Jungkook's POV, 

I was almost ready for my part-time job. Finished dinner, clothing. Still had some time in hand, so lazily I was applying some moisturizer on my face as it became dryer in mid fall. 

I reached my study table for my phone when it buzzed. 

The caller ID made my eyes stuck at the screen. How doubtlessly I knew the reason behind my uncle calling me at this hour when he could barely put passwords into his phone. Ignoring the two pairs of eyes that shot straight at me, I jerked my head to the bathroom to take the call. 

  "What's now?" I responded plainly, resting my other hand atop the wide white basin. A sheen of wetness touched my hands. I didn't take it away.

  "Jungkook, my good child, are you well?"

  "Why?"

  "We haven't met in a while." My uncle mumbled from the other side, his eagerness was to be guessed. "You know how I'm living and what I'm going through after losing my job. I mean who'll know it better than you? These days it has become worse. You aren't even talking to me, aren't replying to my messages..."

  "I have my duty in half an hour so stop beating around the bush and tell me why you thought of calling me tonight?" 

My pressed tone had definitely stopped the flow of his speech. He took a moment, I guessed, to rebuild his speech. 

  "Actually last night some unknown men attacked me on my way home. I was so weak that I couldn't protest. The alcohol inside my veins had bound my nerves. At that time I couldn't feel much but when I woke up in the morning, my whole body was in terrible pain." 

My uncle's voice came out thinner than the last time we talked over the phone. He had always been talking in a thin weedy voice to tickle emotions inside me. Although he succeeded most of the time by vending money from me, those tricks had failed to stir my emotions. I used to become annoyed rather than being sympathetic toward him. With an unpleasant frown on my face I continued listening to him. 

  He said,  "I'm even scared to go out if they come back and attack me again!"

"Is there something I could do about it?" I said, "You must have done something terrible to provoke those people to charge on you."

  "It was not my fault."

I could hear the expression on his voice defending himself strongly. 

  "So you need money to buy medicines?"

  "No. Not the medicines. Uhm, I need money to pay the house rent which was due for months. Five hundred K won would do for now. They said they won't let me enter the rented room and throw away our belongings on the street if I don't give them the money tomorrow." He finally paused to drag in a breath.  Despondently said,  "I personally don't have many things but your mom's dressing mirror and your dad's clock will be thrown away. What would I do, Jungkook-ah?"

My ears burned as he said my name. I couldn't remember the last time I was happily talking with my uncle, trusting him undoubtedly. I wondered, would I still be happy with him if that accident never happened and I wasn't forced to see the ugly side of his character! 

  "Ok. I'm sending the money."  Not because of him, but there were some other things that were precious to me; my mom's clothes and her last used perfumes, hair accessories, the old grandpa clock my father got from his parents, which my uncle desperately wanted to sell it in an antique store, but couldn't because I threatened to cut all ties with him if he ever did that. I also made myself clear,  "This is the last time. So never nag me for money. If you do, I will block your number. Or else call the police."

  "You're joking right? You know how much I love you…"

I disconnected. 

Splashed my face with some cold water, scabbed my hair with my wet fingers and looked into the mirror. Didn't care to wipe the droplets crawling over my jaws. Prominent dark circles around my eyes had become permanent now. It had been a while since I went to the salon or shopping with my friends. I wasn't looking like an average boy in his twenty, but looked more like those second lead actors in cliche dramas who never get the heroine. Boring and dull. Am I aging faster than my friends! —I sighed deep. 

  "Something's happened?" Jimin asked when he saw me coming out of the bathroom. 

  "Nothing." I reapplied moisturiser over my wiped face. smeared the extra on my hands up to the wrists. 

  "Your uncle again?" Why was Jimin always right? "Can't he just do some labor? He's just eating, pooping and demanding your money."

  "Shall we not talk about him?" I said calmly, looking at him. 

  "Okay." Jimin said, eyeing me for a moment. There were worry lines etched onto his brow but he diverted his attention quickly, "Tae, eat some more. Mom sent this non-spicy chicken stew especially for you. So you've to finish this whole thing, ok?"

Taehyung nodded shyly. He was at the left,  facing Jimin. From my position I could see the side of his face, stuffed with chicken. His cleanly shaven jaw moved with each chew. However, he was dressed like an office worker in a plain black and white uniform, he looked adorably cute like a puppy with his soft eyes and flatly combed blue bangs covering his forehead where his dark brows peeping slightly. 

