#iau

[peoniesnro]

In Another Universe

#18. Punishments

Synopsis – When you are just another iteration of Park Jimin’s girlfriend in a different universe.

Park Jimin × Reader

Genre – parallel universe / kind of fantasy/ strangers to ??/ SMUT/ maybe romance/ angst/ fluff /Infidelity

Warnings- Language/ Angst / INFIDELITY /SMUT- Bondage, shit ton of usual dirty talking, rough sex, name calling, oral (M. Receiving), they do it while on a call, spit play, multiple orgasms, cum play, cum feeding, this is disgusting tbh 🥲

Word count- 37K

a/n- I know I'm taking too long for updates. Honestly, I didn't expect this story to drag out this long. Maybe, just maybe none of you want to read this anymore but I feel so sad to just give up on this. So, I'll make sure to finish it even if it takes time. Though, this is an old excuse, I really find it hard to find a time to just sit down and write. Especially, for the past few weeks/months I've been so burned out that writing felt like a chores. But I like the way how this one turned out. Anyway, my apologies in advance if there's so many mistakes in this chapter because I couldn't triple check and edit it like I normally do. Still, I hope you'll enjoy it and like always I love you all ❤️

Taglist?

Chapter Index

Previous - Next

Coffee?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The silence is uncomfortable. Unbearable. Not even the distant noises of traffic or the faintest sounds of the musical playing on the TV can beat that silence. Jimin has no idea how long it’s been since he arrived here. Ten minutes? Five minutes? Maybe it’s just a couple seconds. But it sure does feel as if he’s waited here forever. In utter silence following Seoyeon’s departure. He knows that she’s somewhere around. Has just left so he and Liya would have some privacy. Privacy that Jimin doesn’t want to have. If anything, he wants to be back on a plane. Heading home. 

Yes, he wants to get this done. Quickly. So, he can go back to you.

Jimin averts his gaze to the woman on the opulent queen size bed in the VIP hospital room. The moment he had stepped inside this room, one of his suspicions vanished. This—what Seoyeon had let him know—wasn’t a trick. Not one of many plans of Kim Liya. She’s actually sick. She looks small bundled in white sheets. Face the color of ash and lips matching her face. Eyes sunken. She looks weak. Weak like you did. It has happened so gradually and slowly Jimin hasn’t realized how much you’ve started to glow lately. Becoming healthy. He certainly hasn’t realized that Liya was losing it. 

Fuck!

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

He doesn’t know what to do. Like you said, neither him nor you would ever want to see Liya wither into dust. But he doesn’t know how to make it right. That’s why he should talk to her, which he hasn’t done until this very moment. He hasn’t spoken a single word to his ex-girlfriend. Maybe he should now. Ask—

“I want you to help me.” Before Jimin could finish the thought, Liya’s weak voice rises above the other faintest of noises. Yet despite how weak her voice is, there’s an edge to it. Despite how inaudible her voice is, there’s an order laced to the tone. She’s not requesting it. She’s demanding. Like she always had. From the beginning of their relationship to the end. And now? Even after their relationship. 

Jimin has to clench his jaw so he wouldn’t snap at her. Back then, when they were a couple, Jimin had felt bad whenever they fought about not meeting Liya’s commands—which she believed to be requests. No more though. He leans forward in the chair he’s been sitting, placed next to Liya’s bed. He braces his forearms on his knees, eyes directly on the woman in front of him.

“Why would I do that?” Asks calmly as he can. 

“Because, you owe me that—”

Jimin knows what she’s about to say even before she could start. “I owe you nothing.” So, he interrupts her before she finishes that damn sentence. Because, he doesn’t. Doesn’t owe her anything. Not that he’s defending his actions to cheat on her. No. No matter what had happened. No matter what game she played, Jimin wasn’t entitled to do that. And he never meant to do that. He’d forever think about the million other ways how he could’ve done this right. Yet, he’s not going to be in her debt. Like he had done all the time. All because he believed she made him. 

What a pathetic lie that he’d believed.

When you first told him the truth, he felt stupid. So stupid that he wanted to hide. Away from you. Away from the world. How could someone be so idiotic to believe in a lie for that long. Allowed  to be manipulated so hard. He had felt like a kid who got tricked by his own parents. How embarrassing? Yet, in the end, there was the relief to finally know that he wasn't a loser like he thought. 

Still, that matter is something he wishes never to speak with someone. Even with Liya. Especially with Liya. Hence his silence as he gapes at her pale face. Liya, though, is a smart woman. It’s not always a necessity to tell her things word by word. In that pure silence, she understands. Or realizes. Her next words are proof of it. 

“I did what I had to do.” 

“Are you kidding me?” Jimin yet again fails to keep his voice at bay. To refrain from snapping. It’s just too much. “What you had to do?” He straightens up, a hand stretched toward the closed door. “You mean you had to get a man so you’d be even with your damn best friend? You had to?” Jimin grits his teeth. He can’t start yelling here. No. Not here. “Isn’t that fucking stupid, Liya? Aren’t you even feeling sorry for her? You did everything you could do to compete with her. You never saw her as a friend. And she’s the only one you have. Even though she knows that, she’s here. She’s here for you. You’re an awful friend. And you say you fucking had to do that? You did that to me and Seoyeon too.” 

Even with everything else, Jimin would always admire Seoyeon for that. For being with Liya even though she knows that she’ll never get the same treatment. Seoyeon, in that sense, is an amazing person. 

A silence falls over following his words. Then Liya mumbles with another deep breath. Voice weak. “You won’t understand. I did what I had to do.” 

Jimin can only scoff. There’d be no changing of her mind. She’ll never admit her own flaws. What a waste of time and words? Why would he care anyways. “Well, good for you, Liya. But I still don’t owe you anything.” He says a bit calmly this time. Ready to get to his feet. Not wanting to hear it anymore. But Liya rushes to stop him. 

“That’s not the same as cheating.” She barks. Apparently puts all her remaining strength into that she immediately winces. 

“I never said it was.” Jimin agrees with her right away. “If I owe you anything, Liya…then that means you owe me as well.” This time Jimin manages to get to his feet. Only to be stopped when Liya yells through her lungs. Weak or not, she makes Jimin flinch.

“Then you owe me for this!” She gestures at her body. “You’re maybe allowed to replace me in your life, but you’re not entitled to do that to me in my life. This is my life. You can’t steal it from me.” Continues as Jimin freezes in his spot. There they go. Finally, on the topic. The reason why Jimin is here. “You owe me my life, Park Jimin.” She finishes in a quiet whisper. 

Jimin takes a minute. He can still walk away. Not giving a fuck about this. But… but… she looks like she's minutes apart from withering into dust. And he doesn’t want that. You don’t want that. He has to listen. See what he can do. He heaves a heavy sigh. “What happened?" Asks without bothering to take a seat again. 

“The same thing that happened to Li.” Liya doesn’t ask Jimin to sit back either. She keeps her eyes directly on his. 

“B-but how?” Jimin furrows. “They said only one—”

“And that one is me, Jimin.” Liya shifts in her position, with a great effort. “From now on, the one who’s going to be doomed is me.” Seethes. “She’s not going home anymore, is she? She’s stuck here?” 

Though that's a question, Jimin feels it’s more of a statement. He doesn’t know how she got to know that. There won’t be any benefit in lying, however. Jimin stays silent. And Liya takes that as a yes. 

“Apparently…” Liya carries on. “That’s because something has changed. Because she has a purpose now. I don’t know what that is. Maybe it’s you... She has a reason to wake up everyday. But, I don’t, Jimin. I’m losing my purpose. Any reason to wake up every day and she’s replacing me.” 

Her words hang in the air. Jimin sucks in a breath. He has to fight the urge to fall back into the seat. Well, this is what they’ve expected. Yet deep down Jimin wanted this to be something else. Something that has nothing to do with his selfishness. Greediness. Something that has nothing to do with you. 

You got a purpose! 

He gapes at Liya while her words echo in his head. You got a purpose. Is it really him? The whole reason behind why you stopped shifting between the two worlds. He doesn’t know what to say. What to ask. His tongue is tied. 

“We—how—it’s not like I was your purpose, Liya.” Jimin finally manages to stutter. 

“Maybe you were a part of it, Jimin.” Her eyes blaze as she regards Jimin. If she could, she'd definitely kill him. “And it’s not just you I lost. With you…I lost my whole life. I don't know who told you the agreement between my father and everything else, but I’m glad they did so I don’t have to explain this. You already know what happened and what will happen. My father will disown me. Forfeit me of his inheritance. And—” She gulps hard. “And they’ll vote me out as the CEO of The SE. I don’t care about his inheritance but I’d lose my company, Jimin. I’d lose my purpose. I am losing my purpose.” 

With that Liya manages to make Jimin suck in a breath. “But that’s bullshit. You manage the company so fucking well. You made that company.” Rest aside, Jimin knows that’s the truth. Liya could be many things but she never was a failed leader. It’s ridiculous that anyone would want to fire her from the company. Specifically, when she’s doing so damn great. 

“Say that to the board.” Liya’s eyes burn with a fire. Yet, she looks helpless. As if no matter how much anger or fire is there within her, nothing could help her. Nothing would change the situation. 

“They can’t just do it without a reason.” Even when he says that, Jimin knows they can. Liya’s father is the king of this kingdom and others will follow his decision blindly, without reasons. Liya rolls her eyes. 

“We both know they can,” She scoffs. “And they have a reason.” Mutters. Eyes back on Jimin. “It’s not just you who suffered from the recent events, Jimin. I did too. Even when I’m the one who got cheated.” Another tiny scoff. “Still some stupid people out there are taking your side. Boycotting me and spreading hate. Rumors. They even say it wasn’t me who dated you from the start. And—” She gulps. None of these are news to Jimin. He knows it has been. Has been avoiding social media and other forms of gossip sites, and news up to this very day. But he knows what people are saying. “And it’s affecting the sales, Jimin. So, they do have a reason to fire me. They’ll do it.” 

Unfair.

That’s not fair at all. He, out of all people, knows how hard it is to manage a business. The amount of time that’d be sacrificed. The hard decisions and stress. And to lose that just because you got cheated?

Outrageous.

How could Kim do that when he knows it as well? When he knows how capable Liya is?

Fuck, this is all his fault. He created this mess. So he gives up being hostile. Maybe, just maybe, like you said, he can help to fix it. 

“What’s the plan?” At the end of Liya’s ramble he asks. This time a tad gently. Liya doesn’t answer him. Her face gives away nothing. Then after a long second, she sighs. 

“Help me convince him—the board, and my father that we’re still together.” Words leave her mouth like a tidal wave. Jimin’s jaw hangs open slightly as those words hit him. Liya, however, doesn’t notice that. Or she doesn’t care about that. “The rules were simple. All I had to do was keep you as my boyfriend. Cheating was not a problem. I mean it was, especially when the public got to know it. But my father never said anything about you just cheating. It was all about you leaving me for someone else.” She takes a deep breath. Finally, turns to look at him. “So, help me—”

“No!” Jimin’s voice booms across the hospital room. He doesn’t intend to say the word so loud but it can’t be helped it seems. Liya has lost her mind. Jimin can’t believe the audacity. The sheer absurdity. “Are you fucking kidding me, Liya? Do you hear yourself?” 

“I—” Liya does her best to sit up on the bed. As if doing so would make Jimin agree to the stupid request of her. “Am not joking, Jimin. This is about my life. Why would I be joking about my life?” 

Jimin chuckles. Not a scoff but a chuckle. One more minute in this conversation would get him laughing. “Well, still no, Liya. That’s ridiculous and I—” He stops himself. A deep breath. He doesn’t think there’s a point in humoring this idea in any way. So, with a shake of his head, Jimin retrieves a step. “I’m sorry, Liya. I’d be happy to help you in any other way. Maybe, come up with another plan. I’m not going to pretend to be your boyfriend.” 

“Why the hell not.” Liya barks. Her delicate fists have gripped the sheets so tight that her knuckles have turned white. Jimin drops his gaze from her face to her hands for a second. Now, he knows this must be damn hard for her. Asking—begging for help. From him out of all people. This must be hurting her ego as if she’s physically getting crushed under a boulder. Then to be rejected? He can’t imagine the mortification. Liya wasn’t raised to take ‘No’s for an answer. Hasn’t raised to be rejected. Jimin knows this is painful for her. Yet, he’s not going to do it. No. He’s not going to mess things up with you even for a second. You’re the most previous things to him. Everything and anything else can be doomed. Even if it makes him evil than he already is. 

“Because we broke up, Liya. I went on public and claimed that I cheated on you and we’re no longer in a relationship—” 

“That’s not a problem. You can say it was a mistake.” Liya doesn’t let him finish talking. Frustration bubbles inside Jimin. He should leave or else he’d be causing a scene in here. Which won’t be good for him. 

“You’ve gone crazy, Liya. Just listen to yourself.”

“Oh c’mon… it’s not that hard you know? You did this to me. You and your little—”

“Watch your words, Liya.” Jimin finally yells. Not giving a fuck about people hearing or how it’d affect him. “I won’t just sit back and listen to you fucking insult her every day.” 

It’s Liya’s time to chuckle this time. “Gosh I can’t believe this. What does she have that you’re so blind by her, Jimin…” She shakes her head. Seemingly in disbelief. Yet she doesn’t wait for him to reply. To say all those millions of things he could say about you in answer to her question. Starting from your smile to ending with your little huffs you let out when you’re annoyed at him. From your every ‘Hi’ to your every ‘Bye’. She starts talking again. “Well, you did it before.” She changes the topic of the conversation. “With her. You made her pretend like me and you pretended to be her boyfriend. When you weren’t in love with her. So why can’t you do it again?” 

Jimin doesn’t know if he wasn’t in love with you back then. He knows that he liked you, however. Liked the way you looked at him with such wide eyes that first day—not that he liked the fact you were in such distress. But you had it in with you. That magnet which pulled him in. He liked the way you bickered with him. The way you dressed. The way you looked at him. And everything else. Maybe it wasn’t love. But to answer Liya’s question, “Because neither was I with you.” He chooses the primal truth. 

A silence falls in the room. Liya doesn’t care about the fact that Jimin didn’t love her. He knows it. So does she. His words don’t hurt her. She only cares about getting him to agree. Which is why he should just leave now. “I’m not doing it, Kim Liya. I want to help you. I do. Not this way. Find another way and ask me again.” With that he turns around. Takes a step away. 

“Jimin!” Liya yells his name, causing him to stop again and  turn his head. Just gazing at her with a questioning stare. Liya, though, doesn’t say anything. Just stare back at him with a look torn between a heated glare and a plea. Yet, she doesn’t voice it out. Nothing. Good. Since, Jimin doesn’t want to hear her beg as well. Not that she’ll ever do that anyway. 

He waits a few seconds in that silence, giving Liya the chance to say whatever she wants if she’s going to. When nothing comes up he finally turns his head away. Steps out of the hospital room while Liya’s gaze burns a hole in the back of his head. 

He does want to help her. He has meant his words. But not this way. He won’t risk anything. He won’t let anything complicate you and him. Nothing. Not a person. Not a business. Not god damn anything in this world. He’s not going back to the place where he had to just look at you from afar whenever someone is with you in the room. When he couldn’t touch you, kiss you as he wished. No. 

He doesn’t even care what that makes of him. Being selfish no longer makes him want to jump out of a bridge. He’d be selfish over and over again. He just wants you and that’s it. 

Jimin walks in utter silence through the short passage that connects the room with the lobby. Only the thoughts inside his head thundering. Maybe this trip is a complete waste. He shouldn’t have come. He should’ve known that Liya is going to request something ridiculous. With a heavy sigh, Jimin almost turns around the corner to the lobby when a voice comes from behind him. 

“Are you going to let the poor child die, darling?” 

……………………………

You groan deeply as you open your eyes to witness the soft streaks of sunlight leaking into the apartment. You could’ve done with a couple more hours of sleep but the voices coming from the kitchen are getting louder and louder. 

“Fucking hell! How the hell can I make this work?” That’s definitely Jimin who’s whisper-yelling. Or at least he might be thinking he’s doing that when in reality he’s speaking so loud that it woke you up. 

“What?” Then there’s Jungkook who’s refusing to keep his voice any lower than Jimin. “I told you million fucking time that you need to hold it like this. Are you dumb? How are you a CEO when you’re stupid like a chicken?” 

“It’s not my fucking fault you have a broken coffee machine that needs a rocket scientist to get it to work.” Jimin gasps. Yet again not so quietly. 

You should be offended that they are being stupid. The reaction you’re letting out, however, is a grin that’s so wide and foolish you have to bite on your lower lip to keep it contained. It’s not everyday that Jimin stays at Jungkook’s. Mainly because you want to respect Jungkook’s feelings and Jimin wants to respect yours. And you know he doesn’t want to hurt Jungkook intentionally either. But whenever Jimin stays for the night, this type of conversation never goes without occurring. 

You roll onto your side. Ready to wake up. Going back to sleep would be useless when there are two idiots who are arguing over a coffee machine. You feel fairly fine when you stay laid and not moving your body very much. When you try to sit back, though, you feel as if every cell of your body has swollen and your limbs have grown heavy. 

Fuck, you’re so tired!

You have been for weeks now. And it keeps worsening with every passing day. The things happening in your life aren't helping your situation either. It’s been two weeks since Jimin has returned from his trip to Milano. With the news that Liya in fact wasn’t lying. That she and you had somehow reversed your roles. Now she’s the one who’d be in pain any time someone mistook her to be you. It’s crazy. No. Not just crazy. It’s freaking terrifying. You’ve felt your legs buckle and your insides vacating for a second when you first heard the story. The thing is though, you don’t know any way to help her. Especially since her plan is absurd. 

One thing is certain. You don’t want to sit back and watch Jimin go back to being her boyfriend again. Even for pretense. You don’t want to watch them go in for dinners, talking to the media—claiming that they were back together or anything else that’d make people believe in these bullshits. No you won’t survive that. Still you want to help her. You want her safe. Doing whatever she wants to do with her life. You’re the bitch who caused all these complications. So you want to fix them. Then you’ll at least have the peace of mind that everything worked out just fine in the end. 

Yet, no matter how hard you think you find no way of helping her. You know it’s bugging Jimin as well. The first few weeks after he returned he’s been so distant. Lost in his own head. Distracted. You couldn’t blame him. You both are feeling the same thing. Still, unlike you, Jimin has pulled his shit together. Maybe he’s got a plan. Or just like he told you, he believes that Liya would find another way. He’d help her with it if he could. So would you. Until then, all you can do is wait. It’s scary but it’s all you got. Like how it has been all these months. 

With a heavy sigh, you force your aching body to sit up before you stretch your body out of the mattress. The little squabble of two men still going inside the kitchen. 

“Just hold it that way, man.” Jungkook bellows. His tone is nothing but a mix of real frustration.

“I am holding it that way. It’s fucking broken.” Jimin’s voice, equally full of different kinds of frustration, closely follows. “This is too much to deal with in the morning. You need a new coffee maker.” Adds. Oh, you agree. You’ve struggled with the said thing a lot at first as well. 

“I don’t.” Jungkook refuses to take Jimin’s advice right away. You don’t know why Jungkook is reluctant to replace the damn thing anyway. 

“You do.” Jimin doesn’t back away it seems. You start padding toward the kitchen slowly. Barefoot and relishing in the coldness of the floor. 

“I fucking don’t, Park.” 

“Imma buy you a new one.”

“Imma kick you out of my house.” 

Jimin gasps so loud just as you step in the doorway. The sight of Jimin’s offended face which is gaping at Jungkook’s greet your sleepy eyes. Jungkook has his hand on the coffee machine, holding it the way it should. 

“You’re such a brat, Jeon Jungkook. You should be honored that the CEO of RUN is making coffee in your stuffy kitchen.” Jimin at last says with such a dramatic shake of his head that anyone who doesn’t hear the words they’re exchanging would surely think they’re a couple about to break up. Jungkook snorts at that very unpleasantly. They don’t even notice your presence. 

“Honored? That’s the best joke of the year. And did you call my kitchen stuffy you stupid—”

“Seriously guys!” You interrupt whatever insult that’s about to leave Jungkook’s pretty lips. At your unexpected voice, both men snap their heads toward you. A bit startled. They both spend a minute blinking at your face. Then at the same time they point a finger at each other. 

“He started it!” So do they yell in unison. You roll your eyes as you finally step inside the kitchen. 

“It doesn’t matter,” You grumble, not really annoyed but finding their fight utterly stupid. “You woke me up.” 

Both of their faces fall as you watch. Jimin’s the first one to approach you, however. The freshly made black coffee in his hands. “I’m so sorry baby. How about coffee as an apology?” He pouts. Makes you grin. 

“Well, that sounds acceptable.” You take the steaming mug from his hand. 

“Sorry, Noona.” Jungkook mumbles as well. In the middle of the process of making a second cup of coffee. “But he started it.” Adds nonetheless. 

You shake your head in resignation before you say to Jimin, “Don’t try to convince him to buy a new one. Useless. He won’t throw that away even if you threaten him with his life.” 

Jungkook narrows his eyes at you. “Yes, because it’s perfectly fine. Don’t tell me having a rich boyfriend has gotten into your head, Noona.” 

“Of course, not.” You defend yourself immediately. It’s Jimin’s time to narrow his eyes at you. You give him a look of apology. It works. He doesn’t argue back. Instead walks over to Jungkook to take the next cup of coffee. Only to lose it by milliseconds when Jungkook grabs it faster than him.

“Yah!” Jimin yells. Jungkook pats his shoulder without a care. 

“Learn how to make your own coffee, Mr Park!” He says as he practically storms away from the kitchen. As if despite his words he’s afraid that Jimin would snatch the precious cup out of his hand. 

“I know how to make my damn…coffee…” Jimin mumbles into Jungkook’s retrieving back. Then his eyes turn to you. Looks like a wounded puppy. Or more of a child that is asking justice from his mommy. “Didi you see that? He’s a fucking brat.” 

You let yourself giggle as you take the matters into your own hand. Ready to make the next cup of coffee by yourself. “Why the fuck are you two look like a enemies to lovers trope?” You place the cup on the drip tray. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jimin questions, stepping behind you and curling his arms around you. Palms on your belly over your hoodie. You’re close to starting your second trimester. Yet there’s no showing still. Lately, you and Jimin have both become obsessed with checking for a baby bump. Silly. You do it anyway, though. 

“This is exactly how enemies to lovers book tropes start. They fight like cats at first and then they fall in love.” You explain, making Jimin scoff.

“Over my dead body.” He rubs your tummy gently. “What about us? We fought a lot? Are we enemies to lovers?” Asks on the second thought. You take a minute to consider the question. Shake your head. 

“No. I never hated you.” 

“Me neither.” Jimin agrees. His chin now on the top of your head. You both know that’s the truth. You liked him from the first day. Maybe he did too. The thing is, however, that neither of you wanted to acknowledge it. Simply because it was wrong. So wrong to be in love when he had someone in his life. Maybe both of you wanted to avoid this type of situation. Situation where there’s always something that’ll get destroyed no matter what. Including Liya. You try your best to push thoughts about Liya away from your head. Impossible. She’s plaguing your mind day and night. You wonder how Jimin does it. Act normal when he knows that he’s a partial cause of someone’s doom. 

