Yoongi always thought himself an honest man.

Yet here he was, lying through his teeth as he looked up at Hoseok. He held Hoseok's hands, which felt foreign in his, a smile adorning his features, with the most elegant ring of the season tucked safely in his pocket.

"I love you."

The lie felt sour as it passed his lips, but Yoongi couldn't let that deter him. Hoseok was playing the part perfectly— too perfectly, in Yoongi's opinion. Without letting Hoseok's hands go, Yoongi lowered himself to one knee, swallowing his pride for what seemed to be the billionth time. Hoseok gasped, his hands flying to his mouth, and he took a couple of steps back, eyes already beginning to water.

A hush fell among the guests, and they all turned their attention to Yoongi and Hoseok. To add to the flame, a light was shone discreetly on them, momentarily blinding Yoongi, but he kept his ground, forcing his lips to muster the biggest smile he could make at the one person he hated the most.

"You swept me off my feet, Hoseok Jung," Yoongi said loudly for everyone to hear. "You saw past my background and accepted me for who I was, regardless of what anyone could say. They say love, at first sight, is nothing but a fairy tale, but when I saw you, Hoseok, I knew it couldn't be. I was struck by you. I still am. I will never get tired of telling you how much I love you."

"Yoongi..."

He could also gag at all the nonsense he had to say. It had been through Hoseok's insistence that Yoongi was forced to make such elaborate speeches. He'd managed to cut down most of it, but the things he did have to say, well, Yoongi absolutely hated it. Everyone else seemed to love it, though. The crowd observed them, hanging onto Yoongi's every word, and with Hoseok's tears already starting to spill, Yoongi knew the show had to go on.

"I promise to cherish the way I have already have and love you even more than I already do."

Yoongi took out the box from his pocket and opened it, pointing the ring at Hoseok.

"Oh my god, Yoongi, you're—"

"Will you make me the happiest man in the world, Hoseok Jung, and marry me?"

Hoseok was full-on sobbing now, his eyes glistening with happiness. It struck Yoongi how convincing Hoseok was. Gone was the boy that cursed his name at every opportunity. No, this was an entirely new person, and Yoongi forced himself to continue to look at Hoseok as if he was the only person in the world. There was no way in hell Yoongi was going to give Hoseok the limelight, even if this was something that Hoseok had prepared himself years for.

"Yes!"

Even Yoongi had to admit that what Hoseok was doing was impressive. He did not falter, even with Yoongi was sliding the cursed ring onto his finger. Not even when Yoongi had pulled him in for an embrace, just as they had practiced. Yoongi thought that was the end of that. There would be nothing else that he would have to do, and he was free. At least, he thought that he was done. Without warning, Hoseok pulled him in for a kiss, and Yoongi froze, before forcing himself to melt into the kiss.

It was easier done than Yoongi had given it credit for. Hoseok moved softly against him, applying just the right amount of pressure to make it all seem legitimate. He guided Yoongi through the kiss, and for some odd reason, Yoongi found the kiss sweet. Not that he was expecting Hoseok to be rough with him, but Yoongi couldn't feel any malicious intentions from Hoseok (if that was the word for it). He let his hand cup Hoseok's cheek, and he could hear the loud cheers.

The breath caught in his chest once they pulled away. He turned to the crowd and smiled apologetically before formally excusing himself. Once he was out of the public eye, he shook his head, forcing himself out of it. He turned on the faucet of the sink and splashed some water on his lips in an attempt to take the taste of Hoseok from his mouth. After a couple of splashes, he could still Hoseok's lips lingering on his lips and he hated it. He'd have to eat to forget his sorrows.

Hoseok had no right kissing him, like that. Again.

"Congratulations to the lucky, lucky man!"

Yoongi turned to see Hoseok's best friend, Jungkook come in, an incredibly condescending smirk gracing his lips. Yoongi's eyes narrowed, and he straightened himself up, trying his best to exude stoicism. If Jungkook noticed his change in demeanor, he didn't point it out. Instead, his smirk grew larger, and he walked closer.

