Namjoon was a little disappointed Jimin wouldn't be going to the party, but it wasn't enough to change his mind.

Unlike Jimin, he did rather enjoy parties. And Hoseok and Seokjin and his friends sounded like fun people, and Namjoon had nothing better to do on a Christmas Eve night.

That being said, after receiving the address and time of Jin's party, Namjoon showed up at the door at 7 p.m. with a bottle of soda.

Hoseok was the one who answered.

"Well, look who it is."

"It's me," Namjoon chimed, holding up the soda. "Didn't know if I was supposed to bring anything so I just did."

"How generous of you. Would you care to come inside?"

"Don't mind if I do."

Hoseok accepted the bottle of Coca Cola from Namjoon, then stepped back to let him inside.

Upon entrance, Namjoon found that only a couple other people were here, and the party host, currently still decorating, was teetering on the edge of a metal, foldable chair whilst trying to attach streamers to the walls. Amused, he stood by and watched the boy's struggle.

"I can feel your beady eyes on me, Jackson, and I don't appreciate it."

"I'm not Jackson, though."

Alarmed by the voice, Seokjin spun his head around, recklessly turning his torso as well and as a result nearly slipped off the chair. Namjoon held it steady.

Breathless, Jin scoffed. "I almost forgot I invited you."

The other boy smiled softly. "Do I look like the type of guy to back down from a challenge? You swore I'd lose in Uno or something. I gotta prove myself."

Jin rolled his eyes and went back to fixing the party streamers. "Yeah, okay. You've got your friend's tough-guy attitude, I see. Or, formerly tough-guy attitude, I should say."

"Mm....do you need help?"

"Absolutely not."

"If you say so."

Shrugging off the rejection, Namjoon decided to boldly approach one of the other people here and introduce himself. One boy was sitting on the living room couch, his feet up on the sofa and relaxing as though he lived here. Chocolate brown hair, an ugly Christmas sweater, shorts, and bare feet...

"Wild guess, are you Jackson?"

The boy lifted his eyes eagerly upon hearing his name. "The one and only!" He beamed. "I don't know you, though, sorry."

"Namjoon." He held out his hand and Jackson happily shook it, which pleased him. "It's nice to meet you."

"You're Jin's friend?"

"Well, can't really say that," he replied with a quiet laugh. "I don't know him that well yet. But he seems cool."

"He is," Jackson said with a nod. "A really swell guy. I look forward to Christmas Eve 'cus of him now. He's so much fun! And Hoseok, too. But Jin's laugh is the best, I'm tellin' ya."

"I'm sure it is."

"Ever play Uno before?"

"A few times."

"Oh, well you've never played Uno like Jin's Uno."

"So I've heard."

"Hoseok made him put on lipstick and kiss the carpet last year!"

Hearing the brief story a second time didn't make it any less funny. "So I've heard."

It really did sound like a fun time. Namjoon was glad he decided to come here. After ending the conversation at a comfortable place, he made his way over to the other boy here who was currently talking with Hoseok.

"Ah, Namjoon," the redhead turned his attention towards him, "I was just about to get you. Here, this is Taemin."

Taemin, a handsome young man with silver hair and full lips, smiled pleasantly at Namjoon and shook his hand. "Pleasure to meet you," he said. "Your first time here?"

"Yup. Lookin' forward to Seokjin's Uno. Sounds wild."

"It is! He had to wear lipstick and kiss the carpet last year as punishment. All credit to Hoseok for that one."

Again, the third time, and it was still hilarious.

At some point, his eyes drifted over to the party host who was still setting some things up, going back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room to transfer cups and plates and other things. And Namjoon couldn't help but wonder why none of the boy's friends were offering to help. Luckily Hoseok noticed his curious glances and answered the unspoken question.

"Don't feel bad," he said, giving Namjoon a nudge. "Jin wouldn't let any of us help even if we asked. Believe me, we've tried. He just gets fulfillment outta doing this on his own and has fun with it, ya know?"

"I suppose." Namjoon hummed, watching as Seokjin carefully set a bowl of punch down on the table. "Cute apron."

"Tell him that and he might hit you."

"Noted. Are there any other people we're waiting on?"

"Jungkook, which surprises me. I didn't think he'd agree. Also Youngjae. Funny guy. He almost beat me in Uno once."

"What was his punishment for losing?" Namjoon asked curiously.

"Fetching me a glass of water."

"You really do just like to target Seokjin, don't you?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?"

▫️▫️▫️

By 7:30 p.m. everyone was here: Hoseok, Namjoon, Jungkook, Taemin, Jackson, Youngjae, and of course, the host of this lovely little gathering, Kim Seokjin.

