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“Jimin, do you want a soda?” Namjoon called from the kitchen, opening the fridge.
“Yes, please!”
Namjoon grabbed two cans in one hand and balanced a bowl of popcorn in the other as he made his way back to the living room where Jimin was waiting cross-legged on the couch. Jimin tucked long black hair behind his ears and reached for the cans from Namjoon, the sleeves of his oversized sweatshirt falling over his palms.
“Thanks, hyung!” he said, with a big smile, eyes scrunching up in the way that made Namjoon’s heart flutter.
“You’re welcome. What should we watch today?”
Jimin had begun as Namjoon’s coworker, his deskmate actually. Namjoon was fairly new to Seoul and working his first adult job , so he didn’t have many friends to speak of. After about a month of sitting beside each other each day, Namjoon had summoned a surge of bravery and invited Jimin over to watch a movie that Saturday.
Thankfully, Jimin was very sweet and also keen on making friends since he was fairly new to Seoul as well. He was also very cute. Beautiful, actually. With the sweetest laugh Namjoon had ever heard. He’d accepted Namjoon’s invitation, and they’d started what would become a little weekly ritual. Jimin came over each Saturday for a movie or TV show and snacks. Over time they’d become much more than just coworkers and Namjoon could proudly say that Jimin was one of his closest friends, if not his best friend.
“Hmm, you pick!” Jimin said around a mouthful of popcorn.
Namjoon decided to go for something older, a movie he hadn’t seen in years. Jimin clapped his hands in excitement. “Ah, I love this movie! Taehyungie and I used to watch it every time we had a sleepover.”
There was a familiar twinge of jealousy that usually accompanied any mention of Jimin’s childhood best friend. Jimin talked about him a lot, and Namjoon didn’t mind, not really, it’s just that Taehyung seemed like someone that walked out of a romance novel. Unbelievably handsome and currently living in Paris as he pursued his dream of becoming a famous artist. It was clear Jimin missed him a lot, and Namjoon tried not to worry that he was just a placeholder friend until Taehyung got back.
“Did you have a favorite sleepover movie?” Jimin asked, sipping his drink.
“I never really did stuff like that,” Namjoon said, shrugging.
Jimin cocked his head, licking over his lips. “Stuff like what?”
“Sleepovers and stuff. My parents were really strict,” Namjoon explained.
Jimin gasped and reached for the remote to pause the movie. “Namjoon-hyung! You’ve never had a sleepover?” He sounded appalled. Namjoon wasn’t sure what the big deal was.
“I have! I mean, I’ve stayed at my friend Yoongi’s house after we went to the bar back in college a few times.”
Jimin blinked. “That is not the same thing as a sleepover, hyung.”
Namjoon shrugged again, his cheeks heating. “I didn’t have a lot of friends in high school. And like I said, my parents were strict.”
Jimin didn’t say anything for a second, and then Namjoon felt an arm wrap around his shoulders pulling him into a hug. Jimin squeezed him tight. “Well, we’re going to fix that! Next weekend, movie night is at my house and you’re staying the night.”
Namjoon laughed. “Well if you insist.” His voice was a little muffled, face still pressed into Jimin’s shoulder.
Jimin smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “Good.” He let Namjoon go but leaned against him and pressed play on the movie. “We’re going to have so much fun.”
“Welcome.” Jimin peeked from behind the door and wiggled his brows.
Namjoon couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m ready for the Park Jimin sleepover experience,” he said, walking inside Jimin’s apartment.
“Good! Come on, bring your stuff to my room.” He grabbed Namjoon’s hand and pulled him to the bedroom. “First let’s change into our pajamas.”
Namjoon raised his eyebrows. “It’s like 6:30.”
“So?! It’s all about the experience. And besides, I got you these! A gift for your first official sleepover.” He handed over a pair of folded pajamas. They were soft. Light blue with little green cacti scattered all over. Namjoon couldn’t deny that they were pretty adorable.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Namjoon said, blushing.
“Of course I did! And I have a new pair too.” His were obviously the same brand but yellow with blue cats. “Let’s get changed.”
Once they were changed, Jimin led Namjoon back into the living room. “I have some different options for us. Video games, board games, and some movies. Oh, and I hope you haven’t eaten yet, because one of the most important parts of the sleepover is ordering takeout.”
Namjoon shook his head. “No, I haven't eaten.”
Jimin grinned. “Perfect.”
They decided on video games first. Namjoon felt like this was all just a little silly, but Jimin was just so excited about it, and so darn cute that he couldn’t help but indulge him.