When I realized I was staring, I turned my gaze. But my stupid eyes found an excuse to look at him again when he spoke a while later, 

  "Your mother is the best chef on earth." Taehyung took another bite of the tender chicken and made one of those yummy noises. "And she's very kind."

  "Yeah she is." Jimin said after putting his fork down, straightening his spinal cord. "You know  when I told her about you, she texted me a dozen instructions, guided me on how to take care of a sick person. That's why I went to your cousin's place for the mission to make you healthy again." 

  Taehyung stopped chewing and a grateful look came across his face,  "That's so nice of you Jimin. I won't ever forget what you did of me that night. You were holding my hand till the morning. I felt so warm." 

  "Stop making me blush." Jimin smiled his softest smile and insisted that he must eat more of his mom-made food. "But one thing I've realized, your cousin is weird. Couldn't he get that someone was trying to flirt with him?"

  "He usually doesn't like to get into others' business, especially when it involves heart. But I agree with your first statement, he is weird." Taehyung said, nonchalantly taking a spoonful of vegetables, put it in his mouth and chewed it in pout. 

Could he just stop acting cute! 

  "I'm leaving now." I said when I was done with my shoelaces. It wasn't necessary to tell them, mostly to the other boy, but still I did. 

That was a part of my nature—What I want to do, always end up doing the opposite. 

  "Wait, I'm done." Taehyung ate in a hurry, "Almost."

  "You can't before finishing your food." Jimin gave him a parent-like glare. 

  "But Jungkook-" 

  "Jungkook won't leave without you." 

  "Like you predict the future." I huffed a laugh, but paused when I saw Jimin pulling out my bicycle keys from his pocket. "What the-"

  "See?" He raised it before Taehyung and chuckled, "He can't."

  "Jimin! You pickpocketed my keys?"

  "That was easy as I know your intention." Said the shorter guy, 

  "My intention?" 

  "Yes." Jimin raised up on his feet, held my gaze and again put the set of keys inside his yellow pajama's  pocket. "What do you think, I'm not aware of how you were avoiding him all day?"

I swallowed air. This boy knew me so well that it was hard to beat him.

  "Wait until Tae has his dinner. His health is more important, right?" Jimin smiled looking at the other guy who returned the smile with a small 'thank you'. 

  "I know you're awesome bro, but you aren't helping a bit. It will be better if he goes on a cab. The weather is getting colder and he seems pretty sensitive." I suggested. 

  "But we had an agreement." Taehyung said immediately. 

  "I'm canceling it."

  "Why?" 

Ahh again those puppy eyes! Puffy cheeks bonus. I hate myself for noticing that everytime. 

  "Jungkook, stop being a brat-"

  I turned to Jimin, busted out, "Then can you please tell him to stop stuffing his mouth and get ready already. I really can't afford to see my boss's choleric face for three days straight."

I got my keys back in a moment. And my co-passenger was ready to go out but halted taking the last ounce of my patience, turned on his heels and went back to Jimin. 

  "Jiminie, you're so sweet. Thanks for the food, I liked it so much." He kissed Jimin's hand and waved him a little bye-bye. 

I slammed the door behind as he finally came out. 

I paddled in a tornado speed tonight. Stormed inside the club just before they flipped the sign "OPEN".

  "Hey blueberry, you doing alright?" Minsoo had a surprised smile when we went back to the bar counter. 

  "Yeah." Taehyung quitely nodded. He took the empty spot between Minsoo and me. 

  "I waited for you that day half an hour before opening the club but you didn't show up." Minsoo wiped his hands, sanitizing, before serving the customers. 

  "Sorry, I couldn't come." Taehyung replied. 

  "I know the reason. It's alright. Stay here beside me, I'll teach you how to mix soft and hard drinks together." 

  Taehyung smiled at Minsoo's offer, "Oh that sounds cool."

  "Not cool but dumb." I held his elbow, pulled him a step closer to mine. "He needs to learn the basics first, so he's going to stick with me."

  "Jeon! Stop acting like his father." Minsoo chuntered, "He's already grown up. Let him decide." He held his other hand and asked him softly, "Tell me sweet blueberry, you're going to assist me?"

Sweet blueberry! My blood was wildfire.

  "Will you stop calling him by names? And is he your assistant? Aren't we all the same here?" 

  "Well I didn't mean that." Minsoo dropped his hand, apologetically grinned, "Taehyung, please don't mind. I was just trying to be friendly."

  "Sir," Taehyung's eyes widened. 

  "Ah! You don't have to call me sir. We're all even here." Minsoo widened his grin, but it dried as soon as he snapped his head back, "S-sir!"