"Don't tell me that kiss disgusted you, Yoongi," Jungkook remarked sarcastically. "You should have seen the faraway gaze you had when you two finally pulled apart. Be honest with me, who gave you acting lessons on kissing? Blushing on cue? Or have you fallen for Hoseok already? I gotta admit, it's kind of fast, but who am I to say anything?"

"And I thought Hoseok was annoying," Yoongi grimaced, earning a laugh from Jungkook. "I wasn't giving you a compliment."

"I'm taking it as one," Jungkook replied cheekily. "Y'know, when Hoseok first told me about your engagement I was like, 'what'? I thought you were dating Minseo. Then it turns out that you were dating Minseo, and now she's on the market. I liked her for the longest time, did you know that? Well, that's a stretch. I liked the idea of fucking with her, you get me? Oh, and fucking her."

Yoongi gritted his teeth. "Are you done talking about my girlfriend?"

"Ex," Jungkook corrected immediately, continuing to smirk. "Ex-girlfriend. You two are broken up since a few days ago. Now you're engaged to my best friend. You must consider yourself so lucky. I know I'd be jumping for the hills knowing that at least six different generations of mine are going to be well off. You'll go to college debt free. It's like a dream come true!"

"No wonder Hoseok's insufferable," Yoongi commented, rolling his eyes. "His best friend is a thousand times worse. Look, do you need anything from me? Unfortunately, I have to get back to the floor and continue getting belittled by Hoseok's guests because they don't see my family at their level."

"Oh, yeah sorry about that," Jungkook said, shaking his head. "They're old money. I saw you met Sharon and the Rys. Stay away from them at all costs. Hoseok introduced you as a formality, but those three specifically, are trouble. The Rys have a son. Twenty five. He's a menace. You thought the Rys were bad? Their son is ruthless. If you hadn't waltzed into the picture, Hoseok probably would have been forcibly married to him. Not right now, because Hoseok's not an adult yet, but the Rys family was really looking forward to the Jungs, and they're the type to hold grudges so watch out. Sharon liked you, right?"

Yoongi nodded wearily.

"Did you have to completely make yourself look like shit?"

Yoongi nodded once again.

"That's how she works," Jungkook continued, clicking his tongue. "She's the reason the Rys family almost split. Managed to get into the head of Alex and convinced him to cheat on her. Sharon's far too old to screw him, but she was very quick to point him into...you know."

"Oh."

Yoongi knew exactly what that meant.

"Regardless, Sharon has ties politically and economically, so getting on her bad side is a big no," Jungkook continued. "If she even suspects that there is infidelity, she will wedge her way into your life. Set up her paparazzi perfectly to ruin companies. Here's who you should meet though."

Jungkook took out his phone and stood next to Yoongi, who was looking at him strangely.

"What?" Jungkook asked. "You think I'm planning on sabotaging you?"

"Probably," Yoongi admitted. "You have no reason to help me."

"Of course, I do," Jungkook mused. "Anything that affects you, affects Hoseok. Everything has to go well. Both families are at stake here. Now pay attention. The Kims, immediate allies. I'm sure you've met their sons, but there are two Kim families, each both as important." Noticing Yoongi's gaze, Jungkook rolled his eyes. "Kim is a common surname, Yoongi! Doesn't mean that there's Alabama type shit involved. Now, Taehyung and Namjoon, they're dating, and they'll be married so that both Kim families can merge. Taehyung and Namjoon started out as arranged on a trial basis. If they liked each other they would marry in the future. Clearly, they're very happy. The Kims are one of the few Korean business owners that have influence in the United States. It's important for us to stick together, so do not fuck things up."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Be yourself," Jungkook answered, showing Yoongi the phone. "This is what they look like. You don't need to kiss ass to them. You need to show them that you have what it takes to be in the industry. They like transparency, but don't be too transparent they'' hate that. Just enough to keep them interested in you. Now, the Villaltaz are a good family too. Plenty powerful, so you're going to want to charm them. The Nguyens are known for their..."

