Jimin didn't mourn anymore. He had a great love that he lost, but not really. The feelings were still there, intact for his precious Jungkook. He was adamant about not allowing anyone else to take his little baby's place. Even though they were essentially broken up, he wanted to let things cool down and wait. He had no idea how good would it feel like to have his both parents' support, but it really healed him over the weeks. Love was the reason that he kept going through the loss. 

It didn't mean he stopped trying. He definitely texted Jungkook and sometimes called too, but he got to know from Mr. Jeon that Jungkook had gone to his grandmother's place for a change and didn't bring his phone with him. 

The younger boy needed some time to himself too. He would soon be eighteen and he wanted to get into his adulthood with a new perspective rather than just cribbing and crying about Jimin. Though he was back home and was informed about Jimin's calls, he didn't think it was wise to return any of those as he was making progress towards the finals and he needed to give his best. 

His online classes had ended half an hour ago and he was still sitting on his chair, waiting for a text from Bambam as they had planned to go out this evening for chocolate shakes. "Jungkook," his mother knocked on his room door. "Your classmate is here."

"Bambam isn't my classmate, Eomma," Jungkook chuckled, happily closing his laptop and rushing towards the golden closet to wear his sneakers when his mother got inside the room, following him.

"No, you don't get it," she said, "it's really someone from your class. I have never seen him before, his name is Yoongi, he says."

"Min Yoongi?" Jungkook's brow furrowed and he turned around. 

Mrs. Jeon nodded her head expectantly. 

"What's Yoongi Hyung doing here?" He asked himself rather than his mother and returned from the closet without his shoes. As he hopped downstairs, the mother followed behind. Jungkook was perplexed to see the older here. How did he even get his address?

"Yoongi Hyung?" He called, seeing the older teen looking at his garden. 

Yoongi craned his neck at Jungkook and smiled a little with a small wave. "I hope I am not intruding. Can I have a moment with you, Jungkook?" He asked and pointed outside. 

Jungkook looked at Mrs. Jeon who was right behind him, and then back at Yoongi before nodding and getting outside to take a walk with him. "You have a beautiful garden," the boy spoke leisurely and Jungkook only hummed, thinking why did the boy come here? "I have to tell you something. I know you want me to get it over with too."

"It's a surprise to see you here, that's all," Jungkook answered. 

"Jimin didn't do anything. It was Kyong who spread the rumors with Jaein and Do-Jin about your illness."

Jungkook turned quiet as they kept walking around the small water fountain in the center of the garden. "Can I ask you something, Hyung?"

"Sure," Yoongi answered. 

"Why are you friends with them? They have done so many people wrong?"

"Do you mean they wronged Jimin too?" Yoongi chuckled, but not in a way to make Jungkook feel he was being made fun of. 

"I- I didn't mean that. But they are not nice. They bully people, lie, don't study, disturb the class."

"I agree with you there, but did you really see me with them in their maneuvers?" The older teen asked. 

"No," Jungkook pouted as he thought about it. Not only with them, but he never really saw Yoongi talking to anyone else.

"I am not like them."

"Then why are you friends with them?"

Yoongi sighed, "I never wanted to. Jimin was my only friend, but I am aware that you already know about that so you must understand why I stopped being friends with him."

Jungkook nodded.

"I know it's not my place to say it, but Jimin wasn't at fault, and I've seen him suffer before when we stopped being friends, he would never admit it, but he isn't as good at hiding emotions as he thinks he is," Yoongi and Jungkook both chuckled. "This time, his pain is far greater. I hope you two can at least talk about it. The finals are in two weeks anyway. You both can say goodbyes with clean slates. Trust me, keeping grudges bring you nowhere."

"Then why don't you forgive him too?" Jungkook asked, biting back his grin. 

"I already did," Yoongi whispered. "He just doesn't know about it."

Jungkook cackled now, which Mrs. Jeon heard from her room window. After seeing her son go through so much, she was very cynical now. Her intention wasn't to spy on her kid, but she did that out of worry. Now that she knew Jungkook wasn't blue, silently, she walked away with a small smile. 

"I think you should let Jimin Hyung know too, he will be happy," Jungkook asked Yoongi, wanting it to really happen. He cared about the ex-boyfriend's happiness. If he couldn't be the one to bring it to him, he could have someone else do it. Over the days, he did realize that Jimin couldn't have been the one to spread false rumors about him, especially when he knew what exactly happened with him. Jungkook knew that he believed it was Jimin in the spur of the moment, but his heart has always known the truth.

