Chapter Text
The middle afternoon sun was shining brightly despite the cold air and Jimin collapsed to the hard ground, his friends following suit after an intense game on the outside court. Yet, no matter how much he had run, no matter how much he had tried to free his mind from the thought of Jeon Jungkook, the picture of the male still was ever so present in his head. It felt like Jungkook's laugh still was echoing in his ears, like his arms still were circling him, like his breath still was ghosting over his skin. It was the first time ever Jimin couldn't wipe someone out of his mind with an exhausting match and he wasn't sure what to think about it.
The voices and laughter of his friends were buzzing in his ears yet everything around him seemed too distant for him to care, his heart pounding softly in his chest, his insides churning pleasingly. He oddly wanted to see Jungkook, right now.
“Guys, I think I have a problem,” Jimin mumbled, his eyes averted to the clear blue sky, a soft wind sending shivers down his spine. The silence settled around him and Jimin straightened, grabbing his hoodie before facing his friends with furrowed brows.
“What is it ?” Yoongi asked with a frown and Jimin sighed, looking back at them straight in the eyes, ignoring the beating of his heart, ignoring the lingering desire to go to his room in the hope to find Jungkook.
“I'm starting to think a bit too much about Jungkook.”
“Do you ?” Taehyung asked in a heartbeat, staring straight back at him with raised brows but Jimin could tell by his eyes that he wasn't going to mock him, not the slightest bit, not when Yoongi already had confessed that he was dating Hoseok and that it actually simply made sense, pieces falling back together.
“I do,” Jimin sighed, his feelings for Jungkook suddenly getting too real as he finally voiced it out. “I know he used to get on my nerves, but... he can be cute too.”
“Uh-oh,” Yoongi remarked with a sympathetic smile stretching his face, biting down on his lips briefly. Jimin could tell he had been there before. “So it's not only physical anymore, is it ?”
“I guess not,” Jimin replied with a faint chuckle, shaking his head lightly. “I think I actually like him.”
“Well, if you say he can be cute, he might be,” Taehyung started with a small smirk, patting Jimin softly on the shoulder. “It's not like I know him to judge.”
“Do you have a chance ?” Yoongi asked and Jimin winced and heaved a sigh.
“I have no idea... I mean, he once said he couldn't take me out of his mind but...”
“That's a pretty good start !” cheered Yoongi, but Jimin only let his head fall into his palms with a groan.
“Not if he only wanted to have sex with me,” Jimin mumbled but Taehyung forced him to straighten back up.
“Invite him to see the game on Saturday, if he comes, he might actually have a thing for you too,” Taehyung said with an encouraging smile and Jimin nodded slowly. It actually wasn't a bad idea. “Hey, don't look so depressed, I don't like to see that frown on your face.”
“You're right,” Jimin chuckled faintly, a smile stretching his face. He had nothing to lose after all, except maybe his dignity if Jungkook didn't return his feelings. “I can't believe I fell for that nerd.”
“I can't believe you fell for someone,” Yoongi teased and the three of them chortled before drifting back to their coming game, talking fervently in anticipation.
Jimin cheered himself on his way back to the dormitories, the wakening wind making him tighten his hoodie around himself. He knew that no matter what he would do, only two outcomes were possible : either Jungkook liked him back or not. And eventually, he had to tell him what he felt if he wanted an answer, even if it was somehow terrifying to confess.
It wasn't very late but the sun already was setting over the horizon and Jimin heaved a sigh of relief when he pushed his door open, greeting the warmth of his bedroom thankfully. Jungkook was there, humming to himself softly while folding his laundry, tidying his part of the dressing and a faint smile lifted the corners of Jimin's mouth, his heart skipping a few beats for no reason.
Jimin dropped his sports bag at the end of his bed and joined Jungkook in front of the dresser. The brown-haired male looked back at him with a tender smile and Jimin felt nervous tingles creeping his chest, apprehension filling his insides. But Jungkook wheeled around before Jimin could even open his mouth and went straight back to his desk, cleaning and sorting the scattered piles of papers.
The black-haired breathed deeply and swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat, biting down on his lip softly as he reached out for clean clothes and his towel. He threw a glance across the room, watching Jungkook's back for half a minute, and he was about to leave again for the showers when a thought crossed his mind. If he didn't have the courage now, he would never ask.
