❞Venti Macchiato, please.❝ minjoon ✔

❞ Chapter VII ❝

It's been three days. Three days of waking up with a head that feels heavier than a bag of marbles, unable to breathe out of his nose, and Jimin tries to talk and realizes he has the same vocal quality of his temperamental radiator in winter.

Being sick is one thing, but being too sick to even get up and shower for work without feeling dizzy is another.

If Jimin had a different job, like a cashier job where he wasn't handling food, he might suck it up, take a ton of cold medicine, and go to work. However, Jimin works with food, handing people their breakfast and coffee every day, and that's different.

For the last three days, Jimin has held his breath while making every order (which had been dangerous, he'll admit), washed his hands obsessively, and drugged himself with multiple cold medicines.

Today, though, it appears the virus has won, and he's not about to go into work to just get his coworkers sick. Or his customers.

It takes only two rings before Hoseok picks up his phone, answering in a half moaned "nnyeah" that tells Jimin he'd been asleep.

"Hi, Hoseok."

"Shit," Hoseok says, which is hardly reassuring. "Yo, you sound awful."

"Thanks," Jimin tries to say but it comes out more like angry rasping.

"Please tell me you called Ryeowook and aren't coming in. I don't want to get sick. I have a life to live, goals to be achieved, people to-"

"I'm staying home," Jimin cuts him off, not needing Hoseok to elaborate. "I'm going to call Ryeowook in just a second, but I needed to ask you-"

"You're going to ask me to take care of your orders," Hoseok says, ever perceptive.

"Yoongi won't if I ask him, and Jeongguk-"

"Of course Yoongi won't. A customer could spit on him and he'd make sure his revenge was slow and swift, not obvious and easily confused with bad flirting."

"It's not-" Jimin doesn't need this. They've talked about this. "I'm not-"

"Whatever you tell yourself so you can touch yourself at night without worries," Hoseok consoles in a lazy sleepy hum. "So, what do I need to do? Apologize for your absence?"

"No," Jimin shouldn't have called Hoseok. Now he knows he's just gonna get shit but at the same time, there hasn't been a day that he's missed so far. "I need you to do it for me."

"Awkwardly flirt with Ninja Jelly?"

"It's not-" Jimin breaks into a coughing fit, his throat cutting him off as it burns and he lies back when it's over, exhausted. "I'm not- whatever, can you just write 'Nut Job' on his coffee this morning for me?"

"Do you want me to deliver a personal note as well?" Hoseok asks him in an amused drawl. "Perhaps an apology that you're not there? A explanation of how much you miss him? Or is just 'Nut Job' enough of a confession for you?"

"I hate you," Jimin says, voice sounding like nails in a blender. "Just do it?"

Hoseok is laughing, and Jimin's sinus congestion and slowly increasing headache can't really cope with how loud it sounds over the phone. "I'm sure he can handle one day without you."

"But-!" Jimin rolls over, scrunching up his face, discouraged as he burrows into bed. He should just give up, but then that'd mean he admits defeat. He's still not sure how he wins but he knows giving up now is defeat. "I covered for you when that secretary guy came in and you were having an allergic reaction!"

"That's different," Hoseok protests. "He actually knows I like him. At least I think he does. I can't tell because I think he thinks I'm joking, which makes me think I'm joking except I'm not, you know?"

"You owe me," Jimin reminds.

"Tell you what," Hoseok says, and a rustle of fabric tells Jimin he's finally getting out of bed. "I'll cover for you, and tell Nut Job that you're sorry you can't be there, but not to lose hope."

"Hoseok-!" No. No, no, no, that is not what Jimin wants Hoseok to do.

"Feel better, Jiminnie!" The sudden end of the call has Jimin bolting upright in his pile of a bed, staring horrified at his phone. That's not what he meant. He doesn't want Hoseok to do that. Of course, when Jimin tries to call him, Hoseok doesn't answer, instead sending him a cute text message reading go rest kiddo, you sound like an angry lawn mower in a cement plant. Rest up for No Jams so you can see his handsome face again tomorrow and insult him personally with your affections~*!

They're not affections! Jimin texts back angrily, calling Ryeowook while he's still able to think through his headache to tell him he's not coming in.

Ending the call, Jimin finds a follow up from Hoseok.

You keep telling yourself that XD XD.