Jungkook woke up and saw the lights in the room were on. "Hyung, can you turn off the lights?" He asked. "Hyung?"
Jin was far too deep in his sleep. Standing on his feet, Jungkook walked around the bed to turn off the lights.
Meanwhile, Jimin had lost his sleep as he came back into his room after bringing Jungkook back and slumped on his bed. His neurotic mind rendered him dysfunctional. Unsettling feelings started trudging their way to his unstable heart, making him feel scared and terrible.
It was nearly four in the morning when he managed to catch the ends of slumber with reluctance. Known to be not being kind to anyone, time decided to keep its pace and Jimin woke up with alarm ringing in his ears like prickling heat on bare skin.
He got ready and checked Taehyung's schedule in his team's app. He picked up his wallet and keys and dashed out to meet his friend. Though it was Sunday, the Field Service Engineers worked harder during the holiday season.
Taehyung was working on the MRI machine when Jimin barged inside the hospital lab and crouched down on the ground.
"You are one slow mother fucker." The voice startled Taehyung and he dropped the screw from his hand.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Taehyung sneered as Jimin held his hand.
"I have to talk to you," Jimin replied sternly.
"Martin Cooper didn't invent mobile phones for nothing," Taehyung pulled his hand back. Jimin stood up and grabbed Taehyung's shirt to pull him up with him. "I am not going with you anywhere." The friend kept struggling and cackling as they started tackling each other on their way out.
"Dude! The senior physician is in the hospital. If he sees I left before lunch, he's going to call the company." Taehyung resisted but all his words fell on Jimin's deaf ears.
After a while, they were moving out of the hospital. Taehyung was staring at the girls who were walking in and Jimin was breathing heavily, thinking if he should tell Taehyung the complete story of last night.
They found the cafeteria and sat inside it. Jimin knew he had to share with someone, so he confessed. "I almost slept with Jungkook last night."
Taehyung edged his brows while rubbing his finger over the chin. "Why is it the bad news?" He asked with a confused face.
"Because he was half-ass drunk and I don't half-ass anything. I- I am feeling ashamed," Jimin's eyes wavered, and he looked at the ground. "Ever since I have seen him, I am not myself. Animalistic instincts are always there, but I am not someone to coerce anyone into anything. I would have forced him last night."
"Hey, hey..." Taehyung stopped Jimin and understood why he showed up all of the sudden. "I understand you, but you didn't do it. You are giving yourself way less credit. Don't beat yourself up for something you didn't do."
"But I wanted to. I brought him all the way to my place. What if... What if I couldn't control myself?"
"You are a good man, Jimin," Taehyung patted Jimin's shoulder and the latter kept his gaze fixed at a far distance, thinking if he really was a good man. He wasn't sure anymore. "I was once crazy about a girl that I was texting her day and night. All I wanted to do was to get her in my bed, but I didn't really feel bad about it. It's how men are, but men also have chivalry and self-control. What we choose to do with what all we have makes us." He continued to reassure Jimin.
The words made Jimin chuckle slowly. "What happened to the girl then?" He asked.
"She called me to her place after getting drunk one night and I did go. But that night, I knew I didn't want it. I came back with the condom still intact."
**
Jungkook was running late. Mostly, Jin was the one to make breakfast because he stayed at home, but today, he was asleep. The boy picked up his bag after the shower and left the house to get to the bus station. He felt hungrier than usual because of all the drinking over the weekend. His stomach was scrunching on its own acid. He felt like he would pass out.
Getting inside the bus, he took a window seat and kept staring outside while his insides made him nauseated.
It took him a few minutes to reach the office before he was inside, hastily putting his backpack on his desk when a guy from the testing team walked toward him. "Hey, Jungkook."
He turned around with wide eyes and then smiled. "Hi, sir."
"Want to grab a bite? I was going outside to the food court." The man offered.
"Sure." Jungkook sighed in relief. Being an introverted person, it was difficult for him to go out and eat alone. He would always dodge strangers' eyes so they wouldn't strike up a conversation with him. He quickly picked up his wallet and walked with the senior.
"How are you liking Seoul?" The man asked.
"I am now used to it now. Earlier, I couldn't sleep because of vehicles at night. Busan is a lot peaceful." Jungkook laughed as they got out of the office seating area and took the elevator.
"What do you want to eat?" The older asked.
"Anything you want, sir. It all works." Jungkook replied politely, screaming inwardly to pick anything as they reached the food court.
"I told you many times, call me Namjoon. I am not your sir." The older laughed.
"Sorry, sir. I just can't help it," Jungkook cheekily replied. He knew if he was to be a little casual with anyone, they would start flirting or maybe more, especially this guy. He had that feeling.
There was another in his team who hit on him, but that man wasn't the issue for him, knowing how Mrs. Sago was there to look after him.
Suddenly his phone rang and Jin's name appeared. "Excuse me." He stepped away from Namjoon a little.
"Hyung..."
"Where are you?"
"At the office. It's 9:30."
"Office on Sunday?" Jin asked, exasperated.
"Yeah, I told you we are going out for lunch today. Ma'am wanted to celebrate and treat us to a meal. She told me I can take a day off on Tuesday."
"Hmm," Jin hummed to think. "Where are you right now?" He was always a bit mindful of other people who talked to Jungkook. He never liked anyone who showed any interest in the boy, even if it was with good intentions. He had major trust issues.
Jungkook could say that most people talked to him with the intention of pursuing him romantically, but that didn't mean that everyone was the same. A few of his genuine friends were also looked down upon by Jin, and he hated it. Every time he talked to anyone, he was always hesitant and considered not hurting Jin's feelings."I am out to eat, Hyung. I was hungry."
"With whom?"
"Hyung, I will call you later." Jungkook disconnected the call.