17. Nothing Like Us

NOTHING LIKE USYou'll know why. It's time of soft hours... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81EPXjl3EEs

"Mom. It's not what you think-"Jungkook was stopped once more by a click of her tongue and Jungkook snapped his mouth shut almost immediately. 

"You think I don't know you, Jungkook?" she asked, her hands in her hips and her lips pressed together in a thin line. "What I want to know is how long you've been sleeping with one of your employees!"

Shit! Jimin wanted to disappear- wanted to be invisible or burry himself so deep, no sunlight would ever be able to reach him."Mom-" Jungkook tried again, but Mrs. Jeon suddenly snapped around to Jimin. 

"He's not going to tell me the truth, so you will. How long has this been going on between you and my son?"

Jimin gulped hard, entirely caught off guard by just about everything. Most of all the fact that she seemed absolutely not surprised her son was sleeping with a man. So she knew he was gay? Had he told her? Or was it some motherly instinct?

"I-uh..""Don't answer her, Jimin," Jungkook hissed, and Mrs. Jeon turned to her son with a sour expression. "I'm gonna find out the truth, JK, whether it's from you or your little boyfriend!"

Jimin laughed. He just couldn't help himself, even as both eyes turned to him. "Oh, I'm so not his boyfriend, Mrs. Jeon, no worries there."

They both gaped at him, Mrs. Jeon being the first to snap out of it."So.. this is just fun between the two of you?"

Oh... damn. He hated drama like this. He had enough to deal with with his own family and he wasn't looking to get involved with Jungkook's. Not to even mention that his father- this woman's husband, was the owner of this company. 

"Look. This is clearly a family matter and I really don't see the point in me being here."

Mrs. Jeon narrowed her eyes dangerously. "You're sleeping with my son, so this is about you as well. Do you know he's engaged?"

Jimin tried to suppress the anger that rose whenever that girl was mentioned- and failed. "I know. And if Jungkook really wanted that marriage, he would hardly be with me!"

Mrs. Jeon's eyes widened as did Jungkook's. "You dare speak to me like that?" she breathed in shock and Jimin let out a long sigh. "Look, Mrs. Jeon. I'm really sorry about this. I mean no disrespect, but this is between me and your son. It has nothing to do with you." 

Mrs. Jeon looked at him hard and long. "You're going to stop this, you hear me? I never want to see you near my son again!"

What? Okay... this woman might be Jungkook's mother, but she had no right to talk to him like that. He wasn't a push-over and he hated people speaking down to him like that, as if they thought they were something better and had any power over his life!"Yeah, that ain't gonna happen. If I end it with Jungkook, it'll be because I want to! I'm sick of people telling me what I can and cannot do."

Mrs. Jeon shot him a long, cold look- and then broke out into a massive grin.  

It was Jimin's time to stare. Mrs. Jeon turned to her son as she pursed her lips and her face was like the first ray of sunshine filtering through a long, cold winter. "I like this one."

Jungkook gaped at his mother for a second longer, then let out a chuckle, followed by a groan as he shook his head with a smile. "I knew you would. That's why I told him not to answer you." 

He glanced up at Jimin and caught his confused expression. "She's not gonna let you go now, so well done!"

Jimin just fell more into his stupor. "What the hell is going on?" he breathed and Mrs. Jeon clapped her hands like an excited seal, smiling even brighter and oh boy... Jimin knew where Jungkook got that dazzling smile from. 

"Oh, I totally get it son! He's cute and he's not afraid to speak his mind!"

"Oh Jesus, Jimin.. you better run!" Jungkook joked with a groan and Jimin finally got a grip over himself. "So you're not mad about this?" he asked and Mrs. Jeon laughed, then waved him off. "Of course not! Why should I? I hate Ji-Eun! She's always like 'Mrs. Jeon this' and 'Mrs. Jeon that' and 'Oh you look so lovely today' and 'Oh, how wonderful to see you'. Such a platonic, fake snake, you think I would want something like that as my daughter-in-Law?"

