Warning: slightly mature content ahead meant for mature audiences only.

•Lust of Innocence•

It was far past dusk when Big Hit was lively with the interior shining brightly from the outside, due to the noticeable lighting with red undertones. However, the lights outside are turned off, notifying by passers that the club was not open for business at the moment, but for a separate occasion meant for specific individuals. The music was very light with regular pop songs playing at a low tone meant for the guests to keep their conversations flowing without much interruption.

A few days prior, Boss Man-nim was ecstatic with the finished product of the renovations, so he decided that the night before the relaunch, he would throw a small cocktail party meant for the employees and the volunteers. To put it in simple terms, it was a celebration of thanks and to show how grateful he was for their hard work. It was meant to be a semi-formal event, so he specified that the guests' attire be the slightest bit fancy, which no one argued with. He also figured this was a good way to get the volunteers to become regular customers to his club. Everything was a business move for the man.

That's how Jimin decided to pick up his girlfriend to attend the party since this was the first time they would be going to a public gathering as an official couple. The man wanted to relish in the feeling of walking into a party with his close friends knowing he and Nari were an item... but he also wanted to show Joohyuk that she's off limits. He didn't hold back in making himself noticeably handsome with his simple white button-up and black slacks. It looked as if he didn't put in much effort, but it wasn't even required. Jimin felt as if he made the right decision to wear neutral colors since Nari wore a black dress that ended a few centimeters above her knees with the chest and long sleeves being sheer, showing the most skin he's ever seen on her at that point.

The party was going smoothly, though Namjoon was irritated that Boss Man-nim demanded he make drinks behind the bar while off the clock, meaning he wasn't getting paid for his efforts... but someone had to make the cocktails. The employees and volunteers were scattered about, enjoying the vibes of the interior and music, as well as the free alcohol. Yoongi had been keeping Namjoon company at the bar, leaning back in his seat with his arm resting on the bar-top and people-watching, occasionally taking a sip of his whiskey sour. He preferred observing others as opposed to socializing with them, so this type of gathering fit his personality just fine. Besides, he took pity on Namjoon for working without pay.

Taehyung had been jumping from person to person, making jokes and forming new bonds with ease while Seokjin stuck by one of the female volunteers, making her occasionally giggle with his smooth talking and obvious dorkiness. Jungkook stood, wearing a black blazer with a dark blue satin shirt underneath, and the top button undone to show off his collarbones and a bit of his chest, radiating maturity. With the way his hair was parted and the way he presented himself, his aura was different and the confidence that was bottled within him showed. Nari took notice of how he was talking so casually with Eunjae, and smiled to herself because there was such a change within him lately, and this was a good example of it.

Jimin had been standing with the girl, his hand on her mid-back, laughing at something Hoseok had said to him. Gradually, his hand slid down ever so slowly, making its final rest on the her lower back, which Nari noticed, but chose to act oblivious to. As the three conversed, Taehyung stopped by to speak to Hoseok about something work-related, causing Hoseok's attention to be directed towards his other junior and not to the couple in front of him. Jimin glanced at his girlfriend, whom was looking around at the interior and marveling over how sophisticated it looked for a strip club.

Leaning close to her, Jimin let his warm breath fan over her ear for a moment, which caused the girl to pause her wandering eyes as he whispered, "That dress looks beautiful on you." The smooth way he spoke with trace amounts of huskiness, as well as the warmth of his breath made her shiver on the spot.

He slowly backed away a few inches, and she smiled up at him, a small blush adorning her cheeks. The girl's eyes brushed over the unbuttoned top of his shirt before averting to his plump lips, and back to his eyes. Maintaining her small smile, she replied in a soft and whisper-like tone, "Thank you, but you're the eye-catcher between the two of us, no?"

Jimin chuckled to himself, and before he could reply with a seductive counter, Taehyung left from Hoseok's side, and the elder looked to the couple for more conversation. The orange-haired man cleared his throat, looked at their empty glasses and said, "Another round, you two?"

Hoseok handed him the glass and said, "Bloody mary this time, please."

Nari lifted her finger and opened her mouth to request a drink, but Jimin beat her to it and said, "Mint julep, got it." She smiled knowingly at him as he reached for the empty glass in her hand, brushing his fingers against hers ever so slightly, and sending a flirtatious wink before leaving the two to approach the bar. The brunette's eyes watched Jimin's figure walking towards the bar, noticing how care-free he seemed before looking to Hoseok, whom had a blank look. She rose her brow at his out-of-character expression.

