study with me ✎ m.yg x p.jm

열셋

(time skip of 2 months)

jimin was coming to my basketball practice today, but i didn't really want him there. i stopped believing he came to watch me practice, since his eyes are always on someone's movements on and off the court.

the team and i were getting changed right now, then we were told to run laps to kick off our first practice after christmas. while getting changed, i keep glancing at jackson, thinking of all the reasons why jimin would like him. i honestly already made a short list:

-he's the best player
-stunning body
-smart
-nice around most people

i say 'most people' because he can be pretty rude sometimes. even with that, still better than the sometimes-depressed-and-very-anxious min yoongi that i was sadly destined to be. i can see what jimin sees in him, but there's the very obvious factor that jimin seems to be either oblivious to, or is just ignoring. he's your typical player, who has a new girl at his hip every week.

nevertheless, jimin fawned over him every time.

we all exited the locker room and i saw jimin sitting on the highest row in the bleachers, all the way in the back, up against the wall. jimin looked at me and i smiled and waved, then he looked at jackson with heart eyes, making my smile drop onto the gym floor, my stomach too. even as i proceeded to run the exhausting laps around the echo-y room with the team, i glared daggers through jackson as much as possible.

we proceeded to really start practice after that, and after a couple warm-ups that nobody entirely liked, we all begged for a practice game and the coach caved in once yugyeom literally fell to his knees begging the coach for a game.

after the game, that my team won, the coach blew the whistle and told us to take a break. naturally, i raced up the bleachers to jimin, who also had a water bottle for me. i collapsed on the hard plastic, throwing my head back for a painful meeting with the hard wall, but still keeping it there anyway, not caring about it's throbbing.

"hyung, drink water, don't die." he giggles, convincing enough to make me revive myself slowly and take the water bottle that he was holding out in front of me. "thanks, jiminie."

i quickly chug a majority of the plastic bottle's contents, still feeling wiped out.

"hyung, do you think jackson even knows who i am?" he pouts, eyes trained on jackson, who was sitting at the bottom of the bleachers. here we go, i thought. jimin could've just sat down next to jackson and started a conversation and it would be the most normal thing ever, they were both in the same league after all. jimin was still just as cocky in school, still just as much of a child out of school.

"ya! jackson!" jimin immediately freaked out from my shouting, with different versions of 'hyung, no!' he eventually put on his confident mask and used it well. jackson ran up the bleachers, he loud plastic and metal thumping bouncing of the walls.

he sat down in front of us. "yeah, what'dya need?" he gives a sly smile. i could tell jimin was probably having an internal heart attack right about now, seeing as what just jackson's existence alone did to him. why can't i do that?

"i wanted to know if we could hang out later? after practice, you know?" jimin asks, his nervous demeanor jumping out the window it seemed.

jackson has to think for a moment. "uh, yeah, sure. i'm free. like, right after practice?"

"yeah, if that's ok."

"it's fine, yeah, i gotta get back around 7 though, so we only have about an hour."

jimin nods, understanding. "no problem, see you then."

just then, the coach blows his annoying ass whistle, signaling that the break is over. "come on, yoongi." jackson says getting up, i do too, just with more effort. "see ya jimin." he winks before starting his venture down the bleachers. i let out an involuntary growl at his actions and follow him down to start out remaining hour of practice.

•

after practice, i had to walk back home by myself, much to my displeasure. a factor may have been that jimin and jackson were probably eating each other's faces off right now - and enjoying it.

as i opened my front door, a wave of familiarity hit me like a wall of bricks toppling down onto me. i quickly closed the door and my nose instinctively scrunched up at the foul smell, begging me to walk back out that door where there's fresh air.

stepping over the empty beer bottles and avoiding my pissed drunk father who was passed out on his chair, i rushed to my room to put away my basketball gear and avoid my mom, if she was even here. after putting my things away, i practically jumped over to jin's room and quietly knocked on his door "hyung?"

when he opened his door i immediately noticed the red mark on his cheek, which was also stained with dried tears. his eyes locked on mine. "i'm sorry yoongs, i couldn't stop him." he started to cry again.

i immediately guided him into his room, shutting the door. i sat him down on his bed next to me and began rubbing his back soothingly. "i.. i couldn't stop h-him... i'm so sorry." he sobbed into my chest, his right arm wrapped around my waist as he sobbed into my chest.

"hyung, it's ok. don't say sorry to me." i pulled away and examined his face. "does it still hurt?" "o-only a little, i-i'm ok." he tries to give me a smile but he looks down sadly after his failed attempt. "jimin's coming tomorrow, and the house is a huge mess, and i don't know if i'll have it looking normal in time. you might have to stall him for a bit." he swipes his tears as they fall, slowly but surely.

"it's fine, hyung. no problem. is an hour good?" he nods, looking back up at me.

"are you going to tell him?" he whispers and i'm a bit confused. tell who what?

"what...?"

"are you going to tell jimin about this stuff? i know you guys are close, but i know you haven't told him. he doesn't look at our parents with hatred like he probably would if he found out." he pauses and smiles. "he's a good kid, really. a pure, honestly good kid all the way around. and i know he's special to you, and i know you want to tell him, so are you going to?"

i looked down, making sure he couldn't see my eyes beginning to water. "i don't know. i don't want him to worry, or drag him into this." i shake my head. he couldn't know. he doesn't need to know.

"why don't you guys go over his house, actually?" jin suggests making us look at each other.

i nod slowly, understanding his idea but also confused as to why i didn't think of that sooner. "yeah, sure. i'll text him."

i stay with him a bit more, making sure he's ok before i head into my room only to plop down on my bed and wish i knew how to cry on the spot. i take out my phone and text jimin once i'm done pouting to my ceiling about my sucky love life.

me:
hey jiminie
can we go to your house tomorrow?

i wait a few moments before remembering that he's still with jackson. dammit. i get up and grab my speaker from my dresser, bringing it onto my nightstand and connecting my phone to it. i start playing music from my playlist and lay down on my bed, letting the music take over me.

it must've been about 20 minutes before my music got quiet for only a few moments before returning to the song that was playing. i reached over and grabbed my phone, turning it on to see a few notifications on my lock screen.

jiminie:
yeah no problem!
can i ask y tho?
we like always go over to urs and i guess it's kinda sudden?
idk

me:
no reason, i just haven't ever been to your house, thought we could try something new :)