Yoongi stretched his limbs and let out a grumbly, low yawn, before suddenly retracting his arms so that he wouldn't accidentally whack Jimin - before he opened his eyes to see that Jimin was nowhere to be seen. 

"Jimin?" The panic was evident in his voice, which had lost its gravelly tone and had slightly raised in pitch despite his tiredness. He propped himself up on his elbows and his eyes darted straight to his bedroom door, which slowly swung open as if on his command, revealing a small Jimin, barely taking up space in the doorway, both hands clutching a plate. 

"Hyung, you're awake!" Jimin smiled, and gently shut the door behind him as he walked towards Yoongi's bed. "I made you breakfast, I'm really sorry it's not much as I'm not the best cook and I wanted to make something quick before you woke-"

"Jiminie, you really didn't have to..." Yoongi sighed as he took the plate. It was so full of rice and beef that it looked like Jimin had had a hard time fitting it all on the plate. 

"Oh, it was the least I could do after you let me sleep over!" Jimin batted his hands frantically, insisting that it was okay.

"Well, okay seeing as how you've gone to so much trouble, it'd be stupid to waste it." Yoongi mumbled, and picked up his chopsticks before they rolled off the plate. "So, how'd you sleep? You feeling any better?"

"Hnnng..." Jimin groaned. "Not really... but I can't just mope around about him. Life's too short to waste on some that doesn't care about me."

"That's the spirit - Jiminie, what are you doing-" Yoongi's eyes widened as he watched Jimin stand up.

"Told you, I can't mope around. I'm gonna go home, try and get some schoolwork done I guess, forget about him-"

Well of course, Yoongi couldn't let that happen. He told Jimin that he was clearly not in the right frame of mind to concentrate on schoolwork, and as it was a Saturday he may as well stay over at Yoongi's so Yoongi could keep an eye on his best friend. Jimin was more than welcome at Yoongi's house after all. 

So, Yoongi and Jimin spent the day together at Yoongi's, watching variety shows and nibbling on snacks. Jimin's eye smile when he giggled at the funny presenters made Yoongi smile in return, as he kept looking over at Jimin's bowl of snacks to make sure that it was getting emptier and emptier. And it did, albeit a little slower than Yoongi was hoping. 

When the sky began to lose its blue, and Yoongi's room became dim, he realised how quickly the day had begun to end, and he let out a yawn. When he was tired, it was one of the few occasions (the other being when he was drunk) where he could cuddle Jimin without Jimin teasing him or going "Hyung, you're not usually this affectionate! Haha!", because Yoongi could just blame it on a tired or drunken mindset. So, he shifted his body slightly nearer to Jimin, and felt for his arm under the blanket, which he slipped his arm under subtly. 

However, it was when Yoongi tried to get closer that he managed to hear Jimin's sniffs. Yoongi recognised those sounds, and not for good reason, so he reached behind Jimin to flick the light switch on. The moment the room filled with light, Yoongi could see the silvery trail down Jimin's cheek; a dried path of a tear. 

"Jiminie..." Yoongi leaned backwards and away from his friend, conscious that he was probably in Jimin's personal space right now, but Jimin followed his movement and threw his arms around Yoongi's neck. 

"He keeps texting me, Yoongi." Jimin sobbed. Yoongi had noticed the way Jimin's phone repeatedly lit up throughout the day, and it was even more noticeable when the room got dark, but he tried not to pry. "He says if I just listened to him he'd be able to explain - he says I'm giving up on him. He says -"

"Jimin, he's emotionally blackmailing you into giving him another chance. Please don't listen."

"But... but maybe I need the closure, Yoongs." Jimin pulled away just enough so that he could look up into Yoongi's eyes. His eyes were filled with tears, turning Yoongi's heart to mush. "I just saw something awful and stormed out - but before I did, Jungkook said something about being scared of commitment. Maybe he really regrets-"

"Jimin, he literally cheated on you. Yesterday. And you're already thinking of running back to him?"

"Not running back, oh God, you really think I'm that much of a pushover? I just want to hear him out. It just seems so sad for it to all end before I've said what I wanted to say to him, and before he's explained fully why he did what he did. Maybe if I get a proper answer I can stop this from happening in the future! Like maybe I was too full-on with him and I scared him off!"

"Jimin - what?!" Yoongi didn't know if Jimin could even hear what he was saying right now. "To stop it from happening in the future, you don't date s! Exhibit A: Jeon Jungkook. It's not your fault he cheated - he did it because he's a , and he'll keep doing it if you take him back!"

"You're not even listening to me!" Jimin cried. "I never said I was gonna take him back, but you clearly think I'm weak enough to do that. You're assuming things, I don't like this."

Yoongi didn't like this either. He knew that Jimin was only getting defensive because he was heartbroken about Jungkook. Jimin put everything he had into every relationship, and when it didn't work out he got so disraught he couldn't think straight. That was exactly why Yoongi didn't trust that Jimin wouldn't crumble and run back to Jungkook right after hearing whatever insincere apology he'd prepared for when Jimin inevitably agreed to "hear him out". 

