You Can Only Hurt Me Once [NamKook]

trois

I'd become almost dependent on Namjoon-hyung, lately.

I could handle being apart from him, so we were okay to go on with our own separate schedules.

But when we were at the dorm, I found myself in his room for either a few hours or the whole night.

One day I spent a whole afternoon with him just sitting in the silence of his studio.

He didn't seem to mind and I was glad. The company was enough to keep my mind off Jimin, plus the weird faces he made- when he stared into space- were enough to keep me in high spirits.

"Jungkook," he called and I snapped my eyes up from my lap.

"Yeah?"

"Are you busy tonight?," he asked, playing with his bracelets.

"Um," I glanced around the room as I searched my mind, "No, why?"

"Everyone's going out for dinner. Do you wanna go?"

"Are you going?"

"I'll try to," he nodded, smiling a bit and showing me his dimples.

I dropped my head and smiled, "Yeah, I'll go."

"Okay. I'll tell Hoseok," he said, picking his phone up.

"Okay," I nodded, picking at the loose threads on the holes of my jeans.

"You should go back to the dorms and shower," Joon-hyung said.

"Is that your way of telling me I smell?," I laughed.

"Well, I mean...not smell, but your hair's pretty greasy."

"Thanks," I laughed, feeling a small blush on my cheeks.

"You're welcome, JK."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, fixing my clothes before I said bye and left.

"Kookie, I haven't seen you all day!," Taehyung said, jumping on my back as I walked into the restaurant.

"Hey Hyung," I laughed, leaning forward so he wouldn't fall.

I looked up from the floor and my eyes locked with Jimin's. He smiled sadly, but I gave a happier one back in hopes that he'd smile wider.

"What've you been up to, Kookie?," he asked, lightly putting his hands in his jacket pockets.

"I was just hanging around Namjoon-hyung's studio," I shrugged lightly.

"Oh, is he working on new stuff?"

"A few new things and then he played around with some old tracks."

"Ah-"

"Joon-hyung!," Taehyung suddenly called, "Come give me a hug!"

I turned to look towards the restaurant doors, and found our hyung shuffling over. He was tired.

"Why do you need a hug when you're treating JK like a tree?"

"Because I love you!," Taehyung pouted.

I laughed and turned to Jimin, finding him smiling.

I felt my eyes widen when my face was pressed into a shoulder and a pair of lanky arms wrapped around me and Taehyung. I couldn't feel hands on my back, but I was sandwiched between Namjoon-hyung and Tae.

And here is when I realized that those scenes in anime were real. I could see the sparkles around us and I started feeling warmer. I was sure I skipped a few breaths, but everything cleared up as Namjoon-hyung pulled away.

"Happy now?," he asked, his eyes focused above my head.

"Of course, Hyung," Tae said, his hum of an embarrassed laugh coming through. "Alright Kookie!," he pointed out towards the dining area, "Onwards!"

"Hyung, I'm not a horse," I sighed, hiking him up on my back and making my way towards the table where I saw Jin hyung talking with Yoongi hyung and Hoseok hyung.

"Kookie," Jimin's voice came from beside me and I peered over, "I think you should tell him."

"Tell who what?," I furrowed my brow.

"Hyung...that you have a crush on him."

I stopped and almost let Taehyung fall off my back, but the way he yelped made me reaffirm my grip on him. "Sorry, Tae," I mumbled.

"You should," Jimin said, "Maybe...Maybe he can give you a chance. Maybe...he can treat you the way I should have."

With that, he walked over and sat next to Jin hyung, leaning on his shoulder.

"You alright, JK?," Joon hyung asked, tapping my forearm.

My eyes shot up to meet his and I nodded.

"No, he almost dropped me!," Tae said.

"Maybe he was trying to tell you to use your feet," Joon hyung backfired.

"Hyung!," Tae whined, "I'm your most favorite! Tell JK to carry me better!"

"That's too much of a hassle. Please put your feet on the floor and stop attracting so much attention."

Tae wiggled around on my back then sighed.

Joon Hyung walled to the table and I waited for Tae to start climbing down. "Hyung?"

"I twisted my ankle, Kookie," he pouted, dropping his chin on top of my forehead.

"I got you, Hyung," I mumbled, then continued on to the table where our friends were waiting.