pastel [3]

four

Jungkook's point of view

Why was he awake at 5 in the morning? When I had finished getting ready for work and had left my room with music stuck inside my head from my attempts at trying to force myself into a dream, I had not expected to find Jimin already at the kitchen bench buttering a piece of toast and staring distantly at the oven clock. He looked completely out of it, still wearing his clothes from yesterday, hair all over the place. Did he even sleep?

Hoping I could lift his mood, I strolled up behind him with a motive, finishing the final button on the high collar shirt I still had to wear, god I couldn't wait to get out of this ridiculous uniform one day. It was getting so faded and Namjoon wouldn't let me get a new one until I could no longer sew up the holes on it

"Hey Jimin." I called with a bright tone, his head swivelling to smile shallowly at me and mumble back a 'morning'. I frowned, dropping my chin to his shoulder and tugging at his cheek to bring his eyes to mine. He inhaled through his nose, an apprehensive thought filling his head clearly. I quickly dropped my concern and traded it for a grin that no doubt screamed mischief. "Make me breakfast." I begged with a thick layer of sarcasm buttered onto each syllable. He rolled his eyes at the request, turning back to his own breakfast and reaching for the plate. The moment he lifted it within reach I grabbed at the crockery and stole the toast from his hands, immediately backing up and spinning my prize away to keep it out of his reach.

"You cheeky bastard! That's mine!" Jimin finally lit up with a feigned upset pout, eyes glinting with a much more intrigued mischief of his own. "I would like my toast back now, Kook," he spoke calmly, holding out an open palm and gesturing for its return. I took a bite and puffed out my cheeks, shaking my head firmly.

"Nah ah, you lost the bet."

"For me to make you food! Not for you to steal mine!" I shrugged, twisting the plate back around so I could hold it just out of his reach, jumping back each time he tried to dart forward. "Kook!" He whined, stamping his foot the same way little Tae would. I giggled at the thought, getting momentarily lost in the thought of how sweet the little boy was and how perfectly he matched his name.

The seconds of weakness meant I was pushed to the bench, hands emptied by Jimin snatching the plate and running off to the other side of the lounge and taking the largest bite of food I have ever seen him eat. "Loser," he snapped with a grin, my own reflected back with the positive result of my ability to nag people into happiness.

"You may win the toast, but I win the game."

"What game?" His eyes furrowed in confusion at the ulterior motive.

"The game of making you smile!" This time when he rolled his eyes it was so incredibly dramatic I couldn't hold back the snort I let out. "Don't look so offended, Minnie. You looked sad earlier and I wanted to make you happy!"

"Gods who turned you into such a sappy sweetheart?" He made the rhetoric with a light sarcastic tone not expecting an answer, but it was hard for me to hide the jolt of grief that spread through my insides at what would have been the answer. "Shit, Kook I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," I muttered, turning back to the kitchen and fumbling to grab onto the fridge handle. In it I found a lunch packed by my housemate, cheeks softening under the sweet gesture. "Thanks for the lunch," I said softly, turning back to see Jimin chewing his lip in a worry. "Jimin it's fine, I'm over it." He nodded slightly, trying to return to that smile.

"Okay, it's just leftovers mostly. You better leave soon or you'll be late."

"Yes boss." I chuckled out the words, stepping past my friend on the way to the door to pull him into a tight hug. "Look after yourself, you look like you haven't slept." I finished the words and hug with a squeeze on his shoulder before pulling away and grabbing my coat and keys. "I'll be out this afternoon but will see you in the evening."