Yoonmin in Malta

17 - The Taipei Incident (I)

Amber lamps cast flickering shadows on the walls, their warm light filling the hotel room with a cozy glow. The only sound is the low hum of the air conditioner mixed with the muffled footsteps of Yoongi, pacing restlessly on the plush carpet.

Tomorrow is their performance at the 'SBS Super Concert', for which they have traveled to Taipei. But that's not the reason why Yoongi is so tense. He hears a knock at the door and rushes to open it.

"Jimin-ah, that was fast, come in," He invites the younger man into his hotel room and closes the door behind him.

Yoongi had asked Jimin to help him with a new song that night, for which he had even sent him the instrumental track beforehand. As usual, only the lyrics were missing.

"I just jumped in the shower for a minute, that's all," Jimin smiles at him lightly.

Yoongi notices that Jimin has changed into comfortable clothes for his visit. His slender figure is wrapped in a loose, gray cotton sweater that barely reaches his waist. If Jimin were to raise his arms just a little, the bare skin of his toned torso would be visible. Yoongi looks at him and admires not only his slim figure but also his innocent smile.

He can barely hide his excitement and finally looks deep into Jimin's eyes as he gently strokes his arm. Jimin's smile turns shy and the air in the room gets heavier. But before the situation can get too awkward, Yoongi pulls out a bottle of Japanese whiskey that he has already started drinking to calm his nerves.

"I got this from the hotel, would you like to try it?" Jimin nods interested.

Yoongi gets another glass from the minibar and asks Jimin to sit down on the bed with him. After they take a few sips together and Yoongi conscientiously describes the properties of the drink, Jimin steers the conversation to what he actually came for.

"I already had the first idea for the hook in the shower," the younger proudly announces, going over to the desk where Yoongi's laptop and equipment are set up, placing his whiskey glass on it.

As Yoongi takes a seat on the lone chair in front of the desk, he gestures to the nearby bed.

"Sit down, Jimin-ah," he says with a sideways glance.

But Jimin shakes his head with a playful smirk and before Yoongi can offer him the chair, the younger man slides onto his lap.

"Yah," Yoongi blurts out, surprised about Jimin's initiative.

But instead of pointing it out, he brings one arm around the younger's hips to steady him, and starts searching for the right project file to open.

They stare at the screen and listen to the song together, as Jimin holds the headphones for them to share. And just as Yoongi suspected, some naked skin peaks out from under Jimin's sweater while he patiently holds the headphones in the air. As if he hadn't noticed, Yoongi rests his arms around him, touching his exposed waist, while they are experimenting.

As the night progresses, the elder becomes acutely aware of the younger's closeness. They share an intense moment and Yoongi tries his best to concentrate on their work. But the whiskey he's been drinking combined with Jimin's closeness make him feel lightheaded. Almost without realizing it, Yoongi begins to trace slow circles on Jimin's exposed waist with his fingers, lost in the moment.

They toil over the song for what seems like hours. But despite their efforts, their progress is slow, as they drain the whiskey faster than they produce any meaningful lyrics. Laughing at themselves, they both realize the absurdity of their efforts, given their drunken state.

"I haven't been completely honest with you," Yoongi suddenly admits, still holding the singer on his lap.

"About what?" Jimin asks, turning to him in confusion.

Yoongi takes a deep breath and holds it with his eyes closed. He can feel that everything is spinning around in his head, but he finally wants to be honest with Jimin.

"I already wrote the lyrics for the song myself and even recorded a guide track," he says quickly, still keeping his eyes closed.

Jimin looks at Yoongi confused and then punches him in the chest.

"Well, it can't be that good if you still need my help." He chuckles and continues challengingly, "Come on, let's hear it!"

Yoongi opens his eyes and looks at Jimin seriously. He knew that this would happen. After all, he invited Jimin to his hotel room that night just for this one moment. He finally wants to tell his bandmate how he feels about him and just has to go through with it. And because music is the only medium Yoongi can use to express his feelings, he has packed everything he wants to say to Jimin, into this song.

"Then put on the headphones, I'll put in the vocal track." Yoongi adds the track and immediately plays the song. Amazed by his own courage, he sits back and lets it happen.

But when he hears the first notes bursting out of the headphones, he immediately regrets his courage. Nervously, he clings to Jimin's hip and closes his eyes again, unable to control his trembling eyelids in any other way.

Jimin listens intently to Yoongi's voice, which sounds soft on the pop song. It seems like the voice is telling a story. In the beginning, the narration begins harmlessly.

'At first, you were one of the others, just a face among them.'

'We became brothers, sharing fragile dreams and difficult paths together.'

'Over time, your gentle grace blossomed, you became more and more beautiful.'

'Before I could protect myself, I had fallen for your charm.'

The younger is strangely silent as he listens to Yoongi's singing voice through the headphones. Yoongi's hands are ice-cold and still cling to Jimin's hip as the song approaches its end. He knows that if Jimin hasn't made a connection to himself yet, he will do so at the latest when his own name is mentioned in the song's outro.

3-2-1.

'Jiminie, I have no idea if you feel the same way I do.' Jimin's body suddenly stiffens.

'Jiminie, I've already lost control.'

'Jiminie, I have no idea if you feel the same way I do.'

'Jiminie, but I never hid my feelings for you.'

As the song fades out, Yoongi is left with a sense of raw vulnerability. It feels like his heart is being dragged out of his chest and laid bare before Jimin. The weight of his confession hangs heavy in the air, and he can feel the tension between them.

But nothing happens. Jimin is still sitting there, stiff and motionless. It makes Yoongi nervous and impatient that he can't see the younger man's face. After what seems like an eternity, he builds up enough courage to make the first move.

He slowly takes the headphones out of Jimin's hands, puts them down on the table and gently moves Jimin's face towards him, looking for a hint of what the younger one is feeling.