"i'm gonna miss being with you every day," jimin said, standing outside namjoon's house, with his boyfriend's arms around him and his head buried in his shoulder.

the two boys made it home the following day after many hours of travel. they were happy to be home and see sung-ha, but they were also sad to leave each other. even though jimin had absolutely no interest in leaving namjoon, he knew he would have to get back to his apartment soon to unpack and get ready for school the next day.

"me too," namjoon said, kissing jimin as his head left his shoulder.

the two stayed like that for a few minutes, embracing and chastely kissing in namjoon's driveway, until they heard someone and immediately pulled away from each other.

"well, looks like you two had a nice time," sung-ha said, from the doorway, with a smile.

namjoon looked over at his grandpa and smiled, immediately parting away from jimin and running over to him.

his grandpa gave joon a big hug, showing he clearly missed him.

they parted away and jimin took his turn, giving sung-ha a big hug, too.

"we missed you a bunch, sung-ha, but we had a great time," jimin said, smiling as he parted away.

"i'm so glad," sung-ha said, "come on in. i want to hear all about it."

-

the three had been talking in the kitchen for almost an hour, jimin going over everything they had done. namjoon was heavily struggling to make eye contact with his grandpa, though, knowing jimin was leaving out some of the best details that would be very embarrassing and inappropriate to share with his grandfather.

"no, seriously," jimin said, taking a bite of one of sung-ha's cookies, forgetting how much he missed them, "he brought a canoe out and everything. your grandson is a real romantic."

sung-ha laughed.

"i would expect no less," he said, ruffling namjoon's hair.

namjoon's face was beat red from embarrassment.

"i'm gonna run to the bathroom," namjoon said, excusing himself.

jimin just laughed at him, knowing his boyfriend was just embarrassed.

namjoon left, leaving just jimin to finish telling sung-ha the events of the trip.

"he also..," jimin started, "he gave me a ring."

sung-ha looked down to jimin's hand, seeing the pretty band with the blue jewel wrapped around his dainty finger.

"oh," he said, smiling at it, "do you like it?"

jimin quickly nodded.

"i love it," jimin said, "it's the sweetest gift anyone has ever given me."

jimin paused, staring down at the ring on his hand.

"joon told me where they came from," jimin said, seeing the little blue gem sparkle on his finger, "thank you for letting him give it to me. i know they were probably really important to you... and i'd completely understand if you'd prefer to keep them until he got married or something. i mean... we're both so young."

sung-ha smiled, reaching out for jimin's hand.

jimin extended his hand and watched as sung-ha stared at the ring.

"namjoon's always been... quiet... shy... you know that. he's always been that way," sung-ha said, releasing jimin's hand, "when he was about... fourteen he started getting really interested in watching dramas on tv. you know... he was just becoming a teenager and it was exciting for him to start watching things that were a bit more mature. he would get home from school and just watch them all afternoon," sung-ha said, chuckling at the memory, "i thought it was a bit strange how he never wanted to watch them with me, but i figured they were a little racy or something... that maybe he felt embarrassed. but... one time i came home from work and he had the drama he was watching paused in the living room."

jimin was listening intently, curious as to where the conversation was going.

"it was paused on two men kissing."

jimin's eyes widened, clearly not expecting him to say that.

"that's the moment i knew," sung-ha said, "of course... i had an idea before that, but that's when i knew for sure. i never mentioned it or asked him about it. i didn't care.., didn't think twice about it, really. i just wanted him to come to me and talk about it when he was ready. i didn't ever want him to feel pressured to... to know right then and there how he was feeling."

jimin nodded, trying to hold back a smile while thinking of little teenage namjoon sneak-watching gay dramas.

"that was the first time i ever saw him interested in anything... romantically. i gave him both those rings the following night and i told him to keep them until he found someone special enough to give one to. i thought that was enough... i didn't think i should say anything more than that."

sung-ha sighed.

