7. When Life Gives You Leomons

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"I'm so on love!" Jin breathed out, lying on the sofa with a dreamy smile and holding the rose against his chest. And despite his life fucking him up quite literally, Jimin smiled soft and happy for his friend. 

Hoseok and Tae were playing a video game while the oldest kept and kept on talking about Joonie and how amazing their date had been. How kind and smart but also funny he was. How he was handsome and cute and even better than he could have ever dreamed of. How they decided to become official boyfriends now and Jin was going to introduce him to all of them after their next date on Friday. 

Jimin- well... he had come home and made sure no one saw how he filled his water bottle with pure vodka and was now sipping at it, enjoying the slight buzz already cursing through his body. This was what Jeon Jungkook was doing to him. He was becoming an alcoholic. 

And despite the haziness taking a hold of him, he was incapable of forgetting. Incapable of not remembering how he felt. How he could render him so completely thoughtless, lost to pleasure and desire and want. But he still hated him. He felt like punching something- preferably him, only thinking of that self-satisfied grin he shot him afterwards. Hated the fact that not only had Jungkook made him an adulterer, cheating with him on his fiancé while knowing she existed, but had also done it at his work-place. A wall away from his team whose respect he treasured above all else and was terrified of loosing. 

How had his life turned into such mayhem in such a short time?

"Hey, ChimChim, you wanna play a round?" Tae suddenly asked, ripping him out of his thoughts. 

"Oh, ahh, no thanks, I'm good."

"Yah, Jimin-ah," Hoseok exclaimed and came over to sit next to him on the sofa throwing a hand around him. "What' up with the sour mood?""Nothing," Jimin murmured, not in the mood to get into it. "Here," he called out and shoved the controller into his hands while also grabbing the bottle out of his hands. "Play and have some fun. You're working too much as it is." And then he sat the bottle to his lips. "NO!" Jimin yelled but was too late to smack the bottle out of his hands. Hoseok choked as the unexpected hard liquor burned his throat. 

Then he turned to Jimin with wide, worried eyes. Shit. "Vodka? Seriously? What the hell is going on Jimin? You've been acting strange since last weekend."

Jimin turned red, something he barely ever did, chewing on his bottom lip. Damn.. how was he going to explain this?

Tae had stopped the game and turned, his gaze open and troubled and even Jin had snapped out of his love haze and righted himself to a sitting position. "I-It's nothing. Just a lot of work."

"Bullshit," Jin snapped, his eyes narrowed. Great... he was gonna play mom again and get all bothered and nagging. 

"Look, I just have a lot to deal with at work and I wanted to take the edge off. I's no big deal."

None of them looked convinced. "You're drinking straight vodka on a Wednesday evening, ChimChim," Tae pointed out and sat on his other side, eyeing him in concern. 

Jimin grew silent. Shit. He never lied to them. Never kept anything from them, especially nothing this important. And they had nothing to do with Jungkook and his work, right? It couldn't hurt them knowing, could it?

He opened his mouth to tell them...... and then the ringing of the doorbell echoed through their flat. 

All four heads flew to the door. "Hmm? Is one of us expecting a visitor this late?" Jin asked aloud, but they knew none of them were. "I'll get it," Tae yelled, already jumping up and heading to the main door, disappearing out of Jimin's view. 

They heard Tae's voice and another male voice answer. Somehow it sounded familiar. Jimin stood just as his brother came back inside and behind him...

"Yoongi?" he croaked out, not believing his eyes.  What on earths name was Yoongi doing in his flat so late at night?

He was wet as a rat, his hair sticking to his forehead and his clothes dripping with water like he had walked all the way here in the pouring rain. 

"Hey Jimin," the boy mumbled out, his cheeks a bright red and his gaze lowered to the floor. He had never seen Yoongi acting this way. Yes, he'd been quiet when they first met, but never shy and blushing. 

"What are you doing here? Everything Okay?"

He noticed how Hoseok and Jin got up behind, him, all of them staring at the small, wet boy. They knew about him of course, from Jimin's stories about work, but they never actually met since the boy always refused Jimin's offers to hang out after work or at the weekend. 

"I- I.. ahmm." he stuttered out, and Jimin got really worried. This wasn't like Yoongi at all. He walked over and gently put his hands on his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. Tell me what wrong. Did something happen?"

Yoongi shook all over and a long, rattling breath left him as he slowly raised his head. "I got evicted from my flat and I didn't know where else to go." 

Jimin's heart twisted painfully at the sound of his voice: so defeated and ashamed, but also at the words."Evicted?" Jimin breathed, not understanding. 

Yoongi took another breath and he saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes."Yeah. Look... I never told you this, because I didn't want pity and I was ashamed but... I got some money problems. I never came back to your offer for drinks and hanging out because I have another job after work to earn money. Money I can't spend on drinks and no time to hang out really. But now... well, I didn't know where else to go. They changed the locks to my apartment." 

