Origin

Chapter 20

The first month drags agonizingly slowly. January feels sickeningly long, Jungkook spending most of his time in and out of the studio, trying to wrap up his next album, and when he's not locked up behind a microphone and other various recording equipment, he's in and out of different interviews. It's exhausting, it's redundant, it's draining; Jungkook loves it.

His phone gets more use the first four weeks than it has in all the time he's had it. He talks to Jimin every night, sometimes FaceTiming, sometimes settling for a series of rapid fire texts back and forth, but it always ends in Jungkook's chest hurting with how much he misses Jimin, even after Jimin tells him his L.A. apartment is too big and filled with too much useless junk.

Coming from someone else, it might annoy him; coming from Jimin, he laughs at the brutal honesty and promises to think about hiring a decorator.

He calls Jimin late one night after a few too many drinks, and Jimin answers after the fifth ring, voice riddled with sleep.

"Jungkook, what."

"Min, my Min," he murmurs into the phone. "Hi, baby."

"Oh, Christ. Did you miss me enough to drink or did you drink enough to miss me?"

Jungkook scratches his head. "Uh. Both?" He whines. "I need to see you."

"Don't tempt me," Jimin replies, and he actually does sound tempted to hop on the next plane and make his way back into Jungkook's arms.

Jungkook sighs. "This is hard."

"I know," he whispers back, soothingly, gently, before he hangs up for the night to go back to bed.

And fuck, he's never doubted that he wanted to continue this relationship and power through, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous to create a solid foundation over two thousand miles away. It's difficult - really difficult - and some days, he can tell Jimin wants to say forget it, it's not worth it.

Sometimes he wants to give in, too. But the thing is, it is worth it. They both know it, can't deny it, and whenever Jungkook thinks about Jimin crammed inside that tiny Ikea shower with him, or the way he kisses, or how he has to keep the radio volume on an even number, just Jimin, he's reminded of why they're doing this, reminded of why he's falling faster for the boy from the Midwest faster than he's ever fallen for anyone in his life. Jimin, thankfully, seems to be on the same page.

His first show is set for the 3rd of February, two days after his birthday. It's in San Diego at an arena he's played at before, but as an opener, and he's beyond excited to make the stage his own this time around. Tae, bless his heart, agreed to come back on the road as a form of sanity, joking, "I guess my part time job that pays minimum wage will have to wait.

Damn." The two of them trudge down to the arena the day before the show at Tae's request, who seems just as eager as Jungkook is to get back into the rhythm of live shows.

As they walk around backstage, Jungkook has a hard time holding back his smile, adrenaline already coursing through his veins. It's always nice to have a break, no matter how short, but this is where he wants to be, all the time.

Tae jumps around the stage, scuffing up the floor as he goes. "It's good to be back," he says in between hops.

Jungkook laughs. "Yeah, it is."

"You ready for tomorrow? Hungover still, from the birthday bash?"

"Very ready. And I think tonight's sleep will cure it fully."

Tae hums. "That's good. Sucks we couldn't get Jimin out here to celebrate, though."

"Yeah, well." He shrugs, frowning. "It happens. We both knew going into this that a long distance relationship would be tough. And he couldn't get away from work."