“Want breakfast?” Jimin’s sudden voice brings you back to the earth. Liya slowly fades away. You pout hard, letting your body decide whether it wants to eat this morning or want to throw up at the sound of food. It doesn’t. Luckily your body has started to get accustomed to the notion of food again. You’ve been able to stomach most of the food, most of the time. You’d get sick of some tastes and aromas, of course. Especially in the mornings. This day seems to be a good day that you feel nothing but hunger at Jimin’s proposition. 

You nod eagerly causing Jimin to giggle. His body vibrates lightly at the act. You press more into his body. You may have tried to avoid being the doom of someone. Yours or Liya’s. But still you know you’d do it again. Do it a million different times if it gets you wrapped up in his arms. 

“What do you want?” Jimin mumbles in your ear. Your heart feels warm. So warm. You hum in contemplation. Going through different food options in your head until your brain stops and refuses to move away from a particular one.

“Pancakes,” You gush. Mouth already watering. Ever since your body starts to accept food again, you’ve grown fond of sweets in a very unhealthy way. “With syrup.” So you add. “Lots of em.” 

You can feel Jimin’s smile. “Right away.” He places a kiss on the top of your head. Almost moves away from you when you hear Jungkook yelling, probably from his room. 

“If anybody is making pancakes….” He’s practically shouting for his life. “They better make some for me as well. I meant it when I say I can kick anyone out.”

Both you and Jimin gasp this time. Only Jimin answers Jungkook. “Fuck you! I’m not making you anything!” He screeches so loud that you wince through your laugh. 

Despite your words earlier, you know Jungkook and Jimin are no more friends than you and Liya. They’re just tolerating each other. Mainly, Jungkook is tolerating Jimin. Because it puts you in ease. It does. Partially, however. You won’t be at peace when you know it must be terribly hard on Jungkook. Even though he doesn’t show it. He’s a good actor anyway. You know it hurts. He just acts as if it doesn’t. Hell, he’s been the one to ask Jimin to stay over last night. Claiming he wanted to beat Jimin’s ass on this video game which is owned by Jimin himself. 

You have no idea what’s going inside his head. Don’t know how he’s doing that. You want to scream at him. Ask him to stop just trying to take care of you so much. Walking into the lengths where it hurts, hurts, and hurts. Only if you had the courage to have that long due talk though. You are yet to tell Jungkook that you’d be moving out. That selfish part of you isn’t letting you take that step. The greedy part—the coward inside you is taking every and each excuse to avoid having that conversation. 

You should do it soon. Before it’s too late. You really should—

“What is it?” Jimin puts an end to your trail of thoughts again, probably sensing that you’re troubled. His cheek replaces the chin on top of your head. Nestling more into you. You suppress the huge sigh that’s about to leave you. Not wanting to taint the mood. Yet before you can claim it’s nothing, Jimin questions you again. “Is it Liya?”

So you allow the sigh to escape. No need to lie. Not to Jimin anyways. “Yes, that and…” Another sigh. “And Kook. I have to talk to him and I know I have to do it soon.” Jimin hasn’t pushed you to quicken the moving out process. He’s been so damn understanding that it has started to make you feel guilty. You don’t know when Jimin’s patience would snap. Don’t know whether this makes him feel hurt. “I just don’t know how to start it.” You groan in frustration. At yourself. “I’ll just—maybe I—”

“Baby…” Jimin’s arms tightens around you, putting a stop to your guilt tripping. “It’s okay, you know?” Kisses the side of your head. “Take your time, Lil. I can wait. We can wait… I mean, if you want to start living with me from this moment? Then thank fuck, I want nothing else. But we can take it slow. Don’t stress, Princess, things will work out.” 

Fuck! You know Park Jimin in love is a different creature, but never in your lifetime have you expected to see him being such a sweetheart. 

“I thought you’re a jealous asshole, Park. I’m impressed.” You pick up the now filled coffee cup, ready to hand it over to Jimin. 

“I am a jealous asshole. I just love you.” He addresses your issue before you can turn around in his hold. Your worry fades into distance as the tiniest of a smile starts to graze your lips. You finally manage to break free from his hold and hand him the coffee when he changes the subject out of nowhere. “Are you free today?” He takes the cup in his hands. 

You avert your eyes to his. Your tiny smile shifts into an amused grin in a millisecond. The reaction leaves you before you can control it. Words follow an unpleasant snort. “Oh c’mon! It’s not like I have anything to do anyway.” Only when it’s all out and Jimin’s smile drops that you realize the mistake. 

Fucking hell! What’s wrong with you?

You didn’t mean to sound harsh. Didn’t mean to sound bitter. That’s exactly what has happened, though. Jimin’s entire expression turns dull. His adorable smile is nowhere to be found and replaced with a wince. 

“Lil I—” He starts, only to be cut off when you grab his face between your palms at light speed. 

“That’s not what I meant.” You blurt. You know how this looks. It’s as if you’ve blamed him. For the lack of purpose of your life. It’s not his fault. It’s no one’s fault. Especially not his. To be honest, you’ve been having mixed emotions regarding the newest changes of your life. You no longer have a purpose to wake up each morning. Some days you’re happy to be woken up into a peaceful day where you’re allowed to indulge in whatever the fuck you want. On other days, however, you feel empty. A bitter feeling about the things you’ve lost. It’s hard not to miss it when you see Jungkook worrying his ass over the finals. When he fights with J over stupid group projects. It reminds you that you’re no longer a part of it. 

Then there will come the uncertainty of the future. You may have claimed that you’d be starting your life anew but the way you could do it is not something you know. You have no idea how you’d be able to start your degree again when you have no academic background. Not even your primary education. The same goes for a job as well. You have no qualifications. The work at Kim’s? You don’t see it as a real job. You started working there as a help and Namjoon’s parents have been kind enough to pay you something for your time and effort. You’re not officially hired there. Even if you are, that’s not what you wanted to do with your life. 

Maybe, you’re allowed to feel bitter about it. Still, it’s not fair to blame that on the man in front of you. He did nothing wrong. You want to slap yourself. 

Jimin slightly leans into your touch. Hurt still etched on his face. “You can work in the company, Lil.” He mumbles.

“I know.” You rub his cheek with your thumb. “But I wasted two years of my life studying Design, Jimin. Being your assistant or Hoseok’s assistant isn’t what I wanted to do.” 

“Then I can hire you for the marketing team. You can do what you learned.” Jimin removes one of  your hands from his face. Interlaces your fingers together.

“You know how much people are gonna hate me, if you do that. Besides, it feels wrong. I need to do it myself.” You gaze at his eyes. Oh you would bite your own tongue if you could. Why would you have to hurt him? You squeeze his hands. “I didn’t mean it like that, baby. I’m fine, really. I’ll find a way and I’ll come to you when I need help.” A beat passes and then he returns your squeeze.

“Can’t wait.” Whispers. You nod. A small smile follows that. After a second, Jimin accepts your words. Similar kind of smile adorning his lips. 

“So,” You turn around and pick up your cup of coffee again. “Why did you ask?” You raise a teasing brow. Gasp. “Don’t tell me you just wanted to know. Look who’s obsessed with who now?” You muse, reminding of a time where he claimed you were obsessed with him. All those months ago. On a bright day where you accidentally ended up on Namiseom Island. 

Jimin rolls his eyes. A tiny scoff. “Trust me, I have a business to run.” 

This time you gasp even harder. How dare he? You pout causing him to kiss it away. “Well… I asked because I wanted you to be free today.” Then he answers your question. 

“Why?” 

“So I can take you out.” Jimin mumbles the words against your lips. You suck them in with a short breath. 

Take you out!

You draw back away from his face. Just to get a proper look. Jimin gapes at you. And if you don’t know better, you’d say he looks nervous. That warmth in your chest spreads through your entire body. Making your limbs feel numb. Making your head light. Making your knees buckle. In a very pleasant way. 

Is he asking you on a date? Like that? Why does he look flustered? Nervous? As if you’re not pregnant with his child.

He looks exactly like he did when he asked you to move in with him. Oh, how adorable?

“Take me out?”  You, in the end, mumble back. Jimin nods. Like a kid who is confirming, he indeed wants to go to the park. “But you’ve already taken me out many times.” That he has. “What’s special? Why are you asking it… like this?” 

“I haven’t taken you out on a date, though, have I?” He answers your question with another. You just stare at him. “I want to take you on a real date. I want you to get dressed, worry about your outfit, and I want to take you out like normal people do. Not to keep you in my car or in a hotel room. I want to take you out to places you’ve never been before. I want to have a nice meal in the best restaurant, without having to worry about someone seeing us, Spring Roll.”  

Oh you would melt down into a little puddle if it was possible. He needs to stop being so sweet. Maybe, that’s the reason why you’re craving sweet things. Because the father of the baby is a sugar cane. You gulp harshly, not knowing what to say. Jimin looks at you expectantly. 

“So…what do you say? Will you let me take you out on a date?” Asks when you say nothing. Now, you sure do understand why he decided to formally ask it as if someone would for their first date. Because it is your first date and he wants to do it right. But for the life of you, you would never understand the reason why he’s nervous. Does he often forget that you’re bearing his child? God he gives you toothache at this rate. With that faint blush and pout. 

You shrug after a moment. “Well…since you’re asking so nicely—” 

“Oh, c’mon…” Jimin whines loudly, even stomping his feet. You snort. 

“Yes!” You crack through your laugh. It gets his tantrum to stop. “I’ll be happy to go on a date with you, Park.” 

He does a little fist pump, causing you to howl in laughter. How dramatic? He joins you. It’s only after you two manage to catch your breathing that he asks again. “So? What do you say about four in the evening? I have some work to get done in the morning and I’ll pick you up?” 

Oh, that’s certainly too early for dinner and too late for lunch. You don’t question him, though. Are certain he’s got something in his mind. “What should I wear?” So, you ask instead. He wanted you to worry about your outfits, after all. 

Jimin purses his lips, eyes squinting. “Nothing fancy. Just something pretty.” Decides. 

“That’s not helping at all!” You exclaim. Jimin doesn’t give a fuck. Instead of taking your very valid questions to consideration he starts to finally prepare those pancakes. 

And no amount of budging him or kisses or offers to suck him off gets you the answer to what he has in mind.

Guess, you’d have to have your own back this evening.

…………………………

You smooth out your dress for the hundredth time as you peer into the full length mirror. Jimin said nothing fancy but pretty. You don’t know what the fuck that means. So you decided upon a dress. Long sleeve and with ruffles. Hem just reaching your mid thighs. You’d pair it with knee high boots. Autumn is just about to start but today is particularly a cold day. You guess you’d be fine. 

You drag your fingers through your hair one last time. Check your lipstick for one last time. You look fine. You think you look fine. Do you look pretty, though? With a heavy sigh you turn around.

“Do you think this would be fine? Should I change it to something fancier?” 

At your voice, Jungkook averts his gaze away from the laptop. He’s bundled in the bed. Comforter bunched up around his waist. Is resting his back on a thousand pillows. Yet it seems the position he’s in is painful. He’d definitely get back pain. There’s a deep scowl adorning his face. Apparently, he has to get this essay done by tonight. 

This is exactly something that’d make you miss your life. You used to worry over deadlines that way as well.

You push past the bitter thought as Jungkook’s scowl disappears when he rakes his eyes over your figure. You think you saw a glint in his eyes before it gets dull. It’s there and gone within a flash. 

“No, you look fine.” He smiles fondly. To you though it seems a bit sad. Then he’s paying his attention back to the laptop screen.

There you go again, making stupid mistakes for a second time of the day. Why would you have to ask him that? No. Why would you have to get ready in here in the first place? You didn’t think he’d be hurt?

What a stupid bitch you are?

God dammit you need to talk to him. You need to give him closure and ask him to move on. Why are you so selfish? You turn around, squeezing your eyes shut as the regret washes over you. Just as your eyes meet your own reflection again, you hear the huge sigh he lets out. Before you can take another look at him, he scrambles out of bed like a flash. So you meet him just standing in front of you when you finally turn around. 

“I’m sorry,” He mumbles, causing your brows to knit in confusion. What is he being sorry for? Before you can ask he answers your non asked question. “You look gorgeous, baby. I just hate essays so I wasn’t paying attention.” 

Oh! He thinks your change of mood is due to his lack of enthusiasm towards your outfit. You blink at his face. Heart sinking. Fuck! Fuck him for always trying to make it up for you. But you don’t know how to correct him. Should you tell him? Tell him that you know. And have this conversation now? No. No matter how you start this talk, it would end both of you being hurt. Today is not the day. You only have twenty something minutes until Jimin will meet you outside. This is your first official date and you want to enjoy it. Every minute of it. You won’t be able to do it if the last thing you see before leaving the house would be Jungkook in pain. Maybe, after this date? Yes. You’d definitely do it tonight. 

You clear your throat. “You think so?” You ask, briefly glancing at your outfit once again. Jungkook doesn’t answer you right away. He narrows his eyes on you. Sucks in a breath through his teeth. Contemplating. 

“Let’s see.” Mutters before cupping your face with both of his hands. Squeezes your cheeks. You instantly set into motion as you slap his hands away. Or try to do so. You just did your makeup and he’s ruining it. Your slaps, however, lands on his wrists like a gentle touch of a feather. He doesn’t budge at all. 

“Yah!” You scream.

Instead of letting go, Jungkook grins from ear to ear. His toothy grin. Nose scrunched up. “Yah! Let me take a look.” He yells back. Peer at your face closely. Then nod in determination. “I can see you’re fucking beautiful.” Then shakes his head very dramatically. “Can’t believe how that idiot pulled you. The world is not fair!” Sighs. 

You roll your eyes to the back of your head. Finally managing to break free of his hold, purely because he decides to let go, you turn back around to face the mirror. Just in time to witness his grin fall. It slips away, filling his eyes with a familiar kind of pain. Longing. And he remembers his mistake even before you can truly acknowledge it. When your eyes meet him through the mirror, he has his expression fixed. That smile back on his face. But there’s no glint in his eyes. Only the longing. A kind of longing that makes your inside hollow. 

You can’t confront him. Not now. 

Play it cool! 

“What?” So you ask the only question you can. He shrugs. 

“You really look pretty.” His eyes momentarily drop to your stomach. “Wear a scarf though, it’s fucking cold out today.” 

It’s a physical battle inside you not to fall into a fit of  cry. 

How? Why? How can someone be so gentle and loving when all they earn in return is pain? 

You bite the inside of your cheeks as you nod, proceeding to pick up your bag from the table. You do your best not to look at him again. If you do, you’d surely cry. Can't afford to cry today. You take a few steps forward. Almost leave the room without a second glance. But of course, Jungkook has other plans. 

“Wear a scarf, Noona. It’s really cold, trust me.” 

You stop dead in your tracks. Painful jabs piercing right through your heart. You take a second, then even before you can process it, you turn around. Storm toward the unsuspecting man still standing in the middle of the room. Throw your arms around his waist before you smush your face in his chest. He makes a little sound in surprise. 

“Thank you, Kookie.” You say into his chest. Jungkook wraps his arms around your figure as well. A soft chuckle leaves him first.

“Okay…? For what?” Questions. 

“I don’t know…for everything I guess.” You squeeze him. Withdraw. Force yourself to smile. You can’t cry. 

Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.

“Don’t talk like you’re going to disappear or something.” Jungkook shows his displeasure. “If you’re thankful, buy me dinner tonight.” Adds on a second thought.

“With pleasure.” You grin. Finally, ready to leave. For real this time. You’ll have that talk tonight. You’re determined to do it no matter what. 

For now, that hug should be enough. 

……………………….

You get out of the car slowly, taking in the surroundings. Jimin closes the car door once you’re fully out. You have no idea where you are right now. Only that you’re in a less crowded, quiet street, completely lined up with little boutiques. And of course cafes. And bookstores. All looking as if they’re from a different dimension. Worn off brick walls and narrow front windows. 

How did he even find this place?

During your twenty minutes or so ride, Jimin hasn’t said a lot about the place you’re visiting. All he had said was that you’re going out just for a coffee. Well, you find it to be perfect. Especially if the cafe is going to be a part of this street. He’s chosen well. And something inside you tells you that choosing a coffee date has something to do with your sudden desire for sweets. 

He’s gonna let you eat sweets until you get diabetes, isn’t he? Of course, he will. You turn your head to look at the man who’s standing so close to you. Doing just the same as you. Taking the view in. 

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” He asks. Probably sensing your eyes on him. 

“The street or you?” You answer him with another question, suddenly shuddering as a cold gust of wind blows past you. Jungkook was so right to wrap a scarf around your neck. Jimin chuckles softly, turning toward you to adjust the said scarf better around you. 

“Oh, I know you find me beautiful.” A cheeky grin treats you. You gasp.

“Who lied to you?” 

“I can recall you calling even my dick beautiful.” 

You scrunch up your face. Look around you to make sure that nobody overheard his words. “I lied.” 

“Did you? Or do you want me to show you now, so you’ll change your mind?” 

“Jeesus, Park. Stop being a freak.” You screech, proceeding to walk away from him. “This is beautiful, though.” Yet add anyway. He deserves to feel good. The best. He mumbles something about how he’s the best eye in the world as he catches up to you. Takes your hand in his. Interlaces your fingers. And guides you through the quiet street, passing cozy cafes and flower boutiques. Passing entire different worlds inside the faintly glowed shops until he stops in front of one. Same brick walls. Aged and worn. Narrow glass windows. Tiny pots of lavenders sit prettily on the window sills. A dark wooden door. Top of that door is the name sign. 

Ink and cup. 

You tilt your head up to take a good look at that name. Interesting. You guess you already have an idea about where this is going. Before you can question your suspicions, Jimin pushes open the door. The sweet aroma of coffee fills your nostrils immediately, followed by the scent of freshly baked goods. Following Jimin’s lead, you step inside the cafe, sighing pleasantly when you’re engulfed in a pleasant warmth. 

The place is filled with wooden tables. Brown. And beige chairs. Your eyes go wide as you spot the fireplace in a corner, actually lit up. And proving your suspicions right your eyes land on the shelves full of art supplies. Pencils, pens, brushes, and every other thing. This is an art cafe. You wonder what made Jimin choses this place. You turn your head to look at him, to find him already gaping at you. His eyes are glinting. Not that familiar glint of amusement but a glint of warmth. Is looking at you like you’re the sole reason he’s breathing. 

“Do you like it?” He asks once he catches your eyes. 

You nod. “Are we gonna paint?” 

“If you want to, then yes.” 

You take your time in that. As a child and teenager, you used to paint like your life depended on it. Then it escalated into not just painting but creating. Building something creative out of your skills. That’s how you ended up pursuing a designing degree. During your college, you stopped painting like you did before. Maybe the time pressure and stress had made you like your passion a little less. Yet you found time to indulge in it sometimes. After you stopped shifting the worlds, however, you never even held a  paint brush in your hand. Painting, just like your education has grown into a distant memory, even though it hasn’t been that long since you started living in this world. Permanently. Now, the idea of doing it again, suddenly excites you so damn much. 

“Hell, yes. I love painting.” You answer in the end, watching Jimin’s face break into a satisfied grin. You’re not sure whether you’ve told him about your hobbies or your skills. Maybe you did. You’ve said so many things to him. Maybe he just assumed you could draw based on your degree. Whatever the reason might be, he looks so damn cocky. Probably because he did well in choosing the place. Not just the beauty and sweets but also the arts. Park Jimin truly is one of a kind. 

“Then we paint until they run out of the supplies.” He walks over to the glass display case full of every type of mouth watering bakery goods. You happily follow him. 

…………………………..

Scratch the coffee. You’ve decided upon hot chocolate while you were mulling over at least twenty options they put before you on the menu. You wanted something sweet. The pancakes Jimin made this morning weren't enough. Besides, despite the fact that it isn’t winter yet, the cold weather today was calling for a hot chocolate. The piece of strawberry cream cake that is sitting next to your hot chocolate now is something you had to get just because it looked good. So it tastes good as well. 

You moan around a mouthful of cake. “God, this is heaven.” 

“Never thought I’d be jealous of cake.” Jimin exclaims, sipping from his own coffee. You give him a look, reaching for your hot chocolate. The cafe staff had already provided you with the supplies to paint. White canvas, pens, pencils, every type of paint you could imagine, easels, and every other thing you would’ve sold your kidneys to have in your home. They have everything. This place isn’t simply made for customers to enjoy coffee and doodle on papers. It’s specifically designed for artists. You’re certain this place is for artists. The best of them. To you it feels like a dream. The fireplace, the sweet drink and all the possibilities you could create on this blank canvas with whatever you want. Only that neither of you have started painting it yet. 

“Stop saying cheeky things…” You whine. Then point at the art supplies. “You gonna draw with me?” 

Jimin throws an offended look at your way. “Course I am. What? You’re saying I can’t?” 

Now, you know Park Jimin is good at many things. From operating a damn business to singing like a nightingale. But his abilities in painting or drawing are yet to be discovered. You, on the other hand, are successfully bad at everything he’s good at. Except for this. You know you can paint. It’s been engraved to your bones. Hence, your raised brow and cocky look. When you have the chance to brag you’ll most definitely do so. 

“Of course not, Park. I just asked. But,” You lean forward on your chair. “I want you to know I’m really, really good at this.” 

“Wanna bet?” He’s raising a brow too. In challenge. 

You take a second. Maybe, you shouldn’t test Park Jimin. He could be the modern Michelangelo in this world and you might be asking to be embarrassed. It’s too late to take that back, however. So you shrug. Making sure you still look all smug and confident. “Why not? Fuck yes.” 

“Okay,” Jimin puts down his coffee. Suddenly all serious. You’ve seen that same look when he’s talking business. “This is a competition then. If you win you get to ask me anything you want. If I win…” His eyes sparkle. This time that familiar glint of amusement. “I get to take you on another date.” 

For fucks’s sake! 

You really wish you could roll your eyes as hard as you want right now. Why would he think you’d say no. Ever. “That’s a stupid bet but yes, whatever you want, Park.” You agree right away. Glint in his eyes only turns brighter at your words, however. 

“Is it?” He leans forward on the table as well. Eyes turning brighter and brighter that you’re worried he’d burn you down. You narrow your eyes. Suspicious. Before you can comment on it and rearrange your bet, Jimin goes back to his serious self. Braces his palms on the wooden table top. “Okay. We have a deal then?” Raises a brow. You nod slowly. Not sure about this after all. He takes your very unsure nod as a straight yes. Proceeds. “But…we both know you’re better at this than I am. So, we need a fair judge to decide who’s the winner.” 

Good point. See, he’s a businessman. The thought didn’t even cross your mind. “Agreed!” You nod very surely this time. “Who do you suggest?” You fall back into thinking. “Jungkook?” Ask. Jimin’s smile drops instantly. 

“No fucking way!” He looks at you as if you just suggest he take a barefoot trip to the Atlantic. “Idiot is so biased in you and he hates my ass. He’s gonna choose you anyway.” 

“Then who?” You pout in annoyance. He’s making sense again, though. 

“Taehyung?” Jimin suggests slowly. Dragging the syllables. It’s your time to gape at him as if he challenged you to land on the sun. 

“Are you kidding me?” You huff. “He’s your best friend.”

