The bell above the door jingled cheerfully, but for Jimin, it felt like the harbinger of chaos. He was in the middle of steaming milk for a caramel macchiato when he caught sight of Jungkook walking in, flanked by two of his old friends, Yoongi and Jimin's childhood rival, Hoseok. They sauntered in with an easy confidence that felt both nostalgic and infuriating.
"Hey, Jimin!" Jungkook called, his voice ringing with warmth, as if they were still the inseparable friends from their childhood. "Still making the best coffee in town?"
Jimin forced a smile, his heart racing with a mix of irritation and something else he couldn't quite place. "Just trying to keep the place running while you're busy being a star."
The comment hung in the air, heavy with unspoken feelings. Jungkook's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Come on, I was just teasing. You know I love this place."
"Love? Is that what you call it?" Jimin shot back, his tone sharper than intended. "You disappeared the moment you got a taste of the city life. Not everyone gets to run away and chase their dreams."
"Not everyone has the guts to do it either," Jungkook replied, his voice steady, a hint of challenge in his eyes.
The tension in the room thickened, and the laughter from Jungkook's friends faded as they sensed the shift. Jimin felt his face flush with anger. "You think I don't want more for myself? I just have responsibilities here, Jungkook."
"And I don't?" Jungkook snapped back, stepping closer to the counter. "You have no idea what it's like to live under the pressure of expectations. I came back to see if I could reconnect with people who matter to me."
"Reconnect?" Jimin repeated, incredulous. "You left us behind! Do you really think you can just stroll back into town and everything will be the same?"
The café was silent now, with a few customers pretending to be absorbed in their drinks, but all eyes were on them. Jungkook's expression softened, and for a moment, the façade of confidence cracked. "I didn't mean to leave you behind, Jimin. It was never about that."
"Then what was it about?" Jimin demanded, feeling his heart race, caught between anger and the longing he had buried deep within. "What do you want from me?"
Jungkook opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the café door swung open again, and Minji stepped in, her cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the charged atmosphere.
"Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late!" she exclaimed, oblivious to the tension. "I brought those pastries you like, Jimin!"
Jimin turned to Minji, grateful for the distraction, but he could feel Jungkook's gaze lingering on him. As Minji began chatting animatedly about the latest town gossip, Jimin tried to focus on the conversation, but his mind was racing.
The exchange with Jungkook had unearthed emotions he thought he had buried. As he looked over at Jungkook, who was laughing with his friends, Jimin felt a pang of something more complicated than resentment—something that stirred in the pit of his stomach.
"Maybe I should've just stayed in the city," Jungkook muttered under his breath, but Jimin caught it.
"Maybe you should've," he replied, not thinking before he spoke.
Jungkook met his eyes, and for a moment, the world around them faded. There was so much unspoken between them, a history that felt too heavy to carry.
"I'll be back," Jungkook said quietly, before turning to leave with his friends, the door jingling behind him.
Jimin stood frozen, heart pounding, the warmth of the café contrasting sharply with the cold reality of Jungkook's departure. As Minji continued chatting about pastries, Jimin's mind was consumed with thoughts of Jungkook, wondering how someone he once knew so well could feel like a stranger.
YOU ARE READING
The small town (jikook)
Fanfiction"Long time, no see, Jimin," Jungkook says, smirking as he walks up to the counter. Jimin forces a smile, folding his arms as he leans against the counter. "Heard you were back. Figured I'd run into you sooner or later." Jungkook chuckles. "Did you m...
