ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʟᴀss ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ☑

Christmas

Jungkook was standing at his window, staring at nothing. The whole society was decorated with lights and the Christmas tree was being brought inside the gate. Jin called him, but he didn't feel like answering, wanting to stand for some more time, wishing for a Christmas miracle. 

He spotted a figure and realized it was Jimin. Something in him shook and his trance broke. Grabbing his coat, he lurked towards the door when Jin called him again. "Where are you going?"

"To decorate the Christmas tree," he answered briefly.

Jin nodded.

The boy had been distant ever since the hospital. He had to take bed rest, and hence they weren't as sexually active as before. More than ever Jin had in his mind that Jungkook would get up one day and tell him that he wanted to end the relationship. The boy had always shown his vulnerable side to him, so he knew that Jungkook needed him more than he did, but at the same time, he secretly knew that he wouldn't be able to survive without Jungkook either. 

Jungkook rushed out in the cold, hearing the giggles around him. The atmosphere already started working on removing the mental haze of gloom from him as he stopped near Jimin and smiled.

Jimin was carrying a box, which he put down and laughed. "Hey, how are you doing now?" He asked, wanting to know. 

"Recovering. Nothing serious but I am anemic."

"Are you eating alright?" Jimin's eyes crossed with worry and his lingering smile dissipated.

"Yeah, yeah... Just... I wasn't eating healthy or on time. But I am trying to eat my vegetables now," Jungkook waved his hand dismissively. "What are you doing?"

"Oh," Jimin looked around at the mess. "We have a celebration for all the residents of Park97. I am on the society committee, so I get to help around."

Jungkook's face came over with understanding. As far as he knew, only the people who owned the houses were on the society committee, not the tenants who lived on rent. Nonetheless, it wasn't his business to ask. He turned silent. 

"You should come... Bring your friend too."

Jungkook now shook his head with a polite smile. "He really doesn't like large gatherings."

"Come on," Jimin raked his fingers through his hair. "It will be a good change. Not many people join the celebration as they already make other plans. There are only a few people who come to the party. They come and leave, depending on their schedule. You should drop by. And we do have secret Santa too."

"You buy gifts for strangers?" Jungkook laughed now. 

"Not really," Jimin said, beaming while tucking his hands into his coat. He began to walk and Jungkook followed him. "We are all residents of the building, aren't we?"

Jungkook nodded, pressing his lips together. Jimin sat down on a bench and looked up to see Jungkook's flawless skin. "You still don't look well."

"I will be," Jungkook shrugged and grabbed the space beside Jimin slowly while sighing. 

"If you ever need any help, I am just one wing away." 

Jungkook nodded again. Out of all the times that he had met Jimin, the man almost always offered his help. "What do you do, Hyung?" He suddenly asked. 

"I am a field service engineer for one of the medical device firms."

"Sounds technical."

"It is."

"Interesting."

"Not so much," Jimin now chuckled out loud. Jungkook tilted his head in question. "My life has nothing but work in it. I am always on the go, traveling and not having any office where I can sit inside the warm cubicles. Traveling is very demanding. The only time I get to have fun is on Saturday nights or Sundays. I work six days a week, Jungkook."

"Sounds rough," Jungkook acknowledged, the words resonating with him. 

"If you don't like it, why don't you do something else?"

"I am planning to buy a franchise of something. But it's too much money and I am not financially ready to take that step. Once I have saved enough, I'd open my own store."

Jungkook smiled, admiring that Jimin was sincere about his career. Talking to him, it also felt like the man had goals and ambitions, and that too at a such young age. He didn't know how old was Jimin, but he was sure that the man couldn't be more than Jin's age. He then spotted Jin walking towards them, so he concluded the conversation. "It was nice talking to you, Hyung. I'll see you around."

"Oh," Jimin stood up too when he saw Jungkook hastily getting up. But then his eyes wandered to Jin and he understood why Jungkook suddenly wanted to leave.

"Hi," he greeted Jin.

Jin stared at Jimin and then spoke. "Hey."

"We are having a Christmas celebration on the terrace. You both should come."

"I am sorry," Jin denied blatantly. "We won't be able to make it. We have plans."

Jungkook looked up at Jin, knowing that they had nothing planned, not after they were out of money and the payday was far too ahead. On any normal day, he would have respected Jin's words, but today, he felt like he wanted to oppose. Slumping up inside the house for so long wasn't really good for his health. He was out for only a few minutes and was already feeling much better. "We'll be there," Jungkook turned to Jimin and promised. "We'll make time. What do we have to do?"

"Perfect," Jimin's face gained color and heat. "There is a jar over there. We have put the names of all the residents. Pick one and you'll be a secret Santa to them. All you need to do is buy them a present and put it under the Christmas tree before the party."

"Alright!" Jungkook enthused. He loved gift-giving.

As he picked one chit from the jar, he wondered who must have gotten his name.

"Why did you say yes?" Jin asked when they began to walk towards the elevator. 

"Why not? It's a holiday. I didn't want to spend it inside my bedroom."

"You know I can't be among people," Jin held Jungkook's bicep.

"I know," Jungkook claimed. "I am sorry, Hyung... But can we please just go and look around? We'll come back soon if you don't like it."

The man now smiled, seeing Jungkook close to him.