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Chapter Text

‘ The supernal alpha’ ‘The most eligible bachelor’ ‘The heart killer’ ‘The business tycoon’ ‘Paragon of virtue’ ‘Wangjanim’ ‘

These are just a few of the many titles the media has bestowed upon The Min Yoongi—the enigmatic younger son of Min Doyoon and Min Eunseok.

The Mins are one of South Korea's wealthiest and most powerful families, their business empire sprawling across multiple industries—power, electronics, fashion, ports, and food. Their influence extends far beyond Korea, making Min a household name even overseas.

The empire, founded by Yoongi’s great-grandfather Min Sungmin, has been passed down through generations, growing stronger with each successor.

Min Doyoon inherited the business at the cusp of adulthood. He had just graduated high school, eager to study abroad, when tragedy struck—the sudden passing of his father. With no siblings to share the burden, the weight of the Min legacy fell entirely on his shoulders.

Yet, despite his youth, Doyoon proved himself. He dedicated his life to expanding the empire, working tirelessly to ensure its success.

It was during one such business meeting that he met Lee Eunseok, a brilliant legal advisor. From the moment Doyoon laid eyes on the omega, he was utterly smitten—so much so that he tripped over his own feet while trying to shake Eunseok’s hand. The moment might have been embarrassing for Doyoon, but for Eunseok, it was endearing. That small act of clumsiness planted the first seed of their love.

Their relationship blossomed, leading to marriage, and together, they continued to strengthen the Min empire.

Doyoon and Eunseok had two sons: the elder, Seokjin, an omega, and the younger, Yoongi, an alpha.

Once their sons were old enough, Doyoon and Eunseok made a surprising decision—they stepped down early, handing over the business so they could finally enjoy the youth they had once sacrificed.

For a while, Seokjin and Yoongi ran the empire together. But everything changed when Seokjin found the love of his life—Kim Namjoon.

After marrying, Seokjin became Kim Seokjin, and his priorities shifted. Business no longer held the same appeal. He chose happiness over power, stepping back from the empire to focus on his own small family.

Understanding their son’s choice, Doyoon and Eunseok let Seokjin follow his heart, though they kept the fashion subsidiary under his control. The rest of the conglomerate? It all landed in Yoongi’s hands.

The weight of the Min empire now rested solely on his shoulders.

Doyoon, not wanting his son to suffer the same fate he did, occasionally stepped in, encouraging Yoongi to take breaks and enjoy life. But Yoongi had long abandoned such trivial things. To him, nothing mattered more than the business.

Even when given the chance to relax, he would willingly cage himself within his office walls.

Eunseok, worried for his youngest, started arranging blind dates, hoping Yoongi would find someone to fill the emptiness in his life. But Yoongi refused, dismissing every attempt.

As he crossed thirty, Eunseok's persistence only grew. He called Yoongi every day, pleading with him to go on just one more date. Eventually, Doyoon joined in, and Yoongi found himself bombarded from both sides.

After relentless emotional blackmailing from his parents, Yoongi finally caved.

The first omega he met was only interested in his wealth, prying about his income, cars, and assets. Yoongi rejected him immediately.

The second omega was painfully shy, barely speaking out of fear of offending him. Yoongi wanted a partner who was strong and fearless, someone who could handle the spotlight of being with Min Yoongi. Another rejection.

The third? His scent was so overpowering that Yoongi had to flee the restaurant mid-meeting.

The pattern continued. Time after time, Yoongi found no one who matched his standards. Eventually, even his parents gave up—no one wanted to date the hardest alpha to please.

For a while, Yoongi believed he was finally free.

He was wrong.

---

“Sir.”

Juwon, Yoongi’s secretary, knocked on the cabin door.Yoongi didn’t look up from the pile of paperwork in front of him. He was too busy to spare even a glance.

“Someone sent these for you.”Juwon placed a large bouquet of flowers on an empty spot on the desk, the floral scent finally strong enough to break Yoongi’s focus. He looked up, eyes narrowing at the bouquet, then at Juwon.

There was no special occasion today. No reason for someone to send him this.

It wasn’t like anyone would send him flowers on a special day either. Over the years, Yoongi had made it clear how much he hated cheesy gestures like this. 

“Who sent it?”Juwon simply shrugged.

“A man in a black suit delivered it to the front desk. The card was addressed to you.”

He pointed at the card nestled between the flowers. Yoongi plucked it out and read it.

Hope your day is as beautiful as these flowers.

His name was written in bold on the front, but that didn’t help the irritation growing inside him. The card was even lamer than the flowers.

“I shall take my leave, sir.”

Juwon bowed slightly, turning to exit.

“Wait—what am I supposed to do with them?”

“That’s up to you, sir.”

With that, his secretary left, leaving Yoongi alone with the unwanted gift.

He grabbed the bouquet, intending to toss it straight into the trash can, but it was too big to fit. With an annoyed huff, he plopped it back onto his desk, deciding to get rid of it on his way out. 

A buzzing phone screen caught his attention next. The group chat had exploded with notifications.

Being a businessman was difficult. But what Yoongi found even harder was socializing.

He hated pretending to enjoy pointless conversations, hated forcing himself to smile at people he had no interest in. Most of them only whined about their love lives anyway, rarely discussing actual business. The worst were the spoiled heirs who never worked a day in their lives, spending their parents' hard-earned money like it was nothing. 

Those kinds of people irritated him the most.

He scrolled through the chat, clicking on the first link. A familiar face popped up on the screen.

His brows furrowed.

He clicked on another. And another.

They were all about the same person.

Park Jimin.

Just seeing that name made Yoongi roll his eyes.

Jimin fit the exact description of people he despised—rich, reckless, and utterly spoiled.

The youngest son of Park Jihoon was always making headlines. And not the good kind.

Even people who didn’t keep up with the news would recognize his name.

There was always some scandal. Always some photo of him wasted at a club, barely able to walk straight.

His father, a self-made businessman, had tried everything to keep Jimin under control. But when things spiraled, he finally sent him away to Canada, hoping a change of scenery would set him straight. 

It hadn’t.

Even after nearly ten years abroad, Jimin was still making the news.

But this time, the headlines were different.

This time, they were about his return.

Nobody knew why Park Jimin had suddenly come back to Korea.

Even Yoongi, despite himself, felt a flicker of curiosity.

Because once upon a time, he and Jimin had been acquaintances—though he hated being associated with someone like him.

They were complete opposites. And Yoongi had never hidden the fact that he couldn’t stand him.

Their families had been business partners for years. Their parents were well-acquainted. Which meant, unfortunately, that Yoongi and Jimin had crossed paths.

He remembered their first meeting vividly.

It was at a launch event. Yoongi’s father, Doyoon, had dragged him along to greet the Parks.

As the introductions were made, Yoongi’s eyes landed on a small boy clutching a chick plushie.

Doyoon nudged him. “Go talk to him.”

Yoongi hesitated. He had always been shy as a child, hesitant to approach strangers.

But Jimin had no such reservations.

Without warning, the little boy grabbed Yoongi’s wrist and pulled him toward the dessert table.

Yoongi scowled. He hadn’t even asked.

“Minnie wants cake.”

The boy pointed at the display, his voice demanding rather than requesting.

Yoongi didn’t move right away.

Jimin, undeterred, tilted his head, lips curling into a pout.

The puppy eyes worked.

With a sigh, Yoongi grabbed a plate of cake and handed it to him.

Jimin’s face lit up in a bright smile as he settled into a chair, eagerly digging in.

Yoongi waited.

Waited for a thank you.

It never came.

Instead, when Jimin finished, he wiped his hands, hopped off the chair, and made his way back to his father—without so much as a glance at Yoongi.

But just before leaving, he paused.

With a once-over, he tilted his head and smiled sweetly.

“Blue is so not your color.”

Then, he left.

Yoongi had never been more mortified in his life.

That was the moment he decided he hated Park Jimin.

But fate had other plans.

They ended up in the same elite private school, where children of the wealthy studied.

Thankfully, Yoongi was older, so they weren’t in the same class.

But that didn’t stop Jimin.

He would wave at Yoongi in the hallways, flash him that same annoyingly sweet smile in the cafeteria, acting as if they were close friends.

It infuriated Yoongi.

Because it was fake. All of it.

His phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He considered ignoring it but relented when he saw the caller ID.

Appa.

“Yoongi-ah, what are you doing?” Eunseok’s cheerful voice rang through the line.His father sounded cheerful. Too cheerful. That was never a good sign.

“Work, appa,” Yoongi replied, softening slightly. He could be a ruthless businessman, but to his fathers, he was still their obedient son.

“Sorry for disturbing you, but I wanted to talk about something important.”

Yoongi closed his eyes briefly. He already had a bad feeling.“What is it?”

“Well… you know you’re getting quite old now.”

Yoongi sighed. He already didn’t like where this was going.

“And I think you should get married.”

Silence.

He could practically hear his father’s hopeful expression through the phone.

“Appa, you already know how I feel about marriage—”

“A waste of time,” his abeoji chimed in from the background.

Yoongi groaned. Of course, they were on speaker.

“Son, your dad and I are getting older. We want to see our grandchildren before we die.”

Emotional blackmail. Classic Eunseok.

“You already have two grandchildren,” Yoongi deadpanned, referring to his elder brother’s kids.

“Yoongi-ah, let him speak,” Doyoon intervened, likely soothing a pouting Eunseok.

“We received a marriage proposal for you.”

Yoongi tensed. “Who—”

“I’ll send you the address. Meet us there by 7.”

The call ended before he could protest.

Yoongi was left to stare at his phone in disbelief. He had been so happy to know that nobody showed interest in marrying him anymore. He was happy to know that he'd just focus on his business without worrying about going on anymore dates. Then why did he get a sudden proposal? And the most important question was who sent the proposal? 

He considered ditching the meeting, but then a message popped up.

"If you don’t come, your appa will be sad :-(”

Yoongi sighed. Damn it. He really had no choice.

-

Yoongi didn’t bother dressing up for the evening. He had a perfectly fine suit hanging in his office, but what was the point? He had no intention of impressing anyone. If anything, he hoped the person would reject him on sight.

He ran a hand through his already messy hair, leaving it slightly disheveled. Not that it mattered—looking bad was an impossible task when you were born with a face like his, but he still tried his best.

When he stepped into the private dining room, Eunseok’s face lit up.

“Oh, you arrived early, son.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes. “No, your guest is late, Appa.”

With a sigh, he slid into the chair across from his parents. Doyoon gave him a small, knowing smile, murmuring a quiet ‘thank you’ for at least showing up.

“Should I order coffee for you?” Eunseok asked, noticing the way Yoongi kept glancing at his watch.

“You know I don’t eat this early,” Yoongi muttered. “I’ll wait five minutes. Then I’m leaving.”

He had done his part by showing up. If the other person couldn’t even arrive on time, that was their problem.

The five minutes passed. Yoongi stood, straightening his sleeves.

“Time’s up. Better luck next time, Appa.” He flashed a triumphant smile, already turning toward the door.

Eunseok reached out as if to stop him, but Doyoon placed a gentle hand over his, silently telling him to let it go.

Yoongi turned toward the sliding door and slid it open, fully expecting to walk out—only to collide with something solid.

No, not something.

Someone.

His gaze traveled upward, first landing on a broad, ivory-toned chest, then drifting higher until his eyes locked onto a painfully familiar face.

A slow, saccharine smile spread across the man’s lips.

“Aren’t you in a hurry to leave, Yoongi-hyung?” His voice was laced with honey, but his eyes held a glint of mischief.

Yoongi cursed internally.

Fuck.

Park Jimin.

Jimin stood before him in all his deceitfully angelic glory, his beauty effortless, his presence infuriatingly captivating.

And worse—far worse—was his scent. A fresh, tangy aroma that curled around Yoongi’s senses, intoxicating him without a single drop of alcohol.

He clenched his jaw, fists tightening at his sides.

This was going to be a disaster.

Chapter Text

‘The spoiled brat’, ‘The handsome devil’, ‘Park’s Achilles' heel’, ‘The party animal’, ‘The good for nothing Park’

These are all the adjectives that the media use for Jimin, and he knows about it all too well. The fact that his brothers and father are always addressed with tremendous respect and admiration, while his name is always used with contempt has stopped bothering him a long time ago.

He was born as the youngest son of Park Jihoon and Park Harin. Before him, the couple had three alpha sons: Park Siwoo, Park Insu, and Park Hoseok. And then he arrived—the family's youngest and lone omega kid.

From childhood, he was frequently overlooked in comparison to his brothers. His brothers were extremely intelligent and had outstanding strength and leadership from the start. But because of his omega status, he was considered a weak delicate boy. 

Even Siwoo and Insu, his brothers, weren't very fond of him and thought of him as an eyesore. The only person in his family who understood and truly loved him was Hoseok. He was his only brother who was soft spoken and really loved him. 

His father, Park Jihoon had grown up in poverty. He had gone through days when he would have to sleep on an empty stomach. And during those nights he promised himself that he would one day change his fortune around. 

Once he was an adult he tried his best in different fields to gain money. Because of his hard work and unwavering determination, the Parks are today counted in the list of South Korea's richest families. 

While Siwoo and Insu were continually trying to gain their father's favor so that they could inherit the business, Jimin was never interested. He would rather spend his time browsing the latest collections at Dior and YSL and partying with his friends. He realizes he's being a spoilt brat by doing all of this, but if everyone focuses on earning money, who will spend it?

Jihoon was annoyed by Jimin's wild lifestyle, but he never had time to sit down with him and talk to him about it. And Jimin was essentially invisible to Harin; she never paid him much attention because she assumed he would marry into another family one day and hence was not worth her time. Instead, she focused on Siwoo and Insu, who would one day take over the company. 

Jimin's name appeared in the headlines every now and then. Since the media knew they'd obtain an exclusive because of him, they followed Jimin everywhere, whether it was his college, his friend's house, or the parties, and they were always ready to write their next article defaming the Parks. 

Jimin would sometimes get so annoyed with those reporters shoving their camera in his face that he'd lash out at them. Then the reporters would use that clip to traduce him and his whole family which would then take a toll on their business. 

After doing the damage control for so long, Siwoo and Insu finally suggested sending Jimin away for a few months to calm everything down. Jihoon was initially opposed to the proposal, but Harin persuaded him to go ahead with it. She did not want Jimin to be a hindrance in Siwoo and Insu's lives. She clearly had her favorite child and it definitely wasn't Jimin. 

The few months turned into ten whole years. Jimin had to spend ten years in a foreign nation without his family. But if one asked him, he would undoubtedly say he preferred it there. He could do whatever he pleased without his father criticizing him and his mother constantly blaming him. There were servants who would perform his chores for him, so all he had to do was attend university and study.

He was immensely popular at the university because of his good looks and the lavish parties he hosted every weekend. People were dying to be invited to one of his parties. The parties were shown as an exclusive on Korean news channels. It wasn't his fault that the media deemed his parties more significant news than other matters of the country. 

While he was gone his two brothers, Siwoo and Insu got married and had children. Hoseok was also engaged to be married in a few months. Now the only person in the media's attention was Jimin.

They even started to speculate how there must be some fault in him for Jihoon to send him away from the limelight, there were even some rumours that he was pregnant and already had children.

So tired of hearing all these rumours Jihoon decided to call Jimin back to Korea. He expected Jimin to throw a tantrum but he didn't want to say anything and just plainly boarded the very next flight home.

•

Jimin didn't feel any kind of nostalgic feelings that others would have after returning back home after so long. He didn't feel sad nor happy, it felt like ‘I'm back’, nothing more, nothing less. 

Once back home, he didn't even bother greeting his parents first. He just made his way to his old room, which was still the same way as he left it.

He took a warm bath to relieve his hurting joints; his body is no longer the same as he gets older. His joints stiffened after 17 hours of no movement; all he wanted to do was relax, and his idea of relaxing is to go out, get drunk, and dance at a club. It doesn't matter if the sun was still high in the sky. Who said you had to wait till dark to have fun? 

He dresses up with a bedazzled tee and tight leather jeans; he is never too weary to dress up. He had finished donning his fine jewelry and perfume when he heard a knock on the door. He got excited thinking it was his Hoseok hyung but the smile quickly got wiped off his face when he opened the door to his father. 

Jihoon was waiting for Jimin to come greet him in his room but when Jimin didn't show up even after an hour he was forced to come to him instead.

Seeing Jimin dressed up like that, Jihoon knew where he was going. It sent him seething, Jimin was back in Korea for just an hour and was already going to create another headline. Jihoon was now rethinking his decision of calling Jimin back. But he decides to keep calm and have a talk with Jimin. 

“ How are you feeling being back?” 

Jihoon tries to start by making small talk, he knows it won't do any good if he gets straight to the point. 

“ Since when did you start caring about how I was feeling?”

Jimin touched up his lips in the mirror, he was getting late to go out but his father was blocking his way by standing at the doorway. He didn't think they were this close for his father to come greet him at his room. Where was this side of his when he was being neglected in his own house? 

“ You're still so ill spoken… even after all these years.”

There have been many times when Jihoon has regretted having Jimin. He often thought how his family would have been so perfect without Jimin. He would have three perfect alpha sons, and no headache. 

“ Guess who I inherited it from.”

Jimin rolled his eyes at his father. 

Jihoon curled his hands in fist to control himself, Jimin was really testing his patience. 

“ I'll give you a one week time, if you don't find a partner for you by then, I'll cut you off my will.”

He finally gets to the point why he called him back here. He was tired of the media asking the questions and speculating about Jimin’s disappearance again and again. 

They would be having an event launching their newest product and the only question that the media would ask would be about Jimin. It got so frustrating that Siwoo and Insu urged Jihoon to call Jimin back and just marry him off. 

“ You wouldn't do that !”

“ You can see the revised will I have already prepared.”

He started to go out but then stopped to see Jimin still not believing him. 

“ Don't call me when your cards get declined.”

He had already blocked Jimin's card, which he thinks he should have done years ago. Because in his eyes ‘money’ is the thing that spoiled Jimin so much. 

It's hardly been a few hours since Jimin got back and his life was already a mess. 

He threw his jacket off on a chair and took a seat on his bed, thinking about his father's words. Well he knew it definitely wasn't an empty threat because Jihoon's eyes were full of determination. 

And he would never want to be kicked off the will, how will he survive being poor? All his life he has spent in the lap of luxury, he doesn't want to get the taste of poverty now. 

What if his father marries him off to a common man? How will he survive then ? He's definitely not made for the common life! Just seeing his card being blocked is enough to make him feel miserable. 

“ Jimin ah!”

He was so consumed in his thoughts that he didn't see Hoseok entering his room. 

“ Hobi hyung!” 

He jumped up happily on seeing his brother.

“ My cute little brother, you've grown more handsome.” 

Hoseok said, taking a good look at Jimin's face. Hoseok made it sound like they haven't seen each other in years but they met earlier this week. 

“ Sorry, I couldn't come pick you up at the airport. I had a meeting with Kihyun.” 

Hoseok had already apologized to Jimin about it and Jimin wasn't even mad. His brother was engaged now, his life partner should come above him. 

“ It's no big deal, hyung. So how's Kihyun hyung? It's been so long since I met him.”

He has met the omega before when Hoseok and Kihyun came to visit him and he can surely say that he's a perfect match for Hoseok. He's so cheerful and vibrant just like his Hobi hyung. And he's so much better than Siwoo and Insu and their wives. 

“ He's doing good and he misses you too. He said he's gonna plan to hang out with you soon.” 

Kihyun is an only child so he loves Jimin like his little brother. 

“ Why did dad go out so furiously?” 

Hoseok had seen Jihoon storming out of the room, and he was worried about what happened between them. 

“ He said I needed to find a husband in a week or he'll take me off his will.” 

Hoseok had heard Jihoon and Harin talk about this matter but he hoped he wouldn't drop the bomb on Jimin as soon as he got back. 

“ Let me talk to him, it's not easy to choose a life partner in a week.” 

“ You know it won't work.”

Jimin knows how stubborn his father is, he got his stubbornness from him. Hoseok had tried to change his father's decision when he was going to send Jimin away but it didn't work then, so it wasn't gonna work right now either.

“ Still let me-”

“ I'll figure out something on my own.” 

Jimin assures him with a smile. He isn't completely opposed to the idea of getting married. Well he's into his thirties and he wants to settle down too, at least that way he won't have to see his parent's and brother's faces. But the problem is where he'll find the ideal man in the span of a week when he wasn't able to find one in the last ten years. 

He had so many boyfriends and even girlfriends but it never lasted long, because of their difference in thoughts. He's already accounted for the possibility of dying single. He had thought about adopting a few cats and dogs and living a luxurious life in his big mansion. But his father wouldn't let him live that dream either.

“ Were you heading somewhere?” 

Hoseok asks after seeing Jimin’s sparkly outfit. 

“ The usual.” 

Jimin replies with a smile. Hoseok wanted to say something about it but then decided to let it go. He knows Jimin doesn't need another father figure in his life to lecture him. 

“ You should rest, you must be tired. There's also a party tonight for Mingi's birthday.”

Jimin tilts his head on hearing the name, it sounds familiar but he can't pinpoint it. 

“ Siwoo hyung's son. He's turning five.” 

Jimin makes an ‘o’ shape with his mouth, he does remember his brother sending an invitation card in their group chat but he never pays attention to that chat. His family members only use that chat to brag about themselves or their children. It's so annoying that he had to mute it. 

“ Hyung, can you give me your card?” 

Hoseok doesn't think before handing his black card to Jimin. Jimin replies a quick ‘thank you’ to him before going out. 

“ Be safe, Jimin ah!” 

Initially Jimin was going to invite some of his friends to drink with him but his father ruined his mood. So now he heads to his favorite bar in Seoul to drink his stress away. The guard tried to stop him at first because he didn't recognize him so Jimin had to call the manager who escorted him inside with great respect. He used to be their regular customer.

The place was almost empty, nobody would come to a bar this soon and although Jimin would have liked some entertainment for himself, he's fine being alone too. 

His eyes wandered around the bar that has changed so much now. He reminisces about the older times where he and his friends would party so hard from morning to night, they would place silly bets which would end up in all of them being hammered. 

The memories bring a smile to his face, he puts his empty glass in front, signalling the bartender to fill it up again. It's a little sad how he only knows how to enjoy life when he's intoxicated. 

While the bartender prepares his drink, his eyes fall upon the big TV placed in a corner. He was going to ignore it until he spotted a familiar face. 

It was an interview of none other than ‘The Min Yoongi’. Just hearing that name again brought a whiplash of memory. Oh how can he ever forget that little devil.

“ The most eligible and handsome bachelor of South Korea, who has rejected 100 omegas till now. So who's going to be the lucky omega to bag him?”

Jimin scoffed as he heard that tagline. Who even comes up with something so cheesy? He's sure Yoongi must've paid them to say these things about him. Because there's no chance someone thinks Yoongi is the most handsome bachelor when he literally fits the description better than him! And there's no way he rejected 100 people! Who would even want to marry him—

Suddenly he's hit with an idea. He hurriedly took out his phone and dialled Hoseok's number. 

“ Wait- who ?” 

Hoseok asked in disbelief as he heard Jimin tell him his plan. 

“ Min Yoongi.” 

Jimin repeats again, his eyes fixed on the TV screen. He can't take his eyes off Yoongi in his tailored suit, styled hair and those glasses. 

“ I don't think he's interested in marriage.” 

Hoseok knew about how Yoongi had rejected so many people in the past and he knew that Jimin would end up becoming one of them too. 

“ Then I'll make him interested.” 

The part about Yoongi rejecting 100 omegas was what caught his eye. And there's also something that he needs to get even with that grumpy rude alpha.

“ What- he's the one you chose?” 

Hoseok asks again, not understanding what made Jimin suddenly interested in Yoongi. 

“ Well, I already know him, he's handsome, he's rich. Just my type.”

It wasn't that hard for him to find a life partner for himself as he had expected, he actually did it in a few hours. 

“ Jimin ah, he has changed a lot.” 

Jimin doesn't want to hear anything else because nothing will change his mind. 

“ Hyung, do you have his parents' contact number?”

“ Jimin ah you should think this through.”

Hoseok knows Yoongi is a good person, maybe too good, that's why he doesn't want Jimin to choose him.

“ Hyung you know once I make up my mind I don't change it.”

Hoaeok sighs, he can't make Jimin change his mind.

“ Okay I'll ask Siwoo hyung for the contact number.”

“ You're the best hyung!”

Once Jimin got the contact number from Hoseok, he dialled it. He greeted Min Doyoon in his sweet polite tone. He isn't a big fan of going round and round so he came straight to the point and told him how he was interested in marrying Yoongi. There was silence for some time followed by some incoherent talk but then Doyoon agreed for the meeting. 

Jimin then headed over to the mall to change into more presentable clothes. Well if it was only Yoongi that he was going to meet he wouldn't have put that much effort in dressing up but he needed to impress his in-laws first. 

While waiting at a traffic signal his eyes fell on a flower shop and he suddenly got a mischievous idea. He specifically customized a big bouquet and had it sent to Yoongi's voice via his driver. He can only imagine what kind of reaction would South Korea's Most Eligible Bachelor have to it. 

While picking up his outfit, he got several missed calls from his brother and father. They were waiting for him at the party, but he was too busy trying to woo his future husband. It's much better to spend the evening with Yoongi and his parents than with his own family. 

He picked up a satin blouse with a deep v neck, knowing very well how to get an alpha's attention. After that he headed over to a salon to get his hair and makeup done, which resulted in him getting late. 

He finally made it to the restaurant after being 40 minutes late. As he got to the room and was about to knock, Yoongi suddenly opened the door. 

“ Aren't you in a hurry to leave, Yoongi hyung?”

Jimin said with a sweet smile. It's scary how naturally he called him hyung after not being in touch for several years. It was as if they were transported back to their school days where Jimin would call him hyung just to annoy him. 

“ Park Jimin.”

Yoongi's deep voice sent chills to Jimin's spine and as he looked at Yoongi he's reminded of what Hoseok told him. Min Yoongi has certainly changed a lot. And it's all for the better. He was always handsome from the start but with his matured features, squared rim glasses and classic styled back hair, he looks godly. He looked better than all of his previous boyfriends even without trying. 

And well Yoongi might've been one of them if Yoongi hadn't rejected him… 

Chapter Text

“ What are you doing here?” 

Yoongi asks, confused. For a second he wasn't able to recognize Jimin but it's hard to forget the face of someone you dislike. And well he just saw his pictures this afternoon in the news article so… 

He tries to keep his eyes away from that ivory chest that's right in front of his eyes but for some reason his eyes resist his command. It's so unlike him, he never falters over such things but his wolf is acting weird, he can't help but stare at the bare nape from where he could smell that citrus scent. 

Jimin smirks to himself after seeing the way Yoongi's gaze was fixed on him. No alpha has been able to say no to him, and he will make Yoongi see what he missed by rejecting him. This time he'll make him say yes to his proposal. 

“ Why don't we talk inside, hyung?” 

Jimin says with his sweet smile. 

Yoongi wants to oppose that idea but it's like his whole body is frozen and he can’t move anything except his eyes. He's even confused on why Jimin is here in the first place. It can't be a coincidence that he and Jimin are in the same restaurant at the same time. Jimin is not even the restaurant type guy, so why is he here? 

“ You can devour me with your eyes later.”

Jimin whispers in Yoongi's ear, making the alpha flush. Oh, he still has it in him to make Yoongi blush like that. 

He wonders what the reporters will write after seeing how ‘the handsome bachelor who's not interested in anyone’ blushes just because of his mere words. 

Yoongi hits himself in the chest to calm himself down. He even starts to wonder if Jimin has put on something that's making him behave that way. He has heard about a new type of perfume that'll attract alpha to you, he's sure Jimin must be wearing it. Because he doesn't remember Jimin having a citrusy scent before but all of a sudden it's so amplified that all he can smell is that tangy scent, and the thing is….he doesn't dislike it. 

He can't just ask Jimin to go away because their families are business partners. He doesn't want to put on a wrong impression on Jihoon and Siwoo, so he decided to keep his hatred aside for a while and act like a normal human being. He'll ask Jimin to go away once his date arrives. 

“ It's a pleasure to meet you both after so long.”

Jimin bowed in front of Yoongi's parents.

“ Oh, you're so polite Jimin ah.” 

Eunseok said happily then turned over to look at Yoongi but Yoongi only rolled his eyes at his appa. 

‘Polite?’ Jimin can be anything but polite. Only he can see through that fake ass attitude of his. 

He was wondering why Jimin was here, and what happened to the person his father was going to set him up with. Maybe the person had second thoughts, it's good that they back off on their own then for him to reject them. 

“ Please have a seat, Jimin ah.” 

Yoongi was hoping that Jimin would just go his way after greeting his parents, but clearly that's not going to happen. He knows how much fun Jimin must be having right now annoying him. 

“ You too, Yoongi.”

Doyoon said in his commanding voice and Yoongi was forced to follow. His eyes again went to Jimin's face and he started studying his features. 

His eyes have changed, his eyes used to be full of sparkles shining brightly but now their shine have dulled for some reasons. His lips looked so soft and plump as ever, his soft chubby cheeks were now replaced with sharp cheekbones. 

“ Hyung, how did you like the present I sent you?” 

Jimin suddenly turns to Yoongi and Yoongi has to quickly shift his gaze towards the table. He doesn't want Jimin to think he was staring at him.

“ What present?”

“ The flowers.” 

Jimin saw the way Yoongi made a disgusting reaction to that revelation, oh his plan worked so well. 

“ Why would you send something like that to me?”

It doesn't make sense to him, why would Jimin send him a bouquet of flowers? They aren't that close or anything. The only reason that he can think of is because he wanted to annoy him, typical Park Jimin behavior. 

“ I can't even send my future husband a bouquet of flowers?”

Jimin says very innocently, fluttering his eyelashes. 

Yoongi nodded to that statement but when it finally clicked in his head he shouted.

“ WHAT?”

He got up in disbelief and finally it started to make sense, it wasn't a coincidence that he met Jimin here. He is that person? The person who sent him a wedding proposal? Someone make it make sense to him! 

“ HE- IS HE?” 

He points at Jimin then looks at his dad. 

Jimin was having so much fun seeing Yoongi's reaction that's why he specifically asked Yoongi's parents to not tell him about his identity. Because Jimin knew Yoongi would have never agreed for this meeting if he knew it was him. 

“ What's wrong hyung?”

He still kept a straight face, trying to contain his laughter.

“ Yoongi ah, why are you screaming?”

Eunseok was baffled seeing his son's outburst; he has never seen Yoongi like that. He thought Yoongi and Jimin were friends, so why was he acting this way? 

“ I'm gonna say this as politely as I can– I don't want to marry Park Jimin.” 

Yoongi tries to calm down but even the thought of him spending the rest of his life with Jimin is enough to provoke him again. It's hard for him to be in the same room as Jimin for a few minutes and his parents want him to spend his whole damn life with him ! Not a chance. 

“ Yoongi ah, why are you saying that, at least give it a thought?”

Doyoon tries from the side. 

“ Yes, you have known each other since childhood. He's such a good kid, you'll be a great couple.” 

Jimin almost laughed when Eunseok said that but he kept it intact. Well, at least he managed to keep a goody two shoes image in front of Yoongi's parents. 

“ Appa, please. I told you.”

Yoongi didn't want to elaborate on his reasons. 

“ Jimin ah, you must be crazy to think I'll marry a person like you.” 

He whispers, turning to Jimin, not understanding what was going on in his little head this time. Why would he deliberately send him a wedding proposal knowing very well how he'll react? Maybe it's just for fun, because Jimin must know that he'll never agree to it. 

“ Yoongi !” 

“ Yoongi wait-”

Doyoon and Eunseok called but Yoongi had already exited the room by them. They both stood up to go after him but Jimin stopped them. 

“ I'll go after him, please you both stay here.” 

With that Jimin rushed out of there too. 

He sees Yoongi about to head out of the door but if he went away right now his plan would fail, so he ran to catch up to him. 

“ Wh-”

Before Yoongi could say anything else, Jimin pulled him towards the washroom. Yoongi tried to get away but Jimin's grip is too strong even though he's an omega. 

Jimin only leaves his hand once they're inside the washroom. He even locks the door behind to make sure no one else will disturb them. 

“ What are you trying to do?”

Yoongi steps backwards as Jimin tries to come closer to him. He's afraid of what tricks Jimin has up his sleeves. 

“ Yoongi, calm down. At least hear me first.”

Jimin tried to put a hand on Yoongi's shoulder but he quickly dodged it. He was acting like Jimin was an electric wire and he'd get electrocuted if he touched him.

“ Jimin ah, if you have forgotten let me remind you again.” 

Yoongi pinched the bridge of his nose in exhaustion. All of this was reminding him of the past. If he hadn't made himself clear back then he was going to do it today. This time he'll make sure that his words go through Jimin so he wouldn't try something like this again. 

“ You're not my type.”

Even though Jimin didn't want to marry Yoongi because he liked him or anything, that still hurt him. He felt a pang to his heart as this was the first time someone said he wasn't their type. He. Park Jimin. Hah. How could he not be anyone's type? Especially Min Yoongi's! 

He's sure Yoongi is just saying that because he hasn't seen him from up close. How can anyone resist his beauty! 

“ If you were the last person on earth I would still not marry you.” 

Yoongi's remarks are a shot to Jimin's ego. But he wouldn't back down. If anything it made him want to marry him more. He'll make Yoongi regret saying these words. 

“ Your eyes say something else, Mr. Min.”

He puts his face suddenly in front of him and sees the way Yoongi's eyes instantly go to his lips. Huh, and then he has the audacity to say that he's not his type. 

“ You're insufferable.” 

Yoongi quickly pushes Jimin aside and tries to run away. 

“ Where are you going?”

Jimin stood in front of the door guarding it. He can't let Yoongi leave before he's done executing his plan. 

“ Away from you.”

“ And this deal is off, I don't know why you even thought that I would say yes to marry you.”

Yoongi really doesn't understand why Jimin came to him with a wedding proposal when he knew he'd never agree, he had rejected him a long time ago. These years only made him see how he made a good choice rejecting Jimin back then. Jimin really isn't a good match for him, he can never handle someone like him. 

“ Not a chance park.” 

With that Yoongi decides to leave but just as he puts his hand on Jimin and tries to push him, Jimin suddenly comes crashing on to him, landing on his chest. 

“ What-”

“ Oops, I tripped.”

Jimin giggled as he got back on his feet. Yoongi was still a bit dazed because of the strong scent he just inhaled. It made him feel light headed. 

“ Good night, hyung. Go home safely.” 

Jimin opened the door for Yoongi. 

Yoongi walked out without saying any other words, he was too lost. His brain had enough for today and decided to shut down. 

As Yoongi went further away from there he turned around to look at Jimin once again. Jimin smiled at him and waved him bye. That made Yoongi not turn around anymore and just head home. 

Jimin laughed to himself as he saw the lipstick mark on Yoongi's neck and shirt. Oh, he's so sure that the media is gonna love that new scoop. 

He then headed back to the dinner room to continue with the dinner. Doyoon and Eunseok were worried about Yoongi but Jimin assured them that he had everything in control. He instead started to tell them about the kind of wedding he wanted. Eunseok was happy to join in the conversation and pitched some ideas of his. He has been planning for Yoongi's wedding for so long, of course he's gonna make it as grand as possible. His wedding is the most awaited wedding of the decade. 

As they got out of the restaurant they were swamped with reporters. Jimin smiled to himself on seeing that, he was the one who tipped them off after all. Everything has been going according to his plan so far. He asked Doyoon and Eunseok to head home first so he'd deal with the reporters himself. 

Jimin smiled broadly as he stood before the reporters. Oh, Yoongi is surely going to freak out when he sees his interview in the morning.

Chapter Text

Yoongi's head was throbbing with pain as he managed to escape from Jimin and get back to his home. Nothing has really changed about Jimin, he was a headache for him before and he still is. 

Jimin made him so angry that after coming back home he went straight to the bed. Even if his stomach was growling from hunger, he didn't have the energy left to cook something, he didn't even have the energy to go take a shower or even change his clothes. His energy was all drained out arguing with Jimin. So, he let himself drift off to sleep, thinking he'll forget today as a bad dream. But he didn't know at that time what the next morning was going to bring him.

Yoongi woke up to the sound of his doorbell ringing, he sat up straight and looked around his room with a puzzled look. As he made his way out of his room to the hallway he looked at the clock to see it was past 9 in the morning. He’s usually dressed for his office by this time but today he didn't hear his alarm going off which made him sleep for so long. 

He was expecting his secretary to be the one standing outside but when he opened the door he was met with his hyung's eyes looking at him furiously as if he had committed a sin. 

“ Why did you take so long to open the door?” 

Jin slammed his hand on the door in anger. Yoongi could even visualize a fire burning behind him. But he couldn't guess what got his hyung in such a bad mood this early in the morning. 

“ Do you know how long we've been-”

“ Yoonie!” 

Jin was cut in between by his children. They hurriedly left Namjoon's hand and instead ran towards Yoongi. 

Yoongi felt all of his tiredness go away as he looked at his two little rascals. He crouched down to embrace both of them in his arms. 

“ My prince and my princess.”

He kissed the top of the children's heads making both of them giggle. They really have a separate spot for their uncle Yoongi in their hearts, after all he's the one who spoils them the most. 

“ You won't even invite us inside now?”

Seokjin said in an annoyed tone, he has been standing there for almost ten minutes now waiting for Yoongi to open the door. And no matter how sweet the view is, he's tired and needs to sit down. 

“ Come inside, hyung.” 

He picks both of the kids in his arms and brings them inside with Namjoon and Jin following him. 

“ I was standing outside for more than an hour.” 

Jin exaggerated as he rubbed his feet. 

Yoongi looked at Namjoon for confirmation, who only gave him a slight shake of head. 

“ Sorry, hyung. I was in a deep sleep. I didn't hear the bell ring.” 

He wasn't even sure of where his phone was. The events after coming home are a blur for him, it's like he was drunk without even drinking. 

“ But you could've entered the passcode.” 

Jin became silent at that, the truth was he forgot it. Yoongi changes his locks so often that he doesn't bother remembering them. 

“ Why didn't you pick up your phone ?”

Jin tries to change the topic. 

“ I think the battery died.” 

He would never dare to ignore Jin's call intentionally. His hyung is the scariest when angry, so he tries his best not to get on his wrong side.

“ Uncle Yoonie-”

The little boy looked a bit confused and curious as he pointed at Yoongi's neck but before he could continue with his question, Jin butted in between. 

“ Moon, Dae ah, why don't you go play in your playroom?”

Without letting the children answer, Jin gestured to Namjoon to take them away from there. He needed to talk to Yoongi and that couldn't happen with the children being there. 

“ Have you seen the news?” 

Now that the children were gone Jin got straight to the main point. 

Yoongi slowly shook his head, now he was starting to get worried. There were numerous scenarios playing in his head and not even one of them was good. 

Jin takes out his phone and after typing something he extends it towards Yoongi. 

Yoongi took the phone with trembling hands, not sure what he was going to see.

“ Min Yoongi seen outside a restaurant with a kiss mark on his neck.”

“ Min Yoongi's lover revealed.”

“ Min Yoongi’s fifteen year long relationship.” 

He read all the news headlines and went into a temporary shock. Was it April 1st ? Was his hyung playing some kind of prank on him? But it seemed way too real to be a prank… 

“ What is this nonsense?”

He was baffled after reading the nonsense but what made him more confused was that there was a picture of him from last night coming out of the restaurant with— with a kiss mark on his neck !? He hurriedly stood up and went to check and was shocked when he indeed saw the mark on his neck. 

“ How did this–”

He was so confused trying hard to remember how he got it, when he suddenly remembered Jimin tripping and falling on him. And then it all made sense. Jimin didn't trip unintentionally, it was a part of his elaborate plan. 

“ There's more.”

Jin opened another site to show the real deal. The thing that woke him up from his beauty sleep and forced him to come to Yoongi's house in such a hurry. 

“ Min Yoongi and Park Jimin confirmed to have been in a relationship for fifteen years.”

“ Min Yoongi's hidden lover, Park Jimin.” 

Yoongi just read these headlines and went into another state of shock. This time it was more intense than the previous one. Fifteen years. FIFTEEN YEARS! Oh he's going to sue whoever spread this misinformation to defame him. His reputation would be affected adversely if people found out he associates with the scandalous Park Jimin. 

“ See this video.” 

Jin finally played the interview for Yoongi to see.

After getting calls from his secretary about this video, he tried to call Yoongi several times but he didn't pick up, forcing him to come all the way here. He didn't have the time to drop Moon and Dae to school either so he brought along with him. 

“ Mr. Park, what were you doing with the Mins?” 

In the video Jimin stood outside the same restaurant with several reporters surrounding him. 

“ Why are you here instead of going to your brother's party?” 

“ Are the Mins more important than your own family?”

The reporters bombarded Jimin with questions but he was unfazed and calm. It was like he had been expecting everything and already had an answer in his mind. 

He gave the reporters a small smile before he started speaking. 

“ I guess we have to come clean now. Me and Yoongi hyung decided to tell this once everything was settled but-”

He let out a deep sigh before continuing. 

“ Me and Yoongi hyung have been in a relationship for the past fifteen years.” 

Yoongi's face dropped in real time. His ears were ringing, did he hear it right? He can't believe that Jimin would go this far to annoy him. Why was he lying so blatantly, what is even going on in his head? 

“ What? But Min Yoongi was seen on several blind dates.”

Jimin gave them a sad look at that, like he was really hurt hearing that.

“ That's because the long distance was hard on us so we decided to break off— but hyung couldn't live without me so he came back.”

His eyes sparkled as he said that. 

Yoongi started choking on his spit as soon as he heard that. 

‘He’ couldn't live without ‘Jimin’ ? He thinks Jimin has finally gone mad after all these years. Because he has been blabbering nonsense constantly since he came back to Korea. 

“ Why didn't Yoongi visit you then?” 

“ Because I had strictly told him not to come, you know it's a different feeling when you meet your lover after years. So romantic.”

Jimin clasped both his hands and smiled. 

Yoongi cringed real hard at the line and Jimin's terrible expressions. 

“ When did you start dating?”

“ Who made the first move?”

The reporters couldn't be more excited after getting an exclusive scoop about Min Yoongi's love life. Their questions were overflowing. 

“ We were high school sweethearts, and of course I made the first move. Yoongi hyung was too shy back then, he still is.”

Yoongi is desperately holding himself back from punching the phone. He really wishes he could go back in time and stop Jimin. Now he regrets coming back home so early. If he stayed there he could have stopped all this nonsense. 

“ Why didn't you tell anyone about your relationship?”

“ We wanted to keep it a secret until everything was official.”

Jimin let out shy giggles as he covered his face with his hands. 

“ By official do you mean you're going to tie a knot?”

“ I need my boyfriend with me to answer that.”

“ It's getting late, I need to go home now.”

The video finally ended after Jimin's bold hint of them getting married soon. It's a blunder. Everything's a mess. Park Jimin brought a storm in Yoongi's calm life. 

Yoongi sat there in silence for some time. He needed to compose himself after hearing all that nonsense. He then turns to his hyung who's looking at him suspiciously. 

“ Hyung, it's not true. You know I would never date him.” 

Yoongi looks at Jin with hopeful eyes, he knows Jin would trust me. Of course he'd trust his brother over a stranger, right? 

Jin sighs as Yoongi keeps looking at him. Honestly they both have been so busy with their respective lives that they no longer have time to talk to each other for a long time. Most of their talk happens on text messages or when Moon or Dae facetime Yoongi. 

So Jin isn't entirely sure if he can trust Yoongi. Yoongi has always been private about his relationships. They didn't even know about his first girlfriend until he opened up while being drunk. And now Yoongi is asking to trust him…

“ I don't know Yoongi, you have always been so secretive about your life. And you're always stuck on your phone.”

