Can't Be Without You | Jungkook

Part 6

"Oh, not an issue! I wish I knew," you say apologetically.

You turn to Jin and introduce the two, and you're unaware of how nervous and embarrassed Jungkook feels.

"Hi," Jin says, hand out for your best friend to shake. "I've heard so many things about you. I'm glad I finally get to meet you," he continues, his smile so genuine and pleasant.

"You too," Jungkook says as he returns the handshake. "What do you want to have?"

"Oh, no I'm okay. I've eaten too many sweets this whole day," Jin laughs as he turns to you.

He hands out the payment to Jungkook and you don't miss the uncomfortable look on his face. You're unsure exactly why he looks that way, and your chest tightens at the sight.

"Do you have a break? Maybe you can come join us when you do," Jin asks.

You look at your best friend, your eyes wishing for him to agree.

"Yeah, I'll be on break in half an hour. I can maybe catch up a bit with you then," Jungkook responds, an almost genuine smile painted on his face.

"Sure, sounds great!" Jin says, bringing you towards the direction of a popping balloon game.

You both stay in the vicinity, playing games and finishing your dessert. Jungkook peeks every once in a while and sees you feed Jin, sees you doubling over and patting his arm to laugh at what he's saying; Jungkook sees you look up at Jin with nothing but a smile and a calm look on your face, and Jungkook suddenly realizes that he hasn't seen that laugh and that smile around him in a long while.

Even when you're not treating his battered face and bruised body, even when he's over for a movie and dinner, you're always just worried, always have an apprehensive and tense look on your face. Recently, there's been a smidgen of doubt too, because you can never be too sure if he's telling you the truth or if there's another secret he's hiding.

With Jin, you seem free. You're not bound by responsibilities, not plagued with distress and concern. With Jin, you seem happy.

Jungkook doesn't know why that suddenly makes him feel incapable, undeserving, inadequate; he doesn't know why suddenly, the thought of you being happy with someone else worries and immobilizes him.

Half an hour later, you wave towards Jungkook to let him know the bench in which you'll be waiting for him.

You watch him from afar, heart softening at how tenderly he engages with the little boy. Jungkook has his signature soft, toothy smile and looks at the boy's eyes when he talks.

You gush at the thought that Jungkook is meant for this; he's meant to engage with people, meant to make them feel cared for even for that very short period of time, meant to accommodate their every need and never make them feel like it's an inconvenience for him. He's meant to make other people happy through food, whether he's serving or making them himself. That's the Jungkook you know.

Not long after, he jogs towards you and Jin, surprise laced on his face as he sits across from you and you push forward a plate and brown bags of various desserts, as well as a large berry shake.

"It was Jin's idea," you smile.

Jungkook turns to the man in question.

"She said you two would use up your money to buy all the desserts you could," Jin shrugs, a shy smile adorning his face. He wishes he doesn't seem too forward or even pretentious, but you're important to him, and Jungkook is important to you; it just feels right.

"Thank you, this is very sweet," Jungkook says, and you all laugh at the pun.

The three of you engage in conversation until Jin excuses himself to go to the washroom, leaving you alone with your best friend.

"I still have my best friend privileges, right?" Jungkook asks.

You cock an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"So why am I not informed of... this," he gestures towards you and the space next to you where Jin had been.

You laugh at his effort, but you know what he means. "I told you, we're just hanging out as friends," you explain.

"A friend doesn't take you to dinner and show up with an expensive bouquet of flowers, ___. He doesn't take you to fancy parties and offer to buy you dresses. A friend..." Jungkook pauses and sees the flushed look on your face. "Doesn't try to get your best friend's seal of approval if he wants to be just friends," he continues, munching on his 4th piece of mochi in the last 5 minutes.

He cocks you an eyebrow paired with a smirk, as if to mask the nervousness that he's feeling at the thought of you possibly dating Jin.

"Look, Kook. Those flowers and fancy events are just staple for him, okay? Like I told you, we're just getting to know each other, it's nothing serious. We just happen to enjoy each other's company and if there's anything that springs from there, great! If not, then that's fine, too. It's just..." You pause.

You don't want to make Jungkook feel bad with what you're about to say, but it's the truth. "He makes me feel carefree, you know? Makes me forget how hard things are, like at work and stuff."

And stuff. Jungkook aches at the words. He doesn't think you'd have the heart to tell him, your best friend, that you're finding comfort in another person because of him, because he's one of the reasons why things are hard for you.

"Jin and I are just friends, Kook. I'd tell you otherwise, you know that," you affirm him.

"I know, I just want to make sure he knows I can kick his ass if he tries to hurt you," Jungkook says as he rolls up his sleeves to expose his forearms and prove a point, playing off the tinge of sadness and jealousy he's starting to feel.

You laugh at his antics. "Yes, Kook. Jin knows what you do, and I'm sure he knows not to mess with you or me," you say, playing off the tinge of sadness and longing you're starting to feel.

Jin returns with a plush unicorn and hands it to a startled and confused you. "I figured out the physics of knocking over those milk bottles," he says, almost breathless.

You laugh at him. "Did you really?" You ask, not to doubt his capabilities but you know how rigged those games are.

"Okay, fine, I may have just hit ¾ of it and paid some amount to get the toy. I think the woman just felt bad for me," he laughs, though you don't miss the blush painting his cheeks.

You smile at him, your own cheeks starting to hurt a little. You hold the stuffed toy close to you and give him your thanks.

Jungkook looks at you and Jin, with the affectionate way the man is looking at you, and the way you return it, too. He's sweet, caring, considerate, and ridiculously good-looking. More than anything, he's stable and secure; probably doesn't give you a headache nor worry you to death, and definitely doesn't show up at your place bruised and battered and barely breathing. He has so much to offer you, much more than Jungkook ever could.

**