Yoongi had to pretend like it wasn't the only thing on his mind for the rest of the night - that was what Jimin seemed to do, after all. Typical, confusing Jimin and his conflicting behavioral patterns that continued to baffle Yoongi even though he expected them at this point.

They stayed till some time between midnight and one in the morning. And it wasn't Hoseok's decision for them to leave, but rather Seokjin, who approached Yoongi and suggested the blond help his friend home for the night. Yoongi expected this as well. The red-haired party animal was drunk and clearly wouldn't be able to drive home, so it was up to him.

Fortunately it didn't take long to locate Hoseok or Taehyung and get them both to the car. Hoseok, though, did make a bit of noise in the process, but at least, Yoongi thought, he didn't go kicking and screaming.

He helped Hoseok into the back of the vehicle after retrieving the keys from his pocket. Yoongi encouraged Jimin to sit up front.

The drive to Hoseok's apartment was a silent one - the boy apparently fell asleep within the first few minutes of leaving Seokjin's house and didn't open his eyes again until his friend shook him awake after pulling up to the apartment building - not the same building as Yoongi's and Jeongguk's, however, though that would have made this whole situation much more convenient. Instead, the blond would have to make an extra trip to his own place after dropping off Jimin and Taehyung.

Getting his drunk friend into his apartment was a much more strenuous experience than getting him out of Seokjin's place. Hoseok cycled through around ten or so moods in the journey from the back seat of his own car to his bed. But Yoongi succeeded in getting him there. Somehow. By the time he made it back to the vehicle he was just about out of energy.

He took a moment to breathe as he sat behind the steering wheel.

"...how much did he drink?"

"Enough to make him stupider than normal," Yoongi replied, then started up the car. "He owes me big time later. Man, what a trip..."

He felt Taehyung tap his shoulder just then so he turned his head slightly to look back at the boy. "Is your friend okay?"

A soft smile found its way to Yoongi's lips. He nodded.

"Okay, good."

With that, Yoongi began the drive to their next destination.

It was a little out of his way. Having to drive past his own apartment to get to the other boys' run-down neighborhood, he felt a little more energy escape him, but the thought of being able to crawl in bed as soon as he got home kept him going. Not to mention the memory of the dancer kissing him made it impossible to fall asleep at the wheel.

He could only hope it wouldn't make it impossible to fall asleep, too.

On the note of falling asleep, after pulling up to the boys' house, Yoongi found Taehyung had passed out in the back of the car, head having fallen against the window to his left.

"Are you gonna need help with him?"

"It's fine," Jimin said, waving his hand dismissively. "I can carry him."

"I'll open your front door, then. Give me your key."

Though he appeared irritated with Yoongi's thoughtful demand, Jimin soon exhaled and handed the blond the key to his house. Yoongi immediately exited the vehicle to go unlock the door and hold it open for Jimin. The dancer then carried his sleeping friend in his arms and through the open door and disappeared into another room, returning roughly twenty seconds later to grab to the key from the lock. He didn't duck back inside right away, though. He stopped and looked at Yoongi.

"You're still here."

"Just making sure you get inside safe," the blond said quickly, burying his hands in his pockets as he took a step back. "Also, uhm...sorry again if the party wasn't...you know, really your thing."

"Wasn't yours, either, didn't you say?"

Yoongi stifled a laugh. "Yeah, but it's alright. Hoseok seemed happy I tagged along, and that was the reason I agreed to go in the first place, so..." He paused awkwardly upon meeting Jimin's eyes by mistake. "...I should...probably head home now..."

"What, just like that?"

"What?"

"No goodnight kiss?"

Yoongi's heart dropped to his stomach. "Goodnight kiss??"

"I'm teasing you."

The blond pursed his lips, watching with a feeling of indignation bubbling in his chest as a smirk took form on the dancer's face once again. Oddly enough, it didn't seem spiteful, but Yoongi kept his guard up anyway.

"C'mon, baby, don't be upset now-"

"I'm not upset," Yoongi countered, pouting. "I'm a man. I can take a little teasing."

"Mm. Is that a manly trait?"

"I'm making it one."

"Sure you are, baby."

Such a smooth tone of voice. Yoongi's heart, finding its way back from where it had dropped, began to flutter against his mind's will for it to cease. It hardly helped anymore that he tried to convince himself Jimin was only acting.

