Till death do us part [ j.jk × p.jm ]

chapter 32

A few days slipped by, and Namjoon was finally discharged from the hospital. The air was thick with anticipation as Jimin's runaway fashion show loomed on the horizon. For days, Jimin was immersed in his designs, working tirelessly to ensure everything would be ready in time. Meanwhile, Jungkook’s calls to Taehyung went unanswered, leaving him with a gnawing sense of unease. As he set his phone down on the couch with a sigh, he took a swig from the bottle, thoughts churning. Was Taehyung deliberately ignoring him to incite jealousy? The possibility gnawed at him.

Midnight had come and gone, and the soft glow from Jimin's office light still spilled into the dark hallway. As Jungkook made his way to his room, he noticed the open door of Jimin's office. Pausing in the hallway, he contemplated whether to interrupt. Finally, he decided to step inside, curiosity and concern pulling him forward.

Jimin was hunched over his desk, intensely focused on his designs. The scratch of pencil on paper was the only sound in the room.

"Why are you still awake?" Jungkook asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Without looking up, Jimin continued his work. "I have to prepare designs for the runaway fashion week," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact and resolute.

Jungkook’s long strides carried him to the desk, his eyes sweeping over Jimin’s concentrated form. Bending down, he placed his hands on the table, his voice taking on a firmer edge. "It's already past midnight, you should rest."

Jimin shook his head, still not meeting Jungkook's gaze. "I'm not tired," he insisted, his focus unwavering. "I have to get it all done within a week."

Jungkook watched him for a moment, Jimin’s dedication was unwavering, but the toll it was taking on him was evident. The room was silent except for the rustle of paper and the quiet hum of determination emanating from Jimin.

Jungkook let out a deep sigh, the frustration clear on his face. "Can't you just take a break once in a while? You're going to burn yourself out if you keep working like this," he said, trying to sound understanding despite his irritation.

Jimin finally looked up, his brow furrowed in a frown. "This work is my passion. You don't understand what it's like," he replied, his tone sharp. He turned his attention back to his project. "It's funny when you act like you care about me or something."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, surprised by Jimin's sudden shift in tone. "Is that really how you see me?" he asked, his voice low. Despite the seriousness in his expression, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Jimin sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Yes, that's exactly how I see you. You've always acted like an asshole. What else am I supposed to think?"

Jungkook chuckled softly, pushing himself off the edge of Jimin's desk. He moved towards him with a fluid, confident grace, his fingers gently tracing the edge of Jimin's design paper. His eyes remained fixed on the intricate patterns. "And here I thought you liked my asshole persona," Jungkook mumbled.

Jimin's eyes flickered with a mix of irritation and something softer, a fleeting expression that disappeared as quickly as it came. "Don't flatter yourself," he muttered, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness.

Jungkook placed Jimin's design paper on the work table and watched him in silence for a while, his eyes tracing the intricate lines and patterns with admiration. After a few moments, he moved closer, standing behind Jimin with his arms resting lightly around him. Jungkook's warm breath grazed Jimin's neck as he leaned in to get a closer look. "You're getting better," he said softly.

Jimin tensed, trying to ignore the proximity. "I'm not doing this for you," he snapped, his voice tight with irritation.

"That's clear to me," Jungkook murmured, his gaze still fixed on the design over Jimin's shoulder. "At least you should thank me for the compliment."