jimin smirked.

"We're not trying to be mean or anything, but our Hobi-hyung is the best." Taehyung grinned.

"Hey, how come you never told me how good you are?" You huffed, nudging Hoseok's elbow with yours.

"I thought if I told you, you wouldn't come." He admitted, a slight pout on his lips.

"Oh my God, you idiot!" You lightly slapped him on the arm with your free hands. "I would have come either way. I've always wanted to see you dance."

"I'll win for you tonight." Hoseok promised, ignoring the wolf whistles and whipping sounds that came from the direction of your friends after his words.

You just smiled fondly at him, "That's sweet, but you don't have too."

"I want too." He said quietly. "I've never danced for someone other than my friends and family before."

"Okay, fine. I'll cheer for you."

(Hoseok does end up winning first place. And you two end up having a heated make out session in his dressing room afterwards.)

***

A few weeks after the competition, your mom asked you to go and pick up your sister. You don't warn Hoseok beforehand, wanting to surprise him. You hoped it wasn't a bad surprise. This would be the first time you picked up your sister again after the first time you met. You smiled to yourself, thinking how so much has happened since then.

You walked into the studio, making a beeline for Hoseok.

"Hello again, Hoseok-ssi." You greeted with a serious voice. He spun upto you, eyes wide, and you aimed a lazy grin at him, eyes full of mirth.

"Hello Y/N-ssi." His voice was professional but there was an amused twinkle in his eyes as he smiled at you. "It's good to see you again."

"You too." Was all you we able to get out before your sister joyously shouted your name and barreled into your legs. You laughed, crouching down to give her a proper hug. "Hey squirt. How was class?"

"It was sooooo good. Hobi-oppa is a really really good teacher and fun too. We learnt lots of things. Like this." Your sister ended her own ramble as she demonstrated a move that she learnt in class today, looking at Hoseok when she finished moving, silently asking if she did it right. She positively beamed when he nodded, giving her a thumbs up.

"That's awesome." You ruffled her hair. "Why don't you go get your bag before mom gets home before us and reports us missing?" Your sister nods vigorously, before running away. You turn to Hoseok, heart swelling with affection as you immediately catch his eye. "How's she doing?"

"Good," He said, eyes twinkling. "And I'm not just saying that because she has a gorgeous sister that I like very much."

"Ohhh, keep going." You sing-songed with a grin, crossing your arms over your chest, enjoying the way his cheeks flushed. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

Hoseok tilts an eyebrow at you, "Isn't it usually the other way around?"

"Yeah, but in this case flattery will get you anywhere." You smirked, enjoying the way his flush deepend from you teasing.

Your little sister appeared by your side, looking between the two of you. Then she announced, "Hobi-oppa, my sister is single, if you're interested."

Hoseok looked away and pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing.

You barely resisted the urge to yank her by the ears as you hissed to her, "Your sister is not single, stop trying to find her a boyfriend. I'm capable of getting one myself."

She gasped, looking at you with wide eyes. "I'm telling mom."

"Mom knows, tattletale." You deadpanned, much to her disappointment. It's true, she knows about you and Hoseok. You sister doesn't. You all decided to keep quiet around the dance school so the other children and their parents can't accuse Hoseok of playing favourites because he's dating you. You also decided not to tell your sister, because you didn't want her to accidentally let it slip out.

The three of you bid your goodbyes, and you and your sister left. You didn't get very far when your phone buzzed.

Hoseok : Not single, huh?

You laugh, practically seeing the happy grin on his face. You two made your relationship official not long after the dance competition and he loves it when you tell people that you're a taken girl. You type a reply with one hand as the other one held onto your sister's.

You: Nope, there's this really great guy that I'm dating.

Hoseok: Luckily guy.

You: I'd like to think we're both lucky.

Hoseok: Sounds fair.

Hoseok: Btw, your ass looked really good in those jeans.

You: Hehe, thanks.

You: You were were rocking the whole soft boyfriend look, btw

"Are you texting your boyfriend?" Your sister asks as she rises on her tiptoes, obviously trying to see on the screen. You make sure to keep it away from her curious eyes.

You smile down at her, "Yeah."

Hoseok: Soft boyfriend look?

"Do you love him?" She asked and you avoided answering her question to answer Hoseok's text, wondering about it. Do you love him?

You: Big t-shirt, sweatpants and barefoot = soft boyfriend look

You: For me, anyway

You: Idk about other people.

The answer came so easily to you. You smiled down at her as you wait for Hoseok to reply. "I think so, yeah."

Hoseok: Ah, gotcha

Hoseok: We still on for tomorrow???

You grinned, butterflies fluttering wildly. Tomorrow evening was Jeongguk's 18th birthday party and you were invited as Hoseok's girlfriend. Apparently it was the formal one - with Jeongguk's family - and then the next evening would be the informal one - with his school friends and Jimin's friends and their friends. You were a little nervous, because only Jeongguk's closest friends was invited to the formal party and while each one could bring a plus one, not everyone did.

At least, that's what Namjoon told you when you ran into him at a coffee shop a few days ago and told him that you'd see him at Jeongguk's party. So, it was kind of a big deal and you were kind of freaking out but mostly, you were excited.

You: Yep, I'll see you there.;)))

The next day, you decided on your nicest clothes, which was the second and last dress you own and a pair pumps.

"You look so cute, I want to eat you." Hoseok had blurted when you opened your dorm room. You raised a brow at him and smiled when he flushed and started back pedalling. "I, uh, um, what I meant to say was-"

"I think you're cute when you scrunch your nose when you don't like something." You cut him off, deciding to have mercy. "Come on in, we still have an hour until we need to go."

He smiled gratefully and you stepped closer to kiss him.

"About what I said just now Hoseok started when you pulled apart, closing the door behind himself.

"There is nothing to explain." You assured him with a gentle smile, heading to your couch.

"No, I need too. I want to be honest with you." He said firmly, but you could tell he was nervous. His shoulders was tensed and it make you feel unsteady. You didn't like that he was distressed. "It's just- I just, I've been thinking about it."

"What, eating me?" You joked, trying to make him relax a little. You looked at him over your shoulder with a teasing smirk, "Sorry, but I'm not into cannibalism."

"Y/N. I'm being serious." His tone made you sober up, turning to him. Hoseok was looking at you, biting his lip, but there was a determined set to his jaw.

"Oh." You felt yourself getting nervous out of nowhere. "Okay. Thinking about what?" You had a good idea what he was thinking about, just not if it was positively or negatively.

Hoseok cleared his throat, looking like he was searching for words before just bracing himself and saying it. "Having sex with you." So, you were right. You will weren't sure if he wanted to tell you that he wants to or not. "I want too." He added on barely a second later for clarification.

Your heart started racing. You blushed a bright red all over - chest, neck, ears, cheeks. You gaped at Hoseok and he waited silently, looking more and more nervous and unsure as each second passed.

You gathered your thoughts and told him the truth.

"Me too." You admitted softly, shyly. "I didn't want to bring it up or push for more during one of our more heated makeout sessions because I wasn't sure what you thought and while I am thinking about it, I'm just not . . ."

Hoseok breath a sigh of relief, so quiet, you almost didn't heard it it. "Not ready yet?"

"Yeah." You nodded. He took his hands in yours, tangling your fingers together.

"I feel the same. Like, in the heat of the moment I want to find out just how flexible you are, but then when I calm down its like something tells me it's not time yet. And that's okay. There's no need to rush. We'll get there." Hoseok said, squeezing your hands, both in comfort and promise.

"Yeah, we will." You smiled, wrapping your arms around his neck. You kiss him deeply, trying to show him everything you were feeling but couldn't define and put into words yet.

Months later, when both of you are completely ready, it's not just right but it's perfect in that fairytale kind of way you always thought was bullshit but secretly hoped for anyways. Afterwards, when you lay on his chest, looking up at his sleeping face, you breathe those three special words, before falling asleep to the soothing sound of Hoseok's heartbeat.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

rumor has it [1/2] • jung hoseok

plot — your best kept secret comes out and it becomes a hot topic around your university. it also brings you and hoseok closer.

words — 3.5K

You are going to lose it.

Seriously. The next person who asks you if the rumor is true, Lord help them, you are going to go bat-shit crazy on them.

You also swore off drinking indefinitely because if you hadn't been so inebriated, you would have taken another shot instead of telling the truth. Well, maybe not because it was because of drinking shots that you ended up in this mess in the first place.

So, yeah, drinking was out of the picture for the moment.

In all honesty, you weren't embarrassed about it. About still being a virgin. You made your choice a long time ago, and you choose to stick by it. You didn't want a perfect first time, or to wait until marriage, but you want to be comfortable with the person and you want it to feel right. You've never felt that with anyone before.

And if that made you a prude in the eyes of society, well then they can go fuck themselves for all you care. You'll wait until the time is right.

You looked up, to see where your feet had taken you and was it was in the Quad. It was just a large patch of grass with picnic tables place in it. For either eating or studying or just taking a break.

You sat down at a table, and barely twenty seconds after you sat down, three guys approached you. The one in the middle opened his mouth, "Hey! Y/N, is it true?"

You sincerely hoped it wasn't what you think it was, so you decided to give the idiot the benefit of the doubt. "Is what true?"

"That you're a virgin. I wanted to know if it's true, that's all." He said with a dirty smirk, making no secret of the fact that he was trying to check you out - the picnic table hid most of your body so it didn't work as well as he hoped.

"Yes, it's true." You snapped, voice harsh as the last of your patience swiftly ran out. "Rumor also has it you're an insensitive moron. So glad we could both confirm the running gossip. Now fuck off."

The guy scoffed, "Now wonder you're still a virgin. No one likes an uptight bitch."

"Now wonder you're still single. No one likes an stupid dick." You smirked up at him, watching in amusement as he stalked off with his two friends that looked a little embarrassed.

Ah, how you love using people's own words against them. Nothing makes a person angrier than that. It's really amusing too.

There was two more incidents - two girls that were curious, and one guy who offered his experience to you. Ugh.

Your stomach dropped when you saw the next person who approached you because you actually like this guy.

"Oh, not you, too, Hoseok." You groaned when you saw him, dropping your head down on your books.

"What?" Hoseok asked, bewildered, as he slid into the seat opposite you.

You peaked at him, cheek laying on your books, "Aren't you here to find out if the rumor is true and then mock me and judge me?"

"What rumor?" He asked, a little confused, as you sat upright. You just gave him a flat look and waited. You saw the dots connect in his mind. "Right. That rumor."

"Yeah." You gave him a humorless smile.

Hoseok shook his head, expression gentle as he looked at you. "Well, no. I'm not. One, it's none of my business. And two, it'd be hypocritical if I judged you."

"Why would it-" You cut yourself off as realisation set in, your eyes widened in disbelief as you inhaled sharply. "No way."

Hoseok laughed, his face lighting up and dimples on display, "It's true."

"I don't believe it." You laughed in disbelief. Hoseok had to be pulling your leg.

"Believe it." He nodded.

"You? Seriously?" You couldn't wrap your head around it.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He frowned at you.

"I don't mean anything by it, it's just . . ." You paused for a moment, gathering your thoughts and then settled with your default setting: brutal honesty. "Well, to be perfectly honest, you're like a wet dream come to life and it's a little hard to believe."

Hoseok's cheeks flushed and a satisfied warmth stirred in your belly, "I, uh, I've never wanted to. I mean, I've had girlfriends before but never enough to want to take them to bed."

"Now that, I understand. I've had two boyfriends and both of them I dropped when they kept pressuring me for more and I didn't want too." You told Hoseok who nodded along with what you said.

"Yeah, I know right. I mean, one of my ex-girlfriends accused me of not loving her." Hoseok actually pouted a bit as he spoke. You giggled at the sight, endeared by him. "She was right thought, I didn't love her. I liked her a lot, but it wasn't love. I don't think I've ever been in love. Not really." He looked at you. "Have you ever been in love?"

"I don't know." You admitted. "I mean, how do you know when you love someone? It's not like you can measure it."

"That's a fair question. I mean, I guess it's something you just know. Like, when you listen to a song and you know you love it after listening to it once. Maybe it's like that." Hoseok said and then suddenly he looked down, seeming embarrassed. "Sorry, you probably think that's dumb."

"No, no, not at all. I think it kind of fits." You said hastily, not wanting him draw the wrong conclusions. "I actually understand what you said more than when someone tries to tells me about how sometimes love is fate or destiny or written in the stars." You pulled a face.

Hoseok laughs and it makes you laugh back.

"Did you want something?" You asked him, when you both calmed down, still smiling.

"Huh?" He asked, clearly a little confused. You thought he looks adorable.

"You came over here," You reminded him. "I assume it was to ask or tell me something."

"Oh yeah." Hoseok's cheeks flushed again as realisation lit in his eyes. "I just wanted you to know that Jae is adjusting nicely to the classes."

A smile automatically spread on your lips at the mention of your nine year old sister. She recently started hip-hop classes and that was actually how you met Hoseok, he's her teacher. One afternoon your mother asked you to pick her up after practice and you and Hoseok talked a bit, and you found out that you go to the same university but just different major's. His is dance and yours is business.

"I'm glad." You smiled wider at him. "You didn't have to come all the way over here to tell me that though."

Hoseok let out a nervous laugh, rubbing at the nape of his neck as he looked at you shyly. "I also wanted to know if I can buy you a coffee sometime, maybe? I wanted to ask you out the day we met, I didn't think it would be appropriate, 'cause I was at work and all."

Now it was your turn to blush, pleasantly surprised by his offer. You had found yourself liking your sister's dance teacher, too, but you didn't know if he would say yes. And he wasn't some random guy could ask out and just forget if he says no.

You smiled, cheeks on fire as you looked at him. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"How does Saturday sound?" Hoseok asked excitedly and your stomach dropped.

"I can't, sorry." You told him, watching as his face fell. "Not because I don't want too. It's just, I promised my mom I'd spend the whole Saturday with her and my sister because according to her she doesn't see me enough." You hurried to explain.

Hoseok smiled again and your heart lifted, "Okay, how about Sunday afternoon?"

You don't think you've ever nodded so fast in your life. "Yes, that's perfect."

***

That Saturday when you went home, your mom squinted at you as you hopped on the kitchen counter as she made breakfast. "What is going on with you?"

"Nothing." You smiled innocently at your mother. She's been giving you looks since you arrived.

"Am I suppose to believe that all this smiling and the happy sparkle in your eyes is from nothing?" She asked, raising a brow. You decided to tell her because you and your mom have always been close. And you've been wanting to tell someone who won't tease you about Hoseok. Your best friends Minji and Jamie does that enough. You also wanted to tell her before she finds out by herself. You would never live it down.

"I'll tell you, but I don't want you to make a big deal out of this, okay, mom?" You said, grinning excitedly.

Her curiousity effectively peaked, your mom nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, I won't. Promise."

"Okay, so, there's this guy I really, really like and we're going out tomorrow." You gushed, barely holding in a squeal as your cheeks hurt from smiling so wide.

Your mother gasped, a smile of joy spreading on his lips. "Oh, oh! This is wonderful news. Who is this young man that's managed to capture your attention? Is he nice? I hope he's not a troublemaker like your second boyfriend. Why, I heard the other day that he got arrested from breaking into someone's home. Can you believe that?"

You winced at the reminder of your second boyfriend. Not one of your proudest moments but you had a lot of fun with him. Right up until he wanted to get into your pants. The relationship went downhill pretty quick after you said no.

"I can't say I'm surprised." You admitted, because he always liked to skirt at the edge of the law, it was only a matter of time before he broke it. Luckily you got away before it went that far.

"Enough about him, though. Tell me about this boy of yours." Your mom pushed with glittering eyes.

You cheeks flushed, "Well, he's not mine yet, mom. And it's just a coffee date."

"Tell me his name then." She prodded hopefully.

You gave her a sheepish smile, "I can't, sorry."

"Why not?" She frowned.

"Because you know him." Now you smirked at her, knowing she'll drive herself crazy, trying to figure out who he is.

***

You couldn't remember the last time you were this nervous.

Oh, no, wait. You could. It was right before you went to get your final results for high school. You didn't sleep that night and you barely slept Saturday night. Falling asleep early Sunday morning and sleeping until finally your alarm woke you up at 11:00AM.

You immediately started getting ready. You took a shower, used a hairdyer for the first time this year (air-drying is much easier and more fun) before taking a hair straightner to your unruly mop of curls. You picked a nice outfit but decided to forego make-up. That would be too over the top for you.

Your phone buzzed with a text a little after 03:00PM.

You smiled widely when you saw who it was. You and Hoseok had exchanged numbers after he asked you out and kept in touch over the last week.

Hoseok

See you in a bit.

You

Can't wait!

You walked to the cafe you two agreed to meet at, nervous but also excited. You entered the cafe and heard your name being called by a familiar voice.

A smile automatically spread on your lips as you walked to the table where Hoseok was waving from. You couldn't even find it in yourself to care about the people staring at you. He stands up when you arrive at the table and goes to pull out your chair but you wave him off with a smile.

"Hey, I'm not late, right?" You asked with a nervous smile.

Hoseok shakes his head, beaming at you. "Nope, I'm early."

You looked at the time on your phone and smiled. 03:24PM. You're both early then. Sure, only six minutes, but it's a good sign, right?

"How've you been?" You ask as you pushed your phone into the back pocket of your jeans.

"Good. I actually caught up on some overdue work, yesterday. You?"

"I'm fine. It was nice spending time with my mom and my sister."

The waitress comes up to your table with a notebook. "Are you ready to order?"

Hoseok's sunny grin dims a bit. "I forgot to give her the menu."

"It's okay." You laughed brightly. "I come here often, so I know what I want." You assured him, then looked at the waitress. "I'd like a bubblegum milkshake and a big chocolate muffin."

"Okay," The waitress nods, repeating your order as she writes and you confirm it. She turns at Hoseok, "And for you?"

"I'd like a hazelnut latte and a waffle with peppermint and chocolate ice cream." He orders. You both wait until the waitress leaves before resuming your conversation.

"Interesting choice. The hot with the cold." You grin at him.

"Mmn, I didn't take you for having a sweet tooth."

You froze for a bit because normally you don't have a sweet tooth, not really, but it's not like you could tell him you're having pre-period cravings.

"Depends on my mood." You said instead, and it was the truth. You ate whatever you were in the mood for in general, not just when you are on your period. But you also like salty food more than sweet, but whenever you crave something sweet, it's usually because of your monthly gift from Eve.

Hoseok nods, accepting the answer. He tilts his head at you, "How's your mom and sister?"

"Well, my sister is an adorable little pain in the ass like always and my mom is starting a list of all the guys she knows, but overall they're good." You told him, laughing a bit as you spoke.

"Do I want to know?" He looked at you, equal parts curious and wary.

"I don't know, do you?" You asked teasingly, smiling at him, wiggling your eyes brows.

He thought for a moment, "Yeah, I do."

"It's nothing bad. I just told my mom about our date, and when she asked for your name, I told her that I can't tell her because she knows you."

Hoseok frowned ever so slightly, "Why didn't you want to tell her?"

"Because I don't want her to bombard you with personal questions until we figure out where we want this to go." You explained, gesturing between the two of you with your index finger.

Hoseok's eyes twinkled with mischief and laughter as he asked, "Ah, so she can ask me the personal questions after we start dating then?"

"Oh, yeah," You nodded, liking the idea of dating Hoseok all too much. "You'll have to prepare yourself to answer anything from what your first word was, to what brand and colour underwear you wear."

Hoseok burst out laughing and you smiled as you watch him. You like the way he laughs, unrestrained and so fully. It makes you feel warm inside.

You talk about this and that until your order arrives. Technically it was dessert, rather than food but eh, neither of you minded. And this was supposed to be a coffee date. It was already better than you two planned.

"Jung Hoseok." You called him seriously, after you finished eating your muffin, fiddling with the straw of your milkshake.

He sobered up, looking a little startled, "Yeah?"

"I adore you." You said, giving him a soft, slow smile.

His cheeks flushed and you realised you like making him blush.

Hoseok looked at you, eyes serious despite his red cheeks. "I really like you, Y/N."

Blood rushed to your cheeks and your heart picked up its pace. You looked down, sipping on your melting milkshake. When both of you were done eating and finished drinking, you ordered another milkshake and Hoseok ordered another latte.

Neither of you were ready to go home yet.

"So, why dance?" You asked him somewhere after your third milkshake, curious.

"I've always found it easier to express myself with my body rather than words." He shrugged, looking a little shy. "It's my greatest passion. When I'm dancing, I'm free."

"I'd like to watch you dance sometime. If you don't mind."

"Yeah, sure. I don't mind." Hoseok shook his head. "Why business?" He asked in return.

"Promise you won't laugh?" You asked first, looking at him seriously.

"I promise."

"And you can't tell anyone and I'll know if you have because I haven't told anyone. Not even my mom, but I think she suspects."

"I won't." Hoseok swore, sitting a little straighter.

"I want to start my own shoe store. Originally I wanted to study something in a fashion direction, I like designing shoes, but the industry is tough to get into. So, I figured I'll start smaller and work my way up." You looked down at the table, fiddling with a serviette.

"Wow. That's like . . .your whole future planned out." Hoseok said, looking at you with wide eyes.

You snorted, "Not really. It's just a dream. It's going to take hard work to make it into a reality."

"You can do it. I believe in you." He said, so sincere that you had no choice but to believe him.

When you finally went home, it was dark and Hoseok walked you back to your dorm room. Halfway there, he brushed his hand against yours and when he slid his palm against yours, you happily entwined you'd fingers.

You opened your door and turned to him, ready to say something but he beat you to it.

"I had a really great time today." He said with that ever present sunny smile that made your heart sing when he directed it at you.

"Me too. It was much better than I expected." You said, only realising after his smile dropped how that might have sounded to him. "Not that I expected it to be bad, just a little awkward because you make me nervous. Really nervous. But it wasn't awkward at all. I was comfortable from the beginning."

"Oh." Hoseok breathed softly, and you could heard the relief in that one syllable. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Maybe we could do it again, sometime?"

"Oh, we better." You told him seriously.

"Well, I should get going. We have class tomorrow." He took a step back from you, clearly intent on leaving. You looked at him with raised brows.

"You're really not going to try for a goodnight kiss?" You laughed.

Hoseok let out an indignant huff, crossing his arms over his chest. "Hey, don't laugh at me. I'm trying to be a gentleman here."

You positively melted from his words, heart speeding up. You gave him a look full of adoration. "Hoseok, you are always a gentleman and I appreciate it," Your gaze turned a bit mischievous. "But you should know that I've been wondering what it would be like to kiss you since the day we met."

His eyebrows rose, jaw going slack as he looked at you in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes, really." You nodded, amused. "So, whenever you're feeling like being ungentlemanly, just know I wouldn't be opposed to it."

"Okay." He nodded dumbly and you laughed.

"Good night, Hoseok." You told him fondly.

"Night." Hoseok echoed, taking another step back and then turning away from you. You waited until he reached the stair case before you closed your door, letting out a squeal of happiness.

You took of your shoes, haphazardly kicking them into the shoe rack, pulling off your baby pink sweater as you padded to your room, humming with a gigantic grin on your face.

It wasn't five minutes since you arrived home when a knock sounded on your door. You threw your sweater on the bed, heading to the door.

"Yeah, I'm coming." You called, and the incessant knocking ceased. Probably Minji or Jamie that wants to borrow a book or some paper to print a project. You opened the door, frowning slight when you saw who was on the other side, "Hoseok? Is everything okay?"

"I'm not feeling very gentlemanly right now." He declared before stepping closer, grabbing you by the neck and kissing you until you were breathless, your socked covered toes curling.

"Good night." He said when he pulled away, then added on, "For real this time."

You laughed a little, feeling so ridiculously happy. You wondered if you could combust from it.

"Text me when you get home." You blurted, still catching your breath.

"Promise." He nodded, licking his lips. You leaned forward to peck them one last time. For now.

You laughed again, practically vibrating with giddiness as you closed the door for a second and final time.

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE: !!this is not the end!! *pouts* Tumblr told me that I filled all of my 250 boxes, so I have to split it. It's like my fic duet all over again. *le sigh* Idek how people write 12K fics and still fit it in.

part two

[bangtanreadingcorner]

three words, eight letters (i love you) • kim namjoon

plot – it was never supposed to go this far, but then it happened. you both said i love you.

words – 3.3K

It started out casual.

You and Namjoon met at a party years ago, and the attraction was immediate. The only problem was that neither of you had time for something serious - you as a world traveling model and him as a world traveling artist. So, after spending a mind-blowing night together, you two both agreed in the morning after that it was a one time thing and wouldn't happen again.

That lasted until the next time you saw each other two months later. The morning after you two agreed that you were open to sleeping together if you are near each other and both willing and it wasn't exclusive because this attraction between you was too hard to ignore.

What neither of you told each other, was that you had no intention of sleeping with someone else.

A year and many chance encounters later, you both decided to be exclusive and decided to try dating each other casually. Nothing big, like going out of your to see each other but more like finally exchanging numbers and texting, calling and Skyping each other. You still agreed only to see each other in person when you both happened to be in the same place.

(And if you both snooped around to figure out where the other was to plan a visit when the longing became to much, well, you certainly weren't telling each other.)

It was good, for three blissful years life was good, great even, until one day it all blew to hell.

It started with a good morning call from Namjoon.

You grinned, despite the early hour as you picked up the call. "Hey, handsome."

"Good morning, gorgeous. You sound sleepy." You heart thumped with the term of endearment. You could hear the smile in his voice.

"I just woke up." You admitted through a yawn. You looked at the time, and shuffled back under your covers, intent on sleeping further once your call with Namjoon was done.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He said, voice apologetic with a tinge of guilt.

"It's okay, I don't mind." You told him honestly. You'd prefer talking to him over sleeping everytime. You yawned again, rubbing at your dry eyes with your free hand, stopped when you realised your make-up artist would have a fit if you showed up with puffy eyes. "Just had a late shoot. I only got home three hours ago."

"Yikes." Namjoon said and you could picture the wince on his face, and it made a sleepy grin tug in your lips. "I'll let you get back to sleep then and call you later on."

"M'kay." You yawned, halfway asleep as the next words slipped out of your mouth. "I love you."

"Love you, too." He replied instantly and without hesitation.

The line went dead silence in the aftermath of your confession.

"I have to go." You eventually blurted, a little mortified, your face on fire and you heart beating in your ears. Suddenly you were wide awake, all sleep gone from your system.

"Yeah, me too." He said and you were glad to hear the way to cracked because it means he was affected by this too.

You never end up going back to sleep, not even able to form a reply later that night when you arrive for your shoot and the make-up artist mutters about your red eyes from lack of sleep.

The photographer tells you there's no sparkle in your eyes. You tell him if he doesn't like your work, he's welcome to request another model. He's right though, you know he is. You go through the motions but your heart isn't in it like it usually is.

It was all the way in Namjoon's hands, just like his heart is in yours, from when you exchanged it earlier that morning.

Then only question is, what are you going to do with it?

You meant the words, you love him and you know he loves you too.

The three special words you've never uttered to another soul outside your family and your few friends. Never intended too either, no matter how much you mean it. It's terrifying, to open yourself up like that, make things between you and Namjoon real on a whole other level.

You shouldn't have said it, you know you shouldn't have. After all, there is a reason you never have before.

You knew it would have hurt in the long run. It was inevitable, with how much you love him. Only now, everything is going to hurt so much more when it comes to an end.

***

Namjoon has never been one to let problems fester and lie, or ignoring a problem until it goes away. You are a personal fan of the latter. The point is, Namjoon is the type to face a problem head on, talk it out and try to solve it.

So, it came to absolutely no surprise to you when five days after the confession, a knock on your door sounded at eleven in the evening and when you opened it, it was Namjoon.

"Y/N." He greeted.

"Hi." You breathed.

He was wearing an oversized t-shirt and loose pants, nothing spectacular, but he still causes your breath to catch, your heart beat speeding up. The want you had for him, has never dimmed with time. It only grew, in fact.

And it wasn't just a physical desire, but a mental one too. You want to know him, ask him about his day, show him the new sketches you drew, listen to him ramble about the new encyclopedia about animals he finished.

You want him - heart, mind, soul and body.

But right now, you just really want to kiss him.

"I'm going to kiss you." You warned him, closing the two feet of distance between you slowly enough that he could say no if he didn't want you to kiss him.

He stood in your doorway, eyes watching you intently, unmoving but the moment you put your hands on his neck to pull him down, just a bit, and kissed him, slowly but deeply, he kissed you back, his hands gripping your hips, pulling you even closer.

He pulled away first, but didn't go far, muttering against your lips. "We need to talk."

You didn't want to talk because then everything would get worse, not better. Still, you needed too.

You stepped out of his arms, placing one more peck against his lips, wondering if it would be the last time ever. You let him in, listening as he closed the door and took off his shoes.

"Do you want something to drink?" You asked when you passed the kitchen.

"No, thank you." He denied and you walked past the kitchen, heading to your spacious living room. You took a seat on the one seater couch, he took one on the three seater, sitting closest to you.

It was quiet, for a long time, neither of you wanting to begin the conversation. Finally, Namjoon gathered the courage first. He asked an easy question, "Did you mean it?"

"Yes." You answered, because you did, and you could see a lot of tension leaving his shoulders. It made you wonder if he doubted it, if he thought that you said it because you were tired. Well, you did only say it because you were tired, but probably not for the reason he thinks, so you decided to explain. "Being sleepy lowered my defenses enough for me to tell you the truth, instead of hiding it from you."

He nodded, accepting your words. "Did you regret saying it?"

You wanted to say no, but it would be a lie.

"A little." You admitted, as honest as possible.

Namjoon took that in, swallowing thicky, nodding again, slower this time. "Why?"

"Because it made everything complicated. And I don't want complicated." You burst out, chest feeling heavy.

"I thought we weren't just sleeping together, that we're dating." Namjoon said, voice tight. There was hurt in there, it stabbed at your heart.

"We are dating." You confirm.

"Then why haven't you told anyone about us?" He asked sharply.

"I have. All of my friends know about you, and tease me mercilessly because of you. They figured out that I'm stupid in love with you, long before I climbed out of my pit of denial." You told him, because if your relationship was going to shit, you might as well tell him everything.

"Have you told your parents?" Namjoon asked, suddenly and it makes you a little defensive.

"Have you?" You retort.

"Yes." He answered, and it catches you completely off guard.

It took you awhile to regain your bearings, because you didn't think Namjoon was serious enough about your relationship that he has told his parents about it. It made you feel happy and guilty, all at once.

You didn't know what to say to him, so you said nothing, sitting in silence again.

"I meant it, too, you know." Namjoon broke the silence again, voice soft as he looked at you so gently that your heart twisted. "I love you."

