"You need to eat some more child, you're far too thin!" Seokjin cries, exasperated by my order.

He turns to the waitress. 

"Add some extra rice to my order please," he commands, folding the menu gracefully before gathering it's brethren, and handing them back to the waiting server. "And I think that's it."

When Jeonguk and I had arrived, his brothers were already here, and seated. I look around at all the faces, six brothers in total. To be fair, Jeonguk did tell me he had six brothers, but it's one thing to hear.

A total other to see.

I've never seen such a large family.

"I can't believe Kookie didn't introduce you to us sooner, " Taehyung exclaims, "I've heard so much about you!"

"Hyung!" Jeonguk groans, sinking into his chair and trying to be as small as possible.

I place my hand on Jeonguk's offering my silent sympathy. He smiles softly in response, the barest hints of teeth poking out from beneath his upper lip.

"Awww that's so sweet!" Taehyung shrieks. "Kookie's got a girlfriend!"

"It's not like that!" Jeonguk cries indignantly, moment lost."Why do you have to be so weird?"

Taehyung simply chuckles in response, and I try not to show how much Jeonguk's reaction stings. 

Taehyung seems like a nice enough guy, he'd been the first to greet me warmly when we'd arrived. All boxy smile and child-like eyes, I was a bit surprised by his enthusiastic hug, but it quickly became apparent that Taehyung is just a nice person.

"Aww, Jeongukie, Tae's just happy for you. We didn't think we'd ever see the day!" Jimin chirps.

This one seems the type to enjoy pestering his little brother, though to be fair, Guk seems to give as equally as he takes.

"You're just mad because you're short, " Jeonguk clips, going straight for the low blow.

Jimin looks indignant, mouth flapping open, and closed as he gawks at Jeonguk in disbelief.

"You disrespectful brat," he grumbles.

For a moment, it seems as if that's the end of it. Reaching for the kimchi, Jimin presses his lips into a firm line, but ultimately, says nothing else. 

At least, not until Jeonguk reaches forward, and pushes the bowl out of Jimin's way just at the very last moment. He fixes Jimin with a smug look as the elder brother keeps snatching at air, confusion written on his face as he looks down to determine where the hell the kimchi went. 

It seems as if Jimin didn't notice that Jeonguk had shifted the bowl. 

I watch, trying to suppress the urge to giggle as Jeonguk attempts to pull the same trick twice, but apparently Taehyung has no qualms in laughing. His laughter causes Jimin to look down, and actually notice Guk's interference. 

"I'm older than you by a full year you know!" 

Though at first Jimin seems absolutely enraged, eyes on fire and alive with indignant fury, something in his eyes quickly shifts. His lips spread into a slow smirk, one that he levels at Jeonguk. I feel the way Guk stiffens beside me, but his brother pays no mind. "I think Kookie is upset, you sure she doesn't prefer them short? You wouldn't be so prickly if she were into muscle bunnies with mommy issues."

I'm not entirely sure what on earth is going on between the two, but whatever it is, it's nearly acidic.

All of the lightness is gone from the atmosphere and no one is smiling anymore. Around us, Jeonguk and I, a myriad of shocked faces slacken. Jeonguk stands, fist clenched and shoulders back. 

He's going to punch his brother in the middle of the restaurant.

"Children, behave."

All heads turn into the direction of one of Guk's quieter brothers. Up until now, he'd remained silent, studying the situation at hand with clinical eyes.

Yoongi, I believe that's his name.

He rubs his tired eyes with thin fingers, the veins in his wrist standing out at he moves his slender digits.

"I will shove you all back in the car, and take you all home." He warns lowly, "I'll fucking ground the lot of you."

"You can't ground me!" Taehyung exclaims, eyes wide and surprised. "I'm older than you!"

"Grounded, " Yoongi deadpans, and Taehyung immediately quiets. 

"Jimin started it, " Jeonguk remarks angrily, muttering beneath his breath as he seats himself once more.

His stoic brother regards him with a glare, and he snaps his mouth shut.

"It really isn't like that at all, " I speak up.

Several pairs of eyes turn to look at me, altercation forgotten as they remember I am actually here.

"Don't be shy Alice, " Taehyung waves dismissively, suddenly animated once more. "I know Jeongukie is a bit childish sometimes, but he's really quite the catch. I'm absolutely ecstatic for the two of you!"

I glance to Jeonguk, of a sudden I am unsure, insecure even, and I don't quite know what to say.

I am more than aware of Guk's attractive qualities. This whole conversation is nearly painful, under different circumstances I could see myself being over the moon.

But he is obviously uncomfortable, and I can't seem to find my voice.

I struggle to read his posture for cues, but he offers me none, and so, I flounder.

"It really isn't though, " I insist softly, trying to be as sincere as possible without bursting into tears. "We're just friends."

