Strawberries and Roses

Soul meets soul on lovers’ lips

—

He came to the next morning around eight o’clock. His stomach growled indicating his hunger. He sat up and the abrupt movement made his headache come on too strong. He reached out to rub his forehead and an unimaginable pain shot through him. He winced and lowered his hand. Why did it hurt?

“Wait, how did I get into bed?” he asked out loud as he looked at the extra large t-shirt covering his slender frame. Better yet, how did he even get back home? The last thing he remembered was being at the restaurant – at the launch.

Everything else was fragmented bits and pieces. “What happened last night?” he asked again in his husky fresh-from-sleep voice. His throat felt dry and scratchy. Did he have too much to drink? He wondered and brushed his fingers through his hair trying to tame the unruly curls on his head.

Trying to remember it all made his head hurt like hell. And for a while he just sat still – not wanting to tax his brain of thing of anything. Then like a flood everything came back – the encounter with Dae-Hyun at the restaurant and the events that took place in the bathroom. He balled his fists in ager. The action send a throbing pain through his fist. It hurt. He looked at his hand and realized his knuckles were slightly bruised. He remembered punching the bastard. He closed his eyes as if to block all of it out.

The fuzzy memory of Jungkook repeatedly punching an unconscious Dae-Hyun into the floor made its way to the front of his mind. The bleeding face, the stain of blood on the bathroom floor, the bruised knuckles of his love and the sickening crunch of a breaking nose replayed in his mind and only one thing registered. Panic. His mind went into overdrive as it started to grasp at the pieces in his fragmented mind in a effort to remember what happened afterwards.

He remembered Jungkook’s eyes as he punched the sucker. They were like a knife in someone's ribs, the sharp point digging deeper. The customary warmth in them gone faster than summer rain on the tarmac. Those eyes that looked like they carried the entire universe had an emptiness, but not in any vulnerable sense – raw anger. His growl was accompanied by deliberate slow punches. Jimin had never seen this side of him and it scared him. He knew deep down that that anger would never be directed at him. That kind of anger only served to protect. Then for a split second – just a split second – he wondered if he had killed the moron. That thought had him jumping out of bed. The tangled blankets on his feet caused him to miss his footing and he went crushing unceremoniously into the ground with a thud.

Jungkook who was in the kitchen heard the thump and scream that followed afterwards and he was up the stairs in no time. His heart pounded through his chest with the fear that maybe – just maybe Dae-Hyun had made his way into their home. He rushed into the room in a panic to find Jimin face down on the floor cursing.

"Babe!" He called frantically. "Are you okay?" He asked running beside Jimin to help him up.

An embarrassed Jimin brought his hands to his face and covered his eyes. A heavy blush made its way over his face. Well, this was embarrassing.

"What happened?" Jungkook asked as he helped the slender framed boy up.

"I just missed my footing is al," He said in embarrassment. He rubbed his aching elbow. "I was rushing out to look for you," he admitted.

As he tried to steady himself a pain shot through his ankle and he let out a pained scream. Could it get any worse? He felt Jungkook's strong arms lift him off the ground and place him on the bed.

“I am prescribing bed rest for you,” he commanded. “Let me get some ice for your ankle," he said as he propped Jimin against the headboard with enough pillows to mimic a cloud of comfort.

Back with the ice wrapped in a thin towel and some ointment, Jungkook placed the ice on his ankle and gently massaged it in this way and that. Jimin watched him quietly, searching his face. This face he liked – the warmth on it, the tenderness that it emitted was a complete contrast of what he had seen the previous night. It was like looking at a whole new person.

Jungkook could feel Jimin's piercing gaze. He tried to remain composed because in every way Jimin’s gaze always unnerved him.

"You are scary when you are angry," Jimin said breaking the silence.

He nodded, "I know," he acknowledged and continued to massage his foot.

"You know? It scared me shitless seeing you like that last night," Jimin continued. "That was... I mean... I...."

"You are wondering what would happen if I got angry at you right? Wondering if I would react in the same way?" He asked the questions that Jimin did not have the courage to ask. Jimin felt like he had read his mind. He regretted having those thoughts but to say that he wasn't afraid would be a lie. He had once been a victim of someone’s anger and he was not about to have a repeat of the same. He nodded.