You inhaled sharply. It was one thing to hear it over the phone, but another thing entirely to hear it from his lips in person. There was only one you that felt right for you to say to him.

"I love you, too." Too much, you thought.

An expression of wonder and awe crossed his face as he looked at you. It disappeared a moment later when he frowned over at you.

"Then what's the problem?" Namjoon asked, a little desperation in his voice.

"I don't want what you want." You said simply.

"I want you." He said immediately, so sure that you know he believes it right now, but right now isn't where this ends. In his mind, this ends with the two of you married, living in a house with a yard, a few kids and maybe a cat and a dog.

It doesn't for you.

Here it comes, you think to yourself, the whole reason you knew your relationship would have never lasted. Not in the long haul. You've thought about it long and hard, over and over, because you want Namjoon in your life for a longtime, but you've never found an ideal scenario where both of you get what you want.

You sighed, deep and sad, shaking your head slightly. "No, I'm not talking about now. I'm talking about the future. You want to get married and have kids. And I-" You inhaled, your eyes burning and voice going softer, wondering if anything would soften the blow you were about to give him. Nothing helped when you finally admitted to yourself your relationship was never going to last. "I don't want that."

A crumpled sort of expression crossed his face, eyes pained when he looks into yours. "Why?"

You shrugged, eyes blurring, memories flashing across your mind. Horrible, terrible memories. You suppress them as fast as they surface. "I just don't."

More silence.

"So what do we do now?" Namjoon finally asked.

"I don't know." You said, feeling your heart cracking a little. You knew it wasn't Namjoon's fault though. He would protect your heart from anything and everything in this world.

Unfortunately he can't protect you from yourself.

***

When Namjoon went home that night, it was with a heavy, heavy heart. The rest of his band noticed the moment he stepped through the door, but no one asked him because if their leader didn't want to talk, you couldn't make him.

Well, one person could.

All eyes turned to Yoongi when Namjoon went to his room after giving them a soft greeting.

"What?" The oldest rapper asks them.

"H-he doesn't look too good." Hoseok said worriedly and the other's voice their agreement. Namjoon has been a little off for a few days now, but not once was he as subdued as he was just now.

"Yeah, he went to see Y/N-noona, right?" Jeongguk asked.

All of then knows about Namjoon's long term girlfriend. It was the oddest relationship ever, to them at least, but the two them make it work and she makes their leader incredibly happy, so they have never shown anything but support.

"Maybe they had a fight." Taehyung suggested hesitantly, because they've never had a fight, as far as he knows. It's why they all feel a little lost right now.

"Whatever it is, it's big. He looked really sad and he's never looked like that when he comes back from seeing her." Jimin said, worrying his bottom lip.

"Go talk to him." Seokjin said to Yoongi, nodding in the direction of Namjoon's room.

Yoongi didn't need to be told twice.

Yoongi entered the room as he knocked. Namjoon was sitting on the floor, against his bed, legs pulled up, forearms resting on his thighs, head in his hands. Yoongi sat down next to him. He gently nudged his arm, "Talk to me, Namjoon-ah."

Then Yoongi waited for Namjoon to gather his thoughts, knowing the younger would talk when he's ready.

When Namjoon finally spoke, his voice was teary and soft, a little bit broken, too, "I've always believed in love and being loved. I believe in it because I can feel it and I experienced it, but with her, it's different."

"Good different, right?" Yoongi ventured hesitantly.

"Yeah, but now. . ." Namjoon's breath hitched, and he took a second to pull himself together. "Now, I'm scared"

Yoongi was very lost. He doesn't know what happened for Namjoon to feel like this or where it comes from. He'll be here, though. For whatever Namjoon needs from him. "Why?"

Namjoon swallowed, "Because I've never felt like this before."

"Like what?"

"Like I can't live without her." Namjoon whispered, sounding like he was going to cry any moment.

"And?" Yoongi said, still confused. That was supposed to be a good thing. Finding someone you love so much that you can't live without them. Right?

"And I'm scared that she doesn't love me the same." Namjoon said, voice still a whisper.

This made Yoongi frown because he and the rest of the guy's have met her a few times and each time, they all saw the complete adoration and utter devotion in her eyes when she looks at Namjoon. "I'm sure that's not true."

Namjoon sighed, knowing he was being a little unfair but his heart was hurting something terrible. "Okay, maybe you're right but, she- tonight she told me that she doesn't want to get married or have kids and that's all I want. And I know that doesn't mean that she doesn't love me but it has a great potential of breaking us apart."

Yoongi was quiet for a long while, processing all that Namjoon has told him. "Have you talked to her about this, Namjoon-ah?"

Namjoon snorted, voice a bit bitter when he spoke. "She just dumped an 'I love you but I don't want a future with you' on me and I sort of just walked away, so no, not really."

"Maybe you should." Yoongi suggested.

"Hyung, she told me that she loves me and then two seconds later she told me that she doesn't want to marry me. Like, ever." Namjoon said again, strong voice growing defeated as he spoke each word.

"Damn, that's harsh." Yoongi sighed, bit down on his bottom lip.

"At least she was being honest with me." Namjoon sighed, heart heavy. "I don't know what to do. She doesn't either." He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, tugging at the strands.

"You're gonna have to decide, Namjoon-ah." Yoongi said after a long silence. "Hold on, or let go."

***

You remember walking Namjoon to the door, making sure to lock it and starting to walk to your bedroom but only reaching the hallway before breaking down. Sobs ripped through your chest, your knees giving in and you sank to the floor.

It hurt, everything hurt.

And you had no one to blame but yourself.

You laid down on the floor, curling into a fetal position, crying until eventually you were exhausted enough that you passed out.

It took two weeks before you gathered enough courage to text Namjoon if you could see each other. He told you that he was in Japan right now and you asked him what city and hotel before booking a flight and a room for yourself. It wasn't for you to use, just a way for you to get into the hotel without any unnecessary questions.

When you knocked on his hotel room, your heart unsteady, your hand shaking, something inside of you knew that this is it.

This is the end.

Namjoon opened the door, and something in his gaze told you that he knew it too. Maybe that's why he didn't call either, these last two weeks.

Your eyes blurred as you walked through the door, fisting your hands to hide how badly they were shaking. You didn't want to sit, too restless. You looked at Namjoon, he looked at you.

"This will never work, not if we don't want the same things. You know that." You told him, voice breaking already. And it was just the start of the conversation.

"I could live without getting married and having kids if I could have you." Namjoon tried to stop what was happening.

You let out a wet chuckle, somehow loving him more for trying. You shook your head, letting out a resigned sigh. "You'll resent me."

"I'd never." Namjoon swore and you could tell he means it.

"Maybe not right now," You acknowledged. "But in ten years? When you see all your friends getting married and having kids?"

"I love you." He said, words a fierce promise, almost an oath.

You gave him a sad smile, "I know, and I don't ever want to change that love into resentment."

"You can't know that." He said, not wanting to let go.

"Yes, I can." You said, a tear finally breaking past its barricade and rolling down your cheek.

Namjoon stepped close and wiped it off, pressing a kiss to your cheeks, the corner of your mouth and finally to your lips. You could feel his body shaking against yours as he wrapped his arms tightly around your waist and it made more tears fall down. You fisted his shirt in your hands, holding tight, not wanting to let go either.

You did, eventually.

"Do me a favour?" You asked in a hoarse whisper when you pulled away, your breaths tangling, foreheads resting together.

"Anything." He agreed immediately.

"Don't forget me. Even if-" You cut yourself off and started again because you aren't delusional and you know how easy it was to fall for him. "Even when you fall in love again. Keep a little place for me in your heart and think of me once in a while." You requested. It was selfish, you knew it like you knew your name, but you will never forget him or stop loving him and if he remembers you once in a while, it would make you feel a little better.

(Not that you deserve it, but you've already admitted to being selfish.)

"As if I could ever forget you." Namjoon promised, squeezing you tighter, leaving out the part where he doesn't think he'll ever fall in love with someone else ever again. You had his heart since the moment he laid eyes on you from across the room of that party four years ago.

You finally pulled out of his embrace, but took hold of his hands. "I love you. I always will."

"Me too." He said, tear escaping from his eyes. You wiped it away with one hand, cupping his cheek.

You pulled him close, kissed him one last time - long, deep and filled with all the love you felt for him.

Then you let go of him, and did the hardest thing you ever had to do in your life.

You walked away.

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

moment in the rain • kim taehyung

plot – you dance in the rain with your boyfriend, taehyung.

words – 862

The two of you stood in silence, the rain pouring down on the roof of the bus stop. It was the only place you could reach before the rain started.

"This is all your fault." You said, glaring at your absolute idiot of a boyfriend.

Taehyung raised his eyebrows, clearly amused. "Really? How do?"

You glared harder, "'It's not going to rain, babe, stop being such a drama queen'." You mocked his words from earlier pointedly. "Hah! I told you it was going to rain but you wouldn't listen."

"I didn't think it would rain so soon." Taehyung defended with a pout.

You scoffed, "Which is why I told you to take an umbrella."

"Well if you were so sure that it would rain, why didn't you take one?" He retorted and you opened your mouth to argue, only to realise that he was right and you promptly shut it again.

Still, you didn't want to go out because the dark clouds told you that it would rain but Taehyung wanted icecream and you didn't have any at home, so he wanted to walk to the nearest store and buy some. It wasn't far, only ten minutes from your apartment, and you caved because you can't deny him anything.

You looked at the plastic bag Taehyung had dropped when you reached cover. Well, at least the icecream is not in danger of melting soon.

It was silent between you two, the rain begin the only thing you could hear.

"I'm sorry." Taehyung said after a minute, shuffling closer to you.

"No, don't be, you didn't do anything wrong." You sighed, moving so you could wrap your arms around his waist and rest your head on his chest. "I don't even know why I got mad, it's stupid. I love the rain."

"It's okay, we get mad at stupid things sometimes." Taehyung assured you, rubbing his hand up and down your back soothingly, then other wrapped around your shoulders. It was silent for a few seconds before he asked, "Hey, do you want to dance in the dance?"

"You're kidding, right?" You snorted, lifting your head and looking up at him. Only to realise that he was serious, the excited glint in his eyes, the mischievous quirk of his lips.

"Why not? You love the rain, right?" He said, brightening even more as he thought about it.

"I love looking at it." You deadpanned.

Then, before you could stop him, he let go of you and stepped out into the rain. He was drenched in seconds. You looked at him in shock, mouth hanging open unattractively.

Taehyung looked at you, eyes sparkling, holding out a hand. "Will you dance with me?"

You came out of your stunned stupor, scoffing and shaking your head at him. "No way. You're nuts."

"Come on, please?" He looked at you pleadingly and you could feel yourself melting.

You looked at him, all soaked but looking ridiculously happy and hopeful. You knew you would agree before the words passed your lips, you said, "Fine but if we get sick, I'm blaming it on you."

"Okay." Taehyung nodded in agreement, smiling brightly at you. Your lips twitched and you were completely unable to stop the smile you gave him in return. You reached out and took his outstretched hand, your heart beating just a bit faster than normal.

Taehyung pulled you closer and you inhaled sharply as the rain hit you. The two of you wrapped your arms around each other, and danced in the rain.

"This is a little bit crazy." You said with a giggle.

"Yeah, well, all the best people are a little crazy. It's part of the magic in our souls." Taehyung said and you looked at him, heart so impossibly full.

You felt, despite the cold, warm all over as you danced. Taehyung twirled you and you giggled, unable to stop smiling at him. Finally, you noticed him staring at you.

"What?" You asked, raising your voice a little so he'd hear you over the rain.

"Nothing," He answered in the same tone, shaking his head a little. "I just love you, that's all."

Your cheeks ached from how wide you were smiling. You rose up on your tiptoes and wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing him deeply, right there in the rain.

You pulled away, breathless and inhaling more rainwater than actual air but you didn't care because you love him too. You grinned at him, "Yeah, I love you too."

"Even when I'm an idiot?" He asked, teasing.

You rolled your eyes good-naturedly, "Always. You're my idiot, remember?"

You realised, in that moment, that you'll always love him. Even if your relationship doesn't end up working out in the long run - you hope with all your might that it would, though - you would love him because he's the one for you. The love of your life, your life partner, the one - whatever you want to call it, he's it.

And nothing could ever make you regret your relationship, or this moment in the rain.

(Not even when both you and Taehyung started sneezing, noses running, the next morning.)

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

tall, blonde and gorgeous • jeon jeongguk

plot — when jeongguk dyes his hair blonde, it might just be the push you both need to finally talk about the feelings you have for each other.

words — 5.7K

You woke up in the middle of the night, craving some apple juice. You knew there was in the kitchen fridge, because Taehyung always made sure to stock up whenever you come for a weekend visit.

Speaking of your brother, he was passed out next to you, the two of you sharing his King sized bed while you visited. Like you always did. It was mostly just you two, but sometimes Jimin would join you. You don't mind, you known both of them since forever and Jimin is your brother as much as Taehyung is.

Quietly, you got out of bed. You didn't want to wake your brother, he works so hard and needs his rest.

The dorm was silent, which was a little weird because there was usually always someone up. It was only when on tour that all seven of the boys would sometimes be asleep at once, but even that was rare.

Shrugging it off, you padded the rest of the way to the kitchen, only to come to a halt in the doorway, freezing.

Someone with a mop of blond hair stood with his back to you, digging through the fridge.

The digging through the fridge wasn't what surprised you, no, it was the hair because as far as you knew, no one in Bangtan had blonde hair right now.

You knew because your brother was always spamming your phone, whenever he had time, with pictures, videos, voice notes and messages. You and Taehyung have always been close and he always made the effort to keep you up-to-date with his life but also made a point to keep you out of the spotlight, which you appreciate more than you tell him. Come to think of it, more than half your gallery is made up of pictures of Bangtan. The other half is made up of your rare selfies, pictures with your friends, of your dog or your brother's dog.

The point is, if someone colored their hair, you would know within five minutes - with pictures and everything. And Taehyung hasn't spammed your phone since yesterday morning when he and Jimin accidentally got Hobi instead of Jeongguk with a water balloon.

So, the question is, who is the blonde currently rummaging through the fridge?

You looked him up and down, noticing the very nice, very broad and clearly strong shoulders covered with a black t-shirt that hid the rest of the guy's figure. Your gaze went down a nice ass and long legs that was wearing grey sweatpants and finally stopping at bare feet.

Something flashed in your mind.

Wait a minute.

You know that ass. You've looked at it enough over the last seven years to recognize it anywhere in a crowd.

"Jeongguk?" You called, a little satisfied when he jumped upright, turning to you with wide eyes. Your heart decided to double its pace.

"Ah, tiny, you're awake. I thought you were sleeping, trying to grow some more." He teased, his heartbeat slowly calming down from the freight you gave him. His eyes quickly scanned you over, and he had to suppress a smile when he saw the bright orange pajamas. It was ugly as hell - he made sure to tell you many times but you always just roll your eyes at him or if you were feeling particularly moody, you'd flip him a finger.

Now, ordinarily, you'd snap at him for calling you tiny because you aren't (it doesn't matter that Jimin is 12 centimeters taller than you, it doesn't make you tiny, short maybe, but not tiny) but right now, you could only focus on one thing.

"Y-your hair." You stuttered, which was new because you never stutter in Jeongguk's presence. Your heart may race, your legs may turn into jelly, your hands may tremble and your stomach may fill with butterflies but you never stutter. And you never let him know what you're feeling.

He ran a hand through his freshly dyed blonde hair, only a little self-conscious with the intense stare you were giving him. He couldn't tell if it was positive or negative. "Yeah, I just wanted a change, something different."

"Well, it's definitely different. Mission accomplished." You informed him, walking into the kitchen fully, your voice miraculously even as you were internally panicking. This was like that time he dyed his hair pink all over again. Oh god. You hoped you could form coherent sentences this time around instead of just giving him the silent treatment for two weeks.

Like you said, you don't stutter around Jeongguk. Ever.

Jeongguk tilted his head at you curiously. "Bad different?"

"No!" You exclaimed, not wanting him to think that. You shook your head vigorously. "Not all. It looks good actually. Really good." So good, in fact, that your fingers itched to touch, to run your hands through it, play with the dyed locks of hair.

Jeongguk looked at you in pleasant surprise, lips stretching into that familiar bunny smile that made you swoon. He bit his bottom lip before saying. "I think that's the first time you ever paid me a compliment."

You frowned, "That can't be true."

"It is." Jeongguk's tone was matter-of-fact. "In seven years, you've never once given me a compliment. I would have remembered."

You pursed your lips, a sudden surge of guilt rushing through your chest at the look on his face - hurt.

"Well, you get lots of compliments from other people, right?" You said, trying to deflect because you never once thought that by staying quiet around Jeongguk, just to hide your feelings, that you'd hurt him.

"But never from you." Jeongguk said, words low and heavy with something you didn't understand. He stared at you, eyes open and strangely vulnerable. You didn't understand what he was trying to tell you.

You frowned at him again, "What does it matter?"

Something in Jeongguk's eyes shuttered at that, like he let you see something but now he pulled his walls back up. You still didn't understand it and he wasn't volunteering an answer.

Finally, he shrugged, "It doesn't, I guess." and he turned back to the refrigerator.

You had a feeling he was lying but you weren't going to call him out because that wasn't your place and it wasn't the kind of thing you and Jeongguk did. Whenever things seemed to go in a direction where feelings were involved - and not about other people but about each other, like what you think of Jeongguk and what he thinks of you - one of you stops the conversation before it can go deeper.

You tease each other good-naturedly, comfortable with each other because you are the same age, and you've listened to him rant when he was frustrated and even held his hand at times when he cried because the pressure of it all got a little to much.

It struck you, suddenly, how Jeongguk always comes to you first. Whether he's stupidly happy about something, or whether he's sad and wants a shoulder to cry on. You two could talk about anything under the sun or moon but whenever it comes to your feelings for each other, you shut down. You've never even admitted that you are, at the very least, friends and that you do care about each other.

You wondered if maybe it was time to change that.

You looked at Jeongguk's back and wanted to ask if thinks of you as a friend, if nothing else but what came out was, "Can you hand me a juice box please?"

He did so, without a word, and you decided to go back to bed. You stopped in the doorway again, turning back to him. "Jeongguk?"

"Yeah?" His tone, his eyes, was strangely hopeful and it made your heart twist. You looked at him, and somehow fell a little bit more in love with him.

"You know that I care about you, right? I mean, I know we've never talked about it, but I do." Your hands was shaking and you gripped the juice box. Luckily you didn't press the straw in yet or your hands would be full of apple juice right now.

The smile Jeongguk gave you was brilliant and it made your heart feel lighter than ever. He nodded his head, "I know."

"Good."

"I-" He started, breath catching a bit but forced himself to go on because if you could be brave, then so could he. "I care about you, too."

You grinned at him before turning away and going back to Taehyung's room, a definite skip in your step.

* * *

"So, what do you think?" Taehyung asked eagerly the next morning after breakfast, when everyone cooed and screeched over Jeongguk's hair.

You were back in your brother's room, scrolling through your Twitter feed. You looked at him, not sure what he was talking about. When it comes to Taehyung it can anything from the lines for a song he's working on to his next prank on one of the members.

"Of what?" You asked.

"About Jeonggukie." He said, waving with a hand at his head, so that the meaning was clear.

"Ah, you mean his transformation from tall, dark and handsome to tall, blonde and gorgeous?"

"Yes! What do you think?" Your brother looked at you expectantly.

"I think my previous question is an answer to that question." You smirked at him, snickering when he just scoffed before pouting at you.

"I hate it when you go all smartass on me." He said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I love you, too." You sing-songed with a lighthearted giggled.

* * *

Later that afternoon, you decided to watch a movie and was joined by Jeongguk, Taehyung, Hoseok and Jimin.

"Jeongguk-ah." You called from where you were sitting on the two seater couch next to Hoseok. Jimin and Taehyung was laying cuddled on the three seater and Jeongguk was sitting on the floor, against the front of the coffee table. You weren't sure where the rest are right now.

He turned to you, eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What do you want?"

You gaped at him, "What makes you think I want something?"

"Because you only call me 'Jeongguk-ah' when you want something." He was matter-of-fact.

The other three was watching the two of you instead of the movie.

"Like what? I rarely ask you anything." You frowned at him.

"Like getting your phone from Taehyung-hyung's room, making you tea, bringing you a blanket, getting your food." Jeongguk said and you huffed. Okay, so maybe you do that but this time what you want would benefit him too.

"Okay, first of all, you didn't have to do any of what I asked, you know. And second, you'll like this too." You assured him, then added after a moment. "I think."

Jeongguk looked at you warily as Jimin and Taehyung exchanged smirks. "What do you want?"

"I want to play with your hair." You shrugged nonchalantly, not showing a hint of how nervous you are, no showing how it took you the whole morning to pluck enough courage together to ask.

Jeongguk's mouth fell open in surprise, "Seriously?"

"Yeah, I mean I've always liked your hair but this blonde hair is really doing for you." You smiled at him, a little more confident when you saw more confusion than anything else on his face. Satisfaction rolled through you when you noticed his red ears.

"Whatever, fine." He muttered in agreement, looking away from you as he stood up right and came to sit down infront of you.

"Thank you." You grinned, clapping your hands in glee as you crossed your legs on the couch, knees touching Jeongguk's shoulders.

"Just don't tangle it." Jeongguk said, eyes fixed on the TV screen.

"I won't." You promised before reaching out and running your hands through his hair. It was just as soft as you hoped, instead of being dry and rough from the dye - it made you feel giddy.

Jeongguk tensed under the touch for a second but relaxed when you continued your gentle ministrations, nails scraping softly against his scalp. You tuned out the rest of the room, having watched the movie before - you've watched all the Marvel movies with Jeongguk at least three times - and continued playing with the blonde tresses.

Still, something caught your attention and you said, "Jimin-oppa, put away that phone."

"I don't know what you're talking about." He said innocently, hiding his phone behind his back.

"Sure you don't."

It was silent for fifteen seconds before he whined, "But no one will believe me if I don't have proof."

"They'll believe Hobi-oppa." You retorted, nodding to the ray of sunshine sitting besides you.

Jimin huffed indignantly but dutifully put his phone away.

You continued playing with Jeongguk's hair, twirled and braided and separated and bunched it together like a pineapple stem atop his hair. The movie finished and Taehyung picked another one and you still played with Jeongguk's hair.

Twenty minutes into the new movie, Jeongguk's head fell back, onto your legs, eyes closed. You gaped at the blonde.

"Jeongguk." You whispered, not wanting to wake him if he is sleeping but not sure if he's playing either.

"Did he fall asleep?" Your brother asked, laughter in his voice, making his eyes sparkle.

"I think so." You nodded, in a state of bewilderment and disbelief.

"You must have magic hands." Hoseok said before pressing a hand over his mouth to muffle the sounds of his laughter.

Your glared at them. "Not one more word out of the three of you, or I'll change the sugar in your coffee for salt for the indefinite future."

"I didn't say anything." Jimin protested and you just gave him a pointed look.

They thankfully kept quiet after that, but you could see them glancing at you and Jeongguk every now and again. You ignored their gazes as you continued playing with his hair.

Your heart was thumping happily in your chest, glad that Jeongguk enjoy you playing with his hair so much that it lulled him to sleep. It made you feel so content that you didn't want to move again.

You even turned a blind eye when you saw Jimin turning his phone in your direction ten minutes later.

At the end of the movie, you decided to wake Jeongguk up. As much as you like him sleeping on your legs, they were starting to fall asleep and he would get a stiff neck if he keeps sleeping like that.

So, you shooed everyone out of the room before gently shaking his shoulder. "Jeongguk-ah, wake up."

He groaned and you repeated your actions, watching as his eyes fluttered open. You looked into his sleepy eyes, wanting to coo as you watched him blink his way out of sleep. He quickly recognised you, even upside down, and immediately sat upright, looking at you with wide eyes.

"Y/N?" His voice was husky with sleep and it made your cheeks heat up. "What happened?"

"You feel asleep." You explained. You watched as he nodded slowly, processing this and felt the urge to tease him a little, so you added, "On my lap."

Jeongguk's cheeks flushed pink and you couldn't help the fond smile on your lips. He ducked his head shyly and spoke a soft, "Sorry."

"It's okay." You waved him off. You wanted to even the field between you because it felt unbalanced somehow, like you had something over Jeongguk. You didn't like it, you wanted to be right besides him. Not above or below him. (Although many people would say he's way above you, you know that he doesn't care about that and neither do you.) Finally you admitted, "I liked it, it was nice that you felt relaxed enough because of me to fall asleep."

"I liked it, too."

You smiled, a little shy but also feeling bold by his admission. "I'll do it again sometime then."

"Okay." He grinned.

* * *

After that weekend, it took three weeks before you had another free weekend to go and visit your brother. With your bag slung over your shoulder and a bouquet of red tulips in your hand, you opened the door and called a loud hello to anyone inside. You made you way to the kitchen first, wanting to put the flowers in some water.

You found Jeongguk - who was still blonde, and your heart instantly picked up its pace - and Namjoon in the kitchen, the leader busy by the microwave and Jeongguk waiting as far as humanly possible from it. You quickly realised what was happening and supressed a smile. Namjoon must be heating food up for Jeongguk, who is afraid of microwaves.

You exchanged greetings and you quickly started looking through the cupboards for a vase.

"Those are pretty flowers." Namjoon remarked, leaning against the counter.

"I know right."

"Where did you get them?" Jeongguk asked, eyes on the admittedly pretty flowers.

"Oh, some guy gave them to me before asking me out." You answered absentmindedly as you continued your search for a vase.

Behind you, Jeongguk tensed, his hands curling into fists.

"Really?" Namjoon asked, more to see Jeongguk's reaction than anything else.

"Yeah, I almost said yes, too, just for the fact that he gave me flowers." You nodded over your shoulder. "Do you guys have a vase? I swear Jin-oppa had one in the old dorm."

"Under the sink." Namjoon answered, arms crossed over his chest as he looked back and forth between an oblivious-you and a jealous-Jeongguk, a smile on the corners of his lips.

"Thanks." You grinned before walking over to the sink and crouching down. You opened the cupboard and had to dig past the sponges, cloths, windowlene, bleach and dishwashing liquid before spotting the crystal vase. "I love flowers, you know? Not many people know because it's not something I advertise but Taehyung-oppa always gives me flowers for my birthday, every year since I was thirteen." You babbled as you gently pulled out the vase, not wanting to knock it against one of the pipes and crack or shatter it by accident. It was a little dusty, so you rinsed it before filling it halfway with water.

"Do you have a favorite flower?" Namjoon asked, partly to fill the silence because Jeongguk was glaring at the ceiling, tongue in cheek, and partly because he genuinely wants to know.

"Nope," You shook your head, removing the protective plastic around the flowers and putting them in the water. "I like all kinds of flowers. Roses, lillies, forget-me-nots, proteas, tulips, sunflowers - you name it, I love it. And in all colours too. There's just too many to pick a favorite. Although I really like pink lotus flowers. I'd love to grow them when I have my own garden someday. I'll have to install a shallow pond, of course, because they grow in mud but yeah, that's something I'd really like to try." You rambled on. Namjoon watched you fondly and glanced at the maknae, seeing that Jeongguk was still tense.

"Did you say yes?" Jeongguk burst out asking the moment you stopped talking.

"Huh?" You frowned at him, a little lost because you were completely caught up in thoughts of flowers.

"The date." He said, voice taking a sharp edge. "Did you say yes?"

"Oh." Realisation dawned on you and you shook your head. "No, I didn't."

"Then why did you take his flowers? You'll give him the wrong idea." Jeongguk grumbled.

Namjoon thought that right now was the best time to become a missing person and quickly exited the kitchen. He is not playing referee, should this turn into an arguement. No, thank you, he's done it enough between these two.

You rolled your eyes at Jeongguk, "I made myself perfectly clear, Jeongguk. I told him that while I adore the flowers, I don't like him."

"Still, you shouldn't have taken them." Jeongguk insisted, stepping closer to you.

Your temper flared, "Excuse me? Why not?"

"What if someone had seen? What if they start thinking that you two are dating?" Jeongguk's tone was something crossed between horror and panic.

"And so what if they think that?" You frowned at Jeongguk because what does it matter what other people think when you know the truth?

"So you do want people to think you're dating." Jeongguk said, voice cutting and accusing.

"What?" You stepped closer to Jeongguk, getting angrier by the second.

"Do you actually like this guy?" Jeongguk asked, sounding distressed with the thought but you were to angry to pay any attention to that.

You scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm ridiculous?" He pointed to himself, shocked.

"Yes! They're just fucking flowers!" Your voice was raised as you snapped at him, louder and harsher than it's been in a long time towards Jeongguk, of all people.

You didn't have time to feel guilty because his next words matched yours in volume, "That some other guy bought for you!"

"And your point is what exactly?!" Your voice didn't lower.

"My point is that I can buy you flowers!" Jeongguk shouted back.

The words take a second to sink in, and when it does, it catches you completely off guard and you deflate like a popped balloon, you anger evaporating like mist under the sun. You squint up at the blonde, who you finally noticed was a lot closer than when you started this arguement. "What?"

His voice was soft this time around, all the fight having left him, too. "If you want flowers, just ask me. I'll buy you any flowers you want. Just-" He cut himself off with a sigh, closing his eyes. "Don't take someone else's flowers again. Please."

You looked at him, opening your mouth to snap at him but saw the sincere, the utterly vulnerable look in his eyes, and the breath was knocked from your lungs. You looked away, taking a few steps back as your heart twisted and you inhaled deeply to fill your lungs again. You noticed that Namjoon had left the kitchen. You didn't blame him.

A lengthy silence later, you finally looked at Jeongguk again, your hands trembling. "Is it really that important to you?"

"Yes." Jeongguk answered softly but firmly, no question in his voice, even as he looked down at the tiled floor.

"Okay." You nodded.

His eyes snapped to yours, and he echoed, "Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." You gave him a slow smile, then, just to break the heavy tension around you two, you said, "Just know that there is no backing out now and flowers are expensive. You aren't allowed to complain that I'm denting your bank account later."

"Deal." Jeongguk laughed, warmth spreading through his chest as the last of his jealousy faded.

* * *

"You know that one day you are going to have to talk about the feelings between you and Jeongguk, right?" Taehyung asked his sister later that night when they were laying in bed. He heard the story from Jimin, who heard it from Seokjin and Yoongi, who heard it from Hoseok, who heard it from Namjoon.

"What feelings?" You asked innocently.

