When Jimin arrives at the front glass spinning doors of the grand Sperosity building in Gangnam, he nearly chokes on his spit. This is amazing.

The huge box of a glass tower spirals up into the clouds, the upper half of the building bent inwards to give it a techno flair. Sunlight catches the west side of the tower, reflecting hot orange beams into neighboring buildings that appear cheap and unoriginal in stark comparison with the intricate technological HQ. Jimin squints against the sun's rays to try and see the top, but he finds that leaning back so far makes him dizzy. How did I not notice this building before? It's so different from the others.

When he enters through the spinning doors, it's nice and cool inside. He's instantly met with the smell of light flowery fragrance, a pleasant smell that reminds him of spring in Busan. He blinks at the sophistication of the rather empty entryway, his Converse feeling way out of place on the glassy black floor. Every step he takes towards the reception desk at the far end of the lobby echoes loudly. 

Jimin is so caught up on his measly outfit in comparison with the chic inside of the building that he almost doesn't look up to admire the place. When he does, he gapes. This is so fucking cool.

Lining the sheer silver walls are screens of all sizes, with little blurbs about the different things that the Sperosity company does. A few people sit patiently on jet black leather couches, staring at the illuminated screens intently. Apparently (as Jimin catches a few words off of an in-wall screen) Sperosity does much more than just produce video games, but it programs online navigation, stores infinitesimally large databases, and trains aspiring graphic-designers in hand-picked classes. Jungkook would love this place. 

Jimin stares open-mouthed as the graphics of other VR games pop up on the screens. In a game called Noir City, a bunch of players fight tooth-and-nail with the undead. Blazing explosions, blue fire, and dramatic maps give the game an otherworldly look, and Jimin finds himself wanting to play it. On another screen, Jimin watches as tiny players climb over massive fruits in some kind of obstacle course. By this point, Jimin isn't even paying attention to his Converse. He's too busy studying the variety of other games Sperosity has made over the years...and he finds that he really wants to play them.

Then he sees it. The game.

"Perilation!" Jimin breaks his path towards the reception desk to study the wall with a familiar heart font scribbled across it. 'What are you afraid of?' A sign reads underneath the vibrant screen. Jimin's finger traces the inscribed plaque with fondness, blinking reminiscently at the screen. In this demo video, a player is swatting at spiders that fall from the ceiling. Ominous music floats out from the speaker near the screen, and Jimin almost rolls his eyes at the stupidity. "Spiders? Really. They have a million more scary things in this game, but they chose to showcase spiders?"

"I know, right?" 

Jimin turns at the deep voice. The male receptionist is staring at the Perilation screen, shaking his head. "I don't know why the production coordinator insisted on spiders for the lobby, but she did."

The blond-haired man seated behind the massive, ornamental marble of the reception desk grins at him. Jimin stares, walking up to the counter a little surprised. The man is around his late twenties, dressed in an intricate button up with decorative gemstones on the cuffs. His long hair is braided down his back in an elven style, and Jimin spots charcoal eyeliner under the man's brown eyes. Jimin digs the unique look--it's so strange, yet so gracefully masculine. Leaning his elbows on the high counter of the desk, Jimin waits for the man to continue speaking. Damn, he's fucking hot. And I'm okay in thinking this because Jungkook would agree with me. Holy. Fucking. Hell.

"What might bring you here to Sperosity, dear sir with purple hair?" 

Jimin is amused by the joyful tone of voice that the other takes on. He grins, but it's quickly wiped from his face once he remembers why he's really there.

"I need to speak to the CEO. Mr. Park...well, uh, I don't know his first name. But I know his son, Park Jinyoung--and it's an emergency." I probably sound so dumb right now. Who just asks to see the CEO without an appointment? "Is he available by chance?"

The receptionist seems taken aback by Jimin's wish to see the CEO of Sperosity. He blinks in thought, rubbing at his smooth chin. "That...may be difficult to arrange, but I'll call up to his receptionist and see what I can do...what's your name, sir?"

"Park Jimin."

A flash of something passes over the man's face but it's gone fast, replaced by a polite grin. "Ah, I see. I'll call up the CEO's personal advisor and ask if CEO Park is available...but more likely than not, he'll be in a meeting. Why don't you go have a seat somewhere while I call, yeah? I'll flag you down with an update."

