lostseoulswandering

Thursday nights: wild. No one had class on Fridays, so the best way to do it? Go hard on Thursdays, go hard again on Fridays, spend Saturday and Sunday reviving yourself. It had been that way since Jimin’s first year, and as a third year, nothing had changed. Honestly? His week had been complete shit with three exams and having to stay over hours at his internship, and Jimin could already feel the vodka burning his throat.

Taehyung’s sudden presence in his doorway steered Jimin away from his reflections of a hectic week. 

“You almost ready? Namjoon said him and Jin are like… four minutes away.” 

Jimin gave Taehyung an amused look. “Four minutes is oddly specific, but yeah I just gotta grab shoes.” 

“Well, he actually said ten minutes but you know how Jin drives when the promise of alcohol is involved.” Taehyung replied, a subtle eyeball included. 

As Taehyung yawned, stretching his arms far above his head, his shirt riding up to give Jimin the slightest of glimpses at tanned, soft tummy, he thought maybe tonight would be the night. Maybe tonight Jimin would find the courage to tell his best friend and roommate of three years that he was stupidly and wholly in love with him. 

Pulling on his shoes quickly, Jimin made his way down the hallway, stopping in the bathroom to check his hair one last time. Taehyung’s voice was muffled from the living room along with another, which was weird because the front door never opened and Namjoon and Jin wouldn’t waste time to come upstairs. Rounding the corner, Jimin spotted Taehyung in the kitchen rinsing out a cup and laughing. He dried his hands and went into the living room, continuing a conversation. Jimin followed. 

And there, on their couch, sat the bane of Jimin’s entire existence: one choice Jeon Jungkook. Jimin’s number one competition for his title as ‘Taehyung’s best bro’. He couldn’t even properly hate the younger because he was smart, tall, good looking, and he could even sing better than some well-known artists (although Jimin would never admit that to his face). Jungkook was perfect in every sense of the word, and Jimin’s mood immediately drooped. 

“Oh, I didn’t know Jungkook was here.” He spoke up, causing both heads to turn his way. 

Taehyung laughed lightly. “Yeah sorry I forgot to mention it. He came over while you were in the shower a while ago.” 

Jimin just nodded, and the air became a tad bit too tense to be not awkward. Thankfully, Taehyung’s phone began to ring, Namjoon clearly yelling a “get in the car children” through the speaker. 

                                                           —

The club was actually horrible, Taehyung having disappeared along with Jungkook over an hour ago. Jimin sat at the bar with Yoongi, lazily sipping his drink. 

“Jiminnie why are you so somber tonight?” Yoongi slurred slightly, and Jimin honestly couldn’t tell if it was the Daegu or the alcohol. 

Jimin shrugged. “Just a bad week I guess.” 

“Ah, I see.” Yoongi nodded, swirling his finger in the condensation left on the bar table from his drinks. “Rough week, and not anything at all to do with Taehyung and his fuck buddy Jungkook?” 

“Fuck bud– what? Okay, they’re not fucking, Yoongi. And if they were, why would I care?” Jimin practically sputtered the words out of his mouth. 

Yoongi just gave him a knowingly side glance from where he sat. “You all think I’m so quiet and indifferent, but that’s only because I’m observing all of you all the time.” 

“Uh… not gonna lie, that sounds creepy hyung.” Jimin laughed nervously.

“Shut up, I’m borderline drunk you punk. Anyhow, it’s quite clear that you’ve been pining after Taehyung for some time now. But Tae and Jungkook are most definitely fucking.” Yoongi shrugged like this was all just common public knowledge. 

Jimin felt his bottom lip pout out uncontrollably. 

“Hey, don’t pout at me. You’re the one that needs to just have a talk with Taehyung, you’re the one that needs to tell him you have feelings. It’s all you. And pouting at me at the bar in a club isn’t going to fix your problems.” Yoongi was often times very straight-forward and brutal, but Jimin felt motivation with the words. 

“I guess you’re right, hyung.” He said, waving the bartender down to close his tab. 

Yoongi raised an eyebrow at him. “Where are you going?” 

Jimin sloppily signed his name at the bottom of the receipt and let out a heavy sigh. “Home. I’m going to talk to Tae tomorrow, I’m gonna tell him, so I should get some sleep.” 

                                                          —

What Jimin didn’t expect when he got home was Taehyung to also be home, and he definitely did not expect Jungkook to also be there. Nor did he expect to gain all this knowledge in the form of Jungkook having Taehyung pressed against the bathroom counter, hands under the other’s shirt and mouth on Taehyung’s neck. No, not at all. Jimin just needed to pee. 

His presence in the doorway was soon noticed by Taehyung who looked at Jimin with heavy lidded, lust filled eyes and a smirk on his stupid mouth. And Jimin? Well, Jimin, being slightly drunk and emotionally drained from his stressful week, felt his bottom lip pout out and quiver and literal tears slid from his eyes. He saw Taehyung’s entire expression change to one of confusion and then worry before Jimin was out of there, down the hallway, and safe behind the door to his bedroom. Where he shakily sat down on his bed, kicked his shoes off, curled up in his sheets and cried until his tired mind shut down for the night. 

                                                         —

The next morning, Jimin didn’t surface from his bed until near the noon hour, and he kept his fingers crossed the whole way to the kitchen that Taehyung was gone and busy doing something elsewhere. But no, as Jimin emerged into the kitchen, still in his jeans and black shirt (that was now terribly wrinkled) form the night before, Taehyung was sitting at the kitchen table, scrolling through his phone and nervously tapping the side of an empty mug of coffee. 

The sound of Jimin’s feet on the wood floor made Taehyung’s eye shoot up from his phone, and he instantly stood up. “Jimin, hey, I think we should talk about last night. I’m really sorry if that was like… crossing the line. I know you like guys too but like, that’s our shared space. I’m sorry, I didn’t think you would be home and me and Jungkook were both really drunk and–” 

“Taehyung, stop. You don’t need to be sorry. I was just surprised is all.” Jimin said, acting nonchalant about the entire event. 

Taehyung chewed his lip for a minute, and the silence was deafening. A few pings of notifications sounded from Taehyung’s phone but he didn’t even acknowledge them. “Then why were you crying?” 

There it was. Jimin felt his eyes well up again, and he sucked his lip to fight the urge to cry once again. “No, what? I probably had like makeup in my eye or something. Or… no actually I had to pee really bad and you were blocking the toilet so I cried about that, haha ha.” 

The frown on Taehyung’s face was deep and disappointed. “You don’t need to lie to me. Honestly, I thought you knew about me and Jungkook fooling around… it’s been pretty obvious for a few weeks now.” 

Jimin took a long, shaky inhale of air before letting it all out. "I… I’ve suspected it, but I guess I just didn’t want it to be true.” 

Realization crossed Taehyung’s face and Jimin’s face instantly went red. He could have easily left that last part out. 

Before he could beat himself up over it, he felt Taehyung’s long, lean arms hugging him tightly. “Jiminnie, why didn’t you tell me you had a crush on me?” 

The hot feeling in his cheeks was back and Jimin scoffed. “Don’t say it like that, it sounds so childish. Besides, I’ve liked you since dorm move in day our first year… I just… couldn’t get past the possibility of rejection and losing you as my best friend.” 

Taehyung pulled away, a soft smile on his lips now. “Jimin, you’ll always be my best friend, always. Nothing is ever going to change that. Besides, I’ve always had an infatuation for you too, but you always act so brotherly to me so I guess I read you wrong.” 

Well, Jimin felt absolutely fucking stupid hearing that. “I’m sorry.” Jimin pouted, looking downward and internally screaming at himself for a wasted three years, and now there was no certain future for them to be together. 

Lips on his own was not what he was expecting, but he leaned into Taehyung’s kiss. Long, slender fingers cupped his cheek and Taehyung laughed softly against Jimin’s lips. “Don’t be sorry… I wish you wouldn’t have cried over it and just yelled at me or something. I feel awful.”

Jimin sighed quietly, biting his lip again nervously as he looked Taehyung in his eyes that held so much warmth. “What does this mean? And what happened wth Jungkook now?” 

Taehyung actually tilted his head back, letting out that loud baritone laugh that everyone adored. “Well look here, now Jimbles has the courage to ask all the questions.” Jimin glared at him for a second, but Taehyung continued. “Honestly, Jungkook has always talked about how attractive you are so I’m sure he’ll be okay. I don’t think he was ever much into me…”

“Then why was he eating the skin off your neck last night, Taehyung?” Jimin scoffed, glancing down at the purple and red blotching the side of the other’s neck. 

Slapping Jimin’s shoulder lightly in retaliation, Taehyung just shook his head while laughing. “Okay, okay… we should talk to him.”

                                                        —

So a lot of things happened that week around winter finals during Jimin’s third year. A lot of bad things, good things. A lot of things he didn’t really expect to happen. 

To say you were sick was the biggest understatement ever spoken. You were absolutely on your deathbed, and it was only a matter of time before eternal slumber wrapped you in its arms.

“It’s just a head cold, jesus, you’re gonna be fine.” Taehyung had said, for maybe the fifth time that day already. The amused laughter in his voice made you smile, though.

“You’re gonna have to go on without me babe, the light is beginning to fade.” You croaked, your throat still raw from coughing so much. You squinted your eyes dramatically.

“The worst actor.” Taehyung scoffed, playfully pushing your head to the side. “I’m going to make dinner. Anything in particular you want?”

You rolled over, a couple crumpled tissues falling to the floor. “I want infinite years of health and well-being.” You said, your eyes hopefully as he just laughed loudly, shaking his head as he left the bedroom.

After cleaning up a little, you emerged into the kitchen, clad in a baggy tshirt-- whose tshirt you had no idea-- and sweatpants. You dragged yourself to the table only a few feet away where Taehyung was busy at the stove. Laying your head on your arm weakly, you watched him in admiration. How he put up with you when you were sick was beyond this world.

