A/N: Bless y'all heart. 

On another note, this chapter includes potential triggering content so read with caution. 

Errors are a character of their own.

******

Hoseok looked hopefully at Jin as he presented Jin's favorite drink. "I brought you your favorite drink, and you know how far that place is," he said, emphasizing his effort in getting the drink.

Jin sighed deeply, his gaze drifting away as he absentmindedly swiped through his phone, ignoring Hoseok.

Hoseok frowned and asked, "Is he mad at you too?" while looking at Jimin.

"Nope, I didn't hang up on him when he called. Why did you hang up on him?" Jimin inquired, turning his attention away from the essay he'd been focusing on.

"I'm sorry," Hoseok said, looking at Jin. "You know I'm always available when you call, but last night I was exhausted. I couldn't sleep well, and it wasn't until morning that I could finally get some rest. That's why I hung up on you."

Jin set his phone on the table and turned to Hoseok with concern. "Why couldn't you sleep? Did something happen?"

"I received a B- on my exam, and my father was not happy. He lectured me via email."

"Email?" Jimin gasped. "Are you serious?"

"Can you believe it? He sent that email from his work while on a flight. I guess I should be grateful it wasn't a verbal scolding! I really put in the effort for the exam and did my best. But I can't help thinking I'd do even better if he weren't always stressing me about grades. I'm so over school at this point!"

Jin let out a weary sigh and reached for the drink Hoseok had brought him, taking a thoughtful sip as he considered his words. After a moment, he spoke, "It sounds like you went through a really tough night. I'll make sure not to bother you so early again.

You should have a heart-to-heart talk with your dad about how much pressure he's putting on you and how it's affecting your ability to focus on your studies. You might also want to consider sending him an email. It might make him take your thoughts more seriously, especially if he thinks it's work-related.

Hoseok's face lit up with a smile as Jin responded, clearly understanding the underlying message. "Would you like to help me write this message? I want to make sure it conveys respect while also highlighting that I am more than just my grades and his successor; I'm also his son. And Seokjin, please remember that you're never a bother. Feel free to call me anytime."

"Right, and then you'll hang up on me. At least be like Jimin and keep your phone off," Jin said as he glared at Jimin.

Jimin sat motionless, his eyes fixed on the laptop screen as if trying to ignore the conversation.

"Well, we all know never to call Jimin in an emergency."

Upon hearing the comment, Jimin glanced up from his laptop, a troubled expression furrowing his brow. "I don't always turn my phone off," he clarified. "I only do it when I need to sleep in. Plus, you all have my other phone number, which is always on in case of an emergency."

"Sleep in, or do you mean when you are not sleeping alone?" asked Hoseok with a raised eyebrow.

Jimin rolled his eyes. "As if. I've already told you I'm single. However, I can't help but wonder if there's a potential connection between me and the restaurant bae. It's hard to tell if there's mutual interest. However, what I can say is that yesterday, when we were out together, I noticed that we were getting a lot of attention from others, and I could sense what they were silently expressing with their looks."

"What were they thinking?" Hoseok leaned closer, wanting to know.

"We were like the ultimate couple. We're a perfect match. Regardless of his background, he's undeniably handsome. I catch myself practically drooling over him. And his genuine politeness and sweetness make everything feel right."

Jin shifted his gaze towards Jimin and asked, "How much longer do you think this infatuation with this guy will last?"

"What?"

Jin's intense gaze bore into Jimin as he demanded, "You heard me. We all know you saw him at the restaurant and thought he was attractive and looked like someone who could make Jungkook jealous, so tell me, how long do I need to tolerate hearing this nonsense?"

"I want to make it clear that I am not using him to try to make Jungkook jealous. Jungkook and I are no longer together, and I want you to believe me when I say that I have moved on. I don't have any feelings for him anymore, and my actions have nothing to do with him." Said Jimin as he tried to express himself.

"Alright, aside from Taehyung's good looks and chivalrous nature, what other qualities do you find attractive about him? Why are you so eager to make him your boyfriend?" Jin's voice was firm as he demanded a thorough explanation from Jimin.

