Chasing Dreams (Jikook) - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

A New Routine
For the past week, Jungkook had been following the same routine.
At 5 PM, he would head to the restaurant where Jimin worked, staying hidden in the shadows as he watched Jimin rush around in his ridiculous chicken costume.
At midnight, he would quietly trail behind as Jimin walked home alone, making sure he got back safely.
And every time, he would tell himself—
“I’ll talk to him today.”
But he never did.
He was never good at words.
And now, after everything he had done, what could he even say?
Jimin’s Exhaustion
Tonight was no different.
Jungkook stood across the street, hidden behind a tree, watching as Jimin stumbled out of the restaurant after his shift.
His legs looked weak, and his arms trembled as he held onto the wall for support.
Jungkook’s chest tightened.
Jimin was exhausted.
He could see it in the way his shoulders slumped, in the way his feet dragged against the pavement.
He wanted to step forward.
To offer Jimin his arm.
To walk beside him.
To tell him—
"You don't have to do this alone."
But his feet stayed glued to the ground.
Because he knew—
Jimin didn’t want him anymore.
A Silent Presence
Jungkook followed, as always, keeping his distance.
The streets were mostly empty, with only a few streetlights flickering dimly.
Jimin rubbed his eyes sleepily, barely aware of his surroundings.
Jungkook clenched his fists.
What if someone dangerous approached him?
What if something happened and Jungkook wasn’t there to protect him?
A sudden thought crossed his mind.
Did Jimin even eat today?
Jungkook frowned.
Jimin had been skipping meals lately.
He knew, because back in university—Jimin would always eat happily while shoving food toward Jungkook, forcing him to take a bite.
Now?
Jimin barely touched his own food.
His frame looked thinner, his skin paler.
And Jungkook hated it.
He hated knowing that Jimin was suffering while he could only stand and watch.
The Cold Night
Jimin shivered as a cold breeze blew through the streets.
Jungkook immediately noticed.
Jimin wasn’t wearing a jacket.
His uniform was thin, and the night was getting colder.
Jungkook instinctively reached for his own jacket, fingers tightening around the fabric—
But he hesitated.
Would Jimin even accept it?
Probably not.
His heart ached as he watched Jimin hug himself, rubbing his arms for warmth.
And in that moment, Jungkook swore under his breath.
Screw it.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and—
Tossed his jacket toward Jimin’s back before quickly retreating into the shadows.
Jimin froze.
Slowly, he turned around, eyes scanning the empty street.
But Jungkook had already disappeared into the darkness.
Jimin’s brows furrowed in confusion as he picked up the jacket, recognizing it instantly.
"Jungkook…?"
His fingers tightened around the fabric.
But instead of dropping it—
He held it close.
And for the first time in weeks, a tiny smile tugged at his lips.
Jimin’s Hidden Pain
Jimin sat at the small dining table in his apartment, staring blankly at the steaming cup of tea in front of him.
It had been weeks since he last had a proper conversation with Jungkook.
After hearing those words—the way Jungkook just stood there, silently agreeing as Sungho insulted him—he had walked away.
And since then, he had done his best to stay away.
But why?
Why did his heart still ache whenever he thought about Jungkook?
Why did he still feel his stomach twist every time he accidentally saw him from a distance?
"He never even liked me."
That thought alone should have been enough to erase all of these emotions.
And yet, deep inside… he still wanted to believe that maybe—just maybe—Jungkook had started to care, even just a little.
He sighed and shook his head.
No. He couldn’t let himself fall into that trap again.
Jimin needed to move forward.
But first, he needed to talk to someone.
The Conversation Begins
Jimin met Taehyung at their favorite ramen shop the next day.
It had been a while since they properly hung out, and as soon as Taehyung saw him, his face lit up.
Taehyung: “Jimin! Finally! I was about to come to your apartment and drag you out myself.”
Jimin smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
They ordered their food, and for the first few minutes, everything felt normal.
But Jimin knew he couldn’t keep this to himself any longer.
So he finally spoke.
Jimin: “Taehyung… I think Jungkook still cares about me.”
Taehyung, who was happily slurping his noodles, immediately froze.
Slowly, he put his chopsticks down and stared at Jimin.
Taehyung: “…Excuse me?”
Jimin hesitated before pulling out Jungkook’s jacket from his bag and placing it on the table.
Jimin: “The other night… he left this for me.”
Taehyung’s face darkened.
Taehyung: “And you think that means something?”
Jimin bit his lip.
Jimin: “I don’t know, but… he’s been following me.”
Taehyung’s expression turned cold.
Taehyung: “That doesn’t mean he cares, Jimin.”
Jimin swallowed hard, but Taehyung wasn’t done.
His voice was firm, his eyes filled with anger.
Taehyung: “You spent months chasing after him. You did everything for him—cooked for him, cheered for him, stuck by him even when he ignored you. He never cared back then. Not once.”
Jimin’s grip on the jacket tightened.
Taehyung: “And now that you’re gone, now that you’re not running after him anymore—he suddenly wants to look for you?”
Taehyung leaned closer, his voice low and dangerous.
Taehyung: “That’s not caring, Jimin. That’s guilt.”
Jimin felt his heart sink.
Guilt.
Was that really all it was?
He didn’t know why, but hearing that hurt more than anything else.
Jimin: “…Maybe.”
Taehyung let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair.
Taehyung: “Look, I’m not trying to be cruel, but I’m your best friend. And as your best friend, I won’t let you get hurt again.”
Jimin lowered his gaze.
Taehyung: “I watched you break because of him, Jimin. I saw how hard you tried to act like you were okay, how you forced yourself to smile. But I knew the truth.”
Jimin’s hands clenched into fists.
Taehyung: “Don’t let him pull you back in.”