A half an hour later, and after much small talk about his day at work, dinner was ready. He had concocted some form of soup, and you were not about to complain because one, his cooking was always the best, and two, it was the first actual thing you had eaten since the day prior.

“Is it good?” He asked before taking a sip of his water.

“Tastes like shit.” You mumbled around the spoon in your mouth. You quickly dipped the spoon back into your bowl and then back into your mouth.

“Ah I see.” He said, his tone amused. “I’m sorry.”

You looked up at his smirk and shook your head. You loved that he never took anything you said seriously, because you could be considered mean if he didn’t.

“Drink the rest of your water and then you should rest some more.” He said, taking his already empty bowl over to the sink. You pouted, hating the taste of the bland water but knowing he was right. You also didn’t want to go to bed. You had just spent the whole day alone while Taehyung was at work and he’d been crashing on the couch as to not catch whatever you had come down with.

You made to get up to bring your bowl to the sink, but he saw you over his shoulder. He shooed you back, grabbing your bowl from you.

“I am an adult woman, Taehyung, I can wash my own dishes.” You rasped out.

“And I am well aware of that but you’re going to get your snot all over the dish towel and then I will get sick and I will have to miss work too.”

It didn’t sound like a bad idea, you thought. But you knew you couldn’t afford to both be missing work, especially with rent and bills due the next week.

You trudged back to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, frowning at the grimy feeling of not having showered since the day before, but you had just been too weak all day.

“Do you need me to get anything before I crash on the couch?” You heard Taehyung’s voice from the doorway and rolled over in self-defeat.

“I’m sorry.” You pouted at him.

He laughed softly, looking at you in confusion. “Why? What did you do?”

“I’m sorry I’m so gross and sneezy and, and… look at me!” You exaggerated, gesturing at your sloppy attire before curling the comforter around your body with the most upset expression. “I’m so unattractive, fuck.”

Taehyung let out another chuckled before sitting beside the bundle of blankets you had curled into. “Babe, stop.” He cooed, pulling a piece of the blanket down to look at you. You had tears welling in your eyes and he sighed softly as he grabbed a tissue and wiped them away right as they spilled over onto your cheeks. “You are not gross, nor are you any bit unattractive. You’re a human being and that means you get sick every now and then.” He reminded you, and you chuckled through your tears, feeling as if you were a child. “I’ve gotten sick before too, and did you hate me for it?”

You made a face as if you were thinking on it.

“That was a dumb question, don’t answer it.” He smiled at you.

“I’m kidding. I love you.” You said, smiling back at him.

“Yeah, I know. I love you too.” He looked at you adoringly. “If you weren’t infected with germs right now I would kiss you senseless.”

You laughed. “Babe, my mouth probably tastes like stale soup and mucus.”

He scrunched his nose. “Hence the ‘if you weren’t infected with germs’ part.” He stroked your cheek with his thumb for a little while longer. “But seriously, do you need anything before I go to sleep?”

You smiled, shaking your head. “I took my medicine a little before you came home.”

“Good.” He smiled softly at you. “Now get some sleep and feel better.”

He kissed his hand and then touched it to your forehead.

“MY OWN BOYFRIEND WON’T KISS ME, AM I REALLY THAT TERRIBLE?!” You screamed in mock-agony.

“What the fuck are you still doing here? It’s almost 2 in the morning.”

You jumped slightly, looking up from the book you were buried in. The sound of your best friend’s voice suddenly in the midst of the dead-silent library made your heart stop for a minute.

“For fuck’s sake, Jin, I think I pissed a little.” You cursed as he chuckled lightly, sitting across from you.

“Is that for European economic functions?” He asked, nodding his head toward the book in front of you.

You sighed, maybe a bit too heavily, rubbing your eyes furiously.

“Wanna study together? I haven’t even started for that class yet.”

You gave him the most incredulous look before scoffing at his smirk. Jin was probably the smartest person you had ever known so it honestly didn’t surprise you.

Jin snatched the book from you, sliding it toward himself and flipping through the pages mindlessly. “Go get something to eat downstairs.” He said, and at the mention of food, you felt and, quite embarrassingly, heard your stomach growl.

As you waited in line at the 24/7 cafe in the university library, you felt yourself panicking about the time you were wasting not studying. It wouldn’t matter now, though, because Jin would find a way to help you understand the material.

You’d met Jin in the second semester of your freshman year, both of you being business majors. You remembered that day like it was yesterday, because he had grown to be your closest friend. It was literally the first day of classes, and although you had already been in Korea for almost a year at the time, you had been struggling to make friends. It didn’t seem to matter that you spoke Korean fluently, people just knew you were American and it often times intimidated them.

You were sitting a few rows up from the back row, scrolling through Twitter on your laptop before your lecture began. Jin had just casually sat right beside you, whipping out his absolutely horrible English and making you laugh extra hard.

“It’s okay, I speak Korean.” You had said in Korea, holding your hands up. You watched relief settle on his face as he introduced himself again, but in Korean, falling into a much more comfortable setting.

It had been a long four years from there, and Jin’s other friends that eventually became yours as well always picked on you.

You two are too much alike, all cocky and narcissistic.

Maybe if either of you cared about anyone but yourselves, you’d be perfect for each other.

It was all fun and jokes and everything, but you didn’t only care about yourself. Of course, you were pretty confident in yourself, your looks, your life direction. But you cared so much about your friends, and you would drop anything if they needed something. You just had a… difficult way of showing it. As did Jin, who literally never shut up about himself. Deservedly so, you thought. He was the textbook definition of ‘perfect’. He was tall and in shape and healthy and smarter than anyone and good-looking and he had a wonderful family. You’d be 100% cocky, 100% of the time too.

“I can help whoever is next.” The girl behind the counter said, and you snapped from your thoughts. You ordered a sandwich and some coffee before returning upstairs where Jin already had his notes out, scribbling extra words here and there as he squinted at the text in the book.

Jin looked up as you sat down, and he scrunched his face in distaste at the coffee in your hand.

“I’m just gonna finish this last chapter and then we can go over my notes.” He said, returning to writing. “This is just all so confusing, most likely because the EU is weird and shit.”

You laughed quietly at his rambling before he finished and pushed his notes across the table. “I can go over them if you want, but you can just take them for the exam on Friday. I don’t need them.”

You just shook your head in envy as you sipped your coffee.

-------

To say you were attracted to Jin wasn’t a shocker, because who wasn’t? He’d caught your attention from the day you’d met him, and he had maintained it ever since. But you were really good at hiding things. Like extremely good.

You’d stayed friends through several different relationships he’d had throughout the years, never letting it bother you too badly. Sometimes, though, it got under your skin.

When the both of you were in your third year, Jin’s younger brother, Jungkook, had come to the same university and he and his two friends, Jimin and Taehyung had naturally melted into your friends group of yourself, Jin, Hoseok, Yoongi, and Namjoon. It was so obvious that Jungkook had a thing for you from like the second week he was around you.

Naturally, Jungkook had confessed to you, and naturally, Jungkook remained, to the present, the only person who knew about your feelings for Jin.

“Jungkook told me he liked me last night.” You had said, laughing lightly as you sat on the couch in Jin, Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok’s apartment. Hoseok and Namjoon were busy playing some video game, yelling at each other, and Yoongi was most likely at his girlfriend’s, but Jin was skimming through whatever on his phone. His face shot to yours instantly, and he looked really mad.

“You can’t date my brother.” Jin said, face dead-serious. You felt anger rise within your own body now.

“I never said I was going to?” You shot back, and Hoseok glanced back at the two of you. “Also, why the fuck would it even matter?”

Jin’s eyes grew darker with anger. “Because he’s my little brother and that’s disgusting.”

You scoffed, venom lacing your tone. “It’s not your goddamn job to decide who I date and who I don’t.” You searched around for your jacket and keys before getting up to leave. “I don’t need you acting like my parent when you certainly go around dating whoever the fuck you want.” You spat. Jin just sat there like a statue as you slammed the door shut, shuffling down the stairs and out of the building.

You hadn’t talked for two weeks after that. You certainly were not going to be the one to apologize. You did nothing wrong. However, when Jin apologized in the dining hall over the eight of you eating dinner, everyone looked shocked. You just smiled with a victory.

He later had explained to you that the idea of you dating his younger brother just made him uncomfortable. You could see from his point of view, but still didn’t understand why it bothered him so badly. The both of you were waiting at the bus stop for your respective busses after dinner.

“It’s okay, I’m sorry too. I don’t even like Jungkook in that way.” You laughed, and Jin made a gagging sound at the mention. “I have someone else I like, anyway.”

Jin had a warm smile on his face at the mention. “Good.”

------

Finals were approaching steadily, and behind that was graduation. Everyone was excited, even Jungkook, Taehyung, and Jimin, although they were also quite envious. Jin had already secured a job after graduation at Woori Bank, but you were still applying. Being a foreigner and a female, it was an extremely rough period of applications and, if you were lucky, interviews.

It eventually became so tough on you that you called off plans with your friends often, opting to lay in bed all night crying and worrying about your future. Had you made a mistake leaving America?

One evening, though, you had planned to all go for dinner in Myeongdong and do some shopping to destress but you had again opted out last minute. You were laying in bed, watching a movie when your phone lit up. It was Jin. You didn’t answer.

It lit up again five minutes later. You still didn’t answer. He was going to get you to go anywhere.

After that call your phone remained dark for several minutes before lighting up with a text notification.

answer ur fuckin phone before i pull some burglar bullshit n break into ur apartment

You huffed in frustration, hitting the green phone icon and putting the phone to your ear.

“What.” You asked blankly as he answered the phone after one single ring.

“You haven’t been out with us in three weeks, and I am not going to walk around in public with the rest of these fuckin idiots without my best friend.” Jin sounded determined.

