"so, then you would have y equals e to the power of negative vt over d," hoseok said, trying to explain one of jimin's homework problems to him.

jimin flopped back in the café chair, clearly over doing the assignment.

he had already done almost two hours of work on his own, and hoseok had been helping him now for over an hour with the math portion. he simply couldn't handle doing anymore homework.

"i give up," jimin said, flipping his notebook closed.

"give up? jimin, you're only half way done with the assignment."

jimin shrugged, starting to stuff all his belongings into his bag, "i can work on the rest later. thanks for helping me."

hoseok sighed, nodding, "of course."

once jimin finished packing his bag, he stood up from the table and threw his backpack over his shoulder.

"what are your plans for tonight?" jimin asked.

"nothing much," hoseok said, shrugging.

jimin nodded.

"well... joon's booked for the night... and i feel like i should do something for you... for helping me with all that work," jimin said, "do you maybe wanna get some dinner or something? on me."

hoseok lit up at the idea, thinking it sounded like a lot of fun to hang out with jimin more.

"yeah... that sounds fun."

jimin smiled, reaching his hand out and pulling hoseok up from the chair.

"let's get going, then!"

-

"this is amazing, jimin! i've never had this."

the two boys ended up going back to jimin's apartment. both of them were super tired, so they decided to order food to jimin's flat, instead of going out and getting something.

"i can't believe you've never tried this place before! it's my favorite place to eat that's close to campus."

hoseok nodded.

"well, i can see why," hoseok said, taking another big bite, "thank you again. really... you didn't have to get me anything. after everything i did to you... i should be the one to get you something."

jimin quickly shook his head.

"i told you that i forgave you for all that, hoseok. really, i hold nothing against you. especially after you helped me with all that homework. i know that wasn't easy."

hoseok looked up from his food, making eye contact with jimin,

"i thought it was kind of fun... actually."

jimin just stared back, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink and smiling from the indirect complement.

"oh... well in that case... you can help me finish it later," jimin said, with a laugh.

hoseok smiled back at him, then continued eating his food.

-

it had grown to be dark outside, the only light in the apartment being the bright glare from the tv. the two had been watching shows for a couple hours now, having fun making little comments to each other here and there, unexpectedly feeling quite comfortable with each other, even though their friendship had really just started that day.

"i can't believe you've never seen sailor moon, hoseok! first the food, and now this?" jimin said, playfully being a bit overdramatic, "seriously, you really need to expand your horizons."

hoseok laughed, keeping his eyes on the cute looking animated girl with big blonde pigtails, walking around the television screen.

"well... i've obviously heard of it... i've just never been that interested in watching cartoons."

jimin looked over at him, raising one of his eyebrows slightly, in a teasing way.

"it's not just a cartoon, hoseok. it's anime."

hoseok laughed.

"is anime not cartoons?"

jimin's face settled a bit, trying to think of a clap back, but coming out empty handed.

"well... yes.., but it's really good cartoons."

hoseok laughed a bit, finding it cute how jimin tried to keep his face firm with him, but would always break out into a little smile.

"well... you've got me there," he said, "it is a good show."

jimin nodded.

"it's me and joon's favorite. we watch it like everyday."

the two sat and watched another episode or so, oblivious to the snow storm that was brewing outside.

they ended up making some popcorn in jimin's popcorn machine, sitting right beside each other on the couch, taking turns reaching in the bowl to grab out handfuls.

jimin suddenly paused the show, looking over to hoseok.

"...so, who's your favorite?" jimin asked, with a smile.

"favorite?"

"you know... favorite sailor," jimin said, taking another bite of popcorn, "every guy has one."

hoseok stopped for a moment, thinking.

"well... i guess if i had to pick... maybe... sailor mercury, i guess."

jimin laughed a little.

"i knew you'd pick her."

"why'd you think i'd pick her?"

jimin just shrugged, "i don't know. just a feeling."

"well... who's your favorite, then?"

jimin smiled, looking over him.

"i don't have one. i'm more of a tuxedo mask guy myself."

hoseok laughed again.

"but i thought you said every guy has a favorite sailor."

jimin shook his head.

