Proceed with Caution (jikook/kookmin)

9. they don't stop

When Jimin withdrawals there's something different in his stare. He doesn't quite meet Jungkook's eyes when he pulls himself up.

"You should probably go," he says plainly and Jungkook blinks blearily before its dawns on him that the other is right. He should probably go.

He nods and hates the way his chest clenches at the idea of leaving Jimin. He hates that Jimin doesn't look at him when he stands on two shaky legs and gathers his clothes. Hates that Jimin doesn't respond when he says goodbye. Hate how he feels sticky and nauseous as he walks down the hall. Hates how with one glance into Suji's room he feels regret. Hates how once he's in his car he breaks down and cries.

That day he doesn't come to the phone when Suji calls.

The next he's pulled himself together enough to return her call. "Hey Mrs. Park, is Suji around?"

"Oh, yes dear, let me go get her."

Suji sounds excited, and Jungkook can envision her bright smile through the phone. "Jungkook! How are you?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"I went to go see my abeoji yesterday!" She says giddily and his eyes widen.

"Oh?" He says in surprise.

He wasn't aware that their father was still in the picture.

"Yes! He lives in the next city over, we went to our old church together and then had lunch."

"Why didn't Jimin go?" He slips up by asking and he hears Suji's voice die down in her throat, possibly about to question what he means when he corrects himself. "I mean I called yesterday and he was home so..."

Lies, lies, lies. Yet, Suji feeds into it like it's Thanksgiving dinner. "Oh, um well... Jimin doesn't get along with my abeoji so."

Jungkook can imagine her shrugging. He wants to question why but he thinks it's probably not his place. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Oh no, don't be! He's just stubborn. Growing up he was pretty hard to deal with."

Jungkook could imagine that. He bets younger Jimin was ten times worse than Jimin now.

"Always fighting, stealing, staying out all night. Kept sneaking out of church," Suji laughs. "Things like that."

Jungkook hums, fingers playing with his hair idly.

"How was your day yesterday? What'd you do?" Suji suddenly asks and Jungkook's eyes go wide.

"I uh... just worked out," he says, nodding to himself to make it feel more believable. "I'm really sore today," he finishes awkwardly.

It isn't a lie, his ass was aching and his thighs hurt. His lower belly stirs in reminder for every throb of pain.

Suji just laughs and starts telling him about how she saw all her old friends in church. Jungkook hates to admit that he tunes most of her ranting out, for his mind keeps drifting elsewhere.

The next day he calls. Knows it's Jimin's day and lets the phone ring five times before he hangs up. He's not as dense as Jimin thinks. He gets the memo loud and clear.

Nonetheless, something in him wishes Jimin had just answered. Told him directly that they were done. It would make him yearn less.

Jungkook doesn't call again — at least not on Jimin's days.

Every time he talks to Suji he can't help but ask about the older Park sibling.

Suji giggles one day. "You seem real interested in Jimin lately," she's joking clearly, her tone light and amused.