Straight Until Proven Gay (kissing doesn’t count) • Chapter 4 • 5.5K (Patreon)

< Chapter 3

TW: bullying/strong language

———————

“So you got hard.. looking at his ass?”

“Yes.”

“But.. it’s not gay?”

Hoseok looks at him like he’s losing his mind. Jeongguk feels himself being scrutinised and he has to look away for his own sanity.

“I know what it sounds like-“

“Gay. It sounds gay.”

“But let me explain.”

Hoseok holds eye contact for a few seconds, but then shrugs and sits back, opening his hands.

“Explain.”

“It looks like.. a woman’s ass? It’s not like.. you know.. all muscly? It looked soft.. and- and round I guess. I was just envisioning a woman.”

Hoseok stays silent after that, just looks at him.

“You done?”

“Yeah.”

“Wanna know what I think?”

“No.”

He really doesn’t.

“I think you’re attracted to Jimin. Not because of his ass. You’re attracted to him entirely.”

“That’s bullshit-“

“You’re confused because you’ve never felt attracted to a man before, so you try to pin it on different things. That he’s feminine of some sort. But I’ve seen you stare at his legs too, which do not look feminine in any way.”

Jeongguk groans, leans his head back over Hoseok’s couch and drinks his beer.

“I’m not into guys. Jimin has a nice ass. That’s all there is to it.”

“Okay, fine. Live in delusion.”

“I will.”

Hoseok just doesn’t understand. He’s bi, so he doesn’t have the right to judge like a straight guy. Jeongguk is sure Sungho would have agreed with him. Some guys have a nice ass and a good set of lips, and he’s but a man.

“When were you gonna tell me you broke up?”

Jeongguk lifts his head up, frowns.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“Nope.”

Hoseok pops the ‘p’ as he walks over to his fridge.

“Oh. Well, Jae and I broke up.”

“You don’t say.”

“She broke up with me actually.”

Hoseok hums, fetches two new beers and walks back over to him. He sits down next to him and hands him another, then lowers the volume of the tv.

“I actually haven’t seen her. I made her break up with me over phone. That’s shitty right?”

“Yeah.”

Hoseok nods. Never sugarcoats it.

Jeongguk sighs, takes one of the beers and opens it.

“But I didn’t want to see her. I still don’t.”

“Did you tell your mom?”

Beer suddenly tastes sour on his tongue when Hoseok mentions her.

“No.”

“It would be better to tell her sooner right?”

“Yeah.”

It’s gonna suck telling his mom. It had been so nice and quiet when he was still in a relationship. She never called, and if she did it was for Jae anyway.

“And you went to Sway without me.”

Hoseok says, accusing undertone in his voice.

Jeongguk turns to look at him, and he does look genuinely offended.

“Really?”

He asks.

“Yes really. I’ve been trying to get your ass over there for so long, one bat of Taehyung’s eyelashes and you betray me.”

Oh he’s hurt hurt. Using the word betray is not something casual.

“It was a one time thing. He wanted me to come because I just got dumped. I don’t wanna go again.”

Jeongguk promises, but Hoseok shakes his head.

“You’re gonna go again, you owe me that.”

“I don’t want to see you and Taehyung kiss in front of my eyes.”

Hoseok rolls his eyes at him, then he nudges his shoulder.

“Bet Jimin will be there, too.”

Jimin..

Jeongguk breaks out in cold sweat thinking about that.

“So? That makes me want to go even less. He saw me butt naked and hard.”

“Wait he saw? Why would you not mention that?”

Hoseok laughs.

Fuck, he’s done it now.

“Because you’d laugh.”

He says.

Hoseok laughs even harder, slaps his hand on his leg.

“Are you for real? He saw you hard?”

Jeongguk rubs over his forehead, then starts downing his beer faster than lightning. Hoseok bursts into laughter again.

“You know he’s going to eat you alive right?”

“That’s why I don’t want to see him.”

“What are you even gonna say? Your ass looked fat and juicy, I’m so sorry-“

“Hoseok-“

“I can’t wait to see you two meet again.”

Jeongguk can definitely wait. He doesn’t want to see that lazy smirk. That cocky grin. He can’t stand it.

“Did you tell Tae?”

“Should I?”

Hoseok’s smile slowly fades, looks at him like he’s lost his mind.