Yoongi and his phone are inseparable. He often had doubts about Yoongi having a lover because he's always on his phone. But Yoongi would always dismiss him by saying he's working. 

“ God, hyung no. You're misunderstanding. You know I hate him.” 

Of course Jin knows about the hatred Yoongi has for Jimin in his heart. There wasn't a single day where Yoongi wouldn't whine about Jimin after coming back from school. He always thought it was too strange that Yoongi talked so much about his enemy but never about his friends. 

“ That's how romance starts in drama.”

Jin said cheekily. He could even vision Yoongi and Jimin as leads in an enemies to lovers drama. 

“ Hyung, it's not a drama, it's my real life!” 

Yoongi stood up, feeling defeated after his brother decided to trust a complete stranger over him. 

“ That's why I had to hear about my brother's relationship from the media.” 

Jin stood up too. 

“ Hyung, try to understand-” 

“ The children are getting late for school.”

Namjoon comes out with Moon and Dae holding his hands. 

“ You take them to the car first, I'll be right there.” 

“ Bye Yoonie!”

The children waved happily to Yoongi and he also gave them a big smile. 

“ Call appa and abeoji first and then decide what you're going to do with the news.” 

Since Yoongi didn't pick up their calls, Doyoon and Eunseok were worried and kept calling Jin. 

“ Hyung…”

Yoongi quickly held his hand to stop Jin from leaving.

Jin turned around and heaved a sigh, he put his hand on Yoongi's shoulder. 

“ Yoongi ah, I'm not mad, I'm just hurt that you didn't tell me about it for fifteen years.”

“ Why don't you-”

Before Yoongi could complain again about his hyung not trusting him, Jin already exited the house. 

Yoongi sat back down on his couch, grabbing his hair in anger. He sat there for a few minutes doing nothing but looking outside the big glass windows and contemplating his life. 

Then suddenly he stood up and went to his room. He started searching for his phone and he found it underneath the bed. As expected it was turned off. 

He quickly put it to charge and then turned it on. He ignored the countless text messages and missed calls he had, so he needed to call Jimin first. But the problem was that he didn't have his number… 

But then he saw a text message from an unknown number. 

‘ you must be dying to talk to me, so I decided to text first. 

xoxo’

Just reading that message was enough to tell Yoongi who that number belonged to. 

“ Park Jimin!” 

He screamed as soon as the call was picked up on the other side. 

He heard Jimin giggling in reaction.

“ Ah hyung, did your love vanish in these fifteen years? Why are you talking to me in such a harsh tone?”

“ Shut up! I don't have time to hear your nonsense. You need to clear up all this misunderstanding right now.” 

“ What misunderstanding?”

Yoongi can picture Jimin pouting up his lips and fluttering his eyes while saying this. 

“ Jimin for fuck sake!” 

“ I told you hyung I was serious about wanting to marry you.”

Jimin falls back on his bed letting his head land on the soft pillow. 

“ So what if we haven't been dating for fifteen years ? We can start today.”

He bites down on his lips to stop his uncontrollable smile. This was much more fun than he had expected it to be. 

“ Jim-” 

“ And I already told my family about us, they're excited to meet their future son in law.” 

Well that's not exactly how it went. 

His father, brothers and mother were so angry when he came back home last night. His brother Siwoo particularly so, because he allegedly ruined his son's birthday party because of his interview. His mother couldn't believe that someone like Yoongi would fall for her stupid son. And his father was more mad at Yoongi for hiding such a big secret from him even though they are business partners. After pestering him the whole night for details about their relationship, his parents finally gave him an order to call Yoongi for dinner.

“ I'm not marrying you!” 

Yoongi screamed again and Jimin had to put the phone down from his ear. He thinks Yoongi is just wasting his energy screaming, because nothing will make him change his mind. 

“ Okay then I'll tell the media that you cheated on me even after I dedicated fifteen years to our relationship.” 

“ Hah who will even believe you?”

“ Your parents, your brother, my family, the public, they all seem to believe me.” 

Yoongi became silent at that. If his family didn't believe him then neither would the public. 

“ If you don't want to marry me then I'll take you down Min Yoongi.” 

Yoongi can feel the evil in Jimin's voice. Of course he only shows this malicious side to him and acts like an angel in front of others. That's why his parents and brother believe him more than him. 

“ I'll text you the location, meet me there in an hour.” 

“ Okay boyfriend, or should I say husband-”

With that Yoongi cut off their call, he couldn't hear more of his nonsense this early in the day.

He sees the worried texts and calls from his parents. But he knows just like his hyung they won't believe him either, he had already seen them favour Jimin last night. So he'll first convince Jimin to tell the truth then talk to them. 

Chapter Text

Yoongi quickly threw on a plaid white shirt with black pants as he hurried to get out of the apartment. His phone was still blowing up with numerous texts and calls but he avoided all of them because he didn't know what he should answer.

He wants to tell the truth but he knows the media would deliberately choose to believe Jimin over him, because his side of story is more interesting even though it's completely made up. The media don't care about delivering the truth to the public, all they care about is how many clicks they get on their articles.

It doesn't matter to them if the article is a complete lie or even ruins someone's reputation and life.

As he gets in his car he calls his secretary to let him know he's gonna be late for work today. He knew the reporters were waiting for him near the building and he didn't really have an answer for them right now. 

He didn't want to risk calling Jimin to his house knowing what Jimin is capable of. He could leak it to the press and it'd be the start of a whole new story. A cafe wouldn't be a safe bet as it would be crowded. Then he remembered his friend who manages an aquarium park that opens only on Sundays, meaning it'd be closed today. 

So, he called that friend and requested him to let him use the place for a few hours. Once he got the green light from his friend, he texted the location to Jimin while ignoring the flirty texts from the omega. 

-

“ Hyung!” 

Jimin waved his hand as he spotted Yoongi’s car. Even though Yoongi had asked him to wait inside the place, Jimin still chose to wait for him in the parking lot. He wore his favorite black half sleeve shirt and matching jeans. He is often told that black is his color so he decided to wear black for today. 

Once Yoongi got out of the car, Jimin hurried towards him. Yoongi had already given himself a pep talk not to create a scene in public, he's scared of Jimin secretly recording their conversation and using it for his own benefit. 

“ You don't look so happy seeing your boyfriend.” 

Jimin pouts as he sees the frown on Yoongi's face. Well, he knew Yoongi wouldn't be too happy with what he did but he hates seeing that frown on Yoongi's face. 

“ Jim-”  

Jimin quickly put a finger on Yoongi's lips to shush him. He doesn't want the alpha to start scolding him as soon as they meet. It'd be a waste of a trip if he dressed so nicely and came so far just to hear an earful from Yoongi. He needed to make the most of this moment.

“ Shh, you never know a reporter might be following you. Let's go inside.”

Jimin wrapped his fingers around Yoongi's wrist and started guiding him inside. Yoongi didn't bother taking Jimin's hand off because he really was scared of a reporter really filming them. 

Once inside Yoongi finally retreated his hand back from Jimin's grip. Jimin looked at his lonely hand with a sad pout. But when he saw Yoongi about to say something he went ahead to look at the fishes. He was trying his best to stop Yoongi from bringing up the interview. 

“ Jimin-”

Yoongi tried, but Jimin again ignored him. 

“ Park Jimin!”

The low shout from Yoongi was enough to finally bring Jimin to him. 

“ I know what you're going to say but before you start shouting at me would you take some pictures for me?”

Jimin's words sounded like a request but in reality it was more like an order. He had the camera opened in his phone and he had already placed it in Yoongi's hand. Before Yoongi could decline it Jimin had already ran off towards the fishes and started to pose. 

“ I need to update my Instagram feed.” 

Jimin said hurriedly while still striking a cute pose. 

Yoongi sighed, his head was hurting again but the citrusy scent of Jimin managed to calm his anger down. He became pliant and half heartedly clicked some pictures for him which were mostly blurry because he wasn't paying attention. 

“ Can we talk now?” 

Yoongi said putting the phone down, he finally had enough of Jimin's tactics. 

“ Okay, but don't shout at me, I have a weak heart.” 

Jimin said coming close to Yoongi. 

They stood under the blue water with the blue light reflecting on their faces. And suddenly a soft song started playing through the speakers. The manager must be seeing them from the surveillance camera and thought there was something going on between them. So he used his own wits and decided to make the atmosphere more romantic by playing a love song. 

Jimin really enjoyed it. He even let out a laugh but seeing Yoongi's stern expression he was forced to stop. 

“ Why did you lie?” 

Yoongi asked while not letting his anger show on his face. He was mindful of the surveillance cameras. 

“ Cause I want to marry you!”

Jimin stepped more forward and started tracing his finger on the graphic of Yoongi's shirt.  

“ Why me?” 

Yoongi took a step back, not wanting Jimin's touch on his body. 

“ You're rich and handsome, what more do I need?”

Jimin's eyes lit up as he answered the question. 

“ There's plenty more people that fit that description.”

They both are born in rich families, all the people that they've known since birth fit the description, then why him? 

“ But they are not Min Yoongi.”

Yoongi was taken aback for some second upon hearing that bold declaration. He didn't know how to respond anymore. 

“ Jimin, I won-”

“ If you say no, I'll tell my father and brother to end business with you.”

Jimin had put too much on stake for Yoongi to back out from this. He made it really hard for Yoongi to say no to this deal now. 

“ And if you think it's an empty threat, well you can try me. You know how far I can go for things I want.” 

Jimin leans in closer and then puts his finger on Yoongi's neck where he left a lipstick mark last night. The thing that kickstarted all this. 

He then suddenly backed down and put on his usual sweet smile. 

“ My family expects you to show up for dinner tonight.”

With that Jimin starts to walk away from there. He knows Yoongi is like a ticking bomb that can detonate any moment now, so he's quick to take his leave. 

“ And also say hi to your parents from me, ask them to invite me for dinner too.” 

He shouts from a bit afar and then finally disappears. 

Yoongi stood there all alone thinking how cunning Jimin is. He had made sure to cage him in such a way that he won't have any other way than to agree. But he's Min Yoongi. He won't give in so easily. He's going to fight and show Jimin who he took a challenge with. 

-

“ Namjoon ah, I know you're the only person who will believe me, tell me how I should get rid of this situation.”

As soon as Yoongi reached his office he cancelled all his meetings and called the only person he knew would trust him. His best friend, Namjoon. 

Namjoon was in the middle of his class when he was called to the principal's office. Because his phone is silent when he's teaching, Yoongi had to call the principal to get to him. 

“ The current situation isn't in your favour, you'll only make your life bothersome by telling the truth.” 

Namjoon takes off his glasses and rubs his tired eyes. His legs bounced anxiously as he waited for Yoongi to finish so he could go back to his class. 

“ So what, you want me to marry Jimin?”

Yoongi slammed his fist on the table. It's a good thing it was a wooden one, if it was made of glass, it'd be in shards by now. 

“ No, but I don't want you to say no either.” 

Namjoon says after carefully evaluating the situation from Yoongi's point of view. 

“ You have to make Jimin back off, then it'd be a winning situation for you.”

Yoongi thinks for some time and then realizes that Namjoon is right. He'll be seen as the jerk as long as he's the one who backs out first. But if it's Jimin who does so then his problem would be gone. No one would point their fingers at him then. 

“ If Jimin won't say no, then make his parents say no to you.” 

Yoongi knows that Jimin won't be able to ignore his parents' wishes. He has been with Jimin's father and brothers for so long and he knows how much they like to control Jimin's life. And if they reject him then there's no way Jimin can still marry him. 

“ Namjoon ah, you're a genius. I don't know how to repay you. “

Yoongi exclaims with happiness. 

“ You already did by letting me marry your brother.”

Namjoon said with a big smile that showed his dimples. He smiles automatically whenever he's thinking about his dear husband. 

“ Sap.”

“ Just for hyung.” 

Once Namjoon hangs up the phone, Yoongi starts to think of different ideas to make Jihoon and Siwoo dislike him as a potential mate for Jimin. He remembers how Jihoon seems to hate the way the youngsters dress up today. He has seen him silently judge a university student who was wearing ripped jeans and had tattoos. He smiles as he finally thinks of something. Oh it's gonna be so perfect tonight. 

-

Jimin hasn't expected Yoongi to give in so easily to his demand. He thought he'd need to blackmail Yoongi some more for him to finally come to his home. But Yoongi giving in so easily to his demand only increased his suspicion. 

He had already built a scenario in his head where Yoongi would try to convince his family that they're not dating and that it's all a lie framed by him. So, he already had his comebacks prepared for that situation. He's not ready to let go of a guy like Yoongi. It doesn't matter what length he has to go to get him. 

His eldest brother Siwoo had abandoned all their work and came straight to the family house when he heard of Yoongi coming for dinner. His mother has been cooped up in her room getting ready since the afternoon. His father had also dressed up in one of his finer suits. This would be the first time he was going to meet Yoongi outside of a meeting and he was genuinely anxious about it. 

Maybe more anxious about Yoongi becoming his potential son in law. He couldn't decide if he was happy or sad by this news. 

Jimin was the only person who wasn't busy preparing for Yoongi's arrival. He was stuck up in his room dressed in a warm sweater. 

But just as he heard the gate opening, he hurried downstairs to open the door for Yoongi. The servant saw him coming down and got out of his way. 

“ Wel-”

He stopped mid sentence when his eyes met with Yoongi. As his eyes scanned Yoongi from head to toe, he went into a state of shock. 

He couldn't even believe that the man standing in front of him was Yoongi. It seemed like it was Yoongi from a parallel universe. 

Yoongi stood there with a cheeky smile on his face, he wore faded grey ripped jeans with a metallic belt, and a sleeveless top that was cropped. There were chains in his neck and chunky rings in his fingers. In his arm he held a bouquet of black roses. 

Jimin felt his knees go weak as he saw this side of Yoongi. He couldn't move, couldn't say anything, couldn't even breathe, he just stared at him in complete shock. 

“ Oh, Yoongi you're–”

When Yoongi and Jimin didn't come inside, Siwoo came to see what made them stop at the door. But he was equally shocked as Jimin when he saw Yoongi dressed like that. 

“--here.”

Seeing Siwoo’s reaction, Jihoon and Harin rushed to see Yoongi too and all of their reactions were similar to Jimin's. 

“ Good evening.” 

Yoongi greeted them by raising his hand and waving it, instead of bowing like he typically does. 

“ Jimin ah, you're drooling.” 

Yoongi said with a smirk and then put his free arm around Jimin's waist pulling him closer. Jimin still believed that the timelines got mixed up and he somehow ended with a completely different Yoongi from a parallel universe. 

“ Beautiful flowers for my beautiful boyfriend.”

Yoongi extended the bouquet towards Jimin but Jimin was too taken aback by Yoongi calling him his boyfriend that he couldn't hold the bouquet. So Yoongi just extended it towards a servant to put them away for now. 

He then walked inside the living room with hand still on Jimin's waist. No one dared to say anything in the Park's household, everyone was too shocked. They've only seen Yoongi in a suit dressed neatly, he was always the most polite person in the room and seeing this side of him— it really caught them off guard. 

They all finally settled down in the hall, with Jimin and Yoongi sitting on one side of the sofa but far away from each other. 

“ Jimin ah, why are you sitting so far away.” 

Yoongi said as he slid over to sit next to Jimin. He scooted over so close that there was no space left between them. 

“ You know I need you close to me.” 

Yoongi snaked his hand again on his waist. Jimin forced a smile on his face as he faced his parents and brothers who gave him questionable looks. 

And Yoongi was so happy to finally gain control of the situation. He started to thank Namjoon in his head, knowing this plan was gonna work perfectly. He could see Jimin being so done with all his advances. And he finally realised that Jimin is just as weak as him. He only have the guts to threaten, but not really to execute it.

“ So, how long has this been going on?” 

Jihoon finally starts the conversation. 

“ As my Jiminie said, fifteen years.” 

Jimin curled his hand around his sweater to stop himself from laughing. The way Yoongi called him ‘Jiminie’ is so funny to him. 

“ Why didn't you tell us then?”

Siwoo asked with a hint of annoyance. And Yoongi doesn't really understand how this matter concerns him for him to be so annoyed. 

“ Well it's our personal matter, why would we tell you?” 

Yoongi said to make Siwoo shut up. He had tolerated him in business meetings because he had no other choice but he isn't forced to do so here. He's here to piss them off after all. 

“ I didn't like that we had to hear about it from the media.” 

Harin mumbled from the side.

“ Well you were going to hear the news of our wedding from the media but Jimin decided to reveal our relationship first.” 

“ You are getting married?” 

Jihoon asked in shock, he was still in disbelief even after Jimin told him about them but hearing it directly from Yoongi makes everything so real. 

“ After fifteen years of on and off relationship, I think we should.”

Yoongi takes Jimin's hand in his and laces their fingers together. 

“ Me and Jimin tried to go out with others, but we always came back to each other.” 

“ I'll show Yoongi hyung my room while the dinner is getting served.”

Jimin stands up and pulls Yoongi to his room without letting him say anything. Yoongi followed Jimin with a smile, thinking his plan really worked. But when Jimin's family saw Yoongi smiling like that they were convinced that they really were in a relationship. 

“ Why? Are you embarrassed because of me?”

Yoongi said as soon as they entered Jimin's room. His eyes were fixed on Jimin. He was already seeing Jimin being furious with him and asking him to go away. Maybe he'll put up a little act that he won't walk away so easily, he'd like to see Jimin beg him. 

But then suddenly Jimin started laughing. 

Before Yoongi could even figure out his motives he was caged in Jimin's arms with his back to the door. 

“ Fuck Yoongi I never knew you could be so hot.”

Jimin looked at Yoongi with hungry eyes. 

“ What?” 

Yoongi felt a chill run down his spine. 

He starts to see his plan turning upside down in front of his eyes. 

“ Don't act so hot in front of my family if you don't want me to kiss you in front of them.”

Jimin whispered in Yoongi's ears and it was finally Yoongi's turn to turn red. 

Chapter Text

Yoongi felt all his confidence wash away in an instant when he saw Jimin enjoying this instead of being pissed. He thought he was so close to getting out of this maze but in reality he was just getting deeper and deeper. 

While trying his best to escape the eye contact, Yoongi's eyes went to the full-length mirror in front of him and as he stared at his reflection he realized….how lame he was looking. He felt the heat rush to his cheeks once again. In a desperate attempt to be less of a mess he puts his hand on the edge of his crop top and tries to pull it down. 

His idea was a complete failure, if anything it only made Jimin want to marry him more. 

But he still had some hope of getting rejected by Jimin's family. If his clothes didn't do the job then he'll make his words do it. He was determined to not go home empty handed. He'll go away with the news that Park Jimin ended their fifteen year relationship. The thought was the only thing that kept him a bit calm amidst the chaos going on in his head. 

“ You're such a pervert, Park Jimin.”

Yoongi said while pushing Jimin away from him. He hurriedly opened the door and took his chance to escape from the room and from the devil himself.

“ Only for you, Min Yoongi.”

Jimin shouted loudly, just enough to let his family hear him downstairs too. Yoongi frowned at that but managed to put a smile on his face as he approached the dinning table where everyone was waiting for them to join. 

Yoongi quietly took the empty seat adjacent to Jihoon's. Soon Jimin came and sat next to Yoongi. 

While the smile on Jimin's face seemed innocent, his bare foot rubbing across Yoongi's leg was anything but that. 

Yoongi couldn't say or really do anything so he just bore with it. It's only for tonight, he kept saying it in his head. 

“ So Yoongi, what do you like about my son?” 

Jihoon starts speaking first, perhaps he sensed Yoongi's awkwardness and tried to make him feel more at home. 

Jimin put his spoon down on hearing that and plopped his face on his palm, he was excited to know what Yoongi was going to say. 

“ Well, your son is really a special person, he has a way of attracting people to himself.” 

Yoongi said with a beaming smile.

Jimin was expecting some lame kinda reply like – his eyes, his smile, his handsome face, but not this. Now he was starting to wonder if Yoongi really has a secret crush on him. 

But Yoongi wasn't done with his answer, he was going to use Jihoon's question to his own benefit. 

“ Actually I was seeing two other people while dating Jimin but he managed to pull me towards him.” 

Yoongi flutters his eyes like he turns to look at Jimin and Jimin finally realises what he was trying to do. 

Yoongi hoped that his controversial dating life would make Jimin’s family finally see him as a bad man and break off this relationship but no one even baited an eye at him. So Yoongi decided to take his lie a step further. 

“ Well actually we too did broke up when Jimin went away because I found someone better but then he begged me to get back saying how he can't live without me-”

He was stopped in between by Jimin pressing his foot on top of his. 

“ Ah, hyung you don't have to tell them that.” 

Jimin put his hand on Yoongi's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. He was starting to understand what Yoongi's intentions were. 

“ But it's the truth Jiminie, I need to tell them how I've not always been faithful to you. And neither can I promise about the future.” 

Yoongi hopes now that he said it out loud at least one person would object to their relationship, but all three of them looked rather calm as if they were not worried about him ruining Jimin's life. 

Jimin sighed on seeing the confused look on Yoongi's face. He should have given Yoongi heads up that he is the spare part of this family, the useless son no one cares about. All of them want him gone from their lives. 

The only person who genuinely loves him is Hoseok. That's why he specially requested him not to attend tonight's dinner. Because if he was here he would have done something to Yoongi for disrespecting Jimin like that. 

“ I think if you're really that serious about each other you should announce your engagement during Hoseok's wedding.” 

Siwoo was the one who gave the suggestion, if he could he'd have let Yoongi marry Jimin right this instant. He thinks once Jimin is married to a rich person like Yoongi, there'd be less division of their inheritance. 

“ What? But I just-” 

“ It's okay, let the past remain in the past, and why worry about the future.”

This time Harin cut Yoongi off. Just like Siwoo she's desperate to marry Jimin off too, so that her three sons could live a happy and peaceful life. And whatever scandal Jimin causes next would be associated with the Mins instead of the Parks. That way their reputation would go up too. 

“ I think I should start calling you son in law now.” 

Jihoon patted Yoongi's shoulder. 

Yoongi was starting to feel nervous now, his brain stopped working after seeing his plan fail so miserably. For today he needed to retreat back home so he'd think about another plan. 

“ I'm sorry, it seems like I need to head home right now.”

He takes out his phone from his pocket and even though no one had texted or called him he pretended like he got a really urgent message. 

“ Oh but-”

Jihoon stood up trying to stop Yoongi but Yoongi was already off to go.

“ Sorry sir, good bye.”

Panic made the polite Yoongi come back. He bowed to them and after that exited the house. 

“ I'll see him off.” 

Jimin hurried behind Yoongi. 

As he got out he saw Yoongi slow down in his steps, disappointment was clear from his walk. He sulked like a little baby and it made him laugh. 

Hearing him, Yoongi turned around and shot him a glare. 

“ Sorry but your cheap tricks don't work on my family.” 

Yoongi rolled his eyes at the information which was of no use to him now. He was already annoyed and didn't want to fight with Jimin too so he quietly made his way towards the gate, where the servant had already brought his car. 

“ Drive safely.” 

Jimin shouted and as Yoongi turned to face him he clicked his picture. 

“ Bye hot boyfriend.” 

Yoongi cursed under his breath but without saying anything directly to Jimin he drove off. 

He needed to call Namjoon and vent, he couldn't even wait till he got home. So once he's far away from Jimin's house, he parks his car on the roadside and calls Namjoon. 

“ Your plan backfired…”

Namjoon says as soon as he picks up the call. 

Yoongi was dumbfounded by that, he was going to scream all these thoughts out but somehow Namjoon already knows about it. 

“ How did you–”

“ Jimin posted your picture on his insta.” 

Namjoon said while suppressing his laugh. When Yoongi said he had an idea, he didn't tell Namjoon that he was going to dress up like that. 

“ You follow him?”

Yoongi feels betrayed by his best friend. 

“ No, but Jin hyung does.”

He's not the one for social media and doesn't use it except when posting pictures of his family and commenting on his beautiful husband's pictures. 

“ Said he wanted to build a nice relationship with his brother in law.” 

This time Namjoon couldn't control his laugh any longer. 

“ That'll never happen.”

Yoongi seethed in anger. He couldn't believe his brother. 

“ It was just the first plan, there's still more to come.”  

Yoongi said while trying to console himself too. 

“ Good luck, hyung.”

“ Oh wait-”

Namjoon thought for a second if he should say it or not but then he remembered there's only one life. 

“ Jin hyung said you should join an emo band.” 

“ KIM NAMJOON!” 

With that Namjoon hung up the call. 

Yoongi hurriedly opened the app on his phone and started searching for Jimin's name in it. He doesn't use the app much, he just posts the pictures of the company events and their new products, there's not even a single picture of him on his account. 

As he finally finds Jimin's account, he opens his story to see a picture of him with the words ‘My hot boyfriend 🥵’

He hurriedly closes the story and starts scrolling through Jimin's posts instead. He comes across the newest post which had the pictures that he clicked for Jimin. 

The pictures were blurry, out of focus, Jimin was not completely in the frame. It was so different from all of his other pictures in which he looked like a model. But Jimin still posted them along with the caption ‘through my boyfriend's eyes🥰’. 

Yoongi yelled inside his car while slamming his head on the steering wheel. Oh he can already see the news articles that are going to come tomorrow. 

He needs to up his game to fight off Jimin and think of a new idea as soon as possible. 

“ Jimin ah, start counting your days.”

He says with a devilish smile on his face. 

-

Yoongi had dark circles under his eyes as he woke up from his few hours of sleep because of his phone ringing.

He couldn't fall asleep because he kept thinking about new ideas to get rid of Jimin. And even when he somehow managed to get the thoughts away, he was woken up by his appa calling him in the middle of the night just so he'd tell him how good he looked in his new style. He also rambled about how happy he was now that they made their relationship official by posting on social media. He even asked Yoongi to post a picture of Jimin too. But Yoongi was in no mood to argue with his appa, so he just hummed to whatever he said. 

After that he could no longer fall asleep so he thought of calling Namjoon but then he remembered that his hyung would eat him alive if he disturbed his sleep so he decided against the idea. 

He would have slept for some more time if not for the devil calling him so early in the morning. 

“ Good morning boyfriend. Did you sleep well?”

Jimin's voice sounded cheery and bright, quite opposite to how Yoongi was feeling right now. 

“ Why did you call me?” 

Yoongi asked in a monotone while he rubbed the sleep off his eyes. 

“ Can't I call my boyfriend without any reason–”

Jimin stopped in between when he understood that Yoongi was going to hang up on him. 

“ WAIT!”

“ My dad asked me to tell you that he's going to announce our engagement at Hoseok hyung's wedding.” 

Jimin said it so fast because he was afraid Yoongi would cut the call in between. 

“ What? But I didn't agree-”

“ Well he doesn't care about that.” 

His father would have married him off to some old geezer if he hadn't brought Yoongi home. He's willing to sacrifice Jimin's life for his own reputation. 

“ So hyung's wedding is in a few months and we’ll have to-”

Jimin continued to ramble on but the words didn't register in Yoongi's brain. He was too busy thinking about a way out. 

“ Jimin.”

He suddenly said as an idea popped up in his head. He isn't sure if it'll even work or not but something is better than nothing. 

“ I can't marry you.” 

Jimin goes silent on hearing that, waiting for Yoongi's new excuse.

“ I- I already have someone that I love.” 

That's the only excuse his sleep deprived brain could think of. 

“ You can try fooling someone else.”

Jimin scoffed, knowing very well how single Yoongi is. 

“ No,no. It's not a joke, it's real.” 

Yoongi tried to sound sincere. 

“ I already had a boyfriend but he doesn't want to be in the limelight so I never told the media about us.” 

Yoongi didn't have the time to think it through so he just made the story on the go. 

“ I won't believe you until I meet him.” 

Jimin said after thinking for some time. 

“ Uh maybe this weekend-” 

Yoongi wanted to delay the meeting so he'd arrange everything in the meantime. But Jimin already had a hunch of what he was trying to do. 

“ No, today!” 

Jimin said like he was giving him an order and Yoongi was forced to oblige. 

“ Fine, come to my apartment at 5.”

This time Jimin was the one who hung up the phone first and that too without saying cheesy things to annoy Yoongi. Guess he was really pissed. 

But now Yoongi had a bigger problem in front of him. He called the only person who'd help him in this dire situation. 

“ Namjoon ah, I need a boyfriend.” 

Chapter Text

Namjoon and Yoongi spent quite some time figuring out who to choose as Yoongi's fake boyfriend. Namjoon advised Yoongi to use his secretary but Yoongi quickly denied the idea. Knowing Juwon for years now, Yoongi knows that he'd ratt him out in an instant. He is a very uptight person and also terrible at telling lies so he's off the list. And he doesn't want to use someone that Jimin might know.

So he asks Namjoon to find someone from his circle then Namjoon finally comes up with Joonho, his colleague at the college who is currently single. Since they both are close, Namjoon was sure that he'd be able to convince Joonho to help Yoongi. And they finally settled on him. 

He had told Namjoon to give Joonho his address and ask him to come to his house as soon as possible so they'd be well prepared by the evening to face Jimin. 

Yoongi had planned to click some pictures with Joonho and hang them around the house to make it more believable. He also looked up for ‘house decor ideas for couples’ so he could decorate his house just like that. 

Jimin would come by 5 so he and Joonho would have plenty of time to make all of these arrangements to fool him. 

While Yoongi was searching for ideas online he heard the doorbell ring. He got all excited, expecting Joonho to be the one outside, so he opened the door without seeing who it was first. 

But when he sees the person in front of him he hurriedly shuts the door and just stares at his feet in shock. 

“ Yoongi hyung, don't keep me waiting out here.”

Jimin yells while banging on the door. 

Yoongi looks at his watch to see if he has somehow magically time travelled to the evening but it was still morning. 

He doesn't know why Jimin came here so early and the bigger question— how is he here? He didn't send him his address yet, then how? 

“ I'll answer your questions once you let me inside.”

Yoongi's eyes go wide when Jimin reads his mind. 

He hurriedly texts Namjoon to stop Joonho from coming here today. He can't let him meet Jimin like this without any preparation, so he'll just postpone the meeting. Once the message was sent, he finally opened the door for Jimin. 

“ Why are you here so early?” 

Yoongi stands in front of the door like a firm wall in order to stop Jimin from coming inside. But Jimin is Jimin and no one can stop him. Not even Min Yoongi himself. 

“ Because I missed you.” 

He winks at Yoongi, catching him off guard. He seizes the moment of Yoongi getting distracted by making his way into the apartment. 

“ How did you-” 

“ I asked Jin hyung.”

Jimin answers Yoongi without letting him complete the sentence. He feels like he knows Yoongi so well that he can already anticipate all his questions. 

He started walking around the apartment freely analyzing each and every corner as if he was a detective visiting a crime scene. Yoongi's house was certainly different from how Jimin had imagined it to be. 

“ Your house is very organised, I thought it'd be a mess since you spend most of your time in your office.”

The house is clean with everything in its place, there's some house plants to balance out the neutral color of the house and a few paintings which Jimin knows must be expensive. 

“ Oh I get it now, your boyfriend must be the one who keeps this house organised.”

Jimin turns around to look at Yoongi and sees the alpha flabbergasted.

“ So, where is he?” 

He tilts his head to the side as he looks over towards where he expects the bedroom to be. 

“ He'll come once the classes are over.” 

“ You're dating a student?”

Jimin asked with a shocked expression. 

“ I'm dating a teacher. He's Namjoon's colleague.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes at Jimin. It's just been a minute since he stepped in his house and he's already annoying him. 

“ He'll be late, you should go now and come in the evening.”

Yoongi doesn't want Jimin to stay here as he's afraid Jimin would catch his lie. But Jimin isn't gonna leave so easily. 

“ Ah hyung, where are your manners? You should at least ask your guest to sit and relax for sometime.”

Yoongi pursues his lips in a straight line. He doesn't want to hear about manners from a mannerless kid like Jimin. 

“ Won't you offer me something to drink?” 

Yoongi isn't being the typically polite host so Jimin has to do everything himself. 

He has already taken a seat on the soft sofa waiting for Yoongi to serve him anything. He'll even drink any bitter vegetable juice if it was offered by Yoongi. 

Yoongi comes into the kitchen with annoyed expressions. He could feel a headache coming, he didn't get enough sleep the night before and now he has to deal with Jimin.

Even though he has the fridge stocked up with all sorts of juices and cold drinks, along with different kinds of tea and coffee he chose to serve Jimin a plain glass of water. 

Jimin just stared at the glass of water as it was placed in front of him. It makes him wonder, what did he even do to get such a cold treatment from Yoongi?

“ I need to get ready for my office. You should go now.” 

“ Then I'll wait for you to get ready, we'll go together.”

Jimin understands what Yoongi is trying to do, but he won't give up so easily. He doesn't know if Yoongi will open the door to his house again for him, so he'll just make the most out of the one chance he has got. 

“ I'll order a cab for you-”

Jimin stands up abruptly making Yoongi stop mid sentence. He walks up to Yoongi and stops just a few inches away from him. 

His hand finds its way to Yoongi's. And as he wraps his tiny fingers around Yoongi's big one he looks up at him with the utmost soft and innocent expression. 

“ Yoongi hyung, let's go together.”

Yoongi's heartbeat picked it pace as Jimin talked to him in a soft voice, it makes it hard for Yoongi to decline his request and he's forced to oblige. 

“ Fine, I'll get ready.” 

With that Yoongi turns around and starts to head into his room. His face is all red and heart is beating faster. 

As he closes the door to his room he stands there for a few seconds with his mind replaying the same scenario from before. Now he understands why his family thinks Jimin is the sweetest and most innocent person on earth because he makes them believe so with his method acting.

“ You should be an actor, Park Jimin.”

Yoongi scoffs. 

He was planning to stay home today as he needed to talk to Joonho but now he'll have to go as it's the only way to get Jimin out of the house. Once he drops Jimin off he plans to drive to Namjoon's college and talk to Joonho there. 

While he was getting ready, he got a text from Namjoon. 

‘ I tried to call Joonho but he's not picking up. I think he must be on his way to your house.’

Panic sets in as Yoongi reads that message. 

Before Yoongi could think of what to do he heard the doorbell ring. He rushed out to stop Jimin from opening the door but he was too late. Jimin had already opened the door and Joonho was standing in the doorway.

“ Oh, your boyfriend is here hyung.”

Jimin said with a smile. 

“ J-joonie why are you here so early, you should have called me I would have picked you up.” 

Yoongi leapt towards him with a disheveled look, hair uncombed and shirt half buttoned. He hugged Joonho out of the blue, startling the man. 

“ The act starts now.” 

He whispers in Joonho’s ear hoping that he'll follow his lead. 

“ Uh- i- I just came.” 

Joonho stuttered because he clearly wasn't ready to start acting as soon as he entered the house. His mind wasn't prepared. 

“ Come let's sit inside.” 

Yoongi held Joonho by his arm, too shy to hold his hand. 

Yoongi brought him to the living room and then sat right beside him without leaving any empty space between them. 

“ Hyung won't you introduce us?”

Jimin says as he looks at Joonho. 

The timid man fixed the glasses on his nose when he felt Jimin's eyes on him. He couldn't even look at Jimin properly because he was very intimidated by his beauty. 

Jimin wore a white vest and a sheer yellow shirt over it, a pearl necklace adorned his neck. Even in simple clothes like that Jimin looked mesmerizing and for a moment Jooho couldn't take his eyes off Jimin. His citrusy scent only seemed to attract him more. 

“ Joonie, this is Jimin and Jimin, this is my boyfriend, Joonho.” 

Yoongi remembers his Jin hyung calling Namjoon as Joonie so he decides to use the same nickname for Joonho so that they'd seem close to Jimin. 

“ Nice to meet you Jimin ssi.” 

Joonho was going to stand up to bow at him but Yoongi quickly pulled him down. 

“ You both look so close, how long have you been dating for?” 

Jimin plops his chin on his palm and gets into interrogation mode. 

Yoongi looked at Joonho and gave him a little nod. Both of them misunderstood that the other wanted them to answer the question so instead they both ended up answering at the same time. 

“ 8”

“ 5”

Yoongi looked at Joonho wide eyed when he answered that. But it wasn't the time to get annoyed with him, he needed to do the damage control first. 

“ Uh he means we've known each other for eight years but we've been dating for five years.”

Yoongi sighs with relief as he suddenly thinks of the perfect explanation. 

This was why he had called Jimin in the evening so he and Joonho could get their lies in sync but Jimin had to ruin his plan by coming early. 

“ And how did you two meet ?”

This time Yoongi stayed quiet and instead gestured Joonho to answer. No matter what Joonho says he'll just roll with that answer. 

“ At Namjoon's birthday party.” 

Yoongi smiled broadly at the perfect answer, he was even going to clap but then noticed Jimin giving him a weird suspicious look, so he pulled himself back. 

“ You and Namjoon hyung have been colleagues for that long?” 

“ Uh no he's- he's his friend from university.”

Yoongi quickly responds to save his lie, he feels Jimin look at him suspiciously for a few seconds before he finally lets it go. 

Jimin pulled his lips up in a smile as he leaned in forward to lightly tap Yoongi's shoulder. 

“ Ah hyung we're so close but why am I hearing about your relationship only now?”

He then turns towards Joonho and a sad remorseful look take over his face

“ Joonho ssi must've been so upset after seeing the news of our dating.”

“ He's not upset because he knows it's fake news.” 

Yoongi put his hand on top of Joonho's hand and then intertwined their fingers. Joonho felt awkward at that but decided to just smile and nod.

He felt a weird tension between the two as they looked at each other.

“ Ah, my phone, hyung can I borrow your charger?”

Jimin suddenly takes out his phone from the pocket which showed a notification of low battery. 

“ Sure, I'll get it.”

Yoongi replied politely, quite opposite to how he acted when he and Jimin were alone. If Joonho being with them makes Yoongi act soft towards him then Jimin wouldn't mind him that much. 

Once Yoongi was gone into his room Jimin started coughing uncontrollably. 

“ Joonho ssi… . water-”

He extended his hand towards Joonho and looked at him with tearful eyes. 

Joonho stood up hurriedly and started looking around. He then managed to find the kitchen but he had a hard time finding the glasses. He opened the drawers and searched the shelves but he couldn't find the glass. 

Then his eyes fell on a cup sitting on a shelf and decided to just use it. 

“ Thank you.” 

Jimin smiled as he took the cup from Joonho’s hand.

“ Here.” 

Yoongi came out of his room too and handed Jimin the charger. His eyes fell on the cup in Jimin's hand. The cup was a gift from his dear nephew and niece, so he didn't dare to use it. He just kept it in the kitchen and he'd smile every time he'd pass by it. 

Jimin saw Yoongi staring at the cup in his hand and smirked. 

“ So Joonho ssi what do you like about our Yoongi hyung?” 

Joonho stares at Yoongi as if trying to find an appropriate answer. 

“ His eyes.” 

Yoongi smiled widely as he heard that, trying to seem in love as much as he could. 

“ Oh that's good. But I think I like his smile more.” 

Jimin suddenly says as he watches Yoongi smile at Joonho, a hint of jealousy showing on his face. 

“ The way his whole face lit up when he smiles, his eyes closes, his nose scrunched up so cutely and you can see his gums showing. When I look at his smile, it’s like—I can’t think about anything else.”

Yoongi stopped smiling as soon as he heard Jimin say all that about him. He looked at Jimin and for a second he looked so sincere and honest as if he really meant all those words. If Jimin hadn't known him better he'd have thought that Jimin really liked him. 

“ Uh sorry, I just watched this romantic drama yesterday and these lines just stuck with me so I wanted to try it out.” 

Jimin started laughing to easen up the mood a little. 

“ And what do you like about him, hyung?” 

Jimin now turns to Yoongi hoping to catch him off guard like before but this time Yoongi was prepared. 

“ His cooking. I often tell him that he should quit his job and I'll open a restaurant for him.”

He had heard Namjoon mention Joonho's cooking skills. 

“ Then I might have to taste your cooking too, Joonho ssi.”

Joonho smiles at that, he was happy with the praises as he's very confident in his cooking skills. 

“ My speciality is in seafood, I'll make it for you sometime.”

He smiles brightly while talking to Jimin. 

“ Really? Yoongi hyung must like it a lot then.”

Joonho nods as if on cue, he thinks everything is finally flowing smoothly. 

“ Yeah, he keeps telling me to serve him seafood everyday.”

Yoongi's smile wiped off his face real quick as he heard Joonho say that. He tried to intervene in between them but Jimin already blocked him with his next question. 

“ Why haven't you told anyone about your relationship yet? Are you afraid of hyung's family?”

Joonho nervously looks at Yoongi, he doesn't know how he should answer the question. 

Jimin puts his hand on Joonho's shoulder making him look at himself.

“ Don't worry Yoongi hyung's sister is very friendly, I'm sure he must've spoken to you about her.” 

Jimin turns to Yoongi for a second and in that second Yoongi sees his real expression. That devilish smile behind the clueless expressions. 

“ Y-yeah, he talks about her alot.” 

Joonho spoke feeling under pressure. 

Yoongi turned his face to the side as he cursed under his breath. He knew he was done for now. It was beyond salvageable at this point. 

Jimin took his hand off Joonho's shoulder and started to laugh, his laugh sent chills down Joonho's spine. He looked back and forth between Jimin's happy and Yoongi's disappointed look. 

“ Ah hyung, was this supposed to be a funny prank?”

He got up from his seat and instead sat next to Yoongi. His hand hitted Yoongi's chest lightly. 

“ Joonho ssi I'm sorry you got involved in our couple fight.” 

Joonho was utterly confused at this point. He's not the one who keeps up with celebrity news or anything so he doesn't know much about both of them. All Namjoon told him this morning was that his brother-in-law needed help and he needed to pose as his boyfriend. He didn't ask Namjoon any question and agreed to help him only because Namjoon is a really good person and he owes him so much. 

But things became very sketchy from the moment he arrived here and they've turned a whole 360° with the revelation that Jimin is Yoongi's boyfriend. 

He can't seem to find the answer of why he's here acting as Yoongi's fake boyfriend in front of his real boyfriend! 

“ You see my boyfriend and soon to be husband likes to pull pranks on me and you were a part of another one.”

Jimin answered to satisfy Joonho's curiosity. Yoongi's plan failed right in front of his eyes so he didn't bother explaining. It didn't matter to him now. 

“ Right, baby?”

Jimin held Yoongi's arm in his hands and when Yoongi didn't reply he squeezed it tightly. 

“ Y-yeah.” 

“ Ah you should have explained it to him well, he looks so scared.”

Jimin hit Yoongi again but this time it was not a light punch. It was as if Jimin was taking revenge on him. 

“ I'll treat you to a meal sometimes, thanks for today.” 

Jimin stood up and showed Joonho the way out. Once Joonho was out of the way, Jimin came back inside with a furious look. 

He stood in front of Yoongi with both his hands on his hips. He already knew it was a lie from the start but he just wanted to see how long it'd drag on. The way Joonho was so lost in the house and couldn't get his hands on the glass already gave it away that this was the first time he ever stepped inside this house. 

But when Joonho said Yoongi liked his seafood, even Yoongi knew he was fucked up as he's allergic to sea food. 

And the last strike was when Jimin mentioned Yoongi's non-existent sister and Joonho agreed with him. 

“ Tch tch, Min Yoongi what am I gonna do with you?” 

Jimin leaned down so he'd be on an eye level with Yoongi. 

Yoongi didn't dare to look up in his eyes so he just stared at his feet. 

But Jimin didn't like that so he put his index finger under Yoongi's chin and pushed his face up so that they were making eye contact. 

“ Well I already know–” 

Jimin gave Yoongi a heartwarming smile before he completed his sentence. 

“—I'm gonna marry you.”

