it's just kissing | m.j ✓

CHAPTER FORTY.

"Yeah, but usually on weekends with my friends. i didn't know the place would be this crowded on a Monday," Mingyu muses, waiting for one of the tables to be cleaned so they can be seated. Jimin does't miss how basically every woman seated are watching Mingyu intently.

They are eventually taken to their table, and while Jimin is not at all pleased to be seated right behind a table filled with drunk people currently in a heated political debate, he keeps a smile on his face and does his best to focus on the taller man seated across from him.

They talk about what they have been up to since graduating high school. Jimin finds out that Mingyu has a side job as a model, doing photoshoots for online apparel shops. They talk about the weather and how everywhere is so crowded these days with all the end of the year events happening. 

"So, we've been preparing for the annual Christmas party," Jimin begins halfway through their meal. "Yesterday, I even got to decorate a Christmas tree with these alcohol themed ornaments."

"Yeah? I didn't know the bar did a Christmas party every year. But then again, I've only been there a couple of times."

"Yup. Apparently it's a pretty big deal. There's even going to be mistletoes where people can kiss under, and the whole thing's supposed to be quite romantic. Nice, right?"

"It is," Mingyu answers with a fond smile before taking some rice into his mouth. 

"I think you'll like it," Jimin continues with a smile and then falters once he sees that Mingyu is staring back at him with an expression that closely resembles confusion. "Oh I mean, I uh...I should've asked first," Jimin blurts out hurriedly, suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious now that he realizes that he had just assumed that Mingyu would be accompanying him to the party.

"Oh...I'm guessing the party's on Christmas day," the taller man asks, his lips already pursing apologetically.

"Yeah...You probably have plans..."

"I do. I'll be hanging out with my friends that night."

"Oh, your friends."

"Yeah. I can't really be going to a gay bar without drawing some kind of suspicion. It's either them or a girlfriend, and well..." Mingyu explains, making vague motions with one hand. 

"Oh...so...I'm guessing no one knows...about, you know," Jimin trails off uncertainly, not knowing what else he should've expected. He had spent too much time lately with people seemingly so comfortable with their sexuality that he had forgotten about what it's like to be outside that bar. 

"Of course not. Don't want to give my mom a heartattack," Mingyu says with a shrug, and Jimin forces a smile back onto his face. Yeah. Of course. That's understandable, right?

"So um, what are....what are you doing with your friends on Christmas?" Jimin asks, not wanting to linger on what he's heard.

"Ah, I see. That sounds fun."

He shouldn't be disappointed. Mingyu had his own life, and it would be selfish of him to expect the man to come to a party at a gay bar with him. He really needs to stop getting ahead of himself.

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