​it's not a secret that this is something that jungkook has struggled with throughout the length of their friendship, and he knows that. it's something he's spent perhaps a little bit too much time thinking about now and again, something he used to worry and feel guilt over much more frequently than he does now. because it's also something that yoongi has helped him with, in that way of his, always coaxing him into feeling better about himself, into feeling good, into being comfortable with it all. it's yet another thing to add on to the endless list of things that jungkook is grateful to yoongi for, and he's sure that he'll never get used to it.

especially not whenever yoongi is doing things like this, when he's reassuring him the very same way that he's done so many times before, only this time he's sitting right across from him. this time he's looking right at him, leaning closer, and jungkook can't resist looking up at him, studying him while he speaks, just like he can't resist the smile that creeps over his expression. the warmth that starts up and slowly spreads through him, how he nods slightly, relaxes a little bit. "i know," he says first, and then seems to catch himself a little, eyes widening and flush coming right back to his cheeks as he backtracks. "i mean! just. i know we're both friends, you know. we both like being friends. i know that's enough to be important. i mean, i really .. i'm really glad that you're my friend, so..." he trails off a little bit, clearly rambling and clearly embarrassed but otherwise unsure of what else to do about it.