Chapter Text
"Jimin! Yoongi! To the principal's office! Now!" A teacher shouted, causing the boys to let go of each other and stand straight from the floor.
"Look at this," Jimin muttered angrily to Yoongi as they walked side by side. "I'm getting punished on the last day of the semester, all because of you."
"Oh, really? I’m getting punished because of you,” Yoongi teased mockingly.
Frustrated, Jimin lightly pinched Yoongi's arm, and Yoongi retaliated by giving him a shove, starting another fight. The teacher, now stern, scolded them again.
Pushing them ahead, the teacher led them to the principal’s office. The principal sighed upon seeing them, and then the teacher left the room and closed the door behind him.
"Are you two serious? On the last day? Don’t you ever get tired?"
The two boys pointed at each other and spoke simultaneously, "He started it!"
"Liar!"
"You're the liar!"
"Quiet!" The principal yelled, making both of them flinch.
"Yoongi, this is your senior year. Do you really have time for this kind of nonsense? Shouldn't you be focusing on your studies? College entrance exams are right around the corner!" The principal scolded Yoongi, who lowered his head in response.
Turning his attention to Jimin, the principal continued, "And you, Jimin? Picking fights with a senior student? Did you come all the way from Busan to fight, or to study?"
With a tired sigh, the principal tossed them a key. "Go clean the back storage room. I want it spotless."
Yoongi’s eyes widened. "The storage room? It hasn’t been opened in decades! I refuse!"
The principal gave him a sharp look, and Yoongi averted his gaze, walking out. Jimin gave the principal a slight bow before following Yoongi.
"Hey, wait for me!" Jimin called out as he jogged to catch up.
Of course, Yoongi ignored him and kept walking toward the back storage room, leaving Jimin pouting as he followed.
Yoongi unlocked the door and flipped the lights on. "Wow, I can barely see anything through all this dust."
Jimin walked in after him and immediately started sneezing lightly a few times.
"Stay away from me, you, and your germs."
Jimin smirked mischievously before sneezing in Yoongi’s direction, causing him to shriek in disgust and wipe his face on Jimin’s sweater.
Jimin shoved him away and went to the door, crouching down beneath it.
"What are you doing?" Yoongi asked suspiciously.
"I'm putting a rock here so the door doesn’t close on us. Getting trapped in here alone with you would be disgusting."
"Put three rocks, then. The feeling’s mutual."
"Ha! You put them yourself. I don't take orders from you."
Yoongi rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore him, and began cleaning. Jimin joined in after securing the rocks to keep the door open.
Yoongi, now with dusty hands, wiped them on Jimin’s pants, making Jimin yell in protest. Seconds later, Jimin closed his eyes and furrowed his brows, ready to sneeze again.
Yoongi widened his eyes and stepped away. "Stay away from me, germ boy! Sneeze somewhere else!"
Jimin sneezed lightly in the opposite direction, wiping his nose on his sleeve. He glanced at Yoongi for a moment, scrunching up his face.
"What?" Yoongi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Our sweaters are identical. That's gross."
"It’s the school uniform, genius. Of course, they’re identical."
"But there are different colors. Why did you wear the yellow one like mine? You could have worn the blue one!"
"None of your business. Get away from me."
But Jimin, his hands now dirty from the dust, moved closer, clearly planning to wipe them on Yoongi’s sweater.
"I told you to stay away! This is the only sweater I have!"
Jimin grinned wickedly. "That just makes me want to get it dirty even more."
"You little devil!" Yoongi yelled as Jimin rubbed his dirty hands all over Yoongi's sweater.
"You really have no respect for your seniors," Yoongi huffed.
Jimin laughed happily in which Yoongi pressed his lips. "That wasn’t a compliment, you shortie."
"Shortie? I’m definitely taller than you."
"Of course, you seem taller with those platform shoes that add thirty centimeters to your height. Take them off, and we’ll see the truth."
"And walk barefoot on this dirty floor? Clean it up properly, and then I’ll show you I’m taller."
"You clean it! I’m handling the shelves."
"You're too short to clean the shelves. Stick to the floor; it’s more your level."
"I told you I’m taller than you!"
"No, you're not!"
"How tall are you?"
"173.6 centimeters. You?"
"Such an exact number. That’s funny. I’m 175."
"That’s just one centimeter. Don’t get cocky."
"One centimeter and four millimeters."
Jimin stuck out his tongue in playful defiance, continuing to clean angrily, while Yoongi chuckled softly.
"Ew! Gross!" Jimin shouted, horrified, as a cobweb stuck to his hand.
Of course, he wiped his hand on Yoongi’s sweater again, making Yoongi furious as he took it off and tossed it on the floor.
"You’ve turned it black from all the dirt you’ve wiped on it. Happy now?"
"I couldn’t be more delighted~"
Yoongi rolled his eyes and, as always, chose to ignore Jimin, continuing to clean.
"What’s that?" Jimin asked suspiciously, startling Yoongi, who quickly hid something behind his back. "Nothing"
Jimin narrowed his eyes but quickly forgot about it as his eyes lit up. "I’ve got an idea!"
"Surprise me."
"It’s the last day, right? And school’s over, right?"
"Can you please get to the point? Your voice is annoying me."
"Listen, no one’s here except us and the security guard. So, no one will know if we don’t finish cleaning. And there’s no school tomorrow for anyone to find out."
"For once, you’re actually thinking."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
Ignoring Jimin for the twenty-third time that day, Yoongi left the storage room. "Lock the door behind you and give the key to the security guard!"
"Hey! Don’t ditch me! It was my idea!" Jimin shouted after him, but it was no use. Yoongi had already vanished in the blink of an eye.
Sighing in defeat, Jimin locked the door, handed the key to the security guard at the gate, and left the school.
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As soon as Jimin left school, he saw a small child outside. The boy was wearing an oversized white dress shirt that covered his legs, and he was barefoot.
Jimin approached him with concern, as it was late and the sun had already set. Seeing a child alone in such thin clothing in the cold made him worry, despite not knowing who the boy was.
"Hey, little one!" he called out to the child. The boy turned to look at him, eyes wide with fear and took a few steps back.
Jimin moved closer. "Don’t be scared, I’m not a bad person!" Jimin reassured him, stepping forward.
"Are you here alone?" Jimin asked, looking around.
"None of your business!" the boy snapped rudely.
Jimin smiled. "Hey, I told you I’m not a bad guy. You shouldn’t be here all alone. Is your house nearby?"
The child frowned and slapped Jimin’s hand before running off. Of course, Jimin followed.
The boy tripped and fell hard onto the ground. Jimin rushed over to check on him. His hands, knees, and even his cheeks were covered in scrapes.
Jimin gasped, horrified. "That must hurt!"
Despite the boy’s grumbling, Jimin picked him up and carried him to the nearby bus stop. He sat him down on the bench and pulled out a water bottle from his bag to wash the boy’s wounds. Noticing how the boy’s thin shirt offered no protection from the night’s cold, Jimin took off his school sweater and draped it over the child, who looked at him in shock.
"Is your house nearby?" Jimin asked again, this time more worried, but the child didn’t answer and just looked away.
It was then that Jimin finally noticed the boy’s features. He looked familiar, as though Jimin had seen him before. He leaned in closer, inspecting the boy’s face until it clicked.
"Min Yoongi!" Jimin blurted out, causing the child’s eyes to widen in shock.
"H-how?" the boy stammered, but Jimin cut him off. "Of course! You look just like Yoongi hyung! Are you his brother? No, wait… he lives alone, as far as I know. But you really do resemble him!"
The boy was clearly nervous, but Jimin didn’t notice in his excitement.
"Anyway, are you here because of him? He’s late coming back because we both got in trouble together. We’re neighbors, so I can take you to his house."
The boy opened his mouth to speak, but the bus had arrived by then, so Jimin hoisted him up, despite his protests, and they both boarded.
A while later, the bus stopped in their neighborhood. Jimin got off, still carrying the boy on his back.
"You didn’t tell me your name," Jimin said.
The boy ignored him, so Jimin decided to respect his silence. After a few steps, they reached Yoongi’s house. Jimin set the boy down and knocked on the door. They waited, but there was no answer.
"It’s… it’s okay, you can leave now," the boy said hesitantly.
"No way," Jimin replied. "I’ll wait with you. I bet he fell asleep as soon as he got home."
Jimin rang the doorbell several times, making an annoyingly loud noise, but still, no one answered. He sighed and pulled out his phone. "Hold on, I’ll call that sleepyhead."
The boy’s eyes widened in panic as Jimin dialed Yoongi’s number. After a few seconds, Jimin pulled the phone away from his ear. "His phone is off..." Jimin said, turning to the boy with a smile. "Let’s wait at my place!"
The boy gave him a look Jimin couldn’t quite read before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a key. "I have a spare key. You can go now."
Jimin smiled and took the key. "Not before I get the chance to bother Yoongi hyung a little. Now I have a reason to go inside his house."
The boy looked anxious again as Jimin opened the door and stepped inside. He went straight to Yoongi’s room but found it empty. "Strange, where did he go?" Jimin wondered aloud, searching through the house and calling out Yoongi’s name, but there was no response.
"He’ll be back soon. I can wait alone. You should go," the boy said.
Jimin shook his head. "I can’t leave a child alone. It’s dangerous. You’ll stay at my place until Yoongi hyung comes back."
The boy sighed in defeat, realizing he couldn’t win against Jimin’s stubbornness. In the end, he followed Jimin to his house, resigned to the situation.
When they arrived, Jimin took off his shoes at the door. "I’m back!" he called out.
Jungkook came running to greet him. "You’re late, hyung!"
Jimin scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. "I got in trouble again."
"On the last day? You’ve got to be kidding, hyung!"
"Let’s not talk about it, Jungkook. Where’s Taehyung? I’m starving."
"He’s in our room, playing video games, as usual."
Jimin nodded in understanding as he started toward their room. It was only then that Jungkook noticed the small boy still on Jimin’s back.
"Who’s that, hyung?"
"Oh, he’s Yoongi hyung’s relative. I don’t know where Yoongi is wandering off to, leaving the kid alone. He’ll stay with us until he gets back."
Jungkook grinned, moving closer to the boy. "He’s so cuuuuute! He really looks like Yoongi hyung!"
The boy scowled and punched Jungkook’s hand as he tried to pinch his cheek. "Don’t touch me!"
Jungkook pulled his hand back, holding it to his chest. "And his personality is just like Yoongi hyung’s too."
"Never mind that. Can you grab the first aid kit? He got a little hurt," Jimin said as he headed to his room, setting the boy on his bed.
"We’ll need to get your clothes from Yoongi hyung’s house. You can’t stay in those," Jimin said.
"I… I don’t have any..." the boy muttered.
"Why not? Never mind, I’ll find something of mine that’s more comfortable for you."
Jimin cleaned and bandaged the boy’s scrapes, then went to his closet, pulling out a short-sleeved cotton shirt and a pair of shorts with a drawstring to tighten them around the boy’s waist.
After the boy changed in the bathroom, Jimin smiled at him. "You should eat dinner before bed."
"But I’m tired," the boy whined, pouting.
Jimin chuckled, pinching the boy’s cheeks lightly. "With that pout, you’re gonna make me give in. But you need to eat. Just a little, okay?"
The boy stared at Jimin for a moment before sighing. "Okay..."
Jimin grinned, taking the boy’s hand as they headed to the dining table. He lifted the boy onto his lap.
"Let me down. I’ll sit by myself," the boy protested.
"There’s no seat for you. We only have three chairs."
The boy pouted but relented, starting to eat his food. Jimin and Jungkook joined in, and after a while, Taehyung finally showed up, taking his seat at the table.
Taehyung, too engrossed in his food, hadn’t noticed the boy until he spoke up.
"Let me down. I’m done."
"You didn’t eat much. Just a bit more."
"Is this your brother?" Taehyung asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I just brought him back from Busan," Jimin replied sarcastically.
"Really? Why didn’t you tell me you were going?"
Jimin rolled his eyes. "He’s Yoongi hyung’s relative. He’ll stay with us for a while."
Taehyung beamed excitedly. "Really?"
"Don’t get too excited. Yoongi hyung will probably come to get him tomorrow morning."
"What’s his name?"
"I'm not sure. He doesn’t want to tell me for some reason."
Taehyung looked thoughtful for a moment before asking again. "How old is he?"
Jimin glanced at the boy, waiting for him to answer, but he stayed quiet. Jimin guessed instead. "Maybe eight?"
"Aren’t kids his age usually more talkative? It’s weird that he’s not telling you anything."
"We’re strangers to him, Taehyung. It’s normal. You can ask Yoongi hyung about him tomorrow."
Taehyung nodded in understanding and returned to his meal.
"I told you I’m full," the boy said, a hint of frustration in his voice.
"Alright, alright," Jimin said as he set him down.
"Taehyung, can you handle the dishes tonight? I’m really tired after cleaning the storage room earlier."
"Were you punished again?"
Jimin nodded as a response.
"I don’t understand your arguments with Yoongi hyung. You always bicker with him, but behind his back, you only speak respectfully about him. You even call him ‘hyung.’ Why do you fight with him then?"
"Are we really going to start this again, Taehyung? Just leave my relationships alone," Jimin said with a sigh.
"Fine, fine," Taehyung chuckled. "Sleep well, Jiminie! Sweet dreams! And you too, little kid!"
Jimin laughed and playfully blew kisses, forming heart shapes with his hands before heading to his room with the little boy.
"I’m not sleeping in the same bed as you!" the boy exclaimed in shock.
"What's wrong? Why are you so embarrassed?" Jimin teased.
"I’ll sleep on the floor," the boy insisted stubbornly.
"Is it that bad sharing a bed with me? Fine, you take the bed, and I’ll sleep on the floor," Jimin said as he began pulling out another mattress from the closet.
But the boy suddenly tugged at Jimin’s pant leg. "It's okay... You can sleep in the bed with me."
Jimin smiled warmly, moving to hug him, but the boy quickly punched him lightly in the chest. "Don't come too close. Stay on your side."
"Alright, alright~" Jimin replied with a grin.
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The next day, after breakfast, Jimin reminded Taehyung to keep an eye on the little boy while he went to check on Yoongi. His phone was still off, which made Jimin anxious.
He knocked on Yoongi’s door and rang the bell several times but got no answer. Finally, he used the spare key that the boy had given him. The house was empty, so Jimin locked it again and went back home.
“Did you find him?” Jungkook asked the moment Jimin walked in.
Jimin shook his head. “I’m worried…”
“Maybe he went to see his family? You know, it’s summer vacation now,” Taehyung suggested.
“If that’s the case, then why is his little relative here?”
“Don’t ask me. Ask him! I told you there’s something strange about him.”
Jimin rolled his eyes. “What could possibly be strange about an eight-year-old?”
“We don’t even know if he’s really eight,” Taehyung said.
Jimin sighed at Taehyung’s remark but Taehyung had more to say. "He does tell you anything about himself. He doesn’t have any belongings. He looks like he ran away from home."
The little boy had enough. “Stay out of my business! I’m not obligated to tell you anything about myself. Who do you think you are?” the boy retorted angrily.
Jimin approached him and picked him up. “Why are you so upset? Don’t mind what Taehyung says.”
But the boy punched Jimin lightly on the chest. “Put me down! Don’t pick me up out of nowhere! Don’t you know what personal space is?”
Jimin, confused, set him down, while Taehyung and Jungkook burst into laughter.
Jimin quickly changed the subject with a bright smile. “kid! How about we go buy some clothes for you? Hmm? What do you think?”
Of course, the boy objected, but Jimin ignored him and went to change into something suitable for going out. He grabbed his coat, and since the boy didn’t have clothes or shoes of his own, Jimin carried him on his back to keep his feet from getting hurt, though the boy complained the entire time.
When they arrived at the mall, the first thing the boy demanded was a stop at the shoe store so he could finally walk on his own.
By the end of the trip, they had accumulated a mountain of bags because Jimin couldn’t choose between all the cute outfits.
On the way home, the boy seemed distant, lost in thought, which puzzled Jimin.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing…”
“You look sad. Do you miss your mom? Do you want to go back home? I can take you.”
The boy shook his head.
“Then, do you want to call your pare? If you know their number, I can lend you my phone.”
The boy shook his head again. “I don’t have parents.”
Jimin’s eyes widened in shock. “I… I’m sorry.” He stayed silent for a moment before asking “What about Yoongi hyung? Is he your brother?”
The boy shook his head again but smiled slightly, confusing Jimin even more. He didn’t press the issue.
“Is it okay for you to stay at my place?” the boy asked softly.
“Your place? You mean Yoongi hyung’s house?”
The boy nodded.
“But Yoongi hyung isn’t there, and I’m worried about you.”
The boy frowned and turned away sadly at Jimin’s refusal.
“You really remind me of Yoongi hyung. What’s your relationship with him? I’m really curious,” Jimin asked, but as usual, he got no response.
“Why won’t you answer anything?”
“You talk too much,” the boy grumbled with a scowl, making Jimin fall silent.
They reached their neighborhood, and as soon as they entered the house, the boy headed straight to Jimin’s room and shut the door behind him, leaving the three of them confused.
“Did you upset him, Jiminie hyung?” Jungkook asked suspiciously.
“I didn’t! He just wants to stay at Yoongi hyung’s place, and I said no…”
“Is Yoongi hyung’s phone still off?” Taehyung asked. Jimin nodded in confirmation.
Just then, Jimin’s phone buzzed with a message. He pulled it out of his coat pocket to check the sender.
“It’s Yoongi hyung!” Jimin exclaimed, and the other two turned to him.
“What did he say?” Taehyung asked, full of curiosity.
Jimin read aloud, “Don’t call me. Something important came up. Please take care of my little cousin. Thanks in advance, and sorry for the trouble.”
“Is he kidding me?!”
Jimin: Where are you?
Jimin: How can you just disappear like that and leave a kid alone, you idiot?!
Jimin: Come back now!
Jimin: I’m not your babysitter!
Jimin: Also, who is he?
Yoongi: You’re so annoying, shorty.
Yoongi: Just take care of him.
Yoongi: I’ll pay you back later.
Jimin: Arrogant as always.
Jimin: Are you okay?
Yoongi: What’s with you all of a sudden?
Yoongi: Yeah, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.
Jimin rolled his eyes, locked his phone, and put it back in his pocket. He carried the bags of clothes to his room and opened the door. The boy quickly hid something behind his back, but Jimin didn’t ask about it.
He started organizing the boy’s new clothes in the closet and then sat beside him.
“I just talked to Yoongi hyung. He doesn’t seem like he’ll be back anytime soon. He asked me to take care of you. Is that okay with you?”
The boy nodded but stayed quiet, prompting Jimin to ruffle his hair.
“What do you think about playing in the backyard with Taehyung while Jungkook and I make lunch?”
The boy shook his head. “I’ll take a nap.”
Jimin smiled and wished him sweet dreams before leaving the room and turning off the lights.
As soon as the door closed, the boy pulled out a phone from his pocket and crawled under the covers.
“Fuck my life!” he muttered angrily.
“Of all the people, I had to end up with Jimin. This is just great. And his personality… it’s terrifying.”
He pulled a small bottle out of his pocket and stared at it, turning it over in his hands. “Did this make me ten years younger? This is terrifying! I should never have messed with that old box! I’m such an idiot!”
He stood up and carefully hid the bottle in his new clothes in the closet before returning to bed to scroll through his phone.
Suddenly, a message popped up. It was from Jimin.
Jimin: Can I ask you a little about your cousin? I’m worried about him.
Yoongi: You’re so annoying, shorty.
Jimin: I’m going to punch you a lot when you get back!