Taehyung sighed in frustration but wasn't very surprised. The one thing that Taehyung has never been able to get out of his sister is the truth about her feelings for Jeongguk. But even without her saying anything, he knew. The eyes don't lie. "Denying it won't make it go away, Y/N."

You sighed, too, "Yeah, I know."

Taehyung didn't say anything for a few moments. This was the closest his sister ever gotten to admitting her feelings out loud, in seven years. "I'm here for you. Always."

"Thanks." You smiled, as if you didn't know that already.

* * *

Before you went home that Sunday, your brother told you that they were going on vacation as a group and you're invited because according to Taehyung, right after Jimin, you are the one person he can't live without. You rolled your eyes at the dramatics but agree to go with them none the less.

So, you put in a week's leave for two weeks from now and asked your brother where you would be going for this vacation. The answer was a secluded beach house where no one would be able to reach you.

And no phones was allowed.

You laughed a bit at that rule when you arrived at the house and saw that there is WiFi. Your brother was quick to remind everyone of the rule, telling them that the WiFi was only allowed to be used for YouTube and Netflix. Games was added to the list after an objection from Jeongguk and Seokjin.

"This is gonna go great." You laughed as walked up the stairs to pick a room. You get first choice after winning the rock, paper, scissors game in the car.

"Pick us a nice room, sis!" Taehyung shouted up after you.

There was only four rooms because the whole point of this vacation is to spend time together, which means that everyone was doubling up. They decided to pair up by age and it turned out - Seokjin and Yoongi, Hoseok and Namjoon, Jimin and Jeonguk, and naturally, you and Taehyung were paired up. (You tried not to think about the fact that if you kept to the age pairing that you and Jeongguk would've been sharing a room.) That lead to a lot of pouting from Jimin because he wanted to pair up with his soulmate.

"If your so eager to share a bed with him, why don't you marry him?" You remember teasing Jimin.

"Maybe I will." He shot back without thinking and you weren't sure who was redder once his words set in - Jimin or Taehyung.

You picked a room with a small balcony and a nice view of the ocean. The day passed peacefully, everyone full of energy but after dinner on the beach, everyone quickly retired to bed, the sea air getting to them.

You decided to watch the ocean a little while longer and Jeongguk joined you. Neither of you spoke as you sat on the sand, watching as the waves crashed on the shore, water retreating back into the vast expanse of ocean. It was captivating, in a kind of terrifying way but if there is one thing in your life you've never been scared of, it's water.

"Life is a lot like the ocean." You eventually said, breaking the silence between you.

"How so?"

"You can read about it in so many books, but you still won't know everything about it."

"That's deep." Jeongguk said, voice soft.

You shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "Yeah, well, I've never been a shallow person."

"I know." You saw him nodding out of the corner of your eyes. "You're a beautiful person. Inside and out." He said it so matter-of-factly, so sincerely, that your stomach flipped and your cheeks flushed.

"Thanks." You smiled over at him.

It was silent again, but just like the first silence, you didn't mind it. You like the comfortable quiet between you two. Finally, you sighed and pushed to your feet, "Come on, let's go inside."

"Okay." Jeongguk got to his feet and you walked the path home.

You walked on the side of the pool where you all swam earlier that day, and didn't notice the small puddle of water that hasn't dried yet and you slipped. You reached for Jeongguk but his hands missed yours by millimeters, so you just took a breath and resigned yourself to falling into the water. You didn't mind it all that much, nothing some towels couldn't fix.

When you surfaced, you saw a laughing Jeongguk on the side. An idea formed in your mind but you made sure to keep your expression neutral as you reached a hand out to him. "Give a girl a hand, please."

Jeongguk - nice, kind, unsuspecting Jeongguk - reached a helping hand out to you immediately, only realising your true intentions when you gave a forceful yank and pulled him into the pool.

When he surfaced, glaring at you - but there was no heat behind it, so it didn't count - you couldn't help but laugh heartily. "I forget how similar you and Taehyung-hyung really are sometimes."

"Sucks for you." You smirked. The smirk turned into spluttering when Jeongguk splashed water into your face. You looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Oh, you're on."

You splashed at each other like proper five year olds, giggling and everything. Finally you called a ceasefire before you woke up everyone inside.

You looked at Jeongguk, blonde hair dripping wet, droplets of water rolling down his tan skin, that little mole under his bottom lip that you've wanted to kiss so many times you've lost count and suddenly, all of your resolve broke down like a house of cards and your common sense shortcircuited. You surged forward and kissed him firmly, clutching at his shoulders to pull him close.

His lips were a little cold from the water but was still petal soft and you wondered what it would be like to kiss him everyday.

Your common sense returned a second later and you pulled away, almost loosing your footing and slipping. Your whole body was on fire and you couldn't look Jeongguk in the eyes. "Fuck. Shit, Jeongguk, I'm so, so sorry."

You turned away from him, every intention of getting out of this pool and hiding away until you die.

Only you didn't get anywhere before a strong hand circled your wrist in the one second and in the next second you found yourself pushed up against the wall of the swimming pool, barricaded in by a hand on each side of you. You looked up at Jeongguk and your mouth went dry at the sight of those dark eyes that made you shiver. His voice was low when he spoke, "I didn't get to kiss back."

Your eyes widened and that was all you had time to do before he leaned down to capture your lips. Your head told you to pull away. That this is a very bad idea. Your heart told you to kiss him back and make the most of it. You've been listening to your head for seven years, so you decided to listen to your heart for once and kissed Jeongguk back with years of pent up longing and yearning.

The kiss turn turned really hot, really fast.

Jeongguk hoisted you up and you quickly got with the program and wrapped your legs around his waist. Everywhere his hands touched, it left a blazing trail behind, causing you to shiver and erupt into goosebumps. Distantly you wondered how it was possible to feel so heated in cold water.

You kissed and kissed until your lungs burned, your toes curling as you squeezed as close to Jeongguk as possible. Finally, you couldn't take it anymore and you pulled away, both of you heaving lungfuls of air.

"So now what?" You asked him, when you regained some common sense and breathing didn't leave you breathless anymore.

"Well, right now I'd like to kiss you some more, but later on, I'd really like to take you out." Jeongguk told you bluntly and if you were standing, your legs would have given out.

"What?"

And just like that, gone was confident Jeongguk and back was shy Jeongguk. He ducked his head, adverting his eyes from yours. "If you want."

"Yeah, I want too." You told him, watching as his eyes glittered with happiness. You could relate.

Jeongguk was onto something with the kissing some more right now, though, so you pushed that away and you dived back in. Right now you were more interested in mapping the inside of Jeongguk's mouth and finding out what his skin tastes like than anything else in this world.

* * *

The next morning your brother squinted at you suspiciously from across the breakfast table. You were seated in between Jeongguk and Hoseok, across from Taehyung and Jimin. Namjoon sat next to Hoseok. Yoongi and Jin was busy making breakfast in the kitchen. The six of you were waiting patiently.

Finally you couldn't take the staring anymore. "Is there something on my face, Taehyung-oppa?"

"Something happened." Taehyung said, pointing the pair of chopsticks he was fiddling with at you.

You rose a brow, not surprised at all that your brother picked up on it. That doesn't mean you are going to make it easy for him. You put on an innocent face, "Really?"

"Yeah, Taehyung-ah is right, you're like-" Jimin agreed, waving his hands around as he searched for the right word. "...glowing."

"I am not glowing." You said indignantly. Out of the corner of your eyes, you caught a smirk lifting on Jeongguk's lips. You turned and narrowed your eyes at him, "You, stop looking so smug."

"What does Jeonggukie have to do with-" Taehyung cut himself off and you could see how he put the dots together. The look on his face was hilarious as he turned to Jeongguk with a fierce gaze, "Jeon Jeongguk, what have you done to my baby sister?"

Jeongguk, despite being bigger and stronger, still looked a bit terrified of Taehyung as he squeaked, "Nothing, hyung."

"Nothing, hyung. Hah! Do you take me for an idiot? Something happened. I know it did. What is it?"

You giggled and leaned over to Jeongguk and whispered in his ear, "Don't tell him anything. Watching him squirm and drawing his own conclusions, slowly going insane with curiousity will be much funnier than telling him the truth."

Jeongguk brightened at your suggestion and immediately nodded in agreement.

"What are you two whispering about?" Taehyung demanded, voice higher than normal, despite having the deepest voice of the lot. "Hobi-hyung, tell me what they're saying."

"Sorry, Taehyung-ah, I can't hear." Hoseok said with laughter in his tone.

Yoongi and Jin came in with the food before Taehyung could interrogate you further. Taehyung looked before you and Jeongguk, "This isn't over."

You laughed, looking forward to teasing your brother a bit, when suddenly a hand slipped into yours. You looked at Jeongguk, who was steadfastly avoiding your eyes. You noticed his red ears and smiled softly, twisting your hand so you could lace your fingers through his. As the two of you held hands under the table while eating breakfast, you felt giddy and more excited about the future than you have in a long time.

There was still a lot you and Jeongguk had to talk about, but that was for later. You had enough time to figure it all out. Together.

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

her outlaw prince • min yoongi

genre — historical au.

plot — you're a princess, who falls for the outlaw brother of the emperor.

words — 5.8K

"I demand you let me go, I am a Princess! People will be looking for me!" You demanded, simultaneously struggling against the ropes that your hands were bound with and the hands that were holding you tightly but oddly enough not harshly or with intent to hurt. Your panicked mind didn't have time to process that or to make sense or it.

You looked around to take in everything around you, wanting to miss nothing that could help you escape later. You were in a small clearing in the forest, four medium sized tents set up all around you and you were being led to the one that stood on the far end.

"Oh, I'm sure they will." One of the two men - the taller one - holding you snickered as they took you inside the tent. You noticed it was empty.

"Why are you taking me? I have not done anything to offend you." You asked, feeling more than a little offended, not used to such treatment from anyone.

"No, but your fiance offended our leader." The other said, the shorter one - but still taller than you, and you barely resisted the urge to scoff, but you couldn't stop the look of distaste that spread on your face if you tried.

"You don't like him then?" The taller out of the two asked, a boxy grin spreading on his face.

"His Majesty and I will have a wonderful and loving marriage." You dutifully parroted what your mother told you since the moment she informed you about your upcoming marriage to the Dragon Emperor.

"You call your fiance His Majesty?" The one with the boxy grin whistled with raised eyebrows, looking thoroughly amused and you glared at him.

"I do not understand what that has to do with anything." You said, remembering all of your lessons in etiquette, turning your voice sickeningly sweet and overly polite.

"I just think it's interesting, that's all." Boxy Grin said to you, looking over to his friend, who smirked at him.

"What I find interesting," A new voice said, coming from behind you and you felt something inside of you turn into mush. The voice is deep and a little rough, and you had to tense your body in order to stop the shiver that wanted to run down your spine. "-is that you think a marriage to my brother will be loving."

You frowned at the word 'brother' but then the man stepped into your line of vision and you couldn't help the gasp that escaped your lips, eyes widening in shock because this man had the exact same face as your fiance. Sure, his hair was cut short and was ebony in colour while the Dragon Emperor's was long and blonde, but there was no mistaking the face. They even had the exact same scar!

You gaped at the man, looking very undignified, but your mind couldn't comprehend what you were seeing. The sounds you were making were unintelligible and if your mother saw you now, she'd strike your hands purple. Your blood was rushing through your veins, heart beat drumming in your head.

The world spun around you for a few seconds and then everything went black.

It was silent in the tent for a few moments as the three men stared at the unconscious woman until it was broken by an excited voice, "This means I won the bet, right?"

"Jimin." Yoongi sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

Jimin pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. "What? I was the one who said she is going to faint when she sees you."

"Taehyung, take your soulmate and get him out of here."

"Yes, hyung." Taehyung laughed, nodding his head as he slung an arm over Jimin's shoulders - who muttered something about rubbing it in Jeongguk's nose - and pulled him out of the tent with him as he left.

Yoongi looked back at the unconscious form on his floor and walked to her. He picked her up and laid her on his bed. He looked at her young face, feeling a little guilty for what he's doing to someone innocent. He placated himself by reasoning that he wasn't actually planning on killing her.

He just wants his brother to pay for what he's done.

***

You regained consciousness slowly, eyelids fluttering open as the memories of what caused you to faint in the first place comes rushing back to you. Your body tensed and you sat up on the mattress, looking around and freezing all over again as your eyes landed on the stranger with the familiar face.

"You're not going to pass out again, are you?" He asked warily and you felt a little off kilter. How is it that this man has the same face as the Dragon Emperor? You remembered that he called the Dragon Emperor his brother, which probably meant that they were twins, but it made no sense. There has never, in all of your life, been mentioned that the Emperor has a brother, nevermind a twin.

"I don't know." You admitted honestly, hands fisting in the blankets that were thrown over the straw mattress. It wasn't uncomfortable, by any means, you just weren't used to it. You felt more than a little unsure. Your mind was screaming at you that this man is your kidnapper, that he could hurt you or even kill you if he wanted too. You looked at him warily, "What do you want with me?"

He smiled at you, sharp and a little dangerous, and it made your heart pound. "If you haven't figured it out yet, I've kidnapped you to lure out my brother. I've sent news that I'm willing to give you back, but only if he's coming to meet me. When he does, I'll let you do. All you have to do, is sit and wait until then."

You looked at him, jutting your chin out in defiance, acting brave and hoping he doesn't see though it. "And if I don't?"

"I have no intention of killing you, but if you try to escape, I will make your life harder." He told you matter-of-factly, a warning in his tone that you paid no mind.

"How?" You challenged, feeling that familiar urge to lash out whenever someone tells you what to do. He pulls something from behind his back and your nearly fall of the bed with shock when you see the gun.

"I've always found a gunshot to be an effective way to keep someone from running away." He mused and you felt a shiver climb up your spine, but this one was different from the one when you first heard his voice. This was one of fear.

"You wouldn't." You said with a confidence you didn't feel.

He gave you a sharp smile again, no less dangerous than the first, "Not if you don't try and escape, no, I won't."

"But it will kill me." Your voice trembled and you hated it.

"I know where to shoot to kill, and where to shoot to hurt. A well placed shot in the thigh won't kill you, but it will hurt and even incapacitate you." He told you matter of factly.

"Are you going to kill him? The Emperor, I mean." You blurted, unbelievably curious. What is going on here? What does this man want with his brother?

His eyes hardened and you didn't like it. When he answered, it was with no hesitation. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he has to pay." He answered shortly, tone of voice making it clear that this was the end of the questions. You let it go, for now. "You can sleep in here, I'll share with one of the guys for the time being. "

"Thank you." You said sincerely, lowering your head ever so slightly in gratitude towards him because he could have made you share with him, or sleep on the floor or tied you up and made you sleep outside.

He nodded, catching his bottom lip between his teeth as he stared at you silently for a few moments. You looked away, cheeks and ears burning from the intensity, feeling nervous for some reason. His voice, low and deep, caught your attention as he spoke, just like when he entered earlier. "I'm Yoongi, by the way. Figure you'd need to know my name if we're going to spend the next few weeks around each other."

"Weeks?" You all but screeched, head snapping up to him again.

"We're about a week away from the Palace, so that's roughly how long it will take for the letter to reach my brother, add another week for his response, and you're looking at two weeks minimum. Don't worry, Jimin and Taehyung took a suitcase full of clothes for you."

"Why didn't you just leave the letter when you took me? Surely that would have saved time." You told him, a little sour, looking at him expectantly.

"Because we want them to panic a little." Yoongi said with a smirk.

You scoffed, then sighed in resignation. "Princess Y/N of the Eastern Lands."

"Nice to meet you, Princess." He said, the title sounding more mocking than anything else.

You have him an overly polite smile, "I'd say the same, but I was taught not to tell lies."

Yoongi laughed lightly, your stomach fluttering at the sound. "Aren't Princesses supposed to be well mannered?"

"I am well-mannered!" You exclaimed indignantly, rising to your feet.

"Could have fooled me." Yoongi let know over his shoulder as he left the tent.

You opened your mouth, wanting to shout something after him, but realised it would only prove his point. You sat back down on the straw mattress with a huff, your heartbeat out of control.

***

The first week passed by quickly, but you never left the tent unless it was for washing or relieving yourself. Washing was odd for you - they did it in the river and it made you feel completely exposed. When you complained about this to Yoongi, he just smirked and said, "Outlaws, remember?"

It turned out, Yoongi was quite the gentleman. He never once peaked while you where washing, never came into his own tent, except when he needed a change of clothes and even then, he asked you before he entered, he brought your food everyday, never demanding anything from you. He was soft spoken and gentle in a way that surprised you and while you only spent time together when he escorted you to and from the river, it caused your heart to beat erratically and your stomach to flutter each time. And despite everything, you trust him. You didn't know what to make of these feelings. Part of you liked it - Yoongi was such a kind man, nothing like his brother, but part of you also hated it because he's the man who kidnapped you, who took you from everything you've ever know.

That night, when Yoongi arrived with your dinner, he didn't leave immediately like he normally does, he stopped for a second, looking you in the eyes. He always does that. "We received a response today. My brother is willing to meet. I sent him a date and a time in return. If all goes well, we will meet fourteen days from today and you will be able to go home after that"

"I didn't think he'd agree at all." You told him honestly.

"Well, I maybe have sent the letters to your parents, instead of to him directly." Yoongi confessed, looking a bit sheepish.

You frowned deeply at him, "Why would you do that?"

"Because if it was sent to him directly, he would have ignored it. He wouldn't have even responded, writing your disappearance off as a tragic loss. But if the demands were sent to your parents, a King and a Queen, and was aired out in public court, then he would have no choice but to respond." Yoongi reasoned and you started to see what he meant. This forced Yoonji's hand, forced him to come out in the open and play the part of the devoted fiance.

"It will most likely be a trap for you." You informed him, not sure exactly why you were saying it.

"I know." He nodded.

You swallowed, chest feeling tight. "Doesn't that frighten you?"

"No." Yoongi said with so much confidence, and it made your stomach churn. You didn't like the fact that he didn't seem to value his own life. "Enjoy your meal." He made to leave.

"Yoongi-ssi." You called and stopped in his tracks, turning back to you.

"Yes, Princess?" He asked, the title sounding much softer than it did that first time. It was gentle in a way that made your heart flutter. And you definitely liked that.

"W-would it be alright if I joined you and the others? F-for dinner?" You asked, absolutely hating that you were stuttering, clutching your dinner bowl tightly and not daring to meet his eyes.

Yoongi smiled to himself, thinking that you are too cute. "Of course."

You beamed at him, following him outside, seeing that three other men was sitting around a campfire in the middle of the four tents. Yoongi stopped, clearing his throat and the three other's looked at you. "This is Taehyung, Jimin and Jeongguk. Taehyung never shuts up but he's smart, Jimin is the most devious of all of them but he has a big heart, and Jeonggukie is very shy but good at everything he tries." He pointed at each one as he spoke. Jeongguk flushed and ducked his head when you looked at him. You wanted to coo.

"Look who finally came out of hiding." The one with the boxy grin - Taehyung - was smiling at you unrepentantly.

"You could be excecuted for speaking to me like that, you know." You told him, but he just kept smiling, not looking bothered.

"Well, life's all about taking risks and living on the edge right?" He said, pure mirth in his eyes and you found yourself smiling at him.

You looked at the ground for a few seconds, noticing that it was where they were all sitting before shrugging it off and sitting down. You have never sat on the ground before and it was a little strange, but all together much more pleasant than you would have expected. Yoongi took a seat next to you, only two feet between you, and you ignored the way it made your cheeks burn.

"How old are you?" Jimin asked, looking at you with bright eyes.

"Last winter was my eighteenth." You answered him, starting to eating your food.

"Ah, so you're Jeonggukie's age." Taehyung nodded in realisation, and you looked at Jeongguk again, who was resolutely staring at the fire.

"I suppose." You answered politely and actually meaning it. Being a royal, there was a lot of faking involved, meeting tons of people you don't like or people you will never see again, it was hard to be sincere with all of them, especially when most of them tried to out do you.

"What's it like being a Princess?" Taehyung asked you curiously and there was something about him that just compelled you to tell the truth.

"Not half as glamorous as people make it out to be." You answered honestly and out of the corner of your eyes, you saw Yoongi glance at you. "There is a lot of pressure, but not as much as on my brother, who is the Crown Prince."

The rest of the night passed with pleasant conversation, even Jeongguk joined in, although he never spoke to you. He retired first for the night, followed by Taehyung and Jimin - who, you noticed, went into the same tent - until it was just you and Yoongi, sitting under the stars. The fire had burnt out long ago but you didn't want to go to sleep yet. After a week of just sitting in your tent, you wanted to be free a little longer.

"I hope I didn't scare him off." You said, nodding in the direction of Jeongguk's tent.

"No, you didn't." Yoongi assured you, laughing lowly. The sound made you feel warm inside. "He is really just shy, but I think he kind of likes the idea of having a friend his age, not that you would be actual friends, but I think it would be good for him to spend time with you. We're all older than him."

You huffed at him, "Taehyung and Jimin both called you hyung, which means they are younger than you and if you are the Emperor's twin, then you are the same age and he is only four winters older than me. It's not that much. You are making it seem like you are ancient."

"Still." He insisted and seeing that you weren't getting anywhere, you decided to change the topic.

"I thought you were going to room with one of them." You said, eyes on the tent that Jimin and Taehyung entered together, your mind curious.

"Yes, but Taehyung was kind enough to offer his tent for me."

"Oh." You said, biting your lip, wondering if you should ask. Eventually curiousity got the best of you. "Is he and Jimin-"

"No, they are the very best of friends, they call each other platonic soulmates." Yoongi cut you off with a light laugh. "But many people don't think so. Not that they ever let it bother them."

You nodded, silence settling between you two for a long while. You were the one to break it, "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah." He looked at you and your nerves spiked.

"Why do you hate your brother so much?" The burning question burst out of you. "I know why I dislike him, he's controlling and dominating and puts on a front that he thinks I can't see past, but that doesn't seem like enough reason for you to hate him and want to kill him." Yoongi didn't answer, but his hands clenched into fists and his face turned cold. It made something inside of you feel awful. "Sorry if I overstepped, you don't have to answer that."

Finally, after a long silence - one that made you think that Yoongi was mad at you and was ignoring you - he spoke up. "Growing up, I was isolated and raised by one of my father's most trusted guard and his wife. My parents kept me a secret because they didn't want a future King who had someone with the exact same face as him. I grew up, knowing nothing about my twin brother, expect that he looks like me and would one day be King and that no one was allowed to see me. The guard and his wife, they had a son who was a little older than me, Seokjin. We grew up as best friends, brother's. He was more my brother than Yoonji was, but I always had this wish to see my twin brother with my own eyes.

"One day, when I went to the market with Seokjin, I finally saw him. He was dueling with someone in the street and it ended with him killing the man, who cut open his eye and gave him the scar. That night when I went home, I took a knife and cut myself the exact same scar. I knew I was destined to never meet him, but if nothing else, I wanted us to keep looking the same. Pathetic, right?" Yoongi gave a bitter chuckle but you were to intrigued by the story to notice.

"What I didn't know, was that Yoonji saw me at the market and it made him furious. Enough so that a few days later when I went to the water well to collect water, he slaughter the guard and his wife who raised me, my brother Seokjin - the only family I've ever had, and our two best friends from next door who had come over, Namjoon and Hoseok. Being the sole survivor, everyone thought it was me, and I've been on the run ever since.

"I was stealing food to survive until I met Jimin and Taehyung pickpocketing nobles in markets, and they taught me. Later on, we found Jeonggukie, who was severely beaten by his father and left in a ditch, so we patched him up asked him if he wanted to come with us and the rest is history." Yoongi shrugged carelessly but from the way his eyes burned, you could tell that he was anything but carefree and calm. He looked at you, words cold and harsh. "Now tell me, is that enough of a reason for me to hate him?"

Your heart pounded, a bit terrified because the man who you are supposed to be marrying, was a man who did all of those horrible, horrible things. You've never liked Yoonji, partly because you were all but forced to marry him, partly because he always talks to you like you are a object or a possession instead of his future wife, but you didn't think he was that cruel and vicious. And yes, you didn't have any reason to believe Yoongi but he has even less of a reason to lie to you. You looked him in the eyes, "I had no idea, I'm sorry."

"Why would you know?" Yoongi raised a brow. You adverted your eyes, not knowing what to say, looking that the cooling embers of the burnt out fire instead.

"So, why are you marrying him? You just said you don't like him." Yoongi spoke again and you wanted to lie, but he'd know immediately. Yoongi had this way of knowing when you are lying and when he looks into your eyes, it feels like he's looking into your soul. It is equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

"Because I have a responsibility to marry someone of equal standing and someone who could politically and financially benefit my Kingdom." You answered monotonously, repeating what your parents had drilled into your head all your life.

For the first time in his life, Yoongi felt envious of his brother. A girl like this - a princess - would never give him - a outlaw - a second glance. She was destined to marry someone well off, not someone who's always on the run and nothing to his name - no matter how much he wants her too. "Well, if all goes according to plan, then you won't have too."

The blunt words startled you a bit, but you find that you aren't particularly sad about Yoonji's imminent death. Did that make you a bad person? It's not like you are in love with him or even attracted to him, no matter how much your parents have tried to make you fall for the Emperor. You nodded, "No, I guess not."

Yoongi looked at you curiously, "What will you do then?"

"I guess my parents will find another suitable marriage partner for me." You shrugged, feeling dread climb into your heart at the mere thought. "What about you?"

"I don't know." Yoongi said with a slight shrug. "I guess I'll find out." He looks at you, that same intense gaze he's been giving you since the day you met and like always, it makes you nervous.

Suddenly, you remembered how your handmaid would tell you about how she fell in love with her husband, how her heart races when he's nesr, her stomach that flutters and how she get so nervous around him when he looks at her a certain way.

Your eyes widened as your heart skipped a beat. No way. It's not possible.

You could not possibly be falling in love with Yoongi.

***

In the following days, the realisation slowly settled in your heart. You were falling in love with Yoongi, and you were terrified. You didn't know what to do and in the end, you did nothing. You spent time with him whenever you could, promising yourself that you would always treasure these memories.

You got to know Jimin and Taehyung better, even started talking with Jeongguk, who was actually really funny and just as mischievous as the other two once he got past his shyness. Despite the fact that you were technically kidnapped and being used to lure out your 'fiance', it never felt like you were a hostage. Instead, it felt like you were where you are supposed to be, like all your life you were meant to end up here.

The days passed to quickly for you, and when the time came for you to go back home, you almost didn't want too.

Taehyung gave you a long hug, Jimin cried and Jeongguk also gave you a long hug and when you pulled apart, his eyes were shining, but yours were too, so you didn't say anything. Finally, you stepped to Yoongi, who was standing next to a horse. A horse that you were supposed to ride back to the castle. He gave you directions in a stoic like manner, barely meeting your eyes.

"So, this is it, huh?" You asked as you took the reins of a horse from Yoongi.

He bit on his bottom lip and you used all of your will power not to look. He nodded, "Yeah."

"Can-" You cut youself off, but when a longing pang shot through your heart, you decided to go for it, because this is probably the last time you'll ever see him. "Can I give you a hug?"

Yoongi still didn't meet your eyes, but he gave a nod and you stepped forward, right into his personal space and wrapped your arms around his waist, head resting on his collarbone. He wrapped his arms around your shoulder, hugging you tightly but gentle. Tears finally fell past the rims of your eyes and you fisted his tunic in your hands to stop them from trembling.

You pulled apart after a long time and you both pretended you couldn't see the tear tracks on the others cheeks. You smiled at him, but it was shaky at best. "Have you decided what you'll do yet? After, I mean."

"We'll be leaving the country. I have a boat, anchored at the docks, and we'll see where the wind takes us." Yoongi answered and your heart ached violently because Yoongi would be going out to sea and would probably never return.

But there was something else, something more pressing, worrying you, because the docks were really close to the palace. "Won't that be dangerous? I mean, not a lot of people have seen the Emperor, so you should be relatively safe from people at the docks recognising you, but royal guards will be everywhere to look for you. And they know what the Emperor looks like and they'll definitely find a man with his face suspicious."

"Don't worry. We will lay low for a week, then we will leave from the docks. The boat will depart at noon, when the sun is highest in the sky an people will be to lazy to do much in this heat." Yoongi informed you and you relaxed ever so slightly, glad that Yoongi seems to have planned for every scenario.

"Just be careful." You said and he nodded, corners of his mouth quirking up for a second before it fell again. It was silent for a while, before he blurted out something that made your heart stop.

"You could come with us." Come with me, is what Yoongi didn't say, silently offering his heart.

"What?" You whispered, shocked but also so very tempted by the offer. You really, really wanted to say yes, to take ahold of his hand and never let go. "Yoongi," Your voice cracked, eyes tearing up again, heart hammering in your chest. "I-i can't."

Yoongi swallowed, nodding in resignation, having expected this answer. "Still, the offer is there."

"Thank you." You said, eyes blurring and you blinked furiously, not wanting to cry again.

"Always." He smiled at you, sincere and heartbroken at the same time.

You got on the horse, glancing at Yoongi and the others one last time - Taehyung, Jimin and ever Jeongguk waving at you, you waved back - before taking off in the direction Yoongi told you too, feeling like you were leaving everything behind.

By the time you reached the palace gates five days later, news of the Emperor's demise had spread everywhere.

***

You were back at the place, people giving you sympathetic glances and you used it to your advantage, that everyone was thinking your were grieving. They were right, you are grieving - for what could have been, for leaving behind your first love, for not choosing Yoongi - they just had the wrong brother. It's been five days, but it's felt five years, everyday without Yoongi. Everything inside of you screaming that there was still time, he was only leaving in two days.

You ignored it.

***

"We can always find you another man to marry." Your mother was saying, the two mornings later, already over the death of the Emperor, it would seem. She just wanted you to get married and have children, no thought of your feelings spared.

"Yes, you are still young, my dear. Once we're back home, we'll start looking again." Your father said with a stern face, but you didn't want this and it was all to much.

"Did you and mom marry for love, or for convenience?" You asked bluntly for the first time in your eighteen winters.

Your mother looked a little uncomfortable, but your father just smiled, but there was something knowing in his eyes. "For love, my dear."

"So, then you believe that people can marry for love?" You asked, looking at your father.

"Of course we do, but not everyone is that lucky." Your mother quickly answered.

You looked at the sun, realising that Yoongi will be leaving in an hour. Your heart ached fiercely at the thought. Your whole being recoiled at the thought of marrying another man, because you don't want another man, you want Yoongi. You don't care if he's an outlaw, you don't care that you're a princess or that the whole world would be against you. As long as you have him, you are willing to go against anything.

Something inside of you broke.

