Piano Boy

9

• Yoongi •

"So."

I glance up at Hoseok as he leans on the upright, glancing around the bar as the staff hurries around making preparations for the evening. "How are you, Yoongs?"

I shrug, turning back to the piano, and Hoseok lets out a low groan. "Come on, I want to know what you think."

"About?" I press a minor chord, softly, the sound entwining around in my ears, its richness making me smile slightly.

"Jimin."

I'm surprised enough at this that my hands leave the keys and I stare at Hoseok, caught off guard.

"Taehyung and I left you two the other day for a reason, you can't pretend you didn't have fun with him." Hoseok frowns at me. "And now you've avoided talking to me about it for two days."

"I don't like Jimin," I say quietly, turning back to the piano, and Hoseok pauses, clearly caught off guard by my unhesitant reply.

"He likes you, though."

My head snaps toward Hoseok so quickly I'm lightheaded for a moment, and he grins at me. "I knew it."

"Don't say stuff like that." I frown at him, and he just grins, shaking his head.

"It's true, Yoongs, Taehyung was texting with him and it's so obvious."

I stand, my stomach tight, nervous, at the thought. The blonde, bright, soft bartender. Me. Two polar opposites. "There's no way."

"Seriously, Yoongi, Taehyung has known Jimin since elementary school. He can read him like a book, he's not just seeing things that aren't there."

I turn toward the bar, where Jimin is leaning on the polished wood, chatting with a server, throwing his head back as he laughs, eyes crinkling, cheeks rounding out with happiness, and Hoseok follows my gaze, smiling.

"You do like him, Yoongs," he says softly, and I blink, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts, blonde men and tequila on the rocks and frozen yogurt and late night walks home.

"I - I don't," my voice wavers slightly and Hoseok nods, his face more serious.

"You don't have to tell me until you're ready." He shrugs, straightening, giving me a smile so I know it really is okay. "Taehyung said that Jimin is bisexual, and he's dated a couple of girls before but no guys yet."

Hoseok presses his hand to my shoulder, speaking at me as he disappears into the kitchen. "It'll probably take him a while to admit it too."

The door swings shut behind him, and I sit down hard on the piano bench, just stare at the wood of the door, unsure what to do, where I go with this information. Damn it, Hoseok. He knows how to get into my head; he always has.

"Hey, Yoon."

I startle, turning at a gentle brush of fingers on my shoulder, and the smaller boy grins at me, his blonde hair looking curlier than normal, soft waves falling into his eyes as he leans over me to set a napkin, then a glass, on the top of the piano. "I brought your drink." His grin deepens, eyes crinkling, teeth flashing in the dim light.

"Thanks."

"What were you and Hosoek talking about? You looked upset." Jimin gives me a tiny frown, a sympathetic look, and I shake my head, looking away, realizing his fingers still lightly rest on my shoulder, and I move away slightly, my shoulder burning.

"Nothing."

"Nothing, huh." Jimin gives me a smile, tilting his head. "You know what that reminds me of? That one song by The Script?"

My lips curve upward of their own volition, and Jimin's grin widens as he sings a couple of lines of the chorus, softly, eyes on mine. "And my mates are all there trying to calm me down, 'cause I'm shouting your name all over town; I'm swearing if I go there now, J could change your mind, turn it all around."

I can't help my smile, looking up at him, and he lets out a soft sigh, leaning on the piano to grin at me. "I love that song, it's my absolute favorite by them."

I nod, unsure what to say next, so I place my fingers on the keys, playing the next couple bars of music, and Jimin's face lights up. "Can you play it tonight? For me?"

My chest tightens and I nod slightly, my stomach full of unsteady butterflies, and Jimin grins at me, and I've never noticed that slightly crooked front tooth until right now, as my eyes drop to his lips, and I realize what I'm doing, cursing myself and Hoseok silently as he starts speaking again.

"I'll be singing along if you play it, which obviously you won't hear, but it's a nice thought, right?" He grins at me and I nod, tearing my eyes from his face, looking away as my cheeks heat.

"You okay, Yoon?"

I nod slightly, reaching for the drink on the piano, and I take a small sip, the cold rush of the alcohol enough to make my cheeks cool. "Yeah."

Jimin nods, not looking convinced. "You sure?"

"Mhm." I turn back to the piano, raising my fingers to the keys again, aware of the younger male still standing by me, and it's a minute of silence before he speaks again.

"I'll walk you home tonight, so wait for me after?" I can hear the smile in his voice, and I nod slightly, letting out a breath of relief as he heads back toward the bar, and I fight the urge to turn around, to see if he watches me over the wood of the bar tonight, if he smiles as I play the songs I know he likes.

Damn it.

~

Song mentioned by the Script. Literally my childhood - my parents were both fans and I grew up to their music lol.

Thanks for reading!