#heartworm

Part 30

Hey guys! Still no pics. Next chapter though. This wraps up the dinner scene. Also, I don't know if any of you have noticed a certain verified account using eye emojis in the comments of the Instagram posts. They had a purpose. Also, the new person mentioned in this chapter is an original character. Enjoy!

Question of the day: Do you have a favourite animal?

Yoongi and Jimin took turns explaining the story of how they found each other again and began dating. Throughout the story and even after, their friends remained silent, taking in every detail. It was a little unnerving, especially considering the fact that they weren't a particularly quiet group of people. It took a moment before finally, Jin said something.

"Wait, so you posted all those pictures on purpose?"

When they nodded, Jin gave a dramatic sigh, "I thought Yoongi finally had a life."

The said man scowled, "I do have a life. I just don't have to be around you all the time."

Jin gasped and opened his mouth to retort, but Namjoon was quick to cut him off.

"Just ignore him. You know how he is."

"I've been dealing with him for over 5 years. Of course, I do."

"I figured it out after a while," Hoseok admitted. "Not hyung. The pictures."

Jimin hummed, "I noticed. Kookie did too, at the end."

"It was because of the flowers," Jungkook said.

"Yeah, that was kind of obvious," Namjoon agreed.

Yoongi shrugged and Jimin smiled. He was glad that his friends were okay with their relationship. He reached out under the table and held Yoongi's hand. His smile grew when he felt the other man squeeze his hand gently.

"You're dating now, right?" Jin asked. "As in boyfriends."

Yoongi didn't even hesitate, "Yes."

Jimin was almost sure his face could crack with the strength of his smile. He and Yoongi were official, yes, but it was different hearing it out loud. He felt a sense of déjà vu since he had been the same way the first time around. Some things didn't change.

"Wait, are we all dating within the group?" Jungkook asked.

Namjoon blinked, "I guess."

"Except for Hobi-hyung," Jimin pointed out. Everyone promptly turned to look at Hoseok, who looked surprised at the sudden attention.

"You're single? I don't believe it!" Taehyung exclaimed.

Hoseok laughed nervously, "Uh –"

"Of course not. He must have a secret boyfriend or girlfriend," Jin declared.

"Why do you say that?" Taehyung asked, curiously.

"He keeps going out at night without us and he claims he's with other friends, but I don't believe him."

"That must be how he figured us out," Jimin joked. "Takes one to know one."

"So, what guy or girl do you have hiding from us?" Yoongi asked, teasingly. Hoseok smiled, but Jimin could see the pink blush dusting across his cheeks.

"Guy," Namjoon corrected, suddenly.

"What?"

"It's a guy. One time, I saw him wince when he sat down after he was out late the night before."

"He could be a switch," Taehyung pointed out. "That's a thing, you know."

"Oh, a secret boyfriend," Jin cooed, turning to pinch Hobi's cheeks.

"Come on, it doesn't have to be a guy," Jungkook interjected. "Maybe he really is out with friends."

"No, it's true."

Everyone blinked, not expecting Hoseok to speak so boldly.

"You really have a boyfriend, hyung?" Jimin asked, his eyes wide.

Hoseok nodded, "I'm sorry for not telling you guys before, but we only recently made it official and he wanted things to be a secret."

"Why? He's not a jerk, is he?" Jin asked, his face turning dark. Hoseok shook his head.

"No, no, never. He treats me well. It's just...well..."

Taehyung gasped suddenly, "Is he a celebrity?"

"Um, yeah. An actor actually..."

"I was right?"

"Who is it?" Namjoon asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to think of possible candidates.

"Lee Minho?"

"Kim Soohyun?"

"Lee Jongsuk?"

"Park Hyungsik?"

"No, no, no and no. If I tell you guys, do you promise to keep it a secret?"

They all hastily agreed, partially eager to find out the boyfriend's identity and partially because they honestly wouldn't tell anyone. They wouldn't betray Hoseok like that.

"Okay, it's...Choi Jiyeong."

Jin gasped, "I introduced you to him!"

"You did," Hobi laughed.

"So, this is all my handiwork?" Jin asked, a smug smile blooming on his face.

Yoongi rolled his eyes, "Don't get ahead of yourself, hyung."

"But it's true!"

"Honey," Namjoon reached across the table to hold his boyfriend's hand. Jin calmed down, his shoulders slumping.

Hoseok laughed, "It's okay. I guess Jin-hyung really caused it. I have to admit, though, that we didn't start off very good."

"What do you mean?" Jungkook asked.

"You slept with him first, didn't you?" Yoongi said, bluntly. Jimin smacked his arm, but Hoseok was already blushing.

"Oh my god, you did!" Jimin gasped.

"It's not ideal," Hoseok started before anyone could say anything else. "I didn't intend to. We met at the mall when Jin-hyung asked me to go shopping with him and Jiyeong recognised him. We talked for a little bit and when hyung wasn't looking, we exchanged numbers –"

"Right behind my back!"

"– and we texted back and forth. I don't remember how, but the conversations got...R-rated and I ended up doing things with him at his apartment. We were friends with benefits for few weeks, but I realized I had feelings for him. I decided to just ask him out and he said yes. That was a little over a month ago."

"Wow," was all Jimin had to offer. The others seemed to be in a similar state of shock.

"I just have one question," Yoongi said.

"Hm?"

"Are you happy?"

Hoseok smiled, "Very."

"Good."

"We need to meet him," Jin insisted.

"You will. I just need to talk to him first."

They continued to talk and Jimin smiled as he observed his friends. The dinner definitely wasn't as bad as he had thought it would be. Now, to deal with the press.