"I can't do this, I'm sorry." You whispered, tears welling up in your eyes, falling down your cheeks freely. You stood from the breakfast table and turned around, starting to walk out of the room.

"Y/N!" Your mother's voice called. "What's going on?"

You stopped, turning back to them with a teary smile. "Mom, dad, I'm sorry. I love you both, so much, but if I don't follow my heart, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

You turned again, taking only three steps.

"Y/N!" Your father called, stern voice stopping you and you felt a sense of dread inside of you building up. You looked back once more, but was surprised to see a gentle smile on his face. "Send us a letter now and again, our hearts are old and your brother will worry."

"I will." You promised, knowing that was as much of a blessing you were going to get from your father, eyes blurring and you wondered how much you've cried the last week. More than you've ever cried in your whole life, that much is certain.

"And be happy." He added, and you nodded, a tear escaping it's confines.

"Y/N!" You mother's voice echoed around the room, but you ignored it as your heart leaped. Feeling lighter than you have ever before, you lifted your dressed and took off running.

***

"She's not coming." Yoongi sighed, disappointed even though he knew that this was the most likely outcome. He is the outlaw, she is the princess - they don't get to have a happy ending.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait a little longer, hyung?" Jimin asked softly. He, Taehyung and Jeongguk looked similarly dejected.

"It's already and hour past the time I told her we would be leaving. She's not coming." He swallowed thickly, looking where the palace lies not to far from the docks, where his heart lies. "We should go." He was walking up the gangway when he heard it.

"Yoongi!" He turned so fast he almost fell over, wanting, needing to see if his ears was deceiving him. His eyes searched frantically, then he saw you, running to him with the brightest smile he's ever seen. You were wearing a purple dress made off expensive material, hair and face done perfectly, looking ethereal and running straight to him.

Yoongi couldn't believe it, couldn't help the smile that spread on his lips either. He walked down the gangway, and got there just in time to pick you up, hugging you tightly to him.

"I was afraid you already left." You said, gasping for air, arms tangled around Yoongi.

"I was about too." He admitted, and felt a sense of dread because what if he had left an hour ago and missed her? Thank Goodness, Jeongguk asked him to wait a bit longer.

"I want to go with you, I want to be with you. I don't care that you're an outlaw and I'm a Princess. I just want you." You rambled, tightening your grip, afraid that if you let go, he'd vanish.

"Then let's go, Princess." Yoongi breathed, gentle setting you down and taking your hand in his, lacing your fingers and squeezing.

You walked up the gangway, hand-in-hand, side-by-side, and unbelievably happy. The other's cheered when they heard you were coming along, and didn't just come for another goodbye, Taehyung hugged you, Jimin squealed and Jeongguk picked you up too, spinning you around.

"You know what I just realised?" Taehyung asked everyone, once the boat was out at sea.

"What?" Jimin asked curiously.

"Yoongi-hyung is technically a Prince." He said, mischievous smile on his lips as he looked at their Captain. Something that you didn't know about Yoongi, but found ridiculously attractive. Really, you should have realised when he told you about the boat, but you didn't and now that you did, well, your cheeks definitely wasn't red because of the heat.

"Oh my God, Taehyung-hyung is actually right for once." Jeongguk gasped, eyes widening.

Taehyung looked offended, arms crossing over his chest. "Yah! I'm always right, you brat."

"The Outlaw Prince." You mused with a smile.

"Your Outlaw Prince." Yoongi muttered just soft enough for you to hear, rosy flush on his cheeks, placing a kiss on your temple.

You hummed happily in agreement, wrapping your arms around his waist and leaning your head against his chest, "Mine."

It was silent for a while before Taehyung asked excitedly:

"So, when are you two getting married?"

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

all this time • kim seokjin

plot – you and your best friend, seokjin, drifted apart after he became a famous actor. years later, you find your way back to each other.

words – 3.5K

When your best friend Kim Seokjin got the lead role in a movie when you two were eighteen years old, you were ecstatic for him. What you were less ecstatic about was the fact that you grew apart to the point where you didn't even greet each other if you happened to cross one other in the street. Something that didn't happen very often because he moved to the city, but it still happened, each time he visited his parents in your hometown.

You, on the other hand, could never leave your home. Not forever, at least. It's not that bad, despite what some of the teenagers might say, it's a really big town. Big enough that not everyone knows everyone, and nobody poked their noses where it didn't belong. There is a lot to do, too, if you're a local and you know where to look. You love this place and you'll never completely leave it. You left years ago, to study and become a doctor, but then you came back. Now you live in an apartment and your work at the local hospital. It's not glamourous and glittery but it's home and it's what you've always wanted. It makes you happy and content, to help people and to heal physical injuries, get parents and children alike back on their feet, curing someone who's sick.

Sometimes there is a hollow place in your chest that aches, somedays more than others, but mostly you ignore it. You know what's missing from your life, you know what belongs there. You also know you're never getting it back, so you push past it and deal with it.

But beyond that, life was good.

A scream startles you out of your reverie and you come back to earth, looking around the small coffee shop you were in from where to were seated by the window, nearly rolling your eyes when you saw what it was.

It was Kim Seokjin, famous actor who had most woman's heart skipping a beat, who had just walked into the coffee shop, who used to be your best friend. It was two girls who spotted him and was now giggling while pointing - at least discreetly - at him with wide smiles on their faces.

You wonder with vague amusement what they would say if they knew that when you were thirteen, he stuck an olive up his nose because you bet him that his nose was to small and he wouldn't be able to do it.

Your eyes suddenly met Seokjin's, and you looked away immediately, missing the way his face fell into a cherstfallen look. But Seokjin, ever the professional, quickly wiped his features into a charming smirk, even if he felt like he was breaking inside. He wondered, not for the first time, if stardom was worth the price of losing you.

You ignored his presence as best you could, finishing your hot chocolate and the rest of your breakfast. After paying for your meal and getting ready to leave, you couldn't help but take another look at him, because he was your best friend Jin for long before he was Kim Seokjin the Actor and despite what you try to convince yourself of, you still miss him.

You looked to where he was seated and found him already staring. Instead of immediately looking away, you let your gaze linger, long enough that he gave you a hesitant smile and a little wave. You finally adverted your eyes, turned around and walked out of the cafe.

***

"I heard Seokjin-ah is back in town." Your mother said conversationally when you went to visit your parents that evening for dinner.

"Yeah, I saw him this morning in Misses Jung's Diner." You answered, making sure to keep your tone disinterested, not wanting her to get into this topic.

Your mother brightened, as she bustled around the kitchen. Your father was in the living room, watching television. "Oh, and how is he doing? The star life treating him well?"

"How would I know? I didn't talk to him." You shrugged with a light frown. "I told you, we're not friends anymore."

"And who's decision was that?" Your mother asked, rounding on you with narrowed eyes.

"No one, it was just life. We drifted apart, that's it." You answered honestly. You really did drift apart, but it could have been prevented, if Seokjin put in more effort. You did everything you could to keep your friendship, but eventually he stopped returning your calls and texts, and it wasn't until he finally didn't even send you a text on your twenty first birthday that you gave up completely. When you got a new phone from your parents, you didn't save his number again.

"Maybe now that he's back, you two can patch things up again." You mother suggested with an excited smile. "You know, you aren't getting any younger and I want grandbabies."

"Mom!" You gasped in a little exasperation, but not surprised at all. This has been going on since you turned 25. You suppose you're lucky that she's not like Mrs. Kwon next door who tries to set her daughter up with any willing man, that she just teases you with Seokjin every now and again. Probably because she knows you're in love with him, even after all these years. "I'm 28, not 48. Also, Jin and I were just friends. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"You can never tell me enough times that I'll be convinced." She said with a pointed look in her eyes as she grinned at you. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes, regretting the night you showed up at home and cried your eyes out because you realised that you are in love with Seokjin and he's gone and you never got to tell him. You almost went to Seoul that weekend to tell him.

"Just because I have feelings for him, doesn't mean he has feelings for me." You reminded her.

"Hah!" She scoffed, muttering under her breath about 'stupid children' and 'won't know unless it hits them in the face'. You shook your head with a fond smile as you watched her until the door bell rang.

You frowned lightly, "Are you expecting someone?"

"Yes." You mother nodded, brightening up significantly, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Oh, that must be Minji and Seokjin."

"You invited Jin and his mom to dinner?" You hissed at you mother, only glaring slightly. You assumed Seokjin's dad wasn't coming because he isn't home, probably on rotation - a military man through and through is how you'd discribe Mr. Kim, if ever asked.

You got a whack with the dishtowel behind the head, "Y/N, behave."

Dinner was a boisterous affair, but not from your part. You didn't know if it was thanks to your mother - but you'd bet a month's salary that it was - that you and Seokjin end up sitting next to each other, but you did. He looked at you, a lot. You could feel it, his gaze like a brand on your skin.

"Seokjin-ah, your mom tells me you'll be in town for a while." Your mom said with a bright smile and you breathed a little easier when he moved his eyes away from you. Your heart was still unsteady.

"Yes, Ma'am, I'll be staying for a month before my next film's production starts." He answered politely, voice deep and soothing and everything that you want. You clenched your fists in your lap, swallowing thickly as you reminded yourself that you couldn't have it.

"That's wonderful." Your mother said.

After finishing your dinner, you had to get out of there. "Excuse me, I'm feeling like swinging."

"Me too." Seokjin said with a cheery smile, rising from his chair as well.

"You're not invited." You snapped and felt guilty when he flinched.

"Y/N, this is not how I raised you." Your mother said with a slight glower on her face. You look to your dad for help, but he just smiles at you before stuffing his mouth with more food.

You sighed in resignation, "Fine, he can join me if he really wants."

You walked to the backdoor without looking to see if Seokjin was following you. You wanted to leave so you could get away from him, clear your head and get your bearings right.

The swing you talked about wasn't an actual swing - although you do like going to the swings in the park a few blocks from your house - but a swinging bench that your dad hung for you from the tree behind the house years ago. The swinging bench held countless memories of you and Jin, playing and having fun. You sat down and wait for him to sit down too before kicking with your feet against the ground and swinging.

It was dark and quiet outside, just the sounds of the night animals waking up. It was soothing in a way that little else was. The comforting and safe presence next to you hasn't been there for a decade, and you soaked it up, knowing it wouldn't last past tonight.

"How have you been?" Seokjin eventually asked, breaking the silence that settled over you two.

"Do we have to talk?" You asked and it's not meant to come out that sour or mean, but there's a lot of resentment in you towards him for just letting fifteen years of friendship go down the drain for fame. The friendship between you was something you cherished most in this world and before you were in love with him, you just loved him. Losing a loved one always hurt. And it did. It hurt like hell when you lost him and your friendship.

He flinched from your words, again, and you felt guilty again. He looked at you but you didn't look at him as he spoke. "I'm sorry, that I ever hurt you by leaving."

"It's fine, it's been ten years. I'm over it." You waved him off, when really it isn't fine and you aren't over it.

"Still, I never wanted to hurt you." Seokjin said, sincere and open.

You sighed, closing your eyes and leaning back on the bench. He had the right idea, by apologizing, but he was apologizing for the wrong thing. "You leaving didn't hurt me, Jin. Cutting me out of your life did."

***

A few days later on your day off, you were riding your motorcycle, on your way to the mall - the bookstore had finally let you know that the medical journal you ordered had arrived - when you heard it. Voices screaming 'Seokjin- or Jin-oppa'. Your head automatically swivel in that direction and you didn't know whether to laugh at the sight or feel sorry for Seokjin, who was being chased by five girls. You wanted to just drive away.

But then you caught sight of the slightly terrified look on his face and your heart twisted violently. You swore, and revved your bike before turning around and making a U-turn, riding to where Seokjin was. Both him and the girl's stopped in their tracks when they noticed you were driving straight at them. They all froze, not moving or running like most people would have.

You braked and slowed down until you were infront of Seokjin, idling as you flipped open the visor and called, "Hey, Kim Seokjin! Get on!"

He didn't hesitate, climbing on and wrapping his arms around your waist tightly before you took off. You drove him to his house, not making any detours because you wanted to get away from Seokjin before he could realise the fast pace of your heart was not because of adrenaline but because of his close proximity.

"Can we talk?" He asked after he got off, placing a hand on your forearm to prevent you from taking off.

You took a deep breath, then turned off your bike and took off your helmet, looking at him expectantly while flattening your hair. "Talk about what?"

"Anything, I don't care." He answered, tone bordering on pleading. "I just want to talk to you."

"You were the one that shut me out." You said, voice just this side of cold as you rested your feet on the tar road.

"Because I wanted to make something of myself and I couldn't do that if all I thought about was packing up and coming home to you." Seokjin defended himself, hoping that you'd see reason.

Instead, you scoffed at him. "Well, you did. So, congratulations. I hope you're happy and I hope it was worth it."

"I missed you." Seokjin said out of the blue. Your body tensed and you wanted to look at him, but you didn't. Too afraid that if you did you'd cave and forgive him. "Everyday, for the past ten years, I've missed you. I never stopped, not once."

The words was like a healing salve to your sore and bruised heart that never quite healed right. You swallowed thickly. "What do you want me to say, Jin?"

It was quiet for a while, before he finally asked. "Do you really hate me that much?"

You laughed a little, as if. How much easier would your life be if you could have just hated him after he stopped talking to you. If you did, maybe you could have moved on, had those grandchildren your mother is always nagging about. You shook your head, "No, I don't hate you, I never have. I never could."

"Can we try to be friends again?" He asked, bright and hopeful and you hated to be the one to destroy that, but you didn't have another choice.

"Just so we can drift apart again?" You challenged, scoffing a little. "No, thanks, I already lost you once, I'd rather not do it all over again."

"It's different this time." Seokjin insisted earnestly.

You opened your mouth, to give a harsh remark, but when you saw the honesty and seriousness in his eyes, you asked instead, "How?"

Seokjin smiled at you and you ignored the way it made you feel like you could melt into a puddle of goo. "Well, for one, we're both grown up this time around. And two, I've decided that maybe it's time to start putting roots down."

"Haven't you done that in the city?" You questioned with a frown.

"Not really, no." Seokjin shook his head. "There's just no place like home, you know?" He asked, giving you a look

You looked at him and smiled slightly, "Yeah, I know."

"Can I show you something? Tomorrow?" Seokjin asked, and seeing your hesitation, he added on a gentle, "Please."

"Okay." You agreed, watching as he gave you a brilliant smile. Your heart singed and your stomach flip-flopped.

"You can come by tomorrow at 11." He said and you nodded in agreement.

"See you tomorrow."

You started your bike and drove away, anticipation and excitement for the next day knotting your stomach.

***

"Why did you bring me here?" You asked the next day, heart full of bursting emotions as you looked at the house. It wasn't just any house, it was your dream house. The house you fell in love with when you were fifteen years old, it wasn't a mansion, but it wasn't a small house either, at three stories high. It was an old, fixer upper, but you've always loved it. It was a little secluded, being just out of town and in the woods, and it was where you planned to stay one day.

Seokjin knew all of this. You two sneaked here many times and he listened to you rant about the house and how perfect it is even more times. So, why bring you here now?

"Remember what I said about putting roots down?" He asked and you hummed in confirmation, nodding slightly, a bit confused. "I bought it."

Your eyes widened and you gaped at him, completely thrown off by his words. "You- what? Why?"

Suddenly, his demeanor turned nervous, hands trembling slightly and voice shaky when he spoke, "I was hoping that, maybe, it could be a home. For us."

"Jin-"

"Just let me talk, okay? Because if I don't say this right now, I never will." Seokjin said, holding up a hand to silence you, and you nodded, a little greatful because you had no idea what the hell to say to that. "I've been in love with you since I was thirteen years old and ten years ago I left because I had nothing to offer you, I had no money, no way to give you your dream house. But now? Now I can give you everything you deserve."

You still didn't know what to say. You stayed quiet, thinking about what he said and how to respond to that because this - Jin telling you he loves you back - is everything you've ever wanted.

"Jin, I didn't need this, it was just a dream. You-" You broke off, emotions choking you up. "You were what I really wanted."

"I know, Y/N. I've known you almost all my life, and I know material things isn't what makes you happy, but I wanted to be able to give them to you." He said sincerely, looking at you with his chocolatey depths that made your heartbeat speed up. He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "These last ten years, they were hell with out you. I tried to stay your friend, but it got to hard to talk to you everyday and not be with you, not being able to tell you what I feel. So, I started putting distance between us, promising myself that one day, I'll come back and tell you everything."

Your mouth felt dry, heart thundering in your ears as you looked at him. Your voice was a whisper when you spoke, "Do you know how much you hurt me? Do you have any idea?"

"I do, because it hurt me too. I'm sorry, Y/N, so truly sorry and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you, if you'll let me." He said, taking a step forward but you took one back, needing space to think.

"How do I know you won't just leave again?" You asked him, challenging and a little mean.

"Because I love you and I want a life with you." Seokjin said, then much more hesitant and softer, he asked, "Do you want that too?"

You stared at him, heart beating wildly, eyes stinging and chest constricting. You didn't think it was possible to feel this much all at once. Finally, you nodded slowly. "Yeah, I do."

Seokjin sighed in relief, shoulders slumping over as he nearly kneeled over with the force of his relief. He took a step closer and when you didn't move away from him again, he stepped closed until he was near enough to pull you close, hugging you tightly to his body, the way your body fit against his familiar, but at the same time it was new because he'd never hugged you before while knowing that you reciprocate his feelings. He dreamed, wished, hoped but never fully believed it. His whole life, everything he built, was done on nothing but his love for you. He didn't know if you felt the same or if you'd even still be here by the time he came back or even if you were, if you would still be single then. All he had was his love. His love that burned brighter than ever before.

"Hey, stupid." You called softly, cheeks aching you were smiling so wide.

"I'm not-" He cut himself off with a resigned sigh. "What is it?"

"I love you."

"I love you too." He said, and you could hear the smile in this voice.

"It's not going to be easy." You warned him, because there was at least sixty different ways this could go wrong. You held him a little tighter and he squeezed back.

"Nothing worth having ever is." He retorted smugly.

"Smartass." You huffed, slapping lightly against his back, more fond than anything else.

"Your smartass, though."

"Yeah," You nodded with a happy smile, lifting your head from his chest so you can look into his eyes. "Mine."

Seokjin cupped your cheeks, leaning down and pressing a quick and gentle kiss against your lips. He pulled away, cheeks a lovely shade of pink. You could feel the heat spreading to your own cheeks as well. "Sorry, I should have asked before I kissed you."

"You call that a kiss?" You huffed, watching as realisation spread in his eyes. He smirked down at you and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, you yanked him down and pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss, because really, it's been over a decade since you've wanted to do this. He didn't hesitate to respond to your kiss, just as eagerly and you realised that this was finally happening. After all this time, years of pining and hurting and thinking it never would, it was finally happening.

Your mother is going to gloat all the way into the next century.

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

my saving grace • jung hoseok

plot – you rescue hoseok from the guys beating on him, never thinking that anything more would come from it.

genre – streetdancer!hoseok

words – 6.1K

You and your friend, Jimin, were walking home from work - both of you working as a waitress and waiter at a diner a few blocks away - when you walked past an alley and heard the tell tale sound of someone getting their ass kicked. You ignored it, this wasn't the best part of the city, there was always someone getting the short end of the stick somewhere around here.

"Hey, Y/N, looks like trouble." Jimin whispered, stopping in the middle of the alley, looking intently while you didn't even glance at it.

You grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the scene, "Hate to break it to you, sweetie, but this world is full of trouble."

"Come on," Jimin whined, tugging at your arm backwards. "It's three against one and the dude is getting his ass kicked. It's not fair, you have to help him."

You rolled your eyes, wondering how you ever made friends with this big hearted idiot. Really, Jimin was to soft and good for this world. You gave him a look, "If it bother's you that much, why don't you go do something about it?"

He glowered at you and you stared back unflinchingly as he said, "Because unlike you, I can't take on seven people at the same time."

"That was once and I was pissed." You reminded him pointedly. "And I got a sprained wrist and two broken ribs for my wonderful heroics."

"Good news then, this time it's just three." He said cheerily. When you still wouldn't budge, he pulled the ultimate weapon. "Please."

You sighed, knowing the battle is lost. You can't say no to Jimin's puppy eyes. "Jesus Christ, fine, if it will get you off my ass."

Jimin, the idiot, grinned widely. "Yes!"

You scoffed, walking back to the alley. At the entrance, you stopped Jimin and handed him your backpack. "Hold this and stay here. If I catch a glimpse of you in there, I'm leaving his sorry ass."

"Okay." Jimin nodded, taking your bag and clutching it tightly.

You entered the alley, taking in everything that was in the alley that could help you fight and the three guys. They were all at least three times your size. You whistled loudly, to catch their attention and turn it from the guy to you. They weren't beating him anymore, but they could decide to start again at any moment.

It worked, they turned around and faced you, looking a little confused. You decided to use that to your advangtage and to move quickly. You ran at them, jumping on one of the crates you spotted earlier and using it to propel yourself through the air, kicking the nearest guy in the face, full force. You landed on your feet and he landed on his knees, blood pouring from his nose. Quickly you landed a punch to his already broken nose, knocking him on his back. You weren't sure if he was unconsious though.

The other two snapped out of their stunned stupors and charged at you. You dodged them, grabbing the one's arm and twisting it behind his back, pulling it back with enough strength to dislocate it, a pained shriek leaving his mouth. The last guy aimed a sloppy punch that you dodged easily, snickering. You aimed a harsh kick to his balls, watching in vague amusement as he doubled over in pain. Out of the corner of your eyes, you saw the one who's shoulder you dislocated coming at you again, but he was clearly off balance from the pain.

From there on, it was almost laughably easy to knock them unconsious.

You looked at the three unconsious men - and one half-consious man - and almost felt disappointed that there wasn't more of a challenge, more of a fight to it. You scoffed, "And my mother wonders why I'm still single."

You stepped forward and crouched next to the guy who had his ass kicked, his eyes were swollen and his lip busted. His nose looked realtively okay, but you couldn't tell if he had other injuries. "Hey, you a retard yet?"

The guy groaned, lightly shaking his head and groaning again. You took it as a no.

You heard footsteps coming up behind you and your body tensed for a moment, ready to fight again, but then you recognised the soft footfalls of you best friends. You sighed, "Jimin, didn't I tell you to stay out of here?"

"I figured you meant until the fighting was over." He retorted easily, also crouching next to the guy and besides you.

You closed your eyes, pulled for strength and then opened your eyes, pushing yourself upright. "Okay, so I helped him, time to go."

Jimin scrambled to his feet and pulled on you arm to stop you from walk him away. "We can't just leave him here."

"What do you want to do? Take him back home with us?" You asked, not meaning it at all, more sarcastic than anything. Then you saw the look on Jimin's face.

"Well . . ." He trailed off with a hopeful smile.

You gaped at him, then shook your head. "Jesus, fuck, Jimin, no. You can't be serious."

"But what if we take him to the hosipital and they go after him again?" Jimin asked, worrying his bottom lip, glancing back at the bloody guy.

You groaned, feeling the urge to hit your head against the wall. "You're gonna be the death of me, Park Jimin."

Jimin perked up, eyes brightening. "Is that a yes?"

You sighed in resignation, "Yeah."

* * *

"What happened to you three?" Daejoon asked as he looked at the idiots that were supposed to take out his competition.

"We were taken out." The one said, but that much was obvious from how they looked.

"By who?" Daejoon asked, furious because who would dare take out people related to them?

"A girl." Another one muttered shamefully. "But she's was really good, scary good actually."

"A girl?" Daejoon'd brother, Sejoon, who had been lounging on the out perked up at this. "About 5'4, fast as lighting and just as lethal?"

"Yeah." One of the three nodded.

Sejoon leaped from the couch, started pacing. "Jesus Christ, and you say that she protected him? The guy you were supposed to take out?"

"We asked around and people said she and some other dude took took him with them. We can find them if you want." Another one explained.

"Another dude?" Daejoon's brother paled. "Okay, fuck, no. Under no circumstances are you allowed to go anywhere near where she lives." He turned to his brother. "Daejoon, you need to stay far away from that Hoseok guy."

Daejoon scoffed, "What, because of some girl?"

"She is not just some girl, okay? And that guy she was with? I'd bet my life it was Park Jimin. And if that's true, then you need to stay even further away from her."

"What, you gonna tell me he's some badass too?" Daejoon scoffed at his brother.

"No, he's harmless." Sejoon said, tense. "But her? The girl? She's not badass, she's dangerous."

* * *

The next morning, you woke up with an empty space besides you which was weird, because you gave Beaten-Up Dude Jimin's bed to sleep on after your best friend said that you couldn't let him sleep on the couch with those raw bruises. You told him that he would be sacrificing his own bed, because you aren't letting a stranger sleep in yours. Jimin didn't push it because you already did a fuckton of shit for him that night.

You almost flew out of bed, worried about Jimin, and when you pulled open the door, your mouth fell open. Because there was Jimin and Beaten-Up Dude, sitting on your couch and laughing. Jimin noticed you first and waved.

"Good morning." He chirped and you just kept on staring, remembering to close your mouth. He turned to Beaten-Up Dude, who looked a little worse this morning but not as much as you thought he would have. Probably because you cleaned up his bruises the previous night. "That's my best friend, Y/N, she's not much of a talker in the mornings, or in general really, so don't feel insulted if she doesn't answer you. It's not personal, it's just who she is." Jimin looked at you with mirth in his eyes.

So, you did the mature, grown up thing. You flipped him a middle finger and said with a fake smile, "Fuck off." before heading to the bathroom, your bladder suddenly reminding you that it was full after a night's sleep.

After finishing your morning routine, you left the bathroom and found two sets of eyes looking at you. You raised your eyebrows, "What?"

"Hoseok, that's his name by the way, was just telling me why those guys were beating him up. He's a street dancer and made it into the finals of a really big underground competition, and his rival was the one who sent those guy's after him, to take him out, but then you saved him." Jimin told you excitedly.

"I have a feeling I'm not gonna like were this is headed." You noted matter of factly.

"The prize money is 50 million won," This time it was Hoseok who talked to you and you turned to him.

You looked at him in disbelief, more than a little skeptical. "There can not be that much money in street dancing."

"There isn't, usually." Hoseok told you. "But this a competition that only happens one every five years and it's the best against the best. My offer is, if you can protect me until the finals, I'll split it with you in half."

"Definitely don't like where this is headed." You declared.

"It's not gonna be a 24/7 thing, just like, go with me to places during the day and then on the day of the competition you need to come with me."

"First of all, I already have a job. Second of all, it's illegal. Third of all, I'm not a bodyguard." You told the both of them, trying to ignore the two sets of hopeful eyes were watching you. Why Jimin's was working, you got, but why Hoseok's was working, you had no idea. The guy's eyes were swollen, for fuck sakes!

"Which is why I'm willing to give you half the prize money. Right now it's not even about the money for me anymore. It's about beating Daejoon's ass. He thinks he can get away with anything." Hoseok said, voice turning angry and indignant. The name Daejoon was vaguely familiar but you didn't worry about it. If it was really important, you would have remembered immediately.

"And if you don't win?" You asked, raising a brow.

Hoseok scoffed, "You really think they would beat me up like this if they thought that idiot has a chance of winning?"

"Fair point." You conceded, crossing your arms over you chest.

"So, you'll do it?" He asked, eyes lighting up hopefully.

"Depends." You said after a moment of contemplating in silence.

"On what?" He asked, frowning ever so slightly, then wincing because the movement pulled at his bruised eyes.

"When's the competition?"

"In three weeks, twenty-one days exactly. I won the semi-finals earlier tonight."

"Even if I say yes and follow you around during the day for the next two weeks, you still have the problem of nights." You pointed out. "They could attack you in your apartment or even when you feel like going to the corner store because you're craving a chocolate or something in the middle of the night."

Jimin cleared his throat, giving you a sweet, sweet smile and you immediately knew what was coming. "I was thinking that he could stay here until the competition."

"Of course you did." You deadpanned. "Any other wonderful ideas that I should be aware of?" Jimin pursed his lips, actually thinking about it, and you glared at him.

Finally, he shook his head. "Not that I can think of."

"Great." You muttered sarcastically. You looked at Hoseok, who's hopeful and desperate eyes tugged at your heartstrings violently. You sighed in resignation. "Fine, but no dancing until the swelling of your eyes go down."

"Uh," Hoseok looked a little stricken. "How long's that gonna take?"

"No more thank two or three days." You answered.

"Okay." He nodded, lips that were no longer swelled, pulling up into a heart shaped smile that had your cheeks heating up.

"So, you're doing it?" Jimin asked, repeating Hoseok's question. You hummed in confirmation, hands flying up to cover your ears when the two let out identical squeals of happiness.

* * *

You came to the realisation that Hoseok was attractive four days after meeting him. The swelling in his eyes was completely gone by day three and on day four, he used a bit of concealer to hide the bruised skin. And when you looked at him, really looked at him, you realised that he was hot. You wouldn't do anything though, it's always been easy for you to ignore physical attraction to someone.

"How did you get your boss to give you time off?" Hoseok asked as you two were walking in the streets, your destination currently unknown.

"I told him it was only for three weeks, asked really nicely, even used the fact that I've never taken a sick day in two years, and Jimin promised to help out until he gets a temp." You answered with a slight shrug, a little distracted by his sunny grin. He was tapping his fingers against his thigh, body moving lightly the beat. "So where do you practice?"

Hoseok lit up at the question, "There's this warehouse, owned my one of my friends, where I practice. It's where we're headed right now."

You made an 'ah' sound of realisation, having wondered where Hoseok was taking you two but not being bothered enough to ask him. There was, weirdly enough, already trust between you. "Do they dance too?"

Hoseok put on a thinking face that you found adorable and had to turn away so you wouldn't smile like an idiot. "Uh, just Taehyung. And Jeongguk, sometimes. He's very shy."

You frowned a little, remembering that he had spoken about a Namjoon the previous evening. "Exactly how many of you are there?"

"Including me? Six. You and Jimin will make for eight." He looked at you, that smile still locked on his face.

"Oh, we're friends now?" You raised a brow at him.

Hoseok's smile faltered, and your stomach twisted. You were about to tell him that your were just teasing, that you are friends, when the smile returned tenfold and he said, "You saved my ass and I'm crashing on your couch, if that doesn't make us friends, then I don't know what will."

"Yeah, okay." You smiled slightly at the look he gave you.

"You have a nice smile, you should do it more often." He said matter-of-factly and you rolled your eyes, desperately hoping your cheeks don't get noticeably red.

You chose to change the subject instead, "How come you don't ask them for help? Your friends, I mean."

"I just, I don't want to burden them, you know? We all have our problems and I don't want to make their lives worse."