Jungkook continued to go down the list, and if it weren't for Yoongi already having a good memory, he would struggle trying to remember all of the things that Jungkook was telling him. It was hard for him to believe that Jungkook was genuinely trying to help him, especially when Hoseok was his best friend. Jungkook hadn't made the best first impression, and Yoongi had no reason to trust him. But, Jungkook being best friends with Hoseok meant that he did have access to all of the insider information, so maybe Jungkook was telling the truth. Jungkook was fairly wealthy, far more than Yoongi, at least, so it would be in Yoongi's best interest to have amicable terms with him.

"Did you get all of that?" Jungkook asked, stopping briefly. "I can go over it again if you'd like."

Yoongi shook his head. "You've done enough. Thank you."

"My pleasure." Jungkook chirped as he put his phone away. "You know why I'm helping you?"

So he did have ulterior motives.

Yoongi knew it.

"Oh, don't make that face." Jungkook huffed. "It isn't anything bad."

"I didn't say it was." Now it was Yoongi's turn to smirk. "I just knew you wouldn't be helping me out of the goodness of your heart. Fess up. What do you want?"

"I love Hoseok," Jungkook said, immediately scrunching his nose at Yoongi's eyebrow raise. "Ew, not like that. Oh my god, that would be awful, actually. I don't even want to think about it. God, Yoongi, your thoughts are going to give me nightmares!"

"Sounds like denial to me," Yoongi mused. Jungkook laughed, clapping Yoongi on the shoulder.

"Ah, so you think you're a funny guy?" Jungkook chuckled, shaking his head. "Remind me to get you into good moods. Makes the wrinkles on your face disappear. Anyways, that's not why. Because I know Hoseok, I know how much of a...superior complex he has. He isn't a spoiled brat or anything— I'd beat his ass if he was by the way— but he also likes to fuck around with fresh meat."

"Me."

"Exactly," Jungkook grinned. "You're getting it! Hoseok's waiting for you to fail, and honestly, I don't want to give him that satisfaction. Imagine, letting the guy you always put in detention completely make a fool out of himself? I can see his plan a mile away. Fortunately, I don't think it's fair to you. You may be an annoying President, but you sure as hell keep Hoseok straight in line. I love hearing him grumble about your existence. 'Sides, the people here are ruthless. You need to have some form of information if you're going to make it in there."

"Huh," Yoongi said, finally giving Jungkook a genuine smile. "So you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart? Not because you want Jimin's number or something?"

"Nah, Yoongi, I'm doing this because here," Jungkook pointed to his chest, "I feel for you. I want to see you succeed."

"Wow."

Yoongi was genuinely surprised. Jungkook wasn't the type to just do things because he wanted to be supportive. There had to be something that Jungkook had wanted, but after staring intently at Jungkook, he could find no ulterior motive. Satisfied, he began to walk out of the bathroom.

"Actually."

Yoongi sighed audibly, turning to Jungkook expectantly.

"I wouldn't mind you introducing me to Jimin," Jungkook paused. "Oh, and I wouldn't mind the number either that you so conveniently offered as payment for my generosity."

And there it was.

"I knew you wanted something," Yoongi hissed, to which Jungkook laughed. Jungkook shrugged, an innocent look plastered on his face, though his eyes glinted with mischief and unending amusement.

"I didn't until you offered, Min," Jungkook whistled innocently, walking out with Yoongi. "That's how the politics of business work. Now, the gift for my generosity?"

At least it wasn't Minseo he wanted.

Yoongi would have lost all composure then.

Jimin wouldn't look forward to it though. Jungkook was the exact type of person that Jimin wanted to stay clear away from, and here he was, leading Jungkook towards Jimin. This was his life now, he figured.

No one made it in this industry by being ethical.

Yoongi's days of honesty were over now.