Jungkook brought the topic to the talk with his close friends on Monday, recalling the happenings on last Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Seokjin, who had also stood his ground in a round of questioning without answering their burning questions about his disappearance, was the first one being helpful while the others, ever so helpful, only teased Jungkook with suggestive wriggling brows and patting him on the back.

“Seems to me like his behavior might not have much to do with you. Either that or he is afraid of you, well… fulfilling a bet.” Seokjin concluded, tapping his chin in thought. Jungkook groaned as he buried his head between his arms resting on his desk.

“But I’m not! How can I show him I’m serious when he’s avoiding me? I know he at least wants to be friends so why isn’t he talking to me? I know he likes me, even if it’s just as a friend,” Jungkook whined dramatically against the wood of his desk.

Mingyu, now recovered from his hangover, and Seokjin shared a pitiful look.

“Kook, try to put yourself in his shoes. He’s new, and suddenly the football captain is flirting with him, ain’t that suspicious to you?” Mingyu tried but Jungkook only answered with a groaned “no, my intentions are good”.

“You shouldn’t say that to us. Say it to him. You know we support you but moping around won’t do you any good. Plus seeing you being a whiny, pouty baby isn’t attractive at all, man. Go fucking talk to your crush before someone snatches him away. I heard Minho likes him and wants to ask him out.”

That did its deed because Jungkook’s head shot up and he glared at Mingyu. Eunwoo to Mingyu’s side snickered. “Told you that would work. Jeonlous is back.”

“I’d rather eat nails then let fucking Choi Minho have a chance with Taehyung,” the jock growled angrily, tonguing his cheek.
“Then go get your man, Blueberry,” Seokjin said, earning another glare from Jungkook, obviously in a bad mood. “You’re one to talk, Kim,” he seethed.

“Hey, don’t kill the messenger.”

Seokjin was lucky that the teacher entered the room in this moment, possibly saving him from getting his head bitten off by his best friend who was very much grumpy this lovely Monday morning. Except there was nothing lovely about this morning because first, it was Monday and second, Taehyung hadn’t replied to any of Jungkook’s texts so that was a problem to his whole friend group.

And god, did he make it a problem for all of them.

°°°

Taehyung on the other side had a class all alone, without Namjoon, Hoseok or Jimin attending. The only familiar face was Yugyeom who to his surprise, had sat down next to Taehyung. Yugyeom had only wanted to look after his captain’s boy, keep him company and be nice but Taehyung sadly took it the wrong way, shying away from contact.

He tried hiding his shaking hands for the entirety of the class and nearly bolted out of the classroom, books pressed fearfully against his chest.

On this morning, he found himself sobbing in the bathroom again, trying to calm down and reason with himself that Yugyeom didn’t have malicious intent, only wanted to be friendly yet the mean voice inside Taehyung’s head told him otherwise.

Told him he was worthless and a joke everyone was laughing about, the jocks just making fun of him for being so weird and socially awkward.

Namjoon found him in a crouched position on the floor, running over and hugging him close. The taller didn’t question Taehyung which he was thankful for, only clutching onto Namjoon’s jacket. He felt safe with Namjoon who had been nothing but kind to him and Taehyung needed to talk to someone as Jimin had avoided him the entire weekend which hurt Taehyung to no end.

The evil voice inside his head also told him that Jimin didn’t want to be his friend anymore.

Telling Namjoon felt relieving, seeing the anger and worry in his friend’s eyes somehow felt healing. Healing that someone understood his pain and why he was acting the way he was.

“Don’t you worry, Tae,” Namjoon assured him kindly, “I will keep your secret. You can count on me. Trust me, I know what it’s like living with insecurities. I want to help you, if you let me.”

And Taehyung let him. The two have grown closer over the past weeks and Taehyung now considered Namjoon to be one of his closest friends. He told him just that, causing Namjoon to cry which in return freaked Taehyung out. The two ended up hugging and sobbing against each other’s shoulders but it brought them together.

Being honest had never felt so good before. Suffering from social anxiety was one thing, the other was being too afraid of interaction with others, self-isolating out of fear for being judged, being treated differently.

Always assuming the worst in people, always assuming people were out to harm you. It was an exhausting way of living and Taehyung was so so tired.

