Chapter Text
joonie hyung
don’t forget about dinner with mom tomorrow night.
she’s expecting to meet your “boyfriend”.
Jeongguk audibly groans at the messages from Namjoon. Every month their mother has them come home from university for dinner to catch up and spend time with them. Usually it ends up in her interrogating Jeongguk on how he should be dating like his older brother Namjoon, and at their last dinner he had finally caved and said that he was. Of course that was a lie and now here he is staring at the message his brother left him, regretting what he’s about to do.
Instead of answering, Jeongguk pockets the device and looks up at the boy he plans to ask to help him with his little problem who is currently very focused on the book in front of him. Park Jimin, the most popular dancer on campus. He’s well known for being extremely studious, never going out, and always being at a particular corner of the library starting at four pm sharp every Friday either doing work or just with his nose in a book. If he’s not at the library, he’s in the practice studios, and that’s pretty much all he does. Jeongguk has spoken to him on several occasions, they’ve been paired for a group project (that Jimin did most of) in a past class they shared together and he was close with Jimin’s roommate Hoseok, so they’ve said hi to each other in passing but that’s about it. They don’t know each other well by any means, yet somehow Jeongguk has convinced himself that this is a good idea.
Jeongguk takes a deep breath before making his way over to Jimin’s corner of the library. The older is very focused on whatever is in front of him and doesn’t seem to notice Jeongguk standing there. Jeongguk clears his throat awkwardly, “Uh hi.”
Jimin looks up quickly, seemingly startled by Jeongguk’s sudden appearance, “Jeongguk?” he asks while closing his book and pushing up the glasses that had slid down his nose, “What are you doing here?”
“I have a question.” Jeongguk replies looking at the chair across from Jimin, “Can I sit?”
“I don’t know where Hoseok hyung is if that’s what you’re going to ask.”
Jeongguk shakes his head, “No that’s not it.”
“Okay then…sit…”
“Before I start you have to promise to hear me out all the way through, until I’m done talking. Okay?”
Jimin eyes him curiously, “Okay…”
“So my mother does this thing every month. She has me and my brother Namjoon, maybe you know him, come home for dinner every month to catch up and she's always nagging me about dating so I ended up kind of lying and saying that I was dating someone.” Jeongguk explains, taking a deep breath before asking the real question, “Anyway she’s expecting to meet my nonexistent boyfriend tomorrow night so I was wondering if…if you would come with me and play my boyfriend.”
“You want me to fake being your boyfriend? For your mother?” Jimin echoes.
“Yeah…” Hearing Jimin say it out loud makes Jeongguk feel more embarrassed than he already is, if that is even possible.
Jimin’s eyes go wide, “Why would I do that? Why me? We hardly know each other.”
“Well you’re smart, kind, cute, and you kind of just give off the vibe that parents would like you.” Jeongguk explains, “Also, my mother has met all my friends.”
“Did you just call me cute?”
“Don’t get all in your head about it, it’s not like I have a crush on you or whatever you’re thinking.”
Jimin rolls his eyes, “Whatever. Say I agree, what is in it for me?”
“I don’t know, I’ll take you to a party? I know you never get asked to those.” Jeongguk shrugs.
“I stopped getting invited because everyone learned I wouldn’t show up.” Jimin argues, “I have a better idea. If I agree to be your fake boyfriend then you have to dance with me.”
Jeongguk raises an eyebrow, “What are you talking about?”
“I’m a dance major, which means I have a final showcase at the end of the year. My routine requires a partner. I’ll be your fake boyfriend if you’ll agree to be my dance partner.”
Jeongguk chuckles, “I don’t dance, I haven't in years. Besides, I only need you for one night.”
“We both know one night is going to turn into more. So I’ll extend my services to you for more than one night as long as you dance with me.” Jimin pauses and flicks his eyes up and down Jeongguk, “Your physique is good enough and I’m an excellent teacher. Your part of the choreography wouldn’t be that intense anyway.”
