“So when’s your next gig?”

Jimin looked up from his phone at the question. 

“Uh… Usually the one who arranges it is Jin. We don’t really know when or where until a few days before.” 

“Hmm… I see…” Yoongi hummed, eyes still fixed on the computer screen. They were trying a new arrangement for the melody and he was testing some beats, layering them over the base piano track.

It had been about two weeks since they first met up to collaborate on the song and slowly they grew more comfortable with each other, getting to know each other gradually.

Yoongi knows that Jimin doesn’t eat seafood and that his favourite food is kimchi jjigae. 

Jimin knows about Yoongi’s undying love for lamb skewers.

(“If lamb skewers was a person, I’d marry it.” Yoongi’s words not his)

Jimin found out that behind his resting face and deadpan expressions, Yoongi’s a big softie. He adores Kumamon and has a really sweet gummy smile that makes him look like a total dork(in a good way) instead of the badass image he carried. He has a good heart, always looking out for Jimin when the latter was stressed with homework or hungry because they hadn’t eaten, even going as far as to treat Jimin because ‘I’m your hyung and I haven’t thanked you for agreeing to the collab”.

On the other hand, Yoongi had a glimpse of Jimin’s vulnerable side. When the younger would mull over his stack of books when Yoongi was working and sigh before ruffling his hair in frustration. The furrow of his brows when he almost silently berates himself or calls himself dumb for getting questions wrong makes Yoongi frown. He hated seeing Jimin stressed but he couldn’t do much to help. He wasn’t exactly the best student and hardly paid attention in class, opting to scribble lines of lyrics in his notebook instead; Min Yoongi lived and breathed music.

So he opts to sit next to Jimin and pats his head soothingly. The repetitive do well in calming the younger and Jimin would rest his head on Yoongi’s shoulder as he does so, taking a short break before getting up and tackling the assignments again. Yoongi always admires how hardworking Jimin is, always giving it his all no matter how mundane the task.

Yoongi thinks they’ve been getting closer. Jimin even calls him hyung. Despite that, something’s been puzzling him.

Every time Yoongi brought up school and asked Jimin which school he was from, the younger would either brush it off or change the subject. He respected the fact that Jimin wasn’t comfortable sharing that bit of information for whatever reason and had since stopped asking, however, he can’t help but feel a bit left out. Jimin was putting up a wall between them that he couldn’t cross, at least not yet. He’d be lying if he said it didn’t hurt a little bit.

He wanted to get to know Jimin better.

The younger just won’t let him.

“Why are you keepin’ it ‘om ‘im?” Taehyung asks around his mouthful of chips.

“Because I don’t want it getting out,” Jimin replies robotically.

“You know Yoongi-hyung isn’t that sort of person. What’s the real reason?” 

Jimin hates how he can’t lie to his best friend. They’ve known each other for far too long to be able to fool him.

“I just…” Jimin sighs, “I don’t want him to be disappointed, Tae.”

Tae, who was ready to stuff another handful of chips in his mouth, stops mid-action.

“Disappointed about what , Chim?” 

Jimin turned to stare at Taehyung for awhile. Jimin was in his sweats, his hair falling naturally into his signature bowl cut, thick-framed spectacles on his nose and his face bare of makeup. He looked like the very definition of a nerd, a total contrast to his onstage persona. 

“... This.” Jimin pointed to his hair before moving it down, gesturing to his whole self. 

“Chim, you just gestured to all of you.” 

“Precisely Tae! I’m literally the biggest loser in school and Yoongi is the most popular senior and bad boy. He has a frigging fan club while people treat me like I’m invisible! Moreover, I have nothing in my life sorted out, I look and feel like an absolute mess! What would someone like Yoongi think about someone like me? The real me.” Jimin threw his hands up in frustration. Taehyung might be his bestie but unlike Jimin, he was sociable and playful. He had always felt guilty for Taehyung choosing to sit with him during recess; he had other cooler friends to hang out with than Jimin. 

“Chim. I love you but you gotta stop doing this to yourself! Jesus! How is your self-confidence so low? The one Yoongi-hyung asked to collaborate with isn’t anyone else, it’s you ! I don’t think he cares how you look or the fact that majority of the school treats you like , which, if I may add, is totally undeserving because you've never done anything to them and they're just jealous, pompous s. Also honestly? You’re far from a loser. You’re kind, tolerant, and possibly the best and most passionate person I’ve ever met so don’t you dare put yourself down like that. The people in school are blind to not see it,” Tae huffed, before adding for good measure, “Plus, you look hot as with eyeliner on."

Jimin’s eyes welled up as he chuckled fondly at his best friend. 

“Thanks, Tae,” he said in a small voice.

What would he ever do without Tae...

The next time Yoongi meets Jimin is during their show at Bulletproof a week later.

After scouting out the place and watching Big Kidz perform that day, they figured it was a cool place to hold an underground event.

