Origin

Chapter 11

They don't talk about the almost kiss, but over the course of the following week, Jungkook and Jimin become nearly inseparable.

Whenever they're together, the tension is palpable and bordering on excruciating, Jimin but the stars never quite align to go for it again.

Or maybe Jungkook is just a giant chicken and turns into a puddle whenever he can feel Jimin pressed up against him on the couch or in the cab on the way home from whatever painfully charged dinner they're heading home from, which seems to be more accurate.

Before, Jungkook was obsessed with the idea of what could be. Now, he's obsessed with what is.

Jimin isn't so farfetched like he was just weeks prior; to Jungkook's delight, Jimin seems to always be around, always pushing on all the right buttons, always close by and telling awful jokes and forcing Jungkook to put on Christmas movies, even if he's just spent the past hour ranting and bitching about Hobi. There isn't just potential now, there's real, honest to God chemistry, and Jungkook is going out of his mind with how badly he wants.

If only Jimin would quit shying away from it whenever they get close enough; if only Jungkook could get the constant tremors out of his system whenever he worked up the nerve. Then they'd be golden.

Nine days before Christmas, they're both lounging around Jungkook's apartment, a light layer of snow blanketing the city outside. They take a break from the constant stream of holiday films and put on a marathon of Modern Family instead, Jimin curled up inside of Jungkook's fleece blanket, feet wedged under Jungkook's thigh. He wiggles his toes.

"Jungkook . It's freezing in here," he complains.

Jungkook shrugs. "I think it's fine."

"I want coffee. Make me some."

He wiggles his toes around more. "C'mon, Jeon."

"You're being annoying."

" No, I'm cold and grumpy and I want coffee. And Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I can't believe you don't buy it. It's the best cereal out there."

"Then go make some. You know where it is. And that shit will rot your brains out, I'm not buying it."

Jimin sighs loudly, ridiculous. "But I'm company."

Jungkook snorts. "You've been in this apartment as much as I have in the past few weeks. I'm thinking of putting your name on the lease. You aren't company anymore."

He sighs again, most likely intentionally jabbing Jungkook in the stomach as he climbs across the couch, and he drags the blanket - still draped over his shoulders - behind him into the kitchen like a cape. It's a pathetic sight, really, but Jungkook has to press his eyes into the palm of his hand, anyway, to get himself to stop staring.

He listens as Jimin opens up cabinets, the clinking of glass unmistakable. "You all set in there?"

"No," Jimin calls out. "Jungkook, this mug collection is a monstrosity."

Jungkook rolls his eyes and gets up to join Jimin in the kitchen. "It's eclectic," he corrects.

"It's embarrassing ." He holds up a mug with a picture of Jungkook and Suri on it, both of them toothless and smiling. "I can't drink out of your and your sister's heads."

"Shit, I missed a picture."

"What?"

Jungkook shakes his head. "Nothing. Just. Find another mug."

"You have a beautiful, adult kitchen and it's filled with tacky, ugly cups."

"Nuh uh! They're mementos and memories!"