Jeongguk takes a moment to think before finally saying, “Fine, I’ll dance with you and in exchange you’ll pretend to be my boyfriend for my mother as much as I need.” It’s not like Jeongguk has much of a choice anyay.
Jimin nods, “I agree.”
Jeongguk gets Jimin’s number and tells him he’ll text him the details about tomorrow's dinner. As he walks away he’s left wondering, what did I just get myself into?
****
“Jeon Jeongguk asked me to be his fake boyfriend.” Jimin announces as he walks into his apartment where Taehyung is waiting for him. Taehyung is more like Jimin’s roommate than Hoseok, who unlike Taehyung is never actually there. Jimin let Taehyung know where he hid the spare key so his best friend, and platonic soulmate, could get in whenever Jimin wanted him to. Hoseok never questioned it.
“What? Boyfriend!?” Taehyung gasps, “Did you say yes?”
“ Fake boyfriend.” Jimin elaborates as he sets down his things and drops down on the couch next to Taehyung. “And yes, I agreed.”
“Why? What does the Jeon Jeongguk need a fake boyfriend for?”
“I guess he lied to his mom about having a boyfriend so now I get to go to dinner with them so he won’t get caught in that lie.” Jimin explains, “I got him to agree to be my dance partner for my final showcase in return.”
Taehyung laughs “You’re going to teach Jeongguk how to dance? Min, are you serious?”
“He’s danced before, just not in my style…” Jimin pouts, “I can do it.”
“Wait, if you're going to be close with Jeongguk now does that mean you can set me up with his brother?”
Jimin rolls his eyes, “First of all Jeongguk and I will not be close, ever. Second of all, no, I will not entertain your hopeless crush on Namjoon. Isn’t he seeing someone anyway?”
“People talk!” Taehyung defends, “I hear it won’t last.”
Jimin gets up from the couch and picks up his things to head back to his room, “I’m not setting you guys up.”
“Fine, but at least say you’ll come to a party with me tonight!” Taehyung calls after Jimin.
“Can’t! Studying!” Jimin calls back.
Taehyung groans, “Boorringg!”
“No way you did not ask Park Jimin to act like your boyfriend.” Hoseok laughs over the loud music, “Aren’t him and Kim Taehyung fucking or something? I mean he practically lives at our place.”
Jeongguk shrugs as he sips the beer in his hand, “Don’t know, don’t care. It’s not like we’re actually seeing each other.”
“Do you want to be?” Hoseok asks wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, “Does our Jeongukkie have a little crush?”
Jeongguk rolls his eyes, “No absolutely not. He’s way too boring and nerdy to be my type.”
“Who is?” Taehyung asks, appearing out of nowhere and settling himself down next to Hoseok and throwing his arm around him, “I hope we aren’t talking about my Jimin.”
Jeongguk chuckles, “Your Jimin.” he echoes under his breath.
“Yes, as a matter of fact we were just talking about your boyfriend.” Hoseok answers, while putting a drink in Taehyung’s hand.
Taehyung takes a drink of the liquor that was placed in his hand and scrunches his nose, “He’s not my boyfriend and he’s not boring either! Just a little too responsible for his own good.”
“So you two aren’t fucking?” Hoseok asks.
“Have you ever heard us?”
Hoseok takes a moment to think, “No.”
“Then there’s your answer.”
“How does that mean anything?” Jeongguk asks, finally speaking up, “He could just be quiet.”
“Between you and me Min is a loud lover, there’s no keeping him quiet. I learned that when we lived together during our first year.” Taehyung smiles “but maybe you’ll learn that on your own too.”
Jeongguk chokes on his drink, “As if.”
“So does that mean you’re available?” Hoseok asks Taehyung with a smirk.
Taehyung leans in closer to Hoseok, giving the older hope that maybe he’ll kiss him only to whisper, “Not for you.” into his ear, causing him to pout. Taehyung gives a satisfied laugh before standing up and turning to Jeongguk, “Well I’m going to mingle, have fun on your date tomorrow Jeongguk.”
Jeongguk only frowns, not caring enough to respond.
