Mr Desperate

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"FOR the last time, Jung Hoseok, if you have nothing better to do than to throw a pick-up line at Jimin when you're at home, you should just leave!"

Jimin buried his head in his arms as his roommates continued the illogical argument, thus proving that they shared half a neuron.

"And for the last time, Jeon Jungkook, if you have nothing better up your sleeve than to play Overwatch, the minute you get back from your part-time job, then you should do the same!" Hoseok hurled back, his artful body curved into a power pose.

"It's an internship, not a part-time job!"

Yes, Jimin needed to move out. Before he ended up toasting his own spare neuron on the two roaches that he was forced to live with.

*

Jimin stepped out of his miniscule office situated on the corner of his teashop to keep an eye on how things were being run before they opened for the day.

To his dismay, he was greeted by the ringing crash of china from the kitchen.

"Namjoon?"

"I didn't do it, sir!" Came the immediate response.

Jimin sighed. Why did employees have to lie about their shortcomings, he would never understand. Nevertheless, he rushed to the kitchen to find a miserable Namjoon sweeping up the remains of a cream jug, towered by a smoldering Seokjin.

"There, there. We will compensate for that by cutting part of your salary, you don't need to look so morose," Jimin consoled.

Seokjin snapped his neck so hard, Jimin feared that he might have accidentally broken it.

"Are you sure that there is any money left in his paycheck to compensate for any losses, boss?"

He did make a fair point. Jimin shrugged in defeat and murmured:

"From next week's paycheck then. Are the ingredients for today's special out, Seokjin?"

Thankfully, Seokjin took the bait and Jimin successfully managed to distract him from chewing Namjoon's head off. Again, this was a shortcoming he should've seen, hiring a couple in the first place. Too bad that his mushy self went gooey over their romance and decided to hire them both.

Praying that the two wouldn't make up by having angry sex on the counter, he stepped out of the kitchen to declare the shop open and ready for business.

*

His shop was a small affair and a moderate success, at that. The lovely yet simple interior design of his shop beckoned even curious folk to come try their flavours. And they were not disappointed, for Seokjin's skill and Jimin's creativity were a match made in heaven and the delicate sides just added the cherry to the cake.

Namjoon did his job well, no matter how ungraceful his fingers were behind doors. With a warm smile and alluring talk, he managed to get enough tips to compensate for any losses that his paycheck couldn't.

So far, Jimin couldn't believe his luck and he was grateful to have been able to garner even the little attention he had.

Unfortunately, his bank balance and student loans proved that his financial status was anything but mellow. Extravagant his living might be, but Park Jimin was short of funds most of the time (even though it was his fault).

He had been saving up for a new apartment to rent. It wasn't just the fact that Jungkook and Hoseok were buttwipes (lovable they may be), he didn't like that he couldn't pay the rent, even if it was split between three. Even more so, he didn't like it that his friends allowed him to freeload.

He was better off finding a cheaper place to stay; one that he could afford on his own than to live off his friends' money. It was a matter of pride.

As he scanned through the list of apartments to-let in the newspaper, his eyes caught one favorable price. They lit up in glee.

The address was just as convenient as the price and Jimin's mind was already on the house-warming ceremony when he spied the little note underneath the number of the owner (who had supplied no name).

'Girls only. Preferably single, under forty and without pets.'

Picking up a red marker, Jimin circled the advertisement and put the newspaper aside. He donned a bright smile and stepped out of his office to write the specials of the day on the big chalkboard outside his shop.

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