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Jungkook started loosening his tie the moment he stepped over the threshold of that pretentious brain-serving place. The bright lighting and overly elaborate decor did nothing to quell his discomfort. He silently vowed to give them one star on Yelp.

Who in their right mind puts brains on the menu?

Then he remembered the cute hostess and softened.

Fine, two stars.

Rounding the corner, he finally got his neck free of the damn tie. His fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt, eager to shed the formal attire. He didn't want to stay in these clothes a second longer than necessary. The alleyway behind the restaurant smelled faintly of grease and distant city exhaust, contrasting strikingly to the inside.

"Need help with that?"

Jungkook's head jerked in the direction of that husky voice he knew all too well. Taehyung was leaning against the hood of JK's G-Wagon, taking a slow drag of his cigarette. The streetlight above cast a soft glow on him, making the smoke curl around his face like a halo.

"Brains, Tae! You could've warned me!" Jungkook exclaimed, his voice ringing off the brick walls.

"And miss out on seeing the look on your face when they served you? I don't think so." Taehyung gave him a crooked grin.

Jungkook just shook his head, finishing with the buttons on his shirt and now struggling with the cufflinks. The air was cool against his exposed skin, a welcome relief from the stuffy restaurant.

"Come here," Tae beckoned him, grabbing the cigarette with his teeth.

Jungkook shuffled over. "Thank you, Tae."

Taehyung laughed, a short, sharp sound. "Come on. Don't go soft on me over some cufflinks," he said, giving Jungkook a playful shove.

"That's not what I mean. Without your help, I would've never..." Jungkook started but trailed off, feeling a rush of gratitude that he couldn't quite put into words.

"That's what friends are for," Taehyung interrupted, his gaze softening as he finished with the cufflinks. "Done."

Jungkook jumped into the backseat, quickly pulling his slacks down and swapping them out for his favorite baggy jeans.

God, these formal clothes are like a straitjacket.

The leather seats creaked under him, the familiar scent of the car's interior and faint cologne comforting him. "Still can't believe we pulled it off, Tae!"

Taehyung chuckled. "Is this what you had in mind back in third grade when you said you wanted to be an actor? Conning people at French restaurants?"

Jungkook cackled and pulled on a white undershirt, instantly feeling his body relax in these familiar clothes. "Have you seen my shirt?" he asked, looking around the car.

"Hmm," Taehyung mumbled and went on to open the trunk. "Here."

Jungkook got out of the Mercedes, slid into the soft plaid shirt his friend had thrown at him, and lit a cigarette. The first drag filled his lungs with a calming burn. The second made him feel like himself again.

"Gotta admit, Tae, I didn't think it'd involve this much... method acting. But hey, this job is my ticket to Degas's inner circle."

"I still can't believe you went to such lengths to create a background story. I mean, actual work at the gallery? Could've just had me or Mingyu or Eunwoo answer a phone call and give you a glowing recommendation," Taehyung mused, flicking ash onto the pavement.

"You know it wouldn't have just been a call when Degas's involved. That bastard's thorough," Jungkook replied, shaking his head.

Taehyung nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right."

"What I can't believe is that they haven't fired me yet! It's been over two months and all of them still believe I'm an art expert." Jungkook laughed so hard he felt all the muscles in his stomach strained.

"You know, for a guy who claims he's just faking it, you've got a real knack for this art stuff," Taehyung noted.

"Nah. I just choose the most ridiculous pieces and say the most outrageous nonsense about them. And people buy that bullshit," Jungkook said dismissively.

The sounds of Ravenport roared, honked, and clanked in the background. Jungkook got lost in thought for a moment, playing with his lip piercing.

"Hey! None of that, Jeon Jungkook!" Taehyung exclaimed, shaking his shoulder.

"None of what?" Jungkook looked at him, confused.

"None of the brooding, planning, or obsessing over it. Today we celebrate! And I know just the place," Taehyung declared.

Throwing him the car keys, Taehyung nodded to the driver's seat. "Let's park your baby back at yours and take the subway."

Jungkook hopped behind the wheel and turned the ignition. The car purred to life, and he lovingly ran his hands over the steering wheel.

The drive to Jungkook's place was short; his apartment was just a dozen blocks down the street. The familiar city lights whizzed past as he drove, a blur of neon and concrete. He parked and turned to his friend.

"You plan on changing out of that?" Jungkook asked, eyeing Taehyung's flashy outfit.

"Not a chance," Taehyung grinned. "Let's roll."

They walked to the subway station, the scent of hot dogs and pretzels from a nearby vendor mixing with the cool night air. When they got on the train, the metallic rumble filled the silence between them until Jungkook broke it with a smirk.

"So, is this what you imagined when we planned our glorious futures?" Jungkook asked.

Taehyung responded with a grin, "You mean hanging out with a wannabe art critic and dodging fine dining disasters? Pretty much."

"Hey, it's all part of the journey. You should've seen the faces at the gallery when I told them that ugly abstract piece by Sarah Kim represented the existential dread of modern society," Jungkook said, amused.

Taehyung laughed, the sound echoing in the nearly empty car. "You've always had a way with two things, JK: words and women."

"And you, Mr. Pining-Over-An-Ex? When are you going to move on?" Jungkook probed, his smirk widening.

Taehyung's grin faded. "Fuck off, man. You've never been in love, so you wouldn't understand."

"Seriously, Tae, you dated her for like a second," Jungkook retorted.

"Two weeks actually," Taehyung corrected.

"Exactly my point," Jungkook emphasized.

"Two glorious weeks, thank you very much. She had... a certain je ne sais quoi," Taehyung reminisced.

"Yeah, and you've got no game. I bet you can't get a girl's number before we get to the bar," Jungkook's eyes shined with challenge.

Taehyung's competitive streak sparked. "Oh, it's on. Whoever gets the most numbers before The Hive pays for the drinks."

The train jerked to a stop, and the doors opened. Jungkook spotted two girls getting on. He threw a glance at Taehyung, who was already eyeing a petite blonde.

Jungkook approached the girls with his most charming smile. "Hey, ladies. Can I ask you something? My friend and I have a bet, and I need your help to win."

The girls looked at him with curiosity. "Oh really? And what's the bet?" one of them asked, tilting her head.

Jungkook flashed a grin. "Well, he doesn't believe I can get the numbers of two beautiful women before our stop. Help me prove him wrong?"

The girls giggled, their interest piqued. "And what's in it for us?" the other girl teased.

"Besides the satisfaction of helping a guy win a bet? How about I buy you both a drink at the coolest bar in town?"

They exchanged glances, clearly amused by his boldness. "Alright, you've got a deal," the first girl said, saving her number into his phone. "But it better be a really cool bar."

Jungkook took the phone with a wink. "Trust me, it is. And I always keep my promises."

Turning to the second girl, he extended his phone. "Care to make it a double victory?"

With a laugh, she punched her number in. "Why not? You seem like fun."

"Thanks, you just made my day," Jungkook said, pocketing his phone. "I'll drop you a pin and see you lovely ladies at the bar."

He turned to see Taehyung giving him a thumbs-up, holding up a piece of paper triumphantly.

"Nice job, Tae. Maybe there's hope for you yet," Jungkook remarked, pride in his voice.

"Shut up, man," Taehyung replied, rolling his eyes.

As they exited the train, Jungkook couldn't help but grin.

Guess the old Taehyung is still in there somewhere. Good to see him getting back in the game.

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A/n
Thank you, my delulu babes,
for your interest in the book!
I really appreciate
your votes and comments!
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