Favourite Jikook Stories (3rd Book)

The Truest of Love - 3/13

Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7922755/chapters/18137680

Jimin remembers the time when he could ruffle Jungkook's hair without any hesitation. The time when he could call Jungkook cute and hug him without arousing any suspicion. The time when he felt no guilt to cherish the other.

Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook all grew up together. A strong bond of friendship tied their lives to one another. Yet along the way, the line separating friendly love from romantic love started to fade away. At a young age, Jimin had come to see Jungkook as more than just a little brother or a friend. He tried to show his affection with every chance he got. But Jimin's shy and passive nature bound him to the shadow from where he can only watch on as the person he adores seeks for the touch of another. Things only get worse when that other person is Taehyung. Jimin loves his brother way too much to fight. And all motivation to struggle for his own happiness vanished when he recognized that Jungkook only had eyes for Taehyung and no one else. As the years dragged on, Jimin found that the only way he could subside his unneeded feelings was to sacrifice the intimacy he shared with Jungkook. The further Jimin drifted away from the pair, the closer Taehyung and Jungkook became. By the time the two became an official couple, the awkward distance between Jimin and Jungkook was apparent. However, despite the occasional heartaches, Jimin is satisfied with the way things are now. But sometimes it is so hard to pretend like he doesn't care when, in actuality, he cares so deeply.

From his bedroom window, Jimin looks down onto the driveway of his house. He sees Taehyung skipping down the doorsteps and into Jungkook's waiting arms. Jimin turns away as the couple share pecks and kisses, and only when he hears the sound of the engine fading further away does Jimin turns his head back around. He stares down at the empty driveway where Jungkook's car was parked just less than a minute ago. Today's the day. Today's the day where Jungkook will fulfill his promises to Taehyung.

Fumbling over his own chubby fingers, Jimin finally succeeds in tying the knot. He admires the flower ring that he has just managed to make. Jimin's never been more proud of anything in his 9 years of life. Looking up from his creation, Jimin searches the field for Taehyung and Jungkook. He hears the loud laughter of the two boys before he sees them running down the hill and rolling onto the grass bed. Placing the vulnerable ring on Jungkook's Iron Man figure, Jimin leaves the picnic mat and runs off to join his two beloved dongsaengs. After too many rounds of tag, the three decide to sit down for a rest. Jungkook notices the freshly made ring, and Jimin watches from the corner of his eyes. Jimin is nervous. He wonders how Jungkook will react. Will he like it? Picking up the ring, Jungkook smiles widely, showing the gap where his bunny teeth will grow into.

"Taetae-hyung, did you make this for me?" Jungkook asks sheepishly.

"Huh?" Taehyung tilts his head to the side in confusion. "Make wh-", Taehyung is cut off when Jungkook suddenly slams him into a bear hug.

"Heheheh, let's get married when we grow older. I love hyung the most in the wholeeeee world!" Jungkook continues his unstoppable giggles. Taehyung doesn't say anything and just blushes.

Witnessing the entire scene from behind, Jimin's lips quiver and fold down into a frown. Jimin doesn't make any sound as he retreats into the shadows, tears rolling down his pink cheeks.

It's been 13 years, nothing has changed.

"I'm going to take Taehyungie out next week and propose to him. Please keep it a secret until then Jimin-hyung!" Jungkook had revealed his intentions to Jimin the day they went ring shopping over dinner. And although Jimin saw it coming from miles away, reality has not hit him until today. Scrunching up his shirt where it covers his chest, Jimin slides down the wall and sobs silently under his window.

Calming down from his meltdown, Jimin spends hours trying to talk himself out of his unrequited feelings. You're going to be their best man, Jimin. You should be happy for them! Now is not the time to be selfish. Jungkook never loved you anyways. Stop coveting the lover of your twin, you asshole.

Jimin is brought back to the real world when he hears his mom calling him down for dinner. It's already dinnertime? How long was I crying for?Within the dark confinement of his room, Jimin sees light illuminating from his phone. It's a call from "Taetae". Taehyung rarely calls Jimin when he's on a date. An unsettling feeling forms at the pit of Jimin's stomach.

"What is it Tae?"

"Jimin-ah, Jungkookie he, Jungkooie is- JIMINIE WHAT DO I DO?!!?!?" Taehyung bursts into a crying fit on the other side of the line.

"Tae, calm down and tell me what happened." Jimin is trying to steady his own shaking voice.

"Jungkookie got hurt and and- I don't know what to do. I'm at the hospital, please - please come" Jimin can hear the desperation through the hiccupping and cries of his twin.

"What hospital are you at? I'll come immediately. Calm down Tae, everything's going to be okay. Okay?" Jimin sprints down the stairs and quickly informs his mom of the situation before running out to the car.

Jimin finds Taehyung crying on the bench outside the operation room.

"Tae..." Jimin comes to a halt, the run from the parking lot to the hospital has left him breathless.

"Jiminie!" Taehyung jumps into Jimin's embrace, crying harder than Jimin has ever seen him cry.

Jimin gives Taehyung time to calm down before asking him for details of the incident. As Taehyung recounts, he and Jungkook were exiting the mall when they saw a metal beam falling from the neighboring building that was under construction. Jungkook noticed a little boy near the construction site and his quick reflex had saved the child. But the beam had managed to graze his head in the process. The doctor says that in the best case scenario, Jungkook will only have a concussion. Worst case scenario, he will lose his eye sight. Jimin is shaken by the news. Wordlessly, he takes hold of Taehyung's hand, hoping that he can give Taehyung a sense of assurance which he himself needs.

The operation sign switches from red to green and the automatic door slides open. Both Jimin and Taehyung jump to their feet as the doctor exits.

"How, how is he doctor?" Jimin asks, for Taehyung is too shaken up to even speak.

"Nothing life threatening. But..." Jimin dreads what's about to come and he can sense that Taehyung feels it too. "The heavy contact of the beam had created pressure inside the brain which in turn damaged the optic nerve. Jungkook-sshi's vision will be impaired."

"Impaired? H-how? Can he still see?" Taehyung nervously asks.

"What I mean by impaired is that Jungkook-sshi's vision is almost nonexistent. What he see's is only a blob of light at best." The doctor explains. "There may be chances of him recovering his sight in the future, but it rarely happens since the optic nerve is not regenerative. We can sign you up for the waiting list to get a donor but...it may take years and years till there is a pair available. Right now, the best thing that our staff, and you as his family, can do is help him cope and get accustom to his changes."

Taehyung breaks down in Jimin's arms and Jimin tightens the grip he has on the younger. The doctor leaves the twins to themselves, giving Jimin a sympathetic look before turning away. Jimin continues hugging Taehyung, rubbing Taehyung's back, and running his hand through Taehyung's hair. Jimin already feels so terrible himself, he wonders what kind of pain his twin is in. Jimin worries. For Taehyung's sake and for Jungkook's sake.

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