In today's episode, the steak came out without spit. A great act of generosity, considering how inclined you were to douse it with cyanide. You didn't, and that's a testament to your surviving morals— well, of the few that were actually still in existence. There weren't many, considering what you do for a living and how far you were willing to go to remove the danger that threatened your life, namely the man sitting across from you, but hey, baby steps.

"I would've taken offense at the fact that you never invited me to your home if I didn't know how demanding your job can be." Seokjin raised his glass of merlot in salute. An action that your husband reciprocated after wiping his mouth with the white linen napkin. You brought out your finest china and silverware for this dinner against your heart and its desire. Hell, the whole dinner was against your wishes, but that goes without saying. In the center of the table sat a candlestick that mocked your patience as much as the smirk Seokjin kept throwing at you. You regarded it and considered —many times that you were one thought away from acting upon your thoughts—to drop it on the white tablecloth and watch the entire shit burn. You expected it to go up in flames quickly. After all, there were many hazardous elements. Linen and alcohol are the worst combinations with fire, or the best if passion is your source of intrigue because surely shit will burn with extra passion on the side.

"I know I didn't keep in close contact after I got married," Jungkook offered with a smile. His hand clasped yours openly across the table. He squeezed it, intertwining your fingers and boring his eyes into your face as he took a generous sip of wine. You kept your eyes where there was no risk: On the wine glass you were clutching so tightly you almost broke it. "But I figured my mother was trying to make up for my shortcomings when it came to how absent I was from our circle. Not to mention that," Jungkook turned his full attention to you, caressing your shoulder that was exposed in the mono-shoulder red dress you chose to wear tonight. His touch was feather light — barely there but burning nonetheless. "It seems my wife is doing her best too. I'm really grateful that the people around me maintain my social circle entertained when I'm busy with work and life."

And the sting of his touch now joined the stab he'd delivered to your chest. A dull blade, you'd argue. Slowly, very fucking slowly, he cut into your flesh. Jungkook was going at it at a steady pace. Confrontational, but not too much. Reaching for your wine glass, you drank it down in one gulp and returned his smile. As you reached for the bottle to pour yourself more courage to face tonight's jazz, Seokjin's hand was on the bottle too. His fingers touched yours and you wondered if the steak knives were sharp enough to amputate a hand. The threatening look you threw his way only added to his amusement. He smiled as he looked at your hands' placement, and subtly, yet challengedly, dared to look at Jungkook. "Please, let me pour you a glass, Cassandra."

"I actually didn't know Kim Seokjin was a family friend," you said with a smile that failed miserably to reach your eyes as you took your hands off the bottle. You looked at Seokjin as he poured you your glass, and the man did his best to avoid your gaze as he listened to the words you uttered. He knew what you were up to. You wanted to create a shared version of how you met. You wanted to stop him from saying the kind of shit that would, in effect, force you to shut his mouth in an unorthodox way. But he clearly wanted to hear none of it by the way he kept pouring wine into your glass even though he was over the ethical dose. This seemed to pique Jungkook's interest, as his eyes fixed on the glass while he sipped his wine with a grin. It was all so fake and managed to turn your stomach despite worrying about Seokjin's inexplicable recklessness. What the hell was going on in his head, really? Bringing your past to light wouldn't do anyone any good. Was he so thick-headed to understand the level of trouble you'd be in if he kept warranting Jungkook's doubt?

You cleared your throat at the same time as Seokjin tilted the top of the bottle up. Jungkook poured his focus on his steak as he cut off small pieces while still holding onto his grin. It was all you could focus on as you eyed him out of the corner of your eye. "Oh yeah? Such a small world!" He brought the bite to his mouth and turned his gaze to Seokjin, "What about you, Seokjin? Didn't you recognize my wife either? Don't hold the details, man. I'm holding my breath here."

