Caught in a spin

The college courtyard was buzzing with activity as students lounged around, some studying, some chatting, and others hurrying to their next classes. The golden afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the place, making everything seem just a little more magical.

Jimin, however, wasn’t paying attention to any of it.

“I don’t know, Tae. Maybe this isn’t a good idea.” He chewed on his bottom lip, glancing around nervously.

Taehyung, his best friend, rolled his eyes dramatically. “Oh, come on, Minnie. You literally dance better than half of the internet, and you’re scared of filming one tiny reel?”

“I’m not scared,” Jimin protested, crossing his arms. “I just… what if people watch?”

Taehyung burst into laughter. “That’s kinda the point of posting a reel, dummy.”

Jimin huffed but knew he couldn’t argue. He had been scrolling through Instagram all morning, watching dancers effortlessly pull off smooth moves, and a tiny part of him wanted to join in. But recording a dance reel in college? That was risky.

What if people laughed? What if someone made fun of him?

“Just one take,” Taehyung coaxed, placing his phone in Jimin’s hand. “You’re gonna kill it, and I’ll make sure you look like a superstar.”

Jimin sighed, checking the chosen song. It had the perfect beat, one of those addicting tracks that made you want to move.

“Fine,” he muttered. “One take.”

Jimin found a relatively quiet spot near the large courtyard fountain. A few students sat nearby, chatting, but they weren’t paying attention to him.

He inhaled deeply. Okay. Just dance like no one’s watching.

The beat dropped, and instinct took over.

His body moved naturally, effortlessly. His hips swayed, arms fluidly accentuating each beat, and a smile tugged at his lips. This was what he loved. The rhythm, the energy, the pure joy of dancing.

Taehyung grinned from behind the camera, nodding encouragingly.

Jimin continued, confidence growing with every move. As the chorus approached, he prepared for the hip roll—one of his signature moves. He spun smoothly, shifting his weight, ready to roll his hips—

—until he turned and locked eyes with someone standing right behind him.

His breath hitched. His heart stopped.

It was Jeon Jungkook.

Jimin froze mid-move, eyes wide in horror. His body stiffened awkwardly, making the transition from a confident dancer to a panicked statue within seconds.

Jungkook, his longtime crush—the Jeon Jungkook who made his heart race every time they crossed paths—was standing there, arms crossed, smirking at him.

“Uh…” Jimin’s mouth went dry. His mind screamed at him to run, hide, disappear—anything but stand there like a deer caught in headlights.

Jungkook’s head tilted slightly, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Don’t stop now. That was pretty good.”

Jimin’s face exploded in heat.

Taehyung, the little traitor, was snickering behind the phone. “Oh, don’t mind us, Kook. Jiminie was just blessing the world with his dance skills.”

Jimin wanted to punch him.

Jungkook took a step closer, and Jimin swore his soul left his body.

“You dance really well,” Jungkook said, eyes still locked onto him. “I didn’t know you posted reels.”

Jimin swallowed, gripping his hoodie strings like they were his last lifeline. “I-I don’t… I was just… trying it out.”

Jungkook hummed thoughtfully, gaze flickering to Taehyung. “Were you planning to post this?”

“Of course!” Taehyung answered before Jimin could even breathe. “Right, Jiminie?”

Jimin shot him a betrayed look. “I… I don’t know yet…”

Jungkook grinned. “You should. I’d definitely like to see more.”

Jimin’s brain short-circuited.

Jungkook wanted to see more? Of his dancing?

His heart did a full-body flip, and before he could process it, Jungkook leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a teasing whisper.

“Next time, you should invite me to dance with you.”

Jimin. Was. Dead.

Jimin spent the next ten minutes hiding behind Taehyung, absolutely mortified.

Taehyung, meanwhile, was dying of laughter. “I swear, Minnie, I’ve never seen you turn so red.”

“I hate you,” Jimin groaned, burying his face in his hands. “This is the worst day of my life.”

“Oh, really?” Taehyung wiggled his eyebrows. “Because I think it was the best. Jungkook watched you dance. He complimented you. And oh—what was that last part again?”

Jimin smacked him. “Shut. Up.”

But no matter how hard he tried to suppress it, his heart wouldn’t stop fluttering.

Jungkook had watched him dance.

Jungkook had complimented him.

Jungkook had asked to dance with him.

Jimin groaned, flopping onto the nearest bench. “I’m never dancing again.”

