Yoongi's POV-

Twenty-six unheard voicemails sit in my blocked messages inbox along with thirty-seven missed calls.

Most of them being from a number that's been blocked and a few from numbers I don't even recognize.

She's probably enlisted her posse of she-devils to blow up my phone along with her.

She's not giving up. It's been hours since I left our meeting place and I assume when she didn't hear from me within these few hours to apologize after leaving her house, like I have countless times in the past, it might be clicking that this time is different.

I can see her now. Red faced, small frame shaking in anger as she paces around her living room, becoming more and more irate each time she hears the prompt to leave a message.

She can leave as many as she wants. I'm not going to hear them.

If I wasn't waiting for the kid to call I'd turn the goddamn thing off completely. Instead I am here staring at the device, watching as the number of received messages rises quickly.

After a few minutes pass it stops being entertaining to picture an angry Irene so I decide to call Yeol to see what the hell is taking so long.

I just want to know why I've been stuck waiting for essentially my employee to do what he was told.

After a few rings, he picks up.

"Yes?" He answers casually.

"Is he still there?"

"Yeah, why?"

I clench my jaw in annoyance, "Tell him to pick up his phone."

I immediately end the call and search for the kid's contact to type out a message.

The place isn't that big. Yeol can be long winded, especially when meeting new people, but a tour shouldn't take this damn long.

Shortly after hitting send I can see that he has read it.

I roll my eyes at how quickly he listened to Yeol but ignored my instructions.

*BZZZZ* *BZZZZ*

"Am I going to have to contact Chanyeol every time I need to get ahold of you?" I drawl monotonously.

Jungkook pauses only for a second before answering back, sounding annoyed, "That won't be necessary."

He's got a bit of an attitude it seems. Brat.

"Good. Now then, he's shown you around?"

"He has."

"Before I continue, tell me what he has told you so far if you will so I know what I need to elaborate on and what doesn't need repeating."

"He told me that you were looking for someone to stay at your new place while you are out of town to let in the movers that will be coming this week.

"That I will need to be here in the afternoon to let them in when they bring your things from your previous place over and to, uh... basically to have someone here until you are back."

That's a very simplified version, but technically accurate.

"There are some gaps in what he's said so allow me to elaborate. I expect you to be there as much as possible. I made sure the guest room was set up for whoever would be watching the place before I left town so it would allow them to spend the night there as well.

"I have requested that the movers come in the afternoons to accommodate for the class schedule of the individual that was previously going to be doing this for me, but I can see about requesting an earlier time in the day if necessary," I offer more-so out of politeness, hoping it won't be necessary, before continuing on, "I assume you have your schedule? When are your classes?"

"They are scheduled to be from eight to twelve on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."

"Perfect," I exhale, managing to keep most of my relief out of my tone. "Now, Yeol had mentioned to me that you were no longer able to live in your dorm room. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry to hear that." I say, again, out of courtesy. "Have you brought your things that were going to be moved into the dorm with you?"

"Yes. Just some bags with my clothes and a few boxes."

"Okay, that guest room should be large enough for you to keep your things in without them being too much in the way. I would prefer you keep your stuff in the room with you as to avoid anything getting mixed in with my things that are brought over.

"The door across from where you'll be staying is the restroom as I'm sure Yeol has pointed out, and the room at the end of the hall is mine. Now, when the movers come I have labeled most of the larger furniture with what room they are to be put in.

"Such as my bed, a dresser, some additional sofas, end tables, bookshelves, things like that. I don't expect you to stage the furniture by any means, just have them brought to the rooms as labeled on each item so they can at least be in the general vicinity of where I want them.

"Any and all boxes that aren't labeled Master or Kitchen or for another specific room can be put in the empty room, which is the door before yours in the hall.

"The main living area is spacious, as you've seen, so just use your judgement when directing where the piano, couches, dining table and various things labeled for the space can be placed.

"Again, I don't expect you to be staging the place, just directing and monitoring. I own rather expensive pieces and I would prefer they be kept in the same condition I left them in. Lastly, has Yeol told you about the studio?"

"Studio?"

Good, Yeol is taking the discrete with my personal information request seriously. Not that I expected he ignore it.

"I have a studio there that is currently locked and is to remain locked. Yeol and my friend Hoseok are the only ones who know the code to get in. There is no reason for you or any of the movers to go in or really even near that room. Hoseok will be stopping by sometime tomorrow to bring a few things for that room. Do you plan on leaving anytime tomorrow?"

"I was hoping to find a store nearby to buy a few groceries at some point in the day. Just some snacks really. I will probably be ordering in meals mostly. Anyway, so a few errands but I won't be out long."

"If you need to keep anything in the fridge that is okay. It should be hooked up and running. I would say you can use the other appliances as well but I don't have any idea when the cookware and dining sets will be arriving.