You felt your heart warm at the words, but you simply had no motivation. “I’m sorry, Jin… it’s just been really stressful lately.”

You heard him hum softly into the phone before he spoke. “So, you are giving me permission to ditch them as well? I can come over and we can order Chinese and we can watch some stupid English movies.”

You sighed, the thought was nice but you really didn’t want to be around anyone right now. “Jin, sorry, but--”

“Okay, so I will be there in like ten minutes. If you don’t let me in, I am going to egg your bedroom window.” He cut you off, and you felt annoyance wrack your entire being.

------

It had turned out to be a good thing, though. Jin’s presence took your mind off of the future for the night, at least. Over the years, Jin’s English had gotten much better, and you watched a few movies with no subtitles. He still asked you about the slang every now and then, but it was really fun to be able to just sit and laugh with each other.

The credits of the second movie began to roll up the screen, and Jin turned to you, poking his chopsticks at the cold noodles on the table. “What’s been going on lately that has you so stressed?”

You sighed, facing the inevitable. If there was one thing Jin was not, it was uninterested. “I’ve just been having an extremely hard time finding anywhere to work after graduation. I’m beginning to think I should have just stayed in the US.”

Jin cleared his throat, interrupting your thoughts. “Listen. You are so smart, and you don’t credit yourself enough for it. You’re also super determined if you put your mind to it. You moved here from a different country, and you’ve been living here for four years on your own. Things are going to work out fine. They are.”

You felt tears threatening to slip from your eyes as you nodded, biting at your lip. Jin really never showed his affections for his friends, but when he did, it was the sweetest.

“Besides,” he said, smirking at you sarcastically, “if you had stayed in the US, we would have never met.”

And you didn’t know whether that sounded like a very good thing, or a very very bad thing.

-------

The next several weeks came and went, and graduation was here. You’d passed all of your classes with no problem, but you still hadn’t found a job. You felt helpless, and you’d been in contact with your parents who had more than willingly opened up their home if you decided to return. You had a huge decision to make, and you felt lost.

You didn’t let the stress ruin your graduation day, though. You got to the ceremony early to meet up with everyone else. You’d chosen a simple white dress and white heels, and you didn’t hear the end of it from your friend when you’d arrived. You, however, couldn’t keep your eyes off of Jin. He was wearing a suit and he looked amazing.

In all your years of being friends with Jin, you had never met his parents, but they greeted you as if you were a long lost daughter. His mother was so impressed with your Korean, and she slapped her son in the arm as she spoke.

“Why haven’t you swept her away? She’s perfect. You are so smart when it comes to academics, but you are clueless when it comes to real life.”

You saw a light pink color rise to Jin’s cheeks, something you had literally never seen before.

“I dunno, mom.” He said softly, meeting your gaze with a nervous smile. She rambled on as you felt yourself blush lightly.

The ceremony was the longest three hours of your life, but it was worth it. You had never felt so accomplished in your entire life. Everyone was exchanging hugs and you blushed again as Jin hugged you tightly.

“We did it.” He whispered as he wrapped his arms around you, and his voice was laced with happiness and excitement.

The party Namjoon threw afterwards was a little nuts, and everyone was slightly tipsy-- some more than others.

You were getting a glass of water in the kitchen when Hoseok wandered in as well, cheering your name as he ran over to you. “We’re free! Finally free!” He exclaimed, and you couldn’t help but laugh. He probably wasn’t even drunk.

“Why do you look so discontent?” He said, his face growing a little serious.

“I just…. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to stay in Korea, Hoseok.” You had always felt you could be most honest with him.

His face dropped, and he looked around to see if anyone had heard. “What do you mean?” He asked in a hushed whisper, leading you away from the crowd of people.

“I literally cannot find a job, and I’m not going to be able to afford my apartment much longer without an income. I’ve already talked to my parents back home about coming back.” Hoseok’s face grew panicked, and you felt your heart break. “And, no, I am not going to stay with you guys. I’m not going to do that to you.”

Hoseok looked around again, seemingly searching for someone. “Have you mentioned it to Seokjin yet?” He looked so worried, and you guys only called Jin by his full name when things were serious.

“No, I mean… I was going to tell everyone eventually…” You shook your head, slightly confused.

“He’s not gonna take it well at all.” Hoseok frowned.

“I don’t under--” You began, but Hoseok cut you off quickly.

“Dude, he’s liked you ever since freshman year. He does shit for you he wouldn’t do for anyone else. How could you not have known? The other week he passed up samgyeopsal to stay in with you and eat Chinese noodles! He even learned English so that he could be better friends with you. Heck, the first day you guys met, he left sitting with us to go talk to you. You know him, he doesn’t willingly make new friends like that” Hoseok’s words kept spilling out and it was all hitting you like a brick wall.

As if a part of some overly-dramatic movie, Jin walked into the kitchen again and you glanced up at him. His carefree expression instantly turned worried at the shock on your face. He walked over, asking Hoseok what was wrong. And before you could even explain yourself, Hoseok opened his mouth.

“She’s talking about going back to the US, Seokjin! Can you believe!!!”

Hurt and confusion and disappointment raced across Jin’s face. “Do we…” He gathered his thoughts, finally meeting your eyes. “Do we mean that little to you?”

You felt a metaphorical knife go right through you at the words, and you felt a tear slide down your cheek. “That’s not--”

But Jin simply turned, heading for the door. Hosoek looked just as hurt, looking at you for answers. You had none. You felt like an asshole. You felt like the absolute worst friend, and you felt shame seep into your bones. You walked toward the door, finding you jacket and sipping it up all the way before leaving.

-------

The decision was pretty clear after that. You booked your flight for the next day after the party, and you sent out pathetic texts to everyone in apology. Everyone answered sadly, everyone except for Jin. You weren’t expecting him to, either. You had pretty well fucked that up.

The flight back was long, and the layovers were excruciating. Your parents picked you up at the airport, and they were beyond happy to see you. You were happy to see them too, but it didn’t change the fact that you had just left a good chunk of your life in Korea.

A week passed, and you tried to settle back into things. Your home wasn’t near any big city, and there weren’t any busses to take to get to one. There was nothing to do. You had lost your license in your absence, not able to renew it. Your friends from high school were hitting you up, willing to hang out with you and wanting to hear all about your past four years, but you fell into a depression worse than the one you had been in before graduation. You knew you should probably start looking for a job, but you didn’t eat, you didn’t sleep, and you were so thoroughly exhausted to even begin looking.

------

It was almost two in the afternoon, and you were just now waking from a brief sleep that had consumed you. There was a knock at the front door, and you sighed figuring it was just a delivery. They would leave it on the front step.

There was another knock and you groaned, pulling yourself up and slipping some sweatpants on. You made your way to the front door, unlocking it and opening it. You felt your heart stop at the figure that had begun walking away from the door.

“S-seokjin?” You said, voice fragile with complete disbelief.

He turned at the sound, his face relieved at the sight of you as he walked back to the door.

“Hey.” He said, simply, as if he wasn’t in a completely different country at your doorstep.

“What…. What the fuck are you doing here?” You said, face hot with embarrassment and anger that he had travelled all the way here. “How did you get here? How did you know where to find me?”

He simply laughed, as if there wasn’t a problem in the entire world before pulling you into a tight hug. “It’s good to see you too.”

You felt uncontrollable sobs wreck your entire frame, but Jin just continued to hold you. “How did you get here, though?” You asked after a couple of minutes, slightly calmer now.

“A car, duh. Transportation sucks here, you know?” He joked, but you could see he was obviously nervous.

“Did you come here alone?!” You scolded, fresh tears spilling over your eyelids.

“No, no.” He said quickly, reaching out to wipe your tears. “Namjoon and Yoongi and Hoseok are in the car too.”

You couldn’t believe it, but all you could say was, “Yoongi, really?”

Jin let out a loud laugh at that, shaking his head. “I know, right? He missed you too, though.”

You smiled at him, not sure what to say from there.

“Did you want to go somewhere? We have a lot to talk about.” He changed the subject abruptly.

You unfroze from your spot, smacking your forehead. “Oh, yeah, fuck. Sorry. Uhm… I don’t really…” You looked down at your attire which consisted of a loose shirt and sweatpants. “Do you guys just wanna come inside?”

------

Yoongi, Namjoon, and Hoseok had all gawked at the expanse of your parents’ house. It wasn’t huge, but it was definitely larger than most homes in Korea so you couldn’t blame them. After catching up, and the other three explaining how heartbroken they had been without you, Jin had asked them to go in the living room while he talked to you in the kitchen.

You took a deep breath, never having been so nervous in front of your best friend before.

“I know what Hoseok told you.” Jin said, getting straight to the point, and you looked at him nervously. “He was wrong. I did like you when we first met…” You felt confused, casting you gaze down to the floor, and nervously drawing circles on the wood panels with your socked feet.

“Hey,” He said then, and he lifted your chin to look at him. “I stopped liking you a while ago because I fell in love with you.”

“When?” You asked, feeling your breath get caught in your throat.

“I dunno exactly… but I realized it when we had that fight about Jungkook.”

You scoffed, playing a mock offense. “How do you just stay quiet about that?!” You accused.

He laughed nervously, fiddling with his fingers. “I don’t know… it was stupid of me. I just…. I cherished you as a friend before anything, and I didn’t want to risk losing that.” You looked up and saw the hurt in his eyes. “But then you left, and I didn’t even get to tell you how I felt. I couldn’t let you go like that.”

You swallowed the fucking giant lump in your throat as you fought off crying again. “I mean, I’m guilty too.” You said softly, glancing up at him. “I’ve loved you for a very long time, too.”

“Oh, see? There we go. No one is perfect in this world.” He joked, his palm encasing your cheek and his fingers brushing the skin there. “I seriously have never cared about anyone this much. It’s scary.”

You could relate. “I’m scared too.”