****
“How did we meet?” Jimin asks, picking at the pastry on his plate. Jeongguk had asked him to meet at a cafe on campus so they could get their backstory straight for dinner that night. Jimin feels a bit uncomfortable so he keeps his focus on the pastry.
Jeongguk shrugs, “I don’t know.”
“You really didn’t think this through, did you?”
“No, not really. I was half expecting you to refuse so…”
Jimin sighs, “Okay well there’s no need to lie too much, right?” he asks, finally looking up at Jeongguk, “You’re friends with Hoseok hyung, he’s my roommate, so we say we met through mutual friends and just hit it off. Hyung is also into my best friend so our friend groups really are meshed, the only lie is that we ‘hit it off’.”
“You know about Hobi hyung’s crush?” Jeongguk asks.
“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious. Tae won’t reciprocate because he has a massive crush on your brother.”
“Namjoon?” Jimin nods and Jeongguk chuckles, “He’s dating someone.”
“People say it won’t last.” Jimin shrugs, “Anyway, that’s not the point. Does my back story work or not?”
“It does, it’s easier for us to keep a story straight if not much of it is a lie anyway.”
Jimin hums in agreement, “Okay, how long have we known each other?”
“Two years?” Jeongguk suggests, “That’s when you moved in with Hobi, right?”
“How long have we been dating?”
“You ask a lot of questions.” Jimin gives an unimpressed look and Jeongguk sighs, “Okay fine, like a month. That was the last dinner I had with my mother and when I told her about ‘us’.”
“Ok so just to recap, we met two years ago, we’ve been dating for a month now, and we started dating because we hit it off when we met through mutual friends.”
“Sounds right.” Jeongguk confirms as he begins to stand up, “Now if we’re done here-”
Jimin cuts him off by grabbing his wrist, “We’re not.”
“We’re not?” Jimin only stares, not letting his wrist free until Jeongguk sighs and sits back down, “What do you want?”
“We still have to discuss my end of the deal do we not?”
“What is there to discuss? I’m dancing with you, I already know that.”
Jimin pulls a small binder out of the bag hanging on his chair and slides it over to Jeongguk, “This is for you.”
“And this is…?” Jeongguk asks as he stares at what appears to be a series of spreadsheets in front of him.
“That is a color coded schedule of when we’ll be meeting at the studio and what we’ll be working on dating all the way up to the final showcase. I dumbed it down as much as possible, there’s even a legend explaining what everything means.” Jimin explains.
Jeongguk raises an eyebrow, “Dumbed it down?”
“Made it easier to follow.” Jimin corrects himself, “Anyway, I expect you there on time , not late.” He makes sure he stresses the ‘on time’ part.
Jeongguk rolls his eyes, “Whatever, I’ll be there.” he says, “Now if I’m free to go now, I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Yeah, see you at seven.”
****
Jimin stares at his reflection in the mirror, smoothing out his hair and outfit one last time. Jeongguk hadn’t given him a dress code so he put on a white button up with a couple buttons undone tucked into a pair of black trousers and accessorized with an array of silver jewelry. He figured it was a classic and safe look and he couldn’t go wrong with it.
When Jeongguk finally arrives to pick Jimin up he chuckles as the older climbs into his passenger seat. Jimin immediately frowns, “What are you laughing at?”
Jeongguk very obviously checks Jimin out before asking, “What are you wearing?”
“Clothes?”
Jeongguk rolls his eyes as he starts to drive, “No shit Park, I mean why are you so dressed up?”
“Well Jeon you didn’t give me a dress code and it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.” Jimin huffs.
Jeongguk chuckles again and shakes his head, “Whatever you say.”