Jimin: At least tell me his name and age. He’s just like you, not much of a talker.
Yoongi: Of course, he won’t talk to someone like you.
Jimin: Can’t you just talk to me like a normal person for a sec?!
Jimin: I’m doing you a favor by looking after him.
Jimin: Don’t make me throw him out on the street now.
Yoongi: Are you threatening me, Park Shorty?
Jimin: Shut up and tell me.
Yoongi: Are you really trying to act tough right now?
Jimin: You’re unbearable!
Jimin: Don’t text me again.
Jimin: This is disgusting.
Jimin: Why do you even have my number?!
Yoongi: !!!
Yoongi: You’ve been blowing up my phone since yesterday, and you messaged me first, not the other way around.
Jimin: I told you, don’t message me. This is gross!
Yoongi: ....
Yoongi: He’s eight.
Yoongi: His name is Yoongi.
Jimin: Like your name?
Yoongi: it's my great-grandfather's name so yeah.
Jimin: That's... confusing
Jimin: I’m calling him Yoon I don't want to think about your ugly face every time I talk with him.
Yoongi: suit yourself...
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It was ten in the morning, and Yoongi was still sound asleep despite Jimin's repeated attempts to wake him up.
“Come on, Yoon, don’t make this hard for me,” Jimin pleaded, exasperated.
Yoongi stirred in bed, finally sitting up and rubbing his right eye with a tiny fist. Jimin smiled at him and gently scooped him up, carrying him to the bathroom to wash his face.
“Brush your teeth, Yoon. I’ll go warm up your breakfast,” Jimin said, handing him his toothbrush before stepping out of the bathroom.
Jimin headed to the kitchen to heat Yoongi’s breakfast. He and his friends had already eaten earlier while the little one was still asleep.
“Jimini hyung?” Jungkook called.
“Hmm?” Jimin hummed in response.
“I’m going back to Busan tomorrow. Are you coming with me?”
“Are you staying there for the whole summer break?”
“No, just a few days. I’ve got loads of schoolwork, and if I stay there, I’ll get nothing done.”
“I’ll think about it. Will Taehyung go with you?”
Jungkook shook his head. “He said he’s staying here.”
Jimin nodded in understanding, setting the plates on the table just as Yoongi walked in, yawning. Jimin picked him up and placed him in his chair.
“I told you not to carry me! Why don’t you ever listen?”
“Okay, okay. Sorry, Yoon,” Jimin said, though Yoongi ignored him and started eating ravenously, having skipped dinner the night before.
Ding dong~
“Jungkook, check the door,” Jimin called out.
“I’m watching TV. You check it,” Jungkook replied lazily.
With a sigh, Jimin went to answer the door, greeting the man on the other side.
“Do you know the boy who lives next door? Min Yoongi? I think he’s about your age,” the man asked.
“Yes, we go to the same high school,” Jimin replied.
The man smiled and introduced himself. “I’m his older brother, Min Gyeomjae.”
They shook hands, and Jimin respectfully introduced himself as well.
“Do you know where he might be? I arrived in Korea last night, but he hasn’t answered the door or his phone.”
“Sorry, he didn’t tell me where he was going. He just mentioned he’d be busy and asked me to look after his little cousin while he’s away.”
“Cousin?” Gyeomjae asked, puzzled.
Jimin nodded, then called for Yoongi to come over. Gyeomjae’s confusion deepened as Yoongi appeared, his eyes widening in recognition.
“Hyung?! What are you doing here? When did you get back?”
Gyeomjae stared at Yoongi in disbelief, but before he could say anything, Yoongi dragged him outside to talk privately, shutting the door behind them.
“Who are you?” Gyeomjae asked, skeptical.
“I’m Yoongi. Your younger brother.”
Gyeomjae laughed. “No, really. Who are you?”
Yoongi sighed, exasperated. “I told you, I’m Yoongi! Listen, hyung, I’m in big trouble. I was cleaning out our school’s old storage room when I found a really ancient-looking box. Being the idiot I am, I opened it and found a strange bottle. I kept it, but when I left school, I tripped and the lead fell off. Whatever was in it affected me—I’ve been de-aged by ten years!”
Gyeomjae narrowed his eyes. “Are you joking, kid?”
Yoongi rolled his eyes. “Our parents died in a car accident on July 23rd, five years ago. Three years ago, you left me alone to continue your studies in America. What else do you want me to say to convince you? Should I remind you of how you tripped on the stage when you got your diploma? Or your fear of spiders?”
Gyeomjae stared at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter. “How did you end up like this? You’re so adorable, Yoongi!”
“Hyuuuung, please help me!” Yoongi whined, pouting.
“Alright, alright. What do you want me to do?”
“First, get me away from that guy. I can’t keep pretending to be a kid any longer.”
“Sorry, Yoongi. I’m only here for two days, and I’m heading back to America tomorrow.”
Yoongi frowned, visibly upset. “But I missed you, hyung.”
Gyeomjae pinched his cheek affectionately. “I’ll visit you again soon, okay? I’ll be done with my studies next year anyway.”
“Can you at least check the school storage room for some sort of antidote or a way to reverse this?”
“I will, but let’s spend some time together first, okay?”
Yoongi nodded enthusiastically, smiling at his brother.
Gyeomjae informed Jimin that they’d be staying at Yoongi’s house until the next day. The brothers enjoyed their time together, catching up and reminiscing.
By noon, Gyeomjae decided to check the school storage room as promised. He left Yoongi at home and headed to the school, but it was closed for the summer, and the security guard was nowhere to be found. Dejected, he returned to Yoongi, who looked crestfallen at the news.
“Does this mean I have to stay like this until the break ends? That’s nearly two months! I can’t handle it!”
“But you’re so cute like this,” Gyeomjae teased, pinching his cheeks again.
“Let me go, hyung!”
Instead of letting go, Gyeomjae hugged him tightly. “You remind me of the old days. You’re so cuuuuute!”
Yoongi squirmed free and muttered, “I take it back. Living with Jimin is better. You’ll smother me to death.”
Gyeomjae laughed heartily, snapping a few pictures of Yoongi’s adorable pout despite his protests.
“Want to go out for a bit? I haven’t been to Korea in ages. Let’s have some fun.”
“Looking like this?” Yoongi scoffed.
“I’ll carry you everywhere, my precious little cute adorable brother,” Gyeomjae teased with a singsong voice, lifting Yoongi effortlessly.
“Put me down, hyung! This is terrifying! Kids have it rough!” Yoongi protested.
The brothers spent the day exploring the city, returning home late. The next morning, they said their goodbyes—Gyeomjae heading back to America, and Yoongi returning to Jimin’s house.
Later, while Yoongi was in the bathroom, he and Jimin texted each other.
Jimin: Did you talk to your brother?
Jimin: He came from America for you.
Yoongi: I did.
Jimin: When will you come back?
Yoongi: Are you missing my punches?
Jimin: Yeah, sure. I especially miss your kicks.
Yoongi: Maybe at the end of the break.
Jimin: Maybe?!
Yoongi: I don’t know.
Yoongi: Stop annoying me, shorty.
Yoongi: Just take care of Yoon.
Yoongi: Don’t bother him too much, chatterbox.
Jimin: I’m not a chatterbox!
Yoongi: Yes, you are.
Yoongi: Does it physically hurt you to stay quiet?
Jimin: Ughhhhh
Yoongi: I have to go.
Yoongi: Don’t text me too much.
Yoongi: You’re annoying.
Jimin: Fine, rot in hell then.
Jimin: I’m sure no one else texts you but me.
Yoongi didn’t reply, leaving Jimin on read and turning off his phone in frustration.
Shortly after, he went into Jimin’s room and crawled onto the bed beside Jimin.
“Do you want to sleep, Yoon?”
Yoongi nodded, eyes already closed. Jimin tucked him in, turned off the lights, and left the room.
“Jimini! Let’s play video games together!” Taehyung called out excitedly.
Jimin hummed and went to join him.
“Did you talk to Yoongi hyung?” Taehyung asked, focusing on the game.
“Hmm. He said he’ll come back after the break.”
“And Yoon?”
“He’ll stay with us until Yoongi hyung returns.”
“That kid really resembles Yoongi hyung in everything. Even their names are the same.”
“You barely even know Yoongi hyung,” Jimin replied, smirking.
“His personality and mannerisms are obvious,” Taehyung said with a wide grin.
“Should we go out when Yoon wakes up? How about a little picnic?” Jimin suggested
“Let’s go to the museum!” Taehyung shouted enthusiastically.
“We have an eight-year-old with us if you haven’t noticed. Let’s go to the amusement park instead.”
Taehyung screamed in delight after winning the game, leaving Jimin pouting over his loss.
“I’ll take a quick shower while you wake Yoon,” Taehyung said getting up.
“But he just fell asleep…” Jimin protested.
“The sun will set soon!” Taehyung whined.
“Amusement parks are better at night. They’re less crowded, and they might have fireworks too.”
“Really? Wow! Let’s go after sunset, then!” Taehyung agreed, eyes sparkling.
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"Yoon, stay here and don't move. You could get lost if you do. I'll be back quickly," Jimin said, instructing the little boy before heading to the restroom.
Taehyung was off enjoying a rollercoaster ride, but Jimin and Yoon had opted not to join because they both were feeling a bit dizzy... totally not because they were scared!
After a few moments, Jimin returned to where he had left Yoongi, only to find the seat empty.
"Yoon??" he called out, fear creeping into his voice.
There was no response, and panic set in. Jimin quickly pulled out his phone to call Taehyung.
"Taehyung! I... I can't find Yoon," Jimin said, his voice trembling.
"What do you mean?" Taehyung replied, confused.
"You took longer than expected, and I really needed to go to the toilet. When I came back, he was gone!" Jimin explained in a rush.
"Okay, calm down, Jiminie. Where are you now?"
"Right next to the rollercoaster you were on."
"Alright, I'm coming. Look around for him while I make my way over," Taehyung reassured before hanging up.
Jimin slid his phone back into his coat pocket and anxiously started searching for Yoongi. It was nighttime, making the task even harder.
Meanwhile, Yoongi was hiding behind some bushes, trying to avoid someone he had spotted.
The moment the person left, Yoongi exhaled in relief and made his way back, only to be surprised by a sudden strong hug.
"Yoon! Where did you go? I told you to stay put! You scared me!" Jimin scolded him, his voice shaky with tears.
"I-I’m sorry..." Yoongi apologized, still in shock, not fully understanding what he had done wrong.
For the first time, he didn't push Jimin away from him.
"Did you find him?" Taehyung asked as he arrived, and Jimin nodded, releasing Yoongi from the hug.
"Look who I ran into!" Taehyung said with a grin, causing both Jimin and Yoongi to turn around.
Yoongi's eyes widened in shock when he saw who it was, and he quickly hid behind Jimin, trying to avoid being seen.
"Hello, Namjoon hyung," Jimin greeted with a smile, to which Namjoon returned the greeting.
"Are you here alone?" Jimin asked.
"Hoseok's with me. He went to get some drinks and will be back soon."
Namjoon then noticed Yoongi peeking out from behind Jimin. "Who's this little guy?" Namjoon asked, curious.
Yoongi’s eyes widened even more, and he clung tightly to Jimin's pants, not wanting Namjoon to see him.
Jimin, noticing Yoongi’s odd behavior, figured he was just shy around strangers, so he let it go.
"He’s Yoongi hyung’s little cousin," Jimin explained.
"His cousin? I don’t remember Yoongi hyung having any relatives besides his older brother. Are you sure?"
Jimin nodded. "Yoongi hyung asked me to look after him until the end of the summer break."
"Really? I haven't seen Yoongi hyung in ages. Every time I reach out, he says he’s too busy."
Jimin shook his head. "I haven’t seen him either. After we finished cleaning the storage room, he left and didn’t come back. He didn’t tell me anything about what was going on..."
Suddenly, Yoongi was lifted high into the air by someone, and he let out a startled scream. "Put me down!"
Jimin quickly turned around and took Yoongi putting him down. "Hoseok hyung~ Hello!"
"Why are you all standing around here? Let’s sit down somewhere. We haven’t had a get-together in a long time," Hoseok suggested as he crouched down, playfully ruffling Yoongi’s hair who was burying his face deeper into Jimin’s pants.
"Who’s this little one?" Hoseok asked, and Jimin gave him the same explanation he had given Namjoon earlier.
"Leave my hair alone," Yoongi muttered, making Hoseok smile as he let go.
The five of them gathered around a medium-sized table outside one of the food stands at the amusement park. Yoongi remained hidden behind Jimin, not wanting Namjoon or Hoseok to see him.
He was more afraid of Namjoon than Hoseok, knowing that if Namjoon saw him clearly, his identity might be revealed.
"Yoon, why are you hiding? They’re Yoongi hyung’s friends," Jimin whispered, trying to comfort him, but the boy still didn’t budge.
"Why don't you show us your cute face, Yoon?" Hoseok teased with a smile as he moved closer, but Yoongi clung tighter to Jimin's left arm.
"Leave him alone, Hoseok. You’re scaring him," Namjoon scolded, making Hoseok pout and back off.
"Where’s Jungkook? I don’t see him with you guys," Namjoon asked, changing the subject.
"He went to Busan. He might be back tomorrow," Jimin replied while absentmindedly playing with his drink straw.
"Why didn’t you go with him?" Namjoon asked.
"I decided to stay behind," Jimin said, and Namjoon hummed in understanding.
Taehyung glanced at his watch, noting the time was almost 7 PM. "Guys, the fireworks are about to start soon. Let’s head over to where we can get a good view."
Everyone agreed, and they made their way to a spot with a clear view of the sky. Seconds later, the fireworks began, filling the night sky with vibrant colors and mesmerizing shapes.
Jimin crouched down to Yoongi's level and asked, "Do you want me to lift you onto my shoulders so you can see better?"
"You’re too short. Even if you carry me, I won’t see anything," Yoongi responded with a pout.
"I’m not short!" Jimin protested with a scowl.
Before he could argue further, Namjoon swooped in and lifted Yoongi onto his shoulders, startling the boy. "Aren’t they beautiful?" Namjoon asked as Yoongi gazed at the fireworks with a small smile, nodding in agreement.
"Your gummy smile is just like Yoongi hyung’s," Hoseok remarked while playfully pinching one of Yoongi’s cheeks, causing the boy to frown.
"Leave me alone! Don’t do that again!" Yoongi snapped.
"Alright, alright, no need to get mad, little guy," Hoseok backed off, then leaned over to Jimin. "He’s just like a mini Yoongi hyung," Hoseok whispered, and Jimin smiled in agreement.
After about five minutes, the fireworks show ended, and Namjoon lowered Yoongi back to the ground. As soon as his feet touched the floor, Yoongi ran straight to Jimin, hiding behind him once again.
"Why are you running away from me, Yoon? Am I that scary?" Namjoon asked with a pout, and the boy vigorously nodded his head.
"Really?!" Namjoon said, shocked by the answer, and Yoongi nodded his head again, frowning.
"You’re really tall, hyung. It’s only natural for him to be a little scared," Jimin tried to console Namjoon.
"How about we have a cozy night at our place?" Taehyung suggested with a smile.
Everyone agreed, and they headed back to Namjoon’s car. Namjoon drove, with Hoseok sitting in the passenger seat, while Jimin, Taehyung, and Yoongi sat in the back. The ride wasn’t too long, and during the drive, Yoongi had already fallen asleep in Jimin’s lap.
When they arrived at the house, Jimin tried to wake Yoongi, but the boy refused to budge.
"Come on, Yoon. We’re home now. You can sleep inside," Jimin gently urged.
"Let him sleep, Jiminie. I’ll carry him inside," Namjoon offered as he got out and went to the back to lift Yoon.
As Namjoon carried the boy, he studied his face curiously, now able to see him up close for the first time.
"He looks exactly like Yoongi hyung. If I didn’t know hyung only had one brother, I’d think this kid was his little brother."
Jimin hummed in agreement. "They even have the same name. Can you believe it?"
Namjoon raised his brows at that but remained silent as he carried Yoongi to Jimin’s room, placing him gently on the bed. He sat down next to the sleeping boy and pulled out his phone, deciding to message Yoongi about the situation.
Just as he sent the message, he noticed a faint light coming from the boy's pocket since the room was dimly lit.
Namjoon checked his pocket out of curiosity and found a phone, which confused him. He turned it over in his hands and opened it, only to see the message he had just sent to Yoongi appear on the screen. His eyes widened in shock.
Jimin walked in just then, causing Namjoon to quickly hide the phone in his pocket and leave the room.
Namjoon was so baffled about the phone. He is sure that he messaged Yoongi last night and that he answered so why is his phone with the kid?
Namjoon decided to question him when he woke up. He had been suspicious ever since he saw the kid. Namjoon’s close with Yoongi and knows for sure that his only relative is his older brother, who’s studying in America. He couldn’t understand where this sudden ‘cousin’ came from, or why he looked so much like Yoongi.
"Hyung!" Jimin’s voice startled Namjoon from his thoughts.
"You’ve been zoning out for a while. What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," Namjoon answered with a smile.
"I wish Yoongi hyung were here to cook us some of his delicious dishes," Hoseok complained with a pout. "Or at least Jin hyung or Jungkook..."
"How about we grill some meat instead?" Taehyung suggested excitedly, and everyone quickly agreed.
"You guys handle the grilling; I’ll make some ramen," Jimin offered.
"Make a lot, Jiminie."
"Got it."
They enjoyed grilling together in the yard and gathered around a wooden table to eat under the open sky.
"Wait for me; I’ll go wake up Yoon," Jimin said, getting up.
"Does he curse like Yoongi hyung when you wake him?" Hoseok teased.
"Kind of..."
Jimin went to wake up Yoongi, who took his time getting out of bed. After washing his face, he followed Jimin outside to join the group. He quietly ate next to Jimin, still groggy from sleep. Namjoon, however, couldn’t stop observing the boy, his suspicions growing with every passing moment.
After finishing his meal, Yoongi stood up and headed back inside.
"Are you going back to sleep?" Jimin asked, and Yoongi just nodded in response.
"I’m full too," Namjoon said as he followed Yoongi inside.
The boy lay down on the bed, barely closing his eyes before Namjoon’s voice broke the silence.
"Who are you?"
Yoongi froze, his body tense.
"C-Can you leave? I want to sleep."
"Not until you explain this," Namjoon said, holding up Yoongi’s phone, causing the boy to panic.
"W-What are you talking about?"
"Why do you have Yoongi hyung’s phone in your pocket?"
Yoongi averted his gaze, avoiding the question, as Namjoon stepped closer.
"Where did you come from all of a sudden? I know for a fact that Yoongi hyung has no relatives, and why do you look so much like him? Like a miniature version of him? I want answers!"
Yoongi was visibly shaken, unsure of whether or not he should reveal the truth. He didn’t even understand why he had been hiding it in the first place, but for some reason, he wasn’t ready for anyone to know just yet.
Luckily for him, Jimin opened the door just then, casting a confused look at Namjoon.
"Goodnight, Yoon," Namjoon said pointedly before leaving the room.
"What’s wrong, Yoon? Did Namjoon hyung say something to you?" Jimin asked, sitting beside him, concerned.
The boy didn’t respond.
"You can tell me anything, Yoon. You’ve been acting differently ever since you saw him. Did he do something? You know you can trust me, right? You can tell me anything."
Yoongi shook his head. "Nothing. There’s nothing wrong. I just want to sleep," he said, lying down and pulling the blanket over himself.
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Yoongi left the room, intending to head to the bathroom and freshen up. As soon as he arrived, Namjoon opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom. Namjoon gave him a suspicious look, which made Yoongi nervous, causing him to take a step back, only to bump into someone. He turned around, and there was Jimin.
