Suddenly, it's hysterical. The fact that Tyler is gone, that he left him a dog, that he sent him a letter, that the dog is probably chewing on something valuable from underneath the bed...it's all so fucking funny, Jimin had to hold his stomach, he was laughing so hard.
He eventually dragged the puppy out from under the bed and gave him a long, hard look. And fuck, if he wasn't the cutest thing Jimin had ever seen. His eyes were huge, totally round and deep chocolate brown, and when Jimin picked him up, grunting, he couldn't stop licking Jimin's hand. His eyes welled up, which he would never admit, and he knew he would live this dog even if he wasn't from his late husband.
Damn it.
Still holding the dog, he walked into the living room, and flicked in lights as he went. He found his mobile phone on the counter, exactly where he'd left it three days ago. He turned it on and found he had an endless amount of calls, texts and voicemails. Most are a variation of Happy Birthday! but there are a few from his closest friends and family members that begged him to call them, worried, or else they'll break into his house and check up on him that way. He knows his conversation with his mum will
Be a long one, so he called Jungkook first.
" Min!" Jungkook shrieked. " Happy Birthday! Christ, I was getting worried. How are you doing?"
Jimin ducked his head down to look at the puppy. He smiled. " Thanks Kook. I'm doing okay," He scratched behind the pups ear. " Tyler sent me a fucking dog."
" Excuse me, what?"
" You heard me. He sent me a dog for my birthday. Said he didn't want me to be alone."
" How'd he accomplish that one?"
Jimin explained the letter without going into excessive detail now that he's finally pulled himself together, and by the end of it, Jungkook was in stitches.
" Tae, come listen to this," Jungkook yelled.
" Oh, Tae's there?"
" Yeah, we're hanging out before we head in different directions for Christmas Eve dinners elsewhere. Tae! Tyler got Min a dog! And by the time it's fully grown, Jimin is going to be able to ride it."
" Hey, screw you," Jimin spit out, pouting.
Tae laughed in the background and he could nearly see Jungkook's smirk through the phone. " That was hardly a stab at your size, Jimin. What I mean is that these dogs get massive. Like, they can get up to 260 pounds.
Jimin felt like he was just punched in the stomach. " Wow. Tyler is a major asshole, huh?"
Tae laughed again and said into the phone, " Basically, yeah. Man, that's hysterical."
" What the fuck am I even supposed to do with him? Have I ever eluded to the fact that I wanted a dog? Ever?"
" But, I bet he's so cute," Jungkook crooned.
" Well, he is." Jimin admitted. " But he's a horse. I'm gonna have to move."
" Okay, whatever, who cares about the house. What are you going to name him?" Tae asked impatiently.
Jimin sighed. " I don't know. I was thinking Link, maybe?"
Jungkook hummed. " That's cute, Min. Did you get that from Hairspray?"
" Hey, Jimin," Tae snorted. " Could you be any gayer?"
" Ha-ha, I like musicals and Zac Efron, fuck you both. Bye."
Two Years Later, Present Day!
Jimin can hear his phone going off. He knows it's on his bed somewhere, under a blanket, or perhaps under his moose-dog that's trying to suffocate him.
" Link. Get the fuck up," he groans, struggling to breathe.
If possible, Link manages to get heavier.
" Move, you giant oaf." Jimin whines.
" If you get up, I'll make you eggs for breakfast."
Nothing. The phone beeps again.
Link lifts his head, but his body remains on top of Jimin, unmoving.
He sighs. " Go for a walk?"
At that, Link bolts upwards and runs towards the bedroom door, knocking over the standing lamp, as per usual.
" You're a dick." Jimin says, breathing properly for the first time since waking up, and silences his phone, which is going off once more. Link stops at the doorway and stares at Jimin, his big eyes sad. " Don't give me that look. I'm sorry."
Link takes off on his heel, and Jimin can heat him moments later knock over a chair on his way to the front door. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and finally answers his buzzing phone, not bothering to see who's calling. He knows who it is.
" Morning, Jungkook."
" About time. Grab Link. I'm already here. Have been for like...Ten minutes."