“And you’re a woman. What made you think he’d choose me over a pretty woman?” He points out. True. Kind of. Still you would rather not test it. Hence the firm shake of your head. 

“How about Seokjin?” You suggest. A silence falls as you stare at each other. There’s no reason for any questions. If there’s anyone who’s going to do it fair enough that you could hand over the world's safety to them, that would be Seokjin. Jimin says or asks nothing more. Without further hassle you both agree to make Jin your honorable judge board. 

“So, how do we do it? Just draw whatever we want and hope for the best?” Jimin voices out. You shake your head again. If this is a competition, then it should be hard. There needs to be rules. At least a prompt. You don’t know why you’re so worked up about this anyway. Maybe you’re just enjoying this. Enjoying so damn much. It’s more fun when you make it harder anyway. 

You fish out for your phone without answering him. There was this thing you used to do when you painted back in the days. To train your skills and your brain. You search for a random prompts generator for drawing hurriedly. Now you know you won’t find the exact same thing you used to use. But you’re certain someone has come up with the same idea in this world as well. Proving you right, your search finds you hundred different websites that are created for the same purpose. With a victorious little noise, you click on the first link and place the phone on the table between you two. 

“We’ll use two different random prompts. Since we need this to be very fair, Jin will decide who did the most justice to their prompt.” You explain, making Jimin go smug again. 

“Fuck yes!” He pulls your phone towards him. “I may not be good at painting like you but I design games, baby. Good luck!” 

You pretend that it doesn’t threaten you a little bit. That it causes you to second guess your own idea. Instead you point out how technically he’s not the one who’s designing them and force him to touch the generate button. So he does. You both peer at the screen. Looking at the way a black splash of letters stumble on the white background until it stops on one. 

“A place that exists between night and day.”

Jimin’s smug smile drops. Instantly. As if someone has slapped it away. His brows merge together. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Questions. 

You blink at the prompt. “No idea but, it’s interesting.” You take a screenshot of it and send it to him right away. A smug smile on your lips. 

“This is not fair.” Jimin continues to complain as you click on the re-generate button. The same process happens and then a new prompt appears. 

“Walls that know your name.” 

It’s funny how fast you join Jimin with his expression. Staring at the prompt dumbly. Maybe, you should change it. Because this isn’t making any sense at all. But where’s the fun in making it easy? So, you shrug. Make up your mind. Take another screen shot. 

“Guess we’re playing mind games, Park.” Mumble. 

………………………

 Okay, you admit you’re stupid. During the almost three years of your life at the university, they really did teach you how important it is to understand your weaknesses. You didn’t really give a shit about it before. Now, as you stare at the blank canvas you definitely understand why you should take this seriously. If you’ve taken it seriously, you wouldn’t have ended up in a situation like this. 

You groan inwardly, taking the last sip of your—now cold—hot chocolate. It’s been half an hour already but your paint brush hasn't even touched the canvas once. You have no single damn idea about what the prompt means and what you should draw. You’re thinking too much. You know you are. You’ve always struggled to get things done when you have a time limit. See, a weakness. Then you had to bring this upon yourself. Only to sit on a comfy chair stupidly while Jimin’s hand does skilful strokes on his canvas. Fuck! You don’t know what he’s drawing. Or how he managed to decode that stupid prompt. It doesn’t matter anyway. He is already working on it. Good or bad, he has something. 

You gape at him. The way he’s furrowing slightly. Eyes fixed on the movements of his hand. He’s gone with a pencil. What is he doing? Sketching? You’ve decided to keep each other’s canvases hidden from each other’s views to keep it intriguing. Oh, how intriguing it is? You’re dying to know what he’s doing. Just a peek would be enough. As if hearing your thoughts, Jimin trails his eyes away from the canvas and to you. Raises a brow in question. 

“I’m thinking.” You grumble. Trying your best to hide the note of annoyance in your voice. He hears it anyway. That amused grin is proof of it. 

“That’s fine. Think hard, Spring Roll. We’ve got time. They won’t be closing this place until at least eight.” Gives you a wink before focusing back on his work. That grin remains. 

Asshole!

God, why would you do this to yourself? Why are you so serious about it anyway? Dammit, you want to scream. You pay your attention back to your prompt. 

Walls that know your name…. Walls that know your name… Walls that know your name….

You’ve been rereading it in your mind for millions of times now. What does that mean?

Walls that know your name… Walls that—

Wait! You straighten up like a bow string. A light bulb lightening up inside your brain. Does that mean home? Because it says walls that know your name. If there’s a place where even walls know your name, that should be a very familiar one. And a home  is familiar. 

Yes! That’s it. If you weren’t in a damn restaurant, you could’ve yelped in happiness and done a little dance. Since it’s not an option, you settle with a wide grin. There you have your prompt. A simple one. Now you only have to figure out what you are going to draw. And just like that, your grin disappears. Into thin air. You, yourself claimed that the winner would be the one who does the justice to the prompt. How are you ever going to bring the concept of home into a piece of canvas?

This time you groan loudly. Several heads turn in your direction. Including Jimin’s. And he gapes at you like he saw you for the first time. So you flip him off. 

………………….

Another fifteen minutes are wasted. You’re really bad at this aren’t you? You can’t believe you used to study four subject loads in one semester and get every assignment done in time. Almost all of them were creative projects. How did you do that when you’re so bad at coming up with ideas? 

This whole thing is a stupid, bad idea. You should’ve known better. It’s Park Jimin. Why did you ever want to compete with him? Besides, it's not that you really want to win anyway. If it means making Jimin happy, you’d gladly accept defeat without a word. Fuck, why did you do this to yourself then? Well, guess all you wanted was to impress. As stupid as it sounds, maybe you wanted to show Jimin you’re good at something. Like a little girl who wants to impress her parents. 

You tilt your head up to look at the man in front of you. Working intently. Concentrating hard. So hard that his brows are knotted and lips are pouted so hard that it reminds you of a beak. Goddamnit. How can a man be so adorable? Fuck, you wish you could just reach over and kiss that pout away like you’ve gone mad. Well, you can do that now, can’t you? What’s stopping you now? He is your boyfriend. Not a secret lover that would cause so much problems if you are to be simply seen with him. No. He’s yours. Isn’t that amazing? It is. That familiar warmth blooms across your body, starting from your heart. Goddammit, how fucking in love you are with him? Sometimes you wonder how you are able to love someone that hard. Yet here you are. Sitting in a cafe, watching him paint. Like a love sick puppy. Fuck! Paint. You should be painting too. You dart your gaze immediately to your empty canvas. Only then realizing that you’ve been grinning like a creep too. 

Jimin could’ve made fun of you, if he had caught you grinning at him that way. God, the way you can’t control it. Everything would simply disappear. Any problem. Any worries. All that would be left in your head is Park Jimin. It’s ridiculously amazing how at ease you feel when you’re with him. You’ve genuinely been stressing over a painting a mere second ago and it was all gone. Just by looking at him. That person over there has become your comfort. Like your home. 

Wait! Home? 

This time you snap your head up to look at him with a new found urgency. Eyes wide and probably glinting as if you just resolved the Zodiac Killer. Jimin looks back at you. Questioning with his eyes. Questioning your sanity. 

“What?” He voices his concerns as you keep gaping at him. Corners of your mouth curling upward. There you have an idea. All you have to do is create something that would do justice to the prompt. You’re certain your prompt is home. Park Jimin is your home. 

“Nothing.” You shrug. “You’re beautiful, Park Jimin.” You allow yourself to smile fondly, ignoring the way Jimin’s face turns into a soft pink. 

Fuck, he is adorable!

…………………………………….

Live portrait never has been one of your strengths. You’ve painted a few but have never been satisfied with them. Doing it now while carrying the dead weight of being a disappointment in Jimin’s eyes has made you stressed enough that you almost started chewing on your thumb. You had two options. First was to take Jimin as your live model– though he doesn’t know that, and paint him as the way he’s right now. Or to use a photo. You decided to go with the first option. Just a rough painting of Park Jimin with his frown and adorable pout. You had cropped the scene in front of you only to his face, a part of his hand and the canvas before him. But then you wanted to paint him the way you see him. You’ve always found him to be breathtaking. Mesmerasing. Beautiful in a humanly impossible way. Hence the colorful background which is your attempt at creating a universe. Because that’s where you found him. In Another Universe. 

You sigh heavily, finally straightening up after adding a little white dot inside the painted Jimin’s irises for realistic purposes. Resting back on your chair you sweep your eyes over the whole piece. It’s… good. Not bad at all. Yet maybe it’s not the best after all. It needs time. To perfectionate a realistic art would take hours. Even days. Or maybe weeks. Almost three hours are certainly not enough. You did what you could with the time. Still now as you finally set the brush down, you realize that the whole cafe is emptied save for you two and one staff member who’s wiping down the counter with a frown in her face. Jesus you must be such a headache to the poor woman. You always hated the customers who didn't understand the meaning of closing time. Now look at you. 

“Done?” Jimin grabs your attention from across the table. He’s been finished for almost an hour now. Has been polite enough to sit back and let you get your work done in peace. 

“Yes.” You nod, rolling your shoulders to ease the pain. Jimin frowns. 

“This was supposed to be fun, lady. I didn’t expect you to take it this seriously.” He shakes his head dramatically. 

“Says the one who almost wanted to kill me for suggesting Jungkook as the judge.” You counter.

“I wanted to be fair, that’s it.” Jimin says while getting to his feet. And the smart answer that comes to the tip of your tongue instantly dies away. Your stomach tangles into a tight knot. You suck in a short breath and hold it as your body grows tense. Ridiculous. But all you can feel is the nervousness inside you grows with every step Jimin takes your way. Suddenly, you don’t want to do this. Damn winning the competition. It’s stupid anyway. You don’t want to be seen as amazing in his eyes either. Because there’s a possibility that it might happen the other way. You almost shoot into your feet and cover up the canvas but Jimin makes it behind you even before the thought fully passes your mind. So you stay glued to your chair. Even a thin layer of cold sweat starts to cover your skin as you keep your breath trapped in your lungs. Until you hear a soft, shaky breath. Unable to take it anymore you whip your head back, eyes darting over the man who’s standing behind you now. His eyes fixed on the canvas. 

“Fuck, Lil…” Jimin exhales again after a second. Then his eyes land on you. “You–I—” He gulps. Seemingly struggling with words. “Why me?” Then at last he questions. You peer at his eyes as you shrug. 

“The prompt was to draw home.” Explains simply. “I mean I decided that it means home and—” Jimin doesn’t let you finish. Your words get cut off when you feel his lips on your forehead. All the tension you felt a moment ago, the nervous knot in your tummy disappears without a trace. Just like that. Your shoulders relax instantly. Hell, even a sigh escapes you. Still, you expect Jimin to tease you a bit about the fact that you admitted that he’s your home. He doesn’t. Instead he shakes his head. Eyes back on the portrait of himself. 

“I feel dumb now.” He mumbles more to himself. “I knew you must be good at it but this? Damn Lil, you drew this while in a stupid art cafe? I’m serious, come work for me.” Looks at you with raised brows. You click your tongue, trying your best to act nonchalant. As if your insides are not churning violently. In a pleasant way. As if your heart isn’t swelling inside your ribcage that you’re in great danger of it exploding. Fuck, he’s affecting you more than you like. You hope you’re doing a great job at hiding your over joyness as you finally get to your feet as well. 

“C’mon, it’s not even that good.” You wave a hand in his direction despite the manic grin adorning your face. Jimin’s eyes crinkle. Oh, you’re definitely not doing a great job at hiding how happy you are. Jimin knows. And maybe you don’t care that he knows. Biting on your lower lip to contain your grin you walk around the table. Compared to you, Jimin stays fairly calm. It’s like he never expected to be considered good at this anyway. He simply follows you, standing behind you yet again while you finally drop your gaze to his work. 

Well, damn! Did he just say he feels dumb? For what?

Your eyes turn into saucers as you sweep them across the piece of art in front of you. It’s not the best. Yes. You sure did the better job. Yes. But you’ve been doing it almost your whole life. You have the practice in addition to the skills. He probably doesn’t. Yet he has done such a great job that you’re sure he will become a great artist if he ever decides to give up on R.U.N. 

“Wow!” You whisper. “You’ve been misleading me this whole time.” 

“I wasn’t. I did tell you I’m not that bad. But c’mon… compared to that—” Jimin points a finger toward your piece. “This is an elementary standard.” 

“Bullshit!” You snap, bending down to take a closer look. He’s definitely done a good job. Good enough you know what’s on the canvas. A street of some kind. A line of storefronts flanking a tall building. You narrow your eyes having no idea what this means. Then your eyes stop next to the first store next to the tall building. A cafe. The name sign Haru written on the top. He hasn’t bothered to draw a plate.  Your eyes sweep over that once. And you freeze. 

During your time—which is not that long, you’ve shared many details about your world. Maybe you’ve shared everything. Maybe not everything. Maybe not enough at all. But, you might have rambled how you always liked the coffee Chan made and how it was far away from your place. Then about how you didn’t even have a broken coffee machine in your place so you spent 5000 won everyday on the shitty cafe next to your old apartment building. The shitty cafe named Haru. You snap your head toward him. Eyes wide. Eyebrows raised. Jimin only smiles at you. Barely. A very nervous smile that makes you look back at the painting. Up until this moment, a single thing about this art didn’t make any sense to you. Just a painting of a bunch of storefronts. Now as you have spotted that very name it suddenly makes sense. 

It’s your apartment. Or at least how Jimin imagined it through your words. Not accurate at all. If he’s to ever ask you to do the changes that needed, you’ll have to change everything. Not that you ever will do it though. No. You won’t change a thing. You suck in a shaky breath, feeling your throat tightening up. It might not be the most accurate or the most perfect but the sole fact that he’s done it is enough to make your eyes well up. 

“Your prompt was to paint a place that exists between night and day or something, wasn’t it?” You ask without taking your eyes away from the art piece. Jimin only hums in answer. “So, h–how is that—” 

“That should be a dream, right?” Jimin interrupts your question. “Or I don’t know… a place that really doesn't exist for me? A place I’ve never been to but I often think about?” Explains. 

“You often think about my place?” 

“Not just your place, but your world. It would’ve been hella hard to draw an entire world though. So, I drew a piece of it. I know it’s not—” 

“Fucking hell, Park!” You turn around in a blink. Don’t let him time to process before you hide your face in his chest. 

“Accura–te…” Jimin stumbles on his words. “Holy—Lil—” Then gives up. “Okay.” Accepts whatever you’re doing and curls his arms around your figure. You hear him chuckle softly before he raises questions about your well being. “You good, love?” You nod into his chest, demanding yourself not to cry in your head. 

“You—um…why would you think about my world?” You answer his question with another one. You lift your head enough to peek at his face. 

“Is that even a question? I think about it because it’s yours. I mean, isn’t it unfair how I’ll never get to visit your place? How I’ll never get to meet your parents? How I’ll never get to see or know anything that made you, you?”  He slowly pushes you away from his embrace. Just so he can look at you properly. God, you feel like your eyes are burning. You don’t know why that’s making you so emotional. Is that because all his words are true and it’s kind of sad? Is it because you’re touched by his idea to make your world his dream? Or is it simply because he just tore open an old wound? About a world which you’re trying to forget. 

True, you said you’re completely fine with your new life. But are you? Do you miss it? Maybe. Oh you definitely do. Burn in your eyes turns worse as the realization dawns on you. Yet before a word could escape your lips, Jimin wraps his arms back around you. 

“I love you, baby. I love you so damn much.” Mumbles. You instantly relax on his hold. Stinging of your eyes soothing immediately at his words. 

“I love you more.” So does the tightness in your throat eases that you manage to answer him. “Maybe, if I ever get another chance at a wish, I’ll wish for you to come to my world.” You smile to yourself. 

“I’ll be the happiest to go with you.” 

Your smile stretches into a grin. 

……………………….

You dumbly stare at the spectacle that hangs low in Jin’s nose. He’s sitting on Jungkook’s couch. A small notebook in his left hand and a pen in his right. He is wearing a frown like it's permanent jewellery on his face. The two paintings that gave you and Jimin a headache while bringing in with you, now sit pretty across from Jin. Resting against the opposite wall from him. J stands beside Jin—maybe they’re back to being the lovey dovey couple they are. Maybe not. Maybe she’s completely being nosy. When you asked Jin to choose a winner for your petty competition with Jimin, you never expected it to be this serious. 

“Oh my god! Seok Jin. That’s fucking enough! Choose one!” You exclaim after waiting in silence for more than ten minutes. Which is too long. 

“Shh…” Jimin shushes you, cutting a glare your way. “Don’t distract him.” Adds making you gasp in offense. 

“Really?” You raise a brow, eyes curiously wandering over to the notebook. What is he writing on there anyway?  Jimin very seriously tells you that it is real while Jungkook softly whines from your other side. 

“This is so not fair, you know? You lied to me.” Jungkook sighs so heavily that it sounds like he just deflated. 

“What? When did I ever lie to you?” This whole situation is getting more and more ridiculous. 

“You never told me you could draw like this.” Jungkook argues, still gaping at your art. He’s been that way ever since you brought it inside. 

“You never asked.” You point out. 

“You have to draw me too.” He ignores your valid point and goes back to whining like a kicked puppy. Jimin nearly butts in saying that you would never draw Jungkook but Jin’s voice cut him off before he could fully finish his reasoning. 

“Quiet! All of you! You’re interfering with the judging outcome.” He says with a straight face that you come really close to laughing before realizing that he’s very serious. 

“Yes! And this is such a disrespect to the honorable judge board.” J agrees from behind Jin. 

“Oh, for fuck’s sake—” You start again when Jin raises a hand demanding you shut up.

“Keep interfering and you’re losing marks.” He shows you his stupid notebook. 

“Wh–what? You can’t do that.” Your mouth turns into a little circle. 

“Yes, he can.” J answers on Jin’s behalf. So, you shut your mouth. And keep it shut for another five minutes watching two J’s mumble to each other like they're discussing the security of the country. It’s only after they have their own fun of being a judge board to their friends’ stupid art competition that they finally announce that they’ve decided upon the winner. Despite your earlier irritation you finally perk up that. Even Jungkook quits his whining and pays attention. Jin orders—as he believes requests—you sit next to Jimin. Like you’re waiting for the death sentence. Then he clears his throat. 

“Okay, after very careful and thorough consideration, the honorable judge board has come to a decision." He starts making you groan in your mind. J nods like crazy from where she’s still standing behind Jin. “This has not been easy and—” 

“C’mon!” At that you break. 

“Okay, that’s a lost mark.” Jin bellows going back to his notebook and scratching something down. You leap forward, ready to snatch that book away and hit him with it. Jimin prevents you from the pleasure by shoving a hand around your waist, already giggling and laughing. Jungkook is grinning as well. Not you, though. Not you. You screech demanding that it’s not fair and struggling against Jimin’s hold when Seok Jin threatens you again. 

“I’ll take another mark down, woman. Shut up!” He stands up. Looks at you with narrow eyes. You mirror him. Who said having Jin as a judge would be a good idea. 

“It’s okay…” Jimin mumbles in your ear, his voice laced with amusement as you keep glaring at Jin. After a second Jin goes back to his character. 

“Allright, after very,” He throws a warning glance toward you. “Very fair and…” And starts reciting a speech until your eyes start to well up and legs give up. Then at last with a deep breath he announces the marks. “Now, we decided on marking you out of twenty, just because we wanted to,” Says though no one asks. “So, considering every aspect, Jimin, my dear friend and my boss—” 

“I’m not your boss, Hyung. We’re co-owners.” Jimin says, his arms still wrapped around your middle. Jin grins. 

“Okay, my dear friend here scored seventeen out of twenty.” 

J immediately starts clapping and cheering. Even howls. Jungkook, though, lets out a strangled noise before starting protesting. 

“Seventeen? Fucking, seventeen? For that?” He questions in pure disbelief. Jimin finally lets go of you. 

“What the fuck that supposed to mean?” His attention fully falls upon the younger man. Jin cuts in before it gets too far. 

“It is fair, Jungkook. Considering he’s no Lorenzo, that deserves at least seventeen marks out twenty.” He points at Jimin’s painting. Now you don’t know who this Loren–or whoever the guy is. You assume that he’s a famous artist of this world. Like Picasso. Despite everything you would agree Jin with that. Jimin deserves that. Jungkook keeps protesting. Jin ignores him as he goes back to his speech again. “And for our dear Li, the alien who’s planning to abduct the greatest CEO of the century…” Okay, now you’re not sure of Jin not being biased. You don’t voice your concerns, however. Don’t want to lose any more marks after all. Jin carries on. “The honorable judge board has decided upon eighteen marks out of twenty.” Throws away his notebook so he could join J with her increased clapping and cheering. “Hence, the winner of this competition is…” Imitates the sound of drumrolls and bellows your name. J starts jumping up and down. 

“C’mon, give her twenty!” Jungkook yells through all the noises in the room. “You gave Jimin seventeen and only eighteen for her?” You could’ve agreed with him and defended yourself but J has made it toward you. And disregarding your protests, is making you join her with her jumping. 

“I gave her nineteen. Then took out one because she has a smart mouth.” Jin screams through J’s yelling. 

“Still, you gave Jimin seventeen?” Jungkook doesn’t back down. 

“Of course, he is my friend.” Jin answers proudly. 

“What the hell? I thought you were supposed to be fair…” You push away J, gaping at Jin with an open mouth. He only grins. 

Asshole!

………………………

“So…” Jimin questions as you fumble with the takeout containers. After announcing your marks, very dramatically, everyone has called it a good time for dinner. Hence, the takeout. “What do you want?” You straighten up to face him as he questions. Narrow your eyes and purse your lips, only to shrug at the end. 

“I don’t know. I’ll think about it.” Say as you transfer the food from takeout containers to bowls and plates. 

“Okay…” Jimin takes two bowls in his hands, ready to take them out to the living room. “But honestly, you deserve twenty.” Teases making you reel again. Yet before you can start complaining about how his friend was a total douche bag, Jimin disappears through the doorway. You sigh heavily, opening another box of kimchi. Jin can fuck off. Not that you’re really mad at him. No. What you honestly wanted was to impress Jimin. You succeeded at that task beautifully. After that you stopped caring about winning anyway. You just love that he gave Jimin seventeen. It’s just…sometimes it’s fun to bicker with your friends. For no reason. It sure is. With a gentle smile on your lips, you pick up two plates to take to the living room. 

“I’ll take that.” 

You turn your head at the unexpected voice. Speaking about the devil! Jin treats you with a warm smile and walks up to you with his arms already outstretched. You twist your body to take the plates away from his grasp. 

“I’m just pregnant, Jin. You guys need to stop treating me like I’m built of porcelain.” You complain.

Jin simply ignores you. Simply steps around and take the plates on your hands quite easily. “We’re not treating you like you’re porcelain, Jimin does. We’re just treating you like you’re pregnant.” He defends himself. You roll your eyes. 

“Hah! You treat me like I’m the only woman who’s pregnant in this world.” 

“You are the only woman I know who’s pregnant. So, it’s basically the same thing. Just shut up and lemme help.” He steps away from you. You stop arguing. Well, it’s a good argument. You wait for him to walk away with the plates. He doesn’t. 

“What?” So, you question after a second in silence. 

