June 8, 2019   12:00 P.M
Saturday

"Jaemin I need your assistance today with my work," Namjoon nonchalantly informs the butler.

'I promised (Y/N) that I'll be taking her out today!' Jaemin bit his lips and fidgeted with his hands inside his pockets while looking at his superior's deadly stare.

"Master Namjoon," Jaemin pauses to evaluate his choice of words to convince Namjoon, "with all due respect... it's my day off and I have a very important event I must uphold."

"No," Namjoon answers sharply. "You may have an extension of your break in Monday and Tuesday. I'll need you to run errands for me this whole weekend. Surely... you will do anything I ask correct? Or do you want your precious title be tainted for not being able to follow my directions?"

"N-No Master."

"Good." The jade headed male feigned a smile. "I need you to fix my schedules so all of my work will land during the week days instead of the weekends. Go to the main building in Seoul to asses the employee's work; if they're lacking, either fire of lecture them."

"Yes master." Jaemin bows his upper body. "I'll be taking my leave and do as you please."

Whilst raising his head, Jaemin straightened his posture as he walks away from Namjoon with a clenched fists. 'What am I suppose to tell (Y/N) now? I hope she'll understand, I don't want to leave a terrible impression and think I'm a flaker.'

Namjoon watches him walk away with a smirk on his lips.

'That should teach him to stay away from (Y/N).'

"Can you explain to me what was that about?" Hoseok's minacious voice beaconed Namjoon's head to turn to his direction.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, Hoseok. I only asked Jaemin to help me... it's his job isn't it?"

Instead of Hoseok's usual happy smile, a frown and a threatening aura embraced his body. "You never do any of this. Moving your schedules? Sending him to the main building in Seoul? Disregarding his proper time to rest? You always cared for your employees and you never... I mean never, move schedules because your job is always your main priority to finish first."

"Hoseok—"

"It's evident that you want something. I'm simply asking you to be honest with me... I'm your second man in hand and we consider each other as brothers so you should at least trust me. Namjoon... I'm worried for you because if what you want is already influencing you to break from your original schedules... the outcomes of your actions is anything but good."

"What are you implying, Jung Hoseok?"

"You're being corrupted, Namjoon. What you desire is corrupting you..."

Namjoon felt the interaction to be twisted in malice. They haven't spoken a word to one another for more than a week and with the conversation they're having currently, it seemed like neither of them is interested to continue conversing with the other's company. Namjoon kept his words to himself, signaling Hoseok that he won't say anything else.

"If your wish is to keep your mouth shut and not answer me, then I'll be going on with my way. Have a good day Namjoon."

.
.

'Well I'm definitely not having a good day.' (Y/N) leans her body against the frame of her door while listening to Jaemin's excuse.

"I'm sorry," the butler tilted his head down as he apologizes. "Master Namjoon assigned me tasks and of course I'll have to do my duty to be a good servant. I really do want to hang out with you to get to know you since we're going to be working together for long time."

"It's fine... there are more opportunities in the future!" (Y/N) gives him a reassuring smile, though deep inside she felt disappointed.

She understands it's not his fault, but waiting for a relaxing weekend for it to be canceled brought her mood down. After all, she just transitioned from living with Yoonah to working for 7 different boys she doesn't even know much off, except for Jungkook.

Every now and then during her breaks, Jungkook would show up out of nowhere and give her pastries that he himself made just for her. At first, it was sweet, but sometimes she would find those same pastries strategically placed in the house where only her would go through.

Hey it's free food, who wouldn't want free food?

His actions during the whole duration of the day would only focus on (Y/N). (Y/N) this. (Y/N) that. He would cut his fingers so (Y/N) could tend him and give him a little kiss just to make him feel better.

"Oh! If you don't mind, can you get more bandaids while going to the city? We're running out," the (h/c) headed girl asks, hoping that she isn't a burdending Jaemin with her simple request.

"Sure! ...why if I may ask?"

"Oh, I'm sure you know. Jungkook keeps accidentally cutting himself while cooking. Sometimes I don't believe he's a head of multiple restaurants when he can't get out of a kitchen without a single injury," (Y/N) chuckles.

"Master Jungkook? Accidentally cutting himself?" Jaemin furrowed his eyebrows in question. "For all my years of knowing the young master... not once has he ever cut himself while cooking— heck he could cut vegetables with eyes close, ears muffled, and hands tied behind his back. He's a pro at his cutlery."

"Now that I think about it..." a thought trundled right to her cerebrum, bringing back certain memories that lead a certain night: when she and Jungkook first cooked together.

Jungkook picked up the chopping knife and cut the vegetables into perfect matchsticks; every motion, every slice, was precise from intense repetition. 'He never touched an inch of his skin.'

"Master Jungkook."

Jaemin's voice broke (Y/N) out of her thoughts.

'What the hell?'

Jungkook is holding a knife in his hands.

"Jungkook What are you doing with that knife??" (Y/N) blurted, her mind racing with thoughts. "Aren't knives strictly prohibited to be left in the kitchen so no one would get injured?"

