Ships in the Night | BxB

8. He Loves Attention

8. He Loves Attention

I walk into our room to find Hoseok sprawled out on his bed, his arm covering his eyes. He drops it when I came in and smiles at me.

A tired, forced smile.

"What's up with Jimin?" I ask, closing the door behind me.

Hoseok sighs and leans up on his elbows. "Have you ever been in love?" he asks chewing on one side of his bottom lip.

"No," I reply.

"It's shit," he says. He squints at me. "But how many girlfriends have you had so far?"

I scratch my brow as I take a seat at the tabletop in the room. "Umh.... I... Can't tell," I mumble.

Hoseok laughs, sitting up straight.

"They all just kind of meshed into each other," I explain. "I can't remember not having one since I was like fifteen."

"With a face like yours, I'm not surprised," Hoseok flatters, causing me to flush.
The emotional roller coaster I've been through tonight is unreal.

"Well, I, uh, I hate being alone," I confess.

"Aw, do you feel alone?" he asks. He places his chin in his palms, with his elbows propped on his knees. His full attention is on me.

Scratching the back of my ear, I reply, "Not really."

I don't think telling him I'm okay because I have Jimin as a friend would be appropriate.

"Jimin hates being alone too," Hoseok reveals. "He loves attention."

I'm willing to bet my life on the fact that he gets that easily enough. From all sorts of places.

"It's hard to not pay attention to him," my stupid mouth blabbers.

My eyes widen instantly, and I look away as if I haven't just let on that staring at Jimin is one of my favourite pastimes.

But Hoseok just laughs. "Yeah." Laying back on his bed, he adds, "But sometimes he can be a pain in the ass. Especially when it comes to Jin."

"I get the idea that your brother doesn't like Jimin too much?" I ask.

"They don't like each other. And that drives me crazy. They want me to play favourites. One is my brother, the other my boyfriend. I wish they would both cut me some slack at times."

"Why, though?" I pry.

"Would you believe it if I told you that they were once best friends?"

I blink. "What?"

"It's how we met. The two were close friends throughout primary school, and the three of us spent a lot of time together. There was this time Jin was away with dad, visiting grandpa. Jimin slept over. He kissed me. I was already having fantasies about him. The rest is history. Jin hates him now."

I think I'm getting the gist of the situation.

Hoseok continues, "But I think it's me that Jin hates more, for stealing his best friend. Sometimes, I get jealous because it appears that Jin is more angry at me for taking his best friend and not at Jimin for getting with his brother. " He scrubs a hand over his face. "Messed up, yeah?"

I chuckle. "Kind of."

"But I'm stuck with Jimin, I guess. It's not like I would want it any other way," he mumbles.

Hoseok sits up again and starts untying his tie. My eyes fixate on his hands. He has long fingers. So, so long and just... Captivating.

They fumble with the knot for several seconds without success. Finally, he gives up and looks at me. "I hate this thing. Can you undo it for me?"