Jimin kicked his butt in most of the games, but his laughter was contagious, and Namjoon had never been much of a sore loser. “Hyung, you’re going the wrong way again!” Jimin exclaimed, dissolving into laughter and sliding off the couch.
Namjoon yelled dramatically and tossed the controller with a laugh. “I’m not a gamer, okay!”
“That’s pretty clear,” Jimin said from the floor, still giggling breathlessly. “Okay, no more video games. Next, do you want board games or a movie?”
“Definitely a movie,” Namjoon said. “I can’t handle losing any more.”
The problem with starting a movie was that Jimin insisted on building a fort to watch it in. Which wasn’t really a problem. It was actually kind of fun setting up the pillows and blankets. Even if it meant watching the movie on Jimin’s small laptop screen rather than the big TV that was just a few feet away.
Jimin also insisted on a scary movie, which wasn’t exactly Namjoon’s cup of tea, but what was he going to do? Tell him no? Besides, ten minutes into the movie, when the first scary moment had Jimin grabbing Namjoon’s hand and ducking into his side, Namjoon decided that maybe watching a scary movie wasn’t so bad.
“Why did you want to watch this if you were going to hide your eyes the whole time?” Namjoon whispered, laughing.
Jimin peeked between his fingers. “Scary movies are an essential for sleepovers, hyung. And I’ve got you to protect me.”
Namjoon’s stomach filled with butterflies.
They shared a pint of ice cream and watched a comedy after the horror movie, both too scared to go to sleep without it. As Namjoon watched Jimin throw back his head and laugh, he realized that Jimin was probably the closest friend he’d ever had. No one else would have ever gone to so much trouble to give Namjoon something as simple as a sleepover experience. Even if Jimin didn’t return his feelings, he was so grateful to have him as his friend.
It was a little after midnight when Jimin began to yawn.
“I used to be able to stay up so late,” he complained with a laugh. “But I don’t think I can make it much longer.”
“Oh, are you ready for bed?”
Jimin yawned again, and nodded. “Yeah, but you can keep watching the movie. I’ll just fall asleep in a bit. Let me grab the other blankets.” He reached outside of their fort and pulled in a few more blankets, which he then proceeded to make into a little makeshift bed to curl up in.
“Are we sleeping… in here?” Namjoon asked. There was a perfectly good bed in Jimin’s room. And a couch.
“Of course we are.”
“Let me guess—a part of the sleepover experience?”
Jimin giggled, but the blankets were pulled up over his nose and mouth so all Namjoon could see were the cute crescents of his eyes as he smiled. “You know, there’s one sleepover tradition that we left out.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, when it gets late you’re supposed to share secrets. It’s actually one of the most important parts.”
“Secrets?” Namjoon asked, swallowing.
“Mhmm. You go first.”
Namjoon rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling of their fort. A light yellow blanket with pink flowers. “I–”
I really like you.
“I’m really glad you’re my friend, Jimin.”
Jimin sighed. “Just a friend?”
Namjoon turned his head, and Jimin was staring at him, more serious than usual with something wistful shining in his eyes. Namjoon’s heart began to race. “Wh–what do you mean?”
Jimin rose onto his elbows. “I mean I like you, Namjoon-hyung. I like you a lot actually. And I get the feeling you like me too?” His voice was quiet, barely audible over the sound of the movie still playing in the background.
Namjoon nodded, feeling a little breathless. “I do. A lot.”
“Really?” Jimin’s face split into a wide, beautiful smile.
“Yes, really. I think you’re amazing.”
Jimin raised his eyebrows. “Amazing?”
Namjoon blushed but he kept going. “Sweet and smart and really beautiful.”
Jimin scooted closer, his face not far from Namjoon’s. “You think I’m beautiful?” He asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Namjoon nodded. “I do.”
Jimin’s lips were so soft. Warm. The kiss didn’t last long, but it was perfect, sending flutters from Namjoon’s stomach to the tips of his fingers and toes.
“Sorry,” Jimin said when he pulled back. “I’ve just been wanting to do that for so long.”
Namjoon felt a little dazed. “That’s okay. You can do it whenever you want.”
Jimin laughed. “I’m gonna take you up on that, hyung.” He pecked one more quick kiss to Namjoon’s mouth. “And for the record, I think you’re really beautiful too.” He curled up next to Namjoon, laying his head against his shoulder with another adorable yawn. “Now let’s go to sleep.”
“Jimin?”
“Hmm?”
Namjoon wrapped Jimin in his arms, squeezing him tightly. “Thank you. This is the best sleepover I’ve ever had.”
Jimin tucked his face against Namjoon’s arm and he swore he could feel his smile. “Me too, hyung. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”