"You're awake, Yoon? Come on, it's time to wash up!" Jimin said cheerfully.
Yoongi nodded quietly, sidestepping Namjoon and entering the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a sigh of relief.
"I need to do something to throw Namjoon off my trail. Something he'll never suspect Min Yoongi of doing," Yoongi thought to himself.
An idea came to him, but he immediately shook his head, rejecting it. Yet, with no better option in mind, he decided to proceed with the plan.
After washing up and brushing his teeth, Yoongi went to the living room, where everyone was gathered, having breakfast.
"Yoon, come here!" Jimin called out with a smile, motioning him over.
Yoongi steeled himself, ready to execute his plan. He walked over to Jimin and sat right in his lap. Jimin, initially shocked, quickly smiled and wrapped his arms around the little one.
"Why aren't you eating?" Jimin asked after a moment.
Yoongi turned to him, giving his best innocent look. "Feed me," he requested.
Jimin squealed playfully, pinching Yoongi's cheeks. Yoongi struggled not to frown but ended up swatting Jimin’s hands away.
"Yoon isn’t hiding anymore!" Hoseok teased with a grin, moving closer.
"Oh, Jungkook called earlier this morning. He said he's on his way back to Seoul," Jimin mentioned casually as everyone hummed, too focused on their breakfast.
"Namjoon hyung," Jimin called out, getting Namjoon's attention, "Have you heard from Yoongi hyung? I messaged him yesterday, but he hasn’t replied."
Namjoon glanced at Yoongi, who was pretending to play with Jimin’s shirt, before turning back to Jimin. "He’s probably busy. He might not reply for a while," Namjoon answered, standing up afterward.
"I’m going to make some coffee. Who wants some?" Namjoon offered.
Yoongi’s eyes lit up for a second, but then he quickly looked down and muttered, "I...I want milk... please."
Namjoon raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but nodded.
After a few moments, Namjoon returned with coffee for himself and Hoseok, and a glass of milk for Yoongi, handing it to him with a smile. "Here you go," he said.
Yoongi took the glass, nervously sipping from it. The moment the overly sweet milk hit his tongue, he fought the urge to grimace. Namjoon had added an absurd amount of sugar, knowing full well that Yoongi hated both milk and anything sweet.
Yoongi was too stubborn, so without hesitation, he downed the entire glass, leaving Namjoon visibly shocked.
Jimin wiped the corner of Yoongi’s mouth with a napkin, chuckling. "Is it that good, Yoon?" he asked.
Yoongi nodded enthusiastically, flashing a forced, wide gummy smile. Jimin chuckled at how cute he was being.
Once breakfast was done, everyone began tidying up the area, except for Yoongi, who sat there fiddling with his fingers, clearly bored. Eventually, he picked up the TV remote and handed it to Taehyung, who was sitting next to him.
"Put on something for me to watch."
Taehyung smiled, turning on the TV and putting on a kids' show. Yoongi immediately focused on the screen, watching intently.
After some time, Jimin sat beside Yoongi, asking, "What are you watching?"
"Ben 10!" Yoongi answered excitedly. "Look, this monster just appeared, and he’s doing bad things. Now Ben's going to transform and stop him!" he explained with enthusiasm.
Jimin hummed in response, smiling at how absorbed Yoongi was in the show, while Namjoon continued to watch Yoongi from the corner of his eye, still suspicious.
A few minutes later, the front door opened, and Jungkook walked in, dragging a small suitcase behind him. "I'm back!" he announced with a grin.
"Wow, you guys are hanging out without me, huh? Traitors," he joked, though there was a playful pout on his face.
After greeting everyone, Jungkook headed to his shared room with Taehyung to unpack and rest for a bit.
Moments later, Jungkook returns calling out to Yoongi, "Hey, Yoonie!"
Yoongi turned to face him.
"I brought you some candy!" Jungkook said cheerfully, handing him a small bag.
Yoongi gulped, looking at the bag and then at Jungkook, before thanking him. Today was turning into a real nightmare for Yoongi.
Jungkook eagerly waited for him to try the candy, so Yoongi reluctantly picked one and ate it. But as soon as he swallowed, his stomach revolted, and he bolted for the bathroom, vomiting everything he had just eaten.
Everyone rushed to the bathroom door, concerned about the little boy inside.
"Fuck you Namjoon!" Yoongi cursed to himself.
But he knew he had to keep up appearances to fully dispel Namjoon’s suspicions. After rinsing his mouth and splashing water on his face, he opened the door.
Jimin was waiting for him, looking worried. Without a word, Yoongi burst into fake tears, burying his face in Jimin’s chest as he comforted him.
"What did you give him, Jungkook?" Jimin asked, frowning.
"I swear, it was just some candy!" Jungkook defended himself.
"Maybe his stomach is sensitive to sweets. I’ll check with Yoongi hyung about it later," Jimin reassured.
"Should we take him to the doctor?" Hoseok asked, clearly concerned.
Yoongi shook his head vigorously in response. Jimin sighed, lifting Yoongi into his arms as he tried to shift the mood. "How about we go play soccer? It’s a nice day outside," he suggested.
Jungkook declined, still tired from his trip. Hoseok also excused himself, saying he needed to head home already. Jimin looked over at Taehyung, who was engrossed in his phone, headphones in, and frowned.
Namjoon smiled, trying to lift his mood. "How about we go for a bike ride instead, Jiminie?"
Jimin’s face lit up. "That sounds great!"
"Yoon, do you want to join us, or would you rather stay here?" Jimin asked, turning to Yoongi.
Before Yoongi could respond, Namjoon interjected, "He should come with us. It’s better than staying here alone with Taehyung, who’s lost in his phone."
"Good point," Jimin agreed.
"Alright, go change your pajamas. I’ll wait for you both outside," Namjoon said before heading out.
Jimin took Yoongi to his room, setting him down so he could look for some clothes. He pulled out a pair of jeans, a yellow shirt, and a matching cap.
"I’ll help you change," Jimin offered, but Yoongi shook his head. "I can do it myself," he insisted.
Jimin smiled and stepped back, finding his own clothes to match Yoongi's outfit. After a few minutes, both were ready.
"We look like brothers! Isn’t that cute?" Jimin teased, pinching Yoongi’s cheek lightly.
Yoongi scowled and pushed Jimin’s hand away. He remembered how Jimin had once called it 'gross' when they wore matching coats. Now, he was calling it 'cute.'
Yoongi thought about how different Jimin’s personality seemed these days compared to when they first met. Strangely, he no longer felt the urge to punch Jimin just for breathing.
Jimin held Yoongi’s hand as they left the house and got into Namjoon’s car. Jimin sat up front, and Yoongi settled in the back, quickly dozing off.
"What’s your deal with Yoon?" Jimin asked Namjoon after noticing that Yoongi had fallen asleep.
"Deal? What deal?" Namjoon feigned ignorance.
"I’ve seen how you watch him, constantly keeping an eye on him. He seems terrified of you, too. Did you say something to him last night?" Jimin asked.
Namjoon smirked before answering truthfully. "I just don’t trust him. I don’t know where he came from, and I found something that made me even more suspicious."
"What did you find?" Jimin asked, intrigued.
"Let’s keep that a secret for now until I figure everything out," Namjoon replied cryptically.
Jimin sighed and turned back toward the road. "I don’t know what you're thinking, hyung, but can you at least act normally around him until you figure things out? He didn’t sleep well last night after you talked to him. He’s just a kid, hyung. If you’re really worried, you can talk to Yoongi hyung about it."
"You're right, Jiminie. I might’ve overstepped a bit. I’ll apologize to him later," Namjoon said with a soft smile.
After a short drive, Namjoon parked the car and turned off the engine. "Wake up the little one while I go rent us some bikes," he said.
"Got it," Jimin replied.
The two stepped out of the car, with Namjoon heading to rent two bikes for them while Jimin went to the backseat to wake up Yoongi.
"Wow, you really fall asleep fast, Yoon. You’re just like Yoongi hyung in that way," Jimin teased.
Yoongi groggily sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Want me to carry you?" Jimin asked, and Yoongi nodded without hesitation.
Jimin hoisted Yoongi onto his back, and as soon as he did, Yoongi drifted off again, comfortably resting on Jimin's shoulders.
When they reached the bike path, Namjoon was already waiting for them.
"Still sleeping?" Namjoon asked.
Jimin nodded, smiling slightly. "Tried to wake him but he went back to sleeping."
Namjoon grinned and gently woke Yoongi by tapping his nose. "Time to wake up, Yoon," he said playfully.
Yoongi frowned, swatting Namjoon’s hand away, then wiggled free from his hold and took a few steps back.
He spotted a small puppy nearby, and his eyes lit up with joy. He hurried over to pet its fur, giggling as he played with the energetic puppy. He was clearly having a great time.
"Can I stay here? I promise I won’t move," Yoongi asked Jimin, pleading with his eyes. "Look, there are a lot of kids over there. I’ll play with them," he added.
There were indeed several children playing nearby while some of their mothers sat on the benches, chatting.
Jimin reached into his bag, pulled out a notepad, wrote his number down, tore the page, and handed it to Yoongi. "If anything happens, ask one of the nice ladies to call me, okay?" he said.
Yoongi nodded.
"And don’t wander off. Stay right here," Jimin reminded him.
Once Yoongi nodded again, Jimin and Namjoon finally mounted their bikes and rode off, enjoying the breeze and the open space.
"Finally, I can get some sleep," Yoongi muttered to himself as he wandered over to a nearby tree, lying down under its shade.
But before he could fully relax, the puppy bounded over to him, licking his face.
"Okay, okay, enough!" Yoongi laughed. "I’ll play with you, just stop!"
He played with the puppy for a while, sticking close to the tree, just as Jimin had asked.
"Jango! There you are!" The puppy’s owner came over and scooped up the little dog. That’s when he noticed Yoongi.
"Hey there, kiddo. Do you want to play with him?"
Yoongi shook his head. "I’d rather sleep. He’s the one who wants to play with me," he replied, his voice flat as he lay back on the grass.
The puppy owner chuckled. "Why are you napping here? Where are your parents?"
"They’re not here," Yoongi replied disinterestedly, still sprawled on the ground.
"You’re here alone?" His concern was evident, but Yoongi ignored him, closing his eyes to sleep.
"Did he really just fall asleep that quickly?" the guy mused, sitting down next to Yoongi while petting his puppy.
"Where are his parents, anyway? Why would they leave a kid all by himself?"
After about half an hour, Jimin arrived, calling out Yoongi’s name.
"Jin hyung!" Jimin exclaimed, recognizing the guy.
"Oh, Jiminie! What are you doing here alone?" Jin asked, surprised.
"I’m with Namjoon. We were biking, and Yoongi's cousin is actually here with us." Jimin explained.
"Yoongi’s cousin?" Jin asked, looking confused as he glanced over at the sleeping Yoongi.
"He’s asleep again, huh? At this rate, you won’t be able to sleep at night, Yoon," Jimin teased gently, not really expecting Yoongi to respond.
Jin raised an eyebrow. "That’s his cousin?"
Jimin nodded. "Yeah, I should get going, though, Namjoon hyung is waiting for us. I’ll see you around!"
"Take care, Jiminie," Jin waved as Jimin gently took Yoongi’s hand and led him back to the car.
The three of them drove home just before sunset.
When they reached Jimin’s place, Namjoon parked the car, and Jimin got out first.
"Jiminie, go on inside. I need to talk to Yoon for a second," Namjoon said.
Jimin nodded and went ahead, leaving Namjoon and Yoongi alone for a moment.
"I want to apologize, Yoon. I’ve been acting weird, and I’m sorry," Namjoon admitted sincerely.
He then pulled out Yoongi’s phone from his pocket and handed it to the boy. "I don’t know how you ended up with this, but if you can, return it to Yoongi hyung."
Yoongi nodded in understanding before getting out of the car, and waving goodbye to Namjoon as he entered the house.
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Namjoon waited until nighttime to message Yoongi.
Namjoon: Hyung?
Minutes passed before a reply came.
Yoongi: I swear I’m going to kill you, Kim Namjoon.
Namjoon: Why??
Yoongi: Can you mind your fucking own business for once?
Yoongi: And leave Yoon alone.
Yoongi: Understood??
Namjoon: Alright, alright.
Namjoon: Sorry, hyung.
Yoongi: Fine, whatever.
Yoongi: Just don’t do anything weird again.
Namjoon sighed and finally got out of the car that he was staying in all this time, He walked up to knock on Taehyung’s house door.
It was Jungkook who answered. Namjoon quickly covered his mouth before he could speak, whispering urgently.
“Where’s Yoon?”
“In Jiminie hyung’s room,” Jungkook replied, confusion evident in his tone.
Namjoon made his way to the room and burst in without warning. Inside, Yoongi was holding a phone, he stared at him in shock. And quickly tried to hide it, but Namjoon had already seen it.
“Care to explain?” Namjoon asked, crossing his arms.
“What…what do you mean?” Yoongi stammered, his voice shaky.
Namjoon rolled his eyes, snatching the phone from behind Yoongi. “I was just talking to Yoongi hyung! Were you pretending to be him? Huh?!”
Tired of hiding the truth, Yoongi sighed and decided to come clean.
“Close the door and sit down. I’ll explain,” he said coolly, catching Namjoon completely off guard with his sudden composure.
Namjoon obeyed, sitting beside him.
“What you’re suspecting is true,” Yoongi began. “I’m Yoongi.”
Namjoon’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You’re kidding, right?!”
“Lower your voice!” Yoongi hissed, glaring at him. “I swear, if anyone hears you, consider yourself dead.”
Yoongi then began explaining everything that had happened, detailing how he ended up in this situation. At first, Namjoon didn’t believe him, but Yoongi’s signature insults eventually convinced him.
“I never thought I’d see you this close to Jiminie,” Namjoon teased, earning a dramatic eye roll from Yoongi.
“Alright, fine. I’ll admit it. He’s…not that annoying,” Yoongi muttered reluctantly.
“Finally! I’ve told you a hundred times, he’s nice,” Namjoon exclaimed triumphantly.
After a brief silence, Namjoon asked curiously, “So, what started all this tension between you two, anyway? You’ve been at each other’s throats since his first day at school.”
Yoongi smirked, leaning back as he recounted the story.
Jimin moved from Busan to Seoul with his friend Jungkook, who was two years younger, to pursue better educational opportunities. Through social media, Jimin had connected with Taehyung, who lived alone because his parents were frequently traveling. Taehyung offered them a place to stay, and in return, Jimin and Jungkook shared the costs of utilities and other expenses.
As a gesture of goodwill, Jimin decided to bake biscuits for his new neighbors. However, in a moment of distraction, he accidentally swapped salt for sugar, resulting in overly sweet biscuits—unfortunately, Yoongi’s least favorite kind of treat.
When Jimin offered the biscuits to Yoongi, the latter politely declined, explaining that he didn’t enjoy sweets. But Jimin insisted they weren’t sweet. Yoongi took a bite reluctantly, only to realize too late the cookies were completely inedible.
Yoongi was so irritated and accused Jimin of deliberately playing a prank on him. Despite Jimin's protests, insisting it was an honest mistake, the tension between them grew.
Seeing each other daily at school only worsened the situation, as Yoongi would confront Jimin about the incident, and Jimin would stubbornly defend his good intentions. What started as a misunderstanding quickly spiraled into a playful rivalry, with both seizing every opportunity to annoy the other.
“You’re something else, hyung,” Namjoon chuckled.
“You know I hate sweets,” Yoongi grumbled. “And don’t even get me started on the milk you gave me this morning!”
Namjoon burst into laughter, earning a sharp pinch on his thigh from Yoongi.
Their conversation was interrupted when Jimin opened the door, looking surprised.
“Hyung, haven’t you gone home yet?”
Namjoon stood, brushing himself off.
“Just having a chat with little Yoonie here.”
Jimin eyed him suspiciously but let it go as Namjoon left. He then turned to Yoongi.
“What did he want from you?” he asked, concern evident in his tone.
Yoongi rolled his eyes. “You’re annoying,” he muttered before heading to the bed, lying down as if to sleep.
Jimin yanked the blanket off him.
“No sleeping! Are you a sloth? You’ve already slept enough today. Go eat dinner first!”
“Is that really necessary?”
“Of course, it is! I don’t want Yoongi hyung scolding me for not taking good care of you,” Jimin huffed.
“What’s new? You two are always fighting.”
“This is different. Now get up and stop being so stubborn!”
Yoongi pursed his lips but eventually followed Jimin to the dining room. As soon as they entered, Taehyung scooped Yoongi up, making him yelp and smack Taehyung’s head in reflex.
“Have you gone feral?” Yoongi snapped.
Taehyung set him down ignoring him, and Yoongi stormed off to the kitchen, grabbing a seat and starting his dinner without waiting for anyone.
Jimin called Jungkook to join them, but when Jungkook arrived, there was no chair left for him.
“Really? Did Yoongi steal my spot while I was gone?” Jungkook grumbled.
“Why don’t you sit on my lap?” Jimin suggested to Yoongi with a playful grin.
“Gross. I’m not sitting on your lap,” Yoongi retorted immediately.
Jimin’s eyes widened. “But you did this morning! And you even asked me to feed you!”
“When did that happen? I don’t remember,” Yoongi denied flatly, continuing to eat.
Yoongi excused himself after finishing quickly, heading straight to Jimin’s room to sleep. Jungkook finally sat down, smiling as he dug into his meal.
Later that night, after dinner, Jimin sent Yoongi a message.
Jimin: Still busy?
Yoongi: What do you want? Let me sleep.
Yoongi: You’re so annoying.
Jimin: !!!
Jimin: Finally, you reply!
Yoongi: What are you, my girlfriend? Making a big deal out of two days?
Yoongi: What part of “I’m busy” didn’t you get?
Jimin: Fuck you!
Jimin: When are you coming back?
Yoongi: I don’t know. Stop asking me the same thing every time.
Yoongi: Talk about something else.
Jimin: Me? Talk to you? Gross.
Yoongi: …You know you message me every day, right?
Yoongi: Fine, you win.
Yoongi: I’m sorry.
Yoongi: Can we act normal now?
Jimin: Why are you suddenly apologizing?
Yoongi: For being unreasonable.
Yoongi: Sorry for always picking up on you for no reason.
Yoongi: I know you don’t actually hate me, so stop pretending.
Yoongi: It doesn’t suit you. The real Jimin is much nicer.
Jimin didn’t respond for several minutes, making Yoongi think he wasn't going to forgive him. Just as Yoongi was about to turn off his phone, Jimin finally replied.
Jimin: Can I call you?
Yoongi: Why?
Jimin: Just because.
Yoongi: Sorry, Jiminie. I really can’t.
Jimin: Idiot...
Jimin closed the chat, shut off his phone, and went to his room. Without a word, he lay down beside Yoongi, pulling him into a hug before falling asleep, just as Yoongi did.
●●●●●●
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Yoongi was playing a video game with Taehyung. Jungkook was wearing his headphones, immersed in his music while sketching something.
Jimin sighed in boredom and decided to message Yoongi to pass the time.
Jimin: Hey!
He waited for over half an hour without a reply, so he sent another message.
Jimin: Hello??
Exhaling in frustration, he turned to the two engrossed in their game. "Isn't there room for a third player?"
"Sorry, Jiminie," Taehyung replied, not looking away from the screen. "We only have two controllers."
Jimin frowned. "Fine. I'm going out," he said, grabbing his coat and slipping on his shoes.
He wandered aimlessly, strolling here and there, stopping occasionally to pet a cat he encountered. After a while, he headed to a café.
Ordering an iced latte, Jimin chose a table near the window and watched people pass by while sipping his drink.
