ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʟᴀss ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ☑

Dinner

When Jungkook was waiting along with a few more people in the elevator lobby, his neck snapped to find a stranger who called his name. The girl was looking almost his age and he noticed her eyes were on the nametag of his luggage. "Yeah, um... Why do you ask?" 

The girl wiped her palm on the side of her dress. "I am Sana," she extended it afterward to him with a bright smile. "I don't know if you remember, but-"

"I do." Jungkook recollected suddenly. "Did you have something to talk to me about? Hyung told me you stopped by."

"Yeah," Sana returned in a jovial tone. "I heard from the building manager that you moved out and you were temporarily in Jimin Oppa's place. Actually... I kind of have a place in this community and I wanted to offer it to you as a thank you for buying me such a beautiful present on Christmas." She held the locket which was tied around her neck delicately. 

Jungkook scratched his nape awkwardly. "That's not necessary anymore. I mean I needed a place, but I am permanently returning to Busan in two weeks. Besides, I couldn't afford any place here all by myself."

Sana's eyes squinted as she thought of a second, but she nodded, disregarding her mind. "Well then... I am happy things worked out. Anyway, see you around, Jungkook. Good day."

The boy smiled and watched the girl take the left and then the stairs.

"So, you and Jimin, huh?" He heard another voice, and that startled him even more, and not in a good way to hear Jimin's name along with his. 

"I am sorry. Do I know you?" He asked, twisting his fingers nervously. 

"Min-Yunki. I am the building manager." The man answered. 

"Oh," Jungkook gulped. "How do you know me?" His brows furrowed. He wanted to ask why did he call out his name with Jimin in a suggestive tone, but he wasn't confident like the girl he had just met, who apparently could strike the conversation with strangers breezily. 

"I saw that clip and knew something was up. That fucker Jimin won't slip up, huh." Yun-ki's head fell back as he laughed with shaking shoulders. "I would've said to get your name added to the tenants association, but I heard that." He added in a somewhat somber tone. 

Jungkook was hung up on the clip. What was the clip? Before he collected his wits to ask just that, the elevator dinged open and the gush of people bolted inside.

After having spent the afternoon at Jimin's sister's place, the former had driven back home with Taehyung and he had stayed back in Busan for two more days in constant dubiety and disdain over Jin's text. For two days, he had a bitter taste at the back of his tongue, but the prior anger was beginning to fade as he was nearing Jimin's place.

The conversation was cut, but that didn't mean the sudden and small events hadn't turned his emotions upside down. He felt queasy, and he knew in his gut that he wasn't going to come out of it unscathed. 

Immersed in his thoughts, he entered the living room and stopped momentarily, seeing the whole house squeaky clean. He was still standing by the couch, in a daze, the setting sun's glow was illuminating his brown eyes and cheeks when he spotted Jimin's silhouette and his cologne's fragrance made him shoot his eyes up to see him in a white, loose shirt that he had brought for him, over white chinos.

With the sun gleaming on the older man's skin, Jungkook could swear Jimin was a divine presence. "You are early!" Jimin's lips stretched the moment his eyes collided with Jungkook's. He ate up the distance between them in quick strides.

"Yeah," Jungkook's cheeks flushed at the proximity. "Were you expecting someone?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.

"You," Jimin answered with a smile loaded with such confidence and affection that warmed Jungkook's entire being and made him forget everything for the moment. "Freshen up and wear something nice. We are having dinner."

Jungkook ignored his tiredness. If it was someone else, he would've requested to reschedule after his long travel, but not with Jimin. His face brightened up with a flush as he looked at him wearing his gift, and he nodded.  

Closing the room behind him, he hurried inside and threw his luggage aside. Jumping into the shower, he did a quick wash up and wore his moisturizer before running back into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

He had taken most of his clothes back home, so he didn't have many options. He chose a black shirt and a leather jacket along with plain, grey trousers. Holding the shoes in his hands, he was rushing back to the living room when his legs froze in a spot.

The curtains were drawn to block the minimum sunlight, the dim lights were on, yellow and romantic. He examined the area and found Jimin taking out the big dish from the oven and the smell of garlic and butter filled the room. "Take a seat," the older pointed at the cozy setting on the floor. 

Jungkook's heart thudded loud and his temples oozed sweat, disregarding the still-cold weather. No. If this was what he was thinking it was, then he wanted to turn around and run away. But his feet moved on their own, rebelling against his mind.

He settled on the white, faux-fur, and warm carpet like an obedient student while Jimin took two short trips to the open kitchen to bring the steak and wine to put on the small table. When Jimin sat opposite Jungkook with a soft sigh, the younger dipped his head down. "Look at me, Jungkook," Jimin urged. The words were a command, but they sounded anything but. 

With the soft voice of the older male and the tone that was the epitome of comfort, Jungkook couldn't refuse and lifted his gaze up. Jimin took Jungkook's right palm in his left and held it gently. "I missed you."

"W-what are we doing?" Jungkook asked when he felt Jimin putting a piece of jewelry in his hand, his voice coming broken and throaty. 

"Eating," Jimin shrugged and pulled his hand back to rise on his knees and reached over to fluff the pillows over Jungkook's side and set them nicely behind his back. "You must be tired... And I wanted us to have a conversation in quiet."

The two had interacted in the same space many times before. The couches that were here in the exact same spot were moved to the corner now, the same ones on which they had exchanged many thoughts. It was as if a jolt and out-of-body experience that Jungkook recollected a kiss. His first drunk kiss with Jimin was right here on the couch. 

His eyes turned moist as he averted his eyes back at his plate, looking at a medium well done steak served with mashed potatoes and cherry tomatoes. 

Jimin turned silent for a beat and Jungkook counted his heartbeats. His stomach grumbled low because of nerves. "Aren't you hungry?" The older asked and from his peripheral vision, Jungkook could make out that he tilted his head. 

The younger slid the jewelry into his pocket without looking at it and picked up the knife and fork to cut a bite-size.

Jimin followed him.

All Jungkook could focus on was the memory of a kiss, as bright as the day. "How was the stay at home?" Jimin ventured carefully.

Jungkook conceded that he was the only one speaking. "Good. Eomma is happy that I'll return home soon." He answered, sneaking a brief peek at the man, which was enough to grate his nerves so he hastily grabbed the glass of wine and emptied half of the content into his stomach. 

Jimin kept his gaze on him, watching his cheeks turning a darker shade of pink, guessing if he should put his money on his presence or the wine for that red. Taking a tiny sip himself, he cleared his throat, his chest feeling hollow at the aspect. "Don't think of going back so soon."

"I have to. I have nothing here." Jungkook's voice came out at a fast clip.