Straight Until Proven Gay (kissing doesn’t count) • Chapter 6 • 5.6K (Patreon)

< Chapter 5

hello lovelies,,,,,

I’m so excited for you to read this chapter 🫣

enjoy 💕

———————

He wants to punch something. Everything is shit.

It’s the first mental breakdown he’s had in years, and he doesn’t know how to handle it. Drinking in his own room is not working much. Thinking even less.

He looks at himself in the mirror. Sees how much of an exemplary student he is. Perfectly trimmed hair, formal clothes, black dress shoes, no piercing or tattoo in sight.

He hates it.

He hates all of it.

He hates that Jimin is right.

There’s nothing left of him, there’s nothing that he likes about himself. Jimin is right and it’s so fucking embarrassing he could cry.

He takes it all off, throws his clothes on a pile on the floor. Then he opens his closet, throws everything on the pile. All his perfect, neat pants, all his blouses, all his polos, all his jackets. All the same; blue, black, grey.

He hates all of it.

An old song he used to like pops up in his head and he reaches for his phone. Types it in blindly, and presses play. It’s everything his mother hates: loud, unruly music.

He walks around the house, finds a big trash bag and takes it to his room. He fills it all up with those clothes that don’t mean anything to him, puts them aside. The only thing he leaves in his closet are his sweats and volley clothes.

After that, he looks around his room. It’s all clean. A desk, a bed, a closet. A cupboard with only school books, and empty, white walls.

He feels hollow as he looks through some old boxes of stuff that he shoved under his bed. Finds his old marvel figurine collection, decides to put it up on the mostly empty shelves. When did he hide them? Was it when his mom came over? He finds some old blue neon light strips, puts them back up.

He might be naked, drunk and stumbling all around, but at least he’s doing something.

The doorbell rings then.

He looks at the clock, sees that it’s already 3 am.

Who the fuck rings the bell at 3 am? Can only be Hoseok or Taehyung who forgot the key.

He slips into some underwear and sweatpants, walks over to the door. It rings again before he opens it.

“Heard you the first time, damn.”

Jimin stands there, leaning against the door opening, one eyelid hanging a little, cheeks red. He looks over Jimin’s shoulder, but doesn’t see Taehyung anywhere.

This is a problem.

“Where’s Tae?”

Jimin hiccups, eyebrows furrowing.

“He went to Hoseok’s.”

“Oh.”

Jeongguk rubs the back of his head, considers just slamming the door in Jimin’s face.

“Why aren’t you with them?”

“Cause I don’t want to be there when they fuck.”

Jimin tries to walk inside, but Jeongguk puts his hand on his chest.

“So why are you here?”

Not that he doesn’t look forward to sharing the house with Jimin, drunk, after a fight. Sounds like an amazing idea.

“Cause I thought I’d sleep here, all my stuff is here, even my keys.”

Jimin looks quite far gone, and Jeongguk would have felt sorry if he wasn’t still burning with anger from just a few hours ago.

He doesn’t know what to do, he can’t let Jimin stand outside, but he doesn’t want him here either.

Jimin’s eyes slowly travel down his body then. They take in everything unapologetically, multiple times from top to bottom. It’s so fucking obvious.

Heat rushes to Jeongguk’s face, and he quickly steps aside to let him in. But even as Jimin walks past him, his eyes linger on his body, doesn’t look where he’s walking, head turned the wrong way.

“Watch out.”

Jimin walks straight against the back of the couch, bumps his knee.

“Fuck.”

Jimin sighs, leans his upper body down on the edge of the couch and just hangs there for a little while. If Jeongguk wasn’t so drunk himself, he might have laughed at him.

“Face forward next time.”

He says, putting his hands in his pockets as he slowly walks over to the couch as well, not sure if he should leave him be or bring him to Taehyung’s room. Jimin doesn’t really deserve his help.

“You’re undressed.”

Jimin mumbles.

Jeongguk blinks once, then feels his ears burn up.

“Only from the waist up.”

Honestly, it’s not that big of a deal, Jimin has seen it before, multiple times even.

“Mm.. waist down is also pretty.”

Jimin reminds him of how he’s seen him completely naked, something Jeongguk is trying his hardest to forget.

He doesn’t know what to say, nerves jump around in his gut. He doesn’t want to be home alone with Jimin, has no clue what he’s in for. Jimin is a complete mess right now.