“You can draw.” Jin says. A snort leaves you before you can control it. What’s he getting at?

“So they say.” You wave a hand in the air. A silent signal for him to drop it. Only if these people ever listen to you, though. 

“Ever considered making a use of it?” He puts the plates back on the table. Your eyes follow the movement before going back to his face and stopping there.

“I…did, actually.” You bite on to your bottom lip, suddenly feeling deflated. That familiar pang hitting your chest. That bitter feeling is getting a hold over your heart. A feeling of being useless. Purposeless. “I studied design at college. So, I guess yes. I did make use of my skills.” You try your very best to keep the edge out of your voice. It’s not fair to be bitter about it. It’s no one’s fault. You said you wanted to stay and you still want to stay. You said you wanted to have the baby and you still do. There’s no reason to be bitter. Yet the feeling lingers. 

“You did?” Jin hums. “Past tense? How about now? You no longer want to use it?” Inquires. God, you want him to talk about something else. Or simply leave you be. This topic isn’t easy. And you don’t have answers either. 

“No. I mean, I don’t know. Haven’t thought about it. I just–um…you know started living here. I mean permanently, and I still have no plan.” You trail on. 

“Do you know when you’ll have a plan?” He asks again. This time you furrow. 

“Okay, what is this, Jin? Why are you interrogating me all of a sudden?” 

“I’m not interrogating you, Li. I’m just asking.” 

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, I’m just curious. Or…” He shrugs. “I’m a little too sad to think that you’ll just waste yourself away. Just give up on everything just because you’re pregnant.” You open your mouth and then close it stupidly. You swear that you want to tell him that it’s not the case at all. But he starts speaking again before you could. “I know it might not make sense for me to be sad about you but I do. We’re friends. Have you thought about resuming your studies?” He folds his arms across his chest. You place your hand on a nearby chair, just because you want to do something. You nod while averting your gaze to your hand. 

“I did.” 

“And?” 

You look back at him. “I can’t just resume a degree that doesn’t exist, can I, Jin.” 

“Then start it over.” He raises a brow. Seems too sure about his ideas. Unfortunately for him, you’re going to prove him wrong. 

“With what academic background? In this world, I don’t have anything on my own. Not even an identity. I’m not a part of this world. How do you think I’m gonna apply for a university when I can’t even prove my elementary studies. No, you know what? Fuck that, I can’t even prove I’m a citizen of this country. I got nothing and I don’t know where to start.” You suck in a sharp breath after spewing those words out, relishing in the silence that follows after. Jin simply blinks at you. Then slowly nods. 

“Does Jimin know it?” He glances at the doorway, as if Jimin is standing there. For a second, you worry that he does and he heard everything. Relief washes over you to see the doorway empty. “That you’re sad about it. That you want to do something.” 

“Kind of.” You answer simply. Now you never expected to have this conversation with Jin out of all the people. He’s the least closest one to you. Hence, your surprise when he easily understands that you crave a purpose. “He knows I want to restart my life but—” 

“He doesn’t know that you want it this badly that you get mad when you think about it?” You nod again at Jin’s question. “So, why don’t you just tell him. He can help you, you know? We can forge your documents.” 

Your eyes widen in surprise. Again, he’s the last person to suggest something like that. 

“We–he can give you the best academic background anyone wants. There’s nothing money can’t do. Or, he can simply give you the degree. Or the job. Whatever you ask for. Jimin will even give you the damn sun if it’s possible.” Jin carries on. You would’ve been happy about that knowledge some other time. Not now. 

“That’s exactly why I don’t tell him. Why I don't  ask him for help. First, he’d blame himself saying I lost it all because of him. Second, I don’t think I’ll be happy to have something that I don’t deserve. I want to earn it. Be proud of myself. Sitting on a director's seat without a single qualification would make me feel like shit, Jin.” You ramble. That bitter feeling swirling inside you faster and faster with every word. Jin stays silent at that. Just staring at you. After a minute that feels like an hour he smiles. 

“Well…what if you get a chance to deserve it then?” 

“Huh?” You knit your brows together in confusion. What is he even talking about?

“So, you don’t want to work for Jimin or for the company because that means you got a job that you don’t deserve?”  He probs to which you nod. “I can give you work that would prove you deserve it—” 

“Jin, that’s exactly the same—” 

“No it’s not. I’m not giving you a title, Li. I’m giving you a task and a deadline. I’m giving you a chance to prove yourself and us that you’re talented. I don’t give a fuck about a degree. You can start earning it from zero again. All I’m saying is that I can give you something to do that would make you feel useful.”

Oh!

"It'd be like freelancing. Trust me, I’m the last person to encourage nepotism. I love how you want to make it by yourself and how you don’t want to get spoiled over the fact that you have Jimin. But, not knowing when to take the opportunities is pure stupidity, Li. I won’t just drop it on your lap ever. I’m meaner than that. It’s just an opportunity.” 

Suddenly, you feel your body grow weaker. Not in a bad way, no. That bitter swirl inside you comes to a halt as a new sensation starts to course through your veins. Causing your body goes weak. Your heart is slowly starting to beat loudly and fast inside your chest. And there comes an urge to squeal. Laugh. Scream. Take a step forward and throw your arms around Jin's neck. You don’t, however. You don’t do any of that. You just stay rooted in your spot eyes fixed on Jin. You can’t believe it. Is this really happening? You still don’t want to take help. But Jin makes sense. He’s not helping you. Not like Hoseok did, anyway. Not like how Jimin would do it. And you’d be a fool to lose it. 

“But how’s it not the same?” Yet you question in the end, trying to keep your calm. “What do you want me to do?” 

“Visuals.” Jin answers even before you barely finish your question. “A teaser?” 

“So, social media?” It’s getting very hard for you to not get excited. 

“Yes. And the backdrop for the press launch.” With those words your excitement dies down. A bit. Social media, you can totally deal with. He wants you to design the freaking backdrop for the press. That’s a lot of faith. “Give me one visual, Li. I’m not saying you’re getting a job through me. You’re going to work for it. You’ll walk me through the concepts within two weeks. We have three months until the launch. If I like your concepts, you’ll work on it. And if it makes  through, you’ll see your work on the launch. If not, then you’ll try again for something else.” Jin explains. Or rather commands. You knew he'd be a tough boss. Hoseok was far better. 

“And there’s no one else working on this?” You don’t want to steal someone else’s chance. Someone else who works their way up to the RUN design team through the sacrifices worth years. 

“We do. We have a team working on it. You’re not stealing someone else’s job, Li. We haven’t confirmed anything yet. We don’t have a fixed idea about what’s going to be the backdrop. My team will be presenting the ideas to me within two weeks.” Jin picks up the plates back again. “If anything, it’s not fair to you. They had months to brainstorm their ideas and come up with something. You just have two weeks. You’ll get paid only if you make it through. Fair?” Raises a brow. 

You nibble on your bottom lip. This feels like a dream. Too good to be true. If it wasn’t for Jin, you would disregard such an offer saying it’s a scam. But it is Jin who’s offering. Honestly, you don’t care about getting paid. It’s for RUN who you’re doing this. Even if it doesn’t make it to the launch, this will give you a place to start. After a brief second of thinking, you let your grin loose. 

“Fair.” Agree. Jin dips his head just once, smiling broadly that a dimple forms in one of his cheeks. 

“Good, I’m looking forward to working with you Miss Spring Roll. Do your best!” He turns around. Walks over to the doorway but you stop him before he steps out. 

“Jin!” He turns his head. “Please don’t tell anything to Jimin. I do want to earn it. He’s gonna be a pain in your ass and make you choose me if he knew it.” You request, to which Jin smirks. Jimin can be a real pain if he wants to. 

“You got it.” 

………………………………..

It’s been two days since you agreed to work for Jin’s design team. Unofficially. Nobody knows you’re working to RUN again. But this time, instead of delivering coffee from one room to another, you sit on Jungkook’s desk with scattered paper across it. You won’t be stepping inside the company. Jin has provided you with all the information you need to make it work. Too much information to be precise. It’s giving you a headache. You don’t know where to start. You’ve been given information about the plot, a fantasy full with romance and action and gore and for fuck’s sake a bath of blood. The game’s not for the kids so it makes sense. You’ve been given the character designs. Designs that had made your jaw dropped to the floor at how pretty and realistic they felt. You would’ve kissed designers’ hands who made such a thing possible. You don’t know the full plot of the game. Just the genre, details about the characters and the mood Jin is after. But with the little peeks you had, you already know the game is going to be a recordbreaker. And you’re happy to be a part of it. 

You still don't want to get a job with the help of your CEO boyfriend or his friends. But what Jin said makes absolute sense. This is a one of a kind opportunity. If this works, then you’ll have the first work on your portfolio. It’s not like you’re hired. Nothing will happen unless you come up with really good ideas. Ideas you don’t have at the moment. 

“Watcha doing?” The sudden voice that comes next to your ear makes you squeal and grab your chest with both hands. 

“What the fuck, Jungkook? You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days.” You slap his thigh, annoyed at how often he’s been doing it. 

“Calm down, Noona. You know it’s just me in the house.” Jungkook rolls his eyes. Drags a spare chair toward the table and sits next to you. You grumble how that doesn’t justify his actions as he peers over at the thousands of papers you have with millions of scribbles on them. “Still got nothing?” He picks up one paper. 

“Still got nothing.” You sigh heavily and push all the papers away from you together with the tablet. 

“You’ll get there, Noona. Don’t stress yourself too much. You’re pregnant, remember? Jimin will kill Jin if he knows that he’s making you stressed for death.” Jungkook lets the paper fall to the table. 

“But I have to come up with something if I need the bid,” You pout. “But every idea seems overused, not creative or stupid.” 

“That’s what you think. Maybe they are good.” Jungkook chooses a different paper this time. Frowns. “Like this one…” Squints. “Like…um…how this is showcasing…” Purses his lips. You watch him with a deadpanned expression. You know what he is doing. Still, you curse aloud when the next words leave his mouth. “A dead crow and a girl trying to eat it raw.” 

You snatch the paper away. “Get lost, Jeon.” Shove him back. Or try to do so. 

“That’s rude.” Jungkook whines, grinning with his nose scrunched up. Only he could do that. Smile like that. You flip him off. Still, he doesn’t go away. Just rests his chin on your shoulder. “No but seriously, you’ll get there, baby. Don’t think too much. If it works, then it works, if not we’ll find another way.” Coaxes. You sigh for the ninth time and relax. He’s right, this is not life, except it is life for you at the moment. Yet you nod in agreement. Jungkook lets out a hum in satisfaction, then pulls away from your personal space. “Let’s go have dinner now, shall we?” Asks, already getting to his feet. You tilt your head up to look at him. 

Oh, your sweet Jungkook!

There comes that painful clench in your heart. You still haven’t talked with him. Now you know what you’re doing. You’re making excuses. You’re taking everything in your life as an excuse not to have that conversation. From your health to your baby. Then it was about his finals and your petty art competition. Now what? Oh, you can definitely think about a hundred more excuses. Like the fact that he’s in such a good mood today. Apparently has submitted his final assignment for the semester, being done with his college life. Has prepared a whole feast today for the two of you just because he’s happy. That conversation would ruin it. You can’t do that now, can you? 

Selfish. Completely, unforgivably, cruelly selfish. How could you do that to him? To Jungkook? Out of all the people? Then what should you do? Have the talk now? He wouldn’t be smiling like that after it, though. And you won’t be in a place to design a game launch backdrop. Still, you should do it right? The perfect time you’re looking for will not come ever. Because you don’t want it to come. You’ll always find a reason not to have the confrontation. Maybe you should do it. Just do it. 

“C’mon, get up!” Jungkook urges you to your feet, snapping you out of your thoughts. You let him pull you up. “You're gonna love Bulgogi.” He informs, eyes glinting. He’s gone so far with the dinner tonight, overworking himself. He’s so happy. You’ll ruin it if you open your mouth for the wrong thing. Then, how long are you gonna drag this up? 

Jungkook starts dragging you out of the room. You just follow him, mind spiraling. Yet with no decision about what to do as you make it to the living room. 

………………..

You sit on the floor, legs crossed and across from Jungkook on the coffee table turned into the dinner table for the night. You take a look at all the food Jungkook has placed on it, with wide eyes. 

“Oh my God, why did you make so much food, Kook. It’s only the two of us.” You already knew he was making a feast but he exceeds your expectations with this. “We won’t be able to finish these.” 

“That’s why we have a fridge.” Jungkook nonchalantly hands you a pair of chopsticks. You take them, sighing. Looks like you’ll be eating until you can’t anymore. You pick a slice of Bulgogi Jungkook boasted about so much. And the first bite gets you moaning. You immediately dig in again, causing Jungkook to smile at you. Fondly. So fondly that you are afraid he’ll turn into a cotton candy. That’s how sweet he looks. Okay, fuck, you can’t let him keep going like that. His whole world revolving around you. Taking care of you. Being happy when you’re happy. Sad when you’re sad. Just existing to please you when you can’t give him anything in return. No. You’ve dragged this out long enough. It’ll be now or never. He’s happy, yes. He’ll always be either too happy or too sad to have a heart breaking conversation. You’ll not be able to focus on anything else after you break his heart. His pain will make you hurt. But guess what? You don’t care about your wellbeing anyway. Not at this moment. 

You put back the chopsticks slowly. Jungkook glances up at you through his lashes, his own mouth full of rice. You’re doing this. Yes. For better or for worse.“Jungkook…” You begin slowly. Your heart beating in your throat. Your chest tightening up.  He hums in answer. Still too distracted to read the room. To understand that you’re no longer smiling. “We…I need to ta—” 

Your voice gets cut off by the sudden sound of your phone ringing. Your eyes instinctively fall at the phone screen that is lit up with an incoming call. By an unknown number. Brows knitted together, you pick up the phone. Whoever that’s calling, this is the worst time. You should hang it up and carry on with your talk. Right? Right? Or should you? 

“Oh, it might be Jin, or someone else from the company.” The words leave your mouth even before you can think about it. Jin won’t call you at this hour. No will anyone else from the company. Why would they when they don’t even know you. Excuses. Again. But you take it despite all the promises you made yourself. You pick up the phone and press it to your ear. “Hello!” You greet with a very forced enthusiasm. Using your customer service voice. High pitched and chirpy. It’s truly amazing how you are able to fake that voice even when your heart is still beating madly. Jungkook eyes you curiously for a second but then proceeds to stuff his mouth with almost everything. A deep silence occurs from the other side of the line. “Hello!” So you chirp again. Still polite and energetic. 

“Li!” Then there comes a voice. And you freeze. Call it a gut feeling but just at the first word you know something bad is coming, even though you don’t recognize the voice. “I need a favor.” The voice continues. Like that you recognize the voice. How could you not recognize your own voice? Your already beating heart picks up even more for a different reason this time. 

“Li–Liya?” You dumbly look for a clarification when you damn well know it’s her. Jungkook pauses his hand mid air. A piece of Kimchi trapped between his chopsticks. He gapes at you. Then drop the cutlery without a care. 

“Yes,” Liya answers you through the phone. “Are you free? I need to talk to you.” Says without any further ado. You look at Jungkook with wide eyes. As if he’s the one talking to you. Jungkook widens his eyes. 

“Is that Liya? Kim Liya?” He leans forward. You nod just once. Jungkook scoffs. “Hang up the phone.” Almost gets to his feet as you scoot back defensively. Well, it’s not that you want to talk with Liya. She’s the last person you want to have a chit chat with. But, something in you—probably the guilt—won’t let you just follow Jungkook’s orders. “Noona!” He exclaims in bewilderment as you clear your throat. 

“Why?” You answer Liya’s question with another question. “Why do you want to talk to me?”

“You’ll know if you talk to me, won’t you? Isn’t that the purpose of talking? What’s the point if I just tell you now?”  

Okay, you should hang up the phone. This is ridiculous. The edge in her voice. The amused undertone, as if she’s talking to the dumbest bitch in the world causing your blood to spike. 

“Can you?” Yet before you can hang up, she asks again. This time her voice is a bit quietened. The edge and the amused tilt gone. If you didn’t know any better you’d say you heard the desperation. “Please…” Oh, you definitely heard the desperation. Kim Liya just pleads with you. That should talk thousands of unspoken words. Come to think of it, you know she would never call you if she wasn’t desperate. She’s desperate. It doesn’t matter what Jimin thinks, she hasn’t found a way yet. Now she’s here, wanting to talk to you. And you can only think about one topic that she’d want to talk about. She wants you to help her with making herself better. You don’t know how. But shouldn’t you help if you can?

“Noona, hang up the phone for fuck’s sake!” Jungkook hurries to his feet and walks around the table. You twist your body away from him. Things that happened the past few weeks have shifted your mind away from concerns about Liya. You’ve come to believe Jimin’s words and think Liya would find a way and it’s out of your control. Yet you’d be lying if you say that she didn’t cross your mind here and there. Maybe, it’s not genuine concern. It’s just a need to feel less guilty about what you did. It was there, nonetheless. Now, you have a chance to actually do it. You need to help her. You have to help her. Even though a voice inside your head is screaming at you that this is going to end badly. 

“Okay.” You breathe out after a long second, ignoring Jungkook’s attempts to snatch your phone away. So do you ignore his gasp at your next words. “When?” 

“Now.” Liya simply says, making you snap your head toward the window to double check the hour. It’s late. Dark as hell outside. 

“What do you mean now? Where are you?” You rush to your feet, Jungkook hissing on your ear. 

“I’m outside the restaurant. This can’t wait, Li. I need to talk to you now.” 

Okay fuck. This is crazy. And did you think she’s asking? Of course, not. She’s already here. She’s not asking if you could meet her but demanding that you meet her. She already knew you’d say yes. Well, you already said yes. It’s better to get it done sooner than later. 

“Fine, gimme a second.” With that you hang up the phone, already moving toward the front door. “Liya wants to meet me, she’s outside now.” You let Jungkook know while you move. 

“And you fucking said yes? Are you kidding me, Noona?” Jungkook catches up to you. Walks around you just to stand up in front of you and block your path. “You gonna meet her?”

“Yes, I am Jungkook,” You try to sidestep him. Fail. He successfully blocks your path again. 

“Are you fucking crazy? Why the fuck would you do that? You know she’s not gonna congratulate you or something. You know this is trouble!” Jungkook barks. 

“Oh, c’mon, she needs help. And I owe her at least that, don’t you think.” You try in vain to get to the door again, your patience running thin. 

“No, I don’t think so. You don’t owe her anything, Noona. How many times do I have to tell you? It’s Jimin’s fault—”

“Jimin can’t clap with one hand, can he?” You snap. Jungkook could be ridiculous sometimes. “It’s my fault as much as his. This is Liya’s space and I stole it and it makes me feel like shit and it’ll always make me feel that way. So, I’m going to help her whether any of you like it or not. Now, move.” This time you successfully manage to step around and continue to your intended location. You hear Jungkook sighing in resignation. 

“Okay, what if she tries something funny? I’m coming with you then.” Jungkook only gets to take one step forward before you turn around, glaring at him hard enough to make him freeze. 

“No, you are not, Jeon Jungkook.”

“Why not?” 

“Becuase, you can’t take care of me all the time. You need to st—” You bite on your tongue to stop the venom pouring out. You were so close to letting it all out. Not now. Not when Liya is waiting outside. You need to handle one thing at a time. You need to make it fair to Jungkook. You’ll sit down and talk to him with a clear mind. Not when you’re slowly getting angry at his persistence and getting nervous about Liya. You take a deep breath. “I’m a big girl Jungkook. I can handle myself. You don’t–can’t take care of me all the time. I’m going to be a mom right? How can I take care of my baby if I can’t just have a conversation with um–um… my boyfriend’s ex, who also happens to be…my…altrenate version…” Oh, that really doesn’t sound good. But you’ll finish what you started now..

“Still…” Jungkook rubs his face with both his hands. He seems not concerned about what you tried to say and didn’t.  

“I’ll be fine, Kookie. What do you think will happen? That she’ll hold a gun to my head or something?”  You pick up your coat, open the door not bothering to change your slippers. 

“Considering that it’s Liya, of course that can happen.” He argues back but stays where he is. You roll your eyes. What a ridiculous idea? Even if Liya is a CEO and the daughter of Kim—genetically or not, there’s no way in hell that she could do something like that. Right? Can she? You pause midstep, your hand barely raised toward the door handle. 

“If I don’t come back within thirty minutes, then come looking for me.” You mumble without looking back at Jungkook. 

“So, you are scared that she’d do something bad.” Jungkook bellows. 

“No, I am not!” You shout back, stepping out and closing the door behind you. 

……………………….

You exit through the front doors of the restaurant. The cold autumn air instantly bites on to your skin horribly, causing you to wrap your arms around yourself. You first look into your right. Find no familiar white car among the few vehicles parked there. Then you look to your left, eyes squinting to find the car you’re looking for. You don’t get to look that hard when Liya saves you the trouble and switches on the headlights. She’s parked a few blocks away from the restaurant. And the sight of the vehicle suddenly gives you a sick feeling. You’ve always felt uncomfortable in Liya’s presence. Of course, you did. You’ve been cheating with her boyfriend behind her back. Even now you feel the same uneasily sensation in your tummy. That paired with Jungkook’s words really do make you stay rooted to your spot and consider your life decisions. 

Maybe this is a bad idea? Maybe you should’ve hung up the phone and lived…how exactly? Happily? God, what are you even thinking? This is not a drama and Liya is not a murderer. She’s obviously not going to hold you at gun point. She’ll have the time of her life if she knows that you’re scared of her. Cursing yourself mentally, you start to walk forward. Don’t stop until you’re standing next to Liya’s car. And nor do you waste any time slipping inside the passenger seat. The pleasant warmth inside wraps around you like a comfy blanket yet do nothing to rid the coldness inside your body. You exhale as you close the passenger side door and sit properly. Your heart going mad inside your chest. And that’s all you can hear. Only your own heart beats as a deafening silence follows. 

Silence!

You look at Liya once, finding her eyes trained forward. So you do the same. 

Silence!

Your heart is going to explode. You bunch up your coat between your fingers. 

Silence!

Okay this is unbearable. If she doesn’t talk, then you should.

“So—”

“Is it true?” Liya beats you up to it. You furrow in annoyance at how rude she does that and look at her with confusion. But then it all gets resolved when you find her eyes no longer looking out through the windscreen. Instead her eyes are on you. Your stomach to be precise. 

Oh!

Your hands instinctively go to cover your belly. Still the same as how it was a week before. Or a week before that week. There’s no visible bump yet. Liya can’t see any difference in you at all. But she knows. Somehow she does. Jimin said he didn’t tell her. Then how? Does it matter? It’s not like you’d be able to keep it a secret forever. Not that you want to anyway. 

“Yes.” Hence your simple answer. 

Liya scoffs. “Well, then that’s what changed. Here I thought it was about Jimin.” Grips the steering wheel tight. You know what she’s talking about. She’s been convinced that Jimin was your reason that stopped the shifting. Honestly, you’ve thought the same. The thought that it might be your baby never crossed your mind. It makes perfect sense when you think about it. You try not to think too much about it. Instead you open your mouth to ask her what she wanted. Just to change your mind when she starts speaking again. Eyes back on somewhere you can’t see. “Jimin must be so god damn happy. He always wanted kids. He wanted to get married and have kids soon after we moved in together,” She trails on. You clench your jaw, doing your utmost best not to get irritated. “Maybe it was all my fault. Because I always said no. I said later.” 