  "You all talk too much on duty." Our boss stepped forward circling the bar island, eyeing each of us. In tuxedos he looked like the Korean version of Marlon Brando in the movie Godfather. Without the mustache. 

  "No sir, we were just discussing what would the newbe do." Minsoo made a professional face. 

  "He's going to come with me. A waiter on the third floor is on leave and some very important clients are going to come tonight so he needs to be there now." Said Mr. Moon. 

  "I'm coming with him then." I too a step forward, "He doesn't know many things-"

  "Did I ask you, Jeon?"  Mr. Moon raised his hand at me, making me halt. "Stop making excuses and get your work done here. You, Kim, follow me." He gave a look to Taehyung and walked on. 

Taehyung looked at me with his deer-caught-in-headlight eyes. My mouth ajar, I wanted to say something but my throat tightened. 

  "Go." I said averting my gaze at the thin crowd, noticed he moved forth without turning, towards the other door, leaving me to wonder what he was going to do there alone. 

  "Do you have a thing for him?"

  "Huh?"

  "Taehyung,"

I followed Minsoo's gaze and saw his eyes ravishing Taehyung from behind. 

  I frowned, "What do you mean?" 

  "You like him?" Minsoo clearly asked, when we couldn't see him anymore. 

  "No."

  "And he?" 

  "Definitely not."

  "Great!" Minsoo's eyebrows danced, a gleeful grin spread across his mouth, "I wanna try my luck. He's cute."

  "And committed."

  "Really?" He said looking a little disappointed. Tsk-tsked. "Handsome men these days are more scarce than kohinoor."

I snorted. 

Thursday's crowd was minimal. So customers didn't come in flocks. Some of the regulars tried making small conversation while watching me juggling the bottles. The singing craze hadn't ended yet. Some of them complimented and urged me to sing again but I denied, saying 'the DJ would be offended'. It was a relief that rich people had so many things on their platter that they easily got over small things. So I knew they were most probably going to forget it next week. 

A woman, mid-thirties, in a long blue dress stayed on the counter for longer. She ordered three Martini and every time I served her, she complimented. 

  "This Martini tested like heaven. I loved it."

  "Thank you so much, madam." I said, when I watched her leaving a generous tip under the glass after the last sip. 

And then there was none to remember with. 

I hated weekdays when there were less crowds. I had nothing to do but watch couples dance with their bodies stuck together. Flirting openly and shamelessly. I hated listening to loud stupid pop songs nonstop, getting addicted to the screams. But one thing that I loved was making these amazing drinks and witnessing the amazed looks on customers' eyes seeing me prepare their drinks. 

I glanced at my side. Minsoo and Jackie as always were doing their little plays with the cocktails. Everything was there in their places but something was missing. 

Taehyung. 

I couldn't forget for a moment to think of him. 

Honestly, I wished I could keep him by my side because he was still learning, but definitely I didn't want to go against my boss. Already I had so much to deal with and losing this job was the last thing I wished for. 

Suddenly Chewon hyung's warning came into my mind. He told me he'd witnessed some unexpected activities on the third floor and asked me to stay away from there before resigning. 

Something cold ran down from my spine. Face shadowed when I daydreamed several negative possibilities of Taehyung being in danger. 

1. What if he discovers the same thing and the boss makes him resign! 

2. What if he breaks expensive crockeries and cuts himself picking them up! 

3. What if some horny bastards try to assault him because he's weak and can't be able to fight back! 

4. What if he gets into more danger than I could even stretch my imagination! 

Uneasy feelings creeped in and I grabbed my phone from the counter and tucked it into my side pocket. Without being assured that he was alright, I knew I couldn't do anything here anyway. 

  "Washroom." I mouthed Minsoo when he queried where I was heading to. A quick glance at the corner cameras, and I bolted out of the door. I skipped the elevator as there was a possibility of getting caught by the boss. So I marched towards the stairs. High rush of adrenaline with concern for him making me skip two at a time. 

Chewon hyung's warning and Taehyung's face before leaving the dance room eating my mind from left and right. 

The stairs ended in a narrow room. And after that there was an open hallway and a counter at the end. Like the reception, a lady in a red dress was seen attending a call. Other than her, there was none. My heart went crazy. I couldn't decide where to find him. 

I went inside the first door that caught my attention. It was the kitchen slash storeroom. Four people working there silently. 

  "Are you new here?" A guy asked me as I walked a couple of steps in. 

  "Yeah." I tried to maintain my cool. "I'm here to look for a boy named Taehyung. Have you seen him?"