The man tilted his head at her and said, "Showing some skin tonight, hm? Very unlike you."

This time, her eyebrows blatantly furrowed at his rude and unfiltered comment. She was honestly at a loss for words, and instead of questioning him, she awkwardly looked to the side, avoiding his almost accusatory-like gaze. All she could think was that it is 2018 and she thought being hostile over a woman's choice of fashion was a bit out-of-date. After a long pause of silence, Jimin approached the two, balancing three drinks with surprising ease, then handing Hoseok his bloody mary before sliding his arm around Nari's waist, handing the girl her own drink. She nodded in thanks while the two clinked their glasses together, and lightly laughed.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna find Yoongi," Hoseok smiled towards the two.

The younger nodded and replied, "He's chilling at the bar with Namjoon." He looked back and pointed to direct Hoseok's attention. The elder nodded and patted Jimin's shoulder to bid a farewell before taking his leave. The couple decided to seat themselves at a small booth and enjoy their drinks with just the two of them. Taking a long sip of his martini, Jimin placed the drink down and sighed when turning to Nari, "This is gonna be my last one since I'm driving."

The girl nodded in understanding and put down her own glass, turning to him and linking her arm with his while saying, "Then this is my last one too. I wouldn't want you to endure the pain of refusing more free drinks alone." She laid her head between the crook of his neck and his shoulder, causing him to feel the warmth of her breath on the skin of his neck when she said, "Plus, I'm already a little tipsy." He chuckled and enjoyed the feeling of her showing him such affection. Jimin knew it wasn't because she was buzzed, but because she was actually comfortable enough to be so close to him. He immersed himself in her closeness and put his arm over her shoulder.

Jungkook approached the small booth and sat himself on the other side, which caused Nari to raise her head and perk up when smiling and saying, "Hey, Jungkook!"

He returned her smile and replied, "Hi, Noona. You look lovely tonight."

Jimin scoffed at the youngest and gave him a playful roll of the eyes when saying, "You trying to woo my girlfriend, punk?" He couldn't help the grin that approached his features after saying that, for he couldn't keep a stern composure around Jungkook when he didn't mean it. The younger chuckled and shook his head at his hyung's artificial jealousy. Jimin gave him a hard stare before saying, "Ah, Jungkookie~ you look handsome tonight. Go use those looks to pick up a pretty girl, yeah?" The older man's eyes were suggestive, along with the small smirk that stayed plastered onto his expression as he looked at his younger coworker.

Jungkook shrugged his shoulders and exhaled when he went in for a sip of his alcohol, and noticed his glass was empty. Getting up from his seat, he looked down at his two elders and said, "I'm gonna go for another drink. See ya." Once he was officially out of sight, Nari leaned back in her seat, feeling her boyfriend's arm behind her as he was sure to keep her close.

"Excuse me, everyone," Boss Man-nim spoke into a microphone as he stood on the stage, causing Jimin and Nari to look towards him. The orange-haired man removed his arm from Nari's shoulder and placed his hand on her thigh. She looked at him for a moment, and bit her lip before attempting to maintain her focus on the much older man that started speaking very roughly into the mic, "I'm so glad you all came out and are obviously enjoying the free drinks."

Nari chuckled at that, her shoe accidentally hitting Jimin's ankle, but without much force. Opening her mouth to apologize, she paused when his own shoe made soothing motions on her ankle. She pursed her lips and profusely blushed. The man looked at her, giving an innocent smile, completely contrasting to his suggestive actions. It had such a strong effect on her that she couldn't peel her eyes off of his lips, totally entranced by him being so shamelessly touchy.

She couldn't deny how handsome he looked, and she wasn't used to him being so seductive towards her, other than when she first encountered him at Chae-Rin's bachelorette party. But she didn't want him to stop, for it gave her foreign feelings that she surprisingly enjoyed. The girl knew for sure she was tipsy, but she couldn't help but think even if she were sober, her feelings and actions would remain the same as now. Without even realizing it, she leaned in towards his lips, causing the man to tilt his head to the side, mirroring her actions with much satisfaction.