Jesus. He felt like shit whimpering about his own life when he had no idea what real struggle looked like. "Fuck, Yoongi! You could have told me!" Jimin breathed out, not sure how to deal with the knowledge his friend had been struggling all this time without him knowing. "Jimin!" Hoseok puffed out, and pushed past him to the soaking wet boy. "Hey," he greeted Yoongi and for the first time, the boy looked away from Jimin and up to the boy next to him. 

Yoongi's eyes widened slightly as they landed on Hoseok, but Jimin had no idea why. Maybe because he wasn't that used to meeting strangers."It's okay. You can crash at our flat as long as you want, right boys?" He turned to Jin and Tae, who nodded their heads vigorously. God's, he had amazing friends. 

He turned back to Yoongi with a bright smile and the smaller boy stared at him with a mixture of surprise and gratitude before a shadow flickered over it. "Just until I find something else, really. I don't wanna bother you guys. I mean... you don't even know me."

Hoseok grinned wider and ruffled his black hair like they were long time friends. Hoseok simply worked like that. Always happy, positive and loving the entire world. "Not true. Jimin told us a lot about you. He says you're about the smartest person he knows and you saved his ass more than a few times at work. Oh, and really no worry about finding a new place so soon. Every friend of Jimin is a friend of ours and we always help our friends out. We were even thinking about maybe getting a fifth roommate."

Well... they had joked about it while being drunk, not actually held a serious conversations about it, but Jimin was thrilled at the idea. He'd always liked Yoongi and felt like he would fit right in. And yet... Somehow it felt like his work was shoving itself more and more into his personal life. 

First into his sex-life, now into his home... But nonetheless, he would love to have Yoongi stay here. Loved to know he could help him."A-are you sure?" Yoongi asked, uncertainty accompanying his voice. 

Jimin smiled, wide and brought and nodded broadly. "Of course, man. We'd love to have you. Now... how about a hot shower and something to eat first, hmm? You look freezing in those clothes."

They all saw the relieved shoulder drop as the boy nodded and thanked them, and then Hoseok took charge, showing Yoongi around and helping him find everything. 

Jimin dropped down on the sofa, the abandoned Vodka bottle next to him. He glanced at it, then groaned. Well... it wasn't helping anyway, was it? Jungkook was still a problem and Jimin unable to forget or stop hating him, while he now also felt like a terrible friend for not seeing Yoongi's struggling. Life just kept dealing him lemons, but when he tried to make lemonade out of them, he discovered they were rotten to the core...

***

He was going to fucking murder him!

He couldn't believe he lost his shit and let Jungkook give him a hand job. Every time he accidentally crossed paths with him, the younger smiled like Jimin was a trophy he won, cheeky and smug. 

And he happened to bump into him a lot.When he got himself some coffee- because coffee was life. When he went to print stuff, when he grabbed lunch with his collogues or even when he went to the toilette.It was nerve racking.And beyond frustrating, because every time he caught sight of the dark-haired boy, his heart started racing, his skin tingling and his breath caught. 

Jimin was insane. Or sick. Definitely sick! How could you hate and want someone at the same time?

Three days like this, and he was about to jump out the window, he was that angry and confused. 

And at home, despite all the changes with Yoongi around and Jin going on and on about how in love he was, the other's noticed his erratic behavior. And now there was even one more to deal with!He loved having Yoongi around, he really did, but it meant he could definitely not tell them about Jungkook now, not when he was also his co-worker and a valued member of his team.  

He was beyond glad that they would meet Joonie over for the first time tonight. It would hopefully distract the other's enough to stop pestering him with questions. Jin had boasted about how his perfect boyfriend had invited them all over to his place, which was apparently massive and modern and would have enough space to throw a little party. 

Hell, a party sounded like just the thing Jimin needed after this week.And apparently Joonie was living together with another guy, so perhaps Jimin could get Jungkook out of his system, even if it would be a dick move. He no longer cared. 

***

Yoongi and Jimin worked overtime until it was almost eight, the two of them being nearly the last people to leave the company. Jimin as well as the rest of the boys had managed to convince Yoongi to quit his job at the postal office and refused to take any money for rent.

He could tell the boy was both grateful and overwhelmed by their generous offer, promising them over and over again that he would pay them back one day. 

Jimin had taken Yoongi to work and back in his car, and actually enjoyed not having to stand in traffic alone and bored. And now, it meant they could both share a ride to the address Jin had sent them. "So," Yoongi started after he had been quiet for a long time. "There was actually something I wanted to tell you, but... well, I wasn't sure when or how or whether it would be kinda weird..."

Jimin turned to him with a little chuckle. "Oh my, is THE Min Yoongi sounding unsure? Where's the savage little kid I met and love?"Yoongi snorted. " Who are you calling a kid? You might be Team Manager, but I'm still older than you! Anyway," he added, fiddling with his hands a little. 

"I just think... well, it's no big deal and I always admired you for being so open about it and everything... And I never actually had someone to come out to and--"Jimin's head snapped around so fast, he felt like might have broken his neck. "Are you trying to tell me you're gay?" he breathed out in utter surprise.

Yoongi blushed as he pretended it wasn't a big deal, just shrugging his shoulders with a "Maybe?"