  "Taehyung? You mean the blue head?"

  "Yes." I bit my lip, holding my breath. 

  "He got inside room no. 3 a while ago but he hasn't come out yet."

What did that mean? 

  "Ok got you." I rushed to the said room hurriedly and opened the door at once. 

My breathing forgot the route, stuck inside my lungs as I witnessed more than a dozen people inside. It wasn't a bedroom I had assumed. It was basically a medium sized hallroom with a well dressed mini orchestra playing Latin classic music in the corner. The walls, the drapes everything in shades blue and touches of chrome. In the center there was a round pristine cherry hardwood table, track lights hanging over it. Men in luxurious suits sitting around, holding cards and cigarettes in their hands. Talking informally. 

Some of their gazes touched my face before I could go out and run. However, they ignored me thinking I was one of those waiters, and got their attention back to whatever they were playing. 

But one person didn't take his eyes off me. Kim Hyunjoong. I had seen him more than a hundred times with my boss, but today, I didn't know why my throat dried up.

  "Jeon." A smirk spread across his face., "If this isn't a surprise?"

  "Good evening sir." I bowed formally. 

  "Can I ask what brings you here?" 

  "I-" I tried to come up with a pretext but halted when my eyes landed on Taehyung who was standing beside him, holding an empty silver tray, awkwardly looking at me. 

  "Jeon?" A person sitting before me, facing in the opposite direction, turned at me.  He was the same age as Hyunjoong, but had a mustache and a trendy beard. His eyes narrowed on mine as he spoke, "Is he a friend of yours, Joong?"

I knew I was screwed the moment I recognized him as the most dangerous man in South Korea. 

Dong Hyun. 

He was famous for different reasons. I'd seen him in newspapers and on TV, but seeing him face to face for the first time, made my nonexistent wig snatched away. My soul tagged along with it. 

  "He's a bartender here. Works down the first floor." Hyunjoong replied. The skin around his lips wrinkled as he widened his smirk. "Quite good looking. Isn't he?"

  "Indeed." Said Dong Hyun, uplifting one of his eyebrows. "So, have you lost your way, boy?"

I had lost my sanity sir. 

  "N-no." I somehow manage to voice out. "I'm here to find Taehyung." 

A dying person barely lies. 

  "Taehyung?" His other eyebrow rose and lined with the previous one. 

  "This cute looking guy," Hyunjoong pointed at his left to Taehyung. 

Dong Hyun's, with the other important clients' attention drifted to the said man, and traveled back to me. 

  "Your boyfriend?" Dong Hyun asked me with his serious, unreadable face. 

  "My friend." I saw Taehyung's eyes widened like an anime girl hearing this. 

  "Ok but what's the purpose of your venture here?" Dong Hyun asked. 

  "I came here to..." I lost my vocabulary. Certainly had lost my mind. And then I remembered something, "Give him his medicines. Yeah. He was ill and I was incharge of his recovery."

Got first prize in my elementary for writing a story. 

But like most of my plans, it had gone awry.  

  "You can give me the medicines as it'll take him some time to go out." Hyunjoong said leaserly. "He's helping me to choose my cards for tonight and because of him, I won a match. So I'm not going to let go of my lucky charm before this match finishes."

So that was the reason behind his long stay. I sighed in relief. 

But how was I going to teleport the medicines for him! I wasn't a TikTok star. 

  "Jeon?"

I flinched. 

  "The medicines?" Hyunjoong moved his hand forward and waited. A little comma formed in the corner of his mouth.

I put my colded hand inside my left pocket. Obviously it touched my handkerchief. I suppressed an urge to wipe my sweating forehead with it but let go. Then I checked the other pocket where my phone was. Thankfully I'd saved the police's number in my emergency dialer which might be the only thing that could save me tonight. 

  "I got the medicines." 

My eyes shot to Taehyung, who was silent for a while. He fished out a packet of multivitamin pills and raised it in the air. 

  "He gave it to me on our way and it seems like he forgot it totally." He smiled looking at me. "Now he came all the way to give it to me."

I stood there perplexed. Watching. 

  "Oh what a great friend you have!" Said Dong Hyun, admiring. "I wish I could have such friends. But in our world, everyone is a rival."

  "That's what you think, baby." Hyunjoong smiled brilliantly at him, then looking at his companions he said, "Shall we continue our game, gentlemen? I've gotten a lucky charm. I might win again."

