Jin had barely had a chance to sit and talk to Jungkook, because both of them were constantly pulled aside by this person or that person since they arrived and he told his friends about their relationship.

Even his friends had taken such fast fondness to Jungkook and had been gisting and laughing with him nonstop. It was more shocking with Jimin because he’d specifically begged Jin to not be friends with Jungkook so they didn’t have to merge their friend group together, but he was the one who seemed more eager to talk with Jungkook.

For about twenty minutes, Namjoon had been talking with Jungkook by the bar, while at the same time serving drinks to the guests. He spoke more, Jin noticed, laughing and gesturing while mixing drinks. On the other hand, Jungkook was sat on a bar stool opposite Namjoon, his arms folded on the counter with his third drink of the night in front of him, as he smiled, nodded and said a few words where Jin guessed was necessary.

Jin had been with Taehyung and they’d been discussing a celebrity food show Taehyung had gotten invited to, but his gaze constantly fleeted over to find Jungkook. He had his attention on his talk with his friend but a greater part was on Jungkook who was almost twenty feet away from him. Jin couldn’t help but be enraptured by how he stood out despite the simple short-sleeved blue shirt he wore, tucked into black fitted jeans and a pair of white B27 Dior low tops sneakers.

The truth was, no matter how many times he saw Jungkook, Jin would always be mesmerized by how beautiful he was, and the beauty wasn’t just his outward looks. Jungkook was good. He had a sweet, beautiful heart that just compelled people to be drawn to him. It was why his friends who had been certain Jungkook was nothing but an arrogant brat had refused to let go of Jungkook until Namjoon had come to drag him away.

Now, Jin couldn’t look away from him. He couldn’t help but feel a little jealous at every one who’d had Jungkook’s attention all evening except him. He knew it was silly, but he missed Jungkook.

“Give me a second,” he said, cutting taehyung off before rising to his feet. He left his glass of drink on the table, grabbed his phone and headed towards the bar where Namjoon was talking gingerly to Jungkook, his voice now reduced to a hush.

Namjoon’s eyes shifted to meet Jin before he broke into a smile. “I told you he would come running soon,” he spoke with his gaze still on Jin.

Jungkook turned to him just as Jin arrived at his side. He smiled at Jin but turned to address Namjoon. “You did.”

Sighing, Namjoon leaned away from the counter. “Okay, lover boy. You can have your boyfriend back.”

“Thank you,” Jin said, taking Jungkook’s hand and lacing his fingers through his. “Come with me,” he said, helping Jungkook to his feet and leading him through the backdoor, down a corridor lit with red bulb and into Namjoon’s office. “Everyone wants a piece of you.”

Jungkook chuckled, letting go of Jin’s hand and walking further into the small room. It was tiny but neat. Namjoon was a clean freak, him and Hoseok were alike in that aspect. He loved his environment neat and minimalist which was why his office only had a desk with a few folders neatly stacked on it and an office chair pushed under the desk.

On one side of the office was a mini fridge and next to it was a shelf which was always locked. Jin made his way to the couch, pushed up on one end of the wall with a fake painting of Starry Night by Van Gogh hanging over it, and sat on it.

“I know. It feels like they’re meeting me for the first time,” Jungkook said, picking a black pool ball and weighing it in his hand. “Especially your friends.”

“Well, they are seeing you in a different light than before. You’re no longer Jungkook, the kid I drive to and from school, the one who annoys the shit out of me,” he said, earning a soft laugh from Jungkook. Jin smiled. “Instead, you’re Jungkook, my boyfriend who I am so crazy about and they can see that.”

Jungkook let out a sigh and dropped the ball back from where he’d picked it, looking down shyly to hide his blush. “Yeah.”

Stretching out his hand towards Jungkook, Jin beckoned him over. “Come on,” he said, still holding out his hand until Jungkook made his way over and took it, letting Jin pull him onto his lap and against his body. “Are you having fun here?”

“Yeah. I like it here,” Jungkook said. “I’ve never been in a club before, so it’s a little exciting to be here.”

“And what about my friends?” He asked. “Do you like them?”

“I do. I might have judged Jimin and Taehyung wrongly in the past. They’re really cool.”

“What about Hoseok? I mean, you met him the other night but you didn’t interact on a social level with him until today. What do you think of him?”

“I think…” Jungkook started, nudging his shoulder against Jin’s chest. “He’s just like you.”

Jin cringed. “Who? Hoseok is just like me?” He shook his head. “Please, don’t say that, baby. We are nothing alike.”

“Yes, you are very much alike,” Jungkook insisted.

“We aren’t.”

“Okay.” Jungkook leaned away from resting against Jin. He turned to the side so he was facing Jin. “Before we started dating, you were always frowning, Jin. You never smiled unless you’re with your friends. It seemed like just seeing people breathe pissed you off.”

“It doesn’t mean I'm anything like Hoseok."

“Jin, you scolded me all the time. You were always stern and assertive and you didn’t want to be convinced otherwise. You were certain that I would get in trouble if you weren’t with me or if I didn’t consult you first,” Jungkook explained, a playful smile on his face.

