[ edited with Grammarly ]

At somewhere where an abandoned building was located...

Someone was leaning on a gate that was covered with green zinc. A chain was looped around a square hole to secure its gateway with a big padlock.

It looked like he was there waiting for someone.

A motorcar entered the area at a slow speed when the driver saw its companion who was waiting for him. He stopped a few meters away from the other car and pulled the brake to restrain the car's position to park.

A man was seen getting out of the car and slamming the door shut. The person who was leaning on the zinc gate earlier lifted himself and stood straight. Both of them walked toward each other and bowed to greet.

"Found anything?"

The man who leaned on the zinc earlier handed him a small, rectangle, brown envelope. The other person then carefully tore its edge before taking out its content.

The man who handed the letter then said, "I investigated an area nearby before the incident happened." He paused as he studied the other who checked in a picture of something diligently.

"I asked someone who usually parked his car around the place. He installed a black box in his car, and I got the proof," the investigator informed. He then continued, "I looked for CCTVs as well, around the area for a better image. Since I got the one with black box footage looks like the view got blocked by a pick-up."

The receiver nodded his head, signing him that he understood his explanation as he looked through the pictures, also signing that he was satisfied with the pieces of evidence.

"Hang on," the other man said, as he walked fast to his car to take something. He got out of his car again with an envelope filled with something. It looked like it was filled with something thick.

He then handed it to the investigator.

"The payment is for this and another task I want you to do next," the instructor said as he lowered the envelope containing evidence. "Look for the lady's and the man's medical and health records, the inheritor for the man's wealth and if possible, the victims' history with these people," he said.

The investigator studied the man's expression for a moment as he listened to the instructor's serious words next. "It'll be best if you find anything extra other than the tasks I ask you to do."

The investigator bobbed his head up and down as he willingly accepted his boss' direction. He did not question him more as the investigator understood that there might be a personal reason for his boss needing those pieces of information.

The boss, on the other side, looked through the pieces of evidence that had been given to him again. His eyebrows creased as he deeply observed them. He stopped flipping on the pictures when there were two bigger figures shown as though it had zoomed in for a better view.

His thick eyebrows creased, eyes deeply investigating the picture and his mind getting a hundred questions started to trace out.

Out of the hundred questions that lingered in his mind, the boldest question at that time was; "what were they doing there?"

**********

Finally...

The awaited month had come. Many couples were seen approaching a huge ship. Some of them entered the ship while holding hands, some of them were chasing each other like children playing catch and then ended up in a hug. Some just casually walked together side by side and one of them were Jungkook and Nahee.

Nahee had been quiet, remembering her brother's and mother's advice. Namjoon's advice was she was supposed to be placed in the first place, that said;

"You better not touch any alcohol there. Remember what happened at Hoseok's birthday party two years ago?" Namjoon said.

Of course, what happened two years ago was still in her brain.

The embarrassing scene of two years ago where she got energetic all of a sudden (probably because of the alcohol she consumed) and just rapped one of her brother's songs at the party. Rapping was not her talent and she knew she just rapped gibberish or slurred words that day.

The next day and the next thing she knew was Hoseok praised (fake praise) her for her rap and Namjoon just exactly looking at her blankly the whole day, possibly trying to tell her that he would act like he did not know her that day.

To make it short, Namjoon was embarrassed...

She did not want Jungkook to take the trouble of handling her when she got drunk. So, she put her brother's advice in the first place, and as much as she could, she wanted to avoid alcohol.

Jungkook noticed Nahee's serious look on her face.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Indeed, I am. I am okay." Nahee gave him an assuring smile as both of them stepped inside the inner part of the ship.

They walked through a corridor with other few couples. The corridor chimed with the laughter and chattering sounds from some couples.

A little farther, Jimin could be seen slinging his arm around his client's shoulders as they sweetly talked with each other, smiling and laughing too. He even brushed the tip of the girl's nose with his finger, scrunching his nose as though there was something that they talked about that seemed to be fun, yet sweet.

Nahee envied the view for a moment, she wanted something like that to happen for her and Jungkook suddenly. But she did not want to force him because she was afraid that she might create awkwardness later.

"Kim Nahee," her name was deeply called once again by her contracted boyfriend. "Are you sure you're okay? You looked tense like a minute ago, and now, you look sad or something like disappointed."

"Yes, yes, I'm okay. Don't worry," she said, making herself sound cheerful to reassure him. Jungkook knew it was fake.

Someone like Jungkook who had dated and had contracted with many girls knew that Nahee was lying. He wanted to know what her problem was. Could it be because she has seasickness? Or could it be because she was uncomfortable with the crowd? Or could it be due to the fact that she was worried because they would be away from Seoul for one week?

"Jungkook-ah..." Nahee suddenly called him in a serious tone, making him look down at her height as they dragged their luggage into an elevator.

Jimin and his client, with 5 other couples rode the lift with them. This made Nahee stop her intention to tell what she wanted to say.

"Nahee?"

