1982

"Strip," Jungkook simply stated, setting his things neatly.

"No way! I'll never strip in front of a stranger! Who the fuck strips for a painting? If that's the thing I have to do, then I'm ready to resign," Jimin was completely flabbergasted. His eyes were wide as saucers and he waved his hand frantically in the air, passively retaliating against the revelation which Jungkook made.

"It's this or that..." Jungkook shrugged his shoulders, with a sly smile on his face. His look gave away everything, as if he knew where he was going with this.

"Which artists tells his model to get naked? You're absolutely joking. Please tell me this is a joke and I'll forgive you," Jimin brought his hands up in defence, pleading Jungkook.

"This ain't a joke. Artists need to carve their model's entire body; the inculcated emotions and feelings. So, I'm not just drawing you. I'm carving you in my canvas," Jungkook began to take out and place his brushes, and Jimin looked absolutely fazed, his mouth still hanging open.

"You're still going to paint me?" Jimin pointed at the brushes.

"Of course. I know how much this job means to you and I know that you're not ready to give it up. Either way, we both know that you're going to get naked for me," Jungkook pulled a chair and began to open the bottles of paint, every bottle emanating a new emotion which Jimin thronged to converge with.

"What made you assume that? I'm not going to strip and especially in front of someone I barely know," Jimin defended himself, offended by every comment Jungkook was stating.

"Hyung-"

"No, don't call me hyung. We barely know each other. Let's stay proffesional," Jimin cut him off, with a scornful glare on his face.

"Ok, so as I was saying, a portrait is important because it defines someone. It defines your attitude and your emotions; the ones which you usually hide from everyone. Moreover, if you let go of this, there are high chances that you'll get fired and no longer affiliated to our company. It means that you won't be paid nor be given your own studio," Jungkook sighed deeply, signalling Jimin to calm down.

"But it still doesn't make any sense. All of this is really suspicious to me. Make a call to Taehyung and I'll clarify this with himself," Jimin took out his phone, ready to make a call.

"No!" Jungkook's voice was frantic.

"What do you mean by no?" Jimin raised his eyebrows. "Wasn't he the one who insisted this idea? Then why don't I confirm with himself?"

"No- I mean yes, he was the one who insisted this. But please don't call him. He might be busy with stuff, ya know. Those types of people are really busy," Jungkook shrugged his shoulders, blurting out nervously.

"I bet he'll be able to make some time for me. Give me his number," Jimin went towards Jungkook, pointing at his phone.

"I don't have his number?" Jungkook raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"What do you mean you don't have his number? Do you know Taehyung after all?" Jimin was highly suspicious. He ran his hands through his hair, with a smouldering gaze etched on his face.

"Of course I know him," Jungkook chuckled nervously in response.

"Then why don't you have his number?" Jimin queried, knitting his eyebrows together.

"I only have the company number. He didn't give me his personal number," Jungkook thought for a while. "Well, believe me if you want and don't blame me if you lose your job."

"Give me the company's number then. I'll contact them and it's not like I don't trust you. I barely know you. You just randomly came up to me and told me to strip for a painting. Everything seems rather suspicious. It seems like I'm the one who doesn't know anything," Jimin sighed deeply, gesturing for Jungkook to give his phone for the number.

"Of course we know everything- I mean, yeah, we know everything," Jungkook stammered, his pupils faltering.

"You seem to be rather nervous. Is something bugging you?" Jimin narrowed his eyes. "Or are you making any mistake?"

"No!" Jungkook almost shouted. "I'm not making any mistake. Let's just get this over with."

"I'm still not going to strip in front of a stranger. I barely even know you. And you're really quick to respond so it low-key seems really suspicious," Jimin sighed deeply, turning around.

"Get to know me then," Jungkook simply stated.

"For a painting? I would rather leave this job," Jimin rubbed his temples, tired of the altercation which had been running for over an hour.

"Why is it so difficult for you to get along with people? I'm just asking you to strip so I can begin to paint. You're seriously wasting my time here," Jungkook's voice was indignant. He placed the bottles of paint on a table adjacent to the walls of the room and began to walk near Jimin, facing him.

"That's none of your business and I'm not willing to strip. It's the same answer no matter how many times you ask," Jimin let out an exasperated sigh, leaning on the wall.

"Come on..." Jungkook whined.

"Can we not have a painting without stripping? Why are you so adamant?" Jimin questioned Jungkook who stood there with a pout on his face.

"Because stripping is important. It's crucial," Jungkook explained, his eyes wide as saucers.

"No, it's not. Not all people strip when they're a model for an artist," Jimin retorted, locking eyes with Jungkook.

"And not all artists are the same. Everyone have their own preferences," Jungkook shrugged, very well knowing that he was going to win the argument.

"What are you trying to imply?" Jimin was insolent.

"It's either do or die, jimin. Strip or lose your job. If you choose any one of the latter, either way, it's a win win situation for me," Jungkook flashed a smile of victory.

"You're leaving me no choice!" Jimin's voice was becoming louder by minute.