With a sigh, he rested his head on the table in boredom. Taking out his phone, he decided to call Yoongi.
A few rings later, Yoongi finally answered with a groggy hum, catching Jimin off guard.
He sat up straight. "Hyung!"
Yoongi hummed again as if questioning him.
"Are you sleeping?" Jimin asked, frowning at the slurred tone of his voice.
Another hum followed, and soon Jimin heard soft snoring.
He hung up, muttering under his breath. "You finally answer my call, and you're asleep? I'm definitely kicking you when I see you."
After finishing his drink, Jimin made his way back home, stopping by a store to buy some groceries.
Upon entering the house, a burnt smell hit him. Sniffing the air, he followed the scent to the kitchen.
He rushed in to find smoke pouring out of the oven. Quickly turning it off, he opened it, coughing as the smoke billowed out.
He placed the burnt tray in the sink, turning on the cold water to cool it down. Once the smoke cleared, Jimin left the kitchen, ready to scold one of his roommates.
He found Jungkook dozing off on the couch, still wearing an apron and clutching a large spoon. Jimin couldn’t help but smile at the sight before gently shaking him awake.
Jungkook’s eyes flew open in panic, and he tried to run to the kitchen, but Jimin held him back.
"I already turned it off," Jimin reassured him. "But…it’s burnt."
Jungkook’s shoulders slumped, his head hanging low in disappointment. Jimin patted his back comfortingly. "It’s okay, Kookie. How about we order fried chicken instead? You love it, right?"
Jungkook’s face lit up, nodding enthusiastically. Grabbing his phone, he quickly placed an order for fried chicken and some soft drinks.
Meanwhile, Jimin headed to his room, only to find Yoongi sprawled messily on his bed, fast asleep.
Approaching him, Jimin noticed something lying beside Yoongi. Curious, he reached out, but Yoongi rolled over, covering the object with his body.
"Do you do anything besides sleep?" Jimin muttered, shaking him lightly. "Wake up! Go outside and get some fresh air."
Yoongi groaned something unintelligible, his voice hoarse from sleep. Jimin sighed, dragging him to the bathroom to wash his face despite Yoongi’s half-hearted protests.
"Where’s Taehyung?" Jimin asked as Yoongi dried his face. "He was playing with you before I left."
"He said he’s going to Hoseok’s," Yoongi replied, yawning.
"Hoseok hyung," Jimin corrected with a scolding tone. "He’s older than you. Show some respect."
Yoongi rolled his eyes but refrained from responding, stomping off to the living room as Jimin continued to nag him.
Jungkook was tidying up the living room, setting it up for their meal.
"You do know Taehyung isn’t here, and the dining table in the kitchen fits all of us, right?" Yoongi deadpanned.
Jungkook blinked in realization but quickly defended himself. "Well…I was setting up the living room so we could watch a movie while eating!"
Yoongi smirked sarcastically, dropping onto the couch. Before he could drift off again, Jimin scolded him, forcing him to stay awake. Yoongi grumbled, eventually storming off to his own house for some peace and quiet.
Jimin assumed he’d gone to the yard to play and didn’t think much of it.
Yoongi has been sleeping a lot lately, an unusual amount of sleep. It's like his body is tired and exhausted all the time because of the curse that turned him into a kid.
When the food finally arrived, Jimin sent Jungkook to call Yoongi back inside. However, Jungkook returned looking anxious.
"He’s not there," Jungkook stammered, panic evident in his voice.
Alarmed, Jimin dashed out with Jungkook, calling out Yoongi’s name. They searched the neighborhood, checking every corner, but there was no sign of him.
"What are you two doing out here?" Taehyung asked as he returned from Hoseok’s house.
Jimin turned to him, his face crumpling with worry. "Yoongi’s gone. We’ve been looking for him for over an hour, and there’s no trace of him!"
Taehyung paled at the news. "Should we call the police?"
"You know how it works, Tae," Jimin replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "They won’t consider it serious until enough time has passed."
"But he’s a kid! I’ll flip the station upside down if I have to," Taehyung declared.
Jungkook quickly called Namjoon, hoping the elder would help. Namjoon, ever the level-headed one, promised to handle the situation, though he was already seething at Yoongi’s recklessness.
Several calls later, Yoongi finally picked up, his voice groggy from sleep.
"Seriously, hyung? You’re sleeping while everyone is about to faint from worry? Move your lazy butt and get back to them now!" Namjoon barked.
Startled awake, Yoongi muttered an apology, he stretched and washed his face before stepping outside.
His movements were slow and lethargic as he walked, but he hadn’t even crossed the boundary of his home when a loud voice startled him.
Sighing, he braced himself for the inevitable scolding, covering his ears as the lecture began.
"Don’t you ever leave without informing one of us again. Understood?" Jimin’s stern voice cut through the air, his expression serious.
Yoongi rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I was just at my house! For heaven’s sake, I’m not a child."
"But you are a child," Jimin shot back, unimpressed. "Stop acting like you’re all grown up. I’ll overlook your lack of respect, but not this. With Yoongi hyung away, I’m responsible for you, and I won’t let anything happen to you. Ever!"
Yoongi glanced at Jimin, noticing the concern and reproach in his eyes. Guilt washed over him, making him lower his head in shame.
"I’m sorry," he mumbled softly, his voice barely audible, paired with a deep frown. "I didn’t think you’d all worry so much."
Jimin crouched slightly to meet his gaze, a gentle smile softening his features as he ruffled Yoongi’s hair. "Of course, we’d worry, Yoon. You’re our sweet little one. If you disappeared for even a minute, it’d shake us. Imagine two hours? Please, Yoon, stop being so reckless." His tone was filled with warmth, making Yoongi feel his significance within the group.
"I don’t know how you lived before coming here," Jimin continued, his voice softer now. "What you did or how you managed. But the habits from your old home won’t work here. I don’t care if you don’t call me hyung, or if you throw around bad words or act out. I’ll accept all of you, love all of you, and care for all of you. But disappearing like this? It’s unacceptable—completely unacceptable. Worrying us, scaring us… what if something happened to you? What if someone took you? You’re still so young, Yoon. Please, don’t ever leave without letting us know."
His voice trembled slightly by the end, and Yoongi lowered his head even more, guilt swirling within him.
Jimin pulled him into a strong hug, and soon Taehyung and Jungkook joined in, wrapping him in warmth and affection.
A few salty tears slipped from Yoongi’s eyes, though he tried to keep them hidden. But when he felt the silent tears of the one hugging him—someone two years younger than him—his heart clenched. He cursed himself over and over for his actions, unable to believe they cared this much.
"I thought I’d lost you," Jimin whispered shakily, his voice breaking. "I blamed myself for not paying closer attention, for assuming you were just in the yard, for not checking on you sooner. I was so scared something terrible had happened to you. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself." Tears streamed down Jimin’s cheeks as he clung tighter to Yoongi, his sobs now audible.
Yoongi’s regret deepened as he spoke. "I’m sorry. Don’t cry. I won’t do it again. Look, I’m here. I’m fine." His voice was filled with remorse as he tried to comfort Jimin, who took a deep breath, calming himself.
After what felt like a dramatic scene unfolding in the middle of the street, the group finally returned home.
"The chicken’s gone cold," Jungkook grumbled, pouting.
"Heat it up. Don't be such a kid," Yoongi quipped, earning a glare from Jungkook.
"I’m at least seven years older than you," Jungkook retorted with annoyance.
"Sure, sure," Yoongi replied mockingly, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Jungkook ignored him, heading to the kitchen to reheat the food, while Yoongi sank deep into thought.
He wondered how different his summer break would’ve been if none of this had happened. He’d likely have spent every day in his room, staring at the walls, occasionally texting a friend to avoid being forgotten. Eating just enough to stay alive, all while drowning in his dark thoughts, slipping further into the abyss of his depression.
But now, things were different. He was active, eating well, sleeping well, and connecting with people. He was taking care of himself, and more importantly, others were taking care of him too.
For a moment, he felt a twinge of gratitude for the strange twist of fate that had brought him here, even if it meant reliving the body of his eight-year-old self. Perhaps he was even thankful for Jimin’s persistence in bringing him into this home.
"Yoon!" Jimin’s sharp voice brought him back to reality.
"Huh? What?" Yoongi blinked, realizing Jimin had been calling him for a while.
"You were zoning out. Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?" Jimin asked with concern.
Yoongi shook his head with a small smile. "No, I was just thinking how lucky I am to be here."
Jimin’s expression softened, and he returned the smile. "We’re the lucky ones to have you here. Now come on, let’s eat before the food gets cold again. Jungkook will really get mad this time."
Nodding, Yoongi followed Jimin to the kitchen, where they joined Jungkook for their very late lunch.
●●●●●●
○○○○○○
●●●●●●
Jimin decided to tidy up the house's yard. He trimmed the trees, pulled out weeds, and planted more flowers.
The task took him the entire day, but he enjoyed the work—it was far better than sitting idly at home, bored.
It was summer, and the heat coupled with his hard work left him drenched in sweat. He decided to shower as soon as he was done, but the bathroom was occupied. So instead, he went to his room and turned the air conditioner on high.
He left his door open so he could hear when the bathroom became available. A few minutes later, he heard the bathroom door open and rushed over.
It was Yoongi who had been showering. He stepped out in light pajamas with his damp hair clinging to his face.
"Dry your hair properly, Yoon!" Jimin warned him before stepping into the bathroom.
He took his time in the shower, letting his sore muscles relax in the warm water. By the time he emerged, his body felt lighter.
Jimin headed to his room to grab the hairdryer, but he didn’t notice Yoongi asleep on the bed.
Later, with Jungkook’s help, Jimin prepared dinner. Once everything was ready, he went to call Yoongi, only to find him sprawled on the bed, holding his towel loosely.
Smiling, Jimin approached and reached for the towel, but as his hand brushed against Yoongi’s, he noticed how cold it was.
“Oh no! I forgot to turn off the AC!”
He quickly switched it off, returning to find Yoongi’s hair still damp and his body shivering slightly. Jimin tried to wake him, but Yoongi didn’t stir.
Jimin dressed him in warm clothes, dried his hair wrapped him tightly in the blanket, and left him.
After dinner, Jimin returned to his room and slipped into bed beside Yoongi, holding him close to provide some more warmth.
In the middle of the night, Yoongi stirred, trying to wriggle free from Jimin’s arms.
“What’s wrong, Yoon?” Jimin asked groggily.
“What’s wrong with you? It’s summer! I’m going to drown in my own sweat if you don’t let go,” Yoongi grumbled irritably.
Embarrassed, Jimin released him, watching as Yoongi peeled off the heavy clothes, slipped back into his pajamas, and turned the AC on before returning to bed.
Jimin was awakened again, this time by Yoongi’s faint whimpering.
“Yoon?” he called softly, noticing the furrowed brows on Yoongi’s face as he slept.
Hesitating, Jimin placed a hand on Yoongi’s forehead. It was burning hot—he had a fever. Sighing, Jimin fetched cold compresses, carefully placing them on Yoongi’s forehead before lying down beside him again.
“Jiminie hyung… wake up.”
Jimin opened his eyes slowly to see Jungkook standing over him. He sat up immediately, concerned. “Is Yoon okay?”
“Kind of. Taehyung hyung helped him take a lukewarm bath. He’s feeling a bit better now.”
Relieved, Jimin freshened up and joined the others in the living room, just as Yoon sneezed from across the room.
Jimin quickly prepared a hot herbal drink and handed it to Yoongi, who gulped it down, wincing.
“My head hurts,” Yoongi murmured hoarsely, leaning against Jimin’s lap.
Jimin quickly grabbed his phone and dialed Namjoon, informing him of the situation and asking him to take them to the hospital. However, Yoongi tugged at Jimin's shirt, shaking his head firmly.
Yoongi didn’t want to go. He had no official documents—no ID, nothing that proved his existence. He wasn’t considered a real person in the eyes of the system. The thought of causing trouble for Jimin at the hospital made him adamant about staying.
“Why, Yoon?” Jimin asked, his voice filled with concern. “You’re unwell. You need to go to the hospital.”
“I-I can't...” Yoongi stammered. “I don’t want to go.”
Namjoon, overhearing, interjected gently, “It’s okay, Jimin. Don’t force him. I’ll contact Jin hyung instead.”
“But he’s busy with medical school,” Jimin countered.
“He’s not, he's in summer break too, you know.”
Jimin nodded. “Alright, we’ll wait for you both.”
After ending the call, Jimin placed his hand on Yoongi’s forehead. “Your fever’s still high…”
Yoongi began muttering incoherently, his fever-induced hallucinations taking over.
“M-Mom… don’t… go. I’m... sorry...” he whispered, his voice trembling.
Jimin gently stroked his head, trying to comfort him. “It’s okay, Yoon. It's okay.”
“Dad… please… not you too…” Yoongi mumbled before breaking into tears.
Jimin’s heart ached at the sight. “Yoon, it’s okay. I’m here with you.”
Exhausted, Yoongi eventually fell asleep in Jimin’s arms. His fever burned hotter than before.
Namjoon and Jin finally arrived, greeted by Taehyung, who led them inside.
“Is he asleep?” Jin whispered, and Jimin nodded.
Jin leaned in to feel Yoongi’s forehead. “Oh my... he’s burning up!”
Turning to Taehyung, Jin requested, “Can you bring me the thermometer?”
Taehyung complied, and Jin carefully placed the thermometer under Yoongi’s tongue.
“39 degrees,” Jin muttered, glancing at the reading.
He examined Yoongi further, noting his symptoms. He checked his pulse and breathing.
“His heartbeat is faster than normal. Has he been hallucinating?” Jin asked.
Jimin confirmed with a nod.
“I’ll try to lower his body temperature, but if it doesn’t work, we’ll have to take him to the hospital. This isn’t just a mild fever.”
Namjoon carried Yoongi to the bedroom, laying him gently on the bed. Jin adjusted the air conditioning to a mild setting.
“Don’t cover him with heavy blankets, Namjoon. Let his body cool down. It’ll help reduce the fever.”
Jin left to prepare cold compresses, while Namjoon sat by Yoongi’s side.
“Was he crying?” Namjoon asked looking at Yoongi's red eyes.
Jimin nodded, his expression somber. “He mentioned his parents... then started crying. Losing them at such a young age must’ve been devastating.”
Namjoon hummed quietly, watching Yoongi’s restless expressions as he slept.
Jin returned with cold compresses, placing them on Yoongi’s forehead and neck. “Can you make sure to change these regularly? I’ll head to the pharmacy to get some medicine.”
Jimin agreed, and Jin left. Namjoon remained seated beside Yoongi.
“How did he get this fever?” Namjoon asked.
Jimin lowered his head, guilt evident in his voice. “The air conditioning was set too cold, and he had just finished showering with wet hair. I should’ve been more careful. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Jiminie. He’ll get better by tomorrow,” Namjoon reassured him.
“I hope so…” Jimin muttered, his brows furrowed with worry.
Yoongi stirred in his sleep, mumbling, “M-Mom... no.” Jimin immediately reached out, brushing his hair soothingly.
“It’s okay, Yoon. Everything’s fine.”
Namjoon’s voice softened. “He’s probably dreaming about the day he lost them.”
Namjoon knew the details of Yoongi’s past—how he lost his parents, how it shattered him, and how long it took for Yoongi to come out of his shell. He feared this fever might pull Yoongi back into that dark place.
Noticing Yoongi clutching his shirt tightly, Jimin took his hand, letting Yoongi’s grip relax as his furrowed brows eased.
“I know he can be so rude, but he's actually really sweet,” Jimin murmured with a small smile, glancing at their joined hands. “I think everything he’s been through must’ve left him fragile, he's just trying to protect himself by acting tough.”
Jin returned with the medicine, coaxing the reluctant Yoongi to eat a little before taking it.
While Yoongi rested, the group gathered in the living room.
“I miss Yoongi,” Jin said wistfully. “This is the longest I’ve gone without seeing him. He’s usually at home, sipping his coffee whenever I visit.”
“That coffee is the only thing that gets him up during the day,” Jungkook chuckled, earning laughter from everyone.
“If Jimin had offered him coffee the first time they met, they’d never have fought,” Namjoon teased.
“He was the one who got mad over biscuits!” Jimin protested with a pout.
“On your first day, you got called to the principal’s office! That was hilarious,” Taehyung added, laughing.
“Shut up, Taehyung!” Jimin huffed. “How was I supposed to know he hates sweets? And it was an accident! Did he really have to overreact?”
“You’re still arguing about it?” Jin asked, wide-eyed.
“Well… he sent me an apology a few days ago. But I’m not sure…”
“Make peace, Jiminie,” Namjoon advised. “I spoke to him before he apologized. He feels bad about arguing with you. He was just having a bad day, and you standing your ground made things escalate. You know how he is. It was just a bad first impression. He told me he wants to be friends with you.”
“R-Really? He said that?” Jimin’s eyes widened.
Namjoon nodded, prompting Jimin to pull out his phone and send Yoongi a message.
Jimin: Hyuuuung!
Jimin: Hyung?
Jimin: Hyung, hyung, hyung!
Jimin: Yoongi hyung!
Jimin: Hyungnim!
Jimin: Yoongi!
Frustrated by the lack of response, Jimin grumbled, “He’s not answering.”
“Do you expect everyone to respond instantly, Jimin?” Taehyung teased, earning a glare.
Yoongi: What is it?
Jimin’s face lit up. “He replied!”
Namjoon frowned whispering to himself. “He should be resting, not on his phone.”
Jimin: I’m sorry about everything.
Jimin: Can we be friends?
Jimin: No more silly fights?
Yoongi: Of course! I’m sorry too.
Jimin: What are you doing?
Yoongi: Lying in bed.
Jimin: All you do is sleep :<
Yoongi: I’m tired, Jiminie.
Yoongi: Let me rest.
Yoongi: My head hurts.
Yoongi: I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?
Jimin: What’s this?!
Jimin: I barely get to talk to you!
Jimin: When are you coming back? :(
Yoongi: I’m sorry, Jiminie.
Yoongi: It’s not up to me.
Yoongi: If I could, I’d stay at home.
Yoongi: You know how much I love being home.
Yoongi: But… life doesn’t always go as we plan.
Jimin: Fine…
Jimin: Just promise you’ll talk to me when you wake up!
Yoongi: Alright.
Jimin: Goodnight!
Jimin: Sleep well~
Jimin: sweet dreams.
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Jimin: I’ll pay ten dollars!
Yoongi: No, Jimin.
Yoongi: I can’t tell you.
Yoongi: Please, drop the subject already.
Jimin: But I’m curious!
Jimin: I want to know where you are and what you’re doing.
Jimin: It’s impossible for you to waste this precious break doing anything other than staying home.
Jimin: That’s why I’m curious.
Yoongi: How about you go out today?
Yoongi: The weather’s nice.
Jimin: No one wants to hang out with me :<
Yoongi: Not even one out of the five of them??
Jimin: Taehyung is busy playing video games.
Jimin: Jin hyung and Jungkook are going fishing.
Jimin: Hoseok hyung and Namjoon hyung are heading to the beach.
Yoongi: Why not play with Taehyung?
Yoongi: Or tag along with Jin hyung and Jungkook to fish?
Yoongi: Or Namjoon and Hoseok?
Jimin: I’m terrible at video games, so we end up fighting.
Jimin: And do you really expect me to catch a fish, get it out of its home, kill it, and let someone eat it?
Jimin: As for the beach, it’s too far, and I’ll get carsick. No thanks.
Yoongi: Then take a nap.
Jimin: Wow, what a brilliant solution.
Jimin: Unlike you, hyung, I don’t just sleep whenever I’m bored.