Yoongi sighed, and just said, "Okay," before outstretching his arms for another hug. He knew that Jimin wouldn't pull away; he was too upset to stay angry for long, and he could never pull away from Yoongi's hugs anyway. He was far too affectionate for that. So, Jimin melted into the hug, sobbing into his friend's chest. 

It was too late at night for Jimin to walk home or ask for a lift for his parents without feeling bad for making them leave the house at such a time, so he slept over again. That night was a similar night to the previous one, except it was Yoongi who initiated the cuddling this time. He knew that the next day, Jimin would go running back to Jungkook, so he took advantage of what little time he had Jimin to himself. As the two lay together, initially back to back, Yoongi turned over with a huff, trying not to sound like he'd stopped being annoyed at Jimin for running back to Jungkook. He tentatively lifted an arm and let it rest on Jimin's side. He felt his hand rest on top of Jimin's, and his breath hitched when he felt Jimin's hand move against his. Jimin intertwined his fingers with Yoongi's, and nuzzled his head into the bed in contentment. 

"Thank you for being here for me, hyung."

Kookie: Jiminie, baby, stop being so dramatic. Text me back love x

Kookie: Minnie~~~ I visited your house and your parents said you were at Min Yoongi's. Stop this now. Sleeping over with another guy just to make me jealous? That's pathetic. If you're so mad at me, talk to me, don't go ing other men just to get my attention back. You're already all mine. I slipped up, I apologised, tf more do you want? 

Kookie: I'm getting so upset. You someone else then ignore me? Seriously? 

Kookie: You can be so vindictive when you wanna be. Well you have my attention. 

Minnie: It's not like that. 

Kookie: Oh you finally reply

Minnie: Yoongi and I are friends, I just needed to spend the night with my friend. We didn't... do anything. I swear. 

Kookie: Good boy. Well I'm still annoyed you ignored me. 

Minnie: ???

Minnie: You literally cheated on me Kook, how am I meant to forgive you? 

Kookie: Well you'll never forgive me if you don't hear me out. Just... meet me tomorrow, okay? I can explain everything but it has to be in person. You deserve to hear everything in person, not over text. 

Minnie: It's 2am Kook let me sleep pls

Kookie: Meet me midday at my house. Say yes and I'll let you sleep

Minnie: Fine whatever

Kookie: Night night angel 

Jimin sniffled, reading over the messages from Jungkook. He looked over at Yoongi, who was sleeping soundly despite the glare from Jimin's phone screen illuminating the bedroom. Jimin knew that Yoongi would be disappointed if he found out that Jimin had just agreed to meet up with Jungkook, but he didn't really have a choice. Jungkook was persistent. That was one of the things that drew Jimin to him, his forcefulness. It was also one of his worst traits. Jimin sighed, and placed his phone back on the bedside cabinet, rolling back over to face Yoongi. He reached for one of Yoongi's hands that rested inches away from his face, his fingertips barely ghosting over Yoongi's skin. He needed to be held, for Yoongi to embrace him and tell him that he could be strong, that he could meet up with Jungkook tomorrow and not be roped into forgiving him. But he didn't want to wake Yoongi up at this time, and it didn't seem like Yoongi even believed Jimin was strong right now. 

Jimin listened to the powerful vocals of the ballad through his earphones. He needed powerful music to counteract the knot in his stomach, to trick himself into thinking that he was confidently strutting towards Jungkook's house, not nervously taking shaky steps with loud, heavy breaths highlighting just how much he wanted to bolt in the other direction. 

Jungkook was waiting for him on his front porch, sat up like an attentive schoolboy with his arms straight at his sides. As soon as he saw Jimin, he gave a large, friendly wave and got up, briskly walking over to the end of his drive and embracing Jimin. 

Jimin froze in place, not wanting to reciprocate the hug.... but Jungkook's large hands felt so protective on his back. His cologne engulfed Jimin and made him feel comforted. His breath was warm on his neck... his lips were too close to his neck...

"Kookie, stop." Jimin lightly pushed him away. "I'm just here to talk."

"Okay, baby." Jungkook still didn't resist to call Jimin by a petname. He held out a hand, and led Jimin around the house, to his back garden. 

The two of them sat on Jungkook's two-seater garden swing. Jungkook pushed his feet against the ground just enough for it to gently rock, but Jimin sat stiffly, not letting himself sway with the swing. Jimin tugged his earphones out, and could now hear the gentle trickle of water from Jungkook's pretty garden fountain. The same sound that he could hear the first time he came to Jungkook's house. It had been after their first date, a lunch in town, that Jungkook had invited him over. Jimin remembered the calming sound of the running water as Jungkook had left soft kises on Jimin's neck. That day, Jimin had closed his eyes and let Jungkook put his hands down Jimin's trousers. He'd reclined back on that swing, feeling his body weight push it back so he was practically horizontal, suspended just above the ground as he passively lay, letting out cute little moans as Jungkook straddled him and jerked him off, one hand on the back of the swing and one aggressively tugging on Jimin's . .

