*2 years later*
➵ yoongi
"come on, hyung. it'll be fun."
i frowned, reclining in the chair i was sat in. "aish, i don't know namjoon-ah, i don't think it's a good idea."
"but we have to celebrate! you only turn 22 once!" namjoon cracked a grin, his dimples appearing. i sighed, pushing away from the desk, where the computer screen served as the only source of light in the studio.
"you know i don't like to drink." i said seriously, looking him in the eyes.
namjoon returned the gaze, but gave me a reassuring smile. "then you don't have to," he said simply. "who said we have to drink to have a good time?"
after that, i didn't really have any other points to argue, so i rubbed my palms over my face and exhaled. "okay, fine. we'll go out."
namjoon cheered, clapping me on the back. "that's the spirit! how about i pick you up at around 9?"
"okay."
***
"i'm home!" i called out as i shut the door with my foot, two bags of groceries in my hands.
i heard him before i saw him.
"MIIIIN YOOOOOOONGIIIIIIII"
jimin came barreling down the stairs, an ear-splitting grin on his face as he ran towards me, arms outstretched. my eyes went wide as he collided into me, the groceries falling to the floor with a thud and boxes tumbled out onto the floor. jimin looked at me, mouth open in an 'o' as he looked down to the floor. "oops?"
i rolled my eyes and chuckled as i bent down to collect the scattered food. jimin crawled onto my back, legs wrapping around my waist and arms hooking around my neck. i slowly stood up, the groceries in my arms again. jimin remained on my back as i walked into the kitchen, head resting on my shoulder.
but as i stepped into the kitchen, i stopped when i saw what was sitting on the counter. i tilted my head up to look at jimin, who was grinning. "you baked me a cake?"
he nodded proudly. "i wanted to do something nice for you like you did for me. happy birthday, yoongi hyung." he squeezed his arms around me in a tight hug, and i smiled.
"thank you, jiminie. now get off my back so i can hug you properly."
jimin slid off my back and i set the groceries on the counter before turning to wrap him in a hug, my hands reaching up to gently play with his soft hair. i lightly pressed my lips to his forehead, and jimin sighed contentedly.
in the past two-ish years, we had come to grow into a place in our friendship where we were affectionate but remained within the boundaries of friendship. the main (and pretty much only) reason i didn't just date jimin was because i didn't want to be a burden to him, and the risk of losing him as a friend was too high. right now he was among the few i actually trusted, and if i lost that, i didn't even know what i would do.
"so i was thinking we could go out for dinner to celebrate?" jimin asked once we'd pulled apart. he began helping me put the groceries away.
"that would be nice," i replied with a small smile. "although i am going out tonight with namjoon. he's dragging me to some club."
"well, what time is he picking you up?" asked jimin as he reached up on his tiptoes to put a box of cereal away.
"around 9."
jimin made a noise of acknowledgement and continued to help me put the groceries away.
"where were you thinking of going for dinner?" i asked as i grabbed a couple bags of chips and carried them to the cupboard.
"oh, maybe that barbecue place down the road you like?" jimin asked, turning to face me with a hopeful expression.
i sent him a warm smile. "i'd love that."
jimin went to reach for more groceries but i pushed him away gently, sending him a smirk. "go get ready. knowing you, it'll take an hour." jimin giggled, playfully smacking my chest before scurrying up the stairs.
i finished putting away the little bit of food there was left and headed upstairs myself. i quickly showered, combed my hair, brushed my teeth and put a bit of moisturizer on before stepping out of the bathroom. jimin's door was still closed, but i could hear music playing from inside. i could pretty much picture him dancing around as he got ready, and the mental image made me giggle quietly to myself.
i then changed into a fresh black tee shirt, ripped jeans and a brown jacket. i put a beanie on, something i had recently started doing due to jimin practically squealing about how cute it was on me.
when i was ready, i grabbed my phone, wallet and headed downstairs to wait for jimin. i got through about half of an episode of some reality show before jimin came skipping down the stairs, grin on his face. "let's go, hyung!"
"well i was only waiting like, two hours for you," i joked as we put on our shoes and headed out, locking the door behind us.
jimin nudged my shoulder, giggling. "you did not!" as i turned to smile at him, i took notice of his appearance; he'd taken the time to meticulously apply a bit of eyeshadow around his eyes, giving them the appearance of being bigger. the shadow was a grey-blue colour that played off his blue sweater.
"hey, jiminie?"
"yes, hyung?"
"you look really nice tonight."
"...thank you, hyung."
***
clubbing with namjoon ended up being not such a good idea. he'd promised me he wouldn't drink so that i didn't feel left out, but as soon as we got inside the dark nightclub he dragged me to the bar and ordered us both a round of shots.
needless to say within an hour or so i was absolutely plastered and was totally on my own, namjoon having disappeared with some guy a while ago.
i stumbled my way to the bathroom, coming to a stop in front of the sink. my hands gripped the edges of the counter like my life depended on it, and my body swayed a little bit, as if i was a tree caught in a summer breeze.
i looked at my reflection in the mirror. my skin was pale, and in the mirror looked almost a sickly colour because of the cheap lighting in the bathroom. my shirt was rumpled and my jacket was falling off my shoulders.
i need to get out of here.
my hand fumbled around my jacket, going through my pockets for my phone. finally i found it, in the back pocket of my jeans, exactly where i'd put it when i left the house.
i thanked god for the fingerprint feature on my phone, otherwise i didn't know if i was coherent enough to type in my password.
"hello?"
"j-jiminie?"
"yes, hyung?" his voice sounded rough, and i realized he had probably been sleeping.
"can you...can you come get me? i lost namjoon, and i wanna go home."
"can't you call a taxi?"
"i didn't bring my wallet. joonie said...he said we wouldn't drink so i didn't think i'd need my wallet."
"but you sound drunk?"
i sighed, rubbing my head. jimin was asking way too many questions and i just wanted him to come get me. "he bought us shots. i didn't want to say no."
jimin exhaled loudly on the other end. "fine. what club are you at?"
i thought for a second. "i don't remember the name..."
jimin sighed again. "i'll just track you with find my friends. see you soon, hyung. don't go anywhere, okay?"
"aye aye captain."
"and don't drink anything else!"
