[Summary]

Jungkook and Seokjin have been friends since middle school. Jungkook didn't expect to fall in love with his best friend.

Words: 1,657

★★★★★

Jungkook and Seokjin are best friends. They have been since middle school, before life truly hit them.

Before Jungkook fell in love for the first time.

They were close at the beginning of middle school, then drifted apart for about a year and a half because of being split apart.

Jungkook never expected to start high school without Seokjin, but they still had the same friend group and by the time they were in their second year of high school, they finally got the time to reconnect again.

But this time, they were different.

They weren't small kids in middle school. They're full teens now and they've never looked better, in Jungkook's opinion. Their true beauty has sprouted into the young men by now (he thinks).

Seokjin is the most handsome person Jungkook knows and the entire school would agree. They'd agree that Seokjin's no longer the shy boy anymore, too.

He used to be shy and laugh quietly while covering his smile— even with his middle school best friend back then— but now Seokjin greets people with a big smile, talks to them, jokes around, and laughs loudly.

Jungkook was also shy back then and while he's totally grown out of it, he's nowhere near Seokjin's level; he's still introverted unlike Seokjin seems.

But the more he gets to know high-school-Seokjin, the more he realizes that Seokjin isn't all that different.

He still prefers staying at home to hang out, still turns red when the attention is on him, and still sits quietly and observes, but he acts a bit differently with strangers.

"You're so different now."

Seokjin lightly laughs and brushes off Jungkook's sudden statement. "I just like to see people smile more. The world's boring otherwise."

"But you made me smile even before now, hyung."

Seokjin lowers his drink and glances over at Jungkook. They're sitting at Seokjin's house, Jungkook comfortable on the couch he once used to fall asleep on sometimes in middle school.

He missed being here so much.

"I'm still me," Seokjin says. "Are you trying to gatekeep my ability to make people smile or something, Jungkook-ah?"

Jungkook doesn't react to his words, he merely gazes back at him as he rests his head back against the couch cushion.

"No."

Seokjin smiles knowingly for some reason, then scoots over until he's right next to Jungkook. He pulls the younger's legs up until he's draped over Seokjin's thighs and Seokjin nudges him until he's laying down on the couch.

"Take a nap, you dork." Seokjin forces a decorative pillow into Jungkook's arms and surprisingly, none of this is odd because it's exactly what Seokjin used to do— they used to sleep and forget about school and drama. "You're sleepy. I can tell. You're talking nonsense and your eyes give you away. They always do."

It's been a while since Jungkook has allowed himself to get so comfortable in Seokjin's presence and he's in awe that Seokjin can read him so well even after a few years. He even remembers that Jungkook likes to hug a pillow to sleep.

"I have an essay to write," he tells Seokjin, who waves him off.

"You'd fall asleep before the first paragraph is written."

True. He still knows Jungkook well.

The fact that he knows and still cares so much makes Jungkook feel undeniably full. Full of what, he doesn't know, but it feels nice.

★★★★★

Before he knows it, Jungkook understands the fullness in his chest. He knows what it is now and it's terrifying.

He's had crushes and has liked someone before, but within a few months of learning about the new and matured Kim Seokjin, he realizes that the fullness is love, connection, and admiration.

At first, he thought the connection was because Seokjin was his middle school best friend and they'd been through so much together only to become stronger friends in high school.

But this connection is far beyond simply being friends. It's so much more than that.

They joke around, hang out at school, go to events together, and even hang out at other places they never got to when they were younger, like going bowling or going to restaurants to try out different foods.

They smile and laugh so much that Jungkook's tummy hurts and his chest feels so warm every time they fall into each other and laugh away.

The connection becomes much stronger when they talk about more serious things, too, like their future, their dreams, and what they want to achieve.

Jungkook is a quiet person, so he's a good listener, but with Seokjin he's never listened so intensely before in his life. He wants to know everything and more about Kim Seokjin.

And before he knows it, he falls in love with his best friend.

He falls in love with the pretty smile on Seokjin's face, falls in love with Seokjin's crazy jokes, falls in love with the serious look on Seokjin's face, his deep brown eyes, the gentle touch of his fingers against Jungkook's skin, and how delicately he holds him.