"Okay..." 

Jimin nods politely at the man and tries not to sulk as he makes his way to a leather couch. Of course he won't be available. Why am I even trying? No Jimin, you need to tell him about Jeon Junghyun going missing--and about Yeonjun losing his job, and about being more careful battling a bitch like Gyuri. Even if the CEO of Sperosity has financial power, I have the power of knowledge. I have to share with him everything I know and see if he can help.

"Jimin! Park Jimin." The receptionist's voice calls him out of his thinking. Jimin quickly stands up and races to the desk. "I have good news. The CEO's actually in between meetings right now, and his advisor told me he'd be willing to meet a friend of his son's for a few minutes."

"Really!!" Jimin bounces on his heels. The blonde nods. 

"Yes. The CEO's advisor is coming down on the elevator to bring you up to him. It'll just be a minute."

Beaming at the receptionist, Jimin suddenly feels like delving out compliments to the man who has helped him out. "Thank you! By the way, I love your long hair...and that whole fashion on you if I'm being honest. Who's your stylist?" He jokes.

The man chuckles, scratching the back of his neck. "Hah...I am my own stylist...and I appreciate your sense of fashion as well. I should try the crop top sometime, haven't worn that style a while."

I really like this guy! "Yes, you should."

The ding of the nearby elevator draws Jimin's attention away from the friendly receptionist. A tall, foreign woman exits, striding up to the desk with a messenger bag in tow. A large bun of curls sits atop her head, and her sophisticated black jumpsuit affirms her high position in the company. Jimin grows excited. This must be the advisor! 

But the receptionist shakes his head.

"Leavin' for the night, shark." The woman chides in perfect Korean to the blond man, who snorts in response. She pauses to exchange some file folders with the receptionist, glancing a few curious times at Jimin. Why is she looking at me like that? 

Finally, she stuffs her messenger bag with an uncountable amount of folders, struggling to latch the top shut. Before she walks away from the desk, she taps the silver bell sitting on top of it once and winks at Jimin. Then, she's gone.

"Who was that?" 

The receptionist points a tan finger at the glowing sign for Perilation. "That was the production manager of Perilation. The one that insists on having spiders in the demo vid...yeah, I know. She's kind of strange."

Wait...THAT was the maker of Perilation? That woman who kept looking at me weird? What in Satan's quarters? I wonder if she knows Melonaju or Pluto97. "Oh...um..."

The elevator dings once more. 

This time, a peppy young man with red hair zooms out of the elevator. His garments are probably more lax than Jimin's, his youthful face studying his fingernails intensely. That surfer dude can't be him, ugh...when is the CEO's advisor coming-

"Hey, Luce." The receptionist greets the red-head with a fist-bump. Clearly, they must be good co-working friends, Jimin thinks. "This is Jimin--he's the one who is friends with the CEO's son."

The tall red-head instantly grabs Jimin's hand in a warm, strong grip. His eyes sparkle with something that Jimin can't put his finger on. "Of course, nice to see you Jimin! I'm Lucio, the CEO's advisor. Come with me."

Before they can leave for the elevators, Jimin notices Lucio side-eye the receptionist, sharing a knowing look. Then, the purple-haired man follows behind the CEO's assistant as they head towards the elevators, planning out everything he wants to say to Jinyoung's dad in his mind.

.

"What! Why me? You know I'm not available then-"

"I don't care what you are then." Soobin frowns at him, slamming his fist against the bar counter. "Yeonjun isn't here anymore so we need you at Radon this weekend. I don't care if that means missing out on going to Busan-"

"But Soobin!" Jimin whines, knowing that he's being unfair. But how can he help it? He's already planned on seeing Jungkook this weekend...every weekend. This is all Gyuri's fault! Did she get Yeonjun fired on purpose, knowing it would mean more work hours for me? Did she know that I'd get stuck with his weekend hours so that I couldn't go down to Busan? That BITCH! "I...I can't miss out on...seeing..."