"he kept those rings in a box on his dresser for five years. he never dated anyone, never talked about liking anyone. nothing," sung-ha said, "he wasn't even interested in having friends. looking back... i should have said something. i should have talked to him. i should have told him there was nothing he needed to hide from me... from anyone. i should have told him i didn't care who he fell in love with," he said, almost looking like tears were coming to his eyes, "i would say that's my biggest regret with raising him. it might have saved him five years of being on pins and needles and feeling ashamed of himself if i would have just talked to him about it."

jimin was shocked at the story, feeling happy that sung-ha trusted him enough to share it with him.

"it was the first day of this school year... he met you and he came home and he was so happy. every day after that, too. at the time i didn't know why, but of course, now i know it was you. a few weeks went by and i walked into his room to put some laundry away," sung-ha chuckled, "he had the rings sitting out on his dresser."

jimin couldn't help but smile at that.

"i still didn't say anything... and then... they just sat there. they sat there for months and i just knew there was someone he wanted to give one to. after just meeting you a few times i knew it was you. i knew he loved you. i just waited, and waited, and finally i just up and asked him about his feelings for you. he admitted he loved you that day and he just cried and cried and i felt horrible that i let him live like that for so long. he was so wound up and scared and embarrassed for so long and all i had to do was just ask him about it and tell him it was okay. i don't know why i didn't do it sooner," he said, "...but i think what really made everything okay was you. at the end of the day... my words only went so far. you're the one who showed him what love was like. you taught him he didn't need to be ashamed of anything. you did what i was never able to do... what i failed to do. and for that... there's no one in this world who i would rather he gave that ring to. no other girl, no other boy, no one. whether you guys stay together forever, or you go your separate ways... or things change... it's your ring. it's a promise ring from namjoon.., but also a thank you from me. and a thank you from yumi as well. i know... she would have just loved you. she's watching over the three of us, i'm sure and i can guarantee you she is so grateful you came into joonie's life."

jimin had a big smile on his face, nodding.

"i know she's watching over us," jimin said, smiling, "and for the record... i just got here this year. you... you've been raising joon for his whole life. he wouldn't be the man i know today if you hadn't raised him to be so amazing. and i can promise you that. going through middle school, and high school, and college... i've met many different people," jimin said, laughing to himself at all the memories, "and joon.., he's by far the nicest, sweetest, smartest, funniest. and i'm not just saying that. i seriously don't know how i got so lucky to meet him. i struck gold. and... and that was all you, sung-ha. you did an amazing job raising namjoon. really. and you did it all by yourself, too. you should be beyond proud."

sung-ha smiled.

"thank you, jimin. i appreciate that."

right as sung-ha finished his sentence, namjoon walked out from the restroom. jimin hopped out of his chair and walked over to joon.

he wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tightly, before leaving a quick kiss on his cheek.

"i should get going," jimin said, feeling sad when he saw namjoon's frown.

namjoon just sighed.

"are you sure you have to go?"

jimin smiled.

"i'm sure. i'll see you in class tomorrow, though."

namjoon nodded.

"are you sure, jimin?" sung-ha asked, pulling out a pot from the pantry, "i'm just about to get started on dinner. you're welcome to stay."

jimin's eyes widened ever so slightly, clearly considering the offer.

"well... maybe i could stay just a little bit longer. but then i really have to leave."

there was a pause, before the three of them broke out into a laugh, knowing how weak jimin was for sung-ha's cooking.

they spent the next hour cooking up a delicious meal and eating at the dining table together, feeling more at home than ever.

______________________________

heyyyyyy guys 😩🥵😩🥵

im late again but i was on vacation so i have an excuse LMAO. something kinda big is gonna happen soon so get ready :////// i have everything planned out for the rest of the the story!!

AND THANK YOU IF UR STILL READING THIS BOOK WITH MY SLOW AF UPDATES JSNSJSNSDJDJ