Taehyung scoffed. “Yeah, sure. And I’m never eating ramen again.”

Jimin pouted. He liked dancing. But now? He was doomed.

Because how was he ever supposed to dance again, knowing Jungkook might be watching?

The next day, Jimin was walking through campus when his phone buzzed.

Jimin stared at his phone screen like it had personally offended him.

[Jungkook: So… when are we filming our dance reel?]

Jimin’s brain was not computing.

[Jimin: What?]

[Jungkook: You heard me. You owe me a dance, remember?]

Jimin choked. Owe him a dance?! When had that become a thing?

[Jimin: I don’t remember making that deal.]

[Jungkook: You were too busy turning red, so I’ll remind you. You froze mid-hip roll when you saw me, and now you have to redeem yourself.]

Jimin did not freeze. Okay, maybe he did. But that was not the point!

[Jimin: I refuse.]

[Jungkook: Oh, so you’re scared?]

[Jimin: I AM NOT.]

[Jungkook: Then prove it. Meet me at the dance studio at 5.]

Jimin wanted to throw his phone across the room.

Taehyung, who had been reading over his shoulder, burst into laughter. “You’re so down bad, it’s adorable.”

“I am not down bad,” Jimin snapped.

Taehyung patted his head like he was a puppy. “Keep telling yourself that, Minnie.”

5:00 PM – College Dance Studio

Jimin stepped inside hesitantly, and—there he was.

Jungkook stood near the mirrors, stretching his arms. He was wearing a loose black T-shirt, gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips, and his hair was slightly messy.

Jimin hated how attractive he looked.

Jungkook grinned. “You came.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “I didn’t want you to say I was scared.”

Jungkook smirked. “I still think you’re scared.”

Jimin groaned. “Can we just dance?”

Jungkook chuckled. “Fine, fine. Let’s pick a song.”

They scrolled through a playlist, debating over the best track. Jungkook, ever the flirt, suggested slow R&B songs, while Jimin shut them down immediately.

Finally, they settled on a fast, upbeat song with a mix of sharp and fluid movements.

Jimin felt more comfortable now. He could handle this.

Until the music started.

Jungkook moved like he was born to dance. His body rolled effortlessly, movements crisp, and there was something so captivating about the way he danced—powerful yet controlled.

Jimin was not getting distracted. Nope. Not at all.

Jungkook shot him a playful glance. “You good, Jiminie?”

Jimin scowled. “Just focus on dancing.”

They practiced a few times before recording. Jimin had danced solo many times, but having Jungkook so close was another experience altogether.

The final part of the choreography had them face-to-face—Jimin rolling his hips back while Jungkook stepped forward.

They executed it perfectly.

And then it happened.

The music ended, and Jungkook leaned in, way too close.

Jimin’s breath hitched as Jungkook whispered, “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

Jimin’s entire system crashed.

“Y-yeah,” he mumbled, stepping back so fast he almost tripped.

Jungkook caught his wrist, steadying him. “Careful.”

Jimin’s heart was going through it.

Taehyung was going to scream when he heard about this.

Jimin expected a decent amount of views.

He did not expect the video to go viral.

Within hours, it had over 300k likes.

@fangirl_no.1: “OKAY BUT WHY DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A COUPLE DANCE???”

@jikookforever: “HELLO? THE WAY JUNGKOOK STEPPED CLOSER AT THE END??? JIMIN WAS BLUSHING???”

@kpopdancer: “Not me watching this on loop for the 100th time.”

Jimin was mortified.

Taehyung was ecstatic.

And Jungkook?

[Jungkook: We’re trending.]

[Jimin: I KNOW.]

[Jungkook: Should we… make another one?]

Jimin stared at his screen.

Oh no.

He was in trouble.

Big, big trouble.

The next morning, Jimin walked into campus feeling weirdly exposed.

People were whispering. Pointing. Smirking.

Jimin narrowed his eyes at Taehyung, who was humming happily beside him. “Why is everyone looking at me like that?”

Taehyung grinned. “Oh, you don’t know?”

Jimin’s stomach dropped. “Know what?”

Taehyung dramatically pulled out his phone, tapping through Instagram. “Your reel? With Jungkook? It has a million views now.”

Jimin nearly tripped. “A—what?!”

“Oh, and the comments?” Taehyung turned his phone around. “You might want to see these.”

