"I wanted to strangle that man today! Before today, I greatly respected him, especially with his status, but he is an asshole! He makes you and your brother look like saints." Hoseok expressed his disbelief over his encounter with Jin's fiance, still in shock.

Hoseok's husband sat beside him in their dining room, patiently listening to his frustrations. They were both awaiting dinner, which would soon be served by their home chef. He reached out and gently stroked Hoseok's hand, apologizing, "I am sorry you had an encounter like that today. Did he apologize to you after I ended the phone call?"

"The situation is not something you should blame yourself for. He apologized, but only because it was obvious that he had to. I believe that if I were not your spouse, I would've been fired. Such an asshole! If I were him, I'd be careful because Jungkook has got a thing for his fiance and-"

"Please tell me that's not true." Kim Taehyung, who is married to Hoseok and is also the older half-brother of Jungkook, expressed his frustration with a groan.

Hoseok sighed, "I mentioned earlier that the guy is incredibly attractive. He is a person who fits the profile of someone Chungjae would likely be engaged to. Chungjae's behavior towards him is quite controlling, though. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him upon witnessing the way Chungjae spoke to him. Jungkook, unable to resist, intervened, which ultimately led to the situation escalating as it did."

Taehyung paused momentarily, inhaling deeply before speaking up, "In my opinion, I believe it would be advisable for you to end his employment."

"What?" Hoseok looked at his husband with a questioning expression on his face.

"You are suggesting that he is a distraction for Jungkook and is also engaged to Chungjae. If Jungkook is interested in him, then we both understand how that situation will likely unfold. I want to avoid any conflicts with Chungjae or his family."

"Let me make sure I understand correctly: you're suggesting that I dismiss a highly talented and passionate individual who possesses the skills our company requires simply because your brother lacks self-control and Chungjae tends to be controlling. Is that right? Plus, for my husband's sake, who wants to shy away from conflicts?" Hoseok yelled as he stood up.

"Hoseok, sit down-"

"Don't tell me what to do, and don't tell me who to fire or who to hire! If you are dissatisfied with my hiring decision or wish to terminate someone's employment, please feel free to dismiss me and appoint someone who can do the job according to your preferences. Otherwise, stay shut and don't tell me what to do! I will go check on my daughter; enjoy dinner without me."

Taehyung, leaning in his chair, rhythmically tapped his fingers on the table to alleviate his dissatisfaction with his husband's response.

"Hoseok, she is also my daughter. Please come back here so that we can discuss this as adults. You are becoming upset and defensive without any valid reason. You don't have a personal connection with the guy."

Despite speaking and calling out to Hoseok multiple times, he did not receive any response.

"Mr. Kim, would you-"

"Please return the food to the kitchen. I am no longer in the mood for dinner."

*****

"Why don't you ever answer your phone?"

"I only answer my phone for people I want to talk to. Why are you calling me as if you have nothing else to do with your life? Don't you have a child and a husband?" Jungkook inquired, stepping off the treadmill and using his towel to wipe his face.

A smile formed on his face as he listened to the sound of his brother's sigh on the other end of the line.

"Jungkook, I am calling you about a serious matter. What's this I am hearing about you liking Chungjae's fiance?"

"Oh, that." Jungkook chuckled and replied, "Who said I liked him?"

"He is engaged to Chungjae; please don't do anything stupid."

"First off, that's an asshole. Second, I don't even get why that guy is engaged to him, and third, and perhaps most importantly, I am curious as to why you are involving yourself in my personal affairs?"

"I don't care what you think about Chungjae; I want you to stay away from his fiance. You have many potential dating options available to you. I would recommend exploring those options and avoiding any involvement with that guy. Jungkook, I want you to know that I am being serious. Chungjae is not one to easily back down."

"I am interested in Seokjin and plan to explore that interest further. I am not concerned about your expectations or Chungjae's actions or lack thereof. I am Jungkook, and I will pursue my desires and aspirations. If this is the only reason you contacted me, I won't be able to spare any more of my time. It's already inconvenient enough that I will be seeing you tomorrow. Goodbye."

Jungkook was about to end the phone call when he suddenly remembered something important. "Oh, wait a moment, I almost forgot. Please give my niece a kiss on my behalf. I'm sure she must be missing me."

******

Jin stepped onto the scale in his bathroom and felt a sense of relief wash over him. He was pleased to see that he had not gained any weight but had lost a pound. He understood the importance of maintaining his weight and made a daily effort by eating healthy meals, staying hydrated, and consistently exercising.

As Chungjae's fiancé, he had to take on numerous responsibilities, and he made every effort to fulfill them diligently. He aimed to prevent any potential negative consequences that could arise from not meeting these expectations. He also did his best to avoid any problems for his parents or unnecessary difficulties in his relationship with Chungjae.

That's why he had started to seriously reconsider his decision to work, even though it was an opportunity he had wanted to pursue before being with Chungjae. He didn't want it to become a source of conflict between them. However, he also had reservations about sacrificing another part of himself for the sake of their relationship, as he felt he had already made many sacrifices.

After stepping off the scale and gazing at his reflection in the mirror, he felt a well of emotions, and tears welled up in his eyes. However, he swiftly brushed them away. His life had undergone huge shifts right before his eyes in ways he had never imagined. Most of the time, he felt unsure about how to handle it. Every day, he experienced a sense of going through the motions, as if he were merely existing in a world and a life that had been carefully designed for him.

While lost in contemplation, he was interrupted by his phone ringing. He instinctively reached for his earphones resting on the bathroom counter and inserted them into his ears. With a quick tap on the right earphone, he answered the call.