That is, until Boss Man-nim yelled for the entertainers to come up to the stage in order to show them off and unknowingly urge the volunteers to come by to watch them perform once they reopen. When Jimin heard his name, he shut his eyes in aggravation just to open them again to glance at Nari's lips, then to her eyes. She signaled for him to go up to the stage and he sighed, patting her thigh twice before sliding out from the booth. She watched him make smooth strides towards the stage and up the few steps. Once he reached the spot Boss Man-min wanted him, which was besides Seokjin, his eyes searched for Nari.

Boss Man-nim's words were just mere background noise as their eyes caught one another. Jimin had his hands in his pockets, shoulders slightly hunched in a lazy, but attractive way, and his eyes were looking so darkly into hers that she had to look away for a few moments, just to avert her attention back to him. His gaze was so piercing that she felt very timid, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and slowly meeting his eyes again. He still had the same expression, but this time Jimin's head was titled back, and he let his tongue swipe over his bottom lip before lightly biting it, obviously teasing the girl.

The man couldn't help his actions. He had been dating her for a few months and as time progressed, her beauty inside and out became more apparent. She wasn't an eye-catching girl, but despite that, Jimin could only look at her, especially tonight despite being surrounded by other beautiful women. However, with how her shiny brown hair was curled and cascading down her shoulders, the dress that revealed quite a bit of skin, especially the chest area, and the way her doe eyes looked at him with such adoration, the attraction he felt was more intense than ever before. Nari could feel the tension in the air, completely disregarding the fact that anyone could blatantly see him seducing her, but she still gladly received every signal he gave her.

•••

By the time the party was over and most of the guests left, Nari offered to stay behind and help clean up some things. She wasn't getting volunteer hours for this, but she felt as if it was just courtesy to at least offer a bit of assistance. Jimin had been talking to Namjoon at the bar, whom had been cleaning glasses and putting them back in their rightful places while the girl wiped down some tables. Eunjae had also decided to lend a hand, trying her best to leave a good first impression in any way she possibly could.

When she finished her job of gathering glasses, Eunjae slowly approached Nari and said a soft, "Hey, I don't think we've met yet." The brunette looked towards her, and smiled while the black-haired woman continued with holding her hand out, "I'm Eunjae."

Nari gladly shook her hand and introduced herself, only saying her name. She took notice of Eunjae's attire, which consisted of a red v-neck tight dress that stopped just above her knees. Her hair was put in a messy bun, strands hanging down loosely to hug her facial features, and her lips painted in a crimson color that complimented her dress perfectly. She was gorgeous, and Nari couldn't help but feel a bit insecure around the woman. However, her vulnerability vanished when she realized how kind the she was. The girl really did take into consideration how she approached her first, and she appreciated and admired that Eunjae did something she has a hard time doing herself.

"So do you work here?" Eunjae asked, hoping to spike up a conversation. She noticed how Nari talked with a lot of the employees, so she thought it best to be friendly towards her as well.

Nari shook her head, and neatly folded the towel she used to wipe down the tables while responding, "Oh, no. I just volunteered." Eunjae nodded at the girl and looked at the time on her seemingly expensive watch. She hated that she had to cut the conversation short, but she gave Nari a disappointed look when saying, "I'm sorry, but I have to leave to let my dog out. I timed this visit just right," the two both laughed at that. The brunette brushed it off and Eunjae grabbed her purse that was hanging on a chair when saying, "It was nice meeting you."

Nari smiled, saying, "You too."

Waving a final goodbye to Namjoon and Jimin, the woman exited the establishment, prompting the orange-haired man to look towards his girlfriend, whom was approaching the two. She set the folded towel on the bar-top and told Namjoon, "I'm not sure where this goes, so here you go." He chuckled and just threw it on the counter behind him without a care in the world, completely disregarding her efforts in folding the towel into a perfect square.

Jimin shook his head at his hyung's careless antics, and glanced to the brunette, asking, "Ready?"

She nodded and he arose from his seat to take his keys out of his pocket, the chime invading the three individuals' ears. Jimin put his hand on the small of her back to guide her out the door. Namjoon held his hand out to give him a 'bro shake," and he said, "See you tomorrow night, man."

