Out of Breath // pjm.

XXVII / Dinner

Jungkook and Taehyung were loud, as always, as they checked out and used all the electronics in my home. I eyed them, amused, as I stood in the kitchen, cooking an unexpected dinner for my four self-invited guests. The rap line was busy working after hours, Hoseok working on his mixtape, Suga composing new music, and RM doing international interviews over the phone. I wanted to have them all over, but they were too absorbed in work.

I flipped the chicken breasts on the stove, as Jin helped me and started to drain water out of the large noodle vessel. Jimin lingered nearby, as though he was making sure he and I were okay after our rough couple of days, nonverbally. Jin and I engaged in our usual banter, and his presence put me at ease with my situation. The man knew how to provide comfort with just his presence.

No wonder they all look upto him.

"Have you spoken to your father lately?" Jin asked casually in conversation.

"Yeah," I nodded, seasoning the chicken in front of me, "I call him every day."

"That's good. Checking up on him?"

I hummed in response.

"How is he now?"

"He says he's in the pink of health," I rolled my eyes, "he doesn't want me to worry. But I call his caretaker every now and then."

"And?" he prompted.

"She says he's definitely doing better. So, I'm not as worried."

"That's great!" he responded, his back colliding with one pacing Jimin and spilling some noodles.

"Aish!" he whined and Jimin leapt into action, gathering everything and muttering "sorry, hyung."

"What about your sister?" Jimin asked after the situation was under control, perching himself on the countertop by Jin.

I laughed, humorlessly, "oh, lord. I wanted her to go stay with him for a while. But she says she's busy. And she went all 'why don't you do it' on me," I airquoted.

"She doesn't know that I was with him for three months, and quite frankly, she probably wouldn't care. She's always says he coddles me and that I should be more attentive," I shrugged.

"And what do you have to say about that?" Jin asked.

"I think I do my best," I shrugged and they umm-hmm'ed in acknowledgement.

We talked about lighter subjects then, me telling them about the bike how I had been trying to sell the bike I purchased when I was drunk off my ass after my graduation.

"You want full price for it?" Jimin exclaimed.

"Of course!" I squeaked, "it's never been used! Not even once! It was a drunk purchase, I don't even know how they let me buy it. And it's a nice one, too," I narrowed my eyes in thought, "I half don't even want to sell it."

"That's because you just love buying things," Jimin said and pushed off the counter, coming around and standing by me, "you'll never ride it."

"I don't know. I might. I'm good at riding things," I said, shrugging and Jin coughed abruptly.

Jimin's wide eyes grew amused, "oh, I know," he whispered and my eyes widened in que, realizing what I had said.

My face heated up.

"That's not what I- I didn't mean to- not that way," I shook my head and stuttered and Jimin laughed out loud.

I stepped back and bumped into him, wanting to recoil instantly, but he ruffled my hair and leaned in.

"Sure, doll," he whispered and backed away, leaving me tongue tied and wide eyed, then grappling to finish cooking.

Jin and I wrapped up cooking, acting like parents, carrying out containers of food and calling out to the 3 boys who were spread out all over my house.

Jungkook was the first to hop out of my study.

"That's a cool room, Tara, do you use it?" he asked, hurrying over to us after spotting the food.

I laughed mildly.

"Not a lot these days since I've been working at the building," I admitted and made another trip to the kitchen as Taehyung jogged over.

"Sorry, we didn't help at all," he looked around, looking for something to do, "but you guys just cooked so fast."

"Oh, apologies," I rolled my eyes, "for being good cooks."

Taehyung grinned sheepishly.

"Your man is a lucky man, Tata," he said softly to me and I pursed my lips. Both of us failed to spot Park Jimin who had just then slid into the kitchen.

"Your man?" he spat.

I jumped at the sudden loud voice and looked at Jimin, eyes wide.

Taehyung stood, shook, then proceeding to cower next to me.

Umm?

I exhaled sharply and turned to the counter, lifting up two vessels and handing them to Taehyung.

"Here, take this to the table."

Taehyung didn't even wait a second around us, grabbing the vessels and scurrying out of the kitchen.

Jimin stayed glued to his spot, his gaze staying trained on me.

I turned and made for the fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine as I felt his eyes following me.

"Your man?" he repeated in the same harsh tone and I turned to glance at him.

"What?" I laughed, snarky and nonchalant, walking toward the dinner table.

Jimin grabbed my arm as I attempted to walk by him and I screwed my eyes shut for a second, reminding myself that I had done nothing wrong.

"What the hell did he mean by 'your man', Tara?" he sneered and I turned slowly, facing him head on.

"Dinner is served, Jimin. And I'd like to eat it before it gets cold," I snapped and twisted my arm out of his, walking toward an unknowing and chatty Jin and Jungkook.