He's still a bit tentative, but after school that day, Jeongguk decides to take up Taehyung's suggestion once again in the off chance it actually works. Honestly, he has no idea. Hoseok's always been friendly and open, but if it concerns personal matters about his best friend, it could be a completely different situation.

But he tries anyway, because as he told Taehyung, he's worried about Jimin.

-

me
hey hoseok u got a minute?

Hoseok
sure jeongguk what's up? :)

me
ok so i just had a quick question

me
well maybe not quick, cus idk exactly what i'm asking?

Hoseok
lol ( '∀｀) what is it?

me
weeeellll

me
okay so basically i just want to know...if jimin's ok? like i know he's told me he doesn't like attention so he doesn't want me talking to him at school, which i wish wasn't the case but...

me
idk something just seems really off about him

me
i get being shy or introverted but i just have this gut feeling, makes me kinda nervous something's wrong. is his home situation not good or something?

me
ok this makes me sound like i'm being really nosy i'm sorry, i'm not tryna stick my nose where it doesn't belong, if it's too personal to talk about i get it

me
like i said i'm just worried

Hoseok
you're very perceptive

me
thanks?

Hoseok
lol

Hoseok
i don't know what to say jeongguk

Hoseok
"personal" seems like an understatement.

me
so there is something going on? can i know anything? i want to get to know him but he seems really hesitant to talk to me at all

Hoseok
it's not my business to say

Hoseok
i don't really like to think about it, either. when i'm with jimin i make an effort to talk about the things that make him happy, cus he needs more positive distractions in his life. it's the closest he'll get to therapy but sometimes i feel it's not enough

Hoseok
i'm rambling now

me
therapy?? does he need therapy?

Hoseok
don't know if i could qualify it as a need but i'd certainly like him to. i mentioned it once tho, a while ago, but jimin hates the idea of telling his problems to a stranger. or anyone, actually...sometimes i have to pry things out of him

Hoseok
it's not easy lol

Hoseok
if i hadn't known jimin when we were younger i can't imagine being able to befriend him now

me
so what you're saying is i have no chance...

Hoseok
no that's not it! it's just the circumstances, things seem unlikely. but i'm not saying you couldn't.

me
was he traumatized or something?

Hoseok
jeongguk i can't give details

Hoseok
it's not my place to. it's one thing if jimin told you on his own or even gave me permission to tell you, but i can't now

Hoseok
i'm sorry, i know you're a great guy, jeongguk

Hoseok
in fact, if i can convince jimin, maybe u could sit at our table at lunch or something, without the disguise this time lol

me
i don't think he wants me to...

Hoseok
i know he'll probably oppose it at first but i'm sure i can talk to him about it. it's a start, right?

Hoseok
cus honestly i want him to be open to having more friends. i think he could benefit from it. maybe knock down one of those barriers he's built up, i don't know, i'm not the therapist he "needs"...

Hoseok
wish i could be, but i don't know...maybe i baby him too much?

Hoseok
sorry i'm rambling again lol how does this even happen

me
it's ok i don't mind if u talk, sounds like u need to vent too lol

Hoseok
nah it's cool. i've rambled enough.

Hoseok
but really tho, come sit with us tomorrow :) if it's just you or even you and tae i'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. just so long as you don't bring a whole crowd with u

me
yeah of course, just me and tae

Hoseok
:) i'll see u tomorrow then jeongguk 👋

me
wait hoseok before you go

me
is there any advice at all you have? for how to speak to him, how to make him feel more comfortable around me or whatever, anything?

Hoseok
you're really serious about this aren't you haha

me
yeah kinda

Hoseok
again idk what to really tell you. i guess...making an effort counts for a lot more than we tend to give it credit. he doesn't always say what's on his mind, even when i ask, so for all any of us know you might have already made progress :)

me
you think?

Hoseok
don't know lol

Hoseok
could be. have a nice day!

me
see ya hoseok...

-

me
hi jimin hows it going? :)

Jimin
i just got home...

me
me too (^-^)

me
well, a little bit ago but close enough

me
what do u usually do after school?

Jimin
homework

me
we didn't really have any today tho. besides homework? do u work part time?

Jimin
occasionally. besides that and homework, not much. i don't have many hobbies. sometimes i sleep, or play my 3DS or something

me
you have a 3DS too? do you have pokémon sun or moon??

Jimin
i do

Jimin
i'm guessing you do?

me
yeah! tae's been into pc games a lot recently so i haven't had anyone to trade with :/

me
not to mention mario kart, which i haven't played in a while cus he only likes the wii u version

Jimin
i have that too

me
do you wanna play one of those?? pokémon or mario kart, you can choose. or a different game. i have tons, animal crossing, monster hunter, cooking mama, you name it

Jimin
is it just cus tae's too busy?

Jimin
you'd rather play with him i'm sure

me
i just like playing video games with people, it's fun

me
tae yells too much anyway, but don't tell him i said that

me
so do u wanna play something?

Jimin
i was rude to you earlier

me
?

Jimin
earlier. when u complimented me. i was rude.

me
hey it's okay, you don't feel bad about that do you?

Jimin
i still feel bad about spilling soda all over you last saturday

Jimin
does that answer your question

me
jiminiiiiiiin it's okaaaayyyy

me
the soda thing was an accident, i wasn't mad, and i didnt see you as being rude earlier

Jimin
i'm not a pleasant person i'm sorry

me
:( please stop apologizing

Jimin
don't think that's possible

Jimin
you made me feel even worse that night, bringing me that pikachu plush

me
sorry...?

me
you said you couldn't sleep without one :(

Jimin
right. i meant now i feel like i owe you or something, especially cus i feel like you actually kept your word and didn't tell anyone

me
you really don't owe me, but if it would make you feel better we could make a deal :)

Jimin
what

me
don't avoid me at school anymore and we'll call it even

Jimin
is this blackmail?

me
no not blackmail that sounds malicious i don't mean it like that!!

me
i just really don't like watching you run away from me every day when all i want to do is say hi or talk for a bit

me
it breaks my wee little gay heart

Jimin
i'm paranoid

me
of?

Jimin
all your friends following you, or watching, or talking about me or the fact that you're around me

me
jimin

me
the only people who would potentially "follow" me are the ones i've known and been around the longest, and they're respectable enough that they wouldn't do anything to make you uncomfortable

me
if i asked them to keep their distance from you they would, cus you know what, they're good people

me
and even if i ever heard or found out they were talking bad about you for some conceivable reason, i'd ask them to stop or just stop talking to them myself

Jimin
that doesn't seem like it'd be very beneficial for you

me
what do you think i'm just after more popularity or something?? is that how you see me?

Jimin
no that's not

Jimin
sorry

me
it's okay jimin i just don't think you're getting it :(

me
sooner or later tho :)

me
so i've decided i'm gonna sit with you and hoseok at lunch tomorrow!

me
i might bring tae

me
but JUST tae, i promise

Jimin
what?

me
okay so what game are we playing now?

Jimin
uhm

me
cool, get your 3DS, we're trading pokémon

—-