Anyone, But A Jock | Jikook (Mini)

Chapter Thirteen: The Goodbye

The buzz of a saxophone riffing with a piano met Jimin's ears as he walked down the jazz club Taehyung often performed at. His voice was velvety and soulful, and Jimin watched how his friend stood at the mic, his eyes closed in concentration as he sang.

Jimin weaved through the crowd toward the bar, ordering a drink that arrived in a short, dark glass filled with something strong. He took a careful sip, the sharp taste warming his chest, before maneuvering to a seat near the back. He settled beside a group of wolves, their quiet laughter mingling with the haze of smoke as they passed a cigarette between them. Jimin leaned back, taking slow sips from his drink as he settled in, his gaze drifting to Taehyung and his band who were wholly absorbed in their music. Halfway through the set, Taehyung caught his eye, a bright smile spreading across his lips.

They played through a couple more songs, a mix of original songs and improvisations before Taehyung stepped offstage to grab his own drink. A stunning girl in a satin black dress took his place. Her voice was smooth and light, and the contrast between her vocal control with her clear soprano range was decadent to listen to.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow at Jimin as he sat down next to him. Jimin's thumb pushed aside the droplets of condensation clinging to it. The ice cube inside slowly melted, its edges rounding as Jimin looked down at it.

It was natural, the way he slipped into an easy conversation with Taehyung. But then Taehyung's gaze would linger a bit too long every now and again, his usual laid-back demeanor tightening ever so slightly. They had known each other for too long, their bond too deep, not to notice when something was off.

The jazz club was filled with cologne and cigarette smoke, so it was understandable that Taehyung hadn't immediately picked up on Jungkook's scent heavily coating Jimin. He had sprayed some scent blocker before heading over, knowing that without it, he'd probably knock out every single wolf he passed. But this time, he'd used a little less than before, wanting some of Jungkook's scent to still seep through.

Jimin hadn't come to the club to attack Taehyung, he hadn't come to interrogate him or sit him down and villainize him, he came to have a conversation. But the omega held respect for his friend, for their friendship, and so waited till there was a good opening after easing into each other's space to bring up his new relationship and the necessarily boundaries he had establish because of it.

"You're looking at me like you're sad," Taehyung said, noting Jimin's heavy lids and small pout. Jimin hadn't meant to let the expression bleed so blatantly, but there was grief in the air between them. An unsaid end to something that had once been so natural.

Jimin set his half-drunk drink aside. "Tae, did you tell Jungkook that you help me through my heats?"

Taehyung's face paled. He bit the inside of his cheek, clenching his jaw for a moment before releasing the tension and running his hand through his hair. "Yeah," he admitted sheepishly. "I've been feeling like an asshole since. I don't know what got into me, Jimin. I don't say stuff like that... I think I just saw how you two were acting together, and I got so jealous that I lost control." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been trying to come up with a way to apologize for it."

Jimin nodded slowly, like he was really trying to listen and understand Taehyung's words, but there was a true shock nestling between his lungs. "You were jealous." He repeated.

Taehyung nodded; his brown eyes turned pleading. "What's going on between you and Jungkook?"

"We're dating," Jimin said, warmth flooding his spine as he said the words aloud. "We made it official yesterday."

Taehyung nodded. He didn't seem surprised, but neither did he necessarily seem heartbroken. If anything, there was a quiet understanding in his expression, the kind only someone with real patience could achieve. Like he didn't believe Jimin wasn't just dating to date.