Jimin hesitated before looking.

@softforjikook: “THE TENSION. THE CHEMISTRY. ARE THEY DATING OR WHAT??”

@kookmin_shippers_unite: “Did y’all see how Jungkook looked at him? That’s not just FRIENDLY.”

@randomuser123: “If they don’t end up together, I will sue.”

@officialdancepage: “Two insanely talented dancers in one frame. We need more!!”

Jimin’s entire face burned.

“They think we’re… together?” he squeaked.

Taehyung snickered. “Well, yeah. I mean, look at the video.” He tapped ‘play.’ “Jungkook was basically eye-flirting with you the whole time.”

“No, he wasn’t,” Jimin muttered, but his brain immediately replayed how close Jungkook had been. The teasing smirk. The whisper at the end.

Oh god.

[Jungkook: Looks like we broke the internet.]

Jimin stared at the message.

[Jimin: This is your fault.]

[Jungkook: How is it my fault?]

[Jimin: You looked at me weird.]

[Jungkook: Define weird.]

[Jimin: LIKE YOU WANTED TO EAT ME.]

Jimin regretted it the second he pressed ‘send.’

Jungkook’s reply came instantly.

[Jungkook: Hmm. Interesting choice of words.]

Jimin turned his phone off and shoved it into his pocket.

Nope. Not dealing with this today.

Jimin should’ve known Jungkook wouldn’t let it go.

Because the next thing he knew, Jungkook was leaning against his locker, arms crossed, looking way too smug.

Jimin stopped in his tracks. “What do you want?”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “That’s not a very nice way to greet your dance partner.”

Jimin scowled. “We did one video.”

Jungkook smirked. “And the internet is begging for more.”

Jimin’s eye twitched. “So?”

“So… let’s give them what they want.”

Jimin opened his mouth to refuse, but then Jungkook did something dangerous.

He tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping into that teasing, almost-flirty tone.

“Come on, Jiminie. I know you want to.”

Jimin nearly short-circuited.

He absolutely did not want to. Nope. Not at all.

…Okay, maybe a little.

But there was no way he was going to admit that.

Jungkook took his silence as agreement and grinned. “Great. Meet me at the studio after class.”

And just like that, Jimin was doomed.

Jimin arrived at the dance studio, already regretting every life decision that led to this moment.

Jungkook was stretching, his shirt riding up just enough to show a sliver of toned abs.

Jimin looked away immediately.

Jungkook smirked. “Ready?”

No.

“Yeah,” Jimin lied.

They picked a new song—something a little smoother, more fluid.

The choreography had them moving together, steps synchronized perfectly.

Everything was fine. Totally fine.

Until the ending pose.

Jimin was supposed to spin, and Jungkook was meant to catch him—which meant Jungkook’s hands landed firmly on Jimin’s waist.

Jimin’s breath hitched.

Jungkook didn’t let go immediately.

His fingers lingered just a little. His grip was firm but gentle.

Jimin looked up, heart hammering.

Jungkook’s gaze was steady. Amused.

Jimin felt every single second pass in slow motion.

Then Jungkook’s lips curled into a teasing smirk.

“Still think I was looking at you weird?”

Jimin shoved him.

Jungkook burst into laughter, and Jimin stomped away, face on fire.

[Jungkook: You’re cute when you’re flustered.]

Jimin threw his phone onto his bed.

He was never surviving this.

Ever

Jimin had barely set foot on campus when all hell broke loose.

“Jimin!” Someone called. “You and Jungkook—are you guys actually together?”

Jimin nearly choked on air. “W-What?”

Another student grinned. “Dude, your new reel is all over my feed. The way Jungkook held you at the end? Yeah, you’re dating.”

Jimin spluttered. “We are not!”

“But look at the comments,” Taehyung sang, shoving his phone in Jimin’s face.

Jimin groaned, but his eyes flickered to the screen anyway.

— @jikookers4life: “GUYS. THIS ISN’T JUST DANCING. THEY’RE FLIRTING. LOOK AT THE WAY JUNGKOOK HOLDS HIM.”

— @fluffykook: “I don’t know if I want to be Jimin or Jungkook.”

— @plsdatenow: “THE WAY JIMIN LOOKS AT HIM. THE WAY JUNGKOOK SMIRKS. PLEASE JUST CONFIRM IT ALREADY.”

Jimin wanted to crawl into a hole.