Chapter Text

After Jimin's another bold declaration that he's going to marry Yoongi, Yoongi's life became more of a hell. The omega became more desperate to get him after his little act of already having a boyfriend.

Yoongi would wake up to countless messages from Jimin every morning, containing all sorts of cheesy pick up lines and sometimes even his own selfies. Yoongi would look at the messages and heave a big sigh. He deliberately chose to ignore them hoping that Jimin would stop texting him that way. 

But Jimin's confidence continued to soar high up in the sky. He wasn't affected by his messages being left on read. He was adamant on his decision to make Yoongi marry him so he put in so much effort to make it a reality. 

He would send Yoongi a bouquet of flowers everyday to his office and then post the picture on his Instagram so that the media and reporter would be able to see it. 

All the employees in Yoongi’s company became so familiar with the bouquet of flowers that they'd start giggling as soon as the flowers would arrive. The gossips followed not so long after about how sweet of a couple they are. 

Yoongi was now so done with flowers that he grew a strong dislike for them. But he couldn't just throw them away so he kept them in a far away corner of his office, out of his sight. His employees would keep telling him how lucky he is to have someone like Jimin who loves him so much and praise their love for lasting so long.

Yoongi would give them a suppressed smile and change the topic. He didn't want to ruin his reputation by saying something contrary to what the media has painted him to be. 

Days went by like that with Jimin's continuous texts and bouquets, Yoongi was afraid of Jimin showing up to his house so he started going home late at night and came early in the morning. It was tiring but he was ready to do anything to not face Jimin again. 

•

Yoongi was busy working on his upcoming business meeting when he got a message from his father. His face lit up when he saw the selfie of his parents with his niece and nephew. 

‘ Your hyung surprised your appa for his birthday by coming a week early.’

‘ Eunseok said he'd have been happier if you came too, but we know you're busy.’

‘ Make sure to come for your appa’s birthday.’

Yoongi can feel his father's sadness through those texts, and he misses his parents too. 

Then suddenly Yoongi stands up after thinking about something. He urgently calls Juwon in his office and tells him he's going on a week's leave and that he'll be unreachable and if something happens he can just contact his brother instead. 

Yoongi was never the kind of person to make a decision on a whim but today it just felt right to him. So he quickly headed back to his apartment, packed a few of his clothes in a bag and boarded the very next flight to his appa's hometown, Daegu. He purposely left his phone behind at his apartment so that no one would disturb his peaceful time, especially not a ‘certain someone’. 

He relaxes into his seat as he imagines how peaceful the next few days are gonna be for him. And if everything went right he'll tell his family about Jimin's reality and their fake relationship. Once his family is on his side, he'd have nothing to worry about. 

•

Yoongi feels a bit nostalgic as he reaches the house that belonged to his grandfather. They all used to visit here during vacation to meet his grandparents when he was little. Now his appa and abeoji have shifted here to get away from the city life and just enjoy some peaceful time. 

A smile spreads wide on his face as he sees Moon and Dae playing outside with bubbles while his abeoji and Namjoon sit on chairs watching over them. 

“ Prince! Princess!”

He called for the children in his sweet voice that's reserved for them. Both children stopped playing and their eyes lit up on seeing their precious uncle. 

“ Yoonie!”

Both of them shouted with excitement and wasted no time running towards Yoongi. 

Yoongi had already crouched to the ground with open arms to catch both of them. He stayed like that for a few seconds savouring the sweet moment of hugging his two gems dear to his chest. 

“ Yoongi ah, what are you doing here?”

Doyoon was surprised but so happy to see his son. 

“ I'm here for appa's birthday.”

Yoongi finally parted from Moon and Dae to hug his dad and Namjoon

Hearing the commotion, Eunseok also came outside to see if the children were okay. But his smile grew wider on seeing his son standing there. He's full of the joys of spring because he was really missing Yoongi so badly as he was the only one not present here. But he knew he couldn't just ask his son to leave the work and come for him. But seeing his son standing there melted his heart into two. His family was finally complete. 

“ My baby!” 

He exclaimed with happiness on seeing Yoongi. 

“ Surprise appa!”

Yoongi smiled seeing the flicker of tears in his father's eyes. 

“ What about your work?”

Eunseok was still worried that Yoongi would be left behind on his work because of him and he didn't want that. 

Yoongi put both his hands on Eunseok's cheeks and smiled. 

“ For a week I'm all yours appa. It's my present for you.” 

Eunseok's face lit up brightly on hearing that. Spending quality time with family has become a hassle in today's busy life. Eunseok has always been a family oriented person. Before marriage he used to live with his parents and once married he lived with Doyoon and his in-laws. 

Then after a few years Yoongi and Seokjin joined their journey so he was so accustomed to being surrounded by a big family. So now that it was just the two of them he surely felt a little hole in his chest. So to think his family will stay together for a week is a big gift for him. 

“ That is so unlike you.”

Jin comes from behind with his arms folded to his chest and eyebrows raised. He's a rational man and he also knows his brother very well. 

He knows Yoongi is so far away from an emotional guy, he wouldn't just book a ticket and come here on a whim, leaving all his work behind. There must be a reason why he's here. 

“ What do you mean hyung? I'm not allowed to do something nice for my appa?” 

Yoongi acts innocently as if he really came here only for Eunseok. Jimin has become a bad influence on him. 

“ Yoongi ah, I'm your hyung I can sense what you're trying to do.”

“ There's nothing-”

“ That's enough, you too! You still argue like children. Even Moon and Dae are better than you.”

Eunseok comes between his two children to stop them from fighting. Moments like this make him realize that his sons grew up only in age but from the inside they're still children. 

Both of them became quiet once they were compared to Moon and Dae. Jin quickly realized that he really behaves more childish than his own children. It's all thanks to Namjoon's genes being more dominant. 

“ Jin ah, go clean Yoongi's room. I'll get him something to eat till then. My baby must be hungry.” 

Yoongi nods happily to that and once Eunseok got out of the room, he gave a sly smirk to Jin. They both always fought over who's the favorite child and even after being in their 30s the fight still continues. 

Yoongi sits in the living room and looks around himself so many memories are connected to this house. He remembers his hyung chasing him around the house after he did something to piss him off. It felt like he was running for his life because if Jin caught him he wouldn't let him go without a good beating. The moments bring a smile to his face. 

He felt so relaxed and happy being there, the plus point was that no one disturbed him and he was finally able to get away from Jimin. He's gonna use this whole week to devise a plan with Namjoon to get rid of Jimin. 

After a quick snack Yoongi made his way to his room to freshen up. He took out a change of clothes and put it on the bed and decided to shower first then unpack.

He takes a long relaxing shower with Jimin finally evaporating from his head. All his thoughts are filled with pleasant memories from his childhood. He remembers his father barbecuing while he and his hyung would play in the garden. Sometimes his parents would join in their games. Those days were so precious but he only realised it once they became a memory. 

He finally gets up after a long half an hour from the bathtub. He wrapped a towel around his bottom half and walked outside like that with a naked wet torso. He hums a sweet tune to himself, his eyes half closed in the moment. 

“ Yoongi hyung.”

He hears a sweet voice in front of him and as he looks in front of him the smile quickly vanishes from his face. 

He screams loudly on top of his lungs as if he has just seen a ghost. 

“ YOU!”

“ It's a dream. It's a dream.” 

Yoongi tries to calm himself because in his head it doesn't make sense. How could Jimin be here? Maybe he's still stressed from work. That's why he's hallucinating that Jimin's in front of him. 

“ It's not a dream, hyung.”

Jimin smiles sweetly and starts to walk towards Yoongi. He put his palm out on Yoongi's chest and rested it on top of his heart. 

Ba-dum, Yoongi's heart beated loudly against Jimin's hand. 

As the cold hand touched his body, Yoongi screamed again, this time louder than before. 

He tries to push Jimin away from him but Jimin pulls him with him making them both end up on the bed with Yoongi on top of Jimin. 

Hearing the screams Eunseok and Jin ran up to Yoongi's room only to find Jimin and Yoongi in a compromising position. 

“ Gosh, there are kids in this house. Keep your voices down.”

Jin says in a scolding voice as he looks at the two love birds on top of each other. 

“ He- how-” 

Yoongi stutters as he looks between Jimin and his hyung. 

“ A little surprise for my baby brother.”

Jin said with a suppressed laugh understanding what his brother was going to ask. He felt really proud of himself for planning this surprise for Yoongi after seeing the expressions on his face. 

He had called Yoongi's secretary Juwon when Yoongi wasn't picking up his calls, so Juwon told him that Yoongi had suddenly taken a week's leave. 

Then he called Jimin to ask if he knew anything about it but Jimin was clueless so Jin figured out Yoongi would be coming here to surprise their dad. So he decided to surprise Yoongi by calling Jimin here too. He knew Yoongi would be surprised by Jimin suddenly showing up at their house. 

“ And if you wanna do that please keep the door locked, you aren't alone in this house.”  

With that Jin decided to leave the two lovebirds alone so they could continue their business. 

But Eunseok still stood there with a big smile on his face. He thought his son was going to die single so to see him with his lover gives him immense happiness. 

“ Don’t worry me and your abeoji will wear ear plugs for the night so you can be loud.” 

He winked at them and then turned to leave. 

“ NO IT'S NOT-” 

Yoongi tried to explain but Eunseok had already shut the door on his way out. 

“ Come downstairs for dinner once you're done!”

Eunseok's laughter echoes around the house. 

Yoongi closed his eyes as he started to regret the moment he decided to come here. He thought it was going to be a relaxing time for him but he overlooked the fact that his hyung is a menace too. 

“ You look so sexy on top of me.” 

Jimin says inhaling deeply as he stared at Yoongi. His wet hair dripped on him. 

“ YOU-” 

Yoongi opened his eyes and as he looked at Jimin all he could see was red. 

“ Shh don't shout.”

He put his finger to Yoongi's lips. Oh he really loves sushing Yoongi down like that. 

Yoongi finally jumped back on his feet at that touch. He felt like his whole body was on fire because of how angry he was. But he still managed to calm himself down a bit and talk to Jimin in a polite manner. 

“ What are you doing here?”

“ My in-laws invited me.” 

Jimin said with a big smile adding fuel to Yoongi's fire. He already knew what Yoongi's reaction was gonna be when Jin called him here. Even if it was risky, he couldn't let go of such a good opportunity to spend time with Yoongi. Plus he finally got to meet the whole family. He's on a mission to get on their good sides during these few days. 

“ Jin hyung said you were coming here for a week and that I should join you too. How can I resist such an offer?” 

Yoongi knew he couldn't trust his brother with his life; he always found ways to make his life more miserable. 

“ I'll go take a shower before dinner.” 

Jimin says as he takes his shirt off in front of Yoongi. 

Yoongi wasn't expecting Jimin to be so bold, but he wasn't a pervert so he quickly turned his face sideways. Although he still got a still peek of that ivory skin and that tiny waist of the omega. 

“ Wanna shower again?” 

Jimin asks, snaking a hand on Yoongi's chest but Yoongi swatted his hand away while still keeping his head sideways. 

“ NO!” 

Jimin giggled to himself and decided to finally enter the bathroom. 

Yoongi heaved a sigh of relief once Jimin was finally gone. His neck was aching because of how fast he turned it. 

He quickly gets dressed up and headed downstairs, afraid to be alone with Jimin. 

“ Where's Jimin ?” 

Jin asked as soon as his eyes landed on Yoongi.

“ Why did you call him here?” 

Yoongi slammed his hands on the tables. He couldn't hurt his hyung because he's older than him so he takes his anger out on the nearby objects. 

“ Because he's your boyfriend Yoongi. You went to meet his family and he needs to meet yours too.” 

Jin says it all with a big smile. 

“ You should have asked me first!” 

Yoongi yelled, annoyed at his hyung.

“ I thought you'd be happy!” 

Yoongi didn't reply to it. How can he be happy with Jimin? Jimin and his happiness can't exist simultaneously. 

“ Hyung, it's a lie. Everything's a lie. There's nothing between me and Jimin. There's no relationship, we're practically strangers!”

Yoongi finally exploded after trying to keep everything inside of him for so long. He just hopes that his hyung would understand him. 

“ Yoongi ah, did you hit your head? It's not the first of April today.” 

Yoongi knew it was going to be hard to convince his hyung. 

He held Jin's hand and looked him straight in the eye. 

“ Hyung, it's not a joke. There's nothing between me and Jimin.’

Jin becomes serious on seeing Yoongi's expression too. 

“ Yoongi ah if you're thinking of leaving that kid after spending fifteen years together just make sure to not come in front of me or I'll kill you.”

The look in Jin's eyes told Yoongi that he was serious. Jin might be an omega but when it comes to fighting he can easily tackle an alpha. He's really scary and Yoongi knows it well. 

“ That poor boy loves you so much, he sends you a bouquet everyday, praises you so much, invites you to his house, always posts about you and you don't do anything in return! You didn't even go to meet him once in those years he lived abroad.” 

Yoongi is surprised at how brainwashed his hyung is. He didn't know if it was the media's doing or Jimin's. Maybe it was both. 

“ Appa and abeoji didn't raise you like that, Yoongi.” 

Yoongi knows his hyung hates cheaters from the bottom of his heart because of what his ex boyfriend did to him. And right now his brother is comparing him to that bastard, when in reality there's nothing like that. There's no relationship to cheat on! 

“ Hyung-” 

“ What are you both talking about?”

Eunseok got worried seeing the serious expression on his son's face. 

Jin quickly changed his expressions when he saw Eunseok coming. 

“ Nothing, appa. I was just talking about Jimin to Yoongi.” 

“ I'm glad Yoongi also called Jimin here. I really wanted to get to know him better.”

Jin didn't tell Eunseok that it was his doing and not Yoongi's. 

“ I can't wait for their marriage.” 

Eunseok starts to get excited as he thinks about their future. Yoongi's wedding is one of the last things he desperately wants to see before leaving. He'll be happy once he knows both his children are in safe hands. 

“ Me too appa.”

“ You've proposed to him, right?”

Jin inquires, turning to face Yoongi. He knew Jimin was the one who took the lead in their relationship. He was the one who called their parents to ask for Yoongi's hand in marriage, which is traditionally done by the alphas. He was also the one to announce their relationship to the press. He keeps sending bouquets of flowers to Yoongi's office everyday, something that Yoongi should be doing. 

“ Huh?” 

“ Don't tell me you haven't proposed to him yet?”

Jin was in disbelief because of his little brother's behavior. How did he even manage to bag someone like Jimin, when he's so unromantic and boring ? Jimin seriously deserves so much better than him. 

“ What's the need for that?”

Yeah, what's the need to propose when there's no relationship! It's a house of cards that Jimin made that's going to collapse soon. 

“ You've been dating for fifteen years but that doesn't mean you won't need to propose to him for marriage.” 

Jin put both of his hands on Yoongi's shoulder and shook him with his every work. It made Yoongi feel dizzy. 

“ My son is so unromantic.” 

Eunseok sighs from the side. He too felt sad for Jimin. 

“ I can't let Jimin suffer.” 

Jin says in a determined tone. 

His expressions make Yoongi fear for his life. 

“ Yoon ah, you're going to propose to him!”

Eunseok says from behind as he looks at Jin and both of them give each other an acknowledging smile. 

Oh, it's gonna be the worst week of his life… 

Chapter Text

When Jimin came down after freshening up he saw the Min family chatting lively on the dining table. Everyone had big smiles on their faces as they talked. Jimin's eyes managed to find Yoongi who had a big smile on his face too as he teased little Dae. And that smile was enough to make Jimin's heart beat faster. He has never seen Yoongi so happy before. He seemed so carefree and so different from his professional look and it made Jimin see that deep down Yoongi is a fun loving carefree guy too. 

“ Jimin is here.”

Jin says as he sees Jimin’s standing on the stairs. 

Then suddenly all of them turn around to look at Jimin. Jimin felt a little shy being the center of attraction for the first time.

“ Sorry I'm late, you should've started without me.”

Jimin says after seeing that the food was already placed on the dining table but no one touched it yet. He now felt sorry for taking too long in the shower. 

“ How can we start when our family member is missing?”

Eunseok said, making Jimin stop in his tracks.

“ Family member…” 

The omega mumbled as he looked at Eunseok. He gave Jimin warm smile while nodding his head.

His heart started beating weirdly in his chest once again. This feeling was something that he couldn't explain in words. He felt like he was home. 

Since childhood he was used to eating alone in his room or just with his Hoseok hyung. His parents were rarely home and even when they were they'd chose to spend time with Siwoo, Insu and Hoseok, rather than him. 

If he was even late by one minute for dinner, his family would start eating without waiting for him. His mother would even scold him, saying that he was wasting his brothers’ precious time. 

“ Papa, who is this?” 

Moon pulled Jin's shirt down and whispered to him. The new person clearly intrigued her. 

“ Moon ah, Dae ah, he's your Uncle Jimin, he's going to marry Uncle Yoongi.”

“ Like you and dada.” 

Dae said as he looked at his parents. They are still young so they can't completely grasp the concept of getting married. But they've made their own explanation by observing their surroundings. 

“ Hello uncle Jimin, I'm Moon.”

Moon stood up from her chair and went towards Jimin. 

“ I'm Dae.”

Dae followed behind her quickly. 

“ It's nice to meet you.”

They both said in unison and bowed to Jimin. It was as if they had practiced the greeting many times. 

“ So cute. It's nice to meet you as well.” 

Jimin was taken aback by how well mannered the children were. They both are so different from his brothers’ children. 

“ Come on babies, let him sit, he must be hungry.” 

Jin called them and they both hurried back to take their seats. They were still shy of Jimin so instead of being all talkative during their dinner they both ate quietly. 

“ I didn't know you were coming so I only made Yoongi's favourite dishes today. But I'll make your favorite dishes tomorrow. You've to tell me what you like.” 

Eunseok said as he filled Jimin's plate with too much food and put it in front of him. 

Jimin's stomach started to do flips. He wasn't used to this much sweetness. Eunseok was the kind of parent he always wished to have. 

“ You're so kind to me, Mr. Min.”

The love that Jimin didn't feel in thirty years from his family he started to feel it in one day from Yoongi's. 

He doesn't even remember the last time someone asked for his likes. His parents never did, all they cared about was Siwoo, Insu and Hoseok. He was always the neglected spare part of the family. 

Yoongi catches a sneak of Jimin, but his heart stops when he sees that look on Jimin's face. He had never seen Jimin so serious like this before. It was as if he was going to cry any moment now and Yoongi didn't understand why. The expressions were too real for him to consider it as another act of Jimin. 

“ Mr. Min? Just call me ‘appa’ Jimin ah.”

Eunseok's smile warms Jimin's heart. 

“ Oh, okay a-appa.” 

Yoongi is not the only reason that Jimin chose to marry him. He has known the Min family since childhood and in reality he has always been jealous of Yoongi. The way he's so loved and cared for, it always made Jimin want to have a family like that. So when the opportunity prevailed Jimin grabbed it. 

“ We could have known each other for longer but Yoongi decided to keep it a secret for fifteen whole years.” 

Eunseok says with a sigh as he turns to look at his son who had already started eating. 

“ No, no! It's not hyung's fault. My family didn't really approve of our relationship so we had to date secretly.” 

Jimin came in quickly before the question could be sent to Yoongi. He's afraid that the alpha was going to tell them the truth and he doesn't wish for that. 

“ Ah you should have told me then I'd have talked to Jihoon myself.” 

Doyoon says from the side. 

“ No, it's all okay now. They're happy with our relationship.” 

Jimin feels so good to see that Yoongi's family is so supportive of him.

“ That's good.” 

Once the dinner was over Yoongi quietly slipped away to the yard. He sat on the chair and stared at the moonlit sky. He missed this type of view a lot in the city. 

Namjoon saw Yoongi outside and decided to join him. They didn't get to have a talk since Yoongi arrived. So he thought now would be a good time. 

“ What're you doing out there in the cold? Don't you wanna go to your boyfriend?” 

Namjoon starts the talk with a joke but clearly Yoongi isn't very happy with it. He instantly shoots Namjoon a look that makes him not continue with the joke. 

“ Appa and hyung asked me to propose to Jimin.”  

Yoongi tells with a deep sigh. He loves his family so much but sometimes they try to be involved in his personal life way too much. He had gone on countless dates just for his appa's sake. He knows that they want him to find a life partner who'd be there for him through thick and thin. But he feels like he has crossed the age of finding someone like that. He doesn't think he could fall in love at this time of his life. 

“ So what're you planning this time?” 

Namjoon asks, seeing the deep contemplating look on Yoongi's face. 

“ I've nothing.” 

He came here looking for peace. He thought he'd spend the week trying to come up with a good idea to get rid of Jimin. But his brain has stopped working now. It's all blank. 

“ I ho-”

“ Namjoon hyung.” 

Both of them turned around as they heard the call. It was Jimin who came outside looking for Namjoon. 

“ Moon and Dae are calling for you.”

“ Oh right I need to tell them their bedtime story.”

Moon and Dae couldn't sleep without their dada telling them a bedtime story. Namjoon used to tell them stories even before they were born. He would sit by Jin's baby bump and read at least one story every night. 

Once Namjoon was gone, Jimin sat next to Yoongi. He waited for the alpha to say something, to express his disinterest or get angry at him again. But Yoongi just kept looking up at the sky. 

“ Hyung, can I ask you a genuine question?”

Yoongi finally looked at Jimin's face and when he did he's again reminded of that close to crying look of Jimin. 

“ Will you not if I say no?” 

Jimin gave Yoongi a smile to that question. He'd ask it even if Yoongi says no. He was just trying to be polite. 

“ Fine, go ahead.”

“ Why do you hate me?” 

Jimin says the question with a serious look. 

“ I mean I saw you treat Namjoon hyung's colleague who you met for the first time better than me.” 

Jimin pouts as he says that he was really upset that day. Yoongi has always been hostile towards him from the start. He'd always tried to get on the good side of the alpha but it's like Yoongi has built a wall that's specifically for him. 

“ For me first impressions are the last impression.” 

Yoongi says as he turns away to look at the moon again. He hopes Jimin will understand it now but Jimin is still clueless. 

“ What did I do?” 

Yoongi might've remembered that incident as it meant something to him. But not Jimin. For him it was just another day of his childhood where he was dragged by his parents to a party where he didn't want to be at. 

Yoongi scoffs as Jimin tries hard to remember what he did that day. To him that day is still so vivid in his memories. 

“ You made me run around like your butler and then told me how horrible I was looking in my blue suit!” 

Yoongi stands up frustrated. The memory of a little Jimin telling him how bad he looked in that blue suit with a judgy face still haunts him till this date. He can't look or talk to Jimin without getting reminded of that day. His self esteem was hurt that day.

“ Oh my god hyung are you seriously still mad about it?” 

Jimin doesn't know what else to do than laugh. He thought he had committed some kind of crime for Yoongi to treat him that way. He never knew that Yoongi was so petty. And he can surely hold a grudge, cause he's still upset over a little kid's remark even after 30 years. 

“ Of course, how can I not?” 

Yoongi stomps his feet like a little kid. He should have taken his revenge from Jimin that very day. He should have told him that he looked hideous in his suit too. But he was too shy to do that. And Jimin actually looked cute in that suit. 

“ Hyung I was just a kid back then.” 

Jimin speaks in between his laughter. He still can't believe Yoongi hated him so much just because of his harmless remark. 

“ Yeah a spoiled brat!”

Yoongi grabbed a fistful of his hair in anger. 

“ I'm done with you.”

He decides to walk away from there for now to calm himself down. 

Once Yoongi was gone, Eunseok came outside. He heard a snippet of their conversation and understood what they were talking about. He put a hand on Jimin's shoulder. Jimin turned around with a confused look on his face and Eunseok understood what he was thinking. 

“ He's this angry because he chose that blue suit himself.” 

Eunseok helped Jimin understand Yoongi's reason. Quite opposite to the bold and confident adult he has become now, Yoongi was a really shy kind in his childhood. He didn't like going to the events with his parents as it meant that he'd have to socialize with people. 

But that event was an important one so Eunseok had somehow managed to convince Yoongi to tag along. To make him more excited for it, Eunseok took him shopping and let him choose whichever suit he wanted to wear. Little Yoongi was really happy and after looking around for an hour he finally found the perfect suit for himself, a beautiful baby blue one. 

“ And it affected him so much that he never wore blue colored clothes after that.” 

Yoongi didn't say anything much after coming home but he quickly took off his blue suit, he even picked out all the blue clothes from his wardrobe and told his appa he was never going to wear blue ever again. 

“ Really? I didn't know.” 

Jimin now felt bad hearing the story from Eunseok.

He was treated that way by his older brothers, they'd constantly pick on him and even laugh at his clothes and toys. It made him think that it was okay to behave like that with others too. So when he saw Yoongi, he decided to act just like his brothers to him. He ordered him around and then nitpicked on his clothes. Only years later he realises how wrong it was of him to do that. 

Eunseok saw the remorse on Jimin's face so he gave him a quick hug. He knows he was a child back then and children aren't supposed to be careful with their words. But it's just that Jimin's one sentence had left a great impact on Yoongi. 

“ I want to talk to you but it's late. You should go to sleep.”

He wants to know more about Jimin. But he knows that the omega must be tired after his trip here today so he'll let him go to sleep first. 

“ Good night, Jimin ah.”

“ Good night, Mr. Mi–appa.”

It feels a little awkward to call Eunseok ‘appa’ but it feels warm too. He feels more emotions in calling Yoongi's dad ‘appa’ than calling his own father. 

Jimin quietly walks upstairs thinking Yoongi would be asleep by now but as he opens the room he sees Yoongi sitting on the bed with his eyes glowing because of the dim lights. It gave him a little scare. 

“ Why are you coming into my room?” 

Yoongi asks as he looks at the omega. He is still mad at Jimin. 

“ Where else am I supposed to sleep?” 

“ There's a couch downstairs.” 

Jimin scoffs as he hears the alpha talk. Where did the kind hearted guy go that the media painted Yoongi to be? Or maybe this angry side of Yoongi is just reserved for him. 

“ Should I tell your dad that you're making me sleep there?”  

Jimin folds his arms as he stands in front of the bed. He knows Yoongi is afraid of his appa. 

“ If you're that uncomfortable sharing a bed with me, why don't you go there?” 

Jimin mumbles under his breath as he finally takes a seat on the empty side of the bed. Though he prefers to sleep on the left side of the bed he's in no mood to argue with Yoongi tonight. He still feels bad after hearing his story from Eunseok. 

“ Why should I? It's my bedroom!” 

Yoongi retorts back. He has never shared a bed with anyone till now. It feels so weird that the first person to share a bed with him is his archenemy. 

“ Then learn to adjust.” 

Jimin says as he gives Yoongi a big smile to annoy him even more. For him it's not a big deal so he doesn't think much about it and lays down to sleep. 

But Yoongi is still not feeling alright so he plants a pillow wall between them. 

“ Don't cross this line.”

And with that he lays down to sleep too. 

But soon the citrusy scent starts to fill up the room and Yoongi feels like he's gonna have a tough time falling asleep tonight. 

Chapter Text

As expected, Yoongi had trouble sleeping because of Jimin's overwhelming scent. He had tossed and turned continuously until he finally managed to fall asleep. Unlike his city life, he didn’t have an alarm clock here to wake him up early.

Once he felt well rested, his body woke him up. He had a big smile on his face as he stretched out his arms. For a second he forgot about Jimin, being back in his old room made him feel like he was a child again who was enjoying his vacation. 

As he turned his head towards the window where he could feel the sun rays coming from, his heart stopped as he suddenly saw a masked person coming into his vision. 

Out of reflex, he let out a loud scream. At that moment all he could find to protect himself was the blanket, so he covered his whole body with it. 

“ Why are you screaming in the morning, hyung?” 

Jimin pulled the blanket down to reveal Yoongi's face.

If they were ever to get stuck in a zombie apocalypse, Jimin just knew that Yoongi would be the first one to die. He's really acting like a child who thinks covering yourself with a blanket would make the monsters go away. 

Honestly Jimin found it cute. 

“ You- that-” 

Yoongi calmed down a little when he realized it's Jimin. He stares at the mask on Jimin's face. 

“ It's a face mask, hyung.”

Jimin takes off the mask and gives Yoongi an annoyed look. It's as if Yoongi has never seen such a thing before, like it’s his first time. Jimin wonders just how much time Yoongi spends in his office to not know about such trivial things. 

“ It's hard to maintain such beautiful skin, you know.”

Jimin brought his face closer to Yoongi to show him his glow. 

“ You should use one too, I can see the wrinkles on your face.” 

Jimin points at the fine lines around Yoongi's eyes. 

“ What wrinkles!!!”

Jimin's comment made Yoongi go on a defensive mode and Jimin can tell it wasn't the first time someone said that to him because of his reaction. 

“ When people will see us at our wedding, they'll think I settled for an old man.”

Jimin laughs as he sees the look on Yoongi's face after he said so. He really likes teasing Yoongi and seeing those cute reactions of his, it's so fun for him. 

“ I'm just TWO YEARS older than you.” 

Yoongi exclaims, offended by Jimin's comment.

“ Your face doesn't say so.” 

Jimin mumbled under his breath, not wanting Yoongi to hear it. 

“ I'm done with my morning skincare so, I'll make my way down. I think you should sleep some more, your eyes have dark circles.”  

And with that Jimin hurriedly left the room knowing Yoongi would get even more triggered now. 

“ PARK JIMIN!”

Yoongi screamed as he watched the omega slip away from the room. 

He then hurried to the mirror to check if he really had dark circles under his eyes—and sure enough, he did. But it was Jimin's fault! His scent was the reason he couldn't sleep and got these dark circles in the first place. So how dare he make fun of him! 

-

“ What did Jimin say to you now?” 

Namjoon asks as he and Yoongi sit outside in the yard, basking in the afternoon sun. He has been observing Yoongi's mood since the morning. He kept on glaring at Jimin throughout the breakfast, while the omega would only laugh when he would catch the alpha staring at him. 

Yoongi doesn't really get offended or disturbed by others words but when it's Jimin he takes the words to his heart. Only Jimin can make Yoongi behave like a child.

“ Do I look old?”

Yoongi says and then turns towards Namjoon so he could analyze his face. 

“ What do you mean by old?” 

“ Do I look older than Jimin?”

“ Well you are older than him-”

Namjoon was again cut by Yoongi’s sharp gaze. 

Namjoon wonders why he's always the one on the receiving end of the Min brothers’ deadly gaze. 

“ I wonder how Jimin always manages to get on your nerves.”

He has seen Yoongi show so much patience with Moon, Dae and even some of his insufferable clients. But when it comes to Jimin, Yoongi suddenly becomes impatient. 

“ That's why he's still single, if only he knew when to keep his pretty mouth shut.” 

Yoongi thinks Jimin would be a lot more bearable if he kept his lips sealed.

“ At least he had more boyfriend and girlfriends than you.”

Namjoon mumbled under his breath, knowing if Yoongi heard him say that he'd kill him. 

“ I wonder why he settled for an unromantic person like you.” 

Namjoon often wonders about Jimin's reason behind choosing a person like Yoongi to marry. Money wouldn't be a reason because Jimin's family is rich too, he's beautiful, he can easily get anyone he wants, then why Yoongi? 

“ I think I know!”

Namjoon said suddenly as he thought of an explanation in his mind. 

Yoongi became attentive on hearing that, he'd like to know it too. 

“ He must've had a bad breakup, that's why he's so eager to marry you. He wants to move on from his ex!” 

Yoongi fell silent upon hearing that. Maybe it's true. It does make sense. 

And as Yoongi starts to think more and more about it he becomes sure that this is what really happened. 

“ Dae-ah, can you do Uncle a favor?” 

Yoongi calls for Dar after pondering for a minute. 

Little Dae walks up to his uncle and waits for his order. 

“ Can you bring me uncle Jimin's phone?” 

“ Why?”

“ I need to call my friend and I don't have my phone with me.”

“ You can use dada's.”

Jae pointed towards Namjoon who was laughing at his son's intelligence. 

“ Dae ah, please.”

Yoongi joins his hands in front of Dae and the little boy finally agrees. 

“ And don't tell him that I asked for it.”

Dae gives him a thumbs up before going inside. 

“ Here.” 

Dae hands over the phone to Yoongi and goes back to playing with his sister. 

Yoongi opened the contacts app first, hoping to miraculously find a contact saved as ‘ex boyfriend’. He went to the starred contacts, hoping to find something but instead the only starred contact that he saw was his own. 

“ A band aid and a heart emoji for you, hmm why?”

Namjoon asks. 

Yoongi quickly went back to the contact list and started scrolling through them. There were so many contacts but nothing seemed out of the ordinary for anyone. 

“ Who saves their family's number like that?” 

Yoongi frowns on seeing the contact names as - Park Jihoon, Park Insu, Park Siwoo, he didn't even have his mother's number saved. He only saved Hoseok's number affectionately, while the rest of his family members were saved as if they were his colleagues, not even his friends. 

“ Why are there so many contacts?” 

As he kept scrolling down the contacts kept appearing. 

“ He's very popular, you know.”

Namjoon said from the side as a matter of fact. He thinks Yoongi might have forgotten how extroverted Jimin really is. 

“ Let's see his chats.” 

Yoongi then moved to Kakaotalk but was shocked to see that there were only two chats, him and Hoseok. And even then his chat was pinned. 

“ Oh.”

Namjoon said from behind as he saw that too. 

“ He must've deleted all the others.”

Yoongi tried to reason because there's no way Jimin has so many contacts but he only texts him and Hoseok. 

“ He must've his picture in his gallery.” 

Yoongi opened the gallery to see it full of flower bouquet photos. And as he looked more closely he realized that these were the same bouquets that Jimin had sent to him. 

There were more than 10,000 pictures in the gallery and no folder stood out to him so Yoongi decided to open Jimin's SNS instead rather than wasting time on scroll through these thousand photos. 

But just as he clicked on the icon, the app opened with a lot of notifications popping on the screen. 

“ So many messages.”

There were so many unread messages but Jimin hadn't opened any of them. 

“ Told you he's popular.” 

Namjoon shrugs his shoulders, he's tired of repeating the same thing to Yoongi. 

“ There's nothing here.”

Yoongi finally turns off the phone as he gets annoyed from not finding anything. But then he saw Jimin's lock screen. It was that picture of him that Jimin had put up on his story. 

“ You seem to be taking quite an interest in him.” 

Namjoon whispered but Yoongi heard what he said clearly. He was just going to scold Namjoon when Jin came outside. 

“ Yoongi ah, are you free?” 

Jin came and Yoongi quickly hid Jimin's phone behind his back. 

“ Depends, what do you want me to do?”

“ I need to buy something for Appa's birthday, take me to the market.” 

“ But you have your husband-”

Jin just folded his arms over his chest and Yoongi realized he's in no position to argue with him. 

“ Fine, I'll go get ready.”

With that he got up, he handed over Jimin's phone to Namjoon and went to his room to get ready. 

“ Hyung let's- you're going like this?”

Yoongi asked when he came down and saw Jin sitting in the living room with his phone in his hand. Eunseok sat beside him while looking through his recipe books. 

“ Ah, appa needs my help so Jimin will go on my behalf-”

“ I'm ready.” 

Jimin came from behind just in time. 

“ Nam-”

“ Namjoon took Moon and Dae for a drive.”

Jin answered, knowing what Yoongi was going to ask. 

Yoongi was disappointed to hear that but then he realized his dad had gone to his friend's home and taken one of the cars. And if Namjoon had taken the other, then that meant they didn't have any car available. 

“ Then we can't go.”

Yoongi said with a big smile. Because he couldn't just say no to taking Jimin to the market in front of his appa and hyung, but now he had the perfect excuse. He thanked Namjoon in his head for helping him out. 

“ Yoongi ah, did you forget?” 

Eunseok said with a suppressed smile. 

Yoongi didn't understand why he was laughing so he turned to Jin, but he was laughing too and when he looked at Jimin's face he saw that evil smile again. And he realised that the three omegas had planned something. 

“ Have fun, you two!”

Jin said as he waved them bye. 

“ The things aren't that important, just have fun on your date!” 

Eunseok giggled seeing the two love birds so happy with each other. 

Yoongi didn't want to hear more of them so he hurriedly turned on the engine and drove off. 

He didn't even remember that he had a motorbike, his father had bought it for him as a birthday gift but he couldn't drive it in the city so he brought it here. Now he's regretting bringing it here. 

“ Keep your hands off me.” 

Yoongi scolds Jimin, but Jimin doesn't listen to him. Instead to annoy him more he scoots even closer to him. 

“ What's the fun in riding if you don't have a hot boyfriend behind you ?” 

Jimin ran his hand over Yoongi's chest making the alpha shudder from the touch. 

“ Jimin!” 

Yoongi screamed, finally making Jimin bring his hands down. 

“ Yes, Yoongi!”

Jimin screams back with the same intensity and Yoongi realises that the omega's not going to listen. He's even harder to manage than his nephew and niece. 

-

Jimin looked around the mall with curious eyes, scanning every shop until his gaze finally settled on one that intrigued him. 

“ Hyung, let's go there first. I need to buy appa a gift.”

Jimin tugs on Yoongi's sleeve pulling him towards a jewelry store. He has been thinking about what to give Eunseok for his birthday and finally settled on giving him a dainty accessory to match with his overall look. 

Eunseok has been so kind and warm to him so of course Jimin wants to give him a token of his gratitude. 

“ You can go by yourself.”

He takes Jimin's hand off of him and instead starts searching for a place to sit nearby. 

“ But I don't know what appa likes. Please hyung.” 

Jimin held Yoongi's hand and again looked at him with those eyes. And well…

“ Fine.”

He couldn't resist him. 

So, now Jimin happily wandered from store to store like a happy child and Yoongi followed behind him like an obedient puppy. Jimin bought a gold bracelet for Eunseok after looking at atleast 5 stores. But just when Yoongi thought it was over and they could finally go home, Jimin went into another store. 

He then bought a watch for Doyoon, airpods for Namjoon ( after hearing Jin say how Namjoon lost another pair ), a cologne for Jin and toys for the twins. When Yoongi asked Jimin why he was buying all that, Jimin only replied with a smile.

After that Jimin went to buy some clothes for himself and he sent Yoongi to get him something to eat. Yoongi felt like an errand boy but he didn't say no to Jimin. 

It was already dark outside when Jimin was done with his shopping. Yoongi was tired even though all he did was sit at different stores. He kept on yawning as they made their way to the parking lot. Jimin was him rubbing his watery eyes. 

“ Hyung, can you hold on to them for a second?”

Jimin put the bags in front for Yoongi to take. Yoongi didn't want to but he thought Jimin might be tired so he decided to hold it only for a few seconds. 

“ Where's the key?” 

Yoongi pointed at his right pocket, he was tired so he didn't dare to question why Jimin was asking for it.

“ What are you doing?”  

Yoongi asked as Jimin took the key from his pocket.

Jimin didn't reply and instead just put the helmet on Yoongi's head and then on his. 

He turned on the engine and waited for Yoongi to sit behind him but he didn't.

“ Come on, let's go before it's completely dark.”

Jimin asks Yoongi again but the alpha is in no mood to listen to him. 

“ I'm not sitting behind you.” 

“ It's not my first time driving and I'm actually a really good driver.” 

Jimin hoped Yoongi would sit now but the alpha still stood there like a statue. 

“ You're tired, I can't let you drive like that, what if you hurt yourself ?”

Yoongi hated to admit it but Jimin was right, he didn't get enough sleep last night so he's really sleepy right now. He would be risking both of their lives if he chose to drive. 

With puffed cheeks, Yoongi finally sat behind Jimin. He loved his bike so much that he didn’t let Jin or Namjoon ride it. He just hoped that Jimin wouldn’t get any scratches on it. 

“ Great, we won't reach home till the next morning.”

Yoongi sighed when he saw the traffic ahead. There wasn't even a little space for them to squeeze out of. At this rate he was gonna fall asleep on the bike. 

“ Is there a shortcut ?”

Yoongi begins to think and remember a mountainous road that'd lead them to the house. But he thinks Jimin won't be fit to drive on that road. 

“ Yeah but it's offroad.” 

“ Just lead the way hyung.” 

Yoongi didn't trust Jimin's driving but he also didn't want to waste his time stuck in this traffic so he finally told him the way. 

Yoongi shut his eyes as they started going uphill on the off-road path. He even secretly grabbed Jimin's jacket but just enough so that Jimin wouldn't know or he'd make fun of him again. 

His nervousness faded away as Jimin drove effortlessly on the road. It was a piece of cake for Jimin. He didn't even know when they managed to get back on the road. 

“ Where did you learn to drive like this?”

Yoongi asked, genuinely surprised. 

“ My best friend taught me, he was a motocross racer.”

“ Your best friend?”

This was the first time Yoongi was hearing about his best friend. And Yoongi's attention instantly went to what Namjoon said. Maybe this best friend is the one who broke Jimin's heart. 

“ He taught me how to ride a bike in the dirt tracts.”

Jimin laughed as he remembered the days they both spent in the dirt tracts. 

Hearing Jimin laugh, Yoongi became even more suspicious. 

“ So you're in safe hands, don't worry too much.” 

Jimin said with a smile as he put one of his hands back to grab Yoongi's hand and put it around his waist. 

Yoongi was lost in his train on thoughts so he didn't realize what Jimin had done so his hand was left there on Jimin's waist the whole ride back home. 

By the time they reached back home a new day had already started meaning it was Eunseok's birthday. 

Jimin parked the bike on its spot and then hurried inside to wish Eunseok. 

Yoongi yelled at Jimin to take his bags, but the omega ignored him. So Yoongi had to again carry all those bags inside. 

“ Happy birthday appa!” 

Jimin chimed happily as he went straight to Eunseok and engulfed him in his arms.

“ I was starting to get worried about you.” 

Eunseok said, hugging Jimin back. Although it was 12:30 now he didn't want to cut the cake until Yoongi and Jimin were here too. So all of them had to wait for them to come back. 

“ Happy birthday appa.” 

Yoongi put the bags on the couch and hugged his dad too. 

“ Thank you, my baby.” 

Eunseok smiled, so happy that his whole family was there for his birthday. 

“ Come on, let's cut the cake, Moon and Dae are getting sleepy.” 

Jin said from as he tried to keep the twins still awake. It's well past their bed time and it's hard for them to stay awake for long. 

After the cake cutting, Jimin shyly handed over the gifts that he bought for everyone. He couldn't wait till the morning, as he wouldn't be able to fall asleep without knowing if they liked the gifts or not. 

Gift-giving is his love language. He was afraid that they might not like the gifts that he bought, just like that one time when he bought a tie for his father for his birthday but his mother belittled him by saying how cheap it was. 

Just as Jimin began to worry, Eunseok and Doyoon stood up to hug him. Soon Jin and Namjoon joined the hug followed by Moon and Dae. Everyone was so happy with their gifts and kept on thanking Jimin. Jimin smiled so brightly on hearing that they really liked it. 

Yoongi watched his family and then his eyes found Jimin that smiled like a blooming flower. It made him feel warm.

After that everyone soon retrieved back to their room, except Yoongi and Eunseok who stayed behind to clean a little. 

When Yoongi was about to go to his room too, Eunseok asked him to wait. He then brought a box from his room and handed it to Yoongi.

“ Our family heirloom. Don't waste time, make him yours Yoon.” 

Eunseok patted Yoongi's shoulder before heading to his room. 

Now only Yoongi was left alone in the room, he opened the wooden box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring inside. If Yoongi remembers correctly this is the ring passed down from his appa's side. The one from his abeoji's side is now with Namjoon. 

He closes the box and puts it in his pocket. He needs to figure out what to do with it soon. 

Chapter Text

When Yoongi comes back to his room, he finds Jimin already asleep on the bed. Yoongi stares at the box in his hand and then looks at Jimin.