"Jungkook-ah, if you care about his happiness so much, why don't you reply to his texts?" Yoongi asked. 

Jungkook's cheeks turn red, and then his eyes widened. "Wait, how do you know he texted me?"

"We do talk sometimes now."

In the next moment, Jungkook was jumping and hugging Yoongi. 

"Yah, Yah, Yah!" Yoongi pulled Jungkook's hefty frame away while chuckling. "I said sometimes. It's not like we are BFFs again."

"If Jimin Hyung didn't trust you enough, or if he didn't think you were close enough, he would never have talked about his personal feelings with you. I am really happy you two made up. He really thinks a great deal about you, Hyung. Please take care of him."

Stroking Jungkook's head, Yoongi only smiled without words. In that action, there was a silent promise. Jungkook could always trust Yoongi. "Come inside, Hyung. Let me show you my room."

 "No," Yoongi refused. "I have to get going. My mother needs me for grocery shopping tonight."

"Okay," Jungkook pouted. "But can I ask you one more thing?"

Yoongi nodded, encouraging Jungkook to go on. 

"Why did you save me from Jimin Hyung on the first day of last year?"

Yoongi sighed, thinking about the time. "I wasn't only saving you, to be honest. I was also saving Jimin."

"And he just didn't know?" Jungkook double-checked, and chuckled. 

"Go on kid, get inside."

Yoongi smiled and walked out of the house, leaving Jungkook's eyes teary, and lips stretched with a smile.

 **

Jungkook looked at his phone, thumbs playing over the tiny telephone icon in front of Jimin's name. I should just text him. What if he doesn't see it right away? What if he doesn't respond at all. That will be humiliating. Right? No, it's Jimin Hyung. Of course, he will respond to my text. But wait, will he? Maybe he found someone else? Maybe he isn't interested in talking to me anymore, or maybe he is just over me? Or what if he takes his revenge by not responding? I did that too. Ugh... I can't decide. I will just call. That way, I will also know Hyung's mindset. 

Finally, he pressed that icon.

"Jungkook? Is everything okay?" Jimin's voice had desperation just as he picked up the call. 

"Why do people always assume that I am not fine? I am tired of it and I am fine," Jungkook answered, a little wry. He didn't intend to say it, but since the episode where everyone rather showed him empathy, or a few looked at him pitifully, he didn't want to associate himself with being sick. 

"I- I am sorry," Jimin answered in a low voice that was enough for Jungkook's slight annoyance to dissipate and he regretted saying the words he did, albeit he knew Jimin only said that because he was worried. "How is everything going?"

"Good," sighing, Jungkook held his pillow tightly, trying to calm his nerves. "Eomma is obsessed with baking these days. She is learning new things and I get to eat cookies and cakes every day."

Jimin smiled, recollecting Jungkook's face every time he ate cheesecake. "You love eating."

"I do."

There was a silence hanging in the air suddenly. Clearing his throat, Jimin continued. "I was watching a movie right now."

"Oh," Jungkook's heartbeat sped up. "Did I disturb you? I bet I did. You can go back to it."

"WAIT!" Jimin screamed, trying to stop Jungkook from hanging up the call. "I was actually trying to. Netflix's content had degraded over years. I can't find any good ones." The older chuckled. 

"I thought you were out with someone," Jungkook flinched his eyes closed just as he blurted the words.

"How are studies?" Jimin asked.

Why is Jimin Hyung not denying that he wasn't with someone else? Did he really find someone?

"Good, I was stuck at one chapter."

"Need help?" Jimin asked and flinched his eyes shut. "I mean, it's obvious now that you are the smarter one, given how you've been nailing the exams. I think you don't need my help..." There was silence again. Jimin wanted to take his words back, thinking they might make Jungkook regretful, but he couldn't. All he could do now was to make the boy comfortable. "I know you don't want to...but I am always one text away. You can call me or text me anytime. I mean it. Be it 3:15 at night or 5:58 in the morning. I'd always respond."

"Really?" Jungkook laughed a bit, making Jimin close his eyes and smile. 

"Really. I promise."

7 May 2022