“Jungkook ?” Jimin called without a second thought, ignoring the soft thumping of his heart as he watched him turn his head back to him, his eyes naturally wide, his brows lifted ever so slightly. “Do you want to come to see the game on Saturday ? I mean, it's the last of the semester, it's an important one and... I don't know, if you feel like it, if you don't have anything else to do, it would be nice to have you as a supporter.”
Jungkook's eyebrows lifted higher and Jimin cursed himself in his mind. It hadn't sounded like he wanted to. A soft blush started to spread to his ears and he inhaled deeply to calm his heartbeat. He was a bashful mess and he hated it.
“Why not,” Jungkook replied with a slight nod and Jimin finally let out the breath he was holding, a grin stretching his face as he averted his eyes to his feet.
“Cool,” he mumbled, looking back up at Jungkook's small smile briefly before heading out to the bathroom, his heart hammering in his chest, buzzing in his ears.
It hadn't been a yes, but Jimin couldn't refrain himself from smiling widely as he strolled down the corridor. At least it hadn't been a negative answer and that only was making him feel light-headed, giving him hope.
Jimin was warming up with the rest of his team, taking it in turn to do lay-ups, stretching and jumping lightly on place in between, his eyes averting constantly to the gymnasium's entry. He felt nervous for the game as much as to know if Jungkook would come. They hadn't talked about it since he had offered him to come, and Jimin started to doubt he might show up. Maybe had he forgot about it even ?
Someone nudged him and Jimin snapped his head to meet Yoongi's sharp eyes, the male indicating with his chin that it was his turn to go and shoot.
“Sorry,” Jimin mumbled, frowning and shaking his head lightly. He couldn't let himself get distracted, not this time, and made his most not to glance repeatedly to the doors. Though, only half of his lay-ups were going in and Jimin groaned in frustration when the coach beckoned them over while the referees gathered around their table, announcing five minutes until the start.
“What's up with you ?” Yoongi murmured as the coach started to announce the first line.
“I'm fine,” Jimin replied lowly, pushing thoughts of Jungkook at the far back of his mind, rolling his eyes when Yoongi gave him a pointed look.
“No, you look off, I'm not letting you enter the court like that,” Yoongi said under his breath, listening with half an ear to the coach's speech he surely knew by heart.
“I...” Jimin started, ready to protest but he stopped himself, breathing deeply and nodding his head fervently. He couldn't put his team at risk selfishly. “You're right, I'll put myself together.”
The coach started to remind them briefly of the systems they had to pull off, encouraging them with confidence and Jimin focused on his words only, replaying in his head the videos of the Ravens he had watched to study their style.
“Two minutes !”
Jimin's heart skipped a beat, his hands balling into fists. He wanted to look over his shoulder, to scan the crowd until he might find Jungkook's mop of brown hair and his crescent eyes staring back at him but restrained himself, bringing his fist with his teammates', chanting their names once loudly before going to stand by the benches, next to Taehyung. He at least wasn't going to enter the court right away, giving him time to put his head into the game, as he could not spot any sign of Jungkook's presence with a sinking heart.
Taehyung patted his shoulder briefly, his eyes swirling with a mixture of concern and determination and Jimin nodded barely, clearing his throat as he watched his teammates taking place onto the court.
“Thirty seconds !”
Jimin bit down on his lips, his eyes roaming the opposing team, some faces he knew, others he didn't, when his eyes fell back onto the opening doors, and onto a dishevelled and panting Jungkook scanning the court with wide eyes. Jimin's heart skipped a beat, the frown he was sporting transforming instantly into a tender smile when he met the brown-haired eyes.
“He came,” Jimin whispered to Taehyung as he nudged him with his elbow.
“He came,” Taehyung repeated, a boxy grin stretching his mouth and Jimin had to bit down on his lip not to smile too widely, inhaling deeply to calm his beating heart.
He followed him with his eyes briefly, watching him climbing the tiers and plopping down next to Hoseok that Jimin hadn't even noticed before focusing all his attention onto the game with a light heart, excitement and adrenaline suddenly rushing through his veins. He needed to ace that game.