" Oh boy, a whole ten minutes. You might burst into flames if you have to wait any longer."
Jungkook snorts. " Unbelievable that you can be so sarcastic first thing in the morning. Are you on your way?"
Jimin reaches for his jumper by the door, knowing there's probably still a chill in the air. " Yeah, I'm leaving now I'll be there in two. Can you order me a..."
" Yeah, I've already got it all. Hurry up."
He smiles. " Okay, be there soon." He hangs up and heads out the door, only sliding in Link's trail of drool twice.
It's going to be a good morning.
Jungkook is waiting in their usual spot outside of the coffee shop down the street. He's holding a chocolate chip muffin and a coffee for Jimin, a tea for himself, and a handful of treats for Link. It's been a Sunday morning ritual for over a year. Rain or shine, Jungkook is always there, muffin and coffee in hand. He often jokes that he only shows up for Link.
Sometimes, Jimin thinks that's the truth.
" Hey, Link!" Jungkook yells. Link immediately perks up, tugging on his leash so hard, Jimin is forced to drop it. He charges at Jungkook and Jungkook catches him in a giant hug.
" I missed you boy."
Jimin rolls his eyes, and makes his way to the front of the shop. " You kiss-ass." he says when he reaches Jungkook. He picks up his coffee and sips at it slowly. Hot, Perfect. " You saw him, like two days ago."
" I still missed you." Jungkook says to Link in between pats to his giant head, speaking as if Jimin isn't even there.
" Two days is too long."
" You're annoying."
Jungkook wiggles his eyebrows and looks up at Jimin, finally. " You're in to it."
He snorts. " Hardly."
" That's what Jordan said last night."
" Oh!" Jimin sets down his cup. " I forgot! How was your date?"
Jungkook blinks at him. " Well, clearly it didn't go so well."
" Why, what happened?"
He shrugs. " I dunno." He drums his fingertips on the table. " We just didn't click."
Jimin sips at his coffee again, wincing when Link drops to the ground underneath their table, crushing Jimin's feet in the process. He wiggles his toes to make sure they still work. So far, so good. " Didn't Hobi set you two up?"
Jungkook feeds a dog cookie to Link.
" Yeah."
" I'm surprised. Hobi knows you pretty well. You think he'd know your type, too."
He nods. " I think saying Hobi knows me 'pretty well' would be quite the understatement."
Jimin literally agrees. Jungkook met Hobi in college during his sophomore year, and Hobi was quick to introduce him to his close friend, Tae, from home. They all know each other inside and out; quirks, mannerisms and habits, both good and bad. Since college graduation, the four have remained inseparable, whenever possible.
It used to be the five of them.
Christ, Jimin's boys were absolutely solid when Tyler died. They were, for sure, hurting In their own intense ways, but they didn't break in front of Jimin. They spoiled him. He doesn't let himself think of that time too often, though. It makes him choke up, to think about how much love he has in his life, even with Tyler being gone.
It's been a long two years, and a lots happened. So many bad things, and so many wonderful, incredible things.
He drums his fingertips along the table top. " So, no more Jordan?"
Jungkook reaches across the table and rips of a healthy piece of Jimin's muffin, putting the whole thing in his mouth at once. " Nope," he says, mouth full. " No more Jordan."
Jimin scoffs. " Honestly, manners Kook."
He blows a puff of air out at Jimin, muffin crumbles sprinkling from out of his mouth and onto the table. " I have impeccable manners."
" I'm gonna assume Jordan was in agreement with the while 'no clicking' thing," he says, gesturing to the array of crumbs in front of him. " You're gross."
Jungkook laughs. " And you wonder why I prefer Link to you. He's nice to me."
" He's a dog. He loves anyone that'll run him down."
He puts his hands under the table and scratches behind Link's ear. " Makes sense to me. I like people who'll rub me down, too."
" Oh, for fucks sake," Jimin groans.
" You're seriously disgusting!"
Jungkook smirks. " As if you're any different."
Jimin slaps his hand away when he tries to reach for more of his muffin.
" That's enough out of you, Jeon." He bends down to hand another dog treat to Link and when he sits back up, his muffin is gone.
It will get better, promise lol