Upon arriving home, Jungkook hadn't anticipated stumbling upon Seokjin sleeping on his couch with Bam by his side.

He gazed at Jin's slumbering form on the couch, his eyes then connecting with Bam's. Bam stretched lazily but made no effort to rise and welcome him. Instead, he inched closer to Jin.

"I am your owner," Jungkook declared, his tone carrying a sense of authority, "why aren't you greeting me?"

Bam stared at him but did not move and remained rooted in place next to Jin; his only response was a gentle wag of his tail.

With a subtle shift of his gaze, Jungkook redirected his attention from Bam to Jin. His eyes lingered on the slumbering figure, a perplexed expression on his face. How was it possible, he wondered, for Jin to be sleeping so soundly?

With a quick flick of his eyes, he stole a glance at his watch. His brows furrowed in confusion as he muttered, "It's merely seven o'clock, yet why is he already sleeping?"

"Seokjin, why are you sleeping on my couch?" Jungkook leaned in, studying Jin's face.

Jin's eyes fluttered open, and a momentary confusion washed over him as he found himself met with Jungkook's intense gaze. However, the reality of his surroundings quickly snapped him back to consciousness. He let out a groan, stretching his arms and legs and yawning.

"Sorry, I think I must've dozed off." He muttered. He hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night, and after hanging out with Jungkook earlier and spending the rest of the day at Taehyung's, he had intended to go home and get some rest. However, his plans took a detour when he received a call from Hoseok, who asked him to take care of Bam.

"This is the reason why one should sleep at night. As I am about to prepare dinner, I will graciously allow you to continue sleeping. However, I expect you to join me in the dining room once dinner is prepared." Jungkook stated, his gaze fixed upon Jin.

Jin sat up and sighed, "There's no need; I'm gonna head home."

"I didn't tell you to go home. It's already gotten dark outside as well. Therefore, I now find myself compelled to extend an invitation, a gesture of hospitality for you to spend the night. I can offer you a guest room to sleep in. There is also something I want to share with you." Jungkook said, not wanting Jin to leave before he had prepared dinner.

Intrigued by his curiosity, Jin inquired, "What is it you want to share with me?"

"Only once I have prepared dinner can I partake in sharing. The steak I purchased on my way here cannot remain unattended for much longer, and I must promptly proceed to prepare it. I've already wasted a ton of time waiting for you to wake up, unsure if you were tired or sick. Now that I realize it's not the latter, I'll get ready to make dinner. Return to sleep; I'll wake you once dinner's been fixed."

Jungkook didn't wait for Jin's response as he left the living room and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

He was taken aback when Bam trailed after him, causing him to gaze at his dog and inquire, "Are you here because I made mention of dinner?"

Bam wagged his tail and locked eyes with Jungkook before emitting an excited bark that brought a smile to Jungkook's face. "I suspect you're hungry for some dinner too. Since Seokjin hasn't fed you, I'll take care of it, but make sure he feeds you before your nap next time."

Bam let out another bark, directed solely at Jungkook while maintaining a steady gaze upon him.

****

Jin didn't expect to fall asleep again, so he was surprised when Jungkook gently tapped him on the shoulder to wake him up.

He suddenly wished instead of going to Taehyung's, he had gone home and slept when he found himself yearning for the comfort of his bed.

The massage he had received from Jungkook hadn't helped either. If anything, it made his muscles even more relaxed and caused him to feel sleepier. He had no intention of staying at Jungkook's house, but he planned to wait and hear whatever Jungkook wanted to share with him.

"Dinner's ready, Seokjin. Are you awake now?" Jungkook asked, his patience wearing thin. "The steak is getting cold, and it won't be as good if you have it later."

"I am awake. If you could give me a minute, I will meet you in the dining room. I have to make a quick trip to the restroom." As soon as Jin noticed the expression that Jungkook was giving him, he felt instant regret for what he had just spoken.

"Is everything okay?" Jungkook inquired with a concerned look on his face.

"Yes, Jungkook. If it's not an issue with you, I must empty my bladder."

"Seokjin, I don't have a problem with it at all. It makes perfect sense that you would have that urge. On the other hand, I was uncertain as to whether or not there was another reason for you needing to use the restroom-"

"I already told you before that I faked having diarrhea and for you not to bring it up again. What part of that did you not understand!" Jin yelled, his annoyance evident as his old lie to Jungkook persisted and didn't seem to go away no matter how many times they had seen each other.

"I am not going to stop worrying about you just because I know you are lying. Seokjin, if I may say so, I asked a really mundane question. You could want to assume a more levelheaded approach while responding to my questions.

On the other hand, if you tend to have a short fuse, it's important to get enough shut-eye at night to replenish your system and avoid acting out during the day. It will help you feel less anger towards people like myself, who have done nothing wrong."

Jin sprang to his feet, startling Jungkook with his rapid movement. Jin did not bother responding to his question as he hurried to the restroom. He knew that responding would extend the topic at hand since Jungkook had a remarkable inability to judge when it was time to end a conversation. He realized it was up to him to cut off their conversation when it went down an unfavorable path or drained his energy too much.

While in the bathroom, he embraced the peace and tried to shake off the exhaustion smothering him. The purposeful splashes of cold water he gave his face awakened his senses and lifted his mood.