•••

Air fills up the couple's lungs as the brisk temperature trails along their bodies and flies in the direction of the breeze. The two people are comfortably standing close together as they approach the vehicle. Jimin, as per usual, opens the passenger-side door for Nari, letting her in to sit down and adjust her seatbelt before closing it. Rounding the car and entering right after, the orange-haired male himself had pulled his door to close, leaving them in a new kind of silence to take in.

Nari pulled the material of her dress at the shoulders to cover herself up from the chilling air she had been walking in just seconds before. The outfit was thinner than most of her wardrobe and she felt ridiculous after realizing that she had forgotten to bring her own sweater. The girl was so caught up when she had been getting ready for the party earlier, she left the apartment with just the attire she had been wearing and her clutch. It also did not help the fact that parts of her outfit had been sheer, so it added to her constant need for warmth. As if her thoughts were read, Jimin whirled around and reached over from the backseat to grab his extra jacket.

Nari watched him. With slow and steady hands, Jimin kindly motioned for the brunette to lean forward and slip her arms into the jacket. She pulled the sleeves down to her fingertips and made a small mental note of how Jimin scanned the new look on her. She was wrapped up nicely and had hair like a chocolate waterfall running down against her back. An expression from her boyfriend that was so gentle on her features is igniting a spark she can only imagine happened in books that she read when she was in high school.

"Thank you." she whispered. Her head turns to meet gazes with him.

"Of course. I wouldn't want you to be sick." Jimin nodded in reply, leaning his head back while keeping his eyes focused on Nari. He observes how she angles her face to push back some locks of hair over her shoulders. Jimin studies everything he witnessed in her movements. She is entirely beautiful, and that was just only the surface that he has seen for the last few months.

"Hey," He said, taking her hand in his. Slowly rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, he smiled at the brunette, "It's still early in the night, so what do you think about going to my place to hang out for awhile? It's been a long minute since we've had a little date. Of course, it's up to you if you want me to take you home."

Nari's heart felt like it leaped out of her chest and ran miles over mountains. Her thoughts were jumbled between the loud beats that drowned her ears and the screaming of her voice that hushed into oblivion right on the second Jimin's suggestion left his lips. Without much being said in response, she nodded, hoping she was not seeming like she was anticipating that invitation. "Yeah, I'd like that."

•••

The ride felt surreal. It was the kind of moment that was rare in many young people's souls. In films, the leading female character would roll down the windows and reach with her arm, or half of her body sticking out to relish in the overwhelming adrenaline that forces those happy chemicals to sink in. In fact, Nari had known that those same exact feelings were driving her to put her guard down and enjoy whatever adventure she stepped into.

However, those happy chemicals were not yet used to the idea of going crazy on a night that was just supposed to be a sweet memory. Nari could not imagine being where she is now if she had not walked into the club with Chae-Rin that one time, and swallowing down her genuine excitement for something as good as this to remember was not enough to contain herself. Something else was poking the back of her mind that she was no able to describe. Something that was almost like tying her and Jimin closer.

The girl held back flinching in her seat once she saw Jimin's right hand removing itself from the steering wheel and gravitated onto her thigh. He would trace his fingers down to the middle, brushing them up closer to the end of her dress before retracting, moving towards her knee. The spell of heat on his palm radiated onto her exposed leg, sending a small bundle of electricity in her stomach. In immediate reaction, her legs slowly pressed together, careful not to tremble like a mess. A quiet breath escaped her lips.

"Are you hungry?" Jimin suddenly asked.

"H-Huh?" Nari blinked, "Oh...uhm, I could go for an apple or something. I don't really have that much of an appetite..." Her gaze followed his hand that moved away from her leg back to the wheel to make a proper turn on some street corner. She licks her lips, suddenly realizing how dry they felt. She was not thinking nor caring about what was outside of the vehicle at that point.

"We'll grab some snacks from the vending machine before heading in, then. I'm sure it's got something that'll pique your interest." Jimin lends Nari a tiny, but beaming smile. The girl stared at him for a long moment after nodding, scanning his attire, and then turning back to the road ahead of them. Within a few minutes of tranquility, her boyfriend pulls into the familiar parking lot of the complex.

They both exit the car, Jimin still doing his best to run over and open the door for her as she climbed out. Sliding an arm around the woman's shoulders, Jimin felt like squeezing her into a large hug. The jacket that accompanied her outfit adorned her appearance. Instead of crushing Nari in a large embrace, he rubbed the sides of her arms to add more heat to keep her from feeling the cold atmosphere.

