"I'm very grateful that you agreed to meet with me." As Jin sat down next to him, Hoseok smiled happily.

Jin gave him a small smile. He was still apprehensive about meeting Hoseok, but he had decided to do it anyway. "Sure."

"So, I think I told you over the phone, but I wanted to introduce myself again in person. I am Jung Hoseok. My husband Min Yoongi is Jeon Jungkook's half-brother, which is kind of why I asked for this meeting with you." He said this to Jin with a smile.

"Yes, you did say that to me on the phone, but I'm still unsure why you want to meet with me. Are you here to convince me to go on another day with Jungkook?"

Hoseok was surprised by how honest Jin was, but he liked it and could now see why Jungkook was anxious. "I wouldn't say that I'm here to try to persuade you. In the end, it's up to you to decide. I get you not liking Jungkook; I one hundred percent do. I can understand that. Because I married his brother, I have learned to deal with him. He can be a real asshole."

"But you're here to try to get me to go out with him on a date?" Jin rolled his eyes and took a sip of coffee from the cup he had brought with him.

"Calling me on my bullshit, I appreciate that. The thing is, as much as there are parts of me that cannot tolerate him, I have found out that he is unique-"

"You don't say."

Hoseok chuckled, "I like you."

"Thanks. Listen, Jungkook is a very good-looking guy. Easily one of the most attractive men I've ever met, and I think I've met a lot of people. But that doesn't change the fact that he has big problems. I don't like how he talks to me, how he controls conversations, and how he doesn't see anything wrong with what he does. 

If I gave someone like him a chance, or as he calls it, an opportunity, I would be signing up for something bad. I'm too young to do that. I just want to have fun with my life. I won't spend any more time with that man because he doesn't deserve it."

Hoseok took a moment to answer because he hadn't expected the conversation to get so intense so quickly, but he could understand what Seokjin was saying.

"Understood. I can't blame you for thinking that. Even more so after what you must have gone through with Jungkook. It's hard to deal with and get used to him as a person. I work with him, so I've had my own experiences with him, and trust me, they haven't been easy. I have to say that he does a good job of running the business. But none of that is important right now. I get that you don't want to go out with him again, and that's fine.

But what about Bam? Would you think about walking him again? To be honest, you're the reason Jungkook got Bam. He thought that getting the dog would make you like him more and draw your attention to him, but when he opened his mouth, he shot himself in the foot."

Jin couldn't help but laugh, "he really shouldn't open his mouth."

"Trust me, I understand. For example, recently, when I told him I was pregnant and would take time off after the baby was born, he said I wasn't thinking about the company and was selfish."

"Wow, what is wrong with him? By the way, congratulations. I didn't know you were expecting."

Hoseok smiled, "a lot is wrong with him, and thank you. I know my baby bump keeps hiding."

"Has he always been like that? I mean, I feel like he has no filter and doesn't know when not to talk." Jin inquired as he became curious.

As he thought about Jin's question, Hoseok turned away. "Um, I guess he's been like that since I met him. I don't know as much about him or his personality as his brother and mother do."

"Oh, okay. What about his father? He is not around?"

"No, his father is not around."

"Okay." Jin didn't know what else to say.

"He likes you, Seokjin," Hoseok said quickly because he didn't know how else to put it.

Jin smiled and told Hoseok, "Every day, I meet many people who like me. I don't mean this in a bad way, but it doesn't matter to me if Jungkook likes me or not. He turned me off with how he talked to me."

"Well, I figured. I know you get a lot of attention, I'm sure of it. I even told my husband."

Jin burst out laughing, "wow. That's funny. I am sure you do as well; you are hot."

"Damn it! You can't say that to me. I am married and expecting a baby. I think that those things ruin my chances with you. Even though I'm sure, my husband would give me one exception."

Jin couldn't help but laugh out loud as he held his stomach and said, "Oh my gosh, no. I like how funny you are."

"Does my funny side make you want to walk Bam again? You don't have to pay attention to Jungkook, but I heard Bam liked you a lot."

"Oh, Bammie was a sweet baby."

"You have a nickname for him?"

"It was hard not to give him one. I love dogs. I wish I could have one, but I have to wait."

"You could sort of have Bam. Jungkook travels so much that he can't take care of Bam as well as he should. I think he adopted that dog on the spur of the moment. So what do you say?"

"I don't mind walking, Bam," Jin sighed. "On the other hand, the owner is the trouble."

"Trust me; he won't be a problem while you walk, Bam. All of this is about Bam. The only good thing this does for Jungkook is that you take care of his dog while he is busy. Your time with Jungkook will be limited as well. He might not look like it, but he is very busy. He is out of the country more than he is in it."

"Interesting. I suppose I can give it a try. Bam shouldn't endure hard times because his owner is bad."

"Exactly! It's just like kids shouldn't have to suffer because they had a bad parent."

"That's true. I agree."

******

"This is interesting," Taehyung said as he stared at Jin.