“It was your choice to make.” You blurt out. Every story has two sides. It indeed was her choice to decide when she wanted to get married or have kids. Nobody should accuse her of not wanting it when Jimin did. And was that the reason why they fell out of love? Were they ever actually in love? Why do Jimin love you? Because you’re ready to have his kids when Liya didn’t? Okay, you need to stop. Those evil questions won’t get you anything good in your life. You did what felt right for you. Nobody should accuse you of wanting it when Jimin did either. It was your choice. 

“It was, wasn’t it?” She finally turns her head to look at you. “Then why am I feeling so jealous?” Another glance of your stomach. “Why am I feeling so bitter?” 

“You didn’t love Jimin, Liya. You know that.” You ignore her question. Liya rolls her eyes. 

“Why’s everyone keep saying that? You are not me, Li. You don’t know what I feel or what I felt, just because you’re me from a different world. Stop doing that.” She keeps her voice calm and steady despite the hidden rage behind her words. You can hear it. Can hear it and your brain reacts to it. It’s through gritted teeth that you throw out your next words.

“Then what? You did love him?” 

“I don’t know!” Liya practically screams. You flinch. “Okay? I don’t fucking know.” 

Oh, but you do. “You didn’t love him, Liya. You loved the idea of Park Jimin. You loved having him as your boyfriend. He was the prize you won for going against your father for the first and last time of your life and you wanted to keep the prize so everyone would know you won. That you keep winning. That is not love. That’s not fair on him. I know I’m wrong. I know he’s wrong but maybe, just maybe he deserved someone who loves him, not someone who keeps him as a fucking trophy.” You ramble so fast and so hard that you end up gasping for air. Liya gapes at you with wide eyes, clearly not expecting an outburst from you. She looks stunned. You wait for the refusal. Wait until she declines, saying that you don’t know her. It doesn’t come. Eleven after a long full minute of silence all you receive is a shrug. 

Fuck! Did she just admit that?

“Doesn’t matter what it is now, does it?” In the end she chokes out a laugh. “I already lost him, and…” She exhales loudly. You think it’s more to collect herself than to ease the pain. Is she in pain? She certainly doesn’t look good. She had such radiating skin which now looks dulled and withered. She had such bright eyes which now look hollow and dark. You always thought Liya was and is the better version of you. Both regarding looks and life. Even though you are the same person, she’s  always looked prettier and she's a darn CEO. What else is there to achieve? You’ve often wondered how and why Jimin fell in love with you. Well it somehow happened. The aftermath? Liya has lost her glow. She’s literally dying. If you don’t help her she’ll be dead soon. All because of you. 

“I don’t care anymore,” Liya pulls her act together faster than you expected. “All I care now is surviving, Li. I won’t just let you steal my life. I hate losing, you know? I always hated losing.” She spills the words out in such rage but her voice is still calm. “I want my life back and I need a purpose to hang on to my life. I want a reason to keep going so you won’t steal it entirely.” Liya keeps rambling. The sickening feeling inside you returns, making your guts churn. This time it’s guilt. You never intended to steal it. Nor do you want to steal it. You desperately want to say it but Liya doesn’t give you a chance. “You know what, Li? My whole life, there was only one reason that kept me going. Winning. I woke up everyday to win something more. Why? So my goddamn father would be proud about me,” Another wet choke. You’re scared she’d cry. You don’t know what to do. “Guess what? He’ll never be proud. Now? After what Jimin did? Never!” 

“I no longer care about it either. He can’t accept me as his daughter? Fine. I don’t want to be his daughter anymore, but…” She turns to you. Now you can see her eyes burn with fire. Not the bright glow she usually has in them but a fire that would burn you down. “I still have to keep winning. Because that’s my reason. My business is my baby, Li. I poured my life into it and I will not let any of you take it away from me.” You try to speak for the hundredth time when she starts to shuffle around, twisting her body around and reaching for a large envelope on the back seat. She hands it over to you. You, utterly confused, open the envelope to peek inside, finding it full with white papers. “People know that my father is a shareholder of R.U.N, but they don’t know that it was his money that built the place.” Liya explains as you keep glancing at the stack of papers inside. Having no idea about what she’s getting at.“They don’t know Jimin and his friends were little gold diggers and used me for money.” Your head snaps up from the papers in your hands. Eyes wide. 

“What?” You scowl. “That’s not true they didn’t—” 

“And who’s gonna believe them,” Liya taps her forefinger on the envelope. “Jimin signed the contract, Li…You probably don't know about these because you’re a little dumb college girl.” You try to interfere but she doesn’t let you. “That doesn’t mean everyone is dumb. This contract’s going to be enough to prove that they—Jimin, used me for money and then cheated on me.” 

You suck in a sharp breath. Guilt instantly turning into blind, bristling anger. Why did you ever think this would be a good idea? Jungkook was so right. This is Kim Liya and she doesn’t ask. No. She demands. 

“You got to be fucking kidding me, Liya. Are you threatening him?” 

Liya clicks her tongue. The Liya who sat here with a haggard look is nowhere to be seen. She’s gone like a flick of a switch. In her place now sits a woman who’s spitting venom in your face. Amused. A slick smile on her lips. “Course not, he is not here. I am threatening you, dummy.” Her smile widens. “Now, Jimin is really something, I’d give him that. Either he should be really stupid or really brave to launch a game when his reputation has been damaged so badly. He still has his little followers, I know that. Some people would do anything for a pretty face and toned abs,” She shakes her head in  disappointment. “And he’s lucky that some don’t like me. They’d support Jimin just because they hate me. But, with this thing out,” Another tap on the envelope. “The company will receive a considerable amount of backlash. They’d see Jimin as the little gold digger—” 

“Okay, shut the fuck up!” You finally snap. Seething. Seeing red. This is a mistake and you were stupid enough to think that this would’ve gone any other way. Still you won’t sit here looking dumb while she insults your Jimin that way. “You’ve gone fucking crazy, Liya.” You mutter through clenched teeth. “I wanted to help you. Really help you. But this?” You hold the stupid envelope before your face. “Is stupid.” You ignore the way Liya smirks, not deterred by your words even a little bit. “And if you think I’m gonna do anything you ask me to do…then you need to get your head checked. Fuck off!” You almost turn around and get out of the car. Almost. 

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you, Li.” Liya stops you with a stern edge to her voice. You pause. “I mean you can leave, no one's holding you hostage here, but I want you to understand how serious this is. I want you to know that I am not joking. I will do it!” You glare at her with all your might. Anger swirling inside you like a volcano that is about to burst. Oh you can hit her. Damn the guilt. This is unacceptable. “And also I’ll make sure that no one…not a single soul on this earth would want to support R.U.N. I might not be a people pleaser who always says yes to everyone but I am a convincing liar, Li. That’s how I manage to survive in this world full of vultures. So, listen to me carefully, I don’t care what I have to do. A pretty little  lie can go a long way. A few tears, and bruises, and a good story will do the trick.” 

You freeze. It’s not that you didn’t take her seriously. You did since the very first moment she handed you the damn envelope. With everything in you, you believed she would totally do it. Now, though, as her words sink in, you feel like your blood runs cold. She’s going to accuse Jimin. Of something he’s never done. Never even thought of doing. But who would the people believe? Him, who already cheated on his girlfriend with—as they belive—her twin sister or a woman who’s crying in distress. Covered in bruises. You grit your teeth so hard that your jaw aches. Still you find yourself unable to stop it. Completely prickling with anger that your ears are ringing, sight turning hazy and not even being able to speak. Liya takes full advantage of it. 

“I hope you don’t want that, right, Li? Imagine being the reason why your lover loses everything. If it weren't for you, none of this could’ve happened. This is all because of you. Then you’ll have to watch Jimin crumble,” She gasps softly. Like she just remembered something. “Oh, and then can you imagine having to raise a baby in such a household. Father going bankrupt…then comes the lawsuits. Debt. The bills. It’s not like you can be of any help now, can you?” A smirk twists her face. 

“You’re fucking crazy…” You breathe out, your voice hoarse and uneven. You’re at the brink of crying. You don’t want to. Never want to show how weak you are. 

“I am…I am very crazy. You’ve made me that way. Now listen here babes, it’s still not late. I don’t want any of this. I just want my business back. And my life. I hope Jimin has already told you what I want—” 

“Fuck no, Liya. No fucking way!” You rage, fingers fisting around the envelope and crumpling a corner. “He already said no. You will not use him anymore.” You shake your head. Madly. “No you won’t. I thought you were a smart woman, Kim Liya. This ain’t gonna work. You think your father will believe it when Jimin goes back and claims that you never broke up?” 

“He will…” 

“How?! Jimin claimed it was not you in the videos.” 

“And you think my parents believe that they have a daughter whom they never knew of?” Liya leans forward. A brow raised. “Do you think my mom will believe that she gave birth to two girls without ever knowing it? I mean my father isn’t the biggest believer of my mom but even he knows that she only ever gave birth to me. To them it was me who was on the videos. It was me who brought shame. And…” She bites on to her bottom lip. Face suddenly brightening up. “We don’t need rational reasons to explain his actions, Li. All we do need is to agree to destroy the evidence Jimin found on my father and voilà! We have a deal. Mr Kim is gonna vote for me at the next board meeting. He’s gonna accept that me and Jimin are still together and give me whatever he owes me.” She rubs her palms together. “I’m gonna get what I want and you both can live happily ever after. Isn’t that a good deal?”

No it’s not…It’s definitely not. For how long would they have to do it? To pretend like a couple? Jimin would never agree to this. This means he falls back into the Kim family's trap. Back to being their little puppet. Liya must think you're a little idiot but you have enough brain to know that she’s never going to stay true to her words. She’ll ruin you. She’ll ruin Jimin. She’ll ruin everyone who caused her distress. Revenge! 

“Think about it, honey.” Liya squeals at your silence. “You have a week. Convince Jimin. Be smart, okay.” 

Be smart!

You deflate. All hope vanishes with the bristling rage that coursed through your veins. Liya would do it and you can only think about one way to stop it. Convince Jimin to help Liya. Using your own way. He should never know that this conversation happened. 

Be smart!

…………………………….

Your head is going to explode. You’ve had this terrible headache ever since last night. Then with little to no sleep, now you feel like you’re half dead. You would like nothing more than curling into a little ball and sleeping for a whole week. No, maybe for a whole year. You’re absolutely exhausted. Still, you can’t do anything but think, think, and think. You’re paralyzed from fear. You want to do something about Liya’s threat. Something that is rational. Not cowardly and do exactly as she says. 

Fuck, you can’t even imagine going through the same thing again. Watching from afar as Jimin pretends to be Liya’s boyfriend. Isn’t it funny that you and he did that too? Only if  this would end from there, though. It won’t. It’s not just being her boyfriend in front of her father. No. Jimin would have to destroy whatever he found on Mr Kim. Any evidence or dirt that made mighty Kim stays with the company. With that leverage gone, he would definitely pull out from the company. This is again a no win situation. They would lose it all. Again. Even after the effort Namjoon put in. After every horrible thing went through, they’d still fail. But agreeing to Liya would actually give them a slight chance. Because it’s Liya. 

You feel like your whole body goes limp. Lips so dry that wetting them with your tongue feels like licking sand paper. The mere thought that you have no other options but to agree to Liya and do as she says makes you want to rip your hair away. But after spending a whole night awake and half of today, you’ve finally come to the realization that you have to do it. It doesn’t matter how bad it’ll hurt. You can’t let them fail. Not now when they’re so close. If not, it would be all because of you. Like Liya said, none of this would’ve happened if it weren’t for you. You have to do it. 

“You okay, baby?” Jimin’s voice makes you slightly jump on your seat. After realizing that you’ll have to go through this. You’ve decided to talk to Jimin as soon as you can. It’s better to get this done faster if you must do it. What's the use of delaying it if the results are going to be the same no matter what. Hence, your sudden request for Jimin to meet you for lunch. At Kim’s restaurant. The Bibimbap Jungkook— who’s currently working at the restaurant full time until he finds a real job—made for you is only touched by Jimin so far. “Why aren’t you eating?” He asks through a mouthful. 

You’ve been doing your very best to act natural since you called him. Liya’s advice or not, letting Jimin know what had truly happened wouldn’t do any good but make him angry. You have to act smart. Yet with every passing second it’s becoming harder and harder. One of these moments, this facade will crack and your plan, which doesn’t really exist will be ruined. “Not hungry, really.” You show him all of your teeth, hoping that it is a very convincing smile. Of course, it is not. Jimin raises a brow in question. You know he sensed something the moment he laid eyes on you a few minutes ago. How could he not? Even Jungkook had questioned you more than a few times. Luckily, you managed to brush his concern off. 

“Okay, what’s going on?” Jimin gives up on eating. “You seem off.” His eyes dull with a look torn between worry and confusion. 

“No, Park, I’m fine,” You wave a hand in the air. 

No you’re not! You just need to take this out. Talk to him. You just don’t know how.

“Lil, don’t make me worried, okay?” Jimin scans his eyes over your figure, like he could find a clue written somewhere in your body. 

Okay, this is going nowhere. You called him so you could get this out and be done with it. Dragging this out isn't good. It makes you feel more nervous. More scared. Oh you wanna throw up. You are going to throw up. You clutch your own t-shirt tightly. “Ah, I just wanted to talk to you,” You start, avoiding looking at him, keeping your eyes on the food. 

“And?” Jimin urges you. “Then talk to me, baby.” 

“Yes…” You slowly look at his face, tugging the corner of your lips up with great effort. 

Act normal. Act normal… 

Jimin waits patiently. 

“So, Liya visited me.” With one last breath, you blurt out. Jimin’s face immediately turns from understanding to annoyance. 

“What? When?” He demands without letting you explain any further. You don’t know a way to approach this. Somehow you think you need to lay at least a partial truth out in the open. After your pregnancy chaos, you’ve sworn to yourself never to lie to Jimin again. But here you are about to do just that. 

“Yesterday—” 

“And you’re only telling me now?” Jimin barks. Makes you flinch and glance around embarrassed. 

“She visited me last night.” You whisper yell. His sudden outburst makes your nausea and fear worsen. You’re at edge. There’s so much pressure inside you. And you don’t appreciate him getting mad at you. It makes something bristle inside you. A perfect opportunity to project all your pent up frustration at the wrong target. You don’t want that. 

“And?” Jimin asks as if it’s obvious that you should’ve told him earlier. “Okay, it doesn't matter. What did she want?” Though, he decides to pay attention to the important bits at last. You gulp. Here you go. 

“Nothing, I mean…she just wanted help.” You carefully consider your words. Words that would convince Jimin to help her without talking about the threat. You watch the way Jimin’s expression hardens. He’s about to say fuck it. You beat him up to it. “Listen, Jimin, I think we should help her.” You grip the table with your both hands. Lean forward. Jimin furrows, mouth forming a circle. 

“What do you mean?” Questions in pure disbelief. 

“I know you said that she’ll come up with another way but apparently there is no other way. She–um…she looked so sick and–and we can’t just let it happen, can we?” 

“What are you suggesting?” Jimin doesn’t acknowledge your ramble fully as he eyes you suspiciously. 

“I—” You are starting to tremble. You don’t know how to say it. A way to make it sound less crazy and ridiculous. “I mean we can—can just talk with her father and—” 

“Holy fuck, Lil!” Jimin barks out a laugh. Not amused. No. Just in pure disbelief. As if he wants this to be a joke. “Do you even hear what you’re saying?” 

“I know…” You almost stand up in your desperation. “I know it’s ridiculous and all but what if she really dies, Jimin?” 

“She won’t.” 

“How could you be so sure?” 

“She’s Liya. She’ll find a way. This is just the easy way for her.” 

“But what if it’s not!” You can’t help but raise your voice a bit. “If she can't find a way and something bad really happens, then it’ll be our fault, Jimin. My fault! We at least owe her that.” 

“We don’t owe her shit, Lil. And stop saying it’s your fault for fuck’s sake! She wasn’t exactly good, was she?” 

“She didn’t cheat on you!” You no longer care about people overhearing you. Fuck everyone. It seems Jimin doesn’t care either. 

“And what? Is this how you are going to live the rest of your damn life? Our life? Just being guilty over and over again. We—you need to let that go! We did what we did and agreed to live with that.”

“I could’ve if I can make sure she lives a peaceful life.” You almost bang the table in frustration. “I would never have a peace of mind if she fucking dies because of me. I can’t just—” 

“With what did she threaten you with?” Jimin’s question lands out of nowhere, effectively shutting you up. Your eyes widen. All you do is make the mistake of staying silent for zero point one second. Just too surprised to answer right away. Surprised that he figures that out. And when you open your mouth to deny the accusation, it is already too late. You’ve given yourself away. 

“She did not—”

“Don’t fucking lie to me, Lil.” Jimin snaps. You suck in a shaky breath. There’s only so much you could do to prevent yourself from falling into a completely unrelated, unrealistic and childish assumption at his words. You don’t know what’s happening to you. Maybe you’ve been on edge for too long, having no way to express your emotions. Or maybe you’ve been jealous, letting your mind wander through all the scenarios that would happen once Jimin starts to pretend-dating Liya. Again. Whatever the reason could be, a swirl of green starts to leak into your vision, mixing with the red. 

“Why do you think I’m lying?” You inquire, your voice calming down for the first time. Calm and collected. So calm that sends shivers down your own spine. 

“Because, I fucking know her.” 

There he goes. The envious green completely obstructs your view. You know you shouldn’t. You knew you shouldn’t attack on the wrong target. It’s just the pent up emotions. You need a healthy way to take them out. Not this way. Jimin is not your punching bag. But you can’t help it. Can’t help the bitter scoff. 

“Great!” You stand up abruptly. “Then you shouldn’t ask me what she said. You know her anyway. Maybe, you should’ve stayed with her since you know her so damn well!” You clench your jaw hard so you won’t yell through top of your lungs in the middle of a restaurant. The restaurant that you work at. 

You are just pathetic. There’s no other way to describe how you’re acting right now. Yet you can’t care. You ignore the incredulous look Jimin throws your way as you turn around and storm away. You don’t bother to look back. Just straight away walk toward the front glass door and barge into the bustling street. If you’re to think it through when your mind is clear, you’ll see how stupid you are being. But at the moment, you aren’t ready to think and your mind is a jumble of emotions. You see nothing but red. You hear nothing but a white noise. This is the anger you felt last night. The anger you couldn’t let out. You want to scream. You want—

“What the fuck did you say?” You yelp as a tight grip on your arm yanks you around. Your brief lived surprise at the sudden movement turns into another reason to worsen the state of the ugly monster inside you when you meet with Jimin’s eyes. Darkened with anger. That monster starts raging. Clawing at your skin. 

“I said, you should’ve stayed with her since you know her—” 

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Jimin shakes you by your arm. You can’t even consider the fact that you’re outside and people can see you. 

“Wrong with me? I don’t know, Jimin…maybe, everything…” You’re panting like a bull. “You could’ve been just fine if you stayed with her—” 

“Could I?” Jimin yells before he catches himself and takes a deep breath. “Lil…” Then he mumbles. His tone is much gentler this time. 

“No,” You don’t let him continue, though. “I’m fucking serious. You could’ve been fine. Everyone safe and—and, of course you’ve been together for five years and you know each other so damn well. Maybe I should…I should…” You bite back your words. Not knowing what you are going to say. Yet even without the knowledge of what your next words are going to be, you feel your heart clenches painfully. “I—”

“Don’t.” Jimin forgets about staying calm. He yells so loud that few passersby stop to glance at you. In disgust. “Don’t even fucking think about it. Don’t do it.” He yanks you forward, closer to him. “Don’t ever try to push me away, Lil. Not even for my sake.” He grips your other arm as well. Tight. “Becuase nothing’s gonna be solved. If anything, I’d be just so miserable without you.  I’ve said this once but I’ll say it again, Spring Roll, it wasn’t your fault. Maybe, I did it the wrong way but we—Liya and I wouldn’t have lasted anyway. It wasn’t you. And, her pain—this situation is not your fault either… trust me. She’s just trying to get revenge. Attack you. The person who she thinks ruined her life. If she’s really capable of doing what she’s saying she’ll do, then she would be threatening me, Lil, not you. Do you hear me?” Another tight shake.

You blink at Jimin’s face. The storm of emotions in your body suddenly drains into something heavy. Heavy as you realize what you were about to say a minute ago. What were you thinking? Jimin is right. What is wrong with you? How? How could you even think about something like pushing him away. He is your Jimin. Oh, you can’t breathe. This time not because of anger, though. Your heart becomes so heavy that you find it impossible not to tear up. Then Jimin’s words make it worse. Worse and worse. 

“You need to stop thinking that everything is your fault, baby. Stop thinking you can fix everything. I—we went through this already, Lil. You were supposed to tell me. You were supposed to let me know when something bad happens. I don’t like to be in bed, getting ready to sleep while someone is fucking threatening the woman I love. You said you wouldn’t lie to me again. You said—”

“But she promised to ruin the new launch, what was I supposed to do, Jimin. I was so–so…I—” Your voice cracks, making it impossible for anyone to understand what you’re babbling. “She—she—” You try again. Steadying your voice with all your might. “She said she’ll let people know that her father funded your business.” 

“So what?” Jimin blurts. Evidently, not seeing the bigger picture. 

“She said she’ll make you look as–as you used her and then dumped her…” From there the words finally begin to flow out. You start reciting every word of Kim Liya as if you’re living in the exact moment. Tears finally starting to roll down. You don’t stop until you let it all out. Shaking but strangely feeling calm after you’ve poured everything out. “I don’t want you or anyone else to go through this shit again, Jimin.” You turn your head down, keeping your gaze at Jimin’s feet. His Chelsea boots. “Not again. You only just figured things out and about to get it done… finally… and-and this would send us back to square one.” Jimin sighs, then slowly curses. But his grip on you loosens. The next thing you feel his fingers under your chin as he urges you to look back at him. 

“She can’t do that.” He cups your cheek, slowly rubbing under your eye with his thumb. “I mean she can…but that’s not just gonna work, Lil. Those’d be just baseless lies and I can sue her.” 

“You can sue her but the launch will be ruined already by the time you do that. And what’s the point of winning the case when you’ve lost something you’ve worked so hard for?” 

“I won’t lose anything. Liya is a smart woman but she’d been stupid this time. She’s not thinking things through. She’s in a rush so she chose to threaten you too soon, Lil. She just gave me enough time to prepare.” Jimin shrugs. So nonchalantly that you suddenly feel really stupid. That’s it? You were just being paranoid?

“But—but—”

“Baby,” Jimin grabs your face with both of his palms. Peers into your eyes. “It’s going to be fine.” He kisses the tip of your nose. “I’m not gonna just sit back and watch her ruin it. If she can play, then I can play too. See this is why you should just tell me when someone thinks they can blackmail you,” He furrows for a second. Then sighs. “Please don’t keep me out, Lil. Nothing…no one is worth to me than you are. I really don’t give a fuck. So, don’t ever try to bring something in between. I’m not asking you, okay?” A small smile appears on his lips. “I’m telling you. Don’t do that. It’s not gonna work, anyway. I won’t let you go even if you tell me you’d cut my dick off. You. are. stuck, baby. Just tell me when something like that happens, okay. No one is worth being apart from you or fighting with you. Don’t waste our time together for other’s sake, Lil, because even if I have a lifetime with you that won’t be enough.” 