Jungkook knocked on the bathroom door, yelling, “Yoon! Hurry up! I’ve been waiting for an hour!”
“Just wait a little longer!” Yoongi called back.
Yoongi: Read a book.
Jimin: I’ve already read all the books I own...
Yoongi: You have a key to my house, right?
Yoongi: There’s a small bookshelf in my room.
Yoongi: Pick whatever you like.
Jimin: Really??
Yoongi: Yes.
Jimin: Thanks!
Jimin: I’m heading over now.
Jimin: I’ll talk to you later.
“I swear, if you don’t come out now, you’ll be the one cleaning up the mess I make!” Jungkook shouted again, prompting Yoongi to finally open the door and step out.
“Why are you yelling so much? I said I’d be out soon! No need to bang on the door and scream,” Yoongi muttered irritably.
Jungkook rolled his eyes, quickly slipped into the bathroom, and shut the door. Meanwhile, Yoongi headed toward Jimin’s room.
“Yoon! I was just about to call you,” Jimin greeted him.
“What for?”
“I’m heading to Yoongi hyung’s house to borrow some books. Come with me!”
“Why should I? Go by yourself.”
“Jungkook’s leaving now, and Taehyung’s so engrossed in his game, he wouldn’t notice even if a rocket hit the house. You can’t stay here alone.”
Yoongi sighed but followed Jimin begrudgingly. They went to Yoongi’s house and made their way to his room at the end of the hall.
As soon as they entered, Yoongi threw himself onto his bed, clearly missing it, while Jimin crouched in front of the small bookshelf, flipping through the books, trying to find something he’d like.
“You still haven’t decided? It’s been twenty minutes—or more. Just let me know if you’re going to take longer so I can nap,” Yoongi grumbled impatiently.
“I’m torn between these two. I can’t decide,” Jimin admitted.
“Simple. Take both. Let’s head back.”
“Can I really do that?”
Yoongi exhaled deeply. “Yes. Please let's go.”
Jimin frowned thoughtfully before pulling out his phone to send Yoongi a message, asking if he could take two books instead of one.
A notification sound chimed at the same time, making Jimin’s eyes widen. “Did you hear that?”
“H-Hear what?” Yoongi feigned ignorance.
Jimin sent another message, and the sound rang again. “I heard it!” he exclaimed, while Yoongi fumbled to silence his phone in his pocket, growing more anxious by the second.
Jimin approached the bed, making Yoongi squirm, but instead of confronting him, Jimin crouched to search under the bed.
Taking the opportunity, Yoongi quickly pulled his phone from his pocket, scrambling to put it on silent mode. But just as he was about to, Jimin popped back up from under the bed.
“I found it! It was on the bed!” Yoongi blurted nervously, handing the phone to Jimin.
“This is hyung’s phone! Why is it here? I’m sure I messaged him half an hour ago!”
Yoongi stayed silent, unsure how to explain himself.
“If his phone is here, that means he was here too! That liar! I’m going to burn his ears off when I see him, mark my words!” Jimin fumed, furious at the idea of Yoongi avoiding him while being in his house all this time.
Jimin sat beside Yoongi on the bed, crossing his arms in anger. “If he forgot his phone, he’ll have to come back for it eventually. I’m not moving until he does!”
“J-Jiminie, I’m starving. Let’s go back home for lunch, hmm?” Yoongi suggested, trying to defuse the situation.
Jimin stared at him for a long moment before standing up. “Fine, but I’m taking the phone with me. If he wants it, he’ll have to come see me,” he declared firmly.
Jimin went to Yoongi’s desk, searching for a sticky note. He scribbled a message, intending to leave it for Yoongi.
Yoongi let out a deep sigh, approaching Jimin to stop him from carrying out his plan.
“If he’s really avoiding you, he can just buy a new phone. There’s no guarantee he’d come to see you,” Yoongi reasoned.
Jimin turned to him, slightly taken aback.
“You talk to him all the time on the phone. So why would he avoid you? Unless he has a good reason for not seeing you. No one’s seen him since the last day of school—not you, not anyone. I’m sure he has his reasons. Why not trust him a little?”
Jimin considered Yoongi’s words carefully. With a sigh, he crumpled the note, tossing it into the trash. He wrote something else and placed it on Yoongi’s bed along with the phone.
“Alright, let’s go. We need to feed your growling stomach!” Jimin teased, flashing Yoongi a smile.
They left the house and headed to theirs, entering it just as Taehyung was stepping out.
"Where are you going?" Jimin asked curiously.
"Hoseok hyung and Namjoon hyung are heading to the beach. Won’t you join us?"
Jimin shook his head. "No. You guys have fun."
"Can I come with you instead?" Yoongi asked hesitantly, earning a smile from Taehyung.
"Of course!"
"But have lunch first before you leave," Jimin interjected. "The trip is a bit long, and you’ll get hungry on the way."
Both Yoongi and Taehyung nodded reluctantly and went back inside. After everyone finished eating.
"You sure you won't join us?" Taehyung asked before stepping out.
Jimin nodded. "Enjoy yourselves."
He waved them off and headed to his room, deciding to take a nap while the other two departed.
"I forgot something at my place. I’ll be back quickly," Yoongi said abruptly, leaving a puzzled Taehyung behind as he ran back home.
Once there, he grabbed his phone, ensuring it was on silent, and turned it off before slipping it into his pocket.
When he returned, Taehyung took hold of his hand and squeezed it gently.
"Let go of my hand," Yoongi muttered in irritation.
"Nope. You might get lost. We’re walking to Namjoon’s house, so hold on tightly."
Yoongi looked away in silent protest but didn’t pull his hand back as they made their way to Namjoon’s home, which wasn’t too far.
After about thirty minutes of walking, they arrived just as Hoseok reached the house and Namjoon stepped out.
Before everyone got into the car, Yoongi tugged on Namjoon’s hand, catching his attention. "Can we talk? It’s important."
Namjoon glanced at the others, who looked on curiously and said, "I’ll be back in a moment. Don’t mind us, heh."
He led Yoongi a short distance away from the car, crouching down to match his height.
"I’m in trouble," Yoongi admitted, his voice tinged with frustration.
Namjoon tilted his head, listening intently.
"Jimin came to my house with me to grab a book. I had my phone with me, and it made a sound when Jimin texted me. He realized it was mine."
Yoongi took a deep breath before continuing, "He thinks I came home without telling him on purpose and is avoiding him. I don’t know what to say or do. He’s upset... and hurt."
Namjoon offered a calming smile. "Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him. Leave it to me." Then he asked. "Isn’t it strange for you to join us? I know you prefer staying home."
Yoongi looked away. "I'm avoiding Jimin, I don’t want to see him upset."
Namjoon church at him before they both went to the car.
In the car, Hoseok asked Taehyung, "What about Jimin?"
"I don’t know. He didn’t seem fine to me." Taehyung admitted. "He looked sad but didn’t want to join..."
"The trip is long, and you know how he gets carsick easily," Namjoon guessed. "Maybe he felt lonely but didn’t want to come along either to not end up sick."
The group fell silent for a moment before Hoseok spoke again, "Should we cancel the trip? Maybe we could go somewhere else or just stay with Jimin. I feel bad for him."
Namjoon nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let’s postpone the beach trip for another day."
Taehyung quickly agreed, and while Yoongi remained silent, he didn’t object.
Namjoon started the car. "Let’s stop by a grocery store and stock up on snacks. We can watch a movie or play games together instead."
They returned to Taehyung’s house, carrying a chaotic assortment of snacks and calling out for Jimin, who seemed to be in his room.
"I’ll get him!" Hoseok volunteered, heading to Jimin’s room.
The lights were off, and Jimin was curled up under his blanket. Smiling, Hoseok jumped onto the bed, playfully disturbing him.
"Hyung, stop," Jimin groaned, turning to face the other side.
Unfazed, Hoseok continued pestering him until Jimin reluctantly sat up, rubbing his messy hair with a pout. He got up and trudged to the bathroom to freshen up.
The five of them spent the evening in cheerful chaos, playing games, watching a loud comedy movie, and enjoying each other’s company until night fell.
"Jiminie, can we talk privately?" Namjoon whispered to Jimin, who sat beside him.
Jimin looked at him curiously but followed him to his room.
"Yoongi hyung told me what happened," Namjoon began.
"And why are you justifying his actions instead of him? Why can’t he explain himself? I don’t want to hear it," Jimin said firmly.
"Jiminie, please listen to me," Namjoon insisted, holding his wrist gently.
After a moment’s hesitation, Jimin sat on the bed, crossing his arms as a sign he would hear Namjoon out.
"Promise me you won’t tell Yoongi hyung about this conversation first," Namjoon asked.
Jimin nodded, albeit confused.
"Alright. I won’t lie to you. I’ll tell you what I can, but not everything—I’m sorry, I just can’t."
Jimin gave an understanding nod, and Namjoon continued, "That day, when you two were cleaning the storage room as punishment and Yoongi hyung left before you, that’s when everything started. Something happened to him, but he doesn’t want anyone to know. I don’t know why, but I understand him. You should too. He didn’t distance himself by choice; he was forced to. He’s not avoiding you because he wants to, but because he feels he has to. He’s afraid of you seeing him like this—afraid of facing all of us, really. But trust me, Jimin, he doesn’t hate you. He’s not lying to you or ignoring you. He’s just scared. A lot changed for him after that day, including how he sees you. Your relationship has improved, hasn’t it? So... can you forgive him? He’s terrified of confronting you."
The room fell silent as Jimin processed Namjoon’s words. Finally, he spoke softly, "You’re right, hyung. I need to understand what he’s going through."
Namjoon smiled and patted Jimin’s shoulder. "Let’s get back to the others, then."
Jimin returned the smile but declined. "It’s late already. You go ahead, I will sleep."
"Alright!" Namjoon replied enthusiastically before leaving Jimin’s room and walking over to Yoongi.
"It’s handled," he whispered, earning a quiet, grateful smile from Yoongi.
●●●●●●
○○○○○○
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"And a strawberry milk," Jimin added to the waiter taking their orders, making Yoongi frown.
"Could you make it with soy milk?" Yoongi asked the waiter.
"Of course, young sir," the waiter replied with a smile, bowing before leaving.
Jimin gave Yoongi a puzzled look, to which Yoongi explained, "I’m lactose intolerant. It really messes up my stomach."
"Like Yoongi hyung?" Jungkook asked, and Yoongi nodded in confirmation.
"But you drank milk the other day," Jimin said, confused before his eyes widened in realization. "Oh! That’s why your stomach acted up and you threw up!"
Yoongi nodded slightly, prompting Jimin to sigh. "Why didn’t you tell me before?"
Yoongi remained silent.
"What’s with you, Jiminie?" Taehyung chimed in without looking up from his phone. "You eat spicy food too, even though it’s bad for your stomach. You’ve got no right to scold him."
Jimin frowned in dissatisfaction, crossing his arms.
Yoongi excused himself to go to the restroom, and Taehyung seized the moment to whisper to Jimin. "What’s up with him? I know he’s usually quiet, and his expression’s always hard to read, but he seems off today."
"Exactly! I noticed it too, but I thought I was imagining things," Jimin admitted.
"Maybe he’s homesick?" Jungkook suggested. "He’s been staying with us for over a month now."
Jimin lowered his gaze. "He told me he doesn’t have a family. Maybe something happened, and that’s why he came to stay with Yoongi hyung. But even hyung isn’t around. You’re right, Jungkook... he must feel lonely and miss them..."
When Yoongi returned, the group quickly changed the subject, chatting randomly.
Yoongi seemed distant, sipping his drink slowly while everyone else had already finished theirs.
"Yoon?" Jimin called softly, but he didn’t respond. Jimin furrowed his brows.
"Yoon!" he called out firmly, raising his voice slightly, which got Yoongi’s attention.
"Huh? What is it?" Yoongi asked, looking startled.
"What’s on your mind?" Jimin pressed.
"Nothing," Yoongi murmured.
"Then finish your drink. We’re heading out," Taehyung said.
"What? But we haven’t been here long! I don’t want to go back home yet," Jungkook complained.
"What else are we supposed to do at a café, Jungkook? Dance? Let’s go already," Taehyung replied, standing and heading out, with Jungkook following reluctantly.
Jimin stayed behind with Yoongi, who was still sipping his drink absentmindedly.
"Do you miss your family?" Jimin asked softly.
Yoongi’s eyes widened in surprise before he quickly composed himself. "Oh... yeah," he admitted.
Jimin pulled him into a gentle hug. "You’re so strong, Yoon. Losing your family at such a young age... it must’ve been so hard. Yoongi hyung might not be here, but I’m here for you, Yoonie! We’re all here for you. You matter to us, and we love you so much. Don’t ever think you’re alone, because you’re not. You’ve got all of us."
Yoongi’s voice wavered as he whispered, "Th-thank you, Jiminie," lowering his head to hide the tears threatening to spill.
Jimin stood up, hoisting Yoongi onto his shoulders, which made Yoongi gasp in alarm. Jimin laughed at his reaction.
"Put me down! People are staring!" Yoongi grumbled, pouting deeply.
Jimin chuckled, carrying him out of the café to join Taehyung and Jungkook, who were chatting nearby.
"Let’s go to the karaoke!" Jungkook suggested excitedly, and Taehyung quickly agreed. Both turned to Jimin, waiting for his answer.
"Karaoke sounds fun," Jimin agreed.
"Can I go home instead?" Yoongi asked.
"It’ll be fun, Yoon! You hardly ever go out," Jungkook tried to encourage him, but Yoongi remained insistent on returning home.
"If you don’t want to leave me alone, just drop me off at Namjoon’s," Yoongi proposed as a last resort, and they agreed.
Jimin called Namjoon to inform him, and after dropping Yoongi off, the group headed to the karaoke.
"I’ve been calling you nonstop, hyung! Why was your phone off?" Namjoon asked when Yoongi arrived.
"The battery died two days ago. I didn’t get the chance to charge it without someone noticing it," Yoongi answered calmly.
"No worries. Shall we go now?" Namjoon asked. Yoongi nodded quietly.
Namjoon grabbed his keys and wallet, and they left the house together.
They stopped by a flower shop, where Namjoon got out to buy a bouquet before they drove to their destination.
When they arrived, Namjoon turned off the engine. "Take your time, hyung. I’ll come to greet them in a bit," he said.
Yoongi nodded, stepping out of the car with the flowers in hand.
He took a deep breath before walking into the cemetery. He approached two gravestones side by side, placing the flowers gently on one of them.
"Mom, Dad... I’m here," he said with a bittersweet smile. "Have you missed me? Because I miss you. A lot..."
"I probably look different this year, don’t I?" he added with a small chuckle.
Yoongi talked for a while, sharing everything on his mind, doing his best not to cry in front of them.
After some time, Namjoon joined him, offering his respects before they both left together.
"We usually go for soju after this," Namjoon joked with a quiet laugh.
"Ha-ha, hilarious," Yoongi replied sarcastically. "I’ve really been missing coffee, though."
Namjoon smiled. "Iced black coffee, just the way you like it!"
"Finally!" Yoongi exclaimed, making Namjoon laugh as they stopped by a coffee shop.
Namjoon went in alone and returned with two cups of iced black coffee. Yoongi grabbed his cup eagerly, taking a big sip.
"Ah, how I’ve missed you, my love. I promise I’ll never leave you again," Yoongi declared dramatically.
Namjoon rolled his eyes at his theatrics as they drove back home, chuckling along the way.
Namjoon checked his phone as they parked.
"My parents are back home," he said, glancing at Yoongi.
"No, please! Your mom will suffocate me with her hugs. Just take me back to Jiminie," Yoongi pleaded, his tone desperate.
Namjoon chuckled softly but started driving toward Taehyung’s house.
Unfortunately for them, a police officer pulled them over during his night patrol.
Namjoon rolled down the window with a polite smile. "Is there a problem, Officer?"
"Plenty! A child shouldn’t be sitting in the front seat, especially without a seatbelt. And are you seriously giving a kid coffee? Are you trying to harm him?"
Namjoon stiffened, bowing his head slightly in apology. "I swear, Officer, we just left the house. We're heading to the next block, and the coffee is mine. He’s just holding it for me."
The officer raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I saw him drinking it. Don’t lie to me."
Yoongi rolled his eyes, unimpressed.
"Since when is drinking coffee illegal? Just keep patrolling and find some actual criminals," he replied nonchalantly, earning a shocked expression from the officer.
Namjoon forced an awkward smile, quickly taking the coffee from Yoongi’s hands and buckling him in.
"It won’t happen again, Officer. Have a good night!" he said before rolling up the window and driving away.
As they pulled away, Namjoon sighed. "Could you not hold your tongue for once?"
Yoongi ignored him, reclaiming his coffee and taking another sip.
"Are you still not done with that?" Namjoon asked, exasperated.
"I haven’t had coffee in over a month! Let me enjoy every single drop," Yoongi retorted, savoring the drink.
Namjoon shook his head, focusing on the road. They soon arrived at Taehyung’s house. Before Namjoon could knock, Yoongi opened the door and let himself in.
"Back already, Yoon?" Jimin asked with a warm smile, but Yoongi ignored him and went straight to his room.
Jimin frowned at being ignored but quickly brightened when he saw Namjoon. "Welcome, hyung!"
"Hey, Jimin," Namjoon greeted, closing the door behind him.
"What’s up with Yoon? He’s been acting strange today," Jimin asked, his brows furrowing.
Namjoon sighed, lowering his voice.
"It’s the anniversary of his parents’ passing."
Jimin’s eyes widened in realization. "Really? I didn’t know..."
"He might not sleep well tonight, so stay close to him, Jimin. Even if he tries to push you away, just hold him until he feels better."
"Of course, hyung. I’ll take care of him," Jimin promised.
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, guilt creeping into his voice. "I wish I’d known sooner. We dragged him out instead of letting him spend time with his family."
Namjoon shook his head with a small smile. "You did the right thing. If he’d stayed home, he would’ve just locked himself in his room and cried all day. Don’t worry; I took him to visit his parents’ graves."
Jimin nodded, smiling faintly as Namjoon stood to leave. "Take care, Jimin. I’ll see you later."
"Goodbye, hyung," Jimin replied warmly.
As Namjoon left, Jimin muttered to himself, "Wait, did Yoon eat dinner?"
Standing up, Jimin made his way to his room, opening the door quietly in case Yoongi was asleep. Sure enough, Yoongi was curled up under the blanket, his eyes closed.
Jimin approached from the side and crouched down, brushing Yoongi’s hair gently with one hand while holding his smaller hand with the other.
"They’re in a better place now, right?" Yoongi asked in a whisper, not opening his eyes.
Jimin shook his head gently. "No, they’re right here," he said, pressing a finger lightly to Yoongi’s chest.
Yoongi opened his eyes slightly, his expression curious.
"People don’t truly die when their souls are taken. They’re only gone when we forget them. As long as you keep your happy memories of them alive, they’ll always be with you. If you ever feel lost, just close your eyes. You’ll find them waiting for you with a smile, ready to guide you."
Jimin leaned forward to place a tender kiss on Yoongi’s forehead before standing.
"Don’t overthink it, Yoon. Just rest."
As Jimin tried to let go of his hand, Yoongi tightened his grip. "It’s warm... like my mom’s. I don’t remember her touch anymore, but I’m sure it was just as warm as this," Yoongi murmured, his voice trembling.
Jimin smiled down at him, squeezing his hand gently. "I’ll always be here for you, Yoon. You’re not alone. I’ll be your family from now on."
Yoongi gave him a small, grateful smile, and Jimin returned it warmly.
"Did you eat dinner?" Jimin asked after a moment.