"Your special someone? I'm sorry about that, Jimin. But we're seriously short-staffed. Jackson is struggling enough as it is, and boss is trying to hire a replacement as soon as possible." Soobin rubs at his brow, and Jimin feels bad for the guy. He is, in fact, just a university student, trying to make enough money to eke through his education. "I'd like to see my special someone too, but that isn't possible anytime soon. I'm literally always working. Don't you ever think maybe I want a break?"

Jimin's fingers clench around the bottom of his bartending apron. "Yeah, Soobin...I'm sorry...I'll work the weekend shift. I'll just...have to tell Jungkook...ugh."

Soobin purses his lips, feeling the same sorrow for Jimin. "Hey, one weekend without seeing the guy won't kill you. Plus, this is only until boss can hire a new bartender. If I were you, I'd start asking around for people who want a good-tipping job."

"Will do." 

Disappointment surges into Jimin's stomach as he thinks about telling Pluto that he won't even get to see him this weekend. He won't be able to see Eunmi either, won't be able to comfort her...or tell her that five PI's are searching Busan for Junghyun and Mingyu right now. After meeting with Sperosity's CEO (it was like meeting Jinyoung, except with more wrinkles) Jimin and the man agreed on not only investigating Yoon & Affiliates, but Yoon Gyuri herself. Jimin told Jinyoung's father all about Jeon Junghyun's disappearance and pleaded with him to put financial resources into finding Jungkook's brother.

They investigators will find him and Mingyu...I'm sure. They have to...

"You good, Jimin?" Soobin scoots past him to fill a cup of ice for himself. Jimin shrugs, watching as Soobin puts Sprite in the glass and takes a sip out of it. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."

"No, no...it's not that." Jimin reaches over for the glass, and Soobin hands it to him. He sips at the Sprite, letting it fizz over his tongue. "It's just...I feel awful about Yeonjun getting fired like that. You know? He didn't deserve it. I feel so bad for him."

Soobin's shoulder slump says it all. "Yeah, I know he didn't...and I still don't know why he got fired. He won't talk to me anymore."

Jimin raises an eyebrow. This is news to him. "What? Why?"

"Dunno. He doesn't respond to my texts. He answered my first call, telling me to fuck off before hanging up. I don't...I don't really fucking know. He must've been drinking or something, to get so mad at me like that over the phone."

Jimin imagines his boss screaming at Yeonjun. He quickly shakes the scene out of his head. Fuck you, Gyuri. Fuck you for doing that to him.

"Huh...actually, wait. Soobin, do you know where Yeonjun lives?"

.

Hoseok tosses a few chocolate chips into his mouth, swaying his head in a shit, really? Are we living in some kind of dramatic movie? way, which makes Jimin grin. 

"That's fucking crazy! So you're saying that your boss fired Yeonjun because Gyuri threatened to shut the whole bar down? That's bull...she pulled the MY DADDY CAN DO ANYTHING card again? She's disgusting."

Thea nods next to him, her hand diving into the bag of chocolate chips. Since Hoseok knows about Gyuri, Thea does too...their relationship is that close. Hoseok trusts her enough with the information, so naturally, Jimin does too. And who would she tell about this, a couple of exercise mats?

Another person to add to the anti-Gyuri team. Also, count in Choi Yeonjun.

While visiting the fired bartender's studio apartment, Jimin spilled everything about Gyuri, apologizing vehemently to his coworker for being the reason behind the event. At one point, Jimin even started tearing up, apologizing for Yeonjun's lost job...when he too was just trying to pay off university. 

But much to Jimin's good luck, Yeonjun was forgiving. Instead of placing the blame on Jimin for his job loss, Yeonjun blamed Gyuri 100%...and then proceeded to get riled up into screamed threats filled with curses. Yeonjun stormed around the apartment, his hands raking through yellow hair. Jimin watched him go through half a pack of cigarettes, even with the no-smoking policy of the apartment, yelling profanities every time a cigarette wasn't in between his lips. 

He must be really...really fucking pissed. Jimin thought, but he wasn't mad at Yeonjun's outburst. Quite the contrary. The more people added to his anti-Gyuri gang, the better. It made him feel more empowered, as if they had a chance. Yeonjun agreed to testify, when it came to that. 'And I'll let her know my two cents.' He put in.