Jungkook paused. He situated himself and pulled Jimin into his lap, with his hand below his chin he directed his gaze into his eyes. "Jimin, he was hurting someone I truly care about. That is not something I could not stand for. But I have to promise you this too, no matter how much you rile me up, I will never be mad at you to that point of anger. We will have our disagreements but they wouldn't be anything we can't talk about. I don't want to ever go to bed mad at you. So, put your pretty little head to rest. The person you saw yesterday will never resurface again. Well… unless someone is hurting what's mine."

"What's yours? So am I yours?" Jimin asked teasingly. He secretly liked when the gorgeous male before him staked his claim over him.

Their eyes locked. Did he really need answer? Jimin smiled and he wrapped his hands around his neck. Slowly he leaned down and planted a kiss on his lips. It was a simple kiss. Their lips brushed against each other innocently – not teasing but sincere – it expressed sincerity and appreciation for the fact the Jungkook was in his life. He wanted to tell Jungkook through that kiss that he was his world. Jimin went to pull away before he could lose himself but he couldn’t seem to. Jungkook pulled him in for deeper kiss. It was hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. In that minty moment, his senses had been seduced and he could no longer think straight.

“Jungkook,” he whispered slowly, prolonging each letter as if to savour them. He smile, his heart fluttering at his voice as he clasped his hands on either side of his face. Never before had his name ever felt so wonderful.

The sounding of the doorbell pulled them out of their passionate moment. The rest of the gang had arrived. They scrambled to get themselves together and proper enough to host company. They giggled as they ran downstairs, Jungkook leading the way and Jimin limping and wincing behind him.

"Shit! I forgot about your leg!" he cursed. He went back up and ask him to get on his back for a piggy ride. At this point the door bell was ringing incessantly. Jungkook, with Jimin still on his back went straight to open the door. The picture the two made the other’s jaws drop in amazement.

"I know you guys like each other that much but..." Jin began.

"Oh shut it! You guys wouldn't stop ringing the bell. Plus Jimin can't walk," Jungkook snapped back as he carefully placed Jimin on the sofa.

"Oh baby! What happened?" Jin asked sitting next to Jimin and started fussing over him.

"He fell off the bed," Jungkook responded before Jimin could say anything.

Again questionable looks went around.

"Is it that an extreme sport in your bedroom?" Tae blatantly asked.

His shameless question set the others reeling in laughter. After some good natured humor, everyone busied themselves with laying out the food from Jin's restaurant. Plates went around as they each piked food into a plate and passed it around. They all worked so well without bumping into each other one would think they had lived all their lives together. In no time, everyone had a plate in their hands and they easily fell into conversation.

Opening night had been a complete success.

"Much of the credit goes to Jimin. Seriously, your brain is amazing," Jin said. "Can we swap brains?"

Jimin smiled at the compliments but refused to take all the credit. "I can't take all the credit, everyone worked hard."

"We were just along for the ride, you and Jin carried most of the weight," Hobi chimed in.

They all nodded and continued to eat heartily. The food disappeared as fast as it had appeared and they moved onto talking about their next plans. They hadn't realized that both launches gave them purpose. The studio was mostly done and they started wondering what they would do to fill in the free time they now had. Hobi let them know that they were free to visit his dance studio anytime for some lessons.

It was a good morning. By midday, the group made plans on what to do with the rest if the day. They all agreed to go to the park for a couple of hours. Being outdoors would help them clear the claustrophobia they had developed from being indoors for the past few days. Jin and Namjoon would join them before they went to the restaurant in the evening. Hobi and Tae had other plans for later that evening and Yoongi would have to go get some things in order before his boyfriend got to town.

Jimin wouldn't let a twisted ankle get him down either. The pain had eased up and he just wanted to get out there and get some sun.

"I can't go with you guys," Jungkook said.

"Why not?" Asked a surprised Jimin.

"I have something urgent I need to take care of," he said.

"Can't it wait until later?" He asked.

"Unfortunately it can't," he replied avoiding his eyes.

"Come on baby! You know I need you there.

Please! Pretty please with cherries on top."

"I am sorry babe, I can't," he said.