“You know.. it’s so unfair. You’re an asshole, but you’re so fucking hot.”

Oh.

He knows it’s not a compliment, but he can’t help the heat spreading through his body. Really can’t help it, he’s actively trying not to, he doesn’t want to feel it, but a blush spreads across his cheeks nonetheless.

“You should go to bed.”

“Mmh.”

Jimin’s eyes are already closed, he’s just hanging over the edge of the couch like an idiot.

Jeongguk sighs deeply, shakes his head and then forces himself to help. He takes one of Jimin’s arms and wraps it around his neck, supports him to stand up.

“I’ll take you to Tae’s room yeah?”

“Mm.”

Jimin nods, at least puts some effort into walking with him. Once at the bed, he lets go of Jimin’s arm.

“Need a bucket?”

“No.”

Jimin crawls onto the bed, clothes and Chelsea boots still on.

Jeongguk groans, goes to the kitchen to grab a bucket anyway, just in case. Because Jimin is too stubborn to actually admit if he needs one or not. He opens a cabinet, finds a bucket there. When he stands up, he catches his own reflection in the window.

Sweatpants hang low around his hips, waistband of his boxers visible above them. He travels his eyes over his body, quite toned from volley practice. His black hair, pink cheeks, big brown eyes stare back at him.

Jimin thinks he’s hot.

He shakes his head, takes the bucket and walks back to Taehyung’s room. Honest to god, he should get a medal for putting up with Jimin today. First that argument before his mother came, then that fight in Sway, and now this.

When he steps into the room, Jimin is lying there on his side, undressed already, scrolling through his phone. Jeongguk has no fucking clue how he did that. He seemed to barely be able to walk, but for some reason he can take most of his clothes off in just a minute no problem.

Jimin’s in just a shirt and boxers. Blonde hair a mess, plump, shiny lips reflecting the light of his screen. long, pretty legs stretched out over the bed.

Legs, legs, legs.

His mind alerts him.

Yes, those are legs, he tells himself. Jimin’s legs. Just legs.

“Bucket.”

He says, trying to shut his brain up.

Jimin looks up at him, well at his body really, but then definitely into his eyes. He thinks. Maybe.

“You can put it down.”

“Hm?”

“The bucket.”

Right, the bucket. The legs.

He puts the bucket down.

He wants to feel Jimin’s legs up.

Wait.

He wants to feel Jimin’s legs up.

He puts the bucket down.

Better.

There’s nothing to do here now. Jimin stares at him, well, he stares at his body mostly. Jeongguk wants to dislike it, wants to be able to tell Jimin to stop ogling him because it makes him uncomfortable, but he’d be lying.

“So, uh, goodnight.”

He says, walking backwards to the door.

Jimin doesn’t break eye contact, he just slowly spreads his legs. Jeongguk does everything in his power not to let his eyes wander, but it’s already there in his peripheral, sends a rush of heat down his spine.

Because Jimin is doing it on purpose. He’s taunting him with it. He’s trying to seduce him.

It’s the moment Jimin’s hand runs over his inner thigh that he turns on his heel, unable to breathe.

“Jeongguk, wait.”

“What?”

“I want to ask you something.”

“quickly, I’m leaving.”

There’s a short silence, like Jimin is contemplating whether he should ask. Jeongguk hopes he doesn’t.

“Would you fuck me if you were gay?”

The mouth on this man.

“Go to sleep.”

He walks out of there with a quick pace. His heartbeat is in his throat by the time he gets to his room, completely breathless. He locks the door behind him, doesn’t want to risk it.

———————

It’s the first time in 10 years that he wakes up because of a wet dream. Sweat on his forehead, eyes wide open as he stares at the ceiling, panting softly.

He touches himself through his boxers, feels his cock slowly softening, come still dripping from the head, staining the fabric.

Fuck.

He groans, sits up then. It’s already light outside. A major headache hits him the moment he stands up, his throat is dry, telltale signs of a hangover.

With his hand on his head, he rummages through his drawer, grabs a new pair of boxers. He’s still a little wobbly, alcohol not yet out of his system.

When he tries to open his door it’s locked, and for a few seconds he just stares at the handle, until his mind flashes with a drunk Jimin.

Would you fuck me if you were gay?

Shit.