"So...you're stuck working the weekend?" Thea asks timidly, matching Hoseok's irked expression. "Aww...that sucks, I'm sure you really wanted to see Jungkook."

Jimin's heart pangs at the mention of his boyfriend. Hoseok chomps down on a few more chocolate chips. "Did you tell him yet, Jimin? It's getting late already...the longer you wait, the more it'll hurt."

"Yeah...I know..." Jimin stares at his phone dejectedly. "Do you mind if I go video call him really quick?"

"No, we don't mind." Hoseok waves him off, and Thea snuggles closer into her boyfriend. Jimin takes the cue to scuttle off, clutching his phone tightly. He really doesn't want to do this, to see Jungkook get his hopes up for Jimin's call only to cancel his visit. But it's one weekend...it's not the end of the world. Jungkook will understand.

Jimin plops down on his bed, whipping out his phone. Here goes-

("YOU'RE TOXIC, I'M SLIPPING UNDER!!")

"Hmm?" Jimin scrunches his brow as the familiar ringtone yells out into his bedroom. He checks the caller ID and answers right away.

"Jungkook? I was just about to video call you-"

"When were you planning on telling me that you met up with Junghyun?"

Jimin's heart palpitates in his chest at the edge in Jungkook's voice. The other could have chosen to video call him, but he chose not to...he chose not to see my face. This isn't good.

"Uh...first, let me explain, Jungkook. I didn't mean to go behind your back at all, I didn't even mean to find him. It was an accident, truly...and I didn't even know about your problematic relationship with him-"

"How much did he tell you." Jungkook's voice is lifeless, flat. No sign of the happy Pluto he hears on a regular basis. Jimin pauses on his line, thinking over the terrible things that Junghyun told him about Jungkook. 'He...tried to kill himself quite a few times...' Junghyun had said.

"Hello? Answer me." The younger's voice is harsh through the speaker.

"I...Jungkook, you shouldn't get so defensive...I'm your boyfriend and I thought we abolished the no personals rule. Plus, you know I wouldn't judge you for anything that happened in the past-"

"HOW MUCH DID HE TELL YOU!"

Jimin flinches against the backboard, shocked by the outburst. Why is he so angry? 

"Everything, Jungkook. H-he, he...told me about the accident, about you blaming yourself for hurting your father...about your father's muteness...about you getting worse before you could, um, get better. How much you s-suffered mentally...then he told me why you won't talk to him anymore. Because you were mad that your father wasn't speaking up...and that Junghyun wasn't there enough for him-"

"LIAR!! He's such a liar for telling you that!!" Jungkook seethes through the line, and Jimin gets the idea that much of the anger the younger is directing at him is not for him. It's for his brother. Somehow, thinking that makes him feel better. "That's what Junghyun tells himself. It's not the fucking truth."

Jimin finds himself fully confused. "What is the truth then?  And why would he lie to me about that?"

Jungkook exhales slowly. "Because lying about it makes him feel better. He didn't tell you HOW we got into that accident, did he?"

Jimin tries to think back. "No...I don't think so...but you told me before that you were drinking to celebrate your birthday, right? And you probably shouldn't have gotten behind the wheel...? And then you crashed the vehicle with your father riding in the passenger seat...and both of you were rushed to the ICU?"

"That's...that's...what I thought these last few months. That's the same bullshit they've all been telling me. 'Jungkook, YOU were intoxicated, YOU were driving the car, YOU were the one that ruined your father's life.' That's what I heard constantly after it happened, even though the details of that night were so foggy for me. But that's what all the policemen said...what all the investigators found. Something about it never sat right with me...I don't even remember what I crashed into--and wouldn't you think that I would?"

Jimin's stomach twists. "Y-yes...you should remember that. Why...don't you?"

"Because I DIDN'T crash the car. Someone who was out to get my father crashed into US--and staged the crash, blaming it on me. I received an anonymous letter in the mail today from some business guy in Seoul. Some guy who said he'd spoken to you and was looking into my brother at Park Jimin's request. And he shared what he found. Apparently, there were a lot of resources thrown into covering up the crime. Including telling my family to lay the blame on me. Junghyun KNEW the accident wasn't my fault, yet whenever I asked him about it  since I didn't recall the crash, he fed me LIES about what happened. My mom did too, probably at Junghyun's request. I don't blame my mom for that, though...she might not even know the truth."

