Chapter Text
Everything felt different to Jimin. Like the world had been quietly polished overnight just for him.
The clouds seemed softer, drifting lazily across the sky as if they had nowhere urgent to be. Birds sounded sweeter, their chirping like music meant just for his ears. Even the breeze felt gentler against his skin.
Jimin caught himself smiling at nothing, and at everything. Because after that one moment, the whole world felt a little more beautiful.
Even the studio. It was same as always but, still very different.
Same sunlight slipping through dusty windows, same faint smell of clay and paint, same quiet hum of work. But everything was warmer.
Or maybe it was all just him.
He sat at his table, playing with the colors, humming a tune under his breath. Doing absolutely nothing productive for the past 20 minutes.
His mind had long abandoned the half-finished painting in front of him. Instead choosing to replay that moment.
Over. And over. And over again.
The way Jeongukk had looked at him, had paused before leaning in. Touched his hand gently.
His ears burned instantly.
“Stop smiling like that.”
Jimin startled, nearly dropping palette. He snapped his head to the side, finding Minsoo already staring at him, eyes narrowed, suspicious.
“Jeez...I’m not smiling." Jimin mumbled quickly, then looking back down.
“You are." Minsoo said, leaning closer. “And blushing, at...nothing.”
“I am not blushing...”
“You are literally pink.”
Jimin slapped a hand over his cheek. Hurt, over their betrayal.
Minsoo’s expression slowly shifted. Suspicion melted into realization. Then into pure, unfiltered chaos.
“No way.”
Jimin looked at him, confused. "What?"
“No. Way.” Minsoo grabbed his arm. “Park Jimin. You went on a date yesterday, and today you are all smiling and blushing like an idiot. What exactly did you do?”
“Nothing!”
“YOU DID SOMETHING.”
“I didn’t...”
Minsoo gasped loudly. “You...you kissed him, didn’t you?”
Jimin choked.
Minsoo’s jaw dropped. “YOU DID! OMG!”
“It was just...” Jimin buried his face in his hands, voice dropping to a whisper. "One kiss.”
There was a beat of silence.
"Two." Jimin corrected himself.
Minsoo SCREAMED. “TWICE?!”
“SHUT UP!” Jimin lunged forward, clamping a hand over his mouth, eyes wide as he glanced around the studio. “Do you want everyone to know?!”
Minsoo muffled something unintelligible against his palm, vibrating with energy.
Jimin slowly let go.
Minsoo immediately grabbed his shoulders instantly. “Give me freaking details.”
“No.”
“Details.”
“No!”
“DETAILS!!"
Jimin groaned, face burning all over again. “It just…happened, okay? We were talking and then he...and i...and...”
“And?”
Jimin hid behind his hands again. “It was nice.”
Minsoo made a sound like he’d just witnessed the greatest plot twist of his life.
“Nice? NICE?” He shook him. “You’re out there having romantic breakthroughs and all you have to say is, nice?!”
Jimin laughed helplessly, trying to push him away. “I don’t know how to explain it!”
“Was it long?”
“Minsoo!”
“Was there tounge?” He asked, wriggling his eyebrows.
“Wha...? You are such a perv. I'm not answering that!”
Minsoo gasped dramatically, stepping back. “Oh my god! There was.”
Jimin threw a rag at him angrily. “NO. STOP IT!”
But he was smiling.
Uncontrollable. Giggling.
Minsoo noticed. And this time instead of teasing, he just stared at Jimin for a second. Eyes softening, with a smile.
“You really like him.”
Jimin paused.
His smile didn’t fade. “Yeah.” he admitted quietly.
Minsoo blinked, then immediately ruined the moment. “OH MY GOD YOU’RE IN LOV...”
“MINSOO!”
Before any one of them could say anything. Jimin’s phone buzzed.
He glanced at it, and froze.
11:23 AM
I’m outside.
Jimin blinked, then stood up abruptly. Mouth o in shock. "Outside!?”
“What?” Minsoo asked, while moving closer to look at his phone.
Jimin didn’t say anything. He was already pulling off his gloves. Running. knocking over a stool in the process.
"Use protection!" Minsoo shouted.
“I'm gonna kill you.” Jimin threw over his shoulder, already moving.
He opened door, phone in his hand. His bag long forgotten inside. The apron still on him and, hands still messy.
He looked from left, to right. And there he saw him. Jeongukk standing there. Leaned against his car.
Clean and composed.
Jimin walked straight to him. Smiling.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
Jeongukk gaze flickered all over him. Taking in.
The apron.
The mess.
The slight breathlessness.
“I decided just now.”
“You could’ve at least warned me.”
“You came anyway.”
A pause.
“…Yeah.” A realization.
Jimin reached his hands behind his back, untying the apron, removing it. Then tossing it aside, infront of his workshop gate.
“I look like a mess.”
Jeongukk's eyes stayed on him. “You don't.”
“Yes, I do...”
Before he could continue, Jeongukk took a step closer. Pulling out his handkerchief.
Clean. Crisp.
Without asking he reached up. Gently wiping a faint smudge from Jimin’s cheek.
Jimin was completely lost. Because this was new.
The closeness, softness and care.
Feelings.
“Jeongukk...” he murmured without thinking. Staring deeply at the olders face.
Jimin’s eyes widening slightly, when Jeongukk's hand stopped mid air. Near his face.
Realization hitting both of them.
"You called me, by my name."
"Uh...i...it was ju..."
“Say it again.”
“Wh...what?"
“My name.”
A pause.
Jimin swallowed a lump. “No. I can't. You're ol..."
“Say it again.” Jeongukk repeated. Quieter this time, but heavier.
Jimin hesitated.
Because this felt bigger than it should.
He had always said, Mr. Jeon.
Respectful and safe option.
But this was different. Making everything they had, feel more real. Raw and intimate.
Jeongukk watched him.
Waiting.
Jimin exhaled slowly. “Jeon...”
He stopped. Breathing heavily, shaking his head slightly. “…I can’t.”
Jeongukk's jaw tightened faintly, nostrils flaring a little. He took one more step, closer to Jimin. “You can.”
“It feels weird.”
“Do it anyway.”
A beat.
Jimin looked at Jeongukk's eyes. The way he was holding himself still.
Jimin’s fingers curled into tight fists. “Jeongukk.”
It came out soft. Like testing it.
And Jeongukk stilled completely. Something in his chest shifted.
Heat coursing through his body. Handkerchief scrunched around his tight grip.
“Again.”
Jimin lets out a quiet breath. Half-nervous, half-laugh. “You’re serious?”
Jeongukk didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
“Jeongukk.”
This time it was more clearer. Confident.
Jeongukk exhaled, slowly. Eyes closed, casting down on the grey pavement.
Then suddenly, he looked up.
Composed.
“We’re getting lunch.”
Jimin didn’t question his behavior. “That’s why you’re here?”
Jeongukk nodded. “I came to take you.”
“You just showed up and decided that?”
“Yes.”
Jimin huffed out a small laugh. “You are so weird.”
Jeongukk didn’t deny it.
Instead...
“Come with me.”
“Okay.” Jimin turned around briefly. Picking up the discarded apron. Throwing it inside the workshop and announcing. "I'm stepping out."
No explanation. No excuses.
Then he was back. Huffing a little. "Let’s go." He said while walking past Jeongukk, to sit in the car.
In between all of it, something had shifted. And Jeongukk felt it the most.
It lodged under his skin the moment Jimin said his name. And now Jeongukk wanted to hear it again.
The thought sitting heavy in his chest.
Which was the problem, because Jeongukk was very good at control.
And this?
This felt like the beginning of loosing it.