That demon is still here.

He quickly rids himself of his boxers, wipes himself with it, then gets dressed to the brim. Long-sleeved hoodie, sweatpants, socks, covering every sliver of skin.

He unlocks his door, opening it slightly to check if anyone is in the living room. No sign of life; except for the shower running. He takes a deep breath, then walks out, takes his dirty boxers to the washing machine.

How embarrassing.

He throws them into the machine, grabs the rest of the dirty laundry that’s accumulated on the floor.

Amongst the pile is a pair of pants, black skinny jeans. Taehyung doesn’t own any of those. Neither does he.

Jimin’s black skinny jeans.

He looks through the pile on the floor, finds Jimin’s T-shirt, Jimin’s boxers from last night.

They’re both.. stained. Dried up come splatters all over it.

Oh.

Jeongguk clears his throat, stuffs it all in the washing machine quickly, wipes his hands on his hoodie afterwards. But they still feel dirty. He walks to the kitchen sink, washes his hands thoroughly with soap, cheeks glowing.

He wonders if Jimin thought about him.

He washes his hands faster, more soap, more water.

If he came, thinking about him.

more soap, he needs more soap.

“What are you doing?”

Jeongguk startles, looks over his shoulder. Jimin stands there, towel around his waist, dripping wet. There’s a tattoo, on left side on his ribcage.

Don’t look.

“I’m- I’m washing my hands.”

Nevermind.

The faucet is still running.

“No shit, why are you washing them for so long? The shower turned cold on me.”

“Oh..”

One glance at Jimin’s legs and he’s suddenly hit with the content of his dream. the smoothness of Jimin’s inner thigh against his cock, muscles flexing under his fingers as he squeezed them, ankle brushing against his lips.

Fucking hell.

He turns the faucet off quickly, runs his hands through his hair, pulls on the strands because what the fuck.

He had a wet dream about Jimin’s legs.

What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck.

“Are you good?”

“Just hungover.”

He lies.

“Ah.. have you seen my clothes? I dropped them in the laundry room.”

Jeongguk coughs, almost chokes on his own spit thinking about Jimin’s cum-stained clothes.

“I put them in the washing machine.”

There’s a long silence that follows, and when he dares to look at Jimin, he sees that he’s blinking rapidly, cheeks dusting pink. Probably knows that they were dirty, knows that Jeongguk has seen them.

“Where’s- where’s Taehyung?”

Jimin asks then, trying to pick another subject. Jeongguk gladly goes along.

“At Hoseok’s.”

Jimin looks at the clock.

“When did he leave?”

Jeongguk blinks, tries to see if he’s faking it, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. If Jimin can’t remember he came here alone, he might also not be able to recall what he said and did last night.

Might not even remember their fight at Sway.

“You got here by yourself. Taehyung spent the night at Hoseok’s.”

Jeongguk watches how Jimin’s face falls again. He just looks at the ground, water dripping from his strands of hair on to the floor.

It’s a little awkward. He can’t really ask anything, even though he badly wants to. He wants to know what’s going on, if something happened.

“Did you.. did I say anything to you?”

Jimin asks, eyes flashing with worry.

Fuck.

“Uh.. nothing important I think.”

Jeongguk looks away, clears his throat. Just thinking about yesterday makes his cheeks glow.

“Like- like what? What did I say?”

Jimin takes a step closer, and Jeongguk instantly takes a step back.

“Nothing, really. You were drunk so I just- everything you said didn’t make any sense.”

“Every- everything I said?”

“Ah, no no, you didn’t talk about Tae, or your relationship.”

Jeongguk holds up his hands quickly to reassure him. That seems to do the trick. Jimin looks him in the eyes a little longer, crease between his eyebrows slowly fading.

“Oh..”

“Yeah..”

He feels his own nerves fade, but then Jimin frowns.

“So.. so then what was I going on about?”

You’re trying so hard to get her approval that you’ve stripped yourself of any personality. And yet you’re still so fucking unhappy

You’re an asshole, but so fucking hot.

Would you fuck me if you were gay?

Jeongguk pushes the memories deep down.

“Gibberish really. couldn’t understand a thing. You’re a complete idiot when you’re drunk.”

Jimin sighs, shoulders relaxing.

“Right. Okay.”