Dubious faces peer between Jeonguk and I, and if anything, Jeonguk only seems to grow agitated. I'm suddenly afraid that he might be hurting himself, or the chair's arm. I'm certain that if he grips it any harder, it just might snap. 

But Seokjin, gives me a look of understanding, and sympathy. Approval, even.

"Leave it be, " he commands sternly. "If they say they're just friends, they're just friends."

Inwardly, I sigh in relief. 

Everyone falls quiet, nobody quite sure what to say. The seconds tick by into minutes, and for a full moment, I am afraid that I've ruined something, somehow.

But Guk's brothers, it seems, are a hard bunch to keep down.

A couple of them begin to chatter animated by between themselves, while Yoongi returns to silence. 

Jeonguk turns to me with poorly concealed aggravation. 

"I'm so sorry you had to sit through that, " he says lowly, words meant for my ears only.

"It's okay Guk, " I assure him, unthinkingly placing my hand upon his arm in what is meant to be a gesture of comfort.

Several eyes dart in our direction, and I pull my hand away awkwardly. Jeonguk sighs as they all return to what they were doing, or who they were talking to.

Not a word is said.

And as I drop my hand, a shy smile spreads across Jeonguk's face.

Beneath the table, I feel a familiar pair of fingers wrap around mine, anchoring me to the moment. He won't look at me, but his soft smile tells me that he knows I am looking at him. For a moment I admire the way his jaw looks at this angle.

I blush, but say nothing. I'm amazed, however, that Jeonguk abruptly picks up a conversation with Namjoon, the other fellow who'd been particularly quiet, acting as if our hands aren't linked beneath the table. 

Before long, our food arrives, and though I believe Jeonguk might finally let my hand go, it remains firmly tethered in his. But, unfortunately, I am not right handed. I struggle with my chopsticks.

I watch as several of his brothers laugh, but Jin quiets them with a roar, and looks on in sympathy. 

"Do you need a fork?" He asks kindly, and though his intentions are pure, I am absolutely mortified.

He thinks I can't use chopsticks.

"I've been using chopsticks since I was five, " I reveal, and inwardly wince as my voice carries across as defensive. "My dad, well, step-dad is Korean. From Seoul, actually. I'm just not left handed."

Jin's ears turn a very unique shade of red, just at the tips, as he smiles apologetically. Jeonguk, having tuned into the conversation at last, seems to finally realize that I need my hand.

He drops it as if he'd been burned.

I smile politely, thanking him quietly. Even if I hadn't been ready to let go yet. Jeonguk, too, is a mortified shade of crimson, but he takes my reassuring smile, and runs with it.

He quickly turns his attention back to Namjoon, though it seems that Taehyung and another brother, named Hoseok, seem to have joined the conversation. 

With my right hand free once more, I have no further problems with my utensils, so as I watch Jeonguk interact with his lively brothers, I eat. Yoongi is a people watcher too, it seems, and when his eyes shift to look at me, I move mine away nervously.

Seokjin smiles at me, "We can be a little crazy sometimes."

I smile in return, putting my utensils down for a moment and swallowing my last bite. 

"I like your family, " I tell him, politely. "I have a little brother, but he's a few years younger than me."

"Half-brother?" 

"Mhm, " I reply. "I always wanted more siblings, but my mother got really sick. It just wasn't in the cards for us, I suppose."

He smiles warmly, and I watch as he pushes that extra bowl of rice he'd ordered in my direction.

"You really need to eat more than that, " he says gesturing at my now empty plate. 

In truth there hadn't been much on there to begin with, but I'd been nearly queasy at first introduction, and my appetite had deadened.

"I heard from Jeonguk that neither of you are dinner, you shouldn't skip meals."

"Yes eomma!" Jeonguk shouts with a chuckle, butting into our conversation.

"Yah! You will respect me brat!" Seokjin shouts, startling a couple who'd been just about to walk by.

He flashes an apologetic smile, but continues to lay into Jeonguk anyway.

"I have your bill, " the waitress announces, suddenly appearing from just behind the startled couple.

They scurry away, leaving the waitress standing before us, check extended.

I reach to grab for it, I'd forgotten to specify that Jeonguk and I were on a separate bill, and as such, it's only polite that I pay the bill. My mother's influence really.

But Seokjin grabs it before I can, and flashes the waitress a charming smile as he reaches for his wallet. I watch as he pulls out a rather shiny card, and slides it into the checkbook with ease.

I've never seen such a fancy card, and given the state of their home, it seems as though Jeonguk, or at the very least, his brothers, are incredibly wealthy. I wonder just what it is that each of them does for a living.

"I was going to get that, " I say.

But Seokjin smiles, and refutes me soundly.

"Welcome to the family Alice, " he tells me warmly. "I hope we see you again soon."

"Me too, " I admit, smiling softly. "Me too."