"Gentlemen and gentlemen of the jury! I've prepared tea!"

"What flavor??" Exclaimed Jackson.

"Chamomile, sweetie, you know me." He pretended to flip his hair and Namjoon snorted. He's funny.

It was certainly unique. Most high school parties these days consisted of way too many teens listening to loud music, dancing, and getting drunk. Instead, here, Jin was serving chamomile tea, having made a home-cooked meal for his party guests, and was entertaining everyone effortlessly with nothing more than his words and exaggerated facial expressions.

It was a nice change.

"So when's the Uno tournament start?" Namjoon asked, just as Seokjin placed a cup of tea in front of him.

"After dinner, be patient, child," he scolded.

"When's dinner?" Jackson piped up.

"You know full well dinner is served after tea, don't make me smack you."

"What's for dinner?" Taemin joined.

"You know full well we're having bulgogi and cucumber kimchi."

"CUCUMBER??? I'M OUTTA HERE-"

"Youngjae, you know full well I'm just kidding, sit down!!"

"Is the punch safe to drink?"

"Of course, it's safe-"

"He wants banana milk, he's just too shy to ask-"

"Hoseok, you traitor, I'm telling Yoongi."

"You know full well Yoongi ain't gonna do nothin' about it-"

"Will you stop saying 'full well'?"

"Uhm, I'm sorry, Hobi, who's the party host??"

Taemin, Jackson, and Youngjae were in an uproar of laughter, whereas Jungkook just cracked a reluctant smile and Namjoon tried really hard not to laugh, too.

Seokjin was just so. Freaking. Funny.

Jimin's missing out.

"I'm done my tea. Can we break out the meal now?" Jackson announced, loudly setting down his empty cup. Seokjin opened his mouth but Hoseok stopped him.

"If you say 'I'm already here,' then I'll see myself out the door."

Jin narrowed his eyes menacingly. "You wouldn't. You're standing on the pride of a title as reigning Uno champ. You walk out, you disqualify yourself."

"...true."

"...so like I was saying, I'm already here."

Everyone sighed collectively. Except Namjoon. Who laughed again.

It was then Seokjin decided he would comply to the wishes of his guests and serve dinner. And Namjoon, for one, was thoroughly impressed. Not only by the taste of the food, which was amazing, if he were to be brief, but also by the fact that Seokjin made dinner at all. Typically at parties people just ordered pizza or some other form of takeout. It was the easy thing to do.

"It's red bean kimchi, Youngjae, you're safe."

"Bless."

The group of boys ate dinner and enjoyed it immensely, making sure to savor every last bite but also wanting to hurry so that they could begin the Uno tournament. Yes, it was undeniably something they all greatly enjoyed. Even Seokjin, who too many times to count had been at Hoseok's mercy.

In the living room they all sat in a circle. The stacks of Uno cards in the very middle. And from there, the boys were split into groups: Seokjin vs. Taemin, Hoseok vs. Jackson, Youngjae vs. Namjoon, and since Jungkook didn't have a partner, he ended up joining Namjoon and Youngjae.

The groups then split off to play their own separate games. The outcome of the first game was Seokjin as winner: his punishment for Taemin was ten pushups (he wasn't as creative as Hoseok when it came to things like this). For the second grouping, Hoseok won, as expected: his punishment for Jackson was more anime impressions because he was a little too good at those. Lastly, Namjoon won against Youngjae and Jungkook and kindly asked them both to bring him a cup of soda and some crackers. He wasn't very creative, either.

And so they advanced to the second round—which was technically the last round, since they were only such a small group. Nonetheless Jin still liked to call it a tournament as though it were some grand, extensive event.

The final three were Hoseok, Namjoon, and Seokjin. Namjoon was the first of them to be eliminated. And since Hoseok was currently in the lead, he got to choose what happened next.

Namjoon sighed. "What's my punishment?"

"Hm..." Placing a hand on his chin, Hoseok looked to the ceiling in thought. "How about...giving Jungkook a big ol' hug!"

The boy in question immediately made a face and glanced uncertainly at Namjoon, who already had his arms open wide.

"C'mon, buddy."

Jungkook groaned, but accepted the gesture as though this were his punishment, too.

With that out of the way, it was down to the final two: Kim Seokjin, the party host, and Jung Hoseok, the reigning champ.

Despite not being on chairs everyone was on the edge of their seat.

This was the scene they had been awaiting.

Taemin pulled out his phone to take a video.

Jackson pulled out his phone to play dramatic mid-western face-off music.