He knows his appa would try to create a beautiful scene for him to propose to Jimin, but he can't let that happen. If he proposes to Jimin in front of his family, it will become all too real.

He then thinks of something and sits up next to Jimin. Jimin has his hands curled in front of his chest, the moonlight filtering through the window casting a divine glow on his face. For a second, Yoongi is so mesmerized by the view that he forgets what he was going to do.

As his senses return, Yoongi gently pulls Jimin's hand towards him. He stops and waits to see if Jimin will wake up because of the movement, but when he doesn't, Yoongi starts to carefully pry open his curled hand.

Once he's done with the hard task, he takes the ring out of the box. The only thing left to do is put the ring on Jimin's finger and then act nonchalant about it.

"What are you doing, hyung?"

Jimin asks, staring at Yoongi, confused as to why the alpha is holding his hand.

Then he suddenly looks down and sees Yoongi holding a ring in his other hand. It takes him a few seconds to make sense of the situation, but when he does, he quickly jumps up.

"YOU'RE PROP—"

Yoongi quickly puts his hand over Jimin's mouth to shut him up. He knows if his family hears that he was proposing to Jimin (which he's not), they'll all come rushing in and make a big deal out of it.

"Keep your voice down."

Yoongi exclaims, his hand still covering Jimin's mouth. Jimin tries to push Yoongi away, but Yoongi clearly overpowers him.

"If you try to do anything funny, then—"

Jimin finally manages to push Yoongi away, gasping for air. Yoongi had covered his nose and mouth like he was planning to suffocate him.

"Fuck, were you trying to kill me?"

"I wouldn't do that with so many people in the house."

Yoongi mutters under his breath, but because the room is dead silent, Jimin hears it. He raises a brow at Yoongi.

"Give me your hand."

Yoongi just wants to get this over with so he can catch up on his sleep. But for Jimin, the fun has just begun.

"Hyung, where are your manners?"

Jimin says cheekily.

And that's precisely why Yoongi was going to slide the ring on Jimin's finger while he was asleep—without any drama. But Jimin had to ruin his plan by waking up just before he could execute it.

He looks at Jimin, who gives him a smug smile. If it weren't for his appa, he wouldn't be doing this at all. He knows his dad and hyung would continue pestering him until he finally proposes to Jimin. So he decided to just get it over with tonight and then fabricate a lie for his family in the morning.

"Lost in my thoughts?"

Jimin asks with a smile. If only he knew the kind of thoughts Yoongi was having about him…

"Jimin-ah, give me your hand."

Yoongi has to set aside his ego for a moment so he can be done with this.

But Jimin still isn't satisfied. He wants to hear that one word from Yoongi.

"Please."

Yoongi finally says it, knowing Jimin wouldn't comply unless he heard him beg. It was barely a whisper, but Jimin is still happy to hear it.

He instantly puts his hand out.

Yoongi doesn't waste any more time and slides the ring onto Jimin's finger. He fears Jimin might make him do something even more embarrassing. But Jimin is too shocked by this sudden change in Yoongi to ask for anything more. He’s happy just the way things are.

"Now, go to sleep."

With that, Yoongi quickly lays down with his back facing Jimin and covers himself with the blanket to avoid getting teased.

Even though Yoongi just told him to sleep, Jimin can't. He can't stop staring at the beautiful ring. His eyes tear up a little as he admires how pretty it looks on his finger. He places his hand over his chest and hopes that, from this point on, everything in his life will go smoothly.

---

When Yoongi comes downstairs the next morning, he's suddenly welcomed by confetti blowing in his face. In his half-asleep state, the popping sound startles him more than it should.

"What—?"

Yoongi looks at his family with confused eyes. He has forgotten about last night, so he has no idea why they're celebrating.

"Congratulations!"

Eunseok jumps forward and engulfs his son in a tight hug, happy tears rolling down his cheeks. He’s just so damn happy. When Jimin came downstairs this morning and showed him the ring, he nearly jumped out of his skin with excitement. He may even be happier than when Doyoon had proposed to him.

"So happy for you both."

He quickly wipes his tears, knowing Yoongi hates seeing him cry. Doyoon places a comforting hand on Eunseok’s back and rubs it soothingly. He’s happy too, knowing how much Eunseok had wished for this day to come.

"I thought you'd propose to him in front of us."

Jin says from the side. He and Eunseok had already made plans for the proposal, assuming Yoongi wasn't romantic enough. Still, he's happy Yoongi took the initiative himself.

"Maybe he wanted the moment to be intimate."

Namjoon comments, pulling Jin into a side hug as he recalls his own proposal. Since Jin loved extravagant things, Namjoon had booked a hotel and proposed to him on the rooftop with their families present.

Yoongi shakes his head at his family’s reaction. He expected nothing less from them—that's exactly why he did it at night.

His eyes found Jimin, who was looking his way, his lips curled into a big smile as he held his hand close to his chest.

It’s not like Jimin doesn’t have more expensive rings than this, but the memories and intentions behind it matter more. The person who gave it to him matters more.

"Let's go out to eat as a whole family."

Eunseok pulled Jimin into the group hug. He had always been careful to include Jimin in their family so he wouldn't feel left out. He was the kind of parental figure Jimin had longed for in his childhood.

Jimin nodded happily at the suggestion. He would love nothing more than to go out as a family. He felt so happy whenever Eunseok made him feel like he truly belonged.

—

"Hey, hyung."

Jimin hurried outside after receiving a call from Hoseok. He was excited to tell him about the proposal, knowing Hoseok would be just as thrilled to hear about it.

"Jimin-ah, when are you planning to come back?"

Hoseok’s voice sounded a little worried, which made Jimin worry too.

"Maybe in two or three days. Why, hyung?"

"The wedding has been rescheduled to an earlier date."

"What?"

"Yeah, because of some issue on Kihyun’s side."

"There’s so much to do, and I need you here. I hate to ask, but... can you cut your trip short for me?"

Hoseok sounded hesitant, like he'd thought long and hard before finally making the call.

"Yes, hyung. I’ll come home today."

Even though Jimin wanted to spend more time with Yoongi’s family, he knew his hyung needed him. Whenever Jimin needed Hoseok, he was always just one call away. He would do the same for him.

"Thank you, Minie. And I’m sorry again."

"Anything for you, hyung."

Jimin felt sad, but he knew he had to go. If it were anyone else, he wouldn't leave—but this was his dear Hobi hyung.

–

"What’s wrong, Jimin?"

Eunseok asked, noticing the shift in Jimin’s expression as he walked back inside.

"Hobi hyung’s wedding has been moved up to this weekend, so I need to go back home today."

Everyone’s face fell at the news. It was clear they had all been looking forward to spending more time with Jimin.

"It’s okay, we understand."

Eunseok stood up first. Even though he was the most heartbroken, he also knew that Jimin going back was more important. And once Jimin and Yoongi got married, Jimin could stay with them as much as he liked.

"Appa, I have to go back today. They need me at the office."

Yoongi walked in after speaking with his secretary, who had called him on Jin’s phone just as Jimin had gotten Hoseok’s call. They arrived here separately but fate made them go back together. 

---

"I have four sons now."

Eunseok said as he hugged Jimin tightly, reluctant to let go.

"Minie, we’ll miss you!"

Moon and Dae came running toward Jimin.

Jimin crouched down to their level and pulled them into a goodbye hug.

"Just call me from your papa’s phone, and I’ll come to play with you." 

He said fondly, running his hand over their heads.

With that, Jimin and Yoongi finally made their way to the airport.

—

Yoongi expected Jimin to annoy him on the plane as usual, but instead, Jimin sat quietly, staring out the window without speaking much. Yoongi didn’t understand what was wrong with him or why he was acting this way.

If only he knew how much Jimin hated going back to that place.

Jimin felt as if his beautiful dream had ended and it was time to wake up to harsh reality. He wanted this dream to last longer—maybe even forever. He would be happy spending the rest of his life with Yoongi and his family.

—

"How are you getting back?"

Yoongi asked as they got off the flight. He thought he would have to drop Jimin home, but he had an urgent meeting to attend.

"My driver is coming to pick me up."

Yoongi felt relieved—he could go straight to his meeting without any further delay.

But his plans fell apart the moment he saw the swarm of reporters waiting outside the airport.

"How did they get here?"

Yoongi cursed under his breath as the reporters rushed toward them. Great. Now he was definitely going to be late.

"It’s late. Let’s do this another time," 

Yoongi tried to talk with the reporters. But they're heartless. They just need another scoop for their article, it doesn't matter if it causes harm to the other person. 

When they didn’t back off, Yoongi had no choice but to push through the crowd.

Even though his car was right in front of him, he decided to escort Jimin to his car first. He might not like Jimin, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t protect him in a situation like this. He would have done the same for anyone else. Jimin wasn’t special.

Jimin, however, felt differently.

He looked up at Yoongi as the older man wrapped an arm around his shoulders, shielding him from the flashing cameras while guiding him to the car.

At that moment, everyone else disappeared for Jimin. Only Yoongi remained.

His aura shone like he was the main character in a movie. And maybe, in Jimin’s life, he was.

"Get inside." 

Yoongi whispered as he opened the door for him.

Jimin hesitated. He wished his car was a little farther away so Yoongi could hold him like this for just a bit longer.

Once Jimin was safely inside, Yoongi turned to leave, but Jimin quickly stopped him.

"Hyung… for you."

Jimin handed him a bag, and before Yoongi could ask what it was, Jimin shut the door.

As soon as Jimin’s car pulled away, the reporters swarmed Yoongi again, bombarding him with questions about their trip, the engagement rumors, and even the mysterious bag Jimin had given him.

Yoongi wasn’t in the mood to entertain them, so he quickly made his way to his car.

He looked at the bag, tempted to open it—but he decided to do it later. Right now, he needs to get to his meeting on time.

—

As Jimin arrives home, the sight of his brothers’ cars parked outside makes his stomach churn. He lets out a long sigh, already dreading what awaits him inside. The past few days had felt like a dream—one he wasn’t ready to wake up from. But now, reality comes crashing back.

He can’t wait to get married and finally leave this place behind.

"Jimin-ah!"

Hoseok greets him with a warm hug the moment he steps inside. The only person in this house who genuinely cares for him. Jimin had declined Hoseok’s offer to pick him up from the airport, knowing his brother must be busy with the wedding preparations.

"You look happy," 

Hoseok teases, noticing the subtle smile lingering on Jimin’s lips.

"I’ll take your luggage to your room. You should eat something in the meantime."

Hoseok went forward to grab the luggage from Jimin's hand and that's when his eyes fell on the ring on Jimin's finger. He had to do a double take to see if it was real or he was just hallucinating. 

"Is that—YOU’RE ENGAGED?!"

Hoseok was shocked because of the ring. Because he knew the truth behind Jimin's lie, he was very confused about this situation. He didn't think Yoongi would give in so easily. 

His loud exclamation draws the rest of the family from their rooms. They all looked at Jimin's hand and when their eyes landed on the big diamond ring, it's safe to say none of them looked pleased. Especially not Harin. 

"Is that a real diamond?" 

She asks, reaching out, but Jimin instinctively pulls his hand away.

"Of course, Mom. It’s the Mins, after all," 

Siwoo mutters, rolling his eyes.

"Jimin sure did bag himself a rich guy," 

Insu comments, slinging an arm around Jimin’s shoulder. The touch makes Jimin tense, and he quickly steps away.

“ So he finally proposed. You can announce your engagement during the reception.” 

Jihoon spoke, feeling relieved that now the reporters would stop pestering him about Jimin's wedding. And whatever Jimin does from now on would bring harm to the Mins, his reputation will finally soar high up. 

Jimin says nothing. He feels sick to his stomach.

“ Jimin ah, you should go to your room. I'll bring your food there.” 

Hoseok felt the sourness in Jimin's mood and decided to get him away from these people. He was even rethinking his decision of calling Jimin back so early. At least he was happy with the Mins. 

Jimin gives a small nod before heading upstairs. The moment he shuts his bedroom door, he exhales heavily. His phone buzzes with a message from Jin.

It’s a video.

Moon and Dae’s bright faces fill the screen, saying how much they miss him already. A genuine smile tugs at Jimin’s lips. He replays the video over and over until the tightness in his chest loosens. 

"Who are these cuties?"

Hoseok asks, catching a glimpse of the video.

“ They are Jin hyung's children.” 

“ It looks like you bonded really well in a couple of days.” 

Jimin nodded, he really didn't feel like he was meeting them for the first time. The love that he received from Yoongi's family in a matter of a few days made him feel like he has been part of their family for a long time.

“ So tell me how it was?”

Jimin got excited about that and started narrating everything to Hoseok.

Hoseok listens, watching the way Jimin’s face lights up. He feels happy for his brother. But also... sad.

What their family had stolen from Jimin, the Mins had given back to him. He finally had a place where he was loved. Where he belonged.

And Hoseok could only hope he’d get to keep it.

—

Yoongi drags his tired body into his apartment, dropping his luggage on the couch before heading straight to his room. The meeting had run far too long, and exhaustion weighs heavily on him.

The room is dark, but he doesn’t bother turning on the lights. He tosses off his shoes and collapses onto the bed, burying his face into the pillow. As his hand blindly reaches around, he finds his phone which he had left behind deliberately to escape from Jimin, but God had other plans for him. 

A quick glance at the screen shows several missed calls and messages. Most of them are from Jimin.

‘Not home yet?’

The latest message was sent two hours ago.

Yoongi debates ignoring it until morning, but in the end, he types out a short response.

‘Hmm.’

He’s about to put the phone away when the message is marked as read. The typing bubble appears. Then stops.

A second later, Jimin calls.

"Why are you still awake?" 

Yoongi sounded like he was scolding Jimin for not sleeping.

"Can’t sleep. Feels weird."

Jimin stands on his balcony, gazing at the moon. His room doesn’t feel the same anymore. It just makes him think how different his life was last night. The whole room smelled like the ocean all thanks to Yoongi's scent and it really helped him sleep better. That's why he was able to fall asleep quickly. 

"Most people sleep better after coming home," Yoongi remarks.

Jimin hums. 

"My dad said he’s announcing our engagement at Hobi hyung’s wedding reception."

Yoongi becomes silent on hearing that, for a second he forgot what he and Jimin are supposed to be. For a second it just felt like he and Jimin are genuine friends. 

“ The media is already writing the articles so….” 

He knew the media wouldn't remain silent after seeing him and Yoongi coming out of the airport together and some even managed to click a picture of his ring. Now all kinds of speculations and stories are flying about their mysterious trip and proposal. And all of them are way more romantic than what happened in real life. 

Yoongi remains silent, he doesn't know what to say. Jimin understands the dilemma in his silence. 

“ Did you open the gift I gave you?” 

“ Not yet.” 

Yoongi was so drained out after the meeting that he completely forgot about it. 

“ It's late, you should go to sleep. You can open it tomorrow.” 

And with that Jimin hung up the call. 

Yoongi sets his phone down and closes his eyes. But his mind refuses to quiet. He keeps thinking about Jimin’s gift.

With a groan, he hauls himself off the bed and heads to the living room, grabbing the bag. Inside is a large box. He unwraps it carefully, revealing a beautiful three-piece suit in the same shade of blue that he wore when he first met Jimin.

There’s a note placed right next to it. 

‘I’m sorry I lied. Blue suits you well, Mr. Handsome.’

A smile spread on Yoongi's face on reading that, a smile of victory. 

Just then, his phone buzzes.

‘I knew you couldn’t resist opening it. Hope you liked it.’

Yoongi shakes his head, amused. How does Jimin know him so well? Or maybe Jimin just knows exactly which buttons to press to make him do what he wants. 

‘Wear it to Hyung’s wedding.’

‘I’ll be busy with preparations, so you’re gonna miss me so much.’

“ In your dreams.” 

Yoongi said out loud as he laughed at the message. 

‘ Good night, you can imagine me sleeping next to you so you can fall asleep quickly.’

Yoongi scoffed at Jimin’s last message but found himself staring at it for longer than necessary. He could almost hear Jimin’s teasing voice in his head.

With a shake of his head, he placed the phone on his nightstand and looked at the blue suit one last time before getting back in bed.

Chapter Text

Since there were only a few days left until the wedding, Jimin was so busy with the preparations that he didn’t even have time to eat or sleep.

Hoseok didn’t trust anyone else in their family with his special day, so most of the work fell on Jimin’s shoulders. He was also happy to be part of this wedding.

In these few days, he felt like he truly had a place in the Park family, as if he was important too. Seeing his hyung consult only him for the preparations made him feel special.

But his family wasn’t happy seeing Hoseok being so close to Jimin—particularly Harin. She was afraid that Jimin would become a bad influence on Hoseok, turning him just like himself.

On the morning of the wedding, Hoseok had already gone to the banquet hall to get ready, and Jimin was about to head out too, but his mother, Harin, spoke before he could leave the house.

“I expect you to behave at the wedding, Jimin.”

Harin spoke, barely sparing Jimin a glance.

Jimin paused, already knowing where this was going. He didn’t respond, knowing it would only make things worse if he did.

“Do you hear me?”

She pressed, placing her teacup down with a sharp clink.

“You are not to embarrass us in front of the guests. You’ll smile, you’ll act gracious, and you won’t bring any unnecessary attention to yourself.”

Harin had enough experience with Jimin to know what he could do to ruin their family’s image. She thought so lowly of her son that she was sure he’d create a scene even at his own brother’s wedding just to be the center of attention.

Jimin let out a small laugh under his breath, shaking his head.

“You mean I should act invisible?”

Harin gave him a pointed look.

“I mean, you should act properly. You’re already lucky that the Mins have accepted you as their son-in-law. You should be grateful, not walking around acting like you actually belong with them.”

A tense silence filled the room.

“I am simply reminding you of your place.”

Harin scoffed.

Jimin bit the inside of his cheek. His place?

If he had a place in this house, why did it always feel like he was suffocating here?

“I wish I was never born.”

Jimin muttered under his breath and stormed off. 

Jimin writhed in anger as he left the house. The anger was too much for him to handle, and he only knew one way to calm himself down.

So instead of going straight to the wedding venue, Jimin headed to his solace—the bar. The place he was a frequent visitor at. The place he used to spend his lonely evenings. The place that was like a second home to him. But since Yoongi came into his life, his visits to this place had decreased.

Yet here he was again, and on a day as important as his brother’s wedding.

He chugged about half a bottle down while trying to forget about his family. His phone buzzed continuously, but he ignored it. Then, as he reached for another glass, his eyes fell on the ring on his finger.

He gently stroked it with his thumb, and suddenly, flashes of his moments with Yoongi hit him hard. The memories electrified him. Just as the waiter started to pour another glass, Jimin stopped him.

He didn’t care about embarrassing his family, but the thought of the Mins getting bad-mouthed because of him was something he couldn’t bear. So he decided to stop here.

He picked up his phone and called Hoseok back.

“Jimin, where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you for so long! Are you okay?”

Hearing Hoseok’s worried tone made Jimin feel guilty for running away like that. He thought his hyung would be mad at him, but if anything, Hoseok was just worried sick about him.

“Hyung, don’t worry. I’m on my way.”

And with that, Jimin ended the call.

---

Jimin sighed as he stepped inside the banquet hall, still feeling the lingering effects of the alcohol. The noise of people chatting, the soft music playing in the background, and the beautiful decorations made it clear—this was a day of celebration. But Jimin felt nothing but exhaustion.

“Minie.”

Hoseok ran to hug Jimin as soon as he saw him, feeling relieved that Jimin was alright. He had refused to get ready until Jimin arrived. He was about to head out to search for him when he finally got Jimin’s call.

Jimin's family was already gathered there, and everyone gave him nasty looks. His mother, Harin, looked particularly disgusted, knowing he had done the very thing she had warned him not to do.

“You okay? You had me worried.”

Jimin forced a small smile. “I'm fine, hyung. Sorry for making you worry.”

Hoseok sighed but didn't press further. Instead, he pulled Jimin into a tight hug. “I'm glad you're here.”

Jimin felt his heart warm at the words. He might not have the love of his parents, but at least he had his hyung.

“Were you drinking?” Hoseok asked in a hushed tone as he caught the scent of alcohol on Jimin. He grew worried, fearing Jimin was reverting back to his old ways.

“It's no big deal, hyung. Let's get you ready.”

Hoseok wanted to ask more, but he saw the helpless look in Jimin's eyes. The way Harin scoffed, Hoseok knew she was responsible for this. So, he chose not to pressure Jimin and quietly followed him to the dressing room.

—

As the ceremony started, Jimin was forced to sit with his unbearable family at the front table. He didn’t want to ruin his hyung’s day any further, so he decided to just bear with them for a few hours.

He sat there quietly the whole time while his family glared daggers at him and continued to badmouth him. If it weren’t for his hyung, he would have said something that would make them shut up. But he held it in.

The Min family arrived at the wedding a few minutes later and sat at a table far in the back. Usually, Moon and Dae didn’t like attending weddings since they found them boring, but when Jin told them Jimin would be there, they insisted on coming along.

“Papa, when will Minie come?” 

Moon asked, scanning the crowd for Jimin. She had come to meet her Minie, yet she couldn’t spot him anywhere.

“Soon, baby.” 

Jin patted her head.

“Where is Yoonie?” 

It was now Dae’s turn to ask about his uncle.

“I called him again, but he's not picking up.” Namjoon said, feeling Jin’s eyes on him.

“Why is he always late to important events?” Doyoon asked, growing annoyed with his son’s habit of arriving late.

“Guess he inherited that from his abeoji.” Eunseok said, giving Doyoon a side-eye.

“Eun-ah, let the past remain in the past—”

“He's here.” 

Jin interrupted just in time before his parents could start their banter.

They all turned around to see Yoongi enter with confident steps, but what caught them off guard was his blue suit.

“I think I got confused. That’s not Yoongi.” 

Jin muttered, unable to believe his eyes. His brother, who hated wearing blue, would never show up to an important event dressed in an all-blue suit.

“You can't even recognize your own brother now?” 

Yoongi rolled his eyes at his hyung. He knew they were going to make a big deal out of something so small—it was just a blue suit.

“But you hated blue—”

“It was a gift from Jimin.” 

Yoongi cut him off, knowing no one would ask any more questions after that.

Everyone chuckled quietly, thinking about how Jimin had Yoongi wrapped around his finger.

—

“Appa!”

As soon as Jimin got Jin's text that they had arrived, he got up from his seat to find them. He didn’t care about his mother’s demands to sit back down—he just wanted to meet the family that truly loved him.

“Jimin ah!”

Eunseok smiled as he saw Jimin approaching. He opened his arms wide, inviting Jimin in.

“I missed you all so much.”

Jimin giggled as he crashed into Eunseok's embrace. This was what family felt like. It had only been a few days since they last met, yet he missed them so much. Meanwhile, he had spent ten whole years in Canada without missing his own family even once.

“Especially these two cuties.”

Jimin separated from Eunseok and turned to the youngest members of the family, hugging the twins dearly.

“We missed Minie too.”

“They’ve been asking to see you since they got here.” 

Jin added from behind with a fond smile. He adored the pure bond Jimin shared with his children.

“Minie looks very handsome.” 

Dae said, admiring Jimin’s fancy suit.

“Aww, thank you. But not more than you.” 

Jimin smiled, adjusting Dae’s bow tie. The little boy looked like a prince in his tiny tuxedo.

After spending time with his family, Jimin made his way to his dear fiancé.

“You look good, hyung. Blue suits you.” 

Jimin said as he ran his hand over the satin material. Yoongi looked just as majestic as Jimin had envisioned him in this suit.

“Did you miss me too?” 

Jimin asked, reaching up to touch Yoongi’s cheek.

“Are you drunk?” 

Yoongi grabbed Jimin’s wrist before it could go any further, lowering his hand. He whispered so that the nearby guests wouldn’t overhear.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” 

Jimin smiled, but Yoongi kept looking at him suspiciously. Jimin misinterpreted it as the same look his mother always gave him—one of disappointment.

“Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you.” 

Jimin pressed a tight smile.

Yoongi was still worried but said nothing.

Jimin wanted to sit with them, but when he saw his father calling for him, he knew he had to return to their table—even if his heart remained with the Min family.

---

Once the official ceremony was over and Jihoon took the stage to give his speech, Jimin quietly snuck away from his table to sit with the Mins again.

He started telling them about all the hardships he had faced while preparing for the wedding, and the Mins listened attentively. For the first time, Jimin truly felt heard.

Yoongi, noticing how Jimin’s words were getting slightly slurred, went to get him a lemonade.

“Here, you must be thirsty.”

Yoongi placed the drink in front of Jimin.

Eunseok and Jin exchanged a knowing glance. Seeing Yoongi’s small act of service, they were now certain—Jimin had Yoongi wrapped around his finger.

Jimin looked at the drink, feeling unexpectedly emotional.

“Thank you, hyung.” 

He smiled warmly at Yoongi.

Just then, Jihoon’s voice echoed through the hall.

“Now, I would like to call my dear son, Jimin, along with his boyfriend, on stage.”

As Jihoon called for them, the audience turned toward them, putting both of them in the spotlight. The arena buzzed with applause.

Yoongi didn’t say anything, just held out his hand for Jimin to take.

“On this day, I’d also like to announce the engagement of my dear son, Jimin, and Min Yoongi.”

Jihoon welcomed them to the stage.

The room erupted into cheers. Camera flashes went crazy as reporters tried to capture the couple’s first official announcement.

“When can we expect the wedding?” 

One of the reporters asked.

“How about next week?” 

Another added.

"It's been fifteen years. How much more time are you going to take?"

Harin scoffed.

"Or maybe you're not ready to commit to Jimin."

The way Harin said it was particularly venomous, as if she deliberately wanted the relationship to fail. Even though she wanted Jimin gone from her family, she couldn't accept the fact that he managed to get someone like Yoongi. She wanted him to end up with a poor person so he could learn humility.

Jimin was about to respond when Yoongi squeezed his hand, prompting him to swallow his words.

"That's not it."

"I've planned a vacation for me and Jimin. After that, we'll plan the wedding."

Jimin looked at Yoongi, shocked. Vacation?

"I've always been so busy, so I want to dedicate time to Jimin."

"It’ll be a relaxing time for both of us."

Yoongi looked at Jimin and smiled. And for a second, Jimin forgot that this was all a lie. It felt so real, like he and Yoongi had truly been in a relationship for fifteen years.

As soon as Yoongi casually announced their vacation, the entire room fell into stunned silence. The Min family looked pleasantly surprised, while Jimin’s family? Not so much.

Harin’s eyes widened in shock before narrowing in suspicion. As soon as they both stepped off the stage, she knew she had to talk to Jimin privately.

"I need to borrow him for a moment." 

Harin said with a smile to Yoongi as she pulled Jimin away, dragging him all the way to the dressing room. Jihoon, sensing what was about to happen, quietly followed behind them.

"What? A vacation? And you're just deciding this on your own?"

Harin's voice was laced with disapproval.

Jimin, instead of shrinking back, leaned forward with a sharp smile.

"I don't feel the need to tell you every little detail of my life, Mother."

Harin scoffed.

"This is highly inappropriate, Jimin. You have responsibilities here. You can't just run off like a child."

Jimin’s eyes flashed.

"You mean the responsibilities I’ve already taken care of? The wedding is planned, everything is set, and Hoseok hyung is happy. My job here is done."

Harin’s expression tightened.

"You don’t get to make that decision."

Jimin tilted his head, feigning innocence.

"Oh? But when have I ever been allowed to make decisions for myself? I figured I’d finally start."

He was sent to Canada without his permission. He was ordered to return without his permission. So when would he get to make his own decisions, if not now?

"Jimin, your mother is just concerned.”

Jihoon spoke up, sensing that Jimin was going too far.

"Concerned?" Jimin let out a sharp laugh.

"Concerned about what, exactly? That I might finally enjoy myself? That I might actually matter to someone?"

He looked his mother dead in the eye.

The tension in the room was suffocating. Harin’s lips pressed into a thin line.

"You should be grateful that the Min family even accepted you.” She snapped, her last attempt at regaining control.

Jimin’s smile didn’t waver.

"Grateful? For what? Being treated like a burden my whole life? If you’re expecting me to be thankful for the bare minimum, you’re going to be waiting forever."

"I'm going, and you people have no say in it."

Harin’s nostrils flared, but before she could explode, Jimin walked right past her.

"And don’t worry, Mother," he added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I promise not to embarrass the family while I’m away."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

"Jimin-ah, are you okay?"

Hoseok asked as he saw Jimin coming out of the room.

"Don't worry, hyung. I can handle her."

He had been handling his mother for years, yet her words always stung like venom.

"You should be with Kihyun hyung. I need to be with my family too."

Jimin smiled as he referred to the Mins as his family.

"I'm happy to see you happy."

Hoseok gently caressed Jimin's cheek. He was getting emotional, seeing his brother finally get what he deserved—a loving family.

"What was that about?"

Jimin asked, taking a seat next to Yoongi at the table. Yoongi was sitting alone now, while the other members were with the newly married couple, congratulating them.

"Hmm? The vacation?"

Yoongi looked over at Jimin to find him staring at him suspiciously, as if he was doubting his intentions.

"It's true. We're going on a vacation tomorrow."

"So suddenly?"

Jimin still felt like there had to be a catch. Why else would Yoongi take him on a vacation? Didn’t he hate him?

Yoongi sighed, seeing the tense expression on Jimin’s face. He could practically read his thoughts.

"Since we're getting married, I thought we should get to know each other better. After all, we have to spend our lives together."

In the end, he had to tell Jimin his real intentions to stop him from overthinking.

Jimin just looked up at Yoongi, his mouth agape. Getting married? Did Yoongi really say that? He was starting to feel like the alcohol was finally getting to him. He must have been hearing things.

"I want to know your likes, dislikes, your friends, your family, your happiest moments, your saddest moments. Would you share them with me?"

Jimin stared at Yoongi, his heart pounding. The way Yoongi said it so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world, made Jimin’s chest tighten. The look in his eyes made Jimin believe that Yoongi was telling the truth.

No one had ever asked him what he wanted before—what he liked, what made him happy.

"You… you want to know all that?"

Jimin’s voice came out softer than he intended.

Yoongi nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Jimin took a shaky breath, looking away for a second. Then, he let out a small, breathy laugh.

"Okay," he whispered.

The room was still buzzing from the engagement announcement, but at that moment, it felt like it was just the two of them. The cheers, the questions, even the judgmental eyes of his family—it all faded.

For once, Jimin wasn’t just enduring.

He was living.

And for the first time in his life, he truly felt like he belonged. Maybe this was the start of the life he had always envisioned—a life where he was genuinely loved and cared for.

Chapter Text

Jimin couldn't sleep the whole night. How was he supposed to after Yoongi suddenly announced a vacation out of nowhere?

Just as sleep would finally start creeping in, Yoongi’s soft voice would echo in his mind:

"I want to know your likes, your dislikes, your friends, your family, your happiest moments, your saddest moments. Would you share them with me?"

And just like that, all traces of sleep would vanish, replaced by the warmth spreading across his face, turning his cheeks a pretty shade of pink.

He tossed and turned, willing himself to stop thinking about the alpha, but his mind refused to listen. The unexpected trip, the way Yoongi looked at him, the way he spoke to him—it was all too much.

Eventually, exhaustion won, and he managed to doze off for a couple of hours before being startled awake by knocks on his door.

"Go away," Jimin mumbled groggily, burying his face in his pillow. But the knocking continued.

"Master Jimin..." the servant called again.

Jimin groaned, ignoring them. He pulled his blanket over his head, determined to get a few more minutes of sleep.

"Master Yoongi is here."

Jimin bolted upright. Yoongi? Here?

Without thinking, he rushed to the door and swung it open, breathless. The servant stood there, bowing slightly.

"Yoongi's here? Why?”

The servant didn’t answer, simply gesturing toward the living room where Yoongi sat with Jimin’s parents.

Jimin's heart pounded as he hurried downstairs. Just the thought of Yoongi being alone with his parents sent a wave of unease through him. As soon as he entered the room, three pairs of eyes turned to him—his father, his mother, and Yoongi.

Yoongi sat with his usual composed elegance, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants, exuding effortless charm.

"W-what are you doing here?" Jimin asked, struggling to tear his eyes away from the alpha.

“Jimin ah, you should have at least looked yourself in the mirror before coming here.” 

Harin said with a smile on her face, but only Jimin could sense the bite in her words.

“Yeah, you should look presentable for your alpha.” 

Jihoon joined in from the side. 

Jimin stiffened. His gaze flickered to a nearby mirror, and he grimaced. His hair was an absolute mess from all his tossing and turning, sticking up awkwardly in different directions. His oversized shirt had ridden up, exposing the curve of his waist, and faint tear stains clung to his cheeks from yawning too much.

"Your alpha will lose interest in you if you look like that," Harin added with another laugh.

Before Jimin could snap back with a biting reply, Yoongi spoke first.

“Don't worry.” 

Yoongi said with a smile as he walked closer to Jimin. He extended his hand forward, wondering if he should touch Jimin or not. But then he saw Jimin's parents looking their way and he knew they'd get suspicious so he put his arm around Jimin's waist pulling him closer.

"I think he looks cute like this."

Jimin blinked, his brain short-circuiting as when Yoongi’s arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him in.

Jimin’s heart slammed against his ribs. Was this a dream?

"You should get ready," Yoongi said casually, as if he wasn’t holding Jimin so close. "We have a flight to catch."

Jimin blinked in confusion before realization hit him—oh, right, the vacation.

"Uh—I'll be back!" he blurted, breaking free and dashing up the stairs.

Locking the door behind him, he placed a hand on the spot where Yoongi had touched him. His skin still burned from the contact.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered before slapping his cheeks in an attempt to snap out of it.

After a quick shower, he hastily packed a few clothes into his bag, and rushed back downstairs. He figured he’d just shop for anything else he needed once they arrived.

When he returned downstairs, Yoongi was still seated, now finishing his tea.

"Let’s go, hyung." Jimin urged, standing by the door.

"Let me have breakfast first."

"Join us," Jihoon suggested, but Jimin wasn’t about to pretend they were some happy, picture-perfect family.

"We should go. Thank you for the meal," Yoongi had to get up after feeling Jimin's eyes on his back.

"You’re our son-in-law now," Jihoon said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. 

"No need to thank us."

Jimin huffed under his breath all the way to the car, climbing in first. He doesn't like seeing Yoongi interacting with that vile family of his. 

“Why the puffy cheeks?”

Yoongi asked as he sat next to Jimin on the back seat. 

Jimin was a bit surprised by that as he thought Yoongi would sit in the passenger seat. 

Jimin shot him a glare. "You don’t have to act so friendly with my family."

"But they’re my in-laws now," Yoongi replied easily. "And you do the same with my family."

Jimin scoffed. How dare Yoongi compare heaven and hell?

"Your family is different." He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t want to. 

Yoongi didn’t press, simply turning to look out the window.

"Where are we going?" Jimin asked after a moment.

"You’ll see."

"How long are we staying?"

"You’ll see."

Jimin narrowed his eyes and mimicked, "You’ll see, you’ll see."

Yoongi smirked at his annoyance.

The car ride was long, and before Jimin knew it, sleep crept in again. His head lulled to the side, falling onto Yoongi’s shoulder.

Yoongi stiffened before quickly shifting away, causing Jimin’s head to fall.

Jimin’s head jerked forward, waking him up abruptly. He blinked around in confusion.

"We’re here." Yoongi announced.

Jimin sat up, fixing his hair and adjusting his clothes before stepping out—only to be greeted by flashing cameras, as he expected.

Reporters were waiting, eager to capture the ‘most talked-about couple’ embarking on a romantic getaway.

The media had been buzzing ever since Hoseok’s engagement, where Yoongi’s surprise had gone viral. People were gushing over how romantic he was after fifteen years together. There were even candid shots of Jimin with Yoongi’s family, playing with Dae and Moon, sparking more praise online.

"Pose for the cameras," a reporter called out.

Yoongi, ever the businessman, merely put his hands in his pockets and stood still.

The reporters exchanged unimpressed glances.

Jimin rolled his eyes. "You’re not at a business meeting," he muttered before holding out his hand in a heart shape.

Yoongi blinked at him.

Jimin gestured with his eyes. Complete the heart, dumbass.

Yoongi looked at him, confused at first, but then hesitantly mimicked Jimin’s gesture. His fingers weren’t quite aligned, making the heart look a little deformed.

Jimin snorted. "Try again."

Yoongi sighed but adjusted, finally completing the heart.

"Where are you going?" another reporter asked.

"You’ll see on Jimin’s Instagram," Yoongi replied.

Jimin gave him a sharp side-eye. Was Yoongi implying that he posted too much?

Finally, as they stepped inside, Yoongi handed Jimin the boarding pass.

Jimin looked down. Then froze.

"P-Paris?"

His heart skipped.

"You’re serious?”

Jimin looked up, eyes wide with disbelief. His heart started racing.

Yoongi arched a brow. 

"Why? Where did you think we were going?"

Jimin looked away, mumbling, "A business convention." 

It's not his fault, it's Yoongi's. How can he expect something romantic from a person like him? 

Yoongi let out a scoff. "I can be romantic, you know."

Jimin blinked at him. Was this actually happening?

As soon as they took their seats on the plane, Jimin put on his eye mask and earphones, determined to catch up on sleep.

His head lulled to the side again, landing on Yoongi’s shoulder.

Yoongi shifted away—but Jimin’s head kept falling back onto him.

After the third time, Yoongi sighed in defeat, letting Jimin rest against him.

Somewhere in the distance, the flight attendant smiled as she discreetly took a picture.

—

As they finally reached their hotel, Jimin felt more energetic. He isn't someone who falls asleep easily on the plane, but for some reason he had a good sleep. But he couldn't quite figure out why Yoongi kept massaging his shoulder. 

"The room under Yoongi Min," 

Yoongi waited for the receptionist to go through, he had already made a reservation. Jimin is quite shocked at how prepared Yoongi is. 

"Here’s your key card, Sir." the receptionist said with a polite smile.

Yoongi turned to leave, but Jimin stayed put.

“Room under Jimin Park.” 

Yoongi stood there watching Jimin with an amused smile.

“There's no such reservation, sir.”

The receptionist looked through their records only to find no such reservation. 

Yoongi cleared his throat to gain Jimin's attention and then pointed at the key card in his hand. 

“Our room.”

Jimin was shocked on hearing that. 

“We're sharing a room?”

“Why are you acting like it's the first time?” 

Jimin wanted to say something, but then shut his mouth. It wasn't the first time but this time Yoongi deliberately chose to be in the same room as him. 

He didn't say anything and just followed Yoongi to their hotel room. 

As expected, the room was spacious and luxurious, something that's not a big fascination for either of them.

It was modern and elegant, with a king-sized bed positioned perfectly to face the breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower. A cozy seating area with plush chairs and a sleek desk sat by the large windows, while the bathroom boasted a spacious shower and a luxurious jacuzzi. The private balcony overlooked the city, offering the perfect spot to relax.

Jimin dropped his luggage and threw himself onto the bed without a second thought.

“Mmm, it's soft.”

He mumbled into the mattress, shifting slightly to test its comfort. He was quite a picky sleeper, after all.

Yoongi sighed as he watched Jimin squirm like a child, rolling onto his stomach and burying his face into the pillows. He picked up Jimin's luggage and set it neatly on the table.

“You should wash up first. Don't just fall onto the bed like that,” Yoongi chided, trying not to sound too irritated. It was just in his nature—he hated messes.

Jimin wiggled again, this time with a teasing grin.

“You’re so uptight, hyung. Relax for once.”

Yoongi’s eyebrow twitches in annoyance, but he can’t deny that Jimin’s playful side is starting to break through his irritation.

Jimin, catching that hint of amusement, only doubled down. He dramatically rolled across the bed, making exaggerated noises.

“Oops, the bed’s dirty now,” he taunted with a giggle. 

“Guess you can’t sleep on it.”

Yoongi hesitated, watching Jimin with an unreadable expression. He was an uptight man in his 30s, with a reputation to uphold. He wasn’t the type to roll around on hotel beds like a carefree kid.

And yet…

Without another word, Yoongi kicked off his shoes and threw himself onto the bed.

Jimin’s laughter stopped short. His eyes widened as he felt the mattress dip beside him.

Yoongi wasn’t rolling around like him, of course. He just simply laid there with his arms outstretched, eyes closed, as if he was truly allowing himself to enjoy the moment.

Jimin swallowed.

He had never seen Yoongi like this before.

For a moment, he just stared.

Then Yoongi cracked one eye open, catching him.

“I’ll wash up first,” Jimin blurted out, scrambling off the bed and into the bathroom.

The second he shut the door behind him, he exhaled sharply. His heart was still hammering in his chest.

Jimin has never been a shy person, he's always full of confidence, no one yet had made him flustered but seeing the change in Yoongi today made his heart beat faster. 

“Fuck,” he muttered, catching his reflection in the mirror. His face was bright red.

Even after taking a cold shower, the warmth on his cheeks refused to fade. He sighed, tying the robe around himself before stepping out.

Yoongi was by the cupboard, neatly arranging their belongings.

“Here,” he said without looking up. “I organized everything for now. You can change it if you don’t like it.”

Jimin blinked, Yoongi had arranged his stuff too.

Yoongi straightened. 

“I’ll take a shower now.” And with that, he disappeared into the bathroom.

Left alone, Jimin pulled out his phone and snapped a quick selfie to send to Hoseok. He knew the reply would come late as Hoseok is currently at his in-laws, busy with some post wedding traditions. 

After a pause, he scrolled through his contacts and clicked on another name.

The call barely rang twice before it was answered.

“Jimin-ah~” 

The older omega greeted warmly. He's wearing his glasses, making Jimin think he must be reading something. 

Jimin smiled. “Hey, appa.”

“How’s Paris?”

“It’s good. The hotel room has an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower.”

Jimin stood up to share the view with Eunseok. 

“Hmm,Yoongi really picked a good one.”

Jimin nodded. He had to admit, Yoongi had put a lot of thought into this trip.

“You know,” Eunseok continued, voice softer, “it’s good to see Yoongi like this. He’s always so closed off, I’m glad you’re taking care of him.”

Jimin felt something warm settle in his chest. “I’m just keeping him from turning into a grumpy old man.” Jimin said with a chuckle, making Eunseok laugh too.

Eunseok laughed heartily at that. “Good. He needs that.”

Their conversation flowed easily, like it always did. Jimin couldn’t quite explain it, but talking to Eunseok was different from talking to anyone else. 

Unbeknownst to him, Yoongi had finished his shower and was now standing by the door, silently listening. He leaned against the frame, towel draped around his neck as he dried his damp hair. He made no move to interrupt.

“He’s actually been pretty nice lately,” Jimin admitted, keeping his tone light.

“He's….not as bad as he pretends to be.”

Eunseok hummed, pleased. “I always knew he just needed the right person to bring out the better side of him.”

There was a brief pause before he added with a smile, “And I’m glad it’s you, Jimin.”

Jimin froze.

His chest tightened at the sincerity in Eunseok’s voice.

Before he could respond, Doyoon called for Eunseok in the background.

“Your abeoji made my favorite meal today,” Eunseok gushed, clearly delighted.

Jimin giggled at their cuteness, Doyoon and Eunseok are really couple goals. 

“We both have our alphas wrapped around our fingers, huh?”

Eunseok said with a teasing grin before hanging up. 

As soon as the call ended, Jimin turned—and nearly swallowed his tongue.

Yoongi was sitting on the bed, casually drying his hair. Water droplets trickled down his sharp jawline, disappearing into the loose black t-shirt he was wearing. His linen pants hung low on his hips, looking effortlessly comfortable.

“What did appa say?” Yoongi asked, not looking up.

“Nothing much,” Jimin lied. No way was he telling him what Eunseok had said. 

Yoongi glanced at him, as if debating whether to push for more, but let it go. 

“Did you call your family?”

“I texted Hobi hyung.” 