"Hello."

"What are you wearing?"

Jin's eyes widened in shock when he heard the question, "Who is this?" He quickly made his way to the other side of the bathroom, where his phone was resting on the charger.

"You don't have my number saved? Now, that's disappointing."

When Jin found his phone and saw that it was Jungkook, he took a deep breath, giving himself a moment before responding, "Hello, Jungkook. I am sorry, I didn't have my phone with me. How can I help you?"

"Oh, I see that you have my number saved. That's great! It means we have one less topic to discuss when I see you. What are you doing right now, Seokjin?"

Jin felt puzzled when Jungkook called him, but he made an effort to respond patiently, saying, "I'm currently getting ready to prepare dinner." Jin decided not to disclose the fact that he was naked and about to take a shower.

"Hmm, I guess I called right on time."

"What do you mean?"

"I am hungry."

"Sorry to hear that. Hope you can eat something soon."

Jungkook chuckled and said, "That's very funny and cute, but what I had in mind was for you to come here and join me for dinner."

"I am sorry, but I can't do that."

"Why not, Seokjin? As my assistant, shouldn't we have dinner so you can get to know me and I can get to know you better? In a week we will be doing a lot of traveling together, would you like that to be awkward for us? I suggest we take advantage of this opportunity to get to know each other better. Do you agree with me?"

After a brief pause, Jin responded, "I believe it would be beneficial for us to familiarize ourselves with each other to establish a strong working relationship. This way, I can provide the necessary support you require. However, I regret to inform you that I cannot join you for dinner tonight. I had a long day today and have a lot on my mind, so I prefer to stay home."

Jin was met with silence on the other end of the line, causing him to gaze at his phone in uncertainty. He wondered if Jungkook had hung up, but that was not the situation. After a little more time had elapsed, Jungkook finally spoke.

"I typically don't lend an ear to others and their issues, but I am open to hearing about what's on your mind."

"Thanks, but it's complicated."

"I like complicated things."

Jin noticed he was smiling but immediately stopped and cleared his throat, saying, "I should go now. Goodnight, Jungkook. I will see you tomorrow."

"Where are you going, and why are you abruptly ending our phone conversation? Seokjin, that is not very nice of you." Jungkook playfully teased, his smile evident as he spoke on the other end of the line.

Jin walked over to where his robe was hanging and effortlessly slipped it on, wrapping it around his body before securing it with a knot. He grabbed his phone and left the bathroom.

"I am not good at talking on the phone, and I don't want to talk about what's going on in my mind right now." He explained to Jungkook as he stepped into the dining room. He then proceeded to retrieve a bottle of wine from the wine rack and began the process of uncorking it.

"What are you doing right now? I hear a lot of movements."

"I am pouring myself a glass of wine."

"Ohh, aren't you fancy."

Jin chuckled, "I am not."

"I am sure that's not true. So, tell me, is wine something you like?"

"I don't drink it frequently, just occasionally. However, there are some days when I crave a glass, so I indulge myself whenever the opportunity arises. And what about you?" Jin inquired, taking a sip of his wine.

"Although I generally prefer hard liquor over wine, I don't mind occasionally enjoying a glass of wine. However, my brother has a strong passion for wine."

Jin was taken aback when he discovered something new about Jungkook. "You have a brother?" he asked in surprise.

"I have two of them. They are older and can be quite bothersome. One of them called me earlier, and the conversation was incredibly a waste of my time and boring, which is why I decided to call you."

Jin chuckled and said, "You're funny. I wish I had a sibling. Being an only child can be challenging at times."

"I doubt that's true. I wish I were an only child. It can be quite frustrating to have two older brothers who always believe they have all the answers."

Jin sighed and said, "Trust me, having siblings is much better. Being an only child means that all the responsibilities and tasks related to your parents fall solely on your shoulders. This can often be challenging, particularly when you lack someone to share these burdens with. That is my perspective, although it may be influenced by the fact that I do not have any siblings. Perhaps I would share your perspective if I had siblings."

"No, maybe you are right. Upon reflection, I realize that my brothers are the ones who handle the tasks that my parents need assistance with. If I were an only child, I would be responsible for taking care of those things. However, I have no interest in doing any of the duties they handle. They are already married as well, which I find quite boring."

"That's quite interesting, but it's great to hear that you can pursue what you want. Also, based on your comment, I must ask: are you against marriage?"

"Why do you want to know that, Seokjin?"

"It was just a question; you don't have to answer."

"If I answer you, you will have to answer a question of mine."

Jin sipped his wine before asking, "What is that?"

"Why are you already engaged to that guy?"

Jin finished his glass of wine and cleared his throat. "Chungjae and I share a deep love for each other, and our engagement marks the beginning of our journey towards building a future together."

"Who is the author of that line? Is it Chungjae's PR team?" Jungkook asked.

"Jungkook, I want to make sure you understand that I genuinely value my relationship with Chungjae and take it seriously."

"That's good. Does he take it seriously, too?" Jungkook questioned while he stared at something on his phone.

Upon hearing Jungkook's question, Jin poured himself another glass of wine and replied, "I am going to go now. It was nice talking with you, Jungkook. Good night." Jin responded to Jungkook and then ended their call.

As soon as he hung up the call, he noticed a message from his cousin. Curiosity piqued, he opened the message and clicked on the link, causing his fingers to tighten their grip on the glass.

He then responded to the multiple messages from his cousin, saying, "They are just friends. It's not a big deal." After sending the message, he switched off his phone and picked up two wine bottles and a glass. He then left the dining room and went straight to his bedroom.