My Best Friend | Jikook / Vmin FF

Bad Timing

Jimin didn't know how he ended up here. It was an overpass near his building. Often he used the bridge on his way to buy groceries or drinks, sometimes with Taehyung and they would stop and stand there for hours looking down at the traffic, the broad road had one side with departing cars that shone with their red back lights and the other side with bright yellow white headlights from the oncoming cars. He still remembers how they talked about their new jobs and new flat the day they shifted here, they had drunk beers while standing on the overpass, admiring the nice locality they could finally afford. It was so peaceful here, though it was busy for a person down on the road, but for a person looking from the overpass, it was a beautiful sight. He had been standing there for quite some time. He had stormed out of Taehyung's apartment and he couldn't stay in the vicinity after that, he was feeling way too uneasy. He ran outside and only stopped when he reached here.

Earlier that day..

"I love you Jimin," Taehyung said.

"...."

Time stopped in the room. Now he thinks he should have just stormed out immediately. But he knew he had a short window with Taehyung before he closed up again. And he had to say his piece because he was beyond pissed.

"You? Love.Me?"
Taehyung immediately hunched his shoulders feeling a bit humiliated. "Do you want me to say that again?"

Jimin kept on staring at Taehyung. Then he came up close and pushed him back with force. Taehyung was shocked as he straightened himself. "Jimin, wha-"

"Fuck you Taehyung!"

"W-what?"

"I.said.fuck.you!" Jimin shouted. Taehyung looked at him with disbelief, wide eyed. Jimin hardly swears, Taehyung knew that. "Why?"

Jimin waited but slowly realised it was useless standing there explaining because yes, Taehyung was dumbly looking for an explanation, and he was so done. So done. He ran out.

As he stood on the overpass and watched the cars go by, memories from their college days flashed before his eyes. He and Taehyung used to sit in the cafeteria all day and joke around with their other batchmates. They were everything, cool, smart and popular. In their first year, there were so many societies and Jimin loved dancing so of course he auditioned for the dance society, and he was the top student in his year. Taehyung however, auditioned for the drama society. Even though he had varied interests, he chose that one.

As cliche as it sounds, in their first year the drama society decided to run the play for 'Romeo and Juliet', such a classic favourite of college kids. Taehyung wanted to play Romeo just like everyone in his batch. But unlike others, he easily landed the role. Also, in order to gain more traction, the drama society involved the singing and dancing societies to collaborate, by putting some song and dance pieces in some major scenes. And it had worked, everyone Jimin knew was involved in some or the other way. Jimin himself was selected to perform a beautiful piece with two other dancers for the ballroom dance scene in the beginning of the play. They had so much fun, they used to spend full days practicing the month before the performance. He would wait for Taehyung to get over with his scenes and would practice in the meantime, even if his group members weren't present. It was one of his best performances. On the final day, Jimin felt such a high after he performed his piece that he was shaking. Everyone in the audience was standing and applauding them for their performance. He rushed inside the green room and Taehyung jumped at him.

"Jimin-ah, you were so good! I'm so proud of you." Taehyung had kissed him on the cheeks and in the high moment they were in, Jimin had blushed and giggled, and they had tightly hugged each other once again. In the next scene, Taehyung had to climb a small ladder for the balcony scene. He asked Jimin to help him with his jacket, it was getting unbuttoned again and again. Jimin was still shaking from his performance, but he tried to focus his eyes even though he felt the room was shaking. So there stood Jimin, holding Taehyung's jacket, fixing his buttons with his teeth, the hook was loose. Jimin still remembered how he had become breathless for sometime when he realised the proximity could mean so many things. He got numb and looked at Taehyung. Taehyung with his full makeup and hair messily done on his forehead, looked like a prince. He even had a bow on his collar. Next thing he knew, he was staring, holding Taehyung by his jacket. Taehyung repeatedly called out for him, trying to shake him out of his daze but Jimin was gone. He was in a slo-mo video, blinking his eyes very slowly, absorbing every inch of Taehyung's face. It took him minutes to come back to the present. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of his life.

He realised at that moment that day he liked men.

He realised at that moment that he liked his best friend.

Obviously he ran away, in panic, ignoring Taehyung's calls. The show went on and Taehyung obviously was worried for him, fearing Jimin might have had a panic attack or something. Jimin lied later on being prodded but of course Taehyung wasn't having it. He still remembers when they finally talked about it after many days of Jimin ignoring Taehyung and becoming overly sweet on getting called out.

"Oh my god Jimin, you scared me for the past couple of days. I really thought something was wrong."

"Well, something is wrong Tae. I just told you."

"So what? You might be gay. Many people are. It's very common. It doesn't matter. And for sure that doesn't mean you ignore me!"

"So are we ignoring the part where I told you why I think I might be gay?"

"Ugh! Again, it was part of your discovery, Jimin. It's okay. And as it is, I am straight so it doesn't matter. If you want to look at me, look closely or openly, nothing's gonna happen. LOL."

"Wow! So easy for you to say. It matters to me! You are my best friend, I am supposed to keep your trust, not gawk at you that way!"

"I am hot, gawk away."

"Ah it's for sure only attraction, you suck!"

"No I don't, guess who asked your friend out on a coffee date today?"

"OMG! So Juliet finally asked you out? Couldn't you have just done it? It must have taken Jennie so much courage to ask you out."

"Yah! I'm worth it, I'm Kim Taehyung."

Jimin tried to get over his attraction in the next few weeks, he ignored Taehyung as much as possible which was nearly impossible because they were on the same floor in the dorms and spent every free minute together. But eventually he got a window when Taehyung and Jennie started going out. So, Jimin started hanging out with his dance friends, and came out to everyone. They were really supportive and he found a few good friends who shared the same preferences. Jimin tried to be happy for Taehyung because that's what he should do as a good friend, right? Taehyung understood what was happening but he did not bother Jimin a lot because he knew it would do nothing to help them. Time changes everything, Jimin would slowly get over his crush.

It was during the summer break, when Jimin finally moved on from Taehyung. He went back to his house for the break and hooked up with a school senior who he met at a grocery store. It was a summer fling, the guy was really understanding and Jimin loosened up, and didn't look back at Taehyung with that intensity as he did last year. But life had more shocks for him waiting. Taehyung had another piece of news for him.

"Guess what, I discovered something new. I think I'm bi or something, I met this guy at a club last week."

"Whoa!! But what about Jennie?" What about 'I'm straight Jimin, nothing's gonna happen'? Shut it Jimin.

"Nah-ah! We broke up, we are too similar, we clashed a lot. So, I got a bit upset and went out to the club. Now I don't know how this works but if you gaydar picks someone good, you let me know as well, yeah? I heard the dance society is very cool."

"Please keep your dirty eyes away from my society."

"Please Minie, please."

"Ok fine!"

"OMG really? I love you!"

"Love you too."

That night, he had laid on his bed and thought about the whole scene once again. So, Taehyung preferred men too but he didn't like Jimin that way. Which was obvious because they are childhood friends. It was him who went up and crushed on his best friend. Taehyung was just a normal guy discovering stuff, it was Jimin who went back and forth. He decided he would never bring such thoughts again in his mind. Of course, it was easier said than done, but Jimin went out with multiple people that year and ultimately they forgot about it all.

Until now, at least for Jimin because apparently Taehyung had looked up at him today like a clueless person and said the exact same words Jimin had told him many years ago. His younger self would be so happy that his feelings are reciprocated but for the Jimin today, well, talk about some bad timing!