He should probably take Jeongguk as an example, drink some beers with their mutual friends and be civil.
It’s just, he never expected to see Jeongguk so.. differently. The past years when he imagined their reunion in any form, Jeongguk would still look like that emo kid with a bowl cut, the eyeliner, the beanie, the flannels. Back then, he used to be the talkative one, Jeongguk would never initiate. But now..
Ah, he still can’t get over how much Jeongguk changed. Not only his appearance but his confidence too, the way he laughs so carefree, stands tall, how he was the one carrying their conversations the past couple of times.
Yeah, he should take an example. Sitting in the sand half the time reminiscing won’t really fix anything. Plus, this used to be his friend group too, before he moved away and sort of lost contact.
It’s his own fault. Anything that reminded him of Jeongguk hurt, even friends.
So yeah, it is a little awkward, but Taehyung drags him through the first conversations. Namjoon and Hoseok are the easiest to talk to, it’s like they’ve never really been apart for that long. Jin and Yoongi take a little longer to warm up again, but along the span of the day, conversations go a little smoother.
It’s a bunch of “hey what were you up to the past years?” Just general catching up between swimming, playing foot volley and having a beer.
He stays away from Jeongguk mostly, each time he sees him walk up, he conveniently has to do something on the opposite side of the beach.
Taehyung keeps giving him looks whenever he sneaks away but he’s just..
Freaking out.
He’s freaking out.
And it’s not even just because Jeongguk and him used to date it’s more so that Jeongguk is hot with a capital H. He can’t handle the full extent of that sleeve tattoo, can’t handle the outline of his abs nor the slope of his pecs and what he can’t handle most of all is Jeongguk wet.
His jet black hair all messy and wavy from the salt, his piercings glinting in the sunlight and his sun-kissed face, the slight blush of sun-burn on his nose and cheeks, that smile.
Every time he spots it from afar his heart does a fucking flip and it sucks soooooo bad.
He broke up with Jeongguk, he has no right to thirst after him years later. This is the universe punishing him for breaking his heart, he just knows it.
It’s when Namjoon initiates another foot volleyball session with everyone that he tries sneaking away to the ocean, but Taehyung catches his wrist.
“Jeongguk, Jimin and I against you, Yoongi, Jin, and Hoseok.”
No. Fuck.
“That’s 3 against 4 though, aren’t you too confident right now?” Hoseok asks.
“Come on, you, Namjoon and Yoongi are disastrous, I’m giving you Jin so you stand an actual chance.”
“Fine.” Namjoon throws the ball at Taehyung. “Your serve then.”
Oh no.
This is not good.
He’s been able to handle Jeongguk from afar just barely— now they’re on the same team.
“Let’s do a chant.” Taehyung proposes, already reaches out his hand. “To secure our victory.”
Jeongguk easily lies his hand on top.
Jimin looks at it, bites his tongue and pretends he does not care one bit how he puts his hand right on top of Jeongguk’s.
It’s warm.
His fingers twitch.
A memory of sitting next to Jeongguk in the park on the grass, just a regular hangout with their friends, watching the cherry blossoms. Everyone laughing and talking while they inched closer. The first time he ever dared to touch Jeongguk’s hand, barely, a graze of their fingers..
Yeah, this is the worst.
He doesn’t even hear what Taehyung says, he just moves his hand for the chant and then pulls back as quickly as possible.
“Losers have to buy groceries.”
Oh god that makes it worse.
He does not want to be stuck doing groceries with Jeongguk.
“Let’s go!”
It turns out Taehyung is right, Namjoon, Hoseok, and Yoongi make for a very bad foot volley team. Whenever Yoongi receives he looks like he’s in pain, Hoseok screams “me” and then doesn’t go for it, and Namjoon’s coordination is just about the same as a 6 year old’s.
It’s Jin they really have to watch out for, he’s a master at misdirection, calls Namjoon’s name but then sneakily kicks it over the net, points at Yoongi but then kicks it to Hoseok.
Jimin is actually laughing, just a little bit, but every time they receive the ball he’s extremely aware of Jeongguk’s eyes on him, which makes him miss more than he usually would.
“Wow, Jimin, you used to be foot volley king, what’s going on?” Taehyung pushes his shoulder, but the glint in those eyes is enough to tell him that he knows exactly what’s going on.
Little shit.
Who would be able to concentrate anyway? There is an entire upside down triangle in front of him. Broad back, tiny waist, nice ass. Jeongguk is obnoxiously good too, athletic, focused, nice saves, agile. It’s unfortunately the hottest thing ever.
But he has to focus, can’t let the other team win and be stuck doing groceries for another hour with Jeongguk.
It’s a close call, it comes down to the last points and Jimin is so determined to win that when a high ball comes flying over the net he goes for it this time.
And of course, the universe, it fucks him over.
The court lines are made of these long elastic bands, they are a very visible colour green which would probably help one to avoid them, but his foot gets caught in it anyway, and he trips.
But that’s not the worst part, if he would have just tripped and fallen, that would have been fine. However Jeongguk, stupid, well-mannered Jeongguk, tries to catch him, but ends up falling right on top of him.
“Fuck— sorry hyung.”
The others laugh— it’s probably funny. He would laugh too if Jeongguk wasn’t lying on top of him, half-naked. It’s less than a second in reality, but within it, the heat of Jeongguk’s chest against his own, a warm hand around his waist, those silver lip rings right in his line of vision, a concerned glance, big brown puppy eyes, another “you okay?” barely a breath.
He’s so weak, nods lightly.
Jeongguk is off of him the next second, offers him a hand.
He can’t not take it.
When Jeongguk pulls him up he uses just a little too much power, Jimin ends up way too close to him for another slow passing second.
Heat rushes to his face.
Jeongguk doesn’t seem affected in the least, he just laughs softly, brushes the sand off his back so easily.
“You went all out for that one.”
If he was one percent cooler, he would have said something funny. He ends up making a weird sound, hates himself for it.
Jeongguk looks at him then, from one eye to the other, face just a little too close. A small smile pulls on his lips.
“You’re must be really adamant on avoiding me, hm?”
Fuck.
“No— of course not.” He clears his throat. “I just— I just hate.. doing.. groceries.”
A beat passes.
Jeongguk’s smile stretches even more, and he nods slowly.
“Uh-huh.”
He’s hot. So hot. Painfully hot.
This is not the Jeongguk he dated all those years ago. This is an entirely different entity. Since when does Jeon Jeongguk tease?
“Well, we lost thanks to you so, guess you’ll have to face your fears.” Jeongguk says, amused glint in his eyes. “I know shopping carts can be scary.”
Ah, fuck.
How is he gonna survive being in this guy’s proximity?