Jeongguk nods then, looks down at the ground. He has yet to process everything that’s happened in the last 24 hours, feels like he’s still having a mental breakdown.

He probably is.

Jimin doesn’t say anything else, doesn’t apologise for being a dick at Sway, maybe he doesn’t remember. Doesn’t matter, it’s not like he wants Jimin to remember that he said he was jealous.

So he just walks to his room without looking back, locks himself in. The trash-bag with his clothes stands in the corner, judges him. He considers putting it all back in his closet, thinks he was a little over-dramatic last night.

But when he approaches the bag, his hands clench together, the same feelings resurface. So he slowly steps backwards, lets himself fall on the bed.

Then he closes his eyes; doesn’t want to think about anything.

———————

He avoids talking for a while. Just goes through the motions. Class, volley, gym, eat, sleep. He keeps every interaction minimal, even nonexistent when it comes to Jimin.

He hasn’t worn other clothes than sweatshirts and sweatpants, but also hasn’t been able to throw away the trash bag. It’s just there in the corner of his room.

Taehyung checks on him from time to time, but Jeongguk doesn’t let him in. He isn’t sure what’s wrong, he just knows that something has broken down because of that talk with Jimin. He barely recognises himself when he looks in the mirror nowadays.

There is that gnawing feeling, that it would be easier to go to that trash bag, put on his old clothes, and just live life the same way he always has.

But every time he picks up a piece of clothing out of the bag, he just can’t bring himself to do it.

He goes on late night walks through the city center, old music in his earphones.

He stands in front of the parlour and piercer many times a week, stares at the reference pictures behind the glass. One side of his mind tells him: uncivilised, call for attention, ruining your image but the other side keeps saying: do it.

It’s just that he’s been someone for so long, he’s been someone almost all his life, so is the side of him that wants a piercing really him? Is he in between personalities?

Wouldn’t it be so much easier to go back, grab his old clothes, and keep up the act?

coward.

Jimin’s voice rings in his ears, and it feels like a slap in the face.

He enters the shop.

“What do you want?”

“How much is an eyebrow piercing?”

hurts like hell by the way.

“Can you do earrings too?”

“This is a piercing shop, what do you think?”

Hurts like hell too, but fuck, it feels good.

When he gets home that night, the first thing he does is throw away the trash bag.

———————

Taehyung stares at him, mouth agape.

“What.. when did you?”

“Yesterday. It really hurts actually.”

Jeongguk really wants to touch his eyebrow piercing, but the woman who pierced him would literally kill him.

“That’s- that’s fucking crazy. I mean, it’s cool, but what the fuck?”

Taehyung grabs his chin, turns his head to both sides to marvel at his earrings, then looks at his eyebrow piercing again. It’s the first time in a few weeks that Jeongguk actually manages a genuine smile, cheeks dusting a little pink.

“But.. your mom-“

“I know.”

“She’s gonna-“

“I know.”

His stomach turns just thinking about it. Honestly, he’s scared as fuck. It’s just that for the first time in years he’s actually feeling a little more like the guy he wants to be. Like the guy he dreamed of becoming when he was young.

“I don’t know what to say.. I’m proud? but you’re also insane.”

“Thanks.”

“Like absolutely unhinged-“

“I get it Tae.”

“Well, do you?”

“Yeah. I feel unhinged, you’re not wrong.”

He takes Taehyung’s hand off his chin gently.

There’s a short silence, and he feels the question coming.

“Are you.. alright?”

He considers not answering, considers saying ‘I’m fine’ like he did the past weeks. But Taehyung has those warm brown eyes glinting with worry, and he hasn’t properly looked into them for a while.

“Yeah, I mean.. could be better. But it’s okay.”

He rubs over his neck, not sure what else to say.

Taehyung isn’t satisfied though, he scans over his face, looking from one eye to the other. Jeongguk feels a little exposed.

“Did something happen? Like, around the time your mom came you just.. kind of shut down.”

“Yeah I..”

It’s Jimin.

“I think I..”

It’s Jimin’s fault.

“I don’t want to have to be unhappy just so my mom approves of me.”

Is it Jimin’s fault or is it thanks to Jimin?

Taehyung blinks, eyes widening with an emotion he hasn’t seen in so long. What is it again? Admiration? It’s flattering. Even though it wasn’t him who really said these words at all. They come straight out of Jimin’s mouth.

