The sound of distant birds chirping settled over Jeongguk's ears.

His eyes fluttered open, the blurred corners of his vision slowly coming into focus as he found himself laid atop Taehyung's mattress, the man's scent consuming him whole. He let out a quiet exhale, rubbed at his eyelids while turning his head to the side, only to be faced with Taehyung's beautiful sleeping side profile.

Jeongguk's mouth gaped open, unable to stop himself from staring.

Taehyung truly looked unreal while dozed off. Of course, that was the case even when he was awake, but good lord, something about waking up to such an angelic sight got Jeongguk's heart rate speeding in unhealthy intervals.

He let himself gawk at him, just for a moment longer. Really, he only sought to admire for a few seconds. But seconds turned into minutes, and upon glancing at the distant clock, he took notice of the fact a half hour flew by.

Jeongguk blinked repeatedly. "Is that really the time..?" he whispered to himself before rising to sit up, internally groaning at the fact that there were indeed still classes he had to attend today. Even though he'd much rather remain in the comfort of the sweet sweet warmth surrounding him.

He moved to pry the blankets off his body, but before he could toss them over, a large hand grabbed gently at his wrist, engulfing it into its grasp.

"Now... Where do you think you're going, hm..?" A low, groggy voice pierced into the atmosphere. Jeongguk nearly jolted at the husky sound, head turning back to meet Taehyung's half-opened eyes staring directly at him.

"O-Oh, well.." he laughed softly, a flustered tone to his words. "I have classes soon—"

Taehyung interrupted him, pulling at the boy to close in the distance that had grown between them. "Stay here. With me."

"You know I'd love to, hyung, but—"

Once again Jeongguk failed to finish his sentence once Taehyung embraced him into his arms, guided his face toward his chest as he cuddled up to him. He landed a wet kiss between Jeongguk's nipples, and hugged the boy tighter into his hold.

"Alright, baby.." The man's deep morning voice ran shivers down the younger's veins. "I understand. Just let me hold you for five more minutes, hm?"

Jeongguk looked down and held in his laugh, finding the older absolutely adorable clinging onto him like this. He placed a hand over Taehyung's bulged bicep, giving the skin a light rub.

"Okay, you big baby.." he teased, a boyish grin on his lips. "Hold me all you want, for five more minutes."

Taehyung gave a satisfied hum, eyes falling shut while he let the boy's warmth soak into him. Jeongguk bit his lip, watching the peaceful look over the man's face, his heart throbbing with butterflies. After all, last night the two had proclaimed mutual love toward each other, both in words and their tangled, naked bodies.

It seemed that without having to state it, they both knew this development in their relationship. What it meant for them and for their future. But even so Jeongguk felt... a bit hesitant. Puzzled, perhaps, as to how the alters had managed this in the past.

"Tae.." he let out softly, reaching to kiss the top of the older's head.

The man gave a hoarse response, voice laced in thick gruff. "Baby."

"Does this, um-... Does this mean I have five boyfriends now, or—.." he gave a short chuckle, "H-How does this work, exactly?"

"Hm.." Taehyung purred, eyes gently prying open. "Well, I dunno.."

Jeongguk's brows lowered. "You.. don't know?"

Taehyung merely bit his lip, a drowsy haze in his eyes.

"Well, h-how did you all manage your relationship with noona?"

The older pulled back a bit, enough to meet Jeongguk's eyes. "Yerin?" He paused, letting a small breath leave him. "Well... It was different back then, I wasn't.. in tune with all the alters the way I am now. Wasn't exactly in control of my disorder when we first started dating, so... If one of us had a girlfriend, you bet your ass all of us did, too. And back then, it was Yerin. Though V was obviously the leading reason for that, and we all just sorta... went along with it."

"So the others didn't really... view Yerin romantically?"

"Mm, Vante didn't mind her.. as a friend, of course. Dot thinks she's nice, as a friend, and me, well.. I was confused through most of our relationship. I thought I loved her at some point, but I realized I was confusing V's feelings and actions for my own. What I really felt toward her was actually just... platonic. I really care about her, as my friend and... as family, since she's Namjoon's sister, and all."

Jeongguk nodded in silence, watching as Taehyung finally shifted to sit up a bit.

"I want you to be comfortable, Jeongguk... If you want to keep the others separate from our relationship, then.. We'll all have to work on that."

Jeongguk's gaze wavered a while, lips pouting out as he gave the older's words a thought. And then, he moved one hand to lightly caress the hair at the back of Taehyung's neck.

