No Strings

Part 9

More likely, he would go home with you and you would have a great time – and then Jimin would not call you again. You seem like the type who wants a boyfriend. You seem like you would be down for sex, but eventually would want love and commitment – Jimin is not that guy. Logically, he knows Namjoon is right.

But there is this large, irrational part of himself which wants to return to your corner. You seem different and for a moment, Jimin allows himself to wonder what-if. What if he woke up tomorrow, saw your face and he smiled. What if he wanted that closeness, what if he felt like making breakfast again.

That is the problem, though – Jimin does not truly know you and right now, these are only what-ifs. It is not worth ruining Seokjin's shot for something which could be.

Wearily, Jimin looks down. "Yeah, alright," he says softly. "I guess you're right."

Namjoon touches Jimin on the shoulder and forces him to look up. "It's for the best," he assures. "I know Y/N. She's not the one night stand type. This could only end badly – trust me. And," Namjoon adds, as they walk away. "She's not really your type, man. Your type is more – oh, I don't know. That hot blonde at at the bar."

Jimin glances dejectedly at the girl he was talking to earlier. Attempting a smile, he orders another drink. "Jack and coke," Jimin says, returning to Namjoon. "Okay, yeah. I'll go and talk to the blonde. Y/N is off-limits."

The moment the words leave his mouth, Jimin regrets them. He keeps looking to where you stand on the dance floor. You stare at your phone, trying to pretend you are not waiting for him. Jimin feels the strangest urge to take you out of this bar but, oddly enough, not for sex. He wants to hear you laugh again, wants to make you smile and bruise his ego a little.

Seokjin, though. Jimin cannot hurt his friend and so, he leaves, ignoring you to approach the blonde at the bar. Jimin barely has to say two words before she agrees to go home with him. As they walk towards the door, Jimin cannot help but glance at you – you look up.

Your gaze meets his dead-on. It is only briefly, but Jimin knows that you see.

Jimin knows and his stomach sinks to the floor. He knows what type of girl you are. He knows the type of guy you want – and now he knows you will never see him in that way.

Feeling slightly nauseous, Jimin walks out the door.

Now it is you walking out the door.

You leave the coffee shop quickly, while Jimin pushes both hands through his hair. He takes a step forward, then back, trying to remain calm. He needs to make sense of his thoughts, because if he ran after you now – he cannot promise it would be logical. His words would not sound coherent because around you, Jimin cannot think.

He is not sure when he first realized he loved you.

The night that you met, probably not. Jimin knew you were different, knew he liked you, but love at first sight is a myth, a fairy tale. More likely, Jimin realized he loved you during one of your movie nights. One of the nights you buried yourself in his blankets, your shoes at his door with your head falling onto his shoulder.

Jimin usually held his breath when that happened. He held his breath, did not move – did not dare blink, for fear of disturbing you. Or, maybe Jimin realized he loved you on a late night snack run. You usually did this after hitting the bar, heading to either McDonald's or Wendy's. You loved to order a giant meal, eat half and push the rest towards Jimin, insisting you liked a man who could eat.

Unbidden, each memory comes to mind. Jimin can recall your feet propped up on plastic seats, hair falling into your eyes while you cracked up at some pun Seokjin made. Those moments hurt the most for Jimin. Moments when you were entirely beautiful and Jimin realized you were not his.