"Yes noona, but I just got this today from the mail and one of the workers brought it to my room." Jungkook answered, smiling, with a hint of trouble in his eyes. The male shifted the momentum of the conversation by turning his eyes to Jaemin's frozen statue. "Why is Jaemin here?"

As (Y/N) opens her mouth, she witnessed Jaemin's body movements scrunch in tighter. With his smile gone, the female sensed fear in him. It's as if he's begging her to choose her words carefully because if not, danger might come their way.

"Nothing Kookie." (Y/N) pinches his cheeks. "he was just asking if I needed help."

"Ah ah ah noona that hurtsssss," Jungkook pouted, light bouncing off his glossy lips as he do so.

"Okay I'll let you go, I'm going—"

"Huh? To where noona?"

"Well I'm going out for some fresh air, see you two around." (Y/N) excuses herself from the arousing tension from the both males.

The moment (Y/N)'s silhouette disappeared from their line of vision, Jungkook's attitude flipped 180.

Jungkook turns his head towards Jaemin. Hate expands in the brown haired boy's heart as he looks at his rival, Jaemin. Unconsciously, the knife that he carries in his hand made its way on his wrist, slowly piercing through his milky white skin. The blood flowed out of Jungkook's wrist and splattered into the floor.

"M-Master Jungkook stop! You're hurting yourself!"

Before Jaemin could aid him, Jungkook points the knife directly to his face. "You know... I hated the scent of blood, until (Y/N) came. Blood so sweet like hers should be cherish."

"Master, what are you talking about??"

"Approach (Y/N) once again, the end of this knife might meet your skin and your flesh," Jungkook said with an emotionless voice, his stare sending shivers down Jaemin's spine.

"Y-yes Master."

Jaemin bowed and began walking out into the opposite direction, away from Jungkook. With his heart beating furiously against his chest, the butler wishes that this day would already end.

.
.

"Jaemin!" A husky and deep voice called out from afar.

Jaemin turns his head around to see Taehyung silently prancing around the hall.

"What can I do for you Master Taehyung?" Jaemin answered with a simulated smile, to which Taehyung easily noticed.

The electric haired male scowled at Jaemin's fake expression. Taehyung's eyes traced his worker's body, reading any body motion that can at least tell him to why Jaemin was acting groggy out of the blue.

Maybe something was bothering him?

Yes, something is definitely bothering Jaemin.

"How did your date go with newbie?" Taehyung breaks the ice between them to lighten up the situation.

"Huh? Oh— wait... how did you know?" Jaemin glances upward, his mouth purses but slightly open and loose as he waits for Taehyung's answer.

"Because newbie specifically went to me for some lessons how to flirt. I can really tell that she likes you Jaemin, it's quite interesting." Taehyung flashes his smile.

"Really?"

"Yes... while I was teaching her, something sparked inside my body that I couldn't comprehend. So to ease that curiosity of mine, I decided to touch her." Taehyung smirked as he sees Jaemin's once blushing face from his earlier statement now fell into solemn as his eyes screamed in pain and anger. "She was a blusher for sure. I liked that. That was cute. My stomach fluttered just looking at her. Do you feel the same?"

The aura around them turned cold.

"Do you? Do you feel the same towards her." It was a simple question, but Jaemin was given the same chilling discomfort Jungkook had given him earlier when the subject of the topic is (Y/N).

"I haven't gotten to know her that well, so my feelings for her isn't clear—"

"LIES!" Taehyung yelled, his hands slipping to the collar of Jaemin's buttoned shirt and slammed him against the wall.

Every breath Jaemin heaves was thick and hot. Pulse quickening, sweat lingering in the air, the young butler felt like the walls around was closing in as darkness filled his eyes. Taehyung showed no mercy— he gripped his throat tighter and harder, suffocating Jaemin.

He needs air.

Jaemin needs air.

"Fine, might as well let you live for now." Taehyung loosens his grip around his throat and watch him cough, desperate for air. "Namjoon wouldn't want to me to finish you now. After all, you still have to finish the tasks he assigned you."

"Wh-what?" Jaemin caressed his bruised neck whilst coughing.

"Didn't you know? I was the one who told Namjoon about your little date with (Y/N). He wasn't too happy with it," Taehyung's smile broadened as his eyes glimmer with mischief. "Well see you around Jaemin, I expect you to not talk with her or else my hands won't be the only thing on your neck."

Jaemin could feel the fear in his chest taking over his system. Perhaps it wants to protect him, but in his eyes these events will just be temporary, so this is nothing but an illusion. He believes his masters won't harm him— it won't lead to anything else. But this fear... it sits there in his body like an angry ball propelling him towards an anxiety he just don't need.

'I should get back to work. It's the stress that's getting to me that's all. Being here for years, I'm sure the masters won't do anything to me... this... this all started when (Y/N) came. A week ago, everything was fine... she caused— NO! This isn't (Y/N)'s fault!'

He takes a deep breath. Jaemin exits out of the back door and to the garden. There's something about being outside that evaporated his worries, maybe the fresh air scent reminded him of his home back in a small town far away from the cities with his older brother, Eunwoo and his grandmother, Granny Eun, but he isn't sure— but his body has already begun to relax.

'Everything is going to be okay.'

He spoke to soon.