Jungkook gulped as a pair of fierce brown eyes fell on him. He was sitting in the middle of the tier, surrounded by too many students and Park Jimin had had to look at him straight in the eyes with that piercing gaze of his while retying his shoes. And he remembered how his heart had stopped when Jimin had entered the court while staring back at him briefly, messy black hair swinging along with his deep orange jersey, tongue slipping out of his pretty plump lips repeatedly to moist them while he was jumping backwards in jolly steps to take his position.
On the court, he was fast and nimble, precise and somehow sly, being where his opponents were expecting him to be the less and playing in an unpredictable way. Because even Jungkook could see it, no matter how uncultured he was concerning basket-ball.
He couldn't take his eyes off of him, with the way he was smirking proudly after scoring or the way his brows would furrow every time he would get out-passed by a player, with the red tint his cheeks were slowly taking in the effort or with his light yet somehow hoarse voice that echoed when he was screaming from the benches. And despite his focus, Jimin still seemed to find him within the crowd somehow, his eyes landing on him with a proud smirk every time he scored.
Jungkook remembered all too well the excitement, the nervousness and the apprehension that slowly filled him through the match, his screams and chants getting louder little by little, his shrieks of anguish becoming more desperate as the game was going on, jumping into Hoseok's arms as the Lions took the lead at the end of the second quarter.
Hoseok jumped down the tiers to get himself and Jungkook a drink while the brown-haired bit on his nails nervously, watching Jimin swallow down large sips of water or wiping the sweat off of his face with the collar of his jersey while the coach addressed his team fervently. He was captivated, his heart beating lightly in his chest as he realised. He liked Jimin, very much. And his breath caught in his throat as the dark-haired threw him a swift glance and licked his lips briefly. No, Jungkook loved him, no matter how unsettling it felt.
The referee whistled to announce the upcoming start of the third quarter and Jungkook gulped, gaping as Hoseok sat back down next to him, his eyes following Jimin's every move in awe. He looked more beautiful than he ever had.
And Jungkook started wondering if what he had thought to be misfortune all this time wasn't, in fact, his destiny. Since the start of the year, Jungkook had thought that Jimin had been placed upon his path as a kind of punishment, yet, now that he was aware of his feelings, he could only think that his fate wasn't too bad in the end. Because if he hadn't shared a bedroom with the male, if he hadn't screwed his chances to switch rooms with anybody else on the very first day, maybe would he have never truly discovered him. Jimin would have stayed his rival, no matter what, and Jungkook couldn't refrain himself from thinking that all of this was no coincidence, that they had been brought together for a reason.
The buzzer echoed loudly into the gymnasium but was fast covered by the ecstatic chants of the supporters, Jungkook jumping on place and screaming his lungs out, his mouth stretched into a wide grin. The Lions had defeated the Ravens with an overwhelming victory, by fourteen points, and Jungkook couldn't stop himself from chanting louder and louder. And little by little, as the Lions were dancing and congratulating each other, beaming widely in the middle of the court, supporters started to go down the tiers, some students melting with the players with tight hugs and proud pats on their backs.
Jungkook and Hoseok made their way down as fast as the moving crowd allowed them to and found themselves surrounded by cheers and laughter. Jungkook caught words here and there of people recalling the entire game as Hoseok walked straight to Yoongi with a grin, crushing him into a tight embrace. The brown-haired smiled, witnessing for the very first time how Yoongi looked rather cuter than cold, his gaze softening tenderly. But Jungkook's eyes averted around fast, roaming the crowd eagerly. Yoongi wasn't the one he was looking for.
Before he knew it, he was engulfed into a sweaty hug, Jimin's light laugh echoing in his ear and his arms closed by themselves around him, his heart skipping a few beats as he restrained himself from plunging his nose into the crook of the male's neck.
“Congrats,” Jungkook breathed hoarsely, biting down on his lower lip as Jimin parted slowly from the hug with a large grin plastered on his face. He knew he shouldn't succumb to his deep desire to kiss him fully, not even when Jimin's hand glided down his arm to fall in his, their fingers grazing softly, skin burning.
“I'm glad you came, I'm glad you've seen this,” Jimin panted excitingly, staring back at Jungkook's sparkling wide eyes, his heart beating erratically.
“Not that I know much about basket-ball, but I think you played really well today,” Jungkook said with a tender smile and Jimin felt himself faltering, licking his lips nervously.
“Thanks,” he whispered, gulping as he took a step closer to Jungkook, his hand grazing up his chest, remembering how his eyes had followed him throughout the whole game, sending shivers down his spine delightfully.
