Just as Jin had known, Hoseok's spare key was on top of the wooden sill of the notice board for the apartment complex. It had been there for years. Used and returned, and those who weren't meant to find it never did.

Jin grabbed it and unlocked Hoseok's front door, stepping through it and flicking the switch, flooding the entire place with light.

Hoseok's space was small, cosy, and squeaky clean. Everything was where it was meant to be, never out of place. Jin remembered Ryujin used to tease Hoseok for it. He'd said Hoseok was like a housewife.

Jin dumped his bag on the floor by the door, taking off his shoes and slipping into one of the 4 pairs of house slippers. He headed straight for the kitchen, swinging the fridge open and skimming through it.

Bread, leftover pizza, takeout boxes of fried rice and fried chicken all neatly arranged in it. He reached for the box of fried rice and fried chicken, put them in the plate, and microwaved them.

While he waited for them to warm up, he turned on the TV and surfed through the channel until he found an American TV series showing. He retrieved his food with a pack of juice before returning to sit in front of the TV.

Jin felt less burdened. Somehow, the few minutes in Hoseok's house had relieved him off some certain stress he'd carried around all week. It was the reason he'd come in the first place. To get away from the silly feelings swirming in his stomach.

He was alone for an hour before he heard a knock on Hoseok's door. He could already tell whom it was as he made his way to open it, but on getting there, he could hear voices and keys jiggling from outside.

He stopped his movements. Oh, oh. Jin stood to the side and waited until the door pushed open, and Hoseok stepped in. On seeing Jin, his expression that had been confused turned angry.

"Hyung," Jin said, flashing him a smile to deflate the situation that he'd created, but Hoseok took off his shoes, grabbed Jin's bag that was still sitting by the door and walked past, ignoring Jin.

Behind Hoseok, Namjoon stood awkwardly by the door, unsure of whether to proceed or not. "You didn't tell him I was coming over?" He asked.

"I mean, it skipped my mind," he lied.

"I should just go," Namjoon said, turning to face the door, but Jin rushed over, taking him by the hand and pulling him into the house, while Namjoon stumbled over his legs as he kicked his shoes off.

"You both can tolerate each other for one night without killing yourselves," Jin said, shoving Namjoon onto the plush couch. Namjoon sank into the softness, looking like a blob.

"Maybe I would tolerate him if he wasn't such a bad influence on you," Hoseok muttered loud enough for Jin and Namjoon to hear.

"I'm a bad influence on him?" Namjoon asked out loud, turning towards the direction of the kitchen where Hoseok was leaning against the counter, obviously frustrated.

"Are you not? You sell alcohol to him and entertain him in your club."

"Never when the club is open," Namjoon explained more calmly than Jin expected. But he hated that Hoseok was doing this. Making Namjoon seem like a bad person when he really wasn't.

"Hyung—"

"Regardless, there are prostitutes and drug dealers in his face at all times. Do you realize he got arrested while at your club because an idiot harassed him in the restroom, and when he defended himself, she called the cops on him?" Hoseok asked, his anger more obvious now.

"Which has never happened before."

"Things like that are likely going to happen at a club!" His voice raised. "He's a fucking kid. He shouldn't be at clubs. Shit like that would never happen at the library or the cafe or the church or wherever the fuck else that isn't crawling with imbeciles like that."

"Jin is not a kid! He's smart and matured and he knows what's wrong and what's right. He has the common sense to filter away the bad stuff and only learn the lessons! You don't see it because you're bent on seeing him as a child. He's more mature than half the adults that I know!"

Hoseok let out an amused scoff. "You work at a fucking club, what decent adults are you going to know? You're surrounded by losers. There's no real comparison!"

Jin had heard enough. This was not the plan when he thought of this. "Hoseok hyung—"

"Keep shut," Hoseok said sternly, glaring at him. "What happened to Jimin and Taehyung? I thought they were your friends."

"And?" Jin asked, frowning. "What exactly does that have to do with your rudeness right now? Why won't you just act like the fucking decent adult that you claim you are and not embarrass my guest?"

"Do you realize your guest is too old to be your friend?"

"Do you realize you're an arrogant asshole?" Namjoon asked, anger filling his eyes before he stood to his feet and made his way to the door.

Jin stood silently as Namjoon left the house, slamming the door behind him. He chewed his lower lip, clenching his fists. His heart raced and adrenaline bubbled through him.

"What are you doing, Jin?" Hoseok asked. "Why did you invite him to my house knowing how I feel about him?"

"I invited him because I really needed a break. This week has been a lot. It has been overwhelming for me, and I just wanted to spend the night with the both of you, who happen to hate each other. I really hoped you could set your differences aside but your ego is way too big for that, isn't it?"

Hoseok let out a heavy sigh. "What would you have me do instead? He's bad for you."

"Bad for me? What the hell are you saying?" Jin asked, confused and irritated. "Do you even know me at all? Do I appear to you like someone who is easily influenced?"

"This is not about you."

"Of course, it is!"

"Bring your voice down."

"Why should I? When you were yelling no one asked you to bring your voice down," Jin retorted. "You baffle me, hyung. Sometimes, I look at you and I'm so thankful that I have you in my life, but other times I don't even know how to feel about you."

"Don't say anything stupid."

"I won't. I'm not you, I actually care about the feelings of people I claim I love," Jin said to him, turning away and making his way to the guest room, but he stopped halfway, facing Hoseok. "And just so you know, with you being so judgmental and condescending, you're more of a bad influence on me than Namjoon ever could be. So, I guess I need to be wary of you now."