  "Don't raise your hopes, Joong. I have my lucky charm inside my pocket. So we are neck and neck." Dong Hyun smirked devilishly. 

  "Let's see." Hyunjoong smirked back, then pulled out his cards, checking them before revealing them. 

I glanced at Taehyung. He didn’t take his eyes  off mine for a second. We nodded at the same time, assuring each other. A conversation without words. A mutual understanding. As if we shared DNA. 

I walked out, trying to ease the tightness in my throat. Holy crap, when was the last time I’d actually felt ashamed of myself? What might Taehyung think of me? What was I thinking when I broke in there like a cop to rescue the heroine?  —I wanted to pull out all the hair from my scalp. 

Just past 1 am. 

I was sitting upright on my bike seat,  one leg on the paddle, absentmindedly twirling my silver bracelet around my wrist when Taehyung arrived. 

  "How long have you been waiting for?" He asked, coming closer.

  "Not much. Hop on." I circled my fingers around the handle. "Don't lose your hold."

I paddled slowly this time, however the road was almost empty. Tepid cold breeze ghosted around us, rustling the dying summer leaves amassed roadside. My eyes were on the road, but my mind enveloped with the warmth of his hands folding around my waist. Holding me closely. 

  "Were you worried?" He asked softly, popping his head from my side. 

  "Not at all."

  "Then why did you go there?" He asked Innocently. 

  "To see the infamous Third Floor." I smiled secretly. 

A few moments passed without anyone speaking. Maybe he believed the answer I gave him. 

  "Your fiance lives here?" I asked him as the silence became unbearable. 

A moment later he replied, "Yes."

  "She or he?"

  "He."

  "What’s he like?"

  "I don't know." 

  I tilted my head with a frown, "You don't know? Is he broke too?"

Another silence. 

 "Yes." 

  "Ah that's why he let you work in a nightclub." I didn't know whether I made him offended, so I sealed my mouth shut. 

  "It was my decision." He said a bit too firmly. 

  "Not an intellectual decision I can say." That was what I thought. "Are your parents fine with you marrying a guy?" 

  "One of my dads has arranged him for me."

 "One of your dads!" I couldn't help but make an amazed sound, "Really? Your family seems pretty up to date."

LGBT Korean couples were hard to discover. But also his other 'dad' could be an Australian, I thought. 

  "Do you love him?" I bit my tongue for producing such an off-topic question. 

  "Is loving your partner necessary?"

 "In my opinion, yeah."

  "But I don't feel anything for him." He replied hesitantly. 

  "Maybe because it is arranged. You need to know him first, then become acquaintances. An awareness needed to continue thinking about your future with him. And then comes the feelings. It is the last phase. Love doesn't happen overnight."

Hold on my stupid mouth. Why was I saying all this? Since when did I become a Love-guru? 

His hold around my waist tightened as I increased the speed. The remaining minutes of the bike ride none of us said a word. 

Reaching our dorm gate, I slowly put my right foot on the ground. Was about to click the bell in the handle, but halted when I felt something. The sound of his soft heartbeat,  the warmth of his hands over my stomach, near my navel, the tickling sensation of his rhythmic breathing over my back where I felt the side of his face pressing. 

I closed My eyes. Why the hell did it feel so good? Why did I want dawn to never come? I should not be feeling things for a committed guy. My lips pressed together to stop myself cursing.

  "Hey, are you sleeping on my back?" I pushed him off my body. 

  "Umm. You're comfortable." He murmured in a concealed voice. "I feel relaxed and secure when you are with me."

  "Flattery won't affect me, velvet. I too have someone in my mind." 

  "I know."

  "You know?" I arched my brows when he came and stood a step before me. He saw my face and smiled.

  "I mean I guessed. You're rejecting your every admirer because of her so it wasn't hard to guess." He had this secretive smile on his face, which was usually a precursor to mischief. 

  "Wait, did I mention she is a girl?"

  "No. But I guessed."

I would have sworn I saw a mischievous glint in his eyes when he said that. He was wearing that cute boxy smile which had such an effect on me. I forgot to blink for a moment. 

  "Aren't you coming sleepyhead?" He twirled on his toes like a ballerina and walked inside the gate in feather steps, letting my heart hang over infinity. 

Stupid, stupid heart. What was it thinking?

I most certainly could not get attracted to a man. 

____________

Our bunny boy is acting strange these days. I wonder how many days it would take to realize his feelings for our baby bear🤔

Hope you guys are enjoying the story. Please comment your thoughts on this chapter and vote to make it grow. See you very soon purples. Take care💜

Pic: not mine