"Shut up. I'm just taking the dog for a walk. Nothing more."

"I guess flowers are the way to your heart."

Jin rolled his eyes and said, "you are full of it! Anyway, how are things between you and Jimin?"

"Everything has been great. He's been busy lately, but he goes out of his way to see me when he can. We're planning a trip for the weekend, and I hope we can make it happen. I like him a lot, and I don't want it to end like every other relationship I've had."

Jin smiled when he heard Taehyung. "I think you'll be fine. Jimin seems like a good guy. Make sure you treat him well and don't do anything dumb. But don't jump in too quickly. Keep seeing him and see how things go, especially if you want to avoid making the same mistakes you did before."

"I will keep that in mind. So, you and Jungkook-"

"Shut up! Jungkook and I don't exist, and we never will."

****

Per the deal he had struck with Hoseok, Jin showed up at Jungkook's house the next day. He had high hopes that everything would work out perfectly with no hitches. His only intention was to take Bam on his walk and then to dog daycare; he had no other plans. He had no interest in interacting with Jungkook and refused to listen to whatever the latter had to say.

After he had rung the doorbell, he waited patiently outside till someone answered. After waiting almost two minutes, Jungkook finally arrived at the door, and as soon as he opened it, Bam made his way over to Seokjin.

Jin gave Bam a grin and proceeded to pat him before he asked, "aww, have you missed me?"

Bam leaped up and down with excitement as he barked at Jin, which only served to make Jin grin more. "You are such an adorable doggy. So cute!"

At the doorway, Jungkook was holding Bam's leash in his hand. "I believe you'll find this to be useful."

After Jin had succeeded in calming Bam down, he turned to Jungkook and said, "oh right, yes, thank you."

"Welcome, Seokjin. Have a wonderful day, Bam; daddy will miss you." Jungkook said and waved to his dog; then he shut his door.

Jin was taken aback but also amazed. It had been quite different from what he had imagined, but he was thankful for it anyway. The less unpleasant interaction with Jungkook he had to endure, the better it was for him.

*****

Later in the day, when Jin picked Bam up from daycare, he stopped at one of his favorite cafes since it was on the way to Bam's home and grabbed himself a cup of coffee. He didn't often drink coffee so late in the day but needed it. He hadn't bargained on the fact that the day would be so taxing on him physically and mentally. Ultimately, he walked two more dogs that had not been on his schedule for the day but had agreed to the last-minute request since the customers were returning clients.

As he walked Bam home, he sipped his coffee and chatted with Bam about all his upcoming assignments.

The moment he arrived at Bam's house, he saw a guy racing to his car and swerving off crazily. He paused to look at them, but they drove too fast for him to make out much.

He concluded that he should mind his business and went up to Jungkook's door. After ringing the bell and waiting a while, he got on his knees and gave Bam a lot of belly rubs, which Bam found quite enjoyable.

When the door opened, he was on the ground, and his eyes gazed up and widened when he saw Jungkook without a shirt.

"I was unaware that it was you." After his statement, Jungkook quickly shut the door behind him. He shouted on the other side of the door, "I will go retrieve a shirt."

Jin rose up and looked confusedly at the door as Bam barked continuously at the door to get Jungkook's attention.

"I guess he knows the gym well."

After a little while, Jungkook returned and opened the door wearing all his clothes. "Bam, how was your day? Thank you, Seokjin. I got it from here." He grabbed the leash that Jin held and guided Bam inside the house.

"Bye, Ba-" the door was shut before Jin could finish what he had to say. "So damn rude!"

*****

Taehyung observed as his best friend continued tapping his finger on this laptop rather than working on the projects he claimed to have.

"Jin, you okay?"

Jin cast a peek in Taehyung's direction as the tapping came to a halt and said, "yeah, why?"

"Nothing, you just look deep in thought. How was it today?"

"It was fine."

"No funny story with your crazy lover?"

Jin rolled his eyes, "he is not my lover, and it seems he has moved on."

Taehyung became interested when he heard this, "really?"

"Yeah, I showed up with Bam, and he had some guy leaving his place, and when I rang the doorbell, he opened the door not wearing a shirt. I guess he is out giving lots of opportunities."

"Jealous?"

"No! Why would I be? I am not interested in him. Never will be."

"That's good then; at least he got the hint and moved on. Now you can walk Bam peacefully. Lessen the drama for you."

"Agreed! Less drama, the better. But I find it funny how he sent me flowers less than a week ago but now acted like I was invisible when I showed up. He barely said anything to me. He definitely has some personality issues."

"Or he got over you. He tried, you rejected him, and he moved on. It happens. Remember what happened with the guy I was playing hard to get with?"

"Taehyung, I was never playing hard to get with Jungkook. There are no similarities there. He is crazy; I do not want him."

"Then good. You should be happy he moved on and gave an opportunity to someone else."

"And I am. Good for him, good for them."