Jimin stared at her, then at Jungkook. He really had no fucking clue what was going on. But while Mrs. Jeon still looked as happy as a toddler, a shadow had fallen over Jungkook's features, some emotion flashing over his face Jimin couldn't discern. 

And then it was gone, nothing more than a happy, if not slightly annoyed boy again. "Yeah, yeah, you've made your opinion about her perfectly clear on several occasions, but she's still my fiancé."

Still the girl he would marry. His heart hurt and not even the fact that his mother preferred Jimin over Ji-Eun could do anything to lesson the pain. Because Jungkook was still choosing Ji-Eun, not him. 

"I...I really should get back to work." Jungkook caught sight of his expression and his face fell too, like he realized what he had said. 

"Oh, no, no, no. Stay for a coffee. Tell me all about you, Jimin."Jimin swallowed hard, then shot Jungkook a long hard look until the younger sighed and cleared his throat. "Mom, Jimin really has to get back to work. I let you have coffee with him some other time."

"But-""Mom!" Jungkook warned and the woman pouted at her son. It was adorably cute, but Jimin only wanted to get out of here. Away from the fact he would never be Jungkook's first choice. 

"Fine. But," she turned to Jimin with a blinding smile. "You're not getting away from me so fast, Jimin."

Jimin, not sure what to say, only nodded, and then hurried out, nearly letting the paper under his arm slide to the floor. "So cute," he heard Mr. Jeon's little chuckled as Jimin finally managed to get the door open, and the fled back to his office. With a burning red face. Great. It seemed to be a family trait to make him blush!

***

He was the last in the office yet again. But for a change, his work wasn't the only reason. 

And the real reason he was still there at ten, was now knocking quietly at his door, before popping his head in. 

"Still on it?"

Jimin did his best to ignore Jungkook as he stepped inside, but the words he wrote on the computer still turned into gibberish. 

Jungkook only chuckled at his poor attempt and stepped fully into the room, then came striding over to his desk, sitting on the free space while looking down at him. 

"Sorry about my mom. She can be... a lot."

Jimin snorted, but still didn't glance up. Yeah, Mrs. Jeon had been a complete surprise, not just her sudden appearance, but also her reaction towards him. 

"So..."Jungkook said in a completely casual voice, glancing down at Jimin. "Can we please go now?"

Jimin froze mid-typing and stared up at Jungkook. His dark eyes were sparkling and there was a soft grin on his face.Jimin wasn't sure whether it was because of the please or what he was insinuating. "We?"

Jungkook's smile widened, turning into that dazzling one which always left Jimin gaping. 

"You really think I don't know? We both know we were waiting for the other to finish and the reason you haven't left it because you knew I was still here. So, I broke first. You can call that a win if you want, but you still have to come with me."

Jimin gulped. Yeah.. they had totally been playing a game who would seek out the other first. "Where are you taking me?"

Jungkook's eyes widened before he chuckled. "You're not going to put up a fight?"

Jimin tried- he really tried not to smile, but a slight tilt of his lips still slipped through as he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Not in the mood to fight right now."

"That's a first," the younger mused and Jimin looked away quickly so he wouldn't get caught up in that dazzling smile of his, making quick work of turning off his computer and getting his things, all the while trying not to make it too obvious that he was dying to know what Jungkook had planned. 

Jimin reached for his bag, but Jungkook was faster, snapping it from the floor and walking away with it."Just insurance that you're really coming with me," he grinned and Jimin shook his head at his childishness but followed him with a stupid grin on his face out the door. 

And then Jungkook turned, smiled and took his hand. Jimin's eyes flew wide as the younger interlocked them and dragged him through the empty hallways. "Jungkook! What if someone sees?" he hissed, but the younger didn't look the least bit worried. "We're the last one's around, angel. No one will see us."He glanced down at their hands and smiled a bit wider. "And I like it."

Jungkook dragged him along and Jimin did his best to ignore the fact that he liked it a lot too- loved the feeling of Jungkook's strong, warm fingers wrapped around his as he led them to the underground garage. He stopped in front of a sleek black Mercedes and then went around to open the passenger door for him. 

