Chapter 14

Jimin had slept the whole day after staying up until 4 a.m., ruminating over the incident with Taemin.

Meanwhile, his family, except his dad, had been busy preparing for the party. They decorated the entire place and sent out invitations to Jimin’s friends and relatives.

Yoongi, waiting for Namjoon to pick him up since he didn't know where Jimin’s house was, felt his heart skip a beat when he heard a beep outside. He knocked on the door and called out to Yungmin to come out.

The two siblings got into Namjoon's car and drove off. When they arrived, Yoongi was impressed by the size of the house; Jimin was living alone here!

“Hey, Yoonie!” Jimin’s mom, dressed in a floral dress, greeted him with a tight hug. “I’m so glad you came! Jimin’s been mentioning you a lot lately! How have you been? I haven’t been able to visit the shop since Jimin’s dad has been very busy. I’ve been helping him!” she said, her voice echoing.

“A-ah, I’m doing fine. You’ve gotten even more beautiful! Your skin’s glowing!” Yoongi said, pointing at her face.

“Duh! I’ve been using the cream Jin gave me.”

“Yah! We should keep that a secret! Yoongi shouldn’t know; his skin’s already glowing. I’m afraid my spot will be taken,” Minji teased, tossing her imaginary long hair back.

Suddenly, they heard someone coming down the stairs. Their hearts raced. “Mom, what’s all this noi—”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIMIN!!!” everyone cheered as the music played.

Jimin rushed down with a warm smile. “Happy birthday, Jimin. Happy birthday, Jimin! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to—”

He headed to the front where the cake was, but he was startled when the song was interrupted by gasps.

“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?” everyone shouted, noticing Jimin’s busted lip.

The birthday boy smiled awkwardly. “A-ah, I just fell. It’s nothing, really. Come on! It’s my birthday! Let’s all be happy!” he said, trying to brush it off.

“You’re still so clumsy. We’d be less confused if you were found dead here because of your clumsiness,” Minji said, scoffing as she lit the candles.

They continued the birthday song. “Make a wish!” they said as Jimin laughed, closed his eyes, and blew out the candles.

The party continued with lively chatter and laughter. Guests mingled, enjoying the food and drinks, while the music played softly in the background. Jimin's mom and Minji made sure everyone was well-fed, and Yoongi mingled with Jimin's friends, trying to get to know them better.

As the evening progressed, Jimin's friends gathered around for various party games. Despite his earlier discomfort, Jimin tried to enjoy himself, participating in games and interacting with his guests. The initial awkwardness faded, and he found himself laughing and having fun.

Yoongi, observing Jimin from the sidelines, felt a pang of concern every time he glanced at Jimin’s lip. He wanted to ask about it but didn’t want to draw too much attention. Instead, he watched with a smile as Jimin animatedly played charades with Hoseok and the others.

When it was finally time to open presents, Jimin eagerly tore through the wrapping paper of each gift, his face lighting up with every new discovery. Yoongi watched with anticipation, knowing he had his own surprise for Jimin later in the evening.

After the presents were opened and the cake had been cut, the party began to wind down. Guests started to leave, offering their birthday wishes to Jimin as they departed. Yoongi, still feeling a bit nervous, waited until most people had left before approaching Jimin.

“Hey,” Yoongi said softly, catching Jimin’s attention as he was cleaning up. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Jimin looked up, smiling despite the lingering pain from his injury. “Sure, what’s up?”

Yoongi hesitated for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, neatly wrapped box. “I know it’s a little late, but I wanted to give you something.”

Jimin’s eyes widened in curiosity. “You didn’t have to, Yoongi.”

“Yeah, I know. But I wanted to,” Yoongi said, handing the box to Jimin.

Jimin took the box with a grin, carefully unwrapping it. Inside was a beautifully crafted silver bracelet, engraved with a simple but elegant design. Jimin’s eyes softened as he looked at the gift.

“It’s lovely, Yoongi. Thank you,” Jimin said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

“Don’t look up the price. It’s cheap and ugh, I just got it from a local store and thought it would look good on you and—”

“Aih, you’re rapping again. Come here,” Jimin says, hugging him.

“Out of all the gifts they gave, this one’s different, Yoongi,” he adds, smiling at him.

“It’s cheap and—”

“Shush, it’s not about the price. It’s about the thought you had while buying it. Ah, I knew you had a crush on me—” Yoongi smacked him playfully.

“Don’t ruin the moment!” Yoongi screamed, huffing. “Also, why the hell is your lip busted?”

“I already told you, I fell.”

“That’s not possible. If you really fell, your lips wouldn’t be busted, but your teeth would be! Now tell me, don’t lie to me, Park Jimin,” he demanded, pointing a finger at Jimin.

“Ugh, okay fine. I got into a fight with someone.”

“Who?”

“It’s no one, Yoongi. I just bumped into someone yesterday at some store. We heated up, that’s all,” Jimin explained.

He couldn’t tell Yoongi the full truth. He didn’t want the other to worry, and he knew he’d get a hundred questions.