BLIND DATE. ❪ PJM + JJK ❫

forty-three

"so this is what you meant by taking her out for a walk, huh?"

jeongguk tilted his head to the side, looking at jimin out of the corner of his eye; he stared back boldly, adjusting his grip on the puppy and shrugging. "what? she's restless."

as they'd stepped out of jimin's house and onto the sidewalk, and he'd made to place her on the ground, jeongguk had stopped him with a hand to the arm and a wordless shake of his head. jimin hadn't decided to question it until the pup had started squirming impatiently in his grasp, eliciting small, heart-panging whines.

"oh, no." jeongguk stopped at the pedestrian crossing, giving customary looks to the right and left. "come. no, she's too young for that. she still has to take her shots before you can let her outdoors. have to carry her around if you're taking her out."

jimin nodded slowly, storing the information away. "can't we give her, like, little shoes? are there special shoes for puppies?" jimin stopped when jeongguk looked at him oddly, lips twitching, and he added uncertainly, "puppy shoes?"

"not that i know of, no." jeongguk gave him another sideways glance, now with an impudent grin, "your shoes would probably fit her though."

"you just never miss an opportunity, do you?" jimin muttered in half-hearted annoyance. jeongguk giggled and shook his head gleefully. "god you're annoying."

jeongguk kicked at a pebble, not even bothering to argue. the puppy barked in the sudden silence, as if reminding jimin to speakㅡhe patted her head softly and gave jeongguk a hesitant smile.

"was it difficult?" he asked. jeongguk raised his head, brushing hair out of his eyes and blinking. "taking care of six puppies. not to mention your own dog as well. must've been crazy."

jeongguk scratched the back of his neck modestly, gaze falling to the pavement. "i guess, yeah. i had seokjin hyung come over occasionally, whenever it got too much for me."

"you should've asked me!"

"yeah, but," jeongguk motioned towards the puppy, gaze a little fond, "that would've ruined the surprise."

they turned into the park, and the puppy quietened down for only a few seconds before breaking into a series of high-pitched yaps, having set her sights on another dog in the vicinity. the dog promptly noticed her, straining against its owner's leash in excitement.

jimin made towards them, but jeongguk tugged his arm in the other directionㅡwhen jimin gave him a questioning look, he murmured, "not a good idea. no shots, remember?"

jimin elicited an understanding 'ah'; the two nodded politely in the woman's direction, and as they started down the path around the park, he perked up, eyes widening. "your birthday," jimin started, looking at the other in realization. "did you back out because of the puppies?"

jeongguk nodded quietly, ducking his head as he played with the zipper of his jacket. "hyung was busy that day and the pups were barely a couple weeks old at that point, i was too scared to.. to leave them alone." he met jimin's gaze nervously, biting his lip. "i'm so sorry about that, jimin."

"it's all right." jimin nodded at jeongguk's feet, smiling slightly. "i'm glad you like the shoes, though."

jeongguk beamed, admiring them as they walked, "i was waiting for you to notice!"

the centre of attention was quickly diverted from jeongguk's footwear when the puppy let out a pitiful whine, gazing up at jimin with large, sad eyes. "oh, baby, i'm sorry," jimin cooed, scratching her behind the ears with one hand, "uncle jeongguk said no, oh, don't look at me like that,"