Off The Table - Ariana Grande & The Weeknd

There's no words to describe how nervous Jimin is right now as he sits in this café, iced coffee in hand as he waits with an anxious gaze out the window.

Shit, what if this was a bad idea?

Is Jimin even mentally prepared?

It's been ten years, he should be ready after the multiple times he has told himself that.

Then why the fuck is he so nervous?

Well why is he so nervous you may ask?

Today happens to be the day him and Taemin have decided to meet up and.... Chat. They decided on a coffee shop that they have always went to when they were teenagers back in the day. The main reason that they have decided on this is because next week is Yoongi's wedding, and the two wanted to be in an environment together where it won't be too tense. Especially for Yoongi on his special day.

Besides..... Jimin needs this.

They both need to talk.

Or maybe that's Jimin's excuse to talk to him in the first place.

Anxiously Jimin runs his fingers through his blonde hair but then realized he's messing it up, so he tries to put it back in place before giving up with a heavy huff.

He's prosecuted people to jail or even out of jail in front of a judge and jury multiple times, how the fuck is this any worse than that-

"Hi."

Shit, spoke to soon.

Jimin's heart practically flew to his throat, thumping hard that he didn't know if he was breathing by this point. However his eyes did look up to the voice out of panic, seeing Taemin standing there but goes to sit on the chair opposite of Jimin's from the small table for two.

So desperately Jimin tried not to stare. He really did try not to look at Taemin's equally nervous expression with a cap over his silver hair to cover somewhat of it up. He's wearing all black, something similar to what Jimin is wearing too, but such a simple attire of a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans.

And he looked so fucking attractive.

Subconsciously Jimin bites his bottom lip but immediately shoves the straw from his drink to his mouth when Taemin looks at him, who also takes a sip of his hot coffee while looking awkwardly else where too.

Okay well.... Shit how do they even start talking now?

Over and over in Jimin's head he was thinking of so many possibilities to start the conversation, but then he just ended up choking when the drink went through the wrong way. Obviously he was not about to make that fucking obvious, so he just clears his throat to which ended up with him letting out a loud cough.

Fuck!

"Are you okay?" Taemin asks quietly, his expression fully concerned while Jimin tries to control his coughing fits, "You look so red, are you sick?"

"No idiota! I'm fine," Jimin clears his throat one last time before finally feeling better, drinking his drink to ease it away with his body relaxing.

That's when he realized that he just insulted Taemin in Spanish, calling him an idiot and - Wow this day definitely gets better and better.

However instead of being mad as Jimin expected, Taemin twitches a wide smile before leaning back against his seat.

Ah, please stop looking.... Like that!

He still radiates that aura of.... Comfort. Just an aura that one can feel comfortable around him, even if they're as tense as a brick.

Jimin can speak for himself because as much as he hated it, he does feel comfortable despite the humiliation he just pulled on himself.

Hopefully it won't last long because that same aura was what pulled Jimin to Taemin in the beginning, and right now it's better to not raise up those nostalgic feelings.

"Okay, so.... I don't want to keep you held up if you have things to do," Taemin suddenly says, his voice a little strayed off to sound confident, even though he's practically trembling on the spot, "So... Please... Ask me anything you want and I'll be honest."

Well, that was much.... Simpler than Jimin expected. Truth is he doesn't have anything to do today since he got a head start this morning and last night to give over a case, not like he's about to tell Taemin that either way.

He wanted to take his time with this little meeting, even if he's so nervous to even talk right now.

So taking a sip of his drink, he crosses his fingers on the table with eyes looking anywhere but Taemin's eyes.

He knows if he did.... He would just feel the same things he felt back then.

"You answered some of them through messages, so I don't have many," Jimin says quietly, finding it in him to finally look at Taemin but focusing only on somewhere other than his eyes, "I just want to know if this arranged marriage..... Was it really something you wanted?"

Taemin's own gaze fogged. It was almost as though the clear hesitation flashed before his eyes as he looks anywhere besides Jimin's gaze, looking out the window with a very contemplated stare.

However that didn't last long because then Taemin looks back to Jimin with a more fragile stare in his gaze, almost as though whatever that intensity of his wall he built up was dropped.

Completely.

Good, that means he won't lie.

Even if he did, Jimin could tell a liar immediately.

"I remember I told you that it was arranged by my fathers and their business partners," He says with a sigh, "And I remember telling you that it was something that was my choice to begin with whether it should happen or not..... But I lied at that time."

So he reaches into his pocket, taking out a folded paper and undoes it, sparing a look to it before sliding it over to Jimin on the table.

It's a contract.

Also a wedding contract.

Jimin furrows his eyebrows and takes it, seeing many documents similar like this when he does his case studies so this is not entirely something that can fool him easily if it's fake since he would be able to tell.