Jimin hesitated, opening his mouth and then closing it as he glanced at Hoseok, who averted his gaze. Returning his attention to Jin, he spoke, "I'm still in the process of trying to get to know him. It's difficult for me to express much when I haven't gotten to know him well enough. I want to make it clear that I'm not trying to get to know him to make Jungkook jealous. That was my thought in the beginning, but after having lunch with him, I realized how sweet he was."

Jin couldn't help but roll his eyes as he mimicked Jimin's words, "In the beginning...blah blah. Well, how about this? In the end, leave him alone. He's not interested, and I don't want you dating him."

Hoseok's eyes widened as he spotted Jin's drink, and he couldn't resist taking a sip, all the while carefully positioning himself to avoid getting involved in whatever was unfolding between Jimin and Jin.

"Wait, do you like him?" Jimin asked, confused as he awaited Jin's response.

"I don't know, but please mind your own business and leave him alone."

"That's why he wasn't interested in me," Jimin said in disbelief, leaning against the backrest with his arms folded.

"I could see you and him dating," Hoseok finally spoke, looking at Jin.

"Oh, shut up! You said the same thing about Jungkook, too," Jimin yelled.

"That was before I knew you liked Jungkook. I often saw him hanging around to talk to Jin, so my imagination went to them. I didn't know you liked him back then."

"I did, and Jin knew that's why he didn't entertain him. Maybe he should have, because then I wouldn't end up dating such a loser!" Jimin yelled, slamming down his laptop.

Jin stood up. "A loser sure has you in your feelings. Well, good luck to you and him. I have a class to get to and then yoga."

"Wait, before you go, did you mean I can't date Taehyung, like really date him, or I can date him but not pursue a serious relationship with him?"

"Oh, I was serious in all of the above. Go find someone else to make Jungkook jealous," said Jin before walking away.

Following Jin's departure, Jimin asked Hoseok, "Were you aware he had feelings for him?"

Hoseok shook his head, expressing doubt, "I don't believe he has strong feelings for him. As he stated, he's unsure about his feelings, but there might be some level of interest. I also observed Taehyung's demeanor towards him at the restaurant.

I intended to message you that he probably wasn't interested in you, but I became caught up with studying. Regardless, Jin is right; you should stop using people to provoke jealousy in Jungkook."

"I was not planning to do that. I was drawn to him because of his attractiveness and the impression that he would be a nice and fun person to date. But now I won't be able to pursue that. Is Jin aware of the numerous admirers he has? I've heard about people who visit the library to catch a glimpse of him and even frequent the restaurant for the same reason."

"Really?"

"Yes, but I doubt he notices. He doesn't seem like the type of guy to care about those things. Work and studying seem to be his only focus. I wonder if Jin knows that. Should I tell him, or would that make me seem salty?"

"If he is interested, he will figure it out; I wouldn't say anything. At least, not right now."

*****

Taehyung felt like he wouldn't have made it home if it hadn't been for the coffee he had during his last hour at work. It was one of his busiest days since the week started. He went nonstop from classes to work at the library, and then to the restaurant. His feet and his eyes were tired, and even his brain felt tired. He didn't feel like eating or doing anything because he was tired.

As he shuffled wearily around his apartment, his arms laden with the leftovers of his restaurant food, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. Pausing to survey his surroundings, he noticed the newly hung curtains framing the windows, the patterned mats adorning the kitchen floor, and the neatly arranged dish towels draping next to the stove.

When he swung open the refrigerator door, he was taken aback by what he saw inside, causing him to shut the door in disbelief. After a moment, he opened it again, his eyes widening at the quantity of items stuffed within. "Why did he spend so much money on all of this?" Taehyung groaned, his voice trembling as tears welled up in his eyes.

Struggling to find room in the crowded fridge for his leftovers, he shifted items around until he made space. As he closed the fridge and stood up, he brushed away the tears that had welled up in his eyes. Walking over to the small cupboard where he usually stored his additional groceries, he found it packed with items.

He shut the cupboard with a heavy sigh and rested his back against the kitchen counter, feeling uncertain and grateful. He appreciated Jin's gesture but didn't want to burden him by accepting his financial help. The last thing he wanted was for Jin to feel obligated to take care of him.