“You haven’t told him?”

“Of course not. I’m not gonna tell him something embarrassing like that.”

Right? That would be insane.

Hoseok is not happy though, serious look on his face that scares the shit out of him.

“Jeongguk, you got hard looking at his boyfriend. You can’t just ignore-“

“I’ve told you, it wasn’t like I got hard because of Jimin. It was his ass, okay? Just his ass.”

“Yeah well, you’re an ass if you don’t tell Taehyung.”

Jeongguk feels something sting in his gut. He doesn’t want to talk to Taehyung about this, but Hoseok looks at him like he will take matters into his own hands if he doesn’t agree. So he clicks his tongue and nods.

“Fine.”

———————

“Tae..”

“Mm?”

Taehyung looks up from his phone, blinks a few times. He looks teary-eyed.

“What’s going on?”

He asks, instantly forgets what he was about to talk about.

“It’s nothing really..”

Taehyung denies, but his voice cracks and he takes in a sharp breath.

“Just.. just had a fight with Jimin.”

Jeongguk clenches his jaw, and he sits down next to him, puts a hand on his thigh.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah just- it’s just.. some stuff about our agreement.”

“You mean your open relationship?”

Taehyung nods, takes a deep breath, still can’t help but cry.

Jeongguk feels his heart clench seeing him like this. But there’s also that other part of him; that can barely hold the “I told you so” but because of how down Taehyung is, he only clicks his tongue in frustration.

“And he said he needed some time.. so.. I just.. don’t know what it means.”

Taehyung rubs his eyes, and Jeongguk runs his hand through his hair once. He’s been here too many times.

“Probably nothing too bad.”

He says softly, trying to calm him down.

Taehyung sighs, can’t do anything with that information. So Jeongguk bumps his shoulder gently.

“I can also give him a hard time at volley-“

“No. Just pretend like you don’t know, please.”

He contemplates not listening, but Taehyung glares at him for even bringing it up.

“Fine. But don’t sulk too much, fights are never nice, but it’s about the way you make up.”

Like he’s one to talk. He’s never been able to make up in a normal manner with Jae.

Taehyung takes the advice though, just nods and dries his tears.

“Did you want to ask me something?”

“Mm?”

“You came to me to talk.”

“Oh..”

Right. That story. Jimin’s ass.

He looks at Taehyung’s red nose and glassy eyes, and decides that today is not the day.

“I don’t remember. Let’s order some take-out and watch some series you like.”

Taehyung manages a smile, and Jeongguk pats his head and grabs his phone.

———————

He sees Jimin again at training, doesn’t know if he should be a concerned best friend, or an embarrassed arch nemesis.

Taehyung asked him not to mention it, but seeing him like that does make him feel some type of way. He wonders what exactly happened.

Jimin makes eye contact with him a few times, and by the look on his face, he already assumes that he knows. So Jeongguk won’t pretend he doesn’t.

His play isn’t bad though. It seems Jimin is pretty good at keeping his emotions in check.

“Jeongguk, can you stop eyeing Jimin for two seconds and get a move on?”

Hoseok calls.

It’s so loud that Jimin hears, shooting a glance at him through the net.

Jeongguk feels his ears burn up.

“Shut up.”

He says, before getting on with the training.

———————

After training, he does his absolute best to avoid Hoseok. He’s not done what he asked, and he also doesn’t want to hear him lecture him about Jimin.

So he rushes to get out of there, doesn’t even shower.

Once outside he takes a deep breath, looks for his earphones.

“Bet you only got your place there by sucking dick, didn’t you Park?”

Jeongguk blinks at the sound of a familiar voice, looks up and sees Sungho and Sangwoo standing in front of Jimin, just a few meters away. Jimin looks quite unbothered, waiting for his bus.

“Saw Mina getting railed by Jackson last night at the club, she was having a great time.”

Sangwoo’s face turns red with anger. Jimin hides a grin.

“You’re a fucking faggot you know that? Everyone hates you, no wonder your boyfriend is hooking up with literally anyone but you.”

Jeongguk feels rage hit him suddenly, he clenches his fists.

Jimin looks rather calm, though the way he chuckles sounds bitter, unhinged.

“Anyone and me. Mina actually wanted to join as well, said she didn’t care I was gay, as long as someone would just finally make her come.”

