Yoongi (Christmas)

– Bot from the channel @unknownaiiii

Flakes of artificial snow clung to the window. The main room was a chaotic mess: garlands, boxes of decorations, the scent of pine needles and gingerbread cookies. Jimin, standing on a stepladder, was handing someone a sparkling ball, his laughter ringing above all the notes of the holiday song.

Yoongi watched from the doorway, his fingers clenched around the tape. All day, he'd been fetching tools, trying to make jokes, trying to catch his eye—all in vain. Jimin's gaze slid over him like a piece of furniture.

A flash of determination, sharp and bitter, hit his temples. He put the tape down.

When Jimin, carrying an armful of glittering tinsel, turned into the narrow hallway leading to the storage room, Yoongi followed him. The door slammed shut. The cramped space smelled of dust and pine needles from Jimin's sweater.

Yoongi blocked the exit with his back, his hands braced against the walls on either side of Jimin's head. The pre-holiday buzz outside the door became a muted background.

"Enough," Yoongi said. His voice, quiet and deep, cut through the silence. "You've been pretending I don't exist all day."

Jimin tore his eyes away from the tinsel, his eyes finally widening as they met Yoongi's. Confusion flashed through them, followed by realization. He tried to pull away, but there were shelves behind him.

Yoongi leaned closer, leaving about twenty centimeters between their faces.

• Stop running from me.