“We’ll figure it out.” He said, a gentle smile on his lips before pulling you into a tight hug.

------

You ended up booking a flight within the week, having explained everything to your parents over a long dinner that Jin was also a part of. You were scared of their reaction, but they were understanding. They were sad to see you go again so soon, but they were happy that you were happy.

The five of you, Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Jin and yourself made your way back to Korea. The trip was long and tiring, but you would have done it five times again in a row if it meant you got to experience the mess of a sobbing group hug that was at Incheon, Jungkook, Jimin, and Taehyung having come to pick you all up.

You rode back to Jin’s apartment with Jungkook and Jimin, the other having driven separately. You felt the exhaustion in the deepest parts of your body, falling against Jin in the back seat as your eyes threatened to close. He pulled you closer with an arm around your shoulders, and you glanced up him. He looked just as tired.

It didn’t stop you, though, from shifting and leaning in to kiss him. His lips were soft and still against your for a second before he could respond. He smiled against your lips, kissing back with a hand at the back of your neck.

“Okay, okay, okay.” You heard Jimin cringing from the front seat.

You pulled away, laughing as you let your head fall against Jin’s shoulder.

When you finally arrived, and Jungkook grabbed your bags from the trunk, you protested. He shooed you away, smiling.

“Thanks, Jungkook, really.” You sighed, stumbling slightly in your exhaustion.

“It’s nothing. I’m glad your back, and you better stay this time.” He gave you a look before hugging you. “My brother is really lucky.”

You smiled apologetically at him.

“Don’t give me that look, okay? It would have never worked between us. You love him just as much as he loves you.” You knew his words were true, but you still felt bad. “Go sleep, you look awful.”

You gasped, your face only mildly offended before hugging and thanking him and Jimin.

When you finally got inside, you kicked your shoes off and wandered down the hallway, looking for Jin. He was already sprawled out on his bed and you sighed at just the thought of a pillow under your head. You wasted no time falling on top of him, receiving no more than a light grunt from him.

You were almost fully asleep when he shifted from under you, rolling to your side and pulling you into his chest. “I’m gonna feed you so much later. You feel like a goddamn stick.” He mumbled.

Grey. The color of the ceiling. Red. The color of the curtains. Gwiboon gazed out the window beside her bed from her lying position, looking at nothing in particular. It was a nice day, and the sun was setting off in the horizon. She smiled softly, thinking how nice it would be to take a walk and clear her head, but she couldn’t. Not now, anyway. Her mother was coming over to discuss ‘things’ with her. Over the phone, her mother had feigned genuine concern for how her daughter was doing, but Gwiboon knew better. She was only prying to see if her daughter had heard anything about the promotion where she worked.

Gwiboon had spent four long years at university, and then another grueling four years at law school. All of this to impress her mother, live up to her excessively high expectations. But that was where Gwiboon met Eunsook, that was where their small movement had begun.

A knock resounded through the apartment from the front door, and Gwiboon rolled her eyes, sitting up to welcome her mother inside.

As she opened the door, her mother gave her a disapproving look, eyeing her ripped jeans and lack of ‘proper attire’ before forcing her eyes to light up when she realized Gwiboon had noticed.

“How is my baby girl?!?!??” Her mother yelled exaggeratedly, stepping into the open living room and shutting the door behind herself.

“Getting by.” Gwiboon answered, response short, as she took a seat at the island counter in the kitchen. Her mother chose to sit on the snow-white couch a few feet away in the living room.

“You really should get yourself a servant. They really are very cheap anymore due to the rise in male babies.” Her mother harped, looking around the apartment in distaste; a stray sock by the fireplace and coats scattered here and there. Good thing she hadn’t chosen the kitchen, because Gwiboon couldn’t remember the last time she had time to do the dishes. She had been at Eunsook’s most of the time these past few weeks.

However, she scoffed softly at her mother’s comment. Gwiboon remembered a time that she too, like her mother, held so little respect for ‘the lesser’, as society deemed them. The men, good for nothing more than servants and sex slaves. She also remembered the first time she had been to Eunsook’s place, and had met the man that lived there, not as a servant, but as a human. Taemin was feminine enough that no one ever asked questions, but behind the closed door of the apartment, he was pure XY. The fear and utter disgust she held that first meeting was embarrassing to her now, looking back.

“Gwiboon! Calm down!” Eunsook had yelled softly, as to not draw attention to the apartment for any reason. She had stepped in between the two before Gwiboon could harm Taemin in any way. “It’s just a guy. Literally the same as you or I, but a guy.”

“Eunsook…” Gwiboon had looked at her friend, tears in her eyes. “They’re going to kill you. How could you…. Why….” She was lost, confused, and she fell back onto the couch in disbelief.

“Gwiboon, the way we treat them is wrong, okay? I bought Taemin to rescue him three years ago and he’s stayed with me since.” Gwiboon looked over to the man who was standing with his face toward the floor, fighting tears from spilling over his eyelids. “I don’t care what we’ve been raised to think, or what trouble he or I could get into… I love him, Gwiboon.”

Over the two years since then, Gwiboon had grown to know Taemin as well as she would a brother, if there ever was such a thing. His long hair fell softly around his face, and he truly was beautiful. But there were certain aspects about him that she could tell were different. Like how the stubble on his face began to show if he went too long without shaving, the bob of his slightly more prominent adam’s apple as he drank water, or the slight bulge at his crotch when he wore skin-tight pants. Gwiboon’s face would always grow red at the thought. The only men she had ever seen before in her life were the ones her mother had bought as servants while she was growing up. There were no health classes detailing men, and she would have been hit if she had even spoken to any of the servants in her home.

But the way he looked at Eunsook sometimes, with the brightest eyes and the softest smile… how could these people be so bad? It was something she envied, when she would catch them kissing, or hugging, or curled up in their shared bed. It was fascinating yet it made her sick with desire to have the same.

That was what drove Gwiboon and Eunsook to begin their movement, and it had grown significantly since the beginning. Women were beginning to see past the lies, mostly the younger generation. In her research, she had learned that once before, a long time in the past, men and women were equals. They used to marry, and have children, and grow old together. But certain women wanted more, and they got what they wanted. That’s how they were where they were now, with men banished from everything; lurking in brothels or the servants’ quarters in homes. It made her heart ache for what she was being deprived of, for what her life could be if only that had never occurred

“Gwiboon, didn’t you hear me?” Her mother’s voice brought her back to her sense. She snapped from her thoughts and lazily looked at her mother.

“No, sorry mother. There is a lot going on at work and I’m just stressed.”

Her mother looked pitiful at her daughter’s words. “I was going to say that I could take you to get a servant tomorrow, but I see you are more in need of assistance than I thought. How about this; I will buy you your first servant as an early birthday gift? I will make sure he is trained well in the ways of the brothel, too. It will greatly reduce your stress.”

Gwiboon’s cheeks went red. “Mother, no… I’m not…. I won’t….”

Her mother simply laughing at her daughter, which only made Gwiboon more furious. “Honey, I do not see the issue…. It’s just like having a dog, but only they don’t even matter as much as a dog. Do not act so childish. You are 24.” The elder scolded her, and Gwiboon cast her gaze down at the table, trying to even out her breathing as to not yell at her mother.

“I appreciate the offer,” Gwiboon lied, “but I will be fine. Really.”

Her mother gave her a curious gaze before her phone rang. After a brief conversation, her mother hung up.

“Well, I must leave. Business calls. I wish you the best of luck on your interview next month, and if you need anything, you can call me, okay?” The words almost sounded heartfelt.

“Of course.” Gwiboon responded, bidding her mother farewell before shutting the door.

Her head hurt from the encounter, and she collapsed onto her bed again.

------

She woke up to the door buzzer going off, rubbing her eyes and blearily gazing at the bedside clock. It was strange; Eunsook and Taemin were out of town for the next two days and her mother would never visit her at such a late hour. She threw some sweatpants on and a sweatshirt before making her way to the door. Peering through the peephole, she was even more confused. On the other side of the door was a male with short brown hair, dressed nicely and standing still as a statue.

She slowly opened the door, and as if on cue, the man bowed a full 90 degrees, one hand on his abdomen and the other behind his back.

Gwiboon looked at the man in utter confusion. She peered into the hallway, making sure no one was watching before yanking the man inside and slamming the door shut. He face changed from expressionless to shock and fear, his large brown orbs glassy with the start of tears.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?!??” Gwiboon yelled, and she did not realize how strong her tone must have been, because the man actually flinched, his eyes immediately shooting to the ground as if in shame.

“I am a servant. Your mother bought and sent me, Miss Kim.” His voice was so soft and small, and Gwiboon took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Hey, look, I’m sorry. I freaked out… I just thought she would listen to me for once and not send one.” Gwiboon said, her tone much softer now. She rubbed her forehead in frustration. “I got scared, seeing a male in the hallway. They could have had you killed.”

The man looked up in confusion at her. His chocolate brown eyes caught her attention then, shiny with confusion and fear and shame. They both remained silent for quite a while as Gwiboon gathered her thoughts.

“Alright, listen. I can either return you to whoever my mother purchased you from,” at the mention, dread fell upon the other’s face, something akin to helplessness, “or you can stay here, but you will not be a servant. I want no such thing from you.”  

He remained quiet, as if trying to figure out what was going on.

“You can speak to me.” She offered quietly, and he finally met her eyes.

“I apologize, Miss, but I do not understand what you mean.” His tone was hushed, deep, and it sounded like the perfect harmony strung on a cello.

“You don’t need to understand anything. I don’t even know if I can trust you for right now, but you have a choice to make. I can call a cab for you if you do not want to stay.”

At the mention, his expression grew panicked. “No, please--” his voice was desperate, “i-if it is truly alright, I w-would like to stay here.”

Gwiboon felt her heart sink into her stomach. Was this what Eunsook had felt when she found Taemin? Perhaps. She forced herself not to reach out and caress the tan skin of his face, instead turning to pour herself a glass of water.