"What is more important than spending time with me?" Jimin asked. He did not want to sound like a whiny brat but Jungkook’s new found plans shouldn’t have to take priority over them spending time together.

Jungkook shrugged. "Just some personal stuff."

The exchange between the two had everyone shifting their gaze from one to the other. Jimin considered his answer for a while. He was hurt but he reluctantly agreed. “Fine!” Jimin said a little angry. He would just go and have fun without him.

Jungkook cleared out the dirty dishes and headed to the kitchen. Sensing the tension, Jin followed him. The Jungkook he knew he was hiding something.

“Jungkook, care to explain what that was all about?” he began. “You know Jimin needs you, especially now and you are being sneaky.”

"I know!" He whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" Jin asked in a whisper.

"Hyung, I need your help. I want to prepare a surprise for Jimin and that's why I can't go. I also don't want him to guess or be mad at me. So I need your help."

"Awwww," Jin gushed. He had literal hearts in his eyes. "What do you need me to do?"

"A couple of things actually. First I need to make a dinner order – food and wine from the restaurant. Can someone come over to cook or can they deliver?" He asked.

"Either is available, which one would you like?"

"Please send someone over at around four o’clock to cook. Also, I need you to keep Jimin occupied until later maybe around seven p.m. is that okay?" Jungkook asked.

"That's easy, you know me," He said winking and joined the rest of the group in the sitting room as them gathered their things to leave.

***

With everyone gone, Jungkook got busy. Jimin had tried one more time to get him to come along but he had been unsuccessful. It took all he had for Jungkook to say no to the cuteness he was displaying. He got on the phone placed orders for the supplies he needed. Jin had called two of his best chefs and let them know about the dinner they had to make and provided the address. As he waited for delivery, he got busy with tidying up the house. He had about five hours and that wasn't much time, so he had to work fast.

In the heart of the city, Jin and Namjoon kept Jimin occupied. They shopped from one store to another and had an all-round good time. Even as he enjoyed himself, Jimin felt it would have been better if Jungkook had come along. Why was he being so cryptic? He could smell a rat, he just couldn’t locate it.

A day wasn’t a day if Jimin did not have Jungkook at heart and so when he saw a gift that was fit for Jungkook, he did not hesitate to buy it – a sweet camera bag for his camera and stuff. And so the hours flew by.

"I am a little hungry, we should grab a bite," Jimin whined for the fifth time.

Jungkook's instructions were clear. He wasn't allowed to eat.

"How about we get a couple more things done and then eat at my restaurant?" Jin suggested. He agreed. He could wait a little longer. As they went around, he forgot about eating entirely. It had been a while since he shopped until he dropped. Whoever said shopping was therapy was right.

"Hey Jimin, we have to pop by the restaurant, how about we order you a taxi home?" Jin asked.

"I can go home later, should I come by the restaurant with you guys?" Jimin asked.

"Actually, uhhh... it's kind of like a date thing," Jin said shyly.

Jimin got the message loud and clear. He was a little disappointed that he wouldn’t get to eat but he could whip something real quick at home or order in. So he agreed to head home. A pang of jealousy hit him. Why of all the days did Jungkook have to be busy?

As they waved him goodbye, Jin pulled out his phone and called Jungkook.

“He is on his way. He should be there shortly,” he said.

“Thanks Jin, you are the best,” Jungkook replied.

“Is everything set?”

“Yes it is. The food is delicious hyung. I will remember to live a big tip to your staff.”

“Jimin deserves the best. He is a good one so make it count okay?”

“Yes I will. I owe you one,” Jungkook replied with excitement.

“Don’t sweat it. Go take care of your honey,” he replied and hung up.

Jungkook was nervous about. Would Jimin like it? He hoped this would be enough to show Jimin how much he cared about him. He went through the house one more time to make sure everything was okay and set. He was nervous and he kept glancing through the window.

A short while later, the taxi pulled up in the driveway. After paying the taxi fare, Jimin limped up to the house. He felt sweaty and sticky. He couldn't wait to peel the clothes off of him and take a shower or even soak in a nice warm long bath. While it was fall, it was relatively warm today and with all the walking he had done, he got sweaty.

Before he inserted the key in, the door flew open and Jungkook placed a blindfold over his eyes.

•••