You close your eyes, trying to compose yourself. Then a simple nod. “I know, I’m sorry.” You croak. Then smile. Genuine this time. “But for your information Mister, I’m still so happy to be stuck with you and I’m so grateful that you won’t let me go, even if that puts your dick in danger.”

Jimin snorts. “Yes, that should mean a lot.” Your smile widens. Oh, you are such an idiot. You shouldn’t have met her in the first place and then you shouldn’t have let her play you that way. Both are stupid moves but nothing would match the fact that you thought about pushing Jimin away. How stupid to think that you’ll survive it. You won’t. You know you won’t. Maybe Jimin is bluffing. Maybe there’s a risk that Liya’s plan might work and it would fuck up there launch and the company but in the end there will be you and him. 

That will be more than enough. 

………………………..

You wave goodbye to J as she reverses the car after dropping you off. You’ve been surprised when J invited you for shopping, claiming she wants a female friend to accompany her and Yoona was too busy with her adult life. So you said yes. Simply because it would give you the much needed distraction from the latest events of your life. Despite Jimin’s words, Liya's threat still rings in the back of your head. You’re still expecting to see a huge blow out on every media every morning when you wake up. So far, that hasn’t happened. Everything seems to be calm and collected, though, it doesn’t sit right with you. 

Your trip to the mall with J has worked miracles. You have actually enjoyed gossiping with a girl and squealing at pretty dresses. And of course, trying them on. Except most of em didn’t look good on you. Or so you think. Jimin, on the other hand, has demanded you buy every piece you tried on and sent him pictures of. According to him, the little bump which is barely visible is the hottest thing in the world. 

Bullshit!

“The baby is going to be a girl, bish… trust me! Make Jimin buy you that damn doll house, it’s cute!” J yells before she finally pulls the car away. You only chuckle since she doesn’t give you enough time to answer her before she drives off. You shake your head. Somehow most of your friends are convinced your baby is going to be a girl. You and Jimin haven't decided whether you want to know the gender before the birth. Maybe you should. You turn around after J disappears and start walking toward the stairs. God, you really feel relaxed. Alive. Fresh. A long shower and a movie will definitely complete this day. With that in mind, you run up through stairs. Open the door, almost yelling your arrival to Jungkook when he steals your chance. Just as you step through the door, Jungkook charges in, making you take a surprised step back. 

“Oh hi—” You start excitedly just to swallow down your words when you notice his expression. Grim. Pissed. Brows pulled together. Glaring. 

Fuck! Jungkook is glaring at you. He never glares at you. Something is not right!

“What hap—” You take a cautious step forward. But pause when he lashes out. 

“Did Liya threaten you?” 

Oh!

Your eyes widen in surprise. It’s not that you intentionally hid it from Jungkook. At first, you had to keep it a secret because that’s what you were supposed to do. Then after you sorted it out with Jimin you still didn’t feel like letting people know before you became sure that Liya won’t be doing anything. You had planned to let him know. Just didn’t know when. 

“How did you—” 

“Does it matter?” Jungkook barks. Not letting you ask a single thing. “She threatened you just outside my door and you didn’t think of letting me know?” He scoffs. You furrow in confusion, clearly not getting why he’s so mad. Sure, you knew he wouldn’t be the happiest to know that Liya has threatened you. Especially after he asked you not to meet her. But this? This feels ridiculous. Jungkook looks furious. No, wait…he looks hurt. 

“Kook…” You try again. This time your words trail off when your eyes land on a second figure that appears around the corner. Wearing a grim but guilty expression. Taehyung. Suddenly, you know how Jungkook learned about the threat. Taehyung sighs. 

“Li, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you haven’t—” 

“Why would you be sorry?” Jungkook cuts Taehyung off. “You did me a favor, actually.” He turns around and starts walking inside. You look at Taehyung dumbly. He rubs his face in frustration. 

“Listen Jungkook—” Taehyung follows Jungkook just to be stopped mid way when Jungkook spins around suddenly, nearly sending Taehyung hurling back. 

“Don’t, Hyung.” Jungkook glances at you over Taehyung’s shoulder. “Please leave.” Adds. Almost turns around again but this time you snap. 

“Okay, what the fuck!” You throw your bag away and stride toward Jungkook. “What the hell is going on, Jungkook? Liya threatened me and of course I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t tell anyone—” 

“Yeah like nobody else knows about it?” Jungkook pushes Taehyung to the side. Taehyung’s attempts to stop him turns out to be null. Jungkook closes the distance between you, saving you the trouble of walking up to him. You sigh in exasperation. Why is he acting like a kid?

“Well I had to tell Jimin for obvious reasons and he must’ve told—” 

“Oh for fuck’s sake! Stop bullshiting, Noona! You just chose not to tell me.”

“That’s not—”

“Just like you chose not to tell me that you’ll be moving out soon!” 

You close your mouth shut. Then reopen it. His words hit you like a lightning strike. You feel your head vibrate for a second, your lungs getting vacated of any air. Your eyes shift to Taehyung, who’s standing there looking like he’s about to faint. So pale and guilty. 

“Fuck.” He mutters. “Li, I’m…” He tries but you pay your attention back to Jungkook. Your head keeps throbbing and the silence that follows after Jungkook’s words stretches and wraps around you like a vein full of thorns. 

Fuck!  Fuck! Fuckfuckfuck!

Jungkook just glares at you. No. No. He’s not glaring, he’s just looking. Eyes full of pain. You swear you can see a sheen in his eyes. He looks betrayed. No! God no…You didn’t mean to. Your heart crumples. 

“Jungkook.” You take a step forward, not knowing what to say. It wouldn't have mattered even if you knew what to say as Jungkook obviously doesn’t want to hear it. You would’ve preferred it if he had slapped you than the way he immediately takes a step away from you. As if you disgust him. 

“Did you ever intend to tell me?” He asks after a second. “Or did you just plan to disappear one day?” 

“Of course not! I just–-I just—”

“You just what, Noona?” Jungkook chuckles. But that sound comes out very wet. Like he’s about to tear up any minute. “Since when do you plan to do it?” 

“Jungkook.” 

“Just answer me!” He screams. 

“Since we knew I’m pregnant!” So you do too. 

This time Jungkook laughs. A fully blown laughter. “Of course. Course, you planned this for a whole month behind my back. And you're telling me you have an excuse?” Jungkook at last takes a step toward you. His expression warring between anger and hurt. “What’s your excuse, Noona? You just didn’t want to tell me?”

“Kookie, please…” Your throat is tightening up, eyes welling with tears. Damn this! You just need a moment to tell him the reason but your words fall in deaf ears. 

“You didn’t think I’m important enough to let me know?” He keeps going. Every single word of him cutting through you like a sharp blade. “Am I that insignificant you just decided you can walk in and out of my life like I’m fucking nothing? Am I—” 

“That’s because I knew you fucking liked me and I didn’t know how to tell you without breaking your heart!!” You couldn’t take it anymore. His sharp jabs. His accusations. You scream through the top of your lungs, allowing your tears to free fall as you do. Everything falls into silence. Jungkook gapes at you. Taehyung slowly exhales. “I knew you liked me and I–I knew you wouldn’t take the news well. You didn’t take the news of the baby well. I didn’t know how—”

“So, you knew I liked you but you kept that as a secret too?” Jungkook regains his wits. This time you can’t actually decide if he’s hurt or not. He looks amused. Scary. That look is. “You knew all along but pretended like you didn’t?”

“What?” 

“Was it fun?” He smiles. “Was it fun having me following you around like a love sick puppy? Is that why you just let it happen? It should be right? You must’ve felt fucking powerful knowing I’d fucking die for you, so played me? Wow…You did great!” 

Nononono…. 

You don’t know what to say. You don’t know what to do. It hurts. It hurts everywhere. He’s making the worst kind of assumptions but can you blame him? 

“No, Jungkook…I was just scared. I was scared of breaking your heart. I was scared that you’ll just push me away. I was so scared to—to lose you.” You exhale shakily. 

“You’re so damn selfish, Noona. So fucking selfish.” Jungkook shakes his head. That amused smile still on his lips as he starts walking past you. You act on instincts. Your brain warns you of the loss about to happen. You jump forward and grab his hand. 

“No, please listen.” 

“Fucking let me be. What else do you want?” Jungkook shakes off your grip so roughly you almost fall backward. It’s Taheyung’s arms that saves you. Jungkook doesn’t even look back. He just makes it toward the front door and disappears through it. The door closes behind him with a loud thud. 

“No….nonono…” You rush to follow him. You can’t just let him go and think that you did this to him on purpose. You have to tell him why you did that. You know you’re selfish but you have to talk with him. Yet your attempt at walking fails when Taehyung holds you tightly. 

“Let him be, Li.” He mumbles in your ear. You don’t really hear him. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean this to happen.” He continues. Oh, you don’t care. You just want to go after Jungkook. You try again, making Taehyung spin you around to face him. “No, Li. Listen to me…Hey! Look at me.” He grabs your shoulders. “Just give him a moment, yeah? You will make it worse if you go after him right now. Okay?” He raises his brows, giving you a gentle shake. 

“I was meant to tell him.” You ignore whatever he is saying as you break down. Sobs after ugly sobs leaving you. Taehyung sighs, placing a hand behind your head and pulling you into a warm hug. 

“I know, I’m so sorry I ruined it. I’m so sorry, Li…this happened because of me. I just panicked when I heard Liya threatened you and Jimin is a stupid so I wanted to talk to you. I didn’t know you hadn't mentioned anything to him. I’m so sorry.” Taehyung rambles while swaying you gently. Patting the back of your head. Honestly, you don’t care why he did it or if it's his fault. It’s not his fault anyway. It’s yours. You ruined this. Taehyung is as innocent as Jungkook is. So you just nod to let him know it’s fine. “I’ll do whatever I can, okay. I’m so sorry.” He keeps apologizing and you just let him. Until you finally pull it together and manage to tell him that it’s not his fault and assure him that it’s okay to leave you alone. 

Because you want to be alone.

You deserve to be left alone. 

……………….

Your phone shows the time as 2 am in the morning. You haven’t slept a blink. Haven’t even tried to be honest. A long shower and a meal that you took just because you had to—becuase you had to think of the baby—hadn’t done anything to make you any better. Hence why you’re sitting on the foot of the couch. Feeling extremely exhausted but not wanting to go to bed. Jungkook hasn’t come home yet after he just stormed away earlier. You have tried calling him and had text him many times asking his whereabouts but he hasn’t answered to any of them. You’re getting worried now. You’ve even tried calling J and Namjoon assuming he was with them but they haven’t gotten back to you either. 

Your phone screen is full with texts but all from Jimin and Taehyung. You’ve asked Jimin not to come over as you wanted to be left alone and wanted to talk to Jungkook alone whenever you get the chance. Surprisingly, Jimin has agreed. Still, he’s been sending you texts every five minutes asking how you’re doing. You ignore his texts not feeling like replying. You do the same to Taehyung. He is still apologizing with shit ton of stickers that’s making you annoyed now. 

You sigh, throwing your phone away and glance at the ceiling. You know you deserve it but it doesn’t make it any less hurt. Curling your arms around your knees you briefly close your eyes. Just to shoot them open again in panic when you hear the door lock clicking. You waste no time scrambling into your feet just as Jungkook walks in. More like stumbling in. A sharp breath fills your lungs while you watch with wide eyes as Jungkook sways forward, moving in a crooked line. 

He stops when his eyes land on you. His face beams. Earlier anger is nowhere to be seen. Almost as if the events that happened a mere hours ago was just a hallucination of your mind. Like he’s never left the house raging with anger. Creening with pain. Almost though. You could’ve believed it yourself if it wasn’t for the way he can’t even stand straight. How he’s ready to kiss the floor any minute. 

He’s drunk! So drunk! You’ve never seen him this drunk before.

“Jungkook.” You breathe. 

“Noona!” He exclaims. Walks toward you, bumping into anything solid in his way. “What are-are you do…ing up? You wa…ited for me?” Questions as he comes closer to you. The rotten smell of whisky greets your nostrils making you nauseous. You force it to go away. He grabs your face. “Aw, you’re so…so-goodto me, aren’t you? You shouldn’t have stayed—” A tiny hiccup interrupts him. He furrows as if he can physically see the annoying thing that’s interrupting him. “Bad for the ba—” Hiccup. “Fuck! Baby.” He nods. Agreeing with himself. 

You place your hands on top of him. “I was just worried. Where were you?” You will yourself not to cry. It’s hard though. Hard when he’s looking so wrecked. You’ve done this. 

“Drinking.” Jungkook gives you a lopsided smile. Then it vanishes. “Had to drink cause—” His voice cracks. Here you go again. You fail to keep your sight clear. It blurs immediately at his words. “Cuase I wa…s-sad…I was sad, Noona. Fuck!” He chokes. “God this hurts…” He rests his forehead against you. You don’t think it would ever be possible to feel this much pain again. Your heart crumples so bad that you’re simply helpless. Your heart aches for him. You never wanted this to happen. This is what you were scared of. Breaking Jeon Jungkook. But in the end it is inevitable. 

“I know,” You give his hands a squeeze. Emotions clogging your throat that even your head starts throbbing. “I know cause it hurts me too…” You blink, giving the tears a chance to fall down. 

“It does?” Jungkook asks. Gosh, it really sounds like a genuine question. Like he really believes you don’t give a fuck. 

“Of course, it does, Kookie. I–I don’t know what you’re thinking but…but…” You trail off, not knowing what to say. Where to begin. Should you even do this now? He’s drunk. Will he even remember this coming morning? “I’m sorry. I really am sorry, Jungkook,” Yet you do it anyway. No more excuses. You’ve already broken him. In the worst way possible. Jungkook shakes his head. You peer at his glassy eyes through your wet lashes. “I know I’m so fucking selfish. I’m so selfish to wanting to keep you—”

“No, don’t s-say that…” Jungkook interrupts you. Still shaking his head. “You’re not selfish.” 

There he’s doing it again!

“No, Jungkook—”

“You’re not, Noona. You know I didn’t mean it right? I didn’t mean it when I said that earlier. I was just hurt and mad,” He keeps resting his forehead against you. His whisky laced breath fanning against your face. “No. I was scared too. I was hurt you didn’t tell me before but I was more scared, Noona. Just like you.” His fingers press into your skin. Desperate. “I was scared you’ll just leave…fuck! Don’t leave please!” 

“For fuck’s sake Jungkook…” You sob. Loud. This is worse. Maybe you can take his harsh words. This? You hold on to his hands so hard. “Don’t say that…” 

“I…” Jungkook doesn’t care about what you’re saying. You’re not sure he’s even hearing you. “I’m so glad you didn’t tell me, Noona…” 

“What?” 

“So glad you kept it a secret because you were scared of losing me. It makes me happy. Makes me feel important to you. Important enough that you can’t lose me.”

“You are important, Kook. You are…” You can’t stop crying. Now he can’t either. His tears mingle with your own. 

“Makes it feel like you love me…” Jungkook sighs. Closes his eyes. “I’m glad you wanted to keep me. I don’t care in what way. A friend? It’s fine. I’ll take it. I’m just so glad you did it…So don’t say sorry for doing it. Don’t tell me you regret it.” 

Dear God, you don’t know what to do. Why is he like this? 

“Bu–but…” You start. 

“Please don’t. If you’re selfish then I’m worse. I should’ve confessed to you. But I didn’t. Not be-because I was scared of rejection. God, I knew you’ll reject me, but I was scared that it’ll make you go away from my life forever. So, don’t, Noona. Please don’t. ” Jungkook begs. Oh, it’s a sweet temptation. An easy way out. You’ve been taking easy way outs for too long though. He’s hurt and he wants an easy way out too. He’s drunk too. But you’re not. You have to choose the hard way. 

“But it’s so fucked up, Jungkook.” So you pull your shit together. Not trying to pull away from him but keeping your voice steady. “It’s not fair to you. You need to have your own life. Trust me I never enjoyed keeping you away from a part of your life. I didn’t. I just—I know you won’t believe me but I really do love you, Kookie—”

“Nononono….” Jungkook whimpers. Like a kicked puppy. “Don’t say it. Don’t say you love me, and then you love him more…I–I do-don’t wanna hear it. I don’t care, Noona. I don’t give a fuck. Fair or not. Just don’t leave. I don’t know how it’d be without you. I know I get mad sometimes and I give you a hard time…I know I got mad when you said you wanna have the baby. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry, baby…”

“Jungkook please don’t–”

“Jimin can live here too, you know.” He suddenly pulls away from you, sniffling. “I kn…ow I don’t like him but I can…um…tolerate him. Yeah.” A series of firm nods. “I totally can. Just don’t fuck in front of me, that would be awful. It’ll hurt so bad and, and—”

“Jungkook…Jungkook.. Hey!” You lace your fingers together. You have to ground him. He’s visibly losing it. “Listen to me, okay?” 

“No, I don’t wanna listen, I just want you to listen to me.” He brings both your hands up to his lips. You shudder at the feeling of his wet lips on your skin. A gentle kiss. Then another. “Just don’t leave. I don’t want to be alone. Promise I won’t bother you. I’ll just–just…” He keeps your hands pressed into his lips. Your body is trembling with sobs. You want to console him. You want someone to teach you how to do it. 

“Kookie…” You drag in a shaky breath. “You know I can’t do that.” 

“But you can. Why can’t you? Please...” He rests his forehead against your hands this time. You’re scared he’ll fall into his knees. “I don’t want anything else. You don’t have to love me. I know you’ll never love me.” Then he pauses. His eyes open wide as he regards you curiously. As if he just saw you standing here. “Will you?” Then blurts. “Would you love me if it wasn’t for Jimin? Would it have been me if you woke up in my bed? Would you–would you have chosen me if I got to you first? What if we meet in another life? Will you choose me?” 

You bite your lower lip to stop the trembling. His questions get you going still for a second. Oh, how selfish the questions are. How unfair? How rude? How are you ever gonna answer it? Because you can’t imagine a life without Jimin. This or in another. So, you just gape at Jungkook. Helpless. 

“C’mon…” Jungkook breaks. “Lie at least. Lie to me, Noona. Say you will!” 

“I’m so sorry!” You free your hands from his grip so you can throw them around his neck. “I’m so sorry, Kookie. I’m so fucking sorry.” He lets you do what you want. Simply hides his face in your neck, though it makes him bends down. 

“You’re so mean, Noona. So, fucking mean,” His tears wet your neck. Still you hold him close, tangling your fingers in his hair. 

“I know, I’m so sorry.” You say the only thing you know. 

“I don’t even know why I love you when you’re such a mean person.” Jungkook keeps sobbing into you. You sob harder than him. There is the word. Love. Finally an acknowledgment. You tighten your grip on his hair. Apologize again. Again and again. Until you feel dizzy. Until you can’t hold Jungkook in place anymore. Until he becomes too heavy. That’s only when you slowly withdraw from him, peering at his puffy face.

“Let’s talk in the morning, hm?” You wipe down his face with your palms. 

“Talk what? You’ll still move out.” 

“I have to.” 

“You don’t,” Jungkook’s tears freshen. You jump to catch them before they fall. 

“I do, Jungkook. I have to. I’m pregnant. We can’t keep living like this. You–” You gulp. “Can’t live like this. You need your own life.”

“You are my life.”

“You’ll move on. Trust me.” You caress his cheek, fighting yourself not to cry again. “Even though you don’t want to hear this, I do love you, Kookie…I love you in my own way. And I hate when you’re in pain. I want you to be happy.” Jungkook tries to protest but you don’t let him. “And I want to be a part of your life. I want to be able to walk in this house or anywhere else you chose to live like I do now. Even if you’ve found your person. I want to be their best friend. I–I want you to visit me even if you’ll fight with Jimin all the time. I don’t want to lose you. Don’t ever say you’re not important, Jungkook. You’re so important to me that I chose to hurt both of us just to keep you. But this—this isn’t gonna do us any good. I want you to be happy. I know you’re not in a shape to think things through right now. Let’s head to bed now, huh? Let’s talk in the morning?” You wait for his refusal. Surprisingly, though he nods. 

Just a nod and you find yourself taking care of Jungkook. He shows no protests as you help him change his clothes, brush his teeth, wash his face and tuck him in his bed. He doesn’t even say anything until the moment you’re finally about to leave him alone. 

“We’ll do all that, you know?” Jungkook peers at you through red rimmed, puffy eyes. He looks adorable tucked in the bed. Just his head visible to you. Then he ruins it by taking his hand out to hold yours. 

“Do what?” You ask softly. 

“I’ll keep being in your life. Even if you move out because I don’t know how to live without my alien.” You chuckle softly at that. “If you can’t stay with me here, then I’m unofficially moving in with you. Jimin can fuck off. I’m gonna keep loving you—” 

“Jung—” 

“No, Noona. You can’t do anything about it. It’s just my choice.”

“And that choice will hurt you.”

“I don’t care. I will love you until I can’t anymore. If I find someone else and move in, then that’d be my choice as well. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna cause you any problems. I’ll be just there. Promise me you’ll be there too. Like you always had. Call me Kookie. Fight with me. Laugh with me. Like we always do.” You just smile at him. Full of sorrow. Oh, your Jeon Jungkook. You don’t know how to make him understand. Your sweet Jungkook. Your stubborn Jungkook. 

“You’re an idiot.” You say with a cracked voice. 

“I know.” He smiles. That adorable smile. His pearly white teeth on display and his black eyes glinting. “And I’m gonna love this baby too.” He shifts in his position. Wiggling around like a worm until he manages to come closer to your stomach and he gently presses his hand to your tiny bump. Come to think of it, Jungkook has never petted your tummy. Hell, even Taehyung had. You never thought much of it but maybe it was because it hurt him. You blink back your tears, not wanting to cry again. You’re already exhausted as it is. “I was so jealous, Noona. So jealous that she wasn’t mine.” He caresses your tummy softly. So he thinks it's a girl too. You’re too hurt to argue though. So, you just place your hand atop his. “I was hurt. I still don’t want to let you go but if this is all I get, I’ll take it. Tell me you’ll be the same. Want you to promise, Noona.” 

You just nod. No promises. It’s too much. Feel easy but easy should mean selfish. 

“Please.” Jungkook apparently has no mercy on you. “Please, Noona. You said you love me.”

Oh, this stupid little…. “I promise. Happy?” You glare at him. He stays unphased by it. Just smiles. Happy. Nods. Then goes back to lay down on the bed normally. Closes his eyes looking contended. 

“I love you.” 

………………………..

You stare at particularly nothing as Jimin pats your hair gently with a towel. It’s been a week since the debacle with Jungkook. Staying true to his drunken rambles–which you expected he’d forgotten but he hadn’t, he started acting like you’re all good. But this time, you weren’t confused as to what he was doing. You knew. You knew he was hanging onto a thread of hope desperately. If he acts like everything normal, then you’d stay. Jungkook is an idiot. And surprisingly amazing. You don’t know how someone could persistently love another when they clearly know the ending will always be painful. He knows you’ll never be his. Still, he chooses to love you. 