"Holy shit!" Jimin explained, laughing out loud while trying to concentrate on driving and following the navigation system. "And here I was, thinking I had a great gay radar!""You never guessed?" "No. I mean.. I haven't really thought about it much. Not like I go around and just trying to figure out everyone's sexuality."

He saw Yoongi's head nod in agreement. "Yeah. That's why I thought I could tell you. You're not making it a big deal." 

Jimin smiled, before a flicker of fear shot through him and he glanced back to the yet again silent boy."You... you're not trying to tell me you... like me, are you?"

"What?" Yoongi let out and stared at him wide eyed- then broke out into wild laughter, slapping his knee. "Jesus no! Oh God, that would be so awkward. And I have a strict rule: never date anyone from work!"

Jimin laughed, but it sounded almost hysterical. He was glad Yoongi had no idea why. "Good. I'm glad to know there's not more drama happening in my life because of men." It was out of his mouth before he could stop himself and of course Yoongi picked up on it. 

"So it does have something to do with a guy, hmm?"

Oh, damn him and his loose mouth! "Uh... kinda. But I can deal with it."

"You sure? Everyone seems worried about you, and I noticed you're changes too. You know, if you want to talk-""I'm fine," he interrupted, keeping his eyes on the road and Yoongi only sighed but kept quiet after that.The houses had gotten fancier and the streets broader. Jimin recognized a bit of it, but couldn't exactly remember if he'd ever been in this part of town before. 

Maybe on one of his nightly activities... boy would that be awkward to run into on of his one night stands. Well, if they even recognized him. 

You have reached your destination. Your destination is on the left side, the automatic voice of the navigation system announced and Jimin drove into the massive front yard where he already saw Jin's car parked. He was just about to get out when Yoongi stopped him. "Hey, wait. About what I just said... is it okay if it stays amongst us for now?"

He sounded almost desperate and Jimin nodded with a soft smile. "Of course Yoongi. But you really don't have to keep it a secret with the boys at the apartment, you know that right? Hell, we're visiting Jin's boyfriend, and Hoseok is about the most liberal, open person there is, not to mention my brother, who supported me all the way and never even thought to love me less because of who I'm attracted to."

Yoongi nodded, but still swallowed hard. "I know. Just... I think I wanna take a bit more time..""Hey," Jimin sighed and patted his hair. "When you're ready. You decide when you want to tell them, all right?"

Yoongi nodded and smiled and boy... he was absolutely adorable when smiled. Like a little kitten. "Thanks ChimChim." he said, using his pet name for the first time, and Jimin loved it. It felt like Yoongi was finally a part of his inner circle now, just like had always hoped he would be. 

They got out the car and headed for the entrance as Jimin's confusion grew. He looked down at the tiles leading up to the house. Did they remind him of someone? Had he not seen them somewhere only recently?But then he forgot about it as Yoongi had already rung the doorbell and Hoseok ripped open the door smiling at them widely. "Guys, you made it! Took you forever! Seriously, I feel like I have to have a talk with your bosses about doing overtime!" 

Jimin laughed, imagining bubbly, happy Hoseok meeting Mr. Jeon Jungkook and having a 'talk' with him. He loved his friend, but he doubted it would end well for him. 

"Well, we're here, so how about you let us in and we can finally meet the guy Jin has not shut up about for a bloody year!" Jimin joked as Hoseok let them in. Yoongi whistled low under his breath as they made their way inside, staring at the high walls, foot-long windows,  the sleek black and white coloring and the living room coming into view. 

And Jimin...

Jimin froze all over, stopping mid step, his heart beating violently as his mind tried to comprehend what it was seeing. A large oak table, big enough to seat at leas ten people. A very familiar looking oak table. Holy. Shit. 

He knew where he was. He knew why it had al looked familiar on the way here and the driveway. A house he had entered at night, and then left in a hurry at the break of dawn. 

"Yoongi, Jimin, you made it!" he heard Jin shout in happiness, but Jimin's mind was already connecting the dots. Connecting the things that had been staring in his face all along. Jooni.... coming back from America... living with a friend.... 

He turned to Jin and the handsome boy next to him. Yoongi had frozen next to him as well as they both stared at a very wide-eyed, very confused looking Namjoon, and arm around Jin who still stood there oblivious and all smiles. And then, as if it couldn't get worse, someone stepped inside from the adjoined veranda outside, tall and lean, his hair shimmering in the evening sun. He wasn't wearing a suit for a change, his shirt a soft, flowing linen and his light pants wide and comfortable, yet sleek and fashionable. "Hey, Joon, should I already put on the meat? The fire is ready." 

And when Namjoon still only gaped at the frozen Yoongi and Jimin, Jungkook finally followed his gaze and landed on the newcomers as well.

Utter confusion hit his features as he stared at Jimin, not even noticing Yoongi being there too. Jimin was a breath away from a mental breakdown.

Fuck. The lemons he was dealt weren't just rotten- they were freaking poisonous!

And Yoongi had just about the only response as he stared and let out: "Holy Shit!"

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