Yoongi nodded, seemingly about to say something else when there was a knock on the door.

Their food had arrived.

Jimin sat at the table as Yoongi set out the dishes.

“I ordered for you,” Yoongi said, sliding a plate toward him. “Hope you like it.”

Jimin raised a brow. “You’re picking my food now?”

Yoongi smirked. “You don’t seem to mind.”

After the meal, the server brought in two bottles of whiskey.

Jimin blinked. “We’re drinking?”

“I figured you wouldn’t be able to sleep easily,” Yoongi said, pouring them each a glass.

Jimin eyed his drink but didn’t pick it up. Instead, a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes.

“There’s no fun in drinking like this.”

Yoongi arched a brow, skeptical. 

Jimin leaned forward. “Let’s play a game.”

Yoongi sighed. “Of course.”

Jimin grinned. “We take turns asking each other questions. If you don’t answer, you take a shot.”

Yoongi huffed a small laugh, crossing his arms. “That sounds like an excuse to get me drunk.”

Jimin shrugged, feigning innocence. 

“Maybe. Or maybe I just want to get to know you better.”

Yoongi eyed him for a long moment before exhaling. “Fine.”

Jimin smirked, pouring them both a shot and sliding one glass over to Yoongi.

“We’ll see who breaks first.”

Yoongi chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re going to regret this.”

Jimin just raised his glass.

“Try me.”

Chapter Text

Jimin swirls the drink in his glass, as he leans back against the couch. Yoongi gestures him to go first. 

There’s so much Jimin wants to ask—so much he wants to know. Yoongi has always been a closed book, his guarded nature a stark contrast to the spotlight he lives under. Even the media, relentless as they are, know little about his personal life.

He flicks his gaze to Yoongi.

“Tell me about your past relationships. Any exes I should be worried about?” 

Jimin knows Yoongi never dated anyone in high school. Of course, he kept a close eye on his favorite hyung who was so keen on ignoring his whole existence. But he wants to know about the whole decade when he wasn't here.

Yoongi raises a brow, clearly unimpressed. “That’s your question?”

Jimin shrugs. 

“Seems fair. We’re about to get married, after all.” 

“I had a girlfriend in college.” 

Yoongi says in a casual tone. There's not much to his dating life, meaning he doesn't have anything to hide from Jimin. 

“It wasn’t serious. We dated for a while, then broke up when she moved abroad.”

Jimin hums, tilting his head. “That’s it?”

He expected to hear a more thrilling story, something about a first love that broke his heart so bad that he wasn't able to love anyone else after that, explaining why he's always been so closed off.

“Yeah, after that I had to take on business so I didn't have the time for love.” 

“What about the blind dates?”

Yoongi chuckled, feeling like he was being interrogated. 

“Appa and abeoji forced me to.” 

He was emotionally blackmailed to go there, otherwise he had no interest in those blind dates. 

“Your turn.” Yoongi swirls his drink, eyes sharp with curiosity. “How many relationships have you had?”

He already has an idea. The tabloids were relentless—Jimin was always seen with someone new, a different name linked to him every few weeks.

Jimin pauses, tapping his finger against his glass. 

“....I don't keep a count.” 

Yoongi scoffs, leaning forward. “Oh, so there were that many?”

Jimin smirks, swirling his drink again. He lets the question hang for a while, knowing it’ll get under Yoongi’s skin.

“Hmm, but nothing that lasted long.” He tilts his head. “I guess I was never someone’s priority.”

Yoongi leans back, watching him. “Did you love any of them?”

Jimin exhales, shaking his head. “I just wanted to be loved.”

A quiet moment settles between them, the weight of Jimin’s words lingering. Yoongi doesn’t respond right away, but something in his gaze softens.

“It was all casual, I never found someone good to tie myself down.” 

But then he looked at Yoongi, and something in his chest tightened.

Jimin clears his throat, a sheepish smile on his face as he thinks about the next question.

“What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?”

Yoongi scoffs, shaking his head. “Not falling for that.”

Jimin laughs as he watches Yoongi down it in one go. It makes him more curious as to what Yoongi really hides beneath his guarded personality. 

Jimin smirks, tapping his fingers against the table. 

“Now I really want to know. Whatever it is, it must be bad.”

Yoongi sets his glass down and gives him a flat look. “Drop it, Jimin.”

Jimin leans in, resting his chin on his palm, eyes gleaming with curiosity. 

“Come on, hyung, I want to know.”

Yoongi sighs, rolling his eyes. “You’re the one who made the rules, not me.”

Jimin grins, swirling his drink. Next time, he’ll make a rule where avoiding the question isn’t an option.

“Fine, I'll let it go—for now.” He tilts his head. “But my turn again. What’s your biggest fear?”

Yoongi stares at him for a moment, then exhales. This time, he doesn't reach for the bottle.

“Failing,” he says simply.

Jimin blinks, caught off guard by the seriousness in his voice. 

“Failing at what?”

Yoongi looks down at his glass, twirling it between his fingers. “At everything. At being the person my family expects me to be. At running the business. At—” He stops himself, shaking his head. “Just failing in general.”

Jimin watches him closely. This is the most honest Yoongi has been all night. No teasing, no smugness—just raw truth.

“You know,” Jimin says after a beat, “it's okay to fail sometimes.”

He says it like he believes it, but deep down, he knows better. Knows what it’s like to be called a failure—to be reminded of it at every turn by your own family.

Yoongi scoffs. “Not in my world.”

Jimin studies him for a moment before reaching for the bottle. 

“Alright, let’s lighten the mood. My turn.” He pours himself a shot and downs it without hesitation.

Yoongi frowns. “I didn't even ask a question yet.”

Jimin licks his lips, setting the glass down. 

“I just wanted to drink.” He flashes a cheeky grin. “Also, I already know your next question is gonna be annoying.”

Yoongi shakes his head with a small chuckle. “You're ridiculous.”

Jimin stretches his legs, his socked foot nudging against Yoongi’s bare one. 

“What do you really think of me?”

Jimin freezes for a split second, but he quickly masks it with a chuckle. 

“Oh, that’s easy,” he says, leaning back. “You’re annoying, grumpy, and think you're cooler than you actually are.”

Yoongi snorts. “That’s a lot of words just to say you think I’m cool.”

Jimin glares. “That’s not—”

Jimin rolls his eyes seeing that cocky grin on Yoongi's face. 

“Okay, next question.” Jimin smirks, eyes glinting with mischief. 

“Have you ever had a crush on someone you weren’t supposed to?”

Yoongi, who was in the middle of pouring himself another drink, stills for a fraction of a second before continuing. 

“Define ‘not supposed to’.”

Jimin grins. 

“Oh, you know. A friend’s sibling. A teacher. A business rival’s kid—”

Yoongi gives him an unimpressed look.

“You’ve been watching too many dramas.”

Jimin shrugs. “Maybe. But you still haven’t answered.”

Yoongi takes a slow sip from his glass, eyeing Jimin over the rim.

“Okay, my turn,” Yoongi says, setting his glass down.

“Why are you so distant from your family?” Even though Yoongi never said it out loud before, he had often observed the distance between Jimin and his family. He even thinks that Jimin prefers his family over his own. 

Jimin doesn’t hesitate. His fingers tighten around his glass, and instead of answering, he knocks back the rest of his drink. The burn isn't enough to erase the question, so he pours himself another, as if he can drown it out completely.

Yoongi watches him, reading between the lines. He knows when to push and when to back off, and Jimin’s silence says enough. Some doors aren't meant to be forced open.

“What do you think of me?” Jimin repeats Yoongi's question, tilting his head slightly.

“Hey, you can't just repeat a question!” Yoongi retorts, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“I never said that,” Jimin counters, watching him closely. He waits, anticipation humming beneath his skin, but instead of answering, Yoongi pours himself another shot.

Jimin tries not to let the disappointment show, but it's there—a quiet ache settling in his chest. He had wanted to hear it, wanted to know what Yoongi truly thought of him. But Yoongi leaves Jimin with nothing but the burn of unanswered curiosity.

“Why do you want to get married to me?” Yoongi asks, his tone light but his gaze unreadable.

Jimin shrugs. “You're handsome and rich. Told you already.”

Yoongi huffs a quiet laugh, but there's something in his eyes—like he's waiting for a different answer.

Jimin shifts, resting his arm on the couch. 

“Why did you really bring me here?”

“Because I wanted to.”

Jimin waits for more, but Yoongi just picks up his glass and takes a slow sip.

“That’s it?” Jimin presses.

Yoongi sets his glass down and tilts his head. “That’s it.”

Jimin narrows his eyes but doesn’t push further. He doesn’t know what he expected, but something about Yoongi’s answer makes his heart race a little faster.

“Who's the guy who taught you to ride a bike?” Yoongi has been curious about this friend of Jimin that taught him to ride a bike. 

At that, Jimin's eyes light up.

“You mean Minhyun?” Jimin’s voice softens with nostalgia, a fond smile tugs at his lips. 

“He was my best friend throughout the ten years I spent in Canada. My rock in that foreign country.”

Yoongi listens quietly as Jimin continues. 

“We shared so many hilarious memories together,” Jimin says, closing his eyes for a brief moment, as if reliving them. 

“He supported me through all my craziness. We'd get wasted even in the afternoon and dance through the streets like idiots.” A quiet chuckle escapes him.

Yoongi watches, waiting, but then the warmth in Jimin's expression dims.

“So where is he now?” Yoongi asks.

Jimin's smile falters. “He moved away a few weeks before I came back to Korea. I tried reaching out, but… he didn’t respond.”

Jimin bites his lower lip, as if stopping himself from saying more, and Yoongi doesn't miss the way his fingers tighten around his glass.

Yoongi doesn’t pry, but he catches the unspoken weight behind Jimin's words.

“Seems like you really miss him.”

Jimin nods but doesn’t dwell on it. Instead, he meets Yoongi’s gaze with quiet determination. “My turn…” He leans forward slightly. 

“Why did you reject me in high school?”

Yoongi freezes for a fraction of a second—so brief that if Jimin hadn't been watching closely, he might have missed it. Then, without a word, Yoongi picks up his glass and takes another drink.

Jimin pouts, disappointment flickering in his eyes. 

“Come on, that’s not fair. You can’t just drink your way out of my questions.”

Yoongi sets his glass down with a smirk, but there’s something unreadable in his expression. 

“Guess you'll have to keep wondering.”

Yoongi hums, thinking for a moment. Then, with a teasing smirk, he asks, “Have you ever been in love?”

Jimin's breath catches.

His grip tightens around the glass, mind racing.

Has he?

The answer should be simple—no.

But for some reason, the word lodges in his throat, refusing to come out. His eyes flicker to Yoongi, searching, hesitating. For a split second, he considers answering.

Then, instead, he reaches for the bottle and pours himself another shot.

Not because he doesn’t want to answer. But because he doesn’t know the answer himself.

It should be no. It should be easy to say.

So why can’t he?

“My turn,” he says, tapping his fingers against the glass. He leans in slightly, a teasing glint in his eyes. The alcohol has started to get him now.

“Have you ever thought about kissing me?”

Yoongi stills. His fingers tighten slightly around his glass.

Jimin watches him, waiting.

And then, without a word, Yoongi reaches for the bottle and pours himself a shot.

Jimin’s breath hitches. His teasing smile falters just a little.

Yoongi holds his gaze as he knocks the drink back, the corner of his lips twitching.

“Interesting,”Jimin murmurs, echoing Yoongi’s earlier words. His heart beats just a little faster.

Maybe this game was more dangerous than he thought.

The bottle of alcohol is nearly empty now, and the night has settled into a comfortable lull. Jimin rests his head against the couch, eyes fluttering as the warmth of the drinks seeps into his skin.

Yoongi watches him quietly, expression unreadable. “You getting sleepy?”

Jimin hums, peeking at Yoongi through heavy lids. “Not yet. Just comfy.”

Yoongi shakes his head. “Lightweight.”

Jimin pouts. “I’m not!”

Yoongi doesn’t argue. Instead, he leans forward, pouring the last bit of liquor into his glass. “One more round?”

Jimin grins, sitting up. “You’re on.”

—

Jimin still hadn’t adjusted to the time zone, so he woke up earlier than Yoongi.

The room was quiet, the early morning light filtering through the curtains. Yoongi lay beside him, his breathing slow and even, his features relaxed in sleep. Jimin found himself staring. He looked so peaceful like this—so different from the composed, guarded version of him Jimin usually saw.

Shaking off the thought, he grabbed his phone, deciding to catch up on messages. He saw one from Hoseok and quickly replied before opening Twitter.

That’s when he saw it—a picture of him and Yoongi on the plane, his head resting against Yoongi’s shoulder.

A smile crept onto Jimin’s lips.

Curious, he scrolled through the comments. Most of them were surprisingly sweet, but one in particular caught his eye.

‘He’s not even good enough for Yoongi.’

Jimin scoffed, his irritation flaring instantly. Not good enough? On what basis?

His gaze flickered to Yoongi, still deep in sleep. An idea struck him.

With a mischievous smirk, he carefully reached out, running his fingers through Yoongi’s soft hair and gently patting it as he snapped a picture.

Yoongi didn’t stir.

Emboldened, Jimin pressed his palm against Yoongi’s cheek, squishing it just enough to make his lips pout. He clicked the picture—

And then suddenly, Yoongi’s eyes fluttered open.

“What are you doing?” Yoongi's voice was deep, husky with sleep.

Jimin nearly dropped his phone. “Uh… just taking some pictures.”

Yoongi blinked slowly, still groggy. “It's not good to take pictures of people when they're sleeping.”

“Okay, I won't. Now go back to sleep.” Jimin waved him off, heart still pounding.

Yoongi hummed, eyes closing again, and as soon as he did, Jimin picked up his phone. He attached the picture of Yoongi’s sleepy, squished face and replied to the commenter—

‘Too bad, I'm still the one lying next to him. Your opinion doesn't matter.’

Jimin’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he hit send.

Yoongi, despite appearing half-asleep, cracked one eye open slightly, peeking at Jimin. “What are you up to?”

Jimin hastily locked his phone, feigning innocence. “Nothing.”

Yoongi hummed again, but the corner of his lips twitched, as if he wasn’t entirely convinced.

–

After breakfast, they get ready and head out. Jimin has no clue where they’re going, but Yoongi walks with the confidence of someone who has lived here for years. The streets of Paris are lively—filled with chatter, the scent of fresh bread and coffee drifting through the air.

Jimin lights up at every little thing, his excitement contagious. He stops to take pictures of storefronts, quaint balconies, and even pigeons fighting over a croissant. Most of those pictures end up on Instagram (as Yoongi had already expected).

When they reach the Eiffel Tower, Jimin doesn’t waste a second—he jumps straight into posing, handing Yoongi his phone.

“Take a lot! Make me look good,” Jimin instructs.

Yoongi shakes his head with a small smirk but takes the pictures anyway, making sure to get the angles right this time. He watches through the lens as Jimin beams, effortlessly photogenic.

Then, Jimin turns the tables. “Your turn.”

Yoongi frowns. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Stand there.”

Jimin doesn’t take no for an answer, dragging Yoongi into position. “I need to send them to appa.”

Yoongi sighs but lets it happen, standing stiffly as Jimin critiques him.

“You look like you're at a business meeting,” Jimin huffs.

“This is a business meeting,”Yoongi deadpans. “You’re the client. I’m the photographer.”

Jimin rolls his eyes before spotting a passerby. With zero hesitation, he marches up and hands over his phone. “Excuse me, can you take a picture of us?”

Yoongi watches the exchange with a mild alarm.

“What if he runs away with your phone?” he asks.

Jimin shrugs, entirely unbothered. “Then you’ll have to buy me another one.”

Yoongi exhales sharply. “Unbelievable.”

Jimin just grins and goes back to posing, pulling Yoongi close.

“Come on, at least pretend you’re enjoying this,” Jimin teases when Yoongi looks too serious in the pictures.

“I am enjoying it,” Yoongi replies flatly. “Just not as loudly as you.”

Jimin throws his head back, laughing, and the stranger snaps the picture at that exact moment—Yoongi watching him with a faint, barely-there smile.

They then visit a café near the Seine, where Jimin excitedly orders a selection of colorful macarons. The moment he takes his first bite, his eyes flutter shut, and he lets out a small, contented hum.

Yoongi raises a brow, amused. “You really love food, huh?”

“Obviously,” Jimin replies without hesitation, popping another macaron into his mouth. “How can you not love this? It’s like eating happiness.”

Yoongi just shakes his head, sipping his coffee as he watches Jimin savor each bite like it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted.

As the day goes on, they visit museums, wander through charming cobblestone streets, and stumble upon hidden bookstores and small boutiques. Jimin gets lost in the details—admiring paintings, running his fingers over old books, getting excited over street musicians.

By evening, they find themselves standing by the Seine again, the city glowing in golden hues. Jimin leans on the railing, staring out at the sparkling lights reflecting on the water.

For the first time in a long time, he feels light. Like he’s not weighed down by expectations or the past. Just here, in this moment, with Yoongi by his side.

He glances at Yoongi, who’s gazing at the river, a calm expression on his face.

“We should grab dinner,” Yoongi says, checking the time.

Jimin claps his hands together. “Okay! I saw a place earlier that looked amazing.”

Yoongi lets Jimin lead the way to a cozy little restaurant tucked into a quiet street. The warm lighting and soft chatter make it feel intimate, and Jimin suddenly realizes how much this feels like… a date.

They order their food, and Jimin watches as Yoongi absently swirls his wine. 

“So,” Jimin starts, resting his chin on his hand. “Tell me something about yourself that I don’t know.”

Yoongi glances up. “That’s vague.”

Jimin shrugs. “It’s an open-ended question. Answer however you want.”

Yoongi thinks for a moment before saying, “I hate mint chocolate.”

Jimin gasps dramatically, clutching his chest in mock horror. “Oh no. I don’t think we can get married anymore.”

Yoongi snorts. “You like that toothpaste-flavored abomination?”

“It’s refined taste,” Jimin insists, crossing his arms. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Yoongi just shakes his head, sipping his wine. “Your turn.”

Jimin twirls a spoon between his fingers. Jimin hums, tapping his fingers against the table. “Hmm… okay. I sleep with the lights on.”

Yoongi raises a brow. “Scared of the dark?”

Jimin pouts. “No. I just like the warmth of a little light. It feels… safe.”

Yoongi studies him for a moment before nodding. “Makes sense.”

Jimin tilts his head. “You don’t think it’s childish?”

Yoongi shrugs. “Not really. Everyone has their thing.” He pauses, then smirks. “Though it’s funny imagining you tucked in like a kid with a nightlight.”

Jimin huffs, kicking Yoongi lightly under the table. “Shut up.”

Yoongi chuckles, but the sound is soft, almost fond.

Their food arrives, and as they eat, their conversation drifts into easy banter, shared stories, and lingering glances.

And Jimin can’t ignore it anymore. The way the candlelight softens Yoongi’s features, the way his eyes hold an unspoken warmth, the way this feels so comfortable, so natural…

And maybe… just maybe, this really does feel like a date.

Chapter Text

As they step out of the restaurant, Jimin stretches his arms above his head, sighing in satisfaction. The day had been perfect—better than he expected. Maybe it wouldn’t have been as enjoyable if it were with anyone other than Yoongi.

He turns around to see Yoongi shining brightly even under the dim lights.

He really is a main character in Jimin's life. 

“That was amazing. I feel like I could sleep for a week,” Jimin murmurs.

Yoongi checks his watch, lips quirking up slightly. “Not yet. The night’s still young.”

Jimin eyes him suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, Yoongi flags down a cab, opening the door for Jimin. “You’ll see.”

Jimin narrows his eyes but slides into the seat.

As the car moves through the streets of Paris, he watches Yoongi’s expression—calm, unreadable, but there’s a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrive in front of a club. The heavy bass vibrates from inside, neon lights flashing against the dark exterior. Jimin’s brows shoot up.

“A club? You, of all people, want to go clubbing?” he asks, incredulous. Clubs are practically Jimin’s second home—he lives and breathes the vibrant energy of the nightlife. But Yoongi? He rarely steps foot in one.

Yoongi smirks, stepping out of the cab. “Come on.”

The bouncer immediately recognizes Yoongi and lets them in without question, which makes Jimin raise an eyebrow in suspicion. As soon as they enter, the pulsing music washes over them, vibrating through Jimin’s chest. But something feels off. The place is completely empty.

Jimin frowns, glancing around. The dim lighting casts a soft glow, neon hues blending into deep blues, making the space feel almost surreal.

“I don’t think this place is any good,” Jimin mutters, side-eyeing Yoongi.

“Which club is empty at this hour? You should’ve done some research.”

Yoongi doesn’t respond. Instead, he steps toward the center of the room.

Then, suddenly, the lights cut out. The music stops.

Jimin’s stomach flips. “Hyung—what—?”

Before he can finish, the lights flash back on, and this time, they aren’t the only ones present there. 

“SURPRISE!”

A chorus of voices erupts around them. Jimin startles, eyes darting to the familiar faces grinning at him.

For a moment, he’s speechless. He scans the room, recognizing each and every one of them—Ava, Emily, Lucas, Ethan, and Sungjae. His closest friends, standing right in front of him, all smiling widely.

Jimin’s mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. His gaze flickers to Yoongi, who stands beside him with his arms crossed, a small smile on his lips.

“You—” Jimin turns back to his friends, eyes wide. “You guys are here? In Paris?!”

“Of course, dummy!” Ava laughs, stepping forward to pull him into a tight hug. 

“It’s been too long. We couldn’t miss a chance to see you.”

Emily grins. “And it’s all thanks to your fiancé.” she says, turning to Yoongi. 

Jimin whirls around to Yoongi, eyes glistening under the neon lights.

“You planned this?”

Yoongi shrugs, feigning nonchalance.

“It’s no big deal.”

But it is a big deal. 

Jimin can feel warmth spreading through his chest, his fingers clenching slightly at his sides. He didn’t know what to expect from this trip, but this? Yoongi planning something so thoughtful, so personal—it shakes something deep inside him.

“Yeah, your fiancé really flew us all here just to make you happy,” Sungjae adds. “You got yourself a good one.”

Jimin's cheeks flush, the heat creeping up as they keep calling Yoongi his fiancé. Even though he’d been chasing after Yoongi for so long, hearing it out loud now makes everything feel so real—more than he ever imagined. His heart races, and for a moment, he just stands there, taking it all in, as a shy smile tugs at his lips.

“Though,” Lucas chimes in, crossing his arms, “I’m a little mad that we didn’t even know you were in a relationship for fifteen years.”

“Uh… it was an on-and-off thing,” Jimin mumbles, scratching the back of his neck. He doesn't want to go into too much detail. The truth feels a little too complicated to explain.

Emily grins mischievously. “Well, there’s one more surprise.”

Jimin’s curiosity piques—until a figure steps out from the shadows.

His heart stutters. 

He freezes for a second, his brain struggling to catch up. Minhyun. Minhyun is here. After all these months of unanswered calls and fading hope, the friend he thought had disappeared from his life stands right in front of him.

“Hyun?” His voice comes out barely above a whisper, as if afraid that saying his name too loudly will make him vanish.

“Jimin hyung!”

Minhyun rushes forward, wrapping Jimin in a tight, crushing hug. 

Jimin stands frozen for a moment before his arms come up, gripping Minhyun just as tightly. His throat tightens, overwhelmed.

“You—where the hell have you been?” he finally manages, voice cracking slightly. 

“I called, I texted—I thought you just… vanished.”

“I know,” Minhyun says, pulling back just enough to look at him. His smile dims, guilt flickering in his eyes. “I’m sorry, hyung. I should’ve reached out sooner.”

Jimin stares at him, taking in every detail—the slightly older features, the same warm eyes, but there’s something else there too. A shadow. A weight Jimin can’t quite place.

A throat clears behind them, and Jimin suddenly remembers they’re not alone.

“Okay, okay, I know this is emotional,” Ava teases, wrapping her arm around Minhyun's shoulder. "But are we gonna cry all night, or are we gonna celebrate?"

Emily grins. "Yeah, Jimin, your fiancé went all out for this. The least you can do is party a little."

Jimin turns to Yoongi, who’s been watching the reunion quietly, his expression unreadable. But there’s something about the way his eyes flicker between Jimin and Minhyun—calculating, observant.

"Yoongi you…" Jimin starts, unsure how to put his emotions into words. "You really did all of this?"

Yoongi shrugs, ever the picture of nonchalance. 

Jimin's throat tightens, a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He doesn’t know what to say, so he simply smiles. “Let’s celebrate,” he says, turning back to his friends. 

Cheers erupt around them, and just like that, the club bursts into life. The music returns, drinks are poured, and laughter fills the space.

The night picks up quickly, the heavy bass thrumming through the club as drinks flow freely. Jimin laughs as Ava drags him onto the dance floor, her hands waving wildly in the air. Emily and Sungjae join them, the group swaying to the music, their laughter mixing with the pulsing beat.

Jimin lets himself get lost in it—the flashing lights, the heat of the crowd, the way his body moves effortlessly with the rhythm. It feels good. Freeing. He hasn't done this in so long, and with his friends here, it’s like slipping back into an old, familiar joy.

Yoongi stays at the bar, watching. He nurses a glass of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid idly as his gaze follows Jimin across the room. He doesn't dance—of course, he doesn't. But when Jimin catches his eye from across the dance floor, there’s an almost amused glint in Yoongi’s gaze, like he’s entertained by the sight of Jimin in his element.

Minhyun, however, does dance. He moves closer to Jimin, the beat guiding his steps, his presence just within Jimin’s space but not too close. 

The alcohol keeps coming, drinks passed between hands, liquid fire warming Jimin from the inside. His head feels light, a pleasant buzz settling into his limbs. When Yoongi finally joins them—still not dancing, but standing near enough to be a part of the moment—Jimin grins at him, tipsy and carefree.

"Are you ever going to dance, hyung?" Jimin teases, nudging him playfully.

Yoongi smirks, taking a slow sip of his drink. "I don’t dance."

"You can’t dance," Jimin corrects with a giggle, swaying a little.

Yoongi rolls his eyes. "I can. I just don’t want to."

Jimin pouts dramatically, but before he can argue further, Minhyun leans in, voice just loud enough over the music.

"He’s always like this, huh?" he says, eyes flickering to Yoongi with something unreadable in his expression.

Jimin tilts his head. "Yeah. He’s—" he pauses, then smiles a little, glancing at Yoongi. "He’s Yoongi."

Yoongi’s gaze sharpens slightly at that, but he doesn’t say anything, just takes another sip of his whiskey.

Minhyun hums, but there’s something lingering in his eyes. Something Jimin still doesn't quite understand.

And then, before the moment stretches too long, Ava grabs Jimin’s hands and twirls him under the neon lights, spinning him back into the energy of the night.

After dancing for what feels like forever, they all collapse onto the lounge area, breathless and laughing. Drinks keep coming, and soon enough, someone—probably Ethan, given his mischievous grin—suggests a game.

“Let’s play dares,” he announces, clapping his hands together. “We’re in Paris! No rules, just fun.”

Jimin raises a brow, already suspicious. “That sounds dangerous.” Then, after a beat, he smirks. “Count me in.”

Back in Canada, games like these were practically a ritual for their group—wild, reckless, and always pushing the limits. The dares were extreme but undeniably thrilling. Jimin can’t even remember how many people he had to hook up with because of them, but one thing’s for sure—he never backed down from a challenge.

The game begins lightheartedly—Lucas has to break dance in the middle of the floor, Minhyun downs a strong shot without flinching, Ava has to post an embarrassing story on her Insta, Emily has to text 'I still love you' to her ex and Ethan gets dared to flirt with the bartender (which he does a little too enthusiastically). But then, the attention shifts to Jimin. 

Emily turns to Jimin. “I dare you to… get on top of the bar and dance. Give us a real show.”

Jimin throws his head back with a laugh. “That’s it? You guys are getting soft,” Jimin winks before strutting toward the bar. With effortless grace, he climbs on top, owning the space like a stage meant just for him.

The bartender doesn’t even blink—probably used to this kind of chaos. As the music shifts to a sultry beat, Jimin lets his body move, hips swaying, chest rolling, every motion smooth and controlled. This isn’t just dancing; it’s a performance. And for Jimin, dance and alcohol have always gone hand in hand.

The room erupts in cheers, whistles echoing through the club as Jimin moves effortlessly to the beat. His friends clap and holler, hyping him up even more. He throws his head back with a laugh, rolling his hips in a way that earns a particularly loud reaction from the crowd.

Yoongi, however, leans against the bar, watching with an unreadable expression. He swirls his drink, eyes never leaving Jimin, but he doesn’t react like the others. Jimin catches that look—calm, assessing, but undeniably focused on him. It sends a thrill up his spine.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough!” Sungjae finally calls out, barely containing his laughter. 

“Before your fiancé falls in love with you all over again, get down from there.”

Jimin grins, giving one last dramatic pose before hopping off the bar. He lands smoothly, breathless but exhilarated.

Lucas claps him on the back. “Still got it, Park.”

Jimin smirks. “Obviously.”

The game continues, drinks flow, and the dares grow bolder.

Then Sungjae, clearly tipsy, turns to Yoongi with a grin that spells trouble. “Yoongi hyung, I dare you to kiss Jimin.”

Jimin stills, his fingers tightening around his glass. The group erupts into teasing laughter, cheering Yoongi on.

"Kiss him!" Ava giggles. "Come on, he's your fiancé.”

Jimin turns to look at Yoongi, trying to read his expression, but as always, Yoongi remains calm. He sets down his drink, leans in slightly, and for a split second, Jimin feels his breath hitch—anticipation curling in his stomach.

Then, instead of his lips, Yoongi presses a soft kiss to Jimin’s forehead.

The cheers turn into groans, complaints of “That doesn’t count!” and “Boring!” filling the air.

But Jimin—Jimin blinks, his face suddenly feeling too warm. His heart stutters for a reason he can’t quite explain.

Yoongi simply leans back, smirking at their reactions. “That’s all you’re getting.”

Jimin swallows. For some reason, the feeling of Yoongi’s lips on his forehead lingers longer than it should.

The group groans, but the game moves on. Jimin stays quiet, replaying the moment over and over. It was just a forehead kiss—innocent, almost dismissive—but why does it feel like something more?

He sneaks a glance at Yoongi, who sits back with his drink, completely unfazed. Jimin tells himself he’s imagining things. It’s the alcohol, the atmosphere, nothing else.

He exhales, trying to steady his racing heart. He should be relieved. It was just a forehead kiss. Nothing more.

So why does it feel like so much more?

As the night stretches into early morning, the group finally stumbles out of the club, the cold Paris air sobering them up slightly. The streets are quiet, the city still wrapped in its dawn haze. Jimin yawns, rubbing his arms as he stands with his friends outside.

“This was the best night ever,” Ava sighs, hugging herself for warmth. “I missed you so much, Jimin.”

Jimin smiles, though there’s a slight heaviness settling in his chest. “I missed you guys too.”

Emily exchanges a glance with the others before sighing dramatically. “Well, we should probably get going.”

Jimin blinks, confused. “Already? Where?”

Lucas scratches the back of his head. “Back to Canada.”

“What?” Jimin’s heart drops. “So soon?”

“We only came for the night,” Ethan says with a sheepish smile. “Your fiancé made sure we had the best time, but we didn’t want to disturb your alone time too much.”

Lucas groans dramatically. “As much as we’d love to crash your alone time with your fiancé, we figured we should give you two some space.”

Sungjae smirks. “Yeah, wouldn’t want to be third-wheeling your honeymoon phase.”

Jimin glances at Yoongi, who is leaning against a lamppost with his hands in his pockets, watching the exchange silently.

“I wish you could stay longer,” Jimin admits, trying to keep his disappointment out of his voice.

Sungjae pats his shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll meet again soon. And hey, at least one of us isn’t leaving.”

Jimin frowns. “What do you mean?”

Minhyun, who has been quiet until now, shifts slightly. “I live here now.”

Jimin turns to him in shock. “You… what?”

Minhyun chuckles. “Yeah. I moved to Paris a while ago. I work here.”

Jimin’s mouth opens slightly, processing the information. Minhyun—has been in Paris all this time? He doesn’t know whether to feel relieved or frustrated that he’s only finding out now.

“You never told me,” Jimin mumbles.

Minhyun offers a small smile, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “Well, I guess now you know.”

Jimin watches his friends disappear down the street, their laughter still echoing in the cool Paris air. Their parting words linger—promises to be there for his wedding, playful teasing, the warmth of their affection wrapping around him like a familiar embrace.

As he watches them disappear down the street, Jimin can’t shake the feeling that this night has changed something. 

Jimin sways slightly as he stands, a wave of dizziness washing over him. His head feels light, the aftermath of the drinks catching up to him.

“Whoa—” Before he can stumble, Minhyun’s hands are on his arms, steadying him. “Easy there, hyung.”

Jimin blinks up at him, lips parting as he tries to focus.

“I should get you ice cream,” Minhyun says, his tone firm, like this is something he’s done many times before.

“Ice cream?” Yoongi questions, raising a brow.

Minhyun nods, not even hesitating. “It helps him get over the hangover.” His voice is sure, coming from years of experience.

Yoongi watches Jimin for a moment before exhaling through his nose. “I’ll get it for him.” Without waiting for a response, he starts walking. 

Jimin watches, his gaze following Yoongi. His head feels heavy, but there’s warmth spreading in his chest that has nothing to do with the alcohol.

A few minutes later, Yoongi returns, holding a small cup of mango ice cream. “Here.” He hands it to Jimin. 

Jimin looks at the ice cream, his lashes fluttering slightly as he stares at the bright yellow scoop.

Minhyun shifts beside him, hesitating before speaking. “Well—he doesn’t like mango—”

But before Minhyun can finish, Jimin takes the cup with a small, sleepy smile.

“It’s okay,” Jimin murmurs, scooping a small bite into his mouth. The taste of mango spreads over his tongue, a flavor he normally avoids, but right now, he doesn’t seem to mind.

Yoongi watches him, expression unreadable. “You don’t have to eat it if you don’t like it.”

Jimin shakes his head, licking the ice cream anyway. “It’s fine. You got it for me.”

Minhyun watches quietly, something flickering in his gaze, but he doesn’t say anything. Yoongi, however, stares at Jimin for a moment longer before looking away. 

Jimin smiles softly, something bubbling in his chest. He’s always chasing after Yoongi, always being the one trying to pull them closer. But tonight, Yoongi is the one who brought him here, the one who made sure he had fun.

And that means something.

He just doesn’t know what yet.

Chapter Text

As Yoongi gently helps Jimin toward the road, Jimin suddenly halts in his tracks, his feet faltering for a moment as he turns toward Minhyun with a slightly wobbly smile.

“Wait,” Jimin says, blinking a few times as if trying to clear the haze from his mind. 

“I don’t have your new number.”

Minhyun’s eyes flicker with something—maybe guilt, maybe something else—but it disappears as quickly as it came. He takes Jimin's phone from him with a soft smile, quickly typing in his number before handing the phone back.

“There. Now you can’t lose me again, hyung,” Minhyun says with a teasing lilt, though there’s something softer in his voice.

Jimin smiles down at his phone, satisfied, but then looks back up at Minhyun with a glint of excitement in his eyes.

“We should hang out while I’m here. There’s so much we still have to catch up on.”

The words come out before Jimin can fully stop them, but he doesn’t regret them. There’s so much he hasn’t shared yet—so many things he wants to tell Minhyun, things he hasn’t told anyone else. After Hoseok, Minhyun’s the only one he truly trusts.

Minhyun glances briefly at Yoongi, who stands silently beside Jimin, before his smile returns, warm and sincere. 

“Sure, just text me whenever.”

Jimin nods, feeling the warmth of the connection, and as he looks at Minhyun one last time, he knows this time, he won’t let him slip away again.

Jimin beams, satisfied, before turning to Yoongi. “Okay, now we can go.”

Yoongi exhales, shaking his head, but he doesn’t argue. The streets are quiet now, the energy of the night settling into a peaceful lull. He keeps a firm grip on Jimin’s wrist to steady him as they wait for a cab. 

Jimin hums softly, still feeling the warmth of the alcohol in his system. He glances at Yoongi, his gaze unfocused but filled with something soft. 

“You didn’t have to get me ice cream, you know,” he mumbles.

“You asked for it,” Yoongi replies, his voice low.

Jimin smiles, biting his lip, a hint of playfulness in his eyes. “Yeah, but… mango? You don’t even know my favorite flavor.”

Yoongi huffs, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Not my fault you took it anyway.”

The ride back to the hotel is quiet, with Jimin resting his head against the cool window. His eyelids feel heavy, exhaustion creeping in now that the excitement has worn off. He sighs contentedly, feeling oddly safe despite his spinning head.

Yoongi watches him out of the corner of his eye. The way Jimin's face softens in sleep, the way his lips part slightly—he looks peaceful. Vulnerable. Something stirs in Yoongi's chest, but he quickly pushes it down.

When they arrive at the hotel, Yoongi pays the driver before gently nudging Jimin awake. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”

Jimin groans, but lets Yoongi pull him out of the cab and into the hotel. His steps are unsteady, but Yoongi supports him without complaint, guiding him to their room. Jimin stumbles slightly, still feeling the remnants of alcohol in his system, and Yoongi sighs before tightening his grip around his waist.

As soon as they’re inside, Jimin flops onto the bed, stretching out with a satisfied sigh. 

“Today was fun,” he murmurs, his voice thick with sleep.

“You’re a handful when you drink,” Yoongi mutters, watching him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Jimin hums, leaning into his side. 

“But I had fun.” His voice is soft, almost wistful, like he’s savoring the moment.

Yoongi doesn’t respond immediately. He watches Jimin, taking in his relaxed expression, his flushed cheeks still holding a trace of the alcohol’s warmth. 

For a brief moment, Yoongi just stands there, quiet.

Finally, he moves, grabbing a bottle of water from the mini fridge and placing it on the nightstand. 

“Drink this when you wake up,” he says, his tone firm but caring.

Jimin cracks open one eye, offering him a drowsy smile. “You’re being nice, hyung.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “Go to sleep, Jimin.”

Jimin hums in response, his eyes slipping shut with a soft sigh. Within minutes, his breathing evens out, deep and steady, lost to sleep. Yoongi lingers for a moment longer, watching him, then quietly pulls the blanket over Jimin before heading to his side of the bed.

Yoongi exhales, running a hand through his hair. He glances at Jimin one last time before switching off the lights and settling onto his own side of the bed.

The next time Jimin wakes up, it’s already evening. There's a dull ache in his head, the aftermath of the alcohol, and the lingering taste of mango still on his tongue. He groans, burying his face deeper into the pillow, wishing for the discomfort to fade.

“Drink the water,” Yoongi’s voice calls from across the room.

Jimin peeks out from under the covers and sees Yoongi sitting on the couch, his phone in hand, talking to someone. 

Judging by the soft expression on Yoongi’s face, Jimin knows it must be Moon and Dae. Yoongi always shows his sweet side when he's talking to them—it's a side of him that Jimin has come to recognize and admire.

Jimin watches him, a small smile curling on his lips as he observes Yoongi’s easy affection. There’s something about the way Yoongi interacts with children, so gentle and patient, that makes Jimin’s heart skip. 

He can’t help but wonder… Will Yoongi be like this with their children too?

The thought lingers for a moment, but Jimin quickly chases it away. It feels too far off, too much to think about right now. They haven’t even shared their first kiss yet.

But someday, surely…

Jimin turns over, reaching blindly for the bottle on the nightstand, his hand brushing over the cool plastic before finally bringing it to his lips.

He takes a few sips, then sighs dramatically. 

"I feel like I got run over by a truck."

By now, Yoongi has ended his call, his full attention now on Jimin. He raises an eyebrow, his lips curling into a small, amused smirk. "That’s what happens when you drink like you’re competing for a world record."

Jimin pouts but doesn’t argue, slowly sitting up and stretching his sore limbs. 

"I feel so guilty that we missed a whole day because of my hangover. You should have woken me up."

Yoongi snorts, shaking his head. "Trust me, I tried."

Jimin's face heats in embarrassment. 

"Well, we can still go out a little, but no late-night drinking this time." Yoongi says. 

"I can't handle drunk Jimin three nights in a row."

"Okay, I'll be quick." With that, Jimin hurries off to wash up, still feeling the lingering heaviness of the previous night but determined to make the most of the rest of their time together.

Once Jimin’s ready, they head out towards the Seine River. The sun is starting to set, casting a warm glow over the water. This time, instead of a quiet walk, they board a boat for a peaceful ride along the river.

The gentle sway of the boat feels soothing against the backdrop of Paris’ illuminated skyline. Jimin leans against the railing, breathing in the cool evening air, his earlier discomfort forgotten as he watches the city slowly light up around them.

His heart flutters at the sight. The river reflects the warm hues of the sunset, and the gentle ripples in the water shimmer like gold. 

The city slowly comes alive with twinkling lights. The Eiffel Tower looms in the distance, its golden lights flickering like a beacon. The Notre-Dame Cathedral stands tall, its silhouette majestic against the dusky sky. Jimin takes it all in, resting his chin on his hand.

“This is beautiful,” he murmurs.

Yoongi hums beside him. “Yeah, it is.”

Jimin turns to Yoongi, and for a fleeting moment, his gaze lingers, noticing how handsome Yoongi looks in the dim light. 

A strange warmth creeps up his neck, and Jimin quickly looks away, laughing softly to himself to chase away the sudden rush of emotions.

“I still can’t believe you actually planned something so romantic.” Jimin teases, trying to brush off his flustered feelings.

Yoongi scoffs lightly, his tone teasing yet calm. “It’s not romantic. It’s practical. You were still hungover and wouldn’t be able to walk for long, so this is a good way to see the city without moving your feet.”

Jimin chuckles, shaking his head at Yoongi’s matter-of-fact tone. 

“Sure, ‘practical.’ You just can’t admit that you’re a softie, can you?”

Yoongi glances at him from the corner of his eye, his expression neutral but there’s a flicker of amusement in his gaze. 

“I’m not a softie. I just know how to plan efficiently.”

Jimin laughs again, this time a little louder. “Efficiently, huh? Sure, hyung, whatever you say.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue.

As they continue their ride, Jimin leans against the railing, lost in thought. The gentle rocking of the boat, the soothing sounds of the water, the glow of the city lights and Min Yoongi, makes everything feel surreal.

The cool evening air wraps around them, as they step off the boat, adding to the tranquil atmosphere of the night. Jimin takes in a deep breath, feeling lighter, more at ease than he has in a while. They start strolling down the streets, the quiet sounds of the city complementing the soft hum of distant conversations.

Suddenly, Jimin’s steps slow as a familiar melody reaches his ears. His eyes flicker to a small crowd gathered around a street busker.

A man with a guitar, singing the classic ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’. The singer’s voice is smooth and full of raw emotion, echoing off the walls of the nearby buildings. The melody fills the air with an almost haunting sense of nostalgia.

Without thinking, Jimin pulls ahead, his eyes wide with excitement as he hurries towards the busker. He grins back at Yoongi, who is a few steps behind.

“This song!” Jimin exclaims, his voice filled with excitement. He can’t help but sway slightly to the rhythm as he watches the singer belt out the words. "I love this song so much."

Yoongi catches up to him, watching Jimin with an amused expression. "You always find a way to get lost in the moment, don’t you?"

Jimin shrugs with a grin, his eyes still focused on the singer. "It’s a good moment," he says, tapping his foot along with the beat. "I can't just ignore it."

As Jimin stands in front of the busker, the soft, soulful melody fills the air, and the lyrics of the song seep into his heart, making him feel something deep and raw he can’t quite place. 

The words feel like a mirror to his own emotions, a reflection of the journey he’s been on, filled with heartache and uncertainty.