[Jimin: This is a disaster.]

[Jungkook: It’s kinda funny.]

[Jimin: No, it is NOT.]

[Jungkook: Maybe we should just date and make their lives easier.]

[Jimin: I’m blocking you.]

[Jungkook: You won’t.]

Jimin shoved his phone in his pocket.

He absolutely, definitely needed a break from Jungkook.

Too bad Jungkook wasn’t going to let that happen.

Later that day, Jungkook found Jimin at his locker, casually leaning against it like a menace.

“Hey, boyfriend.”

Jimin choked. “Don’t call me that!”

Jungkook grinned. “People already think we’re dating. We might as well give them a show.”

Jimin narrowed his eyes. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

Jungkook shrugged. “A fake date.”

Jimin blinked. “Excuse me?”

Jungkook smirked. “We go out. Make it look real. Maybe hold hands—”

“NO.”

Jungkook laughed. “Relax. Just dinner. Let’s see how much we can mess with people.”

Jimin hesitated. This was a terrible idea.

…But also, kind of fun?

“…Fine.”

Jungkook grinned. “Great. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Jimin stared as Jungkook walked away, absolutely regretting everything.

Jimin spent way too long picking an outfit.

“Why are you freaking out?” Taehyung teased. “It’s fake.”

“I KNOW,” Jimin snapped, throwing another shirt onto his bed. “I just… want to look good.”

Taehyung wiggled his eyebrows. “For who?”

“NO ONE.”

By the time Jungkook arrived, Jimin was already flustered.

Jungkook leaned against his car, eyes scanning Jimin from head to toe. “You look cute.”

Jimin crossed his arms. “Shut up.”

Jungkook chuckled. “Alright, alright. Let’s go, fake date.”

The evening went surprisingly… well.

They got dinner, playfully bickered over their orders, and Jungkook kept doing annoying things like wiping sauce off Jimin’s lips and calling him “baby” just to see him blush.

Jimin spent the whole time trying not to combust.

But the real problem came when they walked back to the car.

A group of students spotted them.

“Oh my god,” one girl gasped. “JIKOOK IN REAL LIFE??”

Jimin panicked.

Before he could react, Jungkook did something dangerous.

He reached for Jimin’s hand—and intertwined their fingers.

Jimin stopped breathing.

The girls squealed. “They’re actually dating!!”

Jimin turned to Jungkook, eyes wide, but Jungkook just winked.

Jimin was so, so doomed.

Jimin should have known better than to check Instagram before bed.

Taehyung had warned him.

“Don’t do it, Minnie,” he had said. “You’ll just end up in a spiral.”

Jimin did not listen.

Now, at 2 AM, he was lying on his bed, staring at a fan edit of himself and Jungkook.

The video was set to a slow, romantic song.

— Clip of Jungkook watching Jimin dance with that fond, smitten look.

— Clip of Jungkook casually fixing Jimin’s hoodie strings.

— Clip of their fingers intertwining after dinner.

— Clip of Jungkook whispering something in Jimin’s ear, making him blush.

Caption: “At this point, they just need to tell us they’re dating.”

Top comment:

— @Jikook4ever: “Y’ALL. THE WAY JUNGKOOK LOOKS AT HIM. HE’S GONE.”

— @plsdate: “Jimin stares at him like he hung the moon, I’m not joking.”

— @it’shappening: “It’s not fake. It CAN’T be fake.”

Jimin buried his face in his pillow.

It was fake. Right?

Then why did his stomach do backflips when he replayed the moment Jungkook held his hand?

[Jimin: We have a problem.]

[Jungkook: Oh?]

[Jimin: People are way too convinced we’re dating.]

[Jungkook: And?]

[Jimin: ?? And we should stop??]

[Jungkook: But we’re having fun, aren’t we?]

[Jimin: …]

[Jungkook: Unless you want to make it real?]

[Jimin: STOP.]

Jungkook was so annoying.

The worst part?

Jimin didn’t know if he wanted him to stop.

The next morning, Jimin arrived at college half-asleep (thanks to his 3 AM existential crisis).

And then he saw it.

A giant crowd gathered around a phone.

Laughter. Whispering. Excited screaming.

Jimin had a very bad feeling.

Taehyung popped up next to him. “So, uh. Did you see the video?”

Jimin froze. “What video?”