Jimin rolled his eyes. "Really? Now you're playing gentleman?""Hey!" the younger shouted in mocked hurt. "I'm always a gentleman. Now get in!" 

Jimin snorted but got in, then whistled under his breath. This was one fine car, the interior modern and highly equipped with the newest technology. Jungkook started the engine and Jimin shuddered at the sound of it- and the way Jungkook looked ridiculously hot driving a car. There was just something about the way he held the steering wheel in a one handed but tight grip, his face illuminated beautifully by the oncoming cars. 

"Like what you're seeing?" the younger rumbled and only now did Jimin notice the smug grin on his face. He looked away to the road ahead. "You wish." "I don't have to wish. I know you find me attractive.""Well, duh. I think that's kinda obvious!""Still wouldn't hurt to hear it."Jimin chuckled. "You're arrogant enough as you are. No need to tell you you look good.""Just good?" Jungkook teased, glancing sideways as he came to a stop at a red light.

Jimin said nothing, pressing his lips together so he wouldn't do something stupid like smile. 

"Come on, Jimin. I know you can do better. The truth, for once?"

Jimin kept silent... until he sighed in defeat. "Fine. Fine. You're stunning, Okay?""Aaand?" he drooled and Jimin, damn him, smiled to himself. "And beautiful and gorgeous and absolutely dazzling." 

"Dazzling?" the younger laughed, and his eyes sparkled like the night sky. "How have I dazzled you, angel?"

Don't say it... Don't say it.. "In every damn way."

Damn him! Jungkook's face changed into one of wonder as he glanced over again, momentarily caught in Jimin's eyes. "Eyes on the road!" Jimin chided and Jungkook actually listened. 

But Jimin saw it.Saw the massive, happy grin grow on his face as he kept driving. Jimin knew this was dangerous. This happiness they both always tried to fight. Maybe it was the real reason they always ended up fighting. Because deep down, they both knew it wasn't going to work out. 

But now... he couldn't find that willpower to start arguing with him again. Right now... he just wanted to enjoy himself. 

Jungkook pulled into a narrow, lowly lit street before parking the car at the sideway and turned to Jimin after he killed the engine."We're here."

Jimin glanced around to the houses and narrowed his eyes in confusion. It looked like an alley just a few streets away from party mile, the sound of people laughing and shouting drifting over from further away. 

Jungkook got out and then opened his car door again and Jimin failed yet again, not to feel like this felt too good. Too real. 

"Ready?" Jungkook breathed, standing so close he could feel his warmth and his hand found his again, interlocking them once more as Jimin's heartbeat sky-rocketed. He didn't trust his voice, so he only nodded. 

Jungkook smiled and pulled him to the other side of the street towards a tall building, the path to the front door covered in a red tapestry and only now did he become aware of the tall, darkly dressed man in front, stopping them with a hand. "Identification please," the man boomed, easily half a head taller than Jungkook and a lot broader. But Jungkook only smiled easily at him, his grin self-assured and not the least bit intimated. Jesus that was hot... 

Jungkook pulled out a card from his back pocket and handed it to the man. "That should do," he told him as the man scanned the card. 

His eyes widened before the fell back on Jungkook, his stony expression changing to a slight worry. "O-of course Mr. Jeon. Please," he let out then pointed at the door hidden behind a red curtain. 

Jungkook smiled down at Jimin's confused face, then pulled him inside after him. 

It was like stepping from one world into the other as Jimin gaped a the inside. Out there was the twenty-first century- in here, the 1920s. Jimin turned to Jungkook with wide eyes. "A Jazz Club?"

Jungkook grinned down as he pulled him father into the masses. "Best in town," he announced and smiled widely. 

Jimin couldn't stop gobbling. The entire room was made to look like the early twenties'.The comfortable chairs were packed with people laughing and drinking, some dressed normally, some of the women in sparkling, fancy jazz dresses and fancy hair dresses, and the men in vintage suits and high hats. 

A band was performing live music, the sound of it driving through the masses and the dance floor packed with people dancing rhythmically to the sound of the trumpets and saxophones. 

