Just Friends

Chapter 11

The limo comes to a stop in front of their cabin. During the time it takes the driver to make his way around the car, Taehyung gets a sudden, uncontainable urge to act out, like he needs to do something a little crazy to take his mind off things.

It's lucky for him that he was the last to get in—he has the seat right next to the door the driver is coming to.

The moment it opens, Taehyung bolts out of the vehicle, mind gone completely blank as he makes a run for the hot spring.

His lungs are full of icy air when he arrives at the stone steps of the hot spring. He turns around and sees the others catching up to him, so he starts shedding his clothes, tearing each piece off and carelessly tossing them aside. By the time the rest arrive, he's hopping on one foot to take his shoes off.

"Damn, Tae! It wasn't a race this time!" Jimin huffs, trying to catch his breath. "Why'd you take off like that?"

"I don't know," Taehyung giggles for some reason, dropping his last sock and shoe to the ground. "Just felt like it," he shrugs, then immediately leaps into the spring pool.

The sudden change of temperature from winter air to naturally-heated water hits him like a brick, bringing a sobering wash of burning heat to his face and body. It feels like it's remarkably hotter than it was last time, but Taehyung welcomes the burn. In fact, he revels in it, imagines his troubles melting away.

Whatever it takes to get his mind off Jeongguk.

While the rest get undressed, Taehyung lets his body sink down until his chin is touching the water and focuses on the steam swirling around him in order to keep his eyes from wandering off to a particular person. Not that it matters anyway, it's too dark to see anything with all the lamp-posts off. And since they're all controlled by a panel inside the cabin—and no one was currently there to turn them on—the only light shining on their exposed bodies came from the crescent moon, slowly rising in the sky. Offering just enough illumination that the shapes of individuals could be made out, but also keeping their more private, intimate details hidden in the veil of darkness, untouched by the moon's rays.

"You're really not going to come in?" Yoongi asks Jimin, who is just standing there while everyone else hastily removes their clothing.

"I'm really not. I'm tired of being cold," Jimin reminds him, keeping his eyes turned away from him as he undresses. "I only came here to bring these," he mutters, holding out a champagne bottle and a couple of glasses he snagged from the limo. "I'm going back as soon as you take them."

"That's a shame," Yoongi says, tilting his head as his pants drop to the ground.

"I'm sure it is."

"You're going to miss out on a lot of fun."

"I'm sure I will."

Yoongi chuckles a little, taking the glasses and bottle from Jimin. "Anyone ever tell you that you're a stubborn pain in the ass?"

Jimin gives in to Yoongi's goading by finally looking at him, but only so he can glare at him. "You. All the time."

Right at that moment, Namjoon and Jin jump bare-bodied into the spring, splashing water at Jimin's feet and making him jump back a little.

"Oh look," Yoongi smirks. "You're wet."

"I swear," Jimin sighs with a shake of his head, trying to hide the smile tugging at his lips. He's just tipsy enough that he's not completely annoyed by the thought of committing himself to some foolish acts, but he's already shivering—he really hates being cold.