No where was Taemin or his wife's - ex wife sorry- name anywhere. However Taemin's father signature was printed on it to the agreement of marrying his only son off to the business man's daughter, who should also agree on the terms to keep their business moving and expand on it as well.

Business, of course.

"I have kept you very informed about my life in the past, about the real business that my parents partake in," Taemin says, making Jimin look up to him from the contract, "The only reason I said I agreed to this was to cut you off my life without my parents ending up getting involved. They warned me about settling things with you, so I did what I had to do.... To keep you safe, as cliché as it is."

Jimin's throat tightens, looking back to the marriage document and reading over the contract well to prove that what Taemin is saying is true. In some twisted way, Jimin should've known Taemin would never do this willingly but what was there to think about during that time? Jimin was hurt, he was not going to think that his parents were forcing him to do it with the blackmail that they would blow Jimin's head off if he doesn't cut him off for good.

That's why he was so cruel back then.... His purpose was for Jimin to hate him enough to stay away and give up on their relationship for good. If he would've told the truth than without a doubt Jimin's would've kept fighting back.

He would've done anything for their relationship after all.

"Okay," Jimin whispers, folding the contract quietly with no more focused eyes to look at Taemin, "I'm about to sound so desperate but.... Haven't you thought of us running away? Back then at least."

Taemin exhales heavily, nodding to himself, "I thought of every possible way to avoid this Jimin, trust me I've tried. If I even suggested for us to run away, you know they will send people to find me or you. Even using the people you care about as leverage just to drive us out and- Fuck, Jimin they would kill you.... I'm not even kidding. Just so they can get what they want, they would kill you."

Jimin sometimes has forgotten what family Taemin has grew up in, more so the environment. Not a simple business like Taehyung's CEO company, but something more on the darker side that's disguised as a regular business by their wise way of hiding themselves.

Maybe their love back then was some twisted Romeo and Juliet type of fantasy; Jimin being the good boy raised by a family of lawyers or somewhere in the law enforcement, taught to follow the law and staying on the right path. Taemin being the bad boy with angel wings tattooed on his back and a very intense way of having fun with life, followed by a family who runs a cartel on the low. A secret no one knew about except for Jimin.

How did they last four years together? Easy, it was a secret, up until Junior year when they decided to come out together to both of their families. By then each side already knew them for being close friends, but not lovers. Jimin's family weren't so heavy hearted with it, that's because they thought Taemin as a good person, without knowing his future role in life.

Meanwhile Taemin's parents weren't exactly fond of Taemin involving himself with someone outside the business, who could easily get them in trouble with the law if he felt like it. They didn't get in the way though, not until the whole arranged marriage happened.

There's no doubt that Jimin would be dead by now if he didn't stop coming after Taemin, so that's why Taemin became more colder so Jimin was forced to move on.

Shit..... This is.... So expected but so much to digest at once.

Jimin shakily runs his hands down his face, trying to keep himself calm to the flashbacks of memories running through his head. So many signs that he was too blinded to see back then, but are so much more clearer to him now.

Clearly because his feelings aren't in the way anymore.

"Recently I have more ownership for the business, meanwhile my parents don't have so much control over me as before," Taemin continues, leaning on the table with his own fingers crossed, "Naeun and I decided that our relationship was just not going to work out since we've been trying for years to get a divorce, so we held on until we got ownership to split and still remain business partners."

That's a smart idea, really smart actually.

Jimin twitches a frown, rubbing a hand to his chest anxiously. Right now he doesn't even know what to say.... This is far more than what he has originally expected. In some way he hoped that Taemin just wanted to be an asshole and he really left him because he lost feelings, but knowing this stirred up some faint string of hope that Jimin didn't want to feel.

But he did..... He really did, and it's aching his soul because he didn't want to give in.

There's just no reason for it anymore.

"I get it, this whole mess- I get it," Jimin says shakily, clearing his throat to not sound so weak right now, "Now what? What do you want from me now?"

Taemin gulps thickly, rubbing a hand to the back of his head before removing his back to brush his silver hair back and puts the cap back on, "I.... I just wanted to give you an explanation. If I'm honest I don't expect anything from you now.... I would like for us to be on a more calmer wavelength after all this has been cleared up..... And just to say I'm sorry for putting you through so much pain during that time. I really did love you and I just wanted to keep you safe, even if my childish self back then could've thought of something else."

Well this is definitely something much better than what Jimin expected. He was about to panic if Taemin would've said that he wants to rekindle their relationship or friendship again, but being on a good standing is definitely much more possible for either of them as a start off.

It's not a promise for anything, it's a ticket to.... Keep going now with this closure to the truth.

A truth Jimin needed to feel free.