Telling Namjoon lifted weight off his shoulders he didn’t realize had held him down for so long.

It gave him enough willpower to approach Jimin and corner him. Taehyung wanted answers and he deserved them, deserved to know why Jimin had abandoned him and didn’t pick up his calls.

Upon seeing the state Jimin was in, Taehyung swiftly pulled his friend without thinking into an empty classroom.

Jimin looked horrible, deep bags under his eyes and wearing a simple hoodie, even sneakers, his hair hung into his eyes and he looked pale, sick even.

“Jiminie, what’s wrong?” Taehyung just had to know if he did something to Jimin that made him act that way.

Why did Taehyung think this way?
Because his mother always made him believe that everything going wrong was his fault.

Jimin broke at that, seemingly the only thing keeping him through the day was willpower and he burst into tears when Taehyung, lovely kind Taehyung confronted him with that gentle voice of his, the puppy eyes and worry on his face.

“I-I’m so sorry,” Jimin gasped out as his body shook from his sobs. His best friend was quick to pull him into a hug, stroking Jimin’s hair and cooing sweet nothings at him, assuring him that no, he wasn’t mad, he was just worried for his friend.

In the tiniest voice ever, Taehyung asked Jimin if they were still friends or if he did something that had upset Jimin.

At that, Jimin sobbed even harder, burying himself further into Taehyung’s arms as if trying to hide from this unforgiving world.

“N-no, of course you didn’t! Tae, my lovely Baby, you did nothing wrong… it’s just… god Tae, I fucked up badly”, Jimin sniffed hard, taking shuddering gasps of air. Taehyung, ever so considerate, offered Jimin a handkerchief and Jimin took it, blowing his nose before taking a moment to control himself enough for him to speak.

“I-I slept with Seokjin again…” he whispered, explaining why he had been absent from the party. He and Seokjin had left the party to talk but one thing led to another and they were entangled in Seokjin’s bed sheets, doing anything else but talking. Until Seokjin blurted out a love confession to Jimin.

He had offered Jimin to stay with him if his parents were to find out, begging Jimin to give them a chance. Jimin had freaked out, terrified of the possibilities. At that, Seokjin had recoiled as well, asking Jimin to leave, feeling heartbroken and rejected.
For the rest of the night, Jimin had stumbled across town, his phone empty and mind racing.

“I just don’t know why I can’t keep away from him… I’m trying my hardest to forget about him but I can’t… I love him, Tae. I love Seokjin.” Jimin finally confessed and broke into a new set of tears because the realization was scaring him. He knew deep down in his heart that this type of love couldn’t disappear just like that, would possibly never.

He just didn’t know how to act on it.

Taehyung stroked his back sympathetically.

“Minnie, you can’t force yourself to not be gay.” He argued quietly, making Jimin sniff again, this time louder.

“I know, but I’m so scared to tell my parents… especially Dad. You know how they are. They will disown me and throw me out. I’m just… not ready for that. But Seokjin doesn’t understand, he could never because his parents are great and supportive. It sucks but as long as I’m in school and dependent on them, I’m not going to tell them anything.”

Taehyung hummed, thinking desperately about a way to help his friend. Seeing Jimin in pain was physically hurting him and he wanted to help his best friend.

“Have you talked with Seokjin? I feel like you’re only honest with me… would it help if you tell him?”
“Certainly,” Jimin confirmed, shoulders slumping, “but I doubt he ever wants to talk to me again. He thinks I’m a coward.”

“He only thinks that because he doesn’t understand your motive,” Taehyung whispered, wiping a tear away from Jimin’s red, blotchy cheek.

“I’m sure if you open up to him, he will understand. He has already shown that he wants to support you but doesn’t get why you’re holding back.”

It sounded so easy, so reasonable. Jimin bit his lip tenderly, lost in his own thoughts.
Then he made a decision.

“C-can you go get Seokjin? I don’t want to go outside looking like… this,” Jimin requested hopefully and Taehyung nodded kindly, breathing a kiss to Jimin’s forehead.

“Of course, Jiminie. I want you to be happy. Wait here while I get Seokjin, okay?”

“Okay.”

~

Ahh it's finally happening, my babies, communication is key

Elaboratae