He falls in love with the way Seokjin steps up behind him and wraps his arms around his waist. He falls in love with the way Seokjin sits next to him and helps him with his schoolwork because he's just so smart and always willing to help.

He falls in love with the view of Seokjin under the night sky, like Seokjin belongs under the moon and stars, and his eyes twinkle as he points up at certain constellations to talk about them.

Everything about Seokjin, even his imperfections, is perfect.

One night, they're sitting on a park bench under the stars again and it's quiet as Seokjin props his head against Jungkook's shoulder. He's warm despite the night chill, maybe because he's wearing the jacket that Jungkook lent him.

"You're not comfy at all."

Jungkook chuckles at Seokjin's complaint and he feels the weight of Seokjin against him. It feels nice. He tries to position them so that Seokjin lays better against him, to make it more comfortable.

He barely rests his head against Seokjin's and bites back a smile.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Tomorrow being the day that they finally graduate. Tomorrow being the reason that they're in their safe zone, all alone in the park to embrace the ending of their high school years.

"No," Jungkook responds matter-of-factly. "We'll grow up and be busier than ever. I don't want that."

Seokjin wriggles further into his touch. "I don't want that either."

They fall into silence. Unlike the past few years of comfortable silence, this silence is somewhat thick. This silence is full of uncertainty.

Jungkook stares down at his hands, clasped over his lap. Seokjin's hands are in his pockets, but he wishes they were locked with his instead.

Almost as if he's reading Jungkook's mind, Seokjin shifts until he pulls his hand out of his pocket and he quietly, slowly brings his hand to Jungkook's, pulling them apart until he gently slips his hand into Jungkook's.

Jungkook feels extremely warm as he watches Seokjin intertwine their fingers and cautiously play with the sensation, dragging his fingers up and down to get a feel. His touch is feather-like and it tickles, but Jungkook loves it.

He loves how Seokjin's touch is incredibly soft as he plays with their fingers, both observing their touch.

Jungkook decides to take Seokjin's hand a bit firmly, intertwining their fingers so that they're holding hands and Seokjin can't fidget so much anymore.

"Are you nervous, hyung?"

A moment passes before Seokjin lifts his head and turns to him, and their eyes meet. "About graduating?"

His eyes have never looked prettier. Even with uncertainty, the night sky and the pure love in his eyes as he holds Jungkook's hand is so gorgeous.

"Depends," Jungkook mutters. "Are you nervous about anything at all?"

Seokjin nods. "I am. I'm nervous about graduating. Nervous about what happens after, about whether or not I'll still be with you."

Their hold tightens and Jungkook knows exactly what he means. In middle school, they got separated. After high school, the real world will hit them like a train.

Jungkook slips his hand away and then lifts it to Seokjin's cheek, noting the way Seokjin holds his breath.

"You can't get rid of me that easily, hyung."

Seokjin closes his eyes and rests his forehead against Jungkook's, letting out a sigh and falling under Jungkook's reassuring touch.

"You'll stay with me then?" he asks.

Jungkook nods gently, then leans in until his lips brush against Seokjin's, earning the smallest gasp. "You are my first and only love, Kim Seokjin." At that, Seokjin's eyes reopen and he pulls away enough for Jungkook to see the pure joy in his eyes. "I'll never leave you, hyung."

Seokjin leans in again and this time takes Jungkook's lips in, kissing him like he's meant to do so for eternity.

Their lips are warm and Jungkook has never felt so safe in his life. Seokjin's kiss is what heaven would feel like. And even when they pull away, Seokjin's hands on his is enough to keep the love lingering.

"I love you so much," Seokjin finally admits, almost breathless as he lets the words out. "I love you, I love you." He peppers kisses all over Jungkook's face— cheeks, lips, even his nose.

Jungkook giggles away. "Hyung~ Come on, let's get you home. You're gonna catch a cold if we're out here for too long."

Even with his concerns, Seokjin ignores them and wraps his arms around Jungkook, pulling him into a lovely little hug and trying to cover them both with the jacket he has on.

The smile on Seokjin's face and the sound of happy laughter is enough to have Jungkook melting, too in love to care if he's smiling like an idiot himself.

He's glad he fell in love with Kim Seokjin. Couldn't be happier.

★ end ★

ty for reading uwu

★★★★★