He would have let Jungkook do anything to him that day. But not anymore. Now, he was repulsed by that memory. He was going to stay away from him.  He wasn't going to lie there and take whatever Jungkook did to him anymore. 

"Jiminie, baby." Jungkook reached to brush the hair from Jimin's face, but Jimin flinched. 

"Just say what you have to say and let me leave, Jungkook." Jimin said. Jungkook looked hurt, but nodded. 

"Jimin... this is so hard for me to say." He said softly. "But you deserve to know."

My God, spare me the sad violins, Jimin internally grumbled, but let Jungkook continue. 

"We've been so happy together these past few months." Jungkook smiled with nostalgia clouding his eyes. "You look even more beautiful everytime I see you, you're... you're everything. I can't get you out of my mind, whenever you're not there I miss you. Even if you just get up to get a drink when you're at my house. It sounds extreme, doesn't it? Well... I thought so too. I've never... been in love before, but with you I really feel like I'm catching some real feelings. And.... and it, it freaked me out. I didn't want to fall for you or anyone so quickly, and I was falling so bad that it freaked me out. And then Taehyung came over, saying he wanted Maths help or something, and he was begging for it. He kissed me, and I was too in shock to push him off, and next thing I knew he was bending me over the sofa and all I could think was that maybe this would help me stop being so in love with you. I was too obsessed with you, I had to get my mind off you, I'm so sorry Jimine..."

Jimin rolled his eyes at the pathetic excuse. So Jungkook was so in love with him, that that justified him "freaking out" and cheating on him? Yeah, like that made sense. But those words... "in love"... those weren't words Jungkook threw around, not even to boys or girls he was trying to date. Jimin had never heard of Jungkook admitting to feelings like that, ever. Not even in an insincere way. 

"Can't get you out of my mind." "I miss you." "Real feelings." "in love." 

Not words that Jimin thought present in Jeon Jungkook's vocabulary. 

"Jungkookie..." Jimin sighed. "You really think that excuse will work on me? You must think I'm so stupid."

"No, nonononono! You're not stupid!" Jungkook reached for Jimin's hands, but Jimin easily pulled them back. Jungkook sighed. "You're so smart and so beautiful and honestly waaaaay too good for me... this excuse isn't good enough. I know that. I messed up so ing bad and I don't even have my usual charming words to make you forgive me." 

"Well, now that's settled... can I go?" Jimin said, looking into Jungkook's eyes confidently now, because he knew that Jungkook had given up. He could see that Jungkook's eyes no longer had their usual fire. He could hear the defeated tone in Jungkook's voice. He was babbling, talking pathetically about how in love he was with Jimin, rather than using his brilliant, sly mind to come up with a perfect, charming excuse. He even called Jimin "too good for him". This wasn't the approach Jungkook usually took to make someone get back together with him. It was usually the type of stuff he was texting Jimin about earlier, like that Jimin was giving up on him and he had a perfectly valid explanation and the other person was in the wrong for not hearing him out. 

"Yes, you can go." Jungkook said. "I, er..." he chuckled, but his eyes didn't look happy. "I actually had a whole speech prepared about why I did what I did... some excuse about how we never even had the talk about being exclusive, so technically I never cheated... stupid excuse, right? Trying to make myself look like I did nothing wrong, manipulating the situation so that you think I'm some saint and you're an overemotional kid who overreacted."
Jimin didn't know how to react to what he was hearing. He just froze. Jungkook was never usually so...transparent about his actions. He'd never admit to being manipulative. 

"Well, I did do something wrong." Jungkook said. "I'm not used to being committed to someone, so I did a move to feel normal again. To feel like I did before I met you... and changed somewhat..."

Jungkook's voice trailed off, and his eyes dropped from looking into Jimin's eyes... down in shame... oh but then they stopped at Jimin's lips. 

"Yeah... you did wrong..." Jimin's voice was barely above a squeak. Jungkook was staring right at his lips, like he wanted to bite at them, devour him. Pin Jimin down and leave bruises all over those lips he couldn't take his eyes off. His stare was intimidating and warm and protective all at once. 

"I'll walk you to the front door." Jungkook said, and leaned back. 

"Y... yes." Jimin nodded, and stood up. He moved first, walking ahead of Jungkook around the side of his house to his front gate. 

Behind him, Jungkook took out his phone and held it low, making it look barely like he was texting. 

Joon-hyung: Hey lemme know how it went lol. Would be a pity if you went to the Valentine's party without a date kkkkkkkk

Jungkook: used a different strategy than usual this time lol. he looked so sorry for me lil puppy looooool dw I won't be alone @ that party ;)