"Come on, Kook. It's just one more week. You can do it."

Jungkook pouted and looked to his friend. "I didn't think it'd be this hard, Jimin. We've barely been able to talk because of the time difference and his schedule. I just miss him so much."

Taehyung left for his international press tour a week ago. It felt like it had been a month since Jungkook last saw him. He knew this was good practice for the future, when their schedules would undeniably end up completely different. But still, he hated it.

"Well, it's obvious he misses you, too. Did you see the interview he did last night?" Jimin asked, slinging an arm over the younger's shoulder. "He kept going on and on about how happy he was in his personal life. Because of that, all the tabloids now speculate he's dating all these famous people."

Jungkook did see that interview when he woke up this morning. An interviewer asked Taehyung if he was excited to travel around all these foreign countries and to see the world. Taehyung graciously admitted it was an amazing opportunity, but he was missing his home right now and was eager to get back.

The media, who had never heard the illusive V speak like that before, instantly assumed it was someone rather than something waiting for him back at home. They were right about that fact, of course, though completely wrong about who it was.

Magazines dug deep into the archives to find pictures of Taehyung with other celebrities, writing intricate theories on who they thought he was with. Jungkook still didn't like seeing pictures of his boyfriend with other people, but he knew how dated those images were.

It did make him realize, however, that the two boys didn't have any pictures together. That would need to change.

Jungkook sighed as he stretched his sore muscles. "I know. Maybe I'll try to video chat him or something. I think that would help."

Jimin smiled at him and nodded. "There you go, Kook. I texted him a couple days ago and suggested he pick you up some cool gift as a consolation, too."

"Jimin," the younger groaned. "Not necessary. And I still can't get over how you guys are friends now."

"Are we a little jealous, Kookie?" Jimin teased, nudging his shoulder.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm not."

The elder smiled, about to egg him on further, when Yoongi and Hoseok entered their training room. Jimin groaned and pulled his hoodie up over his face.

"Totally not obvious at all," Jungkook deadpanned, watching as the couple immediately looked towards Jimin. They started walking over.

"This is literally the last thing I need right now," Jimin muttered, hopping up and bolting from the room.

Jungkook remained seated, shrugging his shoulders when Yoongi and Hoseok looked at him.

"I'm staying out of this," he said bluntly, turning away from them and resuming his stretches.

Hoseok stalked after Jimin, forcing Yoongi to follow him into the hallway. Before the choreographer could chase the boy down, however, Yoongi grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Stop, Hoseok. Let Jimin be."

"He's been avoiding me all week," the younger said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "If he isn't interested in us, he can at least tell us to our faces."

Yoongi kept his face neutral. "I think him avoiding you is an answer enough."

Hoseok quirked an eyebrow at that. "Avoiding me but not you, right?"

"I don't want to do this right now," Yoongi stated softly. "Let's just forget about him."

Over the past few days, his mentee had been true to his word about being friends. Jimin, whom Yoongi was discovering was quite the talker, told him his life story and every detail in between. It was nice, learning more about the younger and discovering how he got to where he was today.

It made Yoongi that much more interested in him.

"I know you, Yoongi. You're my best friend," Hoseok started, his happy features arranging into a more stoic expression. "You like Jimin as more than a friend. You're . . . attracted to him. In a way that's different from me."

"Hoseok . . . come on. You know I love you."

The younger shook his head. "I know you love me. But Yoongi, are you in love with me? Have you ever been?"

Yoongi just stared at him. What kind of question was that?

"We haven't been intimate in months. I feel like we're just friends at this point," Hoseok continued. "And I need more than that in a relationship. We both do."

He was completely right, Yoongi knew that. When they first got together about a year ago, he relied on Hoseok so much. The younger was his support system, his best friend. He was one of the only people who could get him out of his shell.

When Hoseok expressed interest in dating, Yoongi accepted because he was afraid of losing him if he said no. He was happy with the arrangement at first, but as months went by, their intimacy fizzled.

Then Hoseok asked if they could be in an open relationship, realizing he needed more. Once again fearing he would lose the younger, Yoongi agreed, knowing he'd never stray from Hoseok.

But Hoseok found someone else quickly, someone who could satisfy his other needs that Yoongi wasn't giving to him.

"I don't want to lose you," Yoongi murmured, looking at the boy desperately. "I need you."

Hoseok walked up to him and put his hands on his shoulders. "I need you, too. But I'm beginning to wonder if we're doing ourselves more harm than good by staying in this relationship."

"Hoseok . . ."

"You look at Jimin differently, Yoongi. Like he is the answer to a question you never knew you were asking. I've never seen you look at me that way," the younger admitted openly.

"I'll stop. I'll try harder for us," the elder petitioned. "We can make it work."

Hoseok smiled sadly at him. "I will always love you. You will always be my best friend. But I want more for us, Yoongi. Becky fills that missing piece for me . . . and I think Jimin might do that for you if you let him."

A slight burning coated the back of Yoongi's throat. He knew Hoseok was right but it hurt nonetheless. "Promise me you'll still be in my life."

Two arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a hug. "I promise. You can't get rid of me, Yoongi."

Yoongi returned Hoseok's hug and sighed into his neck. "I'm sorry, Hoseok. I never meant for this to happen."

"Things happen every day that we can't predict. That's just life. But we shouldn't apologize for changing and growing. So don't be sorry."

The elder pulled away. "So what's next?"

Hoseok shook his head. "I don't know. But we'll find out soon enough."

The younger wrapped an arm around Yoongi's shoulders and led him down the hall, cracking jokes to try and lighten the mood.

And once the hallway was silent, Jimin stepped out from around the corner and stared blankly ahead. He was shocked at everything he'd overheard.

Shocked . . . but oddly happy.

It was in that moment he knew.

Yoongi was going to play a much bigger part in his life than he initially suspected.

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》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《