The busker’s voice cuts through the quiet night:

“In my life, there’s been heartache and pain,

I don’t know if I can face it again,

I can’t stop now, I’ve travelled so far,

To change this lonely life…”

Jimin stands frozen for a moment, his breath caught in his chest. The weight of the words feels heavier now, like the song is reaching right into him. It’s everything he’s felt. He has been through heartache, through pain, trying to navigate the complexities of life. The loneliness that has shadowed him for so long suddenly feels so palpable in the quiet of the night.

“I wanna know what love is,

I want you to show me,”

Jimin glances over at Yoongi,who is quietly watching the busker from a few steps away, his expression soft. his chest tightening, a soft vulnerability in his eyes. He doesn't voice it, but there's a longing inside him—a desire to understand, to feel what love truly is, to know if it’s real, to see it reflected in someone else.

“I wanna feel what love is,

I know you can show me…”

The last verse hits him the hardest. The longing in the lyrics stirs something deep inside Jimin, something tender, and he finds himself wishing, in that very moment, that he could understand what love truly is.

Jimin’s eyes close briefly as he absorbs the weight of the words. The singer’s voice becomes a distant echo in his mind, but the feeling remains—raw and undeniable. He hasn’t fully understood love yet, but he feels it in the quiet moments like this, standing here in the heart of Paris, with Yoongi by his side.

“I… I don’t know what love is,” Jimin murmurs to himself, as the last notes of the song fade away. “But I want to.”

Jimin turns to look at Yoongi, for the first time, the possibility of understanding love doesn’t feel so out of reach. And maybe, just maybe, Yoongi will be the one to show him.

The crowd claps as the singer finishes the verse, and Jimin then pulls out a few euros from his pocket and drops them into the busker’s guitar case. His eyes light up as he looks back at Yoongi, his smile a little more wistful now, the emotion in the song echoing in his heart.

The warmth of the evening and the gentle sway of the music settling over him. For a moment, it feels like time has slowed down. The world, the noise, the busyness of life fades, leaving only the sound of the song and just them. 

Yoongi’s gaze lingers on Jimin a little longer. “Let's keep walking. We have to get back to the hotel.”

Jimin gives one last glance at the busker before following him, a contented sigh slipping from his lips as the night continues to unfold.

The song ends, but the weight of its words lingers in the air as they continue walking side by side, their steps slow and in sync.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Jimin woke up to an empty bed. It had been that way for years, yet after spending the last few days with Yoongi—waking up to the alpha’s steady presence and the comforting scent of wood and whiskey—being alone felt strangely unfamiliar.

He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before glancing around the room. It didn’t take long to spot Yoongi by the balcony, his work glasses perched on his nose, fingers poised over the keyboard as he focused intently on his laptop. Sunlight streamed in, casting a soft glow around him, making the sight almost picturesque.

Jimin lingered for a moment, watching Yoongi in quiet admiration. The morning sunlight framed him perfectly, casting a soft glow over his features. It was almost unfair how effortlessly attractive he looked. 

Finally, Jimin mumbled, “You’re up early.”

Without looking up from his screen, Yoongi countered, “You’re up late.”

Jimin glanced at the time on his phone and sighed. For him, it was still too early—he was used to starting his day well past noon. Stretching his arms above his head, he let out a yawn before swinging his legs over the bed.

Yoongi remained focused on his laptop, his lips pressed in concentration. Jimin huffed, padding over to the balcony. “You know, you should really take breaks sometimes. Work isn't everything.”

He hated how much of a workaholic Yoongi was. The man needed to learn how to enjoy life a little from him. 

Yoongi finally spared him a glance, eyes flickering up from his screen. “And do what?”

Jimin smirked, leaning against the railing. “Spend time with me, obviously.”

Yoongi didn’t bother replying, just shook his head slightly—already accustomed to Jimin’s antics—before refocusing on his work.

He adjusted his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose, and Jimin couldn’t help but stare. There was something unfairly attractive about Yoongi like this—calm, focused, completely unaware of the effect he had.

Seeing Yoongi in glasses brought back memories of their school days. Jimin used to sneak off to the library whenever classes got too dull, claiming he needed a quiet place to nap. But more often than not, he'd find Yoongi there, surrounded by a fortress of books, his square glasses perched on his nose, eyes squinted at the text, lips pursed in concentration. And instead of sleeping, Jimin would spend his time watching Yoongi, completely entranced.

“I already ordered breakfast for you,” Yoongi said, breaking Jimin’s thoughts. He gestured toward the table.

Jimin’s gaze flickered to the neatly arranged meal. Something light, simple. Yoongi had likely eaten earlier, not wanting to disturb his rest.

“Thanks,” Jimin murmured, sliding into the chair. He picked up his fork but found himself still glancing at Yoongi, watching the way he worked—effortless, composed, distant.

Some things never changed.

“So, where are we going today?” Jimin asked, his excitement evident. For the past few days, Yoongi had been the one planning their outings, taking Jimin to different places, so he naturally assumed today would be the same.

Yoongi turned around, offering a guilty smile. “I’m sorry, but something urgent came up. I need to take care of it, and it’ll take me a couple of hours.”

Jimin’s enthusiasm faltered slightly. “Oh…” His shoulders dropped a little, disappointment creeping in.

Yoongi noticed the shift and quickly added, “Why don’t you go hang out with that friend of yours? I’m sure you’d enjoy that.”

Jimin paused, considering the suggestion. He would like that—catching up with Minhyun sounded nice. So much had happened over the past few months, and he could use a listening ear.

“I’ll text him to check if he’s free,” Jimin said, his voice a little brighter as he pulled out his phone.

Yoongi gave a small nod and turned back to his laptop, already absorbed in his work.

Jimin quickly sent a message to Minhyun, asking if he was free. It felt a little strange—he had never needed to ask before. In the past, he would simply show up at Minhyun’s room and drag him along, no questions asked. They had always been inseparable.

Jimin’s phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen, a small smile tugging at his lips as he read Minhyun’s reply.

Minhyun: Of course, I’m free. Meet me outside your hotel in an hour?

Jimin quickly typed back a confirmation before setting his phone down. He finished the rest of his breakfast in silence, sneaking another glance at Yoongi, who was still focused on his laptop, completely lost in his work.

He then finished getting ready, slipping on a comfortable yet stylish outfit that he knew would make him feel good while catching up with Minhyun. He paused for a moment in front of the mirror, brushing a stray lock of hair away from his forehead, and gave himself a quick once-over. It's been months since he'd hung out with Minhyun, so he wanted to look his best.

Jimin thought about saying something—maybe teasing Yoongi again about being a workaholic—but decided against it. It wasn’t like Yoongi would suddenly drop everything to spend time with him. After all, he wasn't more important than his work to him. 

With a quiet sigh, Jimin stretched. “I’m heading out,” he said, slipping on his coat.

Yoongi barely looked up. “Alright.”

Jimin lingered for a second, as if waiting for something—maybe for Yoongi to say have fun or be safe—but nothing came. Letting out a soft breath, he finally stepped out.

Maybe spending time with Minhyun would help distract him from this odd feeling settling in his chest.

The cool breeze hit him as he stepped outside the hotel, and he felt the familiar thrill of anticipation for the day ahead. The city was buzzing with energy, and he couldn’t wait to see Minhyun. 

Jimin made his way to the designated spot outside the hotel, keeping his phone in hand just in case Minhyun needed to update him on anything. But he didn’t have to wait long before he spotted him—Minhyun stood by the coffee shop, casually leaning against the wall with his hands tucked into the pockets of his beige trench coat. 

The soft fabric draped effortlessly over his broad shoulders, giving him a polished yet relaxed look. Underneath, he wore a fitted black turtleneck, accentuating the sharp angles of his jawline. His dark jeans were sleek, paired with polished boots that added to his effortlessly put-together appearance.

His hair was styled slightly tousled, golden-brown strands catching the morning light, making him look even more radiant. His sharp, well-defined features—straight nose, high cheekbones, and expressive dark eyes—made him stand out effortlessly in the crowd. When he spotted Jimin, his lips curved into an easy, boyish grin, his eyes lighting up with warmth.

Jimin couldn’t help but smile back. “Hyun-ah!”

Minhyun’s grin widened as he pushed off the wall, stepping forward with open arms. “Look at you hyung! Blinding me with your beauty.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “You’re so dramatic.” But he still let Minhyun pull him into a hug, warm and familiar.

When Minhyun pulled back, his gaze lingered a second too long—like he was memorizing every detail. 

“Seriously, though. You look... really good.” His voice softened just a little, his usual teasing edge replaced with something fonder.

Jimin laughed, radiating his usual confident charm. “Well, obviously. I always look good.”

They made their way down the seets of Paris, chatting about life, catching up on all the things they’d missed since their last meeting, Minhyun telling Jimin all about his new job. Jimin could feel the weight of months lifting off his shoulders as he laughed with his old friend.

But every so often, his mind would drift back to Yoongi. The way he had been so focused on his work, that he didn't pay enough attention to him. He felt like all the past efforts he made to get closer to the alpha were in vain. 

Jimin shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside. There was no need to overthink things. Today was about enjoying Paris, reconnecting with Minhyun, and forgetting about everything else.

As they strolled through the charming Parisian streets, Minhyun led Jimin toward the Louvre Museum, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“The Louvre?” Jimin asked, raising an eyebrow. “Didn’t take you for the museum type.”

Minhyun chuckled. “You wound me, hyung. I have layers, you know.”

Jimin laughed, shaking his head as they made their way inside. The museum was as grand as ever, its towering glass pyramid glistening under the daylight. Inside, the soft murmur of visitors and the faint echoes of footsteps on marble created an atmosphere both serene and awe-inspiring.

As they wandered through the exhibits, Jimin’s eyes sparkled with fascination. He always loved art—each piece telling a story, capturing emotions frozen in time. Minhyun, however, seemed more interested in watching Jimin than the paintings themselves.

“You really love this, don’t you?” Minhyun asked, his voice quieter, more thoughtful.

Minhyun studied him, a flicker of nostalgia in his gaze. Back in college, their nights had been filled with flashing lights and music pulsing through crowded clubs. But even then, Minhyun had noticed how Jimin sometimes craved the quiet—how he’d sneak away to serene places like this, letting himself get lost in something deeper.

Jimin turned to him with a soft smile. “Yeah. Art feels… timeless. Like no matter what happens in life, these pieces will always be here, telling the same story.”

Minhyun hummed, gazing at a nearby painting before glancing back at Jimin. “Maybe that’s why I like being around you.”

Jimin tilted his head. “Huh?”

Minhyun smiled, but there was something in his expression—something deeper, something unspoken. “You’re kind of like art, hyung. You have this way of making people feel something just by being you.”

Jimin blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in Minhyun’s words. “Minhyun…”

Before he could say more, Minhyun laughed lightly, brushing it off.

“Don’t overthink it. I just mean you’re special, you know? Anyone would be lucky to have you.” His fingers twitched at his side, fighting the urge to reach out, to pull Jimin closer. But he didn’t. Instead, he stuffed his hands in his pockets, hiding his growing frustration.

Jimin’s heart thudded in his chest. He wasn’t oblivious—Minhyun was saying more than just friendly compliments. But he ignored it for now.

They wandered deeper into the museum, Minhyun trailing slightly behind as Jimin marveled at each masterpiece they passed. He would pause now and then, tilting his head as if trying to decipher the emotions hidden in the brushstrokes. Minhyun didn’t really care for art—not in the way Jimin did—but watching Jimin, the way his lips parted slightly in awe, the way his eyes softened, made it worth it.

“Hyung, if you could live inside a painting, which one would you choose?” Minhyun asked, just to keep Jimin talking. He likes hearing Jimin's sweet voice. He missed it so much. 

Jimin hummed in thought, scanning the gallery before stopping in front of a piece. It was a serene landscape—a quiet riverside at dusk, the sky painted in muted purples and golds, a lone figure sitting on the grass. “Maybe this one,” he said, voice soft. “It looks… peaceful.”

Minhyun studied the painting, then Jimin. “You don’t have that already?”

Jimin let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Not exactly.” He turned to Minhyun with a teasing smile. “What about you?”

Minhyun smirked. “I’d pick whatever painting you’re in.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “That’s such a lame answer.”

“But it’s true.” Minhyun held Jimin’s gaze, just for a second too long.

Jimin, only laughed before walking ahead. But Minhyun stayed still, watching him go.

It was ridiculous—how much he wanted something that was never meant to be his. How much he wished Jimin would turn back, just once, and really see him.

After the museum, Minhyun took Jimin to a restaurant. It was nothing short of stunning—elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, soft music playing in the background, and the warm flicker of candlelight on each table. It was the kind of place meant for special occasions, for romance. Jimin shifted slightly in his seat, glancing around before looking back at Minhyun, who seemed perfectly at ease.

“You really went all out, huh?”Jimin teased, picking up the menu. “Trying to impress me?”

Minhyun smirked. “Always.”

Jimin rolled his eyes, but the words made his stomach twist—not in excitement, but in unease. He pushed the feeling away, focusing on the menu.

As they ordered, the waiter gave them a polite smile. “A lovely evening for a date,” he remarked casually. ‘You two make a beautiful couple.”

Jimin’s breath caught for a second, and he opened his mouth to correct him, but before he could, Minhyun simply smiled, not saying anything.

The waiter left, and Jimin frowned. “You didn't correct him.”

Minhyun leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable. “Does it bother you?”

Jimin hesitated. It wasn’t the first time people had mistaken them for a couple, but this time, for some reason, it felt different. “It’s just… I have a fiancé.”

“I know,” Minhyun said simply, swirling the wine in his glass. “But it was just a harmless mistake. No need to make a big deal out of it.”

Jimin pressed his lips together, not entirely convinced. He wasn't mad—Minhyun wasn’t exactly lying, but there was something about his silence that unsettled Jimin.

And for the rest of the dinner, the conversation stayed light, but the moment lingered in the back of Jimin’s mind.

As they stepped out of the restaurant, Minhyun led Jimin toward a taxi, insisting on taking him to his place despite Jimin’s initial protests.

“Come on, just for a little while, hyung. I’ll drop you back later,” Minhyun coaxed, opening the door for him. 

Jimin hesitated. “Minhyun, it’s late. I should just head back to the hotel.”

Leaning casually against the car, Minhyun flashed an easy smile. “You’re in Paris, hyung. Stop worrying so much. Just come over for a bit—we’ll have a drink, talk, and then I’ll take you back. Promise.”

Jimin exhaled, glancing away. The night air was cool, and though part of him wanted to say no, he also wasn’t ready to sit alone in his hotel room while Yoongi focused on his work only. 

“Fine,” he muttered, rolling his eyes as he slid into the car.

The drive to Minhyun’s place was quiet, the streets of Paris glowing under streetlights. Jimin glanced at his phone, expecting a message from Yoongi—maybe a check-in, maybe a simple “Where are you?”, “When are you coming back?”—but there was nothing. No missed calls, no texts.

He frowned, staring at the blank screen. Yoongi was the one who said he wanted to get to know Jimin, he was the one who brought him here, so why he was pushing him away again? 

Minhyun must have noticed. “Something wrong?”

Jimin shook his head. “No, just…” He hesitated. “Yoongi hasn’t called or texted.”

Minhyun’s grip on his phone tightened for a fraction of a second before he relaxed again. “Maybe he’s busy.”

Jimin scoffed. “Yeah. Maybe.”

Minhyun’s apartment was sleek and modern, much like Jimin had expected. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, the soft hum of jazz played in the background as Minhyun moved to pour them drinks.

“Make yourself comfortable, hyung,” Minhyun said, handing Jimin a glass of wine before settling onto the couch beside him.

Jimin took a small sip, letting the rich taste linger on his tongue. “So,” he started, turning to Minhyun. “How’s life been treating you?”

Minhyun chuckled, swirling his glass. “Same as always. Busy, but not too busy to make time for you.” His voice held a warmth that made Jimin shift slightly.

Jimin huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Still smooth with your words, huh?”

Minhyun smirked, but there was something softer in his gaze. “Only with you.”

Jimin glanced down at his drink, his fingers tightening slightly around the glass. He wasn’t oblivious—he had known for a long time about Minhyun’s feelings. But he had always pretended not to notice, unwilling to acknowledge something that could complicate their friendship.

And yet, tonight, it felt harder to ignore.

Jimin checked his phone again. Still nothing from Yoongi. He tossed it aside with a frustrated sigh.

Minhyun noticed his irritation,“You seem tense.”

Jimin took another sip, shaking his head. “Just… tired.”

Minhyun studied him for a moment before speaking. “Hyung, are you happy?”

Jimin blinked at him. “What?”

“With Yoongi.” Minhyun leaned back, resting an arm along the back of the couch. “Are you happy with him?”

Jimin frowned. “Why are you asking me that?”

Minhyun exhaled slowly. “Because I’ve known you for a long time. And I know when you’re second-guessing something.”

Jimin’s grip tightened around his glass. “Minhyun, stop.”

But Minhyun didn’t. He leaned forward, eyes dark with something unreadable. 

“Hyung, you’ve never been the type to wait around for someone—to chase after them, convincing yourself that if you just hold on a little longer, maybe they’ll love you the way you want them to.”

Jimin met his eyes, something tense and unspoken passing between them. It unsettled him how easily Minhyun could see through him, as if he already knew—without Jimin ever saying a word—what was going on between him and Yoongi.

His throat tightened. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Minhyun scoffed, shaking his head. “I know exactly what I’m talking about. I know Yoongi. And I know he’ll never look at you the way you look at him.”

Jimin felt a sharp sting in his chest. He wanted to argue, to shut Minhyun down, but the words wouldn’t come.

Minhyun took a step closer, his voice softer now, but laced with something raw.

“Why don’t you choose me, hyung?” His fingers curled into fists at his sides. “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t you love me?” His voice broke slightly, but he pushed through. “Just say you love me. I swear, I’ll make you the happiest man alive.”

Jimin’s chest tightened. “Hyun, stop!” He took a steady breath. “I don’t love you. I’m engaged to Yoongi.”

Minhyun’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. “Then tell me—do you love him?” He leaned in, gaze unwavering.

“Actually, let me rephrase that.” His voice dipped into something almost mocking.

“Does Yoongi love you?”

Jimin hesitated.

Minhyun caught it instantly.

“Not yet,” Jimin admitted quietly, his voice steady despite the doubt clawing at his chest.

Minhyun laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Hyung, stop fooling yourself. He doesn’t love you.”

“You don’t know anything about him,” Jimin shot back, his grip on the glass tightening.

“Oh, but I do.” Minhyun smirked, leaning in as if sharing a secret. “I do.” He exhaled slowly. “You want to know the real Yoongi?”

Jimin’s breath hitched. “What…?”

Chapter Text

Jimin didn’t remember much of the ride back to the hotel. He wasn’t even sure how he managed to walk out of Minhyun’s apartment, hail a cab, and give the driver the hotel’s address. All he remembered was the hollow ache in his chest and the way Minhyun’s words echoed in his head, looping like a broken record.

The city lights blurred outside the window, streaking past him in dizzying flashes. The world felt like it was spinning, shaking—yet he remained eerily still, trapped in the suffocating weight of his thoughts.

By the time he reached the hotel, his body moved on autopilot. His steps carried him forward, navigating the familiar hallways, but his mind was still back at Minhyun’s apartment, replaying every word, every implication, every painful doubt.

As he stepped into the dimly lit suite, a soft glow from the bedside lamp cast long shadows along the walls. His gaze instinctively landed on Yoongi—his fiancé, his supposed future, who was already in bed, his features relaxed in sleep.

For a brief moment, Jimin just stood there, staring. His heart clenched as uncertainty gnawed at him.

Then, as if sensing him, Yoongi’s eyes fluttered open. His gaze was hazy with sleep, but he still noticed Jimin standing there.

“You’re back,” Yoongi mumbled, voice rough. “Had fun?”

Jimin swallowed, forcing himself to nod. “Mhm.”

Yoongi hummed in acknowledgment, already sinking back into the pillows, his eyes slipping closed again—just like that.

Jimin stayed rooted in place, fingers curling at his sides. No questions. No concern. As if it didn’t matter where he had been all night.

As if he didn’t matter.

With a quiet breath, he finally moved, setting his phone on the nightstand with trembling hands before slipping into bed. He lay stiffly on his side, staring at the ceiling, the weight of unspoken words pressing against his ribs.

Even in the dark, he could make out the curve of Yoongi’s nose, the shape of his lips, the way his brows furrowed slightly in sleep.

Jimin didn’t know how long he lay there, watching Yoongi breathe. His chest rose and fell in steady, even rhythms, completely at peace.

But Jimin wasn’t.

His mind wouldn’t stop racing. Every time he closed his eyes, he was back in Minhyun’s apartment, hearing those same words over and over again.

Minhyun tilted his head, watching Jimin carefully.

“You really don’t know, do you?” He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. 

“Yoongi reached out to me before you even came here.”

Jimin frowned, confusion knitting his brows. “What are you talking about?”

Minhyun leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “He brought you to Paris because he knew I was here.”

Jimin’s stomach twisted.

Minhyun’s gaze never wavered. 

“He wanted us to meet again,” he continued, voice smooth but carrying a bitter edge. 

“Do you know why?”

Jimin couldn’t speak. He didn’t want to hear the answer.

Minhyun’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. 

“Because he doesn’t want to marry you.” His eyes darkened. 

“Yoongi wanted me to take you away from him.”

Jimin’s fingers tightened around his glass, heart pounding against his ribs.

“He was hoping that if you saw me again, you’d change your mind. That I’d be the one standing at the altar instead of him.” His voice softened, almost gentle. “That’s why I’m here, hyung.”

Jimin swallowed, his throat dry. He wanted to deny it. Tell Minhyun he was wrong. That Yoongi wouldn’t—couldn’t—do something like that. But then he remembered all the extremity Yoongi went to call off their wedding and then it didn't seem impossible.

He thought back to every moment between them over the past few days—the stolen glances, the careful touches, the way Yoongi had looked at him. The way he had kissed Jimin’s forehead so gently, as if he were something precious. The way he had taken him to see Paris, showing him the city through his eyes. The way he had tried—really tried—to get to know him.

It wasn’t fake… was it?

Jimin’s hands curled into fists, nails digging into his palms. 

“That doesn’t make sense. If Yoongi didn’t want me, he wouldn’t have proposed in the first place.” His voice was firm, but even he could hear the slight tremor beneath it.

Minhyun exhaled slowly, as if he truly pitied him. 

“Why are you not getting it, hyung?” He leaned in, voice dropping to something softer—something cruelly gentle. 

“Yoongi doesn’t want you, hyung. He’s just trying to get rid of you without looking like the bad guy.”

Jimin’s chest tightened. It started to make sense. 

Minhyun watched him, eyes dark with something unreadable.

"Why do you keep chasing after someone who will never love you back?"

Jimin flinched, but Minhyun didn’t stop.

"Think about it," he pressed. "The sudden change of plans. Him bringing you on this trip out of nowhere. Inviting all your friends for a night and then pushing you to meet me. And the fact that he hasn’t even called or texted you once tonight." 

He let out a quiet scoff. 

"Hyung, Yoongi doesn’t want to marry you. He just needed an excuse to let you go."

The room felt too small, the air too heavy.

Then Minhyun reached out, his fingers brushing over Jimin’s hand, lingering. 

“You don’t have to go through with this.” His thumb ghosted over Jimin’s knuckles, his voice soft, coaxing. “You have a choice.”

There were so many questions Jimin wanted to ask Yoongi.

Did you call Minhyun? Did you bring me here for him, not for us?

But he didn’t.

Instead, he lay in the dark, staring at Yoongi’s face, searching for answers in the features he thought he knew so well.

Jimin shifted—just barely—but it was enough for Yoongi to stir. His eyes cracked open, gaze heavy with sleep as he peered at Jimin.

“You’re staring,” Yoongi mumbled, voice thick with drowsiness.

Jimin’s breath caught. He hadn’t meant to be so obvious. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Yoongi hummed, blinking slowly, then reached out. His fingers brushed against Jimin’s wrist under the covers, a small, unconscious gesture.

“Don’t think too much,” he murmured.

Jimin swallowed past the lump in his throat. He wanted to believe Yoongi wasn’t capable of something like this. That he hadn’t brought him here for that reason.

But doubt had already planted itself in his chest, curling around his ribs like a vice.

Still, he said nothing. He only stared at the ceiling, trying to ignore the ache pressing against his heart.

But it was suffocating. 

The weight of betrayal settled over him, heavy and relentless. He knew he couldn’t stay—not when the truth clawed at him, leaving wounds too fresh to ignore.

So in the dead of night, Jimin slipped out from under the covers, moving cautiously to avoid waking Yoongi. Each quiet breath felt like a countdown, urging him to leave before hesitation could creep in.

He packed quickly—passport, wallet, phone, a few essentials. Just enough to get away.

His gaze flickered to the bedside table, where a notepad rested. After a brief hesitation, he picked up the pen, his fingers trembling slightly as he wrote.

The pen trembled slightly in Jimin’s grasp as he scrawled a quick note on the notepad beside the bed. His chest felt heavy, his pulse unsteady, but he knew he couldn’t stay—not after what he’d learned.

‘I need some time. Don’t look for me.’

The words stared back at him, final and irreversible.

He hesitated, his fingers lingering on the paper as if the ink might change, as if his heart might waver. But it didn’t.

Jimin turned, casting one last glance at Yoongi—the man he had begun to envision a future with, still deep in sleep, unaware of the storm raging inside him. His heart clenched painfully.

Then, without another moment’s hesitation, he slipped out the door, walking away from the choice that now felt like a mistake.

Jimin walked down to the lobby, the place was nearly empty, save for a few hotel staff who barely spared him a glance. His chest ached, his mind a mess—he had no idea where to go, what to do.

If only his Hoseok hyung were here. He would’ve known what to say, what to do. But Jimin was alone in this foreign country, and the weight of that realization made his steps falter.

He wasn’t ready to go home yet—not ready to face his family. He could already picture their disappointment, the unspoken judgment in their eyes. They already saw him as a burden, and now, abandoned by his supposed fiancé, he would only seem like more of a failure.

The thought made his chest tighten, but he forced himself to keep walking.

With nowhere else to turn, he found himself heading back to Minhyun’s place. 

The rain had started pouring by the time he arrived, soaking him to the bone. His hands trembled as he knocked on the door, his body cold, but his heart even colder.

The door swung open, revealing Minhyun. His expression shifted from surprise to concern in an instant as he took in the sight before him—Jimin, drenched, shivering, eyes red-rimmed with betrayal and hurt.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Rain dripped from Jimin’s hair, trailing down his face like unfallen tears.

And even though Minhyun had played a part in this mess, his betrayal still felt lighter—less crushing—than what Yoongi had done.

Yoongi had given him hope, made him feel cared for, made him believe—just for a moment—that love was within reach. But in the end, it was all a lie.

Yoongi had taken him to heaven, only to drag him straight to hell.

So when Minhyun reached for him, gently pulling him inside, Jimin didn’t resist. Because right now, betrayal felt easier to bear than heartbreak.

Minhyun didn’t say anything at first, just guided Jimin inside, shutting the door softly behind him. The warmth of the apartment was a stark contrast to the cold rain soaking through his clothes, but it did little to ease the chill settling in his bones.

Jimin stood there, dripping onto the floor. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting—comfort, maybe, or just a place to exist without feeling like he was suffocating.

Minhyun sighed, disappearing for a moment before returning with a towel.

“You’re freezing,” he muttered, draping it over Jimin’s shoulders. His hands lingered, hesitant, as if debating whether he had the right to touch him.

Jimin let out a humorless laugh, wiping at his damp face. 

“Guess I didn’t think this through.”

He wasn’t just talking about coming here. He was talking about everything—choosing Yoongi, believing in something that was never real.

Minhyun crossed his arms, watching him carefully. “You came here for a reason, hyung.”

Jimin swallowed hard. “I had nowhere else to go.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

It was the truth. His family’s house had never felt like home, and just when he had started to feel at home—with Yoongi, with his family—he had lost that too.

Minhyun exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. 

“Did he do something?”

Jimin didn’t answer right away. He should be furious, should be demanding answers, but all he felt was exhaustion. “It doesn’t matter.”

Minhyun studied him, his gaze dark with something unreadable.

Jimin looked away, gripping the towel tighter. He didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to think. He just wanted the ache in his chest to disappear, even if only for a little while.

Minhyun took a step closer, voice quiet but firm. “Stay here with me. You always have a place with me.”

Jimin hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. But then he nodded. He wasn’t ready to go back—not to that hotel, not to Yoongi.

As he sat down on the couch, his fingers trembling, he pulled out his phone. He stared at Yoongi’s contact for a long moment before his thumb hovered over the screen. Then, without overthinking, he blocked him.

For the first time in a long time, he chose to walk away.

And just like that, he cut off the last tether holding him to the only love he ever knew.

The moment Jimin blocked Yoongi, a strange mix of relief and pain settled in his chest. His hands trembled as he set his phone down, avoiding Minhyun’s gaze.

Minhyun let out a quiet sigh before stepping closer. “You did the right thing,” he murmured. “You don’t deserve to be treated like that.”

Jimin didn’t respond. His thoughts were a mess—his heart even worse. He felt raw, exposed, like the rain outside had washed away every layer of protection he had left.

Minhyun hesitated before placing a hand on Jimin’s shoulder. 

“You should get some rest. You’ve been through enough for one night.”

Jimin nodded numbly, letting Minhyun guide him toward the bedroom. The sheets smelled unfamiliar, the bed too soft in a way that offered no comfort. He curled onto his side, staring blankly at the darkened room.

Everything felt wrong.

It should have been Yoongi beside him. It should have been Yoongi’s warmth, his voice—steady, reassuring—telling him everything would be okay.

But it wasn’t. And maybe it never would be.

Jimin squeezed his eyes shut, but sleep refused to come. The silence was too loud, filled with echoes of Yoongi’s voice, the ghost of his touch, every unspoken word that now felt like a lie.

For the first time, he wondered if he had made a mistake—if chasing after Yoongi had been the wrong choice all along.

_

Yoongi woke up to the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint scent of Jimin still lingering in the sheets beside him. He stretched lazily, expecting to find Jimin curled up next to him, but the space was empty—cold.

His sleep-addled mind snapped awake as he sat up, scanning the dimly lit room. The space was eerily silent, the only sound his own steady breaths. His eyes landed on the bedside table.

A note.

‘I need some time. Don’t look for me.’

His grip on the paper tightened.

Jimin was gone.

Yoongi stared at the note for a long moment, then exhaled, letting his shoulders drop. His grip on the paper loosened before he tossed it back onto the desk with a quiet chuckle.

He had expected this. Planned for this. After weeks of planning it finally happened. Jimin was never meant to stay.

A strange sense of relief settled in his chest. No more lingering glances, no more soft smiles that made things confusing. No more warmth creeping into places it shouldn’t. 

This was for the best.

He didn’t need to pretend anymore—didn’t need to feign interest in getting to know Jimin, didn’t need to take him to nice places, didn’t need to act like he cared. He didn’t have to pretend that he wanted him.

Yoongi rubbed his temple before reaching for his phone. He dialed a number, waiting as the line rang. When Minhyun finally answered, Yoongi didn’t bother with pleasantries.

“He’s with you, isn’t he?”

A beat of silence. Then Minhyun sighed. “Yeah.”

Yoongi smirked, leaning back against the desk. “Good. Keep him there.”

Minhyun’s tone turned sharp. “That’s all you have to say?” He had expected Yoongi to at least ask if Jimin was okay.

Yoongi glanced at the empty bed, the sheets still slightly wrinkled from where Jimin had laid. His chest felt oddly light. “What else is there?”

Minhyun scoffed. “You really don’t give a damn, do you?”

Yoongi hummed, nonchalant. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You get him, I get peace. Everyone wins.”

Minhyun didn’t respond right away, and Yoongi could practically hear the frustration through the phone.

“I’ll take care of him,” Minhyun finally muttered.

“I know.”

Without another word, he hung up, tossing his phone onto the bed.

Then, he stretched, feeling lighter than he had in weeks, months. 

No more chasing. No more pretending.

Jimin was gone.

And that was exactly how it was supposed to be.

Yoongi let the silence settle around him, savoring the moment. No more tangled emotions, no more second-guessing. Just the clean, quiet solitude he had been waiting for.

But it felt… empty.

Shaking off the thought, he grabbed his phone, quickly dialing Namjoon’s number. His fingers tapped impatiently against his thigh as the line rang.

“Namjoon-ah, the plan is a success!” he announced, a triumphant smirk on his lips.

There was a brief pause before Namjoon sighed. “I can’t believe you actually did it.”

Yoongi smirked, leaning back against the headboard. “I told you it would work. He left on his own. No mess, no confrontation. Just walked out like I wanted.” 

“So, he left?”

“Yeah,” Yoongi confirmed, leaning back against the headboard, his smirk widening. “Blocked me and everything.”

There was a pause on the other end before Namjoon sighed. “You sound way too happy for someone whose fiancé just ran away.”

“That was the point, wasn’t it? I told you it wouldn’t take much. Just had to push him in the right direction.”

Namjoon clicked his tongue. “And by that, you mean sending Minhyun to mess with his head?”

Yoongi chuckled. “I didn’t make Jimin fall for him. He did that on his own.”

Another silence stretched between them before Namjoon finally spoke. “Hyung, I hope you know–

“This is for the best, Joon,” Yoongi interrupted, his voice firm. “He deserves someone who actually wants this. Someone like Minhyun. Not me.”

Silence stretched between them before Namjoon finally spoke, his tone softer. “And what about you? Do you really not care?”

Yoongi’s smile faltered for just a second, but he quickly covered it up with a scoff. “Of course not. I can finally breathe now.”

Namjoon hummed, unconvinced. “If you say so.”

Yoongi ignored the doubt in his voice. “Anyway, just wanted to let you know. I’ll see you when I get back.”

Without waiting for a response, he ended the call and set his phone aside. 

Yoongi remembered exactly when the idea struck him. It was during a casual conversation with Namjoon when his friend had offhandedly mentioned, "Jimin’s heart must still be caught up on his ex."

At first, Yoongi hadn’t thought much of it, but then Jimin himself had brought up his best friend—the way he spoke about him, the lingering emotions in his voice. That’s when Yoongi started piecing everything together.

While Jimin had been busy with Hoseok’s wedding preparations, Yoongi had taken the opportunity to dig deeper. He reached out to Jimin’s friends, subtly asking about any past relationships Jimin might not have moved on from. They all told him the same thing—Jimin never had an ex he couldn’t forget. But then, the conversation had shifted. They mentioned Minhyun.

Jimin and Minhyun had been inseparable once. Everyone had noticed the closeness between them before Minhyun suddenly disappeared. Some had even suspected there was something more between them.

That was all Yoongi needed.

He tracked Minhyun down to Paris and sent him a message. He played his role well—acting as the thoughtful fiancé, wanting what was best for Jimin. “I think Jimin still loves you,” Yoongi had written. “If you still want him, take back what’s yours.”

Minhyun had hesitated, unsure at first. But in the end, he had agreed.

That was why Yoongi had brought Jimin to Paris. Why he had acted like he wanted to get close to him. Why he had made all those sweet gestures, ensuring Jimin never suspected a thing.

Now, with Jimin gone and everything falling into place, Yoongi should’ve felt satisfied.

Instead, he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, his chest tight with something he refused to name. The room felt too quiet. Too empty.

But that was fine.

This was what he wanted.

...Wasn’t it?

Chapter Text

Yoongi decided to stay in Paris a few more days—just in case. But he never texted Jimin. Never called. Not that he wanted to. Not that he could, considering Jimin had blocked him.

His fingers hovered over Minhyun’s contact more than once, a nagging urge pulling at him. But each time, he stopped himself. Why should he call? He was the one who had pushed Jimin toward Minhyun. They were probably happy together now—going on romantic dates, wrapped up in a perfect little ending.

So why should he bother them?

After a few days of relaxation, Yoongi finally boarded a flight back to Korea.

The moment he landed, the airport was swarming with reporters, cameras flashing, voices overlapping as journalists scrambled for a statement.

They had expected a grand return—the perfect couple coming back from their romantic getaway.

But when only Yoongi stepped through the arrivals gate, murmurs rippled through the crowd.

The questions came fast.

“Where's Jimin-ssi?”

“Did your engagement end?”

“Did something happen between you two?”

“Are the wedding plans still on?”

Microphones were shoved toward him, the press closing in, eager for a scandal.

Yoongi simply adjusted his sunglasses, his face unreadable. He exhaled slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets as he strode forward. The flashes of cameras were relentless, the noise grating, but he didn’t falter.

“Yoongi-ssi! Is it true Jimin-ssi stayed behind in Paris?”

“Did you break up?”

That one almost made him laugh. Break up? You had to be together for that.

But he didn’t stop walking, and didn't react. His silence only fueled the speculation.

He walked through the chaos like it didn’t faze him, like the flashing lights and invasive questions were nothing but background noise. He had mastered the art of keeping his composure, of never letting emotions slip through the cracks.

But inside, there was an odd sense of lightness. A relief that settled deep in his chest.

The plan had worked.

Jimin was gone.

Yoongi’s fingers twitched at his sides as he stepped into the waiting car, the door shutting out the noise. He let out a slow exhale, loosening his tie as he leaned back against the seat.

His phone buzzed. A message from Namjoon.

Namjoon: Reporters are eating this up. You sure you don’t want to release a statement?

Yoongi: No need. Let them talk.

There was no point in clarifying things. Let the world believe what they wanted—that Jimin had left him, that their relationship had fallen apart. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that Jimin was exactly where Yoongi had intended him to be. 

Far away from him.

With Minhyun.

And most importantly—no longer a problem.

As the car pulled away from the airport, Yoongi gazed out the window at the passing cityscape. Seoul felt different now—lighter, quieter.

He loosened his tie further, rolling his shoulders. There was no need to worry anymore. Jimin was not his problem anymore, he was Minhyun’s now. 

Yet his stomach felt tight associating Jimin with Minhyun.

His phone vibrated again. Another message.

Namjoon: You don’t feel even a little guilty?

Yoongi chuckled under his breath, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Yoongi: Why should I?

He put his phone down without waiting for Namjoon's reply.

Let Jimin hate him. Let him never come back.

That was the plan, after all.

If Jimin hated him, then he wouldn’t look back. He wouldn’t try to stay, wouldn't try to win him over, wouldn’t try to make him feel things he wasn’t supposed to.

It was better this way.

And yet, as Yoongi leaned his head back against the seat, closing his eyes, the emptiness in his chest didn’t feel like freedom.

It just felt like loss.

Yoongi sighed as his phone buzzed relentlessly, lighting up with call after call. He already knew what it was about—the headlines were brutal. They were quite fast. 

“Park Jimin Abandons Fiancé in Paris—Wedding Canceled?”

“Min Yoongi Returns Alone: Relationship in Trouble?”

“Breakup Before the Big Day? Sources Say Jimin Left Yoongi Behind”

“Min Yoongi Returns to Korea Alone—What Went Wrong?”

He scrolled past them without a second thought. It didn’t matter. The plan had worked.

Yoongi ignored them all, scrolling past the notifications as if they didn’t exist. He had expected backlash, but the media was being especially ruthless.

Then came the calls. Doyoon. Eunseok. Jin. His secretary. 

He ignored them for a few minutes but when his appa wouldn't stop, he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose before finally answering.

“Yoongi-yah,” Eunseok's voice was worried. “What the hell is going on?” 

“Nothing appa,” Yoongi said simply. Hoping he'd not try to pry open

“Nothing?” He repeated, incredulous. “You come back alone, Jimin is not answering my calls, he's not with you. Where is he?”

Eunseok sounded genuinely worried about Jimin.

Yoongi clenched his jaw, fingers tightening around the phone. He should’ve expected this. His appa had grown fond of Jimin—too fond.

“I don’t know,” he lied smoothly. “He said he needed some time away and left.”

Eunseok scoffed. “Just like that? That doesn’t sound like Jimin.”

He knows Jimin is not the type to run away from problems. 

Yoongi rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling. “I don’t know what to tell you, appa. Maybe he just—” He hesitated. “Maybe he realized this wasn’t what he wanted.”

Silence stretched between them, heavy and suspicious.

“You don’t believe that,” Eunseok finally said, his voice quieter now. “And neither do I.”

Yoongi closed his eyes, swallowing down the irritation clawing at his throat. He didn’t want to do this right now. Didn’t want to explain, didn’t want to dig into things he’d rather leave buried.

Eunseok's frustration was palpable. 

“He was happy with you, Yoongi. I saw it. He wouldn’t just leave without a reason.”

Yoongi closed his eyes briefly. “Appa, drop it.”

“I can’t,” Eunseok snapped. “Jimin is family now. And if something happened—”

“He’s not your family,” Yoongi interrupted, sharper than he intended. “Not anymore.”

Silence. A heavy pause filled the space between them, thick and suffocating.

Eunseok’s voice was quiet when he spoke again. “Yoongi… what did you do?”

Yoongi’s grip on the phone loosened. He could still hear Jimin’s voice in his head, and could still picture the way he had smiled so brightly with him in the Paris. 

“I did what needed to be done,” he muttered.

There was a pause, and then his father's voice softened, laced with something Yoongi didn’t want to deal with right now. 

“Jimin—he cares about you. And I know you care about him too, no matter how much you try to act like you don’t.”

Yoongi clenched his jaw. “Appa, I don't have time for this.”

“Make time,” Eunseok pressed. “Because if you let him walk away now, you might not get another chance.”

The words hit deeper than Yoongi wanted to admit. With that the call ended, and silence stretched around him. 

Yoongi went straight home instead of heading to the office. The moment he collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion took over. He was used to balancing flights and work without issue, but today, his body felt heavier than usual. So, for once, he let himself rest.

He ended up spending an entire week confined in his house, ignoring calls, mindlessly watching TV, and surviving on takeout. It was the first time in a long while that he allowed himself to do nothing—and oddly enough, it felt good.

It made him wonder why he hadn’t done it sooner.

But the quiet never lasted. 

By the eighth day, the novelty of isolation started wearing off. The TV droned on in the background, the once-comforting silence now pressing in on him. His phone sat untouched on the coffee table, buzzing occasionally with missed calls—his parents, hyung, Namjoon, secretary, a few business contacts. But never Jimin.

Not that he was expecting him to call.

Yoongi sighed, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back against the couch. He had done what needed to be done. Jimin was free—free to hate him, free to move on.

So why did it feel like he was the one who had lost something?

-

Staying home had been fun for a week, but after that, it felt suffocating. Yoongi knew he couldn’t keep putting off work, so he finally decided to return to the office.

As he arrived, he could hear the hushed murmurs—his name tangled with Jimin’s in quiet speculation—but he ignored them, walking straight to his office.

The familiar space greeted him, and a sense of calm washed over him. He sank into his chair, letting out a slow exhale.

But then he looked around.

Something felt… off. 

The room felt too empty, too still.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and his secretary, Juwon, walked in with his usual coffee.

“Did you change something in my office?” Yoongi asked, frowning. “Why does it feel so empty?”

Juwon blinked before glancing around. “Oh,” he said casually. “It’s probably because there’s no bouquet.”

Yoongi stilled.

Right.

There were no more ridiculously oversized flower arrangements taking up half his desk. No more vibrant colors that clashed with his sleek office aesthetic. No more cheesy pick up lines or teasing notes scribbled in Jimin’s handwriting.

It was peaceful.

Exactly what he wanted.

Yoongi took a sip of his coffee, forcing a smirk. “Good. I finally got rid of those annoying flowers.”

Juwon nodded and left, but even as the door clicked shut, Yoongi found himself staring at the empty space where the bouquets used to be.

It was better this way.

Wasn’t it?

-

Yoongi forced himself to focus on work. Meetings, reports, deadlines—he buried himself in it all, determined to push forward like nothing had changed.