Ah, that’s even more embarrassing.

He averts his gaze, remembers his fight with Jimin.

“I’m sorry that I never.. you know.. that I asked you to be someone else. For my mom. I thought I was protecting you, but I was just scared.”

Just a coward.

“Oh, no, I never looked at it that way. I mean, your mom has always scared me, I’ve never wanted to come out to her.”

“I know, but still. Just know that it’s up to you, I won’t ask you to hide or anything.”

Taehyung nods, gives him a proud smile, that little birthmark on his lower lip visible. Jeongguk has barely looked at him the past few weeks, afraid to meet his gaze, but man, Taehyung is just so.. pretty.

“So then, can you finally cook again? Because I’ve tried to do it, really, but it’s not working out for me.”

Jeongguk snorts, takes a quick glance at the kitchen, sees that it’s in absolute shambles, pans and pots all over the place, sink full of dirty dishes.

“Yeah. Didn’t you say Blondie can cook?”

“Oh Jimin? He can, but he doesn’t like it. And your cooking is better.”

Ha, take that.

“Besides, he’s not been over much.”

Taehyung says then.

Jeongguk can’t really remember, the past weeks whenever he got home he always locked himself in.

“Why not?”

“We.. uh.. we had a falling out. We’re alright, but kind of taking time for ourselves.”

Taehyung shrugs, doesn’t seem too sad about it really. Which is good, at least Jeongguk doesn’t have to see him cry. Though it doesn’t surprise him that they fought, he remembers all Jimin’s sullen looks from a few weeks ago.

“Ah.”

He hesitates, but doesn’t know what else to say.

Taehyung blinks and tilts his head.

“You sound stricken by this news.”

“Well, I just.. saw it coming.”

He admits.

The way Taehyung waits for him to keep talking makes him feel nervous. He just rubs the back of his neck and looks away.

“I mean I.. you guys..“

“We what?”

“No, nothing.”

“Just say it, I won’t get mad or anything.”

Won’t he? Jeongguk purses his lips, hears Jimin tell him to stay out of their business. Then again, he’s talking to Taehyung now. He tells him everything usually.

“I don’t know. Jimin seemed quite jealous I guess.”

He shrugs.

Taehyung nods slowly, looks down.

“Yeah, he was. We’ve talked about it though.”

Jeongguk nods, feels a little relieved he wasn’t wrong, or saying something new.

“That’s good.”

“Mmh. It’s.. I don’t know. I love Jimin, but you know how I’ve told you that he can be distant?”

Jeongguk nods.

Taehyung sighs, frown appearing on his face, like he’s done with it.

“He became even more distant over time. I asked him what was up but he just pushed me away. We don’t really go on dates anymore, he doesn’t wanna have.. uh.. so we’re talking about it.. if we should stay together or just be friends.”

Oh.

That was not going where he thought it would go.

His eyes widen a little, and he prepares for the worst; Taehyung breaking down, crying, voice cracking, but it doesn’t happen. He seems calm.

It suddenly hits him that he’s wanted them to break up for a long time, but now that it seems to be happening, he absolutely hates it.

“Just friends? But.. you guys, I mean.. you two work so well.”

Taehyung laughs a little at that.

“Don’t pretend you like him now, he told me you haven’t been talking to him at all.”

Jeongguk burns up, didn’t think Jimin would tell Taehyung that, he quickly brushes past it.

“I don’t have to like him to see that you two work well together.”

“We do. But I think we’ll work better as friends.”

It’s the first time those words leave Taehyung’s mouth, so Jeongguk’s eyebrows shoot up.

“You- you want to break up?”

“You seem more upset about it than I am.”

“I’m not upset, I just-“

“It’s not like he’ll be here any less, we’re still really close.”

Taehyung says, as if Jimin not being around is a factor that makes him upset.

Honestly, he’s not sure why he’s so jumpy about it either. There’s just something about them breaking up that makes his stomach turn.

He doesn’t want Jimin to be single.

“I think you should think about it more. Don’t just-“

“I know, we’re still thinking about it. Don’t worry. I’m quite surprised though, I thought you’d be happy to see Blondie go.”

Taehyung draws out the nickname, slight smirk on his lips. Jeongguk feels heat rush up his neck, so he looks away.

“No. I mean. I don’t care. It’s your choice.”