Yoongi turned his head away, mumbling, "I did."
"Liar! Let’s go make you something," Jimin declared firmly, pulling Yoongi out of bed despite his protests.
●●●●●●
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Jimin: Will you be back tomorrow?
Yoongi: Maybe, Jiminie.
Yoongi: I’m not sure, really.
Yoongi: I’d like to come back, but I’m unsure.
Jimin: Alright…
Jimin: Don’t pressure yourself, hyung.
Jimin: Make sure you’re taking breaks now and then.
Jimin: I don’t know what’s keeping you busy,
Jimin: But if it’s something tiring, remember to take some time to rest.
Jimin: Don’t overwork yourself.
Yoongi: It’s not exhausting, don’t worry.
Yoongi: I’ve been resting a lot too, so it’s fine.
Yoongi: Good night, Jiminie.
Jimin: Good night, hyung <3
Jimin closed his phone after finishing the conversation with Yoongi and headed to his room. Quietly, he opened the door, worried that the little one might be asleep, but he found him sitting on the bed, holding a comic book.
He grabbed his pajamas from the closet and left the room to shower. After washing up quickly, he put on his clothes and returned to his room, lying down beside Yoongi.
“Will you be okay alone? Are you sure you don’t want to stay with our neighbor? She’s really kind, you know, and she makes delicious pies too.”
Yoongi shook his head, closing the book and placing it on the small table beside the bed.
“I’ll probably wake up late as usual. You’ll be back from school before I know it.”
Jimin frowned disapprovingly.
“I’ll ask our neighbor to check on you.”
Yoongi rolled his eyes and lay down, ready to sleep. Jimin covered them both with the blanket, turned off the small lamp beside him, and after a while, they both fell asleep.
The next morning, everyone except Yoongi woke up, getting ready for their first day of school after the long summer break.
Jimin checked on Yoongi one last time before they left together. They parted ways halfway, with Jungkook heading to his middle school and Jimin and Taehyung continuing to their high school.
Meanwhile, Yoongi woke up and quickly called Namjoon, checking on his progress.
“I just got to the storage room, hyung. Where was the box again?” Namjoon asked.
“It’s on one of the shelves. You’ll recognize it—it belongs to the Magic Club. It’s old and creepy. I think there’s a hexagram drawn on its lid.”
“Found it!”
“Be careful, Namjoon. If you mess up, we’re both doomed. Don’t break anything, please. Or you might end up like me—or worse,” Yoongi warned.
“Don’t worry, hyung. Let me check what’s inside. I’ll call you again once I find the antidote.”
“Alright.” Yoongi hung up, waiting anxiously for Namjoon’s call.
Time passed slowly until Namjoon finally called back, and Yoongi answered immediately.
“Did you find it?!” he asked urgently, skipping any greetings.
Namjoon hesitated before replying sorrowfully, “I’m sorry, hyung. There’s nothing here. Just some scrolls with incomprehensible spells and some suspicious bottles that don’t look like antidotes. I took the box with me just in case, but I’m not sure it’ll help.”
“So… no antidote?…I won’t go back to normal?”
“I’m really sorry, hyu—” Namjoon’s voice was cut off when Yoongi ended the call abruptly.
The school day ended, and Namjoon returned with Jimin and Taehyung, meeting Jungkook along the way.
“Hyung, have you heard from Yoongi hyung? He told me he’d come back after the summer break, but he hasn’t. He’s not replying to my messages either,” Jimin complained with a pout, making Namjoon visibly uneasy.
“I’m not sure, Jimin. Maybe he’s busy?”
Jimin hummed thoughtfully.
“Hyung! Hyung! Buy us ice cream!” Taehyung chimed in excitedly, with Jungkook joining in.
In the end, Namjoon gave in and took them to a shop, treating them to ice cream.
The four of them headed to Taehyung’s house after finishing their treats, where Namjoon went straight to check on Yoongi in Jimin’s room.
He found Yoongi packing his belongings and frowned in confusion.
“Hyung?”
“I’m not staying here anymore, Namjoon!” Yoongi declared with determination.
“Where will you go? Back to your house? You’re planning to stay there alone? You can’t!”
“Don’t try to stop me, Namjoon.”
Jimin entered the room, confused by the tense atmosphere. “Where are you going, Yoon?”
“Home.”
“Yoon, we’ll find a solution. Please calm down, okay?”
“Calm down? Calm down?! There’s no solution! None! I’ll stay like this forever! I explained it to you and my brother, but I’m not telling anyone else. I can’t. And I can’t live like this anymore,” Yoongi shouted in frustration, his voice breaking into sorrow as he lowered his head.
Namjoon approached him, pulling him into a tight hug. “It’s okay. Everything will be alright.”
Yoongi finally let out the tears he had been holding back for so long, crying loudly. The situation was unbearable for him—remaining a child indefinitely with no certainty if his body would ever grow again.
Jimin stood frozen, unable to understand the full situation, and decided to leave the room to sit in the living room until Yoongi calmed down.
“What’s going on? I heard Yoon crying. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him cry,” Taehyung asked, concern evident in his voice.
Jimin sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t understand what’s happening, but Namjoon hyung does. I think Yoon wants to go back to his home. I didn’t understand much of their conversation, but I know something bad happened.”
After a while, Namjoon came out of the room and sat beside Jimin.
“Yoongi hyung isn’t coming back any time soon,” he said calmly.
“What? Why so suddenly? What happened?”
“Remember when I told you something happened? We thought we had a solution, but it turns out there isn’t one. Until then, he won’t be coming back.”
“Does this have something to do with Yoon?” Jimin asked.
“Yes, a lot. But I can’t tell you. I want to, but I can’t.”
“I don’t understand anything, and it bothers me that you’re hiding such big things from me. But I trust you. Tell Yoongi hyung that I’m here for him, no matter what he’s dealing with. I’ll do my best to help him and find a solution.”
Namjoon nodded with a small smile before adding, “And Yoon wants to stay at Yoongi hyung’s house.”
“Alone? You can’t be serious!”
“He’s very determined. But please, don’t let him. He won’t be okay on his own.”
“Of course, I won’t let him! What do you take me for, hyung? He’s a child! There’s no way I’d let him stay alone at Yoongi hyung’s house. Impossible.”
Namjoon smiled again before saying goodbye and heading home.
Jimin called Taehyung and Jungkook over, gathering them in a circle in the middle of the living room to whisper.
“Alright, listen up. Yoon is sad and wants to stay alone at Yoongi hyung’s house. That’s unacceptable.”
“So, what do we do?” Taehyung asked.
“We have to do everything we can to show him how much we love him and make him happy. That way, he’ll decide to stay.”
Jungkook squinted suspiciously. “Are you sure about this, Jiminie hyung? I mean, he’s always frowning. If I touch him, he’ll scream at me. And he’s so secretive! I don’t know how to handle him.”
Jimin let out a frustrated sigh. "I don’t know! Just do something to make him laugh, maybe. I mean, he’s a kid! How hard could it be?"
"Alright, alright," Jungkook replied.
With that, they all returned to their respective activities—Jimin focused on his studies, Taehyung working on his assignment, and Jungkook aimlessly scrolling through his phone.
Sometime later, Yoongi finally emerged from the room, only to be met with Jungkook sweeping him up into his arms. Predictably, the little one retaliated with a loud shout and tiny fists.
"Yoonie, our little wild beast!" Jungkook teased, laughing as he set Yoongi down.
"How about we go out for a walk?" he asked with an exaggerated grin.
"Do I look like your dog to you?" Yoongi shot back, his tone sharp and full of attitude.
Jungkook’s face fell momentarily, but he quickly recovered with another wide smile. "Okay, then what do you want? How about an amusement park?"
"How about you disappear from my sight?"
Jungkook blinked in disbelief before stepping aside to let Yoongi head to the kitchen.
"Hyung, this isn’t working!" Jungkook whined at Jimin, who sighed heavily and put down his book.
"I’m trying to study!" Jimin snapped.
"Alright, alright," Jungkook muttered, sulking as he followed Yoongi into the kitchen.
"What now?" Yoongi asked without even looking up as Jungkook entered.
"Do you want me to help you with something? Food? Drink? Dessert?"
Yoongi sighed. "You’re not going to leave me alone, are you?"
Jungkook frowned and shook his head in silent defiance.
"Fine. How about a deal?" Yoongi suggested, his expression unreadable. Jungkook’s eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Make me a coffee, and I’ll let you stick around as much as you want," Yoongi said with a sly smirk, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What?! No way! You’re a kid!" Jungkook exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Yoongi rolled his eyes dramatically. "Fine. Five meters. If you come any closer, you’ll have to deal with my kicks and insults."
Jungkook exhaled in defeat. "Alright, deal."
Yoongi grinned triumphantly, and Jungkook couldn’t help but smile back.
Jungkook made Yoongi a cup of almond milk coffee, refusing to make him black coffee as requested. After much persuasion, Yoongi reluctantly accepted the milder version. The moment Yoongi took his first sip, his face lit up with a radiant smile.
"For the first time, I see you smile, Yoon. And for what? Coffee?" Jungkook teased.
"You don’t get it. This is happiness," Yoongi replied, savoring another sip. "I haven’t had coffee in ages because of Jimin."
Jungkook chuckled, watching Yoongi’s pure delight, satisfied that he’d managed to make him happy, even if it was over something as trivial as coffee.
When Yoongi finished his drink, Jungkook washed the cup and put it back in its place. The two then returned to the living room, where Yoongi settled on the couch. Jungkook joined him, gently placing Yoongi on his lap.
Yoongi frowned in annoyance, but Jungkook was quick to remind him, "Did you forget our deal already, Yoon?"
With a reluctant pout, Yoongi stayed put while Jungkook turned on the TV, flipping through channels until he settled on a children’s program.
"Ugh, not this nonsense. If you must, put on a documentary about ostriches or something," Yoongi muttered, unimpressed.
Jungkook burst into laughter but eventually switched to a movie channel that Yoongi begrudgingly agreed to.
After the movie ended, Yoongi slid off Jungkook’s lap and headed toward the bathroom, only to notice Jungkook following him.
"I said you could stick around, but not to the point of following me into the bathroom!" Yoongi growled, glaring at him.
Jungkook laughed, retreating back to the couch.
Once Yoongi was inside, he pulled out his phone and found hundreds of messages—mostly from Jimin and Namjoon. He opened Namjoon’s chat first.
Namjoon: Please, Hyung, stay with Jimin a little longer.
Namjoon: We both know you won’t be okay on your own.
Namjoon: I’m not saying this because you’re a kid now, but because being alone was never the solution.
Namjoon: You don’t want this, believe me.
Namjoon: You don’t want to go back to how you were after your parents died.
Namjoon: I’m begging you, Hyung.
Namjoon: For your sake and ours—please be okay.
Namjoon: I promise I’ll figure something out.
Namjoon: But don’t give up, man.
Namjoon: Never!
Yoongi: Okay…
Namjoon: Hyung!
Namjoon: Are you alright?!
Namjoon: You didn’t go back home, did you?
Yoongi: I’m fine, calm down.
Yoongi: And no, I didn’t. I’m still at Jimin’s.
Namjoon: Great!
Namjoon: Please, reconsider staying somewhere else if it gets too much with Jimin.
Namjoon: You can come to my place or Hoseok’s.
Namjoon: Or even Jin hyung’s place.
Namjoon: Just don’t go back to your house.
Namjoon: If you do, I’ll be right there with you, Hyung!
Namjoon: I don’t care if I have to sleep in the kitchen—just don’t stay alone!
Yoongi: Relax, relax, my goodness.
Yoongi: I’ll stay here, alright?
Yoongi: Sorry for lashing out earlier.
Yoongi: I was… falling apart a bit.
Namjoon: It’s okay, Hyung!
Namjoon: The important thing is that you’re safe.
Yoongi: Thank you, Namjoon.
Yoongi: For everything.
Namjoon: And thank you, Hyung, for being here.
Namjoon: For staying strong.
Namjoon: I love you, man.
Yoongi: …
Namjoon: As a brother! A friend! Oh my god, Hyung!
Yoongi: I’m messing with you, haha.
Yoongi: Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.
Closing Namjoon’s chat, Yoongi opened Jimin’s, scrolling past over fifty unread messages to type a quick response.
Yoongi: Will you ever stop? Are you my mom?
Jimin: Hyung!!
Jimin: Are you okay?
Jimin: How are you feeling?
Jimin: You’re not in serious trouble, right?
Jimin: Did you sleep well?
Jimin: Did you eat lunch?
Jimin: Did you rest enough?
Jimin: Is your body hurting?
Jimin: What about your head?
Jimin: Have you been drinking too much coffee recently?
Jimin: I know you love it, but please don’t overdo it—it’s unhealthy.
Yoongi: Mom, stop worrying.
Jimin: I’m not your mom, you brat!
Jimin: Answer me! Answer everything!
Yoongi: Do I have to?
Jimin: Yes!!! >:(
Yoongi: Fine...
Yoongi: I’m okay, nothing hurts, I’m not in trouble, I’m resting well, I slept fine, I ate lunch, and no, I’ve cut back on coffee.
Jimin: Liar.
Jimin: A rooster might fly before you give up coffee.
Jimin: If you lied about that, you lied about everything!
Yoongi: I’m not lying!
Yoongi: I swear I’ve stopped drinking it.
Yoongi: Since the break started, I’ve had only two cups.
Yoongi: One of them even had milk :(
Jimin: I doubt it, but fine.
Jimin: I won’t ask when you’re coming back since Namjoon hyung already told me.
Jimin: I don’t know if he told you, but Hyung, remember I’m always here for you—not just me, but all of us.
Jimin: I might have argued with you my whole life, but I hold no ill feelings toward you, and I know the same goes for you.
Jimin: I don’t care if you’re keeping your reasons for disappearing to yourself.
Jimin: But I’ll be here if you ever need me.
Yoongi: Thank you, Jiminie.
Yoongi: For everything.
Yoongi: I really want to tell you everything.
Yoongi: But I just can’t.
Yoongi: It’s better for both of us this way.
Jimin: I understand, Hyung <3
Jimin: Just always, always be okay.
Yoongi: I will.
Jimin: Alright then, I’ll talk to you later. I need to finish studying first.
Yoongi tucked his phone away as he left the bathroom, greeted by Taehyung’s wide grin. "Let’s play video games!"
Yoongi smiled, nodding in agreement, and they both headed to Taehyung’s room to play one of Yoongi’s chosen games.
●●●●●●
○○○○○○
●●●●●●
"What’s this?" Yoongi asked, pulling a small bottle from the box.
"Hyung, put it back. That doesn’t look like an antidote to me," Namjoon said while solving his homework.
"But it’s identical to the bottle I took before. Mine has a number 1 with an A; this one has a number 1 with a B."
"That doesn’t mean anything, Hyung," Namjoon replied, still focused on his studies.
Yoongi, however, wasn’t convinced. He opened the bottle and drank its contents. Unlike the first one, which contained a colorful gas, this bottle held liquid.
He closed his eyes tightly, waiting, but nothing happened. Frowning, he placed the bottle back in its spot.
"I feel sleepy"
"Wait a little; I’ll finish this part and take you home," Namjoon replied, still focused on his book.
Once Namjoon finished the section he was working on, he turned to find Yoongi fast asleep on the couch. Smiling, he decided not to wake him up and carefully carried him.
Grabbing his car keys, Namjoon stepped outside, adjusted the passenger seat so Yoongi could sleep comfortably, and returned to the house to carry him to the car. He gently placed Yoongi in the seat, adjusted his position, and fastened his seatbelt.
After driving for a while, they reached Taehyung's house. Namjoon parked walked around to the passenger side, and carried Yoongi to the front door, knocking lightly.
In a few seconds, Jungkook answered, "Oh, hi, Hyung."
"Yoon fell asleep. Make sure to wake him up after some time, alright?"
"Sure," Jungkook replied as he took Yoongi from Namjoon.
Namjoon returned home, while Jungkook carried Yoongi to Jimin’s room, placing him on the bed and covering him snugly.
An hour later, Taehyung decided to wake Yoongi since Jungkook was showering and Jimin was busy studying.
"Just a little longer," Yoongi grumbled.
"Come on, I’ll let you play video games with me."
"Really?!" Yoongi asked excitedly.
Taehyung nodded, earning a bright smile from Yoongi.
"Carry me," Yoongi requested with an innocent smile, catching Taehyung off guard. Though surprised, Taehyung complied, lifting him up.
He helped Yoongi freshen up, drying his face with a towel, before they headed to the room to play video games.
"Taehyung-ah, I’m ordering dinner. What do you want to eat?" Jimin called from the living room.
Taehyung thought for a moment, but Yoongi shouted enthusiastically, "Pizza!"
"Alright then~"
"Thank you, Jimin hyung," Yoongi said with a wide smile.
Jimin blinked in surprise. "Hyung? You’ve never called me that before."
"Really? Sorry," Yoongi apologized, his face falling.
Jimin smiled, ruffling his hair. "It’s fine, Yoonie."
"Hyung, I have a small request."
"What is it?"
Yoongi fiddled nervously with his shirt before speaking, "My hair’s gotten a bit long. Can you cut it for me?"
"You’re right, but I don’t know how to cut hair. Taehyung can take you to the barber tomorrow."
"Why me?" Taehyung protested.
"Because you’re free. I have a biology exam. You know how much I struggle with that subject," Jimin retorted.
"Fine..."
Taehyung handed Yoongi the controller. "Yoonie, play without me for a bit. I need to talk to Jimin."
Yoongi nodded enthusiastically as Taehyung smiled and walked out, pulling Jimin with him.
"What’s up?"
"Yoon's acting weird since he came back from Namjoon hyung’s place," Taehyung explained.
Jimin raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
"He asked me to carry him! He’s laughing and smiling a lot, and he’s calling us ‘hyung.’ I know this sounds normal for a kid, but Yoon hates being carried, rarely smiles, and never calls anyone ‘hyung.’"
"Isn’t that a good thing?" Jimin asked.
"You don’t understand!" Taehyung sighed dramatically, storming back to his room to continue playing with Yoongi, leaving Jimin confused.
Jimin shrugged it off and returned to his studies, only to get a call from Namjoon moments later.
"Hello, Hyung."
"Hey, Jimin. Is Yoon with you?"
"Yeah, why?" Jimin asked, puzzled.
"How is he? Is he okay? Did you notice anything strange?" Namjoon pressed.
"What’s going on, hyung? Did something happen?"
"Can I talk to him?" Namjoon asked, avoiding Jimin’s question.
Jimin agreed and went to call Yoongi, handing him the phone. "Namjoon hyung wants to talk to you."
"Hello."
"Hyung, stay away from Jimin for a bit."
"Okay..." Yoongi replied, confused, as he stepped into Jimin’s room and closed the door.
"What’s wrong?"
"Hyung, are you alright?! Why is the bottle empty? Did you drink it?!"
Yoongi paused, thinking before answering hesitantly, "I did. Is that bad?"
Namjoon panicked, his voice rising. "Seriously, Hyung?! I told you not to drink it! Who knows what’ll happen?! You already regressed ten years because of the first bottle! Can’t you be more careful?!"
Yoongi’s face fell, tears welling up in his eyes as Namjoon’s shouting overwhelmed him.
"I’m sorry!" Yoongi cried, tears streaming down his face.
Realizing he’d lost his temper, Namjoon took a deep breath to calm himself. "I’m sorry for yelling at you, hyung. I’m just worried about you."
"No! I’m the bad one. I’m a bad boy," Yoongi whimpered, sobbing harder.
"Yoongi hyung?" Namjoon called, alarmed by the intensity of his crying.