Jimin and his band arrived early by invitation from Hoseok to just chill. The two groups had bonded quite well following their introduction that night and often visited them with fried chicken as they worked on Yoongi’s song.

The trio were performing a unit song plus each of their own solos. They had also invited other rappers that they were familiar with to take part. It was more of a showcase, nothing intense and diss-heavy like the usual underground scene, a refreshing change to the competitive atmosphere.

They had taken a week off working on the song so that Yoongi could focus on his performance. He hadn’t let Jimin hear the song he’d be doing in advance and wanted to keep it a surprise so they hadn’t met up all week. Jimin was internally buzzing with excitement; he had missed the elder’s presence in his life. It was almost routine to be going over to Yoongi’s house in the evenings that when it stopped, he felt disoriented and uncomfortable, like something was amiss.

“YOU’RE HEEEREEEEEE!”

They’d recognise that screech anywhere.

“Yah! Shut the up! You almost made me deaf.”

They’d also recognise that grumbling anywhere.

“Hobi-hyung! Yoongi-hyung!” Tae waves back enthusiastically as the trio made their way towards them.

Taehyung and Hoseok run towards each other in a dramatic display, hugging and pretending to wail. Namjoon heads over to Jin and Jungkook while Yoongi slips next to Jimin.

“Hey.”

“Hi, hyung.” Jimin beams.

They fall into comfortable silence as they watch their friends interact. Hoseok was pinching Jungkook’s cheeks, a pout formed on the maknae’s face at being treated like a kid.

“So… what’s the song?”

“Nice try Jiminie, but you’ll have to wait til later to hear it.”

Jimin pouts as he gives the elder his best puppy eyes.

“You know that doesn’t work on me.”

(Truthfully it kind of does but Yoongi won’t let him know that)

“Booooo!”

Yoongi just chuckles fondly and lifts a hand to ruffle Jimin’s hair, causing the younger to giggle.

It’s really comfortable to be with Jimin, and Yoongi misses having him around while he works on his tracks. Jimin had been coming over almost everyday the past month, doing his homework or just relaxing on Yoongi’s bed when they didn’t need to work on the song.

They would have pillow fights and even tickle fights if Jimin was being cheeky or if Yoongi was being grumpier than usual. It cheered Yoongi up a lot and his default sombre mood started showing up less and less. (On a particularly good day he would even tell the girls nicely to leave him alone because he wanted to write and they did!) Jimin was good for him; his friends agreed.

Gradually, Yoongi found himself yearning for the younger’s presence. It felt empty without his bright as sunshine persona. Everything about Jimin was endearing from the way he threw his whole body in random directions when he giggled to how clumsy he is in the weirdest ways(he once kicked himself in the face trying to get on a chair… how do you even…).

All in all, he didn’t want this thing with Jimin to end even after their song is completed. Their song. 

Soon people started trickling in. The trio’s acts were the last - due to them being host, they had to do the wrap up. They fistbumped each of the rappers that came in to perform before ushering them backstage to get ready for their specific segments. Once everyone was ready, they let the crowd in. Jimin had never seen so many people crowded in a small enclosed area in his life (his parents would never let him attend a concert). Granted he performed as well, but it was always at more chill venues where people sit, drink and enjoy. This was basically a mosh pit.

As Yoongi, Hoseok and Namjoon left to settle logistics backstage, Jin slipped next to Jimin.

“First time to BTS?” Jin chuckled.

“I never thought that there’ll be so many people… It’s amazing,” Jimin breathed.

It was loud and rowdy but the atmosphere was electric. He could feel himself being affected by the excitement of the crowd.

“All of their shows are like that. I’ve been to a few and it’s this crowded every time.”

In the corner of his eye Jimin could see Taehyung and Jungkook doing the nae-nae to the song playing over the speakers.

He could get used to this.

(“So Jin… what’s up with you and Namjoon-hyung?”

“...nothing. There’s nothing going on with Joonie and me Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.”

Jimin laughs as Jin turns bright red and scurries away. He’d rather join his brother’s little dance party than answer the question.)

The show was lit. There had been a total of 4 performers so far and the crowd was wild.

The quartet managed to squeeze all the way to the front of the stage during that time. Jin placing himself behind the three kids to block off the pushing crowd.

The next act was Hoseok’s.

As the rapper got on stage, he spotted the group and gave them a wink. The crowd screamed so loud it made Jimin dizzy.

With no formal introduction, the sunshine rapper dived right into his beats.

J HOPE na naui ireum 

sijakhae gireumchireul 

It wasn’t before long that Jimin was jumping with the crowd as JHope spat his lines. He never really appreciated rap as much before but there was something about seeing it live that made it much more incredible.

1VERSE SET 
moduda jeulgyeora i VERSE ttae 
igosui bunwigin LIKE  yeoldae 
(HOT)  yeoldae (HOT)  yeoldae (HOT)

“RAPMONNNN!” 

Without a pause, the beat changed to something more chill but heavy. Sounds of clacking and spray paint filled the room as the random sounds formed a steady beat. Hoseok was still on stage hyping the crowd and jumping around energetically to the beat.