He lingered in the kitchen, attempting to sort through his emotions. He wanted to message Jin, but he hadn't reactivated his phone service yet, as he was waiting until he got paid at the end of the week.

As he walked out of the kitchen and made his way to the bathroom, he couldn't help but notice the changes to his bed. The sheets on his bed were new, with a fresh comforter and two additional pillows. "Seokjin, how much did you spend on all of this? I can't let you spend so much on me; it doesn't feel right," Taehyung said, voicing his disbelief.

Despite feeling exhausted, he made a decision to prepare a special meal for Jin that he knew Jin would enjoy. It would also make up for not having hot cocoa to give Jin the night before.

****

Jin tightened his grip on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, feeling the cool metal of the rings on his fingers. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, and whispered to himself, "Seokjin, you are not a punk. Stop acting like this. This is not you. You are better than this. You can do this." With each repetition, his voice gained strength. Finally, he switched off the engine, took a long, steady breath, and emerged from the car into the chilly night air.

He double-checked to ensure the car was securely locked and briskly approached his apartment building. It dawned on him that taking a shower at Taehyung's place would be wiser, so he decided to gather some belongings to bring along.

He swiftly punched in the gate code as he glanced around and hastened into the building. Anxiously, he stood by the elevator, and the moment its doors slid open, he stepped in. As soon as the elevator reached his floor, he quickly walked out and dialed Taehyung's number. Rather than calling Hoseok, he opted not to, but to his disappointment, Taehyung's phone remained switched off. "Why didn't you pay your bill?!"

The unexpected voice cut through the hallway, jolting Jin and causing his heart to skip a beat. His phone slipped from his grasp as his pulse quickened. "Who didn't pay their bill? It is that guy who interfered the last time I saw you?"

"Are you surprised to see me?" the figure inquired as they drew nearer to Jin when he didn't respond. "Where did you disappear to? I haven't spotted you around lately."

Jin didn't reply; instead, he bent down, retrieved his phone from the ground, and proceeded to walk past the individual.

"Are you ignoring me, Seokjin?"

"Leave me alone, or I'll call the cops." With a sense of urgency, he hurried toward his unit and entered the code to unlock his apartment door. As the latch clicked into place and he closed the door behind him, a heavy exhale escaped his lips, carrying with it a deep sense of relief.

As he stepped away from the entrance, making his way to his father's contact on his phone to dial the number, a sudden beeping sound from behind caused him to startle. The phone slipped from his grasp as he turned around in shock, his heart racing.

Upon entering Jin's apartment, the person smiled and asked, "Did I ever mention how friendly your housekeeper is?"

Jin's eyes widened with fear as he screamed, "Get out! You fucking pervert!" He fumbled desperately for his phone, his hands shaking with panic.

*****

Taehyung found himself nodding off on the sofa, but he jolted awake and stood up, stretching his legs and arms to shake off the drowsiness. Glancing around, he noted the late hour and realized Jin was still nowhere in sight. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for not paying his phone bill, knowing he couldn't rest peacefully until Jin arrived.

As he paced restlessly around his apartment, a sudden realization struck him. He swiftly reached for his phone, connected it to an available Wi-Fi network, and attempted to send a message to Jin, hoping it would successfully reach him. Despite Jin's occasional unresponsiveness, he felt a strong need to ensure that Jin was doing okay, as he was unlike him not to come by.

*****

"You exceeded my expectations; the others will be pleased to hear about this. Next time, try to be less difficult and be friendlier when passing by us unless you want another lesson! Always know there are things daddy's money can't protect you from." The security guard's words hung in the air as he stared at Jin, who lay motionless on the bed.

He proceeded to pick up the used condoms from the floor and stuffed them into his pockets. After collecting them, he leaned over the bed and kissed Jin's lips. "I'll visit often, so don't miss me too much."

Jin lay motionless, holding his breath, as he prayed for the intruder to leave. As soon as he heard the front door click shut, in the agonizing grip of pain and weakness, tears streaming down his face, he summoned all his strength to reach for his phone. With trembling hands, he dialed the police without hesitation, silently wishing he had taken this step months earlier.