"I just... want to be able to love all of you.." he nearly whispered, forehead slowly moving to press over the older's shoulder. "I u-understand your alters are their own people and whatnot... but those five minds inside your head make up one body. You all share one being, and... and I don't want an alter to suffer forever just because of me. You know... if we're thinking long term on this. It hurts to think that only one of you, or some of you, would be happy with me.. I want you all to be happy."

Taehyung listened in silence, the faint smile on his face was hard to get rid of, just hearing the boy speak all cutely like this. He nearly swooned at the words.

"Hm.." The older hummed, reached to pry the other male's head up from his shoulder, just to give him a peck on the lips. "Careful. I'll really fall harder for you."

A short giggle fled Jeongguk's throat. "Then fall for me harder, hyung. I'll take all the love I can get from you."

Taehyung responded in a chuckle, arm reaching to wrap over the boy's waist. He moved to push him back down on the mattress, his body hovering over Jeongguk's, face digging into his neck. "I have plenty of love left to give to you."

The man's lips smacked over Jeongguk's skin, his tongue then darting out to lick over the patch of skin that had reddened once he sunk his teeth into it. Jeongguk whimpered out a low breath, hands reaching to support themselves over Taehyung's broad shoulders.

"T-Tae, you already gave me a little too much love last night.." he chuckled in a whiny exhale.

"Mmn. Let me give you some more," Taehyung grunted, teeth gnawing below the other's ear.

Jeongguk's breaths became unsteady while the older trailed kisses down his chest, soon reaching above his belly button. He looked down at the older and gently flicked at strands of his fluffed hair.

"B-But, we still... still haven't figured out the alters situation.."

Taehyung lifted his head, made eye contact with the younger while trailing his hand down the boy's pale inner thigh. "Well, let's focus on clarifying one thing; that you at least have one boyfriend. Me. That okay with you?"

Jeongguk held his breath, watching the other's alluring stare on him. He nodded in silence, nearly gulped while he anticipated Taehyung's next actions—actions that would soon have him digging into the mattress, jaw dropped, toes curled in, panting out helpless moans while Taehyung took him to see stars at the corners of his vision, and left him with jolts of pleasure that proceeded to trickle into his body, all at once.

※ ※

"You're not very good at this, are you?"

Jimin slammed a hand over the wall and kicked his feet out into the air. "Fuck!!" The blond yelled in a huff, causing Yoongi to laugh out loud beside him.

"Relax, baby, it's just a game," he snickered softly, prying his phone back from the boy's hands.

"Yeah? And that shit's impossible! You're fucking with me if you think I'd believe you actually beat this cursed level on your own," Jimin muttered out his complaints, brows lowered in a frown Yoongi could only find adorable.

"Alright no more Floppy Whale levels for you.." Yoongi leaned back against the wall and slipped his device into his pocket. "Don't want you breaking my phone.."

Jimin crossed his arms, then turned to his side once he heard light footsteps begin to approach them from down the hall. The two lovers looked up simultaneously, watching as a man walked toward their direction leisurely, hands calmly inside his pockets.

And it was only once Jimin had taken a good look at the man's face, that his frown had grown its grumpiest.

"Why is he here?" The blond nearly scoffed, jaw clenching. Yoongi removed his back from the wall and gave a knowing nod toward his gang mate, who now stood beside them.

"Hey."

Kim Taehyung nodded back. "Hey." Then a smirk appeared over his face. "Something tells me your boyfriend doesn't like me."

Jimin answered for him, a sarcastically sweet smile swept on his lips. "That's because his boyfriend doesn't like you."

Taehyung narrowed his eyes at the shorter boy, then glanced toward the doorframe at the end of the hall. "Well, I'm here to pick up Jeongguk from his class as usual. What are you guys doing here, hm?"

Jimin uncrossed his arms, hands now settling at his waist, which he snapped to the right in attitude. "Jeongguk and I had plans to go bowling," he rubbed at his fingernails. "Helps me blow off some steam before my dance performances, so... Sorry, my dude, but he's already booked up with plans for today."

Taehyung turned to look at Yoongi. "And you?"

"I'm their driver." The oldest shrugged.

"Hm.." Taehyung opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, the classroom door down the hall burst open, and a crowd of students began to swarm past them.

The trio stood by the wall, watching while two dozen faces walked down, leaving a cute wide eyed boy behind, who now stood a few feet away from them, a smile on his face.