But the emptiness lingered.

Every time he glanced at his desk, expecting to see a splash of color, he was met with nothing but cold, bare space. His office smelled of coffee and paperwork, no longer carrying the faint, lingering scent of fresh flowers.

And for some reason, it irritated him.

By the fourth day back at work, the irritation had settled into something heavier—something he refused to acknowledge.

“Sir, do you need anything else?” Juwon asked, pausing at the door after dropping off some files.

Yoongi hesitated, his fingers drumming against the desk. The words left him before he could stop them.

“Get me a bouquet.”

Juwon blinked. “A… bouquet?”

Yoongi’s jaw tightened. “Forget it,” he muttered, waving a hand dismissively.

Juwon left, and Yoongi leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingers against his temple.

This was ridiculous.

He should be relieved that Jimin was gone. No more forced smiles. No more suffocating gestures. No more pretending. No more annoying bouquets. 

And yet, as he stared at the empty desk in front of him, he couldn’t help but wonder—

If it was really Jimin’s presence he had been trying to erase.

Or the fact that, deep down, he had never actually wanted him to leave.

-

By the third week, the reporters were relentless. They followed Yoongi everywhere—outside his house, to his office, to his business meetings, even waiting outside restaurants he frequented. Every day, there was a new headline, a new speculation, and no room to breathe.

Worse, they had started reaching out to both his and Jimin’s families.

His parents, ever composed, told the media to respect their privacy. But Jimin’s parents? They did the opposite.

“It must be Jimin’s fault,”Jihoon had said. 

“We don’t know what he’s done, but we won’t stand by him if he’s tarnishing our family’s reputation.” Harin added. 

Yoongi had never been particularly close to Jimin’s family, but hearing them throw their own son under the bus like that made his blood boil. It confirmed what he had always suspected—they didn’t truly care for Jimin. Not the way he deserved.

The pressure from the media was becoming unbearable, and Yoongi knew he had to say something before the rumors spiraled even further. Before Jimin's name became tarnished in all this. 

He sat in his office, drafting a statement—something clean, something neutral. He would say that after fifteen years together, he and Jimin had mutually decided to part ways. That it was the best decision for both of them. That there were no hard feelings.

It was simple. Clean. Professional.

It was a lie.

Just as he was about to send it off to his PR team, a knock sounded at his door. His secretary, Juwon, stepped in, holding a small package.

“Sir, something arrived for you.”

“I’m not accepting packages right now,” Yoongi muttered, rubbing his temple.

Juwon hesitated. “It’s from Paris.”

Yoongi froze.

Jimin.

Heart pounding, he reached for the package, his fingers slightly unsteady as he opened it.

Inside, nestled in soft fabric, was a ring.

His family heirloom.

A folded note lay beside it.

Yoongi swallowed hard, his chest tightening as he unfolded the paper.

Jimin’s familiar handwriting stared back at him.

The note was short. Barely a few words.

'This doesn’t belong to me anymore.'

Yoongi stared at the message, his grip tightening around the edges of the paper.

For a long moment, he didn’t move.

The weight of the ring in his palm felt heavier than it should have. He had expected this—had practically pushed Jimin to leave, to move on. So why did it feel like a punch to the gut?

His thumb ran over the cool metal, and memories flooded his mind. The night he had slipped it onto Jimin’s finger. The way Jimin’s eyes had glistened, how he had admired the ring, tracing its edges with delicate fingers, lips curling into a small, wistful smile.

He had given Jimin this ring with the intention of getting it back one day. 

So now that it was in his hands again, why did it feel so damn wrong?

Yoongi exhaled sharply, setting the ring down on his desk, his fingers lingering over the cool metal.

Before he could process the weight of it, Juwon cleared his throat. “There’s something else you should see.”

Yoongi barely acknowledged him until Juwon placed a phone in front of him, the screen glowing with Jimin’s Instagram story.

His breath caught.

It was a picture of Jimin’s hand intertwined with someone else’s, likely Minhyun. His ring finger was bare, except for the faint indentation where Yoongi’s family heirloom had once rested.

There was no caption, but Yoongi didn’t need one. The message was clear—

A new beginning.

Yoongi’s jaw clenched. His eyes stayed locked on the screen, scanning every detail—the way Jimin’s fingers curled around the other person’s, the lingering imprint of the ring he had just returned.

Juwon shifted uncomfortably. “Sir… should I prepare a response?”

Yoongi didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, dragging a hand down his face. He had expected Jimin to move on with Minhyun. Had told himself—convinced himself—that this was what he wanted.

So why did it feel like something was twisting deep in his chest?

“Sir?” Juwon prompted again.

Yoongi inhaled deeply, his voice steady but hollow. “No. Let it be.”

Juwon hesitated before nodding, taking that as his cue to leave.

Once alone, Yoongi reached for the ring again, rolling it between his fingers. He should feel relieved. Should feel free.

Instead, he felt like something had slipped through his fingers before he even had the chance to hold on.

-

The next week was hell for Yoongi.

He couldn’t focus on work, barely glanced at the documents piled on his desk. His parents' calls went ignored. His brother, Jin, didn’t bother with words—his silence was enough of a statement. He could sense how angry he was with him. 

Yoongi started to hate tangerines. The scent alone made his stomach twist, a cruel reminder of the one person he was trying to forget. He banned them from the entire office, snapping at Juwon when he saw one in the breakroom.

His evenings were spent drinking, the only person he could confide in being Namjoon. But even Namjoon was angry—Yoongi could see it in the way he barely spoke, in the sighs he let out when Yoongi downed another glass.

Then, one night, everything came crashing down.

Yoongi was out drinking with Namjoon when Moon and Dae called, asking when their father would be home.

Namjoon picked up, voice softening as he answered, “Soon, sweetheart.”

Then, in the background, the kids must have heard Yoongi’s voice because they immediately demanded to talk to him.

Namjoon passed the phone over, and Yoongi forced a smile as he greeted them. “My prince and princess. How are you both?”

But they didn’t ask about him.

“When is Uncle Jimin coming?” Moon asked, lips pouting.

“We miss him,” Dae added, finishing his sister's sentence. 

Yoongi froze, feeling the breath knocked out of his lungs.

His grip on the phone tightened, his throat suddenly dry.

How was he supposed to tell them? That Jimin wasn’t coming back? That he had been the one to let him go?

A tear slipped down his cheek. Then another.

Before he knew it, he was breaking—his shoulders trembling, his breath hitching, the weight of everything finally crashing over him.

The feeling of loss finally settling into his heart. 

And then he smelled it.

A hint of tangerines somewhere in the air.

And fuck—he missed Jimin. More than he should.

Namjoon sensed something was wrong, so he gently took the phone back, covering the receiver as he eyed Yoongi.

“Yoongi,” he said quietly.

Yoongi shook his head, downing the rest of his drink in one go. It burned, but not nearly enough.

“I’ll call you guys later, okay?” Namjoon said to his kids before hanging up.

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words.

Namjoon sighed. “You miss him.” It wasn’t a question.

Yoongi scoffed, wiping at his eyes roughly. “Doesn’t matter.”

Namjoon frowned. “Then why are you crying?”

Yoongi exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

“I don’t know, Joon. Maybe because my entire fucking life feels like a mistake right now?” His voice cracked at the end, and he hated it. Hated how raw he felt.

Namjoon watched him for a moment before speaking. “Then fix it.”

Yoongi let out a bitter laugh. “It’s not that simple.”

Namjoon leaned forward. “It is. If you love him, if you regret it, go to him. Stop sitting here feeling sorry for yourself.”

Yoongi stayed quiet, staring at his empty glass.

But the thought had already rooted itself in his mind.

Could he?

Would Jimin even listen?

And if he did…

Would it be too late?

Namjoon drove Yoongi back to his apartment in silence, stealing occasional glances at him. Yoongi sat hunched over, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyes red and glassy. He sniffled quietly, but Namjoon still heard.

Not knowing how to deal with a sad Yoongi, he called for backup.

It didn’t take long before Jin and Eunseok arrived.

When they stepped inside, they found Yoongi sitting there, glassy-eyed and exhausted. Neither of them could remember the last time they had seen him like this.

Yoongi had always been strong—stoic even. As a child, he rarely cried, not when he got hurt, not even when he was sick. But now, with the weight of everything crashing down on him, he looked utterly broken.

“Appa,” Yoongi’s voice broke as he reached out toward Eunseok.

Eunseok’s heart clenched at the sight. His son—his strong, stubborn son—looked utterly lost. He pulled Yoongi into a firm embrace, hand rubbing soothing circles over his back.

Jin, however, remained firm, arms crossed over his chest. He was still angry at his brother’s stupidity. Namjoon had told him everything Yoongi had done, and it had taken all of Namjoon’s restraint to stop Jin from storming over and giving Yoongi a well-deserved beating.

“So, what are you going to do now, Yoongi?” he asked, his tone sharp.

“I don’t know—”

“Do you love him?” Jin cut him off, his voice unwavering.

Yoongi froze. How was he supposed to answer that? How was he supposed to tell them that everything had been a lie? That he and Jimin hadn’t really been together for fifteen years?

Silence stretched between them.

Eunseok sighed, watching his son struggle. “I know, Yoon.”

Yoongi’s head snapped up. “What?”

“I know,” Eunseok repeated, softer this time. “I’m your father. Of course, I know.”

Yoongi’s breath hitched.

Eunseok had known all along. He had known that Yoongi and Jimin weren’t really together—that there was no way his son had kept a relationship hidden for fifteen years. But he had waited, watching Yoongi, waiting for him to crack.

And then, something had changed.

He had seen how Jimin challenged Yoongi, how he pushed him in ways no one else could. How he managed to get past Yoongi's guarded nature.

And somewhere along the way, he realized—Jimin could be something real in Yoongi’s life.

Yoongi swallowed hard. “Then why didn’t you say anything?”

Eunseok let out a tired sigh. “Because I was waiting for you to crack.” He shook his head. 

“At first, I thought you were just being stubborn. But then I saw Jimin pushing your buttons, making you react in ways no one else could. And I started to realize…” His gaze softened. “Maybe he wasn’t just pretending.”

Yoongi’s breath caught in his throat.

Eunseok gave him a small, knowing smile. “And maybe, just maybe… neither were you.”

“He managed to bring out a side of you that I thought I’d never see,” his voice steady but gentle.

“He made the cracks in your hard nature show, Yoongi. He was the only one who could handle your temperament without breaking.”

Yoongi swallowed, staring at his hands.

“But you pushed him away,” Eunseok added, his tone carrying the weight of quiet disappointment.

Yoongi’s fingers clenched. “I—I thought it was the right thing to do. I thought I didn’t want him.”

Eunseok exhaled. “We only realize people’s value once they’re gone.”

Jin, watching the turmoil on his brother’s face, smirked slightly. 

“So, what are you going to do? Cry and try to forget him?" His voice carried an edge of challenge, knowing full well that wasn’t Yoongi’s style.

Yoongi’s head snapped up, something sparking in his eyes.

He wiped his tears roughly and pulled his phone out of his pocket, dialing quickly.

“Juwon,” he said as soon as the call connected. “Book me the next available flight to Paris.”

And at that moment, Yoongi realized—none of it had been fake.

Not the touches that lingered a second too long.

Not the stolen glances when Jimin wasn’t looking.

Not the warmth in his chest every time Jimin smiled.

Yoongi had told himself it was just a game, a necessary lie to keep up the facade. But the way Jimin’s laughter had curled around his heart, the way his soft gaze had made something deep within him tremble—those weren’t things a person fakes.

The forehead kiss that was supposed to be just a dare—he could still feel the ghost of it on his skin. He had leaned in without thinking, had wanted to press closer, to breathe Jimin in.

He wouldn’t have done that with just anyone.

He tolerated Jimin’s antics because it was Jimin.

He let him into his home, into his life—let him charm his family, lie to them about their relationship, hold his nephew and niece in his arms—because it was Jimin.

He had given him his family ring, the heirloom passed down for generations, meant for the one who would stand by his side—because it was Jimin.

Every decision, every excuse, every moment where he let his walls crack just a little—it had never been about necessity or convenience.

It had always been about Jimin.

And in that crushing moment of realization, Yoongi understood—he had started to love Jimin a long time ago.

His heart had known it all along.

His mind was just now catching up.

Yoongi finally exhaled, a small, determined smile forming on his lips—the first in weeks.

“I’m going to get back what’s mine.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, Yoongi was on a plane to Paris, running on pure adrenaline and desperation. Sleep eluded him, his mind replaying every moment he’d spent with Jimin—every smile, every lingering touch, every bickering. 

By the time he landed, exhaustion weighed on him, but it didn’t matter. He landed in Paris with a heart heavier than his luggage. 

A month ago, he had left this city feeling light, convinced he was doing the right thing. Now, he felt hollow—like he had left something behind. No, not something. Someone. And he was here to get him back.

His bomul. 

He had been trying to call Minhyun since last night, but the number was unreachable. Frustrated but undeterred, he even got a new number to call Jimin, knowing he had been blocked on the previous one, but the result was the same—disconnected.

Desperation crept in. He knew there was only one other person who might have answers.

Hoseok.

He dialed quickly, pressing the phone to his ear, heart pounding. The line rang, once, twice—then, finally, a click.

“What do you want, Yoongi?” Hoseok’s voice was sharp, laced with irritation.

Yoongi exhaled, gripping the phone tighter. “Hoseok, please. I just need to know where he is.”

A bitter laugh. “Now you care?”

Yoongi flinched at the accusation, but before he could respond, Hoseok continued.

“You don’t get to do this, Yoongi. You don’t get to break him and then act like you deserve another chance.”

“I just—I need to talk to him.”

“No. You needed to talk to him before you shattered his heart.”

The weight of Hoseok’s anger, of his disappointment, settled heavily in Yoongi’s chest.

“Hoseok, I—”

The line went dead.

Yoongi stared at the phone. He was running out of options. And more terrifyingly—he was running out of time.

With a frustrated sigh, he opened Instagram, scrolling through Jimin’s profile, hoping for something—anything—that could give him a clue. But there was nothing. No updates, no cryptic captions, not even a glimpse of his whereabouts. It was as if Jimin had vanished off the earth's surface, erasing all traces of himself from Yoongi’s reach.

Yoongi let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair.

Sighing, he decided to head to his hotel first. He needed to clear his mind, to come up with a plan. He wasn’t leaving Paris without seeing Jimin. He couldn’t. Because no matter what it took, he was going to find his Bomul.

He had already come to terms with the possibility that Jimin had moved on. Maybe he was happy now, maybe he was with someone who truly cherished him the way Yoongi should have. And if that was the case, Yoongi was willing to accept it. He had no right to interfere in Jimin’s life anymore.

But what he couldn’t accept—what unsettled him more than anything—was the thought of Jimin hating him forever. Something he wanted before, but not anymore. 

And truthfully, he probably deserved it.

He would let Jimin hate him. Would let him scream, curse, tear him apart with every bitter word he had been holding in. Yoongi wouldn’t defend himself, wouldn’t make excuses, cause he deserved it. 

But not before he apologized.

Because if this was truly the end, then at the very least, Yoongi wanted Jimin to walk away with something more than just anger and resentment. Even if it cost him everything.

Cause Jimin had never asked for much.

He just wanted to be loved.

And for a fleeting moment, Jimin had let himself believe that Yoongi could be that person—the one who would love him, hold him, choose him. Yoongi had made him feel wanted, had made him feel like he belonged.

Only to rip it all away.

He had given Jimin a taste of something beautiful, something Jimin had craved his whole life, only to make him choke on it.

And for that, Yoongi knows he deserved every bit of the hell he was living in now.

Yoongi checked into his hotel, but the room felt colder than he remembered. He had stayed here with Jimin last time—ate breakfast with him, drank with him, laughed with him. Now, there was only silence.

He tossed his bag onto the couch and ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. Sitting around wouldn’t help. He needed to find Jimin.

With no other leads, he decided to visit the places Jimin loved in Paris—the small café they had stumbled upon, the Seine river bank where they had walked late at night. Hoping, he’d find a trace of him.

Yoongi spent the entire day searching. The café? No sign of Jimin. The riverbank? Just tourists and couples, but no Jimin.

Frustration clawed at his chest. He sat on a bench, rubbing his temples. He had been so sure he’d find Jimin here. But what if Jimin didn’t want to be found?

His phone buzzed. A message from Juwon.

‘Sir, I finally got Minhyun's new number. Do you want me to call him?’

Yoongi’s fingers tightened around the phone. No. He would do this himself.

Dialing the number, he held his breath as the call rang. Once. Twice.

Then—

“Hello?” Minhyun’s voice came through, cautious.

“It’s Yoongi,” he said, his voice steady. “Where’s Jimin?”

Silence. Then a sigh. “What do you want, Yoongi?”

Yoongi swallowed. “I just... I need to see him.”

Minhyun hesitated before speaking. “He doesn’t want to see you.”

Yoongi clenched his jaw. “I know I messed up. But I’m not leaving Paris without talking to him.”

A pause. Then, Minhyun let out a scoff. “Then keep looking for him.”

The line went dead before Yoongi could respond. He immediately redialed, but this time, the call didn’t go through. Minhyun had turned off his phone.

Yoongi exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His patience was wearing thin, but one thing was clear—he wasn’t giving up. Not when Jimin was here, somewhere in this city, hurt by his betrayal. 

And Yoongi would find him.

–

“Why do you look so stressed?”

Jimin adjusted his Rolex, catching Minhyun’s tense expression through the mirror.

Minhyun hesitated. Should he tell Jimin that Yoongi was in Paris, looking for him? That he had called, desperate, asking for his whereabouts? No. What good would that do? Yoongi had already broken Jimin once—he wouldn’t let it happen again.

“Nothing,” Minhyun finally said, forcing a small smile. “My team leader needs me to report urgently.”

Jimin hummed, turning his attention back to his reflection. “Then get the car started. I’ll be out in a minute.”

As he ran his fingers through his styled hair, his gaze lingered on himself a little longer. This was his life now—far from Seoul, far from the suffocating weight of family expectations, and far from the alpha who had shattered his heart.

Jimin had learned a valuable lesson—love couldn’t be forced.

Just as he couldn’t make himself love Minhyun, perhaps Yoongi had never been capable of loving him back.

He wasn’t the type to dwell on something that had never been his to begin with. He had endured far worse betrayals—from the very people who were supposed to love him unconditionally. Compared to that, Yoongi’s betrayal—a stranger’s betrayal—should have hurt less. 

But it didn’t.

Since the night he sought refuge with Minhyun, he hadn’t shed a single tear over Yoongi.

Because Yoongi had never been his to lose.

So no, he wasn’t going to waste his days mourning a foolish alpha.

He never had. And he never would.

But some nights—when the world was quiet and his defenses were down—he found himself lying awake, fingers brushing over the heirloom ring he still wore on his finger, regretting the one mistake he couldn't take back : Choosing to marry Min Yoongi in the first place.

Still, he refused to let the past define him. To finally put it to rest, he slipped off the heirloom ring and sent it back to its rightful owner, sealing the past with a satisfied smile.

Because wasting tears over a love that was never real?

That wasn’t Park Jimin’s style.

And to start afresh, he did something he never thought he’d have to do.

He worked.

Armed with a business degree from a prestigious university, securing a job wasn’t difficult for Jimin. With Minhyun’s help, he landed a position at the same company—though in different departments—Minhyun in architecture, Jimin in business strategy.

It was new. It was different. And surprisingly, it was fun. 

Jimin quickly adapted to the work environment, making friends in his department thanks to his naturally extroverted nature. A part of him missed his old, lavish life, no 9-5, but he chose to hold on for now. He would return when things were settled—when he was ready. Until then, he refused to be a burden on Minhyun.

They were roommates now, splitting the rent equally. Though Jimin was grateful for Minhyun’s support, he made it clear that there would never be anything romantic between them. He didn’t want to give false hope, nor did he ever want to betray someone the way he had been betrayed. Fortunately, Minhyun understood.

The only other person who knew about his new life was Hoseok. Every night, Jimin called him, sharing even the smallest details about his day at work. And every night, Hoseok would listen patiently, always telling him how proud he was. 

Hoseok had even offered to get Jimin an apartment for his comfort, but Jimin refused. He knew that if he accepted, his parents would find out where he was—and he wasn’t ready to face them.

Not after everything they had said about him to the media.

At first, he had planned to stay quiet, to live his life peacefully for a while. But they had thrown the first stone, painting him as the disgraceful son who had brought shame to their family.

So, to spite them, he deliberately posted a picture of him holding Minhyun’s hand.

He knew exactly how the media would twist the narrative—how they would label him as the one who cheated on Yoongi. How the headlines would drag his name through the mud, calling him unfaithful, heartless.

And he knew exactly what that would do to his parents.

They would wake up to reporters swarming outside their house, their spotless reputation tarnished, their stocks plummeting.

Jimin smirked to himself.

If they wanted to make him the villain, he would gladly play the part.

Jimin stretched his arms as he stepped out of the office building, the crisp evening air cooling his flushed cheeks. It had been a long day, but a productive one. He was settling into his job surprisingly well, and for the first time in weeks, he felt a sense of normalcy. 

Minhyun was already waiting for him by the car, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when Jimin approached. 

“How was work?”

“Not bad,” Jimin sighed, tossing his bag in the backseat before slipping into the passenger side. 

“Still getting used to everything, but I think I’m doing okay.”

Minhyun nodded as he started the car. 

“You’re doing more than okay, Jimin. You’re actually working for once,” he teased. 

Jimin scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Hilarious. Truly."

-

Yoongi spent the entire day making calls, chasing every possible lead on Jimin’s whereabouts. Minhyun had already cut him off, and Hoseok refused to answer his calls, but Yoongi was nothing if not persistent.

And persistence always paid off.

Hours later, he finally got what he needed.

He had traced Minhyun’s workplace and, in the process, uncovered an interesting detail—a new Korean hire had recently joined the company. It didn’t take much to confirm who it was.

But getting inside? That was a different challenge.

Security was tight, and Yoongi had no official business being there—yet.

So, he made a decision. A drastic one.

If Jimin wasn’t going to come to him, then he would go to Jimin. And if barriers stood in his way, he would tear them down, just as Jimin had once done for him. If Jimin was going to block every road leading to him, Yoongi would build a new one. He'll become fearless and bold just like him. 

It was only fair, wasn’t it? That he chased after Jimin the same way Jimin had chased after him? No matter if the outcomes weren’t in his favor. No matter if he had to face rejection over and over again.

So, he called his legal team.

“I want buy a company.”

The other end of the line was silent for a moment. Then came a cautious reply.

“Sir… you want to buy a company?”

“Yes.” Yoongi’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “Find out if it’s for sale. If not, make them an offer they can’t refuse.”

“Understood,” his lawyer responded, professional as always, though Yoongi could hear the hesitation. 

“We’ll start negotiations immediately.”

Yoongi ended the call and leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.

Jimin had run. Blocked him. Cut him out of his life completely.

Yoongi wasn’t going to force him to come back. That wasn’t his intention. 

But he would make sure Jimin heard him out.

-

It took less than a week.

Money spoke louder than anything, and Yoongi had more than enough of it. The company’s board had been hesitant at first, but the offer he made was impossible to refuse. By the time the contracts were signed, Yoongi officially owned the company where Jimin worked.

And now, he was standing in its lobby, adjusting the cuffs of his tailored suit, watching the employees scurry around like ants. None of them knew who he was—yet.

The elevator ride felt agonizingly slow. Yoongi tapped his fingers against his wrist, pulse steady despite the anticipation coiling in his chest. 

It had been a month. A month without seeing Jimin. His mind kept circling the same worries—had Jimin lost weight? Was he taking care of himself? Was he okay? The thoughts had plagued him, keeping him restless at night.

And now, finally, he was going to see Jimin again.

The moment the doors slid open, a receptionist immediately greeted him, her smile bright but professional.

“Good morning, Sir. Do you have an appointment?”

Yoongi glanced around the modern office space, his gaze sharp. “No. But I don't need one.”

The woman blinked, startled. “I'm sorry, but may I know who you—”

“Min Yoongi," he cut in smoothly, watching as her expression shifted from confusion to shock.

The name alone was enough. Whispers spread through the office like wildfire. A few employees paused in their work, eyes widening as they recognized the name that had been dominating the company's internal news all week.

The new owner.

Yoongi smirked slightly. “I need you to set up an immediate meeting with the strategy department.”

About half an hour later, Yoongi stood outside the meeting room, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. He wasn’t used to feeling nervous—negotiating with investors, handling high-stakes deals, none of that ever fazed him.

But this?

This was different.

His pulse was a steady drum against his ribs, the anticipation of seeing Jimin again gnawing at him. It was ridiculous how much power one person still had over him, how just the thought of facing Jimin after all this time unsettled him in a way nothing else ever had.

Inside, the entire strategy department was waiting. They had been informed that their new boss had summoned them—but no one knew his name. Because Yoongi had made sure of that. If Jimin found out, he might run. And Yoongi wasn’t going to give him that chance.

Yoongi exhaled slowly, running a hand over his perfectly styled hair before finally gathering the courage to step forward. He was ready for anything—sharp words, cold stares, outright hostility. Maybe even a coffee cup thrown his way. He deserved it.

Finally, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, his presence commanding attention. Conversations stilled, eyes turned to him. But Yoongi barely noticed any of them.

Because his gaze had already found Jimin.

Even in a room full of people, with voices murmuring around him, Yoongi saw only one person.

Jimin.

His scent—tangy citrus with a hint of something sweet—hit Yoongi like a gut punch, making his breath hitch. It was intoxicating, familiar, and yet, for the first time, out of reach.

At the far end of the table, where the interns sat, Jimin was poised, his expression unreadable. But he looked different—no, not different. Beautiful. More beautiful than Yoongi had ever allowed himself to notice before. His cheeks soft, lips pressed in a neutral line, eyes dark and striking.

Yoongi hesitated, searching Jimin’s face, bracing himself for anger, for resentment—anything that would show he still felt something.

But there was nothing.

Jimin’s gaze was empty. Indifferent. As if Yoongi was just another stranger.

And somehow, that hurt more than fury ever could.

Clearing his throat, Yoongi turned his attention to the rest of the room. He had a role to play, a reason to be here beyond the man sitting at the end of the table. His voice was steady when he finally spoke.

“As you may have heard, this company has undergone a recent change in ownership.”

Yoongi’s gaze flickered to him again, hoping for some kind of reaction. Anything. A twitch of his brows, the tightening of his jaw, the slightest shift in his expression.

But Jimin just sat there, legs crossed, fingers loosely curled around the pen he had been holding before Yoongi walked in. Unbothered. Composed.

If anything, he looked… bored.

“I’m Min Yoongi, your new CEO.”

Murmurs rippled through the room. Some of the employees exchanged glances, but Jimin remained utterly still, his fingers loosely curled around a pen as if none of this mattered to him.

Yoongi took a breath, forcing himself to focus. He straightened his shoulders, sliding effortlessly into the role he had created for himself—the powerful, untouchable CEO.

“I’m not here to disrupt the way things are run,” he continued. “I believe in maintaining a strong foundation and enhancing what already works.”

He was met with nods, polite attentiveness. But the only response he truly wanted was from the one person who refused to give him anything.

“But most importantly, I expect honesty. If you have something to say to me, say it now.”

A few hands shuffled on the table, but no one spoke.

Except Jimin.

He leaned back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other, and exhaled sharply. Not a sigh—no, it was more like quiet amusement.

Then, with a small, mocking tilt of his lips, he finally spoke.

“You’re the boss now?” he mused. “That’s cute.”

Yoongi’s breath hitched.

Not because of the words, but because of the way Jimin said them—like Yoongi was nothing more than an old joke he had already forgotten the punchline to.

A few quiet gasps echoed around the room. Someone shifted uncomfortably in their seat. But Jimin? Jimin looked completely at ease, his chin propped up on his palm, watching Yoongi like he was mildly entertained by this whole ordeal.

Yoongi’s fingers curled into fists at his sides. He had expected anger—he wanted it. If Jimin screamed at him, cursed him, called him every terrible name under the sun, at least then Yoongi would know he still mattered. That he had some kind of place in Jimin’s heart, even if it was a bitter one.

But this?

This was worse.

Jimin was treating him like he was nothing more than a passing inconvenience. Like he had already been forgotten.

And that realization stung more than any insult could.

Yoongi cleared his throat, keeping his voice even. 

“I take my responsibilities seriously,” he said, locking eyes with Jimin. “I didn’t come here to play games.”

Jimin’s lips quirked higher, something sharp glinting in his gaze. “Really?” he drawled. 

“That’s interesting, coming from someone who made a career out of them.”

Yoongi inhaled deeply. The tension in the room thickened, the other employees exchanging wary glances. They could sense the undercurrent of something personal, but no one dared to intervene.

Jimin held his gaze for a long moment, then shrugged lazily, turning his attention back to his notebook as if the conversation no longer interested him. 

“Well, boss,” he said, voice deliberately light, “I hope you enjoy your new purchase.” He tapped his pen against the table. 

“Let’s just hope it was worth it.”

Jimin wasn’t just dismissing him. He was erasing him.

And Yoongi had never felt so powerless. Not even when he first realized he had fallen for Jimin.

He forced his shoulders to relax.

“I believe it will be,” he replied smoothly, keeping his voice steady. “After all, I’ve never made a bad investment.”

Jimin hummed, twirling his pen between his fingers. “Mmm. That’s debatable.”

The implication wasn’t lost on Yoongi.

A muscle ticked in his jaw, but before he could respond, one of the department heads cleared their throat, shifting awkwardly. “Shall we move on with the meeting?”

Yoongi gave a curt nod, tearing his gaze away from Jimin. He had come here expecting resistance, but Jimin wasn’t resisting him at all.

He was shutting him out.

And Yoongi, for the first time in his life, felt what it was like, to be on the other side of indifference. To be the one chasing, the one being ignored. To be the one standing in the wreckage of something he destroyed with his own hands. To lose something before you even realized it was yours.

Once the meeting ended, Jimin was gone before Yoongi even had the chance to stop him.

But Yoongi wasn’t about to back down. He had learned persistence from the best—Jimin himself. So, if this was going to be a game of endurance, he was more than ready to play.

Jimin returned to his office, calm and composed, as if nothing had happened. Because really, nothing had. At least, not to him.

He had expected this. Anticipated it.

Hoseok and Minhyun had already warned him that Yoongi was looking for him, that he had gone as far as calling them. so this stunt wasn’t surprising in the least. But that didn’t mean he would make it easy for the stupid alpha.

His team leader approached him hesitantly. “Jimin… are you okay? I mean, you kind of—went against the boss back there.” The man’s voice was laced with worry, as if Jimin had just signed his own resignation letter.

Jimin only chuckled, shaking his head. If only they knew.

Settling back into his chair, he barely had a second to exhale before something caught his eye. A bouquet of pristine white roses (his favourite) sat neatly on his desk, their delicate petals untouched.

His lips curled in amusement, a sharp scoff escaping before he could stop it. Now Min Yoongi decides to send flowers?

The sheer audacity made him laugh—loud enough that a few coworkers turned to look at him, confusion evident on their faces.

Jimin picked up the bouquet, his fingers brushing against the soft petals for only a second before he turned on his heel and walked straight out of the office. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t second-guess. His steps were steady, his destination clear.

He didn’t stop until he reached the executive wing, where he spotted Yoongi in his new office, watching through the glass walls.

Perfect.

With slow, calculated movements, Jimin walked to the nearest trash can and dropped the bouquet inside, never once breaking eye contact with Yoongi.

Then he dusted off his hands, turned on his heel, and walked away.

Like Yoongi—and his pathetic gestures—meant nothing to him.

Jimin had always been fire—burning, relentless, impossible to ignore. But now, he was ice. And somehow, that was worse.

Yoongi’s jaw clenched as he watched the bouquet land in the trash with a soft thud.

He should’ve expected this—Jimin wasn’t someone who forgave easily, not after what he had been through. But seeing the rejection play out so deliberately, so effortlessly, still stung.

Jimin, on the other hand, barely spared the discarded flowers another glance. He turned on his heel and strode back as if the whole thing had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Yoongi exhaled sharply, forcing himself to relax. Straightening his suit jacket, he strode toward the business strategy office, determination fueling his every step.

When he arrived, the team stood to greet him, but Yoongi barely acknowledged them. His focus was locked on one person—Jimin.

Seated in the interns’ booth, Jimin scrolled through his emails with an air of indifference, as if he hadn’t just thrown Yoongi’s so-called olive branch in the trash.

Yoongi knocked once before stepping inside. “That was unnecessary.”

Jimin didn’t even look up. “You’re in my office, Mr. Min.”

Yoongi’s jaw tightened. “I own the building.”

His voice was smooth, controlled—but his eyes betrayed him, flickering with something raw. Hurt. Because Jimin had called him Mr. Min instead of hyung.

Jimin finally looked up, tilting his head with a lazy smirk. “Then buy yourself some manners and learn how to knock properly.”

“I just wanted to talk,” Yoongi said, leaning against the desk. “Is that a crime?”

Jimin folded his arms. “You bought an entire company just to talk?”

Yoongi tilted his head, watching him closely. “Would you have listened otherwise?”

Jimin let out a short laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable.”

Yoongi’s expression softened, his voice quieter this time. “I just—wanted to see you.”

Jimin’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You saw me.” His tone was clipped, final. “Now get out.”

Yoongi didn’t move.

Jimin leaned forward, his voice dropping into something sharp and unyielding. 

“You had your chance, Yoongi. You had me. And you threw it away. So don’t stand here acting like you suddenly give a damn.”

Yoongi inhaled deeply. “I do give a damn, Jimin.”

Jimin’s gaze darkened. “Then you should’ve cared before you broke me.”

Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

Yoongi opened his mouth—to apologize, to tell him how guilty he felt, to beg Jimin to stay. But before he could get a word out, Jimin stood, grabbed a file from his desk, and brushed past him like he was nothing more than a shadow.

Yoongi turned, watching him leave without hesitation.

And for the first time, he realized—Jimin wasn’t just angry at him.

Jimin was done with him.

Chapter Text

Jimin stormed onto the terrace, his expression calm despite the storm raging inside him. If he didn’t have such impeccable self-control, he’d probably be in jail by now—for attempted murder.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the wind cool his heated skin. But as soon as he did, an unwelcome image invaded his mind.

Min Yoongi.

His face just inches away, dark eyes no longer indifferent but instead a flicker of emotions in them, something soft—even a bit regretful.

Jimin exhaled sharply, shoving the thought away. Yoongi doesn’t get to look at him like that anymore. Not after what he did.

It had been Yoongi’s decision to push him away, to break him, and now Jimin was going to make sure he felt the consequences.

“Thought you’d be here.”

Jimin turned at the familiar voice, his shoulders relaxing slightly when he saw Minhyun approaching.

Without a word, he turned back to the view, already knowing Minhyun must have heard everything by now. The younger stepped beside him leaning against the railing with his usual easy confidence.

“Here. You might need it.”

Jimin glanced at Minhyun’s outstretched hand, his eyes landing on the cigarette resting between his fingers.

Jimin raised a brow. “Since when do you carry these?”

He was a bit surprised because Minhyun never smoked—he hated the smell of it. 

“I don’t,” Minhyun shrugged. “But I knew you might need it.”

Jimin let out a quiet chuckle as he took the cigarette. Even the brand was the same one Jimin used to smoke.

“You should be a mind reader.”

Minhyun pulled a lighter from his pocket, flicking it open effortlessly. The flame illuminated his face as he held it up for Jimin.

“I can only read your mind.”

Jimin took a slow drag, letting the familiar burn settle in his lungs before exhaling a thin stream of smoke into the air. He leaned against the railing, shoulders relaxing. It had been months since he last smoked—not because he’d made a conscious decision to quit, but because when he was with Yoongi, he hadn’t felt the need.

Funny how things change.

Minhyun didn’t bring up Yoongi. He didn’t ask if Jimin was okay.

Maybe because he already knew.

Maybe because he didn’t want to poke at fresh wounds.

Or maybe… he was just waiting for Jimin to speak first.

“So, what do you want to eat for dinner tonight hyung?” Minhyun asked casually.

Jimin raised a brow. “You’re cooking?”

Minhyun scoffed. “Clearly, you can’t, so I don’t have another option.”

A small chuckle left Jimin’s lips before his gaze drifted back to the skyline.

Then, after a moment, he asked, “Why did you suddenly come here and cut off contact with me?”

Minhyun didn’t answer right away. He took a slow breath, the wind tousling his hair.

“Because it hurt.”

Jimin’s fingers stilled around the cigarette.

Minhyun turned to face him fully, his expression unreadable. “Looking into your eyes, being with you… and realizing you’d never see me the way I saw you.”

Jimin exhaled, a cloud of smoke escaping his lips. He felt that on personal levels. 

“So, I decided to run away like a coward, hoping that time and distance would stop the feelings.” 

Silence settled between them, heavy yet unspoken.

Then Jimin tilted his head, watching Minhyun carefully.

“So,” he murmured, “did it?”

Minhyun let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he leaned against the railing. His fingers drummed idly against the metal, as if weighing his answer.

“No,” he admitted. 

When Minhyun got the job opportunity, he accepted it without a second thought. He didn’t tell Jimin—because if he had, there would still be a thread connecting them, a lingering tie that would keep him trapped in the cycle of his unrequited love.

So he cut off all contact. Started fresh. Built a whole new life far away from the shadow of feelings that refused to fade.

But now, standing here beside Jimin, he wonders if running away had ever been the right choice. Maybe confrontation was better. Maybe facing the past was the only way to truly move forward.

Because despite everything, being here with Jimin still made him feel lighthearted.

Jimin hummed, flicking the ash from his cigarette. “Figures.”

Minhyun chuckled, shaking his head. “You don’t sound surprised.”

“Because I’m not,” Jimin said simply, turning to look at him fully. “You were always too stubborn to let go that easily.”

Minhyun smiled. “Says the one who chased after someone who didn’t deserve him.”

Jimin’s jaw tensed for a split second before he masked it with a smirk. “And yet, here I am—no longer chasing.”

Minhyun didn’t argue with that. He just studied Jimin, his gaze searching.

“Does that mean you’re over him?” he finally asked.

Jimin took another drag from his cigarette, letting the smoke curl around him before exhaling. Then he turned back to the view, watching the city stretch endlessly before him.

“Not yet,” he admitted, his voice quiet but steady. “But I will be.”

He then sighed, flicking the cigarette away before straightening. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Minhyun raised an eyebrow. “Where?”

“Dinner,” Jimin said simply, walking past him. “You said you’d cook, didn’t you?”

Minhyun glanced at his watch. It was only 3 in the afternoon—still at least two more hours of work left.

“We can’t just leave whenever we want,” he reminded Jimin.

Jimin smirked, tilting his head. “Why? Afraid of getting fired?”

“Obviously,” Minhyun scoffed. “This is my dream job.”

Jimin exhaled a quiet laugh, turning on his heel. “Don’t worry. We won’t.”

And he meant it. He could burn this entire building down today and still walk away unscathed. He knew the power he held over the company and its new CEO. 

Minhyun shook his head, a small smirk playing at his lips as he followed. “You’re impossible “

And as they stepped back inside, Jimin pretended he didn’t feel the weight of Yoongi’s stare from across the glass office windows.

-

Their apartment was just a 15-minute ride away. The moment they stepped inside, Jimin plopped onto the couch with a deep sigh, sinking into the cushions. It wasn’t work that exhausted him—interns barely did anything—but a certain alpha who had the audacity to be his biggest headache.

Minhyun, watching him from the doorway, sighed softly. “I’ll make you some tea.”

Jimin hummed in acknowledgment, rubbing his temple. Minhyun could see it—the weight Yoongi’s presence had brought crashing down on him. He knew Jimin liked to act bold and untouchable, but Minhyun also knew the truth.

Love didn’t just disappear overnight.

No one knew that better than him.

You couldn’t simply stop loving someone, even if they had hurt you.

Minhyun quickly prepared chamomile tea, Jimin’s favorite. Over the years, it had become his favorite too, though for different reasons. Whenever he missed Jimin, he would drink it, letting the taste remind him of the person he cared about most.

He walked back into the living room and handed Jimin the mug. “Here.”

Jimin took it with a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Hyun.”

Minhyun sat beside him, watching as Jimin took slow sips, the tension in his shoulders easing bit by bit. If he couldn’t be the one Jimin loved, then at least he could be his anchor—his safe place. That was enough.

After a moment, Minhyun leaned back and stretched. “So, what do you want for dinner?”

Jimin hummed, tapping his fingers against the warm ceramic of his mug. "Something comforting," he murmured. "Maybe pasta?"

Minhyun raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you eat pasta when you're stressed?"

"Since today." Jimin took another sip of his tea, sinking deeper into the couch. "Gotta start new habits sometime."

Minhyun huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he moved back toward the kitchen. "Alright, pasta it is."

As he started gathering ingredients, Jimin stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. The scent of chamomile lingered in the air, grounding him, but his mind kept drifting—kept circling back to dark eyes that looked at him with regret. 

Yoongi thought he could just waltz back into his life and expect things to go back to how they were. Thought that Jimin would be the same person who had chased after him, who fought hard just to stay close to him. 

But Jimin had changed.

And this time, if Yoongi wanted something from him, he'd have to be the one to chase.

While Minhyun was busy in the kitchen, Jimin slipped away to take a shower. By the time he returned, towel-drying his damp hair, his phone buzzed with a message from Hoseok.

He stared at the screen, already guessing what it was about.

Instead of replying, Jimin exhaled sharply and tapped on Hoseok’s contact, deciding to call him instead. It barely rang twice before Hoseok picked up.

"Jimin-ah," Hoseok sighed, his frustration evident. "I just heard. Yoongi—he…Seriously?"

Jimin chuckled, running a hand through his damp hair. “You sound more pissed than I am, hyung.”

“I am pissed,” Hoseok snapped. “What the hell is he doing there? And why did he buy that damn company?”

Of course, he knew Yoongi would pull something like this. It was exactly why he hadn’t told Yoongi about Jimin’s whereabouts in the first place. But this was Min Yoongi—he didn’t need help finding what he wanted.

Jimin let out a humorless chuckle. “Maybe he thinks he can win me back with money.”

There was a beat of silence before Hoseok exhaled sharply. “I’m coming there tomorrow. Pack your bags. You’re coming back with me.”

“Hyung, relax.”

“I am relaxed,” Hoseok said, but the tension in his voice was unmistakable. “I just don’t trust him anywhere near you.”

Jimin exhaled, leaning back against the couch. “I know you’re worried, but I can handle him.”

“What if he’s playing another game with you?” Hoseok pressed.

Jimin’s fingers tightened around his phone. “Then I’ll play better.”

Silence. A long pause where Hoseok was likely weighing his next words carefully.

“You could resign,” he finally said. “I can get you a job at another company. Heck, you don't even need to work Jimin, you're a Park.”

Jimin shook his head. “Hyung, I know you’re worried about me, but I’m not weak. I’m your brother, not some helpless kid. I don’t run from my problems.”

Hoseok was quiet for a moment before muttering, “I never said you were weak. I just don’t want you getting hurt again.”

Jimin smiled, even if Hoseok couldn’t see it. His brother really loved him so much. “I won’t.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Another pause, then a reluctant sigh. “Fine. But if he pulls any shit, you call me first.”

“Deal.”

And with that, Jimin hung up, his fingers tightening around his phone as he stared at the ceiling.

Prepared or not, he knew one thing for sure—Yoongi wasn’t going to make this easy.

-

The next morning, Jimin arrived at work with his usual confidence. Dressed in a sleek black outfit that made him look effortlessly powerful, he walked into the office like he owned the place, and in some way he did. 

If Yoongi wants a game, then Jimin would play it better.

As he reached his desk, he noticed something unusual—a giant stuffed bear sat in his office chair. It was even wearing a suit.