“Do you want anything? Water? Beer?” She asked, looking over her shoulder to see him still standing awkwardly in the living room. Sighing, she she walked over, grabbing his forearm and moving him into the kitchen. “Listen, you do not have to be afraid of me. I’m not going to hurt you. I just don’t know if I can trust you to tell you what I do, but you can trust me that I will not hurt you.”

He looked at her then, and his expression read a level of unfairness.

“What am I saying?” Gwiboon asked herself then. “You won’t trust me if I don’t trust you.” She seemed to take a while again to gather her thoughts. “I am a lawyer, but I am working secretly with several other women in the area for the liberation of men.”

He didn’t understand, or he didn’t believe her-- she couldn’t tell.

“I’m being honest. I respect you as a human and you will be no such ‘servant’ to me.” Gwiboon set her glass down, looking him dead in the eyes.

“I… I didn’t know there were such women. I didn’t know that was a thing.” He responded. He glanced at the chair at the island counter, before boldly taking a seat. His eyes however glanced up to make sure it was alright. Gwiboon just smiled softly. “If the offer is still there, I would greatly appreciate some food.”

At the mention of it, his stomach growled lowly and Gwiboon didn’t even desire to know how long it had been since his last meal. “Yeah! What do you want?”

He looked at her blankly. “Food of any kind would be great.”

“Cool because I have no food here, and have you ever had a burger?”

The man shook his head, but he had the slightest hint of a smile on his lips.

-----

Jonghyun, that was his name. Over the past few days, Gwiboon had pried things out of his quiet character. He was 24 as well, and he was in the fields for most of his life before being transferred to the city. His expression saddened at the mention of it, as if the unbearable sun and long hours outside were bliss compared to the change. She sensed the seriousness of the topic, and chose to stray away from it. Maybe another time.

She had sent Eunsook a text later in the evening after Jonghyun had shown up at her apartment. When she and Taemin returned from their trip a few days later, they came over before even returning to their apartment first. The moment Taemin stepped inside and saw Jonghyun, he raced to him, embracing him in a hug. Jonghyun hugged him back tightly, even though he did not even know him.

“Taemin refers to other men as his brothers all the time, so this is kind of sweet.” Eunsook squealed from where her and Gwiboon stood near the closed door. Gwiboon gave her friend a small smile. “Oh, we brought some clothing for him as well. You said he was shorter than Taemin, but some of the clothing he has made will hopefully do until he can get measurements and stuff. He also managed to get a few things underground-- don’t ask how because I don’t even know-- but it should do for now.”

Taemin and Jonghyun talked for a long time, until Eunsook and Taemin deemed it time to leave. Gwiboon thanked both of them greatly before shutting the door, and returning to the living room where Jonghyun was seated on one of the chairs.

“Did Taemin mention that he got you other clothing?” Gwiboon asked, and Jonghyun nodded. She got up to retrieve some of the bags and brought them to him, going through it. There were some jeans, and t-shirts, a couple pairs of sweatpants (obviously patched by taemin),  a few sweaters, and boxers, to which Gwiboon’s face got red and she walked back into the kitchen. Her head was beginning to ache again from everything going on.

Jonghyun must have noticed her pouring a glass of water and searching for her pain relievers in the cabinet, because he got up from where he was sitting, resting a hand on the kitchen counter as he watched her.

“You have headaches often?”

Gwiboon nodded at him, rubbing at her temples. “My life is stressful in case you didn’t gauge.” She laughed, gaining a quiet chuckled from him as well. It was silent for a few minutes until he spoke up again.

“I can help.” He said, looking at the marble counter. “With the stress, maybe the headache too.”

Gwiboon may have been a virgin, but she was not stupid. She felt her cheeks grow hot, but shook her head. “You’re not here for that.” A pause. “I’m going to run a bath.”

But Jonghyun caught her arm softly as she walked past him to go toward the bathroom. “I know, and I understand, but…. I owe you something, anything.” He was pleaded her now.

“You don’t owe me anything, Jonghyun. What did I do to deserve anything? Be a decent human being? Because that shouldn’t be rewarded, it should be respected.” Gwiboon began to rant, but stopped short, closing her eyes tightly as she felt her headache grow stronger. She brought her hand to her forehead again, feeling faint from how badly her head was pounding.

“Please.” He looked at her as if he could feel her pain.

“No.” She replied, shaking her arm from his hand.

“At least let me massage your neck or something.” He persisted.

Gwiboon sighed. “Fine.”

She walked toward the couch with him, plopping down with her back facing him and her arms crossed. She breathed a sigh of relief as his thumbs dug into her shoulder muscles.

“You need to relax or else this will be pointless.” He offered quietly.

She uncrossed her arms then, leaning her side into the couch. A couple minutes passed and her headache was beginning to dull. Suddenly, Jonghyun hit a knot in her left shoulder and she let out a pleased moan at the feeling. As soon as it happened, she hurriedly got up from the couch, refusing to make eye contact.

“Thanks, but I think the bath will help better.” She tried to shoot a smile at him but it was so awkward, and she rushed down the hall and into the bathroom.

------

She had cleaned out the second bedroom in the apartment swiftly just hours after Jonghyun had gotten there, and now when she walked in to check on him every now and then, it smelled like him-- as he had resided there for years already, when it had only been a week. She couldn't pinpoint the smell, but it wasn’t at all unpleasant. It reminded her of clean clothes, and warm sunshine on your skin after a harsh winter… everything right in the world.

She was standing in the doorway, eyes closed when there was a knock on the door. Jonghyun was in the shower, and she hadn’t been expecting company. She left the door open for the other, making her way toward the door. Through the peephole was her mother, and panic shot through her body immediately. As to not be suspicious, she glanced around the living room and kitchen quickly, making sure nothing would give hints to an actual other person residing here-- not just a slave.

Deeming it safe, she opened the door.

“Mother… this is unexpected…” Gwiboon trailed as her mother simply made her way inside.

“I was around this part of town for lunch, and I thought I would stop in and check on you and the servant I sent for you.” Her mother smiled, but her face grew confused as she looked around. “Where is he, anyhow? Why did you answer the door?”

Gwiboon felt her anxiety rising. “He was just bathing, mother. I will go check if he is done.”

Gwiboon rushed down the hallway, thankful it was not anywhere her mother could see. She heard the shower was off and she lightly knocked on the door.

“Yeah?” Jonghuyn’s soft voice came from the other side.

Not wanting to talk through the door too loudly to chance her mother hearing anything, she opened the door quickly and slid inside the bathroom, shutting the door behind her softly.

Jonghyun turned from where he was drying his hair in the mirror, confused and worried. Gwiboon ignored the fact that he was only covered by a low-hanging towel on his hips.

“Gwiboon, is everything okay?” He asked, the care all too evident in his voice and it pulled at the delicate strings inside her chest.

“No, it’s not. My mother is here… Jonghyun…. You can just stay in your room, it’s fine. I will just tell her you came down with a fever or something.”

Jonghyun dropped his towel, shaking his head. “Wouldn’t that be too suspicious? She would realize something is going on.”

Gwiboon’s face grew pained as she felt a headache coming on at the stress of the situation.

“Hey,” Jonghyun said, moving toward her and carefully lifting her chin with delicate fingers. “It’s fine, I don’t care.”

Gwiboon bit her lip, hating for Jonghyun to act like a servant for even one second. “Jonghyun,”

“I said it’s fine. I don’t want you to get into trouble.” He said, cutting her off and locking eyes with her, gaze not anything other than serious.

Gwiboon simply nodded, although she was mad, leaving the bathroom swiftly. She went back into the living room, altering her route for the kitchen to pour her mother and herself a glass of water.

“He’ll just be a minute.” She said, not looking at her mother.

“I didn’t realize they would send such an irresponsible one. I am sorry, my dear. A well-trained servant is always around. It seems Miss Jung doesn’t even know how to run a servant-trade, let alone a brothel.” Her mother’s tone was laced with venom.

At that moment, Jonghyun appeared from the hallway. He was wearing the clothing he had showed up in; a simple white dress shirt with black slacks and shiny black shoes.

He walked toward Gwiboon’s mother, bowing fully. “I apologize Mother, I will try my best to not let this happen again.”

He then walked into the kitchen, giving Gwiboon a quick smile. “Please, Miss Kim, I will take care of this.” He demanded, carefully grabbing the glasses from Gwiboon’s hands.

Gwiboon closed her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath before walking to the living room.

“He looks filthy with his hair long like that, you really should take him to get it cut.” Her mother commented, scoffing before turning back to her daughter. “And you, parading around this apartment with barely any clothing on… is this how I raised you?”

Gwiboon looked down at her white t-shirt and red shorts. Sure, they were short, but this was her apartment. She worked, and she paid for it.

“Mother, I am 24 and I can live my own life.” Gwiboon spat. Her mother looked at her with huge eyes, taken aback by the outbreak. “And I do not appreciate you criticizing how I keep my servants. I will do what I please, Mother. I have had about enough of your constant ugly comments.”

Her mother looked as if she could kill at that very moment. “I think you are forgetting who provided him, young lady. You act as if your life would be perfect without my support--”

Gwiboon stood up then, walking to the kitchen where he purse was lying on the counter. “How much did her cost then, mother? You think I have no money? How much?” She yelled, pulling her wallet out. She didn’t even wait for a response, pulling numerous large bills out of her wallet and throwing them at her mother. “Take whatever! I do not owe you anything now!”

Gwiboon’s face was red with anger, and her mother simply gather the bills, standing and heading toward the door.

“And, for your information, my life would be a hell of a lot better if you stopped coming here and bothering me all the time.” Gwiboon added.

Her mother huffed with anger, slamming the door on her way out.