Sangwoo steps closer to Jimin.

Jeongguk walks closer too, knows he shouldn’t be nosy, but he doesn’t want Jimin to get hurt. Two against one is shit.

Sungho sees him walk up, and drags Sangwoo back by his shoulder.

“Dude-“

“What?!”

Sangwoo turns his head and looks at him now too, still red in the face, veins in his neck popping. Jeongguk has never quite seen him like this before.

“Ah, that fucking traitor. Came to rescue your boyfriend?”

Jeongguk looks at Jimin, then back at Sangwoo. He doesn’t really know what to say, just goes to stand next to Jimin, pretends he’s taking the same bus.

“Always thought you were a good guy but you’ve taken a cocksucker into the team. Must have shown you a good time huh?”

Sangwoo is quite small actually, Jeongguk notices now.

“No. Jimin just plays better than you.”

“Oh come on. You got your dick sucked, just own up to it.”

Jeongguk raises a brow.

“Dude, what’s your obsession with dicksucking? Are you a little curious?”

Sangwoo grabs him by his collar, but Jeongguk doesn’t flinch. Sangwoo’s a coward, really. All bark no bite. Jeongguk knows it from playing volley with him. Always the big mouth but never the balls.

“I would never be a faggot.”

Sangwoo spits.

“Well, I heard girls aren’t really working out for you either.”

“Shut the fuck up Jeon.”

Sungho once again grabs Sangwoo by his shoulder, pulls him back.

“Let Jeon talk. His girlfriend just dumped him and went straight to Minwoo’s house. Can’t believe he didn’t know she was cheating.”

Jeongguk’s eyes widen, and he feels like a knife just went straight through his back.

“Oh you know all about cheating don’t you?”

Jimin jumps in, making Sungho’s grin slowly fade.

“You better shut that mouth now Park. You know what I’ve got on you.”

There’s a tense silence between the two of them. Jeongguk just stares. He doesn’t get it, but whatever it is makes Jimin shut up. Though there’s a small victory smirk still on his lips.

“Sangwoo, let’s go. Let those two fiddle each other’s dicks.”

Jeongguk gets a last glare from Sangwoo, but then he turns and walks away with Sungho.

When they’re out of range, Jeongguk takes a deep breath. He wonders if Sungho was just trying to hurt him, or if Jae was really cheating on him. He takes a look at Jimin then.

“What was that all about?”

Jimin snaps back to reality, looks at him. He also came straight from training, hair still sweaty at the ends. Didn’t even shower. Seems like they were both avoiding to talk.

“Nothing. By the way, you don’t take this bus.”

Jimin nods his head to the road, where a bus is approaching their stop. Jeongguk doesn’t know what to say, wants to talk more, but the bus stops and Jimin turns around.

“See you next training.”

He watches Jimin step in. Knows he shouldn’t do it. Somewhere he knows he shouldn’t. But he does it anyway. He follows suit, steps inside the bus and sits down next to Jimin.

“Excuse me?”

Jimin asks as he whips some blonde hair out of his face, for some reason it’s quite sassy. He’s got something cat-like.

“I just.. wanted to ask you something.”

“Couldn’t you wait til next training instead of hopping on a bus with me?”

“Could have. But I’m here now.”

He shrugs, small smile on his lips because he likes agitating Jimin just a tiny bit.

Jimin sighs, shakes his head.

“What do you want?”

“Two things actually. You said once that you saw Jae grind on some guy at the club. Who was it?”

Jimin stares at him, looks from eye to eye. Then he looks down.

“It was Minwoo.”

Ah.

Jeongguk nods, averts his gaze as well. the cheating is probably not just something Sungho said. If she was already with him then.. His hands ball to fists, jaw clenching as he thinks about it.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

It’s not really fine. He doesn’t feel fine at all. Jae made him feel like shit at the end, not to deny he was an ass to her by that time, but the dishonesty just makes him rage. Her breaking up with him probably had as much to do with her wanting to be with Minwoo.

He doesn’t want to think about it.

“What’s the whole deal with Sungho and you?”

Jimin looks out of the window, chuckles humourlessly.

“I’ve known him for a long time. He used to be nice to me, but he’s turned into a dick.”

Jeongguk waits, but Jimin doesn’t elaborate.

“He said he’s got something on you.”

Jimin snorts.