"So, you decide to up end my life instead?" You said, voice light.

"You're getting paid, aren't you?" Hoseok said, words more teasing than anything else, but it set something off inside you.

The next moment Hoseok found himself with his back pressed against a wall, you all up in his personal space, eyes narrowed dangerously. "Let's get one thing straight, right now: I'm not doing this for the money. Sure, it's a nice bonus but that's not why I said yes and if you piss me off, I will leave."

"Okay, sorry. I didn't mean anything by it." He said, eyes wide and a hint of fear in them. It made you take a step back, something inside of you deeply hurt by the fact that Hoseok is afraid of you and there was no one but yourself to blame.

"Just forget it." You muttered, willing the tightness around your heart to go away.

"Why did you decide to help me?" Hoseok asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

Because I couldn't say no to you and it scares the fuck out of me, you thought to yourself.

"Jimin." You answered instead, which wasn't a lie either, it just wasn't the whole truth either.

***

"Does she hate me?" Hoseok asked Jimin that night after they had all eaten dinner and you disappeared into your room, saying you are tired and wanted to sleep.

"She would never help you if she hated you, no matter how much I pest her." Jimin answered, tilting his head at the dancer. "Why do you ask?"

"I think I might have done something to make her hate me." Hoseok admitted, face worried instead of the usual cheery aura he had.

Jimin snorted in disbelief, "That's highly improbable. Y/N doesn't hate easily."

"Today we were talking and she said something about helping me and I told her she was getting paid and I think I really pissed her off." Hoseok explained, hoping desperately that Jimin was right.

Realisation filled Jimin's face and he gave Hoseok a gentle smile. "Good news is, she doesn't hate you. Bad news is, she is pissed." When he saw the panicked look on Hoseok's face, he rushed to add. "But not at you. Really. It's just the memories that come with what you said."

"What memories?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. All I can tell you is that Y/N swore on her life that she would never use her fighting skills for money ever again, and even if that's not the reason she said yes, she's doing it anyway." Jimin told him, looking more than a little guilty. "It's her business and her decision to tell you the rest if she wants."

"No, that's okay. I understand." Hoseok gave Jimin a bright grin, but he was still worried that he damaged something between him and you.

* * *

"I'm sorry." Hoseok blurted out the next morning as you two started your trek to the warehouse. It was about a twenty five minute walk and now five minutes had passed in complete silence before he broke.

You frowned at him, "About what?"

"About yesterday, when you got so angry." He explained nervously.

"Hoseok," You started with a sigh. "It's not your fault, okay? It's my own issues. Your words just triggered some nasty memories, but it's not your fault and I'm not mad at you."

Hoseok's grin was blinding and you couldn't help but give him a small smile back. "Good, good, that's really good. And if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

Your smile grew a little wider, stomach fluttering. "Thanks, Hoseok."

The rest if the walk was spent with Hoseok chattering next to you about anything and everything, dancing to some beat in his head every now and again. Arriving at the warehouse, you saw that unlike the previous day, today there was people. From Hoseok's relaxed posture and excited eyes, you guessed it must be his friends.

And so you finally met Seokjin, Namjoon, Yoongi, Taehyung and Jeongguk. Hoseok stood next to you, "And this is Y/N, she's gonna protect me from Daejoon until the finals."

"Like he actually has the balls to do something himself." Yoongi scoffed. "He'll send someone after you again."

"And I'll stop them. Again." You said, speaking up for the first time. Yoongi looked at you, a little surprised, then finally nodded his head.

Watching Hoseok dance, you realised, was something out of this world. He was graceful, strong and powerful but at the same time he looked kind of delicate and beautiful. It was mesmerizing, watching as his body moved to music. You quickly figured out his routine - warm up to two songs, one slow paced and one fast paced, then he started practicing for the competition for hours - long enough for you to loose track of time as you watch him dance, and then he warmed down by stretching.

"You're good." You complimented him as you walked home later that evening. "Really good. I can understand why your competition is scared of losing."

Hoseok's flushed, "Thank you."

"Just telling the truth." You shrugged.

"Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer." Hoseok looked nervous, really nervous and you didn't understand why. What was he about to ask you?

"Sure." You nodded hesitant.

"Where did you learn how to fight?" He blurted.

"That's what you wanted to ask?" You chuckled. "I thought it was like for a kidney or something, with how nervous you were."

"Well, you are a very private person, okay?" Hoseok exclaimed and you snickered. "I thought you might bite my head off for asking."

"Nah, I don't bite heads of for asking questions. I bite heads off when people can't take no for an answer or fuck off, depending on my mood." You told him with a slight smirk. "And to answer your question, my mom and dad used to own a taekwondo studio. They were both Master's and they taught me."

"Wow, that's great. Do they still have the studio? Maybe I'll sign up for some classes after this is all over." He rambled excitedly.

Your face fell and Hoseok saw, but it was too late to take back his words. "No, they don't."

Hoseok hesitated, not wanting to make yo sadder that you already seemed. "Can I asked what happened?"

"My dad got sick, lung cancer, and he died when I was seventeen. My mom couldn't do it alone, so I tried to help but in the end it didn't work out and we lost the studio." You answered him, looking at your feet.

"I'm so sorry." Hoseok said, voice truly and sincerely apologetic.

"It's not your fault. Sometimes bad things just happen." You shrugged, still looking at the pavement.

"Yeah, I know, but it doesn't make it any easier."

"No, it doesn't." You agreed.

* * *

The rest of the time until the competition passed quickly. Too quickly if someone were too ask you, but Hoseok was excited. So was Jimin and all of Hoseok's friends, who would all be there to watch as Hoseok and Daejoon compete for the winning title and the prize money.

"Is this like a dressing room or something?" You asked Hoseok with a snicker as you walked into the room. You were in one of the backrooms of a club that the finals would take place in. The two of you had grown much closer in the last three weeks and it terrified you as much as it excited you. You didn't know what would happen after tonight, but you hoped that Hoseok would still be in your life.

"Yeah, technically, but for me it's just a waiting room."

You hopped on the dressing table looking at Hoseok curiously. "So, how do they decide who wins these things?"

"There's three judges and we get a score out of ten. The one with the highest score wins."

You let out a laugh of disbelief. "It sounds so normal."

"It kind of is." Hoseok nodded with a bright, if somewhat nervous smile.

"It kind of is illegal." You pointed out teasingly.

"Only if we get caught." He retorted and you snorted, nodding your head in agreement.

"You ready?" You asked Hoseok, looking at him with curious eyes and a fondness in your heart that's just grown stronger with each passing day.

"Yes, I am." He answered confidently.

The door to the room opened and in came a panicked Namjoon. "Y/N, trouble."

You turned to him, body tensed and ready for a fight but confused too. "I don't understand, Hoseok's right here with me."

"It's Jimin, some guy-" And you didn't here the rest of what Namjoon said because you were already out the door, running to where you left Jimin. You were vaguely aware of Hoseok and Namjoon following you but you didn't pay them any attention, to worried about getting to Jimin, your best friend, your brother in all but blood.

When you finally rounded the corner into the large room where Hoseok and Daejoon would dance, your blood boiling when you saw who it was. An all to familiar and definitely unwelcome face. Jimin, who was luckily pushed behind Jeongguk and Seokjin and neither look scared to start a fight, looked absolutely terrified.

"Taemin." You called, voice icy cold and loud enough to catch his attention. He turned to you, eyes widening a fraction. "Haven't learnt your lesson yet?" You asked, raising a brow and walking closer and closer to him.

"Relax, no need to be so hostile. I just came to say hi." He let his hands up in defence, smirk playing on the corners of his lips.

"That was not the agreement." You all but snarled at him, hands clenching into fists.

"I didn't know you'd be here, that's just pure coincidence." He shrugged a tad to smug and your fuse blew. You quickly knocked him to his knees and gripped him by the throat, leaning down.

"I believe I told you that if I ever see you within ten feet of Jimin again, I'll kill you with my bare hands." You told him with a sickeningly sweet smile and you could hear three guns being pulled and aimed at you. You didn't flinch, knowing exactly where each gunman was standing and how to take them out, and how to use Taemin as a body shield if one of them gets trigger happy.

"Let him go." It was Jimin, voice pleading but you didn't listen, to angry to as images of Jimin's bruised body filled your mind, how you took care of him, how you put him back together again, how you nearly drowned in guilt because it was all your fault.

"Let him go, this isn't you." This time the voice was accompanied by a hand on your shoulder, but it wasn't Jimin's. It was Hoseok's. His other hand reached out to wrap around the wrist of the hand that was holding Taemin's neck as he crouched next to you. He gently tugged at your hand and you let go. He grabbed both your hands in his and you looked at him, mind racing as he pulled you upright.

Why did you let go? Why did you feel the anger die down inside of you? Why was Hoseok's touch relaxing you instead of irritating you like it normally did when someone touched you while angry. Not even Jimin could do that. You shook your head to clear it, you'd think about it later. (Besides, you already had some idea, if the feelings you had towards Hoseok was any indication.)

You looked at Taemin aiming a deadly glare his way, "I'll be paying your boss a visit tomorrow."

"That won't be necessary, I'm right here." You whipped around and directed your glare at the other familiar face. "My apologies, I didn't think Taemin would be anything less than a gentleman."

You scoffed at Sejoon, "We're talking about the same Taemin, right?"

"Again, my apologies."

"I don't want your apologies, just make sure it doesn't happen again. We've had peace for two years now. I'm sure you'd hate for something to ruin that." You gave him a cold glare.

"Yes, I would." Sejoon gave you a smile that would have been charming in another world. "Enough time has already been wasted, what do you say we don't waist anymore and get this show on the road?"

"Keep your bitch on a leash." You warned Sejoon with a glance in Taemin's direction. You grabbed Jimin's hand and then you walked away, back to the room where Hoseok was previously waiting.

"You know that guy?" Hoseok asked once the door was shut, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.

You hugged Jimin tightly, rubbing a hand over his back as he held on tighter. You tried to meet Hoseok's eyes over Jimin's shoulders, standing on your tiptoes. "Yeah, why?"

"That's Daejoon's brother. He's the reason why the little brat thinks he can do whatever he wants."

"I thought the name rang a bell." You muttered to yourself then looked at Hoseok again. "Not tonight he won't."

"You should very sure of that." Hoseok noted as Jimin let go of you.

"That's because I am." You shrugged, turning your attention to the dancer.

"They're a gang." Hoseok blurted after a moments silence. You raised an eyebrow, silently asking him to go on. "Are you part of their gang? Is that why he won't do anything? As a favour?"

"No, I'm not in a gang, I've never been in a gang and I never will be in a gang. Sejoon will keep both Taemin and his brother on two very tight metaphorical leashes unless he wants to start a war with me again."

Hoseok frowned, caught off guard by the words. "Wait, what do you mean start a war again?"

"It's a long story that we don't have time for right now." You sighed and as a thought came to mind, you smirked slightly at him. "Hey, if you win, I'll tell you the whole story."

"Okay." Hoseok nodded, eyes locking with yours. "And dinner."

"Huh?"

"If I win, then you have to tell me the story and buy me dinner." Hoseok said, swallowing thickly.

"Okay fine." You smiled, heart beating way to fast, cheeks flaming hot. With a grin, Hoseok left the room and you saw Jimin smirking out of the corner of your eyes. "Don't even."

"I didn't say anything." He held up his hands in defeat.

"You were thinking it, it's annoying."

Jimin hummed, a noncommittal sound. He looked at you seriously. "Are you really gonna tell him everything?"

"Yeah," You gave him a slight smile that he matched with a bright one "I really am."

"I'm so happy for you." He gushed.

"Yeah, yeah, settle down." You said with flaming cheeks.

***

"You know, then I said I want you to buy me dinner, I didn't exactly mean nooodles and chicken skewers." Hoseok said with a light laugh later that night. He won, of course he did. You weren't even surprised.

"Why?" You frowned a little. "Did you want to go somewhere else?"

Hoseok shook his head, hesitating a little. "No, I just, I meant it more along the lines of a dinner date." Hoseok said, voice growing less confident and softer with each word he spoke.

"Oh." You said, realisation spreading through you as you looked at shy smile on Hoseok's face. Finally you spoke, shy smile matching Hoseok's and your heart beating just a bit faster. "Well, this can still be a date, right? I mean, it's about the person you're with and not the place."

Hoseok's beam returned as he happily exclaimed, "Yes, it is."

You two were near a river and bought food from a stall that was near a picnic area, so you two sat down at a picnic table, eating your dinner and talking about nothing in particular, just enjoying each other's company.

"You still owe me a story." Hoseok said after dinner as you were walking around aimlessly along the side of the river.

"It's really not that glamourous, so if you're disappointed, it's your own fault." You paused for a second, thinking where to start. "Right, well, I guess it all started two years ago, when Jimin and I were almost mugged by two idiots. I quickly took them both out and apparently Taemin saw me. From then on, he tried to recruit me into the gang. At first, he offered me ridiculous amounts of money, which didn't work. He did everything he could, went to my work, figured out my phone number, basically like stalking me. And then one day, he found out where me and Jimin lived. And he kidnapped Jimin." Your breath faltered here and tears gathered in your eyes.

Hoseok's arms was around you in a second, wrapping around to tightly. You melted into his embrace, calming down as he held you. "You don't have to tell me anything else."

You pulled away, shaking your head. "No, no, I want too." You took a deep breath and then took Hoseok's hands holding onto them tightly, drawing strength from his presence. "I didn't know, at first, that it was Taemin who took Jimin. It was only after five days of searching and nearly going crazy, that he told me I had one of two choices: join the gang and get Jimin back or don't join and Jimin dies. I picked choice number three."

"I thought there was only two choices." Hoseok said, looking a little confused.

"There was, I made my own choice. I declared war. Not just on Taemin, but on the gang. I investigated and I didn't let the law stop me like the police. I burnt down warehouses with drugs and guns, called in anonymous tips about their human trafficking safe houses. See, I knew that if the gang started feeling the loses because of what Taemin did, they'd do something about it. And I was right. It worked."

"How did you know they wouldn't just kill Jimin?"

"Because they couldn't catch me, and believe me, they tried. And if they couldn't catch me, they couldn't stop me. Which means unless they give me what I wanted, I wouldn't have stopped until I ruined their whole empire. Taemin called me one day, after two whole fucking months of holding Jimin, he said he'd give me Jimin back if I went to see his boss. I wasn't stupid, of course. So, I made a USB stick with all of the locations and gang members and gave it to my neighbour. Said if I wasn't back by the next morning that she should sent a copy to the police and a copy to the media. Luckily, it wasn't necessary. Sejoon handed Jimin over to me and we both agreed that as long as Taemin stayed away from me and Jimin, I'd leave the gang in peace. I also told Sejoon that one day I'd get my revenge for what he did to Jimin, because Hoseok, when I got Jimin back, h-he," Your breath caught in your throat, a sob making you choke. "He was beaten and broken, so badly. It took me weeks to get him to talk, months to go outside without me and he still looks over his shoulder to this day when he's alone."

Hoseok hugged you again and you cried, softly and not making a sound. When you were done, you pulled away and sniffled, giving him a watery smile. "Sorry I got snot on your shirt."

"It's okay, I can wash it again." He waved you off.

You took a deep breath, wiping your face clean with the sleeve of your shirt. "So, that's it. That's the story."

"Did you ever go after Taemin?" He asked, hesitantly.

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. I did, it took me five months because Jimin didn't want to be alone, but I did. I put him in a hospital bed with the warning to stay away from Jimin or I'll kill him." You told Hoseok. "I almost did kill him."

Hoseok looked at you, shocked. "Now I understand why you are so overprotective of Jimin."

"Yeah." You nodded, voice trailing off and you looked around you. There was a bench not to far from you two and you walked to it, taking a seat. "See, Hoseok, I'm not a good person. I've done things I'm not proud off and if someone I care about is in danger again, I'll do those things without hesitating all over again. Now, I'm not gonna lie, I like you and I trust you, which is why I told you the truth now. I didn't want this to come between us later on. I need you to know who I am right now, before we can go any further."

"You're wrong, you know." Hoseok said, taking a seat next to you.

"About what?"

"You are a good person. You're a good person who had something terrible happen to you and then you did bad things to make it right. Does it make what you did right? No. Does it make you a bad person? No." Hoseok took your hand, lacing your fingers. "I like who you are and I want to get to know you even better. I want to you know favourite song, your favourite colour, you favourite food - I want to know everything."

You squeezed his hand, smiling as your eyes blurred a bit. You giggled out of happiness, "I don't have a favourite song, there's to many good ones, my favoured colour is turquoise and my favourite food is lasagna." You smiled at him, warm and wide. "Your turn."

Hoseok told you as you told him. Later, you leaned on his shoulder as you two kept telling each other all of your favourite things. Some your would remember, some you would forget, but as you sat through the night and watched the sunrise, you knew there would be enough time for you to discover it all.

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

I looove 60 seconds sooo much 😍😍😍

aww, thank you so much.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

sixty seconds • kim taehyung

PLOT – you and your neighbour, taehyung, fall in love.

GENRE – model!taehyung au

WORDS – 6.5K

You were carrying your boxes inside of your new high end apartment. You felt rightfully proud of yourself for being able to afford this at only 23 years of age. After writing two best seller novels, you were allowed to be a little proud, right?

When you came out to get another box that was standing in the hallway, you noticed an elderly lady coming out of the apartment on your left hand side. You flashed her a grin when she looked at you. “Morning, I’m Y/N, your new neighbour.”

“Good morning, dearie. I’m Misses Lim.”

“Nice to meet you.” You looked at her, a little nervous. “So, I know the contract I signed said that it was fine, but I have a dog, a little beagle, and I hope you won’t mind.”

“Not at all. I also came to live here because of the pet allowance policy. See, I have two cats myself.” Misses Lim explained to you. “And the gentleman staying on your right, has a dog too.” She looked at you, eyes sharp.

“Thank Goodness,” You sighed in relief.

She kept looking at you with those piercing eyes and it made you a little uncomfortable. “He’s a model, you know.”

You frowned, a little lost. “Him, who?”

“Your neighbour, on the other side.” She elaborated and your eyes widened, because no, you didn’t know that. “He’s home on an irregular basis, but appreciates his solitude and privacy when he is home.”

“I wasn’t planning on bothering him, if that’s what you meant.” You said, a little unsure where she was going with this.

Finally she smiled, widely and happily. “So, you aren’t like the others, then.”

“Others?” You echoed, a little gobsmacked by the sudden change in attitude.

“Yes, the other girls that stayed here before you. They all came for him.” Mrs. Lim said and you gaped at her.

“I didn’t- I would never.” You stumbled a little over your words, where you were normally so eloquent and confident in almost every conversation you had.

Mrs. Lim laughed in delight. “I can see that now. Welcome to the neighbourhood.”

You frowned, “This is an apartment complex.”

“And that matters because?” She arched a brow at you.

“I guess it doesn’t.” You caved and watched as Mrs. Lim walked past you with a cheery grin.

“Nice to meet you, too, dear.” She let know over her shoulder.

You sighed to yourself – an eccentric cat lady on your one side and a model on the other. Well, at least it would never be boring here.

***

It was two weeks later when you were riding up the elevator with Mrs. Lim, who was telling you all about how her grandson left his fiancé at the alter. You thought that maybe she was a bit to happy about it.

“I take it you didn’t like her, then?” You asked as you watched her grin.

“Not one bit.” She nodded in agreement, completely unashamed. “She was to up-tight and high maintenance. And he is only twenty. What does he want to be married for now anyways?”

“I don’t know, Mrs. Lim, must be the latest fashion.” You said with a giggle as the elevator dinged open and you stepped off, walking right into a solid chest. “Ow, fuck!” Your hand flew up to your nose.

A warm chuckle reached your ears and you didn’t know whether you should swoon at the sound or be offended that the stranger was laughing at you.

“Are you okay?” A deep voice asked and, okay yeah, definitely swooning.

“Hello Taehyung,” Mrs. Lim greeted. “So nice to see you back home.”

“It’s nice to be home.” He said and slowly everything started to come together for you. Model, the name Taehyung, and holy shit.

“Wait a second,” You said, still rubbing your sore nose. “Taehyung as in Kim Taehyung?” Without waiting for an answer you looked up, like way up because this guy has at least twenty centimeters on you. Your eyes widened, “Jesus Christ, you’re tall.”

And it really was Kim Taehyung, the international model that had almost everyone swooning.

“Yeah, that’s me.” He grinned at you, sticking out a hand an you felt your cheeks burn. You took his hand, shaking it as you introduced yourself.

Calming down as you came back down to Earth – because it wasn’t everyday you met a man who is this handsome, never mind one who is an international model – you turned to Mrs. Lim. “I finally get why you interrogated me that first day.”

Mrs Lim smiled and Taehyung frowned at you two. “What, interrogation?”

“The day I moved in, Mrs Lim all but flat out asked me if I was moving in here in an attempt to get into your pants.” You snickered, more from the look on Taehyung’s face than anything else.

He was flustered and something inside of you was very satisfied to get that reaction from him. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, and now that I know just which model is my neighbour, I get it.” You smiled at him. “Well, I should get home. See you guys around.”

You walked away, waving at Taehyung and Mrs Lim as you did so. In the hallway, Mrs Lim smiled after your retreating figure. She told Taehyung, “I like her, she’s nice.”

“Yeah, I think I do, too.” Taehyung admitted with a small smile.

“She has a dog, you know, if you were looking for an excuse to hang out with her.” Mrs Lim said conversationally.

“Mrs Lim!” Taehyung gasped, scandalized.

“What?” She asked innocently. “I’m just saying.”

* * *

You had your dog, a beautiful little girl named Max – who was like an actual child to you, on a leash and you were ready to go. Mrs Lim had recommended a dog friendly park to you, not to far away from your apartment and today you were going to check it out for the first time. Just as you were locking your door, Taehyung's door opened. A second later the model himself appeared, with a Pomeranian next to him on a leash. You couldn’t help the giggle that escaped you. Taehyung turned his head in your direction at the sound, and gave you a smile.

“Cute.” You said, nodding to the dog.

“Thanks.” The smile turned into a wide, proud grin. “Yours too.”

“Yeah, she’s my pride and joy.” You grinned then added, “She’s probably gonna be the cause of my premature grey hairs too, mind you.”

Taehyung laughed, then looked at you. “Well, we were just about to go to the park, if you’d like to join us.”

“Us too.” You paused for a moment. “Seeing as it was Mrs Lim who recommended it to me, I’m willing to bet money it’s the same place.”

“We could go together, I’ll drive.” He offered.

“If they like each other, sure.” You nodded. “Her name is Max, by the way.”

“This little guy is Yeontan.” Taehyung grinned and you could see that the little dog was his whole world, much like Max is yours. So, you do have something in common. Slowly, you two let the dogs get near each other. They sniffed each other, neither of them barking of snarling or growling at the other.

“Looks like they like each other.” You grinned at Taehyung happily – Max has always loved other dogs and you were worried if she would be able to make other doggie friends in your new place.

“So that’s a yes, then?” Taehyung asked and you frowned a little. “To go together.” He elaborated.

“A very big yes.” You nodded, whistling for Max to follow you, Taehyung doing the same for Yeontan.

***

The next Saturday, you and Taehyung were planning on taking Max and Yeontan out to the park again, only the weather didn’t agree. Ten minutes before you were supposed to leave, you walked around and knocked on Taehyung’s door. He opened it, dressed in a white t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants that looked ridiculously good on him, tan skin contrasting perfectly with the shirt.

“Hey.” He grinned at you.

“Hey, so not to be a spoil sport, but I don’t think we will be able to take them out today. It doesn’t look like the rain is letting up anytime soon.” You gave him an apologetic look.

“Yeah,” Taehyung nodded in agreement, face falling. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“Next time?” You gave him a optimistic smile.

“Sure.” You turned and walked away. Before you reached your apartment, Taehyung called out to you. “Wait!”

You turned back to him with raised eyebrows, seeing that he was now standing in the middle of the hallway.

“What-” He cut himself off, looking down at his feet for a few seconds, then he took a breath and looked at you again. “What if you brought Max over and they can play in my apartment? Or I can bring Yeontan over, if you’d prefer that?”

Warmth spread through your chest at the offer, heartbeat speeding up just a bit. You scolded yourself, you were being ridiculous.

“Are you sure?” You asked, just to give him an out in case he didn’t really want too but was being polite.

“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.” Taehyung nodded firmly.

You grinned at him, “Okay, just give me a few minutes and I’ll bring Max over.”

Twenty minutes later, you and Taehyung were lounging on his couch, drinking hot chocolate because it was still raining and you were in the mood for it, and watching as Yeontan and Max played on the floor. You two moved the coffee table against the wall earlier, so neither of them would accidentally run into it and potentially hurt themselves.

You couldn’t keep the fond, silly grin off your face as you watched them. You were also careful to keep an eye on them because Max is bigger than Yeontan and you didn’t want her to hurt him by accident.

Taehyung, on the other hand, couldn’t keep his eyes off you, the smile on your face was infectious and it made his stomach flip-flop, doing loops and dips – in the very best way possible. Clearing his throat, preferably before you caught him staring, he asked, “So, have you started on a new book yet?”

“Not yet.” You turned to him, the full force of that smile aimed at him and Taehyung had trouble thinking coherently. “I have a few plot ideas in my head, but nothing solid yet.”

He looked away from you and at the dogs again, if he didn’t, he would be able to keep a conversation with you. What was it he wanted to say? Oh, right. “I bought your books, during the week and I’ve just started the first one. I don’t normally read supernatural but it’s an interesting idea – an angel and a demon falling in love. Does it have a happy ending?”

You were a little surprised. You didn’t think Taehyung was actually serious when he told you that he was going to buy your books and read them. You remembered that he asked you a question. “Do you really want to know?”

He contemplated that for awhile, then shook his head, curls moving around on his hair adorably. “No, I don’t.”

“Well, happy reading and when you’re done, tell me what you think. I like feedback and constructive criticism is welcome too.”

"Will do." He promised, taking a sip of hot chocolate.

* * *

The two of you became fast friends after that. Whenever Taehyung was in town and your schedule allowed it, you two spent time together with your dogs. If someone told you six months ago that you'd have a model as a friend, you'd have laughed in their face, but here you are.

Today, six months after meeting Taehyung and a Tuesday morning, your best friend was visiting you, finally back from her trip to London - which took eight whole months for some reason, so trip might not be the right word for it, but you like to think of them as trips. She is always traveling, never staying for longer than a year in the same place, says she gets to bored - the very definition of wanderlust. She always comes back home though.

Your apartment was open plan, kitchen and living room one large room, there was sliding doors that looked outside and led to a balcony. You two were sitting by the kitchen island.

"So, how was London?" You grinned at her over a cup of coffee.

"It was fine. Met a few interesting people though." She said with a grin and you shook you head at the double meaning.

"One of these days, you're gonna come back pregnant." You chuckled.

She looked horrified at the thought for a few seconds before shaking her head firmly, "Nah, I'm too smart for that."

"I certainly hope so, for your sake." You giggle when someone knocked at the door. Max jumped from the couch where she was napping and started barking. "Excuse me for a second."

She hummed, hopping of her chair. "I'm gonna raid your brownies."

"Knock yourself out." You laughed, heading to the door. "Max, enough." You ordered and when she fell silent, you opened the door and saw a familiar face. "Taehyung?"

"Hi." He grinned cheerily at you, wearing an apron.

"Everything okay?" You asked, amusement flooding you when you noticed flour in his hair.

"Perfect, thank you." The model nodded. "I was just wondering if I can borrow an egg?"

"Sure, come on in." You stepped aside and let him in. He squatted down to greet and pet Max and you heart felt like it was about to burst.

"The gremlin in my kitchen is my best friend, Jae." You told him when you noticed his gaze went to your kitchen. "Hey, gremlin!" You called, watching in amusement as she turned to you, nearly choking on her bite of brownie when she noticed Taehyung. "Meet my neighbour, Kim Taehyung."

Jae swallowed her bite, looking between you and Taehyung like she's playing spot the difference. Finally, she grinned at Taehyung. "Nice to meet you."

"You too." He smiled at her and your heart twisted uncomfortably. The feeling vanished when he turns to you, smile turning into a boxy grin. "So, how are you?"

"The same way you left me two days ago, perfectly healthy and okay." You told him as you walked to the fridge. "Just one?"

"Yeah, I need three but I only have two." He frowned to himself, doing that adorable pouty thing with his lips that he does when he was thinking.

"And can I ask what you are going to do with three eggs?" You raised a brow at him, curious and handing him the egg.

Taehyung smiled brightly at you, "I'm baking a surprise birthday cake for my best friend, Jimin. It's his birthday soon and I'm practicing so long."

"I didn't know you can bake." You told him, surprised, as you walked him back to the front door.

"Oh, I can't, but I googled it and it doesn't look too hard." Taehyung said. You wanted to point out that it really wasn't that simple, that something can go wrong very quickly, but one look at Taehyung's bright, optimistic smile had you keeping your mouth shut.

"Right, well, good luck and if you need any help, you know where I live."

"Or I could just call you."

You snickered, opening your front door. "You don't have my number, doofus."

"Right." Taehyung frowned to himself. "We'll have to fix that."

"Next time." You promised with a smile. "Now go bake you cake."

"Thanks." He held up the egg and you waved him off. He looked over above you, because you were that short against him, "Bye, Jae." He looked at Max, who had resumed her spot on the couch. "Bye-bye, Maxie." He cooed at her then finally looked at you. "Bye Y/N."

"Bye, Tae." You said with a fond laugh, closing the door as soon as he walked away. You turned back around to find you best friend watching you with narrowed eyes. "What?"

"Yeah, what." She crossed her arms over her chest. "What was that?"

"That was my neighbour, Taehyung." You frowned a little at her.

"Oh, that much I noticed. Thanks for the heads up on being neighbours with one most eligible bachelors in the world, by the way" Jae said, clearly being sarcastic.

"Why, you interested?" You teased with a wide grin, but something inside of you didn't like the idea of Jae being interested in Taehyung.

"No, but I almost choked on a brownie infront of the Kim Taehyung, so a little warning would have been nice." She pouted.

"Sorry." You grinned at her sheepishly.

"It's okay, plus I didn't actually choke, so there's that." She assured you. "Back to my original topic though, what was that?"

"What was what?" You frowned at the question again.

She looked at you in disbelief, starting to wave her hands around. "That whole . . . domestic little scene that just happened here. I mean, he knows your dog's name and Max obviously knows him. And you two definitely talk as if you know each other."

You hum in agreement, "He's my friend."

"Friend?" She echoed, eyebrows going up.

"Yeah."