Jimin was transfixed. He was used to dance clubs with loud, beaming music and drunk, stumbling people, which he loved but this- this had a totally different kind of allure, the music calling to him. 

"So," Jungkook whispered into his ear, having leaned down to him. "Would you like to dance with me, Jimin?"

His heart stopped for a second, before beating wildly. He looked up at Jungkook, but he didn't wait for his answer, which would have been yes anyway, before pulling him onto the dance floor, twirling him once, before pulling him close to his chest, one harm coming around his waist, the other keeping their hands interlocked. 

He really shouldn't be surprised as Jungkook expectedly swirled them around the dancing mass. After all, they had met in a club and Jimin knew the younger could dance. And still, he stared up at him in wonder and awe. 

"You know," he whispered as he pulled him a little closer and his chin touched his cheek, speaking directly into his ear. "If I had had a choice, I think I would have like to do something with music. Maybe become a jazz artist or learn an instrument, performing in front of a few people who might appreciate my art."

Jimin closed his eyes and let his head fall against his chest. It was almost as if he could pretend this wasn't Jungkook talking to him- simply the boy he liked. 

"That sound beautiful. So, you don't play any instruments?"There was a small sigh as the taller swirled them around. "I never had much time to do the things I waned to do, but I thought myself to play a bit of guitar and the drums. I even tried my hand a saxophone once.""And?" Jimin asked with a fond smile, imagining it.There was a low chuckle which Jimin felt rather than heard. 

"I think I'll leave that one to the professionals. I... like to sing though."

"Sing?" Jimin mused while following every step Jungkook led. "Like in the showers?"Another low chuckle."Hmm, yeah, and occasionally in front of some people."

He stopped at he edge of the dance floor, pulling away and the smile on his face- Jimin was falling. Was falling so hard and bad for this boy, he had no idea how to stop it. 

"Come," he smiled and pulled him over to an empty table. "Sit," he softly demanded and as Jimin did, Jungkook leaned down with him, whispering into his ear. "Stay here."

He pulled away, but far enough to align their lips, then kissed him, soft and slow, in front of all the people and not a care in the world. Jimin melted for him in more ways than once as Jungkook pulled away with a happy, soft smile, then disappeared into the crowed. 

To get them some drinks, Jimin thought. And not half a minute later, there was indeed a drink put in front of him, only not by Jungkook, but a blond waiter, who only bowed low, then quickly hushed out: "It's on the house of course," before hurrying off again. Jimin sat there, more than a little confused. Where was-

"And now, ladies and gentlemen. A very special performance from our dear sponsor himself. Jeon Jungkook."

Jimin head snapped to the band on the raised plateau and he gaped as Jungkook, smiling and waving, entered the stage, grabbed the microphone and sat on a bar stool at the very front. 

His eyes found his and his smile widened. "This song," he said into the microphone, and didn't look away from a breathless Jimin. "Is for someone very special."

People applauded and clapped as the music started. And then Jungkook sang. 

And Jimin- He knew he lost. He knew he lost the fight to not feel anything for Jungkook as he started singing. His voice- it was absolutely beautiful, captivating, but it was more than that. It was the song he had chosen. About two lovers sharing something magical, even though they left one another. Even though he walked away, he would never forget. Sad yet beautiful. 

And it was the way he kept looking at him, like he saw nothing else but him. 

Jimin wasn't the emotional type. He really wasn't. 

He hadn't cried when his ex-boyfriends left him or when he realized his step-father would never love him, or that his own father never did. But he couldn't stop the tears now. Couldn't- because the words he sang... he knew Jungkook and him wouldn't last. That this was but a moment in time, and they were holding on to it despite knowing it would end soon. And he let it.Let the words, his voice, his gaze into his heart and locked the memory into a frame he would never forget. 

Later, he would deny having felt any of this. Later, he would go back to hating him and shout at him in anger. But he was incapable of it now. Incapable of doing anything but listen and stare at this beautiful boy who managed what his brother had told him. He'd been to fast. 

Too fast and persistent for Jimin to run away. 

____________________