“I mean… I was, you know, just looking out for you,” Jin stuttered, still not wanting to accept that he was just like Hoseok even with the facts clearly spelled out by Jungkook. “I don’t impose which Hoseok does, and he’s very annoying.”

“He’s annoying because he reminds you of yourself. Unlike Namjoon who is the exact opposite of you and Hoseok, which is why you like him so much and Hoseok is currently dating him. Ever heard the saying, opposites attract?” Jungkook asked. “Namjoon is sweet, kind, friendly and considerate. I get why he’s your best friend. He’s obviously someone you could always count on.”

This time, Jin smiled softly. He swallowed, eyes fixated on Jungkook’s face. Hearing Jungkook speak so fondly about his friends made his heart swell with love and happiness. It meant the world to him that Jungkook liked them as much as they liked him, because merging these two parts of his life was an important thing and it had been a huge success.

Although, Jin would be honest to himself, he was a skeptical about Hoseok. Hoseok had acted weirdly all evening and had been giving him and Jungkook strange looks. Of everyone, he had a feeling Hoseok was not in support of their relationship.

“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” Jungkook said, taking a serious tone. He got to his feet and took a few steps away from Jin to stand in the center of the room, then turned to face him.

“Is everything okay?” Jin asked, looking up at him.

“So, when Taehyung and I were talking, he told me there was a situation with this club and the owner wants to sell it,” he said to which Jin nodded.

“Yeah. Namjoon’s direct boss stole from the club’s account and took off, it scared the owner that others might follow suit so he’s planning to sell the place, or rent it, I’m not sure,” Jin said. “But yeah, the club is probably going to close soon.”

It was sad. Namjoon loved the place a lot and Jin’s heart went out to him but if he didn’t raise enough money to buy it off his boss’ hand, he would lose it.

“I also heard the owner gave him a few months to come up with some money to buy it, if he wants to keep it open,” Jungkook continued.

Jin took a minute to process Jungkook’s words and where he was headed with this inquiry. When he got it, he shook his head instantly, standing to his feet to face Jungkook. “No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“I mean, don’t do what you’re thinking of doing,” Jin said. “Keep your money.”

“Why should I keep it when he needs it?”

“I don’t know why you feel the need to do this but you can’t save everybody, Jungkook. Sometimes, you just have to sit back and let people handle their stuff by themselves,” Jin said.

“Shouldn’t you be happy that I’m trying to help your friend? He’s about to lose his business which he is so passionate about, and you think the best thing to do is fold my arms and watch it slip from his hands while I can very easily save it?”

“What I’m saying is, you don’t have to get involved in it. You aren’t affiliated with him in anyway whatsoever, so it just seems like you’re trying to throw some money away.”

“For your information, this club is important to Namjoon and Namjoon is important to you and you’re important to me, which automatically makes me involved in this. And if you think I’m doing this just because I have more money than I know what to do with, you’re right, I do.”

Jin felt a pang of guilt hit him. He said nothing and just listened to Jungkook because he’d already said more than he should have, in the first place.

“But I have never thrown it away. I’m not giving away money to Namjoon. One, he’s not going to take it from me because for the few hours I’ve known him I can tell he’s a man with pride and he would never collect handouts. Two, my intention tonight is to invest in Namjoon’s business. I intend to get my money back with interests. Three, I’m not doing this because I want to be reckless with my money, but because I love you and I don’t want to see the people that you love suffer.”

Jin winced at his words. “Jungkook," he called, his voice calm.

“Is this really how you see me?" Jungkook asked, shaking his head. “You see me as some kind of spoiled brat who has too much time on his hands to try and save everybody and too much money to throw around, right? Do you have any idea how insulting that is?”

“You know that’s not true,” he pleaded inching forward to bridge the gap between him and Jungkook. But with each step he took forward, Jungkook took one backwards. “I’m sorry my words came out that way. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“So, why did you say it?”

Jin swallowed thickly. “I don’t know. I didn’t intend to be condescending or insulting. I just didn’t want you to do anything just because of me.”

“Well, I'm sorry to say, but it is because of you that I’m doing it, Jin,” Jungkook said. He turned around and headed to the door.

“Jungkook, please.”

Jungkook stopped. He had his back turned to Jin, but Jin could see the heavy rise and fall of his shoulders. He was angry, and hurt.

“I should have said thank you, and not dissect your reason for wanting to help Namjoon,” Jin said. God. A fight with Jungkook was the last thing he wanted. They had been having such a good time. “I’m sorry. You can help him, if that’s what you want.”

“I wasn’t asking for your permission earlier when I told you. I’m doing it either way. I’m investing through someone else so he wouldn’t know it’s me and turn it down. So, do me one favor and keep your mouth shut about it.”

If Jungkook’s eyes could shoot fire, Jin would be burning and squirming on the ground at that point, but even though they couldn’t, he still felt his world go up in flames as Jungkook turned around and left the room.

🌺 🌺 🌺

Hey, babes. So, this book is likely going to be longer than I expected and will most likely not be completed by the end of June. I hope you all like long books 🫢