Super short chapter and sorry if it's bad, but I'm warming back up to updating this book more frequently again so I can finish it (I lowkey forgot the plot and had it reread the whole thing a few times😭)
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The cliche 'time flies when you're having fun' was unfortunately all too true in Yoongi's case. It was just as things were getting good did time seem to do that thing where it almost felt like it didn't exist until he really thought about one day and realized two whole months had flown by.

It was now late February, mere weeks before his and Jimin's planned trip to Jeju was scheduled. It was all he'd been eagerly looking forward to, even more than his birthday. Well, his birthday fell during their trip, but it was still overshadowed by the fact. He'd been eagerly looking forward to it while simultaneously dreading its arrival because their trip together would probably be their last peaceful moments together before the boy's sickness inevitably would began to completely take over his body and begin its deterioration process.

Despite given a rough estimate to at least make it to the month of June, or July at the latest, it wouldn't be without having suffered from a slew of awful, painful symptoms caused by the illness that would leave Jimin bedridden and miserable for at least two months leading up to his final days. Yoongi hated knowing how soon it was going to happen, having accepted by now yet it didn't stop him from constantly feeling an overwhelming sense of despair. He loved Jimin more than anything else and knowing that he'd hardly had enough time to give him all of that love he had for him was heart wrenching.

Most days had been a challenge keeping a positive attitude about the matter and Jimin had obviously noticed. It didn't help the fact that he was already becoming more and more immune compromised, having been dealing with an awful cold that seemed to pester his body on and off, suffering from fevers, fatigue, stabbing coughs and much more than he could handle at times. Yoongi couldn't stand seeing him so weak and vulnerable as he was becoming.

It was currently a Thursday afternoon, the school's students buzzing with excitement through the hallways after the dismissal bell of the end of the day rang. They wouldn't have school the following day because of their short break for lunar new year, most of them having planned to attend whoever would be throwing the largest party as a yearly tradition amongst them. Yoongi hadn't particularly planned to attend any himself, not for the first time in a long time because he'd rather much be spending that time with someone else worthwhile, unless Jimin wanted to go to a party of course.

He was making his way to his locker to retrieve his outdoor wear, the temperature having dropped further lately as it always did just before the warmer spring months arrived. Yoongi slid on his coat, zipping it up to his neck before tying a soft scarf around it and pulling a dark colored beanie onto his small head. Before he could pick up his backpack and shut his locker, the dark-haired paused as he sensed a pair of smaller arms wrap around him tightly. Smiling to himself, Yoongi turned around to face the slightly shorter boy holding onto him.

"Did you have an okay rest of your day? You seemed quiet at lunch." Jimin wondered as he let go of Yoongi.

"Yeah, it was alright. I guess I'm just tired, it was a long week." Yoongi reasoned.

Jimin had noticed for at least the past week Yoongi's social regression, almost back to the point it was when he first met him and the older seemed too scared to speak to him. Yoongi had opened up so much throughout their relationship, but seeing him dwindle back to this state was odd and he didn't know how to properly question it without seeming like he was accusing him of having gone back to such a bad place mentally when that might not have even been the case.

"Well, would it energize your spirit a little to go to a party tonight?"

Yoongi only shrugged. "I don't know, Jimin, you know I've been avoiding parties since Jin's..." He reminded.

"I know, but I promise it'll be fun. We'll stay by each other's side the entire night no matter what."

"Whose party is it?" Yoongi wondered.

"Remember Ara, from my birthday party a while ago? You know she lives in this huge house and her parents are letting her host this year for once. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole school showed up." Jimin giggled. "Come on, it'll be so much fun. I wanna experience all of these things with you especially."

Yoongi let out a sigh, kneeling down to pick up his backpack and swing it onto his shoulders, smiling faintly. "What time does it start?"

"She said around six, but it'll probably go on all night so she said we could show up whenever."

"I'll pick you up around seven, okay?" He agreed.

Giddily, Jimin jumped up and swung his arms around Yoongi's neck to hug him, just for a few moments before pulling away. "Thank you! You're really amazing." He clasped his hands together with excitement just thinking about it.

As he always did, Yoongi offered to drive Jimin home from school to which the younger agreed to without hesitating. It was a routine they had now, especially since Yoongi had his own car and could take Jimin anywhere together that they pleased. Rushing, they both left the school building hand in hand, carefully speed walking through the student parking lot to reach the car and escape the stinging cold wind.

Yoongi promptly started the vehicle so that he could switch on the heater, allowing for the car and themselves to start warming up.

"You know, I've already started counting down the days until our trip together."

"Yeah?" Yoongi smirked to himself, glancing over at the boy in the passenger seat.

"Yeah, is that weird? I feel like maybe I'm too excited about it."

"I don't think it's weird, Jimin. I'm really excited too. There's just so much I want us to do together."

Blushing, Jimin nodded in agreement. "Me too."