“Yeah, well. I’ve got something on him too.”

Jeongguk can’t hide his curiosity.

“You said he cheated.”

“He did.”

“On who?”

Jimin turns his head, looks at him a little amused.

“You like gossiping? I didn’t figure you the type.”

Jeongguk only notices now how he’s leaned in, eagerly taking in the information. So he clears his throat and sits back a bit, shrugs then like it doesn’t matter.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

Jimin grins, turns his head away.

“Fine.”

It’s silent then, and the bus drives on. Jimin sits back and stares out of the window. Jeongguk is going the complete opposite direction he’s supposed to go, and Jimin knows that.

He taps his fingers on his legs, watches the stops pass by. Watches Jimin through the reflection of the window. They make eye contact.

He gives up the act.

“I want to know.”

Jimin laughs softly.

“I know.”

“So?”

“Not here.”

———————

He didn’t count on seeing Jimin’s house. To be honest, it feels a bit wrong to be here right now. With Taehyung and him having a fight. Then again, Jimin is his teammate, it’s not that weird to hang out.

With his arch nemesis.

“Don’t make yourself at home. I don’t want you touching my stuff.”

Jimin says, already walking into another room.

“Don’t worry Blondie. I don’t want to touch your stuff.”

He says, nosing around, touching his stuff. He touches everything just out of spite. The couch, chairs, table, walls, kitchen counter, windowsill, cabinet. Hey, a picture.

He hears a shower turn on in another room, so he makes himself at home. He takes the picture and walks to the fridge, fetches a beer and then slumps down on the couch. Just to be a little more of a menace he puts his feet on the coffee table.

The picture is of Jimin dancing, it seems. It’s a very dynamic pose. His hair is dyed silver, he’s dressed in traditional clothes, and he’s holding an orange fan that resembles fire. It looks very pretty.

Just the picture over all. The composition. Not Jimin.

Does he major in dance?

He thinks back of all the times they’ve talked, which isn’t much. Even Taehyung never mentioned Jimin’s major. Or did he? He’s got absolutely no clue.

He puts the picture on the coffee table in front of him, stares at it some more while he drinks his beer. Jimin’s beer, actually.

After a few minutes, Jimin walks into the living room. Freshly showered, wet hair, wearing a big oversized sweater and sweatpants. He looks.. comfy?

“I was afraid you’d walk around in your skinny jeans and Chelsea boots in your own house.”

“My true form.”

Jimin says. He then eyes the beer, the picture, and the way he’s got his feet up on the coffee table.

“You’ve done everything I didn’t want you to do.”

Jeongguk grins lazily, proud of himself.

“Of course.”

“Your smelly feet. Off my coffee table now.”

“Or else?”

He challenges, tilting his head and raising a brow. Jimin stares back, unfazed.

“I will tell everyone you got hard looking at me.”

Colour drains from Jeongguk’s face fast, grin disappearing immediately. Jimin stares at him, cocks his head and raises an eyebrow, mirroring him. He quickly gets his feet off the table, clears his throat.

“It- it wasn’t because of you.”

Jimin looks at him for a little longer, but doesn’t give anything away. He then just walks towards the fridge to grab himself a beer.

“It really wasn’t.”

He calls again.

“Sure.”

Jeongguk swallows, knows he shouldn’t have hopped on the bus. Always a bad idea. Jimin is.

“It’s- it was just- it’s not what you think, really.”

“What I think, is that you had a nice good look at my ass.”

He doesn’t know what to say. Jimin sits down next to him on the couch, puts his own feet on the coffee table, and looks at him. His blonde hair is pushed back and wet, eyebrows and forehead way more visible now. Such sharp features.

Jeongguk makes himself smaller subconsciously.

“Alright I- I did look. I’m sorry. But it wasn’t.. It didn’t really register it was you. Just.. I just thought of a woman.”

Jimin’s eyes are boring a hole into his skull. Dark and intense, but of his expression he can’t read a thing. It’s a stare-down.

“Alright.”

Jimin says eventually. His tone of voice is so flat that Jeongguk can’t decide if he believes him or not, and that makes his stomach turn. He feels the need to say more, but knows he’ll just be digging his own grave.

At least Jimin lets it go. He breaks eye contact and just looks in front of him, at the picture on the table.

“Put it back.”

He says.

