Chapter 23

                                    

                                          


                          
"Taehyungie?" Jimin said softly as he entered Taehyung's room. Jimin's nose scrunched up at the familiar smell of Taehyung's room; it smelled like home. 
                          
"Oh Jimin?" Taehyung got up from his bed and grinned, his hair a mess. 
                          
"What brings you here?" Jimin sat down next to his friend and leaned against him, resting his head on Taehyung's shoulder. 
                          
"Well, tomorrow's the big day." Taehyung's shoulders tensed up and silence slowly drowned the room. 
                          
"You can't even stay just one day?" Jimin laughed at his friend's joke. 
                          
"No, Baek said I've got to go..." Taehyung groaned and placed his chin gently ontop of Jimin's head. 
                          
"I never thought this day would come...I've always thought this was just another bad dream..." Jimin closed his eyes.
                          
"Well, this bad dream of yours is coming true." Taehyung shifted so that Jimin's nuzzling the crock of Taehyung's neck as he wrapped his arms around his waist.
                          
"Why don't we pack up your stuff?" Taehyung suggested. 
                          
"Yeah."
                          
-
                          
"I don't need much...just some clothes and some things so I wouldn't be bored." Jimin went through his closet to find anything interesting. There was so much in his closet that he has totally forgotten about. His photo albums, a bunch of polaroids, and a shit ton of missing socks. Jimin sighed as he stuffed all of them neatly by his nightstand, hoping Jungkook would find it int he morning. 
                          
In the end, he brought his laptop, his charger, phone, clothes, and some novels.
                          
"That's it?" Taehyung looked at the tiny pile of things. His eyes brows furrowed together and took another peek at the bag. 
                          
"Well, yeah, what else do you want me to bring?" Taehyung stuck out his bottom lip.
                          
"Me?" Jimin laughed and pinched his nose.
                          
"You can come and visit me." Taehyung laughed sarcastically and zipped the bag closed. 
                          
"Food?" Jimin glanced over at the clock, it read 12:45 am.
                          
"Food." After a long debate of where they should go eat the two settled for two bowls of instant ramen in the kitchen.
                          
"Luxurious," Jimin commented as the two finished up their dinner. 
                          
"Why thank you." Taehyung took Jimin's paper bowl and threw them into the trash.
                          
"Ah~" Jimin looked around their living room and smiled.
                          
"I'll miss this place..." Taehyung glanced over at Jimin. His silver hair that was barely covering his eyes, his perfectly shaped nose, and his rosy pink lips. God, he was beautiful, even when he's exhausted and plagued with an incurable disease. Was there a time when Park Jimin wasn't ethereal? Was there ever a time Park Jimin didn't take Taehyung's breath away? 
                          
Taehyung stared and smiled, he took Jimin's arms and pulled him closer. Jimin sat on a stood with his legs dangling, a little short of the ground. 
                          
"Can I ask you something?" Jimin smiled at Taehyung. That heart-wrenching smile that tugged at Taehyung's heartstrings. 
                          
"Ask away." He said playfully, his shoulders rising. Taehyung tightened his grip on Jimin's arms, this time he didn't say it. Because he knew he'd get the same answer.
                          
'You know I'll always root for Jungkook!'
                          
'Either I die virgin or I die with Jungkook.'
                          
'I just love Jungkookie...'
                          
'Kookie will always be my favorite.'
                          
Taehyung has had enough of all that bullshit. He had enough of Jungkook; he wanted more of Jimin. Taehyung knew, though, that he's never had a chance with Jimin. That the moment Jimin saw Jungkook, Taehyung wouldn't be able to even compete. That thought tugged at Taehyung's mind like an itch he can't reach.  All these thoughts drowned out Jimin's voice as Taehyung bit his bottom lip. 
                          
It's not fair. 
                          
"Tae?" Jimin tilted his head, Taehyung gritted his teeth together and growled.
                          
"Why can't you love me back?" Taehyung whispered. He didn't know if he said it for himself or for Jimin to hear but before he could react, Taehyung pulled Jimin into a kiss. Jimin's eyes were wide as Taehyung leaned into the kiss. It seemed to last for an eternity before Taehyung let go, sprinting off. Jimin sat there, speechless. He touched his lips and watched Taehyung runoff.
                          
Jungkook didn't interrupt them and he wished he had. He simply stood there watching his first and last love with someone else. He loved Jimin...? He wanted to go out there and ripped them apart, but he didn't, his feet wouldn't let him, so he stood there with his eyes glued to the ground, refusing to look up.
                          
Jungkook entered the kitchen where Jimin sat, eyes unfocused.
                          
"Jimin?" Jungkook said.
                          
"J...Jungkookie!" Jimin stuttered, his eyes darted in every direction, wondering how he didn't notice his presence sooner. 
                          
"Did you...see that?" Jungkook didn't want to reply...but he then nodded.
                          
"I'm sorry...Taehyung probably was sleepy and he did it..."
                          
'Why did he have to explain it?' Jungkook though as he balled his hands into fists.
                          
'Why are you so irritated, Jeon Jungkook?!'
                          
"Look, Jungkook, can you just forget about what happened?" Jungkook still had his eyes glued to the ground.
                          
"Jungkook? Please don't make me feel that bad...can you at least say something?" Jimin pleaded. Jungkook finally looked up with a frown plastered on his face.
                          
"Whatever." Jimin's smiled disappeared and took a step closer to Jungkook.
                          
"Wait...wh..."
                          
"You're going to die anyway." Jungkook spat.
                          
Jimin froze.
                          
God, he wanted to laugh. 
                          
or cry, he didn't know. 
                          
It wasn't something mean.
                          
It was the truth.
                          
Yet.
                          
It hurts.
                          
Like... a lot.
                          
Jungkook turned his heels and walked away leaving Jimin alone on the brown carpet floor.
                          
He remembered this feeling.
                          
It was even the exact same place.
                          
The key chain he made, Jimin wondered where it was now.
                          
The 76th time Jungkook rejected him.
                          
It was the same feeling, but this time it felt suffocating. 
                          
He watched Jungkook leave.
                          
'This is probably the last time I'm going to see him.' Jimin thought as he forced a smile.
                          
'Goodbye, my love.'