Taehyung winced. “The one titled ‘Jikook: Accidental Boyfriends Compilation.’”

Jimin’s soul left his body.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes,” Taehyung said. “It’s viral, Minnie. Super viral.”

Jimin ran.

But it was too late.

Jungkook found him first.

“Morning, boyfriend,” Jungkook greeted, grinning like the devil.

Jimin slapped a hand over his face. “Don’t.”

Jungkook chuckled. “People are obsessed with us.”

Jimin groaned. “That’s the problem.”

“Is it?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “I kinda like it.”

Jimin peeked at him through his fingers. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

Jungkook shrugged. “What can I say? It’s fun.”

Jimin huffed, crossing his arms. “Well, I think we should stop before it gets out of hand.”

Jungkook tilted his head. “And why would we do that?”

“Because—” Jimin paused. “Because people think we’re actually dating.”

Jungkook’s lips curled up. “And?”

Jimin’s heart stuttered.

“…And that’s bad?”

Jungkook took a slow step closer, invading his space.

His voice dropped, teasing but softer this time.

“Do you want it to be bad, Jimin?”

Jimin’s breath hitched.

Jungkook’s eyes searched his, like he was waiting for something.

Jimin didn’t know what to say.

And that?

That scared him more than anything.

Chapter 16: Denial is a Losing Game

Jimin was struggling.

And by struggling, he meant his entire existence was crumbling.

Why?

Because Jungkook had not stopped flirting.

Ever since that morning—ever since that stupidly close moment where Jungkook basically asked if Jimin wanted this to be real—he had ramped up his teasing.

Examples:

1. “Morning, baby.” (Jungkook had whispered it in Jimin’s ear before disappearing into class. Jimin choked on his own spit.)

2. “Want to hold my hand again? You seemed to enjoy it last time.” (Jimin dropped his textbook and Taehyung had to fan him back to life.)

3. “Our fans would love if we did a ‘boyfriend tag’ video.” (Excuse me???)

It wasn’t fair.

It wasn’t normal.

Jungkook was trying to kill him.

[Jimin: You’re doing this on purpose.]

[Jungkook: Doing what?]

[Jimin: MAKING ME LOSE MY MIND.]

[Jungkook: Oh. Yeah, I am.]

[Jimin: I hate you.]

[Jungkook: Liar.]

Jimin was so doomed.

Jimin needed to re-establish control.

So, when Jungkook challenged him to a dance battle, he saw an opportunity.

“Loser buys dinner,” Jungkook grinned, stretching his arms.

“Hope you’re hungry, then,” Jimin shot back.

They gathered in the practice room, with Taehyung and a few other friends acting as judges.

The battle started playfully.

— Jungkook mimicked Jimin’s smooth hip rolls.

— Jimin countered with a footwork sequence that had Jungkook blinking in surprise.

— Jungkook responded by throwing in a body wave so fluid that Jimin forgot how to breathe.

— Jimin recovered quickly, swaying closer, challenging him—

And then it happened.

Jimin turned, mid-spin, only to find himself inches from Jungkook’s face.

The air shifted.

Jungkook was staring at him, chest rising and falling just a little too fast.

Jimin’s heart slammed against his ribs.

Everything was too quiet.

Too charged.

Jungkook’s hand twitched, like he was about to reach for him.

And for a terrifying, exhilarating second, Jimin thought—

—Is he going to kiss me?

But then—

“AHEM.”

Taehyung’s voice broke the moment.

Jimin jumped back like he’d been electrocuted. Jungkook blinked rapidly, clearing his throat.

The room BURST into chaos.

— “BRO. DID YOU SEE THAT?”

— “THEY ALMOST KISSED.”

— “OH MY GOD. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

Jimin felt like he was going to combust.

Jungkook rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. “Guess I got a little… carried away.”

Jimin’s brain short-circuited.

He didn’t win the dance battle.

But he was pretty sure he lost something much bigger.

Jimin avoided Jungkook for two whole days.

Which, in hindsight, was stupid.

Because Jungkook found him anyway.

“Jimin.”

Jimin froze. He knew that voice.

Slowly, he turned to see Jungkook leaning against a wall, arms crossed, watching him with that unreadable gaze.

Jimin swallowed. “Uh. Hi.”

Jungkook’s lips twitched. “Hi.”

Silence.

Jungkook stepped closer. “Are you avoiding me?”