"Right this way, Miss Lee." he playfully chuckled as he buzzed in his apartment number to enter the gates. The brunette leaned into his side and giggled as they walked the empty halls. Their footsteps echoed in sync before stopping around the corner to see the vending machine fully stocked with cold drinks and packaged goods. Releasing his grasp from Nari to let her look at the products, Jimin crossed his arms over his chest and watched as her eyes marveled over the delicious treats.

"This one looks yummy." Nari pointed at the item, a box of chocolate covered cherries to be exact, and began opening her clutch to find some dollar bills. Jimin quickly put his hand over her's to stop her actions, using his other to get his wallet from his pocket.

The brown-haired girl tried to politely stop him, but paused when he refused with the words, "It is only fair that I get yummy things to match my equally delicious-looking girl."

"Park Jimin!" Nari half-whispered in shock, lightly smacking his arm while trying not to look flustered. It would not work either way, for her cheeks were rosy enough from the party.

The man mischievously ignores her exclamation and continues to pay for the snack, along with a bottle of water to sober up Nari from her tipsy state. Handing her the box, he smirked at her, "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"Y-You..." The woman could barely utter a word before giving up, opening the box and plopping a treat in her mouth. While chewing, she can feel her heart pumping blood even faster than before. She is still not used to the man's clever flirtations.

During the stride to Jimin's apartment in the next building, Nari had an urge to play around with Jimin like a toddler at the park. Because of the alcohol she had earlier, the mood was lighter in her perspective. She would skip around him, giggling when she ran her fingers along his back. What was most intriguing and amusing to Jimin was the way she would keep her eyes narrowed and locked on him when she took a break to lean against the wall of the corridor. It was unlikely for someone like her; Jimin knew women from the club that acted worse around his presence when he performed. Because it was his own girlfriend under the influence, he found it rather cute than unappealing.

"Welcome back to my figurative palace," He announced as soon as they approached his door. Unlocking and pushing it open, he leads Nari in, "Please make yourself at home."

That moment, the world shifted fate's journey.

The door closes behind them, Jimin being the one to turn on the heater and organize any little thing that he had forgotten to fix in the morning. Nari's first instinct was to set her clutch down on the counter and walk over to all the familiar papers stacked on a small table in front of the sofa. The laptop that she had seen from her last visit was now closed and charging, still surrounded by music sheets and pens. She took a seat, leaning over to peak at the papers as she remembered the lunch incident from before.

"Jimin?" she called, turning around to find the orange-haired male taking off his shoes and setting them down near the door. She instantly got up to remove her own, mumbling apologies for her lack of respect as she placed the pair down beside his. She could hear him chuckle next to her.

"Don't worry about those too much. My place isn't that fancy," he waved a hand for her to stop worrying, pulling her away from the entrance to sit her back down, "And what's up?"

"Well," Nari gave one last glance at the shoes before taking a breath to calm herself, "I wanted to ask about-"

She cut off her own sentence when she looked up to see Jimin running his fingers through his hair as he sat down beside her on the small couch. The way he relaxed into the cushions with his arms clasped behind his head as a rest made Nari's head spin. She stuttered as she repeated her words, "I wanted t-to ask about your goals. Y-You mentioned something about being a professional singer." She refers to the music sheets.

Jimin's eyes closed for a few seconds and he exhaled, "Well, I suppose it won't hurt to tell you..." he sits up from his position to pick a random sheet from the stack. Handing it to Nari, he shyly allowed her to examine its contents. There were notes, handwriting only understood by the owner himself, and notes with small doodles on the side to emphasize emotion of each melody. When he saw the smile that formed on her expression with the rise of her cheeks, he felt relieved.

"This music thing is a hobby that I would like to turn into a job. A lifestyle. Obviously, I don't have the perfect setting just yet to make this a reality, but I will definitely keep my passion for singing and writing music my goal once I gather enough money to promote myself." He explained throughly. His eyes shone with determination, and Nari loved that about him.

"So my boyfriend could be famous one day," she nudged his side playfully while setting down the paper, "I'm looking forward to seeing you do something you love, especially with such confidence and assurance for the future. It makes me wanna work harder for my aspirations in life."

