Everyone Loves Park Jimin

Chapter 26

JIMIN

"I have a crush on you Jimin."

The words that rang continuously in Jimin's ears. Namjoon was looking at him, lips pressed together, his hands balled up in a fist as if gauging his reaction to what he had said.

"Really?" was all Jimin could muster.

Namjoon just nodded, his hands were now lying flat on the table, still looking at him.

Jimin took a sip of his coffee and set it down immediately, a frown forming on his face as if he had just remembered that he disliked Americano so much. He sat up again.

"Since when?"

"I don't know...," Namjoon answered with a shrug. "Honestly...pretty much the day since I saw you out there in the campus."

"Oh, yeah...you helped me find the dorms."

"I did," Namjoon smiled.

Jimin smiled a little at the thought of Namjoon being smitten with him for so long as unbelievable as it sounded. He had never given so much of a hint or rather Jimin was too oblivious to pick up on them as he slowly recollected how much Jackson would mention Namjoon's crush and how flustered Namjoon would get, his face red, while he would glare at Jackson.

"I don't know...what to say, Namjoon," Jimin said his arms wrapped around the cup of Americano.

"You don't have to say anything," Namjoon said. "I just wanted you to know...that is all."

"Oh."

There was silence, almost deafening even though the café was full and bustling. Jimin glanced at the table next to him, a girl and a boy sit together, sharing a malt milkshake with two pink straws, their happiness so contagious that it made Jimin smile before he looked at Namjoon again who seemed to be more interested in the small cracks of the worn-out wooden table scratching on them almost obsessively.

"Namjoon."

Namjoon looked up at Jimin, his face bearing an unrecognizable expression but it was still clear that he was anticipating whatever Jimin had to say to him.

"I am glad you told me the truth."

"Me too," Namjoon said his voice quiet. "I mean...it wasn't easy walking around pretending that I didn't feel anything for you."

Jimin smiled and so did Namjoon his hands still absent-mindedly scratching the cracks on the wooden table.

"I just don't know what to make of this yet," Jimin said. "I mean...I never expected this."

"I get it," Namjoon nodded. "I really do."

"And I just want you to know...," Jimin said. "You were one of my first friends here and for that, I am so grateful to you."

Again, Namjoon smiled yet that smile barely reached his eyes. It was like he already knew what Jimin was going to say next. It wouldn't take a genius to guess where it was going.

"I genuinely enjoyed every moment with you Namjoon," Jimin continued before he touched Namjoon's hand lightly. "And...I never want to give that away...our friendship does mean a lot to me."

Namjoon nodded withdrawing his hand from Jimin's touch and placing it on his lap instead. Jimin slowly sat back.

"What I mean to say," Jimin said he as he realized he was rambling fruitlessly. "Is I don't want things to change between us."