The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the campus as Jungkook and Jimin continued their work in the computer lab. It had been a few weeks since they had been paired as project partners, and their dynamic had evolved into something unexpectedly comfortable. They had found a rhythm—Jungkook providing the technical expertise and Jimin injecting creativity and energy into their work. It was an efficient partnership, but beyond that, there was a growing sense of camaraderie between them that Jungkook had not anticipated.
As they wrapped up the day’s work, Jungkook stretched, rolling his stiff shoulders. He glanced at Jimin, who was still focused on his screen, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the monitor. Jimin’s tongue was peeking out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrated, a habit that Jungkook had noticed early on. It was a small, endearing quirk that Jungkook found himself growing fond of, though he would never admit it out loud.
“Jimin,” Jungkook called, causing the younger boy to look up, blinking as if pulled from a trance. “I think we’ve done enough for today. Let’s call it a night.”
Jimin checked the time and gasped, his eyes widening. “Oh my gosh, it’s already this late? I didn’t even notice!” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sorry for keeping you here so long, sunbae.”
Jungkook shook his head. “You didn’t. We made a lot of progress, so it was worth it.”
Jimin’s face lit up with a smile, and Jungkook felt that now-familiar warmth in his chest. It had become a regular occurrence—this inexplicable feeling whenever Jimin smiled at him, laughed at his jokes, or leaned in a little too close while they worked. At first, Jungkook had dismissed it as a mere reaction to Jimin’s bright personality, but as the weeks passed, it had become harder to ignore.
“Hey, sunbae,” Jimin said, breaking through Jungkook’s thoughts. “Are you hungry? I was thinking we could grab some dinner together. My treat!”
Jungkook hesitated. He usually preferred eating alone, using the time to clear his head after a long day. But the thought of sharing a meal with Jimin didn’t seem so bad. In fact, it was strangely appealing.
“Sure,” Jungkook agreed, surprising himself with how easily the word came out. “Where do you want to go?”
Jimin’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “There’s this really good ramen place near campus! It’s not too expensive, and the food is amazing. What do you think?”
“Ramen sounds good,” Jungkook replied, closing his laptop and packing up his things.
As they left the lab and walked towards the ramen shop, the air between them was light and easy. Jimin chatted about everything and nothing—his latest dance practice, a funny incident with one of his friends, the upcoming student festival. Jungkook listened, occasionally nodding or offering a comment, but mostly just enjoying the sound of Jimin’s voice. There was something soothing about it, a warmth that contrasted with Jungkook’s usual solitude.
When they arrived at the ramen shop, the smell of rich broth and freshly cooked noodles greeted them. The shop was cozy, with wooden tables and stools, and a few other students scattered around, chatting and enjoying their meals. Jimin led the way to a corner table, and they both sat down, glancing over the menu.
“The tonkotsu ramen here is the best,” Jimin said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. “I always get it with extra pork and a soft-boiled egg.”
Jungkook nodded, trusting Jimin’s judgment. “I’ll have the same, then.”
After placing their orders, they settled into a comfortable silence, waiting for their food. Jimin, ever the conversationalist, soon broke the quiet.