Seokjin's loud laughter was so appalling you wanted him to go mute. In fact, you were so disgusted that it showed on your face, something that Jungkook noticed with the corner of his eye as he took another bite of his steak. He also noticed your eyes threatening Seokjin to stop the charade he was putting on. All confirmations of his doubts. All clues he needed to see with his eyes to deepen the knife you viciously stabbed into his chest. When you shifted uncomfortably in your chair, he decided to amplify what had you frit. He dropped his utensils on his plate and put his arm around your shoulder as he relaxed in his chair. It was then that you truly considered coming clean about everything. It would certainly be an easier moment to live than sitting around this table that, in its extravagant setting, seemed to be your own brand of prison. "That's the funny part, my friend. I really didn't know she was your wife." Seokjin propped his elbows on the table as he once again avoided your glances and the warnings they threw in his direction, focusing on Jungkook instead. "I just saw a beautiful woman on a writer's conference and decided to try my luck. I mean, you know me. I'm pretty picky when it comes to the fairer sex. Guess we have that in common, my man, huh?"

What in the actual fuck?

"Cassandra has this effect on anyone with a pulse," Jungkook offered as he raised his glass to clink glasses with Seokjin. You swallowed the saliva that pooled in your mouth audibly and closed your eyes for a moment. You wished they'd never open again. It was the timbre of Jungkook's voice that made you make this earnest wish. It was mocking, but it also carried a certain menace. Provocative. The type of shit you didn't need in this situation, because Seokjin wasn't a person who dealt well with provocation. Hell, you weren't so sure Jungkook did, either. He wasn't like this. At least he never showed you this side of him. He used to be calm and collected. Not even a storm could rattle his feathers. Fuck, Jeon Jungkook is an honorable judge for crying out loud. What was he doing bickering with a criminal? But then again, he married a criminal. Can't really blame the man. "I'm sorry your little crush ended before it could begin, though. It must suck to be on the non-receiving end. Let's drink to the Cassandra who will reciprocate your feelings, my friend."

You couldn't hide the way you tensed even if you wanted to, because you'd allowed your muscles to show your sentiment while Jungkook's hand was still on your shoulder. Big mistake. The man had been trained to be a prosecutor before his father nudged him toward a judge's bench. The instincts were still sharp. You, out of all people, know exactly how perceptive he is. How smart and analytical. Fuck, you should've known and done so many things, but what did you do? You played with fire. Let those examples be known: You shouldn't have accepted Jungkook's challenge and invited a cancerous cell into your system. Now the whole body is infected. Another example could be the obvious. You shouldn't have kept running a drug dealership when you married a judge. The list is long, but here's one more to refresh your memory: Business and ass don't go together. This information could also be extended to Seokjin, who just lit a cigarette and looked at your trembling hand as it brought the wine glass to your lips. Rookie mistakes from someone who's supposed to be a veteran.

Such a shame.

But hey! Mistakes teach lessons. The lesson you learned today was that Jungkook was very close to catching on your dirty secrets. Hell, the man decided to have this dinner for that very reason. He's been studying you. He's been studying your alleged business partner-in-friend— whatever title floats your boat. He looked at Seokjin and saw exactly what he wanted to confirm. He saw desire. Granted, it seemed to be the twisted kind, but it was there and he recognized it. The only thing he hadn't seen was that between you and Seokjin, there wasn't just an intimate past. There was also a present. A present where you dealt drugs cooked by the man who drove his sister to her early grave. You wondered how much time you had left before he found that out too.

"We should help him find the love of his life," you collected your thoughts and decided to offer your two cents. You put the glass of wine on the table and shifted in your seat so that you were angled towards your husband. You put your arm over his shoulder and smiled as you let your eyes wander to his lips. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was his heart still beating for you, but he couldn't help himself. The sultry glances were reciprocated. A game of power, or maybe of lies? "It's our responsibility as his friends. Don't you agree, baby?"