"If you end up being gone when he gets there that's no problem, I will be sure to remind him to have his key with him just in case."

I paused, inhaling air through my teeth as I try to think if I have missed anything.

Let's see, there is a guy that's supposed to be coming to set up the internet, but I am going to make sure to be there when he comes as the equipment will be going in the studio. Since I'll be there the kid won't have to worry about that.

Yeah, I think that's pretty much it.

"I think that's all for now. Did you have any questions?"

"Let's see..." He pauses.

As the pause is drawn out it doesn't seem to be a pause to think of questions but rather to organize the ones he's thought of already. Before he can ask his first question I remember something important we haven't discussed yet.

"Actually, there is one more thing I need to talk about. Has Yeol spoken with you about the pay?"

"Pay?" He says, slightly raising his voice. "Fuck, I knew there was a catch. Listen, he didn't say anything about that and I already know there's no way I can afford even a week of living here."

What?

"You will not be paying me, I'm paying you. This is a paying job."

The line then goes quiet. I don't even think he's breathing.

"Kid? Are you there?"

Still nothing. After waiting for another ten silent seconds I roll my eyes.

"Oh for fuck sakes," I exhale as I am about to pull the phone away from my ear until I hear a mumbled, "Y-yeah I'm here."

"I take it he forgot to mention that little bit of information. Allow me to explain. I was planning on giving you what I offered Baekhyun, the guy before you that had to back out. He and I had made an agreement to match his pay with what his current job was paying him hourly. If you don't mind me asking, what are you making at your current job?"

I wait, becoming a bit impatient with all of the long pauses.

"I-I," he stutters before clearing his throat. "I don't have a job yet. I haven't had a chance to go looking for one yet..."

Awe. I see.

"Is this your first year of school?" I ask.

"Yes."

Oh... he really is a kid.

Probably all bright eyed and hopeful, excited for his life to begin and to become independent.

I understand that. That's how I felt when I first left home. Naively bright eyed and hopeful.

But I digress. I purse my lips as I continue on with the discussion.

"I was expecting him, and now you, to be there for at least sixteen hours per day. I'm prepared to pay you-" I pause momentarily, mulling over a figure.

He's a college freshman with no current job. Plus he just lost his dorm... He'll need enough to live off of at least to help him save up for a decent, livable place. This city is expensive.

"One million one hundred and fifty two thousand won for the eight days I need someone there. I would pay half now and the second half when I am back, which will probably be Saturday evening some time. Do you accept?"

For several seconds the line is again silent.

"One million won... to stay in your apartment for a week?" He speaks up in disbelief.

"That is correct. Well, one million one hundred and fifty two thousand. Minimum wage is around eight thousand and five or six hundred won the last I heard. I'd say the pay is more than fair." I say matter-of-factly.

"No, that is substantially more than fair. I just had no idea this was a paying job... I was just happy to have a place to stay while I figured out what my new housing situation would be..." He answers slowly, obviously trying to comprehend what I've said.

I had to chuckle a little at his tone. He sounds like a kid who just found out he got the one gift he wanted most for Christmas. Much different from how he sounded at the beginning of the call.

Still chuckling I ask, "You'd rather do it for free?"

This time he's quick to answer back, "No, that sounds fair! I accept. Thank you so much. Seriously. I will do my best not to let you down."

"I mean, you're staying in an empty apartment waiting for movers to show up, then directing them to different rooms to then watch them set things down... it should be difficult to fuck up, but I appreciate the enthusiasm." I say with a small smile.

"Anyway, give your banking info or whatever to Yeol and we'll get the money transferred over to you." I pause for a moment, "I think that was the last thing I had to go over for now. Do you have any other questions?"

He hesitates a little before he asks, "I came to Seoul to go to school, as you know, but I am here with my two best friends. W-would they be allowed to come over... maybe?"

"Are these the two that Yeol met? And one of them is a cousin of his or something?"

"Yes, my friend Jimin is his cousin. The other is named Taehyung." He answers slowly. Surely expecting the answer to be no.

I was going to say no. The obvious answer is no, but I'm hesitant.

His tone, the innocent way he voiced his question, is effecting me in a way I haven't felt in a while. Making me feel... soft? Is that what it is?

All I know is before I get a chance to fully think it over a "Yes" comes out of my mouth.

He lets out a quiet gasp of surprise, I admit I'm surprised myself.

He then goes on to express an excited series of thank yous and promises that there won't be any trouble or distractions from the job.

My heart is thumping quickly in my chest so I clear my throat in an attempt to gain my composure back.

I let him know to ask Yeol for the key to the front door and that he may contact he or myself directly, if me then preferably via text, if there is any trouble or he has questions before I hang up.

I lock my phone and throw it on my bed beside me as I am still trying to decipher what just happened.

Why could I not say no?