In the middle vmk

SAY THE NAME

Jeongguk giddily tied his brand new shiny red sneakers. It matched with the red rain coat that was thrown over his large black hoodie which reached his dark jeans clad thighs. The weather was cold out and the grey clouds seemed to be heavy with an upcoming rainfall. So his mother hadn't allowed him to go out without dressing warmly- and also not without shoving an umbrella into his hands since the weather forecast was really bad.

"Be careful alright?", his mother told him just as he was about to go out the door, "The roads may be slippery and it'll be darker out when the storm reaches us. Don't go out when it's storming and let us know something from time to time okay?"

Jeongguk rolled his eyes and kissed his mom on the cheek before grabbing the doorknob again, "I am not stupid", he retorted.

His mother smiled as she saw her son almost skip out of the door, a bright smile on his face as he made his way towards town.

Their first plan had been to meet in the café where they had gone to before. But since it was closed that day they decided on going to a little restaurant Jimin was familiar with. They served American pancakes and bagels and apparently Jimin's roommate had a part time job there.

So Jeongguk activated the app google maps and followed the dark blue arrow to his destination. He was horrible with directions so he didn't trust his instinct or the directions his father had given him. He'd probably end up somewhere dead in a ditch by wandering outside in the bad weather. So luckily his trusty friend google maps helped him out.

He reached the restaurant just a bit before the others did. Jimin & Taehyung's shift had ended at the same time so they walked together to the restaurant, Jimin's chatter filling the air. The green haired male merely hummed at every given question or whenever it was necessary to do so in order for Jimin to signify he was really listening to his story. They reached the destination a few minutes later than Jeongguk did but immediately saw the said boy standing outside in the cold – too shy and socially awkward to walk inside on his own.

"Jeonggukie!", Jimin yelled from a distance, both boys seeing the way the younger's head jerked up and puppy eyes widening. A wide bunny smile spread out on the boy's lips as he almost jumped up and down from seeing his friends. "Jiminie! Taehyung!", he said happily, accepting the hug Jimin engulfed him in. Once he was released from the warm hug he felt a large familiar hand ruffle his hair. "Hey kid". He smiled up at the taller green haired male who hesitantly smiled back as he retracted his hand, stuffing it back into his pocket. Taehyung wasn't an affectionate showing guy. So Jeongguk was utmost content with what he got from the older.

"Let's go inside. I'm starving", Jimin groaned, patting his tummy, "I'm craving some blueberry pancakes".

The three boys walked inside the little shop, making a little bell ring as the door opened and closed again.

"Look who we have here", a familiar voice spoke up, "If it isn't Jimin with his little boyfriends".

Jeongguk recognized the stranger as Jimin's roommate, Hoseok.

"First of all, they aren't my boyfriends-"

"Yeah and who are you calling little?", Taehyung frowned, stepping closer to intimidate Hoseok with his height. Though Taehyung indeed was taller- it didn't really impress the older.

The waiter rolled his eyes, "If you just knew how much Jimin talked about you two- it'd be clear why I called you his boyfriends. Let's just bring you three to a table, alright?"

Taehyung eyed Hoseok and later Jimin – whose cheeks were flushed a cherry red. He furrowed his eyebrows but got rid of the thoughts inside his head once they were seated around a table, menus in their hands and Jeongguk's feet thudding against the chair.

"Do you have girlfriend?"

Jimin & Taehyung looked up from their menus to see Jeongguk staring at both of them, curious expression on his face.

"Both you", he continued, "Girlfriends?"

Taehyung cleared his throat and shook his head, trying not to seem too uncomfortable about the topic. Jimin, though, saw right through it and grew curious. He himself found it an awkward topic too but he at least wanted to give Jeongguk a fulfilling answer- not like Taehyung had given him.

"No, me and my ex broke up not so long ago", he responded, seeing Jeongguk's mouth form a little 'o'.

"Why? If I ask?"

He now felt Taehyung's eyes on him too and grew a little bit anxious.

"Let's just say we had other priorities. She wanted to go somewhere else with our relationship, and I didn't". It was the best explanation he could give without saying the words She dumped me because I'm asexual and didn't feel the need to have sex with her out loud.

He saw the others merely nod and go back to scanning the menu, Jeongguk leaving the topic alone, for now.

"Have you ladies finally decided on what you want?"

Hoseok said, suddenly appearing at the table, surprising all three of them – and mostly scaring two. Taehyung- being the pretend badass he is, didn't even flinch and immediately started glaring at the orange head. Said guy evilly chuckled and waved his notepad around, showing he just wanted their orders and go on with his life.

"I swear to God I'll stab you in your sleep tonight", Jimin grumbled as he threw the menu in the older's face, "And I want the strawberry pancakes with extra chocolate sauce and whipped cream. And a cup of hot chocolate".

"Same what he has", Taehyung merely said as he closed the menu, "And coffee".

Hoseok wrote down the orders and finally looked down at Jeongguk who frowned at the food options. The boy tentatively raised a finger and pointed it at a word as he raised the menu so Hoseok could read it, "I want this one! With a glass of mango milk please". He said with a shy smile, not wanting to pronounce the words since he didn't want to fail immensely in front of three people.

"So the bagel with chicken, guacamole, cheese cream and jalapenos?", Hoseok asked and wrote it down when he noticed the younger nod, "Alright. Coming right up".