"I agree with you wholeheartedly," Jungkook offered in a chillingly calm tenor that managed to seem extra sensual for a setting like this. You took this as a sign to continue with your plan to soothe his heart and prove to him that in your heart, there is only one man. Him. The heated glances turned into bated breaths. And the bated breaths found relief when you captured his lips in a kiss that was certainly not a subtle public display of affection. He tugged at your waist, pulling you closer to him as he bit down on your lip to get access to his tongue. You almost moaned — and maybe you did, but you didn't care. Not really. Not right now, when he kissed you the way he did when he didn't doubt your loyalty. You didn't care when this kiss was your only anchor and sole proof. But good things are short-lived. He broke off the kiss first, reminding you that things have changed now. Loyalty shattered.

"I'm going to get us dessert." You announced as you stood, still woozy from the brief moment you shared. Still shocked by the fact that he used you to make a statement. But really, why so selfish? Wasn't that your intention too?

When you arrived in the kitchen on wobbly legs that barely supported you, you held on to the counter with your sweaty hands to avoid collapsing on the floor. Your chest heaved and your heartbeat became irregular. The normalcy you fought so hard to maintain was slipping from your grasp and for the wrong reasons. If you had been counting, you would've known how many times you had thought about telling Jungkook everything and would have counted this moment as well. But would telling the truth fix this situation, though? Would it help you restore what you had with your husband or would it be the catalyst? Your bet was on the latter.

You straightened your posture when you heard the front door close with a soft slam. You went to the fridge and grabbed the fraisier that Jungkook had brought from your favorite bakery for this occasion. One look at the delicacy and you figured that you would never stomach it again. Taste is associated with memories. Now the fraisier was connected to this ugly night that you wished could end soon.

Not so soon, it seemed, because the moment you picked up the tray and turned to head to the living room, you were met with your nightmare.

Seokjin didn't let go of his smirk as if it was his undying love. He closed the kitchen door with such leisureliness that you'd think he was taking a walk in his father's house and hambled towards you with determined steps. "Have you lost your mind?" You whisper-shouted. "What the fuck are you doing here? Do you want us to get busted?"

With his large palms planted on the counter, he pinned you. His eyes roamed over your face and every sliver of exposed skin. Slowly, and dare you say gently, he stroked your jaw down to your neck, and your breaths ceased completely in an attempt to keep whatever was going on hidden from your husband. "Relax. Loverboy has gone outside to take a call."

You pushed him with all your might and hissed: "Stay the fuck away from him, Seokjin. I really don't care if I go to jail, but I'll let you know, if I go, it'll be for murder."

His lips twisted into a mischievous smile as he spoke, "You know, in some cultures, it's considered incest." He flashed you against his chest by pulling you by the waist, leaving just enough room to look you in the eye. Just enough room to count your freckles and revel in their beauty. He always thought your imperfections were perfect. He never told you before, but he promised he would when the right time came. He also promised to tell you when that time came that he liked the way your breasts felt against his chest when you weren't wearing a bra, as was the case tonight. Softness to his hardness. The perfect contrast. "Doesn't it feel weird kissing him when you know that his sister — may she rest in peace — wanted to do the same to you? If you ask me, it's kind of morbid, isn't it?"

"Good thing I didn't ask for your opinion." You pushed him again. This time he gave you the pleasure of watching him stumble back. "Because if you want my opinion, I'd say let's stick to business if you want to keep rolling." You flashed him a grin similar to his and raised an eyebrow. "Because believe me, I have the power to destroy everything you've built."

You left him in the kitchen as you carried your fraisier to the living room, feeling vindicated. Tables flip, and you just flipped one over him. But if you looked closely at the saying, you'd probably understand it better. Tables flip. And your table flipped over at the same time as Seokjin's, but you didn't even know it. Because if the table tipped over when no one was around, who would notice that it tipped over? No one; and that's where the danger lies. Nobody would know except the person who knocked it over, that is. And the person who did it was standing outside the house watching the live stream recording the kitchen and living room. It was Jungkook's plan to make himself scarce so you and Seokjin could reveal your cards. And boy, you did.

Jungkook's cell phone nearly shattered in his grip when he saw Seokjin touching you— and you letting him touch you. And the trap he set for you caught more than one prey.

Tables flip.

votes and comments are appreciated xo