Jimin blinked.

A note was taped to the bear’s paw.

"Since I know you hate seeing my face, I thought I'd send my replacement. Handsome, quiet, and stress-free. - Y."

Jimin gawked at the note before crumpling it in his fist.

That idiot.

If Yoongi thought he could buy his way back into his life with gifts, he had another thing coming.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the teddy and walked straight toward Yoongi’s office. He didn’t bother knocking—just pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Yoongi looked up from his desk, his gaze unreadable. “Jimin.”

Jimin dropped the teddy onto the desk. “Keep it.”

Yoongi leaned back in his chair, tilting his head. “It’s a gift.”

“I don’t need your gifts,” Jimin said, voice cold. “I don’t need anything from you.”

Yoongi’s lips twitched slightly, as if he found Jimin’s reaction amusing. 

“That’s a shame,” he said smoothly. “I put a lot of thought into it.”

Jimin scoffed, crossing his arms. “Oh, I can tell. A stuffed bear? Really?”

Yoongi’s gaze flickered to the bear before meeting Jimin’s eyes again. “I thought it was fitting. It won’t yell at me. Won’t throw away flowers. Won’t look at me like I’m a stranger.”

Jimin’s fingers twitched at his sides. Then he exhaled sharply, leaning forward. 

“Stop. Whatever you’re trying to do, just stop. I don’t need your pity, your gifts, or your attention.”

Yoongi’s gaze remained steady. “Who said this was pity?”

Jimin clenched his jaw. “Then what is it?”

Yoongi stood up, walking around the desk until he was right in front of Jimin. Not touching, not crowding, but close enough that Jimin could feel the warmth radiating from him. 

“It’s me not giving up.”

Jimin held his ground, refusing to back away. “You should.”

Yoongi let out a soft chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “We both know I won’t.”

Jimin hated how his heart stuttered for a second. Hated the way Yoongi’s voice still had the power to make something inside him waver.

But he had made his choice.

“You don’t get to waltz back into my life and act like you care,” Jimin said, his voice low. “Not after everything.”

Yoongi’s expression shifted just a fraction. Just enough for Jimin to catch the flicker of something—regret? Pain? He wasn’t sure.

But Jimin didn’t care.

Yoongi glanced at the teddy bear, then back at Jimin, a small smile plays on his lips.  

“You didn’t throw it away this time.”

Jimin’s jaw clenched. “I wanted to return it personally. Thought you should keep your trash where it belongs.”

Yoongi let out a slow exhale, stepping even closer. “You really think I’m going to stop just because you’re pushing me away?”

Jimin held his ground. “I don’t think, Yoongi. I know.”

Yoongi’s gaze darkened, but instead of arguing, he backed away. 

“Alright.” He picked up the teddy bear and held it under one arm.

“I’ll keep it until you're ready to take it.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “Not in this lifetime.”

Yoongi smirked, and something in his eyes made Jimin’s stomach twist. “We’ll see about that.”

Jimin turned on his heel, refusing to let Yoongi see the slight hesitation in his steps. He wouldn’t let himself be affected. Not now. Not ever.

But as he left the office, the lingering warmth of Yoongi’s gaze followed him. And that… that annoyed him the most.

Jimin knew this wouldn’t be the end. He tried his best to stay calm, to not show how affected he was. But it was hard—too hard—when it came to Yoongi. It was always Yoongi. It was impossible not to react, impossible to keep his emotions in check when that insufferable, smug smirk was aimed right at him. 

He wanted to wipe it off Yoongi’s face, maybe with a punch—or maybe with—

No. He shut the thought down immediately, heading straight back to his office.

His coworkers were talking. Of course, they were. They must have noticed how strange it was—Jimin suddenly receiving a bouquet and a teddy bear ever since their new CEO arrived. But Jimin had no intention of explaining anything. He was in no mood to entertain their curiosity. Let them believe whatever they want.

Jimin exhaled sharply, settling into his chair. His gaze flickered to his phone, where a new notification lit up the screen.

Yoongi had followed him on Instagram.

But not from his usual business account that he had already blocked—this was a brand-new one.

Jimin scoffed. Desperate, are we?

His thumb hovered over the block button, ready to cut Yoongi off once again, when another notification popped up.

Yoongi had mentioned him in his story.

Jimin’s pulse kicked up. He clicked on it.

It was a picture of the teddy bear sitting on Yoongi’s office couch, still dressed in its ridiculous little suit, arms folded like it was sulking. Below it, a caption in Yoongi’s unmistakable dry humor:

“Rejected but still hopeful. Just like its sender.”

Jimin’s grip tightened around his phone.

That bastard.

Jimin clenched his jaw, locking his phone before tossing it onto his desk. He wants a reaction? Not happening.

But as much as he wanted to ignore it, his mind kept circling back to the story. Yoongi was playing with him—pushing just enough to get under his skin, but not enough to cross the line.

A deep sigh left Jimin’s lips. 

Minhyun peeked his head into Jimin’s office a moment later. "You okay?"

Jimin rolled his eyes. "Why wouldn’t I be?"

Minhyun raised an eyebrow. "You’re gripping that pen like you want to break it."

Jimin blinked, looking down at his hand. He was, in fact, strangling the life out of his pen. With a huff, he set it down. "Yoongi’s just being annoying."

"He posted something, didn’t he?"

Jimin groaned. "Don’t start."

Minhyun held up his hands. "Hey, I’m just saying, he’s trying really hard for someone who supposedly let you go."

Jimin leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "He can try all he wants. It won’t change a thing."

Minhyun hummed, unconvinced. "If you say so."

Before Jimin could respond, his phone buzzed again.

Another Instagram notification.

Min Yoongi sent you a DM.

Jimin narrowed his eyes. He clicked on it.

Yoongi: You really have the heart to ignore him? Even after he dressed up just for you?

Jimin didn’t need to ask who he was. He could already picture that stupid teddy bear sitting in Yoongi’s office, probably still in its ridiculous little suit.

Jimin smirked, shaking his head. He typed back.

Jimin: Tell him he looks pathetic.

Yoongi’s response was instant.

Yoongi: Noted. But just so you know, I look even worse.

Jimin’s breath hitched. His fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

Damn him.

Minhyun cleared his throat, snapping Jimin out of his thoughts.

“See you at lunch?”

Jimin blinked before nodding. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

As Minhyun walked away, Jimin noticed his co-workers peeking into his office, their eyes filled with curiosity. No doubt, they were waiting for some kind of exclusive gossip. But Jimin wasn’t in the mood to entertain them. Instead, he focused on his work—at least, he tried to.

It was difficult when his mind kept drifting back to him.

Somehow, he managed to get through the rest of the morning.

A small smile tugged at his lips when he heard a familiar knock at his door. Minhyun stood there, waiting.

Jimin shut his laptop and got up, ready for lunch. 

Meanwhile, in his office, Yoongi spun lazily in his chair, the oversized teddy bear resting in his arms. His fingers absentmindedly traced the soft fabric, but his thoughts were elsewhere—on Jimin.

How could he make it up to him?

Yoongi sighed, adjusting his grip on the stuffed bear. It still carried the faintest trace of Jimin’s tangy, citrus scent. His hold on it tightened.

Then, he heard something that made him freeze—Jimin’s laughter.

Instantly, Yoongi sat up, eyes narrowing as he turned toward the blinds. Through the slats, he saw Jimin walking out with Minhyun, smiling, looking too comfortable.

He didn’t think. He just acted.

Yoongi stood up abruptly.

“Sir, this—” An employee tried to stop him, but Yoongi cut them off with a sharp, “Later.”

Ignoring everything else, he started following them.

Jimin and Minhyun made their way to the office cafeteria, completely unaware of the piercing gaze tracking their every move.

They found a table near the windows, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow over them. Minhyun had already started talking about some new project, but Jimin only half-listened, his mind still clouded with lingering thoughts of Yoongi.

Until he felt it.

A presence.

Jimin didn't even need to turn around to know. The slight prickle at the back of his neck, the sudden shift in the air—it could only be him.

And sure enough, when he finally glanced toward the entrance, there he was.

Min Yoongi.

Looking infuriatingly composed, effortlessly confident, and walking straight toward them as if he belonged there.

Jimin exhaled through his nose, trying to school his expression into something unreadable. He wasn’t going to let Yoongi get under his skin. Not again.

But Minhyun noticed the change in his posture and subtly followed his gaze. His lips pressed into a thin line when he saw Yoongi approaching.

“Looks like your shadow is here,” Minhyun muttered under his breath.

Jimin huffed a short, humorless laugh. “He’s not my shadow.”

“He sure follows you like one.”

Before Jimin could respond, Yoongi had already reached their table. He didn’t sit. He didn’t greet them. He just looked at Jimin, as if Minhyun didn’t exist.

Jimin exhaled slowly, keeping his expression neutral despite the growing tension.

“We were having lunch, Mr. Min,” Jimin said, voice clipped and professional. The cafeteria had fallen silent, all eyes on their table.

“I was hungry too. Mind if I join you?” Yoongi replied casually—though he didn’t wait for permission before pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Jimin’s hands curled into fists beneath the table.

“Sir, you didn’t need to come down here,” one of the senior employees hurried to Yoongi's side, sending a pointed look in Jimin’s direction as if he had personally offended him. “I would have brought your lunch to your office.”

Yoongi barely spared them a glance. 

“Don’t worry about it. Eating with my employees is part of my team-building strategy.” His smirk was all sharp edges, knowing and deliberate.

The employee’s gaze flickered to Jimin’s intern badge, as if that was reason enough for Yoongi to sit elsewhere. “Then you should dine with higher-ranked employees, not interns.”

Jimin scoffed at that but didn’t bother arguing.

Yoongi, however, smiled—polite, but laced with unspoken authority. 

“I own this company, not you.” His voice was deceptively calm, but the underlying warning was enough to send the employee retreating without another word.

Yoongi hummed, glancing at Jimin’s plate. “Hmm, what should I get?” His eyes lingered a little too long, as if considering taking a bite of Jimin’s food instead.

Jimin smirked, an idea forming.

“Mr. Min, allow me to get your lunch for you,” he said sweetly, rising to his feet before anyone could react.

Minhyun looked surprised. Yoongi raised a brow, clearly intrigued.

Jimin turned on his heel, heading toward the counter. 

Yoongi watched Jimin walk away with calculated ease, the sway of his movements deliberate. He knew Jimin was up to something—but that only made him more interested.

Minhyun shifted in his seat, throwing a wary glance at Yoongi. “You know, you don’t have to do this,” he muttered.

Yoongi smirked. “Do what?”

Minhyun’s jaw tightened. “Whatever this is. Playing games with him.”

Yoongi leaned back, arms resting lazily on the chair. “Who said I’m playing?”

Minhyun scoffed but didn’t say anything more.

A few minutes later, Jimin returned, placing a tray in front of Yoongi with an innocent smile.

A plate of the spiciest dish on the menu, too hot for Yoongi’s sensitive stomach. A drink loaded with sugar—something Yoongi despised. And for the final touch, a dainty little dessert that looked ridiculously out of place next to the rest of the meal.

Yoongi stared at the food, then back at Jimin. “Really?”

Jimin tilted his head innocently. “You said you were hungry. I got you a full meal.”

Minhyun stifled a laugh beside him. 

Yoongi picked up his chopsticks, eyeing the fiery red dish. He twirled the food around, as if contemplating his next move. Instead of reacting, he took a bite. 

Even as the spice burned his tongue and settled like fire in his stomach, he didn’t flinch. Because this—this was nothing compared to what he truly deserved.

If it took a hundred meals like this to earn Jimin’s forgiveness, he’d eat them all without complaint.

Jimin expected him to cough, reach for water, anything. But Yoongi just chewed, swallowed, and then—smirked.

“Not bad.”

Jimin’s lips parted in disbelief.

Yoongi picked up the overly sweet drink next and took a sip. If he hated it, he didn’t show it. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, gaze locked onto Jimin.

“You know my likes and dislikes so well, don't you Jimin-ah?”

Jimin stiffened at the way Yoongi said his name—low, teasing, laced with something dangerous.

Yoongi’s smirk deepened. 

“I wonder… is that because you still care?”

Jimin gritted his teeth, refusing to take the bait. “Or maybe I just enjoy watching you suffer.”

Yoongi chuckled, the sound low and knowing. “If it’s you, I’d gladly suffer at your hands a thousand times over.”

Jimin’s breath hitched for a fraction of a second, and he hated it. Hated the way his heart stuttered, the way Yoongi’s words sent an uninvited warmth through him.

Because—fuck.

Yoongi still made him feel things he shouldn’t.

Chapter Text

D a y  -  3

Jimin arrived at work determined to ignore whatever nonsense Yoongi had planned for the day. He wasn’t going to let himself get distracted again. 

But the moment he stepped into his office, he knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

Sitting on his desk was a cup of coffee---his exact order, down to the brand of milk he preferred. That alone was enough to make Jimin pause.

How did Yoongi even know this?

A sticky note was attached to the cup, the handwriting immediately familiar.

"Since you enjoy watching me suffer, I’ll start with small atonements. - Y."

Jimin exhaled sharply, gripping the note. That bastard. Was he seriously trying to win him over with a coffee now?

With a shake of his head, he grabbed the cup, fully intending to throw it in the trash, but then, hesitated, even if it was just for a mere second. 

Before he could make a decision, his phone buzzed. A message from Minhyun.

Minhyun: Did you see the morning gossip?

Jimin frowned, typing back.

Jimin: What gossip?

A second later, Minhyun sent a link to an office group chat. Jimin clicked it, and his stomach dropped.

A picture of Yoongi from yesterday’s lunch was trending among employees—Yoongi, eating the ridiculous spicy food Jimin had ordered for him. The caption?

"CEO Min really likes Intern Park, huh? He’s willing to burn his tongue just to sit with him."

Jimin groaned, shutting his phone off and tossing it onto his desk. The last thing he needed was more speculation from his coworkers. He already knew what they were whispering about—how the new CEO seemed too interested in him, how Yoongi went out of his way to sit with him, how he willingly ate food that could set someone’s insides on fire.

He took a sip of the coffee, absentmindedly—but nearly groaned when it was perfect. That fucker.

His phone vibrated again. This time it was a dm from Yoongi. 

Yoongi: You didn’t throw away the coffee. That’s progress.

Jimin’s breath caught, he looked around to see if Yoongi was looming near his office. 

Then, a second message.

Yoongi: Lunch is on me today.

Jimin huffed at the screen. 

Yoongi. 

That bastard wasn’t going to stop, was he?

Jimin clenched his phone, his jaw tightening. He deleted the messages and tossed the phone onto his desk. Lunch is on me? Yeah, like hell he’d accept that. 

A few hours later, lunchtime rolled around. Jimin knew Yoongi would be waiting for him at the cafeteria so he decided to just eat in his office today. He had already texted Minhyun and was about to order something for himself when an employee knocked at his door.

“Mr. Park, the CEO requested that your lunch be delivered to your office today.”

Jimin blinked. “What?”

The employee gestured behind him, where another worker stood with an expensive-looking takeout bag.

“From one of the top restaurants in the city,” the employee added.

Jimin’s stomach twisted. This was so like Yoongi.

Behind them, he can hear the other employees whispering, “Wow. I think I should start dating a CEO too.”

Jimin shot them a glare before turning back to the employee. “Take it back.”

The worker hesitated. “But—”

“I didn’t ask for it.” Jimin’s voice was firm.

Just then, another message popped up on his phone.

Yoongi: You can refuse the food. But I’ll just keep sending it every day.

Jimin’s fingers tightened around his phone. This man was impossible.

He exhaled sharply and typed back.

Jimin: Then I’ll keep rejecting it.

Almost immediately, another message popped up.

Yoongi: That’s fine. I like challenges.

Jimin clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to throw his phone across the room. Instead, he locked the screen, exhaled sharply, and turned back to the hesitant employee still holding the bag.

Without another word, he took the bag and strode out of his office, making his way to the cafeteria. His sharp gaze scanned the room until it landed on an empty table where a group of employees sat without food.

Jimin placed the bag down in front of them with a polite smile. “A treat from me.”

The workers blinked in surprise but quickly murmured their thanks as Jimin walked away.

Spotting Minhyun already eating, Jimin made his way over and dropped into the seat beside him.

Minhyun raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were going to eat in your office?”

“I was… until someone pissed me off.”

Before Minhyun could respond, his gaze flickered past Jimin, eyes widening slightly. Jimin didn’t even need to turn around to know why.

Yoongi slid into the seat across him, smirking as if he belonged there.

“So, cafeteria food over fine dining?” he mused, resting his chin on his hand. “Noted.”

Jimin clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to curse Yoongi out in front of the entire office. People had already started whispering, their curious gazes flickering toward their table. He even caught the subtle flashes of phone cameras snapping pictures. Great, another gossip on the way. 

He took a deep breath, schooling his expression into one of perfect composure. He wouldn’t let Yoongi get under his skin.

Then, without a word, Jimin stood up.

For a fleeting second, he saw Yoongi’s smirk falter, his brows knitting ever so slightly.

“Where are you going?” Yoongi asked, voice steady but laced with something else----something Jimin wasn’t willing to name.

“To get us food, Mr. Min,” Jimin replied sweetly, flashing a Cheshire-like grin.

Yoongi’s eyes darkened, recognizing the mischief behind that innocent smile. But still, something warm curled in his chest at the sound of Jimin’s sweet voice.

Jimin turned on his heel and made his way to the counter, ordering his usual meal for himself. But for Yoongi?

He went even further than yesterday.

When the food was finally ready, Jimin carried the tray back with practiced ease, setting it down in front of Yoongi with a sickly sweet smile.

“There you go, Mr. Min. Your special lunch.”

Yoongi glanced down at the tray, his smirk faltered. The dish was a fiery red, piled high with extra chili flakes and a side of wasabi-laced dumplings. Beside it sat a drink—so obnoxiously sweet it was almost glowing, topped with whipped cream, syrup, and colorful sprinkles. This was even worse than yesterday's lunch. 

But the alpha wasn’t about to back down.

His only reaction was the slight twitch of his lips before he picked up his chopsticks, lifting a bite of the food with the same effortless arrogance he always carried.

If his stomach had to pay the price just to be near Jimin, then so be it.

He took the first bite, the intense burn hitting his tongue instantly, but he swallowed it down without so much as a wince.

What truly dulled the spice, though, was the sight in front of him—Jimin, effortlessly beautiful as he ate his meal, chatting casually with Minhyun while deliberately ignoring Yoongi’s presence.

But at least he hadn’t walked away.

And for now, that was enough.

-

D a y  -  6

When Jimin entered his office that morning, a cake was waiting for him on his desk. At first, he paid it little attention, assuming it was another of Yoongi’s annoying gestures, something easy to ignore.

But then he noticed the box.

It wasn’t from any bakery nearby. It was from his favorite one in Canada.

His breath hitched.

For a long moment, he simply stared at it, fingers hovering just above the lid but not quite touching. It had been months since he last had this cake, he never mentioned it to Yoongi. Yet, somehow, Yoongi had managed to find pieces of his past.

Inside, the cake was exactly as he remembered—light, delicate, the kind that melted on his tongue. There was even a small note tucked beside it, the handwriting unmistakably Yoongi’s.

"I know you haven’t had this in a while. Thought you might want a taste of something sweet - Y. ”

Jimin exhaled sharply, closing the box, shaking off the sudden weight in his chest. He didn't pay much attention to the cake and went back to his work. 

-

D a y - 9

It was already evening when Yoongi finally returned to his hotel. He had spent the last hour shopping, carefully selecting Jimin’s next gift.

He glanced down at the neatly packed set of sheet masks, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. Each one had been chosen with care, knowing how much Jimin valued his skincare routine. Not that he needed them—Jimin was effortlessly beautiful, with or without them.

Shaking his head at his own thoughts, Yoongi grabbed a pen and quickly scribbled another note.

"Since you’re already glowing, I thought I’d help you shine even more. Not that you need them—you already glow without trying - Y.”

Once finished, he set the package aside and turned his attention to his laptop. There was still a mountain of work to handle. Managing this company during the day while also overseeing his own at night left him with little room for rest.

The next few hours were a blur of reports, emails, and back-and-forth messages with Juwon. It wasn’t until the dim glow of the clock read 3:00 AM that his phone buzzed with an incoming call.

Appa.

Yoongi straightened, exhaustion momentarily pushed aside as he answered.

“Appa,” he greeted, his voice steady despite the late hour.

There was a brief pause on the other end before Eunseok spoke.

"Still awake, I see."

Yoongi exhaled through his nose, leaning back in his chair. “Work doesn’t stop just because the sun goes down.”

"You’re overworking yourself."

Yoongi smirked slightly, rubbing at his tired eyes. “Nothing new there.”

Eunseok sighed, the sound full of fatherly concern. “Yoongi ah, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t push your body too hard.”

“I’m fine, appa. Don’t worry.”

A long silence followed before Eunseok’s voice softened. “How’s things going with Jimin?”

Yoongi’s gaze shifted to the papers scattered on his desk, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. “I’m still trying my best. I feel like we’re getting there, but not quite yet.”

He fidgeted with his phone, fingers brushing over the smooth surface.

Every day, without fail, he sent Jimin gifts—small gestures meant to bridge the distance between them. But more often than not, they found their way back to his desk, unopened. Sometimes, he caught glimpses of Jimin casually handing them off to his coworkers, as if they meant nothing.

He wanted to stop him. Wanted to pull Jimin aside, have a real conversation, and say all the things he had left unsaid. But every time their eyes met, and Yoongi saw the lingering hurt in Jimin’s gaze, the words died on his tongue.

He had never been good with words.

So instead, he let his actions speak.

He showed up at lunch without fail, settling across from Jimin as if it were his rightful place. He endured the spiciest food Jimin could find, eating every bite without complaint—always with a smile, even when his stomach protested. It was the only time Jimin let him be close.

His father’s voice pulled him back to the present, gentle yet firm. “It takes time. Don’t rush. Give him space.”

Yoongi nodded, though his father couldn’t see it. “I know. I’m patient.”

Eunseok hummed in acknowledgment, then his tone shifted, filled with quiet concern. “Did you eat dinner?”

Yoongi hesitated, then sighed. “No, I wasn’t in the mood.” He knew better than to lie—his father would see right through it.

“What’s wrong?”

His fingers traced the edge of his desk. His stomach had been unsettled for days now, the result of forcing down meals that burned his throat and left him restless at night. But he never stopped. Because Jimin chose that food for him. And as long as Jimin was the one handing him the tray, it was worth it.

“Nothing,” he finally answered. “Just had a heavy lunch.”

Eunseok didn’t press, only sighed in quiet understanding. “Alright. Just make sure you get some rest. Go to sleep soon, okay?”

“I will, Appa.” Yoongi’s voice had softened, the weight of exhaustion finally settling in.

After hanging up, Yoongi stared at the screen for a moment before closing his laptop. His father's words echoed in his mind. Maybe he was pushing too hard.

But when it came to Jimin, he didn’t know how to stop.

The next morning, Yoongi arrived at the office earlier than usual. He had barely slept, but that wasn’t anything new. His thoughts had kept him awake—thoughts of Jimin, of the space between them, of how much further he had to go before he could truly close that distance.

As he stepped out of the elevator, he caught sight of Jimin walking ahead, speaking to Minhyun. The omega’s voice was light, laughter slipping past his lips so easily in the presence of another. It made something tighten in Yoongi’s chest.

Jimin hadn’t laughed like that around him in a long time.

“Good morning, Mr. Min,” an employee greeted, snapping Yoongi out of his thoughts.

He nodded in acknowledgment, schooling his expression into something neutral before making his way to his office. He had work to do. He always did.

But first—

Yoongi placed the neatly wrapped box of sheet masks on Jimin’s desk before heading to his own office. 

A few hours later, he stepped into the cafeteria right on time, eyes immediately seeking out Jimin.

And, as expected, Jimin was already waiting for him—though not intentionally. He was seated at his usual table, chatting with Minhyun, his tray in front of him.

Yoongi smirked, striding over.

“So, what’s on the menu today?” he mused, sliding into the seat across from Jimin like it was his rightful place.

Jimin barely spared him a glance. “You’ll see.”

Yoongi exhaled a soft laugh, leaning back in his chair. “I can’t wait.”

He really couldn’t.

Jimin returned a slow, saccharine smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"You’re going to love it, Mr. Min," he said sweetly, emphasizing the title like a taunt.

Yoongi’s smirk didn’t waver, but he knew better than to underestimate Jimin. The omega was relentless when he wanted to be.

Moments later, the food arrived, and Yoongi’s eyes flickered down to his tray.

The dish was bathed in an almost unnaturally red sauce, the scent of spice alone making his stomach churn in protest. Beside it, another drink—this one looked even sweeter than the last (if that was even possible), it was the kind of sugary monstrosity Yoongi wouldn't have touched in a million years if it weren’t for the person sitting in front of him.

Jimin lifted his own chopsticks, looking perfectly content as he dug into his meal. Minhyun, who was still sitting beside him, shot Yoongi a knowing look but wisely said nothing.

Yoongi exhaled, rolling his shoulders back before picking up his own chopsticks. He twirled a bite around, lifted it to his lips, and—

Took the first bite.

The spice hit him instantly, a slow burn that built with every chew. But he didn't let it show. Instead, he swallowed smoothly and tilted his head.

“Not bad,” he murmured, licking his lips as he reached for the overly sweet drink next. The sugar was overwhelming, but he simply hummed in approval.

Jimin frowned, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "You're really persistent."

Yoongi set his cup down, leaning forward slightly.

"I told you, Jimin-ah," he said, voice low, teasing. "If it's you, I'm ready to suffer a thousand times."

Jimin’s fingers twitched around his chopsticks. His lips parted, as if to snap back with something sharp, but for a fraction of a second—just a second—his expression wavered.

Yoongi saw it.

And it was enough to make the burn of the food feel worth it.

Jimin quickly schooled his expression, scoffing as he turned back to his food.

“Suit yourself.”

Yoongi thrived on the small cracks in Jimin’s walls.

They ate in relative silence after that, Jimin talking occasionally with Minhyun while Yoongi focused on finishing his meal—every last bite of it. He was sure his insides were already in flames, but he barely flinched. If Jimin was going to test him, he’d take every challenge head-on.

Jimin stood up first, gathering his tray with a pointed look in Yoongi’s direction, as if daring him to follow.

Yoongi, of course, did exactly that.

He matched Jimin’s pace as they exited the cafeteria, walking side by side, though Jimin pointedly ignored his presence.

“You really went all out today,” Yoongi remarked, voice light.

Jimin didn’t slow his steps. “You deserve it.”

Yoongi chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. “So you’re admitting this is punishment?”

Jimin stopped walking abruptly, turning to him with a deadpan stare. “What else would it be?”

Yoongi smirked, leaning in just a fraction.

“An excuse to have lunch with me every day.”

Jimin’s eyes flashed, lips pressing into a firm line. But before he could retort, a voice called out from behind them.

“Jimin-ssi!”

They both turned to see a colleague approaching—a beta from Jimin’s department. The man smiled warmly, giving a small nod to Yoongi before focusing back on Jimin.

“Are you free after work today? A few of us are grabbing drinks.”

Jimin hesitated, casting a brief glance at Yoongi before responding. “I’ll think about it.”

The beta grinned. “Let me know.”

Then, as if out of obligation, he turned to Yoongi. “Uh, sir, would you like to come—”

“Of course, I’ll be there.” Yoongi cut in smoothly.

The beta blinked, caught off guard. “It’s no pressure, really, you don’t—”

“Of course I have to,” Yoongi interrupted again, his smirk deepening. “It’s team building, right?”

The beta looked hesitant, and Jimin immediately saw an opportunity.

“Where are we going, by the way?” Jimin asked, tilting his head.

“A nearby bar,” the beta replied cautiously.

Jimin hummed, feigning concern. “Hmm, that doesn’t seem like an appropriate place for our dear Mr. Min.”

Yoongi raised a brow, clearly amused.

Jimin turned back to the beta. “I’ll handle the venue. Tell the whole company they’re invited.”

The beta hesitated but nodded. “Uh, sure… I’ll spread the word.”

Jimin then turned to Yoongi, extending his palm.

“Your card, sir. It’s your treat, right? Since you’re so invested in team building.”

Yoongi’s smirk grew as he smoothly placed his black card in Jimin’s hand. But instead of letting go immediately, he let his fingers linger, pressing gently against Jimin’s own. Then, he leaned in, voice dropping just enough for only Jimin to hear. 

“Just so you know,” Yoongi murmured, “I’d give you my heart too. You just need to ask.”

Jimin’s breath hitched, his grip tightening around the card. He met Yoongi’s gaze for a split second before scoffing and striding away, pretending his pulse wasn’t hammering in his ears.

The evening came faster than expected, and the upscale lounge Jimin had chosen was already buzzing with energy when he arrived. The company employees, who had expected a casual bar setting, were clearly in awe of the luxurious venue. Soft ambient lighting, plush seating, and a live jazz band made it evident that this was no ordinary team outing.

Jimin smirked as he stepped inside, striding confidently toward the private section reserved just for them. He had gone shopping earlier, ensuring that every inch of his outfit screamed luxury. 

From head to toe, he was draped in opulence—his hair freshly styled, a glittering mesh top clinging to his frame, rhinestone-studded jeans catching the light with every step. Silver hoops dangled from his ears, a diamond pendant rested against his collarbone, and on his wrist, a diamond-studded Rolex gleamed under the soft glow of the club lights.

All of it was bought from Yoongi’s card. Cause if the alpha wanted to impose on his plans, then Jimin would make sure he paid for it—literally.

Yoongi arrived shortly after, dressed in his usual effortless elegance, sleeves rolled up and a lazy smirk in place. His sharp gaze swept across the room before landing on Jimin, who was sitting confidently with a cocktail in hand; a slight, involuntary tension rippled through him. The sight of Jimin, glowing in his luxury and poise, hit him like a punch to the gut. For a brief moment, Yoongi forgot how to breathe.

“You really went all out,” Yoongi remarked as he took the seat beside him.

Jimin took a slow sip, feigning nonchalance.

“Only the best for our dear CEO.”

Yoongi chuckled, reaching for Jimin’s drink instead of ordering one for himself. 

“So generous of you… with my money.”

Jimin shrugged, leaning back. “Think of it as a fair price for crashing my plans.”

Just then, the beta from earlier approached, clearing his throat. “Jimin-ssi, would you like to dance?”

Jimin gave him an innocent smile, drinks and dance go hand in hand for him. “Why not?”

He stood, letting the beta lead him to the small dance floor without turning back. 

Yoongi watched, his smirk tightening as Jimin twirled effortlessly, the soft glow of the chandeliers casting a golden sheen over his skin. The beta beside Jimin smiled, but Yoongi barely noticed, his attention was solely on the omega.

It made Yoongi think back to that night—the night they had gone to a club with Jimin’s friends, the night when everything began to slip through his fingers. 

Back then, Jimin had been his. He belonged to him. 

And yet, Yoongi had let him go, choosing to push him away instead of claiming him as he should have. 

Now, as he watched Jimin laugh and sway with others, the weight of his own choices pressed down on him. The consequences were bitter—more bitter than the alcohol he was nursing

Jimin wasn’t oblivious; he knew Yoongi’s eyes were on him. With every twirl, he made sure to laugh a little louder, lean in just a touch closer to the beta, knowing exactly how it would affect Yoongi. There was a certain satisfaction in the way Yoongi’s gaze seemed to burn into him, but Jimin kept his thoughts guarded, pushing away the memories of that night.

That night still lingered in his mind, despite his efforts to forget. He couldn’t help but remember the warmth that had flooded through him when Yoongi’s lips had brushed his forehead. It was sweeter than any kiss he’d ever received, and it hurt to admit that it was a feeling he still yearned for, even after everything.

Two songs in, Jimin turned to head back to his seat, his head starting to throb, not from the alcohol, but from the flood of memories that kept invading his thoughts. Yoongi had been watching, and it made everything feel like it was too much.

When he reached his seat, he saw Yoongi still standing there, his drink forgotten on the counter. 

The senior employees had tried to pull Yoongi into their circle, eager for a moment of his time, but he had flatly refused. He was here for Jimin—only Jimin.  

“My turn,” Yoongi murmured, extending a hand toward Jimin, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.  

“You don’t dance.” Jimin stated flatly, recalling the very words Yoongi had once used when he had asked him to dance.

“I don't,” Yoongi admitted, his voice low, “but I want to—with you.”

Dancing had never been something Yoongi cared for. He never needed to. But seeing Jimin radiant and carefree on the dance floor, Yoongi realized he wanted to be a part of that happiness.  

Jimin hesitated. He knew exactly what he was getting into if he said yes. He should have refused, should have walked away like always, should have said something cutting, should have pushed Yoongi away.

But he didn’t.  

Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the persistent way Yoongi kept reaching for him, a fragile hope blooming in Jimin's chest making him wonder—just this once—if whatever this was between them wasn’t temporary or a game anymore. Maybe this time, Yoongi wanted him just as much as he did.  

With a resigned sigh, he placed his hand in Yoongi’s, allowing himself to be pulled into the next dance.  

Yoongi’s grip was firm but not forceful as he guided Jimin onto the dance floor. His heart pounded in his chest, unexpected and thrilling. He hadn’t thought Jimin would actually say yes. His gummy smile was infectious, impossible to suppress, as he held Jimin’s hand—so soft, so delicate, as if he were holding something precious.

The music shifted into something slower, the DJ reading the atmosphere, the kind of song that left little room for distance. Jimin exhaled sharply as Yoongi’s hand settled against his waist, the warmth seeping through his shirt.

Yoongi’s fingers trembled, as if he were afraid Jimin would slip away—as if he might wake up and find this had all been a dream.

“Why are you doing this?” Jimin asked, tilting his head up to meet Yoongi’s gaze.  

The employees whispered around them, but Yoongi didn’t care. He only cared about the omega in front of him.

“What?” Yoongi asked softly.  

“You. Dancing. You said you don’t dance.”

Yoongi hummed. “I don’t dance with just anyone.”  

Jimin’s fingers twitched against Yoongi’s shoulder. He didn’t know whether to be annoyed or pleased by that.  

“Lucky me,” he said dryly.  

Yoongi chuckled, pulling him just a fraction closer.

“Lucky me,” he corrected, voice dipping lower. 

Jimin knew he should step back, brush it off as another one of Yoongi’s games. But the way Yoongi looked at him, steady, intent, as if memorizing every detail, as if Jimin might disappear at any second—made something in his chest tighten.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply swayed to the music, perfectly in sync. The careful distance Jimin had maintained to protect himself suddenly felt insignificant.

But Jimin wasn’t foolish enough to believe in moments.

So he stepped back first, reclaiming the space between them. Yoongi let him go, though his expression remained unreadable.

Before Jimin could retreat any further, Yoongi’s voice stopped him.  

“Jimin.”  

He turned, expecting another teasing remark, but Yoongi’s expression was softer now, quieter.  

“Thank you.”  

Jimin blinked, caught off guard. “For what?”  

Yoongi smiled, something almost fond in his eyes. “For dancing with me.”  

Jimin scoffed, rolling his eyes, a mixture of frustration and confusion swirling in his chest. He could feel the weight of Yoongi’s presence, pushing against his walls, but he couldn’t let himself be pulled back in. He wouldn’t.

He hated that Yoongi still had the power to make him feel like this.  

“I’m not the same person I was before,” Yoongi said again, seeing Jimin was still there, voice low but steady.

“I won’t give up on you, Jimin. I can’t.”

He took a step closer, his presence commanding yet not overbearing. 

“Jimin ah.... I’ve been trying to show you, in my own way, that I’m sorry. But I don’t know how else to get through to you.”

Jimin swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words settle in the space between them. 

Yoongi’s gaze softened even further, his fingers itching to touch Jimin but he was afraid that'd make him back away so he curled his hands into fists. 

“I don’t expect forgiveness overnight. But I do want you to know I’m trying.”

Jimin’s chest tightened. He had been running for so long, avoiding the truth, avoiding him. But now, Yoongi was right here, looking at him like he was the one who had been hurt all along.

Yoongi stepped even closer, his voice low. 

“I want you, Jimin. Not just your forgiveness, but you. The real you. The one I know I’ve hurt, but the one I can’t stop thinking about.”

Jimin’s breath hitched, and for a moment, he thought he might actually say it—that he might admit that, yes, despite everything, he still wanted Yoongi too. But then, his mind flashed to everything that had happened, the pain, the confusion, the walls he had built.

So, instead of answering, he just stepped back, his heart hammering in his chest as he turned away.

Jimin went to sit with the employees from his department, knowing Yoongi wouldn’t be able to approach him there. He wasn’t sure he could handle talking to the alpha any longer tonight. His walls were already crumbling. 

If Yoongi had been forceful, pushing against his defenses, Jimin would have found it easy to push him away. But he wasn’t. Yoongi was patient, waiting—gentle. And that was worse. Because it made Jimin’s carefully built defenses weaken, piece by piece.  

Even as he drank with his coworkers, his eyes kept straying back to Yoongi, who sat alone at the bar. Instead of drinking like everyone else, Yoongi was peeling a tangerine, his fingers working meticulously as he stared off into the distance. He looked out of place.  

Jimin forced himself to look away, focusing on the conversation around him.  

The night dragged on, and gradually, employees began leaving. Jimin got up too, but his steps faltered when he caught sight of a senior employee speaking to Yoongi. The man was smiling, clearly trying to make conversation, but Yoongi looked completely uninterested.  

“Sir, someone like you shouldn’t be single,” the man said smoothly. “I know plenty of people who would be a perfect match for you—people of your level—” 

He turns to give Jimin a look. 

“I already have someone in my heart,” Yoongi interrupted, his voice sharp, leaving no room for argument.  

The man blinked, opening his mouth again, but Yoongi’s next words cut through the air like a blade.  

“If it’s not him, then I don’t want anyone else.”  

Silence. The senior employee quickly backed off, mumbling something before walking away.  

Jimin stood frozen, his heart hammering against his ribs. Yoongi’s words echoed in his mind, refusing to leave.  

“Jimin-ssi, let’s go. The cab is here,” one of the betas nudged him lightly, pulling him back to reality.  

Jimin nodded, forcing his legs to move. He didn’t look at Yoongi again. He couldn’t. His heart couldn’t take it.  

He slid into the passenger seat while his coworkers piled into the back. He was lost in thought, the weight of the night pressing down on him. They were about to drive away when a knock on his window startled him.  

Jimin turned, rolling down the window to find Yoongi standing there. His coworkers fell silent, watching curiously.  

Yoongi didn’t say anything. He simply reached into the small bag in his hand and placed an ice cream cup on Jimin’s lap, remembering about his hangover. And this time, it was Jimin’s favorite—unlike last time.  

“Get home safely,” Yoongi said, his voice quiet but firm.  

Then, without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night.  

Jimin stared down at the ice cream for a long time, his fingers tightening around the container before he finally peeled the lid and took a bite.  

That stupid alpha.  

Making his heart flutter all over again.  

That night, Jimin lay in bed, staring at the ceiling with hazy, unfocused eyes. No matter how hard he tried to push Yoongi out of his thoughts, the man lingered like a stubborn shadow.

The warmth of his hands when they danced, the way he had quietly placed ice cream in Jimin’s lap, the sharp certainty in his voice when he told that man he already had someone in his heart—it all replayed over and over, refusing to fade.

Yoongi had said he wanted him. 

Jimin exhaled, pressing a hand to his chest as if that could steady the uneven rhythm of his heart.

At some point, exhaustion won over, and Jimin drifted into sleep—only to find himself pulled into the past.

❀

It was spring. The cherry blossoms had just begun to bloom, painting the school courtyard in soft shades of pink. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of flowers as petals danced in the wind.

Jimin walked through the empty hallways, his steps heavy. The usual confidence he carried—the bright smiles, the playful smirks—felt like a mask slipping from his face now that he was alone. Most of the students had already gone home, leaving the corridors eerily quiet, giving his thoughts too much space to breathe.

The fight with his family still burned in his mind.

His brothers, Siwoo and Insu, had mocked him at breakfast, their words sharp as knives.

“Barely passing your exams again? Are you even a real Park?”

“You’re an embarrassment, Jimin. You’ll never measure up.”

Jimin had clenched his fists, trying to ignore them, but Insu kept pushing, taunting him with that smug grin. Until Jimin snapped.

He had shoved Insu—just a little. It wasn’t even that hard. But Insu, always dramatic, had stumbled back, crashing against the table with a loud thud.

The commotion had brought Jihoon and Harin rushing into the room.

Harin had been the first to react, gripping Jimin’s shoulders, shaking him roughly.

“What is wrong with you?” Harin had shouted, eyes flashing with anger. 

“You think acting like this will prove something?”

Jihoon’s voice had followed, colder. “You're just a spoiled brat throwing tantrums. Maybe if you actually put effort into something instead of acting out, you wouldn’t be such a disappointment.”

The words had cut deeper than Jimin wanted to admit.

He often wondered why his family despised him so much, why his parents never looked at him with the same warmth they had for his brothers. Was he really that much of a disappointment?

When he saw his parents fussing over Insu’s barely-there injury, calling a doctor as if he were on his deathbed, something inside Jimin cracked. He wanted that attention too. He wanted to be cared for like that, to be looked after, to be seen.

And he had already made up his mind.

Without hesitation, he made his way behind the school premises, to the secluded area where trouble often lurked.

There, just as he expected, was a group of senior alphas. They were cornering an omega—probably demanding money. The omega looked terrified, his back pressed against the wall, hands shaking as he clutched his bag.

Jimin didn’t think twice.

He stepped forward, yanking the omega away from their grasp. 

“Go away,” he told him, voice firm but gentle.

The omega hesitated for a second before nodding quickly and running off.

Jimin turned back to face the alphas, tilting his head, lips curling into a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Now, what were we doing?”

One of the alphas, tall, broad-shouldered, & clearly the leader of the group, clicked his tongue in annoyance. 

“And who the hell do you think you are?”

Jimin’s smirk didn’t waver. 

“Someone who doesn’t like seeing weak bastards like you picking on those who can’t fight back.”

Another alpha scoffed. “You got a death wish, Park?”

Jimin shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Maybe.”

The leader stepped closer, towering over him. “You think you're some hero, huh? You should’ve just minded your own damn business.”

Jimin saw the punch coming—he could have dodged it. But he didn’t.

Because that was the plan.

The alpha’s fist slammed into his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs.

“Cocky little shit,” the guy sneered.

Pain flared, sharp and hot, but Jimin just smiled through it. It wasn’t enough. Not yet.

He needed more.

Because when he finally walked through his front door, bruised and bloodied, maybe—just maybe—his family would care. Maybe they’d finally look at him with something other than disappointment.

The second punch came, this time catching his jaw. His head snapped to the side, the metallic taste of his blood caused by his split lips coating his tongue.

He staggered but didn’t fall.

Not yet.

The alphas chuckled darkly, amused by how Jimin still stood despite the blows.

“What’s wrong, Park? Thought you were tough?” One of them taunted, cracking his knuckles.

Jimin exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he smirked through the pain. 

“That's all you got?”

The leader’s eyes darkened at the challenge. He grabbed Jimin by the collar, ready to strike again—

“Let him go.”

The voice was calm. Low. Dangerous.

Jimin barely had time to register it before the grip on his collar loosened, and the alphas all turned toward the newcomer.

Yoongi.

Dressed in their school uniform, his tie loose, hands in his pockets, looking completely unbothered. But his gaze….dark and steady, it held an unspoken threat.

One of the alphas scoffed. “Stay out of this, Min.”

Yoongi didn’t respond. He just stepped forward, slow and deliberate.

The air shifted.

Jimin saw it happen in real-time—the way the alphas hesitated, the way their confidence wavered.

Because Yoongi wasn’t just another student.