Their impression of the principal’s pet, Namjoon, changed when he appeared on stage and started spitting fire in English .

Haters gon hate and players gon play 
Muas keep muin all day 
Follow my , my friend and I’ll pay 
naega neo daesin chim baeteojulge 
twe 

Do you do you do you do you 
(Do the you want) 

“Holy , hyung!” Jimin shouted to Jin over his shoulder.

Usually, Jin would scold them for cursing but he was too absorbed to register.

The elder had his mouth agape, staring wide-eyed at the stage. He gulped when Namjoon looked over and smirked right at him.

“Holy indeed…”

Contrary to expectations, The next song wasn’t Yoongi’s solo song but a three part cypher(What a tease!). As Yoongi made his way up after Namjoon’s performance in his signature ripped jeans and white tee, the crowd erupted into cheer and started chanting: “MIN SUGA! MIN SUGA! MIN SUGA! MIN SUGA!”

Jimin knew Yoongi was popular but this was next level .

Nugu ttaemune? Jeihop ttaemune 

Nugu ttaemune? Raemmon ttaemune 

Dasi nugu ttaemune? Syuga ttaemune 

Hoseok started first. Above the noise of the crowd he could hear Taehyung and Jungkook screaming.

“JHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEE!” 

After the hook came Namjoon’s part as the rapper spat out the perfectly smooth lines in english.

Nobody could deny that he deserved being valedictorian...

On the cd, anim tv, you can see me, 

Envy me, it’s a pity, gee gee 

Beat i’mma monster i rap with a prospect, 

Yeah i rap with a mindset i’m a suspect 

a where yo rhymes at where you lines at? 

I’m da king, i’m the god so where ma emperors at? 

I parachute on my neverland, i’mma peter pan, 

So this will never end 

You know when i ride on my g5 you sit 

First class and satisfy and i keep giggling 

From behind him, Jimin could hear Jin’s continuous mutter of ‘Oh My God’s when Namjoon took to the stage and couldn’t help but giggle.

Once again, the baton was passed to Hoseok, linking their raps together.

It was undoubtedly Yoongi’s turn next.

Nae domein dopeman.com maikeuro yeoreot honnaetji 

Jimin in a breath.

He’d heard Yoongi rap before but it never failed to take his breath away. There was something about the elder’s deep, raspy voice that sent a shiver down his spine.

Yoongi walked towards the front of the stage and kneeled on one knee right in front of Jimin.

Ni yeochindo hollineun nae moksorin jom kkollim 

Their gaze locked.

Jimin blushed but never took his eyes off the rapper.

Yoongi stood up to address the crowd again just as the drop came. The crowd went wild as Yoongi did his signature rapidfire lines. Jimin let his jaw hang loose at the speed of the elder’s rap, utterly enraptured by the man before him on stage.

nan ni eumak-ui keorieo dongmaeke machimpyoreul geueo 

Yoongi laughed almost maniacally before ending the cypher with a shout 

YAH! 

He’d be lying if the growl at the end didn’t make him hot under the collar.

Not that he’ll admit it to himself or otherwise.

After the cypher the three lingered on stage as the lights came on. Jimin could see the sheen of sweat on their skin as they addressed the crowd.

“Thank you all for coming to this event. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as us.” The crowd cheered and whistled. “Follow us on twitter for more updates on our upcoming shows. We’ll be posting the guest rappers’ SNS there too if you’re interested in seeing more of them.” Everyone whooped.

“We have one more solo song left before we end the night. It’s a very special song. I’ll hand it over to the one and only Suga to tell you about it.” 

The crowd screamed as Suga began to speak up. 

“Hey everyone.” 

More screams 

“Uh…” Yoongi does his signature inhale, “Glad you could make it down for this event. Anyway this last song is something I wrote a while back and holds a very special place in my heart. It will be included in the mixtape I’ll be releasing, the song’s title is ‘First Love’. Hope ya’ll like it.”

Yoongi’s gaze dropped to Jimin and the latter smiled back in encouragement before the hall dims once again.

The soft sound of a piano filled the room, catching everyone by surprise. The crowd died down and the hall was almost silent.

nae gieogui guseok 

han kyeone jarijabeun galsaek piano 

A few girls in the back shouted before going quiet again.

eoril jeok jip anui guseok 
han kyeone jarijabeun galsaek piano 
 

Hearing Yoongi pour his heart out on stage made a fire burn in the pit of Jimin’s stomach.

It was obvious, this man loved music. 

With a voice so full of raw emotion, the words tumbled out of his mouth with so much feeling that it left the crowd breathless. 

Left Jimin breathless.

Jimin could only watch in silent awe at the intensity of the lyrics and felt himself fall for the man who, while aloof and dorky at times, was strong, unwavering and infinitely passionate in what he does.

It made Jimin realise that this man could and would never be his. 

And it made his heart clench.