And he does now. That weight of pain and anguish did lift from his shoulders, still cautious but maybe he can do his own little investigation later on either way.

But..... Taemin wouldn't lie about his family, especially the lengths they would go to keep their family business running.

Besides, Jimin has been experienced enough in that field as well. He knows what a family like that would be capable of doing.

Now they're grown adults, that youthful time past them, moving onto their future without being stuck on who they were before.

Their closure.

So with a twitching smile, Jimin extends out a hand, "Lee Taemin, I think we have a deal."

The shy and even flustered smile grew on Taemin's lips, his cheeks even tinting in pink before slowly clasping his fingers around Jimin's hand back.

A leap jumped in Jimin's heart upon feeling the warm hand around his, trying not to let it bubble some stirring emotions deep down the pit of his lingering feelings.

So he quickly takes his hand back, a shy smile on his own lips as he looks at Taemin while trying not to get a little geeked up.

From there things became more calmer, even felt a little normal. They each spoke about their lives, what they've been up to, how's their work is coming along. Taemin went on that he doesn't have a swarm of body guards now is because he doesn't really need it, since he can defend himself pretty well. However he does have a few people watching out for him in a distance just in case if he needs himself.

Not a surprise, gotta keep the boss safe after all.

Jimin on the other hand just spoke about how being a lawyer was like, dodging the question about his love life and maybe feeling a little embarrassed when Taemin admitted he's never been with another male besides him.

Ha, well Jimin can't relate.

If anything he's been getting a lot of dick since the break up, but of course that was his coping mechanism.

Other than that, the conversation between them felt like it once did before. When they were just high school sweethearts and nothing bad was going on in their lives, where they lived happily together. They giggled to some past memories, grew shy when it began to some intimate conversations, but had so much to say all at once.

Taemin even was a little surprised that Jimin being a lawyer and all hasn't called the cops on him, knowing his business and the role he currently has now. Guess Jimin isn't a snitch, always has been like this and always will continue to be that way. No matter what role he plays in society. He only does his job, help his clients with their case.

He's not assigned to do anything other than that either way.

The day flew by and before they knew it, they were going to Jimin's apartment. Taemin offered walking him there, just to perhaps linger onto their conversation they had about that time Jimin wanted to impress Taemin back then in high school by making a toxic gas that he taught him to make, but nearly killed him by accident when it exploded to his face.

Yeah.... That was definitely a memory they laugh at now looking back it.

They use to be some crazy kids back then.

How time has changed indeed.

Arriving to the nice building and Jimin's floor, it felt a little upsetting as they walk down the hallway. They had a really good time, talked over a lot of things that they needed to talk about, and now.... Well now they'll just go on their separate ways until the wedding.

At least Jimin won't have some anxiety being there anymore.

When the two arrived to the apartment door, Jimin's chest began to feel heavy when he faced Taemin; who only looks around the elegant hallway and back to Jimin's door to his apartment with a twitching smile.

However when their gazes met, it was like Jimin was pinched with something in his heart. So many emotions began to spiral all at once, conflicted with what he should do now but he knew it's best he just goes inside his apartment and continue doing what he had been doing this whole time.

Yeah, he'll do just that.

"Alright well.... This is me," Jimin chuckles nervously, cringing to himself how awkward that sounded, "It was nice time we had- I mean the day today, together like that.... Yeah."

Come on Jimin get your shit together!

Taemin slowly nods, a forced smile on his lips, "Yeah, it was a nice time."

The tension grew thicker with every waiting second that it was nearly suffocating. A shiver runs down Jimin's spine to how badly he's holding himself back from doing something impulsive-

Abruptly hands clasped his cheeks, keeping him in place and lips press against his own gently.

His whole world stopped moving, maybe even his heart beat to by how sudden this action suddenly was. It was as though life just slowed down on its own, but his stomach bursted with warmness and tingles that it was so hard to fight them back.

And he didn't.

That's why when Taemin pulled away from him, shuttering a string full of apologizes to how he crossed the line, Jimin only unlocks the door to his apartment and yanks Taemin inside by the collar while aggressively slamming their lips back together.

Subconsciously Taemin growls against Jimin's lips hungrily but slams the front door shut behind them, letting themselves drown in one single night where they will feel the infinite of their intimacy that they once shared when they were teens.

A time when they were helplessly blinded, dreaming of a forever with hands interlaced together as they made love in the darkness.

But that was just a moment of complete unity after all, since their hearts aren't meant to linger on each other forever.

__________________________
A/N:
I was not planning this chapter to end up being so long

When I finished writing I even surprised myself by how much I wrote haha

As a reminder, Vminkook will be a very slow developing process so please be patient

They will be having their moments with other characters, just so they can learn and etc.

Alrightyyyy let's get the next chapter coming on!

I PURPLE YOU! <33