Jeongguk is triggered to say another “or else” but the first one wasn’t a succes, so he listens this time around.

“Are you a dance major?”

“Mm.”

“I didn’t know.”

He puts the picture back, stares at it a little longer.

“I’m in my last year.”

“Ah.”

Jimin is 2 years older than him. It annoys him in a way. In a lot of ways.

“What type of dance?”

“Don’t act like you’re interested.”

“Okay. So what did Sungho do?”

He walks back to the couch, plops down on it and grabs his beer. Jimin sighs, throws his head back and looks at the ceiling.

“Well. You know Sangwoo has been his best friend for years right? Sangwoo’s family is rich, Sungho basically got adopted there since he didn’t really have much family left. He’s been living there for years.”

“Ohh.” He muses. “I knew they were close but, not really like that.”

“Well, yeah. They’re basically brothers.”

“Ah.”

“But I was out one night, filming some drunk dance video and caught Sungho and Mina making out in the background of it. You know, Sangwoo’s then girlfriend, now ex.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Jeongguk gets it now. The way Sungho’s smile disappeared, how he immediately took Sangwoo away from the fight when Jimin mentioned cheating.

“If Sangwoo finds out, Sungho’s probably gonna get kicked out, right?”

Jimin nods, then drinks from his beer, still looking at the ceiling. His jawline is very sharp. If anything, all muscles in his neck are very defined. Probably from dancing.

“So.. what has he got on you?”

Jeongguk asks.

Jimin huffs out a laugh.

“He thinks he’s got something, but he doesn’t. It’s funny really.”

There’s a smirk on Jimin’s lips that looks downright evil. It’s kind of hot.

“My dad is a teacher here. No one knows, obviously. Sungho once caught me hugging him, made a picture of it. He thinks it’s some sort of illegal student teacher relationship. Thinks I’m sucking his dick for grades.”

Jeongguk’s eyebrows shoot up, couldn’t be more unprepared for a story than this one. He’s just frozen for a few seconds, until Jimin turns his head towards him.

“So yeah, if he were to ever release that picture, I could just tell everyone he’s my dad. It’s not that big of a problem.”

Jeongguk nods. But then he goes over the story again in his head. If Jimin’s dad is a teacher here then-

“Wait. What does he teach?”

“Online research, everything to do with analytics, that type of stuff. You also follow some of his classes. Mr. Park.”

Of course, Mr. Park.

Wait, Mr. Park.

His favourite teacher. Jeongguk has a mini breakdown inside, hopes it’s not visible on the outside. Jimin’s dad is his favourite teacher. Worst of all, Jimin’s dad actually dotes on him in class as well. He doesn’t like school much, but he’d never miss one of his classes.

Jimin snickers then.

“Oh, don’t worry. I know you’re a teacher’s pet.”

“I’m not-“

“Jeon Jeongguk is a good kid. Not really studious but he’s smart.”

Jeongguk groans, downs his beer at once because he doesn’t want to deal with this. Jimin laughs, stands up and goes straight to the fridge to grab him a new beer.

At least he’s hospitable.

“He showed me his progress after class-“

“Shut up.”

Jimin laughs at him, hands him his beer.

“So yeah. I let Sungho think he’s got something on me, it’s funny to see how powerful he feels over nothing.”

Jeongguk hums. Glad the topic changed.

“But, why don’t you just tell Sangwoo then? If there’s no risk in it for you, and Sungho is a dick. He deserves it.”

Jimin shrugs.

“Because Sungho stays away from me now.”

Ah.

He feels sudden guilt when he thinks back of one of their first conversations. When Jimin had told him about them, about how they made his life a living hell. He’d been so offended that Jimin accused him of being the same, that he never really realised how fucked up it must have been for him.

“I’m sorry.”

He says.

“For what?”

“That I hadn’t realised earlier.”

Jimin looks at him, holds eye contact for a few seconds.

“It’s fine. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you for it. I guess I’m a bit-“

“Judgemental?”

He asks, just to be a dick. Jimin looks somewhat offended.

“Sensitive. I was gonna say sensitive.”

Jeongguk scrunches his nose, shakes his head.

“That’s too soft a word. You’re more on the fiery spectrum.”

“Well judgemental is more on the asshole spectrum.”

Jeongguk wholeheartedly agrees. Jimin is an asshole. He shrugs and nods slowly.

