After he sneezed, you stepped back and politely refused. "Tae, I'm really sorry, but now that I have possession of the property, I need to get started with renovations. I have an electrical inspector coming today, and the specialist wood carver can only come after lunch to give me an estimate on the woodwork that needs to be done." 

You sigh heavily. "I just hope the brick mason and the others don't all come at once. I planned on cleaning while waiting for them to arrive."

Tae starts sneezing and grabs his handkerchief from his pocket. "Sorry, I think it's all the dust. It's not good for my singing voice. Well, if you can't go on the carriage ride today, maybe we can do it one day soon."

He sneezes, "I'm so sorry, Novi, Jimin, I need to go." He goes to kiss you, but you back away just as he sneezes, barely missing your face.

"Oh my god, Novi, I'm so sorry." He quickly starts for the door. When he reaches it, he stops and turns. "Bye, Jimin. It was nice seeing you again, and Novi, I'll be in touch." He exits with one last sneeze.

"I don't know why you put up with him Novi?" Jimin asks, aggravated with Tae.

"He's harmless, Jimin. He just has a crush on me. His smooth, sultry singing will pack the place with patrons once they find out he's here. His voice is perfect for Vintage Love. That's why I invited him to work for us." 

You nudge Jimin playfully. "I know he's a bigger flirt than you are, so don't worry about me."

Jimin rolls his eyes, and you grin, saying, "Though I thought that was impossible. But I won't fall for him, and I'm not attracted to flirts."

"I hope not." Jimin likes his friend, Tae, but not for his sister. Novi is right. Tae is a bigger flirt, and therein lies the trouble. How can he get Tae to back off?

"Besides, he's your age, and you know I like older men." You tease him from earlier.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it sis. You're not falling in love with him."

You hug Jimin and ask, "Speaking of cleaning, should we start with the bar top?" you grin and wiggle your brows at him.

He laughs, saying, "I want x's this time," as he beats you to the bar for a game of tic tac toe. This was a tradition you have carried on for years.

Suga finishes his beer and burps. He pulls a cigar from his inner vest pocket and lights it. He puffs it to make the end fiery red, then takes a slow inhale and releases the smoke in smoke rings.

Jin slides the ashtray over to him. "How can you smoke that? It has to be bad for your throat."

Suga looks at Jin, unphased by his disgust at him smoking. "No worse than drinking that rotgut you serve."

He sees Jin slightly flinch. "I'm sorry, Jin. I'm  . . . never mind. I'm sorry."

Mary places a hand on Suga's arm. "Are you okay, Suga?" Her frown of concern wrinkles her usually smooth dark skin.

"He should go sleep off his grumpy attitude." Namjoon pointedly says to Suga. "Don't you ruin my romantic evening with your mood."

"Yah! Dammit, I am not in a mood!" He signals Jin to pour him another drink. 

Jin grimaces but hands him another beer. He returns to cleaning up the bar in readiness for tomorrow night.

"You going home tonight Yoons?" asks Jin with a frown of concern.

"No, You know I can't. Not now."

Suga takes his beer carrying it with the cigar in his hand. He looks at Mary and Namjoon. "Could you two keep it down tonight? I don't think my beer can deafen me enough to your bedroom activities." He leaves the bar and exits through the 'Private' doorway. 

The three friends live above the nightclub and Suga's room is situated between the brick wall of the building and the wall that separates his room from Namjoon's. Though Suga purchased a home with the hope of one day sharing it with Novi, tonight of all nights he can't go home. Plus he knew he had too much to drink.

Mary and Namjoon feign shock, and after Suga closes the door, they both break out laughing.

Jin asks them, "What is eating Yoons tonight? He's been a grouch all day." They both shrug as they slip off their bar stools.

"I have no idea, Jin." Replies Namjoon as he holds his arm out for Mary to take.

Mary puts her arm through Namjoon's as they walk to the 'Private' door leading to the hallway and stairs. She stops mid-stride.

"It's Valentine's Day." 

"We know that, Mary." Namjoon slightly rolls his eyes, wondering if he should have stopped her from drinking that last glass.

Frustrated, she says, "No, you don't understand. It's Valentine's Day." Her gaze is intent on Namjoon. "Valentine's Day, remember?"

"Shit. The day Novi disappeared." He runs his hand over his face. "Dammit, how insensitive we were sitting there with Valentine's gifts to each other right where he could see them."

Jin is turning off the lights and passes them, "I don't want to think about that time. We almost lost Yoons. I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

He leaves the 'Private' door open so they can still have light to find their way to the stairs.

As expected, Suga is woken up by a thumping against the wall coming from Namjoon's room. He flips over on his stomach, pulling his pillow over his head. UGH! I have to get him and Jin to switch rooms!

The pillow was basically useless, as he could hear the speed of the thumps increasing. Thankfully, that meant it would be over soon. He quickly dropped back to sleep when the room became quiet once more.

But sleep brought him dreams of her... his Novi. He hadn't drunk enough to stop it. His dreams turned into nightmares, as they usually do. A night of him running in the rain through the city and down every darken alleyway desperately calling for her.