Jimin’s soul left his body. “What? No. Of course not. Pfft.”

Jungkook’s eyebrow raised. “Really?”

“Y-yeah!” Jimin’s voice cracked.

Jungkook exhaled, tilting his head. “Jimin.”

Jimin braced himself.

“I like you.”

Jimin’s heart stopped.

“I like you,” Jungkook repeated, slow and sure. “Not for Instagram. Not because of the videos. Just… you.”

Jimin’s breath hitched.

Jungkook stepped closer, so close that their fingers brushed.

“You don’t have to answer now,” Jungkook murmured. “But… can you at least stop avoiding me?”

Jimin stared at him.

At Jeon Jungkook.

The boy who had teased him relentlessly.

The boy who had made his stomach flip a thousand times.

The boy who had almost kissed him.

The boy who—

—actually liked him back.

Jimin swallowed past the lump in his throat.

“I’ll stop avoiding you,” he whispered.

Jungkook’s smile was blinding.

Jimin had a problem.

A very big problem.

Because ever since Jungkook’s confession, he’d been hyper-aware of him.

— Jungkook laughing? Heart malfunction.

— Jungkook looking at him? Immediate brain shutdown.

— Jungkook existing in his general vicinity? Fatal.

Jimin was losing. His. Mind.

And worst of all?

Jungkook knew it.

“Oh?” Jungkook smirked, catching Jimin staring at him for the fifth time that day. “Like what you see?”

Jimin nearly threw his iced coffee at him.

“I—NO.”

Jungkook chuckled, leaning in slightly. “Liar.”

Jimin hated him.

He also maybe wanted to kiss him.

Their latest reel was too much.

Too domestic. Too boyfriend-coded.

It wasn’t even intentional!

They were just filming another dance challenge, except this time, Jungkook got way too close at the end.

— Jimin finished the last move, breathing slightly harder.

— Jungkook turned to him, a little too fondly.

— And then…

— Jungkook tucked a stray strand of hair behind Jimin’s ear.

Jimin froze.

Jungkook didn’t move away.

Jimin’s heart was going to explode.

“Cute,” Jungkook murmured, barely audible in the video.

Jimin’s soul ascended.

The Instagram comments?

CHAOS.

— “HELLO?? WHAT WAS THAT?”

— “THE HAND. THE LOOK. THE EVERYTHING.”

— “Are they ACTUALLY together??”

— “JIMIN, BLINK TWICE IF YOU’RE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY JUNGKOOK’S FLIRTING.”

— “I bet my entire savings they’re secretly dating.”

Jimin wanted to die.

Taehyung, however, was thriving.

“Jiminie,” he cooed, showing him the endless tweets. “How does it feel knowing the internet already sees you two as a couple?”

Jimin shoved his face into a pillow. “MAKE IT STOP.”

Jungkook, the menace, only smirked.

“Why? Don’t you like being my pretend boyfriend?”

Jimin wasn’t sure how much of it was pretend anymore.

Jimin wasn’t jealous.

Absolutely not.

He didn’t care that some random girl was flirting with Jungkook in the cafeteria.

Nope.

Not one bit.

Except.

Jimin did care.

A lot.

So when Jungkook sat down next to him, still grinning from whatever conversation he’d just had, Jimin did the only logical thing.

He ignored him.

Jungkook blinked. “Uh. Hello?”

Jimin scrolled through his phone, pointedly looking anywhere but at him.

Jungkook nudged him. “Jimin?”

Silence.

Jungkook tilted his head, amused. “Are you… ignoring me?”

Jimin sipped his drink. Didn’t respond.

“Oh my god,” Jungkook exhaled, laughing. “You’re jealous.”

Jimin choked. “I AM NOT.”

Jungkook smirked, leaning in. “You are.”

Jimin glared. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Jungkook hummed, resting his chin on his hand. “So, you wouldn’t mind if I asked for her number, then?”

Jimin saw red.

He slammed his drink on the table. “Do whatever you want, Jeon.”

Jungkook grinned.

“So… if I want to date you instead?”

Jimin. Short-circuited.

“I—”

Jungkook leaned closer, voice lower.

“Would you mind that?”

Jimin’s stomach did an Olympic-level flip.

“I—” he cleared his throat, face burning.

Jungkook smirked harder.

“Thought so.”

Jimin hated him.

(He really, really didn’t.)

Jimin’s heart couldn’t take it anymore.