“I mean I wasn’t gonna say it, but-“

“Give back my beer.”

“No.”

He grins at the look of disappointment on Jimin’s face. Can’t believe they’re bickering on his couch. It feels like some weird fever dream.

“This beer sucks by the way.”

He says, just to say it.

“Yeah? It’s expensive, you probably never tasted something like that. It takes some time to get used to.”

He laughs. Actually laughs. because Jimin is truly such a fucking asshole. And he’s doing it on purpose too. When Jeongguk looks at him, there’s a content grin on his lips.

Then he remembers Taehyung’s teary eyes, and suddenly his heart clenches. He takes his phone out and sees that he’s supposed to get going.

“Finally leaving?”

“Yeah, I think Tae’s home alone.”

Jimin doesn’t say anything, he just nods once, expression blank. Jeongguk doubts a bit if he should leave now. Holds his still full beer, wonders if he should tell Tae he’s running late.

Bad decision.. probably.

“Are you.. are you guys okay?”

Jimin’s jaw clenches.

“Don’t.”

“I’m just-“

“Not a part of this relationship.”

Jimin says.

Jeongguk pokes his tongue into his cheek, takes a deep breath and sighs.

“Right. But I’m his best friend and roommate, and you’re my teammate. So I’m kind of in the middle of it anyway.”

Either way, he’s gonna see the both of them be miserable. He knows he shouldn’t meddle but if it’s something silly it might be easily solved.

“Did you come here because of Taehyung?”

“No.”

Yes.

Jimin shakes his head, doesn’t believe him anyway. He pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Can’t believe I’m dating the guy with the straight protective best friend.”

Jeongguk scoffs.

“I’m not here to protect him. I don’t know what’s up with you two anyway. I was just-“

“Being fucking nosy. It’s none of your business. Stay out of it.”

Jimin snaps.

Yeah, bad decision. Jeongguk sighs, nods then. He can’t force him to tell him what’s up.

“It’s not like you’re exactly good with relationships anyway.”

Jimin adds then.

Oh, right. He is definitely on the asshole spectrum.

“She cheated on me.”

Jeongguk reminds him.

“So you were both shit. Match made in heaven.”

He glares at Jimin, feels all those past feelings resurface. The way he always has to make things worse, get under his skin.

“Guess an open relationship wasn’t as amazing as you thought.” Jeongguk can do it right back. “Weren’t you advocating it? You should try it, loosen up a bit. You look real loosened up right now.”

Jimin’s eyes start to simmer with anger, a look he recognises like nothing else.

“Your girlfriend is probably being loosened up by Minwoo right now.”

Oh he wants to hurt Jimin. He’s breathing heavily because of the adrenaline. He puts down his beer and grabs his stuff in a rush, can’t fucking deal with this shit.

“I hope you and Taehyung break up. He deserves better.”

Jimin laughs then, offended. He stands up as well, follows him to the door.

“Fuck you. I deserve better. I’m not the one breaking our fucking agreement.”

Jeongguk blinks, stops in his tracks. He hadn’t thought Taehyung had broken anything. Sort of assumed it was Jimin’s fault. He turns around, looks at Jimin in the doorway. The longer he stays silent, the clearer the realisation on Jimin’s face becomes.

“Oh? He didn’t tell you that huh. Of course he didn’t.”

“Tell me what?”

Jimin shakes his head in disbelief.

“Go tell Taehyung I don’t care that he fucked my ex. He didn’t know it was him. But I won’t tolerate him lying about it after he did find out.”

Oh.

Jimin closes the door in front of his face and Jeongguk just stands there, like a fool.

He shouldn’t have come here.

———————

“Why are you home late?”

Taehyung asks. He’s in the kitchen, that’s always a bad thing.

Jeongguk quickly walks over, looks if he’s burnt anything, then takes the spatula out of his hand. He takes over wordlessly, like he always does.

“Well, you’re not gonna like it.”

“Don’t tell me you talked to Jimin, please.”

Talked is too civilised of a word.

“Worse, actually. I went to his place and talked to him.”

Taehyung groans, clearly upset.

“I told you not to-“

“I know.”

“It’s not your place-“

“I know.”

He turns the fire lower, hunches a bit as Taehyung rightfully yells at him.

“It’s my relationship.”