Successfully swayed by the dancer's charms. He stood still as Jimin leaned forward to kiss his cheek and went on his way.

Pretty lips against Yoongi's rosy cheek.

He drove home that night forgetting about how tired he was physically and made himself a cup of coffee with little forethought that it might not be the best thing before bed. And it wasn't, because by two a.m. the word "sleep" sounded nothing short of ridiculous.

"Losing sleep over you...what a way to start the new year..."

He couldn't be mad. A little disappointed in himself, again, but not upset. Because this was different. Last year, around this same time, Yoongi had been fast asleep in bed after a lonely night spent at his apartment, studying old notes he had taken in his classes which were on hold because of the holiday break.

Depressing, lonely, passionless hours. Pouring over material he couldn't have cared less about. Last year, he had the option of going out. Just like he always did. Hoseok and Jeongguk both invited him to go out with them to a party, probably Seokjin's but Yoongi couldn't recall exactly. He had said no. Wherever it had been, he said no, insisting he'd rather be cozied up inside and studying.

Computer science. He had been studying to achieve a degree in computer science. This was his third year and he was no more invested in it than the day he started. It was a spark that never went off.

Three years. Staring at the surface of his room-temperature coffee, Yoongi couldn't fully wrap his head around it. Although, he was well aware, this had been the routine for the past couple years. The realization of another one going by, an entire year working his job, being able to live worry-free of student loans thanks to his scholarship, but not caring much for the benefits otherwise.

He had thought about it before. Switching majors.

The thought interested him less than staying with the one he was already in. But Yoongi had never found the motivation to drop out altogether, either. He knew Jeongguk would make a big deal out of it. Probably Hoseok, too. And he wouldn't even get himself started on his parents.

Despite it no longer being the hot beverage he had looked forward to drinking, Yoongi finished off the rest of his coffee just for the satisfaction of seeing the inside of the mug empty. He washed out the mug afterwards and put it away in one of the kitchen cabinets.

Then he sat down again at the table, taking his phone out of his pocket to check if he had any notifications. Which he did. Little to his surprise, many missed messages from Jeongguk.

-

Guk
HAPPY NEW YEARRRRR HYUNNNG
hobi told me you went to seokjin's with him??
are u back home yet?? it's like one in the morning now. idk how long u planned to stay.
probably not too late if it's your decision lol
WAIT.
YOONGI HYUNG
IM JUST NOW SEEING HIS INSTA POSTS
ITS RLY BLURRY IM GUESSING HE WAS DRUNK BUT THATS YOU AND JIMIN ISNT IT
OH MY GOSH
THERES NO WAY THERES SPACE BETWEEN YOUR FACES
HYUNG
ANSWER ME

me
he did not post that on instagram i'm gonna kill him...

Guk
HYUNG NO DONT KILL HIM PLS
ITS SUPER BLURRY LIKE I SAID
IF I DIDNT KNOW U SO WELL I WOULDNT EVEN BE ABLE TO TELL ITS U ITS FINE

me
i don't really care honestly but i'm still gonna make him delete it later

Guk
hyung
yoongi
you guys are dating aren't you don't lie to me

me
we're not guk he just kissed me...

Guk
HIS ARMS ARE AROUND YOUR WAIST
I THINK??? IT LOOKED LIKE
YEAH DEFINITELY

me
it's whatever

Guk
hyung i ahsjjdjwjwkebdjdj
why don't u tell him??

me
tell him what

Guk
THAT U LIKE HIM OMG

me
guk this isn't middle school
jimin's personality is confusing alright i know it's not gonna be as simple as "hey i like you" "oh i like you too" and we live happily ever after

Guk
but why notttttt
he's not just playing with your feelings is he hyung?

me
honestly could be but i'm a fool so i've given up putting my guard up

Guk
i refuse to accept this omg he likes u he's got to

me
enough about me guk i'm tired

Guk
yoongi i'm sorry do u wanna go to bed now..?
('･_･') am i bothering u?

me
no it's not that i just meant we can stop talking about me
i wanna know how your day went
did u just relax at home after work or what?

Guk
no, actually i went out with a friend from work to this ramen place open late
it was really good!
yoongi we have to go together some time :D

me
sure
do u have work tomorrow?
well, today, technically

Guk
yup, in the morning :/
but not super early thankfully
but still kinda early lol

me
get some sleep guk

Guk
you too hyung
good night <3
DREAM OF JIMIN

me
don't say that...

—