Bubble games

fourteen

Jimin is sitting with his friends at lunch, Yoongi has told him he had to spend more time with them, something with which Jimin does not quite agree–he feels like he only needs his best friend, but the latter forces him to open up to his other friends. Of course, he likes them. But he does not feel as right as he does when he is in Yoongi's tight embrace.

At the moment, Taehyung is talking about one of the European TV series he watches, as Jungkook has eagerly enquired about them. "Well, if you like, you can crash at my place sometime and come watch it with me," the older one finally proposes.

There is an awkward silence and Namjoon taps Taehyung's tray with one of his chopsticks. "What's happening there? I thought you couldn't stand this brat? Are you sure about letting him into our home?"

"Hey, he's my friend." Taehyung blushes as Jungkook beams at him. "And he's crashing at our place."

Namjoon raises an eyebrow. "Okay, then Jin gets to come too. I don't want to be alone with you two. I'm not a baby-sitter." He turns to his best friend. "Now you don't have a choice, hyung." Jin smiles and nods quietly.

Next to them, Hoseok fakes a pout and whines, "How come you all get to sleep at each other's places?" He turns toward Jimin, who is thoughtfully staring through the window of the cafeteria. "Hey, Jimin! How about you let me sleep at your place?"

He does not see Jin's head jerk up and Jimin slightly cringe. "I, hum...," the orange-haired boy starts. "Actually, only Yoongi sleeps over."

What has started out as a joke seems to be getting more and more serious. Hoseok has indeed lost his smile, he is glaring darkly at the smaller boy. "Yoongi, huh?"

"Hoseok, just drop it," Jin whispers to him. "You don't need to sleep at Jimin's anyway."

Namjoon's classmate does not hear–or does not listen–and he clenches his fists, still looking daggers at Jimin, who is innocently rambling about Yoongi, "Yeah, Yoongi used to always sleep in my bed. Now my mom doesn't let him as often as she did, but I only want Yoongi. I want him back in my bed."

All of a sudden, as everybody has stopped talking–even Taehyung and Jungkook's passionate and never-ending conversation has gone mute–Hoseok seems to lose it. He briskly gets up and spits at the younger teenager, "Fuck, Jimin, I'm tired of this. Tired of playing the part of the fool here, when you don't even notice me!" Jimin is now frowning, more shocked than scared. "But you know what? You're right," Hoseok continues hatefully. "Ignore me, just keep playing with your little friend Yoongi, your fucking fake friend!"

Everyone gasps around the table, except for Jimin, who already feels tears rushing to his eyes, but he manages to stop them. Everything goes quickly. Namjoon grips Hoseok's arm to drag him away, but his friend violently pushes him away. Jin gets up and makes it to Jimin, embracing him protectively. Taehyung and Jungkook look blankly at each other.

But Jimin says nothing–he fears he might be too angry to keep calm and answer Hoseok. The latter, standing in front of him, on the other side of the table, is heavily panting, trying to calm down. Jin hisses something to the boy, but Jimin cannot hear, he feels a loud, buzzing sound in his ears, as if his mind was on the verge of exploding.

He breathes in and out, and manages to confusedly hear Hoseok reply, "No, Seokjin. I'm not even sorry."

Hoseok storms out, jostling Namjoon on purpose on the way. Jimin finally realizes Jin is whispering soothing words in his ear, and patting his back.