He pokes his tongue into his cheek.

Taehyung gasps.

“Don’t tell me you actually kind of like him?”

“No.”

“Look at me.”

“No.”

Taehyung laughs, grabs him by his shoulder and tries to look him in the eyes.

“I can’t believe it. You do like Jimin.”

“I don’t-“

“Ah but really don’t worry, whatever we decide, he’s still gonna be around a lot.”

“I don’t care.”

The more he says it, the more Taehyung laughs. Honestly, this is getting nowhere.

He just sighs, small smile tugging on the corner of his mouth because Taehyung is actually for the first time in his life taking a break-up well. So he just lets him laugh.

“You done?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. I’ll cook something for us now.”

Jeongguk says as he walks to the kitchen.

“I’m gonna tell Jimin about this.”

“No you’re not.”

“I so am.”

———————

Hoseok almost has the same reaction as Taehyung when he sees him before volley practice.

“Oh my god, are they real?”

He walks up to him, grabs him by his shoulders to take a closer look.

“Yeah they’re-“

“That’s so hot. Wow, I’m so glad you’re finally experimenting with your looks. I’ve been telling you for ages to try a different-“

“I know-“

“I’ve got so many ideas-“

“I know-“

“Are you gonna get more?”

Hoseok is beaming, completely in awe. Jeongguk gets it, he’s has always complained about how his style is boring.

“I was thinking of a lip ring, maybe.”

“Yes, oh my god. But didn’t it hurt? Are they actually real?”

“They’re real, they hurt. I could barely sleep the past nights.”

Hoseok touches his own earlobes then.

“Should I get them too?”

Jeongguk nods, feeling a little giddy. He didn’t know it would feel so good to make his own choices and be admired for them.

“If anyone can pull them off it’s you.”

“Really?”

“Definitely.”

Hoseok looks at his earrings a little longer, then at his eyebrow piercing, hits him on his shoulder and laughs again like he can barely believe it.

Then his face changes.

“What about your mom?”

Jeongguk sucks in a sharp breath, rubs the back of his head.

“She doesn’t know yet.”

“Oh no.”

“Yeah that’s.. I’m still working on that.”

Hoseok stares at him, blinking slowly, clasping a hand over his mouth.

“You’re actually insane.”

Shit, his blood pressure is going through the roof just thinking about his mother, but he wants to play it cool, so he shrugs.

“They’re just piercings.”

“Yeah, I mean, yeah but.. your mom is scary. I didn’t think you’d ever get them.”

“Yeah, I was..” He thinks of his fight with Jimin, feels blood rush up his neck. “inspired I guess.”

“That’s great. Keep being inspired. When you decide to get a lip ring, call me, I’ll come along.”

———————

It’s so embarrassing. He knows he shouldn’t feel like this, but it is quite honestly excruciating.

Past weeks he’s barely been able to look Jimin in the eye, didn’t want to be confronted by whatever happened that faithful night. But now at practice, he has to face it all at once.

That fight they had, the things they said. And the fact that Jimin said something so painful, that hit so deep, that he actually listened, is embarrassing to the core.

And then even more confusing; Jimin’s drunk confessions, that question. And to top it off, his wet dream. He’s dizzy with nerves when he sees Jimin on the court.

He’s been avoiding him like the plague for the past weeks, but today he knows he’ll be getting a comment, Jimin won’t let this slide.

It’s only half way through training that Jimin gets close enough to notice his piercings, but then staring is all he does.

Jeongguk blushes profusely, turns his head the other way because he doesn’t want Jimin to see his piercings, doesn’t want him to know that he caused all of this.

But Jimin lets him know he knows without saying a single thing; he does it by just looking at him like that. Staring and raising his eyebrow, staring with that smug smile.

It’s breaking him down inside, humiliating as fuck.

The first time Jimin opens his mouth is in the changing rooms.

“You look very rebellious. Does your mom know you’re going through another emo phase?”

He forgot how annoying his voice sounds. Light, mellow, sly.

“Did you need the whole training to come up with such a lame question?”

He takes off his clothes, knows Jimin usually skips the showers and goes straight home to enjoy the comfort his own shower.

“I took the whole training to admire you, didn’t you notice?”

Jeongguk scoffs, grabs his body wash and turns around, only to see Jimin undress as well. Of course he suddenly also showers here. Wouldn’t give up an argument for his life.