Jae huffed, "Could have fooled me."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's means that you two look like a couple." Jae said and you choked on thin air, cheeks flaming immediately. "And he was looking at you with the biggest heart eyes ever."

"We don't not, and he does not!" You exclaimed, heartbeat speeding up and your cheeks only getting hotter.

Jae hummed disbelievingly, "Keep telling yourself that."

When the smoke alarm next door went off fifty minutes later, your cheeks were still bright red.

* * *

"I still can't believe you did that." You told Taehyung matter of factly that Saturday, watching as Max and Yeontan arm around the park, chasing each other. You and Taehyung were sitting on a bench, talking about anything and everything, circling back to the topic of his burnt cake.

He pouted, clearly sulking. "I thought it would bake quicker if I turned the heat up."

"Yeah, but you forgot to half the baking time as you doubled the heat. That was bound to sent it up in smoke." You told him, snickering again. The recipe said he had to preheat and then bake at 180°C, but then Taehyung doubled the heat, figuring it would bake quicker and he had the right idea but he forgot his actual goal of baking it quicker and still left it in the oven for the full baking time instead of halfing it.

"You are so mean." He huffs, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Hah!" You chuckled. "Someone can't handle the truth."

"You're still coming over on Thursday to help me with the second practice right?" Taehyung asked, looking over at you with wide, pleasing eyes. You would have helped him sooner, Taehyung wanted you too, but he was flying to Italy tomorrow for a photoshoot and would only return on Wednesday morning. So, you told him to use the day to rest and that you'll see him on Thursday morning. Being an author was nice for the fact that you got to make your own schedule and work hours for the most part.

You nod, "I promised, didn't I?"

His shoulders relaxed a bit, "Good. I wouldn't want to accidentally set our apartment complex on fire."

"You know, I want to argue with that, but given what happened last Tuesday, I find that highly probable." You told him, hiding a smile when his mouth fell open in offence.

He scoffed, clicking his tongue. "Can't you be nice to me?"

"I am nice, I'm gonna help you bake a cake tomorrow and everything." You said, bursting out laughing when you saw the look of consternation on his face. Once you calmed down, you looked at him fondly to let him know your were just kidding with him. "Ah, Taehyung, don't ever change."

He smiled back at you and silence fell between you two again. Looking at Max and Yeontan playing together, you and Taehyung sitting together on the park bench, you remembered something.

"Hey, Tae, you remember my friend Jae, right?"

"I do." He nodded. "Why?"

You shook your head gently, "I was just thinking about something she said that day, about us."

Taehyung's head snapped to yours, "What did she say?"

"Nothing bad." You made sure to let him know. "Just that we looked very domestic and when we where sitting here right now, it just made me think of that for some reason."

"That's kind of true." He agreed and you nodded a little, it was. That's probably why you thought of it. "Your friend sounds wise."

"Oh no, she's not. She can talk her fair share of nonsense."

Taehyung looked at you with curiosity, "Like what?"

"Well," You paused thinking, not having to think long of the perfect example. "She told you me that you look at me with heart eyes."

Next to you, Taehyung tenses. You looked at him, worried that you might have offended him when he speaks, voice low and hesitant, "And what if I do?"

"What?" You where sure you didn't hear right.

Taehyung looks at you, eyes so serious and honest. You heart leaps into your throat. "What if I look at you with hearts in my eyes because I like you? What then?"

"Uh," You stammered, not able to comprehend properly, because fuck, where did this even come from? "I don't know." You admitted honestly because you really didn't know.

Taehyung deflated a bit and you felt bad because you didn't want to hurt him but you didn't want to lie either. He looked at you and asked another question, "Do you like me?"

You opened your mouth and felt like the world's greatest idiot when you said once more, "I don't know."

"I don't understand." He groaned, rightly frustrated. "It's a simple question, a yes or a no."

You winced, and tried to explain it to Taehyung because he put himself out on the line here and he deserves at least you making an effort. "I mean, I like you as a friend, but anything beyond that? I've never allowed myself to think it."

He frowned,"Why?"

You have him a pointed look, "Because you are way out of my league."

"Says who?" He asked, the frown deepening, looking at you with a stormy expression.

"Common sense." You deadpanned. "You are an international model, I'm a writer. You're also hot as fuck and I'm not."

Taehyung stared at you, then shook his head in disbelief. "You know for someone who preaches about common sense, you really don't have a lot of it."

"Excuse me?" You asked, a little gobsmacked.

Taehyung gave you a look, one that someone would give a child when they are busy explaining something to them. "Liking someone has nothing to do with looks or what you do for a living. It's about the person, their personality and their heart. I happen to like your personality and your heart."

You fell silent after that, sitting and absorbing what Taehyung said, thinking about it and finally declared, "I like yours too."

Taehyung smiled, bright and brilliant, and you felt your heartbeat speeding up, cheeks heating.

He hesitated, just for a heartbeat, before deciding that he's already come this far and he might as well plunder forward. "Then can we explore something more between us? Unless you think you can't find me appealing as a romantic partner."

"Okay." You nodded in agreement.

"Okay?" Taehyung asked with that bright, boxy grin, eyes sparkling.

You smiled back, warmth spreading through you, making you feel giddy."Okay, we can explore something more between us."

* * *

Something more meant more messaging. Like, a lot more. Taehyung messaged you three times the amount than he normally did and with emojis and selfies attached. The selfies were nice, but oh God, the emojis. There's like paragraphs of the things. Not that you mind. You actually really like it, but you aren't such a big messenger and it was taking consious effort to regularly check your phone instead of just leaving it unattended for hours as you worked on your new book.

That Thursday you and Max walked next door, just like you promised. The door was unlocked because you let Taehyung know you were coming and he replied that the door was open and you just enter. Yeontan greeted you and Max at the door and you made sure to greet the Pomeranian before calling for Taehyung to let him know that you were here.

He was obviously in the bathroom that was hidden in a little hallway that kept the bedroom and bathroom private from the open plan living room and kitchen. You knew it was probably just as spacious as yours because the interior is the exact same.

You spotting him comimg, in the process of pulling a shirt over his head. Your eyes zeroed in on the exposed skin, the golden tan skin of his belly on display, your eyes eagerly taking in the sight. His stomach was toned, six pack there but not overly defined. It looked both soft and firm and you really wanted to run your fingers over it and find out. Then the shirt covered the skin and you looked away, cheeks flaming because of your less than decent thoughts.

He walked to you, wrapping his arms around you and hugging you securely to him. You wrapped your arms around his waist and rested your cheek against his sturdy chest.

This - the hugging - was according to Taehyung, part of exploring their feelings. Personally you believe it's because he's a very touchy person, likes hugging and holding, giving his affection freely. He had to be a little more reserved in front of camera's but apparently that didn't change the fact that he likes hand holding - which he showed when you walked back to your apartment building on Saturday - and hugging - which he did when you seperated in the hall outside your apartments.

You like it, being hugged like this. He was warm and taller and bigger than you and he rested his cheek on your hair, which made your stomach flutter.

"You give nice hugs." You told him when you pulled apart, watching as his cheeks heated up.

"Thanks." He grinned at you.

Taehyung pulled out the ingredients out and you leaned against the kitchen island counter, staring at him.

"I'd tell you to take a picture, but I like it when you stare at me. It means you like me too." He said, turning to you with a fond grin.

Your cheeks enflamed, and you ducked you head, but something stuck in your mind, so you looked back at him and reminded him, "I already told you that I like you too."

Taehyung nodded, "I know but you express it differently than I do. I like to hug you and hold your hand, but you don't do that. You'll tell me I'm an idiot and then smile at me with stars in your eyes. It's different and it's taking some getting use to, that's all."

You frowned at him, "Good different or bad different?"

"Neither, just different." Taehyung said, walking to you and barricading you against the counter with his hands. "Stop worrying so much, I know you like me too, you just express it differently." He leaned down, brushing his nose against yours. Your breath hitched and your stomach fluttered.

"So, I was wondering," Taehyung started conversationally when you two where busy measuring ingredients a few minutes later. You hummed to let him know you are listening. "Do you wanna go on a date? Somewhere just us. I love Max and Yeontan, don't get me wrong, but I want to spend time with you alone too."

"I'd love too." You beamed at him. "I wanted to ask you out too, but I didn't know how." You admitted with a shy smile. "What did you have in mind?"

"Going to the movies." He answered immediately. "I know it's cliche, but I really want to do it."

"Cliches are cliche for a reason, right? And there's a few movies I've been wanting to see, there's bound to be one we can agree on." You shrugged at him, feeling excited rush through your veins. "I have one condition though."

Taehyung's smile faltered a bit and you felt your heart twist, "What?"

"I get to plan the next date." You told him, watching as the beam returned full force.

"Deal."

* * *

The movie date was good, really good. You told held hands for most of it, only letting go when your hands became to sweaty. Another two Saturday's later - because you had a few book signings to attend - you were going on you next date. You drove, because you planned the date and are now excecuting it. You told Taeyung before hand where you were going to spend the day and he seemed so excited. Everything was going great, until now because Taehyung had forgotten to mention on very important detail to you.

"You're afraid of heights?" You all but screeched as you looked at the cart you were in. The cart that was going up. You looked at Taehyung, who was gripping the safety rail like it was his lifeline. He nodded vigorously, pale and shaking. You groaned, "Kim Taehyung, I'm going to murder you."

"I'm sorry." He said sounding breathless.

"It's okay, I'm not mad. Well, I am, but only because you didn't tell me." You looked at him, heart twisting violently when you saw the terror in his eyes. "Want to hold my hand?" You offered, holding it out to him. He didn't waste a second before taking it, holding it so tightly that you almost regretted offering but when you saw that he relaxed - just ever so slightly - your heart soared.

He held your hand for the whole ride and you realised that he was a lot stronger than he looked. When you got off the ride, you saw that his legs was a little wobbly and you wrapped your arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. He rested his weight against you as he tried to solidify his legs again and you whispered, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," He pulled away with a bashful smile. "I am, thank you."

Relief made your worried heart lighter. "Good, now let's go get the photos."

Taehyung groaned but followed you to get the photos for this ride like you got the photos of you two for everyone of the rides you went on, stored safely on the small backpack on Taehyung's back pack.

"Those need to be burned." Taehyung grumbled, side eyeing the pictures you held in your hands.

You snickered, deciding to tease him a bit. "Are you kidding? I could make a fortune selling these on Amazon or Ebay."

You laughed at the look on his face and he pouted when he realised that you were only teasing. You settled down, and fixed him with a firm look. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He sighed, looking down at his Converse. You were glad that he dressed down for your date. His usual style of Gucci would have definitely attracted eyes to you two. "You looked so excited when you saw the ride, and I just, I didn't want to disappoint you."

You stopped in your tracks, rounding on him and taking one of his hands in yours, lacing your fingers together. "Taehyung, you could never disappoint me by admitting to a fear."

"We came here to have fun." He argued softly, thumb rubbing gently over the back of your hand.

"I know for a damn fact that you didn't have fun," You pointed out, giving him a look. "And do you honestly think that I had fun up there, knowing that you were terrified for every second of it?"

"Sorry." Taehyung mumbled, ducking his head and sucessfully avoiding your eyes even though he was taller than you.

"I'm sorry, too, for not asking if you're okay with heights." You said, squeezing his hand.

"It's hard," He told you. "To admit my fears out loud."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm afraid of snakes." You told him shyly.

"Really?" Taehyung looked at you curiously.

"Oh yeah, absolutely terrified." You nodded seriously, a shiver passing through you as you thought about the creatures. "I once knocked my brother's lights out because he decided to scared me with a fake one."

* * *

It was the next day, a perfectly ordinary Sunday, when everything went to shit. You had just woken up, a smile on your face as you thought about you date with Taehyung the previous day, when your phone rang. You picked up immediately because it was the ringtone of your best friend Jae and then she gave you the news: you and Taehyung were all over the news. Pictures of your date yesterday, when you were hugging and holding hands, are all over social media. After hanging up with Jae, you decided to turn of your phone. You didn't want to talk to your family or your publicist right now - you want to sulk and be left alone. After taking a shower and finally getting dressed, you decided to go out and get some breakfast, not feeling in the mood to make something for yourself. You whistled to Max and put on her leash, there was a great food struck not to far from here that made amazing food. You and Taehyung went there a few times, after returning from the dog park and feeling a little peckish.

When you got off the elevator in the lobby and looked through the tinted windows, panic flooded your veins because out there stood dozens of paparazzi. Luckily no one could get into your building without a code. You turned on your heel and took the elevator back up to your apartment.

This is exactly why you were the one to keep it a secret - Taehyung never wanted too, he wanted to announce it from the top of his lungs and you barely stopped him. You hated the thought of everyone knowing, not because you were ashamed or unsure of your feelings, but because you wanted privacy and peace. You'd get neither now. You and Taehyung haven't even put a label on it and now it's out there - for everyone to pick apart and give their opinion.

And worst of all, it was all your own fault. You were the one that planned your date to the amusement park.

The elevator doors dinged open to the sounds of someone banging on a door and Mrs Lim's voice, "Taehyung, dear, I hardly think making all this noise is going to help."

"I'm not leaving until I see her." Taehyung said, determindly, not once faltering in his banging on your door. You were surprised the other three tenants on this floor hasn't come out. Taking a closer look at him, you saw that he was panicked and worried, and your heart ached.

"Tae, I'm right here." You spoke up, his banging immediately stopping at the sound of your voice. He turned to you so fast he almost lost his balance, face visibly relieved.

"Y/N, thank God! I thought you were avoiding me. The news-" He started, a little breathless.

"Yeah, I heard. You should see how it looks downstairs." You cut him off, walking past both you neighbours. Remembering your manners, you turned back to Mrs Lim and bowed to her. "Morning, Mrs Lim."

"Morning, my dear. Now that you're here, I'll be going back to bed." She said and with a wave over her shoulder, she was back in her apartment.

You walked to your apartment and was about to enter, when a light grip on your elbow stopped you. You didn't turn back to look at Taehyung, to afraid that you might burst into tears. His voice was both shaky and sure when he said, "We need to talk."

You nodded in agreement, knowing that he was right. You couldn't just run away from this, you need to talk it out. There was a suffocating heaviness around your heart that didn't want to go away. "Let me just get Max inside."

A few minutes later, you were both standing outside in the hallway. This was neutral ground for you two, both of your apartments holding to many memories of the last seven months for you to pick one to have this conversation in. Taehyung looked at you, eyes longing and full of emotion. "What are we going to do?"

You swallowed thickly, eyes burning even as you spoke the words. "I think we should take a break, from whatever this is."

"Whatever this is." Taehyung echoed, hurt clear in his voice, some of it slipping into his eyes. "We may not have put a label on it yet, but this has been a relationship for a while."

You stayed quiet, not knowing what to say to that.

"Sixty seconds." Taehyung said out of the blue.

Utterly confused, you frowned at him. "What?"

"Sixty seconds is what it took for me to fall in love with you. That first day, when you stepped off the elevator and into my chest, in that time, that was all it took." Taehyung told you, voice sure and sincere. Your heart stopped. And when it started beating again, it went into overdrive.

"Taehyung-"

This time, he cut you off. "I know that I always say that I like you, but Y/N, I've never just liked you. I love you, and I am not going to let you go just because people found out about us."

"Your career-"

Taehyung cut you off again, stepping forward and taking both of your hands in his. "Will be fine and even if it isn't, I have a back up plan. I wasn't planning on modeling forever. In a few years newer and younger faces will take my place and then I will be done anyway. But me and you? I want us to last. For a long time."

The words caused the heaviness around your heart to fade away. "Are you sure?"

Taehyung scoffed, but he didn't answer verbally. He let go of your hands, cupped your cheeks and tilted your head up, then kissed you firmly. It wasn't supposed to last long, Taehyung just wanted to make a point, but the moment your lips touched, he was gone. Both of you were. It was only when your lungs burned from lack of proper oxygen - breathing through your nose only help for so long - that you pulled away.

"Yeah, I'm sure." He whispered breathlessly. You looked at him, giddiness making a goofy smile spread on you kiss swollen lips. You thought, gripping his shirt as you stood on unsteady legs, that maybe Taehyung wasn't the only one in love.

"Me too." You said, and you meant it. You weren't sure of a lot in this world, you aren't even sure what you are going to eat for breakfast today, but you are sure that you want Taehyung in your life. For a longtime. You smiled up at him, heart a mess in the very best way. "Me too."

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

all my tomorrow’s • min yoongi

plot – yoongi gets it in his head that you wouldn’t stand by him through just about anything, so you help him remember.

words – 2.6K

“Hey, can we talk?” Yoongi asks when you two walked out of your ensuite bathroom, having just taken a shower together. You were going to make some tea and then cuddle in bed, watching a movie or a series.

“Yeah, sure, what’s up?” You grinned at him, towel drying your hair over your shoulder.

“So, my surgery is coming up in a few days.” He started, clearly nervous, sitting on the edge of your shared bed in a shirt and flannel pants.

You frowned a little, not sure where exactly he’s heading with this conversation, but you nod anyway. “I know. Three days, to be exact.”

He hums, then looks at you, gripping the sheets. “What I’m trying to say is, these next few months, they’re not gonna be easy, so, I’d understand if you want to take a break.”

You looked at him, watching as he lowered his head, wondering how he could have possibly come up with this ridiculous idea. Maybe he was joking. When he didn’t say anything else, and you realised that he was being dead serious, you scoffed.

“You’re a real fucking idiot, you know that?” You said, completely serious. He looked up at that, eyes widening in surprise but there was relief on his face too.

“I’m just giving you the option.” He defended.

You clicked your tongue at him, offended. “Well, I never asked for it.”

He sighed gently, voice low when he spoke. “This isn’t what you signed up for.”

You turned away from him, trying to suppress the urge to scream at him. Maybe you could get one of the other members to beat some sense into him. Definitely not Jeongguk, the maknae would take it a bit too literal.

You sighed, taking a deep breath before turning to face your idiot. “Yoongi, why do you think I’m with you?”

“Because you love me.” He answered without hesitation and you felt relieved that he knew at least that much.

“Great, so you know.” You deadpanned, the smile on your face edging on sharp. “Now, can you please explain to me why I would want a break from our relationship when you would need my support most?” You glared at him slightly.

“Because I will be in pain, and difficult and I will need to do P.T and I will probably be short tempered.” Yoongi blurted and you felt anger starting to stir inside of you.

“Did it ever occur to you that I might want to be there despite that? That I want to take care of you while you heal?” You asked, voice a little heated.

His silence was more than enough of an answer.

“Jesus Christ.” You felt a little defeated, anger washing away and tears stinging your eyes. “Five years, Yoongi. Five fucking years we’ve been together. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“I’m sorry, I just thought you might want to sit this one out.” He shrugged, looking a little guilty.

“Heaven and hell, good and bad – that’s what we promised each other. Do you remember?” You looked him in the eyes, hoping the memory flashed to the surface for him as it did for you.

Two years ago:

“I want to marry you.” Yoongi said while you two were walking hand in hand on a secluded beach somewhere in Turkey. You couldn’t remember the name.

You tilted your head at him, a warm smile on your face, skin golden under the light of the setting sun. “Are you asking me or telling me?”

“I’m telling you.” He said firmly. “Let’s get married. Tonight.”

You wanted to laugh, but one look at his serious face had you stopping in your tracks. “Are you insane?”

“Insanely in love with you, yeah, but that’s besides the point.” Yoongi waved you off. “So, what do you say?”

“What about your fans and your members?” You asked, throat feeling dry and your heart beat speeding up because the longer you thought about it, the more you wanted it. Yoongi being your husband.

Husband.

The thought was a little dizzying.

Yoongi stepped in front of you, taking hold of your hands. “We don’t have to make it public. It’s just a piece of paper anyways, and it’s not like your surname would change like in other countries if we did sign papers, so what’s the point? Marriage is more than a piece of paper. Years ago, people didn’t sign any papers and they were still married, so why can’t we do it? As for the guys, they know. They’ve known since I looked at rings in Hawaii a year ago.”

“A year ago?” You echoed, grip on his hands tightening. “You’ve really thought about this.”

“I have.” Yoongi nodded in agreement. “I asked the others earlier and they’ll be witnesses for us. We can do it right here.” He gestured to the beach you were walking on.

Tears welled up in your eyes as the looks on the guys' faces suddenly made sense when Yoongi asked you to go for a walk on the beach earlier. “Well, I mean, I do have that white dress Hoseok bought for me as an early birthday present yesterday.”

Yoongi smiled at you, eyes twinkling as he gave you a pointed look. You gasped, tears finally rolling past the brims of your eye banks. “Oh my God, that was actually from you?”

When he nodded, you let out a half-laugh, half-sob. “I know it’s not exactly what you’d consider a traditional wedding dress, but I thought it would do nicely.”

“It’s perfect.” You assured him.

His eyes lit up, “Is that a yes?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you.” You nodded, another tear rolling down your cheek.

He pulled something out of his pocket, a ring. An engagement ring. You gasped again, "Where did you even get that?"

"My mom bought it for me a few months ago." Yoongi admitted with a shy smile. "I would have done it myself, but then I would have trended on Twitter five minutes later." He said, taking your hand and slipping the ring on your finger.

The next few hours went by in a blur as you showered, did your hair and then pulled on your dress, forgoing shoes because it was a beach wedding, after all. You felt so giddy at the thought that you let out a squeak of happiness. Finally, there was a knock on the sliding door that lead outside to the beach. You opened it and grinned at the person at the other side.

“Hey Hoseok.” You stepped aside and let your oldest friend in. He was wearing a white button up and white dress pants that were rolled up to his ankles, also barefoot.

“Wow, you look really beautiful, Y/N.” He gave you his sunny smile and you felt a little less nervous.

“Thank you.” You told him, sincerely. “For everything.” Because he was the one who introduced you to Yoongi. Sure, it was to the whole band at the time, wanting them to know his best friend in the whole world. You and Hoseok grew up together in Gwangju, next door neighbours and best friends from the first play date your mother’s arranged. “If it wasn’t for you, I would have never met Yoongi.”

“Ah, it was nothing.” He waved you off with that cheery grin of his. “You two did all of the hard work, nearly killed each other too.”

You rolled your eyes fondly, “We weren’t that bad.”

“Yes, you were.” Hoseok said with a serious look on his face. “Yoongi-hyung thought you weren’t interested and you thought he hated you because he almost always left the room the second you came in, when he was just really shy around you.”

“We figured it out eventually, didn’t we?” You pouted.

“Only because we locked you in a room together and wouldn’t let you guys out until you talked to each other.” Hoseok pointed out.

“Eh, semantics.” You two giggled and when you called down, you looked at him seriously. “Hoseok-ah, can I ask you a favour?”

“Anything.” He said and meant it. Yoongi often joked and said that you and Hoseok were like Jimin and Taehyung – soulmates. He also said that you’d probably murder and cover up a murder for each other.

Personally, you like to think that neither you or Hoseok are that violent.

“So, we’ve known each other since we were six months old, we went to school together and did everything we could together and if there is any truth in soulmates like Jimin and Taehyung believe, then I’d like to think that you are mine. So, Jung Hoseok, partner of my soul and best friend of my life, will you walk me to the beach and give me away?” You looked at him.

“Yes, I’d be honoured.” He nodded, eyes shining with tears like yours did. And so he did, he walked you down the makeshift isle to the beach where Yoongi was standing with the rest of the band.

You’d have like your parents to be here but it’s okay, they are here in spirit, having given Yoongi their blessing long ago.

Yoongi and the rest of the guys were dressed exactly the same as Hoseok, white button up and dress pants, rolled up to their ankles.

“I’d say take care of her, hyung, but that’s all you’ve ever done.” Hoseok said with a bright, teary smile as he gave your hand to Yoongi.

Namjoon would be ‘officiating’, so he stood with his back facing the ocean, while the rest of them stood on the other side of you and Yoongi, looking at the ocean and you and Yoongi looked at each other, holding hands.

“I’m not exactly sure how this works, but I’ll try.” Namjoon said, causing all of you to chuckles. “We are all here to celebrate the union of Yoongi-hyung and Y/N. They didn’t have the easiest road but they got here, with hard work and being dedicated to each other. Yoongi-hyung said they wanted to do their own vows.”

Yoongi nodded, smiling at you. “Ladies, first.”

“I didn’t have time to write something, so I’ll just speak from the heart. Yoongi, my love, my heart. There is so many things I could say to you, comparisons I could make and metaphors I could use but in the end, they could never fully explain everything I feel for you and they all add up to the same thing: I love you. And I will love you for as long as there is breath in my lungs and even after. Heaven or hell, I’ll pick whatever road you take. Good times and bad times, I’ll be by your side. For all my tomorrow's.”

Yoongi was smiling that gummy smile at you, the one you fell for the first time you saw it. “Y/N, that was beautiful and I loved it. I hope you like mine. I’ve been thinking about vows for a while now, knowing that I’d want to say something to you. And in the end I realised that there is nothing I could say here, today, that I haven’t already said and will say again to you, so instead I’ll tell you a secret you’ve always wanted to know – how I fell in love with you. The first time I saw you, I knew there was something about you. It wasn’t until a few months later, when you came over for dinner and laughed with Hoseok about something Jeonggukie did, one of those belly deep laughs, and I couldn’t take my eyes off you, that it finally hit me. I was falling in love with you. And everyday since then, I’ve been falling. And like you said, heaven or hell, good or bad, I’ll always love you and I’ll always be by your side.”

You both turned to Namjoon, who smiled at you, dimples showing. “I guess asking if you’ll always be there for each other is kind of moot now, huh?” You laughed a little, feeling so full love that you might actually combust.

Namjoon looked at you, “So, Y/N, do you take Yoongi-hyung as your husband?”

“I do.” You grinned.

“Yoongi-hyung, do you take Y/N as your wife?”

“I do.”

“In that case, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Present Day:

You looked at him, eyes searching desperately to see if he could still remember your vows from your wedding.

“I’ll always remember.” He looked at you softly, and so full of love, like he always does.

You walked to him, until you were right in front of him. His eyes followed you. Your voice was quiet and full of hurt when you asked him, “Then why would you tell me something like that?”

Yoongi took your hands and pulled you closer until you climbed onto his lap, straddling him with your knees. He rested his forehead against yours. “Because I’m an idiot who is hopelessly in love with you and I’m still terrified that one day this life is going to be too much for you and you’ll leave.”

“At least we can both agree on that – you’re an idiot.” You told him in a whisper. “But you’re my idiot.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, but if you ever say something like that to me again, I will withhold sex for a month.” You threatened seriously.

“Just a month?” He teased. Both of you’ve gone longer without physically touching each other when he’s been on tour.

“There’s only so long I can resist you.” You admitted, cheeks heating up a bit. “Especially when you are in my immediate vicinity.”

“Like that time you jumped me when I stepped through our door after a world tour?” He gave you a smug look.

You sighed, “Oh, not this again. I didn’t jump you.”

“Okay, fine, you didn’t jump, you leaped into my arms.” He snickered.

You pouted, “To give you a welcome home hug.”

“And remind me again, what did we do right after that hug?” He raised a brow.

“As far as I remember, you were a very willing participant.” You grumbled.

“Never said I wasn’t.” Your husband said. You glared at him.

Yoongi chuckles, the sound making you melt as he leaned closer and kissed you. You kissed him back, not hesitating. You loved being kissed by him. His tongue asked for entrance and you granted it, moaning into his mouth when he thoroughly explored your mouth with his tongue. When you pulled apart for air, Yoongi went for your neck, kissing, biting and licking wherever his lips touched, setting your skin on fire, blood roaring through your veins.

His hands moved up your bare thighs, fingers nudging the seam of your pyjama shorts.

Something occurred to you in your desire filled mind, want slowly drowning out any coherent thought.

“How’s your-” You cut yourself off as he gave a particularly hard suck on your pulse point and you knew there would be marks.

“How’s your shoulder?” You finally asked – gasping in pleasure when his teeth scraped the sensitive skin, eyes fluttering shut – the knowledge of Yoongi being in pain would be enough to douse the fire inside you.

The next moment you were on your back, eyes opening to see Yoongi looking down at you with wicked grin, a hand on each side of your head. “It’s fine. I haven’t had any pain today, you know that.”

“Just checking.” You said with a pointed look as you wrapped your arms around his waist, slipping your arms beneath his shirt. The look was to remind him of that time when he didn’t tell any of his members that he was in pain during a practice and passed out from pain.

“Yes, mom.” He rolled his eyes.

You pinched his waist with a light huff, “Fuck you.”

“Oh, trust me,” Yoongi smirked, eyes full of intent. “You will.”

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

duet [2/2] • jeon jeongguk

WORDS – 3.6K

part one

“Just rehearsing now, right?” He checked, even though you both knew that was all that remained.

“And we’re done!” You announced, grinning at Jeongguk. He grinned back and warmth bloomed in your heart.

“Yes! No more early Saturdays and Sundays.” You were relieved because every weekend that Jeongguk was in town, you two worked on the choreography. And now that that was done, you would only rehearse at school until the assessment day.

Jeongguk looked at you, a little hesitant. “We’re still friends, right? I mean, after this is over, we’re not gonna go back to being strangers?”

You frowned at him, heart twisting violently at the thought. “No. Of course not, why would you think that?”

Jeongguk’s tense shoulders relaxed. “I don’t know, just being stupid, I guess.”

“You, my dear friend,” You started, walking closer to him and pointing your index finger at him. “are a overgrown puppy.”

Before he could come up with some ridiculous retort, you stepped even closer, right up in his personal space and wrapped your arms around his waist, hugging him.

He froze, just for a second, before hugging you back.

“Our friendship doesn’t have a expiration date, Jeongguk-ah.” You told him softly, but meaning it all the same.

“Thank you.” His voice was just as soft as yours as he squeezed just a bit tighter.

You stood there, hugging. He didn’t let go, so you didn’t either. You realised that it was actually really nice hugging Jeongguk. His chest was warm and solid but also soft and comfortable. His arms around you were strong and secure and it made you feel content, just standing there in his arms.

Then it hit you, like a lightening bolt. Holy shit, you thought to yourself, I like him. I like Jeon Jeongguk. Fuck.

You pulled away from Jeongguk, startled by the revelation, but really, you should have seen it coming. You’ve never bothered too or wanted to get to know someone, and then in walks Jeongguk into your life and all you wanted, was more.

You want to spend more time with him, you want to talk to him, you want to know anything and everything about him, you want to tease him and you want to comfort him.

You want him. And not just physically.

Shit.

“You okay?” He asked, reaching out to you after you pulled out of the hug so abruptly.

You side stepped his hold and nodded slowly, still processing. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m gonna go get the ice cream.”

