𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟖𝟐

Seokjin and Taehyung watch the film as they promised, but they're too tired emotionally that they fall asleep half way through it. Jungkook removes the empty popcorn bowl from Taehyung's lap and covers the cuddling couple with a furry white blanket.

He puts the dirty bowl in the dishwasher and sits next to Jimin on the kitchen table, but the blond haired has his eyes glued to the clock.

"What if he doesn't come back?" he mumbles to himself, not expecting an answer at all.

"Sure, he'll come back. Where do you think he will sleep?" Jungkook smiles and Jimin almost falls off his chair.

"What - what are you doing here?" Jimin gasps, moving his chair slightly away from the younger.

Jungkook blinks at the panic in Jimin's eyes. "Well, I live here."

"Oh—yeah, yeah." he stands up with a nervous giggle. "You live here . . . how funny, me too." he walks backwards until he reaches the living room.

Not a single wall separates both spaces and Jungkook observes him with his eyebrows raised. A few moments later, it hits him. Holy moly!

"Hey, Jimin-ssi, about what you said earlier -"

Jimin runs to his bedroom and Jungkook chases him. Running faster than the petite boy, he stands in front of him in the middle of the hallway in a matter of seconds. Jimin tries to walk away but Jungkook holds him by the wrist.

"Hey, Jimin. We're friends, aren't we?"

Jimin shakes his wrist and Jungkook lets him free. The petite boy covers his face with his tiny hands, his cheeks becoming rose.

"Don't look at me like that." it comes out muffled, but Jungkook understands it and takes a step forward.

"Jimin-ssi, can we please talk?"

Jimin shakes his head and takes a step backwards, still covering his face. "Forget it."

"But I can't do that. I think I deserve an explanation."

Jungkook walks closer, guiding Jimin to keep walking backwards until his back bumps into the nearest wall. The latter lets out a soft gasp and removes his hands from his face. Jungkook leans forward and rests his hands on each side of Jimin's head.

Jimin bites his lower lip at their sudden proximity. A part of him wants to close his eyes and make Jungkook disappear, but the other part finds peace staring at his beautiful doe eyes.

Just like when they were kids.

"Do you like me? Are you -" he bites his lower lip trying to let it sink, "in love with me?" Jungkook asks gently, ignoring his heart beating faster with every breath he takes.

Jimin swallows, his own heart pumping. "N - no. I - I never said that. You just misunderstood me."

Jungkook licks the piercing on his lip. "Hm, what a shame I don't believe you. You said it so casually . . . Almost as if it slipped unknowingly. Are you afraid of what the others can say? Of what I can say?" he leans his face even closer, his foreheads almost brushing. "Jimin-ssi -"

"Please," Jimin breaths and closes his eyes again. "Can you step back?"

Jungkook raises his arms even if he doesn't see him and moves away. Jimin flutters his eyes open when he notices the distance.

Luckily to Jimin, Hoseok steps out of the bathroom before Jungkook can question him again.

"What are you doing here?" he kisses Jimin's head and greets the younger with a soft smile. "Baby, are you okay? Did Yoongi come back?"

"Not yet." Jungkook answers for Jimin, who remains too stunned to speak.

* * *

Hoseok's room creeps open, the light coming from the hallway illuminating the dark space. A head peers into and Hoseok blinks his eyes open at the sudden visit. He leans his back on the wall and stares at the person on the other end of the room.

He squints trying to identify which of his boyfriends is it, expecting to be Taehyung.

His eyes widen when the person steps in, keeping the door open.

He jumps out of bed and runs towards Yoongi, but stops himself before he can wrap his arms around him.

"You came back . . . I . . . I couldn't sleep. I was worried . . . about you." he scratches the back of his head when Yoongi stays silent.

Is he still mad? Did he come to say I'm a burden?

After a good minute, Yoongi exhales. "Babe, I'm so sorry for how I treated you earlier. I've been a jerk to you when you only tried to help me. I'm sorry."

A genuine smile appears on Hoseok's face and he extends his hand to hold Yoongi's. The latter closes the door and follows his boyfriend to his bed. Hoseok turns on the lights under the bed and sits next to Yoongi.

The dim light is enough to contour Yoongi's features and Hoseok restrains himself to caress his pale cheeks.

"For a moment I truly thought you left."

Yoongi cups Hoseok's cheeks and the letter relaxes under his touch. "I would never leave you, babe. I just needed space, but I shouldn't have treated you the way I did." one hand travels south to caress Hoseok's chest.

"Did I hurt you?"

Hoseok shakes his head, but Yoongi lowers his hand until the end of the fabric and slowly rolls it up. A new bruise has formed on the spot he hit him with his elbow, right in the middle of his chest.

"Shit, I'm sorry." he mumbles, rolling it all the way down. "Did you apply some cream? Does it hurt?"

Hoseok nods, holding Yoongi's trembling hand. "You've been kind of a jerk, but I forgive you. We're all anxious because of the news . . . And you had this big crush on Namu ever since you first met him."

Yoongi suppresses a laugh, his eyes tearing up. "What if we never get him back?"

"Babe, everything will be okay." Hoseok wraps his arm around his shoulder and pulls him against his chest, playing with his hair to distract him. "We know he's alive and we know where we can find him .  . . He already met Jin. Babe, we'll find a way to bring him back."

"But what if we can't?"

"Then we'll kidnap him and create new memories with him."

They both laugh at Hoseok's comment and Yoongi raises his head. Hoseok smiles in relief at Yoongi's cheeks free of tears, but his eyes remain starry.

"I actually love it when you call me Suga Mushy. It always made me feel special."

"You've always been special to me, especially when I turned thirteen."

Yoongi hums, remembering the first day Hoseok used the nickname on him. Created the nickname for him. "You developed a crush on me when I thought no one could ever love me."

"I always loved you."

"And I'll always love you."

Yoongi cups his cheeks and the red head wraps his arms around his neck. He kisses Hoseok sweetly but deeply, and keeps leaning forward until Hoseok lays on the bed, both smiling into the kiss.