“I mean it,” Jungkook said lowly, his eyes shadowing briefly as they averted to his lips and that was all the black-haired needed to hook his fingers around his nape, noticing Jungkook's shallow breath as he lifted himself up slightly, taking a sharp intake of air before closing the distance between them into a timid kiss.
Jungkook lowly moaned against his lips, his hand falling to the small of his back, bringing them closer as he moved his lips fervently, making Jimin's head spin, the tumult and the chants around them fading away when all he could feel was Jungkook's warmth against him, Jungkook's hands ghosting over his skin, his tongue dancing against his feverishly. And Jimin realised for how long he had craved for a kiss like this, soft and tender, desperate and meaningful at the same time.
The coach's loud voice echoed into the gymnasium and Jimin felt himself fall back into reality slowly, heaving a contented sigh as he parted barely, eyes still closed, heart thumping heavily.
“I'd like to do that all night but I think I have to go,” he murmured against Jungkook's lips, his eyes fluttering open slowly. Jungkook was staring back at him with wide sparkling eyes and Jimin could only feel his heart melting at the sight.
“I'll be waiting for you,” Jungkook said lowly, a faint smirk curling the corner of his mouth.
Jimin bit down on his lip and nodded lightly, a smile slowly stretching his lips as his hand glided down Jungkook's chest tenderly, his inside churning pleasingly, the warmth dancing in his chest swathing him whole. He was unable to tear his eyes away, to make his body move to part from Jungkook and sighed, leaning back in for another kiss.
“Park Jimin !” Yoongi's voice resounded and they both flipped their heads into the male's direction, witnessing the amused grin plastered on his face as he beckoned the black-haired over with a wave of the hand.
“I think you should go,” Jungkook chuckled softly, bending forward to capture Jimin's lips briefly before letting go of his hand when he finally started to walk backwards with a teasing smile.
“I won't come back late,” Jimin said, biting down on his lower lip before he flipped around, just as Yoongi grabbed him into a playful headlock, both battling and bickering until they reached the rest of the team within laughter.
The coach cleared his throat and Jimin forced himself to calm down, to even his erratic heartbeat before throwing a discreet glance over his shoulder, meeting Jungkook's glinting crescent eyes one last time before he disappeared through the doors behind Hoseok.
The Christmas holiday was drawing closer and closer, encouraging Jungkook to get thriving grades before a well-deserved break. He was spending most of his free time in the Lab, revising and working on his essays, exchanging ideas with Namjoon, and focusing on his studies, which only made him appreciate the little time he could spend with Jimin even more. They still hadn't put a word on what they were, but Jungkook didn't think it was necessary. It seemed all too natural for him, the way he would go and massage Jimin's nape when the male was sighing heavily, nose deep into his books, the way Jimin would come back from training and crush him into a tight, sweaty hug to make him laugh, the way they would simply snuggle together into Jimin's bed at night, kiss, love each other.
Since that game two weeks prior, since that kiss they had shared, meaningful and deep, Jungkook had no doubt on what he could feel any longer, and he had no reason to keep on hiding the truth from his friends either. Because now, Jungkook wanted the whole world to know about them, despite what his friends might say.
Jungkook wasn't too worried when he entered the Lab that late morning, after a long English class of group presentations. He had stared at Jimin during his whole presentation, had encouraged him silently, had smiled proudly when Jimin had corrected himself a few times, throwing him knowing looks, and it had only comforted him in the idea that, no matter what, he would surely find himself incapable of hiding what he truly felt anymore.
His three friends already were eating joyfully and Jungkook joined them soundlessly, catching up on the conversation with a beating heart. He knew it was time.
He was halfway into his sandwich when the silence settled again with Jin's dying laughter. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath, clearing his throat and drawing all eyes on him as he put his sandwich back onto the table.
“I have a confession to make.”
Jungkook looked straight back at them one by one, noticing Hoseok's lips curling upward slightly, his eyes sparkling interestingly while Jin and Namjoon only stared at him curiously. Nervousness settled in the pit of his stomach despite his confidence, but Jungkook knew he could trust his friends, even if it was Park Jimin he was going to talk about. They might at least respect his choice, if they couldn't understand him.