Not fair!

Not fair!

Not fair at all!

“Spring Roll?” Jimin stops patting your wet hair. “What’s going inside your head? Still Jungkook?” 

You sigh. “I don’t feel good, Jimin. You know, it feels like I’m doing something wrong. I should move out quickly. I feel like I’m making it worse.” 

“He is not a kid, Lil. I’m pretty sure he knows what he’s doing.” 

“He is acting like nothing happened and that is scary.” 

“Maybe that’s how he copes. Don’t go so hard on him.” 

You turn your head around so fast that your neck cracks. “Gosh I still can’t wrap my head around this new Jimin. Like how come you’re so understanding and not jealous.” 

“I can be jealous when I want to, baby.” He crunches his eyes. Adorable. “But c’mon, I’m going to be a dad. I have to be mature.” 

“You mean act matured?” 

“Yes. Act matured.”

You both fall into a fit of giggles. But it lasts too short when Jimin’s phone starts ringing. 

“Shit, it’s Jin Hyung.” He lets you know as an excuse why he has to take it. You simply nod and turn back around. Jimin doing his best to dry your hair with one hand. You’ve been on apartment inspections today and spilled coffee all over you. Hence the shower. At his place. This won’t be his place soon. You’ll be moving out the moment you find the right place. You sigh and rest your head on his knee. You’re sitting on the floor. He is on the couch. “Yes, Hyung. You can go ahead with it.” Jimin says to Jin over the phone. You keep one ear on the conversation. 

The days have passed too fast. The week Liya gave you had already finished but nothing—abosolutely nothing has happened. Which is weird. Judging by the way Taehyung was panicking the day he came looking for you and accidentally spilled it all to Jungkook, you know the matter wasn’t as simple as Jimin let you know. Yet somehow, everything remains calm. The launch is still happening within the period of two and a half months. You try not to think too hard. Instead you’ve done your best to come up with an idea for a pitch which you have to hand over to Jin next week. You have a few more days to go but still got nothing. You’re fucked up. Maybe you should just give up. 

“No, Hyung. We have no time for that. Ask Hobi Hyung to go through with the premier.” Jimin’s tone gets a pitch higher. Your ears perk up. You’ve never heard him talking sternly to his friends. Argue? Yes. Yelling? Sometimes yes. But he’d never used his CEO voice on them. Well, you haven’t heard him use that voice ever. “I don’t care Hyung. We’re going through this.” Jimin’s hand pauses patting your hair dry. He sounds frustrated. “And what do you mean we still have no solid concept for visuals?” This time you freeze. Are they talking about the visuals you should be working on right now? “I need to see em next week. No–nope, that’s it. We’re doing this according to the plan.” 

Wow! You turn your head slightly to witness the frown between his brows. You’ve seen him work but not bossing around. Not this way at least. Not when he’s actually talking about work. And…isn’t it hot? Your teeth sink into your bottom lip unconsciously. It is hot. 

“Get it done, Hyung.” 

Damn. Fuck he is good at his job. You feel a tiny tingle spread across your body. 

“And make sure you organize that meeting.” 

Okay, fuck! You would let him fuck you for hours without no mercy. 

Holy hell, what’s wrong with you!

Maybe nothing. You’re just a pregnant woman who finds everything about your man attractive. Maybe that is completely normal. And maybe you should do something about it. A smirk cracks on your face as you slowly turn around. Going on to your knees between his legs. Jimin’s attention falls back on you. Just curious. Not suspecting. 

“Put on Taehyung for me.” He asks Jin as he raises a brow at you, questioning. You smile. Evil. Shake your head. “Tae—fuck!” Whatever he was going to say to Taehyung turns into an ugly curse when you lower your face to his crotch. Shamelessly. Your smirk widens when you hear Taehyung’s muffled voice from the other side of the call. You can’t hear what he says but he sure doesn’t sound happy. Jimin uses his free hand to pull your head up with your wet hair locks. “No, not you Tae. I just-just stubbed my toe.” He lies to his best friend and gives you a look. In warning. You huff and make your way to untangle your hair from his grip. You give him an annoyed look before going back to rub your face in his crotch,  a shiver runs through your body at how fast you feel him getting hard. “Yes.” Jimin says to Taehyung, his hand coming back to your hair. You keep rubbing your face on his hardened member, over his black sacks. 

“Ye-yes, Tae..You can.” He stutters. You raise your head a little bit to see his brows furrowed, eyes boring holes on your skull and mouth a little agape. You’re getting to him so well. Can’t blame you for wanting to do more. You keep your eyes on him as you start peppering kisses on his now hardened member, straining against the pants. “N-No…course not. Make sure you fi-fix that.” With a stutter he still manages to talk rationally. Well, you can’t have that now, can you? Determined to have him completely ruined, you press your face again into his crotch. “Fucking hell…” It works. Jimin curses softly under his breath. But of course Taehyung hears that too. This time you hear his response as Jimin pulls away the phone from his ear and brings it into his lap. 

“What the hell are you doing, dude? Stubbed your toe again?” 

You hide a smirk, raising your brow at Jimin as he stares at you in utter bewilderment. You sign at him to get back to his call. He puts it on the speaker

“No… spilled my coffee." Jimin lies through his teeth again. You go back to continue your work. Kisses. Rubs. Kisses. Rubs. Until you grow tired of it and decide it’s time to do more. You don’t wait for any permission as you start to unbutton his slacks. A fire running down your every nerve and making you bold as a devil. 

“Really?” Taehyung questions. Before Jimin can answer though Jin butts in. 

“I swear to god, if you’re having sex while on call with us Jimin—”

“You should turn on the camera and—” Taehyung cuts off Jin. 

“Oh shut the fuck up!” Jin bellows and you think you hear a smacking sound followed by an annoyed growl from Taehyung. “I’m going to kill you, Park Jimin.” Jin continues his earlier threat. 

“Hell, Hyung no one is having se—” You choose that exact moment where Jimin is trying to defend himself to free his pretty, already hardened cock out of his slacks and wrap your lips tightly around his tip. “Fuck! Sex…” Jimin’s hips buck up, thrusting into your mouth involuntarily. You use his cock in your mouth to muffle the desperate moan that slips out from you. 

“Okay! That’s it. I’m hanging up.” Jin shuffles around. 

You peer at Jimin, shaking your head. A silent request not to finish the call. Where’s the fun if they hang up. You want Jimin at your mercy, which happens very rarely. You want to see him struggle. Want to see him losing his senses. 

“Hyung, hyung…” Jimin jumps in, surprising you. After all, you don’t expect him to follow what you want him to do. It’s just easy. Hang up the call if he wants. You’ll continue this anyway. But he doesn’t. “Lil distracted me. Sorry about that. Where were we?” He falls back into the important business talk they were having. You smile around him. Jin protests for a few more seconds, thoroughly convinced that something fishy is going on. Yet after Jimin almost snaps at him they start to talk about the matter at hand ignoring Taehyung’s pestering. 

Or at least Jin does because every time you avert your eyes at Jimin he’s looking at you. Mouth hanging open. Breathing getting ragged. Teeth sinking on to his plump bottom lip so he wouldn’t make it obvious to his friends. One of his hands has come to tangle on your hair. He doesn’t push you, nor does he stop you. Just let you do whatever you want. So you do that. Swirling your tongue around his tip, taking him deep down your throat and keeping him warm and nice. Sucking him off like your life depends on it. Playing with his balls. Even pulling him out just so you can show him how soaked he is with your saliva. How he has ruined your face. Tears running down and spit pooling on your chin and trickling down. Just to put him back in your mouth after giving him hundred kitty licks all across his throbbing cock. You’re sure you can go forever like this. Not even the pain in your knees is registering in your mind. And every time Jimin has to answer a question or give his opinion you get this insane urge to do even better. 

“Half of the media are gonna be there because of your scandal, not because of the launch.” Jin mindlessly expresses as Jimin’s grip on your hair tightens as you start sucking on his tip. His head falls back on the back rest. He grits his teeth. “Jimin?” Jin suddenly yells, making you jump on your spot and Jimin sits straight back up. 

“What?” He bellows. Completely disoriented. 

“This is really suspicious.” Taehyng butts in again. “Very unlike the Park Jimin I know. I mean the CEO Park Jimin. The Park Jimin I knew back on college however—” 

“Shut up Tae! I was listening.” Jimin snaps. 

“Okay, what did I tell you just now?” Jin rustles some papers on the other side of the call, making it annoyingly loud. 

“That people are going to be there because of my scandal.” Jimin’s eyes fall back on you. You haven’t pulled him out of your mouth yet. And he’s still hard as a steel. He gives you a look that’s clearly asking or begging you to keep going. So, you do. This time harder. Sucking him into your mouth. Jimin bucks his hips up, hissing slightly. “Which is good, Hyung. Sometimes, negative publicity can bring money too.” He manages to say to Jin at the same time. You stop sucking him momentarily. Hurt. Disappointed. You thought you had him completely at your mercy. Thought he was losing his mind inside your mouth. But he was listening to Jin? And he can think coherently?

Now, you absolutely can’t have that. You’ll have to change it. Change is exactly what you do. You fall back to sucking him. Into a familiar rhythm. Reading every expression of his like a book. Even a tiny twitch of his hips and a gentle tug on your hair. You know him. Know when is the exact time you got him to the verge of eruption. So, you work hard to take him there. Slurpring on his twitching cock. Feeling him starting to lose control. Then, just as he’s about to shoot that load in your throat, you pull out. 

Completely. Just a strand of saliva connecting your lips to his cock. Jimin’s entire body goes rigid for a second. Then he closes his eyes in pure agony. The hand he kept on your hair immediately goes to warp around his cock. Yet he doesn’t jerk him off, just squeeze himself  before opening his eyes, glancing at you. Eyes which are glassy. Beautiful. Looks like sin. Your Park Jimin. 

You raise a cocky brow at him before standing up. He stares at you in pure bewilderment. Jin and Taehyung are still mindlessly talking about hundred different ways how launch is going to get fucked up. Jimin isn’t listening to any of that anymore. Gaping at you like a kid who just got his favourite toy snatched away from him. You smirk. Take a step back. Then another. And another. Until the back of your knees meet the arm chair across the couch. That’s when you stop and implement your next plan. You grab the hem of your T-shirt, which is originally his but you’ve claimed it as yours. You take the advantage of having nothing underneath the piece of cotton and just pull it over your head, revealing your naked body. Tiny baby bump and all. 

It should be funny how his eyes darken and breath hitches even though he’s seen you naked countless times by now. Even in non sexual contexts. Yet it happens. Park Jimin almost gets to his feet, as if he just got bewitched. Lost all damn control and forgot his surroundings. Like an animal driven by instincts. The good thing though, you are the one who bewitched him. You’re the one who casted the spell so you know how to control it. You’re the one who holds the leash of that animal. So, just a look from you stops him from moving. He sits still. Eyes burning holes on your naked figure as you sit back on the arm chair. 

“We need to make sure that they…” 

Jin’s voice flows monotonously around the living room, not reaching either of you. Just cutting through the air that’s filled with anticipation. You keep your eyes on Jimin as you sit comfortably and slowly start to spread your legs. Each one thrown over the arm rest. Jimin closes his eyes slightly before reopening them so hastily as if he can’t bear to miss a second of this moment. With a slight tug in a corner of your mouth, you dip your hand between your legs. From there you waste no more time as you start to swirl your fingers over your clit. Moving them over your slit, spreading the wetness all over. Drawing figure eights and doing your utmost best to keep any noises at bay. Your eyes are still on Jimin. Never leaving his fiery gaze. He has started to pump himself. Almost as if he’s doing it even without his own knowledge. As if he doesn’t know what he’s doing. 

Great! Just what you wanted. So, you take it up a step more. You sneak your middle finger inside your dripping entrance. Gasping. And Jimin breaks down. His pretense forgotten.  

“Fucking hell!” He grabs his phone. “I’ll call you later guys.” Hangs up the call. Cutting down Taehyung who was probably saying something important. Throws away the phone. The fire in his eyes has reached to a level that it has made his eyes pitch black. The needy look on his face turned into a feverish level. Now he truly looks like an animal. Yet instead of an obedient one, this one might lash upon you anytime. You know you pushed a button too far. So the leash you held drops from your hands. He picks it up. “Well, why did you stop?” Jimin raises a brow, making you realize that you have, indeed, stopped whatever you’ve been doing. The finger you pushed inside is just resting there. “Keep going, Love. I was enjoying the show.” Jimin returns to pumping his cock again. You do the same. Pumping your finger inside you. Legs still spread wide, giving him a perfect view of your dripping pussy. 

“Make it two fingers.” Jimin orders, squeezing his shaft. “Stretch it for me, Love.” Adds. Oh, you’ve lost control of the situation completely. Silly of you to even think that it’d work. You’re just a puddle under his gaze. It’s with a shudder that you comply with him. You force your index finger inside you together with the middle. “Like that…such a good girl for me, aren’t you, baby?” Jimin picks up his pace. “Wanna cum like this?” Asks as he does. “Watching each other?” 

You moan in answer, not knowing what you want. It’d be hot. Cuming while watching him jerk off to you. But then you want him to do more. Touch. Play. Fuck. Yeah definitely that. Fuck you. You need it. “Wa-want you…” You croak. Such a flip from your earlier behavior. Jimin chuckles. 

“Yeah? How do you want me?” 

“In-inside me.” You pump your fingers faster. Trying to scratch an itch that you can’t reach. 

“Add a third finger.” Jimin barks out, ignoring your request. You just do as he says without any further questions. 

“Please!” Your back arches. Yet even with three fingers still you seem incapable of reaching what you want. 

“You want me inside you?” Jimin slows down the speed he’s playing with his cock. “You need to be more specific than that, baby. What exactly do you need inside you? My fingers? Tongue?” He stops touching his cock. 

“Cock!” You gasp, clenching around your own fingers. Shameless. Embarrassingly so. Yet you’ve stopped caring a long time ago. Jimin’s smirk widens. He gets to his feet slowly. In the grace of the predator reaching its prey. As if scared of the upcoming attack and wanting to keep the beast entertained, you keep moving your fingers inside you relentlessly. Jimin stops once he reaches you. Bends down, placing his hands near your calves on the armrests. 

“Good girl!” Mumbles. Just an inch away from your face. “Using your words.” He brings a hand to cradle your cheek. Then he drops the same hand to your inner thighs. “So good for me.” Keep mumbling. His breath fanning your lips. A silent invitation for you to crush them against him.  Only to be failed when he denies you by titling his head back. “Patience.” Clicks his tongue, eyes momentarily dropping down to see the way three fingers of you keep disappearing inside you. “How do you want my cock, Lil? Here? Want me to just fuck you?” Then asks arrogantly. 

“What do you ha-have– fuck– in your  mind?” You do your best to soothe the undying fire inside you. This time he gifts you with a peck. 

“Hmmm…let’s see…I have an unfulfilled promise I made to you.” He rubs soothing–which are doing exactly opposite of soothing–circles on your inner thigh. You watch him expectantly, brows furrowed. “So, I have an image of feeding you my cum in my mind.” You shiver, almost scratching that itch all by yourself. Just at his words. Almost though. What makes you moan and pull your fingers out before you cum is what leaves his mouth next. “With my mouth.” 

“Holy fuck, Jimin!” You pull your fingers out immediately, not wanting to just cum by yourself. 

“You like that?” Jimin replaces your fingers. Just graze his forefinger over your sensitive clit, making you shiver. Tremble. All you can muster is a croaked cry. “That a yes?” He asks again. “Words, Princess. You know I need words.”

“Ye—yes….” You rest your forehead against him. “God! Fuck yes…” Breathe out. 

“Good!” He exclaims, flicking his finger back and forth on your nub. “Want me to take you here? Or…” A peck to your lips. “Shall we try something new?” 

“New?” You inquire, equally excited and impatient. Honestly, you don’t care. Would be just glad even if he takes you right then. 

“Want me to tie you up?” Jimin pulls away from you, a teasing smirk adorning his lips. Your breath hitches. Excitement and arousal courses through your veins like liquid fire, rendering you speechless and just gasping. You haven’t tried that before. Of course you haven’t, you had a sex life that was drier than Sahara. Jimin was the first one who had awakened the depraved beast inside you. You don’t know if getting tied down is your thing. But you’ll never know unless you don’t try. Judging by the way your empty hole is clenching around nothing and your body is in literal ablaze, you guess the answer would be a loud yes. You’re gonna like it. And you can’t wait. 

“Please…” You hold on to his wrist. Dearly. As if that would help you find your sanity. Jimin’s smirk morphs into a wide grin. Still amused. Still teasing. 

“Good girl! Get up!” 

……………………..

Jimin secures the silk tie around your wrists. One corner around your wrists and the other on the bed post, leaving you in an awkward angle on the bed but you don’t mind that a bit. Too occupied by the hunger inside you. Hunger for him. Hunger that’s insatiable. Jimin works briskly as he finishes the last knot. He gives a tug at the tie making sure that it’s secured tightly and you have no escape. 

“Try moving.” He orders. You follow that without a blink, tugging at the restraints keeping you tied to the bed. You only manage to move your hands just an inch before the silk garment stops you. Jimin hums in satisfaction. “We’ll leave your legs untied huh?” He creates space between your bodies so he could rub your legs, already parted and bent for him. You nod absentmindedly. Whatever he wants, you’ll be happy with that. “Do you want it rough?” He asks again, completely moving away from you and making you mourn the loss of his warmth. He starts stripping. Removing his clothes one by one. You roam your hungry gaze over his chiseled abs, like you’re seeing him naked for the first time. Will he ever stop making you feel amazed? No. He won’t. You’ll always be a little puddle whenever you’re with him. You’ll always look up at him with wonder in your eyes. “Lil?” Jimin calls out, making you snap your eyes to his face from his abs. 

You moan in answer. No longer registering anything he’s saying but burning in and out. The fact that you’re tied up and at his mercy is doing something dangerous to your body. Or maybe it’s just him. You’ve always been crazy around him. Whatever the reason is you’re already impatient, your desire already pooling between your legs like a broken faucet. Jimin stops removing his clothes for a second and eyes you in wonder. “Holy fuck, you’re already cock drunk. I haven’t even done anything yet.” He mumbles in awe. 

Wrong, he’s done a lot of things to you. You cry out in need. “Hurry…please…” The restraints dig at your skin as you try to move your hands. Fail. Oh, this is going to be fun. 

“Yeah?” Jimin steps out of his pants, then boxers, standing in front of you in all his glory. “You’ll get it, Princess. But I want to know if you’d want it rough?” 

“I always love it rough.” You force yourself to forget the throb of your clit and pay attention. 

Jimin chuckles. Climbs up on the bed, settling himself back between your thighs. “What’s our safe word?” Asks instead of acknowledging your comment. Another moan slips through you before you answer him. 

“R-red?” 

“Good girl!” Jimin places his weight on one arm, using the other to align his throbbing cock with your soppy entrance. “And you’ll use it if it gets too much, yeah?” Questions again, his eyes boring into yours as he nudges his length against your hole. You nod furiously, once again all the senses leaving your mind. Anticipation bubbling up inside you like a volcano. All you can focus on is the way he is about to enter you. The little teasing nudges he’s giving you. Making you so impatient that your hips start trying to get more friction by bucking up. In vain of course. Jimin curses slowly. “So fucking needy for me.” He grits. Yet presses his dick inside you a little. 

“Yes! Please… more.. Jimin!” Your back arches even at that tiniest of friction. 

“Dammit! Don’t do that,” Jimin forces more of him inside you. Stretching you. His length dragging across your sensitive walls. “I’ll fucking lose it, Lil. Don’t wanna hurt you.” 

“You’ll–ne–never hurt me anyway.” You stare at his face, hips still involuntarily trying to get more of him. Trying to get him to be buried deeper inside you. Jimin suddenly stops. His hips still. You look at him in alert as he just gapes at you. The dark flurry of lust in his eyes momentarily fading away and leaving a softness that’s nothing but just pure adoration. He smiles softly. 

“Yeah.. never…” He admits softly. Then with a shuddering breath pushes his hips forward, bottoming out inside you fully. A sound torn between a moan and a scream escapes you as your arms tugs at the silk tie harshly. 

“Fuck, Jimin!” You gasp, looking  at his eyes which have gone back to a dark mist of lust. 

“Planing to do just that.” He mostly mumbles to himself before giving you a shallow thrust. “Like that? You want me to fuck you like that?” Asks in a such hoarse voice that your eyes almost roll to the back of your head. 

“Yes, yes, yes…” You whimper mindlessly. “Harder.” 

“Harder? Such a needy slut, baby. Aren’t you? A needy slut for me?” He picks up speed. “Insatiable.” You don’t answer him, getting lost in the pleasure with every thrust. With every graze of his tip over your soft spot. You only moan. Moan and moan. Only a partial word of pleas and begs leaving you as Jimin slowly but surely starts to pound into you. Soon pushing your legs higher up, bending you almost in half. Going to his knees so he could fuck you harder. Deeper. Reaching spots that leave you reeling. Crying. 

“Fuck, no…god…” You babble. Hands already aching to be released. To touch him. Feel him. “Wanna touch you. Wanna touch you! Please, please, please…” You try your best to get them free, only causing the tie to dig deeper into your wrists. 

“Too bad, baby. You’re not supposed to.” Jimin croaks. “You’re supposed to just take it, hm.” He reaches one hand to your face. Cupping your face and squeezing your cheeks. “You’re supposed to be my good slut and take it.” Gives your face a not so gentle shake. “Take it, yeah? Be good. Keep your eyes open. On me.” Commands. Starts driving into you even harder if it’s possible. “And you’re supposed to cum hard on my cock. Will you do that for me? Cum hard for me?” 

Even those words are enough to make you do just that. You clench around him tightly, a coil forming and tightening inside your lower abdomen rapidly. 

“Yes..Fuck, yes. So close.” You buck your hips desperately, not being able to control the damn need inside you. 

“Cum, baby. Cream my cock.” Jimin takes his hand back just to pinch your clit. “Cum like a good slut for me. Go on… fucking hell, you’re so good for me. Cum for me, princess.” Starts rubbing your bundle of nerves in time with his brutal thrusts. “You have no idea how good you feel, Lil. C’mon, need you to soak my cock. Cum!” 

Like that, your body listens to him like always. You go taut for a split second as that coil inside you snaps. Then there comes the violent shudders that get your body trembling like a leaf caught in the wind. Your back arches and leaves the bed like a bow. Your scream gets tangled in your throat making it a silent cry. You lose the sense of reality. White appears behind your eyelids as your body continues to tremble, tremble, and tremble. Jimin drags that tremble out as much as possible. Pounding into you. Then rocking into you. Until you finally drive off that orgasm that leaves you breathless and aching. 

“You good?” He asks as he gently moves in and out of you. You nod. In a complete haze. Jimin smirks. “Want more?” Asks but doesn’t wait for any answers. Even before you can catch your breath from the mind blowing orgasm, he starts to thrust into you harder again. 