"by every guy, i meant every straight guy. people like me... we appreciate all the sailors individual personalities and we think they all bring something special to the table."

hoseok scoffed.

"well... i didn't say i don't appreciate all of the-"

jimin quickly cut him off.

"too late. you already answered."

hoseok quickly went to defend himself again.

"there's no way that's actually true, jimin. besides, you set me up to-"

jimin immediately broke out into laughter, falling over onto hoseok, eventually coming up to look at him.

"you know i'm kidding, right? my favorite is usagi, of course."

hoseok's mouth parted.

"but you said-"

"i know what i said, hoseok. it was a joke," jimin said, patting his leg, "i wanted to make sure you were confident with your answer. you know, you can tell a lot about someone based on their favorite sailor moon sailor."

hoseok's eyebrows scrunched up.

"what do you mean?"

"well..," jimin started, "just from your pick of sailor mercury, i can conclude that you are very smart- which i already know is true, super kind, resourceful, a bit gullible at times... but that does provide you with a big imagination, and you're also very organized."

hoseok was shocked at the accuracy.

"wow."

"cool, right?" jimin said, "star signs are bullshit. sailor moon is really the only way to ensure accuracy."

hoseok laughed.

"from now on i'll only trust sailor moon," he said, setting the bowl of popcorn onto the coffee table and then going back to talking with jimin, "that really was scarily accurate, though. and you're pretty similar to sailor moon, now that i think about it."

jimin raised an eyebrow, clearly interested.

"oh, yeah? how so?"

hoseok thought for a moment.

"well... going out on a whim... i'd say you're very humorous, you've got a lot of emotions that you do your best to hide- but underneath that you're pretty emotional and soft. you're probably the sweetest kind of person out there, you wanna be friends with everyone and if there's ever any problems you want them to go away. you want the best for everyone and you protect the people that you care about. and... although i haven't seen much of your apartment... i'm gonna assume you're a little bit messy."

hoseok felt like some sort of palm reader, finding the whole "sailor moon horoscope" thing to be quite fun.

"see. sailor moon always knows," jimin said, with a another laugh, looking straight over at hoseok.

"i guess it does."

the two fell silent. the tv was paused and they were no longer talking, so the only thing that could be heard was their quite breathing.

the two finally made eye contact, jimin just laughing softly at the slight awkwardness. it didn't bother him or anything. he just thought it was funny. no matter how comfortable you are with someone there was bound to be little moments of silence or weirdness. that was human nature.

but, what really pushed jimin over the edge, was when he stopped dazing off in thought and noticed the lips heading right for his.

he didn't have time to stop it, before they already touched his. it was quick- only a millisecond, before hoseok pulled away.

"shit," hoseok breathed out, quickly pulling his head away.

jimin immediately slid to the other end of the couch, clearly in shock, just staring at the boy, his big brown eyes batting in confusion.

"jimin, i'm so sorry," he said, immediately, standing from the couch and running a hand through his hair, "i didn't mean to do that. i just... i got caught up in the moment and we were talking about sailor moon and about horoscopes and all this shit and it just... i'm so sorry."

jimin just stared at him, clearly in disbelief.

"shit, shit, shit," hoseok breathed out, clearly panicking, "jimin, please. i really didn't mean it. i just... i don't know. i wasn't even thinking. i'm straight... i mean... i've never done that before... with a guy. i don't..."

jimin just shook his head.

"just stop. please. you... you have a girlfriend. i... i have boyfriend. i love him."

"i know, i know," hoseok said, the reality of the situation hitting him, "i really care about aruem. i swear it was mistake, jimin. just... fuck... we can just not talk about it. it didn't mean anything."

"i have to tell joon, hoseok. and you need to tell aruem."

hoseok shook his head.

"i can't, jimin," hoseok said, shaking his head, "namjoon broke up with her last time and he started dating you. do you know how shitty she's gonna feel if she finds out i... i kissed you?"

hoseok's eyes opened wide as he realized what he'd actually done by saying it out loud.

"i kissed you," he said again, "why did i do that? why did i kiss you?"

jimin shook his head frantically.

"i don't know! you tell me."

hoseok took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"i should go. i should really go."

hoseok frantically headed for the door, sliding his shoes on and quickly putting on his coat from the coat rack.

and jimin didn't know what to do. a part of him wanted to stop him, and another part of jimin wanted hoseok to leave and never have to see him again.

hoseok flung the door open and was immediately met with a gust of freezing cold air. snow was coming down like crazy and there was at least a good five inches of snow on the ground. and to make matters worse, some hail was even coming down from the sky.

hoseok sighed, going to take a step into the freezing winter, before jimin stopped him.

"wait!" jimin said, running to the door and pulling him back inside, "just stay here. you're gonna catch a cold if you go out there."

hoseok shook his head.

"i can't stay, jimin. i need to-"

"it's okay," jimin said, with a sigh, "it didn't mean anything and we'll work it out with them. just come inside."

hoseok finally admitted defeat, shutting the door and pulling his shoes and coat back off.

"jimin, really... i'm so sorry. i don't know why i did that. i... i've never done something like that... ever. shit... i've never even kissed anyone on my own... i always just wait for them to kiss me first."

jimin nodded, running to turn the heater on from the door being open for a minute.

"just stop apologizing," jimin said, "sorry doesn't turn back time. just... just explain to me what was going through your head when you did that."

hoseok just shrugged.

"i was just... happy... i guess. i was having fun hanging out with you and i just... i don't know. i just... i was staring at your lips and then-"

hoseok stopped talking, realizing immediately what he admitted to.

"fuck," jimin cursed, under his breath, "fuck, fuck, fuck."

hoseok just shook his head, wishing he hadn't said that last part.

"so... do you like boys or... what does this even mean?" jimin asked, dreading the answer.

"i... n-" hoseok was about to say no, but then he stopped himself.

jimin waited for an answer, but he got nothing.

but, to be honest, the silence was louder than anything he could have said.

"fuck," jimin mumbled, again, "hoseok, did you like kissing me? did you want to do it?"

more silence.

"jimin, i like girls. i like aruem. i've never thought of a guy that way at all... i just... i don't know. i've never wanted to kiss a guy before... or even thought about it. you just... you're so amazing and funny... and... cute."

"don't say that," jimin said, shaking his head, "you said it meant nothing. what happened to that excuse?"

hoseok shrugged.

"it doesn't mean anything, really. i still love areum and i want to be with her. only her. i don't think i like guys... i mean-"

"hoseok, i'm a guy," jimin said, "i have a dick and you just kissed me and said you liked it."

there was silence, hoseok just processing what jimin said.

"i know, i know," he said, "regardless... i still want to be with aruem."

jimin nodded.

"i would hope so," he said, "you know you have tell her, right? the full story."

"i can't tell her that i'm attracted to you, jimin. that would make it like... like cheating. she would break up with me for sure."

"it's cheating either way, hoseok! just explain what happened how you explained it to me and then tell her you're sorry and you still love her and hope she forgives your ass."

"but... jimin-"

"do you think i'm happy about this?" jimin asked, "i have to tell my boyfriend- the love of my life, that the one night he left me alone, some other guy kissed me. he's gonna be devastated... i have no idea how he's gonna react. and on top of that, aruem's gonna hate me for sure. i've now come between her and two of her boyfriends in the past six months."

hoseok just sighed, with a nod, still not believing he actually kissed him.

"you hate me again, don't you?" he asked, tears forming in his eyes at how stupid he was.

jimin looked over at him.

jimin had an angry look on his face, eventually cracking when he saw how upset hoseok was.

"i don't hate you," jimin said, "i never hated you. i'm pissed at you right now and i wish that didn't happen.., but i understand."

hoseok nodded, a tear finally escaping his eyes.

jimin was suddenly hit with a wave of sympathy for the boy.

he was obviously confused and scared and jimin couldn't help but feel a bit sad for him.

he quickly leaned in and gave hoseok a hug, letting him cry into his shoulder for a few minutes, before calming down, silence falling between them.

"you're gonna be fine, okay? everything's gonna be fine."

_____________________________

sorrryyyyy 🤡🤡

heheh that chapter was low-key fun to write tho ngl

also comment ur fav sailor if u have one- for research purposes 👀