red berries & pinky promises || ✔

red berries

Fluffy black hair framing a perfectly sculpted face. Eyes that were always sparkling with mischief and warmth. An impish smile that could light up a whole city.

Falling for Taehyung wasn't a decision Jimin had made; it had just happened, and the more he looked back on it, the more it seemed inevitable, the only outcome of their friendship.

The two had met back in primary school, and Jimin had known from the moment he caught sight of the smiling, playful little boy on the first day of classes that they would be best friends. He was unlike anyone Jimin had ever seen before – his laugh brighter than the light pouring through the windows, his every movement elegant and intentional despite the inherent clumsiness of being six years old, attracting all the other kids around him. The buzz of conversation and giggles filled his ears in a steady stream from the other side of the room.

His heart had run a marathon when they were assigned seats next to each other, an uncontrollable smile taking over his face when Taehyung immediately turned towards him to introrduce himself. Even though the boy had just been talking with everyone else, something in the way Taehyung looked at him made him feel special. Ever word that left Taehyung's mouth drew him closer, filled him with a bubbly sort of hope that his wish to be friends would come true.

And within mere days, it did. Every morning Taehyung would turn towards him again with that same look, and they would talk until the teacher quieted them down – only to resume their conversation the moment they were able to.

They always stuck by each other after that, practically attached at the hip. Even as their friend group expanded, even as new acquaintances were made, they were always most comfortable with the two of them.

It was the first time in his life that he had felt anything so strongly, had been so confident as he was in their friendship. Maybe it didn't say all that much, considering he was in primary school, but what did say something was the fact that those feelings never went away.

They hadn't been romantic, not at first. For a long time, most of their friendship, Jimin was perfectly happy to occupy the role of Taehyung's best friend. He felt lucky to have someone so kind and unique choose him as his closest companion, but it was a friendly admiration and nothing more. It was hard to tell when exactly things had changed.

Somewhere along the way, his giggles at Taehyung's jokes and antics had transformed into a warmth in his chest that seemed to grow with every minute. Hugging and touching was normal and frequent between them, since it was just the way the two of them showed affection. But recently, every small touch sent a spark through Jimin's body and a flush to his cheeks. It was only getting more obvious and more embarrassing, so of course, Taehyung teased him playfully about it.

They would laugh, and he would shake things off, and hope these unfamiliar emotions would go away soon.

It took him months to recognize what was going on, and months more to finally accept it.

He was desperately, hopelessly in love with his best friend.

His denial had finally broken under the weight of his feelings a bit less than a year ago. Taehyung had dragged him to a get-together, insisting that it was good for him to get out a bit more (and to Jimin's frustration, he couldn't argue with that because Taehyung was right). Things were alright, though – the people were kind, and it was nice to get out of his shell.

What wasn't nice was the girl flirting with Taehyung right in front of him, clearly trying to get Taehyung's number, practically pressed against him the entire time. Uneasiness consumed Jimin, instant and overwhelming, and the entire scene was almost...disturbing.