The words hit deep.
Because part of Jimin still wanted to believe in Jungkook.
That maybe, after everything, he really did feel something.
But what if Taehyung was right?
What if this was just guilt?
What if, once Jungkook felt like he had done enough to ease his conscience, he’d go back to acting like Jimin never existed?
Jimin inhaled shakily.
Jimin: “…I won’t do anything stupid, Tae.”
Taehyung narrowed his eyes.
Taehyung: “Promise me.”
Jimin hesitated before finally nodding.
Jimin: “…I promise.”
But even as he said it—
He knew his heart wasn’t fully convinced.
Because deep inside, a small part of him still wanted to believe in Jungkook.
Trying to Forget
Jimin wanted to forget.
He needed to forget.
But how could he, when he knew Jungkook was always there?
Jimin wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t clueless. He knew that every night when he walked home, someone was following him.
It wasn’t a threatening presence.
It was familiar.
It was him.
At first, Jimin thought he was imagining things. Maybe he was just paranoid. But soon, he started noticing the little things—
The sound of footsteps stopping whenever he turned around.
The shadow lurking at a distance whenever he left work.
The way he never truly felt alone.
And when he finally paid attention, he caught a glimpse.
A tall figure standing behind a streetlamp, slightly turned away, trying to look casual but failing miserably.
Jungkook.
Jimin’s heart clenched.
He knew.
Jungkook had been following him every single day and night.
But Jimin ignored him.
He had to.
No matter how much his heart ached, no matter how badly he wanted to turn around and ask, "Why are you doing this?"—
Jimin refused to give in.
So he kept walking.
Even when he felt Jungkook’s eyes on him.
Even when he knew Jungkook was hiding in the shadows.
He pretended not to see.
Because if he let himself hope—if he let himself believe that Jungkook cared—it would hurt so much more.
Too Tired to Notice
That night, Jimin was exhausted.
Work had been brutal. His legs ached from standing all day, his arms were sore, and his head felt like it weighed a ton.
So when he finally got on the bus home, he barely had the strength to keep his eyes open.
The moment he sat down, his body gave in.
His eyelids felt heavier.
His breathing slowed.
And before he knew it, he fell asleep.
The bus continued its journey, the world moving around him. The gentle rocking motion made his body relax, and his head slowly tilted to the side—
Until it landed on someone’s shoulder.
Jimin didn’t notice.
He didn’t notice the way the person beside him froze at the sudden weight.
He didn’t notice the way the person held his breath, scared to move and wake him up.
Jimin didn’t know.
He didn’t know that the shoulder he was resting on, the one that provided him warmth and comfort—
Belonged to Jungkook.
Jungkook sat there, completely still.
He hadn’t planned this. He had simply followed Jimin onto the bus, keeping his distance like he always did. But somehow, in the crowded space, he had ended up beside him.
And now—
Jimin was leaning on him.
Jungkook swallowed hard.
He didn’t move. He didn’t even breathe too loudly.
Because if he did, this moment—this small, fleeting moment—would disappear.
And for the first time in a long time, Jungkook didn’t want to run.
He just wanted to stay.
A Sudden Jolt
Jimin stirred as the bus came to an abrupt stop, the sudden motion jerking his body forward slightly. His eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, and for a moment, he felt disoriented. His surroundings were a blur of dim streetlights and the low hum of the bus engine.
He barely registered the warmth that had been supporting him moments ago. His mind was foggy, too exhausted to process anything beyond the fact that he had arrived home.
With slow, drowsy movements, Jimin pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes as he stood. The world around him felt distant, as if he were still half-dreaming. He stepped off the bus without a second thought, unaware of the lingering presence beside him.
Unaware of Jungkook.
Jungkook remained frozen in his seat, watching as Jimin stumbled out into the night. His shoulder still held the phantom weight of Jimin’s head, and his skin tingled where their bodies had touched.
He should have said something.
He should have done something.
But he didn't.
Jungkook simply sat there, staring at the empty space Jimin had left behind.
And then, before the bus could start moving again, he sprang to his feet and followed.
The Shadow Behind Him
Jimin shivered as he walked down the dimly lit street, his body still sluggish from sleep. He was too tired to think, too drained to care about anything other than collapsing into bed the moment he got home.
But the feeling was there.
That familiar weight.
The one that never truly left.
He didn’t turn around. He didn’t have to. He already knew.
Jungkook was there.
He could sense it—the steady footsteps a few meters behind him, the quiet presence lingering just out of sight.
Jimin clenched his fists.
He wanted to ignore it.
Like he always did.
But tonight, after everything, after leaning on Jungkook without even realizing it—Jimin felt his chest tighten with something he wasn’t ready to name.
Why?
Why was Jungkook doing this?
Why was he here?
Jimin bit his lip, forcing himself to keep walking.
If he stopped now, if he turned around…
He didn’t know if he could stop himself from asking the questions that had been haunting him for weeks.
And he didn’t know if he was ready for the answers.
Jungkook’s Dilemma
Jungkook followed at a careful distance, his steps light, his breathing controlled. He had no idea what he was doing—he had never known.
At first, he had only followed Jimin to make sure he got home safely. That was the excuse he gave himself.
But then it became a habit.
Then it became something more.
And now?
Now, Jungkook didn’t know what he was supposed to do.
He had spent so long pretending that Jimin didn’t matter.
So why did it feel like his whole world had shifted the moment Jimin had leaned on him?
Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
He was an idiot.
A complete and utter idiot.
But even so…
He still couldn’t stop himself from following.
Even when Jimin refused to look back.
Even when the distance between them felt impossibly wide.
Jungkook followed.
Because for the first time in his life—
He was afraid of what would happen if he let Jimin disappear.