****

Jungkook felt more impatient as he waited for Jin in the formal dining area. He took on the work of cutting Jin's juicy steak into thin, uniform slices to channel his fidgety energy in a productive direction. Knowing the significance of keeping the dish at just the right temperature, he carefully covered it with a food warmer.

"Dinner smells good." Jin complimented as he entered the dining room; the tantalizing aroma of the food wafted through the air, teased his senses, and ignited his hunger. He made his way to the opposite side of the table and positioned himself directly across from Jungkook.

Jungkook's lips curled into a smile, his heart warmed by the compliment given. "Thank you," he replied, his voice laced with pride. "I took great care in preparing it myself."

Jin couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, his lips curling upwards in amusement. But he held his tongue, opting to calmly study Jungkook's behavior instead.

Carefully and precisely, Jungkook lifted the covering on his plate, exposing the meal that had been hidden under it. As Jin's eyes landed on the perfectly sliced pieces of steak in front of him, he felt a distinct lack of surprise.

"I willingly took on the responsibility of delicately slicing your tender steak into bite-sized pieces for you." Jungkook expressed.

"You didn't have to, but thank you."

"I wanted to. Please eat." With his voice filled with a hint of urgency, Jungkook effortlessly gestured with his hand, a subtle yet commanding motion, signaling to Jin that it was time to eat.

"Where is Bam?"

"He is sleeping. He has more sense than you do and sleeps in when it's night."

Jin, with an irritated flicker in his eyes, calmly began eating, deliberately disregarding the presence of Jungkook.

"What did you do after our date today?" Jungkook asked, not wanting to dine in silence, as he was curious about Jin's daily activities during their time apart.

Jin savored what was left in his mouth before responding to Jungkook. "I went to Taehyung's and helped him with a few things."

"Did you feel it was crucial for you to visit him, considering he relocated just last night? Didn't he relocate in order to distance himself from being in the same vicinity as you?"

Jin shot a piercing glare at Jungkook; his eyes showed his obvious annoyance. "What kind of nonsense are you spewing?" he retorted. "If you don't know anything, don't pretend like you do. Furthermore, rather than making assumptions, why don't you enlighten me on what you wish to share?"

Jungkook reclined in his chair, wiping his mouth clean. His attention turned to Jin as he spoke, "I've made up my mind about our next date. I'm whisking you away to the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska."

Jin's drink sprayed out of his mouth, a sudden reaction to being caught off guard by Jungkook's unexpected words.

"I believe you might be taken aback, but there's really no cause for concern. You're someone who piques my interest, so you'll have the opportunity to accompany me on some truly fun dates. Before encountering me, you may have had minimal experience with travel, but worry not, for in my presence, you will have the opportunity to travel the globe." Jungkook expressed as he stared in Jin's direction.

"Jungkook, are you joking?"

"Seokjin, when do I make jokes? This is no laughing matter. I'm bringing you along to Alaska. We'll be staying there for two weeks. I'll give you a card so you can start shopping for the trip, as it's going to be pretty chilly over there, and I don't want you catching a cold. Furthermore, rest assured that I will take care of all expenses, and we will have separate rooms, ensuring that you won't feel obligated to share a bed with me."

Jin couldn't believe what he was hearing as he listened and looked at Jungkook, "Don't you believe it's something you should've talked over with me before planning a trip to Alaska?"

"Yes, I agree with you on that, but Jimin did not speak to me about it beforehand, so I couldn't talk to you about it beforehand. It would be best if you didn't get upset with Jimin. He's going through some personal, unforeseen issues, and as a result, he's unable to think like a competent assistant."

"I am not sure how Jimin is involved in this, but I don't think I can go to Alaska, especially for two weeks. I have a job-"

"Doesn't your job provide you with a holiday? I would not expect you to take care of Bam during this time. I'd like for you to come along with me on this trip. I won't be heading to Alaska either if you're not planning on going."

"Then why did you plan a trip to Alaska without asking me?"

"I didn't plan it, Seokjin. I was informed about it earlier, and canceling it has proven to be quite complex for me. Hence, I am contemplating it as an opportunity for you and me rather than me terminating Jimin for wasteful utilization of a hundred thousand dollars." Jungkook said as he tried to explain.

Jin's eyes widened in shock.

"He didn't do it on purpose; as I mentioned, he's dealing with some personal issues that have caused some disruptions in his thinking."

Jin's face contorted into a frown as he focused on Jungkook. "Are you referring to the fact that he's pregnant?"

Jungkook nodded, "Yes, I am. Hence, you must refrain from becoming upset with him. He's doing his utmost to juggle his professional responsibilities while contemplating the prospect of parenthood and cohabitating with a stranger."

"Taehyung is not a stranger to Jimin!"

"I can't seem to remember them having known each other for very long. However, I believe this is their reward for paying you to attend on a date with me back then."

"It's their life; let them do what makes them happy."

"I wasn't attempting to meddle in their life. However, they did interfere with mine. Anyway, I won't be discussing them any further at this time. Can you confirm whether or not you'll be joining me in Alaska? I'll ensure that our trip is one to remember."

Jin chuckled as he mumbled, "Every moment with you is one to remember with a desire to forget."

"Was that a yes, Seokjin?"

"I will think about it, Jungkook."

"Contemplating it won't change the current answer residing in your thoughts, so kindly provide me with the answer now."