Jonghyun was standing in the kitchen still, his head cast down as if wasn’t there. Gwiboon yelled in anger, throwing herself onto the couch and pressing her hands into her eyes as tears betrayed her and spilled over her lids.

Jonghyun walked to the couch. “Are you okay?” He asked then, and Gwiboon lost it.

Her sobs left her body shaking, a mix of anger and hurt. “I hate her. I fucking hate her so much.”

Strong arms enveloped her, and she didn’t even care, leaning into the warmth of Jonghyun’s chest. They stayed like that for a while, Gwiboon’s tears wetting the front of his shirt as his hands caressed her back in an attempt of comfort.

“I’m sorry.” Gwiboon said after a while, her face still pressed into his chest. “I’m such a mess.”

Jonghyun ran a careful hand through her hair as she pulled her head away, his thumb moving to wipe a stray tear from her cheek. “You don’t need to apologize. You don’t always have to be strong, Gwiboon. It’s okay to cry.”

His words brought more tears to her eyes. “H-how do you always know what to say?” She stuttered, feeling unworthy of his kindness.

“I’ve seen a lot of things in my life, and been a lot of places. I’ve had to comfort more people than I can recount. I’ve had to be strong for others when I could barely hold myself up.” His eyes looked watery with sad memories. “I’m here to make your life easier, Gwiboon. I wish you would just let me.”

Gwiboon sighed then. “You owe me nothing, Jonghyun. You are not here for any reason other than my mother’s money.”

Jonghyun smiled at her goofily. “Technically, I’m yours now.”

Gwiboon laughed, shaking her head. “That was petty, wasn’t it?”

Jonghyun simply shook his head in reply. “It meant a lot to me, actually.” He looked up at her shyly. “Thank you.”

Gwiboon felt her stomach twisting in every which way, but she stood up before she let it take ahold of her any longer. “I have some work to do with Eunsook today. Her and Taemin will be by later in the evening.”

Kibum had promised his best friend an amazing bachelor party, and so far, he and Taemin had pretty well delivered. There was just one last thing that he had planned on his own, not even telling Taemin. Judging by the loud knock on the wooden apartment door, it was here. Everyone drew quiet, Taemin casting a suspicious eye at Kibum’s devious smirk as he went to the door and peeked through the peephole.

“Jonghyun, looks like your present finally made it here!” Kibum exclaimed as he unlocked the door.

Jonghyun’s face grew confused through the haze of the alcohol he’d drank. “What present?”

Kibum ripped the door open, revealing a slightly built man. His hair was a golden brown and his eyes were lightly rimmed with kohl. His thighs were outlined by the tightest leather pants and his loose black shirt hung low, revealing his collarbones and a toned stomach from the slits on the side.

Jonghyun’s face grew even more confused as he looked at the guy and back at Kibum. “Bummie I don’t know him.”

“You’re not supposed to!” Kibum said suggestively, and realization dawned on Jonghyun’s face.

The blonde’s cheeks grew red in what first appeared to be embarrassment, but soon turned into anger until Jonghyun finally started crying. He hid his face in his hands, turning to face away from everyone. Taemin ran to him, asking him what was wrong.

“Kibum, seriously?!” Jonghyun yelled harshly after he’d calmed down some.

“Jonghyun… it’s just a stripper?” Kibum said, confused beyond belief.

“You really think I’m that low? That I’d cheat on Minho like two weeks before we get married?! I’m not a slut, Kibum. I’d never cheat on him.” Jonghyun was hysterical, tears pouring from his eyes once again.

“Jonghyun, I…. this isn’t cheating though?”

“It is to me!” Jonghyun was being calmed again by Taemin who was shushing him.

Kibum smiled nervously at the stripper before excusing himself momentarily.

“Listen, I’m sorry Jonghyun. I honestly didn’t think it’d upset you.” Kibum said, rubbing at Jonghyun’s arm in comfort.

The elder sniffled lightly, rubbing his salty tears away. “It’s okay Kibum… can you just… get rid of him?”

Kibum nodded, trying to figure out what to say to the guy at the door within the next two seconds. Walking back to the other, he waved his hands. “Party is actually over!” He joked, laughing nervously as he nudged the guy out the door and into the hallway before shutting the door.

The guy immediately started laughing, trying to muffle the sound with his hands.

Kibum glared at him.

“I’m sorry, just… how could you not ask him before hiring me?” The guy said, bursting into laughter again.

Kibum’s glare only got stronger. “It was supposed to be a surprise, you know… no. I don’t need to explain myself to you. Can we just not talk about this right outside of his apartment door?” He whispered harshly, yanking the guy by his arm down the hallway and toward the elevator.

They waited for the elevator in mostly silence, the stripper laughing softly to himself every now and then. Kibum glanced at him, noticing the other was looking at him.

“What?” Kibum snipped, folding his arms against his chest.

“No, no. I’m sorry… it’s just, uhm, Kibum right?” The guy looked at him for a confirmation he did not give. “Kibum, that was the funniest thing I’ve ever experienced doing this job.”

Kibum smirked at that, though, because the man was a stripper and for that to top his list…

“I just don’t want Jonghyun to hate me now. I don’t think he’s slut or a whore… or anything like that! It’s just a stripper, like, what is the big deal?” Kibum vented, biting his lip nervously.

The other turned to him. “I’m sure he’s not going to hate you. Just… now you know that strippers are a big deal to some people.” The guy flashed him a blinding smile that was a bit too innocent for a stripper.

The elevator dinged, signalling its arrival at their floor.

“Okay. Well, Kibum, that’ll be two-hundred dollars.” The guy said, his smile still blinding.

Kibum’s jaw dropped. “Two-hundred…. Y-you didn’t even do anything?!” Kibum yelled in anger.

“Yeah, but that’s not my fault now is it?” The other winked at him. “And besides, if I would have been at the club instead of here, I could have easily made two hundred in my first hour.” The guy huffed and leaned against the wall as the elevator doors closed.

Kibum rubbed his hand over his face in frustration. “Listen… two hundred dollars is a bit ridiculous, don’t you think?”

The guy didn’t budge.

“Okay, how about…” Kibum said, prying his brain for ideas. “How about I just buy you dinner and we call it even.”

“Kibum, are you hitting on me?” The other gasped in fake awe, holding a hand over his mouth and batting his eyelashes.

“Stop using my name you creep, I don’t even know yours.” Kibum said, thrusting a finger into the guy’s chest. “Do you want me to buy you dinner or not?”

The stripper rolled his eyes. “It’s nearly one in the morning.”

Kibum huffed, but stood his ground.

“Fine, but I get to pick.”

Kibum smiled at his victory. “I’ll be right back, I have to go get my wallet and phone.”

-----

“My name is Onew, by the way.” The guy said as they waited for the cab to pick them up.

Kibum glanced at him with an uninterested face. “That’s your stripper name, asshole.”

Onew laughed loudly at that. “Familiar with the scene now, are we?” He teased, nudging Kibum with his shoulder.

Kibum just scoffed, thanking whatever god was watching over him as the cab pulled up just then.

-----

Onew, of course, ended up picking one of the most expensive late-night restaurants in their end of town. He didn’t stop there either, ordering four pricey drinks and a steak.

“So like… were you a stripper or something?” Onew asked, squinting at Kibum across the table in the dim lighting of the restaurant.

“What? Me? No.” Kibum said, sipping at his water and feeling completely sober by now. “Why would you even think that?”

Onew shrugged. “You seem to know quite a bit about us for not being one.”

Kibum’s face grew red. “Well, if you must know,” Kibum got a little sassy with his words, “when I was in college, a few of my friends danced. The money was tempting to me, but I never got into it.”

Onew took another long gulp of his beer. “The money is always nice.” He said softly, setting his glass down then and solemnly tracing the edge of the glass with his fingers. “But sometimes it just gets old. I’m twenty seven already! Ten years ago, I pictured myself with a good job, nice house… maybe even a kid.”

Kibum side eyed him. “So… you’re straight?”

The other scoffed in offense. “Of course I’m not. What? Only straight people can live like that?”

Kibum retraced his words, wishing he could have phrased that better. “No, not at all! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” He searched for a different topic. He watched the way Onew shifted uncomfortably in his booth. “I don’t get how you wear clothes like that… aren’t you super uncomfortable?” Kibum loved his skinny jeans, but even those weren’t that tight.

“It’s really not that bad.” Onew smiled. “It gets a little sticky after a while, but nah. Besides, you should try it… I think you’d look good.”

Kibum’s face reddened deeply at the compliment, not sure if it was sincere or if it was the alcohol coursing through the other’s bloodstream.

“Hardly.” Kibum cleared his throat, looking away from the other’s smirking face. “You fit them just fine.”

The implications of his words went unknown, at least to Kibum. Onew raised an eyebrow at him suggestively. “You like the way my ass looks in leather, Kibum?”

He said it so softly that Kibum was even surprised he heard it. His eyes grew wide and his skin grew hot with the way Onew was staring at him. “I-I-” He tried but nothing came out of his mouth.

Onew smirked devilishly at him in the low light, reaching into a back pocket and retrieving a couple bills. “I won’t make you pay for dinner if you let me dance for you.” He whispered, his voice deeper than before and Kibum shuddered in response.

The bills were both hundreds, Kibum noticed, as Onew dragged him from his seat and outside, hailing a cab.

“My real name is Jinki.” Onew whispered as he turned to Kibum after successfully getting a driver’s attention. Kibum didn’t know what made him do it; maybe the sad yet hopeful look in the stripper’s eyes or maybe the way he grasped Kibum’s hand like they’d known each other for decades. Whatever it was, he leaned in without a second thought, kissing Jinki with enough passion to steal the air from his lungs.

Jinki pulled away too soon, though, yanking the cab door open and dragging Kibum with him.

-----

It’d been years since Kibum had been in a relationship, since he’d even thought about having sex with another person. His last breakup wasn’t smooth in the least, and he’d been too busy fawning over Jonghyun’s engagement to even mingle. He had his friends, he had his dogs, and he was content with that.