Jeongguk stared after her as walked in the direction of the kitchen, heartbeat speeding up even more. There was no way she knew right? It was just a hug, he was sure he didn’t let anything slip. She couldn’t possibly figure out from that, that he likes her.

* * *

“I’m going to be so bloated tomorrow.” Jeongguk groaned but still finished the last spoon full of banana ice cream.

You snorted, “Do I really need to remind you that this was your idea?”

And it really was. He was the one who called you and said that he was going to star gaze with his telescope on the roof of his dorm building and asked if you wanted to join him. Seeing as there wasn’t many opportunities to stargaze in the city, you said yes – although in hindsight it wasn’t the greatest idea in the world to stargaze with the guy you liked more than you’ve ever liked anyone before.

“You bought the ice cream.” He retorted, going to lay on his back, looking up at the stars. “Admit it, you brought it here for me to eat with you.”

“Of course, I brought it for you too, it was chocolate and banana ice cream so I thought I could eat the chocolate and you could eat the banana-” Here he let out a loud, triumphant 'hah!’ that made you roll your eyes just a bit. “-but I still didn’t tell you too eat it. It was your own choice, golden boy.” You smirked at him, watching as he pouted. You snickered, laying down next to him and looking up. You couldn’t really see the stars clearly without the help of the telescope that stood not to far from the two of you, even up this high.

“I hate that you’re always right.” He grumbled, no heat in it whatsoever as he nudged your arm with his. Your heartbeat kicked up a bit at the small touch and you felt half giddy, half annoyed with yourself. It was just a nudge, for crying out loud.

“My apologies, Sir Jeongguk.” You said, raising your voice in pitch and making it sound squeaky and fake. You both burst out laughing a second later, rolling on the ground, until the laughter turned into giggles that turned into silly grins as you two laid facing each other.

Jeongguk looked at you, dark eyes pinning you down. Even though it was the dead of night, the city lights made sure that your two could see each other. The air between you changed. Your stomach flip-flopped and you wanted to get away from this, because this position – Jeongguk laying face to face with you, within kissing reach – was dangerous for your heart and your self-control.

“Can I tell you something?” He whispered, seeming to realise that something about this moment was different and he didn’t want to accidentally break it.

“Don’t you always?” You tried to tease like your normally did, but your voice was different as nervousness stared spreading through your body.

“I want to kiss you. So badly.” Jeongguk admitted and all of the air in your lungs evaporated.

Your heart screamed yes, thundering against your ribcage, but your mind said no. You sat upright, moving away from Jeongguk, wishing that he had never said it. Fantasizing and daydreaming about him returning your feelings is one thing, but him actually returning your feelings? It’s terrifying. He is an Idol, part of a group who’s popularity and fame grows everyday.

If you act on whatever is between you two, give into each other, it could ruin everything that he’s worked so hard for. And you couldn’t do that to him.

So, you hardened yourself and looked at him, seeing that he had sit upright as well. “What?”

He immediately understood by your tone that you didn’t agree with his words. “I, uh, I’m sorry. I thought that you felt the same. I’m sorry.”

“There is a difference between friendship and a relationship. You and me? We’re just friends.” You words were slightly harsh and when he flinched, you felt like the worst person in the world.

He looked down at the cement you two were seated on, hands gripping his knees so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, Y/N.” He whispered, like he did something terrible by admitting what he feels for you. Your heart ached and you needed to leave before you could give into him.

“I don’t think we should be friends anymore.” You said, and his head shot up, eyes visibly panicked. You ignored it, getting up.

Jeongguk scrambled to his feet, taking a hold of your hands, shaking his head fiercely, his eyes tearing up. “No, no, please, we- we can still be friends. I can get over this, I will get over it, I promise. Just don’t do this. Please.”

You pulled your hands out of his, gently because you’ve hurt him enough as it is. “It’s better this way, Jeongguk.”

You turned and walked away from him, you took deep, shaky breaths as you walked to the elevator, your eyes starting to tear up halfway there. Luckily, it was just you when the elevator dinged open. So, when the doors closed, you finally let the tears fall as you slumped against the wall. With each shake of your shoulders, it felt like your heart was breaking more.

* * *

After that, you started to avoid Jeongguk. You sent him a text saying that you didn’t need to practice the duet any more, because it was already perfect and there was only a week left before you needed to do the dance. Then you blocked his number. Petty, you knew, but you didn’t need the extra temptation.

At school it was a little easier because he wasn’t there for Monday or Tuesday and when he was back, you avoided him best you could. On Thursday, he caught up to you after a math period and you snapped because this was hard for you too.

“Just stay the fuck away from me!” You screamed at him, so loudly that every student in the hallway looked at you.

Jeongguk stepped back, looking like someone slapped him in the face.

You found the nearest bathroom and cried for the whole next period. Then you called your mom and asked her to come get you because you weren’t feeling well. She didn’t even question it, just said she’d be there within an half hour.

Jeongguk didn’t try to talk to you again the next day.

* * *

That next Monday was when you and Jeongguk had to perform the dance that would count for half your year mark. When you walked into the studio, you immediately noticed him. Jeongguk was standing and waiting for you in the middle, wearing white skinny jeans and a loose white button up – you had asked him if it would bother him, but he said that he could dance in pretty much anything. He looked breathtaking, but then again, you already knew that.

You were wearing white dress. It was tight fitting across your chest and to the middle of your stomach. Then it went down to your knees and when he twirled you, it would flair around you.

You tried to avoid his eyes, but couldn’t. It reflected exactly what you felt – hurt and longing. You nodded to the teacher, and when the song started, you suddenly hated it. You don’t speak English, but the song needed to be in English and you both wanted to know what the song meant and for it to mean something to both of you, so you googled the translation of the lyrics.

Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi was the song you both finally liked. Now you hated it because the lyrics hit to close to home right now.

You and Jeongguk finished your dance, and letting go of his hand was one of the hardest things you’ve ever had to do. The teacher was full of compliments and some of your fellow students were too. Others watched you two with envy. You ignored both.

When you got the results the next day, full marks, you couldn’t even feel happy about it.

* * *

Two months later, Jeongguk releases a cover of 'Before You Go' on SoundCloud and you spent the whole night listening to it, crying and eating chocolate ice cream. (You couldn’t even look at the banana and chocolate ice cream.)

* * *

It was another two months later when you were woken up by your mom one night. You immediately sat up right, disoriented and full of sleep, eyes squinting from the hallway light.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Your voice was low and full of sleep.

“There is someone at the door for you.” She said, reading glasses on her face and dressed in her PJ’s but not sleepy, which means she was still up working.

You checked the time on your phone, “It’s the middle of the night. Tell whoever it is to go away.”

“I think you should come and see the person.” She said, giving you a pointed look that made it clear that it wasn’t a suggestion.

With a deep sigh you got out of bed and walked to the living room. You were shocked out of your wits when you recognized the figure sitting on your couch leaning back, eyes closed and singing something unintelligible. You looked around for your mom, who was nowhere to be found.

“What are you doing here?” You asked, sharper than you intended. Jeongguk's eyes flew open and searched for you. When he found you, the most endearing bunny smile lit up on his face.

“Y/N!” He exclaimed cheerily, a bit slurred. You frowned, a thought coming up in your mind, and you stepped closer to him.

“Jesus Christ,” You breathed when you put it together. Flushed cheeks, over cheery personality, and the smell – Jeongguk is drunk. “What the fuck, Jeongguk?”

He pouted, crossing his arms over his chest huffing. “We haven’t seen each other or spoken on four months and that’s the first thing you say? No ‘I missed you'?”

You looked at him with narrowed eyes, “Oh no, you don’t get to play that card with me. Not after you show up drunk at my house, in the middle of the night.”

“I missed you.” He said, like he didn’t hear a word you said, looking at you with frighteningly serious eyes.

“I-” You started, but you didn’t know what to say because those words melted away at all of the carefully constructed walls you built around your feelings for Jeongguk in an effort to keep them under control. The truth of the matter is simple – you are weak for Jeongguk.

“Do you hate me?” He asked, tilting his head at you curiously.

You frowned, kind of offended by the question. “No, I don’t hate you.”

“Oh.” He nodded to himself, looking relieved.

You sighed gently when something occurred to you. “Does your hyung’s where you are?”

“Uh,” He looked at you wearily. “No.” He admitted.

You gaped at him, “What? Why not? Are you insane? They must be so worried about you.”

“I forgot.”

“You forgot.” You echoed in disbelief and when he just nodded, you pulled deep for patience. “Okay, so call them.”

“I forgot my phone.” He winced at the glower you aimed at him.

“Fine, I’ll go get my phone.” You said, turning away from him and going back to your room. “You better have their numbers memorized.” You muttered to yourself.

When you returned, phone in hand, it was to an asleep Jeongguk and your mother throwing a blanket over him.

“Mom, no, what are you doing? He needs to go home.”

“He can go home in the morning. After you two actually talked to each other.”

“We don’t need to talk.”

Your mom gave you one of those looks again, “The boy showed up, in the middle of the night, drunk of his ass and asked for you. I think that he might have a few things to say.”

“Maybe I don’t want to listen.” You mumbled petulantly.

“You love him. No, don’t look at me like that. I know who he is, I know about the dance and I know you cry sometimes. It doesn’t take a genius to put it together, my dear.” Your mom said, looking very satisfied with herself.

“He’s not even supposed to be here.” You sighed. “I let him go.”

Your mom grinned, eyes twinkling, “Well, you know what they said: when you set a bird free and he returns, he’s yours to keep forever.”

“He’s not a bird, mom.”

“It’s a metaphor.”

“It’s ridiculous, is what it is.” You huffed.

“Go get some sleep.”

The next morning you seriously contemplated not getting out of bed. Then you remembered the look your mom gave you and decided to face Jeongguk rather than your mother’s wrath. You got dressed, having showered the previous evening before bed, brushed your teeth, and walked to the living room, where the Idol was still passed out.

You got a glass of water and two painkillers before going to wake him up. You gently shook him wake, watching as he blinked his eyes open with a wince, then bolted upright when he noticed you. “Y/N? What am I doing here?”

“Funny thing,” You started, handing over the water and painkillers. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

He took hit gratefully, drinking the pills and downing the water. “Thanks.”

“Yeah, so we need to talk, but first, call your hyungs and then go brush your teeth. There is spares in the cupboard beneath the sink. I’ll be in the kitchen.” Without giving him a chance to respond, you walked away.

Fifteen minutes later, he passed into the kitchen on sock covered feet, face washed and teeth brushed, holding your phone out with a sheepish smile. “Thank you.”

“They must love you right now.” You smirked, taking the phone and pocketing it. “Coffee?”

“Sure.” He nodded. “My hyungs aren’t to happy with me right now, but they are relieved that I called.”

You hummed in agreement, not really sure what to say. When you were done, you handed the coffee to him. You leaned against the counter and watched him. “Why are you here?”

He looked at you, long enough that you started to feel until unnerved. When he spoke, there was no hesitation or doubt. “I want to be with you.”

You swallowed, “Jeongguk-”

“Just hear me out, before you say no, okay? Please.” He looked at you. “I’m begging here.”

You nodded hesitantly. What could it hurt?

“We only get one life, and I decided long ago that I wouldn’t live it with any regrets and I know that if I let you go now and never look back, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I’m not asking you to marry me, Y/N, just for a chance, because I think that we could be great.” He said, eyes unguarded and hopeful as he looked at you.

Tears was stinging your eyes, “You don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?” He asked, because no, he didn’t get it.

“You’re an Idol, and being an Idol means sacrificing certain things. You and me-” You gestured between you two. “-we’re one of those things.”

“So, what? I don’t even get a say? You just make the choice for me?” He asked, getting a little angry.

“Why can’t you understand? This is for you own good. If we do this and it gets out, and you could loose everything.” You said, trying to make him see. “Before, when I said you could tell everyone I’m your girlfriend, that was different because it wasn’t true and you could have easily denied it. But this time it wouldn’t be and both of us deserve better than a life of secrets and lies.”

“Well, that’s my choice, too, isn’t it?” He retorted heatedly and it was only then when you noticed how close you two were standing, that while you were arguing, you moved closer to each other.

You went to step away from him when he grabbed your wrist and pulled you closer to him, wrapping his free arm around your waist. He gave you a slight glare that you found a lot more attractive than you probably should have. “Stop running away from me. It’s not going to solve anything.”

“I’m not running.” You protested even as you placed your hands on his shoulders, trying to put a bit of space between you but not really getting anywhere because his hold was solid and he is really strong. How easily he lifted you during your practices for the dance was more than enough proof.

“You are.” He scoffed, looking down at you. Your heartbeat spiked, heat rushing to your cheeks as he looked at you with those dark eyes of his. This close you could see they were really a warm brown colour and the mole underneath his bottom lip looked even cuter. You felt the urge to press a kiss to it. “Tell me you don’t have feelings for me.”

More than a little distracted by the close proximity to Jeongguk, you didn’t immediately understand what he said. “What?”

“Tell me you don’t have feelings for me. Tell me and I’ll walk out your front door and you never have you see me again.” He challenged. You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. Slowly, he started to smile, happiness seeping out of him. “I knew it.”

You looked down, looking at the stitches of his t-shirt collar. “What gave me away?”

“The look in your eyes that night on the roof – you were terrified. You once told me that only three things in this life terrify you – loosing your mom, snakes and love.” Jeongguk said and your eyes widened.

“You remember that?” You asked, a little amazed because that was more than five months ago.

“I remember everything.” He said, voice so soft and gentle, sparkling eyes looking at you like you were worth everything and more. He started to smile slowly. Your heart thumped wildly, cheeks heating up. “Can I tell you something?”

You snorted, leaning forward to rest your head against his shoulder, his words of all those months ago coming back to you. You decided to give in an play his game. “Don’t you always?”

“I want to kiss you. So badly.” He said again, but no less sincere than the first time.

You lifted your head and looked him in the eyes. You saw the hope, the nervousness and the fear. You realised that maybe, he was just was terrified of this as you were, but he was taking a chance – again – despite of his fear.

You knew that there was still a lot to be said. You owed him an apology, for all those mean and heart breaking things you said, but most of all for ending your friendship. You promised him that your friendship didn’t have an expiration date and then you shut him out after he opened his heart to you. You really don’t know where he got the courage to do it a second time.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Jeongguk, you smiled up at him and said, “Then what are you waiting for?”

Jeongguk went still for a moment, then smiled – something bright and brilliant – before leaning down to press his lips to yours. You decided right then and there that this must be what heaven on Earth feels like.

the end.

[bangtanreadingcorner]

duet [1/2] • jeon jeongguk

PLOT – when you and jeongguk are paired together for a duet, neither of you plan on falling in love, but you end up falling anyways.

GENRE – high school!au

WORDS – 3.8K

You stared at the face across from you at the library table, smirking at the familiar face. Admittedly – if to no one other than yourself – it was a handsome face. The face of Jeon Jeongguk, who is more on stage than he is in school. Not that you mind or care what he does with his free time, that’s his business, but you were the unfortunate one to get stuck with him on a project, so now it’s kind of your business.

“So, what do you say, idol?” You asked, the smirk never wavering.

He looks down to the piece of paper you’ve given him, the paper that contained your schedule for the dance you were supposed to choreograph for marks – that going for half your grade. “This is unreasonable.”

You snorted, “Look, pretty boy, I’ve coloured inside all of the lines of the schedule you gave me for when you are in town – or should I say the country? – anyways, and this is what remains.”

He looked at the paper, and groaned. “When am I supposed to sleep?”

“That sounds like a you problem.” You shrugged.

“You're working on my nerves, you know?” Jeongguk grumbles under his brother, not meaning for you to hear, but you did anyways.

You snicker, “Yeah, ditto, dumbass.”

"I’m not dumb." He frowns.

"Sure you aren't." You quipped sarcastically, just teasing and not meaning anything by it. You liked how easy he was to rile up.

He scoffed, "Oh, because you're such an Einstein."

"Einstein had an IQ of 160, mine is 165." You resisted the urge to laugh at the look on his face.

His jaw dropped, eyes going round. "Really?"

“HA!” You chortled, slapping your palm on the desk in between you. “Pfft, no! Did you actually believe that?”

He pouted, huffing and crossing his arms over his chest. "You’re pure evil."

"Which is why the devil is keeping my throne in hell warm so long."

"Oh my god, do you have an answer for everything?"

"Sure I do. It might not always be the right answer but eh, yolo, right?" You told him cheerily, a grin on you face.

Jeongguk look at her for a few seconds, mouth gaping open, and then he laughed so hard his stomach hurt.

"I've never met a girl like you before." He gasped out between laughs.

"First of all, there's no other girls like me. My mom always says she must have served Hitler in her previous life and I was her punishment. Where was I are? Oh. Yeah. Second of all considering the fact that you run from any girl who enters a five foot radius from you, that's not surprising." You said smugly, remembering how he always side steps almost any girl that wants to talk to him.

“Hey!” He exclaimed. “I have a justifiable reason for that.”

"I’m listening." You rose a brow, curious about his explanation.

"Okay, so, don't laugh, I've never told anyone this, not even my hyungs, but I once read this tweet from a noona that said she wants to pull me over her lap and spank me until I cry." He confessed, cheeks going bright red.

You regarded him silently for a long moment before you asked, "Was it the spanking or the crying that freaked you out?"

Jeongguk glared, “I hate you.”

“That's a shame, I think you're cute.” Jeongguk flushed and you smirked but when he wouldn’t meet her eyes, she changed the subject. "Anyway, this terrified you so bad that you’re applying it to every girl on planet earth?"

"You never know, okay!" He said, voice going a bit higher, tone defensive.

“That's true.” You nodded in a placating manner. “To be honest, I've seen a few girls eye you with strange looks in their eyes.”

You laughed at the horrified look on Jeongguk's face.

* * *

"Is it true?" You look up, the voice only half way familiar and when you see the face, you immediately put a name to it. A girl named Yesu, the same age as you and notorious for gossiping and knowing anything about most of the students in this school.

She must want to know something big if she was willing to approach you at your lunch table where you sat by yourself because you were kind of the school pariah. Having no friends, being smarter than everyone and not worrying about keeping up appearances.

You hid the puzzled look that threatened to spread on your face and gave her a sharp smile, "Several things in this universe are true but you are going to have to elaborate if you want my opinion on which one is true."

"Is it true that you're dating Jeon Jeongguk?" She asked bluntly.

You nearly fall out of your chair but kept your voice even as you said, "What?"

It’s been two weeks since you and the Idol have seen each other and today your were having your first meeting for your project after school – he was away the last two weeks performing God only knows where. He was in school today, that much you know from the gossip in the halls.

"He said so this morning, but you've never dated anyone." She went on, eyes narrowed as she inspected you.

You frowned at Yesu. “What's that got to do with anything? As far as I'm aware, and I know all of the school gossip even if I don't participate in it, he hasn't either.”

Her face brightened, like she won the lottery or something. "So it's true then, you two are dating?"

“Frankly, my dear, I don't see how my private like is any of your fucking business.” You give her a scalding look, rising from your lunch table. “Just because you announce everything from a bad hair day to a cheating boyfriend, doesn't mean other people do the same.” The second your back was turned to her, you scowled deeply.

You are going to murder that idiot.

After the school day was done, you walked to the dance studio you and Jeongguk would be using for the next three months on the times you scheduled. And other times at your home or his, when the studio was already booked. It really was a pain to fit in rehearsing time with his busy Idol schedule but you did it. Now you just hoped he sticked to it. You walked into the studio and kicked off your school shoes, school bag in one hand, duffle bag with civvies slung over your shoulder. You looked around, ready to swear when you didn’t see your partner, but then you saw a lump on the far end of the room, on the floor. You walked to it and your heart melted more than a bit when you saw it was your partner who was sleeping. He was already dressed in casual clothes, a white t-shirt and a pot of black puma sweatpants. School bag underneath his head, long legs curled up and hands tucked between his thighs, he slept like a baby.

You almost felt sorry about waking him but then you remembered the interrogation with Yesu and anything guilt or sympathy vanished. You kicked the bag gently, not enough to hurt him but enough to waking him up – you aren’t a monster and his company would probably sue you if you damaged a hair on his head. “Oi! Wake up! Hey, dumbass!”

“Five more minutes.” He mumbled, his voice - deep and full of sleep - was surprisingly pleasant. He turned around and went back to sleep.

You looked at him, gaping opened mouthed at him. You nudged him with your sock covered foot, still making sure to be gentle. “No, not five more minutes. Get up right now.”

“Or what?” He asked, back turned to you and not looking like he was about to get up anytime soon. Instead of answering, you squatted down next to him and twisted his ear harshly. You quickly got up and out of the way when he shot up right with a curse. He glared up at you, not very threatening with bleary eyes and tousled hair, rubbing his ear. “Do you like hurting people or something?”

You shrugged, “I tried being nice, it didn’t take. Plus, you’re the one who said 'or what'.”

He got to his feet, yawning and looking all of five years old. You squinted at him, wondering how this is the same guy that you’ve seen on TV, wearing form fitting suits and moving with more grace than half the people in this school has.

“What?” He asked, noticing your look.

“Are you up now?” You asked him, voice a little sharp.

He nodded, clearly still sleepy. “Yeah, I’m just gonna go wash my face.”

“Don’t fall asleep in the toilet.” You warned.

He gave you an amused look, “Or you’ll come and get me?”

“Or I’ll draw a penis on your forehead and post it on social media.” You gave him a sickeningly sweet smile, watching as his eyes widened.

He was back within five minutes, bright eyed and fresh faced. There was the cutest little bunny smile on his lips, until he noticed you glaring at him.

“What did I do wrong now?” He asked in resignation.

“So, I had an interesting conversation with Yesu earlier.” You saw his brows dip in confusion and you realised that he must not have been in school enough times to remember everyone’s name. “She’s the school gossip queen. If anything happens here, she knows within an hour.” Slowly, realisation filled his eyes and you knew he finally got what your were walking about.

“What did you talk about?” He had the audacity to ask innocently.

You scowled, clenching your fists to keep yourself from punching him. "You told them I’m your girlfriend?"

He took a step back from you, hands raising in surrender. "I panicked, okay!"

You huffed and scoffed and groaned, "See, this is why I'm not nice to people."

"Did you tell them I lied?" He asked after a few seconds, full of dread. He looked at you, dark eyes pinning you down as he bit down on his bottom lip.

You looked away, not liking the way you started to feel nervous under his eyes, and admitted, "No."

"Did you agree?" He asked, void hopeful.

You looked at him again, glaring. “No, and I’m not going too.”

His brows dipped as he released his bottom lip, looking at your curiously. "Then how'd you get her to back off?"

“I told her that it's none of her fucking business and I walked away.” You told him bluntly, then gave him a look. “You should try it some times, instead of inventing a girlfriend.”

He spluttered, "You're real aren't you? Also, I told you, girls terrify me."

You scoffed, "And what am I? An alien?"

"You know what I mean." He gave you a pointed look that you didn’t really understand.

“Not really, I don’t.” You said truthfully, looking at him expectantly.

He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes moving away from yours. “I, uh, you-” He cut himself off, taking a deep breath. “You are different. I told you. You don’t make heart eyes at me and you don’t avoid me because of who I am either. You just accepted me the way I am, that day we first met. And I have never had a friend, who is a girl, like that.”

“Friends, huh?” You asked with raised eyebrows, trying to catch Jeongguk’s eye but finding it almost impossible.

“Yeah, if you want to be.” He nodded, looking down at his sneaker covered feet.

“You do know I’m the least liked person in this school, right?”

At that, he finally looked up, surprise written all over his face. “Why?”

“Because I’m smarter than all of them, I don’t hide it and I’m brutally honest. Most people can’t handle that.” You shrugged, used to it already. Long since having accepted it.

“Well, I don’t care.” Jeongguk said, firm and sure and sincere, looking right at you.

Slowly, you nodded. “Okay. Friends.”

He lit up like a candle. "Does that mean I can tell girls who bother me in school that you're my girlfriend?"

“So, that’s why you want to be friends? To use me as a buffer?”

His eyes widened, “What? No, no, that’s not what meant.”

“I know, I know, I’m just teasing.” You smiled at him, laughing lightly. When he continued staring at you expectedly, you just sighed with a roll of your eyes. "You do realise I’m never going to confirm it and that I’m not actually your girlfriend, right?"

"Yes." He nodded eagerly, excitedly.

You looked at him, shaking your head. "Fine. Whatever. Just know, when this blows up in our faces, I'm pointing all fingers to you."

"It won't blow up. I doubt any of them are willing to risk expulsion just to spread gossip." He waved you off.

"Yeah, well, luckily it's not real so we don't have anything to worry about, and if it does come out, you can just deny it." You shrugged.

* * *

"Fine. Whatever." He mocked with a smirk. You scowled and smacked him upside the head.

You were sound asleep when the blaring of your phone woke you up. You slapped your hand on your bedside table, squinting at the bright light to read the caller ID and seriously contemplating ignoring it.

It’s been a month since you’ve started practising and you have decide on a song and worked out some rough choreography but it was hard because you didn’t like this thing and he didn’t like that move. And to make things worse the song had to be in English because that’s what the teacher said – which took you a whole two weeks. Luckily you weren’t limited to a particular dancing style, you were even encouraged to include as many type of dance as possible, but the down side was that both of you had your own idea of what your dance should look like and now you two needed to turn that into one dance that made both of you happy.

So, yeah it was an uphill battle and you were both stubborn and determined, neither willing in easily give into the other. And you parted on a disagreement the last time you saw each other. Jeongguk did send you an apology text just before his flight took off, and you sent him one in return but you haven’t spoken since and you seriously considered not answering.

Then you realised that he doesn’t get a lot of free time and hasn’t called you once since you gave him your number a month ago, so you picked it up. “You do realise it’s three am, right, golden boy?”

“I, uh, actually did not know that. Shit, sorry.” He sounded genuinely apologetic, and you let it go. “I’ll hang up now, you can go back to sleep.”

“Nah, it’s okay, I’m already awake, you might as well let me know why you called me up.” You said, half sitting up in bed, pulling the blankets up around your shoulders.

“I can’t sleep.” He confessed. “Which is weird, because I’m exhausted but yeah, I go lay down and I try to sleep but I can’t.”

“It happens sometimes when you are overtired. Your body is exhausted but your brain is so wired from functioning for long hours on little sleep that it doesn’t know how to turn off.” You explained through a yawn.

“Sounds like you speak from experience.” Jeongguk said and you hummed.

“My brain struggles to turn off sometimes. I do have an IQ of 152.” You spoke, slowly becoming more and more awake.

“Hey, how come you’ve never told me that?” He complained, sounding a little indignant.

You chuckled sleepily, “Because you’ve never asked, pretty boy.”

“I have a name, you know.” Jeongguk grumbled.

“I know, you are on TV a lot.” You teased.

“Then why don’t you ever call me by it?” He asked, a bit petulantly.

“Because you’re fun to annoy.” You answered, smiling to yourself in the dark.

“You’re a horrible friend.” He said, no heat in it whatsoever.

“Excuse you, I’m an amazing friend.”

“Yeah, you are. Who else-” He started through a yawn. “-would pick up if I called them at 3 am?” He yawned again. “Damn, I am so fucking tired.”

You bit on your lip, wondering if you should offer. You cleared your throat and decided to go for it. The worst that can happen is that he’ll say no. “Hey, so, I know I’m not a professional like you, but I’m not tone deaf either, so if you’d like, I could sing you a lullaby. It’s just, my mom used to do it when I was younger, still does it sometimes when a bout of insomnia hits and my brain doesn’t want to quiet down. You don’t have to say yes, it was just an idea.”

You couldn’t remember the last time your were this nervous as you waited for his response, which felt like three hours but was just three seconds, “Yes, please.”

“Okay.” And so you started singing to him, not to loud because your mother was sleeping down the hall from you but enough that he can hear you.

After the third time you sang for him – which was just a song you liked because you only knew two lullabies – he didn’t answer when you called for him. “Hey, Idol, you asleep?”

No answer.

“Okay, I guess you’re knocked out. I’m hanging up now.”

Before you hung up, you said one last thing.

“Sleep well, Jeongguk-ah.”

Six days later, he was back home and you had practice for the next two days at your house. It was the weekend, so the school was closed and it was just much easier for Jeongguk to put on a mask, a hoodie and sunglasses and come over the apartment you and your mom stayed in than it was for you to go to the apartment of seven idols.

* * *

“At first I thought I got the address wrong.” Jeongguk said when you opened the door at 8 am that Saturday morning and invited him in.

“Why?” You asked with a light frown as he toe-ed his shoes off and sat them in the closet next to the door that was used for coats, shoes and bags.

“I don’t know, I guess I just imagined you living in a house or something.” He shrugged, following your through to the living room. He looked at the floor to ceiling windows that over looked the city and whistled. “Nice view.”

“Thanks. You should see it when it rains.” You grinned at him.

“You like the rain?” He asked, turning to face you instead of the city.

“Yep, winter is my favourite season.”

Jeongguk made a face, nose scrunching in a way that made you want to fluff his hair and squish his cheeks. “I am more of a spring person, but I was born in the fall.”

“When’s your birthday?” You asked, looking at him curiously.

“September 1st.”

“You know that in some countries, September 1st the start of Spring, right?”

“Yeah, I know. I think it’s cool.” He grinned widely. “When’s your birthday?”

“July 13th.”

“Summer baby, huh?”

“Yeah, but I hate heat and humidity.” You pulled a face. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“Uh,” He looked a little unsure. “Is milk included in that anything?”

You grinned, “Sure. Banana, chocolate or normal?”

“Banana.” He answered with a brilliant smile. “So, you like milk too?”

“Yeah, but the chocolate is my favourite and the banana is my mom’s favourite.” You told him, heading in the direction of the kitchen and gesturing for him to follow you.

“Oh. She wouldn’t mind that I drank some of it, right?” He asked, sounding slightly concerned.

“Aw, you’re so cute.” You gushed, reaching up to ruffle his hair. “And no, she won’t mind.”

“I am not cute.” He protested, half hearted at best, trying to look serious but he kept on smiling.

You laughed, “Okay, fine, you’re adorable.”

Much later, when you finished with choreography for today – because there is only so much you can do in one day and you were almost halfway done, the goal being to finish the choreography this month and use the last month to rehearse – you two sat in front of the TV, an action movie playing on Netflix.

“Can I ask you a question?” Jeongguk spoke, voice not to loud but not inaudible either.

You turned to him, having already seen this movie but Jeongguk looked so excited when you scrolled past it, so you just pressed play.

You smiled a little, “You just did.”

“Stop being such a smartass all the time.” He rolled his eyes good naturedly.

“I am a smartass.” You smirked at him, liking how he has gotten used to your personality as much as you like teasing him.