Jimin's heart beats faster and faster. 

"So you...s-so..." Jimin struggles to speak coherently. "What else did the letter say? Who would do such a thing to your father?" I think I may already know...and I think I'm going to be sick.

Jungkook is silent for a long time. Then, he shifts topics. "You know Junghyun is missing, right? Is that why you asked some rich dude to investigate it? I'm flattered, but I wouldn't waste your money on my brother-"

"I'm not wasting it! Jungkook, Eunmi spoke to me half in tears, asking me to reach out and help find him in any way that I could. Jinyoung's father is a huge business man with resources, and he was willing to help me." He's helping with a lot more than just your brother. 

"Why didn't you tell me? Why'd you keep it a secret?" Jungkook sounds distressed. 

Jimin winces, tugging at his purple hair. "I thought it might hurt you, it clearly seems like a sensitive topic...plus, you aren't the most open about stuff either. I became your boyfriend even before I knew your dad was still alive! I thought he died in the accident..."

"Nope. He didn't. But he should have."

Jimin's eyes widen. "What? Are you kidding?"

"At first I felt bad for him, but now I feel nothing. He got Junghyun and himself involved in some dark business political stuff...and he made ME pay the price. THEY made ME feel tons of guilt, suffer for months while feeding me lies about hurting them...Jimin, I wanted to fucking die! I FUCKING HATE THEM! THEY'RE FUCKING LIARS!"

Choked sobs sound through the speaker and Jimin wants nothing more than to reach through his phone and caress the boy. The poor boy who has been lied to...to believe he damaged his own innocent family. To live with the consequences of injury--both mental and physical. All because of twisted corporate politics that his family got involved him. With the Yoons.

"Jungkook..."

"Don't talk to...hic...me! Nothing you say...hic...can make me feel better!"

Jimin sighs...but he doesn't give up. "I'm sure you're hurting a lot, Kook, and that's perfectly normal-"

"AS IF YOU KNOW!! AS IF YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE THE WORLD TORN OUT FROM UNDER YOUR FEET BECAUSE OF ANOTHER PERSON'S MALINTENT! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS, JIMIN, JUST STOP TRYING! STAY OUT OF MY FAMILY AFFAIRS!"

Jimin sucks in a sharp breath, deeply hurt by the words. He actually knows exactly how it feels, but Jungkook wouldn't know that. Jungkook wouldn't know about the four years of mental and physical trauma he's suffered through with Gyuri...but Jimin doesn't blame Jungkook for acting out like this. He isn't mad at me, he's mad at the situation...just give him more time to collect himself.

"Okay...okay, Jungkook. I'll stay out of it."

I won't, I still need to find Junghyun. I need to ask him if what Jungkook is saying is true...and if he lied to me about Yoon's company. I need answers--if what Jinyoung's dad sent Jungkook in the letter is true, then Gyuri's father is at fault for paralyzing him. This is all connected somehow, and Jinyoung can use Jungkook's case in our joint lawsuit.

After a few seconds of the younger sniffling in the phone, Jimin speaks up again. "Also...I was going to call to let you know I won't be able to make it to Busan this weekend. They want me at work, since they're understaffed. I'll still meet you in the levels and call you though...don't forget that I'm thinking about you and I'm always here if you want to talk to me, Kook. I'm sorry I meddled, but it's because I care about you...I hope you understand that."

Jimin listens to the other softly crying before a voice comes through the line.

"Yeah. Whatever."

The line falls silent, and Jungkook ends the call. 

Jimin sets his phone on the bed and reclines to look at his bedroom ceiling. As he lays there, he pictures a dark car smashing into Jungkook's car to try and kill his father. He sees Jungkook screaming as his limp body gets launched out the windshield before crashing harshly onto the pavement. Then he sees Junghyun pointing at his brother in a wheelchair accusatively, putting the blame on the younger for the accident.

Jimin bursts into tears.

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