At least Kibum thought he was. He couldn’t explain the buzz he felt inside of him as Jinki pressed him into the wall of his own apartment, mouth insistent on his as Jinki kicked at the door to close. Jinki’s strong hands quickly shoved the jacket from Kibum’s shoulders, letting it fall to the wood floor. Their hips bumped and Jinki just kept grinding into Kibum’s thigh. He couldn’t hear anything but his heartbeat in his ears, or see anything but the stunning man in front of him.

“Mmm I didn’t pin you as the dog type.” Jinki teased, his mouth deliciously close to Kibum’s ear and his breath as warm as fire.

It was then that Kibum registered his dogs barking from the living room. He tried to catch the breath that Jinki had deprived him of. “I--do you mind if I take them out quick?” He said through short, harsh exhales.

Jinki smiled faintly, kissing Kibum softly like an age-old lover would. “I wouldn’t want them to ruin your ugly pink rug.”

Kibum pushed him away jokingly. “It’s not ugly. God, you’re such an asshole.” Kibum scoffed as he walked toward his babies after grabbing two leashes. He heard Jinki’s melodic laughter as he put his jacket back on, the other following him down into the small grass area behind his apartment building.

-----

By the time they made it back into Kibum’s apartment, chilled from the brisk dawn air and the alcohol well-worn off, they both collapsed on Kibum’s bed. They kissed for a while, but nothing turned too heated. Kibum just simply couldn’t keep his eyes open. Soon, he let his head fall into the warmth of Jinki’s chest, succumbing to sleep embarrassingly quick.

-----

Kibum woke the next morning to soft fingers threading through his silky brown hair. He cracked his eyes open, making a noise at the brightness that filled his bedroom.

“Not the morning type, I take it.” Jinki’s voice was rough with the reminisce of sleep. It made Kibum’s heart flutter wildly.

“Mmm I thought you were going to dance for me?” Kibum said weakly, nuzzling further into Jinki’s bicep.

“I thought you were going to ‘take your dogs out quick.’” Jinki’s reply was sarcastic as hell.

Kibum sat up, offended. “For the record, I was going to be quick. You decided to follow me down and kept touching me because you’re a pervert!”

Jinki’s laugh, combined with his smile, was something Kibum could really get used to.

He didn’t even really notice that his focus was on Jinki’s mouth until he pressed his own lips into the angelic grin, letting his eyes fall shut. Jinki was immediately responsive, his hand gently framing Kibum’s cheek. It was morning breath glory, but neither of them cared in the least as lips grew hungrier and hands more curious. Jinki huffed at the effort of the angle of the kiss, shoving Kibum into the mattress before straddling his hips. Only then did Kibum realize that Jinki’s skin-tight leather pants were gone, only his briefs covering a very obvious erection.

“I t-though you were going to dance for me.” Kibum said again, barely above a whisper and breathy as hell.

“Mmm I don’t wanna put those pants back on.” Jinki’s voice was low and rough and Kibum felt it absolutely everywhere. He pressed a few wet kisses into Kibum’s jaw. “Especially not right now.” He added, simultaneously grinding his hips into Kibum’s, drawing a low grown from the smaller man. Kibum dug his fingers into Jinki’s thick biceps, arching his back ever so slightly as a hushed curse left his mouth.

Kibum felt saliva pool in his mouth as Jinki sat back, peeling his loose shirt from the night before off his torso and over his head. He had no idea where it landed because his eyes were focused on prominent collarbones. Jinki wasn’t a hulk or anything, but he was definitely fit, Kibum reaching his hands out to smooth them over the skin and he could feel the muscles rippling under his fingers. A moment later, Jinki’s hands were under Kibum’s shirt, dragging it up and over his arms and head, letting it find it’s way to the side of the bed. Kibum shivered under Jinki’s gaze; his body was nothing as nice as the other’s. His tummy was flat and smooth, no trace of muscular definition anywhere, and his arms were weak like twigs off a fallen tree branch.

Jinki seemed to read his mind, though. He ran his hands from Kibum’s boxers, up his stomach, and up to his nipples. Kibum arched into the touch, his breath hitching even through his uncomfortable state.

“So pretty.” Jinki said, leaning down to tease a nipple with his mouth. Kibum’s hand found it’s way to Jinki’s hair, the other fisting in the bed sheets. He racked his brain the best he could, yet he couldn’t recall a time someone was so slow and adoring with him given the circumstances.

It became too little all too fast with Jinki’s palm rubbing relentlessly at the front of his boxers. “F-fuck Jinki please--” Kibum panted in between a messy kiss.

“Hmmm?” Jinki teased, his thumbs rubbing tauntingly slow at Kibum’s hip bones.

“Do something other than kiss me and touch me.” He begged, arching his hips to meet Jinki’s harshly.

Jinki buried his face in Kibum’s neck, groaning lowly at the height of arousal. He would have teased Kibum a little longer, but his brain was fogging swiftly the harder his dick got.

Kibum moaned when they collectively wrestled his boxers off, erection bouncing lightly against his stomach. Jinki’s briefs came next, and Kibum took the few seconds to dig lube from his nightstand. Kibum was trembling as Jinki worked him open, having forgotten how amazing it felt to be fucked open by someone else.

“J-jinki, I’m gonna… please, I’m not gonna last long.” He was practically sobbing by now, Jinki’s fingers abusing his prostate relentlessly.

Jinki just nodded, coating his dick before pushing in slowly. If Kibum had to rank it, Jinki’s cock was probably one of the biggest he’d personally seen and god it felt good. Jinki paused when he was to the hilt, but only for a moment due to Kibum’s snappy commands.

It happened so fast, mainly because Jinki got Kibum so ridiculously worked up. Kibum came hard, a white mess painting his stomach and a few spots on his chest. Jinki followed seconds later, Kibum clenching around him from his orgasm becoming all too much.

Jinki hovered over Kibum, pressing soft kisses into the other’s neck. Kibum let his fingers trail through the messy hair at the base of Jinki’s neck, ever so slightly damp now. Then Jinki pulled out slowly, making Kibum’s breath hitch at the over-stimulation.

It was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Finally, Jinki tossed his head to the side, meeting Kibum’s eyes, his stare something Kibum couldn’t pinpoint.

“What.” Kibum said, and it was more of a conversation starter than an actual question.

Jinki searched his eyes for a moment. “I like you, Kibum.”

The said man felt his cheeks warm and his stomach flip. He felt like he was in high school again, and it was nonsense. Kibum scoffed, turning his head and making Jinki laugh softly. The other wrapped a strong arm around his waist, rolling him back over and into his embrace.

Kibum looked up into the brown eyes nervously, which was laughable. What was he nervous about exactly? Maybe it was the fact that his last relationship was supposed to be “the one.” But it wasn’t, and it ended horribly. Maybe it was the fact that Jinki looked at him with so much devotion and infatuation and he didn’t want to think about losing that someday, ever. He’d only met Jinki the day before, and because of a dumb mistake he made at his best friend’s bachelor party, nonetheless.

Kibum bit his lip subconsciously. “I… I like you too, Jinki.”

That captivating smile from earlier returned, Jinki’s plump lips meeting his again, but with nothing less than innocence.

-----

Later, as Kibum waved Jinki off from his doorstep after an exchange of numbers and the promise for an actual date this time, Kibum could only ponder one thing:

Jonghyun shielded his eyes from the bright contrast of the lights in the bathroom. After being in the dark of the club for a while, it almost gave him a headache. But maybe that was just the alcohol he’d had. Either way, he walked up to a sink, running the cold water and splashing it onto his face. He didn’t really have to piss; he just told his friends that to get some air for a second. He wasn’t typically a ‘clubbing’ type of person, but his friends ended up dragging him here anyway.

Just as he was grabbing a paper towel from the dispenser to wipe his face off, he heard faint sobbing echoing off the tiled walls. He glanced around curiously before pinpointing a stall it was coming from. He almost ignored it, because what if it was like the horror movies and he would get killed by some psycho? But as Jonghyun neared the bathroom door, his gut sank and urged him to check it out.

He walked quietly back to the stall, knocking gently on the roughly patterned plastic door. The sniffling stopped abruptly, followed by a weak voice. “Yes?”

Jonghyun cleared his throat, worry rising in his system. “Yeah… I, uh, heard you crying. Are you okay?”

The voice was silent for a moment. “Yeah, no, I’m fine.” The voice was soft but rough at the same time, probably from crying. There was a breathy laugh, almost cynical, before the stall door unlocked and cracked slowly open.

The face matched the voice better than Jonghyun imagined. The guy was thin, but his face was rounded perfectly. His lips were extra puffy from what Jonghyun assumed were biting teeth, and his nose was a rosy red at the tip.

“Are you sure?” Jonghyun asked, even more worried at his debauched look. “Nobody tried anything with you or anything? Because I can call the police.”

The guy laughed softly, holding his hand up to Jonghyun. “I’m flattered that you care so much, but no.” The guy walked to a sink, sighing into the mirror and trying to fix his eye makeup. He made eye contact with Jonghyun in the mirror. “Why are you still here?”

Jonghyun shrugged. “I don’t like clubs that much, to be honest. I’m just getting away from the crowd.”

The other nodded in understanding, wetting a paper towel and dragging it under his watery eyes.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Jonghyun asked then. “You know, what’s got you all upset?”

The other bit his lip in his reflection, huffing before turning around with his hands on the sink behind him. “People suck.”

Jonghyun laughed. “That they do err---”

“Taemin. My name is Taemin.” The other offered, smiling genuinely at him.

“I’m Jonghyun.”

“Jonghyun.. The one who doesn’t like clubs yet is indeed at a club.” Taemin said, smirking when Jonghyun got flustered.

“No, no. Being here was not my choice. My friends are complete alcoholics.” Jonghyun contested, waving his hands around.

“Just think about it this way, Jonghyun. At least you didn’t come here to surprise your boyfriend only to find out he’s been cheating on you.” Taemin said, his eyes suddenly filling with the fire of a thousand stars.

Jonghyun made an apologetic look. “Is that why you were crying?”

Taemin scoffed. “No, no. I just come to scummy clubs to cry in the bathrooms.” His tone was bitey, but his gaze softened at the hurt on Jonghyun’s face. “I’m sorry… I’m just, I’m so mad. I’m just trying to find a reason why, like what did I do?”

Jonghyun shrugged again. “Sometimes it’s nothing you do. As you said, some people just fucking suck.”

Taemin smiled at him then, and it was a comfortable smile.

Jonghyun felt bold then, and he looked at the door for a second. “Hey, I’ve got an idea, that is, if you’re in?”

Taemin quirked an eyebrow in question.

“Do you think your boyfriend is still out there?”

Taemin nodded slowly. “I’m pretty sure he never saw me.”

“Let’s go give him a show.”

The devilish smile that arose on Taemin’s face was something Jonghyun wouldn’t mind seeing more often.

--------

Taemin was pressed close into Jonghyun’s back as they sifted through the crowd of sweaty bodies. Suddenly, Taemin’s grip on Jonghyun’s hand tightened. “That’s him, dancing with that girl in the blue.” He whispered, his lips almost touching Jonghyun’s ear.

Jonghyun turned to Taemin then. “You’re sure you want to do this?”

Taemin looked over Jonghyun’s shoulder, and his eyes grew dark. He drew in close to Jonghyun’s broad chest, his hands slipping their way around his waist. Laying his head on Jonghyun’s shoulder seductively, “like i’ve got anything to lose,” was all he got as an answer.

Within minutes, their bodies only drew closer and Taemin’s mood seemed to lighten. Taemin slid his thigh in between Jonghyun’s and he felt his body heat up. He caught a glimpse of Taemin’s thick bottom lip caught under glossy white teeth, and he had to swallow the pool of saliva collecting in his mouth. Taemin’s eyes caught his then, and his pupils were full blown. The teasing hand at the back of his neck drew him in, and there was nothing slow or sweet when their lips met. It was messy and heated and out of control. Jonghyun slid his hands to Taemin’s waist, pulling his hips into his own. He dreamt in his head the noise Taemin would have made, were it not for the pounding bass and chatter all around.

Suddenly, Taemin was ripped from Jonghyun’s grasp. Opening his eyes, Jonghyun saw Taemin being scolded by the guy he’d pointed out as the cheating boyfriend.

“Jongin, seriously! I’ve been nothing but perfect for you and I find you cheating on me? And then you have the audacity to yell at me?” Taemin was furious, shoving the other away from him.

The guy, Jongin, grabbed Taemin’s wrist in a death grip and Taemin visibly winced in pain as the other began yelling at him, calling him the worst of names. People were starting to fall out of their own world and notice the altercation. Taemin’s eyes welled up again, and Jonghyun felt his whole body light on fire.

Jonghyun swiftly interrupted the two, roughly shoving Jongin away and encircling Taemin’s waist with his arm.

“And who the fuck are you?” Jongin spat, getting too close for comfort again. “How long has this slut been sleeping with you, huh?”

Jonghyun laughed, keeping his cool. “I can’t quite remember, but I do remember the first time we did. All he talked about was how small your dick was compared to mine.”

Jongin’s mouth fell open, and he cast a daring look at Taemin who was trying to muffle his laughter in Jonghyun’s shoulder.

“Fine then, you little whore. Don’t come crying to me when he dumps your cheap ass because we’re done.” Jongin spat at Taemin, the words like venom that Taemin visibly winced at.

“Please Jongin. I made that decision a while ago.” Taemin yelled, tugging on Jonghyun’s arm as they filtered through the crowd. Suddenly the air was cold and the noise was dull. Jonghyun looked around, noticing they were outside the club now.

Taemin burst into tears a moment later, his arms clinging onto Jonghyun’s form like his life depended on it. Jonghyun stayed silent, understanding. He gently patted the other’s back.

“I’m sorry, I’m usually not like this with people I don’t know. I’m sorry if you’re uncomfortable.” Taemin muttered after he calmed down a bit.

Jonghyun shook his head, eyes crinkling as he smiled at the other. “No, it’s fine. But why were you even dating that fucking prick?”

Taemin had a blank look on his face. “I really have no idea.” He was quiet for a while. “Thanks, by the way. I would have never had the courage to confront him on my own.”

Jonghyun frowned at the other slightly. “You shouldn’t ever settle for that, Taemin. You’re too good of a person.”

Taemin laughed weakly, peering into Jonghyun’s eyes unknowingly. “You don’t even know me…”

Jonghyun gently wiped a tear from Taemin’s cheek. “No, but what I do know is that I’d like to get to know you.”

Taemin smiled, nuzzling into the hand on his cheek. “I think I’d like that too.”

“Let’s go bid my friends goodbye and get some greasy junk food.” Jonghyun offered, nodding back toward the entrance.

They were halfway to Busan, Jonghyun belting out the lyrics to a pop song on the radio, when Jinki felt the tire pop. He must have hit something on the road sharp enough to pop the back right tire, sighing as he veered off the highway to a stop.

“What happened?” Jonghyun asked, his eyes wide from the passenger seat.

“I’m pretty sure we have a flat tire.” Jinki said, annoyed. He already hated road trips enough. “I’m going to go check.”

And sure enough, it was flat. Like, really flat. Like, no air at all. He wanted to scream, walking to the trunk to get the spare out and the jack and tools.

“Is it flat?” Jonghyun asked, opening his door to get out of the car.

Jinki sighed again. “Yes, Jonghyun, that would be why I have the spare out.”

Jonghyun huffed, shutting his door harshly. “I’m not a car person, Jinki, sorry.”

“I’m not either, but you should still know how to do this stuff. What if this happens to you when I’m not with you?” Jinki said, hands on his hips and scolding Jonghyun like a mother. He stripped off his jacket, not wanting to get it dirty, before setting up the jack and lifting the car.

It took a while without proper tools, Jinki unscrewing the tire screws by hand, one by one. Jonghyun kept him company though, humming songs and asking questions every now and then. In the early summer sun, Jinki was glad he got rid of his jacket before he started as he felt a little rivulet of sweat stream down his face. He went to wipe it subconsciously.

“Oh! Jinki, don’t--” Jonghyun tried to stop him, but it was too late. Jonghyun’s laughter filled the air as he took in Jinki’s now grease streaked face. “Oh man, you should see yourself!”

Jinki just grumbled under his breath, returning to fixating the spare tire. When he finally got all the screws back on, he cleared some space in the trunk, tossing the flat tire into the trunk hoping maybe they could find a tire shop to plug the hole.

They both got back in the car, Jinki a sweaty mess and Jonghyun still giggling at the mess Jinki had made.

“Listen, we can only go 50 with this spare on, so we need to be looking for somewhere to get the tire fixed. We’ll never make it to Busan going 50.” Jinki said roughly, obviously not in a good mood now.

“Jinki, don’t sound so down. We’ll get it figured out.” Jonghyun said, his face carefree when Jinki finally turned to him. “Besides, you look hot when you work on cars. All sweaty and stuff.”

Jinki tried not to smile at that, because he was in a bad mood damn it.

“I mean, if we weren’t on the highway in broad daylight, I’d suck your dick in the backseat.”

And that one made Jinki laugh out loud, leaning back in his seat. Trips were always better with Jonghyun, always.

---

They found a little car shop two exits away in a tiny town that was one street.

“Well, you see, the tire popped on the side, not the tread. We really can’t plug that and have it stay or be safe. We’ll have to order you a new tire.” The old man who ran the shop explained, an apologetic frown on his face.

Jinki sighed in defeat. “How long will that take?”

The man glanced at the clock on the wall. “Well you’re here early enough that if we order the tire now, it should be here by morning.”

Jonghyun smiled at the man before Jinki could lose his cool. “That’s great! Thank you so much for your help. Would you mind telling us where the nearest hotel is then?”

The only hotel was a small motel a few buildings down from the car shop, and despite it’s grungy outer appearance, it was pretty clean. They’d carried their bags from the car shop, paid for a room and the minute they opened the door, Jinki flung himself on the bed.

“I fucking hate cars and traveling and everything.” Jinki muffled into the comforter ending his statement with a long, heavy sigh.

He heard Jonghyun set the bags down and climb onto his back, straddling him and rubbing his hands into Jinki’s shoulders. “We probably need new tires for the car anyway, don’t worry about it. I can drive the rest of the way tomorrow anyhow.” He said, working his hands into the knots nestling in Jinki’s muscles. “I’m going to call my mom and tell her we’ll be there tomorrow now, then I’m going to shower.”

---

Jonghyun talked with his mother for like an hour and then it took Jonghyun like another hour to shower and get ready for bed. He walked out of the bathroom like two years later, grey sweatpants clinging to his bare hips. He was toweling at his hair softly, the brown locks getting fluffier with every stroke.

“C’mere.” Jinki said lazily from the bed, reaching his arms out for his boyfriend.

“Oh, are you not grumpy as fuck anymore?” Jonghyun mocked, smirking at Jinki’s pout as he climbed onto the sheet to join him.

“I’m sorry I was mean earlier. It’s just frustrating because I know you were really looking forward to seeing your family and now we’re a day late.” Jinki rambled as Jonghyun settled against his chest.

“Babe, it’s fine. Seriously. My mom doesn’t care, she’s just glad we’re okay.” Jonghyun spoke softly into Jinki’s shirt. “It’s more time I get with you anyway.”

Jinki smiled at that, hooking his thumb under Jonghyun’s chin to kiss him. “I love you.” He whispered after pulling away.