Jungkook was flirting with him 24/7.

Jungkook was looking at him like he hung the moon.

Jungkook was acting like they were already dating.

And Jimin?

Jimin was already in love with him.

So, one night, as they sat on the rooftop, sharing earbuds and looking at the stars, Jimin broke.

“Jungkook?” he murmured.

Jungkook turned to him. “Yeah?”

Jimin inhaled. “Why… why me?”

Jungkook frowned. “What do you mean?”

Jimin hesitated. “You could have anyone. Why do you… why are you—”

Jungkook smiled, soft. So, so soft.

“Because you’re you,” he said simply.

Jimin stopped breathing.

Jungkook reached out, fingers grazing Jimin’s wrist.

“And because,” he added, voice barely above a whisper, “I was always going to love you.”

Jimin’s heart shattered.

In the best way possible.

Jimin was done.

Done pretending his heart didn’t skip a beat every time Jungkook smiled at him.

Done acting like he wasn’t in love with his best friend.

Done ignoring the way Jungkook had already become his everything.

So, naturally, he did the dumbest thing possible.

He ran away.

(For approximately five minutes.)

Then, Taehyung dragged him back by the hoodie.

“Nope. You’re not running from this, Jimin.”

Jimin pouted. “But—”

“No buts. Jungkook’s waiting on the rooftop, probably wondering why his almost-boyfriend just ghosted him after an emotional moment.”

Jimin groaned, covering his face. “I hate this.”

Taehyung patted his back. “You love this.”

And… yeah. He did.

Which is how he found himself standing on the rooftop again, heart pounding out of his chest.

Jungkook turned at the sound of his footsteps.

“Oh. You came back.”

Jimin frowned. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

Jungkook shrugged, looking at the ground. “I don’t know… Maybe.”

Jimin’s heart cracked.

“I’m sorry,” he said, stepping closer.

Jungkook looked up. “For what?”

Jimin exhaled. “For taking so long.”

Then, before he could chicken out, he grabbed Jungkook’s face and kissed him.

Jungkook froze.

Then, in the next second—

He melted.

Jimin’s hands trembled slightly, but Jungkook’s arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. The kiss was soft, tentative, yet so full of everything they’d been holding back.

When they finally pulled away, Jungkook grinned, slightly breathless.

“So, you like me back, huh?”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “Wow. What gave it away?”

Jungkook laughed, resting his forehead against Jimin’s.

“Maybe the way you just kissed me like I’m your entire world?”

Jimin flushed. “Shut up.”

Jungkook beamed.

“I’d rather kiss you again.”

So he did.

And Jimin?

Jimin let him

Their next reel?

It’s not even a dance challenge.

It’s just Jungkook holding Jimin’s hand.

And then—Jimin leans in and kisses his cheek.

The caption?

"Plot twist: We were boyfriends all along."

The comments?

CHAOTIC.

— "EXCUSE ME??? SINCE WHEN???"

— "THIS IS THE BEST PLOT TWIST OF 2025."

— "I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT."

— "CONGRATULATIONS BUT ALSO HOW DARE YOU HIDE THIS FROM US."

— "JIMIN, YOUR HANDS WERE TREMBLING IN THE VIDEO, YOU’RE SO CUTE."

Taehyung screamed for ten minutes straight.

Jin, Yoongi, Namjoon, and Hoseok? They weren’t even surprised.

“Took you long enough.”

Jimin glared. “WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME IT WAS THIS OBVIOUS?!”

Jungkook kissed his forehead. “Because it was more fun watching you figure it out yourself.”

Jimin whacked him with a pillow.

(But, okay. Maybe he was a little glad he figured it out in his own time.)

Their first date? A dance class.

(Obviously.)

Their second date? A movie night where they fell asleep on the couch.

Their third date? A karaoke battle where Jungkook dramatically sang a love song to Jimin.

(And Jimin pretended he didn’t love it.)

By the time their one-month anniversary rolled around, Jungkook surprised Jimin with a rooftop picnic—the place where everything started.

Jimin sat beside him, watching the stars.

“You know,” he said, lacing their fingers together, “I think I was always going to love you, too.”

Jungkook’s breath hitched.

Then, he smiled.

“Good,” he whispered. “Because I plan on loving you for a long, long time.”

And when Jimin kissed him under the night sky, he knew—

This was just the beginning.

The beginning of forever.