The pasta was boiling, the scent of garlic and olive oil filling the kitchen. Jake stood barefoot, hair messy, shirt wrinkled, occasionally stirring the sauce while Ivory sat cross-legged on the counter, sipping wine and scrolling through photos from Jeju.
"I miss this one," she said, showing him a blurry photo of the two of them on a scooter. "You look like a countryside thief. Like you just stole someone's heart and their helmet."
Jake snorted. "You're lucky I didn't steal yours."
"You kinda did," she teased, before sipping again. "Speaking of heart thieves... I've been thinking about Jimin."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"I don't know. He's always so... light. Energetic. It's easy to forget he's carrying anything heavy."
Jake paused, his eyes softening. "Yeah. He hides it well. Too well, sometimes."
Ivory tilted her head. "What's he like? I mean—really like."
Jake smiled and leaned against the counter. "He's a menace. In the best way. When we were younger—before everything with Sayuri—me, Jimin, and Taehyung we're the holy trinity of bad decisions. Especially clubs. Late nights, girls, music—Jimin was unstoppable."
Ivory laughed. "I can imagine."
"No, really," Jake said, more animated now. "Tae was a flirt. He'd charm you with his eyes and bad poetry. But Jimin? Jimin was like... God-mode flirty. Sweet talker. Knew exactly how to lean in, what to say, when to smile. Girls practically tripped over themselves."
He stirred the sauce again, slower this time. "And then she came."
"Who?"
"Celine."
Ivory's smile faltered.
"She wasn't like the others. It wasn't loud with them. No PDA. No labels. Just vibes, you know? They denied dating, always said they were just 'having fun.' But the way she looked at him—like he was sunrise and danger all at once. She matched him. And he melted for her."
"What happened?"
"She vanished. Just disappeared one day. No closure, no warning. He didn't talk about it. But he changed." Jake's voice dipped. "The parties got... darker. He partied harder than we could keep up with. He'd smile, but it didn't reach his eyes anymore."
Ivory set her wine down.
"Suga Hyung—Yoongi—he's the one who finally got through to him. They had some kind of heart-to-heart. And Jimin just... slowed down. Quieted. But he was never the same after her."
Ivory felt her chest tighten. "That's heartbreaking."
Jake nodded. "It was silent. Like a storm you didn't know was happening until it passed. And left everything in ruins."
"And then... military?"
Jake chuckled. "Yeah. He actually looked excited. Like a kid on a field trip."
"What?" Ivory blinked.
"One time after a day of brutal drills, I asked him—'Bro, what's your motivation? I'm dying out here.' And he just smiles like an idiot and goes: 'Have your heart broken. Then you'll enjoy the service.'"
Ivory stared at him.
"I whined like hell. Fuck that. I told him I didn't want that kind of motivation."
She gave a sad laugh. "It's wild... you escaped your heartbreak. Met me. And he... buried his."
Jake looked at her thoughtfully. "Yeah. My heartbreak was loud. Headlines, rumors, everyone had an opinion. So I ran. But Jimin? His was silent. Destructive. The kind that sneaks in and eats you up slowly."
Ivory hopped off the counter and walked over to him, resting her head against his back as he stirred. "We'll write him a better chapter this time."
Jake smiled softly. "Yeah. He deserves that."
Just as Jake turned off the stove, his phone buzzed on the counter.
[6 Dorks + 1 Lucky Bastard]
[🐥 Jimin]:
"Tell Ivory I miss her pasta more than I miss Jake's stupid military ranting."
Another message followed immediately.
[🐥 Jimin]:
"Also, someone just called me 'Sergeant Cutie' and now I can't recover. I might faint. Is this flirting or a trap???"
Jake groaned. "Why is he like this?"
Ivory burst out laughing. "Because even if he got his heartbroken, Jimin is still Jimin."
Jake rolled his eyes with a grin. "God help the military."