A space crowded with people forced Nahee to tell him that she would tell him later. Jungkook nodded his head in understanding of the situation.

As they arrived at the floor where other couples gathered, they left the lift together and purposely let other couples who rode the lift with them go ahead.

"So, what do you want to say just now?" Jungkook asked, purposely slowing down their walking paces. Nahee followed the rhythm of his paces before she spoke, letting a silence surround them for a moment.

"Will there be alcohol during the gathering?"

Jungkook's eyebrows jumped, "why? You want to drink it?"

"No," Nahee quietly said as she shook her and looked down. She then looked up at Jungkook with a pout. "I want to avoid it," she remarked.

"So, you've been worrying about alcohol during the party, is it?"

Nahee's lips still pouting and nodded to her. Her response made Jungkook chuckle.

"I don't know if we'll have alcohol for the gathering. Mr. Bang is the one who handled everything."

Nahee whined, "aren't you suppose to get used to the menus every year? There might one thing that always served every year."

Jungkook let out a snort because of her statement, mentally defeated by her statement. "Just because this gathering is annual, doesn't mean that there's one same thing served every year."

He was right. Every year has a different thing on whatever matter.

Maybe, Nahee should not worry about the alcohol too much.

Or maybe she should.

Humans can't predict the future so that means she couldn't predict what they would have and do for the gathering night. Not even Jungkook could know.

Maybe... She mustn't touch anything during the night.

**********

Girls with girls, and boys with boys.

Nahee just followed the lead that one of the girlfriend choices brought them. She noticed some of the girls were talking to each other. She was not sure whether they were clients with clients, choices with choices, or choices with clients. Since the company welcomed whatever sexualities to it anyway...

The queue suddenly stopped as one of the choices turned around and spoke.

"Annyeonghaseyo, I'm Kang Aeri. I am one of the permanent girlfriend choices of BigHit Contract Coupling," Kang Aeri introduced herself in a friendly way.

The moment Nahee heard the name, she felt like something hit her. It felt like she heard the name somewhere before, but she could not recall the time and the location.

Nahee sharpened her keenness, watching over the female as she gave an announcement or instructions there. Since Nahee was a little further from the spot Kang Aeri stood, she could barely catch her words.

Kang Aeri showed a bright smile and a calm, bright personality as she explained something important that they would have to do while they were on the cruise for a week.

She told that they would land on Jeju Island after a week on the sea and they would need to use a flight to go back to Seoul. Tickets would be handled by the CEO and their boyfriends and girlfriends. She also reminded the girls that they were going to have the gathering for the next three days.

Naher still listened to her announcements attentively.

Aeri also said that each client here would be given a private room. Extra sanitary needs were prepared in all rooms. She even reminded all the girls there to refer to her or any girlfriend who was nearby if they have any questions or help needed.

"Please come to us and get the key to your room," Aeri said as a closure to her announcement.

All girls then formed a proper line and keys were given to each of them.

**********

Jungkook checked and marked the names of the male clients they had there and mentioned the number of their rooms to Jimin as he gave them their keys.

Sandeul was beside them, just stood there watching them like a bodyguard. He was bored at the moment so he chose to talk to Jungkook. He knew that guy wouldn't get distracted easily and could multi-task.

Golden boy, you call him...

"Do you know what happen to Min Yoongi?"

Jungkook let his word unresponded for a moment and continued to tick the list on a paper, and clipped on a clipboard that listed the names of the male clients.

"What happened to him?" He finally asked, still looking down at the paper. "435..." He then whispered to Jimin the number of the client he had in front of him after the man told his name.

"Yoongi is here," Sandeul told. Jungkook told Jimin the next room number before he spoke.

"So?" was the thing that Jungkook could say before he told Jimin the next number.

"He's becoming a waiter or bartender for this year's gathering," Sandeul said.

"So?" Jungkook asked again.

"I thought he got an exemption."

Jungkook just let his words pass by. He sighed as he looked up to check how many people they had left. He then looked at Sandeul.

"Where's Yoongi right now?" Jungkook asked, looking at Sandeul almost dully but he made his intonation sound stern.

Sandeul blinked his eyes multiple times. He then said, "he's possibly in the kitchen right now. Wiping glasses and plates and all..."

Jungkook immediately unclicked the pen in his hand and hooked it on the clipboard.

"You're bored, aren't you?" Jungkook stuck the clipboard on Sandeul's chest. Sandeul took it absentmindedly as he heard Jungkook say, "take the task for me."

Jungkook immediately turned his heels and, left Jimin and Sandeul.

"Yah, where are you going?" Jimin asked as Jungkook's figure slowly got smaller from their sights.

The younger man only kept his mouth sealed as he walked with big steps, wanting to leave the area quickly.

________________________
|| A/N ||
N

ew cover 😇

Don't be shy to comment, vote too and you find this book is fun to read, share! 💜💜💜

Hearteu 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Pls tell me what you think abt this book.
And I'm sorry if this book bores you guys...

P/S: any assumption who the boss at the beginning scene is? <(‾︶‾)>