Last summer - Jihope & Taekook ✅

Chapter 13: Stood up

TAE AT STARBUCK'S

"Tae, what's up?" Jimin answered his phone.

"... Chim ... " Tae said between sobs.

Jimin sat up straight on his bed. Something was obviously wrong.

"Fuck, Tae, you're crying! Where are you? What the fuck did Jungkook do to you?"

"I'm... in the men's room... at Starbucks in the High Street. He didn't come, Jimin. Jungkook. He never even showed up."

"Oh, Taetae, you just stay there, okay? I'll come and get you. Don't go anywhere, don't move, don't even think. I'm already on my way." Jimin said running into the hallway, grabbing the car keys on his way out.

"Okay, Chim... thanks." Tae said, still sobbing.

Five minutes later Jimin was there.

"Tae, I'm here, come out." Jimin said.

Tae unlocked and opened the door to the cubicle where he had been hiding. Jimin stretched out his hand and Tae took it. Jimin pulled him into a hug.

"It's gonna be okay, Tae. It's gonna be okay." he said soothingly.

Tae didn't answer, just sobbed onto Jimin's shoulder.

Jimin led him out through the café towards the car outside, holding him close by the waist. Tae was staring down at his feet. He didn't wanna meet the eyes of anyone. Jimin opened the car for him and he got inside on the passenger seat. Jimin got into the driver's seat and drove off.

"I'll take you home, Tae. And I'll stay there with you if you want me to, okay?" Jimin said.

Tae just nodded.

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IN THE STREETS

Jimin didn't leave Tae until after midnight.

By then Tae was more angry than sad and had finally fallen asleep out of exhaustion.

Jimin felt so sorry for him, but there wasn't much Jimin could do. Tae had been stood up by the boy he'd had a crush on since forever and his trust in humanity was shattered. Jimin could just try to convince him that not all boys were like that.

Still, Jimin had to admit he was a bit surprised.

Even if Tae was now certain Jungkook had just been messing with him from the beginning, certain that all of it had been some kind of evil prank, Jimin wasn't.

He had seen that look in Jungkook's eyes when he asked to talk to Tae. That hadn't been the look of someone preparing a practical joke. It had more been the look of someone slightly nervous to ask a stunningly handsome boy out on a date.

Maybe there was some explanation why Jungkook hadn't turned up. Jimin had tried to tell Tae this but he wouldn't listen. He didn't wanna hear any excuses.

Jimin decided to leave his car outside Tae's house and take a walk. He needed the fresh air and it wasn't that far anyway. Just down to the harbour and a few more blocks.

He stopped by the pier and looked out towards the sea. He stood there, lost in thought for a while, but was suddenly brought back to reality by movement close by.

Jimin turned his head.

He saw the outlines of a man walking towards him in the darkness.

The man took a few more steps towards Jimin, then halted. Jimin had the light of the street lamp in his eyes and couldn't make out the man's features. Slowly the man took a few more steps in his direction.

Jimin felt suddenly cold and frightened. He wrapped his coat tighter around himself and stared at the man, now coming into the light of the street lamp.

Oh, what the fuck is he doing here? And why does he have to be so fucking handsome? 

It was J-Hope.

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AT JUNGKOOK'S PLACE

How the fuck could I not even get his phone number?

I asked him on a date without asking for his number, I'm so fucking stupid.

What will he think of me now?

Jungkook was devastated, lying on his bed in his locked bedroom, his black shirt still on. His ribs hurt which made it a bit difficult to breath. And his cheekbone was rather badly bruised as well.

Of course he had known already beforehand that it was a mistake to try to fight.

Jungkook was strong, but nowhere near as strong as his dad. But Jungkook had been so furious at him.

His father made him miss the only important thing in his life, his date with Tae.

Now it was probably over with Tae. Before it had even started. Jungkook had just barely managed to convince Tae he wasn't messing with him. That he was interested in him for real. And then he stood him up. Now he'd never trust Jungkook again.

It wasn't his ribs nor his cheekbone that hurt the most.

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