“I didn't tell you earlier because I wasn't sure of myself, but now I am, and since you're my best friends, I want you to know,” Jungkook started, nodding to himself as he tried to read through them, to know if they knew anything about what was coming.
“Stop beating around the bush,” Jin interjected, fidgeting on his chair.
“Yeah, tell us already !”
Jungkook bit down on his lips, smiling briefly as he threw a glance at Hoseok who was trying to hide the bright grin that was stretching his mouth.
“Well, I may have a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend-”
“What ?”
“How ?”
“Who ?” Namjoon finally breathed with wide eyes, Jin following suit while Hoseok snickered discreetly by their side, digging into his plate.
“Park Jimin,” Jungkook said in a small voice, his hands clutched between his knees as he felt the blush spreading from his ears, his heart skipping a beat when Namjoon and Jin blinked at him for a few seconds.
“You don't mean...” Jin whispered with squinting eyes.
“...that Jimin do you ?”
“Yes, my Jimin, I mean, the Jimin, my room-mate,” Jungkook babbled, swallowing the lump in his throat, seeking help from Hoseok soundlessly.
“He is your boyfriend now ?!” Namjoon exacted in awe, shaking his head briefly.
“Are you serious ?” Jin added, gaping and finally turning his head to Hoseok, hitting him on the shoulder lightly. “Aren't you going to say anything ?”
“Should I remind you that I know everything that's happening on campus ? And I'll have you note that if you listened a bit more to gossip you would know about them kissing at the last game !” Hoseok chortled amusingly, crossing Jungkook's eyes briefly. “Plus, I'm dating Yoongi. So no, I'm not going to say anything.”
“Is that supposed to be some kind of joke ?” Namjoon asked lowly, his eyes searching around the room as to look for a hidden camera, making Jungkook keep in a chuckle despite the awkward tension that had filled the room.
Jin strangely stayed silent, mouth agape, his eyes averting between Hoseok and Jungkook slowly before he rolled his eyes and leant back into his chair with a groan, rubbing his face.
“You know, you won't need to talk to them if you don't want to,” Jungkook sighed a bit desperately, because out of everything, bringing his friends to warm up to Jimin was all he truly wanted. “But that would be nice if, I don't know, you at least don't hate them anymore. They're not actually bad, you know ?”
Namjoon and Jin exchanged a reluctant look, their lips pursed tightly for a few seconds that made Jungkook hold his breath apprehensively.
“Alright, I'll try,” Jin finally sighed, shaking his head lightly in defeat. “Only because you guys are my best friends.”
“I'll try too,” Namjoon nodded lightly, a faint smile stretching his lips and Jungkook felt his heartbeat evening, a comfortable warmth spreading in his body. “If that's what makes both of you happy.”
Jungkook had his heavy bag onto his back and started to walk in long strides toward the university's gates, distancing his friends as he spotted Jimin waiting on the pavement, Yoongi and Taehyung by his side. Despite Jin's and Namjoon's evident reluctance, they had decided on taking the bus together to the train station, before parting for the Christmas holiday.
Jimin looked excited and Jungkook remembered how he had heard him mentionning that it was his favourite time of the year once. He was getting closer, Hoseok catching up on him when the Lions waved at them, and a large grin stretched Jungkook's mouth, his heart skipping a beat at Jimin's smiling eyes.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” Jimin replied lowly, his arms closing around Jungkook's waist as the brown-haired bent forward, kissing his lips tenderly, longingly. Jimin still was by his side but Jungkook already was missing him, somehow. He cupped his cheek softly, engraving how his skin felt under his fingertips before parting, beaming. When Jimin once was a dark spot on the board, he now was one of the reasons Jungkook already was eager for the holiday to be over.
He threw a glance over his shoulder and noticed Jin and Namjoon exchanging a look before shrugging, taking a few lazy steps closer. They didn't look quite comfortable with the situation but still, Jungkook joyfully acknowledged the effort they were making as they smiled faintly and nodded their heads lightly.
“So, which one of you two is single ?” Taehyung asked nonchalantly, lifting his chin briefly at the two males with a cocked eyebrow.
“As if !”
“Not in your wildest dreams !”
They both replied instantly, scoffing, and Jungkook bit down on his lower lip not to laugh out loud, exchanging an amused grin with Hoseok before averting his attention back to Jimin, burning the sparkles twirling in his chocolate-brown orbs at the back of his mind, to remember them, always.