Jimin entered the room, startled. "What’s wrong, Yoon?"
Yoongi ran into Jimin’s arms, clutching him tightly and crying loudly, repeatedly saying, "I’m sorry."
Jimin rubbed his back soothingly, picking up the phone from the floor.
"Hyung, what did you say to him? Why is he crying? What happened?"
"I... I’m sorry, Jimin. I don’t know. I lost my temper and yelled at him..." Namjoon admitted.
“Really, hyung? Yelling at a kid?”
“It’s not like th—” Namjoon tried to explain, but Jimin cut him off, hanging up the phone angrily.
He turned back to calm the little one. “It’s okay, Yoonie. Calm down,” Jimin said softly, crouching beside the child. “He didn’t mean to yell at you, hmm?”
Yoongi shook his head, tears still clinging to his cheeks. “I’m a bad boy. Namjoon hyung is right. I should’ve listened to him.”
Jimin pulled him out of his embrace to look him in the eye. “How about we go to the store and get you some candy?”
Yoongi wiped his tears away, his expression shifting to a hesitant smile. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
A wide grin spread across Yoongi’s face as he hugged Jimin tightly, thanking him before dashing toward the door.
“Come on, hyung! Hurry, hurry!”
Jimin chuckled at his eagerness. “What’s the rush, Yoon? The store isn’t going anywhere.”
As they were about to leave, Jungkook emerged from the bathroom, his damp hair dripping slightly. Yoongi ran up to him excitedly.
“Hyung! Hyung! We’re going to the store! Will you come with us?” he asked, practically bouncing on his feet.
“I’ll dry my hair first,” Jungkook replied.
“Be quick!”
Humming in acknowledgment, Jungkook headed toward his shared room with Taehyung.
“What’s up with Yoon?” Taehyung asked, pausing his game to glance at Jungkook.
“You noticed it too?” Jungkook said, pretending to shiver.
“Yeah! He’s been smiling and calling me hyung,” Taehyung added, bewildered.
Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “I swear, it’s the calm before the storm. Remember his first week with us? After I came back from Busan, he acted all cute, but the next day, he stole my seat at the dining table!”
Taehyung burst into laughter as Jungkook finished his rant, clearly still annoyed by the memory.
After drying his hair, Jungkook turned back to Taehyung. “Anyway, I’ll go with Jimin hyung and Yoon to the store. I’ll keep an eye on him this time!”
Taehyung laughed again. “Get me some chocolate ice cream!”
“Got it!”
The three of them left the house, with Jungkook cautiously holding Yoongi’s hand, fully prepared to dodge a kick. But to his surprise, the kick never came.
Slowly, Jungkook opened the eyes he had squeezed shut in anticipation, only to find Yoongi walking calmly, paying no attention to their joined hands.
Jimin’s phone buzzed again, and he answered it. “Hello, hyung?”
“Hey, Jiminie. Is Yoon okay?”
“He’s fine.”
“Do you think he can stay with me tonight?”
“Why?”
“Can I not answer that question? Haha.”
Jimin sighed. “Alright… I’ll ask him.”
He lowered the phone and crouched to Yoongi’s level. “Yoon, do you want to sleep at Namjoon hyung’s house tonight?”
Yoongi frowned, thinking about it before shaking his head firmly. “I’m scared of Namjoon hyung’s mom.”
Jimin nodded, straightening up as they resumed walking. "He’s refusing"
“Okay, no problem. I’ll come by tomorrow.”
“You’re welcome anytime, hyung,” Jimin replied.
When they arrived at the store, Yoongi bolted toward the candy aisle, quickly grabbing a bar of white chocolate. But Jimin stopped him.
“No, Yoon. It has milk in it, and your stomach can’t handle that.”
Yoongi pouted, reluctantly putting it back. He reached for another candy, but Jimin stopped him again.
“That one has too much sugar. I don’t want you feeling sick again.”
Frustrated, Yoongi crossed his arms and opted for chocolate ice cream instead, just like Jungkook’s.
“Yoon, please. Ice cream has milk in it too,” Jimin said, exasperated.
“Then why did you bring me here?” Yoongi snapped.
Jimin sighed deeply. “Just wait—I’ll pick something for you, okay?”
With a frown, Yoongi nodded. Jimin crouched by the candy aisle, carefully selecting treats without milk and with a reasonable amount of sugar, ensuring Yoongi wouldn’t feel left out.
Meanwhile, Jungkook led Yoongi to another section. “Let’s get you some almond or coconut milk instead.”
He looked down at Yoongi. “Which one do you want?”
Yoongi, still sulking, didn’t respond. Jungkook thought for a moment before leaning down conspiratorially. “Do you want coffee?” he whispered.
Yoongi scrunched his nose. “No! It’s bitter.”
Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “But you begged me to let you have some last time.”
“I don’t remember that,” Yoongi replied flatly.
Jungkook rolled his eyes. “Whatever. How about some crackers instead?”
Yoongi’s expression softened into a small smile. “Okay.”
A few minutes later, the three of them left the store and headed home. Once there, Yoongi immediately went to Jimin’s room, ready to sleep.
“Yoon, eat your dinner first,” Jimin called after him.
“But I’m sleepy,” Yoongi whined.
“Didn’t you say you wanted pizza? Come on, eat first; you shouldn’t sleep on an empty stomach.”
With no other choice, Yoongi trudged back to the dining table, where Jimin sat him on his lap. This time, Yoongi didn’t complain as he usually would, which puzzled Jimin.
“Isn’t there cheese on pizza?” Taehyung asked while chewing his food.
“Right… Is it okay for you to eat it, Yoon?”
Yoongi glared at them before grabbing a slice and stuffing it in his mouth, ignoring their concerns.
Jimin sighed, giving up, and continued eating. After dinner, Taehyung offered to clean up while the others prepared for bed.
Moments later, Yoongi clutched his stomach in pain and rushed to the bathroom.
Jimin pulled out his phone to check if Yoongi had replied to his earlier messages, but there was still no response. He slipped the phone back into his pocket, waiting patiently until Yoongi finally emerged from the bathroom.
“Are you okay? You shouldn’t have eaten that…” Jimin said softly.
Yoongi scowled as he climbed into bed. “You’re the one who told me to eat instead of sleep.”
“I’m sorry…” Jimin apologized, but Yoongi was already fast asleep, his small frame rising and falling peacefully.
●●●●●●
○○○○○○
●●●●●●
Jimin sat in the living room, watching TV after finishing his chemistry studies. He decided to take a short break before tackling his homework.
It wasn’t long before he heard loud crying from outside. His brows furrowed in confusion, and he was about to stand up to check when Taehyung burst through the door, followed by a tearful Yoongi.
“What happened?” Jimin asked quickly.
Taehyung sighed before explaining, “He was moving around too much and ruined his haircut. When the barber tried fixing it, it ended up way too short.”
“He says he looks ugly now,” Taehyung added, rolling his eyes.
Yoongi pouted, his voice heavy with frustration. “I look awful.”
Jimin chuckled softly and crouched in front of him, gently pinching his cheeks. “You’re not ugly, Yoonie. You look adorable now!”
Sniffling, Yoongi wiped his nose and asked hesitantly, “Really?”
“Really!” Jimin assured him with a big smile. Yoongi’s pout slowly turned into a matching grin.
The three of them settled down to watch TV together. After a while, Jungkook joined them, having finished playing on his playstation.
As the show they were watching came to an end, there was a knock at the door. Jungkook got up to answer it and found Namjoon standing there.
“Hey, hyung,” Jungkook greeted with a smile.
“Hi, Jungkook,” Namjoon replied, stepping inside with him and heading to the living room.
The four of them chatted for a while, with Yoongi distracted by a game on Jimin’s phone.
“Hyung, hasn’t Yoongi hyung contacted you yet?” Jimin asked abruptly.
Namjoon tensed slightly before shaking his head. “No, he hasn’t responded to my messages for over two days.”
Jimin frowned. “That’s not like him.”
“He’s just busy, Jiminie,” Namjoon said cautiously.
“I hope he’s okay. He’s been away from home for months now, and no one knows where he is or what he’s doing,” Jimin said, his voice laced with concern.
A heavy silence fell over the room until Namjoon turned to Yoongi.
“Yoon, can we talk for a bit?” he asked.
Yoongi nodded, his lips forming a small pout as he stood up. Namjoon led him to Jimin’s room, where they sat on the bed.
Taking a deep breath, Namjoon began, “Do you know who I am?”
Yoongi nodded confidently. “Yes, you’re Namjoon hyung.”
Namjoon shook his head slightly. “No, I mean, do you really remember me? That we’re friends? Do you remember everything?”
Yoongi nodded again, his gaze steady.
“And you know you’re Yoongi? That this happened because of some magic portion?”
Another nod.
Namjoon exhaled in relief. At least Yoongi’s memory was intact.
“Hyung, I need to tell you the truth. I don’t think you can go back to the way you were. Your body and now your mind… Do you think it’s better for us to accept this and tell everyone you’re not coming back?”
Yoongi hesitated, his voice small. “I don’t know… but I don’t think I want to go back.”
Namjoon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he chose not to press further. Whether Yoongi wanted to return or not wouldn’t change the fact that Namjoon still hadn’t found a cure.
“So… can I tell the others?”
“Do whatever you think is best,” Yoongi replied quietly.
Namjoon thought for a moment before deciding. He would tell them Yoongi had to leave to stay with his brother in the States to avoid worrying them.
When they returned to the living room, Namjoon turned to Jimin.
“Jimin, there’s something you need to know about Yoongi hyung,” he began, drawing everyone’s attention.
Jimin looked at him inquisitively.
“He’s not coming back,” Namjoon said softly.
“What?!”
“He had to travel to his older brother. They’ll be staying in America for a while. He’s fine, don’t worry.”
“And he didn’t think to tell us or say goodbye? Does he not consider us his friends?” Jimin snapped, his voice rising in anger.
“It all happened so suddenly, Jiminie,” Namjoon tried to explain.
“No! He’s done this before—disappearing without a word!” Jimin’s frustration boiled over.
Namjoon opened his mouth to defend Yoongi, but Jimin’s anger was too intense for him to get through.
“I know he’s your friend, hyung, and you’ll defend him,” Taehyung interjected. “But Jiminie’s right. He could’ve at least sent a message.”
Namjoon sighed deeply, guilt weighing on him.
Meanwhile, Yoongi quietly observed the conversation, his small face scrunching in guilt. He thought about messaging Jimin to ease his sadness but feared revealing the truth.
After the tense exchange, Namjoon left for home.
The next day, at school, Namjoon was sitting in the cafeteria with Hoseok, having lunch while waiting for the younger ones to arrive.
“Namjoonie, Jiminie, and I decided to join the dance club,” Hoseok said casually, earning a distracted hum from Namjoon before his eyes widened in surprise.
“Club? We have clubs?”
“Of course we do. We have many!”
“What about the magic club?!” Namjoon asked with urgency, his tone almost frantic.
“Magic?” Hoseok tilted his head, chuckling. “I didn’t think you’d be into those kinds of things, Namjoonie. But yes, there’s one. Although, they’re a bit… intimidating,” he finished with a shiver, hugging himself dramatically.
Namjoon placed his sandwich down and stood abruptly. “If I’m late for class, tell the teacher I’m in the nurse’s office.”
“Where are you going?” Hoseok asked, bewildered, but Namjoon didn’t answer.
He darted out of the cafeteria, only to come rushing back moments later.
“Where is it, Hoseok?” he asked, slightly out of breath.
“Where is what?”
“The magic club!” Namjoon almost yelled, causing Hoseok to raise an eyebrow before sighing and pointing him in the right direction.
Without wasting another second, Namjoon bolted out of the cafeteria.
His thoughts raced. If Yoongi had taken that vial from the magic club, then they must know how to reverse what had happened. If they were responsible, they might also have the solution.
Namjoon barged into the magic club’s room, the door slamming open with force. Everyone inside turned to stare at him, startled.
“I need help!” Namjoon exclaimed, still catching his breath.
“So… he inhaled the first vial and drank from the second one?” the club president asked after Namjoon hastily explained everything about Yoongi’s situation.
“Yes, exactly!” Namjoon confirmed eagerly. The president leaned back in his chair, sighing deeply.
“And he… doesn’t want to return to being an eighteen-year-old?”
“What?” Namjoon blinked in confusion.
“He has to want to go back—desperately. If he’d rather stay as a child, he’ll remain that way. But!” The president leaned forward, his expression serious. “He only has one week before the spell becomes permanent. After that, there’ll be no way to reverse it.”
“How many days has it been since he drank the potion?” another member asked.
“Three days,” Namjoon replied.
“Then he has four days left.”
The president nodded thoughtfully before asking, “What are the three states of matter?”
Namjoon frowned, puzzled by the sudden question. “Gas, liquid, and solid?”
“Correct,” the president said. “The gas affected his body. The liquid altered his mind. That leaves the solid—it will determine whether he stays as he is or returns to his original form.”
Namjoon’s eyes narrowed as he processed this. “Was there anything solid in the box you mentioned?” one of the members asked, drawing Namjoon’s focus back.
“Uh… there were some papers.”
“Anything else?”
Namjoon thought hard, his brows furrowing. “There were… small rocks?”
“Perfect!” The president’s face lit up. “He has to eat them. Don’t worry—they’re not actual rocks. If he truly wants to return to his original form and eat them, he’ll go back. If he wishes to remain as he is and eats them, he’ll stay a child. The choice is his.”
“What happens if the week passes and he doesn’t eat them?” Namjoon asked.
“He’ll remain a child.”
Namjoon’s confusion deepened. “Is there a difference? Whether he chooses to stay or the time runs out?”
The president smiled knowingly. “You’re sharp. Yes, there is. If the time runs out, his body will remain normal—he’ll grow and age normally over the years. But if he eats the stones intending to stay a child…”
Namjoon finished the thought. “He’ll stay a child forever, no matter how many years pass.”
“Exactly,” the president confirmed with a smile.
Namjoon stood, bowing his head gratefully. “Thank you.”
He left the clubroom, determination etched into his features. Luckily, he managed to return to class just before the lesson began, avoiding any tardiness.
●●●●●●
○○○○○○
●●●●●●
Namjoon tried his best to convince Yoongi, but the little one was incredibly stubborn. He considered bribing him with toys or sweets, assuming that since Yoongi was in a child’s body, it might work. However, Namjoon quickly dismissed the idea. Even if Yoongi agreed, it wouldn’t be a genuine choice, and the transformation might become permanent if Yoongi consumed the pills or stones without truly wanting to return to his original form.
In the meantime, Jimin was surrounded by a cloud of sadness. Yoongi’s abrupt departure—without a farewell or a single message—had left him heartbroken.
On the other hand, Yoongi often thought about reaching out to Jimin, but fear held him back. His mind had regressed along with his body, and he worried that if Jimin discovered the truth, he would hate him. And that was the last thing Yoongi wanted, especially now that he had grown so attached to Jimin.
With only one day left before the transformation became irreversible, Namjoon had all but given up. He reluctantly decided to accept whatever was about to happen.
That evening, little Yoongi bounded into Jimin’s room, excitedly asking if they could go to the park together. Jimin, who had been lying on the bed, quickly sat up, wiping his tear-streaked face in an attempt to hide his emotions.
Unfortunately, Yoongi noticed the hurried gesture. He frowned and approached Jimin. “Were you crying?” he asked softly.
Jimin forced a wide, fake smile and shook his head. “No, of course not. I was just napping, Yoonie.”
Yoongi’s frown deepened, his little brows knitting together in disbelief. “You’re lying,” he said firmly. “You were crying.”
Jimin opened his mouth to deny it again, but the child’s unwavering glare made him sigh in defeat. “Fine,” Jimin admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yoongi’s expression softened, shifting from anger to concern. He climbed onto the bed and sat beside Jimin, looking up at him with big, worried eyes. “Why?” he asked gently.
Jimin fiddled with his fingers, lowering his head as he answered. “I miss Yoongi hyung. A lot,” he confessed. “I’m sad that he left without saying goodbye or giving me any explanation. Just… vanished, without a word.”
Hearing this, Yoongi’s shoulders slumped, guilt weighing heavy on his small frame. He mumbled an excuse and slipped out of the room, heading to the living room where Taehyung was watching a TV show.
Taehyung lowered the volume, noticing Yoongi’s downcast expression. “Did Jimin say no about the park?” he asked.
Yoongi shook his head. “No, I didn’t even ask. He was crying.”
“What? Again?” Taehyung exclaimed, frustration flashing across his face. “I swear, that Yoongi—when I see him, I’m going to—”
Yoongi, still confused, interrupted him.
“Why is Jiminie hyung so sad? I thought their relationship was bad. Why does he care so much that Yoongi hyung left?”
Taehyung shook his head with a sigh.
“It wasn’t like that. Yoongi hyung was Jimin’s only real friend, aside from me and Jungkook.”
“Friend?” Yoongi echoed, his confusion growing. “But they were always fighting! Didn’t they hate each other?”
Taehyung chuckled lightly. “Jimin might’ve enjoyed teasing him, but no, he didn’t hate him. In fact, he used to pick fights on purpose just so they’d get punished and have to stay after school together.”
Taehyung hesitated for a moment before leaning closer to Yoongi, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Want to know a secret? Something only I and Jiminie know?”
Wide-eyed, Yoongi nodded eagerly. “Jimin is a bit attached to Yoongi hyung for another reason. He actually owes him his life. Yoongi hyung saved him from dying,” Taehyung revealed.
Yoongi gasped, the weight of the revelation shocking him to his core. “D-dying?!”
Taehyung nodded solemnly. “There was a dangerous criminal who used to target students, kidnapping them. No one knows for sure what he did to them, but it wasn’t good. He hadn’t been caught yet, but he had his sights set on Jimin.”
Yoongi’s brows furrowed in confusion for not knowing about this.
Taehyung continued.
“Jimin was an easy target—he had no friends besides me and Jungkook, and Jungkook is in middle school, so technically only me. He doesn’t like the noise, so he avoids hanging out with me and my other friends during lunch breaks. He also used to stay at school late to study because the curriculum was different than Busan's and he struggled with it.”
Taehyung laughed softly. “Jungkook and I were too loud for him to study at home, so poor Jiminie had no choice.”
His smile faded as he continued. “Since Jimin was mostly alone, the criminal must’ve thought he was an easy target. Jimin told me he always felt like someone was watching him, even following him. It scared him, but he didn’t want to worry me, so he kept it to himself.”
Taehyung’s expression brightened slightly.
“But then, during the second week of school, he met Yoongi hyung in the cafeteria. They had a silly argument, got punished by the coach, and were forced to stay after school to clean the basketball court. That’s when Yoongi hyung noticed something suspicious and scared off the criminal. Since then, Jimin started picking fights with him on purpose, just so they’d stay together after school. He was really grateful to Yoongi hyung, even if he never said it outright. I don’t even think Yoongi hyung is aware of what he did.”
Yoongi sat quietly, lost in the memories of his second encounter with Jimin. That day, their silly argument caught the attention of the basketball coach, who punished them by making them clean the gym after school.
Yoongi had felt like someone was watching him the entire time, but he dismissed the thought, deciding it wasn't worth his concern. When they finished, Yoongi left before Jimin.
“Hey! Help me with this heavy cart!” Jimin had grumbled as he struggled to drag the large balls cart back to storage.
Yoongi ignored him, causing Jimin to sigh in frustration and handle it on his own.
As Yoongi stepped outside, he noticed a figure dressed in black lurking in the corner. The moment the stranger saw him, they quickly tried to retreat, but it was too late—Yoongi had already spotted them.
He approached, his instincts telling him the person wasn’t up to any good. Without hesitation, Yoongi threatened to call the police, snapping a few photos to scare them off. The stranger panicked and fled.
