CIGARETTES AND TULIPS // jikook

14 - coffee

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jimin slumped down into one of the chairs at the library table, his backpack sliding off his shoulder with a thud. tae was already there, flipping through a thick textbook, while jin and hobi were seated on the other side, surrounded by piles of papers and empty coffee cups. the clock on the wall showed it was nearing 5 p.m., but they had just started.

"i can't believe this assignment," jimin muttered, rubbing his temples as he pulled out his laptop. "a group presentation in diagnostic? seriously, and this topic?"

"it's not that bad," jin said with a calm smile, always the optimist. "we just need to break it down. it's complicated, but if we divide the sections, it'll be easier."

hobi chuckled, flipping through some printouts. "easier for you, maybe. you're like a walking encyclopedia."

taehyung snorted at that, but his focus was still glued to the page he was reading, occasionally nodding like he understood something important. jimin envied that. everything seemed to click for tae in a way it never did for him. maybe it was because tae didn't stress as much.

"anyway," tae said finally, leaning back in his chair. "let's just get through the research tonight. we can worry about piecing it together for the presentation later."

the library was quiet, aside from the soft clicking of keyboards and the low hum of the air conditioning. the smell of coffee lingered in the air, though all their cups had long since run dry. hobi tossed a crumpled paper napkin toward jimin's cup like a basketball shot. "another coffee run?"

"i don't think my heart can handle it," jimin muttered, staring down at the screen as it flickered between articles he barely understood. he sighed, eyes already feeling heavy. he still had no idea how to approach the research. every sentence he read felt like a blur of scientific jargon. why had he chosen psychology again?

jin slid a new article toward him, a reassuring smile on his face. "try this one, jimin. it breaks down diagnostics into more digestible concepts. might help."

jimin nodded, appreciating jin's patience. "thanks, hyung."

as the hours dragged on, they fell into a rhythm—reading, writing, discussing the assignment. taehyung leaned over the table to share his thoughts on one part of the research, his long fingers gesturing animatedly as he explained something to hobi. jin, on the other hand, stayed focused on the papers, scanning through endless pages of information and occasionally pointing out useful bits to jimin.

time blurred after that. they barely moved, except to stretch their sore limbs or grab another snack from the bag hobi had brought. jimin tried to follow along with the others, but it was difficult. the material was dense, full of unfamiliar terms, and his head ached from trying to process it all.

"this makes no sense," he groaned, pushing his laptop away. "how am i supposed to understand all this by the time of the presentation?"

hobi glanced up, giving him a sympathetic look. "you'll get it, jiminie. it's just a lot right now, but we've got time."

"yeah, but exam season is coming up too," jimin muttered, his chest tightening. "i need to start studying for everything else. i'm already falling behind."

taehyung nudged him lightly. "you always say that, but then you end up getting the highest scores out of everybody."

"that's because i never sleep during exam season," jimin replied, half-joking but also half-serious. it was true. he was terrified of failing, of not living up to the expectations he had set for himself. he knew he needed to focus more on his studies, clear his head, and get back on track.the clock struck midnight, and the exhaustion was starting to hit. tae and hobi stretched in unison, both clearly ready to call it a night.

"i'm heading out," taehyung said, standing and gathering his things. "i'm already dead on my feet. you guys coming?"

hobi followed suit, yawning as he packed up his backpack. "i should go too. if i stay any longer, i'll pass out on this table."

jimin hesitated, glancing at jin, who was still reading through the research with a steady focus. there was a calmness in the way jin worked, unbothered by the late hour. jimin felt like he should stay, push through a little more.

"you go ahead," jimin said softly. "i'll stay a bit longer with jin."

"you sure?" hobi asked, raising an eyebrow. "don't overdo it, jiminie."

"i'll be fine," jimin assured him, offering a small smile. "just need to catch up a little."

tae gave him a gentle pat on the back. "don't stress too much, okay? see you tomorrow."

as taehyung and hobi left, the library grew even quieter, the silence almost deafening. jimin glanced at jin, who had shifted to a new article, eyes still scanning the words with precision. it was comforting to study next to him, even in silence. there was something steady about jin, something that kept jimin grounded.

they stayed like that for another hour, neither of them speaking much. jimin managed to get through more of the research, slowly piecing together the information bit by bit. the exhaustion weighed on him, but he felt more productive this way, more focused.

at some point, jin stretched his arms above his head, letting out a long breath. "i think that's enough for tonight," he said, his voice soft in the stillness. "you did well, jimin. we're making progress."

jimin nodded, though he still felt the pressure building inside him. "yeah... we'll get there."

"exactly," jin said, packing up his things with a smile. "don't forget to breathe, okay? you've got this."

jimin managed a small smile in return.

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