"Not my problem." Jungkook chuckled.

Silence followed, engulfing the entire room in it. The either of them stayed quiet, knowing that the words coming out either leaded to a conflict or a heartbreak. Jimin was never compelled to be in such a conflicting situation. It had been always him; only him. But now, considering the fact that the entire decision he was going to take would affect his life as well as Namjoon's, his mind was contradictory and pensive. He paced around the room rapidly, folding his hands and deep in thought.

The door clicked, indicating that someone had entered. The duo deep in thought, broke out of their trance and looked at the intruder. The dragon eyed man at the door eyed the room with inquisitiveness, smiling softly looking at Jimin. He raised his eyebrows, as if he were asking for permission and once Jimin nodded subtly, he entered.

Clad in a grey hoodie and sweatpants, it seemed that he had been here after an exhausting run. Droplets of sweat trickled down his forehead, accentuating his manliness even more. His lips were parted, and he panted heavily for a while before resurrecting himself and looking at Jimin and Jungkook for an explanation of what was actually going in the room.

"What's the problem here, Jimin? People are complaining about you for the past thirty minutes. Talk a bit softly," Namjoon said, pursing his lips.

"It's him, hyung. He apparently wants me to strip so I can draw. I barely even know him, hyung. And when I refused, he threatened me that I would lose my job," Jimin explained while Namjoon calmly listened.

"Is it true that you told him to strip, Jungkook?" Namjoon questioned after Jimin had explained everything.

"You know his name? Wait, do you guys know each other?" Jimin was completely flabbergasted. This was their first meeting, and Jimin had never revealed the artist's name. Everything was suspicious to Jimin but he could not help but go along with the flow.

"No!"

"Yes!"

Namjoon and Jungkook shouted at the same time. Jimin raised his eyebrows, with his eyes narrowed. He was impatiently tapping on the floor with his foot, clearly asking for an explanation as to why they gave different answers.

"Yes!"

"No!"

Namjoon and Jungkook shouted again, making the same blunder. Jimin sighed deeply, enough of everything.

"Do you guys know each other? Or are you hiding something from me?" Jimin poked his inner cheeks with his tongue, clearly showing that he was agitated.

"We half know each other," Namjoon's voice was nervous and Jungkook nodded at the revelation.

"And you expect that makes any sense to me?" Jimin raised his eyebrows.

"Well, we met on the day you had an appointment with Taehyung and we spoke for a while," Namjoon shrugged his shoulders while Jungkook blandly nodded.

"And you blatantly denied knowing him?" Jimin chuckled. "You really expect me to believe your dry lies?"

"I'm stating the facts, Jimin," Namjoon said, his lips twitching.

"Your eyes tell me that you're lying, hyung. Believe me, I've been in the psychological field for so long that I know if someone is lying or not. You know something, hyung? I trust you, so please don't let that trust falter," Jimin's voice was laced with disappointment and at once, there was a look of guilt in Namjoon's face.

"I'm sorry Jimin... But this is actually the truth," Namjoon trailed off hesitantly.

No, I can't tell you the truth. That's the only way I can protect you.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night. Now, Jungkook, as I said, I'm not interested," Jimin deadpanned, folding his arms together.

"You're going to regret that decision, chim. You know our life depends on this," Namjoon entered the tense scenario, siding with Jungkook.

"Oh, so now you're siding with Jungkook? Ok hyung, tell me what I have to do. Strip in front of a stranger? No freaking way. Give me any other choice and I'll gladly accept it. And only if the other choice has nothing with me exposing my body," Jimin stated, sighing deeply.

"You're sure? There's an other option too I have in mind," Namjoon smiled at Jimin.

"What's that?" Jimin questioned. "If it has anything other than me stripping, then I'm up for it."

"Well, you said that Jungkook is completely a stranger and you don't know anything about him right?" Namjoon queried.

"Yes, but what does it have to do with this?" Jimin scrunched his nose, furrowing his brows together.

"Let me finish, Jimin. So why don't you get to know him? I mean, I know that painting is not urgent. So, you can get acquainted with him for a few days and get to know him well," Namjoon stated.

"And how exactly do I get to know him?" Jimin was suspicious.

"Live with Jungkook." Namjoon had a satisfied smile on his face.

Outside the glasses that secluded the vicinity, there was a particular someone, listening to the ongoing conversation with a scornful glare on their face. The person was dressed in black, as if they had been straight from a funeral.

Most importantly, a mask covered their entire face; a black mask.

"You won't live for long Jimin. I'll destroy you in order to get revenge for killing Taehyung."

************

Shall I strip for you instead?

*********

A/n's note : The jjk edit above was made my myself-

Ok so, this was a long ass chapter and I hope you liked it.

Check out my other Jikook book too! It's called smoking rings and it's the mafia sort of story.

Another change, in the second chapter, someone had told that it was misogynist (that whore portion). So, I'll be changing to to something which will respect women.

That's it for today! Spam me with comments <3 (they motivate me to write ;-;)