Hoseok now had three cards left. Seokjin had two. It looked like Jin was about to succeed, when-

"Skip! Uno! My turn, blue four! UNO OUT. HA!"

A triumphant laugh rang out from Hoseok's bowels, and he fell over upon seeing Seokjin's reaction. And though it frustrated him, Jin couldn't be mad, because Hoseok's joy was contagious whether anyone liked it or not.

"You little~"

"Lipstick, Jin~" The redhead sang.

"C'mon, really??"

Namjoon held a hand over his mouth and snorted. Everyone was chanting lipstick now and Jin was growing increasingly angry that he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Seemed he was having too much fun to be mad.

Groaning, he got to his feet and momentarily left the room, soon to return with red lipstick on his plump, formerly pink lips. Everyone cheered. And Jin just stood in front of the circle and looked down at Hoseok with his hands on his hips, waiting for the details of his punishment. "What this time? The carpet again? A tea cup? My own hand??"

Hoseok hummed, scanning his gaze across the room till it eventually fell on what he deemed was a wonderful choice. "Namjoon!" He exclaimed. And for whatever reason, this was also found by the group of boys watching to be most amusing. Jin almost bursted out laughing, too, but he held it back.

"Seriously??"

"Sit down! No arguments!" Hoseok commanded, pointing at the spot on the floor directly in front of Namjoon. "There had better be a red lip imprint on his cheek in the next twenty seconds or you're already disqualified from next year's competition!!"

"Alright! Alright, calm down!!"

With this threat hanging over his head, Seokjin sat himself directly in front of Namjoon, closely situated because there was no other way to do this—he obviously couldn't kiss anyone's cheek from across the room.

"Stop smiling and get on with it!" Jackson shouted. Jin spun his head around and tried to glare at him but was still grinning because of the fun and lively atmosphere.

"Go on and kiss the boy!"

"Shalalalalala, my oh my!"

The singing of this song was all it took to finally trigger Jin's laughter in its full power, loud and somewhat high-pitched and resembling what could only be described as windshield wipers, or wiping a cloth against glass till it squeaked. It was so unique. And weirdly charming.

Namjoon felt a funny feeling in his chest.

He was less than a foot away from the boy's face. Being this close, he was able to fully take in all of Jin's facial features, and he realized something.

The boy was nothing short of gorgeous. Stunningly beautiful.

He couldn't turn his eyes away.

Not even as Jin gripped his face and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Everyone laughed and cheered.

Except Namjoon.

Namjoon wasn't laughing at all. Well, he was, but it was forced, and only because he felt several people looking at him for a reaction.

Leaving the room right now would be conspicuous. He waited a few minutes.

Then used the excuse that he should probably clean off the lipstick while it was fresh.

Closing the door, Namjoon leaned himself against it and slowly slid to the floor, letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Then he hastily took out his phone.

"...Jimin?"

He was relieved when his friend picked up the phone. But confused to hear the boy sniffling.

"Uh...you okay?"

"No," Jimin replied in honesty. "But I don't wanna talk about it right now."

"Oh...okay...will you talk about it later?"

"I don't know. I'll think about it." He sniffled again, then heaved a sigh. "What did you call me for?"

Namjoon quickly snapped back into focus. "Oh. Right. Uh..." He touched the lipstick mark on his cheek. "Okay, so the thing is, I never in my life thought I'd hear myself say this, but I think I might be bisexual."

Silence. Namjoon swore he heard crickets from the other end of the phone.

"Ha-ha, very funny." Clearly too tired to deal with his friend, Jimin sighed once again. "Did you call me to just to waste my time? If that's the case then I'm hanging up on you now-"

"No, I'm not kidding!" Namjoon blurted, trying to keep his voice down. "This is legit, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda freaking out right now and you're the only person I can ask for help. What do you usually do to hide that you're nervous around a boy? Gosh, I can't believe those words just fell out of my mouth..."

More stunned silence. "...okay, Namjoon, what the actual."

"Look, Chim, I don't know, either. I didn't ask for him to make my heart beat like this, I'm literally panicking right now, this is so weird." He slowly got to his feet and looked at himself in the mirror. "To think some boy could do this to me...incredible. He's incredible."

"You swear you're not messing with me right now?"

"I swear. I wouldn't joke about this. I think I'm in love with a boy."

"Naaaaaaamjooooon!!! We're gonna play musical chairs now, are you almost done erasing Jin's kiss mark??!"

"I gotta go, Chim. We're playing musical chairs. We'll continue this later."

"...did someone just say 'Jin's kiss mark'??"

"Nope. You're hearing things. Bye, Chim!"

"Bi, Namjoon."