“Ah I’m glad you guys are talking again.”Hoseok says. “Missed your annoying back and forth’s so much, honestly.”

Jeongguk purses his lips, pokes his tongue in his cheek as he walks to the communal showers. Jimin follows close behind him, doesn’t take the comment as a sign to shut up. Because why would he?

“Just tell me, did I inspire you a little?”

He glances at Jimin, sees that glint in his eyes, challenging him to argue back.

Jeongguk turns on the shower, keeps eye contact for a little longer.

“So you do remember that argument.”

“How could I forget?”

Jimin grins, pretty row of teeth on display. He looks like a fox every now and then.

“Because you seem to have trouble remembering the rest of that night.”

Their teammates snicker, and Jimin loses his composure a little bit. He blinks, smile slowly fading.

Jeongguk starts washing himself then, leaving it like that.

“What do you mean?”

Jimin asks, voice a little softer, like he doesn’t want the other teammates to overhear.

“Nothing.”

“Then you’re just lying.”

“Oh I wish I was.”

He looks at Jimin again, sees him trying to grasp what happened, looking for any type of clue on his face.

“But you know I'm not.”

He adds, just to see Jimin break down a little more. Honestly, he would love to embarrass him by telling the things he said and did, but the way he looks so unsure makes him feel some type of way.

He likes having the last word for once. Jimin deserves it. He’s been a dick.

Jimin decides not to press the matter, but the look in his eyes forebodes another interesting conversation. Jeongguk can’t wait.

———————

It comes earlier than he thought.

Right when he walks outside the volley practice hall he gets pulled by his arm, dragged behind a wall out of sight. He doesn’t even have to look to know it’s Jimin, yanks his arm back.

“Sketchy place.” He says, looking around. “You gonna give me a blowjob?”

Is that too far? He’s never quite crossed that line.

Jimin’s eyes widen, but then he blinks a few times, composes himself.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Jeongguk’s eyes dart down to Jimin’s lips for a split second, can’t help it with this topic. They’re made for it, really.

“I think you’d like it better.”

Didn’t Jimin say he thinks he’s pretty from the waist down?

“Alright, what did I say to you when I was drunk?”

Jimin rushes to the topic, eyes turning a little dark, and honestly, it makes Jeongguk feel good.

“First of all, in Sway, you told me I had no personality-“

“Oh come on. It’s true, and you needed that. I’m not apologising if that’s what you’re after.”

“I’m not after that.”

As if Jimin’s apology would even matter to him. It wouldn’t change a thing. Wouldn’t change that he was right.

“Then what?” Jimin presses.

“Then you said some stuff you don’t want to remember.”

“What was it? I’m not fucking around, just fucking tell me.”

Jeongguk doesn’t think he’s seen Jimin this pissed in a while, and it’s downright addictive. He likes making his blood boil, likes the look on his face; simmering hatred in his eyes burning just for him, cheeks still red from volley.

So beautiful.

“Well. You mentioned that you think I’m hot.”

Also called him an asshole in the same sentence, but he casually leaves that part out.

Jimin raises a brow, unimpressed.

“That’s it? You’re acting all high and mighty because I mentioned the only tolerable thing about you?”

“So you do think I’m hot.” Jeongguk says, corner of his mouth tugging up a little.

Jimin rolls his eyes, grabs his bag, about to leave. Jeongguk waits until he’s just at a fair distance.

“You also asked me if I would fuck you if I were gay.”

Jimin stops in his tracks, just the reaction Jeongguk wanted. He waits, leaning back against the wall, small smirk on his lips as Jimin turns around and walks up to him, a little breathless, cheeks and nose turning pink.

“Listen. I know you must be feeling so fucking special because of this, but I just want you to know that the only reason I asked you that was because I felt my absolute worst. meaningless sex was the only thing I wanted. And who better to ask than someone who means absolutely nothing to me?”

Ow.

Jeongguk feels like he just got punched in the gut, thinks that he actually sees Jimin for the first time. Not his sly facade, not his sarcastic little smile.

“So I hope you’re proud of yourself. I hope you rubbed one off to it, because you look like you haven’t got some in a while.”

Jimin turns on his heel then, walks away with a quick pace, leaves Jeongguk feeling emptier than he did before.

———————

Chapter 7 >