He looked at you for a few seconds, “I think you will get along great with Namjoon-hyung. You’re both geniuses and huge nerds.”

“What was the question, pretty boy?” You asked him, reminding him of the whole reason he started this conversation.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but where’s your dad? I just, I saw a lot of pictures of you and your mom, but none of your dad. And I know it’s not my business really, but I was just wondering.”

You looked back to the TV, heart heavy and throat suddenly tight. “He, uh, he died. When I was seven. A drunk driver hit him on his way back from his mandatory military service. He just finished up and was coming home. He was twenty-nine. And my mom, she says it hurts to much to look at his pictures. Even after all this time. I have a few up in my room.”

“Y/N….I am so sorry.” His voice was soft and gentle in a way you’ve never heard before.

You gave him a sad smile, “Thanks, but it wasn’t your fault. And I’m okay. It was a long time ago, and yeah, I miss him a lot sometimes but I’m fine. Seriously.”

“If you ever want to talk…” Jeongguk trailed off, his meaning clear.

You gave him a real smile, “Thanks.”

“So, your mom never remarried?” He asked, nothing but genuine curiosity on his face.

“Nope. She’s had boyfriends, but none of them lasted long. She always says that my dad was the love of her life and that no matter how hard one tries, there’s just no replacing that kind of love.” You tell him, a fuzzy warmth in your chest. “What about your parents?”

And so he tells you, about his mom who is two years older and how she chased after his dad because he was handsome and she just knew right from the start that he will be her husband.

“That is so cute.” You gushed, feeling much better than earlier. Talking about your late father was always hard, mostly because your never really got to know him, but you were glad you could talk to Jeongguk about it and found out about his parents in return.

“Thank you.” Jeongguk said shyly, ducking his head, the smile on his lips making your stomach flutter.

•••

part two

[bangtanreadingcorner]

the blind date • kim namjoon

PLOT ─ hoseok sets you up on a blind date with his best friend, namjoon, and it all goes up hill from there.

GENRE ─ college!au

WORDS ─ 6.3k

You attention is drawn to the entrance of the cafe as it opens yet again, your eyes searching for a man fitting the description your friend had given you. Although, right now, you weren’t exactly in the best mood. You didn't want to go on this blind date in the first place, but it was a lot better than trying your hand at it yourself on the internet and potentially getting yourself murdered.

You sighed when you looked the guy over, no way was it that scrawny kid with glasses - although Hoseok did say his friend wears glasses from time to time, according to him his best friend was rather large in form. It's ten minutes past when he should have been here, you see as you clicked the power button on your phone. You heard the bell of the cafe chime but you don't bother looking up, busy unlocking your phone and sending Hoseok a message to tell him that his best friend didn't show up.

Before you could press send, however, someone called your name softly, and it was a little contrasting with his deep voice. You lift your head, eyes scanning over the - admittedly very handsome - man and he ticked all of the mental boxes to the description Hoseok gave you on his friend. He was wearing a light blue polo neck and a pair of denim jeans. What was strange was that he had one arm tucked behind his back while his other was stuffed with books.

You raised an unimpressed brow, handsomeness did not excuse his tardiness. "Namjoon, I assume?"

He nodded, a sheepish grin slipped onto his face, revealing the most adorable pair of dimples. "Guilty as charged. Y/N, right?"

"Yeah, that's me." You nodded back to him, crossing your arms over your chest. "So, is there any particular reason you're late, or are you one of those who thinks it makes you more attractive?"

"What? No!" His eyes widened and you would have found it amusing or maybe even cute. If he wasn't almost twenty minutes late to your blind date. Speaking of, you are never letting Hoseok talk you into anything ever again.

"It's not like that. I just, I got you these." The hand behind his back came out and there was a small bouquet of lilies and lavenders. You felt something inside of you go very gooey like, because those are your favorite flowers. "And I know it might seem old fashioned but Hoseok mentioned that you like flowers and that these are your favorites, so I went by the flower shop three blocks from here but the queue was longer than I expected and then they had to make the bouquet because they didn't have any in this specific arrangement and I am really, really sorry that I'm late."

You stated at him, opened mouthed and a little in shock at the ramble of words that passed his lips so quickly and nervously.

"Well," You cleared your throat. "As far as excuses go, I have to say, that's the best one I've ever heard." When he still remained standing, looking at you unsurely, you gave a small smile. "This date isn't really going to go anywhere if you don't sit down."

"Yeah, okay, right." He mumbled to himself, holding the flowers out to you. You took it with a grin, and couldn't help but smell them. You don't think you've ever gotten flowers from one of your exes. Not even on Valentine's day. This was a nice, refresh change, especially given your love for flowers. He placed the mountain of five books on the table, hands fiddling with them to have an outlet for his nerves. You couldn't help the smile that spread on your lips.

"What can I get you today?" A waitress asked as she stepped up to you, handing menu's to the both of you.

"Chocolate milkshake for me, thanks." You told her, and you looked at Namjoon.

"I'll have a iced coffee, please." Namjoon smiled at her and you could see the girl swooning a bit. Not that you blamed her, those dimples are killer. Still, this is your date, so you cleared your throat lightly.

"Right," The girl snapped out of it, cheeks reddening a bit at being caught. "Anything to eat?"

"Uh, I'm not really hungry right now." You look at your date. "You want anything?"

"I, um, I'm," He stammered a bit. "Yeah. Actually. Would that be okay? Some people say it's awkward when you eat on a date but the other person isn't, but I've been studying all morning because I was really nervous and I forgot to eat, so it just sort of caught up to me now."

You smiled, not being able to help yourself, his rambles are cute. "Not awkward at all. Knock yourself out."

"Thanks." Namjoon smiled gratefully at you and your stomach flipped, cheeks heating up. He turned back to the waitress and placed his order. Then he turned back to you. "Sorry, I know this isn't exactly an ideal date. I was late and showed up with a bunch of my books."

"Yeah, but you're cute and you had a really good reason for being late, so I don't mind." You smile widened when you saw the tips of his ears turning red. "Plus, you didn't make a comment about my choice of drink, a definite plus for you."

Namjoon frowned, "What's wrong with it?"

"Oh, nothing for me, but so many guys has said to me that it's not healthy and I need to be careful of to many sweet things because I can get fat." You rolled your eyes.

"That's . . . stupid."

"Yeah, tell me about it." You snorted. Not really wanting to delve any further into your other dates in front of this beautiful man, you changed the topic. "So, Hoseok tells me you want to be a Marine Biologist."

"Yeah," Namjoon nodded, his eyes lighting up at the thought. "I mean, I like all kinds of creatures and animals, but I've always loved Marine life."

"That's so cool." You couldn't help but gush, excitement coming easy for you due to your love of the ocean or just anything to do with the outdoors, really. "Do you want to work out on the ocean or in aquarium?"

"Well, I'm not really sure yet. Right now getting my degree is my number one priority." He gave a little chuckle as the waitress comes along with your drinks.

"I hear you, man, I mean, I know most people think that we dance students don't put a lot of work in, but they really don't know shit." You took a sip of your milkshake before you could say something really mean. Like what you think of those judging pricks.

"I get it, I really do. I've known Hoseok since high school, and I know how many hours he puts into getting choreography just right and perfect. You guys have your struggles just like we do."

"Exactly!" You couldn't help but exclaim, feeling like something was lifted from your chest because, finally, someone else gets it. "And you should hear my parents. They do not approve, like, at all. Always telling me how dancing isn't going to be enough for me to live on and I should have gone into law, so I could take over their business and ugh, it's just so frustrating."

"Sorry." He gave you an apologetic look.

"Why?" You gave smile a little smile. "It's not your fault. Anyways, what about your parents?"

"They approve of my choice, supporting me all the way and in anyway they can. But I can tell they sometimes worry that it's to much for me. Maintaining a scholarship is not easy." Namjoon told you, rubbing his neck as he spoke.

"Wow, they must be so proud of you." You stated at him in awe, respect towards him forming inside.

"I'd like to think they are." Namjoon smiled, eyes lighting up when the waitress arrived with his food. He looked at you, "You can have half, if you'd like?"

"No, thanks." You denied, looking at the large burger and fries. "I might steal some of your fries, though."

He pushed his plate closer with a smile. "Feel free."

The rest of the date went by a lot quicker than either of you would have liked. Before you knew it, you two were standing outside the cafe, bill split in two, and ready to go your separate ways.

"I really enjoyed this." You said, smiling up at him, because wow, he is tall. You also wanted to prolong this for a few more seconds.

"Yeah, me too." He was smiling, too, and you hoped it was because he liked this date as much as you did.

You two stood there for a while, just looking at each other, smiles slowly fading, nerves rising between you. Until you both spoke at once.

"Do you maybe want to go out again?"

"Would it be okay to ask for your number?"

You two burst out into laughter, and even when you calmed down, you smiled so hard, your cheeks hurt. "I'd love to go out with you again."

"You can have my number." Namjoon nodded with a happy smile, those dimples were really making you weak. "On one condition." He added.

You raised a brow, "And what's that?"

"You have to give me yours, too."

You laughed, head thrown back as a giddy feeing spread through you. You looked back at him, stomach fluttering. "Deal."

* * *

"So, how was it?"

"Did you get laid?"

You looked at your two friends, head moving from one to the other, who pounced on you the moment you set foot in the dancing studio. You gave them a look of disbelief.

"Okay, first of all, no, Jimin, I didn't get laid. Second of all, isn't Namjoon your roommate and best friend, Hoseok? And third of all, Jesus Christ, you two are nosey."

Hoseok pouted, "Yeah but he wouldn't say anything other than that it went well."

"It did go well." You confirmed, smiling as a warm feeling spread through your chest as you thought of Namjoon. You guys have been texting all weekend and this morning he sent you a heart eyes emoji at the end of his good morning text. That was good, right?

"Come on, I want details. I was the one who set you up, I deserve details." Hoseok whined.

"Nope." You sing-songed with a grin.

Jimin was pouting as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I'm not telling you about any of my dates ever again."

You smirk, "Does that mean you've finally done something about your gigantic crush on Jungkook?"

"No, and I'm not going to until he's eighteen." Jimin repeats for what seems like the hundredth time.

"And then you're going to jump his bones." Hoseok said with a wide smile.

"A whole two years more of celibacy. Well, technically a year and a few months. You know, I'm really starting to respect you for holding out that long." You noted matter of factly, then you smirked. "Poor Jungkook isn't going to know what hit him."

"Why would you even think that?" Jimin whined, cheek going a hilarious shade of red.

"Because one, we've seen him before. And two, we've seen how you look at him." You reminded Jimin. Jungkook has come to see a few times at the studio and you and Hoseok never let him forget it.

Jimin narrowed his eyes at you, "He's like, four years younger than you."

"Three years." You corrected with a concealed smirk, loving how you were getting underneath Jimin's skin. "And age is just a number." Hoseok sniggers next to you.

"Yeah," Jimin grumbled. "I'll remind you of that when they lock you up for going after someone who's still underage."

"Nah, I got someone else in mind." You told Jimin honestly, just now he stresses himself into a stroke because of your teasing.

Hoseok perked up at this, "Is this someone maybe named Namjoon?"

You rolled your eyes, but let out a resigned sigh. These two weren't gonna let up until you told them. "Yes, as matter of fact, the someone is named Namjoon. You happy?"

"Not yet." Hoseok shook his head, curious smile on his face. "What did you do?"

"We both went to the cafe you said, although he was twenty minutes late at first because he brought me flowers and the queue at the flower shop was long, and I ordered a chocolate milkshake and he ordered an iced coffee with a large burger and fries. We talked and figured that if we can have this much fun in a cafe, we might as well do it again. The end." You walked past Jimin and Hoseok, who were both gaping at you. The followed after you, both with excited looks on their faces.

Hoseok was practically jumping with excitement, "Does this mean you're going out again?"

"Yeah, this Saturday." You nodded, heading towards the equipment room, where everything from students' bags to mats and old mirrors were stored.

"Where are you going?" Jimin asked, evidently just as excited as Hoseok about this.

"Dinner and a movie." You said, feeling a lot more excited by something so simple than you normally did.

"That's so cliché. And cute." Jimin grinned.

"Thanks." You grinned, knowing that he didn't mean anything by it.

"You know, I have this big urge to rub both your noses in the fact that this is actually working." Hoseok commented.

"How's that?" You asked, bending your upper body to the floor and stretching your hands to your feet.

"Because neither of you thought the blind date would go anywhere." His voice was a little smug.

"It hasn't gone anywhere yet. This is literally just our second date." You rolled your eyes. "But we have been texting all weekend and he sent me a good morning text."

Jimin gasped, "That's so cute, I want someone to do that for me."

"Don't worry, Jimin, we'll get Namjoon to house train Jungkook." Hoseok quipped just as you switched to the other leg.

Laughter burst out of you before you could stop it, and a glance at Jimin's once again bright red face only made you laugh harder.

* * *

It was deadly silent between you and Namjoon as you walked out of the cinema. Finally you couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry but," You started, laughing a little. "That was one of the worst romantic comedies I have ever seen."

"Oh thank God," He breathed in relief. "I thought it was just me."

"Nope, that was such bullshit. She chose her childhood bully? Okay, I can see the appeal of someone becoming a better person, but really? She'd have been better off with the post boy that gave her advice."

"I know right." Namjoon grinned, moving his hands a little as he spoke. "I'm surprised she didn't need years of therapy after everything he did to her."

You snort, humming in agreement. "Especially that humiliation by dumping ice cream on her head. You know what, I think he needs therapy too. That was such a waste of perfectly good ice cream. What on earth did his mother teach him?"

"I feel worse for the best friends though. You could see that they really liked each other, but never did anything because the two main characters had the whole rivalry thing going on. Which turned out to be some really backwards courting." He said with a light frown.

You nodded, "Yeah it was kind of shitty that they left that opened ended, but I get it. That might just be the most realistic part of the movie."

“A sequel about them might be nice.” Namjoon said and you nodded.

You looked down at his hand, wondering it was to soon to hold it. Then you decided to just go for it. No one ever got anywhere by being scared anyways. So, you took his hand, holding your breath until he moved his hand a little to lace your fingers together. You looked up at him, returning the shy smile he gave you.

Your stomach was feeling fluttery and your heart beat just a fit faster than normal.

"Hey, do you want ice cream? All that ice cream in the movie has given me a craving."

Namjoon nodded, "Sure. I think there's an ice cream shop in the food court."

You two walked to the food court, chattering about this and that, entwined hands swinging lightly between you.

* * *

"So, how do you feel about the aquarium?" Namjoon asked when you two were eating lunch that next Tuesday. It is the first time you two has seen each other since your movie date the previous Saturday.

"Uh..."

His smile dimmed a little, "It's okay if you don't like it, I was just asking."

"No, no, it's not that." You were quick to assure him.

"Y/N, it's really okay. I was just asking." Namjoon placed a hand on yours, squeezing to assure you.

"It's not that. Seriously. I just - and you're not allowed to laugh at me, okay? - but I haven't been to an aquarium since I was like a really tiny kid. And I don't really know much except the obvious." You were the one to ramble for once.

"Okay, that's not a problem. I know enough for both of us." Namjoon smiled brightly at you. "So, do you want to go on Saturday? With me?"

"Can we do it on Friday, instead? Jimin has been on my ass because I haven't been out with him and Taehyung in weeks."

"Yeah, sure." Namjoon nodded, still smiling, but looking a little unsure. "So, how did you and Jimin become friends? I think Hobi's mention him before, he dances with you guys, right?"

“Yup.” You nodded, smiling at the memory of meeting Jimin. “We met at the beginning of the year. See, I was put in school by my over enthusiastic parents a year early, so I graduated a year early. Most people in my classes are a year older than me, and when Jimin came in this year, it turned out that we were the same age and we kind of bonded over that. And with Jimin comes Taehyung, they're like a package deal. Just don't ever ask them if they're a thing because I made that mistake once and never again."

"So, are they?" Namjoon frowned. "A thing, I mean."

"Nope, but they are platonic soulmates and there is a whole discussion about it that you are welcome to enter with them as long as I'm not anywhere near." You told him. "And Jimin is in love with this high school junior who is really shy but really cute, and Taehyung has a lot of girlfriends. Not in the more than one at a time kind, more like a new one each time you see him. Anytime someone asks him about it, all he says is that he’s a very passionate person, but he never hurts them, so I mind my own business."

"Sounds nice." He commented.

"It is and they are." You grinned as an idea suddenly hit you. "Do you want to meet them?"

"What?"

"Yeah, like meet my friends. You can bring Hoseok and your other friends too."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely. It'll be fun." You clapped your hands in excitement.

"Okay."

* * *

"I can not, for the life of me, understand why either of you are so interested in my love life." You deadpanned, shaking your head at Hoseok and Jimin - the three of you laying down on the dance floor, sweaty and breathless.

"Because Namjoon won't tell me anything." Hoseok whined, passing the water bottle to Jimin.

"And I'm tragically single, so I have to live through you." Jimin added before gulping down water.

You sighed, "What do you want to know?"

"I heard that you two ate lunch together yesterday, is it true?" Hoseok asked, wide smile on his face.

You frowned at him, "How do you- you know what? Nevermind, I don't want to know. Yes, it's true. And he asked me out again." By the time you were finished talking, your smile matched Hoseok's.

"Nice," Jimin handed the bottle to Hoseok, who handed it to you. "Where's he taking you?"

"The aquarium." You answered dutifully, gulping down some of the water.

Hoseok tensed next to you, sitting up right, you and Jimin following suit. "Uh, are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, don't get me wrong, or anything but Namjoon can get a little overexcited when near anything with marine life."

"I don't understand what you mean." You frowned, a little confused.

"Well, he's a genius. Like, literally. He remembers nearly anything he reads and he reads a lot about marine biology. And he will most likely talk your ears off about anything he sees." Hoseok said, biting his lip. "Most people don't like it, or they find it rude because he talks to much. It's why his last girlfriend broke up with him, she said he talks more about it than her."

"Isn't that's kind of the point of going on dates? To get to know someone and decide from there if you like them and want to know more." You asked, shrugging a little.

"Yeah," Hoseok smiled widely, clearly relieved. "Yeah, it is."

Jimin looked at you with a smirk, "Does this mean you like him already?"

"Oh, piss off." You groaned as Jimin and Hoseok burst out laughing.

* * *

"Are you sure this is okay?" Namjoon asked as the two of you stood in line to buy your tickets to enter the aquarium the next Saturday. He was wearing a loose grey v-neck with a pair of black skinny jeans and more than once had your attention been drawn down to his long legs ever since he showed up in front of your dorm room. He had enveloped you in a tight hug, the moment you opened the door and didn't let go until your phone dinged, signaling your Uber arrived. You liked it very much.

The question made you look at him with a light frown, "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Most people wouldn't really think of an aquarium as a date location." Namjoon said, looking a little put off by that fact.

"You bring all the girl's here then?" You teased, wanting him to relax a little, but all it did was make him tense up even more.

"No. Well, I guess, but not in the way you think. I mean, I did take my last girlfriend out to one but that was just to show her what I'm passionate about. I just," He stumbled over his words, not sure how to phrase it. "It's not something I use to get girls. It usually scares them off, as a matter of fact."

"So, you're trying to scare me off, huh?" You couldn't help your dry tone, mostly teasing but a smidgen of worry climbed into your heart.

His eyes widened, panicking a little. "No, no, that's not what I'm trying to do."

"Really?" You asked, an unexpected surge of hope going through you.

"Yeah, really. Look, I like you. And I just thought that I need you to know this side of me before I can like you even more and you end up getting scared off by it." Namjoon told you and to stared at him, stunned.

Then you smiled and blurted, "I like you too."

"Good, that's really good." He sighed in relief.

"Also, if I didn't want to come, I wouldn't have. Nobody can make me do anything I don't want to." You tell him, smiling when his shoulders finally relaxed.

You two buy your entrance tickets and go inside and just like Hoseok said, Namjoon starts talking your ear off about most of the marine animals you come across, but instead of feeling annoyed or irritated, you just feel an enormous amount of fondness. Which was a little surprising. And every time he turns to look at you, that sparkle in his eyes, your hearts speeds up a little and your stomach flip-flops pleasantly.

"So, why dancing?" Namjoon asked out of the blue, when you guys made your way to the outdoors food court at lunch time.

You looked at him in surprise, this was the first time that he's said something that wasn't marine related. Not that you minded. He has a really soothing voice, very nice to listen too. You took a deep breath, "Ever since I was little, I've loved to dance. I just, I would hear a beat and my body would move with it. I decided pretty young on that I want to spend my whole life doing this. My parents always hoped that I would grow out of it, they never approved because it's not a proper career. We had a big fight when I left last year and I haven't spoken to them ever since. But it's my passion, it's what I love. I have hope though, that one day they'll accept it. They haven't cut me off yet and they are still paying my tuition, so I guess they don't completely hate me."

"That's rough." He said sympathetically as you two walked to a food truck. The conversation between you comes to a halt while you order and wait for your food. When you're seated at a picnic table, across from each other, Namjoon says, "You know, they're your parents, they could never hate you."

"Okay, yeah, maybe not hate." You agreed with a nod. "But they’re definitely disappointed."

"I don't know why though. I can't talk about your dancing, because I've never seen you dance, although Hoseok is always full of praises and awe, but you as a person, I do know. Kind of. And you are one of the best people I've ever met and they should be proud of who they raised."

"Thanks, Namjoon, that's really sweet and I wish it was that simple, but unfortunately it's not." You smile at him, a little sad.

"Why can't it be?" He asked, and you can tell he's a little confused.

"My family, uh, how to phrase this without sounding arrogant?" You give a humorless chuckle, deciding to just say it. "They're rich. Really rich. My parents owns one of the biggest law firms in the country and I am an only child. I was supposed to take the reins over from them, but I've never wanted to do that and if they haven't forgiven me by now, I don't think they're gonna do it anytime soon."

Namjoon's expression falls a little during your explanation, but you don't notice, keeping our eyes down cast on your meal.

"I don't know what to say." He admitted, voice soft and gentle. "I do hope it gets better though."

"Thanks." You look up from your food to smile at him. "Sorry, this isn't exactly second date conversation material."

He raises a brow, "Oh yeah, and what exactly does the dating manual say when is the right time to talk about what?"

You can tell by his tone that he's teasing and it works because a smile breaks through on the corners of your lips. "Fair enough."

After that, you notice that Namjoon has become more subdued. It gets a little better once you're back inside the aquarium and he's telling you all sorts of facts about sharks and stingrays, but some of the shine of the sparkle in his eyes has definitely dimmed. It isn't until he has walked you all the way up to your dorm that you ask him about it. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." Namjoon gives you a smile and you see right through. It terrifies you a little, how much you know of him after just two dates. "I just don't think we should see each other again."

Your stomach drops, so does your entire face. It feels like someone knocked the wind from you.

"Why?" Your voice is surprisingly steady, not showing any of what you are feeling.

"Hoseok must have not told you, but I'm not like you. I don't come from money. My parents works hard to make ends meet and to take care of my siblings. I am here on a scholarship and I have a shitty job at an ice cream parlor. We don't fit, Y/N."

You look at him like he's grown a second head, "Who the fuck even cares about that stuff?"

"Your parents do, remember." He says, giving you a pointed look and reminding you of your conversation earlier that day.

"I don't care!" You voice raises a little and you take a breath to calm down. "It's my life and I get to choose and I choose you."

Before he can go on any further, you stand on your tiptoes and pull him down by the neck to kiss him. He doesn't hesitate to kiss back and you melt against him when he wraps his arms around you. He pulls away first, both of you are breathless and you feel like you might float away if it wasn't for his hold on you.

He whispers your name and you just know that you're going to fall in love with him. If you haven't started too already.

* * *

The next day it was the big day. Okay, maybe it's not that big of a deal, but it's been a while since you've introduced someone to your friends and strangely you don't remember ever being this nervous about it.

"It's going to be fine." You mutter to yourself, looking in the mirror one last time before grabbing your jacket and leaving your dorm. You all but skip down the stairs and then quickly make your way to the nearest bar where you, Jimin and Taehyung usually hung out. It wasn't to far the dorms and it wasn't expensive either - the perfect place for broke students to hang out. You smile widely when you see Namjoon waiting for you outside, like the gentleman that he is. He hasn't noticed you yet and you decide to look him over. Maroon button up, tucked into a pair of dark grey form fitting jeans with a pair of sneakers. As you neared him, you let out a wolf whistle.

His head, along with a few others who were loitering outside the bar, turned to you and you watched as a smile lit up his face. You stopped in front of him, grinning, "You look hot."

"Thank you." He ducked his head, smile turning sheepish as his ears burned. You barely resisted the urge to coo at him. "You look very pretty. I mean, beautiful."

"Thank you." You returned the sentiment with a light chuckle. "Come on, let's go inside before Taehyung comes out here." You smiled at him, taking his hand, warmth making your heart beat spread up a bit when he laced your fingers and squeezed your hand.

Inside, you were tackled into a hug. You let go of Namjoon's hand to hug back, laughing at your hyper friend. "Nice to see you, too, Tae."

"I missed you, it's been a while." He said, pulling away from you and stepping right in front of Namjoon. You resisted the urge to facepalm because while they are almost the same height, Namjoon is like twice Taehyung's size. "You hurt her, I hurt you."

"I'll let you." Namjoon said, expression unwavering as he didn't brake Taehyung's stare.

Finally, Taehyung grinned. "In that case, it's very nice to meet you. I'm Taehyung."

Namjoon cracked a smile and relaxed, "I'm Namjoon."

"Oh, I know." Taehyung quipped with a smirk. "I heard all about you from Jimin, who heard all about you from our dearest Y/N here."

"Shut up, Tae." You groaned, cheeks burning, grabbing Namjoon's hand and looking around the bar, sighing in relief as you spotted Jimin and Hoseok, pulling Namjoon along with you.

"So, you talk about me?" Namjoon asked, a slight smirk on his lips.

Ignoring your burning cheeks, you gave him a deadpan look. "I like you. Is it really that much of a surprise to you that I talk to my friends about you?"

"No," He shook his head. "I do it too."

"Then why is Hoseok always complaining that you never tell him anything?" You retorted with a raised eyebrow.

He snorted, "Because I don't tell him. I love him, don't get me wrong, but he knows you and he is terrible at keeping things to himself."

"Y/N! Namjoon!" A familiar voice exclaimed.

"Speak of the angel..." You sing-songed. "Hey Hoseok."

"Hey." He was grinning, like always, and fixed his gaze on Namjoon. "The guys are already here. I mean, my friends is your friends, so I just joined everyone together."

Next to you, Namjoon looked highly amused. "How many drinks have you had already?"

"Not much." He said and that's when you saw it. The flushed cheeks plus the drink in his hands. "I just got a few shots from some of my other friends from other facilities."

"Uh-huh." Namjoon nodded disbelievingly.

You arrive at the table, Jimin standing to give you a hug as Taehyung sat down next to a girl. You smiled at her, "You must be Hye-ji."

She frowned at you, "No, I'm Yeona."

“Oh, I'm sorry.” You grinned apologetically, elbowing Jimin, who was snickering next to you. You lowered your voice to a whisper as you glared at him, "I thought the latest one was Hye-ji."

"It was, they split two days ago because she hates cats." Jimin was still snickering, so you elbowed him again.

"Jesus Christ." You muttered and glared at a smirking Taehyung.

Shaking it off, you looked at the four new faces at the table, who must have been Namjoon's friends. You smiled at them, waving. "Hi, I'm Y/N."

Namjoon took a step forward. "Well, these are my friends, Jin, Yoongi, Jackson, Mark and you already know Hoseok."

"Nice to meet all of you." You said, hoping that they'd like you.

Two hours later, it certainly seemed like your friends getting along perfectly – the alcohol was definitely helping. You and Namjoon were sitting next to each other, holding hands. You were giggling, well on your way to tipsy, as Jimin, who sat on your other side, told the story of how you and Taehyung got stuck in an elevator together a few weeks ago. It was just before you met Namjoon.

"It's wasn't my fault." Taehyung pouted.

"Rightttt." You drawled. "Because it was me who wanted to see what happened when you press every single button at once, even the emergency one."

"What can I say, I'm curious by nature." He smiled and you scoffed.

"I should have taken the stairs with Jimin." You said, leaning against Namjoon as the rest of them laughed.

"Why didn't Jimin take the elevator?" Namjoon asked, his hot breath hitting your ear and neck. A shiver climbed up your spine and you cleared your throat, suddenly feeling hot all over.

"He's afraid of elevators." You answered, turning to Namjoon and noticed how the space between you wasn't much.

"Why?" He asked, wetting his lips with his tongue. You're eyes followed the motion.

"I don't know," You answered distractedly, leaning closer and closer. "He didn't want to talk about it when I asked."

Namjoon's lips were just in your reach, when suddenly icy cold went down your back.

You reared back from Namjoon with a loud yelped, "Jesus, fuck. Park Jimin, I'm going to kill you."

You pulled your shirt away from your back, shaking out the ice cubes he poured down your back. You could hear the laughed from the rest of the table and if it happened to someone else, you might have found it funny too.

Jimin, the idiot, was smirking at you. "I thought you might want to cool off a bit."

"Oh, fuck off." You scowled, grabbing one of the stray ice cubes and launching it at his forehead.

Later that night, Namjoon was walking you back to your dorm, both of you a little tipsy, but not drunk. Your hands were joint and swinging between you as you walked, the cool night air heaven against your warm skin.

"So, that went well, don't you think?" You grinned at him, completely giddy.

"Yeah, very well." He agreed, smile matching yours.

You hummed happily, mind bringing up something you’ve been thinking about earlier that day while you worked on some projects while doing laundry in-between. "Have you ever been ice-skating? I was thinking that we could go for our next date."

"Will you be my girlfriend?" He blurted suddenly and you stopped in your tracks, turning to him with wide eyes. It took you a second to decide.

"Yes." You nodded, no hesitation in your tone as you leaned forward to do what you've been wanting to do all evening. You kissed him, and he kissed back, long and deep.

"I could get used to that." You murmured when you pulled apart, out of breath, heart thumping wildly in your chest.

"Me too." He said, both of you smiling widely.

You realized that for the first time in a long while, you weren't just happy or content with life, you were euphoric. And it was all thanks to this man in front of you.

“So, ice-skating?” You asked, still holding hands with your new boyfriend. Boyfriend. It made you want to squeal out loud.

“We could try.” Namjoon nodded, grin matching yours.

You two start walking again, sometimes chattering, sometimes silent, but always happy to be around each other. You look up at the night sky.

The stars was gleaming above, you knew, even though you couldn’t see them because of the city lights. Just like you knew your and Namjoon’s relationship could only get better from here.

the end.