The man could only hold back for so long, and when he heard her positive feedback, he could not help himself from giving her a tight hug.

Nari expected him to be happy, and so when she felt herself being embraced, she laughed and started using her hands to sooth circles on his back in response. Jimin buries his face into her neck, leaving the tiniest of kisses on her shoulders before pulling back and grinning at her. He sees the adoration on her face, those delicate eyes and warmth of her touch that now rested on his knees. He wanted to shout with all the joy he has been hit with, and he can only express that emotion with actions.

In swift speed, he lifted up the girl into the air and over his right shoulder, carrying the giggling brunette to his bed. Setting her on the edge with care, he caresses her face gently before grabbing the bottle of water and letting her take a few sips from it. While she happily drank from the bottle, Jimin brushes out her hair and leans close to her, "I'm so lucky. How do I deserve someone so perfect?"

He kisses her the top of her head this time, his hands tracing the lining of her sides down to her waist.

Nari was aware of the situation. Way too aware. So damn aware of it, her heart practically pounded like a set of drums in a rock band. She was thankful that she was able to drink water, otherwise she would have passed out from the emotions overwhelming her body. If she were to get scientific, she would have noted that there were not just happy chemicals racing in her head. The instant she looked at her boyfriend, she absolutely knew that she was in for a hell of an experience. Maybe not the entire rollercoaster ride just yet, but the ecstatic feeling will surely be on display.

"I could say the same to you." Was all she could muster to reply.

Then as she handed the tightly closed bottle to Jimin, she began to remove his jacket from herself. The material slid off of her body with ease. The club entertainer observed her for the millionth time once she tossed the item off to the side, pressing his lips together as she was now only left with her original outfit. Jimin took the initiative to take off his white shirt, button by button at a time in no rush. While doing so, Nari was sure of herself a hundred times that this was what she wanted. No doubts of regret and she knew her limitations. The fact that Jimin was being cautious of her feelings brought much more assurance than she could ever ask for.

"Allow me." she spoke up, even startling herself when she extended her hands out to aid him.

That sparked more and more attraction in Jimin's head. He bent down to kiss her, softly pecking her lips and gradually deepening the action. Nari could feel the last button being removed until she only felt his skin under her touch. The same skin that she refused to even look at when they first encountered each other at the bachelorette event. Separating for air, Nari saw the full picture of Jimin's upper body up close and personal. Lifted once again to be set entirely on the bed, she exhaled with that same feeling in her abdomen when her view was fixated on the man hovering above her.

Jimin, silently asking for permission and receiving a nod of approval, he dipped down and kissed the girl with a hunger for her lips. Nari's hands slid up to rest on the sides of his neck, taking in everything at her own pace. The man on top of her placed his hand on her inner thighs, riding her dress up higher to feel the soft and sensitive skin that has never been touched by anyone else. Nari's back arched slightly at the contact, pulling Jimin closer as he moved a bit nearer to her most sensitive area. Knowing not to go too far, he stayed in that spot to squeeze and stroke that place with as much care as he could.

Repositioning, he was now completely on top of Nari and kept his hands busy on her waist area, pressing his lower half against her slowly. The girl would run her fingers along his torso down to the waistline of his pants, gripping at it occasionally, only to hear Jimin's breathing hitch the more she did so. Nari has never made out with anyone in her life, and she felt insecure of her lack of skills, however, Jimin made it clear that every second she licked his bottom lip, he would press even harder onto her body. The brunette was settled on running her fingers through his precious colored hair and roaming his toned back every now and then.

Jimin smiled, whispering, "Are you doing okay?" And continued to nuzzle his face into the nape of her neck. It was sweet how he would lay more butterfly kisses and lay at her side to keep his arm around her. The college student, embarrassed and completely flustered, lightly punched his chest as she moved around to face him properly. "I'm wonderful. You've been so good to me and I can't express it enough."

"We both seem to have the same thoughts."

Each step was to be taken slowly, and Jimin was more than happy and satisfied to be following Nari's desires when it came to exploring affection. He can tell she was falling deeper for him, and vise versa. It was only a matter of time that they would finally be on a path to love.

•Lust of Innocence•

•••~Milly: I hope everyone has enjoyed reading our story so far! Now onto our annual text messages of the chapter where I give Ashy a hard time as usual!