"Hey guys!" Jeongguk squeaked out, bouncing toward his friends before he took notice of Taehyung's presence looming beside them. His bunny smile grew, an adoring sparkle in his eye once he'd caught sight of his boyfriend, whom he hadn't quite expected to see so suddenly after class.

Boyfriend... He had a boyfriend now.

A very very handsome, caring boyfriend. A boyfriend who loved him just as much as he loved him.

"Hey pretty," Taehyung spoke up.

The boy's cheeks quickly flushed pink.

"H-Hi.." he nearly stammered, heart mushy inside his chest. He had thought that being in a relationship with Taehyung meant he'd finally get used to being around him. But as it turned out, he still felt like melted putty every single time.

And looking at him, just looking at him, brought him right back to this morning, where he almost shed tears while cuddled up to Taehyung merely because he had imagined a morning like that with the older countless and countless of times in the past.

He used to daydream, before, about what it would be like to have Taehyung love him back. The passion he held for the man used to burn inexplicably inside of him, but he didn't have to restrain himself any longer.

Kim Taehyung belonged to him now. And only him.

The things he could only yearn for before, were now a reality at his grasp.

"I was just talking to these guys about joining you all for bowling. Is that alright with you?" The man spoke up, hands rested coolly in his pockets. At the words, Jimin's head snapped to look at him, eyes widening.

"What?! Uhm, no, no, no, no, we weren't talking about anything like that!"

"O-Oh, uhm.." Jeongguk flashed his cute toothy grin, "O-Of course that's alright."

Jimin's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "Okay, okay, time out—one sec, I'm calling an emergency meeting!" He huffed out quickly, marching straight towards Jeongguk and grabbing him by the arm. The blond then pulled his best friend down the hall and towards the now empty classroom, swiftly shutting the door behind them before exploding.

"Just why did you invite him!"

Jeongguk blinked back innocently at his friend. "Why...? Well, why not? What's the problem?"

"I wanted it to be just us.. Y'know... bestie time without boys!"

"But Yoongi was coming with us, so.."

"Well he doesn't count, he's... my boyfriend." Jimin lightly stomped a foot in the ground. "Plus we needed a driver."

Jeongguk gave a quiet laugh before grabbing the blond's shoulder. "If you can bring your boyfriend then... I can bring mine, too. Don't you think?"

Jimin gaped back at the younger, eyes blinking repeatedly as he slowly processed Jeongguk's words. And once he did he pried himself away from the other's grip and shook his head.

"Oh no... Oh fuck no... You returned each other's feelings..?"

Jeongguk's cheeks tinted red. "Y-Yeah.. We're, um... dating now. Officially."

Jimin groaned, hand rubbing over his forehead. "Oh god... so does that mean I have to... s-see... him even more often...?"

The younger giggled. "Exactly. So why not see this bowling experience as a chance to bond and get to know him better? I promise you'll learn to love him!"

Jeongguk grabbed his grumpy friend's hand and dragged him out of the classroom, returning to the two older guys waiting for them beside the wall.

"So!" he clapped his hands together, arm linking with Jimin's. "Who's ready to throw some balls?"

※ ※

"So, uh... What's going to be the team situation here?"

Jimin looked up at Yoongi from where he sat, hands busy slipping his feet into his rented bowling shoes. "Hm... When it comes to teams, Ggukie and I are always together, so... I say we do 'team besties' versus 'team bangtan captains'."

"Sure, we can do that—" Yoongi stopped mid-sentence once he turned and realized his gang mate and Jeongguk weren't paying attention to their discussion in the slightest.

Instead, the two were hovering over the rack of bowling balls, giggling at their meaningless banter over the difference in their weight, and having some kind of mini-argument about which one was more practical.

Jimin narrowed his eyes and sat up. "Hey! Are you guys listening? We're discussing teams!" he yelled over at them, and the two stopped their chatter to look at him.

"What?" Jeongguk shouted back.

"We're figuring out the teams!" Jimin repeated.

"Teams?" Jeongguk responded. "Yeah, I put them in the system!"

"He put them already?" Jimin mumbled, secured his shoe laces and stood up to join the other two at the racks. He then looked up at the screen above the lane and saw the inputted names.

— Team One —

Jeongguk
Yoongi

— Team Two —

Jimin
Taehyung

Jimin quickly turned back to look at the two lovers. "Um, excuse me, but... Why the fuck am I on a team with Taehyung?"

Jeongguk gave a plotting grin. "Oh, you know.. I was talking to Tae and we decided it'd be a good bonding experience for you two."

Taehyung mirrored Jeongguk's expression, though his came across as more of an evil smirk.

"Mhm. What he said."

Jeongguk spoke up again. "Plus losing team buys food, so I thought this would be an easy free dinner for me~"

Jimin gawked. At a complete loss for words, truly. Nearly choked on his own spit. Jeongguk gave an amused laugh and reached to grab his preferred bowling ball, then stepped toward the lane. Behind them, Yoongi watched from a slight distance, and Jimin moved to stand beside Taehyung in devastating defeat.

"Just so you know I'm pretty decent at bowling but Jeongguk practically carries our team.." he mumbled out, arms crossed while the two watched Jeongguk stare the pins down ahead. "And I'm serious about my bowling, so... I know it'll be hard for you, but try not to suck too bad or I think I might actually murder you."

"Mm.." Taehyung hummed out in a deep vibration. "Noted."

There was a clattering sound, and the boys watched as Jeongguk knocked down nearly half of the pins. Taehyung grinned, reached his hands up to clap loudly.

"Good job, bun!"

Jimin snapped his head to glower at him. "Are you really cheering for our enemy right now?"

Taehyung paused mid-clap and turned to meet Jimin's eyes. "Uh.. yes?"

"Why?"

"Because he's cute and I adore him."

Jimin harshly slapped the man's arm. "Wrong! Not right now. No— right now he's on the opposing team! Focus, dumbass. Food is at risk here."

Taehyung whispered a gentle, confused, "Ow..." and rubbed at his arm. "Okay, fine.. I'll focus."

Next up was Jeongguk's teammate Yoongi, who nonchalantly grabbed a ball and flicked it down the bowling lane after his partner had earned them a spare score. Though, through two tries he was left with three pins still standing.

"Not bad.." Taehyung commented, and Jimin merely huffed a breath while moving to prepare for his turn. He grabbed a ball, and lifted it up at eye level, taking a moment to ready his throw.

"Watch this, Kim!" he called out, then ran up to the lane and threw the ball at an angle. Everyone watched as the bowling ball wavered to the side, eventually landing itself at the pit and rolling down without knocking a single pin out.

Jeongguk and Yoongi burst into loud laughter, and Jimin turned around with red cheeks, frowning as he watched Taehyung grin in amusement.

"You did good, partner," the man gave a husky chuckle, and Jimin flashed him with his middle finger before picking up another ball and chucking it.

This time he managed to score down four of the pins.

"Fuck.." he muttered under his breath. "We're so screwed. I give up. This is so fucked already."

Taehyung calmly patted the boy's shoulder and swapped places with him, taking hold of a heavier ball and aligning himself with the lane. Jeongguk watched Taehyung's veiny arms hold up the weighted ball, his big eyes feasting on the sweet sweet sight in front of him. Meanwhile, Jimin merely slumped his shoulders, preparing himself for the worst and watched as his team partner finally threw the bowling ball down the lane.

The ball rolled down the glossy flooring in a consistent speed, and swiftly knocked down all ten pins in one fell swoop.

The three spectators all gaped at the sight, mouths open in bemusement, watching while the screen above them flashed the word "STRIKE!" in all caps.

Taehyung bit his lip, a smirk upon his face while he turned back to look at the other guys. His gaze then fell on Jimin, who nearly forgot to blink while he processed what he just saw.

"Holy SHIT!" The blond jumped up in excitement. "He got a fucking strike on his first turn!! What the fuck?!"

Jimin boldly ran up to his team mate with both hands up in the air, and Taehyung clasped his own hands over his in a celebratory high ten.

"How the fuck did you do that?! Are you some kind of bowling prodigy?"

The man shrugged and gave a simple response. "No, but... You said not to suck, right?"

At their seats, Jeongguk and Yoongi turned to look at each other, still recovering from the shock, and the older gave a sheepish smile.

"Beginner's luck, am I right?"

※ ※

That was no beginner's luck.

But rather, Taehyung had discovered he had some oddly menacing talent for bowling.

Because, as it turned out, Taehyung proceeded to score strikes, knocking down all pins nearly every single time it came to his turn. If he didn't get strikes he got spares, and if he didn't get spares he'd never let more than two pins see the light of day.

Naturally, Jeongguk and Yoongi lost by a landslide, and as such were the losers that were treating the two winners to dinner.

"My guy... My guy! Truly a legend in his time!" Jimin cheered loudly as the four strolled down the street, below the night sky, in search of a feasible restaurant to treat their empty stomachs with. "Did you see the way he played? Ate that shit up and left no fucking crumbs. None!"

"We know. We saw it happen.." Yoongi grunted out, unamused by the fact his wallet would be suffering, yet again.

"Nicely done, partner. We made an unstoppable duo," Jimin cackled, hands massaging the shoulders of a grinning Taehyung, who walked in front of him.

"You mean he did all the work and we just couldn't keep up?" Jeongguk scoffed out a giggle.

"What are you talking about?" Jimin pouted. "I massaged his shoulders between turns, so I deserve all the credit, too."

Jeongguk snorted out another laugh. "Yeah, and.. Not gonna lie I asked him if he could start being bad so I can win instead but he was dead set on taking you to victory."

Jimin faked a sniffle. "He... refused to simp...? To-... to ensure my victory...?"

Taehyung's eyes bulged while he felt himself getting pushed backwards into a hug, body stumbling into the younger's embrace.

"What a nice guy!"Jimin cried out dramatically, his voice echoing down the dark streets.

Jeongguk gave a friendly kick at the shorter boy. "Shush. You're being so loud at nearly midnight!"

Jimin proceeded to laugh at a moderate volume, as a swift breeze lifted their hair strands briefly to the air. Taehyung turned to look over his shoulder while Jimin finally released his hold on him, eyes settling over a building across the street where he let his gaze linger for a moment. The property seemingly had no lights and closed windows, casting a darker shadow in front of it, where he could barely see the people that strolled past it.

"Tae?"

He snapped his head back and saw Jeongguk blinking back at him with his doe eyes. A warm hand appeared at Taehyung's side, slowly tangling their fingers together. He gently smiled at the feeling.

"Mm?"

"You good?"

The man glanced down at them holding hands. "I'm doing great. Amazing, really."

Jeongguk showed an adoring smile and felt Taehyung's thumb rub against the back of his hand. "What did you think about our little double date?"

Taehyung's brows rose. "Date? I thought this was a ploy to get Jimin to tolerate me. If it was a date I would've—"

"Relax, hyung.." Jeongguk held back his laugh. "I used the term lightly. We'll have our proper first date some other time. Just the two of us, no?"

Taehyung blinked back at the boy, letting himself stare at his cute smile a little longer. "Yes.." he whispered, nearing closer to kiss Jeongguk's forehead. "Just the two of us."

The boy closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the feeling of the man's lips against his skin, then squeezed at their hands and began to swing them in the air.

"So what did you think, then? Did it work? Do you think Jimin likes you now?"

Taehyung glanced over at the blond, who had now redirected his attention to backhugging Yoongi instead, kissing repeatedly at the back of the man's neck.

"Hm.. Yeah, I think he's forgotten all about his hatred for me," he cracked a grin, letting his stomach flutter at the gentle laugh Jeongguk let out.

It didn't take long for the two pairs to settle on a nearby Chinese restaurant they stumbled upon for their dinner; and once that was decided Jimin practically sprinted toward the place, claiming he was much too hungry to wait any longer.

Yoongi began to jog after him, followed by Jeongguk who pulled Taehyung by the hand. And as soon as they reached the storefront Taehyung let go of the boy's grip, dug in to his pocket and fumbled with it a little.

"Uh, you guys go on ahead. I'll be there in a sec," he uttered, peering out at the lamp post across the street.

Jeongguk stopped, brows rising in slight confusion. "You don't want Chinese food?"

Taehyung shook his head. "I do. I just want a quick smoke, is all," he pulled his pack of cigarettes from his trousers and held it up with a cheeky grin. "Order me some noodles, okay?"

Jeongguk gave a cute pout and nodded, then slowly moved to follow Yoongi inside the restaurant, head turning to peek out at Taehyung, whose tall frame stood by the store window while lighting his blunt beside his lips.

※ ※

"Seriously, though. Taehyung was awesome with bowling today.." Jimin leaned back against his chair, holding up a glass of water while sticking his pinky out. "Absolutely amazing."

"You're just happy you're not paying for dinner, aren't you?" Yoongi scowled. Jimin merely laughed to himself, and Jeongguk shifted to the side to peek behind the two men, towards the restaurant entrance.

"Don't get me wrong—I still don't fully like the guy, but... I can see the appeal," the blond hummed to himself. "Not too much though. My baby Yoongi is much sexier."

"Right, right..." Yoongi rolled his eyes playfully, then took note of Jeongguk's distracted demeanor in front of them. He straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. "Taehyung's still out smoking, huh."

"A habit he should learn to quit, I must say." Jimin added in.

Jeongguk forced a light smile. "Yeah, he's still out there, it seems.."

"Didn't we order like ten minutes ago?"

"I think so—"

Jeongguk cut in. "He's here."

Yoongi and Jimin both turned their heads to see Taehyung casually strolling down toward their direction, his usual static expression somehow more lulled.

He approached the four-seat table and scanned the area for a moment before taking his seat across the other couple, and beside Jeongguk.

"What took you so long?"

Taehyung exhaled a soft breath, began to remove the jacket from his shoulders, and gave a simple response. "M'my bad. What'd I miss?"

"Jimin being excited to empty our wallets, that's what," Yoongi chuckled. Taehyung blinked up at him in silence, and by the expression on his face the older somehow felt the need to elaborate. "Since Jeongguk and I are paying?"

Taehyung raised a brow and glanced at Jeongguk before nodding slowly. "Ah... right, yes."

"Next time we'll have our own boyfriends as our teams," Jeongguk scoffed teasingly, and Jimin nearly slammed his water down on the table.

"Now that's not fair! Taehyung's my team partner for life now," he huffed. "I won't share him."

"Partner for what?" Taehyung cut in, and the three guys fell silent, heads turning to look at him.

Jeongguk glanced toward Yoongi, who was eyeing him back, and the two seemed to be thinking the same thing.

'It's V,' Jeongguk mouthed.

Yoongi quickly nodded in agreement.

"We're still talking about bowling, dumbass," Jimin rolled his eyes. "Did you smoke your brains out back there?"

"Ah, bowling.." Taehyung leaned back. "Right. Bowling."

Just then the waitress appeared at their table, skillfully holding a large tray with little effort. She lowered the container down to the table and began to distribute platter across the four seats.

"Four orders of noodles and boiled dumplings?" She asked cheerily.

"Yep, that's us!" Jimin piped up, and the woman gave a sweet smile in response.

"Let me know if you'd like drinks at any time," she said, then reached to retrieve the now empty tray before stepping back politely. It was then that Taehyung lifted his head to look at her, and their eyes met.

The two froze.

Now that Taehyung had gotten a clear view of her face, this woman looked awfully familiar. And oddly enough, she seemed to recognize him as well. Though it took both of them a moment, they each tried to mask the sudden surprise they felt, taken aback by seeing each other again under these circumstances.

Taehyung peered over at her name tag for confirmation, and just as he thought, the plaque read, Liu Jiawei.

He quickly looked away, reached his hand over the table to tap his fingers over the surface, and tried to hide the smirk that tried its way to his lips.

So it seemed she had made the humble shift from serving at dangerous clubs, to serving at a well established restaurant.

He thought this new uniform suited her much better.

"Ah, yes! I'd like some now," Jimin wriggled forward in his seat with great enthusiasm. "Do you guys, perhaps, have soju here?"

The waitress, Jia, nodded politely, her smile never leaving her face, though she couldn't help but glance at Taehyung every now and then, wanting desperately to speak to him.

She was feeling out the atmosphere. Reading the room, if you will. Not everyone would like their friends to know if one had associated with Club Micro, after all; and she figured that if Taehyung didn't care about those things he'd be the one to initiate conversation with her.

Or perhaps he wasn't acknowledging her for her own sake.

But either way, right then and there, she knew they couldn't speak knowingly to each other. No matter how badly she craved for it.

"Yes, um.." she scrambled to pull her notepad out. "Uhm—yes. We have soju, what-... What kind would you like, sir?"

While Jimin chatted up his order, Jeongguk leaned to the side and whispered toward Taehyung, a gentle smile on his own face. "What are you grinning about..?"

Taehyung blinked at him and bit his lip to stop his smirk. "Hm.. Nothing in particular."

Jeongguk frowned cutely. "Whaat? No, tell me."

The man reached up, placed his thumb at the younger's pink lips and rubbed his finger across the flesh. The action quickly silenced Jeongguk, who stared back at him with a flushed face.

Taehyung simply gazed at him, a pleased glint in his eye, and repeated his words with a booming, low voice.

"Nothing in particular."

He lowered his finger, sat back on his chair.

Jia looked at him, and he stared back.

"May I get a bit of that soju, as well?"

✱