The rest of the car ride is silent and gives Jimin a lot of time to start thinking about what he just got himself into. He looks over at Jeongguk for a moment and realizes the younger is only dressed in a baggy gray long sleeve top and baggy cargo pants. Suddenly Jimin starts to get nervous, he feels overdressed and he’s never been great at lying so he’s scared he won’t get his story straight. He figures he can let Jeongguk do most of the talking, this was his idea anyway. Jimin always tends to be more reserved so it’s not that far out of character. You’re just overthinking this, Jimin tells himself, it’s not like you’re actually meeting your real boyfriend’s mother. He hopes the dinner won’t last too long and even more he hopes he’ll only have to get through this dinner and then will never be asked to be around Jeongguk’s family again. Before he has a chance to get too much in his head though Jeongguk is stopping the car and announcing they’ve arrived. Jimin takes one last breath before getting out of the car and sending one last silent plea to the universe to let the night go well.
Jeongguk knocks once on the door before letting himself inside. He slips into a pair of house slippers and slides an extra pair towards Jimin, laughing under his breath when he realizes how big the slides are on the older’s feet. Jimin ignores him, too focused on trying to calm his nerves a bit more, and follows quietly behind.
“Kookie! Nice to see you!” A woman exclaims as they walk into the dining room, embracing Jeongguk into a hug.
Jeongguk grimaces at the nickname, “Mom please, enough with the nickname.” Jimin has to hold back a giggle at the fact that big bad boy Jeongguk is called ‘Kookie’ at home.
When the woman lets Jeongguk go she immediately turns to Jimin with a big smile, “You must be the boyfriend I’ve heard so much about.”
Jimin put on his kindest smile, “Yes, I’m Jimin. It’s nice to meet you Ms. Jeon.” he holds his hand out for a handshake and is surprised when he’s pulled into a tight hug insead.
“Please, Chaewon is just fine. You’re family now.” she says when she lets Jimin go, “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“We should eat.” Jeongguk says, coming to Jimin’s rescue.
Chaewon nods quickly, “Yes, please Jimin have a seat.”
Jimin ends up sitting across from Namjoon, and his boyfriend Seokjin, who both give him surprised looks, obviously not expecting to see him there. Jimin only shrugs slightly and gives a look that says he’s just as surprised as they are to be here. A modest spread of food is laid out on the table and after Chaewon gives the go ahead they all begin to fill their plates. Once everyone has finished getting their food is when the conversation Jimin has been dreading all day begins.
Just as Jimin had hoped, Jeongguk does most of the talking. He answers all the obvious questions about how they met and when they began going out without having Jimin chime in at all. It’s when all that is finished that the conversation gets directed towards him and he can no longer avoid talking.
“So Jimin, what are you studying?” Chaewon asks.
“I’m studying dance, with a focus in contemporary.”
“Oh that’s interesting!” Chaewon says excitedly, “And what would you like to do with that?”
Jimin appreciates the kind reaction, most parents aren’t jumping with joy when he reveals he’s going to school for dance. “I’d like to choreograph, maybe for an idol company or something like that.”
“He’s really good.” Seokjin chimes in, “I’ve seen him in a couple showcases.” Namjoon also hums in agreement. Jeongguk nods along as well, probably just because he feels like he has to. Jimin knows the younger has never seen him dance.
“I’m sure you’ll go far Jimin. I hope I can see you dance soon.” Chaewon says and Jimin only smiles kindly in response.
The rest of the dinner goes smoothly, the conversation eventually moves away from Jimin and onto Namjoon and Seokjin. Jimin doesn’t chime in too much, only when he feels like he has to, and before he knows it he and Jeongguk are on their way out. Chaewon gives Jimin one last tight hug and says he’s welcome over anytime to which Jimin only smiles and nods again. He feels a bit guilty about lying to such a sweet woman. He sees her whisper something to Jeongguk and then they’re out the door.
“That went well.” Jeongguk says once they’re driving back to campus, “She told me she really likes you.”
Jimin breathes a sigh of relief, “Well that’s good to hear, but now what? We aren’t really dating.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I’m dancing with you for the rest of the year, so I have time.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
The rest of the car ride is silent. There’s an awkward tension between them that Jimin hopes won’t last through the whole time they spend together, especially because it will show on stage when they dance if it’s not resolved. Jeongguk doesn’t bother to mutter even a goodbye when he drops Jimin off, but he’s not surprised. It takes all of two seconds after Jimin climbs out of the car for the younger to speed off into the night.