To be honest, I'd rather lie

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THE bell chimed, indicating the arrival of a new customer. Jimin, who was wiping some of the display cups, spoke without looking up:

"Welcome to With a Pinch of Salt, how may-"

"That's an interesting name," remarked a rich baritone of a voice. 

Jimin dropped the cup on the floor. 

"NAMJOON!"

"I SWEAR TO GOD, IT WASN'T ME THIS TIME, SEOKJIN!"

*

"Why is Kim Taehyung, the youngest tea critic in South Korea, visiting our dumb shop?" Seokjin hissed to Namjoon as they both stood in the background. 

Taehyung was seated on one of the plush chairs at a table overlooking the streets while Jimin was trying to make his signature drink: a variant of merlot. 

"How will I know anything about that, darling?" Namjoon hissed back.

"This ambiance is nice," Taehyung suddenly said. 

Jimin's employees jumped. 

"Thank you, sir. Our boss, that is, the owner, designed it," Seokjin informed.

"The one who's making the tea, right now?"

"Yes, sir."

Taehyung nodded and returned his gaze to the view outside. He noticed that apart from him, there were no other customers in the shop. He glanced at the Starbucks opposite the street, which was bustling with people. 

"What is the customers' favorite?" He casually asked. 

"Black?" Namjoon said. Seokjin kicked his shin when Taehyung wasn't watching. 

*

Jimin dismissed the two of them with a wave, after he had seated himself before Taehyung in a chair. 

Without breaking eye-contact for a second, Taehyung picked up the teacup and took an elegant sip.

Jimin gulped.

As Taehyung set his cup down, he said: "This is some fine tea."

Jimin bowed his head in thanks, speechless. 

"What brought you to our shop?" 

"Your shop, I was informed. Why do you call it our shop?"

"Well-"

"Save it," Taehyung held a hand up. 

Jimin relaxed the minute he heard the authoritative tone. He knew this Taehyung. He had lived with his haughty ass for an entire month. As long as he didn't say something stupid, he should make a good impression. 

"I repeat my question to you: what brought you here?"

"I heard word from mouth that there was a tea shop here and decided to give it a go," Taehyung replied, surprised but not disapproving of this confident tone from the man who was so nervous mere seconds ago. 

Jimin crossed his legs. 

"Is there anything else you would like to try, apart from the chef's signature?"

Taehyung broke the eye-contact for the first time to skim the menu. He stopped when he reached a particular name and flicked his eyes up. Jimin could feel himself melting under his burning gaze, but he stared on, determined. 

"I will have the chamomile. It reminds me of someone who looks just like you."

Jimin gulped for the second time. 

*

Once they placed the order to Namjoon, Taehyung engaged Jimin in a conversation.

"How long have you been in the business?"

"A fair few months - four or five months, give or take. I worked under Kim Sehun for a year after culinary school. Once I saved up enough money, I opened this shop and hired Namjoon and Seokjin who were my friends from the time I was under Mr. Kim's service." 

"Kim Sehun? That's impressive. His unique take on boba tea is a milestone in this industry," Taehyung said, scribbling something in his notes. 

"So, you heard about this shop from 'word of mouth'?"

"Indeed. It happened to be my sister," Taehyung confessed. 

Jimin suddenly had a crazy notion that Yongsun probably had a sneaky scheme up her sleeves. 

Maybe he was overthinking. 

Thankfully, Namjoon arrived in that instant, a tray hovering above his head. It was a miracle it didn't topple off his palm like most days. Jimin thanked his stars when the tray safely made its way on the table and so did the cup on it. 

He chewed on his lips as the cup made its way to Taehyung's lips. To his utter surprise, it stayed there for a while before returning back to the table.

Taehyung licked his lips. "I am not one to give compliments easily but I must be mad to say that your chamomile was anything but exquisite."

Jimin blushed. "You're flattering me, sir."

"May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" Taehyung asked, smirking lightly. "It's for the article."

Jimin blinked. Was Kim Taehyung, the most good-looking prick in the world, flirting with him? Was his being gay the reason why he only rented out the upstairs room to females?

Oh well, he could confirm with Yongsun. After all, she had given him her contact information after whatever had happened in the previous chapter. She seemed thoroughly concerned that he was gay and lived under the same roof as Taehyung. 

"It's Park Jimmy," he blurted. 

Taehyung frowned. "Not Korean?"

"I am, my parents kept it as a joke," Jimin attempted to explain, feeling like a fool with every passing second. 

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. He may be a blockhead like his sister called him but even he wasn't so big a fool.

"Tell me, does the name Park Jimin ring a bell?"

Jimin blanched. Oh holy chamomile, he was fucked.

"It does. That's my sister," Jimin said, ignoring the intense sweating he knew would come with his lie.

Taehyung's brow cleared. "Makes sense. I had the same conclusion. She runs a teashop, too? In northern Seoul? She told me so on her first visit to my house. She's a paying guest."

Jimin bit his lip in concentration. How many tea shops in northern Seoul did he know were run by a Park Jimin who was a female? Oh yeah, none. If Taehyung went to check out even one of those, it would be game over for him. He could see himself sleeping in his shop like a loser.

"Actually, she and I run this shop together. She must have confused northern with southern, poor dear. She's got quite the cluttered brain, my elder sister," Jimin chuckled nervously.

Taehyung was silent for a while. Was the game up or not, Jimin wondered. He decided to brace himself for the worst.

"I know what you are talking about. My elder sister is extremely aggravating when she forgets stuff," he exclaimed, untwisting his legs into a more informal pose.

Jimin blinked several times. Was this a dream? Had Taehyung just bought the worst lie he could utter?

"Uh, y-yeah, I know exactly what you are talking about," Jimin stammered.

'I know exactly the opposite of what you're talking about; younger brothers are a pain in the ass.'

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there are two chapters after this! yes it's a triple update, keep scrolling lovelies!

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