“Jimin…fuck…Ji–” You gasp, raising you head to get a look at where he’s meeting your body. The sensitivity makes your thighs jerk. You need a minute. To breathe fully. For your body to recover. He doesn’t give you that. And in your pleasure induced mind, you fail to word that out properly. Even your tongue got tied. “Holy fu–fu…ck, Jimin…can’t…” That’s all that leaves your lips. Your body writhing and wrists aching painfully as you tug at the silk tie still keeping them bound above your head. 

“Yes you can!” Jimin pulls out almost all the way out before slamming back inside you, making you reel and cry out. “You're gonna take me, baby. Gonna take me like the good slut you are.” He does that again. Pulling out slowly then slamming back in. 

“Please!” You sob. 

“Please what?” Jimin does that again. Again. And again. “Words, baby, words. Tell me what you need? Want me to stop?” He starts pounding into you again. With no mercy at all. Your sobs turn into gasps. For a second you think you want him to stop but then soon that fire is building up inside you again. 

You don’t want him to stop. 

Fuck, it’s too much.

You will cum again.

Maybe, he should stop. 

No, no, no. It would be such a shame to stop. 

But you can’t take it. But then…

“Fuck!” You scream yet again as your second orgasm hits you out of nowhere. This one lasts longer than the previous. 

“There you go, baby. Like that…yeah…good girl…such a good girl for me…” Jimin coaxes you. His voice is sickly sweet. It pours over you like molten lava. “You’ll give me one more huh, princess? C’mon!” Jimin spreads your trembling legs wider. You know he would’ve changed your position if it wasn’t for the fact that your hands are tied up. Maybe he’s too greedy. Too greedy to have you any other way. The look on his face is proof enough that you sprawled out beneath him, hands tied, is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. “Dammit you’re so gorgeous. Give me one more baby.” 

“No…” You wail. The rigorous movements of your hands turn into a weak struggle. It’s starting to hurt now. Your wrists. Your shoulders. Upper arms. Yet you would give him all the much he needs. You’d cum for him again and again. Give any amount of orgasms he demands if he keeps looking at you like that. Like you’re the only star in a black sky. Like you’re the only flower in a barren land. Like he can’t get enough. You love it when he can’t get enough. When he demands more and more. You need a minute though. Too sensitive to take another vicious orgasm again. Just a minute… 

Jimin groans as he holds on to your thighs, fucking into you with all he has. His eyes snap toward your sloppy cunt, taking his cock despite the sensitivity. “You can, baby… fuck, I want you to.” He squeezes his eyes shut as though looking for strength. His words cause your body to reignite the fire of lust within. You grit your teeth willing yourself to battle the sensitivity. 

It’s not that you have to force yourself, however. Jimin would never do that. You have a safe word after all. He said he wanted you to use it earlier. And you know the moment your lips would curl around the letter ‘r’, he’d stop. Entirely. Not going to happen tonight. In a sick way you love how he’s demanding more. Pushing you more. Further and further. Like he’s curious to know when you’d snap. Maybe you are too. Curious. To know where you’ll draw the line. 

Certainly not here. Not as you begin to raise your hips to meet his thrusts again. Your entire body begins to chase another high. Insatiable. The fire inside you is burning too hot. Seeking more. You’re starting to get tunnel vision at this rate. The room around you fading away into a blurry black as the only thing that remains is him. Park Jimin. Your Park Jimin. And you need more of him. Everything. It’s like in a dream how you wide open your mouth, tongue out. Jimin catches your movement. His eyes go wide for a second before he loses the threads of his control. Finally. No longer being able to pull the strings but becoming a puppet himself. 

“Fucking hell, you’re going to kill me, baby. Fuck, I’m gonna fucking explode.” He bends down, pulling your legs over his shoulders. Takes a minute gaping at your eyes and the open mouth. Then with another growl lets down a trail of spit out of his mouth into yours directly. You moan as you swallow everything down and reopen your mouth to show him that you’ve been a good girl. Jimin whimpers. Doing it again. “Yeah like that… swallow princess. You’re so good to me. So tight… squeeze my cock baby. Like that.” Filthy praises pour out of his lips. He spits on your mouth again and this time forcing that third orgasm through you. 

It’s as if you’ve lost consciousness. A minute of blackening out because when the trembles and the blinding pleasure waves out of your body, and you find the ability to see things, Jimin has changed positions. He’s completely hovering above you now. Hell you’ve even locked him in place with your legs wrapped around his waist. He bores into your eyes the moment you open them. His eyes are glossy. Like he’s drugged. Brows furrowed. Beautiful. Always ethereal. Your fingers itch to caress his cheek. Lips. Tangle in his blonde locks. 

“Jimin…” You whine, as he keeps fucking into you. The wet sounds of him meeting you, echoing inside the room so loudly. 

“Dammit, baby… you’re so pretty.” Jimin says in answer to your whine. He’s being mindful not to crush you under his weight. “You did so good for me, Lil. I’m close. Hold on for me.” 

“Wanna—please…touch you…” You babble.

“Not yet.” Jimin shifts his weight into one arm and uses the other to grab your cheeks. “So close baby. Keep your eyes on me.” His hips snap against you relentlessly. “You’re gorgeous, Love. Fuck, you are.” He’s babbling too. Mindlessly mumbling as his eyes are lost in yours. “I love you, you know. Goddammit I love you so fucking much.” Jimin tilts his face, proceeding to kiss the tears rolling on your cheeks, making you realize that you’re crying. Not new. You’ve cried because of the intense pleasure before though apparently it doesn’t make it any less hot for Jimin. He whimpers, tasting your tears. “Baby.” Another moan teared between a growl.

“I know.” You croak. “I love you more.” 

“Say it again.” 

“I love you so damn much, Jimin.” You wrap your legs tighter around him, wanting him as close as possible. Trying to make up for the fact that you can’t touch him. Despite the three mind blowing orgasms you had, the desperation for him is getting stronger and stronger. You lift your head up so you could hide it in his neck, peppering kisses. Inhaling him. He robs you of that chance when he goes back to stare into your eyes. His eyes sparkle. Hundred different emotions swirling in them. You try to read them. For a second you think you see yearning. Longing. Or maybe is that fear? For what though? So you conclude it’s just affection. Affection that he can’t express enough through his words. 

“You have no idea, Lil. You have no fucking idea.” He mumbles. Just mindless babbling. His rhythm is getting faltered, letting you know that he’s about to lose it. 

“I do.” You moan though you don’t know what he’s referring to. Love? You don’t care anyway. You think you do know. He smiles. Soft. So in fond. 

“Yeah? You do?” Asks but doesn’t wait for another confirmation. Simply focuses on thrusting into you as you fight your sensitivity. “So close, baby. Gonna cum.” 

“Please.” You beg, bucking your hips up to meet his thrusts. Feeling another coil twisting inside your guts with every irregular thrusts. He’s close. So is he making you close again. “Please…shit please.” 

“Yes..fuck! There…baby. I’m almost…the—” Jimin’s words get lost in between his clenched teeth as he finally slams inside you one last time. A warmth spreads across your inside just as another tingle gets hold of your body. You arch your body, pressing your chest more and more into him as Jimin continues to spill inside you. His cock twitching. It’s after what feels like hours when you finally fall back into the bed, limp and spent. Jimin stays on top of you for a few seconds to catch his breathing, being mindful not to crush you before reaching to the knot that holds you tied to the bed post. With one expert tug he loosens the tie. A groan escapes you as you move your hands down feeling as if they’re no longer a part of your body but a foreign weight that you don’t know how to use. 

“You okay?” Jimin withdraws from you to take in your expression and one of his hands starts rubbing your shoulder. You hum in reply. Not being completely lucid yet. “Lil? Baby?” Jimin asks again. You watch the way he furrows in concern. 

“Yes, Park. I’m–” You take a second then giggle. “I”m great.” Creases of worry disappear from his face following your giggle. 

“I can see that now.” Jimin remarks as he goes into his knees again, pulling out of you and spreading your legs wider to feast on the sight of you battered cunt on display. You let out a half hearted protest of embarrassment which he disregards. His still glossy eyes darken again. “Oh, fuck.” He curses softly. Still panting. Still red in the face. “You look fucking gorgeous." He comments so casually and so seriously as if he’s not staring at your most intimate area that you almost shut your legs close. 

“Jimin!” You whine in complaint.

“What?” He raises a brow at you. “You are.” Says and goes back to staring at your pussy. You can feel the wetness seeping out of you. “Squeeze.” He orders. You look at him with wide eyes. He takes one look at your confused face. “Squeeze all the cum out baby, I have to feed you them, don’t I?” The most devious kind of smirk pulls on his lips as he proceeds to lower his face toward your spent core. Your first instincts are to protest and to say that you’ve changed your mind but you’re already too late as Jimin lunges at you without wasting another second. His tongue laps at you once before he wraps his lips around your clit then drags his mouth down and slurps in. Loudly. So loud that the noise travels directly from your ears to your core, reigniting that fire. 

“Fuck, Jimin.” You writhe in your spot as Jimin pulls away from your sensitive pussy, coming to hover your figure once more. His lips sealed shut. Eyes sparkling with mischief. The fire coils inside you once more, making you gasp, involuntarily open your mouth. He steals that opportunity to press his lips into yours. It’s just a peck at first. Almost innocent. Then he parts his lips, pushing his tongue inside your mouth together with the remnants in his mouth. The salty taste of his cum invades your taste buds in an instant, making you moan like bitch in heat. Despite the fact that you just came too many times and he fucked the senses out of you. 

Jimin, however, seems utterly pleased with your reaction as he withdraws and watches you with eyes full of a gleam that you can’t decide whether to be lust or exhaustion. “Good girl!” He praises for the millionth time. “Want more?” Asks. You only manage to nod before he’s back between your legs. Lips curling around your entrance. Slurping. Then coming back to feed you everything. Then going back. You whimper as he almost dips his head back in your still dripping core when a vibration right next to your ear makes him pause.  You turn your head to find his phone, which somehow has found its way to the bed ringing. Taehyung’s name flashing on the screen. 

“It’s Tae.” You let Jimin know. 

“Ignore it.” He clicks his tongue, proceeding to continue his work but the ringing ends and a message pops up. Then another. And another. And more and more. 

“What the fuck,” You curse in annoyance as you grab the phone just as it starts ringing again. “Maybe it’s urgent.” You interrupt Jimin by holding his phone toward him. 

“For fuck’s sake!” Jimin sits back, a scowl adorning his face. Yet he answers the phone, putting it on speaker again. “Busy Tae, I’ll call you—”

“Will you fucking turn on the goddamn news.” Taehyung doesn’t allow Jimin’s words to leave his mouth properly. You sit back slowly. Wearing a similar kind of scowl to Jimin but for entirely different reasons. The worry in Taehyung’s voice is prominent. Something isn’t right. 

“What? Why?” Jimin questions back. This time not so annoyed but worried and intrigued. 

“You’re asking why?” Taehyung barks from the other side of the line. “We’re fucked, Jimin. That’s why. Sent you the link. Check it out.” 

Oh, you don’t like links. You don’t like when someone is talking about a link this worriedly. Jimin quietly opens the message app and locates the said link. He seems worried though calm compared to how Taehyung is obviously losing his shit. You scoot closer to him to peer at his phone screen. Jimin clicks on the hideous looking jumble of words. 

Oh, please don’t be another video of you and Jimin having sex.

You bunch up your fists without realizing it as the link opens into a webpage. 

Kim Group Chairman Accused in Illegal Weapons Investigation

Kim? As in Liya’s father?

“No. Fuck, fuck what? How?” Jimin mumbles as he skims through the article. Then he opens a new tab to search for it himself. Typing frantically the name Kim and Kim group. You gape at it. Lost. Utterly completely lost. Your brain is falling to catch up on what’s happening. 

“My question exactly?” This time it’s Hoseok’s voice that comes through. “I’m guessing it wasn’t you.” Hoseok adds.

“Course not.” Jimin mumbles but this time less frantically. Going through one article after another. Fast forwarding through videos. You watch as the surprise and the confusion on his face ease a little. As if he remembers something. 

“Then who the hell—how—I mean only we knew.” Jin bellows over the line too, almost making you flinch. You don’t understand what’s happening. But for one thing, you know it’s not good. An illegal weapon dealing? Mr. Kim? You don’t think you’ve seen the right thing. 

“What about Joon?” Teahyung’s voice comes through the phone again. And you vaguely hear Hoseok practically snaps at him for even thinking that. You don’t pay attention to the ruckus happening on the other side of the line. You just watch Jimin. You might not know the full disclosure. It feels like reading a book without the first pages. Simply you can’t grasp the full idea of it. Of Mr. Kim getting tangled in an illegal business. Or him going down. Looks like it’s what is happening, though. Considering all the articles Jimin just skimmed through. All the news he just watched. Kim is doomed. That means….

They’re doomed too. 

The new launch is doomed.

R.U.N is doomed. 

With Mr. Kim, Jimin are doomed as well. 

You feel your heart squeeze painfully. It’s as if you’ve been trapped in a fever dream and the reality suddenly crashes in. A shudder—this time from a strange fear, runs through your body at the same time Jimin slowly whispers. “Liya.” He says almost inaudibly. For a second you think no one heard him but there comes Jin’s voice. 

“What did you say?” He inquires with no warmth in his voice. 

“I–um–listen, Hyung, I didn’t think she’d…” Jimin scrambles into his feet, completely disregarding the fact that he’s still butt naked. His voice almost doesn't reach your ears as he starts pacing around. “I just wanted to get her out of Lil’s back, I…” 

What? 

In that half a second the fever dream comes back to you. The rest of the world fades away as you watch Jimin. He becomes the only thing in your world. Not in a good way though. Instead of seeing his ethereal beauty, this time you see the pain. Fear. Guilt. Worry. As if you’ve suddenly been given a super vision to zero on in every little detail. You see the panic in his eyes. See the lines of worry.  See a man who’s about to crumble down. Not your Park Jimin. And did he say he did—whatever he did—to make sure Liya doesn’t threaten you anymore? 

So, that’s why you didn’t hear from her again. Why everything remained calm. This is how he said he’d take care of it? Be prepared? You still don’t know what’s actually happened. Have no idea how you’ve got to this point. But clearly all these things are happening because of you. 

Fuck, you feel nauseous. 

“So you fucking gave her the only bargaining chip we had?” Someone yells through the phone. 

Fuck, you feel like your head is spinning. 

Jimin is trying to talk through his friends' voices. Disappointed, raged, voices full of disbelief. Jimin looks wrecked. You’re certain you can see his hands trembling. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Your Jimin is about to crumble down. All because of you. And the worst part? There’s nothing you could do to help. You’re helpless. You’re only good for causing problems. That’s what you’ve been doing ever since you came into this world. Causing problems to Jimin. Ruining his life. And dragging everyone else with him. There’s not a single soul that’s happy anymore. Jimin. Liya. Jungkook. Taehyung. Jin. Hoseok. Seoyeon. You… Not a single person. You ruined everything. All because you are too greedy. You have been warned multiple times. To let go. Do the right thing. Take that step back and let these people live their lives peacefully. But no. You had to ruin it. You thought the punishment for being too greedy would be you turning into dust. Maybe that’s not the case after all. Maybe, this is a better punishment. 

Seeing Jimin get ruined. In front of your very eyes but not being able to do a damn about it. Maybe this is your real punishment. 

Yes. 

Punishments.

..................................................................................................................................

a/n- Leave a note if you enjoyed this one!

..............................................................................................................................

Taglist - @chimmy-licious @graydolan12 @smoljimjim @likemeforme @sugas-baby-girl @canarystwin @jkayy @floboo6 @sunshinenmidnight @fiddlebiddls @unlikelycheesecakeenthusiast @mar-lo-pap @angelicsmilesworld @jimincrystal @datspjm @shakes0peare @butterymin @angellekookie @futuristicenemychaos @minijagiya @anumita-2007 @joulekanitz @llallaaa @fancypeacepersona @annyeongbitch7 @yunki-yunki-yunki @ilovebtsstuff

[zarvasace]

Hi @skyward-floored I am ALSO now thinking about DIAU Hyrule. I can’t help it, you gave me brain worms.

[lizardzap]

Never take a cosmology course at IAU, worst mistake of my life😭

This is digital art I can't be assed to draw on paper rn. But I used to do a lot of highlighter sketches several years ago and wanted to try and recreate that look. I consulted my old notes for this one. It felt like putting my hand on a hot stove.

[redshift-starfire]

Clearing up some stuff about Pluto cause apparently we're talking about this and I keep seeing a lot of uninformed or misinformed takes

The IAU decision to create the dwarf planet classification (and Pluto's "demotion" to it) was not done because there's some sort of fundamental physical attribute that discreetly differentiates a dwarf planet from a planet. It is an arbitrary classification, much like how most astronomical objects (and most things in science but y'all aren't ready for that conversation) are organized

Physically speaking, there's really not that much that differentiates Pluto, Haumea, Eris, Sedna, etc. from asteroids and our sacred eight planets. In the end they're all rocks in the sky. The IAU came together and drew a line somewhere and drawing a line is always going to piss some people off

All this is to say a planet is a social construct

[lizardzapz]

I wanna know more about your human version of "them" so here are asks for the two!

Were there any rumors about them being together? If yes, how will both deal with it?

Is there any point of their relationship that one of them considered that they should actually stop? (Like, bringing the rela. to a stop) Why if yes?

So I saw you tagged them with the "Tch you idiot" (…you know the one) meme, and I wonder if it's actually a uh, plot point, when does it happen? Because I can totally see it make sense either at the beginning when: one of them manipulates the other into believing that they're seen and understood or later when: everything is a shitshow and suddenly one of them realizes that maybe they don't actually want a shitshow to happen between them. It could be entirely something else, I'm just sharing my speculations! :face_holding_back_tears:

Have (or will they) they ever cried (genuinely) in front of each other? (might get a no but I'll just take a shot in the dark)

I think at one point they've thought "Ohhhh shit I really did/ say that to the other person. Damn." but let's put that aside. What gives them the motivation to keep worsening each other after everything? That's it for today! Thank you in advance for letting us understand more about Jamie and Eddie! (and not me running out of things to ask. Fuckkk) P/S: I will try to come up with more specific questions next time for each of 'em I promise :sob:

YAY YIPPEE These questions are plenty specific I am so happy to ramble about them. Sometimes I don't realize how much lore I haven't shared yet. I really should write it all down somewhere.

They try really hard to keep plausible deniability so rumors didn't really start until later.😋 Chandra is all up in their business while Liem kind of looks the other way. Eddie cares more about keeping up appearances actually. And it would be a really bad look for the chair to be hooking up with the new guy... Jamie dgaf but pretends to be clueless about any rumors.

They are constantly trying to stop and it's NOT WORKING. They are so codependent on each other. I have some ideas of how it could end and they're all angsty.

Yes at some point they do emotionally open up to each other. For all his show Jamie is a really anxious and high strung person that overreacts to everything. And she doesn't really have anyone else to rely on.

Adding onto that: Jamie cries all the time for dramatic effect. But I think the first time he cries in front of Eddie is a really vulnerable moment. And it does show that Eddie actually cares about her underneath the act he puts on.

Eddie’s animosity toward Jamie is mostly fueled by jealousy and is entirely one-sided. Jamie just thinks it's fun to piss him off, he doesn't actually hate him or anything. She is just ragebaiting because getting insulted is new and exciting and no one else has the guts to do it. Actually if Ed were just polite to her from the start they would have zero chemistry. Can you imagine that. BOOOOOORING. That being said, I think after a couple years they get tired of this game and chill out a bit.

At this point I feel they are so far removed from their origins... I am just playing with my touys. My feelings about the actual telescopes are different but it's fun to make characters and play pretend. Thank you for the ask :D

[moonlit-floruit]

A list of stars' names I think are neat

AKA: some of the official modern names of stars, as decided or adopted by the International Astronomical Union ~ you can find the full list here! I highly recommend checking it out, because I had to exclude quite a few for the sake of brevity here. I also excluded names derived from Greek myths; those will probably be a separate list in the future.

Format: name of star - constellation it belongs to - origin.

. ݁ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ .

Alcor - Ursa Major - from the Arabic word for the faint one

Almach - Arabic, caracal

Altair - Aquila - Arabic, the flying [eagle]

Ancha - Aquarius - medieval Latin, the haunch

Aniara - named for spaceship in the eponymous Swedish scifi poem

Ankaa - Phoenix, Arabic, the phoenix

Arcalís - Boötes, mountain area in Andorra

Athebyne - Draco - Arabic, two wolves

Atria - Triangulum Australe, contraction of the star's Bayer designation, Alpha Trianguli Australis

Avior - Carina - British RAF assignation with unknown meaning.

Azha - Eridanus - Arabic, nest

Chasoň - Lyra - ancient Slovak, Sun

Citalá - Monoceros - Nawat, river of stars

Danfeng - Tucana - red phoenix

Fuyue - Scorpius - a former slave who became a high ranking minister in the Shang dynasty

Ginan - Crux - Wardaman, bag

Gloas - Lynx - Manc Gaelic, to shine like a star

Hamal - Aries - Arabic, ram/head of ram

Imai - Crux - Mursi, a type of grass linked flattened by flood cycles which happen each August, when the star ceases to appear on the horizon

Intan - Fornax - Malay, diamond

Itonda - Grus - Myene, all that is beautiful

Koeia - Eridanus - Taíno, star

Liesma - Ursa Major - Latvian, fire

Maru - Volans - Korean, sky

Meissa - Orion - Arabic, shining one

Meridiana - Corona Australia - Latin, south

Minelauva - Virgo - Arabic, in the lunar mansion of "awwa" (a name of unknown meaning)

Mira - Cetus - Latin, wonderful

Mirach - Andromeda - mistransliteration of Arabic, waistband

Miram - Perseus - unknown

Moriah - Delphinus - Palestinian Arabic, ancient name for Temple Mount

Musica - Delphinus - Latin, music

Nashira - Capricornus - Arabic, lucky one

Natasha - Vela - multiple Zambian national languages, thank you

Paradys - Apus - historical Dutch name for the constellation

Ramus - Hercules - from historical constellation Ramus Pomifer (Cerberus et Ramus)

Rana - Eridanus - Latin, frog

Rastaban - Draco - Arabic, head of the serpent

Rigel - Orion - Arabic, foot/leg

Safina - Aquarius - from an Arab constellation, the ship

Sāmaya - Pisces Austrinus - Sinhalese, peace

Sargas - Scorpius - possibly Sumerian

Sheratan - Aries - Arabic, the two signs, from when the star marked the northern vernal equinox with Gamma Arietis several thousand years ago

Solaris - Pegasus - eponymous Polish novel Stellio - Lacerta - stellion, a lizard that Lacerta was originally named for

Taika - Lacerta - Lithuanian, peace

Talitha - Ursa Major - Arabic, third, coming from the Arabic phrase third leap of the gazelle, referring to it as the third of three faint stars.

Toliman - Centaurus - Arabic, two ostriches

Tuiren - Canes Venatici - aunt of famous warrior in Irish legend

Zaniah - Virgo - Arabic, corner

enjoy! . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

[nancyheart11]

Fan Joy July 2

This is for @skyward-floored's Incredibles AU

No there isn't a specific chapter connected but this scene came to me like a vision.

[milkyplier]

Febuwhump Collab Day 18: Too Weak to Move

I’m so late it’s embarrassing 😩

Read that day’s (😭😭😭) wonderful fic here!!

And without further ado, art: