This is a double udpate. Go read the previous chapter if you missed it! ;)

00.14

Yoongi was distracted that morning.

Like it had happened any other morning of that strange week. It wasn’t something it happened often, actually it was kind of a rare event.

Yoongi had built his career and his success on hard work and not just on talent.

A necessary element of hard work was undoubtedly the concentration, which Yoongi never lacked.
He had always been determined, organized, picky till last infinitesimal detail and he liked. It was his lifestyle.

Yet he found himself more and more lost in his thoughts in spans of time of variable duration and often in the morning, when he found it hard to shake off the heaviness of his dreams.

Yoongi knew why. It seemed like his mind had been awakened by an unexpected timer that he didn’t know he had set, with the result that he found himself rethinking of facts happened many years before. They were flashes of memories often not complete and without a real coherence, due to the effort Yoongi had given to try to forget.

He had to forget. He owed it to himself, to his soulmate and to Jimin.

I love you.

The memory of a young Jimin, soft and cute angles on his face, smile bright and big, crossed his mind. He used to say those words with a simplicity that Yoongi had always envied.

I can’t do it anymore.

This time the memory was of a grown up Jimin, much more similar to the one of the present. There was no smile on his face though and his tone sounded exhausted and so pained.

Yoongi conserved these contrasting memories of the boy he once loved so much, even when he had tried to violently erase them because the weight of the guilt was too much and so the sense of betrayal.

We were tricked by fate.

He absentmindedly the wedding ring on his finger, the symbol of his commitment with his soul mate. His wife was a good woman, he learned to love her and he cared for her deeply.

Sometimes when he looked into her eyes he was reassured by the though of having done the right choice. Some other times instead he wasn’t so sure and he couldn’t help but think that maybe despite being granted love twice he hadn’t been able to love properly even once in the end.

"Yoongi. Yoongi hyung!" the voice of Namjoon roused him from his thoughts.

Yoongi stifled his emotions behind his usual annoyed face. “Sorry, I was busy working. Tell me," he said even though the computer screen was in stand by. Yoongi nonchalantly moved the mouse to activate the screen.

Namjoon arched his eyebrow.

"I wanted to tell you we were called for meeting after lunch," said Namjoon a bit confused by Yoongi’s behavior.

"Okay, thanks," said Yoongi flatly.

Namjoon nodded and turned to leave but something in the air in general made him change his mind.

"Hyung, are you okay?”

Yoongi wanted to laugh but instead merely raised an eyebrow in turn.

“Sure.”

Namjoon knew him well, however. Even though the relationship they shared was now mostly at a professional level, they used to be close, enough for the both of them to have learned to decrypt their mutual body language. So it was easy for Namjoon to notice the lie behind the seemingly calm demeanor of his colleague. Namjoon sighed.

“Hyung, don’t you think it's time for you to let go?" he said with a tone of voice that greatly displeased Yoongi: he didn’t need Namjoon’s pity. Besides, if Namjoon felt the need to say something like that, it meant Jimin must have noticed him that evening and therefore the voice had spread up to the Kim couple.

"Since when are you interested in my personal life? Don’t try to act like you suddenly care for my well being,” Yoongi replied annoyed. The expression of Namjoon was like that of someone who had just been slapped.

"You made very clear what were your feelings towards me.” Yoongi continued, almost pleased to be able to vent his uneasiness on of Namjoon. "So do me a favor, restrain yourself from saying useless things.”

"You hurt my close friend, and even though I did not approve your behavior at all, I tried to understand you because I knew what you were going through. But like it wasn’t enough you also hurt my soul mate, Yoongi! How did you expect me to react? We were friends and I didn’t care if you played with my mind because what you said were things that I myself thought. But you played with the mind of my soul mate and I couldn’t forgive you a second time.
How could I not be angry with you?” Namjoon said vehemently trying to break the cold expression of Yoongi.

"I just said what I thought. If he decided that leaving you was the solution it’s not my fault!”

"Well you were wrong.” Namjoon replied.

"Are you finished?" Yoongi asked. He did not want to quarrel with Namjoon. Even though the idea to blow off steam looked so tempting, Yoongi realized suddenly that it wasn’t what he really wanted.

Namjoon shrugged. It was impossible to argue with Yoongi, not after he had learned to build not walls but real fortress to protect himself.

"For what it's worth it, he's fine now,” Namjoon said gently, after a while. "He started to dance again, you know." The expression of Yoongi brightened against his will. A memory emerged, the one he had been holding dear to his heart all this time, the one he didn't manage to bury under layers of forgetfulness: Jimin dancing beautifully under the flashing neon lights of the gym.

What do you think, hyung? Did you like it? It’s my routine for the welcome performance for the freshmen,” Jimin asked excited but nervous. The number zero valued Yoongi’s opinion a lot.

"You were amazing,” Yoongi replied. Jimin’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas.

Yoongi for a moment wished to have brought his camera along, to forever capture the way Jimin’s beautiful face had brightened because of his words.

Why wasn’t it possible to stop time?

Namjoon finally went away leaving Yoongi alone with his thoughts.

Jungkook was confused.

Taehyung had come a few days before to his house to tell him what he had found while rummaging through the school yearbooks. Although the discovery was shocking, at least Jungkook could give a name to his sensation. He had found the answer, however, in turn he gained even more questions.
Why Min Yoongi was parked with his car outside Jimin’s house that night and the next morning too?

Jungkook went with the mind to dredge up memories of his years of high school.

The story of Jimin and Yoongi used to be so infamous although of course the one to be put in the spotlight of the common malice was the number zero and not the number two. At the time it had been shocking to witness the fall of the person who had inspired Jungkook so much.

In retrospect Jungkook was inclined to re-evaluate the circumstances of the events, unlike then, now he knew Jimin. However, like in the past he was nowhere near close to clear the subject. He felt like he was missing pieces and sensed that he had probably never done justice to Jimin during those years. The truth whatever it was, was still hidden.

Was it possible that Jimin and Yoongi had been keeping in touch with each other all this time? It was a possibility but why Min Yoongi had felt the need to stay outside like a stray cat that wasn’t allowed to enter the warm house? Besides, Jimin had talked about the weight of his loneliness several times before, why saying something like that if Yoongi was still in the picture?

Jungkook would have liked to have more familiarity or simply more courage to ask these questions directly to Jimin. Yet they had met a couple of times since Taehyung had told him everything but Jungkook couldn’t convince himself to ask something about it.

He didn’t want to ruin their fragile truce. They already had enough problems to deal with and Jungkook wanted to be able to live this last parenthesis of freedom in peace.

He had promised Jimin to trust him and he really wanted to try. Every time they met for the special training with the dancing teacher though, Jungkook somehow still wished to have more boldness.
Teacher Lee had insisted to meet only the two of them on a day different from usual dance lessons, to receive training for their special performance. Jungkook and Jimin had tried to explain to the teacher they had had a job(both) and lessons (jungkook), but the teacher had insisted that it would be only on Sunday mornings, while they were free to try the routine during the second half of normal lessons and of course by themselves whenever they felt like it.

"Guys, it’s just a two minute performance. Everything it’ll be alright.”

So Jimin had offered to pick Jungkook up for their individual lesson and that’s how the two found themselves at 8 a.m. on Sunday in the stuffy class where they usually practiced, warming up as they waited the arrival of the teacher.

Jungkook let out a yawn. For years, on Sunday he had got up at noon. At ten if he had to study. Waking up at 8 a.m. couldn’t be healthy.

"Jungkookie are you tired? Me too, it’s been a stressful week at work. But I know that once we start with the choreography I’m going to forget everything,” Jimin said lightly.

“Right,” replied Jungkook with a smile, "it’s the reason why the teacher is so sure of himself. He knows that once we start dancing we wont be able to find a reason to complain. That man is an evil genius.”

"Who is an evil genius?”

Jungkook swallowed hard. He hoped the teacher didn’t hear him because he sure looked like he would make him do one hundred push ups as a punishment.

"Come on, enough! Are you two warmed up? Yes? Then we can start right away!”

The teacher had brought his computer and a camera to let them see the choreography that he had created. At the end of the two-minute video Jimin and Jungkook looked at their teacher with a new found respect. The choreography was as spectacular as it was difficult but Jungkook, and he knew Jimin was feeling the same, wanted to start as soon as possible.

"By your smiles I guess you liked it," said the teacher with a smirk. The two boys nodded.
The teacher continued, "What I have shown you is a solo choreography but we have to adapt this performance for two people: in fact, the biggest challenge will be coordination. In any case the basic steps stay the same so I guess we can start with those.”

They watched the video a few more times and then the teacher proceeded to break the moves and steps for the two boys. Jimin and Jungkook watched the teacher through the reflection of the mirror, then spent the next two hours trying to memorize the sequence.

"Good! Seems like a good start,” said the teacher at the end of the lesson clapping in encouragement.

Jungkook was dripping with sweat and Jimin at his side didn’t appear in a better condition. The teacher in fact had pushed them hard. But to break a lance in his favor teacher lee was also covered in sweat. He had dance along with them and helped them to perfect the movements.

"I’m happy to see you managed to follow me with ease. I’m not planning to continue the lesson, relax, but I expect next Sunday this piece of choreography to be perfect.”

Both jungkook and Jimin nodded even though Jungkook stifled a groan internally. He kept silent though, he doubted the teacher would have been impressed.

Jungkook laid down on the floor to rest a bit while the teacher took his things and greeted them with a "have a nice day boys". Jimin dropped to the ground too and spread his arms wide as if to absorb the coolness of the floor. He slowly turned his head towards Jungkook.

"I say we train a little for a little linger,” Jungkook wanted to protest, but honestly his morning was already wasted and even if he got back home now he wasn’t going to study until after lunch so he might as well continue dancing.

"Alright. I'm in,” Jungkook replied. The teacher had left them the camera with which he had recorded the choreography so they could tape themselves and monitor their progress. Jimin gave him a pat on the arm before standing up and stretch his legs.

"This reminds me of the good old days when I felt my legs wobble but still kept going. Good times,” Jimin said with eyes shining with enthusiasm.

“Yes, I remember. We used to be so busy during for competitions and shows for the beginning and the closure of the year. During my last year of high school we were all stressed. The dance club didn’t win a competition on district level for years. Now that I think about it, at that time the last winning was achieved by you, hyung,” Jungkook said, standing and stretching his legs too.

Jimin let out a half-smile, which looked more a grimace than an expression of joy and Jungkook regretted having mentioned the dance club and the past.

Again Jungkook was seized by the uncontrollable curiosity to ask all those questions that were revolving in his head.

I don’t think we reached that level of intimacy. Jungkook was convinced that if he by any chance found the courage to ask, Jimin would have punched him. It could be something serious though. Perhaps Min Yoongi was a stalker and Jimin didn’t know.

The more he thought about and the more story didn’t make sense.

The two resumed practicing the choreography. They managed to last for another two hours, before Jungkook asked for pity and let himself slip on a bench even more sweaty then their previous break.

"Best not to overdo it I guess,” Jimin commented.

"Jimin hyung, do you you realize that tomorrow we will barely be able walk?" Jungkook whined.

"We having been training like this for years.”

"Right. I guess we are getting older.”

"Speak for yourself," said Jungkook teasing him weakly. Jimin like the mature 26 year old he was, stuck his tongue. Jungkook smiled. Jimin was his hyung yet the times Jungkook made peace with his mind and was able to admit his feelings, he also was taken by the impulse to grab his tiny cute hyung put him in a pocket and bring him home. He shook his head. What was he thinking.

"If you want, there are showers in the other part of the building. How about we wash here and then go back home?”

"Yes please. I don’t think I can bear to stay this sweaty any longer. Good thing I brought at least a spare T-shirt,” Jungkook said.

"Sorry I forgot to tell you to bring some change,” Jimin replied guilty, “But if you want, you can borrow some of Seokjin hyung clothes, he always takes some spare clothes in the cabinets of this center. I’m sure he wont’ mind.”

Jungkook shrugged. It was fine for him, at least he knew the clothes would fit better than jimin’s. He followed the older out of the room and towards the cabinets. Jungkook took the clothes went toward the shower stalls. He tap of the shower and let the hot the water cleanse the sweat and aching limbs.

Jungkook sometimes couldn’t help but be surprised by how much progress Jimin and him had done since their first meeting at the coffee shop, when Jungkook had escaped in such dramatic way. It had been so childish of him. Then he thought about the reasons that cause his actions back then and couldn’t help but lean his forehead on the tiles. His thoughts always whirled back to the mystery it was Jimin’s past.

Maybe he should just take it off his chest and just ask him.

Jungkook came out of the shower first, he took one clean towel from the closets of the changing room, wiped himself and then dressed quickly, to let Jimin some privacy. Then he went to wait for the older in the atrium, seated comfortably on one of empty chairs. Jimin had taken the keys from Seokjin so they were free to stay as longer as they want.

He closed his eyes for a moment to try to calm his mental chaos. But when he closed his eyes a flash of the face of Min Yoongi watching him from inside the machine, blurred his vision.

It was very frustrating.

Jimin joined him ten minutes later, his hair still a bit wet and rosy cheeks.

The older instead of grabbing Jungkook and go back to the car, decided to sit next to him. Jungkook closed his eyes. He didn’t mind a bit of rest before going home, they could wait for five minutes before starting to move.

Jungkook legs agreed with him.

"I'm too old for certain things,” Jimin said with a half smile, turning his head towards jungkook Jungkook opened his eyes. God, he suddenly felt sleepy.

He closed his eyes again and without thinking too much, he rested his head on the shoulder of Jimin. It looked like an established gesture between the two and Jungkook didn’t find anything in himself to regret it. He liked it, it was like the spot belonged to him.

He felt the vibration of Jimin’s laugh.

“Your hair tickles,” the older murmured.

Maybe I should ask him now?

Jungkook narrowed his eyes. He had to know.

"Jimin hyung?" asked in a whisper Jungkook.

"Hmm?” Jimin hummed from over over his head. Jungkook raise his head a little while Jimin looked down in turn.

Oh.

Jungkook didn’t expect to experience a moment like that anytime soon. It was hardly something compromising though, he could just blink, get up and the moment would end. However he remained frozen in that position unable to take his eyes from the face of Jimin.

"Jimin I wanted to ask you..." he tried, but the words came out slowly and in a whisper.
And maybe that time didn’t mean absolutely nothing and everything was crazy and wrong, because Jimin was the partner he had never wanted to have.
Jungkook was sure of this. Even Jimin was sure of this.
But, like there was a gravitational pull dragging him forward and Jungkook was afraid, so afraid this time he wouldn’t be able to resist.

How couldn’t I notice until now how beautiful Jimin is?

So with trembling lips—because it’s been millions years since he last kissed someone—with his stomach tightening in anticipation, he let his lips touch Jimin’s.

They were so soft, so warm and Jungkook felt so light headed.

More, more.

The most beautiful but most terrifying thing was that Jimin returned the kiss.

author's note: So. I need to know what you think!! I want to scream, after 21 chapters we finally did it!!!