CHAPTER 57

Jimin keeps his arm intertwined with Jungkook's, his eyes only staring at him while Jungkook explains everything. How they met, their friendship, the day Jimin got kidnaped—but he doesn't put a lot of emphasis for his childhood best friend's sake—how he never believed he died, how he never gave up on looking for him, until he eventually found him.

"Kiddo, you know that everything would have been easier if you would've told us from the beginning who you were?"

"Oh, yeah?" Jungkook challenges him. "What if Jimin didn't believe me? Or didn't remember me? Would you've believed me? Probably not."

"Okay, okay—you've a point. I would've actually disliked you even more, so now I'm grateful you kept your mouth shut."

"How could I ever forget you?" Jimin pulls Jungkook's arm slightly. "Even if we hated each other back then, I would've remembered you because you were with me that day. I would've remembered you even if we had been strangers. Not recognising and not remembering are two different actions."

Yoongi laughs before Jungkook can open his mouth. "Have you eaten a book? That's something Joon would say."

"Well, thanks petal. I'm taking that as a compliment."

"Don't worry, Jimin-ssi. Honestly, if I had just gone with the flaw and believed you died, I wouldn't have thought you were my Jimin-ssi. Even if you've the same first and last name, and even if you almost look the same."

"Now everything makes sense, thank you Kookie Poogie. See, Seokie, how I had to look at that wardrobe again." Hoseok states and Seokjin only rolls his eyes, but the smile on his face persists at their heartbreaking but beautiful story.

"Yeah, about that," Jungkook clicks his tongue, "where did you find it? I told mum to hide all the pictures because I didn't want Jimin to recognise any of us."

Jimin lets out a soft gasp. "Wait, your mother knows I'm here?"

Jungkook shakes his head. "Everyone thinks you died, Jimin. Besides, I told you they don't have a clue of me working for a mafia. I told her I didn't want you to make fun of me for my baby pictures."

"Oh, right."

"Hey, are you okay?"

"About the picture," Jimin turns to the redhead male, ignoring the youngest question. "Hobi found it."

"Whoops, your mum hid it under your boxers."

Jungkook grimace. "You rummaged through my boxers? Weren't you looking for Jimin's profile? Why on earth would I hide his profile there?"

"I knew no one would've looked in there, that's the main reason I did. But not gonna lie, I thought it was a naked baby picture at first. Turns out it hid something bigger."

Jungkook chuckles, shaking his head. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you did. I don't have to pretend anymore nor bear the ridiculous accusations."

Jimin hums. "Now it sounds even more ridiculous, how would he have a crush on me? We were like brothers. Twins, almost."

Jungkook blinks at him. "But wait, you promised me you would marry me. We made a silly little pact, don't you remember? That day, before they got you."

Only Seokjin and Hoseok trying to hold on his laugh keep the room from falling in a deep silence.

"Yah! I was only eight! I didn't even know how a wedding worked!" Jimin softly hits his arm, blushing.

"But I thought you meant it!" Jungkook gasps with the same dramatism between his laugh.

"YAH! You can't say that in front of my boyfriends!"

Jungkook waits for his laugh to fade a bit. "But I thought you were only eight, so what's the problem? You didn't ask me for commitment now."

Jimin whines loudly and hides his face behind his hands.

Jungkook wraps an arm around his shoulder, chuckling. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But I'm happy you remembered that, that's the last of the hundred promises we made."

Jimin removes his hands, his lips curling up. "Yeah, but I can't remember more than a half."

Jungkook shrugs. "Neither do I."

* * *

Jimin rubs his finger's through Taehyung's wet hair, making sure the soap reaches every corner of his head, especially behind his ears.

"You didn't say anything. Are you okay?"

Taehyung turns to him. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, I mean, you didn't like him . . . isn't it weird we used to be best friends? Doesn't it bother you?"

Taehyung shakes his head. "He didn't want to take you away from me. He wanted to stay close to you."

Jimin hums. "Of course, Taetae. Kookie has been always an angel."

"That's how you called him? Kookie?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Taehyung shrugs. "Just because."

Jimin holds his hands, paying special attention to his dark circles for a second. "Taetae, are you sure you're okay? Since you saw Mimi you haven't been acting like yourself. Is Tiger bothering you? He has been around a lot since then."

"No, he never does."

"Then what is it? You can always talk to me, baby."

"I . . . I don't know. Can we shower quickly? I want to sleep."

Jimin kisses his cheek, then pecks his lips. "Sure, do you want to sleep with Seokjinnie and me today? We can move the beds closer and cuddle all night."

Taehyung smiles softly. "Yeah, I like that."