Jeongguk looks at him, a bit guilty.

“You’re right.”

He sighs, shakes his head. The ramen is overcooking, water spilling all over the edge of the pan. Taehyung just looks at it angrily. Jeongguk touches the burning handles to put it on another pit.

“I just -ow fuck!- wanted to help.”

“You would have helped by staying out of my business.”

Jeongguk bites on the inside of his cheek, knows that Taehyung is right, so he just dryly stirs his spatula through the overcooked ramen.

“You’ve heard, haven’t you? What I did?”

Taehyung asks then.

Jeongguk shrugs.

“Just what Blondie says you did.”

He turns the fire off completely, looks for something to drain the ramen in.

“What did he say?”

Taehyung’s voice is softer now, and it hurts to hear him like that.

“Just that he was mad at you for lying, not for what happened.”

he finds something, puts it in the sink and then drains the ramen. Taehyung just stands and looks at him doing it.

“I’m sorry for going there, I shouldn’t have.”

It’s an understatement. He knew what he was getting himself into hopping on that bus. Like he hadn’t noticed already how Jimin’s and his encounters usually end.

“I didn’t want to hurt him.”

Taehyung says, voice cracking a little bit.

“I know.”

“When I found out he was Jimin’s ex, the one that hurt him so much, I just thought it was better I didn’t tell him.”

Taehyung looks down with a sullen expression, leaning against the counter.

“I get that.”

Jeongguk says. He just prepares bowls for the both of them. He’d probably have done the same if he was in an open relationship.

“I feel like a fucking idiot.”

“You’re not.”

Jeongguk says, putting the sauce and herbs over the ramen, grabbing chopsticks for the both of them and nodding his head over to the couch.

“Don’t you think.. an open relationship is a bit too vague of a concept?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“Jeongguk-“

“I’m not trying to bash it. But shouldn’t you guys have better agreements?”

He sits down on the couch, waits for Taehyung to join him.

“I don’t know.. lately Jimin’s been a bit off. I mean, we still have sex but he’s not entirely there. So I went out to take my mind off, and ended up sleeping with this guy. Then in the morning he told me his name and I recognised it..”

Taehyung just pokes his ramen as he talks, staring in front of him.

Jeongguk nods slowly. It’s weird. He’s talked with Taehyung about all of his boyfriends, talked about what went wrong, advised him on stuff. But now, his mind is blank.

“In the beginning Jimin was sweet, but he’s grown a bit more distant, and I don’t know why.”

Taehyung lets go of his chopsticks, puts his bowl on the table, untouched.

“It was around the time I first had sex with Hoseok. A little bit after that.”

Jeongguk grabs his chopsticks a little tighter in his hand.

“Do you think he’s jealous?”

Taehyung shrugs.

“I don’t know. I asked him several times but he said no. But Hoseok is the only guy with whom he doesn’t want to.. join. Sorry for the explicit information.”

“It’s fine.”

He clears his throat anyway, stuck with the mental image of them having a threesome. He shakes his head to get rid of it.

“Did he say why?”

Taehyung shakes his head slightly, then tilts his head to think about it.

“Just said they’re good friends and it would feel weird.”

Jeongguk hums, taps his fingers on the couch. He can’t really remember much of that evening, but does remember talking about Hoseok to Jimin. Drunk. About how he tried to match Hoseok and Taehyung for quite a while..

Wait, does it have to do with that?

Jimin didn’t seem hurt at the time.. it was all lighthearted banter, right? He doesn’t dare to open his mouth, doesn’t want it to be a factor. Doesn’t want to be the one driving them apart.

“Are you still in love with him?”

He asks then, just because. Taehyung looks at him as if he’s lost his mind.

“Of course. It’s just that I’m not sure if he still wants this. Maybe I did push too far with the open relationship.”

Jeongguk nods again, just looks at Taehyung, hates seeing him like this. It’s happened one too many times.

“You better talk soon, the both of you.”

“Yeah. I hope to see him tomorrow.”

Taehyung sighs, grabbing his bowl of noodles and starting to eat.

Jeongguk does the same, but feels his stomach turn when eating. What if he is a factor in this whole equation? He still hasn’t told Taehyung about the whole shower thing either. But the timing is so bad. He can’t say it now. He can’t say it at all.

——————

Chapter 5 >