The drive to Jimin's home was rather quiet, not necessarily an uncomfortable or awkward one, but because being in each other's presence was enough to keep them satisfied. Half of the time Jimin always got too flustered around the older to even know what to say to him, yet somehow Yoongi was always the quieter one no matter what. Though Jimin found it perfectly wholesome that all of this time together that their undeniable feelings for each others remained presently obvious without having to say anything.

Being in love with someone was never easy to hide to begin with, especially when neither of them wanted to hide it from each other in the first place. The thought always made Jimin smile, blissfully reminiscing how their relationship blossomed from the start. It had to have been fated, both boys being in the same place at once and finding each other after the first missed chance. Those coincidences seemed to always show up in fiction but it was the last thing Jimin expected to actually experience in real life and he was grateful nonetheless.

The thought of having lived his entire life and never fallen in love before he would inevitably pass used to frustrate him so badly to the point it nearly depressed him. All he'd ever wanted was to experience that and meeting Yoongi gave him exactly what he wanted and more. The older boy was the greatest thing to ever happen to him and it felt good to know that the feeling was mutual in the sense that Yoongi had expressed the same sentiment. They were both glad they could be such a powerful light of each other's life, even if it was temporary.

Once arrived at Jimin's house, Yoongi parked the car in the driveway to let Jimin out, however the younger remained sitting for a short moment as he turned to face Yoongi in the driver's seat. He just couldn't shake that something was wrong, even if it was annoying to the older to assume that just because he'd been quieter than usual. The boy had witnessed on multiple occasions that it wasn't worth the risk to just leave it alone.

"Thanks for driving me." Jimin spoke quietly, unbuckling his seatbelt to lean over and bring the other male's face into his hands gently as he stroked his cheeks with his thumbs.

Yoongi leaned into the comforting touch quietly, placing his hands onto Jimin's to gradually interlace their fingers between each other's. He couldn't describe how blissfully cozy the boy's warmth was, letting out an inaudible, contented sigh. They both hesitated adorably, Jimin letting out a sheepish laugh before connecting his lips onto Yoongi's. It was a short kiss, only a few seconds which was more than enough to rouse their hearts.

"Are you sure you're doing okay?" Jimin wondered in between a couple of delicate pecks, their gazes meeting only Yoongi's was evidently wary.

Humming quietly, Yoongi nodded his head in which he was only met with a deeper concerned expression from Jimin. "I'm okay, I promise. I really meant it when I said I'd tell you if anything was wrong."

"I just..." Jimin paused, shaking his head slightly. "I know it was a little while ago, but I get really worried about you still after what happened."

"I know, I know."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I understand, okay? I'd never get upset at you about that anymore. You trust me, right?" Yoongi spoke gently, repeating the boy's action of kissing him carefully between each sentence.

"I do, I trust you." The blond nodded assuringly. "And I love you. I really love you, Yoongi."

For the first time all day, the older boy smiled fully, pulling Jimin back closer to reconnect their lips in a longer kiss. Besides his own friends, Jimin was the only one he felt so safe in the presence of, comforted to know that he didn't have to conceal his emotions the way he used to before meeting him because Jimin never judged or ridiculed him for it. He only ever allowed him to confide about whatever he needed to and nothing felt better than to be loved enough for that.

"I love you too, baby." He whispered, earning a soft giggle from Jimin as he leaned away slightly.

"Aww, you haven't really called me that in a while." He teased, observing as the other male's face began to redden out of shyness.

"I know." Yoongi chuckled, averting his eyes momentarily to compose the buzzing nerves rushing through his body. "Do you even like that I called you that before?" He wondered.

"Of course I did. I love when you call me that, makes me feel like I'm all yours."

They both mirrored each other's smiles, basking in the sweet moment briefly before eventually letting go of each other so that Jimin could exit the vehicle. He slid his backpack onto his shoulder, leaning down slightly so that he could peek through the opened door.

"I'll be back later to pick you up, okay? We'll have fun tonight, I promise." He continued to smile.

"I'll see you later." Jimin waved, smiling before he shut the door and began up the path leading to his front door.

Yoongi remained parked in the driveway as he watched the boy unlock the front door and eventually disappear into the interior of the home. Though before driving off, he noticed movement in window of the younger's bedroom that faced the front of the home, the blinds slowly raising to reveal Jimin's tiny figure waving excitedly before playfully blowing a kiss towards Yoongi's car. The older couldn't help but laugh to himself at his adorable wit, watching in amusement as Jimin laughed as well. His smile was so undeniably beautiful, so radiant it caused his entire face to glow so prettily.

A warm sensation remained bursting in Yoongi's chest as he watched the blinds lower, no longer able to see the boy as he finally backed out of the driveway and began his short journey back to his own house. It was that tiny moment that shifted Yoongi's mind slightly from how he'd been feeling lately, wanting nothing more than to just savor this specific feeling for as long as he could without thinking about the inevitable. Jimin was so precious to him and the last thing he wanted to do was unintentionally ruin things between them because he couldn't stabilize his emotions.

Of course he knew it was okay to be upset sometimes, but all the time wasn't healthy at all. As long as Jimin was happy, he wanted to remain happy for him too.