“Coward,” Yoongi muttered under his breath before turning to leave.
As he walked back, he noticed Jimin standing nearby, his expression quickly shifting to one of annoyance.
“Lazy jerk! Why didn’t you help me? My poor back is killing me from dragging that thing alone!” Jimin snapped, clearly upset.
Yoongi rolled his eyes. “Not my fault you’re weak.”
Jimin’s face turned red with anger. “I don’t want to hear that from someone who looks like a pale twig!”
“At least I’m not a loud, whiny shorty,” Yoongi shot back.
“I already told you—I’m taller than you, you smurf!”
“Sure, whatever you say. Now, can you shut up? Your voice is grating.”
Jimin, now fuming, charged at Yoongi, making him quickly bolt to avoid getting hit.
“So that was a criminal...” Yoongi mumbled quietly to himself, recalling the shady figure from earlier.
“Did you say something?” Taehyung asked, snapping Yoongi out of his thoughts. Yoongi quickly shook his head.
Taehyung exhaled loudly. “Either way, I’m not forgiving Yoongi hyung. Jiminie’s been so upset because of him. He’s worried sick! I just don’t get it—why disappear out of nowhere, especially after their relationship finally started improving? That’s what hurts Jiminie the most. Now he thinks Yoongi hyung really hates him.”
Yoongi’s eyes widened, and he shook his head firmly. “That’s not true!”
“It better not be,” Taehyung huffed. “Because if it is, I swear I’ll punch him in the face!”
Yoongi lowered his head, pondering for a moment before hesitantly asking, “Do you think... Jiminie hyung will be happy again if Yoongi hyung comes back?”
Taehyung blinked, surprised by the question. “Is that even a question? Of course, he will! He’ll be so happy, I’m worried he might ditch me for him.” He ended his statement with a playful pout.
Yoongi fell silent again, then posed another question. “If Yoongi hyung can only come back on the condition that I leave... should I go?”
Taehyung froze, staring at him. “What are you even saying, Yoon?”
Yoongi quickly shook his head with a small smile. “Nothing, just thinking out loud.”
Taehyung sighed deeply, mulling over his thoughts. “You know, Jiminie loves you too, Yoon. We all know you’re only here temporarily, so if you went back home and Yoongi hyung didn't come back, it would take Jimin a long time to recover from the sadness. But if you stayed by his side, it might help him heal faster. And honestly, you remind him of Yoongi hyung so much—it’s almost like you’re a piece of him.”
Taehyung paused briefly before continuing with a serious tone, "But you won’t stay with us forever. In the end, you’ll leave.
But Yoongi hyung’s home is here, and this is where he lives. So… if I had to choose between bringing hyung back or you staying longer, I’d choose to bring him back."
He smiled afterward and pounced on Yoongi, tickling his stomach playfully, causing Yoongi to laugh. "But I love you, Yoon. We all do. That doesn’t mean I want you to leave."
Taehyung pulled away after a few seconds, giving Yoongi a chance to catch his breath and return to his usual serious expression as he continued to think.
Taehyung resumed watching his comedy show after finishing the conversation, while Yoongi sank deeper into thought, contemplating the decision he had to make that day.
After a moment, an idea struck Yoongi, and he realized what he needed to do. He got up from the couch and headed to Jimin’s room, knocking lightly before stepping inside.
"Hyung, I think I might be able to bring Yoongi hyung back," Yoongi said, piquing Jimin’s curiosity.
"How?" Jimin asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yoongi smiled mischievously. "That’s a secret! But… only I can bring him back.
And if I go to him, I might not be able to come back here again."
Jimin frowned. "Can’t you just bring him back with you?"
Yoongi shook his head. "It’s either him or me. There’s no other way."
Jimin fell silent, unsure of what to say. Yoongi grew more anxious at Jimin’s lack of response, as he had expected his hyung to make the decision for him. But Jimin stayed quiet.
"Hyung, please help me. I don’t know what to do," Yoongi pleaded as he clung to Jimin. "Namjoon hyung told me to bring Yoongi hyung back, and I want to, but I also want to stay with you."
Jimin frowned, his tone firm. "I don’t know, Yoon. I mean, I know you’ll go back to your home eventually, but this is your choice and Yoongi hyung’s. If you’re expecting me to decide something like this for you, I won’t do it."
Yoongi’s expression darkened, genuinely frustrated as he had been relying on Jimin’s answer to help him decide.
Just then, Jimin received a call from Namjoon. After chatting for a bit, Namjoon asked to speak with Yoongi, and Jimin passed him the phone.
"Hyung, please think about this again," Namjoon pleaded.
"I don’t know," Yoongi said with a heavy sigh. "I’m so confused. What does Yoongi want? What do I want? I don’t know anymore! I don’t know anything!" His voice broke as tears began streaming down his face. "This is too hard. I’m scared."
"Don’t cry, hyung, or I’ll start crying too," Namjoon said, his voice breaking as he tried to comfort Yoongi.
Jimin pulled Yoongi into his side, trying to calm him down and stop his tears. After a moment, Yoongi took a deep breath, gathering his courage as he spoke to Namjoon.
"I… I’ve made my decision."
"What?" Namjoon asked, surprised.
"I’ve made up my mind. Let’s bring Yoongi hyung back home."
"Are you serious? Really?!" Namjoon exclaimed, his laughter breaking through as he practically shouted with joy.
Yoongi chuckled at Namjoon’s reaction. "Do you miss him that much?" Yoongi teased.
"So much! So, so, so much! Like… a lot, a lot, a loooooot!"
Yoongi laughed again. "You’re adorable, hyung. Alright, come quickly. I’m waiting for you."
"Say your goodbyes to Jiminie properly~
I’ll be there in a few minutes," Namjoon said before hanging up.
Yoongi handed the phone back to Jimin and hugged him tightly. "I’m leaving, hyung.
But I promise, I’ll bring Yoongi hyung back."
Jimin returned the embrace, his voice soft.
"I don’t fully understand what’s happening,
but thank you, Yoon. You’ll be okay, right?"
Yoongi nodded. "I’m finally going home.
I missed it so much."
Jimin smiled, patting his head gently. "Promise me you’ll keep in touch?
I’ll pester Yoongi hyung to bring me to your house. And you better visit me too! If not, I’ll be mad at you," he said, pouting.
"I can’t promise that, hyung."
"Yooooon!" Jimin whined.
Yoongi laughed. "Sorry, I was just joking."
After chatting for a bit, they said their goodbyes as Namjoon arrived. Yoongi also bid farewell to Taehyung and Jungkook, who were shocked by his sudden departure.
"I need to go back home. Everyone misses me, especially my best friend," Yoongi explained, glancing at Namjoon with a knowing smile.
"Make sure to visit us again someday," Jungkook said.
"I will," Yoongi promised.
After a long series of goodbyes, Yoongi left with Namjoon, heading back to his home, which he had missed deeply.
Once they arrived, Yoongi unlocked the door and headed to his bedroom with Namjoon. Namjoon pulled out a small vial from his pocket and handed it to Yoongi.
Taking a deep breath, Yoongi closed his eyes tightly before swallowing the colorful, rock-like pills in one gulp. He opened his eyes and looked at his body, but nothing seemed to change.
Tears welled up as he looked at Namjoon. "I… I didn’t change back?"
Namjoon was equally shocked, tears streaming down his face as he pulled Yoongi into a tight hug, crying. "Are you really stuck like this? Will you remain a child? This can’t be real!"
Suddenly, Yoongi’s body went limp, causing Namjoon to panic. "Hyung! Hyung, wake up, please!" he shouted, shaking Yoongi and crying. "Please, don’t go. It’s okay if you stay a child. Just don’t leave me!"
Namjoon’s mind raced as he remembered that Yoongi had fallen asleep the last time he drank from the second vial. "Is this part of the spell?" he wondered aloud, calming slightly.
He carefully laid Yoongi on the bed, covering him with a blanket before turning off the lights and leaving the room.
Hours passed as Namjoon lay on the couch in the living room, staring at the ceiling deep in thought until he eventually drifted off.
"Namjoon, you lazy bum, wake up!" Yoongi’s voice rang out as he shook Namjoon awake.
Namjoon jolted up in surprise to see Yoongi standing before him.
"H-Hyung?" Namjoon stammered before pulling Yoongi into a bone-crushing hug, tears streaming down his face. "I thought I lost you! Thank goodness you’re back!"
Yoongi pushed him away with an annoyed look. "I’ve told you a hundred times to stop hugging me! Let go, for goodness’ sake."
Namjoon smiled through his tears.
"Now that’s the hyung I know."
"Yeah, yeah. Now go home. It’s late. I don’t take visitors this late at night," Yoongi said, waving him off.
Namjoon glanced at the clock and saw that it was 3 a.m. "You want me to leave at this hour? What if some criminal kills me? Who in their right mind goes out at this time?!"
Yoongi rolled his eyes and headed back to his room. "Fine, then. Break your back sleeping on that dusty couch. I haven’t cleaned it in months. Not my problem."
Namjoon scowled and followed after him.
"What are you saying, hyung? I’ll sleep in your bed with you."
Yoongi shoved him away, disgusted.
"Stay away! Don’t even think about it!"
●●●●●●
○○○○○○
●●●●●●
Yoongi stepped out of his house, locking the door behind him as he prepared to head to school. As he turned the key, the sound of commotion from the neighboring house—Taehyung’s—caught his attention.
Just seconds later, Taehyung burst out the door, sprinting across the yard, followed closely by Jungkook.
Another moment passed before Jimin emerged, yelling at the two while brandishing a shoe in his right hand. "I swear I’ll kill you both! Don’t think you can escape me!"
Yoongi blinked twice at the absurd sight before deciding to ignore it. He calmly began walking in the same direction as the fleeing duo—toward school.
Jimin furrowed his brows, noticing the unfamiliar figure ambling along. "There is another teenager in the neighborhood?" he wondered aloud, puzzled.
He couldn’t recall anyone his age living nearby besides Yoongi.
Slipping on his shoes, Jimin locked his door and jogged toward the 'newcomer,' as he assumed.
"Hey there!" Jimin greeted with a bright smile, jumping in front of the other boy.
"Hi, shorty," Yoongi replied indifferently, barely sparing him a glance.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
It finally clicked for Jimin who this was. His eyes widened as he shouted, "Yoongi hyung?!"
Yoongi winced, covering his ears with both hands and frowning. "What’s with the yelling? You’re going to rupture my eardrums! I’m right here; I can hear you!"
Suddenly, Jimin lunged forward, wrapping Yoongi in a tight hug. Startled, Yoongi nearly pushed him away but decided to let it slide for a few seconds before gently nudging him off.
"When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me? Are you okay? Are you tired? Did you get enough rest?" Jimin bombarded him with questions, his concern pouring out like a flood.
"Wow, you sure love to talk, don’t you, Mom?" Yoongi teased, resuming his walk.
"I’m talking to you!" Jimin shouted, frustrated.
Yoongi scratched his ear, feigning confusion. "Huh? Did I just hear a Smurf talking? How strange."
Jimin glared, pouting, before rushing to lightly punch Yoongi on the head. Yoongi turned to glare at him in return, retaliating with a playful shove, which led to Jimin kicking him in response.
"Let go of my hair! I’m going to be late because of you!" Yoongi shouted in pain.
"Not until you apologize first!"
"No way."
"Then I’m not letting go," Jimin declared, tugging harder on Yoongi’s hair, earning a pained groan from the elder.
"Okay, okay! I’ll apologize! Just let go already!"
Satisfied, Jimin released him, only for Yoongi to flash a mischievous grin and stick his tongue out before bolting toward the school.
"You liar! You’re not getting away with this!" Jimin yelled, chasing after him.
Since they’d missed the bus, the two ended up running the entire way to school chasing each other.
When Yoongi finally stopped at the school gate, gasping for breath, he was knocked down by Jimin crashing into him. Both fell to the ground in a heap, immediately starting to grab at each other’s hair again while trading insults.
Their bickering continued until a teacher stormed over, scolding them loudly.
"To the principal’s office! Now!" the teacher barked, marching ahead as the two boys begrudgingly followed, still glaring at each other.
"Is it really so hard to say sorry?" Jimin whispered.
"You’re the one who should apologize! I’m getting in trouble on my first day back because of you!"
Jimin’s eyes widened. "I’m the one being punished because of you! You owe me three apologies!"
"Three? Do you even know how to count? Oh, right, you’re too dumb for that."
Jimin gasped, scandalized. "What did you just say?!"
"Exactly what you heard."
They were about to start another round of squabbling when the teacher slammed the office door open, dragging the two inside by their ears.
"Let go, Mr. Lee!" Jimin pleaded, wincing as he tried to free himself.
The principal sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as he tried to maintain his composure.
"If I weren’t merciful, I’d expel both of you right now. What is with this constant fighting?!"
Turning to Yoongi first, he began, "Yoongi, my dear boy, you’ve just returned to school. This is your senior year. Do you really have time to waste on petty fights with a freshman? Shouldn’t you focus on catching up with your classes?"
Then, addressing Jimin, he continued, "And you, Jimin. Why are you engaging in these fights? He’s older than you; show a little respect. You’re one of my top students. Please don’t ruin your reputation over silly arguments."
The principal pressed his fingers to his temples. "You two are exhausting. You’ve experienced every punishment in the book by now. Just makeup already, hmm? I’m too old for this."
"I... I’m sorry, Principal," Jimin mumbled, bowing his head.
He kicked Yoongi lightly to prompt him to apologize too.
"Fine. I’m sorry," Yoongi muttered reluctantly.
The principal sighed again. "You’re in different years. Just stay away from each other during breaks. Easy, right? Now get to class."
"But... what about our punishment?" Jimin asked nervously, only to be pinched by Yoongi.
"Ow! Why did you pinch me?"
"Why bring up punishment when he didn’t mention one? If you like being punished, start trouble on your own. I’m done getting punished because of you," Yoongi retorted.
"It’s not because of me!" Jimin protested.
"Oh, really? Who tackled me at the gate and started pulling my hair?"
Before Jimin could retort, the principal slammed his hands on the desk, silencing both boys. "Don’t make me regret not expelling you!"
Both quickly apologized, bowing deeply before leaving the office.
Once outside, they exchanged angry glances. Just as Yoongi opened his mouth to speak, Jimin kicked him hard and sprinted off toward his classroom.
"That short little demon," Yoongi muttered, rubbing his leg before heading to his own class.
A few classes passed, and it was finally time for the lunch break.
Jimin waited a few minutes, letting the other students leave first before he trudged out with a sigh.
Today, he’d eat lunch alone since Taehyung was definitely hiding from him after their morning antics.
He made his way to the courtyard and sat under one of the trees, pulling out his lunchbox with a pout.
"Taehyungie didn’t even take his lunch..." he muttered, recalling how his friend had run out without grabbing his food.
With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and tried calling Taehyung, but there was no answer.
"Let him starve; I don’t care!" he huffed, opening his lunchbox and starting to eat.
As he quietly ate, he watched the other students in the courtyard. His eyes soon landed on Yoongi, who was sitting with Namjoon and Hoseok.
Jimin quickly finished his lunch, packed up, and tucked the box away. If Yoongi spotted him, there was no doubt he’d come over to settle the score for that kick earlier. Jimin definitely didn’t want to get into another fight.
"Jiminah!" Namjoon called out, spotting him.
Jimin groaned under his breath and looked up, plastering a smile on his face. He noticed Yoongi standing a little distance away, talking to Hoseok with an annoyed expression. Hoping Yoongi had forgotten about the morning’s events, Jimin smiled brightly and waved.
"Where’s Taehyung?" Namjoon asked, glancing around in search of their mutual friend.
"I don’t know," Jimin replied with a shrug. "Probably hiding so I don’t kick his butt."
Namjoon laughed loudly. "What did he do this time?"
Jimin’s brows furrowed as he started ranting about how Taehyung and Jungkook had stayed up all night, trashed the house, and probably broken a few things too. Namjoon, however, was barely listening, instead pinching Jimin's cheeks with an amused smile.
Jimin scowled deeper, swatting Namjoon’s hand away. "Stop it, hyung! You’re not even listening to me!"
"Of course I am," Namjoon replied, grabbing Jimin’s hand as he tried to walk away.
"No, you’re not!" Jimin huffed, walking forward but still looking back at Namjoon—until he tripped and fell flat on the ground.
Laughter erupted from Yoongi behind them.
"Yah!" Jimin shouted, scrambling to his feet as Namjoon helped him up.
"I thought you two made up?" Namjoon asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jimin dusted himself off with a small groan. "Your grumpy friend’s pride is too big. He won’t apologize, so I won’t forgive him!"
Namjoon sighed. "Hyuuung, have you forgotten what happened? Do you want me to remind you?"
Yoongi rolled his eyes, clearly irritated. "Are you blackmailing me, Joon?"
"Apologize to him!" Namjoon demanded. "You owe me, and you owe him too. Or did you forget?"
"...Sorry," Yoongi muttered under his breath, avoiding Jimin’s gaze.
"Pardon?" Jimin blinked in surprise.
"I said I’m sorry," Yoongi mumbled a little louder.
"I can’t hear you, hyung," Jimin teased, leaning closer.
"I said I’m sorry!" Yoongi snapped, his voice rising, making Jimin burst into laughter.
"Four apologies instead of three!" Jimin grinned triumphantly.
"One! Just one!" Yoongi corrected, glaring at him.
"Whatever you say, hyung~"
Jimin tilted his head curiously and stepped closer, poking Yoongi’s cheek with his finger. "Have you gained weight, hyung?"
Yoongi swatted his hand away. "Because a certain annoying brat kept forcing me to eat."
"Who?" Jimin asked, intrigued.
Hoseok gasped dramatically. "You have friends other than us?!"
"Who is it? Tell us!" Jimin asked again, his curiosity growing.
"You’re so annoying," Yoongi grumbled, shaking his head.
"Come on, I’m really curious, hyung! Tell meee!" Jimin insisted, bouncing slightly.
"Fine," Yoongi began, pretending to think. "He’s really annoying. Short. Talkative. Get angry too quickly. Always provoking me, and I constantly feel like punching him."
"Wow, is he your friend or your enemy?" Jimin teased, laughing.
"But... he’s also caring. Always worried about his friends. Give warm hugs. And his smile makes me feel like everything in the world is okay," Yoongi admitted softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Jimin’s gaze dropped, sadness flickering in his eyes. He didn’t realize Yoongi was talking about him.
"What about me?" Jimin asked quietly, his brows furrowing. "Are we friends?"
Yoongi widened his eyes dramatically. "You don’t consider me your friend? After all the times we’ve gotten in trouble together? I didn’t think you’d hold a grudge against me, Jiminie."
Jimin smiled brightly, and Yoongi returned it with a smirk.
As the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang, Yoongi began walking back to class, Hoseok trailing behind.
"Goodbye, hyung!" Jimin called out, waving eagerly.
Yoongi, as usual, ignored him.
"See you after school, Jiminie," Hoseok said, smiling as he followed Yoongi.
Jimin nodded, waving back.
Namjoon playfully messed up Jimin’s hair before heading off. "Pay attention in class, kid."
Jimin waved at them before turning toward the trees behind him. "Come out, Taehyung. I know you’re there."
Taehyung emerged from behind the trees, laughing. "You win, Jimin! Now it’s my turn to hide, and you have to find me."
Jimin rolled his eyes. "We’ll be late for class. Let’s go, buddy."
Taehyung skipped over and jumped onto Jimin’s back, giggling.
Jimin gave him a light smack on the butt. "You’ve gained weight too, Taetae."
"Hehe."