Say My Name (and everything just stops)

1

Jungkook marched to his car in the parking lot, the hospital doors swinging wildly behind him. People that were waiting in the reception area and the handful doctors that were lucky enough to get off shot him weird looks. But he couldn't care less.

He was having the worst day ever. He'd somehow managed to oversleep this morning and thus gotten late. He had skipped breakfast, just changed his clothes and sprinted down the stairs to get to his car. And curse fate, he was appropriately dressed except for one teeny, tiny thing. His slippers. His goddamn blue, fluffy slippers with the rabbit ears that he wore at home were still on his feet and he hadn't realised that until a fellow intern had been kind enough to tell him-it finally made sense why people were snickering behind their hands as soon as they laid their eyes on him. 

And apart from that, his fierce intern colleagues had been excessively aggressive today. To the point where they were actually pushing each other to the ground while running after attendings, just hoping to get to scrub in on a surgery. Brisk walking on fluffy slippers didn't really work in his favour and the one patient he did have was an eighty year old man who kept asking him personal questions as Jungkook checked his vitals.

"So how old are you?" the man had asked.

"24," Jungkook had replied distractedly, as he noted down his blood pressure on his notepad.

The man had gasped. "And you're not even mated yet? I had four children when I was your age!" 

"Oh, that's nice," said Jungkook absentmindedly. 

He snorted. "Kids these days."

Just remembering about it made his skin crawl with irritation. He got into the car, deciding that all his tired muscles wanted to do was get in bed and sleep the embarrassment and remorse off. But as he passed by the tiny bar in his neighbourhood, the thought of getting a little intoxicated seemed irresistible. He pulled over, telling himself that he'd just get a drink or two and then get out.

But fate had other plans that night.

Because as the young alpha downed his first glass of whiskey, he felt someone sit beside him. Jungkook turned to them, eyes taking in every feature. Hm, obviously an omega judging by the demureness in the posture, build and face. He had small, gentle eyes, a tiny nose and plump lips  that curled in a soft and polite smile. The omega's muted scent seemed oddly familiar-marshmallows dipped in honey with a hint of......oranges?

"Hi, I hope you don't mind me taking this seat. I'm Park Jimin, by the way. Nice to meet you."

And Jungkook almost didn't shake his hand because memories flooded him. He got why those features, that scent and that name sent a wave of nostalgia through him. Along with a little bit of heartbreak. 

Because this godly creature in front him was actually his first love, first crush from back when he was a gangly, newly-presented alpha. And Jimin had been the friendly, popular but still down-to-earth omega that almost everyone liked. Jungkook knew he didn't stand a chance, so he watched from afar as Jimin dated other alphas. He knew he could treat him better. But he didn't have the courage to say that to him. Or himself. And he still doesn't.

"I'm Jeon Jungkook." 

Awareness flashed in the other's eyes and he gasped. "Oh, I know you! We went to school together!"

Jungkook was shocked. He hadn't expected Jimin to remember him. But he smiled timidly and nodded. "How've you been, Jimin?"

The omega seemed to withdraw, almost as if he was shy, as he said, "I've been doing good. How are you? What are you doing these days?"

"I'm fine. I'm an intern at the Busan Grace Hospital."

"Whoa. That's so cool." 

Jungkook cracked a smile. "Not really. I just had a horrible day. That's why I'm here."

Jimin looked at him sympathetically. He tentatively reached out and put a hand on Jungkook's shoulder, and he held back a shiver. "It's getting crowded here. Why don't we get out of here? A club's hardly a comforting place."

And he'd have to be an idiot to say no to Jimin. Maybe he felt that way because he wasn't quite over him. Feelings still lingered no matter how hard he tried to scrub them away, they stuck to him, followed him. They were like second skin to him now.

They got out and just walked side-by-side, slowly and if Jungkook closed his eyes, he could almost believe that they were a couple. Almost. But he knew it couldn't be true, it was all in his head. 

"Jungkook." 

Oh, just say my name like that one more time. He turned to him, eyebrows raised. "Yes?"

And Jimin looked away, fidgeting with his fingers. "I-I, well, there was something I wanted to ask you."

"Ask me anything." Oops, did that give away just how pliant Jimin had him?

"Um-I heard something back in school. And I was just curious." He paused and Jungkook stopped dead in his tracks. This couldn't be happening. He wasn't that unlucky.

Alas, maybe he was because Jimin continued, "Did you like me back then?"

And Jungkook didn't want to lie to him so he mumbled, hoping he wouldn't hear, "I did." 

"Do you still do?"

He brought his eyes up to meet Jimin's, wondering if he was trying to embarrass him. But there wasn't any malice in his eyes. But there was something simmering in there, something he couldn't decipher. But nevertheless, he found himself saying, "I fell too hard. And maybe those feelings are still there."

And then Jimin smiled. It was a heartbreakingly gorgeous smile, the one that had him swooning the first time he'd seen it. The one that gave away everything about Jimin-his tenderness, his tenacity, his beauty and just why did he have to torture him like that?

He didn't know what he was doing. All he knew was that his hand was suddenly cupping Jimin's cheek. "Do your lips feel as soft as they look?"

"Why don't you find out?"

"Oh, I will."

 And then his lips were touching the omega's, hand titling his face up as the other stood on his toes and snaked his arms around him. His brain vaguely registered that he was kissing Jimin but he couldn't really get it to sink in. All he could do was feel. Feel Jimin. And honestly, he'd rather be like this forever. 

And as they pulled away, Jungkook opened his eyes to meet Jimin's. They stared at each other, hearts thumping loudly. Jimin held his hand out, waiting. He looked at him, bewildered.

"Your phone. I'm saving my number into it. And you'd better to call me to ask me out. I think we have a lot to catch up on, yeah?"

Jungkook fished his phone out of his pocket, hoping his expression didn't seem too eager. And as he took it back from Jimin, something sunk in.

"Wait. Jimin, why? Why would you want to go out with me?" he blurted out.

The omega looked into his eyes, gaze unwavering as he whispered, "It's hard to get over someone this goddamn perfect." 

"Get over? But-but you don't like me. How can you possibly like me?"

And Jimin put his arms around Jungkook's neck. He felt his breath on his lips. "I don't think you see yourself clearly. At least not the way I do. Sometimes, you go about it all wrong. You're really something, Jungkook. And I think it's time you realise that for yourself. But until you do, and hopefully after that as well, I'll be here. If you'll want me to."

"I'll always want you," he breathed, solemnity dripping in his words.

He felt Jimin peck his lips lightly. "I'm glad. And as much as I want to take that turtleneck off of you, it's getting late. And we both have work tomorrow. So, let's leave some things unturned so that we have something to talk about next time, alright?"

"Okay."

And he watched as Jimin turned around and walked away from him, the wink he shot him over his shoulder like a pinch on his forearm-reminding him that he wasn't dreaming. And hope brewed inside him. He had just kissed Park Jimin. And he was going to have to call him to ask him out on a date. He wasn't going to blow this chance at making his reveries come true.